Xia Yan was caught off guard when Lin Xujia suddenly pushed her, causing her to stumble and hit the cabinet beside her. Her elbow slammed into the corner, instantly numb and aching. Leaning against the cabinet with a furrowed brow, she tried to stand up straight only to realize her foot might have been twisted in the process...
Was she really this unlucky?
Xia Yan looked down at her ankle—no visible change, but any pressure sent a piercing pain shooting through her. Lin's mother rushed to Lin Xujia and raised her hand, slapping her across the face. The crisp sound of the slap shattered the eerie atmosphere in the room. Startled, Xia Yan lifted her head abruptly, watching as Lin's mother lowered her hand only to raise it again, landing another slap on Lin Xujia's cheek.
"Xiaojia."
Lin Xujia moved her mouth, likely tasting a hint of blood, and frowned briefly before relaxing. She smiled at Lin's mother, and just as the woman raised her hand again, she grabbed her wrist, chuckling softly, "Are you seeking justice for your daughter?"
"You little wretch, how dare you make Ranran... make her..." Lin's mother was so furious she couldn't even finish her sentence.
Lin Xujia seemed bored, her swollen face twisting into a strange smile as she said, "Make her toyed with by Yang Jinkuan? Tsk, is it that hard to say such a simple thing?"
"Just like the offspring of a bitch!"
At that, Lin Xujia's expression shifted instantly. She tightened her grip on Lin's mother's hand, her knuckles turning white, and leaned in, her voice cold. "Remember this: everything you do to me, I'll repay tenfold to your daughter!"
"Enough! Haven't we been humiliated enough?" Lin's father roared in anger, glancing at Lin Youran lying on the bed, then at Lin Xujia, his tone stern. "This is where it ends. Comfort Ranran. Xiaojia, come with me to the study."
"Old Lin, are we just letting this go? Ranran... this injustice..."
"As a daughter of the Lin family, this matter..."
"What do you mean by that, Old Lin? Ranran is my flesh and blood, carried for ten months! This can't end here! And her!" Lin's mother pointed at Lin Xujia. "It's all her fault! Otherwise, Ranran wouldn't have ended up like this!"
Hearing this, Lin Xujia let out a mocking laugh. "You're giving me too much credit. Do you have any proof I set her up? Maybe Lin Youran already had feelings for Mr. Yang—that's not impossible."
"Nonsense! I wouldn't, I couldn't... I have someone I love..." Lin Youran burst into tears as she spoke.
Lin's father, overwhelmed by the noise, shouted to stop it. "Xiaojia, come to the study! Miss Xia, please come as well."
Xia Yan helped Lin Xujia, her mind full of doubts, but she kept her composure, glancing at Lin Xujia and catching the confusion in her eyes. She couldn't figure out why Lin's father wanted her to come along.
As soon as Xia Yan and Lin Xujia stepped into the study, they sensed danger. Before they could react, Yang Jinkuan appeared before them, a sinister grin on his face. Xia Yan remained calm, looking at Yang Jinkuan, then asked Lin's father, "Uncle Lin, what's the meaning of this?"
Lin's father silently glanced at Yang Jinkuan without a word. Instead, Yang Jinkuan smiled at Xia Yan, his eyes narrowing, revealing the fine lines at their corners. He stepped closer, took a deep breath, and let out a chilling laugh. Circling her, he occasionally sniffed at her.
"What do you want?" Xia Yan suppressed her anxiety and disgust, forcing herself to stay calm as she stared at him, speaking slowly.
Yang Jinkuan stroked his chin, raised an eyebrow, and leered at Xia Yan, his expression lecherous. He whispered, "You."
Hearing that, Xia Yan couldn't help blurting out, "Get lost!"
"Haha, feisty—I like it!"
Xia Yan felt his hand on her shoulder, shrugged it off, and instinctively moved closer to Lin Xujia. "If you dare touch me, Lu Zhengting won't let you off!"
"Even if I don't touch you, he won't let me go. So what's the point of holding back?"
"You..." Xia Yan grabbed Lin Xujia's hand, suddenly feeling dizzy. She shook her head, glanced at Lin Xujia, and muttered to herself, "Why is my head suddenly so dizzy?"
"..."
"Xiaojia, are you... are you dizzy too?" Xia Yan felt her eyes betraying her, struggling to stay alert. She widened her eyes at the man closing in, her heart sinking. She hadn't drunk alcohol or eaten anything—just a glass of juice earlier. But that juice... Lin Xujia had given it to her.
Staggering, she felt herself fall into someone's arms. The smell of tobacco wasn't familiar. Squinting, she saw Lin Xujia in a similar state, and just as she was about to lose consciousness, Lin Xujia collapsed first.
"Yang... Yang..."
"My skills won't be worse than Lu Zhengting's," Yang Jinkuan whispered in her ear with a laugh. Bending down, he scooped her up and carried her in the direction Lin's father had indicated.
Xia Yan had only one thought: she wished Lu Zhengting would appear right now.
"Bang..."
Lu Zhengting kicked the door open, his face turning ashen as he took in the stunned Lin's father, Lin Xujia unconscious on the floor, and Xia Yan half-dazed in Yang Jinkuan's arms. His sharp gaze bore into Yang Jinkuan as he strode over, throwing a punch at his face without a word.
"How dare you touch my woman!"
Yang Jinkuan moved his mouth, spitting out bloody saliva. As the bodyguards behind Lu Zhengting surged forward, he raised a hand and waved. They all rushed at Yang Jinkuan. Seizing the moment, Lu Zhengting kicked him back several steps and snatched Xia Yan from his arms.
He looked at the half-conscious woman, furious enough to want to keep her tied to his belt—she always got into trouble the moment she left his side!
Lin's father watched as the study descended into chaos between the two groups, everything scattered and broken. Lin Xujia, still unconscious, had been dragged aside.
Finally catching the familiar scent, Xia Yan's nerves relaxed. She grabbed Lu Zhengting's collar, squinting, and murmured, "Good thing you came! Yang Jinkuan dared to touch your woman—you need to teach him a lesson!"
Hearing this, Lu Zhengting's grim face twisted in exasperation, staring at the woman in his arms with a mix of amusement and frustration.
Xia Yan frowned, thinking of something, then leaned against him. "Dizzy, but I didn't drink..."
With that, she passed out completely.
She had no idea how she left the Lin family villa or what happened afterward. As for Yang Jinkuan, she knew nothing.
******
Xia Yan slept for a full day before slowly waking up. By the time she did, the Lin family was no more in Jiang City.
The Lin family's bankruptcy became a hot topic for the locals, a perfect subject for gossip. The head of the Lu family had raged for his lover, and Lu Zhengting's so-called mysterious girlfriend was finally revealed. Everyone realized that the one who had won Lu Zhengting's heart was none other than Xia Yan, the overlooked eldest daughter of the Xia family.
With the Lin family's fall, the Xia family rose in tandem.
All of this unfolded quietly. Yet, in terms of Jiang City's economic landscape, nothing had fundamentally changed. Lu Zhengting and Yang Jinkuan remained rivals, evenly matched.
Once Xia Yan's identity as Lu Zhengting's mysterious girlfriend was exposed, news about her flooded in. When she returned to work the next day, those who used to mock her now not only dared not but greeted her with smiles, treating her as if she were Lu Zhengting himself, with utmost respect.
Frowning, Xia Yan took the elevator to her office. Passing by Secretary Zhou's office, she ran into her just as she was coming out. Before she could speak, Secretary Zhou gave her a teasing look, clearly implying that she'd been hiding her true identity well—working as a small assistant while being the boss's wife of the Lu Group. It was almost laughable.
Xia Yan wanted to explain, but Secretary Zhou didn't give her the chance, as Lu Zhengting needed a document urgently. After greeting Xia Yan, she headed to the meeting room. Xia Yan returned to her office, feeling frustrated and restless, though she couldn't pinpoint why.
Rubbing her head in pain, she sighed. Since Lu Zhengting was in a meeting and didn't need her, she decided to go to the break room for coffee to perk up. Of course, she also wanted to hear what the company was saying about her now.
Sure enough, as soon as Xia Yan finished making her coffee, she saw Coco walk in with a few other women. Hesitating, she quickly moved to a corner—she swore it was an unconscious move.
Coco wasn't from Jiang City, and her speech carried a distinct local accent, making her voice easy for Xia Yan to recognize. Ears perked up, hands wrapped around the hot cup, Xia Yan listened intently.
"I don't know what Xia Yan did in her past life to end up as the boss's girlfriend. The world's so unfair—someone like her never has to work a day in her life."
"Listen to you, so sour..."
"Aren't you sour? Who was it that said Xia Yan must have saved the galaxy in her past life?"
"What about Manager Ke? She..."
"Shh, if you want to die, don't drag us into it. You know Manager Ke—remember Secretary You? She was diligent and efficient, and the boss just casually praised her. Manager Ke went over his head, had HR fire her, and even tried to blacklist her in the industry."
"This..."
For company gossip, the break room was the best spot. Standing in the corner, Xia Yan couldn't agree with Ke Yaru's methods.