The Finale
Since returning from the beach that day, Qu Shiyao's life seems to have truly returned to normal.
She arrives at the Su Group on time every day to handle documents, attend meetings, and coordinate the work of various departments, all in an orderly manner.
Seeing that she remained calm and efficient at work, the others assumed she had moved on and tacitly stopped mentioning that name.
A few days later, news came that Sicheng, who was in prison, wanted to see her.
Qu Shiyao didn't seem to care about this.
Since the rating has already reached 9.5, she doesn't mind going to see what happens to this domineering CEO in the end.
Looking at the man across the glass of the visiting room, dressed in prison clothes, looking haggard with dark circles under his eyes, she smiled slightly.
"I thought you wouldn't come." Si Cheng's voice was hoarse, and his eyes were unfocused.
Qu Shiyao sat down calmly, her gaze serene: "I came to see you on her behalf."
She leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice: "If she saw you like this here, she would probably be very pleased."
"Her?" A look of confusion flashed in Si Cheng's eyes, then his pupils contracted sharply, and an incredulous look of horror spread across his face.
"You...you're not..."
"It's just as you suspected." Qu Shiyao smiled slightly, but there was no warmth in that smile.
"Who are you?!" Si Cheng's voice rose, filled with panic.
Qu Shiyao leaned back in her chair, tilted her head, and flashed an arrogant smile: "By seniority, she might be your long-lost ancestor."
System: [? ? ?] Host, what nonsense are you spouting?
Si Cheng paid no attention to it. He held his head and murmured, "If only it wasn't her... if only it wasn't her..."
"You've got it wrong."
Qu Shiyao coldly interrupted him, saying clearly, word by word, "If she were still alive, she wouldn't have chosen to jump into the sea in her previous life. She would have been more likely to drag you, this cancer, down with her."
She stood up, looking down at him with disdain: "Unfortunately, she finds even a glance at you disgusting."
After saying that, she turned and left without a trace of regret.
The heavy door closed behind her, shutting out Si Cheng's face, which had instantly lost all color and was filled with despair.
Stepping out of the prison, the afternoon sun was a bit too bright.
A familiar black luxury car silently glided up in front of her.
The car window rolled down, revealing Su Wanwan's delicate, doll-like face.
Qu Shiyao raised an eyebrow, opened the car door and got in, teasingly saying, "Chairman Su, you're so busy, how come you have time to pick me up? Did you acquire CAQ Group?"
"The situation is settled." Su Wanwan closed the magazine and looked up at her:
"You deserve much credit for this successful acquisition. As agreed, do you want cash or 10% of CAQ Group's shares?"
"How much cash?" Qu Shiyao immediately looked up, her eyes shining.
Su Wanwan was amused by her reaction: "According to the assessment, it is about 956 million."
Qu Shiyao stroked her chin, feigning profundity: "956 million? That number is a bit scattered. Chairman Su, could you round it up to a whole number like 1 billion?"
Su Wanwan was so angry she laughed: "Why didn't you let me round it up to 500 million?"
"That won't do!" Qu Shiyao waved her hands repeatedly and said, "500 million is too far, 1 billion is closer, it shows your generosity!"
Su Wanwan gave her the back of her head.
Ultimately, after Qu Shiyao relentlessly pursued her, Su Wanwan used her own savings to subsidize the deal, raising a total of 1 billion yuan and transferring it to Qu Shiyao's account.
Looking at the long string of zeros after the payment confirmation, Qu Shiyao smiled contentedly.
Time flies, and the end of the year is just around the corner. Qu Shiyao organized a large-scale barbecue party in the suburbs.
Of course, given her frugal nature, the venue, equipment, and ingredients were all generously sponsored by Miss Su, who is now Chairman Su.
Most of the people who received the invitation had a good relationship with Qu Shiyao.
Gao Huixin and other gossipy comrades on the 8th floor of CAQ Group;
Lin Weiwei, Wang Qian, Zhang Li, and Jin Yuxi of the Su Group;
Shen Qingyi and Gu Yanxi have become core members of the Su family;
Yi Yu's older sister, Cai Yixuan, and Zhao Henxi, who firmly believes that her brother is still alive.
The party was lively, with crackling charcoal and the aroma of food filling the air.
Taking advantage of everyone's pleasant buzz, Qu Shiyao raised her drink and announced, "Everyone! After the New Year, I plan to take the money and flee abroad to travel the world!"
Everyone assumed she was joking and teased her relentlessly:
"With your meager salary, you could barely afford to travel around the city!"
"Found a way to make money? Bring your sisters along!"
"Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and flip the chicken wings, they're going to burn!"
Qu Shiyao smiled but remained silent.
However, to everyone's surprise, not long after returning to work after the New Year, Qu Shiyao actually submitted her resignation to Su Wanwan and expressed her willingness to sell back the shares of Su's Group she held.
The atmosphere in the chairman's office was tense.
Su Wanwan looked at the resignation letter, remained silent for a moment, and then looked up: "Are you really sure?"
"I've thought it through." Qu Shiyao said casually, munching on a pear. "Your situation here is as stable as a mountain, you don't need me anymore, so it's time for me to retire gracefully and live my carefree life."
"Alright then." Su Wanwan sighed softly and said, "Everyone has their own ambitions. As for the shares you hold, I will buy them back at a premium to the market price, for 2 billion."
"Shiyao! Why are you suddenly leaving?!"
The office door was suddenly pushed open, and Shen Qingyi rushed in in a panic.
Gu Yanxi followed closely behind.
"You two!" Su Wanwan's brow twitched, and she couldn't help but ask, "Don't you need to knock before entering my office?"
Gu Yanxi immediately stepped back to the door and knocked symbolically twice on the open door: "Chairman Su, I'm knocking. I'll take care of Qingyi's share as well."
Su Wanwan was so angry she laughed. Seeing Shen Qingyi holding Qu Shiyao's hand and trying to persuade her, she helplessly rubbed her temples and said, "Qingyi, don't be nervous. She's fine. She just wants to go out and have some fun, and also cash out the money and take it with her."
Shen Qingyi breathed a slight sigh of relief, but was still worried: "Shiyao, you don't need to resign. Just take a long leave and go on vacation for a year or two. I'll still keep your position for you."
Qu Shiyao put down the pear core, slumped into the sofa, and waved her hand: "Don't worry about it. Just think of it as wanting to retire early and enjoy life. Don't worry, I'll live a better life than anyone else!"
Shen Qingyi and Gu Yanxi exchanged a glance, confirming that she was not acting impulsively, so they stopped insisting and offered their blessings.
I returned to my apartment after completing my resignation procedures at 11 a.m.
Qu Shiyao, as if possessed, walked to the door of Yiyu Apartment and opened it with the spare key.
The furnishings inside remained the same, everything was preserved as it was when he left.
She slowly walked into the kitchen, looking at the neatly arranged cookware on the counter. In a daze, she seemed to see that slender figure wearing an apron again, turning around and smiling to reveal her little tiger teeth as she asked:
"Sister Shiyao, would you like spicy grilled fish or garlic grilled fish tonight?"
She walked to the balcony and turned her head to the side.
The afternoon sun was shining brightly in.
In a daze, she seemed to see the awkward scene from their first encounter.
From his perspective, she was probably backlit, her whole being bathed in a warm glow.
She stood quietly for a long time before leaving the apartment, carefully locking the door, and returning to her own side.
She watered the sunflowers on the balcony, went into the bedroom, and took a wooden box from deep inside a drawer.
Upon opening the box, the faded purple safety rope lay quietly inside.
The system whispered a reminder: [Host, we can't take this with us...]
“System…” Qu Shiyao gently picked up the safety rope, her fingertips tracing the woven patterns.
"Could you put it in my file? As a keepsake."
【Hmm...okay!】The system's search rules explained:
[After the mission is successfully completed, mission participants who choose to return to their original world can select a special item for archiving.]
"Yes, thank you for your trouble." Qu Shiyao's voice was slightly downcast.
The system, unaccustomed to its host's politeness, said hesitantly, "[It's no trouble at all! Actually, the host doesn't need to be so polite to me...]"
"What are you waiting for? Get started!"
Qu Shiyao immediately reverted to her true nature, urging, "My body has been lying down for so long, I still need to go back for rehabilitation training! Time is money!"
System: [...] Okay, it's still used to this kind of host.
It immediately brings up the task panel and finds the "Completion and Settlement" option.
The moment Qu Shiyao confirmed it, a soft yet intense white light completely enveloped her.
In the instant before her consciousness was swallowed up, Qu Shiyao suddenly asked, "System, was my original world also considered a novel world?"
Each small world that is successfully traversed and whose main storyline is completed will gradually evolve into an independent real world.
"Will there be mission takers going to my world in the future?"
The system understood her meaning and comforted her in a lighthearted tone: "The chances are very small! Besides, even if Yi Yu really went to your world, your memories of this place will be sealed away when you return; you won't remember him."
"It's okay! As long as he recognizes me." Qu Shiyao's voice was unusually firm and confident.
[System A06 here, officially severing its bond with host Qu Shiyao!] The system's electronic voice was exceptionally solemn as it looked at the impending disconnection and sincerely stated:
[Wishing you a safe journey home, and a peaceful and joyful life ahead! And hopefully that silly fish will live up to expectations and come to your side soon!!!]
The white light completely faded, and the room was empty except for the sunflowers on the balcony swaying in the breeze.
On the other side, Su Wanwan wailed at the mountain of documents: "What a blunder! I should have been more ruthless and kept her around for a few more years to work like a slave! Only after she left did I realize how much work she had on her plate!"
The gray, mimicking spirit, A04, appeared before her, hands on hips, and said: "I warned you! And now look what's happened? Your business empire mission is only 70% complete, and the strongest worker has run away!"
"What can I do? If she stays in the main space as a mission taker, I can easily order her around! But she's determined to be resurrected and go home, and my conscience won't allow it!" Su Wanwan's stamping motion was so fast it was almost a blur.
[Conscience?] A04 looked at Su Wanwan suspiciously and asked, [You even have this kind of thing?]
"Why didn't I?!" Su Wanwan slammed down the file and stood up, exclaiming excitedly.
"When I found out Sun Mei was going to target Yi Yu, didn't I immediately contact Hui Ying, who had just finished fighting, and tell her to change the rules? If I hadn't done that, Yi Yu would be dead already! Also, I sent her a small gift; she should receive it. Wasn't that good enough for me???"
【Yes, yes, yes!】A04 rolled her eyes and said speechlessly:
[Huiying only sent you to this low-difficulty small world to earn points and make up for the losses in the big battle because your combat power was zero. And what did you do? You were only focused on acting! The slow progress of the mission is primarily your fault!]
"Nonsense!" Su Wanwan's eyebrows furrowed, and her baby face contorted into a grimace.
"You were the one who saw your best friend mentoring the newcomers and insisted that I play along to amuse them! Now you're blaming me? You're the real culprit!"
【You're talking nonsense!!!】A04 was so angry at her shamelessness that he was practically fuming.
For a time, the system and the taskers in the office were arguing fiercely, and today's work had to be postponed again.
-----------------
White ceiling, the smell of disinfectant, rough white sheets.
Qu Shiyao's consciousness surfaced like someone who had sunk to the surface of the deep sea, and she struggled to open her eyes.
My mind was a complete blank, like a rusty machine that needed a reboot.
"Xiao Yao! You're awake?!" A trembling voice rang out from beside her.
Qu Shiyao struggled to turn her eyes and saw her mother standing by her side. Tears welled up instantly, and she tightly grasped her mother's hand, sobbing uncontrollably.
Qu Shiyao wanted to say something to comfort her, but her throat was dry, and she managed to squeeze out a breathy voice: "Mom...it's...okay...don't cry..."
The hospital room door was pushed open, and Mr. Qu, a burly man, came in carrying takeout. He was stunned to see his awakened daughter, and then a huge surprise and joy filled his face: "Little Qu! You're awake?! How are you feeling?"
Looking at her parents' worried and weary faces, Qu Shiyao couldn't help but shed tears.
What followed was a long and arduous rehabilitation process.
She died suddenly from overwork and was initially declared brain dead.
The original company paid 820,000 yuan in compensation.
After being in a coma for nearly a year, his physical functions have deteriorated significantly, and his memory is confused and blurry. He always feels like he has forgotten something.
But Qu's parents patiently accompanied her throughout, helping her to sort out her memory rehabilitation.
Friends and colleagues came to visit one after another, bringing news from the outside world and complaining about the company's bizarre incidents, making her feel that she was not out of touch with the world.
After more than six months of rehabilitation in the hospital, Qu Shiyao was finally discharged and returned home to recuperate.
Although he walks slowly and cannot run or engage in strenuous exercise, he is basically self-sufficient and can take walks alone.
That day, Qu Shiyao strolled home after a small gathering with old friends.
Passing by a lottery shop, she impulsively went in and picked a few sets of numbers based entirely on her gut feeling.
I heard that the jackpot for this draw has accumulated to 100 million, and the draw will take place in about a week.
She glanced at the lottery ticket casually, stuffed it into her bag, and continued her leisurely stroll.
She stopped by Lao Qu's martial arts gym for rehabilitation training on her way home, hoping to catch a ride home with him after get off work.
Standing at the entrance of the martial arts school, she noticed that the long-vacant shops across the street were under renovation, and it looked like they were going to open a milk tea shop.
"Opening a milk tea shop? That's great. I won't have to waste money ordering takeout anymore if I want to drink milk tea." Qu Shiyao nodded in satisfaction and slowly turned to enter the martial arts gym.
She didn't notice that a young man wearing a T-shirt and apron came out of the bubble tea shop across the street for some fresh air.
My gaze inadvertently swept across the entrance of the martial arts school, then lingered on the slowly disappearing figure, and I froze.
"Host, what's wrong?" the voice in my mind asked curiously.
"Do you think it's possible for people to look exactly alike, even have similar temperaments, in different worlds?" The man murmured absentmindedly, staring at the empty entrance of the martial arts school.
[Theoretically, it should exist, right?] The system is not quite sure.
Yi Yu remained silent for a moment, then shook his head and turned back to the shop with a hint of disappointment.
Perhaps it's just an illusion.
In his world, his sister Shiyao must be living a wonderful life with Su Wanwan and the others, right?
She's so amazing, she'll definitely be happy.
Another week passed, and Qu Shiyao leisurely lay on the rocking chair on the balcony, photosynthesizing and surfing the internet.
I remembered that the lottery results for the tickets I bought earlier were being drawn today, so I casually clicked on the official website to check.
The next second, she suddenly sprang up from the rocking chair, and fell directly to the ground in such a sudden movement.
"Holy crap! No way! Really?!" Qu Shiyao scrambled into the room, rummaging through drawers and cabinets looking for lottery tickets.
Hearing the commotion, Mr. Qu peeked out and saw his daughter had turned the room upside down. He sighed, "Little Qu! Remember to put it back in its original state after you're done! I just cleaned it up today!"
"Old Qu, you don't understand! I'm going to be rich! Our Qu family is going to produce a billionaire!!!" Qu Shiyao's voice changed with excitement as she finally found the lottery ticket in the hidden compartment.
I checked it over and over again to confirm that one of the numbers was a perfect match for the first prize on the official website!
Her hands trembled as she held the light, fluttering piece of paper, as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.
Confused, Mr. Qu walked over, picked up his daughter's phone which she had thrown on the bed, and checked the lottery results.
Upon seeing this, his pupils dilated and his breathing became rapid!
"Holy crap! Holy crap!! Holy crap!!!" Mr. Qu exclaimed three times in a row, turning his head sharply to look at the precious item in his daughter's hand. He frantically searched for the jewelry box, his voice trembling:
"Quick! Put it in! Display it properly! Don't wrinkle or lose it!"
Qu's mother, who didn't have many classes today, arrived home early. When she entered, she saw her husband and daughter kneeling and chanting incantations over an open jewelry box with three chopsticks in hand.
She frowned: "Qu Jingwen! You've led Xiaoyao into feudal superstition again?!"
After Mr. Qu explained incoherently, Mrs. Qu was also stunned.
Ultimately, the responsibility of receiving the award fell to Mr. Qu, who had more experience.
He used all his skills to paint two mosaics on his and Qu Shiyao's faces, wrapped themselves in thick, out-of-season down jackets and scarves, and the father and daughter sneaked off to receive the award like thieves.
At the award ceremony, as expected, curious reporters and passersby wanted to see the face of the multi-million dollar winner, and someone even pretended to accidentally pull off Qu Shiyao's hat.
The hat slipped off, revealing a face with wildly colorful lines meticulously drawn by Qu's father.
"A ghost!" The man screamed, his face turning deathly pale, and scrambled away.
Other journalists and staff were also taken aback by the visual impact.
Qu's father snorted smugly, concealing his accomplishment: "Trying to fight me? I was prepared for that!"
This bizarre incident involving the award recipient became a trending topic on social news, sparking heated discussions, with netizens jokingly calling it "the most hardcore anti-spy camera technique of the year."
The next day, Yi Yu, who was preparing for the opening of her new store, was idly scrolling through her phone when she came across this bizarre news.
When I clicked on the accompanying picture and zoomed in on the one with exaggerated makeup but clearly defined eyebrows and eyes, I felt frozen in place. The bottle of syrup I was holding clattered to the ground, splattering syrup everywhere.
[Host! The syrup has fallen!!!] The system screamed in distress.
Yi Yu turned a deaf ear.
My eyes were glued to the phone screen, my heart pounding wildly.
This face.
Even the most flamboyant makeup couldn't hide that cunning and arrogant look in his eyes...
He knows it all too well!
The look in the eyes of the person in the photo was becoming more and more like the image of Sister Shiyao in his memory, almost identical!
He abruptly dropped everything, forgetting even to take off his apron, and turned around, eager to rush out of the store to confirm the location mentioned in the news.
Meanwhile, Qu Shiyao, who had nothing to do, saw that the milk tea shop across from her house, which had been under renovation for a while, was opening today and wanted to come and support it and try the taste.
She pushed open the clean glass door and went inside.
At that moment, Yi Yu, who was in a hurry to leave, and Qu Shiyao, who was strolling into the store, met each other's eyes.
Time seemed to stand still.
Based on Qu Shiyao's past aesthetic standards, a man with dark skin who looks sunny but is also shy is not her type.
But strangely, the moment our eyes met, a voice in my mind said: Perhaps, I can change my aesthetic standards for him?
As for Yi Yu, the moment he saw Qu Shiyao's face clearly, all his doubts and uncertainties vanished.
It's her! It must be her! Even if there are slight differences in appearance, he would never mistake that unique soul aura!
"System!" he cried out excitedly in his heart, his voice trembling, "Can you sense it? Was that person on the other side also a former host?"
[How would I know! Every mission participant's information is kept confidential!] The system thinks the host is trying to flirt and is just making excuses!
"No, I know." Yi Yu's gaze followed Qu Shiyao closely, a bright and certain smile slowly spreading across his face, revealing his signature cute little tiger teeth, his eyes sparkling with immense joy.
"It must be her!"
This time, he wanted to stay in this world and walk with her.
——【The End】——
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