Chapter 24: Her Heart Is Soft 24

She nestled on the sofa, holding a carton of milk, a blanket draped over her, and said, "Don't bother—you talk as if you actually understand design."

Yi Ruan absentmindedly sipped hot milk, gazing at the scenery outside the window.

The autumn wind was bleak; in the blink of an eye she had been in this world for three or four months.

It was already November; the trees outside had all turned withered and yellow.

Others who transmigrate into books level up by fighting monsters; she transmigrates just to enjoy her twilight years.

The system keeps telling her she's losing all fighting spirit.

【Can't you try harder? Playing like this, when will you ever be able to go back?】

Yi Ruan: Then I just won't go back, okay?

【Warning! Slacking off.】

Yi Ruan: Hey, it's not my fault—look, the female lead raised Fu Qiwei from a young age, she's his white moonlight, she's the cinnabar mole, now they're married, everyone knows we're a loving couple, and there's no first love coming to cause trouble.

【That's true, why do you guys have to be so close? It's killing me.】

Yi Ruan: How far along is the mission?

【Step three: abandon him.】

Yi Ruan: There's no reason to abandon him.

【Don't worry, no novel will let you be happy in one step.】

She stared at the half‑finished hot milk, not knowing what to do.

Gazing blankly at the milk, she wondered what to do next—should she abandon him?

It makes no sense—Fu Qiwei treats her so well, she'd have to be out of her mind to pick a fight with him.

"Ruanruan?"

He had just finished looking at the contract, curiously watching her stare off into space.

"Ruanruan?"

He called twice, but she was still spaced out.

"Yi Ruan."

Hearing him call her full name was rare; she let out an "ah" and looked at him.

He looked at her helplessly, affectionately saying, "Off work."

Wei Jiangyu sat on the sofa, watching Yi Ruan, teasing, "Ruanruan, you can space out even in front of us two handsome guys—what are you thinking about?"

Yi Ruan gave him a sideways glance, drank the now‑cold milk, and said, "I'm wondering where I'll bury you after you die."

After parting with Wei Jiangyu, the two of them headed home.

When they got home it was already dark outside; Yi Ruan had no appetite, so she went upstairs without eating.

Seeing she hadn't eaten, he also lacked interest, took a few bites, and went upstairs as well.

Today she did nothing but sit in Fu Qiwei's office, zoning out, while he held several video conferences.

As soon as she returned to her room, she sat on the bed, not playing with her phone or watching TV, just sitting there blankly.

Fu Qiwei watched her; she had been absent‑minded all day.

Suddenly, the man stepped over, stretched his long arm, pulled her into his embrace, and lightly kissed and nibled at her lips; the little woman reflexively looked at him and asked, "Why are you suddenly kissing me?"

He hadn't touched her these past few days; why did he suddenly…?

At this moment the man buried his face before her smooth, fair skin, his low voice tinged with faint desire: "Ruanruan, I'm not pleased with your condition today."

His fingers kept sparking against her body; slowly, her hurried breathing could be heard near her ear.

In an instant her body trembled: "Qiwei… I'm so tired today…"

"But we haven't done this in a long time." He lowered his gaze to the little woman; her cheeks were flushed, yet her expression showed a hint of fatigue.

The alarm can be turned off when it rings, but can this sort of thing be stopped just because she says so?

Seeing he was rarely in the mood, she just gave a casual reply.

Yet she didn't expect him to press her onto the bed and torment her until midnight.

M Country

Gu Yunzhen gazed at the night outside, hearing a woman's alluring voice in his ears, as if he were torturing himself.

Even though she is already someone else's wife, he still thinks of her; hearing her with another man, he can't help but feel desire.

Thump—thump!

"Come in."

A woman entered holding a stack of documents, gave Gu Yunzhen a cold look, and handed over the information she had gathered from everywhere.

"Found it: Fu Qiwei adopted several children years ago, each bearing some resemblance to Miss Yi Ruan, though not exactly alike—another young lady of wealth, reminiscent of Fu Qiwei's first love."

She hadn't clarified it fully; from others she heard the girl was Fu Qiwei's first love, but from Fu Qiwei himself she learned the girl had merely lived in the Fu household for a few years before dying of illness.

Gu Yunzhen took the files; he was merely curious why Fu Qiwei had fixated on Yi Ruan, but absentmindedly flipping through, he found a pasted photograph inside.

He seriously tore it out, then asked offhand, "What's that girl's name?"

"Yi Ruan—the 'Ruan' from 'Ruan Lang Gui.'" She was also curious; among the adopted girls, almost all were called "Yi Ruan," just with a different character.

But he froze; a man knows a man best—could he be treating Ah Ruan as a substitute?

Just thinking that the girl he likes is being used as someone else's substitute ignited his nameless anger: "Investigate—find her alive, or her grave if she's dead!"

The woman nodded and left.

He had once thought of sending his subordinates to find a woman resembling Yi Ruan to keep by his side, but it never came to pass, because in his heart Ah Ruan is Ah Ruan—no one can replace her.

And listening to their husband‑and‑wife's ambiguous sweet talk left him feeling a bit lost.

"Does it hurt?"

"... No… it doesn't hurt."

"Does it hurt or not?"

"It doesn't hurt."

"Then, is it over?"

"Fu Qiwei!"

The little woman's beautiful eyes were deep, yet he kept her imprisoned.

The man supported her waist, breathing heavily, his voice low and hoarse, yet filled with intense desire, "Ruan Ruan."

I really, really love you.

The warm sunlight tried to shine through the thick curtains onto her bed.

Fu Qiwei kept coaxing the little woman who was angry, "Ruan Ruan, can you not be angry?"

She wouldn't listen, burying her head under the covers, refusing to look at him.

"Ruan Ruan, you'll lack oxygen." He continued to coax her, his tone full of coaxing.

She curled up into a ball, looking at the bluish-purple marks on her body.

"I swear, I won't treat you like this again."

The woman in the blankets ignored him.

"Ruan Ruan, please don't be angry."

"..."

"Ruan Ruan?"

He threw back the blankets, swift as thunder before one could cover their ears, and grabbed the sulking Yi Ruan inside, pulling her into his arms before she could react.

"Why are you still angry?" he asked while holding her.

Yi Ruan, haughty, ignored him.

"Won't you not be angry? Soft..."

He hadn't finished speaking when a knock on the door interrupted him.

"Sir, Madam, a guest has arrived."

Yi Ruan lifted her head from his arms, looked at him, and asked, "Wei Jiangyu?"

Fu Qiwei shook his head, "I'm off today; he won't come."

"It's a young master surnamed Gu." Yu Ma continued.

Hearing the surname 'Gu,' he immediately lowered his head and gave the little woman in his arms a morning kiss.

"Mmm..."

After letting go, she wiped her mouth and said indignantly, "I haven't brushed my teeth yet."

He also imitated Yi Ruan's haughty head toss, saying, "I didn't even take a shower last night."

His silver short hair was messy at the moment.

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