Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The room was dim. She decided to turn on the bedside lamp, since she was puzzled.

The side of the bed where Shen Liangchuan had been sleeping on was still rather warm.

This could mean that it had not even been half an hour since the time he had woken up and left.

Qiao Lian draped her clothes on, put on her slippers and headed out slowly.

When she opened the door of the master bedroom, she could see that the lights in the corridor had been turned on. The lights of the big chandelier in the living room had been turned on too.

Qiao Lian was puzzled and scanned around as she headed downstairs.

This was Qiao Lian’s second time staying over for the night, so she was not that familiar with this place.

Although this villa had the same layout as the one that she and Shen Liangchuan had been staying at, the furnishing was still different.

She walked gradually towards the balcony, as she had seen that its light was on.

However, she carelessly knocked a trash bin by the side, since she was still in a daze after waking up.

In the midst of the night, the trash bin made a clattering sound in the spacious and empty room, which gave Qiao Lian a fright.

She stood rooted to the spot. Only after a while did she bend down, intending to pick up the trash bin.

At this moment, the room door creaked and it opened.

Auntie Li, who was staying in the room downstairs, pushed open her door. When she saw Qiao Lian, she was caught by surprise. “Madam, what are you doing?”

Qiao Lian laughed awkwardly. “I- I am looking for Shen Liangchuan.”

At this point, she took a glance at the balcony again.

There were hardly any movements in the balcony, even with such a loud noise.

This meant that most probably Shen Liangchuan was not there.

Then she heard Auntie Li ask, “Sir is not in the bedroom?”

Qiao Lian nodded.

Auntie Li frowned. “I didn’t hear any noises that might indicate that Sir had gone out. If he isn’t in the bedroom, then he should be…”

She raised her head and looked at the third floor. “On the third floor.”

Third floor?

Qiao Lian raised her head and followed Auntie Li’s gaze.

Their two villas were both three storeys high.

Most of the rooms were vacant, as there were only a few residents.

As for the villa that she and Shen Liangchuan were staying in, the third floor was generally used as a storage space.

But she hadn’t been to the third floor of Xia Yehua’s villa before.

At this moment, although she was downstairs, she could still see that there was some light coming out from the gap under the door of a particular room on the third floor.

Qiao Lian nodded and understood it. “I’ll go look for him then.”

She put back in place the trash bin and headed up the stairs, intending to go to the third floor.

She had only taken two steps when she heard Auntie Li say, “Madam…”

She halted and turned around. Auntie Li looked a little hesitant.

Qiao Lian raised an eyebrow with confusion. “Auntie Li, please be direct with me.”

Auntie Li wasn’t a meddlesome person. She had treated Qiao Lian well ever since she had joined the Shen Family.

Although she loved Song Yuanxi much more dearly, she still had respect for Qiao Lian.

Yet she had rarely seen her hesitating like this before.

Auntie Li sighed when she heard this. “Madam, please don’t get angry with what I’m about to say.”

She looked at the third floor and said, “Sir has never allowed anyone to enter that room on the third floor.”

As she was worried that Qiao Lian might think she was controlling her, Auntie Li added, “Yuanxi wasn’t allowed to enter as well.”

But then she realized that it wasn’t that nice to compare Song Yuanxi with Qiao Lian. Hence, she cleared her throat and added, “His mother hasn’t been up there either.”

And so to speak, besides Shen Liangchuan, no one else had been to that room before?

Qiao Lian raised her head with curiosity.

At the same time, she felt confused in her heart.

What was in that room on the third floor?

Should she go up to take a look?