Volume 1 Chapter 17 Fear
Was Ruan Yu afraid?
She was not.
From Jin Mu’s first sentence, she only felt disgusted, gripping the watermelon knife’s handle tightly. She knew this knife was 50 centimeters long, Lin Shen’s favorite tool for cutting fruit.
As long as she struck, Jin Mu would definitely be forced back. Whether injured or frightened unconscious, whatever the consequences were not Ruan Yu’s concern. Let Lu Yuan and Ruan Zhen worry about these messes—weren’t they trying to swallow the shark that was Huayang? Surely they wouldn’t refuse to pay even this small price of sincerity.
The moment she clenched the knife handle, Ruan Yu had already thought through all the possible plot developments.
When she swung the knife, she didn’t hold back her strength, but she never expected Li Xuzhou to return at that moment.
The instant Li Xuzhou spoke, Ruan Yu’s eyes moistened, an inexplicable sense of grievance overflowing, wanting to act spoiled.
When Ruan Yu saw Li Xuzhou take action, her first reaction was joy—his anger was for her… this meant she held a special place in his heart.
Li Xuzhou’s overflowing emotions satisfied Ruan Yu’s secret, morbid desire. She needed intense emotions; twenty years of being ignored and manipulated made her crave this kind of security intensely.
Watching Li Xuzhou’s powerful back, Ruan Yu formed a plan in her heart.
“I’m so scared… Mr. Li, save me…” Nestled in Li Xuzhou’s embrace, clutching his lapel tightly, her nostrils filled with his scent—a mix of pine and cypress fragrance with damp sweat, carrying a wild beauty. Ruan Yu felt nothing could be better than this.
Li Xuzhou thought she was frightened by Jin Mu and instinctively held her close, his large hand stroking her back gently, again and again.
Ruan Yu was still trembling, but not from the fear Li Xuzhou imagined—rather, it was excitement stirred by his caressing movements.
Li Xuzhou called security to deal with Jin Mu: break his fingers and throw him onto a fishing boat off the West Coast, where he would spend the rest of his life.
Father Li and Mother Li had gone to a private island for their romantic getaway, and the other girls were all busy with their own affairs. The vast Li Residence was left with only the two of them.
Li Xuzhou half-embraced Ruan Yu as they went upstairs. His clothes were somewhat dirty, which bothered him a little.
Once in the room, Ruan Yu’s face remained buried against his chest, as if still terrified. Li Xuzhou restrained his emotions, coaxing softly, “Don’t be afraid. Jin Mu will never appear before you again.”
“Let me go back to my room to shower first, okay? I’ll have someone draw a bath for you. How about you relax a bit?”
Ruan Yu lifted her damp little face, half-pleading, half-dependent: “I’m scared. Can you accompany me while I bathe?”
After saying this, she seemed somewhat embarrassed, her gaze drifting, cheeks flushing: “Wait for me outside…”
Li Xuzhou was taken aback for a moment, understanding her fear. The rising suggestive emotions suddenly subsided, and he said solemnly, “Bathe at ease. I’ll guard the door for you.”
He stood silently at the doorway like a statue, trying his best to ignore the sound of water coming from inside.
After working continuously for 20 hours followed by a 10-hour flight, he calculated he hadn’t slept for over thirty hours.
Li Xuzhou rubbed his throbbing temples as the bathroom door opened.
Steam drifted out with the opening door, followed by the fragrance from Ruan Yu’s body.
The fair-skinned, beautiful girl emerged wrapped in a towel, droplets of water still glistening on her shoulders like the sweetest fruit adorned with morning dew.
Her damp hair clung to her shoulders, her expression utterly defenseless. “Mr. Li, I’m done showering. Would you like to shower here…? I’m afraid to stay alone in the room.”
Li Xuzhou should have called for Xiao Qin or another maid to accompany her, but he found himself inexplicably agreeing.
As warm water trickled down his short hair, Li Xuzhou finally realized what he was doing.
For a moment, his usually steady heart fluttered with unease. The bathroom’s layout and personal items felt intimate—it was like Ruan Yu’s dream workshop, and he had barged in like a beast ready to shatter the illusion.
Was Ruan Yu’s sweetness brewed from these creams and lotions?
He quickly dismissed the thought. He still remembered her scent from three years ago—soft, sweet, and no different from now.
“Ruan Yu must be a fairy from some distant planet,” he thought, almost fondly.
He showered quickly, feeling refreshed only after changing into clean clothes before stepping out of the bathroom.
Ruan Yu knelt on the bed, waiting obediently for Li Xuzhou to emerge. Still wrapped in the towel, she had placed a thick cloth over her legs.
“A towel for drying hair,” Ruan Yu said, lifting her gaze with an innocent expression. “I just used it. I hope you don’t mind, Mr. Li.”
Li Xuzhou remained silent. Ruan Yu’s intentions were so transparent it was endearing. She didn’t realize her thoughts were betrayed by her tightly clutching fingers and flustered eyes.
How could a young fox, fresh out of its den, hide itself from a hunter? One misstep, and it would be captured, devoured flesh and bone.
Considering her earlier behavior, Li Xuzhou unraveled many of the mysteries in his heart.
He only felt that such a Ruan Yu made him want to cherish her even more.
A faint smile touched his lips as he took the towel.
His damp hair fell casually across his forehead, softening his usual demeanor. Ruan Yu’s fingers fidgeted nervously, her heartbeat growing increasingly frantic.
Unaware that her intentions were already exposed, she continued teasing, “The towel is still clean, right? I was worried it might carry my scent…”
She had expected the man to blush or remain silent.
Instead, Li Xuzhou brought the towel directly under his nose, his eyes locking onto Ruan Yu as he murmured in a low, husky voice, “It smells lovely. Very clean.”
Ruan Yu’s toes curled involuntarily. Even with distance between them, Li Xuzhou’s gesture felt as intimate as if he had already lavished affection upon her.
Biting her lip, she wondered how this older man had suddenly become so adept. Gathering her courage, she pressed on, “Does it smell as good as my scent?” Her cheeks flushed, and her fox-like eyes narrowed slightly, truly resembling an innocent young fox.
Li Xuzhou’s gaze darkened further as he delivered a direct reply: “Yours. A very sweet scent.”
Ruan Yu’s face flushed crimson, and she stumbled over her words, unable to speak.
Li Xuzhou chuckled softly, returning the towel to her before preparing to leave.
But his sleeve was tugged again by Ruan Yu, her expression pitiful. “I’m still scared…”
Li Xuzhou knelt on one knee before her bed, meeting her gaze at eye level, waiting for her next words.
“I’ve heard… that kisses can calm a person down. Mr. Li, would you be willing to kiss me?”
A request for a kiss, yet it felt as solemn as a proposal.
Ruan Yu keenly sensed Li Xuzhou’s body temperature rising. Though his expression remained unchanged, it inexplicably felt dangerous.
She felt as if she were about to be devoured whole by Li Xuzhou. Instinctively, like a small animal, she shrank backward, but Li Xuzhou gave her no chance to escape. His large hand firmly gripped her ankle, preventing her from retreating.
The next second, his scorching lips pressed against her delicate ankle, followed by a trail of dampness.
The man was still brooding over Jin Mu’s video. He lifted his head, his gaze dangerous. “Next time, don’t appear on camera with strange men.”
“Such a beautiful… body shouldn’t be seen by others.”