The police contacted Ren Tianhai, who could hardly believe what Ye Linzhen and her son had done. He exploded with anger over the phone, wishing he could rush back to his precious daughter’s side immediately and teach that despicable mother-son duo a lesson. Following Ren Tianhai’s arrangements, the police took Ren Yunshen to the hospital for treatment. Ren Tianhai also dispatched subordinates from the Haike headquarters to look after him, while he booked the earliest flight back to Liao City for the next day.
The incident finally drew to a close, but the ordeal had dragged on until 10:30 PM. Ruan Yu stood at the main gate of the Ren residence, watching the police cars disappear into the distance, when she suddenly remembered she needed to return to school.
“Teng Hao, I have to go. See you tomorrow.” Ruan Yu waved at Teng Hao and was about to run, but just as she took her first step, she felt someone grab her backpack strap from behind, stopping her in her tracks.
She turned around irritably to find Teng Yi standing beside her.
“Can you even get in at this hour?” he asked.
“I can get in after getting scolded.”
“Don’t go back. Stay at my place.”
“No, let go of me!”
Ruan Yu struggled a few times, but Teng Yi wouldn’t release his grip.
“There’s no public transport at this hour. How will you get back?”
“I can take a taxi.”
“It’s too dangerous for a girl to take a taxi this late at night.”
“Then what do you suggest? Will you take me?”
“Take you? Why should I take you?” He raised his lip, mimicking her cold tone from earlier at the police station: “We’re not that close.”
Ruan Yu stood her ground, challenging him: “Right, we’re not close, so why are you inviting me to sleep at your place?”
Teng Yi sighed helplessly – arguing with a logically-minded top scholar was truly exhausting.
“Enough.” He tightened his grip slightly, pulling Ruan Yu in front of him. “Can we stop this?”
Ruan Yu pressed her lips together, still holding onto her anger.
“If you don’t want to be close to me, fine. We won’t be.” Teng Yi glanced at Teng Hao. “But you’re close to him, so stay at his place.”
Ruan Yu: “…”
This man was too crafty!
Teng Hao, who had been watching from the side, couldn’t take it anymore. He yawned, “Miss Top Scholar, stop being stubborn. My brother’s just looking out for you. Besides, what’s wrong with staying one night? We’re not interested in you anyway.”
“Kid, watch what you’re saying,” Teng Yi shot Teng Hao a look.
“It’s true, unless you’re interested?”
Teng Yi remained silent, but Ruan Yu’s face turned red first.
“Alright, alright! I’ll stay! Just stop talking nonsense!”
Teng Hao shrugged.
Teng Yi led Ruan Yu toward the Teng family’s front door.
Once inside, it was much warmer than outside.
Teng Yi removed his suit jacket and quickly went upstairs.
Ruan Yu and Teng Hao went to the living room, where their tense nerves finally relaxed. Both feeling exhausted, they collapsed onto the sofa.
“That Ren Zhuo, I knew he was no good the moment I saw him. If I’d known he was this perverted, I would have hit him even harder,” Teng Hao said, looking at Ruan Yu. “Miss Top Scholar, wasn’t I cool today?”
“Yes, yes, yes, you’re truly a hero who eliminates evil for the people,” Ruan Yu flattered him.
Teng Hao got even more excited. He flexed his arm, “Well, now this hero is thirsty. Go get him some water.”
Ruan Yu glared at him, and he glared back.
“Go on!”
Ruan Yu had no choice. After all, she was staying at their place tonight, and she couldn’t be too stubborn. Besides, Teng Hao had indeed done a good deed, so this level of indulgence was warranted.
She walked toward the bar counter.
On the wooden tray at the bar, there had originally been two identical ceramic cups, but now there were three. She hadn’t visited the Teng house in a long time and didn’t know when this additional cup had appeared, or whose it was.
It must be Shen Bing’s, she guessed.
Ruan Yu casually picked up one cup and turned it over to look at the bottom. There was a pair of small wings. She put it down and picked up another. When she saw the pattern on the bottom of this cup, her breathing suddenly slowed.
She unconsciously touched the earring on her ear.
A small fish.
The bottom of that cup had the same small fish pattern as her earrings.
“A reward,” Teng Yi’s voice came from behind.
Ruan Yu turned around.
“I owed you a reward,” he walked to her side.
“You still remember,” Ruan Yu was somewhat delighted.
“Always have.” He picked up his own cup and poured half a glass of water, then looked at her with apparent casualness, “Do you like this reward? Little Fish.”
His voice was melodious and pleasing to the ear.
Little Fish.
It seemed like he was calling her, yet also possibly just referring to the pattern on the bottom of the cup.
Ruan Yu’s heart started racing again, like a deer returning to the forest.
He always managed to do this – easily control her heartbeat and disturb her composure.
“Miss Top Scholar!” Teng Hao shouted from the living room, “Why are you taking so long to pour a glass of water?”
Ruan Yu quickly put down the cup in her hand, picked up Teng Hao’s cup, filled it with water, and carried it out. She deliberately avoided Teng Yi’s gaze, as well as that question.
“Here’s your water!” Ruan Yu placed the cup in front of Teng Hao.
Teng Hao looked at her.
“What’s wrong with your face?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s red.”
Ruan Yu tried to act casual: “Is it as red as when you were hugging the neighbor’s little girl?”
“Shut up!” Teng Hao was embarrassed.
Teng Yi walked over with a smile and lightly kicked Teng Hao’s leg.
“Go take a shower.” Then he turned to Ruan Yu, “You should go rest too. You’ll sleep in my room tonight. I’ve left some clean clothes on the bed for you.”
“I’ll sleep in your room, then where will you sleep?”
“I’ll squeeze in with Teng Hao.”
“How can that work?” She couldn’t bear to take over his room like that.
“Then what do you suggest? Don’t tell me you want to squeeze in with me?” Teng Hao smirked from the side, “I already told you I’m not interested in you.”
“I meant I could sleep on the couch,” Ruan Yu said.
“Let a young lady sleep on the couch while we two guys take the beds? We wouldn’t be able to sleep even if you could!” Teng Hao said righteously.
“Oh my, you’re not even fully grown and you’re calling yourself a guy?”
“Say that again!” Teng Hao grabbed a throw pillow from the sofa, threatening to throw it at Ruan Yu. “Want me to hit you?”
“You can’t even bear to let a girl sleep on the couch, how could you bring yourself to hit one?”
Teng Hao was completely outmaneuvered by Ruan Yu, his face reddening again. He vigorously squeezed the pillow in his arms to vent his frustration.
Teng Yi watched them bicker from the side, saying nothing, just smiling.
“Brother! Remember what I said before! The first time I met her, I knew I would never like her!”
“Who needs you to like me? I’m not here to date you!” Ruan Yu laughed.
Teng Hao: “…”
Why did these words sound so familiar?
This was Ruan Yu’s first time entering Teng Yi’s room.
His room was larger than Teng Hao’s, with a minimalist style throughout. From the walls to the cabinets to the bedding, everything was in classic black, white, and gray. A huge mural hung on the wall above the bed – the artist had used just a few simple strokes to outline a tape recorder and a street dancer doing a one-handed handstand, abstract yet unmistakable. The most elaborate features were the light fixtures. The ceiling light was grand, while several floor lamps were positioned by the bed, sofa, and corners, each serving its purpose while also acting as decoration.
What caught Ruan Yu’s attention as soon as she entered was the jasmine plant on the windowsill. Its emerald leaves and pure white flowers brought a touch of life to the room.
Ever since Teng Hao had called her to the practice room for tutoring, Ruan Yu had been worried about this small jasmine plant. She hadn’t expected Teng Yi to move it to his room, even repotting it and taking such good care of it.
“Hi.”
She reached out to touch the jasmine’s branches and leaves as if greeting an old friend. A warmth filled her heart, and her tension melted away.
The clean clothes Teng Yi had prepared for her were on the bedside – a white T-shirt and light-colored sweatpants, clearly men’s sizes.
Ruan Yu took off her jacket, grabbed the clothes, and entered the bathroom.
The bathroom also followed the black, white, and gray color scheme, spacious and elegant. Besides Teng Yi’s toiletries, there was an unopened set of toothbrushes and towels on the sink.
So that’s why he had rushed upstairs earlier – to prepare these for her.
How could there be such a thoughtful and attentive guy?
Ruan Yu carefully began her evening routine, trying not to leave even a single hair or trace in his bathroom. When she took off her clothes, her elbow hurt particularly badly. Only then did she notice that the scraped area on her arm was red and swollen?
Teng Yi’s bathroom had no bathtub, only a shower. Ruan Yu endured the pain in her arm as she showered. While blow-drying her hair afterward, she also dried her freshly washed underwear.
Just as she finished getting dressed, there was a knock at the door.
Ruan Yu startled, quickly stuffed her clothes into the storage bag, double-checked that the bathroom was spotlessly clean after her use, and then went to open the door.
Teng Yi stood outside.
He had also showered, wearing a similar white T-shirt and sweatpants, emanating a fresh soap fragrance.
“All done?” he asked.
“Mm.” Ruan Yu leaned against the door, feeling somewhat shy about looking at him. “Did you need something?”
“To apply medicine for you.” He showed her the ointment in his hand, reminding her, “Your arm.”
“I can do it myself.”
Ruan Yu reached out to take the ointment from his hand, but he pulled back, keeping it out of her reach.
“I’ll help you,” Teng Yi said.
“That’s not necessary.”
“What? Afraid I’ll eat you up if I come in?” He smiled slightly. “I didn’t realize you were so timid.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“That’s not what I meant either.”
Ruan Yu still hesitated.
Teng Yi looked at her, “If you don’t let me help you now, how can I ask for your help in the future?”
Ruan Yu knew he was referring to the Yunnan Baiyao spray and ointment from the practice room.
“If I don’t help you, there are plenty of others who can,” she muttered softly.
“What did you say?” He hadn’t heard clearly.
“I said, thank you for your help then!”
She released her grip on the door, letting him enter. As he passed by her, whether intentionally or not, his arm lightly brushed against her shoulder.
Ruan Yu quickly stepped aside, but moved too hastily and dramatically, making him laugh.