Chapter 36 Moment of weakness

Lin Ruoxi untied her bunned-up hair and let the soft and smooth hair fall on her incomparably beautiful and tender face. However, on that beautiful face was a pale and exhausted expression that aroused pity for her.


Watching Yang Chen enter, Lin Ruoxi raised her head with complicated emotions; she did not ask how Yang Chen handled Lin Kun and instead showed a smile of self-ridicule. 


"I am sorry. Even though I already told you about him, I didn't tell you he was that bad. And please don't pity me?"


Yang Chen shook his head, and it was like a habit to him. He just patted her head and told her what he truly felt.


"I know that you are strong. No one dares to do many things you do. So I am not pitying you."


Lin Ruoxi heard that, and she felt warm in her heart. She didn't refuse his head-patting either, because it made her feel loved and cared for. It was a small gesture, but it meant a lot to her at that moment. 


She realized that, despite his tough exterior, Yang Chen truly understood and appreciated her strength.


"You seemed to know me more than I knew you."


Lin Ruoxi then realized that she really didn't know anything about Yang Chen except for general information. He also didn't want her to check his background because it might bring her harm.


Lin Ruoxi tried not to think about it, but she really wanted to know.


"If you want to know more about me, You don't have to run a background check on me. You can just ask, and I will tell you something that I can. I promised that you will know me more than anyone else."


"Really?"


"Absolutely."


"Then can you tell me more about yourself?"


Yang Chen smiled and then began to speak about his experience since he was a kid. Lin Ruoxi listened intently, captivated by his tales, and became sad when she knew that his life as a kid was full of agony and hardship.


Yang Chen left many details about him being a mercenary. Or the god of death, because the information might be too much for her.


Lin Ruoxi was actually crying, and she looked down on the ground. Compared to him, her life could be considered heaven. And she made it seem like the whole world around her was crumbling.


She couldn't fathom the pain and suffering Yang Chen had endured, and it made her appreciate her own privileged upbringing even more. 


"I didn't tell you my past so that you would cry like this silly girl. Come here."


Yang Chen smiled, and then he opened his arm widely. Lin Ruoxi didn't think and just hugged him to seek comfort. She buried her face in his chest, feeling the warmth and security that his embrace provided.


At that moment, she felt like she had turned back to being a little girl again. And Yang Chen didn't show any signs of letting go. He held her tightly, whispering soothing words into her ear, assuring her that everything would be alright. 


Lin Ruoxi found solace in his embrace, grateful for his presence in her life.


"And Ruoxi, do you have something to tell me? I could tell that there was something that was disturbing you, and it must be because of your father." 


Yang Chen gently asked. He could tell that it wasn't about marriage.


Lin Ruoxi didn't have to think much, as she began to trust Yang Chen when he told her about his past. She could tell that it was all true from his expression and eyes.


They said that eyes were the window to the soul, and in that moment, Lin Ruoxi saw the sincerity and honesty in Yang Chen's eyes. She took a deep breath, gathering her courage, and finally confessed, 


“My father holds 30% of the company’s stocks and is a major shareholder, second only to me, but this isn’t the main point; after all, before my grandmother passed away, she handed 60% of the stocks over to me. I have absolute control over the company. However, in my father’s hands, there is the ownership of an old villa.”


“Is that old villa important to you?” 


Yang Chen asked.


“Extremely important.” 


Lin Ruoxi’s eyes revealed an expression of beautiful reminiscence.


“In my childhood, there was only my grandmother and mother to accompany me; I grew up there. My mom and dad’s marriage was merely for money and profit; my dad didn’t love my mom; he is a playboy; up until now, he is still the same.


After saying all this, Lin Ruoxi’s eyes showed traces of loathing.


“Although he is never at home from day to night, he is still the owner of the house. Naturally, when my grandmother passed away, he never allowed me to return, and because he lives a life of debauchery, his finances are nearly depleted, and he’s preparing to sell off the villa.”


"So, he must use the old villa as a hostage and force you to marry Xu Zhihong of the Xu family. Am I correct?"


"Yes"


Lin Ruoxi sighed, feeling trapped and helpless.


“The Xu family’s Xu Zhihong has always been pestering me, but I’m not willing to go against the Xu family; after all, the Xu family is one of the top five strongest families in Zhong Hai; we can’t afford to offend them, therefore... I have to be married to get the higher ground. As for the old villa, I will try to buy it from him."


Yang Chen could only shake his head. It looked like keeping him alive was a bad choice, but he had another plan for that man.