Ming Yuqian mocked with a smirk, "Sis, did you see that? Uncle clearly saw us but pretended not to. He looked so guilty."
Ming Yutong saw it too. She gently patted his arm to calm him down, "Let's see what Uncle has to say first. Don't jump to conclusions."
"Alright." Ming Yuqian pouted and walked with Ming Yutong toward Ming Jingshui's family.
Their obvious movements made it impossible for Ming Jingshui to continue pretending not to see them.
When they first came in, Ming Jingshui had been looking for Ming Yuqian and Ming Yutong. Seeing them in the crowd, he quietly looked away, relieved when it seemed they hadn't noticed him.
But now, as they walked over, his heart tightened, not knowing how to face them.
He was guilty and had no face to meet them.
"Uncle, Aunt," Ming Yutong called out, deliberately ignoring Ming Silian.
She could hold back from scolding her on the spot, but no more than that.
Pretending nothing happened and smiling at Ming Silian was absolutely impossible!
Although his current status and age made such overt emotions inappropriate, he was always impeccable at work and in private, hiding his feelings perfectly, making others feel comfortable.
But with Ming Silian, Ming Yuqian felt she didn't deserve his restraint.
What did Ming Silian count for? Why should he care about her?
Ming Yuqian also greeted Ming Jingshui and his wife, ignoring Ming Silian.
Ming Jingshui's heart sank.
Could it be that these siblings knew something?
Otherwise, with Ming Yutong's temperament, she would never embarrass Ming Silian in such a public setting.
Even if Ming Silian had done something wrong before, she had already been punished.
Ming Yutong was fair and wouldn't hold a grudge openly. She might remember Ming Silian's mistakes but wouldn't pursue them publicly.
Guilty, Ming Jingshui's expression revealed his thoughts.
Ming Yutong and Ming Yuqian saw it clearly.
"I saw you looking at us earlier, Uncle. Why didn't you call us?" Ming Yutong asked with a smile.
"No, I didn't." Ming Jingshui feigned ignorance, "I was just looking for you. Maybe I saw you but didn't realize it."
Ming Yutong smiled.
Before he could say more, Fang Qian'an quickly asked Ming Yutong, "Yutong, are you okay? When the incident happened, I didn't dare call you, fearing it would add to your stress. I thought asking wouldn't help you and would only upset you more, so I decided not to say anything."
Ming Yutong looked at Fang Qian'an's concerned expression and wanted to ask if she knew about what Ming Silian had done.
But she didn't ask, instead, she smiled casually, "It's okay now. Everything has been resolved, hasn't it?"
Seeing the expressions of Ming Jingshui and Fang Qian'an, Ming Yutong felt that they knew about Ming Silian's actions but deliberately hid it.
Ming Yutong felt a bit cold-hearted. As a niece, she still couldn't compare to their own daughter.
"Excuse me, I need to go to the restroom." Ming Yutong suddenly felt tired and couldn't face this family as if nothing had happened.
Ming Yuqian wanted to accompany her but was too embarrassed to say it in front of others. Otherwise, Ming Yutong would surely kick him later.
***
Ming Yutong left the venue but didn't head towards the restroom. She just wanted some fresh air.
She walked to a less crowded area, and as she walked further, she encountered fewer and fewer people until she saw no one.
"Miss Ming," someone called her from behind.
By then, Ming Yutong had walked into a corridor.
The corridor was well-lit, but since there was no one around and no rooms, just two long walls with various oil paintings, it felt quiet and slightly dark.
Ming Yutong stopped when she heard the call from behind.
Turning around, she saw Nie Yalin walking towards her.
Ming Yutong was surprised but not entirely unexpected that Nie Yalin followed her.
"Miss Ni," Ming Yutong called, waiting for her to come over.
Nie Yalin's expression was not good, but Ming Yutong didn't expect her to have a pleasant expression.
"Jiang Lulian asked me about it," Nie Yalin said. "Regarding your inability... I told him it wasn't me who spread the rumor. I didn't know anything. When I found him at the bar that day, he was so drunk he couldn't say a complete sentence."
From Jiang Lulian's drunken words that day, it seemed there was some reason he had to let go of Ming Yutong.
Later, when the news of Ming Yutong's infertility came out, Nie Yalin understood.
Even though Zhang Yunlin personally clarified, Nie Yalin still believed Ming Yutong might have some issues.
But she was disdainful of using this to deal with Ming Yutong.
Facing Ming Yutong now, Ni Yalin stubbornly raised her chin.
She had her pride.
"I know you suspect me, but it really wasn't me. I have no evidence to prove it, but I wouldn't stoop to such despicable means," Nie Yalin said. "Jiang Lulian is an idiot for being with me while still hung up on you. As long as you didn't lead him on, it's not your fault."
Ming Yutong was surprised that Nie Yalin would say such things.
Very...gracious.
"I've told him more than once that we are impossible," Ming Yutong said, her tone softening unconsciously. "And I have someone I like."
Nie Yalin was surprised at Ming Yutong's kindness.
But Ming Yutong found Nie Yalin interesting.
Her first impression might have been average, but now she found her cute.
Although awkward, proud, and a bit temperamental, she was unexpectedly upright, clear on right and wrong, and reasonable, never blindly venting anger.
Just this trait made her other little flaws seem cute and became her character.
"I know. I saw you on a date at the cinema that day," Nie Yalin said uneasily, no longer as proud as before.
Ming Yutong found this girl more interesting.
She realized that as long as she was kind to Nie Yalin, there wouldn't be any problems.
With a good attitude, Nie Yalin wouldn't show any temper and would soften up.
Still a young girl, Ming Yutong sighed in her heart.