Chapter 80: Pat-Down

Chapter 80: The Search

"So this chick is saying Gu Sai stole the necklace?"

"Nah, no way! Gu Sai doesn't seem like the type!"

"You never know what's really going on. In this banquet hall, Gu Sai seems to be the poorest one—something worth over five million is a huge temptation."

Gu Sai held a small piece of cake in his hand. Facing dozens of suspicious or judging looks, he didn't panic. He just said calmly, "I'm sorry, but I didn't see the necklace."

Aunt Zhou wouldn't drop it. She leaned on her years at the Li house, acted like she ran the place, and kept going, "You can't just expect us to take your word for it. After all, you've got a record from when you were a kid. Ma'am, don't you remember when little Gu Sai stole your gemstone necklace and got caught red-handed?"

Madam Li stayed quiet, but the look she gave Gu Sai was full of disgust.

Seeing the madam wasn't saying anything, Aunt Zhou knew that meant she could keep going. She straightened up, stood in front of the camera, and said, "You were taken in by the Li family as a child, but you were light-fingered. You stole the madam's gemstones worth millions. The Li family was nice about it and didn't make a fuss—they just sent you back. Who would've thought you'd grow up and still be up to your old tricks, stealing from the Lis again!"

"What? Gu Sai has a criminal record? And he was adopted by the Li family? This is some insane, world-shaking gossip!!?"

"Ha, the bar for actors these days is so low. No one even checks if they're decent people?"

"Exactly. Shanshan hugged him and the necklace went missing. It's pretty obvious who took it, right?!"

"I don't believe it! Gu Sai saved five people when the Nine-Tiered Tower caught fire. His hands were almost shredded, and he was the last one out of the blaze. I don't believe someone like that would steal."

"That's right. Talk is cheap. Our Baby Gu Sai is the sweetest. I don't believe he'd steal!"

"Why are we wasting time? Just search him and we'll know, right?"

Li Shanshan sobbed in her mom's arms, but at an angle no one could see, the corner of her mouth curled into a smug, victorious smirk.

Her accomplice had already slipped the necklace into Gu Sai's suit jacket pocket in all the chaos. As long as they searched, he'd be caught red-handed!

Mr. Li's face was grim. He said in a low voice, "Gu Sai, please explain yourself."

Gu Sai stood there, facing those sneering or gawking looks, his face going a little pale. This was almost exactly like the time before he was sent back as a kid. Back then, he was scared, helpless, and wronged. He stuttered through his defense, and Aunt Zhou twisted it into proof he was guilty.

He was like a lamb being led to the slaughter.

But he wasn't a kid anymore, and he wasn't alone.

Chen Wang and Li Wencheng stood solidly beside him.

"Mr. Li," he said calmly, "I didn't see Miss Li's necklace, and I never took it. As for Madam Li's gemstones, I had nothing to do with those either. If you're going to make baseless accusations, show me the evidence. Otherwise, I'll sue you for defamation."

Li's father was stunned for a second. He never expected the timid, cowardly Li Wenbing from back then to grow up into a completely different person. Under that calm exterior was a depth and mystery that was hard to read.

People around them whispered to each other. Lu Mo and Xiao Bai also fanned the flames at just the right moment.

"Lu Mo, let's get out of here soon. I don't want Miss Li to lose something else and blame us."

"Exactly. Good thing I didn't go to the Li house much as a kid, or I'd be accused of being a thief too."

Li Shanshan's face soured, and she shot Aunt Zhou a pointed look.

Aunt Zhou got the hint and said loudly, "We're not accusing anyone for no reason! Gu Sai, that necklace was found in your room over ten years ago. If you didn't take it, then who did? And if you want to prove you didn't take Miss's necklace, wouldn't the simplest thing be to let us search you?"

Madam Li stared coldly at Gu Sai and said, "That's right. Drop all that talk about suing us. If you didn't take it, you've got nothing to be afraid of."

Li Wencheng's face was livid. He looked at his parents, beyond disappointed: "Dad, Mom, do you really have to go this far?"

Madam Li shot him a glare: "I said not to let him come, but you wouldn't listen. Shanshan is your sister. Why do you always take someone else's side?"

"Enough talk—search him! I hate thieves! Especially ungrateful bastards who bite the hand that feeds them."

"Even his old adoptive parents think Gu Sai would steal. That says a lot about his character... it's really not good."

"Could Gu Sai be jealous of Shanshan? Like he thinks she took his spot, so he stole her necklace?"

"Why should he get searched? Whoever accuses has to bring proof. If you say our Gu Sai stole something, show us the evidence—don't go searching him!"

"If he's got a clear conscience, he should volunteer to be searched. What's he afraid of?"

Chen Wang swept his sharp gaze over Li's parents and Li Shanshan, his eyes fierce. He lowered his head and whispered something in Gu Sai's ear.

Gu Sai stepped forward and said, "Fine, I agree to the search."

Li Shanshan curled the corner of her mouth.

Gu Sai continued, "But it's not fair to only search me. Aunt Zhou, you suspect me of taking the necklace, and I can just as easily suspect you. How about this—we both get searched at the same time. That way, I'll feel a bit better about it."

Aunt Zhou let out a scoff and pointed at her own nose: "You suspect me? I've worked at the Li household for over a decade. I raised Miss with my own hands. How much I dote on her, Mr. and Madam have seen with their own eyes. How could I possibly take Miss's things?"

Chen Wang raised an eyebrow and gave a dismissive smirk: "So eager to clear yourself, not wanting to be searched—could it be that you have a guilty conscience?"

Aunt Zhou was choked speechless, her face turning red. She slapped her thigh in frustration: "I... what do I have to feel guilty about? I didn't take it, so I didn't take it. I... I..."

"Cough." Li Shanshan let out a light cough.

Aunt Zhou immediately changed her tune: "Fine, fine, fine. It's just a search, isn't it? Go ahead and search!"

With that, she spread her arms wide as if martyring herself.

Gu Sai put down the small cake and stood side by side with Aunt Zhou. Chen Wang found a male and a female staff member from the hotel to conduct the search.

Not only were the dozens of people at the banquet watching, but over a million viewers in the livestream were also staring intently at this scene.

Aunt Zhou was furious and humiliated, shooting glares at Gu Sai from time to time. Gu Sai, on the other hand, remained perfectly calm and cooperative.

The staff searched thoroughly, patting down every spot on Gu Sai's body, which made Chen Wang grit his teeth in irritation.

"Found it!"

The female staff member pulled the necklace out of Aunt Zhou's pocket and held it high, showing it to everyone.

Aunt Zhou's eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't catch her breath and nearly fainted on the spot.