Chapter 196
"How about this." Father Zhong chose to give in. "I believe Xiaolin is not that kind of person. Your suspicion is too humiliating for your Uncle Lin. If it turns out that it wasn't your Uncle Lin, then you must apologize to him."
Zhong Qiao didn't hesitate: "If it wasn't him, I would definitely apologize in person, but—"
She paused and said, "I must ensure that everyone is in an absolutely safe environment. Dad, our family cannot be separated again."
"It was because of my wrong choices that you left Hong Kong and came to Suzhou. Even though you emphasized to me that you came here because Siqi was admitted to a university in Suzhou, you probably don't know."
"Siqi once told me that he wanted to stay in Hong Kong. So, all this time, you guys don't understand how guilty I feel when I face you."
"Because of me, I caused you so much heartache, and made Siqi give up her beloved university and come to Suzhou. Now someone tells me that you were poisoned in Hong Kong. As a child, how can I tolerate this?"
"I know it's presumptuous to suspect Uncle Lin. After more than ten years of companionship, he's no different from a half-father in my heart. But how else can I explain it? Is there anyone closer to our family than him?"
"This is a chronic poison. It must be someone close to you. Over the years, besides my mother, the only other person who has been poisoned by this is Uncle Lin."
Mother Zhong loves this family, loves Zhong Qiao and Zhong Siqi, so it is naturally impossible for her to poison her father. Therefore, her suspicion of Uncle Lin is not a delusion.
"So this time the whole family went out for a trip, was it also your idea to avoid Xiaolin?" asked Zhong's father.
Zhong Qiao nodded: "Yes."
"Nonsense!" Father Zhong was furious. "Do you know what you're talking about? Your Uncle Lin raised you with all his heart and soul, treating you like his own daughter. When you were tricked away by the poor boy from the Xu family, your Uncle Lin fell ill from longing for you."
"He's already like this, how could he still want to harm me?"
Zhong Qiao also started to get a little stubborn. "I'm not telling you this to get you to agree with me. I just want you to know that our family is in a very dangerous situation right now. Even if there's even a slight possibility, you must keep a close eye on it."
Father Zhong was silent for a while, then he said, "Do you really have to prove that your Uncle Lin is innocent before you can give up these unrealistic ideas of yours?"
"yes."
Zhong Qiao answered straightforwardly.
"I'm going to find the person who poisoned you. I want you to live a long life."
In the dead silence, Zhong Qiao looked up at his father with an unwavering attitude.
The same blood flows in their bodies, and they are connected like a thread, as if they were carved from the same mold.
Mr. Zhong sighed deeply.
"Okay, just treat me as a lunatic and I'll play along with you this time."
*
The Zhong Qiao family set out in a hurry and brought very little luggage. When Uncle Lin came to their door, he put on the smile he had practiced hard the night before and knocked on the door for a long time, but got nothing.
He was a little confused.
Until a passerby told him: "Their whole family went on a trip."
The loving expression on Uncle Lin's face instantly disappeared, and turned into an indifferent expression.
The whole family went on a trip?
He looked at the closed door and smiled meaningfully.
Why leave now instead of earlier or later? Did he discover something?
He turned and left.
On the other hand, Zhong Qiao, who was traveling with her whole family, was sulking with her old father. Zhong's mother, who couldn't understand what was going on, thought that the father and daughter were having a quarrel.
"You're already an adult, why are you always angry with the child?" Mother Zhong bumped Father Zhong's arm. "The child finally took us on a trip, and we enjoyed it. What else are you dissatisfied with? Stop looking so depressed."
Father Zhong glanced at Zhong Qiao and smiled, "Satisfied? You should be satisfied. Qiao Qiao's arrangements for this trip are truly amazing."
Mother Zhong noticed something was wrong between the two.
"Are you two hiding something? The day before yesterday, you were all smiling and acting like a loving father and a filial son. How come you've suddenly turned against each other today?"
Zhong Qiao said, "It's nothing, Mom, don't worry about us."
From the moment she told her father about this matter, she knew the seriousness of the problem, so she was prepared to not be understood. The current scene was what she expected.
The two of them maintained this awkward situation. During this period, Zhong's mother, who didn't understand why, often struck up conversations and made efforts to ease their relationship. However, Zhong's father would just smile at most.
Zhong Qiao was very considerate and completely ignored Zhong's father. He played with Zhong's mother, and Ji Hebai helped carry things. It was really great.
He looks relaxed and at ease, just like he is out for a trip.
Mr. Zhong started to feel bored as no one paid any attention to him, and sometimes he would even take the initiative to find topics to talk about.
Five days passed in a flash, and it was time for them to go back.
As soon as I got home, someone called out, "Zhong family, you're finally back. Your cousin is waiting at your door every day. Oh, what a sin! You were traveling and lived so close to him, but why didn't you tell him?"
"I waited day after day, even though it was freezing cold."
Zhong Qiao smiled but said nothing. Father Zhong frowned, but still replied politely, "It was indeed our fault. We forgot to tell you when we left."
The man shouted, "Go check on him quickly! He seems a little off. I don't know if he's been sick lately, but he looks really bad."
"Okay." Zhong Qiao responded, "I'll go right away."
The man was mumbling something, but he couldn't hear clearly because of the distance. However, Zhong Qiao guessed that it was not something good.
"You guys are really something! Didn't you say you had passed the message? How come Xiaolin didn't receive it at all? I wonder how anxious he must be."
"No, I have to go check it out."
Mother Zhong was so anxious that she insisted on going over to take a look.
"Xiao Lin has been stubborn since he was young. He must have thought we didn't want him anymore, so he comes here every day to wait. It's been hot during the day and cold at night these past few days. It's really torturous."
There was no time to blame Zhong Qiao for not delivering the message properly. Mother Zhong dragged Father Zhong to go see Uncle Lin. Zhong Qiao thought about it and decided to go with them to take a look.
When they arrived at the place and opened the door, they were shocked.
The ground was a mess, as if it had been smashed by someone.
Uncle Lin was lying on the ground, like an angry puppet. He didn't react at all when he heard the clear sound of the door opening.
"Xiao Lin." Zhong's mother spoke first, "We were wrong. We're back. Are you sick?"
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