Chapter 6

Ruan Mingfu’s hair on the back of her neck stood up, and her eyes were full of vigilance.

“What do you want?”

Zhou Peng took a step closer, causing Ruan Mingfu to frown and retreat a few steps.

Seeing Ruan Mingfu avoiding him like a venomous snake, Zhou Peng chuckled softly. He teased her with a hint of obsession in his gaze.

“Nothing much. Just noticed that the little kitten at home has become bolder after being out.”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

Could this “little kitten” be referring to her?

He really is a lunatic!

Ruan Mingfu couldn’t help but take a few more steps back.

“Are you scared?” Zhou Peng’s voice was always leisurely and unhurried, as if he were toying with his prey. “Is it me?”

He knew exactly what he was doing!

Ruan Mingfu’s face was full of caution.

“I heard you’ve been following someone named Xie lately?” Zhou Peng’s smile faded as he looked at her with dark eyes. “Behave yourself, and don’t do meaningless things.”

“Why should I behave just because you say so?”

Although Ruan Mingfu was nervous inside, she was adamant on the outside.

“Comrade Xie isn’t good enough for you.”

Ruan Mingfu rolled her eyes uncontrollably.

That dog man is not worthy of her, so does he deserve her?

Seemingly aware of her thoughts, Zhou Peng chuckled softly, his eyes showing a hint of indulgent affection for Ruan Mingfu. “You and him are not from the same world. He will not marry you.”

The unspoken part of his sentence made Ruan Mingfu explode.

“Why?!”

Zhou Peng’s words were firm, not a joke. Ruan Mingfu’s rebellious spirit was stirred up. She was determined to make Xie Yanzhao walk the same path as her, fall in love with her, and marry only her!

Hmph!

She didn’t believe this nonsense. She would make that dog man cry and beg her to marry him.

Zhou Peng adjusted his glasses.

He had just returned from a business trip and had received reports about Ruan Mingfu’s recent activities. He wasn’t angry because he could see clearly that she had no feelings for that guy. She only saw him as a lifeline to escape from him.

“Mingfu, don’t think about running away,” Zhou Peng said with a still gentle demeanor, “because I don’t know what crazy things I might do.”

Ruan Mingfu: “Are you threatening me?”

“This isn’t a threat, it’s an advice,” Zhou Peng tried to reach out to pat her head, but Ruan Mingfu dodged. He let it go and still looked at her with a smile, not at all angry.

Not a threat? What a load of nonsense.

Ruan Mingfu rolled her eyes internally, not wanting to waste any more time with him.

“Move aside. I need to go to work.”

Zhou Peng smiled lightly, his gaze filled with obsession as he looked at her.

“Mingfu, be good. I’ll send someone to propose in a few days. If you don’t want to marry so soon, we can make an engagement and wait a year to marry.”

Ruan Mingfu’s eyebrows furrowed. “Stop dreaming. I will never marry you.”

“Who else can you marry besides me?” Zhou Peng’s smile faded as he said, “Comrade Xie? Don’t forget your background.”

Ruan Mingfu looked up at him in confusion.

“He’s a soldier,” Zhou Peng squinted, like a poised predator. “To marry a soldier, you have to pass a political review… Think about why your parents were sent down.”

Ruan Mingfu’s face went pale, and she struggled to argue, “My issue isn’t that severe. They wouldn’t be so heartless.”

Zhou Peng’s low laugh seemed to mock her naivety.

“Think about it. His military achievements, earned through blood and sweat, are being undermined because of you. The promising soldiers’ future is ruined, and they can only retire due to your interference. Do you think he will be content?”

“How long do you think you can enjoy life?”

So, was this the real reason behind Xie Yanzhao’s rejection?

A wave of terror engulfed her. Ruan Mingfu’s face turned ashen as she picked up some dirt from the ground and threw it at Zhou Peng, but her trembling hands caused her to miss.

“I won’t listen. Go away!”

She had always thought of herself as the top-class young lady of a prestigious family, who could demand anything and get it. She hadn’t considered the reality of Ruan Mingfu in this era.

Now, she was just an educated youth, easily manipulated by the old team leader, let alone the G Committee that managed the educated youth directly.

Zhou Peng hid his expression behind his glasses, but his smile deepened.

The kitten thinking it could escape, watching as the powerful hunter systematically destroys all escape routes, had a truly… intriguing expression of despair.

Seeing Zhou Peng’s smile, Ruan Mingfu found it extremely irritating. She retorted, “I’m just using him to get rid of you. His life or death has nothing to do with me.”

Zhou Peng’s smile grew wider. “If that’s the case, then I like you even more.”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

Perverted lunatic!

Such a perverted lunatic.

“Mingfu, don’t try my patience,” Zhou Peng said firmly, “Be good and wait for me to come propose in a few days.”

Ruan Mingfu retorted sharply, “Daydreaming…”

“Brother Xiaopeng~”

Ruan Mingfu turned her head at the interruption, only to see a girl in a light-colored long dress, showing off her slender calves. However, her skin was a bit dark, disrupting the overall harmony.

The newcomer was evidently very familiar with Zhou Peng and didn’t fear him, as she reached out to take his arm.

“So this is where you are, I’ve been looking for you for so long~”

She pouted, her voice soft, sounding like a complaint but really a coquettish act.

The smile on Zhou Peng’s face faded as he shook off her arm, “What are you doing here?”

“Auntie was looking for you, so I came to find you,” Lin Yujiao finally turned her attention to Ruan Mingfu. “This must be Comrade Ruan. You’re really pretty. Your skin is so fair, unlike mine, all tanned from working every day.”

Ruan Mingfu nodded earnestly, “Indeed, you’re really dark.”

Lin Yujiao: “…”

Shouldn’t she be complimenting her at this point? Why wasn’t she following the script?

Back when Ruan Mingfu was exchanging acting skills with her plastic friends, Lin Yujiao was probably still playing in the mud somewhere.

This little green tea dare to put on a show in front of her? Did she really think Ruan Mingfu had a good temper?

Zhou Peng didn’t take this little spat seriously and simply looked at Ruan Mingfu, “I’ll be leaving now. Oh, by the way, I’ll ask the team leader to grant you leave, so take good rest these next few days.”

As he spoke, his gaze fell on Ruan Mingfu’s injured hand.

Then he looked at Lin Yujiao, “Let’s go.”

“Brother Xiaopeng, you go ahead,” Lin Yujiao raised her face, “Comrade Ruan is really pretty, I’d like to spend more time with her and chat about girl stuff.”

Zhou Peng chuckled, then turned and left.

Only after Zhou Peng’s figure disappeared and she was sure he was really gone did Lin Yujiao speak again, “Comrade Ruan, Brother Xiaopeng is really good to you. Even though we grew up together, except for…”

Lin Yujiao quickly covered her mouth, looking at Ruan Mingfu in shock and apologetically grabbing her hand, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to. Comrade Ruan, please don’t overthink it. Brother Xiaopeng is devoted to you. How could there be anyone else in his heart?”

Whether Zhou Peng had someone in his heart or not didn’t concern her.

“Stop acting,” Ruan Mingfu withdrew her hand, “Even when I was three, I could act better than you.”

She was apologizing with her mouth, but her eyes looked like she wanted to kill her.

What a joke, putting on a fake act like some green tea girl.

Lin Yujiao felt there was no need to pretend anymore since Zhou Peng had left. She coldly sized up Ruan Mingfu, her eyes full of disdain.

This seductive woman was the one who had bewitched her Brother Xiaopeng, making him insist on marrying her.

Thinking about how Zhou Peng treated her so coldly yet was gentle and caring towards Ruan Mingfu, Lin Yujiao felt an uncontrollable surge of anger. “As expected, you’re nothing but a fox spirit, only good at seducing men.”

“Exactly,” Ruan Mingfu smiled slightly, “Unlike you, I just need to lift a finger, and countless men will fall at my feet. But you’re so ugly, chasing after a man is like running a marathon.”

“You!”

Lin Yujiao was about to lose her mind with rage. This brazen fox dared to insult her like this.

Ruan Mingfu had already lost all hope that Zhou Peng would change.

Now, she decided to go all out, snapping at anyone who crossed her path, even dogs passing by weren’t spared.

“If you’re here to talk nonsense, you can leave now. I don’t want to waste any more time on you.”

Lin Yujiao’s face twisted with anger, “You’d better remember this: stay away from my Brother Xiaopeng.”

“Are you out of your mind?” Ruan Mingfu sneered, “It’s your Brother Xiaopeng who keeps bothering me. I’d actually prefer it if he stayed away from me.”

“You… don’t get too smug. Sooner or later, Brother Xiaopeng will see through your true nature. Let’s see how you—”

A loud slap interrupted Lin Yujiao.

She looked at Ruan Mingfu in shock, “You dare hit me?”

Although Lin Yujiao’s family wasn’t the most powerful in the village, they were still respected, and her father was an accountant. She had her fair share of scrapes growing up, but no one had ever slapped her face.

Ruan Mingfu flicked her hand, her beautiful almond-shaped eyes glancing at Lin Yujiao.

“Your skin is so thick, my hand is turning red from the slap.”

Lin Yujiao was furious, lunging at Ruan Mingfu, but saw her silently pull out a stick.

Lin Yujiao: “…”

She stomped her foot in frustration, realizing that this time she wouldn’t get the upper hand.

“You just wait!”

Throwing out a harsh threat, Lin Yujiao turned and ran.

Ruan Mingfu tossed the stick aside and sneered, “Coward, not one of them can fight.”

Xu Zhu happened to be coming back from town and witnessed the scene: “…”

This girl had quite a temper!

Xu Zhu didn’t know what he was thinking about, but he suddenly grinned. Then, rubbing his chin, he watched Ruan Mingfu’s departing figure, lost in thought.

*

That night, it was pitch dark.

Lin Yujiao woke up with a start, clutching her chest and breathing heavily.

She had just had a dream.

She dreamed that Ruan Mingfu, that fox spirit, successfully married Zhou Peng and was pampered by him for the rest of her life. Later… Lin Yujiao desperately tried to recall.

Sweat beaded on her forehead from the effort.

Later… Zhou Peng rose to prominence, becoming the richest man in the area. And Ruan Mingfu transformed into a wealthy lady, living a life of happiness and fulfillment.

While she, like a worm in the gutter, was tormented by envy and longing for most of her life.

Thinking of the dream’s ending, Lin Yujiao’s face twisted into a creepy smile.

**