Reborn to Redeem: Their Abusive Love
Chapter 34: Grow up.

Pei Zhen pondered Xu Si’s question for a moment, closed his eyes slightly, showing not a hint of a perfunctory attitude, his tone sincere and gentle.

"If possible, I’d like to become a judge," he said.

He didn’t explain why.

Nor did Xu Si ask.

It was obvious his path to growth had been too dark and twisted, so a longing for a brighter path was quite normal. However, the future society of Hong Kong Island, fraught with chaos, could not accommodate such piercing brightness.

The awakening spring breeze and the revival of all things could inspire the most intense desires.

Xu Si silently imagined Pei Zhen in a black robe, standing with clear eyes in a courtroom, and felt a slight pang of emotion in the depths of her heart.

It was vastly different from the future she knew all too well.

The future Pei Zhen was not at all connected with the word "luminous."

The future Pei Zhen, if not wicked and terrifying, was at least brimming with desire.

The air was suddenly still for a long time. Xu Si smiled faintly, her hands crossed at the hem of her skirt, her demeanor elegant and sublime. "That’s wonderful," she said. "If you want to do something, just go ahead and do it. Your auntie fully supports you."

"Mmm, Auntie, I will work hard," Pei Zhen replied.

After he spoke, his gentle eyes and brows crinkled with a soft smile, his clear pupils reflecting the lush hues of summer outside the window. Even the light that spilled over him seemed sanctified.

At such a spirited age, ideals should not be cruelly suffocated.

At that moment, Xu Si suddenly felt a surge of audaciousness.

What if she could change Pei Zhen’s future?

She had already brought Pei Zhen to her side; this should count as altering his life trajectory.

Just keep moving down that track.

Without the all-powerful Triad Society, the powerful families of Hong Kong Island would remain ever prosperous. She would no longer need to use Pei Zhen’s influence as its ringleader. Without the terrifying leader of the Triad Society, there would be no story of her offending Pei Zhen and being killed.

No matter how things change.

The outcome would always benefit her.

Xu Si turned her head slightly to look outside the floor-to-ceiling window. The distant sky was fragmented by leafy branches, and solitary, listless birds circled low.

It should have been the brightest of days. Yet, a mass of persistent gray clouds lingered in the distance, half-lit and half-dark. Pushed by the wind, it shrouded half the city. The frail, fiery-red phoenix flowers fell to the ground, as if emitting a pained groan.

Such a sky naturally held the portent of an impending storm.

Would things really continue to go so smoothly?

Xu Si pursed her radiant lips. An unbridled smile curved her lips as a touch of stubborn darkness flickered in her falsely gentle eyes.

She didn’t know.

But from bankruptcy in her previous life to rebirth in this one, she had not wasted a single day, accomplishing all that needed to be done.

So do your utmost, and leave the rest to fate.

That evening, Anshi paid another visit to Xu Mansion.

As Pei Zhen was home, official matters had to be discussed in the study, according to the rules set by Xu Si.

He stood beside the dimly lit bookshelves and informed Xu Si that the people sent out hadn’t found any information on the factory. It appeared to be an abandoned place, though there were still people living inside.

Xu Si’s slender fingertips glided over a row of books. She said indifferently, "Let’s wait a bit longer. Once the shopping mall is completed, we’ll understand who’s behind it all. Knowing they disapprove of us, we can’t just endure it forever."

Anshi thought so too. But looking at Xu Si, he couldn’t help but remind her, "Miss, you should also rest more when you have time. The company is completely worry-free now."

"It’s still not enough," Xu Si shook her head. "There’s still so much to do."

She wanted the company to fully recover to the stability it had before her father’s passing. It needed to be so stable that even if she were not in Hong Kong Island, it would continue to develop smoothly.

She also had her studies waiting to be completed.

That was a trouble money couldn’t solve.

...

Before one knew it, the last hints of summer warmth had dissipated. Autumn arrived, and winter passed by.

Xu Si’s shopping mall had been rebuilt, but the merchants who had moved in had not yet finished their interiors, so the opening was delayed to March.

Xu Group took another big step forward, and many people in the company, under Xu Si’s command, had gradually come to accept her leadership.

People began to look forward to seeing this never-before-seen heir at the group meetings.

The new year brought new changes.

In Xu Si’s eyes, the biggest change was in Pei Zhen.

This year, Pei Zhen turned 17.

A business partner with whom she had a good relationship sent Xu Si two purebred horses. They were a very rare and fine breed, with sleek, glossy coats and proud eyes.

Xu Si didn’t know how to ride. She had only been exposed to horses in her youth, had touched them, but after being thrown off once, she never wanted to learn again.

But Pei Zhen could ride. So, she asked Butler Ge to order a suitable equestrian outfit for him. When the clothes arrived, she looked at them and the sizes on the order form, feeling a little surprised.

Two years passed in the blink of an eye.

Pei Zhen had grown to one point eight meters tall.

February’s spring brought a hint of chilly freshness, and the grass burgeoned lush and thick. From the second-floor terrace, Xu Si looked down. Pei Zhen, dressed in his crisp equestrian attire, stood on the lawn gently caressing the white horse’s back.

The young man’s features had grown increasingly handsome. His slender shoulders had broadened, and his complexion was pale against his gray hair. His expression was forever soft.

His delicate eyes were slightly downcast. The gray of his irises seemed to hold the entire vernal tide, captivating yet aloof and inscrutable.

His riding posture was very standard, composed and leisurely; the large horse under his control was as docile as a machine at one’s command.

Xu Si, holding her coffee cup, went downstairs. Butler Ge had set up a lounge chair and a fruit plate for her in the shade of the trees by the meadow.

The wind that day was sudden. It tangled Xu Si’s soft hair and stirred an interest in her eyes.

Butler Ge, ever in tune with Xu Si’s thoughts, spoke up clearly, "Miss, would you like to give it a try?"

Pei Zhen turned his head. A gentle smile touched his lips as he stretched out his long legs and walked over to Xu Si.

"Auntie, would you like to try? This horse is very gentle. I can lead it and take you for a walk."

Xu Si considered for a few seconds, then changed into an equestrian outfit and approached the horse.

She simply mimicked Pei Zhen’s actions, gently caressing the horse’s coarse hair. She tucked her hair behind her ears, revealing her slender, pale, and delicate neck. Then, she leaned against the horse’s side, trying to calm its agitation at the approach of a stranger, and turned her head to look at the tall, lean young man.

"Is this okay?"

"Yes, that’s fine."

Pei Zhen gently extended his arm, took her soft palm, and helped her onto the horse’s back.

Xu Si dared not let go, her palm gripping his wrist. His intense warmth lingered on her delicate skin, making it a little itchy.

"Hold the reins." Pei Zhen did not let go immediately, as if to help her maintain balance more easily. His palm flipped over; he paused, then firmly grasped her hand. He purposefully guided her hand to the reins on the horse’s back, securing them in her grip with a bit of force. His voice was gentle and pleasant.

"Straighten your back a bit more, Auntie. Don’t be afraid, I’m leading him."