Chapter 11

Chapter 11

But Grandmother He had heard enough. She looked at Ning Yichu. "What were you going to say earlier? Do you know why Qin Kai isn't scared of me looking into this?"

Ning Yichu smiled gently. "Grandfather knows you better than I ever could, Grandmother. Are you really going to investigate? A medical case from over fifty years ago?"

Grandmother He remained silent.

Ning Yichu continued leisurely, "Even if you were determined to risk the embarrassment and actually went digging, what could you find? They didn't have surveillance back then, did they? Even handwritten patient charts are probably long gone. How would you track down the medical staff who delivered your child? Or are you so prescient that you still remember their names, know their life and career changes over all these years, and can locate them?"

"Forget about medical records or staff lists. Over fifty years have passed. The doctors and nurses from back then wouldn't even need to be silenced; they'd likely have died of old age naturally by now. Who would you look for? Now that this has come to light, why should Grandfather feel guilty and fear your investigation?"

Grandfather He gripped his cane tightly.

Grandmother He's face was like thunder. She continued questioning Ning Yichu, "You speak so confidently. What, do you have evidence?"

Ning Yichu smiled slightly. "I do happen to know of two witnesses. But whether you'd believe what witnesses say is another matter."

Grandmother He pressed, "Where are these witnesses?"

Ning Yichu just smiled, not answering.

Grandmother He was silent for a moment, then asked, "Out with it. What do you want?"

Ning Yichu tilted his head. "How about you hand over the remaining five percent of He Corp shares you hold?"

He Dingbang burst out, "I knew you were up to no good! Shares! How dare you make such an outrageous demand!"

Ning Yichu shrugged. "Well, I've already asked. It's up to you to weigh the value, Grandmother. Is the truth about your biological son's death worth that price?"

"Ma, don't listen to his crap. How old is he? Where would he find witnesses? Dad already said even Weian didn't know the truth. This Ning Yichu wasn't even one of us until recently. Where would he get that information?" He Dingbang spoke rapidly.

"He must have accidentally discovered something suspicious somewhere. Actually, he's not sure either; he's just using it to bluff us. He didn't expect Dad to get so guilty he confessed without even being pressed, making it seem like Ning Yichu knows everything for certain. He actually knows nothing! He just wants to con you out of your shares!"

Grandmother He ignored him, continuing to look at Ning Yichu. "You very well could be lying to me."

Ning Yichu was indifferent. "Suit yourself. I'll try something else next time, see if I can trade it for your shares."

Grandmother He frowned. "What else do you know?"

Ning Yichu had no intention of continuing. "I'm tired today. Let's talk another time. Grandmother, could you please wrap up today's little show? Once it's over, I can go back and rest."

Ning Yichu's tone was light and cheerful. He discovered that being properly wicked felt fantastic. Even being pointed at and cursed felt physically and mentally invigorating.

Indeed, a villain should act like a villain. Why had he bothered, in his last life, trying to be so careful and maintain good relations with the He family?

Grandmother He gritted her teeth and took a step back. "I can give my shares to Shixia, but on the condition that he cannot transfer them to you. This clause must be written into the gift contract."

Hearing this, Ning Yichu looked baffled. "Was I not clear enough? I want them for me, not for He Shixia. I'm counting on him to keep his word and give me all his assets, but that doesn't mean I'm here to help him get more goodies."

Grandmother He sneered. "You expect me to just hand over family shares because you said so? What kind of pipe dream are you having?"

"That's a shame then, Grandmother, being so principled." Ning Yichu laughed happily. "Actually, Grandmother, you're probably relieved that I made such an outrageous demand, right? You never really wanted to investigate. When people get old, they'd rather live in ignorance."

Grandmother He brought her hand down hard on the table. "Ning Yichu! You, you—"

He Ruxue quickly poured her some water. "Grandmother, please calm down..."

Grandmother He's hands were trembling, unable to hold the cup.

Her words made He Dingbang and the others secretly relieved.

Even if Grandmother He privately no longer acknowledged them afterward, as long as it wasn't made public, they could still act like He family members outside. At most, they would just be completely cut off from He Corporation shares... which wasn't highly likely before anyway.

He Ruzhu cautiously called out again, "Grandmother, you won't abandon us, right..."

Grandmother He closed her eyes briefly. When she reopened them, she made a decision. "All of you—except Ruxue—move to the side residence. Move today. Don't appear before me unless I call for you. If Ruxue can't bear to leave your father and these siblings, then you can move with them too."

He Ruxue choked back a sob. "I'll stay with you, Grandmother."

He Dingbang still wanted to plead. At that moment, He Shixia's parents—He Weian and Tang Qingshan—returned.

Seeing the bleak and bizarre scene in the dining room, He Weian was still unclear about what had happened.

"What's going on? Mom, why did you have someone urgently call us back? Why is everyone looking so miserable? Big Brother, why are you sitting on the floor? And Ruxue, are you crying?" He Weian was utterly confused, finally looking at He Shixia and Ning Yichu.

After a pause, He Weian said, "Xiao Chu has recovered from his illness. It's good that you can come downstairs. Shixia, what happened?"

Ning Yichu used a tone full of schadenfreude and provocation. "Something good happened, Mom. Congratulations, from now on you'll be the He family's only daughter. I contributed quite a bit. You must remember to send me a gift."

According to this lifetime's timeline, Ning Yichu had just married He Shixia and was new here. In the He family, he was cautious and reserved when addressing people, far from this relaxed state, and certainly wouldn't proactively ask for gifts with such an attitude.

Ning Yichu's behavior made He Weian pause, surprised and somewhat displeased. But then she had no time to ponder Ning Yichu's attitude.

He Weian knew about He Dingbang's background—at least she thought she knew completely. Hearing Ning Yichu's remark about being the "only daughter" and seeing the situation in the dining room, she suddenly realized the secret had been exposed.

"Mom..." He Weian instinctively looked at Grandmother He.

Grandmother He looked at her with some disappointment. "Weian, you helped your father deceive me."

He Weian didn't rush to defend herself. She walked to Grandmother He's side, bowed her head, and said solemnly, "I found out two years ago. At that time, you were sick, Mom, hospitalized and almost didn't make it. Although you recovered later and seemed energetic after discharge, I didn't dare to upset you, afraid you couldn't handle it and would fall ill again. I didn't intentionally help Dad deceive you. Mom, I'm sorry."

Her partner of over fifty years and the eldest son she had worried about for so long had both hurt her. Now, only her biological daughter He Weian offered some comfort.

Although Grandmother He was initially disappointed by her daughter's concealment, she didn't blame He Weian much. Now hearing He Weian's considerate explanation, she felt considerably relieved and didn't want to scold another person.

She sighed and continued asking, "How did you find out about this two years ago?"

He Weian glanced at her eldest brother He Dingbang, then answered, "When you were critically ill and hospitalized, I had the rest of the family undergo physical examinations. An anomaly was discovered—Dad had bypassed me beforehand and altered the blood type reports for Big Brother and Ruxue's six siblings."

Grandfather He guiltily remained silent.

"That was a private hospital our He family invested in, easier to manipulate. That doctor had 'cooperated' with Dad for many years without issues before. But two years ago, maybe because there were too many people, it was easy to get confused, leading to errors in the final physical reports."

He Weian recalled, "I didn't personally review the reports; I had my secretary go over them. She was more thorough than I would have been. She noticed that Ruxue and Rufeng's reports had two incorrect blood types and told me there might be a case of doctors falsifying medical reports."

"I didn't think much of it initially, assuming the hospital was careless. But I worried they might have made errors during the examination process. So when visiting you at the hospital, I mentioned it to the doctor. Unexpectedly, the doctor was guilty, and I sensed something was off. Under questioning, I learned Dad had ordered the blood type changes."

He Weian looked at Grandfather He leaning on his cane and sighed. "I didn't understand the situation then but didn't want to suspect Dad without reason, so I directly asked him why he had the doctor change the blood type reports. Dad told me about the early events..."

"Mom, I'm sorry. At the time, I truly thought it was better to avoid trouble. After all, our family of four had been together for fifty years. If Big Brother's background was suddenly exposed, I feared you couldn't bear it... so I hid it from you."

After hearing He Weian's account, Grandmother He's emotions had calmed down considerably.

She didn't comment, only telling He Weian her current plan: "For the He family's reputation, this matter cannot be known to the outside world. But I don't want to see your father and Dingbang and the others anymore. So I've already informed them: except for Ruxue, everyone else is to move to the side residence. Weian, what do you think?"

Hearing this, He Weian frowned, somewhat hesitant.

Seeing her hesitate, Grandmother He found it hard to believe. "You still want to speak up for your father?"

"Grandmother, you're really getting old and forgetful. Mom doesn't know yet that Uncle is Grandfather's illegitimate child, so of course she still thinks Grandfather and Uncle don't deserve such severe punishment," Ning Yichu said, amused.

Grandmother He then remembered, and the irritation she'd just felt toward her daughter faded. As for Ning Yichu's disrespectful words toward his elders, Grandmother He simply didn't have the energy to reprimand him.

He Weian had initially wanted to scold Ning Yichu for speaking to Grandmother that way, but upon hearing the second half of what he said, she froze in place, momentarily speechless, her eyes instinctively darting to Ning Yichu.

Ning Yichu replied cheerfully, "My pleasure. It's only right to speak up for you."

He Weian didn't know how to respond to him, so she could only stare at Grandfather He in confusion. "Dad... what does this mean? Didn't you say that Big Brother was just a foundling you picked up so Mom wouldn't be sad without a son of her own?"

Grandfather He, seeing the disappointment in his daughter's eyes, showed a rare trace of genuine remorse. "...I'm sorry, Weian. Dad kept this from you. Your big brother is actually..."

He Weian's expression suddenly turned cold. "Dad! There's no need to say more..."

She averted her gaze, fell silent for a few seconds, then looked back at Grandmother He. "Mom, handle this however you see fit. I'll follow your lead and have no objections."

In family matters, Grandmother He held the greatest authority, and He Weian never went against her. On the rare occasions when their opinions differed, He Weian was usually the one to compromise. Meanwhile, in company affairs, Grandmother He, as the former head, was rational. Since she had handed over control to He Weian, she completely stepped back and refrained from interfering. Thus, the mother and daughter were quite harmonious in both public and private matters, without the subtle tensions often seen between a "retired emperor" and a "new emperor."

Because He Weian was at the helm of the He family business, she was actually the most authoritative figure in the household in recent years.

Facing Grandmother He, others still dared to kick up a fuss and plead for leniency.

But facing He Weian, who had already decided to support Grandmother He, even Grandfather He, her own father, fell silent. He Dingbang, though the eldest brother, had always been somewhat intimidated by his younger sister even when his status was aboveboard. Now that it wasn't, he naturally dared not say anything.

He Dingbang's children also had nothing to say.

He Weian looked at her husband, Tang Qingshan. "Qingshan, go arrange for the servants to help Dad and the others move their luggage to the side residence as soon as possible. Try to keep the noise down."

Tang Qingshan nodded and left first.

Then He Weian said to Grandmother He, "Mom, since the decision has been made, let's not dwell on it anymore. I'll accompany you back to your room, and we can talk a bit more... Ruxue, you come along too."

Grandmother He's aged face was full of exhaustion as she nodded.

He Ruxue replied softly, "Yes, Aunt."

He Weian glanced at the others in the dining room, her gaze lingering for a few extra seconds on He Shixia, who seemed detached, and Ning Yichu, who looked utterly pleased with himself. She also recalled Ning Yichu's earlier, unabashedly provocative remark about her being the "only child"...

For now, she said nothing more and, along with He Ruxue, helped Grandmother He back to her room.

Ning Yichu beamed back at the furious glares from those around him and stood up. "The show's over for now, so I'll be leaving too. Take your time moving, everyone."

The surrounding gazes grew even more fiery. If not for He Shixia standing nearby and the fact that Ning Yichu was pregnant—which gave people pause—someone would have already stepped forward to get physical.

He Shixia moved to follow. "Are you going back to your room?"

Ning Yichu frowned. "Why are you following? Is the floor cleaned up yet? Don't think you can slack off and get away with it."

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