Ke Yaru always knew that Lu Zhengting hated excessive attention on his whereabouts. Even though her mind was full of suspicions that the caller was Xia Yan, she dared not ask, silently doubting in her heart. Sitting beside Lu Zhengting, his expression remained as cold as ever, instinctively creating a sense of distance that felt unbridgeable. She sighed softly inwardly, her gaze drifting subtly toward his nearly perfect profile, her infatuation undisguised.
Jiang Mingxiu's plane arrived in Jiang City on time. Pushing her luggage out, she scanned the crowd and spotted her son, Lu Zhengting, and Ke Yaru beside him, standing apart from the others. She walked over with a beaming smile, and upon seeing her long-unseen son, couldn't help but voice some complaints.
Lu Zhengting walked unhurriedly beside Jiang Mingxiu when she suddenly brought up, "Zhengting, where's your girlfriend? Why didn't you bring her for me to meet?"
Hearing this, Lu Zhengting glanced expressionlessly at Ke Yaru on Jiang Mingxiu's other side, lowered his eyes, and said flatly, "She has something to do."
Used to Lu Zhengting's reticence, Jiang Mingxiu didn't press him about Xia Yan. She showed no dissatisfaction at his response. Ke Yaru caught his ambiguous glance, her heart skipping a beat, but she met his gaze calmly, smiling faintly as if oblivious to his scrutiny.
Lu Zhengting hadn't planned to arrange for Jiang Mingxiu to stay at Dongshan Villa this time, but before he could voice it, she cut him off bluntly, "I'm staying at Dongshan this time. That way, I can see my precious grandson every day."
Lu Zhengting naturally had no objection. This was a perfect chance to introduce Xia Yan to her and let them try to get along. With that in mind, he ordered the driver to head straight to Dongshan.
******
Yang Jinkuan, repeatedly humiliated by Lu Zhengting, harbored a deep grudge. His actions grew more reckless and ruthless. Not only had Lu Zhengting taken Xia Yan away in front of him, but even Fang Neng Company, under his deliberate attacks, was now struggling with cash flow issues. To quickly resolve Fang Neng's financial problems, the Lin family became Yang Jinkuan's primary target.
Or rather, the Lin Corporation had always been in Yang Jinkuan's plans; it was only a matter of time before he struck.
The Lin family knew Yang Jinkuan was deliberately causing them trouble and that he had his eye on Lin Xujia. Thus, Lin Xujia became the family's sacrifice. After confirming this from her father, she felt utterly drained. She knew it was her stepmother's idea, yet she was powerless to change it.
In her eyes, she felt trapped in a frozen world, each step like walking on thin ice. Cliffs loomed ahead and behind, and the paths left and right seemed strewn with thorns. Her journey was arduous, like traversing hell, but she had to push on, unwilling to let others control her fate.
She agreed to her father's demands but harbored her own plans. Seeing Lin Xujia so obedient, Lin's father felt a flicker of paternal love awaken, showing her a bit more affection. Yang Jinkuan's taste in women was notorious—cruel and bloody.
Lin Xujia still visited Ye Yunchen whenever she had time, but his condition hadn't improved. He continued drowning in alcohol daily, his life a chaotic mess of decay. She had secretly made a copy of his house key. Opening the door, she found him in a pitiful state. Suppressing her sorrow, she approached him coldly and, without warning, slapped him across the face.
"Ye Yunchen, how long will you keep this up?! Let me tell you, don't expect Xia Yan to come looking for you. She's probably having a great time with Lu Zhengting right now. Who are you wallowing in misery for? Xia Yan? Too bad you're just a friend to her!" Lin Xujia understood Xia Yan's character and her approach to relationships—if she didn't love, she didn't love, offering no hope, ruthless enough to deter anyone.
That was what she admired about Xia Yan: her decisiveness, never dragging things out.
Ye Yunchen listened, lifting his head slightly, a clear handprint on his face. He moved his lips, tasting a faint metallic tang, then licked the corner of his mouth, staring at Lin Xujia with dark, menacing eyes.
Dealing with the Lin family was just a small part of Yang Jinkuan's plan, almost optional. The Xia family was different. Given Xia Yan's connection to Lu Zhengting, Yang Jinkuan could target them, but this plan stalled after Xia Minghui approached him.
Since the day Xia Minghui called Xia Yan back to the Xia family, the information he got from her made him uneasy. He had long suspected that Xia Yan's evidence was already in Lu Zhengting's hands, but he was puzzled why Lu Zhengting hadn't acted. To avoid things spiraling out of control, Xia Minghui devised a plan.
When Xia Siyue returned home from school, Xia Minghui called her to the study. She came out beaming, unable to hide her joy. She had always said she would destroy everything Xia Yan had, leaving her with nothing.
She told Xia Minghui everything she knew about Xia Yan in detail. Aware of Ye Yunchen's situation, she naturally wanted to help him and recommended him to her father. Driving alone, Xia Siyue found Lin Xujia's number, a sly smile crossing her face.
Xia Siyue arranged to meet Lin Xujia at a café. Lin Xujia arrived slowly, her eyes instinctively showing disgust when she saw Xia Siyue. Xia Siyue's expression flickered, then she sneered, "And what makes you think you're any better?"
Lin Xujia's face darkened. She shot back coldly, "What do you want from me?"
"Something you'd be interested in."
"What?"
Xia Siyue chuckled lightly. "Something about Ye Yunchen's future—are you interested?"
At the mention of Ye Yunchen, Lin Xujia frowned, pulled out a chair, and sat down, staring intently at Xia Siyue.
Xia Siyue glanced at her leisurely and said casually, "Lin Xujia, tsk, I really admire you. For someone who doesn't love you, you go this far..."
She trailed off, but her mocking eyes said it all. Lin Xujia calmly lowered her gaze and asked quietly, "What do you want me to do?"
Just then, Xia Siyue spotted Ke Yaru strolling in from outside. She gave Lin Xujia a cryptic look, and by the time Ke Yaru approached, Lin Xujia noticed her.
Three women, a drama—a palace intrigue.
Ke Yaru lifted her chin arrogantly, scanning Lin Xujia. "I heard the Lin family plans to hand you over to Yang Jinkuan for his amusement?"
Her tone was flippant, laced with mockery. The word "amusement" hit Lin Xujia hard, her expression twisting. "Who are you?"
"Who I am doesn't matter to you. But I know you must hate Xia Yan deeply. If she hadn't escaped Yang Jinkuan and met Lu Zhengting, none of this would have happened. Now, with Lu Zhengting as her shield, Yang Jinkuan can't easily touch her or the Xia family, so he settles for the next best thing—the Lin family. And you've become a disposable pawn."
"Shut up!" Lin Xujia's face turned terrifying as she glared at Ke Yaru's moving lips, wanting to silence her.
Ke Yaru had no intention of stopping. Since the fire was lit, she'd fan the flames. She glanced sideways at the nearly frantic Lin Xujia. "Not only is your life a mess, but the man you love, Ye Yunchen, loves Xia Yan. Your life is full of her shadow. Even to get close to Ye Yunchen, you have to use Xia Yan's name. Am I right?"
Lin Xujia covered her ears, bloodshot eyes fixed on Ke Yaru, who looked at her with a mix of mockery and pity. Rage burned in her heart—not just at Xia Yan, but at everyone who had abandoned her.
Xia Siyue, silent until now, watched coldly as Ke Yaru cornered Lin Xujia. She frowned slightly, sneaking a glance, then looked away. Anyone who disliked Xia Yan could be her ally.
Lin Xujia looked up, meeting Ke Yaru's eyes. "What do you want me to do?"
"Good." Ke Yaru told her to maintain a normal relationship with Xia Yan but didn't specify what to do. She knew Lin Xujia would become her sharpest weapon against Xia Yan.
Xia Siyue couldn't figure out Ke Yaru or why she wasn't assigning tasks, and Ke Yaru had no intention of explaining.
The three formed a silent pact. Ke Yaru left the café first and drove straight to Dongshan Villa. It was still early; she wanted to see how Xia Yan would handle Lu Zhengting's mother, Jiang Mingxiu.
Ke Yaru sped her Porsche through the traffic, past the city's glittering lights. She rolled down the window, one hand resting outside, a faint smile on her lips as she stared ahead. Xia Yan, the game has just begun. She waited for her to make a move.
At Dongshan Villa.
Lu Zhengting had dropped Jiang Mingxiu off and left again, so Xia Yan didn't know his mother was there. Returning early, she changed into casual clothes and, remembering her promise to make a cake for Xiao Han, headed to the kitchen.
Jiang Mingxiu, holding Xiao Han's hand, appeared in the living room just as Aunt Chen came out of the kitchen. She asked casually, "Aunt Chen, I heard Zhengting has a girlfriend?"