Chapter 84.2

A female voice called out from behind Andre, followed by the entrance of a striking woman dressed in fiery red.

She embodied classic European features. Large eyes, a high nose, very fair skin, and a head full of golden curls. However, her haughty demeanor and scrutinizing gaze made others uncomfortable.

Upon spotting Xie Yanzhao, her eyes lit up.

“This gentleman is unlike any man I’ve met,” she exclaimed excitedly to Andre. “Brother, I want him!”

Ruan Mingfu: “……”

Right in front of her, stealing her man?

“This lady…”

“Call me princess,” she replied, covering her mouth in surprise after realizing Ruan Mingfu could understand her language. “That’s great! You must help me ask him if he’s willing to be my man.”

Ruan Mingfu: “……”

“He wouldn’t agree.”

“You didn’t even ask! How do you know he wouldn’t?”

The princess pouted, glaring at her in displeasure.

“Because… he is my husband.”

Unable to hold back, Ruan Mingfu glanced at Xie Yanzhao.

The scar on his face remained, and the fierce look in his eyes hadn’t diminished. Yet, he still had a certain charm that clearly caught this princess’s interest.

This bastard is really good at attracting bees and butterflies!

“I don’t believe it!”

After a moment of silence, she shook her head and retorted, “I don’t believe you, you must be lying to me.”

The little princess looked pale, appearing especially pitiful.

“Don’t believe me? Ask your brother.”

She turned her big eyes towards Andre, who shrugged.

“Although I really don’t want to admit it, this gloomy guy is indeed her husband,” Andre said as he pulled the little princess aside. “Finny, stop making trouble.”

Finny pouted, looking disappointed as if she hadn’t received her favorite doll, standing dejectedly to the side.

“Beautiful lady, have you given it some thought?” Andre said with a passionate gaze directed at her. “Forget about this boring guy and run into my arms…”

He opened his arms towards Ruan Mingfu, looking at her with deep affection.

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

Wow, he hasn’t given up yet?

Xie Yanzhao took a small step forward, positioning himself protectively beside Ruan Mingfu, watching Andre warily.

“Mr. Andre, I’m already married.”

“Alright,” Andre said, sounding a bit regretful but not overly concerned. “Beautiful lady… he doesn’t deserve you.”

Although she knew that wasn’t necessarily true, Ruan Mingfu couldn’t help but feel pleased by his words.

“Don’t bother with that,” Xie Yanzhao uttered a series of fluent slang, shocking everyone present, “My wife and I have a good relationship.”

Ruan Mingfu couldn’t help but look up at the man beside her.

She saw his deep-set eyes filled with hostility towards Andre. His expression was as cold as ever, seemingly unchanged.

Andre looked astonished. “Oh my, you actually speak my language, I…”

He stared incredulously at Xie Yanzhao.

Finny’s eyes lit up, and she rushed over to Xie Yanzhao, looking at him with hope. “Then, sir, can you be my husband?”

Her hopeful demeanor resembled Ruan Mingfu’s childhood when she played with Barbie dolls.

Those beautiful eyes made her already striking face even more lively.

Finny gazed at him, but Xie Yanzhao remained unmoved.

She had a sad face.

Even with her pale complexion, she stood stubbornly in front of him, unwilling to leave.

“Hey! What do you mean by this?”

Seeing that the little princess was about to cry, Ruan Mingfu couldn’t help but look at him too.

Xie Yanzhao didn’t even look at her and said lightly.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand the F language.”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

It turns out that whether that dog man understands F language depends on the person?

The little princess’s heart shattered.

She cast a resentful glance at Xie Yanzhao before turning away in despair.

Andre couldn’t take it anymore either.

His stomach still hurt, and if it weren’t for Ruan Mingfu being there, he might have already bolted out of embarrassment.

At that moment, Lin Xiao approached. “These two must have eaten something wrong…”

Bringing this up made Lin Xiao feel a bit awkward.

The translator that Andre brought also fell ill, which was even more severe than these two, and he had to be taken off for treatment at the last stop.

These two weren’t leaving purely because they had been enjoying themselves in Wancheng. Just as the time to meet the queen approached, they planned to leave, only for this situation to arise.

Andre didn’t want to miss his meeting with the queen, so he had to push through despite being unwell. Fortunately, their conditions weren’t serious, and there was a doctor among Lin Xiao’s companions.

However, without a familiar translator, Andre was reluctant to take any medicine. His guard was high, and he suspected Lin Xiao wanted to poison him.

Lin Xiao wanted to explain, but none of his companions were fluent in F language, so he had no choice but to turn to Ruan Mingfu.

“…So, Mingfu, your task is to persuade Andre and the other person to take their medicine.”

Lin Xiao sighed.

If these two didn’t have such important identities, especially with the queen still in the capital, he wouldn’t care if Andre took his medicine or not. But if something happened, it could spark diplomatic issues between their two countries.

Ruan Mingfu listened to the background and felt speechless.

So what is this? Convincing an adult child to take medicine?

“Mr. Andre…”

“Oh, my beautiful lady, no need to say more,” Andre interrupted, snatching the pills from Lin Xiao’s hand and swallowing them all. He gazed at Ruan Mingfu passionately. “As long as it’s you, I would unhesitatingly take poison if you offered it.”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

Hearing this, Xie Yanzhao’s eyes erupted with a strong murderous intent.

Lin Xiao: “…”

Damn!

Those were supposed to be for two people; eating them could kill you. What do we do now? Choke Andre until he throws them up?

Lin Xiao began to panic.

After nearly twenty years of work, he was experiencing his first professional defeat.

Having swallowed two doses of medicine, Andre didn’t feel anything unusual. He gazed longingly at Ruan Mingfu, wanting to take her hand for a kiss, but was blocked by Xie Yanzhao.

His face darkened. “Comrade Lin, since he’s willing to take the medicine, we should take our leave.”

Without waiting for Lin Xiao’s response, he took his leave with Ruan Mingfu.

Lin Xiao: “…”

Oh no… I still need my niece-in-law to translate!

Watching the two leave, Lin Xiao opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Forget it, if it comes to that, he can find Ruan Mingfu for help later.

Once they exited, Ruan Mingfu felt Xie Yanzhao’s body relax. Back in their compartment, she stared at him intently, making Xie Yanzhao feel a bit uncomfortable under her gaze.

He took a deep breath and said, “… Just ask me anything.”

“How do you know the F language?”

This was the part that intrigued Ruan Mingfu the most.

Given the current national situation, even if Xie Yanzhao learned a foreign language, it would only be the E language. F language is relatively rare. Almost no one in the country knows it, perhaps just a handful.

“My mother taught me,” Xie Yanzhao explained. “She studied in F country back in the day.”

Ruan Mingfu counted on her fingers.

Students studying abroad in the ’50s and ’60s…

Wow! Her mother-in-law was quite remarkable.

Although her judgment wasn’t great for marrying someone like Commander Xie.

Ruan Mingfu’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she grabbed Xie Yanzhao’s hand and asked, “Do you have a photo of your mother?”

He paused for a moment before realizing who she meant.

Xie Yanzhao picked up a book he always carried with him and handed her a photo that was tucked inside.

Ruan Mingfu watched his movements closely.

She had often seen him flipping through this book, and out of curiosity, she had taken a look before, but had no idea there was a photo inside.

She felt a twinge of sadness.

Xie Yanzhao might have never gotten over Bai Qingzhu’s death. Even now, it seemed to remain deeply etched in his heart.

Ruan Mingfu bit her lip, wanting to say something but unsure how to begin. After a long moment of thought, she finally gave up.

Forget it, let him come to terms with it himself.

The photo was old, with some parts yellowing.

Yet it had been well preserved, and the image was still clear. Ruan Mingfu’s gaze fell on the woman in the photo, and she was utterly taken aback.

Bai Qingzhu had an oval face and a gentle, charming demeanor. If Ruan Mingfu was striking, then Bai Qingzhu was ethereal, standing in front of a building with a bright smile as if she could see beyond the camera.

“Your mom is really beautiful,” Ruan Mingfu remarked.

Too bad Xie Yanzhao didn’t fully inherit her mother’s looks; he had a fierce aura about him. Otherwise, the line of women chasing after him would stretch for miles.

“In my eyes, you’re also very beautiful,” Xie Yanzhao said.

Ruan Mingfu beamed.

At least the dog man had good taste!

Ever since he was released, she didn’t know what had gotten into him. He complimented her from time to time, making her feel a bit shy.

She handed the photo back to him. “Your mom must have had many suitors, right? Why did she choose someone as ordinary-looking as Commander Xie?”

“My mom had a fiancé,” Xie Yanzhao replied calmly. “But his family moved overseas, and their engagement was called off.”

Ruan Mingfu felt speechless.

Mentioning her fiancé reminded her of the useless Lu family.

As expected, arranged marriages are unreliable. Both she and her mother-in-law proved that point.

“Because of this, my grandfather was almost implicated during the movement,” Xie Yanzhao sighed. “Luckily, my mother had foresight and chose to marry the poor kid, Commander Xie, to protect herself.”

Oh…

Ruan Mingfu hadn’t expected such a twist.

“My mother’s relationship with Commander Xie wasn’t good.”

Ruan Mingfu nodded in agreement.

A well-educated lady who studied abroad would naturally have some pride, while a rural man like Commander Xie wouldn’t easily find common ground with her.

Actually, Ruan Mingfu could understand Commander Xie’s feelings to some extent.

He probably had a love-hate relationship with Bai Qingzhu, and his pride was likely influencing how he treated her.

Before Xie Yanzhao turned twelve, his childhood had been beautiful with Bai Qingzhu around. Although in his memories, Bai Qingzhu seldom shared a room with Commander Xie, they lived separate lives… Yet, those were still his happiest days.

Noticing that Xie Yanzhao’s expression had turned somber, Ruan Mingfu gently touched his face to change the subject.

“I’ve noticed you have quite a charm? Even the little princess of F country seems enchanted by you.”

Xie Yanzhao raised an eyebrow at her words.

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

She immediately understood what he meant.

She snorted. “Don’t you have anything to say?”

Xie Yanzhao was keen on self-preservation.

“I’m not interested in any little princess from F country. I didn’t even get a good look at her.”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

Wait, that last statement sounded suspiciously familiar!