1:24 PM.
A red Audi pulled up at the gate of Yuanda Kindergarten in Hongshan District, and a woman in a long dress got out of the car.
It was Xiao Nian.
She brushed her long hair behind her ear and adjusted the sunglasses on her nose before walking toward the security room.
"Hello, I'm Zhao Xiaoyu's mother. I need to pick her up for a bit and will bring her back later."
The guard looked at Xiao Nian in surprise: "Ms. Xiao, wasn't Xiaoyu just dropped off at noon? Why pick her up so early?"
Xiao Nian smiled gently: "There's something happening at home, I need to keep her with me."
The guard didn't think much of it. He knew Xiao Nian, so without hesitation, he let her into the kindergarten.
Soon, Xiao Nian walked out of the gate of the kindergarten again, holding her daughter's hand.
After getting into the car, Zhao Xiaoyu asked while eating the chocolate her mom had just bought:
"Mom, why did you pick me up so early?"
"Mom needs to go somewhere else because of your brother, so while I have time now, I want to make something delicious for you, Xiaoyu."
Zhao Xiaoyu wasn't happy about the food; instead, she asked sadly:
"Mom, what really happened to brother?"
"Mom didn't take good care of brother, so he got upset and left. Mom wants to find him."
Zhao Xiaoyu nodded earnestly: "So Mom made a mistake, and that's why brother left, right?"
"Yes."
"Then hurry and find brother, Mom. I'm not hungry right now."
Driving, Xiao Nian turned to look at her daughter.
Unfortunately, she was wearing sunglasses, so no one could tell the emotions hidden in her eyes.
Nonetheless, the corners of Xiao Nian's mouth curved up when her daughter patted her belly.
Soon, the car stopped beneath a building in the urban village, and Zhao Xiaoyu looked at the building, asking curiously:
"Mom, didn't you say we were going home? Where is this?"
"This is where Mom used to work hard."
"Really? How come you've never brought me here before?"
With a smile, Xiao Nian patted her daughter's head and said, "Because this place belongs to Mom alone. Dad bought it for me on my birthday."
Zhao Xiaoyu pouted and nodded, then followed Xiao Nian upstairs.
They reached the third floor, and Xiao Nian took out a key to open the door.
The table still had dishes that had been bought earlier. Once inside, Xiao Nian put on an apron and began to cook a meal for her daughter.
There were cola chicken wings, braised ribs, and steamed fish.
The fridge also held cakes and desserts that had been prepared earlier at some point.
Seeing so much good food, Zhao Xiaoyu perked up immediately.
Xiao Nian sat at the table with her chin resting on her hand, watching her daughter eat. When Zhao Xiaoyu patted her belly to indicate she was full, Xiao Nian asked, "Are you really full? Why not eat a little more?"
"Mom, I'm really full, I can't eat another bite."
"Then how about Mom sends you back to school?"
"Huh? Why?"
Zhao Xiaoyu was confused, and Xiao Nian shook her head, saying, "Just listen to Mom."
"Okay," Zhao Xiaoyu said obediently, then followed her mom back to the kindergarten.
But this time, Xiao Nian didn't bring her inside, only to the gate.
"Xiaoyu, go find your teacher in class."
"Okay, bye, Mom!"
Xiao Nian waved her hand, but when she saw her daughter heading into kindergarten, she couldn't help but call out, "Xiaoyu."
"What is it, Mom?"
"Give Mom a kiss," Xiao Nian said with a smile.
"Mwah."
Zhao Xiaoyu held Xiao Nian's cheeks with her little hands and gave her a peck.
Xiao Nian gently pushed Zhao Xiaoyu away, urging her to hurry to the classroom.
Once Zhao Xiaoyu went inside, Xiao Nian drove back to the ordinary apartment building.
Silently, she took off her sunglasses, checked the time, and then served several bowls of rice for herself.
However, she didn't start eating the rice on the table, choosing to drink a beverage from her bag instead.
Half an hour later, there was an urgent knock at the door.
"Xiao Nian, are you in there?"
"Xiao Nian, open up!"
Zhao Hai was banging on the door, and when Xiao Nian opened it silently, she smiled and said:
"You're a bit faster than I expected."
Zhao Hai didn't understand her words, but Chen Xiao did, and his eyes narrowed.
Xiao Nian also noticed Chen Xiao's change in expression, and with curiosity in her eyes, she asked, "I think I've seen you before, but why aren't you with Liang Yan?"
"We met at the Criminal Investigation Team, but I'm not from their team," Chen Xiao explained.
Xiao Nian realized, "Oh, that's why you seem familiar. But why are you and Officer Lin here? You two?"
"We're husband and wife," Lin Xi added.
Xiao Nian paused, examining them seriously before smiling at Chen Xiao, "You do look like a couple. It shows that your wife must love you a lot."
Chen Xiao didn't reply, and Lin Xi remained silent. Only Zhao Hai couldn't hold it anymore.
"Xiao Nian, what are you doing here? Why did you suddenly come to this old building? And do you have anything to do with Xiaohong's death?"
Zhao Hai was too worked up to worry about anything else; perhaps anyone in his position couldn't remain calm.
Xiao Nian wasn't emotionally affected by Zhao Hai's barrage of questions but couldn't help clutching her chest.
"Brother Hai, you're always like this; getting older but still so impatient. I made a table of dishes here; Xiaoyu just ate before I sent her to kindergarten. And now I'm sitting here, of course, waiting for you all."
Xiao Nian spoke calmly, and Chen Xiao sighed in resignation.
As for the case, Chen Xiao thought he probably understood everything.
So before Zhao Hai could continue, he asked directly, "Where is Gu Yue?"
Xiao Nian looked at Chen Xiao somewhat in surprise, "It seems you're the one who investigated this case."
"Does it matter anymore?"
"Well... I guess it really doesn't matter, cough, cough..." Xiao Nian clutched her chest again.
Chen Xiao frowned, "You still haven't answered me, where is Gu Yue?"
Xiao Nian didn't reply, just pointed to a freezer in the kitchen.
Chen Xiao's pupils constricted as he walked step by step to the freezer.
When he opened it, his already constricted pupils relaxed slightly.
Gu Yue was lying quietly in the freezer, covered with a thick layer of ice.
After Lin Xi followed and saw the person lying in the freezer, she immediately looked at Chen Xiao.
"Don't touch him; wait for Sister Liang."
"Yes, you'd better not touch him; if you do, his head will fall off," Xiao Nian replied with a smile.
Only with these words did Zhao Hai finally react.
He rushed into the kitchen, and the moment he saw Gu Yue in the freezer, his mouth dropped open.
His throat moved as if he wanted to speak, producing a gurgling sound, yet no words came out.
Chen Xiao took a deep breath, then returned to the table and sat down.
He looked directly at Xiao Nian and asked, "Do you have enough time to wait for Captain Liang to arrive?"
Xiao Nian glanced at her phone and nodded weakly, "I should be able to hold on, after all, I served her rice."
"Then let's wait a bit longer; she should be here soon."
Xiao Nian smiled slightly at Chen Xiao, "Before she arrives, I still want to ask, aren't you a cop?"
"I'm not. Lin Xi is the officer; she just reported to the branch today. I'm simply her husband."
"Was it she who found the nursing home, or was it you?"
"It was probably me."
"How did you think of that?"
"I just wanted to learn more about Zhao Xiaohong, and didn't expect to find a pleasant surprise. But I was surprised that Zhao Xiaohong would teach you Uncle Huang's sword technique."
Xiao Nian grinned, "Life has its twists. He... he's always been a child at heart. He was disgusted by me, yet couldn't refuse anything I asked."
"So it was really an error in judgment that led to all this?"
Xiao Nian nodded, clenching her fists and gritting her teeth, "Yes!"