Yun Rong smiled, striving to appear modest and courteous, her gaze subtly drifting towards Yun Shu Nian, "Of course, Nian Nian. Your sister Ya Feng and I will ask the staff to open our bags with you."
Yun Shu Nian immediately stopped crying upon hearing this. Her crescent eyes, still wet from tears, were remarkably clear and innocent. "But, Sister, you haven't asked Sister Ya Feng first. Isn't it a bit improper to do this?"
Upon hearing this, the gazes of the crowd shifted.
"That's right, Yun Rong didn't even get anyone's consent and decided for them!"
"Enough, she's from a small place after all. What kind of upbringing can you expect?"
Yun Rong was most sensitive about people mentioning her past. Her face flushed and paled instantly.
What was going on with Yun Shu Nian? She had never spoken so sharply before.
"Sister, I can show you my bag too." Wang Ya Feng placed her bag on the table.
Although Wang Ya Feng presented her bag, she didn't help Yun Rong out of her predicament. The domineering and regal demeanor of Mu Qi had instilled fear in her.
Compared to Yun Rong, Wang Ya Feng was less ambitious. She desired to find a man who would indulge her spending more than becoming a part of this circle.
Therefore, Wang Ya Feng dared not say a word, fearing she might offend Mu Qi.
Yun Rong's lips moved, but ultimately she didn't know what else to say to salvage the situation.
It was not until Yun Shu Nian spoke again, "In that case, let's all have the staff inspect them."
Yun Shu Nian placed her bag on the table first, followed by the other two.
Yun Rong gestured for a staff member to begin the inspection.
The staff member started with Wang Ya Feng's bag.
Everyone watched intently. Finally, the staff member indeed found no bracelet in Wang Ya Feng's bag.
Yun Rong's gaze, however, fell upon Mu Qi.
She clearly remembered personally placing Wang Ya Feng's green bracelet into Yun Shu Nian's bag, so she felt confident of victory.
Thus, she paid no attention to the inspection process.
Soon, the staff member continued to inspect Yun Shu Nian's bag.
All eyes followed the staff member's movements, afraid they might miss something.
Until the staff member emptied Yun Shu Nian's crocodile skin bag and turned it inside out to show everyone, the crowd was shocked to discover that there was indeed no bracelet in Yun Shu Nian's bag.
Speculation and guesses erupted.
Then, the staff member proceeded to open Yun Rong's bag. Soon, a jade-green bracelet conspicuously appeared in everyone's sight.
The scene erupted in a clamor.
"What is going on? The bracelet was in Yun Rong's bag!"
"I didn't expect Yun Rong to deliberately frame Yun Shu Nian!"
The bystanders discussed heatedly, but the person involved, Yun Rong, was lost in a daze, watching Mu Qi.
It wasn't until Yun Shu Nian, satisfied, shifted her gaze from the green bracelet to Yun Rong's face that she realized Yun Rong was staring at Mu Qi with infatuated longing.
Yun Shu Nian's heart instantly soured.
If Yun Rong could scheme against her, she absolutely would not allow Yun Rong to covet Mu Qi.
"Mu Qi, why did Sister frame me? Did I do something to make Sister misunderstand?" Yun Shu Nian provocatively nestled into Mu Qi's embrace, sitting on his lap.
Like a white lotus, she deflected the accusations onto Yun Rong while subtly asserting her claim.
Yun Rong snapped back to reality almost instantly, the infatuation vanishing from her eyes.
"She's crazy," Mu Qi gently stroked Yun Shu Nian's head.
Even though Mu Qi knew Yun Shu Nian, nestled in his arms, was not actually crying, hearing her whimpers still made him feel a pang of sympathy.
Yun Rong glared at Yun Shu Nian, as if trying to bore holes through her.
It wasn't until she heard Yun Shu Nian speak that Yun Rong's gaze instinctively shifted to the table. She then discovered that the green bracelet was placed in front of her bag.
Recalling Mu Qi's earlier assessment of her, Yun Rong was in a state of panic.
"How could this be?" The clamor of the crowd at this moment became the final straw that crushed Yun Rong.
Yun Rong suddenly lost two things she valued most: her reputation and the seemingly favorable image she believed she had in Mu Qi's eyes.
Little did Yun Rong know, she had never possessed either of them.
In a moment of desperation, Yun Rong began to shift the blame onto Wang Ya Feng.
"It was her, it was all her idea. She wanted to humiliate Yun Shu Nian to elevate herself, and I was coerced by her!" Yun Rong took a step back, pointing at Wang Ya Feng.
"Yun Rong, what nonsense are you spouting?" Wang Ya Feng demanded fiercely.
"Mu Qi, believe me. Wang Ya Feng threatened me!" At this point, Yun Rong no longer cared about addressing him formally, solely focused on clearing her name.
Yun Shu Nian and Mu Qi both frowned upon hearing Yun Rong address Mu Qi so casually.
The former felt Yun Rong was being overly intimate, while the latter frowned because he perceived Yun Rong as disrespectful.
"Yun Rong, if you won't take responsibility, don't blame me for being ruthless!" Seeing the situation escalate, Wang Ya Feng calmly took out her phone, which had been recording.
"Why would I conspire with Yun Shu Nian to harm you? Yun Shu Nian has always been someone people compare me to. I wanted to put her down!"
Wang Ya Feng turned the phone's volume to maximum, and Yun Rong's voice clearly reached everyone present.
After the recording finished, the scene immediately descended into chaos, with everyone pointing and murmuring at Yun Rong.
"No, it's not like that. This isn't me, it's fabricated." Yun Rong waved her hands repeatedly, still desperately struggling.
On the sofa, held by Mu Qi, Yun Shu Nian watched the farce quietly. Recalling her past life, Yun Shu Nian suddenly felt she had been too lenient with Yun Rong.
She had mastered the art of being a white lotus in her previous life!
Now, it was time to return the favor.
Yun Shu Nian spoke again, "Sister, even if you dislike me, you didn't have to do this. Sister could have just told me directly, and I would have appeared less often.
Sister, why did you pretend to be good to me while also trying to harm me? When I genuinely cherished you so much."
Her tearful, childlike voice melted everyone's hearts.
At this point, Yun Rong was completely branded as a heartless villain in everyone's eyes.
Yun Rong stared at Yun Shu Nian, her face pale, "It's not true, Nian Nian, I didn't say that. It's all fabricated by Wang Ya Feng."
Hearing this, Wang Ya Feng could no longer tolerate it. Placing her hands on her hips, she addressed Yun Rong, "Fabricated? Yun Rong, do you dare go and compare voiceprints with me?"
Yun Rong met Wang Ya Feng's eyes, her vision suddenly darkened, and she collapsed to the ground.
"It seems Yun Rong has run out of excuses."
"Indeed."
"Do you think she's really fainted or just pretending?"
"Old Li, I'm telling you, if we divorce, the child must stay with me!"
The scene became incredibly chaotic.