Chapter 17: Gu Jinzhou Wearing a Stacked Watch and a Pink Hair Tie

Su Ruanruan looked as if she had been pulled from the water, her eyelashes trembling with tiny, glistening tears. Her fair, delicate body was covered in countless love marks.

She seemed like a little fairy, hidden away in a dragon’s cave, indulged endlessly. Originally, the fairy was meant to descend to the mortal realm to save the fallen, evil dragon, but unexpectedly, she was trapped in the cave, subjected to his wild, filthy passion.

Gu Jinzhou, who was usually frugal and careful, never mistreated Ruanruan. It was just that her fair and soft skin was too delicate; even a hair tie worn around her wrist left a faint mark. So every time they went out, the pink hair tie would be worn on Gu Jinzhou’s wrist instead.

On the day Gu Jinzhou went abroad to study, Ruanruan accompanied him to the airport. Seeing the pink hair tie on his wrist, the usually strong little girl’s eyes reddened, and tears silently fell.

During those years overseas, Gu Jinzhou habitually wore a pink hair tie alongside his watch. This was a habit he developed for Su Ruanruan, one he had no intention of breaking—and he had no plans to give up on Ruanruan either.

Driving home, they passed a bubble tea shop. Gu Jinzhou got out, queued up, and bought her a cup of pearl milk tea.

The man’s refined demeanor and handsome features attracted whispers from the girls watching. When they saw the pink hair tie paired with his Patek Philippe watch, their whispers turned to sighs—this man was taken.

The sobbing, beautiful Su Baobei took a sip of her milk tea, her face lighting up with a warm smile as she softly said, “Gu Jinzhou, you’re so good to me.”

Gu Jinzhou replied, “I like it better when you praise me in bed.”

Su Ruanruan shot back, “You pervert!”

Words she had held back before were finally spoken out loud!

—

Back at the Gu residence, the maid informed Su Ruanruan that Xia Xinyou had brought many friends over to visit.

Ruanruan was happily sipping her milk tea and was caught off guard by the news, her joy dimming slightly.

“Is she crazy? Seems like the shock she got this morning wasn’t enough.”

Gu Jinzhou asked, “What shock?”

“That’s girl stuff, it doesn’t concern you.”

She handed the remaining milk tea to Gu Jinzhou, then took the red Mini Kelly bag from his hand, perfectly embodying the poise of a wealthy young lady.

As she entered the lively flower hall, the noise abruptly fell silent.

No one greeted her; she felt like an unwelcome guest.

These privileged young ladies envied her treatment at the Gu family but looked down on her status as an adopted daughter.

They wanted to befriend her yet stubbornly maintained an air of superiority.

Very well.

If they all chose to remain silent, so would she.

Su Ruanruan picked up a watering can and gently watered her beloved lily of the valley. Her dark hair brushed against her snowy white cheek, her aura exuding an indescribable elegance and purity.

Xia Xinyou’s eyes burned with envy.

Damn it!

—

Su Ruanruan, the kind of “green tea” princess who was clearly skilled at charming men but pretended to be pure and aloof, was the most irritating.

Xia Xinyou’s patience had run out. She couldn’t confront Su Ruanruan directly about Gu Jinzhou—what if Ruanruan flatly denied everything?

With a radiant smile, Xia Xinyou said, “Ruanruan, it’s been so long since we’ve seen you. We want to play a game together.”

“Yes, Ruanruan. We haven’t gathered in a while.”

“We’ve waited so long. You wouldn’t be so heartless as to refuse us, would you?”

“Ruanruan is kind-hearted; she won’t say no.”

Su Ruanruan asked, “What game?”

Xia Xinyou eagerly replied, “King’s Game! It’s a simple card game. Whoever draws the joker can punish others. Since there are eight of us, this game fits perfectly!”

“Oh,” Su Ruanruan said.

“Don’t just say oh. Will you play or not?” Xia Xinyou pressed.

“Fine, I’ll play.”

Xia Xinyou pulled out a deck of cards from her bag. Su Ruanruan quickly objected, “This deck looks old.” She asked the maid to bring a new deck.

Xia Xinyou curled her lips. She had come prepared tonight; switching decks wouldn’t ruin her prank.

The King’s Game began.

On the table lay the Ace through Six of Hearts, plus a joker. Everyone reached out and drew a card.

Xia Xinyou excitedly announced, “I got the joker! Who has the Ace of Hearts?”

A red-haired girl raised her hand, “I’m the Ace of Hearts.”

Seeing it was an ally, Xia Xinyou lost interest: “Sing a song.”

The red-haired girl sang a love song and returned to her seat.

After several rounds, Xia Xinyou drew the joker again. “Who has the Four of Hearts?”

Unluckily, Su Ruanruan raised her hand.

Xia Xinyou’s eyes gleamed: “Do you have a boyfriend? What kind of man do you like? Who did you give your first night to?”

The room fell silent in shock.

No one expected Xia Xinyou to be so bold.

Su Ruanruan calmly replied, “You asked three questions. Which one do you want me to answer?”

“All of them!”

“Why must I answer all?”

Seeing Su Ruanruan was stalling, Xia Xinyou bluntly said, “Because whoever gets the joker can punish anyone however they want!”

—

Su Ruanruan thought for a moment, then said, “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“I like someone like Jinzhou.”

“As for my first night, naturally, it’s for the person I love.”

Everyone was stunned again.

So she really did like Gu Jinzhou. Xia Xinyou hadn’t lied.

Several heiresses who dreamed of marrying Gu Jinzhou couldn’t sit still and began to chide her.

“Su Ruanruan, how can you like Gu Jinzhou?”

“You’re only his adopted daughter. Do you think you’re worthy?”

“Can you really be a support to Gu Jinzhou?”

“Have you ever heard of ‘matching social status’?”

“If you truly love Gu Jinzhou, you should hope he marries someone equal in strength.”

“Imagine how disgusting your future sister-in-law would feel if she knew your little secret.”

Su Ruanruan smiled sweetly, “I didn’t expect you’d all be so worried for me. Yes, once he has a wife, what if Jinzhou stops caring for me? So I’ve decided to be the sister-in-law myself!”

Some dropped their chairs.

Some spat out their tea.

Only Xia Xinyou remained composed, having already suffered a heavy blow.

Her feelings were complicated. The fact that Su Ruanruan dared to voice her feelings openly proved Gu Jinzhou tacitly accepted her rebellion. He spoiled Su Ruanruan too much—whatever she wanted, he gave, including love.

Everyone was thunderstruck. The King’s Game was paused.

—

With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Gu Fengyan’s mother had made some mooncakes and asked him to bring them to the old mansion for everyone to try.

Seeing Gu Jinzhou, Gu Fengyan asked why he was admiring the moon alone and where Ruanruan was.

“She’s entertaining guests,” Gu Jinzhou replied.

Gu Fengyan lifted the food box in his hand, his warm voice carried by the gentle breeze, “These mooncakes were handmade by my mother. Want to try? Don’t eat the snow-skin ones; my mother specially made those for Ruanruan.”

“Maybe tomorrow. I had a big late-night meal tonight,” Gu Jinzhou answered.

When did he start having late-night meals? Perhaps it was a new habit. Gu Fengyan didn’t ask further.

“Third Brother, is there something else?”

Gu Fengyan’s ears flushed as the refined, elegant man stammered, “Jinzhou, I—I want to ask you something. If you don’t use protection during… that, how likely is it to cause pregnancy?”