Xie Yanchuan received the news and rushed to the silk store in a hurry.
As soon as he entered, he saw a handsome and unfamiliar man standing beside Ruan Jiu.
In an instant, he was filled with rage. He took big strides and rushed forward, punching Jiang Jibai in the face.
Jiang Jibai's fair face immediately turned red and swollen.
"Xie Yanchuan, what are you going crazy about?!" Ruan Jiu roared at Xie Yanchuan.
Jiang Jibai also looked puzzled. Covering his red and swollen cheek, he asked, "Sir, I wonder what I've done to offend you?"
Xie Yanchuan looked at Ruan Jiu and pointed at Jiang Jibai. "Is it because of him that you're so determined to break off our engagement with me?"
"If you're sick, go see a doctor. Don't go crazy here!" The anger in Ruan Jiu's eyes grew stronger.
Xie Yanchuan wasn't willing to give up. He tightly grasped Ruan Jiu's shoulders. "Tell me! Is it really because of him?!"
Ruan Jiu pushed Xie Yanchuan away and said irritably, "Don't you know why I want to break off the engagement with you?"
Xie Yanchuan's body froze.
Yes, the misunderstandings between him and Ruan Jiu had not formed overnight.
Xie Yanchuan's eyes were full of disappointment. Even though there were a thousand words in his heart, he could only hold them back at this moment.
Xie Jingchu was standing outside the door. Watching Xie Yanchuan make a move, he secretly cheered in his heart.
A sly smile appeared on his face.
However, soon, Xie Jingchu regretted letting Xie Yanchuan teach the new storekeeper a lesson.
After Xie Yanchuan left, Ruan Jiu looked at Jiang Jibai's red and swollen cheek with a face full of apology.
Then, she carefully applied medicine to Jiang Jibai.
Seeing this scene, a gloomy look once again covered Xie Jingchu's face.
This was really like lifting a rock only to drop it on his own foot!
In the middle of the night, just as Ruan Jiu returned to her room, Xie Jingchu came to find her.
With his strong arms, he firmly pinned Ruan Jiu against the wall.
Ruan Jiu was startled at first. Afraid of being discovered by others, she had to lower her voice. "What are you doing?"
Xie Jingchu said with a straight face, "You seemed to be in a really good mood today."
Hearing this, Ruan Jiu was first puzzled, and then she seemed to think of something.
"You're the one who called Xie Yanchuan here, aren't you?"
Xie Jingchu raised his head and his eyes darted around. "So what?"
Ruan Jiu twitched the corner of her mouth, finding it both annoying and funny. "What are you going crazy about again?"
After hearing this, Xie Jingchu folded his arms and circled Ruan Jiu in his arms. He gently rubbed his chin against her hair.
He whispered, "Who told you to smile so happily at other men."
Ruan Jiu originally wanted to push him away, but hearing his aggrieved voice, she let her hands drop and let him hold her.
She explained helplessly, "He's the new storekeeper of the silk store. I can't just put on a cold face to others, can I?"
"Why do you hang out with him every day then?" Xie Jingchu said jealously.
Hang out?
He really could come up with such a word.
If she didn't explain it clearly to him, he might just keep having wild thoughts.
"You know he's the new storekeeper of the silk store. I have to explain the situation of the store to him. But he's really capable. He's already gotten the hang of things in just a few days."
Hearing this, Xie Jingchu felt even more jealous.
His arms tightened involuntarily, pressing Ruan Jiu tightly into his arms.
"You're even praising him!"
Ruan Jiu was helpless, but the smile on her lips grew wider.
Why didn't she think he was so childish before?
Immediately, she had no choice but to coax him. "Okay, okay, okay. I won't praise him."
"Then you can't smile at him in the future."
"Okay, okay, okay. I won't smile at him."
"Then give me a proper status."
...
Was the so - called "proper status" something that could be given casually?
Seeing Ruan Jiu remain silent, Xie Jingchu loosened his arms. He grasped Ruan Jiu's shoulders and stared straight into her eyes.
"Why don't you say 'okay, okay, okay' anymore?"
Xie Jingchu's burning gaze made her face flush.
"It's... not the right time yet..."
Xie Jingchu pursed his lips. He knew that he couldn't rush this.
So, he didn't continue to ask.
He just grasped Ruan Jiu's slender waist again and pulled her tightly into his arms.
"A Jiu, let me hold you for a while."
Xie Jingchu's movements were gentle, and his deep voice reached Ruan Jiu's ears.
This man must be a goblin in disguise!
He was so good at bewitching people.
Ruan Jiu no longer avoided him. She reached out her arms to hug Xie Jingchu's waist and buried her head in his arms.
At this moment, it seemed that the air had solidified.
If time could just stop here, that would be great.
Ruan Jiu thought about it for most of the night and finally decided to have a good talk with Xie Yanchuan.
Some things were better said out earlier.
When Xie Yanchuan learned that Ruan Jiu had invited him to have dinner at the Drunken Immortal Restaurant, he was so happy that he almost jumped up.
He even deliberately changed into a new set of clothes.
When Ruan Jiu saw Xie Yanchuan dressed up so flamboyantly, looking like a peacock showing off its feathers, she was so shocked that she almost spat out the tea in her mouth.
She coughed lightly and said, "Sit down."
Xie Yanchuan was so happy that his mouth almost reached his ears. He immediately chose a seat next to Ruan Jiu and sat down.
Ruan Jiu gave an awkward smile.
She thought to herself that this man must have misunderstood something again.
So, she said directly, "I invited you today because I think it's better for us to clear things up."
Xie Yanchuan nodded and immediately agreed, "There have indeed been too many misunderstandings between us. About the matter of Lu Wanrou..."
"That's not what I want to talk about." Ruan Jiu interrupted him.
"Then what is it?" Xie Yanchuan was puzzled.
"Regarding our engagement, from the very beginning, neither of us was willing.
Before, I came to you and asked you to cooperate with me to break off the engagement, and you agreed.
So this engagement will be broken off sooner or later. From now on, we'll go our separate ways and stay out of each other's business."
It meant don't act like a fool anymore.
Hearing this, Xie Yanchuan's smile froze on his face.
Then, he tightly grasped Ruan Jiu's hand. "A Jiu, I know I was a jerk before and did a lot of things that hurt you, but I promise I'll never do it again! Please believe me!"
Ruan Jiu immediately withdrew her hand. "Even if you don't go to those brothels in the future, it has nothing to do with me."
"But I really like you!" Xie Yanchuan said anxiously.
"Just because you like me, does it mean I have to like you?"
Xie Yanchuan refused to believe it. After all, they had grown up together. There couldn't be no affection between them at all.
She must be just saying angry words!
"Is it because of Lu Wanrou?"
"Even without Lu Wanrou, there's no way for us. It was already doomed ten years ago that there would never be any possibility between us."
Xie Yanchuan frowned tightly, and his eyes were full of confusion.
Ruan Jiu let out a long sigh and began to tell the story slowly. "Ten years ago, when I came to the Xie Mansion, in your eyes, you were the high - and - mighty young master, and I was a lowly servant at your mercy.
From childhood to adulthood, you've never looked up to me from the bottom of your heart.
You and Xie Qinghuan would pour cold water into my quilt in winter and put insects in my clothes in summer.
Have you forgotten all these things?"
In order to stay in the Xie family, no matter how excessive Xie Yanchuan and Xie Qinghuan were, Ruan Jiu could only swallow all these grievances.
Because they would get sweets if they cried.
And she didn't even dare to cry.
Xie Yanchuan never thought that his childhood pranks had actually caused so much harm to Ruan Jiu.
He thought that the only thing between them was Lu Wanrou.
He never expected that there was a whole ten - year gap between them.