They say that sophisticated egoists live the best lives, but Ruan Jiaojiao, as one of the best-sophisticated egoists, didn’t seem to be living it up.
True, she was far more relaxed than other members of the Ruan family. After all, some were in prison, some unemployed, and some had lost their minds. Few could enjoy life as leisurely as she did—attending school and constantly being surrounded by protective suitors.
But how could she feel happy when she was being targeted by Marceau’s mother?
Ruan Jiaojiao felt deeply aggrieved, and this stirred Marceau, Wright, and the others into feeling sympathy and concern.
Especially since Ruan Jiaojiao’s family had gone through a great change, her weak and helpless appearance was not entirely fake, which made these men want to protect her very much. In addition, they failed to help Ruan Jiaojiao when she asked for help, which led to the destruction of the Ruan family and caused Ruan Jiaojiao to fall into her current pitiful state, making them feel even more guilty.
Love + desire to protect + guilt.
An irresistible combination.
Emotionally, Ruan Jiaojiao now had an almost invincible hold over these men.
As a result, her chances of winning them over were high.
…
Meanwhile, Lin Zhiyu’s life was so busy, fulfilling, and joyful that he’d nearly forgotten the name “Ruan Jiaojiao.”
Remembering that every night of Ruan Jiaojiao would be filled with nightmares, his dreams were no longer filled with blood and darkness.
Finally, the day came when Comrade Zhao Ye, responsible for Lin Zhiyu’s protection, completed his mission and left. Lin Zhiyu and Xie Youzhou saw Zhao Ye off together.
As soon as he returned home in the evening, he was almost frightened to death by Lin Zhaoqiu who pounced on him.
“Qiuqiu, why are you running so fast? Remember how you tripped last time?!”
“Ge, big news, big news! Did you see it? The media in Country M just announced that Ruan Jiaojiao—the one from the Ruan Group who caused us so much trouble—is marrying Cecile Marceau from the Marceau Group!”
Lin Zhiyu was stunned for a moment, then he looked at his mobile phone. It was now nine o’clock in the evening, which happened to be morning in Country M. It was indeed a very suitable time to publish the news.
Lin Zhaoqiu continued, “What’s disgusting is that during her speech, Ruan Jiaojiao talked about how much she suffered in China. It’s ridiculous! How could she have suffered? It was Xiaohua who suffered the most, having lived in the mountains for 18 years!”
“This Marceau heir must be an idiot. Sure, the Marceau Group took a hit recently, but they’re still one of the world’s top 30 richest groups. Why would he fall for Ruan Jiaojiao?” Lin Zhaoqiu shook her head. “When she gave her speech, he looked so distressed. What a fool.”
Lin Zhiyu chuckled as he watched the grand proposal ceremony on his phone.
Compared with previous plots, the current trajectory of fate has changed a lot.
In the original story, Marceau was just a desirable male supporting character.
However, he remembered that the original book had mentioned in passing that the mothers of several male supporting characters didn’t like Ruan Jiaojiao, thus creating the image of an innocent and ostracized Ruan Jiaojiao.
So why would Marceau’s mother allow her son to propose?
“Qiuqiu, it’s late. Why don’t you shower and get ready for bed? We’re visiting the Zhao family tomorrow.”
Lin Zhiyu had promised Zhao Hua that he would celebrate if she ranked in the top ten on her final exams. Unexpectedly, she had placed ninth.
He intended to keep his word.
“Oh, I know, brother, but why are you so calm about this? Ruan Jiaojiao is infuriating. The Ruan family is bankrupt, yet she’s landed in another wealthy family. She’s like a novel heroine!”
Lin Zhiyu glanced at his sister. His sister probably didn’t expect that she would guess the truth just by casually guessing.
“Alright, Qiuqiu, enough speculating. Pack up and get ready for bed. We need to arrive early tomorrow—it’s rude to show up at lunchtime.”
“Fine!” Lin Zhaoqiu grumbled, carrying her phone as she reluctantly left.
She muttered, “God is blind. Such a disgusting person has such a good life.”
Lin Zhiyu looked at the image of Ruan Jiaojiao’s tearful, innocent face on his screen and smiled faintly.
Hortez wasn’t dead.
Xie Youzhou had tracked his whereabouts recently.
Although he’d disappeared again…
He was sure that Hortez—the former main lead—
Wouldn’t die so easily.
The pursuit by Wright and Marceau had forced Hortez to flee for months, fake his death, and change his identity.
Surely, he was watching this news.
Who could guess…
What kind of mood he was in?
*
In a dirty, cramped little room…
A man with an unkempt beard and disheveled hair sat on a bed, his gloomy eyes fixed on the screen where Ruan Jiaojiao and Marceau shared a happy kiss.
His hand, gripping the phone tightly, trembled until the device nearly broke under the strain. He watched, then abruptly hurled it across the room.
“Bang!”
The phone crashed to the ground, its screen shattering into fragments.
The vicious and cruel Hortez had always been merciless toward those who displeased him or Ruan Jiaojiao.
He treated them like animals.
Yet now, his gaze was fixed on his Jiaojiao.
His eyes, red with fury, grew dark and crazed, filled with twisted affection.
His Jiaojiao was with Marceau!
And they were engaged.
Engaged!
How long had he been gone? How long?
But that didn’t necessarily mean Jiaojiao had betrayed him.
After the Ruan family’s fall, jackals and wolves were eyeing Jiaojiao covetously. It was very likely that Jiaojiao was forced.
He had to return. Quickly!
To take his Jiaojiao away!
Hortez, on the edge of madness, left the house, shooting a child who had been peeking through the window. He looked at the child’s lifeless face and smiled.
In this war-torn country, human life held little value.
Creating a fake identity would be easy.
He will be back soon.
Wait for him.
Everyone.
At that moment, thousands of kilometers away, Ruan Jiaojiao sneezed, and a sense of inexplicable uneasiness flashed through her heart.
But the feeling quickly faded, and she brushed it off.
“Jiaojiao, are you okay? Did you catch a cold?” Marceau asked, taking off his coat to drape it over her.
Ruan Jiaojiao shyly lowered her head, her tone caring and sweet. “I’m fine, Brother Marceau. You should keep it on. You’re so busy and tired; that you need to take care of yourself. Jiaojiao… Jiaojiao just wants you to be well.”
“Jiaojiao…”
Marceau was deeply touched. His eyes filled with love and emotion as he held Ruan Jiaojiao tightly.
“Jiaojiao, I’ll always take care of you. I will treat you well. Believe me.”
He still couldn’t believe he had won her heart.
And that his proposal had succeeded.
He had recently gained more control over the family business, and now he’d won the heart of a beautiful woman. What more could he ask for?
Little did they know…
The finest hunters often appear as prey.
But all this—
Would not affect the happy reunion between Lin Zhiyu and the Zhao family.
The next morning, Lin Zhiyu, Xie Youzhou, and Lin Zhaoqiu went to the supermarket to pick the freshest fruits.
“Brother, are you getting tea as well?” Lin Zhaoqiu asked while choosing fruit.
“I brought some. Gege and I sorted it out yesterday,” replied Xie Youzhou, who was standing next to Lin Zhiyu. He wore a casual sports outfit, which made his already handsome face look even more handsome and sunny. It also made him look younger and full of energy.
An aunt who was passing by looked at the three people with surprise and fondness, and muttered something secretly.
“What a lovely family.”
Lin Zhaoqiu curled her lips, wondering how he could be in cahoots with Xie Youzhou, that idiot.
She was fed up with that brat Xie Youzhou lately. Her Ge finally stopped being so busy and could rest, but he was always “kidnapped” by Xie Youzhou for various reasons.
She didn’t even have as much time to see her brother as he does!
Ahhhh, it made her angry.”
“You little bastard, this is my ge, stop calling him gege all the time.” Lin Zhaoqiu snorted.
But Xie Youzhou ignored her completely. Relying on his handsome face and sweet talk, he got two large pieces of fresh red-heart pomelo from the fruit-selling auntie to try, as well as a handful of extremely sweet small tangerines that looked like they were pickled in sugar.
Xie Youzhou casually peeled it and brought it to Lin Zhiyu’s lips, saying in a very natural and doting way: “This is delicious, gege, please try it.”
Lin Zhiyu’s handsome face turned a slight shade of red in embarrassment, aware of the public setting.
But he didn’t want to refuse such sweet intimacy.
He opened his mouth and tasted the tangerine slice. The fresh, rich, and sweet juice filled his mouth, brightening his expression.
Lin Zhiyu’s eyes lit up.
“This is great. Let’s buy some for the Zhao family, and keep some for ourselves.”
As he spoke, he naturally took the remaining orange from Xie Youzhou’s hand and handed it to Lin Zhaoqiu’s mouth.
“Qiuqiu, try it too.”
Lin Zhaoqiu was stunned for a moment, then opened her mouth and bit it.
The odd feeling she had when she’d seen Xie Youzhou and her brother being so intimate just now suddenly disappeared.
Lin Zhaoqiu was eating the delicious orange, thinking that she was thinking too much.
Could it be the aftereffect of watching a famous same-sex movie these days?
How could she see the look of affection between her Ge and that brat?
Her brain was totally screwed!
