Har Star, the Divine Palace.
At two in the morning, Jiang Ye and Cen Yemeng were sleeping back to back.
The mobile phone on the bedside table suddenly rang.
Jiang Ye sprang up as if his bowstring had been plucked. Har Star was in a very unstable state, and any sudden situation could occur. He had developed an almost allergic reaction to alarm sounds and phone ringtones.
However, upon picking up the phone, Jiang Ye frowned.
It wasn't a call from Har Star, but from Jiang Ye Star, Shao Wan. Shao Wan usually sent messages and rarely called, especially in the middle of the night.
Could there be trouble at home? Had something happened on Jiang Ye Star?
Jiang Ye answered the call, "Hello?"
"Someone died at the Jiang Senlin Academy of Fine Arts," Shao Wan's voice was low, as if he was trying to prevent outsiders from hearing. "I'm at the scene now. The person jumped from the rooftop. Their ribs pierced their internal organs, and they died about a minute after falling. We've confirmed it with the surveillance footage."
Jiang Ye's eyelids twitched wildly. "Is it related to Jiang Senlin?"
"According to what the students in the studio privately told our officers, the person who jumped was named Raphael. Jiang Senlin suddenly expelled him, saying things like he had no talent and would never succeed even if he painted his whole life, and that those who believed hard work leads to success were fools. Raphael was an older painter who had never achieved great success but was very diligent. He was probably stimulated and jumped in a moment of impulse," Shao Wan said. "I just watched the studio's surveillance footage, and that's what happened. The deceased was agitated when he left the studio. Of course, there might be other factors, such as his recent life difficulties."
"According to the law, how should such a matter be judged?" Jiang Ye asked.
Cen Yemeng, who had been lying down and listening, suddenly sat up with a pale face, staring at her husband in fear.
"It can be big or small," Shao Wan said. "Generally speaking, at least funeral expenses and some miscellaneous fees for the deceased must be compensated. As for whether detention is necessary, I'm calling to ask for your instructions."
"Where is that Raphael from? What's his background?" Jiang Ye asked after a moment's hesitation.
"He doesn't have much of a background. He's a painter from an alien planet, with no parents or relatives, but he has a wife and children. His wife is a supermarket saleswoman, and their child just started elementary school. Raphael's income was the main source of income for the family, as he painted for wealthy artists. We haven't notified his wife and children yet, and the news has been sealed for now."
"Notify them. Send someone to pick up his wife and child. Be polite, and let them come to Jiang Ye Star to collect the body. Find specific people to handle the compensation. Don't just ask them if a certain amount is okay; ask them directly how much they want, and then report it to me. I'll see if it's suitable. I'll pay for this money in the end," Jiang Ye said. "Don't seal the news either. Let Tang Hanliu report on it, both in newspapers and on television. Show me the report before it's published."
Shao Wan's tone was quite shocked. "This... is it appropriate? It might leave a stain on Jiang Senlin. Information on the internet leaves permanent traces, and Jiang Senlin is so famous, it might even spread to other planets..."
"If this child is allowed to continue, he'll grow up to be a poisonous dragon," Jiang Ye said. "He's my child, and the power he will wield when he grows up is too great. If he cannot control his mischievousness, the consequences will be unimaginable. If leaving a lifelong stain now can discipline him, it's worth it. It's better than being covered in stains later."
"Okay," Shao Wan said.
"Jiang Senlin Academy of Fine Arts will be suspended indefinitely for rectification," Jiang Ye said. "The police should release news that a detailed investigation is still underway, and the final results will determine whether Jiang Senlin might face imprisonment."
"This... okay," Shao Wan's tone was surprised.
"After you finish your current task, bring Jiang Senlin to me first," Jiang Ye said.
Three days later.
Shao Wan, with his rough hand, held Jiang Senlin's small hand and strode forward. To keep up with Shao Wan's pace, Jiang Senlin had to trot all the way.
Soon, the two arrived in front of a mansion.
Just as Shao Wan was about to knock, the door opened.
Jiang Ye stared at Jiang Senlin.
Jiang Senlin's face was full of fear.
"Do you have anything to say?" Jiang Ye asked.
Jiang Senlin hesitated. "He wanted to jump himself, it wasn't me..."
Jiang Ye suddenly grabbed him, like catching a kitten, and carried him into the house, slamming the door shut.
Shao Wan was startled and stood at the door, unsure what to do.
"Please come in and sit for a while. I've already made tea," Cen Yemeng said with an awkward expression.
"Thank you," Shao Wan entered the house, closed the door, and sat down on the sofa nervously.
In the adjacent room, there was a moment of silence, followed by the sudden sound of a belt whipping and Jiang Senlin's sharp cries, the noise was terrifying.
Cen Yemeng's face was pale, her eyes red, staring intently at the door with an expression of sorrow and heartache.
Jiang Ye's roar followed, like a tiger roaring in the mountains:
"You wicked son! At such a young age, you've learned to kill people! And you're making excuses for yourself!"
"Everyone on the planet is cursing my ancestors, Jiang Ye!"
"Where do you, a little brat, get such airs? Even your father doesn't have such airs!"
The door lock suddenly clicked. Jiang Senlin scrambled out, tears streaming down his face, and rushed towards Cen Yemeng.
"Mom! Dad is going to beat me to death!" Jiang Senlin cried loudly.
Cen Yemeng crouched down and hugged him, tears of heartache falling.
Jiang Senlin's pants were also pulled down, and his buttocks were covered in red welts from the whipping.
Shao Wan couldn't sit still. He stood up, fidgeting, wanting to speak but hesitating. There were very few things that could make this iron-like strong man so flustered.
Jiang Ye came out of the room, clutching the blood-stained leather belt, his pants down, wearing only his underwear, revealing his strong thighs, his face flushed with anger.
He walked up to Cen Yemeng. "We agreed."
Jiang Senlin burrowed deeper into his mother's embrace. "Mom! Mom!"
Jiang Senlin reached out. "Give me this wicked child."
Cen Yemeng continued to shed tears, looking at Jiang Ye as if begging. "Son already knows he's wrong... he's already bleeding..."
Shao Wan, standing nearby, also wanted to speak but hesitated. After a long sigh, he ultimately remained silent.
"He can still run out, which means he hasn't been beaten properly yet," Jiang Ye said, his hand trembling with anger. "Give me the child."
Cen Yemeng hugged Jiang Senlin tightly, her tears falling like broken strings of pearls.
Jiang Ye lowered his hand. "Wife, we agreed earlier. You promised not to shield this child. At such a young age, he's acting like a tyrant, treating human lives as child's play. What will happen when he grows up? Although that person wasn't directly killed by him, isn't he responsible? In ancient times, murder meant paying with one's life!"
Cen Yemeng cried even harder, still holding her son tightly. Jiang Senlin sobbed fiercely.
"What if I need him to take power in the future, and he has this personality while holding great power? That would be disastrous!" Jiang Ye continued. "You are his mother, and you also have a responsibility towards him. A child's misbehavior is the father's fault. I'm responsible for beating him, and you shouldn't be holding him. Think carefully, aren't you harming him by doing this?"
Cen Yemeng gritted her teeth, lifted Jiang Senlin from her embrace, and handed him to her husband.
Jiang Senlin looked at his mother in disbelief, his eyes filled with despair, shaking his head frantically and crying, "Mom! Dad is going to beat me to death! Mom!"
"Don't actually beat him until something serious happens," Cen Yemeng said, wiping her tears.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Jiang Ye returned to the room and slammed the door shut.
Shao Wan sat back on the sofa and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.