After leaving the hospital, Qin Guan first returned to his law office under the guise of retrieving his laptop and work materials. In reality, he conducted a meticulous search of the premises.
The most dangerous spot is often the safest—since Xu Ruyi frequently visited his office, hiding evidence here would be unexpected. Yet he found nothing.
Next, he had the police car detour to the home of Xu Ruyi's local friend Aya. Though Xu Ruyi had studied and worked in Mocheng after college, her closest friends weren't in their hometown. Aya was her most frequent local contact—not a confidante but a casual companion who had recently visited the hospital and taken Little Pear out to eat.
Parking conspicuously outside Aya's courtyard home, Qin Guan claimed he wanted to thank her for caring for Xu Ruyi after failing to reach her by phone. Ten minutes of chatting confirmed his suspicion: Aya knew nothing of Xu Ruyi's schemes. Xu Ruyi didn't trust her enough.
The stockings and phone weren't here either.
Returning home, Qin Guan glared at the patrol car below before yanking the curtains shut. He stormed into Little Pear's room.
If Xu Ruyi hadn't hidden the evidence at his office or with friends, it must still be in this house.
He ransacked the child's room—flipping mattresses, emptying drawers, dismantling toy boxes. Nothing.
The master bedroom came next. Though Xu Ruyi hadn't slept here recently, Qin Guan tore through every inch. Still nothing.
He moved to Auntie Feng's north-facing room with its private bathroom. Despite being labeled a "nanny," she lived as family—a status cemented by the in-laws' provision of her medical and pension insurance.
Her wardrobe spanned an entire wall, stuffed mostly with household linens. Qin Guan ripped through quilts, shaking out every seam. Two large drawers revealed underwear, Little Pear's outgrown clothes, and photo albums.
The top album featured Auntie Feng's son Xiaozhi—smiling in patched clothes as a child, later posing with Xu Ruyi at his university gates. Qin Guan sneered at the images. A country bumpkin clinging to his betters.
Beneath it lay an album dedicated to Xu Ruyi's life: gap-toothed childhood photos, birthday parties with Auntie Feng perched beside her in-laws, high school portraits. Pages documenting her wedding day froze Qin Guan's blood.
He remembered it vividly—arriving in his crisp suit to fetch his bride, the in-laws' tearful farewells. Her father's trembling hand gripping his: "Qin Guan, I entrust my most precious treasure to you today—"
The memory curdled. What was there to cry about? Acting like I wasn't good enough.
Relatives had chimed in: "You must treat her well! Her parents funded your education!"
A friend from Mocheng glared daggers: "You're her first love! Never betray her!"
Qin Guan slammed the album shut. Betrayal? I pampered her! One affair doesn't erase that!
Fury ignited as he hurled drawer contents across the floor. When the empty drawer cavity revealed a shadowy object, he froze.
Crouching, he spotted it—a long-handled hammer wedged in the gap behind the wardrobe.