I didn't mean to falsely accuse you

Jiang Nan's expression instantly froze.

Even Gu Wenze's expression changed, and the reproach he had been about to voice caught in his throat.

Qiao Hua straightened up and patted her chest. "Good thing I caught it in time, or your necklace would have broken."

No wonder you suddenly took off your necklace to show me. You wanted to break it on purpose and pin the blame on me.

Luckily, I was quick enough to catch it. Otherwise, nothing I said could have cleared my name.

You were willing to throw away such an expensive necklace? Even I feel bad about Gu Wenze's money. Sure, he has plenty, but that's no excuse to squander it.

Besides, can't you try something different? It's the same frame-up every time. Even if you aren't sick of it, I am.

With every thought she voiced in her mind, Gu Wenze's gaze darkened a little more.

He remembered perfectly well that he had put that necklace on Jiang Nan himself the night before.

There were only two possible reasons it was now in Qiao Hua's hands: either Jiang Nan had taken it off herself, or Qiao Hua had snatched it from her.

Seeing Gu Wenze's expression grow increasingly troubled, Jiang Nan panicked. "Miss Qiao, you were the one..."

Qiao Hua cut her off. "Miss Jiang, don't tell me you're going to say I pulled your necklace off?"

She pointed to the sales assistant behind her, who had just packed her purchases. "She saw you take the necklace off and hand it to me."

It was a weekday, and there weren't many customers in the store at this hour. With the commotion the two women had caused, the bored sales assistants were all watching the drama.

That included the sales assistant who had just served Qiao Hua.

The sales assistant she had singled out nodded in confirmation. "Yes, this lady took it off herself."

At those words, Gu Wenze's eyes flickered. Jiang Nan involuntarily tightened her grip on her bag, her nails leaving crescent-shaped marks in the handle.

The last time Qiao Hua had said Jiang Nan framed her for pushing her, Gu Wenze hadn't believed her.

But this time, he had seen Qiao Hua reach out to catch the necklace with his own eyes.

Given Qiao Hua's temper, if she had really wanted to destroy the necklace, she wouldn't have caught it. She would have watched it fall and break.

Together with the sales assistant's testimony, that was enough to prove Jiang Nan had taken the necklace off and handed it to Qiao Hua herself.

Could Jiang Nan really have been trying to frame her, just as Qiao Hua's thoughts suggested?

At that thought, the scales that had always tipped in Jiang Nan's favor began to waver.

Noticing the change in Gu Wenze's expression, Jiang Nan panicked, feeling an unprecedented pressure in that instant.

It took all her strength to suppress her bewilderment as her mind raced.

Then her lashes trembled slightly, and a shaky voice escaped her throat:

"Miss Qiao seemed interested in my necklace, so I took it off to show her. She happened to lose her grip and drop it. I may have been too worked up and seen it wrong."

"I'm sorry, Miss Qiao. I didn't mean to falsely accuse you."

Her voice grew softer toward the end, and she looked so pitiful that anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was the one being bullied.

Of course you didn't do it by accident. You did it deliberately.

Now that you've been exposed, it's because I lost my grip. If I hadn't caught it, I'd have been the culprit.

If I'd known, I wouldn't have come to this mall today. Who knew you two would keep haunting me? I can't even buy clothes without running into you. Just my luck.

Qiao Hua continued grumbling to herself, oblivious to Gu Wenze's increasingly complicated expression.

Qiao Hua raised a hand and patted Jiang Nan's shoulder. "Forget it. I'm not that petty. But be more careful next time, Miss Jiang. It was a gift, after all. You should take good care of it."

Jiang Nan swallowed and forced a smile. "I understand. Thank you."

The atmosphere grew noticeably heavier, until Gu Wenze finally broke the dead silence. "What are you doing here?"

Qiao Hua picked up the shopping bags packed behind her. "I came to buy a couple of outfits for interviews."

Gu Wenze's gaze fell on the shopping bags in Qiao Hua's hands. Inside were two black suits.

He had thought this was just a passing whim. Was she really going to look for a job?

Gu Wenze was silent for a moment. "If you really want a job, I can arrange a position for you at my company."

Beside him, Jiang Nan's pupils contracted slightly.

Then Gu Wenze changed tack. "But don't even think about becoming my secretary."

Qiao Hua replied without hesitation, "No, thanks. Two companies have already invited me for interviews."

Gu Wenze apparently hadn't expected such a swift, decisive rejection, and his expression darkened.

He had finally agreed to let Qiao Hua work at his company, and this woman actually dared to turn him down?

Qiao Hua checked the time on her phone and told them, "I'll be going, then. Enjoy your shopping."

With that, she paid, picked up her shopping bags, and left without looking back.

Gu Wenze remained where he was, watching Qiao Hua walk away, his deep, dark gaze giving no hint of his thoughts.

Noticing his gaze, Jiang Nan spoke cautiously. "Wenze?"

Gu Wenze came back to himself. Without looking at Jiang Nan, he said flatly, "Let's go."

Hearing the trace of coldness in his voice, Jiang Nan bit her lip in frustration.

She didn't know whether Gu Wenze had begun to suspect her.

In the past, he would always have comforted her at a time like this.

Jiang Nan suddenly regretted acting so rashly. Weng Fenghua's attitude over the past two days had rattled her, and she had wanted to get rid of Qiao Hua quickly. That was why she had taken such a risk.

But she hadn't expected Qiao Hua not only to stay calm, but even to catch the necklace for her.

Before, all she had needed was a few provocative words. She hadn't even had to lift a finger before Qiao Hua lashed out on her own.

Perhaps Qiao Hua had grown smarter after falling for it so many times.

Jiang Nan thought she couldn't afford to be so aggressive next time. If she fell into Qiao Hua's trap again, Gu Wenze would surely become suspicious.

Unaware of the thoughts occupying either of them, Qiao Hua followed the address in her email to the company where she would interview. Several people sat on a bench in the corridor, all waiting for interviews.

After quite a wait, it was finally Qiao Hua's turn.

Qiao Hua entered the conference room with the other candidates. Three interviewers sat at the table opposite them. The man in the middle was handsome and refined, his features sharply defined without looking severe, giving him a gentle, cultured air.

A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes when he saw Qiao Hua there.

Qiao Hua missed that small detail. She sat upright in her chair and waited for the interviewers' questions.

A little over ten minutes later, the interview ended, and Qiao Hua left the conference room with the others.

The interviewers at both companies she had visited that day had told her to go home and wait to hear back. She didn't hold out much hope.

After all, the original owner of her body had become a full-time housewife after getting married, leaving a three-year gap in her employment history. Compared with recent graduates and experienced applicants, she really didn't have much of an advantage.

Qiao Hua was about to leave when someone behind her called her name.

"Qiao Hua."

Qiao Hua turned around and saw the interviewer who had been sitting in the middle.

The man approached with steady strides, his impeccably tailored dark gray suit giving him a polished appearance and drawing the attention of quite a few young women waiting for interviews in the corridor.

Qiao Hua was puzzled, but when he reached her, she still asked courteously, "Is there something you need?"

The man paused, his deep eyes fixed on her pretty face. "Don't you recognize me?"

Confusion crossed Qiao Hua's face. From his tone, they seemed to be old acquaintances, but she had no memory of him.

"Um... who are you?"

The disappointment in his voice was unmistakable. "I'm Yan Yu. We were in the same department in college. Have you forgotten?"