Chapter 41.2
Jiang Qi sat in the driver’s seat, his eyes fixed on Qi Yan’s car, his gaze wild and malevolent.
He couldn’t help but think, if it weren’t for Qi Yan, he would still be the cherished young master of the Qi family, the outstanding heir in everyone’s eyes, the excellent student admitted to Turan with a promising future, and his mother would still be the elegant Madam Qi.
Their lives wouldn’t have any blemishes.
They wouldn’t be ridiculed or mocked, their lives wouldn’t have any twists and turns, and they wouldn’t become stepping stones for anyone.
They wouldn’t be imprisoned for academic fraud, and his illegitimate status would forever remain a secret!
Why did Qi Yan have to exist?
How much better it would be without this person…
Bloodshot eyes filled Jiang Qi’s face, yet his features contorted into a grotesque semblance of a smile. His thumb slammed down on the accelerator, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his voice trapped in his throat as he muttered repeatedly, “Die, die, die—”
In the instant the hovercar behind rammed into them, Lu Fenghan reached out with his long arm and pulled Qi Yan into his embrace. At the same time, the car’s protective system swiftly activated, enveloping the two of them securely.
The violent impact that often leads to hovercar destruction, explosions, and severe injuries or death miraculously only caused a significant dent in the rear of the hovercar where they were seated.
Half an hour later, at the police station.
Qi Yan sat next to Lu Fenghan on the sofa, holding a cup of warm water. On the other side, Jiang Qi leaned against the wall, his head lowered, his slightly longer hair concealing his expression.
According to the surveillance footage, Jiang Qi suddenly accelerated to the maximum speed in the express lane, violently ramming into the Qi Yan’s hovercar. Prior to the collision, he had taken measures to protect himself, making his intentions clear.
This incident was initially classified as attempted premeditated murder.
Jiang Qi defended himself, “I didn’t! I didn’t intend to kill anyone. I was sitting in the hovercar, and suddenly it went out of control… Haven’t there been so many accidents in Leto recently? I suspect someone tampered with my hovercar! I’m innocent!”
The police officer coldly interrupted him, “We’ve retrieved the car’s records, proving that the acceleration was operated by you personally.”
Ignoring Jiang Qi, the police officer turned to Qi Yan and Lu Fenghan, pointing to a surveillance screen. “Only the rear of the car is partially dented.”
Regardless of the quality of the hovercar, such a violent collision would have surely caused it to shatter.
Lu Fenghan: “The body is made of liquid composite metal.”
The police officer was momentarily speechless.
Liquid composite metal for the car body? Wasn’t that something used only for land armor?
So this was how the elites spend their money nowadays.
Between Jiang Qi and Qi Yan, he chose Qi Yan as the one to question. “Through data comparison, we’ve found that the perpetrator and one of the victims are legally related. Since you’re still students, we’ve contacted your parents. Is that all right?”
Before he could finish, Jiang Qi suddenly sat up straight, his eyes widening. “No…,” his voice escalated abruptly, “you can’t… you can’t contact them!”
“You can’t let Dad know… No, you can’t let Dad know…”
Soon, hurried footsteps were heard. The first to enter was Qi Wenshao, followed by Jiang Yunyue draped in a brown coat, who stumbled slightly as she entered.
In front of everyone, Qi Wenshao slapped Jiang Qi across the face. “At such a young age, instead of studying, you’re plotting murder? Do you know what the entire Starnet is discussing right now? They’re all talking about your disgraceful deeds!”
Lu Fenghan’s lips curled with coldness.
Charging into the room, Qi Wenshao didn’t even bother inquiring about Qi Yan’s well-being. Most of his anger stemmed from the public embarrassment and damage to his reputation.
He glanced at Qi Yan, who had placed the empty cup aside, lost in thought, probably contemplating the Pojun project again. This somewhat eased his mind.
On the other side, Jiang Qi shrank back, too afraid to lift his head to meet Qi Wenshao’s gaze. Jiang Yunyue remained speechless, tears streaming down her face as she watched the scene.
Qi Wenshao closed his eyes, his hands clenched into fists. “I thought raising you in the Qi family would make you outstanding. But look at what you’ve done! Academic fraud and now attempted murder? You’ve tarnished the reputation of the Qi family!”
Each word uttered by Qi Wenshao intensified Jiang Qi’s trembling. When Jiang Qi finally looked up, his face was streaked with tears. In a broken voice, he pleaded, “Dad, I’m sorry, I really am. It was a moment of impulse. I shouldn’t have done it. I shouldn’t have… Dad, please don’t give up on me. I’ll try my best, I promise. Please believe me! I’ll listen to you—”
Qi Wenshao ignored him and turned to Jiang Yunyue, exhaustion evident in his voice. “Look at the fine son you’ve raised!”
Jiang Yunyue, with tear-filled eyes, grabbed onto Qi Wenshao’s clothes. “Wenshao, I… I had no choice either. He’s grown up, I couldn’t control him. Last time, it was him begging me, crying. I couldn’t bear it, so I intervened. He’s my son, how could I not help him? I just didn’t know how he ended up like this…”
It took Jiang Qi a while to process Jiang Yunyue’s words.
Did he really cry and beg Jiang Yunyue?
No, it was Jiang Yunyue who actively encouraged him to participate in the Roentgen Award. She even told him that everything was ready and that he only needed to follow her instructions to claim the Roentgen Award trophy.
Qi Wenshao pinched the bridge of his nose. “A doting mother spoiling her child!” His tone, however, had softened considerably.
Jiang Qi, watching Jiang Yunyue standing beside Qi Wenshao with tear-stained eyes, went from disbelief to sudden laughter.
He understood now.
The father he had admired, feared, and tried so hard to please, had easily given up on him, while his mother was using this incident to clean herself of any wrongdoing.
Wasn’t the conversation he overheard at the kitchen door intentional as well?
Seeing the reporters, who arrived just after Qi Wenshao and Jiang Yunyue, Jiang Qi’s smile turned malicious. His voice, though not loud, carried across the room for everyone to hear. “Dad, didn’t you always say I was your own flesh and blood, that blood is thicker than water, and you’d always love and cherish me?”
Jiang Yunyue’s face went pale.
The few reporters who had just entered happened to hear this remark and immediately realized they had stumbled upon a major scoop.
Not a stepson, but… a love child?
Jiang Qi looked satisfied as he watched Jiang Yunyue’s expression. “Mom, you’ve always told me to act innocent and pitiful, so Dad would come to see us, so he would compensate me. You asked me to get rid of Qi Yan, and I did as you said. Why are you crying?”
Jiang Yunyue’s nails dug into her wrist, struggling to maintain her composure.
Meanwhile, the reporters on the scene had already uploaded this scene to their respective newspaper’s Starnet site. After a brief pause, countless sentences quickly appeared.
“–A shocking start, isn’t it? This car accident wasn’t an accident at all, but rather an attempt by the illegitimate child to murder the legitimate one? Or perhaps, it’s the mistress who, after taking over, instigated her own son to harm the former wife’s child? There’s also the Roentgen Award incident. It’s terrifying!”
“–Clearly an illegitimate child, but suddenly transformed into a morally acceptable and inheritance-eligible stepson? I’m disgusted!”
“–Turan student speaking up! Jiang Qi always calls Qi Yan ‘brother’ but implicitly blames Qi Yan for not treating him well and for enduring humiliation for the sake of family unity. If I were Qi Yan, I’d be livid! Tolerate him? Be polite? How does he have the face for it? Still talking about family unity, but Jiang Qi is not much younger than Qi Yan. Think about it!”
Qi Yan leaned close to Lu Fenghan and whispered, “They’re so noisy.”
Lu Fenghan covered his ears with his hands and whispered back, “Want some noise-canceling earplugs?”
Qi Yan shook his head. At that moment, his personal terminal lit up, indicating that he had received a message.
It was from Feng Ji, the deputy director of Special Affairs Division Five.
The message was brief, informing Qi Yan that they had found the person who paid Laurent to frame Qi Yan.
Qi Yan clicked on the attached personnel data and evidence chain.
Not entirely unexpected, the name at the top of the document was “Jiang Qi.”
Meanwhile, the police in charge of the matter also received a set of documents.
Lu Fenghan noticed this detail and speculated that the other party had received the same information as Qi Yan—clearly, Feng Ji knew about the ongoing situation and wanted to do Qi Yan a favor.
Sure enough, after the police finished reviewing the documents, their gaze turned serious as they looked at Jiang Qi. “In addition to attempted murder, in early September, you used an unregistered communication channel and offered a reward of up to one million star coins to Laurent, a sophomore at Turan, to frame Qi Yan.”
The reporters on the side exchanged glances, and the spectators on Starnet were also particularly surprised.
“–I thought it was just attempted murder and illegitimate child scandal, but there’s also defamation and paying to frame someone?”
“–Evaluation complete. This illegitimate child’s heart is truly black, harboring malicious intent from the beginning! According to Alliance law, what will be the verdict? I hope the trial will be live-streamed on Starnet. The final verdict is highly anticipated!”
The night deepened.
With a complete chain of evidence, Jiang Qi had been temporarily detained to await trial. Outside the police station, a group of reporters rushed over, encircling Qi Wenshao and Jiang Yunyue. Countless mini recording robots flew in the air, capturing every expression and movement of the two.
Jiang Yunyue stayed close to Qi Wenshao, looking panicked and lost. No matter what questions the reporters asked, she remained silent, tears in her eyes.
Qi Yan, on the other hand, was already in the car with Lu Fenghan before the reporters could surround them.
Glancing through the window, Qi Yan withdrew his gaze and, seeing Lu Fenghan’s apparent concern, spoke up voluntarily, “They are just insignificant people. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Lu Fenghan met his clear eyes but didn’t respond. Instead, he pulled Qi Yan into his arms without hesitation.
Qi Yan’s eyes widened slightly. After a brief moment of surprise, he slowly rested his chin on Lu Fenghan’s shoulder.
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