Mrs Fox Heinous Revenge: Can You Love A Villainess like Me?
Chapter 172: There’s a Liar

Chapter 172: There’s a Liar

AiLin saw how some masks had fallen off. That being the people who hadn’t greeted her politely earlier when she first entered the living room. Those people had only done necessary greeting just to not look too "impolite" so the head of the family would look at them disapprovingly. But now after the accident, they were more open to their dislike towards her. There was also a few people around her who had been nice to her earlier yet now looking at her suspiciously which felt like a stab on her back.

AiLin lifted her head firmly, regardless of their disapproving gaze, she knew that she was innocent.

"I wasn’t in the pond, or anywhere near there," said someone who was talking to ZiChen’s father.

But someone cut off, "Yeah right. You weren’t in the pond or near that but you were also absent from the dining room. How can we be sure that you weren’t somewhere plotting something?"

"I was smoking! Why the hell would I push Ling-er into the pond either way? Will that suddenly make me rich?"

"Oh shut up, you said you stopped smoking half a year ago! Don’t you think it’s weird that all of a sudden you would want to smoke again? Besides, we all know that you have a grudge against Ling because she’s the one who had disapproved your horrible project."

"Shut up, speak about your own problems! Remember how you were the one holding grudges against Ling-er for more than four years because she gifted Grandmother Li a vase similar to yours but better in quality?!"

"What— how dare you!" The two then began to fight tussling around as Senior Mr. Li only pushed his thumb over his forehead, sighing as he stared at his own family members breaking into a fight.

"Stop it," he only needed to say those two words for all the members to squeeze their lips shut, including the children who were crying earlier on. He then said, "Did anyone saw you smoking somewhere?"

"N- No..." he answered.

AiLin wondered if this was the true perpetrator who had pushed Cousin Ling into the pond. Though she didn’t see it clear enough, she was sure someone had pushed Cousin Ling into the icy pond. She then turned and muttered to Li ZiChen beside her, "Do you think that there’re many people who hold grudges against Cousin Ling? She seems like a very nice person, how twisted can someone be to hate someone so kind?"

"Not all kind people is agreeable," he answered, "Sometimes because how close she is to righteousness, some people despise her. There is also that accident," he hadn’t finished his words when his father had called him.

"Zi Chen," when the head of the family called his son it was like a mirror calling its reflection.

Li ZiChen’s expression was softer than his father but if he forgot his smile and hardened his gaze, perhaps they’ll look copy pasted. Zi Chen walked over to his father without any hesitation and though it seems so tense, they actually had a good relationship which could be seen as after he stopped beside his father, the older man patted his shoulder and spoke in a tender voice, "Are you alright?"

Li ZiChen nodded firmly, "I understand what you would do."

Senior Mr Li smiled, looking proud at Li ZiChen before turning his eyes toward her who was watching everything from the side, "Come over, Miss AiLin."

AiLin walked toward the chair beside Li ZiChen, now feeling the dead silent room a little too unnerving. But the older man spoke first noticing her expression, "No one in this family had ever allowed to be suffering from a misunderstanding. Don’t be worried about anyone trying to smear your name. As long as what you have said is the truth, we will stand by your side."

That was a very stern yet assuring words, thought AiLin who sneaked a glance to Li ZiChen who seemed happy that his father was treating his soon to be wife very fairly.

"Thank you for not doubting me first," she said to Senior Mr Li who shook his head faintly.

"This is only right to do. Can you let us know what had happened?"

AiLin nodded and turned toward the door briefly before starting her explanation, "It started with me walking toward the garden on the way back to the dining room. I then saw Cousin Ling who was talking to someone."

"Did you see who she was talking to?" Senior Mr Li asked as the room seemed to be shooting the same question from their gazes.

"No, unfortunately," she answered, "That person was standing behind the tree and their conversation was hushed, so I couldn’t listen to whether they’re female or male either. They seemed to be arguing then the next second the person pushed Cousin Ling into the pond and I rushed to help her."

"That sounds plausible," someone cut off before Senior Mr Li reacted. The same person continued, "Didn’t everyone here heard what Cousin Ling first say once she opened her eyes? She asked why that woman would do that to her. Do ’THAT’?"

AiLin realized that perhaps Cousin Ling had been delirious when she asked her ’why’ and perhaps she wasn’t even in a clear mind to realize who she was talking with.

Clenching her hands, AiLin stifle the sigh from her lungs and turn to the person who had accused her, "If I had wanted to kill Cousin Ling, there would be a reason for me to act and if I did have that reason, why would I try to safe her?"

"Perhaps because you realized that you had almost killed her out of rage?" The same person shrugged.

Someone added, "There’s no reason but we could guess the reason."

She narrowed her eyes. There was a reason for her to kill someone she had JUST met?

She turned to that person, "What reason would that be?" Money? Fame? Because she look like a terrible person? When she was still called "Ms Fox" everyone did push every blame down her feet so being blame for things she didn’t do wasn’t entire new.

"You must have heard Cousin Ling’s past with Zi Chen," that person uttered.

AiLin’s eyes widened a little and she turned to that person, realizing that this person is none other than Silver 1. The person who had stood beside Third Aunt earlier, who had been looking at her disapprovingly since she first entered the room. The other one who spoke was a man and that man had a similar feature to Silver 1, meaning that they’re siblings from the same parents.

"I don’t know what past you’re speaking about."

"Look how flustered you are," said Silver 1.

"Stop deluding this conversation. DaYan," said Mrs Li who was sitting from the side. She had gone quiet so she wouldn’t unnecessarily intervene the conversation which only cause people to think that they were protecting AiLin. She had gone quiet to make AiLin’s statement more believable but couldn’t held on to the silence any longer after seeing how foolish their accusations were.

Li ZiChen’s face was already marred in anger. He was also forced to stay quiet so he wouldn’t be seen too impartial and so that AiLin’s statement held its worth. But he couldn’t held on to it any longer and turned toward the speaking Silver 1 in annoyance, "Nothing had ever happened between me and Ling-er. We were never involved."

"But perhaps she had heard that Ling-er once confessed to you," silver 1 said and scoffed, "Maybe she’s a jealous woman inside who would act upon such small reasons."

AiLin pressed her forehead that began to ache and answered firmly, "I do not know what you’re speaking about and I hadn’t pushed Cousin Ling because of those reasons."

When Silver 1 was about to speak, she saw Senior Mr Li’s hands that raised in front of her, stopping her from talking.

"Quiet or you’ll be asked to leave, DaYan," said Senior Mr Li before turning his gaze sharply at his niece who flinched and immediately shut her lips in fear. She stared at the ground, holding to her hands in visible fear. "AiLin has never heard of such rumors and those rumors have been said to be fake. We are only here to listen to explanations and everyone’s alibi. If anyone else had seen something odd that had happened, they’re allowed to come forward, but you are not allowed to accuse someone without a proof like what you did, DaYan."

Silver 1’s mother quickly rushed toward her and spoke on her behalf, "Please don’t take DaYan’s words into heart, I’m sure she’s saying this because she’s just worried. To doubt the people inside the family instead of the outside is unheard of."

"To doubt someone who had done nothing wrong simply because they’re an outsider is more wrong to my eyes, SaHan," said Senior Mr Li which immediately caused everyone to turn pale and quiet. "I understand what you have said, Miss Li. Thank you so much for allowing us to hear your explanation."

"If this can help, I would be more than glad to tell my side of the story anytime you need," she then looked around and faintly asked the question, "Has Cousin Ling woke up yet?"