the man's hand, gritting her teeth against the pain in her leg as she took large strides out of the room, but was pulled back by Huo Mingzheng."Cao Yuan is downstairs, you're dressed like that"How ma..."Xiaoqin."

I don't know what Li Qin said on the other end of the phone.

I'll be there in a moment.

Fu Yan turned her back, sensing a gaze on her. She didn't turn around, thinking perhaps Huo Mingzheng might say something.

But he doesn't.

All that came was the sound of the door creaking open, and then it closed again.

In an instant, all the strength in her body seemed to drain away. She collapsed onto the sofa and stared at the antique clock on the opposite wall, its glass face reflecting back her pale visage.

It turns out that the heart can still hurt.

It wasn't the kind of heart-wrenching, lingering pain. It was more like a dull knife, cutting her unexpectedly at some point when she least expected it.

When she came to her senses, she was already covered in blood, her flesh and bones mangled.

Ho Mingzheng walked out of the tea room and paused at the entrance hall. He glanced sideways at the revolving staircase, his gaze falling on the corridor on the third floor. His eyes were deep, and he turned back to instruct Cao Fang with a word.

Cao Fang paused for a moment, then replied, "Yes."

The main building of the Hougongguan has three floors.

The purplish-gold curtains were drawn halfway, and sunlight streamed in from the slant. The room was half dim and half bright.

Old Master Huo stood by the window, rubbing the beads of his rosary. He lowered his head to look at Huo Mingzheng who walked out of the front hall in the distance.

"Did Fu Yan return to her apartment yesterday and only go out this morning"

The butler replied, “I’ve already asked around. He went downstairs to buy breakfast at around 7 this morning. A neighbor said she saw a man coming out of his house yesterday afternoon, but she couldn't see his face clearly. She only saw his back, which was tall and very straight. According to Miss Fu, it should have been Fu Hanlin.”

"Retrieve the surveillance footage from yesterday afternoon to this morning." Old Master Huo turned around, blocking a large patch of sunlight.

The housekeeper was taken aback. "You don't believe Miss Fu's words"

"It's not that easy to believe her, she's got a lot on her mind."

The butler walked over, took the cane from his hand, and helped him sit down on the sofa. "You still suspect him and the new son-in-law"

"It's not Fu Jing," Old Master Huo said, pulling open a drawer. The butler skillfully picked out a snuff bottle from inside and handed it to him. He rubbed the patterns on the bottle, his eyes sharp, "She looked at Fu Jing with no trace of romantic feelings whatsoever."

"Perhaps it's well-hidden"

He chuckled softly, "Do you think I've lived eighty years for nothing Can't even see through the cultivation of a young man in his twenties"

The butler shook his head, “I dare not, Master. Your eyes can see through people's hearts. Miss Fu is too young.”

“Since you suspect it's neither Fu Hanlin nor your nephew, then who could it be”

"Unsure," Old Master Huo placed the snuff bottle back and picked up another, saying faintly, "Go ahead."

Half an hour later, the butler rushed back. Old Master Huo was leaning on a beauty couch by the window, bathed in sunlight. An old gramophone played music from a bygone era.

It is said that it was the late Mrs. Huo's 30th anniversary wedding gift to him. It has broken several times over the years, and every time he went to great lengths to have it repaired.

The men of the Huo family, from generation to generation, have always been devoted to their wives, and there has never been a couple who were not harmonious.

The butler walked forward and whispered, "Sir, the surveillance is broken."

After a while, Old Master Huo, with his eyes closed, remained still. The steward thought he had fallen asleep and was about to turn around to get him a blanket.

"Bad" he slowly opened his eyes.

The housekeeper nodded. "It seems to have broken yesterday and hasn't been fixed yet."

Mr. Huo glanced at the sunlight outside the window and narrowed his eyes.

Yesterday.

Is it a coincidence or intentional to begin with, so Huo Mingzheng didn't notice anything amiss at this moment.Ho Mingzheng pulled her hand over, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and wiped her fingers one by one, "How come you...