The Vanishing Lover

"The first one to assist Xu Ruyi was the nanny, Feng Xiangping,"

The calm Qin Guan searched his memory bit by bit.

He possessed a naturally astonishing memory. This talent made studying effortless for him since childhood and propelled him to quick fame at the law firm—he could remember the tiniest details in case files, details others couldn't recall at all.

As long as he stayed calm, detached himself from this case, and became an objective bystander, a professional criminal defense lawyer, many new discoveries emerged.

Yes, including things he hadn't noticed before.

"They placed cameras in my bedroom and study. The camera in the bedroom must have been positioned directly facing the safe in the wardrobe."

He closed his eyes, mentally scanning every inch of the suspicious areas.

"The picture frame. On the wall diagonally opposite the wardrobe. About a month or so before Qi Min disappeared at the lakeside villa, Xu Ruyi somehow got a picture frame and put it on the shelf on that wall. That frame wasn't big, about 30cm square. Inside was one of my daughter's drawings. The outer frame had a rim of purple fuzz—childish, but not out of place."

Because Xu Ruyi often preserved their daughter's drawings in frames—precisely for this reason, Qin Guan hadn't suspected a thing.

The only peculiarity of that drawing was the fuzzy rim.

"A camera could be hidden within the fuzz. That camera could capture me opening the safe. Meaning, she knew my safe combination long ago."

Next was the study.

"Xu Ruyi rarely entered my study. The books, office supplies, even the decor style and furnishings when it was renovated were all chosen by me."

When decorating, Xu Ruyi had handed over all decision-making for that room to him.

"So, the only person who could have tampered with my study is Feng Xiangping."

Because if Xu Ruyi, who never paid attention to the study, suddenly started going in frequently or putting something inside, it would have raised suspicion.

But Feng Xiangping wouldn't.

"Feng Xiangping handles all the cleaning and tidying in the study. Although she didn't go to school, she has a good memory. She organizes books by title or number classification."

There were no childish or feminine ornaments in the study.

Not even a cactus—Qin Guan despised the thing; only ordinary drudges chained to their computers needed cacti to save their eyesight. He was different. He was free. He was a successful man in control of his life.

Certificates, trophies—none of these could secretly house a camera. He had searched the entire study twice—walls, cabinets, corners. He even slit open the leather chair. No camera was found.

Books.

The only thing he hadn't completely combed through were the books. Books that Feng Xiangping had handled, every single one.

Qin Guan closed his eyes, as if transported back to the study, his mind scrolling through the layers of bookshelves.

"Heavenly Eye," Qin Guan opened his eyes. "That was a book by a retired senior colleague, an autobiography. He sent copies to many people at our firm."

The autobiography of a narcissistic old man. Black cover. Used an eye-catching title like Heavenly Eye. It was ridiculously thick. Qin Guan, out of politeness, brought it home. He felt nauseous after flipping through a page and finally put it in a corner of the bookshelf.

"That book is black. They hollowed out the book and installed a camera in the side. It must be like that."

"You can search Guanlanting again for these two places. Of course, you won't find them now. Xu Ruyi must have taken the items away. But, you can ask about the whereabouts of this book. Xu Ruyi absolutely won't be able to produce it."

Qin Guan sighed deeply.

"I can understand Xu Ruyi's suspicion of me. I can accept her spying on me, investigating me in secret. But she really shouldn't have dragged Feng Xiangping and her son into this. She's a shrewd person, but Feng Xiangping... she's truly an innocent, simple woman."

He shook his head and sighed again.

In Xu Ruyi's clumsy triumvirate, Feng Xiangping was undoubtedly the weakest link—Qin Guan lowered his eyes, shaking his head, his peripheral glance sweeping over Old He before him.

He had given Old He enough clues—attack that weakest link, Feng Xiangping. Attacking that woman would surely destroy Xu Ruyi.

"Miss, have some bird's nest soup. It's warm. You've been so weak lately, not eating well, not sleeping well. You must finish this small bowl. Look how much weight you've lost,"

Auntie Feng brought out a bowl of bird's nest soup and a plate of smoked fish.

The smoked fish was Auntie Feng's own making.

It was Xu Ruyi's favorite dish since childhood, one she never tired of. When she was little and had a fight with classmates or was upset about not being chosen as a class monitor, Auntie Feng would always make smoked fish that very day. Freshly fried smoked fish, piping hot from the bubbling oil, sour and sweet with a hint of tartness. After two pieces, Xu Ruyi would forget all her unhappiness.

Auntie Feng's finger was bandaged with a plaster—she must have hurt it while making the smoked fish, distracted by worry.

Auntie Feng was inherently a timid, fearful person. If she weren't, how could she have been bullied by her in-laws and rejected by her own family after her husband died? How could she have come to the city alone with her infant son only months old, kneeling at the door of a restaurant begging for a waitress job...

"Eat, Miss. Don't worry," Auntie Feng took a deep breath, looking around the home she now felt was unsafe. "Just answer whatever the police ask truthfully. Don't be afraid. Auntie Feng is here. Little Pear is here. Miss, you need to take care of your health, understand? Health is your capital. Life still has to go on..."

She choked up again.

She was never a smooth talker, especially now, when she dared not speak freely.

Xu Ruyi silently grasped her hand—her hand was trembling slightly.

"Xiao Zhi has classes. What's he coming for? Things have already happened," Xu Ruyi shook her head calmly. "Call him. Tell him to focus on his studies. I can handle things here."

"Xiao Zhi should come," Auntie Feng didn't heed her. "Before Xiao Zhi could even talk, he was raised by the old master and mistress. Milk powder, diapers—everything was bought by the mistress. To say something perhaps presumptuous—he is the old master and mistress's child, your own blood brother! Miss, facing such a big thing now, as your brother, he should come see you! It's only right and proper!"

Xiao Zhi was coming.

This wasn't part of the original plan.

Had something happened?

Xu Ruyi sipped the bird's nest soup and ate the smoked fish, tasting nothing. Watching Auntie Feng's figure bustling in the kitchen, thinking of another young face—round, always smiling—her heart felt incredibly heavy.

She really shouldn't have dragged Auntie Feng and Xiao Zhi into this.