Congratulations, Your New Life

!

Staring at the gun Xu Shi had forcefully pressed into her hand, Jiang Chengcheng seemed at a loss.

Her eyes even held a hint of panic.

Xu Shi wasn't surprised by her reaction.

When he had publicly confronted Jiang Fengshan before, he hadn't made Jiang Chengcheng face her adoptive father directly. Instead, he had her watch the livestream from the next room.

Even during the subsequent public trial, he had kept her from appearing whenever possible.

On one hand, it was to consider her feelings—presenting evidence would inevitably reopen her wounds, and exposing her to public scrutiny… that would be a trial for her as well.

Secondly, he knew that Jiang Chengcheng's fear of Jiang Fengshan was deeply ingrained.

It was like Pavlov's dog; even knowing the other party was cornered and at his mercy, facing it directly would still cause her to instinctively flinch due to past memories.

Just like now.

"You… Jiang Chengcheng, you dare?!"

Seeing Xu Shi hand the gun to her, Jiang Fengshan panicked.

Although he had anticipated that the other party had come to execute him, he couldn't help but feel fear when the moment arrived.

His hoarse, blustering roar indeed startled Jiang Chengcheng. The hand holding the gun began to tremble, and she recoiled as if frightened.

"I…"

"Don't be afraid."

Just then, Xu Shi supported her from behind, whispering into her ear, "Think carefully about what he did to you."

"With your abilities, you should have become the most dazzling rising star in Night Sin City after leaving the Academy."

"People would have gone mad for your research achievements, and you would have worn the most luxurious gowns, put on the most exquisite makeup, and stood in the spotlight of honor."

"The moment you appeared, they would all raise their glasses and cheer for you."

As he narrated at a steady pace, Jiang Chengcheng's eyes gradually became vacant. She seemed to be fantasizing about such a scene, a subconscious smile appearing on her face.

"But what are the facts?"

Just as she was savoring the illusory beauty constructed by his words, Xu Shi abruptly changed his tone, shattering it all with a casual remark.

The red glow in his eyes flickered intermittently. "All the glory that belonged to you was stolen by Jiang Fengshan, and you, too, became a pathetic tool in his hands."

"A slight mistake would result in scolding and beatings, gradually making you afraid to communicate with outsiders, wrapping yourself tightly in shabby and rough clothing, and slowly sinking into the dust."

"The ambitions you once held vanished into thin air, and you couldn't even find the meaning of your own life."

"If I hadn't discovered all this, such a secret would have continued until the moment Jiang Fengshan entered his grave—of course, even then, you wouldn't have been freed. I believe he wouldn't allow anyone to know all this."

"Honestly, I feel regret and pity about this, but at the same time, I also feel… disappointed in you."

"Dis… appointed?"

Jiang Chengcheng turned her head mechanically. The smile on her face was long gone, replaced by unconscious tears streaming down her cheeks and confusion towards Xu Shi.

"Shouldn't I be disappointed? I admire that you haven't lost your will to resist even in this situation. But I find it hard to accept that after I've done everything for you, you're instead cowering.

This isn't what I wanted to see."

Xu Shi retracted his smile and met her gaze with a calm yet disdainful look, like a sharp scalpel precisely cutting into the most vulnerable part of Jiang Chengcheng's heart.

"I…"

Jiang Chengcheng's mind felt numb. She didn't understand why Xu Shi, who had always been kind to her, would suddenly show such an expression and utter such venomous words.

But she was certain she didn't want to hear him say this or see him become like this.

So her hands stopped trembling, and she murmured hoarsely, "Don't… don't say that! Don't!"

"Then prove it to me."

Xu Shi smiled slightly and gently patted the back of her hand holding the gun.

As if guided, Jiang Chengcheng slowly raised her arm.

"...No, no!"

Seeing her increasingly determined gaze, Jiang Fengshan completely panicked and instinctively retreated. "Chengcheng! Don't kill me! After all, I raised you for so many years… Xu Shi, no, Chairman Xu! I know you want evidence against Lin Wenhua. I have a lot here, I'll give it all to you! I'll give it all to you!"

"Shut up."

Xu Shi kicked him in the face, forcefully interrupting his pleas.

But as if awakened by his words, the light in Jiang Chengcheng's eyes gradually returned.

After a moment of hesitation, she dropped the gun.

This was quite unexpected for Xu Shi.

Logically speaking, this should be the limit of his current "Malice Entropy" ability. He had clearly felt that Jiang Chengcheng's hatred and unwillingness had already surpassed the threshold just now.

This isn't enough? Don't tell me this is one of those disgusting forgiveness scenes from melodramatic TV shows.

If that's the case, it would really suck… Xu Shi muttered inwardly, only to hear Jiang Chengcheng slowly speak.

"Chairman Xu... do you have a whip?"

Xu Shi blinked in surprise, then let out a soft chuckle.

My apologies, I underestimated you.

He hadn't prepared a whip, but he did have a police baton from Jing Ge. Using this for the father-daughter's final farewell seemed more impactful than a pistol.

Xu Shi politely gave them their private space, gently closing the cell door and listening to the unending wails from within.

Ah, such sweet, tragic tones!

After an unknown amount of time, the commotion inside the cell gradually subsided.

The door opened, and Jiang Chengcheng walked out without a word. The bloodstains on her body were like scarlet petals, adding a touch of beauty to her.

As for Jiang Fengshan... Xu Shi glanced over, and the horrific scene inside was almost too much for even him to bear.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, he's unrecognizable. So scary. (doge)

"Chairman Xu, I... I did it."

Dropping the police baton, Jiang Chengcheng looked at the blood on her hands and, without a word, smeared it on her lips like lipstick before gently licking it away with her tongue.

After finishing, she could no longer hold back and collapsed into Xu Shi's arms, crying out as if releasing pent-up emotion, "I did it, I did it, thank you..."

"Mhm, you did very well."

Xu Shi gently patted her back, offering soft words of comfort.

He had kept Jiang Fengshan alive until now precisely for this moment. This was the old man's so-called "final value." Although he had been brought down, it wouldn't have been perfect if Jiang Chengcheng hadn't ended it all herself.

And he was now completely certain that he would never have to worry about her loyalty again.

Malice Entropy had completed its cycle within her, signaling that the scarlet flower of corruption was now in full bloom in her heart.

"Miss Jiang Chengcheng, congratulations on your rebirth."