To Yin Shiqing’s family, Su Jifang had no value whatsoever. On the contrary, if they could, Yin Shiqing and Yin Bowen would have long since made this old woman—who’d gone mad after Guo Tong’s death—disappear.

Guo Tong’s refusal to accept her lot, her recklessness and self-righteousness, were not inherited from the old woman who’d raised her, but rather were shaped in opposition to that woman’s cowardice, hesitation, and excessive contentment, and had been rooted in her character since childhood.

Mother and daughter had completely different personalities and worldviews.

Clearly, Guo Tong was much harder to deal with than Su Jifang, yet even the calculating and wildly ambitious Guo Tong ended up as nothing more than a human shield and scapegoat for the Yin Shiqing family.

As for Su Jifang...

Yin Shiqing had always regarded her as a hidden danger.

He should have taken care of those Guo Family people right after Guo Tong took the fall, but he hadn’t expected that, afterward, Yin Shixiu would privately send people to look after the Guo Family.

Yin Shiqing guessed that Yin Shixiu probably still wanted to dig some things out of the Guo Family that would be unfavorable to them.

But whether it was Su Jifang, or Guo Jianping, or that young man named Guo Shuai...

Even if they knew something, they had no evidence.

Besides, Yin Shiqing more or less understood the temperament of this whole family. Just because Guo Tong took all the blame didn’t mean Guo Tong was innocent.

This family had no power, no influence, and were timid and obsequious. Where would they get the guts to go head-to-head against him, Yin Shiqing?

The reason Su Jifang went mad was precisely because the extreme conflict and pain in her heart had twisted into a knot she could never untie, wasn’t it?

They didn’t have the courage to stand up for their daughter, because they weren’t completely innocent either.

But now...

Yin Shiqing stared at Su Jifang lying at the bottom of his staircase. Her lifeless eyes were fixed on some point, and although they were clearly already dull, they gave people the feeling that they were filled with resentment and hatred...

Chilling.

Just looking at the pool of bright red blood spreading across the floor, Yin Bowen knew the old woman was already dead.

"No, no way..."

He muttered, his lips as dry as if he’d gone thirsty for days, his voice unable to hide its trembling. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Standing beside Yin Bowen, Shi Haiyan was also stunned at that moment. Her own scream seemed to still hang in the air, yet Su Jifang had already tumbled down to the bottom of the stairs and stopped breathing.

"Hu... husband..."

Shi Haiyan looked at Yin Shiqing in panic...

She saw Yin Shiqing’s eyes lowered, as if he were thinking. The stench of blood filled the air, assaulting their sense of smell and making their minds reel.

Yin Shiqing was deeply grateful that he’d just ordered the servants to leave.

"Dad... I—I didn’t mean to, I swear. Sure, I hate that old hag’s guts too, but I’m not stupid enough to kill someone in my own house!"

Yin Bowen blurted out.

His heart was full of fear.

Yin Shiqing lifted his eyes and met his son’s gaze, his pupils narrowing slightly.

"If you weren’t my only son, I’d have let you rot in prison a long time ago."

"..."

Shi Haiyan and Yin Bowen both sucked in a sharp breath.

"Calm down, both of you, and do exactly as I say."

"Yes."

Yin Bowen answered like a subordinate taking orders from his superior.

"Don’t touch anything here. Bo Wen, you call the police yourself. Dial the district Public Security Bureau’s direct line. You can find it online."

Right now, the city Public Security Department head was no longer Wu Rong, but... Bai Sidong.

If they called 110 directly and triggered the main public security alarm system, it was hard to say whether, once Yin Bowen’s name was reported, Bai Sidong would personally intervene.

Bai Sidong stepping in would absolutely not be good for them.

Calling the local police station’s landline to report the incident would be more efficient and would better avoid Bai Sidong.

By the time the case was out in the open and Bai Sidong eventually learned about it, the timing would be much more to their advantage.

Yin Bowen could never think that far ahead. At a time like this, whatever his father said, he would do.

He agreed again and again.

After reporting to the police, the family sat in the living room and waited for the officers to arrive.

Naturally, Yin Shiqing also called Wu Rong. The former department head now held an important position in the Central Procuratorate; he could still lend some help.

After listening carefully to Yin Shiqing’s detailed account, Wu Rong pondered for a moment, then said,

"It’s a minor matter. Political Commissar, don’t worry about it. Your son’s actions amount to nothing more than justifiable defense."

"With your words, Brother Wu, I can rest easy."

Yin Shiqing and Wu Rong didn’t exchange much small talk. This call was, first, to see if Wu Rong could help where possible, and second, to give him a heads-up in advance so he wouldn’t be caught unprepared when he eventually heard about it.