7
Tả Huy was put into the gas chamber, but he remained indifferent, even smoothing down the hair on his forehead.
A sudden downpour flooded the screen.
[Come on, bro, my life depends on us. Everyone, like, like, like!]
[Come on, bro, my life depends on us. Everyone, like, like, like!]
The number of likes kept climbing.
Tả Huy shrugged at Hướng Kỳ and flashed him a provocative grin.
I pointed at the screen and said, “Oh, by the way, the technicians just tracked down the IP addresses of the shills, so now we can block them.”
The comments from the attack were deleted immediately, and the normal barrage of comments finally appeared again.
[Murdering a pregnant woman and fleeing with her child deserves the death penalty. Fans, please stop defending him!]
[Click to trample him—I’ll stomp this bastard to death!]
[You altered the photos and blamed the dead, spread misinformation, and drove the deceased woman’s father to his death. What wouldn’t a rich person like you do? Grandpa, I’ll get justice for you today!]
After the shills were blocked, the number of likes on the big screen was quickly overtaken by the dislikes. Only then did Tả Huy begin to panic.
He shouted from inside the gas chamber, “Where are my fans? Get everyone around you to like my post, now!”
But not a single word of support for him appeared on the battlefield—only people saying they wanted to stomp him to death.
When the number of clicks was about to pass the 50 percent mark, he was no longer as calm as he had been at first.
He frantically pounded on the glass and shouted from inside, “Dad, save me!”
Tả Huy’s father shouted, “As long as the online judges give him a like, I’ll reward you with 10,000 yuan in cash…”
I cut him off. “Defense counsel, please watch what you say and do. Bribing a judge is illegal and will be punished.”
The number of likes didn’t stop; it even passed 50 percent.
The nozzles in the chamber began spraying poison gas.
Tả Huy covered his nose and fell to his knees.
He lost control and yelled at the screen, “You stinking losers! You can’t lay a finger on me, and you think you can sentence me to death? I won’t die! I’ll kill you losers right here, out on the street!”
He coughed violently. The poison gas irritated his respiratory tract, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
He stared in horror at his blood-covered hands on the floor and knelt like a dying dog, bowing toward the camera. “I was wrong. I really know I was wrong! Stop! I don’t want to die. I still have a wonderful life ahead of me. I really don’t want to die!”
[Did you ever think about whether Tà Tịch wanted to die? Did she want to die? Your miserable life is worth as much as three lives. This is a real bargain for you!]
Dislikes surpassed 80 percent, and the poison gas reached its maximum concentration.
I stared at the glass, unwilling to miss a single second.
The entire gas chamber was filled with white smoke. Through it, I could barely make out someone crawling laboriously across the floor.
He raised a blood-covered hand and pounded on the glass.
At last, the hand fell. A blood-red mark was left on the glass, and the chamber went silent.
Tả Huy’s parents burst into tears and nearly fainted.
Hướng Kỳ held up photos of his wife and child toward the gas chamber.
He wanted them to see Tả Huy’s fate with their own eyes.
8
Not long after Tả Huy’s trial ended, I took on another case.
Eleven people died when a runway caught fire and someone blocked the escape route.
The incident shocked the entire country.
More people tuned in to today’s livestream than to Tả Huy’s trial.
The livestream room opened, and a video recorded on a cell phone began playing on the screen.
A plane flying from another country into ours suddenly caught fire as it landed.
The flight attendants opened the emergency exits and let everyone evacuate in an orderly fashion.
A girl opened the overhead compartment and dropped several boxes onto the head of the old man beside her. He suddenly began bleeding heavily and fell into the aisle, blocking it with the boxes.
The passengers behind her screamed in terror, but she seemed not to hear them. She grabbed her suitcase and hurried to evacuate.
As she slid down the inflatable slide, the box even scratched it, nearly causing the two people behind her—who had just escaped death—to fall from the emergency exit and crash to their deaths.
By then, 11 people had died in total. Among them was a scholar considered a national treasure, who also perished in the disaster.
The camera turned toward the defendant’s seat. Tiếu Lâm Na wore a new-season Chanel dress and light makeup; her innocent eyes made her look both pure and alluring.
She was an online celebrity with 8 million followers.
Tiếu Lâm Na’s lawyer stood and greeted everyone before beginning the defense. “My client made an unintentional mistake, and there is no evidence that she deliberately caused anyone’s death. She is a victim, too. Since the incident, she has suffered from depression and can’t sleep at night.”
“That’s right. I know I was wrong.”
Tears streamed down Tiếu Lâm Na’s face, but she still looked beautiful.
[I see a fairy crying.]
[Don’t exaggerate! Put that fairy down and let me have a turn!]
[She’s an internet celebrity with a gorgeous face. I always thought it was just the filters, but I never expected her to be this beautiful in real life.]
The lawyer continued, “The suitcase contained her late mother’s belongings. She instinctively protected them. Such filial devotion is rare.”
Tiếu Lâm Na took out a sweater and said, her voice trembling with emotion, “This is the last piece of clothing my mother knitted for me. I take it everywhere, as if she were still by my side.”
The ten family members seated with the plaintiff could no longer take it. One of them shouted, “My husband and child died because of that ragged dress! You deserve to go to hell!”
Tiếu Lâm Na’s face went pale. Her supple body seemed so frail her bones might crumble at any moment. Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. “I truly know I was wrong. I’m willing to atone—with my life, all my strength, and every penny of my savings. I’ll give it all to you. Please forgive me!”
The mood in the livestream chat began to shift.
[Don’t be unreasonable. She didn’t mean to do it, and she’s willing to atone.]
[How can you let such a beautiful girl die? I’m the first to object!]
[Judge, let’s vote. I’m the first to oppose the death penalty.]
[Not guilty, absolutely not guilty. She didn’t commit the crime intentionally.]
The plaintiff’s family members stood up, snatched a water bottle, and threw it at Tiếu Lâm Na.
“Your family weren’t the ones who died, so what gives you the right to say ‘forgive her’?”
“My wife was burned alive! If she hadn’t blocked the way, my wife wouldn’t have died!”
“Have you lost your minds? Do you think a pretty face can’t commit arson and murder?”
Tiếu Lâm Na’s eyes immediately welled with tears. Her wet hair clung to her cheeks, mingling with them.
She lowered her head in silence, like a pitiful little wife.
I had to pound the gavel several times. “Order! Order!”
The courtroom fell silent as the courtroom officers moved to restore order.