The Yandere Queen's Manual for Training Her Wife - Chapter 37

Xia Mingtang arrived early at the reserved private room. While waiting, she quickly flipped through the documents she had prepared overnight.

She had figured it out—at first, she had only planned to deal with Ji Xianglan perfunctorily, saying one thing while meaning another, just to coax some pocket money out of her grandmother.

But after Anran’s reminder yesterday, she suddenly realized—wasn’t this meeting a good opportunity for negotiation?

She vaguely remembered meeting Ji Xianglan a few times. As a child, that person had looked like a bookworm, but growing up, she had indeed become much sharper.

Xia Mingtang didn’t like people who looked smarter than her at first glance—it made her feel less clever in comparison.

And Ji Xianglan wasn’t just smart; she was also highly ambitious. Though the rise of Ji Corporation had relied somewhat on family support, the fact that she had developed it to the point where even Old Madam Ji valued it in just a few short years spoke for itself.

If Ji Xianglan hadn’t been born into the Ji family, Xia Mingtang would have loved to poach someone like her to work under her.

Well… maybe she was overthinking.

So, a clever and ambitious woman like Ji Xianglan probably wasn’t too interested in marrying young, right?

For years, Ji Xianglan had thrown herself entirely into the company. Clearly, she cared more about business than about marriage.

And now, Xia Mingtang just so happened to hold 39% of Ji Corporation’s shares. Though it wasn’t a controlling stake, Ji Xianglan should find it valuable, shouldn’t she?

After finishing the documents, Xia Mingtang already had a plan.

She sipped the fine Longjing tea, rehearsing in her head how to conduct herself gracefully, elegantly, and calmly during the upcoming talk.

The private room door opened. What entered her sight first were jade-like fingers, then a deep-sea-blue haute couture gown.

Her gaze moved upward, and when she saw the person’s face, she almost dropped her teacup in shock.

Boss Qin?!

Shouldn’t she be in Yunzhen right now managing the inn?

Xia Mingtang thought maybe she had gone into the wrong room. Feeling guilty, she clutched the documents, ready to sneak out—

Only to come face-to-face with Qin Yan as she entered.

That gentle, elegant face seemed magnified before her eyes, her expression carrying a subtle, unfamiliar nuance.

Before Xia Mingtang could even process it, her wrist was gently but firmly caught by those slender jade fingers—unable to break free.

“Tangtang, long time no see.”

“No—no problem at all!” Caught red-handed, Xia Mingtang put on a guilty grin. “Uh… I’m actually here to meet someone today. How about… you let me go first?”

Qin Yan didn’t let go. Instead, she pulled her into a chair and pressed her down. “The Ji family miss you’re here to meet—your fiancée—is me.”

“Huh?” Xia Mingtang was full of question marks. “But… aren’t you surnamed Qin?”

Qin Yan looked at the dazed little fox, her expression half-smile, half-serious. “Tangtang, don’t you think there are still… a few things between us left unresolved?”

“Unresolved… like what?” Xia Mingtang rubbed her nose nervously, documents still in hand.

Inwardly, she thought: Surely she isn’t still holding a grudge over those two sleeping pills?

Qin Yan held her wrist with one hand while pulling out her phone with the other, opening her banking app. “One million. Tangtang, you were quite generous to your ex-girlfriend.”

Ex-girlfriend?

Xia Mingtang tilted her head up, her confusion genuine. “Did we ever date?”

The remark made Qin Yan laugh from sheer anger. So, in her eyes, she didn’t even count as an ex.

Seeing her face darken dangerously, Xia Mingtang struggled to get away.

But Qin Yan suddenly released her, only to snatch away the stack of documents, flipping through them lazily. “Ji Corporation—Tangtang, you’re planning to use these shares to negotiate with Ji Xianglan?”

She even knew that?

Against Ji Xianglan, Xia Mingtang had felt fairly confident.

But against the suddenly unmasked Qin Yan—she was utterly at a loss.

The marriage partner just changed out of nowhere. What to do?

Should she… just continue negotiating?

Watching Qin Yan leaf through the papers, Xia Mingtang straightened her back, her voice firm.

“I don’t know why it’s you meeting me instead of Ji Xianglan today. But no matter who it is, I’m not getting married.

“Though… would you consider whether Ji Corporation interests you?”

Qin Yan shut the folder and tossed it onto the table. “Not interested.”

She leaned forward, bracing her hands on the armrests of Xia Mingtang’s chair, trapping her completely. “I’m only interested in you.”

Her breath brushed hot against Xia Mingtang’s neck, raising goosebumps.

The little fox smiled nervously, trying to bargain. “If you really like me, we could just keep things like before, right? No need to marry.”

Marriage felt like a prison to her—she wasn’t ready, not even if it was with Qin Yan.

Qin Yan stared at her in silence, noticing those darting eyes—clearly plotting something.

Like before? Let her disappear again without a word?

Seeing Qin Yan’s lips curl into a cold smile, Xia Mingtang grew anxious.

“Your company still owes quite a lot of money, doesn’t it?” Qin Yan said quietly.

“You don’t really think just meeting me here will make Old Madam Xia hand you money, do you?”

Damn, was she a demon? How did she know even that?

Of course, Xia Mingtang hadn’t actually believed her grandmother would hand her such a huge sum just for showing up today.

Her original plan was to convince Ji Xianglan to play along with her.

“So… since we know each other, could you maybe help me trick my grandma a little?” she asked, though even she knew it was a long shot.

Ha. “Know each other,” she says. The nerve.

Qin Yan reached out and stroked that fluffy little head, her hand sinking into the same soft fur-like hair as always.

The little fox was very obedient now. She could probably tie a knot in that hair, and Xia Mingtang still wouldn’t complain.

Only after indulging herself did Qin Yan speak slowly: “That’s a problem. I’ve never liked lying. And with Old Madam Xia’s experience, do you really think she could be fooled so easily? Unless… the marriage is real.”

Xia Mingtang froze. That actually… made sense. She had underestimated her grandmother.

A woman who had battled through storms and lifted the Xia family into Rongcheng’s top four clans—no one could fool her with a few words.

Even if it wasn’t Ji Xianglan, Qin Yan would be just as hard to deceive.

But Xia Mingtang wasn’t someone who gave up easily. She quickly revised her plan: from fake marriage to contract marriage.

After a few seconds’ thought, she asked seriously, “Then… if we really marry, how soon could we divorce?”

Qin Yan’s gaze sharpened like knives.

Xia Mingtang shrank back, thinking: Did that sound like I was rejecting her? But better to clarify now than regret later, right?

Seeing Qin Yan’s silent, stormy face, she quickly backpedaled. “Or… we could just marry first. Talk about the rest later?”

Still no response. But judging by her expression, maybe… agreement?

Believing they had reached an understanding, Xia Mingtang had just started to relax when, the next second, she was pinned against the chairback.

The scent of marigold filled her senses as Qin Yan’s soft lips crashed against hers with a force that felt like she was being devoured.

Almost suffocated, Xia Mingtang instinctively wrapped her arms around her swan-like neck.

Qin Yan’s kisses had always been gentle and lingering before, but this one was fierce and domineering, as if swallowing her whole.

Though they had kissed countless times, within half a minute Xia Mingtang was already overwhelmed. Her arms slipped from Qin Yan’s neck, pushing weakly instead.

But Qin Yan only tightened her hold, deepening the kiss.

Time blurred. Only when the little fox in her arms went limp like water, no longer resisting, did Qin Yan finally relent.

The kiss had been so intense that even with practice, Xia Mingtang was dizzy and out of breath.

Her lips were swollen and red, slightly parted as she gulped for air, her fox-like eyes shimmering with tears. She looked dazed and fragile.

Qin Yan finally felt her long-pent-up agitation ease a little.

Even then, Xia Mingtang didn’t forget her purpose.

She pushed weakly at Qin Yan’s body. “Well… since we’ve kissed already, about my earlier proposal?”

“Agreed.”

After a morning of “negotiation,” Xia Mingtang was convinced she and Qin Yan had reached a friendly agreement. She immediately urged Qin Yan to come with her to meet Old Madam Xia.

She didn’t want to rush things, but her company’s situation was indeed dire.

Seeing how eager the little fox was to advance the marriage, Qin Yan was more than happy to oblige.

They headed to the parking garage, where Xia Mingtang gaped at the rose-pink Rolls-Royce Boat Tail taking up two spots.

“This car… is yours?”

“Yes.” Qin Yan opened the passenger door, inviting her in.

Good grief. Qin Yan was less than ten years older than her!

Only now did Xia Mingtang realize—her so-called fiancée was far more formidable than she had imagined.

But her awe didn’t last long. Settling into the hand-stitched leather seat, she was soon bubbling with delight.

So, swapping Ji Xianglan for Qin Yan as her fiancée wasn’t so bad. At least now she had the chance to ride her dream car.

She’d definitely find excuses to “borrow” rides again. The more the better!

From the driver’s seat, Qin Yan glanced sideways at the little fox grinning with glee. “You like it?”

“Of course.” Xia Mingtang fiddled with a trinket hanging inside, eyes full of envy.

Despite growing up pampered, it was rare to see genuine envy on her face.

“If you like, you can ride it more often.”

“Thanks!”

Boss Qin really was a good person.

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