Chapter 78: Is Qiao Wan’er a Fool?

"Since she enjoys seducing men so much, why not let her serve them properly, film it, and make it public? That way, she’ll become the talk of the capital," Yang Lan said, turning the plan Ye Hua had originally prepared for Qiao Wan’er against Lu Yao instead. This, at least, would ease some of the displeasure in her heart.

Ye Hua immediately caught on, offering Yang Lan a casual smile. "Once her scandal spreads throughout the city, Second Brother and Father will certainly keep their distance." Just the thought brightened Ye Hua’s mood; she lifted her teacup, drained it in one gulp, and grinned smugly. "After all, Father values a girl’s reputation above all. A woman who’s been tainted will never set foot in the Ye family’s old house again, let alone become the future mistress."

With these words, a look of calculated satisfaction curled the corners of Yang Lan and Ye Hua’s lips.

Lu Yao! Since you don’t know your place, tomorrow you’ll become the laughingstock of the whole city.

Fueled by fury, Qiao Wan’er could think of nothing but dealing with Lu Yao. Submissively, she followed Yang Lan and Ye Hua’s plan, determined to personally set the trap for Lu Yao.

...

Ye Yingtang still had private matters to discuss with Ye Zehong, so Lu Yao sensibly left the study.

Guided by memory, she returned to the parlor. But the parlor was empty—Yang Lan, Ye Hua, and the others were gone. Just as she was about to leave, a voice called from behind.

"Lu Yao, come here."

She turned to see Qiao Wan’er standing at the bar, mixing a cocktail.

This was the Ye residence, not the Qiao family’s home. Qiao Wan’er’s act of making cocktails here seemed oddly out of place.

Suspicious, Lu Yao approached the bar with a polite smile. "Miss Qiao, can I help you with something?"

Qiao Wan’er fixed her with a cold stare, dropped an ice cube into the glass, and said with venom, "If you don’t want Wenjie Law Firm to go under because of you, drink this now, then get out of the Ye house and never set foot here again."

Just a drink, and all would be forgiven? That was hardly the style of the notorious Qiao witch.

Lu Yao suspected something had been added to the drink, though she couldn’t yet guess what.

Qiao Wan’er slid the cocktail toward her, arching a brow impatiently. "Drink up!"

Lu Yao raised the glass, studying the pale blue liquid in the spotlight, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"Heh… haha!"

Qiao Wan’er’s expression darkened. "What are you laughing at?"

Lu Yao’s smile only widened. "Miss Qiao, perhaps you don’t know—before I came to dinner at the Ye house, Mr. Ye signed a five-year legal retainer with my firm."

"And so? What does that have to do with you drinking this?"

"It means, with the Ye family as our backer, our firm no longer has to worry about the Qiao family ending our contract."

Rage boiled up in Qiao Wan’er, nearly choking her. She reached out to grab Lu Yao’s hair, intent on forcing her to drink the cocktail. But Lu Yao had anticipated the assault and stepped back just in time.

Missing her mark, Qiao Wan’er snarled, "If you don’t drink this tonight, I’ll kill you."

Lu Yao laughed derisively. "Miss Qiao, let me give you some advice. Next time, don’t wear your intentions on your face, and don’t act so blatantly. Anyone with half a brain can tell this drink is drugged."

Exposed, Qiao Wan’er flew into a rage, hurling the cocktail to the ground.

Lu Yao watched indifferently.

From the side, Yang Lan and Ye Hua, who had been watching the whole scene unfold, looked ashen.

Yang Lan rolled her eyes and muttered, "Is Qiao Wan’er an idiot? She can’t do anything right. I wonder if she’s grown up eating pig slop all these years."

Ye Hua gently patted her mother’s back in comfort. "Mother, if Qiao Wan’er can’t handle it, then I will. I promise I won’t disappoint you."