Chapter 93 Restraint

Faced with Ruan Yao's clear and direct gaze, Huo Yanzhi hesitated for a moment while peeling the shrimp.

He placed another plump, white shrimp into the small white porcelain bowl in front of her before looking up.

"That's right."

His admission was so frank that it made all the questions Ruan Yao had prepared choke back.

Huo Yanzhi wiped his hands with a napkin. "The Shen family's foundation is unstable, but their ambitions are too great. It was only a matter of time before they were targeted. I just happened to give them a push at that time."

He raised his eyelids, and her small, inquisitive face was reflected in his dark pupils.

"It's just normal competition in the market."

His explanation was understated, reasonable, and devoid of any personal emotion.

Ruan Yao paused for a moment, then understood.

She remembered that in her previous life, the Shen family had indeed experienced an investment failure. At that time, the Shen family's capital chain broke, and they were attacked by the crowd, suffering heavy losses.

In this life, Huo Yanzhi simply accelerated this process and took the lead in it.

Shen's mother's accusations, which were distorted and hysterical, seemed laughable and pale in the face of Huo Yanzhi's few words.

Ruan Yao's heart gently settled back down, but she felt a little uneasy.

“She also said…” Ruan Yao pouted, mimicking Chen’s mother’s tone, “that you’re with me just to use me so you can get revenge on Chen Yu.”

Huo Yanzhi stopped holding the serving chopsticks. He turned his head, his deep features appearing particularly clear under the warm yellow light.

"And what do you think?" he countered, his tone unreadable. "Do you think I'm only with you to get revenge on him?"

Ruan Yao shook her head seriously.

"Of course I don't believe it."

She paused deliberately, and under his focused gaze, she suddenly smiled, leaned closer, and spoke in a soft, sweet voice.

"You clearly only coveted my good looks and fell in love with me at first sight, which is why you went to such lengths to marry me."

Looking at her charming and endearing appearance, Huo Yanzhi's tightly clenched lips finally relaxed slightly, letting out a very soft laugh.

All the surging suspicions and doubts seemed to be soothed by this unfounded trust at this moment.

"Yes." He readily admitted, reaching out to pinch her soft cheek. "Madam's analysis makes a lot of sense."

Ruan Yao felt a little embarrassed by his laughter, her cheeks flushed, but she felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

Huo Yanzhi withdrew his hand, picked up a tissue, and slowly wiped his fingertips, speaking as if casually.

I thought you would blame me.

"What's it to blame you for?" Ruan Yao asked, puzzled.

“It’s my fault for starting to plan against the Shen family so early, after all…” He paused, “…at that time, he hadn’t done anything yet.”

Ruan Yao picked up a piece of freshly cooked sweet and sour pork ribs, carefully blew on it, and then put it into Huo Yanzhi's bowl.

“I will never blame you, no matter what you do.” She looked up and gazed intently into his eyes. “Because I know you would never do anything to hurt me.”

This unthinking, complete trust is like a warm, scalding current.

He looked into the girl's clear, doe-like eyes, in which his own image was reflected.

There was not a single doubt, not a single impurity.

In that instant, an almost distorted sense of satisfaction, mixed with joy, instantly permeated Huo Yanzhi's entire body.

His slender figure was finally completely on his side.

Whatever the source of this trust, he cherished it wholeheartedly.

Huo Yanzhi's Adam's apple bobbed, a strong impulse raging in his blood.

He wanted to kiss her.

I want to confirm this authenticity in the most basic way.

“So,” he leaned down, his thin lips almost touching her earlobe, his voice low and seductive, “is there a reward for you, Yaoyao?”

The warm breath brushed against her earlobe, and Ruan Yao's body instantly went limp.

Her heart was pounding like a drum, and her cheeks began to burn uncontrollably.

This man... is too good at it.

She tilted her head back, leaned close to his ear, and whispered a few words quickly in a voice only the two of them could hear.

Huo Yanzhi's breath hitched.

He stepped back slightly, looking down at the girl whose face was already flushed.

"Are you sure?" His voice was thick with hoarseness.

His voice was even lower and hoarser than before, like fine velvet brushing against sandpaper, carrying a hint of danger.

Ruan Yao's cheeks flushed as he stared at her, and her heart pounded so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest.

But she enjoyed seeing him lose control for her.

Ruan Yao buried her face in his chest and nodded gently, her voice barely audible.

"You...you can be gentle."

Huo Yanzhi looked at her trembling eyelashes and her charming, submissive appearance, and his Adam's apple bobbed heavily.

She was always like a soft net, gathering all his reason and restraint.

The next second, the world spun around.

Ruan Yao only had time to let out a small gasp before she was lifted off the ground by a powerful force.

The man strode forward, steadily carrying her, and walked step by step towards the master bedroom on the second floor.

The main light in the bedroom was off; only a bedside lamp was on, casting a dim, ambiguous glow.

Huo Yanzhi gently placed her on the soft bed.

The mattress sank deeply under the weight of the two people.

He didn't immediately press himself against her, but instead knelt on one knee on the edge of the bed, looking down at her.

The light shone from behind him, casting a deep shadow on his sharply defined face, making his eyes appear even darker.

Ruan Yao lay on the bed, nervously gripping the sheets beneath her.

Just now downstairs, she was the one who initiated the flirting.

But when the time actually came, she started to chicken out again.

She watched him unbutton his cufflinks, then his shirt buttons, one by one…

His movements were unhurried and full of ritual, as if he were unwrapping a precious gift.

Ruan Yao's heartbeat grew louder with each of his movements.

When he finally unbuttoned the last button, revealing his well-defined chest and firm abs, Ruan Yao couldn't help but hold her breath.

He leaned down, placing his hands on either side of her body, once again enveloping her in his shadow.

"Graceful".

"Mmm..." she responded softly.

Huo Yanzhi leaned down, and his warm kiss landed not on her lips, but on her forehead.

It was as gentle as a feather brushing against you.

Then the tip of the nose, cheeks, corners of the lips to the cupid's bow.

This was completely different from the previous frenzied devouring, which was full of punitive intent.

These kisses, gentle and tender, with meticulous care and patience, guided her little by little, enticing her to become immersed in their allure.

His hand slipped under her clothes, everything was slow and deliberate, full of control, and equally gentle enough to make her heart tremble.

Ruan Yao felt somewhat uncomfortable, but her body honestly softened into a pool of spring water.

She was like a flower bud waiting to bloom, gradually unfolding and revealing her most alluring beauty under his patient guidance.

She could feel his breaths quicken with each breath, and feel his self-control trembling as it crumbled.

He was clearly enduring a lot of hardship.

A moment of confusion flashed through Ruan Yao's mind, but she was quickly overwhelmed by his superb skills, only able to let out soft sobs, letting him do as he pleased.

He seemed to know her body all too well, knew every sensitive spot on her body, and knew how to bring her to climax as quickly as possible.

She couldn't help but tighten her arms around his neck, feeling as if she were floating on a cloud.

That's strange.

She seems... to prefer him when he's a little out of control.

In the midst of extreme dizziness and despair, a thought uncontrollably popped into Ruan Yao's mind.

Why is he so restrained?