Chapter 70

The relaxed smile blooming across Zhou Ru’s face at that moment hit Bo Ranying’s eyes like a level-10 alert siren blaring right next to her ears.

Yesterday. Yesterday.

In the moments when she hadn’t been involved, Tang Lian had already coordinated the upcoming itinerary with Little Qi’s family, leaving Bo Ranying completely out of the loop until the very last minute before execution.

Moreover, Tang Lian had deliberately brought two portions of breakfast, which meant she knew Bo Ranying had stayed overnight at Little Qi’s house.

The only person who could have told her was Little Qi.

So, the person Nan Qi had been nonstop messaging on her phone last night couldn’t possibly have been a client.

The answer was Tang Lian.

While Bo Ranying had been desperately trying to make her presence felt, Tang Lian hadn’t even been there. Yet with just a few messages over the internet, she had effortlessly captured Nan Qi’s attention.

Was Tang Lian pursuing Little Qi while also charming Aunt Zhou and Nan Xi along the way—winning over her entire family in one masterstroke?

Bo Ranying’s mind raced, and with just a little deduction, she pieced together the whole story.

Her eyes darkened for a split second. She lowered her brows just a touch—no one noticed—as she buried her true feelings deep inside.

Give up pursuing Nan Qi? Impossible.

She wouldn’t let go.

She refused to settle for just being friends.

But right now, she had to learn to do as Nan Qi wanted: respect her boundaries, avoid overstepping, and steer clear of anything that might trouble her.

Rein in her affection. Hide her love.

Only then would she have the right to stay by Nan Qi’s side.

Bo Ranying woke Nan Qi and let her know that Tang Lian and the others were all geared up and ready to head to the badminton court to spar with the locals from Linxi City and swap some techniques.

When Nan Qi woke, she realized she was in bed. She paused for a moment but said nothing.

She rose casually, dug out two sets of sportswear, and handed one to Bo Ranying.

“Wear mine for now. We’ll head straight out.”

“Yesterday during casual chat, Tang Lian asked what Mom usually likes to do, so she booked the court for today.”

After opening up to each other yesterday, Nan Qi’s attitude toward Bo Ranying had grown far more natural. She was trying to treat her like an ordinary friend, and even upon realizing that Bo Ranying had carried her to bed in the small hours of the night, her reaction had been perfectly even-keeled.

“Tang Lian’s pretty thoughtful.”

Bo Ranying’s tone stayed calm as well.

After washing up and changing clothes, the two of them joined the others at the dining table to eat the breakfast Tang Lian had brought.

In the meantime, Nan Qi stole a glance at her phone and spotted Tang Lian’s most recent message—a domineering declaration.

She had written:

【Since Big Sister left me half-hanging, this whole weekend, Big Sister’s time belongs to me.】

It matched her usual sly, ever-climbing opportunism to a tee.

A faint smile curved Nan Qi’s lips as she tapped out a reply: 【Sure thing—with my mom and little brother tagging along the whole time.】

In the next instant, Tang Lian whipped out her own phone. She felt no regret whatsoever.

【As long as I’m with Big Sister, I’m good with anything. Besides, Aunt Zhou and little brother Nan Xi are both adorable.】

Gaining Nan Qi’s family’s approval was something Tang Lian wanted more than anything.

She believed a relationship needed a family’s blessing to last. She had no intention of hiding her lover away—if she ever started dating someone, she’d make sure her parents and everyone close to her knew all about it.

She had come out to her family at the start of her very first relationship, clearly explaining her sexual orientation to her closest relatives.

Fortunately, she hadn’t faced much pushback or misunderstanding. The process had gone relatively smoothly.

At first, her family was stunned. But after her explanations, they learned that the world held more than just heterosexuals—there were also a minority of homosexuals, people who naturally felt romantic attraction to the same sex. She happened to be one of them. After a period of bewilderment, her family accepted it. They even told her that if she found someone she loved and wanted to settle down with, she should bring her girlfriend home. They’d welcome her like another daughter. Two girls looking after each other, tackling life’s challenges side by side—it sounded pretty heartwarming to them.

Over the years, she’d kept her family in the loop every time she dated.

Her girlfriends at the time hadn’t been ready to meet her parents, but Tang Lian had still made sure her family knew who they were. She got stern reminders not to let them down and to treat the relationships seriously.

Two girls together had to face down society’s judgmental stares—a far tougher road than for straight couples. That meant being even more tolerant and cherishing each other.

With such open-minded family, Tang Lian counted herself incredibly lucky.

She knew her family would love whichever girl she fell for. But that girl might not win over her own family’s approval. So when a chance like this dropped into her lap—the perfect opportunity to charm Nan Qi’s family—she had to grab it with both hands.

Right now, Nan Qi’s family mattered even more to her than Nan Qi herself.

After breakfast, the group piled into the car and drove to the badminton hall.

At this hour, the venue was packed mostly with retirees in their fifties and sixties. People their age were few and far between.

It was a precious weekend, after all. Most young folks spent their mornings sleeping it off, saving their outings for afternoon or evening.

These diligent seniors formed a crowd where hidden talents often lurked.

The group had barely stepped inside when they felt the sharp whoosh of rackets cutting the air, whistling past their ears and sending shivers down their spines.

Excitement bubbled up in Zhou Ru’s veins. She breathed in the hall’s charged atmosphere, took in the scene, and could hardly wait to jump in for a proper, sweat-drenched showdown.

Tang Lian rented rackets and shuttles first, passed them out to everyone, and led them to their booked court.

Badminton was a sport anyone could pick up in a snap, but going from beginner to pro tested real skill—and demanded tons of practice.

Tang Lian and Zhou Ru were by far the best at it.

The other three? Total rookies.

Nan Xi was young, though. Boys his age brimmed with passion for anything athletic. They had endless energy and bounced back quick—easy to coach. He’d watched his parents play at home plenty of times, so with a racket in hand, he was itching to get started.

Bo Ranying, on the other hand, clutched hers with clear uncertainty.

She’d never tried any sport outside of dance-related stuff. Badminton lay squarely outside her comfort zone.

Zhou Ru selected her racket and launched into pre-match stretches, urging everyone to join in to avoid pulled muscles. Her grip looked pro-level too.

Tang Lian took one look and praised her sincerely. “Auntie, you can tell right away you’re no stranger to this. Don’t go smashing winners past me later, okay?”

The flattery landed just right, leaving Zhou Ru beaming with delight even before the first serve.

Tang Lian turned her attention to Nan Qi first, sidling up beside her. “Does Big Sister play badminton?”

“Last time was back in middle school,” Nan Qi admitted honestly.

The law firm ran regular team-building events—trips, camping, all sorts of sports projects. But aside from the trips, she never joined in. She just footed the bill.

Each department handled the planning.

“Hmm. Then make sure to stretch first. I’ll walk you through the basics: start with the grip—thumb here, middle finger there… You can serve forehand or backhand… Receiving breaks down into…”

Nan Qi listened intently, committing it all to memory.

It had been ages since she’d played. Pure verbal instructions were bound to trip her up here and there, so their impromptu lesson led to some natural physical contact.

“Stance matters a ton for serving. Turn your left shoulder to the net, left foot forward, right foot back, weight on your right. Raise your racket arm to the right rear.”

Nan Qi gave it a try, looking a bit unsure. “Like this?”

Tang Lian studied her form and shook her head.

“Nope—you can do better.”

She stepped to Nan Qi’s side, placed a hand on her shoulder, and applied gentle pressure to guide her into position.

The moment Tang Lian’s hand made contact, Nan Qi was utterly unprepared. A jolt shot through her like electricity. Her body went limp as a rag doll, all strength fled, letting Tang Lian easily shift her into place.

“There. Perfect.”

Even after they settled, Nan Qi hadn’t shaken off that electric buzz.

Tang Lian leaned her head lightly onto Nan Qi’s shoulder—just for an instant, barely a second. Nan Qi heard her soft exhale, playful and teasing like an orchid in a secluded valley. Warm breath ghosted over the pale skin of her neck. “Big Sister, you’re awfully sensitive right here.”

Nan Qi gritted her teeth. “…Don’t push it.”

She clamped down hard on the racket handle to keep it from slipping from her numb fingers.

Only when Tang Lian stepped back did the tension fully drain from Nan Qi’s body.

Then, as they looked up, they spotted Bo Ranying standing just a few steps away.

Her face was filled with an air of righteousness, showing no trace of joy or anger. Their little interaction seemed like mere passing clouds to her—nothing that could stir even the slightest ripple in her composure.

Only after seeing them pull apart did shock finally flicker across her features.

Her moist black pupils swirled, gleaming with captivating hues under the natural light. With an innocent and puzzled expression, she said, “Why isn’t Tang Lian continuing the lesson? I don’t have any experience with badminton either. I saw you teaching Nan Qi the basics and thought I’d come learn too.”

“Could Tang Lian teach me hand-in-hand as well? I was listening from the sidelines earlier and picked up quite a bit, but when it comes to actually playing, I still have so many shortcomings.”

Her invitation and plea for help caught both Tang Lian and Nan Qi off guard.

Nan Qi knew that Bo Ranying had always viewed Tang Lian unfavorably. After hearing about the confession the night before, she was well aware that Bo Ranying saw Tang Lian as a romantic rival. Yet Nan Qi also knew Bo Ranying truly sucked at badminton. So why on earth would she willingly accept help from her rival?

Tang Lian stared at Bo Ranying for a long, long time, her narrow, fox-like eyes seeming to pierce straight through to the heart. Bo Ranying met her gaze without the slightest retreat.

They both understood the feelings each harbored for Nan Qi.

They could also see the unyielding determination in the depths of each other’s eyes—neither willing to give up so easily on the person they loved.

After all, no one understood a rival in love quite like another rival.

Though Bo Ranying hid it masterfully, Tang Lian could still see the surging, profound affection she held for Nan Qi, buried deep within her heart.

It was like a wolf that had sheathed its fangs, lurking in the shadows, cloaked in a guise of pure innocence and zero threat, biding its time for the perfect moment.

Once that chance came, she would shatter every obstacle in a single, unstoppable strike and claim her prize.

This was the game between Tang Lian and Bo Ranying.

A contest between fox and wolf.