“—Don’t call the police, I beg you. Don’t call the police. It really wasn’t me who took it. I’ve done housekeeping for years and never stolen from any employer.”
“—Hard to say if you’ve stolen before—maybe you just weren’t caught.”
“—Mrs. Li, please believe me. I’ve truly never seen those gold earrings you mentioned. Go home and search carefully again, okay? I really need this job. I wouldn’t steal.”
“—I wore those earrings just last week. After putting them away, you’re the only stranger who’s been in my house these past few days. If not you, then who?”
“—If you don’t believe me, you can search me, search my bag. This is my first time cleaning for Mrs. Li, but not my first in this complex. Several residents here hire me regularly for weekend cleanings. They can vouch for me—I’m not the type with sticky fingers.”
“—I don’t care how you are with others. My valuables are missing now, and you’re the prime suspect. Either hand over the earrings honestly—a few thousand yuan’s worth of stuff. You don’t look well-off. If you sincerely repent, I’ll let you off. Or we go to the police station, clear this up, and let them investigate.”
“—Mrs. Li, no, please don’t call the police. Really, I didn’t take them. It’s not me—believe me. If not, search me. I let you search…”
“—No way, illegal search could get you detained. I know that much. No need to beg me. We’ll just wait right here for the police.”
Amid the hubbub of chattering onlookers, Chi Yumo heard the two parties involved most clearly. She frowned and stopped in her tracks, scanning her surroundings as she picked out two somewhat familiar voices.
“You’re not saying your mom hadn’t worn those earrings in ages and had even forgotten she owned them?”
“Last weekend, my dad took me fishing. We left early and came back late. I don’t know why she suddenly decided to wear them that day. What do we do now? Qi Ge, hurry up and think of something for me.”
“They’ve already been sold, the money’s spent, and now the fuss is this big. It’s too late to admit fault. If you don’t want everyone in the complex knowing you stole them, just flatly deny any knowledge. No matter who asks, say you don’t remember what jewelry your mom has. Got it?”
Chi Yumo had heard these two boys’ voices many times before—on weekends when she came and went, or on late nights returning home. They came from the fire escape between her floor and the one below.
The older boy—she had run into him in the elevator before. He lived two floors down from her.
From their conversations, they usually met up to play games. The most recent one she’d overheard was three nights ago.
“After shaving off the loose change of a few dozen yuan, they sold for two thousand. As agreed, I take one-third, you get two-thirds. Here, thirteen hundred. Hide it well.”
“Only two thousand? Isn’t the gold price supposed to have gone up online?”
“This is secondhand stuff, and it doesn’t even weigh much. You think the recycling price matches the purchase price? If you doubt me, go ask that gold shop at the end of Beijie Street yourself.”
“Qi Ge, don’t get mad. I don’t know much about this—you explain it, and I’ll get it. Keep the money; I don’t want cash. My mom cleans my room, so I can’t hide it. Just top up my gaming account directly.”
“Fine, but not today—wait till tomorrow. I don’t have enough in my WeChat wallet right now.”
Hah, thieves from within the home were indeed the hardest to guard against. Stealing from their own family at such a young age—who knew what they’d steal when they grew up?
If they hadn’t slandered an innocent person in broad daylight like this, Chi Yumo wouldn’t have gotten involved. In the end, how other families raised their kids was none of her business.
Her mood heavy, she messaged Qiao Ke: [Assistant Qiao, I need your help with something. Could you come into the complex? Just you, from the main gate, over by the square.]
[Qiao Ke: Okay, on my way.]
The two boys lurked furtively in the dense shrubbery at the edge of the square, keeping an eye on the commotion.
Seeing two security guards arrive at the square as well, Chi Yumo—who had planned to wait for Qiao Ke—headed over first.
The short-haired middle-aged woman, surrounded by the crowd of onlookers, looked to be in her forties or fifties, somewhat aged. From her build and posture, it was easy to tell she was an Omega.
The younger woman grabbed at her clothes, speaking to the security guards and demanding they detain the woman until the police arrived.
“Ma’am, please come with us to the security office and wait. The police will sort it out.”
“You’re all bullying me! I said I didn’t take anything—how will you believe me and let me go?”
Once the police were called and she was taken to the station, her reputation would be ruined no matter the outcome. Rumors spread, and where was truth in that? Branded as a thief, who’d hire her for cleaning work anymore?
In the struggle, the woman was shielded by a pair of strong arms, while the security guard trying to yank her away had his hand forcefully slapped aside.
Chi Yumo couldn’t stand their bullying tactics and stood firmly in front of the woman, refusing to budge.
Mrs. Li demanded, “Who are you?”
Receiving no answer, she smugly turned her accusations toward the masked Chi Yumo. “You’re in on it together, aren’t you? She stole it, and you’re the one who took it away to hide, so she’s been insisting we search her—because it’s already with you.”
More and more people raised their phones to record. Chi Yumo’s silence only fueled the crowd’s speculation about Mrs. Li’s claims.
The security guard whose arm Chi Yumo had slapped barked, “Since you’re admitting it by default, both of you come with us!”
The other guard, a young man in his twenties, recognized Chi Yumo and tugged at his colleague’s sleeve, whispering, “It’s a mistake—they can’t be accomplices.”
Chi Yumo had only lived in the complex for three months and kept a low profile, so not every security guard knew her. This one happened to be the one Qiao Ke had “bribed” before.
Considering Chi Yumo was a minor celebrity with a big star like Shen Muxi backing her, he didn’t immediately mention Mo Yu’s name.
Instead, he asked amiably, “Miss Mo, you know this cleaning lady well?”
“Stop!”
At that moment, Qiao Ke pushed through the crowd and stood beside Chi Yumo. “You’d all better put your phones away. Just a reminder: posting photos or videos taken without someone’s consent on social media or public platforms, regardless of intent, violates their right to privacy and likeness. You’ll be liable civilly.”
The young security guard remembered the generous Qiao Ke. An Omega with such poise and authority was no ordinary person.
He helped disperse the onlookers. “Put them away, everyone—no more filming. It’s just a misunderstanding.”
After soothing the woman, Chi Yumo pulled out her tablet and quickly typed for Qiao Ke to see.
[Owner Mrs. Li lost a pair of gold earrings and accused the cleaning lady who comes to her home of stealing them. Truth is, her son stole them a few days ago to sell for gaming top-ups. He’s still in elementary school, around fifth or sixth grade. An older boy he knows helped sell them—he calls him ‘Qi Ge.’ The shop is the gold store at the end of Beijie Street.]
After laying it out concisely, seeing the flicker of doubt on Qiao Ke’s face, Chi Yumo cleared the screen and typed three words: [Don’t believe me?]
Qiao Ke’s expression darkened. “I’ll go talk to her.”
Chi Yumo nodded, then crouched to help the woman gather her scattered toolbox before accompanying her to a nearby bench to sit and wait.
“Thank you, thank you for stopping them.” Tears welled in the woman’s eyes as she gripped Chi Yumo’s hand. “Young lady, you believe me—I’m no thief. I swear to heaven I didn’t take anything from her home. Help me, please—I can’t go to the police station.”
Chi Yumo couldn’t offer verbal comfort but nodded repeatedly to show she believed her and would help.
Feeling the woman’s rough, callused palm against the back of her hand, Chi Yumo felt a pang of sorrow. The woman’s hair was streaked with white amid the black, reminding her of her grandmother.
Yet from her face, the woman was far younger than her grandmother had been when gray hairs appeared. Though weary, her skin wasn’t that of an elderly lady. Her hair was cut level with her ears—practical for washing and working, no doubt.
With Chi Yumo and Qiao Ke’s intervention, the matter resolved swiftly. After Mrs. Li called her son’s smartwatch, her face turned ghastly after just a few words.
Having her family’s dirty laundry aired by a total stranger—how could she stay calm?
She turned to leave, but Qiao Ke grabbed her, forcing her to turn back and bow her head reluctantly to the woman. “Sorry, we found the items. I misunderstood you.”
“Good that they’re found, good… so the police station…?”
“Don’t worry—no cops will come for you.”
“That’s good, that’s good.”
Mrs. Li turned to Qiao Ke. “That okay now? Can I go?”
Qiao Ke stepped aside. “Be my guest.”
The two accepted the woman’s repeated thanks but declined to give their names when she pleaded.
The woman had another cleaning job in the complex, already late by several minutes, so she hurried off to finish, silently committing the two kind strangers to memory.
“Aren’t you going to ask what I said to that Mrs. Li?”
[I trust you.]
Chi Yumo had always admired Qiao Ke’s sense of proportion and efficiency in handling matters.
Shi Youwan knew how to use people well; her close aides—Qiao Ke, Zhang Kai, and the president’s secretary she’d never met—must all be exceptionally capable.
Besides, she’d overheard what Qiao Ke said to Mrs. Li, and what Mrs. Li asked her son.
—Mrs. Li, you can verify if what I said is true by asking your son. Of course, he might stubbornly deny it, and you might blindly believe his lies. But don’t just think of the best case—consider the worst. If the police confirm it was your family crying thief, the whole complex and school will know. You willing to bet on that?
—There are plenty of cases online of minors addicted to games, stealing from parents’ cards to top up or tip streamers. You don’t want your son in the social news, do you? Teach him right now, and he can still turn over a new leaf.
The three words on the tablet warmed Qiao Ke’s heart.
She let out a soft “Mm” and said no more.
She didn’t ask how Chi Yumo knew those private details, nor explain her exchange with Mrs. Li.
It felt like they’d regained that old trust and tacit understanding between them.
Chi Yumo stowed her tablet and walked side by side with Qiao Ke toward the complex gate.
The ordinary white sedan had been swapped for a sleek black luxury business car. Fitting—only something high-end suited nobility.
The rear door was open. Shi Youwan sat on the left in the middle row, the right seat… undoubtedly reserved for her.
Shi Youwan’s smile was serene and gentle, just like every time Chi Yumo returned to the old mansion and Shi Youwan would greet her with such a smile, softly calling, “Xiao Mo.”
“Xiao Mo, thank you for coming out.”
Hearing Shi Youwan’s thanks, Chi Yumo’s heart stirred, but it didn’t feel good at all.
Shi Youwan, don’t thank me—you shouldn’t.
In broad daylight under clear skies, Chi Yumo could clearly see the delicate clavicle necklace on Shi Youwan’s fair neck—the peridot pearl necklace Shi Youwan had once personally fastened on her.
She’d worn it to the charity gala, and now again today. Was Shi Youwan wearing it specially for her to see? To say old feelings were hard to forget, to rekindle their bond?
But what “old feelings” were there between them? Hadn’t it always been her one-sided crush on Shi Youwan?
Chi Yumo halted at the roadside, tripped up by unhappy memories.
Actually, after Qiao Ke got out and roughly assessed the situation upon entering the complex, she’d promptly messaged Shi Youwan: [Probably delayed ten minutes or so.]
So Shi Youwan had Zhang Kai drive around to kill time for ten minutes before pulling up near the gate again.
Qiao Ke patted Chi Yumo’s shoulder. “Miss Mo, get in the car. Can’t park here too long.”
With that, she opened the passenger door but didn’t get in right away. Instead, she stood by it, waiting for Chi Yumo to board first.
