Chapter 27

Ruan Ning's eyes were wet, her nose twitching, like a fawn caught in a trap, kicking desperately against the walls. But beneath her feet was only a thick layer of dead leaves, crunching with each movement.

"Rest assured, I have absolutely no improper intentions toward Jiang Yihao. I can agree to any other condition, but leaving him is the one thing I can't do. If you still don't believe me, I swear—if I ever swindle a single cent out of Jiang Yihao, may I be struck by lightning! Does that convince you?"

When Ruan Ning uttered those words, "struck by lightning," Bu Chen's brow twitched and furrowed involuntarily.

Ruan Ning's oath sworn on her own life did not satisfy her captor. On the contrary, it stirred the dangerous aura he usually kept dormant.

Bu Chen bent down and lightly lifted her chin, forcing her to look directly into his amber eyes. His voice was slightly husky: "Not after his money, not after his status, and still unwilling to leave Jiang Yihao?"

Ruan Ning's cheeks burned with shame, her breathing short, driven more by helplessness than anything else: "I think I've made myself clear. Young Master Bu, Jiang Yihao and I are purely friends who respect each other. There is absolutely nothing beyond friendship between us."

Bu Chen's indifferent expression was like a mask, his eyes devoid of any ripple of emotion.

Although Ruan Ning was completely unaware, he had personally witnessed Jiang Yihao's dazed staring and foolish smiling at that dragonfly for the past month.

The moment he realized Ruan Ning was the dragonfly's owner, a chill seeped through the cracks of his bones. He feigned composure and shared a meal with the two of them, his knuckles leaving misty fingerprints on the wine glass.

"Is that so? Miss Ruan is truly devoted to Hao."

"I never repeat myself."

Bu Chen's oppressive aura swept over her like a violent storm at sea. Ruan Ning's lashes trembled uncontrollably, desperately trying to hide but finding no escape.

Ruan Ning felt exhausted. She had already sworn a deadly oath—what more did he want? She truly didn't know what she could do to make Bu Chen spare her. Did he really want her to vanish from the world to be satisfied?

Suddenly, her autumn-water eyes fixed on Bu Chen without blinking, a hint of seductive color blooming at the corners of her eyes. Her voice, low and hoarse, took on a bewitching quality: "Young Master Bu seems especially concerned about me. Could it be that you've taken a liking to me?"

Bu Chen narrowed his eyes, neither confirming nor denying, then let out a low laugh from his throat.

Ruan Ning was now a completely different person from the timid, frightened girl of moments ago. Her red lips curved into a faint smile as she turned and looped her arms around Bu Chen's neck: "I never imagined that the great Young Master Bu, who brushes past a hundred flowers without a single leaf clinging to him, would waste his thoughts on a small fry like me. What an honor."

A flicker of surprise passed through Bu Chen's eyes, as if he hadn't expected Ruan Ning to pull this move. A hint of roguish smile curled at the corners of his eyes.

"Or is it that Miss Ruan is truly versatile—a dignified, elegant honor student by day, and shining bright in nightclubs by night? I'm the one who's been enlightened by you, Miss Ruan."

Ruan Ning snorted coldly, ignoring his teasing. Her fingers traced light, teasing circles on his palm as she breathed softly into his ear: "Young Master Bu, since we've come this far, how about we make a deal..."

A sweet, alluring atmosphere instantly filled the space around them. Bu Chen, seasoned in the game of love, was fully immune to women's seductive tricks. Though he didn't blush like a green youth, his body tensed for a brief moment the instant Ruan Ning curled her lips.

"What terms? Let's hear them." Bu Chen nibbled her ear, his tone rakish and laced with a hint of amusement.

This was the way he liked to talk. Since they both knew each other's cards, why not shed the masks and speak openly?

At the moment their eyes clashed, a few more servants passed by pushing food trolleys. They would never have imagined that in a corner of their master's lavish mansion, the two protagonists they'd been watching all afternoon were secretly meeting out of sight.

"Young Master Bu is a businessman, and my family happens to be in business too. Of course, my family's humble operations can't compare to your business empire, but the principle of doing business is the same—it's about offering a price both sides can accept. I only ask that Young Master Bu show mercy and not ruin my peaceful life. Everything else, I can agree to."

Ruan Ning was throwing caution to the wind. Since he had leverage over her, and it was Bu Chen of all people, why bother fighting a losing battle? She had witnessed his domineering, ruthless madness before. What could she, a weak woman without the strength to truss a chicken, do against the eldest son of the Duke of Banting?

For now, she just had to stabilize this side. She could plan her next move after getting her reward from Bai Xingmiao.

The coquettishness in Ruan Ning's voice gradually faded, leaving behind a hard, unyielding undertone.

Bu Chen looked at her negotiating with such seriousness and found it oddly endearing.

Today she wore a cream-colored ladylike coat, washed clean of the garish makeup and the filth of the nightlife. Her bearing was cool and pristine, though her proud, unyielding spirit was the same inside and out.

Bu Chen raised an elegant brow, as if he had already discerned what was on Ruan Ning's mind. A mix of mockery and indulgence swirled in his gaze, laced with a sharpness not to be ignored: "I'm telling you to stay away from Jiang Yihao for your own good. To be precise, the farther you stay from the Jiang family, the better."

Ruan Ning shot back a sarcastic look: "And then run into your arms, the notorious playboy, and that's supposed to be safe?"

Bu Chen chuckled lightly: "Why not? Everyone knows I cherish the fairer sex. Mess with me all you want, but mess with my darling—that's not allowed."

Ruan Ning was speechless. How could there be such a shameless person in this world?

"Since we're both agreed, let's consider it a deal. As long as you don't interfere with my normal life, I can agree to whatever conditions you propose, as long as they're not too excessive."

Bu Chen's nose suddenly pressed up against hers, his dreamy light eyes smiling at her: "What counts as 'not too excessive'?"

Ruan Ning's face instantly turned red as a tomato. She turned her head away, silent and unresponsive.

Bu Chen released her: "Fine, fine, you call the shots."

Ruan Ning raised her eyelids: "So you agree?"

Bu Chen turned and walked away, leaving her a carefree silhouette: "As long as you don't breach the terms of the contract, I'll naturally honor it. In business, integrity is everything."

The two hadn't taken two steps when Jiang Yihao's voice came from afar: "Ruan Ning, A-Bu, where did you two go?" accompanied by the calls of some servants: "Young Master Bu, Miss Ruan, where are you?"

The two exchanged a glance.

The more Jiang Yihao thought about what had happened today, the more suspicious it seemed. Bu Chen rarely paid so much attention to girls, yet he was watching Ruan Ning at every turn, as if the two had known each other all along.

As soon as the thought popped into Jiang Yihao's head, he dismissed it. Ruan Ning was honest and proper, never going to shady places. How could she possibly know Bu Chen?

After thinking it over, Jiang Yihao concluded it must be his friend's old habit acting up at the sight of a girl. His anger flared instantly. Usually he never meddled in Bu Chen's wild ways, but if he dared to bully Ruan Ning, he would be the first to not let it slide.

So Jiang Yihao grew more uneasy about letting Ruan Ning out of his sight. He ordered the servants to join the search, and eventually found Ruan Ning in the pet room.

Ruan Ning was squatting on the floor playing with three dogs, while Bu Chen stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe guarding the entrance. A golden retriever, a German shepherd, and a Bernese mountain dog surrounded Ruan Ning, licking and nuzzling her, barking excitedly.

"You two were together this whole time?" Jiang Yihao glanced at the two of them, a faint trace of tension in his voice.

Ruan Ning hastily explained: "Sorry, I just got lost a moment ago. I happened to run into Young Master Bu."

"Is that so." Jiang Yihao's suspicious gaze swept back and forth between their faces. Bu Chen's expression was calm, while Ruan Ning turned to pet the dogs: "So cute!"

"Careful!" Jiang Yihao rushed over in a single stride, lowering his voice to command the three barking dogs, "Sit. Don't scare the guest."

Jiang Yihao's three dogs were overly excitable around people. Not everyone liked dogs, and some people were naturally afraid of them. Afraid Ruan Ning might be one of them, he had kept them locked up and away from guests.

"You're not afraid of dogs? Where were you two? I searched everywhere. He didn't do anything to you, did he?" Jiang Yihao anxiously pulled Ruan Ning up, while his mind kept an eye on Bu Chen leaning against the doorframe.

Ruan Ning suppressed her slightly trembling cheeks and put on a flawless smile: "I'm fine, just got lost. Are these your dogs? They're so cute."

Jiang Yihao crouched down to pet the dogs with Ruan Ning, shooting a glance at Bu Chen, pointing at the golden retriever, the German shepherd, and the Bernese mountain dog respectively: "Yeah, these are all my troublemakers. This one's Hello, this one's Gunner, and this one's Caramel."

Ruan Ning could see Jiang Yihao's suspicion and tried hard to soothe his mood: "They're really well-behaved. How old are they?"

Bu Chen noticed Jiang Yihao's occasional glances and let out a derisive laugh: "By the way, it was this golden retriever that chewed up your lapel pin."

"Bu Chen, what the hell is wrong with you today?" Jiang Yihao shot to his feet, and the three dogs barked in unison.

Ruan Ning quickly grabbed him: "A-Hao, don't be upset. It's all my fault—I got so caught up playing with the dogs that I lost track of time. It's getting late now; let's head back to the dining room and continue our meal."

Jiang Yihao also wanted to get Ruan Ning back as soon as possible, so he stopped talking and let her lead him away. As Ruan Ning passed by Bu Chen, she shot him a look that said, "Remember our agreement."

Bu Chen curled his lips in a smile and lazily trailed behind them back to the dining room.

Back at the table, whether it was because Bu Chen was in a better mood after Ruan Ning's promise, or because Ruan Ning was good at lightening the atmosphere, the three finished lunch in a harmonious and pleasant mood.

Ruan Ning kept her agreement in mind and didn't linger. She immediately excused herself, saying she wasn't feeling well, and returned to her dormitory. Jiang Yihao tried repeatedly to persuade her to stay, but to no avail. Reluctantly, he had someone escort her back.

Jiang Yihao lingered by her window, unwilling to part. Ruan Ning responded gently to him again and again, while Bu Chen stood behind Jiang Yihao, watching her with a flirtatious smile in his peach-blossom eyes.

After seeing Ruan Ning off, Jiang Yihao returned to the house and slammed the door shut. His bright, innocent smile instantly turned into a cold, icy rain: "Bu Chen, you owe me an explanation today!"