The café where Qin Lan was supposed to meet Li Ming had a reputation for being a quiet, discreet spot where high-profile clients conducted their business away from the prying eyes of the public. It was a place where secrets could be traded over cups of coffee, and where alliances were forged in the shadows.
Qin Lan arrived early, her nerves on edge. She had spent the morning convincing herself that this was the right move, that speaking with Li Ming was the first step toward reclaiming some control over her life. But now, standing outside the café, a wave of doubt washed over her. Was she really ready to make this leap? What did Li Ming really want from her?
She took a deep breath and pushed open the door. The warm scent of coffee greeted her as she stepped inside, but it did little to calm her racing heart. She spotted Li Ming almost immediately, sitting at a corner table, his phone in hand. He looked up as she approached, a small smile curling on his lips.
"Qin Lan," he greeted her, standing up to pull out her chair. "I'm glad you decided to come."
She nodded, taking a seat across from him. "I thought about what you said."
Li Ming sat down, his dark eyes never leaving her face. "And?"
"And I want to know more about this 'opportunity' you've mentioned. But let's be clear—if this is about Lu Yan, I'm not interested in playing games."
Li Ming chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. "No games, Qin Lan. I assure you. What I'm offering is simple—freedom. A way out of the situation you're in."
Qin Lan frowned. "And what exactly do you gain from this? You're not doing this out of the goodness of your heart, Li Ming."
"You're right," he said, his expression turning serious. "I'm not. But this isn't just about you, Qin Lan. Lu Yan and I… we've been rivals for a long time. Our business interests overlap, and that's caused some tension between us. Helping you would—how should I put it—tilt the balance in my favor."
Qin Lan's stomach twisted. She had suspected there was more to this, but hearing it laid out so plainly made her uneasy. "So, I'm just a pawn in your business rivalry?"
Li Ming shook his head. "Not a pawn. An ally. You have more power than you think, Qin Lan. Right now, you're trapped in a marriage where you're being overlooked, but it doesn't have to be that way. With the right leverage, you can control your own fate."
Qin Lan stared at him, her mind spinning. Was it really that simple? Could she truly gain power in a world where she had always felt powerless?
Li Ming leaned forward, his voice lowering. "I can offer you protection, resources, and a way to stand on your own two feet. But you need to decide, Qin Lan—are you willing to take that step?"
For a moment, the café faded away, and all Qin Lan could see was the emptiness she had felt for so long. The coldness of her marriage, the suffocating weight of Lu Yan's indifference, and the constant feeling of being trapped in a life she hadn't chosen. Li Ming's words were seductive, offering her a chance to break free from all of it. But at what cost?
"What would I have to do?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Li Ming smiled. "All I need from you is your cooperation. Nothing illegal, I promise. You'll just need to keep your eyes and ears open. In exchange, I'll make sure you have everything you need to start a new life—if that's what you want."
Qin Lan hesitated, her mind racing through the possibilities. She didn't trust Li Ming, not entirely. But he was offering her something that no one else had—control. And that was something she desperately needed.
"Let me think about it," she said finally, standing up from the table.
Li Ming's smile widened, as if he had expected this answer all along. "Of course. Take your time. But don't wait too long, Qin Lan. Opportunities like this don't come around every day."
---
Later that evening, back at the Lu family estate, Qin Lan found herself pacing the length of her bedroom. Her conversation with Li Ming had left her feeling unsettled, as if she were standing on the edge of a cliff, about to take a leap into the unknown.
She hadn't yet decided whether to accept his offer, but the temptation was growing stronger with each passing hour. The more she thought about it, the more she realized just how suffocating her life had become. And with Lu Yan gone to Singapore, the house felt even more like a prison.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling her from her thoughts. She picked it up, expecting another message from Li Ming, but instead, it was a notification from the same unknown number that had been texting her strange, cryptic messages for the past few weeks.
"Be careful of those closest to you. They have their own agendas."
Qin Lan frowned, staring at the message. What did that mean? Was it another warning, like the ones she had received before? And who was sending these messages?
Her heart raced as she read the words again. Suddenly, everything felt more dangerous, more precarious. She thought back to Ji Yi's warning, to Li Ming's cryptic offer, and to the constant, gnawing feeling that there was more going on than she could see.
Who was playing the real game here? And was she about to get caught in the middle of something much bigger than herself?
Qin Lan couldn't shake the feeling that her world was spinning out of control, and that the people around her were hiding things—dangerous things.
She needed answers, but she wasn't sure where to find them. The only thing she knew for sure was that if she stayed passive, if she didn't make a move soon, she would be swallowed by the web of lies and secrets that seemed to surround her.
Taking a deep breath, Qin Lan typed out a quick reply to Li Ming.
"I'm in."
She hit send before she could second-guess herself. She didn't know if she had just made the right choice or the biggest mistake of her life. But at least now, she was moving. And in this world, standing still meant being left behind.
---
The next few days passed in a blur of unease and uncertainty. Qin Lan went through the motions of her daily routine, but her mind was constantly racing, trying to anticipate what would happen next. Li Ming hadn't contacted her since she agreed to his proposal, and the silence was both a relief and a source of anxiety.
She spent most of her time avoiding the other members of the Lu family, who seemed to sense that something was off but didn't dare ask. The estate was a fortress, both physically and emotionally, and everyone within its walls knew better than to pry into matters that didn't concern them.
But one person couldn't be avoided.
Madam Lu, Lu Yan's mother, had always maintained a distant but sharp presence in Qin Lan's life. She rarely spoke to her directly, but her eyes—those piercing, judgmental eyes—followed Qin Lan's every move, as if she were constantly assessing her worthiness to be part of the Lu family.
So when Madam Lu summoned Qin Lan to tea one afternoon, it was with a sense of foreboding that Qin Lan entered the elegantly decorated drawing room where Madam Lu sat, perfectly poised as always.
"Qin Lan," Madam Lu greeted her, motioning for her to sit across from her. "I've been meaning to speak with you."
Qin Lan sat down, her heart beating fast. Madam Lu's tone was pleasant, but there was an undercurrent of something darker beneath it.
"I've noticed that you've been rather distracted lately," Madam Lu said, her gaze sharp. "Is there something troubling you?"
Qin Lan forced a smile, trying to hide her discomfort. "No, everything's fine. Just a lot on my mind with Lu Yan away."
Madam Lu sipped her tea, her eyes never leaving Qin Lan's face. "Yes, Lu Yan's business trips can be... taxing. But a wife's duty is to support her husband, even when he's not present. Wouldn't you agree?"
Qin Lan nodded, though the words felt like poison on her tongue. "Of course, Madam Lu."
Madam Lu set down her teacup, her expression hardening. "I trust you understand the importance of loyalty in this family, Qin Lan. There are certain... expectations that must be upheld. For everyone's sake."
Qin Lan's heart pounded in her chest. Was this a warning? Did Madam Lu know something?
"I understand," Qin Lan said quietly, her voice barely steady.
Madam Lu smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Good. I'm glad we had this talk."
As Qin Lan left the drawing room, her mind raced with questions. The walls were closing in, and the stakes were higher than ever. She had to tread carefully, or everything could come crashing down around her.
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End of Chapter 10
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