Irreversible - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: The Scumbag’s Counterattack (Part 3)

After her routine visit to Su Zhiyi’s dormant pod, Gu Xizhou finished washing up. Holding a simple lunch box, she sat with Lin Shi in front of the Cross data monitoring console to review the brainwave information presented by the “virtual” data.

Lin Shi was a genius in engineering medicine. Only 34 years old this year, she was the one leading the research and development of the Cross project. However, due to clinical ethics and safety issues, no one currently used the equipment except for Gu Xizhou and Su Zhiyi. Consequently, Gu Xizhou’s testing data had become an incredibly rare experimental sample for her.

In the dim laboratory, the thin female Alpha wore gold-rimmed glasses, sitting upright before the complex array of instruments. She furrowed her brows as she looked at the dense data flooding the computer screen. The blue light of the monitor and the red-and-green indicator lights of the equipment reflected off her glasses, casting a cold glint.

Lin Shi scrolled through the massive amount of information on the screen, looking quite excited. “This model, 1022 Gu Xizhou, is running according to one of the 100 million transition sequences we corrected. The life trajectory of 1022 is also one of the possibilities of your own life path.”

“When your consciousness was projected into the virtual world and you informed her of the ‘future,’ she underwent a startling transformation within your observation. Furthermore, her changes influenced others. For example, 1022’s mother—1022 Gu Jing—also underwent corresponding changes and began to take on the responsibilities a mother should have.”

Gu Xizhou wasn’t particularly interested in this; her tone was flat. “Is that so? What about my wife’s data?”

Lin Shi’s excited tone suddenly faltered. She paused for a moment before saying hesitantly, “There haven’t been any unusual brainwave fluctuations… Madame’s consciousness remains asleep under the virtual shell of 1022. There are no signs of awakening.”

Gu Xizhou knitted her brows, appearing displeased. “Then why did she appear in No. 1 High School this time, in the same school as 1022?”

At this, the cute-looking research genius rubbed her face, looking a bit embarrassed. “Ah… that… I added a little setting to the virtual program.”

Gu Xizhou’s eyes turned dark and cold as she looked at her. “You touched her data?”

Lin Shi gave a forced, apologetic smile. “Just added a tiny bit…”

Gu Xizhou pursed her lips and asked coldly, “Added what?”

Lin Shi spoke cautiously: “I projected some of your teenage experiences, the entanglements between you and her, and Su Nanfeng’s future into the consciousness of the virtual program…”

Gu Xizhou’s expression instantly turned grim. “Don’t meddle in things that don’t concern you.”

Lin Shi made an “OK” gesture and said sheepishly, “Fine, fine. I’ll delete that part when we get to 1023…”

Gu Xizhou swept a cold glance over her. “There will be no 1023.”

“Huh?” Lin Shi looked at Gu Xizhou in surprise. “Does Boss mean we continue running 1022?”

Gu Xizhou stared straight at the screen. Through the walls of text, she seemed to see that sixteen-year-old girl with the bright smile. In that fictional world, the sunlight was so real, and even the scent of cherries on the girl was so authentic and familiar—it made her nostalgic.

Four years… it had been four full years since she had smelled that scent. It fascinated her. Having switched back and forth between reality and illusion for several years, Gu Xizhou could no longer distinguish where reality ended and the dream began. Only when she saw Su Zhiyi soaked in the tank did she realize her reality was living in hell.

But this time, Gu Xizhou felt that the person she loved might have awakened in the virtual world. She wanted to try again, to confirm one more time if the 1022 Su Zhiyi was just a program running or if she was her Su Zhiyi.

The gold-rimmed lenses reflected the blue light of the screen. The woman standing before the monitor tapped the desk. “Keep 1022 running. I have business during the day. When I return tonight, we continue.”

She wanted to see her Su Zhiyi once more.

As was her custom, Gu Xizhou set up a military cot outside Su Zhiyi’s dormant pod, spending the night in the lab with her comatose wife.

Around 6:00 AM, Gu Xizhou woke from her dream. She rose, washed up, and kissed Su Zhiyi through the glass of the pod. After applying light makeup, she took a car and left the research building.

Since Su Zhiyi’s suicide attempt four years ago, Gu Xizhou had stepped back from power, hiring professional managers to handle the group’s affairs. Now, she held the majority of the Su Group’s shares and lived year-round in this research tower built in the suburbs, throwing herself entirely into the study of Cross just to wake Su Zhiyi.

Aside from specific dates, like the anniversary of her mother’s death, she rarely went out. Another exception was Su Nanfeng’s annual visitation day; she would pick a day with good weather to humiliate her and enjoy the fruits of her revenge. This was the only trophy worth savoring in her long nightmare. Like a poison, it was like drinking lead to quench a thirst, yet she was unable to stop. Only by doing this could she maintain the conviction of not regretting her choices, preventing herself from being consumed by guilt and remorse as the days dragged on like years.

Five years ago, Gu Xizhou had intentionally left a trail of breadcrumbs that allowed Su Nanfeng to “find” the truth about her murdering Su Tianyu. Su Nanfeng had secretly brought a recording pen to the office to confront her.

Gu Xizhou had deliberately let her record the conversation. Then, just as Su Nanfeng thought her scheme had succeeded, Gu Xizhou casually exposed her naive trick, forcing Su Nanfeng to take a desperate risk and plot her murder.

Gu Xizhou controlled Su Nanfeng’s every move. She intentionally let an oblivious Su Zhiyi witness how Su Nanfeng “went crazy,” attempting to kill her own sister’s lover over some delusions.

The moment Su Nanfeng floored the accelerator and Su Zhiyi reported it to the police with trembling hands, Gu Xizhou tasted infinite pleasure from the shocked gaze in Su Nanfeng’s eyes. The joy of revenge was the finest wine in the world, and Gu Xizhou was intoxicated by it.

For attempted murder—and because a completely disillusioned Su Zhiyi had no intention of hiring a lawyer for her—the court sentenced Su Nanfeng to twenty years in prison.

The day after Su Nanfeng was locked away, Gu Xizhou made her first visit. Su Nanfeng, who in her youth had been high-spirited and used every forceful means to bully others, sat across from her in a slump. Her head was in her hands, her shoulders drooping in despair. “You won…”

“Gu Xizhou, you won.”

Su Nanfeng looked up, her eyes bloodshot and filled with regret. “Betrayed by everyone, possessing nothing… this is my retribution. I accept it!”

“Your hands are stained with blood, you’ve done so many filthy things, yet everyone believes you are innocent. You truly have incredible methods.”

Gu Xizhou savored her wailing like that of a stray dog. She pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses and said humbly, “It was all thanks to your excellent teaching.”

Su Nanfeng was so enraged she wanted to stand up and strike her on the spot, but she forced herself to endure. She sat back in her chair dejectedly, looking at Gu Xizhou’s delicate face with a pleading gaze. “It’s my fault. Everything is my fault.”

“But Zhiyi is innocent. She loves you so much. Since you’re going to hide the truth, hide it completely… those filthy things you’ve done, it’s best if she never knows for her entire life.”

To be betrayed and utilized by the one she loved most—her sister, who was filled with a sense of justice, would surely go mad if she knew the truth.

Gu Xizhou clearly understood this. But with a years-long debt of hatred repaid, she was exceptionally triumphant. She admired Su Nanfeng’s pleading posture, the corners of her lips curling into an extremely pleasant smile. “Sure, as long as you beg me.”

Su Nanfeng’s pupils dilated instantly. Gu Xizhou pointed to the leather shoes at her own feet, looking high-spirited and satisfied. “Kneel down and lick my shoes clean.”

“Lick them clean, and then I’ll consider whether or not to agree.”

Ah… after so many years of immersion, her soul had ultimately become just like Su Nanfeng’s—destined to fall into hell forever.