Chapter 113: Run, It’s a Trap

At Xiao Ran’s enthusiastic invitation, Yang Bingyu sat down.

If she wanted to figure out what kind of scheme he was brewing, she had to interact with him to find out.

Although Yang Jie wasn’t afraid of Ye Xuan, he still informed Xiao Ran that Ye Xuan had forced the cruise ship to stop.

"Young Master Xiao, what do you think we should do now?" Yang Jie asked respectfully, standing beside Xiao Ran.

"It’s fine. If he wants the ship stopped, then stop it."

After speaking, Xiao Ran couldn’t help but steal a few more glances at Yang Bingyu.

"It really is a pity that such a beauty isn’t mine," he thought. But it didn’t matter. As long as Ye Xuan died, both Lin Aoxue and Yang Bingyu would be his. It was still early; he could afford to take his time.

"Miss Yang the Elder, let me offer you a toast." Xiao Ran gave her a faint smile and gently clinked his glass against hers.

Watching Xiao Ran down his drink in one gulp, Yang Bingyu frowned imperceptibly. She hesitated as she looked at the red wine in front of her, but ultimately picked it up and took a small sip.

"Young Master Xiao, Yang Jie mentioned that you plan to collaborate with the Yang family to establish a subsidiary. Is that true?" Yang Bingyu asked in a slightly serious tone, lightly licking the red wine off her lips.

She had no idea just how seductive this subconscious action was. Sitting across from her, Xiao Ran’s eyes went wide, and his body reacted instantly.

"What a vixen!" he cursed inwardly, then adjusted his mood and said with a smile, "That’s right. I’ve already made a verbal promise to Yang Jie. The partner for this venture will be none other than the Yang family."

Hearing Xiao Ran’s answer, Yang Bingyu’s eyes flashed. A mere verbal promise wasn’t enough. Only after signing a black-and-white contract with Xiao Ran could the Yang family truly be considered partners with the Xiao family.

"Young Master Xiao, when do you plan to sign the formal contract with us? That way, I can have the planning department get to work." As a senior executive of the company, Yang Bingyu had to ensure this collaboration was absolutely foolproof.

"There’s no rush to sign the contract. We’ll have plenty of time to discuss it slowly later." Xiao Ran didn’t give a specific timeline, offering an ambiguous answer instead. Then, he poured some more red wine into her glass.

Yang Bingyu frowned and met Xiao Ran’s gaze. "What exactly is this man plotting? Could this be a trap?" she wondered.

"Miss Yang the Elder, I heard you like Ye Xuan?"

The sudden question nearly made Yang Bingyu choke to death. She coughed violently for a moment and had to take two large gulps of wine before she recovered.

"Yes, I like Ye Xuan. But what does that have to do with you?" Wiping her mouth with a tissue, Yang Bingyu replied with a cold expression.

Xiao Ran gave a faint smile and poured her a cup of hot tea like a perfect gentleman before speaking. "I’m just curious. After all, the internet is full of rumors about you, Ye Xuan, and Lin Aoxue."

At the mention of Ye Xuan and Lin Aoxue’s names, Yang Bingyu’s expression stiffened for a second. She turned her gaze toward the distant lights on the shore and said softly, "So what if I like him? I’m not in his heart."

Seeing her looking so sorrowful, Xiao Ran’s eyes darkened slightly, and his voice took on a seductive, coaxing tone. "Heh, I wonder if Miss Yang the Elder would like to test Ye Xuan."

"Test Ye Xuan? How?" Yang Bingyu looked at Xiao Ran suspiciously, not understanding what he meant.

"I’m the one who kidnapped Lin Aoxue, and I intentionally let her call Ye Xuan so he would know her location."

Xiao Ran’s words made Yang Bingyu’s eyes narrow slightly as a sliver of wariness rose in her heart.

"Why would you do that? You could have just quietly slept with Lin Aoxue and claimed her for yourself.

"But now, you’re testing Ye Xuan’s patience time and time again. Do you really think he wouldn’t dare to do anything to you?" Yang Bingyu wasn’t asking this out of concern for Xiao Ran; rather, she asked with a look of amusement.

"Both of his women are currently in my hands. Do you think I’d be afraid?" Xiao Ran stared at her and smiled knowingly, answering with perfect composure.

Yang Bingyu’s body visibly stiffened. For a moment, she didn’t process what Xiao Ran meant.

"Xiao Ran, you’re despicable!"

Realizing she had become Xiao Ran’s bargaining chip to threaten Ye Xuan, she grew utterly furious. Smart as she was, she immediately deduced his plan. He intended to use Lin Aoxue to lure Ye Xuan over, and then finish him off completely on the cruise ship. As long as Ye Xuan died, everything would be solved once and for all.

"Heh, don’t be angry just yet, Miss Yang the Elder.

"This situation isn’t entirely bad for you. In fact, you can use this opportunity to determine your place in Ye Xuan’s heart."

Yang Bingyu lowered her head and let out a self-deprecating laugh, not taking Xiao Ran’s bait.

"My place in Ye Xuan’s heart?" she thought. "Hah. Even if Ye Xuan stays by my side as a bodyguard, his heart still belongs to Lin Aoxue. Testing him would just be bringing humiliation upon myself."

"I don’t want to know my place in Ye Xuan’s heart. Anyway, the cruise ship is about to dock. Thank you for the midnight snack, Young Master Xiao. Let’s eat together again when we have the chance."

Rejecting him coldly, Yang Bingyu grabbed her handbag and prepared to leave. But after taking only a few steps, her path was blocked by Xiao Ran’s subordinates. Looking at these expressionless bodyguards, Yang Bingyu knew she was no match for them. Helpless, she could only sit back down in her seat.

"Miss Yang the Elder, since you’re already here, why not play this act out to the end?

"Don’t worry. As a partner, I won’t hurt you."

With that, Xiao Ran suddenly snapped his fingers. The two bodyguards standing behind Yang Bingyu immediately tied her up.

"Xiao Ran! What are you doing?! Let me go right now!" Caught completely off guard by this sudden turn of events, Yang Bingyu struggled to break free from her restraints.

"Where’s the other one? Bring her here." Xiao Ran ignored her angry shouts, instead turning his head to ask another bodyguard.

"She’s hiding in the kitchen. I’ll have someone grab her right now." After answering Xiao Ran, the bodyguard backed away.

Yang Bingyu knew this "her" referred to Lin Aoxue. She glared at Xiao Ran furiously.

"Yang Jie! Are you just going to stand there and watch him bully me?!"

Unable to break free, she could only pin her hopes on Yang Jie, praying he would help her.

"Sister Bing, you’d better just cooperate with Young Master Xiao. Don’t worry, he definitely won’t hurt you," Yang Jie glanced at Xiao Ran and replied coolly.

Yang Bingyu was beside herself with rage. She never expected Yang Jie to be such a coward that he wouldn’t even dare put up the slightest resistance.

The cruise ship was getting closer and closer to the port. Faintly, Yang Bingyu could see a person standing on the pier. Judging from his figure, it was undoubtedly Ye Xuan.

"Ye Xuan! Run! It’s a trap!" Yang Bingyu screamed at him at the top of her lungs.