The message pierced through my nerves like a sharp thorn.
"Be careful, she might go all in."
All in?
I stared at the cold screen, a chill creeping up from my feet to my heart.
Su Qing, what other ruthless moves does she have left?
My breathing quickened, and my heart raced as if it were about to leap out of my chest at any moment.
I couldn't afford to be careless; Su Qing's madness had surpassed my imagination.
The night deepened, and the study was enveloped in silence, with only the ticking of the wall clock echoing like a relentless hammer on my nerves.
I sat alone at the desk, my fingers unconsciously tapping on the surface, producing a dull thudding sound.
Once, twice, three times...
My thoughts were tangled like a mess of threads, impossible to cut or untangle.
The System Interface flashed another prompt.
" Virtuous Ability: 45%."
This cold number weighed down on my chest like a heavy stone, making it hard to breathe.
What does the decline of Virtuous Ability signify?
Is it due to the misunderstandings at the meeting, or is it because I am not "good" enough?
I feel a deep sense of helplessness, as if trapped in a vast maze with no way out.
"System."
I whisper, my voice tinged with fatigue and resignation.
"Tell me, how can I completely defeat Su Qing?"
The system's voice remains calm, devoid of any emotional tone.
"When Virtuous Ability reaches 100%, you will gain the ability ' The Three Heavenly Kills,' allowing you to thoroughly retaliate against your target."
" The Three Heavenly Kills?"
I furrow my brow; it sounds like some kind of ultimate weapon, but what exactly is it?
My heart is filled with curiosity and doubt.
"First kill: Expose all of the target's crimes."
The system's voice rings out again, clear and cold.
"Second kill: Strip the target of all power and status."
"Third Kill: Strip away all disguises from the target, revealing their true self to the world."
After hearing this explanation, my hand trembled slightly.
This was not just simple revenge; it was a complete annihilation.
My heart was filled with contradictions and struggles.
"But..."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.
"Right now, my Virtuous Ability is only at 45%. How can I quickly raise it to 100%?"
The system paused for a moment before providing an answer.
"Nurturing talent is the greatest good in this world."
"Donating your resources for education will significantly enhance your Virtuous Ability."
My resources?
Images of the Mansion left by my parents flashed through my mind. It was my last spiritual refuge, my only safe haven.
Donate it?
My heart ached as if it had been cut by a knife.
The house held too many of my memories; it was where my joyful childhood unfolded, where my warm family resided, where everything I cherished existed.
If I were to donate it, I would truly have nothing left.
But what if this is the only way?
Could I still hesitate?
The next morning, I stood before the familiar Mansion.
Sunlight spilled onto the weathered bricks, carrying a warmth that felt both comforting and cruel.
This house, once my home, was now to become someone else's classroom.
My heart was a tumult of emotions, like a jar of mixed flavors spilled over—sweet, sour, bitter, salty—all kinds of sensations surged within me.
As a child, every weekend my father would take my mother and me for picnics in the garden.
We would fly kites together, play hide and seek, basking in the warmth of the sun and the gentle caress of the breeze.
On rainy days, the three of us would gather by the fireplace to tell stories.
My father's voice was deep and magnetic, my mother's embrace warm and comforting, while I nestled beside them, listening to one captivating tale after another, feeling the warmth and happiness of home.
But now, those memories had turned into cold silhouettes, and this house was merely an empty shell.
"Director Lin."
The voice of my assistant, Xiao Chen, came from behind as he approached with a stack of documents.
"This is the donation agreement. Once you sign it, you can donate the Mansion to the city's key high school for the expansion of their teaching building."
My hand hovered in the air, hesitating to put pen to paper.
Inside, I was in turmoil, as if two little figures were arguing fiercely in my mind.
One voice told me not to donate; this was my last remnant, my final refuge.
The other voice insisted that I must donate; this was my only hope, my sole chance to defeat Su Qing.
"Director Lin?"
Xiao Chen asked tentatively, clearly noticing my hesitation.
"It's fine," I murmured, then slowly picked up the pen and signed my name on the agreement.
As the final stroke was made, my heart sank along with it.
An indescribable sadness and sense of loss washed over me, as if I had lost something profoundly important.
Yet at the same time, a strange sense of relief surged within me.
Perhaps this was a way to let go of the past.
That night, I opened the System Interface once again.
The number had jumped to 70%.
"Just 30% left," I murmured, staring at the screen.
"What else can I do?"
The system remained silent, but I knew the answer was right in front of me.
I needed to continue doing more good for society, using every resource wisely.
In the following days, I began to frequently contact various charitable organizations. I auctioned off some antiques and artworks left by my parents, using the proceeds to fund impoverished students and build schools in remote areas.
With each donation, my heart bled.
I knew I was losing my past, my memories, everything that mattered to me.
But I had to do it.
To defeat Su Qing, to reclaim what belonged to me, I had to pay any price.
On the third night, Virtuous Ability finally reached 95%.
Only one step away from the finish line, yet that step plunged me into deep struggle.
The sound echoed once more.
"I suggest allocating the remaining resources to the vocational education fund to help more people realize their life values."
Vocational education fund?
This meant I would have to give up the last portion of my liquid assets, the money I had set aside as a safety net for myself.
If I donated that too, what would happen if I failed? I would have no way to recover!
Deep within me, a voice screamed.
You can't do this!
You've already sacrificed enough!
But another voice coldly countered.
If you back down now, you will never defeat Su Qing.
She will continue to trample on you, grinding everything you have into dust!
The two forces clashed violently within me, pulling at me until I could barely breathe.
I stood up and paced back and forth in the room, beads of sweat forming on my forehead and my palms beginning to sweat as well.
Finally, I stopped, took a deep breath, and told myself:
"Lin Wei, haven't you always believed in your choices?"
"Since we've come this far, what is there to be afraid of!"
At eight in the morning, I dialed the number of the head of the Public Welfare Foundation.
"Hello, I would like to establish a vocational education special fund... Yes, I will invest everything."
After hanging up the phone, I let out a long breath and opened the System Interface.
100%.
The numbers on the screen flickered with a golden glow, like the dawn of hope.
That familiar yet strange notification sound followed.
"Congratulations, host. Virtuous Ability has reached 100%."
"' The Three Heavenly Kills' ability unlocked."
A slight smile crept onto my lips as a long-lost sense of satisfaction washed over me.
But at the same time, a strange unease began to rise quietly.
What would happen next?
That afternoon, the company's routine executive meeting was convened once again.
This time, I sat in the center of the conference room once again, but unlike before, it was Su Qing who could not remain calm.
She kept glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, her well-masked gaze now revealing a hint of panic and unease.
Clearly, she had sensed something unusual but was unaware that danger was quietly approaching.
As the meeting progressed, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the door.
An assistant pushed the door open and handed a document to Li Mingyuan.
"Mr. Li, this is new material we just received, related to the previous report about Director Lin."
New material?
My heart raced, but I maintained a facade of composure.
Li Mingyuan opened the document, his expression shifting from confusion to shock, then quickly becoming incredibly complex.
He passed the document to other executives and said in a low voice:
"Everyone take a look; this is the truth."
The contents of the document quickly spread throughout the conference room.
Those who had once questioned me were now rendered speechless, their faces filled with shock and embarrassment.
Some even began to glance at Su Qing, regarding her with a complex and subtle gaze.
Su Qing's face was as pale as paper, and she sat frozen in her chair, her lips beginning to tremble.
"This... this is fake!"
She suddenly stood up and shouted.
"Someone is framing me!"
But no one paid her any attention, for the evidence was laid bare before them.
The forged documents, the anonymous tip-offs, and the information about the mastermind behind it all were meticulously recorded and publicly displayed.
And all of it pointed to one person—Su Qing!
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