What's Wrong with My Love Rival Becoming My Wife? - Chapter 5

“Huh?”

Bai Zhenyu was momentarily stunned.

After the whirlwind of protests, she hadn’t expected Jiang Ning to make such a simple request.

Studying Jiang Ning’s expression to confirm she wasn’t joking, Bai Zhenyu quickly nodded in agreement.

“Okay, okay! I’ll remember! I’ll definitely do it!”

Jiang Ning smiled, reached out, and pinched Bai Zhenyu’s cheek. “Good girl. Behave well, and maybe if I’m in a good mood, I’ll waive your bill, right?”

Bai Zhenyu blushed and lowered her head.

She now felt a slight aversion to being so close to Jiang Ning.

After all, she had always been straight, her mind occupied solely with studying and Lu Xu.

She had been waiting for Lu Xu to confess his feelings!

But who could have imagined that the first person to confess to her would be Jiang Ning, this strange woman?

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

As soon as the confession was over, the System rewarded Jiang Ning.

She just needed to get home, drink some warm water, and swallow the pill to cure her hidden ailment.

No matter what, things were finally moving in a positive direction.

Jiang Ning thought, at least she could escape the tragic fate of being tormented to death by illness.

As for defying destiny later?

One step at a time, I guess.

“I can get back on my own, Miss Jiang. There’s no need for you to see me off.”

Bai Zhenyu’s gaze remained fixed on Lu Xu.

Her plan was clear: once Jiang Ning left, she would take care of the unconscious, drunken Lu Xu.

Though they weren’t yet a couple, they shared the bond of childhood friends and the gratitude she owed him for his mentorship.

She couldn’t simply abandon him like the others.

But she lacked the courage—and the strength—to defy Jiang Ning.

The alcohol’s effects still lingered.

She cursed herself for daring to take that extra sip, knowing her limits.

Jiang Ning shot a cold glance at Lu Xu, then narrowed her eyes at Bai Zhenyu, continuing her threat: “I warned you—don’t make me force your hand. I’m not one to forgive easily. If you refuse to be with me, fine. But I’ll never let you be with anyone else. Do you understand?”

Bai Zhenyu stared at her in disbelief, her eyes rimming with tears again. “You… you’re being unreasonable!”

Jiang Ning smirked, a cruel smile twisting her lips. “I could have forced you to sell yourself to pay off your debts. Considering that, I’m being remarkably reasonable.”

With that, she seized Bai Zhenyu’s arm and dragged her out of the private room.

Throughout the journey, Bai Zhenyu dared not resist, only lowering her head and weeping silently.

Against such overwhelming power, she had no means of defiance.

Moreover, she was deeply afraid that if she didn’t comply, Jiang Ning might grow bolder and harm Lu Xu.

If Lu Xu suffered because of her…

Bai Zhenyu thought, she would surely die of shame.

Now that she understood Jiang Ning’s every action was a twisted attempt to possess her, she couldn’t ignore it.

She had to take responsibility.

At the very least, she couldn’t let Lu Xu get involved!

Thinking of her childhood friendship with Lu Xu, Bai Zhenyu’s tears flowed even more fiercely.

She realized that their future together had likely been cut short tonight.

As they stepped out of the hotel, the biting wind outside mirrored the chill in Bai Zhenyu’s heart.

Jiang Ning had hired an expensive private car, intending to take Bai Zhenyu home first, both to familiarize herself with the route and to pave the way for future visits.

Before getting into the car, Bai Zhenyu pointed to the electric scooter parked under a tree. “That’s mine. I… I’d rather go home myself, okay?”

“No.”

Jiang Ning pushed her into the private car anyway.

“Your little electric scooter is practically falling apart. Just throw it away—I’ll get you a new one.”

The car door closed, and the vehicle slowly pulled away.

At Jiang Ning’s insistence, Bai Zhenyu reluctantly gave her temporary address to both Jiang Ning and the driver.

Bai Zhenyu lived near a village within the city, in a cramped rental room of less than ten square meters. It had no private bathroom or cooking facilities, just a bed and a dilapidated wardrobe.

Even for this, she had to pay 1,500 yuan a month!

If Lu Xu hadn’t been secretly giving her money, she might have ended up sleeping under a bridge.

Standing beneath Bai Zhenyu’s building, Jiang Ning looked up at the tattered windows and the clothes and underwear flapping wildly in the wind. She clicked her tongue in disapproval.

“Zhenyu, my dear, look at the life you’re living!”

Jiang Ning shook her head and sighed repeatedly.

“You must know Lu Xu isn’t poor at all—he’s quite wealthy now, living in a luxury apartment I provided! And yet he lets you live in a place like this! Doesn’t he worry about your safety, a young woman walking home alone at night…?”

Bai Zhenyu nervously smoothed her skirt, murmuring in protest, “Staying here was my own choice. Lu Xu had nothing to do with it.”

“Don’t be naive. Nothing to do with him? Ha!” Jiang Ning glared at Bai Zhenyu as if she were a fool. “Just tell me—did you come up with the idea of studying in Kyoto yourself, or did he suggest it?”

Bai Zhenyu bit her lip, remaining silent.

The idea had, of course, come from Lu Xu.

She knew her financial limitations all too well. Her greatest ambition had once been to attend night school in the county town and find a less demanding part-time job afterward.

It was Lu Xu who had painted vivid pictures of Kyoto’s bustling streets and vibrant culture, promising her a dazzling future.

After nights of agonizing deliberation, she had finally packed her bags, bought a train ticket, left her hometown, and come to Kyoto to be with Lu Xu.

During her time in Kyoto, both she and Lu Xu had been incredibly busy.

As a result, they rarely saw each other, mostly exchanging brief texts of encouragement and checking in on each other.

She had always cherished the vision of their shared future.

But Jiang Ning’s next words visibly startled her.

“Do you really know Lu Xu?” Jiang Ning stepped closer, backing her into the corner of the staircase. “Can you be certain of Lu Xu’s true motives for sending you to Kyoto to study?”

“Oh, darling~ I don’t even need to say much. Silly little sister, just guess: does Lu Xu know about my feelings for you?”

Bai Zhenyu clenched her fists. “Stop it, Miss Jiang! Stop it!”

She wasn’t completely naive.

Jiang Ning had been so blunt—how could she not understand?

But she had never considered this possibility, nor could she ever have imagined it.

Could Lu Xu be trying to harm her?

Lu Xu had always been so kind to her!

From childhood, he had always taken special care of her. Even when he had only one steamed bun, he would break it in half to share with her.

But…

But they hadn’t seen each other in years.

People change.

Perhaps Lu Xu had changed too.

At this thought, Bai Zhenyu’s heart twisted into knots, her mind reeling in confusion.

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world,” Jiang Ning said, stroking Bai Zhenyu’s hair and inhaling its fragrance. “Even a three-year-old knows that. Do you think Lu Xu doesn’t? It’s been three years. Don’t you find it strange that he’s been so comfortable accepting the Jiang Family’s generosity all this time?”

“Stop it, Miss Jiang! Stop trying to drive a wedge between us. I refuse to believe Lu Xu is that kind of person.”

Bai Zhenyu pushed Jiang Ning away and fled upstairs.

But her inner turmoil was betrayed by her unsteady steps.

Hearing a muffled thud from the darkened hallway, Jiang Ning smiled silently.

It seems my words have sunk in, she thought.

No wonder she’s the Female Lead—her mind isn’t completely useless.

Women who are both naive and a little too clever are the easiest to manipulate.

Jiang Ning couldn’t help but anticipate how Lu Xu would react tomorrow when he sobered up and faced the mess she had created tonight. Heh heh…