Chapter 41 Ambiguity

Although Chen Yan's tone, attitude, and expression all seemed extremely sincere as he spoke at this moment.

The key point, however, was that he was currently completely naked, with nothing on at all.

At this moment, Liu Ruyan was terrified to the extreme.

What if Chen Yan suddenly had some evil thoughts or ulterior motives? Wouldn't that make her like takeout delivered straight to his door?

"Wuwuwu..."

Thinking of this, Liu Ruyan panicked in her heart and began struggling even more violently.

Liu Ruyan's reaction caught Chen Yan off guard, and he almost failed to restrain her with one hand.

To avoid a complete social death, Chen Yan had no choice but to use his free left hand to wrap around her soft waist, pulling her firmly into his embrace.

The uniquely masculine aura of Chen Yan instantly enveloped her. Liu Ruyan's mind went blank for a moment. Especially, that big clumsy hand of his resting on her waist felt like a little sun, scalding hot, making her bones go weak. A blush quickly spread across her cheeks.

"I'll say this one last time. I'll let you go. But you mustn't scream. Just act as if you saw nothing, as if nothing happened, okay?"

Chen Yan, who was struggling to restrain her, didn't notice Liu Ruyan's unusual state at all. Instead, he continued on his own, his face stern and serious as he spoke.

However, after he finished speaking, Liu Ruyan did not respond.

But it wasn't that she didn't want to answer; she couldn't. Her mouth was still tightly covered by Chen Yan's hand. How was she supposed to speak? Should she learn from that Duan Yanqing and use ventriloquism to make a sound???

Chen Yan felt the body in his arms soften, and the struggling subsided considerably. Only then did he realize his hand was still covering her mouth.

How could she possibly speak like this?

"I'll let go. Don't scream. If you agree, blink your eyes."

Hearing this, Liu Ruyan blinked her eyes fiercely several times.

Seeing this, Chen Yan slowly released his hand. Liu Ruyan indeed did not scream, which made Chen Yan heave a sigh of relief.

However, at this moment, Liu Ruyan was as if paralyzed, her body stiff as she leaned against his chest. Her breathing even became light and shallow.

Getting no reaction for a while, Chen Yan curiously looked down, his gaze meeting her misty eyes.

Their eyes locked.

Chen Yan found no fear in that gaze, but rather an indescribable fluster and... shameful anger?

Huh? What's going on?

"You... let me go first." Liu Ruyan's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, completely devoid of her usual cold, decisive CEO demeanor.

Hearing this, Chen Yan finally realized his left arm was still wrapped around her waist.

What was worse, he was still naked.

"Oh, oh, oh."

He released her as if burned, instinctively taking a step back. As a result, his foot slipped—

"Careful!"

Liu Ruyan, quick-eyed and swift-handed, grabbed his arm. But her strength was no match for a grown man. Instead, she was pulled forward, staggering two steps and crashing directly into Chen Yan's embrace.

Well, now they were embracing even more tightly.

The air froze once again.

Chen Yan felt two soft mounds pressing against his chest. The faint scent of perfume lingered at the tip of his nose, mixed with her unique, cool aura. Liu Ruyan's face was buried in the crook of his neck, her warm breath spraying onto his skin, tickling him.

Time seemed to stretch for a long while, yet also felt like just an instant.

"Liu Ruyan." Chen Yan's voice was a bit hoarse. "If you don't let go now, I really won't be able to control myself."

The words were euphemistic, but Liu Ruyan was no fool.

She abruptly pushed Chen Yan away. This time, Chen Yan was prepared and steadied himself. Liu Ruyan turned her back to him, the roots of her ears red as if about to drip blood.

"You... hurry up and put your clothes on!"

"Chen Yan, you jerk! You must have done that on purpose just now, right?"

Liu Ruyan had her back to Chen Yan. Though she couldn't see him, that didn't mean she wouldn't speak.

However, Chen Yan had no time to respond now. He glanced at the bed where his clothes were. The problem was, getting from the bathroom to the bed meant crossing over half the room, and Liu Ruyan was currently standing right in the middle.

There was simply no way around her.

"Um... could you step out for a moment?"

As a last resort, Chen Yan steeled himself and spoke up.

"Huh? Why should I leave? This is my room!" Liu Ruyan didn't turn her head, her voice both anxious and embarrassed.

"Then how am I supposed to get my clothes?"

Chen Yan was exasperated. Was this woman a construction worker? Arguing at a time like this? Although she was right—the entire estate was hers, so naturally this room was too.

Still, Chen Yan had to point it out.

Hearing this, Liu Ruyan bit her lip, quickly glanced at the clothes on the bed, and just as quickly averted her gaze.

She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound normal. "Then... can't you wrap yourself in a towel?"

Chen Yan looked down at himself—the towel was still in the bathroom. He had tossed it onto the vanity after drying off.

"The towel's in the bathroom."

Chen Yan felt like crying but had no tears.

Liu Ruyan: "..."

Immediately after, another strange silence fell.

In the end, it was Liu Ruyan who moved first.

She closed her eyes, groped her way to the bed by memory, grabbed Chen Yan's clothes, and threw them behind her without looking. "Catch!"

Chen Yan reached out and caught them. Seeing Liu Ruyan's expression of grim determination, he suddenly felt like laughing.

"Alright, I'm dressed."

After a rustling sound, Chen Yan's voice rang out again.

Liu Ruyan cautiously opened one eye a slit. Confirming that Chen Yan was indeed fully dressed, she finally turned around.

A lingering blush remained on her face. Her eyes were evasive, and she kept her head down, not daring to look at Chen Yan.

"You... why didn't you knock before entering my room?"

Chen Yan looked innocent. "You weren't here before I started showering. Besides, isn't this the room you arranged for me?"

Hearing this, Liu Ruyan was taken aback.

Right, this was indeed his room. Ever since he ran away from home, this room had been vacant. She rarely came in here normally. Earlier, thinking about urging him regarding the matter, she had forgotten to knock...

She was the one in the wrong.

But when had Liu Ruyan ever admitted fault?

"Then... why didn't you lock the door when showering?"

A classic PUA opening move.

Chen Yan looked even more innocent. "Why would I lock the door showering in my own room? Plus, how was I supposed to know you'd barge in?"

Liu Ruyan was rendered speechless.

The room fell quiet again, the atmosphereIt was so subtle it made me feel uneasy..

Chen Yan looked at her flustered, annoyed, yet unable to vent expression and suddenly felt that this usually aloof female CEO wasn't so intimidating after all.

"Um..." He cleared his throat. "What did you need me for?"

Only then did Liu Ruyan remember her purpose. But after what just happened, her mind was still in a daze. For a moment, she couldn't recall what she wanted to say.

"I... I wanted to say... um..."

Chen Yan couldn't help but laugh at her stammering.

This laugh made Liu Ruyan even more annoyed.

"What are you laughing at!"

"What's so funny!"

"Nothing, not laughing." Chen Yan tried hard to suppress it, but the amusement in the corners of his eyes was unmistakable. "I just think... CEO Liu, you look much cuter like this than usual."

Cute?

Liu Ruyan froze.

I'm cute?

In her twenty-six years of life, no one had ever used that word to describe her.

Others praised her as "capable," "beautiful," "decisive," "truly worthy of being the Liu family heir."

But no one had ever called her cute.

Instantly, Liu Ruyan felt her heart skip a beat.

No, no, no.

Wait, Liu Ruyan, what are you thinking? This man was just holding you while naked! Taking advantage of you! You should be angry! You should be furious! You should kick him out!

But why...

She looked up, meeting Chen Yan's smiling eyes. The words on the tip of her tongue suddenly wouldn't come out.

"You... stop your nonsense." She turned her face away, struggling to maintain her last shred of dignity. "I came to tell you to dress formally when we go out later. Don't embarrass me."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

"Then you could have just called. Why come in person?"

Liu Ruyan: "...I felt like it, I wanted to, I love to! Is that not allowed?!"

Chen Yan looked at her stubborn, defiant expression and smiled even more deeply.

"Fine, whatever CEO Liu says is right. I'll change my clothes then, and we'll see each other later?"

It was a clear hint for her to leave.

Liu Ruyan bit her lip, turned, and walked away. But when she reached the door, she suddenly stopped.

She didn't turn around, but her voice clearly reached Chen Yan's ears:

"About what just happened... if you dare tell anyone, I won't let you off. I'll turn you into the eunuch of the new century."

"Hey, isn't that a bit too harsh? No matter what, I currently hold the title of Liu Ruyan's husband. Aren't you afraid that if the thing is gone, you'll have nothing to use, and then have to resort to cucumbers?"

Hearing this, Chen Yan couldn't help but feel surprised.

"Pah!!! I, Liu Ruyan, would rather mine my own ore, guide my own hand, jump off the roof of this building, than ever use yours, let alone resort to cucumbers!!!"

Faced with Chen Yan's dirty joke, Liu Ruyan gritted her teeth in anger and retorted without thinking.

That classic torrent of brazen words even made Chen Yan wonder if she was related to that famous "Delicious" guy from years past. Otherwise, why would the formula she applied and the tone of her speech seem to come from the same template?

Before Chen Yan, who had just snapped back to reality, could say anything, he saw her pull open the door and stride out quickly.

Watching her back disappear through the doorway, Chen Yan suddenly realized his own heart was beating a bit fast too.

"Damn it." He cursed under his breath, pressing a hand to his chest. "Chen Yan, Chen Yan, it's not like you've never seen a woman before. From university till now, from wealthy ladies to innocent beauties... you, really?"

Still, talk aside, Chen Yan's mind involuntarily replayed the scene of their intimate contact moments ago.

The instant Liu Ruyan crashed into his embrace—the soft sensation, the warm breath, and the fleeting panic and shyness in her eyes when she looked up.

And finally, that word he had said: "cute."

Chen Yan suddenly came to his senses. Back then, he had just said it offhandedly. But she seemed to have taken it seriously.

Hey, Chen Yan, what are you thinking? If the real Chen Yan ever comes back one day and finds out you're just an imposter, your head will be on the chopping block. Do you really have time to flirt and pick up girls here???

Better start thinking about how to pack up and run away sooner.

Thinking this, Chen Yan shook his head, driving these messy thoughts out of his mind.

Forget it, no more thinking. As long as the real Chen Yan returns, his identity as an imposter is bound to be exposed. It's just a matter of sooner or later.

Downstairs, Liu Ruyan practically fled back to her own room.

She closed the door, leaned back against it, and pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the frantic, pounding heartbeat there.

"Liu Ruyan, have you gone mad?" she murmured to herself. "That's Chen Yan. Even if he changed his name from Chen Yan to Chen Yan, so what? He's still your nominal husband, that good-for-nothing waste. How could you..."

But her mind conjured up the image of Chen Yan's bare upper body—the well-defined muscles, the smooth lines, and that...

"Ah!!!"

Liu Ruyan covered her face and let out a muffled groan.

She walked to the mirror and looked at the woman with flushed cheeks and dazed eyes reflected there, hardly able to believe it was herself.

In twenty-six years, what kind ofscene hadn't she seen? What kind of man hadn't she dealt with? How could she lose her composure over such a trivial matter?

It must have been because it was too sudden.

Yes, that was it.

After a series of self-reassurances, Liu Ruyan took several deep breaths, trying to make her expression return to normal. Then, she opened her wardrobe and began selecting clothes for their outing later.

But as she picked, her hand paused again.

Chen Yan had said... she was cute?

What did that mean?

Just polite small talk said casually? Or was it sincere...

"Liu Ruyan!" she growled at her reflection in the mirror. "Snap out of it! He's Chen Yan! That man you look down on! What you have is just a transaction! A transaction, understand?"

The person in the mirror finally calmed down.

She changed into a sharp suit, applied precise makeup, and transformed back into the decisive female CEO of the Liu Group.

But when she walked out of her room and saw Chen Yan already waiting in the living room, herMy heartbeat finally calmed down once again began to race uncontrollably.

Chen Yan had changed into a dark gray casual suit. His hair was neatly styled, making him look much more refreshed. Seeing her come downstairs, he looked up and smiled slightly:

"CEO Liu, ready to go?"

Liu Ruyan nodded, averting her gaze, trying hard not to look at him.

"Let's go."

The two walked out, one after the other.

Butler Fu watched them standing in the living room, the smile at the corner of his mouth growing deeper and deeper.

He had faintly heard some commotion upstairs earlier. Though he didn't know the specifics, judging by the young mistress's distracted appearance and the young master's faint, lingering smile...

Hehe, interesting, truly interesting.