Romance

Tang Ruochu didn't know that she had earned the bitter enmity of Gu Ruoruo. Even if she had known, she wouldn't have been too concerned because she hated Gu Ruoruo even more than Gu Ruoruo hated her.

She didn't linger after she stepped out of the ballroom and immediately headed outside to hail a taxi to head back to Lu Shijin's home.

The first person she thought of after she was on the receiving end of ridicule and contempt that night was Lu Shijin.

That man was so aloof and unapproachable, but he always managed to help her forget about her disappointment and distress. He made her feel warm and safe at all times.

She was so focused on trying to get to his house that she didn't notice the person who stood nearby.

"Honey," a man called out softly, and his voice was like a refreshing breath of air in the dark night.

Tang Ruochu couldn't help turning to look in the direction of his voi

"Does that mean that Zhao Fan's appearance was your doing?" she said as she quickly latched on to the key point.

"That was already my most restrained move," Lu Shijin said darkly and did not deny his involvement.

"Thanks!" Tang Ruochu said, touched by his gesture.

The engagement party had felt like torture to her as she had to put up with Gu Ruoruo's deliberate smearing of her reputation and endure the guests' contemptuous looks and words. She had struggled to bear it all.

The situation would've probably worsened if it hadn't been for Zhao Fan's timely arrival.

Although she had emerged victorious, she felt physically and mentally exhausted. She only felt better when she saw Lu Shijin.

"I told you before, no one would be able to take advantage of you with me around," he said as he gently broke their embrace and reached out to caress her cheeks. "Then again, you paid a high price tonight by facing off against Gu Ruoruo. Despite emerging victorious, you also hurt yourself in the process. It isn't worth it. Next time, leave this to me, and I'll handle it on your behalf."

"What will you do?" she curiously asked as she blinked up at him.

"I'll make sure that they'll never be able to make a comeback!" he said. His eyes were as steely as knives, and his expression was dark and stormy. He looked like a ruthless emperor at that moment.

She knew that he wasn't joking when she saw the look in his eyes and face.

She smiled and shook her head as she said, "I'd love to see that too, but this isn't the right time. The battle has just begun, so if you get rid of them so quickly, I won't be able to rejoice in my victory. I want to punish both Ji Yinfeng and Gu Ruoruo slowly. I'll make them pay for everything that they've done, whether it is a major or minor matter!"

She sounded very determined, and he could even hear the flinty resolution in her voice.

He looked down at her and thought for a moment before he said grudgingly, "As you wish."

"Please don't step in next time. I want to deal with them on my own," she said.

This time, he didn't agree as readily as before. "We'll see."

He wouldn't sit idly by if the situation escalated like it had today.

"I'll be more cautious next time and take this as a lesson learned," she said as she raised three fingers to make a brownie promise.

"Let's talk about that later. It's time to go home. I'm more interested in how you're going to express your thanks tonight," he said meaningfully.

He didn't answer her directly but instead, he pulled her into his car that was parked by the roadside.

She didn't catch on to the meaning behind his words and looked at him confusion from the passenger seat. "What do you mean?"

"You thanked me earlier, but rather than expressing your gratitude verbally, I'd prefer if you could express your thanks through your actions," he softly said as he turned to her.

He caressed her lips with his long fingers, and his eyes burned fiercely, which expressed his thoughts clearly.

He longed to taste her again after the first time they kissed!

He was only using this as an excuse to kiss her again!

"I'm setting you up?" Zhao Fan said as he scoffed coldly. "Miss Gu, would you like me to produce evidence to support my claim?"

"How..." Gu Ruoruo sputtered in fear, and she was immediately deflated. This was a clear sign of guilt!

The crowd immediately noticed her change in attitude, and the look in their eyes quickly changed.

Gu Ruoruo hastily explained, "Wait... I didn't! Yinfeng, you know how much I love you! This man is a liar. You should get security to kick him out of this ballroom right now."

"Miss Gu, I guess that you won't admit it until I produce evidence!" Zhao Fan said with a smirk before he reached into his pocket, took out a stack of photographs, and handed them out.

Zhao Fan and Gu Ruoruo were captured together in those photographs. Although they weren't caught in any compromising positions, it was clear from the way they hugged and kissed each other that they were a

Tang Ruochu didn't know that she had earned the bitter enmity of Gu Ruoruo. Even if she had known, she wouldn't have been too concerned because she hated Gu Ruoruo even more than Gu Ruoruo hated her.

She didn't linger after she stepped out of the ballroom and immediately headed outside to hail a taxi to head back to Lu Shijin's home.

The first person she thought of after she was on the receiving end of ridicule and contempt that night was Lu Shijin.

That man was so aloof and unapproachable, but he always managed to help her forget about her disappointment and distress. He made her feel warm and safe at all times.

She was so focused on trying to get to his house that she didn't notice the person who stood nearby.

"Honey," a man called out softly, and his voice was like a refreshing breath of air in the dark night.

Tang Ruochu couldn't help turning to look in the direction of his voice.

She saw a man standing under a street lamp, not too far from where she was. He wore a formal bl

Chapter 18