Volume 1 Chapter 18: You Lied to Me
Under the bright lights, Ruan Wan called out to Li Minglan, who had angrily risen from his seat.
Her voice was gentle. “Minglan, no matter who you like now, I believe you will come to like me. Look, didn’t you give me a birthday gift?”
The nonexistent birthday gift had finally come in handy.
Perhaps Li Minglan really had eaten too many poisonous mushrooms.
He didn’t refute her.
Instead, he stopped, turned to stare at her, his expression mocking.
“Ruan Wan, you don’t actually think I gave you a birthday gift because I like you, do you?”
“Let me tell you, the only person I like is Shen Zhizhi. Marrying you was just to provoke her into returning to the country.”
“Now that she’s back, you’re no longer useful. Understand?”
“…”
His words were cruel, like bullets piercing a beating heart.
But for Ruan Wan, they were like pieces of candy—sweet to the taste.
She had gotten what she wanted.
Struggling to suppress the curve of her lips, she replied in a sorrowful voice:
“Minglan, since you hate me so much, I will step aside for you and Miss Shen.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t let you and Miss Shen bear any blame.”
“…”
Every word was filled with deep affection.
Anyone hearing this conversation would say she was hopelessly in love with Li Minglan.
And Li Minglan, in his rage, slammed the door and left.
Ruan Wan composed herself, calmly sat back down, finished the bowl of beef noodles in front of her, and returned to her room to continue packing.
Early Friday morning.
She settled Zhao Sao’s wages, placed her 22-inch suitcase in the trunk, and drove away from Minglan Villa.
When she arrived at the company, her colleagues’ eyes lit up, and they gathered around her:
“A husband’s looks are a wife’s glory—Team Leader Ruan, you deserve a place in the ancestral temple!”
“That’s right, Guangguang! You’re too good at keeping secrets! With a husband like that, you kept it completely under wraps!”
“Did you swear off gambling in your past life? If it were me, I’d want to set my profile picture as a photo of us together!”
“…”
Ruan Wan felt somewhat awkward.
She had guessed that Li Yuan would attract some attention.
But in reality, it was a bit exaggerated. Even the neighboring department was stirred up, coming over in groups to catch a glimpse of her rumored god-like husband.
Ruan Wan couldn’t refute it, nor could she confirm it.
She simply said that they should all get together sometime, and she would treat them.
Gao Yue had taken the day off. Lin Yuying, standing nearby, took the workplace pleasantries seriously and said joyfully, “That’s great! Why not today after work? I know a new Japanese restaurant nearby—the food is really good.”
Li Jing frowned. “That place costs a thousand per person. It’s not cheap.”
Lin Yuying smiled. “Guangguang’s husband didn’t even claim the police’s 100,000-yuan reward. Why would he care about such a small amount, right~”
Ruan Wan smiled.
So this was the trap.
Lin Yuying knew Li Minglan. The reason she hadn’t exposed him yesterday was likely because she was nearsighted and couldn’t be sure.
After a night, realizing that the man wasn’t Li Minglan, her train of thought probably led her to believe that the Li Yuan who had picked Ruan Wan up yesterday was an actor she had hired—someone who just bore a five or six out of ten resemblance to Li Minglan.
Tonight would be interesting.
“Alright, let’s go with that restaurant,” Ruan Wan decided firmly.
“Great!” Lin Yuying beamed and took the initiative to contact the restaurant.
Then, she opened WeChat and recommended the restaurant to Shen Zhizhi.
[Lin Yuying]: Senior, this Japanese restaurant is really good. We haven’t seen each other since you returned to the country. Let me treat you there when you’re free~
Shen Zhizhi didn’t reply immediately, but Lin Yuying wasn’t in a hurry.
The other party would see it anyway.
Shen Zhizhi got injured yesterday, and Li Minglan accompanied her to the hospital. Out of politeness, she would definitely invite Li Minglan for a meal.
And this Japanese restaurant is located not far from the Li Group, making it the best choice.
Especially since today is Friday.
If nothing unexpected happens, they are bound to run into each other tonight.
Lin Yuying smiled faintly.
She wondered what Li Minglan’s reaction would be when he saw his “substitute”?
In the afternoon, a familiar face arrived at the editorial department.
Jiang Song.
Ever since Jiang Song publicly took Ruan Wan’s key last time, everyone knew the two had a good relationship.
Therefore, when someone spotted Jiang Song, their first reaction was: “Young Master Jiang, are you here for an interview with Team Leader Ruan?”
Jiang Song didn’t speak, just fixed his eyes on Ruan Wan.
This was the first time Jiang Song had appeared before her since the “crash.”
Ruan Wan guessed that Jiang Song must hate her intensely right now.
For a young master like him, born at the pinnacle of the pyramid, the “scarf” incident made him feel he’d been played, and he was undoubtedly furious. But to help Shen Zhizhi, he had no choice but to continue his pursuit.
Under everyone’s gaze, Ruan Wan pretended to know nothing and walked over.
But before she could get close, she heard Jiang Song raise his voice:
“I’m here to see Editor Lin. My attitude was poor last time, so I came to apologize.”
As he spoke, he produced a bouquet of lilies from behind his back, brushed past Ruan Wan’s shoulder, and walked up to Lin Yuying.
Lin Yuying was taken aback. She looked at the flowers, then met Jiang Song’s peach blossom eyes. A blush spread across her pretty face as she said softly, “It’s okay, my interview outline wasn’t well-prepared last time either…”
The watching colleagues exchanged glances and whispered among themselves:
“What’s going on? Didn’t Young Master Jiang say last time he came for Team Leader Ruan?”
“Yeah, Team Leader Ruan even walked over, but Jiang Song acted like he didn’t know her.”
“Ah, whoever lands this cover gets promoted to deputy editor. I thought Guangguang had it in the bag this time!”
“…”
The whispers were soft but still reached Ruan Wan’s ears.
She stopped in her tracks.
She didn’t care who got the cover for this issue.
Her resignation letter was already written. Once she finished her current work, she would submit it.
Ruan Wan returned to her workstation and focused intently on her tasks, paying no further attention to Jiang Song’s actions.
She could keep her composure, but others couldn’t.
Everyone’s appetite for gossip had peaked.
Li Jing, who was closest to Ruan Wan, slid her chair over and asked in a low voice, “Guangguang, did you have a fight with Young Master Jiang?”
Ruan Wan shook her head. “No.”
“That’s strange. Last time, Young Master Jiang was clearly unhappy with Lin Yuying’s interview, even made her cry, and said he came for you. We all thought you were the one who invited him…”
“I did invite Jiang Song, but he didn’t agree.”
“How could that be…”
Li Jing murmured, recalling Jiang Song’s expression when he took Ruan Wan’s Capybara last time—it was genuinely ambiguous.
If she didn’t know Ruan Wan’s personality, she might have thought there was something more between them.
“Alright, stop overthinking it,” Ruan Wan said. “I’m ordering a Frappuccino. Do you want one?”
Li Jing was instantly distracted and quickly said, “Matcha Frappuccino, half sugar, oat milk, no whipped cream! Thank you!”
Half an hour later, Ruan Wan went downstairs to pick up the milk tea.
The elevator doors opened, and she ran into Jiang Song.
He was the only one inside, the overhead light casting shadows over him, his eyes dark and unreadable.
Ruan Wan didn’t move, intending to wait for the next elevator.
Just as the doors were about to close, a pale, slender wrist reached out from inside, grabbing her wrist and pulling her into the elevator.
“Ruan Wan, you lied to me and then ran away. Did you think I wouldn’t be angry?”