In this cyberpunk era, why are you still playing the traditional villain?

"I'll pass that on for you."

Ning Wei nodded. "However, please be prepared to be rejected by Chairman Wen. As for the reason... I think your father should have told you?"

"...You should always say thank you."

Xu Shi paused for a moment, then brushed the topic aside, "Then I won't keep Secretary Ning here. I'll have Su Lin see you off?"

"No need to trouble Director Su, I'll take my leave now."

Ning Wei shook his head, bowed slightly, and strode out.

To be honest, although this was the first time he had met Xu Shi in person, he genuinely admired him.

This was completely different from what he had previously investigated. In his view, Xu Shi was clearly a very capable and shrewd individual.

Not to mention his willingness to use external forces to eliminate dissidents—frankly speaking, such operations are rare in conglomerates. Most of the time, they prefer to do things behind closed doors and are unwilling to let even a little bit of similar scandals leak out, for fear of being caught out by someone.

Unfortunately... thinking of the discord between the two conglomerates, he sighed regretfully.

Watching Ning Wei leave, Xu Shi felt a little regretful.

It's clear that Mr. Wen Shengkui, the person in charge of this "quill pen," doesn't seem to like me very much.

But this dislike wasn't like Xie Qingyan's personal targeting; to be honest, the two had never even met.

However, this does not mean that they are unrelated—in fact, they are even related by blood.

Because Xu Shi's mother was Wen Shengkui's only daughter.

In other words, Mr. Wen was his maternal grandfather.

But this was not a friendly marriage like that of "Snake Ring" and "Prism". On the contrary, it was precisely because Mom opposed the arranged marriage and insisted on marrying Dad that a rift developed between the two families.

At its worst, Mr. Wen even personally declared that he would sever ties with his daughter, not to mention his relationship with his father.

In such a situation, one would naturally be hated as well... so-called bad character and spoiled brats would actually be ranked second.

So, when he first took this step, Xu Shi was actually a little worried. If "Feather Pen" hadn't stepped in today, things would never have gone so smoothly.

Although he had other preparations, those other methods were much more troublesome than this one.

Fortunately, the person eventually arrived, and I successfully resolved the situation.

That's alright. As for the relationship between grandfather and grandson... let's take it slow. It's not something that can be achieved overnight.

Su Lin, who was standing to the side, was obviously aware of this as well, and she also seemed uncomfortable when she saw the young master's brows furrowed.

But she was more concerned about something else.

"Jiang Fengshan has been dealt with, but in doing so, any related information will inevitably be leaked."

She shared Ning Wei's concern: "At that time, I'm afraid the group's reputation will suffer..."

What does it matter?

Xu Shi didn't care. "Anyway, my reputation wasn't that great to begin with... But it's perfect, you can find someone from 'Imaginary Numbers' to arrange some interviews for me or something."

Since Ning Wei claims he is "putting righteousness before family," he might as well use this method to silence public opinion.

There has to be something that everyone wants to see, and it'll also help improve my image.

However, he wasn't in a hurry for these things. The most important thing was to squeeze every last bit of value out of that old bastard Jiang Fengshan.

-

District 14, public prison.

Jiang Fengshan slumped on the bed, looking utterly dejected, completely devoid of his former ambition.

He received special treatment as a "quill pen" (a derogatory term for someone who is accused of malpractice), and it took him less than three days from prosecution to trial to imprisonment.

We've lost. Utterly lost.

You can't blame Lin Wenhua for not saving him; he couldn't save him anyway... He couldn't change his forty-year imprisonment. The only thing he could do was arrange a relatively comfortable single cell for himself.

I can only blame myself for being too careless and leaving such a fatal weakness.

However, this is also a good sign – Lin Wenhua has not given up on himself.

But as long as you survive, there's still a chance to turn things around.

If he can really make a comeback... Xu Shi! And that little bitch! He won't let a single one of them go!

Just then, the sound of a baton striking came from inside: "Prisoner number 4396, someone wants to see you."

The gate opened, and the people visiting the prison were Xu Shi and Jiang Chengcheng.

Speak of the devil and he shall arrive.

"...Why are you guys here?"

Jiang Fengshan got angry as soon as he saw them, and there was no point in pretending anymore.

"Otherwise what? You don't actually think it's Lin Wenhua, do you?"

Xu Shi sneered, "He hasn't dared to come see you lately. On the contrary, I'm the one who's willing to come and check on you, the former pillar of the group."

"Stop pretending."

Jiang Fengshan gritted his teeth and said angrily, "I really didn't realize that you, Xu Shi, were hiding so well. I misjudged you."

"And you! Jiang Chengcheng! I've really raised a good daughter, haven't I? How dare you turn around and bite me?"

He truly never imagined that after a lifetime of playing with eagles, he would end up having his eyes pecked out by one.

The fact that his opponent's academic achievements far surpassed his own caused him, like Luo Zhikang, to feel a great sense of frustration.

"Get out! I don't want to see you!"

He roared uncontrollably, like a wild beast in a fit of impotent rage.

Faced with all this, Xu Shi simply raised the gun in his hand indifferently and pulled the trigger against his thigh.

"...Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!! Xu Shi, you... use civilized language! I... use civilized language!"

Jiang Fengshan cried out in pain, lost his balance, and knelt on the ground, clutching his thigh and cursing.

“You won’t even call me Chairman Xu, which really hurts me.”

Xu Shi walked up to him, bent down, grabbed his hair, and forced him to look him in the eye. "To be honest, I did think of giving you a chance, but you didn't accept it."

"When you stood me up, you probably never imagined it would end like this, did you?"

"Don't expect Lin Wenhua to come and save you again. The only thing you should be thankful for is that he will die a more miserable death than you."

"So, just keep collecting gold coins, you old man."

After saying that, Xu Shi stood up and handed the pistol to Jiang Chengcheng.

"Did you like the surprise I prepared, Miss Jiang?"

“Pick up a gun and kill him.”

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 42 Congratulations on your new life!

!

Seeing the gun that Xu Shi forcefully shoved into her hand, Jiang Chengcheng was momentarily at a loss.

There was even a hint of panic in his eyes.

Xu Shi was not surprised by her reaction.

When he publicly challenged Jiang Fengshan before, he did not let Jiang Chengcheng confront her adoptive father in person, but instead asked her to watch the live broadcast in the next room.

Even during the subsequent public prosecution and trial, they avoided having her appear in person whenever possible.

On the one hand, it was to take care of her feelings—publicly revealing the evidence would inevitably reopen her wounds, and if it were exposed to the public eye... that would also be a trial for her.

Secondly, he was also aware that Jiang Chengcheng's fear of Jiang Fengshan was ingrained in her very being.

Just like Pavlov's dog, even though she already knew that the other party was at a dead end and could be slaughtered, when faced with all of this, the memories of the past would still make her subconsciously shrink back.

Just like it is now.

"You... Jiang Chengcheng, how dare you?!"

When Jiang Fengshan saw Xu Shi hand the gun to her, she panicked.

Although he had a premonition that the other party had come to execute him, he still couldn't help but feel fear when the moment actually arrived.

His hoarse roar, though seemingly fierce, did indeed frighten Jiang Chengcheng. Her hand holding the gun began to tremble, and she retreated in shock.

"I……"

"Don't be afraid."

Just then, Xu Shi supported her from behind and whispered in her ear, "Think carefully about what he has done to you."

"With your abilities, you should have become the most dazzling new star in Night City after graduating from the academy."

"People will go crazy for your scientific achievements, and you will stand under the spotlight, wearing the most gorgeous dress and the most exquisite makeup, representing glory."

"The moment you appear, they will all raise their glasses and cheer for you."

As he spoke slowly and deliberately, Jiang Chengcheng's eyes gradually became vacant, as if she were fantasizing about such a scene, and an unconscious smile appeared on her face.

But what is the truth?

Just as she was savoring the illusory beauty constructed by words, Xu Shi suddenly changed the subject, shattering it all with a casual remark.

The red light in his eyes flickered intermittently. "All the glory that belonged to you was stolen by Jiang Fengshan, and you have become a pathetic tool in his hands."

“If you are not careful, you will be beaten and scolded. Gradually, you will become afraid to communicate with outsiders. You will wrap yourself tightly in a messy and rough outfit and sink into the dust little by little.”

"All the ambitions you once held in your heart have vanished into thin air, and you can't even find the meaning of your life anymore."

“If I hadn’t discovered all of this, this secret would have continued until the moment Jiang Fengshan entered his grave—of course, even then, you would still be unable to escape it. I believe he would not allow anyone to know all of this.”

"To be honest, I feel regret and pity about this, but at the same time, I am also... disappointed in you."

"disappointment?"