Chapter 80: The Scheming Green Tea Stepsister

Jiang Li never imagined that Lu Chaohuan would so casually reveal their relationship right in front of Fu Yu.

“You…”

Lu Chaohuan caught the shock in her eyes, and the anger simmering in her heart flared even hotter. She assumed Jiang Li felt exactly as she had suspected—no intention of going public at all. That frustration thickened into something almost suffocating.

Lu Chaohuan couldn’t understand why Jiang Li resisted their nominal sisterly bond so fiercely. It had been this way from the very start.

But what was there to hide from? They weren’t real sisters. Even if they ended up together, so what? They could own their choices.

The worst possibility bubbled up in Lu Chaohuan’s mind—Jiang Li had no desire to make their relationship public.

As Jiang Li tried to pry the hand from her waist, Lu Chaohuan pressed herself even closer, glaring fiercely at Fu Yu across from them. She locked Jiang Li possessively in her arms.

The blatant hostility washed over Fu Yu, along with words clearly meant for her ears and Jiang Li’s apologetic demeanor even as she allowed the girl behind her to cling like that. Fu Yu was perceptive enough.

Those ruthless eyes sent a chill through her. She took a few steps back, startled by the ferocious intensity radiating from someone so young. She even regretted her earlier deliberate provocation a little.

She had misjudged the young wolf guarding Jiang Li.

Earlier, while chatting with Jiang Li, Fu Yu had been struck again by her gentle demeanor and refined speech. When her gaze flicked to Lu Chaohuan, the girl had seemed perfectly docile.

Without overthinking it, Fu Yu had followed her impulse and shot Lu Chaohuan a provocative look.

And now, this was the result—she had provoked a savage beast on the verge of madness, fiercely protective of its charge.

Still, Fu Yu watched the tense eye contact between the two with keen interest: Lu Chaohuan’s confusion and fury, Jiang Li’s shock and helplessness.

Fu Yu figured she was just an innocent bystander who had stumbled into their drama. Clearly, there were deeper issues between them.

She picked up her small clutch from nearby and, ever considerate, excused herself to touch up her makeup, leaving the space for them.

“Can you let me go first?”

With her waist pinned so tightly, Jiang Li couldn’t move an inch. Even lifting her gaze to meet Lu Chaohuan’s was a struggle. A flicker of helplessness crossed her eyes.

The clingy troublemaker wrapped around her wouldn’t budge, no matter how she tried to peel her off. She couldn’t even have a proper conversation like this.

Lu Chaohuan said nothing, but Jiang Li clearly felt the grip on her waist tighten further—a silent act of defiance.

Fine. With no other choice, Jiang Li spoke to her in this awkward position.

They were practically fused together. Even as Jiang Li deliberately lowered her voice to avoid being overheard, Lu Chaohuan would hear every word.

First, about Fu Yu.

“Fu Yu was an accident. Dad brought me to meet Uncle Fu earlier, and only midway through the chat did he mention setting me up with someone. I had no idea beforehand.”

After spending this time with Lu Chaohuan, Jiang Li knew well what mattered to her.

She hated being deceived, hated secrets, and hated most of all any interactions between Jiang Li and others that happened without her knowledge. That scene she’d just witnessed had hit every one of her triggers.

“But she was just wiping your face.”

Lu Chaohuan mumbled sullenly, her eyes still brewing a storm of gloom. The intimate image she’d walked in on kept replaying in her mind after entering the banquet hall. How could she stay calm?

Fu Yu and Jiang Li had been standing so close, both wearing smiles that made them look perfectly matched. They were around the same age, and damn it, Fu Yu even vaguely resembled Yun Chu.

Mention of Yun Chu furrowed Lu Chaohuan’s brows instantly, dark clouds gathering between them. Her gaze landed on Jiang Li’s neck, sharp and icy.

Father Jiang’s earlier words echoed in her mind too.

Listless, Yun Chu and Fu Yu were the same type, a new relationship to displace the old one…

An anxious beast had always lurked in Lu Chaohuan’s heart. Their romance felt like a small boat tossed in a raging storm, liable to capsize at any moment.

Leaving her alone, adrift on a hopeless sea, watching forlornly as Jiang Li sailed away.

The nighttime ocean surface gleamed silver under the moonlight, vast and beautiful, yet utterly lonely.

Any wave could crash in at any time, filling her with dread.

In this relationship, Lu Chaohuan had schemed endlessly—from confirming their bond at the beginning to turning it into a real romance later.

She had used every trick to steal Jiang Li from Yun Chu.

But Jiang Li had first agreed to love her to help ease her little sister’s desires; her confessions of love had been coaxed out; her daily gentleness stemmed from her kind nature.

Lu Chaohuan felt trapped in a dead end, every path ending with the words “Jiang Li doesn’t love you.”

She hunted for proof of Jiang Li’s love, only to talk herself out of it. Her thoughts tangled into chaos, spinning her world.

And tonight, learning from Father Jiang’s mouth that Jiang Li had never mentioned their relationship—it plunged Lu Chaohuan’s already precarious heart into an abyss.

Simple words, but they sank her to the depths.

Lu Chaohuan was trembling.

The hall was comfortably warm, yet Jiang Li felt an icy chill where their skin touched—a heart-wrenching cold from Lu Chaohuan, accompanied by shivers.

The fingers around her waist pulled her tighter and tighter. Jiang Li keenly sensed the ragged breath at her ear. Lu Chaohuan seemed afraid, but afraid of what?

Jiang Li realized she still didn’t fully understand the Vinegar King at home.

Like right now.

Lu Chaohuan grumbled about seeing Fu Yu touch her, Jiang Li explained, but she wouldn’t budge, lost in her own whirlwind of thoughts.

Jiang Li hadn’t even settled the score for that earlier remark. But blinking, she suddenly realized something.

“You think I like Fu Yu? Because she looks like Yun Chu?”

Lu Chaohuan didn’t reply. Instead, when Jiang Li uttered that name, she dipped her head and nipped at the back of her neck, hidden by strands of hair. She released only after Jiang Li yelped in pain.

Unhappy—utterly unhappy—just hearing that name from Jiang Li’s lips filled her with jealousy toward the one who had possessed her first.

Waves of disgust surged. Lu Chaohuan hated her own earlier posturing too.

If only she had gotten closer sooner—no, from the moment they first met, when she saw those gentle, crystalline eyes. She should have claimed her then.

The girl behind her bit once, then resumed clinging silently, like a pitiful mute. Jiang Li found it exasperatingly funny. She hadn’t expected Lu Chaohuan to truly believe that nonsense.

That she was still hung up on Yun Chu, harboring real feelings.

Blame 123 for that. It had insisted on placing Yun Chu as her girlfriend at first, then inexplicably scrapped the world’s second task.

In a way, Lu Chaohuan was her first in every sense—first love, first everything.

Jiang Li was experiencing her first romance, pouring all her understanding of love into Lu Chaohuan. Yet Lu Chaohuan seemed deeply insecure.

Jiang Li couldn’t pinpoint the source of that insecurity.

Racking her brain for her daily behavior, she found nothing that could spark it. She even wondered uncertainly if they hadn’t basically been glued together everywhere at home, short of holding hands in the bathroom.

Thanks to Lu Chaohuan’s clinginess, all their free time was spent indoors, in every corner of the house.

Her thoughts drifted too far. Jiang Li snapped back, spotting Father Jiang approaching. She patted the hand clamped on her waist and whispered, turning her head, “Dad’s coming. Let go for now—we’ll talk later.”

Let go again.

They were just embracing, yet Jiang Li acted so terrified of Father Jiang seeing their closeness. Lu Chaohuan gritted her teeth, a trace of bitterness in her downcast eyes.

The bitterness faded in moments as emotions crashed like waves. Her eyes darkened, and Lu Chaohuan made up her mind.

She wanted Jiang Li—no more hiding, no more dodging.

Forced or willing, their relationship would go public.

By Jiang Li’s side, there would only ever be Lu Chaohuan.

Her gaze deep and brooding, Lu Chaohuan decided to kick off this impending drama herself. She stared straight at the approaching Father Jiang, slowly curving her lips into an obedient smile as she bowed her head.

She hoped Uncle Jiang would play along nicely.

“How’d it go?” Curiosity and concern flickered in Father Jiang’s eyes. He had high hopes for sparks between Jiang Li and Fu Yu—he’d observed Fu Yu from every angle.

She matched his pear perfectly in every way.

Noticing Lu Chaohuan slip back into her docile mask with his peripheral vision, Jiang Li assumed she was just upholding her good-girl image in front of Father Jiang and thought nothing more.

Seeing the expectation in her father’s eyes, Jiang Li quickly quashed it. “I chatted with Miss Fu. She’s not interested in that, so please drop it, Dad.”

Neither girl was keen, so Father Jiang couldn’t push. He let the idea go.

His gaze swept over, landing on Lu Chaohuan standing gracefully at Jiang Li’s side. His matchmaking itch flared up again today at the birthday banquet, his eyes turning sly.

“Chaohuan, your mom mentioned you’re still single, right?”

Jiang Li shot her overeager matchmaker of a father a glare. She wasn’t even at that age yet—he’d tried setting her up and now turned to Lu Chaohuan?

“Dad, you…”

“Yes, I just decisively broke up with an ex who wouldn’t go public. I’m single now.”

Unlike Jiang Li, who blushed even telling white lies, Lu Chaohuan declared this right in front of the ex in question, even injecting the perfect touch of sadness.

Won’t go public, ex, single.

Jiang Li’s lips parted in surprise. She whipped her head to stare at the unflustered Lu Chaohuan, who showed no shame or hesitation—like she saw nothing wrong with it.

But Jiang Li was convinced this was Lu Chaohuan being passive-aggressive.

Glancing at Father Jiang’s approving nod toward her “decisive” breakup, Jiang Li fought back her twitching lips. She wanted so badly to tell him who that “” ex really was.

“Alright then. Look around the hall tonight—if there’s anyone you like, just tell Uncle. I can dig up info on anyone for you.”

Father Jiang’s inner matchmaker was in full swing. Jiang Li rubbed her brow. After tonight, she’d talk to Lu Chaohuan about going public. If Lu Chaohuan refused, Dad wouldn’t drag her off to…

“Ah, could Uncle introduce me to that girl in the blue dress over there?”

Hold on! Jiang Li’s eyes widened in panic as she followed Lu Chaohuan’s gaze to an elegant, tall girl holding hands with a alluring mature woman by her side.

Jiang Li didn’t know either of them—no. She yanked Lu Chaohuan back decisively, whispering urgently in her ear, “Are you an idiot? Dad will take you to go on a blind date with her.”

Lu Chaohuan’s lips quirked. She glanced at Jiang Li’s anxious frown and hummed questioningly, then turned it back on her. “Not allowed? I just saw Sister looking pretty happy earlier.”

Deliberate.

Jiang Li glared, seeing Father Jiang already gearing up to lead the way. Her lashes trembled. “I was suddenly dragged over there. I didn’t go on my own.”

“So Sister was on a blind date, and you’d rather get pulled into one than make our relationship public.”

Lu Chaohuan’s earlier calm shattered into surging irritation at Jiang Li’s speechless expression. She wanted to pin this coward down tight, kiss her right in front of Father Jiang.

But her gaze dropped to Jiang Li’s hand slowly clenching at her side. Lu Chaohuan tamped down her impatience, her round eyes curving into a smile.

She reined in her swirling thoughts and gripped her anxiety tight. Before heading off with Father Jiang, she softly placed her hand on Jiang Li’s slender shoulder and tossed out a light parting shot before leaving.

Leaving Jiang Li alone, those words echoing in her ears.

“Since Sister wants a no-strings underground romance, I’ll certainly…” Her breath stirred the fine hairs by Jiang Li’s ear as Lu Chaohuan let out a coquettish chuckle, “play along to the end.”

Watching the two groups start conversing, Jiang Li’s face darkened. Right now, she desperately wanted to drag Lu Chaohuan over, crack open her skull, and see what twisted logic was churning inside.

How many loops had it taken for her to arrive at this conclusion without Jiang Li knowing?

Underground romance—she could grudgingly admit that, since she’d always been wary of their sister-student dynamic. But no-strings…

Lu Chaohuan, you really dare say those words.

Even knowing it was just angry words born from the blind-date shock, Jiang Li still wanted to give her a good thrashing.

Getting mad without talking properly, ignoring explanations, and now even letting Father Jiang lead her on a date with another girl. Fire danced in Jiang Li’s eyes, her expression cooling.

Out of sight, out of mind. She’d deal with her properly tonight.

Her skirt flared into a graceful arc as she resolutely tore her gaze away and left the banquet hall to handle the errand Father Jiang had asked of her.

The scorching stare on her back vanished. Lu Chaohuan turned to see Jiang Li’s spot empty.

Sister’s probably plotting how to punish her tonight.

A fragmented gleam of amusement flickered in her eyes. She unclenched her palm, where faint blood crescents marked her skin. Lu Chaohuan’s lips curved slightly. For the fish she wanted to hook, she’d baited the line generously.

Next, it was just a matter of seeing what Jiang Li would say.

She wanted Jiang Li to walk willingly to the destination she’d set.

Whether control of their relationship or Jiang Li’s heart—Lu Chaohuan believed having them firmly in her grasp, to probe and claim at will, was the very best.

Lu Chaohuan turned, meeting a pair of eyes equally brimming with ambition. She curved her own eyes slightly and extended her wrist for a light shake.

This was a junior from her club she’d met once before.

When Father Jiang had asked about interests, one glance had shown Lu Chaohuan the affection and possessive longing in the junior’s gaze toward the woman beside her.

And as she and Father Jiang approached to state their intent, the mature woman’s subtle chill confirmed it wasn’t unrequited.

The searing gaze still burned into her back. Eyeing the suppressed emotion in the junior’s eyes, Lu Chaohuan bloomed into a smile, slipping effortlessly into the role of pawn.

They shared the same goal.

Baiting themselves to lure the catch.

Because of the interlude at the banquet, Jiang Li didn’t linger. Following Father Jiang’s instructions, she headed back to his house, saying there was something to discuss.

Without a second thought, she dragged away Lu Chaohuan—who was about to chat more deeply with that “date”—her face thunderous.

They ended up at the same table, with the girl right beside Lu Chaohuan. They were even in the same club.

Throughout the banquet, Lu Chaohuan fully embodied the “no-strings underground romance” she’d thrown at Jiang Li earlier. Their interactions were limited to passing her a napkin.

No hand-holding, no sweet “Sister,” no lingering eye contact… Just endless chatter with that junior.

On the drive back, Jiang Li was behind the wheel, Lu Chaohuan in the passenger seat.

Alone together, Jiang Li was still utterly ignored. Lu Chaohuan focused solely on texting someone, not sparing her a glance.

Jiang Li’s lips pressed thinner, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. Occasional glances at Lu Chaohuan beside her revealed only icy detachment—no trace of her usual warmth.

The car sped along under the city lights, the sleek white body casting a long, merciless shadow.

“Explain.”

The bedroom door slammed shut with a bang. Jiang Li yanked Lu Chaohuan onto the bed, her tall shadow looming over as her cold voice cut through the winter night like a blade.

The room’s atmosphere grew oppressively heavy. Lu Chaohuan merely rubbed her wrist indifferently, lifting her eyes with a mocking glint to meet Jiang Li’s uncharacteristically stern brows.

“Explain? Didn’t what I said to Sister just now cover it?”

That piercing mockery in her eyes stabbed like silver needles into Jiang Li’s heart—dense, aching pain. Her chest heaved, but her nerves stayed taut.

She reminded herself—Lu Chaohuan was angry because of the unannounced blind date.

Still, it infuriated her!

“What explanation? The underground affair or the no-strings part?”

Watching Jiang Li’s darkened expression, teeth grinding as she repeated the words, Lu Chaohuan’s eyes flashed with untimely coquettish amusement. She tilted her head meaningfully.

“I thought Sister would agree wholeheartedly with my idea, after all…”

See? Jiang Li ground her teeth, feeling her temples throb. “I told you, it was just a fluke… Wait, where are you going?”

Halfway through, Lu Chaohuan slid off the bed and headed for the door, leaving Jiang Li behind.

“Hm? Li Si just texted in the car to invite me to KTV tonight. I said yes.”

Li Si—the girl from earlier.

Ignoring Jiang Li’s darkening face at the name, Lu Chaohuan recounted their car chat blow-by-blow until Jiang Li looked like smoldering coal.

Almost there.

“Sister, rest up early. I’m heading out~”

Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest. Back turned to Jiang Li, hair swaying lightly, Lu Chaohuan walked slowly to the door, waving goodbye.

Her lips curved gradually. Behind her, near-total silence. Inwardly, Lu Chaohuan counted down.

Three, two, one.

Footsteps erupted alongside distant fireworks outside. In the room, a hand seized her flailing wrist abruptly, yanking her around.

With a thud, Lu Chaohuan slammed back against the door. Her slender wrist was pinned high with bruising force, knuckles whitening.

Jiang Li leaned in close, fixing her with a stare, dangerous light flickering deep in her pupils—like a volcano on the brink.

Yet Lu Chaohuan felt no fear. Instead, she smiled, draping her other hand over Jiang Li’s shoulder to draw herself nearer. Her fingertip teased the exposed skin.

“Sister, don’t worry. I promised I wouldn’t fool around outside. I’m a woman of my word.”

Her fingers toyed with the strands framing Jiang Li’s face, Lu Chaohuan seeming to recall something delightful. Her chest rose and fell with a string of low chuckles.

Shrugging her shoulders, she leaned closer, cupping that tense face in her palm. Her fingertips caressed it tenderly, her soft words warm, hot breath ghosting the pale cheek.

“As your little sister’s lover, is that not enough?”

The hand at her ear lingered ambiguously, caressingly. Seeming fully convinced of her own words, her fingertips traced delicate paths along the skin.

She nuzzled her soft cheeks against it. Jiang Li said nothing more, simply reaching out to pinch Lu Chaohuan’s chin, forcing their eyes to lock.

One pair of eyes seductive and laughing, the other frosty as a winter night.

“Lover? The kind where I actively send you to someone else’s bed?”

Her smile mocking, brows shadowed, Jiang Li lowered her gaze at the corners. Their breaths mingled hotly in the scant space between them, Christmas bells tolling outside once more.

Jiang Li waited for Lu Chaohuan’s answer.