Chapter 36: Her Heart Softened a Little 36

Yi Ruan walked ahead, A Nuo followed behind her, only hearing her ask, "When will Qiwei come back?"

A Nuo thought for a moment, then smiled, "You don't even know this, as a subordinate I know even less."

She sighed, looked up at the sky, "We clearly agreed you'd keep me company, yet you left me alone here."

Unbeknownst to her, Fu Qiwei never left the Fu family's old residence.

In the dark, damp ravine, a man sat slumped on the ground, his silver hair somewhat lonely.

Iron chains bound his limbs, leaving him completely without freedom; the ground was in disarray, and he sat there in disheveled clothing.

Rong Wei pushed open the iron door, walked up to him, holding a stack of photos, casually tossed them onto him, and said slowly, "I've told you before—you are my son; if you don't listen to me, whose orders will you follow?"

Fu Qiwei lifted his head, looking at Rong Wei standing before him in backlight, gave a cold snort, endured the pain in his viscera, picked up the photos—they showed Yi Ruan asleep, eating, drinking—and angrily flung them away, almost roaring, "You dare touch Ruan Ruan, I will surely kill you!"

Rong Wei feigned heartache, clutching her chest, "Indeed, having a daughter-in-law makes one forget one's mother." As soon as she finished, she continued, "How could I dare move Ruan Ruan? After all, she is my daughter-in-law."

Fu Qiwei gave her a cold glance, his whole body feeling weak.

Then Rong Wei squatted down, her fingers brushing his face, "Fu Wan, you can't ignore me; if you ignore me, I'll cry."

Sometimes when she is mentally confused, she mistakes him for his father.

"How can you be with someone else and not want me?" She leaned against him, arms wrapped around him.

Fu Qiwei remained silent, darkly.

She harbored a pathological love for Fu Qiwei that went beyond mother and son.

Night.

Half moon.

Yi Ruan lay in bed, reading Imperial Heart Technique, with tranquil, soothing classical music in her ears.

Her phone vibrated once.

She tilted her head to look at the phone, stunned, wondering if it was Fu Qiwei.

She quickly picked up the phone, but it was a message from Fu Wan.

Fu Wan: "Sister-in-law, we're at Yan Yun Hall; will you come?"

Yi Ruan checked the time; it seemed a bit late, and outside it was dark, so she politely declined: "Sorry, Wan Wan, I've already gone to bed."

Suddenly, Fu Wan said again, "Sister-in-law, just come; it's super fun."

No choice, she replied "okay" and got up to change clothes.

At the door, A Nuo and another guard stood; as she stepped out, A Nuo asked, "Young Madam, where are you headed?"

Normally, the Young Madam wouldn't go out this late.

"I'm going to Yan Yun Hall; Fu Wan is there too."

She casually slipped on a black knit long dress, threw on a black coat, and wore flat shoes.

A Nuo took a handkerchief from his pocket, placed it on Yi Ruan's wrist, and supported her down the stairs through the cloth.

In such a strictly regulated Fu family household, every move can be exploited; "Young Madam, take it slow."

She gave a faint "hmm."

On the way, she ran into that Third Young Master from earlier today.

"Elder sister-in-law." Fu Kai treated her with great respect; A Nuo, who had been behind her, stepped forward inconspicuously upon seeing Fu Kai and said, "Third Young Master."

Yi Ruan remained silent; Fu Kai, smiling warmly, said, "Elder sister-in-law, are you going to Yan Yun Hall?"

She nodded.

"I want to go too; otherwise, shall we go together?"

A Nuo feigned panic, saying, "The Young Master ordered me never to leave the Young Madam's side; please, Third Young Master, don't put me in a difficult position."

Fu Kai slapped his forehead in realization, embarrassed, "I remember now—the elder brother values the elder sister-in-law; I misspoke."

"No problem, let's go together." Yi Ruan said without thinking much.

The three traveled in silence; she couldn't help but ask, "Fu Kai, where have you come back from?"

Fu Kai hesitated, "From the United States."

She kicked at a pebble, softly saying, "Why hasn't Qiwei returned yet?"

He glanced at A Nuo beside her, recalling He Lan's words.

"Qiwei was sent out by the Old Master; I don't know where, but it looks like this Young Madam is in more danger than safety." Recalling He Lan's tone and looking at A Nuo's demeanor, it seems the grandfather has set his sights on her.

Thinking it better to avoid trouble, he whispered, "Business in the U. S. isn't like domestic affairs; domestically it's calm, while Manhattan is completely different."

Yi Ruan remained silent, her expression flat.

But inside, she was deeply worried about Fu Qiwei.

"Elder sister-in-law, rest assured—the elder brother once joined mercenaries, leading a mercenary unit on missions and drills without incident; this little matter can't harm him."

She listened half-heartedly; they were about to reach Yan Yun Hall when someone intercepted them.

Yi Tong's sudden appearance surprised her; hadn't she humiliated her enough last time?

But this time, she still brought an accomplice, Wu Zhuyu.

"Young Madam, our mistress invites you to visit Qing Geng."

Qing Geng is not far in front of Yan Yun Hall; Wu Zhuyu blocked her path, saying, "Young Madam, you've been back a while—it's time to see your mother-in-law."

A Nuo was about to refuse when Fu Kai said lightly, "Aunt Wu, isn't it inappropriate this late at night?"

Wu Zhuyu gave a cold glance, "Whether it's appropriate or not is up to the mistress to decide."

Rong Wei despised this daughter-in-law in every way, as she did Madame He Lan; Fu Kai couldn't get a word in edgewise, "Aunt Wu, you're saying this, but the elder sister-in-law originally..."

Yi Tong covered her mouth and laughed, "The young uncle is so solicitous toward the sister-in-law—isn't that improper?"

Fu Kai choked on his words and fell silent.

A Nuo was about to escort her away, but Yi Ruan raised an eyebrow slightly, smiling lightly, "I'll go see the mistress."

Green Plowing Small Courtyard

She walked in calmly, looking at Rong Wei who was roasting by the fire, and said lightly, "Madam."

Rong Wei turned her head, looking at her, her face calm and untroubled, without a trace of fear.

"Aren't you afraid of me?" Rong Wei asked, frowning.

Yi Ruan casually sat on the sofa, lazily looking at Rong Wei, and said in a languid posture, "What do I have to be afraid of?"

Yi Tong glared at her angrily, "Don't be so smug; before, you had Brother Qīwēi protecting you, now see who can still protect you!"

She narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly, propping her head with her hand, her aura growing even sharper: "I, Yi Ruan, have never needed anyone's protection."

In Earth River, a man covered in blood lay on the ground, with a woman in a white dress standing before him.

Slowly, she took off her long skirt, "Qīwēi, I'm back..."

Fu Qīwēi looked at that face, both familiar and strange, his heart gave a sudden twitch, "Are you Ruanruan?"

He panted, his consciousness hazy, unable to tell whether that was Yi Ruan or Ruanruan.

But he could feel that the woman had taken off her clothes, her naked body lying in his arms.

"I want... Qīwēi, I love you, now, immediately, I want you, please."

She too had been drugged by Rong Wei, her face flushed red.

She too had been drugged by Rong Wei, her face flushed red.

Thanks: Jiang Zhiyu's melon‑watching 99's recommendation votes, (●°u°●)»