Chapter 127: Don't Be Deceived

“Lawyer Lu, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ye Hua smiled gently, feigning casualness as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, gathering the delicate locks to reveal the Hetian jade earrings dangling from her earlobes.

The golden sunlight struck the jade, casting a dazzling green shimmer that compelled Lu Yao’s gaze to freeze upon them.

Unconsciously, Lu Yao’s eyes widened, and when she clearly recognized the earrings, a sharp pang gripped her heart.

Those earrings were unmistakably the very Hetian jade wind chime flower earrings her mother had worn for years.

Her mind buzzed with confusion, utterly unable to think clearly, her face drained of color.

Taking a deep breath, she struggled to steady her emotions.

Without betraying her feelings, she asked quietly, “Miss Ye, where did you get those earrings?”

“Oh? These earrings?” Ye Hua deliberately lifted her hand to touch them, her smile warm and radiant. “They were a token of love from my ex-husband back then. You think they’re beautiful, don’t you?”

“A token of love?” Lu Yao frowned, bewildered.

“Yes, years ago, Guan Ran somehow got these unique earrings and gave them to me. Even after all these years, they still never go out of style.”

Perhaps it was the triumphant smile on Ye Hua’s face as she spoke that deepened Lu Yao’s discomfort, almost suffocating her.

First, it was the jade pendant.

Now, Ye Hua was wearing her mother’s earrings.

It was difficult for Lu Yao not to feel that Guan Ran’s words couldn’t be entirely trusted.

From her previous conversation with Guan Ran, he had cleansed himself so thoroughly that it seemed unnatural.

Lu Yao believed that Guan Ran and Ye Hua had been partners in crime back then.

“Lawyer Lu… Lu Yao…”

Ye Hua, noticing Lu Yao’s blank stare fixed on the earrings, was puzzled by what was going through her mind.

She had deliberately chosen to wear those earrings today to test Lu Yao.

To see if Lu Yao was the same girl from years ago.

“Ah?” Lu Yao suddenly snapped back to reality, looking at Ye Hua in confusion. “What did you say?”

Ye Hua couldn’t be entirely sure, so she said, “You were staring at my earrings so intently that I had to ask what you were thinking.”

“Your earrings are stunning—once you look at them, you just can’t look away. Truly exquisite!” Lu Yao controlled her emotions with ease, her face adorned with a brilliant smile that made it impossible to discern whether it was genuine or not.

“Since you like them so much, why don’t I give them to you?”

Ye Hua reached out, removed one earring, and held it out to Lu Yao.

Lu Yao stared at the wind chime flower earring before her, overwhelmed by a swirl of emotions.

She longed to reclaim what belonged to her mother, yet hesitated, afraid of revealing her identity too soon.

After all, she still hadn’t uncovered the organization behind Ye Hua.

Just then, Yang Lan approached. Upon seeing the earrings in Ye Hua’s hand, her expression instantly darkened. Grabbing Ye Hua’s hand, she hissed, “Xiao Hua, what are you doing? How could you wear those earrings out?”

“They looked nice, so I just wore them,” Ye Hua said carelessly, no longer bothering to pretend in front of Yang Lan.

“Put them away immediately. If your father sees them, he’ll scold you again,” Yang Lan warned fiercely.

Unbothered, Ye Hua once again extended the earrings toward Lu Yao, smiling oddly. “Lawyer Lu, these earrings belong to you now. Take them.”

“No, these earrings—no one is allowed to touch them,” Yang Lan snapped, snatching the earrings from Ye Hua’s hand. Ye Hua resisted, refusing to let go.

As the two struggled, the earrings slipped through their fingers and shattered on the floor.

The Hetian jade earrings instantly broke into pieces.

Instinctively, Lu Yao wanted to rush forward to pick them up, but Ye Zehong grasped her hand firmly.

He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Don’t fall for Ye Hua’s tricks.”

(End of chapter)