Chapter 80: The Fish Takes the Bait

Jiang Ran then embellished the story and recounted it to her, glancing at her expression.

Then, taking the opportunity, he continued, "I've already used that money to smooth things over, but it hasn't been very effective. I was hoping to avoid further trouble by spending money, but the old man has already gotten involved..."

Song Yuqing's expression turned grim, and she quickly asked, "Then what should we do? Does that mean all that money is going to go down the drain?"

Jiang Ran pursed her lips and replied in a deep voice, "That's not necessarily true. But as you know, the Si family is powerful. If we continue to make connections, there's still hope."

"Keep bribing them?" Song Yuqing's voice rose when she heard that more money was needed: "I've already invested all my money, why do you want more?"

After saying that, he paused slightly, then looked at Jiang Ran with a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

The memory of Jiang Ran scheming against him flashed through his mind. Could this be something she did on purpose?

Jiang Ran noticed her gaze, but her expression remained unchanged as she explained, "There's no other way, but for Ziyi's sake, we have to try our best."

Upon hearing Lu Ziyi's name, Song Yuqing's expression softened slightly.

She knew that Jiang Ran was deeply in love with her, and even if she really wanted to scheme against her, she wouldn't joke about something like this.

Thinking of this, Song Yuqing frowned slightly, but did not give a clear answer.

————

"How is it? When can I leave?" Lu Ziyi asked Song Yuqing repeatedly.

Song Yuqing's expression stiffened, and she replied in a deep voice, "The Si family has intervened, so things may not be so easy now."

She was suspicious of Jiang Ran, which is why she came to find out more information. However, her request for bail was rejected by the prison guards, which clearly indicated that it was an order from above.

"How could this happen?" A hint of dejection flashed across Lu Ziyi's face. "Is there really no way to fix this?"

Song Yuqing bit her lip lightly and remained silent.

Lu Ziyi glanced at a certain spot, his voice trembling slightly: "Yuqing, I really can't stay here for another second!"

"You have no idea what kind of life I lived. Everyone in my room was sentenced to death. I lived in constant fear..."

Upon hearing this, Song Yuqing looked at the dark circles under his eyes and felt a pang of heartache: "Don't worry, we'll try to pull some strings and find a solution."

She didn't have any extra money to use for other purposes, but seeing his current situation, she could only grit her teeth and agree to go out and figure out a solution later.

On the other hand, Si Jiliang originally only planned to keep Lu Ziyi locked up for a longer period of time and arrange a "considerate cellmate" to teach him a lesson.

Seeing that Jiang Ran had intervened in this matter, a new idea came to mind.

Si Jiliang smiled slightly and then arranged to meet Jiang Ran.

Before making a decision, I always have to see her despair with my own eyes in order to calm my displeasure.

When Jiang Ran received the call, she reflexively refused, saying, "I don't think there's anything to talk about with you."

Si Jiliang's eyes flickered slightly: "Even if we talk about Lu Ziyi, you have nothing to say?"

Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow and retorted, "What does this have to do with me?"

Just as I was about to hang up, a voice suddenly came from the receiver: "I bet no one knows you're good at metaphysics, right?"

Jiang Ran paused: "Threatening me?"

Si Jiliang smiled slightly: "Just a reminder."

"Okay, where is the location?"

After Si Jiliang gave him the location of a coffee shop, Jiang Ran appeared in the private room not long after and sat down opposite him casually.

He spoke first, asking, "What did you want to say when you specifically called me here?"

Si Jiliang raised her chin slightly and said sarcastically, "Let's talk about your lover?"

Upon hearing this form of address, Jiang Ran frowned, a hint of displeasure rising within her: "Watch your words!"

Si Jiliang didn't care about her attitude at all, and scoffed, "Did I say something wrong?"

"I just wanted to remind you that this person might be stuck in there for the rest of his life, so don't waste your time trying to get him out."

After saying that, he looked up at Jiang Ran, staring intently at her every move, but he didn't see the panic he had expected.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ran remained unconcerned and looked at him seriously: "You just wanted to tell me this?"

Si Jiliang frowned, puzzled by her attitude.

"It must take a lot of effort to imprison someone out of thin air," Jiang Ranfu said again. "Then I'll have to trouble you."

Anyway, she couldn't stand Lu Ziyi, so his action actually saved her a problem.

Why not?

"You don't care at all?" Si Jiliang turned his head to look at her and couldn't help but ask.

Jiang Ran shrugged, looking indifferent: "Why should I care? Anyway, I've already received the money for the bribes, so we're even."

She didn't mind telling him this, because she was certain that Si Jiliang was always aloof and would never bother to talk to them.

Upon hearing this, Si Jiliang was taken aback, his face showing confusion.

Money for "patronage"? What kind of money?

After saying that, Jiang Ran didn't bother to see his reaction and got up to leave.

Si Jiliang frowned slightly and lowered his eyes in deep thought.

Jiang Ran's attitude was too abnormal; it seemed he had no choice but to investigate what had happened.

————

"What are you doing here?" Si Zuochen woke up groggily and saw Jiang Ran sitting on the chair by the bed. He frowned and his face was full of displeasure.

Hearing the voice, Jiang Ran slowly raised her head, raising an eyebrow slightly: "Otherwise, where should I be?"

Si Zuochen glanced around and asked, "Where's A-Lin?"

“Gu Nan took him away.” He paused slightly as he spoke, “I must say, you two are really in sync when it comes to sharing a common enemy.”

Upon hearing this, a hint of coldness flashed in Si Zuochen's eyes: "What do you mean?"

Jiang Ran lowered her eyes and gave a self-deprecating smile: "The moment I came in, your brother looked at me like I was his enemy. If Gu Nan hadn't forcibly taken him away, I wouldn't even have had the chance to come in."

Hearing her accusations, Si Zuochen sneered, "Serves you right!"

Jiang Ran ignored his mockery, got up, poured the porridge into a bowl, and handed it to him.

"This was really made in the small kitchen. Drink up."

Si Zuochen glanced coldly at the bowl of bland porridge, scoffed, and then reached out and knocked it over.

Fortunately, Jiang Ran dodged in time and was not burned like last time.

Si Zuochen lowered his eyes slightly, his voice low and devoid of warmth, and coldly said, "I don't need your pretense."

Jiang Ran's eyes instantly turned cold. She silently picked up the bowl, rinsed it with water, and then came back to ladle out another bowl of porridge.

This time, instead of handing it to him, she picked up a spoon and fed him directly to his mouth.

Just as Si Zuochen was about to dodge, Jiang Ran shoved the food directly into his mouth.

"You!" Si Zuochen's face was displeased, and he was about to reprimand him sternly.

Jiang Ran looked down at the porridge in the bowl and suddenly said in a deep voice, "Don't keep testing my bottom line. There's no third time. If there's a next time, you'll have to bear the consequences."

Although she spoke casually, she was putting pressure on him without his noticing. Si Zuochen's expression changed as she continued.

"I can forgive you once or twice, but I'm not a ransomware, what do you say?"

Si Zuochen listened to her sarcasm, a flash of malice crossing his eyes.

Isn't what she said a veiled insult, a mockery of herself?

"Ha...what a boastful tone," Si Zuochen replied coldly.

Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow, her expression remaining calm: "You can try it if you don't believe me."

She was initially reluctant to argue with him because of his weak health, but he insisted on being verbally abusive, so she didn't need to show him any mercy.

The atmosphere between the two instantly plummeted to freezing point, but Jiang Ran seemed oblivious, continuing to feed him porridge without a care in the world.

Si Zuochen frowned, turned his head to the side, and his whole demeanor conveyed rejection.

Jiang Ran didn't force her. She put the bowl aside and said coldly, "Whether you eat or not is up to you. Ultimately, it's your own business if your health collapses."

Since Si Zuochen is so hostile towards me and won't listen to either soft or hard approaches, I might as well let him figure it out himself.

"Isn't my current state all thanks to you?" Si Zuochen suddenly sneered.

"Blame me?" Jiang Ran seemed to have heard a joke: "Wasn't the whole thing caused by you taking it upon yourself to follow him? What does it have to do with me?"

“If it weren’t for your unchaste behavior, would I have followed him?” Si Zuochen retorted.

Jiang Ran tilted her head slightly, looked at him seriously, and her eyes held a hint of mockery: "Unfaithful to women? You know quite a lot at such a young age."

"Did I give you the wrong impression? Did I make you mistakenly believe that you've already become a qualified 'stalker'?" Upon hearing this, Si Zuochen was taken aback, a hint of doubt flashing across his face: "What do you mean?"