Chapter 229 Epilogue

"Let me tell you, Captain He hasn't just gotten closer to his son, he might even remarry!"

As soon as they got into the car, Gong Xiaoyu couldn't resist sharing the gossip. "The day before yesterday, I went to the station to find Captain He—I was anxious, wanting you home sooner. Just as I was almost there, I saw him!"

"He got out of a white Mercedes. He was in the passenger seat. After getting out, he leaned close to the window talking and talking, non-stop. Then the owner got out. I looked—it was this really classy lady! She took something from the trunk and gave it to Captain He. He took it, his face all red, and suddenly reached out and grabbed the lady's arm! Just like this!"

As she spoke, Gong Xiaoyu mimicked the action, grabbing Xu Ruyi's arm. "They just stood there like that, holding on, gazing deeply at each other. I was holding my breath watching, when guess what? My husband, that clumsy teammate, actually honked the horn!"

"Then he even got out of the car and asked Captain He who that was? Such an idiot!" Gong Xiaoyu laughed, doubling over. "Captain He, blushing, said, 'That's my son's mother!' Ruyi, did you see? Captain He looks ten years younger now! Blushing all the time, like a young guy in love!"

Old He's feelings for his wife and son ran deep—Xu Ruyi had understood that from their previous conversation. His decision to divorce back then wasn't because the feelings were gone, but driven by obsession. He couldn't forgive his own helplessness, his inability to do anything when his loved ones were harmed.

If it were her, if she couldn't avenge her parents, if she had to watch the murderer walk free, her life would also be trapped in a bottomless well, forever unable to escape.

Fortunately, she had succeeded.

Xu Ruyi turned her head and saw the two portraits placed on the passenger seat of the seven-seater car: her mom and dad.

"I thought Uncle and Aunt would definitely want to come pick you up and take you home today too,"

Gong Xiaoyu's smile faded. Her expression dimmed as she carefully picked up the two portraits, gently wiping them with her palm before handing them to Xu Ruyi. "If it weren't for Uncle and Aunt, my mom and I would probably have starved to death in that mountain gully long ago. I always dreamed of being like a daughter to them, to show filial piety and repay their kindness for funding my education all these years. It's a pity... I hadn't done anything for them yet when they..."

They were gone, devoured by a vicious jackal—the jackal they themselves had raised.

Fortunately, this day had finally come—Xu Ruyi gazed quietly at the loving eyes in the portraits, taking a deep breath. She had done it. Bravely turned herself in, shouldered the responsibility, confronted that man head-on, and brought him to justice.

The case was settled. Qin Guan was convicted on multiple offenses and ultimately sentenced to death, carried out today.

On such an important day, she couldn't cry. She needed to be with her parents, to witness the fate of that jackal with her own eyes.

"Time's almost up, we need to hurry."

Old He called everyone into the cars. The two vehicles sped off and soon reached their destination.

Passing through door after door, Xu Ruyi followed Old He and finally reached the visitation room.

She finally saw Qin Guan again.

The face she had most anticipated seeing these past three months—this jackal was brought into her home by her, and it was only right she saw him off.

Qin Guan, shackled hand and foot, shuffled slowly towards her.

If she hadn't known in advance, Xu Ruyi might not have recognized him.

He was emaciated beyond recognition. The loose prison uniform hung like rags on a branch. His skin sagged like flesh-colored sacks draped over a barely supported skeleton. From head to toe, he radiated undeniable age and exhaustion.

His face still bore several half-healed scars.

According to Old He, Qin Guan was despised by everyone in prison.

The guards and inmates all knew he had repaid his benefactors' kindness by murdering the in-laws who raised him and funded his education, and that he had strangled his lover of two years. A man without principles or humanity was naturally despised. His fellow inmates seized every chance to torment him.

He was no longer the confident, young, promising, high-flying lawyer he once was.

"Sit down!" a guard ordered. Qin Guan jumped as if startled.

His whole body flinched in fright. He lifted his eyes. Beneath the closely shaved hair, his eyes were vacant and terrified. His jawline, blue-tinged, and his prominent cheekbones—stripped of his upper-class veneer, he looked more and more like his drunkard father.

In just three months, he seemed to have endured a living hell.

Of course, what was more hellish for him was death.

Old He said that as the execution date neared, Qin Guan couldn't sleep at all, night after night, breaking down and banging his head against the wall.

Deep bruises indeed marked his forehead.

"Ruyi... wife..."

Seeing Xu Ruyi, Qin Guan instinctively reached out. His hand, reduced to skin and bones, trembled like a chicken's claw.

"I didn't come here to listen to your nonsense," Xu Ruyi cut him off. She placed her parents' portraits on the seat beside her. "I came so my parents could see with their own eyes that I have defeated you. That you, this vicious jackal, have received the end you deserve."

"After today, you, Qin Guan, will vanish completely from this world. I will erase every trace of your existence, as if you never came. You... wasted your time coming into this world."

After speaking, she picked up her parents' portraits, turned, and walked to the door. She looked back once more. "Oh, and your ashes? I will personally deliver them to your hometown. You'll be buried with your parents. You were born there. You'll die there too."

With that, she strode out without looking back.

Behind her, Qin Guan's piercing wails echoed through the corridor. "Xu Ruyi... you're so cruel... ah... Xu Ruyi... save me... I really know I was wrong... I don't want to die..."

Exiting the layered doors, she saw her loved ones again.

It was finally all over.

Gong Xiaoyu drove on the way home.

The car traveled under the sunlight. Inside the cabin, laughter and cheerful voices filled the air. Sunlight spilled onto the hood like golden sprites, dancing merrily and freely.

The car passed a sea of rapeseed flowers. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of the blossoms and the joyful songs of birds.

Xu Ruyi took a deep breath—this was the scent of freedom, the scent of victory.

"I read something really interesting in a book once," Cui Yuan, sitting beside Xu Ruyi, followed her gaze to the white clouds drifting in the sky. "It said that after people die, their souls actually reside on the clouds, watching over the people they care about."

"Sis, your parents are watching over you too," he looked up at the clouds, sincere and nostalgic. "They want you to live well, to be happy. They want you and Little Pear to walk forward bravely."

Xu Ruyi nodded, also looking up at the sky—soft clouds lingered right above her head, silently, gently keeping her company.

There was nothing left to fear.

She took a deep breath and reached out her hand. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, softly sprinkling flecks of golden light onto her palm. Every beam of light cupped in her hands felt full and strong.