Chapter 24: Brother, what are you sneaking in to do?

Su Dazhuang and Wang Juhua exchanged a glance; although they thought the matter was a bit difficult, seeing their daughter's frantic demeanor and recalling her description of the "university professor son‑in‑law" with a bright future, they finally swallowed their pride and agreed.

So the two, without even eating dinner, shamelessly made their way to the outside of Jiangjia XiaoLou.

The one who opened the door was Li Huijuan; seeing them, her smile faded instantly: "Brother Da Zhuang, Miss Juhua, what's this?"

Su Dazhuang rubbed his hands, forcing a smile: "Mother‑in‑law, we're here to take RuanRuan back."

Wang Juhua quickly added: "Yes, look… when a young lady gets married, there's no reason she shouldn't leave from her own family."

"If this gets out, people will say the Su Family doesn't know propriety, and they'll probably say the Jiang Family… isn't very proper either."

"So we thought, let RuanRuan stay home for two days, and on the wedding banquet day she can leave the bride's house in a grand manner; that would be proper!"

That sounded somewhat reasonable, but the Jiang Family knew the Su Family's character and couldn't feel at ease letting RuanRuan go back.

Jiang Jianguo frowned without speaking, while Li Huijuan hesitated: "This… RuanRuan just arrived, and…"

Both of them were unwilling to let RuanRuan return to that man‑eating wolf's den.

"We disagree; the marriage certificate has already been obtained, RuanRuan is now our family member, so why should she go back to the Su Family?"

Jiang Ran's grandmother walked over, her eyes filled with obvious disgust.

Her obedient granddaughter‑in‑law had just come from a place like a wolf's den; how could she possibly be sent back there again?

RuanRuan looked at the Jiang Family members protecting her, and thought deep down that saying she wasn't moved was a lie.

In the world of Restriction Novel, no one truly cares for her, yet in this backward era, love grows wildly as if mad,

"Dad, Mom, let me go back with them," a gentle voice sounded.

Everyone turned, and saw RuanRuan standing at the hallway leading from the living room to the bedroom, though no one knew when she got there.

Her face was expressionless, her gaze calmly fixed on Su Dazhuang and Wang Juhua.

"RuanRuan?" Li Huijuan asked worriedly, looking at her.

Jiang Ran sprang up even more directly: "No! Why go back? Is that still a place for people to stay?"

RuanRuan walked to Jiang Ran's side, gently grasped his hand and squeezed it, indicating he should calm down.

"Dad, Mom, I know you have my best interests at heart. But what they say… also makes sense. After all, in name I'm still a Su Family daughter; not marrying out of the family does invite idle gossip. I don't want the Jiang Family to be talked about because of this."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over Su Dazhuang and Wang Juhua's eyes that couldn't hide their secret delight and scheming, a cold laugh in her heart, yet her face remained composed: "But I'll go back the night before my wedding; for these two days I still intend to stay at the Jiang Family."

She wanted to see what Su Yanhua and the Su Family were up to.

Some pus‑filled lumps are better pricked early.

The Jiang Family, seeing RuanRuan say this herself, though extremely reluctant and worried, couldn't force her to stay any longer.

Jiang Ran was so angry his teeth ached, but RuanRuan's glance soothed him.

"Well… okay then." Jiang Jianguo finally gave his approval, "We'll do as RuanRuan said. Brother Da Zhuang, RuanRuan will return the day before her wedding; do you have any objections?"

He didn't finish the rest of his sentence, but it was heavily laden with warning.

Su Dazhuang and Wang Juhua repeatedly assured: "Rest assured, we will definitely take good care of her!"

Watching RuanRuan's perfect parents leave, Jiang Ran felt empty inside, pacing irritably around the living room.

That night, Jiang Jiaojiao saw her brother's absent‑minded state, sighed, and proactively said: "Alright, stop pacing; I'm getting dizzy. I'm going next door to chat with a classmate; you… handle it yourself."

She gave a pointed glance at the room where RuanRuan was temporarily staying.

Jiang Ran froze for a moment, then understood his sister's meaning; his ears reddened slightly, but he forced out, "I… what good is there for me to watch over…!"

Though he said that, Jiang Ran tossed and turned in bed, his mind filled with images of RuanRuan.

Her smile showed dimples at the corners, her soft voice calling "brother," her slight trembling in his arms.

The more he thought, the more restless his heart became, the less he could let go.

Acting on a strange impulse, he tiptoed up like a thief, sneaking to the door of RuanRuan's room.

Because they hadn't held the wedding yet, RuanRuan was supposed to stay with her sister these days, and since her sister hadn't returned from next door, RuanRuan was alone.

He gently turned the doorknob; the door was unlocked, and with a click it opened.

The room was pitch‑black, only moonlight slipping through the curtain cracks cast a faint halo.

Yet, just as he stepped into the room and hadn't yet adjusted to the darkness, the bathroom door creaked open from inside.

A mist of steam billowed out first, carrying a faint, sweet scent of soap.

Then, a slender, graceful figure, wrapped in damp heat, emerged.

Moonlight, hazy, outlined the astonishing curve.

RuanRuan was clearly just out of the shower; her jet‑black hair, wet and dripping, fell over her shoulders, the tips still shedding droplets.

She wore only a common white thin‑cotton camisole‑style undergarment and knee‑length boxer shorts; the moisture made the thin fabric cling, clearly revealing the delicate skin and undulating contours beneath.

Water droplets traced down her slender neck, sliding over her delicate collarbone, disappearing into the alluring shadow of the camisole's neckline.

The exposed arms and calves glimmered with a luminous sheen under the moonlight, like fine mutton‑fat jade.

She was holding a dry towel, tilting her head as she dried her hair, apparently not expecting anyone in the room; her movements were casual and natural, bearing the lazy innocence after a bath, yet unintentionally exuding extreme allure.

Jiang Ran was as if struck by a petrifying spell, frozen at the doorway, his eyes bulging, breath suddenly halted!

His mind went blank, but his blood surged to his head with a boom, scorching his cheeks, ears, and neck red.

RuanRuan also heard the noise; her towel‑drying paused, she lifted her head, and looked toward the doorway following the sound.

When she saw the tall, rigid figure, face flushed and ears red, she was first slightly startled. Then her steam‑filled eyes blinked; instead of screaming or hiding, she slowly let a faint, highly seductive smile spread.

She set the towel down, standing in the hazy moonlight and steam, tilting her head slightly, looking at the dumbfounded Jiang Ran; her voice was light and soft, carrying the hoarse timbre of someone just out of the bath and a faint, teasing undertone.

"Brother, you snuck in… what are you trying to do?"