His Beloved Treasure

Wang Huanyu thought for a long time. He was still afraid Qin Mingzhu wouldn’t be able to accept that her mother couldn’t be buried in the Qin Family cemetery.

”If I didn’t consider her, she wouldn’t be lying in my office right now; she’d have been thrown out already.”

Qin Mu reminded him.

She was tense with anger. Wang Huanyu coming to her with such matters made her furious, but as an adult, she had her own rules. She didn’t want to scream and yell like a lunatic. She just wanted to earnestly communicate her feelings, assuming the other party was a reasonable person.

Qin Mingzhu was standing at the staircase. It was the studio designer who noticed her first, but the designer didn’t say anything. Then Qin Mingzhu came stomping down the stairs and shouted, ”Qin Mu, I hate you!”

Qin Mu quickly glanced outside and saw Qin Mingzhu’s figure already rushing toward the door.

Wang Huanyu had spotted her much earlier, so he immediately stood up and ran after her.

Mu Yichen stayed seated, his narrowed eyes reflecting his annoyance. These people coming to trouble his wife left him feeling vexed.

Later, the married couple watched from inside as the pair outside argued and tussled. Qin Mingzhu screamed and yelled until Wang Huanyu slapped her across the face.

The door was shut, and they couldn’t hear a thing.

But in that moment, Qin Mu felt as if the slap had landed on her own heart.

She held her breath and continued watching the scene outside alongside her husband.

Outside, Wang Huanyu pulled Qin Mingzhu into his arms, holding her tightly, trying his best to comfort her.

When a woman is denied her final dignity in death, perhaps that’s the greatest tragedy of her life.

Qin Mu hadn’t expected Zhang Rujia to face such a day, though she had secretly wished for it before.

——

Wang Huanyu suggested they go to Zhang Rujia’s apartment for a look, so Qin Mingzhu brought him there.

When they opened the door, they found the place spotlessly clean, as if no one had lived there for a long time.

Qin Mingzhu’s hot tears began to fall uncontrollably.

Wang Huanyu glanced around and gently placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. ”Don’t cry anymore!”

”She must want me to cry for her, cry until my voice is hoarse, cry until I pass out. She was always afraid I didn’t love her. She always wanted to see me cling to her, but I didn’t do it.”

Qin Mingzhu continued crying into her hands. While her wails had lessened, her voice was hoarse, and she had no more strength, so she just leaned against Wang Huanyu’s shoulder.

Wang Huanyu sighed helplessly. He didn’t understand the dynamic between the mother and daughter but felt an overwhelming sense of sadness in this moment.

Later, Qin Mingzhu entered Zhang Rujia’s bedroom. She was a little scared and clutched Wang Huanyu’s hand tightly.

”I’m scared!”

”Then don’t go in!”

Wang Huanyu lowered his head. She stood at the door, unwilling to take another step, muttering into his shoulder with her eyes shut.

”No! I have to look!”

Qin Mingzhu stubbornly pushed through her fear and peeked inside.

Gradually, she let go of Wang Huanyu’s hand and slowly walked toward the bedside.

On the bedside table was a photo of Zhang Rujia in a cheongsam, posed gracefully.

Qin Mingzhu crouched by the bed and picked up the framed photo. She didn’t cry, just stared at the elegant woman in the picture.

At one point, Zhang Rujia had been the person she wanted to become.

Back when Zhang Rujia gracefully assumed the role of Mrs. Qin, she seemed so poised and kind.

But later...

Gradually, with the arrival of Qin Mu, Zhang Rujia became increasingly irritable, so different from before. She ceased to be the person Qin Mingzhu aspired to be. Qin Mingzhu felt she suddenly lost herself, transforming from a happily playful young woman to someone hollow and domineering toward those around her.

”My mom used to love dressing up. She always said even if you’re a housewife at home, you should make yourself look beautiful. I wonder if someone made sure to clean her up before she left?”

Wang Huanyu stood by silently, unsure of what to say. Then, turning his gaze, he noticed a folder placed on a cabinet against the wall.

On their way home, Qin Mu and Mu Yichen received a call from Helian Hao. Over the phone, Helian Hao said, ”Did you know? After Zhang Rujia’s surgery, other issues were discovered. Her body couldn’t hold out much longer.”

”What?”

Qin Mu stared blankly. Zhang Rujia was already dead.

”Ah, I’ll just send you the materials so you can take a look.”

Helian Hao seemed flustered and decided to end the call, sending the files to Qin Mu via WeChat instead.

Qin Mu opened the files, and her entire being froze.

When she had last visited Zhang Rujia with Helian Hao, she had noticed her complexion seemed off but never imagined Zhang Rujia was facing another relapse.

So, the car accident—could it have been what she thought?

”Zhang Rujia, late-stage cancer.”

Qin Mu turned to Mu Yichen, woodenly reporting.

Mu Yichen glanced at her briefly and then slowly pulled the car over to a stop.

On the roadside, the two of them silently gazed at the phone.

The spacious car interior became abruptly quiet.

They could even hear each other breathing.

Mu Yichen turned his body slightly toward her. Qin Mu looked at him doubtfully and, after a long pause, asked, ”Could it have been suicide?”

If it was suicide, it would be easier to make sense of.

But was it suicide?

That evening, Qin Mu didn’t call Qin Haiming; she had Mu Yichen make the call instead.

Qin Haiming sighed despondently. ”I already know about this. Wang Huanyu and Mingzhu didn’t come home tonight—they found some clues at her mother’s apartment, and there’s another girl involved. I’m a bit tied up here, so can you help me investigate?”

After showering, Qin Mu came out to see Mu Yichen standing by the window, talking to someone on the phone. He sent a photo to the person helping with the investigation. Qin Mu sat on the bed, running her fingers through her freshly blow-dried hair. ”What’s going on?”

”Orders from the leadership—they want me to investigate a girl.”

Mu Yichen walked over and handed his phone to Qin Mu.

Qin Mu took the phone and looked at the screen, her eyelashes fluttering slightly. For once, there was a different expression on her otherwise plain face.

”Looks familiar!”

Qin Mu muttered, her brows gradually furrowing.

”Hmm? You’ve seen her before?”

Mu Yichen sounded doubtful.

Qin Mu nodded slightly. ”I think I have, but I can’t quite remember.”

Qin Mu stared at the phone, tilting her head, her expression tangled with confusion.