Lu Qinghan's gaze darkened. The image of the red knot dangling from Wen Xi’s phone flashed through his mind, and a suspicion sharpened, threatening to spill from his lips. It could have been a coincidence—a common enough knot that anyone could tie—but he found himself clinging desperately to a sliver of hope. He began, “That day, were you at—” “Fourth Master Lu.” A maid’s voice cut through from ou