"So that means Huo Jin had an accident on her way back after seeing Shu Yan?" Qin Tianyi finally understood why Susu had been not only sad but also somewhat inexplicably emotional these past few days.
Susu said, "I've already told you it wasn't an accident. It's very likely she encountered thugs on the way back and was forced to drive into a remote pond?"
Qin Tianyi said rationally, "The possibility of encountering thugs is slim. Not only the forensic examiner from Lancheng but also other renowned forensic experts I consulted have reviewed Huo Jin's autopsy report. You see, when she and her car fell into the water, her head was struck first, causing her to lose consciousness. This prevented her from escaping the car in time, and she drowned. It completely fits the conclusion of an accident."
"That's impossible!" Susu insisted. "She must have encountered thugs and been knocked unconscious by them!"
"Alright, alright, calm down," Qin Tianyi said, indulging her analysis. "Let's assume she encountered thugs. Wouldn't the chances of robbery or assault be high? But the police autopsy results show Huo Jin was not assaulted, and there was no loss of property in the car. How do you explain that, our great detective? Also, if we suspect Huo Jin was harmed, the Huo family would likely think of it too. They would have consulted other authoritative forensic experts like I did."
"Then what exactly happened?" Susu said, on the verge of tears. "Honestly, I don't know how to face Qingchuan. If I hadn't been so meddlesome and asked Huo Jin to see Shu Yan's child, she wouldn't have had this accident!"
Qin Tianyi held her hand and said, "Don't tell Qingchuan about your intuition and the clues you've found yet. He's grieving terribly right now, and telling him this will only make him lose more control. When he's feeling a bit better, we'll tell him together."
Susu agreed, "Okay, it's not too late to tell him after we find useful clues or conclusive evidence."
"There's also something very strange," Qin Tianyi said abruptly. "Since Huo Jin had already seen Shu Yan at that time, why did Shu Yan tell Huo Jin's family at the funeral that she hadn't seen Huo Jin in a long time?"
Susu immediately said, "She was afraid that if the Huo family knew Huo Jin had an accident after seeing her, they would blame her and suspect her?"
"She's back at the Shu family's place now. The rumors outside say she went abroad for half a year to relax after her miscarriage, and no one knows she gave birth to the child," Qin Tianyi frowned. "And that child didn't return to Lancheng with her. Who knows where their Shu family has hidden that child?"
Susu, who had been devastated by Huo Jin's death, hadn't even known about these things Qin Tianyi mentioned. She spoke up for him, "If that's the case, then their Shu family is still slandering you. They're truly shameless. They did something wrong, but they insist on tarnishing your reputation!"
Qin Tianyi smiled indifferently. "As long as you don't misunderstand me, I don't care about any of that. Let the Shu family whitewash themselves however they want. It's best if Shu Yan doesn't provoke me again, or I'll never let her off!"
"But shouldn't we clarify this to the outside world?" Susu asked. Although she didn't care about false fame, she felt bad that Tianyi still had to bear the slander. "Their Shu family is going too far."
"Forget it. I'll just consider it giving their Shu family some face for the sake of Aoxiang Group. Shu Zhongze isn't so muddle-headed that he won't strictly discipline Shu Yan after this incident."
Susu hummed in agreement. "I hope Shu Zhongze knows you've shown mercy to their Shu family and won't use the Shu Corporation's influence to suppress Aoxiang anymore."
Qin Tianyi felt that as long as she understood, nothing else mattered. He smiled and said, "We should go back. Do you really want to spend the night at the service area?"
After leaving the service area, she got into the car Qin Tianyi had driven, while her own car was driven back by Xiao Lin, who had been waiting outside the service area.
...
The next day, before leaving, Susu repeatedly assured Qin Tianyi that she was indeed going to meet Chang Qingchuan. She would send him her location once she reached the agreed-upon spot and would not investigate anything by herself without telling him.
Only then did Qin Tianyi feel relieved and let her go out alone.
He had a faint feeling that if Susu's intuition was correct, something terrible must have happened when Huo Jin died. He didn't want Susu to encounter any more danger.
He would help Susu investigate this matter. Huo Jin had helped Susu, which was equivalent to helping him. Finding the truth and giving the Huo family an explanation would also be a comfort to them.
Susu met Qingchuan in an inconspicuous roadside coffee shop. He looked haggard, with a full beard, messy hair, and strange attire – home clothes underneath a casually worn jacket.
His appearance frightened Susu. As she sat opposite him and was about to offer some words of comfort, he eagerly said, "Susu, what did you mean by what you didn't finish saying at the funeral? Do you know why Huo Jin had an accident? Where was she driving that day?"
"Qingchuan, calm down. I don't know why she had an accident either," Susu said, looking at him. "I was just guessing. She was probably going to visit Shu Yan, who was living in the countryside. She might not have told you because you and Shu Yan dislike each other and have never gotten along. She probably wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble."
Chang Qingchuan didn't look at her and murmured, "She was going to find Shu Yan?"
"That's all I know," Susu said, looking at him, unsure how to comfort him and help him pull himself together.
Chang Qingchuan suddenly looked at her again and asked, "Didn't you say that day, like me, you also felt Huo Jin's death wasn't an accident? Why did you think that?"
"I... I just went along with what you said because you were so sad that day," Susu couldn't bring herself to tell him how tragic Huo Jin was in her dream, as it would only make him lose control again.
Facing Qingchuan today, she felt even more that Tianyi's consideration was thorough. She couldn't tell Qingchuan her suspicions without evidence.
Chang Qingchuan stared at her incredulously. "No, you didn't say that then. Do you know something and are deliberately hiding it from me? Who killed Huo Jin? Who!"
Susu stared at his extreme pain, feeling that he was going to ruin himself if he continued like this. She said loudly to him, "Qingchuan, I know you loved Huo Jin very much. You're heartbroken and in pain now that she's gone, but you can't keep going on like this! I believe Huo Jin wouldn't want to see you tormenting yourself like this in heaven. You should try to look forward, to move on! Once you get through this, once you come out of it, there will be hope for your future life."
Chang Qingchuan's eyes reddened. "Susu, without her, I truly don't know how I'll get through the rest of my long life. Tell me, how can I move on, how can I move forward..."
She hadn't experienced the kind of pain Qingchuan was going through, but if she were Huo Jin, she certainly wouldn't want the person she loved to live in endless sorrow after she was gone. No matter what, she would want her loved one to be happy and joyful.