Chapter 70.2

The woman with the triangular eyes was momentarily speechless. After a final glance at Zhao Xin, she fell silent.

Lu Nong pursed her lips. As a mother, she didn’t want her child involved in such a mess, so when Zhao Xin was allowed inside, she instructed Zhang Kaiping or someone else to stay with Huaihuai.

However, if Shen Jiming was correct and Huaihuai had witnessed everything from the start, then only he could clarify the situation. Taking a deep breath, she beckoned to Huaihuai, saying, “Huaihuai, come here to Mama.”

Upon hearing this, Huaihuai nodded vigorously and hurried over to hug Lu Nong’s leg.

Lu Nong bent down, supporting her belly, and gently asked, “Baby, were you here the whole time?”

Huaihuai nodded.

“Then who woke up Grandma Wu?” Lu Nong continued to ask softly.

Huaihuai looked up, scanning the adults around him, and then pointed directly at Jiang Yu.

“You’re right,” Sister Qin exclaimed with delight and pride. “See, doesn’t this prove something? Let’s see who dares to say our little Huaihuai doesn’t understand!”

Sister Zheng nodded, encouraging Lu Nong to continue. Lu Nong brushed Huaihuai’s hair and asked, “Baby, did you see the three brothers take this aunt into the study?”

This time, Huaihuai shook his head and said in his sweet voice, “It was Auntie who knocked Grandma unconscious. Auntie went into the study, and the brothers went in.”

Lu Nong clarified, “You mean, Auntie went into the study first, and the brothers went in after Auntie went in?”

Huaihuai nodded.

As soon as Huaihuai nodded, Sister Qin couldn’t help but sigh in relief. “Look, look, children don’t lie. Now the truth is clear. This woman not only came to steal from Old Pei’s study but also framed innocent people. She’s a shameless little trickster…”

Li Lingyi finally felt her anxiety lift.

Huo Xiaoling gradually released Zhao Xin’s hand, her face filled with disbelief. “Why would you lie?”

Those who had previously supported Zhao Xin distanced themselves from her, avoiding her altogether.

From the moment Huaihuai appeared, Zhao Xin had kept her head down. Now, her lips trembled as she tore at the skin around her nails, not responding to Huo Xiaoling’s question.

Zhao Xin was restless. Lu Nong slowly stood up, shielding Huaihuai behind her. Observing her movement, Shen Jiming stepped forward, placing himself protectively in front of Lu Nong and Huaihuai.

Sister Zheng had a serious expression and asked the most important question: “You knocked Aunt Wu unconscious in order to steal something from Pei Ji’an’s study. What exactly did you want to steal?”

Zhao Xin lifted her head. She no longer appeared weak or wronged. Instead, she burst into laughter. “What could I possibly steal?”

This was classic irony for Zhao Xin. She hadn’t anticipated that Zhang Kaiping and the others would be hiding in an upstairs room. She also didn’t expect that her actions of knocking out Aunt Wu and sneaking into the study would be discovered.

If those three hadn’t shown up today, and someone downstairs had kept Lu Nong occupied, Zhao Xin could have easily found a document and woken up Aunt Wu later. Even if Aunt Wu suspected her afterward, without proof, she couldn’t do anything to Zhao Xin.

Yet, one misstep led to her downfall.

She tried to frame Zhang Kaiping to defend herself, but she made a critical error. Unaware that Aunt Wu was awakened by Jiang Yu, her miscalculation cost her dearly. In her attempts to manipulate, she fell into a trap of her own making—how laughable.

Lu Nong pondered Zhao Xin’s words. They were intriguing. At first glance, they sounded like surrender, but upon reflection, they revealed self-mockery.

Sister Qin said heavily, “No matter what you intended to steal, your actions today are highly suspicious. Xiao Shen, Xiao Jiang, restrain her. Xiao Zhang, go downstairs and bring in the security guard at the entrance, then call the men from all the families to come back. This is a serious matter.”

“Understood.” Zhang Kaiping rushed downstairs, and Sister Zheng glanced skeptically at Huo Xiaoling and the others. Before she could speak, the woman with the triangular eyes turned pale with fear. She wasn’t stupid. She understood what it meant for Zhao Xin to be caught stealing from a commanding officer’s study. The word that flashed in her mind was “spy.”

If Zhao Xin was a spy, what did that make the people close to her?

Moreover, she had always defended Zhao Xin, helping her find opportunities to go upstairs. If she claimed to know nothing and had done nothing, would anyone believe her?

But she genuinely had no idea. Zhao Xin had learned that Lu Nong owned many cosmetics bought by Pei Ji’an. Sister Qin’s dramatic transformation at the dance was due to using Lu Nong’s cosmetics, which made Zhao Xin envious of Lu Nong’s life. She wanted to see Lu Nong’s room. As a good friend of Zhao Xin, she naturally wanted to accommodate her. However, there was also a hint of jealousy toward Lu Nong.

Who would have guessed…

“You’ve used me!” The woman with the triangular eyes suddenly realized she had been manipulated by Zhao Xin. She screamed and lunged at Zhao Xin, but Sister Qin stepped in to separate them, looking at her disdainfully.

“Where have you been? Stay put. You all should consider how to explain this to your husbands. An investigation will certainly take place, and whether your husbands are affected will depend on the outcome.”

Huo Xiaoling and the others looked downcast, while the woman with the triangular eyes collapsed to the ground.

When the security guard arrived, they took Zhao Xin away. Huo Xiaoling and the others, who had been close to Zhao Xin, were also sent home for isolation, bringing the situation to a close.

Pei Ji’an called to inform Lu Nong that Pei Zheng was fine, and with that news, Lu Nong finally felt her heart settle.

That evening, Pei Zheng returned home with Pei Ji’an. Lu Nong rushed to the door and asked, “How did it go? Did you catch that person? And did you know Zhao Xin was arrested?”

Pei Ji’an frowned slightly and steadied Lu Nong, gently guiding her into the house.

“What happened?” When Pei Ji’an remained silent, Lu Nong turned to Pei Zheng.

Pei Zheng cautiously glanced at Pei Ji’an. He had learned to read his father’s expressions and knew his father wasn’t in a good mood. He shrugged, indicating he couldn’t help.

Lu Nong huffed, feeling a bit offended, and plopped down on the sofa. “How heartless of you, after I worried about you all day.”

Pei Ji’an sighed helplessly. “Just sit still and don’t get too worked up, and I will tell you.”

Lu Nong made an “OK” gesture, slowing her movements by tenfold. She leaned against Pei Ji’an’s broad shoulder and nudged him gently, blinking as she asked, “Can you tell me now?”

Pei Ji’an, unable to resist, finally said, “They caught them, but neither of them is talking.”

“Is that it?” Lu Nong looked bewildered, glancing at Pei Ji’an, who returned her gaze. They stared at each other for a moment.

“Oh my gosh, I finally understand what it means to be concise,” Lu Nong exclaimed as she covered her face.

Pei Zheng held back a laugh, but Pei Ji’an shot him a warning glance. Lu Nong released her grip on Pei Zheng and said playfully, “You say it, don’t be brief!”

Pei Zheng cleared his throat and recounted everything that had happened that day. Lu Nong listened intently, impressed by Pei Zheng’s courage. Was this really her once clueless stepson?

He was smart, witty, and brave—just like a protagonist from a novel. Oh, wait, he actually was the protagonist of a novel.

Pei Zheng concluded, “Zhong Daren is stubborn and wouldn’t admit his relationship with Zhao Xin, insisting he doesn’t know her. As for Zhao Xin, she claimed she only went into Dad’s study out of curiosity. I think these two still have a lot to sort out.”

“But they’re caught now, so it’s just a matter of time before the truth comes out.”

Lu Nong sighed, wondering if they would find out whether Zhao Xin was really a spy before they left the capital. Regardless of her motivations against Lu Nong, at least the immediate danger posed by Zhao Xin was resolved.

Speaking of leaving the capital, Lu Nong turned to Pei Ji’an and quietly asked, “Did you tell Pei Zheng that we are moving?”

Pei Ji’an paused and asked, “You didn’t say it?”

“…” Seriously, shouldn’t this be something the father should mention?

Lu Nong stiffly shook her head.

Pei Zheng, watching Lu Nong and his father whisper to each other, felt quite confused and asked, “Lu Nong, what are you two whispering about?”

Lu Nong nudged Pei Ji’an, who then cleared his throat. “We were discussing that the whole family is moving to the south next month.”

“What?” Pei Zheng initially thought they meant a family vacation to the south. “Going on a trip to the south? Great! When we—”

He paused mid-sentence, realizing something was off. His father was talking about the family moving to the south permanently.

Pei Zheng’s expression fell.”Then… what about me?”

Pei Zheng was smart and realized that the old man had received a transfer order to take up a post in the south.

“You’re moving the whole family and leaving me behind in the capital? How can you do this?” Pei Zheng looked at Lu Nong with a mix of despair and hope, realizing that pleading with his father would be useless, but he might have a slim chance with Lu Nong.

Dad is there to be tricked. Pei Zheng’s clever mind turned, and he came up with a good idea. He let the old man go to the south alone, and the whole family stayed in Beijing first. After he graduated, they would go to the south to join the old man.

Seeing his expression, Lu Nong stood up straight, feigning seriousness. “I just remembered that I need to finish my painting, so I’ll go to the study to complete it.”

Pei Zheng: “…”

Pei Ji’an: “…”