“What are you talking about?” Ming Shuo asked, furrowing his brow.

Liu Qinxin looked at Ming Yue in confusion as well.

Ming Yue turned her palm upward and shook her hand rhythmically. “Why are you playing dumb? I fronted the medical expenses for your precious daughter. What, are you trying to wriggle out of it? Want to see if I’ll scream in the hallway right now? Just wait and see if you two still have any shame!”

“Shut up! You’re all about the money!” Ming Shuo glared at his daughter, then quietly pulled out his phone and asked, “How much is it? Hand me the receipt.”

“You’re not short on cash at all—you’re so generous! Then what are you stalling for? What are you muttering about? If you’re so rich and generous, just pay up already! And you still want to look at the receipt? Don’t be embarrassed to let people laugh at you!”

Ming Yue kept jabbering away, finally pulling out the receipt and slapping it onto her father’s hand. “Here you go, dear and generous Mr. Ming! Since you praised me for being ‘all about the money,’ you’d better double the amount—otherwise I’ll go shout in the hallway again! Anyway, I’ve already lost all my dignity; it’s up to you two whether you can afford to lose any more!”

“Unreasonable!”

“Just pay up.”

“Fine, fine—I’ll give you the money!” Ming Shuo tossed the cash over and shot a disdainful glare. “Take the money and get out of here, quick!”

“How many times do I have to tell you? Why can’t you remember? You can’t even walk away—can’t move, can’t move! If you really want to take a look, why don’t you set an example yourself first?”

Ming Yue curled her lips into a sneer, quickly snatched the money, slipped it into her pocket, and turned to leave—though she couldn’t resist shooting Liu Qinxin a provocative glance.

When their eyes met, Liu Qinxin suddenly shuddered, her spine growing icy cold.

For a fleeting moment, it felt as though she were seeing once again those familiar, suffocating eyes!

It was him!

It was him!

He had come back!

But the person standing before her was clearly herself—

the timid, easily manipulated version of herself from the past!

As Ming Yue stepped out of the hospital room, the Beautiful Female Bookstore Owner was still outside, leaning against the wall with her eyes closed, seemingly deep in thought.

Only when Ming Yue drew near did she slowly open her eyes, narrowing them into slits, staring silently at Ming Yue without saying a word.

Ming Yue curled her lips into a smirk. “Well, aren’t you waiting?”

The Beautiful Female Bookstore Owner remained silent, continuing to fix her gaze on Ming Yue.

Ming Yue smiled slyly. “What, taken a fancy to me? Too bad—I’m not into women. If you were a man with a penis, maybe I’d consider it.”

With that, she reached out a small hand and gently lifted the woman’s chin, while the other hand slid around her waist, drawing the bookstore owner—who had been pressed against the wall—closer to her. She blew a puff of air toward the woman’s face and suddenly broke into a bewitching, seductive smile.

The bookstore owner didn’t show the slightest sign of anger; she simply accepted it graciously.

After locking eyes with Ming Yue for a while, she placed her hand on Ming Yue’s shoulder, gazing intently at her face, and a trace of sadness suddenly appeared in her eyes. “It really is a pity—if only you were a man…”

“Are you really into me now?”

“Maybe.”

“Don’t scare me!”

“I never scare anyone.”

“Hmph…” Ming Yue released her grip. “Stop playing games with me—I’m no three-year-old. Let me be clear: I really don’t like you getting so close to Liu Jia. If you know what’s good for you, scram fast—go as far away as you can, taking your lousy little bookstore with you. Otherwise, incidents like today will happen all the time from now on.”

“Scaring me?”

The Beautiful Female Bookstore Owner straightened her clothes, looking as composed as ever.

Ming Yue shook her head. “I never scare people—this is just a routine warning. If you don’t believe me, feel free to test it out.”

“Then let’s try it out!”

The Beautiful Female Bookstore Owner narrowed her eyes in a sly smile.

Ming Yue frowned and took two steps back. “If you want to try it out, go ahead—after all, I’ve got plenty of free time, so it’s nice to have something to keep me busy.”

End of Chapter 78: Counterattack 4