Chapter 31

Ruan Miao was caught in a dilemma. Logically, he didn't want to frame He Shangye or see the He family fall, as they had no grievance with him. However, he knew he wasn't in a position to persuade Zhou Yuancen to abandon her vendetta. Moreover, he was an impostor, having taken over someone else's life, so he felt a deep sense of guilt and was unable to voice many of his thoughts.

But… Ruan Miao didn't want to hurt anyone. He had been treated well by He Shangye and couldn't betray his conscience because of his guilt towards Zhou Yuancen. Moreover, these dirty deeds were not his doing, so why should he take the blame for Liang Rui?

"Give me the document, and I'll handle it," Ruan Miao said, deciding it was safer to keep it himself. To buy time and prevent Zhou Yuancen from acting impulsively, he used a delaying tactic. "But I really can't steal the seal. You know how cautious He Shangye is. It's nearly impossible for me to get close to him."

Seeing that Ruan Miao wasn't arguing further, Zhou Yuancen's expression softened. She released his arm and, noticing the bloodstains, began to fuss over him with a handkerchief. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

"It's okay," Ruan Miao said, watching her busying herself. He noticed her hair, which was now streaked with white despite being dyed black. Zhou Yuancen must be quite young, only in her early forties, younger than his own mother. Yet, she already had so much white hair, indicating a life filled with hardship.

He saw her slender, withered wrists, and felt a pang of sadness. Ruan Miao took her hand gently and said softly, "It really doesn't hurt."

"You… you must have been in pain all these years, haven't you?"

Ruan Miao didn't know how to comfort a woman who had endured so much. At seventeen, having lived a sheltered life until now, he had only begun to understand the hardships of life through people like Jian Fanyu and Zhou Yuancen. He realized how painful life could be.

He didn't know how to comfort Zhou Yuancen or how to address the pain of a woman who had lived through so much. So, he opened his arms and hugged her gently, trying to offer some warmth. "I… I can't tell you everything, and I'm sorry. But I promise I'll take good care of you in the future and ensure you live a comfortable life."

"Leave the future to me. I'll bear the responsibility."

"You can cry if you need to. It's okay for girls to cry."

He seemed to regard Zhou Yuancen as a girl, though she was forty. Yet, who doesn't want to be treated with care and respect, no matter their age?

Zhou Yuancen did cry, her frail hands clutching Ruan Miao's shoulders as she buried her face in his neck, sobbing uncontrollably. She didn't care about maintaining her composure or her makeup running.

She cried for her wasted life and the regrets over her ruined future.

Ruan Miao's eyes also burned with emotion as he felt Zhou Yuancen's thin body against his. Her frailty was palpable; she was likely only around eighty pounds.

Liang Rui was indeed a bastard, a scumbag.

_____

Zhou Yuancen cried on Ruan Miao's shoulder for a long time. This shoulder was still young and carried a faint childlike scent, but it gave her an inexplicable sense of courage and strength. Hearing him say with a slightly immature voice that he would bear the burden for her in the future, she felt a bit sad.

What future could there be? She had no future left.

After crying, Zhou Yuancen felt much better. She let go of Ruan Miao, wiped her tears, and softly said, "Don't make fun of mom."

"I won't." Ruan Miao hesitated for a moment, then pointed to his own face, "Your makeup is smudged."

Zhou Yuancen laughed, took out a mirror from her bag, and looked at herself, chuckling for a while despite her red and swollen eyes, "So ugly!"

Then she went to the bathroom in the private room to wash her face and started reapplying her makeup in front of Ruan Miao. He sat and watched her, noticing that she wore heavy makeup because her face was covered with many brown spots, which affected her appearance.

"Why do you have so many spots?" he asked curiously.

Zhou Yuancen was applying a second layer of foundation and replied with a smile, "Because mom is old. What old woman doesn't have spots on her face?"

"You're not old," Ruan Miao instinctively replied, "You're only forty, still very young. The second half of your life hasn't even started yet."

He wasn't saying this to flatter Zhou Yuancen; his mother often said that life for a woman truly begins at forty when she can live for herself without caring about others' opinions. He remembered the confidence and composure on his mother's face when she said this, so he naturally spoke up when he saw Zhou Yuancen, who was still relatively young, calling herself old.

"Such a sweet talker." Zhou Yuancen sighed, "I wish I had heard this from you sooner."

Ruan Miao watched Zhou Yuancen layer on her foundation until she covered the spots, transforming back into the somewhat artificial-looking wealthy lady. He commented, "You look better without makeup."

"You're talking nonsense. Who looks good with spots on their face?" Zhou Yuancen put the mirror away and lightly flicked Ruan Miao's forehead with a touch of affection, "You're still young. What do you know?"

At that moment, they truly felt like mother and son. After crying, Zhou Yuancen became more agreeable. She let Ruan Miao keep the document, and after eating, she planned to take him back to his cram school.

Before leaving the private room, Zhou Yuancen glanced at the untouched plate of escargot on the table, a deep sorrow in her eyes. But after a while, she smiled.

"Let's go."

She picked up her coat and walked out, gently closing the door behind her.

When Ruan Miao returned home that night, He Shangye was away on a business trip, according to He Shanglu. Ruan Miao quietly breathed a sigh of relief, exchanged a few words, and then went to his bedroom, locking the door behind him.

He took out the document that could destabilize the entire He family, feeling conflicted. It was Zhou Yuancen's hard work, her hope for revenge, but it was also a deadly poison for the He family.

He felt like a person standing on a narrow bridge, not knowing which way to go, facing an abyss on either side.

Calming himself, Ruan Miao tore up the document that could destroy He Shangye piece by piece in the bathroom and flushed the fragments down the toilet in several batches.

His upbringing taught him not to betray others and not to go against his conscience. If something leaves you indecisive, it's best to follow your heart, so you won't regret it.

He was destined to disappoint Zhou Yuancen, but in his heart, everything stemmed from Liang Rui. He might help her in other ways, but not like this. Besides, even if the He family fell, Zhou Yuancen might not be happy since the real culprit would still be free.

Moreover, he liked the current He family, liked He Shanglu, liked He Shangzhi, and even liked He Shangye. Emotionally, he hoped everyone could be happy.

There must be a way for everyone to be happy.

Ruan Miao felt determined, realizing that only by becoming stronger could he protect those he cared about.

As he stepped out of the bathroom, he heard a banging on his bedroom door. He knew it had to be He Shanglu. Reluctantly, he went to open the door and found He Shanglu with his hand raised, ready to knock again.

"What's up?"

He Shanglu grabbed his arm, examined the three scratches on it, and angrily asked, "Who did this? Which bastard hurt you?"

"No one," Ruan Miao explained. "I accidentally scratched myself."

He Shanglu didn't believe a word. To him, Miao Miao was sweet, well-behaved, and adorable. Who could be better than his little brother? He didn't cause trouble anymore, so it had to be someone else who hurt him while he wasn't watching!

Was it that jerk Ye Ling?

Meanwhile, Ye Ling, who was playing games at home, was bewildered to receive a challenge from He Shanglu, who threatened to cut off his hands to avenge his brother.

Ye Ling: "???"

Has this idiot gone mad?