Seeing that we didn’t speak, an older police officer clicked his tongue and asked again:

“Who made the report? I’m here to understand the situation.”

“I did.” I held back my tears and pointed at Zhang Fang as I spoke. “This person is spreading rumors. This person said I’m a mistress!”

“What?” The older police officer adjusted his briefcase higher under his arm, walked forward a few steps, and stared at Zhang Fang. “You’re spreading rumors?”

“I, I didn’t!!” Zhang Fang shouted.

“If you didn’t, why would she say you’re spreading rumors?” The police officer asked again. “Did you say it or not?”

“I, I said it…” Zhang Fang stammered. “But what I said wasn’t a rumor! Everything I said was true!”

“True?” The police officer turned his head to look at me. “So are you a mistress or not?”

Hearing this question, I was slightly stunned.

What kind of questioning was this?

I was clearly the one who called the police, yet with just one sentence from Zhang Fang, he had turned the subject of interrogation to me?

“I, of course I’m not!” Facing the police officer’s questioning, I was also somewhat nervous. “If I were a mistress, how could I possibly call the police, and how could I possibly say she’s spreading rumors?”

The older police officer nodded and looked at Zhang Fang again: “Then what basis do you have for saying she’s a mistress?”

I suddenly felt like I was participating in some kind of badminton match. This scorching interrogation was like a shuttlecock between Zhang Fang and me, constantly being batted back to the other party under the referee’s witness.

“I, everyone in our village knows!” Zhang Fang pointed at me. “Even my parents know that Zhang Lijuan is a mistress who latched onto a wealthy man!”

“Fighting… arguing…?” I looked at the police officer. “No, no… We… It’s not fighting at all! And how could this possibly be considered a domestic matter… She said I’m a mis—”

“Two little girls, eighteen or nineteen years old, both full of energy. Wouldn’t it be better to make friends?” The old police officer said earnestly. “Fortunately, there was no fighting this time, and no one was injured. How about this—I’ll make the call!”

He turned his head to look at Zhang Fang and said with a smile, “It’s not right for you to talk about people like that. This matter is your fault. Now, apologize in front of everyone, okay?”

“I…” Zhang Fang was also a bit stunned after hearing this. “I apologize…?”

“Just consider it making a friend.” The police officer smiled and shook his head. “I’ve been through your age too. Who hasn’t been young and impetuous? When you’re older and think back, the friends you made at this time are the most sincere.”

What the hell…

After hearing this, I quickly interjected: “No! I don’t want her apology! What good is her apology?!”

And what was this bizarre talk about “making friends”… This person wanted to drive me to death, yet I was supposed to make friends with her?

“Tsk!” The police officer turned his head to look at me. “You’re being a bit unreasonable, young lady. Young people have hot tempers. It’s normal to say a few words to each other. I’m having her apologize publicly—isn’t that enough? Do you really want to go to court?”

The workshop director also chimed in from the side: “Zhang Lijuan! Don’t blow this up. Production tasks come first. Understand?”

“Tsk!” The police officer turned back and glared at the workshop director. “What kind of talk is that? Everything should be centered on the people!”

“Right! Right, right, right!” The workshop director quickly nodded and smiled apologetically. “I misspoke.”

“What the hell…” I said trembling. “I don’t want her apology… I… She wronged me…”

I thought I had grown up.

I thought I could independently face all problems.

But now I seemed to be back to that first time again.

Bewildered, helpless.

I didn’t know what to say to make my situation any better.

“I won’t apologize!” Zhang Fang said with a frown. “I didn’t say anything false. Why should I apologize?!”

Yes, not only was I bewildered, even Zhang Fang felt wronged.

Hearing this, the police officer frowned, then nodded: “Alright, alright, alright. You’re not accepting mediation, is that it? Xiao Wang, take out the notebook and file a case. Record the location of the incident.”

“No, no, no!” The workshop director quickly stepped forward and reached out to stop the young police officer. He smiled at the older police officer and said, “Don’t, big brother, what’s the big deal? They’ll accept mediation! I’ll decide this!”

“Really?” The police officer looked at the workshop director, then glanced at Zhang Fang. “Will you accept mediation? Can you apologize?”

“I…”

“Zhang Fang!” The workshop director turned around and roared. “Speak properly! If you dare to disgrace the workshop because of your own matters, you know the consequences yourself!!”

“Tsk!” The police officer turned his head again and glared at the director. “As a leader… Don’t intimidate the young lady.”

“Right! Right, right, right!” The director quickly agreed with an apologetic smile. “I just got a bit anxious, wanted to help you out. What’s that saying? Police and citizens are one family… Haha!”

After hearing this, Zhang Fang opened her mouth, then lowered her head.

After a long silence, thinking it over and over, she finally said, “Fine… I understand. I’ll apologize.”

After saying this, she lifted her head and stared at me, reluctantly and unpleasantly squeezing out three words:

“I’m sorry.”

Ha.

The last time I heard this apology, it came from that fat woman.

She had said, “Listen up—I’m sorry.”

According to normal logic, the two main culprits who hurt me had both apologized.

So I should be magnanimous and forgive them.

But I wasn’t crazy.

“That’s right!” The police officer smiled. “Two young ladies didn’t hit anyone or curse anyone. Just had a few arguments. What good would it do you to actually go to court? Get a criminal record? What would you do in the future?”

“Exactly, exactly!” The workshop director kept nodding as well.

With the matter settled, the workshop director respectfully saw the two men out, leaving us workers not knowing where to go from here.

Was it… over just like that?

I lifted my head to look at Zhang Fang. So now… Zhang Fang and I were friends?

How utterly absurd.

If it weren’t for the fact that I cared about Liang Wa, I would absolutely kill her and that fat woman.

Even if I were to be executed by firing squad, it wouldn’t matter. My life was already ruined.

I should have believed that fat woman’s words from the start. She had said that even if this matter was reported to the police, it would only result in the other party apologizing or paying compensation.

But what about that monster’s hat placed on my head?

Would anyone help me take it off?

Yes, this time Zhang Fang didn’t hit anyone or curse anyone. All I could ask for was nothing more than a public apology.

But I felt extremely pained.

This pain that might entangle me for the rest of my life—in the police officer’s eyes, it was just teenagers horsing around; in the leader’s eyes, it was making a big deal into a small matter; in the rumor-spreaders’ mouths, it was my true nature. But no one could put themselves in my shoes and think about it from my perspective.

“Everyone disperse, disperse!” The workshop director’s secretary also shouted to the crowd. “Mind your own business instead of others’. If you don’t want your pay docked, get back to work!”

The crowd gradually dispersed, pretending nothing had happened, but the whispers reminded me that this matter was not over.

If attacking me could be settled with just an apology, then the attacks I would suffer next would be even more numerous.

After all, for them, there was no cost whatsoever.

Moreover, of everything that happened today, not a single thing could prove that I was wronged.