Mediation (3)

You Xi’s tone was firm—like a nail driven deep into wood, unshakable and resolute.

Mo Mrs.’s face turned ashen. You Dong stood speechless.

Officer Qian looked between the three, visibly confused. He had only been briefed on the assault case—he knew nothing about the bullying.

As emotions surged, the air in the room seemed to grow colder.

“…Fine. I see your attitude now.”

Mo Mrs. spoke each word sharply, her voice cold and hard.

“You’d rather believe your daughter than me… I understand that. But my friend needs an apology,” You Xi said.

She knew saying this would only pour oil on the fire. But the image of Bai Mian refusing to leave her room, shutting herself away, wouldn’t let her stay silent.

As expected, Mo Mrs., already at her limit, exploded.

“An apology? What kind of apology?”

“What are you implying? Are you trying to say Li Li actually bullied someone?”

“Do you have evidence? Did the school confirm it? No, you don’t—right?”

She sneered, then pulled a stack of hospital reports from her bag and slammed them onto the table with a sharp thud.

“I have the official injury report for my daughter!”

The sound struck You Dong like a punch to the chest. For a moment, he couldn’t breathe.

We’ve messed up.

Truthfully, the moment Mo Mrs. had laid out her second condition, You Dong had already predicted this outcome.

You Xi refusing was a 100% certainty. That was just who she was.

The questions came like a storm, but You Xi didn’t flinch. She met Mo Mrs.’s furious gaze with unwavering resolve.

In that tense silence, their locked eyes seemed to crackle with invisible sparks.

Something had to be done. At least ease the atmosphere.

You Dong stepped in.

“Mrs. Mo, the school is still investigating the bullying claim. Since it’s not concluded, can we set that aside for now?”

“How about we discuss compensation instead? I believe if you’re willing to keep talking, you’ll see our sincerity.”

Mo Mrs. responded with an irritated click of her tongue.

“Compensation? Do you think we’re trying to extort you? And anyway, who even are you to her? Cousin? Uncle?”

She shot You Dong a disdainful look.

“If something like this happens, don’t her parents come forward? Where’s your sincerity in all this? You clearly never intended to talk seriously.”

“Mrs. Mo, actually, I—”

You Dong tried to explain their relationship, but Mo Mrs. cut him off with a rapid-fire barrage.

“Don’t bother. I don’t want to hear it. You can’t make decisions anyway.”

“Get her parents here! What bothers me isn’t just that she hurt Li Li—it’s that she slandered my daughter’s reputation. Bullying is serious. Can you just throw that word around like that? Huh?”

“In short—get her mother or father here. Now. I want to know exactly how they raised such a daughter.”

“Um, Mrs. Mo…”

At last, Officer Qian—who had been silent—spoke up.

He leaned in, whispering quietly into Mo Mrs.’s ear. During the exchange, his eyes kept flickering toward You Xi.

After hearing the officer’s words, Mo Mrs. learned the truth about You Xi’s family.

Realizing how harsh her earlier words had been, her anger melted into shock and guilt. She fidgeted, suddenly at a loss.

To break the awkward silence, she cleared her throat twice.

“Ah… anyway, our demands are simple. Just apologize, and we’ll drop the case immediately—no material compensation required.”

Hearing this, You Xi stated her position.

“I’ll apologize. But Mo Li has to apologize to Xiao Mian first—because she was the one who started it.”

“…”

With neither side willing to yield, the mediation was stalling.

Officer Qian clapped his hands, calling for silence.

“Sorry. Maybe I didn’t explain properly earlier. What exactly is this bullying you’re talking about? How is it connected to You Xi injuring Mo Li?”

“Mo Li bullied my friend. I hit her. Then—”

You Xi began, but Mo Mrs. cut her off.

“How many times must I say it? This bullying is just your one-sided claim. Not just Li Li—the school hasn’t acknowledged it either.”

“Bullying is bullying. Does it need someone’s approval? That’s just self-deception.”

“Self-deception? I think *you’re* the one being delusional.”

The moment the topic came up, they clashed again. Words spilled like a broken dam—endless, chaotic.

Seeing no progress, Officer Qian intervened once more.

“I understand the situation now. Let me propose something. Please listen.”

As head of the police station’s mediation room, Officer Qian had handled countless civil disputes.

You Xi believed Mo Li had bullied her friend. Mo Mrs. insisted her daughter was innocent. The core conflict was clear.

If that could be resolved, reconciliation was possible.

“Let’s be clear,” he said. “The main issue isn’t really about You Xi injuring Mo Li anymore. The real question is whether this *bullying* actually happened—correct?”

The three nodded in agreement.

“Then it’s simple.”

Officer Qian clapped his hands sharply.

“There are twenty days before formal proceedings begin. Since opinions differ, why not use this time to investigate? If bullying *did* happen, I think your daughter should apologize. Mrs. Mo, does that sound fair?”

“If,” Mo Mrs. said firmly, “if Mo Li truly bullied someone, she *will* take responsibility.”

“Good. You’re very reasonable,” Officer Qian praised.

“On the other hand, if the bullying didn’t happen, You Xi—you must publicly apologize and clear her name. Can you agree to that?”

“I’ll find the evidence,” You Xi said calmly.

“If I can’t… then even if I’m detained, I’ll accept it.”