Chapter 20: Go Take a Shower

Ruan Li wanted to snap back at him, but as soon as she opened her mouth, it pulled at her lips, causing a sharp pain. She couldn’t help but hiss softly.

The streetlight nearby wasn’t very bright, but Fu Huaizhou heard the sound she made and squinted to get a better look at her lips.

Her red lips had a deep mark from where she had bitten them, and there was a trace of blood. Back when Fu Huaizhou was studying in the UK, aside from majoring in finance, he had also picked up knowledge from other subjects in the library, including psychology.

He remembered reading that people tend to bite their lips hard when they are extremely nervous or afraid.

“Let go,” he ordered darkly, his fingers moving slightly from her chin upward, pressing his thumb gently on her lower lip.

Ruan Li, still a bit dazed, only realized after his reminder that she had bitten her lip to the point of injury. She relaxed her clenched teeth a little.

“I’ll take you home,” Fu Huaizhou said as he walked ahead toward his car.

Ruan Li felt awkward. There was already tension between her and Fu Huaizhou because of what happened that day, and now he had witnessed her at her most vulnerable.

“I can go back by myself,” Ruan Li quickly explained, following behind him.

Fu Huaizhou turned back and gave her a light, casual glance. “Are you going to drive under the influence?”

Ruan Li was momentarily speechless. She had almost forgotten that she had impulsively drunk some alcohol earlier. How long had he been watching her from the side of the road, to have even noticed that?

Assistant Qin, who had just opened the car door, added, “Miss Ruan, you’re a public figure. News of drunk driving wouldn’t look good. I’ll have someone drive your car back for you.”

“Fine.” Ruan Li realized he had a point, so she got into Fu Huaizhou’s car.

“Is it the same address as last time, Miss Ruan?” Assistant Qin asked.

Ruan Li was about to nod but then remembered that her place was no longer a safe haven. Her mood sank a little. “No, take me to a hotel instead.”

“Why aren’t you going back?” Fu Huaizhou asked.

Ruan Li answered honestly, “It seems… someone is watching me, probably a stalker fan.”

The car was silent for a few seconds. Ruan Li was already used to this uncle of hers being a man of few words. It seemed like the only time he talked a bit more was when he was scolding Fu Xingchuan. Just as she thought Fu Huaizhou wouldn’t respond to her—

The man turned his face slightly, his expression cold. “What kind of person is this stalker? Sent by Ruan Cheng?”

Fu Huaizhou had been following behind her car and saw her pass by her neighborhood without going in. He had assumed she just didn’t want to go back, not realizing it was because of this.

“Huh?” Ruan Li was stunned, then realized there was an entire generational gap between them, a whole eight years, which felt like an impassable gulf. She explained awkwardly, “Just some overly obsessive fans who spy on my personal life.”

“Got it,” Fu Huaizhou replied, withdrawing his gaze.

The car fell silent again. Ruan Li wondered if her earlier shocked expression had been too obvious. When she looked up, she saw Assistant Qin holding back a laugh in the rearview mirror—much more obvious than her own reaction.

She finally let out a sigh of relief.

“Your bonus will be cut by 20%,” came Fu Huaizhou’s sudden voice, even though he was already looking down at his tablet.

Ruan Li watched as the person who had been suppressing laughter just moments ago now had a look of utter despair. What a terrifying boss.

Ruan Li had been waiting for the driver to find a hotel to drop her off, but instead, the car continued driving straight into a private villa community. The two characters “Yuyuan” at the entrance were illuminated even at night, the sharp strokes somewhat familiar.

“Huh?” Ruan Li lightly poked the man next to her, who was focused on his work. “I’m supposed to go to a hotel.”

Fu Huaizhou didn’t say anything, but Assistant Qin explained from the front, “Miss Ruan, it seems you didn’t bring any ID.”

Ruan Li covered her face in embarrassment. She had only brought her phone, and everything else was being held by Chen Jing. She really didn’t have many options. Anyway, Fu Huaizhou’s place was huge, and staying for one night wouldn’t make much of a difference.

If it were any of the other playboys or powerful figures in Beijing, she’d be on guard against their intentions. But her impression of Fu Huaizhou was so deeply ingrained—it was like he was a work machine, molded by strict family rules.

To put it simply, an old-fashioned prude.

The car pulled into the garage, and Ruan Li followed Fu Huaizhou out. All she could see were black cars, with only slight variations in design, but overall, they were all business cars. It was like looking at a collection of lipsticks in the same shade.

She trailed behind Fu Huaizhou as they entered the villa, which was as cold inside as it appeared outside. It was nothing like the extravagant decor of the nouveau-riche Ruan family or the heavy, antique style of the Fu family.

Everything was in a minimalist black, white, and gray.

“Prepare a guest room on the second floor,” Fu Huaizhou said as he took off his jacket. The butler, who had been standing by, reached out to take it, glancing respectfully at the girl behind him. “Yes, sir.”

Ruan Li suddenly realized that her clothes had picked up some street vendor smells. She hadn’t noticed earlier, but now, in the villa’s pristine environment, it was hard to ignore. She sniffed her shoulder like a curious puppy.

Fu Huaizhou gave her a quick glance. “Go take a shower.”

Ruan Li’s face flushed. She thought he must have smelled it and was disgusted.

“Do you even have any clothes I can wear?” she asked, not wanting to wander around the house wrapped in just a towel.

Even though she had heard rumors that Fu Huaizhou wasn’t interested in women, after what had happened last time, Ruan Li no longer believed that. Considering Fu Huaizhou’s stamina, if he didn’t have female company, he’d likely suffer. Plus, after living abroad for so many years in more open societies, who knew what he had experienced?

“No,” Fu Huaizhou seemed to think her question was unreasonable as he started heading upstairs. “Assistant Qin will bring them over shortly.”

Ruan Li watched him enter the study. The butler and servants moved quickly, soon leading her to the guest room, where everything was already prepared.

“Could you find me some ointment? For my scratches,” Ruan Li asked before the butler left.

“I’ll leave it at your door shortly.”

Ruan Li slipped out of her dress and into the bathtub. The small shelf beside it held toiletries, and when she squeezed out some body wash, she noticed it had a cedarwood scent, just like the smell on Fu Huaizhou.

The hot water relaxed her, and she almost dozed off, but a sudden image of a hideous face from her memories startled her awake.

Shivering slightly, she grabbed the loofah and scrubbed her arms hard, as if trying to wash away the bad memories.

After soaking long enough, she wrapped herself in a towel and opened the door. Just as expected, the medicine and clothes were ready—a familiar white jade jar, the same as the one delivered to her last time.

Ruan Li changed into the sleepwear that had been provided: a simple white nightgown made of satin, which felt luxurious. She pressed the bell at the door, and soon the butler came upstairs.

“Aren’t there any female servants?” Ruan Li had been trying to apply the ointment on her own, but the scratch was on her back. After struggling for a while, she couldn’t quite reach it. The injury had happened during a tussle with Ruan Cheng.

The butler looked a bit embarrassed. “Sorry, Miss. There are no female servants at Yuyuan.”

Ruan Li was genuinely surprised this time. What kind of old-fashioned man was Fu Huaizhou? She didn’t want to trouble anyone since she was just staying the night, so she nodded. “Never mind, then.”

“What’s going on?” Fu Huaizhou, fresh from a shower in his main bedroom, appeared on the second floor just as the butler was passing by.

“Miss Ruan requested ointment for a scratch and asked if there were any female servants,” the butler explained honestly. Seeing Assistant Qin’s attitude earlier, he figured it was best to handle this matter seriously. “Should I call someone from the old house?”

Fu Huaizhou shook his head. “It’s too late. They won’t make it in time.”

Ruan Li stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking out at the garden in front of the villa. It seemed abandoned, as though no one had tended to it in a long time. She had always heard that Yuyuan was privately owned, then later closed to the public, but she never realized it belonged to Fu Huaizhou.

“Four billion yuan… could it just fall on my head?” Ruan Li muttered, her head aching as she thought of her massive debt. Just as she was about to turn off the lights and go to bed, she heard a knock at her door.

Guessing the butler had something to say, she got up to open the door, only to find Fu Huaizhou standing there in a black bathrobe. Behind him, the butler was pushing a small food cart.

Seeing her slightly pale face, Fu Huaizhou said in a low voice, “Eat something before you sleep.”