After Teasing the Heroine and Running Away, I Was Forced into Love - Chapter 14

Despite her meticulous preparations, He Roushuang had completely forgotten to check the date. She couldn’t help but scold herself inwardly for such carelessness.

She prayed she wasn’t too late, hoping the female lead hadn’t drunk that cursed spiked chicken soup.

When He Roushuang had read this part in the novel, she’d immediately sensed the author’s twisted sense of humor.

Mustard, super-hot chili peppers, and black pepper? What kind of monstrous flavor was that?

After handing her business card to the waiter, He Roushuang approached the private room door, took a deep breath, and knocked.

The person inside hesitated for a moment before opening the door, revealing a scene of utter chaos.

The manager, clearly furious, had his sleeves rolled up as he argued heatedly with the people inside.

“You clearly added the ingredients yourselves, yet you’re harassing our staff? Just wait, we’re calling the police. None of you will escape!”

It was evident the experienced manager had already realized something was wrong with the chicken soup.

Good… good.

He Roushuang thought with satisfaction. This manager, whom she had personally selected, was far superior to the potbellied manager who had been in charge before her acquisition—the one who had spent his days harassing female staff.

“What are you talking about?”

“How could we be framing you? This soup is so awful! As paying customers, don’t we have the right to complain?”

The man stubbornly refused to back down, his neck stiff with defiance.

“Are you a customer or here to cause trouble? Anyone can see through your act! Even if chicken intestines weren’t cleaned properly, they wouldn’t produce such a bizarre taste!” the manager argued vehemently.

He Roushuang breathed a small sigh of relief and moved to Shi Qing’s side. She noticed Shi Qing was covering her mouth, clearly feeling unwell.

“What’s wrong?” He Roushuang asked, pulling Shi Qing into her arms, her heart heavy with self-reproach and guilt.

Despite knowing the entire plot of the original novel, she had still allowed this absurd situation to occur. She had to admit full responsibility for this.

“It’s nothing,” Shi Qing said. “Just dealing with a difficult customer.”

Only after speaking did Shi Qing realize He Roushuang was standing before her. She blinked slowly, her mind racing with countless thoughts.

How did she get here so quickly?

Could it be like those terrifying romance novels, where someone installs a listening device on my phone? But what secrets could I possibly have?

Apart from the relentless loan reminders and hospital billing notifications, it’s all just headache-inducing financial news I’d rather not see.

“Because this shop is mine,” He Roushuang said, blinking. “I heard there was trouble, so I came to check it out.”

Shi Qing: ……

How does it feel like I can’t escape He Roushuang, even if I run to the ends of the earth?

He Roushuang paid no attention to the protagonist’s astonished expression. Having read the original novel, she knew exactly who had sent these men.

He Roushuang took a step forward.

“I know Jiang Hui sent you. Don’t even think about harassing my employees or trashing my place, because… I’m far crazier than Jiang Hui.”

He Roushuang’s blunt declaration stunned the group. The thugs, who had been radiating hostility just moments ago, now stood dumbfounded.

The reason? Their cover had been completely blown.

“Since Jiang Hui hired you, you’re either her relatives or she paid you handsomely.”

“But either way, I’m sure you’ve heard that Jiang Hui’s family is just a bunch of stinking shopkeepers. I, on the other hand, am the heir to the Tianze Group.”

“You know who you’ve offended, right?”

The thugs fell completely silent, their expressions as if lightning had struck the tops of their heads.

“Tell me, what did you put in this soup?”

“Maybe I’ll consider letting you go.”

He Roushuang pointed to the pot of chicken soup, which had already cooled, the yellow grease congealing on the surface.

“Industrial chili extract, mustard, and pepper,” one of them finally mumbled, explaining that these ingredients would make even the most delicious chicken soup utterly undrinkable.

“So this is how you treat my employees?”

A fierce glint flashed in He Roushuang’s eyes. She had no intention of holding back; without a system restraining her, she didn’t have to worry about getting zapped. She’d do exactly as she pleased.

“Then you’re going to drink this entire pot of soup dry before I let you leave.”

He Roushuang crossed her arms, her tone dripping with arrogance. In an instant, the roles of customer and shopkeeper had completely reversed.

In the restaurant, only a handful of people knew that Jiang Hui was He Wenzhi’s second wife. This was a closely guarded secret of the He Family, information that would never reach the ears of ordinary people.

A wealthy family that leaked secrets like a sieve was no true wealthy family at all.

The group exchanged nervous glances.

“We can’t do that. This soup is loaded with chili extract. Drinking it would severely damage our stomachs, probably cause vomiting and diarrhea…”

Fear filled their eyes.

“So you do know fear?”

He Roushuang turned to look at Shi Qing. The woman’s lips were already ringed with red marks from the spice, a truly pitiful sight.

In the novel, the female lead always needed the male lead to swoop in and rescue her whenever she was bullied.

But He Roushuang was capable of far more than that. If she could have accurately predicted the novel’s timeline, she would have intervened herself to prevent this incident.

“Then why didn’t you consider Shi Qing’s feelings when you made her drink it?”

“And why did Jiang Hui order you to bully her?” He Roushuang demanded.

“Because… because Miss Shi is your lover. Madam He doesn’t want her to have an easy time.”

He Roushuang: ……

The news spread quickly. Her malicious stepmother, too afraid to confront her directly, had instead targeted the female lead with full force.

Typical bully—preying on the weak and cowering before the strong.

But as soon as she spoke, the manager and the surrounding staff stared at Shi Qing with bizarre expressions.

They could never have imagined that the woman daily vilified in the news as a national calamity was Shi Qing herself.

The woman who had driven a wedge between wealthy siblings, nearly severing their relationship, was Shi Qing.

“Very well,” He Roushuang declared. “Then I won’t let you off easy either.”

“If you don’t drink this entire pot of soup, you won’t leave this restaurant. I remember our meat grinder is newly purchased—very sharp.”

Of course, He Roushuang had no intention of becoming a criminal, but intimidating this group was no problem at all.

As expected, her words instantly filled the burly men with terror.

“We… we’ll drink it.”

Seizing the opportunity, He Roushuang subtly reached out and gently squeezed Shi Qing’s hands—soft yet slightly rough from years of washing dishes and heavy labor. Maintaining such delicate hands despite such work was truly remarkable.

The men drank until their faces flushed crimson, tears and snot streaming down their faces.

“Look at them, those pathetic pigs,” He Roushuang murmured, turning her head completely so her soft, red lips brushed against Shi Qing’s burning earlobe.

“I’m sorry. You’re being harassed because of me.”