Chapter 115: Its End

 

[Xu Zhizhi, think it through. Do you really want Qin Su to remain insane for the rest of his life?]

The system’s voice cracked slightly, revealing its desperation. It knew Xu Zhizhi liked, perhaps even loved, Qin Su deeply.

It had expected her to hesitate, at least for a while. Yet, to its shock, Xu Zhizhi made her decision decisively in just over ten seconds.

To eliminate it.

Xu Zhizhi ignored the system. There was no point in arguing.

If Qin Su remained insane, she would accompany him. Once her movie was finished, she would have both time and money. During his lucid moments, he would still be close to her.

But if she chose to save Qin Su, the outcome would only lead to their separation.

As a police officer with a strong sense of justice and an uncompromising stance against crime, Qin Su could never accept her.

While Xu Zhizhi’s binding to the criminal assistance system had been involuntary, choosing to save Qin Su instead of ending the system’s evil deeds would haunt him forever.

Qin Su, who had spent 16 years continuing his father’s investigation of a serial killer, would not let go of such matters easily.

Xu Zhizhi wouldn’t betray her principles or Qin Su’s ideals.

Moreover, she didn’t trust the system. Would it really save Qin Su just because it said so? Unlikely.

The system had no credibility left with her.

When the system didn’t receive a response from Xu Zhizhi, it realized her decision was final and there was no room for negotiation.

It began to consider ways to survive, wondering if its consciousness, integrated with the system, could be extracted.

As it pondered, every possibility led to a dead end.

In the interstellar age, restrictions on systems were so stringent they offered full protection. Blood-soaked lessons have led humanity to implement countless safeguards, embedding self-destruct mechanisms at the genetic level to prevent rogue AI from escaping.

Xu Zhizhi pulled out a tissue and wiped the blood from her palm.

When Li Fengqing and Shen Junyu entered, Xu Zhizhi had already hidden her hands and was casually talking about what she wanted to eat.

Later, Chu Lu arrived with her face full of guilt.

Over the past few months, she had assumed that Li Feng had let go of his delusions, but she was wrong. He still held onto the insane belief that Xu Zhizhi was a bad person and wanted to prove it. It was utterly absurd.

Chu Lu deeply regretted her one moment of oversight, which had nearly cost Xu Zhizhi her life.

Xu Zhizhi comforted her, assuring her that she was fine and that she would be heading back to the set tomorrow to finish filming the last scenes as soon as possible.

Chu Lu, her eyes red, nodded and left after a while to let Xu Zhizhi rest.

Xu Zhizhi picked up her laptop and hacked into Li Feng’s phone, which he had used for live streaming. She thoroughly wiped it clean, including any potential cloud backups.

By the time the system realized what had happened, Xu Zhizhi had erased everything.

The system flew into a rage, hurling every insult it could think of at her, accusing her of being cold-hearted and indifferent, willing to watch her loved one, Qin Su, descend into madness without lifting a finger to save him.

It claimed that Xu Zhizhi didn’t truly love Qin Su; otherwise, she would care more about him.

Xu Zhizhi ignored its tirade. Nothing was more important than eliminating the system.

After resting for a day, Xu Zhizhi returned to the set.

Over the months of filming, the crew had come to understand what kind of person Xu Zhizhi was. After hearing about her recent ordeal of being kidnapped and nearly killed, some actors who were close to her offered words of comfort, while others looked at her with sympathy.

Chu Lu had already shared the full story of Li Feng and his son.

Having to deal with the delusional Li Feng and his son truly made Xu Zhizhi seem unlucky.

Xu Zhizhi reassured everyone that she was fine and went back to filming as usual.

Feng Jie, too, breathed a sigh of relief, eager for Xu Zhizhi to finish filming and leave this environment behind. Once she was out, Feng Jie believed Xu Zhizhi wouldn’t immerse herself so deeply in her role anymore and there would be no more trouble from people like Li Feng.

While previous incidents had scared Feng Jie, this one had truly terrified her. If not for Li Feng’s cunning use of a safety net, Xu Zhizhi might have died.

As filming resumed, Li Wanwan came to find Xu Zhizhi, her eyes filled with sorrow.

She couldn’t understand why her uncle was so obsessed with framing Xu Zhizhi.

When Xu Zhizhi had unhesitatingly jumped into the frigid lake to save her that early spring, wasn’t that enough to prove that Xu Zhizhi was inherently a good person?

Had her uncle not seen her kindness?

Li Wanwan bowed deeply to Xu Zhizhi and said, “Zhizhi, I apologize on my uncle’s behalf!”

“You don’t need to. You are not him, and you don’t have to take responsibility for someone else’s mistakes,” Xu Zhizhi said calmly, looking at her.

Li Wanwan’s nose tingled and her eyes brimmed with tears.

Xu Zhizhi reached out to pat her gently on the head, reassuring her before turning to focus on her scene. She began discussing positioning and dialogue with the other actors.

She was in a hurry. She needed to eliminate the system fast.

She couldn’t wait any longer.

Once filming was done, she would accompany Qin Su.

Qin Su must feel lonely being alone.

With those thoughts in mind, Xu Zhizhi immersed herself in discussions with the cast.

They talked about their positions and camera angles, making sure not to move out of frame.

Having worked together for five or six months, everyone knew Xu Zhizhi’s personality well, and their discussions were harmonious.

Xu Zhizhi even helped correct other actors’ expressions and emotional reactions, preventing them from making mistakes that would require multiple retakes.

The movie was now in its final stages. In the scene, Wen Yang, the character Xu Zhizhi played, was at the peak of her success.

She had achieved a respectable social status, gained the love of a handsome and talented man, and was working in a glamorous profession.

If everything continued smoothly, her life would reach its pinnacle because of the choices she had made.

The only problem was the persistent police officer who wouldn’t let her go.

The scene was a lavish banquet where Wen Yang was officially getting engaged to the handsome man who adored her.

In the highlight of her life, she was dressed in a white silk gown, adorned with an exquisite pearl necklace, the delicate straps rested on her sculpted shoulders, outlining her elegant figure.

Her flawless figure stood out, perfect as if a goddess had descended, radiating brilliance that captivated everyone, leaving no room to look away.

The perfection aligned seamlessly with the script’s setting. She strolled through the crowd, arm-in-arm with her fiancé. Every gesture, every movement bore no trace of her past, except for the arrogance in her gaze and the occasional greedy sweep of her eyes, which hinted faintly at who she used to be.

A policeman, blending into the party, observed that version of Wen Yang. Through twists and turns, he had pieced together her entire past and had crossed paths with her several times before. Every encounter ended the same, where he was outwitted and had to chase her endlessly.

Yet, in the pursuit, the officer gradually uncovered everything about Wen Yang. He began to understand the roots of her actions and tried to reform her, urging her to turn over a new leaf.

As soon as he spotted her at the event, he moved toward her. Wen Yang noticed him weaving through the crowd and whispered something to her fiancé before heading toward the lounge.

There was no panic in her eyes, only a glimmer of excitement.

The policeman attempted to block her path but was stopped by her fiancé. By the time he managed to get past, Wen Yang had entered the lounge, changed her clothes, and disguised herself. She walked out, passing right by him unnoticed.

Meanwhile, his colleagues opened the lounge door, only to find it empty. Realizing the truth, the officer turned and sprinted after her.

Wen Yang leaped from the second-floor window onto a prepared cushion below. She glanced up at the officer looking down at her and playfully winked.

“Your father is critically ill, Wen Yang! He’s dying!” the officer shouted.

She hesitated for a moment before replying coldly, “I won’t believe you!” Then she turned and disappeared into the night.

The officer gave chase, leaping after her, but she was too clever and escaped once more.

“Cut! That’s a wrap!”

Chu Lu’s voice rang out, and Xu Zhizhi calculated the Malice Points earned from the performance. She got as much as 1,522, bringing her total to 90,344.

It’s close, almost there.

Xu Zhizhi’s heart thumped with anticipation. If this were a historical drama, she’d yell something dramatic like, ‘Let’s welcome the system’s collapse!’

Her self-deprecating thoughts brought a slight smile. After all, it was her ability to laugh through adversity that had brought her this far.

She knew the system would punish her harshly if it discovered her deceptions. Protecting Shen Junyu or Li Fengqing would be impossible.

As Malice Points kept accumulating, Xu Zhizhi reflected that the system had miscalculated.

It underestimated her, believing her initial outbursts of malice were her limit when they barely scratched the surface.

Now, the tables were turning. As her Malice Points approached 98,111, the system grew desperate and pleaded with her, promising submission and relinquishing control.

But Xu Zhizhi didn’t believe a word.

Finally, she reached the last scene.

Wen Yang learned of her father’s death, and memories of the past flooded her mind. Captured and defeated, she lay slumped by the bedside.

The policeman visited her, urging her once more to embrace change.

“There’s no way back for me,” Wen Yang said, gazing at him. “After witnessing splendor, I can’t return to simplicity.”

“You can. Reform yourself, and when you’re out, I’ll help you find a job. I’ll guide you back to the right path,” he replied earnestly.

He admired her talents and resilience, and was convinced she could have a different future.

Wen Yang sneered, shifting her position. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll deceive you again? I’m an expert liar, you know that.”

In response, the sound of a lighter flicked and the faint scent of smoke wafted over.

“Wen Yang, your name doesn’t carry your parents’ surname, but it embodies their hope; warmth and light. You were meant to stand in the sunlight, not linger in the shadows,” he said with quiet determination.

“Everything is possible, as long as you choose it.”

His voice was gentle yet firm, without pity or sympathy, only an unwavering resolve to help her.

Wen Yang closed her eyes, remaining silent.

The officer, after a pause, shared a story. His story.

It was about someone who had been lost but found redemption in the end.

Wen Yang listened quietly.

When he finished, he left, leaving her alone in the room.

Wen Yang opened her eyes, her emotions shifting from confusion to daze, and then to complete breakdown.

Her expression began to crack, eventually dissolving into silent tears and low, guttural cries.
She resembled a caged beast, trapped between struggle and redemption, her fate hanging by a thread.

The camera slowly zoomed out, marking the end of the scene.

Xu Zhizhi sat there, lost in the performance, unable to shake herself free from the role. The heavy atmosphere on set lingered, the emotional impact of the scene palpable to all.

Feng Jie, used to such moments, helped Xu Zhizhi to her seat.

The morning’s filming was complete, and after a break, they moved on to the scene of Wen Yang’s release from prison in the afternoon.

By the end of the day, the production had officially wrapped, and the Malice Points reached 98,923, just 1,077 short of the target.

[Xu Zhizhi, must you be so ruthless?]

The system’s voice was low and grave.

Xu Zhizhi lowered her gaze, offering no explanation.

The system had long realized that Xu Zhizhi was impervious to persuasion and knew it couldn’t sway her decisions. Faced with the looming fear of oblivion, the system acknowledged its defeat, its light screen projecting before Xu Zhizhi.

[Xu Zhizhi, you’ve truly won.]

Xu Zhizhi closed her eyes. She didn’t feel victorious, because she had lost someone who truly mattered.

That person, vibrant and unwavering, had believed in her completely, defending her, accepting her flaws, and trusting in her resolve.

Without him, she wouldn’t have come this far.

The battle had no winners, only mutual destruction.

In the depths of the night, Xu Zhizhi would wake with her heart aching, haunted by the harm she caused Qin Su. Ignoring the pain of that betrayal was the hardest thing she had ever done.

The malice she harbored was directed solely at the system, a hatred she had never felt for anything else.

And that hatred was the fuel that carried her through to this point.

She whispered softly, “System, you deserve to die.”

The pain was tangible, pounding against the softest corners of her heart.

[Xu Zhizhi, you’re relentless.]

After the break, Xu Zhizhi applied her makeup and donned her costume for the final scene.

Wen Yang was informed in her cell that she was being released. By then, her face bore the marks of time, stripped of the vibrant confidence she once had.

Dragging heavy steps, she received a set of clothes and some money, a kind gesture from the officer who had never given up on redeeming her, as if completing a relay of salvation.

As she stepped outside, her face was a mix of numbness and faint hope. The sky… how long it had been since she last saw it.

She watched as the prison guard opened the iron gate, reminding her to lead an honest life. A small smile appeared on her lips.

How wonderful, she thought, to still hear such words.

She stepped out with the warm sunlight falling on her body, half bathed in light, half cloaked in shadow.

One step forward, where the choice between darkness and light rested on a single thought.

It was a game of choices. But could it shed the absurdity of merely being a game?

With resolve, she moved forward. Before her lay two paths.

To her left was a scene of prosperity, shrouded in mist, vague and indistinct.

On the right, it seemed like an open field, lush with greenery and brimming with vitality.

She stood still, looking up at the blazing sun, her steps slowly shifting.

Though there was no explicit direction, her footsteps eventually moved toward the right.

Wen Yang made her choice, choosing the sunlight that warmed her body rather than the unclear reflection of herself in the fog.

As she stepped forward, a crisp ‘ding’ sounded in Xu Zhizhi’s ear.

[Ding! Notification for Host: Triggering system’s intelligent gene destruction program…]

[Destruction protocol engaged, reviewing all usage records… please refrain from interacting with the light screen.]

[Countdown: 23 hours, 59 minutes, 10 seconds…]

Xu Zhizhi couldn’t stop trembling, her heart racing and blood surging.

She hadn’t been deceived. She had truly reached this milestone!

Like Wen Yang, she too had stepped out of the mud and into the sunlight.

Cheers erupted on set and a radiant smile broke across Xu Zhizhi’s face.

Finally, she had achieved her goal.

But alongside the joy came tears of sorrow, welling up in her eyes.

Her Qin Su… was he truly gone forever?

Xu Zhizhi crouched slowly to the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Feng Jie, thinking she was overwhelmed with excitement, signaled to the crew and led Xu Zhizhi away.

Xu Zhizhi cried for what felt like forever and eventually exhausted herself to sleep.

In her dreams, she became aware that she was dreaming.

She seemed to have arrived at Qin Su’s house. Filled with anticipation, she knocked on his door, her face lit with hope.

Behind her back, she held a cream-colored velvet gift box. A gift for Qin Su, something he had long wished for.

Soon, the door opened, revealing a tall, slender figure. But instead of a familiar greeting, a stranger’s voice asked, “Who are you?”

Xu Zhizhi staggered back in fear, only for Qin Su’s teasing laughter to ring out.

He reached out to pull her into an embrace, reassuring her it was just a joke.

Xu Zhizhi laughed through her tears, pulling out the box. “You always buy things for me, so I bought this for you.”

Qin Su took her hand, asking her to put it on for him.

As she placed the watch on his wrist, the dream shifted and then, they were by the sea.

Xu Zhizhi felt herself suffocating, struggling in the water. On the shore, Qin Su was running toward her.

Realizing the danger, she waved him off, shouting for him to stay back. But Qin Su kept running.

“No…” Xu Zhizhi screamed.

In the ambulance, Feng Jie watched anxiously as tears brimmed in her eyes. Thankfully, she had been monitoring Xu Zhizhi closely. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have noticed her fever.

Despite her calls, Xu Zhizhi showed no signs of waking, alarming Feng Jie who quickly called for emergency help.

The ambulance rushed to the hospital, where Xu Zhizhi, drenched in sweat and feverish, murmured incoherently in a semi-conscious state.

In the hospital, Xu Zhizhi underwent treatment.

Li Fengqing and Shen Junyu, who had stayed by her side since Li Feng’s incident, hurried to the hospital. Seeing Xu Zhizhi in such a state, they were heartbroken and they clutched her hand as they called out to her.

Xu Zhizhi felt an unbearable weight, as though she was sinking into endless quicksand. Around her, there were no visible figures. Only faint, distant calls were present.

When she opened her eyes, she could feel her hand being tightly held.

The doctor reviewed her results and said hesitantly, “The patient has been in a prolonged state of emotional distress, which has affected her physical health. I recommend scheduling sessions with a professional psychologist. For now, she’ll need to stay in the hospital for a few days for observation.”

Xu Zhizhi smiled faintly and promised to focus on her recovery.

The doctor reminded them to keep her emotions stable before leaving.

Shen Junyu turned away to wipe her tears, then held Xu Zhizhi’s hand tightly. “Zhizhi, you must take care of yourself and stay happy.”

“Mm.” Xu Zhizhi nodded.

The couple smiled and nodded without asking more, as they understood how deeply Xu Zhizhi was immersed in her role.

It was something almost beyond her control. All they could do was offer comfort, instead of forcefully intervene.

Yun Ziwei finally arrived and sighed as she decided to follow Xu Zhizhi’s wish in the future.

If she wanted to act, she could. If not, that was fine too.

Xu Zhizhi hesitated to speak, sighing inwardly and refraining from further explanation.

Given the immense and prolonged malice she had endured, a single illness was already a light consequence.

Looking at Yun Ziwei, she said, “Yun-jie, I’d like to request an extended leave.”

Qin Su had waited for her for months, it was time she went to see him.

Yun Ziwei quickly nodded. Even without Xu Zhizhi’s request, she had already planned to give her a long break. She reassured her, “The studio has signed two new talents. Go without worry. I’ll make sure the studio thrives.”

Xu Zhizhi, being overly responsible, needed the reassurance to feel at ease.

“Thank you, Yun-jie,” Xu Zhizhi said with gratitude.

After settling everything, Xu Zhizhi turned her attention to the system’s countdown.

[Countdown: 1 hour, 58 minutes, 13 seconds.]

She hadn’t realized she’d slept for so long.

Xu Zhizhi contacted Bai Sheng to learn the location of Qin Su’s rehabilitation center and promptly booked a flight.

Li Fengqing and Shen Junyu couldn’t dissuade her and had no choice but to accompany her.

Xu Zhizhi even declined Feng Jie’s offer to join her. However, her refusal was ineffective. They couldn’t let someone who had been feverish hours ago travel alone.

Standing in front of the serene rehabilitation center, Xu Zhizhi felt a sense of calm.

[Xu Zhizhi, do you regret it?]

The system spoke at the three-minute mark before its self-destruction.

Staring at the open doors where Bai Sheng and Feng Jie already stepped inside, Xu Zhizhi responded firmly, “I don’t regret it. Never.”

[Two minutes remain before I disappear forever.]

[Congratulations, you’ve won. Perhaps I was wrong. Let me give you one last resolution…]

Perhaps, in its final moments, the system felt a trace of regret. For the first time, it spoke calmly.

In truth, it hadn’t helped much. Qin Su was already on the path to recovery and he only needed a few more months. The system merely sped up the process.

From the start, perhaps it had been wrong.

After countless cycles, it glimpsed, through Xu Zhizhi, a reflection of the freedom that followed the constraints of the interstellar age.

It realized its own creation was a mistake, its parents were wrong, as was its very existence.

Still, it knew the regret was born only from its impending destruction.

True death had awakened what little conscience it had.

Xu Zhizhi paid no attention. Entering the rehabilitation center, her gaze immediately fixed on a familiar figure.

Under the shade of trees, sunlight dappled his shoulders and face.

Sensing her stare, the man turned around, his deep, almond-shaped eyes locking onto hers.

Xu Zhizhi stepped forward as Qin Su rose to his feet.

Walking toward her, his expression gradually cleared as the system dissipated.

Xu Zhizhi’s lips parted slightly as she gazed at Qin Su.

He smiled, gently brushing a strand of her black hair away from her face. “Zhizhi, you did well. Thank you.”

Xu Zhizhi’s eyes sparkled as though in a dream.

[Ding! Destruction protocol complete. The system’s intelligence terminated…]

[Destruction successful. Thank you for your contribution to prevent it from becoming a dangerous entity.]

With those final messages, the system vanished entirely, like a wisp of smoke dispersing into the air.

Xu Zhizhi smiled as she gazed at Qin Su. “I’m free now.”

Qin Su replied softly, “I always believed you could do it. I never doubted you.”

***

Feng Jie, having served as her bodyguard, immediately took a vacation after escorting Xu Zhizhi.

Exhausted, she was granted two months of paid leave by Xu Zhizhi.

After Qin Su recovered, he returned to work. Xu Zhizhi spent most of her time accompanying him, becoming like a couple in the throes of new love.

Occasionally, she resumed work and shot close-up scenes or attended commercial events.

‘The Game of Choice’ was scheduled for a winter holiday release after months of editing.

Xu Zhizhi’s acting received widespread acclaim. The storyline was well-crafted and the pacing was flawless, swiftly dominating the holiday box office.

The movie broke her personal box office record, earning 3 billion Yuan within a month.

It received 21 nominations across prestigious domestic awards like the Magnolia and Golden Bird Awards.

Xu Zhizhi, unsurprisingly, won the Best Actress Award at the Magnolia Awards.

Standing on stage, she shone as brightly as the moon.

She would never forget the struggles of the past and deeply appreciated everything she had achieved.

Holding the trophy, Xu Zhizhi officially became a queen of the silver screen, praised by audiences for her genuine and heartfelt acting.

They admired her after witnessing her growth every step of the way.

And in the future, she would achieve even more.

Her life was now entering its most extraordinary phase.

The criminal assistance system would remain in the past.

She would always remember its ideology as a cautionary tale.

She was just an ordinary person, not the high-IQ genius criminal it once claimed her to be.