CEO's Ugly Flash-Marriage Wife Hides So Many Identities
Chapter 72: Investigating the Truth

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Investigating the Truth

Qiao Rui had taken a taxi directly to the Tea Factory.

She had thought to be cautious this time around at Tea Mountain, especially since she and Muyu had been drugged the day before—a deed she was sure involved someone from the Tea Factory.

She had pondered the others’ motives but couldn’t figure them out.

Sinan had suddenly become unreachable, which forced Qiao Rui to consider that this issue might have started because of him and consequently affected both her and Muyu.

The car stopped outside the Tea Factory, and the driver advised her, "Miss, there are hardly any people around here; you should be very careful, being a beautiful young lady on your own."

"Thank you for the reminder." Qiao Rui took the driver’s phone number and got out of the car.

She arrived at the entrance of the Tea Factory where the security guards, two men in their fifties, greeted her warmly, "Hello, Miss Rui, why have you come by yourself?"

"I came to ask, did Mr. Huo Sinan come here last night?" Qiao Rui thought it best to start inquiring.

"Oh, Mr. Huo? Yes, he came. He was here around eleven-thirty last night and left about twelve-thirty," the security guard replied and, out of concern, asked, "What’s the matter, Miss Rui? Is there something wrong with Mr. Huo?"

Qiao Rui responded with a question of her own, "When they returned, did they meet with Factory Manager Xu? Was there any dispute?"

Both security guards seemed hesitant.

Qiao Rui pressed on, "From your expressions, it seems Mr. Huo did have a conflict with someone?"

Somewhat embarrassed, the guard nodded. "Yes, there was a brief argument, but we don’t know what about. All we heard was the noise from inside, as it was late at night."

"How long did the argument last?" asked Qiao Rui.

"Maybe five or six minutes," another guard intervened. "It wasn’t very long. Mr. Huo was the one raising his voice. Our factory manager didn’t say much. When he left, Mr. Huo looked quite upset, but the factory manager saw him off."

Qiao Rui observed the expressions of the guards and sensed that they weren’t lying.

She nodded slightly, "Did Factory Manager Xu leave then, too?"

"Right after him, more or less at the same time."

Qiao Rui wondered, if they left together, did Factory Manager Xu have any opportunity to act against Huo Sinan?

"Has anyone else returned to the Tea Factory afterwards?" she asked further.

"No, no one came back."

"And usually at night, is there someone on duty here?"

"Yes, Sister Peng is on duty."

"Sister Peng?" Qiao Rui thought of the old woman who roasted the tea. "Is it the old lady who roasts the tea?"

"Yes, she’s on night duty, lives here at the factory, and rarely rests," the guard explained. "She’s quite unfortunate; her child died, and it’s tough for her to go back home."

"Her kid died?" Qiao Rui was surprised. "How did it happen?"

Just then, a car stopped at the entrance, and Factory Manager Xu’s voice could be heard, "Hey, isn’t that Miss Rui? What are you doing here?"

Qiao Rui turned around and saw Factory Manager Xu stepping out of his car, his gaze still one of amazement as he assessed her from top to bottom, smiling, "It really is Miss Rui. I thought I was mistaken."

Qiao Rui met Factory Manager Xu’s gaze, staring into his eyes, she asked, "Factory Manager Xu, do you have any news on Mr. Huo Sinan?"

"Mr. Huo?" Factory Manager Xu startled slightly, looking surprised. "What happened to him? He was here last night, scolded me a bit, then left."

His reaction seemed genuinely surprised, not like he was lying.

But sometimes, people are skilled actors.

Qiao Rui couldn’t determine whether he was lying or not, but she was certain that Factory Manager Xu was not as simple and honest as he appeared.

"When did he leave?" Qiao Rui asked again, mainly to confirm if it matched the time mentioned by the guards.

"He came around eleven-thirty last night with Mr. Lei and left at twelve-thirty, complaining about my poor management of the Tea Factory. Recently, there have been some issues, and some people have been causing trouble, which made Mr. Huo very angry," Factory Manager Xu explained, shaking his head with a sigh. "The main responsibility is mine; if these problems hadn’t occurred, it might not have come to this."

"Factory Manager Xu, can I know what happened?" Qiao Rui still wanted to find some clues.

"It’s nothing secretive; someone wants to compete with me for managing the factory for Mr. Huo and used some underhanded methods."

"Unfair competition?" asked Qiao Rui.

"That’s about it," Factory Manager Xu smiled. "I hope you don’t mock me, but our former deputy factory manager, whom I fired, has been holding a grudge and causing me trouble."

"Is that so?" Qiao Rui listened to Factory Manager Xu’s words but didn’t quite believe him.

"Yes, it’s just our internal affairs. By the way, you mentioned Mr. Huo, what exactly happened? Why are you looking for Mr. Huo here?"

"He and Mr. Lei have disappeared, and I can’t get in touch with them," Qiao Rui’s gaze was fixed on Factory Manager Xu, careful not to miss any change in his facial expressions.

After hearing this, Factory Manager Xu frowned. "Is that so? That’s serious."

Qiao Rui kept her composure and continued, "I was thinking of calling the police, but before doing that, I wanted to ask you if you knew anything specific."

"I don’t know; suddenly not being able to reach him is strange."

Qiao Rui still calmly watched his reactions; Factory Manager Xu seemed to instantly assume that something bad had happened to Huo Sinan.

It wasn’t a typical reaction.

Qiao Rui felt something was off.

She coldly looked at Factory Manager Xu and said lightly, "Factory Manager Xu, Mr. Huo’s disappearance wouldn’t happen to be related to you, would it?"

"Miss Rui is joking, surely you’re not suspecting that I kidnapped Mr. Huo? Even if I were bold, I wouldn’t lay a hand on my own boss. It wouldn’t benefit me at all."

"Then how did Factory Manager Xu come to think that Mr. Huo was kidnapped?" Qiao Rui countered.

"No! I didn’t say Mr. Huo was kidnapped," Factory Manager Xu replied. "Look, Miss Rui, now that you mention it, I might have an idea who it could involve. Why don’t you get in my car, and I’ll take you there?"

He gestured for Qiao Rui to get into the car, but she just looked down at the man’s hands—rough, robust, not the kind a managerial person would usually possess.

He seemed skilled in martial arts, with thick knuckles, likely from long-term boxing.

Before Qiao Rui could respond, a deep male voice sounded, "Miss Rui, you should come in my car. Factory Manager Xu can lead the way, and we’ll go together to see where Huo Sinan might be."

Qiao Rui turned to see Pei Liyan’s eyes, which shone like stars.

Startled, she hadn’t expected Pei Liyan to follow.

Pei Liyan sat in the car, his gaze fixed on Qiao Rui’s face, and he spoke unequivocally, "Get in the car!"