Chapter 26: You Really Are a Temptress!

Zhang Yanran was delighted to hear that Chu Feng had invited her over as a guest. However, her face darkened the moment she learned that Li Xueli would be there too. Guided by Yu Xiaoyu’s encouragement, she decided to go anyway, as Chu Feng had promised he had something of great importance to discuss with her. The two of them bought some gifts and arrived at Chu Feng’s home.

The two-hundred-square-meter apartment, fully furnished with high-end renovations and situated in a prime location, left Zhang Yanran quite surprised.

"You said you won the lottery recently?" Zhang Yanran looked around, touching the sofa and the wallpaper.

"What else? How else do you think I could afford this place?" Chu Feng laughed. "Though, I’ve almost spent it all now."

Chu Feng filled four glasses with wine.

"Dinner is served," Li Xueli said, walking out with an air of indifference as she carried a pot of dry-pot chicken. Chu Feng had also ordered takeout, rounding out the meal with eight substantial dishes.

Yu Xiaoyu took a bite of the chicken and smiled. "Sister Xueli’s cooking is really good."

"Indeed, some people are quite fortunate," Li Xueli remarked.

"As if I care!" Zhang Yanran retorted indignantly.

"Alright, let's treat this as my housewarming celebration! This place happens to have three bedrooms, so you and Sister Xueli can each have one, and I’ll take the third," Chu Feng said. "I really owe you for these past few days, Xiaoyu."

Yu Xiaoyu chuckled. "We’re classmates, it’s nothing! But school is starting soon, and we’ll be sophomores. Are you planning to live off-campus?"

Chu Feng and Li Xueli exchanged a glance.

"I plan to stay out here," Chu Feng said. "I’m looking to start a small business in Jiangcheng, and it wouldn't be convenient to do that on campus."

"This place isn't far from school; it's a five-minute walk," Zhang Yanran said, taking a bite of a braised prawn—she hadn't touched a single piece of Li Xueli’s chicken.

After the meal, Yu Xiaoyu headed home, and Chu Feng helped Zhang Yanran get her luggage settled. Zhang Yanran pulled Chu Feng into the bathroom. Seeing Li Xueli watching television outside, she lowered her voice and said, "Chu Feng! Kick her out. I... I don’t want to see her!"

Chu Feng thought to himself that they were indeed still at odds. He had a strategy prepared, however. "Yanran, I’m doing all of this for you."

"For me?" Zhang Yanran asked, puzzled.

"I’ve been investigating privately," Chu Feng said. "Your mother’s death... there’s something suspicious about it!" He repeated the information he had discussed with Li Xueli.

Unlike Li Xueli’s cold detachment, Zhang Yanran began to cry as she listened. "I knew it... every time I mentioned my mother, my father would always get so impatient!" Her body trembled.

*This girl is hooked,* Chu Feng thought.

*Zhang Fuqiang, do you see this? Your wife and your daughter are already siding with me!*

Feigning sympathy, Chu Feng pulled Zhang Yanran into his arms. "Last time you said we should be together... I’ve thought it over. I am going to seek justice for your mother’s death!"

Hearing the sound of Zhang Yanran’s weeping, Li Xueli curled her lip outside. "Seductive little brat," she muttered under her breath. She knew Chu Feng was in there coaxing Zhang Yanran, but seeing him get close to another girl left her feeling strange. Was she jealous? She was confused, perhaps because of Chu Feng's skill, which had granted her a pleasure she had never known before. After all, she had always been treated like an object, passed from person to person. Chu Feng seemed to be the only man who had personally cared for her when she was hurt. She decided not to dwell on the future and simply enjoy the present.

Inside the bathroom, the sobbing continued. Zhang Yanran’s face was still streaked with tears. Chu Feng’s investigation was thorough, and now only the whereabouts of the private physician who had resigned remained a mystery. She finally understood why her father had been looking for that doctor—he wanted to silence a witness. The doctor clearly held crucial evidence.

"I can't stay here," Zhang Yanran said, clenching her fists. "I have to go back and investigate this."

"But I’ve already prepared a room for you," Chu Feng said, feigning reluctance.

Zhang Yanran shook her head. "Hiding isn't a solution. School starts soon, and he’ll definitely come looking for me. It’s better to appear before him myself than to be caught."

Chu Feng nodded; this was exactly what he wanted. If he had simply asked her to return as a mole, it would have been unrealistic. Thus, he had set this trap to coincide with the start of the semester.

"If you're lying to me, I won't forgive you!" Zhang Yanran looked up at him.

"And what if all of this is true?" Chu Feng asked earnestly.

Zhang Yanran gritted her teeth. "I’ll do whatever you want! My mother was the person closest to me. If she was murdered, I will not let it go."

"Good," Chu Feng smiled slightly.

"You're too tall. Could you lean down a bit?" she asked.

Chu Feng complied. The next moment, Zhang Yanran kissed him on the lips. "That was my first kiss... I apologize for my previous attitude toward you." She lowered her head as she spoke. Even if she was a "bad girl," she looked quite cute when offering a sincere apology.

"That’s the Yanran I know," Chu Feng said.

"Don't let Li Xueli go back yet... my father has found a new mistress, and she might be in danger if she returns," Zhang Yanran said, her face flushing crimson.

"Don't worry, I’ll take good care of Sister Xueli for you."

"Will you... will you do anything with Li Xueli? After all..."

"Don't be ridiculous! Do I look like the kind of man who would just take anything? You are the only one in my heart!" Chu Feng said, patting his chest. He had long since mastered the art of lying.

"I know you wouldn't!" Zhang Yanran said. "Let’s go out."

The two left the bathroom. When Li Xueli saw the lipstick mark on the corner of Chu Feng’s mouth, a flicker of hostility appeared in her eyes.

"Li Xueli! I’m leaving now. I’m leaving Chu Feng in your care for the time being. Don't you dare bully him! Otherwise... otherwise I’ll tell my father where you are!" Zhang Yanran declared.

Li Xueli sneered. She crossed her legs, revealing a length of porcelain-white thigh. "Don't worry. In name, I am your mother. Why would I fight with you over a man?"

"Hmph!" Zhang Yanran shot her a hostile look.

"Yanran, be careful," Chu Feng said. "If anything happens, call me immediately."

"You too," she replied. The way she looked at Chu Feng had changed; what was once indifference had turned into a place of great importance in her heart.

*Slap!*

As the door closed, Li Xueli stood up.

"Hmm?"

"I’m going to wipe away the mark she left on you," Li Xueli said with a sly smile.

Chu Feng chuckled. "You really are a little succubus."