Seeing Peng Li growing frustrated, Qin Mom casually asked, “You claim Sun Man has poor character, but what exactly has she done?”

Peng Li hesitated, then replied, “Isn’t it rumored that she evaded taxes?”

Qin Mom sighed, exasperated. “You really haven’t kept up with the news, have you? Any celebrity caught evading taxes wouldn’t be able to work again. Sun Man’s still active, which means she’s clean.”

“Impossible! I think I heard Lang Zhe mention she had to pay back taxes.”

Qin Zhao added, “That was because of her family-run studio doing things behind her back. When she found out, she handled it immediately.”

This was well-documented online, and Sun Man had actually set an example for other celebrities with her self-audit. Unlike some who balk at paying back taxes, she had done the right thing.

[Poor Sun Man really has had it rough. I think she fell for Lang Zhe so easily because she grew up in a difficult family environment. Her studio was run by her mom and uncle, who constantly engaged in shady practices, causing her no end of trouble and working her to the bone for money.]

[Even Gao Hao has said that Sun Man was under a lot of pressure. If not for her relatives dragging her down, she might have achieved even more. She finally got a boyfriend, only to almost be pulled into another trap.]

The Qin family was on the edge of their seats, frustrated that Ji Fei’s thoughts always left out the juiciest details.

Unable to prove her point, Peng Li grumbled, “She has problems, that’s all.”

Qin Mom shook her head. “You just dislike her, don’t you?”

Some mothers-in-law simply didn’t like their daughters-in-law, feeling as if they were “stealing” their sons. Lu Fei, however, didn’t have this issue—it was Peng Li who seemed overly attached.

Flustered, Peng Li instinctively clutched her pearl necklace. Finally, she sighed, “Fine, I’ll tell you, but you must promise to keep it a secret. I promised my godson I wouldn’t say anything. He’s a loyal, kind boy; even though they broke up, he doesn’t want to hurt her. But he’s so bewitched by this thief that I have to stop him. Just make sure you don’t let on it was me who told you.”

The Qin family exchanged knowing glances, realizing just how deeply Peng Li had wrapped herself around her godson’s life, fearing any hint of disloyalty from him.

“One time, when Lang Zhe brought her to visit, she tried to steal this very necklace!” Peng Li’s voice rose in indignation as she gripped the oversized pearls. “Such audacity! How can someone with sticky fingers not have questionable morals?”

“Really?” Qin Mom raised an eyebrow.

Having heard so much about Sun Man, the Qin family was inclined to believe she was a sincere, hardworking, law-abiding person.

Peng Li, though, was insistent. “I wanted to show her my collection, so I took her to my jewelry room. Later, during dinner, one of the maids mentioned the necklace was missing. I had everyone search for it for ages and was on the verge of calling the police when it suddenly reappeared in the bathroom. I had personally checked that spot, so she must have panicked and put it back. It was still warm when I found it!”

“I wanted to call the police then and there, but Lang Zhe stopped me. After they broke up, I let it go. But now that my foolish boy wants to reconcile with this thief, I have no choice but to step in. I can’t imagine how she’ll scheme for my jewelry in the future!”

Peng Li’s outrage seemed genuine enough. But could Sun Man really have stolen the necklace? It didn’t seem likely.

[Really? I don’t buy it. Let’s look into it.]

Noticing Ji Fei’s thoughtful expression, everyone grew more curious.

“Did she admit to it?” Qin Rong asked.

Peng Li shook her head. “I didn’t catch her red-handed, so she denied it!”

“That means there’s no actual proof, right? Could it have been someone else?” Qin Yan pressed.

“You mean one of my maids? They’ve been with me for years. Impossible!” Peng Li shot back.

“Could it be that you took it to the bathroom yourself and forgot?” Qin Zhao asked.

“Do you think I’m senile?” Peng Li snapped.

At this point, even Qin Xian spoke up, offering his analysis. “This type of one-of-a-kind necklace is almost impossible to sell without arousing suspicion, especially for someone in the public eye. The only motive to steal it would be desperation for cash. But Sun Man’s income is quite stable, and if she had a private desire to collect jewelry, there are much safer ways to indulge it.”

Qin Xian’s reasoning seemed to impress Ji Fei, who turned to him with shining eyes, visibly in awe.

[Qin Xian is amazing!]

Caught off guard by her open admiration, Qin Xian felt a sudden warmth rising, trying to keep his composure.

The rest of the Qin family exchanged amused glances, enjoying the subtle exchange between the two.

Meanwhile, Ji Fei’s thoughts continued: [His analysis is spot on. It was definitely stolen to be sold!]

The Qin family gasped, wondering if Sun Man really had—

[But the thief wasn’t Sun Man. Nor was it one of the maids. It was the one person Peng Li never suspected—Lang Zhe himself.]

The Qin family exhaled in relief. That explanation seemed far more plausible.

No wonder Lang Zhe had stopped Peng Li from investigating. He hadn’t been protecting his girlfriend but covering his own tracks.

Yet, why would he need to steal? Peng Li spoiled him; surely he could have just asked for money.

Sensing their curiosity, Ji Fei provided the answer this time.

[It’s because Lu Fei, his real mother, controls his finances strictly. She oversees even the money Peng Li gives him, leaving him with little freedom to spend. That’s why he resorted to theft. Normally, he wouldn’t have risked stealing something as valuable as the pearl necklace, but his gambling debts were so high that he needed to cash out quickly. He wanted to pay off the debts and make a big return at the gambling tables.]

The Qin family collectively took a deep breath, realizing that Lang Zhe was, in fact, a compulsive gambler.

[He brought Sun Man as a cover, knowing Peng Li would proudly show off her jewelry collection. That way, he could steal the necklace on the way out. If anyone noticed, he could make it look like his girlfriend’s mistake. He didn’t expect it to be found so quickly and had to abandon the plan.]

Finally, the Qin family understood the depth of his deception.

[Ah, so when the theft failed, he asked Sun Man for money instead, claiming he needed funds to stage a concert.]

The Qin family guessed the outcome. Had he borrowed and failed to repay?

[Sun Man soon realized there was no concert in the works. After digging deeper, she discovered her boyfriend was a compulsive gambler with numerous debts. With no hope of getting her money back—especially without a promissory note—she broke things off decisively.]

The Qin family couldn’t help but admire her decisiveness.

[But… a million yuan? That scumbag got away with a million! It infuriates me every time I think of it! And now he has the nerve to want her back? He probably sees her as an easy target. Where’s the money you owe her, you scumbag?]

[And Peng Li still suspects Sun Man? How frustrating! I mean, unless…]

“After all this, are you even certain it wasn’t Lang Zhe himself? Auntie, sometimes the biggest betrayals come from the ones closest to you.”