Liu Xue’s eyes lit up the moment she saw Bai Rui. How had she not thought of this before? There was a perfect fat sheep right in front of her who could help her turn the tables.

Thinking about how Feng Ruiran had been obedient to her all these years, she immediately put on a troubled expression and said, 

“It’s not that something happened to me, I’m just worried about your big brother!” 

Bai Rui raised an eyebrow. 

“What about my big brother?” 

Seeing that Bai Rui had taken the bait, Liu Xue quickly let out a dramatic sigh.

“It’s like this—your brother wants to invest in a big project, but he doesn’t have the funds. It’s such a great opportunity, and it would be a shame to miss it!” 

Bai Rui stared at Liu Xue, watching her put on an act in front of him. His expression remained blank, and his response was cold.

“Then big brother can talk to father. If it’s a good project, Father will definitely support him,” Bai Rui replied. 

“You can’t tell your father!” 

Hearing Bai Rui’s response, Liu Xue panicked and stood up abruptly. Realizing her reaction was too extreme, she forced herself to slowly sit back down, putting on a concerned and earnest expression as she explained.

“You don’t understand—your big brother wants to prove himself to your father first before saying anything. You know how young men are, always eager to show their abilities. And as a woman, I can’t do much to help him!” 

As she spoke, Liu Xue kept sneaking glances at Bai Rui. Seeing that she had talked herself hoarse yet he still hadn’t responded, frustration welled up inside her. But she had no choice but to press on.

“Ruiran, I remember you mentioned that Xiao Zhan left the land documents and contract for his latest project with you, right?” 

Bai Rui nodded, looking at Liu Xue.

“Then can you give me those land contracts? I’ll take them to your big brother so he can use them as collateral. This project will make a return very soon, and when we profit, I’ll have Yuzheng give you a cut—not just one-tenth, but three-tenths! What do you think?” 

Liu Xue stared into Bai Rui’s eyes, trying her best to coax him.

Bai Rui frowned, looking troubled. 

“But these land contracts are extremely important. How can I give them to you as collateral? I wouldn’t be able to explain it to Xiao Zhan!” 

Seeing Bai Rui refuse, Liu Xue immediately switched tactics, scolding him with a mix of aggression and guilt-tripping.

“Don’t you trust your big brother and me? It’s not like we won’t return them! Besides, this project has a huge return and a short cycle. At most, I’ll return the contract to you in a week. You always say you and Yuzheng are brothers, but now that he needs your help, you’re going to reject him just like that?”

Bai Rui lowered his head upon hearing Liu Xue’s words. After what seemed like a moment of struggle and deliberation, he reluctantly agreed, 

“Alright! I can temporarily lend the land contract to my brother, but you have to give me something of equal value as collateral. It’s not really for me; if Xiao Zhan asks about it, I need something to account for. If my brother agrees, I’ll hand over the contract right away.” 

“This… but I don’t have anything on hand right now that I can use as collateral,” Liu Xue said with some difficulty.

“But don’t you have private assets? If I remember correctly, you and my brother own at least five houses and villas, right?” 

“Those properties have already been mortgaged for other projects. I can’t get them back for now,” Liu Xue said, her expression looking somewhat troubled. 

Bai Rui frowned slightly,; he thought for a moment before hesitantly saying…

“Then, I remember that you and my brother still hold some shares of Shengheng Group and part of the Feng family’s business, right?” 

“No way!” 

Liu Xue suddenly stood up, her eyes widening in shock.

“Those were entrusted to me by your father. How could I possibly use them as collateral?” 

Hearing Liu Xue’s response, Bai Rui raised an eyebrow.

“Aren’t you forgetting something? My last name is also Feng. Keeping them with me is much better than mortgaging them to outsiders. Besides, we are family. Once the land contract is returned, I will definitely return these assets to you and my brother.”

Liu Xue stared straight at Bai Rui. In the end, she gritted her teeth and nodded. Compared to directly using the Feng family’s assets as collateral, leaving them with Feng Ruiran indeed made her feel more at ease.

But more importantly, in Liu Xue’s eyes, Feng Ruiran was still the same—simple and easy to deceive.

That very afternoon, Liu Xue hurriedly dragged Feng Ruiran to complete the transfer procedures for shares and assets, securing the land contract.

Although this piece of land was acquired through bidding the year before last, Xiao Zhan had bought it for a relatively low price. However, ever since news of the commercial district construction was announced, the land’s value had skyrocketed.

Liu Xue handed over all the assets she had to Bai Rui, barely managing to match the land’s current value. Then, without wasting any time, she took the land contract and rushed to the casino with Madam Liu to cash it in.

Because it was a high-stakes gamble, everything could be wagered in a single round. Liu Xue firmly believed in what Madam Liu had told her—that they had bribed an insider—and she was desperate to win back everything she had lost in the past. Without hesitation, she placed all her chips on the first bet.

The game ended quickly. Liu Xue felt as if all the sounds around her had vanished into silence. Her mind went completely blank—she couldn’t even make sense of her surroundings.

She had lost everything. 

All of her assets, along with the land contract she had exchanged from Feng Ruiran—gone. 

Liu Xue stood up in a panic, but her legs felt weak, and she collapsed onto the ground like a drowned, lifeless dog.

From a distance, Madam Liu exchanged a glance with Liu Ci. Watching Liu Xue slump on the floor, a trace of mockery flashed in her eyes before she silently disappeared into the crowd.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the land contract that should have been cashed out had somehow returned to Bai Rui, untouched. In just a few months, obtaining a considerable fortune had been effortless for him.

Setting up a shell company for an underground casino was something Bai Rui could accomplish in just a few days. With Lao Hei as his ultimate cheat code, he had no fear of anyone tracing it back to him.

He was meticulous in his actions, ensuring that no loose ends were left behind. Besides, even if something did slip through the cracks, Xiao Zhan would unhesitatingly clean up the mess for him.

Pushing the Shengheng Group stock contract, which bore Xiao Zhan’s name, along with a substantial amount of Feng family assets across the table, Bai Rui leaned back slightly, his sharp gaze fixed on Xiao Zhan with an air of dominance.

“So, are you satisfied with our ‘partnership’ with the Feng family?” 

Xiao Zhan’s slender fingers tapped the table twice. He lifted his gaze to the arrogant young man before him, a smirk playing at his lips.

“Very satisfied. Is this your dowry?”

Bai Rui narrowed his eyes, grabbed Xiao Zhan’s tie, and bit down fiercely on his lower lip before declaring arrogantly, 

“No, it’s the betrothal gift.” 

Xiao Zhan burst into laughter. The office door was locked, and once again, their shadows intertwined.

In just a week of being together, Xiao Zhan’s home was already filled with Bai Rui’s presence. Everything—from daily necessities to furniture arrangements—came in pairs, making the place feel like a shared space for the two of them. However, Xiao Zhan remained dissatisfied with one thing: Bai Rui still had to return to the Feng family and couldn’t stay with him permanently.

“Are you leaving again tonight?” 

Xiao Zhan pursed his lips and held onto Bai Rui’s hand. Ever since they got together, he had completely shed his workaholic tendencies, making sure to finish everything in advance just so he could spend more time at home with Bai Rui. But every night, without fail, Bai Rui would leave and return to the Feng family.

Bai Rui looked at him; Xiao Zhan’s expression was serious, but the grievance in his eyes was unmistakable. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Alright, just give me some time. One month at most, and I’ll move in with you. I won’t go back to the Feng family ever again. How about that?” 

He gently stroked Xiao Zhan’s cheek, his gaze soft and full of affection. Xiao Zhan leaned into Bai Rui’s palm, the discomfort in his heart easing slightly, though he still wasn’t satisfied.

“One month is too long. Half a month—at most! If you can’t deal with the Feng family by then, I’ll handle it for you. And it’s not just about moving in together—you have to marry me!” 

“Marry you?”

Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow, his expression carrying a hint of displeasure. He pinched Bai Rui’s chin lightly, forcing him to look up.

“We’ve already slept together, and now you’re saying things like that? Tsk.”

Bai Rui smiled innocently, as if he weren’t the one who had been seducing Xiao Zhan into bed all along.

He met Xiao Zhan’s gaze directly, amusement flickering in his eyes.

“But Xiao Zhan, aren’t you afraid that if you marry me, my mother will crawl out of her grave to beat you up?” 

Xiao Zhan snorted, his grip tightening just slightly, his voice low and dangerous.

“Let her come. Even if she does, I’ll still make you mine.”

Bai Rui couldn’t help but laugh.

“Taking care of me means bringing me to bed too?” He teased, watching as Xiao Zhan’s expression stiffened for a moment before returning to its usual seriousness.

Xiao Zhan took a deep breath and replied, his voice steady.

“I want to take care of you for a lifetime. And the most suitable relationship for that is as husbands. Besides—” He paused, eyes locked onto Bai Rui’s, his tone filled with certainty.

“In this world, no one will love you more than I do. No one will cherish you more or be more devoted to you. So, marrying me is the right choice.”

Bai Rui’s smile deepened, his gaze filled with amusement, but there was something else in his eyes too—something warmer, softer.

Bai Rui dug his finger into his ear, his smile growing even softer.

“Who did you say is marrying who?” 

A chill ran down Xiao Zhan’s spine. Without hesitation, he quickly corrected himself.

“I’m marrying you!” 

Bai Rui nodded approvingly. Seeing how strong his lover’s survival instincts were, he ruffled Xiao Zhan’s hair and rewarded him with a light kiss before turning to leave.

Xiao Zhan felt a pang of disappointment that Bai Rui hadn’t immediately agreed to marry him. But just as he was thinking that they had plenty of time ahead, he suddenly heard Bai Rui’s voice from a distance. 

As Bai Rui pulled out his car keys and opened the door, he turned his head and called out with a grin— 

“Then be good and wait for me to come back and marry you!” 

In an instant—pure joy.

Xiao Zhan stood frozen for a moment before a wide smile spread across his face.

Meanwhile, Bai Rui’s own smile didn’t fade, not even as he drove all the way back to the Feng family estate. 

Saying he wanted to marry Xiao Zhan wasn’t just empty words. If it was Xiao Zhan, Bai Rui felt he was more than willing to spend a lifetime together.

Would their love be just a fleeting passion? Would time wear it down?

Bai Rui didn’t care.

After traversing so many worlds, he had finally found someone who truly suited him. Now that he had tasted the pleasure, he was going to enjoy life with a ‘wife’ warming his bed—even if that ‘wife’ was a bit… oversized.

And if, one day, Xiao Zhan really did betray him… 

Well, Bai Rui thought, a touch of madness flickering in his crimson-stained pupils—

He could always just destroy this world.

---

TN:

they’re sooo sweet.

next update will be multiple chapters, see ya (⁠・⁠∀⁠・⁠)