Ji Ming grinned widely and teased, "Qiu Yizhen, how could you be so ungracious? You have such a stunning girl by your side, yet you didn't introduce her to me earlier. For that, you owe me a late-night snack, plus three drinks!"
He leaned in closer to Qiu Yizhen, clearly enjoying the banter.
"Enough with that! I've been feeling a bit off lately!" Qiu Yizhen replied, her annoyance evident.
"What happened? Who dares to mess with our Qiu Jie? They must be looking for trouble!" Ji Ming exclaimed, feigning outrage.
"A little brat!" Qiu Yizhen shot back, her irritation simmering.
"Really? Someone actually got under your skin? Why didn't you give them a taste of their own medicine?" Ji Ming urged, curious.
"Don't even get me started! That little brat has something on me!"
Every time Qiu Yizhen thought about how Jian Yiling had leverage over her, her mood soured even more. She was still reeling from the fact that this incident had resulted in a month's worth of her allowance being docked. If it hadn't been for today's party at the Yu residence and her father's hopes that she would speak to Young Master Sheng, she might not have even received half of what she usually did.
"Seriously? You're saying someone's blackmailing you?" Ji Ming asked, intrigued.
"If you're just here to laugh at me, then you can leave!" she snapped.
"Come on, come on! I didn't mean that. We've known each other for years; do you think I'm that kind of person? Just tell me who it is. If you can't deal with it, I'll step in for you," Ji Ming offered.
"Really?" Qiu Yizhen's eyes lit up at the prospect.
"When have I ever failed to keep my word?" Ji Ming replied confidently.
"Fine, that little brat is none other than Jian Yiling from the Jian family."
"You mean the arrogant daughter of the Jian family?" Ji Ming exclaimed, recognizing the name. He had seen Jian Yiling once at a banquet and had been immediately struck by her beauty.
She was hard to miss, with her captivating looks that drew the eye. When he had approached her for a chat, however, he had quickly learned just how fiery her temper was. She had coldly brushed him off, insisting he stay away, her demeanor resembling that of a princess who believed herself above everyone else.
"Who else could it be?" Qiu Yizhen felt a surge of frustration as she recalled Jian Yiling's demeanor. "She's the one who caused Jian Yunao so much trouble and feels no remorse at all. It's disgusting!"
"She harmed Jian Yunao? Isn't he her brother?" Ji Ming was taken aback, as he had not heard about this yet; the gossip had only spread at Shenghua High School.
"Exactly! Just because he's her brother doesn't make her any less horrible! Jian Yunao is incredibly unlucky to have such a cold-hearted sister who's willing to hurt her own family!" Qiu Yizhen's indignation flared.
"Wow, that's really something," Ji Ming said, shaking his head in disbelief.
---
Meanwhile, Jian Yiling was indeed fast asleep at the Yu residence. The rose-covered attic was surrounded by fragrant blooms, with flowering vines climbing up the outer walls. The delicate scent of flowers drifted through the window, creating a soothing atmosphere.
In the midst of this floral lullaby, Jian Yiling managed to catch up on some much-needed rest. When she finally awoke, she realized the party in the main hall had already begun, but the noise wasn't intrusive enough to disturb her sleep. Remembering that Jian Yujie might have arrived, she quickly got up and made her way toward the main hall.
As she entered, she found a throng of people already gathered, laughter and chatter filling the air. Jian Yiling scanned the crowd for any sign of Jian Yujie.
Deep in her search, she was suddenly stepped on by a man nearby, leaving a scuff mark on her pristine white sneakers.
"Oops! Didn't see you there!" Ji Ming laughed, his expression entirely lacking the apology that should have accompanied such an accident.
His footfall had been intentional; just moments ago, he had been chatting with Qiu Yizhen, and now he spotted Jian Yiling among the partygoers. Since he had promised Qiu Yizhen to help her out, he couldn't let this opportunity slip by.
Qiu Yizhen, knowing Jian Yiling held leverage over her due to that embarrassing secret, had discreetly pulled Mo Shiyun away, leaving Ji Ming to deal with Jian Yiling on his own.
"Hey, watch where you're stepping!" Jian Yiling snapped, annoyance flashing in her eyes as she glared at Ji Ming.
He leaned in closer, enjoying the unfolding drama. "What's the matter, Miss Jian? Is that how you treat someone who's trying to have a little fun?"
Ignoring his taunts, Jian Yiling looked around, trying to spot Jian Yujie amidst the chaos of the party. She was determined not to let Ji Ming's antics ruin her evening.
With the atmosphere thick with laughter and chatter, the night promised to be filled with more surprises than she anticipated.