Although Lord Di's tone was obsequious, Qing Huan knew that the matter should be brought to a close.
She wouldn't be foolish enough to persist.
It wouldn't be Feng Ran who would be embarrassed then, but herself.
"Alright, I've let you vent. You'd better serve me well. If you serve me well, there will be benefits for you," said Lord Di, dismissing Feng Ran.
He didn't want to spoil his good mood over some insignificant person.
As Feng Ran walked out, Qing Huan sarcastically remarked, "Feng Ran, luckily I was here this time, or you would have escaped this ordeal. Feng Ran, shouldn't you kneel and thank me? Is it not right to leave so easily?"
"No matter what, I am your savior. Is it too much to ask you to kneel and thank me?"
Lord Di frowned slightly, but to appease the beauty, he irritably reprimanded, "Do as you're told. Do you not want your life?"
Feng Ran complied.
Feng Ran stood up and closed the door. At that very moment, her arm was tightly grasped.
Looking up, she met Aunt Sheng's worried gaze.
"Feng Ran, what's going on?" Aunt Sheng frowned. Why was Feng Ran coming out of that room? Wasn't she supposed to be resting well?
Did she not want her life anymore?
"Aunt Sheng, don't worry, I'm fine. I wasn't mistreated."
"Feng Ran, how did you get the wound on your neck?" Aunt Sheng's sharp eyes spotted the scratch on Feng Ran's neck. There was even a trace of blood. She had seen her leave in good condition that day, and within half a day, she was injured. This must have been intentional.
"Feng Ran, who was it? Don't be afraid, tell me."
"No, really, no one bothered me," Feng Ran shook her head, biting her lip, firmly denying it, not revealing a single clue.
Aunt Sheng had not been in such establishments of pleasure for nothing. She saw Feng Ran's difference clearly.
But catching Feng Ran's evasive eyes, Aunt Sheng finally sighed helplessly, "It's nothing."
"Since you say you're fine, then it must be fine."
Aunt Sheng's gaze fell on Feng Ran's wrist again. There were deep marks, very deep ones. It seemed the person had intended to kill.
That Feng Ran's hand could still move indicated she was fortunate.
"Aunt Sheng, I'm fine. I'll go rest now," Feng Ran said cautiously, not daring to make any drastic movements, afraid Aunt Sheng would discover something.
Feng Ran returned to her room, washed up, and prepared to rest.
So many things had happened today that she had almost forgotten about herself.
Aunt Sheng watched her, wanting to speak but ultimately remaining silent.
There were some things, some words, that she was not suitable to ask.
She knew very well that even if she knew the whole story, she couldn't help.
...
When Feng Ran returned to her room, she found Huang Qianqian there.
Upon hearing the sound, Huang Qianqian glanced at Feng Ran and snorted.
Feng Ran didn't care. Her initial surprise and shock at Huang Qianqian's appearance had now turned into calm acceptance. She thought that when the time came, Huang Qianqian would leave of her own accord.
Huang Qianqian's presence here was undoubtedly to make things difficult for her.
"Feng Ran... are what Qing Huan and Qing Han said true?" Huang Qianqian's face showed concern, but her light and cheerful tone betrayed her completely.
Feng Ran frowned, looking at Huang Qianqian. She found her behavior quite perplexing.
"Feng Ran, do you know how long Qing Han has been waiting for this opportunity?" Huang Qianqian questioned with suppressed anger. "Your appearance turned all her hopes into pipe dreams. What little chance she had is now completely gone." Huang Qianqian's bloodthirsty gaze fell on Feng Ran.
No, that wasn't true.
Originally, she was about to explain, but when her gaze met Huang Qianqian's gloating eyes, she shook her head. "Rumors are not to be believed."
"Are those really just rumors?" Huang Qianqian glared at Feng Ran, exuding a chilling aura, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Feng Ran, I was there at the time and witnessed everything with my own eyes."
"I thought you would clarify things, but I never expected that I overestimated you."
"Feng Ran, how have you also become so calculating? Where is your former kindness? Has it all been eaten?"
Huang Qianqian pointed at Feng Ran indignantly. "Feng Ran, haven't you harmed me enough? Do you still want to drag others down?"
Feng Ran sat with her head bowed, her expression and thoughts unreadable.
"Feng Ran, for someone who is supposed to be a noble daughter of the Feng family, your actions are truly disheartening."
Feng Ran tidied her belongings, allowing Huang Qianqian to stand in the room and vent her disdain.
"Feng Ran, I always thought those rumors were false, and I even considered speaking up for you. But now, I realize I was thinking too much."
Hearing Huang Qianqian's words, Feng Ran let out a slightly loud laugh.
She stared intently at Huang Qianqian, her gaze icy. "Speaking up for me? Are you sure about that?"
"Heh, Huang Qianqian, don't forget. From the very beginning, you were the one who questioned me, humiliated me, and mocked me."
"Now, saying these things, where is your conscience?"
"We are all in this place, Huang Qianqian. No one is nobler than anyone else."
Huang Qianqian's expression turned ferocious. She shot Feng Ran a venomous glare. "Heh, no one can crawl through a dog hole for what they want like you can."
Feng Ran smiled, but it was a chilling smile.
Crawling through a dog hole was for the sake of survival.
It was also to atone for her sins.
Her gaze fell upon Huang Qianqian, but she said nothing, only a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"Feng Ran, you're splitting hairs. Don't think I'll believe your nonsensical ramblings," Huang Qianqian said fiercely. "You say you were forced. Heh, that's quite a good deal, how did it fall upon you?"
"Why wasn't it me who was forced?"
Feng Ran chuckled.
So, all this talk led to this.
Huang Qianqian was simply unwilling to accept it.
But she had forgotten that her current predicament was largely her own doing, yet she blamed Feng Ran.
Perhaps Xuan Yuanheng had been right: "Feng Ran, your mistake in this life is not minding your own business.
Your downfall is your own fault; you have no one to blame."