An Unexpected Eavesdropping

It was Ji Shuying's first time seeing such an overbearing young heiress.

Imperial Star Academy had plenty of wealthy young ladies, but few were this arrogant.

Like a lofty ruler, she completely disregarded other people's dignity.

The men in black swarmed over.

"Jiang Jinran..."

Ji Shuying stood up in a daze and reached out to pull Jiang Jinran away.

But before the two could leave, several men in black forced them into a corner. With sweeps of their large hands, they shoved Jiang Jinran and Ji Shuying aside and roughly dumped out the two cups of coffee on the table.

Splash.

The coffee flowed into the trash can, and a server whisked away the empty cups.

"Buddy, we live in a society governed by law." Watching everything the men in black did, Jiang Jinran couldn't help frowning and speaking up. "Can't you act like decent human beings? Do you have to be barbarians?"

Seemingly not expecting Jiang Jinran to dare speak like that, the men in black suddenly turned their icy gazes on her-

Their stares made Ji Shuying's scalp prickle. She was terrified they would throw a punch and beat Jiang Jinran up the next second.

Actually, things like that weren't particularly unusual.

That was simply how this world worked. The upper classes bullied commoners in invisible ways.

Jiang Jinran pressed her lips together stubbornly, without the slightest trace of fear on her face.

The men in black eyed her appraisingly. Seeing nothing wrong with what they had done, they declared with arrogant pride, "Here, Miss Lu is the law. She calls the shots."

Miss Lu?

"Which Miss Lu?" Jiang Jinran blinked. "Let's see if I know her?"

"Who do you think you are? Does our young lady need you to know her? Leave right now, or we'll have to remove you by force." The men's expressions grew even darker. Jiang Jinran glanced at the beauty not far away.

Her surname was Lu, she was beautiful, and she was a young heiress from a good family...

Jiang Jinran already had a rough answer in mind-

This woman was Lu Wanning.

The Imperial Capital's greatest beauty, who would have her eldest brother, Jiang Yuehan, utterly bewitched in the novel.

Come to think of it, had Jiang Yuehan and Lu Wanning met yet?

At present, Jiang Yuehan didn't seem to show any signs of falling in love...

Jiang Jinran had wanted to say more, but Ji Shuying beside her swiftly pulled her out of the café.

"If we stayed any longer, I was worried you'd get beaten up."

Ji Shuying pulled her outside and spoke with lingering fear.

"Surely it wouldn't go as far as beating me up." Jiang Jinran looked curiously back at the café behind them.

"It would," Ji Shuying said, emphasizing each word.

Although Jiang Jinran was unwilling to let it go, she could only drop it for the time being.

She had intended to leave with Ji Shuying, but before they had taken more than a few steps-

A tall, handsome man suddenly appeared in front of the café, reaching out to push open its door.

Oh-ho.

Lu Wanning had cleared out this upscale café just to go on a date with a handsome guy?

How wild...

Jiang Jinran's eyes shifted as an idea stirred in her mind. She patted Ji Shuying's shoulder. "We're pretty much done for today. You head home first. I still have something to do."

"What is it?" Ji Shuying frowned worriedly, a little puzzled.

"Nothing major. Bye for now." Jiang Jinran gave a vague reply, then said goodbye to Ji Shuying.

Jiang Jinran didn't go home. Instead, she lingered near the café.

She discovered that the café had a side entrance leading straight to the restrooms.

Jiang Jinran didn't consider herself a particularly magnanimous person.

She held grudges a little.

She had sent Ji Shuying away and stayed here alone because of Lu Wanning.

After what Lu Wanning and her men in black had just done, Jiang Jinran naturally wanted to get even.

If this young lady really was on a date with a handsome guy right now-of course, perhaps it wasn't a date; they might even be in a relationship!

Jiang Jinran wanted to strike first and photograph evidence of Lu Wanning together with the handsome guy. If she really did move seamlessly on to Jiang Yuehan later and start exchanging flirtatious glances with him-

These photos would be living, breathing leverage...

Jiang Jinran cautiously entered the emptied café through its side entrance.

Skirting the restrooms, she took a few steps forward. Through the glass partition, she could vaguely make out the scene in the front seating area.

Fortunately, the café owner and servers were all staying at the front counter. No one noticed Jiang Jinran sneaking in.

Jiang Jinran widened her eyes, trying hard to get a clear look.

Inside the spacious café, Lu Wanning and the man sat facing each other at the table with the loveliest view...

Both were beaming, and Lu Wanning even affectionately fed the man opposite her.

Tsk, tsk.

No matter how you looked at it, their relationship was hardly innocent.

Either they were flirting, or they were dating.

Jiang Jinran took her phone from her pocket and was just about to open the camera-

But right at that moment.

Lu Wanning's gaze suddenly shifted, shooting straight toward Jiang Jinran's hiding place!

Jiang Jinran's gaze flickered, and she hurriedly moved aside, concealing herself completely.

Had Lu Wanning spotted her?

"I'm going to the restroom for a moment." Faintly, Jiang Jinran heard Lu Wanning's voice carry over from the front seating area.

So she hadn't noticed her and had only been looking toward the restrooms?

Jiang Jinran pressed her lips together, knowing she couldn't linger here. If Lu Wanning was coming to the restroom, she would have to pass right by where Jiang Jinran was standing!

She wasn't afraid of Lu Wanning herself, but that group of men in black around her certainly warranted caution.

Like a little cat, Jiang Jinran ran quietly back, only to-

Someone had shut the café's side door!

She turned the handle, but the door didn't budge.

What a fine deed some fine soul had done!

Behind her, the crisp click of high heels drew closer and closer.

Jiang Jinran could only make a dash for it, scurrying into the restroom beside her.

The ladies' room had two stalls in total. Jiang Jinran ducked into one at random, locked the door, and began playing dead.

Lu Wanning came in right behind her.

Fortunately, she went straight into the neighboring stall without paying much attention to Jiang Jinran's.

Jiang Jinran held her breath, terrified that the sound of her breathing would give her away.

Yet Lu Wanning, separated from her by only a wall, suddenly made a phone call.

Huh.

So she hadn't come to use the toilet, but to make a call in the restroom?

Jiang Jinran immediately pricked up her ears and began listening closely.

"Brother." Lu Wanning's sweet, delicate voice drifted over. "You called several times. Is something urgent?"

Jiang Jinran blinked.

The brother Lu Wanning mentioned was probably Lu Yunxiao, who was on good terms with Jiang Yuehan.

"That again..." Whatever Lu Yunxiao said on the other end, a hint of impatience crept into Lu Wanning's voice. "He's put it off so many times already. He probably just doesn't want to see me."