Chapter 257: The Stepsons' Plot

"Hello," Chen Qingdi greeted them politely.

"Could you take a look at this statement for me? See if anything seems off," Yamaguchi Seiko said, handing a document to Chen Qingdi.

Chen Qingdi took the document and began to read it carefully. His brow furrowed, growing tighter as if he had discovered something out of the ordinary.

"This clause is strange. It says that if the mother waives her right to inheritance, the father's assets will be divided equally between the two stepsons," Chen Qingdi said, pointing to a specific clause in the document.

"What? That's impossible!" Yamaguchi Seiko cried out, her face turning deathly pale.

"It looks like your two stepsons have tricked you," Chen Qingdi said coldly, a flicker of anger in his eyes.

"What's the meaning of this?" The expressions on Yamaguchi Daisuke's and Yamaguchi Jirō's faces turned unnatural. They clearly hadn't expected their plan to be exposed.

"Did you really think you could take my assets so easily?" Yamaguchi Seiko said with a cold sneer.

In a luxurious living room, the brothers Yamaguchi Daisuke and Yamaguchi Jirō once again stood before their stepmother, Yamaguchi Seiko, demanding she sign a statement waiving her inheritance.

This wasn't the first time they had tried this, but Yamaguchi Seiko had firmly refused every time.

"Qingzi, why can't you just understand where we're coming from?" Yamaguchi Daisuke said with a frown, his tone dripping with impatience.

"We think of you as our own mother. Why can't you understand our good intentions?"

Yamaguchi Seiko gently shook her head, a resolute light shining in her eyes.

"I understand what you mean, but I won't give it up. When your father is gone, these are the assets he's leaving to me, and I have every right to inherit them."

Yamaguchi Daisuke trembled, then suddenly slapped Yamaguchi Seiko hard across the face. "You bitch! All you care about is money! You don't understand us at all!"

Seeing this, Yang Qingdi, who was standing by and posing as Yamaguchi Seiko's assistant, felt a surge of uncontrollable anger.

He couldn't stop himself from stepping forward and unleashing a flurry of kicks and punches on Yamaguchi Daisuke and Yamaguchi Jirō. He quickly beat them until they ran off.

"You two bastards! If you ever dare to bully Qingzi again, I swear I won't let you off!" Yang Qingdi roared in fury.

Yamaguchi Seiko looked at Yang Qingdi with gratitude. "Thank you, Qingdi. I don't know what I would have done without you."

Yang Qingdi gently wiped the cut on her face. "Qingzi, you don't have to thank me. I'll protect you, just like you've always protected me."

Yamaguchi Seiko gave a soft smile, then picked up her phone and called security. "If those two bastards come looking for me again, do not let them in."

The security guards readily agreed. They understood exactly what Yamaguchi Seiko meant. If those two showed up to cause trouble again, security wouldn't go easy on them.

In the days that followed, Yamaguchi Daisuke and Yamaguchi Jirō didn't show their faces in front of Yamaguchi Seiko again.

They had likely realized their actions would get them nowhere and chose to lay low for a while. Meanwhile, Yang Qingdi remained by Yamaguchi Seiko's side, protecting her and offering his support and encouragement.

"Qingzi, don't worry. I'll always be here with you," Yang Qingdi whispered in her ear.

Yamaguchi Seiko looked at him, touched. "Thank you, Qingdi."

Time flew by, and more than ten days passed. Just then, however, Yamaguchi Daisuke and Yamaguchi Jirō came knocking once more.

"Qingzi, we know you'll need someone to look after you in the future. If you're willing to waive the inheritance, we can arrange a comfortable life for you," Yamaguchi Daisuke said, his tone sounding sincere.

Yamaguchi Seiko shot him a cold glance. "I don't need your so-called 'care.' Besides, I've told you many times: I will not give up my right to the inheritance."

Yamaguchi Jirō suddenly pulled out a knife. "If you don't give it up, I'm done being polite!"

Seeing this, Yang Qingdi immediately rushed forward and began to fight them. This time, however, the situation was far more critical.

Yamaguchi Daisuke and Yamaguchi Jirō seemed ready to risk it all, attacking Yang Qingdi relentlessly. Faced with their onslaught, Yang Qingdi gradually found himself being overwhelmed.

Just then, the building's security guards burst in. "If you don't stop right now, we'll open fire!"

Hearing this, Yamaguchi Daisuke and Yamaguchi Jirō immediately ceased their attack. They knew security had finally had enough of their antics to threaten such a last resort, so they hurriedly fled the scene.

「On a peaceful afternoon.」

Yamaguchi Juefu sat quietly on the balcony, enjoying the sun and serenity. His gaze rested on the cherry blossom tree in the courtyard, but his thoughts were a world away.

"Father, we've come to see you." A familiar voice sounded from the doorway. Yamaguchi Juefu looked up to see his sons, Yamaguchi Daisuke and Yamaguchi Jirō. Their arrival made his heart sink.

"You're here. Sit," Yamaguchi Juefu said, gesturing for them to take a seat. His voice was laced with weariness and resignation.

"Father, we know you have esophageal cancer… but why are you giving all your assets to our stepmother?" Yamaguchi Daisuke asked, getting straight to the point.

Yamaguchi Juefu took a deep breath. He looked at his sons, his heart filled with a mixture of resignation and fury. "Do you know why I have this disease?" he asked.

"Is it because you smoke too much?" Yamaguchi Jirō ventured.

"No. It's because I had two unfilial sons like you," Yamaguchi Juefu's tone turned severe.

"Father, we're not unfilial! We want to help you take care of our stepmother," Yamaguchi Daisuke argued.

"Are you here for money, or are you here to take care of me?" Yamaguchi Juefu glared at them, his chest heaving with rage.

"We…" Yamaguchi Daisuke and Yamaguchi Jirō exchanged a glance and lowered their heads. "We just wanted…"

"I know what you want," Yamaguchi Juefu cut them off. "You're here for money. But I've already given all of my assets to your stepmother—Yamaguchi Seiko."

"Why?" Yamaguchi Daisuke asked, stunned.

"Because during this time, your stepmother has taken wonderful care of me. She's looked after me, kept me company, and given me comfort during my illness," Yamaguchi Juefu's tone softened.

"But, Father…" Yamaguchi Jirō began, frowning, clearly unhappy with his father's decision.

"I know you're not happy with this," Yamaguchi Juefu said, looking at them with a steady gaze, "but it is my decision to make. You will not interfere."

"But Father, you're so sick. We need your assets to take care of you," Yamaguchi Daisuke said, trying to persuade him.

"I don't need your care." Yamaguchi Juefu's tone grew harsh. "I have already made arrangements for my estate, but they will not be made public for now."