How does one even describe someone like Ruan Li?
Noble, elegant, and refined…she was like a snow lotus preserved in a jade box, a bead of morning dew rolling off a petal, a sacred hymn echoing through a vast, empty cathedral.
She was a pristine, translucent jade statue.
If you only saw her from behind, you’d think her silence hid endless, haunting stories…the kind that required the strongest, most intoxicating wine to accompany them.
Yet the moment you caught sight of her pale, radiant face lit by a gentle smile, you’d instantly toss that theory aside. She seemed like a falling star that had briefly landed in the mortal realm, bound to return to the heavens soon without a single trace of worldly corruption.
No matter how much Xu Mengzhou loathed Ruan Li, she couldn’t deny her beauty. And after watching Ruan Li single-handedly pull the precarious Ruan Corporation back from the brink of ruin, her sheer competence was equally undeniable.
Still, the moment Xu Mengzhou remembered the woman’s insufferable personality, any fleeting spark of goodwill evaporated into sheer annoyance.
Though Xu Mengzhou wasn’t particularly fond of the Zuixian Restaurant, it was an ideal spot for private dinners and quiet conversation.
On her way out after seeing off Master Wen, a renowned composer, Xu Mengzhou caught a glimpse of Ruan Li.
Even though the privacy arrangements here were top-tier…offering nothing more than a partial silhouette and the flutter of a hemline…Xu Mengzhou recognized her instantly. It was her absolute, god-forsaken arch-rival.
Sitting across from Ruan Li was a young man.
Unnoticed, Xu Mengzhou quietly stood on tiptoe to steal a quick peek.
Isn’t that Lu Yuchen?
He was a notorious playboy in their circle, the son of a nouveau-riche family with zero cultural refinement. Usually dressed in flashy, tacky outfits, covered in whatever looked expensive, his hobbies boiled down to sports cars, yacht parties, and racing…a walking, talking stereotype of a third-rate novel’s cannon fodder.
What could those two possibly have to talk about?
Without a second thought, Xu Mengzhou tiptoed over, crouched behind a decorative screen, and pressed her ear to the wood.
A passing waitress was about to speak, but Xu Mengzhou shushed her with a sharp gesture. The waitress gave her an uncomfortable look, but Xu Mengzhou didn’t care, waving her off so she wouldn’t ruin her stealthy eavesdropping mission.
“If Miss Ruan is willing to be with me,” a voice bragged, “I swear I’ll kick out everyone else around me. I’ll settle down and love only you.”
Xu Mengzhou almost gagged. Gross!
“Is there anything else you’re hesitating about, Miss Ruan? When it comes to looks and build, I’m definitely top-tier. Everyone in our circle knows I’ve got what it takes…I guarantee I’ll leave you wanting more.”
“Besides, our Lu Corporation is booming. A power alliance between us would mean walking tall across the entire Hexin City.”
Xu Mengzhou wrinkled her nose in disgust. Yuck… To talk to Ruan Li like that, this guy must be eager to redecorate his own tombstone.
“I need a little time to consider,” Ruan Li replied.
Compared to Lu Yuchen’s coarse, greasy tone, Ruan Li’s voice was like a cool, crystal-clear spring…a sweet relief to Xu Mengzhou’s abused ears.
She heard the guy name Lu tut loudly, followed by the harsh scraping sound of a chair dragging across the floor.
Xu Mengzhou quickly scrambled to her feet, dusted off her clothes, and took several large strides forward before abruptly braking to a halt, pretending she was just out for a casual stroll.
The second the guy rounded the corridor, Xu Mengzhou let out a soft snort, casually bypassed the screen, and slid into the chair directly opposite Ruan Li.
“You leaked news about wanting a political marriage, and this is the trash you’re screening?” She mocked without mercy. “Has the Ruan Corporation gone bankrupt?”
Ruan Li rested her chin lightly on the back of her hand. “I suppose he thinks I’m sickly and fragile, so he looks down on me.”
She looked a bit weary as she idly stirred her coffee with a small spoon. One look at the cup revealed she hadn’t taken a single sip.
“Oh, please! I’d believe that line coming from anyone else, but from you?” Xu Mengzhou scoffed. “Are you quitting as CEO to pursue stand-up comedy?”
“Consider yourself warned: don’t go picking from a pile of rotten apples. If word gets out that my arch-rival has such abysmal taste, it lowers my standards by association. How embarrassing!”
Ruan Li tossed her spoon aside, crossed her arms, and tilted her chin slightly. “Who I choose is none of your business. Don’t stretch your reach too far.”
Then, intentionally pressing Xu Mengzhou’s buttons, she added, “Actually, the one who just left seems decent enough. Maybe I’ll just pick her.”
“Are you out of your mind?!” Xu Mengzhou’s eyes widened, and she slammed a palm onto the table. “Lu Yuchen looks like an idiot who won’t live past thirty, practically oozing stupidity from every strand of hair down to his toes! He can’t even compare to a single strand of my arm hair!”
“Your partner should at least own their own business, be decent-looking, and not be a serial cheater. At the very least, they should know how to cater to you!”
Xu Mengzhou’s blonde hair caught the light like the incandescent white heart of a roaring fire, vibrant and radiant.
Ruan Li looked genuinely annoyed now. Knitting her brows, she pushed a folder across the table with a bit of force. “Look carefully. I’m looking for a live-in partner to marry into my family. Do you think it’s as easy as you make it sound? Where am I supposed to find someone who fits every single one of your conditions?”
“If you’re so capable, why don’t you do it? Otherwise, shut up.”
Xu Mengzhou let out a sharp laugh, grabbed the folder, and flipped through it with an arrogant smirk. “This tiny offer isn’t even worth my net worth.”
“However…”
A strange idea suddenly flared in her mind, expanding like a gas leak that filled her entire thoughts in an instant.
…One of Ruan Li’s aunts was a retired legend in the entertainment industry…a martial arts action superstar who used to be insanely famous.
She also owned a private island with breathtaking scenery, perfect for location shooting.
Xu Mengzhou’s eyes flickered, and a sly smile spread across her face. Leaning forward, she placed both arms on the table and lowered her voice. “We’ve known each other forever. Character-wise, you know I’m reliable. Be honest with me…why do you suddenly want an arranged marriage?”
“And don’t give me that line about family pressure. I know you’re not the type to compromise.”
Ruan Li fell silent for a moment, her deep, dark eyes fixed on Xu Mengzhou like a tiny black hole absorbing all light and heat.
After a long pause, she spoke softly. “I have a major surgery coming up. I need a new legal signee for the medical forms.”
The realization hit Xu Mengzhou instantly: She’s afraid her biological father will sabotage it!
Given her father’s terrible track record and his greedy eyes on the company, Ruan Li’s caution was completely justified.
“Then why bother looking through a pile of trash? It’s not like you actually want a real marriage anyway.” Xu Mengzhou flashed a bright smile, completely dropping her earlier sarcastic tone. “A contractual marriage…one year limit. What do you think about me?”
“You?” Ruan Li raised an eyebrow, scanning her up and down.
“Don’t jump to conclusions just yet. I have my own conditions. Think of this as a business transaction…we both get what we need.”
Xu Mengzhou took a deep breath, reminding herself in her head that this was for her drama and her career, before pronouncing every word with crystal clarity:
“First off, you have to convince Ms. Ruan Jianqing to come out of retirement and star in my drama.”
Words truly possessed a strange kind of magic; a single event could be spun in completely different ways to yield entirely different impressions.
Months later, on this very day, Ruan Li let out a nostalgic sigh. “You suddenly proposing to me back then really caught me off guard.”
“Looking back, it was quite a mix-up. I actually had a dinner reservation here with someone else that day…she said she wanted to be with me. But you overheard it, got furious, and proposed on the spot.”
Her eyes softened like a gentle spring breeze as a light smile touched her lips. “I always feel like I should thank her. If not for her, who knows when you would have finally come to your senses? It’s a pity you never let me meet up with her again.”
“I heard her family business hasn’t been doing well lately and is facing a lot of trouble, yet you won’t even let me help her out.”
Xu Mengzhou’s lip twitched.
Was I… jealous back then?
Did I hurry over to mess things up just because I heard someone else had eyes on her?
That sounded way too much like something she would actually do.
Xu Mengzhou gave a sheepish grin, torn between feeling smug and feeling utterly embarrassed. Rubbing the tip of her nose, she stammered, “Let’s… let’s just order food.”
“I already ordered,” Ruan Li replied softly.
Silence settled over the table, save for the soft, melodious sound of traditional stringed instruments floating in from the distance.
Xu Mengzhou felt an urge to retreat. Every time they brought up the past, it felt like sitting through an awkward compilation of her own embarrassing moments.
She wasn’t sure who could listen to that kind of history without flinching, but she definitely couldn’t.
She needed a moment to recover.
Clearing her throat, she licked her dry lips and asked, “So… how was work today?”
“Work is always easy,” Ruan Li said softly.
Her gaze drifted downward, fixing directly on Xu Mengzhou’s glistening, rose-red lips. Her eyes seemed glued there, unable to look away.
She let out a faint sigh…soft and airy, carrying an unspoken, delicate melancholy.
That unshielded gaze burned like a quiet, smoldering fire, or a moth fluttering against the glowing fabric of a paper lantern.
Xu Mengzhou suddenly felt the corners of her lips burning hot. Then, she heard Ruan Li speak:
“It’s been so long since we last held hands.”
Just holding hands?
Xu Mengzhou let out a quiet sigh of relief.
And yet, her fingers curled slightly, hiding away into her palm.