CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 96; ANY BUSINESS DEALINGS

As he left the room, he heard Yuyan asking Shuyin, "Is Daddy in trouble? Because of that man last night?"

"No," Shuyin replied with absolute certainty. "Your father is perfectly safe. I’ll make sure of it."

And somehow, despite everything, that simple statement made Lu Yuze feel more secure than any lawyer or bodyguard ever could.

Because when Shuyin made a promise, she kept it.

Even if her methods were... unconventional.

Even if they left bodies in their wake.

Even if they shattered every moral certainty he’d once held.

She kept her promises.

And right now, that was enough.

He picked up the phone in his study, his voice perfectly calm and professional.

"This is Lu Yuze. How can I help you, Detective?"

Outside his window, the morning sun continued to rise, indifferent to the night’s deaths.

And in the breakfast room, a twelve-year-old girl ate her congee while her stepmother planned how to collect a child as payment for murder.

Just another morning in the Lu household.

Just another day in his new reality.

LU YUZE’S STUDY - 8:15 AM

Lu Yuze settled into the leather chair behind his mahogany desk, the phone pressed to his ear. Through the window, he could see the morning mist still clinging to the garden’s ornamental shrubs. Everything looked peaceful and normal.

"Detective Zhou," he said, his voice professionally courteous. "How can I assist you?"

"Sixth Master Lu, thank you for taking my call." Detective Zhou’s voice was measured, neither hostile nor warm. "I’m calling about the Chen family situation. I understand you’ve already spoken with officers last night about Chen Ting’s visit to your estate?"

"That’s correct. I provided a full account and offered security footage for everything."

"Yes, and we’ve reviewed that footage. Very helpful." There was a pause, the sound of papers rustling. "I’m calling now because... well, the situation has become considerably more complicated overnight."

Lu Yuze kept his expression neutral despite being alone in the room. "Oh? How so?"

"I’m sure you’ve seen the news by now. The Chen family has experienced multiple deaths. Chen Guowei, Madam Liu, Chen Wei, and Chen Hao, all deceased within hours of Chen Ting’s accident."

"I saw the reports this morning," Lu Yuze confirmed. "It’s really tragic indeed. The whole family, essentially."

"Yes. Tragic." There was another pause. "Master Lu, I need to ask you some questions. Standard procedure, you understand. Given that Chen Ting’s last known location before his death was your estate, and given the... unusual circumstances of so many family members dying in such a short timeframe."

"Of course. I’m happy to cooperate fully."

"Can you walk me through Chen Ting’s visit again? In detail this time?"

Lu Yuze leaned back in his chair, his tone remaining calm and factual. "Chen Ting arrived at approximately late afternoon, according to our gate security logs. He drove up to the main entrance without an appointment or invitation. When my security team asked him to leave, he became belligerent and forced his way past the outer gates."

"Forced his way past?"

"He accelerated his vehicle through the checkpoint before the barrier could be fully lowered. My team had to scramble to avoid being struck." Lu Yuze kept his voice even, and very professional. "At that point, it became a trespassing situation."

"I see. And then?"

"He exited his vehicle in the front courtyard and demanded entry to the mansion. He was shouting about his wife, claiming she was on the property and that he had a legal right to retrieve her."

"Was his wife on your property?"

"No," Lu Yuze lied smoothly. "I have no idea where Mrs. Chen Wan is. I told him as much. He didn’t believe me and became increasingly aggressive."

"Aggressive how?"

"Verbally threatening. He said he would destroy me, ruin my business, and use his family’s connections to bury me. Standard wealthy-person tantrum, really." Lu Yuze allowed a hint of disdain to enter his voice. "When words failed, he attempted to force entry to the mansion physically. That’s when my security team intervened."

"How did they intervene?"

"They restrained him and escorted him off the property. Firmly, but not violently. We have strict protocols about excessive force." Lu Yuze paused. "Though I won’t pretend it was gentle. He was actively resisting, and my men had to use appropriate measures to remove him."

"Did anyone strike him? Use weapons?"

"No weapons. Some physical restraint, holds, pressure points, that sort of thing. Nothing that would cause lasting injury. My head of security is a former military police; he knows the difference between necessary force and assault."

"I see." More note-taking. "What time did Chen Ting leave your property?"

"4:34 PM, according to our gate logs. Seventeen minutes after he arrived."

"And what was his condition when he left?"

"Angry. Embarrassed. Probably humiliated." Lu Yuze chose his words carefully. "But physically unharmed. He walked to his car under his own power, started the engine without difficulty, and drove away at high speed. I assumed he was simply an angry man who’d been denied what he wanted."

"You didn’t think to call the police about the trespassing?"

"In hindsight, perhaps I should have," Lu Yuze admitted. "But at the time, it seemed like an overreaction. The situation was resolved, he was gone, and I didn’t want to escalate what was essentially a family matter, his search for his missing wife."

Detective Zhou was silent for a moment. "Master Lu, did you know the Chen family? Did you have any prior relationship with them?"

"Minimal. I’d met Chen Guowei at a few charity functions, industry events. Purely social. I’d never met Chen Ting or his brothers before last night."

"Any business dealings?"

"None whatsoever. Chen Industries and Lu Group operate in completely different sectors." Lu Yuze frowned slightly, as if puzzled. "Detective, may I ask, are you investigating these deaths as something other than medical emergencies?"

"I’m investigating them as unexplained deaths," Zhou replied carefully. "The medical examiner has confirmed that all four.....