Logically speaking, after receiving Luo Yanzhi’s guarantee that “My choice will always be you,” Ning Ruohuan should have felt at ease.
But she didn’t. Her sense of trepidation only intensified as the time for the formal meeting drew closer.
She held Luo Yanzhi’s hand, pulling her into an embrace. Their slender fingers intertwined. Ning Ruohuan’s low, raspy voice sounded like she had been drinking red wine—slightly tipsy and full of intoxication.
She looked down at the woman whose face was flushed. As her fingertip brushed against a hidden, sensitive spot, the person in her arms recoiled. Luo Yanzhi’s brows furrowed uncontrollably, and she pressed down on Ning Ruohuan’s wandering arm, calling out in a low voice, “Sister…”
The slightly hoarse, crying tone made Ning Ruohuan’s ears tingle. Her eyes flickered upward as she pulled out a few wet wipes to clean her sticky fingers, then carried the drowsy woman to the bathroom to wash up.
Steam rose in the air, making their minds feel hazy and unable to think clearly. Luo Yanzhi’s back pressed against the cold porcelain tiles, a sensation Ning Ruohuan noticed immediately. Ning Ruohuan quickly wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her closer to her own body. “Don’t catch a cold. We’ll wash quickly, it’ll be over soon.”
Luo Yanzhi’s consciousness was being washed away. Dense, warm streams of water hit various parts of her body. She squinted, trying to see the person in front of her.
Obscured by the floating steam, she could only vaguely see the sharp contours of Ning Ruohuan’s features. Dazed, she reached out her hand, but the water gathering in her palm slipped through her fingers.
As her wet fingertips touched delicate skin, Luo Yanzhi narrowed her eyes into slits; this way, the person before her became a bit clearer.
Her words were also stuck together: “Sister…”
Ning Ruohuan gave a soft “mm” in response. “I’m here.”
Luo Yanzhi spoke again: “Tomorrow is the meeting between the Ning and Luo families.”
Ning Ruohuan’s movements paused. She replied a beat late, “Mm.”
Luo Yanzhi grabbed the wrist holding the showerhead, wanting to meet Ning Ruohuan’s eyes. Realizing the steam was too thick to see much emotion, she let go and continued to ask, “Sister, are you nervous?”
Ning Ruohuan turned off the shower and took a towel she had prepared earlier, carefully wiping the water droplets from Luo Yanzhi’s body. She crouched down, the soft towel gliding over even softer skin. She said, “I am, and I’m not.”
In truth, she was very nervous.
Luo Yanzhi tilted her head as if analyzing the answer.
As Ning Ruohuan helped her into her pajamas, she asked, “Should I be nervous?”
Luo Yanzhi shook her head with a smile. “I don’t know.”
She couldn’t give a concrete answer. Even today, she hadn’t yet prepared herself to make the choice.
Ning Ruohuan silently tightened her grip.
Coming out of the bathroom, a cool sensation swept over them. The already relaxed body felt even more comfortable, and with it, the brain became clearer.
Ning Ruohuan poured two glasses of water. She picked one up and took a few sips, then handed the other to Luo Yanzhi, saying warmly, “Drink some.”
Luo Yanzhi snapped out of her thoughts and teased, “Isn’t it a bit late for Sister to give me water now?”
Ning Ruohuan smiled. “I’ll be more careful next time.”
Luo Yanzhi rubbed the side of the glass, looking down at the transparent liquid.
After taking two sips, she put it back on the side table. Her gaze followed Ning Ruohuan as she moved about the room. Seemingly casually, she asked, “Sister, are you willing to always stay by my side silently?”
Ning Ruohuan didn’t know what she meant by “silently,” but it didn’t stop her from feeling the sweetness of the word “stay.” “Isn’t it natural for lovers to stay by each other’s side? The method doesn’t matter.”
The discussion between the Ning and Luo families regarding the wedding date was to be finalized today. Early in the morning, Ning Ruohuan was woken up by her internal biological clock and couldn’t fall back asleep.
She studied Luo Yanzhi’s face, tracing her lover’s sleeping features over and over with her eyes. A dense warmth flickered in the depths of her gaze.
Involuntarily, she reached out a finger and tapped the tip of Luo Yanzhi’s nose.
The sleeping woman wrinkled her nose in response.
Ning Ruohuan stopped moving, fearing she would disturb her peaceful sleep.
At seven o’clock, Luo Yanzhi woke up to the vibration of her alarm.
The person who had already washed and dressed sat on the bedroom sofa, head hanging in silence, hands clasped together. Five years of hesitation had to lead to a choice today.
The Luo family car had been waiting at the villa entrance for a long time. Luo Yanzhi looked up at the person on the bed—who she wasn’t sure was awake or not—leaned over, and placed a kiss on Ning Ruohuan’s forehead.
The bedroom door opened and then closed. It was rare for Luo Yanzhi to be so considerate; the sound of the door closing was almost inaudible.
The moment the door shut, the person on the bed opened her eyes, staring fixedly at the pristine white wall.
Ning Ruohuan had been awake for a long time, but the moment the alarm actually rang, she had instinctively started pretending to sleep.
Subconsciously, she was still terrified, giving rise to the urge to hide.
After a long while, she sat up against the headboard, reached for her phone on the nightstand, and checked the time.
8:30 AM.
By now, Luo Yanzhi should have arrived at the Luo residence.
Every minute and second became an ordeal. Ning Ruohuan wanted to send a few messages to confirm Luo Yanzhi’s thoughts one last time, to put an insurance policy on her restless heart.
Yet she felt that asking repeatedly would be too pressuring and might displease Luo Yanzhi.
The screen dimmed and brightened, brightened and dimmed several times. Finally, unable to bear the intense agitation in her heart and the fear of the impending result, Ning Ruohuan entered her private contact number for Shi Wen.
Under special encryption, a danger warning popped up on the screen once the number was entered. Ning Ruohuan ignored it and composed a message.
Report the results of the Ning-Luo marriage alliance to me immediately as soon as they come out.
The reply came quickly: Understood, Boss.
Suppressing her anxiety, Ning Ruohuan put down her phone and walked toward the balcony.
The precious plants there were well-tended, growing lush and green in the breeze and sunlight.
In an attempt to calm her mind, Ning Ruohuan picked up the specialized small shears and trimmed the stray branches that were competing for nutrients, then carefully watered each plant.
After finishing, she went to the study. She had finished her previous book; the new one was only a few pages in, and she hadn’t even had time to place a bookmark.
Ning Ruohuan tried her best to avoid imagining the conversation between the two families, but her mind wasn’t on the book. She hadn’t turned a single page in a long time.
Why was there no news yet? Was it hard to pick a good date, or had some accident occurred?
Ning Ruohuan tapped the book cover rhythmically. Her heart simply could not settle. She inserted the bookmark, closed the book, returned it to its place, and left the study.
She wanted to go out for a walk, but just as she reached the bottom of the stairs, the butler appeared silently from nowhere. Standing before her, he asked warily, “Miss Ning, are you going out?”
“President Luo said for you to wait for her at home. She will be back soon.”
This was the first time Ning Ruohuan had been refused permission to leave. In the past, while Luo Yanzhi cared about her whereabouts, it never reached the level of controlling her movements.
She frowned. “I’m just going out for some fresh air. I won’t go far and will be back soon.”
The butler said, “Miss Ning, please don’t make it difficult for me. I must carry out the instructions President Luo gave me.”
Ning Ruohuan pursed her lips and stopped pushing. She waited in the living room while the butler stood not far away.
A servant thoughtfully brought out some fruit. Ning Ruohuan had no appetite and only ate a single grape for the sake of appearances.
Half an hour later, the main gate of the villa opened. The butler heard the sound first and hurried to open the door. Ning Ruohuan turned her head.
A moment later, Luo Yanzhi appeared in her field of vision. She waved her hand, and the butler and servants discreetly left.
Only the two of them remained in the vast living room.
Luo Yanzhi called out softly, “Sister.”
Ning Ruohuan did not go to meet her. The message from Shi Wen had not arrived yet. Staying seated, she spoke in a forced, light tone: “Is it settled?”
Luo Yanzhi smiled and gave an “mm,” her eyes full of tenderness.
Ning Ruohuan’s heart instantly leaped into her throat. Warmed by that look, everything seemed to be going in the direction she hoped for. All her anxiety vanished because of that gaze.
“Yan-yan, so when is our wedding date set for?”
Luo Yanzhi shook her head. “Sister, we are not getting married.”