In the solemn and majestic Spanish Court-style hall, Yan Shixiu, along with the seniors from the Shi family, each occupied a sofa on opposite sides. Behind them, their legal teams were ready for the confrontation.
"I am Qiao Junwei, the trustee of Miss Shi's assets. Regarding Miss Shi's inheritance…"
"The Shi family's assets never belonged to Shi Lan in the first place, so naturally, there is no need to divide them with outsiders, right?" Yan Shixiu's mother-in-law from across the sofa spoke coldly, "When Shi Lan married him, his Yan family was nothing but a small household. Now that Shi Lan is gone, shouldn't he be leaving without a single penny?"
"Mrs. Shi, that's not how it works," Qiao Junwei said, "regardless, a spouse is the primary beneficiary."
At this moment, Yan Shixiu seemed to run out of patience, turning his head to take out the partition agreement from his lawyer's hand and speaking ominously, "I have no interest in anything related to the Shi family, but I will take over all the companies established by Shi Lan. According to the law, I have fifty percent inheritance rights, and this part accounts for forty percent of her entire estate. I will generously give ten percent to Mrs. Shi, thanking her for her absence at her daughter's funeral, which allowed her to die with her eyes wide open, and also, I'd like to end today's negotiation here."
Mrs. Shi opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something, but she also understood just how formidable Yan Shixiu was.
Yan Shixiu was a wolf.
Civilized in appearance, but with a heart and inner organs that exuded darkness.
For him to willingly give up ten percent was already a great concession on her part. If the talks dragged on, he could very well take Shi Lan's entire inheritance for himself. Should he have that ambition, Mrs. Shi knew she was no match for him.
With no objections from either side, the matter was settled dust. However, as Yan Shixiu stood up to leave, Mrs. Shi suddenly called out to him, "You never had any affection for Shi Lan. The worst mistake she ever made was inviting a wolf into the house."
"Then Shi Lan truly was miserable, having a mother devoid of humanity and a bloodsucking, scheming husband."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Shi's face turned ashen.
With a scoff, Yan Shixiu left the Shi family estate forever, taking all of his late wife's belongings with him.
"Director Yan, the matter of that little girl has been properly arranged," his assistant whispered to Yan Shixiu on the way back, "But why?"
Given An Lan's status, the chance to star in a Huahai production was something she could dream of in her next life. Furthermore, the role of second female lead in "Smoke Beauty" had already been cast. However, upon Yan Shixiu's command, An Lan was signed on and generously offered the role of second female lead.
Yan Shixiu rubbed his temples, suddenly thinking of that girl at the cemetery.
Flowers don't mean much, Yan Shixiu knew, although it was Shi Lan's secret, that didn't mean she hadn't told anyone else. What really made his heart race was the girl's entry in the visitor log of the cemetery; that log was now in his hands, and so was something else—Shi Lan's handwriting.
Why could two seemingly unrelated people have identical handwriting?
Furthermore, he had asked his assistant to check: the day Shi Lan had her accident, An Lan was also in the hospital being resuscitated. Shi Lan died, An Lan came back to life.
As a materialist and atheist, Yan Shixiu was loath to believe such absurd things, but the flowers and the handwriting... remained unexplained.
The car raced through the night, and at that moment, Yan Shixiu took out a picture frame that hung in the Shi family estate from among Shi Lan's belongings and instructed his assistant, "Enlarge this photo and hang it in my bedroom."
"…"
The assistant couldn't understand it. When they were both alive, the two were constantly at odds, often wounding each other with harsh words. Now that she was gone, Yan Shixiu appeared unable to let go, even keeping his wedding ring on his finger.
"Director Yan, wouldn't you try... to let go?"