Days are like being soaked in honey, flowing gently and smoothly. Su Wanwan was almost indulging in this pure and guarded happiness. She focuses on every minute growth of her child and on nurturing every ordinary yet precious moment between her and Lu Tingchen. Those thrilling past events seem to have truly been locked deep in memory, veiled in a veil.
But some sparks are destined not to be completely extinguished. Just wait for a gust of wind to reignite them.
This gust of wind came silently.
It was an ordinary afternoon. Su Wanwan was sorting out old things. She has a box in which there are some of her mother's few belongings and things from her own childhood. At the very bottom of the box, she found an old photo album that had been forgotten.
She brushed away the dust and opened it. Most of the photos inside are of the mother and her childhood, as well as some early family portraits of the Su family. The photo has turned yellow, but it records a seemingly carefree period of time.
Turning to the following pages, some group photos of mothers and friends appeared. Besides the familiar Lin Wanru, there were also several aunts that Su Wanwan didn't know very well. In one of the group photos, the mother stands in the middle, smiling particularly brightly. The woman with her arm around her shoulder is a strange woman with a capable demeanor and heroic eyes and eyebrows. The two are in a very close posture, clearly having an excellent relationship.
On the back of the photo, there are the date and the name of the person marked in the mother's elegant handwriting. Beside that strange woman, there were two characters written: "Jiangyue".
Jiang Yue?
Su Wanwan's heart stirred for no reason. This name sounds somewhat familiar, but I can't recall where I've heard it before for the moment. She examined the woman named Jiang Yue carefully, trying to dig out relevant information from her memory, but found nothing.
Perhaps it was one of my mother's many friends. She didn't pay too much attention. She closed the photo album and put the box back in place.
However, a few days later, during a routine phone call with Aunt Zhou (since the last confession, Aunt Zhou often called to show concern for her and the child), Su Wanwan accidentally brought up this name.
Aunt Zhou, do you still remember that my mother had a friend named Jiang Yue? I looked at the old photos and it seemed that they had a very good relationship.
On the other end of the phone, Aunt Zhou remained silent for a long time, so long that Su Wanwan thought there was a problem with the signal.
"Aunt Zhou?" "
"... Remember." Aunt Zhou's voice sounded somewhat strange, carrying a complex emotion. "She..." She is one of Qingya's best friends, even closer to me and to Lady Wanru. They were college classmates with similar interests, so close that they could share a pair of trousers.
And then what happened? It seems I haven't heard you mention her to Mom much." Su Wanwan asked curiously.
Aunt Zhou fell silent for a moment again before slowly saying, "She..." Left very early. It was about half a year before your mother's accident. It seems she passed away by accident. Qingya was sad about this for a long time... Not long after that, Qingya herself also... So people seldom mention her anymore, for fear of being reminded of her by the scene.
Another unexpected death? Half a year before the mother's accident?
Su Wanwan's heart gave a sudden jolt, and an indescribable intuition seized her. What a coincidence!
"How did she have the accident?" " Su Wanwan pressed on, her voice involuntarily tightening.
It seems to be... "Laboratory accident." Aunt Zhou tried hard to recall, "Yes, it was said that there was a leak or an explosion in the chemistry laboratory where she worked..." I'm not quite sure about the details either. It seems that the news didn't report it extensively back then... Wanwan, why did you suddenly ask this?"
Laboratory accident? Chemistry laboratory?
In an instant, Su Wanwan's mind flashed through the "New Life Biotechnology" mentioned in her mother's diary where her father had signed the agreement! And the illegal experiments involving dangerous drugs that Lin Wanru disclosed!
Jiang Yue... Chemistry laboratory... Accidental death... The timing is so close...
A terrifying conjecture, like a cold venomous snake, suddenly plunged into Su Wanwan's mind!
Was Jiang Yue's death really just an accident? Could it be that, like her mother, she was silenced because she discovered some secret that she shouldn't have? ! Could it be that her mother's subsequent investigation and fear were not only due to her own experience but also to uncover the truth behind her friend's death? !
"Wanwan?" Are you still listening?" Aunt Zhou's worried voice came from the other end of the phone.
Su Wanwan suddenly came to her senses, and a cold sweat broke out on her back. She forced herself to calm down: "I'm listening, Aunt Zhou." Thank you for telling me this. I was just asking casually. I was a little curious when I saw the photo.
She didn't dare to say any more, fearing that Aunt Zhou would worry and that she might alert her.
After hanging up the phone, Su Wanwan sat on the sofa, unable to calm down for a long time. The old photo album was spread out on my lap. In the pictures, my mother and Jiang Yue were smiling brightly, completely oblivious to the cruelty of fate that was about to befall them.
If her conjecture is true... The darkness hidden behind it was even more unfathomable than she had imagined! The lives involved are not just one!
What should she do? Tell Lu Tingchen?
It was with great difficulty that he managed to calm down the previous turmoil and win them this rare peace. Is she really going to drag him into another round of investigation and danger just because of a vague guess?
However, if Jiang Yue's death was truly unjust, if her mother was also secretly investigating back then... As a woman and a friend, could she just let the truth be buried forever for her own peace?
Su Wanwan was plunged into an unprecedented struggle.
When Lu Tingchen came back in the evening, he keenly noticed her absent-mindedness. Although she still smiled, taking care of the child and talking to him, there was always a hint of confusion and heaviness in her eyes.
What's wrong? Before going to bed, he held her in his arms and asked in a low voice, "It seems I have something on my mind today."
Su Wanwan leaned against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. After much hesitation, she still chose to hide it for the time being. She didn't want to bother him with another past event that was yet to be determined after he had just gone through a big battle.
"Nothing," she shook her head and made up an excuse. "Maybe I'm just a little tired." Watching Chenchen grow up day by day, I suddenly miss my mom a little.
This reason is reasonable. Lu Tingchen believed it and kissed her forehead with concern: "We'll take Chenchen to visit her mother-in-law this weekend." Or, move your mother-in-law's grave to a better place?"
"Never mind," Su Wanwan said softly. "It's quite nice there. It's quiet."
She closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep, but her heart was in turmoil.
In the following days, Su Wanwan secretly mobilized some of the interpersonal resources she had accumulated before (as a well-known designer, she also had her own social circle and information channels), and carefully began to investigate "Jiang Yue" and the "laboratory accident" that occurred over twenty years ago.
She investigated very covertly, bypassing all possible channels related to the Lu family or the P.P. Foundation.
However, she underestimated her opponent's vigilance and also underestimated Lu Tingchen's attention to her.
Her sporadic and unusual information inquiries were soon captured by Qin Hao's information monitoring system. Although the content was trivial and seemingly harmless, the key words "Jiangyue" and "laboratory accident" still triggered the alarm.
"Mr. Lu," Qin Hao placed a simple report in front of Lu Tingchen in the study, "Madam seems to have been privately inquiring about some things recently..." Information about a deceased lady named Jiang Yue and a laboratory accident that occurred over twenty years ago.
Lu Tingchen raised his gaze from the document and frowned slightly: "Jiang Yue?" " He had no memory of this name at all.
Yes. This person was a close friend of the lady's mother and passed away many years ago. The lady's inquiry was very cautious, but... Qin Hao didn't continue.
Lu Tingchen's expression darkened. He understood immediately. His young wife did not completely let go of the past as she had shown. She discovered a new suspicious point and chose to investigate it secretly by herself.
An indescribable emotion welled up in my heart. There's heartache, helplessness, and a hint of being excluded... Loss. Is she really so distrustful of him? Would you rather take the risk yourself than tell him?
He waved Qin Hao down and sat alone in the study, remaining silent for a long time.
That night, he didn't ask Su Wanwan directly but observed her more carefully. He saw her occasionally lost in thought while staring at the computer, noticed her subconsciously avoiding him when answering certain calls, and noticed the barely perceptible anxiety in her eyes.
His mood grew increasingly heavy.
He knew that it was better to guide than to block. Forcibly suppressing her curiosity will only make her more eager to explore and might even lead her to take more dangerous measures.
Late at night, after Su Wanwan fell asleep, he gently got up, walked to the study and dialed Qin Hao's phone number.
"Check." " He only said one word, his voice astonishingly cold in the silent night. "Use every means to dig out all the details of that person named Jiang Yue and all the particulars of that laboratory accident for me." "Clear all the landmines for me in advance before she finds the dangerous area."
He wants to get ahead of her, clear all obstacles for her and eliminate all potential dangers. She wants to know the truth. That's fine, but it must be on the premise that he ensures absolute safety.
After hanging up the phone, Lu Tingchen stood by the window, gazing at the deep night outside, his eyes brimming with an inescapable solemness.
It seems that the peaceful days are about to be stirred up again.
This time, he must be even more cautious in protecting her and must not let her suffer the slightest harm again.
Beneath the embers, sparks have already emerged. The wind seems to be rising again.
(To be continued...)"