Volume One, Chapter Six: Brother Feng, How About We Take a Bath Together?

“Stop dreaming. I will never marry you!” Liu Ruyan snatched the phone from Su Xuemei and shouted.

Then she hung up immediately, grabbed Chen Feng, and headed for the door.

“Where are you going, you stubborn girl? Your mother warned you not to do anything foolish, or else your future is ruined, and the Liu family will suffer with you!” Su Xuemei shouted desperately but couldn’t stop Liu Ruyan from leaving.

“I’m so furious, I’m so furious!” Su Xuemei sat down, clutching her chest in frustration. She looked at the betrothal gifts sent by the Qingcheng Group on the table, then dialed Cheng Sanfei’s number and explained, “Young Master Cheng, don’t take Ruyan’s words to heart. Please don’t be upset.”

“I’ve already accepted the betrothal gifts. Ruyan will definitely marry you. Give me some time, Aunt Su, I’ll persuade her to marry you!” Cheng Sanfei replied.

“Very well, Aunt Su will take care of Ruyan’s matter, then?” Cheng Sanfei asked.

Su Xuemei patted her chest confidently and vowed, “Rest assured, Young Master Cheng. With Aunt Su involved, Ruyan will marry you for sure.”

“By the way, Young Master Cheng, are you attending the Qingcheng Group’s welcome banquet tomorrow night?”

The development of the western suburbs—this lucrative project—had long been coveted by Su Xuemei and the entire Liu family. Securing it would greatly increase the family’s wealth and firmly establish them among the top families in Xinhai.

“I’ll handle it personally. I’ll pick you up tomorrow afternoon,” Cheng Sanfei promised.

“Thank you so much, Young Master Cheng!” Su Xuemei said gratefully.

After hanging up, Su Xuemei kissed each betrothal gift, unable to let go of them.

Meanwhile, Liu Ruyan was speeding along in her sports car with Chen Feng. Eventually, they stopped at the riverside dock in Xinhai City.

She pulled Chen Feng over the fence and they sat on a jagged rock protruding from the shore.

The waves crashed against the stones, and the salty sea breeze brushed their faces.

“Aren’t you happy?” Chen Feng asked, breaking the silence between them as they sat.

Liu Ruyan looked at Chen Feng with tears in her eyes. “Brother Feng, do you think I can be happy? My mother is forcing me to marry Young Master Cheng, and there’s nothing I can do.”

“My mother said she’s right. If I don’t agree, the Liu family will be destroyed. I have no choice. Do you understand?”

Liu Ruyan understood perfectly. They could not afford to offend the Cheng family, nor the Qingcheng Group. In the end, her fate was sealed—she had to marry Cheng Sanfei.

Not even suicide was an option. Cheng Sanfei had threatened that if she tried to escape the marriage by ending her life, he would make sure the entire Liu family perished with her.

“Ruyan, don’t worry as long as I’m here. If you want Cheng Sanfei to disappear, just say the word,” Chen Feng said quietly.

“With just one word from me, the entire Cheng family could vanish without a trace.”

“So you have to be happier. As long as you don’t want to marry him, no one can force you.”

“Of course, if you do want to marry him, that’s another matter entirely.”

Before Chen Feng finished speaking, Liu Ruyan pressed her lips to his, silencing him.

A minute later, her cheeks flushed crimson as she lowered her head. “Brother Feng, do you remember when we were in Tianshan and I said I would never marry anyone but you?”

Chen Feng nodded. “I remember, but that was childish talk. I didn’t take it seriously.”

Liu Ruyan felt a pang of sadness and nervously fiddled with her fingers. “But I always meant it. You’re all I see, all I think about.”

“Brother Feng, can I ask you something?”

Chen Feng nodded slightly.

“If... I mean, if it weren’t for that marriage contract, would you have come to propose to the Liu family?”

Liu Ruyan looked at him expectantly. To Chen Feng, it might have seemed trivial, but to her, it was a belief she’d held for over ten years—something deeply important.

Chen Feng didn’t answer immediately. He gently pinched her flushed cheek. “Silly girl, if you’re willing to marry me, then I’ll marry you, contract or no contract.”

Whether or not those were his true feelings didn’t matter as much as the fact that he was determined to marry her. Otherwise, her twentieth birthday would be her death sentence.

“Thank you, Brother Feng!” Liu Ruyan cried tears of joy, throwing herself into his arms.

Her tears flowed uncontrollably, like a broken dam.

“Enough crying. With Brother Feng here, there’s nothing to worry about,” Chen Feng comforted, patting her shoulder.

Soon, Liu Ruyan wiped her tears, took Chen Feng’s hand, and stood up to head toward the waiting sports car.

“Ruyan, where are you taking me?” Chen Feng asked curiously.

Liu Ruyan didn’t answer until they were inside the car and it started moving. Then, shyly, she said, “To complete the first turning point of my life.”

Chen Feng scratched his head, puzzled.

Soon, Liu Ruyan drove to the entrance of a luxury Western-style hotel, got out, and bought two bottles of 1982 Lafite. Then she drove toward the city center.

Finally, the car stopped in the underground garage of a super six-star hotel. After getting out, Liu Ruyan pulled Chen Feng along to the elevator.

“Ruyan, why are you taking me here? Wouldn’t it be nicer to drink by the seaside?” Chen Feng asked.

He wasn’t short of money, but he thought drinking outdoors by the sea would be more enjoyable—some wine, the ocean breeze, how relaxing.

On the way, Liu Ruyan had been playing with her phone, probably reserving a room.

Room 5520.

Liu Ruyan checked her phone, entered the password, and the door opened.

“Come in,” she said softly, pulling Chen Feng inside with a shy voice.

“Wow, the big city is nice. The rooms are so big and luxurious—so comfortable!” Chen Feng exclaimed.

It was a suite, spacious and lavish to the extreme.

The bed was a waterbed in the shape of a heart.

Chen Feng lay on the waterbed, feeling the soft, exquisite comfort—it was incredibly pleasant.

“Brother Feng, should we drink first or take a bath before drinking?” Liu Ruyan asked quietly, her face flushed.

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s, but Chen Feng heard it clearly.

“Umm... let’s drink first. You’re upset, and I’ll keep you company,” Chen Feng said as he stood.

Realizing something, he added, “Ruyan, what’s the connection between drinking and bathing?”

Liu Ruyan didn’t answer directly, only saying, “Well... I think it’s better to bathe first and then drink...”

Then she walked alone toward the bathroom.

After a while, Liu Ruyan peeked out, extending her delicate, bare hand, her face deeply flushed. “Brother Feng, why don’t you come in too? Like when we were kids in Tianshan, we could bathe together?”

After saying this, her face grew even redder, as if she wanted to disappear from embarrassment.

“Ah... this... this... isn’t really appropriate, is it?” Chen Feng stammered, unsure how to respond. He felt tempted but restrained himself.

“Anyway... anyway, soon I’ll be yours, Brother Feng. Let me take care of you for this bath—after this, there may never be another chance!”

After saying this, Liu Ruyan’s expression grew melancholy, tears welling up in her eyes.