She blinked her eyes at her.

Jiang Ruiling smiled. "Don't take me wrong, but I know what I am doing. I understood your intentions when you were praising Shen Yang. And I also know you were doing that to dissolve my engagement with Wen Yaoting. But honestly, instead of helping me, you were close to foiling my plans."

Her eyes widened. "Plans?"

"Yes."

"What are you planning?"

"Why do I have to tell you?" She tilted her head.

Lihua was confused. "Because I want to help you. I know you don't want Wen Yaoting. And if you and Shen Yang love each other so much, then I want to do everything I can to unite you two. I understand it won't be easy. It would be hard to convince Old Madam and I am worried that-"

"Your interference isn't necessary," she cut her off.

Lihua felt startled.

Interference…

She quickly said, "No, no. I am not trying to interfere. I just...I don't know why, but I am feeling restless. I don't want you to do anything dangerous."

Jiang Ruiling smiled. "Your concern is unneeded. Like I said before, I know what I am doing. You see, I am not helpless and weak like Aunt Xiurang who needed someone to stand up for her."

Lihua looked at her, stupefied. "You…"

"I can take care of myself. Honestly, I was a bit annoyed with you. Thank you for trying to help me before, but that's not how I want things to go. I will do everything my way. Plus…" she squinted her gaze, "I know that behind helping me, your hidden motive is to get me on your side and accept you as my sister-in-law."

"No really I-"

"It's okay. You are right in your methods. After all, nobody does here anything for free. Everybody wants something in return, and you want my support. But the best way in getting my support is actually staying out of my way. I hope it is clear to you now. Good night."

She shut the door.

Lihua remained unmoved at her spot for a long time. Then she slowly turned and walked away.

She quietly opened the door to her bedroom. Wei was still soundly sleeping and Lihua, the cat was asleep too.

Lihua gently climbed on the bed and pulled the duvet over her. She turned on her side and a small tear slipped out of her eye.

She didn't know why, but Jiang Ruiling's words affected her. When she first tried to help Jiang Fai, he had opposed her too and cursed her a lot. But she understood a teenager's rebellious anger. So, she didn't feel hurt.

But Jiang Ruiling…

She thought that Jiang Ruiling didn't hate her. After they met in the mall that day, she didn't seem hostile to her. And as someone who was near to her age, she thought that Jiang Ruiling and her could become good friends.

She genuinely wanted to help her and Shen Yang. But all her concern was pushed behind a hidden agenda of gaining everyone's support.

Interference huh…

A sad smile laced her lips and she quickly shut her eyes to sleep.

---

*Knock knock*

Jiang Ruiling was about to head to sleep when she heard somebody knocking again.

Is it her again?

A tired sigh escaped her lips.

She opened the door. "What is it again-"

Her words stopped midway as she froze to see Wei standing before her.

"Cousin…" her voice had a ring of hesitation because Wei, for some reason, looked really ominous at this moment.

She met his cold gaze coupled with his expressionless face that involuntarily sent a shudder through her spine. She suddenly felt suffocating, and a sense of crushing pressure that threatened to break her.

"Can I come in?" He said in his deep voice.

It was more of an order than a question that she couldn't refute.

She smiled. "Of course."

Wei stepped in and she shut the door. She pursed her lips and stood before him.

Before she could ask his reason for his presence here, Wei said, "I heard everything."

Jiang Ruiling looked up at him.

"Your conversation with Lixue."

"Oh."

"This is the first time since Lixue has stepped in the Jiang villa that she has shed a tear," his quiet, dangerous voice was hard to bear. His accusing gaze made it difficult to breathe.

Jiang Ruiling widened her eyes. She quickly retracted her shocked expression.

"She heard what you said, came back to the room and quietly fell asleep with tears in her eyes."

She cleared her throat. "Cousin, I didn't mean to hurt her."

Silence.

Wei expressionlessly faced her that made her guard up. "Lixue doesn't have to do this."

She furrowed her brows.

What?

His low voice rang in the air. "She doesn't have to work so hard in helping solve everyone's problems here. She doesn't have to lift a finger. She doesn't need to care about anybody else because my care is more than enough for her."

Jiang Ruiling remained quiet.

Wei narrowed his eyes. "I really, really don't care about the six months challenge. Even if Lixue loses, I won't divorce her, and nobody has the guts to throw the Mafia King's wife out of this family as long as I am standing here." The alarm in his deep voice was unmistakable.

She said nothing.

"But she is still doing it nevertheless. Doing this to win your favor is the last thing in her mind when she extends a helping hand. She genuinely wants you to be happy with Shen Yang. Don't conveniently push her pure intentions behind the challenge."

She stiffened.

"I saw her worry about you. I saw how restlessly she was twitching in bed. She couldn't sleep well. That's why she came to you. But you threw away her concern and made her cry."

"Cousin-"

"Lixue won't interfere in your matter anymore just as you want," he sharply said. "So, don't ever come to her for any help. You are on your own. Even if you realize that you might need help at any point, Lixue and I will stay out of it."

She pursed her lips.

Wei tilted his head. "Another thing you should know. When it is about Lixue, I hold grudges. I won't let the matter slide even if it is a member of my family."

Jiang Ruiling didn't understand where he was going with this.

His gaze was extremely cold. "Lixue is precious to me. There will be a price to pay for making her sad, and that price Shen Yang will pay on your behalf," he declared.

Her eyes flew open in shock.

Shen Yang?