Chapter 40 - The Culprit Appeared

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The socialites standing behind Ji Qian looked at each other, and their faces turned pale. They did not know if it was one of them who did it. If it was, it would be embarrassing to get exposed in public.

Since they resolved the orchid issue already, Old Master Zhuang did not want to get involved anymore. He waved his hand and said, “Since you want to investigate, then go ahead. Xiao Yu [Zhuang Yu’s nickname], bring Mrs. Ji and the others to check the surveillance cameras.”

With that, Old Master Zhuang walked away. Zhuang Yu, who Old Master Zhuang appointed, looked at Shen Hanxing with sparkling eyes and said in a friendly manner, “Mrs. Ji, please follow me. I’ll take you to check the surveillance cameras.”

It was not just Zhuang Yu, many people present looked at Shen Hanxing with strange and intimate gazes. They liked Shen Hanxing’s protective personality. Being friends with such a person would make them feel very safe!

Ji Ning and Ji Qian stood on both sides of Shen Hanxing. Faced with all those gazes, a strong sense of urgency suddenly rose in their hearts. This isn’t good, the people here discovered how awesome their sister-in-law was, now they want to snatch their sister-in-law away from them!

This sense of urgency made them grab Shen Hanxing’s arms tightly as if marking their territory.

Shen Hanxing did not notice how tense the two of them became. Instead, she followed Zhuang Yu and led a group of people to the surveillance room in a grandiose manner.

A few socialites were dragging behind the main group, trying to find an opportunity to escape. However, behind them were the Zhuang family’s bodyguards, so there was nowhere to run.

With Zhuang Yu around, she quickly pulled up the surveillance footage. The footage clearly showed that a girl wearing a black mini skirt pushed Ji Qian while she was admiring the orchid.

The footage showed that Ji Qian was caught off guard and instantly fell forward. The moment she fell, she remembered that she couldn’t touch the precious orchid, but she could not overcome the inertia of the fall, so, in the end, she still fell onto the shelf that displayed the orchid.

Ji Qian’s eyes turned red. Full of hatred, she turned around and searched for the woman who was trying to hide behind the crowd. “Chen Tingting! Give me an explanation!”

Chen Tingting’s face was as pale as a sheet of paper, she stumbled and said, “No, Qian Qian, it’s not what you think. I lost my balance and accidentally bumped into you. Really...Please believe me, okay? We’re best friends, I have no reason to frame you.”

Best Friends? What kind of best friend is this!

Everyone present couldn’t help but look at Chen Tingting with disdain. After all, everyone knew that Ji Qian and Chen Tingting were good friends. The two of them were practically inseparable, but Chen Tingting stabbed Ji Qian in the back...

No one dares to have such a two-faced friend.

Ji Qian was both sad and angry. “You dare say that we’re good friends? What did I do to you that made you go through so much trouble to frame me?”

“I didn’t want to either. I didn’t do it on purpose, Qian Qian.” Chen Tingting didn’t think that she would be exposed. She cried, “I accidentally bumped into you. I wanted to apologize at first, but things got out of hand. I didn’t dare... I didn’t dare to stand up... Qian Qian, please believe me, okay?”

“You didn’t dare to stand out, so you just watched me suffer?” Ji Qian looked at her disappointingly.

Ji Qian poured her heart and soul into Chen Tingting. Chen Tingting’s family prioritized sons over daughters. Her parents bullied her and didn’t give her money. The socialites in S City would laugh at her every time they gathered. Ji Qian didn’t care about her identity or what others said. When others laughed at Chen Tingting’s tattered clothes, she would take her shopping and buy clothes. She would give her gifts so that she could feel that she belonged among the socialites and not be laughed at.

But in the end? What did she get in return?

“When I was being criticized, when I was flustered and helpless, what were you doing? Did you also stand in the crowd and laugh at me? Did you laugh at my stupidity and how you played me?”

“No, I didn’t. Qian Qian, you have to believe me. I was scared.”

Chen Tingting grabbed Ji Qian’s wrist and pleaded softly, “I’m different from you. I don’t have anyone to back me up. I didn’t dare, I didn’t dare to stand out for you... Qian Qian, please forgive me this time.”

Chen Tingting cried until her voice was hoarse, and she didn’t care about her image as a socialite. In the past, whenever Chen Tingting cried, Ji Qian would roll up her sleeves and teach those who bullied her a lesson.

But now, Ji Qian watched as she pitifully pleaded with her, her tears and snot mixed together, and all she felt irony and powerless.

No one to back her up? When Ji Qian was being criticized by everyone, she was also by herself. She never thought that someone would back her up!

The reason she could stand here and listen to Chen Tingting’s heart-wrenching repentance was that her sister-in-law suddenly appeared and protected her like a hero. But what if her sister-in-law did not appear? What kind of consequences would she face?