Chapter 21: Eyes Meet

Tangtang evidently did not expect Yuan Ye to be so unwavering in protecting her. She felt a bit grateful but didn't express much in the way of thanks.

Yuan Ye looked tense, but there was no way to retreat now.

Yang Chen, with a mischievous grin, said, "I didn't expect you to be a devoted type, not bad, not bad. You remind me of your uncle here." Having just finished laughing heartily, Yang Chen turned and walked back to his BMW M3.

"You're just going to leave?!" Yuan Ye was stunned, realizing that Yang Chen had let him off the hook. He breathed a sigh of relief.

Sitting back in the driver's seat, Yang Chen winked at Yuan Ye, "Your name is Yuan Ye, right? You might think I'm bluffing, and what I'm about to say might sound cliché, but since you seem to have a decent heart, I'll tell you this…

Don't be too full of yourself. There's always someone better out there. The saying isn't just empty words.

I'm giving you this advice with no other intention. Anyway, I assume you won't stop me from going home now, right?"

The two boys who had been blocking the road had long since hidden away. No one dared to stand in his way anymore. Yang Chen started the car and quickly left the scene.

As they watched the BMW drive away and disappear, Yuan Ye and the others finally snapped out of it, feeling a bit bewildered.

"What a strange man," Yuan Ye remarked with a hint of lingering fear. His handsome face showed a mix of unwillingness and a bit of admiration.

Tangtang, on the other hand, looked intrigued, her bright eyes full of playful curiosity. No one could guess what new schemes were brewing in her mind.

Returning to Longjing Garden Villa, as soon as he walked through the door, he saw Wang Ma coming up to him with a gentle smile. "Young Master, you're back! Have you eaten yet? If not, I still have some food kept warm."

Yang Chen touched his stomach. After spending the afternoon exercising with Qiangwei, then speeding and fighting, he had indeed forgotten to eat. He immediately smiled and said, "Sorry to trouble you, Wang Ma!"

"It's no trouble at all. I'll get it ready right away!" Wang Ma replied cheerfully.

Sitting at the Western-style dining table, Yang Chen ate two large bowls of rice before letting out a satisfied burp. He turned to the equally satisfied Wang Ma and said, "Having someone at home to cook really makes a difference, especially when it's someone like you who makes such delicious food."

Wang Ma, smiling as she cleaned up the table, replied, "As long as you enjoy it, Young Master. Compared to what you do, all I can do is cook and take care of the house."

"What do you mean by that?" Yang Chen was a bit puzzled.

After hesitating for a moment, Wang Ma's face showed a hint of bitterness. "Young Master, the Old Master came by today. If it weren't for you, our Miss would have been very upset again."

Yang Chen suddenly understood. She was talking about the incident between Lin Kun and Lin Ruoxi earlier today. He smiled wryly and said, "I think Ruoxi was already quite angry. Being called... called what by her own father, any daughter would be furious."

Wang Ma shook her head. "Young Master, you don't know. Although Miss was angry, it was nothing compared to the last two times. A few days ago, the Old Master forced Miss to go on a date with the young master of the Xu family, even using matters concerning the old house to pressure her. Miss was so angry that she went out drinking and came back reeking of alcohol. The night before last, she didn't come home at all and stayed out overnight. I've watched Miss grow up, and she's always been very self-disciplined. If she wasn't pushed to the extreme, she would never get so drunk."

Yang Chen awkwardly rubbed his nose. Indeed, she had gotten so drunk that someone had drugged her, leading to that incident where he mistook her for a hotel worker. Otherwise, they wouldn't have ended up in such a confusing situation.

"Things are better now," Wang Ma said with great relief. "With you here, the Old Master won't find it so easy to bully Miss anymore. Having a man in the house really makes a difference."

Feeling a bit embarrassed by her praise, Yang Chen quickly changed the subject. "Wang Ma, where's Ruoxi? Has she eaten yet?"

Wang Ma sighed and replied, "Miss is working in the study upstairs. She was disturbed by the Old Master's visit during the day and only managed to get back to work in the evening. She said she's running out of time and didn't even have dinner."

"That's not right. No matter how hard you work, you have to eat," Yang Chen frowned.

"I think so too, but Miss is very stubborn. When she's working, she doesn't allow us to knock on the door or bring anything in, or she'll get upset," Wang Ma said with a mix of helplessness and concern.

Yang Chen thought for a moment. Although he wasn't sure about the future, Ruoxi was his wife now, and he couldn't bear the thought of her going hungry. "Wang Ma, please prepare a portion of food for me. I'll take it to Ruoxi."

"Really? Maybe she'll eat if you bring it," Wang Ma said, her face lighting up with hope. She quickly ran to the kitchen.

Soon, Yang Chen was carrying a tray of hot food up to Lin Ruoxi's study on the second floor. The large red door was tightly closed, and no sound could be heard from inside.

Yang Chen knocked on the door, but there was no response. Using his keen hearing, he sensed an unusual stillness in the study.

Puzzled, Yang Chen gently opened the study door and quietly stepped inside. The first thing that caught his eye was the plethora of books neatly arranged around the spacious room. The combined scent of paper and Lin Ruoxi's unique fragrance filled the air.

Amidst two artistically arranged pots of bamboo, a large mahogany desk stood, piled high with various documents and books.

At that moment, Lin Ruoxi was slumped over the desk, asleep in a large black leather swivel chair.

Her exquisitely beautiful face appeared softer in sleep, free from her usual cold demeanor. Her long, curved eyelashes, delicate nose, and rosy, tender lips all added to her gentle and endearing appearance. Her loose, jet-black hair shimmered under the bright desk lamp, accentuating her already ethereal and poetic aura.

Seeing his wife's vulnerable side suddenly stirred a bit of emotion in Yang Chen's heart. A woman bearing so much pressure while working so hard—it was no wonder that despite her stunning beauty, he had never seen her truly happy. This thought filled Yang Chen with a sense of pity for her.

After placing the food on the desk, Yang Chen glanced around the study, walked to the coat rack, and took down a thicker coat. He approached Lin Ruoxi carefully, draping the coat over her and making sure it covered her well, trying not to wake her. Afterward, he turned off the desk lamp, letting the room fall into darkness, and quietly left the room.

Downstairs, Wang Ma was busy in the kitchen. Seeing that it was still early, Yang Chen turned on the large LED TV in the living room and lay down on the comfortable sofa to watch the evening news.

But he hadn't been watching for long when he heard footsteps on the stairs. Turning around, he saw Lin Ruoxi descending, holding the coat he had draped over her, looking at him with a complex expression.

For a moment, their eyes met…