Zhou Yu, amidst the crowd, deftly weaved through, evading numerous soles.
He was nearing the main road when, suddenly, he felt a tug on his pocket.
He spun around sharply.
Not far away stood a small, thin woman, her face covered by a scarf, her mouth and nose concealed.
She appeared flustered.
Clutched in her hand was Zhou Yu's wallet!
A pickpocket?
And daring to steal from Zhou Yu!
Zhou Yu couldn't help but laugh, pushing through the throng. In a few swift steps, he caught up and grabbed the woman's arm.
"You stole my wallet!" Zhou Yu stated coldly.
The thin woman turned in panic. Seeing Zhou Yu's stern expression, she became frightened. She struggled to break free from his grip, muttering incoherently, "Who stole your things? Don't falsely accuse good people!"
But Zhou Yu's grip was like an iron vise, unyielding. No matter how she thrashed, she couldn't escape. Zhou Yu, without further ado, reached for the wallet to snatch it back.
The woman’s eyes widened in desperation. She had spent the entire night staking out this spot for just one wallet. If it was taken, how would she eat tomorrow? In a flash, she grabbed Zhou Yu's hand and began to shriek, "Assault! A pervert is assaulting me!"
The train station was already crowded. This sensational accusation instantly drew a crowd, with countless people surging forward to surround Zhou Yu and the woman.
Zhou Yu's brow furrowed slightly. He remained silent, his gaze fixed on the small woman. Seeing the growing crowd, the woman, initially fearful – she was a thief, a creature of the shadows, shunning the light – suddenly felt a surge of energy as more people rallied to her side. She became even more animated.
"Please, everyone, help me catch this pervert! I was just walking along, and he used the excuse of me stealing his wallet," she cried, "and then… then he laid hands on me!" Tears streamed down her face as she recounted her fabricated ordeal. "Heaven knows, I am a very traditional woman. How will I face my husband when I return home!" Her performance was so convincing it immediately stirred the sympathy of many onlookers, especially the young women.
"Don't be afraid! We won't let scoundrels like him get away with it!"
"That's right, we'll help you get justice and see him thrown in jail!"
"In broad daylight, with so many people around, to act like this! Is he even a man?"
The crowd was indignant, painting Zhou Yu as a heinous and utterly depraved individual.
Zhou Yu's lips twitched, and a bead of sweat trickled down his temple. *Seriously? Do these people have eyes? Who would dare make a move on this pickpocket? I'm not blind!* But the crowd, consumed by righteous fury, had lost all reason. They paid no mind to the vast disparity in appearance between Zhou Yu and the woman, spewing abuse at him. Even if someone suspected something was amiss, they dared not speak up. After all, if everyone was condemning Zhou Yu, who would dare defend him for fear of being branded an accomplice? With so many people at the station and no surveillance cameras, Zhou Yu, even if innocent, was rendered speechless.
Thus, in this charged atmosphere, Zhou Yu was treated like a rat being chased by everyone.
Zhou Yu endured it, and endured it again. Finally, he couldn't hold back any longer. He pointed at the woman and declared, "Stop talking nonsense. I'm not blind. Return my wallet immediately, or don't blame me for using force!"
The thin woman, having the upper hand, scoffed. *Return the wallet? Dream on!* She asserted self-righteously, "Everyone saw it, didn't you? This man was exposed and is now enraged! Don't let people like this go. If he can do this to me, what about beautiful young women?"
Hearing her words, some self-proclaimed beautiful women in the crowd instinctively took a step back, as if Zhou Yu might pounce on them out of desperation. Zhou Yu swept his gaze over them, utterly speechless. *Every single woman here, not one can compare to Su Yuyan's little toe. How desperate would I have to be to even look at someone like her?* Yet, they acted as if they were afraid he would assault them, nearly making Zhou Yu lose his breath!
As Zhou Yu found himself in this predicament, unsure how to extricate himself, a deep male voice cut through the air. "Everyone, please calm down for a moment."
Whoosh. All eyes turned towards the speaker.
There stood a young man on the periphery of the crowd, dressed in a wine-red casual suit. Though the brand was indiscernible, the style alone spoke of its considerable cost. Such a person at a train station was a beacon. Many onlookers unconsciously made way for him.
The man slowly approached the thief, glanced at Zhou Yu, and then lowered his head to inquire, "Miss, you said just now that this man intended to assault you?"
"He didn't just intend to, he *did* assault me!" the thin woman emphasized.
The man nodded and then turned to Zhou Yu, "And you said this lady stole your wallet?"
Zhou Yu nodded, remaining silent. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the newcomer with a sharp, piercing gaze. *Who is this? Appearing out of nowhere, could he be the thief's accomplice?* But Zhou Yu decided to wait and see.
After receiving their answers, the man raised his hand and addressed the crowd, "This matter is quite simple. We just need to check if this wallet belongs to this gentleman, and everything will be clear." Zhou Yu and the woman’s accounts were contradictory, meaning someone was lying. The evidence lay in the wallet in the woman's hand. If Zhou Yu could state its contents or identify his identification within, it would prove the woman was the thief and had falsely accused him. Of course, Zhou Yu had already realized this simple logic. However, previously, he had been branded a pervert, and no one listened to his words. It was only this later-arriving man, radiating an air of wealth and refined taste, that the crowd was willing to heed.
Responding to the man's words, many onlookers chimed in, "That's right! If he can't prove the wallet is his, then he must be the pervert!"
"Sister, quickly show the wallet and confront him!"
The woman hadn't expected anyone to speak in Zhou Yu's defense. And these spectators were actually following the man's lead, pressuring her to produce the wallet for confrontation. Did she not know whose wallet it was? If it was brought out for comparison, it would be all over! A chill ran down her spine.