Chapter 30: “Remember to Take Precautions”

Ruan Li, realizing the situation, grabbed Fu Huaizhou’s shirt on his shoulder. Hugging him like this in front of so many people felt a little too intimate.

The horse continued to trot slowly, not too bumpy, so Ruan Li seized the opportunity to bargain with him, “Can you let me change direction? I can’t see anything this way.”

“What else do you want to see?” Fu Huaizhou snorted lightly, his chin resting on top of her head, the faint scent of her fragrance lingering around him.

Jiang Yixing was still holding the reins of the little white horse, watching as the figures ahead moved farther away. The girl was completely obscured by the man’s body, and from behind, they looked almost like one person.

He remembered their school days, when there were monthly equestrian lessons. Many students took advantage of that time to ride together, and at that time, the riding instructor had paired him with Ruan Li. However, they had always maintained the teacher-student dynamic, with him guiding her gently.

He recalled how the instructor had once told him that he was being too gentle, and that she wouldn’t learn unless he scared her a bit by letting go.

On the horse, Ruan Li could feel the saddle shaking beneath her. Even though her clothes provided some protection, the bumps still hurt. The pace picked up, and due to the motion, she was thrown into Fu Huaizhou’s chest.

“Slow down! You’re going too fast!” Ruan Li shouted in panic. She could feel the wind whipping past her ears, and in her desperation, she wrapped her arms around Fu Huaizhou’s neck, burying her face against his collarbone.

Fu Huaizhou controlled the reins with one hand while keeping the other on her waist. “You’ll be fine,” he reassured her calmly.

Ruan Li felt disoriented by the wind and could barely keep her eyes open. Tears were streaming down her face, smearing onto Fu Huaizhou’s clothes.

“You’ll get used to it in a while,” he said, his voice steady and authoritative, like a strict teacher.

Just as Ruan Li thought her head might explode from all the jostling, the wind suddenly eased, and she noticed the sky had become overcast. She wondered why the wind had picked up so suddenly earlier.

She sneaked a glance at the scenery. They had already completed a full lap around the large track.

Gradually adjusting to the pace, Ruan Li cautiously reached out to touch the reins. She had to admit, this was more exciting than simply walking the horse.

Noticing her movements, Fu Huaizhou eased his grip and looked down at the dazed girl in front of him, his voice softening. “No need to be so scared.”

“Do you think everyone’s as fearless as you?” Ruan Li retorted, still holding onto his neck as she complained about his recklessness. “Who wouldn’t be scared when you go so fast?”

Fu Huaizhou didn’t argue with her. After completing another half lap, he stopped the horse. He dismounted first and looked up at her, arms outstretched as if inviting her down. “Not coming down?”

Realizing she had no choice, Ruan Li glanced at the height from which she’d have to descend. There was no way she’d manage it on her own without falling, so she grudgingly wrapped her arms around his shoulders and let him help her down. As she was being lowered, she noticed his sharp features up close and couldn’t help but think that he was surprisingly strong much more so than the actors who always complained about being tired.

The moment her feet touched the ground, she quickly stepped away, keeping a safe distance of about a meter from him, wary of the possibility that he might force her to ride again. Her head was still spinning, and she had no desire to ride another lap today.

“I want to go back,” Ruan Li declared, hands on her hips. Since she had come here with Fu Huaizhou, she would need to ask him for a ride back.

Just as she finished speaking, a clap of thunder rumbled through the air, startling her. The sky, which had been clear and sunny at noon, now seemed covered in dark, ominous clouds.

Then came the downpour, with rain pelting the ground, forcing everyone to take shelter indoors.

Ruan Li stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the torrential rain outside. The location they were in was quite remote, and if the rain continued, transportation would become inconvenient.

“Can we even get back?” Ruan Li asked, worry creasing her brow. She didn’t want to stay in this unfamiliar place for too long. She then looked at Fu Huaizhou and said accusingly, “This is all your fault for insisting on coming out today.”

Fu Huaizhou frowned slightly at her. “You think I don’t want to go back?”

Staying here would only add complications.

“There are accommodations arranged at the estate,” Jiang Yixing said, standing beside her. It wasn’t uncommon for people to stay overnight after business meetings or events like this.

Ruan Li sighed, realizing she’d have to find something to do inside. The estate, being a place for business gatherings, had spa services and other forms of entertainment to keep guests occupied.

As expected, the rain didn’t let up by evening. While the others went to the wine cellar for a wine tasting event, Ruan Li, who found such hobbies boring and extravagant, opted to head to her suite and rest instead.

While lying in bed playing on her phone, a sudden knock startled her, causing her to drop her phone onto her face.

Grimacing from the pain, she got up and opened the door.

“Why are you here?” Ruan Li was surprised to see Fu Huaizhou at her door, having expected a server delivering drinks.

“Who else would it be?” Fu Huaizhou asked in his usual calm tone. Noticing that she had changed into sleepwear, he spoke quietly, “I’m in the suite next to yours. Don’t wander around if anything happens.”

“I know,” Ruan Li replied, assuming he was just being responsible since she had come with him. “If nothing else, I’m going to bed.”

She closed the door again. “Don’t wander around,” he had said what could possibly happen in a place with such tight security? Even if there were an earthquake or a fire, she would be the first to run, not sit and wait for disaster.

Later, while soaking in the bathtub, her phone rang again. Stretching out of the water to answer it, she glanced at the screen no contact name.

“What is it?” she answered.

“One week is up. Are you ready to negotiate with Pan Zhou for cooperation?” It was Ruan Cheng’s voice on the other end.

Ruan Li mentally calculated the time. Between filming for the variety show and settling her affairs, she had almost forgotten about it. Her tone turned unfriendly. “Didn’t I already transfer a quarter of the amount? What’s the rush?”

“We agreed on one week. What’s a quarter?” Ruan Cheng was eager to secure cooperation with Pan Zhou, knowing it would give him leverage over her. “If you don’t have the rest by tomorrow noon, I’ll personally send someone to bring you back.”

He hung up, confident that she wouldn’t be able to come up with the rest of the money in time. Sitting in the bathtub, Ruan Li realized that this situation had been a trap from the start. Even if she did come up with the money, her family’s influence would still make it impossible for her to escape unscathed.

The only way out was to find someone with more power than her family. But Ruan Cheng knew she would never ask Ye Mian for help. Doing so would confirm that her friendship with Ye Mian was transactional, and that was something Ruan Li couldn’t stand.

While lost in thought, a message popped up on her phone it was from Ye Mian, who had heard that she couldn’t make it back tonight.

“I heard you went out with Fu Huaizhou and even shared a glass? It’s all over Weibo’s trending topics today from the livestream. I’m rooting for you! Go for it become Mrs. Fu! Remember to take precautions ;)”

Reading Ye Mian’s message, a sudden idea popped into Ruan Li’s head. Who else could casually take out 400 million, suppress her family, and be someone she might encounter in a short amount of time? All clues pointed to one person.

Fu Huaizhou. And he didn’t have any prior personal ties with her, making an exchange of benefits less morally complicated.

Ten minutes later—

Ruan Li stood outside the door to the suite next to hers, wearing a white bathrobe from the room. She had deliberately loosened the neckline, allowing her collarbones to peek out. After gathering her courage, she lightly knocked on the door.

Seconds later, the door opened to reveal Fu Huaizhou, his hair still damp from a shower. He was wearing a black bathrobe and looked at her with a deep, unreadable expression.

“What is it?” he asked calmly.

Ruan Li cursed him internally a hundred times over. She was standing there in a bathrobe, knocking on a man’s door late at night—wasn’t that obvious enough?

But now, she had a favor to ask, so she put on a pitiful expression, tears welling up in her eyes. She gingerly tugged at the belt of his bathrobe with two fingers, swaying it slightly.

“I’m scared to sleep alone. The suite is too big…”

The hallway lighting was dim, and Fu Huaizhou’s gaze turned deeper as he took in her

meaning.