Redemption - Novelbike

Zong Rui turned his gaze toward Jia Ying, a mischievous and roguish expression replacing any seriousness on his face. It was his usual look. “As expected of our student council president-you really managed to deal with that scumbag for so long. But this world is full of scum who are all shine on the surface and rot underneath. So, what’s your plan moving forward? Also, what’s the deal with you lying there? Are you seriously… thinking this bed is comfortable?”

Jia Ying’s face turned bright red in an instant. She quickly jumped off the bed, rushed over to Zong Rui, and began pounding her fists against his head. “You idiot! Big idiot! I hate you the most!” But as she spoke, tears began streaming down her face uncontrollably. Before she knew it, she was leaning on Zong Rui’s shoulder, sobbing deeply. She cried out, “Why couldn’t you come earlier, you idiot?!”

Zong Rui’s expression softened at last. He said, “Alright, it’s over now. Let’s go home.” As he spoke, Zong Rui gently took the girl’s hand and led her toward the stairs. Just then, a cold laugh echoed behind them.

“Ha ha ha, what a close relationship you two have. Truly enviable,” Mr. Zhang Ruofu remarked in a mocking tone. “Fine, out of an apology for the inconvenience I’ve caused you, I’ll share some good news.”

Zong Rui stopped in his tracks. Without turning around, he answered icily, “If you’ve got something to say, say it quickly. We’re in a hurry to go home.”

With a slight smile, Mr. Zhang Ruofu said, “The good news is… Jia Ying, according to some insider information, your father’s killer will be arriving here in the next couple of days.”

Hearing this, Zong Rui’s face twisted into a sinister grin. “Excellent. Thank you for the intel. Mr. Zhang Ruofu, if you happen to know him personally, do me a favor and pass along a little message: Tell him that Zong Rui-and Jia Ying…” He grabbed Jia Ying’s hand and began rushing down the stairs, his voice cold and determined as he added:

“…will be waiting for him!”

Mr. Zhang Ruofu’s eyes darkened as he watched the two disappear. Then, a tall, white man wearing a black cloak and holding a gleaming sniper rifle stepped out of a small room nearby. Walking over to stand beside Mr. Zhang Ruofu, the man stayed silent as Mr. Zhang lazily stretched. “That’s what they said. So, what’s your plan, Uncle Weber?”

The man under the cloak let out a low chuckle, his voice hoarse. “Ten years ago, I could kill Jia Yi. Ten years later, killing his daughter is just as easy. There’s no doubt about it-this’ll be child’s play.”

Mr. Zhang Ruofu fiddled with his hair absentmindedly, as if considering something. “Don’t forget about the tough boy, though,” he said, almost as an afterthought.

The man chuckled darkly again and turned back toward the room he came from. He spoke while walking, his voice filled with cold confidence. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of them…”

As he stepped into the shadows of the room, he carefully wiped a speck of dust off the barrel of his sniper rifle before disappearing entirely.

Mr. Zhang Ruofu rested his hands on the railing overlooking the floor below, surveying the area with growing excitement. “It’s finally about to start… Tomorrow… Ah, why does it still feel so far away? I can’t wait any longer… This is the prologue… the prologue to a new chapter in the history of humanity…”

“It’s about to begin…”

Downtown Traffic Control Point

Time until the disaster:

21 hours remaining

Zong Li was carefully loading bullets into his beloved nine-millimeter revolver. It had been years since he last fired a gun-ever since he had been promoted from an ordinary detective to an officer. Back in the day, he was an exceptional sharpshooter with unfailing accuracy. But even then, he could never quite compare to his old friend Jia Yi, the man who had met such an inexplicable end a decade ago.

“That guy… he really was a monster. Too bad his life couldn’t match the longevity of one,” Zong Li muttered to himself as he snapped the cylinder of his revolver shut. The familiar weight in his hand brought back a flicker of his former confidence.

He slowly raised his head and took in the hellish scene before him-chaos, screams, terror, blood, and death. Taking a deep breath of air that reeked of iron and carnage, he steeled himself. “Alright, time to go,” he said aloud, as if bracing for battle.

The piercing sound of gunshots shattered the uneasy silence at the traffic control point.

As Zong Rui sat quietly on the bus with his eyes closed, deep in thought, they snapped open suddenly at the distant sound. His eyes flicked toward the window, scanning the outside world. “Did you hear that?” he asked.

Jia Ying, who had been leaning on his shoulder moments ago, straightened up. Her expression turned serious as she, too, glanced out the window. “Yes, gunfire,” she replied.

Zong Rui closed his eyes again, sinking back into silent contemplation. Yet his mind lingered on Zhang Ruofu’s earlier words, which sounded more like ramblings of a madman than coherent threats:

“Tomorrow, there are only two endings for you: either death, or becoming an even sadder monster. Don’t understand? It’s fine-you will. Tomorrow, you and your little girlfriend can get married… in hell.”

Zong Rui’s brow furrowed deeply. It all seemed like the nonsensical drivel of a lunatic. And yet, for some inexplicable reason, there was a persistent unease gnawing at him-a kind of anxiety he had never experienced before in his entire life.

With a faint, bitter smile, he thought to himself, Whether it’s true or not, Zhang Ruofu, that’s one hell of a psychological game you’re playing. No one’s ever managed to make me feel fear like this before. But more than that, it’s your other words that bother me even more…

Just as he fell further into his thoughts, Jia Ying gave his arm a slight tug. Zong Rui opened his eyes to see that the bus had reached their stop. He let out a small sigh before turning to Jia Ying. “Let’s go,” he said.

The two of them got off the bus and entered the elevator of their apartment building, pressing the button for the eleventh floor. Their home was a duplex apartment-Jia Ying lived downstairs, while Zong Rui lived in the upper unit. Zong Rui’s father, Zong Li, was rarely at home, so the two were used to looking after themselves. But tonight, Zong Rui found himself wishing his father would return. There was so much on his mind, and he longed for someone reliable to confide in.

The elevator ascended quickly, coming to a steady stop on the eleventh floor within moments. They stepped out and walked toward their apartment door. Suddenly, Jia Ying let out a small exclamation of surprise, her sharp eyes catching something unusual.

“What is it?” Zong Rui asked, already following her gaze. His expression darkened when he noticed a piece of paper taped to the door. Moving quickly, he strode toward it and tore the note off in one swift motion. His heart sank as he read the handwritten message:

“Starting early this morning, the city has been in a state of unrest. I may not be able to return over the next couple of days as I’ll be handling these matters. Please take good care of yourselves.

-Father, Zong Li”