Volume 1 Chapter 10 Pleading
“Miss Ruan, it’s all my fault, a thousand times over. Please spare me, spare our family…”
“My father has dedicated twenty years of his life to the Li Group. Even if he hasn’t made great contributions, he’s put in hard work. How can a place as vast as Huayang have no place for our family?”
“Miss Ruan, please show mercy and ask Mr. Li to let us go… I beg you.”
After Li Xixi woke up last time, she found her life had turned upside down. Several of her family’s properties had been sealed by the court, all fixed assets were confiscated, and even her luxury items were taken away.
Her parents began endless arguments and blame, sometimes even resorting to physical fights.
Their home was no longer the envy of others. Once her former friends learned the Li Group was targeting them, they all cut ties with her.
Overnight, she became like a rat scurrying across the street.
Recalling Li Xuzhou’s behavior that morning, she quickly understood the reason.
It was Ruan Yu.
Because she had insulted Ruan Yu, this was the consequence she faced.
She just needed to beg Ruan Yu. Everything would be fine as long as Ruan Yu nodded in agreement.
Yuan Lele and the others exchanged glances. They weren’t entirely clear about what had happened between Li Xixi and Ruan Yu. Why would Li Xixi come begging to her?
Li Xixi’s crying appearance was pitiful, just like that morning before, except this time it was genuine.
She grabbed the hem of Ruan Yu’s clothes, nearly choking on her sobs. “I truly know I was wrong, Miss Ruan… Please save me. I promise I’ll never bother you again, and I won’t tell anyone else about you and Uncle An…”
Before Ruan Yu’s expression could change, the girls couldn’t sit still. They all knew what kind of person President An was—his lecherous reputation was notorious in their circle.
“Li Xixi, you made your own mistakes, but now you’re slandering others too! What nonsense!” Yuan Lele pointed at Li Xixi’s nose, loudly stopping her actions.
Chen Zi and Guan Man both stood up, their expressions serious as they spoke to Li Xixi.
“Li Xixi, let go of Ruan Yu. This has nothing to do with her.”
Li Xixi could no longer hear any words. Through tear-blurred eyes, she looked at Ruan Yu, begging for her mercy.
Ruan Yu sighed helplessly, placing her hand over Li Xixi’s and gently patting it a few times, as if offering comfort.
Li Xixi breathed a sigh of relief, about to break into a smile. But the next moment, Ruan Yu began peeling her fingers away one by one.
“Miss Li, I have no obligation to teach you how to behave. What led to today’s situation wasn’t me, nor was it… Mr. Li. It was you yourself.”
“Did you personally witness anything happening between me and President An? Or did you believe his one-sided fantasies as truth? No matter how ignorant you are, surely you know rumors can kill? You’re the least deserving one here.”
“Li Xixi, I’m quite pleased to see you end up like this today. I hope you… continue like this.”
Ruan Yu curved her lips, her fox-like eyes shining brilliantly, startlingly bright.
The girls were all startled by her transformation, somewhat uncertain about her state.
At that moment, Li Xixi’s father was also escorted downstairs. Steward Zhou’s tone was polite and proper yet brooked no refusal: “Mr. Li, the master and mistress are currently busy and cannot receive guests. Please return.”
Seeing Li Xixi kneeling before Ruan Yu, he frowned and ordered someone to drag her away.
Li Xixi’s father still wanted to linger. His eyes darted around, landing on his daughter beside Ruan Yu, and he remembered what his daughter had said—that Li Xuzhou cared about this woman.
Pretending to walk out, he suddenly turned sharply at the doorway and lunged toward Ruan Yu. Before he could take two steps, he was restrained by Li Xuzhou, who had just returned.
“Talk to me if you have something to say, Mr. Li.” Li Xuzhou stood a head taller, looking down at him with a cold, threatening tone.
He calmly surveyed the dining room, then ordered someone to escort Li Xixi to the car. Grabbing her father by the collar, he dragged him outside.
Not long after, the people in the dining room heard Li Xixi and her father wailing outside.
Occasionally, apologies were mixed in, along with words like “hotel,” “President An,” and “sex business.”
Yuan Lele cautiously glanced at Ruan Yu, worried she might be hurt, and whispered comfortingly, “Ruan Yu, she’s like a mad dog right now, biting at anyone. Don’t take it to heart.”
Ruan Yu smiled slightly, signaling her not to worry, but she couldn’t help looking outside with concern.
She wondered if Li Xuzhou would believe Li Xixi’s words. How annoying.
After finishing her meal, Chen Zi went upstairs first, followed by Yuan Lele returning to her room. Only Guan Man stayed behind.
Hesitating for a moment, Guan Man asked, “Ruan Yu, is there something between you and President Li?”
While others hadn’t noticed, she had seen Li Xuzhou glance toward the dining room as soon as he entered, and Li Xixi’s earlier words made it seem as though there was something ambiguous between Ruan Yu and Li Xuzhou.
Seeing Guan Man’s somewhat sad expression, Ruan Yu wasn’t sure how to respond. After a moment of careful thought, she said, “There’s nothing between us now.”
She didn’t mention the past or make promises about the future, only stating the present. It wasn’t a lie.
Ruan Yu didn’t want to hurt Guan Man or deceive her, but she wanted Li Xuzhou to be hers.
Hers alone.
That was Ruan Yu’s selfish desire.
Guan Man sensed the implication in her tone, her expression turning despondent as she forced a smile. “I see. I suddenly don’t feel well. I’ll head back to my room first.”
Ruan Yu pursed her lips, losing her appetite.
“You’ve only eaten a little. You can eat more at dinner.”
The servant nearby twitched at the corner of her eye. This “little” was enough for three people.
A short while later, Li Xuzhou walked back in.
A servant handed him a damp towel to wipe his hands and asked if he wanted to eat. He gave a faint “hmm” and sat across from Ruan Yu.
Ruan Yu’s dangling legs swayed involuntarily, her mood lifting. She raised her hand to add another bowl of soup and quietly sipped it.
“Not scared, were you?” Li Xuzhou’s voice was deep, his tone flat, making it hard to detect any concern.
Yet, Ruan Yu felt a small thrill at his question. “I wasn’t scared.”
“Hmm.”
The conversation ended there.
Ruan Yu hesitated before asking, “Do you believe what Li Xixi said, Mr. Li?”
Seeing Li Xuzhou’s puzzled look, she added, “About me selling my body.”
Li Xuzhou shook his head silently, thinking to himself that the punishment for the Li family was still too light.
“That’s good,” Ruan Yu whispered with relief, her legs swaying even faster.
Suddenly, her toes bumped against something hard.
Oh no, she had kicked Li Xuzhou’s leg.
Li Xuzhou paused his meal, reached down to his calf, and grasped Ruan Yu’s ankle.
He lifted his eyelids, his voice hoarse. “Why is it so cold?”
The atmosphere suddenly turned intimate, and the temperature around them seemed to rise.
Ruan Yu’s entire leg had gone numb, and she couldn’t help but shrink back, pulling her leg away from Li Xuzhou’s grasp.
Her calf brushed against his rough palm, trembling from the heat.