Chapter 300 Something's Wrong

She was humming a tune she had been rehearsing, tapping her fingers to the beat.

When she saw Qiao Wanyin and Fu Li'an push the door open together, she suddenly stopped, slipped, and almost fell.

A fleeting look of panic crossed her face, her eyes darted away quickly, and then she forced a smile, putting on a cloyingly sweet expression.

"Brother Li An, you're here so early, is something the matter?"

She slowly straightened up, wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, and spoke in a soft, drawn-out voice.

Qiao Wanyin skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point: "My second sister-in-law went missing last night and hasn't come home yet. Have you seen her? Has she come looking for you?"

Liu Piaopiao's smile froze on her face, like a mask suddenly cracking open.

She blinked, seemingly organizing her thoughts quickly, before whispering after a moment, "Your second sister-in-law? No... What happened to her? Did something happen?"

Are you really sure?

Qiao Wanyin took a step closer, her gaze sharp, staring directly into her eyes. "My second sister-in-law has been coming to see you a lot lately. She talks to you whenever she has free time. Aren't you two quite close? She said you're the person she's closest to in the city."

Liu Piaopiao slowly lowered her legs, straightened her skirt, and feigned an innocent and aggrieved expression. She blinked and said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "Director Qiao, you're wrong. Sister Li has come to see me a few times, but it's just casual conversation about everyday things and the children, nothing else. Didn't she go home last night? Could she have gone back to her hometown? You know, people in the countryside are sensitive; maybe something urgent happened at home."

"impossible!"

Qiao Xuezhi burst through the door, his hair disheveled, his eyes bloodshot and red-rimmed, his voice hoarse as if sandpaper scraping, “Hongmei would never abandon Miaomiao and leave! She was sewing pants for the baby just yesterday! She wouldn’t leave without a word! She wouldn’t!”

Liu Piaopiao was so startled by him that she took a half step back, bumping into the barre behind her with a loud "bang".

She gripped the pole, her voice weak, her fingertips trembling slightly: "Comrade, please don't get agitated... I'm not her family, how would I know where she went..."

Seeing this, Fu Li'an immediately stepped forward, grabbed Qiao Xuezhi's shoulder with a steady but not rough force, and lowered his voice, looking coldly at Liu Piaopiao: "Comrade Fang, think about it again. Has Hongmei mentioned where she wants to go? Or... has she said anything unusual? Like being sad, upset, or feeling like she can't hold on? Even if there's something slightly off, please tell me."

Liu Piaopiao's eyes darted away, avoiding direct eye contact with anyone. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, and her voice was so low it was almost inaudible: "Well... I... I'm not quite sure about the specifics..."

"Liu Piaopiao!"

Qiao Wanyin suddenly raised her voice, her face cold and her eyes filled with anger, "If anything happens to my second sister-in-law, I'll never forgive you! If you dare to hide anything, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

The sounds of practice, which had been rising and falling in the training room, suddenly stopped.

All the other members stopped what they were doing. Some were raising their legs and dangling them in the air, while others were still in the position of throwing punches. They all looked over at the same time. The air seemed to freeze instantly, leaving only a tense silence.

Liu Piaopiao bit her lip, her eyes immediately reddening, her voice trembling with grievance: "Director Qiao, I was just trying to help you find information. I went to several places before I got a clue. How could you wrong me like this? When have I ever harmed anyone?"

"Shut up."

Qiao Wanyin interrupted her directly, her tone resolute and leaving no room for negotiation, "I don't want to hear your explanation. I only want to know what she said to you the last time you saw her. Not a single word can be left out!"

Liu Piaopiao felt flustered under her gaze, her breathing quickened, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. She stammered, "Well..."

We chatted about everyday things. She said she wanted to stay in the city and didn't want to go back to the countryside. She also wanted Miaomiao to attend the military primary school in the city... saying the conditions there were good and the teachers were qualified.

Qiao Xuezhi suddenly grasped the key point, his eyes lit up, and his voice was steady but urgent: "Did she say where she was going to find someone to help her? Or who she wanted to pull strings with? This is crucial!"

Liu Piaopiao's eyes darted around, not daring to look at Qiao Xuezhi or Qiao Wanyin. Her fingers unconsciously picked at the edge of her nails, and her voice grew softer and softer: "This... she seemed to have mentioned that she wanted to ask someone for help... but she didn't say who it was, only vaguely saying that it was someone who 'has connections'."

"who?"

Qiao Wanyin, Qiao Xuezhi, and Fu Li'an pressed her for an answer in unison, their gazes sharp as knives, all aimed at her.

Liu Piaopiao lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum: "It seems... to be Aunt Wang from Political Commissar Li's family. She said... she heard that Aunt Wang has helped many family members find jobs, she has connections, and she can talk to people."

Qiao Wanyin's heart tightened, and a chill suddenly rose in her heart.

Aunt Wang is indeed capable of helping family members find jobs. She has helped military dependents get into good schools, change jobs, and transfer household registration. So why would my second sister-in-law suddenly think of asking her for help?

They had absolutely no connection and had barely even met each other a few times.

unless……

Someone was giving her advice behind her back, and even encouraging her to go!

She suddenly looked up, staring directly at Liu Piaopiao, her eyes sharp as knives: "You told her to go, didn't you? Did you tell her to go find Aunt Wang? Don't think I don't know what you're up to!"

Liu Piaopiao's face turned pale instantly, as if she had been slapped. She swayed and hurriedly shook her head, "Don't make false accusations! I never said that! Sister Li wanted to ask for help herself, what does it have to do with me? I'm not her mother, why should I care who she asks for help?"

Fu Li'an's eyes narrowed, his brows furrowing into a deep frown. He stepped forward, standing in front of Liu Piaopiao, his tone serious and calm: "Comrade Fang, I'm now formally reminding you that we are currently investigating Comrade Hongmei's whereabouts. If she really went to see Aunt Wang, why hasn't she returned yet? Will Aunt Wang refuse to see her? Or will she let her stay? There should be an explanation! But we haven't heard a single word from her. Is this normal?"

"I...how would I know?"

Liu Piaopiao's forehead was sweating, her palms were damp, and her voice began to tremble, "Maybe... she's lost. The city is so big, it's her first time here, she doesn't know anyone, maybe she lost her way halfway..."

Qiao Wanyin suddenly thought of something, her pupils contracted, and her expression changed instantly.

She turned around abruptly, without saying a word, and rushed out, her steps quick and firm.

"Qingqing!"

Fu Lian immediately realized what was happening and strode after him, shouting as he ran, "Wait! Where are you going?"

"Go to Political Commissar Li's house!"

Her voice trembled, filled with barely concealed fear and unease, "Second sister-in-law... she didn't see Aunt Wang at all! If Aunt Wang wasn't home, why wouldn't she look for someone else? She doesn't even know her way around, how could she dare to wander around alone? Something's not right!"

The three of them ran all the way, through the narrow paths of the family compound, and over several thresholds, finally arriving breathlessly at the door of Political Commissar Li's house.