"My father's friend? Looking for me?"
"Yes, young lady. That gentleman claimed his surname was Lin, and said he had an appointment with your father to meet at the mansion today.
I told him your father passed away yesterday, and he then said he wanted to see you, the young lady."
"Surname Lin?"
Leng Ningyue asked, glancing at Lin Qingge, who shook her head, indicating it had nothing to do with her. However, Hua Jinrong, on the other side, seemed to brighten up.
The group then proceeded to the living room.
Looking up, they saw a strikingly noble young man seated on the sofa.
"Cousin, why are you here?!"
Yan Tinghao exclaimed, rushing forward to greet the man.
"Cousin, weren't you in Nanjing?
How did you end up in Harbin?"
As if surprised by Yan Tinghao's presence, the man's face flashed with a fleeting surprise, but he smoothly replied:
"I came on business and decided to pay you a visit."
The man stood up, patted Yan Tinghao's shoulder, and then introduced himself to everyone:
"I am Lin Moyuan, a business partner of Mr. Shangguan.
Mr. Shangguan had originally invited me to visit his mansion today.
Little did I expect to receive the news of his passing instead.
Miss Leng, is it?
The deceased is gone, I hope you will take care of yourself.
I am considered an old acquaintance of Mr. Shangguan. Miss Leng, if you need any help, please do not hesitate to ask. Although I am not a local, I do have some connections in Harbin."
"Business partner? Cousin, aren't you..."
Yan Tinghao was interrupted by Lin Moyuan before he could finish:
"Although I am a folklorist, I am also a businessman."
"Businessman?"
Yan Tinghao scratched his head, looking bewildered.
Hua Jinrong took the opportunity to chime in and clarify:
"You may not know this, but the most famous Huarong Hotel in Nanjing belongs to this young Mr. Lin.
Furthermore, the New World Hotel here in Harbin was also opened by this young Mr. Lin~"
"Cousin, the Huarong Hotel is yours?
And the New World Hotel too?"
Yan Tinghao's mouth gaped in surprise, as if he were seeing his cousin for the first time.
At this moment, Leng Ningyue, who had been interrupted by Yan Tinghao, nodded slightly:
"Thank you for your kind offer, Mr. Lin. Ningyue appreciates it.
If Mr. Lin wishes to discuss business matters, we can arrange another time to talk at the company."
"Although it may be a bit presumptuous, I have important matters to discuss with Miss Leng. May I have a moment to speak with you privately?"
"Knowing it's presumptuous and still saying it, clearly you have ill intentions towards Senior Leng!"
For some reason, Lin Qingge found everything about Lin Moyuan displeasing, and couldn't help but retort.
Lin Moyuan did not argue with Lin Qingge, but gazed at Leng Ningyue with earnest eyes.
Seemingly annoyed by his polite yet unyielding attitude, Leng Ningyue said coldly:
"Alright, follow me."
As she turned, Leng Ningyue remembered to instruct:
"Qingge, you all rest here for a moment.
By the way, Uncle Wang, have that mother and daughter left the villa?"
"Replying to the young lady, because Inspector Hua instructed that no one is to leave the villa, the madam and the second young lady are still upstairs.
The madam was tired from crying earlier, and the second young lady is currently in the madam's room keeping her company."
"Go and call them down to the living room."
"Yes, young lady."
The butler acknowledged the order and went to carry it out, also signaling for a servant to bring tea and snacks for Lin Qingge and the others.
However, the butler soon returned in a hurry.
"Bad news, bad news!"
Feeling his line had been stolen, Yan Tinghao jolted and stood up from the sofa. "What is it, what is it, what happened?"
The elderly butler, Uncle Wang, stood still, patting his chest for a while before gasping out:
"Bad news, the madam, the madam, she... she's dead!!!"
"What?!"
This time, not only Yan Tinghao, but Lin Qingge also sprang up from the sofa.
"Quick, take us to see."
Led by Butler Uncle Wang, everyone arrived at Mrs. Shangguan's bedroom.
They saw Mrs. Shangguan lying peacefully on the bed.
Lin Qingge quickly walked forward, placed her hand on Mrs. Shangguan's pulse, and then listened with her ear to Mrs. Shangguan's chest.
After doing so, she shook her head gravely at everyone.
"How could this happen? Mrs. Shangguan was fine this morning, how could she suddenly die?"
"Mrs. Shangguan's mouth has a faint almond smell. Preliminary conclusion suggests poisoning by chlorides."
After her analysis, Lin Qingge turned and asked:
"Butler, what did Mrs. Shangguan do after we left? Whom did she interact with?"
"Well..."
Butler Uncle Wang, having recovered from the initial shock, tried to recall:
"Because the young lady intended to drive the madam and the second young lady out of the villa, the madam cried for a long time.
None of us dared to approach, only the second young lady stayed by the madam's side.
Later, whether it was because the madam was tired from crying or was persuaded by the second young lady.
Around 1 PM, the second young lady helped the madam back to her room. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
But neither of them mentioned packing their luggage to leave.
As a mere servant, despite the young lady's orders, I couldn't say much.
Coincidentally, the police officers from the patrol station arrived at that time.
They said they wanted to conduct a thorough search of the entire villa, so I led them around the villa.
Later, the second young lady came downstairs to the kitchen and said the madam had no appetite, so she asked the maid to prepare some light porridge and side dishes for the madam, which the second young lady personally brought to the madam's room to serve her."
"And when was that?"
"It was a quarter past four in the afternoon.
When the second young lady brought out the bowls and plates that the madam had eaten from, she happened to bump right into me, so I remember it very clearly."
After hearing Butler Uncle Wang's account, Lin Qingge's brows furrowed slightly:
"Were Mrs. Shangguan's and the second young lady's rooms also searched?"
"The second young lady's room was visited, but Mrs. Shangguan's..."
Butler Uncle Wang glanced at Hua Jinrong beside him, hesitating to speak.
Hua Jinrong, instantly understanding, smiled while fanning herself:
"Butler, you don't need to be concerned. If anyone has been negligent, I will not show leniency~"
"Inspector Hua, the police officers were very diligent. However, the madam was spoiled by the master, and would make a scene if she was even slightly displeased.
The police officers really couldn't do anything about the madam, so they gave up on searching her room."
"And when did the patrol station search Mrs. Shangguan's room?"
"It was around 3 PM. Not long after the police officers from the patrol station left, the second young lady came out of the madam's room and asked the kitchen to prepare food for the madam."
"So, before 3 PM, Mrs. Shangguan was still alive."
"Boss, didn't Mrs. Shangguan eat at 4 PM?"
"No time to explain."
After perfunctorily dismissing the simple-minded Yan Tinghao, Lin Qingge urgently asked:
"Butler, where is the second young lady now?"