She Died Once

Chapter 10: Context

After the press conference ended, the police had long been waiting to take Sang Ji Yue into custody.

The media reporters dispersed one after another, leaving the grand Sang family manor in silence.

Sang Shuchen followed the police to deal with Sang Ji Yue's case, while Sang Yu, barely holding it together, sat on the sofa, with Wang Miao still on the verge of collapse. Opposite them stood Sang Shujin, who had remained silent since the beginning of the press conference.

“Myrtle, don’t blame yourself,” Sang Yu said softly, lowering his eyes as he gently comforted his wife, holding her in his arms. “Sang Ji Yue’s downfall is her own doing. It’s not our fault. We did our best. We wanted to raise her to be a gentle, kind daughter, but she chose the wrong path.”

Wang Miao, leaning in Sang Yu’s embrace, could not speak. She only sobbed, her tears falling like beads from a broken string, soaking the hem of her expensive dress.

Sang Shuchen, watching the tender display between his parents, felt a cold sense of mockery. What once was a picture of warmth and comfort now seemed a cruel joke.

“Dad, do you really think that Sang Ji Yue’s actions have nothing to do with you and mom?” Sang Shuchen’s voice cut through the silence, making Wang Miao stop crying abruptly. She looked at him in disbelief, as though she had heard something horrifying.

“What are you talking about, Little Sam?” Sang Yu frowned, raising his hand to protect his wife, his eyes filled with disapproval toward his eldest son.

“Although Sang Ji Yue is vile, she is right about one thing: none of us are innocent,” Sang Shuchen said, his voice growing more disheartened. The mirth that once marked his expression was gone, replaced by cold resolve. “Do you remember that Sang Ji Yue was never an outsider? She was just an adopted daughter, someone we brought into the family to help support Late Night. But when did mom and dad start treating her as if she were your real daughter?”

Sang Ji Yue, born an orphan, had been adopted by the Sang family from Luo Jia Mountain. Wang Miao, heartbroken over her biological daughter Sang Shujiyeon’s frail health, raised her with great care. Despite her efforts, Sang Shujiyeon was constantly sick, leading Wang Miao to consider other options.

At this time, Aunt Wang, who had long served the Sang family, mentioned a place called Lujia Mountain. It was said that a temple there could offer blessings, and perhaps it could help cure Sang Shujiyeon’s constant illnesses. Wang Miao, desperate, agreed to visit.

There were no temples on Luo Jia Mountain, only a group of wandering monks. One of the monks seemed to know Wang Miao’s intentions and prepared a bucket of gua signs. After drawing one, the monk claimed that the sign indicated the need for a child without parental ties. He told Wang Miao that bringing such a child into the family would help cure her daughter’s sickness.

While skeptical, Wang Miao was desperate enough to take the advice to heart. On her way down the mountain, she came across a young Sang Ji Yue, hiding behind a large rock, watching her with wide, innocent eyes. After learning she was an orphan, Wang Miao took her in, believing that she was the child of destiny the monk had spoken of.

“I think mom and dad have forgotten,” Sang Shuchen continued, his voice colder than ever. “We brought Sang Ji Yue into our home to protect Late Night, but instead, we sacrificed her. You pampered Sang Ji Yue with sweet words, and as a result, you began to neglect Late Night, treating her as if she didn’t matter.”

He continued, his words sharp and cutting. “Sang Ji Yue deceived me too. I believed her when she said she was the kindest person, but in reality, she was manipulating me, slowly turning me against Late Night, discrediting her every chance she got. It’s only now, after everything has come to light, that I realize I’ve been deceived.”

Wang Miao looked stunned, but Sang Yu, too, had begun to remember troubling details.

When Sang Shuchen wanted to pursue a career in scientific research, Sang Ji Yue had casually mentioned his connections in that field. At the time, Sang Yu had believed her, thinking that Sang Shuchen was pursuing research for personal reasons.

When Sang Shujiyeon expressed interest in entering the entertainment industry, Sang Ji Yue had painted it as a grey area. Sang Yu, again trusting her words, believed that Sang Shujiyeon was merely curious and lacked proper direction.

Even when Sang Shujiyeon was rejected by them, Sang Ji Yue’s comforting words always seemed to subtly support their decision, suggesting that Sang Shujiyeon was difficult to understand, reinforcing the idea that she could never belong to the Sang family.

Now, these memories came rushing back, and Sang Yu, overwhelmed with guilt, found himself unable to control his tears.

“It was me... I killed Late Night...” His voice trembled, barely above a whisper. “I abandoned my own daughter for someone who was malicious... Even... I drove her to the point of despair.”

Sang Yu’s eyes drifted to the memory of Sang Shujiyeon, once full of life, surrounded by her family with laughter and love. She had once shared her joy and dreams with them, believing they would always be together, but their indifference and cruelty slowly pushed her into a protective shell, where she ultimately chose to end her life.

Sang Ji Yue wasn’t wrong. They were the ones who killed Sang Shujiyeon. In the name of family, they had pushed her toward destruction, and now they tried to deny their responsibility, even as the weight of their guilt slowly crushed them.

“Is dad regretting it?” Sang Shuchen’s voice grew even colder, his gaze harsh as he looked at Sang Yu and Wang Miao. “I have one more piece of news for you. Sang Ji Yue was never a child of destiny. The whole thing was a scam. Sang Ji Yue is Aunt Wang’s daughter. She orchestrated everything to gain a better life for herself. Sang Shujiyeon was never sick; Aunt Wang had been feeding her a slow-acting poison, which she later passed on to Sang Ji Yue. This d**g was meant to keep Late Night weak and under control.”

The revelation was like a thunderclap, and Wang Miao, unable to cope with the horror of it all, fainted in Sang Yu’s arms, overwhelmed by grief.

The truth had come crashing down, and the Sang family members finally had to face their own sins. No one was innocent. They were all guilty, complicit in the murder of the daughter they had failed to protect.