837 I Want to Stay
They had made such a big fuss for the better part of the evening, but they failed to get the private room in the end.
If they stayed here any longer, they might really be kicked out. It would be better to just leave before someone chased them away.
Besides, Madam Meng seemed eager to return home. Naturally, Qin Man and Yao Ran had to follow suit. Qin Man followed quickly at Madam Meng and Meng Ling’s heels.
It wasn’t until they were almost at the door that they realized someone was missing from their group. Madam Meng frowned and turned to find Yao Ran still standing at the same spot.
“What is she doing? Is she not leaving with us?” she whispered to Qin Man through gritted teeth.
She was the one who had brought Yao Ran here, so it was only expected that the girl left with them as well. Otherwise, how would it look to the other patrons?
“Ranran!” Qin Man called out, her eyes flashing sharply. “Come on, let’s go.”
She hoped that her daughter would stop acting strange and be sensible for once.
Unfortunately, Yao Ran didn’t seem to understand what Qin Man was implying. She remained where she was.
“I haven’t seen my cousin in quite a while,” she said, her eyes fixed on Yao Tang. “I would like to spend more time with her. Perhaps I shall pay for their dinner, to make up for what happened just now. I’ll go home by myself later, Mom. Don’t worry about me.”
Yao Ran mustered a bright smile, but her knees were shaking ever so slightly.
This was her last chance. If she failed to seize it, she would have to go through the next surgery and suffer through other heinous experiments at the hospital.
No matter what, she must not return to that hellhole.
She was willing to risk Qin Man’s wrath if it afforded her a shot at freedom.
Qin Man scowled at this, but she kept her mouth shut for fear of worsening the situation.
Madam Meng, on the other hand, was seething.
So Yao Ran knew those people, after all! And yet, she didn’t even warn Madam Meng or Meng Ling in advance, nor had she spoken up for them.
To think that they had almost been chased out of the restaurant!
What a vile little snake.
Madam Meng understood then that Yao Ran was an ungrateful hypocrite who only had her own interests in mind.
The Meng family had even paid for her hospital treatments and pampered her during her stay in Beijing.
But Yao Ran repaid their generosity with treachery and manipulation.
Madam Meng glared at Yao Ran. Cheng Yan and Qin Rui were still around, so she couldn’t lose her temper and lash out. At least, not yet.
“If you still want your ankle to be cured, hurry over here and return with us,” Madam Meng threatened in a low voice. “Otherwise, don’t even bother showing us your face again!”
This fiasco was all her fault. If Yao Ran hadn’t insisted on coming to the Chunlai Hotel for dinner, they wouldn’t have been entangled in such a mess.
“Ranran, what are you still standing there for?” Qin Man called out anxiously. If the Meng family withdrew their medical support, it would have terrible repercussions on her social life.
“Come now, Ranran,” she coaxed. “We can dine at fancy restaurants any time. Your injury is more important. If we don’t treat it now, the damage might become permanent. Think about it, which one is more important to you, hmm?”
But Yao Ran acted like she didn’t hear a word they said.
“Don’t worry, Mom,” she repeated, her smile still in place. “I’ll go straight home after dinner. You guys should go back first.”
Qin Man’s scowl deepened.
“Ranran!” she huffed.
To say that she was displeased with her daughter would be an understatement. She didn’t know why the ever-obedient Yao Ran had suddenly become so stubborn.
Yao Ran ignored her and called out to Yao Tang. “Sister, I want to stay for dinner. Is that all right with you?”
Her eyes glimmered with hope.
Yao Tang was her last resort. If she told Yao Ran that she couldn’t stay, then Yao Ran would have no choice but to accept her fate.
As things stood, her future was in Yao Tang’s hands.
Yao Tang turned to peer at Yao Ran. The silent plea in the latter’s eyes was unmistakable.
Then she glanced at Meng Ling, who stood a few feet away. Her eyes caught on the girl’s wrist.
Three seconds later, Yao Tang looked back at Yao Ran and nodded.
Qin Man gasped out loud. Even Yao Tang was acting strangely today! Weren’t those two girls on bad terms with each other?
They were practically fire and ice!
Why would Yao Tang let Yao Ran stay and join them for dinner?
In Qin Man’s mind, this simply defied reason.