Chapter 24: An Inescapable Truth

Chen Shanyi's heart was overwhelmed by countless emotions, but in the end, she focused all her attention on the file in front of her. Her fingertips unknowingly brushed the corner of the envelope, as if it were the only key to the truth. Every second of hesitation felt like a battle with fate, but she knew clearly that this file might contain the answers she had been seeking all along.

The man quietly watched her, his eyes deep and indifferent, as though he had already seen through everything about her. He didn't rush to speak, patiently waiting for her to make a decision. Her gaze wavered between the file and the man, and her inner conflict exploded in that moment. She understood that this decision was crucial.

"What… should I do?" she whispered, almost to herself. Her fingers trembled slightly, but she forced herself to calm down. She could no longer retreat, nor did she wish to remain in endless confusion. No matter what lay ahead, she had to face it.

"The truth cannot be avoided," the man's voice remained calm, devoid of emotion, "Everything you've gone through has already been destined. And now, it's time to uncover the veil."

Chen Shanyi closed her eyes, took a deep breath, as though preparing herself for the worst. She suddenly opened the file, revealing a thick stack of papers, the handwriting clear, though the content was complex and bewildering. She turned the pages one by one, each word seeming to carve a deep imprint on her heart.

Among the pages were details of her background, the mysterious disappearance of her parents, and the names of those secret organizations she had unknowingly encountered. The most shocking of all was a segment about a memory she had lost — one from when she was a child. She saw a man who had once held an important place in her life — a man dressed in a black suit, her "mentor," the one who had led her into this world full of mysteries.

Her heart skipped a beat. That person was, in fact, the key figure behind her father's disappearance! She had often wondered who her father was and why he vanished without a trace, and now, the truth was right in front of her.

"You see now," the man slowly spoke, his voice carrying a cold undertone, "Your father's disappearance was no accident, it is deeply tied to that organization. Your connection to them is deeper than you realize."

A flicker of fear crossed Chen Shanyi's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. She gently placed the file on the table, took a deep breath, and asked, "So, you mean to say that my father was involved with this organization? Then why did he disappear?"

The man's gaze remained impassive, but his tone carried a hidden meaning, "Your father didn't disappear. He chose to leave the organization. But leaving is not easy. Once you step into this world, it's impossible to leave without consequences. His escape meant he betrayed the organization, and they would never let him go."

Chen Shanyi's mind went blank, as if all the clues suddenly converged and became clear. Her father had once been a member of this organization, and perhaps she herself was bound to it in ways she couldn't escape. Everything was no longer a coincidence but part of a carefully woven conspiracy.

She wanted to ask more, to inquire about the details, but suddenly, her phone screen lit up with a message notification. She picked up her phone and saw a text from Siska:

"Shanyi, things have gone beyond repair. You must make a choice, and make it quickly."

The message tightened her chest, as if all her thoughts were locked in those few words. She realized she had long been caught up in an inevitable storm, and whatever choice she made, the consequences would be irreversible.

She looked up at the man, her eyes no longer filled with doubt but with determination. "I understand," she said, her voice firm and low, "I've made my decision."

The man raised an eyebrow, as if intrigued by her resolve. "What have you decided?"

"I won't run anymore," Chen Shanyi clenched her teeth, "I want to know the truth. I won't let anyone control my fate any longer!"

The man looked at her, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes. "Good, since you've made your choice, I'll lead you down a path full of uncertainty."

Just as he finished speaking, the bell above the door rang, and a man dressed in a black suit walked in. His presence was strikingly similar to that of the mysterious man, as if they shared the same aura.

The man looked at him with a slight narrowing of his gaze. "You're here."

The man in the black suit nodded and walked straight to their table. Without a word, he picked up the file and quickly skimmed through it. Then, he calmly spoke, "The mission has begun."

A strange feeling surged within Chen Shanyi's chest, as if this was no longer just her personal struggle. Her decision had now become entwined with something far more significant — her fate was now bound to the changes in the entire world.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "I'm ready."

The man's lips curled into a faint smile. "Then let's begin."