Chapter 366: As Expected, She Did It
Lin Chuxing ran into the bathroom and pulled a box out from under the toilet.
After opening it, she found the doll stained with Jin Mingzhu's blood.
She picked up the silver needles inside and, like a madwoman, stabbed them relentlessly into the cloth doll!
In just a short time, the doll looked like a pincushion.
Lin Chuxing gasped for air, her chest heaving, and collapsed onto the floor.
She didn't know what was wrong with her. She was becoming more and more irritable, unable to keep her composure.
'It feels like if I don't let it out, I'll suffocate!'
After a while, Lin Chuxing finally got up.
She put the doll back in the box, shoved it under the toilet again, and then walked out of the room as if nothing had happened.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
A knock came from outside.
Jin Mingzhu was trying on her gown. When she heard the sound, she was about to go out, but she was suddenly overcome by a wave of dizziness and collapsed to the floor.
"Miss Jin!"
The door opened to a scene of chaos.
Lin Chuxing immediately saw Jin Mingzhu lying on the floor, her face deathly pale.
The frustration pent up in her chest instantly vanished.
'Hmph, trying to fight me? You're asking for it!'
On the surface, however, she put on a worried expression. "Miss Jin! Quick, get the family doctor!"
Soon, someone arrived. It wasn't the doctor, but Xiao Ye.
Lin Chuxing felt a flicker of panic and subconsciously fiddled with the hem of her clothes.
'This kind of spell is so secretive, there's no way he'll find out!'
After examining her, Xiao Ye already knew what was going on, but he didn't let on. "She's just a bit overworked."
"Just let her rest. All of you, leave. Don't disturb her until the banquet starts tomorrow."
Lin Chuxing was displeased. "You... you're going to stay here and take care of her personally?"
"Yes." Xiao Ye looked up at her.
Her brow was furrowed with a malevolent aura, her eyes dark and murky.
'She clearly did something evil. It seems Jin Mingzhu's collapse really was her doing.'
'A person's heart can change so easily.'
In the beginning, Lin Chuxing had seemed like a simple-minded person. She might have been a bit spoiled, but nowhere near this malicious.
"There are so many people in the Xiao Family, there's no need for you to take care of her. Besides, it's not appropriate for an unmarried man and woman to be alone together."
For once, Lin Chuxing dared to speak harshly to Xiao Ye. "Don't you forget, you're my fiancé! How can you take care of another woman?"
Just then, Jin Mingzhu regained consciousness and forced a smile. "Xiao Ye, you go handle your business. You don't need to take care of me."
'Making him stay now might let them spend more time together, but it's definitely not the best move.'
'Pushing him away now actually shows my strength and magnanimity.'
'Men all like this kind of woman.'
Xiao Ye nodded. "Then get some rest."
'I just replaced the old talisman paper with a new one. There won't be any more problems.'
Seeing Xiao Ye get up to leave, Lin Chuxing finally smiled and hurried after him.
"You see how Miss Jin is? Why don't we just not have her go to the banquet tomorrow? It would be bad if she fainted."
"Besides, I'm your fiancée. It's most appropriate for me to be your date."
Xiao Ye didn't break his stride. "There's no need to say any more. I've already decided."
Lin Chuxing continued to follow him, chattering nonstop. "But look how sick she is! How can she possibly attend? Won't she bring shame to our Xiao Family?"
BAM!
Xiao Ye slammed the door to his study shut.
Lin Chuxing stomped her foot in anger. "That bitch! Why aren't you dead yet?"
「The next day.」
「Nine in the morning.」
Xiao Ye was dressed in a suit, looking utterly distinguished.
Just standing there was enough to capture everyone's attention.
Since becoming the Xiao Family Patriarch, his presence had grown even more imposing. Even though people knew his age, no one dared to look down on him.
Jin Mingzhu also emerged, wearing a champagne-colored gown that accentuated her slender waist and long legs.
She already had the advantage of height, and now wearing high heels, she was only a little shorter than Xiao Ye.
Although Lin Chuxing wasn't Xiao Ye's date, she was definitely still going to attend.
Not for the banquet itself, but to keep an eye on Xiao Ye and Jin Mingzhu.
She was terrified that if she didn't watch them, something would happen between the two.
But now, though she was also meticulously dressed up, she was completely overshadowed standing next to Jin Mingzhu. She looked like a child, utterly lacking the charm of a mature woman.
Lin Chuxing knew she had lost, and her pretty face turned pale with anger.
But it was too late to change her gown now.
She quickened her pace, wanting to ride in the same car as Xiao Ye.
But who knew that Jin Mingzhu would be even faster, using her long legs to create distance. "My apologies, Miss Lin."
"I'm Xiao Ye's date today. It's only right that I ride in this car."
After speaking, she stepped directly into the car.
Lin Chuxing wanted to say something, but the car door had already closed.
As for Xiao Ye, he hadn't glanced at her once from beginning to end.
The feeling of being completely ignored nearly made Lin Chuxing break down.
"Miss Lin, please take the car behind this one," a driver said in a timely manner.
Only then did Lin Chuxing lift her skirt and get into the car behind them.
The two cars drove out of the Xiao Family estate, one after the other.
The banquet was being held at the Hillman Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in the entire Imperial City.
The top-floor ballroom.
The venue was lavishly decorated, with fresh flowers flown in from all over.
Even the ubiquitous pastries were painstakingly crafted by a world-renowned pastry chef.
Xiao Ye and Jin Mingzhu got out of the car together, arm in arm, and entered the elevator.
Lin Chuxing hurried but couldn't catch them, so she could only wait for the next one.
Inside the ballroom.
People from all the major families had already arrived.
Seeing Xiao Ye arrive, many people crowded around him.
"Patriarch Xiao, you're finally here. And this is?"
"Hello, my name is Jin Mingzhu," Jin Mingzhu said proactively, her voice gentle.
Paired with her extraordinary bearing, no one would doubt her status; they all assumed she was the daughter of some prominent family.
"So it's Miss Jin."
'There don't seem to be any major families with the surname Jin in the Imperial City, are there?'
'Could she be from Shanghai?'
"Mr. Xiao, you and Miss Jin make a perfect match."
Xiao Ye gave a faint smile but didn't refute it, causing those who heard to take another look at Jin Mingzhu.
'Could this be Xiao Ye's new flame?'
'It seems he's truly smitten with her, otherwise why would he bring her to Mr. Linton's banquet?'
After all, the story of Mr. Linton's devotion to his wife was known to everyone.
Linton's full name was Linton Hawkins, born into a famous, old-money aristocratic family in Country A.
Aristocrats like him usually had several wives or, failing that, mistresses. But Linton only had his beloved wife.
'It looks like Xiao Ye's intended bride is about to change again!'
In an instant, even more people came over to curry favor with Jin Mingzhu.
Lin Chuxing, who entered later, saw this scene and nearly exploded with rage!
'All those distinguished ladies used to flock around me!'