The next day, the Gu family’s patriarch’s birthday banquet arrived on time.

Ming Yue slept until three in the afternoon before finally getting up. After washing up, Ming Shuo was nowhere to be found; only Liu Qinxin was waiting in the living room, holding that blue long dress in her hands.

“Should I change into it?” Liu Qinxin asked with a smile.

Ming Yue didn’t answer—and she certainly didn’t even glance at the dress. Instead, she swept her eyes across the living room and asked, “Where’s my dad?”

“Shuo Ge is still at the office. He said he’ll head straight to the Gu residence as soon as he’s free. He’s arranged a car for you—once you’re ready, we can leave.”

Liu Qinxin explained calmly.

Ming Yue nodded, reached out to take the dress, gave it a quick shake, turned around to head upstairs to change, but suddenly saw Liu Qinxin’s face fall.

“What’s wrong?” Ming Yue asked.

Liu Qinxin’s complexion turned pale as she looked at the hem of the dress. “This dress…”

“What’s wrong with the dress?” Ming Yue bent down to take a look and saw that several slashes had been cut into the skirt, along with stains on the back—there was simply no way she could wear it outside.

Ming Yue’s expression darkened. “What happened here? Do you really not want me to wear it?”

“Of course not!” Liu Qinxin quickly shook her head, biting her lip. She’d probably already guessed what had happened, and her face grew even more grim.

Ming Yue tossed the dress back to her. “Then what is this? Did it just turn into this on its own? Liu Qinxin, don’t forget—you volunteered yesterday to take it over and iron it again before I agreed to give it to you. Now it’s like this—how am I supposed to wear it? And if my dad scolds me later, how am I going to explain myself?”

She looked furious and pulled out her phone, ready to call the police. “I don’t care—whoever messed with it is responsible!”

“Stop!” Liu Qinxin grabbed Ming Yue’s hand, urgently trying to stop her. “No! Ming Yue, I’m begging you! I bet it was Lai Lai who did this. Don’t worry, I’ll give him a good talking-to later—I won’t let him off easy at all.”

“Do you really think I’ll believe that?” Ming Yue crossed her arms and stared at Liu Qinxin, her lips curling into a mocking smirk.

Liu Qinxin lowered her head. “Then what would make you believe me? Should I call Lai Lai right now and get to the bottom of this? Fine, I’ll call him over. But you can’t delay any longer.”

“Hmph…”

“How about this: I’ll call Zhao Mo and have him urgently find another outfit for you to deliver to the Gu residence, while I personally grab Lai Lai and bring him over to your car for questioning?”

“No thanks. That lawless little brat can wait until I get back to interrogate him—don’t try any tricks on me,” Ming Yue waved her hand, unusually refraining from making things difficult for Liu Qinxin.

Liu Qinxin breathed a sigh of relief.

Ming Yue stroked her chin and added, “Forget Zhao Mo—he’s only got so much discernment. See if you can track down Sun Hongyue instead and ask him to make the trip.”

“Okay!”

Liu Qinxin readily agreed, immediately pulling out her phone, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips—she hadn’t expected such an unexpected bonus.

As if remembering something, Liu Qinxin quickly added, “I don’t have Sun Hongyue’s number, so I’ll just call Zhao Mo and have him arrange for Sun Hongyue to run over.”

Ming Yue nodded, then leaned closer to Liu Qinxin. “You’re paying!”

Liu Qinxin grimaced but agreed.

Ming Yue continued, “And you’ve got to throw in some hush money too. Otherwise, if I spill the beans to my dad, just you wait—your little rascal’s ass will be blown wide open.”

“How much do you want?” Liu Qinxin gritted her teeth.

Ming Yue yawned. “Not much—just pay me whatever you spent on this dress.”

“Deal.”

Liu Qinxin didn’t refuse.

Ming Yue smiled contentedly, then headed upstairs to change into a comfortable outfit before getting into the car Ming Shuo had arranged and speeding off toward the Gu family’s old mansion.

End of Chapter 58: Blackmail