Chapter 93: Zhi Qi’s Suspicion
The thought of defying fate suddenly triggered a memory in Fang Xiaocao’s mind—
A small, cool, and confident figure appeared in her thoughts.
It was Zhi Qi when she was a child!
Fang Xiaocao was shocked to realize—wasn’t Zhi Qi the perfect example of someone who had rewritten their own destiny?
That year—
Zhi Qi had secretly played with the orphanage director’s phone and suddenly recalled her real identity.
She was Zhi Qi, the long-lost heiress of the Zhi family in Tang City.
Without hesitation, she had skillfully dialed her parents’ number and told them the orphanage’s location.
Memories surged through Fang Xiaocao’s mind like a tidal wave, stirring her emotions.
“Could it be her?”
Fang Xiaocao lowered her head and muttered to herself.
“Xiaocao, what’s wrong?”
Yun Luoshu noticed her odd behavior and asked with concern.
“I’m fine.”
“I just remembered something.”
Hearing the care in Yun Luoshu’s voice, Fang Xiaocao forced a smile.
“Luoshu, did Wanqing and Zhi Qi return together?”
She was making one last effort to convince herself.
She didn’t want to believe that her childhood friend, who had always protected her, would betray her for personal gain.
“Yes, they came back together.”
Yun Luoshu nodded.
Fang Xiaocao felt a flicker of hope.
“Were both of them carrying firewood?”
She asked again.
“No.”
“Wanqing was carrying firewood, but Zhi Qi’s hands were empty.”
Yun Luoshu shook his head.
At those words, Fang Xiaocao’s heart sank once more.
Someone who left to collect firewood had returned empty-handed.
Meanwhile, the one who supposedly went to relieve herself had come back carrying wood.
That was suspicious.
“Who left first—Wanqing or Zhi Qi?”
Fang Xiaocao’s voice was heavy.
“Wanqing!”
Yun Luoshu answered without hesitation.
“Just as I thought…”
Fang Xiaocao leaned weakly against the tree, muttering to herself.
All signs pointed to Zhi Qi.
Now, Fang Xiaocao was almost certain—
The person who had used the newspaper to set her up was Zhi Qi.
Since Wanqing had left first, she had no way of knowing that Zhi Qi had later gone out under the pretense of collecting firewood.
That meant Wanqing likely really just went to the restroom.
After finishing, she saw that there wasn’t much firewood at camp, so she picked up some on her way back.
At that moment, she happened to run into Zhi Qi, who was just returning from tracking Fang Xiaocao and Aquarius.
So they came back together.
Seeing Wanqing carrying firewood, Zhi Qi likely decided she didn’t need to pick up any herself.
And that was the slip-up that allowed Fang Xiaocao to piece everything together.
Fang Xiaocao’s fingers clenched tightly.
“I’m going to the restroom again.”
After a long pause, she spoke to Yun Luoshu.
“Want me to go with you?”
Yun Luoshu asked.
“No need. I’ll have Aquarius come with me.”
Fang Xiaocao forced a smile.
“Aquarius, come with me.”
She called out.
“Xiaocao, didn’t you just go?”
Wanqing asked, puzzled.
The others also turned to look at her curiously.
“I have an upset stomach. Might’ve caught a chill.”
Fang Xiaocao made up an excuse.
“I have medicine—do you want some?”
Wanqing offered.
“I’ll take it when I get back.”
Fang Xiaocao waved a hand before clutching her stomach and running into the trees.
Seeing this, Aquarius quickly followed.
Once out of sight, Fang Xiaocao lowered her voice.
“Aquarius, see if we’re being followed.”
“Understood!”
Aquarius immediately slowed her pace and subtly observed their surroundings.
After walking about a kilometer, Fang Xiaocao stopped.
“Anyone following?”
She asked in a low voice.
“At first, yes.”
“Now, no.”
Aquarius answered firmly.
Fang Xiaocao’s heart clenched.
“Do you know who it was?”
“The person was very cautious. As soon as they noticed I was paying attention, they left.”
“But I can confirm—it was a woman, and she came from our camp.”
Aquarius’s voice was serious.
Fang Xiaocao sighed.
It was probably Zhi Qi.
“Aquarius, keep watch for me.”
She ordered.
“Yes!”
Aquarius leaped onto a nearby tree, scanning the area with her gun raised.
Fang Xiaocao took out her phone and messaged Hot Noodles.
“Do you think it could be Zhi Qi?”
“In your timeline, did Zhi Qi ever show signs of knowing things in advance?”
She sent two messages in quick succession.
【Hot Noodles: You suspect Zhi Qi?】
【Hot Noodles: Why?】
Clearly, just like Fang Xiaocao, Hot Noodles had trusted Zhi Qi and was reluctant to believe she could be the traitor.
“I think she’s very suspicious.”
Fang Xiaocao replied and proceeded to detail her reasoning in a long message.
After reading it, Hot Noodles went silent for a long time.
“Do you think my analysis makes sense?”
Seeing no response, Fang Xiaocao asked again.
【Hot Noodles: I have to admit—you convinced me.】
A long time later, that message finally came.
“Sigh…”
Fang Xiaocao let out a helpless sigh.
“Why didn’t you try to defend Zhi Qi?”
“I was waiting for you to convince me otherwise.”
“To make me doubt my suspicions.”
Her fingers moved swiftly as she typed and sent the message.
【Hot Noodles: I know.】
【Hot Noodles: But your reasoning makes too much sense—I can’t let you lie to yourself.】
“Heh…”
Fang Xiaocao chuckled bitterly.
“Couldn’t you have lied to me just a little?”
She sent the message.
【Hot Noodles: I have to prioritize our safety. I know you too well—if I defended Zhi Qi, you’d latch onto it as an excuse to let your guard down.】
“Sigh…”
“Talking to you feels like being under constant surveillance—no privacy at all.”
Fang Xiaocao sighed as she typed.
【Hot Noodles: We are the same person—what privacy could there be?】
“Let’s not talk about that now.”
“Think carefully—after leaving the mountain, did Zhi Qi ever do anything suspicious?”
She asked.
“Look back—did she ever show signs of knowing things in advance?”
Fang Xiaocao pressed further.
【Hot Noodles: The more I think about it, the more suspicious Zhi Qi seems.】
【Hot Noodles: I hope I’m not just being influenced by your message and jumping to conclusions.】
【Hot Noodles: But now that I’m reviewing everything, Zhi Qi’s actions had many oddities.】
【Hot Noodles: After taking over the Zhi Corporation, she kept expanding it rapidly. Every investment she made was a huge success—she never failed once.】
(End of Chapter 93)
