Chapter Eighty-Two: Haunted House (15)

Hu Nian and the others immediately turned to look at Chen Meng.

Chen Meng was clearly displeased and declared in advance, “I don’t know anything.”

Yet, had she been even slightly more modest, or if she’d tried earnestly to appear wronged, perhaps her words would have held some weight. But unfortunately, she was not one for acting—or perhaps she simply struggled with expressing herself. What showed on her face was nothing but a guilty conscience desperately masked as righteous indignation.

“Let’s hear it, Miss Chen,” Hu Nian said. He had interrogated far more suspects than he could count on his fingers and certainly wasn’t fooled by her protestations.

“I already told you it has nothing to do with me!” Chen Meng shouted a couple of times. Remembering that she had Qian Ji to back her up, she questioned why she should stand here being ordered around. She stood up, visibly irritated. “I said it has nothing to do with me! Stop bothering me. I’m not going to play these childish games with you anymore!”

With that, she turned to leave in a show of bravado—only to feel the cold press of a weapon at the back of her head.

“Miss Chen, try to understand a father’s heart. I only want to avenge my son. I don’t want him to have died in vain,” Hu Nian said, now on the brink of madness. Anyone standing in his way would face real consequences.

“Maniac! You’re supposed to serve the people!” Chen Meng shrieked. “How can you treat your own people this way? I’ll report you, I swear I will!”

Bang! Hu Nian actually fired his gun, though the shot went into the wall. His expression was grave. “Miss Chen, I’m not joking with you.”

“My son, Hu Chai, came to this place for me! He came here to seek a cure for a dying man like me, and now he’s been killed. How do you expect me to keep calm? I came here as myself, no one else—I am only a father now!”

Whether it was the weapon in his hand or the “expert” by his side, both testified to his willingness to abandon his official duties.

“Dying? You’re at death’s door?” Su Man’s words, as ever, were blunt and merciless, striking at the rawest wound.

“Yes. Ever since I saved Hu Chai, my health has only deteriorated. I’ve been to every hospital, but none could diagnose me. Yet I know—my body is finished!” Hu Nian’s voice trembled with emotion. “I’ve accepted this fate, but Hu Chai insisted on coming here to find a way out for me!”

“He died here for a man already doomed. My heart aches—who among you can understand my pain?” His eyes reddened, his voice rasped with grief. “Why wasn’t it one of you instead?”

He was clearly losing control, speaking without restraint.

Realizing this, he wiped at his eyes, forcing his emotions down, then fixed his gaze on Chen Meng. “So today, you must speak.”

Looking at him, something seemed to cross Chen Meng’s mind. She snorted derisively, “You really are pitiful.”

She showed no fear of the weapon, holding her head high. “How do you know your son came here for you? Maybe you’re just deluding yourself. Maybe he tricked you!”

Bang! Another shot rang out, this time grazing her scalp. She felt a chill, reached up, and her hand came away bloody. She shrieked, collapsing to the floor in panic, shouting, “Qian Ji! Qian Ji! Save me!”

Su Man instinctively glanced around, but this time, Qian Ji did not appear immediately.

Hu Nian’s patience had run out. “Miss Chen, this is your last chance!”

Su Man almost wanted to applaud him. Everything was proceeding precisely according to her plan—everything was under control.

“Qian Ji! Qian Ji!” Chen Meng was frantic now, calling even more desperately, but Qian Ji still didn’t show. At last, she relented. “I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you everything I know!”

“He—”

“Sister Chen!”

She had barely begun when Qian Ji appeared at the top of the stairs, calling out just in time to stop her.

The moment Chen Meng saw him, she was both relieved and angry. But before so many people, she said nothing, only glared at Qian Ji with burning eyes.

Hu Nian and Qing Nian both regarded Qian Ji with wary hostility. Although he appeared as Hu Chai had in his childhood, they knew the truth—he was something far more sinister.

“Sister Chen Meng, you’re causing trouble again,” said Qian Ji, his young face clouded with worry.

Chen Meng practically scrambled to his side, pointing at Hu Nian with a trace of resentment. “It’s this uncle!”

She seemed to emphasize, “This uncle is so desperate to avenge his child, he’s gone too far!”

Qian Ji showed no special reaction to these words, only turned to Su Man. “Can I take her with me?”

Hu Nian and Qing Nian’s astonished gazes fell on Su Man, and she saw it all. Yet she only smiled, her thoughts impossible to read.

“Of course,” Su Man replied generously. “It has nothing to do with me anyway. If you’re asking me, then yes, she can go.”

As for Hu Nian and the others, they would never dare speak so bluntly to such a being—they could only swallow their frustration.

In the end, Qian Ji took Chen Meng away. Watching them go, Su Man’s smile deepened.

“Miss Su, what is the meaning of this?” Hu Nian asked, suppressing his anger as he confronted her.

“Hm? What meaning? How would I know?” Su Man was still all smiles. Everything was going exactly as she had anticipated, which delighted her. “As I said, Chen Meng knows a lot, but Mr. Hu, you simply don’t have the means to make her talk.”

With that, she ignored the darkening look on Hu Nian’s face and left, her spirits high.

As for Hu Nian plotting revenge from the shadows? Su Man didn’t care. After all, she still had a resurrection card in hand. If she died again, she’d come back and finish him off for good.

Meanwhile, Chen Meng followed Qian Ji back to his room. With no outsiders present, she immediately vented her anger. “Didn’t you promise to save me the moment I was in danger? Did you do this on purpose? Did you want to see me humiliated?”

The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became. “You’re getting back at me for not agreeing to leave with you before, aren’t you? Qian Ji, don’t forget—I still have leverage over you. Don’t think I won’t tell anyone!”

“Go ahead and tell them. See if they’ll believe you. Without proof, who would?” This time, Qian Ji seemed truly provoked, refusing to humor her. On the contrary, he admitted, “Yes, I did it on purpose. I wanted you to see—you’re nothing without me! I’m sick to death of you, you brainless woman!”

Chen Meng was nearly apoplectic with rage. “Fine! Don’t think you’re the only one I can rely on! Just you wait, I’ll live perfectly well without you!”

She stormed out, slamming the door behind her. Around the nearby corner, Su Man had witnessed it all, a knowing smile playing at her lips.