After hanging up the phone, Jiang Ran turned to Lin Yu and said,
“Kick her out.”

“Kick… kick her out?” Lin Yu exclaimed in surprise.

For a split second, she thought she had misheard.

How was that possible?

Hadn’t Madam always listened to everything she said? Even an outsider could openly interfere in matters concerning the young masters.

Despite sharing the Si family bloodline, Si Zuochen and Si Youlin seemed less like the masters of the house than she did.

“Yes.” Jiang Ran nodded, then sneered coldly. “And remember—don’t be polite.”

“Alright.” Though confused, Lin Yu still carried out the instruction.

When Lin Yu went to “escort” Song Yuqing away, she was still relatively tactful.

After all, she didn’t know what had happened between the two women. What if they were just having a quarrel?

If so, she would end up being the one blamed later.

“What? She’s not seeing me?” Song Yuqing cried out in disbelief after being told by the Si household servant to leave.

Seeing Song Yuqing’s angry expression, Lin Yu explained,
“It’s not that Madam refuses to see you. She has something to attend to and needs to go out.”

“Go out?” Song Yuqing frowned. “Where to?”

Lin Yu kept a neutral expression, though a trace of displeasure flashed through her heart.
“I don’t know.”

Hearing this, Song Yuqing’s expression worsened.

It was obvious Jiang Ran was deliberately brushing her off.

Normally, as long as she came over, Jiang Ran would cancel all her plans to accompany her. But today, she was actually being turned away at the door.

Fine. Very well done!

A gloomy look crossed Song Yuqing’s face. If Lu Ziyi hadn’t coaxed her last night into coming to placate Jiang Ran, who would want to come here and endure this humiliation?

Seeing Song Yuqing standing still, Lin Yu couldn’t help but speak up again.
“Miss Song, since Madam isn’t here, why don’t you come back another day?”

“Are you trying to chase me away?” Song Yuqing’s expression changed instantly, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes as she stared at Lin Yu.

Before Lin Yu could respond, Song Yuqing snatched up her bag and stormed off.

Watching her leave, Lin Yu sighed silently.

This was the first time she had seen someone so utterly incapable of recognizing her own status.

At the same time, Song Yuqing was seething with anger.

She had originally planned to come today, apologize properly, and coax Jiang Ran into investing in Lu Ziyi’s project.

That way, they could get the money sooner and stop having to curry favor with her.

Yet today, not only had she failed to see Jiang Ran, she had even become the butt of the servants’ jokes!

“Stupid woman!” Song Yuqing cursed inwardly.

Just as she stepped out of the villa gates, a red sports car drove toward her.

She took a closer look—her eyes lit up—and she hurried forward, waving to stop it.

When Jiang Ran saw a familiar figure suddenly appear in the middle of the road, a wicked smile curved at her lips.

Not only did she not slow down—she stepped harder on the accelerator.

Hearing the sudden roar of the engine and seeing the car nearly upon her without any sign of braking, Song Yuqing’s face changed drastically. She hastily dodged to the side.

Sure enough, the moment she moved aside, Jiang Ran slammed on the brakes, stopping exactly at the spot where Song Yuqing had just been standing.

A surge of intense unease welled up in Song Yuqing’s heart.

What did this mean?

If she hadn’t moved—Jiang Ran hadn’t planned to stop at all.

Seeing Song Yuqing’s panicked expression in the rearview mirror, Jiang Ran let out a cold laugh.

She had known it—someone who cherished her life that much would never fail to dodge.

After regaining her composure, Song Yuqing decided to strike first. She quickly walked up to the car and angrily questioned Jiang Ran.

“Didn’t you see me waving at you? Why didn’t you slow down?”

Jiang Ran tilted her head slightly, reached up, and removed her sunglasses, her dazzling beauty fully revealed.

Song Yuqing stared blankly at her.

She was clearly the same person, yet somehow felt completely different.

In the past, Jiang Ran had no opinions of her own. But now, the invisible pressure she exuded was overwhelming.

“If I didn’t slow down, aren’t you still fine?” Jiang Ran raised an eyebrow, her tone dripping with mockery. “You dodge pretty well.”

Hearing the sarcasm in her voice, Song Yuqing assumed Jiang Ran was still angry.

The ugliness on her face softened slightly as she spoke in a gentler tone.

“Ranran, are you still angry with me?”

Her words were laced with grievance, paired with that pitiful, tearful expression.

Jiang Ran suddenly laughed.

What a textbook green-tea bitch.

“Angry with you? About what?” Jiang Ran asked innocently.

“About you going out of your way to ‘accidentally’ take something that belongs to me? Or about you not knowing your place and meddling in my household affairs?”

“Hmm?” Her tone lifted slightly on the last word.

“You… how could you think of me that way? I did everything for your own good!” Song Yuqing protested.

“Oh, for my own good?” Jiang Ran chuckled softly, then lifted her gaze. “Then I should thank you, shouldn’t I?”

Song Yuqing’s expression changed, still trying to struggle for words.

Jiang Ran continued calmly,
“Don’t come to the Si residence again for now. When you’re ready to return what you took from me, then we can talk about rekindling feelings.”

Song Yuqing froze.

What did she mean by that?

Why had she suddenly become so cold and heartless?

Before she could figure it out, Jiang Ran put her sunglasses back on and pressed a button to start the car.

“Ranran—” Acting on instinct, Song Yuqing reached out and grabbed the car window.

Jiang Ran’s voice turned icy.
“Let go.”

Seeing Jiang Ran’s expression darken, Song Yuqing didn’t dare persist and released her grip.

“One more reminder,” Jiang Ran said coolly.
“Don’t block my car again next time. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee my brakes won’t suddenly fail.”

“If something unfortunate happens then, don’t blame me.”

With that, she stepped on the gas and sped away.

Watching Song Yuqing stand there in a daze, Jiang Ran felt her mood inexplicably brighten.

This was only the beginning, yet she was already losing her composure.

Jiang Ran truly wondered how the original owner of this body had been toyed with so thoroughly by such a woman.

———

At the same time, elsewhere.

It was free activity period during PE class. Si Zuochen and Si Youlin were sitting on the grass.

“Brother… do you think the teacher will call that woman?” Si Youlin hesitated for a long time before finally asking.

“Yes,” Si Zuochen replied without lifting his head, weaving a grasshopper out of blades of grass.

“Then… will she come?”

Si Zuochen’s hands paused. He answered honestly,
“No.”

That woman was probably eager to avoid being embarrassed by them. Why would she come?

“Whoosh—”

Just then, a soccer ball flew toward them. Si Zuochen tilted his head slightly, and the ball brushed past him.

Si Youlin hurried closer and checked him anxiously.
“Brother, are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Si Zuochen said, shaking his head.

Then he lifted his gaze toward the culprit.

The boy slowly raised his hands in front of his chest, then lowered them, strolling over at an unhurried pace.

Once he got close, he sneered mockingly,
“Oh, sorry about that. The ball doesn’t have eyes. Didn’t hit you, did it?”