After My Death, I Became a Heartless Madman - Chapter 23.3

Lan Chi stiffened, her entire body trembling.

Song Shizhou, too, was angered by the accusation. What happened in the past life others might not know, but how could you not? And yet you have the audacity to bring up betrayal here?

“Miss Bai, don’t make this sound so ugly. Words like that don’t just hurt Lan Chi and me, they insult yourself.”

The people of Flying Bird Town were acutely sensitive to the scent of blood and even more so to those from the Inner City. Lan Chi was their backbone; how could they stand by and watch Boss Lan be bullied? Several townsfolk who had been observing stepped forward, forcefully separating Bai Ruowei and Lan Chi.

When had Miss Bai ever been reduced to such a state?

She had been running between the Inner City and the Thirteenth District, unable to rest properly for who knew how long. Bai Ruowei let out a muffled groan as she was shoved back a few steps by the townspeople.

Then, like a prisoner, she was forced down, nearly kneeling on the ground.

No matter what happened to Bai Ruowei, Song Shizhou had thought she wouldn’t react anymore. But while she could control her emotions, she couldn’t control her body, the two always seemed to lag behind each other. Her heart lurched, and her body moved before she could stop it.

“Don’t hold her down like that, she has an old injury on her shoulder!”

During one operation, Bai Ruowei had been shot in the shoulder. Due to delayed treatment, it left a faint scar. She had kissed that scar countless times, never imagining it would be brought up again under such circumstances.

Song Shizhou trembled inexplicably.

She wasn’t one to get easily emotional, yet her heartbeat raced uncontrollably, her hands shaking. Perhaps this was the inertia of love.

Even when battered and bruised, even when resolved, she still couldn’t suppress the impulse from the depths of her soul…

Bai Ruowei lifted her head, biting her lip hard.

“What does my injury have to do with you?”

“Didn’t you say we’ve already broken up? Why do you remember so clearly where I’ve been hurt?”

A chaotic rush of footsteps approached from the distance.

Mia and Li Ningzhi had finally arrived, followed by countless others.

But it wasn’t enough.

For flaunting Miss Bai’s power and status, these people were sufficient. But for winning Song Shizhou back, they weren’t enough, no number of people would ever be enough.

Those who had disrespected Miss Bai quickly received their due punishment. The sounds of snapping bones and agonized screams filled the air in an instant.

Onlookers shrank back in fear. Bai Ruowei stared blankly at the scene, feeling as though she were in a dream.

Would Song Shizhou think her cruel?

She had never worried about this before because she knew Song Shizhou loved her, flaws and all. Even if she was wicked, cruel, or scheming, she was still loved.

Now, she wasn’t so sure.

She couldn’t bear Song Shizhou looking at her with cold eyes. She truly couldn’t. The contrast was too stark, too unbearable.

She was fragile. Just the thought of Song Shizhou’s disgusted expression made Bai Ruowei feel like she was dying.

As if on cue, seeing the innocent victims suffering, Song Shizhou stormed up to her furiously.

“Bai Ruowei, this is between us! Stop taking your anger out on unrelated people!”

“What does any of this have to do with them or Lan Chi?!”

Lan Chi tugged at Song Shizhou’s sleeve, whispering in her ear,

“Stop talking…”

“Right now, all you’re doing is provoking her. It’s pointless.”

She forced a weak smile.

“Remember what I told you? Behind the small door, there’s a hidden passage leading to the highway closest to the Twelfth District.”

“Bai Ruowei wouldn’t dare chase you openly on the highway. Run. At the end of the path, there’s transportation I arranged for you.”

Without orders from the council, the Surveillance Institute wouldn’t act openly. Chasing Song Shizhou was Bai Ruowei’s personal affair, and she was already under immense pressure as it was.

Even if she insisted on pursuing her on the highway, Mia would likely talk her out of it.

But how did Lan Chi know all this so clearly?

Her smile was tinged with sorrow.

“Shizhou, go. Don’t look back…”

Lan Chi’s voice was still gentle, though laced with a tremor she herself didn’t seem to notice.

Before Song Shizhou could respond, Bai Ruowei’s voice, on the verge of breaking, cut in first.

Unable to suppress her emotions, Bai Ruowei’s chest heaved violently. The corners of her eyes were still tinged red with tears, yet she remained haughty and aloof. The continuous flush made her already bewitching face appear even more dangerous.

“Lan… Chi.”

Miss Bai let out a light laugh.

“Shizhou, do you really think Lan Chi is some kind of good person?”

“Do you really think she’s never lied to you?”

Someone interjected abruptly.

“Lan Chi, after all these years of betraying the organization and painstakingly contacting the council members, now that we’re finally here, what? Still not telling the truth?”

Lan Chi paused briefly before revealing a relieved smile.

To ensure the safety of each Chief Inspector, the Surveillance Institute had created countless “doubles” for them. These doubles resembled their originals in appearance, physique, and even personal preferences. They had no thoughts, no consciousness, acting solely on commands. Bai Ruowei had many such doubles, and Lan Chi was undoubtedly the most failed one among them.

She had her own thoughts and responsibilities, even harboring thoughts of betrayal.

Bai Ruowei said calmly,

“Mia, take her back.”

“No!”

Song Shizhou paid no heed to the Surveillance Institute’s schemes. Over the past few days, she had heard plenty about their cruel methods, how could she let Lan Chi be taken away by these people?

Song Shizhou stepped in front of Lan Chi, shielding her.

“Bai Ruowei, if you insist on taking Lan Chi away, you’ll have to kill me first.”

Before her words even settled, Lan Chi stopped her.

The identity of Bai Ruowei’s stand-in, this was the first time Lan Chi had heard of it. But what did it matter now? She had lived a solitary, cold life all these years, how could she care about such things?

“Supervisor Bai isn’t wrong. I did use you. I am one of her stand-ins, and all this time, I’ve been trying to reconnect with the Surveillance Institute.”

She smiled, just as she had when they first met.

“Shizhou, I’m sorry. I lied to you.”

Her eyes reddened.

“Don’t be sad. I was the one who used you, there’s nothing to grieve over. I belong to the Surveillance Institute. Weren’t you always asking me why I was never happy…?”

Dynasties rise and fall, the old gives way to the new, she had failed.

And so, she deserved judgment.

Lan Chi choked back a sob.

“Zhuxing, Zhuxing was killed by them. I miss her so much.”

She had been the only family Lan Chi had left in this world, the girl she painted, that lonely little star, the one person under the dim sky to whom Lan Chi had ever wanted to say, Hi.

It wasn’t as if she hadn’t thought of revenge or rescue. She had tried too many times, and without exception, she had failed. At the end of life, what did it matter whether one lived or died? She only wanted to return to the place where Zhuxing had once been even if it meant lying beside her in death.

Song Shizhou suddenly felt like crying and laughing.

In her past life, she had never seen Lan Chi again. The Surveillance Institute had no interest in deserters with no value left to exploit. Lan Chi had stopped taking the Institute’s nutrient injections, so all her superpowers would deteriorate, she posed no threat. Had Lan Chi, in that past life, never made it back to the Surveillance Institute? Never returned to Zhuxing’s side?

If so, then by obediently staying by Lan Chi’s side, had she helped her?

If she could help Lan Chi, then Song Shizhou would be happy so very happy.

But this joy couldn’t dilute the sorrow she felt now. Song Shizhou clung to Lan Chi, refusing to let go.

“Silly girl, why cry? All feasts must end. Why torment yourself with today’s pain?”

“…Let me go back.”

It was true that she had used Song Shizhou to lure the Surveillance Institute’s people but it was also true that she had helped Song Shizhou evade capture. Lan Chi’s mind was in turmoil. She had always been the most decisive person, could someone else really sway her judgment and choices?

Perhaps it was because… she truly didn’t want to hurt innocent people anymore.

“Shizhou, thank you.”

In the end, the Surveillance Institute took Lan Chi away. As she boarded the vehicle with them, her face, for once, was no longer shadowed by gloom.

Bai Ruowei stood beside Song Shizhou, their closeness no different from their past life.

“Now you understand why I said she was my stand-in. She deceived you.”

Song Shizhou shook her head, offering a sorrowful smile.

She had thought that in this second life, at least some things would change. But once Bai Ruowei appeared, everything had reverted to how it was before.

She was still so domineering, so overbearing, showing no trace of remorse.

“I don’t know…”

Song Shizhou’s heart trembled uncontrollably.

“I don’t know if Lan Chi deceived me…”

“All I know is that Lan Chi was the one who met me first.”

Bai Ruowei couldn’t withstand any more provocation.

Song Shizhou thought,

What good would provoking Miss Bai do? It would only make her angrier, and the consequences would become even more uncontrollable. But suddenly, Song Shizhou didn’t want to care about these things anymore. Bai Ruowei had hurt her without restraint, so why couldn’t she…

Make Bai Ruowei feel the same pain?

“What did you say?”

“Lan Chi met me first, and Lan Chi was the one who treated me well…”

Song Shizhou showed a sorrowful smile.

“In life, the one who appears later is the substitute, Miss Bai.”

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