Watching through the window, Mu Zhaozhao could see everything clearly. It seemed Mu Shangyu was getting anxious enough to jump through hoops and was planning to flee ahead of schedule.
However, she was not about to let him escape that easily.
Mu Zhaozhao looked Su Wanxing over carefully. She kept feeling that Su Wanxing looked remarkably like someone—there was a striking resemblance to Qi Ruobing.
Yet, Mu Shangyu had always been on his guard against Qi Ruobing, hardly looking like a man madly in love with her. Why would he find a mistress who was practically a substitute for her?
Mu Shangyu had just mentioned that Qi Ruobing was using something from sixteen years ago to blackmail him. What could that possibly be?
Mu Zhaozhao narrowed her long, slender fox-like eyes. Suddenly, a shocking realization struck her: Su Wanxing did not resemble Qi Ruobing at all—she resembled someone else entirely.
The moment this thought rushed into her head, it stunned her. A sudden chill ran down her spine. Could it really be what she was thinking?
If so, the hatred between her and Mu Shangyu wasn’t as simple as him taking her family’s fortune.
After pondering for a moment, Mu Zhaozhao went straight to the suburbs to find Mu Lanchuan.
Upon stepping through the door, the very first thing she asked Mu Lanchuan was, “Third Grandaunt, do you still remember how my parents died?”
Mu Lanchuan didn’t understand why she was asking, but she still answered truthfully, “Wasn’t it a car accident? Your father was driving with your mother in the passenger seat when they crashed into a tree. The car exploded on impact, killing them both. You should know about this, shouldn’t you?”
Although Mu Zhaozhao was only four years old back then, both Mu Yuanqiao and Mu Lanchuan had told her about it later on.
The Mu family was wealthy and had imported cars early on.
Mu Zhaozhao nodded. “I wanted to ask if the police ever investigated thoroughly afterward—did anyone tamper with the car?”
Mu Lanchuan shook her head, turning pale with shock. “Zhaozhao, are you saying your parents were murdered?”
“Third Grandaunt, I don’t have any evidence; it’s just a guess,” Mu Zhaozhao said calmly. “However, given Mu Shangyu’s character, it’s definitely a possibility.”
Besides, she had only just noticed that certain facial features of both Qi Ruobing and Su Wanxing subtly resembled her mother, Ni Yan.
This discovery made her suspect all the more that Mu Shangyu had a motive back then.
However, she didn’t mention this to Mu Lanchuan, as it wouldn’t be good for Ni Yan’s reputation.
Mu Lanchuan said in disbelief, “Zhaozhao, your grandfather actually hired a private detective to investigate back then, but the results showed that your parents really died in an accident. That’s why no one ever suspected Mu Shangyu all these years. If you’re suspicious now, sixteen years after the fact, wouldn’t it be even harder to investigate?”
Mu Zhaozhao’s dark eyes turned gloomy. “Even if it’s hard to investigate, I’ll dig it up. I must let my parents rest in peace.”
Just then, a hearty old voice sounded outside the door: “Excuse me, is this Mu Lanchuan’s home?”
Liu Aying nodded and answered, “Yes, it is. May I ask who you are?”
“Tell Lanchuan that Jiang Youhua has come to see her!” the elderly lady outside said excitedly.
Mu Lanchuan heard it clearly from inside the room, and her old eyes instantly filled with tears. “Aying, quickly let Youhua in!”
Mu Zhaozhao stood to the side, wondering who Jiang Youhua was.
When the door was pushed open, a silver-haired grandmother walked in. She was wearing a dark green silk Tang suit in a traditional Chinese style. She looked plump and prosperous, with only a few scattered wrinkles around her eyes—clearly a cheerful and optimistic old lady.
“Youhua, is it really you?” Seeing the visitor, Mu Lanchuan stood up excitedly. “Aren’t you in the capital? What brings you to Shanghai?”
Jiang Youhua was in great physical shape. She took large strides forward, held onto Mu Lanchuan, and said with tears in her eyes, “Lanchuan, I came specifically to look for you! We’ve been writing to each other for so many years without ever meeting; I’ve missed you so much!”
Mu Lanchuan pulled her to sit down on a chair. “Youhua, I’ve missed you too.”
Jiang Youhua noticed Mu Zhaozhao standing in the room, and her old eyes suddenly lit up. “Lanchuan, who is this pretty young girl to you?”
Her husband and Mu Lanchuan’s husband had been comrades-in-arms years ago. Unfortunately, Mu Lanchuan’s husband had sacrificed his life in battle, and their three-year-old son had gone missing.
Jiang Youhua was well aware of these circumstances. Later, Mu Lanchuan returned to her older brother’s side, and since there was no news of her remarrying, she couldn’t possibly have a granddaughter this old, right?
Seeing this, Mu Lanchuan hurriedly introduced her, “She is my brother’s granddaughter.”
Mu Zhaozhao offered a sweet smile and chimed in, “Now I am Third Grandaunt’s biological granddaughter. Hello, Grandma Jiang, my name is Mu Zhaozhao.”
“Oh my, what a thoughtful girl! She’s so endearing,” Jiang Youhua said with a smile as she stepped forward to take Mu Zhaozhao’s hand.
Her warm affectionate demeanor felt completely genuine.
Then, she fumbled around her wrist, slipped off a solid green jade bracelet, and tried to put it onto Mu Zhaozhao’s slender arm.
“Zhaozhao, Grandma Jiang came in a hurry. How about you take this bracelet as a meeting gift for now?”
Mu Zhaozhao hurriedly waved her hands. “Grandma Jiang, this is too precious. I can’t accept it.”
How could she accept a gift from an elder she had barely exchanged two words with?
Mu Lanchuan also spoke up to help, “Youhua, you’ve frightened my kid. Put the bracelet away quickly; Zhaozhao can’t take it.”
Even though she and Jiang Youhua had decades of friendship, she couldn’t let a junior accept such a gift right upon meeting. Besides, the Mu family lacked no money, and Mu Zhaozhao wouldn’t be short of wealth in the future.
Jiang Youhua felt a bit disappointed and pouted, saying enviously, “Lanchuan, you truly are blessed to have such a thoughtful granddaughter by your side. Unlike my family—we only have one grandson. Not only is he nowhere to be seen day in and day out, but even when I see him once every six months to a year, he just wears a cold, stern face at me. He’s nothing like Zhaozhao, who speaks so affectionately and looks so well-behaved and lovely.”
“Haha, your grandson does grand things; how could he have the time to always keep you company?” Mu Lanchuan consoled her.
She corresponded regularly with Jiang Youhua, so she knew that Jiang’s husband had been promoted continuously after the war ended, eventually becoming a top-ranking commander. Their descendants had also joined the military and achieved great success.
“What ‘grand things’? He isn’t doing anything useful at all! That troublesome kid—just look at him! He’s already twenty-five and still isn’t thinking about settling down. My hair has gone white from worrying about him,” Jiang Youhua sighed.
“Let me tell you, there isn’t even a female mosquito around him, let alone a female comrade! Lanchuan, tell me, when will I ever get to hold a great-grandson?”
When two old friends meet, it’s inevitable that they start chatting about family affairs, laying everything out.
Mu Lanchuan smiled slightly. “Young people nowadays have their own ideas; don’t meddle in it.”
“That won’t do!” Hearing this, Jiang Youhua waved her hand repeatedly. “If I don’t fuss over finding him a partner, with his dull and taciturn personality, he’ll stay a bachelor for the rest of his life!”
“Speaking of which… Zhaozhao, how old are you this year? Are you seeing anyone?”
By the end of her sentence, Jiang Youhua had turned to look at Mu Zhaozhao with a beaming smile, already scheming.
“Grandma Jiang, I’m exactly twenty years old this year, and I don’t have a partner,” Mu Zhaozhao replied with a warm smile.