Su Qingning stiffened and quickly looked up. Under the moonlight, an aged face appeared before her. She seemed afraid of him seeing her cry and quickly wiped away her tears.

"Uncle Zhong, what are you doing here?"

The person who appeared before her was, indeed, Deng Bingzhong.

He smiled. "I was just visiting a friend. On my way back, I heard someone crying. The voice sounded familiar, so I came to take a look. I didn't expect it to be you. What happened? What made you cry so bitterly?"

"No, it's nothing," Su Qingning said nonchalantly.

Despite her words, an uncontrollable vulnerability welled up in her heart as she faced this elder who had practically watched her grow up. After all these years, she had long since come to regard him as family. People often become inexplicably vulnerable when facing their own kin.

"What is it? Did you have a fight with Lin Xiao?" Uncle Zhong asked.

"No!" Su Qingning quickly denied. She knew Uncle Zhong was concerned about her, and she didn't want him to worry on her account.

"Oh, good. As long as nothing's wrong."

With that, Uncle Zhong sat down beside Su Qingning, keeping a distance of two or three meters between them.

"Uncle Zhong, why didn't you come to work yesterday?" Su Qingning asked curiously.

"I had something to attend to. I thought about calling to ask for a day off, but I was afraid you'd worry, so I kept quiet. You're not mad at me, are you?"

"Of course not. You've practically watched me grow up. How could I ever be mad at you?" Su Qingning said quickly.

Uncle Zhong gave her a kindly smile. "Qing Ning, there's something I want to say, but I'm not sure if I should."

"Uncle Zhong, please, just speak your mind."

"Alright, then I'll say it." Su Qingning nodded. "To be honest, you and Lin Xiao are not a good match. It's not that I dislike him; I just feel that there isn't a single thing about him, inside or out, that makes him worthy of you. Qing Ning, I've watched you grow up, and I've always felt that you deserve to marry someone better. I believe that's what your father would have wanted to see most of all. I'm being blunt, so please don't take it to heart."

Hearing him mention her father, the sorrow already in Su Qingning's heart intensified. She sighed softly.

Before tonight, Su Qingning had never considered marrying Lin Xiao a mistake. Although he was just a beggar with no power, status, or background, he treated her well enough. But the events of this evening had begun to shake her conviction. The thought of Chu Xiangxue becoming Lin Xiao's concubine, in particular, made a heavy weight settle in her chest.

"Uncle Zhong, I'm not angry. It's just… things are as they are. Let's just take it one step at a time."

Deng Bingzhong nodded. "By the way, Qing Ning, there's something I've been wanting to ask you."

"What is it, Uncle Zhong?"

"When your father passed away that year, I happened to be away handling some matters and didn't get to see him one last time. I heard he left something for you?" Deng Bingzhong asked nonchalantly.

"Something? No, he didn't leave me anything when he died. He only urged me to live a good life and to take care of my mother."

Deng Bingzhong's expression darkened. "Qing Ning, think carefully. This is extremely important to me."

Su Qingning looked at him with suspicion, wondering why he would suddenly bring this up. In the darkness, Deng Bingzhong's eyes were piercingly bright, glinting with a strange, eerie light.

He chuckled. "Qing Ning, don't overthink it. It's just that before your father passed, he suddenly told me one day that your family possessed some kind of treasure. He said that if he were no longer around, this treasure could help your family rise again. I had forgotten about it, but it suddenly came back to me today."

Su Qingning was taken aback. "A treasure to help us rise again? Uncle Zhong, my father never said anything like that to me."

"Think carefully. Did your father ever mention any maps, paintings, or anything of that sort?" Deng Bingzhong pressed, unwilling to give up.

Su Qingning was perplexed.

Deng Bingzhong continued, "If such an item truly exists, you and your mother wouldn't have to live such a hard life. What's more, the Su Corporation would be in the palm of your hand!"

"Uncle Zhong, did my father say what it was?" Su Qingning asked, her curiosity piqued.

"He didn't give specifics. Although your father trusted me, I suppose a treasure of that magnitude isn't something one shows easily. However, he did say it was some kind of map or the like."

"A map or something like it?" Su Qingning murmured, falling into deep thought. But no matter how hard she racked her brain, she couldn't think of anything.

"It seems your father never told you," Deng Bingzhong said with a hint of regret.

"Perhaps he didn't get the chance. After all, he was grievously injured before he died."

At the mention of this, Su Qingning's expression turned somber and bleak, a flash of pain crossing her eyes. Even though her father had been gone for three years, her mood would turn heavy whenever she recalled the day he passed. If Deng Bingzhong hadn't suddenly brought it up, she would have been unwilling to dredge up the past. It wasn't that she wanted to forget; she simply didn't dare to remember.

"Qing Ning, do you think your mother might know about this?" Deng Bingzhong suddenly asked.

Su Qingning shook her head. "I don't know, Uncle Zhong. She's never mentioned it to me. If there really were such a treasure, I imagine she would have brought it out by now. You know how miserable life has been for my mother and me since Father's death. If it weren't for your help, we would have been crushed by our bullies long ago."

"Let's not dwell on the past. Qing Ning, why don't you call your mother? Ask her if she knows anything."

"Uncle Zhong, is this item really so important?" Su Qingning asked.

"Of course. As I said, if your family truly possesses such a treasure, you and your mother's lives could change in an instant."

Su Qingning thought for a moment. "Alright then, I'll call and ask her."

Soon, the call connected.

"Ning'er, it's so late. Is something the matter?" her mother asked softly.

"Mom, when Dad passed away, did he ever tell you if our family had some great treasure?"

"Treasure? I've never heard of such a thing," her mother replied in surprise. "Why are you asking about this?"

"Oh, Uncle Zhong said he remembered Dad mentioning a valuable treasure, something like a map."

Her mother was silent for a moment, seemingly trying to recall something. Suddenly, she slapped her thigh. "Yes! I think there was a piece of calligraphy or a painting!"

Su Qingning gasped.

Just as she was about to speak, Deng Bingzhong snatched the phone from her hand.

"Sister-in-law, long time no see," Deng Bingzhong said with a malicious grin. "Qing Ning is with me now. If you don't want anything to happen to her, bring the painting to trade for her life!"

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