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The son, who had the privilege of education, instead used stolen money to skip school and indulge in luxury goods with his classmates.

This was intriguing.

The middle-aged woman finally came to her senses, hastily wiping away the disarray from her hair, ignoring her daughter still at the scene as she rushed away.

She located the luxury store on a particular floor of the mall based on the address, and there she saw her pride and joy sitting, trying on shoes, proudly displaying the twenty thousand yuan.

Unable to contain herself, she stormed over and slapped her son fiercely, regardless of the crowd or the presence of his classmates.

"Why! Do you have any idea how hard your father and I worked to save that hundred thousand yuan? We were planning to use it to buy a house, didn't we tell you the house would be under your name? Why did you steal it?"

Her son, stinging from the slap, noticed the odd looks from his friends. He clenched his teeth, his eyes reddening as he glared at his mother. "Why? Don't you know the reason?"

The middle-aged woman, heartbroken by her son's fierce glare, disregarded the attempts of the luxury store staff to intervene. She wailed, collapsing to the ground, pounding her chest and tearing at her hair.

"How could I possibly know the reason? It's unfair, your father and I dedicated ourselves to you. Your sister attends the least prestigious school, we saved every penny to enroll you in the best one, to provide you with the finest education."

"My husband and I have always been frugal, hoping that you'd make something of yourself. Why can't you understand that?"

The son replied with a cold expression, "Yes, you worked hard to send me to a prestigious school. But do you know the background of my classmates?"

"They spend on one meal what our family uses for half a month's living expenses. The shoes they wear cost tens of thousands, and that's just for a few pairs."

"Sigh, child," the middle-aged woman wept, "Who cares about other people's opinions? As long as we're successful and you do well in your studies, that's enough."

The son was impervious to her words, instructing the staff to pack the shoes he had chosen, "What good is doing well in academics? They still look down on me like trash. They even say that when I graduate, I'll only be able to work for them, serving their every need like a slave."

He had had enough of such mockery.

It was just branded items.

He had those too.

So, he took the money from home.

Without any hesitation, he brushed off his mother's hand, "Anyway, the money you saved is meant for me. I don't need a house right now. When I start earning my own income in the future, I can buy one then."

He's currently striving to integrate into the circle of wealthy second-generation heirs. Once he's in, what can't he obtain?

The police had traced the remaining thirty thousand and arrived at Temple Street to verify Chu Yuening's statement.

The lead officer slipped his pen back into his pocket. "Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Chu. The incident has been verified. We'll issue a written report to clear the girl's name."

"You're welcome."

Chu Yuening nodded and beckoned the girl over.

The girl's father was still present, his face dark throughout as he realized his son was indeed the thief.

The girl seemed frightened of her father, refusing to meet his gaze. Only when she reached Chu Yuening's side did she feel a sense of relief.

Her father spared her no glance, scoffing coldly, "Such a busybody, poking her nose into other people's affairs."

It was clear he was referring to Chu Yuening.

Unfazed, Chu Yuening observed as the father prepared to leave with the police without concern for the girl. She stepped forward and spoke calmly, intercepting them.

"Should such an incident, one that casts a psychological shadow on young girls, happen again in the future, I believe the Hong Kong Women's Federation will surely reach out to you."

With a cold smile, her father left.

Seeing his demeanor, the police understood that this issue might have been ongoing for quite some time. They took the initiative to reassure Chu Yuening, "Miss Chu, rest assured, we will collaborate with the Women's Federation to keep a close eye on the situation. Your oversight is always welcome."

Only then did Chu Yuening feel at ease.

Gazing at the timid girl, she gently stroked her head and said, "From now on, if your parents mistreat you, falsely accuse you, or make you bear the consequences for your brother's actions, run to the Women's Federation, or come find me, do you understand?"

The girl nodded, her understanding not quite there yet, "Sis, I got it."

The girl originally had a plain and austere countenance, molded by her parents to know only selflessness in devotion to her younger brother. Even after marriage, she remained shackled, a victim to his parasitic demands.

But after this incident,

The girl's countenance shifted.

She understood now - it wasn't that her parents' word was law. Even as their child, she had the right to resist, to fight for her own destiny.

Chu Yuening waved goodbye to the girl and returned to her seat, pouring herself a cup of tea before massaging the back of her neck.

"Next, please."

The wheel spun slowly, producing a soft hum.

Lifting her gaze, Chu Yuening saw Yin Yao seated in her wheelchair, her hands delicately resting on a blanket with a gentle smile.

"Master Chu, I'm here to buy a charm from you."

"Didn't the police question you?" Chu Yuening was surprised to see Yin Yao so soon.

Yin Yao chuckled. "They did, and then they let me go."

"Alright then." Chu Yuening couldn't help but glance at Yin Yao's legs a few extra times. She got up, dug out her bag of charms from under the stall, drew one, folded it neatly, and handed it to Yin Yao.

"Remember not to get it wet."

Yin Yao tucked the charm under her blanket without asking why she needed it. Recalling Mu Xingwang's terrifyingly accurate fortune-telling, she figured that masters had their reasons.

Observing Chu Yuening curiously pat her lifeless leg, Yin Yao did not take offense; instead, she was touched and smiled warmly. "Many people believe that coming into contact with someone disabled brings bad luck."

After being confined to a wheelchair, even the servants approached her with cautious gentleness.

Chu Yuening spoke earnestly, "I'm testing its muscle tone to see if its elasticity affects running."

"Running?" Yin Yao shook her head. "Probably... it won't be of much use."

The doctors in the United States had said that the chances of standing up were so slim that it was unlikely to happen in this lifetime.