บท 24: Young Master Jiang A Stalker
Feng Ruoxi woke up the next morning, her body aching from the previous night's events. The dull throb in her shoulder was a constant reminder of the sacrifice she had made, and the stack of casino documents on her desk weighed heavily on her mind.
As she carefully tended to her wound, applying a new bandage, Feng Ruoxi couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The decisions she had made, the lives she had taken – they all left a bitter taste in her mouth. She had vowed to never again become the deadly weapon she had been as Bai Yunshu, but circumstances had forced her hand.
Dressed in her school uniform, Feng Ruoxi made her way downstairs to the dining room, where the Feng family was gathered for breakfast. The moment she entered, her grandfather, Feng Zhengzhi, turned to her with a concerned expression.
"Feng Ruoxi, you really need to sort out your mess with the Golden Dragon," he said, his voice tinged with worry. "We can't afford to be on their bad side."
Feng Ruoxi raised an eyebrow, her gaze meeting her grandfather's. She could sense the underlying fear in his words, the desperate need to protect the family's interests. But deep down, she knew that his concern was not for her wellbeing.
"Grandfather, are you more concerned about my health or the potential disruption to the family's business?" she asked, her tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
Before Feng Zhengzhi could respond, her father, Feng Zhaoxuan, cut in. "Feng Ruoxi, why did you even go around fighting with men on the streets?" he demanded, his voice heavy with disappointment. "You're already betrothed to the Jiang family. How do you think they'll take the news?"
Feng Ruoxi rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. The mere mention of the arranged marriage with Jiang Yukang stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within her. She had never asked for this, never wanted to be tied to a man she barely knew.
"Father, that's my concern, not yours," she retorted, her words sharp and unforgiving. "I never asked to be betrothed to that man anyway. He can take Feng Meiling for all I care."
Her aunt, Zhang Lihua, shook her head disapprovingly. "That doesn't mean you can just go out and act like some stupid hero," she scolded, her tone dripping with disdain.
Feng Guiren, Feng Ruoxi's uncle, chimed in, his voice laced with warning. "Just know that we won't protect you when they come for you."
Feng Ruoxi scoffed, her gaze unwavering. "I don't need your protection," she said, her words firm and unyielding. Deep down, she knew that she was far more capable of protecting herself than this family could ever be.
Feng Airi, Feng Ruoxi's younger cousin, spoke up, her tone dripping with disdain. "More reason I won't even consider riding with you to school," she sneered.
Feng Ruoxi's lips curled into a sardonic smile, her heart heavy with the weight of her family's disapproval. "I never wanted to ride with you anyway," she retorted, grabbing her backpack and leaving the dining room.
Feng Zhengzhi shook his head, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What is wrong with this girl? She's no longer the meek Feng Ruoxi we know," he murmured, his voice laced with a hint of concern.
Feng Zhaoxuan let out a frustrated sigh. "I don't know, Father, but I need to have a serious talk with her about her behavior before she gets into deeper trouble," he said, his expression grim.
As Feng Ruoxi made her way to the villa's gates, she couldn't help but feel a sense of isolation. This family, the very people she was supposed to belong to, saw her as nothing more than a burden, a disgrace to their name. The ache in her shoulder was a physical manifestation of the emotional turmoil that threatened to consume her.
Just as she was about to hail a cab, a sleek black car pulled up, and the window rolled down to reveal Jiang Yukang behind the wheel. Feng Ruoxi felt a conflicting mix of emotions – a twinge of annoyance at his persistent presence, but also a glimmer of curiosity that she couldn't quite explain.
"Need a ride?" Jiang Yukang asked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Feng Ruoxi rolled her eyes, but she couldn't deny the small part of her that was relieved to have the opportunity to escape her family, if only for a moment. "Once is a coincidence, but the second time... I'm beginning to think you're stalking me, Young Master Jiang," she said, a touch of sarcasm in her voice.
Jiang Yukang chuckled, his gaze fixed on her. "Yes, I must admit that yesterday was a coincidence, but today I figured I should just drive you to school until you move in with me," he said, his tone matter-of-fact.
Feng Ruoxi frowned, her brow creasing with a mix of confusion and trepidation. "Move in?" she echoed, her voice laced with uncertainty.
Jiang Yukang nodded, his expression unwavering. "We're getting married, of course you'll have to come and live with me as my wife," he said, his words calm and confident.
Feng Ruoxi felt a surge of irritation, but beneath it, a twinge of fear. The idea of being tied to this man, of losing her newfound independence, filled her with dread. "I don't want this marriage," she retorted, her eyes narrowing in defiance.
Jiang Yukang's gaze remained steady, unperturbed by her rejection. "Do you have a choice?" he asked, his tone uncompromising.
Feng Ruoxi bit back a scathing reply, her mind racing. The thought of her cousins, the ones who had always looked down on her, suddenly vying for this opportunity filled her with a sense of bitter irony. "I have three cousins who would jump at this opportunity," she said, her voice laced with defiance.
Jiang Yukang's lips curved into a slight smile, his eyes holding a glimmer of understanding. "Yet I chose you," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of wonder.
Feng Ruoxi frowned, her curiosity piqued despite her better judgment. "Why?" she asked, her tone guarded, masking the vulnerability that threatened to surface.
Jiang Yukang's expression softened, and Feng Ruoxi couldn't help but feel a faint stirring of hope within her. "You're special, special in a way I can't quite describe," he said, his voice laced with sincerity.
Feng Ruoxi rolled her eyes, her skepticism evident, but deep down, a part of her yearned to believe his words. "Yeah, right," she scoffed, unwilling to let her guard down.
Jiang Yukang's smile widened, and Feng Ruoxi couldn't help but be struck by the genuine warmth in his gaze. "I'm a very good judge of character," he said, his tone matter-of-fact.
Feng Ruoxi raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "You know I'm the black sheep of the family, right?" she said, her words laced with a touch of bitterness.
Jiang Yukang nodded, his expression unperturbed. "Yes, I'm aware that's how they see you," he acknowledged, his voice gentle.
Feng Ruoxi paused, her heart racing. This man, this stranger, seemed to see her in a way no one else in her family did. "How do you see me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, the vulnerability she had tried to hide seeping through.
Jiang Yukang's gaze darkened, his expression sincere. "A young woman who will be by my side for the rest of our lives," he said, his words bold and unapologetic.
Feng Ruoxi felt a slight flush creep up her cheeks, and she quickly averted her gaze, overwhelmed by the intensity of his words. "Such bold words," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Jiang Yukang inclined his head, his expression unreadable. "I apologize for being blunt. It's who I am," he said, his tone matter-of-fact.
Feng Ruoxi nodded, her mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions. As the car pulled up to the school, Jiang Yukang reached out to gently touch her shoulder, but Feng Ruoxi winced in pain, the sudden movement aggravating her injury.
Jiang Yukang's brow furrowed with concern, and Feng Ruoxi could see the genuine worry in his eyes. "Sorry, I just wanted to tell you to have a great day," he said, his voice laced with a hint of worry.
Feng Ruoxi paused, her gaze meeting his. In that moment, she felt a strange connection, a sense of understanding that she couldn't quite explain. "Well, since you love being my chauffeur, pick me up after school. I want to go somewhere," she said, her tone nonchalant and calm.
Jiang Yukang's lips curved into a smile, and Feng Ruoxi couldn't help but feel a small warmth blossom within her. "Well, it's my driver who's driving, but I'll be here too," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Feng Ruoxi nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Cool," she said, then turned and headed towards the school, her mind still reeling from the unexpected encounter.
As Jiang Yukang watched her go, his gaze thoughtful, he couldn't help but wonder why she had winced in pain when he had touched her shoulder so gently. His mind raced with possible scenarios, and a hint of concern flickered in his eyes. He knew he had a way of finding out the truth.
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