Leaving the Li Family.

The sense of crisis in Chen Xiao’s heart still hadn’t ceased.

He sensed that Li Jindao was silently diverting the topic away from him.

This unusual behavior already indicated some issues.

It’s just that Chen Xiao couldn’t confirm anything at the moment.

What he could be sure of was that Li Jindao seemed to be stalling for time.

But what was Li Jindao stalling for? 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

He originally intended to determine if the Li couple suspected anything about the child in Lian Yuhong’s belly through conversation.

But Chen Xiao was steered away from this topic from beginning to end.

To be precise, whenever Chen Xiao asked about Peng Yuanqing or Peng Zhou, Li Jindao would subtly shift the subject.

Chen Xiao sensed that Li Jindao didn’t want to discuss Peng Yuanqing and Peng Zhou.

But why?

And why was Li Jindao stalling for time?

He even practiced with the Wooden Man Target with him for quite a while!

Thinking of this, Chen Xiao immediately called Dao.

"Hello, Dao, are you still at the hospital?"

After leaving Changlong Village, Chen Xiao didn’t take Xiaoji and the others, not even when visiting Xie Wensheng or looking for Li Jindao just now.

He left Xiaoji to stay behind in Changlong Village.

Dao had gone to watch over Zhang Shurong in secret.

As for Liu Dayou, Chen Xiao had him follow Peng Zhou.

Receiving Chen Xiao’s call, Dao replied calmly, "At the hospital, yes. Zhang Shurong seems okay, but the doctor who examined her looked increasingly concerned."

"Of course, having drunk paraquat would do that. Alright, keep a close watch and don’t let anyone near her slip past."

"Understood."

After ending the call with Dao, Chen Xiao called Liu Dayou, "Has Peng Zhou gone home?"

"Yes, he’s at home now, and with an older man, who should be Peng Yuanqing from the photos."

"Okay, keep an eye on them. Contact me immediately if they do anything."

Managing the situation, Chen Xiao then called Xiaoji.

"Brother Chen, what’s up?"

"No one’s approached the scene, right?"

"Nope."

"Wait there for me; I’ll be there soon."

Chen Xiao replied briefly, then hurried to meet Xiaoji at Changlong Village.

Once Xiaoji was in the car, noticing Chen Xiao’s furrowed brows, they couldn’t help but ask:

"Brother, what’s wrong?"

"I just met with Li Xi’s father, Li Jindao. He’s very suspicious."

Xiaoji’s eyes lit up, "That’s not good then. He’s got motives too!"

"But I think what he’s planning isn’t that simple."

Xiaoji looked puzzled, and Chen Xiao explained earnestly:

"We need to carefully reevaluate everything based on our thoughts."

Upon hearing this, Xiaoji immediately took out pen and paper to jot notes.

Chen Xiao began, "All my suspicions rest upon one condition: why did Lian Yuhong die? She had reasons to commit suicide, but with so many ways to do it, why the same method as the Yang Lake Phantom?"

"For Lian Yuhong, this was likely her childhood nightmare, as her father died because of it!"

Xiaoji nodded silently as Chen Xiao continued:

"Based on the scene, I suspect she might have been driven to death. But fundamentally, her death benefits or reassures whom? Naturally, based on our speculation, it’s most likely Peng Yuanqing or the well-disguised Peng Zhou!"

"However, there’s another possibility: if Li Xi and Li Jindao were driven to an extreme, they too have the capability to drive Lian Yuhong to her death! If it were the latter..."

Chen Xiao paused his words here.

"I finally understand why I felt so tense when I was at the Li’s! My instincts were warning me that Peng Yuanqing or Peng Zhou could be in danger!"

After explaining, Xiaoji sudden realization hit, "Brother, you mean, if it’s Li Jindao or Li Xi who drove Lian Yuhong to her death, their anger might not end just because she’s gone!"

"Exactly, because Peng Yuanqing or Peng Zhou are the real culprits; they brought this disgrace!"

Chen Xiao nodded.

Xiaoji immediately said, "Brother Chen, should I watch over the Li father and son?"

"You won’t be able to keep an eye on them. Better focus on Peng Yuanqing and Peng Zhou. Go assist Dayou; I’m worried he’s overwhelmed."

"Okay!" Xiaoji nodded and left promptly.

Chen Xiao once again stepped into Lian Yuhong’s home.

After leaving the Li Family, he constantly pondered if he missed anything on site.

Lian Yuhong wore an unexpectedly unfitting pair of canvas shoes.

Might there be any other clues?

Chen Xiao walked to the old house’s bedroom, sitting on the bed, he silently closed his eyes.

Images of every scene from inside and outside the door started forming in his mind.

However, the pictures in his mind appeared dim, as if he were present on the night of the incident.

When the scene concluded, a car appeared outside the old house.

Lian Yuhong got out and walked into the bedroom, sitting beside Chen Xiao.

Once seated in the constructed scene, she lingered in boredom, perhaps turning on the TV.

Until around 9:40, Li Xi called her.

This call with Lian Yuhong lasted over 40 minutes.

A fact verified by clear call records.

If Li Xi wasn’t lying, right... if Li Xi was truthful, the call contained no extreme emotions.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t have lasted so long.

Moreover, Li Xi mentioned that over the call, no unusual behavior was detected, only a subtle low and imbalanced emotion stemming from her mother’s demeanor.

Yet, a mere hour and a half to two hours after the call, she ended her own life.

What transpired in those one and a half to two hours?

The room was spotless!

The cement floor only bore prints from Lian Yuhong’s return.

As Li Xi recounted, he hadn’t followed her inside.

Opening his eyes, Chen Xiao gazed around.

And at the moment his eyes opened, the mental scene collapsed.

Lian Yuhong’s image shattered.

This pointed to one thing: Chen Xiao’s understanding of the case was incomplete, hence the shallow vision during the Power of Construction.

Nevertheless, several new doubts arose in Chen Xiao’s mind.

"When I met Peng Zhou, he had been discharged and was agitated, wanting to confront. Given the crime happened two days ago, Peng Zhou must’ve recovered substantially. So, why did Zhang Shurong choose to accompany Peng Zhou over her biological daughter?"

"Second doubt: Li Jindao and his wife claimed they couldn’t accept Yuhong’s death, but apart from Mrs. Li who couldn’t stop the tears, Li Jindao seemed composed. When I first saw him, he was melancholically pondering over baby clothes. If they’re so heartbroken over their unborn grandchild, why insist on honoring Zhang Shurong?"

"Moreover, after the call between Lian Yuhong and Li Xi, what happened? If her death indeed involved issues with the child, when did the person driving her come to know, and why choose two nights ago?"

As Chen Xiao pondered, he felt, "Something crucial must’ve happened before that night; perhaps concerning Li Jindao, Mrs. Li, Li Xi... Could it be related to Peng Zhou’s abrupt hospitalization?"

"Would Li Jindao and Mrs. Li have gone if Peng Zhou was admitted, with Zhang Shurong, Peng Yuanqing, Lian Yuhong, and Li Xi attending? May the truth shine through!"

Contemplating this, Chen Xiao dialed Dao’s number again:

"Hand the phone to Zhang Shurong!"