As he said this, there was a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, making him look quite improper.

Ruan Sixian was stunned for a moment, then raised her hand and lightly patted his cheek before jumping off the sofa.

“You wish.”

Fu Mingyu slowly stood up, with quite a resigned feeling.

“Fine, let’s put it on the tab.”

You’re pretty good at finding a way to save face.

Ruan Sixian turned away without responding to him, picking up the empty glass and taking it to the kitchen sink to wash.

Fu Mingyu followed behind her. Accompanied by the faint sound of running water, he asked, “Not upset anymore?”

Ruan Sixian scrubbed the glass vigorously and made a sound of agreement.

“Then I’ll head back.”

Ruan Sixian kept her head down and said “Thank you” in a barely audible voice.

Fu Mingyu didn’t hear it, but halfway out, he turned back and asked, “Are you free tomorrow afternoon?”

“What is it?”

“Will you come out with me?”

“Where to?”

“A gathering with some friends.”

Ruan Sixian turned to look at him. Although she didn’t say anything, her eyes clearly expressed the question: “Why are you bringing me to a gathering with your friends?”

Is he really clueless or just pretending to be?

Fu Mingyu rotated his neck, sighing a long sigh.

“Other people bring their wives or girlfriends. I don’t want to go alone.”

That sounds quite pitiful.

“Oh, I see.” Ruan Sixian turned back to continue scrubbing the glass, her eyebrows slightly raised. “You could just not go.”

“…”

Fu Mingyu looked down at her, unsure if he had just seen a faint smile at the corner of her mouth.

“Double quarterly bonus. Are you coming or not?”

Ruan Sixian put down the glass with a heavy “thud,” putting on an air of “you think I would succumb for money?”

After a brief silence of a few seconds.

“What time tomorrow?”

That’s right, there’s no need to turn down money.

“Two o’clock.” Fu Mingyu slowly backed out of the kitchen, nodding at her with a smile. “I’ll pick you up.”

The autumn rain came on and off, starting again during the night and lingering until morning, bringing the temperature down along with it.

Ruan Sixian rarely slept so restlessly.

Near dawn, she had a dream—fragmented, illogical, yet interconnected. Scene after scene flashed before her like a lantern show. She wasn’t immersed in it but rather like a spectator.

First, she saw the wall she often climbed as a child suddenly collapse, crushing Dong Xian’s dressing table at home.

Turning around, she saw Dong Xian with a palette, seemingly oblivious, sitting by the window painting an oil painting.

Ruan Sixian moved closer to look, and the painting was actually of her grown-up self.

The memory of the dream blurred at this point. When Ruan Sixian opened her eyes, the clock on the wall pointed to eight o’clock.

She sat up with a start, not having time to dwell on the emotions from the dream, and immediately got out of bed to wash up.

There was a safety training this morning that would likely last until noon. But Fu Mingyu had mentioned two o’clock in the afternoon, and she had originally planned to get up early to get ready. Now it seemed there wouldn’t be time.

Still, rushing here and there, she made it home by twelve-thirty, giving herself an hour and a half to prepare.

An hour and a half wasn’t enough time. Just washing and drying her hair took half an hour.

After finishing her makeup, she had barely twenty minutes left, yet she stood in front of her wardrobe, hesitant.

The temperature had dropped again today, and the weather app reminded her to keep warm. But as Ruan Sixian went back and forth through several coats, she either thought one was too bright or another too thick, making her look like a bear.

She finally selected two options and asked Bian Xuan and Si Xiaozhen for their opinions.

[Bian Xuan]: Why are you being so formal?

Formal?

Maybe a little.

She just had this inexplicable feeling that she couldn’t go out today casually with a bare face.

[Si Xiaozhen]: A date?

Ruan Sixian had already typed “not really,” but after thinking about it, she deleted it.

[Ruan Sixian]: Making money.

After sending this, she ignored the string of question marks the two sent back. Ruan Sixian put down her phone and decided to make the choice herself.

From undergarments to outerwear, despite having exquisite and eye-catching new styles, Ruan Sixian instinctively chose subdued colors suitable for autumn, feeling that she shouldn’t let others see her elaborate preparations.

But hidden little tricks were reflected in her perfume and accessories.

Finally, she had difficulty choosing shoes.

The shoe cabinet was by the entrance. Ruan Sixian glanced over it, feeling somewhat conflicted.

She wanted to wear thin high heels but wasn’t sure what kind of occasion this would be and whether she’d need to walk much.

Just as she hesitated, the doorbell rang.

Ruan Sixian casually opened the door, pushing it slightly, and the door was taken over by Fu Mingyu from outside.

As his vision gradually expanded, it was as if a scroll painting was slowly unfolding. When he saw Ruan Sixian fully, Fu Mingyu’s eyes fixed for a moment, his gaze deepening.

“What are you doing?” Seeing that he didn’t speak, Ruan Sixian beckoned to him. “Help me choose a pair of shoes.”

Fu Mingyu’s gaze shifted inch by inch from her body, finally looking directly at the shoe cabinet and casually pointing to a pair of black thin high heels.

Ruan Sixian looked at those shoes and muttered, “You have expensive taste.”

He picked out her most expensive pair of shoes at a glance.

Fu Mingyu said softly, “What I set my eyes on isn’t expensive?”

?

Ruan Sixian asked while putting on her shoes, “What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

Seeing that she only had one last thing to do, Fu Mingyu stepped back to give her space.

Ruan Sixian put on her shoes picked up her bag and glared at his back as she closed the door.

You dog of a man, don’t think I didn’t hear you.

Acting so stingy, as if an extra quarterly bonus is breaking your heart.

A gust of wind blew through, sending withered yellow leaves fluttering down from the roadside trees. The clouds were scattered a bit, allowing a ray of light to break through the overcast sky that had persisted for days.

Still in the rooftop private room at Warner Manor, Zhu Dong played with the chips in his hand, unable to suppress a yawn.

The girlfriend beside him patted him, “Were you up late again last night?”

Zhu Dong, with drooping eyelids, didn’t speak, which was as good as an admission.

Ji Yan, sitting across from him, glanced at his phone. “My brother won’t be coming; he has something urgent to attend to.”

Zhu Dong immediately perked up and took out his phone. “Then I’ll call Yan’an.”

These few weren’t idle second-generation heirs; each had busy jobs. Free time was scarce to begin with. Zhu Dong had been busy with the increased autumn and winter flight routes for a long time without rest, and the others weren’t necessarily any freer. So if they couldn’t gather a full table to relax today, everyone would be disappointed.

Hearing that Zhu Dong was going to call Yan’an, Ji Yan asked, “Is he free?”

“What could be keeping that honorary director who doesn’t do any real work busy? Plus, he’s single right now, so he doesn’t need to accompany a girlfriend. Let’s call him to come, so Fu Mingyu doesn’t catch us winning money.”

No sooner had he spoken than Yan’an instantly replied, saying he’d be there right away.

Zhu Dong relaxed, waiting for Fu Mingyu. He checked his watch and muttered, “Why isn’t he here yet? Is he putting on makeup for two hours?”

Half an hour later, a Cayenne finally slowly pulled up to the valet stand at Warner Manor’s entrance.

There had been a minor accident on the overpass, causing a traffic jam. They were more than thirty minutes late.

Ruan Sixian got out of the car and checked the time. “Why so early? What are we doing?”

Fu Mingyu: “Playing cards. Do you know how?”

You guys are so boring. I thought it would be some entertainment activity.

“What’s there not to know? It’s just a matter of probability theory.” Ruan Sixian said, “I just haven’t played in a long time.”

Fu Mingyu could somehow hear a sense of pride like that of a card master in her tone.

After entering the hall, Ruan Sixian and Fu Mingyu walked side by side, following the attendant toward the elevator.

On the top floor, there was a long, dim mural corridor. To highlight the ambiance, only wall lamps illuminated it, making it dark and quiet. Even footsteps on the carpet made no sound.

Zheng You’an came out of a side room and caught a glimpse of what seemed to be Fu Mingyu’s back.

She paused slightly, wanting to take a closer look, but the two turned a corner into another corridor.

Why was it “seemed to be”?

She saw the side profile of the woman next to him as they turned the corner, and it appeared to be Ruan Sixian.

Thinking about it, she became confused.

The man beside her probably wasn’t Fu Mingyu, right?

But she wouldn’t mistake something like that, and not just any man could have Fu Mingyu’s physique.

So was that woman not Ruan Sixian?

Zheng You’an became increasingly confused, unsure if her eyes were playing tricks or if her memory was jumbled.

Meanwhile, the attendant opened the door to the private room. Zhu Dong and the others looked up and saw Fu Mingyu. Just as they were about to say something, a woman appeared beside him, and their greetings were swallowed.

Zhu Dong and Ji Yan’s eyes made an inconspicuous circle around Fu Mingyu and Ruan Sixian, their questioning intent obvious.

“You’re here? And who is this?”

Fu Mingyu entered casually, surveying the seats, and said flatly, “A friend.”

After saying this, he turned back and asked, “Where would you like to sit?”

Ruan Sixian: “Anywhere is fine.”

He pointed to a position in the direct north. “You want to play first?”

The implication was that she would directly take a seat at the table.

Ruan Sixian felt somewhat uncomfortable under the gaze of everyone in the room and said softly, “I’m rusty. Let me watch first.”

“Alright, sit beside me.”

The attendant immediately brought over a chair and placed it next to Fu Mingyu, at an angle similar to the position of Zhu Dong’s girlfriend.

After sitting down, Zhu Dong said, “Let me introduce you?”

Fu Mingyu’s arm rested on the back of Ruan Sixian’s chair as he stared at Zhu Dong. “Ruan Sixian.”

“Oh, Miss Ruan.” Zhu Dong stood up and extended his hand. “Zhu Dong, Fu Mingyu’s childhood friend.”

Ruan Sixian was a bit confused by his sudden formality, but she didn’t show it. She calmly shook his hand, and afterward, his girlfriend also nodded to Ruan Sixian.

Then Ji Yan naturally also stood up to greet her.

Some things don’t need to be said aloud. They all understood naturally, with no need to ask more questions. Everyone was composed, providing Ruan Sixian with a relaxed environment.

But that was just what they thought.

How could Ruan Sixian not sense the undercurrent in the atmosphere?

However, since she had decided to come, she had already anticipated the situation.

Fu Mingyu glanced at the clock and asked, “Is anyone else coming?”

Ji Yan: “Yan’an will be here soon.”

Ruan Sixian: “…?”

She sat properly, discreetly kicking Fu Mingyu under the table.

Are you stirring up trouble?

“Yan’an?” Fu Mingyu cleared his throat. To indicate that he wasn’t aware of the situation, he deliberately asked, “You invited him?”

“My brother had something urgent come up, so we need a backup.” Ji Yan asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Fu Mingyu nodded. “It doesn’t matter.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he received another kick.

Fu Mingyu turned to look at her. “Would you like something to eat?”

Ruan Sixian smiled graciously but with a fierce glint in her eyes.

Through gritted teeth, she said, “No need, thank you.”

Zhu Dong chuckled lightly. “So polite.”

This distraction immediately restored Ruan Sixian’s normal expression, but in her heart, she had already mentally chopped Fu Mingyu ten thousand times.

During the few minutes of waiting for Yan’an, Fu Mingyu took out his phone and scrolled through it. Sliding down, he saw two WeChat messages from Zheng You’an sent a few minutes ago.

[Zheng You’an]: Are you at Warner Manor?

[Zheng You’an]: I think I saw you.

Since the incident at the bar, the two hadn’t met again, nor had they had any private contact.

Zheng You’an was incredibly curious, but due to not having Ruan Sixian’s contact information, she wouldn’t have initiated a message to Fu Mingyu otherwise.

Fu Mingyu saw this message and, although not understanding Zheng You’an’s intention, had no plan to reply.

When he checked his phone, he didn’t hide it from Ruan Sixian, so she saw the content.

After exiting the chat, he switched to another page, but a cool voice sounded from behind him.

“Aren’t you going to reply?”

“Reply to what?” Fu Mingyu casually handed his phone to Ruan Sixian. “Do you want to reply?”

His tone was as natural as if he were asking for help to bring a glass of water, so natural that it had a confusing quality. Ruan Sixian had already taken the phone before she felt something was off.

What do you mean by asking me to reply?

She tossed the phone back to him. “Reply yourself.”

Fu Mingyu immediately placed the phone face down on the table and said softly, “I wouldn’t dare.”

Their back-and-forth conversation fell on the ears of others, who all knowingly remained silent.

A few minutes later, the door was opened again by the attendant.

Although Ruan Sixian was mentally prepared for Yan’an’s arrival, she hadn’t expected Zheng You’an to come in with him.

When they recognized each other’s faces, everyone was momentarily stunned.

After a moment, a mix of surprise, shock, and awkwardness pervaded the air between them, hard to describe.

Among the four of them, probably only Fu Mingyu remained emotionally calm.

Ruan Sixian’s expression was almost rigid.

What kind of shura field is this?

Yan’an remained motionless for a long time, seemingly unable to believe the scene before him.

Even more incredulous was Zheng You’an, who stared at Ruan Sixian without blinking.

Ji Yan, oblivious to this strange atmosphere, merely thought Yan’an was curious to see Fu Mingyu bring an unfamiliar woman. He stood up and greeted him: “Why are you so late?”

Then he asked Zheng You’an next to him: “Did you come together?”

Yan’an silently cursed Fu Mingyu’s ancestors for eighteen generations but outwardly maintained an appearance of nonchalance. “We just met, and she said she’d come sit for a while.”

Zheng You’an also knew Zhu Dong and Ji Yan, so no one thought much of it.

Of course, no one knew that she had come to see if that woman from earlier was Ruan Sixian.

Now she had seen the person and confirmed it was her, yet Zheng You’an was even more confused.

“Then let’s all sit together.” Ji Yan urged them to sit down quickly, adding, “This is Miss Ruan.”

His gaze swept over Fu Mingyu, and with a meaningful smile, he said, “A friend brought by Director Fu.”

Smile your ass off.

Yan’an forcefully pulled out a chair, staring intently at the two across from him.

Across from him, one was looking at his phone, and one was drinking water from a cup. Neither responded to his gaze.

Fu Mingyu simply couldn’t be bothered with him, while Ruan Sixian didn’t know what expression to put on, so she just drank water.

Zheng You’an sat next to Yan’an, her gaze moving back and forth between Ruan Sixian and Fu Mingyu.

“Friend?”

Fu Mingyu looked up from his phone at Zheng You’an, then glanced at Ruan Sixian before saying, “What else?”

Ruan Sixian merely pursed her lips without speaking.

Zheng You’an was half-convinced.

Ji Yan had already introduced her as a friend, not a girlfriend, so she thought Ruan Sixian probably wasn’t that blind.

But she still felt something was off.

It was getting late, and Zhu Dong urged everyone to start the game.

Though the mahjong game seemed harmonious, Ruan Sixian tried her best to maintain a normal expression, but she could feel Zheng You’an’s occasional glances.

Stop looking, sister.

Please, I can barely keep my expression together.

Although not deeply acquainted with Zheng You’an, Ruan Sixian felt a sense of guilt about betrayal under her gaze.

Yan’an, unlike Zheng You’an, didn’t display his emotions so openly, but he had directly won against Fu Mingyu several times, which also seemed a form of awkwardness.

Had she known these two would be here, Ruan Sixian wouldn’t have come even if Fu Mingyu offered her ten times the quarterly bonus.

Ruan Sixian noticed that truly only Fu Mingyu remained composed, playing cards while asking if she was cold.

Who could feel cold in this environment? Even her feet were heating up!

“I’m not cold.”

“Mm, the heating here is set low.”

As he spoke, he threw out another tile.

“Pure Suit to the pair! Hu!” Yan’an slammed down his tiles. “Pay up.”

Fu Mingyu smiled and pushed the chips to him. “Mr. Yan has good luck today.”

Yan’an gave a fake smile. “If you lose, just pay up. Don’t talk so much.”

This person is still pretending to be polite while calling them friends.

How could friends be brought to this kind of gathering?

Several more rounds passed, and suddenly Fu Mingyu’s phone rang.

He looked at the caller ID and said to Ruan Sixian, “I need to take this call outside. You take over for me.”

With that, he stood up and went out, leaving the seat empty.

Zheng You’an immediately looked at Ruan Sixian, and that sense of something being off grew stronger.

How could friends be brought to this kind of gathering?

Fortunately, not long after Fu Mingyu left, Zheng You’an was also called by her friends.

She had originally come here for her gathering and had only come over out of burning curiosity after catching a glimpse of Fu Mingyu and Ruan Sixian.

“My friends are calling me. I need to go.”

After Zheng You’an left, Ruan Sixian felt much more relaxed. That sister’s interrogating gaze had finally disappeared along with her.

Ruan Sixian took a deep breath and picked up a tile.

“Hu!” Ruan Sixian laid down her tiles. “Pure Suit.”

Ji Yan and Zhu Dong promptly got their chips. “Alright, a small welcome gift for our first meeting.”

Yan’an raised his eyebrows and silently pushed the chips over.

However, Ruan Sixian’s luck seemed to have been limited to just that first round. Afterward, she suffered continuous setbacks.

By the time Fu Mingyu finished his call and returned, she had a few chips left.

“Do you want to take over?”

“No need.” Fu Mingyu stood behind her, both hands resting on the back of her chair. “I’m a bit tired of sitting. You continue.”

Ruan Sixian thought it was strange. She usually had good luck, but today she was so unlucky.

She refused to believe this jinx.

In the next few rounds, Ruan Sixian was particularly attentive, yet she still couldn’t escape her losing fate.

Fu Mingyu laughed behind her. “Sister, your skills aren’t that good, huh?”

“This luck doesn’t give me a chance to show my skills.” Ruan Sixian’s attention gradually shifted to saving face. She didn’t notice Fu Mingyu leaning forward, one hand on the back of her chair, his face close to her cheek as he reached out to point to a tile. “This one.”

“Don’t speak. I’ll do it myself.”

Ruan Sixian chose another tile to discard, which was immediately claimed by Yan’an with an expressionless face. He then drew another tile and calmly laid down his hand: “Kong on a flower.”

Ruan Sixian: “…”

Fu Mingyu turned to look at Yan’an, smiling brightly, “Mr. Yan couldn’t let her off a bit?”

Yan’an smiled. “Does Director Fu need these few dollars?”

Ruan Sixian stared at the tile, feeling immensely frustrated.

How could she have forgotten that this tile hadn’t appeared yet? Someone was holding it.

A tactical error.

Not long after a new round began, Zhu Dong let his girlfriend play, and just then, an attendant brought in fresh fruit platters.

Fu Mingyu took a crystal fork, speared a piece of orange, and held it to Ruan Sixian’s mouth. “Eat something.”

Fu Mingyu’s natural movements like this often caught Ruan Sixian off guard, especially now that she had tiles in her hands. She instinctively opened her mouth and ate it.

This subtle action probably went unnoticed by only her.

Beside them, Zhu Dong’s girlfriend mimicked them, saying, “I want some too.”

Zhu Dong forked a piece of apple, but before he could feed it to her, he saw Ruan Sixian discard a tile and immediately said, “Hu! Hu!”

His girlfriend’s eyes lit up. She abandoned the apple and quickly laid down her tiles.

Ruan Sixian took a deep breath.

What is going on today?!

Zhu Dong smiled at his girlfriend. “Quickly thank Director Fu for buying you a bag today.”

Zhu Dong’s girlfriend immediately smiled at Fu Mingyu: “Thank you, Director Fu!”

Fu Mingyu smiled without saying anything, while Ruan Sixian was astonished.

These chips can buy a bag?

Do these capitalists always play this big?

With the chips from this losing hand gone, she was empty.

Ruan Sixian looked up at Fu Mingyu. “Should we continue?”

Fu Mingyu turned and took new chips from the attendant’s tray. “Continue.”

“What if I lose again?”

Fu Mingyu found it amusing, playing with the chips in his hand.

If you lose, you lose. What else?

“Otherwise? You’ll pay yourself?”

Ruan Sixian: “…?”

Aren’t I playing for you? Why would I have to pay myself?

“No, you guys play so big, can I afford to lose? Exploiting the middle class?”

Before Fu Mingyu could speak, Zhu Dong’s girlfriend jumped in: “That’s simple! If you lose, a kiss on Director Fu is worth ten thousand.”

?

The atmosphere in the room immediately heated up, with everyone looking at her with ambiguous smiles.

Ruan Sixian’s ears, hidden under her hair, instantly turned red.

Yet someone echoed, “Sounds good to me. Talking about money is so boring.”

Fu Mingyu lowered his gaze to look at Ruan Sixian, the chips turning in his hand, making a light sound. His gaze wasn’t particularly gentle; rather, it had a hint of challenge in it—are you backing out?

Ruan Sixian felt a tickle in her throat and turned away, not looking at Fu Mingyu.

Her emotions were in turmoil, unable to sort out her feelings.

Just then, Zheng You’an pushed the door open again. Seeing the strange atmosphere, she asked, “What’s going on?”

No one spoke.

But her interruption gave Ruan Sixian room to maneuver.

She pushed down the tiles in front of her and said, “I won’t necessarily lose.”

Surrounded by everyone’s ambiguous gazes, Ruan Sixian drew tiles for the last hand.

With this different stake, everyone’s interest was heightened. They played cautiously, as if military strategists laying out a battle plan.

Only Yan’an’s mood was at odds with the others.

Twice.

Yan’an cursed inwardly.

It had happened twice now—women he was interested in had turned toward Fu Mingyu.

The time for this hand seemed to be stretched infinitely slow.

With only a few tiles left on the table, the situation wasn’t yet clear.

Fu Mingyu, however, holding his chips, leisurely sat down on the sofa behind, relaxing and casually picking up the wine on the table.

Suddenly, Yan’an discarded four of the bamboo. Ruan Sixian paused for a moment, then immediately took it.

“Kong.”

Ji Yan looked at the tiles on the table and turned to ask Yan’an, “Are you letting her win?”

Yan’an frowned slightly. “I made a mistake.”

Ruan Sixian wasn’t sure how they handled this situation, but Fu Mingyu’s voice came from behind: “Once placed, no regrets.”

Yan’an turned to look at Fu Mingyu with complex emotions, inwardly sneering.

Pretending to be a gentleman.

Since that was the case, Ruan Sixian accepted this tile with a clear conscience.

She drew a tile, pondered for a long time, then discarded it.

Zhu Dong’s girlfriend, who had been keeping a low profile, suddenly laid down her tiles.

“Pure Suit, hey, sorry about that, little sister.”

The entire room instantly fell silent, with even the ticking of the clock audible.

Several gazes converged on Ruan Sixian, emotions varied but intense enough to burn.

Zheng You’an didn’t know what was happening but followed the crowd in looking at Ruan Sixian.

Ruan Sixian sat motionless, and the person on the sofa behind also seemed still.

Ruan Sixian was almost pushed by this atmosphere to turn around.

Fu Mingyu reclined lazily on the sofa, his body completely relaxed. He raised an eyebrow.

Perhaps due to the alcohol, his gaze became somewhat dreamy, seemingly deliberately enticing, as if saying, “Come on, time to pay your debt.”