"Why did you suddenly come here?" Zhang Chenyan was the first to speak.
As it turned out, Zhang Chenyan seemed to have a special talent for killing conversations with women. Xie Han rolled her eyes at him and translated, "He means he's very happy to see you and is pleasantly surprised."
Xie Han's interpretation was definitely on a corporate level. Zhang Chenyan hadn't thought so deeply when he spoke, but Xie Han's "embellishment" made it sound much warmer.
"I'm here on business," Liu Xixi responded. "I didn't expect to see you here. When I saw you lying in the hospital bed, I thought I had mistaken someone else and repeatedly confirmed with the nurse."
"Business? Coming to the hospital on business? Are you ill?" Zhang Chenyan asked, puzzled.
Liu Xixi shook her head. "It's about Chen Yijing. His parents are causing trouble again, claiming the hospital set a trap for them... Honestly, I'm not sure what's going on. I'm also working on a new song, looking for inspiration, so I thought I'd come to the hospital and get the facts."
"A new song? Based on Chen Yijing?" Zhang Chenyan asked.
Liu Xixi nodded. "This is a hot topic right now. I don't know if I have the ability to write it well, but I want to understand the facts first."
"I know. I can tell you," Zhang Chenyan said eagerly but quickly tempered his tone under Xie Han's gaze, trying to appear calm. "I met Chen Yijing while queuing for registration. He was standing behind me..."
As Zhang Chenyan slowly recounted the story, Xie Han and Liu Xixi helped him sit up and propped him with pillows.
"He told me a lot about his family situation. I know it might be hard for you to believe, but here are hospital surveillance videos that show what his parents are really like, from refusing surgery to causing trouble. This is more convincing than a thousand words."
As Zhang Chenyan shared the videos with Liu Xixi, he also sent a copy to 0810.
"In this world, being the first to speak doesn't mean you're right."
"Nor should it be that the one who speaks well is right."
"His parents have tasted too many benefits and know there's evidence left, so they want to strike first."
"Chen Yijing is gone, but I hope he leaves cleanly, without any more stains on his name."
"I have a plan. Let me discuss it with you and see if there are any gaps."
By now, Zhang Chenyan had fully recovered his composure and felt even more clear-headed than before. He trusted 0810 would help him, but he wanted more than just digital retribution.
"If we release all these videos, won't it clear Chen Yijing's name?" Liu Xixi asked angrily after watching the videos.
No one likes being a fool or a tool for others. She couldn't believe Chen Yijing's parents could distort the truth to this extent.
"No, the evidence needs to be released bit by bit, strategically," Zhang Chenyan said calmly. "You can't show all your cards at once. We need more evidence. Given those two's greed, they'll surely take the bait."
Liu Xixi nodded. "Alright, I'll do as you say."
Zhang Chenyan's plan was simple. Since he had clashed with those two, they wouldn't trust him and would be wary. But with Liu Xixi, things would be different. He knew their type, and if Liu Xixi told them her purpose, they would likely start their performance again.
The only thing Zhang Chenyan feared was that they might not act.
Following Zhang Chenyan's instructions, Liu Xixi, equipped with concealed recording equipment, approached Chen Yijing's parents and told them she was there to help.
The video and audio were transmitted to Zhang Chenyan, who occasionally gave Liu Xixi pointers.
For some reason, Chen Yijing's parents weren't as agitated when they saw Liu Xixi, which surprised Zhang Chenyan.
"Ask if something unpleasant happened," Zhang Chenyan suggested.
Liu Xixi conveyed concern and offered help, her sincere manner likely to touch even herself if she looked in a mirror.
Given Liu Xixi's words, the couple exchanged glances before speaking.
They had learned from Ters Company staff that although Chen Yijing had signed a body donation agreement, the beneficiaries were not his parents and had nothing to do with them.
Had Chen Yijing not specified beneficiaries, the law would naturally default to his parents. However, Chen Yijing not only specified but also ensured none of the merit points went to his parents.
In other words, they wouldn't receive a single merit point.
"Why would he do that? In the end, he chose to leave everything to strangers," Chen Yijing's mother cried, her tears and snot mixing. "I was very young when I had him, and I suffered so much for him. I can't believe he turned out so ungrateful."
Chen Yijing's parents looked quite young, and though Chen Yijing seemed about Zhang Chenyan's age, his parents appeared much younger than Xie Han.
To them, Chen Yijing was likely a product of youthful folly.
"Ask who the beneficiaries are according to Chen Yijing's will," Zhang Chenyan prompted.
Liu Xixi echoed his sentiments, "Yes, this must hurt you deeply. Could it be that he was deceived? Who did he leave his merit points to?"
Chen Yijing's parents exchanged a look before reluctantly answering, "He left half to a stranger he queued with during registration, and the other half to the shelter he stayed at."
"A stranger he queued with?" Liu Xixi clarified.
"Yes, I think his name is Zhang Chenyan? Young lady, you don't know, but this man opposed us at the hospital. We didn't understand why at first, but after the lawyer told us, it all made sense..."
As Chen Yijing's parents continued complaining, Zhang Chenyan fell silent. He never imagined Chen Yijing would leave part of the merit points to him.
He remembered Chen Yijing mentioning he knew what he wanted to do with the merit points. Zhang Chenyan had guessed he might donate them, but he hadn't expected part would be left to him.
Reflecting on it, perhaps it was because he had shown Chen Yijing some warmth.
Chen Yijing's life had been so bitter that even a bit of kindness meant the world to him.
Noticing Zhang Chenyan's emotional state, Liu Xixi quickly asked, "Does that person know about Chen Yijing leaving merit points to him?"
"No, we had a fight with the lawyer! If the lawyer tells him, he might get greedy, and we won't let it slide," Chen Yijing's father said viciously. "Besides, that person is still in a coma. He might die, and then the merit points would be ours. Less hassle."
His words and expression sent chills down the spine.
Liu Xixi had no doubt they genuinely wished harm on Zhang Chenyan.
Chen Yijing's mother pulled her husband aside, trying to calm him while smiling at Liu Xixi, "This was rightfully ours. This unexpected turn of events stirred us up. Please don't mind."
How could Liu Xixi not mind? But she knew it wasn't the time for confrontation and continued to steer the conversation, "Since I'm creating a piece based on Chen Yijing, I need to know about his personal life. You, as his parents, must know a lot."
Chen Yijing's parents exchanged glances, smiling and nodding.
"Ask anything. We took great care of him," Chen Yijing's father said.
"Yes, we know all about his life," his mother echoed confidently.
"Did he have any preferences? Like a particular love for seafood? Before coming here, I visited the shelter. The staff said he liked shrimp and scallops but hardly ever got to eat them because of the poor food at the shelter," Liu Xixi said, sighing.
Hearing this, Chen Yijing's mother started crying, "Yes, when we lost him, I was so worried and guilty. I searched day and night, losing sleep, always afraid he was suffering. When he was home, we gave him everything. Thinking of his time at the shelter breaks my heart. When he returned, we made him several seafood meals. It was expensive, but seeing him happy made it worth it."
Liu Xixi nodded, thinking to herself that Chen Yijing's parents were wasted talent in the acting world. Their performance was too good to be confined to this small stage—they deserved a bigger platform!
"By the way, the hospital repeatedly asked you to sign the surgery consent form, explaining that it could save his life, but you refused. Why?" Liu Xixi asked curiously.
Chen Yijing's parents looked at each other before replying, "We didn't understand! We thought surgery would harm him, so we refused... We were ignorant."
Liu Xixi saw through their rehearsed answers.
Rehearsed questions were pointless to ask repeatedly, as it only allowed them to show off their performance.
"Could you introduce me to the lawyer handling his merit points distribution? Maybe I can help you fight this," Liu Xixi suggested.
Her words brought immediate smiles to the couple's faces.
"Yes, you're a celebrity. Your influence will help."
"With you on our side, they won't dare bully us!"
Liu Xixi nodded, obtaining the lawyer's contact information.
After chatting about Zhang Chenyan's daily life, Liu Xixi saw through them—they spoke what they knew, made up what they didn't, and if all else failed, they cried. Their tactics were flawless.
Before leaving, Liu Xixi, following Zhang Chenyan's instructions, said, "I met that man who queued with Chen Yijing. He didn't know about the merit points, but when I asked why he helped Chen Yijing, he said Chen Yijing told him about his parents wanting to kill him..."
Hearing this, Chen Yijing's parents became nervous, denying vehemently, "Nonsense! Absolute nonsense! How could any parent want to kill their child? That's absurd!"
Chen Yijing's mother was equally anxious, "Yes, we would never harm him. We loved him dearly."
Liu Xixi nodded, agreeing, "I didn't believe it either. But that man claimed Chen Yijing had evidence and left it with him..."
Hearing this, the couple's faces changed, and they tentatively asked, "What evidence? Where is it?"
Liu Xixi replied nonchalantly, "I don't know. I didn't believe him, so I didn't ask. But he insisted the evidence was with him and that he'd reveal it at the right time. I just thought it was odd and didn't want you to be framed."
The couple thanked Liu Xixi awkwardly, grateful for her consideration and trust.
After dropping this bombshell, Liu Xixi turned and left without looking back.
Once sure Chen Yijing's parents couldn't hear her, she asked Zhang Chenyan through the earpiece, "Are you sure about this? It's dangerous. What if they come after you?"
Zhang Chenyan was calm, "That's exactly what I want. It's not enough to just suppress them with public opinion. If the cost of wrongdoing is just this, they'll never understand what 'remorse' means."
Hearing his words, Liu Xixi sighed.
"Alright, just promise me you'll stay safe."