In Chu Nan's mind, there could only be one explanation. She didn't kill someone.
Right now, he could only blame himself for being easily fooled by Chu Yuyan and her mother. With this in mind, Chu Nan called Shen Qui's number and scheduled a meeting.
Lyca only lifted an eyebrow when Shen Qui ended his call.
"Your plan is flawless," he said before he pulled her for a hug. "I miss you."
"We were literally together every day!" Lyca said. "How could you say you miss me?" She was actually too lazy to argue, but she found his thoughts too overboard. She glared at him as she crossed her arms against her chest. "Stop acting cute, I am still mad at you." Now that he was fully healed, Lyca didn't hesitate to give him a piece of her mind. "You actually thought that not telling me anything would keep me safe? How foolish! If you aren't a little handsome, I would have let you rot in that hospital bed."
"Thankfully, I am handsome," Shen Qui grinned. "I promise I won't do it again."
"Women remember things like this forever. This — " Her words were interrupted when Shen Qui cupped her face.
"I don't mind, remember it forever."
"Stop squeezing my face!"
This made him laughed, his face turned brighter. "Did someone tell you you are so cute?"
"No." She was beautiful, not cute. Again, Shen Qui let out another laugh. Before he leaned down and kiss her. "Stop acting like you, you are making me furious."
"Why are you angry?"
"You came here even if I told Ronan not to let you out! How could you act carelessly when you just woke up?"
"So you were worried about me?"
"Of course not!" she turned her head away. "I only feel sorry for the herbs that I used to concoct medicine for your blood loss and wounds. I shouldn't have wasted too many medicines on you."
"You know that Ronan can't stop me if I want to do something." Despite Lyca's angry tone, Shen Qui's tone was still calm. There was a hint of laughter in his voice. "Even if he worked together with Rue and Cleo, they won't be able to stop me."
Lyca snorted but said nothing. He already knew that this guy is too stubborn. "Your stubbornness might ruin my plans." Her plan was to keep his recovery a secret. Then she could use it to face-slap everyone once the event calls for it. However, Shen Qui just acted like a child and immediately met with her even when he just woke up.
"If you heard I did something dangerous, would you really stay at home and just wait for me to come back?" His retort made her roll her eyes.
"Fair enough."
"See? I know you would always worry about me." He tried to hug her again, but for the umpteenth time, Lyca resisted. But then again, when it comes to strength, she was really no match for him. In the end, Lyca mumbled some courses as another hug enveloped her.
Ma Ping had to endure this scene as he drove them back to the ranch. For some reason, the pang of being single is more painful than the wounds that he received earlier. After a few minutes, they finally arrived at the ranch. The lovers immediately went underground while Ma Ping was left standing just outside of the car.
"What's wrong with you?" Gu Cheng was the first person who approached him.
"I would never have a girlfriend." Ma Ping said while staring at the door. "It changes people," he said before going inside the house to find something for his wound.
Meanwhile, Lyca already gave up arguing with Shen Qui. Instead, she kept her silence and followed him towards his office. After all, she knew that arguing with this stubborn man is useless. He would only find the positive side of his words and smile like an idiot. While this irked her, a part of Lyca was actually relieved that he finally recovered.
"Ah? You guys are finally back!" Cleo smiled but didn't approach them. "I smell blood. Did you get hurt?"
"It's not our blood," Shen Qui said and pulled Lyca towards his seat. He immediately sat on the leather chair and pulled her towards his lap. The action was quick and precise. It was as if he was already used to it.
"This — " Cleo met Rue's eyes as they awkwardly stared at the current embarrassing scene. "Did something happen?"
"No," Shen Qui just smiled while turning his head towards the equally speechless Ronan. "You wanted to say something? Go on… we don't have much time left."
"…"
"Are you guys going somewhere?" It was Rue who asked the question that everyone including Lyca wanted to asked.
"It's nighttime. Of course, we are going to sleep. I just recovered. I need to rest." Shen Qui said without batting an eyelid.
"Oh!" Cleo nodded. "Oh! I get it. Alright… Ronan, you should tell them what you discovered! Go on!" He sat next to Ronan.
"Go on, Ronan," Rue added, she eyed Lyca's placid expression and felt complicated. Clearly, Lyca wasn't in a very good mood, but she was still letting Shen Qui act like this. She couldn't imagine what would happen later, once these two arrive in the room.
"Oh, I was trying to investigate Grandfather Huang's poisoning as you instructed. Just as you instructed, I am looking into both the Zhang Family and Long Family, after all, they were the ones who benefited a lot from the poisoning. It was clear to see that they were involved in this matter." As expected, his words changed Lyca's expression.
"And?" Lyca lifted an eyebrow as she made herself comfortable in Shen Qui's lap.
"Well… it was a dead-end. It's been like this for a few months now. But then I got bored and started investigating the members of the Huang Family that includes you, of course."
"Get to the point, " Lyca frowned.
"I found out something weird about your uncle, Huang Qingyun." Ronan gulped. "His wife died of poisoning too, but everything about it was kept as a secret. I mean… I can't find anything about his wife at all. Even her death certificate was missing."