Chapter 12: Hypnotizing Yan Lingsi

An Ran guessed that Young Master Shen probably didn't know what she looked like; otherwise, he would have come knocking on her door long ago, and she wouldn't have to be here racking her brains trying to figure out how to escape with her life.

An Ran had discovered that Young Master Shen’s forces were investigating the young girl who had appeared near the dilapidated temple beside Ruyuan Temple that day. Aside from Chunhua’s cousin, many others had been investigated.

Yan Lingsi was meticulous in her actions. Although she had agreed to help Yan Lingtong get rid of Yan Lingmeng, she had done her utmost to conceal her whereabouts to prevent anyone from tracing it back to her after Yan Lingmeng’s death. It was likely that very few people knew she had gone to the dilapidated temple.

However, An Ran believed that with Young Master Shen’s influence, even if Yan Lingsi acted with the utmost secrecy, he would eventually find out; it was only a matter of time.

Therefore, it would be best to shift the blame onto Yan Lingsi.

As for what would happen to Yan Lingsi once she was caught by Young Master Shen, An Ran sneered.

If she didn't die, she would at least be stripped of a layer of skin!

If she dared to play dirty tricks on her, then she shouldn't blame her for plotting her demise!

However, there was one loophole: she had also appeared at the dilapidated temple that night. She didn't know if Young Master Shen would find that out.

Getting Yan Lingmeng out of the Prince Yan’s residence was something the three of them had done with extreme secrecy. Even if Young Master Shen found out about Yan Lingsi, it would take more effort to uncover Yan Lingmeng.

This matter would depend on luck. If she was lucky and they didn't find her, then everything would be fine.

If she was unlucky, then she would have to match wits and courage with Young Master Shen.

While An Ran’s mind was filled with chaotic thoughts, she was still able to hypnotize Yan Lingsi at a steady pace, implanting everything that happened that night into her mind in a way that Yan Lingsi could understand.

She made Yan Lingsi firmly believe that she was the one who had stripped Young Master Shen.

"It’s dark now, sleep. When you wake up, Young Master Shen will come to pick you up."

"Mm." A dreamy smile appeared on Yan Lingsi’s face, and her dull, vacant eyes slowly closed as she fell asleep.

An Ran glanced at her, grabbed the bundle on the table, and turned to leave. Smile, she thought, today is the last day you’ll have the chance to smile.

An Ran carried the bundle to a large tree in Yan Lingsi’s courtyard and looked around. "This will do."

She crouched down, dug a hole, opened the bundle, and dumped everything inside.

These were the ashes of Young Master Shen’s deep purple cloud-brocade robe. An ordinary person might not recognize what it was, but she trusted that Young Master Shen’s subordinates would.

This was one piece of evidence, along with that jade pendant.

An Ran took the pendant from her bosom and looked at it, feeling quite reluctant to part with it.

It wasn't because of how valuable it was, but because holding it made her feel at ease and comfortable.

It was just like the feeling of being in Young Master Shen’s arms that night.

Thinking of this, An Ran blushed. She had never been this close to a man in her life, so why was she still lingering on the memory?

As if holding a hot potato, An Ran threw the pendant into the hole, filled it with dirt, and walked away hurriedly without looking back.

Back in her room, An Ran lay on the bed, habitually reaching out to play with the pendant, only to touch empty air. She froze, sighed softly after a long while, and thought it seemed she would have to find another piece of jade to play with tomorrow.

After sighing, An Ran extinguished the lamp. No matter what, she could finally get a good night’s sleep.

"Ugh." Suddenly, a painful sound escaped An Ran’s lips. She furrowed her brows tightly and bit her lip, forcing herself to suppress the pain. Her small face turned deathly pale, and she slowly curled her body into a ball, shivering uncontrollably.