Chapter 275 - 274: Something’s Not Right

Chapter 275: Chapter 274: Something’s Not Right

There were five rooms in total on the third floor. None were particularly large, and their layouts were all similar. Only the south-facing, sunny room was slightly more spacious and came with a private bathroom.

"I saved this room for my son and daughter-in-law. It’s a shame. Such a nice room, and they’ve never stayed in it once." Aunt Liu sighed. "You two can stay here tonight. His uncle can stay next door."

Gu Qingyin naturally had no objections and politely thanked her again.

Aunt Liu deftly wiped away the dust and took a quilt out of the closet. It was bright red, like a wedding quilt.

Gu Qingyin raised an eyebrow but said nothing. The host herself didn’t see any issue with it. If they, as guests, were to start picking and choosing, it would be a bit ungracious.

After all, in the countryside, wedding quilts are the best quilts one has, brought out only for welcome guests.

While making the bed, Aunt Liu explained, "This quilt was also for my son and daughter-in-law. They never came back, so it’s never been used. It’s brand new."

Gu Qingyin blinked and said jokingly, "Well, aren’t we lucky."

Aunt Liu laughed heartily as well. "It’s no problem. It’s more of a waste to let such a nice quilt sit in storage."

Meanwhile, Huo Xingchen had followed Niu Niu to her secret base—a children’s playroom built to look like a loft, with a hidden door that was only a meter high.

Pushing the door open, they found the inside decorated with string lights. There was a ball pit, an indoor slide, a wall covered in dolls, and a small vanity for changing the dolls’ outfits.

Huo Xingchen was a little surprised. ’A playroom... I had one when I was little, and it was much bigger than this. But this is the countryside. To have a separate paradise made just for a child... all you can say is that the person who built this house was very forward-thinking and absolutely doted on the child.’

’After all, a whole wall of dolls like this couldn’t have been cheap.’

"Do you see a doll you like? I can give you one," Niu Niu offered generously.

Huo Xingchen politely declined, then looked around and suddenly asked, "How do you get the dolls from the top?"

Niu Niu froze for a second, her gaze following his pointing finger.

The dolls on the highest shelf were nearly touching the ceiling, definitely too high for a child to reach.

Huo Xingchen had expected to see a small ladder for children, but a glance around the room revealed nothing of the sort.

"Uh... Grandpa and Grandma help me get them down, I think." Niu Niu herself didn’t seem sure. "I haven’t played with the ones up there in a long time."

Huo Xingchen grew more confused. "Are there any other doors?" He pointed to the one they had used. "That door is so small. It must be hard for them to get through."

"There probably is." Niu Niu bit her nails, looking anxious. "There has to be. Otherwise, how did those dolls get up there? Grandpa and Grandma must have put them there."

Huo Xingchen said no more. He paced around the room, confirming there were no other exits. But looking at Niu Niu, he didn’t have the heart to press her further.

’She looks just as confused as I am. She probably doesn’t know much anyway.’

Huo Xingchen sighed to himself, walked over, and took Niu Niu’s hand. "Let’s head back for now. We can come play again tomorrow. It’s getting late; it’s time to sleep."

Niu Niu was still lost in her thoughts and didn’t answer, but she obediently allowed him to lead her out by the hand.

Once they were outside the playroom, Niu Niu stopped, blinked, and then looked at Huo Xingchen as if nothing had happened, her smile radiant. "Let me show you my room! It’s super pretty!"

Huo Xingchen hesitated for a moment before following her.

After making the bed, Gu Qingyin and Aunt Liu found the two children on the second floor.

Gu Qingyin peeked in from the doorway, unable to hide her surprise. "This is Niu Niu’s bedroom?"

The bedroom was decorated in an over-the-top, pink-and-white, European princess style.

"Yes," Aunt Liu said, looking a little embarrassed. "Niu Niu’s father spoils her. He got her whatever she wanted."

Gu Qingyin smiled and nodded.

’It’s not that you can’t have this kind of decor in a country home, but compared to the other rooms, the style of this one was just too jarring.’

Gu Qingyin clicked her tongue. ’Maybe I’m just being overly sensitive. It’s not strange for doting parents to do extravagant things for their children.’

When she went back downstairs, the three men had already laid out a table of food—mostly cold dishes and fried snacks—and had even opened a bottle of white liquor.

Gu Qingyin put a hand to her forehead. "What is all this?"

Village Chief Liu boomed with laughter. "You’ve been on the road all day! A late-night snack and a little drink will help you sleep soundly and shake off the fatigue."

Huo Yunjing nodded as well. "It’s fine. We’ll just have a little."

"Don’t worry, we won’t overdo it," Master Huo added calmly.

Gu Qingyin glanced at the two of them and, confirming they had it under control, said no more. "Well, I’m going to take Xingchen upstairs to bed."

"Alright," Huo Yunjing and Master Huo said in unison, then exchanged a glance.

Two seconds later, Master Huo was the first to look away, avoiding Huo Yunjing’s displeased gaze.

Village Chief Liu’s expression turned a bit strange at the sight, but he didn’t ask any questions, simply urging the two men to eat and drink.

Gu Qingyin took Huo Xingchen upstairs. Aunt Liu and Niu Niu were also heading to bed. As they were about to part ways on the second floor, Niu Niu even tried to get Huo Xingchen to sleep with her.

Gu Qingyin, of course, refused. With the situation still so uncertain, how could she possibly feel safe letting Huo Xingchen out of her sight for a whole night?

Niu Niu was a little unhappy about being rejected, but she was sensible enough not to insist and followed her grandmother back to her room to get ready for bed.

Once mother and son were upstairs, they shared what they had each discovered. It was all minor details, and even putting them together didn’t lead to any clear conclusion, except that something was definitely not right.

"Dad probably discovered something too. I just don’t know when he’ll be back up."

"Don’t worry about him," Gu Qingyin said, patting him. "Get some sleep for now. Later tonight, we’ll go check out the dog kennel."

By "later tonight," she naturally meant after everyone else in the house was asleep.

Huo Xingchen found the color of that quilt unsettling and didn’t want to use it. He took a disposable four-piece bedding set out of his storage bag and put it on the bed, only then feeling at ease enough to lie down and sleep.

Gu Qingyin had no intention of sleeping. She didn’t lie down, just leaned against the headboard to rest her eyes. She had planned to wait for Huo Yunjing to come upstairs, but as she rested, she drowsily drifted off into a very deep sleep.

She didn’t know how long she’d been asleep when she was suddenly jolted awake by a series of shrill rooster crows. Her eyes flew open.

Outside the window, the sky was already starting to lighten.

Gu Qingyin instinctively looked at Huo Xingchen in the bed and reached out to touch his forehead. His temperature was normal. She breathed a sigh of relief and called his name softly, but he didn’t respond after several tries.

Gu Qingyin’s expression changed. She threw back the covers, lifted Huo Xingchen into her arms, and pressed a Soul Stabilizing Talisman to his forehead.

After a long moment, Huo Xingchen’s eyes fluttered open. He stared blankly at Gu Qingyin for a few seconds before his lips parted. "Mom..."

Gu Qingyin closed her eyes and hugged him tightly. "You’re okay now."

But Huo Xingchen’s eyes suddenly flew wide. "Mom! Quick, you have to save Dad and Uncle Huo!"