Chapter 60: The Reason Behind Yingbao Falling Into the Water  

Due to Zhao Jiaying’s accident, the birthday banquet ended early, and the guests gradually left the Ou Family Estate.  

When Ou Zichen carried Zhao Jiaying back to the villa, Lin Zhenzhu was deeply worried. Earlier, when she saw everyone rushing toward the lotus pond, she had already guessed that something had happened, but she never expected that the person in trouble would be Zhao Jiaying.  

“What happened? What’s wrong with Yingbao? Why is she soaking wet?”  

“Grandma, I’ll take Yingbao upstairs to change first!” Ou Zichen didn’t answer Lin Zhenzhu’s questions and carried Zhao Jiaying directly upstairs.  

Ou Zilong explained: “Grandma, Yingbao fell into the lotus pond just now. Fortunately, Tangyuan noticed in time and alerted my brother!”  

Lin Zhenzhu was shocked.  

“How… how could she suddenly fall into the lotus pond? Is Yingbao alright now?”  

“She already coughed up the water from her lungs, so she should be fine. But to be safe, it’s best to have her checked. I’ve already called the family doctor!”  

“As long as she’s fine, as long as she’s fine… Thank the Bodhisattva for protection!” Lin Zhenzhu pressed her palms together in gratitude.  

All the guests had left, except for Shen Changfeng and his wife, who stayed behind out of concern for Zhao Jiaying.  

Ou Zilong’s girlfriend, Cai’er, had also left, but she was displeased. She hadn’t been able to see Lin Zhenzhu today, and she left with resentment in her heart.  

After carrying Zhao Jiaying to the bedroom, Ou Zichen changed her into a set of clean clothes. The family doctor arrived shortly after.  

Holding his medical instruments, he carefully examined Zhao Jiaying. After a thorough check, he removed his stethoscope.  

“President Ou, Madam, don’t worry. The Young Miss is fine. She just choked on some water, but there’s no serious harm. She just needs a few days of rest.”  

Shen Changfeng and his wife breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that Zhao Jiaying was alright. It had taken so much effort to secure their future daughter-in-law—they couldn’t afford to lose her just like that.  

Ou Zichen sat by Zhao Jiaying’s bedside, his expression filled with concern.  

“Yingbao, do you still feel uncomfortable anywhere? If you do, tell the doctor.”  

Zhao Jiaying shook her head. Earlier, she had said she felt unwell because she had been frightened. Now that everyone was here, she had calmed down.  

“Daddy, Yingbao is fine now. You don’t have to worry!”  

Everyone was still puzzled by how Zhao Jiaying had fallen into the lotus pond. She had never gone there alone before, so why had she suddenly gone there today?  

“Yingbao, can you tell Daddy why you went to the lotus pond? And how did you fall in?”  

Zhao Jiaying looked at Shen Linghao. Everyone followed her gaze and turned to look at him.

Shen Linghao was completely baffled. Why was everyone looking at him like that? He wasn’t the one who took Zhao Jiaying to the lotus pond. Just as he was about to explain, Zhao Jiaying spoke first.  

“It was Brother Linghao who told me to go to the lotus pond to find him!”  

Shen Linghao felt like he had just been hit while lying down.  

Liu Lanzhi, upon hearing Zhao Jiaying’s words, immediately began scolding Shen Linghao.  

“Linghao, how could you tell Yingbao to go to the lotus pond to find you? Do you know how dangerous it is there? Luckily, your Uncle Ou arrived in time today, or else…”  

She didn’t finish the sentence, but everyone knew what she meant.  

Shen Linghao felt wronged. “Mom, I never told Yingbao to go to the lotus pond!”  

“If it wasn’t you, then who told Yingbao to go?” Liu Lanzhi was confused.  

Shen Linghao himself wanted to know why Zhao Jiaying had ended up at the lotus pond and why she said he was the one who called her there. What exactly had happened?  

Shen Changfeng put an arm around Liu Lanzhi and spoke gently: “Don’t get upset just yet. Let’s listen to what Yingbao has to say.”  

Ou Zichen also spoke up. “Sister-in-law, don’t rush to blame Linghao. It may not be his fault. Let’s ask Yingbao first and figure out what really happened.”  

“Yingbao, tell Daddy, who told you to go to the lotus pond to find Brother Linghao?”  

Zhao Jiaying tilted her little head and looked at everyone. Her big, round eyes shifted slightly before she answered: “It was Big Sister Xiaolan. She said Brother Linghao was looking for me and told me to go to the lotus pond to find him!”  

Shen Linghao immediately refuted: “I never asked anyone to tell Yingbao that I was looking for her. If I really wanted to find Yingbao, I would have gone myself—I wouldn’t need to send someone else.”  

Everyone became even more puzzled. Xiaolan was a maid in the Ou family—why would she deceive Zhao Jiaying and send her to the lotus pond?  

Ou Zichen continued questioning: “Yingbao, then how did you fall into the water?”  

“I had just arrived at the lotus pond and didn’t see Brother Linghao. Suddenly, someone pushed me from behind, and I fell in!”  

“What? Someone actually pushed you?” Lin Zhenzhu was beyond shocked. She had initially assumed that Zhao Jiaying had been playing there and accidentally fallen in. She never imagined that someone had deliberately pushed her. This was attempted murder!  

“Zichen, you must get to the bottom of this. Who could be so heartless as to try to murder a child of our Ou family?”  

The thought of someone deliberately targeting Zhao Jiaying sent shivers down Lin Zhenzhu’s spine. The last time Zhao Jiaying was kidnapped, she had already been worried sick. She never expected that even within their own home, danger still lurked.  

Ou Zichen’s expression darkened. Whoever dared to harm his daughter inside his own house was bold beyond measure. He was determined to find out who was behind this, or else Zhao Jiaying’s safety would never be guaranteed.  

Xiaolan wouldn’t have had the courage to harm Zhao Jiaying herself, but she also wouldn’t have lured her to the lotus pond for no reason. Someone must have instructed her to do so.  

“Zilong, bring Xiaolan here. I want to hear what she has to say!”  

“Yes!”  

A short while later, Xiaolan was brought in.

She had just heard that Zhao Jiaying had fallen into the lotus pond and had nearly drowned. Trembling all over from fear, she now understood that Ou Zichen was looking for her to hold her accountable.  

As soon as she reached them, she immediately knelt down and spoke in a panic: “President Ou, Madam, I truly don’t know why Yingbao Young Miss fell into the lotus pond.”  

Ou Zichen asked: “Xiaolan, was it you who told Yingbao that Young Master Linghao wanted her to go to the lotus pond to find him?”  

“Yes…” Xiaolan replied in a barely audible voice.  

Ou Zichen pressed further: “Why did you do that? Was someone instructing you from behind the scenes?”  

“I… I…” Xiaolan stammered. Earlier, Yang Xiaoyun had warned her not to tell anyone that she was the one who had given her those instructions. She had accepted Yang Xiaoyun’s money and had even sworn to keep it a secret. But now, she hesitated—should she expose her or not?  

Ou Zichen roared angrily: “Speak up now! Or do you want me to hand you over to the police and let them interrogate you instead?”  

Hearing that Ou Zichen might turn her over to the police, Xiaolan was instantly terrified and broke down in tears. She was only in her early twenties—if she ended up in the police station, her life would be ruined.  

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