Chapter 30.3

“I keep thinking about what I did wrong. I shouldn’t have been in sales, shouldn’t have gone to that drinking party, should have called home, should have kept you with me. Every day I ask myself why I didn’t do that?”

“Why did I trust others? Why was I afraid to call home? Why did I want to earn a little more money to be a salesperson? Why did I put you in the car? Why couldn’t I hold on until the end?”

“How could I be so bad?”

Zhao Chuchu’s eyes became watery: “But I really don’t have the courage to be a good person. It’s too hard to be a good person in this world, and I can’t do it.”

“I’m selfish, I indulge myself, I’ve lost my conscience,” Zhao Chuchu lowered her head. “But at least this way, I can live a bit better. Everyone is like this, so I might as well be like this.”

“So,” Ye Sibei looked into her eyes, “that night, actually, I shouldn’t have been unconscious.”

Zhao Chuchu nodded: “You didn’t drink much. When we parted, you were just talkative and excited.”

“Why don’t you think I’m lying?”

Ye Sibei countered, and Zhao Chuchu remained silent. Ye Sibei understood, only saying, “Thank you.”

Zhao Chuchu turned her head, holding back her tears and not daring to look at Ye Sibei. Ye Sibei thought for a moment: “Is there something you plan to never say out loud?”

Zhao Chuchu stiffened, and after a long time, she spoke stiffly: “I’m sorry.”

Ye Sibei understood her meaning. She nodded and turned to look at Ye Nianwen beside her: “Let’s go.”

“There are still things I haven’t clarified…”

“No need to ask.” Ye Sibei interrupted Ye Nianwen, “Let’s leave it like this. Let’s go.”

Saying this, Ye Sibei gently pulled Qin Nan with her, preparing to leave, but before they left, she turned back to look at Zhao Chuchu, who was leaning against the table, holding herself tightly.

“Chuchu,” her voice was very soft. Zhao Chuchu looked up in confusion. Ye Sibei looked at her, and her expression seemed like that of an older sister who taught her when she returned home for the holidays. She looked at Zhao Chuchu and gently told her, “You’re not a bad person, and never be a bad person.”

Tears fell from Zhao Chuchu’s eyes as Ye Sibei explained, “In court, I thought the case would be a closed trial and not many people would know about it. Of course, I did have my own selfish reasons and didn’t consider your feelings enough. Don’t take it to heart.”

Zhao Chuchu stared blankly at Ye Sibei, who smiled slightly and said, “Goodbye.”

She gave a gentle nod of farewell to Zhao Chuchu and, pulling Qin Nan along, turned and walked downstairs. Ye Nianwen gathered his belongings, unable to stay a second longer, and hurried after Ye Sibei.

Zhao Chuchu stood dazed for a moment before suddenly realizing something. In a panic, she rushed downstairs, chasing after Ye Sibei.

“Sister! Sister!”

She ran out of the courtyard and grabbed Ye Sibei’s hand. “Don’t pursue this any further.”

She cried as she looked at her, tears welling in her eyes, gasping for breath, full of pleading. “I’ll give you money. I’ll give you all my savings. You can go to the provincial capital, take the civil service exam, buy a house, and live well. Don’t pursue this anymore.”

She held onto Ye Sibei’s hand tightly, crying uncontrollably. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… It’s too hard, sister, let it go…”

Ye Sibei looked at her, her eyes slightly red. She raised her hand and gently patted Zhao Chuchu’s shoulder.

“I understand,” Ye Sibei comforted her. “I don’t blame you. I know, no matter what, you didn’t mean to. Don’t overthink it. Just live well from now on.”

As she spoke, Ye Sibei gently pulled Zhao Chuchu’s hand away. Zhao Chuchu, still crying, didn’t want to let go. Zhao’s parents, seeing the situation, stepped forward and pulled Zhao Chuchu back, apologizing to Ye Sibei, “Sorry about this. Chuchu’s emotions have been unstable lately…”

“Take good care of her,” Ye Sibei advised Zhao’s parents, “Give her some time to recover.”

The couple nodded and repeatedly thanked her.

Ye Sibei finally freed herself, and as she walked away calmly, she could still hear Zhao Chuchu calling out for her from behind.

At that moment, as Zhao Chuchu watched Ye Sibei’s retreating figure, she finally realized something clearly.

When she thought the world had locked them both in a cage, forcing them to turn on each other, the person across from her hadn’t followed the rules of this world.

Some people wield knives against the weak to survive, while others fight the world, wounded but unyielding.

Zhao Chuchu, held back by her parents, watched as Ye Sibei walked further away, and finally, her knees gave out. She collapsed to the ground, wailing.

Outside, Ye Sibei, Qin Nan, and Ye Nianwen walked away. Ye Nianwen finally voiced his question, “Why didn’t you press further?”

Ye Sibei turned to look at him. Ye Nianwen stared at her, “She’s lying. She still hasn’t told the whole truth. She said she was going to testify falsely for you—do you really believe that? If she was ready to testify falsely, why didn’t she coordinate with you earlier? Why didn’t she tell me?”

“She’s lying,” Ye Nianwen insisted. “She harmed you. This case shouldn’t have been lost.”

“The person who harmed me,” Ye Sibei said clearly, “is Fan Jiancheng.”

“She’s the key witness!” Ye Nianwen shouted. “If she doesn’t testify for you, then even if you know Fan Jiancheng is the one who harmed you, what does it change?”

“I’m sorry.”

Ye Sibei’s words startled Ye Nianwen. She looked at him and said, “It’s me who delayed you all.”

Ye Nianwen was momentarily at a loss, flustered. “Sis, that’s not what I—”

“Everyone has already paid too much,” Ye Sibei lowered her head. “Let’s end it here.”

Ye Nianwen was stunned, and Ye Sibei spoke calmly, “From the start, I shouldn’t have chosen this path. Look at the result—Chuchu almost perjured herself for me, and our family is in this state. The Fan family has deep resources. We can’t keep dragging this out. I’ve already gained a lot from this. Now I have Qin Nan,” Ye Sibei glanced at Qin Nan with a smile, then turned back to Ye Nianwen, “I have you, I have our family. Knowing you all care for me gives me the courage to face many things in life.”

“I don’t want to pursue this anymore. I’m tired.”

Ye Sibei looked up and smiled at Ye Nianwen. “I’m planning to go to the provincial capital, find a job, and live a good life there. Don’t worry, we’ll all move on from this.”

“Sis…” Ye Nianwen felt a strange unease rising in his heart, a sense of fear. “We can still appeal.”

“No appeals,”

Ye Sibei shook her head. “I’m too tired, and too many people have been dragged into this. I don’t have the strength anymore.”

Ye Nianwen couldn’t argue back. He stared at Ye Sibei in a daze, and Ye Sibei glanced at the time. “Alright, let’s head home for dinner. Should your brother-in-law and I drive you, or will you go back on your own?”

“You’re not… coming home for dinner?”

Ye Sibei deflected the conversation, and Ye Nianwen didn’t push any further.

“No, it’s too late. I’ll just make some noodles at home,” Ye Sibei replied.

Ye Nianwen nodded. “I’ll go home by myself, then.”

“Okay,” Ye Sibei acknowledged. “I won’t see you off, then. I’ll head out first.”

With that, she left with Qin Nan.

Ye Nianwen watched them walk away. Once they were out of sight, he finally let down all his defenses. He stood there for a long time, then slowly turned back toward the Zhao family’s house.

In the car, Ye Sibei and Qin Nan held hands as they got in. As Ye Sibei fastened her seatbelt, Qin Nan, with his hand on the steering wheel, stared at the streetlights in the light rain, contemplating. Finally, he asked, “Are you really not going to appeal?”

“No,” she replied.

“Are you okay with that?”

“What’s there to not be okay with?” Ye Sibei rested her head against the side window, eyes closed, her face indifferent.

“We’ve come this far…”

“We’ve already come this far,” Ye Sibei repeated, slowly opening her eyes to look at Qin Nan. “Aren’t you tired?”

Qin Nan didn’t respond. After a moment, Ye Sibei reached out and gently held his hand on the gearshift. “I’ve gained a lot along the way. I feel like this ending is already good. This matter will pass. You’re with me, and we’ll get through it together.”

Qin Nan looked at her, and Ye Sibei spoke as if comforting a child, “Life is long, alright?”

“Alright,” Qin Nan finally nodded, his voice hoarse, “Wherever you go, I’ll be with you.”

“Do you really like me this much?”

Ye Sibei raised an eyebrow and then smiled, patting him on the shoulder. “Alright, with that one sentence from you, I think that’s enough.”

As she spoke, she let go of his hand and leaned back against the side window. “Let’s go home; I’m tired.”

Qin Nan lowered his head, thinking for a moment, but couldn’t help but say, “But without getting a fair outcome, don’t you think…”

Ye Sibei closed her eyes, seeming to have already fallen asleep.

After considering it, Qin Nan decided not to continue.

He started the car, releasing the handbrake and gently gliding out of the parking space, as if afraid to disturb the girl who was lightly dozing.

Meanwhile, the person who was half-asleep had a mind full of various hypotheses.

She couldn’t act immediately; seeking revenge would alert the police.

Their physical differences were too great; brute force could easily lead to a counterattack.

She needed to figure out his movement patterns, ideally creating a random scene.

…

As she pondered these thoughts, her heart remained calm.

Fairness?

Ye Sibei slowly opened her eyes, gazing at the bustling traffic and the dazzling lights of the street.

If this world wouldn’t give it to her, then she would give it to herself.