Ran Yuan had initially thought Jiang Xiaoman was pretending to be drunk. She was prepared to be pushed away.
But the other person showed no reaction at all, obediently letting herself be supported, almost transferring her entire body weight onto Ran Yuan.
It was a bit heavy, but manageable.
She must really be drunk… Was this her way of drowning her sorrows?
Why did she disappear so suddenly back then?
Had she been in Yue Country all these years she was gone?
And what did she mean by what she said earlier…
Her mind was in turmoil. Ran Yuan decided to set these questions aside for now and focus on getting Jiang Xiaoman back to her room. They would have chances to meet again in the future, and she could always ask for clarification then.
“Let me go with you.”
Li Yan, who had been discreetly watching the situation, spoke up at the right moment. He wasn’t comfortable leaving Ran Yuan alone with Jiang Xiaoman, worried she might get taken advantage of.
“No need, I can manage on my own. Don’t worry, I can handle it.”
Ran Yuan shook her head, her tone firm.
If Jiang Xiaoman was truly drunk, she was afraid she might go crazy again upon seeing Li Yan.
If she was faking it, then it was even more important to keep the two apart. Who knew what Jiang Xiaoman might do to Li Yan?
She wasn’t the helpless little girl who could only be bullied anymore. If Jiang Xiaoman dared to try anything, she wouldn’t hold back.
“Be careful…”
Seeing her insistence, Li Yan could only repeatedly remind her.
Soon, Ran Yuan helped the stumbling, drunken Rose out of the private room and, guided by a staff member, entered the elevator.
The elevator quickly arrived at the floor designated for their reception.
“I’m not drunk… I’ll finish this glass…”
Rose giggled foolishly, making a gesture as if holding a bottle and bringing it to her lips.
For some reason, Ran Yuan felt a pang of pity seeing her in such a disheveled state.
She didn’t know why she felt this way. The other party was a high-and-mighty young lady—how could she possibly deserve her sympathy?
Get a grip, Ran Yuan. Have you forgotten what she did to you back then?
She shook her head and helped Rose out of the elevator.
“Mm…”
Rose stumbled, nearly falling.
Ran Yuan’s heart leaped into her throat as she used all her strength to pull her back. The two of them crashed awkwardly against the wall, but thankfully, they didn’t fall.
Before she could catch her breath, a hoarse, mocking laugh came from above her.
“After all this time apart, our scholarship student is still so naive…”
In an instant, Ran Yuan’s heart clenched in fear, and she looked up in alarm.
Her eyes met Rose’s wildly intense gaze.
Before she could react, her lips were captured in a kiss.
The next second, a bitter-tasting drug dissolved in her mouth as their lips and tongues tangled. A heavy drowsiness washed over her, and her body went limp instantly.
This time, it was Rose who supported the unconscious Ran Yuan, taking the elevator down to the lobby.
At the hotel entrance, Brother Bao’s van was already waiting. Soon, the two got in, and the vehicle sped away.
“Who is she?”
Brother Bao, who was driving, asked curiously.
“A friend. Shut up and do your job. You’ll get your share.”
Rose lit a cigarette and coldly warned him.
Damn, this bitch has gotten more and more arrogant since she started following Sister Xue…
But he needed her help and couldn’t afford to piss her off completely.
I’ll fuck you to death on the bed sooner or later!
Brother Bao cursed inwardly and focused on driving.
About an hour and a half later, they returned to the Lower City District.
After dumping the unconscious Ran Yuan on the bed, Rose took out her phone, unlocked it, and sent a message to Chi Jin.
【Councilman Chi, I have no schedule tomorrow. Xiaoman and I are going back to her place to chat. We’ll return tomorrow afternoon.】
Meanwhile, Li Yan grew increasingly restless as Ran Yuan failed to return. Unfortunately, he was tied up with other matters and couldn’t leave, though he kept glancing anxiously toward the door.
“Xiao Yan, what’s wrong? You look troubled,” Chi Jin asked in a hushed tone.
“Yuan Yuan hasn’t come back. I’m worried…”
“Your crush is painfully obvious. She just texted me saying she and Xiaoman are staying overnight to catch up.”
Hearing this, Li Yan could no longer remain seated.
Damn it, that crazy woman had indeed made her move on Yuan Yuan.
“They’re not on speaking terms! Jiang Xiaoman has been bullying Yuan Yuan since their school days. We must find her immediately—she’ll definitely harm Yuan Yuan!”
His expression was graver than ever, but without Chi Jin’s approval, he alone couldn’t convince the Vietnamese officials. They might even dismiss him as paranoid.
His fear of Jiang Xiaoman seeking revenge was one thing.
More importantly, he dreaded that she might poison Yuan Yuan against him out of spite!
“Can you take responsibility for your claims?” Chi Jin frowned.
If this turned out to be a misunderstanding, the diplomatic repercussions would be severe—it involved two nations, after all.
“I can. Jiang Xiaoman’s hatred for Yuan Yuan runs deep. She would never pass up this opportunity,” Li Yan replied with absolute conviction.
Recognizing the severity yet unwilling to escalate tensions, Chi Jin first glanced at the drunken Vietnamese official before approaching Li Xue nearby.
Though furious about her ruined arrangement, Li Xue remained protective of her subordinate and refused to condemn Jiang Xiaoman based solely on Li Yan’s accusation.
“It must be a misunderstanding. Xiaoman isn’t that kind of person. Please, both of you, calm down. Let me call her first,” she explained with a forced smile, pulling out her phone to dial Jiang Xiaoman’s number.
Only to hear the automated message: “The number you have dialed is powered off.”
“If any harm comes to our civil servant on Vietnamese soil, Director Li, can you bear that responsibility?” Li Yan demanded coldly.
“Such grave accusations! And if this all proves to be a misunderstanding, Director Li, how will you account for it?” Li Xue, accustomed to authority, refused to back down and retorted sharply.
“Perhaps the two girls genuinely hit it off and are just chatting? Let’s not overcomplicate things. Our priority is locating them,” Chi Jin interjected with a sigh, taking charge.
They proceeded to the surveillance room to review footage and trace their movements.
The cameras showed an unsteady Jiang Xiaoman and Ran Yuan stumbling against a wall, then the two women appeared to kiss.
Moments later, the intoxicated pair supported each other, weaving drunkenly into the elevator.
When Li Xue spotted Brother Bao’s car in the footage, her heart sank.
She had arranged accommodations for Jiang Xiaoman in the Upper City District, yet the woman had deliberately taken Ran Yuan to the Lower City District—clearly with ill intentions.
Damn it! If Jiang Xiaoman dared cause trouble at this critical juncture, she wouldn’t live to see tomorrow!
The group rushed urgently toward the Lower City District.
Rose never intended to kill Ran Yuan. After sending Brother Bao away, she soaked a handkerchief in cold water and pressed it against Ran Yuan’s face.
Waking up in a daze, Ran Yuan became fully alert the moment she saw Rose’s sinister face and warned cautiously, “Jiang Xiaoman, what are you trying to do? Do you realize the consequences you’ll face if you harm me?”