Chapter 74: Learned Her Lesson

On the lawn, Ye Mian looked at Ruan Li, curious about her fascination with the private jet. “What are you planning to do with that?”

Ruan Li didn’t hide her intentions. “I’m planning to travel for a few days. What do you think?”

Ye Mian was amazed. “Fu Huaizhou is really generous. He just hands over such a fancy private jet like that? Why are you thinking of going abroad all of a sudden? Even Shi Xun is going away, and now you too! It’s getting so dull in Beijing.”

The sun was blazing outside, so the two went inside to sit. The large lounge was empty, just the two of them.

“I might be away for a while, and Fu Huaizhou might look for you,” Ruan Li said honestly.

“Why?” Ye Mian was puzzled. Ever since she learned that Fu Huaizhou and Ruan Li were together, she hadn’t had any contact with him. Ruan Li was always either busy with work or at YuYuan, leaving little chance for them to meet Ye Mian only reached her through Fu Huaizhou.

Ruan Li casually placed her hand on her lower belly and said calmly, “Because I’m pregnant. But Fu Huaizhou has been doing things lately that have really annoyed me. Since he can keep things from me, why can’t I leave and keep things from him?”

“What?” Ye Mian’s eyes widened, and she stared at Ruan Li’s stomach. It still looked perfectly flat, with no visible signs of pregnancy. “How could you get pregnant now? Did Fu Huaizhou do this on purpose?”

Ye Mian shook her head, surprised. She had heard of women using pregnancy to secure status, but this was the first time she’d seen a man seemingly doing the same.

“It was an accident,” Ruan Li clarified. She never suspected that Fu Huaizhou had planned it. If he had, she’d likely be subjected to weekly checkups without her knowledge. It was impossible for him to hide it from her.

“But since it happened, I’ll go with it. It’s not like I can’t afford to raise a child myself.”

“I’m impressed,” Ye Mian said, giving her a thumbs-up. “I support you. Men think we don’t have any temper. Don’t worry if Fu Huaizhou asks me about you, I’ll keep my lips sealed.”

Ruan Li already had a plan. “It doesn’t matter. I’m not staying in one place anyway.”

Besides, she knew Fu Huaizhou wasn’t the type to take his anger out on others, which is why she felt comfortable telling Ye Mian.

“When will you be back?” Ye Mian asked, curious to see if someone like Fu Huaizhou would actually get flustered over someone else.

Ruan Li’s lips curved into a lazy smile. “Who said I’m coming back? Why not find a tall, handsome foreigner to be my child’s father?”

Since Fu Huaizhou claimed he wasn’t ready for a child, she figured she’d just oblige him.

Ye Mian knew she was speaking out of anger. “Whatever you choose. If you run out of money abroad, you can always come to me. Though I’m guessing you have a bigger fortune than I do.”

That evening, when Ruan Li was packing her things, Fu Huaizhou happened to come home. He saw her packing only a few essentials like skincare products and a few clothes. “Where are you heading?”

“Paris. There’s a fashion show in a couple of days,” she replied casually.

“I can’t leave right now. Will you be alright on your own?” He stood behind her, casually placing his hand on her waist.

Ruan Li scoffed and turned to look at him. “If I said I couldn’t, would you really go with me?”

Fu Huaizhou glanced at his schedule and sighed with a hint of helplessness. “If you need me to, give me some time to make arrangements.”

“No need. I’ll go by myself,” Ruan Li expected this answer. Lately, he seemed busier than usual especially since the Ming family returned to the country.

“I’ll be back in two days,” she said, dismissively.

“Okay. I’ll make it up to you next time.” Fu Huaizhou leaned down to inhale her scent, his hand slowly wandering upward from her waist, quickly igniting a fire in himself.

“Did you put on weight recently?” He gently teased, as if weighing her with his palm.

Ruan Li felt a wave of tingling heat spread through her, but she was determined and pressed his hand down. “Maybe I gained a little weight.”

“Oh?” He chuckled, his voice low and teasing by her ear. “Then let me check the rest of you.”

He moved to carry her to the bed, but Ruan Li quickly placed her arm between them, blocking him.

“No,” she said firmly.

“Hmm?” His eyes darkened. “What’s wrong?”

Ruan Li realized she might’ve been too abrupt. Trying to stay calm, she explained, “I have to go out tomorrow. If I’m too tired, I won’t get up.”

Fu Huaizhou thought about it for a moment before giving up.

“We’ll finish this when I come back.” She smiled as she kissed his cheek, though in her mind, she knew it was just a way to pacify him. Who didn’t know how to make empty promises?

Naturally, Fu Huaizhou wouldn’t force her, so he turned and headed to the bathroom. “I’m going to shower.”

The next morning, Fu Huaizhou was surprised to see Ruan Li already up and instructing the chef about breakfast something she rarely did.

“Learning to be good?” he teased.

The chef, who had been poached from the Fu family’s kitchen, chimed in, “Miss has been having breakfast every morning for several days now.”

Ruan Li stayed quiet. After all, it wasn’t just her body she was looking after anymore. What if skipping breakfast affected the baby’s nutrition?

Fu Huaizhou realized that he had been overly distracted lately. He felt a rare twinge of guilt and gently coaxed her, “Good girl. I’ll reward you when you get back.”

“Okay,” Ruan Li responded casually.

After Fu Huaizhou left for work, the driver he arranged asked if she was ready to go. Ruan Li checked the time there was still a little left.

“I have something else to take care of first. Let’s go somewhere else.”

At the Beijing Hospital, Ruan Li slowly walked down the hallway with a bag of fruit in her hand. This path was familiar she had spent nearly a whole day here once.

She stopped in front of a patient room and knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

Ruan Li opened the door and saw a pale-faced young woman lying on the bed. Her expression was indifferent it was time to clear up some unfinished business before she left.

“You?” Ruan Shu’s face turned ashen the moment she saw her. “Are you here to gloat?”

Ruan Li placed the fruit on the bedside table without haste. After the last incident, Ruan Shu had been hospitalized here. A few days’ rest should have been enough after the miscarriage, but whether it was the emotional blow or the force of her own fall, her recovery had been slow.

“You guessed it,” Ruan Li said, standing and looking down at the pale girl in the bed. The arrogance she once had was now nowhere to be seen.

“Get out!” Ruan Shu was so enraged she tried to throw a pillow, but her strength failed her.

“Don’t bother. My bodyguards are outside; you wouldn’t dare touch me.” Ruan Li’s tone was calm.

“So, what do you want? Isn’t my current state enough for you?” Ruan Shu’s eyes were venomous, her hatred evident.

“You brought this on yourself,” Ruan Li sighed and shook her head. “You might have forgotten some things, but I’m here to make sure you remember.”