“Thank you, Sister Xue.”
Rose’s voice choked with emotion as she expressed her gratitude, stepping forward to tightly embrace Li Xue.
“It’s okay if you fail. At any time, my territory is your home. If you’re free tonight, would you like to have a drink with me?”
Li Xue gently patted her back, offering her promise.
“Okay.”
Without any hesitation, she agreed.
“Aren’t you going to find your first love? Or Councilman Chi?”
Li Xue laughed.
“Men are just seasoning for when I’m bored. Knowing full well they despise me, why would I rush to humiliate myself?”
Rose shrugged, clearly not taking the men seriously. The so-called deep affection was merely an act she wanted them to see.
That night, the two women drank and chatted until three in the morning, finally falling asleep nestled against each other.
When she woke up again, Li Xue was no longer by her side, having taken Chi Jin and Li Yan for a local inspection.
This place had more than just the port that could be developed—Li Xue’s ambitions were far greater.
Rose lounged in bed for another half hour before getting up to wash up, then headed to the resort’s self-operated garden greenhouse café.
Soon, the waiter brought the tea and snacks.
After just a couple of bites, Brother Bao walked in, wearing a floral shirt and beach shorts, shuffling along in flip-flops.
Haven’t seen her for a few days, but this woman keeps getting more stunning…
Money really does nourish beauty…
“You little bitch, you sure know how to enjoy yourself.”
Brother Bao walked over, laughing and cursing.
“Isn’t enjoying life the whole point of living? Don’t act like you haven’t been indulging yourself.”
Rose rolled her eyes dramatically, elegantly picking up her coffee for a sip.
She had kept her promise and brought Brother Bao out of the Lower City District, but because his status was too low, he wasn’t qualified to appear before the big shots.
Since arriving here, he had thoroughly enjoyed the privileges of the upper class.
Steam saunas, spa treatments, gambling at the casino during the day, and being accompanied by escorts at night—he was having the time of his life.
“Go, get me an ice-cold beer.”
Brother Bao bossed the waiter around, plopping down unceremoniously. Without any hesitation, he picked up the half-eaten cake Rose had left and began wolfing it down.
“Where’s what I asked for?”
Rose had called him here for a reason.
“Right here. But before I give it to you, you have to tell me—who are you planning to use it on?”
Mentioning this got Brother Bao excited; he grinned lewdly as he pulled something out of his pocket.
Inside the bag was a pink pill.
It went without saying that this wasn’t anything legitimate.
“Give it to me. It’s none of your business who I use it on.”
Rose frowned and reached to snatch it.
“Hey, if you don’t tell me, I’m not giving it to you. You slut, can’t go a day without a man to satisfy you, can you? Spit it out—are you planning to use it on that Councilman Chi or your old flame?”
Brother Bao was genuinely curious about who Jiang Xiaoman intended to drug, especially since this pill was extremely potent. Once taken, it would turn anyone, no matter how chaste, into a lustful demon.
“What old flame? More like a sworn enemy.”
Rose snatched the pill from his hand, letting out a dissatisfied huff.
“Damn, you’ve got some nerve, Jiang Xiaoman. You’re not planning to use it when he invites you to that apology dinner, are you? Aren’t you afraid he’ll tear you apart once he wakes up?”
Brother Bao, that brainless fool, might as well have announced her plans with a megaphone.
Crash—
The sound of a shattering cup echoed. Behind Rose, Ran Yuan, her face flushed with anger, couldn’t hold back a furious outburst: “Jiang Xiaoman, you really are a dog that can’t change its habit of eating shit!”
This place was a mixed bag of good and bad, and neither Chi Jin nor Li Yan wanted her too involved, which was why she hadn’t been brought along on the trip.
Back when they first checked into the resort, Li Xue had mentioned how stunning the scenery was, calling it a perfect spot for girls to visit and take photos.
After arriving, Ran Yuan also realized it was an absolute paradise for photo-loving girls—dreamlike and comparable to Monet’s garden.
Originally in high spirits, her mood was completely ruined the moment she accidentally overheard Rose’s plan.
Pitiable people have their hateful sides.
She had actually believed Jiang Xiaoman could change for the better!
“It’s you again. Why are you everywhere? Damn it, Xiaoman, should I take care of her?”
Brother Bao, aware he’d messed up, tried to mask his unease with aggression.
With the plan exposed, as an accomplice, he knew he wouldn’t get off easy.
Jiang Xiaoman had Li Xue backing her, but he didn’t. Why not go all the way…
“Enough. Put away those cheap, underhanded tricks of yours and get lost. Don’t cause trouble for Sister Xue. I’ll handle this.”
Rose showed no panic over the exposed plan. She shot an impatient glare at the fool in front of her, signaling him to scram.
“Fine, I’ll go then. Call me if you need anything.”
Brother Bao fled in haste.
“Why so angry? Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were Li Yan’s girlfriend. What right do you have to question me?”
She sneered, crossed her legs, and took another sip of coffee.
Ran Yuan was standing; Rose was seated. When she spoke, she had to look up, yet her aura was so overpowering that the other gained no advantage.
“I will never let your plan succeed! I’m going to tell A-Yan everything!”
Ran Yuan declared indignantly.
“Go ahead and tell him. Want to bet? Even if he knows I’ll drug him, he’ll still show up. If you don’t believe me, call him.”
Rose laughed recklessly, arrogance oozing from her.
How could she be so sure?
Ran Yuan was baffled and couldn’t stand her confident demeanor.
“Fine, I’ll take that bet. If you lose, you must never scheme against A-Yan again.”
Too incensed to back down, she accepted the wager.
She was confident that if she told Li Yan not to go, he definitely wouldn’t.
Who would be foolish enough to walk into a trap knowing they’d be drugged?
“And if you lose?”
Rose set down her coffee cup, her sharp eyes locking onto Ran Yuan.
“I won’t lose!”
Ran Yuan replied without hesitation.
“Since you’re so sure, let’s make it interesting. If you lose, I want you to take this drug yourself and seduce Li Yan. How about that?”
Rose giggled, stood up, leaned close to her ear, and whispered softly.
What?
Was she insane?!
Didn’t she like Li Yan? Why push him toward someone else??
Ran Yuan stared at her, shocked and suspicious.
“You said you’d definitely win, didn’t you? What, scared to bet?”
“Why would you do this? What do you gain from it?”
“I just want to see a god fall. Hasn’t he always been so high and mighty? I’d like to see what he does when the girl he loves is lusting right in front of him!”
After a brief silence, Rose let out a scornful laugh.
This unconventional method of revenge…
Ran Yuan was left speechless, looking at her as if she were a lunatic.
“I refuse. I will never become a tool for your revenge. I will never harm Ah Yan.”
“You were rejected by Li Yan, weren’t you? After all these years of secret and open affection, you never managed to make it work. Are you really content with that? Suit yourself. Anyway, there’s only one pill—it’ll either end up in your mouth, mine, or perhaps in your beloved’s. You may be noble, but I’m not. I’ve always been a woman who will stop at nothing to get what I want.”
Rose’s smile was utterly sinister and cunning.