Chapter 50: Taking Advantage of Someone’s Weakness

In the office, Lin Ting leaned against the edge of the desk, staring straight at Lu Huan as she waited for her answer.

Her previous words still hung in the air: “If I said I’d taken a liking to her, what would you do?”

Lu Huan didn’t avoid her gaze. She stared right back and, after clearly hearing those two sentences, let out a scoffing laugh.

“Taken a liking to her?”

No matter how you looked at it—whether in terms of appearance or anything else—Bai Jin stood out as exceptionally alluring among any crowd. So, whether Lin Ting meant it or not, even if it was true, Lu Huan wasn’t surprised at all.

But she found it somewhat amusing. “You can take a liking to whomever you want. It has nothing to do with me. Of course, I’m indifferent to it.”

“Oh?” Lin Ting raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

Lu Huan dragged out a long “hmm,” then remembered something and said, “But not right now. I still have some things to get back from her. Once she’s no longer useful, you can do whatever you want with her, and I won’t care.”

Hearing this, Lin Ting’s interest was piqued. She crossed her arms over her chest, her beautiful eyes shimmering with light.

“Why not right now?”

Lu Huan’s expression grew a touch colder. “Don’t get in my way.”

Her intent to say no more was obvious, but Lin Ting didn’t need her to elaborate; she could already guess.

“You don’t need to hide this from me, Lu Huan. I already knew you had a foster sister and that you two don’t get along. Later, I found out the person you brought to the Lin Group last time was her.”

“The way you look at her isn’t right…” That gaze didn’t resemble how one would look at an enemy at all. “So, there are two possibilities. One, you’ve changed your view of her and patched things up. Two, you’re pretending, deceiving her.”

Lin Ting’s eyes drifted back to Lu Huan’s neck, and she smiled. “Obviously, based on what I know of you, it’s the latter.”

“I don’t need to know why you’re deceiving her. Knowing this much is enough for me.”

She had hit the nail on the head, but Lu Huan didn’t deny it. “So, what do you want?”

“Like I said at the start, I’m very interested in her. I really want her. It depends on whether you’ll give her to me. I’m just afraid that if you truly like her, I’d become the villain stealing someone else’s love.”

Lu Huan sneered mockingly. “Heh, who could really fall for her? It’s all just tricks to fool people.”

“Once she has no value left, whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with me.”

She said it so casually.

It was exactly what Lin Ting wanted to hear.

“You’re so ruthless, Lu Huan, toying with someone’s feelings like that.” Lin Ting shook her head, her eyes curving into smiles as she sighed. “But coming from you, it’s not all that surprising.”

“With your word, I’m relieved. These days are long; I don’t mind waiting a little.”

With that, Lin Ting grabbed her bag and stood up. “Alright, that’s all I came for. Looking forward to how things develop between you two.”

Lu Huan watched her leave, her eyes wary.

At least now she could be sure that before her plan succeeded, Lin Ting wouldn’t make a move—after all, interfering with Lu Huan’s plan wouldn’t benefit Lin Ting much.

As for afterward, once she cut ties with Bai Jin, whatever Lin Ting did wouldn’t be a big problem.

With that thought, Lu Huan stopped wasting energy on her.

…

Not far from the office, Lin Ting slipped her hand into her pocket and pressed the pause button on the recording pen.

She had hit record before entering the office.

She took out the pen and rubbed her thumb over its sleek body.

Her red lips curved into a meaningful smile.

—

By noon, Lu Huan went to the company cafeteria. She snapped a photo of her lunch and sent it to Bai Jin, just like their usual habit.

This time, though, Bai Jin didn’t reply.

Staring at the chat interface with no response, Lu Huan tugged her lips into a smile and turned off the screen.

That evening, Lu Huan took Yi Ming and a few others to dinner with their business partners.

The glasses on the table were constantly refilled throughout the meal. At the start, she snapped a photo and sent it to Bai Jin, letting her know she’d be home late. Then Lu Huan focused entirely on handling the partners.

Every word revolved around business sincerity. After charming them into good moods, she presented the company’s original proposal and vision, including the distribution and arrangements for the profits.

The partners trusted Qining’s business capabilities as always, so under Lu Huan’s strategic concessions, they quickly agreed to the terms that favored Qining.

By the end of the night, the dinner had gone splendidly, with everyone in high spirits. It was undoubtedly a success.

“Pleasure doing business.”

“It’s an honor to partner with Qining.”

As dusk fell, the dinner wrapped up. After seeing off the partners, Zuo You arranged a designated driver for Lu Huan.

While waiting outside the restaurant, once the others had left, Lu Huan finally furrowed her brows slightly. She leaned back against the cold wall and let out a breath, relaxing a bit.

After playing the gracious host, Yi Ming’s smile faded too. The suppressed alcohol buzz hit her hard, but she still walked over to pat Lu Huan’s shoulder and check on her. “You okay?”

During the dinner, the partners had kept pouring drinks her way, clearly trying to get Lu Huan drunk and negotiate then.

But no matter how much they poured into her, Lu Huan’s speech remained logical and cautious, leaving no openings.

Lu Huan braced herself against the wall, slightly bent over. “…I’m fine.”

This was nothing.

Fortunately, she’d thrown up twice in the bathroom midway, emptying her stomach. At least now she wouldn’t be puking into the nearest trash bin.

But the headache and dizziness were still deeply uncomfortable.

Lu Huan shook her head, trying to clear it.

When she looked up again, she saw a familiar figure.

The cropped top and loose pants accentuated her perfect waistline and enviable proportions.

It was an ice queen who combined elegance, beauty, and aloofness. Lu Huan focused her eyes, and the blurry double images slowly merged into one.

It was Bai Jin.

No way…

How had she come?

Yi Ming spotted the newcomer and blinked. “It’s you?”

Bai Jin nodded calmly. “Sister Ming.”

Before Yi Ming could ask more, Bai Jin cut straight to it. “I know where Lu Huan lives. I can take her home.”

Yi Ming: “You…?”

That form of address, and…

Sure enough, just as she’d guessed at their first meeting, these two weren’t simply boss and subordinate.

Bai Jin’s gaze turned to Lu Huan, who was leaning against the wall for support. Her lips were a deep red, her chest heaving with erratic breaths, and a thin sheen of sweat beaded on her forehead.

She looked uncomfortable, suffering.

They locked eyes for a few seconds before Lu Huan spoke first. “Mm, no need for the driver. I’ll go with her.”

Hearing that, Zuo You reacted quickly. “Got it, President Lu. I’ll tell them not to come.”

Zuo You hurriedly contacted the driver.

Lu Huan gave Bai Jin a slight nod. Bai Jin moved closer. Lu Huan held out her hand, palm up, the key ring dangling from her fingertips.

“Didn’t you say you’d take me home?” Her sharp eyes narrowed slightly, her voice husky and magnetic, her tone teasing. “Let’s go.”

Bai Jin stared at her, stunned for two seconds, then took the keys.

Lu Huan leaned forward, her steps unsteady as she pressed against Bai Jin.

A wave of alcohol scent mixed with bold perfume washed over her. Bai Jin draped Lu Huan’s arm over her shoulder, letting her lean in while steadying her waist.

“We’re heading out first, then.”

Yi Ming started to say something but ended up just reminding them, “Alright, be careful on the road.”

Bai Jin supported Lu Huan as they left. The restaurant entrance buzzed with noise and lights. Soon, Yi Ming’s driver arrived too.

Yi Ming’s gaze lingered on where they had disappeared.

Interesting…

She nudged Zuo You beside her. “Yoo, are they the kind of relationship I think they are?”

Zuo You fell silent. “That’s President Lu’s private matter.”

As Lu Huan’s personal assistant, Zuo You certainly knew, but in her position, she couldn’t say more. Yi Ming didn’t press her.

The driver arrived right then. After confirming the details, Zuo You saw her off. “Driver’s here, General Manager Yi. Hop in.”

Yi Ming looked away.

“Okay.”

—

Streetlights lined the road in parallel rows, flashing past. Traffic surged busily, the car speeding along.

Lu Huan rolled down the window, and the rushing wind tousled the hair on her forehead, exposing her brow and the bridge of her nose. It blew away some of the alcohol haze.

But it wasn’t long before Bai Jin closed the window.

The roar of the wind in her ears vanished.

Lu Huan let out a scoffing laugh. “What, closing my window?”

“The wind’s too strong.”

“Fine…” Perhaps spurred by the alcohol, Lu Huan’s words came slower. She shifted into a more comfortable position against the seatback. “How’d you find me?”

She was asking why Bai Jin had shown up at the restaurant tonight.

Bai Jin kept her eyes on the road as she replied, “The photo you sent had the restaurant name on a plate.”

Lu Huan had indeed sent a photo before the meal, but she hadn’t noticed the restaurant name was visible.

“Is that so? You’re pretty observant.” Lu Huan’s head throbbed heavily; she didn’t dwell on it.

Bai Jin drove steadily. Lu Huan dozed against the seatback and before long, they were back at the residential complex.

The car came to a smooth stop, engine off, but Lu Huan didn’t move. When Bai Jin got out first and opened her door, Lu Huan finally turned her head to look at her.

The slight reddening at the corners of her narrowed eyes stirred ripples in Bai Jin’s heart.

“Thanks.”

Her eyes spoke volumes.

Bai Jin could sense there were deep, many things in those eyes. But Lu Huan kept them hidden.

In that misty gaze, her dark pupils were especially captivating. Every sentence from her thin lips sounded like heartfelt sweet talk.

Her sharp eyes brimmed with tenderness, like a playboy pausing to say “I love you.”

But playboys had no real heart.

“Let me help you.”

Bai Jin extended her hand to Lu Huan, who took it and got out of the car. Her feet wobbled twice. Then, remembering something, Lu Huan grinned.

“It’s a bit like that day.”

It was when Bai Jin had first moved in—only that time, Bai Jin had been the drunk one. This time, it was Lu Huan.

Bai Jin remembered that day too but said nothing, just helped her into the elevator and up to the apartment.

Once home, Lu Huan headed straight to the bathroom to dry heave for a while. The alcohol was mostly absorbed into her system now, and after a full day of work, her limbs felt heavy with fatigue.

She still forced herself to finish her bath first. After all, she couldn’t bear the thought of going back to her room and sleeping while reeking of booze.

Even after washing up, her head throbbed fiercely, and her steps felt light and unsteady. The moment she opened the door, she spotted Bai Jin waiting outside and naturally leaned against her for support.

Bai Jin helped Lu Huan back to her room.

The room was unlit, shrouded in pitch darkness, sustained only by the sliver of light spilling in from the open door and the moonlight pouring through the window.

Bai Jin laid her on the bed, then rose and walked toward the door.

But she wasn’t leaving.

Instead—

Click.

She locked it from the inside.

The sound reached Lu Huan’s ears.

She half sat up, her eyes hazy, propping her upper body against the headboard, her voice slightly hoarse. “Why aren’t you turning on the light?”

Bai Jin said nothing as she drew closer.

Under the lingering influence of the alcohol, Lu Huan’s body—which had only recently cooled down—quickly heated up again.

“Ah… I get it.” Watching Bai Jin approach, Lu Huan smiled faintly. “You want something again, don’t you?”

It was always like this whenever Bai Jin looked at her that way.

Lu Huan wondered what Bai Jin desired this time.

A kiss? Bites? Or—

Bai Jin straddled her, their bodies pressing close.

“Will you give it to me if I say I want it?”

A forbidden, dangerous thrill permeated the air.

“You can’t take advantage of someone when they’re vulnerable, Bai Jin.” Lu Huan lifted her gaze to meet hers, chuckling softly. “I’m still drunk, you know.”

Slowly, right before her eyes, Bai Jin shed all her clothes. Moonlight bathed her form, tracing elegant curves. Her jade-like figure was laid bare, utterly exposed—like a mesmerizing yet perilous poppy blooming in the night.

A soft voice replied,

“Drunk… might be even better.”