just a guess

"Ruyu, what do you mean by that?" Ye Feng furrowed his brow. "This is just a guess, but it seems likely that Miss Yun Yun's mind is too pure—haven't you ever suspected something like this?"

Inwardly, Bai Ruyu was silent. Had she really never doubted Qin Tian?No! When Qin Tian announced at the Summit that his little sister had been kidnapped that afternoon, she was the first to suspect him—and she was absolutely convinced.But then…Reality slapped her hard in the face.Not only was Qin Tian not the mastermind behind it all, he had actually rescued his sister from the kidnappers!

"Mr. Ye Feng, that's all I have to say. I can only tell you that some matters aren't as simple as you imagine. While you might question Qin Tian's character, please, do not continue to meddle in Yun Yun's affairs." Clutching her wine glass, Bai Ruyu turned and left without another word.

At first, she had thought Ye Feng quite promising—steady, calm, and sharp-eyed. But now it seemed she'd overestimated him.Ye Feng stared at the graceful curve of her departing back, his cold grip on the wine glass tightening until it creaked ominously, as if about to shatter under the pressure.

How could this be? He prided himself on his ability to read people!On one side, Bai Xiaoyun misunderstood him and hurled insults his way—something he could easily brush off. After all, as the leader of the Blood Wolf Mercenary Corps, he'd seen death and danger up close; he wouldn't waste energy bickering with a little girl.But why would even Bai Ruyu react so strongly?Could it be that Qin Tian had slipped some kind of love potion into these sisters' lives?

Little did he know that even if Ye Feng racked his brain, he would never have guessed that Bai Xiaochun—the real old fox—was the true mastermind behind the kidnapping of his own daughter.That sly old fox not only persisted in his misdeeds after committing the crime, but even threw a lavish banquet to celebrate Qin Tian's "heroic" rescue of his daughter.He even went so far as to hire a top-notch bodyguard like Ye Feng!

Yes, Ye Feng was the original protagonist of the story, but he was only human.Aside from Qin Tian—who seemed to know the plot in advance—who else could see through Bai Xiaochun's many layers of disguise?

"Where did everything go wrong? Miss, Bai Xiaoyun, Bai Ruyu—at which step did we lose our way?!"Ye Feng bowed his head, his thoughts in disarray, as if something was missing.Was it his memory?No…Where was something lost, and where had the error occurred?!

That familiar surge of irritation had been building in Ye Feng lately, and now it flared up again. He quietly moved to a corner, taking deep breaths to regain his cool. Years of surviving in war zones had taught him that calm was paramount—when you let anger take over, you lose your reason, and defeat soon follows.

...

"Yuer…"In the center of the hall, Qin Tian softly called out. Approaching Bai Ruyu from behind—within a blind spot of onlookers—he stealthily slipped his hand under the hem of her long, flowing blue dress and gave her a firm squeeze.

Bai Ruyu shivered all over, then turned sharply, glaring at Qin Tian. "Do you have no sense of danger? Look where we are! And your choice of address—if we're that familiar, at least keep it respectful. Just call me Ruyu!"

"Yuer, you can't be like that. It hasn't even been twenty-four hours—are you planning to take everything and then claim you never did?" Qin Tian whispered in her ear, his tone low enough for only the two of them to hear.

Feeling the warm breath tickle her ear, Bai Ruyu's legs grew weak. She bit her lip in a mix of embarrassment and indignation. "What are you trying to do now?"

Without missing a beat, Qin Tian replied coolly, "I just miss you."

Before she could think further, Bai Ruyu rejected him. "This is the Bai family home, and there's a banquet tonight. As the hostess, I don't know how long I'll be busy. Tonight simply won't work."

That wasn't the end of the conversation in his mind. If not tonight, then tomorrow night?But Qin Tian wasn't one to settle with whatever came his way.He was insatiably greedy—like a dog that just wouldn't quit. "If the living room is off limits, how about the bathroom? Or maybe the washroom? Yun Yun's been dragged off by your father to toast with the guests, and I'm worried someone might catch us. Your father's bedroom could work too—after all, he can't possibly conduct business in there. He's always so proper outside; that room is the safest spot!"

His father's bedroom?At least Qin Tian had the nerve to say it!Hasn't he any shame at all?!

"Truth be told, although Ye Feng misunderstood you about Yun Yun, in some respects, his suspicions were not entirely unfounded. You truly are shameless and without limits!"Bai Ruyu bit her lip and shook her head icily. "It still won't do. If there's any blame, it can only be yours. Who told you not to have a little tenderness? Even now, you still harbor a slight pang, and every step you take is my carefully crafted act."

"Miss Bai, what did you say? Never mind—there are too many people here. Let's discuss business upstairs in private."Noticing someone passing by, Qin Tian deliberately raised his voice a notch to avoid attracting attention. Then, in a barely perceptible manner, he tapped her thigh a few times before urging Bai Ruyu to follow him upstairs.

An hour later…

"Ding! Congratulations, host—you've just earned +1000 Villain Points in Fate."Fearing that something might go wrong, Bai Ruyu was the first to descend from the second floor, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.Some guests noticed and assumed that Miss Bai was genuinely in high spirits tonight, having perhaps indulged in too much red wine.And she wasn't the only one thinking that—everyone familiar with Bai Ruyu felt the same.

Not even moments ago, Bai Xiaoyun had finished her playful act with those old men. Now, happily, she broke free from their circle and darted over to her sister.Glancing around and not spotting the brother she adored, she patted her heart—which had a noticeable curve—and complained, "Sister, I'm so exhausted! Is this all just a show? If you hadn't warned me beforehand, I wouldn't have lasted even three minutes. Those old men are so disgusting—constantly praising him for being protective, faithful in love, and some even suggesting he remarry! They have no idea that not only did he kidnap his own daughter, but he also has a secret child on the side!"

"Yun Yun!"Bai Ruyu anxiously reached out and clamped a hand over her outspoken sister's mouth. After a quick glance around, she finally let go. "Don't say a word!"

Bai Xiaoyun pouted for a moment, then clung to her sister's arm and began pouting sweetly, "Oh, sister, don't worry. When I arrived, I made sure no one was around! And besides, with so many people here, who would know who I was talking about?"

Bai Xiaoyun appeared nonchalant—whether she had really been scanning the area or was just venting her frustration, as if to be heard.She gazed at her sister, then, with a hint of curiosity, stepped forward. Using her finger, she traced a line across her sister's lips, smearing a bit of white milk residue.

In a sing-song, childlike complaint, she teased, "Sister, you're such a glutton! Tonight's a party, and yet you're sneaking up to grab a snack. Is that cream or milk? Let me taste it."And with that, she was about to pop her milk-stained finger into her mouth.