Inside the Ruan family's basement.
The basement was pitch black, and Cheng Yue was lying on the floor in a disheveled state, his glasses shattered and lying in a corner.
Before him, Ruan's father looked at him with displeasure: "I've been too busy lately, but now I finally have some time to have a proper chat with you."
Cheng Yue spat, his eyes filled with resentment and indignation: "Pah, you beast in human form, you're utterly shameless!"
Ignoring Cheng Yue's curses, Mr. Ruan kicked him and said, "Where else did you install listening devices? Besides the day I caught you, how long have you been eavesdropping at the Ruan family's house? What did you hear? Tell me."
"Old man, I think you're just feeling guilty. I've heard more than just what happened with the Luo family; I know all about the dirty deeds of your Ruan family!"
Cheng Yue kept a straight face, not afraid of Ruan's father at all, while Ruan's father's expression grew increasingly unpleasant. After a moment of silence, he finally squatted down.
The next moment, Mr. Ruan slapped him across the face: "So, you really think the Ruan family is afraid of you, huh?"
"Then it seems you don't know the situation of the Luo family back then. Do you know why their scandals weren't exposed? It was indeed us who suppressed them."
“At that time, Luo Yuming’s mother was seriously ill and lying in bed. She really couldn’t say anything. But as long as the competitors investigated, the events of that year would be the best target to attack the Luo family.”
"In order to resolve this matter, the Luo family completely tied them to the Ruan family's side, willing to live off the Ruan family's business. That's why I stepped in to help."
"However, at that time, Luo Zhihong and Ruan Qingan had a fairly good relationship. In the end, Ruan Qingan handled the implementation of this matter, and she handled it very well."
Upon hearing Ruan's father mention Ruan Qing'an's name, Cheng Yue's eyes widened suddenly, and he looked up, staring intently at Ruan's father.
The middle-aged man's face was so vicious it was almost distorted, and he continued, "Later, the news of Luo Yuming's mother's death did not cause any stir, and even Luo Yuming himself did not know about it."
"The Luo family stopped his mother's life-sustaining medication. I heard that one night, the woman died in agony. This doesn't even qualify as murder. This is what happens when you can't pay the medical bills."
With each word spoken by Ruan's father, Cheng Yue's hatred grew deeper and deeper. He had personally witnessed Luo Yuming's pain when he learned of this matter, and he had also watched Luo Yuming get to where he was today.
Cheng Yue even knew that, judging from the last incident, Luo Yuming had even developed feelings for Ruan Qing'an...
The more Cheng Yue thought about it, the more he felt an urge to rush forward and tear Ruan's father apart alive, while Ruan's father looked at him with a mocking expression.
Just as Mr. Ruan was about to continue his threats, a noise came from the basement door behind him, and the servants guarding outside cautiously ran over.
"Sir, the second young lady is back."
"she?"
Mr. Ruan snorted coldly, glanced at Cheng Yue, and then left the basement.
At that moment, Ruan Qing'an was standing in the living room, with Mo Hong beside her. When she saw her father come out, she immediately said, "Dad, let that person go!"
"That person? It seems he has some connection with you. But Ruan Ruan, you need to think carefully. You are a member of the Ruan family. Don't side with outsiders."
“Before being a member of the Ruan family, I must first be a human being, but to you, Father, it seems I am not even worthy of being a human being.”
"This is utterly outrageous!"
Mr. Ruan's face was grim. All the servants were watching, yet he was being insulted by his own daughter.
He rushed forward, intending to slap Ruan Qing'an, but Mo Hong stepped forward and separated Ruan's father and Ruan Qing'an.
The elderly butler, still vigorous and with a booming voice, said, "Sir, please don't forget, Miss is also a member of the Han family!"
Mr. Ruan stood frozen in place, his face cold and his anger stuck between his teeth: "The Han family? The Han family can't interfere in the affairs of my Ruan family. Ruan Qing'an will always bear the surname Ruan."
"Do you think I want you as my father?"
"you!"
Mr. Ruan was furious until his gaze fell on the contract in Ruan Qing'an's hand: "What's going on with this?"
Ruan Qingan frowned and subconsciously put his hands behind his back: "Of course it's a contract, what's it to you?"
"Did you sign it?"
"Anyway, it's better than what your beloved Ruan Tiantian did."
Mr. Ruan's anger intensified, but then, as if struck by a sudden thought, his expression changed. He said abruptly, "Give me that contract, and I'll hand the person over to you."
As soon as these words were spoken, not only could Ruan Qing'an hear them even if she were in outer space, but her father's scheme was so well-thought-out that she could hear it too!
Mo Hong's expression was also not good, but after all, he was just a butler. Even if he was senior enough, he still couldn't stop it.
The atmosphere in the living room was tense. Ruan Qing'an's face was cold. They still needed to wait with the Han family, but if they dragged it out any longer, who knew what Ruan's father would do to Cheng Yue?
Luo Yuming had almost nothing left, and Cheng Yue was one of his few remaining friends.
Ruan Qing'an took a deep breath, and under her father's expectant gaze, she finally said, "Okay, release them."
"Miss, please reconsider! You worked so hard to sign this contract!"
Regardless of Mo Hong's attempts to dissuade him, Ruan Qing'an simply stared at his father and repeated, "Release that person, have Grandpa Mo send him away, and I'll give you the contract."
...
A moment later, Cheng Yue was finally dragged out of the basement by the servants. Seeing his pitiful and disheveled appearance, Ruan Qing'an quickly stepped forward to help him up.
"Are you alright? I'll have someone take you home right away."
Seeing that it was Ruan Qing'an, Cheng Yue remembered what Ruan's father had said and pushed her away: "Get out! I don't need your pretense. I already told Brother Luo that a woman like you is extremely hypocritical!"
Ruan Qing'an's expression darkened slightly, but with so many people around, her leaden eyes turned colder. She wasn't in a hurry to say anything, but instead turned to look at Mo Hong: "Thank you for your trouble, Grandpa Mo."
"Don't worry, Miss."
Mo Hong stepped forward and stopped Cheng Yue, leading him towards the door. Even after they were outside, Cheng Yue's eyes still held only anger and hatred as he looked at Ruan Qing'an.
Ruan Qing'an simply watched in silence, offering no explanation.
037: [Even the original owner of this body didn't know about this. In the original story, Ruan's father concealed all information, only instructing the original owner to carry it out. She didn't even know what had happened!]
[My goodness!!! What are you doing? If you let him say whatever he wants, the male lead will hate you to death!]
"...I know. Looking at Cheng Yue's appearance, I know that something must have gotten to me, but it was bound to turn out like this sooner or later."
Ruan Qing'an's leaden eyes held only scrutiny, devoid of even the slightest emotional fluctuation. She was like a cold, mechanical machine, assessing everything that was happening, completely unconcerned about her own fate.
037 didn't dare to speak, leaving only Ruan Qing'an's voice in her mind replying: "As Luo Yuming's affection grows, the conflicts caused by the original owner's previous bullying of him will definitely erupt."
"Moreover, if things continue to be so calm, it will be difficult for Luo Yuming's affection level to increase."
Love, ah, it requires struggle, it requires pain, it requires grandeur, it requires sleepless nights, before it can reach its peak...
Ruan Qingan calmly made the definition, like a machine.
Only after Cheng Yue's figure was out of sight did she turn around and silently hand the contract to Ruan's father.
When Mr. Ruan saw William's signature on the contract, he beamed with joy, and even his gaze toward Ruan Qing'an softened with affection.
"Ruan Ruan is such a good girl, that's how you know how to behave. You have the Han family behind you anyway, while your sister has nothing. You should definitely give way to her, right?"
“Perfect, let’s consider that 12% stake as compensation for Sweetie not being able to return to her ancestral home all these years.”
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