Chapter 71 A Grand Show
Song Zhiwei stood there, her eyes lowered, her thick eyelashes concealing the disappointment in her eyes.
She swallowed hard, pulling back the words that had almost escaped her lips.
Some truths, even if spoken, won't change anything; they'll only make things more embarrassing for you.
When I returned to the lobby, the lights were dazzling and the music was melodious.
Jiang Mengxi, wearing a light yellow dress and high heels, skipped and hopped over, her face full of joy.
"Zhiwei! I've been looking for you for ages and haven't seen you anywhere."
Song Zhiwei forced a smile.
"My mom just called me out."
Jiang Mengxi frowned, a look of worry immediately appearing in her eyes, and asked in a low voice, "Did Aunt Qin make things difficult for you?"
She and Song Zhiwei were high school classmates and went through the most innocent student days together. She knew clearly that Qin Yunshu had always been cold and distant towards Song Zhiwei and had never really treated her as a daughter-in-law.
"It's okay, she's much better than before."
Song Zhiwei explained softly, her voice calm.
That's not entirely unfounded.
In the past, Qin Yunshu completely ignored her.
He never puts food on her plate at the dinner table, and he never initiates conversation at gatherings.
Even during holidays, they would only exchange a few perfunctory polite words.
But now, at least they still care a bit and occasionally chat about everyday things.
Although... she wouldn't drink a single drop of that soup.
"That's good."
Jiang Mengxi breathed a sigh of relief, her tense shoulders relaxed, and she smiled as she grasped her wrist.
"Come on, I'll introduce you to some new friends, they're all sisters in the industry."
"Now that you're a lawyer, connections are very important. Knowing more people will make things easier for you in the future."
As Song Zhiwei listened, a warm feeling slowly flowed through her heart.
She nodded obediently and followed Jiang Mengxi's steps forward.
Before they had taken more than a few steps, hurried footsteps suddenly came from the end of the corridor.
The next second, Zhou Yunhan rushed over and blocked her way, her breathing becoming somewhat disordered.
"Song Zhiwei, you stop right there!"
However, before she could take her second step, Jiang Yuexin suddenly appeared from the side and blocked her path.
"Oh, you think you can just sneak away after stealing something?"
A mocking smile appeared on Jiang Yuexin's lips.
The previously bustling chatter in the hall fell silent for a moment.
Immediately afterwards, everyone's eyes were fixed on them like spotlights.
At least half the people in the hall stopped talking.
Jiang Mengxi immediately panicked, her face turning red.
Forget about her image, she jumped up and shouted, "Jiang Yuexin! What nonsense are you spouting? Slandering someone in front of so many people! Do you believe I'll sue you for defamation? The law won't tolerate such baseless malicious slander!"
Jiang Yuexin sneered, her eyes full of contempt.
She slightly raised her chin and said, word by word, "Our Yunhan lost a pair of custom-made earrings worth two million. After entering the venue just now, only Song Zhiwei touched her bag. If it wasn't her, then who else could it be?"
These words immediately caused an uproar at the scene.
The guests nearby, who already knew about the feud between the two families, exchanged glances.
"Isn't this Song Zhiwei the Zhou family's stepdaughter? She came into the family with Madam Zhou from a young age. Although she was raised in the mansion, she has no official status. How could she be so inconsiderate, daring to reach for such valuable things?"
"Having grown up in the Zhou family for so many years, what do you eat, wear, and use that isn't better than what ordinary families have? Why would you even consider something worth two million? And to be caught red-handed is simply humiliating and shameful."
"Sigh, after all, she's not his biological daughter. Compared to the eldest daughter of the Zhou family, she's far inferior. Seeing her living such a glamorous life with piles of jewels, and what about me? I have nothing. It's normal to feel resentful, but I shouldn't have taken this step..."
Song Zhiwei stood there, her hands hanging at her sides, her fingertips slightly cold.
She didn't say a word, but she heard all the sarcastic remarks clearly.
From the first day he stepped into the Zhou family at the age of twelve, similar situations have been constantly playing out.
She had long since learned to remain silent, to endure, and to hold her dignity firmly in the palm of her hand in front of everyone.
"Do you have any evidence? Making baseless accusations in front of so many people is something I can pursue legal action against you for. This is no joke."
Jiang Yuexin, however, was not afraid at all. She even took a step closer and spoke aggressively.
"Since you took the items, you must have hidden them. We're all adults, why be so stubborn? Just search your bag, and the truth will be revealed."
At this moment, Zhou Yunhan slowly walked forward, her tone gentle, as if she were thinking of others.
“Little sister, those earrings were specially brought back from Italy by Aunt Qin as a gift for me. They have a lot of meaning to me, and I have always cherished them. If you are willing to return them to me now, I will pretend that this never happened and will not pursue the matter any further.”
Staring at her utterly hypocritical appearance, Song Zhiwei felt nothing but absurd irony.
She suddenly remembered an old saying.
The enemy who knows you best is the one who knows best how to strike at your heart.
And Zhou Yunhan was precisely the one who understood her weaknesses best.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her surging emotions.
“I didn’t take it. If you really have the surveillance footage or solid evidence, then just release it. There’s no need to put on an act here.”
Searching personal belongings in public?
That was a blatant trampling on her personality and a naked humiliation of her dignity.
She would never agree to, and would never allow, such a thing to happen.
Jiang Mengxi also angrily chimed in.
"That's right, to accuse someone of stealing it without any evidence is blatant slander! Are you out of your mind, Jiang Yuexin? Or are you just jealous that Zhiwei looks so good today and you want to ruin her reputation?"
She became more and more excited as she spoke, and her voice suddenly rose in pitch.
"You're her sister? But what good does it do you to slander her like this without even knowing the facts? Do you want everyone to laugh at the Zhou family?"
The group chatted amongst themselves, their voices neither too loud nor too soft, but just loud enough to be heard by those around them.
The conversation grew increasingly heated, and the atmosphere quickly became tense.
Who among those who can attend this event isn't a celebrity in their field?
They are usually glamorous and well-mannered. Who wouldn't love to see such a dramatic scene where they tear off their masks?
Gossip and excitement have always been the spice of social gatherings.
As Zhou Yunhan watched the crowd grow larger and larger, she raised her eyebrows slightly, a hint of smugness flashing in her eyes.
But on the surface, she pretended to be aggrieved and sad.
"Zhiwei, I really love those earrings. They were a birthday gift from my dad, and they mean a lot to me... If you really like them, I can ask my dad to buy you another pair, exactly the same, okay?"
Song Zhiwei frowned, her fingertips gently pinching the hem of her skirt; her patience had reached its limit.
“I’ve made myself perfectly clear. I didn’t take your earring, nor did I touch it. If you doubt me, then produce evidence first.”
When the two sides were deadlocked, Qin Yunshu hurriedly came over with Zhou Huaiqing.
She jogged through the crowd, her face slightly pale.
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