Chapter 2: Was a Will Made?

Zhou Yi truly did not wish to invoke the law in such a setting or speak so harshly. Yet his second aunt's reaction when he asked whether Grandfather had fallen was far from normal. She dodged the question, avoided eye contact, and even tried to mask it with extreme emotion—all classic signs of lying. Zhou Yi, now keenly observant, could not miss these details. It was clear his second aunt's outburst was a smokescreen.

He glanced at her but knew the most urgent matter was to save a life. The reason he pressed her was to confirm the truth and avoid giving the doctors false information that might hinder their efforts.

“Dad, Aunt, hurry—find a car and get Grandfather to the hospital. There’s still hope,” he said.

The news that there was hope lit up his father’s eyes. “Old Zhang downstairs has a three-wheeler. I’ll go borrow it right now.”

Soon, with everyone’s help, they lifted Grandfather onto the tricycle. Zhou Yi and his aunt sat at the back to keep him company, while his father took the wheel.

“Dad, the nearest is the Third Municipal Hospital. Head there,” Zhou Yi directed.

“Okay!” With a twist of the throttle, the three-wheeler plunged into the night.

“Xiao Yi, how did you know Grandfather fell today?” his aunt asked, curiosity piqued.

“When elderly people fall, especially if they hit their heads, it’s easy for a brain hemorrhage to occur,” Zhou Yi explained. “If a brain bleed is accompanied by a fracture at the base of the skull, it can cause nosebleeds. The nasal cavity and the brain are connected, so blood from the brain can seep into the nose through a crack at the base of the skull. This is called cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea. Luckily, Second Uncle only wiped away the nosebleed, instead of plugging his nose as people often do. Otherwise, it could have led to a brain infection, which would have been truly dangerous.”

His aunt was amazed. “Did you learn all this at the police station? Thank goodness our family has a policeman like you…”

Zhou Yi clutched Grandfather’s hand, constantly monitoring his condition, heart pounding with lingering fear. In truth, Grandfather could have been saved back then, but his second uncle and aunt had deliberately concealed the incident, and their elders’ stubborn mindset had left Grandfather lying there, surrounded by family, simply waiting for death.

He was too inexperienced back then. If he’d had his current awareness and sharpness, maybe he could have saved Grandfather. Guilt gnawed at him. This time, he swore silently, he would not fail his grandfather.

About ten minutes later, they arrived at the Third Municipal Hospital. Zhou Yi carried Grandfather on his back and ran for the emergency room. He gave the attending doctor a precise account of the case: deep coma, likely due to intracranial hemorrhage.

The doctor quickly confirmed his diagnosis and began urgent treatment.

When his father and aunt anxiously questioned the doctor, the answer was, “The first twenty-four hours after a brain bleed are the most dangerous. Fortunately, you brought him in quickly. We’ll do everything we can.”

As the three of them waited anxiously outside the emergency room, his second uncle and mother arrived as well.

The moment his second uncle appeared, he dropped to his knees before Zhou Yi’s father with a thud. “Big Brother, I was wrong. I let Father down. I never imagined my wife would hide the fall from all of us. If I’d known, I would have brought him to the hospital right away.”

Before his father could reply, Zhou Yi spoke. “Second Uncle, when and where did Grandfather fall?”

“It was just before I got home from work, in the bathroom. Your second aunt even asked him if he wanted to see a doctor, but he said it was nothing. When I got home, he was asleep; I thought he was just tired.”

His second uncle seemed desperate to etch the words “not my fault” into his forehead. But something was very wrong. Back then, right after Grandfather passed, his uncle had pulled a will from his pocket, complete with Grandfather’s fingerprint.

Although a will without official notarization is shaky in the eyes of the law, they stuck to their story in court and ultimately received the largest share of the inheritance.

A chill ran through Zhou Yi. In most cases, the one who profits most is the true culprit.

From the circumstances of Grandfather’s death, his second uncle’s family had gained the most. Zhou Yi had a strong suspicion about the truth, but needed confirmation.

He didn’t press further, instead helping his uncle to his feet and, under the pretense of discussing Grandfather’s condition, led him down the corridor.

“Zhou Yi, I’ve told you everything I know,” his uncle said.

“I know, Second Uncle. I just want to ask something else.”

“Something else?”

“Did Grandfather ever write a will?”

His uncle’s face changed instantly; his right hand instinctively covered his pocket. “Uh… why do you ask?”

“Just curious. If Grandfather pulls through, it won’t matter. But if anything happens, only you would know about any will.”

“Actually…”

“Just a couple of weeks ago, our precinct investigated a case where children tricked an elderly parent into pressing their fingerprint on a will without knowing the contents. When it was found out, our chief said it was fraud—punishable by prison time.”

Zhou Yi spoke lightly, but his uncle gave a violent shudder.

“N-no, Grandfather didn’t leave any will,” his uncle stammered, his expression painfully awkward.

Zhou Yi nodded calmly. “It’s fine, I was just asking.”

“Zhou Yi, could you tell your father I’m heading home? Earlier, my wife kept saying she felt dizzy, and I’m worried her illness might flare up again…” His uncle asked timidly.

Zhou Yi smiled faintly and patted the dust from his uncle’s blue cotton jacket. “The road’s slippery in the dark, Second Uncle. Be careful on your way home. Look at your jacket, all dirty—Aunt will scold you for coming back such a mess.”

“No problem. I’ll be off, then.” His uncle all but fled, already drenched in cold sweat.

Today was truly uncanny—when had his nephew ever been so intimidating? He’d never noticed before.

He didn’t know that Zhou Yi stood where he was, motionless, expressionless, staring after him until he vanished around the corner.

Only then did Zhou Yi turn, opening his right hand. Inside was a piece of paper, deftly pilfered from his uncle’s pocket while brushing off the dust.

Zhou Yi unfolded the paper and glanced at it, his gaze growing colder. Its contents were all too familiar. The paper had come from his uncle’s pocket, the handwriting was his uncle’s, and the fingerprint was Grandfather’s.

The evidence of a forged will was now irrefutable, and the act had clearly been premeditated.

The only question remaining was whether Grandfather’s fall had truly been an accident—or something more sinister.

A shiver ran through Zhou Yi. If it was deliberate, this was a premeditated, motivated murder.

In his previous life, such a thought had never crossed his mind—after all, these were close blood relatives.

But now, a brutal truth stared him in the face.

The answer depended on whether Grandfather would awaken.

“Are you a relative of Zhou Asi?” a young woman’s voice asked behind him.

Zhou Yi turned. It was a young nurse with large eyes, holding several IV bottles.

Zhou Asi was his grandfather’s name. Zhou Yi nodded quickly. “Yes, I’m his family.”

The nurse frowned, displeased. “What’s going on with you people? Why haven’t you paid the emergency fees? More medication is needed, and any delay will be on you.”

“Payment?” Zhou Yi immediately understood, anger flaring within him.

Grandfather’s pension had long since been handed over to his second aunt “for household expenses,” with only fifty yuan a month left as pocket money for the old man—and even that was only after his aunt made a fuss. Now his uncle had run off without paying the hospital deposit. Truly despicable.

“I’m sorry, I’ll pay right away,” Zhou Yi apologized, checking his pocket. Thankfully, his wallet was there.

“After you pay, pick up the medicine at the emergency pharmacy window and deliver it to the nurses’ station,” the nurse instructed curtly before turning away.

Zhou Yi headed toward the payment counter, thinking the nurse seemed familiar, though he couldn’t recall where he’d seen her before.