“What’s wrong with being aggressive?” Ruan Yang glared at him.
Li Shaobin was speechless. “Aren’t you pretty aloof?”
“That’s because you don’t know me,” Ruan Yang said arrogantly.
Li Shaobin thought for a while and agreed. When she was 18, her temper was alright. After a few years, her temper would’ve definitely worsened. It was just masked under the aloofness.
At that moment, his subordinate called, probably to rush him out.
“Go on,” Ruan Yang said. “I’ll go to Hong Kong to look for my cousin later.”
“I’ll get Xiao Gao to drive you over,” Li Shaobin said.
Ruan Yang didn’t reject his offer. It was a little inconvenient to go to Hong Kong from Guangzhou since she had to go to Shenzhen first. “I won’t be coming back tonight.”
“Oh.” Li Shaobin glanced at her begrudgingly. Although she was fierce, he still liked her. What could he do?
…
The moment Ruan Yang reached Hong Kong, Ruan Nan drove over to pick her up immediately. It had been almost two years since the two of them met. Ruan Nan, who was only in his mid-twenties, was already driving a white sports car worth more than two million.
Xiao Gao only left after watching Ruan Yang get into the car. When she got in, Ruan Nan said, “Your taste seems to have changed for the worse during the past few years. Your boyfriend doesn’t look like he’s much.”
Ruan Yang was stunned and understood what he meant. She said with a smile, “He isn’t…”
“Then he must be a pursuer,” Ruan Nan said. “This pursuer looks pretty lame too. You can’t give up on yourself just because Xin Ziao trampled on you before. Why don’t I introduce some handsome, cultured, and wealthy overseas returnees to you? Hong Kong isn’t as conservative as the mainland. I guarantee you’ll be very popular here.”
“Sure. It seems like you’re doing well here in Hong Kong.” Ruan Yang smiled. “You even got a sports car.”
“A sports car is nothing. Cars are cheaper in Hong Kong than the mainland to begin with.” Ruan Nan laughed in high spirits.
“Have you gotten a house in Hong Kong?”
“Can’t afford one. The houses here are too expensive,” Ruan Nan said. “I’m currently living in a rented flat. Anyway, our company will be expanding overseas in another two years. Our boss already told me that I just have to work harder in the next couple of years and he’ll send me to Australia when the time comes. Then I’ll buy a house there and migrate over. The houses are way cheaper there than over here.”
“That’s pretty good.” Ruan Yang felt a little rueful upon hearing that. “It seems like I have to meet up with you more often these days. Otherwise, it might be difficult to see you next time.”
“Actually, you can also head over there with me,” Ruan Nan said. “You’ve left the entertainment industry anyway. To be honest, it must be pointless for you to stay here too. You were doing well in Norway back then, so why did you come back?”
Ruan Yang laughed. “It might’ve been destined.”
Destined that she would lose her memory and return because of a certain man.
…
In the afternoon, Ruan Nan took her to Xigong for a meal. Although the restaurant wasn’t really good, the dishes weren’t expensive and tasted much better than those big shops.
After their meal, they went to Lamma Island.
When Li Shaobin called, Ruan Yang was sitting by the beach, eating pacific geoducks while enjoying the sea breeze.
“Ruan Yang, why do I hear the sea?”
“Mm, I’m at Lamma Island.”
“F*ck, you’ve gone so far away again.” Li Shaobin was hopping mad. Ever since they started going out, he felt incredibly uncomfortable the moment she went slightly far away. “Then when are you coming back? I’m planning to return to Northern City the day after tomorrow.”
Ruan Yang lowered her gaze and looked at Ruan Nan sitting in front of her. She stood up and walked aside before saying, “My cousin asked me to stay here for the new year. I intend to… go back after the new year. After all, it’s pointless to spend the new year in Northern City.”
“Pointless?” Li Shaobin was really angry. “Did you forget that I existed? No, you have to return with me. I told my family members that I would bring you home for the new year. You won’t be spending the new year alone.”
“To your house?” Ruan Yang was dumbfounded.
“You’ll have to go to my house sooner or later unless you don’t want to be with me anymore,” Li Shaobin said. “But you’ve already had sex with me. You’ve eaten me up cleanly. If you’re not going to take responsibility, I’ll go to the tabloids and reporters to expose you and tell them that you, Ruan Yang, wanted to have sex with me without any responsibilities, that you’re being a gangster.”
“…” Ruan Yang: “Don’t push your luck.”
“I am pushing my luck. Besides, it’s be your fault regardless. No matter who you seek out, whether it’s Changqing or Jiang Duoyao, you’re still in the wrong. You won’t be able to justify yourself,” Li Shaobin said very solemnly. “You aren’t getting any younger. Changqing is already a mother, and Jiang Duoyao and Yan Molun are going to get married soon too. If you keep dragging it on, you’re going to be left on the shelf sooner or later. Alright, that’s settled. If you don’t come back, I’ll go to Hong Kong to pick you up. You have to take responsibility. Running away isn’t a solution.”
Ruan Yang: “…”
Why am I so, so stumped for words?
At around 11 pm, she returned to her resort and when she checked her Feed, there was another update on Li Shaobin’s Feed: I’ve had a drop too much at night while socializing. At this moment, I really miss my darling…
She had goosebumps all over. Why did she find a man who was so mushy and loved to publicly display his affections?
However, Changqing had to comment: I am also missing my darling, muah muah muah muah muah…
Duoyao: People who aren’t in the know might think there’s something going on between the two of you.
Song Chuyi: @Changqing, I’ll deal with you when I go back.
—————-
On the third day, Ruan Yang woke up after falling asleep in her hotel in Hong Kong. She switched her phone on and numerous missed calls and messages from Li Shaobin came flooding in: I’ve already reached Hong Kong. Contact me when you wake up. If you don’t, I’ll send people to look for you.
Ruan Yang felt her head hurt. She sent her address to him.
When Ruan Nan called her to have breakfast together, she was already done packing. “Why, are you planning to go back to spend New Year’s? What’s so great about that? Don’t end up being at home all alone.”
That reminded Ruan Yang that during the new year every year, she was usually busy with work. Before, she was still an artiste and the entertainment industry coined her as a workaholic. She spent the day before Lunar New Year with the TV audience for five consecutive years. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go home—she wasn’t wanted at home. Her friends each had their own things to do. She was with Xin Ziao at that time, but he couldn’t keep her company during Lunar New Year’s eve as he had to be with his parents. However, the two of them would always go on a holiday during the last few days of the Lunar New Year holiday. Thinking about that made her feel quite depressed.
“You don’t want me to introduce guys to you and you refuse to stay over for the new year. Don’t tell me you still want to reconcile with Xin Ziao,” Ruan Nan said seriously. “Say, you’ve always been smart and beautiful ever since you were young, but why does it seem like your brain doesn’t function when it comes to this?”
“Maybe my brain isn’t functioning.” Ruan Yang sighed. “It’s not what you think. I got myself a new boyfriend.”
“Are you serious? You’re finally willing to find a boyfriend?”
“Somehow.” Ruan Yang’s mind was in a mess. “After I regained my memory, I suddenly realized that I had a boyfriend.”
“That sounds pretty interesting. Can I meet him? I don’t feel very reassured; it’s just in case you end up cheated by another man again. After all, you were deceived by Xin Ziao for so many years,” Ruan Nan said with concern.
“You can meet him when he comes later,” Ruan Yang said listlessly.
…
After breakfast and a cup of coffee, the two of them walked by the harbor for more than 10 minutes before Li Shaobin ran into their view. Ruan Nan observed him carefully. He was wearing a white shirt with an overcoat. His legs were very long and he had broad shoulders and a slim waist. His face exuded handsomeness.
“Not bad,” he commented.
Ruan Yang glanced at him. “You will say something else very quickly.”
Ruan Nan was stunned. When they got closer, Li Shaobin said warmly, “Hello, hello. You must be Ruan Yang’s cousin. What a dashing young lad, young and capable. Thank you for taking care of our Ruan Yang for the past few days.”
Ruan Nan blinked. His mouth fell agape.
Li Shaobin continued, “I’m Li Shaobin. What’s your name? You can just call me brother-in-law so that it’s not too troublesome to change titles again in the future.”
“Er… isn’t that a little too early?” Ruan Nan looked at Ruan Yang awkwardly. Ruan Yang facepalmed. She had already declined to be a part of this conversation.
“It’s not. It just shows that I’m serious. I’m in this with marriage in mind,” Li Shaobin said. “I’m not like your sis who only wants to bed me but refuses to take responsibility.”
The corners of Ruan Nan’s mouth twitched. “My sis bedded you…”
“Don’t listen to his nonsense.” Ruan Yang clenched her teeth. He’s really shameless. Who was the one who wanted to stay over at my place so brazenly?
“Alright, I won’t spout nonsense. In any case, I want to marry you.” Li Shaobin smiled pamperingly. “But I really only fell for your sis after she forced two kisses on me.”
“Forced two kisses on you?” Ruan Nan was dumbfounded.
“Alright, since you’re here to pick me up, let’s go.” Ruan Yang couldn’t allow them to carry on the conversation.
“That’s not very appropriate. It’s such a rare chance for me to get to meet your cousin. I have to treat him to a meal,” Li Shaobin said.
Ruan Nan quickly said, “No, no. I’m the host here. You came all the way here, so I should be the one treating. Why don’t we do this—we’ll leave after lunch. I also want to get to know this brother-in-law of mine.”