Mingyao frowned, looking at Pei Siyu suspiciously: "President Pei, are you sincere?"

She's always been very smart, okay!

If it weren't for the need for Su Xueya to continue pretending, she wouldn't have bothered to act weak!

It was past midnight in the bedroom.

Mingyao tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.

Her mind was filled with images of the old warehouse and Lin Bin and Luo Cuilan.

The day the warehouse accident happened, Haidu City experienced its first snowfall.

The day of the first snow was special, and Mingyao remembered it vividly.

There are still two weeks until the first snow.

What about Lin Bin and Luo Cuilan? Mingyao always felt that something was off between the two of them.

Unable to find a solution after much thought, Mingyao thought of Qiao Yu.

Qiao Yu lives with Lin Bin; she might have some clues.

The next day, during the company's lunch break, Mingyao went to Haidu University.

"My cousin and Luo Cuilan?"

Qiao Yu almost spat out the juice she had just drunk. She asked in surprise, "Sister Su, are you sure you're not mistaken?"

Mingyao knew her guess was absurd, but she couldn't get it out of her mind.

She couldn't feel at ease until she found some clues.

Mingyao looked at Qiao Yu anxiously: "Have you noticed anything wrong between the two of them?"

Tell me anything you think of!

Qiao Yu racked his brains for a while, then shook his head: "Sister Su, Luo Cuilan is my cousin's best friend, and Lin Bin was introduced to my cousin by Luo Cuilan."

"How could my cousin and Luo Cuilan not be familiar with each other?"

Mingyao paused: "Has Luo Cuilan known Lin Bin for longer?"

"I don't know the exact length."

Mingyao fell into deep thought again. She felt like a wild beast in a gladiatorial arena, with no way out.

Seeing that Mingyao remained silent for a long time, Qiao Yu said guiltily, "Sister Su, are you disappointed in me?"

Mingyao saved her life, yet she couldn't help her in any way.

"What does this have to do with you?" Mingyao laughed. "Qiao Yu, what other desserts would you like? Order whatever you like, it's on me."

The restaurant they booked was a tea restaurant near Haidu University.

This tea restaurant is quite famous in Haidu due to its location, trendy decor, and relatively high prices.

Qiao Wenjuan kept a tight rein on Qiao Yu's living expenses. Every penny she spent had to be spent on her studies, or Qiao Wenjuan would go crazy.

Furthermore, Qiao Yu was always grateful and reluctant to spend Qiao Wenjuan and Lin Bin's money.

"Qiao Yu, how old are you now?"

Qiao Yu said shyly, "I'm almost 20 years old."

"A 20-year-old girl should dress youthfully and beautifully. How can you dress so plainly?"

She picked up her coffee cup, took a sip, and said, "Come shopping with me later."

"Huh?" Qiao Yu shook her head and refused: "No, Sister Su, I look fine dressed like this."

"I am still a student, and my main task is to study."

She dressed provocatively at the bar solely to fulfill Qiao Wenjuan's mission.

After being warned by the police, Qiao Wenjuan dared not force her to go on blind dates or to bars anymore.

Qiao Yu focused entirely on her studies and wasn't particularly interested in external appearances.

"Your clothes have faded from washing. I'll buy you some new clothes that will fit you."

Mingyao took Qiao Yu's hand and pulled her out of the tea restaurant without giving her a chance to refuse.

Qiao Yu's face flushed red, and she said in a panic, "Sister Su, really, it's not necessary."

"I...I don't have any money either..."

Her voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, and her face was so red it looked like she could be pinched until it bled.

When Mingyao dragged her to a high-end shopping mall near Haidu University, she wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

In the past, she would buy clothes from street stalls to save money.

The stylish clothes she wore to the bar were all given to her by Qiao Wenjuan.

Qiao Yu felt a pang of unease and said timidly, "Sister Su, please spare me."

"I don't feel comfortable in this environment."

The lavish decor and the elegant yet enthusiastic saleswomen.

This left Qiao Yu at a loss.

Mingyao picked up a few T-shirts and jeans and first tried them on Qiao Yu.

"Take it and try it."

Qiao Yu was still in a daze when Ming Yao stuffed a handful of clothes into his arms.

She glanced at the price tag on the clothes and the number on it shocked her to her core.

Every cell in Qiao Yu's body was resisting: "No, it's too expensive."

"Sister Su, I don't want it, I can't afford it."

Mingyao pushed Qiao Yu into the fitting room and said domineeringly, "Just change if I tell you to!"

Qiao Yu was at a loss and could only obediently change her clothes.

Mingyao chose short-sleeved shirts and various pants, which are suitable for students.

Qiao Yu came out of the fitting room with a blush on her face, and Ming Yao's eyes lit up: "They're very pretty, try these on too."

"How can a little girl not wear a dress?"

Just as Qiao Yu was about to refuse, Ming Yao's phone rang.

She handed the black card to the waiter: "Swipe as you like, I'm going to take this call."

Qiao Yu held the clothes and stared blankly as Ming Yao walked away.

The clothes she had tried on were all packed up by the waiter.

Qiao Yu was somewhat troubled: "What am I going to do? How long will it take me to pay it all off?"

She asked the waiter to pack up all the clothes and waited patiently for Mingyao in the store.

Qiao Yu took a picture of the bill and heard laughter coming from afar.

She subconsciously looked up and noticed three or four pretty girls dressed up at the store entrance.

Upon seeing them, Qiao Yu's face turned deathly pale.

She tried to hide, but it was too late.

"Hey, Qiao Yu, don't you eat the cheapest meals at school every day? How come you have money to spend at a high-end restaurant?"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!