You Owe Me, My Love

Chapter 429 She Became The Devil So That He Could Be A Saint

Bai Rong got out of bed, washed up, and scarfed down the breakfast Gu Mingchen had prepared for her. She then tossed a recorder into her bag and called Zhou Hailan.

Five beeps sounded before Zhou Hailan picked up. Her voice was nasally, and she spoke between coughs. “Hello, who's calling?”

“This is Wu Nian. Are you free at noon? I'd like to meet up with you,” Bai Rong replied.

"Ms. Wu?" Zhou Hailan was taken aback. “I don't think we have anything to talk about. What prompted this sudden call?” She let out two coughs.

“There are some important issues I would like to discuss with you. You can choose the venue. I'll head over right now,” was Bai Rong’s ambiguous answer.

The line was silent for a few seconds before Zhou Hailan's refusal was heard. “I'm down with a cold, so it's best if I don't leave the house for now.”

“That's alright. I can go to your house instead. I'll only take ten minutes of your time. I believe you'll be interested in what I have to share. It concerns Mr. Gu,” Bai Rong persuaded, her tone insistent. "Alright then. Let's meet at a café on Love Avenue. I'll be there in an hour or so,” Zhou Hailan conceded.

“I'll see you then.” Bai Rong ended the call.

After leaving the house, she drove to a market. She bought a fresh chicken, some mushrooms, sprouts, and beans before entering a drugstore.

"How can I help you?” an employee greeted enthusiastically.

“I'm just browsing,” Bai Rong decline her offer to help. She scanned the products on the shelf before selecting four pregnancy tests and handing them to the cashier.

“That will be twelve in total.”

Bai Rong put a white bottle in her bag and pulled out her purse. After paying the cashier, she left the store and drove off. However, instead of going to the café, she glanced at the rearview mirror and drove home.

The Shadow Samurais should be watching me now.

At that thought, she stepped on the accelerator and made a sharp turn. In the rearview mirror, a silver Volkswagen mirrored her actions, still on her tail. The driver had on a black cap with its bill pulled low to hide his face.

To confirm her suspicions, Bai Rong slowed down her car. As expected, the silver Volkswagen did the same.

Her lips quirked upwards as she looked at the time.

Soon, her phone rang with an incoming call from Zhou Hailan.

Unsurprised, Bai Rong picked up the call.

“Ms. Wu, where are you? It has been more than an hour,” Zhou Hailan said, displeasure evident in her voice.

“I'm on the way. Something came up., so please wait for a while,” Bai Rong answered calmly. She then doubled back and headed to Love Avenue.

Just as she was about to arrive at the café, her phone rang.

Bai Rong accepted the call after realizing that the caller was Gu Mingchen.

"Have you eaten?” Gu Mingchen’s voice traveled through the receiver.

“Not yet. I received a call from Zhou Hailan, and she asked to meet up at a café, so I'm on my way over now. I see the Shadow Samurais. They're driving a silver Volkswagen, aren't they?” Bai Rong asked with a chuckle.

Gu Mingchen ignored her question. “She asked to meet up with you?” he repeated, shocked.

“It might be because I contacted her.”

"Why did you contact her?” Gu Mingchen grew anxious.

“I thought about it. Since Zhou Hailan is the key to discovering the truth, I can try befriending her. Who knows, this strategy might actually work.”

“Don't be silly. She won't fall for it. She's incredibly wary of you, so it's impossible for you to get closer to her. Didn't I tell you that I would handle this?” Gu Mingchen sounded resigned.

“Let me try. We can't say for sure that it'll fail. Don't worry. Your men are following me, so nothing bad will happen. I'll talk to you later,” Bai Rong reassured him before ending the call. She stared at the café, her gaze sharp.

She got out of the car after pulling it to a stop. As she walked into the café, she made a call to Zhou Hailan. “I've arrived. Where are you?”

“I'm in Room 203. Have a waiter bring you here,” Zhou Hailan said with barely suppressed anger. Bai Rong approached a waiter and requested, “Could you bring me to Room 203?"

“Sure. This way, please.” The waiter escorted her to a private lounge.

Bai Rong pushed the door open and walked in.

"You've lost weight,” Zhou Hailan remarked with a frown when she saw Bai Rong.

“I was too fat, so I went on a diet.” Bai Rong replied nonchalantly as her gaze fell on the table. On it was some chrysanthemum tea that Zhou Hailan had ordered

"You've become prettier after losing weight. You mentioned that you have to tell me something about Mingchen. What is it?” Zhou Hailan cut straight to the topic.

Bai Rong took a seat facing her and replied, “Gu Mingchen has two sons. I heard that you're taking care of one. Is the other one overseas?” Her tone tilted upwards in question.

“I was also wondering about that. Didn't he say that you would tutor him? I thought Mingchen took a liking to you. Why did the agreement fall through?” Zhou Hailan asked curiously.

Bai Rong picked up the teapot and filled Zhou Hailan’s cup. “Something came up, so I had to leave for Xyperia, and the tutoring got pushed aside temporarily as a result.”

"Xyperia,” Zhou Hailan mused. “That's pretty good. But what did you want to say about Gu Mingchen?” she prompted impatiently.

“To be exact, it's about you.” Bai Rong passed the teacup to Zhou Hailan.

"About me?” Zhou Hailan echoed. She eyed Bai Rong with suspicion and did not accept the proffered teacup. Keeping her guard up, she urged, “Stop acting so shifty. Anything you have to say, please say it straight. I don't have much time to spare.”

Bai Rong set the cup down and smiled. “Ms. Zhou, you should know by now that you're no more than a pawn.”

"What?" Zhou Hailan sprang up from her seat. Her shrill voice climbed up several decibels. “What do you mean? A pawn? Ridiculous!”

Fuming, she stalked to the door.

“You've done so much for that man, sacrificing your health and staying single for so long. But at the end of the day, you'll grow old alone. Are all your efforts really worth it?” Bai Rong spoke languidly as she spiked Zhou Hailan's drink.

Zhou Hailan's footsteps came to a halt. She pivoted on her heel and feigned ignorance, “Ms. Wu, I believe you have the wrong person. I have no idea what you're saying.”

“Your final task was a ruse, and you knew it. So why did you willingly mar your face? Women are inherently vain creatures. You should be no different.” Bai Rong looked at Zhou Hailan out of the corner of her eye.

Wide-eyed, Zhou Hailan scrutinized Bai Rong.

Bai Rong’s lips quirked into a smirk as she nodded at the vacant seat opposite her. “Would you be interested in making a deal?”

Zhou Hailan hesitated before taking a seat. “What is it?”

“Take my side. I can help you and your child escape, and you'll not be under anyone's thumb from then on,” Bai Rong proposed.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Tell me what he made you do.” Bai Rong leveled a stare at Zhou Hailan.

“l am a free woman. Your offer does not interest me.”

Bai Rong stood up. Her eyes gleamed with malice as she loomed over Zhou Hailan. “The kid must love you. What if I use Gu Ruoxin as a bargaining chip?” A sinister look flashed across Bai Rong's face.