Chapter Forty-Two: The Wager!

"My opinion?"
Ye Wushang was stunned.
Ever since the divorce, everything Lan Ruoxue had done had left him utterly disillusioned.
Let alone remarriage or rekindling their old romance—even being friends seemed unnecessary.
Yet, the bond of marriage lingered.
And, undeniably, Lan Ruoxue was indeed capable.
He still remembered how, back at the villa, her vision for the group's future was stirring and inspiring.
He never considered himself a gentleman,
But he was certainly no villain.
"That's right,"
An Lan nodded, speaking earnestly, "The choice of proxy is important to the An family."
"But your opinion matters just as much to me."
"I respect you, so I want to know what you think..."
"I have no opinion,"
Ye Wushang knew An Lan was giving him face.
But he didn't need it. He replied calmly, "Follow your own heart."
"Putting aside that she's my ex-wife, and not mentioning that I saved you and your grandfather—just considering her personal ability and the group's overall strength,"
"I won't interfere in business matters, but I think she's done well enough in her career."
Hearing this, An Lan understood and smiled. "Alright, I got it."
...
Binjiang Street.
"Ruoshuang, listen to me."
"If you want my approval to marry Chuanlong, then today you must do as I say."
Lan Ruoxue brought her sister before the workshop and said solemnly, "Let go of this piece of land as soon as possible. It's the only keepsake left to Ye Wushang by his mother. No matter how much you like it, from now on, you are not to have any designs on it."
"If I find out you get into any further conflict with Ye Wushang over this workshop, I'll consider you no longer my sister. Understood?"
Lan Ruoshuang looked displeased.
She had loved beauty since childhood, and this piece of land was a treasure trove of resources.
To have her give it up so easily—honestly, she was reluctant.
"Miss Ruoshuang, don't just stand there. Hurry up and agree with President Lan,"
Seeing Lan Ruoshuang hesitate, Xu Wei nudged her, whispering, "A wise woman doesn’t suffer a loss in front of her. Right now, the most important thing is your marriage to Young Master Long."
"After the wedding, when the storm passes, I believe the Sun family will deal with that fool for you and get the workshop back."
"Take a step back and you'll have the whole sea in front of you. Understand?"
Lan Ruoshuang took a deep breath and nodded reluctantly, "Fine, sis, I promise."
"I won’t think about this lousy workshop anymore. Nothing is more important than marrying Long."
"Good to hear,"
Lan Ruoxue nodded slightly, then waved her hand and instructed, "Alright, everyone, go inside and clear out the inventory—"
"Stop!"
Before she could finish, a sharp rebuke rang out!
Ye Wushang, having rushed over, saw two or three dozen men with sticks about to storm the workshop.
Furious, he ran up and blocked the way, "Anyone who steps forward will answer to me!"
"Wushang, why are you here?"
Lan Ruoxue was visibly startled to see him appear so suddenly.
She quickly masked her reaction, forcing a faint smile.

No matter what, back at the villa, he had indeed saved her life.
Even if he struck before Sun Chuanzhi, without him, she might not have survived.
She had come tonight with the intention of clearing out the workshop's inventory and then returning the property certificate to him.
"It's his own workshop. Does he need to ask your permission to come?"
At that moment, An Lan, having parked the car, walked up and instinctively looped her arm through Ye Wushang’s, appearing intimate.
With experience from previous encounters, Ye Wushang didn’t resist this time.
He knew full well she was doing this to spite Lan Ruoxue, even though he had no such intention himself.
But seeing her show up with so many people—clearly still intent on demolishing the workshop—he felt not just indifferent, but a growing resentment toward her.
"Again you, you vixen! Watch how you speak to my sister—"
Lan Ruoshuang, annoyed, wanted to retort, but Lan Ruoxue stopped her, signaling her to hold her tongue.
She knew very well this woman had deep ties with the An family, having twice arranged security jobs for Ye Wushang—she was definitely from a prominent clan.
The Lan family was only third-rate, and the matter of the An family’s proxy was not yet settled; she didn’t want to complicate things.
"I didn’t mean that, it’s just—"
"Just what? Bringing people in the middle of the night to tear down my family’s workshop?"
Ye Wushang's eyes were sharp; recalling Lan Ruoshuang’s previous antics, anger surged within him. "First, you had Lan Ruoxue bring in the excavator. Now you bring people to tear it down. What are you sisters trying to do?"
"When we divorced, you said one thing, but you go back on your word so easily."
"I never expected you two to be this kind of people!"
Hearing this, Lan Ruoxue's expression changed.
Lan Ruoshuang was furious and shouted, "Ye, stop spouting nonsense!"
"My sister brought people to clear out—"
"Ruoshuang, enough."
Lan Ruoxue shook her head, looking at Ye Wushang with a bitter smile. "In your eyes, am I really someone who goes back on her word?"
"Are you not?"
Ye Wushang had no interest in talking further.
Thinking of what his sister had said, he was eager to find what his father had left for him.
He shot her a cold glance, then said to An Lan, "Lanlan, could you please keep an eye out for me?"
"I need to fetch something inside; I’ll be right back."
An Lan nodded with a smile, "Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no one will touch your family’s workshop!"
With that,
Ye Wushang took out his key, opened the door, and hurried inside.
"Xu Wei, take Ruoshuang to handle the property certificate,"
Lan Ruoxue suppressed her anger and instructed, "Once Wushang comes out, return the workshop's certificate to him."
"President Lan,"
Xu Wei protested, "At this point, why return the workshop to him?"
"Just look at his attitude—he calls you a turncoat, he—"
"He’s immature, but I must stay rational,"
Lan Ruoxue raised her voice, speaking solemnly, "He’s saved me twice; I owe him. What must be repaid, must be repaid."
"I won’t repeat myself. Go now!"
Xu Wei was helpless.
She led the unwilling Lan Ruoshuang aside.
Lan Ruoxue, regaining her composure, walked up to An Lan and said coolly, "Miss, I’d like to have a word with you."

"I have nothing to say to you. My only role here is to prevent anyone from dismantling this workshop."
An Lan’s tone was icy as she pointed at the group of men with sticks and shovels. "If anyone dares move a single brick, not only you but your entire Lan family will answer for it!"
"You misunderstand,"
Facing An Lan’s dominance, the always-strong Lan Ruoxue felt stifled.
But she also knew the gap between them—that identity and status she had worked so hard for.
"These men are indeed here at my behest."
"But not to tear down the workshop; only to clear out the inventory so the property certificate can be returned to Wushang."
An Lan raised her brows, glancing at her with interest. "So generous?"
"Or could it be you were stung by my words last time, realized Wushang’s worth, and now want to win him back this way?"
"Heh."
Lan Ruoxue chuckled lightly and shook her head. "You're overthinking it."
"After the divorce, I did see another side of Wushang—he knows some medicine and a bit of martial arts."
"But so what? He has no talent for making money, no social connections in upper circles, and lacks ambition."
"There’s no future for me with him. A good horse doesn’t turn back for old grass—understand?"
An Lan's tightly furrowed brow relaxed. She shook her head, "Seems I overestimated you."
"No need for sarcasm. I know I can’t match your status."
"But, after all, I was his wife once. I hope he’ll live well in the future."
"You two aren’t from the same world. Maybe you find him novel now, but when you tire of him, you’ll only hurt him—"
"Enough."
An Lan’s gaze turned sharp. "Even now, you only see your own version of reality."
"Sometimes what you see on the surface isn’t the truth."
"You keep saying Wushang is hopeless and only makes people weary. But do you dare make a bet with me?"
"A bet?"
Lan Ruoxue didn’t understand her meaning.
"Give it a month. Let’s take Wushang and your Sun Chuanzhi, right?"
"Compare their achievements. If Wushang falls short, what do you want me to do—"
"I want you to stay away from Wushang and stop helping him in any way. Just let him live freely."
An Lan nodded, "No problem. But if he surpasses Sun Chuanzhi?"
"Impossible,"
Lan Ruoxue said resolutely. "Leaving aside his status as a second-tier heir, just his capability—"
"He graduated from a top domestic university, studied overseas, and has been general manager of Sun Group for three years."
"Experience, ability, connections—he has it all. How can you compare Wushang to him?"
"Then let’s see the results when the time comes,"
An Lan replied nonchalantly. "As I said, just because you can’t see a jade set in gold doesn’t mean others won’t recognize its worth."
"You!"
Lan Ruoxue hadn’t expected her to be so persistent.
Suppressing her emotions, she answered seriously, "If Wushang truly surpasses Chuanzhi, I’ll do as you say."
"Simple,"
An Lan crossed her arms confidently. "I want you to apologize to Wushang in public and admit how blind you were to let such a good man slip away!"
...