I Stopped the Key Plot Point, But...

When Su Yutang saw Su Yurong again, mother and daughter were smiling as they walked one behind the other toward the main stage of the banquet hall.

No one would have guessed that the two of them had argued not long ago, yet now they made such a picture of maternal love and filial devotion.

When Su Yurong took the main stage and announced the theme of today's charity gala, the room fell silent. Of course, it was all pretty platitudes. Su Yutang would have to say a few words afterward too; after all, everyone present might one day become her business partner.

But she hated putting on a hypocritical mask and smiling at people just as hypocritical as she was.

When Su Yutang finished her speech, thunderous applause erupted below the stage.

Once the opening remarks ended, the charity auction began. The Su family's charity auction dinner had two kinds of invitations this time: one to attend, and one to participate in the auction.

If someone accepted the second invitation and signed their name upon entering the auction hall, it meant they were definitely going to bid on something.

Of course, almost everyone who accepted the second invitation signed. There would be plenty of media at the auction banquet that day, all of it useful for promoting their companies. Spending a little money to raise their profile was something these people were more than willing to do.

As the host, Su Yutang naturally had to sit in the seat of honor. Right now she was a little bored—she even wanted to yawn—but countless cameras were pointed at her, hoping to capture her bidding lavishly on some collectible.

She could slack off in front of Su Yurong, but in front of outsiders she absolutely could not make a fool of herself.

The collectibles at this auction were all boring, inferior things; not a single one was worth bidding on. She watched one item after another go on display, her mind elsewhere.

Many people paid far more for a collectible than it was worth. After all, there were no hidden gems here; this was all about business and social graces.

Just as the auctioneer drew back the curtain on the display platform, revealing a pink sapphire necklace on a mannequin, the design seemed perfectly suited to a young maiden's grace.

It was like a girl walking through a garden with a ripe red strawberry between her lips—anyone who saw her would feel their mood turn sweeter.

In that instant, someone flashed through Su Yutang's mind. This pink gem would suit her exceptionally well—sweet with a hint of shyness, the kind that made people unconsciously want to draw near.

As she stared at the gemstone necklace, the auctioneer onstage explained, “This pink sapphire necklace was the most prized possession of Queen Margaret of Spain in her maiden years five hundred years ago. Every gem is natural and unheated, with a refractive index above 2.42. It cannot compare to a pure-colored Padparadscha sapphire, but it is still extremely rare. The starting bid is five million.”

The moment the auctioneer finished, Su Yutang raised her paddle, wanting to crush the competition in one blow: “Twenty million.”

At that, astonishment flashed in the auctioneer's eyes. “Oh my, two guests have bid twenty million at the same time. Any other bidder?”

Hearing that, Su Yutang's brow furrowed hard enough to crush a fly.

Who on earth was bold enough to outbid her after seeing her raise the paddle?

At the thought, she turned with a displeased look to see who was bidding against her. The woman wore a white dress patterned with camellias, and under the lights, her triumphant gaze was aimed right at Su Yutang.

Of course it was her—Yun Huaizhu!

Su Yutang's pent-up anger instantly became unbearable. She raised her paddle straight to fifty million. Everyone present marveled at her “deep pockets.” Seeing that, Yun Huaizhu raised hers again.

Seeing that the woman refused to give up and kept escalating, Su Yutang felt an inexplicable urge to curse her out. Does your Yun family even have that kind of cash flow? You'd bankrupt yourself just to compete with me, wouldn't you?

She suddenly felt resentful toward the whole world. Su Yurong never should have let this woman in. Every time she saw Yun Huaizhu's face, she felt displeasure. Especially after learning that Yun Huaizhu harbored special feelings for Lin Meng, she wished even more that the woman would vanish from her sight.

Su Yutang kept raising the bid, and Yun Huaizhu always raised it again after her. The prices they called out stunned everyone present; after all, this sapphire necklace was not part of a matched set.

Western European aristocratic jewelry only fetched higher prices when auctioned as matched pairs. This piece was not even a particularly perfect collectible; its starting price of five million was already inflated. But now Su Yutang and Yun Huaizhu had driven the necklace close to a hundred million.

Just as Su Yutang gritted her teeth and raised her paddle to a hundred million, the auctioneer finally stopped mentioning Yun Huaizhu. He called out, “One hundred million once, one hundred million twice... Congratulations to this young lady for winning the necklace that once belonged to Queen Margaret.”

Su Yutang had just spent her entire year's allowance. It made her heart ache a little, but seeing Yun Huaizhu displeased and thwarted gave her an inexplicable sense of relief.

She turned to look in Yun Huaizhu's direction, but the failed bidder had already left her seat, like a loser slinking off in defeat.

At the thought, Su Yutang felt even better.

...

When Yun Huaizhu walked out of the auction hall, her phone happened to ring. She answered, and a woman's weak voice came through. “Huaizhu... I heard you sent someone to take away the necklace my sister gave me yesterday. It's not that I'm insisting you return it—I just want to ask what you took that necklace for.”

Yun Huaizhu was in a very good mood just then, and her tone was much gentler. “Auntie, Mother is gone, and you never contributed anything to the Yun family. The new company I'm running is about to go public and needs a large amount of cash flow, so I took your necklace to auction. But don't worry—I'll return the auction proceeds to you untouched.”

After all, this charity auction only donated 10% of its proceeds to the charity foundation; the rest naturally went back to the auctioneer.

This was a trap she had spent a long time meticulously setting for Su Yutang. Just thinking about Su Yutang spending such a huge sum on such a worthless necklace, all to save face, sent a peculiar thrill surging through her.

The woman on the other end nearly burst into tears at that. “No... Huaizhu, you misunderstood. It was originally something my sister gave me, and my sister's things are your things. I have no objection to you auctioning it. It's not about the money—but next time, you really must tell me first.”

Yun Huaizhu found the woman's voice—cowardly to the point of death—utterly tiresome. Impatience crept into her tone. “All right, I'm still handling proper business right now. We'll talk when I get back. I'm hanging up first.”

“Huaizhu...” Before the woman could finish a single sentence, Yun Huaizhu hung up first.

Yun Huaizhu let out a breath after hanging up. Though everything had been handled properly, she had a faint feeling that something was going to happen tonight.

Su Yurong threatened her; Su Yutang always opposed her. Even if something happened, it would be the two of them reaping what they sowed. None of it had anything to do with her.

Yun Huaizhu leaned against the corridor wall covered in gold-patterned wallpaper, her head hanging as if dazed. The corridor's resplendent lights cast a somewhat forlorn glow on her profile.

She had finally become the person she hated most.

After some unknown amount of time, she suddenly thought of Lin Meng. Earlier, on her way to the auction hall, she had searched carefully but found no trace of her.

At the thought, Yun Huaizhu opened her phone again and found the WeChat contact labeled “Wife”: [Mengmeng-jie, where are you now? I went to look for you after I finished handling things earlier but couldn't find you. I was thinking we could go back together after this auction dinner ends. Tell me where you are and I'll come pick you up.]

She stood there, waiting anxiously for two minutes, but the other side still hadn't replied. Yun Huaizhu didn't know why, but she felt increasingly uncertain.

...

After the auction ended, it was time for the donation segment. This was an auction dinner hosted by the Su family, so naturally the Su family led the way. Su Yutang had already spent a hundred million at the auction, and now Madam Su donated a hundred million as well.

But when someone leaned close to her ear and quietly told her what Su Yutang had just done, the fixed smile on Su Yurong's face nearly cracked.

She knew her daughter was impulsive, but she hadn't expected her to be so foolish today—daring to spend a hundred million to buy a worthless piece of junk.

If Su Yutang kept this up, how could she possibly support such a vast family business?

The fury in Su Yurong's heart was nearly impossible to conceal. She struggled to keep her expression composed, then said through gritted teeth to the person beside her, “After everything ends, bring her before me. This time I will lock her up for half a year no matter what.”

“Yes, Madam.”

After all the segments ended, the real banquet began. The orchestra Su Yurong had specially invited from Vienna played elegant music, and the heiresses danced along to the melody.

Su Yutang, meanwhile, stood off to the side dealing with those who came to toast her. Her mood today wasn't bad; whenever someone came to toast her, she would clink glasses and take a symbolic sip.

Just as she was feeling a little tipsy, a figure she had seen earlier that evening slowly came to stand in front of her. She didn't want this person to ruin her good mood, so she said in a light, airy tone, “I should have warned you before—don't appear in front of me again, or I won't be polite.”

Hearing that, Bai Li let out a somewhat disappointed laugh. It was bleak, almost self-mocking. “Sorry... I just felt it was too hard to forget. I won't bother you again after this, so could you have one last drink with me? Just as... a farewell to the past.”

Su Yutang extended the goblet in her hand slightly toward her. “Since you insist, then after this drink there will be nothing between us.”

Bai Li reached out, took the half-finished glass from her, set it on the table, then picked one of the two glasses she had prepared beforehand and handed it to Su Yutang. “Since it's a farewell to our past, I don't want to touch a glass you've toasted someone else with. Just finish this one... and I'll leave immediately.”

Sure enough, once a little puppy was no longer cute, everything she did seemed long-winded in her former owner's eyes.

A trace of displeasure appeared on Su Yutang's face, but she took the glass Bai Li handed her.

At that moment, all her attention was on the glass of wine. She didn't notice the other woman's hand trembling slightly from nervousness and panic, nor the goblet's exterior, slightly moistened by cold sweat from her palms.

Su Yutang impatiently clinked glasses with her and downed the wine in one gulp.

Seeing the wine gradually disappear, Bai Li's eyes went wide. She seemed both expectant and afraid, her body trembling as if she could no longer bear it.

After Su Yutang finished, she tossed the goblet onto the tablecloth-covered table like garbage. “All right, we're even now. Get lost.”

Bai Li bit her lip hard. Her hands clutched her dress tightly, and a single anguished tear slid down her cheek. Then she nodded, slowly turned, and left.

...

Time returned to two hours earlier, when that woman had pressed a small box into her hand. A peculiar excitement had suddenly risen in her heart.

She had always thought this person was a substitute Su Yutang had found to remember her by, but reality seemed otherwise. The woman looked at Su Yutang with utter disgust, and Su Yutang didn't seem to like her very much either.

She raised her tear-streaked face to the woman offering her a chance. “What is this?”

The woman's pure, beautiful face revealed a sweet smile. “It's medicine that can help you and the person you love be together. Just put a little in her wine. Haven't you always wanted to be with her, to become Mrs. Su? After tonight, if you end up with a child and make a scene in front of all those media outlets, then no matter how much Madam Su dislikes you or doesn't want you entering the Su family's door, public pressure will get you what you want.”

Even with her innocent, harmless face, her words were like a demon's.

Yun Huaizhu reached out and pulled her up. “Tonight is your last chance. Whether you use it is entirely up to you.”

Bai Li walked absentmindedly along the empty rose path. The faint, sweet fragrance of musk roses in the night was refreshing, but at this moment she had no mood to appreciate it.

Indeed... tonight was her last chance. If tonight didn't work out, she would never have another chance to become Mrs. Su. She would have to leave this kind of wealthy life behind and keep struggling through the world on her own.

Could a person who had grown accustomed to life in a honey jar still return to a harsh environment of bitter struggle?

She couldn't stand those contemptuous looks. She wasn't that strong.

She was simply vain and loved admiration; she loved the unique doting Su Yutang had once given her.

She used to think that as long as she climbed up to Su Yutang, she would never have to suffer again in this lifetime. But she hadn't expected... that now Su Yutang didn't like her, even loathed her. If she really used that method to obtain Su Yutang, would she truly be happy even while enjoying wealth and glory?

As she walked aimlessly along the path, head lowered and heart heavy, she suddenly bumped into someone. She hurriedly looked up to apologize. “Sorry, sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going.”

But when she saw the woman in the pink gown, she froze.

Although the woman had removed the black-framed glasses she had worn before, Bai Li still recognized that face: this was the person who had appeared at the entrance of Su Yutang's villa that day and been taken away by Huo Yi.

This person had a connection to Su Yutang—one intimate enough to enter Su Yutang's villa.

Thinking of this, Bai Li panicked even more.

Lin Meng saw Bai Li's face pale, her expression looking like she had just done something bad. She hurried forward. “Miss Bai, are you all right?”

Hearing that, Bai Li began trembling uncontrollably again. She remembered that she had never told this woman her name, yet the woman somehow knew who she was.

There was only one possibility—this person had been sent by Su Yutang to test her.

Lin Meng's outstretched hand touched Bai Li, and in that instant she clearly felt her trembling. Seeing that, she immediately hugged Bai Li.

Bai Li was startled by the bold gesture. Her limbs had indeed gone stiff and cold from being frightened twice, but the woman's embrace was incomparably warm, as if trying to warm her cold limbs back up.

Bai Li didn't know how long the embrace lasted. When she came to her senses, she pushed the woman away. “What are you doing?”

The woman didn't seem angry at being pushed away. She still smiled cheerfully. “I just felt you trembling, so you must be cold... Hugs can make people less cold, so I wanted to give you a little warmth.”

“I don't need it!” Bai Li yelled, as if venting all the emotions she had accumulated that night.

Lin Meng frowned in confusion. “How could you not need it? Everyone craves warmth. I know you're not bad at heart; truly bad people wouldn't apologize first after bumping into someone.”

Hearing that, Bai Li's defenses seemed to crumble. Her eyes instantly reddened, and tears slid down silently. “You don't even know me. How can you know I'm not a bad person? This is all just your own presumption! Who do you think you are?”

Seeing that, Lin Meng hurried forward and used the handkerchief she had swiped from the dessert cart earlier to wipe Bai Li's tears. “I'm sorry... that's not what I meant. I just think you're not a bad person. I once heard someone mention you. You worked very hard, didn't you? Studying abroad does require money, but without any achievements a person couldn't stay there for long. You managed to study there until graduation all by yourself, even completing your thesis abroad. That's something I wouldn't even dare to imagine...”

Hearing that, Bai Li was instantly silenced, staring dumbfounded at the woman recounting her past.

Lin Meng continued. “These years you've been alone in a foreign land must have been very hard. You're inherently an outstanding person; you don't need to doubt yourself, and you certainly don't need to attach yourself to others. Not failing a single semester abroad is incredible!”

When she said this, she raised her head and smiled gently at Bai Li. “I really like people who are self-reliant, because no matter what environment they're in, they can grow against the wind. I think Miss Bai must be that kind of person.”

After hearing those words, Bai Li fell silent.

Yes, although back then Su Yurong had thrown her a recommendation letter to study abroad and a check for five million, that was far from enough to support her usual lifestyle in a place where she knew no one.

She had to familiarize herself with a completely foreign country and communicate with people she didn't know at all. In order to live normally, in order to return to her country with dignity, she studied harder than anyone.

For a time, she had even been so anxious she broke down.

But whenever people mentioned her, the labels attached to her were always the same: Su Yutang's simp, the person Su Yurong tore apart, the former maid's daughter of the Su family... No one had ever said such things to her, not even her own mother.

Bai Li's tears still wouldn't stop. Seeing that, Lin Meng wanted to wipe them again, but Bai Li fiercely slapped her hand away.

Lin Meng's hand stung, and the handkerchief fell to the ground. When she looked at Bai Li, the other woman was watching her with a cold expression. “Who do you think you are? What right do you have to judge me? Whether I'm a good person or a bad person, a hardworking person or not, those are my own choices. What are you doing here playing the saint?!”

Lin Meng: “?”

The saint?

Just now, Lin Meng hadn't sensed any sign of Bai Li getting angry. She had only wanted to gently persuade Bai Li not to do bad things.

After all, she really could rely on her connection with Su Yutang to get a sum of money and then live a carefree life. And Bai Li being able to stay abroad so long and even graduate meant she was definitely capable.

Bai Li's academic credentials alone were far more impressive than hers, and as long as Bai Li used Su Yutang's name, any job she found after returning would let her live better than Lin Meng did now.

Lin Meng instantly felt very wronged.

But never mind. Today she absolutely had to stop this little white flower from causing trouble.

She lowered her head with a look of full remorse. “Sorry for saying things that made you uncomfortable. I just wanted to say that the first time I saw you, I thought you were good. So can we not do bad things? Doing bad things makes your heart uneasy... it leads to panic and anxiety, even a lifetime of misery. You could already live better; you don't need to do those unnecessary things.”

Hearing that, Bai Li stepped forward and stared intently at Lin Meng's face. “You really think I'm good?”

Lin Meng didn't know why, but at this moment the little white flower's expression looked like she was about to devour her. She gave a trembling nod. “Mm-hmm.”

Bai Li sneered. As if venting, she said to Lin Meng, “Then listen carefully. I am not a good person. I am a bad woman. I love money, I'm vain, and when a shortcut is placed in front of me, how could anyone not take it? I enjoy being admired. I'm just that bad! Do you understand now?!”

Lin Meng saw that she was about to cry again, so she mustered her courage, raised her head, and met her gaze. “But that's just human nature. If that counts as bad, are there any good people left in the world?”

“Plop—”

Tears rolled down Bai Li's face one after another. She sobbed as if she could no longer control herself.

Seeing that, Lin Meng said, “Sorry, did I say something wrong again?”

Bai Li had never seen such a stupid saint. The thing she hated most in her life was saints!

Did they think they could illuminate the whole world just by shining a little light?

Just as the woman was about to touch her, she abruptly shoved her aside, then ran toward the manor exit while wiping her tears.

Lin Meng watched Bai Li's receding figure in confusion... She hadn't even finished everything she wanted to say. Had Bai Li figured things out on her own and left?

Lin Meng stood there in silence for a moment, then her face burst into a delighted smile—the task of stopping Bai Li from causing trouble had succeeded just like that. That was wonderful!

But she had barely been happy for long when she remembered the pale expression on Bai Li's face when she had first seen her... With that expression, could Bai Li have already given the medicine to Su Yutang?

Oh no, oh no. She had to go find Su Yutang or Yun Huaizhu right now!

At the thought, Lin Meng hurriedly pulled out her phone. The moment she opened it, she was greeted by a message Yun Huaizhu had sent half an hour ago.

Lin Meng immediately wanted to reply, but they weren't together right now. If Yun Huaizhu ran into Su Yutang on her way to find Lin Meng, and then Su Yutang dragged her away to continue that plotline, what then?

So she shouldn't look for Yun Huaizhu first; she should find Su Yutang. As long as she stopped Su Yutang from going into heat, it would be fine. Best to lock that person in a room...

At the thought, Lin Meng hurriedly lifted her skirt and ran toward the hall.

...

Su Yutang didn't know why, but she had been feeling hot all over since earlier. She had assumed it was just stuffy because there were too many people around, but now her vision was starting to blur, and she could barely make out the laughter and chatter around her.

Meanwhile, Yun Huaizhu and Ji Quanying, who had been observing from the sidelines, slowly moved closer to Su Yutang.

Yun Huaizhu knew that unless that battle-hardened old fox Su Yurong personally saw her and Su Yutang in the same room, the woman would never let her off easily.

She figured Bai Li was probably still on her way.

The concentration of pheromones released by an S-rank alpha who had taken that kind of drug was terrifying. Su Yutang had once caused another omega to suffocate and go into shock because she couldn't control the amount of her pheromones.

So as long as the people Su Yurong sent personally saw her and Su Yutang enter the same room, everyone around that room would retreat. By then she would leave the scene and let the person who truly wanted to be with Su Yutang go in.

While Su Yutang was still conscious, she saw that detestable person slowly approaching her. She still seemed to have the strength to mock. “Oh, so the rumors that the Yun family is about to go bankrupt are false. You're so wealthy you actually wanted to use ninety million to compete with me for a necklace. Did you really think you could win?”

Yun Huaizhu saw the deep flush on her cheeks and chuckled softly. “Eldest Miss Su jests. With my current status, how would I dare compete with you? But a necklace and a person are different. A necklace is cold and indifferent; it goes to whoever has more money. People are complex and have feelings. Someone like you will never possess that.”

At this moment Su Yutang felt like a fire was burning in her chest. Hearing Yun Huaizhu's mockery, she no longer had the energy to argue with her. “Strength is the best proof of possessing everything. You couldn't beat me in the matter of the necklace today; tomorrow, in the matter of people, you still won't beat me.”

Hearing that, Yun Huaizhu narrowed her eyes. She stood before Su Yutang as if in a direct confrontation, looking fearlessly at the person who had once made her afraid. “Whose hands it will fall into—let us wait and see.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Ji Quanying walked up to Su Yutang and supported her. “Eldest Miss, you're a bit drunk. Let me help you upstairs to rest first.”

Even in her current uncomfortable state, Su Yutang didn't forget to provoke her. She extended a finger and jabbed it fiercely in Yun Huaizhu's direction.

Yun Huaizhu didn't care about winning a war of words. After all, after tonight Su Yutang would be completely kicked out. She wasn't angry in the least.

...

When Ji Quanying helped Su Yutang upstairs, Su Yutang began pulling at her dress in discomfort. “Why is it so hot...”

She remembered that her manor had central air conditioning everywhere; there shouldn't be this kind of overheating. And her heat cycle hadn't arrived yet. This wave after wave of tormenting heat was clearly not something the beginning of a heat cycle could cause.

Then someone must have drugged her.

Who on earth?

At the banquet she had clinked glasses with many people. Was the person who drugged her targeting the Su family or her?

Ji Quanying was here, so even if she lost composure, probably no one else would see. She believed that her mother, who valued the Su family's reputation above all else, would definitely cover up the scandal completely.

When Ji Quanying brought Su Yutang to the bedroom on the third floor, Su Yutang's hand, damp with heat, grabbed the corner of Ji Quanying's clothes. “Steward Ji, go tell my mother I've been set up... have her immediately drive everyone on this floor out. And hurry, go get a doctor...”

Ji Quanying saw Su Yutang begging her with such an agonized expression, and for the first time in a long while, a flicker of guilt crossed her face.

After all, the person who had set Su Yutang up was her own mother.

By this point Su Yutang's vision was beginning to blur, so she didn't notice the telltale expression on Ji Quanying's face.

“Yes, Eldest Miss. I'll go right away.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she walked out and quietly closed the door.

Yun Huaizhu was waiting outside. Ji Quanying exchanged a glance with her, and Yun Huaizhu walked in.

...

The moment Yun Huaizhu entered the room, the scent of high-grade alpha pheromones made it hard for her to breathe. She hurriedly took out a handkerchief sprayed with blocking agent and covered her nose and mouth.

When she saw Su Yutang lying on the bed in the throes of heat, a look of satisfaction at having gotten revenge surfaced on her face.

In the past, Su Yutang, relying on being an S-rank alpha, loved watching others make fools of themselves and treated people like dogs.

Now the high and mighty Eldest Miss Su had likewise become a dog in heat. But soon her favorite little childhood sweetheart would come to soothe her.

At the thought, Yun Huaizhu couldn't help but curl her lips. But the blocking agent she had brought couldn't sustain her for long. After all, the alpha pheromones that were fatally attractive to omegas made her body uncontrollably move toward that person. Thinking of this, she hurried to the bathroom and opened the window. Below was a bed of hydrangeas.

Just as Yun Huaizhu took out the nylon rope tied inside her dress and prepared to climb down, she suddenly heard the person lying on the bed outside, delirious, call out, “Lin Meng...”

“Mengmeng, I feel so awful.”

The smile on Yun Huaizhu's face vanished instantly. If the situation weren't so urgent, she really would have turned back and slapped Su Yutang a few times.

What are you calling for?

Calling for Lin Meng won't make her come help you. How could someone like you ever deserve someone as good as Lin Meng?

Yun Huaizhu thought this as she kicked off her high heels, then, holding the rope, climbed down step by step.

Earlier, when she had given the medicine to Bai Li, she had already revealed in advance which room Su Yutang would be going to. Anyway, in a little while everyone would disappear from this floor, and Su Yutang could finally enjoy a private world with her little childhood sweetheart.

When Lin Meng ran to the hall, she saw Yun Huaizhu seemingly going upstairs. Since she wasn't sure which floor Yun Huaizhu had gone to, she could only search floor by floor like a sneaky little mouse.

As she searched upward, she deliberately avoided people and security cameras. But for some reason, as soon as she reached the second floor, there was no one left in the corridor.

Could the plot have already happened?

At the thought, Lin Meng's heart went half cold. She had worked so hard to make this effort; please don't let it be too late!

Lin Meng felt like crying. As she searched upward, she pressed her ear to each door, listening for any movement inside.

After all, someone as rough as Su Yutang would definitely make noise during sex. And Yun Huaizhu didn't like her that much at this stage; if Su Yutang did certain things to her, she would definitely resist. So as long as she pressed her ear to the door, she should be able to hear something.

There's still a chance—it won't be that fast!

Lin Meng comforted herself mentally while quickly running toward the third floor.

At this moment she even hated herself for not being an omega or an alpha. If she were, she could quickly smell the pheromones and wouldn't have to search door by door so slowly.

When Lin Meng found the middle room on the third floor, her tears were already falling uncontrollably. Was all her effort about to come to nothing?

Just then, the phone in her pocket rang loudly. Lin Meng was already sneaking around doing something bad.

Afraid of being discovered, she hurriedly pulled out her phone to turn it off. But before she turned it off, she caught a glimpse of the caller ID: Yun Huaizhu!

Her heart, which had been half dead just moments ago, suddenly sprang back to life. She was so excited she could barely hold the phone. It took about ten seconds before she tremblingly slid the screen to answer.

“Zhuzhu, are you okay?!”

“Mengmeng-jie, where are you?”

The two spoke almost simultaneously. Hearing the normal tone of Yun Huaizhu's voice, Lin Meng's tightly clenched heart finally relaxed. “Zhuzhu, where are you? Did anyone do anything to you? Are you hurt?”

When Yun Huaizhu jumped down, she hadn't been wearing shoes, so the soles of her feet were cut by the flowers below. But at this moment she didn't mind these injuries at all, because she was truly happy.

She remembered that the room Ji Quanying had taken Su Yutang to had a one-way door, one that could only be opened from the outside. It seemed Su Yutang and her little childhood sweetheart could enjoy a pleasant time together.

Hearing Lin Meng's concern, Yun Huaizhu smiled. “I'm at the back entrance of the manor right now. Mengmeng-jie, where are you? Come meet up with me quickly. We'll go home now.”

Hearing that, Lin Meng was overjoyed. She hurriedly urged Yun Huaizhu, “Go, go, the sooner the better!”

Yun Huaizhu could hear that Lin Meng was so happy she had become excited, but she was very puzzled. “But we're supposed to go home together. If you don't meet up with me, how will you get back?”

In order to get Yun Huaizhu away from this dangerous place as quickly as possible, Lin Meng blurted out, “Zhuzhu, I'm sorry. I felt a tightness in my chest earlier and wasn't feeling well, so I took a taxi and left ahead of time. That's why I need to apologize to you now. Just go back quickly... and tomorrow, no, as long as you go back right now, I'll go out with you every day and it'll be fine!”

Lin Meng's words were a bit urgent, but her phrase “go out with you every day” moved Yun Huaizhu. Yun Huaizhu even felt that after this period of bitterness, her hardship had finally come to an end. At this moment she was the happiest person in the world.

She agreed with utter indulgence. “All right, Mengmeng-jie. Since you're not feeling well, it's only right that you went back. Oh right, let me go to your place to see you. Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”

Hearing that, Lin Meng's nerves suddenly tensed. “No, no. Today you just need to get home normally and have a good sleep. If you do that, I'll be happy. Very, very happy!”

Yun Huaizhu hadn't expected Lin Meng to say goodnight to her in this way. At this moment she said sweetly in a coaxing voice, “Then goodnight to you too, Mengmeng-jie.”

“Mm-hmm.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Yun Huaizhu moved the phone away from her ear. She stared at the call timer until the seconds stopped before putting the phone away.

...

Lin Meng only let out a breath after hearing the car start on Yun Huaizhu's end. She didn't know how Yun Huaizhu had escaped, but the plot ended here. The physical and emotional torment would not happen starting today! In her relief, she unknowingly rested her arm on the door handle behind her, and the door quietly opened.

A sweet, indescribable fragrance seemed to drift from the room. It was somewhat like the body wash she had used at Su Yutang's villa before.

Even now, whenever Lin Meng remembered how Su Yutang had mixed her pheromones into the body wash, she couldn't help but feel a chill of revulsion. Just as she wanted to politely close the door and leave the manor—

A hand suddenly shot out from behind the door. Lin Meng's eyes widened as if startled. In the two seconds she stood frozen, that hand—already stained with a thin pink by desire, its knuckles slightly prominent—swept around her and forcefully pulled her into the room.

“Click—”

The door was locked again.