"Qingchen, do you think Jiang Yao has truly repented?"
Her voice held a hint of doubt, yet also a hint of anticipation. The pain Jiang Yao had inflicted on her in the past was unforgettable, but now, hearing her reflect in prison, a tinge of pity welled up in her heart.
Shen Qingchen frowned slightly and looked into the distance, as if he wanted to penetrate the layers of buildings and see Jiang Yao in prison.
"I hope she truly repents. After all, she was once a pitiful person, blinded by jealousy, and ended up like this."
There was emotion in his tone. Thinking of Jiang Yao's initial appearance and comparing it to now, his heart was filled with regret.
Jiang Zhi took a sip of tea and nodded slightly.
"Yes, no matter what, it's always comforting if someone can reform themselves. However, the price we paid along the way was too high..."
A tear flashed in her eyes. The days of fighting wits and courage with Jiang Yao, the death of Tang Junxi, and the separation and reunion with Shen Qingchen, all came to her mind, making her feel uneasy.
Shen Qingchen reached out and held Jiang Zhi's hand, gently stroking the back of her hand, giving her warmth and strength.
"But thankfully, we all made it through. Now, seeing Jiang Yao's transformation, it can be considered a closure to this past, a somewhat imperfect one, but at least a comforting one."
His eyes were firm and gentle as he looked at Jiang Zhi, as if promising her that in the days ahead, they would walk hand in hand towards a better tomorrow, leaving all the pain behind.
As the days passed, Jiang Yao became more and more immersed in self-reflection and redemption in prison.
In addition to attending psychological counseling courses and writing a confession letter, she also took the initiative to apply for labor reform in the prison. In the workshop, she and other female prisoners were busy at the sewing machine, making clothes for the garment factory.
At first, her fingers were pierced by needles, blood seeping out and staining the cloth red, but she gritted her teeth and persisted, with a stubborn look in her eyes. She knew that this was the punishment she deserved and also the test for her to become a new person.
Every night, when all was quiet, Jiang Yao would lie in bed, gazing at the pitch-black ceiling, the images of Jiang Zhi and Shen Qingchen still floating in her mind. But now, those images were no longer the source of her jealousy and resentment, but rather the driving force that spurred her to change.
She silently swore in her heart that if she had the chance, she would apologize to them in person and spend the rest of her life making up for the mistakes she had made. Even if she could only do something insignificant, as long as she could make them feel her sincerity, she would be willing to do it.
The prison management also noticed the changes in Jiang Yao. During their daily patrols, prison guards would see her reading books carefully or working hard with a focused and determined look in her eyes.
During a conversation between her and a prison guard, she sincerely expressed her determination to turn over a new leaf. Although her voice was soft, it revealed an unquestionable strength.
The prison guards were pleased with her transformation and began to give her some small encouragement and support, such as allocating more books for her to study, or giving her appropriate guidance on labor tasks to help her complete them better.
Meanwhile, Jiang Zhi and Shen Qingchen's lives remained busy and fulfilling. Their family business prospered under their joint efforts, and their children flourished in their own respective paths.
But occasionally, when they have free time, they will still think of Jiang Yao, the woman who once caused them so much trouble and is now trying to seek redemption in prison.
The complex emotions in their hearts gradually became more tolerant and relieved as Jiang Yao changed.
Once, while sorting out her family's charitable affairs, Jiang Zhi suddenly thought of Jiang Yao, who was serving a prison sentence. She had an idea, and after discussing it with Shen Qingchen, they decided to use the charity foundation to provide some vocational skills training courses for prisoners in prison, hoping to help them acquire a skill and better integrate into society after their release. This naturally included Jiang Yao.
When Jiang Yao learned the news, she was working in the workshop. A prison guard approached her and whispered the news. Her movements paused for a moment, and she looked up, her eyes filled with shock and gratitude.
"Really? They... they're willing to help us?" Her voice trembled, and her eyes instantly moistened. At this moment, she deeply felt the tolerance and kindness of Jiang Zhi and Shen Qingchen. It was a light of salvation that she had never expected, shining directly into her dark heart and dispelling the last trace of haze.
In the days that followed, Jiang Yao studied even harder for the vocational skills courses. Whether it was cooking, hairdressing, or crafting, she threw herself into each one, taking dense notes and always being the most diligent during the practical exercises. She knew that this was the chance for rebirth given to her by Jiang Zhi and Shen Qingchen, and she must not let it go to waste.
As her sentence drew to a close, Jiang Yao felt both anxious and excited.
She was afraid to face the world after she was released from prison, the world that she had hurt, and she was afraid of being looked down upon and despised by others; but she also looked forward to the opportunity to start over, to practice her repentance, and to make up for her past mistakes.
Jiang Zhi and Shen Qingchen were also quietly following her situation, waiting for the day she would be released from prison. They wondered what kind of scene would unfold when the three of them met...
But no matter what, Jiang Yao's change is like a star that lights up in the dark night sky. Although it is weak, it brings a ray of warmth and hope to this story full of twists and turns. It makes people look forward to whether the future can really move towards a better direction as everyone wishes.
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