Chapter 1679

she asked softly, "Zhao Chi, why do I feel so hollow inside? Such a strong sense of loss?"

Zhao Chi knew that the sense of loss she spoke of was certainly not dissatisfaction with his performance.

It was an uneasy feeling of having lost something.

Especially for a twenty-eight-year-old woman like her, this feeling seemed to be even more profound.

Zhao Chi said, "It's fine, you will absolutely never regret it."

Li Ruanyu nodded lightly. "Mm, I know. Actually, I've been thinking about it for a long time too…"

Zhao Chi laughed. "Thinking about something like this for a long time?"

Li Ruanyu protested, "How could that be? I was thinking about whether to take our relationship a step further for a long time. How could it possibly be about that kind of thing?"

Zhao Chi laughed. "I know, I was just joking."

Li Ruanyu said, "Originally I wanted to take things slowly. Today I had only planned to have some wine and chat with you, but somehow it ended up developing into this…"

Zhao Chi said in surprise, "Really? I thought you… after all, you brought me to your private room, and then wanted to drink wine…"

Li Ruanyu laughed. "I'm telling the truth, I hadn't planned for this at all. But what you said just now moved me — that's not quite accurate either, it wasn't exactly that you moved me, but rather it made me make up my mind… In any case, things are already like this between us, and from now on I'll protect you."

Zhao Chi stroked her smooth, soft long hair. "Alright, but it won't be long before I should be able to protect you."

Li Ruanyu clearly didn't believe him.

But she pretended to believe him. "Mm, I believe you. I can tell your potential is very strong — I've known that since before. I'll be waiting for the day you shake the world."

"I'm serious."

"Mm, I know. But you really were a bit overbearing just now — you actually dared to… weren't you afraid I'd get angry and pinch yours off?"

Zhao Chi laughed. "Then I'll pinch these two of yours off too."

Saying so, he gave a light pinch.

"Eek, be gentler! I was joking, but you really used your teeth just now — there are even teeth marks."

"You're exaggerating. Where are there teeth marks? Let me see?"

"I won't let you see."

Though she said so, Li Ruanyu showed no intention of dodging at all.

Zhao Chi looked carefully — rosy and tender, where were there any teeth marks?

"I say there are, so there are."

Li Ruanyu was actually acting coquettishly.

Zhao Chi nodded. "Alright, I bit you and it hurt, so let me rub it for you."

"Pah, who wants you to rub it? It's just that you want to rub it yourself, right?"

Li Ruanyu lightly pinched Zhao Chi's arm — it didn't hurt at all.

Zhao Chi paid no heed and went straight for it with his hands.

Li Ruanyu didn't struggle either.

Her cheeks flushed red as she looked at him.

Another bout of whispering and nuzzling.

In the end, someone still sent a voice message directly, notifying Li Ruanyu of a meeting.

"Oh no, how is it already this late?"

Li Ruanyu pushed herself up.

"Zhao Chi, I still have a meeting to preside over today. Although I really don't want to go either, this one is about the recent battles, so I have to go."

Zhao Chi nodded. "It's fine, this matter is rather important — hurry along. We still have plenty of time ahead of us."

"Yes, then help yourself to some food. You were just bustling about… you must be tired too, right? My meeting might run very late, so I won't be able to eat with you."

"No need, hurry along. But I'm taking this bedsheet with me."

Li Ruanyu was a little puzzled.

She looked at the red plum blossoms dotted across the bedsheet and said, "You like this bedsheet's pattern? I have a new one here, I'll give it to you."

"No need, I want this one."

"Why? Then I'll wash it clean for you — I've dirtied it all over."

"Don't worry about why, you'll be late for your meeting."

"Alright, if you like it then take it. I have to hurry off now."

Li Ruanyu climbed out of bed.

Suddenly her legs gave way and she flopped onto the sofa. "Ouch!"

Zhao Chi quickly sat up. "What's wrong?"

Li Ruanyu shot Zhao Chi a look. "Isn't it all thanks to your good work? I can't heal myself right now, can I? Otherwise I'd recover, and next time I'd have to suffer through it all over again."

"Mm… then take it slow."

Li Ruanyu stood up again and took a small step. "It's nothing — as long as I don't move my thighs too much, it'll be fine… Ouch."

Her reaction seemed a little more severe than Gu Qing and the others.

But it was still within normal range.

Li Ruanyu quickly put on her clothes and fashion wear.

"Then I'm off."

Zhao Chi said, "Your complexion right now… there are still a lot of flushed marks. Will you be alright?"

"Ah? Then what should I do?"

Li Ruanyu checked herself in the full-length mirror nearby, then set her mind at ease.

"It's fine. I usually exercise before meetings too, and it's about the same as now — everyone will just assume it's from working out… I won't say any more, I really have to go."

"Mm, you'd better hurry along."

Li Ruanyu gave Zhao Chi a smile and vanished.

Zhao Chi didn't linger either.

He packed away the bedsheets, then devoured the food on the table that he hadn't yet eaten. After eating and drinking his fill, he returned to his territory.

Gu Qing had been right after all.

No matter how you looked at it, Zhao Chi did trust Li Ruanyu more now than he had not long ago.

Li Ruanyu must feel the same way.

But everything was still just beginning.

He certainly couldn't tell Li Ruanyu everything right now.

After all, he'd just deceived her.

That huge pile of lies and personnel were all made up. Confessing now was not only unnecessary, it would very likely leave Li Ruanyu with a bad impression and cause trust between them to drop.

So these things would have to stay hidden for now.

But there was still one hidden danger.

It was the lie Zhao Chi had told Li Ruanyu — that the Fuxi Zither shard from Shangguan Ting had been exchanged for a fashion outfit.

That was a lie he'd improvised on the spot. Although the original intention had been good, it was still a lie in the end.

Of course Li Ruanyu couldn't possibly go to Shangguan Ting to verify it.

Besides, it was only a very small lie.

But Zhao Chi knew perfectly well what the relationship between Li Ruanyu and Shangguan Ting was like — the two were like fire and water.

In other matters it might be fine, but if Li Ruanyu found out she'd been deceived on something involving Shangguan Ting, she might be very unhappy.

Then he'd just make that lie real!

Actually give Shangguan Ting a set of fashion outfits.

Of course, just the three-piece set: stockings, high heels, and a silky blouse.

After all, these three types of fashion outfits had already been sold in bulk to Shopkeeper Wanyan, so they were semi-public outfits by now.

Although the ones Zhao Chi had were a brand-new style, better than Shopkeeper Wanyan's, it didn't really matter.

But how should he deliver them?

Zhao Chi certainly couldn't go himself.

The best candidate… was Wei Li.

Then he wouldn't waste any time.

Zhao Chi immediately contacted Wei Li.

Zhao Chi 【Wei Li, got a moment? I'm commissioning you to help me with something】