What did she mean, "again"?
Did she know how much damage that one short sentence had done to his soul?!
At that moment, Ye Lan even felt sorry for himself. Every time he thought he had become invincible, this little sister of his would hit him where it hurt.
Through her actions, she told him-you were still mortal. Stop dreaming.
Of course, Ye Xunzhi had no idea what she had done this time. She was browsing the news online.
[It hasn't been posted yet. Looks like Bai Zhao has some brains after all. She knows she can't let my second brother discover it ahead of time.]
[My silly second brother still doesn't know, does he? He's about to be packaged as Bai Zhao's freshly minted "rumored boyfriend."]
Ye Lan: "..."
All I did was say a few words. How did I become her rumored boyfriend?!
[Bai Zhao's move is vicious.]
Ye Xunzhi recalled the past. Back then, she had only recently returned, her eldest brother was already in jail, and her second brother was still hopelessly lovestruck.
At the time, her second brother still hadn't known that Bai Zhao had anything to do with the trouble at the Ye Group. He had only known that Secretary Xu was the culprit who had brought disaster upon the entire group.
It had happened by chance. That day, Ye Xunzhi had wanted milk tea and dragged Ye Lan along. Halfway through their outing, they had happened upon Bai Zhao and Secretary Xu embracing and kissing. Only then had Ye Lan learned that those two had gotten involved.
After investigating further, what was there left for Ye Lan not to understand? He had been so furious that he went to confront Bai Zhao that very night.
That very action had made Bai Zhao decide once and for all to sacrifice him. What had she done back then to squeeze the last bit of value out of Ye Lan?
Right, it had been remarkably similar to the current situation-
[Back when Bai Zhao was stringing my second brother along, she was enjoying the resources he provided while already planning to kick him aside in the future and drain the last drop of blood from that lovestruck fool.]
[She deliberately created moments with him in public that looked intimate, but amounted to nothing if you thought about them carefully. Plenty of people in the industry assumed they were a couple and opened every door for her.]
[Only my second brother was still in the dark. Taking advantage of those open doors, she even got the key to his Cloud Grove Villa.]
Ye Lan's heart leaped into his throat.
Of course he knew he owned a villa in Cloud Grove. It was by the sea, with beautiful scenery and excellent security, making it perfect for vacations.
But he was usually busy working on his career and rarely had time to go there, let alone pay attention to it.
Had Bai Zhao moved straight in? Just thinking of that possibility left Ye Lan feeling awful.
[Fortunately, though Bai Zhao got the key, she didn't dare move straight in.]
[After all, the image she had cultivated in front of my second brother was that of an innocent, strong, brave girl who wouldn't bow to wealth. If she came out of a room one day and happened to run into him, wouldn't that image be smashed to pieces?]
[But she couldn't just reveal what had happened between her and my second brother, either. No matter what evidence she had, netizens might accuse her of spreading rumors and forcing a connection with him. So she went straight for an indirect attack!]
For some reason, Ye Xunzhi grew inwardly excited, even automatically adding a rapid drumbeat as accompaniment.
Ye Lan: "..."
He clenched his fingers tightly into fists. Think all you want, but why do you have to provide your own soundtrack?
The most painful part was that, while listening, he also had to divide his attention and check on Bai Zhao from time to time.
Seeing him remain silent, seemingly thinking something over quietly, she thought she had moved Ye Lan and was working hard to keep churning out nonsense.
Reason one, two, three, four, five... why continuing to stay with her in the south room might affect Lin Ranran's health.
And she had already made it to the eighth, describing each one vividly and convincingly.
In the end, neither of the other two was listening at all.
Ye Lan seemed slightly swayed and nodded perfunctorily, then turned his attention away again without hesitation.
Come on, little sister, hurry up and tell me. If she runs out of things to say, your brother will have to speak. You wouldn't just watch your second brother fall into a trap.
Right?! Right?!
[As for how she carried out that indirect attack... let me think how it translates to the present.]
[She specifically hired a photographer, put on a mask, and took a suitcase with her to make it look as though she was moving into the villa. She didn't wear sunglasses or a hat at all, so any fan could easily recognize her.]
[And every one of those photos was carefully retouched and stored on her computer. Her studio had also contacted a major gossip account in advance. The moment she gave the word here, they would post the photos.]
[And to keep the truth that she'd hired the paparazzo herself from being exposed, she specifically went to the property management office before leaving and had that day's surveillance footage deleted.]
[This time, bringing Lin Ranran over seems like she's simply looking out for her little sister. But in reality, once my second brother agrees, she'll act delighted. Add in the fact that there have indeed been rumors about him and her before, and netizens will definitely suspect something about their private relationship.]
[And if he refuses, that doesn't matter either. All Bai Zhao has to do is look hurt and act pitiful enough to make the viewers feel sorry for her.]
[As everyone knows, netizens are creatures that dig up gossip on their own. Then the gossip account can pretend to be a paparazzo and claim they happened to photograph Bai Zhao dragging a suitcase into Ye Lan's villa, before reasonably speculating that the two might once have lived together.]
Ye Xunzhi remembered the idiotic sight of her second brother going out late at night to drown his sorrows after falling into the trap, then coming home, holding her, and crying his eyes out. Her heart grew heavy.
[If he takes the first option and agrees, my second brother will be labeled her rumored boyfriend. Even if he clears things up afterward, netizens will automatically interpret it as him trying to protect Bai Zhao.]
[As for the second scenario, he'll become a heartless scumbag who turned his back on her. Either way, the two of them will be tied together.]
[Afterward, whenever anyone mentions Bai Zhao, they'll think of my second brother. And he won't be able to avoid being targeted, either. Just like that, Bai Zhao will easily achieve her goal.]
[And if something happens to my second brother in the future, it'll be even easier. As long as Bai Zhao acts innocent enough, netizens will rush to sympathize with her.]
So dirty. Her heart is so dirty!
Having made it to where he was today, Ye Lan had naturally faced plenty of people who targeted him, but he really had never encountered anyone like Bai Zhao.
He couldn't drive her away, yet he couldn't let her stay.
In that short span of time, Bai Zhao had talked until her mouth was dry. She cleared her throat and said pitifully:
"I was the one who brought Ranran onto the show, after all. If anything happens to her, how could I explain it? So please, Ye Lan, just let her stay at your place for one night."
Before you continue