"You studied hard and returned with success, gaining what you desired. Why take such risks?" Lu Xiaofei asked.
Guo Xiaopeng smiled faintly. "The notion that learning grants everything is misleading. My climb from nothing to the president of Haizhou Pharmaceuticals was bloody at every step. My first milestone was set in the U.S. Getting started was the hardest part, and for that, I used every method available: ancient, modern, Chinese, American, humane, and inhumane."
Lu Xiaofei questioned, "Surely, many were illegal."
Guo Xiaopeng confidently responded, "The difference between the great and the small lies in the former making rules, and the latter following them."
Lu Xiaofei looked at this "great man" in prison with pity.
Oblivious, Guo Xiaopeng continued, "These methods were effective, allowing me to gather intellectual and monetary resources widely. Bringing these back to Haizhou made all the difference. Without them, even with a Ph.D., I'd be no more than a chief engineer like Fei Jingwei. In Haizhou Pharmaceuticals, everyone besides me is a worker, regardless of their titles." He paused and then added, "Capital naturally seeks expansion. The initial funds from America were quickly insufficient as Haizhou Pharmaceuticals opened, so I targeted Lin Xiaoqiang." His eyes turned cold, "I still consider turning Lin Xiaoqiang from a businessman into a prisoner, then into a corpse, my masterpiece." He resumed his usual tone, "Under meticulous planning, Lin Xiaoqiang's funds flowed into Haizhou Pharmaceuticals, and like my old Warrior shoes, his people and business were slowly crushed." A look of satisfaction spread across his face. "Meanwhile, my career soared."
Lu Xiaofei, with a hint of sarcasm, asked, "As the chairman and president of a multi-billion-dollar enterprise with thousands of employees, you wield considerable power."
Guo Xiaopeng squinted, "You've never truly had power, let alone great power, so you have no right to discuss it with me. Power is essentially about how much you can control others. For example, my stepfather, as the deputy secretary of the provincial party committee, held significant power in your eyes. But his power was granted by others; a document could strip him of it. Even ordinarily, he lived in fear of losing it. Do you think sending Lin Xiaoqiang to prison was a noble act? It wasn't! Lin Xiaoqiang's presence threatened his career, so he had to remove that cancer. To him, his position, a symbol of power, was everything."
Seeing an opportunity to resolve a lingering question, Lu Xiaofei asked, "I somewhat understand your pursuit of power, but why break the law so heinously?"
Guo Xiaopeng smiled, more naturally this time, his voice steady and rhythmic, "I don't care about the means to achieve my ends. Power is about control. Controlling someone can be done through positions, money, beauty, or academic titles, but these are superficial. When a person becomes enlightened, they can abandon these things. Have you ever seen someone successfully quit drugs, be it heroin or meth? Statistically, the percentage is not low," Lu Xiaofei calmly replied.
Guo Xiaopeng, looking superior, continued, "Those so-called rehabilitated individuals either died, lacked money, or had no access to drugs. Lin Xiaoqiang is a prime example. Even after years in prison, a little drug turned him into a puppet. To control someone, nothing beats drugs. You might think you control yourself, but you can't control your liver's enzyme secretion, your pancreas' insulin production, your heart rate, subconscious, or blood pressure. Drugs can."
Lu Xiaofei's soul was shaken. This twisted soul, a complete devil, disgusted her. She coldly said, "I can't blame you for being polluted, but I hate you for polluting others. Humanity's pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty is not an empty concept; it drives progress. If you were a decent person, you wouldn't abandon these precious values. If you used your talents properly, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Guo Xiaopeng's face twitched. He was stubborn, especially facing imminent death, clinging to his mental fortress. He said faintly, "It seems my speech was in vain, like playing music to a cow!" He couldn't find better words and suddenly became agitated, "I'm the most human person! I long for happiness and beauty but was scarred by life, like being violated. I won't offer my soul to the devil; I want revenge! The greatest revenge!"
Lu Xiaofei tried one last effort, hoping he could die as a true human, "Life is about growing through struggles. Life can't always be sunny. Many things are shaped by the times. Thus, one should continually improve oneself to maximize human value."
Guo Xiaopeng angrily waved his shackled hands, making a loud noise, "I've never had sunny days! It's always been stormy, oppressive, and hateful. Where can I hold the times accountable? It's just a concept. Harmed by people, I harm others, regardless of who they are!"
Lu Xiaofei, disappointed, said, "I thought you, as an educated person, would have some reason, the key difference between humans and non-humans. Your irrational, anti-human nature is rare."
Her stern demeanor and sharp words battered his already fragile soul. Guo Xiaopeng gradually calmed, "I don't deny that I once had a green heart, but like the Earth's forests and wetlands, it quickly withered. Two months ago, when you pointed a gun at me, it was swallowed by the desert."
Lu Xiaofei knew what he meant and didn't respond.
The interrogation room's windows brightened. Guo Xiaopeng turned towards the window, unable to see the real sky. He murmured, "I believe the morning star has risen." Lu Xiaofei quietly watched him, "Do you truly have no remorse or attachment?"
Guo Xiaopeng firmly said, "What are humans? Just emails sent from nowhere to nowhere. From nothingness to nothingness. What's there to linger over? As for remorse, I have none. My grand crimes have left deep marks on history's pillar, something not everyone can do. Under the sun, there's nothing new. I've lost hope; reincarnation won't change that."
Lu Xiaofei knew the sunrise was near, its brilliant light illuminating every dark corner. Bathing in light symbolizes human hope, and occasional shadows can't dim the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty. She stood and said, "If I could suggest to God, it would be not to let someone like you, who respects nothing and has lost all humanity, return to this world!" Guo Xiaopeng's face turned pale, his eyes closed.
Lu Xiaofei turned and walked out quickly.
In front of the black iron gate of the detention center, a long line of police cars with flashing lights, prisoner transport vehicles, and trucks full of armed police were lined up.
The sun rose, the bluish mist dissipating instantly. The bustling city awakened, with people flooding the streets like a colorful river. Ads featuring beautiful women and handsome men adorned the streets, showcasing the era's vibrancy. Four fully armed bailiffs escorted Guo Xiaopeng to the prison van. He squinted, gazing at the distant Haizhou Tower, and smiled. Inside, over a dozen heavily armed police sat in two rows, facing each other. Two officers pressed Guo Xiaopeng into the middle seat.
He smiled at the officers, "Thank you for seeing me off."
The officers maintained stern faces, their sharp gazes sweeping over him. The blue steel guns clanged together, displaying the law's authority.
Suddenly, the sirens wailed. The van jolted and began moving. Guo Xiaopeng peered through a small window, browsing the street scenes, "The execution site should be on the beach, right?" No one responded.
Guo Xiaopeng continued, "Believe it or not, I have no regrets." Still, no response.
He hummed Beethoven's "Symphony of Fate," slowly closing his eyes. Fluctuating light spots appeared before him, stabilizing, turning from blue to red, then black. He abruptly stopped, the black spots shattered into huge ice blocks, exploding before him.
They arrived at the beach, at Langyazui. Guo Xiaopeng realized his final resting place. He opened his eyes. An officer placed a hood over his head and escorted him out of the van. A vehicle with Liu Mei followed, her hair disheveled, struggling in the officers' arms, screaming, "Xiaopeng! Xiaopeng!"
Guo Xiaopeng, close enough to hear, ignored her.
Liu Mei cried, "Xiaopeng, you'll never die in my heart! Never!"
Guo Xiaopeng walked to the beach, trying to maintain his balance. Liu Mei fainted.
On the seawall, Qiangmin asked Li Xinjian, "Are you going to the execution site?" Li Xinjian searched the police crowd, disappointedly pulling out his phone, hearing, "Sorry, the mobile phone you dialed is off..." Realizing something, he urgently told Qiangmin, "Quick! Give me the car keys!"
Gunshots rang out on the beach, and Guo Xiaopeng fell on the golden sand.
Epilogue
Haizhou Airport. Lu Xiaofei handed her ticket and ID at the security checkpoint. The officer checked. The same beautiful, calm, smiling face, but the name was now Lu Xiaofei.
She quickly entered the terminal, sat in a beige chair, and pulled out an English version of "Crime Prevention."
A Mitsubishi jeep sped to the airport entrance, Li Xinjian jumped out and rushed inside. The terminal announcement echoed, "Attention, passengers to Beijing, flight 8058 is about to take off. Please board immediately."
Lu Xiaofei finally noticed, packed her book, and walked to the gate.
Li Xinjian hurriedly showed his airport pass to security, "Urgent business!"
The officer glanced at the pass, letting him through.
Li Xinjian ran into the terminal. Through the large windows, he saw an Airbus taking off in the sunlight.