The Extravagant Alpha And The Cold Movie Queen’s Fake Act Became Real - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: I’m Talking About You, Ruan Siyi.

Ruan Siyi hadn’t expected Fu Ru’an to directly pull her in without warning. Caught completely off guard, she lost her balance instantly and tumbled straight into the bathtub.

The warm water immediately soaked through her clothes, the flow carrying a faint rose fragrance that drenched every inch of her skin.

The hot water in the bathtub splashed up in an instant, droplets of water arcing through the air like glistening fireworks, refracting the soft glow of the overhead light into scattered, colorful sparks.

Some of the droplets fell back onto the water’s surface, creating ripples that sent the rose petals floating and swirling around the two of them.

Fu Ru’an’s eyes gleamed with tiny flecks of light as she looked at her, like a cat that had successfully caught its prey.

She gently reached out to brush aside the damp strands of hair clinging to Ruan Siyi’s face, her voice soft and low: “Ruan Ruan, don’t you think this bathtub is a little too small? It’s squeezing us so close together.”

This was originally a single-person bathtub, though designed for comfort, it was slightly larger than average. For one person, the space was more than enough, but with two people crowded inside, it suddenly felt cramped.

Ruan Siyi glanced down and saw their bodies pressed tightly together, fitting like a key into a lock.

Her flat stomach was flush against the soft curve of Fu Ru’an’s body, while Fu Ru’an’s hand rested gently on the prominent ridge of her shoulder blade, fingertips tracing slow circles over her tensed muscles through the soaked fabric of her shirt.

“Sister Fu!”

Ruan Siyi gritted her teeth abruptly, her face flushing red from the sudden wetness and Fu Ru’an’s closeness. She didn’t mind being pulled into the water by Fu Ru’an—but without any warning, Sister Fu had bitten down over her bra, her teeth pressing firmly through the fabric.

“What are you doing?”

Fu Ru’an blinked innocently, her teeth slowly grazing the edge as she spoke: “I was just worried that you might be tired from accompanying me back to the old house and wanted you to relax too. Besides…” She paused mid-sentence. “You’re already drenched like this, so why not join me for a bath?”

Ruan Siyi was momentarily at a loss for words. Fu Ru’an’s presence had long enveloped her entirely, that familiar, faintly cool fragrance mingling with the rising scent of rose-infused steam, slowly eroding her rationality.

This was just too unfair.

How was she supposed to resist?

Fu Ru’an’s eyes, flushed pink from the steam of the bathtub, glistened with the dampness of the bathroom. Her pale skin now carried a rosy hue, her lips the deep red of roses.

The space between them fell into a brief silence.

After a moment, Ruan Siyi, unable to withstand Fu Ru’an’s unwavering gaze, patted her hand, signaling her to let go for a bit. Her voice softened, laced with resignation.

“I’ll go get the shampoo and body wash for you.”

As she spoke, Ruan Siyi rose from the bathtub and reached for the shelf nearby, squeezing a pump of shampoo into her palm. With a gentle rub, white foam quickly formed between her hands.

She applied it to Fu Ru’an’s damp, long hair, her slender yet strong fingers weaving through the dark strands, moving with practiced ease.

Fu Ru’an closed her eyes, listening to the sound of water dripping from Ruan Siyi’s clothes. Each drop seemed to land directly on her heart, the sensation of those fingers sending shivers down her spine, leaving her scalp tingling and numb.

“Ruan Siyi.”

The light around them filtered through Fu Ru’an’s half-lowered eyelids, casting blurred, flesh-toned patches-the color of her skin.

Memories flowed past her like a revolving lantern, much like the water cascading from Ruan Siyi’s cupped hands through her hair.

“Hmm? What is it?” Ruan Siyi paused her movements.

Fu Ru’an suddenly opened her eyes and turned to look at her. “Do you remember? You used to wash my hair for me before.”

Ruan Siyi froze, letting out a confused, “Huh?”

Before?

When was that?

Did the original owner ever have such intimate moments with Sister Fu?

Then…what does that make her now?

Questions surged rapidly through her mind, and for a moment, she was too stunned to react.

Just as her thoughts were wandering, her hand accidentally tightened, tugging a strand of Fu Ru’an’s hair.

Fu Ru’an winced slightly as her hair was pulled, letting out a soft “Ah—”

“That hurts.”

There was no reproach in her tone—it almost sounded like a coquettish complaint.

Only then did Ruan Siyi snap back to reality, her face flushing with embarrassment. She hastily released her grip and stammered an apology:

“Sorry, sorry! I didn’t mean to… I wasn’t paying attention…”

Fu Ru’an looked up, her gaze fixed on Ruan Siyi’s face.

The corners of her lips curled into a faint smile, casual yet not quite reaching her eyes. “It’s fine. If you really feel bad, just treat me better from now on. Don’t make me search for you everywhere again.”

The words were utterly baffling.

Ruan Siyi froze in place, Fu Ru’an’s earlier sentence suddenly echoing in her ears—

“Do you remember how you used to wash my hair before?”

Before?

She suddenly recalled the piece of paper she had found in the car.

A hazy image flashed through her mind like lightning—a vague sense of familiarity and strangeness, coalescing in the steamy mist of the bathroom into an indescribable, unsettling restlessness.

Her heartbeat quickened, and a startling thought pierced through her mind.

Was it possible that the “Ruan Siyi” Fu Ru’an was referring to was actually—

Before she could finish the thought, Fu Ru’an’s voice sounded beside her ear, cutting off her train of thought:

“I’m talking about you.”

Her tone was calm, almost indifferent, yet it struck Ruan Siyi’s heart like a hammer.

Her head jerked up in shock as she stared at Fu Ru’an, her throat dry, nearly unable to make a sound.

Before waiting for her response, Fu Ru’an had already withdrawn her gaze and leaned back.

“Forget it. I knew you wouldn’t remember.”

She tilted her head back, her eyes settling on the clean, pristine ceiling, but the scene before her gradually blurred. Stains of moisture seemed to spread wildly across it, growing until they drowned into a vast, sprawling mark.

The first rift between Fu Ru’an and the Fu family happened after the college entrance exams.

June weather was as unpredictable as a child’s mood—the days around the exams were always a continuous stretch of rain, soaking shoes and socks.

By the time Ruan Siyi arrived in a hurry, holding an umbrella, Fu Ru’an was already sitting in the cramped rented room, gazing at the sky.

In the south, the humidity in June carried a tangible weight, pressing heavily on one’s body. Every breath was thick with damp stickiness.

The rainwater that hadn’t yet dried on the ground seeped slowly through the cracks of the bluestone pavement. The air was saturated with the rich scent of steaming vegetation, mingled with the stubborn earthiness of wet soil. Inside the room, where the windows had been closed all night, faint traces of moisture crept up the corners of the walls. The wooden furniture against them bore a slight dampness, and even the edges of the books on the table had curled.

Outside the window, the narrow alley was slick with fine rain, winding and twisting like an endless maze.

The wet stone slabs of the alley shimmered with a cold, ghostly sheen under the sunlight. The greenery along the path was laden with raindrops that hadn’t yet fallen, and with each gust of wind, a delicate spray of water scattered down.

When Ruan Siyi stepped inside—the door had been left open—she saw Fu Ru’an, dressed simply in a white T-shirt and jeans, sitting dazedly in the damp, cramped room.

This was an outfit Fu Ru’an had never worn before. Her entire being exuded a refined elegance that clashed starkly with the narrow, crowded room and the cheap, ordinary clothes.

“Why didn’t you close the door?” Ruan Siyi folded her umbrella and turned to shut the door behind her. “This place isn’t as safe as the Fu family home.”

“I knew you were coming.”

Fu Ru’an’s voice carried no discernible emotion, like the steady drizzle outside the window.

She had quarreled with Fu Yunxi and run away from home. Fu Yunxi, of course, couldn’t swallow her pride enough to come fetch her in person.

So, sending someone close to her in age and relationship to persuade her to relent and return was the best solution.

Ruan Siyi was the stepping stone Fu Yunxi had laid out for her.

And now, that “stepping stone” stood awkwardly by the door, hesitating to step any closer.

It wasn’t until Fu Ru’an’s voice sounded again.

“What are you standing there dumbly for? Come here.”

Only then did she cautiously tiptoe over.

“Hurry up.”

Seeing her dawdle without making any progress, Fu Ru’an urged.

Ruan Siyi shuffled over and sat down beside her.

“Sister Fu…” she hesitantly began, “Did you and Auntie Fu have a fight?”

Wasn’t that obvious enough?

Otherwise, why would she go to such lengths to come all the way from the capital?

Fu Ru’an ignored her question, and Ruan Siyi quickly realized just how stupid and clumsy her inquiry had been.

Wasn’t the answer obvious enough?

Fu Ru’an’s silence made Ruan Siyi’s heart grow uneasy, followed by regret for her thoughtless remark. She hurriedly lowered her head to conceal her discomfort.

She awkwardly scratched her head and forced a dry smile. “Sorry, I was just asking casually.”

The atmosphere in the room fell into silence, with only the sound of raindrops tapping against the windowsill outside—slow and heavy.

Ruan Siyi was indeed the peacemaker sent by Fu Yunxi.

Fu Ru’an had clashed with Fu Yunxi over her college application choices.

Fu Yunxi insisted that she study business, claiming it was the most useful major for the family and for her future, but Fu Ru’an stubbornly insisted on applying for physics—a subject Fu Yunxi deemed “completely useless.”

The two were locked in a stalemate, neither willing to yield, which ultimately led to the current situation.

Fu Ru’an had made her stance clear through action—by leaving the capital.

Fu Yunxi acted just as swiftly, immediately freezing her bank cards.

Fu Ru’an remained silent, still not speaking, her head lowered as she fiddled with the pages of a book in her hands. But her fingers gripped with a bit too much force, as if she might tear the thin, dampened paper apart at any moment.

Ruan Siyi cleared her throat, trying to ease the tension, but she didn’t know what to say.

Then, Fu Ru’an suddenly looked up, her voice cool and laced with faint mockery. “Here to convince me to go back?”