The Subtle Seduction of My Ex-Girlfriend’s Aunt - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Isn’t This Girl, Tang Ran, Quite Interesting…

Two minutes earlier.

Seeing Song Wuqi enter the guest room, Ye Xiaoyu slipped in after her, making sure no one was watching.

“Why are you here?”

A waiter had accidentally spilled water on Song Wuqi’s dress, and she was currently using a hair dryer to dry it.

Ye Xiaoyu tugged at her skirt, lowering her head with a look of grievance. “I feel like Miss Tang doesn’t want to see me.” The words sounded like a pout, but they carried a sharp undertone of accusation.

“That’s just her temper. Just stay away from her; she won’t go out of her way to cause you trouble.” Song Wuqi frowned. Tang Ran did indeed have a bit of a “spoiled young miss” attitude.

“B-but I’m a little scared.” Ye Xiaoyu’s eyes reddened, looking as if she were about to burst into tears. “Manager Song, I… I…”

This look immediately reminded Song Wuqi of the night before her business trip. Song Wuqi had lost control and kissed her, and afterward, it was Ye Xiaoyu who had cried and apologized to her. Ye Xiaoyu’s personality was so gentle—the exact polar opposite of Tang Ran. Song Wuqi found herself preferring someone as obedient as Ye Xiaoyu.

With that thought, Song Wuqi’s gaze softened considerably.

Ye Xiaoyu took a deep breath, her face full of reluctance as she choked out, “Manager Song… maybe I should just resign?” Her voice grew fainter, her eyes filled with longing.

If Tang Ran was the brilliant, scorching sun, then Ye Xiaoyu was the dim nightlight by the bed. Soft and ambiguous.

“Don’t talk nonsense. You haven’t done anything wrong.” Song Wuqi loved the way Ye Xiaoyu depended on her for everything, letting her make all the decisions. “You are an employee of the Song Corporation. No one but me decides whether you stay or go. Rest assured.” Song Wuqi patted her shoulder comfortingly.

“Mm.” Ye Xiaoyu’s eyes flashed with joy, followed quickly by a touch of worry. “But… I still…” She didn’t finish the sentence, but her fear was obvious.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you.” Ye Xiaoyu’s dependency gave Song Wuqi a massive sense of self-satisfaction.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Wuqi?”

Tang Ran only knocked; she didn’t push the door open directly. The two people inside both paled at the sound.

“Manager Song, w-what do we do?” Ye Xiaoyu grabbed Song Wuqi’s sleeve, looking utterly lost.

Song Wuqi quickly regained her composure. She scanned the room and pointed to the wardrobe. “Hide in there.” She had just managed to soothe Tang Ran; if Tang Ran caught them together, it would lead to another huge fight.

“I…” Ye Xiaoyu bit her lip in grievance. Song Wuqi’s instinctive reaction made her feel a genuine sense of humiliation. Compared to Tang Ran, she was a secret that couldn’t see the light of day.

“Be good.” Song Wuqi patted her shoulder, her voice soft but her tone firm. “She won’t stay long. I’ll take her away in a moment.”

“Wuqi? Are you in there?” Tang Ran’s voice called out again from outside.

Ye Xiaoyu bit her lip and stepped into the wardrobe. Once she was hidden, Song Wuqi put on a calm expression and opened the door.

“What were you doing? Why did it take so long to open the door?” Tang Ran asked, intentionally peering inside as she spoke.

Song Wuqi’s eyes flickered. She stepped aside to let Tang Ran look, her tone forced and casual. “The hair dryer was on. I didn’t hear you knocking.”

“I heard you got your dress wet. Do you need help?” Tang Ran moved as if to walk further in.

“No need.” Song Wuqi blocked her slightly, stepping out of the room. “I’ve already dried it. Let’s go out.”

Tang Ran nodded, stopped her advance, and turned to look at the waiter.

If Ye Xiaoyu likes to hide so much, let her stay hidden. Just make sure she doesn’t come out and get caught.

The waiter reacted quickly, taking over the door just as Song Wuqi was about to close it. The movement was so natural that Song Wuqi didn’t notice anything wrong and didn’t bother to look back. The waiter pretended to close the door but left it wide open.

The guest room was connected to the entertainment lounge. Tang Ran walked a few steps and stopped Song Wuqi. “It’s a bit boring. How about a game of pool?”

Song Wuqi hesitated, but seeing Tang Ran already at the table, she could only follow. Tang Ran handed her a cue. Song Wuqi walked to the other side, her peripheral vision catching the guest room. Seeing that wide-open door, her eyelid twitched.

Ye Xiaoyu wouldn’t have had time to get out.

“What are you looking at?” Tang Ran nudged her with the cue, asking the obvious.

“Nothing.” Song Wuqi turned back. It would be too suspicious to go back and close the door now. She only hoped Ye Xiaoyu wasn’t stupid enough to run out.

From where they were standing, they could see most of the wardrobe in the guest room. In fact, just as they could see it, Ye Xiaoyu could see the pool table through the gap in the wardrobe door. She gripped the hem of her skirt so tightly that the silk fabric twisted, unaware of the damage.

Tang Ran broke the rack and smiled. “Your turn.”

Song Wuqi tried not to think about the girl in the wardrobe. She focused on the game and finished a round in fifteen minutes.

“No way! How did I lose by so much? Another round!” Tang Ran tossed her cue aside and went to retrieve the balls, looking defiant.

Song Wuqi had shot herself in the foot. She had wanted to end the game quickly, but Tang Ran dragged her into another one. This time, she intentionally let Tang Ran win, and Tang Ran played with extreme focus, circling the table to find angles, dragging the game out for nearly forty minutes.

As Tang Ran sunk the final black eight ball, Sun Xiao walked over, clapping. She intentionally ignored Song Wuqi and quirked an eyebrow at Tang Ran. “Miss Tang, interested in a game?”

“Just because you say so?” Tang Ran’s tone was sharp.

Sun Xiao placed her glass on the table. “Let’s have a game with a bet. If I win, you spend all day tomorrow with me.” Sun Xiao paused, giving Song Wuqi a meaningful look before emphasizing, “Just as a companion. You pick the place—shopping, skiing, horseback riding, a musical, anything. If you win, you name the terms. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Who cares what you do!” Tang Ran rolled her eyes. “You know I’m bad at this, yet you come here to bet. Sun Xiao, just admit you want to take advantage of me. No need to put on a show!”

Rebutted by Tang Ran, Sun Xiao rubbed her nose and turned her sights on Song Wuqi. She stared her down defiantly. “Song Wuqi, do you dare? If you lose, Tang Ran spends the day with me.”

Before Song Wuqi could speak, Tang Ran slammed her cue on the table. “Sun Xiao, you really are sick! Why are you using me as a bet?”

Song Wuqi followed her lead, replying coldly, “I won’t use Ranran as a wager.”

“Fine. No wager on her, then. We bet a million.” Sun Xiao curled one side of her mouth, looking at her with contempt. “Song Wuqi, do you dare?”

The argument drew a crowd of onlookers.

“What million-dollar bet? Sun Xiao, even if you want to win a medal for your aunt, you don’t need to break the law to do it, right?” Lu Shuyang walked over with a smile to smooth things over.

Sun Xiao’s second aunt was the deputy director of the municipal police bureau—the person Sun Xiao feared most. Sure enough, hearing Lu Shuyang mention her, Sun Xiao’s arrogance deflated by half, though she didn’t leave, looking unwilling to let it go.

Lu Shuyang handed her a cue. “If you want to play pool, I’ll play with you.” In this room, the one person Sun Xiao couldn’t afford to offend was Lu Shuyang; Lu Shuyang’s mother was the Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Committee. “But a game without a stake is boring. Whoever loses, drinks.”

Sun Xiao took the out and the cue, mouthing ‘coward’ at Song Wuqi.

“Sure,” Lu Shuyang agreed readily.

The two went back and forth for several rounds. Since Lu Shuyang, as half-host, was playing, many people crowded around to watch. Once they finished, others took over. By the time the pool games dispersed, the party was nearing its end.

Ye Xiaoyu didn’t know how long she had been hiding in that wardrobe. By the time Song Wuqi came to get her, everyone was gone. As for Tang Ran, she had long since returned to Shengming Mansions.

Tang Ran was wearing a face mask, holding a black pearl tassel earring encrusted with fine diamonds. She didn’t know whose it was; it had been hooked onto her skirt hem, and she only found it after taking the skirt off at home.

Ping. Her phone received a new message.

Tang Ran placed the earring on her nightstand and clicked on the newly received video recording. On the side of the road, Song Wuqi was helping a limping Ye Xiaoyu into a car.

On the roof balcony of Xia Mo’s villa.

Murong Yi leaned against the railing, watching the taillights disappear around the corner, clicking her tongue. “Old Song, it’s a pity your little niece didn’t join the national gymnastics team.” This ‘split’ she’s playing is quite skilled.

Song Zhixu’s eyes remained on the tablet in her hand, as if she hadn’t heard.

“Did she annoy you recently?” Murong Yi sat down at the table. The waiters at the party had been brought in from the bar. After Tang Ran transferred the money, the waiter had messaged the manager, Chen Heming, who then forwarded it to Murong Yi. Knowing the plan was aimed at Song Wuqi, Song Zhixu hadn’t stopped it.

Murong Yi guessed Song Wuqi must have done something to displease Song Zhixu. Song Zhixu looked gentle, but she could be quite mischievous when she wanted to be. “I thought she was going to catch them in the act. I didn’t expect her to lock them in there for four hours. Haha, that little assistant’s legs must be ruined from standing that long.”

When Song Zhixu didn’t respond, Murong Yi turned to Xia Mo. “Old Xia, don’t you think this girl, Tang Ran, is quite interesting?”

“She is indeed interesting,” Xia Mo said with a smile. Making someone suffer in silence without being able to complain is much more entertaining than a direct confrontation.

“Tang Ran has the looks and the personality. If she weren’t so young, she’d be quite a match for you, Old Xia.” Murong Yi said it casually, mainly because she thought Tang Ran’s personality was a bit like Xia Mo’s ex-girlfriend.

Xia Mo smiled but said nothing.

Song Zhixu looked up from the tablet and glanced indifferently at Murong Yi. “If you’re so bored, why don’t you look over the financial reports?”

“No, no, no.” Murong Yi leaned back, waving her hands as if she’d seen something filthy. “I get a headache just looking at those numbers. You’re also a part-owner of the bar; you look at them.”

“There are no issues with the accounts.” Song Zhixu put the tablet down.

Murong Yi leaned in gossipingly. “Your niece is about to get engaged; aren’t you going to find someone?” They both had the surname Song, but they were so different. Song Wuqi wasn’t satisfied with one girlfriend, while Song Zhixu was like a celestial being who had renounced all emotion. Then again, they weren’t full relatives; Song Wuqi’s father and Song Zhixu didn’t share the same mother.

Song Zhixu took a sip of tea and asked with a light smile, “Do you need me to open a matchmaking agency specifically for you?”

“Pfft!” Murong Yi choked on her water. Song Zhixu and Xia Mo both dodged backward in unison.

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