114: Chapter 114 The Sickly Heiress's Tale (End)
The autumn sunlight filtered through the glass windows of the Jiang University teaching building, landing on the CET-4 practice papers spread out before Song Zhiwei. The rustling of her pen across the paper, mixed with the chirping of birds outside, was exceptionally peaceful.
Ever since Pei Yunxiao and Ruan Shu were expelled from school for causing a disturbance, her campus life had finally returned to normal.
She attended classes on time every day and spent her time in the library solving practice problems. Even the classmates who had previously been incited by Pei Yunxiao to alienate her began to approach her on their own initiative, inviting her to the cafeteria or to study together.
Song Zhiwei was no longer as eager to fit in as she had been before; she simply accepted this goodwill calmly.
She finally understood that true friendship was never bought through deliberate pandering. Just like Zhang Fan, Zhou Yurou, and Gu Jingshen—they had never fawned over her because she was the Eldest Miss of the Song Family, yet they would stand up for her when she was wronged and pull her up when she was lost.
Having a few friends like this was enough. She no longer needed those cheap relationships that required "pandering" to maintain.
After the final self-study class of the afternoon ended, Song Zhiwei packed her bag and took out her phone to send a message to Butler Wang: "Uncle Wang, I'm going to the hospital to see Zhang Fan. No need to pick me up at school; just have the driver wait at the South Gate."
A reply quickly popped up on the screen: "Eldest Miss, Chairman Song specifically instructed this morning that you should see less of President Zhang..."
Song Zhiwei's fingertips paused, but she typed back: "I know my limits. I'm just going to see how his back injury is recovering; it won't take long."
She knew her father was afraid she would misplace her feelings again like in the past, but only she knew clearly that her concern for Zhang Fan was no longer the blind, impulsive infatuation of her past life.
The inexplicable peace she felt when near him, the heartache she felt watching him hustle for the company, and the composure she felt upon learning that he and Zhou Yurou were of one mind—these emotions were all genuine and restrained.
She just wanted to see him get better and see Singularity Technology thrive, just like watching the light she had struggled so hard to grasp after her rebirth.
The driver was already waiting at the South Gate, and the black sedan smoothly drove away from the campus, heading toward the hospital. Song Zhiwei leaned against the car window, watching the sycamore leaves streak by, mentally calculating what she would say to Zhang Fan later.
Zhou Yurou had said yesterday that he could sit up for a little while, so perhaps she could talk to him about the promotional plan for the overseas version of "star path".
Just as the car turned into the quiet old alley behind the hospital, a figure suddenly darted out in front.
The driver reacted extremely quickly, slamming on the brakes. The screeching sound of tires against the pavement made Song Zhiwei's heart jump.
She looked up and saw that it was, in fact, Pei Yunxiao.
Having not seen him for only a few days, Pei Yunxiao seemed like a different person. He used to always wear designer suits with his hair meticulously combed, but now he was wearing a faded, worn-out T-shirt, his pant cuffs rolled up, his shoes stained with mud, and the dark circles under his eyes were heavy as if he hadn't slept in days. His whole person exuded a sense of destitute wretchedness.
"Eldest Miss, don't worry, we are prepared," the driver said, seemingly having anticipated this. He glanced at her through the rearview mirror, his tone calm. "Per Butler Wang's arrangements, security is nearby."
Song Zhiwei was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood. Butler Wang must have long anticipated that the Pei family would make a move, so he had made preparations in advance.
She pushed open the car door and stepped out, wanting to hear what Pei Yunxiao actually wanted to say.
"Zhiwei!" Pei Yunxiao's eyes lit up instantly upon seeing her. He rushed over but stopped three steps away from her, probably fearing she would be disgusted. "You're finally willing to see me! I know I was wrong, will you please forgive me? My parents also know they were wrong. We won't make you angry ever again. Will you let us return to the Song family?"
His voice carried a plea, and his eyes were full of urgency, as if he were grasping at the last straw.
Song Zhiwei looked at him, her heart devoid of any ripples. "Pei Yunxiao, what were you wrong about? Was it wrong to let your mother force me to wash underwear, or wrong to condone the yellow-haired man beating Zhang Fan, or perhaps, was it wrong that your family embezzled the Song family's money?"
Pei Yunxiao was left speechless by the question, his face flushing red. Just as he wanted to defend himself, two people suddenly rushed out from the alley.
Pei Father was wearing a tattered jacket, clutching a hemp rope in his hand; Pei Mother had messy hair and murky eyes, and she immediately tried to grab Song Zhiwei's arm. "Stop wasting time talking to her! Take her, and demand money from the Song family!"
"Stop!"
Before Pei Mother could touch Song Zhiwei, a dozen people in black security uniforms suddenly rushed out from the alley entrance, instantly surrounding the three members of the Pei family.
The hemp rope in Pei Father's hand dropped to the ground with a "thud". He tried to resist, but two security guards pressed down hard on his shoulders, rendering him unable to move.
Pei Mother shrieked and lunged forward, but she was also blocked by security and could only struggle in vain.
Pei Yunxiao was so frightened that his face turned pale. He backed up two steps, muttering incessantly, "Who are you? Let go of my parents! This is between me and Zhiwei; it has nothing to do with you!"
"Whether it has to do with you or not is not for you to decide." Butler Wang's voice came from the alley entrance. He walked quickly to Song Zhiwei's side, holding his phone. "I have already called the police; the officers will be here soon."
Within a few minutes, the clear sound of sirens came from afar, approaching rapidly, and soon stopped at the alley entrance.
After several police officers got out of the car, they quickly subdued the three members of the Pei family and pulled out handcuffs, which clicked as they locked around their wrists. The cold touch of the metal caused Pei Mother to collapse instantly, and Pei Father lost his earlier ferocity, lowering his head with his shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
Song Zhiwei stood not far from the police car. The autumn wind whipped up her skirt and messed up her hair.
She watched the three people who had once bullied her and drained her of her worth being escorted into the car by the police. Her eyes held no ripples, only a hidden resolve deep within.
In her past life, she had been gaslighted by this family until she lost herself, and in the end, she died at the hands of Pei Yunxiao and Ruan Shu, not even leaving behind a corpse. In this life, they had finally paid the price for their greed and malice.
"The debts of the past life must be repaid in this one." She said softly. Her voice was as light as the wind, but it felt like a stone that had weighed on her for two lifetimes had finally settled to the bottom of her heart. The heavy feeling dissipated, and even her breathing became lighter.
As Pei Yunxiao was being escorted past Song Zhiwei by the police, he suddenly broke free from the officers' grasp like a madman and lunged toward her, roaring, "Song Zhiwei! You can't do this to me!"
The police reacted extremely quickly, immediately stepping forward to pin his shoulders and force him firmly to the ground.
Pei Yunxiao struggled, tears and snot mixing together, looking as wretched as a stray dog. "You want to destroy me just because you can't have me, right?! What did my parents do wrong! They just wanted to survive!"
Song Zhiwei slowly squatted down and looked at him, her tone as cold as ice. "Survive? You have to hurt innocent people to survive? This kind of 'survival' is wrong in itself. Do you really need me to count your wrongs for you one by one?"
"I won't forgive you! I will absolutely never forgive you!" Pei Yunxiao was dragged toward the police car by the officers, his fingernails leaving white marks on the ground. His voice was full of unwillingness and resentment, but he no longer had a shred of that "young master" air of nobility he once possessed.
Finally, the police car drove away with a wail. The only things left in the alley were a few fallen leaves swept up by the wind and the piece of hemp rope on the ground that hadn't had the chance to be used.
Butler Wang walked over to Song Zhiwei. Seeing her staring blankly in the direction the police car had disappeared, with a look of concern in his eyes, he asked softly, "Eldest Miss, are you alright? The three members of the Pei family really did intend to kidnap you. Do you... plan to just let it go like this?" He had watched Song Zhiwei grow up and was always afraid that her soft nature would lead her to wrong herself over these troublesome matters later on.
Song Zhiwei slowly came back to her senses. She lightly brushed the wrinkles on her skirt, the previous coldness gone. She just curled the corners of her lips at Butler Wang, her smile filled with relief. "Don't worry, Uncle Wang. I let go of some people a long time ago."
She stepped forward toward the hospital, her tone becoming a bit lighter. "Let's go see Zhang Fan. I just heard from Sister Zhou that he can get out of bed and walk a few steps today."
Butler Wang breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and quickly followed her steps, adding softly, "I will accompany you. That we were able to take them down so smoothly this time without letting you suffer any fright is largely thanks to President Zhang's early warning. We really should thank him properly later."
Meanwhile, in the hospital ward, Zhang Fan was chatting with Zhou Yurou about the media response after the banquet when a gentle buzzing suddenly echoed in his mind. A line of pale golden text slowly appeared: [Task Settlement: The three members of the Pei family have been handled according to the law, Song Zhiwei's safety crisis has been resolved, and the core conflict of the "Sickly Heiress" arc has been closed].
Immediately after, another more prominent line of text popped out, carrying a sense of satisfying warmth: [The "Sickly Heiress" arc concludes].