Chapter 120: Extra: Xu Zhizhi’s Side Story (Parallel Universe) – New Life

When Xu Zhizhi left, her heart was still in torment. She felt as if she was sending the intern Xu Zhizhi to suffer.

They erased the intern Xu Zhizhi’s memory of obtaining this part of the information and also wiped out the system’s memory.

If she also failed her mission, they would completely destroy the system and obliterate the parallel universe from a physical level.

As the intern Xu Zhizhi departed, they transported her consciousness back to the day the celebrity Xu Zhizhi drank herself into a stupor, to the moment when everything began, waiting to see the result she would achieve.

The memory erasure was the intern Xu Zhizhi’s request because she could not bear the weight of a parallel universe’s survival.

The intern Xu Zhizhi wanted every decision she made to come from her true intentions.

She also firmly believed she could achieve her desired outcome.

“If it doesn’t work out, at least I won’t have any regrets,” the intern Xu Zhizhi said as she waved goodbye with a carefree and lighthearted smile, fearless and open.

Xu Zhizhi deeply admired this version of herself—free-spirited and brave.

They didn’t immediately send the celebrity away. Instead, they opened a large screen in front of her.

Perhaps out of pity, they showed the celebrity what the intern Xu Zhizhi had accomplished.

From Xu Zhizhi recording evidence to confront Bai Qing, to leveraging her acting skills to gain Bai Sheng’s attention, and finally, her sharp intuition uncovering Chen Xu’s deception.

Gradually, Xu Zhizhi earned Qin Su’s trust, which led to the first crucial clue. She uncovered more and more evidence against Chen Xu.

In a swift and decisive operation, Chen Xu was brought to justice.

No casualties. No real harm was inflicted.

Bai Sheng’s drama turned out to be a great success, fulfilling his dreams.

Tears streamed down her face, yet she smiled.

Later, Xu Zhizhi saved Director Zhou, helped Jiang Yuchuan, and rescued the elderly Fu couple, who would have otherwise made the news due to their tragic deaths.

She also saved her father, then victims of hacking extortion, the individuals too afraid to report due to compromising videos, and those who almost lost their lives to scams.

Among those saved were men and women, young and old.

Using the skills provided by the system, Xu Zhizhi pulled countless people out of misery.

She felt an overwhelming pride for Xu Zhizhi, inspired by her selflessness and courage.

Perhaps, the best way to conquer one’s inner demons was to witness justice served firsthand.

This time, Li Jiahang was the one who attempted to kidnap Xu Zhizhi but he never stood a chance.

Li Feng still tried to frame Xu Zhizhi with incriminating actions but the result was Xu Zhizhi taking the lead and jumping into their trap herself.

The system’s threats remained her greatest worry, as it seemed like an unsolvable dilemma.

But when the truth was revealed and the system was completely consumed by malice and destroyed, she finally felt relief.

Watching Xu Zhizhi embrace Qin Su and seeing everything conclude perfectly, a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes for the first time.

Then, everything went dark and she vanished from the strange space.

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself slumped over a red desk, with the hum of her computer fan buzzing in the background.

She glanced at the time on the screen, her pupils dilating as her head throbbed, her face pale.

She realized she was on the brink of sudden death—her own impending demise.

Xu Zhizhi extended her trembling hand, picked up her phone, and dialed 120 for emergency assistance.

After unlocking the door, she quickly awaited the arrival of the ambulance.

*****

Outwardly, Xu Zhizhi appeared a bit exhausted and weak but her mental state was relatively stable.

The paramedic on the ambulance glanced at her, somewhat speechless. “Are you kidding us? You’re just a little weak, nothing serious. You’ll be fine if you stop overworking, get more rest, and exercise regularly.”

Another paramedic, after completing his examination, agreed with his colleague.

“We’ll be heading out now. If there’s really an emergency, call us again. We have other patients to attend to; we can’t let cases like this occupy public resources,” the second paramedic said.

Xu Zhizhi grabbed his arm, glanced at the time on her phone, and pleaded, “Please, just let me go downstairs and get into the ambulance first!”

There were only two minutes left, enough time to get down, board the ambulance, and be rescued.

The paramedics exchanged exasperated glances, thinking she might have a few screws loose.

Ignoring their skepticism, Xu Zhizhi pulled one of them along and headed downstairs.

With every passing second, her steps grew unsteady.

Fortunately, she finally reached the ambulance, though the paramedics behind her were already pulling out their phones, ready to call the police.

One paramedic, not restrained by her, dialed 110, but just as he was about to make the call, Xu Zhizhi suddenly collapsed, unconscious.

“Stop! Start the rescue!” The sudden turn of events jolted the two paramedics into action. With their experience, they quickly assessed her condition, confirmed she could be moved, and placed her on a stretcher before loading her into the ambulance.

The driver, initially puzzled, watched the paramedics swiftly close the doors and prepare to race to the hospital.

Xu Zhizhi, semi-conscious, could barely see blurry silhouettes moving around her, accompanied by the firm yet reassuring voices of the paramedics.

She felt the injection of medication into her system and slowly began to regain clarity.

When she fully woke up, it was the next day. Staring at the stark white ceiling, she realized she had survived.

She had survived in Xu Zhizhi’s place.

A nurse entered the room and smiled brightly upon seeing her awake.

In the past 10+ hours, Xu Zhizhi had become something of a local celebrity at the hospital. The story of someone predicting their own sudden cardiac arrest due to overwork and calling 120 in advance without wasting a single minute had spread to several hospitals across the city.

Soon, a doctor arrived with a group of staff to check on her condition, showering her with questions.

Xu Zhizhi was deeply grateful. Without their help, she would have died.

However, there was a price to pay. Xu Zhizhi’s entire savings had gone into covering the medical expenses.

After seven or eight days in the hospital, she was discharged. Even after insurance reimbursement, she was left with only 1,268 Yuan.

Standing at the hospital entrance, staring at her balance, Xu Zhizhi pondered how she would survive.

The salary of an intern lawyer was pitifully low. She would have to scrimp and save for a long time before she could live more comfortably.

Life wouldn’t have been so exhausting if not for her deep-seated financial insecurity stemming from childhood. To make ends meet, she occasionally took up tutoring jobs.

She thought about the bus routes and shakily boarded one to return home.

During this challenging time, every penny counted. Having endured worse hardships before, Xu Zhizhi was content taking the bus. In her poorest moments, she’d even walked instead of taking public transport.

Once home, she turned off her computer and tidied up the rental studio apartment.

Her law firm, aware of her near-death experience, dared not press her to return to work. However, they were considering whether to keep her at all.

As an intern, her chances of being hired permanently had already been slim. Now, her situation made things even more difficult.

Xu Zhizhi debated whether to continue pursuing her aspirations. After all, being a lawyer was one of the better jobs she could manage in her current circumstances.

The next day, she gathered herself and headed to work early.

Upon entering the office, she was met with concerned glances. Everyone’s attention was on her—not just because of her ordeal but also because Xu Zhizhi was undeniably beautiful.

In reality, being attractive does have its perks since beauty tends to put people in a good mood.

After settling into her cubicle and organizing her workspace, someone approached Xu Zhizhi, asking her to go to the partner’s office.

She knew they were likely going to gently suggest she leave.

Thanking the messenger, she entered the partner’s office and greeted the person inside. “Lawyer Qi, is there something you need?”

She stood confidently half a meter in front of the desk, radiating calm composure and absolute self-assurance, much like a celebrity.

In fact, she was a celebrity in a way, though controversial, as her professionalism in appearance and demeanor rivaled that of an actual star.

Although Xu Zhizhi didn’t maintain herself as meticulously as a celebrity, her confidence compensated for any shortcomings.

Qi Xu observed the transformed Xu Zhizhi, speculating that her brush with death might have changed her. After some deliberation, he placed his hands on his hips and said, “First of all, let me congratulate you on your recovery. How’s your health now?”

“No issues,” Xu Zhizhi replied, shaking her head.

Looking at her still-pale complexion, Qi Xu hesitated for a moment before continuing, “Your internship period ends in just a few days. But as you know, the legal profession is demanding, and with your health concerns, I suggest you consider a different career path. With your looks, whether it’s in social media or modeling, you’d do well enough to support yourself…”

The unspoken part of his sentence lingered in his gaze.

Xu Zhizhi had anticipated this conversation but hadn’t expected it to happen so soon, or for a partner to personally deliver the news. It was, in a way, a show of respect.

“This was just an accident. Everyone’s health can falter occasionally. Besides, I haven’t been completely idle these past few days. The cases I’ve been assisting on have continued to progress,” Xu Zhizhi stated matter-of-factly.

Chengping Law Firm was a top firm in Beijing and Xu Zhizhi had only been able to secure her internship there thanks to her outstanding academic performance. Given the circumstances, she felt she should at least make an effort to stay.

Qi Xu met Xu Zhizhi’s determined gaze, only to concede and look away, a hint of resignation in his expression. “Honestly… there are other factors to consider. Your presence is making things awkward for certain people.”

Frowning, Xu Zhizhi searched through her memories, her eyes flickering as she pieced things together.

The moment she understood, her expression darkened. “Lawyer Qi, I trust you’re not the type of person to act unfairly. Please believe me when I say I can bring greater benefits to the firm. That family’s company may not even want to entrust us with their legal matters. Keeping me here allows us to test their true intentions. Realized benefits are what truly matters.”

The situation was straightforward: a wealthy heiress had taken a liking to one of the firm’s junior lawyers. Unfortunately for her, that lawyer was fond of Xu Zhizhi instead.

After realizing this, the heiress began subtly antagonizing Xu Zhizhi whenever they crossed paths. Initially, Xu Zhizhi thought that would be the extent of it but now the heiress had used promises of lucrative business as leverage to pressure Qi Xu and the firm’s other partners into dismissing her.

Xu Zhizhi found the heiress repugnant but couldn’t deny feeling deeply annoyed.

Her current strategy was to remind Qi Xu that the heiress’s promises might be empty. By keeping Xu Zhizhi on staff, they could gauge the heiress’s sincerity. Only once the firm secured actual contracts should they consider letting her go.

Qi Xu, impressed by her quick thinking, looked at her with newfound respect. After mulling it over, he said, “Alright, I’ll play the cautious hunter this time.”

Xu Zhizhi smiled and excused herself, saying she had work to do.

Qi Xu waved her off and immediately began contacting the heiress.

Xu Zhizhi, however, wasn’t going to sit idly by. After considering the time and situation, she called a classmate interning at another law firm.

She needed to get in touch with someone who could rein in this troublesome heiress.

The original Xu Zhizhi was never one to be easily bullied and she had long been keeping tabs on the heiress.

Some people didn’t treat ordinary individuals as equals and Xu Zhizhi had always been wary of her.

Through her inquiries, she discovered that the heiress had a half-sister from a different mother. This half-sister was ambitious and deeply resented the heiress for controlling the family’s business affairs.

She only needed to inform the right person about the heiress’s intent to meddle in the company’s legal affairs and that person would naturally intervene to block her.

The six degrees of separation worked in her favor. After multiple inquiries and contacts, Xu Zhizhi successfully delivered the message.

The result was that the heiress was reprimanded by her father and sent back home. While her father had some wealth, he was far less powerful than the second daughter’s mother. This scheme, which had been conducted behind the mother-daughter duo’s backs, was exposed, leaving him utterly humiliated.

When Qi Xu next saw Xu Zhizhi, he couldn’t help but marvel at her resourcefulness. He wondered where she had obtained the information to expose the heiress’s empty promises.

Xu Zhizhi merely smiled, indifferent. “How could an orphan from a welfare home survive without some wits?”

Beauty without intelligence, in her opinion, was the ultimate disaster.

A few days later, Xu Zhizhi successfully became a full-fledged lawyer and obtained her practicing certificate.

At first, she felt nervous but gradually adapted to her new role.

Being a lawyer wasn’t as glamorous as people imagined. For an average lawyer to climb the ranks, professional ability wasn’t enough; they also needed strong sales skills.

Qi Xu, perhaps impressed by Xu Zhizhi’s flexibility and potential, took her along to case discussions and taught her negotiation strategies. Although his guidance was basic, the platform of a reputable Beijing law firm enabled Xu Zhizhi to quickly acclimate.

She started working on civil and commercial cases, familiarizing herself with processes, handling difficult clients, and dealing with adversaries.

Initially, she believed her exposure to the dark side of the entertainment industry and human nature had prepared her. However, she soon realized the harsh realities of life were far more staggering.

Her mental state, though not perfect, began to improve. Outside of work, she sometimes reflected on life’s imperfections alone, but gradually, she appreciated that her circumstances weren’t so bad compared to others.

With a decent salary after becoming a full-fledged lawyer and a body improved through intentional exercise, her life became smoother. Except for the occasional urge to call the police on problematic clients, things were going well.

As time passed, her thoughts about her past life faded.

She gradually established herself in the firm, taking on cases independently and generating monthly revenues exceeding 500,000 Yuan. Her personal income rose to around 20,000 Yuan per month.

At the same time, she ventured into online self-media. Qi Xu’s advice resonated with her. She had both beauty and excellent professional credentials, along with some experience, so why not create additional paths for herself?

Having grown up with limited resources, Xu Zhizhi decided to adopt a proactive attitude toward wealth-building, striving for financial independence and early retirement.

She also started investigating her past. Although many people and events had changed in this parallel universe, much remained the same.

For instance, the case of her abduction. She had allocated part of her earnings to detective agencies, providing them with information to uncover the truth. She wanted to expose the hypocrisy of that family and bring them to justice.

She deeply cherished her parents in this life, as their unwavering support touched her deeply. The pure love they offered as a father and mother moved her in ways she never thought possible.

Having received so little in the past, she valued their unconditional love above all else.

The perpetrators had gone into hiding, making them hard to trace, but Xu Zhizhi remained undeterred.

Sooner or later, they would slip up. And as a living witness, she could testify against them.

Yet, she felt she wasn’t good enough yet. She wanted to become even more accomplished before facing her parents.

Deep down, she knew she was hesitating out of fear—fear that the parents in this parallel universe might not be the same as those in her past life.

Her apprehension kept her from taking that crucial step.

For now, she continued her routine: working during the day, occasionally working late to organize case files, and livestreaming legal advice on relationship issues at night.

Her audience wasn’t large, roughly a thousand viewers. Most of the time, she simply chatted, with the occasional viewer paying to ask legal questions on-air.

One night, as soon as Xu Zhizhi started her livestream, a young woman joined her in a live call.

As usual, Xu Zhizhi greeted her and waited for the woman to speak.

After hesitating for a while, the girl finally spoke, “Lawyer Xu, I want to ask, what should I do if someone is threatening me with a video?”

The girl’s voice was sweet but carried an unmistakable tremor, choked with sobs, and on the verge of breaking down. Alongside her voice came the howling of wind, creating a chaotic noise in the background.

[??? I didn’t quite understand.]

[Could it be a private video or something?]

[That’s so awful! Her voice is so sweet, how could something like this happen to her?]

Xu Zhizhi’s expression turned serious. She spoke gently yet firmly, “I understand. Don’t be afraid. Let me get a better idea of what’s going on, okay? Just share the general situation and avoid any sensitive details.”

She didn’t offer excessive comfort, knowing that words could often feel hollow in the face of such harm. What she could do was uphold her professionalism as a lawyer to help the girl minimize the damage and recover from this ordeal.

Xu Zhizhi’s warm and steady tone seemed to calm the girl a little. Gradually, she began to explain, omitting specific details about locations, roles, and other identifying information, but still revealing the entirety of her tragic story.

The live chat was filled with messages of sympathy because the girl’s experience was heartbreaking.

The girl had a promising career and had met an industry senior who was both renowned and attractive.

They quickly fell in love but kept their relationship hidden due to the peculiarities of their profession. However, in terms of supporting her career, the man spared no effort to help her.

But over time, she discovered that he was a serial dater who maintained relationships with multiple women simultaneously.

“I don’t like sharing my partner, even though I really liked him. So when I found out, I immediately broke up with him,” the girl said, her tone becoming sharp with anger before softening into despair. Choking back tears, she added, “But he wouldn’t let me go. He said he had my videos and demanded compensation for the penalty fee. He even threatened to force me to… to be with others.”

The live chat slowed to a crawl. Few could bring themselves to comment amidst such raw, despairing emotion.

In a moment of recklessness, the girl’s entire life could be destroyed.

Xu Zhizhi’s expression turned grave because she realized who the man was, not directly but she recognized the type of perpetrator and the broader pattern of their behavior.

Taking a deep breath, she asked gently, “Do you want him to face punishment or is there something else you wish for?”

The girl’s response would determine how Xu Zhizhi approached the matter.

The girl remained silent for a long time before finally whispering, “I… I want him to be punished. There are so many other victims… but I can’t do it. I can’t stand up to him. The only thing I can do is expose the truth to the public.”

Tears streamed down her face as the wind at the riverbank blew through her hair. Holding her phone, she looked at the long suicide note she had written and the meticulously organized evidence she had compiled into a PowerPoint presentation.

“Don’t be rash, don’t be afraid. I’ll help you. I have a way to protect you and the others. That man is indeed powerful and I know who he is. Trust me, I can save you!” Xu Zhizhi said firmly, her voice steady.

The girl stared into the night sky. She didn’t believe Xu Zhizhi but didn’t want to burden her with guilt, so she said, “This has nothing to do with you. I just had no one else to talk to.”

Or rather, she knew Xu Zhizhi couldn’t stand up to Gu Lie.

Hearing the howling wind through her earpiece, Xu Zhizhi realized something. Earlier, she had wondered why the girl seemed to be outside while making this call. Was she doing this in public?

Now she understood. The girl wasn’t calling from a public space; she was on the verge of ending her life.

[Wait! What’s happening?]

[From the tone, is she about to commit suicide? Is she trying to keep the streamer from feeling guilty?]

[The person above is right! The streamer figured it out and is trying to stop her!]

Xu Zhizhi glanced at the live chat, tempted to close it but hesitated. Disconnecting the call would mean losing contact with the girl, leaving her powerless to intervene.

Clenching her fists, she thought for a moment and then said to the girl, “I know you don’t believe me but does that man have the character ‘Lie’ in his name? If so, trust me and come down, okay?”

[??? Is the streamer switching careers to fortune-telling?]

[Did I miss something? Or is the streamer just guessing?]

[Either way, miss, just come down first.]

The livestream room was now packed with viewers due to the unfolding drama. Some speculated it was scripted.

But only the girl knew it wasn’t a script. She had randomly joined the stream and the moment she heard the streamer’s words, she was shaken to her core… because the streamer knew who he was.

Hearing the girl’s silence, Xu Zhizhi gently continued, “Will you come to me? Please give me the chance to save you.”

As she said this, memories of those she couldn’t help due to her hesitation or weakness flooded her mind, making her nose sting as tears began to fall.

Her eyes filled with sincerity and a burning desire for the girl to trust her.

Please, give me a chance.

The weight of past memories showed in Xu Zhizhi’s expression, a mix of deep pain and complexity. She finally realized that none of it had faded. It had merely been buried, waiting to heal.

The girl tightened her grip on the railing, her gaze shifting to the screen, locking onto Xu Zhizhi’s eyes. Her lips trembled slightly before she finally whispered, “Okay.”

She climbed back down and glanced at the rushing river, her eyes returning to Xu Zhizhi’s determined face.

“Alright, I’ll log off now and send you a private message!” Xu Zhizhi immediately said.

Informing her viewers that she had something urgent to handle, she ended the livestream and quickly messaged the girl.

After arranging to meet, Xu Zhizhi began strategizing how to handle the evidence.

She understood that this world had its differences. For instance, some people and events from her past life didn’t exist here. Criminal methods and psychological tendencies also varied. She knew she needed to be highly vigilant.

One person who existed in this world was Jiang Yuchuan. Xu Zhizhi decided to start her investigation with Jiang Yuchuan’s sister.

Based on the timeline, Jiang Yuchuan’s sister was likely to commit suicide in about a month. Xu Zhizhi wasn’t sure how much she could change but she was determined to investigate thoroughly.

As a lawyer, she now had a much better grasp of legal systems compared to her past self.

Xu Zhizhi devoted tremendous energy to handling this case. The girl gave her full authority to act on her behalf and Xu Zhizhi had a revelation.

If someone isn’t afraid of death, then they are truly fearless.

When Xu Zhizhi walked into the Beijing Public Security Bureau with the girl, resulting in Gu Lie getting arrested, both the real world and the internet were shaken to the core.

As an ordinary lawyer, Xu Zhizhi endured countless insults and attacks throughout this process.

But the one thing she ensured was the absolute protection of the girls’ identities, shielding them from secondary harm.

This act of salvation wasn’t just for them but it was also for herself.

She realized she had found her own path to redemption.