The moment the door opened, Lin Ming’s two subordinates froze, their eyes going wide.
Standing before them was a stunning woman about 175 cm tall, with captivating peach-blossom eyes that seemed to pull people in.
Her long, wavy hair was dyed red, cascading over her shoulders. She wore a white blouse on top and a tight-fitting skirt below, accentuating her figure. Her long, slender legs were smooth and fair, like flawless jade.
She looked like a perfectly ripened peach, exuding a mature, irresistible charm.
After a brief moment of distraction, the two men snapped back to their senses and demanded, “Who are you? What did you hear just now?!”
A trace of panic flashed across the woman’s face, but she quickly regained her composure. She glared at them and snapped back without courtesy, “I should be the one asking you that. Who are you? This is my house. How did you get in?”
“Your house?”
The two subordinates, who had been about to restrain her, were momentarily stunned.
Inside the room, the instant Lin Ming saw her, a flicker of admiration flashed through his eyes.
He smiled faintly and gestured for his subordinates to step aside, allowing her to enter.
“It’s a misunderstanding. She’s my landlady,” Lin Ming said calmly, then added, “These two are my friends.”
The woman was Chen Qing, the owner of the apartment Lin Ming had rented.
She was not only beautiful, but also… intriguing.
Lin Ming had already investigated her background. Chen Qing had been widowed a few years ago and had been living alone ever since.
Such a beautiful woman, yet a widow?
That realization stirred something hidden within him.
Unfortunately, Chen Qing didn’t seem interested in him at all. Ever since he moved in, they hadn’t even crossed paths once.
Looking at her, Lin Ming smiled and asked, “Is there something you need, Landlady?”
This woman was different from the others he had met before. There was something uniquely compelling about her.
He had already decided. He would make her his.
Chen Qing spoke calmly, “I just came to inform you that the water will be shut off tonight. Make your preparations in advance. Also, this is my house. You can live here, but don’t bring random people back.”
After saying that, she turned and left without another glance.
Watching her swaying figure as she walked away, one of the subordinates spoke in a low voice, “Master, that woman might have ulterior motives. Should we keep an eye on her?”
Lin Ming waved his hand dismissively. “It’s fine. Even if she overheard something, it doesn’t matter.”
He had already checked her background. Chen Qing had no connection with the Li Family or the Mu Family.
Li Ran was notorious in Magic Capital as a debauched young master. No matter how one looked at it, Chen Qing had no reason to inform him.
Besides, even if Li Ran knew that he intended to deal with him, what could he do?
Unless he chose not to attend Mu Bingxuan’s birthday banquet.
Was that even possible?
…
Meanwhile, Chen Qing returned to her room, placing a hand over her chest as she took deep breaths.
Undercover work… really wasn’t something a lone woman like her could handle easily.
If she hadn’t reacted quickly just now, Lin Ming would have definitely noticed something was off.
It had been genuinely dangerous.
However, when she thought of the kind-hearted boy from her previous life, her resolve hardened once more.
Only by staying close to Lin Ming could she learn his every move.
Only then could she help the one she loved… and bring down Lin Ming, that despicable man!
After recording the information she had just gathered and carefully hiding it away, a sweet smile appeared on her face.
“Li Ran… when are you going to come kidnap me? I’m almost out of patience.”
Soon.
Very soon, she would meet him again.
Thinking back to her previous life, when Li Ran had kidnapped her and everything that followed, a faint blush rose to her fair cheeks.
That despicable Lin Ming probably had no idea that she had already been reborn.
In her previous life, many of Lin Ming’s schemes against Li Ran and the Li Family had been planned inside this very house.
Although she had only discovered his true nature near the end back then, and didn’t know all the details of his plans, she still remembered the general timing of them.
This time, she would be careful. She would secretly listen, record everything, and pass it on to Li Ran.
Her kind-hearted boy.
…
At the Li Family residence, days without following the plot were incredibly comfortable.
Wearing loose shorts, Li Ran reclined lazily on a lounge chair, basking in the sunlight.
He opened his mouth, and a considerate maid immediately peeled a grape and placed it inside. Nearby, a servant poured him a glass of properly aerated red wine.
Li Ran picked it up and took a small sip.
He couldn’t help it. It wasn’t that he wanted to live such a decadent life.
But his wastrel persona had to be maintained.
He was left with no choice.
“Young Master! Young Master!”
At that moment, an elderly man in his fifties hurried over from the side of the villa, looking flustered.
“Uncle Fu, you’ve been with the Li Family for so many years. Why are you still so restless in situations like this?” Li Ran lifted his eyelids slightly and glanced at him lazily, then raised his wine glass. “What is it? Speak.”
“N-not good… no, it’s very good!”
Li Ran frowned. “So is it good or bad?”
Uncle Fu, panting, said, “Miss Mu… she’s here!”
“Which Miss Mu?”
Li Ran was startled and nearly jumped up, spilling red wine all over himself.
“Mu… Mu Bingxuan?”
Uncle Fu nodded vigorously. “Y-yes…”
His wrinkled face broke into a wide smile.
In the past, it was always the young master chasing after Mu Bingxuan.
Who would have thought that today, the tables would turn?
Finally, after all this time, the young master’s efforts had paid off!
Uncle Fu felt deeply gratified.
But… the young master’s expression seemed off. He didn’t look happy at all.
“Young Master, Miss Mu is here. Aren’t you happy?”
Li Ran fell silent for a moment before forcing a smile. “How could I not be? I’m… extremely happy. Ha… haha… hahaha…”
Happy?
Happy my ass!
Mu Bingxuan, are you insane?
Don’t you understand keeping personal space outside the script?
What are you trying to do?
What exactly are you trying to do?!
Li Ran was on the verge of breaking down.
“Where is Mu Bingxuan? Is she still waiting at the entrance?”
“No, when I heard she came to visit you, I let her in,” Uncle Fu replied honestly.
“Very good. Uncle Fu, you did very well.”
Li Ran patted his shoulder heavily, so hard that Uncle Fu winced in pain.
The young master’s strength was terrifying.
Just as Li Ran finished speaking, a graceful figure slowly approached from the other side of the estate.
Dressed in a white gown, Mu Bingxuan smiled like a blooming flower the moment she saw him.
Walking up to him, she asked gently, “Li Ran, are your injuries any better?”
What does my injury have to do with you?
Can you just act like a proper female lead?
Maybe we should replace you with another one?
What kind of female lead runs to the villain’s house right after work?
Tears welled up in Li Ran’s eyes as he said with exaggerated emotion, “I never expected you to care about me so much, Bingxuan. I’m truly moved!”
“This box of walnuts is for your brain. And this set of cosmetics is for Aunt. Also, this is for Uncle…”
Mu Bingxuan placed the gifts down one by one as she introduced them.
For my brain?
You’re the one who needs brain supplements!
Staring at the pile of gifts on the ground, Li Ran was completely dumbfounded.
Is she trying to win over my parents too?
This woman came fully prepared.
Don’t tell me… she’s actually fallen for me?