Yan Zhen had never been mercilessly beaten with a stick like this in his life. At first, he was in disbelief, so he dodged a little, and there was also a look of defiance on his face.
"Grandpa, I was also forced!"
But the more he dodged and argued, the harder Yan Haikun hit.
"Do you think you're the most wronged person in the world? That everyone has let you down?"
"Four years ago, you also said you were forced when you broke off the engagement with Yuan Xi. Four years later, when Yuan Xi has a new life, instead of blessing her, you even want to ruin her happiness. You also say you were forced! But who exactly forced you? Isn't it your own choice?"
Although the old man was getting on in years, he was still in good health and showed no mercy.
Yan Zhen went from dodging to slowly stopping struggling and silently enduring. He lay on the ground, with sharp pain shooting through his body. The bones in his shoulders felt like they were about to break, and Yan Haikun's deafening questions echoed constantly in his ears.
Isn't it your own choice?
"Yes, that's right. It was indeed my choice to break off the engagement, because she betrayed me. She was no longer the wife I wanted."
Yan Zhen said hoarsely:
"But I also felt unwilling. We used to be so happy. I liked her so much. I looked forward to building my own family with her every day. But everything was ruined that night. Grandpa, I've thought countless times, out of so many people in the world, why did I have to go through all this? Why is God so unfair to me? Whenever I think about this, I can't control myself!"
"That's not an excuse for you to harm others on purpose!"
Yan Haikun scolded.
"No matter how much grievance you've suffered, the moment you had evil thoughts, you were no longer a human being but a demon, a brute!"
"The Yan Group doesn't need a person in power who would try to harm his own uncle. From now on, you've lost the qualification to succeed me and inherit the Yan Group."
At these words, Yan Zhen looked up at Yan Haikun in shock. "Grandpa! I really know I was wrong. I can change. I promise you, from now on, I won't do anything to Uncle anymore. I won't care about Uncle and Xiaoxi being together anymore. Please don't give up on me..."
The look of confusion, helplessness, and the remorseful expression trying to make amends made Yan Haikun sigh.
Maybe only when one's vital interests are truly touched can one examine one's own actions and admit one's mistakes.
Yan Zhen trembled his lips and cried, "Grandpa, please don't give up on me. Mom doesn't want me anymore, and Dad acts like I don't exist. If even you give up on me, I really won't have any relatives to love me."
Yan Haikun forced himself to be hard - hearted. He said, "Do you think the only reason I called you here today was because of this bottle of medicine?"
"No... Isn't it?"
Yan Zhen's heart skipped a beat. He had a bad feeling for no reason. Could there be something even more serious than this?
Yan Haikun threw the accident appraisal report on the table at his face and said coldly:
"Take a look for yourself!"
Yan Zhen quickly grabbed the paper and scanned it. At first, he didn't take it seriously, but the more he read, the more frightened he became, and his expression became uglier.
Combined with what had just happened, a thought popped into his mind - did Grandpa think he was the one who did this?
As he had expected, Yan Haikun said:
"If the Yan family's car hadn't been modified and its body structure strengthened, your wedding would have been the death anniversary of your uncle and grandma. And this accident was not an accident but a deliberate act."
"Grandpa, it has nothing to do with me! I didn't do this! I swear I'm telling the truth. I'm not lying to you!" Yan Zhen said eagerly.
"I admit to the things about the medicine and the woman! But I don't admit to the car accident! This is murder! I'm not a murderer! I'm not that hopeless yet!"
Yan Haikun stared deeply into his eyes. The scrutiny and assessment in those eyes made Yan Zhen more uncomfortable than ever.
"Yan Zhen, can I still trust you?"
These words carried a heavy weight and pressed down on Yan Zhen's head. He understood that because of that bottle of medicine, the basic trust between him and Grandpa had been lost.
Once trust was lost, no matter how much time and effort were spent, it was hard to repair.
Just like he and Yuan Xi four years ago...
If he said he didn't do it, would Grandpa believe him?
Somehow, a flash of inspiration suddenly came to him. He felt like he had grasped something, but then he missed that thought in an instant. He steadied himself, clenched his fists, and said to Yan Haikun:
"Grandpa, I know I've disappointed you because of the medicine and the things I did to Uncle. But the car accident really has nothing to do with me. I hope you can believe me!"
His tone was as sincere as could be.
At this moment, Yan Haikun was indeed thinking about whether he should trust this grandson one more time. But thinking of what happened four years ago, his eyes turned colder. He gave Yan Zhen a meaningful look and said:
"Get up."
Did this mean he was temporarily believed? Yan Zhen let out a sigh of relief, feeling like he had survived a disaster. He quickly said, "No, Grandpa. I'd better go to the hospital to have my stomach pumped first..."
Yan Haikun said indifferently, "I poured out the medicine in that bottle a long time ago. What I gave you to drink was just sugar water."
Yan Zhen was stunned. After thinking about it, he indeed found that the taste left in his mouth was a bit familiar. But this discovery made him feel even more ashamed.
Sure enough, one shouldn't do bad things. After doing something wrong, one would definitely feel guilty. Grandpa just casually probed, and he exposed himself, which made Grandpa completely disappointed in him.
Yan Zhen stood up dejectedly. He tried to ease the awkwardness and flipped through the accident appraisal report at hand again. He casually said:
"Grandpa, why do you suspect that I was the one who caused Uncle's car accident? It's also possible that Uncle made enemies with someone, and the enemy came to trouble him. You know Uncle's temper..."
Yan Haikun gave him a look, and Yan Zhen swallowed the words he hadn't finished.
Yan Haikun couldn't help but say, "Yan Zhen, what exactly do you have against your uncle? Hmm? Even at this moment, you still want to speak ill of him in front of me? Today, right in front of me, you can just say all your grievances."
Could he say it? Wouldn't he get beaten by Grandpa again? Yan Zhen hesitated.
Yan Haikun could tell what he was thinking at a glance. He said irritably, "I promise I won't beat you after I hear it."
After getting Grandpa's promise, Yan Zhen began to think seriously.
What were his grievances against Uncle?
Actually, if he thought about it carefully, they didn't stem from Xiaoxi. They had existed a long, long time ago.