CHAPTER 1686: CHAPTER 4: CHOICES

After dinner, Dong Zixuan took a shower, then stayed in the bedroom, flipping through photos from her police academy days.

"I know society is a massive dyeing vat, and there are some rotten elements even in the police force. But I will never change. I want to be a hero!" The policewoman caressed the photo, her eyes turning to the poster on the wall. It was Batman, a figure of justice in Gotham City.

Dong Zixuan had never liked the underwear-on-the-outside Superman, but she was captivated by Batman. Her only regret was Batman’s playboy attribute, which she found annoying.

"When will I face off against high-IQ opponents like the Joker or Bane?" Dong Zixuan yearned for adversaries of substance, ones she could crush entirely.

"Xuanxuan, your Aunt Zhao introduced you to someone the day before yesterday. He works in the electric power department, is young and promising, and looks good. She said you should set up a time to meet." Her mom knocked on the door, her tone brooking no argument. "This time, no dodging. You’re no longer young—be careful, or you won’t find anyone to marry!"

"I’m not going, not going. I don’t want to step into the cemetery called marriage," Dong Zixuan complained.

"Are you trying to anger me? This time, it’s not up to you." Her mom left no room for rebuttal. "If you don’t listen, I’ll come with you and see how you’ll escape!"

"I’m definitely not going," Dong Zixuan buried her head under the pillow.

"If you don’t go, fine. Then quit your job as a policeman. Xuanxuan, your dad thinks so too; it’s just too dangerous," her mom bargained. "Every day when I see you leave, my heart pounds with anxiety, terrified something might happen. If this continues, I’ll lose years off my life."

"Mom, I get it. I’ll go meet him." Dong Zixuan conceded, though she knew this meeting would never happen because today was the last day of her rest period—teleportation was imminent.

"You, child." Her mom sighed, knowing being a policewoman was her daughter’s dream. If she pushed further, Xuanxuan might leave home altogether.

"Mom, I’m sorry."

Dong Zixuan sat up, packed up the photo album, and began changing clothes. Five minutes later, the policewoman stood in front of the mirror in a dark police uniform.

In the bustling towns, in the lonely valleys...

Dong Zixuan softly hummed the Song of the People’s Police, holding her police cap with both hands and carefully placing it on her head. The polished silver police badge glimmered warmly under the light.

"Silver Trojan, I will bring you and your boss to justice!"

Snap—she stood at attention and saluted. At this moment, she had no regrets about her decision.

...

Yu Deye lounged in the club he’d bought out, engulfed by thunderous music, indulging in one last spree. He was already reeking of alcohol, but he didn’t care—as long as he spent points, he could instantly return to peak condition.

"Yu-ge, drink slower; it’s bad for your health." Several women clung to Yu Deye, attentively serving him, though their eyes kept darting to the round table.

On it were more than ten black leather suitcases, now opened to reveal stacks of pristine bills capable of blinding them.

"You lot, keep stripping! Make me happy, and all this money is yours," Yu Deye shouted at the women on stage, dressed scantily and twisting their bodies wildly, then grabbed several stacks of RMB and threw them forcefully.

Hundreds of yuan notes floated down like snowflakes, the women cheering and screaming, adrenaline surging within them.

"Fuck! Turn the music louder, damned louder!" Yu Deye roared at the DJ. He grabbed a handful of a nearby woman’s chest, leaving a blue, finger-shaped bruise.

"Ah! It hurts, Yu-ge, take it easy!" The woman winced but played coy.

"Does it still hurt now?" Yu Deye scooped up a wad of cash and stuffed it into the woman’s cleavage.

"No...not anymore."

Before she could finish her sentence, with a crisp slap, her face received a stinging blow that almost knocked her senseless.

"Still hurt?" Without waiting for an answer, Yu Deye grabbed another wad of cash and crammed it in, then followed it with another slap. "Bitch, still hurt?"

With only a few days left to live, Yu Deye’s anger grew uncontrollable. He suddenly grabbed the woman’s hair and gave her a flurry of fierce slaps, leaving her teeth loose.

The nearby women, scared witless, stood as silent as statues. Fortunately, they occasionally encountered clients with sadistic tendencies and weren’t terrified enough to flee.

"Bah, it’s all yours." Yu Deye spat on the young woman’s chest before resting his arm against the round table and sweeping several suitcases to the floor.

Stacks of cash rained down onto the women.

Yu Deye accepted a beer handed to him by another woman, grabbed one of the leather suitcases, and moved onto the stage.

Several women with a knack for reading cues immediately sidled up to him, twisting their bodies and dancing close.

"Don’t stop! Keep partying! Scream!" Yu Deye swung his arm, tossing the suitcase toward the ceiling, then poured beer onto a woman’s chest and scooped her into his arms, licking her skin.

"Fuck! Can’t you start the Holy Land War after I leave the game? Tang Zheng, you damned jinx, just die already!" Yu Deye cursed as he finally regained clarity, estimating his dwindling time before leaving the club.

Some women tried to tempt him with their charms, hoping to spend the night, but Yu Deye turned them all away.

Collapsing in the parking lot, vomiting uncontrollably, Yu Deye awaited teleportation.

...

Jiang Xiuming and Shen Qingshuang, pragmatic and logical, spent the last fifteen days with their families, resolving past regrets.

Ruan Feifei, besides spending time with her family, continued her Universal travels. At every destination, she took pictures of landscapes, knowing they would ultimately be destroyed by the Trojan upon her death. But she still pressed the shutter with great enthusiasm.

"My only regret is probably not stumbling upon a romantic love." Sitting alone on the beach, the anchorwoman enjoyed the sea breeze while gazing at the starry sky.

She thought she might feel fear when teleportation came, but as her arm disappeared, she remained as calm as if she were heading out for a stroll.

Seawater washed up the beach, erasing the traces left by the anchorwoman.

Xu Biyun found an excuse to take a solo trip, avoiding her family. Initially, she considered visiting Qin Yan but decided against disturbing her in her last moments. Instead, she went alone to the arcade, bought a ton of game tokens, and went on a rampage against the machines.

...

Tang Zheng only stayed home for a week, worried that the longer he stayed, the harder it would be to leave, causing him to regret his decision.

"My little brother’s still around—he can take care of our parents." Thinking about his middle-school-aged brother asking sincerely if he used math to predict lottery numbers, Tang Zheng laughed.

During the week, Tang Zheng resolved family matters, ensuring they would be financially secure for the rest of their lives.

Back in this city, Tang Zheng felt a pang of loneliness, so he went to Li Xinlan’s house. Unsurprisingly, he was turned away.

"You should go find Tao Ran or Qin Yan. Don’t leave behind regrets," the woman said before closing the door and retreating.

What Tang Zheng didn’t know was that as he walked away dejectedly, Li Xinlan stood behind the cat’s eye, tears streaming down her face. Several times, she almost called out to him.

"If only I could spend a lifetime with you!" Li Xinlan was kind at heart. Although she admitted to feelings of possessiveness, most of the time, she truly wanted the best for Tang Zheng. She knew he didn’t love her—she wanted him to be happy.

Tang Zheng didn’t go to Tao Ran; the girl must have had her own affairs to deal with. He wandered into the supermarket instead, shopping aimlessly, then returned home with a pile of groceries.

Just as he finished preparing a sumptuous dinner, the doorbell rang.

"Why is it you? Didn’t you go home?" Tang Zheng thought it was a neighbor but found Pang Meiqin standing there instead.

"Not welcome? Then I’ll leave!" Pang Meiqin started to walk away but strode into the living room with her long legs instead. "What are you making? Smells great!"

"Finished taking care of things at home?" Tang Zheng frowned.

Pang Meiqin said nothing, ate a bite of food, and sat down on the sofa.

"Didn’t you quit? Why are you still wearing the flight attendant uniform?" Tang Zheng asked in confusion.

At that moment, Pang Meiqin was dressed in a tailored deep red uniform, with a silk scarf tied around her neck. Her pencil skirt hugged her buttocks, emphasized further by her seated posture. Her legs, encased in black stockings, were pressed together, her high-heels now kicked off and resting on the floor.

"This was my first job. Is it wrong to feel sentimental?" Pang Meiqin had planted surveillance equipment in Tang Zheng’s home, which would alert her if anyone entered.

"Go eat." Tang Zheng went into the kitchen.

"Do you think I’m attractive?" Pang Meiqin followed him, wrapping her arms around Tang Zheng from behind.

"Mm!" Tang Zheng struggled briefly, but Pang Meiqin held tighter. Given their past physical intimacy, he didn’t push her away.

"No sincerity," Pang Meiqin complained, planting a kiss on Tang Zheng’s neck.

Tang Zheng was about to reject her, but Pang Meiqin’s words left him speechless.

"This should be our last fling!"

Tang Zheng fell silent, then picked up Pang Meiqin, placed her on the kitchen counter, and began undoing her buttons.

"If you feel guilty about this, then just let it all out!" Pang Meiqin clutched Tang Zheng’s head.

...

"Are you really leaving?" Tang Zheng was shocked.

After the passion had subsided, Pang Meiqin showered and dressed back into her flight attendant uniform, preparing to leave—something completely out of character for her.