With Qin Junlan cooperating deliberately, the conversation with Brother Su was pleasant for both sides.
Feeling generous, Brother Su invited them to stay and enjoy the lively atmosphere. He told them not to worry about the bill because he would cover everything.
Qin Junlan only smiled and did not comment.
The entire Dongxi Mart KTV was owned by Brother Su. Whatever they spent would ultimately go back into his own pocket. It cost him almost nothing.
To someone less experienced, the combination of being promoted and treated generously would seem like a dream. They might feel honored and special, willing to give everything in return for such a good boss.
But Qin Junlan was not easily swayed by small favors or flattery.
All she felt was that the place was noisy. The music was loud enough to make her ears ring.
She rubbed her forehead, starting to feel a bit uncomfortable.
She and Bai Lansheng were sitting in a booth on the first floor of the KTV.
Out on the dance floor, people were moving wildly. Qin Junlan had no interest in joining the sweaty crowd. But leaving right now would seem rude, like she was rejecting Brother Su’s kindness. The bartenders here were clearly his people, keeping an eye on everything.
She decided to treat the place like a busy restaurant near a construction site. It was loud, yes, but at least the food was decent. Definitely better than the dry bread they had at home.
With that thought, her mood improved slightly.
Bai Lansheng sat quietly, staring at the glasses on the table while fidgeting with something in her pocket. She was trying to figure out how to slip the medicine into a drink without being noticed.
She was too quiet. Qin Junlan assumed she disliked the environment and asked, “What are you thinking about?”
Bai Lansheng had been lost in thought. The question startled her. Afraid that Qin Junlan had discovered her plan, she quickly said, “Nothing.”
Her voice was too soft, and Qin Junlan leaned in with curiosity, asking again, “Hmm?”
That low and magnetic voice brushed past her ear. Bai Lansheng flinched, a shiver running down her neck.
She felt irritated. Somehow, the shameless woman’s voice seemed to have a strange charm.
Last time, she had unknowingly fallen for it and agreed to come with her.
And what had happened?
She had been teased in front of others.
Now she was using that same voice again. Bai Lansheng was determined not to fall for it twice.
She kept her mouth shut and said nothing.
Qin Junlan noticed her silence and followed her line of sight to the wine glass on the table.
She looked like she was thinking about something tragic.
Qin Junlan guessed that Bai Lansheng was old enough now. A small drink would be fine.
She poured herself half a glass, then handed the other half to Bai Lansheng.
“You can drink a little, but not too much. Alcohol isn’t a good thing.”
The wine here did not taste great anyway.
Bai Lansheng looked down at the glass now in her hand. She had never asked for it.
Was the shameless woman trying to get her drunk?
Qin Junlan asked, “What did Sister Qiangwei give you?”
Bai Lansheng felt like an alarm had gone off. She did not want to answer and stayed silent.
Qin Junlan noticed a small gift bag next to her. She reached over and took a look.
It was a dress.
She felt the fabric briefly, then placed it back down.
“It doesn’t suit you,” Qin Junlan said. “Too big.”
The size was clearly off, and the style did not match Bai Lansheng at all.
Bai Lansheng nearly crushed the wine glass in her hand. Was she implying that her chest was too small?
Qin Junlan ordered some fruit platters. Her throat was dry, and she needed something refreshing.
Before the fruit arrived, a loud voice caught people’s attention. Even the music could not cover up the argument.
Qin Junlan looked over and saw a woman with short brown hair being held back by a bartender. Apparently, the woman had come to drink without paying again.
It had nothing to do with Qin Junlan.
But then her eyes focused on someone behind the brown-haired woman.
Ke Nian.
Qin Junlan narrowed her eyes and smiled coldly.
What a surprise. Last time, she had been too busy saving Bai Lansheng and let this woman escape.
The brown-haired woman and the bartender were blocking the way. It looked like Ke Nian and the woman with her were about to take a different route.
Qin Junlan frowned. She could not let Ke Nian get away again.
She called the bartender over and asked him to deal with the troublemaker quickly.
The bartender knew she was a guest under Brother Su’s protection. He immediately escorted the brown-haired woman out.
With the path cleared, Ke Nian and her companion walked straight toward their area.
The woman beside Ke Nian was clinging to her, face full of sweetness. They were clearly in the early stages of a relationship.
Qin Junlan pinched Bai Lansheng’s cheek gently and whispered, “Don’t speak yet. Just listen to what they say.” Then she pulled Bai Lansheng into her arms.
Bai Lansheng froze. She could smell the faint scent of Alpha pheromones.
At a glance, they looked just like any other couple.
Ke Nian did not notice them at all.
When the bartender brought Ke Nian and her date over, Qin Junlan gestured discreetly. The bartender understood and seated them at the booth next to theirs.
Now Ke Nian was sitting with her back to them.
Not long after, Qin Junlan’s fruit platter arrived. She picked a piece and ate while listening closely.
Ke Nian was unaware of what was happening behind her. Her attention was fully on the woman in front of her. The woman was far less attractive than Bai Lansheng, but she was rich. That meant Ke Nian could skip years of hard work.
Holding the woman’s hand, Ke Nian said sweetly, “Baby, you are my night. I think of you every night.”
Qin Junlan nearly choked on her fruit.
So this was the type Bai Lansheng used to like?
The woman pouted and asked, “Am I the only one in your heart?”
Ke Nian replied without hesitation, “Of course you are. You are my first love.”
Bai Lansheng sat still, saying nothing.
Hearing Ke Nian’s words, she felt it was ridiculous. Back then, she had only had a mild crush. But now, looking back, she realized how foolish she had been. She had only seen the surface.
She picked up her drink and swallowed it all in one go.
Immediately, she realized it was not water.
It burned going down.
She lowered her head and tried not to cough as the spicy liquid rushed up into her nose.
Qin Junlan found her fruit tasteless. She looked over and saw the top of Bai Lansheng’s head. Her silver hair shimmered under the light as she leaned down silently.
Ke Nian’s words had completely denied any connection with Bai Lansheng. That must have hurt.
The system suddenly spoke up, trying to encourage Qin Junlan to act.
System: This is your chance. Ke Nian just hurt Bai Lansheng deeply. If you stand up for her now, she will be grateful to you.
Qin Junlan: What do you suggest? Smash a fruit platter in Ke Nian’s face? Dump a drink on her head?
System: That would be perfect. Please stop slacking off.
Qin Junlan: No. I prefer something more satisfying.
She whispered something to the bartender, then pulled Bai Lansheng up and led her into the crowd on the dance floor.
Bai Lansheng stood frozen like a puppet. There was no way she could follow the rhythm and move like the others.
Qin Junlan knew this wild atmosphere did not suit her. She would have been more at home dancing gracefully to elegant music in high society.
But that was what made her interesting.
If Qin Junlan pulled her hand, she would move exactly twice.
The moment she let go, Bai Lansheng stopped completely.
“Boss Liang’s daughter?”
A flicker of clarity passed through her drunken eyes.
Before she could make a move, the person who had left returned.
“Hmm? Picking up a drunk person isn’t exactly a good habit,” Qin Junlan said calmly.
The brunette woman quickly turned around. Out of instinct, she reached for her waist, only to remember she was wearing casual clothes today and had no weapon on her.
Qin Junlan gave a half-smile and said, “I told you, alcohol isn’t a good thing. Even someone with quick reflexes can become slow and careless because of it. But I’m not here to scold you. I’m here to talk business. A deal that could benefit you.”
After spending enough time at the KTV, Qin Junlan returned home with Bai Lansheng.
It was already very late. The trip back took much longer than the journey there. Maybe it was the cold breeze, but Qin Junlan began to feel unwell on the way home.
Not long after arriving, the flu hit her hard. She lay weakly in bed, her vision blurry, watching the ceiling sway like it was dancing. Her whole body felt heavy and drained.
She had felt a bit off at the KTV, but her forehead hadn’t been warm and she wasn’t dizzy, so she thought it would pass. However, now she could barely move, and even breathing was a struggle.
This Ke Nian really must be bad luck. Ever since running into her, nothing had gone right.
Qin Junlan remembered the subtle glance Bai Lansheng had given her earlier. It felt like fate had turned against her. Now she was the puppet, and Bai Lansheng held the strings of life and death.
When she saw Bai Lansheng walking over, Qin Junlan tried to send out a silent cry for help.
Qin Junlan: System, can I borrow your electric shock ability? I swear I’m about to die.
Bai Lansheng asked gently, “You’re not feeling well, are you?”