After dinner
Han Songyan saw that Han Yaxin was pestering Madam Li to discuss beauty topics.
She gave Bai Kangyan a look, and the two of them went to a secluded spot in the back garden.
Bai Kangyan joked, "We left the guests inside and ran out to sneak out for a date, are we?"
Han Songyan gave him a coquettish glare: "I have something important to tell you."
"What important business is it?"
"You should understand why Madam Li brought Yu Shu to our house today, right?"
When this matter was brought up, Han Songyan's face, which had been sullen for a long time, finally showed a hint of a smile.
Bai Kangyan was silent for a moment: "Does the Li family want to form a marriage alliance with our Bai family?"
His wife often praised Li's son in front of him.
So that's what you were planning.
Recalling his pleasant conversation with Li Yushu earlier that day, Bai Kangyan smiled approvingly.
“Yu Shu is a good-looking and outstanding young man, and he is also the son of Secretary Li. If this marriage can be arranged, I would naturally be happy to see it happen.”
Seeing that Bai Kangyan seemed to be in a good mood after hearing about this, Han Songyan took the opportunity to bring up another matter.
"Honey, there's something I need to tell you."
Seeing Han Songyan's hesitant expression, Bai Kangyan smiled and said, "We're an old married couple, what can't we just say straight up?"
Upon hearing Bai Kangyan's words, Han Songyan slowly spoke: "I concealed Qianmo's identity from Madam Li."
Bai Kangyan's brows furrowed slightly, and the smile on his face froze instantly.
Why do this?
Han Songyan noticed Bai Kangyan's displeasure and felt a chill run through her heart.
They have been married for over twenty years, and Bai Kangyan has almost never been angry with her.
But ever since that girl entered the Bai family, the relationship between the couple has become increasingly strained.
"If Madam Li finds out Xi Ruo's identity, will the Li family still accept her?" Han Songyan's eyes were slightly red, and she looked aggrieved.
If it were Bai Kangyan on a normal day, seeing Han Songyan like this, he might immediately soften his stance.
But today, the man in front of her looked at her with a deep chill and disappointment in his eyes.
"When you were thinking about Xi Ruo, did you ever spare a single thought for Qian Mo?"
“When she returned to the Bai family, she not only didn’t receive our love as parents, but she was also treated coldly by you. How is she supposed to view you, her biological mother?”
At this moment, Bai Kangyan's pent-up dissatisfaction completely erupted.
He repeatedly indulged her, waiting for her to gradually accept his daughter.
Unexpectedly, instead of improving her relationship with Qianmo, she did something so foolish.
"Do you think you can just fool the Li family with their social standing and status? If Xi Ruo really marries into the Li family in the future, and her true identity is exposed, have you ever thought about how embarrassing it will be for her in the Li family?"
Bai Kangyan's brows furrowed more and more, and his handsome face was covered with a gloomy bluish tinge.
Han Songyan never expected that Bai Kangyan would scold her like that.
His temper flared up instantly, and his voice unconsciously rose considerably.
He asked in a deep voice, "Since Qianmo came home, have you noticed that your attitude towards Xiruo is completely different from before?"
"Have you, as a father, thought about Xi Ruo? Once the old man reveals Qian Mo's identity, Xi Ruo will plummet from heaven to hell."
At this point, Han Songyan's body trembled slightly.
She glared angrily at the man before her, like an eagle protecting its young.
Bai Kangyan remained silent for a long time before sighing helplessly: "I didn't say I wouldn't care about Xi Ruo, but as parents, we can't favor one over the other."
In a corner not far away
A figure stood there for a long time, having heard the entire conversation between the two.
*
The couple returned to the living room looking very unwell, only to find the large living room completely empty.
Just as the two were wondering what was going on, Aunt Liu hurriedly came downstairs.
"Sir, Madam, please go upstairs and take a look."
Seeing that Liu Ma was in a hurry, Bai Kangyan asked in a deep voice.
"What happened?"
Aunt Liu said anxiously, "The bracelet that Madam Li gave to Miss Xiruo is missing!"
Upon hearing the news, Bai Kangyan and Han Songyan exchanged a glance and immediately went upstairs.
Bai Qianmo, Madam Li, Li Yushu, Han Yaxin, and Nie Siqi and her daughter are currently in Bai Xiruo's room.
Madam Li looked around, puzzled. "Xi Ruo, you said the bracelet was on the dressing table?"
Bai Xiruo's face was pale, and her delicate brows were furrowed: "Yes, I put it back myself before lunch. How could something just disappear like that?"
"Could I have remembered it wrong?"
Bai Xiruo looked at Madam Li with a determined gaze and gave a wry smile: "Aunt Li, I'm only twenty years old, my memory can't be that bad."
Madam Li frowned slightly, pondering to herself that Bai Xiruo's words made a lot of sense.
A young woman in her early twenties is at the age when her memory is at its peak.
How could I possibly forget something I just put down?
Li Yushu walked around Bai Xiruo's room.
"Let's look around first. If we're sure the item isn't in the room, then we can start by checking the people around here."
Madam Li looked at her son: "Yushu, do you mean to say that someone stole the bracelet?"
Li Yushu did not directly answer Madam Li's question.
He simply glanced thoughtfully at everyone present.
Things don't just disappear for no reason.
The implication is that the loss of the item was clearly intentional.
Bai Xiruo's room has a partitioned walk-in closet.
She said she keeps her clothes and jewelry in there.
She clearly remembered that the bracelet was on the dressing table in the dressing room.
But in just over an hour, the bracelet disappeared.
If Bai Xiruo wasn't lying, then someone must have come by during this time.
Nie Siqi walked to Bai Xiruo's side and gently comforted her, "Xiruo, let's search the dressing room first. Brother Yushu is right. If you can't find it in your room, it's very likely that someone stole it."
Bai Xiruo's fair face was full of confusion: "There are only these people in the house, who would come to my room to steal things? Let's look again, maybe I really remembered the wrong place."
After listening to Bai Xiruo's words, Han Yaxin glanced at Bai Qianmo thoughtfully.
Before lunch, besides Xi Ruo, it seems that only Bai Qianmo went up to the second floor, right?
Moreover, Bai Qianmo showed no surprise at all after discovering that Bai Xiruo's bracelet was missing.
Her reaction was very unusual; she could only remain so calm if she already knew the bracelet was missing.
Bai Kangyan and Han Songyan arrived at Bai Xiruo's room.
After asking a few questions, Bai Kangyan nodded with a gloomy expression.
“Yu Shu’s analysis is correct. Search the room carefully first. If you can’t find it, then someone must have stolen the bracelet.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
