Reborn to outshine My Ex and His White Moonlight

Chapter 1167: Not Redemption, but Punishment

"..."

He wanted to nod, but restrained himself and gave no response.

His plan is nearing its end, and he’s scheming against the Gong Family.

If it fails, the Gong Family will certainly not spare him.

Being trapped in a foreign country like Gong Yan and never able to return would already be a fate.

He knows too many of the Gong Family’s business secrets and holds too much power.

The only way to eliminate future trouble is his death.

With his death, Lin Zhiyi and Xingxing would also meet tragic ends.

So he must ensure the safety of both.

He didn’t know if he could accompany Xingxing next time.

Understanding the situation, Xingxing tightened his grip.

"Daddy, I’ll wait for you, Mommy will wait too, and then we can go to the amusement park together, okay?"

"Alright."

He still couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

He hadn’t anticipated this would be their last meeting as father and daughter.

His expression darkened.

Even Gong Chen, standing nearby, noticed something was off.

But in the end, they are the same person.

Gong Chen quickly guessed what he was thinking.

How exactly did Xingxing die?

Li He died, and now Song Wanqiu is being condemned by the entire city, mentally deranged.

As for the old man, he always thought he would be unable to endure life on the mountain and return to the Gong Family.

Yet he refused to say anything.

Jingjing noticed his unhappy face, blinked, and said, "Uncle, is it not delicious?"

"No."

After finishing the food, Jingjing’s grandmother found her and took her away.

As the door closed, Chen Jin was standing not far away.

"Third Young Master."

"Chen Jin, there’s no Third Young Master here."

"Sir, this is what the police found; they couldn’t find you, so they left it with me. I think you should take a look."

Chen Jin looked equally grim.

He felt guilty about Lin Zhiyi and Xingxing as well.

Gong Chen approached and examined the documents.

Soon, the papers were scattered on the ground.

Chen Jin said, "Miss was taken to the operating table the day she left the amusement park. The bodyguard who has been with us for three years was bribed by the old man. The surgery consent form was forged with your signature by Li He, who also forged Li Huan’s signature to make the surgery seem without problems. The only culpable act now is post-operative negligence; I found out..."

"Continue." He said.

"The medication after Miss’s surgery was problematic too. The police think Li He deliberately prescribed the wrong medication to kill Miss by causing an infection, but it’s too obvious. Checking slightly would lead to Li Huan, revealing Li He as well."

"Someone wants to silence Li He too."

"Yes..."

"The old man." He spoke.

The old man trusts no one; how could he trust a doctor recommended by Song Wanqiu?

"Yes." Chen Jin nodded.

Looking into the distance, he coldly said, "The Gong Family doesn’t matter."

Chen Jin furrowed his brow, "I understand, I’ll look for Li Huan to handle this matter."

Li Huan’s company is controlled by Gong Chen from behind.

He turned to Chen Jin, "After today, don’t come anymore. I believe staying by Li Huan’s side will allow you to achieve something."

Chen Jin hesitated but ultimately agreed.

"After this is over, Li Huan and I plan to shift the company’s focus to Hai City to catch a breath. If you are willing..."

"No need, Zhiyi and Xingxing are here."

"Alright. Take care."

"Take care."

Chen Jin left.

Two days later, the Gong Family’s business secrets were leaked, causing turmoil.

Even grasping for survival became excruciatingly difficult.

The illegitimate child fled the country with the little money left, taking his mother along.

The mighty Gong Family quickly fell apart.

The old man valued the family honor most, which ultimately only remained as the words on the family shrine.

He also grew seriously ill, repeatedly going up the mountain to seek Gong Chen.

Yet he didn’t even catch a glimpse of Gong Chen.

The last time he descended, he whispered wearily, "How could this happen? Just because of a woman? Why? Why!"

Look, he still didn’t understand.

He destroyed everything himself.

Lin Zhiyi was merely an excuse for him to control Gong Chen.

The more Gong Chen loved her, the more the old man wanted to harm Lin Zhiyi to make Gong Chen more obedient, more like the ruler of the Gong Family he imagined.

...

After that day, he spent increasingly long hours sitting in front of the everlasting lamp.

He never spoke a word, but a chatty little companion appeared by his side.

Jingjing.

Gong Chen listened a lot to Jingjing talking about her parents.

In ordinary times, Gong Chen would also often accompany Lin Zhiyi and Xingxing in another timeline.

They seemed like an ordinary family, simple and plain.

While listening, Gong Chen would wonder what Lin Zhiyi and Xingxing were doing now.

Time continued forward, and the mountains were covered in white snow.

Jingjing donned in a bear-like outfit, sat quietly beside him.

She was on holiday again.

Jingjing took out a family photo from her pocket.

"Uncle, I specially brought it for you to see."

He glanced at it; it was a seemingly ordinary family, but they were very happy.

The two adults hugging Jingjing, their faces touching.

His hand paused on the beads, and he smiled wearily.

"Very good."

Jingjing looked at him perplexed, "Uncle, why are you still unhappy? Your face looks terrible, are you sick? Your hair has turned white."

Gong Chen looked at himself. After spending so much time, he hadn’t noticed his hair had turned gray.

His expression was becoming more haggard.

At this moment, Gong Chen realized he’d made a mistake.

He always thought Jingjing’s appearance was a salvation, a comfort.

For Gong Chen, it was; but for the other version of himself, it wasn’t.

He was using Jingjing to remind himself of his sins, thus torturing himself bit by bit.

He didn’t want forgiveness; he wanted punishment.

He didn’t want to die too easily.

Gong Chen walked briskly to himself, reaching out to awaken his rationality, but his hand couldn’t come close.

Gong Chen even noticed his hand had faded even more.

Then, Jingjing touched his arm.

"Uncle, don’t cry, the people in the photo will be sad."

Upon hearing this, his eyes became redder.

He patted Jingjing’s head, "Don’t come anymore; perhaps soon, you won’t see me."

"Uncle, are you going down the mountain?"

"Sort of."

He knew he wouldn’t live much longer either.

He didn’t want to scare Jingjing.

Jingjing pouted, "Alright, then will you play with me today? Grandma went to volunteer again."

"Alright."

He accompanied Jingjing out of the hall.

The winter in the mountains was a different scene, Jingjing playfully threw snowballs at him.

Thinking about not seeing her in the future, his expression softened, he brushed the snow off, smiled at Jingjing.

Jingjing ran under the pavilion, pointing to the distant scenery.

"Uncle, look, it’s so beautiful."

"Mm, if you come again... would you help me with something?"

"Uncle, tell me."

"Help me place a candy beside that little everlasting lamp." He said.

"Sure, Uncle, you’re so lazy, even for such a small thing."

"..."

He smiled without saying anything.

Suddenly, a strong wind blew, and a creaking sound echoed in his ears.