"I want to investigate the source of the harmful substances first." Shen Qingqing felt an itch on her shoulder and rubbed her cheek against it.
Then, a large hand patted her.
It felt so good that she naturally snuggled closer to Fu Jingshu, even letting him pat her. She blinked and continued to talk.
"If we call Nicole over now, it'll be like alerting the snake to flee. We're not sure if these harmful substances have anything to do with her."
"Now I understand," Pei Lie thought he had been overthinking. Shen Qingqing wasn't the type to repay kindness with evil after being wronged. "Then, by all means, go ahead. I support you. If you need help, just say the word."
"Okay." Shen Qingqing remembered something and added, "But don't tell anyone about this. I don't want others to know."
Pei Lie, being clever, immediately understood her concerns. "I know. Don't worry, I won't let this get out."
Shen Qingqing felt relieved.
Pei Lie then lectured her further, mostly expressing his concern for her health. He also offered to help investigate the toxic substance. "Just leave it to me. I'll definitely find out for you. You just need to rest well now and not worry about anything."
"Alright."
Pei Lie then went to investigate. He first examined Nicole, but found nothing. He felt confused.
He was like Fu Jingshu.
They both felt the problem lay with Nicole.
However, since he couldn't find anything, he decided he needed to change his approach and not waste more time on Nicole. He began investigating the shop that sold the dress.
And he actually found something.
As soon as he got the news, he rushed to tell Shen Qingqing.
"So quickly?" Shen Qingqing never expected him to find the source of the dress in less than a day. She couldn't help but give him a thumbs-up. "Your speed is incredible!"
Pei Lie accepted the compliment without shame. "Since I promised you, I naturally have to do my best. Here, this is for you."
He handed her a slip of paper.
She opened it and saw an address.
—Tingxi Factory.
"What's this?"
Pei Lie sat on a chair, his hands on his knees, and said in a deep voice, "This is what I found out. The factory address of the dress."
"Why is it so far away?" Shen Qingqing had thought the problem was with the dress shop. "You mean… the problem is at the factory?"
Pei Lie nodded. "Exactly. I first investigated that shop, but found nothing unusual. They order their dresses from this factory."
Meaning, the problem was at the factory.
Shen Qingqing put the slip of paper in her pocket. "Did you investigate the inside of the factory?"
"Not yet." Pei Lie's expression turned grim as he spoke. "I only found out the owner of this factory."
"Who is it?"
Pei Lie fell silent.
Shen Qingqing felt something was wrong. "Who is it? Do I know them?"
Could it really be Nicole?
Pei Lie shook his head, his expression filled with confusion and contemplation. "It's Pei Xi."
"Him?"
Shen Qingqing's heart skipped a beat.
Fu Jingshu said coldly, "This person is truly persistent!"
Shen Qingqing and Pei Lie exchanged a look, both finding it incredibly bizarre.
He was clearly dead, so why were his traces everywhere?
"Could it be that this person is the same one who killed Wang?" Shen Qingqing had a guess, something she hadn't considered before.
Because this poison wasn't fatal, it only triggered her allergies. But if the perpetrator could kill Wang, they wouldn't hesitate to harm her.
Such a childish method didn't seem like an assassination, but more like a prank.
Or perhaps…
A warning.
Pei Lie clearly had the same thought. "If that's the case, you're in danger. You shouldn't investigate this further."
Shen Qingqing frowned slightly. "Of course, I have to investigate."
"Aren't you afraid of danger?" Pei Lie found her too stubborn. "Shen, I understand you want to uncover the truth for our sake, but I'm worried about you."
After he said this, he felt a cold gaze and realized his words were a bit ambiguous. He quickly explained.
"I didn't mean it like that. I meant, you're investigating for our sake. If you get hurt now, I'll feel guilty and remorseful. If it weren't for helping us, you wouldn't be..."
Shen Qingqing interrupted him. "You're overthinking it. I'm helping you, but it's not entirely because of you. You don't need to feel so guilty."
Pei Lie stared at her for a moment, then relented and no longer insisted. "In any case, I don't agree with you investigating, Shen. You should leave."
"What about your father's death? Are you not investigating anymore?"
"I'll investigate." Pei Lie's face was firm. "This is our family matter. If there are any problems, I'll take responsibility. I can't implicate you again. Shen, I'll have someone book you a flight ticket today. You leave immediately."
As he said this, he made a call to his assistant.
As soon as the call was connected, his phone was snatched away.
"Shen?"
"You're not allowed to say it. I must investigate!" Shen Qingqing said into the phone. "It's fine now."
With that, she hung up the phone.
Pei Lie's eyes widened. For a moment, he didn't know whether to be angry that she'd snatched his phone or shocked at her audacity.
"No, I'm doing this for your own good..."
"I don't need you to." Shen Qingqing threw the phone back to him and said lightly, "I know what I'm doing and how to do it. You should help your brother manage the country properly and not meddle in anything else."
Pei Lie had no choice but to turn to Fu Jingshu. "What about you? Aren't you worried? She's still sick and needs to rest. She shouldn't be investigating these messy affairs."
Fu Jingshu remained silent, only looking at Shen Qingqing.
Shen Qingqing didn't explain, only saying, "He understands me and accepts me."
This sentence struck him to the core.
All of Fu Jingshu's objections and rejections were swallowed back. He couldn't say anything. He felt that if he spoke, it would mean he didn't understand Shen Qingqing.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and didn't say a word, but his entire being exuded a sense of compromise.
Pei Lie looked on with frustration. "Can't you have a bit more backbone? Show some marital authority!"
Fu Jingshu retorted irritably, "You're so capable. When you get married later, don't listen to your wife."
"I can!"
Pei Lie's voice was loud and his tone firm.
But many years later, when he met the woman he loved most, he realized that becoming henpecked had no logic at all!
Since he couldn't stop Shen Qingqing, he could only try to find some clues before her. And indeed, effort paid off.
He discovered that the factory was about to close, and this dress was their last business transaction.
Upon hearing this, Fu Jingshu proposed going to investigate.
Shen Qingqing said, "I'll go too."
Fu Jingshu immediately refused. "No, you should stay home and rest."