I Married My Love Rival (GL) - Chapter 20

Ji Ran’s heart sank instantly as she looked at the result.

After a moment of silence, she switched to a different translation app.

The results were largely the same.

The thought of reading the book was gone. Ji Ran carefully placed the note back into the book, returning everything to its original place, as if she hadn’t discovered anything.

Then, she silently put the blueprints into the folder.

She even forgot to align them.

But the reality was that her heart couldn’t pretend nothing had happened. It suddenly became uncontrollable.

Who is Miss Lin?

What is her relationship with Luo Simo?

An old lover?

Or, judging by the tone of Luo Simo’s note…

Is she the “White Moonlight” whom Luo Simo pursued but couldn’t obtain while abroad?

Ji Ran felt the entire study was stuffier than when she first entered.

Placing the folder down, Ji Ran fled the study as if escaping.

As soon as she stepped out, the sound of wind and rain rushed into her ears.

The rain outside seemed to have gotten heavier. Thunder roared, sounding as if it would strike the house any moment. The open-air garden was already a mess. August was huddled on his blanket, looking at the storm, apparently scared and whimpering affectionately, seeking comfort.

The housekeeper had messaged to say she wouldn’t come today due to the heavy rain.

Next was a message from Luo Simo, asking about the situation in Jiang City and instructing her to stay inside.

Ji Ran read them all, but couldn’t muster the desire to reply.

She exited the messaging app and turned off her phone.

August smelled her presence, raised its head toward her, and whined endearingly, seemingly frightened by the storm and begging for comfort.

Ji Ran originally intended to be cold and heartless and walk away, but after lifting her foot, she changed direction and walked toward August.

Forget it. The dog is different from the owner.

Hugging August’s large head, Ji Ran slowly calmed down.

Then she messaged Liang Yingzhi.

Unfortunately, the Jiang City gossip center didn’t know about Luo Simo’s affairs abroad.

【What I told you last time about Luo Simo is pretty much everything I know.】

【What’s up? Why are you suddenly interested in her?】

【She and Xu Zining have nothing going on】

【But I did just hear some fresh news about her】

Ji Ran ignored the mention of Xu Zining as usual.

【What news?】

【Luo Family Matriarch’s birthday is in mid-October, in a few days. The Luo family hosts a grand banquet every year, and this year is no exception.】

【And according to rumors, Luo Simo’s mysterious wife will also be making an appearance!】

【Our family is on the invitation list, so I’ll get to see her with my own eyes! I’m so excited just thinking about it!】

Ji Ran hadn’t heard Luo Simo mention this, and she frowned.

Is Luo Simo planning to tell me when the date is close, so I won’t have a chance to refuse?

She didn’t know if it was because of the discovery in the study, but Ji Ran subconsciously assumed the worst of Luo Simo now.

【Is the banquet still being held in Lin Yuan community?】

Typing this familiar name, Ji Ran’s heart sank further, and she walked away from August.

At that time, more than half of Jiang City’s prominent families would be there.

And damn it, there’s that ‘Lin’ character again.

【Yes, we even went there when we were kids.】

【Since you’re so interested in Luo Simo, do you want to come this time? I’ll sneak you in. We can check out the woman who managed to snag Luo Simo.】

【And you might even see Xu Zining】

【Forget it, no, no. The Gu family and Luo family have an important collaboration right now. I’m afraid Gu Qingzhi will be there too.】

Ji Ran was distracted by Liang Yingzhi’s first sentence and couldn’t focus on the rest.

Lin Yuan community held fifteen years of her past.

And in those fifteen years, some memories were truly painful.

Liang Yingzhi on the other end of the phone quickly recalled the last message. Not receiving a reply from Ji Ran after a long time, she started to panic, anxiously biting her nails.

I got carried away and said the wrong thing.

A flash of thunder outside startled her even more.

The rain was pouring down outside, reminiscent of a few years ago. That time, also in the Lin Yuan community, she found a distraught Ji Ran soaking in the rain and brought her back to her own home.

Ji Ran was delirious with a high fever, continuously muttering about never returning to the Gu family unless they begged her, and something about how one day she would make them realize she was no less than Gu Qingzhi…

It was all nonsense, but it was heartbreaking to witness.

Especially as her childhood friend, Liang Yingzhi had witnessed everything. She felt wronged for Ji Ran but was powerless. All she could do was quietly stop associating with the Gu family herself, and whenever she encountered Gu Qingzhi during holidays, she would always spit a few sharp words at her.

And since then, Ji Ran had never brought up the Gu family with her, and rarely mentioned the community.

The Gu family, especially Gu Qingzhi, seemed to have become Ji Ran’s taboo.

The message was recalled in time, but Liang Yingzhi wasn’t sure if Ji Ran had seen it. And Ji Ran not replying made her very worried, so she called directly.

Ji Ran was still trying to recall any memories related to the Luo family from her childhood, desperately trying to find even a fragmented memory connected to Luo Simo, when Liang Yingzhi’s call interrupted her.

She answered the phone, and Liang Yingzhi cautiously asked, “Babe, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Why?”

Liang Yingzhi was like this: full of affectionate nicknames for close friends and very bold, but a social recluse in front of strangers.

“It’s good that you’re okay. I was worried this bad weather scared you.”

Ji Ran looked bewildered, then saw the chat box showing a message had been recalled.

“What did you recall?”

“Nothing. I made a typo.”

Ji Ran could immediately tell when Liang Yingzhi was lying; they had known each other for so many years.

“What can’t you show me?”

Liang Yingzhi didn’t dare to reply, remaining silent for a long time until Ji Ran spoke first.

Her tone was heavy.

“Can you find something out for me? Is the Gu family going to this banquet?”

Ji Ran had voluntarily brought it up. Liang Yingzhi’s heart immediately clenched.

She saw it after all. I’m such an idiot.

“Yes, they are.”

“And Gu Qingzhi?”

“She will be there too.”

After getting the answer, Ji Ran fell into silence again. Liang Yingzhi was filled with regret.

“Babe, I didn’t mean to upset you. Let’s not talk about Gu Qingzhi, okay? Don’t be sad.”

“I’m not sad.”

I’m just overwhelmed.

Placing the phone on the coffee table, Ji Ran ran her hands through her hair, then buried her face in her palms, her mind a mess.

Luo Simo was planning to take her to the Luo Matriarch’s birthday banquet, and the banquet would include members of the Gu family whom she once lived with, especially Gu Qingzhi.

The mention of that name made Ji Ran clench her fists.

But all she could do was clench her fists.

She couldn’t outplay Gu Qingzhi. She was tormented so badly back then that Ji Ran didn’t even want to recall it.

She only had one thought now: She couldn’t see the Gu family, especially Gu Qingzhi.

That meant she couldn’t go home with Luo Simo.

In fact, given the current situation, she only wanted to run far away.

When she was young and reckless, she had said harsh words to Gu Qingzhi, claiming she could survive just fine after leaving the Gu family, even live a better life, and that one day, she wouldn’t even return if the Gu family invited her.

What else did I say? She couldn’t remember clearly, but it was a lot of boasts, none of which she had achieved.

After leaving the Gu family, I’m a nobody.

She had already been harshly ridiculed by Gu Qingzhi once. She didn’t want to experience it a second time.

She was already imagining what Gu Qingzhi would say.

Rushing into a marriage for money, only to have a wife who doesn’t love her, living a loveless marriage.

Thinking she’d get money, but just a fleeting toy for a rich family. Be careful not to end up with nothing.

No money, no love, and sacrificing everything. How pathetic.

…

Gu Qingzhi could probably be even more venomous.

If Luo Simo heard all that, what would she do?

She would definitely feel embarrassed, and then regret not pursuing her White Moonlight Miss Lin.

Damn it, thinking about that makes me feel worse.

“Babe? Ji Ran? Are you still listening?”

Liang Yingzhi’s amplified voice came from the phone. Ji Ran slowly lifted her head, then began to smooth her messy hair.

“I’m still listening.”

“Babe, stop overthinking. That all happened so long ago. It’s no big deal.”

“Yeah, I know…”

Ji Ran’s tone still held no hint of cheerfulness. Liang Yingzhi scratched her head.

“How about this, babe? I’ll treat you to a trip to relax? Although I can’t leave the house to join you, you shouldn’t mope alone.”

Liang Yingzhi made a big mistake last year. Her family grounded her and cut off her funds. As a rich second-generation heir who was lazy and useless, she could only stay home and follow her sister’s arrangements.

“Have you paid off the money you owe your sister? And you have money to treat me?”

“No…”

Ji Ran appreciated Liang Yingzhi’s kindness. After telling her a few more times that she was fine, Liang Yingzhi finally relaxed.

“Stay safe at home. Don’t go running outside in the rain.”

That incident many years ago had truly frightened her.

“Okay.”

Her childhood friend, though sometimes completely unreliable and not very smart, was genuinely good to her.

Hanging up the phone, Ji Ran sighed and curled up on the sofa.

What should I do now?

Thinking about the book in the study and the upcoming banquet, an idea rose in Ji Ran’s mind.

Should I leave Luo Simo?

This was the best way to solve the current predicament.

Before they developed any real feelings, while everything was still just beginning.

Let’s just consider it a wrong turn and return to the right path as soon as possible.

And I wish Luo Simo can find her Miss Lin after we part.

Ji Ran couldn’t describe her current mood, nor did she know if she was thinking clearly and rationally.

But, she decided to act immediately.

Whether driven by anger or sadness, she got up and started packing her belongings.

Far away in A-City, Luo Simo, for some unknown reason, couldn’t focus on her book. She kept picking up her phone every so often, waiting for Ji Ran to reply.

However, she waited until dark, until the rain stopped, and she still hadn’t received a reply.

Feeling a faint, unexplainable worry, Luo Simo dialed the phone, but it wasn’t answered.

After a long time, on the second attempt, the call finally connected.

“Hello, may I ask what you need?”

Ji Ran’s cold voice came through the receiver. Caught off guard, Luo Simo momentarily froze.

Why does it feel like something is suddenly wrong?

And what is that sound of something being dragged on Ji Ran’s end?