Chapter 58: False Accusation

The crowd grew larger, and more and more eyes fixed on Nan Zhi. The staff from the television station were well aware of Lin Wanyue’s notoriously bad temper in private—anyone who angered her would certainly suffer the consequences. Everyone was waiting to see Nan Zhi make a fool of herself.

Fu Sijing and Nan Yao stood not far away, the corners of their mouths curled in gleeful anticipation.

"Yao Yao, just wait. When Han Mo learns what Nan Zhi did to Lin Wanyue, she’ll be fired immediately," Fu Sijing whispered. Though she couldn’t fathom how Nan Zhi was acquainted with Alvis, after the humiliation she suffered in front of him, she would not let Nan Zhi off easily.

Nan Yao’s face mirrored her expectation, eager to witness Nan Zhi being scorned by everyone and driven out of the station by Han Mo. Just imagining it felt like sweet revenge!

Lin Wanyue looked at Nan Zhi’s unperturbed face and couldn’t help but snort coldly. Her gaze grew increasingly hateful and mocking. "My pigeon egg ring is missing. I remember you went to my dressing room before the audition."

Nan Zhi pressed her lips slightly. "Yes, your assistant took me there."

Han Mo and the other judges exchanged uneasy glances. Though Lin Wanyue was difficult to get along with, she rarely accused someone without reason—especially someone as insignificant as Nan Zhi.

Everyone knew how much Lin Wanyue treasured her diamond ring, rumored to be worth tens of millions. Unless she was working, she wore it at all times. Could it really have been stolen by Nan Zhi? No one welcomed someone with sticky fingers, no matter where they were.

Nan Zhi met the disdainful gaze of those around her and matched Lin Wanyue’s fiery stare, lips curling faintly. "Senior Lin, you should know the law—slander and false accusation are crimes, aren’t they?"

Lin Wanyue hadn’t expected a thief to be so self-assured. Her face darkened, voice icy. "You think I’m falsely accusing you? When you entered my dressing room, you were wearing clothes worth only a few hundred yuan. What are you wearing now?"

"You’re young, relying on your looks to seduce old men. Shamelessly kept by someone, and when he refused to give you a diamond ring, you stole mine!"

Nan Zhi could only find it laughable. Her delicate brows arched, and the light in her almond-shaped eyes flickered. "Senior Lin, where’s your evidence?"

"Xiao Ting, come here!" Lin Wanyue snapped.

Xiao Ting, her head bowed and eyes red, walked over. She had spent two years as Lin Wanyue’s assistant, honest and meek, easily bullied, and many station employees had a good impression of her.

She knelt before Nan Zhi, clutching the hem of her dress with slender fingers, tears glistening in her eyes. "Miss Nan, please return the ring to Sister Lin!"

Nan Zhi stepped back, shaking off Xiao Ting’s grip, her gaze turning cold.

Her first impression of Xiao Ting had been favorable; she’d felt sympathy when she saw her kicked to the floor by Lin Wanyue in the dressing room. The saying "You know a person’s face, not their heart," rang true.

"Miss Nan, your clothes were wet and I kindly lent you a hair dryer. You should have been grateful. Why did you steal Sister Lin’s ring when I wasn’t looking? If you don’t return it, Sister Lin will send both of us to jail!"

Xiao Ting’s tears flowed, her frail shoulders trembling.

Shu Meng, a judge who knew Xiao Ting, couldn’t bear it and stepped forward to speak for her. "Xiao Ting doesn’t lie. The ring must still be with Nan Zhi."

"Director Han, if it’s proven that Nan Zhi stole the ring, she can’t stay at the station. Who would dare work with someone like that?"

...

Chapter 2, Monday. Please vote~