Chapter 179

Madam Qin couldn't help but say, "You're wasting your time. If my husband really wanted to hide something, even I, his closest companion, wouldn't be able to find it."

"The house is only so big. You've searched everywhere, but there's nothing to be found. No need to waste more effort."

Give up? She couldn't bring herself to.

She just wanted to know what kind of people her parents were, why they abandoned her, and the truth behind it all.

She just wanted the truth, a truth every orphan yearns for.

In the orphanage, there were all kinds of children—some with disabilities, some with illnesses, and others who were perfectly healthy. In the quiet of the night, everyone wondered why their parents didn't want them. None wanted to believe their parents discarded them like trash because they were unwanted.

Zuri wasn't giving up.

She searched under the bed, behind picture frames, even probed every piece of furniture to see if there were hidden compartments, but nothing proved her theories.

She looked up at the ceiling. It was made of plaster—no place to hide anything. The light fixtures were simple, offering no room for concealment.

Where could he possibly have hidden the item?

"Madam Qin, is this your only property? Do you have any other homes?"

"No. All the other properties were seized. This is the only one left, and it's in my name," Madam Qin replied truthfully.

Damn it, where could he have put it?

Madam Qin looked at the darkening sky outside. "It's late. You should go."

Zuri glanced out the window. "Sorry for the intrusion."

As she walked out of the door, Zuri felt a deep emptiness. She walked through the old neighborhood, the flickering streetlights matching the uncertainty in her heart.

When she reached the main road, the bright lights illuminated her. Cars rushed past, the wind from their passing vehicles stirring the night air.

Suddenly, she heard the screech of brakes ahead, followed by a child's cry and the driver's angry shout carried by the wind.

"What are you doing? Can't you watch your child? You almost got us all killed!" The driver, still shaken, shouted at the child who had fallen to the ground and the parents rushing to their side.

The mother, holding the frightened child, kept apologizing to the driver, bowing repeatedly. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."

Cars behind them honked impatiently, and the woman hurriedly left with her child.

Zuri noticed the blood on the child's arm and glanced at the cars on the road. Suddenly, a memory flashed in her mind.

When Jonah had his accident, his hand was reaching up to the sky.

Zuri lifted her head, looking up.

Could it be up there?

But the ceiling in the house was plaster, it wouldn't hold a wooden box.

Wait!

The bathroom and kitchen had ceilings!

Zuri immediately turned and ran back, sprinting until she stood in front of the door again, knocking once more.

She knocked for a long time, but there was no response from inside.

She couldn't have left the house.

Zuri kept knocking.

Finally, Madam Qin opened the door, surprised to see her standing there.

"You… you came back?" Madam Qin was startled.

Zuri's eyes scanned her, noticing the damp spots on her hands and clothes.

"I left something inside," Zuri said calmly.

"Really? Where? I'll get it for you." Madam Qin still stood in the doorway, showing no intention of letting her in.

"No need! I'll get it myself." Zuri pushed the door open and walked in assertively.

Her sudden action caught Madam Qin off guard.

"How dare you just barge in!" Madam Qin said angrily.

Zuri closed the door behind her, standing in the living room, looking at her with a relaxed expression. "Madam Qin, your acting is impressive. You almost had me fooled."

"What… what do you mean?" Madam Qin's eyes flickered with panic.

"Nine parts truth, one part lie—that's the most convincing combination. Jonah didn't tell you many secrets, but as his wife, you must have sensed something, even if you chose not to pursue it."

"What are you getting at?" She frowned, clearly displeased.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Hand it over." Zuri extended her hand, her pale fingers open in front of Madam Qin, her clear eyes full of amusement.

Madam Qin's expression shifted slightly, but she continued to feign ignorance. "I've told you, I don't know where it is. You've already turned the house upside down."

Zuri chuckled. "At this point, there's no need to pretend. It's just a waste of time for both of us. You just went to the bathroom to retrieve it, didn't you? The evidence is on your clothes and hands."

Madam Qin looked down at her damp hem and gave a resigned smile. "Such sharp observation for someone so young. It's no wonder the Lin family fell at your hands; it wasn't just the Feng family's doing."

Though Zuri now held the position of CEO of Jinxi Group, the outside world still saw the Feng family as the true power behind the company. That's why the stock price of Jinxi Group had surged.

The capitalists didn't put their faith in Zuri, a mere young girl, but in the Feng family.

"You're right. I found the item. That old man hid it in the old water tank in the bathroom ceiling. If I hadn't accidentally seen him tinkering up there, I never would have known."

Madam Qin gave in.

"You rushed back here because you figured it out too, didn't you?"

Zuri didn't deny it.

"I'll give you the box, but you have to promise me something."

"Sure, as long as it's within my power and doesn't violate my principles," Zuri agreed readily.

"Don't worry, I won't ask you to do anything criminal. I want money, and I want to see Dalia driven out of the Qin family like a stray dog. Is that too much to ask?"

"I can agree to that," Zuri replied.

"I want the money transferred to me now. I don't trust you," Madam Qin said bluntly.

Zuri didn't hesitate. She called Evan and instructed him to arrange the transfer.

After receiving a notification, Madam Qin went into the bedroom and came back with a small sandalwood box, placing it in front of Zuri. "Here's what you're looking for."

Zuri looked at the box, extending her hand, but hesitated mid-reach.

In that moment, she felt a twinge of fear and uncertainty.

She was suddenly afraid to touch it, afraid to open it.

She was scared.

As she approached the truth, she had, for the first time, the urge to back away, but she quickly suppressed that thought.

She picked up the box and slowly opened it.