Jiang Lian turned her head when she heard the sound, frowning deeply, "Who let you in?"
"Me," Jiang BaiYan sat on the window sill, raising his hand very obediently, like a good boy answering the teacher's question in class, "Chairman Lian, it's me."
Jiang Lian's long eyebrows twitched: "What are you up to? This is not your place to speak."
"I think it is," Jiang BaiYan slowly opened his mouth, "The chairman's will stated very clearly that any child with blood ties to him cannot execute the will if they have doubts about his death. Things must be investigated clearly before executing the will."
He looked at the man with white hair sitting on the single sofa: "Lawyer Cai, am I right?"
Cai Lawyer was nearly fifty years old, wearing square framed glasses: "Yes. Madam Jiang, Miss Jiang Lian, Mr. Jiang Qi, Mr. Jiang Ou, Mr. Jiang Xun, and Miss Jiang Xue, you can all request an investigation."
Jiang Ou couldn't help but say: "Do two illegitimate children have the right to say things?"
"According to the law and Mr. Jiang's wishes, children born out of wedlock also have inheritance rights," Cai Lawyer still spoke in a business-like tone.
He was the chairman's lawyer and had served the Jiang family for over ten years. He was also the executor of Jiang Guangze's will. Jiang Ou couldn't get angry so he turned his spearhead towards Jiang BaiYan: "Go where it's cool, you have no business here."
Jiang BaiYan blinked innocently and asked aggrievedly: "I have doubts about the chairman's death. Since Brother Qi can call his lawyer to investigate, why can't my friend help?"
Jiang Qi glanced at him coldly, with indifference on his face: "Do as you wish." He looked at Jian Jing mockingly, “Your sources are quite accurate."
It was then that Jian Jing said, "You kidnapped my friend, so I came. Is that so strange?"
She had thought it was just an inheritance dispute in a wealthy family and wanted to watch the show. But she didn't expect the plot to escalate directly into a murder case.
"From what you said, Chairman Jiang has died, and he seemed to have died strangely?" Her interest was piqued and she immediately forgot her exhaustion from rushing around all day. "Is the body still there? What was the cause of death?"
Jiang BaiYan said, "It’s still there. I'm not the only one who thinks the chairman's death is suspicious."
"You can investigate if you want," Jiang Lian took charge as the eldest daughter. "But like we said, no information can be leaked out until things are clear. I hope you understand the severity."
Jian Jing raised an eyebrow.
This family reminded her of the Fang family, annoying people in an annoying family.
"Watch how you talk to me," she said slowly. "I hate people ordering me around. The last arrogant jerk is at the bottom of the ocean now."
Jiang Lian's face darkened as her eyes swept toward Jiang BaiYan.
He didn't even glance at her and asked the woman in her thirties instead, "Madam, I'd like to take my friend to see the chairman. Do you mind?"
"Of course not," the beautiful madam had her arm around a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl. Her makeup-free face looked haggard. "You are also the chairman's child."
Jiang BaiYan’s long curving eyebrows rose as he pulled Jian Jing’s sleeve, “Let me take you to the scene.”
Rather than infighting, Jian Jing naturally preferred seeing the scene for herself. She followed him upstairs and asked, “What’s going on? Your agent was so anxious she called me.”
Jiang BaiYan sighed, “It’s a long story.”
--
Four days ago in the morning, he went out to buy groceries but was intercepted halfway by two bodyguards.
They said, "Mr. Jiang Xun, the chairman wants to see you."
Jiang BaiYan politely replied, "I'm very busy recently and don't have time."
"Sorry, please come with us," the two bodyguards didn't waste their breath. No matter how he answered, they carried him away.
Seeing he was clearly outmatched, Jiang BaiYan immediately changed tactics, "Then let me call my agent."
"Sorry," the bodyguard snatched his phone away. "You can't contact anyone externally for now."
Sensing something was wrong, Jiang BaiYan quieted down.
He was secretly put on a private plane and flown directly to this city said to be the best place for recuperation. Secretary Fan was already waiting at the airport to take him straight here.
Things were more serious than he imagined.
It wasn't just the chairman wanting to see his rebellious son on a whim. He was at death's door.
Everyone dies eventually so what if he dies. But the chairman was no ordinary man. His death would leave behind a considerable and complicated fortune.
Jiang BaiYan didn't want his inheritance but the chairman didn't care. He forcibly demanded all his children be present.
And claimed the will would only take effect if everyone was there.
Any absentee could cause the will to become invalid. So no matter how much the Jiang siblings hated Jiang BaiYan, they had no choice but to allow his presence.
After nearly ten years, Jiang BaiYan saw his biological father again.
The chairman didn't have the imposing height he remembered. He was so thin only bones remained, his hair white, breathing with difficulty as he leaned against the headboard.
As Jiang BaiYan walked into the bedroom, their eyes met for an instant.
In that moment, countless memories surged forth.
Jiang BaiYan had a good memory. All the good and bad were etched clearly in his mind.
He vividly remembered how eagerly he had waited for his father to visit, and how his mother had taught him to work hard to please him.
"Dad, I can recite two hundred poems now."
"Dad, the teacher praised me today."
"Dad, I got full marks for my homework."
Like a tail-wagging dog.
How annoying. He hated his past self but couldn't deny the fleeting paternal love the chairman had given also brought happiness.
"Dad," Jiang BaiYan was a brilliant actor. No matter his inner turmoil, his external performance showed only shock and grief. "How could you..."
Before he finished speaking, his eyes were already red. He turned his head, trying hard to swallow his tears, wanting to seem indifferent.
Such a realistic performance, as if he was a child who hadn't returned home in years. Believing he hated his family but still couldn't help worrying for his father.
A trace of gratification flashed in the depths of the chairman's eyes.
He gathered his strength with effort. "Your movies... I watched them." Because of breathing problems, he had to speak in segments, gasping for air.
Jiang BaiYan revealed genuine astonishment.
But Jiang Lian quickly came over, stroking his chest to soothe his breathing and comfort him. "Dad, Jiang Xun is back now. Rest first." She brought the cup to feed him medicine and adjusted the position of his pillow.
With such busyness, the conversation naturally ended.
The chairman's medication had sedatives. He soon became drowsy.
Jiang Lian called for Jiang BaiYan to leave.
The two went to a secluded area and Jiang BaiYan said, "Give me back my phone and I'll leave after seeing him."
"You didn't even have the right to be here," Jiang Lian said lightly. "Dad's kindhearted and insists on seeing you before his death. You should be content and accompany him to the end."
Jiang BaiYan: "I still have work."
She said, "Dad's deteriorating condition can't be leaked for now. Don't wander around or harbor unrealistic thoughts."
"It all comes back to inheritance," Jiang BaiYan grew impatient. "I don't want inheritance, let me go back."
"It's not up to you to decide," Jiang Lian firmly refused.
Jiang BaiYan wondered, "Without me, shouldn't you all be happy? What's the point of keeping me here?"
Jiang Lian gave a cold laugh. "You think we have to recognize you? It was Dad who wanted everyone present before he dies."
Jiang BaiYan understood.
"Jiang Xun, know your place. Don't make trouble," his eldest sister left with a cold warning before going downstairs. The pointed high heels stepped firmly, calves taut, shoulders relaxed - every angle flawless.
It reminded him of Swan Lake he had watched. Graceful posture yet aloof.
As expected, he mused. Even ugly ducklings hate beautiful swans.
Aside from Jiang Lian, he also met his arrogant Second Brother Jiang Qi. He was easier to deal with. Just mutual blindness towards each other's face.
As for Third Brother Jiang Ou, same old. A barrage of trash talk like “bastard” and “crazy old man calling him here” greeted him at first sight.
More interesting to him were Madam Jiang he met for the first time, and Jiang Xue.
Madam Jiang was beautiful and well maintained. She was two years younger than Jiang Lian. She was originally the executive assistant manager of Jiang Water Group and later became the chairman’s special assistant.
During this time, she gave birth to a daughter named Jiang Xue. When Jiang Xue was around five years old, the two got married and she officially became the second Madam Jiang.
But embarrassingly, even after the promotion, in the eyes of Jiang's three siblings, she was still just a mistress and Jiang Xue was just an illegitimate daughter.
The more polite of Jiang's three siblings, such as Jiang Lian, called her "Assistant Yun," while the more blunt ones like Jiang Ou simply called her "Hey" or "That one."
Madam Jiang was alright - she was able to endure all the way until she successfully married into the Jiang family. No matter how she felt inside, she certainly wouldn't easily get into conflicts with others on the surface.
But Jiang Xue was different.
She was born when her elder siblings were already grown up. The official Madam Jiang had died who knows how many years ago, so she completely lacked the self-abasement and moral guilt of an illegitimate daughter. On the contrary, the chairman had a daughter in his old age who he doted on dearly, spoiling her into a arrogant temperament.
"Why can't I see Dad?" That afternoon when Jiang BaiYan arrived, Jiang Xue had already gotten into a fight with Jiang Ou.
She didn't back down at all, aggressively questioning: "Just because you guys get to monopolize Dad, I'm not allowed to see him?"
Jiang Ou sneered coldly: "You're pestering him like this, are you trying to annoy him to death?"
"You're blocking me and my mom, afraid that Dad won't leave enough money for you guys?" Jiang Xue retorted, "Grown adults still eyeing Dad's wallet, shameless."
Jiang BaiYan leaned on the second floor railing, watching with great interest.
Jiang Ou was enraged to the point she almost raised her fist: "What nonsense are you spewing? The ones eyeing the money is obviously you guys, you know that clearly in your heart!"
"Go ahead, hit me if you dare!" Jiang Xue said outright, "I'm going to tell Dad right now, he's not even dead yet but his daughter and wife are being forced to death!"
Jiang Ou was so angry she almost fainted.
At this time, Jiang Qi came out from the study, extremely coldly stating: "Let her go."
"If I go then I go!" Jiang Xue taunted, "What, you think I don't dare?"
"Whatever you wish, what's yours will always be yours, what's not yours, no matter how you try to sow discord it's useless." Jiang Qi said mildly.
He also said to Jiang Ou, "She's just putting on a pity act to get more money, and you're still fighting with her over it? How silly."
Jiang Xue was so angry her face lost all color. She turned and rushed into the chairman's bedroom, not knowing what she said, but came out with red-rimmed eyes.
--
Jian Jing stood still and looked towards Jiang BaiYan: "The scene has arrived, and you've only talked up to here?"
"I'm still introducing the characters," he argued eloquently.
"So are you done with that?" she asked.
Jiang BaiYan: "The main characters are just them, everyone else doesn't have the Jiang surname."
"Then continue later. For now, let me take a look at the scene."
As Jian Jing spoke, she pushed the door open and entered.
