After a Disabled Alpha Marked a Yandere Female Lead - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: VIP

At that moment, a staff member approached the table. She looked at Zhu Qingluo with a neutral expression and asked, “What would you like to drink?”

“An Americano, please.”

After the staff member left, the atmosphere at the table was silent for a moment. Since Zhu Qingluo had entered the Jiang family, this was the first time she had truly sat down and talked with Zhu Jianghai. Yet, the two of them were still preoccupied with their own thoughts.

“I thought you wouldn’t come. I’m genuinely surprised.” Zhu Jianghai’s expression twisted into a look of feigned kindness, deliberately lowering his posture. “What brings you here?”

Zhu Qingluo looked at him and said, “I have a question for you.”

“Hey, we’re family. I won’t hide anything from you.”

“Did you mean what you said on the phone last time about Jiang Yun?”

Zhu Jianghai didn’t answer right away. He looked at her with a profound gaze. He felt a sense of relief that Zhu Qingluo was finally showing fear. He was confident that this conversation was a sure thing. Zhu Jianghai rested one hand on the back of his chair, took a leisurely sip of coffee, savored it for a few moments, and then said earnestly, “Why would I ever harm you? Every word is from the bottom of my heart. Now is a crucial time for you to escape. If you miss this chance, it’s for life.”

Zhu Qingluo listened, then said flatly, “You’re the one who put me in the Jiang family to begin with.”

“Let’s go back to it… Do you know how many people died on that boat? But, those are old stories now.”

Seeing that she didn’t interrupt, Zhu Jianghai began to tell the entire “story.” It was a maritime accident that happened more than ten years ago. It turned out that Xie Ke’s mother wasn’t alone. Under the entrustment of Jiang Yun’s mother, she was taking a young Jiang Yun away to stay with relatives for a while. After the accident, search teams found the wreckage of the ship, but she was nowhere to be found. Zhu Jianghai likely embellished the story to make it sound more mystical and profound.

Zhu Qingluo picked out the important details and analyzed them. After a moment, she said, “Was she kidnapped?”

Thud.

Zhu Jianghai slammed his hand on the table. The noise caught the attention of others, who gave them a few strange looks. He raised his arm, pretending to rub his fist. “That’s what I thought back then, too.”

Zhu Jianghai also explained that he couldn’t guarantee the accuracy of the rest of the story. But Jiang Yun had indeed been missing for two years. It was said that in the spring of the third year, kidnappers sent a ransom note to the Jiang family, and they spent a large amount of money and effort to rescue her. All related information was immediately sealed off by the Jiang family, and it became a taboo subject that no one was allowed to mention. Only a few people in that circle knew about it, and Zhu Jianghai was one of them. He had received hush money from the Jiang family back then and wouldn’t have told her if it wasn’t a critical moment.

“Xiao Luo, you must remember, you can’t bring this up to her face.” Zhu Jianghai sighed, giving his warning.

“I understand.” Zhu Qingluo’s expression softened, showing a hint of genuine emotion. She seemed to be moved by this long-awaited conversation.

Zhu Jianghai was filled with relief. Thinking of the real business for today, he straightened his expression. “You and Jiang Yun should live well together. It doesn’t matter if you have no feelings for her. Be proactive, and seize any opportunity you can get.” With that said, the conversation was basically over. Zhu Jianghai became very attentive to her. He got up to push her wheelchair, paid the bill, and walked toward the cafe door. The atmosphere was suddenly exceptionally harmonious and warm.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you something,” Zhu Jianghai said in a friendly, hopeful tone. “Your mother has been sick these past two days. She misses you very much. It would be even better if you could come home in the middle of the month.” Zhu Qingluo agreed with a sound. The man’s intention was obvious. Not only was he playing on her emotions, but he was also reminding her that time was running out. There were two weeks until the middle of the month. If something happened to Jiang Yun, she could go home to visit her sick mother. These were Zhu Jianghai’s aspirations, and she was the only one who could help him achieve them. She had seen his meticulous “plan.” As long as she followed the steps, his chances of success were high. In the face of immense profit, this risk was insignificant.

After they left the cafe, as Zhu Jianghai was adjusting her wheelchair, he used a specific angle to slip something into her jacket pocket. Zhu Qingluo felt it but saw him smiling as he asked, “Are you in?” The words carried a hint of threat. She maintained a calm expression. After a moment’s pause, she said, “Wait for my message.” Only then did Zhu Jianghai release the wheelchair and stand there, watching her leave.

Five minutes later, employees began to trickle out of the building. The cleaners nearby were moving the sign away from the entrance and didn’t notice that someone had returned. It was dusk, and the area was quiet. Zhu Qingluo stopped her wheelchair. She felt her pocket and took out a small medicine bottle. Her eyes suddenly froze. The label on the bottle was strange, as if it had been replaced. It was unreadable. But based on Zhu Jianghai’s words and actions, the effects of this thing wouldn’t be mild.

“You haven’t gone back yet?” A voice came from behind her. Zhu Qingluo put the item away and turned to see Wu, who was getting ready to go home. She was carrying a briefcase and walked out from the staircase. She adjusted her black-rimmed glasses, and her gaze swept over Zhu Qingluo’s jacket pocket, a hint of confusion in her expression.

“Almost,” Zhu Qingluo said absently, looking at the main door.

Seeing her expression, Wu suddenly realized what was happening and said a little awkwardly, “Oh, you must be waiting for Miss Jiang. It should only be a few more minutes. She’s probably almost here.” Zhu Qingluo didn’t say anything. Wu, knowing when to leave, said goodbye and soon left the building.

At that moment, Zhu Qingluo took out her phone and saw a new message. The location information showed that it was getting closer and closer to her. At 6 PM on the dot, the Maybach appeared at the entrance. The door opened, and a tall, powerful woman got out. Jiang Yun took off her sunglasses and slowly walked toward Zhu Qingluo. In the lingering sunlight, a delicate halo of light gathered between her brows, but they were slightly furrowed, subtly revealing a hint of displeasure.

“Why didn’t you reply to my message?”

Taken by surprise, Zhu Qingluo was silent for a second. “I was busy and didn’t see it,” she said truthfully.

Jiang Yun stood in front of her, studying her carefully for a moment before she seemed to accept the explanation. She unhurriedly walked to Zhu Qingluo’s side and said in a low voice, “Let’s go home.” Zhu Qingluo felt her closeness but didn’t comment. For the second time, she was carried into the car by Jiang Yun, who was now an expert at it. Her mood was calm. She had time to observe Jiang Yun and unintentionally noticed the corners of her mouth twitching upward, as if she were doing something very happy. Zhu Qingluo felt confused and blurted out, “If I don’t get better, do you plan to keep doing this?”

After she was safely placed in the seat and Jiang Yun sat down, Jiang Yun thought about her question seriously, then let out a soft laugh. “I don’t mind.” Carrying her for a lifetime wouldn’t be a problem. A strange feeling rose in Zhu Qingluo’s heart, but she didn’t reply, just assuming Jiang Yun was joking. She looked out the window. The scenery was slowly receding, and a breeze filled with dryness brushed past.

After a while, she heard the woman beside her ask, “What are you thinking about?”

Having spent so much time together, Jiang Yun could already see the subtle emotional changes hidden beneath the surface. Zhu Qingluo turned her head and unexpectedly met her gaze. In the dim light, Jiang Yun’s eyes were burning brightly, with a hint of an unreadable smile. A wave of tension rose in her heart. In her palm, resting on her lap, the presence of the bottle in her pocket suddenly became very clear. When Jiang Yun carried her just now, did she notice it? Zhu Qingluo had thought she hadn’t, but now she wasn’t so sure.

“Is it about me?” Jiang Yun tilted her head and asked again.

“No,” Zhu Qingluo said flatly, her gaze on the window. “I’m a little tired today. It’s nothing.”

Jiang Yun couldn’t see her face, so she naturally couldn’t find anything else. As they passed through the tree-lined avenue, the streetlights cast dancing shadows in the night. The light and shadow in the car were mottled, like lines of cracks, slowly cutting through the scene. Jiang Yun gazed at Zhu Qingluo’s profile for a long time in silence, then suddenly spoke. “I know a company that’s interested in acquiring your studio.”

Zhu Qingluo frowned. The words didn’t sound like a casual comment.

“I’ve already talked to them. You can still have half the shares, and it won’t affect you working with anyone else.”

“Why?”

“Do you think the terms don’t meet your expectations?”

“I want to know why you think I want to sell my studio.”

Jiang Yun just watched her in silence. The unspoken meaning was clearer than any words could be. You’ve done well enough. But now, it’s time to stop, because your limitations mean you can’t climb any higher.

Zhu Qingluo’s hands clenched tightly on her thighs. She couldn’t feel the pain, but her knuckles were turning white from the pressure. Her breathing became constrained and heavy. A mixture of emotions rattled in her chest. Jiang Yun’s gaze shifted downward, freezing for a moment. However, her attitude didn’t change.

Normally, Zhu Qingluo would show weakness. Even if she was unwilling, she would follow Jiang Yun’s wishes. This time wouldn’t be any different… Zhu Qingluo’s eyes grew cold as she looked at the woman beside her. She noticed her arrogant and self-centered nature, and her mood became strangely calm.

This had been the case from the very beginning. Jiang Yun had always thought her studio was just a hobby. When the time came, she would return to a “normal” life, back to the cage of the Jiang family. Everything was under her complete control, and she saw it as perfectly reasonable. Zhu Qingluo half-closed her eyes and put her hands in her pockets. After a while, she said, “You’ve never taken my goals seriously, have you? You probably even thought it was laughable.”

Jiang Yun’s expression was a little stunned. These words undoubtedly tore through the pretense. Her inner arrogance and desire for control were exposed, making her seem a little “despicable” and out of place. Jiang Yun’s lips pressed into a tight line, and the light in her eyes was a little murky. In reality, she was just asking for Zhu Qingluo’s opinion. She could keep the studio if she wanted, and just have a trusted person manage it… But Zhu Qingluo refused to budge. The atmosphere in the car plummeted. A dangerous presence was quietly born, tightly constricting her heart.