He had only intended a light kiss, just for the sake of it, but Fu Mingyu seemed determined to complete the kiss that had been interrupted by that slap earlier. Taking advantage of the moment, he pressed against the back of her head, kissing her deeply and passionately.

Their breathing gradually became heavy and damp. Ruan Sixian was slowly pressed against the headboard, finding it hard to breathe. Her whimpers escaped to the edge of her lips only to be swallowed by him, even breathing became difficult.

But she didn’t want to stop him.

Ruan Sixian wrapped her arms around his neck, initiating each kiss, wanting to take in advance all that she would miss in the coming months.

Under passionate kisses, fire inevitably ignites.

When she felt his breath growing hotter, Ruan Sixian suddenly turned her face away, gasping for air.

Fu Mingyu’s nose brushed against her cheek, his breathing heavy, but he didn’t speak.

“Aren’t you getting on a plane soon?”

Ruan Sixian slowly lowered her hands, wrapping them around his waist instead. “There’s still over two hours left. Is there anything else you want to do?”

Fu Mingyu took a deep breath, closing his eyes to calm his breathing.

“Is that not allowed?”

He hadn’t initially planned to do anything and was about to leave, but she had pulled on his tie and ignited the fire.

As they spoke, Ruan Sixian felt the blanket covering her being lifted, and his scent and kisses swept over her again.

The rustling sound of clothes rubbing against each other accompanied the ambiguous atmosphere flowing through the room.

Amid passion, Ruan Sixian murmured hazily, “Didn’t someone just call you?”

Fu Mingyu vaguely hummed in agreement.

“Bai Yang. He’s at the airport now.”

Ruan Sixian suddenly held his hand. “Then won’t we be running late?”

“No,” he said while continuing to move. “It’s my plane.”

“Oh…”

Well then, in the world of the wealthy, there’s no such thing as rushing to catch a flight.

Ruan Sixian closed her eyes, gritting her teeth, trying her best not to make sounds that would be embarrassing to hear.

But Fu Mingyu’s fingers traced her lower lip, half-coaxing, half-enticing her to vocalize.

After a long while, Ruan Sixian’s palms were sweating, tightly clutching his clothes, soft moans with a hint of crying escaping from her throat.

Time constraints forced him to be restrained, but the reality of their impending separation made it difficult to hold back.

The moon had quietly slipped behind the clouds at some point, and less and less light filtered through.

In the darkness, Ruan Sixian didn’t refuse any of his boldness.

But as time went on, Ruan Sixian couldn’t take it anymore.

Fu Mingyu usually granted her every request, but now when she whimpered and begged him to stop, he acted as if he hadn’t heard.

Only after Ruan Sixian made a promise did he show any intention of stopping.

“Really?” His voice was hoarse, tinged with burning intimacy. “Anything?”

He whispered a few more requests in her ear, making Ruan Sixian blush as she listened, but under the circumstances, she could only grit her teeth and respond with an “Mm.”

After it was over, Ruan Sixian leaned in his embrace, drowsily thinking that a man’s words in bed couldn’t be trusted, and the same goes for a woman’s.

As she was about to fall asleep, Fu Mingyu prepared to leave.

He got out of bed, bent down to tuck her in, and kissed her forehead.

“After I leave, move your things upstairs gradually.”

Ruan Sixian instinctively responded with an “Mm,” but a few seconds later, she suddenly opened her eyes.

“Why?”

Fu Mingyu sat on the edge of the bed and smiled. “Get used to it, relax your vigilance a bit, otherwise I don’t know how many more slaps I’ll have to endure from you in the future.”

After a while, Ruan Sixian gave a muffled “Oh” from under the covers.

If he wanted to live together, he could just say so directly instead of being so subtle about it.

“I’ll try to control myself in the future. I’ll use my mouth instead of my hands when possible.”

Fu Mingyu let out a light snort, pinching her chin. “With that mouth of yours, I’d rather you use your hands.”

He stood up. “I’m going now?”

“Mm.”

Ruan Sixian still had her back to him, only turning her head after hearing the door close, looking at the shut door, and letting out a soft sigh.

Ruan Sixian always thought she wouldn’t miss Fu Mingyu much. After all, they were both adults, no one was indispensable to the other, and it was just a temporary separation, not a breakup. What was there to miss?

At least the next morning, she didn’t feel anything unusual. She ate and drank as usual, went to the aviation hospital for a check-up, and even had lunch in the cafeteria.

But after sitting down with her tray, she found she had little appetite.

Holding her chopsticks and staring at the food on her tray, she was slightly lost in thought.

For some reason, Fu Mingyu kept appearing in her mind.

This feeling was different from when Dong Xian left before.

Back then, Ruan Sixian felt she wouldn’t come back, so her heart was always heavy with pain. Every day she would do her homework two or three times just to avoid thinking about those things, and occasionally she would cry under her blanket.

But now she knew Fu Mingyu would return. She thought she wouldn’t think too much about it, but her heart kept feeling like cat scratches, empty, as if not seeing him meant something was missing inside her.

“Sigh.” She exhaled, switching to prop her chin with her other hand, picking at the green onions in her dish with her left hand.

It’s over, this man has truly cast a spell on her.

Suddenly, someone sat down across from her.

Ruan Sixian instinctively thought of some idol drama scene and raised her head without thinking about logic, only to see Ni Tong looking at her with wide eyes.

No idol drama, just a soap opera.

“Why are you staring at me?”

Ruan Sixian asked listlessly while picking at her food.

“Are you very worried?” Ni Tong said. “I just heard people saying that Director Fu is extremely angry this time.”

How could he not be angry? He was called away in the middle of a meal.

Ruan Sixian responded with an “Oh,” showing no interest in the topic.

But Ni Tong was interested. She blinked her eyes and said softly, “It’s just a rumor, don’t spread it around.”

She looked around, stretched her neck, and cupped her hand over her mouth. “When President Fu went to the airport at dawn today, there seemed to be a handprint on his face. Oh my goodness, Director Fu is so angry, do you think he might not let him return to China?”

Ruan Sixian’s hand froze, and she laughed awkwardly.

“Don’t take it lightly, you should have some sense of crisis,” Ni Tong said. “Don’t you know? President Fu’s brother is also coming back to China soon. Do you think he’s coming back to fight for power?”

After saying this, she tapped the table with her chopsticks.

“This is called taking advantage of weakness.”

“Have you been watching too many TVB soap operas?” Ruan Sixian glanced at her with a twisted smile. “Talking about power struggles, Chinese wealthy family drama screenwriters need you.”

But thinking about it, what Ni Tong said seemed to make some sense.

Such a large airline company with only Fu Mingyu in control, and his “brother” who had always lived in others’ mouths—could it be that he was coming back to get a slice of the pie?

On her way home that evening, when Ruan Sixian called Fu Mingyu, she specifically asked about it.

“I heard your brother is coming back to China?”

“Yes,” Fu Mingyu said. “You know about that too?”

“I heard it from someone else.”

“Their news travels fast.” Fu Mingyu paused. “What else did they say?”

“That… he’s coming back to seize power from you.”

On the other end of the phone, Fu Mingyu laughed.

“They think quite a lot.”

What Ruan Sixian didn’t say was that she had already imagined a scene where Fu Mingyu lost the struggle and was forced out miserably. She not only didn’t move upstairs but vacated her own house for him to live in. But he found it too small, they had a big fight, and he ran out into the rain while she chased after him, hugging him and promising to accompany him as he made his comeback.

Just thinking about it felt so dramatic.

“By the way, you haven’t met my brother, have you?” Fu Mingyu asked.

“I don’t think so,” Ruan Sixian said. “I might have seen him from a distance at the airport a few years ago.”

Fu Mingyu didn’t say anything else. The sound of people talking came from his end, and Ruan Sixian quickly asked, “Are you very busy now?”

“It’s okay.”

“Oh, then I’ll hang up.” Ruan Sixian suddenly remembered something and added, “By the way, I’m going to a college reunion next week.”

“Mm, what’s the matter? You’re already starting to report your schedule?”

“Nothing,” Ruan Sixian covered the phone as she walked home. “Just letting you know, increasing contact a bit. Otherwise, I’m afraid this red flag of mine won’t arrive before colorful flags start flying outside.”

Fu Mingyu touched his cheek, with an expression between smiling and not that Ruan Sixian couldn’t see.

“Which woman would dare.”

Ruan Sixian felt there was no need to report her schedule to Fu Mingyu. Although he was in Singapore, there was no time difference, and under these circumstances, it would be difficult for him to have any activities other than work. Besides, her own leisure life was quite boring to begin with.

But the main reason she specifically mentioned the reunion to Fu Mingyu was that Xie Yu had called to invite her.

She wondered if Fu Mingyu still remembered Xie Yu.

But from his tone, he probably didn’t.

During university, student interactions weren’t limited to just classmates. For instance, Ruan Sixian was close to several seniors who were a year above her. This reunion was more of a departmental gathering, with students from three consecutive years attending.

They had gathered a few years ago and contacted Ruan Sixian, but she was busy working during her vacation at that time and couldn’t attend. This time it happened to coincide with her rest period.

This time, a total of ten people came to fill a table. Except for one or two seniors who were two years ahead of Ruan Sixian whom she wasn’t very familiar with, the others were all classmates and seniors she often hung out with at school.

But after so many years without seeing each other, there was some unfamiliarity.

Only Xie Yu was still right; they had met once last year.

At this gathering, Ruan Sixian was once again the center of attention.

Several girls chatting together had keen senses. As soon as Ruan Sixian pushed the door open, they all looked her way simultaneously.

“You’ve finally arrived, we’ve been waiting just for you!”

Ruan Sixian glanced at her wristwatch; she was ten minutes later than the agreed time.

“I’m sorry, the traffic was a bit congested.”

Who would care about such a small matter? Before she could sit down, they surrounded her, all talking at once.

The topics inevitably revolved around recent events, with several male classmates competing to take photos with her.

Only Xie Yu remained characteristically quiet, not saying much, occasionally responding with a few words.

After several rounds of drinks, some of the men got drunk, leaned back in their chairs with their jackets open, and started reflecting on life.

“I still remember when we used to sit on the sports field chatting. Someone said they wanted to be the next Yang Zhenning, someone said they wanted to pursue academics for life, and someone said they wanted to switch majors to study philosophy. At that time, little Ruan also said she wanted to be a pilot, right? To be honest, I secretly laughed at you back then. What are you thinking, a young girl? You’re so pretty, isn’t there anything better to do?”

The man turned his head and smiled. “I never thought that in the end, you’d be the only one who did what you said you would.”

A woman corrected him, “That’s not true. Xie Yu also did what he said he would.”

Xie Yu was pouring juice for Ruan Sixian. When he was mentioned, he shook his head and modestly said, “Isn’t it because the more specialized the field of study, the harder it is to find a job? I can only continue to stay at school. I don’t even have a girlfriend. Little Ruan is much more impressive.”

Several women had noticed him attentively serving Ruan Sixian tea and drinks all evening, being much more solicitous than a normal classmate would be. They exchanged glances and coughed a couple of times to remind him.

They hadn’t asked Ruan Sixian about her boyfriend during the meal because they thought it would be too gossipy, but Xie Yu was truly so immersed in scientific research that he was oblivious to the outside world, not even knowing she had a boyfriend.

Xie Yu heard the coughs but thought the women were teasing him, so he didn’t pay attention, just blushing slightly.

Ruan Sixian naturally also noticed Xie Yu’s unusual behavior today.

And several times when their eyes met, she found that the way he looked at her was different from before.

There was some admiration, some affection, with the corners of his lips slightly curved, not even blinking.

Ruan Sixian took the cup he handed her, said thank you, and then asked softly, “Senior, is your phone still on a 2G network?”

“Huh?” Xie Yu was stunned. “What?”

Ruan Sixian shook her head. “Nothing.”

After dinner, several men suggested going to karaoke.

Ruan Sixian looked at the time; it was already nine o’clock. She had something early the next morning, so she declined.

Everyone didn’t insist on her staying. Xie Yu volunteered to see her in her car.

When they reached downstairs, Ruan Sixian saw the car arranged by Fu Mingyu on the opposite side of the road, turning around after crossing the pedestrian bridge.

But his car was too eye-catching, and Ruan Sixian didn’t want her classmates to see it, so she said, “Senior, the car will be here soon. You can go back up first.”

Xie Yu nodded but didn’t leave.

“When is your next day off?”

Ruan Sixian asked, “Why?”

“Oh…” Xie Yu said, “The New Year is coming soon, and there are many holiday movies. I was thinking of inviting you to see one.”

Just as he finished speaking, Ruan Sixian’s phone happened to ring.

She took out her phone, glanced at the caller ID, and said, “Can I answer my boyfriend’s call first?”

“…”

Xie Yu’s face immediately turned red.

Although it was awkward, Ruan Sixian didn’t directly expose the situation, still giving him a way out.

“Good, good, you answer first. I won’t disturb you then. I’ll go back up.”

After Xie Yu left, Ruan Sixian answered Fu Mingyu’s call.

“Finished?”

Remembering Xie Yu’s invitation just now, Ruan Sixian smiled. “Yes, what’s up? Couldn’t wait to check up on me?”

Fu Mingyu replied, “Are you saying something happened today that’s worth me checking up on?”

Ruan Sixian snorted lightly. “Someone invited me to watch a movie.”

“Is that so?”

Far away in World Airlines’ Singapore operations department, Fu Mingyu’s fingers spun the globe on his desk as he said nonchalantly, “Is it that campus heartthrob who harvested your maiden heart?”

Ruan Sixian almost blurted out a “Yes.”

Fortunately, she caught herself in time.

The damn man was setting a trap for her.

What did he mean by “campus heartthrob who harvested your maiden heart”? She had never admitted to such a thing.

The car slowly stopped in front of Ruan Sixian. The driver got out and opened the door for her.

“Hmph.” Ruan Sixian got in, leaned against the window, and looked at the bustling traffic outside. “My maiden heart first fluttered when I saw my annual salary figure.”

The person on the other end of the phone laughed softly.

“Is it that simple? Then I can make your maiden heart flutter for a lifetime.”

Ruan Sixian saw herself smiling in the reflection of the car window.

“Then you’d better keep your word.”