Chapter 31: The Vanishing Ring

The night deepened, the moonlight grew thin, and He Lingfeng drove at top speed to Quan Duoduo’s residence.

He stood before the tightly shut door, his heart a tangle of anxiety and unease, and pounded on the wood incessantly.

"Duoduo, open the door! It’s me, Lingfeng!" His voice echoed through the silent night.

Again and again, He Lingfeng waited at the entrance, burning with impatience. After a few moments, a faint sound finally came from within, followed by the slow clicking of the door lock.

He Lingfeng felt a surge of relief and pushed the door open, only to find the room swallowed by absolute darkness.

Quan Duoduo stood by the door, her red camisole dress appearing stark and glaring under the faint moonlight. Her hair was disheveled, and her face was streaked with tears.

Seeing this, He Lingfeng’s heart tightened. He squeezed into the room, shut the door, and pulled her into his arms.

"Duoduo, I beg you, stop this," He Lingfeng whispered, holding her tightly, his voice trembling with urgency.

"Don't touch me..."

Quan Duoduo struggled in his embrace for a moment, but eventually gave up and leaned against him. Her emotions gradually steadied, though the confusion in her eyes remained.

"At a time like this, why are you still here?" Her voice shook with bewilderment.

He Lingfeng did not answer, instead reaching out to her. "Duoduo, give it to me now. With everything that has happened, we are in the center of a storm. We don’t have that kind of money to give to Lin Ou."

Quan Duoduo looked at him, utterly perplexed. She shook her head and asked, "What are you talking about? Give you what? I... I don't understand."

"The ring!" He Lingfeng’s voice was low and firm, a flash of anger crossing his eyes. "I handed the ring to you myself yesterday. Why are you denying it?"

At these words, Quan Duoduo looked even more confused. She pushed him away, her face filled with shock and disbelief. "The ring? What ring? Lingfeng, have you lost your mind? When did you give me a ring yesterday?"

He Lingfeng felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He collapsed onto the sofa, staring blankly ahead as images of the previous day flashed through his mind.

"No... that’s impossible!" he muttered to himself. "Duoduo, are you... are you really telling me you know nothing about this?"

Watching his broken state, Quan Duoduo knelt down before him. "Lingfeng, what on earth happened? Tell me! I... I really have no idea."

He Lingfeng took a deep breath, slowly lifted his head, and looked at her. "Yesterday at the jewelry exhibition, when I pushed open the door, I saw someone wearing a mask and dressed exactly like you. I thought it was you... but it seems we have been set up."

Quan Duoduo’s face turned paper-white. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Set up? By whom? Lingfeng, what... what is really going on?"

He Lingfeng shook his head, his eyes full of confusion and helplessness. "I don't know, but one thing is certain: we must find that ring as soon as possible. Otherwise, not only will I lose all my savings, but I will be dragged into an unpredictable disaster."

A wave of overwhelming fear surged in Quan Duoduo’s heart. She gripped his hand tightly, her voice choked with tears. "Why? Why would someone suddenly plot against you and impersonate me?"

"Could it be her?" Quan Duoduo murmured into the darkness.

"Who?" A sense of dread welled up within He Lingfeng.

"It must be Yun Qiuya. Think about it—who benefits from the loss of that diamond ring?"

"Impossible. She is practically a living corpse. I only married her to fulfill a mission. Who would marry a paralyzed woman in the prime of her youth?"

He Lingfeng’s words were ground out through his teeth, and the terrified expression on his face betrayed the panic in his heart.

"No, I have to go see for myself!"

With that, he released her and hurried toward the door.

"Lingfeng..."