"The place where my necklace was lost was at the banquet, just before I went to the restroom to find you. I had taken out the necklace to look at it, and after going in to speak with you for a few words, it had vanished by the time I came out of the school grounds."
Ning Xin rested her chin on her hand, calm and composed.
"I've had a lot of people investigating the surveillance footage and also searched the restroom, but we haven't found the necklace. Moreover, I didn't take the necklace out in the restroom at the time, so there's only one possibility."
Shen Qing Qing let out a cold laugh, "And based on this, you've concluded that I stole it?"
"Is there a problem?"
"Of course there is!" Shen Qing Qing's words were firm. "Everything requires evidence, especially when convicting a criminal. You need to present irrefutable human or physical evidence. If we go by your account, it's also possible that someone else went into the restroom after we left."
"Or perhaps you hid the necklace yourself before going to the restroom," Shen Qing Qing added with a light, sarcastic chuckle. "There are too many possibilities."
The man rebuked, "You woman are truly glib and silver-tongued! You clearly stole the item, yet you're slandering us. I see you're refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit."
Shen Qing Qing narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing the man with a discerning gaze before looking at Ning Xin.
"Miss Ning, who is in charge here, you or is he the boss?"
Ning Xin cast a glance at the man, a humble smile on her face. "My subordinates are quite loyal, and they can be a bit impulsive in their words and actions. Please forgive us, Miss Shen."
Even at this moment, she still displayed her upbringing and politeness.
Shen Qing Qing sneered inwardly.
Of course she was polite; after all, everything that could be said or couldn't be said, what should be said and what shouldn't be said, had already been voiced by the man beside her.
"We will not accept these baseless accusations!" Fu Ting Sheng stepped forward, a chill appearing on his usually gentle face. "Since our Jing Shu is not here, I will naturally protect my daughter-in-law. Don't think of taking advantage of the situation; our family is not without its protectors."
Before Ning Xin could speak, Madam Fu, the elder matriarch, also spoke with authority. "Miss Ning, I, this old woman, have heard of your reputation before – spirited and heroic, a woman who can stand toe to toe with any man. I've wanted to meet you several times, but I never imagined our first meeting would be under these circumstances."
Ning Xin smiled, "Thank you for your praise, Madam."
"I am very fond of my granddaughter-in-law, and I believe in her character. She would never engage in petty thievery." Madam Fu's expression was gentle, but her voice carried an implicit threat. "Miss Ning, you need to present evidence, or we will call the police and sue you for defamation."
Ning Xin observed Shen Qing Qing's family – from the elders to Fu Ting Sheng – they all seemed to stand by Shen Qing Qing unconditionally, no matter what happened.
She suddenly thought of Ning Su.
She and her sister used to be so close, but ever since she fell for Fu Jing Shu, everything had changed. Ultimately, it was all because of this family.
She knew this was misplaced anger.
But the thought of her sister becoming like that made it impossible for her to rationally distinguish right from wrong.
"Miss Shen, if you wish to prove you didn't steal anything, then allow us to search the handbag you brought to the banquet that day." Ning Xin said.
Shen Qing Qing looked at her calmly, "You want to search just because you say so?"
The man provocatively asked, "Feeling guilty?!"
Shen Qing Qing rolled her eyes at him, not bothering to reply. "Ning Xin, I'll say it again: you need to prove that the item was indeed taken by me before you can propose searching my bag. Otherwise, if anyone just comes along and suspects me of theft, they can just barge into my home and search haphazardly?"
This was too amusing.
She burst out laughing. "There's no such logic in this world. If you accuse me, you need to find the evidence yourself, not bring a group of unknown individuals to my home and trespass!"
Chen Chen, who was beside them, whispered, "The lawyer uncle said trespassing is illegal and can result in arrest and detention."
Suddenly, all eyes fell on the child. Chen Chen disliked being stared at and, shrinking his head, hid back into Madam Fu's embrace.
Madam Fu patted the little one's head, shielding him from all the unwelcome gazes. Her voice remained kind. "A child understands this logic, and I believe Miss Ning should understand it too."
This statement was practically saying that if even a child understood, and Ning Xin didn't, then she was truly inferior to a child.
Ning Xin didn't get angry. "Since I'm here, it's naturally because I have evidence. I've only held back until now to give Miss Shen one last chance."
Shen Qing Qing raised an eyebrow. "There's no need. I didn't steal anything, so what opportunity do I need?"
"It seems Miss Shen really wants to make this a public spectacle."
Shen Qing Qing shrugged, showing no fear.
Ning Xin nodded and raised her left hand. Her lady's watch slid from her slender wrist to her elbow. A tablet was placed in her palm.
The tablet was on, displaying a simple topographical map with a blinking red dot.
She zoomed in with two fingers. It clearly showed streets, houses, and shop names. The red dot's location was precisely in this villa area.
When zoomed in to the maximum, an arrow appeared around the red dot.
"Miss Shen, you may not know this, but I attached a locator to that necklace." Ning Xin's gaze was fixed on the red dot on the screen, her voice cold. "This locator currently indicates that the necklace is at your home."
The man beside her snorted and became arrogant again. "Now I'd like to see what else you have to say. The locator already shows the necklace is in your house!"
Ning Xin handed him the tablet.
He took the tablet and shoved it in front of Shen Qing Qing and the others for them to see, then immediately ordered his men to go upstairs and search.
"Wait a moment!"
Shen Qing Qing blocked their path.
The man's face contorted slightly. "Are you never going to stop? We gave you the evidence you asked for, and now you're obstructing us. This shows you're guilty and trying to hide it! If you don't let us search, we're going to search today!"
Shen Qing Qing stood her ground. "Under what authority are you rummaging through my home?"
The man faltered, instinctively looking at Ning Xin.
Ning Xin stood up, and the men parted to the sides. She walked closer slowly. "You wanted evidence, and I've presented it. Are you still going to quibble?"
"And how does that prove that your locator is fixed on that particular necklace?" Shen Qing Qing crossed her arms, standing firm.
Ning Xin said coldly, "It seems you're not going to move."
Shen Qing Qing was unyielding. "Of course not."
Ning Xin laughed in anger. "Fine, then don't blame me for using force."
"Try me."
The two women were beautiful in their own ways; one was dazzling and captivating, the other spirited and heroic. The atmosphere between them was palpably tense.
For a moment, no one dared to step forward and speak.