Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The vice-dean immediately grinned. The server opened the door, and a beta in sportswear walked in—a tall, elegant man who was relatively young, with a very clean look.

As soon as he entered, his gaze fixed on the most beautiful omega in the room.

Ruan Yunchu didn't move, watching as the man strode quickly toward him as the vice-dean urged excitedly.

"Young Master Ruan." The man gave a smile, not ingratiating but composed, standing before Ruan Yunchu like a recent college grad.

"What do you think? He was an intern here a few days ago—a med student with good skills and a clean personal record." The vice-dean could barely contain his smile, as if he already knew Ruan Yunchu would approve.

Ruan Yunchu gave him only a quick glance, then, seeing the man's faint smile, said calmly, "Have a seat."

At that, the man sat down beside him and smoothly refilled Ruan Yunchu's empty teacup with hot tea, sliding it toward him.

"I'm not sure what you like to eat. Is bamboo shoot okay?"

"Just eat it yourself."

Ruan Yunchu disliked excessive attention. He set down his chopsticks and turned to ask the vice-dean about the hospital expansion.

He didn't have time to beat around the bush in Sector C.

So the table soon grew serious again. Each of them had a restaurant companion nearby, but they spoke without reservation.

Before long, Ruan Yunchu had a rough understanding. Seeing the others preparing to head to the next place, he rolled his wheelchair back half a meter.

"I'll pass. Go enjoy yourselves—put it on my tab."

They smiled and saw him off. When they noticed the young man had gotten into the car with him, they exchanged surprised, pleased glances.

In the car, Ruan Yunchu leaned back in his wheelchair, eyes closed, recharging. The sudden quiet made the previously unnoticed fatigue more apparent.

"Mr. Ruan, would you like a massage?" The young man next to him suddenly said, his voice gentle.

"No need." Ruan Yunchu slowly opened his eyes. "Tell me your intention."

"What?"

The young man froze, then laughed. "I know you're guarded, but I truly have no ulterior motive. I just like you."

"Like me?" Ruan Yunchu gave a light, sarcastic laugh.

The young man seemed displeased by his tone and frowned slightly.

Before he could speak again, Ruan Yunchu asked, "What do you like about me? We've never even met until today."

The young man smoothly switched to a sincere tone. "This is the first time you've met me, but I've had a deep impression of you for a long time. Sector A is too far away. Even though I've searched for your image in various news reports, I only ever found blurry photos. So when I heard you were coming to Sector C and the vice-dean was searching for a candidate, I stepped forward and volunteered to be by your side."

He paused, looked up, and saw that Ruan Yunchu was staring blankly out the window, apparently not paying attention. He added, "I really do like you—not just your looks, but also the decisive way you handled the Ruan family affairs. It's truly compelling. It makes me want to…"

"How long did you practice that?"

The young man halted. "What?"

"It's fine if you don't admit it." Ruan Yunchu glanced at the hotel's sign and glanced at the time on his terminal. "It'll take a minute for the car to stop. If you don't speak up now, you won't get another chance."

The silence stretched on. Ruan Yunchu didn't look at him again. When the car stopped, and Chen Quan opened the door, Ruan Yunchu then heard the voice of the young man behind him.

"I want to go to Sector A."

The young man was drenched in cold sweat, almost out of ideas. In the final second, he made his decision.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized how rash he'd been.

He was originally sent by the vice-dean to probe Ruan Yunchu's motives. Now he had just laid his own cards on the table.

How absurd—he'd prepared a whole speech.

He looked up again, but Ruan Yunchu's wheelchair had already vanished from sight.

Was it over?

He really shouldn't have answered honestly. But that young master's attitude was so cold he couldn't figure out what he was really thinking.

What now?

"Follow him."

A resigned voice spoke up. The young man looked up, surprised.

Chen Quan sighed to himself. "The young master's already gone. Why are you still sitting here?"

The young man caught the hint and hastily got out of the car.

Watching him hurry into the elevator, Chen Quan relaxed. He couldn't help but wonder that if it had been Yan Zhuo instead…

He didn't know why the name came to mind, but it made him chuckle.

Inside the room, Ruan Yunchu removed his jacket and went into the bedroom.

The young man followed, still dazed by the unexpected turn. When he noticed Ruan Yunchu seemed about to rest, he offered, "Shall I help you into bed?"

"No need."

Ruan Yunchu didn't look back. He set his terminal on the nightstand, then seemed to remember something.

-

"What's your name?"

"Lin Qing."

"Turn on some music."

"Alright."

Choosing a quiet violin piece that matched Ruan Yunchu's personality, Lin Qing let the melody fill the room.

"You can leave now."

Lin Qing was startled.

Ruan Yunchu turned his head to look at him, as if reading his thoughts, and suddenly let out a light laugh.

"Lin Qing, do you know I'm only 19 years old?"

Lin Qing was stunned: "Ah?"

"So in my eyes, you're a bit old. I don't like people who are too old." Ruan Yunchu said casually, then lifted his chin to gesture, "Tonight, you sleep on the living room couch."

"Okay."

Lin Qing felt utterly embarrassed. He had been nervous the entire way here, even truly prepared to trade his body for a future.

But after all that anxiety, the other party didn't want it.

Yet not long after, lying in bed, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. In his dreams, all he saw was that exquisitely aloof face.

In contrast, he, who had always prided himself on his looks, felt a sense of shame, inexplicably thinking that being rejected was only reasonable.

One night passed, and nothing happened between them.

But in the eyes of outsiders, it was a different story.

The next day at the hospital, as soon as Lin Qing arrived, he was summoned to the dean's office. The man from last night's dinner wore a kind expression, rambling on about how Lin Qing should serve Ruan Yunchu well.

He smiled in agreement on the surface, but inwardly felt nothing but contempt. Unbidden, that clean, strikingly beautiful face surfaced in his mind again.

After work that day, he still went to the hotel. He knocked for a long time with no answer, then, abandoning politeness, opened the door and entered.

The suite was empty, except for a thin silk jacket draped by the bedside—the one the young master had worn last night when the wind was strong.

He couldn't help stepping forward, reaching out to take it, when he heard footsteps outside.

Startled, he quickly straightened up. The next second, the door was pushed open, and a stranger stood outside, staring at him with icy eyes.

"Who are you?"

-

Ruan Yunchu had met several business partners and was exhausted when he returned to the hotel.

Chen Quan went to open the door and sensed something: "Someone's been inside. It should be Dr. Lin off work."

Ruan Yunchu hummed in acknowledgment. "Order some decent food from outside tonight. I didn't eat enough last night."

He was a picky eater. Chen Quan nodded to show he understood, then pushed the door open.

The wheelchair rolled silently over the thick carpet, making no sound. Ruan Yunchu took off the blanket from his lap and was about to enter the bedroom when he heard a strange noise.

He paused, then pushed open the door.

The room was empty. He slowly wheeled over to the wardrobe, opened the door, and saw the source of the sound.

Lin Qing, wearing a white shirt and casual pants, looked youthful and refined, but now he was tied up and locked inside the wardrobe, his mouth covered with tape. He made muffled sounds as soon as he saw Ruan Yunchu.

Before Ruan Yunchu could react, he felt a gust of wind behind him.

Before he could turn his head, a scalding palm gently cupped his chin. Calloused fingers closed in, forcing him to keep looking forward.

Lin Qing's pupils shrank, and he began to struggle violently. But Ruan Yunchu remained unmoved. Even knowing someone was behind him, his shoulders and back remained relaxed against the wheelchair.

"Yan Zhuo, are you insane?" he said coldly.

The person behind him leaned in slightly, the scorching heat from his chest almost enveloping the one in the wheelchair.

Ruan Yunchu frowned, not wanting to waste time with him. "Let him go."

"Is the young master feeling sorry for him?" Yan Zhuo finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

"I don't want to repeat myself."

"..."

The atmosphere instantly froze.

Just then, Lin Qing managed to rub the tape off his mouth and hurriedly shouted, "He came out of nowhere, like a lunatic—"

Before he could finish, Yan Zhuo finally snapped. He strode over, grabbed Lin Qing by the collar, opened the door, threw him out, and slammed it shut.

His movements were swift and seamless. The room fell silent at last.

Turning back, he crouched in front of Ruan Yunchu. Seeing the expressionless face, the turmoil in his heart surged.

"I've only been gone a few days, and the young master has already found someone new. You really can't wait a moment, can you?"

He gritted out every word.

Ruan Yunchu glanced at him indifferently. "What do you think you are? Do I need your permission to choose someone?"

"What am I?"

Yan Zhuo was furious. He bent down, lifted the person from the wheelchair, and threw him onto the bed.

"I'll show you what I am!"

The soft mattress trembled slightly. Ruan Yunchu was dizzy from the jolt. Before he could sit up, a broad, scorching chest pressed down on him, forcing him to raise his hands to create space between them.

"You're insane!"

Yan Zhuo's breath was heavy, his whole body radiating intense resentment and anger.

He reached out, grabbed Ruan Yunchu's chin, and couldn't help leaning down to kiss him, but the other turned his head away, making him even more irritable.

Ruan Yunchu, provoked by his actions, also grew angry. "Weren't you the one who left? Why come back? And turning him into that—if you're sick in the head, go get treated! Get out! Mad dog!"

"I asked for leave!" Yan Zhuo breathed heavily, his eyes red with anger. "He stayed with you last night. What did he do to you?"

He couldn't bear to recall how he felt when he found out. He wanted to kill that damn intern, and skin alive everyone who had arranged for this beta to be by Ruan Yunchu's side.

The young master was his!

"None of your business?"

Ruan Yunchu had no intention of answering his question. His face stiffened as he was about to curse again, but then he caught a strange smell, and his expression changed instantly.

He tried to push Yan Zhuo away, but this resistant action only fueled Yan Zhuo's anger.

"Do you hate me that much? He could spend a whole night with you, but just one hug from me, and you tell me to get lost? Why?"

He felt genuinely wronged, but his outward demeanor was too aggressive—like a beast that would lunge and bite if rejected.

Ruan Yunchu tried to push him away but couldn't, feeling unbearably uncomfortable, he suddenly raised his hand and slapped him across the face.

"Get out! Didn't you hear me telling you to get out?"

His tone was icy, his face full of disgust, as if Yan Zhuo's heart had been pierced by a needle, a gaping hole letting the wind howl through, and his cheek stung with a sharp, prickling pain.

"What exactly is it that I can't compare to him? Tell me——"

"It stinks! What's that smell on you?"

Hearing this, Yan Zhuo's voice cut off abruptly, and it took him a moment to force out a word.

"Huh?"

"Get away!"

Meeting his cold, sharp eyes—narrowed as he held his breath, Yan Zhuo realized that he seemed to have reached his limit, and it wasn't just an excuse to make him leave.

He didn't dare to approach anymore and quickly stood up. He saw the person on the bed turn around, pulled the blanket over himself, even covering his head, as if he were shooing away a fly.

Yan Zhuo's anger had nowhere to vent. He sniffed himself in shock.

"There's no smell."

"Get in the damn shower!" Ruan Yunchu's voice was sharp, clearly unable to stand him being there.

Yan Zhuo suddenly thought of something, his expression changed slightly, and he obediently entered the bathroom.