Li Youwei was a member of the Li family—and now she was dead.
The Li family came knocking almost immediately, their speed nothing short of shocking.
Outside the Jian family estate, a group of Li clansmen clamored for justice, demanding the Jians return Li Youwei. Leading the charge were Li Youwei’s birth mother, Sun Ying, and her second uncle, Li Jianqiang.
“Jianqiang… are you sure Youwei is here?” Sun Ying asked uneasily.
After her daughter had offended the Zhao family, the Lis had been furious with her. Though they had threatened to cast her out, Li Jianqiang had assured Sun Ying it was all just for show.
“Eldest sister-in-law, trust me. Youwei is here. But I’m afraid…”
Li Jianqiang’s expression darkened.
Sun Ying’s heart sank. “What do you mean?”
“Before we came, the master said… Youwei was unlikely to make it out alive.”
“No—!”
Sun Ying lunged forward, pounding on the gate. “Give me back my daughter! Jian Fengchun, return her to me!”
Bang! Bang!
“Open this door! Jian Fengchun, hand over my daughter!”
Silence from inside.
Li Jianqiang joined in, shouting, “Jian Fengchun, stop playing deaf!”
Inside the Jian estate, Jian Fengchun stood calmly in the courtyard, flanked by two men in black.
At the noise outside, he glanced at them.
The two men nodded, stepping forward to turn the heavy lock.
Creak—
The wrought-iron gates slowly swung open.
The crowd outside tensed as the entrance was revealed.
“Jian Fengchun, release my daughter now!”
“If my girl has suffered even a scratch, I’ll make you pay! Hand her over, or you’ll regret it!”
Sun Ying’s threats echoed, but the black-clad men behind Jian Fengchun remained stone-faced, as if the commotion didn’t exist.
Jian Fengchun himself hadn’t moved an inch, not even bothering to lift an eyelid.
“Li Youwei attempted to murder my son. I should be the one demanding answers from you.” His voice was icy.
“Lies! My daughter is timid—she’d never hurt anyone! What have you done to her? Did you kill her?” Sun Ying snarled.
“Jian Fengchun, admit it! If Youwei is dead, I’ll make every last one of you pay with your lives!”
“Pay with our lives?” Jian Fengchun threw his head back and laughed, the sound dripping with scorn. “Li Youwei tried to assassinate my son. Letting her live would’ve been mercy. Even if she’s dead, it has nothing to do with the Jian family.”
“You—!” Sun Ying’s face twisted in rage—
Just then, a Li family subordinate rushed over. “Second Master! Madam! We’ve found Miss Youwei’s body!”
The word “body” struck Sun Ying like a blade. She grabbed the man’s arm, nails digging in. “What did you say? Whose body?”
“Miss Youwei’s… remains have been recovered.”
Soon, a corpse was carried forward.
Every Li family member’s gaze locked onto the lifeless figure beneath the white shroud.
Sun Ying trembled violently. “No… Not my Youwei… How could this happen? My baby—!” She collapsed onto the body, wailing in anguish.
The other Lis stood frozen, their expressions shifting rapidly between shock and suspicion.
“Who killed my daughter? WHO KILLED HER?”
“Eldest sister-in-law, calm down. We need answers first,” Li Jianqiang urged, steadying her.
Sun Ying shoved him away, screaming, “HOW CAN I CALM DOWN? MY DAUGHTER IS DEAD! YOUR BROTHER’S ONLY CHILD IS GONE!”
Her legs gave out, and she crumpled to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably.
The others crowded around, examining Li Youwei’s corpse.
The cause of death was clear: she had bashed her skull against a wall.
“Where was she found?”
“An abandoned warehouse nearby.”
Sun Ying’s tear-streaked face snapped up, her eyes burning with hatred as she glared at Jian Fengchun. “YOUR FAMILY MURDERED HER!”
“Without evidence, you will leave now—or face the consequences,” Jian Fengchun said coldly.
Li Jianqiang pulled Sun Ying back, whispering, “Let’s take Youwei home first.”
Though seething, Sun Ying nodded through gritted teeth.
…..
The moment they left, Jian Fengchun dialed Jian Lanxin’s number.
Thirty minutes later, a visibly shaken Jian Lanxin returned home.
The second she stepped into the parlor, her father’s grim stare pinned her in place.
Her pulse spiked. “Dad…?”
Guilt dripped from her voice.
Jian Fengchun was silent for a long moment before speaking. “Did you have anything to do with Li Youwei’s death?”
Jian Lanxin’s heart lurched. “W-What do you mean?”
“Why would you harm her?” His tone turned sharp.
She stumbled back. “I didn’t! Dad, it’s a misunderstanding—just a coincidence!”
“If it were just a coincidence, why would she kill herself?” Jian Fengchun’s gaze bore into her. “Tell me the truth. What did you do?”
This was a matter of life and death.
He refused to let his child be stained by blood.
Under the crushing weight of his stare, Jian Lanxin dropped to her knees, weeping. “Dad, I swear I don’t know why she did it! I never meant to drive her to suicide!”
Jian Fengchun took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm.
He pulled her up, sighing. “I won’t punish you. Just give me one honest answer.”
Jian Lanxin relaxed slightly but remained wary. “I… really had nothing to do with it. Her death isn’t on me.”
“Fine. Go rest.”
As he turned toward his study, he added, “Get some sleep.”
“Okay.”
But the image of Li Youwei’s corpse haunted her. That night, her dreams were anything but peaceful.
Meanwhile, after receiving Jiang Feng’s message, Li Qiao summoned him immediately.
“You’re saying… this symbol will turn Li Youwei into a vengeful ghost after death?” Jiang Feng’s face paled, his eyes wide with horror.
“Li Youwei’s death was orchestrated from the start. Jian Lanxin was set up to take the blame. Tonight—”
“Tonight what?”
A suffocating dread coiled around Jiang Feng’s chest, as if something monstrous was about to break free.
“Something terrible will happen.”
Jiang Feng broke out in a cold sweat. “How? She’s already dead! What more can she do?”
Li Qiao paused, then uttered two chilling words:
“She’ll seek vengeance.”
Jiang Feng jolted, nearly knocking over his teacup.
“T-Then… Master, you have to help! Jian Lanxin is Lanfeng’s sister. He’s still in the hospital—I can’t let his sister die!”
