Volume One, Chapter 9: A Worthy Lady Jiang

If he hadn’t heard it with his own ears, Lu Ming simply wouldn’t have believed those words had come from Bai Ruoxi’s mouth.

Before him stood Bai Ruoxi, dressed in a white dress, slender and petite, her delicate features radiating a quiet elegance. Beneath Lu Ming’s glasses, his dark eyes flickered with a trace of doubt.

After a few moments of stunned silence, he finally said, “Understood…”

As Bai Ruoxi prepared to leave, Lu Ming couldn’t help but speak up.

“Miss Qiao, if Zhou Ran is so tough, why does she act so submissive toward those who bully her?”

Wasn’t that contradictory?

Bai Ruoxi paused in her steps.

Why…?

Her grip on the purse strap tightened, memories from long ago swirling in her mind.

This was a past Bai Ruoxi had desperately tried to conceal.

From the age of five, she was groomed by the Bai family as a marriage prospect to the Jiang family.

“How to become a qualified Mrs. Jiang” was a course she studied even earlier than sex education.

The Bai family tailored her education specifically.

Their goal was to mold her into the daughter-in-law most pleasing to the Jiang patriarch, the wife most satisfying to the betrothed, the most presentable lady in Jiang City.

Only when the Bai family’s daughter held a secure position could they continue to reap benefits from the Jiang family.

Suppressing the disgust swelling inside her, Bai Ruoxi spent ten years learning how to be Mrs. Jiang.

Then Bai Ruoyun appeared, and Bai Ruoxi finally escaped the fate of a puppet on strings.

Yet it seemed as if fate had arranged everything in advance: she fell in love with Jiang Jinglan and willingly became Mrs. Jiang.

A faint smile touched Bai Ruoxi’s lips.

“I love Jiang Jinglan and want to be a good wife. Enduring many things quietly means fewer troubles for the Jiang family.”

Love was one reason; the ingrained “Mrs. Jiang” mold etched into her very bones was another powerful influence.

She had to be obedient, patient, filial, and consider the bigger picture without causing her husband any trouble…

All these were the conditions required of a Jiang family daughter-in-law.

A voice inside Bai Ruoxi’s heart always told her that as long as she was a good Mrs. Jiang, she would not be abandoned.

“Is that so?”

Lu Ming looked at Bai Ruoxi across from him, sensing that the sweet smile on her face had somehow twisted.

Later, he would have to call Director Qiao.

Miss Qiao definitely needed a psychologist…

Bai Ruoxi nodded. “Please take care of what happens next, Lu Ming. Bai Ruoyun is still waiting for me outside.”

Lu Ming snapped back to reality.

“Don’t worry, I will handle everything concerning Zhou Ran properly.”

Watching Bai Ruoxi leave the office, Lu Ming returned to his seat.

He took a sip from the thermos filled with Biluochun tea and thought again about what Bai Ruoxi had said. The more he thought, the more uneasy he felt.

Hiss… beating someone up blindly… could it go wrong…

As a business elite whose professional abilities met standards, Lu Ming had never done anything like that before.

His past experience was zero, and the legal risk assessment was over eighty percent.

He nervously rubbed his chin.

He needed to call Director Qiao for instructions—Miss Qiao was acting too recklessly.

Sighing, Lu Ming returned to his work.

Near six o’clock in the afternoon, his phone rang.

Lu Ming answered, hearing the assistant’s slightly anxious voice.

“Director Du, there’s a problem with the medication. It contains a potent aphrodisiac bought on the black market… it’s… an illegal substance.”

“What!”

Startled, Lu Ming stood up from his office chair. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I confirmed it personally.”

His heart thudded heavily; after a brief moment of rapid thought, he said gravely, “Miss Qiao is in danger…”

Once drugged, the next step would be to have someone take action against her…

—

After leaving Jin Zhi, Bai Ruoxi and Bai Ruoyun dined at the best Jiang City restaurant in Jiade Plaza.

Throughout the meal, the two tacitly avoided mentioning each other’s pain.

Bai Ruoyun only spoke of future plans.

She intended to return to the Bai family first.

Du Xiaoling was still her biological mother and wouldn’t completely abandon her.

After finding a place to live, she would find a way to locate Zhou Zishan.

By the time they left the restaurant, dusk had fallen.

Bai Ruoxi offered to drive Bai Ruoyun back to the Bai family, which was also a chance to see Mrs. Du.

Coincidentally, Jiade Plaza was under renovation.

The main road to the garage was barricaded, leaving only a few narrow alleys wide enough for three people to walk side by side.

“Clack, clack, clack…”

The crisp sound of high heels echoed through the alley.

Bai Ruoxi and Bai Ruoyun walked one after the other.

“When you argued with Chen Chunrong and the others today, I watched from the side,” Bai Ruoyun said, lowering her eyes to glance at the purse in Bai Ruoxi’s hand.

“Qin Yu seems very interested in your bag.”

“Is that so?”

At that time, Bai Ruoxi’s attention was fully on Chen Chunrong; she hadn’t noticed Qin Yu.

Glancing at the bag, Bai Ruoxi replied coolly, “Jiang Jinglan had it sent this morning. It’s a limited edition Amier—only three in the country.”

“It’s normal for Qin Yu to be interested. What woman isn’t interested in bags?”

Bai Ruoyun’s expression grew serious. “I advise you to be cautious around Qin Yu. That woman isn’t simple and has a bad reputation abroad.”

“Have you heard about her?”

Bai Ruoxi was about to ask more when her phone rang. It was Lu Ming.

As soon as she answered, before she could speak, Lu Ming unusually took the initiative.

“Miss Qiao, where are you? Are you okay?”

“I’m in the alley leading to the garage. What’s wrong?”

Recently, Bai Ruoxi had been taking this path to Jiade Plaza.

Though few people chose this alley, it was broad daylight—what danger could there be?

Lu Ming’s voice was tense.

“Leave there quickly. Go somewhere crowded and wait for me. I’m worried you’re in danger.”

Bai Ruoxi frowned. “There’s no danger here.”

Just then, heavy footsteps sounded behind her.

“Clack, clack, clack…”

The noise was like shoe soles dragging on the ground, and there was more than one person.

A chill ran down Bai Ruoxi’s spine; she and Bai Ruoyun turned around simultaneously.

Seven or eight disheveled ruffians in flip-flops approached from the alley’s entrance.

Leading them was a man with a balding patch, appearing about forty years old.

He chewed betel nut incessantly, revealing blackened yellow teeth. His small green eyes gleamed with lecherous intent.

Bai Ruoxi’s heart trembled as Lu Ming’s low roar came through the phone.

“Miss Qiao, what’s happening? Don’t move. I’m sending someone to find you immediately.”

The gang blocked Bai Ruoxi and Bai Ruoyun in the middle of the alley.

Bai Ruoxi stared at them in shock, retreating step by step until her back pressed against the brick wall—nowhere to run.

Bai Ruoyun spoke first.

“Who are you?”

The balding man touched his forehead, speaking in a coarse, raspy voice as he looked at Bai Ruoxi.

“Who we are doesn’t matter. What matters is I know you’re Mrs. Jiang.”

“Mrs. Jiang, don’t blame us. Someone paid us to ‘handle’ you and record it for Director Jiang.”

“You’d better not call the police, or we’ll post the video online. I’ve done this more than once…”

He rubbed his dark, rough hands together, casting lascivious glances over Bai Ruoxi and Bai Ruoyun.

“Mrs. Jiang, after taking that drug, you must be burning with desire. Let us take you home and treat you well…”

Disgusting…

Bai Ruoxi’s stomach churned, anger filling her heart.

The medicine Chen Chunrong gave her was tampered with!

Most likely, these men were arranged by Chen Chunrong, aiming to ruin her reputation and force her out of the Jiang family.

So ruthless…

As the men closed in, Bai Ruoxi’s breathing grew more rapid.

Trembling, she ended the call with Lu Ming and dialed Jiang Jinglan’s number.

“Beep—beep—beep—”

Finally, the call connected.

“Is that you, Ruoxi? Did you need to speak with Jinglan?”