Chapter 1137: Chapter 574: A New Beginning, Music Cleanses the Soul (Part 4)

Rong Yuhe was sentenced to ten years in prison for child abuse and intentional harm due to the malicious circumstances, with multiple charges combined.

This is already the harshest verdict in similar cases in recent years.

Gu Xianning stood at the plaintiff’s seat, watching the panic and frightened expressions of Zhou Rong and Rong Yuhe at the defendant’s seat as they heard the judge’s verdict, immediately reacting by shouting grievances in the courtroom, showing their disgrace.

Gu Xianning silently tugged at the corner of his mouth; so they too would have moments of fear.

Na Amo gently wrapped an arm around Gu Xianning’s shoulder, silently giving him comfort and warmth.

Zhou Rong shouted at Gu Xianning, "Ningning, say something, you know your dad and I never laid a finger on you, how dare you accuse us of abuse, you ungrateful wolf, raising you has been a waste all these years..."

Zhou Rong was cursing maniacally, trying to break through the barriers to charge at Gu Xianning; the ferocity in her attack seemed as if she wanted to tear him apart, but she was soon forcibly taken away by the bailiffs, and even from far away, her indecent curses could still be intermittently heard.

Rong Yuhe was much more subdued, looking dejected as if he had long resigned to his fate.

But the last glance he threw over when being escorted away by the bailiffs, the hatred deeply buried in those eyes was still shocking.

Gu Chengzhao immediately shielded Gu Xianning behind him, glaring back righteously.

Leaving the courtroom, Gu Xianning looked up at the sky; today, the weather was nice, the spring sunlight was bright, and the sky was clear.

Na Amo smiled and said, "Aning, all the unpleasant things are past now. From now on, our family of three will never separate again."

Gu Chengzhao spread his arms, protecting his wife and child in his embrace.

The heavy heartbeat seemed to silently promise.

Gu Bichen’s case was heard in court a week later.

He was accused by the prosecution of intentional homicide of Yu Ruohuan and attempted intentional homicide of Yao Huia.

There was direct convicting evidence in Yao Huia’s case, but no direct evidence for Yu Ruohuan’s death.

Gu Bichen only admitted to poisoning Yao Huia, claiming it was a very small dose of a mute drug, but he refused to admit to intentional homicide.

Though young, this teenager was very patient, seemingly certain that the prosecution would not have evidence.

Until one day, the prosecution received an anonymous email containing a surveillance video.

It was the surveillance video from the night of Yu Ruohuan’s death.

It clearly recorded all of Gu Bichen’s criminal actions.

The previously confident Gu Bichen was ashen-faced when he saw the footage.

He incredulously asked, "Where did it come from? Where did this surveillance video come from?"

He suddenly began to laugh, like a madman: "It’s her; it could only be her."

No one questioned Yu Ruohuan’s death, not even her biological mother had any doubt. From start to finish, only Shen You’an accused him of murder.

From the very beginning, she had set up a trap, waiting for him to fall into it.

He foolishly stepped right into it.

Two birds with one stone, she resolved two people she disliked, a flawless scheme indeed.

Gu Bichen murmured someone’s name, and upon listening closely, it was Shen You’an he was named, sometimes with gritted teeth of hatred and sometimes with an uncontrollable affection.

Crying and laughing, he seemed mad.

Finally, he admitted to the charge of intentional homicide.

Coincidentally, the day of the court trial was Gu Bichen’s eighteenth birthday.

But the age of criminal responsibility is based on the time of the crime. According to Article 17 of the Criminal Law, a juvenile offender must receive a lighter sentence, and the death penalty is never applicable. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

The Gu family, after raising him for seventeen years, was not entirely heartless, and still hired the best lawyer for him.

The final judgment was a twelve-year prison sentence, lifelong deprivation of political rights, with his transfer to prison after turning eighteen.

Gu Bichen had once imagined what kind of grand coming-of-age ceremony he would have on his day of adulthood, one that would proclaim the nobility of an heir to the Gu family.

He never thought that instead of waiting for a grand coming-of-age ceremony, he would be met with silver handcuffs and a twelve-year prison term.

And as for Rong Xianning, he inherited everything from him. At this moment, he must be, under the witness of everyone, enjoying the flowers and applause meant for the heir of the Gu family.

Maybe with the company and affection of a fiancée.

He looked toward the audience but did not see Na Amo and Gu Chengzhao.

Parents who accompanied him for eighteen years turned so heartless in the end; they chose their biological son and abandoned him like an old shoe.

Gu Bichen suddenly laughed; no matter how much resentment he had, it could only transform into fury swirling in his chest.

A gentleman waits ten years to exact revenge.

——

Gu Xianning’s eighteenth birthday was very simple; as he requested, the family gathered together for a simple meal.

The birthday cake was made by Na Amo herself.

Under the watchful eyes of his family, Gu Xianning clasped his hands, closed his eyes, and made a wish.

When he opened his eyes, he blew out all eighteen candles in one breath.

"Aning, happy birthday."

Blessings, gifts, and all the love flooded toward him, almost overwhelming him.

Gu Xianning sometimes still felt that everything now was too beautifully unreal.

He was so afraid of waking from this dream, only to find that he was still the destitute Rong Xianning.

Na Amo hugged him, tirelessly whispering in his ear, "Aning, Mom loves you."

Gu Xianning was a loveless child without a sense of security. He suppressed all his uncertainties deep inside, presenting himself to everyone as a perfect, model child with no flaws.

Actually, Aning needed affirmation, needed a loud proclamation of love, and even more so needed a straightforward and passionate embrace.

The phone rang; Gu Xianning glanced at it, his eyebrows instantly curved into a smile.

Na Amo and Gu Chengzhao exchanged a knowing look.

It was a birthday greeting from Shen You’an — Aning, happy birthday, may your life ahead be smooth and safe. The gift is at the door, please check it.

The doorbell rang and a courier delivered the gift.

It was a unique Steinway custom piano, with a pure gold nameplate embedded on the inside of the keyboard cover, black nickel etching, and gilt relief engraving eight characters.

The beginning of a new life, with music washing away the dust.

Gu Xianning’s fingers lightly brushed over those eight characters, his gaze softened by affection flowing within.

Gu Chengzhao had recently been looking for a piano for Aning, and when he saw this piano, he knew it was expensive.

Na Amo placed her hands on Gu Xianning’s shoulders, admiring the piano with him.

"An’an truly understands you, even her gifts are exactly what you want."

Those eight characters were the best blessing for the eighteen-year-old Gu Xianning.

Gu Xianning smiled and said, "Yes, there is no one in this world who understands me better than An’an."

He looked back at his parents and grandmother.

In this world, nothing is perfect.

Having attained familial love, he should not overly long for anything else.

Overly greedy people often meet bad endings.

Now, he was very content.

Gu Xianning wanted to be low-key, but his fans wouldn’t allow it. To celebrate their idol’s rebirth, the Lemons united to organize a grand birthday fan support event that amazed many; this was a true display of a top-tier idol’s popularity.

At two in the afternoon, Gu Xianning posted on Weibo.

It was a photo of him and his parents and grandmother sitting around the dining table enjoying the birthday cake. The family was smiling happily, and the usually deep and restrained Rong Xianning exhibited the innocence and joy befitting his age, moving many fans to tears and touching countless passersby.

Behind the young man was a Steinway piano, which anyone in the know could tell at a glance was specially customized.

Sunlight shone on the piano like the young man’s smile, dispelling shadows and welcoming new beginnings.

The caption contained only eight simple yet deeply meaningful characters.

The beginning of a new life, with music washing away the dust.