Chapter 43: False Accusation

"You are following me!" Xia Rusheng got straight into Lin Yichen's car, looking at him with a questioning gaze. She couldn't understand when he had started tailing her or what his motive was.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Stop playing games. Why are you following me?" Xia Rusheng interrupted his evasive banter and asked seriously.

Lin Yichen took a shopping bag from the passenger seat and handed it to Xia Rusheng. When she opened it, she found it packed with various scar-removal creams and skincare products—a whole bag full of them, with quite a variety.

This fellow had only just learned during the day that she cared about her appearance, and by nightfall, he was already delivering "remedies" to her?

Xia Rusheng's grip on the bag tightened, and a faint smile touched the corner of her mouth. Lin Yichen was truly a good friend to her; if she didn't know he liked men, she would have thought he was hitting on her.

"I was coming to drop some things off for you, and I happened to see you drive out, so I followed. Are you investigating your father?" It was not a question, but a statement of certainty. Lin Yichen had also witnessed the scene downstairs at the Tan family residence earlier today. He genuinely hadn't expected Xia Rui to be involved with his own sister-in-law, and Xia Xia seemed to have known about it all along.

"I'm investigating someone else. I called you just now because I wanted to ask if you know a reliable private detective. I need someone to keep an eye on Tan Xue." She estimated that Xia Rui would frequently contact Tan Xue in the next few days, which presented a prime opportunity to gather evidence. Although she had the recording in her possession, when it came to evidence, naturally, the more the better—and the more direct, the greater the destructive power.

"I have so many reporters at my company, just use them. When do you need them?"

"Contact them right now, and have them watch her for a few days. I want both photos and videos, and the more sensational, the better." Xia Rusheng did not refuse. Since they were practically "family" now, it would be a waste not to make use of such excellent resources.

Lin Yichen got out of the car to make a phone call. An hour later, a white van parked at the entrance of the hotel. Instead of meeting the people in the vehicle directly, Lin Yichen gave them instructions over the phone and forwarded photos of Xia Rui and Tan Xue to them. After that, everything was left entirely in those people's hands.

The next day, Xia Rui returned home early, looking quite in a good mood. As soon as he entered the house, he went straight to Xia Rusheng's room and handed her an invitation card.

"What is this..." It was an invitation to a golden wedding anniversary party. The name of the guest written on it was Xia Rui, and at a glance, it was clearly from one of his business acquaintances. But why was Xia Rui showing this to her?

"You and Yichen get ready. Go with me next week." Dropping the title "Young Master Lin" in favor of "Yichen," Xia Rui truly regarded Lin Yichen as his future son-in-law, believing he would come whenever summoned, slipping into his role even faster than she, the "fiancée," did.

"I'm not sure if Yichen is willing to go. I'd better call and ask him first."

Xia Rusheng placed the call right in front of Xia Rui, and to her surprise, Lin Yichen agreed readily. Receiving a satisfactory reply, Xia Rui went downstairs happily. However, as soon as he reached the landing, he was blocked by Tan Li.

Having heard from the servants that Xia Rui was back, Tan Li had been waiting downstairs, terrified that he would slip away again.

"Darling, what about our Xiaoyu? Mom says her coming-of-age ceremony is canceled—how can we let that happen!"

"How can we not? Aren't you ashamed enough yet?" Xia Rui coldly shook off the hand Tan Li had used to grab his arm. He had had more than enough annoyance these past few days. Although Elder Master Lin had managed to suppress the news because of Xia Xia, the Xia family's reputation had already taken a hit. Everywhere he went now, people pointed fingers at him behind his back, making him all the more irritated at Tan Li, the very source of the scandal.

"Then what about Xiaoyu? Are you just going to wash your hands of it? She is your daughter!" Tan Li shouted stubbornly. But Xia Rui had no desire to deal with her; he shoved her aside, walked straight down the stairs, and left the house.

Standing outside her doorway, Xia Rusheng watched coldly. When Tan Li turned around and caught sight of her, she immediately rushed upstairs. Mother Chen, fearing that Tan Li might do something irrational, hurriedly intercepted her and told Xia Rusheng to lock her door.

"Let her in." Xia Rusheng pushed Mother Chen aside. Tan Li had been acting like a madwoman these past few days, looking at her as if she wanted to tear her to pieces; how could Mother Chen possibly stop her? Living under the same roof, even if she managed to hide today, what about tomorrow?

Besides, she still had a little joke she wanted to play on Xia Rui and his wife...

After placing the invitation card open in a prominent spot, Tan Li barged straight into her room, chest heaving.

"Was it you? You did all of this, didn't you—it was you!" Tan Li's eyes were practically spitting fire, and before she had even finished her sentence, she raised her hand to slap Xia Rusheng.

In this world, the only person who hated them mother and daughter this much was Xia Xia. Therefore, Tan Li was convinced that even if Xia Xia hadn't done it with her own hands, she was definitely inextricably linked to it!

Xia Rusheng accurately caught her arm, glanced toward the doorway—Elder Madam Xia was nowhere in sight, and the maids were all busy downstairs, unaware of the commotion above—and then suddenly smiled. Leaning in, she said with soft, triumphant malice, "So what if I did it? Do you have any evidence?"

Hearing this, Tan Li snapped like she had been doused in gunpowder, struggling fiercely to strike Xia Rusheng. But with Mother Chen right beside Xia Rusheng lending a hand, Tan Li was no match at all!

She had no evidence!

She was enduring in silence precisely because she had no evidence!

Right now, everyone in the household treated her like a plague victim. If not for the child in her belly, the Xia family would have thrown her out on the street long ago!

"I'll get my hands on your proof sooner or later, just you wait! Heaven sees everything mortals do, you'll get your retribution!" Tan Li shrieked hysterically. Realizing she was no match for Xia Rusheng and Mother Chen combined, and mindful of the unborn child in her womb, she dared not act rashly.

Xia Rusheng let out a cold snort at those words. Heaven sees everything?

What a pity that Heaven sometimes turned a blind eye; otherwise, she wouldn't have died such a miserable death in her past life!

Besides, if retribution truly existed, it should strike them first!

"Since you're telling me to wait, then I'll wait. I'd love to see what kind of proof you can possibly dig up on me." Just as Xia Rusheng finished speaking, Elder Madam Xia came up the stairs. Xia Rusheng instantly put on an expression of annoyance, as if she had simply wanted nothing to do with quarreling with Tan Li.

Tan Li heard Elder Madam Xia's footsteps at the same time and saw Xia Rusheng abruptly change her expression, instantly realizing why. In a flash of inspiration, the moment Elder Madam Xia stepped into the doorway, Tan Li dramatically pitched backward.

"You actually pushed—"

Before the sentence could be completed, Xia Rusheng had already dropped to the floor a step ahead of Tan Li, using both hands to cushion the falling woman. The moment Elder Madam Xia stepped into the room, she saw Xia Rusheng sprawled on the ground, desperately trying to break Tan Li's fall. A complex look flashed across Elder Madam Xia's eyes.

She had heard every word of Tan Li's accusation just before.

"Auntie Tan, do you mind coming up with a fresher trick next time you try to frame someone? If I wanted to push you, you would have miscarried long ago; would I have waited until Grandmother came upstairs?" Without even bothering to help Tan Li up, Xia Rusheng stared coldly at Elder Madam Xia.

This old bat was shrewd to the core; how could Tan Li's little stunt possibly fool her?