The Biggest Guarantee

Cheng Yan made up his mind to sit down and have a good talk with Yao Tang the first chance he got. He had to remind her that university was a place for further education, not romance.

“Sister Tang,” Meng Ling whispered once they had put some distance between themselves and Yao Ran. “That girl’s leg didn’t get any better at all, I’m sure of it! Everyone thinks she’s recovered, but I could tell that she hasn’t. We have to be careful. I have a feeling that Yao Ran is planning something big.”

She put her free hand on her hip and scoffed. “I mean, there’s no way she would take this humiliation lying down, not when she grew up spoiled rotten.”

Yao Tang nodded in agreement. “What’s next, then? Do you have a plan in mind?”

Meng Ling felt her heart pick up its pace as Yao Tang stared at her. Her next words flew out of her mouth in a hurry.

“Sister Tang, I have a hunch that Yao Ran is holding a grudge against the Yao family. Knowing her, she is probably plotting to take revenge against them, and Yang Ming is nothing but a tool for her purpose.

His family and mine have an agreement to develop the drug, but the formula is in Yao Ran’s hands. Without it, there is a chance that we won’t be able to see the drug to its proper completion.” Yao Tang bobbed her head, silently telling Meng Ling to continue.

“To be honest, I don’t think Yang Ming is all that smart. You saw it yourself, Yao Ran only had to put up an act, and he fell for it in the blink of an eye. We aren’t even married yet, but my future husband’s mistress is already making trouble for me.”

Yao Tang cocked her head to the side, a faint hint of curiosity passing over her eyes. “Yang Ming is still your fiancé. Can you really tolerate him having an affair with Yao Ran? Do you not feel jealous at all?”

Yao Tang didn’t care much whether she got married or not in the future. But if she did, she would expect her spouse, at the very least, to be loyal to her. If somehow cheated on her, she wouldn’t have second thoughts about divorcing him. Naturally, it also applied to a mere fiancé. She would make sure the treacherous bastard got what he deserved.

Meng Ling did not share the same outlook, however.

Her lips curled into a bitter smile. “You know what, Sister Tang? Most people envy the rich and powerful for their lavish lifestyle. We have no shortage of mansions and luxury cars. But whenever a problem arises in the family, the first move was always to drag the children into the mix like pigs to slaughter, and hope that some slapdash marriage would solve everything.

I’m not stupid. Anyone with eyes can see that Yang Ming and Yao Ran don’t have a normal sibling relationship.

Why else would they go somewhere fancy behind my back? Why would Yao Ran flaunt their little date on social media for everyone to see?

Still, Yang Ming might be entangled with Yao Ran, but who is to say that a different partner would be better? He could be harboring a childhood sweetheart behind my back, or maybe hold a candle to a first love from his youth… With Yang Ming, our families at least share common interests. And I know that despite everything else, Yang Ming would never let me lose face in public. I won’t suffer much humiliation. He can like any woman he wants. I know he will never bring a mistress home.”

Yao Tang had a lot to say about that, but she held her tongue. It was Meng Ling’s life, and she had made her decision. Yao Tang was in no position to interfere.

In the end, she could only ask, “So, you’re really marrying Yang Ming? Won’t you regret it in the future?”

“It’s not a matter of regrets. Our family has a goal, and in order to obtain it, we need the Yang family. Or rather, we need the formula in Yao Ran’s possession. As long as the alliance stands, we will keep the Yang family on our side, and I shall put up with Yao Ran. My marriage with Yang Ming is the biggest guarantee that our cooperation will go smoothly.”

Yao Tang’s lips twitched. “And how do you plan to divide the profits among yourselves?”

Meng Ling was surprised by the question. She couldn’t even begin to imagine why Yao Tang would be asking this, but she saw no harm in answering it.

“Technically, the Yang family will be providing the formula and part of the funds, as well as the research and development staff. Our family is mainly in charge of funding the whole operation. Yang Ming and his people are the key players here.”

“So… If you get your hands on that formula, that means that you would no longer have any use for the Yang family. You won’t have to marry Yang Ming then, right?”

Meng Ling’s eyes widened as something clicked inside her head. “Are you kidding me, Sister Tang? Is it really possible?”

“Take me to the lab, and I’ll see what I can do.”

It was a vague answer, but she didn’t want to get Meng Ling’s hopes up. There was still a chance that Yao Tang would fail, and Meng Ling would only end up disappointed.

That did not dampen the latter’s excitement, though. Meng Ling instantly ushered Yao Tang into her family car and told the driver to take them to the research laboratory.