Li Caiyi never thought of that. As a family with a long track history, the right of inheritance was something passed down in the Li family through generations. She only came to know about it when her Grandfather told her about it, but she didn't know much about it.
"Do you think Uncle Meng knew about that? Isn't the rule only known to our family members?"
"I'm not sure, but it shouldn't be impossible for him to know about it. You know how our father had been trying to connect our family to the Meng, right? I wouldn't be surprised if he told Uncle Meng one or two secrets about our family."
Li Jirong was only arrogant in front of those weaker than him. He boasted about the Li family's honor but had no problem bootlicking to the stronger one, including Meng Yaoshu. What Li Junjie said was actually plausible.
This topic of conversation intrigued Li Caiyi. Among all the ideas she had in mind, she had forgotten entirely about the right of inheritance.
"Come to think of it, I know this rule can be used to take the inheritance of the family early, as long as there is only a sole successor remaining in the house. Why did our father want to become the head of the family so badly?"
"With his personality, he probably couldn't stand that Uncle performed better than him."
Li Quan was the name of their uncle. He was Li Jirong's younger brother who lost his life in a car accident before he reached twenty. Grandfather Li was devastated by his eldest son's passing, causing his health to slowly deteriorate. That was when their father took the chance to claim the title of the head of the family.
"I heard Grandpa mention Uncle a few times, but I don't know much about him. Do you know, Brother?"
"Our father disliked it when someone talked about Uncle. Perhaps because he developed an inferiority complex toward him. From what I knew, Uncle seemed to be much more capable than our father since their youth, which made Grandfather more fond of him."
Li Caiyi connected the dot and added, "Did Grandpa want to make Uncle his successor? But our father is the eldest son."
"It didn't matter who was born first. The stronger will triumph over the weak. A prideful person like our father wouldn't be able to take it."
"But then, isn't it strange?" Li Caiyi rubbed her chin in confusion. "Uncle lost his life in an unfortunate accident, so the inheritance should fall into Father's hands sooner or later. There's no need for him to use his right of inheritance. What makes him in so much of a hurry?"
Li Junjie didn't answer immediately and looked deep in thought. "Xiaoyi, this is just a hunch of mine. But I think Uncle's car accident may have something to do with our father."
The bulb on her head lightened up. She wasn't that sure before, but now she felt she was on the right track.
"If you are the one who said it, then I assume you have some explanation to back up that claim?"
"I have no solid proof. When I confronted Father about the right of inheritance and mentioned Uncle, he looked scared for some reason, like he was afraid I knew something. Grandfather told us about Uncle and the right of inheritance, but Father wasn't aware of that fact. His natural reaction should be anger or shock, but he looked terrified instead."
"That's a bit strange indeed." Li Caiyi nodded thoughtfully. "Is that the reason why you become suspicious of Father?"
"I am probably overthinking it, but Father is the type that will justify any means to achieve his goal. And the timing for everything is just too perfect for it to be a mere coincidence."
"What do you mean?"
"There was an old journal in Grandfather's study room. I happened to find it by coincidence after he passed away. Based on the content, around the time of Uncle's death, apparently, our Grandfather intended to use all his wealth to support Uncle's research. There weren't any details on what kind of research, but if Father somehow also knew about this, it gave him a reason to resent Uncle."
"And that's why he wanted to get rid of him?" Li Caiyi shuddered. This conversation turned dark very fast. She didn't want to believe that a teenage boy could be that ruthless toward his siblings. Still, considering how Li Jirong had no qualms about using his daughter as a test subject, her heart grew colder.
"Sadly, we know Father is capable of such an inhumane thing."
Li Junjie nodded in agreement. "It would be too late if Grandfather knew about it and refused to inherit our family's wealth."
"But still, that is just way too underhanded of him. How could Grandfather allow that?!"
"He probably didn't know, or rather, he didn't want to believe that his son could do such things. Your eldest son was schemed against and died by your younger son due to your partiality. The thought will be too much to bear."
Li Junjie tapped his fingers on the sofa's handrest. "And as far as I know, Uncle was favored not only by Grandfather but also our Great Grandfather. And Great Grandfather was a renowned doctor and pharmacologist. The 'research' mentioned in the journal probably has something to do with it, considering Uncle's age at that time."
Li Caiyi had no idea how her brother could figure out so much just from a bit of information he found but decided to stay silent and listen for now.
"I read in an old newspaper that our Great Grandfather used to work for Meng Pharmaceutical and played a pivotal role in the new medicine discovery. However, he resigned in the middle of research due to a personal reason."
Her head hurt from thinking so much, but she could conclude something from his points. "So you want to say that this 'research' that Grandfather mentioned was about that? They wanted Uncle to continue that research in the future?"
Li Junjie smiled faintly. "I thought you would need me to elaborate further. Good job for keeping up."
"That was crazy. Why is our family so complicated? I feel sorry for Uncle." Li Caiyi groaned. When Li Quan passed away, he shouldn't be older than 17 years old. To put such a big expectation on such a young boy, Li Caiyi could only imagine how burdened he must be.
"Everything is for the honor of the Li family," Li Junjie snickered mockingly. "I hate that phrase with every cell in my body. A family like ours should have just gone extinct."
Her words seemed to trigger Li Junjie. To make even her expressionless brother show a deep hatred, the Li family must have disgusted him to the core.
Li Caiyi couldn't blame him. After all, Li Junjie grew up under the same pressure as Li Quan, and he went through a lot from their father's abuse.
"Brother, there is nothing that can bind you down anymore. You are free to choose whatever path you want now. Just know that I will be rooting for you no matter what."
Li Junjie was troubled. Once again, he didn't know how to respond to her sincerity. "I don't understand you. Didn't you hate me?"
Li Caiyi pondered for a moment before replying, "I do hate you sometimes. You are insensitive and act like a know-it-all. I sometimes wonder why I have a cold jerk like you as my brother."
Her straightforward response felt like a slap on his face. He thought she had mellowed down since she seemed concerned about him, but he stood corrected.
"Not only do you have a low EQ, but you also don't have the patience to listen to other people. Is it because you think other people's opinions are not worth hearing?"
"Xiaoyi, calm down…."
"No, I will not calm down! I'm still furious about what you said to me last night!"
Li Junjie sighed in exasperation. He didn't expect her to scold him like this. "You misunderstand me, and don't yell in the hospital."
Li Caiyi folded her arms while throwing him a sharp glare. "I'd love to hear what misunderstanding I have."
He kind of regretted bringing up the topic about last night now. Personally, he didn't mind the distance between them or if she hated him. But his curiosity got the better of him for a moment, and now he was stuck in this uncomfortable situation where he had to reveal his deepest thoughts.
"If you have something to say, then out with it!" Li Caiyi urged him.
"I was thoughtless. Sorry for offending you."
It was a concise and flat apology that came out of the blue. She thought he would explain in the most logical way, like usual, but he apologized instead. Li Caiyi had to blink her eyes a few times to ensure she wasn't dreaming.
"Come again?"
"I apologize. It's not my intention to make you feel like I put Xiaohua's safety over yours. Both of you are important; that's why I can't understand why you choose to keep quiet until it becomes too dangerous."
Her brother apologizing to her was a plot twist she didn't see coming. The cold and aloof Li Junjie actually apologizes to her. Rather than pleased by it, she felt crept out instead.
"Seriously? Did you eat something wrong while you were in the hospital?"
"No. I made sure Mother and I ate balanced food while we were here. It won't help if we feel sick while Xiaohua is in this condition."
Li Caiyi was relieved to hear his robotic response. She thought someone had kidnapped and impersonated her brother, but that didn't seem to be the case.
"I didn't expect you to apologize to me. You never apologized before." Li Caiyi said awkwardly. Even in her previous life, she never saw him apologizing to anyone.
"I was wrong, so, naturally, I should apologize. I realized I had hurt you when you told me to wait outside Xiaohua's room last night. You said it's better if you are the one who got hurt than Xiaohua."
Li Junjie sounded terribly upset. "Don't you ever say that again. Because I don't like it."
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