Su Family.
Su Yang sat on the sofa with a dazed gaze. For Su Yang, who had immersed himself in research for decades, his life had been dedicated to his work.
Su Yang had few people he cared about in his lifetime, but his grandson Su Xin was certainly one of them. Su Yang’s son had died young, and Su Xin had essentially been raised by him single-handedly. Apart from his research career, Su Xin was everything to him.
From childhood to adulthood, Su Yang had always indulged Su Xin’s every request. Even if Su Xin occasionally did something immoral, Su Yang saw it as only natural. After all, he was Su Yang’s grandson, and no one could touch him.
In Su Yang’s eyes, though Su Xin was sometimes arrogant and conceited, this was simply the pride of youth.
Once, Su Xin took a fancy to a girl at school and, failing to win her over, found an opportunity to force himself on her. Afterwards, the police and the girl’s parents came knocking. Though Su Yang disapproved of Su Xin’s actions, he was still his grandson. For this, he set aside his pride as an elder and used his connections to resolve the matter.
Su Yang knew that doing so might ruin his grandson, but so what? Su Xin was his grandson; if he did not cover for him, who would?
Su Yang clearly remembered that from then on, Su Xin not only failed to reflect on his behaviour but instead believed his grandfather had vast influence, and he grew even bolder in doing as he pleased, never considering the consequences.
Su Yang knew Su Xin had gone astray, and if this continued, he would eventually bring down calamity. Thus, he endured the heartache and sent Su Xin abroad, hoping the experience would change his character.
During the three years Su Xin was away, Su Yang thought of him constantly. Finally, after three years, Su Xin returned. Seeing him after so long, Su Yang felt Su Xin had changed greatly and believed he had shed his bad habits.
Thus, Su Yang took Su Xin to various events. As a renowned research professor, Su Yang was respected worldwide, and people from all walks treated him with deference.
Su Yang had no idea that Su Xin had not changed abroad, and upon returning, seeing his grandfather’s esteemed status, he felt even more convinced of his grandfather’s extraordinary power. He began using Su Yang’s name to swindle and deceive.
It was at one such gathering that Su Xin spotted Hu Yuanyuan and was captivated by her stunning beauty, vowing to make her his.
At that time, Su Xin found a cooperation plan between Hu Yuanyuan and Su Yang in his grandfather’s study. He saw his chance: the beauty had a weakness in his grandfather. Thus, he devised a plan to obtain her—by using Su Yang’s technology to invest in her Xiangfeng Investment Company. Once a shareholder, he could legitimately enter the company and, being close at hand, win her heart with his charm.
That was when Su Xin approached Su Yang with his plan. Su Yang had a deep impression of Hu Yuanyuan as a woman of exquisite beauty and brilliant mind. If she became his granddaughter-in-law, he would approve wholeheartedly. Besides, to him, this was a trivial favour; with his research expertise, Hu Yuanyuan surely would not refuse.
Little did Su Yang know that what he saw as a minor matter would bring Su Xin unprecedented consequences.
When Su Yang learned Su Xin had gone mad, he refused to believe it. He thought the doctors were joking. This was his grandson, his only grandson, who was meant to care for him in old age.
But in the hospital, after repeated examinations, no matter how much Su Yang denied it, Su Xin had indeed gone mad.
Su Xin’s madness struck Su Yang a heavy blow. He wandered in a daze until Su Xin’s death, when he finally snapped out of it, regretting his failure to watch over him.
But the dead could not be revived, and no amount of regret helped. The immense shock left Su Yang despondent.
*Tap, tap, tap…*
Footsteps approached, but Su Yang did not look up. Today was Su Xin’s funeral, and many had come to pay respects, but he had no interest in them.
“Old Su.”
A voice sounded near Su Yang’s ear. From the tone, the speaker was a young man, but Su Yang remained unmoved. As the saying goes, no sorrow exceeds that of a dead heart; now he only wished to end his days, with no other thoughts.
“Old Su, I have something to discuss with you,” the young voice said again.
Seeing no reaction from Su Yang, it continued, “Old Su, it’s about Su Xin.”
Su Yang’s lips twitched, and he looked up at the man. He was very young, probably in his twenties.
“Who are you? What relation do you have to Su Xin?” Su Yang thought he might be one of Su Xin’s friends. Among those present, aside from relatives and close friends, there were only a few of Su Xin’s acquaintances, and he had not seen this young man before.
“I’m Su Xin’s good mate,” the young man replied. “Old Su, I’m Xu Yong. Su Xin often spoke of you. You’re the person I admire most in my life, but it’s a pity we meet here today.”
Su Yang sighed. This Xu Yong seemed sensible; under normal circumstances, he would chat with him, but now…
“What do you want?” Su Yang asked indifferently.
“Old Su, it’s about Su Xin,” Xu Yong said, glancing around. “Old Su, perhaps we should find a quiet place to talk properly. This isn’t suitable.”
“What’s unsuitable about here?” Su Yang asked, his expression displeased.
“Old Su, it’s about the cause of Su Xin’s death,” Xu Yong lowered his voice. “There’s something suspicious about Su Xin’s death. Don’t you find it strange, Old Su?”
Su Yang’s pupils contracted, his face changing as he said gravely, “What are you implying?”
Xu Yong replied, “Old Su, don’t you think Su Xin’s death is odd? Why would a healthy young man like him go mad and jump to his death? He was murdered. Don’t you want revenge, Old Su?”
Su Yang’s expression shifted. “Is that true?”
“Old Su, let’s move to another place to discuss,” Xu Yong said, eyeing the people around.
Su Yang nodded. “Follow me.” With that, he led Xu Yong to the study.
Xu Yong watched Su Yang’s back, a smile curling at his lips.
They soon reached the study. As soon as they entered, Su Yang asked urgently, “What did you say earlier? Su Xin was murdered? Who did it? Why target Su Xin?”
“Old Su, do you think someone like Su Xin would go mad for no reason? Haven’t you suspected anything? He was your grandson,” Xu Yong countered with a series of questions instead of a direct answer.
Indeed, why would healthy Su Xin go mad?
Su Yang paused. He had suspected something, but the whirlwind of events, especially from madness to death in just two days, left no time for doubt. Now, prompted by Xu Yong, he realised that no one knew his grandson better than he did. Though sometimes arrogant, Su Xin would not go mad without cause.
“Do you know the reason?” Su Yang asked Xu Yong.
“Old Su, did Su Xin mention Xiangfeng Investment Company to you recently?” Xu Yong asked.
Su Yang nodded. “Su Xin fancied the company’s president, Hu Yuanyuan, and wanted to invest in it. How does this relate to Xiangfeng? Could Su Xin’s matter involve Hu Yuanyuan?”
“No, no, Old Su, this has nothing to do with Hu Yuanyuan,” Xu Yong shook his head.
“Then what does Xiangfeng have to do with it?” Su Yang asked, puzzled.
“Because Su Xin’s matter is tied to Xiangfeng Investment Company,” Xu Yong said, looking at the shocked Su Yang. “Old Su, Su Xin was driven mad by someone. Do you know Xiangfeng has a vice president named Li Feng?”
“I’ve heard of him,” Su Yang nodded. If not for Li Feng’s intervention last time, he might have helped Su Xin invest, and perhaps Su Xin would have won Hu Yuanyuan by now.
“Could Su Xin’s matter relate to this Li Feng?” Su Yang asked involuntarily.
“Precisely. Su Xin’s death is closely linked to Li Feng—or rather, Li Feng killed Su Xin,” Xu Yong said, a cold glint in his eyes.
