His Sunday Substitute - Chapter 30

Qin Cangye’s mother, Li Ruyin, had passed away early.

Qin Wangxuan had delicate, refined features, with soft and gentle facial contours, his expression entirely one of obedience and docility. Smiling, he stood up and bowed politely to those around him before warmly greeting them, “Good afternoon, uncles, aunts, and grandparents. My name is Qin Wangxuan. I’m very happy to meet all of you today…”

With a loud thud, Qin Cangye’s teacup slammed onto the table, tea splashing out. His icy voice cut through the room: “Happy? Is today really such a joyous occasion for you?”

Qin Wangxuan froze, first casting a wronged and panicked glance at Qin Weishu before turning to Qin Cangye, his voice pitiful: “I’m sorry, Brother. I didn’t mean to. I just wanted to lighten the mood, to make Auntie happy too.”

“What gives you the right to call me ‘Brother’?” Qin Cangye’s tone was frigid, his words sharp and unrelenting, leaving Qin Wangxuan no face at all.

Su Yinuo found it strange. Qin Cangye’s demeanor today was off, it was as if he was deliberately provoking conflict. From the moment he entered, he hadn’t spoken a single conciliatory word. She glanced subtly at the others and noticed expressions of either tension or awkwardness, but no one seemed surprised. It was as if, in their minds, Qin Cangye had always been this domineering.

At the main table, Qin Jian sipped his tea as if completely detached, while Qin Weishu’s expression darkened the moment Qin Cangye spoke. Qin Wangxuan stood stiffly, a mix of fear, grievance, and a trace of concealed resentment flickering in his eyes.

Qin Cangye swirled his teacup, not even bothering to look up as he uttered three calm words: “Get out.”

Qin Wangxian stared at him in shock, no longer hiding his displeasure. Just as he was about to throw caution to the wind and argue back, Qin Weishu slammed his hand on the table and roared at Qin Cangye, “Qin Cangye, do you think I’m dead?! You insolent, reckless brat! Have you forgotten that the Qin family is still under my control?”

After the outburst, he turned to Qin Wangxuan, his tone softening considerably. “Wangxuan, sit down.”

Qin Cangye continued to ignore Qin Weishu entirely, still focused on his teacup. Once Qin Wangxuan had taken his seat, he spoke to the room as if nothing had happened: “Let’s begin the meal. Once everyone’s eaten their fill, I’ll treat you all to a good show.”

Qin Weishu was so furious at Qin Cangye’s arrogance that he nearly flipped the table. It was only after Qin Wangxuan obediently called out “Grandfather” a few times that his temper was somewhat soothed.

Qin Cangye paid no attention to either of them, picking up his chopsticks and eating in silence. Occasionally, he would glance up, his gaze cutting through the crowded round tables to meet Su Yinuo’s eyes where she sat at the edge. Just for a moment, but that was all he needed. In that brief exchange, the deep concern and warmth in her eyes steadied him, giving him the strength to remain composed.

Su Yinuo, on the other hand, ate nervously and uncomfortably. She barely touched her food before setting down her chopsticks, sipping tea instead while stealing occasional glances at Qin Cangye.

The atmosphere at the head table was so suffocating just to look at that she couldn’t imagine the kind of oppressive environment Qin Cangye must have grown up in. In her view, Qin Cangye’s constant provocation today wasn’t due to arrogance or domineering behavior, it had another purpose. He must have been planning to do something today, which made Su Yinuo increasingly worried and uneasy.

Half an hour later, Qin Cangye set down his chopsticks. With just that one motion, the sound of chewing in the venue quickly faded, and the room fell completely silent.

No one had come to the memorial service just for a vegetarian meal. Everyone knew the real highlight of the day was yet to come.

Qin Cangye took a sip of tea and spoke slowly, “Earlier, my grandfather said my mother lacked the ability to bear more children for the Qin family. Indeed, she truly lacked that ability.”

He smiled mockingly, then stood up and began moving among the guests as if delivering a speech. “I’ve told my mother’s story many times. My mother, Li Ruyin, was once a talented scholar at Beijiang University, well-traveled and knowledgeable, yet deeply traditional in her thinking. She met my father at Beijiang University, and from courtship to marriage, they treated each other with the utmost respect. After marriage, my mother often spoke of raising more children to expand the Qin family line. But sadly, in the end, she only had me.”

His voice grew heavier. “Why was that? The reason behind it? I don’t think I’ve ever shared it with all of you.”

He stopped walking, standing at the center of the venue. After taking a deep breath, he took a remote control from an attendant and activated the projector at the center of the hall.

A white screen slowly descended, covering the portrait of Li Ruyin’s bright, smiling face. Qin Cangye’s eyes reddened slightly, his gaze seeming to travel back over twenty years, witnessing the unstoppable disaster that had dragged his mother into the abyss.

“I wonder if the elders here still remember my mother’s voice and smile when she was alive?” Qin Cangye’s voice was sorrowful and desolate. “Perhaps some of you have never seen her in life? Then, let’s take a look. Here’s footage of my mother when she was alive.”

The projector turned on, and a blurry old video appeared on the screen.

The shaky footage showed the campus of Beijiang University. Groups of young men and women in graduation robes waved excitedly at the camera. The footage was old, but even the distorted images and flickering static couldn’t hide the youthful vitality radiating from them.

“Happy graduation! Happy graduation!”

Everyone cheered together until the shaky footage finally settled on a gentle, beautiful girl at the center of the crowd. The focus zoomed in, filling the screen with her profile, and the image steadied at last.

As the girl walked, the camera followed smoothly, as if held by a lover’s tender gaze, unwilling to stray even slightly. Finally, the girl noticed the camera. After a brief look of surprise, she broke into a radiant smile. “Jian, happy graduation!”

At the head table, Qin Jian, who had his back to the screen, burst into tears.

“Jian, come here, let’s take a photo together,” the girl called, waving her hand.

The footage wobbled slightly as the camera was handed to someone else. A young Qin Jian appeared on screen, running toward the beautiful girl.

Su Yinuo lowered her head, her eyes burning as a few tears escaped despite her efforts to hold them back. Just as she reached out to grab a tissue, several sheets were handed to her. Recognizing the familiar hand, she looked up in surprise and met Qin Cangye’s sorrowful gaze.

She quickly took the tissues and murmured stiffly, “Thank you, Mr. Qin.”

Qin Cangye lingered on her for a few more seconds before silently walking away.

Su Yinuo wiped her tears and continued watching the video playing before her, spotting the figures of two elderly professors nearby. Their eyes were red-rimmed, and when Su Yinuo glanced over, one of them nodded slightly and whispered, “Ruyin was a good child, truly a rare, good child.”

Though she had never met Qin Cangye’s mother, Su Yinuo had already pieced together an image of Li Ruyin in her mind, a gentle, serene, kind, beautiful, and intelligent woman. Almost all of Qin Cangye’s admirable qualities stemmed from her. Su Yinuo found it hard to fathom how such a perfect person could have been tormented by the Qin family to the point of her tragic demise.

She watched intently as the video depicted Li Ruyin’s grand wedding into the Qin family and snippets of her life there. The edited footage showed no scenes of her being humiliated or oppressed, but Su Yinuo noticed how Li Ruyin’s face grew increasingly gaunt, her once-gentle smile vanishing entirely. In every captured moment, her eyes were filled with fearful exhaustion, as if she were constantly trying to escape.

The video jumped quickly. Su Yinuo didn’t see any footage of Li Ruyin’s pregnancy, but she witnessed Qin Cangye’s birth. When the adorable baby was presented to Qin Jian and Qin Weishu, Su Yinuo caught sight of Li Ruyin’s hollow, lifeless figure in the background, utterly ignored.

The cheerful scene made Su Yinuo feel suffocated.

Unable to bear it any longer, she shifted her gaze to the main table and noticed Qin Weishu wasn’t even watching the video. Instead, he was whispering to Qin Wangxuan, both wearing smiles that filled Su Yinuo with disgust.

It was then that she realized most of the attendees were quietly chatting among themselves, with only a handful paying attention to the screen.

Watching Qin Cangye’s solitary figure standing ahead, his posture rigid as he stared straight at the screen, Su Yinuo’s heart ached for him.

Just as everyone assumed the oft-replayed video was nearing its end, a furious roar erupted in the hall. The sudden outburst startled everyone, even Qin Weishu, who turned sharply toward the screen.

The roar came from Qin Weishu in the footage. He grabbed Li Ruyin, still recovering from childbirth, by the arm, dragging her out of the bedroom and throwing her toward the staircase. “Cry! All you ever do is cry!” he bellowed. “If you don’t stop, get the hell out!”

Li Ruyin, disheveled and emaciated, lay crumpled on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, her body trembling violently.

Qin Weishu, visibly irritated, strode forward and kicked her. Li Ruyin let out a sharp cry as she tumbled down the stairs, landing on the first-floor floorboards. She curled into herself, moaning in agony as blood pooled beneath her, staining her pants and seeping into the carpet.

The camera zoomed in endlessly, finally freezing on that blood-red scene.

Almost everyone in the room wore expressions of shock. They had never seen this footage before, never witnessed Qin Cangye present irrefutable evidence of Qin Weishu’s domestic violence against Li Ruyin.

In truth, many had long believed the rumors of Qin Weishu abusing the women of the Qin family, but without proof, no one dared to openly accuse him.

Now, faced with undeniable evidence, even those who had once hesitated found their courage. The first to stand was Li Ruyin’s former mentor, seated beside Su Yinuo.

“Chairman Qin! Would you care to explain what exactly happened here? Did you…did you abuse Ruyin to death?!”

Qin Weishu’s face stiffened, his expression icy. Ignoring the elderly professor, who was around his own age, he instead fixed Qin Cangye with a sharp glare and demanded, “Who recorded this? Where did you get this footage?!”

Qin Cangye suddenly laughed, a laugh dripping with mockery. He covered his eyes, his laughter spiraling into something unsettling, manic, until he doubled over.

Qin Weishu’s expression darkened with every passing second of that laughter.

Finally, Qin Cangye stopped. He straightened up, disregarding Qin Weishu’s question entirely, and turned to address the room.

“I wanted to tell everyone earlier, why did my mother only have one child? Because of this. Because of that beast’s violence, my mother suffered a postpartum hemorrhage. She barely survived, but she lost the ability to have children forever. And now, this very beast dares to flaunt the Qin family’s illegitimate children while slandering my mother’s name! Tell me, isn’t this beast utterly despicable?”

“Qin Cangye!” Qin Weishu slammed the dishes in front of him aside, rising to his feet in fury. “I am your grandfather! I am the head of the Qin family!”

His hoarse, aged roar nearly shook the roof, his liver-spotted hands trembling with rage.

His elderly attendant, Lao Yan, hurried over to steady him, whispering, “Master, please calm yourself,” before turning to Qin Cangye with deference. “Young Master, please mind your words.”

“Dogs don’t get a say here!” Qin Cangye snapped, his gaze locked on Qin Weishu as he pressed forward relentlessly. “You drove my mother to her death! What right do you have to call yourself my grandfather? What right do you have to lead the Qin family?!”

“You…you!” Qin Weishu swayed, collapsing back into his seat as Lao Yan hastily retrieved heart medication.

Still ignoring him, Qin Cangye turned to the elders of the Qin family’s collateral branches. “Elders, what do you think? Does Qin Weishu still deserve to be the head of the Qin family?”

The elders exchanged uneasy glances before the eldest and most closely related among them spoke up.

“Well, ah…” He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “These matters are all in the past. If they were made public, it would only bring shame to the Qin name. I suggest both sides compromise.” He glanced at Qin Weishu. “Elder Brother, you should apologize and give Cangye an explanation. After all, the company will pass to him eventually, won’t it?” Then he turned to Qin Cangye. “Cangye, you should let this go. The departed are gone. If this continues, outsiders will only laugh at the Qin family.”

This two-faced explanation greatly satisfied the Qin family’s relatives and friends, but it made Su Yinuo’s blood boil. A bright young girl’s promising life, a living, breathing human being, was it all just to be brushed aside like this?

Su Yinuo glanced at Qin Cangye, unable to suppress his concern: If I’m this furious, how can he possibly hold back?

Yet Qin Cangye didn’t seem particularly agitated. Just as Su Yinuo began to relax, curious to see how he would respond, Qin Wangxuan’s impassioned voice rang out: “Grandfather, that video just now,it’s fake!”