Chapter 10

Chapter 10

On the day of the branch hospital's ribbon-cutting ceremony, Ruan Yunchu arrived on time.

During this period, the news that the assassination plot was orchestrated by the Qin family spread like wildfire across the alliance, completely reversing Ruan Yunchu's public image from an inexperienced, sickly omega to a resilient and rational figure. This won him a wave of goodwill while also skyrocketing his popularity.

An omega who lost all his family overnight, forced to take over all his family's assets, and even faced an assassination attempt instigated by his fiancé's family after being pressured into marriage—barely surviving, yet his first move was to continue developing his own family's business. This resilient spirit deeply moved the public.

Appearing before the cameras again, Ruan Yunchu was no longer as pale and haggard as last time. He had changed into simple casual clothes, sitting in a custom wheelchair, slim and with a faint smile, politely responding to reporters' questions.

Yan Zhuo stood behind watching this scene, his emotions a tangled mix.

As he surveyed the surroundings, his gaze uncontrollably landed on Ruan Yunchu, but soon a reporter's question caught his attention.

"Then have you now emerged from the shadows? We heard you've sold off all your other businesses, keeping only the medical company and its affiliated hospitals—are you planning to focus on developing your career in the future?"

Ruan Yunchu thought briefly and nodded: "My personal abilities are limited; I don't understand these mature industries well, so rather than keeping them, it's better to let more professional people develop and research them for the benefit of society. As for the medical company, it's the only business my mother left behind. I have significant health issues myself, and I hope that one day better medical devices and technologies can be developed to help more people suffering from illnesses like mine get more comprehensive treatment."

The reporter nodded repeatedly, with undisguised anticipation in his eyes, "Have you considered your personal romantic life? We interviewed you once before, and I noticed many viewers praised your appearance. What about this aspect..."

When this question came up, the warmth in Ruan Yunchu's eyes faded slightly, and he also felt a scorching gaze from behind, as if it wanted to bore through him.

Ignoring it, he only replied vaguely, "Of course I've considered romantic matters, but I'll let nature take its course—nothing can be forced."

The reporter wanted to ask further, but Ruan Yunchu lowered his eyes and leaned back in his chair, while Chen Quan behind him immediately stepped forward with a smile.

"Mr. Ruan is tired. He hasn't fully recovered yet and can't talk too much at once. That's all for today."

Leaving the hospital, the evening brought the charity banquet for the branch hospital's opening. Ruan Yunchu had no energy to speak on stage, so Chen Quan handled the entire process until the procedures were finished and he went downstairs.

Yan Zhuo followed behind him, busy all day without finding a moment alone with him, feeling irritated, when he saw Lin Zheng walking toward them with open hostility in his eyes.

"Yunchu." Lin Zheng first looked at Ruan Yunchu, said a few pleasantries with a smile, then swept his gaze over the unconcerned Yan Zhuo behind him, "Why do you still keep him around?"

Ruan Yunchu's lips curled slightly—he felt like laughing but knew it wasn't the time, so he only said, "He's useful."

Lin Zheng frowned deeply, lowering his voice, "I know you sent him to the Qin family, but can you really trust someone like him? Have you carefully looked at the stuff I sent you?"

"I did."

The smile faded from Ruan Yunchu's face, and he said nothing more.

Sensing that he had lost patience and didn't want to dwell on the subject, Lin Zheng felt even more uneasy—he had never known Ruan Yunchu to be so indecisive before. What spell had this Yan Zhuo cast on him?

The banquet ended quickly. Ruan Yunchu got into the car home, having drunk a few glasses and feeling low on energy. He leaned against the window, his gaze distant.

Yan Zhuo discreetly activated the private space system of the hover car. Once the back seat was completely isolated, he couldn't resist moving forward, one hand gripping the side armrest of the wheelchair, his body leaning in, almost trapping the man in his arms.

"Did you and Lin Zheng have something before?"

"..."

After a long silence, Ruan Yunchu seemed to register the question, turning toward him slowly, and then his expression instantly turned cold.

"Did you hit your head at the dock too?"

He's concerned about me—that was Yan Zhuo's first thought. Although he knew the young master would definitely ask Chen Quan about his injuries, hearing him bring it up himself was different from his fantasies.

But soon he forced himself to calm down.

After all, the young master's look toward him now was ice-cold again, completely different from the relaxed way he chatted with Lin Zheng at the banquet.

"He's an alpha too—why don't you hate him?" Yan Zhuo asked stubbornly.

Ruan Yunchu looked at him incredulously, as if seeing a monster.

Maybe it was because of the alcohol—his expression tonight was more vivid than usual, the slight frown and look of disgust inexplicably striking something in Yan Zhuo's heart.

While silently accusing himself of being perverse, he still couldn't help squinting, wanting to lock this rare moment in his memory.

"Lin Zheng and I grew up together—what do you think?" Ruan Yunchu said with disdain.

Yan Zhuo licked his lips, suppressing the surging desire in his heart.

"People wear masks; who knows if Lin Zheng has changed after years in the military? Are you sure he's still the same as before?"

Ruan Yunchu suddenly smiled and reached out to grab his chin.

Even crouching, the man in front of him was half a head taller, his face tight and cold with anger, exuding extreme danger.

Yet Ruan Yunchu felt no fear. Instead, he leaned back against the chair and moved slightly closer.

Too close—their breaths almost intertwined.

Yan Zhuo could see the young master's smooth, fair skin, the long, delicate lashes, and the subtle movements beneath his thin eyelids as his eyes roamed.

"You do have a point. People's hearts can change in an instant—maybe in just one night, someone can become a completely different person."

Ruan Yunchu spoke softly, thoughtfully.

Yan Zhuo smelled the faint fragrance on him, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily. He instinctively wanted to lean in, but a gentle but unyielding hand stopped him.

"Lin Zheng is like that, and so are you. I should be wary of you both."

At those words, Yan Zhuo's expression stiffened. "Young master, I am utterly loyal to you."

"Funny—Lin Zheng said the same thing. And he acted on it."

His tone was airy. Yan Zhuo felt indignant. "I would do anything for you."

"Unfortunately, it's a bit late." Ruan Yunchu glanced at him lightly. "When Lin Zheng and I were kidnapped at age ten, he saved me and took a bullet through his heart—he almost died."

Yan Zhuo frowned slightly.

"So you see, he's done even more than you. Why should I believe your accusations against him? Especially since he also told me you're not trustworthy."

"I—"

"A person whose resume is too perfect is suspicious. Perfection can be fake." A chill crept into Ruan Yunchu's eyes as he thought of something. "I hate fake people the most."

Yan Zhuo's expression darkened, and he couldn't help fixing his eyes on the young master with a resentful look.

"Is it my fault for being too perfect? But I've been a good student since childhood."

"Say that again—do you even believe it yourself?"

Ruan Yunchu let go of his hand, seeming tired, and turned his head to look out the window.

“If you want something, tell me. If I can’t give it to you, you can leave. But if I catch you doing anything to harm me, I won’t let you off.”

The young master was sitting in a wheelchair, thin and frail, yet his words were so decisive that Yan Zhuo had a clear sense—as if the moment he showed the slightest weakness, the young master would draw the sword of judgment and run him through without hesitation.

At such a moment, this frail body would not become an obstacle for him.

For some reason, his heart suddenly began to pound wildly with uncontrollable excitement.

How interesting that would be.

But on the surface, he still leaned against the wheelchair and whispered his loyalty to the young master, “I will never betray you.”

“……”

Ruan Yunchu naturally did not believe it. He closed his eyes wearily and fell silent.

Late at night.

Ruan Yunchu lay in his room, but the space was deathly still. The excessive silence gradually made it impossible for him to stay asleep, transforming his light, beautiful fantasies into a pitch-black beast that pressed down like a nightmare.

The foul smell had returned at some point. Even though he tightly covered his nose and mouth, it still seeped in everywhere.

He wanted to pierce his glands, he wanted to stop breathing, but his whole body exuded an uncontrollable restlessness, making him almost want to tear himself apart.

“Young master… Yunchu, Ruan Yunchu!”

The familiar voice exploded in his ear.

Ruan Yunchu opened his eyes almost instantly, but even with Yan Zhuo right in front of him, his eyes couldn’t focus.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his body was drenched. His emerald-green eyes were vacant and unfocused, as if his soul was lost.

It was unknown how long passed before the distant voice finally became clear, and the hand that was gripped tightly throbbed with pain.

A hand patted his back, and only then did he seem to realize what was happening, coughing violently.

At this moment, Yan Zhuo didn’t care about anything else. He pulled the trembling body into his arms and gently patted his back to ease the symptoms.

“What’s wrong with you?”

He was truly startled. He had only been passing by the door when he heard some strange noise from the room. Thinking that the young master usually slept very quietly, he hurriedly pushed the door open. Who would have expected to see him on the bed, tightly covering his mouth and nose, his fair cheeks flushed red, as if he were really trying to suffocate himself?

It was unknown how long it took before Ruan Yunchu finally calmed down. His body was still trembling, his ink-black hair stuck to his cheeks, making his porcelain-white skin and reddened eyes look even more fragile and pitiable.

Yan Zhuo’s heart ached. He subconsciously reached out to touch his face. “Had a nightmare? You almost suffocated yourself.”

Seeing Ruan Yunchu not speak, he took it as guilt and couldn’t help sighing. “I’ve never seen anyone as ruthless as you. When you’re cruel, you even kill yourself.”

The moment he finished speaking, the person in his arms snapped out of it and shoved him away.

He sat rock-solid, so he wasn’t pushed. Ruan Yunchu then instinctively raised his hand, and Yan Zhuo freed one hand to grab his slender wrist, saying helplessly, “You’re addicted to hitting me…”

Quick as lightning, the young master didn’t even blink before raising his other hand and slapping him hard across the face.

Slap—

“……”

This time Yan Zhuo was really a bit angry. He thought he hadn’t done anything wrong; on the contrary, he had saved Ruan Yunchu’s life, yet all he got was another slap.

His breathing grew heavy. He turned his head coldly, about to lose his temper, but met a pair of moist, angry eyes.

“Why didn’t you play the music?”

Ruan Yunchu scolded sharply, but because he had just been coughing, his voice was too hoarse to carry much aggression. Paired with his fragile appearance at the moment, it made the anger rising in Yan Zhuo suddenly dissipate, replaced by a strange blankness.