222: Chapter 220 Lost Diamond 222: Chapter 220 Lost Diamond “Let me first toast everyone here,” said Zhu Yanfang, “first to thank you for coming, and second, Du, Luo, and Zhou are my friends, so I want to give you a special toast.
These three friends here are new faces to me, how should I address you?”
Tangyu said, “We are representing Xinxin Culture and Art Company.
Our boss Zhao has really important matters to attend to and couldn’t make it, unfortunately.
Boss Zhao asked me to apologize and to wish you a happy birthday, Miss Zhu!”
“Oh, please thank your boss Zhao for me,” Zhu Yanfang responded with a smile that barely concealed her pride, and Tangyu could tell she looked down on herself and Liu Shanshan with contempt.
Zhu Yanfang’s gaze then fell on Yang Xiaoyu, who replied with a smile, “Miss Zhu, I’m here on behalf of my father, Yang Xiangxian, to attend your banquet.
Happy birthday, Miss Zhu, you’re getting more and more beautiful.”
“Oh, it’s the young master of the Yang Family, my apologies for the oversight, please forgive any lack of hospitality.
Later, I’ll have my father keep you company and drink a few toasts, as I can’t hold my liquor,” Zhu Yanfang said, her face blossoming with a joyful smile.
Everyone in the upper echelons of society knew what the Yang Family represented.
As one of the “Big Five,” the Yang Family’s influence and power were not to be underestimated.
Indeed, if the Yang Family so much as stomped their foot, the whole of Donglin City would shake.
“Hehe, you’re too kind, Miss Zhu.
Today’s your special day, you should be busy.
I can take care of myself,” Yang Xiaoyu said with a smile.
“Mm,” Zhu Yanfang smiled in acknowledgement and glanced at Liu Shanshan.
As she reached for a glass on the table and took a step forward, her foot slipped.
Zhu Yanfang let out a panicked ‘ah’ and stumbled forward.
“Be careful,” Liu Shanshan reacted quickly, reaching out to support Zhu Yanfang.
Tangyu’s attention also shifted to Zhu Yanfang, and she noticed a sly look flash across her eyes, which didn’t escape Tangyu’s notice.
As Liu Shanshan steadied her, Zhu Yanfang stealthily slipped something into Liu Shanshan’s pocket.
Seeing this, Tangyu immediately understood.
Zhu Yanfang had colluded with Zhou Tao to frame someone, and the object she placed in Liu Shanshan’s pocket must be of great value.
Tangyu’s gaze shifted to Zhu Yanfang’s necklace, and he realized that the diamond pendant was missing.
The diamond, as large as a thumb cap, was probably worth millions.
What a ruthless move, playing the game so cruelly.
Tangyu’s own heart snorted at the thought.
This Zhou Tao needed a lesson in the future.
Tangyu remained unfazed, letting Zhou Tao think he had the upper hand, ready to play along.
Zhu Yanfang stood up and straightened her clothes, then smiled at Liu Shanshan, “Thank you.” After giving a slight, discreet glance to Zhou Tao and catching his eye, he gave a faint smirk.
“No problem,” Liu Shanshan responded with a polite nod and a smile.
Zhu Yanfang accepted a glass of wine from a waiter behind her and said, “Come, I’ll toast everyone here.”
After everyone finished their drinks, Zhu Yanfang approached Zhou Tao and said, “Thank you, Zhou, for gracing us with your presence today and for your generous gift.
Let me toast you personally.”
Zhou Tao smiled and replied, “Today is your birthday, Miss Zhu, it should be me toasting you.
Your necklace is really beautiful, oh— it seems like it’s missing a pendant?”
Zhou Tao’s observation immediately drew many curious glances their way.
Tangyu looked at Zhou Tao, expecting the drama to unfold.
Unnoticed by others, a devilish smile curved Tangyu’s lips.
“Really?” Zhu Yanfang touched her necklace to check and her expression darkened, “Where is my pendant?
It was here all the time, I just checked earlier, what happened?”
“What, no way, could it have fallen?” Zhou Tao feigned astonishment.
“How could that be?
Unless someone actually pulled it off, it wouldn’t just fall off the chain.
But no, that can’t be right either, Miss Zhu, you’ve been wearing it the whole time, how could anyone have pulled it off?” Du Xiaowen also appeared puzzled.
The surrounding people also turned their confused gaze toward them, and whispers about what happened started to spread.
“Miss Zhu, did you maybe take it off yourself and forget?”
“Yeah, to lose something here, could it be that someone unsavory sneaked in?”
The murmur of speculation grew, drawing more attention to the scene.
The lively banquet hall suddenly turned its focus away from the food and chatter.
Zhu Yanfang put on a thoughtful act, shook her head, and said, “No, it’s impossible.
I have only been here for such a short time, why would I take it off?
I was just chatting with some sisters, and they were complimenting my necklace.
It must have disappeared during this short while.” She searched herself again but found nothing.
Liu Shanshan was also a bit at a loss as she watched, attending an upper-class party for the first time, such an incident had occurred right beside her.
Observing the display put on by Zhu Yanfang and Zhou Tao and their group, Tangyu couldn’t help but scoff silently, watching the drama unfold with a composed demeanor.
The end of the play was not yet reached, and it was still uncertain how things would turn out.
Zhou Tao said, “This doesn’t make sense.
The necklace couldn’t just get lost without any reason.
It was a carefully selected birthday gift from your father, purchased at an auction for a high price—worth tens of millions.
It’s not impossible that it would arouse someone’s greed.
Miss Zhu, don’t panic, try to think if you had any close contact with someone.
In my opinion, it’s very likely that your pendant was taken by someone, otherwise, I can’t think of any other possibilities.”
“What?
Someone dared to steal here?”
“It can’t be, Miss Zhu’s diamond worth over ten million was stolen?”
The venue suddenly started to get a bit restless, with more and more onlookers gathering, and a buzz of discussion.
Zhu Yanfang shook her head and said, “No, I didn’t have any contact with anyone, this is really strange.
Until just now, I was sure it was still there; it must have disappeared in the past few moments.
You didn’t mention it, and I had no idea the pendant had gone missing.
No worries, everyone, don’t be tense, please sit down and continue drinking.
I will look for it myself.” Her implication was clear that she was confident the pendant had been lost right here at this table.
With Zhu Yanfang’s words, the focus of the surrounding people shifted to this table.
“Well, Miss Zhu, that’s not necessarily the case.
Just now, someone did have physical contact with you.” Luo Shuang suddenly spoke up, glancing at Liu Shanshan.
His remark quickly drew everyone’s gaze to Liu Shanshan; many had witnessed what happened just moments before.
Liu Shanshan indeed had close contact with Zhu Yanfang just now, which made her the prime suspect in the eyes of the spectators.
Facing the sharp stares of scrutiny, Liu Shanshan’s face turned hot, and she was taken aback, not expecting to become the target of accusation.
She immediately shook her head and said, “I didn’t, I only helped Miss Zhu just now, I absolutely did not touch her pendant.”
“But you can’t be so sure about that.
A wrongdoer never admits they’re in the wrong,” Luo Shuang said with a cold laugh.
Yang Xiaoyu couldn’t bear it anymore and glared at Luo Shuang, snapping, “What do you mean by that?
Show some respect when you speak.”
“Oh, Young Master Yang, such a presence you have.
What did I say wrong?
I’m just speaking the truth.
What, is it a crime to tell the truth now?
Did I accuse her of taking the item?
Miss Zhu’s valuable item is lost; we have to analyze the reasons and possibilities, right?
I’m merely mentioning what I thought and saw.” Luo Shuang replied.
“You—” Yang Xiaoyu was getting angry when Tangyu pulled him aside, signaling him to sit down with a smile, “The innocent are clear, and the guilty are muddy, standing upright and sitting straight, what is there to fear?
If you didn’t take it, you didn’t take it; there’s nothing to hide, and even if there is a misunderstanding, it’s not a big deal.
Today we are just guests, and the hosts deserve our respect.” Tangyu’s words were not without irony, making Zhu Yanfang’s ears burn, as if to say she hadn’t given the guests the respect they were due.
Zhou Tao glanced at Luo Shuang and said, “Luo, you can’t talk like that; it’s not right to say such things.
Miss, please don’t take offense, I apologize on behalf of my friend for his words as he didn’t mean to offend you.
However, as you’ve seen, we lost something very valuable right here, so we need to investigate, right?
Since you had physical contact with Miss Zhu just now, and the situation then was a bit critical, consider the possibility that Miss Zhu’s pendant might have accidentally gotten caught on your clothing.
If you don’t mind, could you please check yourself?
I absolutely do not mean to force you; it’s just a suggestion.
If you find my suggestion somewhat excessive, I apologize and let’s pretend I haven’t said anything.
Miss Zhu, you should also check yourself, perhaps it could have fallen on you, right?”
Zhou Tao’s words sounded very reasonable, but it was clear he had made Liu Shanshan the focus of everyone’s attention.
Yang Xiaoyu was visibly irritated, biting his lip; had it not been for Tangyu’s intervention, he would have certainly retorted against Zhou Tao.
Having finished speaking, Zhou Tao’s gaze turned to Tangyu, but to his frustration, Tangyu’s face was calm and indifferent, as if completely unworried.
Although Tangyu’s expression did not provide Zhou Tao with any satisfaction, he still smirked internally, waiting to see their faces fall.
Liu Shanshan said, “Okay, I will search for it.”
“Ah, Zhou, you might have gone a bit too far with that.
It’s improbable that such a coincidence had occurred,” Zhu Yanfang interjected as she saw Liu Xianshan starting to search herself and began doing the same.
Liu Shanshan searched herself and shook her head, saying, “No, there’s nothing on me, I really don’t have it.”
“Humph, you could never find it by searching yourself; I knew this without thinking,” retorted Luo Shuang inappropriately, as Yang Xiaoyu shot him a fierce look.
Liu Shanshan’s complexion grew increasingly uncomfortable; this was the first time she had been accused of something so embarrassing as stealing, and she really wanted to leave the place at that moment.
“Hey, Luo, you’re going a bit too far with that.
How could that be possible?
I believe in this young lady’s character.
She says she doesn’t have it, so she definitely does not.
Miss Zhu, you didn’t find it either, right?
That’s strange, maybe it really did grow legs and walk away, or perhaps there really is a master thief,” Zhou Tao said, his words tinged with mockery.