Ming Yue casually wandered around the first floor before heading outside. She simply couldn’t handle the visual and psychological assault from the villa’s luxurious décor, expensive furniture, and countless treasures. Moreover, she was desperate to find out what Ye Xiu had been doing abroad for the past ten years.
After leaving the villa, she found an attractive maid and struck up a conversation. "Hello, my name is Ming Yue."
"Chloe," the beautiful woman replied haughtily.
When facing Ming Yue, Chloe had an innate sense of superiority. Of course, only when facing Ye Xiu did she show genuine, heartfelt respect. Ming Yue despised Chloe’s attitude. She was just a maid, yet she dared to put on airs in front of her, the young mistress of the Ming Family. How utterly clueless.
However, Ming Yue didn’t show her disdain. Instead, she smiled and asked, "Ye Xiu and I were childhood friends. We’re very close. Could you tell me what he has been doing abroad all these years?"
"Slaughtering," Chloe stated expressionlessly.
Ming Yue was taken aback. Ye Xiu had called himself a ’butcher,’ and now Chloe mentioned ’slaughtering.’ Could he have established a massive slaughtering company abroad?
My God! Is selling meat really this profitable nowadays?
"What is Ye Xiu’s slaughtering company called? What’s its market value?" Ming Yue asked.
Chloe shot Ming Yue a contemptuous glance, then turned and walked away. It was simply impossible to communicate with such a bumpkin.
"You..." Ming Yue took a deep, angry breath, but she managed to restrain herself from cursing at Chloe.
Just then, Ye Xiu and Qin Qing walked over.
"What’s wrong with you two?" Ming Yue asked curiously, seeing the expressions on their faces.
Ye Xiu’s face was dark, as if someone owed him money and had refused to pay it back. Meanwhile, Qin Qing was laughing so hard she could barely stand up straight.
"Don’t talk to me; the back of my head hurts," Ye Xiu said grimly.
Qin Qing couldn’t help but burst out laughing again. Seeing Ming Yue’s curious look, she explained, "It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Ye Xiu’s hemorrhoids are just acting up."
Ye Xiu: "..."
Ming Yue: "..."
"Chloe!" Ye Xiu shouted.
Chloe came jogging over. "Young Master, what are your instructions?" she asked respectfully.
"Prepare dinner," Ye Xiu said.
"Right away!" Chloe hurried off to instruct the other servants.
The two women’s faces filled with anticipation.
Then Ye Xiu added, "Ming Yue, it’s getting late. You should go home now."
Ming Yue was stunned. What was this? He was kicking me out right as dinner was about to be served?
Qin Qing almost laughed out loud. She hadn’t expected Ye Xiu to be so blunt—ordering food right in front of Ming Yue only to immediately send her away.
Shamelessly, Ming Yue said, "Brother Ye, don’t you want me to try your family’s grand feast?"
"I’m doing this for your own good," Ye Xiu replied. "I’m afraid that after you eat a meal at my house, you’ll never be able to stomach anyone else’s cooking again."
"Now that you put it that way, Brother Ye, I’m even more eager to try," Ming Yue said with a smile. She was secretly furious, believing Ye Xiu was mocking her for being uncultured.
"Fine," Ye Xiu shrugged, giving up on sending her away.
Qin Qing and Ming Yue both thought to themselves, It’s just a meal. How amazing could it possibly be? It wasn’t until Ye Xiu led them into the dining room that they realized this would be no ordinary dinner.
The dining room was enormous! And unbelievably luxurious!
As soon as the three of them entered, soft music filled the air, instantly soothing their minds. After they were seated, Chloe came in to ask, "Young Master, what would you like for an aperitif?"
"Sparkling wine," Ye Xiu replied.
French cuisine places a heavy emphasis on ritual and sophistication. An aperitif before the meal was customary to stimulate the appetite.
Chloe returned with the sparkling wine and poured it for the three of them. "These glasses are custom-made," she explained. "They cost $50,000 each and are available exclusively here. Please, enjoy."
Qin Qing and Ming Yue were unsettled. Was all this pretense really necessary for a simple aperitif? They each took a sip and chuckled to themselves, unable to taste any difference between this and ordinary sparkling wine from a normal glass.
After the aperitif, the appetizers arrived: salads, various soups, and more. Chloe paired them with a red wine and new glasses, introducing each item. This was followed by the main course, dessert, and after-dinner coffee.
The entire meal left Qin Qing and Ming Yue utterly astonished. Every dish was exquisitely crafted from the finest ingredients in the world. The wine, the glasses, the coffee—everything was the best of the best.
They mentally calculated the cost. Damn, this single meal must have cost hundreds of thousands. Not even the richest person in the world would dare to be this extravagant, right?
Seeing the look of pure bliss on Qin Qing’s face, Ming Yue was suddenly consumed by jealousy. An inexplicable wave of irritation and regret washed over her.
If the Ming Family hadn’t participated in framing Ye Xiu back then... if I had stood firmly by his side just like Qin Qing... then I would be the one enjoying all of this with him today, not her.
"Ming Yue, it’s getting late. You should head back," Ye Xiu said again.
"Alright," Ming Yue nodded, having lost any desire to remain.
As she walked out of the dining room, dejected, a venomous glint flashed in her eyes.
What I can’t have, Qin Qing can’t have either!
In that instant, Ming Yue’s determination to kill Ye Xiu became unshakable.
Ye Xiu and Qin Qing didn’t see her out. After Ming Yue left the dining room, Ye Xiu looked at Qin Qing with a puzzled expression. "What’s wrong? Did you not enjoy it?" he asked.
He had noticed that while she appeared happy on the surface, a deep pain was hidden in her eyes.
"Ye Xiu, am I being too selfish?" Qin Qing asked.
"What do you mean?" Ye Xiu was confused.
"Back then, I disregarded my family’s safety to help you. Now, to be with you, I’ve resolutely broken ties with them. I feel like I’m being incredibly selfish," Qin Qing said wistfully.
Ye Xiu smiled and patted her head gently. "It’s not such a big deal. Don’t worry. Tomorrow, I’ll make it so you can return to the Qin Family, and I’ll make every last one of them accept me."
"That’s impossible," Qin Qing said, unconvinced. "You’re seen as the lowest of the low in this country. I know my family; they only care about profit. Unless you can clear your name, the Qin Family would never dare risk taking me back, nor would they accept you, no matter what cards you have to play."
"Then you’ll just have to wait and see," Ye Xiu said with an air of mystery.
...
When Ming Yue returned to the Ming Family’s home, her parents and her brother, Ming Hao, were already waiting for her.
"Was everything you said on the phone true?" Ming Hao asked eagerly. On the way home, Ming Yue had told him everything she had seen and heard at Ye Xiu’s house.
"It’s true," Ming Yue confirmed with a nod.
Ming Hao and his parents gasped.
"I never imagined the slaughtering business was so profitable," Ming Hao remarked. "It seems the Ming Corporation needs to consider expanding into that sector."