The person you mentioned…
Jiang Qiaonian had already grown wary of her and replied indifferently, “If you have something to say, say it here. I can’t leave my sister.”
Jiang Xianian also pricked up her ears, curious about what Xu Lin would say.
Xu Lin felt angry inside, but considering her plan, she decided to endure it for now. “Alright… alright then. Actually, it’s about what happened last time at Wan Ting’s house. I wanted to apologize to you. I didn’t mean to blame you intentionally. I’ll be more careful in the future and won’t make that kind of mistake again.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xianian immediately found it dull.
Jiang Qiaonian also thought it was pointless and politely responded, “That matter is already in the past. I never blamed you anyway. Just be more careful from now on.”
“Mhmm, mhmm!” Xu Lin smiled, but Jiang Qiaonian, who now held reservations against her, felt her smile was insincere.
The other girls nearby chimed in with a few conciliatory words, and Xu Lin took the opportunity to return to her seat. Soon, the girls started chatting about other topics.
However, Jiang Xianian felt that Xu Lin’s actions were somewhat deliberate. She had initially thought Xu Lin came to probe the reason behind Jiang Qiaonian’s changed attitude, but she ended up asking nothing.
Unable to resist, she browsed through the System and, sure enough, found the answer: [“I knew it! Her intentions aren’t pure! She actually planned to use the apology as a chance to slip a bracelet onto my sister and then frame her for theft!”]
Jiang Qiaonian’s eyes widened. She had also felt that Xu Lin’s apology wasn’t genuine, assuming Xu Lin was only apologizing reluctantly under her mother’s pressure. She never expected such a scheme!
A chill ran down Jiang Qiaonian’s spine. She had once considered Xu Lin a friend and had given her many favors. Not only did Xu Lin fail to appreciate her kindness, but she also wanted to frame her! Why would she do such a thing?
Jiang Xianian was also curious about this question and searched for the answer: [“So Xu Lin also noticed my sister’s changed attitude toward her and even felt that my sister wronged her? Good grief, what kind of person is she! She wants to take one last jab at my sister, using the theft accusation to ruin her reputation and legitimately cut ties with her! That way, she can rightfully keep the things my sister lent her—after all, who would believe a thief? Secondly, with my sister’s reputation tarnished, the person Xu Lin likes would surely despise my sister, giving her a chance!”]
The motive was compelling. Once Jiang Qiaonian saw Xu Lin’s true colors, she would realize that Xu Lin was indeed capable of such a thing.
But how to counter this scheme? Jiang Qiaonian pondered hard. She wanted to try to resolve it on her own and not always rely on her mother to handle her troubles.
Jiang Xianian, however, was deeply shocked. Xu Lin was only a girl of fourteen or fifteen, around middle school age—how could she already possess such a venomous heart?
Moreover, although her scheme was simple, it was indeed effective. Accusations of theft were notoriously difficult to disprove!
Jiang Xianian couldn’t help but worry: [“What should I do? How can I warn my sister? I never thought Xu Lin would be even more malicious than I imagined. The bracelet she plans to plant on my sister was actually borrowed from her? Is she trying to twist the knife in my sister’s heart? Secretly warning her that once something is in her hands, it’s hers for good? Ugh, how shameless!”]
When Jiang Qiaonian heard that the bracelet was supposedly borrowed from her, her eyes instead lit up slightly—she had an idea!
This time, she would make Niannian see clearly how she resolved this problem, so her one-month-old younger sister wouldn’t have to worry and fret over her, the older sister, every day.
She was the older sister—she ought to be the one protecting Niannian.
Once she had made up her mind, Jiang Qiaonian’s smile finally turned genuinely lighthearted, and she even felt somewhat eager to see Xu Lin’s next act.
Sure enough, after the maids had refreshed the tea and snacks once, Xu Lin suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “Huh?! Where’s my bracelet? It was just on my wrist—how could it have disappeared?”
The young girls were drawn by her outburst and expressed concern one after another: “What’s wrong? Did you lose something?”
“What kind of bracelet was it?”
“You haven’t left this spot—it can’t have gone far. Let’s search for it quickly!”
…
Xu Lin put on a very anxious expression: “That was my favorite bracelet, set with rubies and emeralds. It was a gift from someone very important to me—it holds great sentimental value!”
Jiang Xianian curled her lips: Someone very important to you? Of course the cash cow you’ve been fleecing, letting you take whatever you want, is important!
Jiang Qiaonian thought her sister’s criticism was spot-on.
Xu Lin described the bracelet in detail, and several girls recalled that she had indeed been wearing it.
Of course they remember—Xu Lin deliberately showed it off several times just so they could serve as her witnesses. Jiang Xianian saw through such a petty trick at a glance.
The commotion was considerable and also attracted the attention of other girls in the flower hall.
A cold smile played on Jiang Qiaonian’s lips. Xu Lin was deliberately making a scene so that more people would learn of the matter. That way, her reputation as a “thief” would spread more widely and easily.
Now, watching Xu Lin, Jiang Qiaonian felt that every move and every word was calculated.
After searching for a while with no success, Xu Lin suddenly paused, pretending to recall: “After I came in here, I haven’t been in contact with anyone else—only you, Qiaonian, held my hand…”
Sure enough, everyone’s gaze turned toward Jiang Qiaonian, who was holding her sister.
Many couldn’t help but whisper among themselves, and sure enough, some began to suspect Jiang Qiaonian of stealing.
Jiang Xianian was exasperated: So foolish—serves them right for being led by the nose!
Jiang Qiaonian showed no reaction. She was merely observing everyone’s expressions, seizing the chance to see clearly whether her close friends were as hypocritical and deceitful as Xu Lin.
Xu Lin said hypocritically, “Qiaonian, I don’t mean to suspect you intentionally, but that’s just how things are. That bracelet means a lot to me—if I lose it, my mother will be furious.”
“How about it, Jiang Qiaonian—why don’t you show us your pouch?” someone immediately suggested.
Qu Wanting reacted strongly: “What do you mean? You suspect Qiaonian stole it? When has Qiaonian ever lacked valuable items that she’d covet your bracelet?”
Several other girls who were close to Jiang Qiaonian also chimed in, saying it probably wasn’t her.
Jiang Qiaonian felt a warmth in her heart—her other close friends trusted her deeply; she hadn’t been completely blind in her judgment.
Xu Lin gritted her teeth secretly. With so many people defending Jiang Qiaonian, she couldn’t push too hard. But if she didn’t manage to produce the bracelet from Jiang Qiaonian’s possession, today’s plan would be a failure!
So she deliberately put on a pitiful tone: “Forget… forget it. If Qiaonian likes it, she can have it. My mother can just scold me to vent her anger, and the matter should pass.”
As she spoke, she even wiped her tears with a handkerchief, putting on an act of being forced into helplessness.
Jiang Xianian shuddered: [Eww~ so fake! I never expected her to be such a green tea!]
Jiang Qiaonian didn’t understand what “green tea” meant, but she was already tired of this act. She stood up directly, handed her younger sister to the maid behind her, then took a bracelet from her purse: “Is your bracelet something like this?”
Xu Lin’s face lit up with delight. After just one glance, she nodded repeatedly: “Yes, yes! This is the one!”
The surrounding crowd erupted in murmurs, quickly discussing among themselves while pointing at Jiang Qiaonian. Words like “thief,” “stealer,” “be careful,” and “illegitimate daughter” reached Jiang Qiaonian’s ears.
Jiang Qiaonian smiled mockingly – these were all the fools her sister had mentioned.
Xu Lin had already stepped forward, reaching out to take the bracelet, but Jiang Qiaonian dodged her hand and said: “I’m sorry, but this bracelet is mine, not yours.”
“You—” Xu Lin was about to get angry when she suddenly remembered her purpose. Immediately putting on a pitiful expression again, she said: “Qiaonian, I told you this bracelet is very important to me. I can exchange it for anything else you want. Whatever you fancy of mine, I’ll give it to you. Just return this bracelet to me, alright?”
Sure enough, as soon as Xu Lin pretended, the murmurs grew louder, and the accusations against Jiang Qiaonian increased.
Jiang Xianian was anxiously watching from behind, cursing those people vehemently in her heart.
“You said this bracelet was given to you by someone very important to you?” Jiang Qiaonian asked, looking directly into Xu Lin’s eyes.
Xu Lin felt somewhat guilty for no reason, but she still braced herself and nodded: “Yes.”
Jiang Qiaonian said mockingly: “That person you mentioned wouldn’t be me, would it? I remember you borrowed this bracelet from me, and it has my mark on it.”
Xu Lin was stunned: “What? You… you’re lying!”
She had worn this bracelet for so long and had never seen any mark. Jiang Qiaonian must have figured out her plan and was deliberately trying to trick her!
How hateful Jiang Qiaonian was!
Jiang Qiaonian held the bracelet and found a gold-inlaid character inside the clasp loop: “Wan Ting, take a look. Isn’t this a seal-script character ‘Qiao’?”
Qu Wanting took it and examined it carefully, then exclaimed in surprise: “It really is!”
Others immediately crowded around: “Let me see! Let me see!”
The young ladies were all educated and literate, and they quickly recognized that it was indeed a seal-script character “Qiao” engraved in gold-inlay craftsmanship on the clasp.
Jiang Xianian was dumbfounded by this reversal: [So there was such foreshadowing? That scared me to death. Fortunately my sister is clever enough, otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to wash off this dirty water today.]
Jiang Qiaonian also felt relieved in her heart – she had to thank her sister for the reminder!
She turned to look at Xu Lin and said: “I remember telling you that every piece of jewelry, clothing, and other items my mother prepared for me would have a unique mark in a hidden place. My hairpins, my pearl necklaces, my necklaces, bracelets, bracelets… all of them have it.”
Xu Lin’s face instantly turned pale as a distant memory suddenly surfaced.
She remembered how Jiang Qiaonian’s triumphant expression when recounting this matter had stirred the deepest jealousy within her. She envied that a mere concubine-born daughter could receive such meticulous affection from Qiao Shi—even her own birth mother had never treated her so well!
It came back to her now—it was precisely this jealousy that had driven her to constantly oppress Jiang Qiaonian, embezzle her possessions, and secretly mock her foolishness.