Chapter 26: You Have Taken My Jade Pendant

As soon as Lu Yao entered the room, the first thing she did was search under her pillow for her jade pendant.

She had always been wary of everyone, which was why she never kept valuables like the pendant on her person. She tucked it directly inside the pillow stuffing to avoid drawing the attention of anyone with ulterior motives and to prevent unnecessary trouble.

But this time, when Lu Yao reached into the pillow as she always did, she felt nothing.

Her brows furrowed, and she quickly picked up the pillow, turning it over and over to inspect it.

It was gone!

The jade pendant she had kept hidden in the pillow stuffing had vanished.

This realization hit her like a ticking time bomb, exploding in her mind with a deafening roar. How could this be? Lu Yao was filled with disbelief. Only she and Auntie Wu lived in this room. Could Auntie Wu have taken it?

But Lu Yao quickly dismissed the thought. Given Auntie Wu’s character, she didn’t seem like the type. Yet, who else could have entered the room?

Filled with questions, Lu Yao walked out of the room, intending to head toward the kitchen to find Auntie Wu. However, she bumped into Xu Xingyue, who was just coming down the stairs.

Xu Xingyue wore an excited smile, and around her neck hung a round, green jade pendant.

"Where did you get that pendant?"

Lu Yao’s dark eyes flashed with fury as she lunged forward to confront her.

The smile on Xu Xingyue’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a flicker of guilt.

"Sister Yaoyao, when... when did you get back?"

Why hadn't Auntie Wu come up to warn her? Hadn't she told the woman to notify her the moment Lu Yao returned? What was that old hag playing at?

"I’m asking you, answer me!" Lu Yao ignored the question and demanded loudly.

She needed to know if it was Xu Xingyue who had entered her room. Otherwise, why would she be wearing a pendant identical to the one hidden in her pillow?

Xu Xingyue became annoyed. "Sister Yaoyao, why are you being so fierce?" She was the true daughter of the Xu family; Lu Yao was nothing but a thief who had occupied her identity for fifteen years. What right did she have to act so arrogant the moment she returned?

"This pendant is mine. What of it?"

Lu Yao was just a country bumpkin who had just returned from Baiyan Village—what could she possibly have of value? Even if this pendant were hers, so what? As long as she refused to admit it, wouldn't it end up being hers anyway? What did Lu Yao have to be so proud of?

"You're lying!" Lu Yao didn't believe her and closed in, step by step. "Tell me, did you go into my room today?"

Aside from Xu Xingyue, Lu Yao couldn't think of anyone else in the Xu household who would steal from her. After all, she was the one who hated her the most.

Xu Xingyue looked panicked. Having done something shameful, she felt guilty under Lu Yao’s relentless pressure and instinctively took two steps back.

"Who... who says I went into your room?" Xu Xingyue stiffened her neck, refusing to admit it. "Who saw me? Sister Yaoyao, I’ve been in the living room and my own room all day. Don’t you dare falsely accuse me."

"It’s you who should be worried. You didn't come home all night yesterday. Do you have any idea how angry Mom and Dad are?" She thought that just because she was back, her parents wouldn't scold her? She was dreaming. The company had lost the investment from the Huang family; her return was practically a death sentence. What right did she have to be so arrogant here?

"Then how do you explain the pendant around your neck?" Lu Yao ignored her questions, pressing on. "That pendant was clearly hidden in my pillow. Why is it hanging around your neck now? Tell me!"

Everyone had a bottom line, and Lu Yao was no exception. This pendant was hers, and it was off-limits to everyone. If Xu Xingyue dared to target it, she had better be prepared to face the consequences.

"How would I know?" Pushed and questioned repeatedly by Lu Yao, Xu Xingyue grew impatient and angry. "Are you suspecting me just because your pendant is missing and I happen to be wearing one? Sister Yaoyao, let’s be reasonable. I’ve had this pendant since I was little. I just didn't wear it often because I was afraid of breaking it. I was in a good mood today, so I decided to wear it out! Stop looking for trouble where there is none."

"Give it to me!" Lu Yao didn't believe a word of Xu Xingyue’s bullshit and reached out her hand.

Xu Xingyue hadn't expected Lu Yao to try and snatch it. She was caught off guard, but managed to grab Lu Yao’s hair and push her away.

"Bang!"

"What are you doing?" Taken by surprise, Lu Yao was pushed and tumbled down from the landing of the stairs.

Xu Xingyue glared at her, eyes spitting fire. Was it just a pendant? Was it worth fighting so hard for that she’d nearly dragged her down the stairs?

"Sister Yaoyao, I’ve always called you 'sister,' but that doesn't mean you can frame me as you please. This pendant is mine. As for yours, have you checked your room properly? Maybe you just misplaced it somewhere."

"Shameless!" Lu Yao didn't expect Xu Xingyue to be so brazen. Ignoring the pain in her right hand, she scrambled up from the floor and rushed toward Xu Xingyue again. "Give the pendant back to me!"

Seeing Lu Yao was determined to fight, Xu Xingyue’s gaze flickered toward the study on the second floor, and a sharp light flashed in her eyes.

"Ah! Sister Yaoyao, what are you doing..."

"Stop it, Lu Yao!"

The sound of their struggle immediately alerted Mr. and Mrs. Xu, who were discussing business in the study. As soon as the couple emerged, they witnessed the scene of Lu Yao attacking Xu Xingyue. Their expressions changed instantly.

"Dad... Mom..." Seeing her rescuers, Xu Xingyue let tears of grievance stream down her face.

Lu Yao didn't stop, looking at the pair with a firm gaze. "Mr. Xu, Xu Xingyue took..."

"Slap!"

Before Lu Yao could finish, Mr. Xu raised his hand and struck her hard across the face.

"You wretched girl! You already humiliated me at the banquet yesterday, and today you come back and dare to bully Xingyue? Have you grown thick-skinned?"

"Yaoyao, you have truly disappointed me." Mrs. Xu joined her husband, scolding Lu Yao without asking for the truth.

A look of triumph flickered in the depths of Xu Xingyue’s eyes.

"Dad, Mom, don't blame Sister Yaoyao, it’s my fault." Xu Xingyue sobbed, her eyes red. Anyone who didn't know better would think she had been terribly mistreated by Lu Yao while the couple was away.

"If I hadn't worn this pendant, Sister Yaoyao wouldn't have attacked me," Xu Xingyue choked out. "Sister Yaoyao, I’m actually happy that you like this pendant. Really! But I’ve worn this since I was a child; it has sentimental value, and I really can't give it to you. Please, don't be upset, okay?"