Chapter 011: Look, She’s in Tears, Isn’t She?

Chapter 011: Look, She's in Tears, Isn't She?

The current He An was a world apart from the cold, domineering male lead in the original story. He would get emotional at the drop of a hat and even force kisses, leaving Ruan Qinghuan completely unprepared.

The commotion in the courtyard continued, but Ruan Qinghuan's mind went blank.

Just as Ruan Qinghuan was lost in self-reflection, He An took her hand and led her out the door.

Seeing this, Xia Lian stood behind Ruan Qinghuan, resentful, and thought to herself that Liu Yueru could change her demeanor faster than flipping a book.

Liu Yueru also put on a gentle and graceful appearance, carrying a tray herself, and walked up to the two with a smile. "Elder Brother He An, Miss Ruan, I've cooked some sweet soup and brought it for you two to try."

Elder Brother He An?

Miss Ruan?

Although Ruan Qinghuan didn't want to compete with her, she truly admired Liu Yueru's intelligence. Did she really think of He An as a fool who couldn't resist women?

In a moment of verbal sparring, she revealed her own ulterior motives.

Ruan Qinghuan had intended to give her an out, but before she could ask Xia Lian to take the soup bowl from her, she heard He An say coldly, "Miss Liu, the Prime Minister's residence has its own rules. As a guest, you should stay in the guest room. There's no need for you to do the cooking or serving of tea. My wife prefers peace and quiet, so please do not disturb us unnecessarily."

Liu Yueru: "..."

Ruan Qinghuan: "..."

Liu Yueru hadn't expected him to be so blunt. He An and her elder brother had a bond of friendship that went through life and death, and he had always been polite to her before. This sudden shift left Liu Yueru with reddened eyes.

"It is I, Yueru, who has been clueless, causing Elder Brother He An trouble."

Look, she's in tears, isn't she?

Ruan Qinghuan expected He An to offer at least a few words of comfort, but she was reminded of his blunt, straightforward nature. "In the future, you may refer to her as Madam or Young Madam, so that there is proper etiquette between host and guest."

No matter how reluctant Liu Yueru was, she bowed and said, "Yueru understands."

Watching Liu Yueru leave through the half-moon gate, Ruan Qinghuan suddenly felt a pang of emotion. If the original owner hadn't acted impulsively, she wouldn't have ended up in Liu Yueru's trap.

Hot water had already been prepared, and Ruan Qinghuan continued to sit at the desk reading, yawning repeatedly but forcing her eyes open.

"Madam, aren't you going to bathe?"

"Sir first, sir first..."

When He An went to the bathhouse, Ruan Qinghuan slammed the book on the desk, feeling both frustrated and helpless. She really hadn't expected that He An would actually be staying at Changchun Garden.

Xia Lian, giving Ruan Qinghuan a knowing look, cheerfully brought their nightclothes and said, "Wishing Madam and Sir a peaceful night."

She deliberately emphasized the word 'sleep,' and Ruan Qinghuan couldn't explain.

Xia Lian, with her straightforward nature, might let something slip in front of her mother one day, and that would be troublesome.

When the bathroom door opened, Ruan Qinghuan quickly propped up the book and yawned repeatedly, staring at the characters on the page.

He An, with his simple clothes' collar open, revealing his wheat-colored, firm chest, dried his hair and glanced at the desk, unable to help but chuckle.

Assuming he was greeting her, Ruan Qinghuan gave a couple of nervous chuckles in response.

"Do you usually read books upside down like this, my lady?"

Ruan Qinghuan: "..."

Mortified, she bolted toward the bathroom, muttering, "I need to take a bath."

He An picked up the book she had been reading—a local geography guide—and saw that the page, which showed mountain ranges, was upside down.

It was clear just how distracted she had been.

Seeing that Ruan Qinghuan hadn't come out for more than half an hour, He An frowned slightly and approached the bathroom door, gently knocking twice. There was no response.

He knocked again, still no response...

His peaceful expression turned serious, a flash of worry crossing his face. After a brief hesitation, he pushed the door open and walked in quickly, past the screen...

Ruan Qinghuan in the bath tub was leaning against the edge, her eyes closed, her breathing shallow. Her hair floated on the water's surface, partially concealing her soft figure, which moved gently with her breath.

Seeing this scene, He An's throat tightened, and something inside him stirred.

When Ruan Qinghuan woke up, she was wrapped in a blanket and placed on the bed. The moment she saw He An, her mind went blank, and in panic, she rolled deeper into the blanket and stayed completely still.

He An: "..."

Was she really that resistant to him?

A hint of displeasure rose in He An's heart. He could force the situation, but he worried it would scare her.

With a helpless sigh, he turned and went back to the bathroom.

Soaking in the now-cool bath tub, something began to flow from his nose. He An wiped it with a handkerchief, closed his eyes in frustration, and sighed.

**

The next morning, Ruan Qinghuan slowly opened her eyes. The sunlight filtered through the curtains, and as her dazed eyes lifted to see He An, the yawn she had been holding back vanished, and her mind instantly cleared.

Recalling the events of the previous night, Ruan Qinghuan was struck with a shocking realization. The blanket that had been wrapped around her was gone, and she was completely naked. Even more unacceptable was the fact that she was tightly pressed against He An, her limbs draped over him.

Thankfully, he was in a deep sleep.

Thankfully, she had woken up first.

In her flustered state, she quickly pulled the blanket over herself and scanned the room. She then remembered that Xia Lian had placed their simple clothes on the tray on the table.

When He An carried her out of the bath tub last night, didn't he see everything?

How could he have barged into the bathroom like that?

Her heart raced, pounding in her ears. She couldn't stay here forever—she needed to get dressed before He An woke up, or it would be too awkward.

After three deep breaths, Ruan Qinghuan’s heart rate slowed. As she slipped out from under the blanket, a chill swept over her. Moving the blanket with her, she struggled to navigate around He An, who lay beside her.

As she moved one leg over He An and placed her foot on the bed, followed by one hand, Ruan Qinghuan bit her lip and stared at him nervously. Just as she was about to complete her mission, He An suddenly opened his eyes...

Startled, Ruan Qinghuan lost her balance and tumbled onto him. Without thinking, she blurted out, "I just wanted to get up and put on some clothes!"

The moment the words slipped out, she regretted them. His gaze traveled downward, and in a panic, she buried her face in his chest, like a frightened animal seeking refuge.

There was a knock at the door. He An quickly grabbed her waist, gently laid her back on the bed, and pulled the blanket over them both.

Feeling the warmth of his hand, Ruan Qinghuan was too scared to move.

When Xia Lian received no response after knocking a couple of times, she turned and left with the basin. As she walked out, she casually noticed Liu Yueru and her maid in the neighboring courtyard, peeking into Changchun Garden.

Inside the room, He An’s breathing grew heavy as he watched Ruan Qinghuan curled up under the blanket. His voice was low and rough. "I can’t wait any longer, my wife."