Crimson Instinct

*Xin Lei*

Zhang Chao stomped out of Yi Xiaosi's office, threatening to expose and destroy his party.

Yi Xiaosi looked expressionless and impassive this whole time.

Yi Xing suddenly said, "Dad, why did you let him go? I want that man who shot Ning! He is framing us."

Then he suddenly laughed, and it took me by surprise. "Once I get my hands on him, he is--'

"He is what, Xing?" Yi Xiaosi asked sharply.

Yi Xing said nothing, but I saw his expression turn...kind of creepy.

Then Yi Xing's sight fell on Bai Li, and I saw him narrow his eyes. Yi Xiaosi followed his gaze, and it settled on us.

Zhao Wenyan said, "Sir, they are the ones…"

But Yi Xiaosi raised his hand.

"Wenyan told me about you, and I am sorry that you had to make the trip here, but I am not in the mood to meet anybody right now."

"Then, make up your mood Mr. Yi."

"It's of no use. You are going to hear the same answer that you are expecting from me. I am not involved in this. Will you trust me?"

I raised my brow.

Trust me?

Wasn't that kind of a big word to use?

"We don't have to explain anything to you." Yi Xing spat.

"Aren't you too eager to send us out?"

"We are going through a lot of shit right now, and that cunning father of my Ning wants to overthrow us using that fake mole. We don't have time to deal with you. Wenyan. Lead them out."

Bai Li said, "We want to talk to you alone."

Zhao Wenyan said, "Bai Li. Please leave."

Yi Xiaosi stared at us and then looked at Zhao Wenyan. "Leave."

"But sir, it isn't safe for you. I will stay too." Zhao wenyan protested.

"No. I will be fine. Leave."

His tone didn't give any room for discussion.

Yi Xing seemed to give one malicious look at Bai Li.

What is his problem? Why is he shooting daggers at Bai Li?

When we were left alone, Yi Xiaosi asked, "What do you want to know? I am already investigating on my side to know the truth."

I typed. "Very convenient if you were the one hiding it."

Yi Xiaosi raised his brow. "Isn't it? But I am not any maniac killer who goes on a killing spree."

Bai Li smiled. "Your eldest son doesn't surely doesn't give that vibe."

Silence.

"I think Zhang Chao must have told you about how Xing put a young man in the hospital because he offered his daughter some flowers."

"That says a lot about his temper."

"I will not lie. He was a fool to do that. He brought a mountain of troubles on me, especially during this election season. All because of his daughter."

His gaze looked a bit calculative and unfeeling.

I blinked my eyes. I typed. "You don't seem to like her very much. Is it because she is Zhang Chao's daughter?"

Yi Xiaosi looked at me in surprise.

"Hahaha...So he knows how to throw my dirty laundry in public accusing my son, but he didn't say anything about his own. I don't want my sons to associate with him or his daughters for a different reason. Not just political rivalry."

We said nothing.

Liao Huifang seemed confused, as well.

"I agree that Xing made that foolish mistake of beating up that man. He got too possessive. But for whom? For his daughter?"

Bai Li asked, "What about him?"

Great. Zhang Chao told one story about Yi Xing, and now I felt that Yi Xiaosi was going to say one about him.

Yi Xiaosi rested his face on his hand. "Zhang Chao's wife. What do you know about her?"

Zhang Chao's wife?

I didn't know much about it. I never read about politics and stuff.

Bai Li said, "Zhang Qiuyue. Zhang Chao's wife. It was a political marriage. She was the daughter of a businessman. Her father wasn't that rich but still held some influence. It doesn't take any rocket science why they got married. Mutual benefits in business and politics. I guess they have two daughters, two years apart. Zhang Ning is the eldest."

I nodded. I had heard about some bits of it from my fellow colleague.

"But thirteen years later, unfortunately, Zhang Qiuyue died in an accident. That's all I know."

Yi Xiaosi sort of half nodded in the way. "The first part is right. Not the second part. She didn't die in an accident. She was murdered."

I widened my eyes.

Huh? Murdered?

I frowned.

I looked over at Bai Li, and he seemed unfazed.

"You don't seem to be so surprised." Yi Xiaosi commented.

"Well, Zhang Qiuyue's status was a bit different being a politician's wife. When I heard the news, I had my suspicions that it might be a murder. For a politician, there are enemies you cannot count on one's fingers."

"You understand it so well. But don't you feel that something was odd with the whole scenario?"

I realized it instantly. It was indeed, strange.

I typed. "If Zhang Qiuyue was murdered by any rival or his enemy, then why would Zhang Chao say it was an accident? Wouldn't he expose the murderer?"

Yi Xiaosi smirked. "How could he expose his own crime in public and get jailed for it? He would say that it was an accident."

Bai Li said, "You think he murdered his own wife?"

"I am damn sure. First, it was a political marriage. It was a business deal. There was no love. And then I started to hear gossips about their crumbling marriage. They would often fight and have arguments. I don't know about what. So, in a fit of rage or planned, whatever it was, he murdered her one day."

Liao Huifang asked. "Did he really hate her that much that he wanted to kill her?"

Yi Xiaosi laughed. "Dear. We are politicians. We have calculations even in our feelings…"

He seemed in a daze for a moment.

"And Zhang Chao? He never loved Zhang Qiuyue. What was so difficult for him to murder her? That is why I don't want Xing to entangle himself in his daughter. I want him to stay away from that murderer's family. But such a fool!"

Yi Xiaosi pressed his forehead. "He is totally mesmerized by Zhang Ning. He is head over heels for her."

I typed. "His daughters have no idea about it, right?"

Otherwise, why would Zhang Ning still stay by his side?

Yi Xiaosi squinted his gaze. "I am not sure. Because his younger daughter, Zhang Xiulan, disappeared soon after she became an adult. There is absolutely no news about her. Till date, I don't know where she is."

"Look. I know that Xing has done foolish things. But he is not that idiot to do what happened in the natural park. He is not that crazy going around murdering innocent people."

At this point, we couldn't be sure.

Yi Xing's gaze was quite unsettling when he looked at Bai Li. For a moment, even I felt a bit scared.

"And he knows that if he would do something like that, then I would automatically remove him from the heir race. The one who would take the handle from me once I retire. This is my last year."

A battle of fortune and seat between the sons?

As we went out, I said, "Everybody is guilty of doing something or the other."

"But which one of it would lead us to the truth, that is our test."

I sighed.

I typed. "Will you wait for a minute? I will just come back from the ladies' room."

Liao Huifang said, "I will come too!"

"Sure."

I helped Bai Li sit on a bench nearby and quickly pecked his cheek.

As Liao Huifang and I walked the way, she asked, "Do you think the younger sister- what was her name again...yes Zhang Xiulan. Do you think that she might have discovered that Zhang Chao committed the murder, and so left home?"

I typed. "Possible."

"But why isn't she saying anything until now? Why isn't she giving her mother justice? Shouldn't she be angry at him?"

I opened the door to the ladies' room. I typed. "Zhang Qiuyue's murder is still a speculation. We don't have proof. Neither does Yi Xiaosi. It could be an accident for real, and Yi Xiaosi might be twisting the truth because he is his enemy. But then again, it could be a murder as well if Zhang Chao really didn't have any feelings for her."

She sighed. "Everything is so complicated with these politicians. I don't know who to believe and who to not."

I smiled and typed. "Don't believe anyone. We are listening to all sides and trying to figure out the truth."

We returned after five minutes, but I didn't find Bai Li on his seat.

Hm?

I panicked.

Where did he go all alone? Is he alright?

"Where is Bai Li?"

"Ah…"

Suddenly, I heard someone groan, most probably in pain.

We quickly walked a few steps further. And the sight that greeted me stunned me completely.