Chapter 9: Didn’t Cry?

Ruan Li didn’t expect to bump into someone while looking down at the venue; she adjusted the hem of her dress to avoid getting it dirty like last time with Fu Huaizhou.

“Who could know you’re always around?” she murmured.

The organizer, who had just intended to question Ruan Li, immediately changed their tone upon seeing that these two people knew each other. “It’s our oversight with the venue today; I apologize for startling you.”

Shi Xun stood nearby, retracting his hand, which had not managed to assist anyone. “If I had known you both were coming, I wouldn’t have offered to send anything.”

Fu Huaizhou finally glanced at him, speaking indifferently, “Wasn’t it your own request?”

Shi Xun awkwardly lowered his head to scratch his nose. Ruan Li felt confused; she wasn’t very familiar with the Shi family and had only gradually gotten to know Shi Xun through Ye Mian, but they weren’t close enough for him to be delivering gifts to her.

“Who told you not to be clear?” Shi Xun shrugged.

Earlier that morning, he had been with Fu Huaizhou when he saw Assistant Qin bringing a gift box over and had curiously asked a few questions.

“You’re actually sending a girl a gift? That’s a rare occurrence.” Who didn’t know that Fu’s third son was nearly thirty and yet had no female companion, not even a rumor?

“You’ve just returned to the capital and already have a romantic interest? Who is it? I’ll help you deliver it and keep an eye on things since I’m headed to find Ruan Li anyway.” Just as Shi Xun leaned in to get a closer look at the gift box, Fu Huaizhou pushed him down.

“Are you very curious?” Fu Huaizhou raised an eyebrow at the impatient person.

“Mm, I’m willing to serve the third brother.”

It wasn’t until Shi Xun got into the car and saw the message Fu Huaizhou had sent that he realized the person was Ruan Li. He never imagined there would be any connection between the two, apart from Fu Xingchuan.

Now he felt a hundred regrets; he missed out on the gossip and ended up just being a delivery boy.

Fu Huaizhou’s gaze fell on the familiar outfit Ruan Li was wearing—the one he had delivered that morning—and guessed that she must have been temporarily pulled in as a companion.

“Not bad,” he said, withdrawing his gaze.

Ruan Li knew he was talking about the dress. After Fu Huaizhou had promised to look after her last time, she wasn’t as scared of him anymore.

Dealing with him was much easier if she treated him like a strict elder.

“It’s a one-of-a-kind dress and looks great.” After she finished speaking, she added a playful hum, carrying a uniquely feminine charm.

The light blue dress featured a ruffled shoulder design, a cinched waist that flowed down to a white hem, adorned with small diamonds that sparkled under the lights. Coupled with Ruan Li’s soft, ancient-style makeup today, it was stunning to anyone who saw it.

Yet Fu Huaizhou merely said it was “not bad.”

The staff beside them exchanged glances, trying to figure out the relationships between these individuals, especially since no one had seen anyone speak to Fu Huaizhou this way.

The man, who had been cold since entering the company, surprisingly didn’t seem angry. His gaze flickered with a hint of intrigue as he replied, “Push your luck; let’s go in.”

The two groups moved in different directions, and just before entering, Shi Xun asked Ruan Li, “You and the third brother seem quite familiar? Have you met at Fu’s before?”

“He’s been abroad for so long; I don’t remember if we met,” Ruan Li didn’t feel particularly close to Fu Huaizhou. “He’s just my uncle; how close could we be?”

Shi Xun nodded, seemingly understanding. Ruan Li was known in the elder circle of the capital for being a beloved darling and was quite well-liked.

“I’ll find my seat,” Ruan Li waved him off and headed toward the inner hall.

At her current status as a budding star, she certainly couldn’t compare with Shi Xun and ended up sitting several rows back in a temporary seat.

Ye Mian, being a designer, was seated away from her. After a long day of shooting action scenes, Ruan Li was too lazy to move and didn’t bother to find her.

This event was an award ceremony, and the front row was filled with major investors—figures who were not typically in the spotlight. One significant reason Ruan Li hadn’t been notified was that her status was insufficient for such recognition; she was merely riding on Shi Xun’s coattails today.

She rested her chin on her hand in a corner of the camera’s blind spot, waiting for the event to start, beginning to feel drowsy until a tall figure walked into her peripheral vision, surrounded by a crowd.

“Sure enough, it’s the investor dad.” Ruan Li commented casually upon seeing Fu Huaizhou’s expressionless face. The Fu family’s business was extensive, though it didn’t seem to have branched into the entertainment industry yet.

Before the surrounded figure had even sat down, his gaze casually swept over and landed on Ruan Li, who was drowsily propping up her face.

“Hmm?!” When Ruan Li met his gaze, she suddenly became alert, reminiscent of when she’d been caught dozing off during her private tutoring sessions as a child. She straightened her back immediately.

Watching Fu Huaizhou finally sit down, she let out a sigh of relief but soon felt annoyed with herself; this wasn’t class; he wasn’t her boss, so why was she scared?

Just as she was about to rest her chin on her hand again, a staff member suddenly approached her, bowing respectfully to speak.

“Miss Ruan, please take a seat further forward.”

Ruan Li looked terrified. “Further up?”

The staff member smiled without responding, and when Ruan Li followed him to a stop, she felt a little numb.

“First row?” Ruan Li gasped, staring at Fu Huaizhou seated right in front of her, casually nodding to the empty seat beside him, not knowing which investor it belonged to.

“That doesn’t seem appropriate, does it?” she muttered under her breath. Shi Xun was only in the second row; she truly felt like she was dropping in unexpectedly.

The staff member had already left, and the award ceremony was about to begin, with many people’s gazes turning toward Ruan Li. She steeled her resolve and sat down.

“What’s inappropriate?” Fu Huaizhou asked, turning his face toward her. Earlier, when he glanced at her, she had been huddled in a corner, looking like she was being isolated. He asked, “Didn’t I say I’d take care of you?”

When you’re here, you should feel at ease, Ruan Li didn’t know how to explain it to him and could only wear a face of resignation, “You’ve directly taken care of me to the trending searches.”

Fu Huaizhou assessed her eyes, noticing there were no expected red circles. He asked, “Didn’t cry? What were you doing earlier?”

Ruan Li looked up at him with confusion. “Napping. It’s not like I’m getting an award.”

“Do you want one?” Fu Huaizhou asked with a frown.

For people like them, this was just a matter of giving orders; it wasn’t extra care since it didn’t require much effort.

Ruan Li caught his implication, which sounded exactly like how Old Master Fu asked her about good items at every auction. She quickly waved her hand and pretended to be serious.

“I prefer to rely on my own ability.”

This was the truth. After all, if she had wanted to enter the entertainment industry, she could have directly collaborated with companies connected to the Ruan family; it would have been more convenient. But she knew this lifestyle could end at any moment.

Hearing her act mature, Fu Huaizhou found it amusing and replied slowly, “I didn’t say I was going to give you one.”