Chapter 34

Ruan Ning had worked herself to the bone at the factory all day. Just when she was hoping to find a quiet spot to doze off, she leaned her head against the car window and gradually fell asleep. Before she knew it, the man in sunglasses pulled up at the harbor and reminded her they had arrived.

Ruan Ning got out of the car in a daze and followed the sunglasses man onto a small motorboat.

The sea was pitch black at night, with a full moon hanging high overhead. Normally, she'd be scared to venture out to a remote place in the dead of night with a stranger. But now she had given up on worrying—she was already here, so she'd just let Bu Chen do whatever he wanted.

Ruan Ning yawned a few times, half awake, half dreaming. In the distance, she heard loud DJ music blaring over the sea. A three-story luxury yacht lay anchored on the water, its lights twinkling and imposing. Through the windows, she could vaguely make out gorgeously dressed, fashionable men and women chatting and laughing.

As the motorboat drew closer, Ruan Ning spotted a man leaning against the railing on the high deck, letting the sea breeze tousle his hair. The dim light revealed broad shoulders and an inverted-triangle silhouette under a loose shirt, with sleek, seductive muscles—carefree and unrestrained.

The man on the deck was getting closer, and Ruan Ning's heart began to tighten.

Bu Chen heard the sound and turned around, waving from afar: "Miss Ruan! What a rare guest!"

Ruan Ning obediently let a group of burly bodyguards help her onto the yacht and lead her to the dimmer side of the deck.

Bu Chen crossed his arms and watched with a grin as she took off her shoes and handed them to a servant, then raised her head to greet him with forced composure: "Young Master Bu."

Bu Chen's peach-blossom eyes curved at the corners, a hint of mockery glinting in them: "Exams are over, so stop with the sour face. Now's the time to relax. After a trip on my yacht, you'll forget your own name by the time you leave."

Ruan Ning stared at her feet and said quietly, "We agreed I'd only stay one day. I have class on Thursday, so I have to leave Wednesday."

Before she could finish, the burly men around her glared down at her with dark faces, forming a gloomy iron curtain. Ruan Ning's spine went cold—she didn't understand what was happening and hastily shuffled back a few steps toward the railing.

She had no idea that Bu Chen's yacht was one of the most exclusive and secretive private clubs in high society. Only a handful of distinguished individuals received invitations to board. The spots were so rare that people would strain every connection and wait months for a single seat. Ruan Ning had no clue that her casual remark had violated the yacht's unspoken rules.

Bu Chen blinked his dark lashes and dismissed his men. Ruan Ning nervously edged closer to the railing. Now only the two of them remained on the deck, their backs to the lights, standing in the pitch-black shadows at the edge.

Bu Chen took a step toward Ruan Ning, a faint, unreadable smile curling at the corner of his mouth. His roguish, handsome face grew larger and larger in her eyes. Fear gripped Ruan Ning's heart like an invisible hand, squeezing the breath out of her.

"W-what are you doing?" Ruan Ning stammered. "Mm—"

Before she could finish, Bu Chen yanked her close and sealed his lips over hers, kissing her fiercely, devouring her soft lips. Ruan Ning slapped his shoulders in panic, pained sounds escaping from her throat. Bu Chen's eyes churned with dark, intense emotions that overwhelmed all her senses. His arms tightened like iron chains, and he forced his way past her lips with a possessive, scorching heat, leaving no room for resistance.

"Mm... let me go..."

"Please..."

Ruan Ning slapped his shoulders desperately as her sobs broke out in fragments between their tangled mouths. Suddenly, Bu Chen regained his senses. He released Ruan Ning and looked at the girl in his arms, her eyes glistening with tears, the corners red from crying.

Ruan Ning's small lips were swollen from the kiss, her apricot eyes moist, her long lashes trembling fragilely like cicada wings.

Bu Chen's gaze paused slightly. He had always handled emotions with ease, but he was surprised that he had lost control over a single sentence she'd said.

His amber eyes clouded over as he scrutinized the fragile, terrified girl in his arms.

He wondered what magic she had that made him unable to forget her. Was it the disdain she showed at their first meeting that sparked his conquest instinct, or the fragile yet stubborn contradiction she occasionally revealed?

All he knew was that he'd been in a low, gloomy mood lately, and only tonight had his spirits cleared. Bu Chen leaned close to her ear and said coldly, "Stay put. Don't even think about running."

Ruan Ning wiped her tears in grievance but said nothing.

But only for a moment—then Bu Chen reverted to his suave, roguish rich-kid persona, striding ahead to lead the way, as if nothing had happened. Ruan Ning pressed her lips together and obediently followed behind him.

Bu Chen lived in luxury, never stinting on his own comfort in food, clothing, or lodging. His private yacht was custom-designed and built at great expense, and it was famous for its extravagance throughout Country A.

The yacht stretched over 80 meters long, spanning three decks and equipped with indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a sauna, a bar, a KTV room, a dance hall, and other entertainment facilities. Every detail, from the hull to the interior, oozed opulence.

The two entered the main hall through the front deck's main entrance.

The yacht's interior was elegant and grand, with custom-designed furniture carefully arranged. Embedded LED lighting flickered on in sections as they walked in, casting a soft, luxurious glow.

Ruan Ning had been awed by the intense luxury since boarding, but stepping into the inner hall, she truly understood the meaning of hedonistic indulgence and earthly paradise. Everywhere she looked was decadent and sensual—she felt like she'd stumbled onto a movie set.

Wealthy young heirs and heiresses were kissing and playing with their companions on sofas and at the bar, making Ruan Ning blush to the tips of her ears and feel utterly out of place.

When the guests noticed Bu Chen, they greeted him respectfully. Bu Chen looked languid, occasionally responding to a few. All the guests on board were pampered scions of similarly wealthy and powerful families, yet clearly Bu Chen's status towered above them all.

People curiously glanced at the young lady following behind Bu Chen. Their probing gazes made Ruan Ning's face flush with embarrassment, and her heart felt like a thousand ants were crawling over it.

Her mind immediately conjured up all sorts of decadent, scandalous rumors about yachts. The thought of having to stay on this boat for who knows how long made her whole body feel like it was being scorched by flames. Her legs felt as heavy as lead, refusing to move.

Bu Chen noticed she'd stopped and turned his head with a smirk: "What's the matter? Can't walk? Should I carry you myself?"

Ruan Ning's swollen lips hadn't yet faded, and she hastily waved her hands in denial: "No, no, I can walk just fine."

She knew very well that she was on Bu Chen's turf, and on a private yacht where 'wind may enter, rain may enter, but the king may not'—the earlier experience had taught her a lesson. Provoking Bu Chen would do her no good at all.

Bu Chen raised his brows casually: "Watch your step. The yacht's huge. If you get lost, you might not be found until we hit the shore."

"Mm." Ruan Ning obeyed meekly.

As they spoke, a provocatively dressed heiress staggered past, drunk, with a male model in her arms.

The male model grinned obsequiously and called out, "Brother Chen," then pressed the elevator button to escort the young lady upstairs. Even as the elevator doors closed, he kept bowing and scraping to Bu Chen.

Although the yacht was said to abolish all land-based rules, Bu Chen was a germaphobe and couldn't stand people shedding their human skin and running wild in front of him.

His rule was: as long as you didn't make a spectacle in the first-floor public hall, once you went upstairs—alone or in a group—shut the door and no one would bother you. So all boarded guests strictly adhered to the master's code.

Bu Chen, disgusted by the smell of alcohol in the elevator, turned and headed for the spiral staircase nearby. Ruan Ning's vision went dark as she stammered, "W-where are you taking me?"

"Where you'll sleep tonight," Bu Chen answered matter-of-factly.

Ruan Ning's heavy legs suddenly sprang back to life: "No, no need. I'll just sit in the living room. I don't need to go upstairs to rest."

Bu Chen raised an eyebrow: "Why not? Miss Ruan, are you saying my humble abode is too shabby?"

"No, no. I'm one hundred percent satisfied," Ruan Ning denied hastily, her mind replaying the heiress entwined with the male model, her lips trembling slightly.

Her weak explanation was, in Bu Chen's eyes, an obvious admission. He sauntered closer: "Since you're satisfied, come upstairs with me and have a look."

Ruan Ning rejected it with every fiber of her being, but she still forced a smile: "Um, I need to go to the restroom."

Tch. Again with the bathroom excuse when things got tough.

Bu Chen scoffed.

"There's a restroom in the bedroom too," Bu Chen said with an enigmatic smile. "Upstairs is your private space. No one can disturb you."

Ruan Ning immediately pictured herself trapped in a room, Bu Chen closing the door and striding toward her with his chin raised, while no matter how loudly she screamed, no one outside would hear.

No. No way.

I don't want to sleep here. Her inner voice screamed. But no matter how fiercely she screamed, it couldn't stop Bu Chen from ascending the stairs.

Ruan Ning nervously went up to the second floor. The floor was deserted, with guest rooms lining both sides, forming a long corridor that stretched endlessly. Her fingers clenched so hard they nearly drew blood, and her heart wailed—she'd only been on the boat for a little over an hour, how was she supposed to endure the endless time ahead?

Bu Chen led her to the end of the corridor and pushed open a guest room. Inside was lavishly decorated, rivaling the executive suites of a five-star hotel on land.

He leaned against the doorframe, lazily playing tour guide: "Tell the steward anything you need. Even if you want something from the other side of the world, it'll be delivered within twenty-four hours."

Bu Chen's tone was casual, but no one could ignore the weight of those words. They hinted that his power reached every corner of the globe, and anything he wanted could be obtained at a moment's notice.

"Of course, the fastest way is—" Bu Chen lifted his gaze, a sly glint flashing in his amber eyes, "—to walk to the next door and knock on mine."

What?

He actually arranged for her to stay right next to his bedroom.

Ruan Ning could no longer hide her panic: "Is there no other room?"

Bu Chen spread his hands innocently: "You came on short notice. All the rooms are full. Only this one's left. Otherwise, you'll have to squeeze in with me."

Ruan Ning stared at him with a mix of anger and grievance—he was the one who'd dragged her here, yet he had the nerve to mock her for arriving too late to get a room.

Suppressing her hurt, she pleaded, "Since I've seen everything, can I go now?"

Bu Chen said leisurely, "There's still one place we haven't seen. Don't you want to sit for a bit?"

"What place?"

Ruan Ning's teeth chattered. Bu Chen had shown her every corner of the yacht. If there was any place left, other than his bedroom, where could it be?

Bu Chen's bedroom was at the very top of the bow, the best spot on the ship. It was the most expensive and luxurious, offering an emperor's view. Open the door, and you faced an endless ocean. And once you went in, no one outside would dare disturb you.

She turned her face away: "No need."

Bu Chen stepped closer, his tall frame blocking the light above her head, his voice as dangerously seductive as a siren's song: "This is a rare opportunity. Who knows—maybe your fate will change."