Where are they?
Bai Yanxiu, kneeling on the ground, stammered, his words faltering.
"Huh... who?"
Qin Mubai's expression grew increasingly uncertain as he asked him:
"Where is Nan Qing's nanny, Auntie Chen?"
Bai Yanxiu "Ah!" as if he had finally thought of something, and answered in a very fast voice.
"She had worked as Nan Qing's nanny for so many years, and Ruanruan was quite wary of her. He didn't want to be a substitute, so he planned to change Auntie Chen's position."
"It just so happens that Auntie Chen was also planning to resign. Her daughter gave birth to a precious grandson, and there was no one to take care of the child, so she took this opportunity to resign and go home to look after the child."
Qin Mubai's fingers tightened little by little on the black paulownia wood table. Bai Yanxiu, afraid that the fist would hit his face, swallowed hard and quickly replied:
"That's just a coincidence, isn't it!"
" Auntie Chen has worked for our family for over 20 years. She's reached the age where she can enjoy her retirement, so it's perfectly normal for her to leave. We didn't force her!"
"Besides, she signed an agreement with our family, so she wouldn't dare to do anything underhanded."
"And the things you left behind—bank cards, cash, car keys, house keys—are worth well over two hundred million. How could she have dared to embezzle all of that? These things are enough to send her to jail and make her spend the rest of her life there..."
"Don't glare at me, brother. I just took a look out of curiosity. All your stuff is accounted for, even the cash is brand new, consecutively numbered bills. You can check the serial numbers. I'm not stupid, why would I touch these things..."
The man on the sofa suddenly stood up, Bai Yanxiu so much that he shrank back.
Fortunately, Qin Mubai did not lecture him unreasonably; instead, he strode past him.
Bai Yanxiu, then stood up.
This hard floor is just stone; kneeling on it is practically unbearable.
He followed Qin Mubai a few steps behind, and as he left the room, they walked in another direction.
-
Nan Qing's old room was on the far end of the second floor.
The place is well-lit and airy, with a beautiful view from both north and south through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a view of a colorful garden.
Qin Mubai stood at the doorway. The late summer and early autumn night was somewhat desolate. Two rays of moonlight, hidden behind dark clouds, slivered out and fell on his shoulders.
Just like countless nights that happened many, many years ago.
He was going to check the child's homework, to see if he had eaten too much and had a bloated stomach, or if he had slept well.
Occasionally, after seeing him, I would learn one or two thorny pieces of news, such as that he hadn't done his homework and had been slapped on the hand, and that he was crying with tears in his eyes while nestled in his arms.
To calm a crying child down, you usually have to promise them a big meal or a trip to an amusement park, or that they can buy all the toys of a certain kind. Then the child will lift their tear-stained face, reveal a proud expression, and take the initiative to wipe away their tears.
After leaving the bedroom, I still need to contact the teacher.
An apology should be sincere, a gift should be genuine, and at the same time, it's important to subtly express your modest expectations.
As the eldest son in his family, Qin Mubai was always the "model child" that everyone admired.
However, as Nan Qing's guardian, he experienced the feeling of being unable to hold his head up in the eyes of teachers very early on.
They looked at him with reproach, as if he were some irresponsible parent who indulged his younger brother in his playthings and wasted his life.
At that time, Qin Mubai was young, and beneath his calm and composed exterior lay a certain awkwardness in his soul. It wasn't until this happened more and more often that he got used to it.
Nan Qing is very smart, but for some reason she just doesn't strive for improvement.
Qin Mubai had tried to discipline him before. The two of them argued and had a cold war, which even affected Bai Yanxiu. But the usually well-behaved child stubbornly looked at him with his neck stiff.
This was the first time in Qin Mubai's life that he had hit him with a ruler.
The small child cried his heart out, but on one such night, he opened the door and saw him standing there.
Qin Mubai did not apologize.
But his Qingqing still threw herself into his arms, resting her head on his shoulder, her slender arms wrapped around him, sobbing from heartbreak, yet still speaking to him in a nasal, tearful voice.
"I forgive you, Qin Mubai..."
"Please don't do this to me, I'm so scared..."
A wind picked up at night.
A chilly night breeze swept across Qin Mubai's cheek, bringing him back to his senses.
From then on, he never troubled him with the same question again.
He just doesn't do well in school, but he's sunny, cheerful, well-behaved, sensible, cute, and obedient—better than any other child in the world.
If you don't want to try, then don't try.
Perhaps the reason I'm ten years older than him is so that I can watch him grow up.
I can protect him and ensure his safety and well-being throughout his life, and take good care of him.
pity.
Qin Mubai lowered his eyes and looked at the tightly closed door.
Unfortunately, he didn't know then that many years later he would become a complete scoundrel.
Dirty, disgusting.
It was completely unrecognizable and outrageous.
So thankfully, this tightly closed door will forever stand quietly under the moonlight.
It will never be opened from the inside with a light footstep.
No one will ever again rush into his arms and hold him tight.
He was disgusted to this extent.
He deserves to die a thousand deaths for his culpability.
He no longer deserves it.
-
Bai Yanxiu, who had followed him without him noticing, called out to him a few times, but Qin Mubai did not answer. Instead, he raised his hand and pressed a spot on the door panel.
With a "beep" of fingerprint verification, the door latch popped open, and the room was opened by pressing the doorknob.
Bai Yanxiu's voice came from behind.
"Brother, this room has been locked since Nan Qing left. I'm keeping an eye on it for you; absolutely no one can get in."
"Besides, this door lock system only has your two fingerprints; no one else can get in."
"But you definitely won't find what you're looking for. Someone like Nan Qing, who's arrogant and spends money like water, do you think he wouldn't be tempted by such a huge sum of money?"
"He definitely took that money with him, maybe he hid it and plans to spend it later."
"Really, you have to believe me! I grew up with this little brat, I know him like the back of my hand!"
The air was quiet until, after a long while, Qin Mubai's voice came from ahead, asking him:
"Second brother, when I left, you swore you would protect Qingqing."
Why?
"In just six months, you've started slandering him like this."