Chapter 723: Chapter 723: Framed, Calm in the Face of Danger

In the study, the lighting was dim, quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

The words spoken by Lai Wenyan seemed casual, but in reality, they fell like a heavy hammer on Tang Li’s heart, trying to smash a dark, gaping hole.

Through this hole, one could glimpse her innermost thoughts.

Lai Wenyan put down the documents in his hand, and with them, threw the file bag at Tang Li’s feet: “You even know how to incite outsiders to stab your elder sister in the back! Deliberately spreading that kind of news online, are you satisfied only when you’ve completely ruined the Lai Family’s reputation?!”

Each question resonated with ringing condemnation.

Tang Li didn’t bend down to pick up the documents, just looked at Lai Wenyan: “I don’t understand what you’re saying, Dad.”

“Don’t understand?” Lai Wenyan sneered: “You think I really can’t find out what you’ve done? If you don’t want others to know, don’t do it yourself. The over a million yuan you siphoned off from the card, what you did with it, do I still need to remind you?”

At this point, a teacup smashed to the ground in front of Tang Li.

The broken porcelain shards scattered everywhere.

Tang Li stood still, a cut appearing on her pale right ankle, with fresh red blood seeping out, but she didn’t even blink. Instead, she pulled a backpack from behind her, took out a property purchase certificate, and gently placed it on the desk.

Then, the girl’s soft voice followed: “Last month I found a good apartment. The payment for ‘Phoenix Concubine’ hadn’t arrived yet, and I only had tens of thousands on me, not enough for the down payment on the house.”

Lai Wenyan’s gaze had already fallen on the property purchase certificate.

“My aunt transferred a million yuan to my card, and the next day I went to the sales center, confirmed the apartment, and paid the money.” Tang Li’s fingers clenched on her backpack, hesitated for a moment, and continued: “I was afraid you would scold me for buying a house without having the money, so I didn’t tell you. I was thinking, once I got my payment at the end of the month, I would pay off the remaining mortgage in full and then tell the family.”

While speaking, she took out a promotional brochure for the property from her bag and placed it next to the purchase certificate: “It’s in Zichen Garden, the surrounding environment is very nice, and next year a resort will be built nearby. Even if I don’t live there myself in the future, reselling it could make some money.”

Lai Wenyan lifted his head, his gaze piercingly observing her.

As if trying to see into her heart.

Tang Li remained composed, never glancing at the investigative documents on the ground, but because of Lai Wenyan’s words, her face showed tension—not because a lie had been exposed, but because she was afraid her father had misunderstood her. Therefore, she couldn’t help but add: “If you don’t believe me, you can call Zichen Garden’s sales center.”

Lai Wenyan picked up the property purchase certificate. Which building, which floor, everything was clearly written on it, along with the seal, which couldn’t be fake.

After a while, his frown relaxed.

Looking back at Tang Li, his eyes no longer held their former hostility: “At your age, there’s no need to buy a house so early. But since you’ve bought it, you shouldn’t have kept it from the family.”

Tang Li bowed her head, silently admitting her fault.

“If you had informed me earlier, it wouldn’t have led to this misunderstanding.” Lai Wenyan’s expression softened, placing the property purchase certificate back on the desk: “Go out first, get your foot treated by a servant. Since you’re back, have dinner with us at home.”

This was a slap followed by a sweet date.

Tang Li seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, smiling: “Okay, I’ll go back to my room first, Dad.”

“Go ahead.” Lai Wenyan nodded.

Tang Li closed the door to the study, looked back, and understood that Lai Wenyan was just bluffing; he didn’t actually have any evidence.