The following days were a whirlwind of quiet tension. After her cryptic conversation with Madam Lu, Qin Lan kept to herself, her mind racing with possibilities. She couldn't afford to slip up, not with so much at stake. Li Ming's offer hung over her like a looming shadow, and while she had agreed to his terms, the reality of what she had gotten herself into still felt surreal.
Qin Lan spent her time perfecting her façade—polite, distant, and obedient. If anyone noticed her inner turmoil, they didn't comment on it. But every glance from Madam Lu, every carefully worded sentence, made Qin Lan feel as though the older woman was watching her every move.
Her phone remained eerily silent since her message to Li Ming, which only added to her anxiety. If she had truly stepped into a new game, where were the rules? Where was her next move? She was beginning to doubt everything when, at last, a message came through late one night.
"Tomorrow. 10 AM. Meet me at the usual place."
It was short and cryptic, but Qin Lan knew it was from Li Ming. She stared at the message for a long moment, her pulse quickening. The usual place. The café where they had met before. It was time to find out what her new role would be in this dangerous game.
---
The next morning, Qin Lan dressed carefully, choosing an outfit that was both understated and professional—something that wouldn't draw too much attention but still commanded a certain presence. She needed to look like a woman who knew what she was doing, even if she felt the opposite inside.
When she arrived at the café, Li Ming was already seated in the same corner booth. He looked as relaxed as ever, sipping his coffee and scrolling through his phone, as if this was just another casual business meeting. But the moment his eyes met hers, Qin Lan felt the weight of the unspoken tension between them.
"Qin Lan," he greeted her with a smile as she sat down. "Punctual as always. I like that."
She nodded, keeping her expression neutral. "What's next?"
Li Ming leaned back, his smile widening. "Straight to the point. Good. I knew you were serious when you said you were in, but I wasn't sure how quickly you'd want to get started."
Qin Lan's heart raced, but she kept her voice steady. "I don't have time to waste. If I'm going to do this, I need to know what's expected of me."
Li Ming studied her for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough. Here's the deal: Lu Yan is involved in several major business deals at the moment, one of which is a joint venture with a company that I have a… vested interest in. I need you to get me information on that deal—who the key players are, what the terms are, anything that could give me an edge."
Qin Lan stiffened. "You want me to spy on him?"
Li Ming raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't use the word 'spy.' Think of it as gathering intelligence. You're his wife, after all. No one would think twice about you asking a few questions or overhearing a conversation. And I'm not asking for anything illegal—just information."
Qin Lan swallowed hard, her mind racing. She had expected something like this, but hearing it laid out so plainly made it feel all the more real—and dangerous. "And if I refuse?"
Li Ming's smile didn't falter. "You won't. You've come this far, Qin Lan. You know this is your best chance to get out of the situation you're in. But if you're having second thoughts, now's the time to back out."
Qin Lan's hands clenched into fists under the table. She wasn't sure if it was fear or anger driving her, but either way, she knew there was no turning back now. She had made her choice the moment she sent that message to him.
"I'll do it," she said quietly.
Li Ming's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Good. You'll need to be discreet, of course. Don't raise any suspicion, especially with Lu Yan's mother watching you. She's sharp."
Qin Lan nodded, feeling a chill run down her spine at the mention of Madam Lu. "I know."
Li Ming leaned forward, his voice dropping. "I'll give you more details once you've started. For now, just focus on gaining Lu Yan's trust. Make him believe that you're still the same obedient wife he married. The more comfortable he is around you, the easier it'll be to get what we need."
Qin Lan's stomach churned, but she forced herself to nod. She had to keep reminding herself why she was doing this—for her freedom, for her future. But the cost of that freedom was beginning to weigh heavily on her.
As she left the café, her mind was filled with a thousand conflicting thoughts. Was she really prepared to betray Lu Yan in this way? Was this the only path to escape the prison her marriage had become? Or was she just exchanging one set of chains for another, even tighter than before?
---
That evening, back at the Lu family estate, Qin Lan found herself once again navigating the cold, polished hallways of her gilded cage. Dinner with the family had been a silent affair, as usual. Lu Yan's absence still lingered like a ghost in the air, and though no one mentioned it, the tension was palpable.
After dinner, Qin Lan returned to the bedroom she shared with Lu Yan. She stood by the window, staring out at the sprawling gardens below, her mind heavy with the weight of what she was about to do.
Her phone buzzed on the bedside table, pulling her from her thoughts. She picked it up, half expecting another cryptic message from Li Ming, but to her surprise, it was a message from Lu Yan himself.
"I'll be back in a few days. We need to talk."
Her heart skipped a beat. What did that mean? Was he coming back sooner than expected? And what did he want to talk about? Her mind immediately jumped to the worst-case scenario—did he know something about her meeting with Li Ming? Or was this about something else entirely?
Qin Lan stared at the message, her thoughts swirling. She needed to be careful. Lu Yan wasn't a man who wasted words, and if he was asking for a conversation, it wasn't a good sign.
She quickly typed out a reply.
"I'll be here."
The next few days would be critical. If she played her cards right, she might be able to get the information Li Ming needed without arousing suspicion. But if she made a single misstep, everything could come crashing down around her.
---
The following day, Qin Lan began her delicate dance of deception. She started small—asking the household staff about Lu Yan's upcoming meetings, subtly listening in on conversations between the other members of the Lu family. Every detail, no matter how minor, could be useful.
At first, it felt wrong—betraying the man she had married, even if their relationship had long since grown cold. But the more she thought about the years of neglect, the more she reminded herself of the indifference with which he had treated her, the easier it became.
In a way, Lu Yan had already abandoned her. This was just her way of finally taking control of her life.
By the time Lu Yan returned from his business trip, Qin Lan had already gathered enough information to send Li Ming a preliminary report. It wasn't much—just a few key names and dates—but it was a start.
When Lu Yan walked through the door of their bedroom that evening, Qin Lan felt her heart lurch in her chest. He looked the same as always—tall, handsome, and distant. But there was something different in his eyes this time, something she couldn't quite place.
"Welcome back," she said, forcing a smile as she stood to greet him.
Lu Yan gave her a brief nod, his expression unreadable. "We need to talk."
Qin Lan's heart raced. She had known this was coming, but now that the moment had arrived, she wasn't sure she was ready for it.
"About what?" she asked, her voice carefully neutral.
Lu Yan's gaze bore into her, as if he were searching for something in her eyes. "About us."
---
End of Chapter 11
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