Chapter 49 Empathy Returns to the Negotiation Scene, Goodbye Zhang Ya...
Is another time travel scenario?
As the familiar dizziness struck, countless fragments of light and shadow flashed before Chu Yanxi's eyes.
Qiao Zhaoran's silent weeping in the mountain village; Chunni's calm as she slumped to the ground, cleaver in hand; Ruan Xiaofen's weary and resentful gaze beside the machine tool; Lin Rong's despair and self-blame as she slapped herself while holding the hospital's payment reminder; the trembling figure beneath her fists... and the lifeless face of her father, Chu Tongyu, covered by a white sheet, and Wang Caifeng's gleaming dagger.
Four worlds, four journeys.
Each time was like a carving knife, smoothing away Chu Yanxi's overly hard edges and melting the emotional world frozen by her father's tragedy. She was no longer the "expert" who could only mechanically follow the negotiation manual and operate according to the negotiation process; she learned to squat down and see their world through their eyes.
The vortex of consciousness gradually subsided.
Chu Yanxi suddenly opened her eyes!
The blinding sunlight streamed through the restaurant's huge floor-to-ceiling windows, making her dizzy. All she could hear were the cacophony of voices, suppressed sobs, and the crackling of police walkie-talkies.
The restaurant at the Jade Palace.
One hour before the explosion!
Chu Yanxi lowered her head, her heart pounding wildly beneath the bulletproof vest.
She's back!
She's back!
Back to the real world from the novel "Breaking the Cocoon"!
Before her, Zhang Ya was gripping Li Li's neck tightly, a dinner knife pressed against her carotid artery, the line of blood glaringly visible. Her face was contorted with agitation and tears, her eyes glazed over, and an unnatural bulge was clearly visible at her waist.
Everything is exactly the same as before.
But Chu Yanxi knew that everything was different now.
She's different now.
Chu Yanxi raised his hands and calmly walked step by step toward Zhang Ya, turning his head to whisper: "Report, target Zhang Ya, extremely unstable emotionally, bulge at the waist, suspected to be an explosive device."
Upon hearing the suspected presence of explosives, Master Qin Feng immediately ordered, "Xiao Xi, retreat immediately! Close-range negotiations are not recommended!"
"Master, received. The situation is under control. Please trust me and follow my lead." Chu Yanxi's voice was unusually calm, yet carried a convincing power. "Do not provoke her for now. Turn off all sirens and bright lights. External personnel, retreat to create space for dialogue. Also..."
She paused, her sharp gaze sweeping over a hurried figure outside the restaurant: "Bring lawyer Lu Zhe in. Now. I need him."
Qin Feng, inside the command vehicle, was stunned for a moment.
Chu Yanxi's tone... changed. It was no longer that gentle tone with a deliberate imitation, but a deep calm that seemed to absorb all chaos.
Although he didn't know the reason for Chu Yanxi's change, Qin Feng hesitated for a moment before choosing to trust his apprentice. He pressed the call button: "Do as Chu Yanxi says, let Attorney Lu enter the inner circle!"
Once outside the cordon, Lu Zhe received permission and immediately crouched down and crawled inside.
He strode to Chu Yanxi's side, his gaze sweeping over her face, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of excitement and trepidation: "Chu..."
Chu Yanxi's gaze never left Zhang Ya. She raised her hand, tilted her head slightly, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, at a very fast pace, "Lu Zhe, I need your cooperation."
One sentence confirmed to Lu Zhe that this Chu Yanxi was not the same Chu Yanxi, and he immediately became overjoyed: "Great!"
The joy of regaining what was lost surged into Lu Zhe's chest. His pupils dilated slightly, and the corners of his mouth turned up. Even though he was facing a crazy woman who could detonate a fuse at any moment, Lu Zhe felt incredibly at ease—he could stand with Chu Yanxi and fight alongside her again! As long as she was there, nothing was a problem.
Recalling his four experiences of transmigrating into books, a strange sense of trust welled up within him. Lu Zhe nodded emphatically: "Tell me, what do you want me to do?"
Time is life, Chu Yanxi said rapidly:
"Your task is to give her hope from a legal perspective, to tell her that even if she has made a mistake, as long as she stops in time, proactively confesses, cooperates with the investigation, shows a good attitude in admitting her guilt, and there are reasons for her actions—long-term betrayal by her husband, emotional abuse, and the transfer of assets—the judge will take these into consideration when sentencing. The law is impartial, but judges are human, and humans have feelings. The key is to let her know that if she stops now, she still has a future, her life is not over, and her daughter's future will not be completely ruined. Do you understand?"
Lu Zhe instantly understood Chu Yanxi's strategy; Chu Yanxi was truly different from before.
What she said was not just negotiation skills; she was genuinely trying to pave a way back for the desperate on the edge of a cliff.
With a solemn expression, he replied earnestly, "Understood! Leave the securing of evidence, the presentation of facts, and the offering of hope to me."
The simple exchange revealed the tacit understanding and trust that the two had honed through traversing multiple worlds.
According to the negotiation procedure, when Chu Yanxi was about eight meters away from Zhang Ya, he raised his hand and spun around in place to indicate that he was not carrying any weapons. Then he stood still at a distance of about three meters.
She spoke, her voice no longer the professional gentleness of the beginning, but a tenderness and pity from the bottom of her heart: "Sister Zhang, I know that you feel like there's a fire burning inside you right now, so much so that you want to destroy everything, including yourself."
Zhang Ya did not lower her guard because of Chu Yanxi's words; her emotions remained intense: "I want to see him! Make him come to see me!"
Chu Yanxi nodded gently, "Okay! I understand what you mean, I will definitely make him come to see you."
"Liars! You're all liars!" Zhang Ya screamed, pressing the knife deeper by another millimeter. The hostage let out a short whimper. "He won't come! He'll just hide! He's lying to me with this bastard! Fourteen years! I've suffered with him for fourteen years! Now that he has money, he wants to kick me aside!"
Her accusations were fragmented and chaotic; the Chu Yanxi of the past didn't understand what she really wanted.
—It was clearly Zhang Ya who wanted to see her husband and forced the police to call Wang Peng. But why didn't she trust the police, or believe her husband would face her?
But now, Chu Yanxi saw the raw, bleeding wound hidden deep within her heart, knowing that what she needed wasn't just understanding, but a trial. She wanted Wang Peng to appear, kneel before her, and face a public moral judgment. Yet, she was also afraid—afraid that the law couldn't touch him, that the police couldn't control him.
What Chu Yanxi needs to do now is to stand on the same side as Zhang Ya, jointly condemn Wang Peng, and gain Zhang Ya's initial trust.
"I'm a woman too, I understand your pain." Chu Yanxi spoke slowly, her gaze meeting Zhang Ya's frantic eyes honestly. "Right now, you not only hate Wang Peng, but don't you also hate yourself? Hate yourself for being so foolish, for betting the best years of your life, all your energy, on such a man. You hate even more why, after giving everything, he can so easily walk away, taking your money and living a carefree life with other women, while you have to resort to madness just to make people notice you exist?"
Zhang Ya's body trembled violently, her eyes momentarily unfocused, revealing a deep-seated pain: "Hate? Yes, I really hate."
Chu Yanxi caught this slight shift in her tone and immediately raised her voice, which became even lower: "Do you think that the only way you can get justice is to drag them down to hell with you?"
Zhang Ya's lips trembled, and she didn't speak, but the deathly stillness in her eyes revealed her acquiescence.
“Sister Zhang, I’ve seen many women like you, driven to the brink of despair.” Chu Yanxi’s voice was soft, yet it carried a maturity beyond her years. “Some were crushed by life, never to lift their heads again; some chose the most decisive way, ending it all; but there were also…”
She paused, her eyes gradually brightening: "In what seemed like a hopeless situation, I gritted my teeth, swallowed my blood, and pulled myself out of the mire bit by bit, not to forgive anyone, but just to tell myself: My life shouldn't be ruined like this! My worth shouldn't be defined by that scoundrel!"
“You, you’re just a little girl, what do you know…” Zhang Ya retorted hoarsely, but her tears flowed even more fiercely.
Chu Yanxi shook her head, her voice filled with genuine pain: "My father died when I was eight years old, brutally murdered by a drug dealer's mistress. At that time, I would curl up in a corner, unable to see anyone. When my mother remarried, I felt that she had betrayed my father and abandoned me. I was really sad at that time."
Zhang Ya was a kind person. When she heard that Chu Yanxi, a negotiation expert, had such a pitiful childhood, her thoughts were unconsciously led astray. She said in a hoarse voice, "Your mother... maybe she had no choice."
Chu Yanxi smiled bitterly: "I know what it feels like to be betrayed by the person you trust most. It feels like a huge hole has been dug in your heart, letting in drafts, cold and empty, making you feel that life is meaningless, but you are unwilling to die."
Zhang Ya stared blankly at her. The policewoman's words were like those of an artist, accurately bringing to life the unspeakable pain in her heart and splashing it onto the canvas.
She hadn't expected that when she threatened a hostage with a knife, the police who came to negotiate with her wouldn't use clichés like "put down the knife" or "think of your child," but instead would also reopen her own wounds and reveal her suffering. For a moment, Zhang Yajian didn't know what to say, and the hand holding the knife loosened its grip slightly.
Chu Yanxi suddenly asked, "You think everything is meaningless, right?"
Zhang Ya gave a bitter smile, her eyes filled with despair: "Meaning? What meaning do I have? A haggard old woman, a good-for-nothing whose husband can't even stand her! The only thing I can do is make them remember me, even if it's in this way!"
"No, you're wrong." Chu Yanxi denied decisively, her voice suddenly rising with a powerful, affirmative force. "You have meaning! Your very existence has meaning!"
"Xiaoxi, retreat! That's an order!" Qin Feng's voice came through the earpiece, trembling slightly.
The information about Zhang Ya had been passed on to him, and the speculation about Chu Yanxi had also been confirmed. How could Qin Feng allow the orphan of his apprentice and comrade-in-arms to face mortal danger?
Qin Feng's voice was extremely urgent: "Zhang Ya is the inheritor of the Jinxi Fireworks making technique and is familiar with the explosives manufacturing process. She is very likely carrying explosives, which is extremely dangerous. Ensure your safety first and come back!"
Chu Yanxi did not respond to Qin Feng's words. She had already learned about Zhang Ya's past from Lu Zhe.
Zhang Ya strapped explosives to her waist, intending to die together with Wang Peng. However, because Wang Peng refused to come over, and Chu Yanxi kept hitting her sore spots, Zhang Ya eventually went berserk and blew herself up.
Chu Yanxi looked at Zhang Ya with a sincere expression: "You are Zhang Ya, one of the true inheritors of the ancient craftsmanship of Jinxi Fireworks. You once single-handedly supported your family and assisted Wang Peng in starting his business. Those exclusive formulas and traditional process improvements that helped him win awards and take his company international all have your hard work. Wang Peng's success today is not because he is so capable, but because he is supported by your technology and your dedication."
"Golden Jubilee Fireworks," "Craftsmanship Heritage," "Exclusive Recipe"... these words, spoken by Chu Yanxi, struck Zhang Ya like a thunderbolt. This was her deepest, most secret pride, and also her greatest hidden pain. After Wang Peng's success, he never mentioned her contributions, even claiming that all the technology was "developed" by him. Her value was completely erased.
"How did you know..." Zhang Ya murmured, her hand holding the knife trembling slightly.
Chu Yanxi's gaze swept over Zhang Ya's waist: "That thing you're wearing around your waist, isn't it dangerous? That's not something an amateur could do."
Zhang Ya's "killer move" was exposed by Chu Yanxi. Her pupils contracted, her heart raced, her palms sweated, and her adrenaline surged instantly. She knew? The police knew? What to do?
Chu Yanxi remained unfazed and calm: "You have the ability and the skills. You were just dragged into the mire by a bad relationship and a rotten person, and you forgot your true value."
Chu Yanxi's words were like a ray of light, instantly illuminating the dark corner of Zhang Ya's heart, which was shrouded in despair.
Yes, she was once a shining star, with a family craft she was proud of and the confidence to support her family.
It was Wang Peng, and this marriage, that gradually extinguished her light.
"But...it's too late!" Zhang Ya looked at the knife in her hand, at Li Li who was being held hostage, and at the fully armed police officers around her, and despair surged up again.
“It’s not too late!” Lu Zhe replied. He stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Chu Yanxi, his tone serious and clear: “Ms. Zhang, Officer Chu is right, your value cannot be denied. What you are doing now does indeed violate the law, involving illegal detention and intentional injury. But!”
He shifted his tone, his voice steady and powerful, carrying the rational force unique to the law: "Criminal law isn't meant to drive people to their deaths; it also offers options and room for discretion. Your stopping now, releasing Li Li, and cooperating voluntarily constitutes attempted crime. Your actions have their reasons: long-term marital betrayal, emotional abuse, and malicious transfer of assets can all be considered important circumstances to present to the judge in court. The law is impartial, but judges are human beings with feelings; they will consider all factors. Sentences vary in severity, but as long as you plead guilty, show remorse, and have a good attitude, there's a possibility of a reduced sentence or even probation. You haven't reached the end of your rope!"
Zhang Ya stared intently at the lawyer in front of her who had been urging her to get a divorce, and murmured, "Attorney Lu, is it really true?"
Chu Yanxi followed up on Lu Zhe's words, looking intently at Zhang Ya: "Sister Zhang, legally you still have a chance. In life, you have an even greater chance! It's not worth wasting the rest of your life on a man like that!"
"What should I do?!" Zhang Ya cried out in despair, "I'm not reconciled! I hate him! He's ruined everything I have!"
"Then make him pay the price!" Chu Yanxi's voice suddenly turned cold and sharp. "But the way to make him pay the price is not by destroying yourself, but by taking away what he cares about most!"
Zhang Ya suddenly looked up: "Yes! The one he cares about most... is this bitch!" She pointed the knife at Li Li.
Chu Yanxi slowly shook her head: "No, you're wrong. To him, Li Li is nothing more than a novelty, a embellishment to flaunt his success. He can abandon you for Li Li today, and he can abandon Li Li for Zhang Li or Wang Li tomorrow. What does he love most? Money! The company, wealth, and social status he earned with your hard work, your forbearance, and your sacrifices! The halo of that 'successful entrepreneur'!"
Zhang Ya was stunned. She had been so deeply infatuated with love that she had always hated his betrayal and resented him for forgetting his old love for a new one. However, Chu Yanxi was perfectly clear-headed and pointed out another fact.
Zhang Ya felt that the world before her eyes had become much clearer.
Looking back, Wang Peng was certainly willing to spend money on Li Li, but what truly made him nervous, made him calculating, and kept him up at night was always the company's orders, bank loans, and the company's cash flow. Li Li was perhaps not as important to him as one of his key clients.
Chu Yanxi knew that Zhang Ya had taken it to heart, so she coaxed her gently, her voice carrying a seductive power: "So, is it better to die together with Li Li and let him inherit all your property as a victim, or to stop now, cooperate with the investigation, and then use legal means to recover the property he maliciously transferred?"
“Let’s work together to expose the truth about him stealing technological achievements and erasing your contributions, ruin his reputation, make him lose what he values most—money, fame, and social status—one by one, and turn him into a penniless pauper and hypocrite despised by everyone. Wouldn’t that be better?”
Chu Yanxi's words, every single one, moved Zhang Ya and completely shook her crazy obsession with dying together with him.
Yes, death would be too easy for him.
Let him live, but lose everything he values most, and live in shame and poverty—that would be the real punishment!
The frenzied bloodlust in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a cold light burning with hatred and a determination for rebirth. The knife in her hand, slowly and trembling, left Li Li's neck.
With a clang, the knife fell to the ground.
Zhang Ya released Li Li, but felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She slumped down, covered her face with her hands, and let out a suppressed, beast-like sob. In that sob, there was hatred, pain, regret, and also a kind of exhilarating, tearing pain, like breaking free from a cocoon.
Li Li was still in shock when she was helped away by a policewoman who rushed up to her.
Bomb disposal experts cautiously stepped forward, and Zhang Ya did not resist, allowing them to remove the detonator from her waist.
Chu Yanxi stood there, her vest soaked with sweat. Looking at Zhang Ya, who had collapsed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably, she knew that the most dangerous impulse to explode had been contained, and the crisis had been temporarily averted.
However, the person who truly hurt Zhang Ya has not yet appeared.
The moral judgment to seek justice for Zhang Ya has not yet begun.
Thinking of this, Chu Yanxi and Lu Zhe exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with seriousness.
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