The photograph was obviously a physical print, and because the original was from a long time ago, the picture quality was poor.
However, it was clear enough to see that in the photograph, Nico was sitting in a large chair. He was looking straight ahead with a pile of documents in front of him, giving a sense that he was a busy man.
On the bottom left corner of the photo, there was an inscription: Nico Rothschild.
Following this inscription was another word: Bei Yong.
“Bei Yong?” Li Beinian found the name familiar.
She stared at those words and searched her memory.
The more she thought about it, the more familiar it felt.
From those words, she seemed to be getting a sense of deja vu.
Mu Xichen responded lightly, “Nico took on Bei Xiaonian’s surname in his Chinese name.”
Li Beinian could see that. Suddenly, another thought came to her mind and she asked Mu Xichen, “Exactly how old is Nico?”
“He came to Xia Nation when he was 19 and was an exchange student at Xia Nation University for a year.” Mu Xichen paused and glanced at Li Beinian. “He and Bei Xiaonian were classmates.”
Li Beinian nodded and probed further, “Does that mean that they got to know each other when they were in school? When foreigners travel around Xia Nation, they would have given themselves an easy to remember local name from the onset. To have taken someone’s surname for himself would only mean that he was on really good terms with this someone…”
“Uh huh.”
It was difficult to read Mu Xichen’s emotions in his response.
He focused on the computer screen and clicked the mouse quickly.
Li Beinian looked intently at the computer screen and at once, her gaze was locked on a photograph of a man and a woman.
There was no doubt that the couple in the photograph were Nico and Bei Xiaonian.
Bei Xiaonian leaned against Nico’s shoulder and held a cane in her hand.
The cane was straight and the large crown was surrounded by luxurious diamonds. It was dazzling as it caught and reflected the ambient light.
The exquisite crown was hollow and wrapped around a pair of wings surrounded by tiny red and blue patches. The workmanship was exquisite and breathtaking.
And in the middle of the wings, there was a ruby that was obviously the main soul of the object. It was glistening and bright. It was obvious that this was an extraordinary gem just by looking at the photograph!
What caught Li Beinian’s attention the most, was the special arc of light that was projected.
Anyone who saw this would probably think that it was a beautiful accident resulting from the angle from which the photograph was taken.
However, it was because of this naturally fiery arc that Li Beinian immediately recognized the ruby!
Wasn’t this… the immensely valuable item that she had worn as a child, that had everyone eyeing her like a hawk over its prey?
The moment Li Beinian figured it out, she took a deep breath.
Such a large and valuable ruby was hanging on her body!
Fortunately, the director of the orphanage did not recognize the value of it, and thought that it was a small toy that was hung on her by an adult. And it was also fortunate that she was quick-witted. When the director of the orphanage wanted to have the item appraised, she held it tightly in her arms and hid it. From then on, she had never worn it again.
Otherwise, would she have been able to survive till now, if she or this object had been identified by those who coveted it?
Obviously not!
Noticing her reaction, Mu Xichen asked, “What’s wrong?”
“That gemstone – it’s mine.” Li Beinian pointed at the computer screen. Then, she placed her phone on the table and pointed at the soul-less cane in Lin Kerou’s hand. “Someone must have removed the ruby and placed it with me.”
Except, who could have done all of this?
And why did he or she do it?