Chapter 75: Ran Away on Her Own

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” said Ruan Shu, utterly confused. Her time with Ruan Li had only been these few months since she returned to the Ruan family what could there be that she didn’t know?

Ruan Li looked at her pale, sickly face with a hint of sorrow in her tone. “When I was first adopted by the Ruan family, I secretly went back to the orphanage where I grew up. The headmistress told me that after I was adopted, my close friend there had an emotional breakdown and developed a high fever. She said that when my friend woke up, she seemed a bit dull and had forgotten many things. Later, she was adopted by an ordinary family.”

“So what’s your real name, Ruan Shu or Su Su?” Ruan Li shook her head lightly. Everyone had poor pronunciation back then since we were losing baby teeth, and over time, I almost forgot about it. But after Fu Huaizhou mentioned it to me the other day, I looked at an old photo of myself from childhood and suddenly remembered this crucial detail.

“Looking at you carefully now, I can see traces of how you looked back then, right?” Ruan Li tilted her head and innocently gazed at the girl lying in bed.

“What are you talking about?” Ruan Shu clutched her head, suddenly feeling dizzy. But something deep down told her that what Ruan Li said was true, as if it was tugging at her vague memories.

“No worries. I’ll spell it out for you,” Ruan Li said, recalling that fateful day that seemed to mock destiny. “Ruan Shu, your whole life has been a case of the smart outsmarting themselves.”

“When Ruan Sheng came to the orphanage to adopt a little girl, the headmistress brought out the two of us, saying we were the best-looking of the suitable ages. We had to draw lots, one blue and one red. I think you overheard the conversation, and later, you swapped the red lot I was holding.”

Ruan Li couldn’t remember how she felt back then. When Ruan Sheng visited, it was clear he came from a middle-class family. But at that time, she didn’t think being adopted was anything great she was always hoping her real family would come for her.

So, when Ruan Shu suggested they switch lots, Ruan Li didn’t mind and agreed.

“But who would’ve thought Ruan Sheng actually wanted the blue lot. The outcome that should have been yours was swapped by you and given to me,” Ruan Li said with a laugh, finding it all so ironic. “You could have reunited with your family over a decade ago, but you delayed it for so many years.”

“No, it’s impossible! I don’t even know you!” Ruan Shu’s face contorted in fury, on the verge of breaking down.

Ruan Li shrugged with a hint of helplessness. “Believe it or not, you can treat it as just a little story. Anyway, we’re even now. I never owed you anything; you were the one who schemed and ended up delivering everything to me.”

With that, Ruan Li turned and walked out of the hospital room, not caring what state Ruan Shu was left in. She had said everything she wanted to.

Just as she stepped out, she ran into Ruan Sheng, who had come to visit Ruan Shu.

Seeing Ruan Li there, he wanted to rush forward, but her bodyguards blocked him. Staring at the two imposing figures, he nervously suppressed his emotions.

Standing outside the hospital room for a few minutes, Ruan Li heard the yelling inside.

“I told you to wait until after the wedding to get rid of the baby, but you had to go and mess it up that day. Now, you’ve got nothing!”

Ruan Shu’s voice was hysterical, devoid of her usual coyness. “What difference does it make if it’s sooner or later? The Fu family saw through everything ages ago. Do you think everyone can be played for fools?”

Then came the sharp sound of a slap.

“I’m not a tool. I’m your real daughter. I’m a person!”

“Useless.”

Feeling a complicated mix of emotions, Ruan Li sighed as she left the hospital. The sun outside was warm, and her bodyguards followed at a respectful distance. She gently touched her stomach.

“Seeing the world is the first gift I’ll give you.”

---

At Fu Corporation.

Assistant Qin entered the office with some documents, only to find his boss staring intently at his phone. He couldn’t help but marvel at how people in love acted Ruan Li had only been abroad for two days, and Fu Huaizhou was already restless, checking his phone every few minutes. It seemed that even a day apart felt like a lifetime to him.

Fu Huaizhou looked at the chat history with Ruan Li. Since she had left for Paris two days ago:

F: “Stay safe and come back soon.”

Litchi: “Got it!”

F: “It’s daytime in Paris now. How about a video call?”

Litchi: “I’m out right now, not convenient. Let’s do it tonight.”

A few hours later, Litchi: “So tired today, I need my beauty sleep”

F: “Alright.”

F: “How’s the show? If you like anything, buy it.”

F: “Why haven’t I seen any credit card records?”

Litchi: “It was fun! Maybe I accidentally used my own card.”

F: “Okay, I’ll reimburse you double when you’re back.”

Their exchanges continued like that over the past two days. Fu Huaizhou glanced at his watch and sent another message.

F: “What time are you coming back today? I’ll pick you up.”

F: “Did you oversleep again? Don’t forget to handle the paperwork before your flight.”

Still no response. He figured she was probably on the plane and unable to reply. Looking up at Assistant Qin, he hesitated before giving an order. “Check the bodyguards who went abroad with Ruan Li and the flight crew. Confirm whether they’ve departed.”

Assistant Qin nodded and left, thinking it was only a matter of hours. Even someone as usually composed as Fu Huaizhou was on edge.

His fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk. Something felt off, but he couldn’t quite place it.

Ten minutes later, Assistant Qin burst into the office, panic written across his face.

“What’s wrong?” Fu Huaizhou’s voice was icy.

Assistant Qin, still holding a phone mid-call, stammered as he faced his boss. “Mr. Fu… the people Ruan Li brought with her said they were supposed to leave this morning. But when they knocked, there was no answer. When they got the hotel staff to open the door, her room was empty. All her things were gone.”

“What did you say?” Fu Huaizhou shot to his feet, grabbing the phone to listen as the hotel staff explained.

“Surveillance from last night shows that the lady left on her own. She was not in any danger.”

The initial panic ebbed slightly at those last words, but the shock remained. “She left by herself?”

The staff, thinking Fu Huaizhou’s French might be shaky, slowly repeated in broken Chinese, “Yes, sir, the lady packed up and left on her own. Did you understand?”