First Half
The courtroom was silent as Jia Yancheng stepped forward. A man whose calm exterior masked a chilling indifference. He was neither a murderer nor a criminal by law, but his role was no less devastating.
Shen Yan observed quietly as the prosecutor laid out the facts: Jia Yancheng had witnessed countless tragedies caused by his so-called friends. Yet instead of intervening or offering support, he had chosen silence and detachment. Worse still, he had subtly reminded those around him of their darkest fears and failures, tightening invisible chains around their souls.
His rational and cold demeanor was his weapon—more dangerous than any physical violence.
Shen Yan's mind drifted back to his own memories of helplessness and abandonment. Was this coldness a shield, or a prison? Was Jia Yancheng a victim of life, or a perpetrator?
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Middle Part
The defense argued that Jia Yancheng bore no criminal intent, no direct action causing harm. He was merely a bystander, a realist who refused to sugarcoat life's harsh truths.
But Shen Yan's intuition told him this was more complicated. This kind of psychological cruelty—the casual dismissal, the cold reminders of failure—was a form of violence. It left wounds invisible to the law but deeply etched into the soul.
During cross-examination, Jia Yancheng remained composed. "I do not create misery," he said. "I simply reflect what already exists."
His words echoed a dangerous nihilism, challenging the court's concepts of responsibility and compassion.
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Second Half
Returning to his seat, Shen Yan pondered the verdict. Jia Yancheng had committed no legal crime, yet his presence had poisoned relationships and driven others toward despair.
"Justice," Shen Yan thought, "cannot be measured solely by law. It must reckon with the cruelty of indifference."
When asked directly if he considered himself innocent, Jia Yancheng replied coldly, "I live in reality. I am not responsible for others' choices."
The trial concluded with the system declaring:
[Verdict: Not guilty due to lack of direct evidence and criminal intent.]
But Shen Yan understood that true justice was rarely clear-cut. In the shadows between guilt and innocence, the hardest battles were fought.