Chapter 941 - Be Fair
Lin Ruoxi's face twitched but she maintained the composed smile on her face. She turned to face Cai Ning who was standing by her mother.
Cai Ning looked back at her apologetically.
She walked in front of Yang Gongming and nodded her head softly as a greeting. "Sir, my apologies for disturbing you at his hour. My mom insisted on visiting today."
Yang Gongming chuckled. "It's not a crime to visit me, there's no need to be forgiven. I've heard that you're part of the Group of Eight in Yellow Flame Iron Brigade. I see you're both young and capable."
"That's right." Jiang Shan moved forward immediately. "Marshal Yang, I'm always worried about Ning Er. She's too naive and lacks any form of confidence, I hope that you can take care of her. Oh, I also brought a gift for you."
Having said that, she placed the red box onto the marble table.
Yang Chen didn't know if he should laugh or cry. His mother-in-law was really milking her visit to the Yang clan.
He winked at Cai Ning and pouted.
Cai Ning's eyes glistened but she kept quiet.
From the moment Cai Ning entered the pavilion, Yang Chen could tell that she had entered the Xiantian stage. It wasn't hard to figure as the scripture he provided her was more than enough to guide her into the Xiantian stage.
Also because of her improvement in cultivation, she seemed more calm and collected than before.
Yang Chen was glad to see that he made the right decision.
At the same time, Guo Xuehua opened up the gift given by Jiang Shan.
In the middle of the box was a wild ginseng plant!
There weren't a lot of roots on it but they were so long that the roots had to be wrapped around the plant multiple times.
Yang Gongming's eyes brightened. "This is high-quality ginseng from Changbai Mountain, isn't it? Judging from the looks of it, it should be more than a hundred years old!"
Jiang Shan smiled brightly. "You have such a great eye, Marshal. You're right, this wild ginseng is from Changbai Mountain. It has been a family heirloom for over a hundred years."
"Over a hundred years sounds a little too exaggerated." Yang Chen didn't really believe it.
"Son-in-law, you can't say that. There might be many fake ones in the market but this is the real deal," Jiang Shan said cheerily.
Lin Ruoxi puffed her cheeks when she heard her call him son-in-law. She pinched Yang Chen's waist from the back, wanting to leave right away.
Yang Chen felt helpless. If Lin Ruoxi wasn't here, he would have hugged Cai Ning tightly since he hadn't seen her in a long while.
It was quite sad that he had to restrain himself.
Yang Gongming picked up the box with a look of approval. "We always look at the shape and color of ginseng. Look at this. There are four lines here indicating it's maturity. The color is full and the roots are clean and long. I can attest to it being over a hundred years old."
"Are you happy with the gift?" Jiang Shan asked while smiling.
"I can't accept this gift, it's too precious," Yang Gongming said courteously.
Jiang Shan quickly declined, "Of course not, Yang Chen's here and that means we're in-laws."
Some things were meant to be left unsaid, even for an unusually blunt person.
Jiang Shan knew Yang Gongming wouldn't reject a woman like Cai Ning as his grandson's lover.
Well, this wouldn't have been allowed in the past...
But who didn't have a messy lifestyle living in one of the four main clans?
Yang Gongming was well aware of the relationship between Cai Ning and Yang Chen, which was why he let them in. He too was fond of Cai Ning.
Now that it had been said out loud, Cai Ning blushed and looked away. Yang Chen could only offer silent apologies to Lin Ruoxi for enduring this.
"I suppose I'll accept it then," Yang Gongming said and passed the box to Yan Sanniang.
Jiang Shan beamed when she heard that. Yang Gongming's acceptance meant that Cai Ning was accepted by him. And if Cai Ning had been accepted, Cai Yan was sure to follow.
Following that, Yang Gongming ordered the servants to bring more cups and invited Jiang Shan and Cai Ning to stay for dinner.
Jiang Shan was more than happy to oblige. She started chatting with Guo Xuehua while sipping on tea.
Well, Jiang Shan might be of a lower status but that meant that she was much easier to chat with.
Guo Xuehua was able to warm up to her quickly, even though they had only met at a couple of social events.
Cai Ning sat next to Lin Ruoxi and shared simple greetings with each other, not knowing what to say.
Yang Chen, on the other hand, was busy devouring the food before him while thinking about how he should break the ice between them. It was hard since they were both shy, reserved and cool.
Lin Ruoxi couldn't sit still anymore so she got up to pour the tea for everyone.
It was right at this moment that Jiang Shan set her eyes on Lin Ruoxi's wrist.
"Ah, your jade bangle is really pretty," Jiang Shan commented.
Only then everyone noticed a bangle had appeared on her wrist, something that wasn't there before.
Yang Gongming, Yan Sanniang, and Guo Xuehua were the only ones who knew about the meaning behind it. Yang Gongming glanced at Guo Xuehua with satisfaction.
Cai Ning wasn't really interested in jewelry but this one caught her eye in particular.
Yang Chen took a closer look and hummed when he saw that it was something special.
"Ruoxi, where did you get the bangle from?" Yang Chen asked.
Lin Ruoxi didn't like to show off feeling embarrassed by the stares she was getting. "Mom gave it to me earlier..."
She then retold the story she heard from Guo Xuehua.
Jealousy flashed through Jiang Shan's eyes when she heard that it was a family heirloom for the eldest daughter-in-law of the Yang clan. She smiled and said, "Xuehua, does it come in a pair?"
Cold sweat formed on Guo Xuehua's forehead when she heard her question. She smiled awkwardly and said, "There's only one. It's made from jadeite so rare that only one was ever created"
"Oh...that's too bad. I have not given Ning Er a piece of proper jewelry before. Ruoxi is so blessed to have a mother-in-law like you."
Lin Ruoxi blushed and glared at Yang Chen secretly.
Yang Chen feigned innocence.
Cai Ning interjected, "The bangle suits you Ruoxi. It look great on you."
Lin Ruoxi froze for a second before saying thank you to her with a smile.
A compliment from Cai Ning seemed to have reduced the tension between both of them.
Yang Chen contemplated for a while and asked Yan Sanniang, "Granny Yan, can you tell us what's special about this bangle?"
Yan Sanniang was confused. "Special? What do you mean?"
Yang Chen thought so. Her cultivation was insufficient to pick apart the true characteristics of the bangle. He wondered who gave them the bangle but he was grateful for it anyhow.
"It's nothing. It looks great." Yang Chen looked at Lin Ruoxi. "Dear, keep wearing it and don't take it off. It's pretty."
Lin Ruoxi didn't understand what he meant. It sounded completely random to her. Still, she nodded since she promised Guo Xuehua that she would wear it until she gave birth.
Jiang Shan butted in. "Son-in-law, I heard from Ning Er that you'll be holding a wedding with Ruoxi soon. Just tell us if you need help. I know you have to be fair but if you need bridesmaids, Ning Er and Yanyan would be glad to take up the role."
Lin Ruoxi's face fell when she heard that.
"Mom..." Cai Ning tried to stop her.
Yang Chen frowned and drank tea before saying, "Auntie, if I'm not mistaken, you kicked me out of the house upon our first meeting. You even welcomed Yong Ye to marry Ning Er. I think some things should really be left unsaid..."
Jiang Shan froze and smiled in embarrassment. She shrank back down into her seat and remained silent
Cai Ning looked at Yang Chen apologetically. Yang Chen obviously wouldn't blame her, but he decided that he would never be nice to Jiang Shan and her mouth of mass destruction.
Chapter 942 - Consummate
Soon it was dinner time and the servants began bringing out dinner. Everyone gathered to begin their meal.
Yang Gongming seemed to enjoy Cai Ning's presence, clinking his glass of wine with her.
"Ning Er, I heard about you being court-martialed for protecting Yang Chen but I won't pry any further tonight. But, let me give you a toast to your hard work," Yang Gongming said earnestly.
Lin Ruoxi wasn't surprised since she had heard it from Yang Chen. Still, it didn't mean hearing it a second time was any better.
However, it was Guo Xuehua's first time hearing this. She asked out of concern, "When did this happen? Yang Chen, why didn't you tell me?"
Jiang Shan finally found an opportunity to interject. Her eyes reddened and teared up a little.
"Xuehua, you didn't know this. When Son-in-law got into a feud with the Zeng clan, Ning Er killed Zeng Mao for him. I almost fainted when I got the news!"
Guo Xuehua was touched and she smiled at Cai Ning. "Let me toast to your sacrifice as his mother."
Cai Ning felt slightly awkward about it but she still clinked glasses with her.
"Ning Er, don't do silly things like this anymore. It's impossible for anyone to hurt him anyways." Guo Xuehua consoled her.
Yang Chen and Cai Ning glanced at each other. Time passed too quickly. It felt like everything had happened yesterday.
Lin Ruoxi listened quietly at the side. It was hard to hear it for the second time but she wasn't jealous. It was the truth.
Yang Gongming chuckled and asked, "Ning Er, I'm aware that you have a younger sister?"
"Yeah, her name is Cai Yan. She's in Zhonghai working as a police chief." Cai Ning smiled, she felt more relaxed, talking about her sister.
Yang Gongming nodded in understanding. "I welcome you and Yanyan to come and visit next time. I'm quite lonely here and I'm glad to see you guys more often since you two are...close with Yang Chen."
His intent was quite obvious to the people in the pavilion. He basically stated that he had accepted both the Cai sisters into his house.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shan was more excited than ever
Guo Xuehua touched Lin Ruoxi's hand as an attempt to comfort her when she saw that Lin Ruoxi was already biting her own lips.
Lin Ruoxi looked at her and saw her comforting gaze.
She sighed and realized that this was inevitable. She was not married to a normal family.
Yang Gongming might like her as a granddaughter-in-law but never stated that she would be the only one.
The Yang clan hadn't had much progeny so naturally, Yang Gongming was more than willing to rectify that. After all, Yang Chen was married to Lin Ruoxi for almost two years and they still didn't have any kids.
Throughout dinner, Yang Gongming seemed to be very interested in her past, asking her multiple questions like her experience in studying martial arts and her past missions.
Cai Ning answered his questions calmly and respectfully. After she found out that Yang Gongming really liked her, the initial nervousness faded into more subdued respect.
Lin Ruoxi sat at the corner, feeling more frustrated than ever.
After dinner ended, Yang Gongming asked Yan Sanniang to pack some of the vegetables he had grown for them. It was nothing expensive but the significance behind it was heavy. He had given something precious to signify his whole-hearted acceptance.
Yang Chen chose to remain silent on the account of Lin Ruoxi. He promised to visit Cai Ning when they were about to leave.
Cai Ning knew they were going to hold a wedding soon but she wasn't jealous of them either.
She knew that the road for them had been tough since she used to keep watch over Yang Chen.
The atmosphere had gotten quiet after they left and the lights were turned on in the mansion.
Under the chilly night breeze, the servants moved in and out carrying out their duties.
Yang Gongming had returned to his room to rest. No matter how strong and prominent he was, in the end, he was still an old man.
On the other hand, Guo Xuehua brought Yang Chen and Lin Ruoxi to a newly renovated room.
"This room is for both of you. I know you two slept in different rooms in Zhonghai, but I won't allow it here in Beijing. Your grandfather agrees with me as well." Guo Xuehua pulled Lin Ruoxi's hand. "If you need anything, just ask the servants. You are the next female head of the house. The servants have been working for us for generations, they are family too."
Guo Xuehua learnt about this through her past experiences and now she was sharing it with her daughter-in-law.
Lin Ruoxi listened to her obediently and tried to remember everything she said.
After Guo Xuehua left, Lin Ruoxi and Yang Chen were the only ones left in the corridor.
Yang Chen realized that Lin Ruoxi was blushing which made her look more attractive than normal.
"Dear, let's go in." Yang Chen stepped up to the door and opened it for her.
Lin Ruoxi looked up and nodded shyly.
When they got into the room, they saw that it was decorated differently when compared to the rest of the mansion. It was done in a tasteful modern design with state of the art decoration.
Other than the bedroom, there was a huge bathroom, a walk-in closet and a small bar with different types of alcohol from all over the world. Guo Xuehua must have really thought hard about how their room would be decorated.
Lin Ruoxi was more fixated on the only bed in the room. Although it was huge, it meant that they had to share it.
"I can sleep on the floor if you are uncomfortable," Yang Chen said from the back.
Lin Ruoxi turned around and hesitated for a while before shaking her head.
"I'll have to get used to it eventually. It's not that big a deal. Why don't you take your shower first? It's been a long day," Lin Ruoxi said gently.
Yang Chen nodded, not surprised by her answer. She was already open to consummating their marriage so sharing a bed was just a stepping stone.
"I can control my sweat so I'm not really dirty. Why not you go first instead?" Yang Chen said.
"I've got to call Qianni and Mingyu, and Hongyan. Life still goes on outside of here." Lin Ruoxi said, feeling slightly embarrassed.
Yang Chen couldn't help but chuckle. Seems like the life of a housewife did not suit her. She was about to get married and work was still on her mind.
About ten minutes later, Yang Chen came out of the shower wearing a pair of loose boxers.
He pointed at the bathroom and smiled when he saw that Lin Ruoxi had just ended the call. "There's a huge bathtub inside. Why don't we shower together? I think Mom would really like that."
Lin Ruoxi turned crimson when she saw his naked body. She rolled her eyes at him and said, "Stop being silly. You can ask Sister Cai Ning to take a bath with you. She's so gentle, I bet she will say yes."
Yang Chen was surprised at first but he grinned afterwards. "I knew it, you were jealous."
"I...I'm not!"
Lin Ruoxi gritted her teeth. She had accidentally let her mouth run loose. She picked up her clothes and ran into the bathroom.
Yang Chen teased her. "Remember to wash yourself clean, I don't want to smell anything sour in bed!"
Lin Ruoxi slammed the door on him and started to grumble.
A couple of seconds later, Yang Chen could hear the water running in the bathroom.
Chapter 943 - Pulled The Blanket Up
After teasing Lin Ruoxi, Yang Chen laid down on the bed and stared at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
So many events had taken place and it was only his first day home.
One could only imagine the things that would take place within his entire trip back.
An hour had passed as he contemplated his thoughts and reflected on the day
Yang Chen looked over saw Lin Ruoxi walk out of the door. She was already wearing her cotton pajamas with colorful dots on it.
If he wasn't mistaken, it was a gift from the ex-president.
The pajamas covered her curves quite well. She had already blown dry her hair which seemed silky under the light.
Her skin was originally fair but after the shower, it seemed fairer than ever.
She blinked and walked to the other side of the bed while trying to stay calm.
The moment she sat on the bed, she realized that Yang Chen was still staring at her. She cocked her head to the side and asked, "What are you staring at? Go to sleep."
"I thought you'd be wearing sexy lingerie. Why are you wearing that?" Yang Chen chuckled.
"Why would I wear..." Lin Ruoxi grumbled.
Yang Chen said jokingly, "Ning Er came by today. Shouldn't you do something to seduce me? If this was your idea of seduction, trust me, it's not working."
"You...you're bullying me again! I'm going to ignore you!"
Lin Ruoxi pulled the blanket over herself in annoyance. She turned around with her back facing Yang Chen and tried to fall asleep.
But to no avail, Yang Chen could hear her inconsistent breathing pattern which indicated to him that she was not at peace.
He sighed softly. After contemplating for a while, he pulled up the other side of the blanket and went inside.
Lin Ruoxi could feel him shuffling closer. But without a word of warning, he pressed his body against her back!
She curled her body instinctively and she started to breathe quicker with a flushed face.
Before she could react, Yang Chen had already placed his hand on her tummy and spooned her tightly.
Yang Chen's started to erect when he smelled the scent of Jasmine from her hair and her body, combined with the tender feeling in his arms.
Initially, Lin Ruoxi was able to endure it. But that all changed when she felt something hard poking her between her legs.
Lin Ruoxi moaned under his touch. She couldn't stay calm anymore when she realized what was pressing against her.
Yang Chen apologized immediately. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that. My organs just work a little too well."
Lin Ruoxi bit her lip, not knowing what to say. She closed her eyes and her eyelashes trembled. Yang Chen was making her nervous and embarrassed.
It was much bigger and scarier than she thought.
It was enough for him to squeeze it between her thighs and it was still growing!
Slowly, she could feel her butt being spread open by it...
Her cotton pajamas was the only barrier between her and his body!
The cloth pressed tightly against her skin. She could feel her body soften under his heat.
She wanted to move away from him but she couldn't do so, realizing she had lost all her strength!
Yang Chen was making it hard for her for pressing his hand against her tummy.
Lin Ruoxi was on cloud nine, unwilling to extract herself from his body.
Both of them stayed still at this awkward moment for a while.
Yang Chen's little brother had finally retracted itself when it realized the owner wasn't planning to make a move.
Lin Ruoxi let out a breath in relief. She was nearly drenched in sweat from the constant stimulation.
"Dear, you don't have to be nervous. I just want to hug you. I promised you after the wedding." Yang Chen whispered into her ears.
Lin Ruoxi felt comforted and disappointed at the same time. She asked gently, "Are you going to keep hugging me?"
"I want to hug you to sleep," Yang Chen said.
"Why..."
"I don't know, it just feels good. I've never got the chance and I never wanted to force it because I thought true happiness came when it happens naturally." Yang Chen chuckled.
Lin Ruoxi opened her eyes and her gaze was filled with tenderness.
"I can't sleep."
Yang Chen hummed. "I know, that's why I have to hug you."
"Grandfather...he seems to like Sister Cai Ning a lot." Lin Ruoxi spoke in a soft but resolute voice.
"Because Ning Er is a soldier, a loyal one at that. She's selfless, obedient and pretty. It's a no brainer that elders would like her," Yang Chen said.
"But Grandfather doesn't seem to like me." Lin Ruoxi sounded a bit down.
Yang Chen frowned. "What makes you think so?"
"I don't know why I feel that way. Like in the afternoon when I pulled the carrots out of curiosity, he was really mad at me. I don't think he would've been that upset with Sister Cai Ning," Lin Ruoxi mumbled.
Yang Chen smacked his lips. "That old man. Forgive his old and useless brain."
"You can't say that about your elders." Lin Ruoxi nagged him.
Yang Chen laughed. "Maybe he just cares about the vegetables he grew. He did say it was fine."
Lin Ruoxi hummed in agreement but she changed her mind seconds later. "But he didn't even make an effort to talk to me during dinner. He was only interested in talking to Sister Cai Ning..."
Yang Chen sucked in a breath. "Dear, how about I go over there and bring him over here? Let's question him."
"You...stop joking around. I'm just saying, maybe he didn't want Sister Cai Ning to feel bad since you're holding a wedding with me and she can't have it," Lin Ruoxi said hurriedly.
Yang Chen was delighted, "So that's what you think? You sound pretty proud to me."
"No...I'm not." Lin Ruoxi denied, but she didn't sound convincing.
Yang Chen stopped teasing her.
But it was hard for her to forget about it despite Yang Chen's reassurance. She closed her eyes and tried to rest but she couldn't help but ask this. "Honey... about Sister Cai Ning, is her cultivation really high?"
Yang Chen didn't expect her to ask him that but answered regardless. "I guess so, she's already at the initial phase of Xiantian stage for her age. She has a good foundation so in a few years she should be in the Full cycle of Xiantian stage under my guidance. As for the Soul Forming stage... I believe she would be there before thirty-five."
Lin Ruoxi's body stiffened and she said softly, "I feel so useless. I can't help you and I have to train my body before I can cultivate. I'm bad at house chores. I'm good at business but you don't need money...I can only be a burden when you face your enemies."
By the end of it, her voice had become barely audible.
Suddenly, Yang Chen pulled the blanket up!
Lin Ruoxi could feel herself rising as Yang Chen sat up behind her.
He raised his hand and spanked her tender buttocks!
SLAP!
A loud slap rang throughout the room and her butt cheeks shook under the impact!
Lin Ruoxi was shocked as she pulled herself up to get away from him.
She was both upset and embarrassed that he spanked her. "What was that for?!
Chapter 944 - Lucky I Am Strong
The only thing that lit up the room was the light pouring in from the corridor.
Warm sunlight fell on Yang Chen's face. He looked as if he was at peace. "Why shouldn't I spank you? You told me you were useless. You're bad at cultivation, bad at house chores and can only make me money, something of which I don't need. I will forever have to save you from my enemies and you will forever be dead weight," Yang Chen said. "And yet you still ask why you shouldn't be spanked?"
Lin Ruoxi tightened her fist. Her eyes started to tear up but she held it in
She smiled grimly as she sat on the bed. "That's the honest truth, isn't it? I knew you were getting tired of me."
"You were the one who said it, not me," Yang Chen said lightly.
Lin Ruoxi snorted. "I can tell. You didn't have to say a word. You told me I saved you from a pit of darkness! You lied to me!"
"How did you know I lied?" It piqued his interest.
Lin Ruoxi looked down and fumbled around with the blanket. "How could someone with no use save you from a pit of darkness? I bet you want to marry Sister Cai Ning instead. She would make a much better partner than I would."
"Why do you think I brought you here? I've been preparing for our wedding for half a year. During that time, I could have chosen someone else to marry instead of you. But yet, here you are." Yang Chen questioned.
Lin Ruoxi thought about it for a little before coming up blank.
"I...how would I know. You've always kept things to yourself. I wouldn't know unless you told me." Lin Ruoxi huffed.
Yang Chen sighed and pushed her forehead with his finger.
Lin Ruoxi avoided him and pouted.
"It's because I'm happy."
"..."
Lin Ruoxi froze when he said that.
Yang Chen said honestly, "if you can't figure it out, let me enlighten you. It's because I'm happy. I feel happy even when I'm just looking at you or hugging you. My feelings for you are greater than anyone else."
Lin Ruoxi swore to herself. She wanted nothing more than to pry open his chest and look into his heart.
She stayed frozen for a while and looked down awkwardly. "I don't believe you."
"It's that simple. Plus, if it wasn't genuine, why should I bother explaining it to you." Yang Chen smiled bitterly.
Lin Ruoxi pouted while pulling on her pajamas.
Yang Chen held her shoulders and said sternly, "Raise your head, look at me."
Lin Ruoxi puffed her cheeks and ignored him.
"If you're not going to listen to me, I'll have to carry you and spank you one hundred times." Yang Chen 'threatened' her.
Lin Ruoxi looked up in resentment and glared at him out of embarrassment.
Yang Chen almost laughed but he held it in so that he could look serious.
"Miss Lin Ruoxi, I'm going to say this only once. I want to be your husband. We'll be together forever. It's not because I want to make you happy by treating you well..."
Lin Ruoxi almost stopped her breathing. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Not because he wanted to make her happy? What did he mean by that?
Yang Chen paused and took a deep breath before saying, "It's because being with you makes me happy. I am a very selfish person and I want to keep you by my side forever. I'll do my best to make you happy so that you will be willing to be with me forever."
The air around them seemed to have froze.
Lin Ruoxi stared at him and contemplated his words.
Her heart wrenched and she pursed her lips. "You bastard, you're a complete bastard."
Yang Chen chuckled. "I never claimed not to be one."
"I'll remember it forever." Lin Ruoxi glanced at him. "I'll always remember that you're my selfish...husband."
The weight in her heart was lifted in an instant. She immediately brightened up after his words.
And soon, a certain sense of tranquility and relaxation took over her body making her drowsy.
Yang Chen wrapped his arms around her as they rested their heads on the pillows. He pulled the blanket over them and said, "Can you sleep peacefully now?"
"Hmm..."
She hummed and seconds later, she had already fallen fast asleep.
Yang Chen waited for her to fall asleep and he kissed her forehead before closing his eyes.
A new day was brought forth with the sound of birds chirping and the scent of morning dew.
Guo Xuehua came to their room and knocked on the door until Yang Chen rose to get it.
She couldn't help but glanced towards Lin Ruoxi who was still asleep when she saw his attire.
"She's still sleeping? Isn't she usually up early?"
Yang Chen chuckled. "Mom, have you forgotten? She has her alarm to wake herself up at home. There's no need for her to go to work so of course, she doesn't need to be up early."
"Oh...".
She smiled suggestively at him when she thought of something. "So tell me, did anything happen last night?"
Yang Chen contemplated for a while and nodded his head. "Something did happen."
"What is it? Tell me." Guo Xuehua's smile widened.
Yang Chen said sternly, "Mom, your daughter-in-law has a bad sleeping habit. She hogs the blanket and I had to pull it from her shrimp-like posture more than ten times that night. Lucky I am strong, else I would have fallen ill."
"..."
Guo Xuehua stopped smiling and glared at him. "You deserved it!"
At this time, Lin Ruoxi who was lying in bed rolled over and faced the door.
Guo Xuehua thought it would be interesting to watch her until Lin Ruoxi used the blanket to wipe something by her mouth.
She even smacked her lips together, as if she was dreaming about eating glutinous rice balls.
Guo Xuehua froze by the door whereas Yang Chen stifled a laugh.
Half an hour later, Yang Chen woke Lin Ruoxi up and they walked to the dining hall for breakfast.
Yang Gongming was already seated with Guo Xuehua at the table. Once they arrived, the servants commenced serving breakfast
Throughout the meal, Guo Xuehua kept sneaking glances at Lin Ruoxi who looked especially refreshing in a white dress.
Lin Ruoxi thought it was weird but she couldn't figure out what was wrong.
Yang Gongming spoke up when they were almost done with breakfast. "Yang Chen, you haven't told me about your wedding arrangements. How long will you be staying in Beijing and who are you inviting to the wedding?"
Lin Ruoxi looked at Yang Chen curiously.
"I'm planning to bring Ruoxi around for two days so that we can familiarise ourselves with our surroundings. For the guests, I don't really know a lot of people but in Zhonghai, I only invited Wang Ma. I'll send someone to pick her up. You are welcome to join us. Mom will definitely go. As for the others, I don't think we need to invite them. It's not suitable to have a lot of people over at the place where we're holding the wedding."
"You...you won't even tell us where we're going. You're being so secretive." Guo Xuehua chided.
Yang Gongming chuckled. "It's fine. If you're holding the wedding overseas, then I won't go. I don't like to travel now that I'm old. Just remember to take more photos and videos for me."
Yang Chen nodded. He had someone else to take care of that.
"Oh yea," Yang Gongming said. "Ruoxi, do join me in my vegetable garden later."
Chapter 945 - Personal Maid
Lin Ruoxi almost choked on her congee when she heard him say 'vegetable plot'.
She covered her mouth awkwardly and looked at him in confusion. "Grandfather...is there anything you need help with?
Yang Gongming nodded. "You seemed very interested in vegetables and fruits. I could teach you a thing or two about having a green thumb."
Tending to plants?
Lin Ruoxi thought it sounded a little random. If he did not want to do it himself, she was sure there were servants available to help.
"Sounds random, doesn't it?" Yang Gongming seemed to know what she was thinking. "My vegetables are off-limits to the servants. You, Sanniang and I are the only ones who are allowed to touch them."
Lin Ruoxi was happy to hear that despite finding it odd.
Yang Chen didn't care too much. He still had to finalize some things with Ron and double-check all the arrangements for the final day.
After breakfast, Lin Ruoxi accompanied Yang Gongming to the vegetable garden from yesterday.
Lin Ruoxi didn't dare to touch any of it and followed Yang Gongming into a small hut near the garden, who had already changed into a greyish blue outfit. From the looks of it, it was most probably his work attire for gardening activities.
Lin Ruoxi, on the other hand, didn't have any suitable outfit so she gave up on changing them.
Yang Gongming pushed open a door that released a strong stench. Lin Ruoxi immediately covered her nose and peered inside to see the source of the smell
"Ruoxi, you should just stand outside, the stench is pretty strong," Yang Gongming said before walking in.
Lin Ruoxi waited outside curiously and fifteen minutes later, Yang Gongming walked out with a bucket on his back while holding a sprayer.
Yang Gongming smiled and explained it to her. "You've never seen this before, right? Aren't you curious? This is what we use to fertilize plants."
Lin Ruoxi nodded in understanding. She was excited to try something new but was reluctant to allow the smell and dirt to stain her white dress.
"Then...Grandfather, what should I do?" she asked.
"I'll be fertilizing the vegetables. Just water them evenly."
Right at this moment, Yan Sanniang walked over with a watering can and passed it to Lin Ruoxi.
Lin Ruoxi extended one hand and accepted it with a smile, thinking it shouldn't be too heavy for her since Yan Sanniang had no problems carrying it. One moment later, the can was sent free-falling toward the ground!
She quickly used both hands to catch it so it wouldn't break.
"Young Madam, the can is full, so it's pretty heavy." Yan Sanniang told her.
Lin Ruoxi stared at her in shock! This can which weighed over forty pounds seemed like nothing in Yan Sanniang's hands
She thought about it and came to the conclusion that Yan Sanniang was more than she let on to be.
But before she could think things through, Yang Gongming had already led her towards the aubergines for fertilization.
She watched him fertilize them and then she'd watered them under his guidance to dilute the manure.
"Aubergines have to be fertilized frequently so that it can grow well, but too much nitrogen can damage the roots. That's why I asked you to water them after me."
Yang Gongming explained to her while fertilizing.
Lin Ruoxi listened to him attentively. She asked a couple of questions from time to time when he explained something she couldn't understand.
Time passed quickly and it was already an hour later when they were finally done with gardening.
Lin Ruoxi placed the watering can down and sat down on the bench with Yang Gongming. She was completely drenched in sweat.
Her hair was a mess with a few strands of hair stuck to her forehead.
She was panting and heaving heavily. Yan Sanniang passed her a cup of herbal tea which she downed in one shot.
Her head lowered in embarrassment when she realized that they were both staring at her while smiling.
"There's nothing to be shy about. In fact, it makes me rather happy to see you like that." Yang Gongming smiled in content.
Lin Ruoxi was a bit confused but took it as a compliment.
Yan Sanniang smiled and said, "Master, when I watched Young Madam working in the garden, it reminded me of Miss when she was working from a long time ago."
Miss?
Lin Ruoxi was utterly confused, who was that?
Could it be Yang Gongming's daughter Yang Jieyu?
But a long time ago wouldn't be so accurate would it?
Yang Gongming's eyes were filled with longing. He began to explain, "The Miss she meant was my wife, Yang Chen's grandmother. She passed away ages ago."
Lin Ruoxi nodded but the asked, "Why did Granny Yan call grandmother Miss?"
This time it was Yan Sanniang's turn to answer, "Young Madam, you didn't know this, but I was actually her personal maid. I followed her into the Yang clan when she was married. After her passing, I stayed to take care of the master."
Lin Ruoxi couldn't believe it. Yan Sanniang used to be a personal maid?
From her calm and collected attitude, her unfathomable gaze and her hidden abilities, she looked nothing like a maid!
Lin Ruoxi couldn't help but became curious about her grandmother-in-law, wondering how she was like, so she asked, "Grandfather, what can you tell me about Grandmother? How was she like, she sounded like a very special person."
Yang Gongming drank a sip of his tea and turned around to face the garden.
He smiled warmly. "Your grandmother...I don't know where to start. She was in her last stage of cancer when she gave birth to Pojun. Medical technology wasn't as good as it was now. She would have been cured if she had contracted it now instead of then."
He sighed heavily and continued, "Your grandmother wasn't really pretty. In fact, when she was young, she would have been best described as plain-looking. Things were difficult for a big clan like us. We did not possess the same business acumen as the Tang clan had. Your great grandfather and I were both in the military and we had to divide our pay amongst our subordinates. Your grandmother was very kind, she used to feed the stray dogs and cats secretly. She still did it even after being scolded by your great grandfather. Now that I think about it, I used to suspect if she used the money she earned from making clothes to buy food for the stray dogs and cats..."
Lin Ruoxi could see yellow pages of a diary being flipped in front of her as she listened to Yang Gongming reminiscing about the past.
"After Pojun was born, things were better for our clan. I inherited my father's position as the clan leader after his passing. Because of my command in Vietnam, I was promoted to Marshal. In just twenty years of independence, we've had two marshals in our clan!
The Yang clan had reached an all-new peak. Following the cooperation with overseas' economy and my participation in the Central government, our clan started to gain more power, just like the other three clans. People start to have all sorts of desires once they gained money and started to feel comfortable. That was when I strayed from my path when I saw how other people have multiple lovers. And so, I followed."
Lin Ruoxi was listening to him attentively at first and when she heard that, she blushed and looked at Yang Gongming in disbelief!
Chapter 946 - Husband And Wife
Yang Gongming smiled. "It's all in the past. I did not always look like this, Ruoxi."
"No...that's not it." Lin Ruoxi chuckled awkwardly, not knowing what to say.
"You must be wondering where Yang Chen got his wandering eye. Well, you're looking at him." Yang Gongming teased.
Lin Ruoxi blushed at his correct assumption.
"Hey, those days were different. I was violating my own morality, Yang Chen is just enjoying his life." Yang Gongming shook his head while smiling.
"Grandfather...let's not talk about this anymore. Did she find out?" Lin Ruoxi interjected. She didn't want to remember him by his dirty deeds.
Yang Gongming was ashamed of himself. "I would never forget the day she found out. We were in our room. I lied to her about attending a social event while I was really meeting one of my lovers. She was tying my tie for me and even asked me if she should prepare some hangover soup. I was feeling especially guilty that night so I jokingly asked if she ever felt threatened by other women. I tried to make it sound like a joke but I lacked confidence and regretted asking that. Guess how she answered me?"
Lin Ruoxi shook her head numbly. Her heart wrenched as though she could see the scene unfold in front of her.
Yan Sanniang's eyes were filled with longing, staring at the space in front of her.
Yang Gongming took a deep breath and smiled dryly. "Your grandmother smiled at me gently. She said, 'I'll believe everything that you say. Trust is the most important thing between husband and wife, no matter what happens.' I stood there, frozen. No matter what I did, she was always there, smiling and waiting for me. She didn't doubt me at all. That night, after leaving home, I had the chauffeur dropped me off at a park. I didn't meet the woman. I asked my chauffeur to buy a bottle of Baiju which I drank on the park bench till midnight. From that day onwards, I cut all ties with all the women I met. But, just as I was prepared to make things right, she died."
The amount of grief that was pouring from his face shook Lin Ruoxi to the core.
Yan Sanniang walked up and held his shoulders, "Master, it's been a few decades. Madame was so kind, I'm sure she's happy up there."
Yang Gongming nodded, "Yeah, perhaps I would be joining her in a few years. I wasn't able to raise our son well but at least our grandson is fine."
Sorrow crossed Yan Sanniang's face. "Master, you're still healthy, don't say that."
Yang Gongming shook his head and sighed. "Sanniang, you don't have to serve anyone when I die. I already owe you this life. Let's hope I will be able to pay you back in the next."
"Master..." Yan Sanniang wiped her tears.
Lin Ruoxi could also feel tears landing on her thighs.
She sniffed and tried to wipe away her tears.
Yang Gongming calmed himself down and grinned at Lin Ruoxi. "Ruoxi, did you know, your grandmother left this garden to me. I always nagged her about doing mundane chores like this when she could live much better as the wife of the clan leader. Do you know what she told me?"
Lin Ruoxi pursed her lips and shook her head. "What did she say?"
"She said, humans will lie to you and mistreat you. Unlike soil who as long as you treat well, they will repay you in kind."
Lin Ruoxi listened to him attentively and chuckled. "If I was a man, I wouldn't be like you, cheating on a good wife like Grandmother."
"I see it is your turn to lecture me." Yang Gongming chuckled.
Lin Ruoxi's eyes were filled with warmth. Moments like these were rare and have to be appreciated.
Yang Gongming extended his palm towards Yan Sanniang.
Yan Sanniang understood his signal and removed a rectangular purplish-red token from her sleeve.
She passed it to Yang Gongming and Yang Gongming pushed it into Lin Ruoxi's arms. "Here you go, take it."
Lin Ruoxi took it and examined the token closely. It was a token made out of red sandalwood.
"These are..."
"Those are Qilin." Yang Gongming explained while smiling, "It was carved from Indian red sandalwood. My father got the wood from an Indian politician and had woodcarvers to carve it. "I've been holding onto it after my father passed away. It served as a reminder of him as well as a charm to ward off evil spirits."
"Indian red sandalwood is almost extinct now."
Lin Ruoxi declined immediately when she heard that it was passed down from Marshal Yang Ye. "You should take it back Grandfather, it's too precious."
"Eh, just take it." Yang Gongming laughed. "I knew you felt uncomfortable with the way I treated Cai Ning last night. It's just that Cai Ning suffered so much for Yang Chen, I couldn't ignore her. Plus, you're Yang Chen's wife and she's not. I had to comfort her to make sure she doesn't feel imbalanced. This token is a gift from me."
Lin Ruoxi was embarrassed. "Grandfather, I'm sorry, I thought you didn't like me..."
"I wouldn't have let you into our house if I didn't like you." Yang Gongming chuckled. "I don't care too much about Yang Chen's lovers but I can't take our future lady leader so lightly."
Lin Ruoxi was both relieved and glad to hear that.
"Young Madame, most of the old generals recognize this token since it was in the hands of both marshals. If you need help, you can bring this token to the major military zones and request for soldier troops." Yan Sanniang added on.
Lin Ruoxi looked at the protective charm on her hand which felt heavier now.
After parting ways Yang Gongming, she returned to her room for a shower and immediately felt more at ease.
During their lunch with Yang Gongming, Yang Chen suddenly asked, "Dear, what do you want to do later?"
Lin Ruoxi was confused by his compliance. "Why are you being so nice, is this some sort of game?"
"No." Yang Chen sighed out. "I was counting the days and I realized today is the sixth of August, it's the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar, which means it's Qixi. We didn't get to celebrate Valentine's day during February so I thought I will make it up to you."
Lin Ruoxi was taken aback at first but she smiled a minute later. "Then you can accompany to the shopping streets in Beijing? I haven't got the chance to take a proper visit."
"That simple?"
"Hmm." Lin Ruoxi nodded. She did not want much anyways
Yang Chen was about to answer but was interrupted by a servant who ran in to inform them something. "Master, someone from the Ning clan is here to send an invitation."
Chapter 947 - Definitely It Was Not Me!
Ning clan?
Lin Ruoxi paled when she heard the words. Her eyes darkened and she stiffened up considerably.
Yang Chen frowned and asked before Yang Gongming could say anything, "What invitation?"
The servant turned around quickly to face him. "Young Master, it's from Mr Ning Guodong. He's having a Qixi party at Qiushui villa and he has invited representatives from the major clans in China. It says on the invitation that he wishes to invite Young Master and Young Madam to the party."
Yang Chen received the invitation and looked at it. It was a genuine invitation.
"That's thoughtful of him. He doesn't seem to know when to stop." Yang Chen sneered.
The last time he saw Ning Guodong was when he accompanied the Cai sisters to the night club.
That night he humiliated Ning Guodong and made him kneel on the floor. And after all that, he still had the guts to invite them to a party? Where was his confidence coming from?
Yang Gongming took a sip of his bird nest and asked, "What's your plan?"
Yang Chen looked at Lin Ruoxi and said with a warm voice, "I will leave it up to her."
Lin Ruoxi tightened her jaw and contemplated for a while before shaking her head. "Let's go. Evading them would only make them think you are weak."
"But you..." Yang Chen was worried that the Ning clan would hurt her again. In fact, Lin Ruoxi was traumatized every time she saw them.
She smiled forcefully and said, "Some things can not be avoided. Also, I've never been to a party like this in Beijing. Besides, I'm sure you'll protect me if anything goes wrong."
Yang Chen hesitated for a moment and chuckled. "That's right. I am curious to know what they are planning for us."
Now that they had decided on attending the party, they had to settle the outfits and accessories and also figure out the exact location of the party. It was already evening when everything had been taken care of.
Yang Chen didn't plan to ask the chauffeur to send them there. Instead, he chose a red McLaren MP4. It was a two-door sports car, built using the F1 race car system. It was basically a street-legal race car.
It had an iconic 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine matched with a dual-clutch transmission. This bad boy only needed three seconds to reach its maximum speed of three hundred and twenty kilometres per hour!
Lin Ruoxi walked out of the door dressed in a black strapless dress. Her goddess-like features were a starking contrast against the red car.
"Why did you choose this car," Lin Ruoxi frowned. "Are you planning on speeding?"
To be honest, Yang Chen was itching to do it. He derived a large amount of pleasure from speeding but had no chance to do it.
"We're going to a party full of prominent figures. We either go big or go home," Yang Chen said seriously.
Lin Ruoxi knew she couldn't win if she tried to so she just got into the car obediently.
Qiushui Villa was one of Ning clan's holiday villas, located at the west of Beijing. Under normal circumstances, only high-profiled members could enter.
The villa was surrounded by mountains and greens and in the middle of it was a huge man-made pond. Water flowed down the mountains and into the pond, creating a beautiful landscape.
Because of the secluded geographical location, there was a highway specially built for this place so traffic wasn't a big deal.
The Qixi party organized by the Young Master of the Ning clan, Ning Guodong. Most parties like these were really used as places to build connections.
Yang Chen attracted a lot of attention when he drove into place with his striking red sports car and the loud engine sounds.
Yang Chen held Lin Ruoxi's hand to help her get out of the car. People stared at them in surprise as they make their way past them, towards the staircase that leads to the hall.
Yang Chen felt proud and he whispered into Lin Ruoxi's ear, "Dear, you're really making me proud."
Lin Ruoxi was feeling nervous about the number of stares she was getting. She regretted dressing up so glamorously. "It feels weird, I should've worn a jacket or something."
Only then Yang Chen realized that her bare shoulders were exposed in the air. It wasn't really a sexy dress but her skin shone so brightly against the light that men kept eyeing her up and down.
"Ah, I didn't see this coming!"
Yang Chen felt slightly jealous.
He took off his blazer and draped it over her shoulders, so all he had on was a white shirt!
"Hey, what are you doing?" Lin Ruoxi's face was flushed, why was he putting clothes on her in front of everyone?
Yang Chen said sternly, "Wear it. I can't have people staring at you. You're already married, aren't you embarrassed to show so much skin in public?"
Lin Ruoxi almost laughed out of anger. Two seconds ago, he was just telling her how proud he was.
"What about the person who took off a girl's clothes? How does he feel?" Lin Ruoxi mocked him.
Yang Chen was unbothered by it. "I know it definitely wasn't me."
Lin Ruoxi rolled her eyes cutely and decided to not talk to a pervert like him.
Although it was embarrassing to wear a dress with a blazer, she knew better than arguing since he might do something even worse so she held it in.
The moment they walked into the hall, they saw Ning Guodong standing by the door. He was chatting and clinking glasses with his guests, his clan members around him.
He walked over to them immediately with the others when he saw Yang Chen and Lin Ruoxi.
When his eyes landed on Lin Ruoxi, his gaze grew more piercing than ever. Her heart clenched.
Yang Chen held her by her waist naturally so that she would feel more relaxed.
"Welcome, Mr Yang Chen, the long-lost eldest grandson of the Yang clan. I'm glad that you and your wife accepted my invitation to attend this party when you've just arrived in Beijing." Ning Guodong smiled, as though their past conflict never happened.
The others finally realized who they were now that he mentioned it.
Slowly, everyone started looking at them, contemplating if they should come up and greet them. It was common news after all that Marshal Yang favoured him over Yang Lie.
Plus, it wasn't a secret that Yang Pojun was admitted into the hospital which made the world guess what happened to the Yang clan.
Yang Chen snorted and looked at Ning Guodong's knees with a teasing smile. "No doubt you're going to be a politician. You're really good at acting. Have you forgotten about our previous meeting?"
The guests drew in a breath. They knew about the whole ordeal but was silenced by the Ning clan.
They could have never imagined that Yang Chen was behind all that!
Lin Ruoxi knew nothing about it so she looked at Yang Chen, feeling worried for him.
Ning Guodong froze for a second but he recovered immediately. "It was but a trivial matter. Today is a different day. I think it's better if you watch what you say so that there won't be any unnecessary misunderstandings."
Yang Chen let it go for now. After all, he still had to go through the formalities of socializing in a situation like this one.
It was at this moment that a familiar silhouette walked towards him. "Mr Yang, we meet again!"
Chapter 948 - Husband's Money
A bearded Caucasian man walked over wearing a sloppy suit.
It took Yang Chen some time to recognize him but when he did, he asked, "Weber?"
"Nice to know you still remember me. And this must be your lovely wife."
Weber walked forward, with a glass of champagne in one hand.
His eyes brightened when he saw Lin Ruoxi. He extended his hand, hoping to hold and kiss her hand as a friendly gesture.
But Yang Chen would never allow that. He pulled Lin Ruoxi behind his back so Weber wasn't able to touch her.
"I'm sorry, I forget we're in China sometimes," Weber chuckled awkwardly.
Lin Ruoxi asked, "Honey, who is he?"
"He's a member of Austria's Red Bull Racing Team, a Formula One driver. We once had a race at Maple's automobile club," Yang Chen said.
Lin Ruoxi snorted when she heard that. "I bet you went there to flirt with girls."
She obviously meant Tang Wan.
Yang Chen pretended he didn't hear the last part. He turned to Weber and asked, "Why are you here?"
Weber took a sip of his champagne. "Well the F1 race in Zhonghai has just ended and I have nothing to do until the end of this month. I was invited to come so I thought, why not?"
Ning Guodong walked over. "Weber's still feeling upset over him losing to Brother Yang. He was hoping to have a rematch with you."
"That's right. Mr Yang. Would you care for a race? I've been having a good streak lately," Weber said excitedly.
Lin Ruoxi tugged on his sleeves and whispered, "Don't go, I don't want to be alone here."
Yang Chen patted her hand and smirked. "I can't just do as you say, that's kind of degrading. I'm here as a representative of the Yang clan."
Weber scratched his head. "Is that so? Then what are your conditions?"
"I need a proper motive." Yang Chen smiled.
Ning Guodong interjected, as though he was reminded of something. "How about this? Weber, you won the race in Zhonghai, right? How about using your prize money as the victor's spoils?"
The guests all cheered when they heard that there was going to be a special event.
Weber, on the other hand, seemed kind of troubled.
"Your annual income is millions of dollars. Why are you being so stingy over a couple of bucks?" Ning Guodong pretended to be displeased.
Yang Chen cackled which confused everyone else.
"Brother Yang, what are you laughing at?" Ning Guodong then realized that he had said something wrong.
Yang Chen laughed. "Let me enlighten you. There is no prize money when it comes to F1 tournaments. Drivers receive their pay annually or from advertisements. You're asking Weber to produce something he never had in the first place. How is that not troubling him?"
As soon as the guests heard him, they looked around awkwardly. They only watched the races as a display of wealth. None of them really knew the inner workings of the industry.
Weber was relieved to know that Yang Chen had saved him from what was going to be a very awkward refusal.
"Mr. Yang, it looks like you're quite familiar with F1." Weber was impressed.
Yang Chen shrugged. "It's common knowledge."
Ning Guodong's face darkened. It felt like a slap to the face since he was the one who introduced Weber as a close friend.
Lin Ruoxi was intrigued. She looked at Yang Chen and pondered about how he knew information like this
Weber quickly added. "I might not have received a prize cheque but I am not poor either. How about we bet one hundred thousand dollars each and no matter who wins, we will donate all the money to those in need. Two hundred thousand dollars would be sufficient to build a school for the needy."
Yang Chen turned around to face Lin Ruoxi. "Dear, it's your call."
Lin Ruoxi beamed. "Do it, you have to do it. We can build two schools in mountain areas with two hundred thousand dollars!"
Yang Chen almost tripped on his own feet. "I thought you didn't want me to race?"
"That was before the donation was on the line," Lin Ruoxi said indifferently.
Yang Chen gritted his teeth. "Two hundred thousand dollars is nothing to you. Why don't you donate instead of me?"
Lin Ruoxi rolled her eyes. "My money is to invest into my business. You're betting with your own money."
Yang Chen sighed. He finally understood what she meant. Her money was hers and hers alone while his money was free for her to use.
"Plus, the motive sounds good. A race with a foreign driver to help those in poverty." Lin Ruoxi shook his hands. "I know you'll be safe so just go."
The guests were jealous to see them being so lovey-dovey.
Ning Guodong gritted his teeth and his eyes darkened when he saw the way Lin Ruoxi treated Yang Chen. It was completely different from the way she treated him.
In the end, Yang Chen agreed reluctantly to a charity race.
There was supposed to be a performance tonight but it was delayed since a race was more attractive.
The course of the race was set at the beltway around the villa.
Since the Ning clan owned this entire place, they were able to block off the roads from use.
Yang Chen thought to himself, I guess the best thing about being a high-status officer in China is literally driving the roads as if you owned them!
To let everyone watch the race, the staff of the villa even sent out teams to record it live on a helicopter, which was then transmitted on the wide television screen.
Weber's car was a yellow Ferrari 458 sponsored by Ning Guodong. It was a two-door sports car with a V8 engine that was released three years ago. It had a greater CC than Yang Chen's McLaren but their overall performance was pretty similar.
Once they were ready, the shot off the starting line at the sound of a gunshot.
VROOM! VROOM!
The Ferrari's engine roared with a yellow flash and sped through the track!
Whereas Yang Chen was a bit slower since he wasn't professionally trained, but soon he managed to speed up and was on par with Weber!
Back in the hall, everyone made noises when they stared at the live transmission recorded through the helicopter.
Only those from the major clans could play a sport like this since it was such a cash-burning activity.
Lin Ruoxi stood amongst them nervously and wrapped the blazer around her tightly. Now that Yang Chen wasn't around her, she was starting to regret letting him go. It felt chilly to stand in a room with strangers around her.
At this moment, a server walked over with a tray of cocktails in one hand. She smiled and asked, "Miss, care for a glass of drink?"
Lin Ruoxi shook her head lightly, she wasn't really a drinker.
The server nodded and walked past her.
Suddenly, she seemed to have tripped because of her high heels and fell on Lin Ruoxi!
Lin Ruoxi wasn't able to get away in time and could only watch as an array of drinks fell on her dress!
"Ah! I'm sorry I'm sorry!"
The server managed to keep herself balanced by holding on to Lin Ruoxi. She pled for her forgiveness. "I'm sorry, Miss! I'm new here and I'm not used to wearing high heels, please forgive me!"
Lin Ruoxi frowned at her drenched dress. The cloth was sticking to her skin and she smelled like alcohol from head to toe.
Chapter 949 - My What
She was about to question why a newbie like her would be allowed to work here without proper training. After all, one would assume that the Ning clan would assign experienced waiters to an event like this one.
But she couldn't bring herself to do when she saw that the server was about to cry. Lin Ruoxi guessed she was about twenty years old and completely inexperienced.
So she said, "It's fine. Just tell me where's the washroom."
The server quickly ushered her. "Let me bring you there. I can find a clean outfit for you to change in to."
Lin Ruoxi glanced over at the screen. The race had just begun so it would take Yang Chen another ten minutes or so before he would finish. She figured it wouldn't be hard for him to find her even though she didn't have her phone with her.
Under the server's lead, they weaved across the crowd and walked through a red wooden door.
The corridor was decorated with glamorous style and they stepped on soft carpets that led to the washroom.
"Miss, please enter. I'll get you a new set of clothes," she said apologetically.
Lin Ruoxi nodded politely and entered the washroom.
The moment she walked into it, the server raised her head and her innocent eyes darkened, a cold smirk forming on her lips.
The washroom was filled with a faint lemon smell and since it was a high class villa, the washroom was cleaned every hour so there wasn't a speck of dirt around.
Lin Ruoxi was surprised to see that no one was here but she assumed no one really needed to go to the washroom since the party had just started.
In fact, it was much easier for her to clean up this way.
Lin Ruoxi took off the blazer and started to clean her arms. She took some tissues to dab off as much cocktail as she can from her dress.
Just when she was busy cleaning up, a red silhouette showed up in the mirror!
It was a young-looking woman but she seemed oddly mature for her age.
She was wearing a low-cut red dress, it was short and it wrapped around her curves nicely.
Lin Ruoxi jolted up in surprise. This woman had appeared without a single sound!
"Your skin is so smooth." She smiled mesmerizingly.
Lin Ruoxi covered her chest, feeling a bit frightened. "W...who are you?"
The woman giggled. "You don't recognize me?"
Lin Ruoxi frowned and shook her head.
"I know you." She smiled wickedly. "And I know your husband even better..."
It dawned on her immediately, this woman wasn't here with good intentions. Subconsciously, she made her way to the exit.
"What do you want?" Lin Ruoxi tried to stay calm.
The woman inched closer and a cruel smile formed on her lips. "My dear son is very interested in you. He tried so hard and still failed. As his mom, I had to do something about it."
"Son..." Lin Ruoxi mumbled and yelled out when she remembered something. "You are Luo Cuishan?!"
"What a clever girl, no wonder Guodong likes you." Luo Cuishan smiled amorously.
"It can't be..." Lin Ruoxi took a few steps back. "You were supposed to be dead!"
The woman looked like a mature woman but her physical appearance was of a young lady! How could she be the 'dead' Luo Cuishan?!
"The old Luo Cuishan is dead. I have been reborn."
Lin Ruoxi was terrified and she dashed for the door but was blocked by a figure.
"It's you..."
"Why, do you really not want to see me?" Ning Guodong said while smiling.
Lin Ruoxi finally understood that it had all been planned from the beginning!
No wonder the server spilled cocktails on her and brought her to an empty bathroom!
It was all a setup!
Lin Ruoxi gritted her teeth. "Don't you dare do anything to me, Yang Chen will be back soon."
"Relax, we will finish before then." Ning Guodong said as he moved closer.
Lin Ruoxi could only back away slowly. "You...my husband will kill you all if you dare to do anything to me!"
"Haha..." Luo Cuishan chuckled. "So what? We will die by his hands regardless of what happens. So instead of getting nothing out of it, why not make the best out of a broken situation?"
Lin Ruoxi paled, she didn't expect her to be like this.
Ning Guodong started to remove his tie and blazer. "Ruoxi...I've been waiting for this day for a long time. Don't worry, Yang Chen needs at least ten more minutes to find you here. But before that happens, let me give you something special."
Lin Ruoxi slowly backed up into a corner and shook her head quickly. "You...you can't do this! You can't do this to me!"
"Why not?! That bastard can do it, why can't I?!"
Ning Guodong trapped her in his arms and inched closer to her.
Luo Cuishan giggled at the side. "Son, you have to be quick so that I can leave after enjoying the show."
Ning Guodong turned around and smirked. "Mom, I'm planning to wait for Yang Chen to come before I climax. So I have to enjoy it slowly."
"Hehe...if that's the case, I'll wait for you." Luo Cuishan beckoned towards the exit.
The server ran up and said in a polite manner, "Madam, what are your orders?"
"Where's Ning Guangyao?"
"Minister Ning will be arriving in another five minutes," she answered.
Luo Cuishan's eyes glistened with excitement. She waved her hands and signaled for her to leave.
At the same time, Lin Ruoxi was trapped in Ning Guodong's arms helplessly.
She yelled when Ning Guodong moved closer. "You can't do this! You're my...my..."
Ning Guodong paused and smirked. "Your? What? Say it."
"My..." Lin Ruoxi's eyes were filled with tears as she looked at the twisted man in front of him.
Luo Cuishan stood by the door, a flash of venom crossed her eyes. "Son, don't care about her! She's just trying to drag on! Don't believe in anything she says!"
"I suppose so." Ning Guodong snorted. "I know you're good at tricks, you were the one who destroyed the Xu clan from Zhonghai and the Zeng clan in Beijing! You don't have to worry about my safety. Even if I raped you, Yang Chen would be powerless with my father around..."
Having said that, he tried to land a kiss on Lin Ruoxi's lips!
Lin Ruoxi flinched and managed to escape by crawling beneath him!
"Hmph, trying to escape?"
In a flash, Luo Cuishan had already grabbed Lin Ruoxi's wrist before she could even react!
"Ah!"
Ning Guodong looked at his mother in disbelief, when did she become so strong and fast? But he was quickly distracted by Lin Ruoxi.
"Dear Ruoxi, play nice or else my mom won't." Ning Guodong cackled and jumped on her!
"No! I...I'm your sister!"
At the last moment, Lin Ruoxi yelled out her secret.
Ning Guodong froze and looked at her in shock.
Luo Cuishan was pissed off at the revelation. "Guodong! What are you doing! Do it! Why are you hesitating?!"
Lin Ruoxi shook her head and looked at him with teary eyes. "I'm telling the truth...don't listen to her. We're...we're related!"
Ning Guodong stayed frozen, as though his consciousness was hit by a hammer.
"Guodong!" Luo Cuishan shouted. "What are you hesitating for?! Yang Chen will be back any minute now!"
Ning Guodong snapped out of it and shook his head. His face twisted in anger. "Are you trying to trick me?! My sister? Haha! When did my mom give birth to a sister? Do you take me for an idiot?"
Ning Guodong had lost all sense of ration when he threw himself at her!
Lin Ruoxi was deep in despair. She did not think her night would end up like this!
As if sensing her despair, a phoenix's cry emitted from of the bangle on her wrist!
Chapter 950 - You're A Cruel Man
A green light shone from the bangle and started to surround Lin Ruoxi.
BOOM!
An invisible wave blasted Ning Guodong away when he tried to touch her!
"Ah!"
He shrieked painfully as he flew backward toward the ground.
Luo Cuishan was quick enough to catch him before he crashed into the floor. Even so, the green fog startled them.
What was that?
It seemed to behave like a cloud of mist but it was also on fire.
But what kind of flame was green in color?
Lin Ruoxi too was shocked at the flame erupting from her wrist. It seemed so mystical and magical.
Suddenly, her mind jolted and she was reminded of what Yang Chen had told her yesterday, "Dear, keep wearing the bangle and don't take it off."
Did he know this bangle could protect her?
Lin Ruoxi was relieved and frustrated at the same time. Why did he have to hide it from her? Why couldn't he just have told her?
But what she didn't know was the bangle wasn't just an artifact. Anyone below the tribulation Stage was not able to detect its worth.
This was why Yan Sanniang didn't know that the bangle was special despite having seen it before.
Yang Chen could tell that the bangle had similar attributes to the Ganyuan Tiangang Bracelet, being able to protect the wearer. It might even have originated from the Great Ancient times.
So instead of telling others and invoke fear, he'd rather have Lin Ruoxi wear it as a protection.
The Fengxiang bangle will be triggered whenever the wearer felt threatened.
"Guodong, are you alright?" Luo Cuishan held her son and asked worriedly.
Ning Guodong wiped the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth and spat out, "I'm fine, Mom. There's something wrong with that bitch."
"Hmph, I bet Yang Chen knew this would happen."
"Then how do I get close to her." Ning Guodong sounded anxious.
Luo Cuishan gritted her teeth and with a red flash, she appeared in front of Lin Ruoxi!
The green flame had retracted itself but immediately fired up once again when it detected an incoming threat!
The flame intensified as Luo Cuishan approached her!
Lin Ruoxi closed her eyes and raised her bangle in front of her!
Luo Cuishan's hands were engulfed in the flame. She could feel the heat waves coming out of it like the strength of the protective coat!
BOOM!
Lin Ruoxi was relieved to know that she was unharmed but she didn't dare to let her guard down yet.
At the same time, the green flame weakened and returned back into the bangle.
"Damn it, her bangle's the one causing trouble. I can't get close either." Luo Cuishan gritted her teeth.
Ning Guodong was getting more anxious as time passed by. "Mom, there's not enough time. Yang Chen will be back soon. Didn't you say Dad would protect me? Where is he?!"
Luo Cuishan glared at Lin Ruoxi in resentment and caressed his cheeks. "I'm sure he's here already. You'll see him when you walk out of here."
Ning Guodong nodded. "Alright, then what do we do about her?"
Luo Cuishan sneered. "Why do you care about her? You've never seen her walk into the bathroom."
Ning Guodong understood immediately and he smirked while nodding. "I know what I should do."
Luo Cuishan cackled and disappeared from sight.
Ning Guodong stared at the now empty corridor. He still wasn't used to her newfound abilities.
He walked into the bathroom and glanced over at Lin Ruoxi who was still feeling nervous. With a chuckle, he picked up his tie and suit, got dressed and left the place.
Lin Ruoxi's legs gave out the moment Ning Guodong walked out of the bathroom. She leaned on the wall completely out of breath.
Just before that, two sports cars zoomed past the highway outside of the Qiushui villa!
They had just left the outer race tracks and were entering into the last turn. It was still hard to determine the winner since there were only two cars in a huge race track.
Besides, Yang Chen didn't really care about winning since he had to donate the money either way. He only wanted to win to save face.
Finally, after a minute, both of the sports cars raced through the finish line at the same time!
The guests clapped for their victory. People started to surround Yang Chen in order to congratulate him.
Whereas the rest were afraid of him, having heard of how he killed two higher ups at the Yang clan yesterday.
Weber shook hands with Yang Chen and sighed. "I'm curious about something, Mr Yang. How do you manage to drive so well when you're not a professional racer?"
Yang Chen chuckled. "Why do you drive?"
"I would say I'm doing it for my career but it's really for the money," Weber answered honestly.
Yang Chen let out a small smile. "I drive to stay alive, so our aim is completely different."
Weber was confused at his insinuation but nodded all the same.
Following that, both of them wrote a cheque for their donation to mark the end of the race.
Yang Chen returned to the hall and couldn't find Lin Ruoxi. He then realized that Ning Guodong was missing too.
His gaze went cold and his eyes landed on the door by the left of the hall, where Ning Guodong was walking out from.
The guests looked towards him and watched him walked up to the stage.
Ning Guodong talked through the microphone, "My dear guests, it seems like you all enjoyed the charity race. And with that, let's get this party started!"
His speech received applause from the crowd.
Music started to play and the lights dimmed as dancers made their way through the hall.
The party had officially started.
Ning Guodong, the organizer of the party sat down at the front table after the speech, acting as though nothing had happened.
Yang Chen used his divine sense to search through the hall and his face darkened as he sped walked to the door which Ning Guodong had walked out from earlier.
He walked into the corridor and saw Lin Ruoxi walking towards him. She was still wearing his blazer and underneath it was an alcohol stained dress. Her eyes were red and she walked with a solemn expression on her face.
Yang Chen's heart wrenched but he wasn't alarmed. He saw this coming after all.
"Did you manage to say it?" Yang Chen asked.
Lin Ruoxi raised her head and looked at the calm and gentle-man.
"You saw this coming right?" she asked solemnly. "They used the race as an excuse to keep you away from me and you fell for it on purpose so that they let down their guard. You let me do whatever they want with me because you knew that I'll be fine with the bangle protecting me, am I right?"
Yang Chen sighed. "I assumed he was going to try something but I hoped it wasn't too idiotic."
"You should've told me earlier. He might have prepared another trap," Lin Ruoxi replied coldly.
"Because I know you wouldn't have met him if you knew," Yang Chen sighed. "I was just hoping that you could see through him, and I knew you would be safe."
"You're a cruel man," Lin Ruoxi mumbled.
"I'm doing this for your own good. At least now you would stop your wishful thinking."
"I wasn't..." Lin Ruoxi turned around.
Yang Chen smiled helplessly. "You can lie to yourself and everyone in this world but you will never be able to lie to me. You pretend that you don't care but I'm sure you still care about them. I want you to understand that Ning Guodong can't be saved. If you hate him, I will end his life."
"Are you crazy? Kill him? How are you going to live in Beijing, or even China?!" Lin Ruoxi exclaimed.
Yang Chen chuckled. "My only consideration is my wife's happiness. Will she get hurt? Will she resent me? Will she be traumatized? Those are the only things that concern me."