“You!”
Ran Yuan was furious but couldn’t do anything about it.
Rose couldn’t be bothered to argue with her either and stood up to leave.
“I agree!”
The words came through gritted teeth from Ran Yuan behind her.
She didn’t know the exact composition or effects of the drug, and she didn’t dare take the risk.
But she was absolutely certain that if the drug didn’t end up in her mouth, it would most likely end up in Li Yan’s.
What if the drug caused loss of consciousness, and Li Yan ended up in bed with Jiang Xiaoman…
That was an outcome she couldn’t accept.
Moreover, the odds of winning this bet were heavily in her favor, weren’t they?
“If you lose, you have to hand over the pill to me!”
Ran Yuan added a condition.
Dealing with a cunning woman like Jiang Xiaoman, she had to be extra cautious.
“Fine, make the call then, Secretary Ran.”
Rose readily agreed, urging her with a beaming smile.
Her confident demeanor only made Ran Yuan more uneasy.
Why was she so sure that Li Yan wouldn’t refuse this ‘date’?
Even if she lost face, she hadn’t actually lost yet. Suppressing her frustration, Ran Yuan dialed Li Yan’s number.
“Yuan Yuan, what’s wrong?”
The call was quickly answered, and his deep, gentle voice came through.
“Ah Yan…”
Hearing his voice, she inexplicably felt her nose tingling and her voice came out pitifully.
“What’s wrong? Did Jiang Xiaoman bother you again?”
His concerned tone made her heart race uncontrollably.
“No… she didn’t bully me… Ah Yan, I like you.”
Ran Yuan nervously glanced at Rose, who was calmly drinking coffee nearby, and mustered the courage to speak.
Why was she suddenly confessing out of the blue?
Silly woman, she must have been bullied by Jiang Xiaoman again.
Li Yan’s heart ached for her, and he was about to speak when she interrupted him.
“Ah Yan, I don’t want you to have any involvement with other women. Can we just drop the apology dinner?”
Her words sent ripples through his heart, spreading layer upon layer.
The person he liked also liked him—this was probably the happiest thing in the world.
Li Yan’s tone grew even softer. “Yuan Yuan, it’s my fault for making you uneasy, but it’s just a meal. I could never have anything with her.”
“But… Jiang Xiaoman is not a good person. What if… what if she sets a trap for you!”
“Did you hear something?”
Li Yan caught on immediately.
“I… I overheard her talking to her subordinate about a drug they plan to use on you.”
Ran Yuan didn’t dare mention her bet with Rose and opted for a white lie.
Hah.
He had already guessed that vicious woman wouldn’t give up easily.
A cold smile curled on Li Yan’s lips.
Too bad she picked the wrong person to mess with.
Li Yuan was no pushover. Once he found out, that woman wouldn’t even know how she died.
Getting rid of that troublesome woman without dirtying his own hands—why not?
“I’ve already promised in front of everyone. It wouldn’t be appropriate to go back on my word. Thank you for telling me. Don’t worry, she won’t succeed.”
Li Yan comforted her gently.
“But…”
“Yuan Yuan, I only like you. That will never change. Be good, don’t trouble yourself. She’ll only reap what she sows. I have to go now. I’ll bring you something tasty when I get back.”
Since it was still work hours, Li Yan couldn’t keep others waiting and hung up after finishing his words.
In that instant, Ran Yuan felt as if the sky had collapsed.
Why?
Why did Li Yan insist on keeping the appointment even though he knew Jiang Xiaoman intended to drug him?
Could it be that they…
No, impossible! Li Yan wasn’t that kind of person!
She tried to convince herself not to overthink, but anxiety clouded her judgment—love only made people insecure.
“It seems I’ve won.”
A malicious smile curled at Rose’s lips, as if mocking her overestimation of herself.
Ran Yuan bit her lip hard, remaining silent. Her face flushed and paled alternately, as if she had suffered immense humiliation.
“Lucky you, little innocent. Should I prepare morning-after pills for you? I’m afraid he’ll wreck you so badly you won’t be able to get out of bed.”
She handed over the drug in her hand, pressing her advantage relentlessly.
“I’ll do as you say. I know you’ve suffered… I’ll compensate you with anything you want. Please, let Li Yan go.”
Ran Yuan took a deep breath and spoke pleadingly.
“You want to compensate me? Fine. Stay in that damned Lower City District like I did, barely scraping by selling your body for seven years, and I’ll forgive you both! No—with your personality and frail health, you probably wouldn’t last a year before dying in that wretched place!”
Rose’s eyes blazed with intense hatred as she sneered.
How could she be so vicious…
Ran Yuan’s face instantly turned as pale as paper.
“If you can’t do it, don’t talk about compensation. If you want to play the saint, you’d better weigh your own capabilities.”
With a cold expression, Rose turned to leave.
“Do you still love him?”
Ran Yuan suddenly asked from behind.
“Ha, love? I’d skin him alive and break his bones—how could I possibly…”
Before she could finish, she was interrupted.
“If you don’t love him, where does all this hatred come from?”
Ran Yuan uttered these words with a bitter smile.
Rose’s smile froze completely, her entire being shrouded in desolation.
Ran Yuan wanted to say more, but no reproachful words would come out.
Only because the Jiang Xiaoman before her was truly pitiable.
As women, why make things harder for one another?
She had always been wary of Jiang Xiaoman, but then she remembered—someone had brought medicine when Li Yan had a slight fever.
Even she hadn’t noticed Li Yan was unwell, yet Jiang Xiaoman had.
If she cared so much about Li Yan, how could she truly harm him?
Drugging him was merely her desperate means to have him.
“I won’t presumptuously ask you to give up your revenge anymore. You’re right—I have no right. My love for Li Yan is no less than yours, and I will never give up on him. So, let’s compete fairly, Jiang Xiaoman!”
Tears glistened in Ran Yuan’s smiling eyes as she issued her challenge.
This was the fairest way she could think of.
“Are you so confident Li Yan will choose you?”
A flash of anger crossed Rose’s eyes as she scoffed.
“Yes!”
The other replied with unwavering confidence.
“Then I wish you a swift victory…”
Rose said with a darkened expression before turning and leaving.
Behind her, Ran Yuan slumped weakly onto the sofa, slowly raising a hand to cover her pounding heart.
For some reason, she felt uneasy.
But what exactly she was uneasy about, she couldn’t say…
Her gaze fell once more on the pink pill Rose had shoved into her hand.
Was this the right thing to do, or a mistake…
If Li Yan found out about her bet with Jiang Xiaoman, would he be angry with her?
But if she didn’t force the issue, Jiang Xiaoman would probably never back down.
Even if A-Yan would be angry, she would still protect him in her own way!
Ran Yuan tightened her grip on the pill in her hand, her gaze unwavering.