Chapter 3: Why Not Just Check the Surveillance?

Chapter 3: Why Not Just Check the Surveillance?

Hearing his darling being so understanding and saying she was fine, Yu Mingze spoke up before Fu Yining could say anything.

"An Ran, don't worry. Even if she refuses to admit it, I will definitely get justice for you!"

"Ming Ze, I'm innocent!"

"That’s enough, Song Qingyu. I won't believe you, and you will not call me that again!"

"Ming Ze—"

Though secretly pleased, Zheng Anran still shook her head and refused. "No need, Ming Ze, I'm fine. Let’s act as if this never happened."

Hearing her say that, Yu Mingze felt his heart wrenched. "She hurt you like that, how can we pretend it never happened? I'm going to—"

"Enough, don't say anything else!"

Fu Yining interrupted her cheap son and pointed to the surveillance camera on the wall that could record a 360° angle without any blind spots.

"Why complicate things? To find out if this is true, why not just check the surveillance?"

Zheng Anran: "!"

Song Qingyu / Yu Mingze: Right!

Why hadn’t they thought of checking the surveillance?

As soon as Fu Yining suggested checking the surveillance, the three people in front of her had varying thoughts.

Yu Mingze: Hah, once we check the surveillance, we can prove Song Qingyu's guilt and An Ran's innocence!

Song Qingyu: Good, once we check the surveillance, my innocence will be proven!

Zheng Anran: Oh no, once we check the surveillance, my guilt will be exposed!

Fu Yining gestured for the butler to check the surveillance and asked a nearby maid who was looking down to help Song Qingyu up.

Hmm, the heroine must be pregnant by now, though she was unaware. The floor was cold, and we can’t let that poor baby get hurt.

Witnessing this scene, Zheng Anran bit her lip and gently tugged on Yu Mingze's sleeve beside her.

Was Aunt Fu being overly kind to Song Qingyu? Which side was she really on?

Sensing the tension from the person beside him, Yu Mingze thought she was afraid of seeing the footage of her being harmed. He gently patted her hand. "An Ran, don't be afraid. I'll stay with you."

Afraid of what? That wasn’t what she was worried about!

Zheng Anran almost rolled her eyes.

Her attempt to frame Song Qingyu had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, so the execution was quite sloppy. There was a chance the surveillance had captured exactly how she framed Song Qingyu.

That wouldn’t do at all.

So Zheng Anran tugged at Yu Mingze's sleeve again, afraid that the surveillance would ruin her perfect image.

But Yu Mingze frowned in confusion. "An Ran, what's wrong?"

With a delicate and weak expression, Zheng Anran said to Fu Yining and Yu Mingze, "Aunt Fu, Ming Ze, I think we should just forget it. I don't want to cause trouble for your family because of me."

"Since I'm fine, can we just let it go?"

"An Ran, you have such a kind heart, but unfortunately, some people are simply not worthy!" Ming Ze said, his eyes filled with pity.

The one deemed 'unworthy,' Song Qingyu, wore a bitter smile, her gaze fixed intently on Fu Yining. Her eyes shone, as if she saw Fu Yining as her savior.

At this moment, within the entire household, only Fu Yining still trusted her and was willing to give her a chance to prove her innocence.

From the recent events, Fu Yining had been willing to speak up for her.

Noticing the butler had approached Fu Yining, An Ran tightly gripped Ming Ze's sleeve. He looked down at her.

"An Ran?"

With tears welling in her eyes, An Ran shook her head. "Ming Ze, I... I'm afraid to remember what happened just now. Can we skip the footage?"

"Don't be afraid."

Between the footage and his beloved, Ming Ze would naturally choose the latter. He had already concluded that Song Qingyu was the perpetrator, so the footage was unnecessary.

Thus, Ming Ze said to Fu Yining, "Mom, let’s drop the footage. An Ran is scared."

"Even if we don't watch it, I know Song Qingyu is definitely involved in this incident!" Ming Ze said angrily, casting a glance at the now-supported Song Qingyu.

Song Qingyu, falsely accused, felt a bitter taste in her mouth. She looked at Fu Yining pleadingly, hoping for a chance to clear her name.

After hearing the butler’s quiet report, Fu Yining turned to them and asked, "Are you sure you don’t want to watch the footage?"

Ming Ze first comforted the frightened An Ran by his side, then said to Fu Yining, "Mom, let's not watch it. If anyone should watch it, it should be Song Qingyu!"

"Ming Ze, you're so kind. Thank you for believing in me."

An Ran felt a wave of relief and was deeply moved.

"Alright."

Fu Yining deliberately ignored the pleading look in Song Qingyu's eyes. She asked her adoptive son, Ming Ze, "So, you're saying you completely trust An Ran's words?"

A frown appeared on An Ran's brow.

Why is Aunt Fu addressing her so formally?

Ming Ze nodded. "Mom, isn't that obvious? You know An Ran’s nature. She wouldn't lie. As for Song Qingyu—"

Fu Yining understood without him needing to say more. Song Qingyu’s standing and trust within the family were minimal.

One reason was that Song Qingyu had only been married into the Yu family for a few months and lacked the childhood bond An Ran shared with Ming Ze.

The other reason was that Fu Yining was constantly speaking ill of Song Qingyu to Ming Ze, sowing discord between them.

So, it was no wonder that Ming Ze disliked and didn't trust Song Qingyu. It was all Fu Yining’s doing.

When Ming Ze asked her again how to handle the situation, Fu Yining felt a headache coming on.

What should she do?

Should she follow the original plot and falsely accuse the innocent heroine?

Fu Yining wondered if she could do it, especially since she didn’t want to become a "troublemaker."

Didn’t that stupid author say that anyone who could do it should step up?

Fine, she would show that stupid author right now!

Thus, Fu Yining cleared her throat and spoke word by word in front of everyone: "Since such a serious incident has happened in our family, it would be unacceptable if I didn’t handle it."

Zheng Anran was somewhat nervous but mostly delighted, waiting for Fu Yining’s decision.

However, upon hearing Fu Yining’s familiar opening words, the hope that had just ignited in Song Qingyu’s heart was extinguished.

Sure enough, my mother-in-law is still the same old mother-in-law. Am I about to be thrown out of the family?

Pausing, Fu Yining asked her son: "Ming Ze, do you choose to believe your wife or an outsider?"

"!!!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, everyone, including Butler Wang Yue standing next to her, looked at Fu Yining in surprise.

What? Did they mishear? Was Madam actually acknowledging the young mistress’s status?

Was this a sign that something extraordinary was about to happen?

Song Qingyu was gently supported by someone, tears of excitement in her eyes.

But Zheng Anran’s smile froze as she tugged at Ming Ze’s sleeve.

Ming Ze frowned, unsatisfied with Fu Yining’s words: "Mom, An Ran is not an outsider."

Ha, not an outsider, so she’s an insider?

Fu Yining reminded him: "Son, don’t forget that you’re already married and should maintain a proper distance from other women."

At this moment, the two people who were supposed to keep their distance were embracing in front of everyone, their behavior quite inappropriate.

Ming Ze reluctantly let go.

"Auntie Fu, I—" Zheng Anran’s face flushed red, the words she was about to say caught in her throat.

What did she see? Did she actually see a look of indifference in Aunt Fu’s eyes instead of the usual doting affection?

Why does Aunt Fu seem like a completely different person?

This isn’t how it should be!