No te apoyes en la barandilla oeste para retener el claro otoño

Capítulo 11

"Where did you fall? Was it an accident?" he asked quickly.

"The scene is the villa you visited yesterday. They bought that villa through various connections shortly after returning to China. Originally, Shen Biyun and Zeng Hong only lived with the twins. Fang Qi and Fang Rouzhi were always cared for by Shen Biyun's mother, Huang Xiuzhi. However, after Huang Xiuzhi passed away in 1989, Fang Qi and the nanny, Zhang Yufen, returned to Shen Biyun's side. Fang Rouzhi was already 22 years old at that time and was about to get married, so she didn't come back, while Fang Qi was only 9 years old at that time."

"Was Zeng Xiaochen's death related to Fang Qi?" Jian Dongping understood the implication in his father's words.

"It was Fang Qi who caused it."

Jian Dongping was startled again, and Fang Qi's beautiful and indifferent face appeared before his eyes.

"what is going on?"

"The children were playing war games. Fang Qi was on one side, and the twins were on the other. At first, they just pretended to fight with sticks and things like branches. Later, Fang Qi probably got impatient, and the boy kept mocking her, so Fang Qi took a real knife from the kitchen. The boy also went to the kitchen and took a kitchen knife, and the two of them really started fighting. As a result, Fang Qi stabbed Zeng Xiaochen squarely. At that time, their maid Zhang Yufen was not home. There was also a young nanny, about 20 years old, who was responsible for looking after the twins. But while they were playing, she secretly dozed off in the living room. When she was woken up, Zeng Xiaochen was already..." Jian Qiming pursed his lips, but there was no regret or sympathy in his tone.

"Does she get along with her brother?" From this tragic story, Jian Dongping sensed a strong emotion hidden deep within Fang Qi's heart.

“I talked to her afterward. She said that Shen Biyun had hit her the day before because she went to play in the storage room without permission, and she was very angry. Zeng Xiaochen not only hit her on the head, but also kept mocking her about what happened the day before. She was furious, but she also said that she didn’t expect her brother to die. She just wanted to tell him to shut up, but Zeng Xiaochen kept talking.” Jian Qiming said with a serious expression, “To be honest, this boy was indeed spoiled by his parents. Of course, having a child late in life, and being their only son, it’s inevitable that they would spoil him a little. But this boy’s words and actions are really infuriating. He takes advantage of his parents’ pampering and bullies almost everyone in the family. I have reminded Shen Biyun about this many times, but at that time she was busy with her career and didn’t take my words to heart at all.”

"How did this matter end?"

"Of course, we went through the normal procedures. There's really nothing to delve into. It was an accident." Jian Qiming took a deep drag of his cigarette, revealing a very satisfied expression.

How old was Fang Qi at that time?

"15 years old."

"15 years old?!" Jian Dongping was taken aback.

"What's so surprising about this?" Jian Qiming glanced at him, puzzled.

“You just said the twins were born in 1984, so the little boy should be 11 years old. Dad, can a 15-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy play together?” Jian Dongping asked doubtfully. “I think 15 is way past the age for playing house. Who suggested this game? If it was the little boy who suggested it, then he might be trying to bully his sister, and he might have forced Fang Qi to participate. But if it was Fang Qi who suggested it, then…”

“Son!” Jian Qiming coldly interrupted him. “Let’s leave some things unsaid and not speculate.” After a while, he sighed again. “Actually, Fang Qi is a very pitiful girl. She always admired her mother. When she was abandoned at her grandmother’s house, she wrote to Shen Biyun every week to tell her about her situation. She loved Shen Biyun very much, but she was also very afraid of her. After that incident, she asked me if her mother would hate her forever? If she asked the judge to sentence her to death, could her mother forgive her?” Although her father’s tone was always nonchalant, Jian Dongping could still hear the despair in Fang Qi’s voice at that time.

He couldn't help but recall Fang Qi's words. "I choose to remain single. The only thing I want to do now is to run Miaolin Company, the culmination of my mother's life's work, well. My mother is getting old. Although she is very strong, she will have to retire someday."

Is she atoning for her sins? For her brother's death? A single wrong decision back then made her willing to pay for it with her entire life, but even if she did, would Shen Biyun truly forgive her? Having a son late in life, and her only son at that, one can imagine how heartbroken she was back then. Would she let her daughter off the hook just because of her daughter's atonement? Would she empathize with her daughter's pain and offer her a word of comfort? Would she? Judging from yesterday's dinner, it seems unlikely. Jian Dongping simply couldn't imagine how Fang Qi had survived all these years in such a stifling atmosphere; her vitality was truly remarkable. He felt heartbroken for her.

"And then what happened? I mean, Zeng Hong and Shen Biyun." Jian Dongping tried to pull his thoughts away from Fang Qi's old dreams.

“Zeng Hong died in 1998,” Jian Qiming said. “One late night, he went to the living room to answer the phone and fell down the stairs. His son’s death was a huge blow to him. Since Zeng Xiaochen’s death, he had been in a bad mood and started drinking heavily. He also liked to drink baijiu (a type of Chinese liquor), and he often needed to drink some alcohol before going to bed. The police later found that his blood alcohol level was very high.”

"It was also an accidental death," Jian Dongping commented. "Their family has a really high accidental death rate."

“It was indeed an accidental death, there’s no doubt about that,” Jian Qiming said coldly, a cigar dangling from his lips.

“I understand, Attorney Jian. However, there’s something I don’t quite understand. Shen Biyun has always married men older than herself. What’s gotten into her that she would suddenly marry a man 22 years younger than her? Is she sexually frustrated?” Jian Dongping asked, feeling that the question didn’t seem like his own; it wasn’t subtle enough.

"Dragon and phoenix twins? Zeng Yushan has a younger brother?" Jian Dongping thought of the uncle Fang Xiaoxi had mentioned.

"Yes, that child's name is Zeng Xiaochen."

"Where is he?" Jian Dongping asked.

"It was probably in 1994. He was about 11 years old when he died in an accident."

Jian Dongping was startled.

"Where did this happen? Was it an accident?" he asked quickly.

"The scene is the villa you visited yesterday. They bought that villa through various connections shortly after returning to China. Originally, Shen Biyun and Zeng Hong only lived with the twins. Fang Qi and Fang Rouzhi were always cared for by Shen Biyun's mother, Huang Xiuzhi. However, after Huang Xiuzhi passed away in 1989, Fang Qi and the nanny, Zhang Yufen, returned to Shen Biyun's side. Fang Rouzhi was already 22 years old at that time and was about to get married, so she didn't come back, while Fang Qi was only 9 years old at that time."

"Was Zeng Xiaochen's death related to Fang Qi?" Jian Dongping understood the implication in his father's words.

"It was Fang Qi who caused it."

Jian Dongping was startled again, and Fang Qi's beautiful and indifferent face appeared before his eyes.

"what is going on?"

"The children were playing war games. Fang Qi was on one side, and the twins were on the other. At first, they just pretended to fight with sticks and things like branches. Later, Fang Qi probably got impatient, and the boy kept mocking her, so Fang Qi took a real knife from the kitchen. The boy also went to the kitchen and took a kitchen knife, and the two of them really started fighting. As a result, Fang Qi stabbed Zeng Xiaochen squarely. At that time, their maid Zhang Yufen was not home. There was also a young nanny, about 20 years old, who was responsible for looking after the twins. But while they were playing, she secretly dozed off in the living room. When she was woken up, Zeng Xiaochen was already..." Jian Qiming pursed his lips, but there was no regret or sympathy in his tone.

"Does she get along with her brother?" From this tragic story, Jian Dongping sensed a strong emotion hidden deep within Fang Qi's heart.

“I talked to her afterward. She said that Shen Biyun had hit her the day before because she went to play in the storage room without permission, and she was very angry. Zeng Xiaochen not only hit her on the head, but also kept mocking her about what happened the day before. She was furious, but she also said that she didn’t expect her brother to die. She just wanted to tell him to shut up, but Zeng Xiaochen kept talking.” Jian Qiming said with a serious expression, “To be honest, this boy was indeed spoiled by his parents. Of course, having a child late in life, and being their only son, it’s inevitable that they would spoil him a little. But this boy’s words and actions are really infuriating. He takes advantage of his parents’ pampering and bullies almost everyone in the family. I have reminded Shen Biyun about this many times, but at that time she was busy with her career and didn’t take my words to heart at all.”

"How did this matter end?"

"Of course, we went through the normal procedures. There's really nothing to delve into. It was an accident." Jian Qiming took a deep drag of his cigarette, revealing a very satisfied expression.

How old was Fang Qi at that time?

"15 years old."

"15 years old?!" Jian Dongping was taken aback.

"What's so surprising about this?" Jian Qiming glanced at him, puzzled.

“You just said the twins were born in 1984, so the little boy should be 11 years old. Dad, can a 15-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy play together?” Jian Dongping asked doubtfully. “I think 15 is way past the age for playing house. Who suggested this game? If it was the little boy who suggested it, then he might be trying to bully his sister, and he might have forced Fang Qi to participate. But if it was Fang Qi who suggested it, then…”

“Son!” Jian Qiming coldly interrupted him. “Let’s leave some things unsaid and not speculate.” After a while, he sighed again. “Actually, Fang Qi is a very pitiful girl. She always admired her mother. When she was abandoned at her grandmother’s house, she wrote to Shen Biyun every week to tell her about her situation. She loved Shen Biyun very much, but she was also very afraid of her. After that incident, she asked me if her mother would hate her forever? If she asked the judge to sentence her to death, could her mother forgive her?” Although her father’s tone was always nonchalant, Jian Dongping could still hear the despair in Fang Qi’s voice at that time.

He couldn't help but recall Fang Qi's words. "I choose to remain single. The only thing I want to do now is to run Miaolin Company, the culmination of my mother's life's work, well. My mother is getting old. Although she is very strong, she will have to retire someday."

Is she atoning for her sins? For her brother's death? A single wrong decision back then made her willing to pay for it with her entire life, but even if she did, would Shen Biyun truly forgive her? Having a son late in life, and her only son at that, one can imagine how heartbroken she was back then. Would she let her daughter off the hook just because of her daughter's atonement? Would she empathize with her daughter's pain and offer her a word of comfort? Would she? Judging from yesterday's dinner, it seems unlikely. Jian Dongping simply couldn't imagine how Fang Qi had survived all these years in such a stifling atmosphere; her vitality was truly remarkable. He felt heartbroken for her.

"And then what happened? I mean, Zeng Hong and Shen Biyun." Jian Dongping tried to pull his thoughts away from Fang Qi's old dreams.

“Zeng Hong died in 1998,” Jian Qiming said. “One late night, he went to the living room to answer the phone and fell down the stairs. His son’s death was a huge blow to him. Since Zeng Xiaochen’s death, he had been in a bad mood and started drinking heavily. He also liked to drink baijiu (a type of Chinese liquor), and he often needed to drink some alcohol before going to bed. The police later found that his blood alcohol level was very high.”

"It was also an accidental death," Jian Dongping commented. "Their family has a really high accidental death rate."

“It was indeed an accidental death, there’s no doubt about that,” Jian Qiming said coldly, a cigar dangling from his lips.

“I understand, Attorney Jian. However, there’s something I don’t quite understand. Shen Biyun has always married men older than herself. What’s gotten into her that she would suddenly marry a man 22 years younger than her? Is she sexually frustrated?” Jian Dongping asked, feeling that the question didn’t seem like his own; it wasn’t subtle enough.

Jian Qiming laughed.

“Attorney Jane, your smile is sinister.”

"Hmm, hehehe." Jian Qiming continued to chuckle wickedly.

"Please answer the question. Why did Shen Biyun suddenly decide to get married? Does she want to... become Wu Zetian?"

"Don't overthink it. Shen Biyun isn't interested in sex. She herself admits that she's well past the age where she'd be interested in it. She and Su Zhiwen have always slept in separate beds."

"You even know this, which means you've been to her bedroom," he blurted out.

Jian Qiming glanced at him and said, "Was it Ling Ge who proposed the breakup?"

He ignored that question and returned to the main topic, "Why did Shen Biyun marry Su Zhiwen?"

Jian Qiming glanced at him and said, "Was it Ling Ge who proposed the breakup?"

He ignored that question and returned to the main topic, "Why did Shen Biyun marry Su Zhiwen?"

"Actually, a large part of her initial motivation for getting married was to spite her daughters," Jian Qiming said with a smile. "One year on her birthday, all her daughters were busy and none of them came back to celebrate with her, so in a fit of anger, she announced that she was getting married."

“Why didn’t any of them come? At least Fang Qi should have gone to celebrate, she cares so much about Shen Biyun. And Fang Rouzhi, she’s obviously been trying to please her stepmother,” Jian Dongping said.

"Fang Qi eloped with a man during that time."

"Elope?" So, she had also thought about escaping this home.

“The man was a salesman at a branch of Miaolin Company. He was quite handsome, and I've met him before. Fang Qi really wanted to marry him, but Shen Biyun opposed the marriage, saying that the man was a swindler. One morning, Fang Qi left a note for Shen Biyun and left. As a result, the man swindled Fang Qi's savings to invest and then disappeared without a trace. Two months later, I received a call from Fang Qi for help. She was hiding alone in her rented room and had no money to pay the rent. I paid the rent for her and told Shen Biyun about her situation. In the end, Shen Biyun personally went to pick her up and didn't blame her at all.”

Although she didn't say a word, everything was understood without being spoken. Fang Qi, who desperately wanted to escape that home, returned dejectedly, and unfortunately, her mother's prediction about the man she had chosen came true. Her sense of defeat must have been immense.

"And what about Fang Rouzhi?" Jian Dongping couldn't bear to think too much about Fang Qi's feelings, so he asked.

"She was hospitalized at the time with cholecystitis."

"Why would she bring her daughter to live with Shen Biyun? What's their relationship like?" Jian Dongping had a feeling that although Fang Rouzhi looked sickly, she was actually a woman who knew how to read people and sow discord.

“She originally had no connection with Shen Biyun, but later she fell ill and lost her job, her husband had an accident, and her child needed to go to school. A series of events left her with nowhere to turn, so she came to Shen Biyun for help.”

What happened to her husband?

"He got into a fight, stabbed someone to death, and fled. It's been 5 years, and there's still no news of him."

"Fang Rouzhi only has one daughter, Fang Xiaoxi? Why does she have her surname?"

“She changed her surname after her husband’s accident.” Jian Qiming glanced at him. “You’re really asking detailed questions.”

"So, what is the relationship between Fang Rouzhi and Shen Biyun?"

“She depends on Shen Biyun for a living. Shen Biyun pays for her medical expenses and Fang Xiaoxi’s tuition. Of course, she tries to please Shen Biyun in everything.”

Even so, it's hard to say whether there are any real feelings involved.

"I heard that Shen Biyun dotes on that girl Fang Xiaoxi."

“Xiaoxi has a talent for painting. Her paintings once won first prize in the city, which made Shen Biyun very happy. She wanted to cultivate this girl into a painter, so she inevitably indulged her a bit. After all, you can't restrict an artist too much,” Jian Qiming said.

"And why didn't she go to celebrate her birthday?"

"They said they forgot and went out to play with their classmates."

"And what about Zeng Yushan?"

"She went to participate in a charity event. She's always been very enthusiastic about these things and often asks Shen Biyun to donate money, so the two of them often quarrel. You saw it last time, she didn't go to celebrate Biyun's birthday. It's probably on purpose, haha. She's always going against Biyun."

“Yes, they may argue, but I still think Shen Biyun prefers Zeng Yushan to Fang Qi,” Jian Dongping said.

“Some things are unforgettable, and you can’t blame Shen Biyun for that. At least she gave Fang Qi a good life,” Jian Qiming said.

Is that kind of life good? Jian Dongping couldn't help but feel sorry for Fang Qi when he thought about her situation.

"So, just because none of her daughters celebrated Shen Biyun's birthday, she's planning to find someone else who cares about her and get married?" Jian Dongping asked.

“Yes. She announced to her daughters that she was going to find them an outstanding stepfather.” Jian Qiming chuckled. “She did it purely out of spite, or rather, as a prank. In the end, she found Su Zhiwen.”

Where did she meet Su Zhiwen?

“At a press conference called ‘Sexy Memories of Shanghai,’ Su Zhiwen happened to be there for some reason, and they bumped into each other and danced together. From then on, they started seeing each other and got married not long after.”

"What exactly does Su Zhiwen do?"

"He is a teacher at a ballroom dance school."

"What about before?"

“He was very secretive about his past, but I still found out that he had been a Chinese teacher at No. 15 Middle School. He graduated from a teachers' college, but he only stayed at that middle school for three years before resigning. After that, no one knew where he went. According to what he told Shen Biyun, he had done all sorts of things.”

"What kind of person is Su Zhiwen? Has he been married before?"

“He’s never been married. He’s handsome, refined, and speaks like a gentleman. I spoke with him once, and my impression wasn’t bad. He’s read a lot of books; he’s not some empty-headed gigolo. He even knows Emily Dixon. He told me that Shen Biyun doesn’t need a man, but someone she can talk to, someone willing to listen to her and understand her.” Jian Qiming’s face showed a thoughtful expression. “In a way, he convinced me that he married Shen Biyun not because of her wealth, but because of his unique taste.”

"Regardless of whether Su Zhiwen has unique tastes or not, marrying a man so much younger than oneself involves a great risk. How could a shrewd woman like Shen Biyun be so reckless?"