Splashing Paint on Your Face

In Han City, at the Ye family's villa.

"Miss Qingqing, it's time to change your clothes. The master and madam will be home soon!" Auntie Zhang stood at the room's entrance. The room was dimly lit, and she dared not switch on the lights. She could only see the young girl leaning against the bed, holding an ipad. The sporadic light cast upon her delicate face revealed no discernible emotion.

Just as she thought the young miss hadn't heard and was about to repeat herself, Gu Qingqing sat up and turned on the light.

Auntie Zhang stepped into the room, and the stifling air rushed into her lungs, causing a hitch in her breath. This room used to be a storage room, with no windows and certainly no air conditioning.

Wiping her sweat, Auntie Zhang forced a smile. "It's your birthday today, and your classmates are waiting outside."

Gu Qingqing set down her ipad. "Clothes." Her voice was hoarse.

Auntie Zhang hurriedly brought them over, and in just a short while, she broke out in another layer of sweat, yet the young miss appeared fresh and clean, her face radiant under the light.

Gu Qingqing took the clothes but tossed them back within three seconds. "There's a smell."

More accurately, it was the scent of Ye Qingcheng.

Now Auntie Zhang felt embarrassed. Madam was usually quite generous, but why was she so picky when it came to Miss Qingqing? She hadn't even bought her daughter a new outfit since she returned two months ago. She's her own flesh and blood, after all!

"I'll get another one right away!"

Gu Qingqing's expression remained unchanged as Auntie Zhang hurried off to fetch another garment.

The new clothes were still in their packaging.

Gu Qingqing immediately noticed. "Did you buy these?"

Auntie Zhang's cheeks flushed with embarrassment; the dress cost a few hundred yuan couldn't compare to those worth thousands or tens of thousands. One touch and it was evident.

"If you don't like them..."

"They're fine."

Gu Qingqing unpacked the clothes, the distinct smell of new fabric filling the air. It was the first time someone had bought her new clothes. Though inexpensive, they fit well.

Auntie Zhang personally combed her hair, leaving strands on either side, twisting them into braids and tying them into a bow at the back. With hair reaching her waist, naturally wavy, this hairstyle made her resemble a princess from a magazine, with a hint of the cute girl next door.

But why didn't the master and madam like this adorable and pretty girl?

"Miss Qingqing, today marks the end of your trial. After today, you'll be a true member of the Ye family. The master and madam will surely treat you just like they treated Miss Ye Qingcheng!"

Auntie Zhang had never heard of a trial for a returning daughter before.

Gu Qingqing looked at her, saying nothing. Her onyx eyes were calm and unruffled.

Auntie Zhang realized she had said too much.

In the living room, Ye Qingcheng was cutting a cake just delivered from a bakery with a few close friends. The classmates attending the birthday banquet today were all from the third class of Grade Three, and Gu Qingqing didn't know any of them well. She hardly knew anyone at First High, let alone in Han City. Ye Qingcheng specially invited a few close friends to show their support.

Her friends became curious suddenly. "Qingcheng, last time on your birthday, your parents commissioned a limited edition from Gaia for you. What kind of outfit did they commission for her today?"

Ye Qingcheng smiled. "She's the real daughter of Ye; what my parents gave her certainly won't be inferior to mine."

Gu Qingqing's birthday gown today was carefully chosen by her, not only had she worn it several times before, but there was also a stain on the front, conveniently placed in the most awkward spot. That uncultured country bumpkin would probably think it was some high-end design, wouldn't she?

"It's Gu Qingqing's first birthday celebration today, Rongrong, use your phone to capture a video for her as a keepsake," Ye Qingcheng said with a smirk, her smile carrying a sinister edge.

Just as her smile began to widen, Gu Qingqing entered the scene, causing Ye Qingcheng to freeze. What was Gu Qingqing wearing? Why wasn't it the dress she had prepared?

A few of her friends visibly hesitated. It had to be admitted that Gu Qingqing was indeed stunning. With a little grooming, she surpassed even the school's beauty queen!

Perhaps because her face was so stunning, even inexpensive items looked upscale. Chen Rongrong couldn't discern which brand the outfit was from despite looking at it for a while.

Ye Qingcheng ground her teeth in frustration. You escaped one trap, but I have another trick up my sleeve.

She casually approached, pulling Gu Qingqing into the living room, complimenting her, "Qingqing, you look truly beautiful today!" Her eyes, however, scanned upstairs.

The Ye family's living room had a double-height ceiling, connecting to the second floor. At that moment, a young man holding a basin emerged cautiously from behind the railing.

The basin contained red paint, but she had secretly mixed in super glue. If it got on hair, it would be manageable, but on the skin, it would be troublesome. It wouldn't come off for months!

A cold smirk appeared on Ye Qingcheng's lips as she almost dragged Gu Qingqing to the boy's feet. As long as he acted, today's birthday girl would become the biggest joke.

She wanted those who whispered behind her back, accusing her of usurping her sister's position, to see who the true heiress of the Ye family was!

But in the next second, their positions suddenly reversed.

The boy upstairs was about to yell at her to move aside when something hit his knee, causing sudden pain and making him fall backward.

Crash!

The basin smashed onto the boy, spilling paint everywhere. A few drops even landed on Ye Qingcheng's face as she recoiled in shock.

"Ahhh!" She was about to be disfigured!

The boy upstairs struggled to get up, but the floor was covered in sticky paint mixed with glue. With one slip, he tumbled down the stairs.

The entire living room descended into chaos!

Today, Ye Shengming and Li Aixin went to the temple to pray. Just as they got out of the car, they heard screams from inside the house.

Hurrying in, they found their precious son lying in a "pool of blood," their dear daughter with a "bloodied face," and others at the banquet assisting each other, wiping and cleaning. Only Gu Qingqing stood intact in the center of the living room, unperturbed.

"Gu Qingqing!" Li Aixin's heart was pounding.

Ye Shengming noticed it wasn't blood, but red paint.

"What on earth happened?" Ye Qingcheng was cleaning her face and crying, "Mom, I just wanted Gu Qingqing to have a nice birthday, I didn't expect, I didn't expect... sob..."

Ye Chengxuan had taken quite a tumble, but he wasn't seriously injured. As he got up from the floor, he pointed accusingly at Gu Qingqing, "Mom, Dad, Gu Qingqing pushed me downstairs! She wanted to murder your son to inherit the family fortune! You must kick her out!"

Chen Rongrong quickly jumped in to support him, "Auntie, Uncle, I can testify, it was Gu Qingqing who pushed Ye Chengxuan down the stairs!"

She even signaled vigorously to the others, though they might not dare to lie, they definitely wouldn't dare to tell the truth.

"I've said it before, Gu Qingqing cannot be kept. Look at what she's done to our once peaceful family!"

Auntie Zhang, rushing in from the backyard, saw the mess and felt her scalp tingle. This was some serious mischief.

"Miss Qingqing, tell them! You haven't done anything wrong!" Auntie Zhang was extremely flustered.

Gu Qingqing glanced at her, and finally spoke up, "Yes, I pushed him."

Auntie Zhang: ...

Li Aixin seized the opportunity, "See! She admitted it! She even dares to harm her own brother. Dear, such a person can't stay!"

Gu Qingqing looked at her, her eyes cold. "Yes, I pushed him from upstairs, then floated down here without touching the ground."

...

Look at the red paint all over the stairs, then look at her spotless shoes.

Mockery, plain as day!

"If you don't believe it, there's video evidence," Gu Qingqing pointed at Chen Rongrong.

Chen Rongrong quickly deleted the video from her phone, "Where's the evidence? Don't falsely accuse me!"

Gu Qingqing gave her a cold smile.

Li Aixin was furious, her face flushed, but she couldn't utter a word more.