Zhong Hua's Difficult Choice
A crisis loomed: Sunlight weakly pierced the thick clouds, casting its glow on the streets and alleys of this bustling city, but it couldn't penetrate Zhong Hua's heart, which was now shrouded in gloom. She huddled in the small, dimly lit living room of her apartment, the old document on the coffee table in front of her particularly glaring. The paper was yellowed, the edges rough, as if time had left its deep claw marks. Just moments before, she had learned that Ah Yu had fallen into Gu Yanting's trap and was facing imprisonment. Like a bolt from the blue, it shattered her already crumbling world completely.
Zhong Hua's fingers unconsciously traced the cover of the document, her thoughts a jumbled mess. She knew that this old document, related to the fire years ago, held crucial clues that could potentially turn the tide and rescue Ah Yu. However, behind each clue seemed to lie a bottomless abyss; revealing it rashly could have consequences far beyond her control. Gu Yanting's influence in this city was deeply entrenched, like a giant octopus lurking in the darkness, its tentacles omnipresent. Revealing the clues would be tantamount to openly declaring war on this monster, potentially dragging not only herself, but also Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing, and even everyone close to her into a terrible storm.
A series of terrifying scenarios flashed through her mind: Gu Yanting's furious revenge, the renewed loss of control over public opinion, and the uninformed masses launching even fiercer attacks against them under the guidance of those with ulterior motives. She could almost see herself, Ah Yu, and Lin Wanqing struggling in the surging tide of public opinion, being mercilessly swallowed up. But could she just stand by and watch Ah Yu be imprisoned, suffering unjust accusations? Zhong Hua's heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, each beat accompanied by excruciating pain.
Memories surge
Zhong Hua's gaze gradually became unfocused, his thoughts drifting back to the moments he shared with Ah Yu. They met at an industry event; Ah Yu, then brimming with talent, shone with a passion and unwavering dedication to her dreams. In a chance conversation, they discovered they shared similar perspectives on many things, and from then on, their paths crossed more and more frequently.
I remember that time when Zhong Hua was working on an important report that had hit a roadblock; all the leads had dried up, and she was plunged into deep self-doubt. When A Yu learned of this, she accompanied her on numerous visits, patiently helping her to organize her thoughts. One stormy night, they sat in a run-down little café, engrossed in a heated discussion amidst a table covered in documents. Rain streamed down the windowpane, blurring the outside world, but bringing their hearts closer. Ultimately, with A Yu's help, the report was successfully completed and received high praise from the industry. At that moment, Zhong Hua looked at A Yu with eyes full of gratitude and admiration, and A Yu returned her a warm and resolute smile.
Then there's Lin Wanqing, a seemingly fragile yet strong-willed woman. After confirming her sibling relationship with Ayu, she and Zhong Hua gradually became close as well. They shopped together, sharing their innermost thoughts. Lin Wanqing would always offer Zhong Hua a warm cup of coffee, providing her with the most comforting solace, when Zhong Hua was at her most helpless. Zhong Hua knew that the deep bond between Lin Wanqing and Ayu was unbreakable. And now, with both siblings in dire straits, how could he stand idly by?
However, the potential harm from releasing the documents also sent chills down Zhong Hua's spine. She recalled the dark days when she was subjected to cyberbullying, the overwhelming malicious comments that seemed to threaten to drown her. Her work was in crisis, and her friends, fearing implication, distanced themselves from her. She could only hide in her apartment every day, afraid to go out or look at her phone. That feeling of isolation and helplessness, of being abandoned by the whole world, is still etched in her memory. She feared that if she took this step, Ah Yu and Lin Wanqing would suffer the same pain, or even worse.
Inner struggle
Time slipped away slowly as Zhong Hua struggled with her decision, each minute and second feeling as long as a year. One moment she would pick up the documents, her fingers clenching tightly, as if drawing strength from them to make a decision; the next moment she would slam the documents onto the table, clutch her head in her hands, and close her eyes in anguish.
"Reveal it, maybe it can save Ah Yu." A voice cried out urgently in her heart.
"No, the consequences would be too serious. We can't act so impulsively," another voice rationally advised.
The two voices clashed incessantly in her mind, giving her a splitting headache. She got up, walked to the window, and drew back the curtains. The blinding sunlight streamed in, causing her to squint instinctively. The street below was bustling with traffic and people hurrying by, as if the world continued to operate according to its predetermined course, and no one cared about the torment she was experiencing.
Zhong Hua took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. She began pacing back and forth in the room, her mind racing as she weighed the pros and cons. Releasing the clues might attract public attention in the short term, putting pressure on the judicial authorities and clearing Ah Yu's name. But Gu Yanting would definitely not let it go; he would mobilize all his resources to retaliate, and then they would face an even more brutal war. Moreover, whether the clues in the documents were truly compelling enough, or whether Gu Yanting would find loopholes and turn the tables on her, were all unknowns.
If the clues aren't released, Ah Yu could very well be wrongfully imprisoned, something Zhong Hua simply cannot accept. She can't bear to watch the person who once helped and warmed her lose their freedom because of her hesitation. Moreover, once Ah Yu is imprisoned, Gu Yanting will undoubtedly become even more unscrupulous, making it even more difficult for them to recover their losses in the future.
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