28: past

The name Lan Yanran was like an invisible slap that struck Wu Ruolan hard across the face.

Her complexion instantly shifted between shades of green and white, as colorful as a dye vat.

Lin Chao chuckled softly, "Actually, I should really thank you."

"Thank you for breaking up with me back then, allowing me to see your ugly face for what it truly is."

His gaze then turned to the stiff-faced Yang Feiyue beside her. "And of course, I must thank Young Master Yang as well."

"Thank you for taking her off my hands, saving me from the possibility of her pestering me in the future."

Wu Ruolan felt a surge of blood rush straight to her head!

She wanted nothing more than to pounce on him right now and use her nails to tear apart Lin Chao's smiling mouth!

"Lin Chao! Don't think you're all that just because you've latched onto CEO Lan! I..."

However, before she could finish her sentence, Yang Feiyue turned around and slapped her across the face.

Wu Ruolan stumbled, looking at him in disbelief. "Young Master Yang..."

Yang Feiyue gritted his teeth. "Is this any place for you to speak?!"

She really was ignorant! Did she not know who Lan Yanran was? Did she not know the scale of Lantu Group?

Their Yang Family lived off Lantu Group; every order they received was a handout from Lantu Group!

Yes! A handout!

Because Lantu Group was perfectly capable of finding better companies to work with. The only reason they chose the Yang Family was because of a cousin relationship!

If they offended Lan Yanran and she cut off the orders to the Yang Family, the Yang Family would surely suffer a devastating blow!

After delivering the slap, he looked at Lan Yanran with a forced smile. "Older female cousin, this is all my fault. I didn't expect her to be so tactless..."

Lan Yanran looked at him coldly. "It's not me she offended."

Yang Feiyue's head buzzed.

He understood Lan Yanran's meaning.

It wasn't Lan Yanran that Wu Ruolan, or even he, had offended—it was Lin Chao!

So Lan Yanran's meaning was clear: she wanted him to apologize to Lin Chao!

Yang Feiyue thought about how he had messed around with Wu Ruolan in Lin Chao's rental room and mocked him, and then ridiculed him further at the flying fox 4S shop... Back then, he was the high-and-mighty Young Master Yang, while Lin Chao was just a pathetic salesman for a crappy massage device company!

Yang Feiyue's heart was filled with both anger and hatred, yet he felt utterly helpless.

He could only offer Lin Chao a strained smile. "Mr. Lin, I'm sorry. I was wrong to treat you that way before..."

"As for Wu Ruolan, don't worry, I'm breaking up with her right now..."

"I know you certainly wouldn't want her back. Don't worry, I won't let her off easy..."

Wu Ruolan had just been slapped. Although she was full of resentment, there was nothing she could do. After all, she still relied on Yang Feiyue to support her!

But hearing Yang Feiyue's words now, she felt as if she had been struck by a bolt from the blue.

"Young Master Yang! You... you can't do this to me..."

Yang Feiyue immediately turned around and glared at her fiercely. "Shut up! If it weren't for a bitch like you seducing me, how could I have offended Mr. Lin!"

Wu Ruolan felt her blood freeze.

After berating Wu Ruolan again, Yang Feiyue looked at Lin Chao with a fawning smile. "Mr. Lin, what do you think?"

Lin Chao enjoyed Yang Feiyue's sudden change from arrogance to servility, as well as Wu Ruolan's despair.

"Break up? Why break up? I think the two of you are a great match."

He patted Yang Feiyue on the shoulder. "I'm still waiting to attend your wedding!"

Now Yang Feiyue was completely stunned.

Seeing that Lin Chao had vented his anger, Lan Yanran finally spoke softly, "Mr. Lin, let's go up."

Her lower abdomen was throbbing with waves of pain.

Lin Chao nodded. "Alright, CEO Lan."

As he followed Lan Yanran toward the elevator, he turned his head and looked past Lan Yanran's shoulder to give Wu Ruolan one last glance.

That look was full of mockery and pity, as if he were looking at a clown.

After they left, Wu Ruolan felt as if her soul had left her body.

Yang Feiyue's expression instantly turned dark.

How on earth did a loser like Lin Chao get involved with his arrogant Older female cousin?!

He had met Wu Ruolan at an upscale bar.

At the time, Wu Ruolan was wearing a sexy short skirt and making eyes at him.

Any man would understand that look.

After a few drinks, the two of them ended up in a hotel bed that night.

In bed, Wu Ruolan told him she had a boyfriend.

"Him? He's just a useless loser who sells massage devices."

"He's poor and incompetent. He can't even afford the latest designer bag I want!"

"Just the monthly rent and utilities are enough to make him go grey with worry. He's not worthy of me at all!"

Every sentence was filled with contempt, every word with disdain.

Yang Feiyue wasn't a fool; he had specifically looked into Lin Chao's background.

A man from an ordinary family, a graduate of a mediocre second-tier university, with no background, no connections, and a bank balance that rarely exceeded five digits.

It was because he was certain Lin Chao was a piece of trash he could step on at will that he dared to so brazenly mess around in Lin Chao's crappy rental room.

He enjoyed the ultimate thrill of cuckolding the man right in front of him!

But who the hell could have guessed!

This man, whom he considered the scum of society, had suddenly become his Older female cousin's honored guest?!

This isn't how the script was supposed to go!

Thinking of this, Yang Feiyue glared at Wu Ruolan again and turned to stride out.

Wu Ruolan finally snapped out of it and hurriedly chased after him in a panic.

Meanwhile, inside the smoothly rising president's private elevator.

Lin Chao looked at Lan Yanran, whose face was somewhat pale, and asked with concern.

"CEO Lan, are you alright?"

Lan Yanran forced a smile. "I'm fine."

"Your massage technique is truly effective. I didn't feel anything all day yesterday."

She let out a soft breath, her hand instinctively pressing against her lower abdomen.

"But since this morning, there's been some dull pain again."

Hearing this, Lin Chao's heart stirred. "It couldn't be that Zheng Guangzhi took the opportunity to come and talk about cooperation again, could it?"

At the mention of that name, a flicker of disgust flashed in Lan Yanran's eyes, but it quickly faded back to calm.

She smiled at Lin Chao. "You're actually right."

"He did come yesterday afternoon, but I sent him away."

She paused, her tone becoming a bit lighter.

"Moreover, I've already had people contact those small companies you mentioned."

"Just as you said, as soon as they heard Lantu Group was giving them a chance, they were incredibly eager. To secure the orders, they even proactively lowered their quotes by another point."

Hearing this, Lin Chao's heart finally settled.

This meant Lan Yanran had made up her mind to completely kick Zheng Guangzhi to the curb.

Just then, Lan Yanran suddenly furrowed her brows!

A suppressed groan of pain escaped her lips.

In an instant, all color drained from her face, leaving it deathly pale!

Her body went limp, and she swayed unsteadily, instinctively reaching out to steady herself against the mirror-like elevator wall.

Lin Chao's expression changed, and he quickly reached out to support her arm.

"Is the pain suddenly getting worse?"

That sudden surge of sharp pain felt like a knife was being violently twisted in her lower abdomen, instantly draining Lan Yanran of even the strength to stand.