"Alright, it's getting late, I'll go prepare lunch for you."
Shen Qingqing glanced at her watch. It was already 11 AM, time for lunch. KuAiδugg
Chenchen watched her leave and immediately called his younger brother.
"Brother, what's up?"
Chenchen got straight to the point, "When exactly are you coming back?"
"I told Mom earlier, I'll be back within three days..."
"Hurry up."
Xixi, not understanding, asked, "Why? Why are you suddenly so anxious?"
"Daddy is on a business trip, and it's just you and Mommy at home," Chenchen said earnestly. "I don't want Mommy to worry about you anymore."
Xixi paused for a moment and said, "I know, don't worry about me. I'll be back as soon as possible. It's up to you to take care of Mom. When I get back, I'll apologize to Mom myself."
"Mom isn't blaming you," Chenchen said, covering the receiver as he heard footsteps outside. "I'm just worried Mom might overthink things alone. Daddy seems to be gone for several days..."
"Then you're overthinking it." Xixi didn't believe that about their mother. "With Mom's personality, she wouldn't overthink things."
Chenchen fell silent.
Xixi felt that he might be unhappy and quickly said, "Okay, okay, I don't mean I don't care about Mom. I just... forget it, let's not talk about it. Don't worry, I'm almost done with my stuff here, and I'll be back as soon as I can."
After hanging up, Chenchen heard a knock on the door.
He put down his phone and went to open it. He saw the maid standing at the door. "Young Master, Madam is calling you down for lunch."
"Okay, I understand."
Chenchen, holding his phone, went downstairs. He saw Old Madam Fu and Fu Tingsheng already seated at the dining table, and his mother standing beside it, taking off her apron.
He quickly went over to help.
Shen Qingqing smiled at him. "Thank you."
Chenchen put on a well-behaved smile. Just as everyone was about to pick up their chopsticks, the front door was pushed open with a loud bang.
A group of people rushed in from outside.
Chenchen was startled and quickly hid behind his mother. Fu Tingsheng immediately stood up. As the only man in the house at the moment, he shielded the elderly woman and the child behind him.
"Who are you people? Trespassing is illegal. I can call the police."
The people who rushed in were all burly, menacing men in black, wearing sunglasses. As soon as they entered, they pushed the maids aside without a word and surrounded them. The large living room was filled with a tense silence, with only Fu Tingsheng's group standing out.
Two tall, imposing men stood at the entrance, blocking it securely, making it impossible for anyone to leave.
A woman walked between them.
The woman was dressed in a black suit, her short hair neatly styled, exuding an air of competence. However, her expression was now one of cold indifference.
Shen Qingqing stepped out from behind Fu Tingsheng. "Ning Xin."
"Miss Shen."
Ning Xin nodded slightly, very politely.
Shen Qingqing looked at the few strong men behind her. "If you wanted to visit, you could have done so openly or called in advance, and I would have welcomed you warmly. But you barged in with so many people, forcing open my door. This is trespassing."
She took out her phone from her pocket. Even under the oppressive gaze of so many men, she showed no signs of retreating or fear.
"Miss Shen, don't be in a hurry to call the police," Ning Xin said calmly, her expression unchanged. "I believe you wouldn't want the police to know about what's about to happen."
"What do you mean?"
Ning Xin raised her hand, and the two bodyguards beside her immediately closed the door. The sunlight from outside was blocked, and though there were many people in the hall, the silence and oppression in the air sent chills down their spines.
Ning Xin walked with measured steps and sat down on the sofa, crossing her legs elegantly and clasping her hands on her knees. "I've come because you stole my belongings. I didn't call the police because I wanted to save you some face, but if you insist on calling... this matter won't be so easily contained."
Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow. "What did I steal from you?"
Ning Xin said indifferently, "A necklace."
Shen Qingqing was amused, yet also felt a strange sense of confusion. "When did I steal your necklace? Moreover, even if you believe I stole it, you should have called the police to arrest me, not come to my house to handle it yourself for the sake of saving me face."
Ning Xin seemed unconcerned. "If you want the police to handle it, I have no objections."
She had brought so many people with her so conspicuously, and she was not worried about the police being called. It was clear she had a reason to feel at ease.
Could it be...
That the so-called necklace was really with her?
Shen Qingqing's mind raced with possibilities, but her expression remained calm. "Clarify what you mean. What necklace? When was it lost? Where was it lost?"
Ning Xin smiled knowingly, as if she had already been certain that Shen Qingqing wouldn't call the police and had never shown any signs of panic.
"It seems you admit you stole it."
Shen Qingqing's expression was one of exasperation. "Can't you understand what I'm saying?"
She repeated, enunciating each word carefully:
"I'm asking you what necklace it is, where it was lost, and when it was lost. Do you have any proof that I took it?"
A man beside them, seeing her attitude, angrily reprimanded, "How dare you! Who told you to speak to our boss like that?"
Shen Qingqing glanced at him. "And who do you think you are?"
The man was momentarily stunned, almost sputtering with anger. "What do you mean 'who am I'? I'm a person, not a thing. You stole something and you have the audacity to yell here. I've never seen such a shameless person!"
Shen Qingqing raised an eyebrow. "Produce evidence. Without evidence, it's slander."
The man was about to say more, but Ning Xin raised a hand, and the man immediately fell silent, only glaring fiercely at Shen Qingqing.
Ning Xin said calmly, "Miss Shen, I advise you to return the necklace to me quickly, and this matter will be over. Otherwise, if it gets out of hand, it won't look good for you."
She raised her hand and carefully examined her fair fingernails.
"After all, you are the wife of the CEO of Royce Group. If news of you stealing something were to spread... the stock of Royce Group would likely become volatile."
Shen Qingqing narrowed her eyes slightly. Suddenly, she felt a small hand grip her sleeve. She looked down and saw Chenchen's small hand, pale and tightly clenched onto hers. His bright, dark eyes were filled with worry.
She stroked Chenchen's head. "Don't worry, Mommy is here."
Chenchen nodded, glanced at Ning Xin, and whispered, "Mommy, I'll protect you too. Don't be scared."
Shen Qingqing was taken aback.
Then, she smiled gently, kissed Chenchen's forehead, and pushed the child toward Old Madam Fu.
"Grandma, please take care of him for me."
"Alright."
Shen Qingqing turned to Ning Xin. "Since you claim I stole something, produce your evidence."