After Teasing the Villain and Running Away - Chapter 25

The dimly lit room was shrouded in darkness, the curtains blocking out even a sliver of light. Only silence flowed heavily through the air. On the soft, gray-brown leather sofa, a slender figure curled into a tight ball, almost sinking into the cushions.

The central air conditioning was set too low, the cold breeze sending shivers down her spine, as if her entire body were submerged in an icy abyss.

The woman’s eyes were tightly shut, her dark brows slightly furrowed like wisps of mist drifting over distant mountains. Her long, delicate lashes trembled, casting faint shadows over the faint blue traces beneath her eyes.

A subtle floral fragrance lingered in the air. A small, pale pink petal, unable to withstand the cold, drifted down onto the woman’s flawless, porcelain-like thigh. Her thin silk slip dress revealed large swathes of fair skin, her delicate shoulder blades slightly protruding, her back curved and tense. A glimpse of purple lace peeked from the hem of her dress.

As if sensing the chill, she pursed her lips and curled up even tighter.

This was a side effect of the sedatives. Occasionally, when her body was pushed beyond its limits, it would flare up—leaving her exhausted, sprawled on the sofa, unable to move a muscle, yet her mind painfully clear. The suffocating sense of helplessness was like being consciously sealed inside a coffin, without even the strength to scream.

A taut thread of awareness hung in her mind, refusing to be swept into the chaotic currents. Ruan Xin bit the inside of her lip, struggling to stay lucid.

The side effects were growing increasingly severe. She couldn’t rely on the same sedatives anymore—she needed to find another solution.

Suddenly, she felt warmth envelop her chilled body. A soft silk blanket wrapped around her, covering her ethereal form. Ruan Xin’s hand was gently taken and tucked beneath the covers.

The warmth from the other person’s palm was something she clung to desperately. So much so that when they tried to pull away, she instinctively tightened her grip, as if clutching a precious treasure.

Jiang Ruosheng’s hand was caught, the sensation cool and smooth like polished jade, yet icy as if submerged in a deep pool. Ruan Xin seemed lost in an inescapable slumber, oblivious to her own actions.

With a quiet sigh, Jiang Ruosheng crouched beside the sofa, picking up a few stray petals that had fallen onto Ruan Xin’s raven-black hair.

Her gaze drifted to the vase nearby, where a few pale pink moonlight roses stood, wilted and drooping from the cold air. Their delicate yellow centers bowed low, their elegant, understated fragrance filling the room like a breeze through a moonlit flower field.

After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Ruosheng gently freed her hand—now warmed—and stood up, adjusting the air conditioning to a higher temperature before heading to the kitchen.

Opening the fridge, she was met with rows of mineral water and drinks—not a single vegetable in sight.

With a resigned sigh, Jiang Ruosheng pulled out her phone and swiftly placed an order for takeout.

Half an hour later, as Ruan Xin regained sensation in her limbs, the sound of the doorbell echoed through the apartment.

She slowly sat up, stretching her stiff muscles, only to turn and see Jiang Ruosheng at the dining table, slurping up a bowl of stinky river snail noodles with an aloof expression. The spicy flavors danced on her tongue, her fair skin flushing pink, her lips turning a vivid red. Despite clearly being someone who couldn’t handle spice, her expression remained perfectly composed, not a single twitch of her brows betraying discomfort.

The pungent aroma seeped through the door cracks, assaulting Ruan Xin’s senses. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she stormed over with a dark scowl.

“Why the hell are you eating stinky noodles in my house?!”

Ruan Xin momentarily felt as if she had returned to the time when they were dating—when sweet romance was just a part of daily life. Of course, there were also things they couldn’t quite reconcile back then.

Like stinky rice noodles.

When Jiang Ruosheng enthusiastically invited Ruan Xin to try them for the first time, she seriously considered whether she should break up with her.

Jiang Ruosheng’s forehead glistened with a thin layer of sweat from the spiciness, but the slight upward curve of her lips still betrayed her enjoyment.

At its core, spiciness was just a form of pain, so eating spicy food was no different from seeking suffering. Every time, she’d end up panting and gasping—Ruan Xin truly didn’t understand this so-called “painful yet pleasurable” sensation.

Jiang Ruosheng licked her lips slightly, the moisture making them glisten. Her thin lips were slightly swollen, looking plump and exceptionally kissable. But the moment Ruan Xin remembered they had just eaten stinky rice noodles, she averted her gaze, unable to look any longer.

“I just suddenly craved it. I ordered you a non-spicy version—want some?” Jiang Ruosheng eyed the other bowl with mild disdain. The clear broth was topped with a few spinach leaves, devoid of the thin layer of red oil—utterly lacking the soul of stinky rice noodles.

Ruan Xin pressed her lips together, wanting to refuse Jiang Ruosheng’s culinary assault, but her stomach let out an embarrassingly loud growl.

Without the fiery sting of chili, the mild version had a richer, more mellow flavor. The chewy noodles, springy and smooth, allowed even spice-averse people to experience the joy of slurping them up.

Snap—the sound of disposable chopsticks being pulled apart. Ruan Xin swirled the bamboo sticks a couple of times, shot Jiang Ruosheng a glare, and dug into her bowl.

“Weren’t you happy sleeping at the office? I thought you wouldn’t even deign to step foot in my place.”

Jiang Ruosheng swallowed, her throat still burning slightly, and took a moment before replying, “I had something to ask you, but you blocked me.”

Ruan Xin raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Oh? How strange. I usually only block people I dislike. Must’ve been an accident.”

She pulled out her phone and, with deliberate nonchalance, dragged Jiang Ruosheng out of the blacklist.

“Why didn’t you come in that day at the bar?” Ruan Xin’s tone was flat, but Jiang Ruosheng inexplicably detected a hint of accusation.

“There were so many people, and I didn’t know them. No point going in.” Of course, Jiang Ruosheng wouldn’t admit she didn’t want to see Su Qi, so she kept her answer simple.

Ruan Xin: “Why was there no point? If you had something to discuss with me, you should’ve come yourself. Sending someone else as a messenger shows a serious lack of sincerity.”

“And if I had personally come into the private room to find you that day, would you have agreed to step out and talk?”

Ruan Xin answered bluntly, “No.”

Jiang Ruosheng: “…”

Ruan Xin frowned. “It’s a matter of attitude. I don’t want to work with someone who lacks sincerity.”

Jiang Ruosheng sighed. “Fine, my bad on that one. But you refused to come out either, so let’s call it even.”

“So, what did you want to talk about back then?”

Jiang Ruosheng’s breath hitched slightly as she met Ruan Xin’s deep eyes. The image of Xin Zimo’s little face surfaced in her mind.

Their features were nearly identical, especially when staring at her with wide eyes like this. If they weren’t related by bl00d, Jiang Ruosheng wouldn’t believe it.

But now that she knew the child wasn’t hers, she had no right to ask Ruan Xin about her.

Avoiding those complicated eyes, she said, “That matter’s already settled… I have something else to ask you now.”

Ruan Xin: “Hm?”

Jiang Ruosheng raised her hand to wipe her sweaty nose from the steam. “Are you going to the development conference in Qixin District tomorrow?”

“Is that all?” Ruan Xin shrugged. “No, as an unfavored illegitimate daughter now, I don’t have the status to attend banquets hosted by prominent families. They probably didn’t even think to invite me.”

Picking up her chopsticks, Ruan Xin ate the noodles with graceful, quiet movements despite the casual meal.

Jiang Ruosheng: “I came to ask if you’d like to go with me.”

Ruan Xin paused. “I thought you said you didn’t want to help?”

“It’s not helping,” Jiang Ruosheng hesitated. “They heard we’re together and want me to bring you along—probably just for entertainment, given how suddenly we got engaged.” She emphasized the last two words, her resentment palpable.

“Of course, you don’t have to go. But I imagine you wouldn’t miss any chance to undermine Xin Ran.” Jiang Ruosheng wiped her mouth with a tissue and gulped down several mouthfuls of ice-cold mineral water to soothe the lingering spiciness.

Ruan Xin: “I’m all ears.”

“The conference only invites the most influential investors. Since the industry reshuffle a few years ago and the rise of new unicorn companies, the landscape in S City has changed significantly. Attending to familiarize yourself with key players and network wouldn’t hurt.”

Industry trends shift constantly—only by seizing opportunities can one stay ahead. But for companies or conglomerates already in decline, fading into obscurity takes just a few years.

Ruan Xin: “Hmm… Su Qi mentioned something similar. The industry has grown rapidly these years, and the Xin family hasn’t been the same since Xin Chengguang fell ill.”

Su Qi?

“What exactly did she tell you?” Jiang Ruosheng frowned slightly. Ruan Xin and Su Qi seemed closer than she’d thought—was this an unchangeable plotline between the antagonist and the female lead?

Ruan Xin tilted her head toward Jiang Ruosheng before looking down at the broth. “The Su family moved out of S City and completely declined. Her… relationship with Xin Ran was opposed by the Xin family matriarch. Rumor has it they’re arranging a suitable marriage alliance for Xin Ran.”

Jiang Ruosheng knew this part—Su Qi left with her family intending to break up with Xin Ran to avoid burdening him, but Xin Ran refused and chased her to City A.

Seems Xin Ran will be busy for a while, Jiang Ruosheng thought with schadenfreude, but she still cautioned, “You should keep your distance from Su Qi. Who knows when Xin Ran might lose it again. And… don’t trust her too much. She’s not as… innocent as you think.”

“Her heart will always belong to Xin Ran. Aren’t you worried she might eventually team up with him against you?”

Ruan Xin sighed. “You’re overthinking this. We’re both omegas—how could we possibly—”

“Back then, you and I were both alphas—” Jiang Ruosheng blurted out before catching herself. “I mean, just maintain boundaries. Your positions are different—even friendship between you wouldn’t be pure.”

Perhaps it was because the atmosphere felt so ordinary and warm now.

Sitting side by side at the table without their usual tension, exchanging words in rare tranquility—it was as if nothing had ever happened between them, just two old acquaintances catching up.

The kitchen was illuminated by a white pendant light, casting brightness over this narrow space.

During their relationship, Jiang Ruosheng had imagined a future with Ruan Xin—one where they would simply be together, enjoying the quiet passage of time.

But now, time had brought them to that very “future,” while their feelings had not.

“Then, from what standpoint are you saying these things?” Ruan Xin’s eyes reflected the white light, along with Jiang Ruosheng’s faint image, both sinking into unfathomable depths.

“Did Su Qi propose to you?”

A stone dropped into the lake, sending ripples across the water.