Everyone had only been focused on the missing hundred yuan and Shen Suyu’s supposed impropriety. But when Shen Suyu spoke, they finally realized something was off. A murmur ran through the crowd. Of course—if no money was stolen, why would anyone go through someone else’s bag?
Shen Suyu glanced at Meng Zhiqing’s increasingly pale face and let out a slow, soft hum. “So, the truth is… you didn’t steal any money, but you deliberately stuffed those birth control items into my bag, intending to frame me, right?”
At these words, Meng Zhiqing’s legs went weak, a flash of fear crossing her eyes. Impossible… when did Shen Suyu, that fool, become so smart? Or had she seen everything?
“Meng Zhiqing, you’d better answer honestly about tonight. What exactly happened?” Gu Yanshen’s face darkened as he looked at Meng Zhiqing, his voice stern. “If you lie, any future verification will hold you accountable.”
Being someone in a position of authority, long accustomed to judging offenders, Gu Yanshen naturally exuded an imposing pressure. His question made Meng Zhiqing’s legs tremble.
“No, it wasn’t me! I’m innocent!” The inexperienced sent-down girl, terrified by the pressure, glanced at Zhong Xin among the spectators.
“Yes… yes, it was Zhong Xin who instructed me! It was her idea!” She immediately pointed at Zhong Xin in the crowd.
“It was Zhong Xin who gave me money. She said her brother got in trouble because of Shen Suyu, so she wanted to ruin Shen Suyu’s reputation. It was all her plan!”
“And this money, it was all from Zhong Xin. It’s not my fault—I was just following her lead!” Meng Zhiqing said, pulling out a small handful of cash from her pocket, directly implicating Zhong Xin, who had been hiding in the crowd. A secret thrill ran through her—if they were in this together, Zhong Xin wouldn’t get away clean!
“She can all vouch that Zhong Xin came to me tonight!” Meng Zhiqing added, fearing Gu Yanshen wouldn’t believe her, pointing toward a few onlookers.
“Yes, we saw it. Zhong Xin approached Meng Zhiqing while we were having dinner tonight.”
“They even talked quite a bit—turns out it was about doing harm!” Several gossiping sent-down youth quickly nodded in agreement with Meng Zhiqing.
Immediately, all eyes turned toward Zhong Xin, who had been snacking and watching the chaos, now dumbfounded. Gu Yanshen’s cold gaze swept over her.
Zhong Xin froze for a moment, then, realizing, furiously rushed toward Meng Zhiqing. “You little bitch, you’re spouting lies! I’ll tear your mouth apart!”
“I let you talk, you wretched girl!” Zhong Xin yelled, her face twisted, clawing at Meng Zhiqing’s face with her long, untrimmed nails.
“Ah!!” Meng Zhiqing screamed in agony, covering her face, tears streaming down. Her face was streaked with long scratches of blood.
“You… how dare you hit me!” Meng Zhiqing shouted, glaring at her bloodied hands, ready to charge at Zhong Xin.
“Enough!” Gu Yanshen barked sharply. His subordinates quickly moved in, dragging Zhong Xin and Meng Zhiqing apart like dead weights.
“Zhong Xin, people can prove you and Meng Zhiqing were talking for a long time. How do you explain this?” Gu Yanshen asked coldly, staring at the flailing girl.
Seeing Gu Yanshen’s gaze, Zhong Xin quickly put on a coy expression. “Co… Commander Gu, it’s all Meng Zhiqing lying! It was her idea—I didn’t do anything!”
“Commander Gu, she’s lying. She instructed me, I’m innocent!” Meng Zhiqing quickly cried out, playing the victim.
Each side accused the other, neither relenting. The sent-down youth office became a chaotic scene of wailing and cursing women. Had they not been restrained, they would have likely come to blows.
“Everyone shut up!” Gu Yanshen’s face darkened like the bottom of a pot. Raising his voice, he commanded, “Take them both to the security team. Investigate thoroughly and punish severely!”
“Yes, sir!” The subordinates responded and handcuffed them.
“No, Commander Gu! I’m innocent! I’m innocent!”
“Commander Gu, she forced me to do it…” They struggled briefly but were finally dragged out of the youth office.
After the chaos ended, the spectators quickly dispersed. With no one around, Gu Yanshen finally looked at Shen Suyu. “Shen Suyu, did you really lose money?”
His gaze, deep and sharp, fell on her lowered eyelashes. Her beautiful eyes were downcast, her thin figure somehow tugging at his heart. But he found it hard to believe someone as careful as Shen Suyu could lose so much money.
“Of course I couldn’t hide it from you, Commander Gu,” Shen Suyu said lightly, smiling, and admitted openly, “I didn’t actually lose any money. But if I hadn’t said what I did, Meng Zhiqing would never have told the truth.”
“Commander Gu, I hope you can understand my reasoning,” she added, raising her head. Her pale face and clear, bright eyes, slightly reddened, looked like sparkling gems beneath the water—too innocent to be blamed harshly.
“Mm, I understand.” Gu Yanshen nodded, quickly averting his gaze from the faint fatigue in her eyes. His heart felt strangely squeezed.
He didn’t approve of Shen Suyu lying, but without strong measures, how could a young woman clear her name? She was just over twenty, facing so much on her own.
“Shen Suyu, rest assured, I will investigate this thoroughly and ensure your name is cleared,” Gu Yanshen said, his Adam’s apple moving as he glanced at her again. She was truly clever—smarter than any young girl he had met.
“Thank you, Commander Gu,” Shen Suyu said with a slight nod and a gentle smile.
After handling the matter, Gu Yanshen was about to leave the youth office. Shen Suyu called after him again.
“Commander Gu, wait a moment.”
Gu Yanshen stopped immediately. “Shen Suyu, is there something else?”
“Commander Gu, I’d like to ask… can I move out of the sent-down youth dorm?” Shen Suyu asked hesitantly, twisting the corner of her clothing.
Not living in the dorm without approval meant filing a report, which could take time and wasn’t guaranteed. But if Gu Yanshen could say a word on her behalf, even just a quick note, it would be enough.
Gu Yanshen studied her, frowning slightly. Over the past few days, Shen Suyu had been harassed by the Zhong family because of the drowning incident, and now others were deliberately targeting her at the dorm. Even though the matter was resolved, retaliation might occur later—she couldn’t stay here any longer. He had been remiss in considering this.
After a moment of thought, Gu Yanshen said in a firm voice, “There’s an empty room in the military camp dormitory. I can arrange it for you.”