The black Rolls-Royce by the roadside was mysteriously powerful.
The license plate ending in eight nines was exclusively Bao Ye's.
The Prince of Beijing's beloved car, everyone in the Capital City had to give way.
Three cars followed behind.
Jiang Ruan jogged out and saw the convoy. She lifted her foot towards the black car, not expecting Bao Ye to arrive so quickly.
Reaching the car, Jiang Ruan was panting, her cheeks rosy. She had walked from the parking lot.
Through the car window, the man's sharp, stern face came into view. His hand, holding the Buddha beads, rested idly on the steering wheel, lazily free.
Thinking of last night's indulgence, Jiang Ruan became inexplicably nervous.
Her fingers clenched the strap of her bag tightly.
A deep, cold voice echoed from Bao Ye.
"What, do you want me to carry you in?"
Clearly a teasing remark.
Yet from his lips, it inexplicably felt like a command, a threat, unkind.
Cold without a hint of emotion.
Almost just saying, are you coming up or not.
Meeting the man's dark eyes, Bao Ye saw her flushed cheeks, her red lips alluring, strangely reminiscent of her seductive manner last night, his Adam's apple rolled immediately.
He looked away.
He, Bao Ye, was not lustful, but somehow, with her...
Jiang Ruan's heart tensed, her small face forced a smile: "No need."
Then she opened the car door, sitting naturally in the front passenger seat.
The spacious and luxurious leather seat was very comfortable, the air filled with a cool cologne fragrance, worthy of Bao Ye's beloved car, though Jiang Ruan had ridden many times, she couldn't help but marvel each time.
This car was truly good.
Bao Ye's car wasn't cheap, and this one was unique, impossible to find another in the whole Capital City.
Inimitable.
The dim street lights at night shone through the car window, falling on the girl's fair, pure face, the interwoven lights enhanced her beauty even more.
Bao Ye drove, and Jiang Ruan watched the scenery.
The two of them didn't acknowledge each other the whole way.
As if they were unfamiliar.
Back at the castle, Jiang Ruan had a habit of eating low-sugar fruits at night, to replenish vitamin C for better skin.
After finishing the fruit platter prepared by the servants, Jiang Ruan returned to her bedroom, relieving a day's fatigue, rubbing her neck, just about to go take a shower.
The sound of footsteps came from behind.
Jiang Ruan turned her head, seeing Bao Ye in a loose black silk robe, his chest exposed to the air, his cool white skin wild and enticing, an unseen desire.
Especially his face, perfect like God's favorite.
The visual effect was too strong.
Jiang Ruan couldn't help but swallow, looking at him, her speech stumbled intermittently: "Are you going to shower?"
"Then you first, I'll wash later."
Needless to say, in front of her sponsor.
Of course, the sponsor went first.
After speaking, Jiang Ruan was about to pass by.
As she went past Bao Ye, the man, originally expressionless, suddenly reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, the motion domineering and strong.
Bao Ye stood at 1.87 meters, Jiang Ruan at 1.65 meters.
The height difference left her helpless before him.
"Bao Ye... What are you doing!" Jiang Ruan was startled, her dark eyes wide open: "Aren't you going to shower? Let me go."
She struggled, but her strength to him was like scratching an itch.
Seeing her neck shrink back, Bao Ye felt that if there was a hole, she would crawl into it.
Such a timid little thing.
Interest flickered in his eyes, the man's abstinent, cold face staring at her, his Adam's apple rolling, his thin lips moving slightly, leaning in: "You seem very nervous?"
Jiang Ruan forced her composure: "You're overthinking it."
"Why should I be nervous?"
Round eyes like bells staring at him, unbearably cute.
If not for her nervous, avoiding gaze.
"Really?"
"Since you're sober, shouldn't we settle accounts?"
Bao Ye said.
"Last night..."
Before he could finish, Jiang Ruan interrupted as if provoked: "I drank too much last night,"
"Surely Mr. Bao of the renowned, majestic Bao Group, with a reputation across the world, wouldn't bother with a drunk?"
Jiang Ruan blinked her dark eyes, working hard to flatter and fawn in an animated and appealing way.
Yet, Bao Ye wouldn't fall for it.
His right hand, wearing the Buddha beads, freed, grasped her slim chin, rubbing against her red lips, without a trace of gentleness.
Watching her lips become increasingly luscious.
His dark eyes deepened: "That depends on what kind of drunk."
"The kind that falls asleep drunk or the one who cries, causes a scene, and curses... a drunk?"
The last two words, he emphasized heavily.
As if reminding her, don't think you're getting away so easily.
"Dare to curse me, Jiang Ruan, you've grown bold, huh?"
"Or is it that outwardly you obey me, but inside you've always thought so?"
The man's devilish questioning came forth.
Jiang Ruan hugged his waist directly, shaking her head desperately: "No, I'm not, let me explain."
Waking up today, bits and pieces from last night flooded back to Jiang Ruan.
She wished she could dig a hole and bury herself in it, sobbing.
She hadn't expected her drunken self to be so bold.
Daring to curse Bao Ye as a bastard.
Even demanding he call her grandma, or she wouldn't get up.
Bao Ye held her, and she even hit him.
Of course, Bao Ye never called her.
And she didn't hit his face.
Otherwise, she'd surely be doomed.
Dare to hit Bao Ye's face.
Throughout the entire Capital City, not a single person could be pulled out.
Her waist embraced by the girl's soft arms, Bao Ye's throat tightened.
"Heh." The man sneered coldly: "Is that so?"
Jiang Ruan resignedly: "I really just drank too much."
"Drunks are brainless, I don't remember anything I said or did, but if I spoke any nonsense, you're magnanimous, please don't mind me."
At such close proximity, Bao Ye watched her long, dark eyelashes tremble like butterfly wings.
Quite poetic.
"But why do I recall." Bao Ye released her lips, speaking leisurely: "In vino veritas?"
Jiang Ruan: "..."
This guy clearly wasn't going to let her off easily.
She gritted her teeth, opting to throw caution to the wind: "Then what do you want?"
"I have no money, and Mr. Bao surely doesn't lack money. If you want a life, there's just this one, you can take it."
Jiang Ruan lifted her neck, looking at the man's sharp, cool face, not expecting him to be so petty.
She had apologized, and he still wouldn't relent.
Did she want to drink? Wasn't it for work, for her career?
Because she didn't want to be his useless canary.
She wanted to have dignity as a person.
Otherwise, why would she act so subserviently, knowing the assistant director deliberately made things difficult. Yet still accompanying with a smile and drinking so much.
The more Jiang Ruan thought, the worse she felt, more aggrieved, originally tolerable, but now, in front of him, the grievances seemed to double.
Her eyes uncontrollably reddened.
Soon, tears started rolling down.
Flowing swiftly.
Instantly, tears streaming down her face.
"Wah wah wah..."
Jiang Ruan felt ashamed, crying while wiping away tears.
But there were too many tears, her small hands wet, unable to wipe them all, sobbing incessantly.
Seeing her cry, her face stained with tears, like she'd suffered an enormous grievance, Bao Ye's brows furrowed tightly, his head suddenly heavy.
He spoke coldly: "Why are you crying?"