The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 112

He Dayong leaned against his desk. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground in despair.

Over the years, he had struggled, hesitated, and repented, but he lacked both the strength and the courage.

He had enough money, more than enough. He had thought about stopping, but Suhe Biotech wouldn’t allow it.

Meijiang Pharmaceutical was said to be his asset, but in reality, it had become nothing more than a puppet controlled by Suhe Biotech.

Every day, he wore the cross. Whenever he thought of it, he would touch it and offer a prayer of repentance. Whether it was out of true devotion or an attempt to escape guilt, even he couldn’t tell.

But he had thought of this day. This scene, this outcome, had played out countless times in his dreams, each time waking him in terror and cold sweat.

Perhaps, deep down, he still believed in the idea that justice triumphs over evil and that karma is inevitable.

Li Rong put the cross necklace away, clutching it in his hand.

He had promised He Changfeng to return it in a couple of days. He only hoped that by then, He Changfeng could remain emotionally stable.

The path ahead was full of thorns. It would either hurt oneself or harm others, and someone would inevitably be affected.

He only hoped that He Changfeng could build a new belief upon the ruins of his old faith.

When Li Rong and Cen Xiao left He Dayong’s office, Yu Fuyan immediately approached them, asking nervously, “Team Leader, nothing went wrong, right? Why did you talk for so long?”

Though he claimed to trust them, he still felt uneasy. He feared that He Dayong might have some desperate tricks up his sleeve or that the forces behind He Dayong were too complex for Cen Xiao, given his position, to handle directly.

Cen Xiao’s attention was entirely on Li Rong, so he casually replied, “It’s fine. Let’s go.”

Yu Fuyan hesitated and tentatively asked, “Go? Aren’t we going to check Yuanhesheng anymore?”

Geng An was good at reading the room. He noticed Li Rong’s somber mood and how much Cen Xiao cared about his state of mind. It seemed that He Dayong’s situation had already reached an irreversible conclusion, so he refrained from asking further questions.

Yu Fuyan, however, was still young and impulsive, blurting out whatever was on his mind. If they had an unprincipled Team Leader, such bluntness would surely have gotten him into trouble.

Before Cen Xiao could speak, Li Rong took a deep breath, composed himself, and patiently explained to Yu Fuyan, “Yes, we’re not checking Yuanhesheng anymore. Return the data sheets to them. Don’t worry—He Dayong will go to the relevant authorities and admit his crimes. We’ll give him the chance to turn himself in.”

Yu Fuyan was stunned. “He’ll admit his crimes? How is that possible?”

The way He Dayong invited Cen Xiao and Li Rong to talk privately earlier had been a blatant attempt at bribery.

How could someone like him suddenly have a change of heart and decide to surrender?

Geng An stopped Yu Fuyan and explained in a low voice, “Calm down first. Based on the intel provided by Captain Han, the operation to shut them down will be completed in less than two days. By then, even if we uncover evidence of wrongdoing, we won’t have the authority, as members of the Ghost Eye team, to punish Meijiang Pharmaceutical. Even if we hand over the evidence to the relevant authorities, who knows how long a new investigation will take? If we expose them online in the name of justice, the PR teams might control the narrative.

“Moreover, Meijiang Pharmaceutical’s protective umbrella is Qingrui. In the short term, there’s no other company capable of providing as many Qingrui production lines. If the situation escalates and Meijiang Pharmaceutical is forced to shut down immediately, what will happen to the patients relying on Qingrui? These factors must be weighed carefully. He Dayong can face punishment, but Meijiang must remain operational for now.”

Yu Fuyan felt a lump in his throat, unable to argue.

He had to admit that Geng An made sense. Punishing Meijiang Pharmaceutical and making this corrupt company go bankrupt immediately would be satisfying, but what about the patients relying on its medicine? What about the thousands of employees working there?

Yangshi was already a small place. Meijiang Pharmaceutical provided numerous jobs and contributed significantly to the local GDP. It couldn’t just collapse overnight.

Suppressing his roiling emotions, Li Rong continued to reassure, “Don’t worry. He’ll pay for what he’s done. Sometimes, the price and the damage aren’t proportional, but the purpose of pursuing justice is not only to punish the past but also to safeguard the future.”

Yu Fuyan stared at Li Rong in a daze, feeling as if his words carried a weight of sorrow.

Though it was the truth, it was still painful—because the harm done was irreversible.

“…Okay,” Yu Fuyan muttered.

Leaving Meijiang Pharmaceutical, the group rushed back to A City without delay.

Han Jiang had already prepared a report in their group chat. After Du Mingli finished his self-reflection, Han Jiang mentioned Cen Xiao by name in the larger District Nine group chat:

[Han Jiang: During this investigation, Cen Xiao’s team displayed issues such as lack of cooperation, passive disengagement, and poor communication with other teams. While they eventually provided evidence for testing Yuanhesheng’s old drugs, they missed the optimal window of opportunity. If District Nine’s information team had been utilized earlier, more could have been achieved.]

[Han Jiang: Additionally, in the past three months of work, only Du Minli’s team has consistently reported to me accurately and on time, consulting and communicating promptly. Meanwhile, Cen Xiao’s team has frequently been unreachable. If exams or schoolwork are causing conflicts, I hope the team can coordinate their schedules better.

[Han Jiang: In this recent mission, although neither of our teams succeeded, it has still been a test and exercise of our abilities. Pressure drives motivation. District Nine has always been a competitive place, so I hope everyone will adjust their attitudes accordingly.

[Han Jiang: Once Cen Xiao’s team returns to A City, come straight to the conference room for a meeting to summarize experiences and lessons.]

Before Cen Xiao could respond, Du Minli promptly replied:

[Du Minli: Received.]

[Han Jiang: Cen Xiao?]

Geng An glanced at the group chat and chuckled wryly. “Team Leader, should we send the evidence Little Li found to Captain Han?”

Cen Xiao replied indifferently, “We’re boarding. No need.”

With that, he was the first to shut off his phone at the boarding gate.

Han Jiang, impatient for a response, dialed Cen Xiao directly.

“Sorry, the number you dialed is currently switched off…”

Han Jiang: “…”

There weren’t many passengers flying from Yangshi to A City. In the relatively private first-class cabin, as soon as the plane door closed, Li Rong leaned his head against Cen Xiao’s shoulder.

He didn’t need to say anything; Cen Xiao understood his feelings.

Cen Xiao shifted slightly, gently stroking Li Rong’s shoulder. Pressing his forehead against Li Rong’s, he murmured softly, “You’ve worked hard, baby.”

He knew how much Li Rong was hurting. Finally uncovering the truth about his family should have brought relief, but instead, it was so ugly and revolting.

Li Qingli and Gu Nong had perished under such despicable schemes, burdened with infamy, unable to rest in peace.

Meanwhile, the true culprits grew even more arrogant and complacent, enjoying a life of luxury and widespread acclaim.

Li Rong closed his eyes, hot tears finally spilling over.

At last, he didn’t have to suppress his emotions or pretend to be unaffected in front of others. He was angry, pained, and resentful. There was so much negativity and unspoken anguish.

If he could, he would abandon all considerations—evidence, public opinion, even his own innocence.

Li Rong wanted nothing more than to drive a knife into Zheng Zhupan’s heart, to see his twisted face contort in fear and agony, to watch him collapse in regret, begging for forgiveness yet unable to escape.

Choking back a sob, Li Rong murmured through clenched teeth, “Cen Xiao, hold me…”

Without hesitation, Cen Xiao wrapped his arms tightly around Li Rong, feeling his body tremble slightly in his embrace.

He, too, felt that unspeakable pain, so he tenderly pressed his lips to Li Rong’s damp eyelashes, kissing away the tears that clung to them.

As Cen Xiao kissed the salty tears, the wet lashes brushed lightly against his lips.

“If you want justice, I’ll help you. If you don’t, I’ll make sure Zheng Zhupan dies before your eyes,” Cen Xiao whispered.

Li Rong’s body stiffened slightly. He lifted his gaze to meet Cen Xiao’s, searching his eyes for a few seconds before realizing he was entirely serious. And Cen Xiao was capable of making it happen.

The dark, hateful thoughts swirling in Li Rong’s heart were spoken aloud by Cen Xiao without hesitation or judgment.

With Cen Xiao, he never needed to hide his flaws or extremities. He understood him—and stood by him, no matter what.

Li Rong sniffled, nuzzling closer into Cen Xiao’s embrace, resting his forehead against his.

He wrapped his arms around Cen Xiao’s neck, his lips brushing lightly against his before slipping away toward his ear.

“There’s still so much we haven’t unraveled. It’s not just Zheng Zhupan—there’s also the Hongsuo Research Institute and Blue Pivot’s District Nine. Those silent, self-serving bystanders—are they not also accomplices? I want to see these unworthy people fall from their high pedestals.”

Cen Xiao’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he chuckled softly, his hand gently caressing Li Rong’s slender back. “Alright. Whatever you say.”

Li Rong curled up like a cat in Cen Xiao’s arms, soaking up his warmth and strength.

At least now, they had a clear target and direction.

Li Rong realized that once his emotions were released, he recovered quickly.

Cen Xiao was like his medicine, pulling him out of the dark, self-loathing corners of his mind, dissolving his mental stress and fragility.

Li Rong murmured, “I never noticed before… your chest is actually quite comfortable.”

When relaxed, Cen Xiao’s chest was soft yet firm, with a reassuring elasticity. Pressed against his ear, he could feel each steady breath rise and fall, bringing a sense of security and reliability.

If he’d known this earlier, he wouldn’t have wasted so much time in the past.

Forget pride or self-respect—nothing compared to the joy of letting go and indulging.

Li Rong spoke quietly, thinking the noise of the plane would drown him out, and Cen Xiao wouldn’t hear.

But after a few seconds, Cen Xiao replied softly, “I also never realized you cry so much. If I had, I’d have spoiled you even more.”