Secretly Seducing the Third Female Lead Behind the System’s Back - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: I Only Treat You This Way

When Bai Chu arrived, she pulled out her phone to send a WeChat message to Jiang Yisheng.

After hitting send, she rested one hand on the steering wheel and stared into the distance, dazed.

Suddenly, she remembered that Jiang Yisheng was having trouble walking. She immediately called her and quickly jogged into the milk tea shop.

“Hello, Bai Chu-jie,” Jiang Yisheng had just answered the phone when a voice called out from behind her.

“Let’s go.”

Jiang Yisheng turned around to see Bai Chu slightly out of breath. They stood close enough that she could hear Bai Chu’s breathing—soothing and gentle.

“Sorry, I almost forgot your foot’s still injured,” Bai Chu said, a flicker of guilt in her eyes.

“It’s fine! I can walk on my own. Even at the office, when Taozi tried to help me, I didn’t need her.” Jiang Yisheng lifted her chin proudly.

The next second, warmth wrapped around her waist.

Jiang Yisheng froze.

“Come on, I’ll help you to the car,” Bai Chu said, mimicking what she’d done the day before, trying to ease the burden on her injured foot.

“The… the milk tea,” Jiang Yisheng pointed at the two packed cups on the table.

Bai Chu reached over and grabbed them.

The two of them walked out slowly, arm-in-arm.

Truthfully, Jiang Yisheng’s foot didn’t hurt much anymore after applying medicine—it was totally fine for normal walking. But at the moment…

She looked down at Bai Chu’s hand tightly wrapped around her waist.

Well… maybe a little pain wouldn’t be so bad…

When they reached the car, Bai Chu opened the passenger door for her. Jiang Yisheng’s eyes lit up.

The pink stuffed toy she gave Bai Chu was sitting neatly on the seat, buckled in with the seatbelt.

She grinned at Bai Chu.

Bai Chu cleared her throat. “Get in. I just put it there yesterday on the way home—kind of absentmindedly.”

As if trying to explain it casually.

“No way it was absentminded. You have to say you deliberately put it there!” Jiang Yisheng corrected her.

Bai Chu didn’t respond. She stuffed the plushie into Jiang Yisheng’s arms and helped her into the car like she was carrying a child. After handing her the milk tea, she closed the door.

Jiang Yisheng smiled and pinched the toy’s ears. While Bai Chu was busy putting on her seatbelt, Jiang Yisheng quickly unwrapped both straws and held both cups up to her.

“You drink them. I don’t really like sweet stuff,” Bai Chu said, distracted and unsettled.

After she said that, there was no reply.

Curious, Bai Chu turned to look. Jiang Yisheng had her head drooped low, voice tinged with disappointment.

“This milk tea shop is brand new and super popular. I waited in line for over an hour. Then I didn’t want to drink it alone, so I waited another half hour for you—just so we could try it together.”

She pouted dramatically and looked up at Bai Chu.

Bai Chu couldn’t help but chuckle. “Why didn’t you have your assistant buy it?”

“Because it’s more sincere if I buy it myself.”

Even though she knew Jiang Yisheng was being theatrical, Bai Chu still didn’t have the heart to say no. She randomly picked one and took a sip.

Just as she was about to start the car, the other cup was pushed toward her again.

Resigned, she took a sip of that one too.

“Well? How is it?” Jiang Yisheng asked eagerly.

“Pretty good. Not too sweet,” Bai Chu gave a measured response.

“Which one do you like more?” Jiang Yisheng asked.

“They’re… both okay,” Bai Chu honestly couldn’t decide.

“Alright, then you drink the oolong one. I’ll have this one,” Jiang Yisheng said, deciding for her.

She took back the jasmine tea one and drank from it with satisfaction, right over Bai Chu’s faint lip print.

As she started the car, Bai Chu glanced at her and asked, “Do you treat all your friends like this?”

“Like what?” Jiang Yisheng blinked.

“You know… letting them try both drinks, and then…”

“Oh, no.” Jiang Yisheng sipped her tea, chewing the boba, and replied without hesitation, “I only treat you like this.”

After saying it, she got a little shy and quickly changed the subject. “Hey, what kind of songs do you have on your playlist? Let me see.”

She leaned over to tap the car’s touchscreen.

Bai Chu gripped the steering wheel and slowly picked up speed. Hearing Jiang Yisheng’s words made her heart feel lighter.

They arrived at the restaurant. Bai Chu had little appetite and only took a bite of the ribs.

Looking up, she saw Jiang Yisheng, gloved hands busy gnawing on the bones with great enjoyment.

She really didn’t seem to have any worries.

As Bai Chu watched, she leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, quietly observing Jiang Yisheng eat.

“Bai Chu-jie,” Jiang Yisheng said between bites, telling her funny stories from work. “The other day, Taozi and I went to a meeting and…”

Sure enough, where Jiang Yisheng was, silence never existed.

But whether she was loud or quiet, Bai Chu simply felt at ease being around her.

“Bai Chu-jie,” Jiang Yisheng called again.

“Hm?” Bai Chu responded.

“Hehe…” Jiang Yisheng chuckled dumbly.

Bai Chu raised an eyebrow, unsure what she was laughing at.

She just suddenly remembered how Bai Chu used to not respond when she called her that. But now, she answered so naturally. It made Jiang Yisheng really happy.

The smile faded, and she quietly asked, “Are you… feeling down today?”

Bai Chu’s lashes lowered, and she answered softly, “Yeah.”

“Can you talk to me about it?” Jiang Yisheng asked gently.

Bai Chu didn’t reply. She looked at Jiang Yisheng and eventually shook her head.

Still, Jiang Yisheng could guess it was about her parents. She just didn’t know how much Bai Chu had found out.

She could sense Bai Chu’s inner turmoil, and her own heart ached—but she couldn’t say anything. She couldn’t interfere with Bai Chu’s fate.

Suddenly, Bai Chu’s phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID and immediately picked up. “What’s wrong, Youran?”

“What? Send me the address, I’m coming now.” Bai Chu’s brow furrowed, voice tense.

Jiang Yisheng grew concerned. “What happened?”

“Uncle He’s in the hospital. I need to check on him.” Bai Chu stood up at once. “Sorry, I’ll make it up to you another day—”

“I’ll go with you.” Jiang Yisheng quickly pulled off her gloves, wiped her hands with a wet wipe, and threw on her coat.

Bai Chu didn’t refuse. The two of them arrived at Jiangcheng Hospital.

Inside the hospital room were He Youran and An Hao.

He’s mother, Gao Tingyuan, came out of the bathroom and said calmly, “Bai Chu is here.”

Then her gaze shifted to Jiang Yisheng.

A few years ago, she had seen the young Jiang Yisheng at business events with He Dafang, but never had the chance to connect with anyone from the Yujiang company.

“President Jiang?” Gao Tingyuan’s tone was a mix of surprise and delight.

Jiang Yisheng gave her a guarded look. “And you are?”

Gao Tingyuan quickly set down the water basin, wiped her hands on her clothes, and extended a hand. “I’m He Youran’s mother—Gao Tingyuan.”

Jiang Yisheng replied with a brief “hello,” glancing at the offered hand but not shaking it.

Gao Tingyuan awkwardly withdrew her hand but continued smiling. “You’re friends with Youran?”

Otherwise, why would she visit He Dafang?

“No,” Jiang Yisheng answered flatly.

An awkward silence filled the room.

Even Bai Chu felt a bit uncomfortable with the change in Jiang Yisheng’s demeanor. Just before, she had been all soft and gentle—now she was cold and distant again, like her old self.

The next moment, warmth wrapped around Bai Chu’s arm.

Jiang Yisheng had linked her arm with hers and gave Gao Tingyuan a polite nod. “I’m Bai Chu’s friend.”

Only then did Gao Tingyuan look at Bai Chu again and smile. “Ah, good, good. Our little Chu is truly exceptional—to make friends with someone like President Jiang, that’s really…”

Jiang Yisheng grew irritated. Before Gao could finish, she turned to He Youran, frowning. “What did the doctor say?”

Seeing that Jiang Yisheng had no intention of chatting, Gao didn’t push further. She picked up the basin and began wiping He Dafang’s body.

“They said he needs more tests to determine if surgery is required,” He Youran replied.

“How did he end up hospitalized all of a sudden?” Bai Chu asked, looking at the unconscious man wearing an oxygen mask.

“My dad lost at cards today, and it turns out someone was cheating. He got so angry that he fought them and fainted.” He Youran’s voice wavered, tears brimming in her eyes. “I told him so many times to stop gambling, but he just wouldn’t listen.”

“Youran.” An Hao quickly pulled her into a comforting hug.

“Hah.” Jiang Yisheng let out a cold laugh. “Is your family rich or not? Still gambling in this state?”

An Hao snapped, “Jiang Yisheng, that’s too much.”

But his voice was drowned out by the system in Jiang Yisheng’s mind: “Mission 2: Mock He Youran’s family to humiliate her.”

She was already annoyed just seeing He Youran’s parents—and with voices in and out of her head, she lost patience: “Shut up. Don’t bother me.”

That was directed at both the system—and An Hao.

The room fell into an eerie silence.

“Jiang Yisheng.” Bai Chu broke it, tugging on her wrist.

Jiang Yisheng turned and saw the look in Bai Chu’s eyes. Her frustration faded a little. But remembering what He’s family had done to Bai Chu only reignited her fury.

She grabbed the hand Bai Chu used to tug her and held it in her own, then looked toward Gao Tingyuan.

She understood why Gao was being so warm. After ruining Bai Chu’s father’s company, of course, they wanted to use Yujiang’s power to restart.

“May I call you ‘Auntie’?”

Gao quickly stepped forward. “President Jiang, you’re too kind.”

“Auntie, forgive me for saying this—but gambling scatters wealth, and wickedness brings illness. Please persuade Uncle He. Life has karma, and I truly say this for your own good.” Jiang Yisheng’s disdain was impossible to hide, though she kept a smile on her face.

Gao Tingyuan’s body froze. She forced a dry laugh and nodded.

He Youran looked awkwardly at Bai Chu.

Bai Chu withdrew her hand and pulled Jiang Yisheng out of the room by the wrist.

Her steps were large, and Jiang Yisheng struggled to keep up—her ankle began to throb again.

“President Jiang, if you didn’t come with goodwill, please leave,” Bai Chu said coldly, her gaze once again indifferent.

Jiang Yisheng looked at her, torn between anger and frustration, tears welling in her eyes.

“Bai Chu, don’t you think you’re being too good to the He family?” Jiang Yisheng’s voice trembled.

“President Jiang, don’t you think you’re being far too rude?” Bai Chu replied calmly, staring straig