“Spring collection?”
Jiang Ran paused slightly. Before she could fully react, the butler’s voice continued.

“Yes. Your wardrobe is updated every season. Since you’re going out, I’ll have the clothes placed at the doorway for you.”

“You never wear out-of-season clothing. Just give me the old pieces—I’ll take care of them for you.”

Take care of them?

So many clothes were prepared each season, and some hadn’t even been worn before being disposed of?

And they were all limited editions. Just how extravagant had the original owner been? Good thing the Si family had money to burn.

“Um… no need. Please return all these clothes.”

“Re-return them?” the butler exclaimed in shock.

What was going on? Had the sun risen from the west?

“Yes.” Jiang Ran nodded, then added, “And the clothes in my room as well. Get rid of those too.”

The clothes in her room were far too flashy and didn’t suit her style. Keeping them around would just take up space.

“Madam, is it that you don’t like this batch of clothes? I can have them send over another selection.”

“No, that won’t be necessary.” Jiang Ran quickly refused. “I just want to change my style. There’s nothing else going on.”

“I see.” The butler responded, glancing at Jiang Ran’s sportswear—it really was nothing like her usual look.

“Then please wait a moment. Since you didn’t notify us in advance, I’ll need to contact the security department.”

“No need. I’m going out by myself tonight.”

In the memories Jiang Ran inherited, the original owner always went out dressed flamboyantly, with a crowd of bodyguards following close behind.

Like a national treasure on display—guarded at all times, afraid others wouldn’t recognize her identity.

But Jiang Ran had no interest in drawing attention.

“That’s all. You can go back—get some rest early.”

With that, she headed out the door.

The butler and the two people behind him stared at each other in silence.

Get some rest early?

Was that really something Madam would say?

Even after Jiang Ran had gone far, the butler still hadn’t recovered from the shock.

Jiang Ran jogged all the way to the garage, started the engine, floored the accelerator, and sped toward her destination.

The red sports car became a striking sight on the road.

She raced forward and soon arrived at the entrance of an internet café.

“—Screech!”

Jiang Ran slammed on the brakes, stopping the car sideways in front of the café, then stepped out without hesitation.

Only when she reached the door did she realize it was locked. She frowned and took a few steps back.

Several people watching from the surveillance room were puzzled.

“What’s this? The door’s locked—she’s leaving?”

Listening to the chatter, Si Zuochen suddenly felt inexplicably irritated.

If Jiang Ran left now, all their preparations would be for nothing.

Just as they were feeling hopeless, a loud bang echoed.

After stepping back a few paces, Jiang Ran raised her leg and kicked the door hard.

The already flimsy door flew open just like that.

What the—?!

Was this really the delicate, helpless Madam of the Si family described in rumors—someone who couldn’t lift or carry anything?

Not only them—even Si Zuochen and Si Youlin exchanged looks, both seeing the same shock in each other’s eyes.

Shocked or not, the act still had to go on.

Si Zuochen shoved the internet café owner forward, signaling him to go out.

The kidnapper had been beaten black and blue—there was no way he could appear now.

Seeing Jiang Ran’s earlier display, the café owner hadn’t even managed to say he didn’t want to go before being pushed out like a duck forced onto a perch.

Two underlings followed behind him.

“Where is he?” Jiang Ran demanded coldly.

“Money first, then the person,” the café owner replied. Seeing Jiang Ran empty-handed, his expression darkened. “You didn’t bring the money?”

“Wait.” Jiang Ran cut in with a frown.

“What?” The café owner looked confused.

“That voice isn’t right. The person who called me earlier wasn’t you.” Jiang Ran frowned slightly.

“Oh, that was one of my men. He’s in the back watching over the person,” the café owner said hurriedly, startled. Then he hardened his tone again.
“That’s not your concern. Where’s the money?”

Jiang Ran spread her hands. “Let me see the person first. What if I give you the money and you suddenly change your mind?”

The café owner was momentarily stunned. Since those two couldn’t show their faces, he had no choice but to press on.

“Don’t worry. We have professional ethics in this line of work. A fair exchange is the basic rule.”

Professional ethics?

Jiang Ran almost laughed.

You’d already kidnapped someone—what “ethics” were you talking about?

Weren’t you afraid of being laughed at?

Hidden in the back room, Si Zuochen rubbed his forehead and motioned to someone beside him.

That person went out and whispered a few words into the café owner’s ear. The owner nodded.

“Since you didn’t bring the money, then I’m afraid that’s that.”

As he spoke, he signaled to the two men beside him, who immediately shut the door.

Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow.

“And what exactly are you trying to do?”

At that moment, Si Youlin could no longer hold back and stepped out of the surveillance room.

Seeing him, Jiang Ran wasn’t surprised at all. She only smiled faintly.

“What, couldn’t keep acting anymore?”

She let out a self-mocking chuckle and continued,
“You came out so quickly. I wasn’t even done having fun.”

Si Youlin sneered coldly. “It’s just acting. Didn’t I learn it all from you?”

Hearing that, Jiang Ran tugged at the corner of her lips.

If she weren’t at a disadvantage right now, she might’ve praised him for surpassing his teacher—learning all the bad habits without missing a single one.

“So,” she asked calmly, “what do you actually want?”

She crossed her arms, the posture instantly filling Si Youlin with disgust.

“You’ve invested at least several million into Lu Ziyi over the years. It’s time for you to spit it back out.”

He might be young, but he wasn’t stupid.

“Using the Si family’s money to support a lover—your skin is really thick.”

Si Youlin didn’t bother lowering his voice. By now, only a few people were left anyway.

Anyone who had participated in this so-called “kidnapping” had no reason to avoid hearing these secrets.

Several million?

Hearing his accusations, Jiang Ran rarely chose not to argue.

The money she had poured into Lu Ziyi—openly and secretly—was far more than just a few million.

That was exactly why she thought the original owner was blind.

Setting everything else aside, after giving so much money, all she got in the end was a claim that there had only been two hundred thousand.

If not for keeping up appearances, she would’ve interrogated Lu Ziyi properly.

Where did the rest of the money go—fed to the dogs?!

“What? Did I hit a nerve?” Si Youlin continued his mockery.

Being lectured by a kid standing in front of her, Jiang Ran slowly cut him off.

“So why go through all this trouble—putting on such a big show?”

“Since you didn’t bring the ransom and refused to follow the rules,” he said coldly,
“then we’ll just have to keep the person.”