After the evening banquet at the Feng estate, Feng Suyin returned to her apartment past midnight. She didn't feel any sadness returning to her empty home. Her mind was filled with the information she had just received from Lan Ruoxing.
To think that her mother was involved in the death of Lan Ruoxing's sister—a revelation that caught her off guard. She had spent many years living with Li Xinlian, but she never thought such a dark secret could be hidden in her mother's past.
She wiped the makeup from her face and quickly showered to wash off the day's events. As warm water cascaded down her back, Feng Suyin couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of her stomach. She thought back to all the years she had spent with Li Xinlian. Although she and her adoptive mother weren't close, she couldn't deny that Li Xinlian had a temper.
Li Xinlian would snap at the smallest mistakes. Her patience as thin as a thread ready to break. But Feng Suyin had never imagined that beneath that harsh exterior lay a past tainted with such darkness.
She didn't know much about the Lan family or Shen Qinglan. She didn't know how to proceed with the newfound information. She considered asking Alex, Xia Lingling's cousin, to investigate. But she feared it might attract unwanted attention. Feng Suyin needed to act discreetly. To ensure the Feng family wouldn't suspect she was scheming to take them down.
As she stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in a plush towel, she made a decision.
She would gather more information before deciding what to do next. She didn't want to get caught in the rift between the Feng and Lan families. But if Li Xinlian were truly responsible for the death of the eldest miss of the Lan family, surely it would ruin her reputation.
The next day, Feng Suyin went to the hospital where she worked and tried to find Xia Lingling during lunch break. Her friend was a nurse in the pediatric department. She and the other nurses knew all the gossip and rumors circulating around the hospital.
Feng Suyin found Xia Lingling in the break room, sipping coffee as she flipped through a magazine. When Xia Lingling saw her, her eyes lit up. She gestured for her to sit down.
"Suyin, what brings you to this side of the hospital?" Xia Lingling asked, patting the empty seat beside her.
Feng Suyin hesitated, unsure how to ask her friend about the Lan family. She didn't want others to think she was openly probing.
"Ling, I heard Madam Lan is confined here at the hospital. Is it true?" Her voice was almost a whisper.
Xia Lingling glanced around the break room to ensure no one was within earshot before leaning closer.
"Yes, it's true. Madam Lan was admitted a few days ago. The official word is that she's suffering from exhaustion. But rumors are flying around the hospital that there's more to it than that." Her tone was hushed. "They say it's a serious illness. But no one knows the exact details. Her condition is being kept very private by the Lan family."
"I see..." Feng Suyin hummed, her mind racing with possibilities.
She wanted to see Shen Qinglan. But it would be improper to see a patient without the family's consent. She needed a plan. A way to get closer to the Lan family without raising suspicion.
"Why are you suddenly curious about her, Suyin? Did something happen?"
"I met Lan Ruoxing last night at the banquet. He told me about the issue between our families. I'm curious if there's any truth to it."
Xia Lingling cupped her chin and hummed.
"You're right. Everyone knows that your Feng family and the Lans can never be in the same place. But no one knows the reason for their feud. Rumors have always circulated about the bad blood between the two families, but no concrete evidence has ever surfaced." She paused. "What did Lan Ruoxing tell you, Suyin?"
Feng Suyin knew it wasn't her place to tell others what Lan Ruoxing had shared. But there was something she wanted to confirm about her adoptive mother.
"Ling, he told me Mom got pregnant and lost a child years before adopting me. How come my parents never told me or talked about it?"
Xia Lingling raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback. She set down her coffee cup, her expression thoughtful.
"That is indeed a curious piece of information, Suyin. That's the first time I've heard it. Didn't people say your mother had a hard time conceiving and ended up adopting you instead? If she was pregnant before, why did she hide it from everyone?" She paused. "Do you think Feng Yilan knew about her dead sibling?"
Feng Suyin shook her head.
"I don't think so, Ling. Yilan would have told me if she knew. She would have used it against me. I think my parents are keeping it from us for a reason."
Xia Lingling nodded.
"Indeed, your sister wouldn't keep something like that from you. But it does raise questions about your mother's past. Maybe there's a reason she kept it hidden all these years." Her expression grew serious. "Be careful, Suyin. These family feuds can be dangerous territory. If secrets are being kept hidden, there must be a reason. Since you weren't born into the Feng family, it might be better to stay out of it. If your mother finds out you're asking questions, she might do something drastic."
She knew that once Feng Suyin set her mind on something, there was no stopping her.
"Just promise me you'll tread carefully. These matters can escalate quickly. You don't want to find yourself in the middle of a family war."
Feng Suyin nodded. But her mind was already working.
The wheels were turning.
She would find the truth—no matter the cost.