Bai Ran’s eyes flickered as she listened to Ji Yan, though it wasn’t because the other woman was attempting to unmask her.
Ji Yan had not only guessed wrong, but she was also too late. Bai Ran had already confessed her darker side within the Bai family to Xu Yinian long ago. She had nothing to fear.
However—
The way Ji Yan deliberately softened her demeanor to plead was something Bai Ran had never seen before.
She knew that in the past, Ji Yan’s interest in Xu Yinian was nothing more than a manifestation of a hobby or a desire for control. Because of that, while Bai Ran detested and guarded against Ji Yan’s advances, she never felt the woman posed a true threat.
How could a mad dog ever be serious about anyone?
But in this moment, a sense of crisis surfaced. Ji Yan’s attitude toward Xu Yinian had clearly shifted.
It was a transformation Bai Ran had experienced herself; she knew it all too well. Feeling a sense of gain and loss was the beginning of cherishing someone, the start of falling. What followed was the point of no return—where one couldn’t live without the other.
If that was truly the case, she would have to get serious about dealing with Ji Yan.
“Those tricks are just things she played around with on her own family,” the words fell clearly into Xu Yinian’s ears.
Bai Ran had previously told her about the internal struggles of the Bai family. Ji Yan thought this revelation would make Xu Yinian doubt Bai Ran’s gentle persona, but she didn’t realize it only served as evidence of why Bai Ran had to be so calculating just to protect herself.
Xu Yinian remained silent, looking at Ji Yan with conflicted, clear, light-colored eyes. The one thing she couldn’t do was grant that single request. There was no surprise in her gaze—she clearly already knew.
Ji Yan realized that Bai Ran had come prepared. When she turned to face her rival again, her eyes were filled with a dark, chilling intensity.
Since she knows her sheep’s clothing won’t stay on for long and that she’ll eventually be exposed, she’s already starting to lay the groundwork?
Then she had better keep that skin tucked tight. Otherwise, when the time came, Ji Yan would spare no effort in adding fuel to the fire to burn her out of the game entirely.
On the other side, Bai Ran didn’t immediately move to clarify anything. Instead, she gazed at Xu Yinian. A sense of profound disappointment gradually spread through those beautiful eyes, like amber shattering into shimmering fragments.
“Niannian, I only care if you doubt me.”
Xu Yinian had indeed felt a flicker of suspicion a moment ago because Bai Ran had been able to find this place so accurately… Under Bai Ran’s direct question, a sense of guilt and shame naturally welled up within her.
Her emotions were far too easy to read. Bai Ran finally curled the corners of her mouth into a bitter smile.
“I happened to see you leave with Ji Yan. Didn’t Niannian tell me before that you were afraid of her? You hadn’t replied to my messages, and I was worried she was forcing you, so I had no choice but to search for you.”
The second half of her explanation was directed at Ji Yan, her patience clearly exhausted. “With the Bai family’s resources, finding one of your private residences isn’t difficult. I have no interest in your privacy. I only want the person.”
Underneath that calm tone, dark undercurrents swirled.
Xu Yinian told Bai Ran she was afraid of me?
Even though she knew the other woman was emphasizing this to provoke her, Ji Yan couldn’t help but dwell on it. It was one thing to know Xu Yinian was afraid of her, but it was another to know she had said it out loud while relying on Bai Ran.
Ji Yan could almost imagine it: Xu Yinian clinging to Bai Ran—a giant tree capable of rivaling Ji Yan—just to hide from her. She could see Bai Ran using “comfort” as an excuse to further invade the girl’s space while Xu Yinian looked on with moved, dependent eyes.
How many times had Bai Ran used her to farm affection points? Ji Yan had likely become a mere prop in their little games long ago.
Ji Yan let out a cold laugh. Her damp, cold eyes were pitch black, flashing with a trace of ruthlessness. She wanted to see just how much power the Bai family had given Bai Ran for her to dare scheme against her right to her face.
Ji Yan pinned this entire debt on Bai Ran. As for Xu Yinian, Ji Yan was too busy trying to figure out how to make her stop being afraid; she even instinctively suppressed her current rage to avoid scaring her.
Ji Yan knew better than anyone how reckless and “dog-like” her previous behavior had been. Now, trying to get close again would be incredibly difficult. The last person Xu Yinian had feared and avoided, Shen Ruoshuang, was still being suppressed by Bai Ran.
Thinking of this, Ji Yan truly marveled at Bai Ran’s skill in “resetting her account”—wiping away her past traces to start over. She was also increasingly curious about what Bai Ran had done to Xu Yinian in the past that made her not even dare to reveal her true identity.
If she could dig up that secret, Bai Ran would likely be completely eliminated by the backlash.
Hearing Bai Ran mention her past cries and pleas for help regarding Ji Yan, Xu Yinian stiffened. She was terrified that if Ji Yan heard the truth, she would hold a grudge and target her again.
She hurriedly tried to explain, “N-no, Ji Yan didn’t force me. And after spending time with her today, it… it seems she isn’t as scary as she was before.”
Though her voice was small and hesitant, Ji Yan never expected Xu Yinian to speak up for her. In the moment her thick, dark lashes trembled, a never-before-seen flush of crimson drifted through her eyes.
Not as scary as before.
It was clearly just the difference between a negative one hundred and a negative fifty, but a numbing, fluttering sensation was quietly spreading through her heart. It felt like an affirmation and a reward for her “good behavior,” spoken in that soft, weak, yet incredibly sweet voice.
Every unintentional word stimulated Ji Yan’s senses.
Those words caused the smile on Bai Ran’s lips to vanish completely. She had anticipated Ji Yan falling for her, but she hadn’t expected Xu Yinian to be so soft-hearted. A little pathetic display of being “hurt” from someone else was enough to make her drop her guard.
So, staying here past curfew wasn’t because she was forced. She intended to spend the night alone with Ji Yan.
A hint of metallic sweetness rose in Bai Ran’s throat. The frailty she had endured while waiting in the biting wind finally reached its breaking point. She only had time to cover her mouth as a violent cough racked her body. A sickly flush bloomed across her pale skin, and the force of the cough brought moist tears to the corners of her eyes.
Xu Yinian rushed to Bai Ran’s side almost by reflex. Her almond-shaped eyes were suddenly so full of concern that they could only hold Bai Ran.
Her soft palm pressed against Bai Ran’s back, stroking it rhythmically to help her catch her breath. Even through the thin layer of clothing, the unique, scorching warmth of Xu Yinian was palpable.
Realizing she was truly only wearing one thin layer of clothes, Xu Yinian understood why she was so ill. She scolded her with a soft, pouting ferocity—far more unrestrained than when she faced Ji Yan.
