The next day, when Claire comes to the college, she finds something unusual.
Most of the students hide from her as if she were a monster.
And in class, there is no one around her except Ling.
Claire is confused.
After school, Claire knows the truth.
She hears that Qi's family suddenly went bankrupt.
Of course, the students think Claire got back at her. They didn't expect Claire to be so cruel.
"This woman is very cruel."
"She's the wife of Master Howard. Don't associate with her in the future."
"Although Qi is a bit excessive, she should not retaliate against her family."
When Claire hears it, she is surprised.
Did Leo do it?
Claire goes home and asks Leo, "I want to ask you something!"
Leo sits on the sofa and glances at Claire. He lights a cigarette. "Say it."
"They said I did it, but I didn't. Did you do it?"
Leo spits out a bunch of white smoke. He doesn't answer.
"It's none of your business."
Claire says, "well, it's none of my business. You mentioned my father last night. How is he doing?"
Leo obviously didn't expect Claire to suddenly change the subject.
He frowns. "You belong to Howard Family now."
"I'm his daughter anyway. I need to know about him."
"Then you shouldn't ask me. You should ask your stepmother." Leo takes a smoke and Claire coughs.
"She's not my mother. I don't admit it. You're my husband. Can't you tell me? Why keep it from me?" Claire has some complaints.
Leo snuffs out the cigarette and stands up.
"I don't know about your father, and I won't tell you if I know. Are you satisfied with this answer?" Leo's tone is cold again.
Claire clenches her teeth and says nothing.
Leo, you son of a bitch!
When Claire and Leo are talking in the living room, Ling has already entered Leo's study.
He sits in the chair that Leo used to sit in. He turns over the papers on the desk. Most of them are company documents, and Ling feels bored.
Even on Leo's bookshelf, there are all books about company management, not even a literary work. Ling thinks the study is an office.
Ling opens a cupboard beside the desk. There he finds the only thing worth playing in the study.
It's a simple jade pendant. It's elegant and ancient and should be priceless.
But Ling doesn't care about its price. He only thinks the jade pendant is pretty, so he can't help wearing it on his neck.
The warm jade sticks to his chest. He feels very comfortable.
"I didn't expect that my brother has these things!" Ling plays with the jade pendant and says to himself.
Just as he is thinking about it, footsteps come from the stairs.
Ling shivers. He almost jumps up from the chair and tries to run out of the door.
But just as he opens the door, Ling sees Leo's cold face.
"Didn't I tell you not to enter my study without my permission?" Leo frowns.
Ling is embarrassed. He nods. "I'm bored and just looking around. Why are you so nervous?"
Leo ignores him and waves.
Ling walks out with a sigh of relief.
As he goes downstairs, he sees Claire watching TV and ignoring him.
"What's the matter?" Ling feels puzzled and looks at the TV screen.
A familiar face appears in the news broadcast. It is Qi, the president of the student union. He is shocked when he sees the headline.
"A family business in this city went bankrupt, and the eldest daughter was suspected of suffering and committing suicide." Ling reads the headline word by word.
"The news has been broadcast. It must be true. But Qi looks shameless. She actually killed herself."
Claire is a little sorry after the shock.
Although Qi and she had conflicts and she always embarrassed Claire, she should not die.
Claire hopes that Leo didn't bankrupt her family, or she will feel guilty.
Claire sighs at her suicide.
"Sister in law, you are so kind. She really shouldn't have died. It seems that she can't stand the blow." Ling is also a little sorry.
"Well, it's none of our business." Claire turns off the TV and looks back at Ling.
But soon Claire's eyes change. She finds a jade pendant on Ling's body.
It's not the most important. She feels that the jade pendant is similar to the one she has lost before. But how could it be on Ling?
Ling also notices the confusion in Claire's eyes. "What's the matter?"
This is her jade pendant...