Whispers began to ripple through the crowd.
“Could it really be that beautiful lady at the stairwell who pushed her down?”
“Look, there seems to be blood under her skirt. The situation looks quite serious.”
“Oh my, she looks so innocent, who would have thought…”
“Who knows? Nowadays, some people may appear kind on the surface, but it’s hard to say what’s truly in their hearts.”
Some sighed thoughtfully nearby, and for a moment, the entire atmosphere grew tense.
Luo Yunmian felt countless eyes on her, their gazes prickling her back like thorns.
Fu Tingshen glanced up at Luo Yunmian. “Yunmian, did you push Xin’er?”
“President Fu, if I say it wasn’t me, would you believe me?”
Luo Yunmian took a deep breath, suppressing the pain that once again spread through her heart.
“Xin’er, there’s no need to lie about this.”
So, he believed her words and had already passed judgment on Luo Yunmian.
Indeed, the difference between being loved and unloved was stark.
Those who were favored could act without fear.
Luo Yunmian glanced around. This was a blind spot with no surveillance cameras. How could she prove her innocence?
Just then, President Huo, having heard the news, hurried over.
He glanced at Luo Yunmian before turning his gaze to Fu Tingshen and Shen Xin’er.
“I’ve called for a private doctor. President Fu, don’t worry, she’ll be fine.”
Luo Yunmian walked down the stairs under the strange stares of the others.
“President Huo, are there any surveillance cameras nearby?”
Huo Zhou smiled at Luo Yunmian and shook his head after looking around. “The stairwell area of this manor is a blind spot.”
Shen Xin’er, nestled in Fu Tingshen’s arms, curled her lips slightly upon hearing there were no cameras.
As long as Fu Tingshen believed her and there were no surveillance cameras, she wondered what Luo Yunmian could possibly do.
Luo Yunmian’s composed and open demeanor, however, gradually improved others’ impressions of her.
“Maybe it really wasn’t her.”
“Look, she’s not panicking at all.”
“Her eyes are so clear; she doesn’t seem like someone who would lie.”
Seeing the public opinion shift in Luo Yunmian’s favor, Shen Xin’er’s face twisted in pain.
She let out a weak, agonized cry, “Tingshen,” her voice filled with suffering. “I feel so terrible…”
Fu Tingshen, seeing her condition, grew anxious and was about to lift her when Huo Zhou stopped him.
“Don’t move her yet. The doctor is already on the way. Just wait a moment.”
Not long after, a middle-aged man carrying a medical kit rushed in. “What happened?”
While asking, he quickly knelt down and carefully examined her. After a thorough check, he spoke.
“These are just external injuries from the fall, nothing too serious. As for the bleeding on her leg…”
The man coughed lightly, looking slightly embarrassed, and explained.
“Regarding the bleeding from her lower body, based on my experience, it’s highly likely due to engaging in intense physical activity shortly before the fall. This caused congestion in her private area, and the subsequent impact from tumbling down the stairs triggered the bleeding.”
Fu Tingshen’s expression darkened upon hearing this, and Shen Xin’er hadn’t expected this outcome either.
“If you’re still concerned, my private clinic is right over there. You can carry her there for a check-up.”
The man spoke again.
Luo Yunmian’s eyes lit up as she followed the direction the man pointed.
“Sir, which floor is your private clinic located on?”
The man replied gently, “For everyone’s convenience, the clinic is on the first floor.”
Luo Yunmian then pointed toward the lit-up fourth and fifth floors and asked, “Are there surveillance cameras installed on those floors?”
The man stood up, following the direction she indicated, and replied slowly, “That area is a play space I created for the children, along with a balcony where they usually gather and play. Yes, surveillance cameras are installed there.”
Luo Yunmian nodded. “Can those cameras capture the view of this staircase?”
Only when Luo Yunmian mentioned this did everyone notice that the fourth and fifth floors of the villa ahead were slightly higher than their current position. Moreover, the entire building here was designed with floor-to-ceiling windows, featuring interior glass panes.
Shen Xin’er’s heart suddenly tightened. She instinctively clutched the lapel of Fu Tingshen’s suit, her fingers trembling slightly.
Fu Tingshen whispered reassuringly, “Don’t be afraid, Xin’er. Having surveillance footage will actually prove you weren’t lying.”
Although his voice was soft, every word was clearly heard by Yunmian.
So he did have a gentle side—it just never belonged to her.
“The surveillance cameras provide a 360-degree view without blind spots. If you need it, I can retrieve the footage immediately.”
Luo Yunmian quickly expressed her gratitude. “Thank you so much.”
At that moment, Huo Zhou stepped forward and whispered a few words into the man’s ear. The man nodded slightly before turning and walking out.
Huo Zhou worked efficiently, and the video was soon copied over.
The footage showed Luo Yunmian standing there after withdrawing her hand, with no pushing or shoving movements whatsoever. The outcome was clear.
“Xin’er, you…” Fu Tingshen hadn’t expected Shen Xin’er to lie either. For a moment, his gaze toward Luo Yunmian was filled with unmistakable guilt.
Luo Yunmian averted her eyes, refusing to look at him.
“Miss Luo, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say you pushed me. It’s just that I fell down the stairs and might have lost my balance. Since you were the only one nearby at the time…”
Shen Xin’er choked back tears as she explained, her body trembling with each sob.
“I hope Miss Shen will be more careful with her words next time. Not everyone is as fortunate as I am.”
With that, Luo Yunmian turned and walked out.
“Your princess has walked out of the estate alone.”
Huo Zhou smiled as he looked at the man seated across the sofa.
“Didn’t you arrange a car for her? Her shoes don’t fit.”
The man stood up and walked to the wardrobe, selecting a casual tracksuit to change into before grabbing a trench coat.
“I never imagined that the great C-sha would go to such lengths for a woman.”
Huo Zhou rubbed his forehead, finding it hard to comprehend.
“Stop talking nonsense. Arrange a car for me.”
Luo Yunmian walked down the estate’s path. Since the banquet wasn’t over yet, almost no vehicles passed by. After walking for ten minutes, her feet began to ache terribly.
She bent down, simply took off her shoes, and continued barefoot, carrying the shoes in one hand.
Luo Yunmian strolled along the secluded path, her gaze taking in the surrounding flowers, plants, and trees swaying gently in the breeze.
Though the wind wasn’t strong, it carried a slight chill. She instinctively tightened the trench coat around her.
Her feet were starting to hurt, yet she stubbornly continued barefoot. The cold breeze brushing against her ankles and the sensation of her soles touching the cool ground inexplicably brought her a sense of calm.
Although this place was a country full of romance, she had come at the wrong time. What welled up in her heart was not just melancholy and sorrow.
Only then did she realize that, in her long pursuit of love, she had lost her true self and missed so many beautiful sights along the way.
Looking at the clear lake still visible under the moonlight ahead, Luo Yunmian came to a stop.
“Luo Yunmian, you’re such a big idiot.”
She shouted loudly toward the lake.
“Sister Mianmian, I like you.” A man’s voice startled Luo Yunmian.
Turning around, she saw Fu Yanchi standing not far behind her in athletic wear. The breeze lifted the strands of hair on his forehead, and even the night seemed to favor him—standing there, he formed a scene all his own.
“What are you shouting nonsense for? And what are you doing here?”
As Luo Yunmian finished speaking, the young man had already walked up to her in a few strides.
“Sister Mianmian, I’ve had such a hard time finding you!” Fu Yanchi crouched down and glanced at her ankle, which was already rubbed raw.
He stood up, snatched the high heels from her hand, and threw them forward.
“Sister Mianmian, these awful shoes have already rubbed your feet raw, and you still can’t bear to throw them away?”