At eight in the evening, a nervous Ran Yuan swallowed the medicine.
Meanwhile, Rose knocked on Chi Jin’s door, carrying her small massage kit.
As for whether Li Yan and the innocent girl would become intimate—what did that have to do with her? Jiang Xiaoman’s wish didn’t include falling in love with him.
High-quality Essence wasn’t exclusive to Li Yan alone.
“Xiaoman?”
Chi Jin, who answered the door, showed a flicker of surprise upon seeing the smiling Rose.
“You haven’t forgotten our massage appointment, have you?”
She lifted her kit and giggled.
“You didn’t have to keep it in mind. That was just a random excuse I came up with.”
Chi Jin didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“I know, but I want to do something for you… I don’t like owing favors.”
Rose pouted and mumbled.
“Come in.”
He always showed her extra tolerance.
Once inside, Rose nudged him toward the bathroom: “Change your clothes and come out—completely naked!”
“Xiaoman, I don’t do indecent things…”
“Who said anything about sleeping with you? You wish!”
“Really just a massage?”
Chi Jin looked at her suspiciously.
“Could I possibly force myself on you?”
Rose nearly rolled her eyes out of her head.
After closing the bathroom door, she took a large towel from the cabinet, spread it on the bed, and lit some incense.
Soon, Chi Jin emerged, having only removed his upper garments, leaving the lower half untouched.
“This is fine.”
He spoke with slight embarrassment.
Rose didn’t comment, pursed her lips, but still enthusiastically waved him over. “Come lie down quickly.”
She warmed the essential oil in her hands and began massaging Chi Jin’s back.
“How did the inspection go today?”
“Poverty, backwardness… but of course, there’s great potential for development.”
“In my opinion, what the government should focus on reforming isn’t these barren lands, but the Lower City District where I live, right?”
Rose curled her lips into a sarcastic smile.
Chi Jin fell silent for a moment before replying, “Xiaoman, if you want to return to your home country…”
“I don’t need your help. I’ll rely on my own ability to return with dignity.”
After that, neither spoke again.
She focused on massaging him, while he seemed lost in thought.
Elsewhere, as the drug took effect, Ran Yuan dialed Li Yan’s number.
“A-Yan, help me…”
Without a second thought, Li Yan rushed out of his room upon receiving the call.
Before he could ring the doorbell, the door swung open, and a flushed Ran Yuan threw herself into his arms.
“Yuan Yuan?!”
Li Yan froze in place, sucking in a sharp breath.
“I’m so hot… A-Yan… help me…”
Ran Yuan’s voice was delicate and seductive, tinged with sobs. She wrapped her arms around his neck, stood on her toes, and tried to kiss him.
Just as their lips were about to meet, Li Yan pushed her away abruptly.
Weak and unsteady, she collapsed to the floor, tears welling in her eyes as she stared at him in hurt confusion.
“What’s wrong with you, Yuan Yuan?”
Li Yan reached out to help her but ultimately clenched his fist and asked.
“I’m sorry…”
Overwhelmed with sorrow, Ran Yuan curled into a ball on the floor, sobbing an apology.
“Have you been drinking? Or did you take the wrong medicine? Let’s go to the hospital first… Wait, I’ll call the guest services.”
“I… took a drug… I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to…”
Her body felt as if thousands of ants were crawling over it—itchy and burning—yet her consciousness remained crystal clear instead of fading with the scorching physical torment. It was as though her body and mind had been forcibly torn into two entirely separate entities. This sensation was truly a fate worse than death.
She had assumed Li Yan would inevitably take advantage of her, but instead, he avoided her as if she were a venomous serpent…
The way he looked at her was like gazing upon something filthy…
The drug?
Li Yan’s pupils contracted sharply, and he gritted his teeth, uttering three words through clenched jaws: “Jiang Xiaoman!”
His voice was so terrifying that Ran Yuan shuddered violently.
She ought to explain…
But faced with Li Yan’s towering rage, she suddenly lost the courage to speak up, to admit that she had willingly taken the drug after losing a bet!
Soon, the guesthouse manager arrived with a doctor.
After listening to Ran Yuan’s tearful, incoherent account, the doctor promptly administered a sedative.
“This drug is quite potent. There’s no antidote. The only two solutions are either to engage in intercourse or fall into a deep sleep. Fortunately, it won’t cause any lasting harm to the body.”
After seeing the doctor out, Li Yan stared painfully at the unconscious woman on the bed. Even in her drugged slumber, she couldn’t suppress soft, seductive moans. Her entire body was flushed a suggestive pink, drenched in sweat.
“Where is Jiang Xiaoman?”
He took a deep breath and asked in a deceptively calm tone.
Though his expression showed no overt anger, the guesthouse manager trembled in fear.
“A-at Councilman Chi’s villa…”
So she knew she’d caused trouble and was seeking a protector?
Li Yan let out a cold laugh. Whoever he targeted, no one could save them!
“Take me there.”
He spoke again, leaving no room for refusal.
The trembling manager led him to Chi Jin’s villa.
“Open the door.”
Another command, issued in the same imperious tone.
“This… might not be appropriate…”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
Under this threat, the manager reluctantly opened the door.
Li Yan strode inside without hesitation.
Meanwhile, the manager shakily dialed Li Xue’s number: “Boss Li, there’s trouble…”
He had a foreboding that tonight might end in bloodshed—he just didn’t know who would die…
The bedroom door was ajar. Without a word, Li Yan barged in and headed straight for the two figures inside.
Rose reacted instantly upon hearing the noise, crying out, “Uncle Chi, save me!”
She leaped to the other side of the bed.
Chi Jin rolled over and sat up, immediately shielding her behind him.
“Li Yan, have you lost your mind?”
Barging in without permission—what was he trying to do?
“This doesn’t concern you. Step aside, Councilman Chi.”
Li Yan’s knuckles cracked audibly, his expression murderous, as if he intended to tear Rose limb from limb.
“You lunatic! What did I ever do to you?”
Rose peeked out from behind Chi Jin and shouted angrily.
“Jiang Xiaoman, after all the lessons you’ve had, why haven’t you learned your lesson? Has no one ever told you that some people are not to be trifled with?”
“Uncle Chi, he’s bullying an innocent person…”Rose’s eyes reddened with grievance, and the way she called him ‘Uncle Chi’ was enough to melt anyone’s heart.”