“Does wanting to take responsibility for her mean you like her?”
Zhai Yu’s question left the woman speechless.
“Oh, handsome, if you want to take responsibility, doesn’t that mean you like her?”
This guy looked like he was about to fall apart—how could he not like her?
If he didn’t like her, he wouldn’t have gotten this drunk.
When Han Xu received a call from the bar manager and walked in, this was the scene he encountered.
He rushed over in a flash, pushed the woman aside, and said to everyone present, “Open your damn eyes and take a good look.”
“His surname is Zhai—the Zhai from the Zhai family of Yancheng.” His tone was menacing. “If you want to mess with him, think about how many lives you have to spare. Now get the hell out of here.”
As soon as the manager arrived, he froze on the spot.
With a wave of his hand, he said to everyone, “Hurry up and leave.” Then, he put on an apologetic smile.
Soon, only the two of them remained in the private room.
Han Xu hoisted Zhai Yu’s arm over his shoulder. “Brother Yu, I’ll take you home.”
After helping him into the Maybach, Zhai Yu’s complexion improved slightly. Thinking he had sobered up, Han Xu started the car and prepared to drive him back to the villa.
Halfway there, the man in the back seat spoke coldly, “Go to Hongshi Community.”
Han Xu let out a confused “Huh?” but still found the old residential area on the navigation.
Located near Yanda University, most of the residents here were Yanda teachers or students who hadn’t yet graduated.
What was Zhai Yu doing here?
The car stopped at the entrance of the community. Without asking further questions, Han Xu tried to help Zhai Yu out.
But the man simply sat in the car, staring at the dilapidated residential building, where a few lights were still on.
The south-facing unit on the sixth floor, however, remained dark.
“This is the place where she and I used to live.”
Zhai Yu’s voice was so soft that Han Xu didn’t catch it. “Who?” he asked.
“No one.” The man seemed to snap out of it suddenly, turning to close the window. “Turn around and take me home.”
After Ruan Ning recovered from her illness, she heard some good news as soon as she arrived at the company.
The web series in which the company’s top influencer, Li Qimeng, had acted had become a hit.
Although it was only a supporting role, Li Qimeng’s popularity was soaring online.
This web series was one Ruan Ning had suggested Shen Yi let Li Qimeng take on.
Shen Yi simply handed Li Qimeng over to Ruan Ning to manage.
At first, Ruan Ning didn’t want to take on this task because she remembered Li Qimeng was Bai Yuwei’s friend.
But after spending two days with Li Qimeng, she found her gentler and easier to get along with than she had imagined—nothing like Bai Yuwei.
Ruan Ning agreed to take charge of Li Qimeng’s affairs.
These days, several well-known directors had been extending olive branches to Yunmeng.
Ruan Ning took her team and Li Qimeng to Jiangcheng for an audition with a renowned director.
Well-prepared, the group boarded a flight to Jiangcheng.
Just as they stepped off the plane, a private jet with the model number Z-WSGZ landed simultaneously.
“Sister Ruan Ning, look—a private jet!” Zhou Ying pointed at the aircraft.
Ruan Ning glanced over. The cabin door opened, and a row of tall bodyguards emerged first, followed by a man with a tall, broad-shouldered, and long-legged figure.
The man, with his hands in his pockets, glanced in their direction.
Though the distance was great, Ruan Ning recognized him instantly as Zhai Yu.
She immediately turned away. “It has nothing to do with us. Let’s go.”
Zhou Ying let out an “Oh,” and the two went to collect their luggage.
After checking into the hotel they had booked in advance, Li Qimeng freshened up and began memorizing her lines in the room.
Ruan Ning could tell she was eager to seize this opportunity.
Halfway through, Li Qimeng’s voice trembled, “Ruan Ning, I’m so nervous.”
Song Ruannin held her hand to comfort her, “Don’t be nervous. Just follow the normal process. Even if we don’t pass, it’s okay. Director Liao’s production has many people auditioning. We just need to do our best.”
Li Qimeng nodded, “Okay.”
That night, Li Qimeng tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Ruan Ning and Zhou Ying stayed by her side, trying to ease her worries.
As they chatted, Ruan Ning learned that Li Qimeng was originally from Jiangcheng.
She had the typical gentle appearance of a southern girl. Her parents ran a small business in Yancheng, so they had brought her there.
“Since this is your hometown, it’s your home turf. Don’t worry, there will be good news this time,” Ruan Ning reassured her. “Do you want to eat something? Maybe having a bite will help ease your nerves.”
For the past two weeks, Li Qimeng had barely touched a grain of rice to lose weight, avoiding carbs altogether. It was already hard for her to fall asleep at night.
Now, with her nerves on edge, Ruan Ning thought letting her have a bite or two of something sweet might help her rest better.
Coincidentally, on their way here by taxi, they had passed a famous dessert shop in Jiangcheng.
With that, Ruan Ning got up and put on her clothes to go buy something for Li Qimeng.
Zhou Ying wanted to go with her, but Ruan Ning told her to stay and help Qimeng rehearse her lines.
Ruan Ning left the room and hurried down the hallway when—thud—she collided with a solid wall of flesh.
“Are you fucking blind?” an impatient male voice snapped.
Ruan Ning looked up and, the moment she saw the man’s face, her eyes widened as if all the blood had drained from her body.
It was Yao Wankun, the spoiled heir of the Yao family.
Yao Wankun rubbed his chest and also recognized her face.
Soon, his angry expression twisted into a sinister grin. “Well, well, look who it is. Isn’t this our Miss Song?”
He leaned down, his face level with Ruan Ning’s. “Miss Song is here in Jiangcheng for fun too.”
Song Ruannin felt utterly disgusted and turned to leave, but someone grabbed her wrist.
“Running away? Could it be that Miss Song is involved in some shady business now?” The man’s smile grew even more malicious. “Let me guess, Song Ruannin, are you selling yourself now?”
Slap!
Ruan Ning pulled her hand free and slapped the man in front of her.
Yao Wankun was stunned. “You dare hit me?”
Since childhood, only Yao Wankun had ever hit others. No one had ever dared to hit him.
Song Ruannin’s palm stung from the impact, and she felt a pang of fear after hitting him.
Yao Wankun was more than just a troublemaker. Alone, she was no match for him.
Thinking for a second, Ruan Ning turned and ran.
The man strode after her, catching her by her clothes.
“You hit me and still dare to run?” he snarled. “Song Ruannin, I didn’t get to sleep with you back then, but now you’ve delivered yourself right into my hands.”
“Ah!!”
Yao Wankun let out a sharp cry.
Ruan Ning took advantage of his distraction and bit his forearm hard. As he loosened his grip, she immediately ran farther away.
The man chased after her again.
Turning left down the hallway, Ruan Ning spotted two tall figures not far away.
Without hesitation, she ran toward them, grabbing one of them by the sleeve, her voice pleading and trembling, “Zhai Yu, save me.”
Yao Wankun caught up.
Ruan Ning hid behind Zhai Yu.
Yao Wankun rubbed the bloody bite mark on his arm, glaring at the man who stood half a head taller than him.
“Who the hell are you? You’re protecting this bitch?” he growled menacingly.
Zhai Yu frowned and said coldly, “Your father.”