The Vanishing Lover

Xu Ruyi had been extremely disheartened that day.

The moment Li Yang showed up at her door with the police officers, she knew Qin Guan had ultimately met Qi Min. Her heart sank into an abyss – if Qin Guan had met Qi Min, it meant that foolish woman's plan had completely fallen apart.

That stupid woman! Such a good plan, and it collapsed so quickly!

What worried Xu Ruyi even more was: had "Zeng Demei" told Qi Min that Xu Ruyi was also in the know? And would Qi Min then tell Qin Guan?

She wasn't sure.

But what was certain was that Qin Guan was starting to suspect her.

Qin Guan's probing questions about the car key were his way of testing her.

Although she had taken preventive measures.

Before having someone follow Qin Guan, Xu Ruyi had used Qi Min's phone to call the auto repair shop where she had duplicated the car key. She instructed them to be sure to call and text that number.

She had been carefully covering her tracks in all of this.

But even so, the plan had failed. Utterly failed.

"Qin Guan mentioned something. That day, after he came home and hurriedly showered and changed, Auntie Feng immediately took his clothes to wash, right? He said there was a card given to him by Qi Min in his pants at the time, which also disappeared,"

Officer Xiao Lu smiled as she looked at Auntie Feng – this girl's smile was very disarming; no matter what she asked, it didn't feel the least bit aggressive.

Auntie Feng nervously twisted the hem of her clothes, blinking rapidly.

"Auntie Feng, don't be afraid. You haven't done anything wrong. Just tell the truth," Xu Ruyi also looked at her expectantly, reminding herself not to panic – nervousness was a normal reaction for a nanny being questioned by the police.

"I've said it before! I explained to the Master many times!" Auntie Feng looked distressed. "I just washed the clothes he changed out of right away. I didn't check the pockets before washing. The Master almost never puts things in his pockets; he has a bag, he puts everything in his bag..."

"It's alright, it's alright, we're just asking,"

Xiao Lu continued smiling, but her tone shifted. "However, Qin Guan said your family usually washes clothes in the morning. Why did you wash them that evening?"

"This... I..." Auntie Feng's frown deepened. "That day, Little Pear was upset. Paint got on her dress. I was washing her dress, so I just washed the Master's clothes along with it. I... I really didn't know I shouldn't wash them... Little Pear's friend Popcorn was supposed to come over to play and have dinner. I made so many dishes, but Popcorn didn't come, so Little Pear was unhappy... Oh dear! I usually just do the housework as soon as I see it! How could I have imagined these things? I really didn't do it on purpose, and I truly didn't see any card!"

Xu Ruyi sipped her tea quietly, her gaze mild and placid as she looked at the two young officers before her.

These questions had already been asked once by that Captain Qi at the station. Why come and ask again?

Could it be that the target this time was Auntie Feng?

"It's fine, it's fine, Auntie Feng, don't worry. It's just routine questions,"

Xiao Lu smiled even more warmly, but her questions became sharper.

"Early the next morning, Auntie Feng, you went to a small shop on Xinchang Road, near the Xinhe Hotel. What did you go there for?"

Sending Auntie Feng to the area near the Xinhe Hotel on Xinchang Road early the next morning was Xu Ruyi's idea.

That night, when she got the card with "Xinhe Hotel" written on it from Auntie Feng, Xu Ruyi's heart felt like it was on a rollercoaster.

On her face, she performed suspicion and pain over Qin Guan and Qi Min's "affair," while inside, her mind raced heavily.

Late at night, lying in bed, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep – Qi Min's plan was ruined, but she had stolen the black stockings. Yet, since Qi Min had been discovered by Qin Guan, this so-called evidence was useless now.

Could it be used for something else?

Did Qi Min have another plan? Should she, Xu Ruyi, continue to be involved?

Or rather, how could she make use of that woman again?

She had nothing else in her hands now except a pair of stockings and this business card with "Xinhe Hotel" on it – the card Auntie Feng had secretly taken from Qin Guan's trouser pocket.

The card Qin Guan couldn't find no matter how much he searched his pockets when Li Yang and the officer were at the door demanding Qi Min's address.

Meaning, Qin Guan didn't know the location yet.

Xinhe Hotel.

Qi Min was staying there.

At the time, Qin Guan had yelled at Li Yang and the officer: *"She lives at such-and-such place, Room 201! She told me herself!"*

So, it must be Room 201 at Xinhe Hotel.

But could this be a trap set by Qin Guan? Could this card possibly be bait Qin Guan deliberately threw out, specifically to hook her?

After all, Qin Guan had already started suspecting her.

Xu Ruyi spent the night restless and unsettled. That's why she sent Auntie Feng to scout first – early the next morning, Auntie Feng went to the area near Xinhe Hotel.

"Yes, Xinchang Road. You even know that? You're so capable!"

Auntie Feng chuckled honestly, immediately admitting it. "I went! Little Pear's dress was stained with paint, you see? I couldn't wash it out no matter what. She was so unhappy! She was still crying before bed. It was her favorite dress. So I told her I'd make her this and that delicious food, but she wouldn't have it. She said she wanted sticky rice chicken."

"I was thinking, where would I find sticky rice chicken? Then the Missus remembered we'd had it once before at a Wuhan snack place on Xinchang Road. I got clear directions and went to buy it first thing the next morning. Only then did the little one finally smile! It's true! I'm telling the truth!"

Auntie Feng was indeed telling the truth; she had gone to buy sticky rice chicken near Xinhe Hotel that morning.

"Yes, yes, there are cameras on that road. We can see you were there. You're telling the truth," Xiao Lu nodded. "Auntie Feng, relax. It's really nothing, just casual questions."

Auntie Feng couldn't relax, and neither could Xu Ruyi.

Confirming these minor details probably wasn't the real reason for these two officers' visit.

"Auntie Feng, your son Feng Zhi often comes here, right?" Xiao Lu continued. "Does he know about the recent events between Xu Ruyi and Qin Guan?"

Auntie Feng nodded.

She answered truthfully, "He knows. He's very worried about the Missus. He called me yesterday saying he wanted to take leave to come see her. The Missus said it wasn't necessary."

Were they here to ask about Xiao Zhi?

Apparently not.

"Oh, it's fine, Auntie Feng. Just asking casually. You being so nervous actually makes me feel embarrassed," Xiao Lu stood up.

Xu Ruyi thought they were finally leaving, but then she said, "Ms. Xu, we have no other questions. May we take a look at Qin Guan's study and bedroom? We need to collect some more evidence to complete the file."