Chapter 9

Papa Huo followed the butler upstairs.

The entire living room on the first floor suddenly plunged into a long silence, so quiet that Lin Xueqing could even hear her own heart beating erratically.

It was mid-July, the peak of summer heat.

But the Huo residence had central air conditioning running all day, tirelessly delivering cool air to every corner of the villa.

Despite this, Lin Xueqing was still sweating profusely.

Large beads of sweat covered her entire face, even her hair at her temples was soaked.

Mama Huo saw this and feigned concern: “Are you very hot?”

Lin Xueqing, somewhat flustered, looked up, and a large bead of sweat instantly rolled into her eye, stinging fiercely. Her eyes turned red.

But she still pretended to be calm: “No, no… With such a suitable temperature, how could I be hot? Hahaha…”

Mama Huo smiled without saying anything.

With no one responding, the awkward dry laugh lasted only a few seconds before stopping.

The living room fell silent again.

The long wait for judgment felt like being slowly tortured, making Lin Xueqing feel as if she were sitting on pins and needles.

Ye Leyao observed the subtle changes in Lin Xueqing’s expression, not forgetting to comment inwardly:

[Second Aunt is sweating profusely, it doesn’t seem like she’s acting.]

Mama Huo glanced at Lin Xueqing, who was secretly wiping her sweat, and sneered inwardly.

Lin Xueqing was just reaping what she sowed!

Although the Chen family had declined and their assets had shrunk, the company was still operating normally, with an annual turnover of about five million. Moreover, Lin Xueqing would come to the Huo family once a month, and Mama Huo often subsidized her, so she was not short of money at all!

But Lin Xueqing was still not satisfied and set her sights on her jewelry.

She had better pray that the engagement ring hadn’t been sold off, otherwise—

It would be more than just kicking her out.

It felt like a long century had passed before Papa Huo and the butler finally came downstairs.

Ye Leyao instantly perked up, his eyes sparkling: [Here they come!]

Papa Huo handed a tablet to Mama Huo and whispered in her ear, “It’s not there.”

Besides Mama Huo, only Papa Huo knew which jewelry box Mama Huo kept the engagement ring in.

After speaking, Papa Huo glanced at Ye Leyao.

This time, Ye Leyao had made a contribution again.

Mama Huo’s eyes were almost spitting fire when she heard this. She clicked on the video, watched for only a few seconds, and then heavily placed the tablet in front of Lin Xueqing, her tone cold: “Explain this.”

What had to come finally came. So they found out?

Lin Xueqing closed her eyes. For some reason, her panicked heart suddenly calmed down at this moment. With her neck stiff, she felt a sense of serenity like a dead pig not afraid of boiling water.

When she opened her eyes, Lin Xueqing saw the tablet in front of her. She was stunned for a moment.

The video on the tablet was playing on a loop. It wasn’t long, only about ten seconds, a splice of two clips. The main content showed Lin Xueqing sneaking into Mama Huo’s dressing room and coming out after a long time.

Seeing this, Lin Xueqing’s tightly strung nerves relaxed for a moment.

She stared at the video, watched it twice more, and the more she watched, the more relaxed her demeanor became. She leaned back on the sofa, even changing to a more comfortable position.

“What does cousin want me to explain?” Lin Xueqing casually wiped the fine sweat off her forehead, her tone relaxed, with a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth.

Her change of expression was too fast, leaving Mama Huo somewhat stunned.

She had brought out the surveillance video, so what was Lin Xueqing’s reaction?

Ye Leyao widened his eyes:

[Is Second Aunt trying to play dumb?]

Looking again at the surveillance video looping on the tablet, Ye Leyao understood.

[It only captured Second Aunt entering the dressing room, not what happened inside. So, Second Aunt feels confident because there’s no direct evidence?]

Mama Huo’s face turned grim.

Papa Huo frowned.

Ye Leyao was right again.

Lin Xueqing indeed thought this way.

The reason she dared to sneakily take Mama Huo’s jewelry was that she had figured out that there was only one surveillance camera outside Mama Huo’s dressing room.

Just now, when she was caught off guard, she was too flustered and forgot such an important detail. Now, with her rationality returning, Lin Xueqing gradually regained her confidence.

The surveillance did capture her entering the dressing room, but so what?

She had always been very careful whenever she entered Mama Huo’s dressing room. The surveillance camera could only capture her going in and out, nothing else!

Without footage, there was no evidence. Without evidence saying she stole something, it was slander!

Lin Xueqing completely relaxed. Thinking of the dazzling array of jewelry in Mama Huo’s dressing room, she only regretted not taking more. Suppressing her jealousy, she revealed a faint smile: “I just went in for a look. Cousin, aren’t you overreacting a bit?”

After speaking, she glanced at Papa Huo, who was standing to the side.

Mama Huo was lucky. When she was young, Papa Huo was handsome, and now, even though he was older, he didn’t have the greasy feel of middle-aged men, unlike her husband, who was potbellied and made her feel nauseated every time she saw him.

A quick flash of discontent crossed Lin Xueqing’s eyes, but she put on what she thought was a gentle smile, brushed her hair back from her shoulders, and said coyly, “Cousin-in-law, look at my sister. I just went to have a look in her dressing room, and she’s so angry she even pulled up the surveillance. Isn’t that a bit too much?”

Ye Leyao’s eyes widened in shock:

[Is Second Aunt… trying to flirt with Papa Huo?]

Papa Huo’s eyelid twitched sharply. Before Mama Huo could speak, he sternly said, “Speak properly!”

The severe rebuke startled Lin Xueqing, and she immediately looked aggrieved: “Cousin in-law, why are you so fierce…”

Ye Leyao felt goosebumps all over, unable to resist rubbing his arms.

[No way, Second Aunt… is she possessed?]

[Why is she suddenly talking so disgustingly?]

If likes could be given, Papa Huo would definitely give Ye Leyao a big thumbs up!

Mama Huo was both angry and amused. The issue of stealing jewelry hadn’t even been resolved, and Lin Xueqing still had the mood to flirt with her husband. Did she really think Mama Huo was blind?

Mama Huo’s face turned serious: “Lin Xueqing! I’ll ask you once more, did you really not take my engagement ring?”

Lin Xueqing’s expression changed slightly upon hearing the words “engagement ring.”

The ring she casually took was actually Mama Huo’s engagement ring?

No wonder she was so agitated.

Lin Xueqing was briefly flustered but quickly regained her composure, calmly replying, “No.”

Then she put on a look of regret and grievance: “I was just envious of you having so many precious jewels and accessories, so I went in for a look. I don’t even know what your engagement ring looks like, why would I steal it?”

After a pause, she continued: “Besides, you have so many pieces of jewelry, maybe you wore the ring one day and misplaced it. How can you blame me for that?”

Growing up with Mama Huo, Lin Xueqing knew very well that Mama Huo had a habit of being forgetful.

Mama Huo understood that Lin Xueqing had no intention of admitting it.

Lin Xueqing stood up, picked up her bag: “Forget it, since you don’t believe me no matter how much I explain, why don’t you search me?”

Mama Huo and Papa Huo were taken aback when Lin Xueqing handed over her bag.

Lin Xueqing dared to offer her bag for a search because she was sure they wouldn’t find anything.

Sure enough, Ye Leyao mumbled:

[The ring is probably not in Second Aunt’s bag; she’s very cautious.]

Seeing that neither Papa nor Mama Huo took the bag, Lin Xueqing raised an eyebrow slightly: “It seems you do believe me?”

Lin Xueqing slowly withdrew her hand: “In that case, I’ll be leaving first. I care a lot about my reputation, and I hope I won’t hear any rumors in the future that could affect our relationship.”

“Right?” Lin Xueqing smiled smugly.

Mama Huo’s hand clenched slowly at her side, staring at her: “If it’s not in your bag, then it’s on you!”

Lin Xueqing’s eyes widened in surprise before she sneered: “Cousin, are you saying you want to search me?”

“If you didn’t take it,” Mama Huo said, “you wouldn’t be afraid of being searched, right?”

Lin Xueqing crossed her arms: “And if you don’t find it?”

Mama Huo remained silent.

Ye Leyao muttered to himself:

[No, how can Second Aunt be so confident?]

[If I remember correctly, based on other plot points, Second Aunt should have stolen and sold the engagement ring around this time.]

[But why is she so confident?]@@novelbin@@

[Could I have forgotten an important plot point?]

Ye Leyao opened his notes, flipping through and quickly recalling the plot in his mind.

Papa and Mama Huo were also tense.

Forgotten an important plot point?

Quick, remember it!

Seeing that Mama Huo didn’t speak for a long time, Lin Xueqing was certain Mama Huo wouldn’t really search her, and her smugness grew.

Originally, she was planning to leave directly, but now she didn’t intend to go.

Papa and Mama Huo couldn’t produce evidence, making her anxious for nothing. She wouldn’t be satisfied without some compensation.

Lin Xueqing leisurely sat back on the sofa, chuckled softly: “It seems you’re not so sure? But I have a bad temper, you know that…”

[Found it!!!]

Ye Leyao shouted.

Mama Huo closed her eyes in some pain.

Papa Huo rubbed his eardrum, which was almost shattered.

The timing was right, but it was really hard on the ears!

[I understand why Second Aunt is so confident! She had a plan from the start!]

[This method… hmm… Second Aunt is really harsh on herself! No wonder she was never caught!]

Mama Huo: “…”

So where exactly is it hidden?

Can you stop beating around the bush?

Lin Xueqing: “I don’t want much, just a little mental compensation, a million!”

[Swallowing the ring without water… and then later… mm-hmm…]

[This is really hard to comment on.]

[Won’t she choke?!]

[Judging by this, Second Aunt has already swallowed the ring. But what about Mama Huo’s ring? If Second Aunt swallowed it recently, the ring should still be in her stomach, right?]

[It shouldn’t have reached the intestines yet… right?]

Mama Huo was first shocked, then even more shocked, and finally, her face turned dark with anger.

Lin Xueqing actually!

She actually dared!

How could she!!!

Seeing the two of them change their expressions so quickly, Lin Xueqing coldly sneered. She only asked for a million, and they thought it was too much?

“Cousin, if you don’t want to give the money, I can take it to court…”

“Call the police,” Mama Huo suddenly said.

Lin Xueqing was stunned, the smug look on her face disappearing. She looked at Mama Huo incredulously: “Cousin, what are you saying…”

“Theft, extortion,” Mama Huo’s temple throbbed violently. “Either charge will land you in jail for a long time, right?”

She originally just wanted to get the ring back and let it go.

But Lin Xueqing had gone too far!!!

Calling the police now…

They should still be able to retrieve the ring from her stomach, right?

“When did I steal anything?!” Lin Xueqing said angrily.

Mama Huo glanced at her stomach and sneered: “Don’t you know whether you stole it or not?!”

Following her gaze to her own stomach, Lin Xueqing’s expression changed abruptly, suddenly feeling guilty.

Could it be that they found out she swallowed the ring?

Seeing Papa Huo pick up his phone, Lin Xueqing realized they weren’t joking. She hurriedly said, “Fine, no need to give me the money! I’ll just drop it. Why call the police?”

Panicking, she stood up, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door.

In her haste, her high heel slipped on the floor, and she fell flat on her back.

Ye Leyao’s mouth dropped open.

[A sea… sea cow?]