Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: It's Over, Completely Over

Feng Yizhou stood in the elevator, his expression dark as if a storm were brewing, thunder rumbling beneath heavy clouds. He stared intently at Li Ruochu’s unconscious form, his eyes filled with a tangle of emotions—part suspicion, unable to determine whether this woman had truly fainted or was merely feigning. Yet beneath it all, there was a subtle trace of worry, for the accident had happened right in front of him.

After a brief hesitation, he spoke coldly to Jiang Mu, “Take her to the hospital.” His voice was low and icy, carrying the chill of the underworld, sending a shiver down one’s spine.

At the hospital, Jiang Mu hurried about, anxiously awaiting the doctor’s diagnosis. When he learned Li Ruochu had only fainted from low blood sugar, the burden in his heart finally eased, and he let out a long breath of relief. Turning to glance at Feng Yizhou, he saw that the man’s face was still dark and forbidding, as though it might rain at any moment.

Feng Yizhou stood with arms crossed by the window in the hospital corridor. Sunlight spilled over him, but it did nothing to dispel the cold aura that clung to his form. Jiang Mu cast a cautious glance his way, hardly daring to breathe, his legs trembling, unwilling to utter a single word.

Meanwhile, Li Ruochu slowly opened her eyes on the hospital bed. There was still a hint of confusion in her gaze, and the pungent smell of disinfectant assaulted her senses at once, making her wrinkle her brow.

“Secretary Li, you’re awake at last. The doctor says it’s low blood sugar—you haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’ll go buy you something right away.” Jiang Mu’s eyes flashed with relief upon seeing her awaken. As if grasping at a lifeline, he sprang to his feet, speaking as he hurried toward the door. In his haste, he nearly collided with a nearby chair, as if pursued by some monstrous flood, eager only to escape the awkwardness of the moment.

Li Ruochu, hearing Jiang Mu’s words, felt her muddled mind clear instantly. Scenes from just before she fainted flashed through her mind like lightning. Her eyes widened, the color draining from her face until she was pale as paper.

She cried out inwardly, Oh my God, did I just strip President Feng’s trousers?

The thought sent a chill through her scalp, as if her blood had frozen.

“Is Secretary Li still reminiscing?” A voice cold as winter suddenly rang out, sharp as a dagger, slicing through the silence of the room.

Li Ruochu’s body stiffened instantly, as if caught by a spell. She slowly turned her head to see Feng Yizhou standing by her bedside, his expression as grim as a demon from hell. His eyes were frosty, like the tip of a blade, threatening to split her in two.

“F-F-F...” Li Ruochu trembled, her teeth chattering, unable to say his name, stammering for ages without managing to get it out.

“Tongue-tied?” Feng Yizhou raised an eyebrow. He watched her terrified face, feeling his anger—once blazing—mysteriously cool somewhat.

Li Ruochu’s face flushed bright red, like a ripe tomato, desperate to find a hole to hide in. She moaned inwardly.

It’s over!

Completely over!

Last time, she’d already offended him by showing up improperly dressed—now she’d stripped his trousers. Was she truly courting disaster?

“President Feng... I—I swear, it was an accident, really, and I promise I’ll never speak of it to anyone, I swear!” Li Ruochu raised her hand in a flustered oath, holding up four fingers. Only then did she realize her mistake, quickly retracting one finger, her gesture both awkward and endearing.

Feng Yizhou, seeing her antics, found his anger halved once more.

“You stripped off my trousers, and I saved you—you owe me twice now, Secretary Li!” Feng Yizhou suddenly laughed, the sound echoing in the dim room, strangely unsettling.

Li Ruochu felt her scalp tingle at the sound. Sitting on the bed, her toes dug into the sheets in embarrassment, inwardly lamenting: He’s obviously laughing, but why does it feel so eerie?

“President Feng, please, just tell me what you want—if it’s within my power, I’ll do it, no matter what!” Her face was plastered with a fawning smile, her tone nearly sycophantic. Meanwhile, she cursed Shen Yubai silently. If not for him, she wouldn’t have ended up starving and fainting from low blood sugar, nor embroiled in such humiliating trouble.

“Requests? None come to mind for now. But when I do, don’t you dare renege, Secretary Li!” Feng Yizhou leaned back in his chair, his expression relaxed, his tone unfeeling.

Damn, that’s just unfair!

Li Ruochu’s heart sank, but her smile remained stiffly in place. She felt like a lamb awaiting slaughter, utterly at his mercy, powerless to resist.

Feng Yizhou noted her hesitation, raised his eyebrow and countered, “If it’s too much for you, we’ll forget it.”

“No, not at all, really, not one bit!” Li Ruochu waved her hands frantically, forcing a smile uglier than a grimace, her voice unintentionally rising.

How could she refuse? Feng Yizhou was a prominent, powerful figure in the industry. If he wished, he could erase her career with a flick of his finger, leaving her destitute.

As she forced a smile, her stomach growled loudly, the sound echoing conspicuously in the quiet room. She hadn’t eaten a thing, and if not for the glucose shot she’d received, she’d likely faint again.

Feng Yizhou heard her stomach and paused, the corner of his mouth curving ever so slightly. To him, Li Ruochu’s embarrassed yet adorable demeanor was truly amusing.

Shen Yubai, he thought, had failed to cherish such an interesting woman, creating nothing but chaos—what blindness.

A few minutes later, Jiang Mu hurried in, carrying a bag of steaming food. He immediately sensed the atmosphere was much calmer than before, and his anxiety eased.

He breathed a sigh of relief, smiling as he walked to Li Ruochu’s bedside. “Secretary Li, I brought you some light dishes—please eat something first.”

Then, carefully setting the meal on the bedside table, he turned respectfully to Feng Yizhou. “President Feng, Secretary Li’s condition reminded me—you can’t skip meals. You’ll have to make do today.”

Li Ruochu looked at the bland, watery dishes before her, then glanced at the sumptuous chicken leg near Feng Yizhou, its aroma mouthwatering. She couldn’t help but swallow.

Feng Yizhou caught her little gesture, his lips curling into a meaningful smile. He picked up his chopsticks and placed the tempting chicken leg in Li Ruochu’s bowl. “Secretary Li needs to eat more!”

Li Ruochu blinked in surprise, then looked up at Feng Yizhou, her eyes filled with gratitude.

President Feng is truly a good man!

“So skinny, you look like a mantis!”

Her elevated mood was instantly doused, as if with a bucket of cold water.

She cursed inwardly: Damn that mouth—serves you right for being greedy!