Chapter 584: Chapter 584: The Scent on Mrs. Bai

“Mrs. Bai.”

“She was acting strange today, constantly causing trouble for my mom and me, deliberately or not.”

Lin Zhiyi spoke in a low voice.

There was only one road from the ancestral hall, so there were quite a few people at the time.

It was the perfect opportunity to make a move.

But without concrete evidence, even if Lin Zhiyi had suspicions, she couldn’t confront Yang Jingwei.

Hearing this, Gong Chen squeezed her shoulder, signaling her to calm down.

He reassured her, “I’ve already asked Chen Jin to review the surveillance footage.”

“Surveillance? When was surveillance installed in the ancestral hall?”

Lin Zhiyi remembered the hall as the only place in the Gong Family residence without surveillance.

Gong Chen smiled shrewdly, “Recently, we’ve had many incidents. It’s a precautionary measure.”

Soon, Chen Jin sent over the footage.

Lin Zhiyi didn’t even have time to voice her earlier concerns and huddled over the phone.

Gong Shiyan and Ren Xiya also moved closer.

The footage was focused right on the road leading to the ancestral hall, capturing everything clearly.

As the crowd dispersed, Lin Zhiyi and Liu He appeared on camera.

But Yang Jingwei wasn’t directly behind them; there was another person between them.

Unless she could extend her limbs, she couldn’t have possibly reached Liu He.

Until Liu He fell down the steps, Yang Jingwei didn’t move forward.

The few of them exchanged glances.

Could it really be just a misunderstanding?

Yet Lin Zhiyi felt she had overlooked something.

She looked at Gong Chen, “Can you replay from the entrance?”

Gong Chen nodded and dragged the progress bar to an earlier point.

Lin Zhiyi anxiously leaned closer, Gong Chen held her hand.

“Don’t rush.”

“Alright.”

Lin Zhiyi took a deep breath and focused more intently.

She really did notice something amiss.

“Stop!”

“Here.”

When Ren Xiya and Gong Yao argued in the hall, everyone’s attention was drawn.

Except Yang Jingwei, who looked elsewhere.

Lin Zhiyi explained, “She was observing her surroundings and finally noticed the camera; that’s why she intentionally kept her distance from my mom before making a move.”

The three of them were silent for a moment.

Ren Xiya remarked calmly, “I understand your urgency, but this only shows she saw the camera. After that, she took no action, it’s not even indirect evidence.”

“…”

Lin Zhiyi bit her lip until a row of teeth marks appeared.

Despite having to concede to Ren Xiya’s point.

But watching Yang Jingwei’s gaze on the surveillance, she was sure it was related to her.

As her thoughts were in disarray, Gong Chen repeatedly scanned the same segment of footage.

“It’s not entirely unrelated.”

Lin Zhiyi looked up sharply, “What did you find?”

“I had the camera installed, so I know its angle clearly. Yang Jingwei was probably studying the angle.”

“From this perspective, to stay within frame yet make a move, one would stand in a diagonal line with those ahead, exploiting the blind spot.”

“Going down the steps, we can clearly see her face, proving she’s one person away from your mom.”

“But we can’t see what she’s doing.”

After analysis, Gong Chen held up his phone and repeatedly played the clip of Yang Jingwei descending the steps.

Because of the convenient obstruction, only her head was visible, obscuring her actions entirely.

Ren Xiya sighed lightly, dampening spirits, “If it’s unseen, there’s no evidence. She’s likely banking on that; even if confronted, she can claim it was impossible to reach the Second Madam.”

Lin Zhiyi’s heart constricted.

Indeed.

Unless Yang Jingwei could harm Liu He from a distance, what they’re saying doesn’t amount to speculation.

From a distance…

Suddenly, Lin Zhiyi thought of something.

“Who says you can’t cause harm from afar?”

“What do you mean?” Ren Xiya asked back.

Lin Zhiyi quickly walked to Ren Xiya’s side and bumped her hard.

Unexpectedly, she was pushed uncontrollably towards Gong Shiyan on the other side.

Immediately, everyone understood.

Lin Zhiyi explained, “Last time at the hospital, I bumped into Mrs. Bai and Miss Bai, they tried to use this method to knock into my mom, but I stepped between.”

“When descending stairs crowdedly, accidental collisions often go unnoticed.”

Ren Xiya challenged, “But wouldn’t the person pushing your mom notice anything?”

Lin Zhiyi couldn’t answer.

Could Yang Jingwei have someone inside the Gong residence?

Gong Chen stared at the frozen frame, “Given Second Brother’s current status, who would dare admit? Without confession, it’s deemed an accident.”

Lin Zhiyi looked at Gong Chen in confusion.

He navigated the screen, “The person in the middle slowed down a couple of steps, then your mom fell, likely from a foot being stepped on or kicked. While others checked on her, they quickly moved aside.”

Lin Zhiyi watched intently for a few seconds and nodded assuredly.

“There was a delay; there must be something off.”

Gong Chen sent the screenshot to Chen Jin.

“Bring her over.”

“Yes.”

After sending the message, Gong Chen turned to Gong Shiyan.

“Second Brother, has Zhiyi’s mom ever mentioned Mrs. Bai?”

After calming down, Gong Shiyan recalled carefully.

“She complained once or twice about trivial matters, but no major grievances. Why would Mrs. Bai do this?”

No major grievances?

Lin Zhiyi suddenly thought of the woman resembling her next to Bai Zhengxian.

Could it be…?

Just as she was about to speak, Gong Chen gripped her shoulder more tightly.

She looked at him in surprise.

Gong Chen stared and paused, continuing, “Has Zhiyi’s mom behaved unusually recently?”

“No…”

Gong Shiyan started to shake his head, then paused.

“She spaced out over a bottle of perfume, mumbling about something. When I asked, she just shook her head.”

“Perfume? Could it be an old bottle?” Lin Zhiyi pressed on.

“Yes, it doesn’t bear any label, but the bottom seems etched. Usually, Xiao He cherishes this perfume, not sparing any for herself. Once she got pregnant, she became scent-sensitive and gave all perfumes to Zhiyi, except for this bottle.”

Mentioning the perfume.

Lin Zhiyi suddenly recalled that familiar orchid scent.

“Right, it’s that scent. No wonder it seemed familiar.”

“What scent?” Ren Xiya was bewildered.

“I…”

Just as Lin Zhiyi was about to explain, a doctor emerged from the emergency room.

“Second Young Master, Third Young Master, we’ve conducted a thorough examination. Fortunately, the layers of winter clothing helped, and the Second Madam heeded the doctor’s advice to maintain moderate exercise, so the baby is fine.”

Lin Zhiyi’s worries finally settled.

Gong Shiyan asked urgently, “How is my wife now?”

“She’s awake. You can go in now.”

The doctor pointed to the ward.

Gong Shiyan couldn’t wait to enter.

Lin Zhiyi and the others followed closely.

At the time, Liu He leaned against the bedboard, pallor reflecting her close call.

She clutched Gong Shiyan’s hand tightly, “I was terrified; thankfully, the child is unharmed.”

“It’s over now.” Gong Shiyan comforted her, gently asking, “Do you remember how you fell?”

“I don’t remember, my attention was on the stairs, I just felt a sharp pain beneath my foot, then I stumbled.”

Liu He, still shaken, couldn’t recall clearly.

During their conversation, Chen Jin brought in the person from the footage.

Upon seeing Liu He, the woman’s lips quivered, “No, it wasn’t me, it was unintentional. Someone stepped on my foot, and in my panic, I accidentally stepped on the Second Madam again.”

Lin Zhiyi glanced at Gong Chen, their assumptions seemingly correct.

She continued, “The orchid scent, I smelled it on Mrs. Bai.”

The woman suddenly remembered something, loudly proclaiming, “Yes, yes, Mrs. Bai wore a distinctive orchid scent. Someone asked about it today, and Miss Bai said Mrs. Bai concocted it herself.”