Chapter 59: Lin Xiyue, covered in wounds, lay inside Qi Siyan's suite.

Emperor's Seal.

Su Ruanruan found room 1888 and pushed the door open, immediately hit by a strong scent of raw desire.

It was unmistakably familiar.

“Xiyue, are you in there?”

“...I’m here...”

If it weren’t for her friends and family being too afraid to lend her money, she wouldn’t have troubled Su Ruanruan, whom she had known for less than a month.

Su Ruanruan turned on the light and saw a woman wrapped in a bedsheet, covered in bruises. The blue and purple marks weren’t from a mere beating—they were the cruel imprints of someone forcing themselves upon her while pinning her to the bed.

Lin Xiyue’s lips were tinged with blue, her pale complexion making her cold, clear eyes resemble a white rose on the verge of withering.

“Xiyue, who did this to you? I’m taking you to the hospital!”

“I’m fine... Teacher Su, can you take me home? It hurts too much to move.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hospital?”

“Yes, I just want to go home.”

Her black-and-white server uniform was torn to shreds, scattered across the floor—animalistic and lecherous.

Ruanruan contacted the VIP department manager to have a set of women’s clothes sent over.

Then she helped Lin Xiyue leave the messy presidential suite.

Gu Jinzhou stood at the door, glancing at the room number.

This suite belonged to Qi Siyuan.

Lin Xiyue’s home was in an old neighborhood. Though somewhat worn, it was tidy and cozy.

“Teacher Su, thank you. I’m really sorry to trouble you today.”

“No trouble at all. Sometimes I wish someone would lend me a hand when I’m at my lowest.”

“Thank you so much, Teacher Su. You should head back and rest—the gentleman waiting outside seems impatient.”

“Alright, call me if you need anything.”

After Gu Jinzhou and Su Ruanruan left, Lin Xiyue forced herself to take a shower, washing away the remaining filth.

Her slender, pale body bore no patch of unblemished skin.

Countless marks covered her like a locust swarm, as if she hadn’t eaten well in ages.

She slowly moved to the bed, recalling Qi Siyuan’s conversation with Su Lan’er. She did not regret making a deal with Qi Siyuan—she simply did not want Su Lan’er to have everything her way.

Just as she was about to fall asleep, her phone rang, jolting her awake.

A dark, cold male voice whispered cruelly and sinisterly as if right by her ear, “Be at room 1888 tomorrow night at eight.”

Lin Xiyue curled under the covers, her body trembling, lips uttering two hateful words, “Beast!”

---

The bathtub was filled with rose petals, a top-tier handsome butler attending her every need.

Su Ruanruan felt this was not just the treatment of a queen, but that of an empress dowager!

After Gu Jinzhou had pampered her with two luxurious baths, he carried her back to the large bedroom.

Her fair skin bore only a few faint red marks, like rose petals fallen in a holy Eden—beautiful and decadent, kissed so delicately.

“Gu Jinzhou, you seem especially gentle tonight.”

“Hm.”

He held the fragrant little woman tenderly, not too tight, creating a warm yet binding embrace.

“Have you had a guilty conscience?”

“Baby, I’m not just your man, I’m also your Brother Jinzhou.”

“...When we’re doing that kind of thing, please just be my man, not my Brother Jinzhou.”

Ruanruan, a somewhat conservative little princess, felt intense guilt. She would never call him Brother Jinzhou in bed—otherwise her soul might just fly away from the pleasure.

The man’s strong, defined jaw rested atop her head, his warm breath fanning her neck and Adam’s apple. His narrow, intoxicated phoenix-like eyes half-closed.

“Ah!”

Su Ruanruan kicked his leg lightly with her fair feet, using the momentum to leap up. Her shimmering, slightly swollen red lips and flushed cheeks pressed close to Gu Jinzhou’s face as she said, “We can’t sleep yet, wake up! We haven’t set off fireworks.”

Gu Jinzhou’s waist and abdomen tightened, his tall, lean body bristling with restrained energy.

“Good baby, how about we do the fireworks tomorrow? It’s already eleven. You should get some rest.”

“Then I’ll go play by myself.”

“I’ll go with you.”

Both spoiled and capricious—she was truly spoiled rotten by someone.

They got dressed and went to the storage room outside to find leftover fireworks from the New Year.

They had work the next day and really shouldn’t be playing with fireworks so late, but Ruanruan was eager, unable to wait a moment longer.

This inexplicable feeling was like rushing to make up for regrets from a past life.

When Gu Jinzhou found the half-box of sparklers leftover from the New Year, Ruanruan felt a settled sense of peace.

After playing with five or six sparklers, she felt a little sleepy.

Gu Jinzhou carried her back to the bedroom and encountered Aunt Liu, who had gotten up during the night.

Aunt Liu: “Young miss, having nightmares and can’t sleep again?”

Gu Jinzhou: “No, she just hasn’t played with sparklers in a long time and misses it a bit.”

Aunt Liu thought to herself, it’s only been a little over half a year—not that long.

It must be that the young miss was unhappy living at the Su family’s house, making the days drag on endlessly, which is why she missed those old times so much.

---

On set.

Lin Xiyue forced herself to work, her already frail body as thin as paper.

Su Ruanruan feared a gust of wind might blow her apart.

“Xiyue, if you don’t feel well, you can rest in my car.”

“Teacher Su, I’m fine. You should go back and take a nap.”

Lin Xiyue curled up in a small soft chair, dozing off.

Su Ruanruan brought some afternoon tea from the crew and placed it beside Lin Xiyue.

Strawberry cake from Lianglan chain store, signature milk tea from Mo’er’s, and a bucket of Dove chocolates.

This wasn’t the crew’s own preparation, but probably gifts from various sponsors.

When Ruanruan tried to return to her car to rest, Su Lan’er’s assistant blocked her way arrogantly.

“Come with me to the makeup room, I have something to ask you.”

The elusive Leng Ming suddenly appeared beside the assistant, towering over her, coldly threatening, “Can’t you speak properly? I can help you cut out your tongue.”

The assistant was so frightened she stumbled backward, pale-faced.

Su Ruanruan didn’t want to face that hypocritical pair but feared they might be plotting something.

“Alright, I’ll go with you.”

Inside the private makeup room.

On Su Lan’er’s dressing table sat a 16-inch strawberry cake, a slice cut and offered to Su Ruanruan.

Ruanruan didn’t accept it. “I already got a small cake from the crew. If you called me here just to give me a piece of cake, that’s unnecessary.”

Her beautifully proper smile couldn’t hide the innate aloof nobility in her tone.

Su Lan’er held the small cake, her smile dimming slightly. Ruanruan’s calm and unassuming words made her seem petty, deliberately flaunting her special treatment.

Su Shengyao standing nearby quickly said, “Ruanruan, this strawberry cake is something I personally brought for you.”

Su Lan’er’s eyelid twitched—so the cake wasn’t for her?

Well, Su Ruanruan had helped the Su family greatly, so it was only right to give her a gift. It would be stingy if big brother only brought a cake.

Su Lan’er said, “Ruanruan, thank you for helping the family through the crisis. I have a very beautiful black handbag in my collection; I’ll bring it to you tomorrow.”

Though reluctant to part with her treasured item, thinking that the sapphire necklace their parents bought for her would arrive at home today made it a little easier to let go.