Private Settlement

"Yes, didn't that family contact you?"

"No."

"Oh, well, it's probably coming soon. They've already contacted our three families, so it should be your family's turn next. Besides that girl who died, among the remaining three families, your brother was the most severely injured. I estimate your compensation will be more than ours." As she spoke, Huo Mian even saw a hint of envy in the middle-aged woman's eyes.

"Regarding this malicious car accident, I've investigated thoroughly from various sources. Apparently, the perpetrator was drunk driving and speeding on campus where it's forbidden. This is such a heinous act that it can't be resolved with just compensation and apologies. It already involves criminal liability. After I collect all the evidence these few days, I will sue. I don't want any compensation; I just want a fair outcome," Huo Mian said, then turned and left.

"This girl is a fool, isn't she?" the middle-aged woman muttered behind her.

Was Huo Mian really foolish? Of course not. She just didn't want to exchange her brother's health for some so-called compensation.

What she wanted was to bring that malicious perpetrator to justice.

Drunk driving and speeding on campus, causing a multi-car pileup, one death and three injuries, not only showing no responsibility but also fleeing the scene—such a person truly had no morals.

She heard that the girl who died was the one sitting in his passenger seat. They were even said to be in a relationship?

Now his girlfriend had died in the hospital, and that guy hadn't even shown his face. Only his proxy lawyer had been privately negotiating with these families.

Huo Mian already had an idea in mind. Thankfully, Zhixin was fine. Otherwise, if there were really any sequelae, she would rather give up everything and fight those people to the end.

---

Indeed, just as Huo Mian was about to get off work, she received a call from the perpetrator's proxy lawyer, saying he wanted to talk privately.

After Huo Mian agreed, she went directly to the agreed-upon coffee shop, which was near the hospital.

The other party was a lawyer in his forties, wearing glasses, with a square face, a black suit, and carrying a black briefcase.

"You must be Ms. Huo Mian, correct?"

Huo Mian nodded.

"Hello, I am Luo Qing, the proxy lawyer for my client, Lu Yigang. My purpose in seeking Ms. Huo this time is very simple. The Lu family wishes to settle this matter privately, without escalating it or going through legal procedures. I heard that Ms. Huo's brother is seriously injured and undergoing treatment, and I believe he will need many expenses in the future. I suggest you propose a reasonable figure, and then I will have my client pay the compensation. This would be beneficial for everyone, wouldn't it?"

"If I just name a figure, will they satisfy me?" Huo Mian sneered.

"Of course not. As long as Ms. Huo stays within a reasonable range, we can still accept it," Lawyer Luo said, looking confident of success.

"What do you mean by 'reasonable range'? Please explain, Lawyer Luo, I don't quite understand," Huo Mian said with a smile.

Lawyer Luo saw an opening and immediately took out a thick document from his briefcase. He then said to Huo Mian, "We've also gained some understanding of Ms. Huo's family situation. Your family's circumstances aren't very good, and I imagine you also need this money. Of course, we won't offer too little. After all, in addition to treatment costs, we'll also give you some compensation for emotional distress and the like. The surgery costs are reportedly around three hundred thousand, and follow-up treatment will also require seventy to eighty thousand. On top of that, we'll add another three hundred thousand. My client's offer is seventy thousand. Do you think this amount is acceptable, Ms. Huo?"

"Seventy thousand, huh, that's a lot of money, isn't it?" Huo Mian slowly began.

Lawyer Luo immediately pushed the document forward and smiled, "Since Ms. Huo has no objections, please sign here. This ensures a private settlement, and I can have my client transfer the funds."

"But can seventy thousand buy back my brother's health? Do you know he almost suffered cerebral palsy, causing lifelong disability?" Huo Mian questioned coldly, glaring at him.

Lawyer Luo saw the situation change, his face subtly shifting, then adjusted his glasses and said, "We are also very sorry about this. My client was also drunk driving at the time; it wasn't intentional. He himself knows he made a mistake."

"I don't think so. From the time the accident happened until now, he hasn't shown up once, and he fled after causing the accident. If it hadn't caused such a severe negative impact, I don't think he would have intended to take responsibility, would he?"

"That's not it. My client was just too scared at the time. He's also still a university student. The girl who died was still his girlfriend; he's also sad. So his parents found me and entrusted me to be his proxy lawyer to handle the aftermath. How about this, Ms. Huo, we're both straightforward people, so I won't hide anything from you. The compensation for the other two injured parties was fifty thousand each, and one of them even lost a leg. Your brother has reportedly passed the critical stage, and his surgery was also very successful. I'll add another ten thousand for you, a fixed price of eighty thousand. This way, you'll get significantly more than the other two. How does that sound?"

"Eighty thousand... Heh, then if I offer eighty thousand, can you let me hit you as hard as my brother was hit?"

Lawyer Luo's face immediately darkened upon hearing this. "Ms. Huo, we are very sincere. What happened has happened, and we must face it. You should know that for the girl who died, we only compensated eighty-five thousand. Relatively speaking, eighty thousand for you is already a lot, and it will be transferred to your card immediately, without any delay. Don't you need money?"

"Compared to money, I believe what I need more is a fair outcome," Huo Mian said, staring at Lawyer Luo word for word.

"Then you mean...?"

"I will not accept a private settlement. I will sue in court. According to current traffic laws, your client has caused a serious car accident, not only drunk driving but also fleeing the scene and speeding on campus where it is strictly prohibited. I believe the judge will give me a reasonable explanation."

When Huo Mian finished speaking, Lawyer Luo suddenly chuckled.

"What are you laughing at?" Huo Mian was somewhat annoyed.

"I'm laughing at how incredibly naive Ms. Huo is. I didn't expect there to be such a pure girl like you nowadays."

"What do you mean?"

"Ms. Huo probably doesn't know my client's background, does she? My client, Lu Yigang, is only a 21-year-old university student, but do you know what his parents do?"

Huo Mian remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

"It's nothing to tell you. His parents are both officials in the Ministry of Finance, and his relatives are also in official positions. To put it plainly, he's a genuine second-generation official. With such a background, what do you think you can win in court? I advise you, if you're smart, to just take the compensation and settle the matter peacefully. Even the parents of the girl who died weren't as self-righteous as you are. Don't think you're some kind of modern Bao Qingtian, seeking justice. Let me tell you, there's no justice in this world anymore. If you have money and power, you're God. If you don't have money or power, you'll be trampled upon. You might feel uncomfortable hearing this, but so what? It's the truth."

"He has a background, does he? I'm so scared," Huo Mian smiled faintly.

She then continued, "Indeed, his background is formidable. I can tell by the dragging feet of the Ministry of Transport and the police that this matter isn't simple. But so what? Just because he has a background, should we indulge him? I'm not his mother; why should I forgive him when he's made a mistake? Suing in court is just a procedure that I must follow. You can choose to pull strings, but... don't forget, there's also a place called the media. If the media once sensationalizes this too much, and the pressure of public opinion becomes too great, I'd like to see how long his arrogant parents can protect him?"

Huo Mian's words left Lawyer Luo completely sweating.