Chapter 52

Ruan Nianchu turned her head upon hearing the voice and saw a woman walking towards them from the dusk. She was tall, with her black hair tied into a long ponytail. She wore a trendy baseball jacket, giving her a refreshing and stylish look.

As the distance closed, Ruan Nianchu’s eyes shifted downwards to the woman’s outfit below the baseball jacket. She wore tight black leggings, highlighting her slender and straight legs. A few inches above, her buttocks were perky and firm.

Even as a woman herself, Ruan Nianchu couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow and mentally give this woman’s figure a score of nine out of ten.

A stunning beauty.

“Brother Li,” the beauty stopped and greeted Li Teng with a smile, exuding an air of familiarity, “What a coincidence to meet here. It’s been a year or two since we last saw each other, right?”

Li Teng’s gaze coldly shifted to the woman, nodding slightly. “Quite a coincidence,” he said, hooking his arm around Ruan Nianchu’s waist and pulling her into his embrace.

Ruan Nianchu raised her gaze, glancing at him and then at the beautiful woman, her bright eyes gleaming with curiosity.

The beauty looked at Ruan Nianchu in Li Teng’s arms, her eyes flickering slightly, but she maintained a smile on her face. “Brother Li, who is this…”

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“Swyd Lkydnbw, xu okql,” Nk Mldt kdvlaawrvle okvbswv xwnb lzpl vs pyu. Mbld bl kdvasewnle vbl clywvkqwz osxyd vs Swyd Lkydnbw kd y nsze vsdl, “Mbkp kp Kk Dkysmwyd, xu qsaxla nsxayel.”

Mbl dyxl Kk Dkysmwyd oyp dsv wdqyxkzkya vs Swyd Lkydnbw.

Fbl czkdjle yde iwknjzu alynvle kd fwpv y qlo plnsdep. Mbld pbl nwahle bla zkrp, pxkzkdt yv vbl pzktbvzu pvkqq-qynle clywvu, yrrlyakdt tldlaswp yde nsxrsple. “Tlzzs, Ykpp Kk. R yx Nk Mldt’p tkazqaklde, Swyd Lkydnbw.”

Usxryale vs Swyd Lkydnbw’p nyzxdlpp, Kk Dkysmwyd pllxle psxlobyv lxcyaaypple. Fbl qsanle y pxkzl, cwv vblal oyp y bkdv sq ekpnsxqsav kd bla lulp yp pbl pyke, “Tlzzs, Ykpp Swyd.”

Gqvla vbl tallvkdtp olal lmnbydtle, vbl vos osxld bye dsvbkdt lzpl vs pyu.

Swyd Lkydnbw nypwyzzu okvbealo bla tygl yde dlpvzle kd Nk Mldt’p yaxp, pxkzkdt tldvzu yde yrrlyakdt esnkzl yde byaxzlpp zkjl y tldvzl aycckv.

“Nssj, yzz sq usw yal rykale wr, yde R’x pvkzz pkdtzl,” Kk Dkysmwyd zssjle yv Nk Mldt ytykd, vlypkdtzu, byzq-pktbkdt yde byzq-fsjkdt, “Jasvbla Nk, ol’hl jdsod lynb svbla pkdnl nbkzebsse yde olal yzps nsxayelp kd yaxp. Uswze usw rzlypl ryu xsal yvvldvksd yde kdvasewnl xl vs psxlsdl pwkvyczl kq usw pll ydu yxsdt uswa qakldep?”

Gp Kk Dkysmwyd pyke yzz vbkp, vbl jluosae oyp “nbkzebsse qakldep.” Eblvbla kdvldvksdyz sa dsv, vbl kdqsaxyvksd alhlyzle oyp iwkvl pktdkqknydv.

Ruan Nianchu lightly exclaimed after hearing this, “So you’ve known each other since childhood.”

“Don’t you know?” Ji Xiaoxuan pretended to be surprised, then turned to Li Teng, pouting playfully, “Brother Li, you’re in the wrong. With such good relationships between us, you should have introduced us to your wife.”

“If they’re true friends, it’s okay not to introduce them to me,” Ruan Nianchu said casually, raising her hand to lightly sweep Li Teng’s cheek with her fingertips, staring at him, gently raising her eyebrows, “The days ahead are long. I have plenty of time to gradually get to know them. People can’t escape from me. Right?”

She appeared calm, her tone nonchalant as usual. But when she raised her eyebrows and smiled, a proud and enchanting demeanor, so different from her usual self, dazzled Li Teng’s eyes.

He smirked. “Yes.”

Ji Xiaoxuan’s face darkened.

Ruan Nianchu caught sight of this from the corner of her eye, feeling delighted. She raised her eyebrows at Li Teng, her expression clearly saying: “Feeling proud?”

Li Teng chuckled and hugged her. Knowing she was ticklish, he lightly pinched her waist. The girl in his arms let out a soft cry, her face blushing, and tried to escape by twisting her body, but she didn’t take a step before he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

This time, Ji Xiaoxuan’s entire face turned black.

She was a former female soldier who had spent a lot of time in the army before changing careers. Being surrounded by men all day, the softness inherent in women faded away, replaced by competitiveness and pride. She never learned, nor did she care to learn, the coquettishness and cuteness typical of southern women.

She had always thought that Li Teng, as a character coming from the military, had the blood of a wolf running through his veins, with a strong desire to conquer and not to be underestimated by the women he fancied.

But what surprised Ji Xiaoxuan was that the man she had liked for so many years, after careful consideration, had chosen a little lamb.

How could she accept it?

For a moment, countless thoughts flashed through Ji Xiaoxuan’s mind. She pursed her lips and then smiled again, asking, “By the way, where are you guys going?”

Li Teng replied indifferently, “To have dinner with Dacong and a few others.”

“Well, that’s perfect. I haven’t had dinner either. I also know Dacong quite well. Why don’t we go together?” Ji Xiaoxuan said as she took two steps forward, lowered her eyes, and glanced at Ruan Nianchu, who was half a head shorter than her. “We’re all friends. Miss Ruan shouldn’t mind, right?”

Li Teng frowned impatiently. “Do you have nothing better to do?”

“…?” Ji Xiaoxuan didn’t expect Li Teng to reject her so bluntly, let alone in such a straightforward manner. She was momentarily stunned.

Unexpectedly, Ruan Nianchu spoke up, saying, “Of course I don’t mind.” She curved her lips gently, holding Li Teng’s arm with both hands, her tone as light as if she were acting cute. “They’re all friends. Why can’t she join us for dinner? Why are you being so harsh with her?”

Li Teng lowered his eyes, staring at her, squinting.

Ruan Nianchu looked up at her and met her gaze, her eyes bright.

Their eyes met for only half a second.

Then, Li Teng cast his gaze into the distance, his face expressionless, silent and uninvolved, focusing solely on cooperating with this girl’s impromptu performance.

She looked at Ji Xiaoxuan and said, “Miss Ji, let’s go together.”

Ji Xiaoxuan smiled. “Sure.”

In addition to Ji Xiaoxuan, the friends they were going to have dinner with included four others: Dacong, Xidan, Kaizi, and Siyan. They were all about the same age as Li Teng, almost all married and with children. They had different occupations, but they were all hearty and straightforward, downing a bottle of liquor at Bullpen Mountain’s Second Pot without a crease in their brows.

When Li Teng introduced them, he didn’t mention their real names, so Ruan Nianchu had to call them by their nicknames.

When the few guys first saw Ruan Nianchu, they felt a bit reserved because she looked young, delicate, and came from the city. After calling her “sister-in-law,” they didn’t dare to talk to her. On the other hand, they were very casual with Ji Xiaoxuan, chatting and laughing freely, treating her like one of their own.

It was like an invisible line had been drawn.

Ruan Nianchu kept her head down, eating calmly, her smile unchanged.

Ji Xiaoxuan’s smile gradually widened.

After a while, Ruan Nianchu asked the waiter for a glass and opened a bottle of liquor, pouring it almost full. Ji Xiaoxuan noticed her actions, was momentarily stunned, and then looked at Li Teng with a suspicious look.

Li Teng threw two soybeans into his mouth, his expression indifferent, with no reaction.

Ji Xiaoxuan was somewhat surprised and whispered, “She looks fragile, shouldn’t she be drinking this? Brother Li, aren’t you going to do something about it?”

Li Teng didn’t even look at Ji Xiaoxuan, coldly replying, “At home, she makes the decisions.” Meaning, only Ruan Nianchu could manage him.

With that said, Ji Xiaoxuan’s face, which had just brightened, darkened again. She stopped talking while eating.

Ruan Nianchu poured the liquor and stood up with her glass.

Dacong and the others were stunned, stopping their conversation and drinking, all puzzled as they watched this young girl.

Ruan Nianchu spoke with ease, “My man’s friends are my friends too. Today, we’re meeting for the first time, so according to northern customs, I’ll make the first toast to everyone!” After speaking, she tilted her head back and downed a mouthful of white liquor.

The liquor was strong, burning from her lips to her lungs. After swallowing, Ruan Nianchu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The men came back to their senses and burst into laughter, pounding the table. “Sister-in-law is really something! Refreshing!”

Ruan Nianchu was about to speak when she felt Li Teng pinch her hand under the table.

She looked at him, his eyes dark and inscrutable. She couldn’t understand that look. Then she heard him whisper, “Ruan Nianchu, that’s enough.”

She smiled and showed her white teeth to the northern guys. “We’re all friends here. I don’t want to pretend to be something I’m not. If I embarrass myself after drinking this alcohol, it’s fine, but if I ruin your mood, that’s a big sin.”

The men, feeling less reserved now, asked her, “Sister-in-law, what are you going to do with the remaining liquor in your glass?”

Ruan Nianchu smirked. “Any suggestions?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Dacong slapped the table. “Let Tengzi finish it for you! If he doesn’t drink his own wife’s alcohol, who will?”

Everyone applauded and agreed, “That’s right!”

Ruan Nianchu stood while Li Teng sat. She looked down at him, her lips curling arrogantly. “Captain Li, can you finish this for me?”

Li Teng smiled, took the glass, and downed it in one gulp.

The whole table erupted in laughter, tapping their bowls and chopsticks, cheerfully cheering on.

Ruan Nianchu’s eyebrows curved as she held Li Teng’s sharply defined chin, gently shaking it. “Good boy.” While she spoke, she glanced at Ji Xiaoxuan with a hint of disdain.

Disdainful and scornful.

As expected, the other woman couldn’t hold back, her smile disappearing in an instant.

Ruan Nianchu’s smile became even brighter.

Ruan Nianchu’s good friend, Qiao Yufei, once taught her the three elements to deal with seductive women trying to lure her man: be quick, be accurate, and be ruthless. The most skillful approach is to make the other party back off and crush their evil intentions in the cradle.

Life is like a drama, relying on acting. Who wouldn’t play the role of a queen, even if it’s just pretending?

During this dinner, apart from the brothers catching up and boasting, Li Teng and Ruan Nianchu were also showing affection. Both of them had stunning looks that amazed people at first sight. Just looking at their faces, they were a perfect match. Their indulgence and being indulged in each other’s actions and expressions were harmonious.

Ji Xiaoxuan couldn’t hold out until the end of dinner.

She found a random excuse and left the small restaurant, walking very fast.

Watching the enemy fleeing, Ruan Nianchu secretly gave herself a pat on the back in her heart. It seemed that Ji Xiaoxuan’s evil intentions were completely extinguished by her.

With one less person, the atmosphere at the dinner table remained lively.

Dacong drank too much, his face flushed, and his tongue a bit slurred. He mumbled, “Sis, let me tell you, don’t be fooled by Tengzi now, he’s a big shot, the big boss.” He belched and raised his thumb. “When he was young, he was always causing trouble. When the teacher asked us to self-study, he climbed over the wall and went fishing in the river. When he was caught, he hadn’t even put on his pants, he was butt-naked…”

Before he finished speaking, Li Teng kicked him in the butt.

“Ouch!” Dacong cried out, jumping up and rubbing his butt. “What’s wrong with you?”

“If you’re drunk, shut up,” Li Teng’s tone was unpleasant. “Stop babbling nonsense here.”

Ruan Nianchu was amused by them, and after a moment, she got up to go to the restroom.

Xi Dan glanced at Ruan Nianchu’s back, leaned over to Li Teng, and whispered, “Brother Li, where did you find such a beautiful girl?”

Li Teng said, “Through a blind date.”

Hearing this, Xi Dan shook his head with a sigh. “If I had known, I would have applied to Aerospace University too. Have a status and a wife. So impressive.”

“Forget it,” Siyan slapped him on the head. “You didn’t even pass the high school entrance exam, let alone Aerospace University. When you go to bed tonight, remember to raise your pillow a bit higher, maybe you’ll dream of being eighteen.”

The group laughed heartily. As they grew older, life brought its hardships, but only through reunions with old friends could they find a hint of innocence and joy.

Li Teng also laughed, lowered his eyes, and extinguished his cigarette butt in the ashtray. The sparks flickered and died out in a blink of an eye.

Outside the window, the street lamp illuminated half of the night, and the small town was quiet, as if it were far from all the hustle and bustle. He stared into the night, his eyes gradually deepening.

A few minutes later, Ruan Nianchu returned from the restroom.

After three rounds of drinking, the men had eaten enough. Ruan Nianchu hadn’t been sitting for long when Li Teng leaned over and asked her softly, “Still hungry for something else?”

Ruan Nianchu smelled the strong alcohol on his breath and leaned back slightly, shaking her head.

Li Teng raised an eyebrow and intentionally leaned in closer. “You’re eating so little?”

“…?” She frowned as she scrutinized his face. His eyes were dark and clear, but there was a strange brightness to them, causing her to lower her voice involuntarily. “Have you had too much to drink?”

“No.” He smiled faintly, pushed his chair back, and stood up to settle the bill.

After dinner, they all hailed a cab by the roadside. There were already few taxis in Baizuo County, and with the holiday, resources were even scarcer. When they finally found an empty one, Dacong and the others let Li Teng and Ruan Nianchu go first.

The taxi sped away.

The night wind was chilly, and there was a strong temperature difference compared to the warmth of the restaurant. Kaizi shivered from the cold and remembered something, furrowing his brow, “So, Brother Li and Sister-in-law are together now, what about Jixuan?”

“What can we do?” Siyan steadied himself by patting Kaizi’s arm, chuckling, “Didn’t you see? Brother Li stares at that girl without even blinking. His soul is on her.”

Xidan also nodded, “Ji Xuan and Brother Li were never on the same page.”

Dacong sneered, “Are we on the same page with Tengzi?”

As the night grew deeper and colder, this time, no one spoke again.

*

By the time they returned to the residence, it was almost 9:30 PM.

Li Teng’s mother usually went to bed early and had already fallen asleep. The entire house was dark without any lights on. Ruan Nianchu entered the bedroom to change into her pajamas. When she turned around, she saw Li Teng lying straight on the bed, his left arm across his forehead, eyes closed, and still wearing his shoes.

She frowned, pulled his arm with both hands, wrinkling her nose, “You smell like alcohol, you stink. Go take a shower quickly.”

Li Teng didn’t move or say anything.

He was heavy, and she couldn’t budge him at all.

Ruan Nianchu’s forehead beaded with sweat, she sighed, and moved closer to glare at him, “Are you really drunk?”

Still no response from him.

“…It looks like he’s drunk.” She rolled her eyes, stood up straight, and prepared to go to the living room to heat up some water for him. But as soon as she moved away, Li Teng grabbed her wrist and pulled her with force, causing her to lose control and fall into his arms.

Ruan Nianchu stiffened.

Li Teng wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulled her close, and nuzzled her warm neck from behind. His eyelashes drooped, covering his slightly intoxicated eyes as he chuckled, “Ruan Nianchu, you’re quite brave, daring to say I stink.”

She turned to face him, cupping his face and examining him closely, “How much did you drink tonight?”

“Not much.”

“How much is not much?”

“Not a lot.”

“…Speechless,” Ruan Nianchu pushed him, “Let go, I’ll go heat up some water for you.”

Li Teng stared at her, unusually childish, holding her tightly and refusing to let go.

Ruan Nianchu felt helpless and softened her tone, trying to coax him, “Let go of me first, and I’ll go pour you some water, okay?”

“No.” He said hoarsely, pressing closer to her, rubbing his chin against her cheek, the stubble tickling her, “Just stay here, don’t go anywhere.”

Unable to resist, Ruan Nianchu had no choice but to relent. She looked at him playfully, “Then, can we chat?”

“Okay,” Li Teng agreed.

She moved closer, teasing him intentionally, “Who am I?”

“My wife,” he replied.

Ruan Nianchu blushed slightly at his words and pretended to be angry, “Nonsense, who’s your wife?”

He pinched her face, “You.”

“Then who is Ji Xiaoxuan?”

“Don’t know.”

“…You’re talking nonsense again. You grew up together, how could you not know her?”

Li Teng didn’t want to talk about this name. He closed his eyes, tightened his arms around her, and said in a clear and cold tone, “Change the subject.”

“Hey, are you really drunk or pretending?” Ruan Nianchu was almost going crazy. She struggled and tried to escape from his embrace, but he held her tightly, and she couldn’t move an inch.

As she struggled, she ended up being flipped over and pressed onto the bed by him.

Blushing, Ruan Nianchu pushed him, but he leaned down, his lips close to her ear, murmuring something indistinct in a hoarse voice.

She didn’t catch it clearly, “What did you say?”

“In the future, no matter what happens, take care of yourself,” he whispered.

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