Returning to the Old Residence

Ruan Yuexi nervously covered her chest, and outside the door, the voice of Butler Li came through.

“Madam, the master is waiting for you downstairs. Do you need me to pack your clothes?” Butler Li asked with concern.

Ruan Yuexi’s suspended heart instantly relaxed. “Uncle Li, I’ve already packed my clothes. I’ll go down right away.” Thankfully, it wasn’t that pervert. It was so frightening.

“Alright, Madam.” Butler Li pondered briefly. He needed to have a word with the master. He couldn’t let Madam be bullied anymore.

Ruan Yuexi dragged her suitcase along. She estimated she would stay for two days. As soon as the door opened, a tall figure appeared before her eyes.

Ruan Yuexi felt her breath stop. “Yao… Brother Yao…” Her heart raced uncontrollably.

Shang Yao’s icy and piercing gaze locked onto Ruan Yuexi. Then, he slowly leaned closer to her.

Ruan Yuexi nervously wanted to step back, struggling to restrain her legs from fleeing.

Just as she was about to retreat, Shang Yao’s slender hand grasped the suitcase beside her. He straightened up, looking down at her from above with a faint, mocking smile on his thin lips, as if ridiculing Ruan Yuexi’s self-made fantasies.

Ruan Yuexi: “…”

If she could, she would have punched him already. She was so scared that she almost doubted if her heart was failing her.

Shang Yao picked up her suitcase and walked downstairs alone. Ruan Yuexi followed behind him, empty-handed.

Watching him place the suitcase in the trunk of the car, Ruan Yuexi raised an eyebrow. At least he had some gentlemanly manners.

“Thank you, Brother Yao. Brother Yao truly lives up to being my second favorite person.” Ruan Yuexi clapped her hands like a sea lion.

Shang Yao paused as he opened the car window. “Who’s the first?”

“Oh, that would be Ah Huang, our family’s previous pet. So obedient, and loves bones.” Ruan Yuexi responded casually, not paying much attention.

Shang Yao: “…” His expression darkened a few shades.

Butler Li stepped forward. “Master, I know you don’t like Madam, but you must not mistreat her, emotionally or physically.”

Shang Yao’s dark eyes showed a hint of confusion. “Uncle Li, I don’t understand what you mean.” His tone was as deep and low as ever.

Butler Li dropped the subject. “Master, please think about it.”

Ruan Yuexi didn’t expect Uncle Li to actually go and advise Shang Yao! Oh my god!! “Brother Yao,” she quickly called out to divert Shang Yao’s attention.

Luckily, Uncle Li didn’t directly ask Shang Yao if he had choked her last night. Thank goodness. Ruan Yuexi’s mind was in turmoil for a minute or two before she calmed down slightly.

Shang Yao probably wouldn’t have expected her to slander him behind his back. Indeed, he just glanced at her and then got into the car.

Ruan Yuexi sat on the opposite side of the car, wanting to keep her distance from Shang Yao. Shang Yao stared out the window and didn’t look at her again.

Ruan Yuexi secretly sighed with relief. The events from last night had deeply shadowed her mind, especially how ruthless the male lead in the original story was.

Lost in her thoughts, Ruan Yuexi snapped out of it when they arrived at the old mansion. Through the car window, the mansion looked vast, and despite the dazzling sunlight, Ruan Yuexi always felt the old mansion was gloomy, perhaps due to its age.

The car slowly entered the mansion, and Ruan Yuexi followed Shang Yao out of the car. The mansion’s servants took her suitcase inside.

Shang Yao’s mother, Luo Yuqin, saw her son, whom she hadn’t seen for some time, and happily approached, grabbing his arm.

“Finally, you’re back.” Her eyes were full of maternal love.

Shang Yao’s usually cold expression softened. “Mom, it’s windy outside. Don’t catch a cold.”

“Just look at you. My health isn’t so fragile that a breeze will knock me over.” She said this, but Luo Yuqin’s smile was even brighter, clearly very happy that her son cared about her.

“Mom.” Ruan Yuexi greeted her, seeing the woman before her who must have been a beauty in her youth, though the original story mentioned that Shang Yao’s mother’s health had never been good.

Luo Yuqin smiled kindly as she took Ruan Yuexi’s hand. “Yuexi is back too? You look even more beautiful after all this time.”

Feeling Luo Yuqin’s goodwill, Ruan Yuexi smiled softly. “Mom looks much better too.”

Unexpectedly, Luo Yuqin sensed that she seemed somewhat different from before, and smiled even more happily.

The three entered the villa, where Shang Lie was reading the newspaper, seemingly indifferent to whether his son had returned or not.

“Husband, our son and Yuexi are back.” Luo Yuqin seemed accustomed to Shang Lie’s attitude.

“Dad.” Ruan Yuexi greeted Shang Lie, feeling a bit awkward addressing someone she had never met as “dad”…

Shang Yao, however, acted as if he hadn’t seen Shang Lie and sat down.

Putting down the newspaper, Shang Lie had a face quite similar to Shang Yao’s. Ruan Yuexi was stunned. Their genes were really something; they were practically identical.

“It’s good that you’re back. Yuexi, please sit down.” Shang Lie’s tone was gentle, but his face was expressionless.

Ruan Yuexi had read the original story and knew that Shang Lie was naturally cold-hearted. For him to speak in such a mild tone was rare.

She sat down obediently. Shang Yao completely ignored Shang Lie, who seemed indifferent to whether Shang Yao paid attention to him or not, and picked up the newspaper again.

Helpless, Luo Yuqin shook her head and knew there was nothing she could do about them.

Ruan Yuexi sat upright, showing respect for her elders when necessary.

Worried that she might feel uncomfortable, Luo Yuqin occasionally found topics to chat with Ruan Yuexi.

Ruan Yuexi quite liked Luo Yuqin’s gentle and kind personality. She glanced at Shang Yao. If it weren’t for having such a gentle mother, Shang Yao’s character might have been even more twisted and terrifying.

The more Luo Yuqin looked at Ruan Yuexi, the more she felt that her daughter-in-law was really obedient and unusually beautiful.

“I think very few people are as beautiful as Yuexi.” Luo Yuqin couldn’t help but think how good it would be if her future granddaughter resembled Yuexi.

Ruan Yuexi shyly lowered her head. Shang Yao and Shang Lie remained as cold as two icebergs.

Before Luo Yuqin could say anything else, a voice interjected, “What use is beauty when the heart is wicked?”

Behind Shang Xiaolan came Liu Yaran, elegant and composed. The two entered the living room.

Frowning, Luo Yuqin said, “Xiaolan, how can you say such things about Yuexi?” She strongly disagreed with Shang Xiaolan’s words.

Shang Xiaolan didn’t pay any attention to Luo Yuqin. “I speak the truth. Do you think Ruan Yuexi is good? Your son is very disgusted with Ruan Yuexi.”

Pulling Liu Yaran along, she sat down. Anyway, even if she argued with her brother, he wouldn’t fight her for his wife. Moreover, anyone who stood on Ruan Yuexi’s side would be opposed to Shang Xiaolan.

Luo Yuqin’s face was somewhat ugly, but Shang Yao really didn’t like Yuexi, and she knew it too.

Seeing Shang Xiaolan’s arrogant demeanor, Ruan Yuexi gently grabbed Luo Yuqin’s hand to comfort her.

Before Ruan Yuexi could speak, Shang Yao put down the newspaper in his hand. “Aunt, I think you owe my mother an apology.” His face was calm, and his tone brooked no refusal.