"My colleagues are currently checking her bank transaction records from when she was in China. We should have results soon," Kang Xi said, her expression serious. "I also looked into the people who were with her second brother when he had his accident. One of them suddenly became very wealthy after her second brother's death, and his entire family emigrated abroad."
Tianyi analyzed, "So, when Wu Xiufang's elder and second brothers had their accidents, someone present at the scene suddenly got rich and, not daring to stay in Lancheng, emigrated."
"That's right," Kang Xi whispered. "The reason I was late just now was because I contacted someone who knows the truth behind Wu Xiufang's second brother's accidental death back then."
Tianyi immediately became alert and asked, "What did this person say?"
"This person said that the one who emigrated abroad is nicknamed Zhong Jinqiao, and he's a friend of his. Back then, he introduced Zhong Jinqiao to Wu Xiufang's second brother, and they hung out together," Kang Xi explained the situation to him. "Before Wu Xiufang's second brother had his accident, Zhong Jinqiao told him while drinking that he was going to get rich and emigrate. He thought Zhong Jinqiao was just bragging and asked him how he got rich. Zhong Jinqiao let slip that someone had paid him to do something big. He didn't expect that his whole family would actually emigrate."
"We can certainly ask this person for more details."
Kang Xi said, "I've already arranged to meet him. We can ask him in detail when we meet. He also mentioned on the phone that he has a video recorded with a camcorder."
"That's great. We've finally uncovered a tip of the iceberg."
"Yes," Kang Xi said happily, feeling that her efforts had not been in vain.
...
Meng Yao was feeling uneasy all day. She left work early and didn't wait for Jiaxi to pick her up. She went back to her parents' home by herself.
Seeing her return home still looking unhappy, Wu Xiufang knew without asking that she must have been wronged at the Hong family's place or had argued with Hong Jiaxi.
Wu Xiufang instructed the kitchen to prepare a few extra dishes for dinner before going to find Meng Yao in her old room.
Seeing her listlessly playing on her phone, Wu Xiufang came to her side and asked, "What's wrong? Did you have a fight with Jiaxi?"
Meng Yao didn't answer but hugged her mother and asked, "Mom, am I very spoiled and prone to throwing tantrums like a spoiled young lady?"
"Who said that? You've always been very good, without any airs of a rich young lady," Wu Xiufang comforted her. "Did the Hong family bully you? Don't pay them any mind. Don't go back. Just stay here, and I'll go talk to them tomorrow."
"Mom, no need," Meng Yao quickly stopped her. "No one bullied me. They're all very good to me. I just had a small argument with Jiaxi, and I don't want to talk to him."
Wu Xiufang smiled and asked, "Then why did you argue?"
As Meng Yao thought about telling her, she realized it wasn't a big deal. If she were to excitedly explain it to her mother, it would just be trivial matters.
"It's nothing, really. It's just that his attitude towards me wasn't good when he spoke to me last night."
Wu Xiufang advised, "Arguments between husband and wife are common. Once you calm down and consider things from each other's perspective, it'll be fine."
Meng Yao nodded, realizing she had indeed made a mountain out of a molehill.
Just then, her phone rang. She looked at it and saw Jiaxi's name displayed on the screen.
She looked at Wu Xiufang for help and said, "Mom, I don't want to answer his call right now."
Wu Xiufang took her phone, winked at her, and said, "I'll take it for you."
Saying that, Wu Xiufang pressed the answer button on her phone. "Hello, who is this?"
Jiaxi heard Wu Xiufang's voice on the other end and called out, "Mom, it's Jiaxi. Is Meng Yao there with you?"
"Oh, she said she missed home and came back here."
"Can you have her answer the phone?"
Wu Xiufang replied, "She fell asleep after she got back, so she probably can't answer your call right now. How about I have her call you back when she wakes up?"
Jiaxi paused and said, "Mom, no need. Then I'll come find her directly and take her back later."
"Okay, then you can come for dinner too. You can go home together after eating."
After the call, Wu Xiufang smiled and returned the phone to Meng Yao, saying, "Jiaxi is coming. If his attitude is decent, don't be angry anymore and go back with him. That way, his family won't worry about you both."
Meng Yao hummed, no longer feeling as angry with Jiaxi.
"Alright, you rest for a bit. I'll go to the kitchen and ask them to make another dish."
"Mom, just make one more dish, braised beef with tomatoes. Jiaxi likes this," Meng Yao said with a smile.
Wu Xiufang smiled at her and said, "You know, you actually care about him quite a bit." Then she left Meng Yao's room.
Just as she was about to go to the kitchen to ask them to prepare more of Jiaxi's favorite dishes, her own phone vibrated in her pocket.
Wu Xiufang took out her phone and saw it was Old Shi calling. She quickly returned to her room and closed the door before answering.
"Old Shi, is there something?"
"Miss, I've discovered someone is investigating the accidents of the eldest young master and the second young master."
Wu Xiufang was greatly alarmed and asked, "Who?"
Old Shi replied, "It's a police officer. He went to the beach where the eldest young master had his accident, and after returning, he started investigating the second young master's accident."
"So it's the police investigating?" Wu Xiufang asked in disbelief. "Could it be that the police have found new evidence, which is why they're re-investigating the accidents from back then?"
Old Shi's voice turned grim. "I've checked. That police officer investigating this matter is very close with Qin Tianyi and his wife. And there's no news from the police station about a reinvestigation or reopening the case. It should be this police officer's personal action."
"So Qin Tianyi is behind this." Wu Xiufang regained her composure and said coldly, "Fine. I haven't even settled the score with him for Daisy yet, and he's already making a move to kill me."
Old Shi said, "It seems Qin Tianyi has a firm grip on us and won't let go easily."
"Let him investigate. What can he find? We handled those matters very cleanly back then, and there's no evidence left to be found," Wu Xiufang said, feeling there was nothing to worry about.
However, Old Shi said, "The reason I know about this is because when the second young master had his accident, someone who recorded it said they saw Zhong Jinqiao kill the second young master. And this person knows that I was the one directing Zhong Jinqiao. He said if we don't pay him one million to buy what he has, he'll hand over that recording to the police."
Wu Xiufang's mood was like riding a roller coaster. She said, "How can he guarantee he doesn't have a copy, and won't keep blackmailing us?"
"I don't think this can be guaranteed, and I won't give him a million," Old Shi said. "The only way now is to lure him out and finish it once and for all. Only the dead can never speak."
"Good, let's do that," Wu Xiufang said, still a bit uneasy. "When doing this, make sure to find reliable people. We absolutely cannot let Qin Tianyi find any evidence."
Old Shi replied, "Don't worry, I'll handle this personally. After this person disappears, we can't let Qin Tianyi continue investigating like this. It's time we dealt with him."