C2 The Kiss on the Lips

Xu Huanxi didn't respond, yet her silence was a form of consent. As she reached out to shut the door, she noticed... perfect, the lock was loose, a few nudges and it would give way, making it easy for anyone to break in.

That explained how the men had managed to barge in.

A cacophony of footsteps invaded the ladies' room, pounding on each stall and eliciting a chorus of women's screams.

Chu Rusi's mood darkened instantly. He really didn't want to start trouble with these people upon his return to the country.

Xu Huanxi was aware that the door's lock wouldn't keep the outsiders at bay, so she calmly continued changing her clothes. She wasn't the one being pursued, so fear wasn't in her vocabulary.

Chu Rusi squinted slightly. She was the epitome of composure, methodically dressing herself, oblivious to both him and the commotion outside. Didn't she fear that he might be a threat?

Abruptly, the door was forced open, slamming against Xu Huanxi's suitcase.

Having just slipped into her long dress, Xu Huanxi was about to zip it up when she let out a shriek, "Ah! A pervert! Get out! Help!"

She played the part of a startled, innocent woman to perfection, completely concealing the presence of a man in the restroom.

Chu Rusi suppressed a chuckle. He couldn't fathom why she had come to his aid.

The man in black swept the room with a quick glance, found no one, and hastily retreated.

Xu Huanxi gave a quick look to the man behind the door. He was poised in the corner, hands and feet braced against the walls like a master of his craft, his face etched with the relief of a narrow escape.

She grabbed her suitcase, turned on her heel, and left—she was pressed for time and had no interest in entangling herself in further drama.

Chu Rusi leaped down from the wall, watching the woman's retreating figure with an amused smile. She was quite the enigma.

He adjusted his attire and then noticed a kiss mark on his palm—the one he'd left on the woman's lips earlier.

Instinctively, his brow furrowed.

"..."

Entertainment City, the grandest hotspot in Tong City.

Xu Huanxi swirled her cocktail, her gaze clouded with a mist of emotion. She had already visited the hospital; the diagnosis was clear—the Old Ancestor was in the final stages of cancer.

With no hope for a cure, the Old Ancestor insisted on being discharged to oversee her wedding preparations. Xu Huanxi had braced herself for this inevitability, knowing that some departures were just a matter of time. Yet, she feared she might not be able to grant the Old Ancestor's last wish.

She recalled the Old Ancestor's grip on her hand, the weight of her words, "Huanxi, Grandmother's time is short, but you have your whole life ahead. I don't want you to be lonely. I know you carry scars, but Tunan is a good kid. It would mean the world to me to see you married before I go."

Tunan. Jiang Tunan. Her boyfriend—or rather, her ex-boyfriend.

With a scoff, Xu Huanxi downed her cocktail in one bitter swallow.

She had truly believed she and Jiang Tunan would end up together. He was the epitome of genteel calm, a man of simple grace who had accepted her pregnancy and her lack of passion. But just a week ago, she discovered that her dear boyfriend was the heir to the Rivers and Mountains Corporation. Jiang Tunan had pursued her for six months, courted her for another six, and all the while she was oblivious to the fact that he was a wealthy heir, biding his time before claiming his fortune instead of genuinely wooing her.

She felt like a fool for her naivety.

The liquor scorched her throat like a searing pain.

Now, her cherished ex had had his fill of fun and was ready to settle down—without her. What was she to do? Cling to Jiang Tunan's leg, pleading with him to stay?

Ridiculous!