Everyone Thought The Fake Heiress Had Her Reasons Ch. 11
Ming Jiao turned her gaze back to this fiancé of hers. His name was Xie Chu, and like Shi Yan, he had grown up with the original host since childhood. Their families were also old friends.
Xie Chu wasn’t unkind to the original host—he showed more than enough concern as a friend, but lacked the passion expected between lovers.
The original host, however, was quite fond of him. But once the truth about the switched identities came to light, their engagement became somewhat awkward.
Although the original host’s relationship with the Ming family hadn’t yet broken down at that time, in the eyes of outsiders, an adopted daughter simply didn’t carry the same weight as a biological one. Moreover, their engagement had been arranged since childhood—strictly speaking, the person this engagement was meant for was Tang Xiaoyu.
Tang Xiaoyu had no interest in arranged marriages, whether childhood betrothals or alliances, and the Ming family wouldn’t force her into a marriage she disliked. Likewise, the Xie family couldn’t possibly suggest something as questionable as transferring the engagement from the adopted daughter to the biological one.
After the two families sat down to discuss the matter, they sought the opinions of the original host and Xie Chu.
The original host still liked Xie Chu very much and didn’t want to break off the engagement. But Xie Chu said he only saw the original host as a younger sister and suggested dissolving the engagement so both could freely pursue love in the future.
The Ming family could see that he truly had no romantic feelings for the original host. They weren’t desperate to marry off a daughter to secure an alliance with another family, and there was no point forcing an unwilling match—it would only lead to resentment later.
So they advised the original host to end the engagement, but she was reluctant.
The Xie family, on their part, couldn’t be too forceful either. Being too insistent would make them look like they were snobbishly looking down on the original host as an adopted daughter, which would reflect poorly on them.
However, after the original host was later driven out of the Ming family, the engagement was ultimately dissolved.
Sometime after that, Xie Chu happened to cross paths with Tang Xiaoyu a few times and came to admire her calm and detached demeanor. Over time, this admiration slowly turned into affection, and he began pursuing her directly.
This, of course, stepped right into the original host’s emotional minefield. She felt that Tang Xiaoyu had once again taken something that belonged to her, and her resentment deepened, blaming Tang Xiaoyu for everything.
In her mind, it was all Tang Xiaoyu’s fault.
Thinking of this, Ming Jiao found herself disliking Xie Chu. 【Do you think he did it on purpose? There are so many lovely and beautiful girls in the world. He knew full well about the switched identities between me and Tang Xiaoyu and how sensitive the situation was. Was it malicious intent that drove him to pursue Tang Xiaoyu?】
The System hesitated. 【But what would he gain from driving a wedge between you two?】
Ming Jiao pondered. 【Not necessarily nothing. For instance, he might enjoy the satisfaction of having two girls fight over him. If Tang Xiaoyu and I were to clash, it could affect our families, and he might stand to benefit. If things escalated, he might even try to take over the Ming family.】
The System felt it had mastered a new language called speechlessness. For a moment, it couldn’t tell whether its host was being serious or just joking.
【Host, he’s not that sinister. I think you’re judging him with the same suspicion you’d reserve for a love rival.】
To be fair, the fiancé hadn’t really done anything wrong. The childhood engagement was originally between him and Tang Xiaoyu, and he only started pursuing her a long time after the engagement was dissolved.
Ming Jiao looked puzzled. 【What love rival? Don’t you know we readers see the female lead as our daughter?】
The System: 【…】
So it was a mother-in-law mindset.
I’m looking at my fiancé as a son-in-law?
The human world really is complicated.
·
Ming Jiao exchanged a few casual words with the System, then quickly shifted her focus to the matter at hand. She began moving through the banquet, searching for and observing her suspects.
Meanwhile, Tang Xiaoyu was also paying attention to the banquet, watching those who had deep connections with Ming Jiao. However, her attention would inevitably drift toward Ming Jiao from time to time.
It must be because I’ve been keeping an eye on her safety and condition these past few days, so it’s become a habit, Tang Xiaoyu thought.
As Xu Tingting and Shi Yan approached Ming Jiao one after another, Tang Xiaoyu’s gaze gradually turned as cold as frost under the moonlight.
Though she stood too far away to hear their conversation clearly, she knew that given the relationships between them, it couldn’t possibly be a friendly exchange.
Just like the invisible web of malice and mocking glances from most people at the banquet, Ming Jiao was firmly trapped within it.
Tang Xiaoyu’s long, delicate eyelashes lowered slightly, casting a faint shadow over her porcelain-like, exquisite face.
“Still troubled over her matters?” A voice interrupted her thoughts. Tang Xiaoyu looked up and saw Xie Chu’s handsome, carefree face.
His gaze was also fixed on Ming Jiao. Only after speaking did he turn to Tang Xiaoyu with a smile. “Her personality has always been a headache, but I heard she’s moved out now. That should be better for both of you.”
Tang Xiaoyu snapped back to reality and nodded politely at him.
She had no intention of entering an arranged marriage, and her family wouldn’t force her into one. Thus, she felt nothing particularly special toward this man who was once her intended fiancé.
They hadn’t met many times, and Xie Chu had never shown any particular interest in her either.
Still, Tang Xiaoyu deliberately kept her distance from him. Whether it was to avoid misunderstandings with Ming Jiao or to prevent their families from reviving matchmaking ideas, it was all just trouble.
Xie Chu’s attention didn’t seem to be on her at all. During their brief exchange, he couldn’t help but glance toward Ming Jiao again, just in time to see her leaving. He sighed with a tone of concern that was neither intrusive nor indifferent, “I hope she can come to terms with things. I won’t go bother her now—she’d probably find me annoying if she saw me.”
He wasn’t wrong. Given Ming Jiao’s vindictive nature, even if Xie Chu was someone she liked, his proposal to break off their engagement had humiliated her. Not returning her feelings only added insult to injury. If she saw him now, she definitely wouldn’t give him a friendly reception.
But the current Ming Jiao might not be the same, Tang Xiaoyu thought, though she had no intention of discussing it further with him. Instead, she said, “Old Mrs. Li is here. I should go greet her.”
“Ah—” Xie Chu quickly stopped her. Under Tang Xiaoyu’s cool, ink-jade-like gaze, he scratched his head somewhat sheepishly. “You haven’t been back long, so you’re probably not familiar with many people in our circle. We should all hang out sometime.”
Though he seemed slightly awkward and shy about inviting a girl, his words were straightforward and carried no particular undertones—more like a polite gesture prompted by familial elders to look out for her.
Tang Xiaoyu thought for a moment, then nodded lightly. “Alright.”
Then she turned and left.
Xie Chu watched her go, his smile unchanged, but his eyes gradually grew deeper. After a moment, he glanced once more in the direction Ming Jiao had left, a thoughtful expression flickering across his face.
·
Ming Jiao had nearly circled the entire banquet venue, and the System promptly recorded the emotional reactions of most suspected targets upon seeing her.
Even if she missed anything, with the System around, no fish would slip through the net.
While diligently recording, the System couldn’t help but voice its opinion, 【Host, none of these people’s reactions seem unusual. Do you think we’re investigating in the wrong direction? Or is the employer’s mental fortitude exceptionally strong, leaving no room for error?】
Ming Jiao replied, 【Hard to say, but I’m thinking about something else.】
【What?】
【Assuming the employer is truly among this group, and neither they nor the hunter knows I’m still alive, would they immediately arrange another assassination attempt upon seeing me today?】 Ming Jiao said.
The System suggested, 【Maybe they’d suspect a trap and hesitate to act rashly?】
Ming Jiao offered another possibility, 【People with different personalities make different choices. What if the hunter feels that failing to eliminate an ordinary person like me has tarnished their reputation?】
【They’d probably try to make amends quickly?】 the System said uncertainly. 【But host, you previously mentioned that although the hunter is arrogant, they’re also cautious.】
【True.】 Ming Jiao said, 【They might act cautiously, but they’d definitely try to figure out why I’m still alive.】
The System said, 【Perhaps the hunter will secretly follow you to gauge your situation. As soon as they make a move, we can follow the trail.】
Ming Jiao hummed in agreement. As she finished observing the last suspect, she turned and headed toward the restroom—her neatly styled long hair had become slightly disheveled after walking around.
But sometimes, phrases like “enemies often cross paths” and “narrow roads lead to confrontations” weren’t coined for nothing. The moment she stepped into the meticulously cleaned and well-decorated restroom, she locked eyes with a pair of round ones, initially filled with shock, then boiling with delayed fury.
It was Xu Tingting, flanked by the same two girls as always.
A wave of helplessness washed over Ming Jiao as she complained to the System, 【I know they come as a package deal, but do they really have to go to the restroom together?】
The System remarked, 【Host, isn’t holding hands to go to the bathroom the ultimate expression of deep friendship among humans?】
What profound misunderstanding do you have about us humans? We only did that as kids, really. Adults are more independent and not that childish, Ming Jiao silently grumbled.
The System warned, 【Host, you can complain anytime, but right now, let’s retreat. There are three of them, and they clearly mean trouble.】
Ming Jiao wanted to point out that they were the ones intruding, but she had no interest in squabbling with young girls and turned to leave.
However, she was a step too late. Xu Tingting’s two lackeys tacitly blocked the restroom entrance, cutting off her escape.
Just as Ming Jiao was about to turn and ask Xu Tingting what she intended, the System exclaimed, 【Watch out!】
But it was already too late. Water splashed toward her from behind. Ming Jiao instinctively sidestepped, but half her shoulder and one sleeve still ended up soaked.
Xu Tingting triumphantly held a decorative long-necked vase. “Know your place. How dare you put on airs around me here?”
She had pulled out the lucky bamboo stalks inside and tossed them carelessly on the floor—evidently, the water she’d splashed on Ming Jiao had come from that vase.
Ming Jiao lowered her head to glance at her water-soaked sleeve, her lashes casting faint shadows under the stark white glow of the overhead lights, her emotions momentarily unreadable.
The System sounded concerned, 【Host, are you alright? Did the water soak through the bandages underneath? These people are going too far.】
Ming Jiao lifted her gaze, a slight curve forming at the corner of her lips, 【It’s fine. Next, I’ll make sure my actions are even more excessive than hers.】
After speaking, she swept a glance at Xu Tingting. “Given the situation, you and I are perfect for reenacting a classic iconic scene.”
“What?” Xu Tingting didn’t understand a single word.
Ming Jiao promptly and considerately taught her through action, slapping her across the face without hesitation.
As the slap landed with a sharp crack, Xu Tingting was stunned, and the two girls blocking the doorway were equally dumbfounded.
Not only were they shocked, even the System was momentarily speechless, 【So this is what you meant by ‘dressing for action’? Slapping someone at the slightest disagreement—Host, you’re so wild!】
Ming Jiao kept her gaze fixed ahead, 【You call this wild? Just wait, I’ll show you something even wilder.】
The System suddenly felt a wave of fear.
【Host, please hold back a little. I’m afraid they won’t be able to handle it.】
While they were casually bantering, Xu Tingting finally snapped back to reality. She instinctively touched her cheek, staring at Ming Jiao in disbelief. “Have you lost your mind? How dare you hit me!”
Ming Jiao smiled, reciting the line with immense satisfaction, “If I want to hit you, I’ll hit you. Do I need to pick a special day?”
Author’s Note:
【”If I want to hit you, I’ll hit you. Do I need to pick a special day?”】—Line from the TV series “Beyond the Realm of Conscience”
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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