“Because your mother, Cheng Xiran, was far too capable. Back then, the businesses Old Master Qi handed over to Qi Tianxiang were all insignificant. But after Cheng Xiran began helping Qi Tianxiang manage them, they miraculously came back to life and grew steadily over the next five years. Old Master Qi was afraid that if she remained alive, and the Qi family eventually fell into the hands of her son, Qi Huan, it would ultimately end up in Cheng Xiran’s hands.”
“Old Master Qi would never allow that to happen while he was alive. That’s why he used Qi Tianxiang to carry out the plan—killing Cheng Xiran while pinning the blame on his useless son, Qi Tianxiang.”
Upon hearing this, Uncle Ya’s forehead bulged with rage.
Zhou Zerui reached out and pressed a hand against Uncle Ya’s shoulder, shaking his head to signal that he should remain calm. Then he questioned the person on the other end of the call, “You have no proof. How do I know whether what you’re saying is true?”
A soft laugh came from the other end. “Heh. You’ll have to investigate that yourselves. I just don’t want you to remain in the dark.”
“There’s also a USB drive in the package I sent you. It contains a video. You can watch it. Afterward, I advise you not to tell Qi Huan about this. Otherwise, it’ll be difficult for you to avenge Cheng Xiran.”
With that, the person hung up.
Zhou Zerui felt that there was something strange about the caller’s every word. The voice had clearly been altered, apparently to prevent anyone from finding out who he was.
“Uncle Ya, calm down first. We don’t know who that person is, so don’t believe everything he said just yet.”
Uncle Ya picked up the USB drive and hurried to the study. He turned on the computer, inserted the drive, and opened the video.
A middle-aged man appeared on the screen. He was bundled up tightly in a thick down jacket and a hat as someone pushed him out of a sanatorium in a wheelchair. He was then carefully lifted into a car.
Once inside, the middle-aged man removed his hat, revealing his face to the camera.
The image was somewhat blurry because it had been enlarged, but Uncle Ya still recognized that face.
Qi Tianxiang!
Suddenly, the phone that had just been hung up rang again.
Zhou Zerui answered, and the person on the other end immediately said, “Did you see the video? From beginning to end, Qi Huan never intended to deal with his own father, Qi Tianxiang. There’s no way he would ever lay a hand on Qi Tianxiang. You’re dreaming if you think he’ll avenge his mother. How could that possibly happen?”
Zhou Zerui said, “You’re from the Qi family, aren’t you?”
“I told you, who I am isn’t important. I’m only telling you the truth. As for whether you’ll avenge Cheng Xiran after learning the truth, that’s up to you.”
The person hung up again.
Uncle Ya had already regained his composure. He put away the photograph in his hand, then firmly signed:
[If your mother’s car accident truly wasn’t an accident, I will definitely avenge her!]
Zhou Zerui said, “Uncle Ya, I understand how you feel. I don’t even know who my mother is, and I only learned about my own identity yesterday. But if my mother truly didn’t die in an accident and was instead killed as part of someone’s scheme, I won’t let that person off either.”
“But Uncle Ya, the Qi family is far too complicated. We still don’t know whom we can trust, so don’t act rashly, all right?”
“Maybe that person is lying to us simply to turn us against Qi Huan. Maybe he’s telling the truth, but he definitely has ulterior motives as well.”
“Let’s investigate everything thoroughly before we make a decision.”
Uncle Ya nodded and signed: [Fine! But I have one condition: Qi Huan must not find out about this. I don’t trust him!]
Zhou Zerui nodded. “I understand, Uncle Ya. Right now, apart from you, I don’t trust anyone either.”
…
After ending the call, Qi Feifan removed the newly purchased SIM card from his phone and cut it in half with a pair of scissors.
Qi Xiuyuan, who was standing nearby, asked in surprise, “Brother, why did you destroy the card? What if they need to contact you later?”
Qi Feifan casually tossed the destroyed card into the nearby trash can. “Because I have no intention of contacting Qi Huan’s biological younger brother or that man called Uncle Ya again.”
Qi Xiuyuan was puzzled. “Why? If our plan fails this time, Old Master will probably still give the position of heir to that cripple, Qi Huan.”
Qi Feifan glanced at him. “All we need to do is plant the seeds of suspicion toward Qi Huan and Old Master in the minds of Qi Huan’s biological younger brother and Uncle Ya.”
“I believe that since Uncle Ya was willing to risk his life to save Qi Huan’s biological younger brother back then, he must have had a deep bond with Cheng Xiran. Once he learns that Cheng Xiran’s death wasn’t an accident, he definitely won’t let the matter go.”
“Cheng Xiran died so many years ago. By now, there’s no way to find out exactly what happened to her. Once the seeds of suspicion have been planted, it’ll be very difficult for Old Master to prove his innocence.”
“If that man called Uncle Ya tries to avenge Cheng Xiran and uses Qi Huan to find an opportunity to make a move against Old Master, heh, Qi Huan will have a hard time clearing himself of responsibility. When that happens, Old Master will have to think very carefully about whether to give Qi Huan the position of heir!”
After listening to his elder brother Qi Feifan’s analysis, Qi Xiuyuan suddenly understood. “As expected of you, Brother. What a brilliant plan.”
Then he hesitated. “But what if something really happens to Old Master?”
Qi Feifan smiled indifferently. “Silly little brother, wouldn’t it be even better for us if something happened to Old Master? Without Old Master’s protection, do you think Qi Huan could withstand a joint assault from me and Qi Shaoxiong?”
Qi Xiuyuan came to his senses. “That’s right! If something really happens to Old Master, then he won’t be the one deciding who inherits the Qi family!”
It could be said that his elder brother’s plan truly killed two birds with one stone.
Qi Feifan pushed up his glasses and smiled without saying a word.
From here on, all he had to do was wait and reap the benefits.
…
On the way to pick up Jiang Youli and take her with him to the residential complex where Zhou Zerui and Uncle Ya lived, Qi Huan asked Cheng Jing, “Did anyone suspicious visit the complex I arranged for Zhou Zerui and Uncle Ya today?”
Cheng Jing replied while driving, “The people under me said that someone followed you and Miss Jiang all the way yesterday. It was someone from Long Yuan’s side. This morning, a local express courier went to the complex and delivered a same-city package to Zhou Zerui.”
“I had the courier’s information investigated. He’s a veteran courier who’s been employed for five years. He wasn’t someone from the Long family disguised as a courier.”
After hearing this, Qi Huan remained calm, but he had already begun analyzing the situation.
Long Yuan had most likely sent someone to follow him yesterday to confirm his suspicion—to determine whether Zhou Zerui was his biological younger brother.
Now that Long Yuan had confirmed Zhou Zerui’s identity, he would certainly make his next move.
Zhou Zerui and Uncle Ya had only just moved into the residential complex he had arranged for them, yet they had received a same-city delivery the very next day. That alone was highly suspicious.
Who had sent it, and what had they mailed to Zhou Zerui or Uncle Ya?
Was it Long Yuan, who regarded him as a sworn enemy?
Or Qi Shaoxiong, who had already suffered defeat once?
Or perhaps Qi Feifan, who had yet to make a move?
Whoever it was, and whatever they had sent, it definitely wasn’t anything good.
Qi Huan turned to look at the scenery outside the car window and smiled silently. Heh, they were moving pretty fast.
Hopefully, whoever came next would let him enjoy, just a little, the thrill of being thwarted before he could claim the position of heir.
