Chapter 25.2

The layout of hospital rooms was generally the same, and this one was no exception. However, it had an additional bathroom and kitchen.

Who would have thought that hospital rooms in this era would even have kitchens?

Aunt Liu’s voice broke Ruan Mingfu’s train of thought. She quickly looked down, trying to appear well-behaved.

“Chief, Madam, look who has come?”

Aunt Liu led them inside. The elderly couple, who had been waiting, put on their glasses and scrutinized the approaching guests.

Facing them, Lin Shu turned and said, “What’s this rascal up to now…”

Upon seeing Ruan Mingfu beside Xie Yanzhao, Lin Shu’s words were left unspoken. To her, the young woman looked like a blossoming flower, radiant and striking. Her skin was fair, even more so than the girls from the art troupe.

Lin Shu peered at her through her reading glasses.

Ruan Mingfu was sweating.

The “old Chief”?

Who else could be referred to as that in these times?

Goodness, was she meeting a founding figure?

Xie Yanzhao was surprisingly low-key. He was actually from an official family.

“This rascal, bringing someone here and not making introductions?”

The old man looked at them as well.

“Grandpa, Grandma,” Xie Yanzhao’s face still showed no clear expression, “This is Comrade Ruan, my fiancée.”

Ruan Mingfu glanced at him.

Oops, it turned out he was a third-generation official.

Lin Shu: “…”

This is what he calls an introduction?

With the elderly couple’s gaze fixed on her, Ruan Mingfu quickly spoke up. “Grand…My name is Ruan Mingfu, I’m from Haicheng, and I went to the countryside last year and became an educated youth.”

How embarrassing!

She almost ended up calling them “Grandpa” as well.

“That’s a nice name,” Xie Yanzhao’s grandfather put down his newspaper. “Please sit down, everyone.”

Lin Shu helped the old man, and Xie Yanzhao also lent a hand.

“My old problem is acting up. Comrade Ruan, don’t mind it,” the old man, his hair turning white, said kindly, “Comrade Ruan, please don’t be polite. Please take a seat.”

Ruan Mingfu quickly complied and sat on a nearby chair.

Aunt Liu brought tea and snacks and placed them in front of her.

Xie Yanzhao sat down next to her.

Ruan Mingfu, taking advantage of the cover of her clothes, pinched the soft flesh around Xie Yanzhao’s waist hard. But his tough skin didn’t even flinch, and her hand was left hurting.

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

She turned her head and gave him a quick, fierce look.

Had she known she was meeting the man’s elders, she would never have come.

Unfamiliar with them and unsure what to talk about, Ruan Mingfu opted for awkward smiles, figuring it was better to smile along.

It was too awkward.

Just as Ruan Mingfu was mentally bracing herself, Lin Shu sat down and asked, “Comrade Ruan, how old are you this year?”

“18, almost 19.”

Lin Shu and his grandfather exchanged meaningful glances at Xie Yanzhao.

He moved his lips but ultimately said nothing.

Lin Shu had only caught a brief glimpse of Ruan Mingfu that day and knew she was a beautiful young woman. Seeing her in person, she realized just how strikingly pretty she was.

No wonder her grandson was considering marriage.

“How’s the injury on your neck?” Lin Shu thought for a moment before continuing, “I have some medicine here that works very well. I’ll have this rascal bring it over to you later.”

Ruan Mingfu touched her neck and said, “Thank you…”

“My surname is Lin.”

“Thank you, Grandma Lin.”

Lin Shu glanced at Xie Yanzhao before asking, “With such beauty, I imagine your siblings must be quite good-looking too.”

Before crossing over, Ruan Mingfu had an older brother. After crossing over, she became an only child.

“I don’t have any siblings,” Ruan Mingfu replied. “I’m the only child in my family.”

Lin Shu was surprised.

In this era, families typically had at least three children, as having more children was considered a blessing. It was rare for someone like Ruan Mingfu’s parents to have only one child due to unforeseen circumstances where other siblings might have passed away.

This was the first time Xie Yanzhao heard Ruan Mingfu talk about her family.

Like Ruan Mingfu, he knew little about her, and she knew even less about him.

Lin Shu then asked, “Your parents must have spoiled you a lot.”

“Of course,” Ruan Mingfu said, drawing from the original owner’s memories. Her parents treated her like a precious gem, pampering her excessively. “They were reluctant to let me get married, and they were thinking of finding a son-in-law for me…”

Realizing her mistake, Ruan Mingfu quickly fell silent.

Lin Shu, however, smiled and said, “It’s alright. If I had such a beautiful daughter, I wouldn’t want her to get married either.”

When Lin Shu mentioned the word “daughter,” a trace of sadness flashed in her and her husband’s eyes.

Xie Yanzhao’s smile vanished instantly, and his gaze darkened with turbulent emotions.

The change in atmosphere was almost instantaneous. By the time Ruan Mingfu noticed, everyone had already concealed their emotions, and the conversation had drifted far from the original topic.

Lin Shu and his grandfather were easy to get along with, and Ruan Mingfu felt comfortable there.

Although she called Xie Yanzhao “this little rascal,” the affection in her eyes was undeniable.

The elderly couple even invited them to stay for a meal before they left.

At the door, Lin Shu suddenly called out to Ruan Mingfu and handed her a box. “This is a gift for you.”

Ruan Mingfu was genuinely surprised.

After all, she was fully aware of how her engagement with Xie Yanzhao came about.

She instinctively glanced at Xie Yanzhao.

He, however, had a cold expression, the same as when they were eating earlier.

Ruan Mingfu thought for a moment, then tried to return the gift, but Lin Shu pressed it into her hands. “This is a gift from me. You can take a look when you get home.”

Saying this, she escorted them to the door, leaving Ruan Mingfu’s words stuck in her throat…

…

Once outside, the previously warm atmosphere turned cold.

Xie Yanzhao’s face was stormy, his eyes dark and fierce.

His aura became even more intimidating.

Ruan Mingfu was a bit frightened by his demeanor.

She swallowed nervously, replaying the events of the day in her mind.

She still had no clue.

Ruan Mingfu looked at the “dog man” and saw the growing storm in his eyes.

Could it be that he’s this angry because she accepted the gift from Lin Shu?

He couldn’t possibly be this petty.

Ruan Mingfu thought.

This was a gift from his grandmother to her future granddaughter-in-law. Given their current situation, accepting it did seem a bit inappropriate.

Ruan Mingfu took out the box and offered it to him. “Here.”

Although she was curious about what was inside, she wouldn’t keep it for herself. She had enough sense of propriety.

Seeing that Xie Yanzhao was just staring at her and not moving, Ruan Mingfu urged, “This is a gift from your grandmother. It’s not right for me to keep it. You should take care of it.”

Ruan Mingfu considered herself the most reasonable person in the world.

But he didn’t seem to appreciate it.

Xie Yanzhao stared at her with eyes as dark as ink.

Ruan Mingfu looked back, feeling as though thick, dark clouds were enveloping her. It was as if a ferocious beast was opening its jaws wide, making her heart race and her legs tremble.

He smirked, seemingly mocking her timidity. Before Ruan Mingfu could get angry, he took a long stride and walked away, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Ruan Mingfu felt a surge of frustration and cursed loudly.

“… Crazy!”

She was fuming, her pretty brows knitted together.

That bastard!

She hadn’t even addressed the two times he took advantage of her, and now he was throwing a tantrum!

What an asshole.

He didn’t deserve any kindness from her!

Ruan Mingfu grumbled all the way back to the hospital room.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Changing her clothes, she lay on the bed with a gloomy face, but her gaze kept drifting to the velvet box that Lin Shu had given her.

She sat up.

The man had spent 500 yuan on her so easily before. It couldn’t possibly be because she accepted Mrs. Lin’s gift that he was angry.

There must be another reason.

The red velvet box was not far from her, and Ruan Mingfu’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to it.

Should she take a look? It should be fine, right?

Ruan Mingfu’s small hand slowly reached the edge of the box. She picked it up and sat up straight. With her eyes closed, as if afraid of changing her mind, she opened the box.

When she opened her eyes, what greeted her was a pool of deep green.

Even though she was Miss Ruan, accustomed to all kinds of jewelry, she was still taken aback by what was inside the box.

The man’s grandmother was indeed very generous.

She had only ever seen imperial green of this quality with her own mother, who treasured it immensely and never let her see it.

And now, she has received a whole set.

A pair of bangles, a pair of earrings, and a necklace. Each piece was priceless!

Ruan Mingfu was somewhat dazed.

How could this grandmother of Xie Yanzhao be so lavish?

She regretted her earlier words and wished she could erase them…

Because of this gift, Ruan Mingfu felt that it was unsafe to leave it anywhere. In her own time, she would immediately call her assistant to arrange for a safe to be delivered that night. Ruan Mingfu wandered around all night, not even realizing when she fell asleep.

The next morning, when she opened her eyes and saw the velvet box still tightly clutched in her hand, she sighed with relief.

Ruan Mingfu yawned, with a bit of physiological tear at the corner of her eyes.

Having just woken up, her face was a bit pale. Her soft long hair fell into her neck, softening her already beautiful face.

When Xie Yanzhao entered, this was the scene he saw.

He cleared his throat, raising the items in his hand, “I brought breakfast. Come and eat.”

Ruan Mingfu glared at him fiercely.

Just because he called her over, did she have to go?

That would be quite embarrassing for her.

Moreover, she still hadn’t settled yesterday’s score with him!

Xie Yanzhao: “…”

Ruan Mingfu got out of bed and sat aside.

Her nightgown had a somewhat large neckline, revealing a large area of her chest. In the dim light of the hospital room, it was somewhat dazzling.

Xie Yanzhao’s Adam’s apple bobbed, but he turned his head away.

“Get ready. After breakfast, we’re going back.”

Ruan Mingfu was surprised, “Back to the village?”