Chapter 13: Can We Talk After Putting on Clothes?

Ruan Li was both shocked and terrified. She was about to call for help, but her body had turned soft, like water.

Outside, there was probably only Assistant Qin, who had brought her here, and the rest of the guests were attending the banquet in the front hall. Even if she shouted, it wouldn’t help.

“Uncle… did you also… drink that wine?” she asked softly, twisting her body to try and escape the man’s grasp.

Before she could even move a step, the hand on her waist tightened. The man reached out and turned off the lights, plunging the room into darkness.

“What do you think we should do?” Fu Huaizhou asked meaningfully, his voice thick with a mixture of the girl’s fragrance and something else, driving him close to losing control.

He hadn’t intended for this to happen, but now it seemed he couldn’t stop it.

Ruan Li felt like she was burning with a fever, as if only being close to Fu Huaizhou could ease her discomfort. Her mind was foggy, and she instinctively leaned into him.

“I feel… uncomfortable,” Ruan Li murmured unconsciously, rubbing her face against his chest.

“Ruan Li, who am I?” Fu Huaizhou lowered his head and gently touched her eyes with his fingers, noticing her gaze was a bit unfocused, unsure if she still recognized him.

Her hands, restless, tugged at his tie, her voice soft and sweet. “Fu Huaizhou… Uncle… or President Fu, Third Brother… aren’t they all you?”

“You didn’t mistake me for someone else,” Fu Huaizhou gave up on holding back and guided her toward the bed. “Make sure you remember that.”

Ruan Li sat on his lap, feeling his body’s frightening heat, and tears fell like broken beads onto his shirt.

“Suddenly, I’m a little scared.”

Fu Huaizhou had initially felt the effects of the drug burning inside him, but now with the soft warmth of a woman in his arms, he didn’t want to scare her. His fingers slowly and calmly began to untie the strings on her back.

“Let’s be reasonable, Ruan Li,” he said as he observed her under the dim light from the courtyard, speaking in a slow, deliberate manner. “You were the one pulling at my clothes earlier. Now that things are heating up, you’re having second thoughts?”

“I can’t control it either…” Ruan Li realized that her dress had already been thrown to the floor, and the cool air on her exposed skin made her instinctively move closer to the source of warmth.

Fu Huaizhou shook his head with a hint of helplessness. She was young, and naturally, inexperienced. His hand slowly wrapped around her waist in a comforting gesture.

“Don’t be afraid.” He pulled her closer, softly nibbling on her delicate earlobe, feeling the trembling of the person in his arms. “Leave it to me.”

The music from the banquet hall continued, while in the dim room, the sound of water didn’t stop…

…

“Where are they?” The smile on Ruan Shu’s face was starting to fade. She had planned everything so well, even arranging for a waiter to hold the wine and wait for the right moment. But in the end, Fu Huaizhou had been the one to drink it.

When she saw that happen, her heart nearly jumped out of her chest, and she almost ran over to knock the glass out of his hand.

Now, even Ruan Li was nowhere to be found.

The servant next to her dared not speak. Despite Fu Huaizhou having spent the last few years abroad, everyone had witnessed his capabilities. He was even more formidable than Old Master Fu in his prime.

“I heard Miss Ye’s dress got dirty. Could the two of them have gone to a room together?” the servant suggested. “I saw them both enter a room just a little while ago.”

Ruan Shu no longer had the energy to continue scheming against Ruan Li, and Zhou Min hadn’t expected things to unfold like this either. “Quick, get someone to handle that wine glass. Pay off a servant to take the blame and say they had malicious intent.”

Ruan Shu was still afraid. If Fu Huaizhou decided to pursue the matter, even ten Ruan families wouldn’t be enough to appease his anger. “And what about the flowers in the room?”

Zhou Min, having been a wealthy lady for over a decade, was more experienced. “The flowers won’t give away much. We need to figure out where that little brat Ruan Li has gone.”

“Should we send someone to check with Miss Ye? Didn’t they just go off together?” Ruan Shu paced the room, suddenly struck by a thought. “If Fu Xingchuan starts suspecting us, it won’t be good. Do we still have more of the drug?”

Zhou Min immediately understood what she was implying. “Good idea. That will help clear your name.”

“Call a doctor for Miss Ye, and make sure Fu Xingchuan walks in on it,” Ruan Shu sighed in relief. This vague approach would make things less obvious, while also gaining Fu Xingchuan’s sympathy. “Mom, we need to make sure we know where my sister is. If something goes wrong…”

She left the rest unsaid. After all, there was a chance that Ruan Li could end up with Fu Huaizhou by accident, and that would be the worst-case scenario. If that happened, Ruan Li would no longer be a helpless orphan with no backing.

Even if Fu Huaizhou didn’t care deeply for her, a mere flick of his fingers would allow Ruan Li to walk with power in Jing City.

“I’ll go check myself. You take the medicine and wait for the doctor in the room. Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you,” she reassured.

When Zhou Min arrived at the room the waiter had mentioned, she found Shi Xun standing at the door. Feigning nonchalance, she approached him.

“Second Young Master Shi, where’s that little Ye girl? I heard her dress got dirty, so I brought a new one for her.”

Zhou Min felt a shiver in her heart as she saw Shi Xun’s faint smile. He had been polite during the dance, but now his smile seemed a bit unsettling. She had no idea what he was thinking.

“She’s inside with Ruan Li, changing clothes.”

Zhou Min noticed Shi Xun holding Ruan Li’s bag and shawl, and felt slightly relieved. “Shall I go in and help them? Ruan Li can be clumsy, I’m afraid she might not take good care of Miss Ye.”

She even lowered her head with a concerned expression.

“They’re close friends. Nothing will happen. No need to worry, Mrs. Ruan,” Shi Xun said as he studied her. “Actually, my third brother wasn’t feeling well earlier. He called for a doctor and is resting upstairs. If you’re worried about the guests, why don’t you go check on him?”

Zhou Min immediately understood what kind of “discomfort” Fu Huaizhou was feeling and wouldn’t dare to approach. “Then I won’t intrude.”

After Zhou Min disappeared from view, Shi Xun dropped his smile, and the door behind him creaked open slightly as a head popped out.

“I’ve finished touching up my makeup. Who was just talking?” Ye Mian asked.

“Assistant Qin. He said the Fu family needed Ruan Li for something, so she won’t be coming back.”

“What could they possibly need her for? Is it about Fu Xingchuan breaking off the engagement?” Ye Mian had always suspected this day would come.

Shi Xun decided this wasn’t something Ye Mian, known for her gossiping, needed to hear. He knocked lightly on her head. “That’s adult business. Stop snooping, kid.”

Late into the night, the banquet finally came to an end.

Unbeknownst to most, it was only when the banquet concluded that the room upstairs fell quiet.

Fu Huaizhou stood contentedly by the window, while the person on the bed had fallen into a deep sleep after he bathed her, now nestled in the blankets. He hadn’t intended to wash her himself, but she had insisted on taking a bath, causing quite the fuss.

The blanket was wrapped tightly around her, leaving only her pale neck exposed, covered in red marks, making the scene even more suggestive.

She was utterly exhausted and still hadn’t woken up.

When Assistant Qin entered the room, he averted his gaze, quickly placing the fresh clothes at the entrance and preparing to leave. He’d had an exhausting afternoon, covering up for Shi Xun’s lies and preparing follow-up arrangements.

“Look into what happened today,” Fu Huaizhou said in a low voice. He knew Fu Xingchuan didn’t have the heart for something this malicious, meaning someone else had exploited him.

“Understood, President Fu,” Assistant Qin replied, turning to leave.

Fu Huaizhou, now fully clear-headed, added in a quiet tone, “And who told you to bring her in here?”

Assistant Qin was taken aback, hastily explaining, “You kept calling for Miss Ruan. I thought that’s what you wanted, especially since you’ve been paying more attention to her recently…”

He wasn’t lying. Fu Huaizhou had never been around other women before, but ever since his return, he’d crossed paths with Ruan Li unusually often.

Fu Huaizhou had initially intended to explain that his attention was only due to Fu Xingchuan’s repeated provocations and Ruan Li’s stubbornness, but given the recent turn of events, it felt difficult to express that now.

“Do you think I’m the type to act out of lust and defy moral principles?” Fu Huaizhou asked sternly. It surprised him that others were now interpreting his interest in Ruan Li in a different light.

Assistant Qin, not daring to speak the truth, replied in a small voice, “I wouldn’t presume to guess your intentions.”

Fu Huaizhou had just felt the burning effect of the drug, but now with a soft, warm body in his arms, he didn’t want to scare her. His fingers calmly untied the strings at the back of her dress.

“Be reasonable, Ruan Li,” he said, guiding her slowly, under the light from the yard, “You were the one who tore my clothes earlier, and now that the arrow is drawn, you want to back out?”

“I can’t control it…” Ruan Li realized her dress had already been discarded on the floor, and the skin exposed to the air felt cold.

Instinctively, she moved closer to the warmth.

Fu Huaizhou shook his head, a bit helpless. She was young, after all, and inexperienced. His hand slowly wrapped around her waist, as if to comfort her.

“Don’t be afraid,” he whispered as he pulled her closer, gently nibbling on her soft earlobe, feeling her trembling in his arms. “Leave it to me.”

The music from the banquet hall continued in the distance, while the sound of water in the dark room behind them refused to stop.

…

“Where are they?” Ruan Shu’s smile was barely holding up. She had planned everything so well. She had specifically arranged for a waiter to wait with a drink at the right moment, but Fu Huaizhou ended up drinking it instead.

Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest when she saw that happen, and she almost rushed over to knock the glass out of his hand.

Now, she couldn’t even find Ruan Li.

The servant next to her didn’t dare speak. Despite being abroad for the past few years, Fu Huaizhou had earned a reputation for being even more formidable than his father in his prime.

“I heard Miss Ye’s clothes got dirty. Maybe the two of them went to a room together,” the servant suggested. “Earlier, they did go into a room together.”

Ruan Shu no longer had the mind to think about how to continue scheming against Ruan Li. Even Zhou Min hadn’t expected things to turn out this way. “Get someone to deal with that wine glass immediately. Pay off a random servant as a scapegoat, claiming they had malicious intentions.”

Ruan Shu was still frightened. If Fu Huaizhou wanted to pursue the matter, not even the entire Ruan family could calm his anger. “What about the flowers in the room?”

Zhou Min, who had been a wealthy wife for over ten years, had seen enough of the world. “The flowers alone won’t raise suspicion. The priority now is to find out where that little fox Ruan Li went.”

“Maybe someone should check with Miss Ye? Didn’t they walk off together just now?” Ruan Shu paced back and forth, suddenly struck by an idea. “What if Fu Xingchuan suspects us? Do we still have the drug?”

Zhou Min immediately understood her meaning. “Smart. That way, you can clear yourself of any suspicion.”

“Go get a doctor for the young lady, and make sure Fu Xingchuan sees it too.”

Ruan Shu breathed a sigh of relief. It would be better if things remained ambiguous. It would not only throw off suspicion but also evoke sympathy from Fu Xingchuan. “Mom, we need to confirm where my sister is. If anything happens to her…”

She didn’t finish her sentence, but the worst-case scenario weighed heavily on her mind. If Ruan Li and Fu Huaizhou ended up together by accident, Ruan Li would no longer be a helpless orphan. Even if Fu Huaizhou didn’t care about her, a slight gesture from him would be enough for her to dominate the social circles in Beijing.

“I’ll go check personally. You wait in the room after drinking the medicine for the doctor, and I won’t let anything happen to you,” Zhou Min reassured her.

When Zhou Min reached the door of the room where the waiter had pointed her, she saw Shi Xun standing at the door. Pretending not to care, she approached casually.

“Second Young Master Shi, where is that little Miss Ye? I heard her dress got dirty, and she brought a new one to change into,” Zhou Min asked, but Shi Xun’s half-smile made her feel uneasy. The man who had been so pleasant earlier during the dance now smiled in a way that sent chills down her spine.

“She’s changing clothes with Ruan Li inside,” Shi Xun said.

Zhou Min noticed that he was holding Ruan Li’s bag and shawl, which eased her nerves a bit. “Shall I go in and help them? Ruan Li is so clumsy, I’m afraid she might not be taking good care of Miss Ye.”

She lowered her head, putting on a concerned expression.

“They’re close enough. Don’t worry, Mrs. Ruan,” Shi Xun said, studying her. “Besides, Third Brother wasn’t feeling well earlier. He called for a doctor and is resting upstairs. If you’re concerned about the guests’ well-being, why don’t you check on him?”

Zhou Min certainly understood what kind of “unwell” Fu Huaizhou was experiencing and dared not pretend to be too familiar. “Then I won’t disturb them.”

After she left, the smile faded from Shi Xun’s face, and the door behind him cracked open slightly, revealing a head.

“I’ve finished touching up my makeup. Who was that talking just now?” Ye Mian asked.

“Assistant Qin, he said the Fu family had something urgent to discuss with Ruan Li. She’s not coming back to find you,” Shi Xun replied.

“What could it be? Something to do with breaking the engagement with Fu Xingchuan?” Ye Mian muttered, feeling as if this was bound to happen.

Shi Xun thought it best not to divulge too much to the gossiping Ye Mian. He lightly tapped her on the head, “Adults’ business, kids shouldn’t meddle.”

Deep into the night, the banquet had finally come to an end.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the room upstairs only quieted down after the party was over.

Fu Huaizhou stood by the window, looking content, while the person in bed slept soundly, having been bathed and tucked in by him. She was now holding onto the blanket, sound asleep, her eyelids barely lifting.

It wasn’t that he had wanted to bathe her himself, but she had insisted on a bath, refusing to settle otherwise.

She was wrapped tightly in the blanket, and the only part of her visible was her fair neck, covered in red marks, radiating intimacy.

She was utterly exhausted, still not awake.

When Assistant Qin entered, he didn’t dare look too closely. He placed the new clothes by the entrance and prepared to leave. The entire afternoon had been exhausting, from making excuses to Shi Xun to handling follow-up matters.

“Look into today’s events,” Fu Huaizhou said softly. “Fu Xingchuan isn’t malicious, so someone must have taken advantage of him.”

“Yes, Mr. Fu,” Assistant Qin turned to leave.

Fu Huaizhou’s mind was clear now, and he added in a quiet voice, “Who told you to bring her in?”

Assistant Qin was puzzled and quickly explained, “You kept calling Miss Ruan’s name, so I thought that was your intention. Besides, you’ve been paying more attention to her recently…”

He was telling the truth. Normally, there were no women around Fu Huaizhou, but since his return, the frequency with which he encountered Ruan Li had been unusually high.

Fu Huaizhou had been about to say that it was only because of Fu Xingchuan’s constant troublemaking and Ruan Li’s persistence that he had gotten involved more than he’d intended, but after tonight, the nature of things had changed, and he couldn’t say that anymore.

“Am I a man who acts on lust and violates ethics?” Fu Huaizhou asked coldly, surprised that in others’ eyes, his interest in Ruan Li had become something else.

Assistant Qin didn’t dare speak the truth directly and responded softly, “I wouldn’t dare speculate about your intentions any further.”