Secretly Seducing the Third Female Lead Behind the System’s Back - Chapter 41

Jiang Yisheng could sense He Youran’s gradually sinking mood. If He Dafang could treat his own biological daughter like this, how much worse would he treat Bai Chu?

Hearing her words, He Dafang rubbed his nose awkwardly with the hand holding his chopsticks. “Sorry, President Jiang. I thought you and An Hao were a couple.”

Jiang Yisheng didn’t respond, simply lowered her head and sipped her juice.

Realizing he had completely missed the mark with his attempt to flatter her, He Dafang kept quiet for the rest of the meal and avoided bringing up any more topics.

Gao Tingyuan, seeing the awkward silence, tried to shift the focus back to Bai Chu by putting a piece of pork rib on her plate.

“We heard you’ve been looking into the fire from years ago?”

That was their real reason for inviting Bai Chu over tonight.

Sure enough, Bai Chu’s movements paused before she nodded. “Yes.”

Jiang Yisheng interjected immediately, “You heard? From whom?”

“An old coworker of Dafang’s mentioned someone was asking questions,” Gao Tingyuan answered calmly, expression unchanged.

Jiang Yisheng raised her eyes, trying to catch any hint of guilt in her expression.

But Gao Tingyuan ate naturally, met her gaze directly, and answered without a flicker of unease.

The more natural she acted, the more malicious Jiang Yisheng found her.

Then again, someone who’d been pretending for over twenty years would be a master by now.

“I know this is a hard thing for you, but as your aunt, I still want to advise you—people should look forward, not dwell in the past,” Gao Tingyuan said with a serious, motherly tone.

“I understand, Auntie,” Bai Chu replied politely.

“It’s true people should look ahead,” Jiang Yisheng said, gently placing her hand on Bai Chu’s leg beneath the table, “but the past also needs clarity. I’ll help Bai Chu investigate this thoroughly—she deserves peace of mind.”

Her gaze stayed fixed on Gao Tingyuan, not missing even the slightest reaction.

Sure enough, she caught a fleeting flicker of guilt in her eyes.

“Well, if it’ll bring her peace of mind, then go ahead,” Gao Tingyuan said curtly, ending the conversation.

After dinner, Bai Chu was about to help clear the table, but Jiang Yisheng pulled her back onto the couch.

Jiang Yisheng simply didn’t want her to wash dishes.

She placed her hand in Bai Chu’s palm, gently tickling her fingertips.

Bai Chu looked down at her hand and said quietly, “Time to trim your nails.”

Jiang Yisheng’s face flushed immediately. She looked up. “You… what did you say?”

“You need to trim your nails—they’re getting long,” Bai Chu repeated casually.

Jiang Yisheng had obviously misinterpreted the meaning at first, but seeing Bai Chu’s innocent expression, she quickly cleared her mind of her wandering thoughts.

By the time He Youran and Gao Tingyuan came out of the kitchen, Jiang Yisheng had already pulled Bai Chu to her feet.

“It’s getting late, we won’t stay any longer,” she said, walking with Bai Chu to the door.

Gao Tingyuan and He Dafang quickly came over to see them off. “Leaving so soon, President Jiang? Stay a bit longer!”

“No need. I have other things to take care of,” Jiang Yisheng declined politely but firmly.

“Uncle, Auntie, we’ll be going now,” Bai Chu nodded to them.

Her eyes finally landed on He Youran.

She could tell He Youran was upset tonight and was about to say something, but Jiang Yisheng spoke first:

“Youran, want to come hang out at my place for a bit tonight?”

He Youran froze, unsure how to respond, but her parents gave her a gentle push forward. “Sure, sorry to trouble you, President Jiang.”

Her shoulders stiffened slightly from the nudge.

Jiang Yisheng stepped forward, grabbed He Youran’s coat from the door, and handed it to her. “Let’s go.”

He Youran took the coat, changed her shoes, and left without looking back.

Downstairs, Jiang Yisheng personally opened the car door for her.

“Thank you, President Jiang,” He Youran said softly, eyes lowered.

After she got in, Jiang Yisheng and Bai Chu exchanged a glance.

Bai Chu gave her a slight shake of the head before the two joined her in the car.

As the car drove steadily toward Jiang Yisheng’s home, she occasionally checked the rearview mirror to observe He Youran’s expression.

He Youran rested her head against the window, staring outside with a tired look in her eyes.

“Mind if I play a song?” Jiang Yisheng asked, glancing back.

“Of course not,” He Youran replied with a smile.

Seeing her smile, Jiang Yisheng felt a pang of sadness.

She really had it tough too.

She played a light, upbeat song, hoping to lift the mood.

At a red light, the car came to a smooth stop. Bai Chu, one hand on the wheel, turned to look at He Youran.

“We didn’t tell you yet.”

She smiled slightly, like she was excited to share the news.

“What is it?” He Youran asked, raising her head.

Bai Chu’s smile deepened as she reached out and took Jiang Yisheng’s hand, then turned to He Youran with a shy but happy expression. “We’re together now.”

He Youran’s eyes widened as she sat up straight and leaned forward. “That fast?”

Jiang Yisheng, caught in the warm bubble of new love, immediately noticed something.

“That fast?” she echoed. “I thought you’d be surprised we…”

“I had a feeling for a while. When Chu Chu had a fever, that’s when I was sure,” He Youran replied, her attention already diverted.

The light turned green. Bai Chu gently accelerated the car, and with the topic out in the open, Jiang Yisheng couldn’t stop talking, gushing to He Youran all the way about how wonderful Bai Chu was.

When they arrived at Jiang Yisheng’s place, she led He Youran straight to the couch to continue chatting.

“You know, one time on the way to a meeting, I spotted Bai Chu and offered her a ride to work. I accidentally spilled water on her documents, and then bumped into her again when we got upstairs. She ended up hooking a wig off a manager’s head.”

“I was so scared at the time…”

Jiang Yisheng animatedly told the story, using her hands as she talked. Though they’d only known each other for just over six months, it felt like they’d already experienced so much together.

She spoke with such earnestness that He Youran listened with genuine focus.

Who knows how long had passed when, suddenly, two bowls of steaming noodles were placed on the coffee table in front of them.

Jiang Yisheng paused and looked up—Bai Chu had returned.

“You two didn’t eat much at dinner. You must be hungry by now. Give this a try—see if it’s any good,” Bai Chu said, rolling down her sleeves and sitting beside her.

Jiang Yisheng was both surprised and delighted. She had indeed been hungry—and now, her girlfriend had made her noodles. How could Bai Chu be this wonderful?

He Youran picked up her bowl and, seeing the expression on Jiang Yisheng’s face, could already guess what she was about to say.

So she said it first: “President Jiang, your girlfriend is so thoughtful.”

Sure enough, Jiang Yisheng grinned, showing her pearly teeth. She happily picked up two noodles, barely chewed them before exclaiming dramatically, turning to Bai Chu: “So good! If you weren’t doing projects, you could open a restaurant and easily earn a million a year.”

Bai Chu ruffled her hair, teasing: “You didn’t even taste it properly and you’re already praising me?”

“I did taste it! Just smelling it, I already knew it was delicious.”

“Oh, you even added scallions!” Jiang Yisheng exclaimed in surprise.

“You like them, don’t you?”

“…”

He Youran quietly ate her noodles, listening to their conversation, and even her mood began to lift.

Ever since the last banquet, she hadn’t really spoken to An Hao—not that he didn’t reach out, but that she was the one deliberately avoiding him.

She knew An Hao’s parents didn’t approve of her, thinking she couldn’t help him climb the social ladder. So she knew that if An Hao couldn’t break free from his family’s control, there would be no future for them.

She had briefly blamed Jiang Yisheng after the banquet, but upon reflection, realized that even if President Jiang had invited both her and An Hao to attend, it still wouldn’t have led to that situation—An Hao could’ve refused.

Ultimately, the problem lay with him.

If he could never take that step for their future, she would choose to end things.

She was clear-headed about it.

She looked up at Bai Chu, who was gently holding a napkin, wiping the corner of Jiang Yisheng’s mouth while tucking her hair behind her ear.

Thankfully, Bai Chu had found her happiness. As a friend, that’s all she could hope for.

“Youran,” Jiang Yisheng said between bites, trying to comfort her.

“Don’t take your father’s words too seriously at dinner.”

Jiang Yisheng looked at her seriously. “He was trying to curry favor with me because he wants money. He says one thing but deep down, he still cares about you.”

Though she disliked He Dafang, He Youran was a strong, admirable woman. She didn’t want her to feel down because of a few words from her parents.

He Youran finished the last bite of noodles and nodded.

She was used to it.

Her parents had never deprived her materially, but emotionally, she had always felt distant from them—as if there was a barrier she could never cross. That distance left her constantly uneasy.

Just then, her phone rang.

She glanced at it and hung up immediately.

Bai Chu gave her a look and asked, “An Hao?”

“Yeah,” He Youran nodded.

“Why not pick up?”

“Don’t want to.”

A moment later, another call came in—this time from an unfamiliar number.

He Youran hesitated, then hung up again.

“President Jiang, I’m a bit tired. Could I stay over tonight?” she asked.

“Of course,” Jiang Yisheng replied, getting up immediately to take her to the guest room.

When she came out, it was already 10 p.m.

“Why don’t you stay the night too?” she asked Bai Chu.

“Sure. It’s getting late anyway,” Bai Chu nodded.

“Then…” Bai Chu glanced at the other guest rooms.

Jiang Yisheng grabbed her wrist gently and said in a soft voice, “Sleep with me, okay? I promise I’ll behave.”

She even held up three fingers like she was swearing an oath.

Bai Chu tapped her on the forehead with a knuckle, then looked down at her with a pampering smile.