I tilted my head and said frankly, “For example, her death.”
“You suspect someone killed her?”
Tần Tuyên was stunned, his expression one of utter disbelief.
I didn’t answer. I just silently watched him.
After a moment, Tần Tuyên spoke with grave sincerity, his voice low and heavy, as though the words had been weighing on him for a long time. “Miss Chúc, I can assure you that you’re mistaken.”
“Oh?”
I raised an eyebrow. “Why do you say that?”
Tần Tuyên was silent for a long time before finally speaking slowly, as if recounting a painful story sealed away for years. “Because that day was the day before she was supposed to go to Switzerland for euthanasia.*”
*Euthanasia: The practice of intentionally ending a life to reduce the duration of physical pain and suffering, or of psychological disorders that cannot be cured.
I froze.
I hadn’t guessed that at all.
Tần Tuyên closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the chair. “Not long after we got married, Ý Như was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. I endured many long, painful nights with her, and watched with my own eyes as the illness struck and left her in so much pain she no longer wanted to live. She couldn’t accept herself in that condition. She said that if it went on any longer, she’d start to hate the world. And she didn’t want to die hating it.”
“So when she said she wanted to go to Switzerland for euthanasia, I supported her, even though everyone else opposed it vehemently. Her parents called me wicked and said I was after Ý Như’s fortune, but I didn’t care. I understood Ý Như, and Ý Như understood me. That was enough.”
Tần Tuyên paused, as if swallowing back his grief. “That night, we were all with her, celebrating her last birthday. She said she wanted to be alone for a while, then locked herself in her room. Half an hour later, when we opened the door and went in, she was already gone.”
“The doctor said she had died suddenly from a brain hemorrhage caused by the tumor.”
Tần Tuyên opened his eyes and looked straight at me. “What I’m saying is, in that situation, no one had any reason to kill Ý Như. There was no motive, no opportunity, and no point. Think about it: who would murder someone who had already chosen to die voluntarily three days later?”
“Miss Chúc, don’t you agree?”
A deafening clap of thunder sounded outside, and the lights flickered several times.
I tilted my head and asked calmly, “The other seven… are you sure you had a connection with each of them in the past?”
Tần Tuyên nodded firmly. “I’m sure. I have clear memories of every one of them.”
I watched him thoughtfully. “Mr. Tần, you know… human memory is actually the least reliable thing there is.”
He pulled out his phone, sounding confident. “I have photos or videos with each of them. Those can’t be faked, right?”
I gave a faint smile. “You’re right. They’d be hard to fake.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
The housekeeper came in and reported respectfully, “Mr. Tần, Miss Lan just came back. She said some rocks had fallen onto the road below the mountain. I’ve sent people to clear them. It’ll probably take about two hours to reopen the road.”
I glanced at my phone. It was already seven in the evening.
Tần Tuyên had calmed down by then. Frowning, he asked, “Are Chi Chi and Nhất Vũ back yet?”
“They returned an hour ago, sir. Dinner is ready, too. If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave.”
After the housekeeper left, Tần Tuyên turned to me. “I’m sorry, Miss Chúc… Would you mind staying for dinner before you go?”
I smiled and nodded. “That works out perfectly. I’m getting tired of delivery food. I rarely get a chance to try a rich family’s home cooking.”
The study was on the east side of the estate, and the dining room was on the west, with a circular hall between them connecting to the main entrance.
Tần Tuyên led me down the long hallway. As we walked, I asked, “What did the housekeeper mean when she said they were ‘taking their leave’?”
Tần Tuyên explained, “When she was alive, Ý Như used to write in the first-floor study at night, so she wanted it to be quiet and private. After dinner, everyone except the people on the second floor went back to the staff quarters halfway up the mountain. That was part of Ý Như’s kind nature, too. She always said that after working all day, everyone should have some time to themselves in the evening. Also, there have never been any cameras installed in the estate, because she didn’t want anyone to feel watched.”
I nodded admiringly. “Miss Giang really was a wonderful employer.”
As we passed through the circular hall, a young man approached from the opposite direction.
“Nhất Vũ!” Tần Tuyên called.
He looked a little over twenty, with a slender build, fair skin, and handsome features, but he had a cold air about him that seemed at odds with his age.
“Dinner’s ready. Where are you going?”
Diệp Nhất Vũ didn’t answer. He just lowered his head and fiddled with his phone, then went straight upstairs and quickly disappeared around the stairwell.
Tần Tuyên shook his head helplessly. “Ý Như’s death was a huge blow to him. When he first came here, he didn’t know how to do anything. He couldn’t even use a microwave, and his body was covered in bruises from his stepfather beating him. Ý Như treated him like her own brother, teaching him how to adjust to society and patiently guiding him in his writing. He depended on her a lot. Since Ý Như passed away, apart from going out every day to look for inspiration for his writing, he hardly talks to anyone.”
He glanced at me. “If there really is one more person involved… I don’t think it could be him. Ý Như used to take him to events, and there are pictures all over the internet. Those are probably more reliable than the photos I have on my phone.”
I nodded without saying anything.
When I entered the dining room, my eyes widened like a country bumpkin seeing the city for the first time. I’d never seen a dining room this magnificent.
The ceiling soared more than thirty feet, all the way up to the roof. A row of floor-to-ceiling glass doors reflected the dazzling lights, making the room seem even more spacious and bright.
The long dining table was laden with exquisitely presented dishes. Two young women sat chatting on a sofa nearby.
At the sound of footsteps, they turned around.
“Let me introduce you.”
Tần Tuyên pointed to the woman in a fitted red dress, her long hair flowing loose and her bearing mature and poised. “This is Lan Linh, my wife’s older sister. She currently runs a dance studio.”
Then he gestured to the round-faced girl beside her, who was wearing a white dress. “This is Chi Chi, my younger sister. She just graduated and came back from studying abroad. And this is Master Chúc, a feng shui expert who came to look at the house today. The weather was bad, so we invited him to stay for dinner.”
I smiled and greeted them.
That made eight people living on the second floor.
Lan Linh had an ordinary face—the sort that would blend into any crowd—but a lovely figure. She was impeccably made up and smiled warmly. “It’s nice to meet you, Master Chúc.”
Chi Chi frowned and shot me a sidelong glance. “Big brother, why’d you bring someone like him home? Giang’s parents and Lan’s parents already don’t like you. Now you’re deliberately adding fuel to the fire. No matter how smooth you are, you won’t be able to talk your way out of this!”
Tần Tuyên’s expression turned stern as he scolded his rude little sister.
Chi Chi pouted, and Lan Linh hurried to smooth things over with a smile. “Oh, let it go. Chi Chi’s still a kid. Whatever she says, she’s only worried about her brother. Don’t hold it against her.”
Just then, footsteps sounded at the front door. Giang’s parents and Lan’s parents came in, talking as they entered.
Chi Chi shot me a quick look and whispered, “Don’t say you’re a feng shui master. Just say you’re my friend. Otherwise, if the elders kick you out right at the dinner table, don’t say I didn’t warn you!”
As soon as she finished, she turned around with a beaming smile. “Uncle Giang! Aunt Lan!
I brought everyone pastries from Quế Thuận Trai again today!”
But the woman everyone called “Aunt Giang,” who was usually stern and cold, suddenly hurried over to me, looking delighted. “Master! So you haven’t left yet! I can’t believe you agreed to stay for dinner. You’ve brought honor to our whole family!”
“Our family must have been blessed for three lifetimes to have a master like you visit!”
The other three elders also came over with welcoming smiles and gathered around me.
“Master, could you take a look at my birth chart after dinner?”
“Master, you must stop by my room later and advise me on the layout!”
“Master, please take the seat of honor!”
They looked reverent and bowed respectfully, clearly shaken by “Aunt Giang’s” exuberant welcome.
I merely murmured, “Mm,” and the four of them escorted me to the seat of honor at the banquet table.