The so-called self-defense refers to the act of stopping illegal infringement by someone engaging in unlawful behavior, causing harm to the offender. This constitutes self-defense and bears no criminal responsibility.

————

The second day after Su Xiaomeng returned to Beijing, she had just gotten over the jet lag when she received a call from home early in the morning before even getting to the office.

The call was not from anyone else; it was from her mother, Bai Sixian.

"Your grandaunt... is dead."

Grandaunt... Su Jifang.

Upon hearing this news, Su Xiaomeng was evidently somewhat shocked.

Su Jifang was much younger than her grandfather; her grandfather was still healthy and agile. How did Su Jifang suddenly die?

Guo Tong’s death had a great impact on her, pushed her to the brink of madness, which Su Xiaomeng also knew.

But Su Xiaomeng indeed had no fondness for that side of the family, especially...

She and Guo Tong... had a blood feud.

Her third child... No matter how much time passed, she could not forget the child who died shortly after birth, nor could she forget the blood she shed, the torment she endured, and the hardships that nearly took her life. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

After Guo Tong’s death, she didn’t know how the Guo Family fared.

Perhaps Shixiu knew... She did hear Yin Shixiu mention the Guo Family on the phone unintentionally.

But he hadn’t mentioned it to her and she didn’t want to ask.

"...Oh."

Su Xiaomeng responded flatly, dead... just dead then.

Su Jifang had no children of her own; she adopted Guo Tong, yet Guo Tong took a misguided path and lost her young life, now mad in a mental hospital, better off dead.

"Died at Yin Shiqing’s house."

"..."

"Two nights ago, she escaped from the mental hospital, made her way to the residential area where Yin Shiqing lived, trashed Yin Shiqing’s house, then tried to attack Yin Bowen, who was on the stairs. As they fought, your grandaunt fell down the stairs, hit her head, and died instantly."

"..."

Su Xiaomeng clenched her fist, unable to breathe for a moment, her stomach churned with nausea.

Bai Sixian spoke this calmly.

Unable to speak, Su Xiaomeng was silent for a moment, feeling the weight of it all.

"I received your grandfather’s call after you left. Your grandfather was heartbroken, said he would come to Beijing for your grandaunt’s funeral. I just wanted to let you know, since it involves Political Commissioner Yin Shiqing, it’s impossible for the news to spread publicly."

"..."

"Your granduncle is probably not taking it well either. But... this is how it is; the police have completed their evidence collection, and, with the mental hospital and residential area surveillance footage, confirmed that Su Jifang went there on her own."

"It seems like Yin Bowen was scratched by your grandaunt, so the police..."

"Enough. That family is probably unharmed, they’ll grant Yin Shiqing’s political status a favor; determining it as self-defense isn’t hard!"

"..."

Su Xiaomeng felt a deep suffocation in her chest.

Whether it was truly self-defense or premeditated harm, only Yin Shiqing’s family and the late Su Jifang knew.

Everything related to the Yin Shiqing family made her sick to her stomach.

"Xiaomeng, I’m telling you this not to have you investigate, just so you know."

"I won’t investigate anything, it’s pointless. Alright, I’ll take care of Grandpa’s visit to Beijing, don’t worry."

"...Okay."

After hanging up, the car arrived at the Yin Group Building.

Xiaomeng looked up at the towering skyscraper, her thoughts wandering...

Wondering if this building could crush Yin Shiqing and his son into pulp.

————

As Bai Sixian had mentioned, Su Jifang’s death at Yin Shiqing’s house hadn’t appeared in any media outlet.

Su Xiaomeng knew things couldn’t be that simple.

What kind of self-defense could kill, when standing between a strong, middle-aged man and a frail, mentally unstable old woman?

"Madam, what are you investigating?"

Su Xiaomeng was startled, looked back displeased at Chen Lan,

"When did you come in?"

"...Madam, I think I came in with quite a noise; are you looking at criminal law?"

Chen Lan looked at the computer screen, filled with notes on criminal law... words dense on the screen.

Xiaomeng frowned, instinctively reaching to close the webpage.

"Is it because of... your grandaunt’s matter?"

"No, I’m just browsing."

Su Xiaomeng quickly said, then closed the webpage. She turned her chair, facing Chen Lan,

"Is there anything important?"

Chen Lan noticed a flash of irritability and conflict in Su Xiaomeng’s eyes...

Considering the "self-defense" laws displayed earlier, it wasn’t hard to guess what was on Su Xiaomeng’s mind.

Chen Lan didn’t point it out, simply handed over organized documents,

"I’ve checked each department’s quarterly summaries and reports this quarter, nothing major. Review them if you want, otherwise, just sign."

"I better review them."

"Yes, that’s good."

Chen Lan could see Su Xiaomeng was troubled.

"By the way, Madam, your grandfather’s flight arrives at around two in the afternoon. You still intend to pick him up yourself?"

Su Xiaomeng nodded,

"Just remind me later, I’ll go personally."

————

Grandfather Su Jikang arrived in Beijing at exactly two thirty.

Grandfather, dressed in a clean, white short-sleeved shirt, carried an old suitcase that clashed with his neat appearance, made of bamboo with craftsmanship from decades ago.

Walking with him was Grandma.

Grandma had gained some weight, still walked steadily, though the grandeur of the Capital Airport and the packed, bustling crowd left her somewhat bewildered.

Her old wrinkled hand held tightly onto her husband’s.

Xiaomeng had arrived early and had seen Grandpa and Grandma from afar.

She hadn’t returned to Su Family Village in two years...

Seeing Grandpa and Grandma looking out of place and tense in an unfamiliar environment, Xiaomeng felt her eyes warm.

They... were looking around, seemingly searching for Xiaomeng.

Xiaomeng playfully observed, then quietly approached, but found she wasn’t recognized even from five or six paces away...

Until she stood before them and called out,

"Grandpa, Grandma!"