Chapter 116: Marriage

 

After receiving the Best Actress award, Xu Zhizhi garnered significant attention from the media.

Amidst the congratulations, there were also questions about her films.

“Zhizhi, we’ve heard that the skills showcased in your movie were all learned by you personally. Is it true? The production crew mentioned that everything was filmed authentically. Can you confirm that?” a reporter asked.

The flashing lights of cameras continued to click incessantly, and Xu Zhizhi was almost entirely surrounded by reporters.

With her long black hair styled into loose curls and a black strapless gown paired with a simple diamond necklace, her fair skin glowed under the cameras, making her beauty almost otherworldly.

Looking at the reporter, Xu Zhizhi calmly replied, “Yes, I studied those skills specifically, and the filming was indeed authentic. This is standard practice; many actors put in that much effort behind the scenes.”

Another reporter chimed in, “First, congratulations on winning the Best Actress title. Secondly, could you share your thoughts on those skills?”

Xu Zhizhi turned her gaze to the reporter, who flinched slightly under her direct look.

Without wavering, she asked, “Thank you for your congratulations. I don’t have any particular opinion on the skills because there’s nothing inherently wrong with them. I’m curious, though. Do you have a unique perspective on this?”

The reporter was left speechless, retreating a step in embarrassment.

He had initially intended to write something misleading but was instantly thwarted by Xu Zhizhi’s counter-question.

Panicked and regretful, he instinctively distanced himself from her.

The other reporters quickly filled the gap, bombarding Xu Zhizhi with more questions.

Amid the continuous congratulations, Xu Zhizhi shone like a star in the crowd.

Many reporters couldn’t help but feel that no deceit or malice could withstand her presence.

Perhaps it was her success and newfound confidence that lent her such an aura.

When the questioning session ended, Feng Jie shielded Xu Zhizhi and escorted her to the car.

Back home, Xu Zhizhi placed the trophy down before collapsing onto the sofa. Snowflakes gently drifted past the window.

Only heaven knew how cold and irritable she had felt when facing the reporters. It was likely the lingering effects of the excessive Malice Points from before, which had taken months to subside but still left some impact.

It wasn’t until she returned home that Xu Zhizhi felt truly alive again.

The quiet life and peaceful moments, even if exhausting, brought her happiness.

Her phone buzzed incessantly but Xu Zhizhi had no energy to care.

After lying down for a while, she heard footsteps approaching. Turning around, she saw Qin Su, and a look of surprise lit up her eyes.

Qin Su walked over to her and said, “I made seafood porridge. Why don’t you change and have some?”

Lying on the sofa, Xu Zhizhi turned to face the tall, handsome man who exuded a warm domesticity. Teasingly, she said, “Captain Qin, you have time to congratulate me? I thought you’d still be busy for another half month!”

Before returning to Beijing, Xu Zhizhi had assumed that Qin Su, who was working on a recent case involving a cunning criminal who had evaded capture across three provinces, would need much more time to wrap things up. She hadn’t expected him to show up at her home so soon.

As she spoke, she thought of Qin Su’s steadily improving cooking skills, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Qin Su always approached everything with seriousness, including learning to cook.

During their time in Jiang City, unless he was out, Qin Su often prepared meals for Xu Zhizhi. From balanced meals to fitness menus, he even encouraged her to exercise and improve her physical strength. Qin Su gradually became an integral part of Xu Zhizhi’s life, temporarily taking over Feng Jie’s role during that period.

Now that they were back, it had been a long time since she’d tasted his cooking, and she couldn’t help but crave it.

Stretching out her arms, she playfully said, “Carry me, I’m so tired. I need my boyfriend to hold me.”

Qin Su bent down indulgently and easily scooped Xu Zhizhi off the sofa. However, instead of heading to the dining table, he carried her to her room. “Yes, I took this time off to congratulate my girlfriend. I hope my Zhizhi’s career continues to thrive and she wins more accolades.”

“Thank you, my boyfriend,” Xu Zhizhi replied with a soft laugh.

Holding her close, Qin Su frowned slightly as he noticed how cold she felt. “Go freshen up first before eating. The seafood porridge is staying warm on the stove.”

Feeling the chill from the award ceremony’s cold wind still clinging to her, Qin Su decided she needed to warm up before eating.

Xu Zhizhi wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled. “Alright.”

When Xu Zhizhi came out after washing up, she saw Qin Su sitting upright on the sofa, his tall frame poised as he flipped through a book. His long lashes cast a shadow over his focused gaze.

She walked over to him, noticing how long his lashes were, sparking a mischievous impulse. She raised her hand, intending to cover his eyes, but before she could get close, his slender, warm hand caught hers midair.

The warmth of his touch made her heartbeat quicken involuntarily.

Before she could react, Qin Su pulled her forward.

The low, wide leather sofa caused her to tumble onto it. But before she could land, Qin Su caught her completely in his arms, shielding her from the fall.

Their eyes met.

Qin Su gazed at her intently. “So, Zhizhi, what exactly were you planning to do?”

“Ah! N-nothing!” Xu Zhizhi’s face flushed instantly, and her words came out stuttered.

Qin Su reached out and helped her up. “Let’s eat first.”

Hearing his calm tone, Xu Zhizhi was initially surprised but then felt a trace of disappointment. “Okay,” she murmured softly.

At the dining table, Qin Su placed a clay pot of seafood porridge in front of her and set down delicate porcelain bowls.

“What do you feel like eating?” Qin Su asked.

Still preoccupied with what had just happened, Xu Zhizhi absentmindedly replied, “Anything is fine.”

They were both young, and the stirrings of unresolved emotions were hard to settle.

She recalled a conversation she had with Chen Han, where Chen had been shocked to learn that despite how long she and Qin Su had been dating, they hadn’t taken their relationship to the next level.

“How can that be?” Chen Han had exclaimed, her jaw dropping in disbelief.

Xu Zhizhi had remained silent. She just felt like the time hadn’t come yet, that something was still missing before they could reach that stage.

Chen Han had been speechless, eventually offering her admiration and blessings.

Xu Zhizhi hadn’t thought much about it until now. But the moment earlier stirred her thoughts.

Qin Su ladled a bowl of seafood porridge and placed it in front of her.

When she raised the bowl to drink the steaming porridge, Qin Su reached out and gently held her wrist. “Wait.”

Xu Zhizhi looked up at him, her round almond eyes wide with curiosity.

Qin Su sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in his tone. “Don’t overthink. Eat first.”

Lowering her head, Xu Zhizhi blew on the porridge, the rising steam warming her face until it turned pink.

In the end, she calmed down enough to finish two bowls of porridge. Qin Su, sitting across from her, finished the rest before standing to clear the dishes and placing everything into the dishwasher.

From her spot at the dining table, the semi-open kitchen allowed Xu Zhizhi to watch his every move.

Her heartbeat slowed as she observed him. For a moment, she felt like they were an old married couple.

Even though nothing had happened between them, and they were still just boyfriend and girlfriend, their dynamic felt oddly familiar and intimate.

Could it be that they were simply too mature for their age?

Xu Zhizhi rested her chin in her hand, reflecting on her previous level-headed decision to let the system ‘die.’

It seemed like… perhaps… maybe she really lacked the typical romantic mindset.

According to conventional storylines, she should have hesitated repeatedly, agonizing over her decision until the Malice Points reached the 100,000 threshold. Even then, she should have experienced gut-wrenching turmoil.

But she hadn’t.

She had only broken down for a short while, and even the subsequent fever and illness were due to the excess Malice Points backfiring on her. Once it was over, she moved on.

Should she have been more sentimental?

Other couples seemed to enjoy playful teasing and exchanging affectionate nicknames, but she had never gone out of her way to do such things.

Lacking the flair for romance, Xu Zhizhi frowned as she pondered this, feeling like her brain might finally be growing.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Qin Su appeared in front of her. She didn’t even notice him until she found herself enveloped in his clean, fresh scent and firm embrace.

Qin Su rarely smoked, so there was no trace of tobacco on him—just a pure, spring-like freshness that instantly calmed her.

“Don’t overthink. We have our way of being together,” Qin Su said, effortlessly reading her thoughts.

Xu Zhizhi tugged at the hem of his shirt and murmured, “Mm.”

The two sat on the sofa, with Xu Zhizhi leaning against Qin Su’s shoulder as they began to discuss the system.

As it turned out, the system hadn’t entirely disappeared. Xu Zhizhi had initially believed it was gone since she had neither summoned the screen nor used any skills.

That was until one day, by chance, she had to help Qin Su create a psychological profile of a suspect. In an unguarded moment, she accidentally summoned the system screen.

The moment it appeared, Xu Zhizhi froze, thinking the system hadn’t died and that everything before had been an illusion.

After further investigation, she realized the system still existed but without the system store or Malice Points.

All that remained were the skills she had previously unlocked and the crime simulator.

The item [Psychopath’s Explosive Strength] had grayed out, as it required Malice Points to function.

About thirty minutes later, a pop-up window explained everything.

The beginner’s guide clarified that the system was now merely a tool or a small game. It retained intelligence to prevent users from feeling too lonely and the AI could provide professional indexing and answers.

It could also support various functions such as teleportation, piloting starships, and so on.

This functionality was divided into two systems: a pure tool system and an intelligent system.

The interstellar network couldn’t entirely destroy all systems to eliminate one AI. Instead, when 011 vanished, the associated skill system remained but the intelligent control aspect disappeared.

Essentially, it was like losing the multiplayer mode in a networked mini-game.

If Xu Zhizhi were to die, the bound system would disappear as well.

After reading the long explanation, Xu Zhizhi felt both amused and exasperated. It was useful, but not excessively so.

However, during her time recovering and resting in Jiang City, she realized its occasional value. The skills she had exchanged always produced unexpected results.

Cyber security and criminal profiling were particularly affected by disguise and tracking skills. The tracking skill even helped the anti-drug team a few times, once saving an officer who was being followed.

After careful consideration, Xu Zhizhi decided not to seal the system away.

Qin Su supported her as always. He never judged things unfairly as his focus was always on the people involved.

The two of them started discussing Xu Zhizhi’s disguise skill, which reminded her of the time she tried to trick Qin Su by disguising herself.

However, Qin Su hadn’t been fooled. He recognized her through her gestures.

When the conversation shifted, Xu Zhizhi brought up Li Feng and Li Jiahang.

Looking at Qin Su, she said, “I heard from the media that those two woke up a couple of days ago. They’ve been transferred to a detention center and will be going to court soon.”

“Yes, both of them are in custody. Their trial will start soon,” Qin Su replied in a low voice.

Xu Zhizhi felt genuinely pleased. She despised Li Feng and Li Jiahang; one was a selfish hypocrite and the other a bully.

Both were convicted of kidnapping, albeit under relatively less severe circumstances. Still, the minimum sentence was five years and the maximum ten. She figured this time in prison would likely lead to some remorse, though maybe not clarity.

Li Jiahang, bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, would no longer have the chance to harm others.

With father and son both in prison, Xu Zhizhi couldn’t help but wonder if they’d sing ‘Tears Behind Bars’ together.

As for the system, Xu Zhizhi wasn’t worried about them exposing anything. They were too terrified of it to even try.

Besides, no one would believe them. Both men had records of insanity and delusions.

Thinking about their breakdowns, Xu Zhizhi tilted her head toward Qin Su. “So, the 011 system tricked me again, didn’t it? It made me choose but in reality, you all would’ve woken up at the designated time, like a drug wearing off after its effects faded.”

“Yes,” Qin Su said. “So, Zhizhi, your choice wasn’t wrong. The system isn’t as omnipotent as it seemed.”

Qin Su gazed softly at Xu Zhizhi’s profile. Her determination had steered everything toward a better outcome.

He was grateful she chose to let the system face punishment rather than sacrificing herself for him.

They had both endured too much to turn back. Xu Zhizhi had borne overwhelming malice and pushed forward through unimaginable challenges.

From the day he became a police officer, Qin Su had vowed never to compromise with criminals. He didn’t want Xu Zhizhi to compromise for him either.

She had suffered greatly, though. After filming concluded, the malice had wreaked havoc on her health. It had taken over two months of recovery for her to stabilize.

Nothing came without a price. While Qin Su had spent six months lost in madness, Xu Zhizhi had been consumed by hatred and turmoil for just as long.

Thinking about this, Qin Su reached out and pulled Xu Zhizhi into his arms.

Sensitive to emotions, Xu Zhizhi noticed his mood and nestled closer.

She began to ramble, sharing her thoughts from that time.

“To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure. It was just that my instincts told me to keep trying in that direction,” she said softly.

Qin Su had once told her to trust her instincts.

So, when Xu Zhizhi realized that the 100,000 Malice Points mark was the breakthrough point, she quietly devised a plan.

Those months were incredibly tough. She was so cautious that she didn’t even dare to dream for fear of muttering her plans aloud in her sleep.

At first, Malice Points accumulated slowly. It wasn’t until later that she realized how deeply she could hate and loathe someone.

The Malice Points affected her greatly, so much so that she once thought she had turned into Wen Yang.

If not for her determination to win, she might have been consumed entirely by Wen Yang’s personality and methods.

But in the end, Wen Yang took a step toward redemption.

At that moment, Xu Zhizhi also felt salvation and finally stepped out of character, free from Wen Yang’s influence.

As she thought about this, she murmured her thoughts aloud, while Qin Su listened quietly.

After speaking, Xu Zhizhi let out a deep breath. Many things could only now be said without weighing on her.

Qin Su comforted her, his heart aching for the battles she had fought alone.

In the end, Xu Zhizhi smiled with relief.

Outside, snowflakes fell gently on the leaves and the rustling sound of wind and snow faded away, leaving only a serene silence.

Xu Zhizhi took out her phone and began replying to the congratulatory messages she received for winning the Best Actress award.

Chen Han, still her usual proud self, sent an emoji with arms akimbo.

Xu Zhizhi responded with a cute sticker.

At that moment, she felt Qin Su shift beside her. He reached out and took her phone.

She turned her head to look at him, her eyes still bright with a smile and her expression tinged with curiosity. She didn’t understand why he would do such a thing.

Then, Qin Su stood up, dropped to one knee, and produced a black velvet box.

His eyes locked onto hers as he opened the box, revealing a dazzling diamond ring that sparkled under the light.

“I promise to weather life’s storms with you, to care for you, to understand you. I love you, Xu Zhizhi. Will you marry me?” Qin Su’s voice was rough with emotion.

His hand holding the ring box tightened slightly and his gaze on her was filled with nervous anticipation.

Xu Zhizhi’s eyes widened and she instinctively held her breath. She was stunned for several seconds before finally blurting out, “Yes!”

The answer came out reflexively. It took her a moment to realize she needed to extend her hand.

She offered her hand and Qin Su slipped the carefully chosen diamond onto her slender, fair finger. He stood up and kissed her gently.

Their kiss was full of deep affection and Xu Zhizhi felt her head go light and hazy. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around Qin Su’s neck.

He held her by the waist, pulling her closer.

Between breaths, Xu Zhizhi managed to whisper, “You beat me to it. Chen Han said we should get closer and… get married. I even ordered a ring myself. Now we’ve got an extra pair.”

Her voice was hoarse and slightly breathless.

Qin Su didn’t give her a chance to say more, leaning in again.

For two people experiencing their first true moments of intimacy, even a kiss felt drawn-out and overwhelming.

As their breaths grew hotter, Qin Su picked her up, carried her into the bedroom and closed the door behind them, leaving a room full of lingering warmth.

The next morning, after the heavy snowfall, sunlight streamed through the large floor-to-ceiling windows. As time passed, the light crept across the bed, bringing with it warmth and a lazy comfort.

Xu Zhizhi buried herself in the bed, her entire body sore and filled with a strange, indescribable sensation.

It was a new experience, though it had been painful, even with them taking it slow.

She moved slightly but froze from the ache that shot through her body.

Qin Su’s hand rested on her waist, pulling her closer as he murmured in a low, satisfied tone, “Fiancée, what do you want to eat?”

Xu Zhizhi’s cheeks flushed and she began listing dishes she wanted to eat.

She glanced down at herself, noting her clean and fresh pajamas. Her mind was still a little foggy.

Last night, Qin Su had clearly understood. He had sensed her disappointment and her readiness for a deeper bond.

Thinking of this, she turned to look at Qin Su, who had gotten up and was now dressed in dark blue pajamas.

“Schemer!” she accused with a pout.

He had waited for her to fully understand her feelings, waited for her to realize the progression of their relationship, and then he had struck!

Qin Su paused, realizing what Xu Zhizhi was saying. He leaned down to place a kiss on her forehead and gently explained, “It’s not scheming. I was waiting for you to like me and to fall in love with me.”

After speaking, he turned and left to prepare a meal for her.

Xu Zhizhi’s eyes turned slightly red but then she let out a soft laugh.

She got out of bed, only to be directed by Qin Su to sit on the sofa and wait.

When they sat down for breakfast, Qin Su brought up the topic seriously. Since the proposal was successful, he suggested they pick a date for their engagement and later their wedding.

After the meal, Qin Su led Xu Zhizhi to the sofa and brought out a lightweight safe.

“Here are my properties, investments, and savings,” Qin Su said as he handed her a thick stack of documents.

The rest of the safe contained a few boxes. Qin Su opened them to reveal a variety of jewelry, gold, diamonds, and gemstones. Picking up one piece, he held it against Xu Zhizhi. “I just knew this would look amazing on you.”

Xu Zhizhi froze. “You’re… doing all this…?”

“My little treasure deserves nothing less than a life without grievances,” Qin Su said earnestly. “All of this will be transferred to your name. That way, whatever you want to do, acting or relaxing, it’s all up to you.”

Xu Zhizhi stared at him, still in a daze.

Qin Su continued to explain. The total assets amounted to around 500 million Yuan, with most of it in real estate and investments. The cash savings were in the tens of millions, roughly equivalent to Xu Zhizhi’s current earnings.

The jewelry, valued at around 20 million Yuan, had been gifts from Qin Su’s mother and other elders upon hearing of his engagement plans.

“I… I don’t think I can accept this,” Xu Zhizhi said, pressing her hand to her forehead. She was genuinely overwhelmed.

Also, wasn’t Qin Su a bit too well-prepared?

She had never seen anyone propose with their entire fortune, let alone one worth 500 million.

Qin Su coaxed her with a smile, “Don’t worry, I didn’t give you my salary card yet.”

Xu Zhizhi burst into laughter. She hadn’t expected Qin Su to have a humorous side.

In reality, Qin Su had everything planned out. Together, they completed all the necessary paperwork.

Next came the family meeting.

Li Fengqing and Shen Junyu were familiar with Qin Su and were confident in his character. Li Fengqing believed that even in the unlikely event of irreconcilable differences, Qin Su’s inherent goodness would prevent him from ever hurting their daughter.

But from his perspective, the couple would grow old together, just like him and his wife. Even with life’s storms, they would remain together for a lifetime.

Qin Su’s family, in turn, had a high opinion of Xu Zhizhi. They saw her as an excellent person, worthy of their son.

Both sides finalized the engagement plans.

The grand engagement ceremony made them officially fiancés. Qin Su, as her partner, was now publicly acknowledged as being by Xu Zhizhi’s side.

After the engagement, Xu Zhizhi embraced a period of complete relaxation.

For her, the past two to three years had been too exhausting, with severe mental strain.

Once rested, Xu Zhizhi resumed taking on roles in dramas and films, maintaining a steady pace of one project per year.

Her laid-back attitude extended to her fans who were equally relaxed and simply waited for her work.

While filming, things weren’t always peaceful. Occasionally, she encountered unsavory people and incidents, such as artists who tried to lure others into bad behavior, individuals attempting to exploit others, or even celebrities involved in drugs.

Xu Zhizhi adhered to her principle and if she could, she would send them straight to prison for rehabilitation.

Those who doubted her resolve quickly learned to believe in it once they crossed her.

One year after their engagement, Xu Zhizhi and Qin Su held a grand wedding in Phuket.

Although they didn’t see each other as often due to their busy schedules, both considered it a blessing to grow in their respective careers.

Life included love but it wasn’t limited to love.

As Qin Su continued to earn promotions, Xu Zhizhi achieved remarkable success and brought home three Best Actress awards.

She gradually rose to the top of the entertainment industry, becoming one of its most acclaimed stars.

She was also famously known as the ‘Crime Nemesis of the Entertainment Industry.’