Chapter 374: Step by Step into the Trap

Chapter 374: Falling Step by Step into the Trap

Zhang Dandan eyed Hao Yanyan. "Do you have a grudge against her? Is the relationship between you cousins really that bad?"

In truth, Hao Yanyan had barely met He Jingxuan a few times, but because of past events, she already loathed her to the core.

"The relationship really isn't great. I came back from the countryside, and she looks down her nose at me."

Hao Yanyan casually made up an excuse.

Zhang Dandan giggled behind her hand. "You're now the legit Mrs. Xu—why bring up the past? Someone like He Jingxuan couldn’t even get a foot in our circle."

But this wasn't enough for Hao Yanyan. What she wanted was for the other woman to live in misery.

"You're right, but after all, she is my cousin. Even if I don't like her, I should throw her a bone."

A cruel smirk played on Hao Yanyan's lips. "Dandan, you’ve got your ear to the ground. Could you help me find out if anyone in our circle is in a hurry to get married?"

Zhang Dandan and Hao Yanyan were fair-weather friends—why would she do something that’d be a hassle for no payoff?

Moreover, the task was quite difficult. "Yan Yan, you must be joking. With He Jingxuan's family background, who’d give her the time of day?"

Seeing that the other woman didn’t grasp her meaning, Hao Yanyan had to put it bluntly.

"Isn’t there anyone urgently looking for a wife? Someone with poor health, or perhaps some... skeletons in their closet..."

The subtext couldn’t be clearer.

Zhang Dandan suddenly realized the truth—Hao Yanyan was utterly ruthless.

This was clearly treating her cousin as a resource to be traded away.

But it was precisely through such dealings that Zhang Dandan had made her name in their circle, so she was more than willing to go along with it.

“If you put it that way, I do have a few names in mind.

Take the eldest son from Commander Peng’s family—he’s already thirty-five, but he's bedridden due to a leg disability and still hasn’t married…”

Hao Yanyan immediately shook her head. “My cousin thinks too highly of herself for her own good, but her luck is terrible. There's no way she'd marry a disabled man. We need someone who looks halfway decent on the outside, but has… other problems.”

Hao Yanyan didn't actually want He Jingxuan to marry into a powerful family—she wanted to ruin her.

These "other problems" meant either messed up in the head or messed up in the body.

Zhang Dandan thought of someone, but his issue wasn’t exactly dinner table conversation and had been kept hush-hush. Lately, though, there were rumors his family was breathing down his neck about marriage, so he might just grab whoever came along.

Zhang Dandan said, “There’s only one guy left—about our age, never had a serious girlfriend all these years. His family’s pushing hard, so your cousin might have a shot.”

Hao Yanyan frowned. “Who is it? Why hasn’t he had a girlfriend?”

Zhang Dandan lowered her voice. “It’s not like he hasn’t had girlfriends... It’s just that he can’t get it up. He’s got... you know... issues.”

Hao Yanyan’s cheeks flushed red, even though she was already married.

But you didn’t just talk about that kind of thing openly these days—it felt uncomfortable having it laid out like that.

“You sure about that?”

Zhang DanDan thumped her chest confidently. "The message is absolutely true. Do you think I ran a dozen-plus nightclubs for nothing? They're all places where I collect information."

Hao Yanyan asked, "Can you get him out?"

Zhang DanDan replied, "What's so hard about that? I'll set the stage. Once we get the two of them together, a social climber like your cousin won't be able to resist."

Zhang DanDan was also using He Jingxuan as a trading card—when the deal went through, she'd get a fat payoff.

But those were all behind the scenes. On the surface, Zhang DanDan also asked Hao Yanyan for some cash.

Though it stung, Hao Yanyan was willing to pay just to see He Jingxuan suffer.

"As long as I see satisfactory results, I’ll pay."

Zhang DanDan smiled. "That’s more like it. Just sit tight. You handle He Jingxuan, and I’ll arrange for Di Yu to come out."

Hao Yanyan couldn’t wait to spring this trap.

After sealing the deal with Zhang DanDan, she immediately went to invite He Jingxuan.

Hao Yanyan knew that abruptly inviting He Jingxuan might raise suspicion, but it didn’t matter—she’d make sure her cousin’s cleverness backfired.

So when Hao Yanyan called He Wenqiang’s home, she bluntly said she was attending a posh party and asked if her cousin had time to join.

Naturally, He Wenqiang wanted his daughter to mingle more with influential people.

Now that Hao Yanyan was married to Xu Jianwen, her circle surely consisted of high-society wives.

Without even letting He Jingxuan answer the phone, He Wenqiang agreed on her behalf.

He thought Hao Yanyan’s gesture meant the family rift had healed and that she had forgiven Han Zhiyin.

"Yanyan, I’m so grateful you still think of your cousin for such occasions. Does this mean you’re no longer angry? Your uncle will visit you in a couple of days."

Hao Yanyan dodged him with some non-answers before hanging up.

As soon as the call ended, her face went cold.

*Ha. Forgiveness?*

She would never forgive that bitch Han Zhiyin.

Meanwhile, when He Wenqiang broke the news to He Jingxuan, her first thought was that Hao Yanyan was setting her up.

The very tactics she had used against Ye Xiaoxiao just days ago were now coming back to haunt her—payback’s a bitch.

"Dad, I won’t go. She just wants to laugh at me."

He Wenqiang sighed. "Xuanxuan, our family is bankrupt now, and you’ve broken up with Song Yushu. If there were any chance of reconciliation, I’d keep my mouth shut.

But Song Yushu is done with you. You need to find a powerful boyfriend to help our family. Only when we rise again will you have the clout to land a wealthy husband."

If nothing else, those last words hit home.

She sat up and picked up a small mirror to check her reflection.

Yes, she was still pretty and young. She couldn’t let her breakup with Song Yushu wreck her chances.

"Dad, you're right—I should go to this banquet.

Aside from Haoyanyan, her status alone does give her access to a lot of powerful people.

Once I successfully marry into a high-profile family, I'll have plenty of time to get my revenge later."

He Wenqiang was thrilled to hear his daughter speak like this.

"That's the spirit, Jingxuan! That's my girl! Our whole family is counting on you now—just don't let Dad down."

He Jingxuan: "No sweat, Dad. I’ll definitely restore our family’s fortunes."

Then He Jingxuan asked He Wenqiang to step out so she could change clothes and do her beauty routine.

He Wenqiang: "Of course, of course! Once you're all dressed up, my daughter is way more beautiful than Hao Yanyan. You'll outshine everyone there and land a rich husband for sure."

Father and daughter were still floating in their pie-in-the-sky dreams, unaware that they had already fallen into someone else’s trap.

Because Hao Yanyan was itching for revenge, she rushed to schedule the banquet just two days before New Year’s Day.

The venue was a ski resort club with both indoor and outdoor areas. Indoors was where guests could eat, mingle, and soak in hot springs, while outdoors offered skiing.