!

Seeing the gun that Xu Shi forcefully shoved into her hand, Jiang Chengcheng was momentarily at a loss.

There was even a hint of panic in his eyes.

Xu Shi was not surprised by her reaction.

When he publicly challenged Jiang Fengshan before, he did not let Jiang Chengcheng confront her adoptive father in person, but instead asked her to watch the live broadcast in the next room.

Even during the subsequent public prosecution and trial, they avoided having her appear in person whenever possible.

On the one hand, it was to take care of her feelings—publicly revealing the evidence would inevitably reopen her wounds, and if it were exposed to the public eye... that would also be a trial for her.

Secondly, he was also aware that Jiang Chengcheng's fear of Jiang Fengshan was ingrained in her very being.

Just like Pavlov's dog, even though she already knew that the other party was at a dead end and could be slaughtered, when faced with all of this, the memories of the past would still make her subconsciously shrink back.

Just like now.

"You... Jiang Chengcheng, how dare you?!"

When Jiang Fengshan saw Xu Shi hand the gun to her, she panicked.

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

His hoarse roar, though seemingly fierce, did indeed frighten Jiang Chengcheng. Her hand holding the gun began to tremble, and she retreated in shock.

"I……"

"Don't be afraid."

Just then, Xu Shi supported her from behind and whispered in her ear, "Think carefully about what he has done to you."

"With your abilities, you should have become the most dazzling new star in Night City after graduating from the academy."

"People will go crazy for your scientific achievements, and you will stand under the spotlight, wearing the most gorgeous dress and the most exquisite makeup, representing glory."

"The moment you appear, they will all raise their glasses and cheer for you."

As he spoke slowly and deliberately, Jiang Chengcheng's eyes gradually became vacant, as if she were fantasizing about such a scene, and an unconscious smile appeared on her face.

But what is the truth?

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

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

“If you are not careful, you will be beaten and scolded. Gradually, you will become afraid to communicate with outsiders. You will wrap yourself tightly in a messy and rough outfit and sink into the dust little by little.”

"All the ambitions you once held in your heart have vanished into thin air, and you can't even find the meaning of your life anymore."

“If I hadn’t discovered all of this, this secret would have continued until the moment Jiang Fengshan entered his grave—of course, even then, you would still be unable to escape it. I believe he would not allow anyone to know all of this.”

"To be honest, I feel regret and pity about this, but at the same time, I also feel...disappointed in you."

"disappointment?"

Jiang Chengcheng mechanically turned her head, the smile on her face long gone, replaced by unconscious tear tracks and confusion about Xu Shi.

"Shouldn't I be disappointed? I admire that you didn't lose your will to fight back even in this situation. But I find it hard to accept that after I did everything for you, you instead cowered and backed down."

This is not what I want to see.

Xu Shi suppressed 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 went blank. She didn't know why Xu Shi, who was always kind to her, would suddenly show such an expression and say such vicious words.

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

Then her hands stopped trembling, and she murmured hoarsely, "No...don't say that! No!"

"Then prove it to me."

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

As if guided, Jiang Chengcheng slowly raised her arm.

"...No, no!"

Seeing her increasingly determined gaze, Jiang Fengshan panicked completely and subconsciously took a step back. "Chengcheng! Don't kill me! I've raised you for so many years... Xu Shi, no, Chairman Xu! I know you want evidence of Lin Wenhua's crimes. I have plenty here, all of it for you! All of it for you!"

"Shut up."

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

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

After hesitating for a moment, she threw the gun aside.

This was quite unexpected.

Logically speaking, this should be the limit of his current ability to "increase the entropy of evil thoughts." Just now, it was also obvious that Jiang Chengcheng's hatred and resentment had exceeded the threshold.

Is this not allowed? Don't tell me this is one of those disgusting forgiveness scenes from melodramatic TV dramas.

"That would be too ridiculous..." Xu Shi muttered to himself, but then he heard Jiang Chengcheng slowly speak.

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

...

Xu Shi was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.

I'm sorry, I underestimated you.

He didn't prepare a whip, but he did have a police baton.

Using this as a final farewell between father and daughter seems to carry more weight than a pistol.

Xu Shi politely gave them some private space, gently closed the cell door, and listened to the incessant wails coming from inside.

Ah~ a sweet, tragic tone!

It's unclear how much time passed before the commotion inside the cell gradually subsided.

The door opened, and Jiang Chengcheng walked out without saying a word. The bloodstains on her body, like scarlet flower petals, added to her beauty.

As for Jiang Fengshan... he glanced at the scene inside, and even Xu Shi found it hard to bear the sight.

Tsk tsk tsk, they don't even look human anymore, how scary! (doge)

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

Dropping the police baton, Jiang Chengcheng looked at the bloodstains on her hands, silently smeared them on her lips like lipstick, and then gently licked them off with her tongue.

After doing all this, she could no longer hold back and collapsed into Xu Shi's arms, sobbing uncontrollably, "I did it, I did it, thank you..."

"Yes, you did a great job."

Xu Shi gently patted her back, comforting her in soft, gentle words.

The reason he kept Jiang Fengshan alive until now is precisely for this reason.

This is what the old folks call "ultimate value".

Although he has been brought down, it wouldn't be perfect if Jiang Chengcheng didn't end it all herself.

And he could be certain that from now on, he would no longer have to worry about her loyalty.

The cycle of "entropy of evil thoughts" has already completed within her body, proclaiming that the crimson flower of depravity is blooming in her heart.

"Miss Jiang Chengcheng, congratulations on your new life."