That day, as Qin Guan had anticipated, Auntie Feng sat in the hospital corridor and spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube.
"Madam is truly heartbroken this time. She's furious—and rightly so! Even I'm livid listening to it!"
"That shameless woman… you know, the one who… she actually called Madam first! Can you believe it? Ruining someone's family, seducing—"
Auntie Feng paused, glancing at Qin Guan, then rephrased. "Sir, you know Madam. She's always valued family above all. Back in Shanghai, she had such a good job, high salary… but she quit the moment her parents fell ill. After Little Pear was born, the child was always sick, clinging to her mother. Madam gave up another great job to care for her. She always says work comes second—family first."
"She's such a good woman! Devoted to her parents, her child. Never rebellious, always obedient and filial. But now…" She sighed deeply. "Sir, what you've done… it's shattered her."
"She mentioned her father."
At Qin Guan's indirect probing, Auntie Feng held nothing back. "It was that woman who brought it up. She told Madam, 'You know why I took care of your dad at the hospital? Let me tell you—'"
Imitating Qi Min's tone, Auntie Feng faltered under Qin Guan's gaze.
Qin Guan's face remained a mask of calm remorse. "Auntie, speak plainly. Don't spare my feelings. I need every detail to make amends."
He looked up, eyes glistening. "I grew up without a mother or a real family. I'm not good with words, always busy with work… but family means everything to me. Ruyi and Little Pear are my world. Help me fix this. My child can't lose her parents…"
Every word struck Auntie Feng's soft spot. This nanny, who'd watched Xu Ruyi grow and raised Little Pear, couldn't bear to see the family broken.
Finally, she relented.
"That woman said to Madam," Auntie Feng spat, mimicking Qi Min, "'I didn't care for your father out of kindness! Qin Guan and I pitied you! He'd have dumped you like snot long ago if not for your dying dad!'"
"'No one wants a cursed woman like you! You killed your mother! Your father's half-dead but clinging on—he knows your marriage would crumble if he dies!'"
"Sir!" Auntie Feng trembled with rage. "How could anyone say such evil? Madam nearly died grieving her mother! These words cut deeper than knives!"
Qin Guan froze.
This wasn't the answer he needed.
Maintaining composure, he scanned Auntie Feng's weary face—her indignation genuine, her eyes tracking Little Pear nearby. No hidden truths lurked there.
His mind raced. If this was all Xu Ruyi knew—just the affair and cruel taunts—then he'd overreacted. Qi Min might have been innocent of his deeper fears.
But it didn't matter now. Qi Min was gone.
He needed to pivot: suppress Xu Ruyi's anger, prevent police involvement. The luggage at the tobacco shop would soon be retrieved by Li Yang, "proving" Qi Min had fled. Timing was critical.
As he rose to approach Xu Ruyi's room, voices echoed down the hall. Two uniformed officers flashed badges at a nurse: "We need to see Xu Ruyi."
Qin Guan's blood turned to ice. Why so soon?