It had been three days and I had spent three sleepless nights in anxiety.

Still there was no news. I did not know how he was putting up with the harsh interrogation; I did not know whether he has confessed to all the charges.

The prosecutors, the court, the city government.. I had searched up and down for anybody I had the slightest acquaintance with, but the answer was always the same, as if an all pervading conspiracy.

Everyone was saying, "Give up!"

This case had no room for manoeuvres; it was a case that would lead to the death penalty.

Death? Just a little while ago, this man had given me a diamond ring, promising to be with me for the rest of his life, how could I give up when he was being deprived of the most basic right to survive?

" I will not give up!I believe he is innocent, I must save him. No matter how much money, no matter what method .."I told Lawyer Chen from the law firm

I am a doctor. Till my patient takes his last breath, I will never give up. And this was the most difficult time for the man who helped me in my most difficult times!

"Can you give back all the money he stole? If you can, then maybe there is a chance to get his sentence commuted."

The money that was stolen was nearly a hundred million. My hands holding the bankcard moistened with sweat. In this card was my total savings for the past few years amounting to two million. Apart from this, I could sell my house which was slightly more than three million

I felt anxious. " He did not embezzle the money, how will I give it back? He is not guilty at all, why should he be sentenced to death? Where is the law?"

"You cant just say that no crime has been committed! It depends on what the secretary himself confesses to."

This was what I am most worried about. In case Zhong Tian himself confessed in a moment of confusion, we would not be able to save him.

"Is there another way?"

Lawyer Chen thought for a long time. "Do you want to go right to the top to clear things? Do you have contacts in Beijing?"

The Deputy Mayor of Nanzhou city and his secretary were arrested on charges of corruption. The Vice Mayor had also been isolated for questioning. Everybody was avoiding them out of fear that they would be blamed as well. Who would want to get involved?

Perhaps only the people at the higher levels would have a way  to resolve this.

——————

Even in Beijing, after several attempts, I still had no help

When I was almost desperate, I coincidentally contacted an official wo refused to disclose his real name or position in the military. He was a contact of a friend's friend and was supposed to be absolutely trustworthy.

We met in a secluded restaurant. He was about forty years old and was wearing casual clothes. His attitude reflected his military background. His body had run to slight fat, but he didn’t have a condescending, domineering attitude like most high level military officials

I was somewhat disappointed.

" Are you Bo Bing?"

" Yes", I nodded and handed over the file in my hands to him.

He drank his tea while browsing through the material. From time to time, he slipped into deep thought.

" Is there any hope in this case?'

He looked up. A pair of shrewd eyes observed me carefully through the silver frames.

" Its a bit difficult. The evidence is conclusive, but.."

This 'but' word was one of the most wonderful words I had heard in the last month.

" What do you mean 'but'..

" Its not completely hopeless. If we can go really deep, maybe…"

He paused, his implicit meaning clear.

I nodded to show I  understood what he meant.

One look at this case and it was clear that a meagre secretary would not have so much courage to embezzle such a huge amount of money. All the evidence pointed to him, this case was basically a set up

Who would have such ability to manipulate everything* so that the Vice Mayor could put all the blame on Zhong Tian and come out clean himself?

(T/L *翻云覆雨 ( –  This is one of the Chinese idioms I love.  Literally, it means to produce clouds with one turn of the hand  and rain with another. English is just so bland:)

My hopes were re-ignited again.

" I think someone can help you."

Hearing this sentence, I simply thought that I was having an auditory hallucination due to the long term stress I was going through.

I asked again, " What did you say ?"

" There is someone who could help you", he solemnly repeated, " I will help you. Please wait to hear from me."

—————–

When someone put the room card of the presidential suite of International Hotel in my hands, I was still unable to believe my luck.

I just wanted to petition for a review of my fiance's case, such a simple matter, why meet at such an obscure place?

But then I thought of Zhong Tian and how much he was suffering, and the mediator's solemn reminder, "Whatever it is, this is your only chance."

Then I thought it wasn't worth worrying about, I would have absolutely no doubts. I hastily put on a blue suit, used very light nake up to cover my haggard look and rushed to the agreed location

As I walked on the bright marble floor and approached room 30149, I once again took out the file with all the information I had gathered. Then, taking a deep breath, I swiped the room card and keyed in the password

The door automatically opened.

I tried to walk in silently. The room was quiet, very luxuriously laid out with the curtains drawn.

At the window, a man was standing with his back to me. His figure was shrouded in shadows. His back was very straight. It was the posture of a military man, a man proud and independent

I locked the door and took two steps forward.

" Hello!"

I vaguely saw the light on his back moving and then he slowly turned around.

When I saw that cold indifferent face, I reared back so suddenly that my back hit the door.

Ye Zheng Chen !

Why is he here ? Why Ye Zheng Chen ?

I thought we would never meet again , and yet this man appeared at a time when I was at my most desperate stage. Was I lucky or was I doomed?

No, I wasn't lucky. This man has never brought me good luck. He brought me only misery and despair, one after another.

Ye Zheng Chen slowly walked towards me , like a wolf walking towards its prey.

As he took a step closer to me, my breath hitched. When I was about to choke, he was just a step away from me.

" Girl.."

It was the most common nickname I heard in my nightmares, I covered my ears and turned around, intending to escape. He stepped towards the door, blocking my exit.

" Girl, lets talk.."

" I have nothing to say to you.."

"But I have, I …"

" Whatever you say, I will not believe a word."

I pushed him hard, trying to unlock the door, when I heard him behind me, " Dont you want to save your fiancé?"

Miumiu : And we’re off to a new start! I know this is a really short serving but I need to get back to the translating habit