The case's impact was already severe. Whether the higher-ups wanted to use it as a warning or to highlight the role of 002, the trial commenced within a month.
A month prior, the incandescent superstar and heir to the Lu Group were now defendants, suspects in the dock. Lu Jingting was cleanly shaven, his good looks doing nothing to salvage his appearance. Su Dan Novel Network.
Of course, few had the time to scrutinize them; everyone was waiting for the final verdict.
The outcome did not disappoint.
Lu Jingting was sentenced to seven years and six months for attempted murder with malicious intent and significant impact. Cheng Yingxin, for attempted murder, instigating others to commit rape, and employing internet trolls to incite cyberbullying, was handed an eighteen-year sentence with a fine, the punishments compounded.
Although the verdict did not name her victim, it was quickly revealed to be Zhu Keqing. Her suicide after being violated and her private photos and videos circulated online, causing immense humiliation, were all orchestrated by Cheng Yingxin.
Not only Cheng Yingxin, but all those who had previously posted defamatory content, as long as evidence could be found, Zhu Chongyan, acting as Zhu Keqing's brother, would sue them again. It was only right for him to seek justice for her.
Few cared about the minor players; all eyes were on Cheng Yingxin. Even though her social media accounts were shut down the day after her arrest, Zhu Keqing's former fans still vociferously cursed Cheng Yingxin online.
Zhu Zhu had someone visit Cheng Yingxin, reading out their current predicament, especially the attacks and curses hurled at her online, one by one. Only when Cheng Yingxin broke down, weeping and screaming hysterically, did the visitor leave.
A couple of days later, she heard that someone had visited Cheng Yingxin again. After that visit, Cheng Yingxin became somewhat deranged, sometimes disoriented, even revealing her rebirth. She would yell in prison, sometimes crying, sometimes laughing, completely mad.
Following that, she was taken away by a mysterious research institution.
On the same day, Zhu Zhongyan returned to S City, and under the persistent urging of the mysterious figure, went to meet him.
The man before him was an ordinary man, utterly unremarkable, to the point where Zhu Zhongyan had no memory of him.
Of course, he had never actually met this person.
"Brother Liu said you had something to discuss about my sister. What is it?"
The man opposite him looked at him with complex emotions: "You really don't remember anything."
Zhu Zhongyan was bewildered: "Remember what?"
He tried hard to recall: "Do we know each other?"
The man opposite shook his head and shifted his posture: "It seems you haven't realized, you are not Zhu Zhongyan."
Zhu Zhongyan's expression changed: "What do you mean?"
The man opposite pointed to himself: "I am Zhu Zhongyan. Don't you remember? Seven years ago, when my sister committed suicide, my father and I brought her home. We got into a car accident on the way, and you entered my body, becoming me. I drifted for a year before finding a suitable body. I tested you many times, but you had no awareness. You remember everything about me, you thought you were Zhu Zhongyan, held my father's funeral, avenged my sister, but you knew nothing."
Zhu Zhongyan's expression froze.
"This is the sixth life. Do you believe me?"
He didn't believe it, but how could he refute it now?
"When I was eight, a cow gored me in the field, and the corn stalks scratched my arm. There's a scar here."
Zhu Zhongyan instinctively rolled up his sleeve. Even in a place he barely remembered, there was indeed a moon-shaped scar.
He fell silent.
The man opposite also remained quiet for a while, then said: "Although you stole my body, I am grateful to you. You avenged my sister and father. Your wife is incredible. If it were me, I wouldn't be liked by someone so radiant. I might have given up long ago. In fact, I've wanted revenge all these years, but without you, without you all, I could have done nothing."
His expression was clearly joyful: "I'm telling you this to reveal the truth and, at the same time, to prove my existence. Over the years, sometimes I've felt like I was going crazy, constantly oscillating between being Wu Ming and Zhu Zhongyan, my mind in a mess. Now that their revenge is achieved, everything that belonged to me as Zhu Zhongyan is over. I will live a good life under this identity from now on. You too, I wish you happiness."
The man left.
Zhu Zhongyan, however, could not find peace.
He wasn't Zhu Zhongyan, so who was he?
He returned home in a daze. Zhu Zhu had already returned, but he didn't see the baby.
He mustered his spirits, asking with some confusion: "Where is the baby?"
"Rong Jin took her."
Zhu Zhu came over to help him take off his coat. Liu Can followed in with the luggage. Zhu Zhu had also picked them up. It seemed no one else was in this room besides them.
Liu Can sensed the slightly peculiar atmosphere and left quickly after putting down the luggage.
Zhu Zhu led him to the dining table and made him sit down.
"I cooked myself today."
Zhu Zhongyan forced a somewhat stiff smile: "Really? Ah Zhu is so capable?"
"Yes, come and taste it."
Zhu Zhongyan actually had little appetite. He ate the meal without tasting anything. He wanted to clean up, but Zhu Zhu stopped him.
Zhu Zhu held his hand and led him back to the room.
"You already know?"
Zhu Zhongyan realized belatedly: "You, you know..."
Zhu Zhu chuckled: "Ah Yan, I am a god. I can know anything if I wish."
Zhu Zhongyan remained silent, watching her quietly.
"You were never Zhu Zhongyan to begin with. You are Chongyan, my Ah Yan. That's enough."
He still said nothing.
Zhu Zhu leaned in and kissed him.
She stirred Zhu Zhongyan's emotions, leading him through a profound immersion, their intense entanglement making Chongyan let go of everything. Identity, human or god, none of it mattered anymore. Zhu Zhu was right; he was enough with her.
As ultimate pleasure arrived, he heard Zhu Zhu's words hazily once more: Trust me, always trust me!
A night of intoxication.
The next day, Chongyan opened his eyes and felt a gaze upon him.
He turned his head slightly. Zhu Zhu was looking at him with a smile.
"Awake."
"Mmm," his voice was slightly hoarse.
"Get up."
Zhu Zhu jumped off the bed and brought out a box from somewhere. Chongyan sat on the bed, watching her unbox it.
Inside was a transparent double coffin.
His eyes widened.
"Scared?"
He didn't speak.
Zhu Zhu walked over, picked up a box from the side, and opened it, giving him a set of wedding robes: "Put this on, and I'll take you back, okay?"
He didn't move, so Zhu Zhu personally helped him change, then changed herself. She led him to the coffin and placed him inside.
Then, summoning her sword, she drove it through his heart without hesitation.
Chongyan watched blankly, without surprise or sadness, merely observing her silently.
Zhu Zhu lay down beside him, retracting her spiritual energy: "Good boy, let's go."
The echoing mechanical voice once again affirmed his unconditional love and trust for Zhu Zhu.
【Congratulations, Host, mission accomplished.】