After ending the call, Lin Fan returned to the teahouse, while back at the Liu family villa, Liu Ruyan had just hung up her phone.
She reached for her glass of red wine but paused as the sound of a car engine echoed outside. A sleek sports car pulled up and parked directly in front of the villa.
Liu Ruyan froze.
She recognized the car instantly—it was Shen Wuxiao’s.
It was only around eight o’clock. Too early for him to be staying the night.
Could he have come to see her?
Impossible. Had he discovered something?
Still holding her wine glass, Liu Ruyan stood there in a daze. Her heart, already under immense emotional strain, began to stir again.
She had just managed to calm herself slightly… and now, the one man who could shatter her mental balance with a single glance had appeared.
Shen Wuxiao walked directly toward the villa.Panicked, Liu Ruyan quickly put on her slippers and hurried to the door.
When she opened it, Shen Wuxiao’s striking face came into view. Just like that, her heart began racing wildly—an uncontrollable flood of emotions surged through her.
He casually stepped inside, changing his shoes, while his gaze scanned her from head to toe.
She wore simple home clothes—relaxed, casual, and elegant. Her hair was tied up neatly, her eyeliner subtle but sharp, giving her eyes an extra touch of allure. Her lips were slightly parted in surprise, and the curves of her figure, left unguarded, were captivating.
Her clothes reached just above the knees, and she wore fluffy mid-length slippers. Her slender feet were curled slightly, her toes painted a soft red.
Despite the seemingly calm appearance, her posture betrayed her nervousness—hands clenched in front of her, body tense.
“So nervous just seeing me?” Shen Wuxiao said with a soft smile, his voice calm and emotionless.
“I… I just wasn’t prepared. Have you had dinner yet?” she asked quickly.
“I’ve eaten,” he replied casually. “I came just to see you. Don’t be nervous.”
He then walked over to the ancestral shrine in the living room, lit three sticks of incense, and placed them into the burner with practiced ease.
Once done, he headed straight to the sofa and sat down.
Liu Ruyan followed, quietly helping him remove his coat and hanging it neatly on the rack. Then, she knelt beside him on the sofa and gently guided his head onto her lap, massaging him softly.
Shen Wuxiao closed his eyes, not saying a word, simply enjoying the moment. Her massage wasn’t perfect, but it was enough.
After a while, Liu Ruyan whispered, “Will you be staying here tonight? I’ll prepare the bed…”
She was deeply conflicted.
Part of her didn’t want any more entanglement with Shen Wuxiao. After all, she had already agreed to cooperate with Lin Fan—her heart should be set on revenge.
Yet another part of her didn’t want Shen Wuxiao to leave. She still longed for the comfort of sleeping in his arms.
Shen Wuxiao looked at her with a teasing smirk. “Do you really want me to stay?”
Liu Ruyan didn’t answer. She only lowered her head in silence.
Shen Wuxiao didn’t press. He pulled her closer until she was resting against his chest.
Her body trembled slightly but didn’t resist.
He gently traced her cheek with his fingertips. “Ruyan, I still like that cold, aloof version of you. Why don’t you bring her back?”
Then he suddenly picked up a fruit knife from the coffee table and placed it in her hand.
Liu Ruyan blinked, confused.
He was so unpredictable—always doing things that made no sense.
“Peel me some fruit,” Shen Wuxiao said, smiling as he placed an apple in her other hand.
She now sat in his lap, one hand holding a knife, the other an apple.
If she stabbed him in the neck right now, it could all end.
The thought flickered across her mind.
But that was all—just a thought.
She didn’t dare.
And Shen Wuxiao? He was completely relaxed, allowing her to peel the fruit while resting against his chest.
“Besides seeing you, I also wanted to ask—do you have plans in the next two days? There’s a banquet in Zhonghai.”
Liu Ruyan instinctively froze but quickly composed herself, continuing to peel calmly. “It doesn’t matter whether I have plans or not. Just tell me what you need.”
Shen Wuxiao chuckled. “How can that be? I respect women. If you don’t have time, I won’t force it.”
“I’m just going to look around. Nothing important.”
Of course, Liu Ruyan wouldn’t refuse. Now she had confirmation—Shen Wuxiao was attending the banquet.
“I’ll go with you,” she replied.
Shen Wuxiao suddenly pinched her chin and lifted her face with a wicked grin. “Did I say I wanted you to accompany me?”
“I just asked if you were free, didn’t I?”
“I…” Liu Ruyan was speechless.
He really didn’t say she should go. It was embarrassing.
Shen Wuxiao laughed, then leaned in until their foreheads touched, noses brushing—close enough to feel each other’s breath.
Liu Ruyan’s lashes trembled. Her breathing quickened.
She knew what was coming.
Her eyes slowly closed.
Shen Wuxiao gently bit her lips. “So? One just left?”
“Mmm~” Liu Ruyan responded with a soft hum.
“Upstairs? Or here?”
“…Let’s go upstairs,” she whispered.
Shen Wuxiao calmly took the fruit knife from her hand—and with a flick, hurled it.
Thud!
The knife embedded deep into the wall.
Then he took her hand and led her upstairs.
Liu Ruyan’s heart pounded.
Only now did she realize—Shen Wuxiao wasn’t just violent, he was a martial arts master.
If she had even dared to attack him earlier, she would’ve been the one lying in a pool of blood.
Upstairs, she quietly undressed.
Shen Wuxiao had to admit—Liu Ruyan was stunning. Maybe not quite as dazzling as Jiang Huaiyue, but still exquisite.
A pity… she was just a temporary trial.
Not someone who could ever stay.
Shen Wuxiao had no sympathy to spare.
The grudge between them was one of blood and death. Nothing could erase that.
Anyone who posed a threat to him would vanish—silently and efficiently.
Liu Ruyan would be no exception.
Originally, her purpose was to help him control Lin Fan. Shen Wuxiao would leak information to her, let her pass it to Lin Fan, and then profit off their foolish attempts at revenge.
The more they thought they knew, the easier it was to manipulate them—and collect points.
But things had changed.
Lin Fan’s storyline had collapsed.
Liu Ruyan wasn’t as useful anymore.
Still, for now… she was good for putting out fires.