Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Qiao Lian halted and froze.

Shen Liangchuan was speaking in a very low and soft voice, as though afraid that someone would overhear them.

For reasons unknown to even herself, she gulped, stood still outside the door and did not reenter the room.

A thought flashed through her mind.

If there was a person who was familiar with things around the house and who had unrestricted access to Shen Liangchuan’s study… it would have to be Song Yuanxi and almost no one else.

Song Yuanxi… Song Yuanxi again.

She had the nagging feeling that she had overlooked something as another thought eluded her in a flash.

She immediately shook her head. No, she should trust Shen Liangchuan. Shen Liangchuan had said that the perpetrator wasn’t Song Yuanxi. If he said it wasn’t her, then it couldn’t have been her.

Concerning the fact that Shen Liangchuan had asked this question now, surely he had his own reasons for it.

Qiao Lian tried hard to convince herself. She took in a deep breath and listened quietly to the conversation in the study.

Xia Yehua paused for a while before she said, “No… no she didn’t.”

But that tone… there was underlying guilt in that tone.

Shen Liangchuan asked again suspiciously, “She really didn’t?”

Unable to keep up the lie, Xia Yehua finally caved and said, “Only ten minutes! She spoke with me for a little while, then took a few things and left. Sigh… Even if you punish her, this is her home too. Can’t she come back for a short while?”

Shen Liangchuan’s said with a grave expression, “What time was it when she came back?”

Xia Yehua thought briefly and replied, “Yesterday afternoon, around half past four.”

Around half past four.

Qiao Lian widened her eyes as she realized. The missing 10-minute segment in the video recording had been around half past four!

This would mean…

Before she could clarify this in her own head, she heard footsteps approaching from inside the study.

Reflexively, she immediately took two steps back and dashed into the bedroom.

As she entered the bedroom, Shen Liangchuan followed behind and said, “I’m going out for a short while.”

Qiao Lian looked at him steadily and asked, “Where are you going?”

Not expecting this question, Shen Liangchuan paused and froze in the midst of putting on his jacket.

He said after a short while, “I’ve to attend to something.”

Then he strode off.

Qiao Lian stood in the room, staring at his back view as he disappeared.

There and then, for some reason, she felt that he was like a total stranger.

Her doubts were like thorns embedded in her heart.

“No,” she thought, “I must not doubt Shen Liangchuan.”

Once more, Qiao Lian took in a deep breath, trying to comfort herself.

After all, Shen Liangchuan had punished Song Yuanxi and sent the girl away for suspecting her.

If Song Yuanxi did anything more than that, Shen Liangchuan would not let it go easily.

Shen Liangchuan would not allow her to get hurt.

Qiao Lian absently-mindedly changed her wet clothes with these thoughts running through her head.

Xia Yehua walked in just as Qiao Lian was done changing. She looked worried. “Xiao Qiao, did something happen? Why did Liangchuan look so terrible just then?”

On seeing Xia Yehua’s anxious expression, Qiao Lian wanted to tell her about their team.

However, she thought of the recent fainting spells that Xia Yehua had had and decided against it.

Instead, she smiled and replied, “Nothing happened. Mom, don’t worry unnecessarily.”

“I’m not worried. But look at how distracted you must be to have worn your trousers the wrong side out!”

Qiao Lian looked down and indeed, it was the wrong side out.

She gave an embarrassed laugh and stripped off her trousers, revealing her long, straight and slender legs.