Chapter Fourteen: Warning—Danger Detected!

Host, I am yours and yours alone. The green cilantro was getting anxious.

Shen Qingli waved her hand dismissively, “I was only joking. No matter how formidable Xie Jinchuan is, he’s just an ordinary man. He could hardly be in league with you.”

But upon hearing this, the green cilantro wiped away imaginary beads of sweat. This host was far too sharp!

Meanwhile, Luo Yu, who had been maintaining her composure, finally let herself go once she reached the deserted underground parking lot.

She kicked the tire beside her with sudden force. “Shen Qingli, that wretched woman, has even learned to strike first!”

“Damn it! If not for her, Xie would never have looked at me with such contempt!”

Remembering the way Xie Jinchuan had glanced at her, she kicked the tire again in a fury. Not satisfied, she swung her purse at the car, leaving a dent that finally appeased her anger.

“No, I must make Shen Qingli pay the price!”

Muttering under her breath, she was deep in thought about how to teach that woman a lesson, failing to notice the shadow that quietly appeared behind her.

An Yan observed the jealousy emanating from Luo Yu. He took a deep breath, absorbing the envy, and felt a trace of his spiritual energy return.

“I can help you,” he said coolly from behind.

Startled, Luo Yu’s knees buckled and she collapsed to the floor, terrified by his sudden voice.

Embarrassed by her predicament, she whipped around, ready to shout at whoever was behind her.

But there was no one.

“I’m right here. Get up, the floor is cold,” came the voice.

Luo Yu turned and saw the man smiling at her, his hand extended. It was none other than An Yan.

She frowned, placing her hand in his and rising to her feet.

“Why is it you?” she asked.

An Yan smiled. “Did you get put in your place by Shen Qingli?”

At the mention of the incident, Luo Yu gritted her teeth in anger. “That woman, she’s so eloquent! And Xie even defended her!”

Her gaze shifted to An Yan. “You said you could help me. How?”

Watching the jealousy swirl around Luo Yu, An Yan’s nostrils twitched. Though the aura couldn’t restore his power, it pleased him.

“I have a bottle of a potent sedative—so strong that whoever takes it won’t wake up for hours,” he said, producing the drug infused with his demonic power.

Luo Yu immediately calmed, hesitating as she eyed the vial.

“If I do this, there’ll be traces left behind.”

An Yan’s lips curled into a sly smile, dark energy gathering about him as he whispered persuasively, “But she humiliated you in front of the whole company today. How will you face everyone now?”

“Will they ever respect you as they once did? Surely not.”

He watched anger flash in Luo Yu’s eyes and smiled briefly.

“Think about it: if you don’t get rid of Shen Qingli, you’ll never get close to Xie Jinchuan again.”

“Do you really want to spend your life as an unnoticed secretary by his side?”

Her eyes suddenly became resolute.

“No, I won’t remain a mere secretary. I want to be the one by Xie’s side. I want to replace Shen Qingli!”

Seeing her determination, An Yan judged the timing right. The dark energy surged into Luo Yu, and for a moment her eyes glowed red.

“Take this. I trust you know what to do.” He pressed the vial into her palm and vanished.

After he disappeared, Luo Yu shivered, her eyes clearing. She glanced around, unsure when he had left.

But she gripped the drug tightly, thinking that once Shen Qingli was gone, she could take her place. A smile crept across her lips, impossible to suppress.

Meanwhile, Shen Qingli waited in her office for Xie Jinchuan to finish his meeting.

Her phone rang urgently. Seeing her father’s name on the screen, she frowned.

She intended to hang up, but knowing her father’s persistence, she reluctantly answered.

“Hello—”

Before she could finish, a furious voice erupted on the other end. “Shen Qingli, do you even care about the Shen family anymore? You think everything’s fine now that you’ve latched onto Xie Jinchuan?”

“Get back here! I have something to say to you!”

Shen Qingli rolled her eyes. She didn’t need to guess—her father was surely calling because she had embarrassed Shen Jingrong earlier, likely to defend his daughter.

“If you have something to say, do it over the phone. I’m with Xie Jinchuan right now and have no time to come home.”

Her tone was cool. She had no desire to return to the chaos of the Shen household.

Her father’s voice grew darker. “Who told you to treat your sister that way? Do you know she’s refusing to eat now!”

Shen Qingli’s heart turned cold. She sighed. “Father, I’m a victim too. Why don’t you ever care about me?”

Her tone was weary and forlorn. After a pause, her father’s voice came again.

“The servants found some of your mother’s belongings in the attic. If you don’t come home today, you won’t get to see any of them!”

Her mother’s belongings?

Shen Qingli frowned and was about to speak, but her father hung up abruptly.

She pondered for a moment and decided to return home.

Though the original owner’s mother was dead and it meant little to her personally, since she had become Shen Qingli, it was her duty to care for her mother’s keepsakes.

After all, in the original’s memories, her mother was the only one who truly loved her.

With this in mind, Shen Qingli glanced toward the door, picked up pen and paper, left a note, and departed the company.

It was rush hour, and she couldn’t hail a cab. Rushing downstairs, she spotted a taxi and got in without hesitation.

Only then did she realize there was already a passenger in the back seat. She hurriedly apologized. “Sorry, I thought the car was empty. I’ll get out.”

“It’s fine, young lady. We can share the ride. You won’t find another cab at this hour. Where are you headed?” The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror, a triumphant gleam in his eyes.

“Shen family in East City.”

She gave the address and shifted her gaze to the man sitting beside her.

He wore a hat and leaned against the car door, apparently asleep.

The car began moving toward the Shen home, but the atmosphere inside felt stifling.

Her head grew heavy and dizzy; she shook it, sensing something was amiss.

Warning! System has detected danger. Host, get out of the car immediately!