Feng Wanhui hadn't expected Lin Qiutong to let Liu Xiaohan go so easily. They had put so much effort into getting Liu Xiaohan into the police station; how could they just let her off?
"Miss Lin, if there's a first time for theft, there'll be a second. We absolutely cannot be lenient!"
Lin Qiutong frowned and glanced at Feng Wanhui. This Feng Wanhui was usually quite obedient, but today she dared to defy her.
"Aunt Feng, Aunt Liu was introduced to my studio by you. If she has sticky fingers, then you bear some responsibility too."
Feng Wanhui's expression immediately turned ugly.
Seeing that Lin Qiutong was no longer pursuing the matter, the police deemed it best for both parties to resolve it peacefully and released Liu Xiaohan.
As soon as she exited the police station, Song Qinian saw Shen Chiyan's car. The rear window was open, revealing Shen Chiyan's handsome face.
Why was Shen Chiyan here?
Did he come with Lin Qiutong?
His expression was gloomy and unpleasant. His dark eyes swept over Song Qinian with indifference before landing on Liu Xiaohan.
Liu Xiaohan's heart trembled under Shen Chiyan's cold, sharp gaze. She hid behind Song Qinian and whispered to her, "Niannian, why is Shen Chiyan with Lin Qiutong?"
Song Qinian clenched her fists tightly.
Immediately after, she saw Lin Qiutong run towards Shen Chiyan with a smile. "Ah Yan, don't worry, Niannian's mother is fine now."
Shen Chiyan nodded slightly. "Get in the car."
Lin Qiutong's eyes flickered slightly, then she looked at Song Qinian with a troubled expression. "Then Niannian..."
"Don't bother with her."
Lin Qiutong raised an eyebrow. She knew Shen Chiyan would remember Liu Xiaohan's scheme from three years ago the moment he saw her acting out.
She feigned embarrassment but was secretly delighted as she waved at Song Qinian. "Niannian, Ah Yan and I have a banquet to attend. Your aunt must have been shaken, you should take her home first."
Although Lin Qiutong's words seemed to be an explanation for why she and Shen Chiyan were appearing together and where they were going, she was actually trying to hurt Song Qinian.
What kind of banquet required them to attend together, and that she, his wife, shouldn't know about?
The car slowly drove away. Song Qinian watched the disappearing vehicle, her chest aching.
Seeing this, Feng Wanhui sneered at Song Qinian, "What isn't yours will never be yours, no matter what underhanded methods you use to get it."
She then looked coldly at Liu Xiaohan, "Miss Lin not pursuing charges against you is her magnanimity. If you truly want to repay Miss Lin, then have your daughter leave Mr. Shen immediately."
Feng Wanhui's eyes were filled with disgust towards Song Qinian and Liu Xiaohan, as if she held a deep-seated hatred for them.
Although Liu Xiaohan was angry that Lin Qiutong and Shen Chiyan left together, she couldn't help but feel scared.
"This Lin Qiutong doesn't seem so bad. Today, I'm grateful she believed me. Otherwise, like your father, I would have been wrongly accused and sent to jail?"
Song Qinian looked coldly at Liu Xiaohan, gesturing furiously, "What exactly happened? You're working at Lin Qiutong's studio? Why didn't you tell me?"
Liu Xiaohan knew she was in the wrong but stubbornly retorted, "There's nothing to talk about. They pay well, and the work is relatively easy. Besides, I was afraid you wouldn't agree. I thought I'd get the job and then surprise you, but who knew this would happen?"
The more Song Qinian thought about it, the angrier she became. "Did you steal that thing?"
"Song Qinian! You don't even believe your own mother! You've disappointed me so much! Yes! I'm greedy for money, and I love to gamble, but I've genuinely reformed and planned to work hard. How could I steal?"
Song Qinian sighed heavily. She felt utterly exhausted, but she had to understand the truth. So, she slowly gestured, "Tell me everything that happened today, every single detail."
The incident began when Liu Xiaohan, determined to turn over a new leaf, started looking for work everywhere.
She then met Feng Wanhui by chance. They hit it off, and Feng Wanhui mentioned she worked at Lin Qiutong's studio, where the pay was high. The studio was also short-staffed, so she asked Liu Xiaohan if she wanted to join.
Liu Xiaohan was hesitant at first, considering Lin Qiutong's relationship with their family. She feared Lin Qiutong might make things difficult for her.
However, after two months of searching without finding a satisfactory job, primarily due to low pay and undesirable conditions, she eventually called Feng Wanhui back.
Feng Wanhui was very enthusiastic, calling her "sister" left and right. Liu Xiaohan was flattered by Feng Wanhui's flattery, feeling as though they had known each other for a long time.
Initially, Liu Xiaohan worried that Lin Qiutong's studio wouldn't hire her. To her surprise, things went smoother than she imagined.
The moment they heard she was Shen Chiyan's mother-in-law, they immediately offered her a salary of 10,000 yuan a month for just cleaning the office.
What happened today was that Liu Xiaohan saw a delicate and beautiful box while cleaning the office. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she opened it to find a diamond necklace inside.
What woman doesn't like diamonds? She admitted she was tempted at that moment.
But determined to be a good mother, after looking at it, she put the diamond necklace back. Not long after she finished cleaning and left the office, she heard that the diamond necklace was missing.
The necklace was worth over a million yuan, and Lin Qiutong was supposed to wear it to a banquet that evening. If it wasn't found, it would be a disaster.
Liu Xiaohan helped search for it. However, someone later claimed to have seen her taking the necklace.
Everyone's eyes turned to her. She insisted she hadn't stolen it, but when her bag was searched, the necklace fell out.
Liu Xiaohan was stunned and panicked. She had no idea how it happened. She clearly put the necklace back in its box, so how could it end up in her bag?
With solid evidence, Feng Wanhui immediately called the police.
"Niannian, Mom really didn't steal the necklace. Ever since that beast Gao Da Shang cut your hands last time, I truly realized my mistake. I admit I've done many things to hurt you for my own selfish desires, but I genuinely want to atone for my wrongdoings."
Liu Xiaohan seemed extremely wronged, and her words sounded so sincere, not like a lie.
Song Qinian thought carefully. Feng Wanhui harbored such great hostility towards her. Knowing Liu Xiaohan was her mother, why would she be so friendly with her and introduce her to Lin Qiutong's studio?
And Lin Qiutong, who hated their entire family so much, how could she tolerate Liu Xiaohan working right under her nose?
If someone had framed Liu Xiaohan today, it was most likely Lin Qiutong and Feng Wanhui.
By orchestrating such an event, the necklace wasn't lost, but Liu Xiaohan was now burdened with the charge of theft.
And at this moment, Lin Qiutong stepped forward to extricate Liu Xiaohan, appearing to Shen Chiyan as a generous and kind woman, while the Song Qinian family seemed greedy, despicable, and vulgar.
The thought sent a chill down Song Qinian's spine. Ever since three years ago, Lin Qiutong had been targeting their family, and now, she had escalated her cruelty.
Seeing Song Qinian's lack of reaction and her pale face, Liu Xiaohan worried, "Niannian, what's wrong?"
"Quit your job at Lin Qiutong's studio. If you truly want to make amends, then just stay home, take care of yourself, and wait for Dad to come out so we can reunite!"