Volume One, Chapter 20: The Suddenly Deceased Suspect

Just as the police were zeroing in on Hua Kong, she suddenly met with an accident. It was said that when Yi Fang learned that Hua Kong's fingerprints were found on the murder weapon, he became very wary of her and decisively dismissed her. The domestic service company where Hua Kong worked also distrusted this "suspect" and similarly terminated her employment.

On the very night Hua Kong was dismissed, she returned to her hometown, Qingxi Village. For reasons unknown, she was found dead in a nearby river... By the time she was discovered, it was already the next morning, and she was beyond saving.

There were varying accounts of Hua Kong’s cause of death. Some said she accidentally fell into the water, others claimed she committed suicide out of guilt, and some believed her spirit was so shattered it caused a mental breakdown.

Hua Kong’s sudden death brought new complications to the police investigation and placed immense pressure on Yi Fang.

Hua Kong was the eldest daughter of the Kong family and had a younger brother, Haotian Kong. Haotian firmly insisted that Hua Kong had committed suicide by drowning due to the mental strain caused by being fired by Yi Fang. Coupled with the death of Xiaoyang Lin and Hua Kong being framed as a suspect, the multiple layers of psychological stress led her to despair.

On the afternoon of Hua Kong’s accident, Haotian Kong gathered a group of villagers to surround the entrance of Yi Media, demanding an explanation.

Ignoring the security guards’ attempts to stop him, Haotian barged straight into Yi Fang’s office.

Yi Fang was reviewing documents at the time. Seeing someone rush in startled him momentarily, but being a seasoned man, he quickly regained composure. “Who are you? What do you want from me?”

Haotian had expected Yi Fang to be shaken by his aggressive arrival, but seeing Yi Fang so calm, he himself began to tremble.

After a long pause, he finally asked, “Do you know Hua Kong?”

Yi Fang nodded lightly. “Yes, I do.”

Then his gaze fell on the dragon tattoo on Haotian’s arm—a dark blue-black dragon with some faded spots, as if its scales had been scraped off...

“She’s dead...” Haotian suddenly raised his voice, tears streaming down his face.

Yi Fang froze for a moment, then frowned. “What did you say?”

“She’s dead!” Haotian shouted again. “My sister... she’s dead...”

Before Haotian could finish, the security guards upstairs, panting heavily, rushed in. Seeing Haotian shaking with agitation, they immediately scolded him, “Get out! Who told you to cause trouble here? Get out, quickly...”

Haotian shrugged them off. “Who do you think you are? Dare to lay hands on me? Do you know who I am? I’ve seen it all—climbed walls, visited brothels, even planted rice in marshlands...”

“If you keep causing trouble, I’ll call the police!” the guard said as he pulled out his phone, dialing while continuing to yell, “You have to leave with me now, or else...”

“No, let him speak slowly,” Yi Fang said.

The guard was confused. “Mr. Fang, this guy is clearly here to cause trouble, and there are several more downstairs!”

“Let him stay here. You leave first,” Yi Fang replied calmly.

The guard hesitated but then stepped back to the door, standing cautiously.

Yi Fang’s eyes quickly shifted from the guard to Haotian. “Come here... sit down! Sit and tell me—what exactly happened?”

“I won’t sit!” Haotian was still aggressive. “You have to give me an explanation today!”

“Are you Hua Kong’s brother?” Yi Fang asked.

“Yes!” Haotian said. “Her biological brother, Haotian Kong!”

“You just said your sister died. What happened exactly?” Yi Fang stepped away from his desk and stood opposite Haotian.

Haotian was shorter than the over six-foot Yi Fang by a full head, his posture somewhat weakened, but his anger was unmistakable, his eyes red-rimmed. “It’s because of you. You used my sister, made her bear your children, made her work like a beast of burden. Now that she’s in trouble, you throw her away like garbage. Are you even human?”

After speaking, Haotian seemed ready to strike, swinging a fist at Yi Fang, but he withdrew it mid-air.

Yi Fang frowned, a trace of sorrow crossing his expression. “How did she suddenly die? Don’t rush, tell me slowly.”

Haotian’s eyes were still red. “How else could she have died? You forced her to it! Your wife died, what does that have to do with my sister? Just because she worked as a nanny in your family, now she’s a suspect in your family’s tragedy?!”

Yi Fang remained silent, deep in thought.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Haotian pressed. “Fang, if you still have a conscience, you wouldn’t just stand by and watch my sister die like this! You drove her to death, don’t deny it!”

“Your sister committed suicide?” Yi Fang’s expression grew calm again.

“I just said it was because of you!” Haotian shouted, waving his hands. “If it weren’t for your family name, she wouldn’t have died like this!”

Yi Fang looked at Haotian without a word, seemingly pondering.

“What’s wrong with you? If you’re Fang, then have some decency—my sister’s death isn’t something you can just ignore! She was driven to suicide by you!” Haotian’s voice was fierce.

“Your sister is dead. Why come here to make a scene?” Yi Fang finally spoke, returning to his seat.

Haotian hesitated, then replied confidently, “To demand an explanation!”

“What kind of explanation do you want?” Yi Fang asked.

After a pause, Haotian’s voice dropped. “You have to give me money.”

“Why should I give you money?” Yi Fang sat up straight.

“Because you killed my sister!” Haotian said.

“But you just said your sister committed suicide,” Yi Fang countered.

“If it weren’t for you, how could she have killed herself?” Haotian’s righteous anger flared again. “Fang, you’re a merciless devil! If not for you, my sister would still be alive! She was only twenty-seven, and because of you bastard, she’s dead...”

At this, Haotian’s grief overwhelmed him; choking back sobs, he struggled to speak.

Yi Fang’s expression softened slightly, a flicker of sorrow surfacing in his eyes.

But he quickly regained composure, fixing his gaze on Haotian. “Haotian Kong, are you trying to extort money from me over this?”

Hearing this, Haotian’s sorrow vanished instantly. “Fang! Don’t speak so harshly! What do you mean extortion? This is compensation you owe!”

“If she committed suicide, why should I compensate you?” Yi Fang questioned.

“Didn’t I just say? Because of you, my sister killed herself!” Haotian exclaimed, then his expression shifted abruptly. “Fang, my sister may be dead, but her body’s still warm. You wouldn’t be that heartless, right? No matter what, she bore you two children!”

Yi Fang looked at Haotian silently, as if considering or waiting for him to continue.

Haotian quickly added, “My sister hasn’t been buried yet. She’s still in our living room! If you dare refuse to pay, believe me, tonight my sister will show up downstairs at your company!”

“What do you mean by that?” Yi Fang asked.