Chapter 2
The morning after the incident, Officer Sun the same policeman from yesterday went with Lu Yao to the hospital where the redhead was recovering. Inside the three-bed ward, only Redhead lay there. He had clearly already undergone surgery, with bandages wrapped around both his right arm and his head. When he saw Officer Sun push open the door and walk inside, his eyes flickered evasively, and a sycophantic grin spread across his face.
"Officer Sun! What a surprise you'd come in person!" he said with a chuckle.
"Hmph, you punk you're always getting into trouble, never doing anything proper. Of course I have to keep my eyes on you!" Officer Sun walked into the ward and cast him a cold glance.
Hearing this, Redhead immediately pointed pitifully toward Lu Yao, who had entered behind Officer Sun, and whined, "Officer Sun! This time it really wasn't my fault it was her husband who hit me first!"
Officer Sun frowned. "Hmph. Do you think I don't know the truth? If you hadn't harassed another man's wife, would he have beat you for no reason?"
Approaching the bed with his hands behind his back, Officer Sun looked down at him with a crease of annoyance. "Alright, how bad are your injuries?"
"Officer Sun, I've got a concussion, and my arm is fractured. Isn't that serious enough for you?" Redhead screwed up his face theatrically, moaning. But his eyes couldn't help darting toward Lu Yao. Noticing the gift bag of supplements in her hand, the calculating gleam in his gaze gave away that he already guessed their real purpose here.
"Cut the act. Don't think I don't know exactly what shape you're in. Fractured, is it? Why not say your bones are pulverized then!" Officer Sun pressed his shoulder lightly, then finally allowed a faint smile. "Listen, we're here to talk straight. You were in the wrong yesterday, but her husband also went a little overboard. So the idea is this they want to work out compensation for your medical treatment and end this matter quickly."
Hearing "compensation," Redhead's eyes flashed. Lowering his voice, he asked, "And… how much are they planning to pay me, Officer Sun?"
Officer Sun glanced sideways at Lu Yao, who gave a subtle, confirming nod. So he continued, "Normally, it's up to both sides to negotiate. But hear me this wasn't all her husband's fault. You dare try asking for too much, and I'll personally make sure you regret it!"
"Officer Sun… but I'm the victim here!" Redhead whined, his face pulling into a mock-pleading expression.
Officer Sun glared, his tone hardening. "If you hadn't been provoking others, would you have been beaten? You should be grateful he didn't kill you outright! I saw the surveillance footage myself you clearly started it! Honestly, her husband held back. If they wanted, they could charge you for harassment alone, and that would land you in deeper shit than this."
Redhead quickly lowered his voice, muttering under his breath, "Why do you keep taking their side? Could it be you know them, or maybe…"
"What was that?!" Officer Sun's sharp rebuke cut through the air. His finger stabbed toward Redhead's face as he barked, "Watch your mouth! If you want my mediation, then speak properly. Otherwise, go file your own lawsuit at court!"
"No, no, Officer Sun, of course I want mediation! How could I not?" Seeing that the officer was angry, Redhead immediately put on a fawning smile. His eyes once again sneaked toward Lu Yao, probing carefully as he added, "It's just… what amount are they willing to offer me for compensation?"
"Compensation, compensation you think of nothing else! At most, you'll get medical fees and hospitalization fees. Don't think you can scam more when you went asking for trouble yourself!" Officer Sun snapped. Then he turned toward Lu Yao, his voice softening. "Mrs. Lu, you just cover his hospital and medical expenses. Sign a settlement agreement between each other, and let's end this matter cleanly. Yes?"
"Yes that's fine." Lu Yao nodded quickly. After all, this had been agreed beforehand with Officer Sun: either pay the medical costs directly, or offer a one-off compensation of fifty-thousand yuan. To Lu Yao, it didn't matter which. As long as it freed her husband from detention sooner, she was willing even if that meant losing money.
But Redhead smirked slyly. "Officer Sun, what about lost wages? My hand and head are injured. Recovery will take time. Once I'm discharged, I still need to rest. If you only cover medical and hospital bills, where's that leave me? You expect me to starve?"
"You dare talk about lost wages! Everyone knows you laze around all year without a real job. Do you have any employment proof? Salary slips? Without that, you dare ask for lost wages?" Officer Sun shot out each accusation like a bullet. Chastised, Redhead shrank down, muttering under his breath, "Fine… but they can't just give medical and hospital costs either… Officer Sun, you know it's just me and my grandma at home. We've got no money already, and with no one to care for me in hospital…"
"You admit it's just you and your grandmother. Then why don't you behave yourself a little, huh? Stop worrying the old woman!" Officer Sun knew well enough about his family background. With an impatient glare, he added, "Alright, enough. How much are you thinking it'll take for you to agree to settle this?"
"Officer Sun… could I maybe… discuss it privately with her?" Redhead's eyes flicked toward Lu Yao, his voice low.
Officer Sun's brows furrowed deeply. He looked back and forth between them. "What scheme are you cooking now?"
"No, no scheme… Look at me, all banged up. What could I do, huh?" Redhead protested, though his eyes betrayed his lust. They slid down her long legs, drifted over her chest, and finally lingered on her flawless face. A greedy gleam swam in his narrow stare. With a smirk, he chuckled, "Officer Sun, after all it's between the two of us. Isn't it normal to let us talk privately about a settlement?"
Then he added casually, "Otherwise, forget about settling. I'll pay my own medical bills, and we'll just let the court decide." His gaze fell back on Lu Yao, reading the worried flicker in her eyes. With confidence swelling inside him, he plucked a cigarette from his bedside pack, lit up, and leaned back smugly.
"You brat you dare play tricks with me?!" Officer Sun barked furiously. Lu Yao, alarmed he might escalate things, tugged lightly at his sleeve.
"Officer Sun… let me speak to him alone, please."
Officer Sun held her gaze for a moment. Then, with a long exhale, he turned toward Redhead and growled, "Fine. I'll give you two some space. If you can reach settlement, good. If not, then it goes to court!" Shooting Redhead a final, scathing glare, he stomped from the ward, leaving them alone.
"Well then, how much do you want to settle?" Lu Yao asked directly, assuming he simply wanted more money.
Redhead leaned back leisurely, his grin widening. "Mm… I don't know. How much are you folks willing to spend to wrap this up?" He openly ran his eyes over Lu Yao's slim legs and pert chest as if undressing her with his gaze, even vulgar enough to touch his own lap in front of her.
"Just name your price," Lu Yao shot back icily, masking her rising disgust.
"Hahaha… oh, beautiful lady what a question. So, if I said one million yuan, you'd pay me? Is that what you're saying?!" His tone was mocking, full of gloating amusement.
"You're dreaming!" Lu Yao snapped, her patience fraying at last.
He laughed again. "Relax, I wasn't serious. Just an example. The real amount, well that depends on how sincere you are."
Her knuckles whitened as she clenched the bag in her hands. Humiliation, fury, and dread all churned inside her chest. Forcing herself to remain calm, she exhaled and tried to stay composed. "Here's my offer: if you agree to a settlement, we'll pay you fifty-thousand yuan. That covers your hospital and medical fees, and the rest as compensation for lost income. That should be fair enough."
Redhead guffawed, shaking his head. "Fifty thousand? Hah! Are you kidding me, beauty? Look at what your husband did to me fractured arm, concussion and you think fifty thousand makes it all go away? What an insult!"
"Then how much do you want? Just say it!" Lu Yao retorted, no longer even caring about the money, eager only to end this detestable encounter.
He waved one hand lazily. "It's not about what I say. It's about what you're willing to offer. If I name the number, that's just extortion, isn't it? Take your time. Think it over. I'm not going anywhere."
The cigarette smoldered between his fingers as he squinted up at her through the haze, his grin crooked with shameless suggestion. "Oh, one more thing, beauty next time, don't bring Officer Sun along. With him around, we'll never get anywhere."
Lu Yao's hands trembled with rage. But knowing she had no choice for the sake of her husband, still detained she swallowed her anger. Shooting one last fierce glare at that wretched boy, she spun on her heel and left the ward.
When she emerged, Officer Sun stepped up. "So? Did you two come to an agreement?"
Lu Yao shook her head slightly, forcing a wry smile. "No. You were right, Officer Sun. He's impossible. Nothing but a shameless scoundrel."
Officer Sun sighed. "Then leave him stewing a few days! That brat's broke. Once the bills pile on, he'll come crawling."
"…I suppose that's our only option now," Lu Yao forced another faint smile. Yet inside, her anxiety churned. She couldn't bear to see her husband languish behind bars. So later that same afternoon, she quietly returned to the hospital alone, determined to negotiate once more with Redhead this time face-to-face, as calmly as possible.