Chapter 019: Is He Here to Pick a Fight on Purpose Today?

Chapter 019: Is He Here to Pick a Fight on Purpose Today?

The spring night stretched on, and a light drizzle began to fall. Looking out the rear window, a few willow branches could be seen stretching toward the window.

Ruan Qinghuan had been busy all day in the eastern street and was exhausted, but her mood was surprisingly good.

Since He An wasn’t at the residence, she felt free to relax and soak in the bath to unwind. "Xia Lian, you got a lot of dust cleaning the shop today. Go wash up and rest early. We have an appointment with a craftsman tomorrow, so we need to leave early."

"Yes, young miss. If you need anything, just let me know."

Ruan Qinghuan yawned, thinking that once He An's cousin arrived, she'd find a way to go back to the Ruan residence for a bit and surprise her mom.

Wondering what gifts to prepare for her mother and grandmother, she realized that since the Ruan family was wealthy and lacked nothing, competing based on the value of the gifts alone would be meaningless.

A night breeze blew, and Ruan Qinghuan had a sudden inspiration. As the weather was gradually getting hotter, she would embroider two fan surfaces for her mother and grandmother. That way, when they fanned themselves in the heat, they would think of her.

Just as she was thinking happily, the bathroom door was suddenly slammed open, startling Ruan Qinghuan.

Turning around, she saw He An, drunk, staring at her with dark eyes. Ruan Qinghuan's heart raced. "My lord, you're back. I’ll finish up soon, and I’ll have someone bring you some tea to help with the hangover."

He An remained standing still, not moving an inch.

Ruan Qinghuan forced a nervous smile. "Would you mind waiting outside for me?"

"Outside?" He An's eyes were cold. "Is it not permissible for me to enter my own room?"

Ruan Qinghuan: "..."

Is he here to pick a fight on purpose today?

"It's not that... I'm just not convenient right now... ah..."

Before Ruan Qinghuan could finish, He An had already come beside the bath tub and pulled her out of the water, causing her to cry out in surprise. The cold wind seemed to blow directly into her mind, leaving her confused.

"What is there that I haven't seen? What are you afraid of?" He An pinched her chin and leaned in. "Or is there someone else in your heart?"

"My lord is drunk. Please let me go. Let's talk it out calmly."

He An looked as if he wanted to devour her, and Ruan Qinghuan's body trembled uncontrollably. Where had he been for the past few days, and what was wrong with him today?

Ignoring the fact that her wet hair was soaking his robes, He An held her in his arms, his strong hand gripping her waist to prevent her from falling like last time.

Everywhere He An touched felt like it was on fire, and Ruan Qinghuan struggled to break free. "He An, you're drunk. Let me go."

He threw her onto the bed, and Ruan Qinghuan quickly tried to escape, reaching for the clothes behind the screen. But He An effortlessly pulled her back, his face becoming even more upset. "So, you really think you can run?"

"I don't." Ruan Qinghuan's heart pounded, and she could only offer a random explanation, not knowing what had happened.

"You don't?" He An let her go again, his eyes becoming even more dangerous.

At this point, Ruan Qinghuan didn’t dare to run anymore, but her eyes were red with anger, and a strong sense of humiliation welled up in her heart.

What gave him the right to treat her like this?

Ruan Qinghuan clenched her fists, but her remaining sense of reason told her not to provoke him. She tried to calm her tone. "My lord, what exactly have I done to make you so angry? Can we please talk it out clearly?"

He An sat on the bed, pulling Ruan Qinghuan into his arms with the confidence of someone who knows he has complete control. "What has my lady done that she asks me?"

"If you don’t like me running the business, I can stop." Ruan Qinghuan thought for a long time but could only come up with her recent involvement with the shop in the eastern part of the city.

He An's hands restlessly held her as he said, "What if I told you that I want you to be my Madam?"

Ruan Qinghuan's eyes widened in shock at his words.

Her silence only fueled his simmering anger, convincing him that she was planning to escape—perhaps for another man.

"Sir, please calm down, let me get you some tea."

Ruan Qinghuan quickly slipped out of his grasp, put on a simple robe, and poured him a cup of tea. "It's late," she said, handing him the tea. "I'll prepare something for you to eat."

Despite her efforts to appear calm, He An could see how desperately she wanted to leave.

Just as she reached for the door, He An yanked her back, pinning her against the frame with a rough, angry kiss.

With a sharp tear, He An ripped her thin robe to shreds.

Ruan Qinghuan struggled to break free, gasping, "He An, please stop..."

He An was losing control, consumed by a rage that made him feel like tearing her apart.

But what had she done to make him so angry?

"Ah..."

Her scream echoed throughout Changchun Garden, loud enough for the nearby courtyards to hear.

Outside the door, Jiang Ming and Jiang Qi exchanged uneasy glances before quietly stepping back to the courtyard gate.

Hearing the commotion, Xia Lian hastily threw on her clothes and rushed over, knocking on the door. "Madam, what’s happening?"

Just as she was about to push the door open, He An's voice stopped her. "Get out..."

Xia Lian was startled.

Tears welled up in Ruan Qinghuan's eyes, but she held back, not daring to make a sound.

In that moment, He An suddenly calmed down a bit, seeing her pain and restraint. A pang of heartache hit him. "You should have been more obedient."

"You're a damn bastard," Ruan Qinghuan wept, torn by the pain.

He An was momentarily speechless.

In his twenty-six years, she was the first to dare curse at him like that.

In a side courtyard, a maid excitedly said, "Miss, see? It must be that Ruan Qinghuan was caught cheating."

"She got exactly what she deserved," Liu Yueru said with a satisfied smirk. "Still, I can't believe Sir only hit her once?"

"Given the scandal, she probably won’t dare to say anything, even if she was beaten."

Just as they felt victorious, they suddenly realized that the cries from the neighboring courtyard seemed off...

As dawn approached, Xia Lian had spent the entire night crying outside the door. Seeing the kitchen staff arrive with hot water, Jiang Ming said, "Now, now, why are you crying?"

Xia Lian abruptly stood up, shot Jiang Ming a furious glare, and stamped on his foot before sniffling and rushing off to prepare clothes for her Madam.

Jiang Ming grimaced in pain, thinking to himself that being a good person never pays off.

The commotion in the room had lasted all night. Hearing Madam's heart-wrenching cries, Xia Lian felt useless, too afraid to rush in and save her.

Jiang Ming limped along behind: "Alright, stop crying, this is all normal."

"Hmph, there's not a single good man out there." Xia Lian quoted a line she had heard from the storyteller.

Jiang Ming: "..."

Who did he offend?

Ruan Qinghuan struggled to get up from the bed, and He An pulled her into his arms: "Be a good girl."

Ruan Qinghuan didn't want to say a word; she bit his arm, and He An frowned but didn't flinch. When she let go, a blood mark was left on his forearm.

"Feeling better?"

"You're the one feeling better." She wanted to leave the room immediately but was pulled back by He An. This time, Ruan Qinghuan broke down: "He An, you're a jerk... mmm... mmm..."

After her outburst, she slumped onto the bed and burst into tears.