Chapter Fourteen: On the Way

"Let go of me!" Li Ran struggled, her whole body resisting him, but Ye Huai's grip was strong, and she couldn't push him away. She could only shake her head desperately, trying to avoid his kiss.

"Ye Huai! Let go of me!" Li Ran was truly furious now, shouting loudly but unable to do anything else.

Ye Huai calmed down when he heard her voice, realizing he'd lost control. He looked up at her; Li Ran's face was filled with panic, so different from the woman he'd seen that night.

At last, he released her.

Li Ran hurriedly sat up from the bed, straightened her clothes, and without hesitation rushed to the door to open it.

"Stop," Ye Huai called after her.

"What do you want now?"

Ye Huai took a jacket from the wardrobe and tossed it to her. "Put this on."

Li Ran glanced at her clothes. The once neat blouse was now wrinkled from their struggle; if she went out like this, people would surely misunderstand. Reluctantly, she took the jacket and put it on.

"Don't think I'll be grateful to you for this!"

Ye Huai laughed softly, suppressing the desire that still lingered within him. "I have no interest in your gratitude. You ought to know what truly interests me."

What interested him?

Li Ran recalled what he'd said at the hospital, understanding dawned in her heart.

"Mr. Ye, you seem quite concerned about other people's affairs. Let me tell you now: no matter what happens, I will never come looking for you!"

With that, she flung the door open and rushed out.

Ye Huai finally loosened his tie, tossing it angrily onto the bed. He had nearly lost control of himself just now; he couldn't explain why, but whenever he was near Li Ran, it was as if he were bewitched, unable to manage his emotions.

He hated this feeling. The stronger it became, the more he wanted to get closer to Li Ran, to see what enchantment she possessed.

Her scent still lingered on him. Without thinking, he stepped into the bathroom for a cold shower.

When Li Ran ran out of the room, Xiao Yuan hadn't gone downstairs yet. He stood in the corridor, waiting, and blocked her as she appeared alone.

"What is your relationship with Ye Huai?"

Li Ran looked up at him—the handsome, delicate man—but his tone didn't match his gentle appearance.

"There's nothing between us!" she replied, not wasting words, pushing past him to head downstairs.

Xiao Yuan wasn't so easily fooled. Li Ran wore Ye Huai's jacket, and Ye Huai, being so meticulous about cleanliness and appearance, would never casually give his clothes to a woman he had nothing to do with.

...

Li Ran hurried down to the private room, pushed open the door, and found An Qi, who was drinking with clients. Without a word, she raised her hand and slapped her across the face.

"You wretch! How dare you set me up! I really underestimated you!"

An Qi was stunned by the slap; it took her a long moment to recover, covering her face as she asked, aggrieved, "Ran, what are you talking about? I haven't done anything!"

Everyone in the private room was now staring at Li Ran, drawn by her outburst.

"You play your role well, don't you? Let me warn you: I remember everything you've done to me. Just wait—tonight's events are far from over!" With that, Li Ran stormed out in anger.

An Qi noticed the men's jacket on Li Ran, watched her leaving, and sneered to herself, "Let's see how long your pride lasts!"

...

Li Ran walked alone along the street, clutching the jacket tightly, replaying the night's events in her mind. An Qi had clearly planned everything in advance.

Thank goodness Hu Jin Hong hadn't succeeded. Ye Huai's face flashed through her mind, along with his actions in the room...

Just thinking about it made her ears itch uncomfortably.

She rubbed her ears, determined to cast off all those chaotic thoughts.

The road home was still long, and with rush hour in full swing, it was hard to find a taxi. Li Ran stopped at the roadside, waiting for a cab.

Suddenly, a black sedan pulled up in front of her. The window rolled down, and Xiao Yuan sat in the back seat, smiling at her. "It's hard to get a taxi here. Come on, I'll give you a ride."

"Sorry, we're not acquainted." Li Ran watched him warily, taking a step back. She hadn't forgotten that he'd witnessed everything in the corridor earlier, and he'd been with Ye Huai—who knew what he wanted from her now.