The light from the crystal chandelier fell on Yu Jiuyuan's skirt, refracting into tiny golden glitters.
She stood in the center of the banquet hall, holding a glass of champagne, her gaze casually sweeping over the elegantly dressed women.
Xie Zhecheng was standing next to the auction stage checking the list, his gaze occasionally glancing in her direction from behind his gold-rimmed glasses.
Su Jingshu, dressed in a red dress, was chatting with someone while holding her father's arm, her eyes revealing barely suppressed excitement.
Meanwhile, the twins from the Ji family, one leaned against the bar, slowly swirling his wine glass, while the other moved among the guests, chatting and laughing, but their gazes were like an invisible net, firmly locked onto her.
"You look beautiful tonight, sister."
Ji Nianqin walked up to her without her noticing, her voice as gentle as honey, her fingertips "inadvertently" brushing against her wrist, leaving a slightly cool touch.
"My father asked me to inquire about your thoughts regarding the engagement."
Yu Jiuyuan smiled, bringing the champagne to her lips, the rim of the glass concealing the fleeting coldness in her eyes: "Nianqin, what's the rush? Shouldn't Mr. Su be the star of the show tonight?"
Her gaze shifted to Su's father, the man in the custom-made suit who was frequently checking his watch, his fingers gripping his phone, on which was a message from Su Jingshu.
"The secret room is ready; the medicine is in the third glass of whiskey."
Ji Luoqin suddenly stepped in from behind, her arm reaching over Yu Jiuyuan's waist, and placed a glass of amber liquid on the tray in front of her: "Try this, aged Scotch whisky, it goes perfectly with you, sister."
His fingertips deliberately pressed against the back of her hand, the force carrying an undeniable and forceful strength.
Yu Jiuyuan looked at the glass of wine, the faint scent of bitter almonds lingering around her nose, exactly the same as the hallucinogen smell in Yuan Xu's laboratory.
"I'm not a big drinker." She tried to pull her hand away, but he held it even tighter.
Just one drink.
Ji Luoqin's voice was low and husky, with a seductive magnetism, "Or is it that you're afraid, sister?"
Low laughter came from all around, and all the guests' eyes turned to look.
Yu Jiuyuan knew that this charade had to continue.
She raised her head and met Ji Luoqin's gaze. His deep eyes swirled with possessiveness, like a wolf eyeing its prey.
"Why would I be afraid?" She chuckled, picked up the glass of whiskey, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp.
The spicy liquid slid down her throat, burning like fire, yet she could clearly feel a subtle numbing sensation spreading through her veins.
Ji Luoqin released her hand with satisfaction, her fingertips lightly tracing the back of her hand, as if marking her possession.
"The auction is about to begin."
Xie Zhecheng walked over and subtly separated them, handing Yu Jiuyuan an auction list. "Mr. Lin has arrived and is determined to get that porcelain plate."
Yu Jiuyuan took the list, her fingertips trembling slightly.
The medicine took effect faster than she expected. The light and shadow in front of her began to sway slightly, and Xie Zhecheng's face appeared somewhat blurry behind his glasses, with only the worry in his eyes clearly visible.
"I'm going to the restroom." She composed herself, smiled at everyone, and turned to walk towards the corridor.
The high heels echoed rapidly on the marble floor, like the tolling of a countdown clock.
Just as I turned the corner, someone grabbed my arm.
Ji Nianqin pressed her against the cold pillar, placing her palm on the side of her neck, feeling her accelerating pulse: "How does the medicine taste?"
“You all knew all along.” Yu Jiuyuan’s voice was slightly unsteady, but still carried a chilling clarity. “You knew about my and Su Jingshu’s plans, you knew I wanted to take action against the Su family, and you even knew… I was investigating your uncle’s affairs.”
Ji Nianqin smiled and whispered in her ear, "Does sister think the Ji family's intelligence network is just for show? We heard every word you and Su Jingshu said in the library."
His breath carried a dangerous sweetness, but Yu Jiuyuan smiled contemptuously in her heart. Of course, she knew that this cooperation was a trap from the beginning. The Su family was the bait, and she was the prey they really wanted.
"Why?"
She gritted her teeth and asked, as the effects of the drug began to impact her nerves, and Rong Shenghan's face appeared before her eyes.
He should be in the villa right now, adjusting the surveillance system and waiting to see the Su family go bankrupt, unaware that his young lady is falling into someone else's trap.
"Because you're so funny."
Ji Luoqin's voice came from behind him. He approached step by step, slowly and deliberately like a cat catching a mouse, "You think you're training a dog, but you don't know that we've wanted to lock you in a cage for a long time."
Yu Jiuyuan's body began to go limp uncontrollably, and her consciousness, like ink thrown into water, gradually blurred.
She leaned against a pillar, trying to stand up straight, but Ji Nianqin picked her up around the waist and carried her to the suite at the end of the corridor.
"Let me go..." She wanted to say "Let me go," but Ji Luoqin covered her mouth with her tongue.
The kiss was brutal and predatory, a mixture of the spiciness of whiskey and the scent of roses on his body, almost suffocating her.
The suite door was pushed open, and the light from the crystal chandelier was so bright that she couldn't open her eyes.
Ji Nianqin placed her on the velvet bed, her fingertips tracing her collarbone with gentle movements, but her eyes seemed to be appraising a treasure about to be obtained.
"Stop struggling."
He loosened his tie, his voice tinged with amusement, "That drug is specially made; there's no antidote, unless..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was self-evident.
Yu Jiuyuan looked at him, then at Ji Luoqin standing by the bed. Her deep eyes held only undisguised desire, like a wild beast that had finally waited for its hunting moment.
The drug's effects kicked in completely, and a burning sensation surged through her limbs and bones, making her consciousness blurry.
She knew she had no choice, just like the numbers jumping wildly on the system panel.
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