Too Bad I Take Things Seriously

The public prosecutor’s bench.

A public prosecutor immediately stood up and laid out a series of evidence: "Following a report by Tang Suiming, our office has now ascertained that while serving as chairman of XX Cultural Communication Co., Ltd., Wu Guangquan repeatedly took advantage of his position to illegally accept huge bribes from other companies, totaling more than 13 million yuan."

"Five years ago, during the XX company acquisition case, Wu Guangquan illegally hired several idle members of society to kidnap the wife of the person in charge of XX company, in order to force him to sell the company at a low price. His conduct is suspected of openly extorting property for profit, the circumstances are serious, and it constitutes the crime of kidnapping."

"Three years ago, Wu Guangquan had a conflict with a security guard in the company. Using violent means, he illegally detained the guard for two days, restricting his personal freedom and beating him. Since the detention exceeded 24 hours, this fully constitutes the crime of unlawful detention."

"One year ago..."

In the courtroom.

The public prosecutor listed piece after piece of ironclad evidence, accusing Wu Guangquan of one illegal and criminal act after another.

Meanwhile, at the defendant’s bench.

Listening to this long string of accusations, Wu Guangquan’s face was expressionless.

His emotions seemed very calm.

"Defendant, regarding the evidence and criminal facts just alleged by the public prosecutor, do you have any objections?"

Judgment Chief Zhou Quanmin fixed his gaze on Wu Guangquan and asked in a deep voice.

Seeing this, Wu Guangquan only then slightly furrowed his brows and snorted coldly: "You’ve already investigated everything this clearly, what else is there for me to say?"

After a brief pause.

He went on: "But what Tang Suiming knows... is only a small part. There’s still a lot you haven’t found out at all!"

Before his words had even fallen.

The public prosecutor at the prosecution bench suddenly froze, staring at Wu Guangquan in disbelief.

Even...

Zhang Wei showed a look of surprise.

This remark from Wu Guangquan...

Was completely beyond his expectations and totally different from what they had agreed in advance.

"Seven years ago, when I started XX Cultural Communication Co., Ltd., it was all under the direction of Liang Gaoceng behind the scenes. The bribe money I took was all through the connections he arranged..."

"Besides Liang Gaoceng, there were also people like Song Yongwei and Qi Tongping. When I was doing these things, they were all involved..."

In front of everyone.

He continued to drop bombshells, successively giving up several people who had colluded with him.

Just now...

In the holding courtroom, he had watched Zhang Wei’s entire defense for Tang Suiming and Liao Xiangming.

Aside from gnashing his teeth in hatred at Tang Suiming...

A bit of survival instinct also began to sprout in his heart.

Since Tang Suiming could get a reduced sentence by confessing his accomplices, then so could he!

If Tang Suiming could be disloyal,

He likewise had no reason to talk about loyalty either.

If someone has to die, better the other guy than me—when even a clay bodhisattva can’t cross the river and one can’t protect oneself, he might as well smash the pot and let it all spill.

He confessed everything he knew, all of it.

With Zhang Wei here...

As long as he honestly explained the circumstances and turned over information the police didn’t already have, he might also get several years knocked off his sentence!

If he could cut one year, it would be one year!

On the witness stand.

Qin Mu likewise showed a stunned expression; this scene was completely beyond his expectations.

They had just finished hearing Tang Suiming’s case.

The next defendant immediately gave him a "surprise."

"Guess... he’s trying to copy Tang Suiming and get a reduced sentence."

The corner of his mouth twitched as he thought to himself.

As for what was on Wu Guangquan’s mind...

He saw through it at a glance.

They were all people fallen to the same end of the earth.

Seeing that Tang Suiming had a chance at a lighter sentence, no one could truly stay calm.

In the face of human nature.

So-called "morality" and "brotherhood" aren’t worth mentioning.

"Dong——"

In the courtroom.

Seeing this sudden development, Zhou Quanmin’s brows knit tightly.

After a brief moment of thought,

He conferred with the judges beside him, then solemnly announced: "New criminal facts have just emerged in this case. For now the trial will proceed no further. Once the procuratorate has clarified the case, a new date will be set for trial."

Just now.

The people named by Wu Guangquan were not defendants in this case.

They were outside the two hundred and eighty-seven defendants.

And these criminal acts...

Had not yet been uncovered by the procuratorate.

Therefore.

The court could not proceed rashly.

"Adjourn!"

After that.

He stood up directly and left the courtroom with all the members of the collegial panel.

The bailiffs followed close behind.

They stepped forward and led Wu Guangquan out of the courtroom, leaving only Qin Mu and the public prosecutors looking at one another.

A grand, high-profile trial...

Came to an abrupt end.

...

Jin City.

Nursing home.

"It’s over? I just went to the bathroom, how come the screen’s gone black?"

Having just rushed back from the bathroom, Zhang Qingyuan stared blankly at the pitch-black screen, utterly speechless.

The elderly people next to him...

Reacted much the same; they were all a bit dumbfounded.

"Seems like... he confessed to a few more criminal acts?"

"Unbelievable. We looked for so long and never found any criminal facts, and these people feel like they’ve got a whole pile of them behind their backs."

"They’re selling out their teammates again, I swear I’ve seen this plot somewhere before."

"This Wu Guangquan is definitely trying to get a reduced sentence. I saw through his little scheme at a glance. And here I thought he’d be some unbowed tough guy."

"In the face of prison time, all beings are equal. Who’d actually want to go in there and tread a sewing machine?"

"..."

Everyone munched on sunflower seeds in a sulky mood.

Like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over them.

All that pent‑up anticipation suddenly evaporated.

They’d dragged themselves here early in the morning, prepared seeds and water, ready to fight a long battle.

And the result...

They’d only finished trying one case when the hearing abruptly ended.

"It’s all because Zhang Wei did too good a job. He triggered Wu Guangquan’s survival instinct and let him see hope."

"Too scared of death, miles worse than Meng Lei."

"Meng Lei didn’t rake in as much as him, but he definitely counts as a real man."

"They’ve dragged him back down for further trial again. Who knows if this will drag on to the Year of the Monkey. My New Year’s almost over already."

"Shouldn’t take long. The previous cases are basically all wrapped up. With just these few criminal facts he confessed to, it won’t take long to sort them out and reopen court!"

"..."

The old folks huddled together.

Complaining and discussing at the same time.

After Tang Suiming’s case was over, Wu Guangquan became the focus of their discussion.

Because...

Among all the remaining defendants, Wu Guangquan’s sentence was the longest.

Truly "outstanding in his field."

It was hard not to notice him.

...

Meanwhile.

On the Study Law Alliance Forum.

The abrupt end of the trial stirred up the entire forum as well.

"That’s it? I just ordered takeout and the hearing’s already over?"

"Damn, reporting new crimes right in court. Is this Wu Guangquan planning to copy Tang Suiming and go crazy selling out his teammates too?"

"Lemme do the math—some of the pretty boys outside prison are about to be screwed."

"Truly worthy of a case involving our up. Today I finally understand what ’twists and turns’ really means. It’s all plot twists, I can’t guess the ending at all!"

"You’re not the only one. Didn’t you see the up in the livestream getting completely bewildered?"

"..."

Netizens spammed posts to vent their frustration.

They’d rarely had such a strong desire to study, all geared up to learn criminal charges from these "real‑life cases."

But they ended up learning nothing.

The hearing just got cut off.

It left everyone feeling like they’d already taken off their pants only to find out the bride was a man.

However...

At least all the cases that needed to be tried were almost done.

As for the criminal facts Wu Guangquan confessed, it shouldn’t take long to finish trying them.

...

Jin City.

A certain police station.

Captain Shen looked at the "sent back" Wu Guangquan and sank into thought.

If he remembered correctly...

The court had just taken him away from here this morning, and now they’d sent him back by noon.

And they’d told him to hurry up and get to the bottom of the remaining unidentified criminal facts.

"Let’s interrogate him."

Captain Shen shrugged, not even bothering with lunch.

He directly brought Wu Guangquan into the interrogation room.

Staring at Wu Guangquan strapped to the interrogation chair, he said with a complicated expression, "You do realize that confessing your crimes in court doesn’t count as turning yourself in."

The criteria for voluntary surrender are pretty strict.

They’d already arrested Wu Guangquan, and after a round of interrogation he hadn’t told the truth.

Instead, he chose to confess during the final stage of the trial.

Strictly speaking—

At best it counts as actively pleading guilty and cooperating with the investigation, not voluntary surrender.

That can reduce your sentence too, but not as much as a genuine voluntary surrender.

"I know, but I’m already in here. I can’t just let those little bastards keep living it up, can I?"

Wu Guangquan curled his lip, looking utterly unconcerned.

He’d already made his peace with it.

As long as it could reduce his sentence, he’d sell whoever he could.

He himself was looking at more than twenty years; those personal connections and underworld codes weren’t worth keeping anymore.

"Officer, just ask. Whatever you ask, I’ll answer."

Then—

Seeing Captain Shen still hadn’t started, he even urged him on.

Captain Shen: "..."

...

Two hours later.

The interrogation ended.

Captain Shen walked out of the interrogation room, his face full of exhaustion.

After a detailed questioning, he’d cleared up all the specifics of what Wu Guangquan had confessed.

Next...

Was to confirm whether these criminal facts actually existed and whether to initiate arrest procedures.

"Let’s eat first."

He took a deep breath and had just picked up his lunch box when a police officer hurried in.

"Captain Shen, the court... sent over another batch of defendants. They all say they’ve got crimes to report and expose. They’re almost here."