Chapter 19: Head-to-Head Confrontation

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Yi tossed his phone back into his pocket, his expression somewhat grave.

He was the first to speak.

“Sister Ran, something just came up suddenly. I have to leave first. After you finish the soup, lie down and rest. Just leave that empty bowl there; I’ll wash it when I get back.”

“Mm,” Ran Xing’s heart twisted as she watched him walk toward the door.

At the very moment he reached for the doorknob, Ran Xing finally spoke up, asking,

“Wait a moment.”

Xiao Yi’s hand froze on the doorknob. He turned slightly, a faint redness showing at the corner of his eyes.

Yet, when facing Ran Xing, he still smiled, though his voice sounded a little hoarse.

“Is there something you need, Sister Ran?”

“Although it’s a bit forward of me, I still want to ask you for a favor.”

“I’d be happy to help,” Xiao Yi said with a gentle smile, his eyes shining with clarity.

“Do you remember Ruimin Hospital?”

Xiao Yi’s eyes brightened briefly, but he feigned indifference and asked,

“What about it?”

“I want you to visit someone in the psychiatric ward, on the tenth floor, in the rightmost room.”

After saying this, fearing rejection, Ran Xing hastily brought up their previous arrangement.

“If you help me, I will definitely help you become…”

Before she could finish the sentence, Xiao Yi cut in promptly, “Alright.”

With that, he pushed open the door and took a step, only to be called back by Ran Xing.

“Don’t you want to ask the patient’s name?”

Xiao Yi’s expression flickered briefly but quickly recovered. “Sorry, I was in a rush and forgot to ask.”

“She’s called Xu Xin.”

At the sound of that name, the light in Xiao Yi’s eyes instantly dimmed. After a moment, he forced out a few words from his throat.

“Got it. I understand.”

After closing the door firmly, Ran Xing gazed in its direction, lost in thought.

Xiao Yi, who was the caller just now?

——

The next day, eight o’clock in the morning.

Wang Ying went early to help Ran Xing with her discharge procedures.

By the time they returned, Ran Xing had already packed her clothes into a travel bag and placed it on the bed.

She sat obediently in the wheelchair, waiting.

Wang Ying came up beside the wheelchair and pushed it toward the door, teasing, “Miss Ran, you’re pretty quick.”

“Please wait,” Ran Xing interrupted.

“Today, I need you to help me deliver my luggage back to my home. I’ve sent you the address via text. To make communication easier, I’ve sent you a friend request on WeChat—don’t forget to accept.”

Wang Ying’s mind seemed tangled. She leaned in closer and asked again,

“So, you mean you won’t be leaving with me?”

Ran Xing responded indifferently, “Yes, that’s what I mean.”

Wang Ying’s heart tightened. “Miss Ran, if you leave, I can’t explain it. How about this: I’ll accompany you.”

She had been summoned back from abroad by Xiao Yi on a single phone call.

Xiao Yi had promised her that as long as she took good care of Ran Xing, he would hand over the land that his family’s group had been negotiating with the Lu Corporation for a long time, for free.

But if she failed to take good care of Ran Xing, Xiao Yi would skin her alive.

So she dared not let Ran Xing leave.

Catching the sensitive message, Ran Xing’s eyes curved into a smile, her tone calm and light as she asked,

“You said you can’t explain it. Who do you have to explain to?”

“I…” Realizing her slip, Wang Ying furrowed her brows. “I meant, I’m afraid I can’t explain it to... the director.”

“Don’t worry. Someone will come to pick me up. You can go back.”

Saying this, Ran Xing gestured toward the handles of the wheelchair, signaling Wang Ying.

Though deeply reluctant, Wang Ying was still her assistant, and she had no choice but to obey.

“Then, Miss Ran, do you have an appointment with someone? I can take you there.”

“No need.”

Ran Xing pushed the wheelchair and pressed the elevator button.

After they left, Wang Ying took out her phone and made a call.

Before the other party could speak, she burst out irritably,

“Ran Xing is really hard to deal with.”

“What’s wrong with her?” came the calm but cold voice.

“She’s probably going to see someone.”

The other party seemed to anticipate Ran Xing’s intentions but sighed, “Let her be.”

After hanging up, Wang Ying hurried outside.

At the entrance, she happened to see Ran Xing get into a red car.

She quickly took out her phone and snapped a photo.

Then, she scrolled through her WeChat contacts, found a certain name, and sent the picture.

She hadn’t walked far before receiving a voice call from that person.

“Why did you send me a photo?”

Hearing that familiar voice, Wang Ying was speechless.

“Can’t you tell that’s Ran Xing? I’ve sent you the license plate number; check whose car it is.”

Without hesitation, the other party replied,

“Wen Xiaoning’s.”

Wang Ying was both surprised and skeptical. “How do you know?”

“I checked long ago. Xiao Yi also told me that Yang Likang is holding a press conference. Damn, with just one word from Ran Xing, my acquisition contract is wasted. Anything else? If not, I’m hanging up.”

“No, that’s all.”

After hanging up, Wang Ying looked at the other party’s forever unchanged cartoon avatar and couldn’t help but laugh.

It had been so many years, yet Lu Qing’s avatar had never changed.

——

On the highway.

Inside a red Bentley, the heater was on.

Little Yuan was still driving, but the passenger seat was occupied by someone else.

Wen Xiaoning was the first to speak.

“Yang Likang’s wife has forgiven him, and Yang Likang has promised to hold a press conference at Yang Group at ten this morning.”

“Mm, I expected as much. After all, neither of them wants to see the stock price plummet.”

“Take this chance and quickly decide what to say later,” Wen Xiaoning said firmly.

Ran Xing, however, responded lightly with a laugh.

“Wen Xiaoning, don’t get it wrong. You’re the star of the show later.”

Wen Xiaoning snapped irritably, “I know, but don’t forget, later you have to clear up the rumors about the child I’m carrying.”

“Don’t worry, I remember.”

Ran Xing raised her hand and glanced at her bandaged hand, then asked,

“Is there a pair of scissors?”

“No,” Wen Xiaoning replied irritably.

Without hesitation, Ran Xing lifted her arm, brought the bandaged hand to her mouth, and started biting the tight knot the doctor had tied.

Wen Xiaoning was shocked, her pupils dilated. “Ran Xing, are you crazy?”

Ran Xing didn’t answer, using her teeth to gnaw an opening in the bandage.

Then, she tore it open with a ripping sound.

After carefully inspecting the wound in her palm, she glanced at the woman beside her and said casually,

“See that? Thanks to you.”

Wen Xiaoning felt guilty and turned her head away, muttering,

“So you’re not dead?”

Ran Xing raised her hand, grabbed Wen Xiaoning’s chin, forcing her to meet her gaze.

Raising an eyebrow, she smiled gently, but her eyes were filled with ruthless coldness.

“If it weren’t for that secret, do you think you’d be comfortably sitting in this luxury car?”

With that, she turned her head toward Little Yuan, who was driving, and said coldly,

“So you’d better keep that secret buried deep inside you. Of course, that includes your assistant here too.”

Then she released her grip and sat back properly.

Wen Xiaoning shot Ran Xing a fierce glare.

Inside, she was already raging and cursing,

“Ran Xing, don’t get too cocky. That secret—I’ll reveal it sooner or later!

What I want isn’t just your reputation destroyed,

but also,

your life!”