264: Chapter 264: Just Right, I’m Missing a Daughter-in-Law [10 Updates] 264: Chapter 264: Just Right, I’m Missing a Daughter-in-Law [10 Updates] The grand manor, seated midway up the mountainside, exuded an air of sheer grandiosity.
Inside the great hall, dragons and phoenixes adorned the walls, while a bronze censer sat at the center, radiating an ancient charm.
Tea tables were arranged in front of Situ Yuanhua on the platform, and the mind-soothing fragrance of tea wafted freely through the air.
In front of him was a woman with a cold demeanor, Xu Ruolan, whose delicate features seemed intricately carved from marble, her long hair cascading down like a waterfall.
Her tea cup remained untouched; up to this point, it had been Situ Yuanhua speaking alone, as if he were talking to himself.
“Miss Xu, it seems you do not enjoy tea tasting—that was my oversight,” Situ Yuanhua chuckled lightly.
With a glance, he signaled someone to come forward and remove the tea table.
“Fortunately, I have prepared a family banquet, and you must grace us with your presence this time!”
As soon as Situ Yuanhua finished speaking, the sound of footsteps echoed from the back hall, and a group of people carrying a table later placed it between the two.
A few minutes passed, and a succession of dishes were served onto the table, along with a bottle of white liquor being opened.
“I’ve heard of Miss Xu’s reputation in Zhonghai; you are not as reckless as my son, and the praise you receive from the outside world is indeed well-deserved,” Situ Yuanhua said as he picked up a full cup of wine, but didn’t bring it to his lips; instead, he slowly poured it onto the ground.
This gesture lasted three times, resembling a ritual for paying respects to someone.
“They are but empty honors,” Ruolan finally showed a hint of emotion on her cold, beautiful face as she glanced at the three wine cups in front of Situ Yuanhua, her wariness growing ever stronger.
Now she was certain that the man before her was none other than the father of the deceased Situ Nan.
And the reason he had summoned her here was undoubtedly related to Situ Nan’s death.
Upon hearing her finally respond, laughter escaped Situ Yuanhua’s mouth—a laughter with a trace of coldness.
“Perhaps I used to think so, merely considering others as exaggerations, but upon meeting you today, and speaking of my son, he cannot hold a candle to Miss Xu!”
With a sigh that seemed tinged with regret, Situ Yuanhua filled another cup of wine, this time downing it himself.
“Every father harbors the hope that his son will become a dragon, and you, a famed Qilin lady of Zhonghai, upon meeting you, I cannot help but become nostalgic, thinking of my unworthy son, excuse me, excuse me!”
The smile gradually faded from Situ Yuanhua’s face, the totem tattoo on his left cheek appearing more ferocious in Ruolan’s eyes.
“Miss Xu, please, don’t be courteous.”
Seeing Ruolan not making any move to pick up her chopsticks, Situ Yuanhua rose to his feet, picked up the wine, and slowly filled a cup for Ruolan.
“Miss Xu, I wonder how much you know about my son Situ Nan’s death?”
The moment had finally arrived.
Ruolan’s gaze hardened, as she watched Situ Yuanhua without showing any change in her expression.
He seemed casual, as if asking offhandedly, but his inquiry was laced with veiled menace.
“I heard that on the night when the boy died, Miss Xu had seen him?” Situ Yuanhua took a step back, his eyes emitting a burst of chilling light.
Ruolan’s delicate body trembled slightly, then feigned composure and shook her head, “I no longer remember the events of that day.”
However, Situ Nan had laughed—a laugh that carried a touch of murderous intent; for the small movements Ruolan had made earlier had not escaped his notice.
“Miss Xu need not panic; I know that the person who dealt the fatal blow was certainly not you.
But of those who had contact with the boy that day, only you are still alive.”
Situ Yuanhua wiped the corner of his mouth, his large hand clenching, gripping the dragon head cane beside him tightly.
“I just want to know exactly what happened that night, who else was with my son besides you!”
Situ Yuanhua’s voice gradually rose, his gaze fixed on Xu Ruolan’s eyes, exuding an intimidating presence seemingly without anger.
Xu Ruolan’s eyebrows rose slightly, her cool gaze met his unflinchingly, “Senior Situ, what do you mean by this?”
At that moment, Situ Yuanhua gave a chilling smile, slowly standing up with his hands bracing the table.
He leaned over toward her and said with a laugh, “Miss Xu, you should understand what I’m saying very clearly.”
Xu Ruolan crossed her arms in front of her, maintaining her consistently icy demeanor, seemingly unaffected by Situ Yuanhua’s daunting presence at that moment.
Situ Yuanhua had come prepared this time; he had racked his brains to investigate the true murderer of Situ Nan, and finally confirmed that Xu Ruolan was the only person who had been in contact with his son that night.
But Xu Ruolan was just a weak woman, it was impossible for her alone to kill Situ Nan—there must have been another person there at the time.
As to who this person was, Situ Yuanhua had not yet found out.
The one called Ninth Master, whom Barefooted Di Sha spoke of before his death, though investigated, had not been pinpointed, and there were only a bunch of elusive rumors.
Who the other person was that night, besides Xu Ruolan, no one else knew, which is why Situ Yuanhua had invited Xu Ruolan over.
“Old Mr.
Situ, thank you for your hospitality, I have matters to attend to, please excuse me.”
Xu Ruolan also stood up, looking at Situ Yuanhua evenly, politely speaking before turning to leave.
Situ Yuanhua lowered his head, a faint smile on his face, eyes narrowed as if lost in thought.
He wiped his hands, then grabbing the dragon-headed cane, he laughed and said, “Miss Xu, it’s not good to leave in such a hurry when our conversation isn’t over, is it?”
As soon as his words finished, two men in black suits came out, stretching out their hands to stop Xu Ruolan.
Xu Ruolan slowly turned her head, her expressionless face looking at the smirking Situ Yuanhua, “Senior Situ, I sympathize with your son’s death, but I don’t remember what happened that night anymore.
If you want to find the real killer, you might as well call the police.”
“Hahaha, call the police, Miss Xu sure has a sense of humor.
To think someone like you could say such a thing, I, Situ Yuanhua, have really broadened my horizons today!”
Situ Yuanhua couldn’t help but laugh out loud, Xu Ruolan’s words sounded to him like an enormous joke.
However, Xu Ruolan’s lack of cooperation at this moment was wearing thin on Situ Yuanhua’s patience.
“I just want to know who the killer is, Miss Xu.
If you cooperate with me, you will be a distinguished guest in my manor!”
“And if I don’t?”
“If you don’t…” Situ Yuanhua held the dragon-headed cane, his head bowed, his left face’s totem tattoo looking particularly sinister in the shadow.
Smiling genially at Xu Ruolan, he said, “My son is lonely down there by himself.
If possible, I would rather hope for Miss Xu to join him as a daughter-in-law!”
Xu Ruolan’s face turned frosty, biting her lip, her beautiful eyes widened in anger as she glared at Situ Yuanhua.
The atmosphere suddenly turned extremely tense, yet Situ Yuanhua maintained a faint smile…
……
Elsewhere, having received the location message, Ning Fan immediately tracked the coordinates and rushed to the Manor.
Outside the Manor, Ning Fan strode forward, with the guards at the entrance quickly stepping up to question him.
“Who goes there?”
“Hello, I’m looking for someone.”
Ning Fan was very polite, his lips curving into an enigmatic smile.
[Ten updates explode!!!
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Continuing to work hard, living up to expectations!]