"Besides," Jiang Yaoyao added fuel to the fire, "if a piece of trash like Xie Jinran can catch Miss Bo's eye, that's basically doing the public a service by eliminating a hazard. What a match made by a thunderstrike from the heavens, Mrs. Bo mustn't be the villain who breaks up a pair of lovebirds oh."
"Jiang Yaoyao you..."
"Yunxi!"
With a cold reprimand from the third madam, Bo Yunxi was forced to shut up again.
"Thank you for the reminder, Miss Jiang." The third madam struggled to maintain her grace, "Jinlan, I'll take Yunxi to the hospital to have her injuries checked first. I'll leave the rest to you."
Bo Jinlan smiled and nodded slightly: "Take your time, third auntie."
When the room door was pulled open, the corridor outside was already empty.
Li Jing greeted them with a smile: "Third madam..."
The third madam left in a hurry with her daughter, her face cold.
An unsuccessful Li Jing touched his nose and walked into the room: "President Bo..."
"Wait outside."
Once again unsuccessful, Li Jing could only touch his nose again and leave the room.
...
As soon as the door closed, Jiang Yaoyao arrogantly spoke up: "Mr. Bo, how do you plan to buy my silence?"
The man casually slid one hand into his suit pants pocket, curling his lips into a half-smile, half-mockery: "Buy your silence?"
"My phone is broken, but the SIM card isn't." Jiang Yaoyao said, stretching out a hand, "But if your hush money is generous enough, I might consider deleting all the photos."
Bo Jinlan's gaze dropped to her soft, delicate palm.
He said nothing, the slight curve lingering at the edge of his lips.
But somehow, Jiang Yaoyao's heart skipped a beat, and she hastily withdrew her hand.
She had the sense that he was staring intently at her hand...
As if he was plotting something bad...
Sure enough.
"Last night, it was this hand that grabbed me and wouldn't let me go..."
"Shut up!" Jiang Yaoyao glared at him.
Bo Jinlan couldn't contain his chuckle, emitting a low laugh.
Jiang Yaoyao was both embarrassed and angry: "Bo Jinlan, you laugh again!"
Bo Jinlan raised an eyebrow: "What did you call me?"
"Oh? Did I say it wrong?" Jiang Yaoyao batted her peachy eyes, "Then should I call you... Mr. Bo?"
Bo Jinlan narrowed his eyes.
"President Bo?" Jiang Yaoyao tried another title.
Bo Jinlan looked at her and kindly reminded, "How did you used to call me?"
Used to?
Jiang Yaoyao was instantly flooded with thoughts.
That year, when Cheng Yunru suddenly jumped from the building in the sanatorium, out of concern for her mental state, grandfather took her to the Cheng Family, where she met Bo Jinlan who lived next door.
He was a friend of the uncle's, broad-shouldered and tall, refined and handsome, standing at about one eighty-nine, like a protagonist straight out of a comic book! She fell for him at first sight, hopelessly infatuated, and afterwards she kept chasing him calling "Brother Jinlan," "Brother Jinlan"...
Little did she know that his politeness was merely out of civility, and he agreed to help with her studies only because of her uncle...
Jiang Yaoyao snapped back to reality and scoffed, "I get it now, Mr. Bo, the teacher! That's correct now, right?"
Bo Jinlan: "......"
After a moment of silence, he spoke, "Are you blaming me for not backing you up just now?"
???
Jiang Yaoyao looked at him in disbelief.
Bo Jinlan's lips curled up into a light smile as he explained, "That night you said you wanted to bring me down, even claimed you wanted to be the big brother's woman, so I would have your back..."
"Shut up!" Her dark history brought up again, Jiang Yaoyao shivered with anger.
She had been drunk that night; otherwise, she would never have said such things, let alone have the person involved hear them...
She wanted to explain, but then her phone rang.
Bo Jinlan answered the call.
"Hello... Yes... Alright..."
After a few brief words, he handed the phone over, "Your uncle is looking for you."
Jiang Yaoyao was again baffled: "???"
"Don't want to answer?" Bo Jinlan raised an eyebrow.
How could Jiang Yaoyao dare not to?
She grabbed her phone and snapped proactively, "Uncle, where's the lawyer you found? It's been so long, why hasn't he arrived yet? Isn't this efficiency too low?"
Cheng Runzhi said, "Jinlan mentioned that everything has been taken care of."
Jiang Yaoyao suddenly realized, "He's the one you called over?"
"Otherwise?" Cheng Runzhi retorted, "With Jinlan here, who would dare to bully you? Isn't your boyfriend more useful than a lawyer?"
Jiang Yaoyao: "......"
God-damned boyfriend...
Wasn't it all up to her just a moment ago?
What's the use of men?
They only slow down her speed of drawing a sword!
"Remember to go to the hospital for a rabies vaccine," Cheng Runzhi instructed, "I'm off to a meeting, you and Jinlan should come home for dinner together tonight."
"Ah?" Jiang Yaoyao quickly refused, "I have something on tonight..."
"Jinlan has already agreed," Cheng Runzhi said astonishingly, "and Dad already knows about your relationship with him."
"Uncle!" Jiang Yaoyao clenched her fist, "You speak too fast, don't you?"
She had only lied about dating him in the morning, and now she's told grandpa?
Even a skylarking monkey isn't as fast as you!
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yaoyao glared at a certain someone, "Why did you agree to have dinner with uncle?"
Bo Jinlan hooked his thin lips, "A free meal, why should I refuse?"
Jiang Yaoyao continued to glare, "Does the great CEO Bo lack this one free meal?"
Bo Jinlan smiled faintly, "Indeed, I haven't seen the old man for a long time, so paying a visit isn't a bad idea."
Jiang Yaoyao spat, "I don't believe your nonsense!"
But grandpa knew she was back, it would be too inappropriate not to visit.
Moreover...
"Don't say anything ridiculous during dinner tonight!" Jiang Yaoyao's little face was stern, "Especially about getting married. If grandpa asks, just say I haven't graduated university and am not considering marriage for the time being."
Bo Jinlan raised an eyebrow, "And then?"
"Then... after a while, I'll say that we chose to have a peaceful breakup due to incompatible personalities," Jiang Yaoyao clapped her hands, satisfied, "This way, grandpa and uncle won't be suspicious."
After hearing all this, Bo Jinlan's eyes narrowed slightly, "So, you mean you don't want to marry me, and you just want me to pretend to be your boyfriend?"
"Of course," Jiang Yaoyao raised her little chin proudly, "We just had a fling after drinking, how could we actually get married? It's all for dealing with the elders, just to maintain my image, understand?"
"Oh?" Bo Jinlan's eyes narrowed, his tone still calm and deep, "Then what's in it for me?"
"You dare talk about benefits?" Jiang Yaoyao was dumbfounded, "It was clearly me who was at a loss last night! It was my first time!"
"Losing one's virginity is not gender-specific, and besides..." Bo Jinlan smiled faintly, "Who told you it wasn't my first time?"
Jiang Yaoyao: "???"
Holy shit, breaking news!
Approaching thirty!
Bo Jinlan, the leader of the "Four Young Masters of the Capital"!
Was actually still a... virgin before last night?!
**
In the hallway.
Li Jing had waited until the flowers wilted before the room door finally opened.
He immediately stepped forward, "CEO Bo, Mrs. Bo..."
Jiang Yaoyao, already startled enough, felt her eyelid twitch, "What did you just call me?"
"Mrs. Bo." Li Jing's smile was very obsequious, "Let me take the luggage, how can Mrs. Bo do such rough work."
Jiang Yaoyao: "......"
As Li Jing dragged the suitcase to the elevator, she immediately glared at someone, "Can't you stop spouting nonsense to your subordinates?"
Bo Jinlan denied, "I didn't say anything."
Jiang Yaoyao didn't believe him, "Would he dare to address me wrongly without your consent?"
"My subordinates are quite adept at reading the room," Bo Jinlan hooked the corner of his lips, "Besides, isn't it more convenient if he misunderstands?"
Jiang Yaoyao thought about it.
It seemed to make sense.
At least, she wouldn't be exposed when they later visit the Cheng family...
But looking at the man with a faint smile on his handsome face, as though everything was under his control...
This feeling made Jiang Yaoyao extremely uncomfortable; she snorted twice and left arrogantly in her high heels.