Chapter 3: Reporting the Stepsister

After escorting Lu Mingyue back to the residential compound, Huo Zheng quickly departed.

It was break time, and many people were sitting downstairs enjoying the sunshine.

When they saw Lu Mingyue come out, several of them immediately perked up.

Everyone knew that Hu Sanbao, the director’s son, was pursuing Lu Mingyue, so they called out to her with a sense of amusement.

“Where are you off to, Mingyue?”

“Don’t say that—it’s obvious you're going to see Sanbao, right?”

“Is that so? That’s a good thing. It won’t be long before there’s a wedding to celebrate. If only your mother could rest in peace in heaven.”

“...”

The women chatting amongst themselves paid no attention to whether Lu Mingyue responded.

In their eyes, she was someone silent as a stone, especially after her mother’s death; she seemed changed, always quiet and withdrawn.

If she had inherited her mother’s sharp mind and good looks, she’d have been cast aside long ago, left to fend for herself and never become an accountant.

Their words were laced with ridicule, pity, and a hint of schadenfreude.

Lu Mingyue cast a faint glance their way, fixing her gaze on the one who spoke the harshest. Her red lips parted slightly.

“Aunt Liu, I heard your son is involved with the widow Qin from the next street. The child is already four months old. I wonder what kind of gift you, as the grandmother, have sent over.”

Aunt Liu’s hand trembled, the dustpan slipping from her grasp to the ground. Her eyes widened in panic as she stared at Lu Mingyue. How could she possibly know that her son was involved with the widow Qin?

Feeling the curious stares of the crowd, Aunt Liu shuddered and immediately cursed, “You little brat, what nonsense are you talking? Your mouth runs non-stop, trying to scare people. Believe it or not, I’ll slap you twice.”

Tears welled up in Lu Mingyue’s eyes, spilling over instantly. “Aunt Liu, though I’m young, I know better than to speak recklessly. You’ve been spreading rumors about me and Hu Sanbao dating. I swear before everyone here that it’s a lie. Do you dare to swear the same?”

Aunt Liu certainly didn’t dare. If she said something she shouldn’t, what would her future eldest grandson think?

“If anyone doubts me, they can go to Aunt Liu’s house and see for themselves.”

Aunt Liu panicked. Her son had just brought the widow Qin home, planning to wait until the child was born before sending her away. If the others really went to her house, it would all be exposed.

She grew anxious, abandoning her confrontation with Lu Mingyue, and hurried home.

The others saw her flee like that and figured the rumor was probably true.

“Mingyue, how did you know Aunt Liu’s son was involved with the widow Qin?”

How did Lu Mingyue know?

Of course, the system had told her. Aunt Liu was planning to wait until the widow Qin gave birth, then immediately send her away.

“I just heard it from the aunts,” Lu Mingyue said, tossing the words aside as she went upstairs, leaving the others staring at one another.

Back at home, Lu Mingyue found Meng Xiaoling sitting in the living room.

As soon as she saw her, Meng Xiaoling stepped forward and questioned sharply, “Where have you been? Why was your room locked?”

And why was Huo Zheng nowhere to be seen?

That last question was the one Meng Xiaoling most wanted to ask.

Lu Mingyue’s eyes were cold, a flicker of anger shining in her gaze as she looked at Meng Xiaoling.

“Meng Xiaoling, are you frustrated because your plan failed?”

Meng Xiaoling’s heart tightened. She feigned ignorance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

How could Lu Mingyue possibly know it was her?

Where had she slipped up?

When she chased after her from home, the visiting friend had already disappeared. It took some effort to find her.

To keep her quiet, Meng Xiaoling even spent ten yuan treating her to a meal.

That was her entire month’s food budget.

It was all Lu Mingyue’s fault—acting crazy for no reason, daring to falsely accuse her. She needed to see just how capable she was.

As long as I don’t admit it, who would know the evidence is hidden in the rice bin?

[Host, Meng Xiaoling has hidden the evidence in the rice bin.]

A faint smirk tugged at Lu Mingyue’s lips. “Let me guess—does someone have a dirty secret?”

“What do you mean? Stop being sarcastic.”

Meng Xiaoling refused to believe Lu Mingyue was smart enough to piece everything together.

She had been a bookworm since childhood, only ever reading.

If she hadn’t caught a cold during exams, how would Lu Mingyue have stolen her official job position?

She had been lucky that time, but she didn’t believe she’d get that lucky again.

“What do I mean? Don’t you already know? This morning, you acted all helpful and kind, slipped drugs into my porridge when I wasn’t paying attention, and even targeted Huo Zheng. Do you know that’s illegal?”

Meng Xiaoling’s eyes widened—so she knew everything.

“What are you saying? I don’t understand.”

Her thoughts in disarray, Meng Xiaoling instinctively tried to escape.

Before she could reach the door, there was a knock.

Opening it, Huo Zheng stood outside, followed by police officers.

Huo Zheng glanced inside, relieved to see Lu Mingyue safe and sound, and felt an inexplicable sense of calm.

“Meng Xiaoling, someone has filed a complaint. Please come with us for an investigation.”

Meng Xiaoling retreated in panic. “What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything! You’ve got the wrong person! It’s unjust!”

She shouted loudly, hoping to attract attention.

The trick worked. The women who had just left Aunt Liu’s house, barely settled down, heard the commotion and rushed over immediately.

“Officers, what are you doing?” they asked.

The police cast a stern glance at Meng Xiaoling, who was clinging to the doorframe. What should have been a simple matter was now complicated by her antics.

Huo Zheng glanced coldly at the feigning Meng Xiaoling and said, “Meng Xiaoling drugged me. The officers are here to investigate.”

Drugged?!

The aunts gasped, their eyes darting between Huo Zheng and Meng Xiaoling.

This military officer was indeed a striking figure; no wonder Meng Xiaoling had such malicious intentions.

“I’m innocent! You have no proof to accuse me!” Meng Xiaoling whimpered, her voice trembling, occasionally covering her face to cry.

With her usual good acting, the aunts softened a little.

“Officers, aren’t you mistaken? Xiaoling is obedient, sensible, and polite. How could she harm anyone?”

The police officer responded firmly, “The person involved is here. We’re following procedure. If Meng Xiaoling truly did nothing, she has nothing to fear. Isn’t that right?”

The aunts exchanged glances, acknowledging the logic.

Though they enjoyed gossiping, they dared not make trouble in front of the authorities.

Huo Zheng’s gaze turned icy. “Meng Xiaoling, are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”

Meng Xiaoling remained silent. She had hidden the evidence, and no one else could find it.

Huo Zheng snorted coldly. Fine, if she wasn’t afraid of losing face, he wasn’t either.

He exchanged a glance with Lu Mingyue, who nodded slightly.

When they split up, they had agreed: one would go with the police, the other would confront Meng Xiaoling directly.

“Since Comrade Meng isn’t afraid of losing face, I’m not afraid either,” Huo Zheng said, recounting the morning’s events in full—except he left out Lu Mingyue’s involvement.

He didn’t want to tarnish her reputation.

Even though Lu Mingyue had insisted on pressing charges herself, Huo Zheng had refused.

They had done nothing wrong, but to gossipmongers, even white could be called black.

“What?!” someone exclaimed.

“I never expected Xiaoling to be like this.”

“Don’t forget: like mother, like daughter. Maybe Lu Wenzhen also died from poisoning.”

The thought immediately brought to mind the circumstances of Lu Mingyue’s mother’s death. At the time, Meng Mancang claimed she died from overwork, but how could a healthy person suddenly just die like that?

Meng Mancang remarried Tian Xiaojue shortly after her death. No one believed there was no foul play involved.