The next day, Su Qi received a message from Gu Tangxue.
All information about Li Caiyi was sent to her phone.
Since it was a disappearing message, Su Qi read it with extreme care.
Li Caiyi came from a rural family with a gambling-addicted father. Even though she had several siblings, her father's gambling debts were too enormous. Her siblings worked outside, and despite the entire family's efforts, they couldn't clear the massive debt.
Just as the family was about to be ruined by this debt, a sum of money was suddenly transferred to their account, clearing Li Caiyi's father's debt and helping Li Caiyi. It even helped Li Caiyi and her siblings find good jobs.
In just a few years, Li Caiyi's family went from being a poor household relying on minimum living allowances to living a comfortable life.
Skimming through it, Su Qi frowned deeply.
Someone must be helping Li Caiyi, and that person's identity must be extraordinary. Ordinary people certainly couldn't afford to pay off such a large debt for Li Caiyi and help her so much.
Sheng Yuchen was Huo Qingrang's illegitimate son, raised outside the family.
As the saying goes, love me, love my dog.
Huo Qingrang loved Sheng Yuxue so much that he must also dote on Sheng Yuchen.
Moreover, Huo Qingrang rarely returned to the Huo family, spending most of his time with his illegitimate son and mistress.
The saying "familiarity breeds affection" was apt even for familial bonds.
Because they spent so much time together, even those without blood ties developed feelings. Furthermore, Sheng Yuchen was Huo Qingrang's biological son, and his appearance and demeanor were very similar to Huo Qingrang's. People tend to like those who resemble them.
Huo Qingrang must have liked Sheng Yuchen very much, perhaps even more than his legitimate son, Huo Tingyun.
Now, with Huo Tingyun sick, Huo Qingrang showed no concern or visited him. Instead, he was eager to push his illegitimate son onto the throne.
It was as if delaying would mean a loss, completely disregarding his son's safety.
Thinking this, Su Qi felt a chill.
Born into such a family, she too would be more indifferent and heartless than Huo Tingyun.
Su Qi rubbed her temples, got up, washed up, and sent a message to Yang Tianhao, informing him she wouldn't be going to the company today.
She had more important things to do.
Arriving at the Huo residence around ten o'clock, it was located on the mountainside. Soon it would be Christmas, and it was getting colder. The mountain wind was biting. As Su Qi got out of the car, the whistling winter wind turned her cheeks bright red.
Su Qi exchanged a few words with Lin Te at the entrance before entering the Huo residence.
Seeing Su Qi, the servants were very enthusiastic.
Since Qin Xue moved into the temple, several older servants had retired. Now, there were only eleven servants in the Huo household, managing the vast estate and villa.
There had been almost no one around lately, and the servants were bored. Seeing Su Qi, they became more cordial, all coming forward to chat with her, especially after what had happened the previous day.
"Don't worry. As the saying goes, where there's life, there's hope. Huo Tingyun is still alive, so what is there to worry about?"
Su Qi said with a smile and entered the hall.
Li Caiyi was sitting on the living room sofa, doing something. Hearing Su Qi enter, she put down what she was holding and walked towards Su Qi. "Sister Su Qi, how do you have time to visit? Tingyun has been emotionally unstable these past few days. You're pregnant, so you should go home and rest. Come back to visit Tingyun after he's more stable."
"It's fine. I'm not here for Tingyun today; I'm here to see you." Su Qi glanced out the floor-to-ceiling window of the hall. The ginkgo trees outside had shed their leaves, their bare branches looking bleak.
"Shall we go for a walk outside?"
"Okay!"
Li Caiyi seemed to sense that Su Qi had something to say and readily agreed, following Su Qi out of the Huo residence. Li Caiyi supported Su Qi, and they walked along a small path towards the garden.
The high walls of the villa blocked most of the cold wind. There was no breeze, but it was still a bit chilly.
Since Qin Xue moved into the temple, all the flowers in the garden had been moved into a greenhouse for care. The flowerbeds were bare, without weeds, but also without the usual vibrant colors. "Sister Su Qi, how have you been lately? I heard you urgently needed money."
Seeing Su Qi remain silent, Li Caiyi spoke first.
"I'm fine, but you don't need to worry about this. I have my ways... Caiyi, do you know the Thirty-Six Stratagems?"
"Thirty-Six Stratagems? No, I haven't read much. I don't know what you're talking about."
Li Caiyi shook her head. She hadn't read books and didn't understand what Su Qi was saying.
"Sister Su Qi, if you have something to say, you can just tell me directly. If I know anything, I'll tell you."
Since Li Caiyi said so, Su Qi decided not to beat around the bush. She stopped walking, looked intently at Li Caiyi, and said, "Then I'll be direct. You're not Huo Tingyun's white moonlight, are you?"
Li Caiyi's heart skipped a beat. She looked up at Su Qi, thinking Su Qi was testing her. But Su Qi's eyes seemed to see right through her. Li Caiyi, already guilty, couldn't help but show her fear under Su Qi's gaze.
"Sister Su Qi, what nonsense are you talking about? How could I not be Tingyun's white moonlight? Who else could it be..."
"Don't lie to me. I've found everything out. It must be that person who arranged for you to be by Huo Tingyun's side, right?"
Su Qi said calmly, as if she were gossiping rather than exposing a lie.
Li Caiyi bit her lower lip tightly, trying to control her inner panic. However, when she spoke, she couldn't help but stammer. After just a few words, Li Caiyi lost her composure.
"Sister Su, please don't say any more. Just tell me what you want to say. There are some things I can't tell you too much about. I owe someone a favor, so I can't speak to you or admit it. But if you want to say it, I'll listen!"
Li Caiyi almost knelt down.
That man was her savior, her second parent.
If that man hadn't appeared, she would have succumbed to her mounting debts long ago!
Returning indoors from the back garden, Su Qi felt a bit chilled and sneezed a few times. Wiping her nose with a tissue, she walked towards Huo Tingyun's bedroom.
She had been to the old man's room countless times; it was too familiar. She could find her way to where the old man used to live even with her eyes closed.
Standing at the door, which was unlocked, Su Qi turned the handle and gently opened it.
Li Caiyi had said that Huo Tingyun was blind. Since his discharge from the hospital and return to the Huo residence, his emotions had been unstable. Doctors were now staying at the Huo house to take care of him, but Huo Tingyun had not allowed anyone into his room lately.