434: Unsolved mysteries

Unsolved mysteries

Han Cheng approached Xi Ting with a determined stride. The two men exchanged guarded glances, a silent understanding passing between them. Han Cheng's voice was steady, carrying a weight of earnest curiosity as he broached the subject.  1

"Mr. Xi," Han Cheng greeted Xi Ting.

"Mr. Han," Xi Ting greeted him back. 

The two men exchanged guarded glances, a silent understanding passing between them. Han Cheng's voice was steady, carrying a weight of earnest curiosity as he broached the subject.

"Xi Ting, I've been meaning to discuss something with you," Han Cheng began, his tone carefully modulated.

Xi Ting nodded, his gaze never leaving Han Cheng's face, "Go on."

Han Cheng began, his voice carrying a deliberate weight, "I have a proposal for today. Xi Ting, could you let Miss Qin accompany you to our business meeting later?"

Xi Ting's eyebrows lifted in mild surprise at the unexpected request, "May I ask why Mr. Han wants my girlfriend to accompany me for the business meeting?"

Han Cheng glanced at Xi Ting thoughtfully, "Mr. Xi, I think that a person as smart as you might have discovered the fact that Miss Qin looks exactly like a younger version of my wife. Since, my wife doesn't have any child or any other family, I am quite curious about the mystery of the striking similarity of Zichen and Miss Qin's looks. I think you might also want to know everything about your future wife."

Xi Ting glanced at Han Cheng. The man was poised and appeared to be a sorted person. His way of approaching the subject was transparent and he did not say anything indirectly. Instead, he was straightforward with Xi Ting. No wonder he was so successful. He did not waste any time in going rounds and rounds about the subject, but he came straight to the topic. 

Xi Ting looked at Han Cheng and then at Qin Yan, and finally nodded, "Okay, I think that's a good idea."

At this time, Fang Zichen held on to Qin Yan for support as they walked out together. Fang Zichen looked that her husband was here and she slowly walked towards Han Cheng. Han Cheng also took a few steps forward so that his wife could reach him sooner.

As soon as Fang Zichen drew close to Han Cheng, she tugged at him and said, "Look. This is Qin Yan. I mentioned her the last time. It's such a coincidence that we met here. They came to do charity work too."

Han Cheng gave a knowing smile, "Really? What a coincidence."

He looked up at Qin Yan beside her.

Fang Zichen gazed at Qin Yan, "I feel like I really hit it off with you, Qin Yan. How much longer are you going to stay in M Nation?"

Qin Yan looked at Xi Ting before saying to her, "A while more."

"That's great. Come over to my house if you have time."

Qin Yan asked in surprise, "Really? I'm so grateful. I will definitely go."

"This is my number. Take it." She continued, "You can give me a call if you need me."

"Hn. Thank you, Madam Han," Qin Yan said.

Throughout this, Han Cheng was watching from the side. The expression on his face was gentle as he gazed at his happy wife. Nothing other than his wife's happiness mattered to him. He had vowed to fulfill all her wishes but he could not fulfill the void of not having a child in Fang Zichen's heart. This was the regret he had his whole life.

Xi Ting pulled Qin Yan towards him just then and said, "That's enough. Madam isn't feeling too well. Let her go back earlier and rest. We'll contact her again thereafter."

Qin Yan nodded and looked at Fang Zichen, "In that case, rest up first. I will take my leave."

"Sure," Fang Zichen looked at Qin Yan as the two of them bid each other farewell. She continued looking at Qin Yan even after the latter had walked far away.

Han Cheng also pulled Fang Zichen and said, "That's enough. You're tired too. Let's go back first."

*

Qin Yan and Xi Ting stepped foot into the quiet hotel exhausted. Both of them changed into comfortable clothes and freshened up before lying down on the bed. 

Seeing Qin Yan's exhausted face, Xi Ting pulled Qin Yan into his arms and covered her eyes, "Sleep for a while. You look tired."

"No, I am not tired," Qin Yan refuted, "It's just that I feel like being lazy. I feel like I should just lie down on the bed and do nothing."

"You are feeling like this because you are tired. Just close your eyes and sleep for a while. You will feel lively when you wake up," Xi Ting patted Qin Yan and helped her sleep.

Soon, Qin Yan drifted off into a deep slumber, oblivious to the world around her. Meanwhile, Xi Ting lay there, wide awake, his mind restless with thoughts that refused to be silenced. 

He had decided to let Qin Yan know of everything but he didn't understand how he should tell Qin Yan about it. There were too many unsolved mysteries and he only had few hypotheses but no evidence or concrete proof to prove his hypotheses. And now that even Han Cheng wanted to clarify everything, it was essential for Qin Yan to know everything.

Xi Ting got up from his bed and called Tong Chunian, "Any updates on the investigation?"

"Yes sir," Tong Chunian replied, "I am just outside your gate."

"Okay," Xi Ting opened the door and let Tong Chunian in. 

*

After a while, Xi Ting glanced at the clock and realized that they had only two hours remaining before the meeting. When he went back to their room, he saw that Qin Yan was still asleep. She was sleeping peacefully and Xi Ting did not want to disturb her. Unfortunately, he didn't have any choice. He slowly drew close to her and kissed her awake. 

Qin Yan woke up to see Xi ting's enlarged face in front of her. Even so close, he was so handsome. Every part of his face was well defined and he looked like a god. Qin Yan, in her heart felt blessed to have him as her boyfriend. 

Xi Ting looked at Qin Yan's smitten face and smiled smugly. He tapped on her forehead, "Like what you see?"

Tapped by him, Qin Yan came to her senses. Realizing that he had caught her admiring him, her face turned red. She hurriedly defended herself, "I was half asleep. I wasn't staring at you."

Xi Ting laughed, "When did I say that you were staring at me?"

Qin Yan was stumped. She understood now that she had exposed herself. She covered her face with the blanket and refused to face Xi Ting. 

Looking at his cookie, Xi Ting found her actions very cute. He removed the blanket over Qin Yan and hugged her like a bunny. 

"Okay okay, don't be shy. We need to leave for the meeting in couple of hours," Xi Ting said.

Qin Yan was puzzled, "But isn't it your meeting? Do I have to come with you? I was thinking of lazing around here itself."

"Han Cheng has asked me to bring you," Xi Ting told Qin Yan, "Mrs. Han would also be there."

Hearing Xi Ting's words, Qin Yan grew more confused. She asked, "Ah Ting, is something the matter? I feel you are behaving different recently. If there is something, you can tell me." 

Xi Ting sighed, "Yes, something is up."

Qin Yan sat up on the bed instantly, "What's wrong?"

"Do you remember Uncle Nie?" Xi Ting asked.

"Yes, I do," Qin Yan felt uneasy, "Is something wrong with him?"

"No, nothing is wrong with him. But on Tong Tong's birthday party, I had a short conversation with him...About you," he said.

"About me?" Qin Yan's face was full of question marks.

"Yes, about you," Xi Ting said, "Uncle Nie told me that you look exactly like his student Su Cen…"

Xi Ting then proceeded to tell Qin Yan everything about his conversation with Nie Qinyu. 

"After speaking to Uncle Nie, a seed of doubt emerged in my mind and that's why I asked Tong Chunian to find out everything about Su Cen. Tong Chunian brought a lady to my office who was Su Cen's classmate when Uncle Nie was the professor of the college. When I spoke to the lady, I came to know that the relationship between Uncle Nie and Su Cen was not a normal teacher-student relationship but the two were in love with each other."

Qin Yan was surprised by this revelation.

Xi Ting continued, "However, the love story of Uncle Nie and Su Cen could not proceed any further as Old Master Nie had decided onto Uncle Nie's marriage. The girl whom the Nie family had selected was from a prominent family and it was essential for Uncle Nie to marry her at that time." 

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