The Black Swan Trap - chapter 4

Wen Hua didn’t notice Jiang Nie’s odd behavior, but she did see Duan Wenhao taking the initiative.

Duan Wenhao was the typical rich young master-privileged, good at putting on a show, and often sweet-talked girls who hadn’t seen much of the world.

She was curious whether Wen Ning would fall for it.

Actually, Wen Hua couldn’t quite explain her own thoughts. She knew exactly what kind of person Duan Wenhao was, yet she still called him over.

“Ah Hao, you know all the fun places in Jing City best. My sister just arrived, so why don’t you take some time to show her around? I’m busy preparing for a violin competition these days and really can’t spare the time.”

“No problem! Wen Ning, let’s add each other as friends.”

Wen Ning obediently took out the new phone Wen Jiming had bought her and added her third friend on her new WeChat account.

This little episode passed quickly. At the dinner table, Jiang Nie took a call.

“Right now? Okay, I’ll come over.”

After hanging up, Jiang Nie looked at Wen Hua. “I have to go. You enjoy your meal.”

Whenever Jiang Nie was with Wen Hua, he would never leave early unless it was a family matter or Jiang Boyu called him.

Naturally, Wen Hua hoped it was Jiang Boyu.

Her eyes widened. “What’s up?”

If you listened closely, you’d notice Wen Hua’s tone was a bit excited. Wen Ning, who often observed Wen Hua, picked up on it.

“Nothing, just Brother Boyu called me. Said there’s something going on, so maybe next time?”

Hearing that it really was Jiang Boyu, Wen Hua started plotting in her mind.

On the surface, Wen Hua nodded understandingly. “Alright, don’t keep Brother Boyu waiting. I’ll walk you out.”

“No need.” Jiang Nie’s gaze casually landed between Duan Wenhao and Wen Ning. “You just enjoy the meal with them.”

Wen Hua laughed heartily. “We’re all close enough, they don’t need me to keep them company.”

She didn’t consider that Wen Ning was still sitting in the private room.

Before Jiang Nie could say anything else, Wen Hua dragged him out.

Song Min was unfazed and kept eating, occasionally chatting with Duan Wenhao, completely ignoring Wen Ning.

Duan Wenhao, however, got up and sat next to Wen Ning.

“It’s fine, your sister just went to see him off.”

Duan Wenhao very gentlemanly continued to serve Wen Ning food, chatting and laughing at the table, without any inappropriate behavior.

Wen Ning smiled and thanked him, then lowered her head to eat, starting to ponder Wen Hua’s odd behavior.

After a short while, the private room door opened. Wen Hua hurried in to grab her bag.

“I just finished seeing Jiang Nie off and realized he left his phone with me. I have to take it to him.”

Song Min picked up her bag, wanting to follow. “Hua, I’m done eating too, I’ll go with you.”

“No need, no need. Strangers aren’t allowed in that place.”

In other words, Song Min didn’t have the status yet.

Song Min understood, feeling indignant but not daring to offend Wen Hua. She smiled, “Alright, be careful on your way.”

Wen Hua didn’t think anything of it. Among these people, the Wen Family was the most powerful, and she was used to being above everyone else.

Even if she left them behind at the dinner, Song Min and Duan Wenhao wouldn’t say anything.

She even made arrangements on her own, “Ah Hao, help me take my sister home. Wen Ning, wait for me at home.”

“Okay, sister.” Wen Ning nodded, but when she heard Wen Hua ask Duan Wenhao to take her home, she lowered her head and sent a message to Wen Jiming:
“Dad, can you send me our home address again? I forgot…”

As soon as Wen Hua left, Song Min glanced at Duan Wenhao, who was acting like a peacock showing off, and instantly knew what he was up to.

She rolled her eyes in disdain and left without even saying goodbye.

Only Duan Wenhao and Wen Ning were left in the private room.

Wen Ning needed to eat more these days, so even with Duan Wenhao sitting nearby making her uncomfortable, she continued to eat slowly and seriously.

In Duan Wenhao’s eyes, he thought Wen Ning had never eaten such good food before, and figured this would make her even easier to manipulate.

He patiently waited by her side, occasionally pulling out his phone to send voice messages to his friends.

The gist of his messages was things like “Just a few hundred thousand,” “Booked a luxury VIP room,” “I picked up that Porsche just last month.”

All sorts of show-off talk.

Wen Ning kept her eyes lowered, rolling her eyes in the shadow cast by her lashes.

“Sis, let’s go have a drink after dinner.”

“But… my sister told me to go home,” Wen Ning blinked.

“It’s fine, I’ll let your sister know. Lots of people there know her.”

“Well… okay then.”

Wen Ning showed no resistance, obedient and compliant.

Because she knew that dealing with someone like Duan Wenhao, any refusal would only make him think she was playing hard to get.

Seeing Wen Ning agree so easily, Duan Wenhao was a bit disappointed.

He hadn’t expected it to be so easy to take her away-there was no challenge at all.

But he’d been around enough to recognize that Wen Ning was a real beauty, so he still planned to get everything he wanted from her.

Girls like Wen Ning, who hadn’t seen much of the world, were easy to fool.

If Wen Ning ended up falling hopelessly in love with him, she could even put in a good word for him with the Wen Family.

Wen Ning kept eating slowly, stalling for time-she had no intention of going out for drinks.

Just as Duan Wenhao was running out of patience, Wen Ning saw her phone light up.

She answered.

“Hello, Dad.”

“Mm, my sister had something to do and left.”

“No, Dad, she takes good care of me. She even bought me a new dress. She only left because she had something urgent.”

“No need to send a driver, Dad. My sister’s good friend will take me home. I’m not very familiar with Jing City, so maybe you should just tell him directly.”

Wen Ning held out her phone to Duan Wenhao. “Brother Wenhao, could you please take the call? My dad wants to tell you our home address.”

Duan Wenhao was confused-he already knew Wen Hua’s home address!

But since it was Wen Jiming on the other end, Duan Wenhao had no choice but to take the call.

“Hello, Uncle Wen, this is Wenhao.”

“Mm… I know the address, don’t worry, Uncle Wen, it’s my responsibility.”

“Okay, goodbye Uncle Wen.”

After hanging up, Duan Wenhao’s expression soured. Wen Ning looked at him timidly. “Brother Wenhao, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’ll take you home.”

“Huh? Aren’t we going out for drinks?”

Looking at the clueless woman in front of him, Duan Wenhao felt stifled.

Since he’d shown his face to Uncle Wen, Wen Ning now had to return home safe and sound.

The duck he thought was in his hand had flown away, and Duan Wenhao was annoyed-he’d even booked the hotel.

Duan Wenhao’s voice was a bit gloomy. “I’ve got something to do today, maybe next time.”

There’s always another chance.