Pei Nian gripped the small bag tightly in her hand.
Huo Jingnan, who was standing to the side, also noticed something and turned to look at her with a complicated and solemn expression.
"I don't……"
"I know."
Huo Jingnan gripped her hand tightly and gave her a resolute look.
"It's okay, I'll go with you to explain."
"There's no need for explanation at all," Pei Nian said in a deep voice. "Lu Ran framed me!"
"I haven't done anything wrong. Even if the police come, I won't admit that I did it!"
“Niannian…” Huo Jingnan felt a pang of sympathy. “But we’d better not make a scene right now. Today is my aunt’s birthday, and Lu Ran is Jun Yang’s fiancée, after all. If things escalate, you won’t gain anything, and you’ll have to endure other people’s criticism…”
"I'm not afraid!"
"Niannian!" Huo Jingnan pressed down on her shoulders. "I know you're not afraid of gossip, but aren't you afraid that your sister Mianmian will misunderstand too?"
Pei Nian froze, her eyes slowly dimming.
Huo Jingnan twitched the corners of his mouth, feeling somewhat amused and exasperated.
Nothing else matters; Jiang Mianmian is Pei Nian's trump card.
As her boyfriend, he had no choice but to lower himself and willingly wait in line behind Jiang Mianmian.
"I understand how you feel," Huo Jingnan whispered in her ear, "but now is not the time for a head-on confrontation. We need to play it by ear."
Pei Nian looked at him.
In his eyes was a trust and unwavering devotion that belonged only to her.
At that moment, Pei Nian was certain that even if the whole world criticized her, he would always be the one standing by her side.
She smiled at him gently; for the first time in her life, she had a pair of strong arms that became her warm harbor.
The loss of the ring alarmed Jiang Can, Huo Zhixing, and other elders.
Everyone gathered around, asking what had happened. Lu Ran leaned against Huo Junyang, just lowering her head and crying incessantly, then repeatedly apologizing to Jiang Can.
"Mom!" Huo Junyang exclaimed anxiously, "I think we should call the police!"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Huo Zhixing glanced at him. "It's your mother's birthday today, and you're calling the police at her birthday party? How could you even think of that!"
"But that ring..."
"Yangyang, it's just a ring." Huo Junyu said calmly, exchanging a glance with his father, already understanding the situation. He turned to Huo Junyang and said softly, "Don't spoil Mom's mood over something so trivial."
Huo Junyang hesitated for a moment, but at that moment, Lu Ran gently touched his arm.
This action was precisely captured by Jiang Can.
"Mom! I think it's better to call the police!" Huo Junyang, who had been hesitating, blurted out, "That's a family heirloom, and besides, it's the betrothal gift you gave to Ranran. I don't want Ranran to suffer any injustice..."
"If she calls the police, will she be free from the injustice?" Jiang Can's voice was gentle, but every word was firm and powerful. "Ranran, tell Auntie, when was the last time you saw that ring?"
Lu Ran bit her lip and answered softly, "Yes...it's in the restroom. I always take off my ring and put it in my bag before washing my hands."
"And where's your bag?"
Tears welled up in Lu Ran's eyes again, and she shook her head.
"Mom, look!" Huo Junyang said, "Even the bag is gone!"
"Yangyang!" Huo Junyu glared at him, signaling him to shut up.
Jiang Can smiled slightly.
I heard that the white pearl bag was a gift from Mianmian. Under normal circumstances, who would easily lose that bag?
"Ranran, don't worry," Jiang Can said gently. "We have so many guests at home today, it's really not appropriate to call the police. Don't worry, Auntie will definitely find the ring."
"Auntie, are you not going to pursue this matter anymore?"
"What?" Jiang Can looked at her meaningfully. "You don't believe I can help you find it?"
“No…” Lu Ran paused for a moment, “It’s that I have someone I suspect.”
This was exactly what Jiang Can wanted to hear.
She pretended not to understand, frowned, and asked Lu Ran softly, "You have someone you suspect? Who is it?"
"Auntie, the last person to accompany me to the restroom was Pei Nian!"
"oh?"
Before Jiang Can could say anything, Huo Jingnan walked over from not far away, holding Pei Nian's hand.
The handbag Pei Nian was holding was exactly the same as the one Lu Ran was carrying.
“There’s no need to doubt it anymore.” Pei Nian stood before everyone, her expression as aloof as ever. She took out a ring from her bag, held it between her fingers, and looked at everyone with utter frankness.
"The thing is here, in my bag."
Everyone was taken aback.
"But I didn't take the things!"
"Ha, isn't that right?" Lu Ran sneered. "The bag you're carrying is mine, the ring is mine, and you were the one who accompanied me to the restroom. And you're saying all of this has nothing to do with you?"
Pei Nian looked coldly at Lu Ran, a storm brewing in her eyes.
“Pei Nian,” Lu Ran’s voice softened, “I know there’s been some misunderstanding between us, but… but I’ve been trying to smooth things over with you. I believe you didn’t take it on purpose. If you like the bag, you can keep it… but could you give me back the ring? It was for my engagement with Jun Yang, I…”
Lu Ran's voice trembled, and she began to choke up as she spoke.
Huo Junyang gently patted her shoulder, somewhat flustered. Hearing her words, the surrounding guests also turned their suspicious gazes toward Pei Nian and began to whisper among themselves.
Huo Zhixing and Jiang Can's faces gradually darkened, while Huo Junyu and Jiang Mianmian exchanged glances, their expressions complicated.
"Lu Ran, please don't make false accusations!" Huo Jingnan stepped forward. "Pei Nian, she..."
“Pei Nian won’t take your ring.” Suddenly, a clear voice came from the crowd.
Pei Nian was slightly taken aback, and saw Bai Zhijin hurriedly walk through the crowd and come to them.
She first nodded politely to Jiang Can and Huo Zhixing, then looked at Lu Ran and Huo Junyang with a faint smile on her face.
“Lu Ran, I can guarantee that Pei Nian didn’t take your ring or steal your bag. Because the bag she’s holding doesn’t belong to you at all.”
"What did you say?" Lu Ran frowned abruptly.
"This bag is a gift from me," Bai Zhijin said with a smile. "I thought it looked good on her with this outfit, so I gave it to her!"
"you……"
"If you don't believe me, you can take a look inside."
Bai Zhijin took the pearl bag from Pei Nian's hand, opened the inner layer, and sure enough, the three characters "Bai Zhijin" were embroidered on the inner layer.
“Every bag from this brand is one-of-a-kind.” She glanced at Lu Ran and chuckled. “Once you buy one, the artisan will embroider your name on it. Miss Lu, don’t you have one too? It was a gift from Mianmian, wasn’t it?”
"Didn't Mianmian tell you that your name is on the inner layer?"
Lu Ran's face flushed red and then turned pale, her lips trembling slightly.
Unfortunately, Huo Junyang couldn't see anything and laughed with relief.
"Great! I can finally breathe a sigh of relief that the ring has been found!"
Lu Ran glared at him fiercely.
“Even if this bag was a gift from you to Pei Nian,” she looked at Bai Zhijin, then at Pei Nian, “it doesn’t prove that she didn’t take the ring!”
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