Chapter 17: The Icy Heiress

Bai Yu was an extraordinarily beautiful and elegant woman. Luo Yihuan’s fondness for wearing qipaos might have been inherited from her mother, who was dressed in a deep blue one today.

Her thick hair was artfully styled and draped over her shoulders. She walked with dignified grace, her qipao swaying gently with each poised step, as if lotuses bloomed beneath her feet, radiating captivating allure.

She approached the two women slowly from a distance. Bai Yu knew Li Tang and noted that the woman with her didn’t appear to be a Luo Corporation employee. She gave them a warm, appraising look.

“Li Tang, who is this young lady?”

Li Tang hurriedly explained, “Madam, this is Doctor Jiang Li, the one we’re currently partnering with.”

She turned to Jiang Li and introduced, “Miss Jiang, this is President Luo’s mother, Madam Bai.”

Jiang Li’s eyes narrowed slightly. She took the initiative to extend her hand in greeting. “Hello, Madam Bai. I’m a doctor at Shore Lake Mingtang Hospital. Jiang Li. Please, just call me Jiang Li.”

A glint flashed in Bai Yu’s eyes. She reached out with her well-maintained hand and clasped Jiang Li’s, a smile curling at her lips. “Very well, Jiang Li.”

After a brief shake, Bai Yu withdrew her hand and turned her gaze to Li Tang. “Did Yihuan ask you to show her around?”

Seeing Li Tang nod, Bai Yu smiled and pointed at Jiang Li, her tone light and cheerful. “You go ahead with your work. I’ll show Jiang Li around.”

Li Tang hesitated for a moment. Jiang Li patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Go on. If Luo Yihuan asks about me later, just tell her I’m with Madam Bai.”

Bai Yu clapped her hands lightly, drawing Jiang Li’s attention. She looked at the petite figure before her, amusement sparkling in her eyes.

“Shall we go? I’ll take you on a tour.”

Jiang Li nodded and followed behind Bai Yu, listening as she explained.

Compared to Li Tang’s formal script, Bai Yu spoke like a family member giving a personal tour.

And since she was the matriarch of Luo Corporation, she knew even more intricate details.

“When Luo Corporation was first founded, it didn’t have so many branches. It started by researching and selling medical equipment, which helped it take root. Later, with Shore Lake’s government policies, Luo Corporation acquired some herbal medicines and invested in labs to develop drugs…”

As they walked and talked, Jiang Li listened attentively.

“After Yihuan joined the company, she focused on investing in private hospitals and revamping the original sales channels. That girl has real business acumen. Her investments over the years have never lost money—in fact, they’ve brought huge profits to Luo Corporation.”

Jiang Li nodded. Luo Yihuan was indeed exceptionally talented. According to the original storyline, as long as Luo Yihuan stayed out of the male and female leads’ romance, her path would be smooth sailing.

Seeing how carefully and earnestly Jiang Li listened—nodding and chiming in from time to time—Bai Yu’s gaze warmed with fondness. Her words began to shift toward more personal topics.

“But this girl throws herself completely into work. She’s almost thirty, and when I urge her to find a partner, she always brushes me off with how busy she is. Always ‘work, work.'”

Jiang Li nodded in agreement. That was true. If Luo Yihuan had a partner, there wouldn’t have been room for a type like Su Yize to appear and cause trouble around her.

The amusement deepened in Bai Yu’s eyes. Then she dropped a bombshell. “So, Miss Jiang, are you interested in our Yihuan?”

Jiang Li froze at the sudden question. She clearly hadn’t expected Madam Bai to play matchmaker between her and Luo Yihuan.

After a moment’s hesitation, she ventured, “You… know that Yihuan likes women?”

Bai Yu’s smile faltered briefly before she burst out laughing.

Looking at Jiang Li’s puzzled expression—her eyes wide and dewy like a pure white rabbit, innocent and clear—she shook her head. Worried the girl might misunderstand, she stifled her laughter and explained, “Our family has no such rules. Yihuan likes what she likes, and so do I.”

Seeing realization dawn on Jiang Li’s face, Bai Yu’s eyes crinkled with mirth.

Never mind. She wouldn’t tell the girl just yet.

Truth be told, this wasn’t their first meeting. Some time ago, when Bai Yu had brought little glutinous rice dumplings to Yihuan, she’d spotted a photo of this girl on her daughter’s desk.

It was a back view shot.

The photographer had captured it cleverly, framing a glimpse of Yihuan’s profile as she gazed at the girl. Jiang Li was turned toward Yihuan, beaming with vibrant energy. The image came alive in that instant.

Even her daughter’s usually frosty face at home looked surprisingly soft.

Bai Yu’s phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID, her lingering smile deepening with a meaningful edge. She shot Jiang Li a knowing look before answering, “Hello, Yihuan.”

From the other end came the clear rhythm of fingers tapping on a desk, laced with barely concealed impatience. “Are you with Jiang Li?”

Bai Yu’s narrow fox-like eyes narrowed further. She held the phone to Jiang Li’s ear. “Here, Little Pear. Yihuan wants to hear if this old fox has whisked you away.”

Jiang Li’s lashes fluttered, a flush of embarrassment creeping over her. It felt oddly intimate for Luo Yihuan to call her own mother about her whereabouts. She took the phone, softly acknowledged she was fine, and handed it back.

As Bai Yu brought it back to her ear, Luo Yihuan’s voice softened. Bai Yu raised a brow. “Alright now, your dear mother is listening. Tone down that charm of yours.”

Jiang Li’s cheeks burned crimson. Standing nearby, she touched her face awkwardly as she overheard Bai Yu.

So Luo Yihuan did speak differently with those close to her. Jiang Li had thought she used the same tone with her mother.

Bai Yu didn’t chat much longer before hanging up. With a touch of regret, she said, “Come on, Little Pear. That big shot wants me to bring you back.”

Jiang Li nodded obediently, and the two turned to head back.

When the elevator doors opened onto the same floor, employees looked up, spotting Madam Bai. They greeted her warmly, their eyes openly lingering on Jiang Li at her side.

Jiang Li wasn’t shy around people, but no one enjoyed being scrutinized from every direction like that.

Bai Yu was clearly accustomed to the greetings. She nodded as they passed, offering occasional smiles—ever the picture of gracious poise.

She knocked on the door. A cool voice answered from within, and Bai Yu pushed it open decisively, entering with Jiang Li close behind, who closed the door.

Bai Yu gave the office decor her usual critical once-over before glancing at the ponytail-wearing Jiang Li behind her. “Can’t you put some flowers or plants in here?”

“The courtyard at home has them, and I tend the flower room just fine. Plants in the office would distract me.”

Luo Yihuan stood and approached Jiang Li, the corners of her eyes curving slightly. “How was the tour?”

“Very nice. Madam Bai gave me a full rundown.”

From the side, Bai Yu chimed in slyly, “I even praised you.”

Luo Yihuan’s expression froze for a split second, her lashes trembling as she lowered her gaze. She’d meant to stare directly at Jiang Li, eager for her thoughts—but without seeming too expectant.

She didn’t know what her mother had said. But she’d intentionally left clues for her mother to find: things that would pique her interest in Jiang Li, prompt questions about herself, ensure Jiang Li returned escorted, and let everyone in the company see her arriving with Luo Yihuan’s mother.

Everyone would know Jiang Li was the one Luo Yihuan favored.

This was her scheme, the little plot she’d hatched deep in her heart before inviting Jiang Li to the company.

A manic smile tugged at her lips. Her inner turmoil simmered like magma before an eruption, her body tense as she fought the urge to seize that hand before her—the one she’d once let slip away.

In the end, she casually averted her eyes from Jiang Li’s smiling gaze.

But her ears stayed alert.