Chapter 92 (Ruan Yōu and Fu Jiazhan) 一 Fu Jiazhan’s Princess.
“Bang bang bang,” the dazzling fireworks didn’t stop.
The booming sound of fireworks, the laughter of Lu Xuan and Qi Nuo, the chasing sounds of Jiang Huai and Lu Jin, and the surrounding sounds of waves and wind seemed confined within a glass cover, very faint.
Ruan Yōu could only hear the sound of Fu Jiazhan’s two fireworks stick sizzling in his hands.
Sizzle, sizzle.
It was the sound of electric currents when hearts throbbed.
Tonight, the appearance of the fireworks stick burning seemed brighter than usual.
Illuminating his deep eyes and smiling mouth.
Gentleness, like water, flows from the brow illuminated by the cold moonlight.
Ruan Yōu’s heart paused for a second.
He emitted the fragrance she really liked.
In that moment, she recalled a few days ago, the post she made on her Moments.
Ruan Yōu suddenly panicked.
Her mind was in a mess, unable to recall the original meaning, only remembering what she said on her Moments一一
“If you’re a man, you should use this one, very charming~”
Charming.
In an instant, these two words occupied her heart, making her panicked heart uncontrollably start to throb.
The fireworks stick were still burning brightly.
The dazzling light seemed even brighter than just now.
Even though it had already burned two-thirds.
Ruan Yōu’s eyelashes trembled slightly, unable to distinguish whether it was the fireworks stick burning or her world blossoming.
She lost the ability to think, and even her language function regressed to its primitive stage.
Fu Jiazhan waited quietly for the answer.
“Yōuyōu.”
In the distance, Qi Zhiyan suddenly called out to her.
Ruan Yōu came to her senses, tilted her head to avoid Fu Jiazhan’s deep gaze, and said, confused:
“77 called me, I’m leaving.”
In the instant Ruan Yōu turned around, the fireworks stick in Fu Jiazhan’s hand blossomed with the last bit of brightness. Together with his smile and the shattered light in his eyes, it slowly extinguished.
The surroundings suddenly turned dark.
The brief fireworks display ended.
Fu Jiazhan lowered his head, silently staring at the burnt-out fireworks stick.
“Fu Jiazhan.”
Jiang Huai and Lu Jin called him several times.
Under the moonlight, the slender figure on the beach looked lonely and aggrieved, with an indescribable sense of loss and discomfort.
He had anticipated the princess’s answer countless times.
Yet, he couldn’t help but secretly rejoice at the 1% possibility.
Fu Jiazhan had rehearsed the consequences in his mind a hundred times.
“Fu Jiazhan.” Jiang Huai and Lu Jin called him once again.
“Is setting off fireworks by yourself too boring? Join us?” Lu Jin approached, asking with a playful smile.
Fu Jiazhan clenched the extinguished fireworks stick and walked toward the hotel.
Jiang Huai walked up to Lu Jin, and they exchanged a glance. “Is he not coming?”
Lu Jin shook his head, scrutinizing Fu Jiazhan from top to bottom, and asked skeptically: “What’s wrong with him?”
“He has something on his mind. I’ve never seen him like this before.”
Clearly, the good friends sensed his bad mood. Unable to continue their playful banter, Lu Jin and Jiang Huai handed the remaining fireworks stick to Qi Nuo and Lu Xuan, then proceeded to carry a pile of alcohol upstairs.
They persistently rang the doorbell of Fu Jiazhan’s room. Luckily, they had booked this floor; otherwise, other guests would come up to make trouble.
The person inside the room couldn’t stand the disturbance any longer, frowned, and came to open the door.
Jiang Huai and Lu Jin simultaneously raised their bottles, smiling: “Care for a drink?”
“No, thanks.”
Fu Jiazhan looked indifferent, swiftly closing the door.
Lu Jin and Jiang Huai quickly stopped him. The two overlords turned into two rogues, squeezing in through the door crack.
Lu Jin: “Hey, I’m in, hey, you can’t kick me out.”
“Hey, me too!” Jiang Huai said, grabbing a glass from the suite and heading out, “Alright, let’s have a drink and lift the worries.”
. . . . .
Ruan Yōu paced anxiously around the room, clutching a pillow in her hand. Her fingertips were constantly tugging at the tassels on the pillow as she walked in a panic.
The sound of “bang bang bang” exploded in Ruan Yōu’s mind like a muffled thunder.
Not fireworks, but the heavy knocking on the door.
Ruan Yōu took a deep breath, suppressing what Fu Jiazhan said when the fireworks played in the dark.
“Ring, ring, ring.”
The room’s doorbell rang.
Ruan Yōu’s heart tightened. Looking out through the doorbell display, she sighed in relief to see it was Gu Fuchen.
She took a deep breath, composed herself, and hurriedly went to open the door for her brother.
Ruan Yōu opened a small crack in the door, carefully looking outside: “Brother, what’s wrong?”
The flustered gaze and tense voice did not escape Gu Fuchen’s sharp eyes and ears.
“What’s wrong?” he inquired.
Ruan Yōu swallowed nervously and casually came up with an excuse.
“I just watched a horror movie, got scared.”
Gu Fuchen spoke seriously: “Next time you watch one, if I’m not around, have Fu Jiazhan, Jiang Huai, Lu Jin, or Qi Zhiyan accompany you.”
At the mention of the first name, Ruan Yōu uncomfortably pressed against the chilly door, wanting to cool down her ears.
“Okay, okay.”
Gu Fuchen didn’t say much, checking the time as he lifted his wrist.
“The company has encountered a small issue. I am flying back to handle it. Enjoy your time with them here. If you’re worried, you can have Lu Xuan, Qi Zhiyan, or Wen Juxi accompany you at night.”
Ruan Yōu’s eyes lit up, grabbing Gu Fuchen’s elbow as he turned and exclaimed: “Brother, I’m going back with you!”
Gu Fuchen: “Hmm? Weren’t you eager to stay and play here before?”
Feeling the spring by the seaside was a shared idea between Ruan Yōu and Lu Xuan, so Gu Fuchen didn’t suggest his sister come home with him.
It’s quiet at home, but it’s lively here.
And Ruan Yōu likes lively places.
“The horror movie is related to the hotel; I don’t want to stay here. Brother, wait for me a moment. I’ll pack quickly; please wait for me!”
Ruan Yōu immediately went to her room to pack, afraid that if she was too slow, Gu Fuchen wouldn’t wait for her.
“Take your time; no rush.” Gu Fuchen sighed lightly at the doorway. “Don’t watch horror movies alone in the future or choose movies similar to your current living situation.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Ruan Yōu didn’t pay attention to Gu Fuchen’s words at all, solely focused on packing to escape this place. As for other things, she would deal with them later.
“Do you want me to help?”
“I can do it myself.”
Gu Fuchen nodded, calmly took out his phone, and said: “I’ll let Fu Jiazhan know that we’ll leave first.”
Ruan Yōu abruptly stopped, took two steps forward, snatched Gu Fuchen’s phone, and widened her almond-shaped eyes: “Why are you telling him?!”
Gu Fuchen was momentarily stunned.
He had a good relationship with Fu Jiazhan, Jiang Huai, and Lu Jin. If there was something, he would surely inform them. Moreover, Fu Jiazhan was the most reliable and comprehensive among the three. Trusting him meant not worrying about anything.
“Not telling him?”
Feeling her reaction was too intense, Ruan Yōu cautiously handed the phone back to Gu Fuchen and said, seemingly composed: “If they find out I slipped away quietly and follow us, it won’t be good. They came here to have fun, and they haven’t watched horror movies. It’s not good for me to affect their happiness.”
“Brother, how about this? We inform the front desk and ask them to let Jiang Huai know tomorrow?”
Gu Fuchen nodded.
That makes sense.
If these people knew that his sister was leaving with him tonight, they would surely come to snatch her away.
“Then let’s not say anything.”
Ruan Yōu relaxed and turned to start packing. Midway, when Gu Fuchen wasn’t paying attention, she glanced at the suite’s balcony.
The tall figure by the beach had disappeared.
He should be returning to the room.
She wouldn’t encounter him downstairs or anywhere else.
Ruan Yōu quickened her pace. Ten minutes later, she and Gu Fuchen took the elevator to the basement parking lot.
As the car left the hotel, Ruan Yōu couldn’t help but look back.
The hotel was brightly lit.
Harmonious and quiet, just like before.
Ruan Yōu sighed, leaning her head against the car window, looking vacantly outside.
At half-past two in the morning, Gu Fuchen and Ruan Yōu arrived at the Gu family home.
The butler stood behind Ruan Yōu, holding her suitcase, and took another elevator, placing the suitcase inside.
When Ruan Yōu parted ways with Gu Fuchen, she couldn’t help but say: “Brother, don’t stay up too late.”
Gu Fuchen chuckled: “I know, you rest well. If you’re really scared, call Mom and ask her to come up and sleep with you.”
Ruan Yōu paused for a moment, only then realizing that when her brother said “scared,” he meant scared of horror movies.
She shook her head: “I’m not scared now.”
But tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
She slept very poorly that night. It was as if there was a little person in her head with boundless energy. Every time she tried to fall asleep, he would slash at her with his sword.
When Ruan Yōu awoke at six, she stared blankly at the scenery outside.
It felt like she had slept, yet also like she hadn’t.
Unable to calm her mind, Ruan Yōu changed into a set of home pajamas, quickly freshened up, and went downstairs for breakfast.
This time was the usual breakfast hour for her parents, and sometimes she could even see her brother, Gu Fuchen, at the dining table.
When Ruan Yōu reached the second-floor dining room, Ruan Liuyu was surprised and asked: “Butler Song, what time is it now?”
“It’s six fifty-five.”
Ruan Liuyu frowned and hurriedly had someone support her daughter, who seemed weak.
“Chenchen said you came back in the early morning. Why did you wake up so early today?” Ruan Liuyu asked.
After Ruan Yōu sat at the dining table, Gu Youqian only then noticed the bluish tint beneath her daughter’s eyes: “Didn’t sleep well?”
Ruan Yōu pointed to her head: “Fireworks were exploding here all night.”
Ruan Liuyu frowned.
what one thinks about during the day, is what one dreams about at night1.
“Were you planning to set off fireworks? No problem, Mom will arrange it tonight.”
“No, no, no.” Ruan Yōu quickly swallowed the milk, put down the cup, and waved her hands, “I don’t want to see fireworks.”
“Right, after all that booming last night,” Ruan Liuyu comforted, rubbing her daughter’s forehead: “After eating, go back to sleep for a while.”
Ruan Yōu nodded lightly, sighing inwardly.
At the same time, Fu Jiazhan had a sleepless night.
Last night, Jiang Huai and Lu Jin drank a lot with him, staying up all night. One occupied his bed, and the other took over the spacious sofa, occasionally clamoring for more drinks, giving him a headache.
He didn’t drink, sat on the sofa contemplating quietly the entire night.
In the early morning, he had only slept for two hours.
Upon waking up at nine, Jiang Huai and Lu Jin had left him a small note.
【After waking up, go to the fifth floor for breakfast.】
In the fifth-floor restaurant, Qi Zhiyan, Lu Xuan, Wen Juxi, and Qi Nuo sat at a small table for four. They nodded and greeted him when they saw him.
Ruan Yōu was not there.
Fu Jiazhan’s heart tensed for a moment.
Jiang Huai and Lu Jin sat at the back of their table.
As Fu Jiazhan approached, his hand unconsciously clenched. Seemingly nonchalant, he asked while sitting, “Why didn’t I see Gu Fuchen?”
“Last night, he had to deal with company matters, so he went back early,” Lu Jin poured him a glass of milk. “Have some.”
Fu Jiazhan held the milk cup, the words he most wanted to ask stuck in his throat.
Jiang Huai: “Oh, by the way, there’s also Bodhisattva Sister.”
Fu Jiazhan’s voice tightened slightly, “What happened to Ruan Yōu?”
“She went back with Gu Fuchen,” Lu Jin casually said. “She asked us to have a good time here; she said there’s something she needs to deal with and wanted to go back early.”
The milk cup tilted.
Spilling onto Fu Jiazhan’s hand.
Fu Jiazhan’s eyes deepened.
The daytime beach was chilly, devoid of any warmth.
Lu Jin and Jiang Huai thought Fu Jiazhan hadn’t slept well last night and was not in good condition.
The incident involved the two of them. They had gone to comfort someone, found someone to drink with, and ended up taking over his suite. When they saw Fu Jiazhan half-reclined on the sofa in the morning, eyes slightly bruised, a trace of guilt flashed through the hearts of the two mischievous friends.
Now is the time for them to repay.
Two people did not talk much about why the milk cup tilted, to protect Fu Jiazhan’s face.
According to the plan, they returned home the day after tomorrow night, spending another day here during the day. But Qi Nuo had to leave in the morning, and Lu Xuan wanted to go back with him.
Others lost interest in staying here.
“It’s better to go back and find Sister Yōuyōu,” Lu Xuan muttered quietly.
Lu Jin frowned: “Do you want to go back to find Ruan Yōu, or to be with your little boyfriend?”
Qi Zhiyan chuckled: “My younger brother’s brother-in-law sees through but doesn’t expose.”
Lu Jin: …
Jiang Huai turned to Fu Jiazhan and said: “Let’s go back together and pack up.”
Lu Jin: “Yes, go back and ask Ruan Yōu why she left without loyalty.”
Fu Jiazhan’s eyes slightly hesitated, “You guys go back.”
Jiang Huai, Lu Jin, and Qi Zhiyan were all stunned.
“You want to stay here?”
“Um.”
Ruan Yōu probably doesn’t want to see him now.
Before Wen Juxi left, she took another look at him.
After Jiang Huai and Lu Jin packed up, they went to the fifth-floor restaurant for a stroll.
Fu Jiazhan still sat in his original position, turning his head, staring into the distance at the beach lost in thought.
No one knows what he’s thinking.
Jiang Huai and Lu Jin thought for a moment, changed their minds, and decided to stay.
Following Fu Jiazhan’s gaze towards the beach.
The barren beach had nothing on it, and the area he was staring at lacked any distinctive features.
The two dared not ask Fu Jiazhan what had happened.
This situation had occurred many years ago when Fu Jiazhan returned to face the family’s pressure and his mother’s illness.
At that time, he was also like this, silently watching his mother’s hospital bed.
Fu Jiazhan, as a person, would never let others worry about him.
He was accustomed to digesting all emotions on his own.
Fu Jiazhan sat by the window the whole night, and by eleven o’clock at night, Jiang Huai couldn’t bear it anymore.
“What are you thinking? Maybe if you talk to us, it can help share the burden.”
Fu Jiazhan withdrew his gaze and stood up.
Rubbing his stiff arms and thighs, he said softly, “Let’s go.”
Lu Jin: “Go where?”
“Back.”
He had already made up his mind and figured out how to let the princess not have to hide from him anymore and return to her own splendid world.
Jiang Huai and Lu Jin breathed a sigh of relief.
“Let’s go, Let’s go, I want to rush back to see if the little princess is guarding the training match with Qi Nuo again, and coming home very late.”
Jiang Huai helplessly laughed: “Your little princess is easily infatuated with love.”
Lu Jin: “Little princess, that’s how they are, managing them is tiring.”
Lu Jin deliberately wanted to involve Fu Jiazhan in their conversation, avoiding him staying silent alone, so he turned and asked: “Right, can our little princess be saved in terms of love?”
Fu Jiazhan: “Lu Xuan?”
He paused: “No hope.”
Lu Jin:…
There’s no need to be so straightforward.
Can’t we give people a beautiful imagination, my friend!
Jiang Huai had a question. He walked to the other side of Fu Jiazhan, patted his shoulder, and solemnly asked, “Why don’t you call Lu Xuan the Little Princess?”
Lu Xuan’s reputation as a little princess has already spread throughout the wealthy circle.
Few call her Xuanxuan; when joking, they often playfully call her “Little Princess, Little Princess.” In the entire circle of friends, it seems that only Fu Jiazhan, when mentioning the Little Princess, always addresses her calmly and distantly by her full name.
Fu Jiazhan silently looked at the beach outside the hotel.
He already had a princess.
Jiang Huai did not get Fu Jiazhan’s answer for a long time and asked something else: “Why are you so eager to go back now? What do you want to do?”
Fu Jiazhan still didn’t speak.
Silence on the plane, watching the clouds outside without saying a word.
For his princess, he gave the last gift.
- 日有所思，夜有所梦(rì yǒu suǒ sī, yè yǒu suǒ mèng) It is a Chinese proverb that suggests that our thoughts and experiences during the day can influence our dreams at night. ↩︎