An Xiaotong paused for a moment and then continued, "...Then Du Tian called Father Du, but he didnât expect Father Du to say he never touched that jewelry box, and insisted Du Tian took it himself.
Their argument erupted over the phone, and tonight, as his father was getting off work, he went to the old house again, determined to get to the bottom of this."
"Since nobody admits to taking it, and something so valuable is lost, why not report it to the police?" Gu Qiaoqiao asked.
"Du Tian said if he really canât find it, he would report it to the police, but then he got scolded harshly by his father. Makes sense, reporting to the police would definitely affect Father Duâs reputation," An Xiaotong said worriedly.
Gu Qiaoqiao frowned slightly but had to remind, "Sister Xiaotong, in this matter, donât be too soft-hearted. If itâs not an inside job, then itâs theft. Why not report it? Besides, itâs not like it was gained through corruption; itâs a relic left by Big Brother Duâs mother."
"I understand the reasoning, but itâs unknown when the items were lost, and if we report it, the police would definitely come around, who knows what everyone will say then."
"Sister Xiaotong, let people say whatever they want; if something is missing, it must be reported. The innocent have nothing to fear, while the guilty reveal themselves. But I must tell you, you must stand by Big Brother Du on this, and donât try to persuade him to let it go and swallow his grievances."
On the other end, An Xiaotong suddenly fell silent for a moment, and then seemed to have an epiphany, her voice carrying guilt as she said, "Rest assured, Qiaoqiao, I will stand by Big Brother Du. My mind suddenly cleared up; no wonder when I told him not to search, Big Brother Du looked so upset. I was wrong, I shouldnât have said that..."
"As long as you understand. Also, donât hurry too much; youâre still in confinement. Iâm visiting your home this week to see your baby, and I have a gift for him." Gu Qiaoqiao advised.
An Xiaotongâs newborn was very cute, both obedient and understanding, sleeping after being fed, and blowing bubbles when awake. Gu Qiaoqiao liked him very much and planned to carve a peaceful amulet for the child as an auntâs token of care.
Gu Qiaoqiao also understood that An Xiaotong was naturally tender and kind-hearted, which explained why in her previous life she faced such critical situations, and in this life, was bullied by an adopted daughter...
This was significantly related to her personality.
Thinking of this, Gu Qiaoqiao softly said, "I havenât spent much time with you both, so I donât fully understand everything, but since youâve grown up with Big Brother Du, you should understand and empathize with his feelings. At this moment, donât interfere with anything; just quietly support him."
"Mmm, I understand." An Xiaotong nodded heavily, her voice filled with guilt. "Qiaoqiao, to be honest, sometimes I just wish that my family members could love each other and never quarrel.
Money is an external thingâif itâs gone, itâs gone. Family love is irreplaceable. Even though the things left by Du Tianâs mother are valuable, if they cause a rift between father and son, itâs just a laughable matter for many people.
But upon careful thought, I realized I was wrong. I shouldnât think that way.
To Du Tian, itâs not about the monetary value; these are things by which he remembers his mother. After getting married, Du Tian intended to retrieve those items, but you donât know, he barely visits the old house once in six months. When he finally managed to go, no one was home, so it was left aside. Little did he know it would end up like this today..."
Gu Qiaoqiao sighed slightly, recalling a saying from her previous life: "With a stepmother comes a stepdad," which was, in fact, quite true.
In the past life, Du Tian passed away for many years without being noticed; everyone thought he was studying abroad. All those years, Du Tianâs father, Director Du, hadnât bothered to check on his son or question why he hadnât been in touch. Itâs evident how indifferent a father could be.
Gu Qiaoqiao also knew that Du Tianâs stepmother had a son and a daughter, both of whom later became prominent figures. Given their familyâs background and their fatherâs affection, they had the best resources and were unlikely to falter. Sadly, it was unfortunate for Du Tian...
Fortunately, in this life, these things hadnât occurred. Du Tian and An Xiaotong were married and now had a cute son. It seemed that this lifetime would be very happy for them.
"Sister Xiaotong, Big Brother Du has had a hard time. I donât know about his relationship with his stepmother, but I guess itâs probably just surface-level. You should care for him more and make him feel the warmth and happiness of family, especially concerning todayâs matter. No matter what he does, support him. I suspect his stepmother might approach you, and you mustnât be brainwashed..."
Gu Qiaoqiao continued to caution, still somewhat uneasy.
Although An Xiaotong is now a formidable woman, her heart remains inherently kind and gentle. This innate nature canât be altered, but she must have a sense of right and wrong and know what should and shouldnât be done.
"Donât worry, Qiaoqiao. Your words reminded me of something. Du Tianâs stepmother always calls, asking us to visit, saying the old man misses us and wants to see his eldest grandson. Her voice sounds so sincere..."
"Iâve only seen Big Brother Duâs stepmother once at the wedding. She appears gentle and beautiful, but appearances can be deceiving. Be cautious and analyze the situation carefully. If itâs related to the Du family, you must communicate with Big Brother Du and never act on your own."
"Okay, I understand, Qiaoqiao, wait..." An Xiaotong hadnât finished her sentence when the phone was filled with the loud cries of a babyâAn Xiaotongâs son, crying robustly, likely hungry. Gu Qiaoqiao quickly said, "Sister Xiaotong, go check on the baby. Weâll talk later when youâre free."
"Okay, Qiaoqiao." An Xiaotong quickly hung up the phone.
Gu Qiaoqiao put down the phone and suddenly remembered the soup simmering in the kitchen. Whenever Qin Yize was home during her menstrual period, he would make a nourishing blood-replenishing soup for her, this time being no exception.
Gu Qiaoqiao quickly headed towards the kitchen.
At the same time, Qin Yize was driving his jeep and had already arrived at the gate of the Du Familyâs old house.
It was a large courtyard with a great location.