"Leave that card here with you."
"Sorry, miss, we can't keep valuables for customers. If it got lost, we wouldn't be able to take responsibility."
"Then what should I do?"
"Here's what—please take the card with you and leave your phone number. If that gentleman comes looking for it, we'll contact you."
Although she would rather never see that vulgar upstart again for the rest of her life, she had no choice but to do as they said.
…
Inside Jiangcheng University, the air was full of youthful energy.
As seniors, they had only two months before graduation. Some classmates had already gone out for internships, and once she finished her thesis, she too would have to leave campus.
Soon, this place would no longer belong to her. The thought left Lin Xiaonuan feeling a little downhearted.
She went to the computer room on the third floor, skillfully making her way to the very last row. She was the only one in her class without a laptop, so she always had to come here to work on her graduation project.
Just as she turned on the computer, a sudden sharp pain shot through her stomach.
Maybe she'd eaten something bad last night? She clutched her stomach and hurried to the bathroom.
As soon as she entered, she heard a familiar voice coming from one of the stalls—it was her cousin, Lin Xuanxuan, on a video call.
The voice from the other end of the line was also loud and clear.
"Brother Lu Yuan, what are you doing? I miss you already," Lin Xuanxuan's voice was sugary sweet.
A mischievous laugh came from Lu Yuan on the other end.
"Baby, I'm at the office. I miss you too. After work, same place as always. Take a shower and wait for me, okay?"
"You're so bad."
"Men who aren't bad don't get loved. Don't you like me being bad, little vixen?"
The two of them flirted shamelessly…
Lin Xiaonuan froze in shock—Lu Yuan was cheating on her with Lin Xuanxuan, and judging from their tone, this wasn't the first time.
Her fists clenched tightly. She fought to suppress the anger burning in her chest and stayed silent.
"Have you finished your graduation thesis?" Lu Yuan asked.
"My dad is the chairman of Lin Real Estate. Even the university president has to give him face. If I want to write it, I will. If I don't, no one can force me," Lin Xuanxuan said smugly.
"Yes, yes, your dad's amazing. By the way, has Lin Xiaonuan returned to school?" Lu Yuan asked again.
Lin Xuanxuan's tone turned sour, and she spoke through gritted teeth, "Why are you still thinking about that bitch?"
Lu Yuan hurried to explain, "Baby, you're the only one in my heart. I'm just worried yesterday's plan might have gone wrong."
"She hasn't come back yet. That idiot Lin Xiaonuan is probably still enjoying herself at the hotel with that old man. Let's see how she can still act all high and mighty in front of me," Lin Xuanxuan said with satisfaction.
"Your idea was brilliant—having her come to the dinner with me last night. Our Boss Zhu is a notorious lecher; no way he'd let her go."
"My dear little sister has no real ability, except that she was born with the face of a seductress. She knows how to attract men naturally, but pretends to be some saint who doesn't care about worldly desires. Hah!"
"By the way, that thing I gave you—you did put it in her drink, right? You didn't forget?" Lin Xuanxuan asked with concern.
"You don't trust me? She drank it, and within minutes, she was feeling off. I used the chance to take her upstairs, and then Boss Zhu went in. He promised to promote me to department manager afterward."
"Thank goodness for your pill. Otherwise, how would she have been so cooperative? Normally, I can't even get a kiss from her, but she sure knew how to please last night. Boss Zhu was hooked—she's still not back."
Thinking of Lin Xiaonuan's great figure and how he never got to touch her himself, Lu Yuan spoke with a tinge of jealousy.
"What, are you jealous?" Lin Xuanxuan was displeased.
"Of course not. She's so shabby—she's not even fit to be your servant. You're the only one I want. Even if she threw herself at me for free, I wouldn't take her."
Lu Yuan, eager to please Lin Xuanxuan, groveled like a lapdog.
Back when he first noticed Lin Xiaonuan going to a certain villa every weekend, he assumed she was from a wealthy family. She was beautiful, so he pursued her.
Later, he discovered she was just a country girl, while Lin Xuanxuan was the real rich young lady. So he hooked up with her instead.
The reason he never broke up with Lin Xiaonuan wasn't love—it was lust, biding his time until he could get her into bed.
But now the old man had gotten her first, and he regretted it—regretted never even touching her…
"Brother Lu Yuan, why don't I tell my dad to have you come work at my company? I'll have him make you a department manager," Lin Xuanxuan offered.
Lu Yuan was thrilled but pretended to refuse,
"No, that would make it seem like I'm living off you. I want to rely on my efforts to give you a good life."
…
Listening to their nauseating sweet talk, Lin Xiaonuan was so furious she forgot about the stomach pain.
She had thought the old man last night had drunkenly entered the wrong room. But now she realized—he was Lu Yuan's boss, Boss Zhu, and she had been set up by Lu Yuan and Lin Xuanxuan.
Unable to bear it any longer, she kicked open the stall door.
"Lin Xuanxuan, are you even human? You're disgusting…"
Lin Xuanxuan, sitting on the toilet, jumped in surprise. Lu Yuan, hearing trouble from the other end, quickly hung up and hid like a coward.
Knowing exactly how to manipulate Lin Xiaonuan, Lin Xuanxuan wasn't afraid.
She glanced at the hickey on Lin Xiaonuan's neck, then noticed her torn skirt hem. Her smile turned malicious…
"So, you always act so prim and proper, but you're wild, huh? You enjoyed last night, didn't you?"
Lin Xiaonuan grabbed her wrist. "Why did you do this?"
"Ow, let go! If you dare hit me, I'll have my dad make sure you never get your diploma, and I'll cut off your mother's medical expenses entirely."
Lin Xiaonuan froze, slowly releasing her grip. She couldn't act rashly. The diploma didn't matter to her, but her mother's illness couldn't wait.
She gave a cold laugh. "Relax, I won't hit you."
"Lu Yuan was willing to sell me out. One day, he'll sell you out, too. Don't get too smug."
"You… you… Brother Lu Yuan would never do that to me. I can give him money and love—what can you give him?"
Lin Xiaonuan wasn't angry. Her tone was icy. "That trash is all yours. You two are perfect for each other."
With that, she turned and left. Watching her back, Lin Xuanxuan felt an unexpected chill.
Four years ago, when her country-bred cousin first came to Jiangcheng, she had hated her to the core and done everything she could to torment her.
But this Lin Xiaonuan was like a cockroach that refused to die—tough enough to be infuriating…