At the mention of the secret chamber, Li Shichuan’s heart tightened again. He had no idea where that key could have gone.
It’s fine, it’s fine… even if it’s lost, he might not even know it’s the key to the chamber, he reassured himself inwardly.
“By the way, Dad, why don’t you go grab a couple of gold bars from Grandpa’s secret chamber for me? I spent all the money already—it’s gone in no time. So useless!”
Lu Shiman pretended to be worried, lowering her head with a sigh.
“You little spendthrift!”
Li Shichuan took a deep breath. If Old Master Lu were still alive, he would’ve probably beaten her to death for saying something like that.
Wait—Grandpa?
Now he really felt like fainting. Calling Old Master Lu “Grandpa”? Wasn’t she basically saying he’d married into the family?
Sure, he technically had, but for the sake of his pride, Old Master Lu had never called him that!
What was worse, Lu Shiman had been calling him that for days, and only now did he realize it. It was infuriating.
“Why are you suddenly calling him Grandpa?” he asked.
“Isn’t he Grandpa? What’s the big deal? Let’s just go get the money from the secret chamber.”
Lu Shiman waved her hand lazily—she was deliberately trying to drive him mad!
Here he was, a man technically married into the family, acting like he’d married Lu Shiyan herself. Pathetic.
She was going to tear away that pitiful shred of his pride.
“Come on,” she said, standing up and nudging him along.
Li Shichuan remained seated. He wanted to open it, but the key was gone—how could he?
Lu Shiman put on a look of sudden realization. “So the key you lost… it’s the secret chamber key!”
“No wonder you’re panicking! Tch, if the key’s lost, could the stuff inside have been stolen? I’d better check—it’s all my money!”
She bolted toward the secret chamber. Seeing this, Li Shichuan couldn’t stay seated either and hurried after her.
“Dad, you go smash it open!”
When they arrived, Lu Shiman crossed her arms and suddenly looked calm.
Smashing a lock was far too violent a task—definitely not something a gentle lady like her could handle.
Li Shichuan’s eyes went black. What had he done in his life to deserve a daughter like this? Could this really be his biological daughter?
“Hurry up! Do you want me to do it myself?” she prodded.
“Are you even a man? Making me do this… I really…”
Lu Shiman chanted on, moving slowly as if waiting for him.
He could tolerate her saying other things, but calling him “not a man”? That, no real man could endure!
“I’ll do it,” Li Shichuan growled, rolling up his sleeves. He circled the house and found an axe, ready to break down the secret chamber door.
Of course, he was a scholar and hadn’t exercised in ages. His arms trembled wildly as he raised the axe, face twisted with effort.
Lu Shiman tried hard not to laugh—he looked utterly ridiculous.
Who in the world could like a weak man like this?
Perhaps sensing her amusement, Li Shichuan redoubled his effort. He swung the axe over a dozen times until, utterly exhausted, the door finally gave way.
“Dad, I think you need to exercise more,” Lu Shiman teased softly, a faint smile on her face.
She walked over, glanced down at the panting man, and the look in her eyes was almost mocking.
Li Shichuan clutched his chest and took a deep breath. How had he produced such a daughter? He should have crushed her at birth!
Lu Shiman pushed the door open—and immediately screamed.
“Ah! Dad, we’re doomed!”
“Which bastard stole our stuff?!”
Li Shichuan, gasping for air, rushed inside. Seeing the empty chamber, he collapsed to the floor.
Clutching his chest, his heart throbbed painfully. Everything… was gone!
Tears streamed down his face as his hands shook violently.
“Who—who—who stole all our money?!” he gasped, eyes flashing with murderous intent.
Sixty pounds of gold! His lifeblood!
He was supposed to use this gold to rebuild in Hong Kong and rise to high society!
Whoever took it might as well have killed him.
Lu Shiman watched him on the verge of collapse, inwardly thinking he deserved it—but outwardly, she put on a concerned expression and helped him up.
“Dad, are you okay?”
“The money couldn’t have been me—I don’t need it. And it wasn’t you. Then who could it be?” She lowered her head, pretending to think seriously.
Li Shichuan’s mind raced. Who could have done it?
Besides the two of them, only…
He frowned, a bad suspicion forming.
That fool Lu Shiman wouldn’t do something sneaky—if she took money, it would’ve been brazenly, like she did this morning. No stealth.
Xiang Hongmei was honest; she wouldn’t do it. And Weimian was timid—she definitely wouldn’t.
Could it be a thief from outside?
But how would an outsider even know about the secret chamber? And even if they did, how could they break the door?
“I’ll search that nanny’s room! It has to be them!” Li Shichuan said.
Lu Shiman rolled her eyes secretly. Even now, he trusted them so much.
She wondered whether he would remain so calm when he actually found the gold bars in Xiang Hongmei’s room.
Li Shichuan hesitated a moment, then followed Lu Shiman out.
“No, wait! In a situation like this, I should call the police first!” she suddenly stopped and tapped her forehead.
“Once we catch the thief, she’ll face the consequences.”
She said it viciously, eyes gleaming. Knowing Li Shichuan’s feelings for Xiang Hongmei, he’d try to stop her—so she’d use that to retrieve the gold bars effortlessly.
“No, we should check the house first,” Li Shichuan panicked.
Even though he doubted the household members, what if…?
If Xiang Hongmei had really gone mad and taken his gold, at least he could argue in her favor—after all, she gave him a daughter.
“Dad, maybe you’re being a little too nice to them,” Lu Shiman said, a hint of meaning in her voice.
Li Shichuan pressed his lips together and gave a wry laugh. “You’re overthinking. How could I possibly be nice to them?”
“I’ll search myself.”
“Fine… but I hope it’s not them,” Lu Shiman raised an eyebrow. She didn’t want to sift through stinky shoes; this unpleasant task was better left to Li Shichuan.
As they reached Xiang Hongmei’s door, Li Weimian happened to come back from resting, ready to head to her room.
Seeing Lu Shiman, she immediately accused, “What are you doing here?! What trick are you trying now?!”