Su Rong turned pale. In the next second, she steadied herself with one hand against her forehead, stumbling into a few people, including Su Xuer.
Su Xuer reached out to support her. "Sister, are you alright?"
"I think she's just feeling guilty, terrified of being searched."
"That has to be it. Everyone here is a person of status. Who else would steal a bracelet but her?"
"I figure she’s just spent too much time inside; old habits die hard. She’s full of nasty tendencies."
These murmurs left Su Xuer quite satisfied. "Sister, I would love to stand up for you, but everyone is watching. For the sake of fairness, why don't you let Grandma search you? You don't have any objections, do you?"
Su Rong steadied herself. "I have no objections. However, it shouldn't just be me. You all should be searched as well."
Su Xuer found this amusing. "Why would we be searched? Besides you, who else would take someone else’s bracelet?"
Old Madam Su felt uneasy. She knew what Su Rong had been like in the past, but having spent three years in prison, it was inevitable that she might have changed. "Rongrong, what do you say? Don't worry, as long as you don't want this, no one will dare to touch you!"
Su Rong took a deep breath. "It's fine, Grandma. If a search is necessary, let's proceed. But everyone else must be searched too. I wasn't the only one who went to the restroom just now."
Su Xuer thought to herself that since the item was in Su Rong's pocket, there would be no need to search anyone else once she was cleared. "Fine, I agree."
Su Heng had just finished greeting guests at the entrance and walked over. "What’s going on?"
"Brother," Su Xuer said, appearing distressed. "It's Su Rong. She’s causing trouble as soon as she’s out of prison. She stole Qin Yu’s bracelet."
Su Heng looked at Su Rong. His expression was complex, tinged with the disappointment of someone let down by a family member.
His gaze stung Su Rong. The brother who once loved her most was now just as distrustful as the rest of them. "Do you believe I stole it, too?"
Su Heng paused. After a few seconds of internal conflict, he made a decision. "What kind of bracelet was it? Since it was lost at the banquet, just put it on my tab. I’ll have someone buy a new one and send it over later."
Su Rong frowned. Was he trying to protect her, or was he confirming that she had indeed stolen it?
Su Xuer would never pass up an opportunity to damage Su Rong's reputation. "Brother, why are you interfering? This needs to be cleared up, otherwise, people will think we’re falsely accusing Su Rong."
Seeing that Su Rong didn't seem to appreciate his gesture, Su Heng lost his patience. "Then search her!"
Old Madam Su exchanged a look with her personal attendant, Aunt Yun.
Aunt Yun reached into Su Rong's pocket. Her expression gradually softened. She even turned the pocket inside out and shook her head. "It's not here."
Old Madam Su breathed a sigh of relief. "Do you see? Stop falsely accusing people in the future!"
Su Xuer looked bewildered and glanced at Qin Yu. Qin Yu was confused; she had clearly put the bracelet into Su Rong's pocket. How could it be gone?
"She must have hidden it somewhere else!"
Old Madam Su was displeased. "Enough! Do you have to insist that my granddaughter is a thief to be happy?"
"But..." Qin Yu started, then trailed off.
Su Heng said sternly, "This matter ends here. No more nonsense!"
"How can that be?" Sheng Qiye, who had been watching the scene, walked over. "The truth has to be uncovered, doesn't it? Otherwise, wouldn't Miss Su Rong have been wronged for nothing?"
Everyone present was taken aback by his imposing presence. They were confused—when did Sheng Qiye start caring about such trivial matters?
Su Rong was even more surprised. She didn't think she had any connection to Sheng Qiye. Was he... helping her?
Old Madam Su smiled. "President Sheng, I’m truly sorry. Please excuse this spectacle."
Sheng Qiye glanced at Su Rong. He had seen everything she did earlier.
"Since it wasn't found on Miss Su Rong, the others should be searched as well. Wasn't that the agreement? That includes... Miss Qin herself."
"Me?" Qin Yu found it ridiculous. "Why would I steal my own property?"
Sheng Qiye said coldly, "We'll only know after searching!"
Su Xuer, putting on a brave face, said, "Search away."
Aunt Yun searched a few more people but didn't find the bracelet, then she reached Su Xuer.
Su Xuer stepped back. "What are you doing? You want to search me too?"
Aunt Yun looked hesitant, so Sheng Qiye spoke up again. "Are you afraid, Miss Su?"
"What would I be afraid of? Go ahead!" Su Xuer opened her handbag, and a diamond bracelet was clearly visible inside.
Someone gasped. "It was Su Xuer who took it?"
"It wasn't me... how did it end up in my bag?" Su Xuer was stunned. In a panic, she grabbed the bracelet and threw it on the ground. "Who put this in my bag? Who!"
She glared at Qin Yu.
Qin Yu panicked. "It wasn't me, I clearly put it..."
Su Rong's eyes sharpened. "Put it where?!"
"On the bathroom sink, and then..." In her desperation, Qin Yu's instinct was to protect herself.
Perhaps seeing that Sheng Qiye had intervened, some of the crowd who were quick to follow the wind began to shift their target. "Su Xuer grew up in the slums, so it’s no surprise her hands aren't clean."
"That's right. I heard she snatched Su Rong's fiancé as soon as she returned to the Su Family. Qin Yu is her future sister-in-law; it wouldn't be a stretch if they conspired to frame Su Rong."
"It's a good thing President Sheng had such sharp eyes to clear Su Rong's name."
"When did Sheng Qiye become such a busybody?"
Su Rong looked at Sheng Qiye and nodded slightly to express her gratitude. She still didn't understand why this man would help her.
Sheng Qiye's expression remained indifferent. He didn't acknowledge her thanks. It was just a clumsy farce, though Su Xuer had hoisted herself with her own petard. Having suffered such a loss, she certainly wouldn't let it go easily.
Old Madam Su was a sensible woman. A birthday banquet shouldn't be marred by such an event. Since the city’s socialites were all present, she couldn't allow the Su family to become a laughingstock.
If someone had to take the fall for this, it had to be Qin Yu, especially since the incident was sparked by her.
The Old Madam tapped her cane on the floor, her voice firm. "Everyone, please quiet down! I am deeply sorry for this display."
"I hope Miss Qin can provide an explanation for what exactly happened here."