Who would study psychology unless they had some issues?!

Chonghui glanced at Nan Zhubin, then quickly turned his head back to avoid being perceived as disrupting courtroom order.

He understood Nan Zhubin's implication: "Do you think this nodding is not just to gain the trust of the judge, but also to convince himself?"

Talking to a professional is indeed more efficient.

Nan Zhubin replied, "That's right."

When a person lies, their inner self is instinctively uneasy, hence the need for extra actions to comfort themselves; additionally, fabricating lies takes up more brain capacity than recalling memory, diminishing the individual's ability to control their own body.

This psychological state, when externalized in behaviors, causes the liar to not only use language but also subconsciously convey their credibility through body language, resulting in excessive compensation such as untimely nodding.

The prosecutor began questioning the other defendants, but Nan Zhubin and Chonghui's gaze returned to the leader.

"Do you think he's lying?"

"Hard to say. From my angle, I can only see a bit of his expression."

Nan Zhubin recalled, "But when he narrated the crime process, it seemed like a sectional sketch, yet there were indeed many instances of shifting responsibility and downplaying himself."

Chonghui nodded in agreement.

Before they could identify the "craftiness" in the leader's statement, the trial had moved on to the next stage.

After the prosecutor finished questioning the defendant and confirmed with the plaintiff Lawyer Zhan that there was nothing to add for the moment, it was the defense attorney's turn to question the defendant.

Yes, the defense attorney questioned the defendant. The purpose of this phase is clear: to highlight factors that could mitigate the defendant's sentence.

And the parts that Nan Zhubin and Chonghui had just questioned were verified in this phase.

...

The defense attorney asked the leader, "Wang Zhenhai, are you responsible for the technical work in your team?"

"No." The leader nodded vigorously, "The technology is so new, I don't understand it, I just provide equipment from my previous company and..."

The defense attorney reminded, "Just answer yes or no, stick to court order."

The leader paused, took a breath, "Yes."

"Did you target veterans based on suggestions from other team members?"

"Yes."

"Were you the one directing the collection of relevant information in the early stages?"

"Yes."

"But you didn't carry out the specific target selection, correct?"

"Yes."

The defense attorney leisurely flipped through the prepared materials: "Besides money, did you have other fraudulent targets?"

The leader shook his head vigorously, "No."

After finishing that question, the defense attorney turned to the judge, "I have no further questions."

Nan Zhubin and Chonghui completely understood, realizing the defense attorney's strategy.

The fraud charge is a foregone conclusion, an acquittal defense impossible, so they aim for leniency by admitting guilt and punishment.

The first few questions distribute corresponding responsibilities, and the last question ties into the "subjective malice" aspect.

In other words, it was "only for financial gain," with unintended negligence for other collateral impacts.

This defense strategy clearly opposes Nan Zhubin and Bai Qinghua's viewpoints—especially Bai Qinghua. After all, Bai Qinghua, serving as an expert witness today, was here to prove the criminal's intent for "subjective psychological damage."

With that thought, Chonghui looked at Bai Qinghua. The professor maintained a relaxed posture and demeanor, his face unchanged from the beginning. Apart from the focus shown by listening intently, his face revealed nothing in response to emerging potential hostility.

Indeed, a teacher remains steady.

Furthermore, Chonghui was sure the defense attorney's strategy was not yet fully revealed; there were many defendants and numerous stages still ahead.

As it was a group crime, there were multiple defendants in court. In such scenarios, each defendant must undergo a "defendant's statement-prosecutor's inquiry-defense attorney's inquiry" sequence.

The process was lengthy, with spectators occasionally losing focus and yawning.

Chonghui remained attentive.

Other personnel were mainly technical leaders, with their defense strategies largely similar in distributing responsibilities: technical staff handled only technical and operational tasks, not planning; they were also "only after money," having no intention to inflict harm.

...

"I have no further questions."

After concluding the inquiry of the final defendant, the defense attorney signaled to the judge.

Defendant questioning concluded at this point.

The judge looked to his right, "Does the victim have anything to add?"

The others at the defendant's bench looked at the watch-wearing young man, who glanced at Lawyer Zhan; receiving no cue, he shook his head at the judge.

Yet the judge asked, "Does the victim and plaintiff have anything to add?"

Lawyer Zhan blinked, elbowed the watch youth forcefully, prompting him to snap out of it and respond, "Nothing to add."

Each person from the defendant's bench subsequently repeated this statement.

Below, Nan Zhubin and Chonghui exchanged a glance.

Spending a large amount for a lawyer should mean courtroom procedures would be explained, and clients should know "each of the judge's questions requires a verbal response."

It can only be these victims, at least this watch-wearing youth, aren't very attentive.

Watching the buzz-cut crime suspect seated at the defendant's bench, people inexplicably found them to possess somewhat higher quality.

The judge remained impassive; having seen a variety of defendants, he had naturally also witnessed a range of plaintiffs and victims.

"Next, please present evidence based on the prosecutor's charges and summon the corresponding witnesses," the judge said.

The prosecutor opened his materials, reading the pre-submitted evidence.

"1. Internal chat records of the suspect Wang Zhenhai and the gang..."

The earlier evidence formed the critical conviction part, including transaction and chat records.

Some written evidence required witness explanation, some didn't.

Soon it was Nan Zhubin's part.

Psychological consultation records were the kind needing "explanation."

"Summon witness Nan Zhubin for questioning," the judge said.

The officer at the front opened the small gate on the rail, and Nan Zhubin stood up, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

He strode to the witness stand.

The prosecutor asked, "Witness Nan Zhubin, please state your professional relationship with the victim, Nan Zhihao."