Mingyue initially didn't want to bother with Jingjia. A couple of days prior, Ji Shiyou, fearing she might misunderstand, had clearly explained his relationship with Jingjia.
Jingjia's mother and Ji Shiyou's mother, Huiyin, were best friends. They maintained frequent contact even after marriage, so the two of them were childhood sweethearts.
However, Ji Shiyou only ever saw Jingjia as a sister and never harbored any romantic feelings for her.
When Ji Shiyou was eight and Jingjia was six, Jingjia's mother fell gravely ill.
On her deathbed, unable to rest easy about her daughter, she implored Huiyin to look after her.
She also proposed a childhood engagement between Jingjia and Ji Shiyou, stating it would allow her to pass away peacefully.
The young Jingjia was adorable and charming, and Huiyin was very fond of her. Furthermore, it was her best friend's dying wish, so she agreed.
At the time, Ji Shiyou was young and didn't understand what an engagement meant. He only knew that Jingjia had lost her mother.
He understood he had a responsibility to take good care of her from then on, so he treated Jingjia like his own sister.
As they grew older, Ji Shiyou came to understand romantic love.
But he discovered he had never been interested in any woman.
He knew clearly that his sexual orientation was normal.
He just wasn't interested in women, and the same applied to Jingjia.
At the time, he thought that since he wouldn't like anyone else, it didn't matter who he married.
Jingjia clearly liked him, so he didn't break off the engagement.
He felt this was a way to honor his deceased mother.
Therefore, even though he clearly knew that the grown-up Jingjia was vain and materialistic, he didn't confront her.
He still let her act as she pleased under his protection, causing trouble outside.
He didn't expose her and silently cleaned up her messes.
It wasn't until he saw Mingyue that Ji Shiyou fell in love at first sight, knowing his true love had appeared.
Coincidentally, Jingjia had broken off the engagement, so he was naturally pleased.
Otherwise, even if he didn't hold it against her, the people of Jiuyou would not have let the Jing family off the hook.
Now that Mingyue understood the whole story, and considering Ji Shiyou had sternly warned Jingjia last time, she naturally wouldn't dwell on Jingjia's identity as his former fiancée.
But while she didn't care, Jingjia became more audacious, provoking her. Mingyue wouldn't tolerate that.
"Jingjia, who is this? Such a loud mouth.
Everyone in the capital knows you're Young Master Ji's fiancée. How dare she speak to you like that?
I didn't expect you to have fallen so low in the capital after I was abroad for a few years.
Any Tom, Dick, or Harry can bark at you."
Mingyue's domineering attitude made Jingjia feel a bit guilty. However, Yingying, who was beside her, relished the chaos and wasn't afraid to stir the pot.
She stood up, pointed at Mingyue, and not only cursed Mingyue but also mocked Jingjia.
"Who am I? If the Young Master Ji you're referring to is Ji Shiyou, then I am his wife.
As for whether I'm bragging, you'll find out soon enough.
But before that, you'll have to pay the price for what you just said."
Mingyue never bullied others, but she wouldn't be bullied either.
Yingying had just called her a cat or a dog. Mingyue, true to her nature, wouldn't retort with words.
Because she would fight back. Her excellent trait was to act rather than argue.
She smiled, got up, walked up to the arrogant Yingying, and slapped her.
Yingying was someone who fawned over the powerful and looked down on the weak. She saw Mingyue dressed ordinarily, like a village girl.
The bag she carried wasn't from a major brand but was woven from straw.
She looked like a pauper. Moreover, she knew all the female relatives of prominent families in the capital.
She had never seen Mingyue before, so she assumed Mingyue had no status and that she could afford to offend her.
Thus, she was eager to show off by demeaning Mingyue, indirectly stepping on Jingjia.
Who knew Mingyue, with her smiling demeanor, would act so unpredictably?
When women argue, shouldn't they fight tooth and nail?
But she, without any further ado, resorted to violence.
The force of the slap sent Yingying flying, slamming her against the opposite wall.
Before she could even comprehend what was happening, she felt her body fly through the air and hit the wall.
She then slid to the ground, her head lolled to the side, and she passed out.
"Ah! Murder! Someone call the police!
Arrest her and send her to the police station. Security, manager!
Quick, someone! There's been a death!"
Seeing Yingying in that state, Jingjia was terrified. She ran out of the room like a madwoman.
Outside the door, she jumped up and down, shouting hysterically. Her screams instantly spread throughout Taoyuan Xiaozhu.
The restaurant had a serene ambiance, and its patrons were mostly wealthy and influential, not prone to loud outbursts.
Such a discordant sound immediately attracted the attention of the diners inside, and the restaurant staff rushed over.
"Who has the gall to cause trouble at Taoyuan Xiaozhu!
And dare to commit murder? Tie them up!
Beat them first, then send them to the police station."
A man in his thirties with a small mustache appeared, followed by over a dozen security guards.
He was the manager here and, upon hearing the commotion, rushed over with the security guards.
Upon learning that someone had committed murder at Taoyuan Xiaozhu, he became furious and stormed into Shuiyizhi Fang.
"You're the murderer, yet you have the leisure to drink tea? You're quite calm. Seize her."
The manager saw only two people in the room: one lying on the ground and the other sitting and drinking tea.
He pointed at Mingyue and ordered the security guards to move in and tie her up.
"How dare you! To tie someone up without understanding the situation.
Is this how Taoyuan Xiaozhu treats its guests?
Murder, who is dead? Where is the body?"
Mingyue put down her teacup and let out a sharp cry, her aura imposing.
The dozen or so security guards dared not take a step forward, and even the manager was stunned.
"It's her, she's the murderer.
The deceased is my friend, Yingying. I am the witness.
She is the only daughter of the Zheng family in the capital. If she's killed here, the Zheng family will not let this go.
Manager, why aren't you tying this woman up and handing her over to the authorities?
When the Zheng family arrives, you'll have an explanation."
Seeing the manager hesitate, Jingjia quickly jumped out to incite him, wanting to send Mingyue to the police station.
With so many people present, and under everyone's watchful eyes, she didn't believe Mingyue would dare to lay a hand on her.
She had her own calculations. Whether Mingyue ended up in the police station or in jail,
it would tarnish the Ji family's reputation. The Ji family would surely discard Mingyue to preserve their honor.
Then, with a feigned attempt to comfort her, perhaps she could rekindle her relationship with Ji Shiyou.
"What are you waiting for? A bunch of cowards! It's just a woman!
Tie her up! If you dawdle any longer, you can all get lost!"
Jingjia's words had an effect. The manager cursed the security guards and urged them forward.
The security guards, with no other choice, braced themselves and charged at Mingyue.
But before they could get close, they all fell to the ground with thuds, unable to get up.
Mingyue, who had been sitting in her chair, had also vanished.
"A ghost!"
"Help!"
The manager and Jingjia screamed and turned to run towards the door, but they immediately stopped.
Because Mingyue was standing at the doorway, her face ashen, looking at them and walking towards them step by step.
She hadn't intended to act earlier, but she also didn't want those security guards to touch her.
So she used her swift movements to knock them unconscious.
The security guards were acting under duress, which was understandable. However, she had no intention of letting the manager and Jingjia off the hook.
"Get yourselves over to Taoyuan Xiaozhu immediately."
Ten minutes later, Mingyue clapped her hands, poured herself a cup of tea, and said into her phone.