Chapter 392: My Fairness
In the mountains, if a fire broke out, it was hard to call for the fire brigade. Most people would just watch.
If someone kind-hearted happened by, they might fetch water from a well to put it out. But unfortunately, I'd poured kerosene everywhere. Water would only make it more dangerous.
Soon, I heard violent coughing. The delicate little Jindou probably couldn't take it anymore either.
I'm sorry. I'm really sorry.
Although I hold no deep hatred for you, for personal reasons, I can't let you leave.
If you get away, my crime will be confirmed. No one can see me tonight. So you have to die.
Intentional homicide: punishable by death, life imprisonment, or fixed-term imprisonment of not less than ten years; if the circumstances are relatively minor, the sentence is between three and ten years.
I stood at the door, weeping bitterly. I didn't know why I was so sad.
I had personally cured my "illness," yet I felt such profound sorrow.
What kind of life is this...? Why does it cause so much pain?
The fire quickly spread through the entire house. Jindou's screams came through. There was no way she could survive.
Before anyone else could notice the blaze, I immediately concealed myself, slipped to the village entrance, turned off my headlights, and left the mountain village before a bigger commotion could erupt.
Only after carefully driving down the mountain did I turn my headlights back on and speed away. A few minutes later, I reached the town, found a roadside car wash, and spent thirty yuan to thoroughly clean all the mud off the body and tires.
I pulled out my phone to check the time. I parked the car by the roadside, took out a sticker from the Jay Chou fan merchandise, and stuck it on my arm. Then I turned on a glow stick and took a picture of my arm.
"I had a really great time tonight."
Yes, I had a great time tonight.
A boulder that had been weighing me down had fallen into the abyss.
I got back on the road. Once again, I didn't take the main roads. I chose to weave through the village's small paths. Because the night was pitch black and most villages didn't have streetlights, it took me much longer to finally get back to Chengdu.
When I drove into Chengdu, the sky was just beginning to lighten.
This city was like my mood. My dark past was about to vanish with the pitch-black night. From now on, I would live here in peace.
And my parents and younger brother—an accidental fire tonight had claimed their lives in the mountains.
I hadn't "wiped out my entire family." I was just an unlucky person.
I kept consoling myself in my heart, until I was drenched in tears.
All my life, I've been deceiving myself. Before, and now too.
Having the most unfortunate childhood, yet delusionally thinking I could rise above others through my own efforts. Clearly having wiped out my own family, yet fantasizing about embracing a brand-new life.
Who am I to deserve that?
There are so many criminals in this world. If I could escape the law's punishment, it wouldn't be fair to anyone.
But right now, I wanted so badly to experience "unfairness" just once.
I wanted all of this to be turned over. I wanted to spend the rest of my life peacefully with Jiaqi.
I wanted to wear a wedding dress just once. To be a normal woman.
Today, a thick fog had risen over Chengdu. Everything before my eyes was hazy.
"Jiaqi... wait for me..." I kept wiping the tears from my face, trying to comfort myself, but my heart ached as if a knife were stuck in it. "I'm back... from now on, let's wake up together every day..."
"Welcome to the morning rush hour on Music Radio." The car radio emitted a muffled sound. "Yesterday, Jay Chou came to Chengdu and stirred up memories for all the post-80s and post-90s generation. If you weren't there, follow this next song, 'In the Name of the Father,' and return to the golden age of Chinese pop music."
*"The chilly morning dew, dampens the black suit."*
*"Fog on the cobblestone road, Father whispers low."*
*"Reluctant enlightenment, can only be more cruel. Everything is for the road to the holy hall."*
*"The fog that won't disperse, hides the intention."*
*"Who paces softly, then stops."*
*"Before I can even cry, the bullet passes through, taking the warmth."*
*"Every one of us is guilty, committing different sins..."*
"No... that's not..." I muttered to myself in the air. "I didn't kill my own family. It's just... someone scammed me out of two million... This case involves a huge amount of money and is severe in nature... I just went to gather evidence for the trial... Jiaqi... you believe me, right?"
That person not only blackmailed me... he even took out a loan from loan sharks... Jiaqi... you understand, don't you?
I don't want to be a demon. I just want to be an ordinary person.
I really have no baggage left now... Let's be together, okay?
As long as the police don't find me... let's be together, okay?
Once today's thick fog in Chengdu clears... let's be together, okay?
I passed by Du Fu's Thatched Cottage, then drove from Qingyang Main Street to Wuhou Shrine.
I was about to call Jiaqi when suddenly the world spun around me—an earthquake had struck. Unlike the few I'd experienced before, this tremor was extremely violent. It seemed the epicenter was right in Chengdu.
I saw the ground ahead not far away cracking open. I slammed on the brakes, stopping right before the fissure. But unexpected, the car behind me couldn't brake in time and rear-ended me.
I kept wiping my tears, trying to calm myself.
Why is there still another obstacle?
Why is it so hard for me to step toward a new life?
Cars kept rear-ending me, pushing me toward the crack ahead.
"Don't do this..." I cried in the car. "Heaven, please don't test me anymore... I just want to live... Can't you be unfair to me just once?!"
But this miserable life was no different from the thirty-three years I had already lived.
Until my car plunged into the abyss, I saw no hope at all.
...
This place brings back bad memories.
This game is called "The Messenger."
As the "hostage," I was locked inside a huge microwave.
What's terrifying is that the area of this microwave is even smaller than the room Butcher Ma gave me.
Those painful memories kept flooding back, drowning me in despair.
How did I end up in a place like this?
And why am I locked up again?
It must be because I wiped out my own family. Heaven has sent me another trial.
Yes, that's fair.
But I'm so scared. What should I do?
Am I going to be roasted alive inside this giant microwave?
I was sitting inside the microwave, shivering, when suddenly the door opened. I looked up and met his eyes.
Just like last time, someone had come to save me. The light from outside streamed in, illuminating the handsome man before me, making him shine like a brilliant lighthouse.
"Qi Xia!!"
Unable to control my trembling body, I rushed forward and hugged him.
"I..." His expression was a bit awkward. He didn't know where to put his hands.
"Thank goodness... You scared me to death..." My whole body was shaking. I was absolutely terrified. "I thought I was going to be roasted alive in there..."
"Attorney Zhang... Zhang, I remember you don't like people touching you," Qi Xia said awkwardly.
"Ah..." I quickly let go and wiped my eyes. "I-I'm sorry... I didn't make you uncomfortable, did I?"
"It's not uncomfortable, just startled me." He shook his head. "I don't like things that go beyond my expectations. In my memory, you're not this kind of person."
"I-I'm sorry." I slowly lowered my head, reverting to my usual demeanor.
These people don't know...
They don't understand me.
I am a monster who killed my entire family. I am worlds apart from everyone here.
No matter how many villains are here, none of them can be more evil than me.
How ridiculous...
They think I'm a meticulous lawyer, but they never imagined my heart could be so dark. So I can't let anyone know about this... After all, I've already prepared my alibi in advance.
As long as I can get out of here, I can return to a normal life.
I'm waiting for Jiaqi to dress me in a wedding gown and lead me to a better future.
I am not Zhang Laidi.
My name is Zhang Chenze.
Even though it's unfair to all of you, I'm sorry, but I have to start lying.