9. Si Zhanhan is a big liar!
On Friday afternoon, Ling Qing Ruan left Imperial University’s gate as usual, but didn’t see the familiar car. Could Si Zhanhan still be at work?
Not wanting to disturb Si Zhanhan, Ling Qing Ruan took a taxi to Platinum Manor. She got out of the car and entered the manor carrying her rabbit bag.
The security guards at the manor gate all recognized their future Little Mistress.
When Ling Qing Ruan entered the living room, she saw a woman sitting on the sofa. The woman had an excellent figure, her blue evening gown accentuating a waist so slim it seemed one could encircle it with one hand. Her wavy hair cascaded down to her chest, and there was a hint of seduction in the corners of her eyes.
Ling Qing Ruan glanced down at herself – she seemed to have nothing compared to this woman. Next to her, she felt completely inadequate.
“So you’re the girl Zhanhan brought back. You are quite pretty.”
Bai Yuxin looked Ling Qing Ruan up and down, from head to toe, though her gaze was far from friendly.
“I am Zhanhan’s fiancée, Bai Yuxin, the eldest daughter of the Bai family. He’s keeping you around probably just because you’re nice to look at – like keeping a little plaything.”
Ling Qing Ruan’s hands clutched at her skirt, her head bowing even lower. Was that true? Did Si Zhanhan see her as just a plaything?
“Zhanhan is going to marry me soon. We’ve already met each other’s parents. As for you, it’s fine if you want to stay. I’ve seen plenty of girls like you who sell their bodies for money.”
Bai Yuxin took out a stack of money from her bag and threw it on the floor, looking down at Ling Qing Ruan as if bestowing charity upon her.
“Take this money. It should be enough for you for a few years. Don’t come looking for Zhanhan during this time, don’t disturb him.”
Ling Qing Ruan fought back tears, stubbornly speaking up, this time loudly, “I don’t need it.”
Ling Qing Ruan left the manor as quickly as she could, her tears threatening to fall uncontrollably. She would never come back here again.
She would never return…
Returning to her dorm room, Ling Qing Ruan picked up her phone and deleted all of Si Zhanhan’s contact information, her eyes red like an injured little rabbit.
Wu Xiaomin had gone home for the weekend, leaving Ling Qing Ruan alone, curled up in a corner crying.
Unbeknownst to her, a car was parked outside the entrance, waiting until evening.
“Second Master, perhaps we should go back first. Miss Ling might have already returned.”
Si Zhanhan picked up his phone to message Ling Qing Ruan, only to find he’d been blocked. When he called her, no one answered.
Si Zhanhan made over a dozen calls in succession, but still no one picked up. Anxiety began to grip him, an unprecedented emotion enveloping him.
He felt irritated!
What was wrong with this little girl? Why had she suddenly blocked him?
Si Zhanhan rubbed his temples in frustration, closing his eyes. “Let’s go back.”
The car stopped at Platinum Manor.
Dressed in black, his legs long and straight, Si Zhanhan stepped into the living room. Bai Yuxin immediately stood up, greeting him with a smile. “Second Master, you’re back.”
Si Zhanhan frowned, putting distance between himself and Bai Yuxin, his tone cold. “Why are you here? Who allowed you to come?”
“It was Old Madam. She said you were here alone and that I could keep you company. Besides, our marriage…”
Si Zhanhan interrupted impatiently, “Who said I’m marrying you? My fiancée is someone else.”
“Second Master, you can’t mean that little girl, can you? I saw her – so delicate and weak a gust of wind could blow her over. What’s so good about her? Aside from her pretty face.”
Bai Yuxin deliberately straightened her posture, emphasizing her figure. Why couldn’t Second Master ever see how good she looked?
A cold aura emanated from Si Zhanhan, his dark eyes glinting dangerously. “You saw her?”
Bai Yuxin trembled with fear. “Yes, she came back earlier, but when she saw me, she left.”
“What did you say to her?At the sound of his gloomy voice, Bai Yuxin was too frightened to look up. It had been a long time since she’d seen Second Master this angry.
“Nothing much, I just said… we were getting married soon, and then she… left.”
Si Zhanhan’s face darkened like storm clouds, his expression thunderous. “I never said I would marry you. Whoever promised you, go find them.”
As the eldest daughter of the Bai family, Bai Yuxin had been pampered since childhood and had never suffered such humiliation. She was seething with anger.
But she didn’t dare lose her temper in front of Si Zhanhan, so she could only slink away from the manor.
She silently noted Ling Qing Ruan in her mind – it must be because of that little fox spirit that Second Master had gotten so angry.
Si Zhanhan’s expression remained stern, his voice icy. “Mu Yun, from now on, Bai Yuxin is not allowed to set foot in the manor again. Otherwise, you know the consequences…”
Mu Yun trembled with fear. “Yes… Second Master, I’ll go give the orders immediately.”
It had been a long time since he’d seen Second Master this angry. Was it because of that girl?
Si Zhanhan picked up his phone and continued calling Ling Qing Ruan. After another ten or so calls still went unanswered, he sent several explanatory messages, wondering if the little girl would see them.
Ling Qing Ruan’s phone was turned off. She didn’t want to answer Si Zhanhan’s calls.
Liar! Big liar!
He said he would marry her, but it was all lies. Si Zhanhan already had a fiancée. So what was she? She was just the other woman. She didn’t want to be the other woman.
Unable to process this news, Ling Qing Ruan lay on her bed and fell into a fitful sleep, vaguely hearing someone call her name.
“Ruan Ruan.”
Such a familiar voice. Who was it?
Was it Si Zhanhan?
She didn’t want Si Zhanhan. No!
(ノ_。)
Ling Qing Ruan started crying again, her sobs soft, perhaps because she had no energy left to cry properly. Her fists beat weakly against the man’s chest.
“Don’t touch me.”
Si Zhanhan picked up the girl from the bed. Tears streaked her delicate face, and when he pressed his forehead to hers, she felt burning hot.
Si Zhanhan carried Ling Qing Ruan out of Imperial University.
“Mu Yun, to the hospital.”
“Yes, Second Master.”
Ling Qing Ruan continued to weakly pound on Si Zhanhan, her mind foggy and confused. She just didn’t want Si Zhanhan holding her.
“Big liar… liar…”
With her eyes closed, Ling Qing Ruan kept muttering the word “liar,” her hands pushing feebly against Si Zhanhan.
“Alright now, be good, no more fuss. Let’s go to the hospital first. You have a fever now, you’re burning up.”
Si Zhanhan held Ling Qing Ruan in his arms, patiently soothing her. It seemed all his patience in this lifetime was reserved for this little ancestor.