The only thing that Ming Dai did not expect was that the unscrupulous media would dig out photos of her and Ning Shu and spread rumors that Ming Dai was a mistress.
Not long after, Ming Dai was revealed to be Gu Lingsi's long-lost "biological" sister. Hence, Ming Dai's behavior was seen as jealousy towards her sister.
In addition, Ning Shu and the Gu family did not come out to clarify things. Thus, Ming Dai became the scheming vixen in the public's eyes. She was a b*tch who snatched her sister's marriage contract for revenge.
Only Ming Dai herself knew nothing about this—
"What did I lie to you about?"
She was confused. She looked at Ning Shu, hoping that he could give her an answer.
However, Ning Shu seemed as if he would be insulting himself by explaining more to her.
"You know very well." Ning Shu stood up straight and restrained her emotions. She regained her cold attitude. "Today's charity banquet is also a day to welcome Lingsi. You'd better not come out and ruin the atmosphere and make everyone unhappy because of you. If you know what's good for you, leave as soon as possible. Otherwise, I'll get someone to 'invite' you out!"
Ning Shu turned around and was about to leave when his sleeve was suddenly grabbed.
"Wait!" Ming Dai quickly said, "Where is Gu Lingsi? I have something to discuss with her. I'll leave after I'm done speaking…"
"Why do you want to see her?"
Ning Shu's vigilance was really funny.
It was as if Gu Lingsi was a weak and kind little flower. Almost like if Ming Dai, this poisonous creature, said a word to her, Gu Lingsi would be devoured by her.
Ming Dai simply stated her intentions. "Gu Lingsi should have been there on the day of the accident. I want her to testify for me…"
"Should have been?" Ning Shu seemed to have heard a huge joke. "If you're not sure, why are you looking for Lingsi? Are you trying to use her guilt towards you to get her to help fake the evidence?"
"I'm just making her tell the truth!"
"If you have the time to study these little thoughts, why don't you apologize to someone properly! Scram!"
Ning Shu, who did not believe Ming Dai at all, waved his arm in anger.
Ming Dai was accidentally hit by his hand and lost her balance and fell to the ground.
"Hiss!"
Ming Dai gasped.
This time, not only were her wrists bruised, but even her elbows and knees were bruised.
Holding onto the wall, she finally stood up. Ning Shu had already left.
Ming Dai endured the pain and walked out of the quiet corridor.
At some point in time, there were more and more guests in the banquet hall.
The huge crystal lamp above their heads had already been extinguished, and only the ambient lights were lit.
Suddenly, the stage in front lit up and shone on a Steinway white grand piano. White dry ice mist curled around it, making the scene look fairy-like.
Sitting in front of the piano was a pair of beautiful people with matching looks and temperament. They looked at each other and smiled. They raised their arms and placed them on the black and white keys, playing Schumann's "Träumerei" with four pairs of hands.
One of the women was Gu Lingsi, whom Ming Dai was searching for. She was wearing a pure white satin dress and had black hair and snow-white skin. Her smile was as bright as the moon reflected on the sea.
Gu Lingsi was also an actress. She was different from Ming Dai, who was a popular celebrity with a bad reputation. She was intelligent, highly educated, versatile, kind and noble.
Before she debuted, she was protected by the Gu family's halo. After she debuted, everything went smoothly. She was recognized as a goddess in the entertainment industry. There were many die-hard fans and people who liked her.
As the soft and dreamy notes flowed from the stage like spring water, Gu Lingsi seemed to have become the center of this world and the heroine of the story.
Ming Dai, who was standing below the stage, was just a supporting actress in the background.
Perhaps she was a stupid and evil ignorant supporting actress.
Ming Dai laughed self-deprecatingly.
She had thought that Ning Shu was good enough to her.
It was not until she saw him and Gu Lingsi together by chance that she realized what it meant to be pampered.
Ming Dai suppressed her surging emotions and quietly retreated from the back of the crowd.
After Gu Lingsi's performance, she would definitely go to the lounge at the back. All she needed to do was wait there in advance.
With this thought in mind, Ming Dai lowered her eyes slightly and absent-mindedly walked around the person walking towards her.
She stepped aside, but the other party did not do the same. He aimed straight at her—
"Ah."
Ming Dai exclaimed softly.
The glass of red wine in the other party's hand completely drenched her chest. Even though the dress was made of black fabric and there were no obvious traces, the sticky and moist fabric still stuck tightly to her skin, causing Ming Dai to have goosebumps all over.
The instigator was not apologetic at all. Instead, he held his wine glass with a smile. "I'm sorry."
Apologizing was more like provocation.
Ming Dai covered her wet collar and recognized the other party.
Tang Xue was the youngest daughter of the Tang family and the only girl in the younger generation. She was doted on and raised arrogantly.
Tang Xue, who did not even listen to her parents, had listened to Gu Lingsi, who was two years older than her, since she was young. She was her loyal follower and fan. After Ming Dai returned to the Gu family, she stood up for Gu Lingsi more than once.
That glass of red wine was so full that it was about to overflow. It was clearly poured on Ming Dai on purpose.
After pouring it, she scanned Ming Dai from head to toe and tsked disdainfully.
"How much is the dress? I'll compensate you. But which brand is this dress from? Why haven't I seen it before? It can't be a has-been or some miscellaneous brand, right?"
Ming Dai knew that Tang Xue was humiliating her.
After the partners filed compensation lawsuits one after another, the dazzling array of jewelry and gowns in Ming Dai's cloakroom were emptied as collateral.
In order to attend the banquet, Ming Dai had finally found a niche branded gown. She had bought it casually when she was traveling overseas in the past. The price did not exceed 2,000 yuan.
It was precisely because Tang Xue saw through this that she deliberately came to embarrass her.
Ming Dai straightened her back and ignored Tang Xue.
"Stop right there!" Tang Xue's expression darkened. "Who told you to leave? I haven't finished speaking!"
Ming Dai pretended not to hear her.
Tang Xue rushed over and grabbed her arm.
Ming Dai suppressed her frown as it happened to press against her bruised spot.
"Why are you pretending to be weak!"
Tang Xue cursed angrily.
"Let me ask you! What were you doing with Brother Ning Shu just now?! Don't think I don't know what's going on between the two of you! You want to betray Sister Lingsi? No way! You adulterous couple!"
Ming Dai was not angry. Instead, she wanted to laugh.
"If you want to know, ask Ning Shu. Are you afraid that's why you came to me instead of him?"
Ning Shu was a man of his word in the circle. Tang Xue was just bullying the weak and fearing the strong.
As expected, Tang Xue's expression turned ugly.
At this moment, someone approached them silently.
He wrapped his arms around Tang Xue's waist and pressed his lazy and beautiful face on Tang Xue's shoulder. Such a sticky action was not greasy at all. Instead, he looked like a noble and clingy cat.
That pair of naturally flirtatious peach blossom eyes looked up slightly. It was as if he was looking at Ming Dai, but also as if he was not looking at her.
In the end, it landed on Tang Xue and she complained, "It's only been a while and you are gone."
The sharp thorns on Tang Xue's body softened as she hugged the man's arm happily.
"So you were looking for me?"
The man hummed.
Then, he slowly glanced at Ming Dai.
"Who… is this?"
"Ming Dai. Don't you recognize her? That murderer!"
Then, she thought of something and Tang Xue looked uncomfortable for a moment.
"Ming Dai?" The tip of the man's tongue seemed to have candy in it. He repeatedly pressed it against her before he snorted. "I think you dated me before? I have too many ex-girlfriends, so I don't have a deep impression of them."