Chapter Sixteen This Dish Is Poisoned!

Ye Wushang was momentarily stunned.

He set down his tray, turned his head, and saw Sun Chuanzhi leading Lan Ruoxue and another woman toward him.

Only then did he notice that the table he was inspecting was reserved for guests with bidding qualifications.

"You useless fool, you still dare claim you’re not here to scavenge leftovers," sneered Xu Wei. "Well? Now we’ve caught you red-handed."

She pushed Ye Wushang aside, wiped down a chair obsequiously, and said with sycophantic enthusiasm, "Young Master Sun, President Lan, please, have a seat."

"I bet that woman earlier was just an actor you hired, right?" Sun Chuanzhi sat down, crossing his legs with a mocking smile. "You shamelessly say you’re here as a guest, but you’re sneaking around pilfering food. Ye Wushang, I never imagined you’d stoop so low!"

"Ye Wushang, you’ve truly disappointed me," Lan Ruoxue’s expression shifted, and she sighed. "I didn’t believe Xu Wei at first, but now here you are, lurking with a tray."

"If you really wanted to eat, you could’ve just told me. I could have brought you in."

"And when we divorced, I gave you money. You refused, insisting on your so-called dignity."

"And now you make a spectacle of yourself? Even though we’re divorced, people know you’re my ex-husband—how do you think that reflects on me?"

She looked at him with a face brimming with frustration, as though his failings pained her. Ye Wushang remained expressionless.

The confrontation at the entrance earlier had left him utterly disillusioned.

Let alone reconciliation; he had no interest in even remaining friends.

"I was asked by a friend to handle security for tonight’s event," he replied. "I was checking for safety issues. It has nothing to do with what you’re saying."

With that, Ye Wushang reached for the tray, but Sun Chuanzhi stopped him with a cold sneer. "Still pretending?"

"What friend? That woman at the door? Who does she think she is, asking you to oversee security at this event? Tonight’s host is the An family!"

"Who does she think she is?"

"Put the tray down. If you want to eat, go to the kitchen. This area is for guests with bidding credentials—you don’t even qualify to touch anything here!"

He shot Xu Wei a glance, and she immediately hurried over to urge Ye Wushang, though, having learned her lesson, she only complained verbally and dared not lay a finger on him.

Seeing the tension escalate, Lan Ruoxue interjected, unwilling to let the scene repeat itself. "Wushang, just heed some advice," she said. "Only guests with bidding qualifications can sit here. If you keep meddling, you might get thrown out…"

"I don’t have bidding qualifications, but do you?" Ye Wushang was speechless.

After all that they’d shared as a married couple, Lan Ruoxue blamed him for everything.

He had already explained he was inspecting security, yet she thought just like Sun Chuanzhi.

"Excuse me, who is Young Master Sun Chuanzhi?" a waiter rushed over at that moment.

"That’s me," Sun Chuanzhi replied, rising to his feet.

The waiter promptly handed him a bidding credential, bowing respectfully. "Young Master Sun, Secretary Liu asked me to deliver this to you. He says your request has been fulfilled—here is your certificate."

Sun Chuanzhi glanced at it, then handed it to Lan Ruoxue. "Ruoxue, here, take it. It’s in your name, real-name registration."

With a wave, he dismissed the waiter, who hurried off.

Xu Wei immediately beamed, "Congratulations, President Lan, you’ve got your bidding credential! Now we can prepare for the agency rights."

"All thanks to Young Master Sun. The spots were filled, people tried every backdoor and failed—but he solved it with a single phone call."

"Unlike some people, who do nothing but lick plates. What else are they good for?"

"Hard-headed all day, and shameless, too. If I were him, I’d have smashed my head on a block of tofu by now!"

Sun Chuanzhi straightened, chest out, and said with effortless pride, "It was nothing. Next, I’ll work on helping Ruoxue secure the agency rights."

"It may be tricky, but my father has a great rapport with the An family. As long as we grease the wheels a bit, it shouldn’t be a problem."

Lan Ruoxue slipped the credential into her bag, grateful. "Thank you, Chuanzhi. To show my appreciation, I’ll agree to your request."

"I’ll come to your house and personally cook a meal for you."

"Really?" Sun Chuanzhi was overjoyed, barely containing his excitement. "Ruoxue, that’s wonderful!"

"I can’t wait to taste your cooking. After the meal, maybe we can…"

"Roll around in bed, is that it?" Ye Wushang was filled with bleak despair.

He had long since lost any attachment to her, yet after years of marriage, she could so readily agree to visit another man’s home in front of him. Clearly, in her eyes, their three years together meant nothing.

"Ye Wushang, must you always be so crude?" Lan Ruoxue’s cheeks flushed, and she scolded him. "Chuanzhi helped me, and I’m cooking for him—what’s wrong with that?"

"Nothing, really. If the so-called help earns him a meal, so be it."

"I cooked for you every day for three years. Never heard a kind word."

"Besides, how do you know you got the bidding credential because of him?"

Xu Wei burst into laughter, "If not Young Master Sun, then who—You?"

"I just…"

"Enough, Ye Wushang!" Lan Ruoxue was furious. "Now I see you’re not just irritable, but petty as well!"

"You lack ability, so no one else is allowed to have any?"

"I, Lan Ruoxue, got here by my own talent and the help of friends."

"What did you ever do for me as my husband?"

"So, now that we’re divorced, you can’t stand to see me succeed? You want to see me fail, is that it?"

Ye Wushang’s face darkened.

Before he could reply, Sun Chuanzhi soothed, "Let it go, Ruoxue. What’s the point of arguing with a loser who eats leftovers?"

"Come, sit down."

"For your sake, I’m covering all expenses tonight in the hall. Even the food was specially brought in from outside."

He raised his voice, "Where’s the staff? Serving food isn’t enough—bring the wine!"

Ye Wushang frowned. "All this food was brought in from outside?"

He had noticed something odd about the food and drink while inspecting earlier.

To test his suspicion, he’d placed a marker in one of the dishes.

He hadn’t expected Sun Chuanzhi to be the one bringing in the food.

It didn’t seem like he would cause trouble while courting Lan Ruoxue, and he knew this was the An family’s territory—he shouldn’t dare act recklessly.

It must have been that hidden entity, Flood Dragon, pulling strings behind the scenes.

"Of course. If not me, then who?" Sun Chuanzhi was smug.

Xu Wei looked utterly disdainful.

Even Lan Ruoxue was deeply disappointed in Ye Wushang.

At that moment, as Sun Chuanzhi had ordered, waiters quickly brought out the wine and dishes.

Other guests thanked them one by one, while Sun Chuanzhi poured Lan Ruoxue a glass, grinning, "Come, Ruoxue, let me toast you."

"May you achieve instant success!"

"Thank you," Lan Ruoxue replied, downing the wine in one gulp.

Afterward, they sat down, ready to try the dishes—and the test result appeared.

The marker had turned black, confirming the food and drink were poisoned—lethally so!

"Don’t eat!" Ye Wushang shouted, snatching the chopsticks from Lan Ruoxue’s hand!

Her face fell. "Ye Wushang, what’s the meaning of this?"

"Just because you’re angry, I’m not allowed to eat?"

"Ye, don’t think your brute strength lets you boss President Lan around!" Xu Wei couldn’t help but sneer, "You’re useless, always making noise. Who cares about you?"

Sun Chuanzhi handed Lan Ruoxue a new pair of chopsticks, picked up a crayfish for her, and smiled, "Come, Ruoxue, eat with us. Some people can’t have grapes, so they say they’re sour—ignore him…"

Bang!

Before he could finish, as other guests took their seats and reached for the food, Ye Wushang made a shocking move!

He yanked the tablecloth with force, sending dishes and wine crashing to the floor.

…