Lu Tian watched his smug expression, her nails digging deep into her palms. Blood seeped from her clenched fists, bringing her a moment of clarity.
Suddenly, she felt a surge of strength. A voice in her head told her not to give up, she must not give up! How could she surrender her life when this scumbag hadn't been punished yet?
Fang Rui rolled his eyes at Lin Qianjie, "You haven't won the case yet. What are you so pleased about?"
Lin Qianjie put his arm around Lawyer Wang, his tone boastful, "With Lawyer Wang here, how could I possibly lose? Fang Rui, remember to come to my victory party. I'll treat you to something nice."
"Mr. Lin, Miss Jiang wants us to return," Lawyer Wang shrugged off his hand, his tone cold.
"Alright, I know."
"Nie Yan, we can't lose!" Lu Tian stared intently at Nie Yan. "I'll take my medication properly, I'll control my emotions well. I won't let those experts diagnose me as insane. We cannot lose!"
Lu Tian wasn't doing this for herself. Her life was already ruined. She just didn't want scum like Lin Qianjie to harm another innocent girl.
Let the tragedy end with her.
Nie Yan, however, wasn't so confident anymore. Mental assessments weren't as easy to distinguish between true and false as other physical evidence. In other words, if Lawyer Wang had bribed those experts, even if they provided false assessment reports, they would have no way to refute them.
Mu Mian seemed to have shut out all external sounds, focusing entirely on the painting in her hands.
Jiang Yun felt that the girl sitting next to her was strange. She seemed to want to talk to her, but always hesitated.
Mu Mian finally thought of an opening line, "Hello. Do you recognize the person in this painting?"
Mu Mian handed her freshly completed painting to Jiang Yun, her tone probing.
The paper showed a loving mother holding a small infant. Mu Mian had perfectly recreated the photograph with delicate brushstrokes.
Jiang Yun took the painting and looked at it. Her expression froze. The memories she had suppressed came flooding back into her mind like a tidal wave.
She coldly looked at Mu Mian: "Who are you? What's your relationship with Mu Mian?"
Mu Mian didn't speak. She didn't know whether to reveal herself to her mother. Her mother's expression didn't seem joyful, it even looked... disgusted.
Why would a mother be disgusted by her own child?
Jiang Yun continued, "You're from the Shen family, aren't you? Didn't I already tell you not to bother me? Whether that child Mu Mian is dead or alive has nothing to do with me. I won't go see her. If you want money, I can give you a large sum, but on the condition that you stop harassing me..."
"Why... don't you want to see her?" Mu Mian felt her mind was in chaos.
Although her adoptive parents treated her well, cherishing her like a precious and fragile piece of porcelain, that wasn't loving a child. They were just caring for and looking after an autistic patient.
Her entire understanding of mothers came from beautiful fairy tales, so she couldn't comprehend the current situation. Of course, she also couldn't fully understand fairy tales.
"She's the nightmare of my life. I can't accept having a child who's like an idiot." Jiang Yun pinched the bridge of her nose, trying hard to stop herself from remembering the past. "You've all raised her for so many years, just keep raising her. Why come find me now?"
So that's how it is...
Mu Mian looked at Jiang Yun, trying hard to maintain eye contact. In those cold eyes, Mu Mian saw a pitiful reflection of herself.
Her sister was right. Not all mothers love their children. Only mothers in storybooks do that.
Jiang Yun also carefully examined the strange girl before her. The girl's features seemed familiar, and she wanted to ask if she was Mu Mian, but she thought it impossible.
Mu Mian should be a mentally deficient girl. She shouldn't be able to speak, shouldn't be able to paint, and certainly shouldn't be appearing before her.
Mu Mian might even be dead already. A child like that wouldn't live long, and shouldn't live too long.
"Alright," Mu Mian snatched her painting back from Jiang Yun's hand. She tried to speak in a calm tone, "I promise you, she won't bother you."
Jiang Yun looked at her empty palm and demanded, "Who are you really?"
Mu Mian didn't answer.
By now, the court hearing had ended. Jiang Yun glanced at Mu Mian once more, then put on her sunglasses and left with her assistant.
Mu Mian felt an overwhelming sadness engulf her. But she couldn't describe that feeling. She couldn't even cry. Her mind just went blank, as if all her memories had been erased.
"Mu Mian, you're spacing out again!" Fang Rui had been searching for a while before he found Mu Mian sitting dazed in a corner. She looked very different from usual.
At that moment, Mu Mian looked very lonely, as if encased in a glass dome with only herself inside.
Suddenly, the memories rushed back into Mu Mian's mind. Even though she had once again modified the part about her mother in her mental schema, she still couldn't suppress the overwhelming sadness.
"Fang Rui, I'm very sad. I need comfort," Mu Mian opened her arms towards Fang Rui, "Can you... give me a hug?"
Fang Rui glanced around. Most people were heading out. He didn't really want to embrace someone in public, even if it was Mu Mian.
But Mu Mian looked so fragile right now.
Fang Rui sighed and hugged Mu Mian. "Did you meet your mother?" He saw the painting in Mu Mian's hand and could guess what had happened.
"Yes, she's completely different from what I imagined. She doesn't like me. It's okay though. Some mothers just don't love their children. That's common sense."
Mu Mian realized she didn't love her mother that much either. She had just been deluded by the imaginary mother figure she had created, which embodied Mu Mian's desire to be loved as a normal person.
When she actually met her mother, the illusion shattered, which is why she felt so sad.
Because it meant she could never experience the emotions a normal person should have.
Feeling the warm touch, Mu Mian suddenly felt the wave of sadness recede. But another strange and fresh emotion surged forth. Mu Mian wasn't sure what it was, but it occupied her mind, making her feel happier than ever before.
At this moment, Mu Mian wanted Fang Rui's body more than ever.
Mu Mian reluctantly let go of Fang Rui.
Fang Rui reached out and stroked Mu Mian's head, messing up her short hair, comforting her, "Mu Mian, it's okay if she doesn't like you. There are still many people who will love you."
Fang Rui decided to be even nicer to Mu Mian in the future. She seemed to be in great need of love.
"I know many people love me. But Fang Rui, you can't ruffle my hair like that. It's too much like petting a cat or dog. I really don't like it!" Mu Mian reached up to fix her hair.
Even though her adoptive parents and sister didn't treat her as a normal person, their love was genuine. Even the psychologists she disliked had given her a lot of love. So Mu Mian's upbringing wasn't lacking in love.
"If you really like touching my head that much, I can allow it, but you have to donate your body to me."
"...I can see you're not so upset anymore. Let's head back then!"
Mu Mian followed Fang Rui out. When they saw Nie Yan and Lu Tian waiting at the courthouse entrance, Mu Mian finally remembered to ask about the trial results: "Prosecutor Nie, did you win the case?"
"No. The court is temporarily adjourned. Both sides need to provide more evidence. The other party has requested a psychiatric evaluation for Lu Tian."
"Do you want to give Prosecutor Nie a hug then?"
Fang Rui replied irritably, "Why would I hug her?" Fang Rui really wanted to open up Mu Mian's brain and see what on earth she was thinking all day.
"She's your friend. She didn't win the case. Shouldn't you comfort her?"
"I've already comforted her verbally. Adults don't use hugs to comfort each other."
Mu Mian tilted her head, "But you hugged me just now."
"..." Where had that fragile Mu Mian from earlier gone? Was Mu Mian's emotional recovery ability this strong?
Chen Xue had excellent hearing. She immediately came over and asked, "Mian Mian, what were you just saying? I thought I heard the word 'hug'."
"It's not that difficult to mislead mental health specialists and psychologists into making an incorrect diagnosis," Mu Mian said, changing the subject. "Faking an illness or pretending to be healthy are both relatively simple. Which one does Lu Tian need to do? I can teach her."
