Chapter Twenty-Three: Striking a Deal

Tao Ranming paused, his gaze landing on the man leaning half against the wall, smoking. The man lifted his eyelids, casting a detached glance at Du Zhiye, his voice void of emotion as he spoke, “There’s no need to keep it.”

How heartless—that really stings.

Du Zhiye reached out with her foot and nudged Jiang Yingnan’s calf. “Second Young Master, I quite like you.”

Jiang Yingnan stepped aside, warning her, “Du Xin is my girlfriend.”

Du Zhiye felt a pang in her chest. Her family had been wrecked by a mistress, and she had always despised women like that. Yet now, she had become one herself—a mistress, and not just any mistress, but the mistress to Yan Xiufang’s daughter’s boyfriend.

Life, it seemed, really was a cruel joke.

Failing to seduce him, Du Zhiye decided to be frank. “Second Young Master, let’s make a deal.”

Jiang Yingnan raised an eyebrow, snuffed out his cigarette, and looked at her. “Let’s hear it.”

Du Zhiye took a deep breath. “Give me your phone number, and I won’t tell Du Xin about us.”

Jiang Yingnan laughed. “Miss Du, that’s not a deal. That’s blackmail.” He emphasized the last two words, his tone edged with menace.

Du Zhiye wasn’t exactly confident, but she’d played every card she had. Once Du Xin returned, she wouldn’t even get a chance to speak to Jiang Yingnan. She could only seize the moment and act quickly.

She braced herself. “So, do you agree?”

Whether it was a deal or blackmail, as long as Jiang Yingnan agreed, that was enough.

Jiang Yingnan ran his tongue along his back teeth, lazily lifting his eyelids. “Do you really think that’s enough to threaten me?”

Du Zhiye considered this. “That depends on how much you care about my sister.”

If he cared, he certainly wouldn’t want Du Xin to know.

But… if he really cared, he wouldn’t have slept with her in the first place.

Du Zhiye knew deep down Jiang Yingnan didn’t feel too strongly for Du Xin, but she had nothing left to lose. Who knew—miracles did happen sometimes.

Jiang Yingnan nodded in acknowledgment. “And how exactly would you tell her?”

Du Zhiye blinked. “I’d just tell her you slept with me.”

Jiang Yingnan’s lips curled into a faint smile. His obsidian eyes rested quietly on Du Zhiye for a few seconds, then he replied, utterly unfazed, “Go ahead.”

His answer irritated Du Zhiye. Just as she was about to speak, Du Xin’s voice sounded from outside the door. “Ranming, why aren’t you going in?”

Startled, Du Zhiye looked up and saw Tao Ranming standing at the doorway. Their eyes met, and within his gentle gaze, she saw disappointment, along with a shadow of unspoken gloom and anger.

Her heart clenched. The Tao Ranming she knew had always been gentle and warm; she had never seen him look so cold and fierce.

She pressed her lips together and asked, “Why are you here?”

Tao Ranming let out a derisive laugh, lifting his eyes to hers. “Sorry for interrupting.”

His tone was mocking, barely concealing his anger, and his gaze even flickered to Jiang Yingnan.

Du Zhiye’s heart plummeted. Clearly, Tao Ranming had heard everything she’d said to Jiang Yingnan.

She wanted to explain, but after a moment’s thought, realized there was nothing to explain. She and Tao Ranming had already broken up. She was single now—her life was no longer his concern.

Still, considering the relationship between Jiang Yingnan and Du Xin, she felt she ought to say something to Tao Ranming, to prevent any harmful rumors from spreading.

She herself didn’t care—her life was limited, after all.

But the Du family and Du Xin couldn’t withstand the weight of gossip and slander.

Her gaze landed on Du Xin behind Tao Ranming. “Du Xin, why don’t you and Second Young Master head back first?”

Du Xin had been waiting for these words; she set down the medicine and took Jiang Yingnan’s arm, leading him out.

Jiang Yingnan didn’t object. As he left, he glanced back at Du Zhiye, his look fleeting and light, yet in that brief moment, she sensed danger.

“Still reluctant to see them go?” Tao Ranming’s tone was ambiguous, neither warm nor cold.

Du Zhiye withdrew her gaze and looked at Tao Ranming. After a moment’s thought, she asked, “Did you hear everything just now?”