Qin Rui couldn’t fathom what Qin Shou meant by suddenly asking about his relationship with Su Qingwen.
Had he discovered something, or was it just a simple test?
Just as his mind wavered, another piece of news arrived, Song Qing was gone.
For years, Song Qing had been like a bloodsucking leech, holding Qin Rui’s lifeline, binding them tightly together on a single rope.
Every month, at this time, it was when Qin Rui would send money to Song Qing.
Song Qing was cautious; he didn’t accept bank transfers, only cash, and the person picking up the money was different each time, with the location constantly changing.
They had set the pick-up spot for the beginning of this month, but the time had passed, and Song Qing still hadn’t appeared.
Something must have happened to Song Qing.
Song Qing was a greedy man; just seeing how he’d clung to Qin Rui over the years, even risking danger, showed how much he loved money.
Such a person would never suddenly change his ways and forgo a large sum of money. Unless something had happened to him.
Over the years, Qin Rui had never forgotten what he had done.
Even though his elder brother had been forced to swallow his anger under the dual pressure from their father and the family, Qin Rui had never truly felt at ease about him.
Qin Feng lived a low-key life; no one knew what he was thinking.
And Qin Shou was so grown up now; it was hard to guarantee that he wouldn’t bring up the past.
The more Qin Rui thought about it, the more he felt his guess might be correct.
Thinking of Qin Shou’s attitude today, Qin Rui felt a chill in his heart.
Qin Shou must have known something.
Song Qing’s sudden disappearance must be related to those two, father and son!
Qin Rui’s hands trembled as he lit a cigarette.
Wang Ruo had been dead for so many years, and these two still wouldn’t let him go.
In that case, he wouldn’t be blamed for being ruthless.
A week passed quickly.
Qin Shou occasionally paid attention to the movements in the suburbs of Beijing until Lin Xiao sent news that Song Qing couldn’t hold out anymore and had finally spoken.
Qin Shou curled his lips, stroking the cat in his arms, his voice gentle, “Son, Daddy’s going out for a bit. Your food is ready. Remember to eat tonight.”
Su Yu had been clinging to Qin Shou all day.
Since he woke up this morning, his eyelids had been twitching wildly, and his heart felt inexplicably heavy.
It was only when he was in Qin Shou’s arms that he felt a little better.
So, upon hearing that Qin Shou was going out, Su Yu became unhappy.
His four paws tightly gripped Qin Shou, impossible to pull off.
Qin Shou looked at the little “ancestor” on him, his head aching, and patiently tried to negotiate.
“Daddy has an urgent matter. I’ll just be out for a little while and be right back, okay?”
“Meow-aow!”
Su Yu lay on his owner’s chest, rubbing affectionately against his owner’s neck, emitting soft purrs.
Qin Shou: …
Unable to do anything about the fuss, Qin Shou had no choice but to take the little “ancestor” with him, feeling like he had the potential to be an incompetent ruler.
Su Yu hung triumphantly on his owner.
The current SuYu Xiaoyu had already mastered the art of cuteness, dealing with his “stupid” owner was simply foolproof and incredibly easy.
It was already evening when they arrived at the villa in the Beijing suburbs.
Lin Xiao and his men were waiting at the entrance.
Qin Shou walked inside, trying to gently coax the “cat master” off him.
Today they were interrogating Song Qing, and Qin Shou didn’t want Cubby to see certain things.
Su Yu clung steadfastly to Qin Shou, completely unmoved.
“Cubby, be good. Daddy has to do something important.”
His ears twitched sensitively as air brushed past them.
Su Yu hesitated, looking at his owner.
Qin Shou persevered, “After I’m done, I’ll take you to play, okay?”
Finally, Su Yu was persuaded by his owner, obediently released his claws, and was taken by Lin Xiao, who was waiting nearby.
Qin Shou turned to go to the basement.
Su Yu stretched his neck long, only slumping down once his owner’s figure was out of sight.
What was with this feeling of deep affection and lingering farewell, as if they were parting for eighteen miles?
Lin Xiao tried to tease Su Yu with a hot dog.
Su Yu rolled his eyes, glanced at Lin Xiao, and turned his head away in disdain.
That cat’s gaze really made him want to hit it.
Song Qing was weakly tied and kneeling on the ground, looking even more dishevelled than last time.
Qin Shou sat in a chair about a meter away, calmly looking at Song Qing.
“Speak.”
Song Qing lay on the ground, listless, “What do you want to know?”
Qin Shou was impatient, “Still have the strength to play dumb? It seems you haven’t been hungry enough.”
Recalling the treatment he had received these past few days, Song Qing trembled.
In just half a month, his once bulging beer belly had deflated.
If he continued to starve, he felt he truly wouldn’t make it.
His voice hoarse, Song Qing said, “I’ll talk.”
He licked his chapped lips, head lowered, seemingly pondering where to begin.
“At that time, I had just been dismissed from a psychology clinic, so I simply opened my own studio. Qin Rui, that’s when he came looking for me. He gave me a sum of money and told me to help him with a favor.”
Song Qing cautiously lifted his eyelids to gauge Qin Shou’s expression.
Seeing no anger on his face, he felt relieved and continued, “I didn’t know what I was supposed to do at first. Qin Rui only said he needed me to help treat someone. Later, he took me to the Su family, and then I realized that he wanted me to see Mrs. Qin.”
“Initially, it was normal psychological counseling. Mrs. Qin, although her condition wasn’t great, it wasn’t a big problem back then…”
“Why did my mother become like that?”
His guess was correct; his mother hadn’t become like that on her own.
A wave of hatred surged in Qin Shou’s heart, but he could only suppress it and listen to him continue.
Song Qing stammered, “Later, Qin Rui gave me an incense. Every time I did psychological counseling, I had to light it, saying it could help relax the mind. I already felt there was a problem then, but having taken the money, I couldn’t go back on it, so I had to grit my teeth and continue.”
“From then on, Mrs. Qin’s condition worsened. Until later…”
Song Qing’s voice grew lower and lower, not daring to mention Qin Shou’s sore spot.
The room returned to silence, with only the gentle rise and fall of breathing.
Song Qing’s forehead was covered in more and more sweat; he was practically collapsing on the ground.
“Is that all?”
Song Qing quickly nodded, but he didn’t dare to look at Qin Shou.
“I thought you were a smart man,” Qin Shou’s voice was low, as if suppressing immense anger.
Cold sweat drenched Song Qing’s clothes, but he still repeated his earlier words, “I really only know this much.”
Knowing he probably wouldn’t get anything else out of him today, Qin Shou got up and left, “Keep him locked up. Same as before.”
Song Qing behind him struggled forward, begging, “I’ve told you everything, please let me go.”
But Qin Shou ignored him, walking away.
Su Yu lay on the sofa, eyes fixed on the stairs.
The moment he saw Qin Shou, he got up and ran over.
Looking up and meowing at Qin Shou, Su Yu was very displeased that his owner had left him alone for so long.
With a light chuckle, Qin Shou picked up the affectionate feline “majesty” and quickly pecked Su Yu’s damp nose.
Su Yu instantly fell silent, looking at his owner with condemnation.
You’re cheating, do you know that!
Su Yu glanced left and right, not daring to look at Qin Shou, feeling hot all over, as if his fur was about to burn.
Lin, the special assistant, who witnessed the whole scene: …
Just couldn’t watch. Will the BOSS kill me to silence me?
Being with the ruler is like being with a tiger; one wrong move and you see the BOSS’s hidden side.
The ice-cold CEO only melts for you – the thought alone is cringeworthy.
Lin Xiao shivered, pretending to be part of the background.
***
Ultimately, Special Assistant Lin’s life was spared; he wasn’t silenced by the BOSS.
The BOSS was too busy being lovey-dovey with the little imp and didn’t even notice the background board.
Thinking about it, it was quite bitter.
Driving home in a good mood, Qin Shou parked the car, ready to take Cubby to the supermarket for some groceries.
Su Yu’s eyelids started twitching again.
The entire cat was somewhat nervously clinging to Qin Shou’s arm, cautiously looking left and right.
Animal instincts are sharp; he wouldn’t be this agitated for no reason.
Pulling himself together, Su Yu vigilantly observed his surroundings, carried into the supermarket by his unsuspecting owner.
The fridge at home was almost empty, so Qin Shou bought quite a lot this time.
He picked out items while chattering to Su Yu, who was sitting in the shopping cart, a little on edge.
By the time they finished grocery shopping, Su Yu was utterly exhausted.
He had remained vigilant and observed his surroundings throughout, but hadn’t found any danger.
Su Yu thought he might not have slept well the night before and was a bit jumpy.
After paying, Qin Shou, laden with bags, left the supermarket with the cat.
The supermarket wasn’t far from the residential area, and there were fewer people at this hour.
Rows of streetlights stood by the road, their warm yellow glow providing comfort.
Qin Shou had several bags in both hands and no free hand to hold Su Yu.
He could only negotiate with Su Yu, “Cubby, how about you walk home with Daddy today, okay?”
Su Yu looked at the large bags Qin Shou was carrying, feeling a little distressed for him.
He obediently meowed and slowly followed beside his owner.
The streetlights stretched the shadows of the man and the cat.
In the quiet night, it seemed as though only these two were there, relying on each other.
***
The accident happened at that moment.
A speeding truck crashed straight towards Qin Shou.
Qin Shou’s smile froze on his face; he had no time to dodge.
Su Yu shrieked, charging forward fiercely, using all his strength to shove Qin Shou aside.
Qin Shou fell awkwardly to the ground, and the roaring truck barely grazed past him.
On the wide asphalt road, a small figure lay in the middle of the road, the red bloodstain beside it stinging his eyes.
His mind went blank.
Qin Shou walked over dazedly, gently touching the cat on the ground, carefully calling out, “Cubby?”
The empty road was silent.
Not getting the expected response, Qin Shou’s eyes burned.
He couldn’t believe that the Cubby who had just been cuddling with him was now lifeless.
The tall man knelt by the roadside, his voice choked as he called out again and again, “Cubby, Cubby…”
The winter weather was cold, and the small body quickly grew cold.
Qin Shou stayed by its side blankly, mechanically muttering.
A car drove past on the road, emitting a piercing honk.
The honk jolted Qin Shou from his daze.
Seeing the cat lying on the ground, he tenderly took off his coat and gently held the small bundle tightly in his arms.
He devoutly kissed the blood-stained forehead, then picked up the scattered shopping bags, his voice gentle and eerie, “Cubby, be good. Daddy’s taking you home.”