Volume 1 Chapter 24: She’s My Person
Seeing the person he loved so distressed, Lin Qingyu’s heart was breaking.
He helped Lin Yuying up, glaring coldly at Ruan Wan.
“Yu Ying’s work ability is stronger than yours. You should learn more from her, yet you bully others with your power. Have you forgotten how Father taught you?”
“Young Master, don’t blame Miss Guangguang.” Lin Yuying cried until she was exhausted, collapsing into Lin Qingyu’s arms, looking utterly pitiful.
With just a few words, a world where only Ruan Wan was the villain was established.
Jiang Song was amazed.
He had wondered earlier how Lin Yuying dared to impersonate the daughter of the Ruan family, while Ruan Wan seemed as if she had no voice, never clarifying the truth.
So, the rot was at the root.
He couldn’t help but wonder, what kind of life had Ruan Wan been living before?
“Did you really hit her?” Jiang Song asked Ruan Wan.
“Yes, I did.”
Ruan Wan made no attempt to hide it, admitting it outright.
A flicker of resentment passed through Lin Yuying’s eyes.
But she said, “Young Master Jiang, please don’t misunderstand. Miss Ruan is usually very good to us. She doesn’t always mistreat the servants. It’s only when she’s in a bad mood occasionally that she acts like this.”
“Is that so?” Jiang Song raised an eyebrow. “Then it really is—well deserved.”
“What?” Lin Yuying was stunned.
Jiang Song arched his brow. “You want me to uphold justice? Don’t joke around. This is how the circle of the wealthy works. The rich can do whatever they want. Otherwise, why don’t you call the police?”
The crystal chandelier reflected his smile, utterly malicious.
He was an unapologetic person of high status. His usual gentlemanly courtesy was merely a disguise over contempt, deceiving those beneath him into thinking they had earned his respect, leading them to harbor unrealistic fantasies about him.
Lin Yuying’s face paled.
She clearly hadn’t expected Jiang Song not only to not despise Ruan Wan but to protect her instead.
No…
Jiang Song clearly liked Senior Shen, admiring her resilient and unique qualities.
How could someone like him, even if he no longer liked Shen Zhizhi, fall for a domineering and malicious vase?
But things had come to this point, and Lin Yuying called the police.
The police arrived quickly.
Lin Qingyu said to Ruan Wan, “I’ll give you one more chance. As long as you sincerely apologize to Aunt Lin, I won’t pursue this matter. Otherwise, you can sober up in the detention center!”
Ruan Wan suddenly smiled.
“Thank you, my brother. Thank you for these words, which have made me no longer hesitate about what I’m going to do next.”
She tilted her head and looked at the police officer who had come to investigate the matter.
“Hello, Officer. I want to report a theft. Someone stole my mother’s bracelet, worth seven figures—it’s right there on her wrist.”
Everyone followed the direction of Ruan Wan’s finger.
They saw Lin Ruomei wearing an emerald jade bracelet on her wrist.
Lin Yuying argued, “How can you say that’s your mother’s bracelet? You’re clearly framing her!”
Lin Qingyu added, “Exactly, Guangguang. You can’t just make baseless accusations against Aunt Lin to avoid responsibility!”
Ruan Wan pursed her dry lips.
“That was my mother’s favorite jade bracelet. She usually couldn’t bear to wear it.”
“Now she’s ill, recuperating abroad, unconscious and unresponsive. Yet her favorite bracelet is being worn on someone else’s wrist.”
“The son she carried for ten months is now protecting the mother and daughter who stole from her. No matter what, today I must seek justice for my mother.”
She struggled to suppress her emotions, trying her best to remain calm as she presented the evidence.
All jewelry comes with appraisal certificates. When her mother was still lucid, she had given Ruan Wan a document detailing the jewelry under her name.
This included both the appraisal certificates and insurance policies.
“The appraisal certificates contain the details of the jewelry, and the insurance policies can prove ownership. Aunt Lin, as long as you take off the bracelet, you can prove your innocence,” Ruan Wan said.
Upon hearing this, Lin Ruomei not only didn’t remove it but even hid her wrist behind her back.
The police, experienced in such matters, could tell from her behavior that she was guilty.
“You are suspected of theft. Come with us!”
Just as Lin Ruomei was about to be taken away, Lin Qingyu quickly stepped in to stop them.
“Wait a moment, officers. There must be some misunderstanding here. Aunt Lin has worked as a housekeeper in our family for over ten years. I can vouch for her character.”
At this, Li Yuan’s lips curved coldly. “What kind of person are you to even think of vouching for someone?”
—What kind of person are you!
Lin Qingyu’s mind exploded with a buzz.
Under the light, Li Yuan lazily lifted his eyelids. The light fell on his noble face, like fine brocade—luxurious and elegant.
It was as if those contemptuous, disdainful words hadn’t come from his mouth at all.
Even Jiang Song was stunned.
The Li Yuan he knew was not someone who meddled in others’ affairs.
Yet today, he had repeatedly helped Ruan Wan.
Did they know each other?
Of course—after all, Ruan Wan had married into the Li family, making her half a member of the Li household.
It was understandable for Li Yuan to protect her.
Having reasoned this out to himself, Jiang Song didn’t dwell on the matter further. Instead, he remarked sarcastically, “The Ruan family is truly generous to their servants, gifting jewelry worth millions so casually. Hearing this makes me want to work for your family too.”
“…”
The already tense atmosphere grew even more frigid.
As Lin Ruomei was handcuffed, Lin Yuying burst into tears.
She pleaded with Lin Qingyu to find a solution, each tear seeming to strike his heart.
In his desperation, Lin Qingyu blurted out:
“I remember now—I gave that to Aunt Lin!”
“Aunt Lin has worked in our family for so many years, treating my sister and me as if we were her own. I gave it to her as a token of gratitude!”
“…”
Ruan Wan’s expression remained calm, as if she had anticipated this.
She said to the police, “This is my mother’s jewelry. My brother giving it to someone else without permission constitutes theft. In that case, please release our housekeeper and take my brother away instead.”
Lin Qingyu: “…”
Lin Yuying: “…”
Lin Ruomei: “…”
Without exception, a single thought flashed through their minds: Ruan Wan has gone mad!
Since Lin Qingyu had admitted it himself, the police proceeded by the book and prepared to take him away.
Panicked, Lin Qingyu immediately turned to the most authoritative person in the room—Li Yuan.
“Mr. Li, please talk some sense into Guangguang. Tell her to stop this nonsense!”
“You are?” Li Yuan asked indifferently.
“I’m Lin Qingyu, Guangguang’s brother.”
Li Yuan nodded in understanding. “I see. An illegitimate child.”
Jiang Song also curled his lips. “That’s right. You share the same surname as your housekeeper. Could she be your birth mother? No wonder you helped your real mother transfer your adoptive mother’s jewelry.”
Lin Qingyu: “…”
He hurriedly explained, “No, you’ve misunderstood. I took my father’s surname. I’m not an illegitimate child.”
Ignoring his explanation, Li Yuan’s cold, deep eyes flickered with amusement. “Interesting. The Ruan family’s old residence is filled with a bunch of thieves surnamed Lin.”
“…”
The police took Lin Qingyu away.
Ruan Wan and the others were also taken to give their statements.
The evidence was conclusive, and Lin Qingyu was detained awaiting bail.
No matter how Lin Tangsheng, who was thousands of miles away, tried to pull strings and secure bail after learning the news, a single phone call from Li Yuan ensured that Lin Qingyu would be locked up for some time.
After leaving the police station, Ruan Wan ignored Lin Yuying and her mother, whose eyes were swollen from crying, and wanted to drive home, only to realize she had come in a police car.
Even more bewildering was the fact that she didn’t know where her home was.
The Ruan family was no longer her home…
Just then, warmth settled over her shoulders.
Turning around, she saw that Li Yuan had taken off his suit jacket. Its cool, faint scent enveloped her, carrying the lingering fragrance of its owner.
Li Yuan took out a set of keys. “It’s not safe for you to stay at the Ruan residence. This is my apartment in Jiangwan. You can move in.”
Ruan Wan’s eyes flickered. “Can I go today?”
“Anytime.”
Jiang Song suddenly spoke up. “I also have an empty place on Jingbei Road. That apartment is closer to your company. No need to trouble Brother Yuan.”
“No need,” Li Yuan said, pulling Ruan Wan to his side.
“My person doesn’t need to trouble Young Master Jiang to look after her.”