Chapter 27: Her Heart Softens a Little 27

"Ruanruan, we're not leaving." His voice was somewhat muffled and hoarse, not quite the same as his usual low tone.

Yi Ruan didn't speak, and stopped looking at him.

As soon as he thought of the coldness in her eyes just now and her determination to leave, his heart clenched tightly, feeling very uneasy.

She took off her black coat, pulled back the blanket, and buried half her face in the soft pillow.

Fu Qiwei turned off the light and locked the door.

Her body trembled uncontrollably, she sobbed softly, and she could clearly hear the pattering of water coming from the bathroom.

The man finished his shower, came out in pajamas, and turned on the light.

She shuddered involuntarily.

He saw her curled up, sleeping very close to the edge.

He turned off the light, lifted the blanket, and moved closer to her.

"Ruanruan..."

Tonight was the first time she hadn't slept in his arms; he endured his frustration, his pleasant voice tinged with hoarseness, "Ruanruan, are you still angry?"

He put his arm around her waist, but she remained unmoved, eyes closed.

She could feel him drawing near; her back pressed tightly against his chest, she dared not move, merely pretending to sleep.

Gradually, his body temperature grew hotter, "Ruanruan, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lost my temper with you."

His breath washed over her face.

In the darkness, using the faint moonlight, he saw her eyelashes twitch slightly.

Tears slid down her nose bridge and finally dripped onto the pillow.

"Ruanruan, just this once, won't you not be angry?"

"Ruanruan, I love you."

"I love you."

No one answered him; the surroundings were eerily quiet. He held her in his arms, her back against his chest, and he could feel her slight trembling.

In the early morning, around two or three o'clock.

Xuan Garden

A woman wore pink fuzzy slippers and a pure white strapless silk nightgown that revealed a delicate collarbone; the nightgown's slit design showed off her fair, long legs, making them look mouthwateringly tempting. A black overcoat lay on her frail shoulders, but her slender waist stayed ramrod straight, her slightly curled long hair, and she carried a black handbag—this was all she had.

As she walked, tears streamed uncontrollably, the cold wind blowing on her face.

She felt the cold; the wind was bone-chilling.

She had fled, escaping from the Fu household, but this area was where the wealthy gathered; it wasn't far from the city center, yet it was very tranquil, with hardly anyone on this road.

But fortunately, there was a bus.

On this quiet road, the bus driver looked at her as if he had seen a ghost.

She took a few bills from her wallet and tossed them in.

The entire bus had only her and the driver.

She sat there like a walking corpse.

"Cough, I say, miss, you and your husband had a fight, right?"

She didn't speak, just gazed out the window.

The driver, accustomed to this scene, said, "Every year there are a few girls like you, pretty and lovely, who leave Xuan Garden full of joy, but when they come out, their faces are ashen."

It's nothing more than being played with by rich people and then tossed aside.

He earnestly advised, "Miss, who doesn't dream of marrying into a wealthy family when young? But hey, while you're young, squeeze him for some money—your parents gave you such a beautiful body; there's no need to ruin it like this."

She gave an "hmm."

Suddenly, a red Ferrari sped out and blocked the road.

"Is this... is this coming for you?"

Gu Yunzhen looked at the bus, stopped his car, and rushed onto the bus.

Upon seeing Yi Ruan, she saw that he looked somewhat surprised.

"Come with me." Gu Yunzhen took off his coat and draped it over her legs.

She did not struggle.

He felt so sorry for this silly girl.

The bus driver said, "Miss, look—compared to them, at least someone came chasing after you; those girls who got on this bus never came back."

Gu Yunzhen chuckled at the driver, "Rest assured, she won't be going back either."

Holding the woman in his arms, he placed her in the passenger seat; her gaze was vacant.

"Where to?"

She didn't speak, lowering her gaze.

Where could she go? Aside from Fu Qiwei's place, she had nowhere else to go.

"To my place?"

She shook her head. "Just find a hotel."

Gu Yunzhen nodded, turned on the heater, and told her jokes all the way.

"One day, Xiao Fu Ni and Fa Fu Die were playing together; Fa Fu Die placed a little blossom on Xiao Fu Ni, then clapped and said, 'Ni is beautiful, Ni is beautiful.'"

Having said that, he glanced at Yi Ruan; she looked out at the receding greenery outside the window, saying nothing.

"How lovely the green mountains and clear waters are; beautiful Ruanruan, everyone loves her; for the sake of the nation's future generations, Ruanruan's smile brings love."

"Thank you."

She said softly.

Gu Yunzhen looked at the road ahead, smiled and said, "You don't need to be polite with me."

He drove to the city center and called his assistant.

After almost half a minute, the woman on the other end answered coldly, "Is there something, young master?"

"Use your status to book three rooms at the Regret Hotel, next to each other."

The woman on the other end said "Hmm" and hung up.

She gave a bleak smile, "Don't worry, Regret is my business, Fu Qiwei is unattainable."

He thought, she was such a proud person, yet she was someone else's substitute; it must feel terrible.

A red Ferrari stopped at the Regret Hotel entrance.

A waiter came to open the car door for them, and Gu Yunzhen said calmly, "Drive the car to Shan Nai Manor, and collect the fare from your supervisor."

The waiter was overjoyed; this fare would cost Prince Gu at least ten thousand.

He carried Yi Ruan's handbag, entered the hotel, and called Ye Su, "Hello, tell them to delete tonight's surveillance."

Ye Su didn't reply and hung up.

The front desk clerk already knew who it was, handed over three key cards, and Yi Ruan took the cards.

She glanced at the price of Regret's luxurious presidential suite.

She took a black card from her coat pocket and handed it to the clerk.

"Swipe this card," she said coldly.

The clerk, seeing Prince Gu behind her grinning, was startled, "Sorry, miss, we don't allow card swipes here."

After saying that, the front desk lady didn't even believe herself.

Yi Ruan looked at the payment options on the marble and the card reader, raising an eyebrow.

"The card reader is broken."

She took out her phone, "I can use WeChat Pay or Alipay."

The front desk lady pressed the QR code, "Sorry, miss, you are our hundredth guest at Regret, you get a complimentary stay, enjoy your visit!"

She bowed politely.

Gu Yunzhen nodded approvingly at her staff badge, implying a raise, promotion, and favor.

She left Xuan Garden without taking a single plant or tree.

He entered the elevator, and Gu Yunzhen saw that her complexion had improved a lot.

But she thought, maybe she was making a big deal out of nothing; perhaps it was just an ordinary dried flower.

She stepped out of the elevator to find her room.

Gu Yunzhen took her neighboring room's key card and gave her a bright smile, "I'm right next door; just call me if you need anything."

She nodded, took the handbag and went inside.

Yi Ruan closed the door and immediately realized something.

How did Gu Yunzhen know she had quarreled with Fu Qiwei?

How did he know she escaped at that time?

Could he also be a person who crossed into a novel?

()* Happy New Year's Eve Duck