Chapter 0 – Prologue

Xu Jinliang was only twenty-five that year. As one of the few highly educated people from the small town who had returned home, she became a supervisor at the steelworks not long after joining the company. Her future appeared bright, but perceptive as she was, she had already realized that the economic behemoth sustaining the town was on its last legs. The times were advancing too quickly. They were already at the back of the pack and would soon be left behind entirely.

She tried to lead the factory toward modernization and corporatization so it could catch up with the times, but she had been born at the wrong time and arrived too late. After giving off its final glimmer of light, the old light bulb was discarded among the scrap, with nothing new to replace it. This town—no, this entire region—fell into an economic slump from which it would struggle to recover for many years.

While the old light bulb could still shine, however, Xu Jinliang took her impeccable résumé and used further education as a springboard to move south. She caught hold of the opportunities offered by the changing times. When that old light bulb flickered and cried out for her help, she did not look back.

Of course, that all came later. At the time, she was still young and working as a supervisor.

Despite her youth, the company placed great importance on highly educated talent, and even the factory director regarded her highly. That “high regard” also took a literal form: she was at least 184 centimeters tall and had exceptional proportions. Even though she towered over most women, she never looked awkwardly oversized. To make her uniform look better, she also paired it with high heels. Aside from two particularly tall workers in the workshop, everyone else had to look up at her.

Her shoulders were straight, her waist slender, and her legs long and straight. Her steps were steady yet light. She cared about her appearance and always held herself perfectly upright. The corners of her lips curved slightly upward, and she had a pair of peach-blossom eyes that made anyone who saw her think she was always smiling gently.

But those eyes were cold.

It was not the deliberate aloofness of someone trying to appear unapproachable. She had been born without warmth, like a humanoid creation made by some mad scientist.

An excessively perfect exterior paired with the coldness of something merely resembling a human—it was unsettling.

By then, however, she had already learned how to hide it. Every morning and evening, she practiced other people’s expressions in front of a mirror. She would also observe how they reacted when confronted with different situations, then practice each reaction herself.

Zhang Wanyou from Workshop Two knocked on Xu Jinliang’s office door. Breathing heavily, he said, “The police are already here. Should we… should we inform the factory director?”

Xu Jinliang was smoothing the creases from the cuffs of her uniform. When she saw Zhang Wanyou’s sweaty hand gripping her office doorknob, her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. She lowered her gaze as she stood, and when she raised her eyes again, those peach-blossom eyes were filled with gentleness. Calmly, she said, “There’s [read the original at bailiantales.com]no need. I’ll go take a look. The police are simply following procedure, so there’s no need to make such a fuss. It was only an accident.” She curved her lips and glanced at him from the corners of her eyes, emphasizing, “Only an accident.”

An accident. The previous night, a worker had remained inside the workshop after his shift ended and operated the machinery alone in violation of regulations, resulting in his accidental death.

Xu Jinliang cooperated with the police and completed all the necessary procedures. In the end, she also had to go to the station as the factory’s representative to sign some documents. By the time she finished dealing with everything and returned, it was already dark. The telephone rang as soon as she entered her office. It was the factory director, going on about how someone had actually died during the few days he was away and how fortunate it was that she had been there.

“I didn’t handle it well enough. The higher-ups reprimanded us, so I’m afraid we won’t receive this year’s Advanced Civilized Unit award. Reporters have also been waiting around here. I’m worried we won’t be able to suppress this and it’ll end up in the newspapers.”

The factory director said, “I’ll call the Party secretary later and ask him to help talk to the workers and the victim’s family. Make sure they keep their mouths shut. It would be best if this didn’t become a major issue.”

Xu Jinliang’s voice sounded remarkably “alive.” Every sentence carried the appropriate emotion. The factory director speaking to her had no idea that her actual expression had not changed in the slightest—not even her pupils had moved.

“You don’t need to trouble yourself with that. I instructed the workers immediately, and I personally visited the victim’s family.” She pretended to deliberate before continuing, “There is one matter I’m uncertain about, though. The newspaper office and the television station…”

They spoke for a long while. The factory director chuckled without saying whether her idea was feasible. His meaning was clear: as the factory director, he knew nothing about any dealings with outside parties. As long as Xu Jinliang handled everything properly, that was all that mattered. He would not stand in her way.

After hanging up, Xu Jinliang fetched some water and meticulously wiped down her office doorknob before walking outside.

The lights were still on in several offices. She did not go inside and merely called from the hallway, “Learn your lesson. Don’t remain here after working hours.” With that, she descended the stairs without looking back. The people inside those offices hurried out with their bags in their arms. Before long, all the lights had gone out.

Additional staff had been assigned to the night shift, and several more patrols had been added. Those working overtime did not dare complain. Whenever they saw Xu Jinliang, they bowed and scraped, while she continued looking straight ahead and merely gave them a slight nod.

She went to the abandoned old warehouse. It was scheduled for demolition soon, and since it contained neither goods nor workers, no one came there to patrol.

The interior was pitch-black, and the air smelled of dust. Xu [stolen content]Jinliang covered her nose and called steadily, “Zhang Wanyou.”

Footsteps immediately sounded from the darkness. The man was in such a hurry that he began running before switching on his flashlight. He did not dare shine it upward, keeping its beam trained only on Xu Jinliang’s legs.

Her leather heels reflected the light, and her dark uniform trousers were spotless. The dust drifting through the air seemed intent on contaminating this pristine patch of ground. Without thinking, Zhang Wanyou instinctively waved his hand to brush the dust away from her.

Xu Jinliang said, “The matter is settled. Proceed according to plan.”

“I… I’m still afraid. We’re under intense scrutiny right now. Why don’t we wait for things to calm down?”

Xu Jinliang wanted money, but her salary was not high, so she had taken a crooked path. At first, she had merely resold defective products that the factory had discarded. However, after one of her “clients” had an accident while conducting his unscrupulous business and the materials were investigated, he no longer dared to buy from her. From then on, Xu Jinliang began swapping defective products for perfectly good ones and selling the genuine goods instead.

“I’m about to leave for further study. Once I’m gone, what other opportunity will you have to make money?” Xu Jinliang chuckled, folded her arms, and said disdainfully, “Are you going to let your wife support you?”

Goose bumps immediately rose across Zhang Wanyou’s body. He lusted after Xu Jinliang so desperately that he was nearly out of his mind. He hurriedly said, “I’ll go with you. Ever since that bitch gave birth, she…” Disgust appeared on his face before he anxiously continued, “Fine. We’ll save up money, and once we go south, we’ll never come back. Jinliang, I’d dare do anything for you!”

She never personally dirtied her hands. She merely provided Zhang Wanyou and his coworker Huang Zirong—the man who had now died in an “accident”—with the means to do the dirty work. But Huang Zirong had been unable to withstand the pressure. He had actually grown frightened and wanted to turn himself in. What a nuisance.

After pacifying Zhang Wanyou, she strolled outside and stopped. Zhang Wanyou assumed she was trying to avoid being seen with him and intended to leave separately, so he did not suspect anything. He climbed over the wall and left first.

Watching Zhang Wanyou scurry away like a dog, she could no longer suppress her laughter. She pressed a finger against her lips and laughed softly before saying with amusement in her voice, “You heard all of that, didn’t you?”

Someone emerged from behind the corner. She was still wearing the apron she wore at work and was one of the older women from the cafeteria. Her face was covered in tears as she asked, “Supervisor Xu, why… why did you make me listen to that? Huang Zirong—was that… was that you?”

Xu Jinliang was tall. She bent slightly to look into the woman’s eyes, her devilishly cold gaze locking onto the cafeteria worker as she said, “Yes, I did it. Zhang Wanyou is the next one who deserves to die. And perhaps, after Zhang Wanyou—”

“No! No, no! I don’t know anything! I won’t tell anyone anything!”

Xu Jinliang straightened and savored the pleasure she found so difficult to obtain and therefore treasured all the more. She was happy at that moment, so her voice was cheerful. “I saw them bullying you, forcing you to repay money, and putting their filthy hands on you. I also know that at your age, you would never dare tell anyone about something like this. You’re afraid no one would believe you. Young men molesting a middle-aged or elderly woman—even if they were taken to the police station, they could still talk their way out of it. That’s why I helped you.”

A heartbroken expression suddenly appeared on her face. She slowly approached and pulled the woman into her arms. The woman was not tall, making it easy for Xu Jinliang to stroke her head. She repeatedly caressed her hair to comfort her. “I know how much you’ve suffered. You’re about to retire, yet you still encountered beasts like them. Don’t be afraid. I’ll help you. Only I can understand you, believe you, and help you.” Her voice grew softer and gentler. “Only I am your friend. We’re on the same side. Don’t be afraid.”

Abruptly, her tone turned chillingly cold. “But only if you are my friend!”

The woman covered her face and sobbed, trembling uncontrollably with fear.

Later, Zhang Wanyou died at a construction site in the south. Xu Jinliang, one of the suspects, had an alibi. At the time, she had been at home receiving an older woman who had come south to seek refuge with her.

The main story begins twenty years later, when Xu Jinliang is forty-five.