"Fruit juice, please."
He poured her some fruit juice and also poured a glass for himself.
"Come on, try the dishes. The food here is great; I used to come here often."
Lin Xinlan found it hard to refuse and ate a few bites before speaking again, "You wanted to know why Rong Shaoze is out to get you, right? May I ask you a few questions first?"
Qiao Yiyang put down his chopsticks, his expression serious, and nodded for her to ask.
She weighed her words, and then ventured, "Back when Zhou Yu framed us, he had destroyed all the photos. How come one of them ended up in Rong Shaoze’s hands? I want to know, did you send it to him? At that time, did you have someone take a picture on purpose, just to enrage Rong Shaoze and have him harm me, and then destroy his reputation? Qiao Yiyang, did you work with Rong Mingyan on this?"
It took a great deal of courage for her to say all this in one breath.
She had long wanted to ask these questions.
Being a pawn in someone else’s game mattered greatly to her. Not everyone’s heart is as hard as stone, impervious to any harm.
It wasn’t just that Qiao Yiyang’s betrayal had hurt her; even a stranger insulting her would upset her.
Chosing to lay all this out today was because she no longer wanted to be dragged into their struggles.
Even though Qiao Yiyang had helped her in the past, she didn’t want to become a pawn in his game; she just wanted to protect herself.
Qiao Yiyang had not expected her to ask such questions and a look of astonishment flashed across his eyes, his face changing color.
He looked puzzled and asked, "Why would you say that? I have never colluded with Mingyan to plot against you. Why would I do that?
Moreover, I would never frame you to let Rong Shaoze harm you!
Xinlan, could you have misunderstood something? I haven’t done what you’re accusing me of, and I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Are you suggesting those rumors that Rong Shaoze killed the child in your womb are true?
No wonder he could produce that photo of us sleeping together. I was puzzled as to how he got it.
It turns out someone deliberately sent it to him to frame you... Xinlan, was it because of me that he harmed you and killed your child?"
Qiao Yiyang’s face went pale with a surge of intense anger in his eyes.
"Rong Shaoze has gone too far! I will confront him. How could he harm you based on just a photo and wrongly accuse you!"
He suddenly stood up, radiating intense fury.
Lin Xinlan hastily grabbed him, frowning as she said, "Calm down first, don’t be rash."
"How can I be calm! The thought of you getting hurt because of me, and losing our child, it’s unbearable! Xinlan, I let you down, and no matter what, I will restore your honor and justice!" He forcefully pulled his hand away and strode out of the private room.
Lin Xinlan worried he would really go and fight to the death with Rong Shaoze, so she quickly followed after him.
"Qiao Yiyang, wait a minute!"
The man was taking big steps, quickly covering a great distance.
"Stop!" Lin Xinlan shouted in desperation, running up to him and grabbing his arm to stop him from leaving.
"Calm down. You’ll be at a disadvantage if you confront Rong Shaoze ."
He turned his head, his expression very dark, "Hah, maybe everyone else is afraid of him, but not me! Rong Shaoze is inhuman; how could he harm you, commit such bestial acts!"