Hong Yi retreated to his room. After a quick shower, he collapsed onto the bed, desperate for sleep and hoping to clear his head. Just as he was about to drift off, the system's cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
"Host, the memory transfer process is initiated."
Before he could even react, the familiar pain slammed into him. He curled up on the bed, clutching his head in a desperate attempt to ward off the throbbing ache. His toes clenched involuntarily, and he dug his fists into the bedsheets, anything to distract himself from the agonizing assault on his mind.
"Transferring 10% of memory complete," the system announced.
The pain finally subsided, leaving him utterly drained. Exhaustion washed over him like a tidal wave, pulling him into a deep sleep.
When he finally opened his eyes again, the room was bathed in sunlight, a clear sign that night had passed.
As soon as he woke up he heard loud noise coming downstairs. He threw on some clothes and headed down to investigate. In the living room, he found his younger brother Hao Yu yelling at the top of his lungs, while the rest of the family looked on with a mix of exasperation and resignation. There was also a new face in the room – a well-dressed man who Hong Yi assumed, based on Ling Wei's words yesterday, must be Lawyer Chen.
Deciding to take charge, Hong Yi cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Hao Yu, calm down. All that yelling is giving me a headache."
The room fell silent, all eyes turning towards Hong Yi as he approached Lawyer Chen. With a newfound confidence, Hong Yi extended his hand and greeted the lawyer. "Hello, Mr. Chen. I'm Hong Yi."
Lawyer Chen smiled warmly, shaking Hong Yi's hand firmly. "Ah, Hong Yi. It's a pleasure to finally meet you." Hong Yi settled into the chair closest to Ci En, his gaze fixed on Lawyer Chen. "Mr. Chen," he began, his voice firm, "I understand this visit has something to do with my father, is that right?"
The lawyer nodded. "Indeed, Hong Yi. First, I want to express my sincere condolences for your loss. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I couldn't be there for your father's passing or the memorial service. Please accept my apologies."Hong Yi appreciated the sentiment with a curt nod. "Thank you, Mr. Chen. Now, what seems to be the issue?"
"It concerns your inheritance," Lawyer Chen explained. "Your uncles recently sent a legal notice claiming ownership of Zenith Media and all other properties belonging to your father, Mr. Hong Shan."
Hong Yi's brow furrowed in confusion. "But that doesn't make sense," he interjected. "How can they claim everything when his children – me, Ling Wei, and Hao Yu – are still alive?"
"Unfortunately," Lawyer Chen sighed, "it appears your father had a previous will in place. This document," he said, reaching into his briefcase and pulling out a thick folder, "states that upon his passing, all his assets would be transferred to his brothers and sister."
Hong Yi's heart sank as Lawyer Chen handed him the will. He scanned the document carefully, searching for any discrepancies, anything that might indicate foul play. However, the legal jargon swam before his eyes, leaving him with a growing sense of helplessness.
"There must be a mistake." Hao Yu spoke, his voice tight with controlled anger. "This can't be the only will. Dad wouldn't have done this. He loved us."
Lawyer Chen offered a sympathetic smile. "I understand your disbelief, Hao Yu. However, this is the only will that has been registered with the court. It's possible your father may have intended to update it at some point, but unfortunately, that didn't happen."
Hong Yi passed the document to Ci En, hoping she might be able to decipher it better. Ci En scanned the will with practiced eyes, her brow furrowing in concentration. "This is unusual," she murmured. "There's no mention of the children at all. It's as if Hong Shan never had any."
Ci En, sensing Hong Yi turmoil, placed a comforting hand on his arm. "There has to be another way, Mr. Chen," she said, her voice firm despite the tremor in her hand. "Surely there's something we can do to challenge this will."
Lawyer Chen sighed, a deep breath that spoke of experience with messy family affairs. "There is always a chance, Ms. En. We can contest the will, but it will be a lengthy and expensive process. There's no guarantee of success, especially considering the document seems to be in order."
"We'll contest it," Hong Yi declared, his voice resolute. "We have to try. We can't just let them take everything."
Ling Wei chimed in, her voice laced with practicality. "But there's a big chance we might lose. This seems to be the only will on record with the court. We have no proof of another one existing."
Hong Yi understood her concern. Losing this case could have devastating consequences.
Ci En, ever the optimist, offered a different perspective. "Wait a minute," she said, scrutinizing the document. "This will looks quite old, at least thirty years old by the look of it. It mentions properties that no longer exist, and there are new properties listed that aren't mentioned at all. That seems suspicious, doesn't it?"
A spark of hope ignited in Hong Yi's eyes. Ci En's observation was a good point. The discrepancies in the will could be a crucial piece of evidence in their fight. He turned to Lawyer Chen.
"You see, Mr. Chen, what Mother just mentioned. This will seems outdated. There are inconsistencies with the listed properties. Could that be used to challenge its validity?" Hong yi asked.
Lawyer Chen stroked his chin thoughtfully. "The discrepancies you point out are interesting, Ms. En. It's certainly a detail we can explore further. While a thirty-year-old will wouldn't be automatically invalid, the inconsistencies could raise questions about its legitimacy. Did your father, Mr. Hong Shan, ever mention updating his will?"
All eyes turned to Shu Ya. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, her voice barely a whisper when she spoke. "Your father did talk about updating the will a few years ago," she said. "He mentioned wanting to ensure everything was divided fairly among all of you, his children. But… he never got around to it. He was a busy man, always putting things off for later."
A wave of frustration washed over Hong Yi. His father's procrastination could potentially cost them everything. He clenched his fists, anger simmering beneath the surface.
"Is there any way to prove Dad intended to update the will?" he asked, his voice tight with emotion.
Lawyer Chen pursed his lips. "It will be difficult, but not impossible. We can look for any drafts, emails, or even conversations your father might have had regarding a new will. Additionally, if we can establish a pattern of your father financially supporting you and your siblings, it could strengthen our case against the outdated document."
Ci En, ever resourceful, chimed in. "We might have something. Remember those old family albums and financial documents stored in the attic? Maybe there's something there that could help."A flicker of hope flickered in Hong Yi's chest. Every little piece of evidence mattered. He wouldn't let his father's outdated will and his uncles' greed dictate their future.
"We should definitely look through those," he agreed, a newfound determination hardening his gaze. "We'll fight this, Mr. Chen. We have to. This is about more than just money and property. It's about what's rightfully ours, what our father intended for us."
Lawyer Chen offered a reassuring smile. "There are a few steps we can take. First, I'll need to gather all the relevant documents and begin building a case. Additionally, it might be wise to freeze any assets your uncles attempt to claim until the case is settled. This will prevent them from liquidating or transferring any of your father's holdings."
"Alright, Mr. Chen," he declared, his voice firm. "Let's get started. We have a fight on our hands."