Qin Guan stared at the car key, his mind exploding with a deafening buzz.
The scorching midday sun enveloped him, yet he felt no warmth—his blood turned to ice, freezing his veins. A chilling dread seeped from his scalp to his soles.
A Cadillac key!
Qi Min hadn't just copied his Toyota key—she'd made a spare for Xu Ruyi's car!
When did she get access to Xu Ruyi's vehicle? What does she want?
During her earlier confession, Qi Min had sworn she only wanted money, not to harm his family. Yet her claws had already reached Xu Ruyi—long before he realized it.
"Here to pick up the key? Where's the car?" The mechanic glanced around, mistaking Qin Guan's silence for hesitation. "Don't worry, this key works perfectly. Test it! Any issues, full refund!"
He pointed to the rundown apartment above his shop. "Been here over a decade. My kids go to school nearby. There's even a cop living upstairs! Trust me—1,800 yuan's a steal. Dealerships charge triple!"
Qin Guan stood rigid, absorbing every word.
The mechanic recognized Qi Min instantly from a photo, even recalling her profession. She'd ordered the Toyota key two months prior, the Cadillac key a month ago. A cop neighbor meant any investigation would uncover everything: the affair, the staged death, the blackmail.
The key burned in his palm—a tiny plastic-and-metal trap.
Buying it risked future police scrutiny. Not buying meant the mechanic might track down Qi Min at his firm or involve the cop neighbor, dragging Xu Ruyi into the mess.
He paid the 1,800 yuan.
Parked roadside, Qin Guan agonized for 30 minutes as the clock ticked from 2:50 PM to 3:18. Finally, he dialed Xu Ruyi—he had to confess, partially, to contain the damage.
No answer.
He tried again. Still nothing.
Xu Ruyi often took their daughter to libraries, parks, or playgroups during the day, sometimes with Auntie Feng. The leftover breakfast suggested they'd gone out for lunch.
He called Auntie Feng. No response.
Why isn't anyone answering?
A foreboding dread gripped his chest, his heart pounding violently.