Mu Beiyin continued, "Then I discovered that the foundation had been laced with a corrosive substance. If I had applied it to my face, within fifteen minutes my skin would have started to rot. Madam Lu, do you really think that's just a coincidence?"
Cold sweat trickled down Madam Lu's back. She had never imagined that Mu Beiyin would catch Xixue tampering with the foundation!
She absolutely couldn't admit it.
Forcing a smile, Madam Lu feigned ignorance. "Beiyin, what are you talking about? How could there be a corrosive agent in the foundation? Xixue only added a bit of essential oil to make it more moisturizing. You're overthinking it."
Mu Beiyin curved her lips into a cold smile. "Really? Then why didn't Lu Xixue dare to use that bottle of foundation herself?"
The room instantly fell silent.
Trying to maintain her composure, Madam Lu said, "It's not that Xixue didn't dare to use it... It's just that everyone has different skin types. Xixue already had her makeup done by her personal makeup artist, so there was no need to apply foundation again, right?"
Lu Xixue gritted her teeth, full of resentment, but at this moment could only nod in agreement.
Madam Lu let out a breath of relief. "Beiyin, if you don't like that brand of foundation, I'll get you another one. There's no need to make such a big fuss over it, is there?"
As she spoke, Madam Lu quickly threw the bottle of foundation away as if she were destroying evidence.
Lu Ming chimed in, "If it was just a misunderstanding, then let's drop it. You two should've checked what brand Miss Mu prefers before arranging anything."
Then, half appeasing and half threatening, he added, "Miss Mu, Shi Qing is here today as well. Making a scene over a foundation seems unnecessary. How about this: I'll have the makeup team come in and design a look just for you. How does that sound?"
Huo Shiqing's expression darkened slightly as he looked toward Mu Beiyin.
Mu Beiyin let out a cold laugh. Did this family really think they could just smooth things over with a little performance?
She said with biting sarcasm, "If it were only about the foundation, I wouldn't be this angry. But what if I told you... even the dress had a problem?"
Madam Lu's eyes shifted, quickly catching a loophole in her words. She immediately spoke up:
"What's wrong with the dress? Miss Mu, I kindly arranged a makeup artist for you and let you freely choose from the dresses. And this is how you repay our kindness—with baseless accusations? If the dress was really a problem, why did you wear it at all?"
"Madam Lu, don't be in such a hurry," Mu Beiyin said, half smiling. "The dress I'm wearing was given to me by Bai Ji. I changed into it in the lounge. And the reason I did that—"
She enunciated each word clearly: "The dresses Madam Lu arranged for me were all tight-fitting, which meant I had to remove my original clothes entirely to put them on."
"And on the walls of the changing room, more than ten hidden pinhole cameras were installed. If I had undressed there, those cameras would have captured everything. Madam Lu, don't you think that is a problem?"
There are many types of dresses. In Mu Beiyin's case, the best option would have been a loose-fitting dress that could be slipped on over her existing clothes.
But all the dresses in the changing room required her to change from the inside out—even her underwear!
Coupled with the hidden cameras, who wouldn't understand what Madam Lu was trying to do?
Huo Shiqing's expression instantly turned grim, a murderous aura rising in his eyes as he rasped out, "Madam Lu."
Those three words were like the voice of death itself. Madam Lu immediately began to tremble in panic.
"Nonsense! Mu Beiyin, I've always treated you with respect because you're Shiqing's wife. How dare you frame us like this? Cameras? I don't know anything about that!"
Mu Beiyin let out a mocking chuckle. "Oh? I'm making things up? What a pity your precious daughter has already admitted to it."
With a flick of her finger, the next moment, a sharp and venomous female voice rang out—
—"The camera auto-uploaded to the cloud! Your undressing video is already everywhere!"
—"Who knows how many men are watching your body right now? You're such a slut, what makes you think you deserve to marry Brother Shiqing? I'm going to ruin you!"
Everyone turned to Lu Xixue in shock!
Those venomous words sent a chill down everyone's spine. Cameras in the changing room—she had planned to destroy a girl's entire life.
Madam Lu and Lu Xixue stood frozen, their faces stiff with fear, bodies trembling.
Mu Beiyin… she actually recorded it!
"Ah!" Madam Lu screamed like a mad dog as she lunged forward, snatching Mu Beiyin's phone and slamming it hard to the ground in a fit of rage. "It's fake! All of it is fake!"
Mu Beiyin watched her coldly, unfazed. "Go ahead and smash it, Madam Lu. The backup has already been automatically uploaded. I suggest you both start thinking about how to explain yourselves."
Lu Xixue still tried to argue, crying, "It's not true! I only said those things because Mu Beiyin provoked me! There are no cameras at all…"
Huo Shiqing shot her a heavy glance. The moment their eyes met, Lu Xixue felt blood rush to her head and her whole body turned ice cold. Every cell screamed danger. Her throat tightened, and she could no longer speak.
For the first time, Lu Xixue realized clearly—She was finished. Completely finished.
Suddenly, Lu Ming roared, "Lu Xixue, shut up! I can't believe how malicious you've become! Saying you gave up on Shiqing, yet targeting his wife behind his back!"
"How many times have I told you to fix your temper? And you think humiliating Miss Mu at a banquet would win you Shiqing? Get out! Go abroad! From now on, I don't have a daughter like you!"
"And you!" Lu Ming turned to Madam Lu, pointing at her harshly. "Xixue acts out, and you follow? If Lingshuang weren't returning to China soon, I'd send you packing with her! Apologize!"
When Madam Lu heard the name "Lingshuang," she shot a hateful glare at Mu Beiyin but ultimately swallowed her resentment and forced out an apology through gritted teeth.
"Miss Mu… I was possessed… I lost my mind…"
Mu Beiyin raised an eyebrow. Lu Ming appeared to be scolding the mother and daughter, but in truth, he was trying to downplay the incident. After all, he had already publicly reprimanded them and labeled the matter as mere "foolishness." As the younger party, it would be hard for her to keep pressing.
Lu Ming took a deep breath. "Shiqing, they acted rashly, but thankfully no real harm was done. I'll personally compensate Miss Mu for the emotional distress—let's treat this matter as—"
"Mr. Huo!"
"Mr. Huo, watch out!"
Suddenly, a chorus of shocked cries rang out.
Lu Xixue was growing more and more unwilling. Why should she be the one sent abroad just because she failed? Why should Mu Beiyin get away with everything?
Being sent overseas meant she'd been abandoned by the Lu family. All her status, her glory, everything would vanish. No—she couldn't accept that!
She spotted a fruit knife nearby. Blinded by rage, Lu Xixue snatched it up without thinking and lunged toward Mu Beiyin.
But Huo Shiqing immediately pulled Mu Beiyin into his arms. Just as the knife was about to reach him, he swiftly raised a leg and kicked Lu Xixue's hand.
The knife clattered to the floor.
Bai Ji rushed forward. "Sir, are you alright?"
The fleeting relief on Lu Ming and Madam Lu's faces instantly turned to pale dread.
It was over. Truly over now.
Huo Shiqing calmly dusted the shoulder of his suit, his expression icy cold as he delivered the final blow:"Chairman Lu, I won't hesitate to make your daughter disappear—permanently."