"Huang Qianqian, you got what you wanted, and I don't have what you expected. Can you leave now?"
"I really feel unwell," Feng Ran said, her face pale. She leaned against the edge of the bed. Her voice was full of pleading. She was extremely weak at this moment.
Huang Qianqian left. Seeing Feng Ran looking as if she were dying, she felt a pang of unease. She worried that if Feng Ran had an accident while she was there, she would be held truly accountable. She remembered Aunt Sheng's words. She was unwilling to let Feng Ran off the hook so easily, but considering the hairpin, it was a decent gain. She would make good use of that hairpin.
Huang Qianqian left. Feng Ran leaned against the edge of the bed. She closed her eyes, recalling all that had happened. Her life was utterly ruined. In truth, she didn't need to say those things to Huang Qianqian earlier. Less said, the better. If it weren't for 'her' sacrificing her life to protect her back then, Feng Ran wouldn't exist in this world. She owed 'her' a life.
'She' whispered softly in her ear: "Sister Ran, Lanlan truly misses Father King and Mother Empress."
"Sister Ran, Lanlan is in pain."
"Lanlan will be fine, soon, very soon, she will be able to go out."
That day, Lanlan was injured saving her, and the injury was severe. It was raining heavily. She begged and cried out, pleading with those people to save Lanlan. But they were as cold as stone, their hearts unfeeling, deafening and blind. Feng Ran, like a madwoman, begged and kowtowed, but it was useless.
The rain fell heavily. Lanlan died in her arms. Lanlan's last words to her were: "Sister Ran, you must take care of Lanlan's Father King and Mother Empress. Lanlan doesn't want them to worry or be sad."
"Sister Ran, if Lanlan's Father King and Mother Empress knew I died, they would be heartbroken."
"Sister Ran, from now on, will you help Lanlan look after Lanlan's Father King and Mother Empress, okay?"
"Okay, okay, Sister Ran promises you."
"Lanlan, don't talk anymore. Rest, sleep, and you'll be fine."
And so, in the rainy night, she held Lanlan, and Lanlan died in her arms.
Feng Ran closed her eyes, filled with guilt. If Lanlan had never met her, she wouldn't have met such a fate. It was her, it was her who brought misfortune to Lanlan. She was truly a bringer of disaster. The Feng family perished because of her, and Lanlan died because of her. She was indeed a lone star of calamity.
The door was pushed open again. Feng Ran assumed it was Huang Qianqian, returning out of unwillingness. Without even looking, she said coldly, "I have nothing you want anymore. Can you let me go now?"
"You won't get anything more from me, it's a complete waste of time."
"Don't push me. If you push me too far, don't blame me for being ruthless." Feng Ran said coldly. She didn't understand why these people hated her so much and kept harassing her.
"Feng Ran, do you really think that just because Aunt Sheng speaks up for you, you can do whatever you want?"
"Feng Ran, it's all your fault. If you hadn't harmed me, how would I have become a laughingstock for everyone? Do you know that Aunt Sheng kicked me out because of you? I had to use all sorts of means to get back in. Feng Ran, you jinx."
"I will not let you go," Qing Han said ferociously. "I will wait for the right opportunity to make you pay."
She thought of how Aunt Sheng had kicked her out for Feng Ran, how she had become a joke at Chun Manyuan because of Feng Ran, and how she had no choice but to kneel before Aunt Sheng, before everyone, and beg pitifully to stay. She had lost all dignity that day, but what made her happy was that she could finally stay. Thinking that it was all because of Feng Ran, she already harbored a desire to kill Feng Ran. What was so special about Feng Ran that so many people stood up for her?
"Bitch," Qing Han gritted her teeth. She wished she could just attack, but she knew now was not the time. She had to wait for a good opportunity.
Despite Feng Ran's anger at Qing Han's words, she managed to suppress all her displeasure. After a long pause, she looked up at Qing Han calmly and said coldly, "If it's for Ling Chi Yuan, then coming to me is a waste of time. You might as well spend that time on Ling Chi Yuan."
"Is it not ridiculous to spend your time on me?" Feng Ran said coldly. Since when had Ling Chi Yuan occupied all her thoughts? These people who were causing her trouble were all because of Ling Chi Yuan. It seemed that from now on, when she met Ling Chi Yuan, she would have to keep her distance.
Seeing Feng Ran's calm, indifferent expression, Qing Han felt completely ignored by Feng Ran. She had come to humiliate Feng Ran, to leave her speechless. But now, it seemed she was the one being humiliated. Qing Han's face changed instantly, contorted with ferocity. Without any pretense, her true, raw face was fully exposed. She despised Feng Ran the most, yet she saw contempt for her in Feng Ran's eyes, something she could not tolerate.
"Feng Ran, don't get too smug. One day, you'll regret this," Qing Han gritted her teeth.
Feng Ran felt dizzy listening to Qing Han's words. All she wanted now was for the person in front of her to leave quickly, to not appear before her. She thought that continuous retreat would only make Qing Han more audacious.
"You call me lowly, you say Ling Chi Yuan wouldn't have any feelings for me," Feng Ran scoffed lightly. "Then, you, so enraged, pointing at me like this, what is your intention?"
"Qing Han, you know best what your intentions are."
"The person you want to deal with has never been me."
Qing Han stared wide-eyed at Feng Ran, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief. She looked at Feng Ran with ferocity, gritting her teeth and shouting, "Feng Ran, do you think I'll believe your nonsense?"
"I won't believe your words. Don't try those tricks on me."
Feng Ran sighed helplessly. She never expected that a mere accidental encounter with Ling Chi Yuan would bring so much trouble. If she had known it would be like this, she would have lowered her head and left that day, without any hesitation. But it had already happened. Feng Ran sighed helplessly.
"Feng Ran, are you feeling very smug now? The man everyone desires, yet he looks upon you differently, and doesn't even dislike your proximity."
"Don't be too pleased with yourself. One day, you'll be abandoned, and then you'll be the most pathetic person," Qing Han said with a wild laugh. "I'll wait to see your miserable day."
Qing Han seemed to have thought of something. She slowly walked up to Feng Ran, her hand gripping Feng Ran's body forcefully, and said coldly, "Oh, and one more thing, you definitely didn't expect this..."