Chapter 87: Counterplotting

Zhao Xiaomei continued, “Why don’t you come in and sit? We’ve set up another table here. Who knows, someone from the captain’s family might come over soon. I’m just here drinking some beverages, which we don’t usually have.”

After saying this, she deliberately showed off the drink in her hand.

Luo Qiao glanced at her as if about to leave. Zhao Xiaomei said, “Luo Qiao, how about I share a bottle with you? Just don’t tell anyone I’m sneaking a drink here.”

Luo Qiao replied coldly, “No need. You enjoy it yourself. Since Auntie Qiao isn’t here, I’ll go back to the front yard to find her.”

Zhao Xiaomei became somewhat anxious and quickly spoke up, “Luo Qiao, I was wrong about what happened last time. I’ve been wanting to apologize to you, but I couldn’t muster the courage. Since we’re alone here today, let me make it up to you with this drink. You won’t refuse, will you?”

Luo Qiao looked skeptical but still replied, “It’s okay, I forgive you.”

Although Zhao Xiaomei felt disdainful inside, she said, “No, that won’t do. This drink is my way of apologizing to you. If you don’t drink it, it means you look down on me, Zhao Xiaomei.”

Luo Qiao chuckled inwardly at her persistence, thinking she really was going all out. Reluctantly, she said, “Fine then.”

Zhao Xiaomei smiled and placed the bottle she was holding onto the table. She casually opened another bottle, making it seem like she had just gotten a new one. However, Luo Qiao had noticed long ago that the bottle had already been opened.

Zhao Xiaomei handed the drink to Luo Qiao and was about to reach for her own bottle when Luo Qiao suddenly said, “Do you think that’s a snake in the basket behind you?”

Startled by these words, Zhao Xiaomei turned quickly in the direction Luo Qiao pointed, “Where? Where?”

In that split second, Luo Qiao swiftly exchanged the bottle she was holding with the one on the table.

Luo Qiao calmly explained, “I must have mistaken it. I thought there was a snake in that basket, but it turns out to be hemp rope. It scared me to death.”

After saying this, she patted her own heart nervously.

Zhao Xiaomei turned around, slightly irritated, and said, “Don’t speak nonsense if you didn’t see clearly. You scared me.”

Perhaps due to being too nervous, she didn’t notice the drink had already been swapped. And also out of eagerness, she picked up the bottle from the table and took a sip before saying, “It tastes really good. Luo Qiao, you should try it too, but don’t let others see.”

Luo Qiao also took small sips to reassure Zhao Xiaomei. It seemed Gao Suhua was worried the medicine might not work properly, so she had added too much to the drink. Zhao Xiaomei felt dizzy after drinking one-third of it.

Before she could react, Zhao Xiaomei collapsed to the ground and fell into a deep sleep.

Luo Qiao walked over and gave the person on the ground a fierce kick, but there was no response at all. She thought to herself, “Gao Suhua is really ruthless. How much medicine did she put in?”

Luo Qiao put both bottles of drink into her space and then opened the back door without showing herself, saying outside, “Come in and take the person.”

She deliberately altered her voice.

Upon hearing footsteps outside, she quickly returned to the previous room and positioned herself in a poorly lit spot, saying, “The person is here.”

As soon as the two entered the room, they saw the girl on the ground. Zhao Xiaomei was the most beautiful daughter of the Zhao family, and the two were very satisfied upon seeing her.