Only when the glass was empty did Miss Xu finally place the wine glass on the table. She turned her head and said to Jiang Qin, "Everything a person says and does is like the wine in this glass, spilled water that cannot be retrieved. What has been done, is done."

"Jiang Qin, it would be one thing if you were unaware of Jiang Heng’s intentions in approaching me, but you knew. You say you are a working person, just doing your job for the money, with no other choice. I understand your difficulties, so I won’t make things hard for you."

"But why do you think that just because you helped Jiang Heng deceive me, I would forgive your mistakes?"

Miss Xu’s lips curved into a smile, a little wicked, but her eyes were icy. "Don’t think that just because there are many people here, I will forgive you for the sake of appearances. In my worldview, there is no such word as forgiveness."

If you’ve done something to hurt others, don’t expect to be forgiven by them.

"What is forgiveness?"

In the quiet room, the powerful and resonant voice of Miss Xu rang out: "It’s just what some unfortunate people without the ability to avenge themselves do, a helpless act to console their own inner resentment and dissatisfaction in despair."

"Anyone with the power to fight back would not easily forgive those who have hurt them. The word forgiveness should not exist." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Miss Xu’s gaze suddenly shifted to Bai Xi, who coincidentally was also looking at her.

Everyone in the room fell into deep thought after hearing Miss Xu’s unique perspective on forgiveness.

They probably all recalled the grievances and bullying they had suffered along the way.

Upon closer reflection, they were startled by how insightful and sharp Miss Xu’s analysis of the word forgiveness was.

Indeed, if one has the capacity for revenge, who would choose to forgive those who hurt them?

Being the one condemned by Miss Xu, Jiang Qin, after hearing her words, felt not anger but a sense of sudden enlightenment. He suddenly realized that he seemed to have lived in vain for over thirty years.

He understood less than a young girl.

"Miss Xu is right, it was indeed presumptuous of me," Jiang Qin lifted his head and downed the white wine in his hand.

The strong liquor burned his throat, causing a fiery sensation.

He lowered his head, suppressing the burning sensation and took a step back, then bowed to Miss Xu. "Miss Xu, I apologize to you. I don’t ask for your forgiveness, nor do I have the face to ask for it. I only hope that Miss Xu will have smooth sailing in the future, far away from people like me."

These words were pleasing to Miss Xu’s ears.

She nodded, indicating she understood.

Jiang Qin put down his wine glass and left.

After he left, the room slowly began to fill with sound again.

After that, Bai Xi hardly touched her food. She looked down at her hands, lost in thought.

After finishing the meal, Miss Xu felt somewhat full. While others hailed taxis, she decided to walk to digest.

Seeing Miss Xu walking along the sidewalk, Bai Xi said a few words to Cheng Xizhou, then grabbed her phone and wallet, and hurried after Miss Xu.

"Teacher Xu!"

Bai Xi quickly caught up with Miss Xu.

Miss Xu ambled lazily along the street, bathed in the neon lights and clear moonlight, both of which favored her, wrapping her in a captivating glow. The sea breeze toyed with the hem of her dress, rendering it light and graceful.

Bai Xi gazed at Miss Xu’s graceful and carefree silhouette, feeling a surge of envy and admiration.

"Teacher Xu," Bai Xi followed half a step behind Miss Xu, and said, "What you said tonight was truly enlightening."

Bai Xi gripped her phone, unable to resist pouring out her pent-up frustrations to Miss Xu.

She said, "Zhouzhou always asked me, why, after going through so much hardship, do I endure it quietly? I always said I didn’t care, I wasn’t bothered, I even forgave their foolishness and selfishness. But after listening to what you said earlier, I realized that at the root, I was just too weak."

"Did I really forgive them? If I had truly forgiven them, I wouldn’t have felt like choking every time I heard their names."

Bai Xi looked up at Miss Xu, like a wanderer seeing a guiding light.

"Teacher Xu," Bai Xi hesitated, asking nervously, "If I truly expose what my mother and sister have done, ruining their reputations to a point where they can no longer hold their heads high, do you think my father, if he knew, would be in pain in the afterlife?"