But the thought that she would soon return after enduring a bit more cold brought a smile to her face.

In the main hall, Yue Linying remained preoccupied with the item in the room, his mind elsewhere. After making several mistakes, Gu Yansheng called him aside to reprimand him.

He sighed and finally said, "Dad, there's something I need to take care of back in my room. Could I go back for a moment?"

"Do you understand why I'm holding this birthday party? You're not going anywhere!" Gu Yansheng snapped, his voice loud enough to draw glances from passing servants.

Yue Linying was already worried, and now, seeing Gu Yansheng refuse to give him even a shred of respect, he felt even more resentful. Both of them were his sons, yet Yue Linze could do whatever he pleased, while he was restricted at every turn. Just as he was about to retort, the sound of sirens pierced the air from outside.

Yue Linying froze, a sense of foreboding washing over him. He immediately pushed past Gu Yansheng and rushed into the party. Spotting Zhou Yanran, he grabbed her wrist and asked in a panicked voice, "Wasn't everything alright with the item? Why are there police cars here?"

Zhou Yanran, caught in the middle of socializing, jumped, startled. Ignoring the curious stares of those around them, she answered nervously, "I said the it-item wasn't taken by Tao Yu, but she broke it…"

Slap!

"You idiot!" Yue Linying roared, his eyes bloodshot, and turned to flee.

Zhou Yanran stood completely stunned, staring in disbelief at his retreating figure. The people around her gradually closed in. The socialites who had earlier showered her with flattery and envy now looked at her with pity. She felt exposed, standing in the middle of the crowd, as if stripped bare, the object of everyone's scrutiny and ridicule.

Soon, however, their attention shifted. Police officers swarmed the area, quickly surrounding the party. Gu Yansheng, mortified, approached them. "What is the meaning of this?!"

"We're here to arrest Yue Linying," the officer stated firmly.

Gu Yansheng exploded. "Nonsense! This is preposterous!" He had meticulously organized this party to ensure Yue Linying's acceptance by high society, and now these officers dared to barge in and make such accusations. True or not, Linying's reputation would be ruined.

The officers ignored him. Seeing that Yue Linying wasn't present, they immediately began searching the premises. Just as Gu Yansheng was about to pursue them and demand an explanation, Yue Linze's voice boomed through the speakers. He whipped around to see Yue Linze positioned on the raised platform, his eyes filled with contempt.

He loathed the inherent arrogance of the Yue family. He was about to intervene when Yue Linze spoke coldly, "Eight months ago, I was in a car accident that left my right leg disabled. The surveillance footage from that section of the road disappeared, so the driver responsible was never found."

A chilling premonition gripped Gu Yansheng. Seeing the curl of Yue Linze's lips, his blood ran cold. Without a second thought, he rushed towards the platform.

But it was too late.

"Today, that footage was transmitted to the police database. It shows the perpetrator hitting me with their car and removing the surveillance equipment. The police are here to arrest that perpetrator." Yue Linze looked at Gu Yansheng, who seemed on the verge of collapse, his eyes filled with mockery. "Now is the time for him to face justice. This matter has nothing to do with those of you present. Please, continue enjoying the party."

The police had already announced they were there to arrest Linying, and now, with these added details, Yue Linze clearly intended to utterly destroy his reputation. Gu Yansheng trembled with rage. He was about to speak when a sharp pain shot through his head, and then, everything went black.

Chaos erupted. Humiliated, Zhou Yanran lowered her head and began to leave. The housekeeper, his eyes narrowing, followed closely behind.

News of Yue Linying's arrest spread through the hall, amplifying the pandemonium. Yue Linze, seemingly unaffected by the commotion, steered his wheelchair off the platform and tried to contact Tao Yu.

The phone rang and rang, but the call wouldn't connect. He frowned and switched to the listening function, but there was no sound. Yue Linze's face darkened ominously.

In the cold storage room, Tao Yu, nearly frozen solid, shivered as she waited to return to the real world. When that didn't happen, she began hoping for Yue Linze's call so she could tell him where she was. Sadly, neither wish came true.

Just as despair began to creep in, convincing her that Yue Linze had forgotten her, the brooch, succumbing to the extreme cold, shut down.