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Chapter 569 The Secret Room in the Study, the Box Containing Blood Soul Wood

That evening, Duanmu Rongrong went into the study where her nephew used to spend the most time.

This study was considered a forbidden area in the Duanmu family. When Duanmu Sen was still alive, no one could enter without his permission.

Even Duanmu Long, as the daughter, and Duanmu Rongrong, as the aunt, were no exception.

He organized everything inside himself, and even if the servants came in to disturb the cleaning, they had to do so under his watchful eye.

Since Duanmu Sen secretly arrived at Queshan, the study has been locked and no one has gone in to clean it.

Duanmu Rongrong turned on the light in the study and looked up to see dust motes dancing in the light.

However, she was too lazy to call the maid to clean up first, so she covered her mouth and nose with one hand and started searching around.

Starting with the desk, which was already covered in a layer of dust, then the drawers, and finally the bookshelf that took up an entire wall.

I still couldn't find any words related to Queshan.

"Auntie?"

Just as she was engrossed in her search, a sudden sound from behind startled her so much that her hand trembled, and the book she was holding fell to the ground, almost hitting her foot.

Duanmu Rongrong didn't bother picking it up. Turning around, she saw Duanmu Long standing outside the half-open study door, wearing a white nightgown. "Why aren't you resting yet?"

"I couldn't sleep and I felt a little thirsty, so I went out to get some water and saw a light on in my dad's study."

To be honest, she was a little scared the moment she saw the lights. The first thought that popped into her mind was: Has Dad come back?

But he soon realized it was unrealistic. Duanmu Long walked to the study door with fear and longing, gently pushed open the door, and saw his great-aunt searching for something.

"Grandma, what are you looking for?"

“Find information related to Que Mountain. Your father wouldn’t go to Que Mountain for no reason; he must have gone there with some purpose. I regret it now. I should have contacted him earlier when I realized he was coming to Que Mountain and asked him what he was doing there. But it’s too late to say that now.”

Duanmu Long swallowed, his throat dry. "You think my father's death wasn't an accident?"

“When I first heard about your dad’s injury, I thought it was an accident because he was too old to admit he was going mountain climbing. But now, I’m not so sure.”

From her nephew's injury to his death and then to his funeral, so many unusual things happened during that time that she couldn't ignore them even if she wanted to.

Duanmu Long immediately rolled up his sleeves: "I'll search with you!"

Seeing that she was wide awake, Duanmu Rongrong nodded.

Duanmu Long squatted down to pick up the book that had fallen to the ground. As he picked it up and was about to stand up, he suddenly paused and subconsciously let out a soft "hmm".

Duanmu Rongrong was about to go to the other side to search when she heard the sound and stopped. "Did you find anything?"

"Grandma, look." Duanmu Long pointed to a few books lying flat on the bottom shelf.

She knew some of her father's reading habits; the books he read most often were always placed in the most easily accessible spot.

As for the bottom layer, they are all books that I have read many times and know by heart, but I am reluctant to get rid of them.

Even if servants come to dust these books occasionally, they won't clean them too thoroughly; a simple wipe is enough.

But the book in front of her was so clean, even the sides were spotless, as if it would be taken out and flipped through frequently.

But since you read it so often, why not put it up there?

With that thought in mind, she reached out to pick up the book.

When I tried to pick it up, I almost couldn't move it.

"what happened?"

"This book is heavier than I expected." Duanmu Long said, putting down the book in his other hand and lifting it up with both hands. When they opened the book and saw its contents, both the old man and the young man were taken aback.

This isn't a book at all; it's clearly a combination lock disguised as a book!

Duanmu Rongrong immediately looked around the study in front of her.

She doesn't usually live here, but she knows the house quite well.

It's not surprising that an old house that underwent a complete renovation in the last century might have some hidden rooms or similar features.

While she was looking around the study, Duanmu Long was already itching to unlock the combination lock.

She tried entering her birthday as the first six-digit password, but a red light flashed, indicating that the password was incorrect.

They also reminded her that she had two more chances left.

She immediately lost her nerve and stammered, "I'm sorry, Grandma, I..."

Duanmu Rongrong patted her shoulder, "No rush. If it really doesn't work, we can just tear this study down."

Since such a well-hidden combination lock was found, it means that my nephew really has some secret.

Now that her nephew has passed away without leaving any last words, she wants to figure some things out, so she can only destroy the study. She believes her nephew will understand her.

At her great-aunt's suggestion, Duanmu Long entered her father's birthday, but the password was still incorrect.

Sweat beaded on his nose. "Only one chance left!"

"Think of any other special days. Queshan, Chengxiao, right, the day your dad saved Chengxiao back then, Takitaki, do you remember?"

"Let me think, it was about a week before my birthday. I remember my dad saying he wanted to introduce me to a guy."

When Chengxiao was a child, he was even more handsome than her. She remembers feeling a little jealous when she saw him, which is why she remembers it so vividly.

"Try it."

Duanmu Long rubbed his slightly sweaty hands, solemnly pressed six numbers, took a deep breath, and then pressed the green confirmation button.

"Crack!"

Hearing the noise, the two turned their heads at the same time and saw that the landscape painting, which was as tall as a person, facing the desk was slowly turning inward, as if an invisible hand was pushing the painting in.

"It's really..."

Seeing that his great-aunt had already walked into the hidden door concealed by the landscape painting, Duanmu Long quickly followed her in.

The moment they stepped inside, the motion-sensor lights turned on, revealing a room roughly the same size as the study outside.

Duanmu Long immediately spotted a small wooden box not far in front of her. "I've seen this box before. My dad asked Chengxiao to send it over. It contains some wooden beads. My dad treasures them and even gave me one to wear carefully."

Hearing Duanmu Long say that, Duanmu Rongrong also remembered, "It's that one you used to wear around your neck, why haven't I seen you wearing it lately?"

"I accidentally lost it." Duanmu Long touched his empty neck. "I think I lost it at the hospital. My mind was in a mess at the time, and I didn't know where I lost it."

Duanmu Rongrong picked up the box and opened it, only to find it empty.

"It's just an empty box, yet it's hidden so preciously in this secret room, and it was sent by Chengxiao..." Duanmu Rongrong looked at the empty box, "Your father only gave you one, so where are the other beads?"

"Could it be that my dad is wearing it himself?"

"Let me ask," Duanmu Rongrong said, taking her phone out of her pocket. She glanced at the time, hesitated for a moment, and then dialed the number.

She wasn't sure if her nephew was wearing the bead, but the doctors and nurses who were involved in his rescue must have known!