CHAPTER 589: CHAPTER 589: USED TO

"I am not mistaken!" Weilin shouted, her fists tightening at her side. "Why don’t you believe me?"

Her father looked up, his eyes serious now. "Listen, daughter. I know you sympathize with that girl you met in the military. I do too. She was brave, and she was your friend. But the truth is, she is dead. You must accept that."

Weilin bit her lip hard, her face paling. "No. I won’t accept it. Her body was never found, and her death was never proven. How can you say for sure she’s dead?"

Han Zhu leaned back, shaking his head.

"Because life does not allow miracles so easily. Your friend, Su Jiyai, had foster parents. She did not even know her real parents. She was ordinary. Yes, she might have awakened a superpower later, but even so, how far can an ordinary girl go? Awakening one power is already a big achievement. But to suddenly become the leader of a huge base like this? That is impossible."

Weilin’s throat ached. She wanted to argue, but her father’s words pressed down on her like heavy stones.

Han Zhu gave a small, almost gentle smile.

"I tell you what, Weilin. If by some impossible chance this Boss Su really turns out to be your friend Su Jiyai, then I will give you one hundred thousand zombie crystals. Do you hear me? One hundred thousand."

Weilin’s eyes widened. "Dad! Are you being serious?"

He chuckled softly, lifting his cup of tea. "Of course. But that will never happen. I only say this so you stop tormenting yourself with false hope."

Weilin clenched her fists tighter. "I am not lying."

Her father sipped his tea calmly and looked at her with steady eyes.

"I never said you were lying. I only say you have misunderstood. You want so badly for Boss Su to be your friend that you force yourself to believe it. But reality is harsh, Weilin. Do not let your imagination blind you."

His voice was not cruel, only calm, but each word stabbed into her chest. She lowered her head, fighting the sting in her eyes.

"Maybe you are right," she whispered. "Maybe I really did misunderstand."

Seeing her shoulders slump, Han Zhu sighed. He stood up and patted her hair gently.

"That’s my daughter. You understand reason. But if you still cannot let go, then tomorrow you can come with me to the meeting. When you see Boss Su with your own eyes, you will know the truth. You will see that she is not the friend you once knew."

Weilin swallowed hard. Her lips curled into a weak smile. "Alright, Dad. Then we will see tomorrow."

That night, she lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Her father’s words made sense, but her heart screamed otherwise.

"No," she whispered. "I know it’s her. I know it."

The next morning, the conference hall of Hope Base was busy with preparations. Guards stood tall by the doors. Leaders from different sides gathered.

Han Zhu walked calmly, his expression polite, while Weilin followed close behind, her heart pounding so loud she could hear it in her ears.

The big doors opened.

At the center table sat a young woman, her back straight, her expression calm and commanding. Her long blue hair shimmered under the lights, and her eyes shone like clear water.

Weilin gasped so loudly that heads turned. She didn’t care. She ran forward before anyone could stop her. Tears burst from her eyes as she cried out, "Jiyai!"

The woman’s eyes widened in shock. For a moment, she froze. Then she slowly stood. "Weilin?"

..................................

Present.

Su Jiyai nodded after hearing the story and looked behind Han Weilin.

Behind them, Han Zhu’s jaw dropped. His usually calm face cracked with disbelief. His eyes darted between the two girls, stunned speechless.

His daughter’s tears, the leader’s gentle smile, the familiarity in their voices... none of it could be faked.

Weilin turned her head and shouted through her tears, "Dad! Do you see now? I was not wrong! This is my Jiyai!"

Han Zhu swallowed hard, his face pale. His hand trembled as he pointed at Su Jiyai. "This... this cannot be real. How... how can this be?"

Su Jiyai looked at him with calm eyes. "Uncle Han, I am indeed Su Jiyai. I survived, and now I lead Hope Base. I know it sounds impossible, but it is true."

Weilin grinned through her tears, turning back to Jiyai. "I told you, Dad! I told you she was alive! You owe me one hundred thousand zombie crystals now!"

Han Zhu: "..." That’s not the point!

Leader Shi: "..." Wow! I never knew I had such a strong connection by my side.

Leader Shi’s eyes widened when he saw the sudden reunion in front of him. For a moment, he forgot his own reason for coming here.

He hesitated before asking carefully, "Boss Su... forgive me, but do you truly know Miss Han Weilin?"

Su Jiyai chuckled softly. Her blue eyes glowed with warmth as she glanced at Weilin. "Of course. I have already said it. Weilin and I used to be best friends."

The words used to hit Han Weilin like a knife. Her face turned red and her voice rose in anger.

"Used to be? What do you mean by " used to be? Are you saying now that I am no longer your best friend?"

The hall grew quiet. Even the guards at the doors looked at each other nervously.

But then Weilin’s voice broke, softer this time. Her eyes turned wet again.

"Jiyai... are you still blaming me? Are you still holding on to that matter? That I did not take justice for you back then?"

She grabbed Su Jiyai’s hand tightly, her fingers trembling.

"Listen to me. I did not stay silent after your death. I took all the measures I could. I was the one who exposed Li Yuan. I shouted to everyone about her crimes. I even fought with my father because I wanted to kill Li Yuan with my own hands. He stopped me, but in the end, he still agreed to lock her in Cedar Base. Do you know why? Because he knew I hated her! He knew I wanted to torture her every day. And I did. I made her life a hell she could never escape from."

Her lips curved in a shaky giggle, though her eyes still brimmed with tears.

"Every time she cried, I told myself it was for you. Every time she begged, I remembered your pain. Jiyai... I was too late to save you, but I never once stopped fighting for you."

She looked up at Su Jiyai with a gaze filled with guilt and affection.

"I am sorry. Truly sorry. For all the pain you suffered, for the days when you were alone, when you were hunted by zombies, and I was not there to protect you. I regret it all. If I could go back, I would never let you walk away alone that day. I would have carried you on my back and never left you behind."

Her voice cracked as she shook her head desperately.

"Please... I don’t care if you hate me. I don’t care if you are angry at me. Just... don’t cut our friendship. As long as you still see me as your friend, that is enough for me."

Su Jiyai blinked, stunned. She had not expected such a storm of emotions from Weilin. For a few seconds, she was frozen. Then she quickly held Weilin’s shoulders.

"Weilin, no. Stop." Her voice was firm but gentle. "I am not angry. I am not furious. You misunderstood me. When I said used to be, it was only a slip of my tongue. We have met after such a long time, and I spoke carelessly. That is all. You are still my best friend. You always will be."

Weilin’s tears spilled faster. "Then... you don’t blame me?"

Su Jiyai shook her head, her own eyes soft.

"How can I blame you? I know what you did for me. Qin Feng told me everything. He said you were the one who used all your connections to search for my body. You even left the army because of me. For three months you searched every corner, risking your own life. And when you learned about Li Yuan, you exposed her with everything you had. If not for the zombie horde, she would have rotted in prison already. You did everything a friend could do... and more."

She took Weilin’s trembling hands into her own and squeezed gently.

"How could I punish you? How could I break our bond? I do not just forgive you, Weilin. I love you as my best friend. That has never changed."

At those words, Weilin broke down completely. She threw her arms around Su Jiyai again and sobbed loudly, her whole body shaking.

The hall was filled with the sound of her crying, but no one dared to interrupt.