"Xiaoyu!" Huo Lin walked up to Xiao Yu and said to him in an interrogative tone, "I want you to immediately withdraw the lawsuit against Beize and release Beize."
As Huo Lin said this, Xiao Shuran, with red - rimmed eyes, let out a sob and buried her head in Huo Lin's arms, crying uncontrollably. Huo Lin gently patted her on the back. "Don't cry. Beize will be fine."
"The trial has already taken place. Even if I step in, it won't help."
"How is that possible?" Huo Lin was overbearing and a bit aggressive. "Don't think I don't know how powerful you are. In this city S, you're almost all - powerful. I know all the things you've done secretly. This case of Beize is just a matter of your word. I don't care what excuse you come up with. Call the judge right now and tell him to release Beize."
"Are you asking me to threaten the judge? I never do such illegal things," Xiao Yu said coldly.
"I'm not asking you to threaten him. You just need to say a word, and Beize can be released. It's such a small thing. Can't you do it?"
"I won't make this call!" Xiao Yu said with a straight face.
"Fine. If you won't make the call, that's okay, but you have to promise me one condition!" Seeing that she couldn't persuade him, Huo Lin didn't force him anymore.
Xiao Yu raised his eyebrows, indicating for her to continue.
"You just need to promise that you won't interfere in Beize's case anymore and won't put pressure on the legal staff. I'll find your grandfather's friends to help with the rest." Huo Lin stared into his eyes, as if trying to see his true thoughts.
After hearing this, Xiao Yu let out a sneer.
"Are you really my mother?"
"Of course I am. I carried you in my womb for ten months."
"Do you know that when Beize pointed the gun at my forehead, it was already loaded with bullets. If I hadn't had someone replace his gun, I'm afraid now..." Xiao Yu hooked his lips coldly. "What you'd be looking at is a cold corpse."
"You mean... Beize..." Huo Lin was momentarily speechless, finding it hard to believe. "Wasn't he just threatening you?"
"Threatening me?" Xiao Yu laughed mockingly and then pointed at his forehead. "Do you know that the muzzle of his gun was pointed right here? I gave him a chance. If he hadn't pulled the trigger, I could have pretended nothing had happened. But he was so stubborn..."
Huo Lin looked at Xiao Shuran, who was crying pitifully, in surprise.
Xiao Shuran immediately panicked and explained, "Mom, it's not what you think. Don't believe Xiaoyu. Xiaoyu hates Beize so much now. He's just saying this on purpose."
"Gasoline barrels were placed all around the abandoned factory, and the house was doused with gasoline. Everyone was carrying a lighter. He had already planned his escape route. As soon as I fell, he would have someone light the barrels around. What do you think would happen?" Xiao Yu's words were cold and accusing.
Huo Lin's face instantly turned pale.
If the gasoline barrels exploded, the abandoned factory would surely burst into flames. With the house also doused with gasoline, not even a fly could escape. It was very likely that not even Xiao Yu's bones would be found.
How cruel and vicious must one be to do such a thing? Hating someone to such an extent that one wished they would disappear completely from this world.
Although Huo Lin had always been somewhat distant from Xiao Yu, he was still her own flesh and blood. Chu Beize was her grandson, but her grandson had tried so viciously to kill her son, and yet she still hoped that her son could let go of his grudges.
She even forced her son to release that would - be murderer. What on earth was she doing?
"No, Beize wouldn't do such a thing!" Xiao Shuran was anxious and loudly retorted. She nervously grabbed Huo Lin's hand. "Mom, don't believe what Xiaoyu said. Beize wouldn't be so cruel. Even if this really happened, he must have been used by someone."
"His gun was already loaded with bullets in advance. Was that also because someone used him? Didn't he know about it?" Huo Lin said disappointedly as she shook off Xiao Shuran's hand. "I've really spoiled you, and you've spoiled Beize too. How could he do such a heinous thing?"
"No, it's impossible. He must have been framed. It was an abandoned factory. Beize must not have known in advance that it was full of gasoline barrels." Xiao Shuran pleaded urgently with Huo Lin. "Mom, you must believe me. If something happens to Beize, I don't want to live either."
"This is the lesson he deserves. Stop crying here and making a fool of yourself!" Huo Lin gave Xiao Shuran a cold look and then affectionately patted Xiao Yu on the shoulder. "Xiaoyu, Xiaoxi, you've just come back from outside. You must be tired. Go back and rest quickly."
After saying that, she looked at Ye Yanxi with a smile.
Xiao Yu didn't even bother to look at her and Xiao Shuran again. He simply put his arm around Ye Yanxi and walked towards the gate.
The last glimmer of hope in Xiao Shuran's heart was shattered. A great sense of grief and indignation welled up in her, and her mind was on the verge of collapse.
She looked at the figures of Xiao Yu and Ye Yanxi, and then fixed her gaze firmly on Ye Yanxi.
At that moment, the hatred in her heart crazily devoured her. With a distorted face, she stared at Ye Yanxi and shouted angrily, "It's all your fault, Ye Yanxi. If it weren't for you, Beize wouldn't have gotten into trouble. It's all your fault. I'm going to kill you!"
After shouting, a bloodthirsty look flashed in Xiao Shuran's eyes. She took out the fruit knife she had previously put in her bag.
Then, like a madwoman, Xiao Shuran rushed straight at Ye Yanxi, trying to stab her.
Huo Lin was so angry that she was shaking all over.
She never expected that Xiao Shuran would be so crazy as to attempt to kill someone. With so many surveillance cameras here, this was simply breaking the law knowingly.
Huo Lin quickly grabbed Xiao Shuran and scolded, "Shuran, you're being ridiculous!"
Although her hands were held by Huo Lin, she was on the verge of a mental breakdown and couldn't listen to any advice.
At this moment, Ye Yanxi in front of her was her enemy. The only thought in her mind was to kill Ye Yanxi and make her disappear forever. Since Huo Lin was blocking her way, in desperation, Xiao Shuran took out the knife and stabbed Huo Lin.
"I'm going to kill you," Xiao Shuran said with red eyes and a ferocious expression.
Then the tip of the knife plunged into Huo Lin's body without any resistance. She only had time to let out a cry of pain before subconsciously loosening her arms that were holding Xiao Shuran.
Looking up at Xiao Shuran, who had lost her mind, almost in disbelief, and then at the knife that was half - buried in her body, Huo Lin's lips trembled. She covered the wound with both hands as the blood kept gushing out. "Shuran, you..."
This sudden change happened so fast that by the time Ye Yanxi realized it, it was already too late. She could only watch helplessly as the knife in Xiao Shuran's hand stabbed into Huo Lin's chest.
Ye Yanxi caught Huo Lin as she was about to fall. "Auntie, how are you?"
Xiao Yu looked at Xiao Shuran with cold eyes.
Facing Xiao Yu's intimidating gaze, Xiao Shuran took a few panicked steps back and stammered, "No, it wasn't me. I didn't want to kill Mom. I didn't."
Saying that, Xiao Shuran took a few more steps back. But there were high steps behind her. She missed her footing and rolled down the steps. She fell to the ground and passed out.
Soon, Huo Lin's face turned deathly pale. The blood gushing from the wound on her chest soaked a large area of her clothes, looking extremely shocking. The wound was still bleeding, so she couldn't be moved casually.
"Xiao Yu, what should we do?" Ye Yanxi looked at Xiao Yu worriedly. She didn't dare to move at all now, for fear that the knife would hurt Huo Lin's heart.
Standing beside them, Xiao Yu gently took Huo Lin from Ye Yanxi's arms. Calmly, he said to Ye Yanxi, "Xiaoxi, call 120."
"Um... okay." Ye Yanxi quickly took out her phone and dialed the number. After the call was connected, Ye Yanxi reported the address as quickly as possible, and then stood aside, looking at Huo Lin worriedly.
Huo Lin wasn't completely unconscious yet. She still had a glimmer of consciousness. The color had faded from her lips, making them look very pale. Her lips moved as she said to Xiao Yu, "Xiaoyu, am I going to die soon?"
Xiao Yu stared straight ahead. His eyes were deep, showing no emotion. He didn't look down at Huo Lin. "Don't talk for now. The ambulance will be here soon."
Although his voice was as cold as ever, Ye Yanxi could tell that Xiao Yu was trying to comfort Huo Lin.
On normal days, Xiao Yu had always been indifferent towards Huo Lin. They didn't even seem like mother and son. But at this moment, from Xiao Yu's slightly trembling arms and his tightly pursed lips, Ye Yanxi knew that Xiao Yu was very worried about Huo Lin.
After all, they shared the same blood. Mother and son were connected in heart. Even though Xiao Yu had hatred for Huo Lin, he wouldn't just stand by and watch her die without doing anything.
Huo Lin glanced at Xiao Shuran, who was unconscious at the bottom of the steps. With great effort, she raised her hand and grabbed Xiao Yu's wrist. "Xiaoyu, Beize deserved his punishment. Mom won't force you to let him go. But Shuran is your elder sister after all. She didn't mean to hurt me this time. Mom is begging you. Don't pursue her responsibility."
After just saying a few words, more blood spread from Huo Lin's chest. As the blood flowed out, all her strength seemed to be drained away in an instant. Her voice became softer and softer.
"Okay? Xiaoyu, promise Mom." Huo Lin grabbed Xiao Yu's wrist with difficulty.
Xiao Yu looked deeply into her eyes. The veins on his wrist bulged. After a long time, he finally replied with a single word, "Okay."
"Then I can rest assured," Huo Lin said with a faint smile. "They say that when a person is about to die, they will understand a lot of things. I've lived a fulfilling life. I can tell who is sincere and who is false. In the end, I realized that the person I'm most sorry for is your father. Don't hate him anymore. It's all my fault. When you see him in the future, remember to say sorry to him for me."
"You can tell him these things yourself. I won't pass on your message for you."
"No, you must promise me. I'm afraid I won't have the chance to..." As Huo Lin said this, her voice grew weaker. Suddenly, she couldn't catch her breath, and her head tilted as she passed out.
Xiao Yu's knuckles turned white as he hugged Huo Lin tightly in his arms. He shouted at Ye Yanxi excitedly, "Call again. Why isn't the ambulance here yet!"