Ke Yaru wore a black-and-white long-sleeved dress, maintaining an elegant posture that gave her an air of superiority. A faint smile seemed to play on her lips, but it was actually a look of disdain. The office was quiet as she released her grip on the mouse and finally gave a proper glance at Coco, whom she had kept waiting for some time.
"How much do you know about the rumors?"
Coco, realizing that Ke Yaru was targeting Xia Yan this time, breathed a sigh of relief. Without holding anything back, she not only recounted Xiao Han's visit but also detailed Xia Siyue's earlier approach.
"Xia Siyue?" Ke Yaru frowned, questioning.
"I definitely heard Xia Yan call that woman Xia Siyue."
Ke Yaru had previously investigated Xia Yan's background and knew she had a stepsister named Xia Siyue. At the time, Xia Yan posed no threat, but now things were different. She dismissed Coco from the office and ordered an investigation into the relationship between Xia Siyue and Xia Yan.
The rumors about Xia Yan in the company grew more vivid, as if everyone had witnessed them firsthand. Ye Yunchen was busy with his project and, though he heard the gossip, he didn't take it seriously. He only learned about the company's last-minute assignment sending Xia Yan on a business trip after the fact.
During Xia Yan's absence, Lin Xujia's attempts to find him inexplicably increased. Every day after work, he would see her car parked by the company entrance. His reaction shifted from initial indifference to cold disdain, pushing Lin Xujia to the brink of collapse.
Today was no exception. Lin Xujia stubbornly waited at the company gate, timing her arrival perfectly to catch Ye Yunchen as he left. She was driven mad by her desperate need to see him, yet his disregard made her want to scream.
Ye Yunchen walked past Lin Xujia as usual, but she grabbed his arm without a word, fuming, "Ye Yunchen, I need to talk to you."
"Let go."
"Xia Yan is coming back tomorrow. If you don't come with me now, I'll tell her everything about us." Lin Xujia looked at him with a reckless expression. She didn't need to gamble to know that this threat would make him follow her.
When Ye Yunchen shook off her hand and got into his car, Lin Xujia's anger was overwhelmed by a surge of sorrow. She stood outside the vehicle, took a deep breath, and forced back her tears.
Ke Yaru, driving out of the garage, happened to witness this scene. A thought crossed her mind, and she curled her lips into a smile. The world was full of coincidences, and spectators never tired of drama—like her.
After hanging up, Ke Yaru drove straight to the Lu residence. Xiao Han had just finished his humanities study session. After watching TV, he'd developed a sudden passion for fencing. Lu Zhengting always indulged his requests, so he'd hired a fencing coach to teach Xiao Han at home.
Ke Yaru sat in the Lu residence like the lady of the house until Xiao Han, drenched in sweat, ran up to her. She smiled, pulled out a tissue to wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead, and gently pulled him into her arms. "Xiao Han, are you tired?"
"Not tired. I love fencing."
"Is it over now? Want Auntie to take you out for something to eat?"
"Sure, but Auntie, I need to shower first. I'm all sweaty and sticky—it's uncomfortable."
"Alright, I'll wait here for you."
With that, Xiao Han hopped off to his room. He no longer needed help with bathing.
In the vast villa, the only living souls were the servants. Ke Yaru knew that Chen Ma had worked for the Lu family for decades, so she treated her with relative respect. Dropping her haughty attitude, she called Chen Ma over, examined her nails, and smiled. "Chen Ma, it seems Xiao Han really likes Miss Xia?"
"The young master does seem quite fond of Miss Xia."
"Is that so? Does Xia Yan visit him often?"
Chen Ma paused before replying softly, "Miss Xia doesn't visit the young master frequently."
"Really?" Ke Yaru raised an eyebrow skeptically. That didn't match the information she'd gathered.
"Miss Xia rarely comes to see the young master."
Hearing Chen Ma's certainty, Ke Yaru didn't press further. Whether Xia Yan visited often or not, she wouldn't let Xiao Han continue to like her.
Xiao Han came down from upstairs, smelling fresh, and took Ke Yaru's hand to lead her out.
Knowing Xiao Han had a sweet tooth, Ke Yaru took him to a dessert shop. As he scanned the menu, he pointed at any brightly colored, appealing dessert and waved his hand, ordering the server to note it down. If Ke Yaru hadn't stopped him, Xiao Han would have ordered everything in the shop.
Desserts arrived one after another. Xiao Han's satisfied gaze darted around as he scooped a spoonful of each, smacking his lips. He pushed the one he thought was best toward Ke Yaru and said in a soft voice, "Auntie, this is good. Try it."
"No thanks, Auntie doesn't like sweets."
"Oh, I guess only I get to eat them then." Xiao Han looked at her regretfully. He'd always believed sweets were the best thing in the world, bar none.
North City.
Xia Yan stood in front of the bathroom mirror after her shower, reluctant to leave. Lu Zhengting grew impatient and couldn't help but say in a low voice, "Still not coming out?"
"Not done yet."
"Are you dry-cleaning?"
At first, Xia Yan didn't catch his meaning. After a pause, she realized what he'd said, and a few lines of embarrassment crossed her forehead. Dry-cleaning? Only he could come up with that.
Wrapped in a towel, she realized she'd left her underwear outside. If she went out now, she'd be practically naked. Her mind twisted into knots of anxiety as Lu Zhengting's voice kept ringing out. At this moment, it wasn't a seductive bass but a death knell.
"Xia Yan?"
The voice sounded right next to her. Xia Yan shivered, instinctively stepping back, clutching the towel at her chest with one hand and pressing the other against the wall. Her back stuck to the cold tiles as she saw a shadow cast on the bathroom door. Trembling, she asked, "Lu Zhengting, what are you doing at the door?"
Hearing this, Lu Zhengting seemed to tilt his head, then turned his back to the door and fell silent. Just as Xia Yan thought he was leaving, he raised a hand, and the bright light cast a shadow of his long fingers. The key detail was what dangled from them.
It looked like a triangular piece of fabric...
And it swayed in the air.
Lu Zhengting spoke calmly, "Don't want it anymore?"
At his words, Xia Yan's face turned as red as a monkey's rear. She stared dumbfounded at the shadow swinging on the door, unable to speak. Every time she glanced over, she saw her underwear dangling there. Her shame...
There was no movement from inside the bathroom, so Lu Zhengting grew impatient and grabbed the doorknob, twisting it. Panicked, Xia Yan felt her breath quicken. Her bare back pressed against the cold wall, the contrast of hot and cold sending her mind blank.
Thankfully, she'd locked the door.
But locking the door didn't mean she could keep Lu Zhengting out. Fine beads of sweat formed on her cheeks, and she couldn't tell if they were from the heat or the steam. Five minutes later, the bathroom door swung open.
Lu Zhengting stared at her openly, a smirk playing on his lips, making her skin crawl. She caught sight of her lace underwear still hooked on his finger and stammered, "Lu, Lu Zhengting, get out!"
He paused for a few seconds, then tucked the underwear away and stepped toward her. His usually alluring lips now seemed anything but as they curved upward, his eyes glinting with mischief.
"...Don't come closer." Xia Yan raised a hand to block him, her heart racing as he drew nearer.
The more she resisted, the deeper his smile grew, and the more sinister he seemed to her. Her hand pressed against his chest to no avail. Her eyes, misty with steam, shimmered as she stared at him, trembling with tension, afraid to move.
Suddenly, he raised his arm, trapping her between the wall and his embrace. His height always gave him an advantage. From a distance, Xia Yan didn't have to look up, but now she had to tilt her head to see his expression.
"Can you not stand so close? It makes me nervous..."
"So you like this, huh?" Lu Zhengting dangled her sexy black lace underwear in front of her again, his voice low and husky as he whispered in her ear. Whether intentional or not, his breath brushed against her ear, sending shivers through her entire body.
Every move Lu Zhengting made was like an aphrodisiac. Xia Yan's eyes dropped, accidentally catching sight of his bobbing Adam's apple, and she swallowed instinctively. Hearing a low chuckle from above, she felt utterly mortified.
How could she be seduced by his looks!?
What had he said earlier? That she liked this? She suddenly understood his meaning, her face darkening with a mix of anger, frustration, and embarrassment. "What I like has nothing to do with you! Give it back!"
"Why should I?"
"Shameless! If you're not giving it back, do you plan to wear it yourself?" Xia Yan blurted out. Seeing his expression shift slightly, she realized how ridiculous her words were. Imagining him in black lace underwear, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.