Chapter 453

Chapter 453 A Woman’s War

In the private room.

　　Su Rui and Lin Aoxue sat facing each other, eyes locked, the air between them thick with an unmistakable tension.

　　Gazing at the flush spreading across Lin Aoxue’s cheeks, Su Rui suddenly had the urge to leap over the table and kiss her.

　　A breathtaking beauty wearing a shy blush — who could remain unmoved?

　　In a moment like this, the wine needed no help making hearts drunk.

　　Lin Aoxue felt the heat in Su Rui’s gaze too. Unlike before, she didn’t shy away or dodge — instead, she boldly met his eyes with a provocative stare, her expression seeming to say: do you dare?

　　Su Rui had never been one to back down from a challenge. His blood was rushing to his head, and he threw all the tangled complications behind him.

　　He slapped the table, surging with boldness, and was about to rise and take that decisive step. Lin Aoxue, though her gaze held steady and defiant, was inwardly a bundle of nerves, her heart pounding wildly!

　　But just at that moment, the door to the private room swung open from outside!

　　”I never expected President Aoxue to grace Junlan with her presence — I do apologize for not welcoming you properly.” Qin Yueran’s melodious voice rang through the room.

　　Su Rui had barely risen halfway from his seat when he froze — completely dumbstruck!

　　Lin Aoxue, who had been bracing herself for the joy that was about to arrive, heard that voice and felt her expression lock up on her face!

　　”Su Rui? I didn’t expect to find you here too! What a coincidence!”

　　The moment Qin Yueran spotted Su Rui, her face lit up with undisguised delight!

　　Though at that moment she could have happily strangled him ten times over, she — having never received a single day of professional acting training — delivered a performance that put seasoned actors to shame!

　　That said, from another angle, Qin Yueran hadn’t seen Su Rui in a long time, and seeing him appear before her safe and sound finally allowed the worry she’d been carrying in her heart to fully dissolve. So the delight wasn’t entirely an act — a good part of it was completely genuine!

　　Speak of the devil. Su Rui was still half-standing, stiff and awkward. He scratched his head and laughed. “Yeah, what a coincidence! How could it be this much of a coincidence?”

　　Lin Aoxue hadn’t yet come down from the charged atmosphere of moments before, and stood there in a daze, not knowing what to say.

　　Qin Yueran played the picture of innocence, set two bottles of Royal Salute on the table, opened them with practiced ease, poured glasses for Su Rui and Lin Aoxue, then took a wine glass for herself and filled it too.

　　Watching a third glass appear on the table, Su Rui’s expression turned utterly bitter.

　　Other men dreamed of having multiple wives and concubines, and the women around him were each stunning in their own right — so why did he feel nothing but misery right now?

　　Lin Aoxue had no idea what Qin Yueran was thinking. She felt a faint, light twinge of jealousy toward her, but on the whole wasn’t particularly put off. In fact, Lin Aoxue rather admired this bold young woman who had dared to resist her family’s arranged marriage.

　　Without asking either of them, Qin Yueran made herself at home and sat down, her beautiful eyes fixed on Su Rui. “Su Rui, I heard from Ran Long yesterday that you’d been arrested — the whole Qin family was in an uproar. How are you here right now? Did you manage to get out safely?”

　　Uncomfortable under Qin Yueran’s gaze, Su Rui cleared his throat twice and said, “I have Old Master Qin to thank for this. I just got back from the capital and came straight here for dinner.”

　　Qin Yueran glanced at the half-empty plates on the table and smiled faintly. “Is that so — came straight here for dinner? How is it that the meal is nearly finished and I still had no idea you were here?”

　　So this woman had been playing dumb the whole time. All that warm, enthusiastic welcome was a front — she’d come here to call him to account!

　　Su Rui’s face darkened completely. He had no idea what to do. He’d walked through countless hails of bullets without so much as a change in expression, yet right now he had an overwhelming urge to bolt for the door!

　　”Aoxue invited me today.” With no other option, Su Rui had no choice but to shift all the blame onto the young Miss Lin.

　　Lin Aoxue finally grasped Qin Yueran’s purpose in coming — the queen of Junlan was clearly jealous!

　　It seemed they were far from ordinary friends. At the very least, no one could remain unmoved knowing that Su Rui had been willing to stage such a grand, sweeping wedding rescue for a woman.

　　Even Lin Aoxue herself, when she’d first heard the news, had felt a pang of envy rise in her chest!

　　Her gaze moved back and forth between Su Rui and Qin Yueran several times. Lin Aoxue reaffirmed her read of the situation. She was different from Su Rui — faced with Qin Yueran’s challenge, she felt no awkwardness at all. Instead, a quiet fighting spirit quietly stirred within her.

　　All her life, Lin Aoxue had never cared much for others’ opinions, yet she had always been the most outstanding person in any room — no one could surpass her!

　　When it came to matters of the heart, how could she possibly let another woman outshine her?

　　Lin Aoxue’s gaze sharpened slightly, and the corners of her mouth curved up in a rare, faint smile — she was smiling!

　　Qin Yueran smiled back and glanced at Lin Aoxue, whose looks and figure were every bit her equal. The smile carried the ringing clash of steel on steel. As the gazes of two exceptional beauties met, crackling sparks flew between them.

　　Watching their eyes lock, Su Rui suddenly felt as though he’d been electrocuted and singed to a crisp!

　　Qin Yueran raised her glass and said, “Aoxue, let’s both drink to Su Rui’s safe return.”

　　Lin Aoxue heard this, thought for a second, kept her beautiful face cool, and had no choice but to raise her wine glass as well.

　　She had been ready to counter whatever move Qin Yueran made, but this woman had suddenly shifted the focus onto Su Rui, quietly seizing the upper hand.

　　If Lin Aoxue said something like “I already celebrated with him just now,” it would only make her look petty. But if she simply went along with Qin Yueran’s lead, she would clearly be on the back foot, being led around by the nose.

　　She’d met her match — that was the only thought in Lin Aoxue’s mind right now!

　　”Su Rui, Aoxue, let’s all drink up.” Qin Yueran smiled softly, tilted back her fair, slender neck, and drained the glass of red wine with effortless grace.

　　Su Rui shot Lin Aoxue a helpless glance, only to find she wasn’t looking at him at all — she drained her glass just the same, not leaving a single drop.

　　Standing before two formidable women, the dashing Su Rui suddenly felt like a pushover with absolutely no say and no presence. He could only bitterly pick up his glass and slowly drink it down.

　　Damn it — the Royal Salute that cost over ten thousand a bottle tasted no different to him right now than flat, gone-off cola! He had a vivid sense of having been transported back to a matriarchal society!

　　”Su Rui, seeing that you’re alright puts my mind at ease.” Qin Yueran looked at him, her words light, yet carrying a deep tenderness.

　　Pinned by that gaze, Su Rui didn’t have the nerve to respond. He stared straight ahead, not daring to meet Miss Qin’s eyes at all.

　　They say alcohol gives the timid courage — but the more he drank, the more his courage drained away. Where was any trace of the national combat hero? Where was the Apollo who had once commanded the dark underworld of the West?

　　”Aoxue, it’s rare for the two of us to sit at the same table like this — let me drink to you first.”

　　With that, Qin Yueran drained her glass again.

　　Challenged like this, Lin Aoxue didn’t want to drink but couldn’t refuse — she had no choice but to drink along. Declining would have made her look graceless.

　　”Su Rui, have a bit more.” Qin Yueran had taken on the role of hostess, rising to refill his glass. The perfect figure wrapped in her short qipao swayed before his eyes, yet he didn’t quite dare to look.

　　”Uh, I’ve already had quite a lot — if I drink any more I won’t be able to walk.” Su Rui rubbed his nose and said with an awkward laugh.

　　”If you can’t walk, then don’t. Just spend the night on the sofa on my rooftop, same as the last two times.” Qin Yueran’s eyes were full of deep, unmistakable feeling.

　　Having said that, she didn’t even glance at Lin Aoxue — she already knew the other woman was on the verge of erupting!

　　Boom!

　　Hearing Qin Yueran’s words, Su Rui felt as though thunder had detonated inside his skull — his whole head was buzzing!

　　Su Rui wished a bolt of lightning would strike down from the sky and finish him off right then and there!

　　He snuck a glance at Lin Aoxue. Her expression seemed to stall for just a moment.

　　But it was only a brief second. Lin Aoxue turned to Qin Yueran and said, “Yueran certainly has a unique way of hosting guests.”

　　The implication was perfectly clear — Junlan Hotel had so many rooms, so why on earth would she have Su Rui sleep on a rooftop sofa?

　　For Miss Lin, there was no need to say much more. The impact was just as devastating. The power of words has never depended on quantity!

　　”Aoxue, on that point, allow me to explain in detail.” Qin Yueran had downed two large glasses in quick succession and seemed slightly flushed. She said, “Junlan Kaibin Hotel is a Qin family property. After I took over, I had the rooftop renovated and turned it into my private space. My fingerprint is the only key — without me there, no one can enter that rooftop.”

　　Su Rui wanted to die! Qin Yueran’s words made it unmistakably clear that those two nights had been spent together with Su Rui!

　　When women go to war, men are better off stepping aside!

　　A long night, a man and a woman alone, dry wood and open flame, him handsome and her beautiful — what could possibly happen? You could figure it out with your toes!

　　Because her relationship with Su Rui had progressed to something nearly tangible, Qin Yueran had held the upper hand over Lin Aoxue from start to finish all evening!

　　Lin Aoxue fixed her gaze on Qin Yueran, as though making up her mind about something. She picked up the Royal Salute, poured herself a full glass, and drank it down in one go without stopping!

　　She dabbed at the corner of her mouth where a drop of red wine had escaped, then stood up, walked over to Su Rui, and cupped his face in both hands.

　　Under the utterly stunned gazes of the other two, Lin Aoxue leaned down, and her alluring red lips pressed against Su Rui’s!

　　Let’s see who’s bolder than who.