Ming Lai rose from the sofa and was about to leave when she said abruptly, "You're really lucky that you didn't die outside!"
The atmosphere in the living room seemed to freeze. It was suffocating.
Ming Qu raised her brows, curling her lips. "It's thanks to God who's watching over me."
She noticed her parents exchanging a look with each other from the corner of her eyes. She was unable to read their expressions.
This family really didn't have any good intentions!
"Alright, we're all family. There's no need to talk nonsense."
After what seemed to be ages, Ming Zhicheng spoke up, breaking the deadlock.
Ming Lai was still unsatisfied. Before leaving, she shot Ming Qu a fierce glare.
On the surface, Ming Qu appeared as if she didn't care, but in her heart, she was already planning some form of retaliation to repay Ming Lai's hostility.
The next day, she was about to leave the house when she bumped into Mother Ming downstairs.
When Mother Ming saw that she was all dressed up, she grew suspicious.
"You just came back. Where are you going?"
"To meet a friend."
Mother Ming's eyes were filled with disdain as she sized her up.
It was as if she was saying, "How could you have a friend when you've just returned to Tong City?"
Ming Qu paid her no mind. She smiled politely as she walked away.
Just as she reached the entrance, she heard Mother Ming's unfriendly tone. "Remember who you are. Never fight with your sister."
"Fight? Tch!"
Ming Zhicheng's beautiful eyes rolled as she couldn't help but sneer.
She pushed open the door and headed out, avoiding Mother Ming's sharp gaze.
No one knew who she had gone to meet. That night, however, a luxurious car dropped her off.
Ming Zhicheng had just happened to be coming back from work. As the two cars passed each other, he was puzzled. Entering the living room, he saw Ming Qu heading upstairs, while Ming Lai had not yet returned.
The atmosphere in the restaurant was oppressive during dinner.
Father Ming's eyes were fixed on Ming Qu, as if trying to see through her.
At his side, Mother Ming nudged him.
Father Ming blurted out, "Ming Qu, was that your friend just now?"
"Yes."
"How did you meet?"
Ming Qu, who was relishing her food, paused as she looked up at him.
These people did not have the right to know everything about her. Other children depended on and confided in their parents, but Ming Qu had never dared to rely on hers.
"What friends could she even make? During your birthday party, she'd attracted the attention of all the young masters."
The limousine that sent her back had also been seen by Mother Ming.
In their eyes, Ming Qu was simply a little girl who had returned from the countryside. She had never been associated with the young masters and socialites of upper-class society.
As of now, the Ming family held the most power in Tong City. There was no merit in raising her.
"Mom, didn't you want both sister and I to help dad manage the Ming Family?"
Mingqu's sudden question clearly startled the Ming couple.
She had obviously not meant those words.
Now that it had been brought up again, Mother Ming's expression turned sour.
After a long pause, her words were ice-cold, "Remember who you are. Never fight with your sister."
At that moment, Ming Qu suddenly felt as if something was wrong.
She couldn't figure out what it was.
It wasn't until one day, when she would overhear two servants of the Ming family in a discussion over what had happened that year, that she would learn that she was not born to Mother Ming.
From that moment on, the tiny remnants of whatever familial bonds she shared with Mother Ming completely disappeared.
The maternal love that she had been seeking all these years turned out to be nothing more than an illusion.
It was true that back then, she had been thrown into a toilet when she was born, but the culprit was not her own mother. On that day, her birth mother had passed away.
For a few days in a row, Ming Qu locked herself in her room.
If she didn't question it, she would still be the second miss of the Ming family. She would still live a luxurious life, holding the title of a socialite.
If she lost all decorum, it would be a different scene.
She was not afraid. It would just be a little difficult to deal with this family once again.
Ming Qu readjusted her state of mind, and pretended not to know anything. She retained an innocent look on her face.
Ming Lai disliked her behavior, and she wanted nothing more than to chase her out as soon as possible. It would be best if she never came back.
To achieve this, the mother and daughter pair thought up a good idea.