When the box was opened, the smile on Mrs. Li's face froze. The old lady noticed and frowned in confusion before glancing inside the box herself. In an instant, her expression darkened.
"This is the gift you prepared for me?" Her voice trembled with restrained fury as she turned to glare at Su Mingyuan.
Su Mingyuan stepped forward, peered into the box—and immediately broke into a cold sweat.
The box was empty.
The priceless Yuan Dynasty bracelet was gone.
"What's going on here?" Su Mingyuan bellowed, turning sharply toward Gu Xiangyun.
Gu Xiangyun feigned shock, her face pale as she clutched her chest. "I—I don't know! The box was in Su Jin's care the whole time."
The moment the words left her mouth, every gaze in the room shifted to Su Jin.
Su Nuo furrowed her brows, stepping forward as if to defend her. "Sister, this isn't funny. Please stop joking with Grandma and hand over the bracelet."
Su Jin calmly met their eyes, her gaze sweeping across the crowd before settling on Gu Xiangyun.
The woman was sipping her tea with trembling hands, a flicker of guilt flashing across her face.
Beside her, Su Nuo sat with a sweet, innocent expression—as if none of this had anything to do with her.
The old lady's gaze lingered on Su Jin, her eyes dimming with a trace of disappointment.
Su Nuo's pointed words, spoken with innocent concern, seemed to seal the conclusion: the bracelet had been entrusted to Su Jin. Now, she had no way to explain herself.
Even if she somehow produced the bracelet, the damage was done—she'd be seen as someone who dared to hide it. But worse still, she couldn't even take it out.
"Take it out," Su Mingyuan snapped, his voice tight with urgency, sweat beading on his forehead.
He had spared no effort in pleasing the old lady lately, hoping she would hand over the remaining 50% of the company's shares. But now, thanks to Su Jin, everything was spiraling out of control.
Su Jin looked calmly at her enraged father, then shifted her gaze to the old lady, whose disappointment pierced deeper than any accusation.
"The bracelet is not with me," she said firmly.
Her voice fell, and the room erupted.
"What do you mean it's not with you?" Su Nuo was the first to speak again, her expression twisted in disbelief. "Weren't you the one holding it?"
Gu Xiangyun's lips twitched with delight, though her tone was stern and serious. "This isn't a game, Su Jin. That bracelet is worth a fortune. If it's not with you—did you lose it?"
The old lady's face darkened further, her expression clouded with growing impatience and distrust. Her silence carried weight—a quiet condemnation that stung more than any words.
"Although it's not with me," Su Jin said, her tone calm and assured, "I have a way to find it."
The old lady's eyes narrowed with curiosity. "Oh? And how do you plan to do that?"
Su Jin turned toward Mrs. Li and said gently, "Please turn off the lights."
Mrs. Li glanced at the old lady, who gave a slight nod. With a flick of the switch, the entire room was plunged into darkness.
For a moment, everything was still—until a soft, faint glow appeared in the corner of the room.
Right where Gu Xiangyun was sitting.
"What is that?" the old lady asked sharply. Though her eyesight had faded with age, she could still make out the shimmering light.
Suddenly, Gu Xiangyun let out a shrill gasp, as if she'd just seen a ghost. Her hand dove into her pocket, and with a panicked motion, she flung something to the ground. The object hit the marble floor with a soft clink and rolled slightly before stopping.
The lights flicked back on.
Everyone's gaze dropped instantly—to the bracelet lying at Gu Xiangyun's feet.
For a split second, there was dead silence.
Then, right before their eyes, Gu Xiangyun tried to nudge the bracelet away with the tip of her shoe, her face pale, eyes darting with guilt.
Caught in the act.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Su Jin bent down and picked up the bracelet with care, gently brushing the dust from its surface. Her voice was soft, yet every word struck with quiet force. "This was a gift from Father to Grandmother. You took it... and even tried to frame me, why?"
Gasps rippled through the room. Gu Xiangyun stood frozen, all eyes now focused on her. The smile that had moments ago played on her lips was gone—replaced by the pale panic of someone caught red-handed.
"I… I…" she stammered, her gaze darting across the room. She met Su Jin's calm, composed eyes and suddenly snapped. "It was you! You framed me, didn't you?!"
Su Jin's lips curled into a faint, hurt smile. She lowered her gaze just enough to seem fragile. "Mother," she said, her voice tinged with wounded innocence, "even if you dislike me, this bracelet is a priceless heirloom meant for Grandmother. Why would I steal it? And how could I possibly plant it… when it was found on you?"
"I—You little witch, don't twist things!" Gu Xiangyun shouted, losing all decorum. "You dared… you dared to put it in my—" She suddenly stopped herself mid-sentence.
Too late.
She slapped her own hand over her mouth, but the damage had been done. Silence fell like a hammer.
The implication was clear.
"You put it in my handbag…" she had said.
But hadn't she just claimed it was Su Jin who had the bracelet?
The room erupted in whispers.
The old lady's face turned ice-cold. "Enough."
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried power. The murmuring stopped instantly.
She looked at Gu Xiangyun with sharp eyes, disappointment thick in her tone. "Xiangyun, is this the example you set for the younger generation?"
Gu Xiangyun opened her mouth, but no words came out.
She was finished.