Chapter 8 : Help

After being released from prison, Bai Ruoxi continued to sit quietly in Qiao Xuanshuo's car. She didn't want to annoy him, so she tried to speak as little as possible. Bai Ruoxi rested her head against the car window, staring blankly at the bustling streets outside, basking in the bright sunlight. Her heart felt like it had fallen into a bottomless abyss, sinking deeper and deeper. The car seemed to be driving aimlessly, and time felt like it had passed for a century. Bai Ruoxi felt so uncomfortable that she thought she was going crazy, and finally spoke up slowly, "Third Brother, are we not going back to the Qiao family?" "Are you in a hurry to go back?" Qiao Xuanshuo asked coldly. "Yes." Bai Ruoxi replied casually because she didn't have the strength to speak. Qiao Xuanshuo gripped the steering wheel tighter, his veins bulging, his eyes darkening. Silence fell between the two again. Bai Ruoxi lifted her head and leaned against the back of the seat, tilting her head to look at Qiao Xuanshuo's resolute profile. He was so exquisite that it was impossible for anyone to resist falling for him. "Third Brother, are you getting married next month?" "Yes." Qiao Xuanshuo replied in a faint tone. "Will you invite me to be your bridesmaid?" Bai Ruoxi asked, her throat starting to feel hot, tears threatening to overwhelm her. Qiao Xuanshuo replied firmly, "No." Bai Ruoxi forced a bitter smile. It was probably for the best. She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to hold back her tears at their wedding. "It's okay if you don't invite me, but I still want to give you a gift to bless you. What does Third Brother want the most?" Qiao Xuanshuo honked the horn impatiently, startling Bai Ruoxi. She noticed a couple riding a motorcycle slowly in the middle of the road. The motorcycle moved aside, but Bai Ruoxi could clearly feel the inexplicable anger emanating from Qiao Xuanshuo. After a moment, he answered her question with a hint of anger in his voice, "What I want, you can't afford." With just that sentence, Bai Ruoxi was rendered speechless. She was just an ordinary white-collar worker, and it was already good enough that her monthly salary could support herself. She didn't have the face to ask a wealthy person like him what gift he wanted. She fell silent. His anger continued to burn, and his expression became even more unpleasant. The car sped down the road, this time with a clear direction towards the Qiao family. They arrived at the Qiao family's mansion in the evening. Qiao Xuanshuo's car stopped on the driveway in front of the villa, and Bai Ruoxi got out of the car and took a few steps before seeing Yin Rui. Yin Rui was elegantly dressed, sweet and beautiful like a princess. Yin Rui smiled and walked towards Bai Ruoxi. Bai Ruoxi forced a smile and replied, "Yes." Yin Rui walked past Bai Ruoxi without any surprise since they often saw each other. "Ruoxi, you're here too!" Yin Rui greeted Bai Ruoxi. Bai Ruoxi smiled reluctantly and replied, "Yes." Yin Rui walked straight past Bai Ruoxi. Just as Qiao Xuanshuo closed the car door, Yin Rui suddenly rushed towards him, hugging his waist and burying her head in his chest, speaking in a coquettish tone, "Xuanshuo, you're finally back." Bai Ruoxi turned her head to take a glance at them, but immediately regretted it and quickly walked away. Every step she took seemed to be accompanied by the sound of her heart breaking. Qiao Xuanshuo furrowed his brows and stared at the woman hugging him, his eyes growing colder. "Had enough?" Yin Rui quickly let go of him and took a step back. She looked around and noticed that Bai Ruoxi had already left. Embarrassed, she brushed her hair behind her ear and said, "We haven't seen each other for so long, so I got too excited." Qiao Xuanshuo remained silent and walked past Yin Rui indifferently. Yin Rui hurriedly called out to him, "Xuanshuo, do you still remember your promise?" Qiao Xuanshuo stopped, his broad back facing Yin Rui. Yin Rui continued, "You promised me that if we were still unmarried by the age of thirty, you would marry me. I almost lost my life trying to save you. Although we are just good friends, our families hope that we can be together. It would be beneficial for both of our family businesses..." Qiao Xuanshuo interrupted firmly, "I keep my word, there's no need for you to remind me." Yin Rui smiled faintly, "Your second aunt just passed away not long ago, so we can't have a grand wedding. We can just go get a marriage certificate. I don't mind if there's no wedding ceremony." "The time hasn't come yet." Qiao Xuanshuo left behind these words coldly and walked towards the villa with steady steps. Yin Rui froze for a moment, clenched her fists, and pressed her diamond-colored nails into her palm. Her face darkened. - Bai Ruoxi returned to her room in a daze, feeling restless. She sat on the edge of her bed alone, her mind in turmoil. Perhaps her tears had already dried up. Or perhaps she had long been mentally prepared. Her mind was blank, she didn't think about anything, and she just sat there in a daze. "Knock, knock..." Someone knocked on the door, and it was only the second knock that snapped Bai Ruoxi out of her daze. She hurriedly walked over to open the door, and she was greeted by Yin Rui's happy face. Yin Rui had a smile on her face and said, "Ruoxi, I need your help." "Come in and have a seat." Bai Ruoxi opened the door wider to let her in, forcing a smile. "What do you need my help with?" Yin Rui sat on Bai Ruoxi's bed, her excitement evident. "Ruoxi, help me think of a suitable place for our honeymoon. Xuanshuo and I don't plan to have a wedding banquet, but we still want to go on a honeymoon and take some wedding photos." Bai Ruoxi was taken aback, and the door closed halfway, leaving her frozen in place, unable to move. "I'll be moving in with you next month, and then we'll be a family." Bai Ruoxi took a deep breath and slowly closed the door tightly. At that moment, she felt like she couldn't breathe, but she pretended not to care. She turned around and walked towards Yin Rui, forcing a smile. "You should discuss the honeymoon destination with Third Brother." Yin Rui happily said, "He told me to decide." Bai Ruoxi sat down next to Yin Rui, her hands supporting the bed, and looked down at the floor as she whispered, "Then it's good that you decide. I don't know anything about these things." Yin Rui touched Bai Ruoxi's shoulder, feeling guilty as she asked, "Ruoxi, we've been dating for many years without telling you. Will you blame me?" Bai Ruoxi forced a bitter smile, shook her head, and let her hair fall to cover her sad face. "Do you still like Third Brother now?" Yin Rui asked cautiously. Bai Ruoxi closed her eyes slowly and said insincerely, "I stopped liking him a long time ago." Yin Rui touched Bai Ruoxi's hand, speaking with a guilty tone, "I'm sorry, Ruoxi. Love is uncontrollable. Your Third Brother pursued me for many years, and I know you've liked him since you were young. That's why I rejected him many times, but he was too persistent in his love. I couldn't do anything about it." Bai Ruoxi looked up, brushed her hair behind her ear, and forced a stiff smile that seemed cheerful. She comforted Yin Rui, "Silly girl, why are you apologizing to me? I don't blame you. There are countless girls who have a crush on him. Don't take it too seriously. I'm nothing in Third Brother's eyes. Love is a mutual thing, there's no first come, first served. I really have let go now." To conceal her inner turmoil and to make Yin Rui feel less guilty, Bai Ruoxi casually made up a reason, "I have someone I really like now. Men like Third Brother, who are always away, risking their lives for the country and constantly facing danger, make me feel very insecure. I really don't like him anymore, so you don't have to worry about my feelings. I sincerely wish you both happiness." "Is it true?" Yin Rui asked uncertainly. Bai Ruoxi nodded guiltily, avoiding her gaze. "Hmm!" "Then who is the man you like?" "Not yet, I'll tell you when it happens." Yin Rui playfully nudged her shoulder. "How is it possible that it won't happen? Look at your devilish figure and angelic face, I refuse to believe that there's a man who wouldn't be attracted to you."