"You've been very brave. I'm proud of you."
Her little hands reached up, touching his face. "Daddy, you said people who lie will have a bad dream later, right?"
He chuckled quietly. "I did."
"Then Sister Yunyin will definitely dream of breaking ten vases tonight."
"Jinjin!" Yuanfeng tried to suppress his laughter, though a few snorts escaped him.
Across the hall, Yunyin's face turned beet red.
"Father!" Madam Liu snapped, glaring at them. "Do you hear that? This child is being disrespectful!"
Yuanfeng's expression immediately turned cold. "She's six years old, Liu Wan. Don't tell me you're competing with a child now."
Liu Wan's jaw clenched, but before she could respond, Luo Ming returned, holding a tablet in his hands.
"The footage," he said breathlessly, placing it on the table before the old master.
The room fell silent again.
Grandfather Chi adjusted his glasses, tapping the screen to start the playback. The grainy footage came alive with color. There was the hall, the two girls walking in, Yunyin gesturing dramatically near the vase, Huaijin standing a few steps behind, everything visible and clear.
Then, the moment of truth.
Yunyin stumbled forward, her elbow brushing the vase. It wobbled, then fell with a crash. Her eyes widened, and before Huaijin could even move, Yunyin turned, shoved her back, and pointed accusingly.
Gasps filled the hall.
The video ended.
For a moment, no one spoke. Even the servants froze in place, eyes darting nervously between the family members.
The old man leaned back in his chair, setting the tablet down. His gaze slowly swept over the room until it landed on Yunyin.
"Care to explain, child?" His tone was soft, but it carried the weight of thunder.
Yunyin's lips trembled. "I—I didn't mean to! I just… tripped!"
"So you did break it," he concluded.
"I— she scared me!" Yunyin blurted, pointing at Huaijin desperately. "She looked at me weirdly! That's why I—"
"Enough."
The old man's voice cracked like a whip. Yunyin flinched violently, her small shoulders shaking as tears began falling again, this time less calculated and more real.
Madam Liu hurried to her side, glaring daggers at Huaijin and Yuanfeng. "Father, Yunyin didn't mean it. She's just a child—"
"So is Huaijin," Yuanfeng interjected coldly, "but no one was willing to believe her."
Grandfather Chi raised a hand, silencing both sides. His eyes softened slightly when they fell on Huaijin. The little girl hadn't said a single word during the playback; she simply stood quietly, watching everything unfold with unshakable calm.
"What do you think, little one?" he asked her suddenly.
Everyone looked at her.
Huaijin blinked once, then smiled, a small, bright smile that disarmed even the old man. "I think Grandpa's vase was really beautiful. It's a pity it broke."
Her tone was pure and unaffected.
Grandfather Chi let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You're clever, aren't you?"
She tilted her head. "Daddy says I'm clever sometimes and troublesome most times."
A ripple of laughter spread through the servants, though they quickly stifled it.
Yuanfeng sighed helplessly. "Father, I'll take responsibility for the damage. I'll compensate for the vase."
But the old man waved him off. "No need. It's already gone. No amount of money will bring it back. But…" His eyes flicked toward Yunyin, who was still sobbing into her mother's arms. "Perhaps this is a good lesson for the children. The next time one of you lies, I'll make sure to replace the broken vase with a punishment instead."
His gaze lingered pointedly on Yunyin before turning back to Huaijin. "As for you, little one… you're sharper than you look."
Huaijin blinked. "Is that a good thing, Grandpa?"
"Depends on who you ask," he replied with a faint smile.
Yuanfeng bowed slightly, guiding Huaijin out of the hall. The moment they stepped outside, he couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Jinjin," he whispered, crouching down and gently cupping her cheeks, "you were incredible back there."
She giggled, tilting her head. "I didn't do anything, Daddy. I just told the truth."
He laughed quietly, pulling her into a tight hug. "Still… thank you. For believing in me, even when everyone else didn't."
She hugged him back, her tiny arms barely reaching around his neck. "Always."
Then, in her soft little voice, she added, "But Daddy, why do grown-ups hate being called fools if they really act like ones?"
Yuanfeng froze for a moment before bursting into laughter, loud enough to startle a few passing maids.
"Because, sweetheart," he said, kissing her forehead affectionately, "grown-ups like to pretend they're smarter than they are."
Huaijin blinked, serious. "That's silly."
"Yes," he agreed with a grin. "It really is."
Inside the hall, while father and daughter disappeared around the corner, Yunyin's tears had already dried. Her small hands clenched tightly around her dress, her teeth grinding as she glared in the direction Huaijin had gone.
Her mother noticed the look but said nothing, only patting her head stiffly.
Yunyin's mind burned with humiliation.
No one had ever made her look like a liar before. No one had ever dared.
This wasn't over.
Next time, she promised herself, that wild girl wouldn't get away so easily.
But far down the corridor, Chi Huaijin was smiling faintly to herself, her hand safely held in her father's warm palm.
She didn't need revenge right now.
She had already won.
On the other hand, the old man was silent for a long moment. Finally, he sighed, tapping his cane lightly. "Enough. Clean this up. And Yunyin, you will go to your room and reflect on what happened."
"B-But Grandpa—!"
"Go."
Yunyin bit her lip, her eyes red with fury and humiliation as she glared at Huaijin before storming off.
As the servants started cleaning up, Huaijin stood quietly beside her father. She felt the warmth of his hand tighten slightly on her shoulder. When she looked up, he was staring down at her with a complicated expression, pride, relief, and guilt all tangled together.