Chapter 30: What Happened to Your Face?

She knew Xu Xingyue was important.

However, she had worked for the Xu family for over thirty years; they knew exactly what kind of person she was. They didn't need anyone to tell them; both the master and his wife should have been perfectly aware. Yet, she now realized that the couple would rather forcibly shield Xu Xingyue than believe she was telling the truth. Mother Wu was truly disappointed.

"Mr. Xu, everyone knows the truth."

Lu Yao did not expect that the couple would go so far as to cover their own ears just to protect Xu Xingyue. She couldn't help but sneer. "Do you think that by blindly shielding Xu Xingyue and refusing to admit it, you can cover up the fact that she stole my jade pendant?"

"A thief is always a thief."

"She is someone who will never be able to stand on the stage for a lifetime."

The faces of Mr. and Mrs. Xu burned with shame. Xu Xingyue, meanwhile, dared not make a sound. She was in the wrong from the start; if she spoke up now, the situation would only escalate. She would just have to endure it for a few minutes. Once this was over, she would make her pay.

"If you like her so much, then keep shielding her forever." One day, they would all regret it. "Auntie Wu, let’s go."

"Ah!"

"Miss Lu, watch out!"

However, before Mother Wu could finish her sentence, Lu Yao fell forward with a thud.

"I’m sorry, sister Lu Yao." A glint of schadenfreude flashed in Xu Xingyue’s eyes. She wanted to humiliate Lu Yao; who told her to be so unpleasant and disgusting? "I felt a bit dizzy just now and accidentally lunged forward. Are you alright?" *Why didn't she fall and get bloodied?*

Lu Yao looked back at Xu Xingyue. She knew it was intentional.

"Miss Lu, shall I call Young Master Xiang?" Cheng Gang asked sternly. It was obvious that this woman named Xu Xingyue was bullying Miss Lu.

Lu Yao shook her head. She just wanted to make her look bad? Then she would turn her into a punching bag first.

"You—what are you doing? Sister Lu Yao, ah!" The smile that had been on Xu Xingyue’s face a second ago vanished, replaced by panic and confusion.

"President Xu, this is a matter between Miss Lu and Miss Xu; please do not interfere." Sensing Lu Yao’s intention, Cheng Gang stepped forward to block Mr. and Mrs. Xu.

"Dad! Mom!"

Xu Xingyue was pinned to the ground by Lu Yao, being slapped repeatedly as she screamed. She wanted to fight back, but she knew that if she did, they would realize everything she had done earlier was an act. She could not expose herself. Thus, Xu Xingyue had no choice but to endure it. Only when Lu Yao had vented enough of her anger could Mother Xu finally rush forward to hold Xu Xingyue.

"Xingyue, my daughter!"

Lu Yao ignored Mother Xu’s wailing and left directly with Mother Wu and Cheng Gang.

"Mom..."

"Alright, stop crying." Mr. Xu was also feeling overwhelmed. "Xingyue, tell me honestly, did you steal—or take—that jade pendant from Lu Yao’s room?"

"Dad, how can even you not believe me?" Xu Xingyue said, her eyes reddening with grievance. "I admit, I did go to sister Lu Yao’s room today. But I went to give her a surprise; I didn’t expect to see that jade pendant in the room. I thought it was mine; after all, it looks so much like the one I lost at home before. I really didn't expect things to turn out like this."

As she spoke, she kept an eye on Mr. Xu’s expression. Seeing his dark face, she knew today’s incident had left a poor impression on him. Though she was anxious, she had to keep up the lie, fearing that any slip-up would only make him more dissatisfied.

"And so, when I came downstairs wearing the pendant, I saw sister Lu Yao rushing toward me, furious." Xu Xingyue kept twisting the corner of her clothes, her nervousness and fear plain to see. If she had known Lu Yao would confront her so angrily, she would have hidden the pendant well; she certainly wouldn't have worn it to show off.

"Alright, Shenghai, Xingyue is a victim here too; look at how terrified she is." Mother Xu said with a pained heart. "And Mother Wu, tell me, how many years has she worked in our house? How could she frame Xingyue like this? She didn't even know the truth and just stood up to accuse her. In the end, she clearly doesn't care for Xingyue as much as she does for Lu Yao, which is why she deliberately framed her."

Mr. Xu looked conflicted. "Don't take other people's things from their rooms again." He said in an unpleasant tone, "Unless you have proof that the item is yours, to avoid such blunders in the future." It made everyone look bad.

Xu Xingyue’s face turned pale. "I understand, Dad. It won't happen again." Ultimately, it was all the fault of the jade pendant in Lu Yao’s hands. Why did she have such a beautiful piece and not wear it, but hide it away instead, making her heart itch with desire? It almost caused her to reveal her true colors in front of Mr. and Mrs. Xu.

...

"Miss Lu, you need to treat your injuries immediately." While driving, Cheng Gang spoke to Lu Yao through the rearview mirror. "I’ll take you to the hospital first."

Lu Yao looked at the scrapes on her palms. "It’s fine, just minor injuries. Assistant Cheng, when we get back... could you please not tell Young Master Xiang about what happened today?" She didn't want to cause trouble or leave a bad impression right after arriving at Xiang Zhihua's place.

"This..." Cheng Gang looked troubled.

"Assistant Cheng, you don't want Young Master Xiang to think that just after agreeing to let me stay, there’s already all sorts of trouble, do you?" Lu Yao said. "I’m begging you!" She didn't want Xiang Zhihua to think of her as a troublesome person.

"Fine!" Since she had put it that way, it would be heartless for Cheng Gang to refuse.

The car pulled up to the Golden Copper Villa at past four in the afternoon. At this time, Xiang Zhihua was in the living room reading a finance magazine. Hearing footsteps at the door, he looked up and saw Lu Yao and the others.

"Is everything packed?" Xiang Zhihua lowered his eyes and continued flipping through the magazine. "Why did it take so long?" Five hours—one could have made three round trips to the Xu residence in that time.

Cheng Gang glanced at Lu Yao and spoke without blinking, "The car broke down halfway, so we were delayed."

"Have the housekeeper make dinner." Xiang Zhihua put down the magazine and suddenly focused his gaze on Lu Yao. "Come over here and push me."

Lu Yao, suddenly called upon, stiffened. After a moment of thought, she walked toward Xiang Zhihua.

"What’s with the injury on your face?" Xiang Zhihua had noticed it the moment she walked into the living room. Did this girl think that by covering half her face with her hair, he wouldn't see it? Was she a three-year-old child? Naive!

Lu Yao was stunned. "What injury?"