Chapter 16: A Fragile Sisterhood

Hearing this voice, Lan Jin felt a surge of energy—her best friend had arrived to lend support, and the seeming defeat was bound to be reversed.

However, Lan Jin and Lin Wanyu had already agreed not to show any signs of intimacy in front of Qin Chuan, lest their plan for venting their grievances be thwarted before it even began.

“President Lin, you’ve come at just the right time to help judge this matter. I have a marriage contract with Mr. Qin Chuan here, but Miss Lan insists on shamelessly inserting herself into the situation. What do you think I should do to vent my anger?” Liu Qingcheng asked with a sweet smile.

Lin Wanyu’s elegant brows furrowed slightly; truth be told, she was caught off guard by the revelation that Qin Chuan and Liu Qingcheng had a marriage contract as well.

She remembered how Qin Chuan had so decisively thrown the marriage agreement at her, and the thought left her feeling increasingly unsettled.

Moreover, if Qin Chuan refused to break off the engagement with Liu Qingcheng, did that mean she herself had lost in terms of feminine charm?

It was infuriating!

For Lin Wanyu, whether in public or private, she had to help Qin Chuan break off his engagement with Liu Qingcheng.

“I’m simply helping my best friend get her revenge and returning the favor she did for me against Qin Chuan,” Lin Wanyu repeatedly reassured herself, convincing herself of her own motives for supporting Lan Jin.

With her resolve set, Lin Wanyu spoke calmly, “President Liu, I won’t comment much on your private affairs, but as an outsider, I personally don’t approve of these parental-arranged marriage contracts. To put it nicely, it’s about elders wanting to deepen their friendship; to put it bluntly, it’s about mutual benefit. I trust your wisdom and rationality, President Liu, wouldn’t believe in ‘love at first sight.’ That phrase, more often than not, is just superficial attraction. Wouldn’t you agree?”

One had to admit, Lin Wanyu’s rhetorical skill was truly refined; her words sounded fair and objective to anyone listening.

Yet in reality, she had set Liu Qingcheng up: if Liu Qingcheng accepted the marriage contract, it was tantamount to admitting she was after Qin Chuan’s interests. She also implied that if Qin Chuan persisted in not breaking off the engagement, it meant he was motivated by mere lust.

Given the pride of these two, Lin Wanyu doubted either would accept such a conclusion.

“Damn, looks like this woman’s combat prowess makes her a perfect shield!” Qin Chuan lamented inwardly. If Lin Wanyu hadn’t had her own quirks, he might not have broken off the engagement so quickly—at the very least, he would have kept her under observation.

Liu Qingcheng was momentarily stunned; she felt something was off with Lin Wanyu’s words, but couldn’t quite pinpoint the problem.

“Why does it feel like I’m being set up?” The thought flashed through Liu Qingcheng’s mind.

Lan Jin was elated, discreetly giving Lin Wanyu a thumbs-up. Truly, her best friend’s tactics were unmatched; she had cornered Liu Qingcheng in a single move.

Liu Qingcheng smiled charmingly. “President Lin, you may not know this, but I belong to the ‘appearance matters’ camp. From the moment I first saw Brother Chuan, I was attracted to his looks.”

Lin Wanyu and Lan Jin’s mouths twitched almost in unison; they clearly hadn’t expected Liu Qingcheng to trample her own dignity so boldly, even wearing her shamelessness as a badge of honor.

Qin Chuan mentally applauded this woman, seductive to her core. He’d thought Liu Qingcheng’s initial move was impressive, but her ability to counterattack while on the defensive—and even seize the upper hand—was remarkable.

“Shamelessness really is invincible; the ancients didn’t lie!” Qin Chuan mused. Now, he felt Liu Qingcheng might indeed be the best shield, though with her so deeply involved, there was always the risk she’d take the act too far.

It wasn’t narcissism; the fact that Liu Qingcheng had learned of his return to Binhai proved her family’s close ties with one of his mentors, and that she knew his background well.

Given Liu Qingcheng’s assertiveness, Qin Chuan suspected she had her own agenda. With a woman like this, he would only go as far as friendship; anything more was out of the question.

“As a model of excellent masculinity, I too hope for a pure, beautiful romance.”

Just as Qin Chuan was lost in thought, Liu Qingcheng launched another offensive, this time targeting him directly.

“Brother Chuan, I’ve admired you for a long time, and I’m longing for a deeper connection with you,” Liu Qingcheng said, winking at him. The allure in that moment was enough to send shivers down one’s spine.

“What a temptress!” Qin Chuan sighed, suddenly understanding why King You of Zhou would risk everything for a beauty’s smile.

“You mustn’t agree to her!” Lin Wanyu and Lan Jin interrupted simultaneously, cutting off the conversation just as Qin Chuan was about to reply.

Qin Chuan was momentarily taken aback, then glanced at Lin Wanyu in surprise. But he quickly understood her reason—his earlier rejection had left her feeling slighted.

Liu Qingcheng, meanwhile, looked as if she had discovered something new. She pointed at Qin Chuan and asked with a bright smile, “President Lin, you know him too?”

Lin Wanyu realized she’d slipped, but Qin Chuan didn’t give her a chance to deny it, seizing the moment: “Miss Lin, don’t you already have a boyfriend? Or are you sneaking out behind his back?”

Lin Wanyu’s lips twitched violently; if not for her concern about maintaining her ladylike image, she would have lunged at Qin Chuan and bitten him.

“Despicable!” Lin Wanyu was mortified and furious, her flawless cheeks nearly betraying her emotions, but with so many people watching, she couldn’t explain herself further.

Lan Jin, who knew the whole story, wanted desperately to laugh, but knew it would be completely inappropriate at that moment.

She was a professional; she absolutely couldn’t laugh.

Unless she simply couldn’t help herself.

Lan Jin glanced apologetically at her best friend, only to meet an icy glare that sent a chill through her. She quickly hid behind Qin Chuan.

“This gentleman is far too self-important. For the record, I’ve never been interested in ugly, worthless men,” Lin Wanyu said coldly.

Qin Chuan, unwilling to show weakness, pressed on, “Understood, understood. Miss Lin is only interested in toys, but as a doctor, I should warn you—overuse of certain toys can be harmful.”

“Geigeigei!” Lan Jin, the consummate professional, finally couldn’t help but burst out laughing, while Lin Wanyu’s expression darkened to the extreme.

“Fake friendship, confirmed!” Lin Wanyu thought with a sigh. She felt she’d chosen her friends poorly—how else could she be mocked so mercilessly by this wretch?