**********

CHAPTER 259

Several possibilities began entering Li Jing's mind. It was something else. It was as though her mind was opened to a world of possibilities.

There was one of if Hu Qi did not have that much reason to harm her mother but instead collaborated with the wicked Lin Xiulan just to make her disappear?

The second was the fact that they may have also been the ones pressuring her father to enforce the marriage.

The third was the fact that Lin Xiulan may not have had eyes set on the family's fortune if not that her mother was gone. So out of both ladies based on different scenario, both had a high ratio of wanting her mother gone.

Li Jing's mind flashed back to when Hu Qi first arrived and how her eyes had scanned everyone and stopped on her, letting her gaze linger on her neck.

The look she wore was that of a predatory one and it only took someone who was observant to have noticed it. To some others, she gave that look just to intimidate them and check everyone.

Unfortunately for her, Li Jing knew better and could see through her.

After some careful thought on the matter, Li Jing decided not to jump to a conclusion. True that both of them were die-hard suspects, that had not changed the fact that they could just be all bark and no bite.

They may be having evil intentions and could not still do anything or someone did as well.

Regardless of which was true and what was wrong, Li Jing knew that only time would tell. She would make her own investigations and only when she finds her mother would the truth finally be revealed.

She cast one long glance at the portrait before reaching up to touch it.

The moment she did that, she felt a certain chill run down her spine like someone with a freezing aura was there behind her watching her.

Swiftly she turned around but did not find or see anyone. She wanted to stay long but her instincts told her not to as there may be people watching her closely.

Quickly, while still scanning the environment, Li Jing took her phone and clicked on the camera then quickly took a picture of the portrait and left.

Just as she walked away, she turned several times to where she had the feeling that someone was indeed watching her but did not still find anyone.

In no time she had left there and quickly entered her room.

About a minute after she had gone, not too far from where the picture was located, opposite of the portrait were some big flower pots outlining the corridor where the portrait stood.

Soon a head popped out from behind the curtain at the back of the portrait and a man walked out. He took one look at the portrait firsts before letting his gaze trail where Li Jing had passed.

When he was sure no one was no longer there, he dusts the dust and sand from off his hand and walked away in another direction.

By the next day, Li Jing was already up and doing and ready to pack her bags to go back to Star Cross City.

Knock! Knock!

"Yes? Come in." The door pushed open revealing Alix in her usual head maid uniform. Behind her was another maid with a rolling tray, containing all of Li Jing's breakfast.

Li Jing lifted her head from what she was doing and saw them. "Oh, please do come in."

"Thank you ma."

They rolled in her breakfast and set it on her dining table. B y the time all was ready, Alix went to inform her from the bed chamber and she returned with a heart and stomach ready to be filled.

Truth was that by the time Li Jing returned to her room, she could not erase all that had happened and the thoughts or possibilities about her mother from her mind.

It was a good and bad thing that she took a photo of her mother. Good as she had access to it anytime she wanted to look at it and bad because she had not stopped staring at the picture in her phone and that had, in turn, caused her a sleepless night.

So she spent so much time thinking rather than sleeping and this morning she woke up with more burning hunger.

Immediately the sweet smell of omelette eggs with pancakes, fried eggs with veggies hit Li Jing's nostrils, she began to salivate.

She looked at her rich breakfast, thanked the maids and sat down to eat.

Later that morning, she had finished settling in and packing a few bags with her for travelling.

"Alix," Li Jing called out her name softly but got no response. "Alix?" she called out more loudly this time and got a response.

"Yes ma'am? You called."

"Yes, do you have any idea as to where grandfather may be right now?"

"Yes, Young Miss. A few minutes ago while coming here, I saw him entering his study with some men in suit."

"Oh, thank you then."

"Is there anything else you would require of me, Young miss?" Kai Alix asked.

"Umm, I do not think so. Just let the driver know and get ready, I would be leaving soon. I just want to see grandfather first and then off I go."

"Yes, ma'am."

Just when Alix turned around, ready to leave, she heard Li Jing's phone ring out and picked it up then passed it to her new young miss.

"Oh, it is my grandfather. How nice. I should check if he is done." She answered the call quickly and with a nice smile on her face, she greeted happily. "Hello gramps. Good morning."

"Hello, my darling. I can feel that you are happy today."

"Yes, I am. How are you?"

'I am good a bit."

'Okay, where are you, I need to see you before I leave," Li Jing informed him, her earlier smile still plastered on her face.

"About that, I'm afraid you would not be going soon."

'What?"