Chapter 91: The Hongmen Banquet Part 3

Behind Yinian’s back, Bai Ran’s lips curled into a malicious smirk directed at Shen Ruoshuang.

It seemed her meticulous design hadn’t gone to waste.

With Shen Ruoshuang officially joining them, Yinian felt it would be awkward to keep avoiding her as she had before. She shifted her steps, allowing the three of them to walk side-by-side.

They reached the villa’s parking lot, and Yinian followed along in a daze until they stopped before Bai Ran’s familiar Maybach. It was only then that she realized Shen Ruoshuang was still right beside her.

“I took a taxi here,” Shen Ruoshuang said, her eyes fixed straight ahead. She made it clear she intended to ride in the Bai Family car with them.

Shen Ruoshuang had always kept a low profile at school. Not only did she refuse to let a family chauffeur pick her up, but she also didn’t drive her own car. Even Yinian had only heard back in high school that she came from an intellectual family; she had no idea that Ruoshuang was actually the daughter of the President of Shen Group—a household that stood on equal footing with the likes of Bai Ran and Ji Yan.

“Get in the front.”

Bai Ran shielded Yinian as she ushered her into the back seat, personally buckling her seatbelt. She then slammed the door with a heavy thud, showing absolutely no regard for the five-million-yuan luxury vehicle.

As she settled in and saw a stranger in the driver’s seat, Yinian suddenly remembered that Bai Ran’s previous personal assistant was nowhere to be seen.

Her heart skipped a beat.

That was the same assistant who had repeatedly urged her to convince Bai Ran to attend the Family Banquet…

Did Sister Ran… fire her?

Yinian turned her head blankly, only to find Bai Ran staring at her with a gentle, tender gaze. Her voice was as calm as ever. “What’s wrong?”

“Ah, nothing. It’s just… the driver is different?” Yinian didn’t dare ask about the assistant directly, so she focused on the driver instead.

Shen Ruoshuang’s gaze, reflected in the rearview mirror, was equally intent.

“The assistant was never my driver. You just happened to catch her behind the wheel that time, Niannian,” Bai Ran explained with a smile, showing not a hint of abnormality.

But just as Yinian breathed a sigh of relief, Bai Ran looked up. The soft affection in her eyes was deep enough to drown someone.

“Don’t worry, I don’t blame her. Our Niannian is just too soft-hearted and kind for her own good.”

Yinian’s breath hitched. Sister Ran really did… know everything.

Under that gaze and tone, a flutter of agitation rose in her chest. She found it impossible to believe that such a gentle “Sister Ran” would ever do anything cruel to her assistant.

The new driver in the front seat wasn’t even the one who had listened to Yinian’s strained, breathless moans through the camera the night before. Bai Ran would never leave any loose ends or potential liabilities behind.

The driver remained silent, though a flicker of complexity crossed her eyes. She was one of Bai Ran’s inner circle; she knew what to say and what to keep buried. She knew Bai Ran had replaced her assistant on short notice, but the truly terrifying part was that no one knew where the previous one had gone.

Shen Ruoshuang’s brow furrowed slightly. Bai Ran could easily fool Xu Yinian, but she couldn’t deceive her. She could vaguely sense a secret lurking beneath the surface—a secret that would surely strip away Bai Ran’s mask if it were ever exposed.

***

Yinian hadn’t expected that Bai Ran, who usually ate at the cafeteria with her, would book a table at “The Shimmering Brocade,” a top-tier Chinese private kitchen.

The moment she stepped inside, she was stunned by the classical, steady elegance of the garden-style decor. The main hall was a landscape of small bridges, flowing water, and pavilions.

It was evening, and the lanterns were just beginning to glow, casting a warm yellow hue over the secluded, winding paths that led to the private suites.

Waitresses followed them with respectful, measured steps, leaving Yinian no chance to ask if the place was expensive. Once they reached their private room, she saw no menus or prices; apparently, the meal was a pre-designed course based on the guests’ dietary preferences.

Having eaten with Yinian since the start of the semester, Bai Ran had long ago mastered her likes and dislikes without needing to ask.

Yinian felt restless. In moments like these, the vast gulf between her and Bai Ran became painfully apparent.

And yet, right now—

The Bai Family Heir was sitting right beside her, personally and meticulously pouring her tea.

The food hadn’t even arrived yet, but whether it was the warmth of the heater or the suffocating pressure of being sandwiched between Bai Ran’s gaze and Shen Ruoshuang’s stare from across the table, Yinian felt her face and ears begin to burn.

“…I’m going to the restroom.”

Yinian fled as fast as she could, terrified the two of them would follow. She had never been to such a high-end establishment before, so she didn’t even hear the waitress calling out behind her, offering to lead the way.

She managed to find the restroom on her own and splashed cold water on her face to cool down.

In the mirror, her eyes looked timid and hazy, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. With the droplets of water rolling down her fair skin, she possessed a startling, breathtaking allure.

Checking the time, she knew she couldn’t linger. She began to head back.

Finding the restroom had been easy enough by looking for the distinct decor, but on the way back, she realized all the private suites looked almost identical. She had actually managed to get lost within the winding garden paths of the restaurant.

Because she felt like she didn’t belong in a place like this, she avoided the staff, stubbornly trying to find her own way back.

Fortunately, Yinian vaguely remembered the characters for “First Lotus” on the door. Finally, she turned a familiar corner.

Under the dim light, she saw a gold nameplate engraved with “First Lotus” and a lotus leaf pattern.

Curiously, the waitress who was supposed to be stationed at the door was missing. The privacy and soundproofing here were excellent; even standing right outside, Yinian couldn’t hear any voices from Bai Ran or Shen Ruoshuang.

Yinian double-checked the sign, gave a polite double-knock, and pushed the door open.

The interior decor and layout were nearly identical to the room she had just left. Except… the two people inside were complete strangers.

One was a sharp, stern woman in a tailored suit. Her hair was curled, her lips a bold red, and she carried the aura of a powerful superior—cold, indifferent, and steeped in aristocratic refinement.

There was a trace of impatience in her sharp brows, but her beautiful eyes felt strangely familiar. Her red lips parted, but she wasn’t speaking to Yinian; she was addressing the woman clinging to her as if she were bone-less.

“Get off.”

Faced with that brook-no-argument command, the young, beautiful woman didn’t dare object. She hurriedly withdrew her hand from the other woman’s buttons and stood up straight.

She turned around and glared at Yinian, looking for all the world as if her “good business” had been ruined.