Chapter 39: Not Tonight?

Ruan Li actually knew that if there were no surveillance footage or Shi Mu’s testimony, it would be hard for her to clear her name today.

After all, in everyone’s eyes, she was bound to resent Ruan Shu for taking everything from her, and as someone who had just been found, how could Ruan Shu possibly have the courage to frame her in Fu’s company?

Fu Huaizhou lowered his gaze, his palm itching slightly. He raised his hand to pinch her reddened earlobe. “What else?”

Ruan Li softly replied, “Oh,” realizing that her own personality inherently put her at a disadvantage in the public eye. Most people would immediately assume she was stirring up trouble, like Fu Xingchuan did.

“Did you ever think this could all be part of my plan to play the victim?” Ruan Li looked up pitifully at the man standing beside her.

This time, Fu Huaizhou actually laughed, his lips curving slightly. “A plan? Using your own wrist?”

His tone was light. “If you were the kind of person who could harm yourself for others, that would be unbelievable.”

Ruan Li thought about his words. He was right. If he had told her beforehand that the item wasn’t important or there was a backup, she wouldn’t have gone out of her way to save the USB drive.

“Don’t overthink it,” Fu Huaizhou said. He still had work to handle at the company and couldn’t stay at Yu Yuan all day. “If you’re bored, call Ye Mian or someone else.”

Ever since she started living here, Ruan Li hadn’t invited Chen Jing or her assistant over, knowing how tight security was at Yu Yuan. “Anyone?”

“Anyone,” Fu Huaizhou replied as he turned to leave. He suddenly added, “Except for the Jiang family.”

Ruan Li sat in the living room for a while, trying to figure out why Fu Huaizhou added that last sentence. She would have to be crazy to invite Jiang Yixing to Yu Yuan.

She admitted that Jiang Yixing had a refined, elegant demeanor and had been kind to her when they were desk mates in high school, but now, as Fu Huaizhou’s “kept” woman, how could she possibly still have anything to do with him?

If Jiang Yixing was the moon, she was a flower of earthly riches a person of luxury in the mortal world.

Before leaving, Fu Huaizhou instructed the housemaids to pay extra attention to Ruan Li’s injured wrist. Ever since someone else started living at YYuan, he had brought in a few female servants from the Fu family estate.

When Chen Jing was brought over, she could hardly believe it. She had thought the Ruan and Fu families represented the pinnacle of society, but it turned out there was always more.

“So, care to explain why you’re living with Fu Huaizhou?” Chen Jing asked. She had been wondering why Ruan Li hadn’t returned to her original house recently.

Ruan Li played with the cat as she sat in her chair. “Isn’t it obvious? He’s keeping me.”

Chen Jing couldn’t interfere in these kinds of high society affairs. At first, she had been worried that the Ruan family might try to sabotage Ruan Li, but now with this background, walking through the entertainment industry would be a breeze for her.

“You seem pretty comfortable,” Chen Jing noted. She had seen many actresses in the industry who were kept by others. Most were forced to live in secrecy, submissive and servile. Ruan Li, on the other hand, practically radiated confidence, as if she owned the place.

“Why shouldn’t I be comfortable? Fu Huaizhou’s not ugly, and he has money.” Ruan Li handed a card to Chen Jing. “If you need anything, use this to get in. Also, about that program I’m not going to participate anymore. As for PR, we’ll stick to our original plan, and leave the rest to the Fu family.”

Chen Jing glanced at the medicine patch on Ruan Li’s wrist. Knowing Fu Huaizhou, she was confident it would heal soon, so she didn’t ask further questions. “We’ve already gained enough publicity. Not attending will only make people want more. You’ll need to prepare for the ‘Jing Luan’ project soon.”

Before leaving, Chen Jing reminded Ruan Li, “While you’ve got this backing, milk it for all the resources you can. You need to build your career before the two of you part ways.”

Ruan Li nodded absentmindedly. What she didn’t say was that she and Fu Huaizhou had never discussed her entertainment career at all.

That evening, when Fu Huaizhou returned home from work, the living room was full. Ruan Li sat on the sofa, watching brand representatives walk around with clothes. She nodded at the ones she liked, indicating for the maids to take them upstairs to her wardrobe.

When she saw the tired man standing by the door, she waved her hand, signaling the staff to leave.

“What’s all this?” Fu Huaizhou asked, not used to seeing so many people at home.

“I’m picking out clothes. I got bored being alone and can’t go out easily, so I have to find something to do.” Ruan Li tentatively asked, “You’re not against it, are you?”

Back when she lived with her family, Ruan Cheng had said this was too extravagant, but she couldn’t help liking it.

Fu Huaizhou could hear her underlying concern and shook his head lightly. “No, do as you like. I just haven’t seen this before.”

Ruan Li was truly surprised. “How’s that possible?”

The Fu family only had to beckon, and anyone would rush to them.

“So how do you usually get your clothes?” Ruan Li was curious about his wardrobe full of almost identical outfits. Aside from slight differences in color, she couldn’t tell them apart.

“I tell my assistant my size, and they get sent over when they’re ready,” Fu Huaizhou replied, handing his coat to a maid. His clothes were all custom-made, but he wasn’t picky about them.

They sat at the dinner table. Fu Huaizhou’s meal was, as usual, prepared to his taste. In front of Ruan Li was the boiled vegetables she had requested from the chef. She could only manage a few bites.

“Is that all you’re eating?” Fu Huaizhou asked, looking at her bland dinner.

Ruan Li nodded. “I’ll be filming in a few days. If I gain weight, I’ll look awful.”

Fu Huaizhou glanced at her exposed skin in her loungewear. Her tall figure was already perfect, and in the right places, she wasn’t lacking. “You’re not overweight.”

“I know,” Ruan Li thought to herself, proud of how she’d managed her figure for years through exercise. “But to look good on camera, I need to maintain it. It’s part of being professional.”

Fu Huaizhou, aware that most women in the industry dieted, hadn’t paid much attention to this issue before. He didn’t have specific requirements for his partner’s appearance. “It’s unhealthy. Ask the chef to change the menu.”

Ruan Li remembered the chef he had brought to Yu Yuan and realized it was possible to eat both healthily and deliciously. Suddenly, her boiled vegetables tasted even worse.

Later, when they were getting ready for bed, Ruan Li lay on the bed in the master bedroom, playing on her phone. All the times she had shared a bed with Fu Huaizhou before, she had fallen asleep exhausted after… activities. They had never simply gone to bed together.

Given Fu Huaizhou’s stamina, Ruan Li figured there wouldn’t be much time for rest. She even considered negotiating their… arrangement again.

The bedroom door opened, and Fu Huaizhou walked in wearing pajamas. He glanced at her, lounging on the bed with her legs up, playing with her phone. “I found the surveillance footage. I’ll have the Fu Group’s PR department release it.”

“There really was footage?” Ruan Li had only been guessing, but it seemed Fu Huaizhou didn’t leave any room for error. She watched as he bent over to pick up the blankets and pillows. She was confused.

“Not tonight?” she asked.