He instructed Xiao Lin, "I don't want to see this happen again today. Contact the security company immediately tonight, and by tomorrow morning, there must be bodyguards to protect Susu closely. The villa also needs round-the-clock security."
"Young Master, understood. I'll contact the security company run by my former comrades right away." Xiao Lin was about to go make the call when he remembered something and said, "Young Master, don't worry. I'll guard the villa tonight to ensure your and Young Madam's safety. You can rest assured."
Qin Tianyi nodded slightly and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
...
The next morning, as soon as Susu woke up, she didn't see Qin Tianyi.
She washed up, changed, and went downstairs, only to find Aunt Chen at home.
"Young Madam, aren't you going to sleep in? Young Master said you were quite frightened last night and wants you to rest at home." Aunt Chen had already set the table for her.
Susu walked to the dining room and didn't see Xiao Xing either. She asked, "Where are Tianyi and Xiao Xing? Have they both gone out?"
"Young Master left at dawn, it seems for some urgent matter. Young Master Xiao has just gone to kindergarten, and Xiao Mei is with him," Aunt Chen said before turning to go to the kitchen to bring out breakfast.
Susu glanced at two burly men standing by the entrance and asked Aunt Chen curiously, "Who are those people outside? Are they police?"
Aunt Chen placed the breakfast in front of her and said, "They are security personnel hired by Young Master. Two are guarding the entrance, and several others are patrolling the perimeter. They're afraid someone might harm you and Young Master Xiao."
Susu said "oh." After what happened last night, Tianyi was even more anxious than she was. The only thing she found strange was why he hadn't called the police.
Could it be that Tianyi already knew who was responsible, which was why he didn't want to call the police?
Susu couldn't quite figure it out, but she trusted that Tianyi had his reasons.
After breakfast, she was about to drive to her studio as usual.
Seeing her leave, the two bodyguards at the entrance immediately followed her and said, "Madam, Mr. Qin instructed us to protect you twenty-four hours a day."
Susu nodded and said, "Alright, you can follow me."
...
Shu Zhongze arrived at his office early. He hadn't gone home last night and had made do with a night at a hotel.
As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, his secretary greeted him, "Good morning, Mr. Shu. Um, Mr. Qin is already waiting outside your office. I told him that without an appointment, waiting is futile, but he just wouldn't listen..."
"Alright, I know. I'll handle it." Shu Zhongze couldn't understand why Qin Tianyi was looking for him so early. The second phase of the amusement park project was progressing smoothly, and he hadn't heard of any issues from his subordinates yesterday. He decided to see what Qin Tianyi wanted.
As he passed the waiting area outside his office, Qin Tianyi, holding a paper bag, stood up and walked towards him. "Good morning, Mr. Shu. I didn't expect you to arrive earlier than the regular employees."
"But still not as early as you, Mr. Qin." Shu Zhongze gave him a polite smile and observed him for a moment before saying, "Let's discuss whatever it is inside the office."
Qin Tianyi followed him into the office. He had thought about it all night. If someone was threatening Susu because of Shu Yan, it could only be Shu Zhongze and his wife.
And whether it was one of them or both, coming directly to Shu Zhongze would clarify everything.
"I know that Shu Corporation has been busy lately, but some matters require me to disturb you."
Shu Zhongze unbuttoned his suit jacket, sat down, and asked, "No need to beat around the bush. Just say what you need to say. I'm all ears."
Qin Tianyi took out the silk-spun iron box and the clown doll from the paper bag and placed them in front of Shu Zhongze. "My wife received these at home yesterday. I wonder if they were gifts from you or your wife?"
Shu Zhongze looked at the box and the somewhat creepy doll on the table inexplicably and said, "What is the meaning of this? How could we send such things to your wife? Do you take us for three-year-olds?"
Qin Tianyi pressed the doll's built-in sound emitter, and the doll emitted that peculiar sound.
This was a processed sound, and neither of them could tell who had recorded it.
Qin Tianyi said coldly, "A three-year-old child couldn't make a doll that makes sounds like this."
"Whether you believe me or not, I have no reason to threaten your wife. The second phase of the amusement park project has already reached a smooth agreement. Do we still need to threaten your family?" Shu Zhongze looked at him with a hint of deeper meaning and said, "Moreover, putting aside past matters, I actually admire your wife a little."
Qin Tianyi's heart sank. Had Shu Zhongze noticed something?
However, seeing Shu Zhongze's expression, he didn't seem to be lying. He asked again, "Even if it wasn't you, what about your wife? Now that Shu Yan has been arrested, won't she blame my wife?"
Shu Zhongze retorted, "Why would she blame your wife? Did you two conspire to make the police believe that Huo Jin was murdered?"
"It's not 'believe,' Huo Jin was indeed murdered by your precious daughter," Qin Tianyi said with certainty. "Facts are facts, and no one can twist them."
Shu Zhongze sighed, "I watched them grow up together. If you said Shu Yan killed your wife, I would believe it. But saying she killed Huo Jin makes no sense."
"You should ask your precious daughter yourself about this," Qin Tianyi warned him seriously. "I don't care who in your Shu family wants to harm my wife. If I find out, I will show no mercy!"
He stood up, picked up the box and the doll, and prepared to leave. Shu Zhongze suddenly said, "I think I've seen a similar box somewhere before, but I can't recall it right now. Leave the box here, and perhaps I can help you find the person who threatened your wife."
Qin Tianyi met his gaze, unsure for a moment if he was telling the truth or trying to deceive him to destroy the evidence.
"If you don't believe me, then please, be my guest," Shu Zhongze said, spreading his hands helplessly.
Qin Tianyi hesitated for a moment but decided to leave the box with him, saying, "If you remember who it was, tell me immediately."
"Don't worry. After all, we are now in a cooperative relationship. Why would I make an enemy of you?" Shu Zhongze picked up the box and examined it carefully.
Qin Tianyi only took back the doll and left Shu Corporation.
He got into the car. Xiao Lin, driving in front, saw his furrowed brow and couldn't help but ask, "Young Master, have you found the person who played that prank last night?"
"No." Qin Tianyi's mind was blank. If it wasn't Shu Zhongze and his wife, then who else could it be? Besides them, Susu hadn't offended anyone else.
The reason he hadn't called the police last night was his suspicion that Shu Zhongze was involved. If Shu Zhongze turned out to be Susu's biological father, Susu would likely be heartbroken when she found out, and he didn't want her to have to face the police arresting her own father.
He was considering Susu's feelings, which was why he decided not to report it to the police until he had cleared things up.
Seeing that Qin Tianyi only answered with two words and had fallen silent again, Xiao Lin asked, "Young Master, where are we going now?"
"Ao Xiang Group."
Xiao Lin acknowledged the instruction.
Qin Tianyi's phone suddenly rang briefly. He picked it up and saw he had received a picture.