Cat 240: The Rescue

Chapter 240: The Rescue

The people living in the Cheng residence were no fewer than those in the Liu residence.

After turning back into a cat, Yan Jiyun tailed the party—know both yourself and the enemy, and you will be victorious in every battle.

That afternoon, he’d learned from Yang Er that Cheng Liang had four elder sisters, all daughters of the old master’s wife. Because of this, Cheng Liang was often ostracized, but as the only son, the old master was still inclined to entrust him with the family business. Still, the family fortune had largely come from the wife’s family, and the old master had never intended to hand everything over to Cheng Liang. His partiality for his son was always balanced with consideration for his wife; some holdings were assigned to the daughters to manage together, though on the surface, Cheng Liang represented the family. In truth, Cheng Liang was only a tool for the Chengs—needed as a son to save face for the old man, nothing more.

Truly, every family has its own difficulties.

After Cheng Liang was burned to death, everyone in the Cheng residence, aside from Cheng Xueying, probably felt secretly relieved.

Where the family fortune would ultimately end up remained uncertain.

With the diagram from the Chengs in hand, only the task involving Cheng Xueying remained. Without a clear grasp of the Chengs’ relationships, one couldn’t truly understand Cheng Xueying’s predicament, nor discern his real reason for marrying into the Liu family.

Yan Jiyun wasn’t worried about Liu Jingxi’s ability to explain their presence—he wasn’t a fool, and Cheng Xueying was sharp as well. At a moment when the entire Cheng family seemed poised to destroy him, anyone who reached out a helping hand would be remembered for life. A gift in adversity always outshone favors given in easier times.

The Chengs assembled in the main hall to ostensibly discuss Cheng Liang’s funeral arrangements, but in fact, their meeting had nothing to do with his last rites.

At the head of the room sat the old master, below him the four Cheng sisters and their husbands, as well as children of age to join such discussions—including Song Kai, who’d only just been dragged back from his lover’s lodge.

Yan Jiyun slipped in through a side door of the hall. On either side were separate spaces, one for tea, the other for council. No lights were on for this gathering; he hid beneath a chair, perfectly placed to observe everyone’s expressions and easily pick out who was who.

By now, they were quarreling over who would manage the family business in the future.

Second Aunt declared, “Father, you don’t know—Song Kai just managed to offend Master Jiu. We were about to sign a contract, and he botched the whole thing. We lost a significant partnership because of him!”

Song Kai’s mother, the First Aunt, defended him, “Song Kai’s still young, still learning. Besides, he wasn’t the project lead—if the deal fell through, the fault lies with the person in charge, not Song Kai.”

Second Aunt snapped, “All Song Kai knows is how to eat, drink, and fool around. If the Cheng family business falls into his hands, he’ll drive us to ruin soon enough!”

Fourth Aunt, younger than the others, examined her freshly manicured nails. “But we don’t have any sons left. Now Cheng Liang is gone—what will we do with the part he used to manage?”

Second Aunt, the most forceful, declared, “Obviously, his projects will have to be divided among us all. We need to help each other and grow the company.”

Third Aunt, serene in appearance with prayer beads dangling from her wrist, but mercenary in tone, interjected, “What about the shares? I remember Cheng Liang had a stake in the business. Now that he’s gone and left no son, that should pass to us, right?”

At that moment, a cold, derisive laugh cut through their heated debate.

“My father’s shares, of course, will be inherited by me!”

It was Cheng Xueying who entered, his grief for his father packed away, his eyes blazing hatred at everyone present, as if he could hurl knives at any of them.

Second Aunt barked, “You’re a married woman. How can you inherit your father’s shares?”

Cheng Xueying sneered, “Aren’t all four aunts here married women as well?” His words left the others speechless. “At least my surname is still Cheng, while your sons are all surnamed otherwise! You’ve all been married for years; I, on the other hand, am newly widowed, with no ties of affection to my husband’s family—not like you, who have borne sons and daughters for your in-laws. If you get the Cheng family fortune, it’ll only be used to subsidize your husband’s clan. Who would think of the Chengs anymore? Me inheriting my father’s estate is entirely justified.”

This speech seemed to awaken the old master, who’d been silent in the seat of honor.

Yan Jiyun felt like he was watching a thrilling family drama, not some horror scenario as he’d expected.

Yet, whatever his confidence, Cheng Xueying stood alone. As the Chengs’ second daughter, she hadn’t even controlled her own marriage; her words alone would not immediately awe everyone—at best, they’d leave them uncomfortable.

First Aunt said, “Xueying, we have eaten more salt than you have rice. Your father just died. The family needs to oversee his funeral. After your husband’s burial tomorrow, return and help settle your father’s affairs.”

Amid all their bickering, nothing was truly resolved, but Cheng Xueying had at least made his fury known, forcing everyone there to reassess him.

With a glacial face, Cheng Xueying said, “We’ll see.”

Yan Jiyun found him rather self-assured, though he doubted whether he stood any chance against the rest.

Whether Cheng Liang had been plotted against by the Cheng family was still unclear. But it made little sense for the sisters to move against him at such a critical moment; after all, the family business had always been run by Cheng Liang, and their own spending depended on the same coffers. Now the family head was dead, business below would naturally be affected as well.

In truth, so long as Cheng Xueying stayed at home, the others didn’t see her as any threat—her warnings went in one ear and out the other.

Yan Jiyun realized he only needed to follow Cheng Xueying; he himself didn’t have to do much at all.

But this all felt like plot unfolding.

Cheng Xueying looked pale, forced to spar with the family at every turn; it was no easy burden.

After delivering his pointed words, he left the main hall, clearly not expecting to win instant victory—he merely had to keep them from getting what they wanted too quickly.

It was obvious Cheng Xueying was no pushover—like Liu Jingxi, he played the fool to hide viciousness.

Just as he was leaving, Second Aunt muttered under her breath: “Jinx.”

Cheng Xueying froze, but pretended not to hear and walked on.

Yan Jiyun felt his investigation had not been in vain. With Cheng Xueying’s father dead but no sign of his mother, he wondered if this absence had something to do with Second Aunt’s words. The doctor in the hospital had mentioned the madam, but in all the time since arriving at the Chengs, he’d never seen her. He recalled a servant saying the madam had fainted after rescuing Cheng Liang and had yet to regain consciousness. A woman sharp enough to raise her son as a daughter must be both decisive and fiercely protective.

The depths of the Chengs might be even greater than he’d guessed—a true vipers’ den.

Still, what was the real reason for Cheng Xueying’s marriage into the Liu family? The system’s quest had not progressed at all. The Chengs’ motive for marrying him off was only part of the story; if he truly objected, Cheng Liang wouldn’t have agreed.

He was deep in the heart of the Cheng house, yet still hadn’t unraveled the core secret.

After leaving the main hall, Cheng Xueying returned to his own courtyard. By this time, Cheng Liang’s body had been carried away. The coffin once made for the old master now had to suffice, since a new one couldn’t be prepared in time; the house staff moved swiftly to hang funeral banners.

Returning to his compound, Cheng Xueying entered another room, where he saw a woman lying unconscious, her head swathed in bandages. His face grew even darker.

Yan Jiyun felt the fury radiating off him, his own heart cheering him on—Come on, destroy the Chengs!

Before long, the maid who’d accompanied him returned and whispered a few words in his ear.

“Miss, Qian Wu has arrived. He brings news: the master’s death may be tied to something he’s discovered.”

“Let’s go see him.”

Who was Qian Wu?

Yan Jiyun followed once again. Hidden in darkness, no one ever noticed his presence.

In the drawing room stood a man in plain gray clothes.

“Miss.”

Yan Jiyun remembered this voice—he had been the one who reported on Song Kai’s doings at the Chengs’ company, back at the rear gate.

“Have you found anything important regarding my father?”

“I talked with the household staff. Oddly, those scheduled to serve in the master and madam’s courtyard today were all reassigned.”

“And then? No one saw anything?”

“No one knows how the fire started. But around five in the afternoon, the driver said the master went to see Master Jiu.”

“Jiu? My father went to clean up Song Kai’s mess?”

“It seems not. He went out discreetly and came back in high spirits. He even told the driver that whatever you did from now on, your future would be secure.”

The cold hardness in Cheng Xueying’s eyes wavered; he knew that his father had always been thinking of him, clearing a path for him.

“So, you mean my father went to see Master Jiu, and someone immediately wanted him dead? Was it someone in the family? Who else knew he’d gone to see Master Jiu?”

Who else knew?

Yan Jiyun puzzled over this as well—was someone in the Cheng household monitoring Cheng Liang’s every move?

Yet he himself had been there; Jiu and Cheng Liang’s conversation should’ve been private.

Wait—Jiu had announced news of the treasure map!

Could it be that someone else in the Chengs knew about the treasure, realized Cheng Liang had visited Jiu, and used the opportunity to get rid of him? They hadn’t killed him with their own hands but by proxy.

If Cheng Liang was the victim—then who was the killer?

Cheng Xueying was still searching for answers when four of the Cheng’s security men suddenly appeared.

“Second Miss, the old master requests your presence.”

Yan Jiyun sensed their hostility; their manner was outright menacing.

Cheng Xueying’s survival instincts were razor-sharp; his hand tightened on the back of a chair, ready to fight at any moment.

“I’m not going.”

“Then don’t blame us for being rough,” the scar-faced leader said. “Take these two away—the old master wants to see the second miss alone.”

At that, Yan Jiyun slipped outside, regained his human shape, and called out to Liu Jingxi, who was hiding behind a tree.

“Cousin, are we rescuing her or not?”

Liu Jingxi startled. “Where the hell did you come from?”

Yan Jiyun pulled him along. “Never mind me—third cousin-in-law’s about to be kidnapped!”

Liu Jingxi remained composed, “I’m not blind. If we go over there, we’ll only make things harder. If we’re found out and they want to handle it privately, no one will ever know what became of us. Best be careful.”

Yan Jiyun conceded, “Good point.”

As they watched, two burly men had already taken Cheng Xueying away.

Once again, the pair tailed them stealthily.

But was this truly the old master’s will? Where were they taking Cheng Xueying?