Chapter 91: Favoritism. A resplendent soul remains unsullied.

"How did you figure it out?"

"I pieced it together," He Guan stepped closer, "I don't have many close to me. Aside from Lou Dong and the butler, my cousin has spent the most time with me."

"What else?"

He Guan paused briefly, "I felt that, at one point, my cousin wanted to kill me."

Lou Yingjie's motion to move his wheelchair halted, "When was this?"

"Before I arrived at Cang Dong Garden."

It happened on the ship, right after He Guan woke up.

That was when his body was most vulnerable. An attack then would've been most effective — a mere suffocation would have sufficed. A feverish person barely conscious at 40 degrees Celsius might not even recognize their assailant's face.

He Guan was particularly attuned to emotions, and even though he was disoriented from waking and distracted by Ren Ning's voice, something felt amiss.

As he spent more time with Ren Ning, He Guan became more certain: Ren Ning wasn't one to suffer in silence. Had he never had an outburst?

It's likely he had already acted on his impulses.

He Guan later sought a medical evaluation but found nothing amiss. However, from that point, he became more cautious. After disembarking, he never shared a room with Ren Ning again.

Even when he invited Ren Ning over for dinner, He Guan dined separately, joining Lou Dong, who he wasn't that close to.

As for why he allowed Ren Ning to lead the group, He Guan knew Ren Ning wouldn't sabotage him under his watch, and Ren Ning would make some money.

Reflecting on the original story, where many of their conflicts stemmed from money and their attitudes, He Guan decided to be kind to Ren Ning and use money as a solution.

At heart, Ren Ning wasn't malevolent, which is why he'd later go on business trips as much as possible, keeping his distance from He Guan.

What He Guan hadn't anticipated was that Ren Ning was employed by Lou Yingjie, relaying real-time information on He Guan's every move.

Now, with Lou Yingjie's confirmation, He Guan's suspicions were addressed.

To Lou Yingjie's surprise, he mused without much thought, "Was he killed? He was a random choice anyway. Redundant now."

Though these words expressed Lou Yingjie's complete trust in He Guan, they did not sit well with him. He Guan was rather taken aback by the casualness of the comment, replying, "That's not acceptable; he's a human being!"

"Alright," Lou Yingjie conceded indifferently, "Prepare yourself for what you'll see soon."

"I'm already on the fourth floor," He Guan glanced at his wristband, "The wristband has briefed me."

The four basement levels, combined with the two above-ground levels, comprised the hospital zone.

His wristband contained detailed information, and He Guan had a rough idea of who was housed in the basement. However, he hadn't inspected it closely.

After all, there's a difference between reading a description and witnessing something firsthand.

He Guan peered into the patient rooms through small observation windows in the doors. Some rooms were occupied, while others were vacant.

In one of the rooms, he recognized the young man who had sought help on the ship. Thus, he pushed the door open.

Lou Yingjie and he stood on opposite sides of the patient's bed. "Do you know him?"

"No," He Guan shook his head, "He had noticed something aboard the ship but couldn't escape. I hadn't seen him since. Was he taken away by your men?"

"Yes."

"Is that man I argued with in the restroom the other day one of them?"

"Exactly."

The body hadn't been dead for long. There was a livor mortis patch on the face that looked so intact it could be mistaken for a birthmark at first glance.

He Guan shifted his gaze from the young man.

"Why do you want their organs? It's not like you're short of money."

"I'm not short now."

"You were before?"

"Yes, when this place was first established, funds were tight."

He Guan was about to ask another question when Lou Yingjie pulled the sheet over the young man's face, suddenly asking, "Do you know who he is?"

"Who?"

"A notorious playboy from the neighboring city. He tormented four women to death a couple of years ago."

He Guan hesitated for a moment with the sheet, but eventually pulled it over the man's face, stating, "Dad, regardless of his past, it's not for you to decide his fate."

"Only those who have committed crimes come here," Lou Yingjie said, "or those who haven't been caught by the law yet."

"Does that make it easier to soothe your conscience?"

Lou Yingjie chuckled, "More or less."

Perhaps there's truth in the saying 'on one's deathbed, truth is told.' At least Lou Yingjie was being completely forthright; he responded to every question He Guan posed.

He Guan was too late.

There were four levels underground. Aside from him and Lou Yingjie, there wasn't a single living person. But even if he'd arrived earlier, the situation might have been unchanged.

Only cold blue lights illuminated the hospital corridor now.

"What about the staff who worked here? Where did you place them?" He Guan asked again.

"They know nothing. Don't delve into that," Lou Yingjie responded.

"Even the surgeons performing the operations?"

"I established this entire facility. If there's blame, it lies with me. Don't involve others."

Seeing Lou Yingjie's reluctance, He Guan shifted topics, "Alright, what made you decide to build this place initially?"

"Because of Xian Yue and Li Lan."

"Who's Xian Yue? My mother? I saw her once on the boat, but didn't get the chance to greet her properly," said He Guan.

He knew the answer, but he needed confirmation.

"Your first two questions are correct, but the last one isn't," Lou Yingjie clarified, "The woman you saw on the boat was Xian Yue's younger sister, Wei Liu."

"Is it a long story?"

He Guan pulled up a stool and took a seat.

The two conversed across a corpse, trading intermittent questions and answers.

"It shouldn't be too long of a story," Lou Yingjie smiled, saying, "During school, I was frail. Everyone said joining the military would strengthen me. So, taking their advice and my family's wishes, I enlisted. In the army, I was in the same unit as Li Lanting. He was incessantly talkative. I was the only one in the barracks who could tolerate him, and over time, we became close friends. Later, we found ourselves on the battlefield."

He Guan nodded; he was already aware of this part.

Lou Yingjie tactfully skipped over certain details.

"Li Lanting was discharged immediately to recover from his injuries. I wasn't significantly injured but had lost my enthusiasm for military life. I left the army six months after him. Once out, I was so engrossed in my civilian transition that I neglected to visit him, nearly forgetting about him entirely."

Lou Yingjie's words were simple, but his tone carried a tinge of regret.

"When I had some free time, I thought about starting a business. That's when I met Xian Yue, and our relationship naturally blossomed. In that era, few ventured into entrepreneurship. I was self-made, while Xian Yue came from a scholarly family. We were mismatched in terms of social standing. Her parents disapproved of me. Moreover, my youthful impulsiveness led me to venture into business without a clear idea, painting me as naive."

"Later, I went out for drinks with my war buddies. That's when I learned of Li Lanting's whereabouts. However, when I tried to visit him, he refused to see me. His financial condition was much worse than mine. If I started from scratch, his home was utterly destitute, with a roof that leaked every time it rained."

"With his legs paralyzed and his spinal cord pierced by shrapnel, he was incontinent. Living alone, I can't fathom how he managed until my visit. Whenever I attempted to enter his home, Li Lanting would chase me out with a stick. Xian Yue had to plead with him to let her in. She was unaccustomed to such squalid living conditions, but she stayed with him for half a day, chatting. When she emerged, she asked me jokingly if she smelled bad."

He Guan remarked, "Impossible."

A radiant soul remains untarnished.

"After locating him, Xian Yue and I were determined to do something related to the differently-abled. Our aim was to help Li Lanting lead a normal life."

"Of course," Lou Yingjie smirked, "I no longer see it that way. Regaining 'normalcy' is a deceptive goal. The psychological scars of physical impairments last a lifetime; it's not just about rhetoric."

Lou Yingjie looked towards He Guan, lost in memories: "Back then, while Xian Yue was teaching at a school, I was busy seeking investments everywhere. No one was interested. Many ventured into business then, citing its high risks. Since our venture seemed unprofitable, one potential investor even asked if I had lost my mind to focus on the disabled rather than serving the general populace."

"Being unable to secure funding, I would vent my frustrations to Li Lanting."

"Regrettably, and unbeknownst to me, after suffering such a debilitating injury..."

Lou Yingjie's voice grew raspy, prompting him to clear his throat.

"In the beginning, Li Lanting didn't show much interest in the designs or company. Post-injury, he rarely spoke. Most decisions were made by Xian Yue, who despite being naive, was quite ahead of her time. The primary obstacle was my lack of funds. Perhaps I lamented our financial constraints too often..."

Lou Yingjie's gaze grew distant before returning to the present.

"One day, unbeknownst to us, Li Lanting sold one of his kidneys."

"I was clueless until he suddenly handed me 8,000 yuan for our venture. Given the substantial amount (equivalent to over 2 million in today's currency) and his circumstances, Xian Yue and I grew suspicious. However, I had already used the money for our venture."

"When we eventually confronted him..."

"Unexpectedly, we found Li Lanting poised to jump into a river, leaving behind a note that urged us to use the proceeds from selling his organs for the business. He felt worthless alive."

"I never imagined he felt this way, especially because..."

Regaining his focus, Lou Yingjie continued, "After rescuing him, Xian Yue, being a teacher, counseled him for weeks."

As Lou Yingjie spoke, a nostalgic smile graced his face.

"The three of us divided the tasks: I took on liaising, Xian Yue managed logistics, and Li Lanting took care of the designs. Even by today's standards, it was a balanced division of labor."

"It's not that Xian Yue didn't want to handle design; she's incredibly talented. But back then, Li Lanting could only write or draw due to his condition. Concerned that he might feel worthless, Xian Yue let him take on the design responsibilities while she continued teaching. She'd often share her rocket engine knowledge with me. Although I didn't understand most of it, she always seemed so thrilled to discuss it."

Lou Yingjie radiated with pride.

"However, it wasn't long before tragedy struck Xian Yue."

"During a rocket launch, an accident caused scattered debris to plummet from the sky, hitting her."

"She remained... upbeat," Lou Yingjie's voice faltered. "She comforted me, saying that while some had been killed in such incidents, she'd only become paralyzed. She loved children and, after the accident, she longed for them more than ever. Without her job and with time on her hands, she wanted us to start a family. So we had Lou Yi and Lou Jijing."

Lou Yingjie continued, "Our business was thriving then. It grew rapidly and earned us a good reputation. Xian Yue was ecstatic, so we decided to have another child, named Qiu Shou, marking that year as our season of harvest. But just as we began basking in our success, another crisis hit."

"A sabotage to the springs of our wheelchair design resulted in a death. The faulty mechanism caused a disabled user to get struck by a turning vehicle in the middle of a road."

"Li Lanting and I watched the footage of that incident eighty-four times."

"I couldn't pinpoint who was responsible," Lou Yingjie murmured, "But I soon realized the importance of having connections in business. I sought help from friends in various circles."

As to who these 'friends' were, it was left unsaid.

"The culprit turned out to be one of my war buddies."

"The very same who had informed me of Li Lanting's whereabouts."

Lou Yingjie chuckled wryly, "It's ironic. The person who saved me and the one who betrayed me were one and the same."

"During our initial success, we had overlooked inviting him to our launch celebration. He bore that grudge against us. When we were thriving, he delivered a major blow. I had three children to support and Xian Yue was still recovering from childbirth. It was then that our company was blacklisted due to the safety incident. It was a critical setback, forcing me to dissolve the company."

"We were plunged back into poverty. To make ends meet, Li Lanting and I had to rely on Xian Yue's injury compensation."

"Only much later did I learn that my war buddy's resentment was fueled by his father, who hid our event invitation, leading him to believe he had been deliberately snubbed. His father had always believed that I was not destined for success and discouraged our association."

Lou Yingjie continued, "In the past, there were minor sabotages, like scratches on our wheelchairs or stolen designs. But nothing as grave."

"That was the first time I killed someone."

"I couldn't control myself. Both he and his father deserved it."

"What's wrong with helping the disabled? Selling hearing aids and wheelchairs? I can't fathom why this simple enterprise encountered so much resistance. My dear friends and wife all struggled due to their physical conditions, and all I wanted was to help."

"After killing him, I dissected my former comrade, selling his organs on the black market. With the money, I purchased this island."

Lou Yingjie spoke with an eerily casual tone, as if discussing a meal plan.

"Xian Yue didn't know about the murder, but Li Lanting did. Being the designer, he was involved in subsequent developments. Hence, I informed him," Lou Yingjie's lips turned pale from talking so long, yet he continued, "I brought him here, allowing him to lead product development."

"Initially on this island, there were only two thatched huts, one for him and one for me. The place where you and Lao Si reside now was where I used to live, but only this one got renovated with stairs. Later constructions were all designed as accessible homes."

"After we settled here, I was in dire need of money, a significant amount. Xian Yue was frequently ill and needed care. Hiring a nanny was a minor expense, but Li Lan's experimentation was costly. Luckily, I wasn't exactly an upright individual."

"Selling organs indeed brings quick money, and people fear death, especially the healthy ones."

"Do you know the organ I dealt with most in my first year of this trade?" asked Lou Yingjie.

He Guan pondered for a moment, "The liver, perhaps?"

The liver can regenerate, and there is a vast number of liver disease patients.

Selling the liver seems to be a relatively less difficult choice.

"You're... truly commendable," Lou Yingjie remarked with a smile.

He continued, "I initiated these researches but lacked manpower. When the company disbanded, some of the departing members were people with disabilities. They believed in our product, approached me, hoping to continue working under my guidance. Gradually... very gradually, I established three distinct tracks: the company, R&D related to people with disabilities, and the underground business."

"Then why did you hand over the underground operations to Lou Jun Duo?" He Guan interjected.

Lou Yingjie replied, "After all you've heard and pondered, what do you think the reason might be?"

A realization dawned on He Guan, "From my perspective... you neither like nor favor Lou Jun Duo."

Lou Yingjie listened silently, giving a slight appreciative smile.

"It's just that Lou Jun Duo is a bigger... target."

"Before anyone gets on board, everything goes through him. If the police were ever involved, you could sever the connections before anyone embarks," He Guan paused for a long moment before continuing, "He's your shield."

He's also an expendable pawn.

No wonder.

In the original work, Lou Yingjie's feelings for Lou Jun Duo were ambivalent at best.

Even when Lou Jun Duo made multiple questionable decisions due to his emotional impulses, Lou Yingjie ultimately passed the head-of-family position to him.

From then on, praises were all that Lou Jun Duo heard, while Lou Dongzang increasingly receded from the public eye.

It's precisely because Lou Yingjie's true favorite was never Lou Jun Duo, that he could confidently hand over the most lucrative and dirtiest dealings to him.

The drugs, the beautifully disguised vices, the seemingly genuine cults; these are all the tasks for Lou Jun Duo. They're the most profitable and cater to human desires for control and performance. Yet they're also the most scrutinized by the police and can bring irreversible consequences once exposed.

But Lou Jun Duo was shortsighted, failing to see this.

This strategy of deception was so subtle that many failed to recognize it until the very end. Only a parent who loves their child would wish to keep them away from harm, hoping for them to lead a simple and peaceful life.

The one Lou Yingjie truly favored was Lou Dongzang.

His blind, lonely child.

It has always been so.

Author's note:

No updates tomorrow; I have a defense presentation and am busy.