Chapter 040: You think you can just look at me and everything will be fine?

Chapter 040: You think you can just look at me and everything will be fine?

He An's mind echoed with Ruan Qinghuan's words, "Not worth holding on to." No other woman in all of Eastern Zhao would dare say something like that.

Ruan Qinghuan hadn't expected him to return so soon. "Lord, why don't you sit for a while? These pastries and fruits haven't been touched. It's such a waste."

When he didn't move, she realized he was truly angry. Ruan Qinghuan picked up a piece of melon. "Lord, come and try this..."

He An had been busy with preparations for his trip to Lu City and had been upset about separating from her. Yet, she showed no sign of reluctance.

All she could think about was how to prepare for the pawnshop's opening after he left.

When Chu Li mentioned Qian Yunxi, the daughter of the former Minister of Revenue, Ruan Qinghuan didn't react much. She neither hurried nor got angry. Knowing she could accompany him but choosing not to—what did that say about her?

The melon was thrown back on the table, and He An took Ruan Qinghuan by the hand, leading her outside. Xia Lian hurriedly followed but heard He An's instructions: "Return to the residence and inform Madam that for the next two days, my wife and I will stay at the villa."

"Why do we need to go to the villa? Can't we talk about this back at the Prime Minister's residence?"

Ruan Qinghuan felt like she was about to be sent to the principal's office. She didn't want to go to the villa and tried to negotiate with He An.

He An stopped and turned around. Before Ruan Qinghuan could speak, he said, "The bed at the villa is sturdy."

Ruan Qinghuan: "..."

Was a woman not wholeheartedly devoted because there wasn't enough intimacy?

He An had little experience in relationships. In his view, since he liked Ruan Qinghuan, he wanted to pamper her.

**

In early summer, Madam was tending to the flowers and plants in the courtyard. Hearing Xia Lian's report, she looked up. "Going to the villa again?"

Xia Lian: "That's what Lord He An said."

Madam couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, you may leave."

Once Xia Lian left, Madam shook her head. "This An'er, causing trouble in this large mansion and now insisting on going to the villa."

Chen Po, overhearing this, stepped forward. "Madam, you may not know, but currently, the cousin staying in the guest quarters, which is adjacent only by a wall to Changchun Garden, is there."

Taking two steps forward, she whispered, "The other day, a servant said that the cousin mentioned there were mice in Changchun Garden. I sent people to search thoroughly. Guess what we found?"

Madam was puzzled. "Did you find mice?"

Chen Po, covering her mouth with a smile, said, "There were no mice. It was just the bed in my Lord's room making creaking noises when someone pushed it lightly."

Madam burst into laughter. "No wonder, who told him to wait until this age to marry? He must have been lonely for too long."

"No wonder Ruan Qinghuan has been looking so tired lately. Please instruct the kitchen to prepare some nourishing soup and send it to the villa."

"Yes."

When the carriage stopped at the villa's entrance, Ruan Qinghuan was still explaining, but He An wouldn't listen. He simply carried her into the room at the back of the house.

This reminded Ruan Qinghuan of their first time, when a drunk He An, having heard rumors, became uneasy.

"He An, I was just saying it casually."

"You weren't speaking casually; you simply don't care."

"I do care. How could I not... really..." He tossed her onto the bed, and before she could hide in the corner, He An pulled her out by the ankle.

Ruan Qinghuan let out a startled cry, her anxiety mounting. "He An, can you not take out your frustrations on me, whether you're happy or angry?"

"I'm not taking out my frustrations. I'm showing you affection."

Ruan Qinghuan: "..."

Damn, everything hurts. Her waist hurt, her legs hurt, and everything hurt.

Her throat was raw from screaming, and all she could do was resign herself to the situation as she listened to his heavy breathing.

Just then, the door suddenly creaked open, and a dim yellow light filtered through the bed curtains, causing Ruan Qinghuan to freeze, instinctively covering her mouth.

As the footsteps drew nearer, her heart pounded in her chest. Clutching He An's arm in fear, she heard him lean down and whisper, "Don't be afraid. It's Old Tong. He checks the room every night before going to sleep."

Although she knew Old Tong had hearing problems, Ruan Qinghuan was still terrified. As the light drew closer, she feared he would pull back the curtains any second...

Of course, He An couldn’t stay still, and Ruan Qinghuan felt like cursing him under her breath.

Fortunately, the light dimmed as he moved towards the cabinet and then exited the room...

Ruan Qinghuan had never been so nervous before. Her heart felt like it was jumping into her throat. Despite this, He An not only failed to show restraint but became even more relentless. Eventually, Ruan Qinghuan just gave up and lay there like a corpse.

Who could possibly sleep through this?

After they were done, He An's anger had subsided considerably. By the light of the moon, as he looked at her, he suddenly thought Chu Li's suggestion wasn't bad.

For the next three days, perhaps because he was about to travel, He An didn't need to attend morning court every day. This allowed him to stay with Ruan Qinghuan in the villa.

"Shouldn’t you start preparing for the trip? Maybe we should return to the residence."

He An had been relentless, acting on his every whim. Just when she was engrossed in reading a leisure book, he had to stick to her. Even when she hid in the courtyard to sunbathe, she couldn’t find peace... Ruan Qinghuan was constantly exhausted.

Thinking that he would be leaving tomorrow, Ruan Qinghuan felt a sense of impending relief.

The day before he left, Ruan Qinghuan felt a surge of motivation when she thought about preparing for the pawnshop. Tomorrow, she would return to the Ruan residence and bring Qingzhou along.

Since he had returned, it was only a matter of time before he took over the family business. It was important to start honing his skills from the ground up.

In the original storyline, Qingzhou only returned to the capital when the Ruan family fell, but it was already too late to change the situation. Now that he had returned earlier, if he could manage the business diligently, there was hope for the Ruan family's future.

As if on cue, as soon as she stepped off the carriage, she saw her younger brother Qingzhou waiting to see off his brother-in-law.

But her brother's next words left Ruan Qinghuan confused. "Sister, there's a disaster in Lu City. I need to go with you."

"What are you talking about? It's your brother-in-law..."

He An interjected, "I'll take care of your sister. You don't need to worry. If you want to come along, that’s fine too."

"No." This trip to Lu City wasn't something to be taken lightly. She couldn’t let Qingzhou put himself in danger. "The shop in the east city is almost finished with renovations. You'll need to help me oversee the rest."

After sending her brother off, Ruan Qinghuan pulled He An back into the room. "What's really going on?"

"Mother doesn't know there's more to this relief mission. She thought we had just gotten married and didn't want us to be apart," He An said gravely. "Rest assured, my lady. With me here, I'll make sure nothing happens to you."

"Then what was all this about going on a trip? You kept saying you had to leave. What was that about?"

He had fooled her repeatedly, wearing her out. Now it turned out they were going together?

"I don't want to be apart from you, nor do I want you to misunderstand. The Qian family is indeed in Lu City. I need you to keep an eye on me to set my mind at ease."

"I keep an eye on you, and you’ll be at ease?"

What kind of logic is that...?