Chapter 69: Your Mother Won’t Die
Hearing his question, the corner of Lu Huaishen’s eye twitched slightly. His tone was mixed with a hint of helplessness: “It’s not without reason that he treats Mr. Jian this way.”
Liang Qinian took a step forward, staring straight at him. No longer avoiding the awkwardness from a moment ago, he asked anxiously:
“Reason? What reason? Tell me.”
It was the first time Lu Huaishen had seen him so anxious over a person. He hesitated for a few seconds, an inexplicable, faint sourness welling up in his heart—an emotion he couldn’t quite name.
He used his middle finger to push up his glasses but didn’t intend to tell Liang Qinian right away. Looking as though he wanted to string the other man along, his face bore a hint of surprise while his tone carried a probing edge:
“But why are you so interested in Mr. Jian’s affairs? Could it be… you like him?!”
“What nonsense are you spouting? He’s already married.”
Liang Qinian cast an unhappy glance at the man, then turned his head to look at the lights and buildings in the distance, faintly falling into his memories. A familiar smiling face unconsciously surfaced in his mind.
His eyes suddenly deepened, and a barely noticeable tenderness stained his slightly parted thin lips. Then, like a light feather brushing against the water, it vanished without a trace, leaving only incomprehensible thoughts:
“Besides, he was very good to me back in high school. I’m grateful to him and just wanted to ask how he’s been doing these past few years. How could he marry a person like that… it’s a bit unbelievable.”
The person beside him was somewhat confused: “Good to you?”
Liang Qinian didn’t intend to answer, nor did he want to recall those unbearable memories of the past. He cut straight to the chase:
“It’s nothing. Just tell me, why does Ji Songting treat him like this? Did Jian An do something wrong?”
Seeing that he seemingly intentionally or unintentionally avoided the question, Lu Huaishen tactfully refrained from probing further. He pondered for a moment, the corners of his lips curving upwards, and slowly explained:
“It’s because of Mother Ji’s matter. Three years ago, Lin Qiuwan died. Who knows what Ji Songting saw at the time, but he firmly insisted that Mr. Jian killed Mother Ji. Therefore, over the years, he has treated Mr. Jian as an enemy.”
The moment the man finished speaking, Liang Qinian didn’t even have to think about it. His attitude was firm and resolute, his voice brokering no argument:
“Impossible. Absolutely impossible. How could Jian An do such a thing? Let alone killing someone, he’s so kind-hearted he couldn’t even bear to step on an ant, much less commit a deed like this!”
Lu Huaishen paused, symbolically pressing his lips together in thought for a few seconds before speaking in a flat tone:
“Actually, I don’t really believe it either. But there truly isn’t any evidence to prove that Mr. Jian was framed.”
Liang Qinian’s brow furrowed even deeper. Unwilling to accept this, he asked: “Has the real killer not been caught?”
“No, they can’t be found at all. Everyone unanimously believes that Mother Ji committed suicide due to depression. Only Ji Songting feels that his mother’s death wasn’t that simple.”
Lu Huaishen’s expression gradually grew solemn, a stark contrast to his previous frivolous demeanor. He unexpectedly exuded a bit of refinement and steadiness as he systematically analyzed:
“I actually think that for someone to be able to pull off such a deception right under the noses of the Yao City police and the Ji family’s forces, the killer probably isn’t someone to be trifled with either. At the very least, they must be evenly matched in power.”
“Evenly matched in power? Are you saying…”
Liang Qinian instantly caught the crucial keywords in his sentence, roughly understanding the point he was trying to convey. He followed that line of reasoning and continued:
“As far as I know, the only ones in Yao City whose power can match the Ji Group’s are the Shen family and the Jian family, right?”
“Hey, stop right there. It’s enough to just touch upon the point.”
Lu Huaishen raised his index finger to make a hushing gesture. He looked around symbolically and continued:
“What I just said was just my own wild analysis. I also know very little about the unsolved case from back then. Besides, even though we are out in the remote wilderness, there’s no guarantee someone won’t pass by. If they hear us making reckless guesses, we could get sued.”
Hearing this, Liang Qinian let out a disdainful scoff. He looked up and down at the man before him—a man who looked gentle and refined but actually loved to cheat and deceive, only knowing how to bluff.
Looking at Lu Huaishen with a bit of contempt and mockery in his eyes, he finally seized the opportunity to fire back:
“It’s not that serious, is it? But looking at you, could it be you haven’t lacked being taken to court?”
At these words, a deathly smile suddenly appeared on Lu Huaishen’s face—a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. Usually, he was the only one with a venomous tongue toward others; today was actually the first time someone had snarked at him. Yet, he wasn’t in a hurry to refute it. Instead, he narcissistically replied:
“How could a citizen with such noble morals like me do something that breaks the law, violates discipline, and endangers society?”
However, the other party did not intend to let go of this opportunity to fiercely attack him. Raising an eyebrow, he looked at him as if piercing through the lie at a glance, saying with great interest:
“What was up with that bald guy just now? What kind of noble-hearted citizen gets chased by someone trying to hack them with a knife?”
Being snarked at like this, Lu Huaishen smiled out of extreme anger. Feeling no annoyance, he methodically dusted off his coat, then raised his eyes to look at him, his tone light:
“It seems you are very interested in lawsuits, aren’t you? Want me to use eighty million to play around with you? Let you experience it firsthand so you don’t leave any regrets in life.”
“You…”
Liang Qinian glared at him furiously. The smug smile on his face instantly vanished, leaving only a chest full of impotent rage. Furthermore, he couldn’t do anything to this man!
The other party’s tactic of turning the tables was truly infuriating, yet it was impossible to find any flaws in it. He felt as if a vulnerability was tightly gripped in someone else’s hand, making him uncomfortable everywhere.
Just what kind of people was he running into? He had never seen anyone so bizarre; he was simply unlucky for eight lifetimes!
If it weren’t for his usually good temper and strong endurance, he estimated he would have long since thrown several punches at this man surnamed Lu, rather than being angered by him!
Seeing him crossing his arms and sulking, Lu Huaishen’s thin lips slowly pulled into an arc that was both righteous and wicked. His deep, ocean-like eyes sparkled with a hint of excitement.
He didn’t know why, but he just loved seeing Liang Qinian simultaneously trying to challenge him and yet being helplessly bullied by him. It was truly fun and endlessly amusing.
He tried his best to suppress the undercurrent of that unknown emotion surging in his heart. Reaching out a finger, he lightly flicked Liang Qinian’s forehead while the other was caught off guard. Then, acting as if nothing had happened, he strode forward on his own, ordering in a punchable tone:
“What ‘you’? Bodyguard Liang, hurry up and get over here.”
Liang Qinian stood frozen in place, seemingly unable to process what had just happened. He only felt an icy-cool sensation on his forehead rapidly dissipating.
He looked at the man ahead—a man walking steadily with his coat draped over his arm—and shook his head in extreme exasperation. Then, without hesitation, he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
Noticing the youth hadn’t followed, Lu Huaishen immediately halted. He quickly turned around and hurriedly ran after him, shouting:
“Hey! As a subordinate, how can you abandon your boss?”
…
Underground Casino, Private Room.
Jian An knelt before the man. Shifting his gaze, he looked through tear-blurred eyes at Zhou Manxiang, who lay on the floor, clinging to her last breath.
In the next second, he unhesitatingly slammed his forehead heavily against the concrete floor. The knock was loud, leaving a bright red mark on the tiles, and a wave of pain instantly washed over him.
But amidst the pain was an even deeper sense of sorrow and despair. This feeling was like suffering in a frying pan for a long time, finally making it out, only to have it forcibly snatched away again. It was suffocating.
He kowtowed, oblivious to the pain. Once, twice, three times—countless times. Tears flowed like a spring. His voice was nearly heartbreaking as he continuously pleaded:
“Songting… I beg you, please save my mom? She really can’t hold on anymore… I can’t just watch her die in front of me… I’m begging you…!”
The voices of the people around rose and fell, incredibly noisy, but his ears could no longer hear them. He continuously repeated the same sentence like a machine devoid of emotion.
He had already made up his mind. If Ji Songting refused to save Zhou Manxiang, he would kowtow here until his head was broken and bleeding, until he died. Since he was powerless to save his mother, he might as well follow her and die together.
Never expecting that the other party would lower himself to such an extent for someone who didn’t even put him in her eyes, Ji Songting felt extremely disappointed. His heart twitched fiercely.
Listening to the bang, bang sounds of the forehead striking the floor, each louder than the last, his unmoved expression began to show traces of emotion. Yet, seeing Jian An go to such lengths for Zhou Manxiang made him feel irritated and displeased.
His heart was exceptionally conflicted and complicated right now. On one hand, he wanted the person to unconditionally obey him, to become a possession he could control anytime and anywhere. But on the other hand, he deeply loathed seeing that person show even a sliver of kindness to anyone other than him.
Xiao Wang, who usually only acted as Ji Songting’s driver, didn’t know that Jian An was also so lowly and tortured within the Ji household. Feeling somewhat shattered and unable to bear it, he advised:
“Ahem, President Ji, Mr. Jian is bleeding. If he keeps kowtowing like this, he might go into shock from excessive blood loss.”
Hearing this, Ji Songting snapped out of his chaotic thoughts, and his tightly clenched fingers slowly relaxed. He hurriedly looked at the youth on the floor who was still continuously pleading.
He frowned irritably, a trace of gloom flashing in his eyes. Immediately, he extended a black leather shoe, stepping on the bloodstain to block Jian An’s descending forehead. His voice was impatient as he said:
“Enough. Your mother won’t die. I agree to save her. But you had better not forget: you are never to mention the word ‘divorce’ again. Otherwise…”
Under Jian An’s disbelieving yet slightly hopeful gaze, he withdrew his foot. A cold, sinister smile flashed across the corners of his mouth. With a threatening tone, he said, “Then I can no longer guarantee your mother’s life or death.”
Finally hearing these words, Jian An gasped for air with difficulty. His body suddenly went limp, and he slumped onto the floor. It was only because Xiao Wang gently supported his back that he didn’t completely fall over.
Ji Songting placed a single hand on the back of his neck, lightly rolling it, and said in a deep voice: “Xiao Wang, go over there.”
“Understood, President Ji.”
Xiao Wang nodded and walked toward the distance.
Jian An closed his eyes heavily. His entire being felt as if a massive burden had been lifted. When he slowly opened them again, fresh blood trickled down his temple, soaking everything before his eyes in red.
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