Catching the thief

The suggestion drew plenty of support, but there were objections too.

"You want to search us just because you say so? Are you treating all of us like thieves?"

"I'm a company chairman! Would I do something like that?"

"Wouldn't a body search be humiliating?"

Fang Qingyan frowned. "This is to clear everyone's name. If we call the police instead, everyone will lose face."

The room fell silent. Everyone thought Fang Qingyan had a point. If the police got involved, all of Weicheng might know by tomorrow. How could they show their faces then?

Mu Xingfeng stepped forward. "I owe you all an apology for something like this happening at a Mu Family banquet. Huai'an is young and speaks too bluntly. Please forgive him."

Fang Qingyan sneered. "Uncle, was An wrong? This necklace means a great deal to Mrs. Lin. Huai'an only said that to help her recover it. It's just a body search. You don't know the thief, so why object to An's suggestion?"

Mu Xingfeng's brows knitted tightly. "The necklace went missing at our Mu Family banquet. If we now subject everyone to a body search, what will they think of our family?"

A middle-aged man sighed. "Then let them search us. It won't kill us. It's better than being suspected of theft."

A middle-aged woman rolled her eyes in displeasure. "What does her failure to look after her own belongings have to do with us?"

Several more people agreed to be searched. Before long, everyone had agreed to cooperate to prove their innocence, though most still looked extremely reluctant.

The corners of Mu Huai'an's lips lifted slightly. Yan Wen, you're done for.

Xie Yunshu looked apologetic. "The Mu Family owes you all an apology for what happened today. We're truly sorry."

"You're being too hard on yourself, Mrs. Mu. Things go missing at banquets all the time."

Xie Yunshu exchanged a look with Mu Xingfeng, then called the police to report that a valuable item had gone missing at the banquet.

Once the police arrived, everyone stayed where they were and cooperated with the searches.

After searching everyone, they still hadn't found the necklace. Mrs. Lin looked anxious. "Why hasn't anyone got it? Could I have accidentally dropped it somewhere?"

Mu Huai'an said, "Don't worry, Mrs. Lin. They haven't finished searching everyone yet. Isn't that right, little brother?"

Yan Wen looked up and met Mu Huai'an's eyes, sneering inwardly. Finally. I was worried he wouldn't ask me.

Yan Wen nodded. "That's right. There's still me, Mom and Dad, my third sister, and you two."

When Fang Qingyan heard that Yan Wen wanted him searched too, he immediately grew agitated. "Yan Wen, what nonsense are you spouting? Are you accusing me of stealing the necklace?"

Yan Wen raised an eyebrow. "Who was it who said everyone here was a suspect? What, aren't you a person?"

"You!"

Mu Huai'an chimed in, "Wen, Qingyan is the Fang Family's heir. Why would he do something like that? Don't make wild accusations. You're embarrassing the Mu Family."

Yan Wen scoffed. "Why are you so nervous? I never said you were the thieves. Or do you know who the thief is?"

"Well... how could we?"

"Weren't you going to search me? Go ahead."

Yan Wen spread his arms and cooperated with the police. A waiter beside him was also being searched. Yan Wen knew this waiter all too well: he was the one Fang Qingyan and Mu Huai'an had bribed.

There was nothing suspicious on Yan Wen. Once the officer finished searching him, he stood up and went to report to his captain. Seeing the waiter staring at him, Yan Wen asked, "Why do you keep looking at me?"

The waiter hurriedly averted his eyes and lowered his head awkwardly.

Mu Huai'an murmured in disbelief, "Impossible. This is impossible. How could they not find it?"

Mu Huai'an asked Fang Qingyan under his breath, "Qingyan, didn't you say the necklace was on Yan Wen? Why isn't it there?"

Fang Qingyan couldn't understand what had happened either and didn't answer Mu Huai'an's question.

Yan Wen clapped his hands. "You've all seen it. The necklace isn't on me. Now it's your turn to be searched."

"Get lost!" Fang Qingyan snapped.

Yan Wen gave the two of them a sidelong glance. "You were the ones who suggested body searches. Are you acting like this because you have something to hide? Or would you two prefer a trip to the police station?"

"That's right. Young Master Fang and Young Master Huai'an suggested the searches. Why are they so opposed now that it's their turn?"

"If I didn't know what kind of person Young Master Fang was, I'd almost believe Young Master Yan Wen was right about him having something to hide."

Two police officers approached. "Gentlemen, please cooperate."

Mu Huai'an looked aggrieved. "Suspect me if you want, but how can you slander Qingyan?"

"Slander? I'm not wasting my breath on you. You two are the only ones who haven't been searched. If you won't cooperate, go to the police station with the officers right now."

Fang Qingyan laughed in anger. "Fine, I'll cooperate. But if it isn't on me, you'll kneel and kowtow to me."

Yan Wen raised an eyebrow slightly. "I only kowtow at graves. But what if the necklace really is on you?"

"How could it be?"

"Just tell me what you'll do if it is."

Fang Qingyan declared loudly, "If the necklace is on me, I'll bark three times in front of everyone and crawl three laps around this banquet like a dog."

Yan Wen was very satisfied with that. "Fine. I'll take that bet."

Just as the officers were about to approach, Yan Wen stopped them. "Mrs. Lin, have one of your people search him. Young Master Fang values his dignity too much to endure being searched by the police."

Mrs. Lin nodded blankly and sent a Bodyguard over to search Fang Qingyan.

Fang Qingyan was certain Yan Wen would end up kneeling before him. Eager to see the show, he didn't object to the Bodyguard searching him.

Mu Huai'an was also waiting to see Yan Wen humiliated, but the very next second, the Bodyguard found the necklace on Fang Qingyan.

Mrs. Lin was beside herself with excitement. "That really is my necklace!"

Fang Qingyan's eyes widened. "Impossible! How could the necklace be on me?"

Yan Wen looked disgusted. "Wasn't it found on you? How could anyone be falsely accusing you?"

Everyone began murmuring. "Did Young Master Fang really steal the necklace?"

"Surely not. Why would Young Master Fang do something like that?"

"But the necklace really was found on him. There's no denying that, is there?"

"Whoa! If word gets out, the Fang Family will be humiliated."

Yan Wen extended a hand in an inviting gesture. "Young Master Fang, it's time to keep your promise. Go on, bark."

Fang Qingyan had never imagined he would end up being treated as the thief. Blinded by rage, he cursed at Yan Wen. "Who the hell are you to order me around?"

Yan Wen didn't indulge him. He slapped Fang Qingyan across the face. "Have I been too lenient with you?"

Mu Huai'an recoiled a step in fright, then hurried forward to check on Fang Qingyan.

Fang Qingyan clutched his burning cheek. "You dared to hit me?!"

Yan Wen sneered. "You've gone out of your way to make trouble for me over and over. One slap is letting you off lightly. From the start, you two kept nudging everyone into suspecting I was the thief. Then you insisted on a bet, only to refuse to admit you lost. Did you really think having a powerful father meant I wouldn't dare do anything to you?"

"I'm actually rather curious why the Fang Family chose a love-addled fool like you as its heir."

Fang Qingyan clenched his fists. "Uncle, Auntie, this is the biological son your Mu Family brought home? Is this how a member of your family should behave?"

"Since when was it your place to judge my son?" Mu Xingfeng demanded.

"Instead of criticizing me, you should worry about yourself. Your family probably already knows you stole the necklace."

"I told you, I didn't steal it! Someone framed me!"

Mu Xu Xi said, "Why not check it for fingerprints? Then we'll know who touched the necklace."

Xie Yunshu nodded. "That's a good idea. Get someone here right away."

Mu Xingfeng brought someone in to examine it in front of everyone. Since they didn't have all the necessary equipment, it took some time. An hour later, the results were ready.

"Chairman Mu, madam, the only fingerprints on it belong to Mrs. Lin and Young Master Fang."

Everyone was shocked. Young Master Fang really had stolen the necklace!

Mu Huai'an hurried to explain. "Impossible! The test must be wrong. Qingyan would never do something like this!"

Xie Yunshu began to feel disappointed in Mu Huai'an. She had never imagined that the son she had cherished for fourteen years could be this kind of person. Had all the politeness and good manners Mu Huai'an had shown them before been nothing but an act?