Chapter 4 Throwing Herself into His Arms

Chapter 4: Falling Into His Embrace

"No wonder she’s bewitched Master Chen—born with such a vixen-like charm."

Though Yin Rou appeared petite, her figure was slender yet curvaceous, just coming into her full bloom, an overflowing ripeness impossible to suppress.

Nanny Lu’s appraising gaze, as if she were merchandise, made her suffocate, her body rigid and numb with tension. By the time the inspection was over, Yin Rou had bitten her lips until they bled, her hollow eyes brimming with tears.

Nanny Lu, somewhat satisfied, allowed her to rise.

Yin Rou sat up woodenly, head bowed as she repeatedly smoothed her skirt, her legs trembling beneath the fabric. Tears spilled uncontrollably, plummeting in fat drops.

A knock came from outside, followed by a maid’s voice calling for Nanny Lu, "Nanny, the mistress wants you to hurry over."

Nanny Lu sneered at Yin Rou. "From now on, whenever Master Chen keeps you alone, you’ll be inspected."

Without another word, she pulled the door open and left.

Outside, scraps of conversation drifted to Yin Rou’s ears.

"What’s the rush?"

"It’s the Fifth Young Master—he’s back."

At the mention of "Fifth Young Master," Yin Rou’s lashes fluttered faintly, her dazed gaze sharpening slightly.

The Fifth Young Master—the figure from her vision.

***

At Ruxin Residence, Wu Shi sat in the main hall waiting for her son. Outside, a maid’s delighted voice rang out, "Greetings, Fifth Young Master."

Wu Shi looked up as Chen Yanlin strode into the courtyard, clad in a navy brocade robe, its hem fluttering with his steps. A lazy smile played at his lips.

"Mother." Chen Yanlin stepped inside, bowed to Wu Shi, then pulled out the chair beside her and sat.

"I’ve been urging you for days—why only return now?" Wu Shi glared daggers at him, lifting the teapot to pour him a cup.

Chen Yanlin accepted it with a grin. "No need to rush, Mother. I’m here now."

Wu Shi remained discontent. "Your third brother returned days ago. What airs are you putting on?"

"What does Chen Yanqing’s return matter?" Chen Yanlin’s smile thinned, his tone dismissive.

"He hasn't lifted a finger about the guild affairs, and it unsettles me." Wu Shi had expected Chen Yanqing to seize control of the merchant guild upon his return, yet there had been no movement.

"Even if he interferes, so what? I’m in charge now. I’ve already rewarded the guild’s senior owners handsomely—far more than the paltry shares Chen Yanqing gave them. They’re all courteous to me now." Chen Yanlin toyed with his cup, flashing the white jade thumb ring on his finger. His gaze lingered on it arrogantly. "As long as the old man lives, it’s not his time to take charge."

Though Wu Shi still had misgivings, she couldn’t deny her desire for her son to inherit the household. She pursed her lips and changed the subject. "Enough. Come with me to see your father."

***

In Huai'an Hall, calming incense burned as Master Chen reclined on the daybed. Yin Rou knelt beside him, massaging his temples. Master Chen patted her hand halfheartedly. "Didn’t I tell you to rest? Why are you back?"

Lashes lowered, weighed down with thoughts, Yin Rou didn’t catch his words, her fingers trembling slightly.

Master Chen chuckled, mistaking her silence for shyness.

Quan Zhong entered. "Master, the mistress and the Fifth Young Master have arrived."

Yin Rou’s fingers stiffened. Master Chen reassured her, "Don’t be afraid."

She lifted her gaze to the two entering figures. Wu Shi’s eyes, though smiling, glinted with icy courtesy at the sight of her.

Yin Rou immediately withdrew from Master Chen’s side, curtsying. "Greetings, Mistress."

Her lowered eyes timidly trailed behind Wu Shi, following the Fifth Young Master’s robe upward—until she saw the white jade thumb ring on his finger.

She drew a shaky breath. "Greetings, Fifth Young Master."

"Enough, you’re still unwell. No need for formalities—sit." Master Chen waved dismissively. Wu Shi nodded with a smile. "Yes, take a seat."

Yin Rou obediently sat to the side as the Fifth Young Master bowed to his father. Master Chen gestured for him to sit—directly across from Yin Rou.

Chen Yanlin draped himself casually into the chair, yet his gaze seized every opportunity to fix on Yin Rou, lingering with an almost tangible possessiveness that made her feel violated, as if licked head to toe.

She clenched her fingers. This was why she avoided entanglement with the Fifth Young Master.

She couldn’t reconcile the grief-stricken, disheveled, broken figure from her vision with the man before her.

Yet, after a day of humiliation, she clung to him as a lifeline, convincing herself—perhaps she’d only seen his facade.

Perhaps he could pull her from the abyss. And precisely because he was Wu Shi’s son, his words carried more weight, didn't they?

Master Chen questioned Chen Yanlin about the guild. "Any troubles you can’t handle?"

"Father, rest assured. Which business in the guild doesn't bow to the Chen family? What could possibly be beyond me?"

Chen Yanlin’s tone was breezy. Master Chen harrumphed but didn’t rebuke his arrogance, only saying, "Since your third brother is back, consult him if needed."

Chen Yanlin frowned. "Why bother with him?"

Master Chen’s eyes darkened. With a tsk, Chen Yanlin yielded. "As you say."

As father and son bandied words back and forth, the Fifth Young Master’s gaze kept drifting to Yin Rou—her slender hands on her knees, the toes peeking from her hem.

Unable to bear it, Yin Rou stood. "I’ll check on Master’s tonic."

Escaping Chen Yanlin’s stare felt like escaping a trap. She knit her delicate brows, torn—was he truly the man from her vision?

She hadn’t seen his face clearly—the only proof was the white jade thumb ring. And just now, she’d confirmed it was identical in every detail to the one in her vision.

***

Carrying the tonic from the kitchen, Yin Rou kept her eyes down as she headed toward the main hall. Turning a corridor corner, she stepped into a shadowed alcove—only to recoil in surprise at the tall figure suddenly before her.

She retreated hastily, but Chen Yanlin’s hand was already steadying her. "Careful."

His grip on her arm made her want to pull away, but the sight of his ring forced her to suppress the urge. Struggling to stay calm, she murmured, "Thank you, Fifth Young Master."

"I heard you were ill. Feeling better now?"

His flippant tone was laced with inappropriate familiarity.

"Let me see where you’re hurt." Chen Yanlin bent slightly, his shadow enveloping her.

His wanton, spoiled air was worlds apart from the solace she’d felt in her vision. Terror gripped her. "P-Please let go, Fifth Young Master."

Her voice quavered as she struggled feebly.

Chen Yanlin wore a careless smile on his lips, lazily watching the frail and struggling girl before him. Though Master Chen was a libertine, one had to admit his taste was impeccable. At first glance, her delicate beauty and soft, boneless figure had stirred a dark hunger in him.

The corridor led straight to the front courtyard, where anyone could appear at any moment. Yin Rou was so anxious that tears trembled at the edges, making Chen Yanlin’s throat dry with desire. He boldly stepped closer, making as if to tug open her collar.

Yin Rou struggled desperately, and the tray in her hands slipped, crashing loudly to the ground. The sharp sound was followed by a woman’s voice in the distance, "What was that noise?"

"Go and see," the woman’s voice interrupted Chen Yanlin’s actions, sending Yin Rou’s heart plummeting.

Now, she no longer dared hope anyone would save her—she only feared she would die even sooner.

As footsteps approached from the other end of the corridor, Yin Rou’s blood ran cold, her heart pounding wildly. Chen Yanlin glanced at the person about to round the corner and released her with feigned regret, pulling her disheveled collar back up before slipping into an empty room beside them.

The figure at the corner emerged—it was Master Chen’s Sixth Concubine. "Yin Rou meimei, what happened?"

Yin Rou had no time to straighten her clothes. She crouched down, pretending to clean up the mess. "I—I dropped the Master’s soup..."

She hastily reached for the broken shards, but her hands trembled so violently that her fingers caught on a sharp edge, slicing a bloody line. Yin Rou gasped and withdrew her hand.

"Don’t touch it, you’ll hurt yourself," the Sixth Concubine said, turning to her maid. "Go and clean this up."

The maid stepped forward. "Miss Yin Rou, let me handle it."

The Sixth Concubine also approached, helping her up and pressing a handkerchief to her bleeding finger. "You’re bleeding."

"It’s nothing serious," Yin Rou murmured, shrinking back. Her red-rimmed eyes could pass for pain alone. She forced a weak smile. "I’m feeling unwell and would like to return. Could you please inform Master Chen for me?"

The Sixth Concubine nodded. "Do you need a maid to escort you?"

"No need," Yin Rou shook her head, her downcast eyes trembling as she hurried past her.

She walked quickly, her slender fingers clutching her loose collar, and by the time she crossed the moon gate, she was nearly sprinting.

Even if the Fifth Young Master was that person, she dared not seek his help—he was another pit of vipers.

***

It was dusk, the fading light struggled through the golden bamboo shading the stone path. Shu Yan followed behind Chen Yanqing as they walked toward Huai'an Hall.

"Young Master," Shu Yan hesitated, "I don’t mean to overstep, but..."

"If you know it’s overstepping, then don’t speak," Chen Yanqing replied coolly.

Shu Yan gritted his teeth. "You’ve been back for days. I refuse to believe those guild elders don’t know. They must have been bribed by the Fifth Young Master. Aren’t you going to do anything?"

His words were heated, and in the dim light, he failed to notice the small figure stumbling toward them. By the time he realized and tried to stop her, Yin Rou had already crashed into Chen Yanqing’s arms.

"Who goes there?!" Shu Yan exclaimed in alarm.

The delicate girl who had fallen against Chen Yanqing was as light as a wind-tossed petal. His towering form didn’t so much as sway, but his brow creased in irritation.

"Get up!" Shu Yan snapped. "How dare you collide with the Third Young Master?! Have you no regard for your life?"

He reached to pull her away, but as soon as his fingers brushed her sleeve, her flimsy collar gaped open, revealing a glimpse of pale shoulder.

Shu Yan gaped, and he quickly withdrew his hand, turning his head away.

*Why is her clothing coming undone? Was this some scheming maid’s ploy?*

Yin Rou wasn’t refusing to move—the impact had jolted her half-healed whip wounds, tearing at the tender flesh and sending waves of pain through her body. A sheen of sweat coated her forehead.

Chen Yanqing lowered his gaze, his gaze briefly skimming the trembling girl pressed against him.

Her sweat-damp hair stuck to her half-bared cheeks, her pale face twisted in pain. Her disheveled clothes revealed her fragile shoulders, and livid pink whip marks were visible on her arms—a wretched sight.

After a single glance, he averted his eyes, his face a mask of indifference. His voice was cold. "Get up."