C21 Tang Yang

"No matter what you say, you can't deny your connection to the explosion. You had the guts to call the cops, so why not turn yourself in?"

When the explosion was mentioned, Lu Bai's eyes were intense, as if he wanted to devour Xue Ning. He was convinced that the woman in front of him was the mastermind behind his brother's death.

"Lu Bai, you just refuse to believe me, don't you?"

"Then tell me, why is it that the police haven't found any evidence linking me to this?" Xue Ning retorted, her confidence unwavering. She knew showing any sign of weakness would only make Lu Bai more suspicious. He relied on a mere video to accuse her, yet lacked any concrete evidence.

Xue Ning also had no proof to clear her name, leaving both of them in a tense standoff.

"The police haven't even named me as a suspect. You can't judge me guilty or punish me on your own!" Xue Ning declared, standing her ground.

Seeing Xue Ning's lack of remorse and her willingness to challenge him, Lu Bai's face darkened. He thought she was just stalling for time.

Lu Bai let out a cold snort but remained silent. Seeing this, Xue Ning refused to sit idly by. The events of last night were still fresh in her mind. Returning to the Lu family would only mean a lifetime of imprisonment. Shaking off her fear, she looked directly at Lu Bai.

"Do you dare bet with me that I'm not the one to blame for this?" Xue Ning said calmly. She knew she couldn't escape the grasp of the Lu and Xue families, so she had to take a chance for herself.

"What’s the matter? The young master of the Lu family is quite the character, yet you won't even take a simple bet with me?" Xue Ning taunted as Lu Bai remained silent.

The man sitting nearby, despite his disability, exuded an undeniable authority that deeply intimidated Xue Ning. Lu Bai understood she was trying to provoke him. He initially didn't want to waste time on her, but seeing her determination piqued his curiosity.

Xue Ning watched Lu Bai, unable to read his thoughts as he remained impassive.

"Alright, I'll give you two weeks," he finally said after a long pause.

Two weeks. This gave Xue Ning a glimmer of hope, and her eyes brightened.

"Great, two weeks it is!" she replied eagerly, relieved that he had relented.

Lu Bai noticed her excitement but knew the real conditions were yet to come.

"I’m giving you only two weeks. If you don’t find the truth by then, you’ll have to turn yourself in," Lu Bai said, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

Hearing this, Xue Ning was stunned. What! If she didn’t figure it out in two weeks, she’d have to confess?

"I've already said this has nothing to do with me. Why should I turn myself in if I can't find out the truth?" Xue Ning felt indignant. If she couldn't uncover the truth, she'd be putting herself in jeopardy.

Lu Bai didn't care about any of that. Since Xue Ning had agreed to investigate for two weeks, if she failed, he'd still treat her as the culprit.

"You agreed to two weeks. Those are my terms. Once you agree, there's no backing out," Lu Bai stated, leaving no room for negotiation.

Xue Ning's heart sank. Just a moment ago, she had been so hopeful. This felt like a military order—now that she'd agreed, there was no turning back. She couldn't help but feel a pang of regret, wishing she had negotiated better terms.

Reluctantly, Xue Ning accepted the terms, and the two of them temporarily returned to their previous harmony. At least for these two weeks, Lu Bai wouldn't torment her.

Lu Bai had someone drive Xue Ning back, while he headed to the office. As Xue Ning got out of the car and closed the door, she felt relieved to be away from Lu Bai's suffocating gaze.

"Don't forget our agreement," a voice called out from behind, startling Xue Ning. Just as she was about to turn and respond, the car drove off without hesitation.

"Just wait, I'll prove my innocence," Xue Ning murmured to herself.

Ever since Xue Ning had shown off her cooking skills to Mrs. Zhao, she had insisted on making dinner herself. Mrs. Zhao didn't question it; instead, she watched closely, hoping to pick up a few tips.

When Xue Ning starts cooking, her focus is entirely on the food, and time slips away. Even though she's dining alone, she believes in treating herself well. To celebrate her narrow escape, Xue Ning decided to make ribs as a special treat.

Busy in the kitchen by herself, Xue Ning skillfully handles the ingredients, organizing everything perfectly. She turns on the gas and places a stainless steel pot on the stove, adding seasonings with precision, showing none of the hesitation of an amateur.

As the ribs sizzle in the pot, a delicious aroma fills the air. When the time is right, Xue Ning transfers the ribs to a pressure cooker. Through her own experience, she knows that using a pressure cooker not only speeds up the process but also makes the ribs tender, falling off the bone with each bite.

Cooking with a pressure cooker requires a keen sense of timing, and Xue Ning watches carefully. Once she feels it's ready, she turns off the heat, releases the pressure, and opens the lid, releasing a wave of savory fragrance.

As she plates the dish, the aroma spreads throughout the room, making Mrs. Zhao, who is nearby, swallow hard. "She's really got the knack," Mrs. Zhao thinks, impressed by Xue Ning's perfect timing.

Xue Ning takes a bite and is pleased with the result. Her stomach growls in anticipation, and she quickly asks Mrs. Zhao to help bring the food to the table. Eating alone can be dull, so while she eats, Xue Ning considers the promise she made to look into the explosion case and decides to review the materials.

Just then, the sound of the door opening echoed through the room. Lu Bai was wheeled in by Mr. Wang, and as soon as he entered, the aroma from the kitchen hit him. Despite himself, Lu Bai had to admit that Xue Ning might actually be a decent cook.

He couldn't stand Xue Ning and didn't want to spend any more time in the same space with her. He was about to ask Mr. Wang to take him back to his room when he noticed the documents in Xue Ning's hands.

The papers detailed information about his good friend Ark's wife, Tong Ru. Lu Bai's disdain grew stronger. How could he have issues and still suspect Tong Ru?

"You have your own problems and still have the nerve to suspect his wife?" Lu Bai sneered. To him, Xue Ning was the most suspicious one, yet she was pointing fingers at others. It was laughable.

Xue Ning raised an eyebrow. What? He couldn't stand her, and now she wasn't allowed to investigate others?

"Lu Bai, since you agreed to let me investigate, maybe you shouldn't concern yourself with whose information I'm looking at," Xue Ning shot back, each word dripping with sarcasm about Lu Bai's meddling.

Lu Bai was taken aback by Xue Ning's newfound boldness. Her retorts only made him dislike her more.

"Mr. Wang, take me back to my room," Lu Bai ordered, not even bothering to look back. He couldn't stand another moment in her presence. He was just counting down the days until her two weeks were up, ready to hand her over to the authorities.

Watching Lu Bai leave without a backward glance, Xue Ning couldn't have been happier. She relished the peace of being alone.

Lu Bai returned to his room while Mr. Wang went out to get him some porridge, as usual. Meanwhile, Lu Bai received news that new evidence had emerged regarding the explosion case.