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    “Don’t come closer…” Xu Zhizhi’s face was filled with terror, her whole body shrinking, her eyes pitiful.

    The woman’s face was contorted in a cruel smile. “Xu Zhizhi, you’re just unlucky!”

    Xu Zhizhi took a few steps back. Seeing this, the woman lunged forward without hesitation, her eyes filled with a look of suicidal determination. However, anyone with discerning eyes could see that she was avoiding her vital areas; the attack would cause injury, but not death.

    Xu Zhizhi retreated two more steps, a smile flickering in her eyes as the woman closed hers. At the moment of impact, Xu Zhizhi moved.

    The next second, the knife in her hand transformed into a rose.

    The woman screamed, “Aaahhhh!” She had preemptively rehearsed the pain of a knife piercing her body.

    “You bumped into me,” Xu Zhizhi said softly in her ear, regaining her balance after being jostled.

    The woman, clutching her stomach, hadn’t even reacted before her hand landed on the rose. Her face filled with terror, she froze in place. “…What?”

    “Surprise?” Xu Zhizhi said with a smile.

    The rose still had leaves, the upper half lacking thorns. The woman cried out and threw the rose away.

    Xu Zhizhi frowned at her. “Don’t like it? Would you prefer a carnation? Or perhaps some white chrysanthemums?”

    Xu Zhizhi stared at her, her magic tricks performed with incredible speed, constantly switching the flowers in her hand.

    The woman clutching her stomach’s pupils constricted. She stood frozen, staring at Xu Zhizhi, who had moments before been holding a knife. “You… you… you…”

    She was too surprised to even articulate her confusion.

    “Tsk, magic! Did you think it was sorcery?” Xu Zhizhi reached out, grabbed the woman’s arm, twisted it behind her back, and swiftly subdued her to the ground. “I happen to know a few unsavory tricks. Perfect for dealing with unsavory people like you. Framing others while harming yourself—how despicable are you!”

    The instant Xu Zhizhi subdued her, the door burst open, and three or four policemen rushed in, weapons drawn.

    Xu Zhizhi looked towards the source of the noise, a slight smile playing on her lips. The police were here, meaning the other party wouldn’t be able to offer any resistance; they were already under police control.

    Kidnapping; the evidence was irrefutable.

    On the other side of the video call with audio, Li Jiahang, sitting in a wheelchair, was pinned to the table by police. “Hands up! Head down! No sudden movements!”

    Li Jiahang trembled. It had all happened so suddenly. How did the police know he was here, and how did they manage to catch him so precisely?

    He opened his eyes and looked at the woman pinned to the ground by Xu Zhizhi on the screen beside him, his face ashen and filled with despair.

    Xu Zhizhi had single-handedly risked herself in this trap. This woman was far more formidable than he had imagined.

    But he had the Criminal Assistance System! He could still turn the tables! He was a minor, so he wouldn’t get a long sentence!

    Just as he was thinking this, a tall, handsome man walked towards him, his figure shrouded in shadow cast by the lights. The man’s brow was furrowed, his eyes cold. “Let’s go to the station. Assaulting others. It seems you’re still clinging to a sliver of hope.”

    Li Jiahang glared fiercely at Qin Su. He should have arranged to have him killed earlier!

    Before he could speak, however, he was yanked back into his chair, handcuffed, and taken away.

    Meanwhile, the police had secured the woman Xu Zhizhi had apprehended. The woman, acting like a lunatic, shouted at the police, “It was Xu Zhizhi! Xu Zhizhi tried to hurt me! Why are you arresting me?!”

    “I have a camera on my person,” Xu Zhizhi said calmly.

    One sentence, and all the woman’s attempts at denial were shattered.

    The woman fell silent and was led away by the police.

    Xu Zhizhi watched her coldly as she left. The camera was hers. This kind of thing was commonplace in the entertainment industry; even the necklace Qin Su had given her had this function.

    Xu Zhizhi hadn’t used any underhanded tactics or much disguise. She had simply prepared herself mentally.

    Initially, she’d considered many options: switching people mid-operation, having someone impersonate her to be arrested. There was also the plan to expose the fake “Qin Su” on the spot and use her homemade explosives in the car. For Xu Zhizhi, who had the skills to make bombs, this wouldn’t have been difficult.

    But all these plans assumed she was working alone.

    However, she acutely sensed that she was being protected.

    In that instant, she recalled the saying: “If heaven wishes to destroy someone, it first drives them mad.”

    Knowing Qin Su’s character, she was confident that after gathering some evidence, he would call the police—the police were the ones protecting her. Qin Su, being a police officer, would choose the best way to protect her.

    They hadn’t communicated this through words, but through subtle glances and shared trust.

    Xu Zhizhi understood Qin Su well. She knew that as a police officer, he wouldn’t choose to act alone; he would involve the police. Only with many people, only with the power of the law, could this be done safely.

    Ahem, that was a bit too positive.

    In truth, Xu Zhizhi couldn’t have done anything without the Criminal Assistance System monitoring her. Every word she exchanged with Qin Su and Feng Jie, every plan she made, was exposed by the system.

    It was a comprehensive surveillance camera, ensuring Xu Zhizhi would lose this game. No matter what Xu Zhizhi did, the system would tell Li Jiahang.

    That she managed to create something to defend herself was already a stroke of luck. The system hadn’t detected it, and Li Jiahang hadn’t found it; it was a fortunate escape. It seems the system doesn’t monitor its host very closely while they’re asleep.

    Reaching this point was pure luck for Xu Zhizhi.

    But it had been too smooth. She had captured the other party, resolved the crisis, too smoothly. It felt unreal.

    Qin Su stood at the doorway, watching Xu Zhizhi lost in thought. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

    Xu Zhizhi snapped back to reality, dismissing her thoughts and smiling as she shook her head at Qin Su.

    “Not telling me was a good thing, wasn’t it?” Xu Zhizhi asked, puzzled. “I’m not that sentimental.”

    Qin Su extended his hand, allowing Xu Zhizhi to step out using the door frame.

    With no one around, Xu Zhizhi whispered beside Qin Su, “I only made my plans after confirming the system wasn’t monitoring me. After investigating Li Jiahang and his father, and seeing that the system didn’t inform them, I solidified my strategy. I reached out to a classmate of mine who’s a police officer in Shanghai during these two days. Thankfully, they helped, otherwise this wouldn’t have worked.”

    Qin Su had only communicated with Xu Zhizhi through subtle glances to avoid detection by the system; he hadn’t said a word.

    “Even knights have ways to wake a sleeping princess,” Xu Zhizhi commented, praising him. She’d discussed this topic with Qin Su a few days prior. Princes are useless; only knights who brave the thorns can truly help Sleeping Beauty find the culprit and rescue her with an iron fist.

    Qin Su helplessly took Xu Zhizhi’s hand, knowing this was her way of comforting him about his concealment. He was too restricted to do otherwise. He didn’t want Xu Zhizhi to misunderstand and create a rift between them.

    Xu Zhizhi pondered for a moment, lowered her head, and produced a rose. “Kept it hidden for a while. A hidden rose with a sting, for Captain Qin.”

    Qin Su accepted it, his ears slightly reddening. He led Xu Zhizhi away.

    They headed to the police station, where Li Jiahang and all his accomplices were arrested. Even Li Feng and his wife weren’t spared; they were all gathered at the police station.

    Xu Zhizhi sat in the interrogation room, recounting the events. The entire process was recorded by the cameras, so the police didn’t ask many questions. Their primary focus was on the motive – the conflict between the two parties.

    Meanwhile, a police officer, pen in hand, sharply questioned Li Jiahang. “Now, tell us, why did you kidnap Xu Zhizhi?”

    When dealing with such people, the police’s tone was extremely serious, devoid of any comforting words. Such gentleness didn’t exist in their daily work.

    Li Jiahang’s wheelchair was outside; he was seated on the interrogation chair, looking at the police. “There’s no grudge. I just didn’t like her. Since you already have evidence, just convict me.”

    He didn’t mention the system, because he still needed it to get out!

    Yes, he relied on the system to get out of detention, out of the police station. However, unbeknownst to him, the system was useless and lacked such miraculous capabilities.

    The officer’s gaze swept over Li Jiahang. “Confess and receive a lighter sentence. You’re still young; this couldn’t have been your idea alone. We can investigate certain things, but if you deliberately conceal information, it will only worsen your situation.”

    “It was just me. No one else knew,” Li Jiahang said, chin held high, calmly staring at the interrogating officer.

    The police continued to question him, probing every detail, every aspect. But in the end, Li Jiahang’s story remained the same: Li Feng and his mother knew nothing.

    After half an hour, the officer left the interrogation room. He stood before Qin Su, hands on his hips. “He won’t confess. Li Feng isn’t involved.”

    “Have you checked call logs and financial transactions?” Qin Su asked.

    The officer nodded. “We have. There haven’t been any significant financial transactions recently, nor are there any chat logs indicating that Li Feng instructed Li Jiahang to do this.”

    “Then it’s likely Li Jiahang’s doing. Juvenile delinquency, kidnapping, and framing Xu Zhizhi,” Qin Su knew Li Feng wouldn’t act so openly; the two likely hadn’t coordinated this action. He probably thought Xu Zhizhi was impulsive and would go crazy after realizing she had been framed for murder, like a madwoman harming others indiscriminately. Based on the psychological profile, it suited him perfectly, as someone who liked to bully and hurt others.

    The police were about to speak when a commotion and crying erupted from outside.

    The two exchanged a glance and headed towards the sound.

    The crying came from Li Jiahang’s mother, tearfully proclaiming her son’s innocence. Li Feng was furious; he was being restrained by two officers, otherwise, he would have stormed in to find Li Jiahang and express his anger.

    When Qin Su and his police academy classmate emerged, Li Feng was shouting.

    “You police are colluding! Xu Zhizhi is the one who framed him! Why are you arresting my son? He’s a disabled child!” Li Feng clenched his fists, waving them wildly, his eyes bloodshot.

    Qin Su noticed Xu Zhizhi standing to the side and walked towards her.

    Xu Zhizhi waved her hand, signaling him not to worry. With her regular training and system skills, she could at least hold her own against him. If necessary, she could even beat him up; she really wanted to beat this hypocritical man. However, beating him wasn’t an option, but saying a few words wouldn’t hurt. She folded her arms and looked at Li Feng. “Why don’t you ask the victim?”

    She still believed Li Feng wasn’t involved. While hypocritical and prejudiced against her, he was secretly proud. The most he could do was tempt her into theft.

    Li Feng looked at Xu Zhizhi, his eyes bloodshot, his expression filled with hatred. “Xu Zhizhi, you are truly formidable. Those who oppose you never have a good ending.”

    Xu Zhizhi raised an eyebrow, realizing Li Feng believed she had framed his son for kidnapping her. She didn’t know how he could think that, but she knew that people’s first impressions were deeply ingrained and wouldn’t change easily.

    “Of course, those who framed me or tried to use me before all had bad endings. I’m confirming your beliefs, and I’d advise you to stop plotting,” Xu Zhizhi stared at him. “You’re sixteen, almost seventeen. You’re a ‘disabled child.’ You know what you’ve done.”

    If you can’t wake someone pretending to be asleep, then shock them into submission.

    Li Feng’s face turned a kaleidoscope of colors – pale, flushed, green with rage – as he glared at Xu Zhizhi, roaring and trying to charge towards her.

    But before he could take two steps, he was firmly held back by the officers.

    The officer who had been standing beside Qin Su said, “Li Feng, this is a police station, not a place for you to cause a ruckus! If you have questions, please consult a lawyer.”

    After checking his phone and financial transactions and confirming Li Feng’s innocence, they released him, so the police could only say this.

    Li Feng, eyes blazing, stared at the officer, breathing heavily.

    The incident happened so quickly after the crew finished their meal, Chu Lu naturally came. She had already heard about what happened from the crew members on her way. Upon entering, she heard Li Feng’s defense of his son and felt a surge of anger. It seemed her words and actions hadn’t had any effect.

    “Do you father and son think Xu Zhizhi is powerless against you, so you act so recklessly?” She didn’t believe Li Feng wasn’t involved, only that the police hadn’t found the evidence. As Li Feng said, Li Jiahang was disabled. If he hadn’t condoned it and provided money, this wouldn’t have happened. Xu Zhizhi was able to fight back because she was clever and resourceful, not for any other reason.

    She looked at Li Feng coldly. “I remember our contract stated that under certain circumstances, if you have any negative impact on the crew, you voluntarily forfeit the copyright and leave the crew, then our investment is void.”

    “Chu Lu!” Li Feng panicked at this moment, shouting her name.

    Chu Lu merely stared at him coldly.

    Li Feng stammered, “It was only my son who acted, I myself had no significant negative impact.”

    Chu Lu looked at Li Feng, who was trying to appear calm, her gaze icy, saying nothing.

    Xu Zhizhi lowered her eyes, remaining silent. A new director would be nice. If not, she’d wait; he’d keep acting recklessly. Without Li Jiahang, Li Feng wouldn’t be that hard to deal with. Besides, she already had a plan to really upset the director.

    The director knew what his son had done, but he’d just been covering for him.

    Thinking this, Xu Zhizhi took Chu Lu’s arm. “So, Director, now that you know the truth about Li Jiahang’s actions, are you still going to plead his case?”

    Li Feng opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

    Under the contemptuous gazes of those present, Li Feng said, “I was wrong. I spoiled that child.”

    “Li Feng! How can you admit it!” Li Feng’s wife cried and wailed, shaking Li Feng.

    Li Feng was so shaken he looked like an old man about to die.

    At this moment, a police officer ran over and whispered something in Qin Su’s classmate’s ear. The officer glanced at Qin Su and hurried towards the interrogation room.

    Xu Zhizhi’s curious gaze followed, as other officers gathered there too.

    The police officer opened the interrogation room door, and a sharp, explosive yell nearly pierced their eardrums.

    “Ah! Why did I forget! What did I forget!” Li Jiahang screamed, clutching his head and digging his fingers into his scalp, his eyes bloodshot, as if he had gone mad.

    His eyes bulged, he muttered to himself, blood seeping from numerous scratches on his pale, gaunt face, making him look demonic.

    Two officers grabbed Li Jiahang, but his upper body strength was formidable. It took them considerable effort to finally pry his hands open and pin him to the interrogation chair. But in that time, he managed to severely injure himself.

    The officers who had been holding him looked at their superior. “He’s acting strangely. He’s suddenly shouting about forgetting, forgetting!”

    At first, the two officers thought he was faking it, but now he was self-harming.

    The superior looked at him. “Take him to the hospital.”

    They’d seen a lot; this clearly wasn’t an act.

    Li Feng, still being berated by his wife, saw his handcuffed son being led out and immediately approached. However, the police stopped him, so he could only watch helplessly as his son screamed about forgetting, forgetting. Forgetting what! What had his son forgotten! The system?

    “Jiahang! Jiahang, wake up!” Li Feng cried out in anguish.

    Li Jiahang only continued his frantic cries, as he was lifted onto his wheelchair and taken to the hospital.

    Li Feng collapsed to the ground, opening his mouth to call out but unable to make a sound from the shock. Then he fainted, adding another call for an ambulance.

    Xu Zhizhi stared at Li Jiahang, a sudden chill running down her spine.

    Li Jiahang’s face was covered in scratches, his eyes bloodshot, his whole body trembling, blood smeared across his face from his struggle. This wasn’t an act; something real had happened.

    What had happened? Why was this happening?

    What was he forgetting…?

    She realized it was the system’s doing.

    “He’s lost his memory… he’s gone mad…” Xu Zhizhi whispered to Qin Su, her voice barely audible.

    Qin Su, his attention on Xu Zhizhi, caught her words. He half-embraced her, gently saying, “Don’t be afraid.”

    The system’s ability to induce amnesia made Xu Zhizhi, who had outwitted him several times, truly realize the system’s terrifying power. The seemingly simple power to manipulate bodies had been truly demonstrated in all its horror.

    Fear crawled up Xu Zhizhi’s spine, wrapping around her heart like vines, tightening until she felt a sharp pain.

    Her fear ran deep, deeper than any moment before, making the terror visceral.

    The system.

    What exactly was it doing?

    Xu Zhizhi also realized that certain things had been revealed to her.

    [Host, you don’t want to see another tragedy like this, do you?]

    Xu Zhizhi’s hand clenched, her eyes reddening, her teeth gritted.

    “You… what do you want?” After a long moment, Xu Zhizhi finally spoke, her voice heavy with difficulty.

    [Don’t play dumb; you’re smarter than Li Feng.]

    A terrible thought arose in Xu Zhizhi’s mind, but she still couldn’t believe it.

    [I can only inhabit one host at a time. Who should be next? How about Qin Su?]

    The system’s voice remained cold and mechanical, devoid of emotion, just as before. Yet, it was filled with threat and mockery, like a god high above, mocking a lowly ant trying to resist.

    Xu Zhizhi’s hand trembled uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face like broken beads.

    In that moment, she suddenly understood. She had underestimated the system.

    The system’s computational power was astonishing. It was deceiving her, toying with her. Or perhaps it was toying with everyone, using facts to show her that she couldn’t escape her fate as a criminal.

    It watched her build her friendships, find confidantes, develop love, and family, as she took root in this world. And then, at the peak of her career and love life, it revealed its terrifying fangs.

    To tell her she could be killed in an instant…

    To make her… lose everything, alienated from everyone.

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