206: The car keys fell off

Five days later, in the early morning, gentle sunlight streamed through the window and fell into Liu Ruyan's bedroom.

Liu Ruyan stood in front of her wardrobe, her slender fingers gliding over various clothes, finally settling on a form-fitting red dress.

The dress was perfectly tailored, exquisitely outlining her graceful curves. The hem flared out slightly, like a blooming rose.

Liu Ruyan held the dress up to herself, looked at her reflection in the mirror, and a satisfied smile unconsciously bloomed on her lips.

She moved to her dressing table, sat down, and began to apply her makeup meticulously.

After finishing her makeup, Liu Ruyan stood up and put on a pair of red high heels. The heels were thin and high, making her posture even more elegant and exuding the charming allure of a mature woman.

She twirled in front of the mirror, tidied her hair, and, satisfied, prepared to leave.

Liu Ruyan left her room, her high heels clicking crisply on the floor. As she entered the courtyard, she immediately saw Ye Chen.

At this moment, Ye Chen's appearance still retained the contours of a man, but his every gesture was filled with a woman's delicate grace.

Seeing Liu Ruyan, he scurried towards her with small steps, his voice high-pitched, tinged with a mix of intimacy and affectation: "Wifey, where are you going?"

A flicker of disgust instantly crossed Liu Ruyan's eyes, and her brows furrowed slightly, as if she had seen something nauseating.

Her gaze swept over Ye Chen, full of disdain, and she let out a soft hmph from her nose, not bothering to linger.

"Going out to handle some business," Liu Ruyan replied coldly, her tone like shards of ice in winter, devoid of warmth.

With that, she turned her head, no longer paying attention to Ye Chen, and walked towards the garage, her high heels clicking more rapidly, as if she wanted to escape Ye Chen as quickly as possible.

Ye Chen watched Liu Ruyan's receding back, a hint of loneliness flashing in his eyes, but he quickly took a deep breath, silently cheering himself on.

He secretly vowed that today he would reveal his identity and make Liu Ruyan see him in a new light.

Liu Ruyan arrived at the garage and drove to the Lu Family Manor. Along the way, her mood was exceptionally pleasant, thinking of her upcoming meeting with Lu Chen.

Upon arriving at the Lu Family Manor, as soon as Liu Ruyan got out of the car, she saw Lu Chen walking out of the manor.

Lu Chen was dressed in a sharp black suit, with a white shirt underneath and a dark blue tie, looking handsome and capable.

Lu Chen paused when he saw Liu Ruyan, a flash of admiration in his eyes.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, carefully scrutinizing Liu Ruyan, and a faint smile played on his lips, revealing his clean, even teeth.

"You look really beautiful today," Lu Chen said, his voice deep and magnetic. As he spoke, he took two steps closer to Liu Ruyan, his gaze fixed on her, as if she were the most dazzling being in the world.

Liu Ruyan secretly rejoiced at the compliment but feigned reserve, lowering her head slightly, a blush rising to her cheeks. A few strands of hair fell beside her face, and she instinctively raised her hand to tuck them behind her ear.

"Thank you," Liu Ruyan replied softly, her voice tinged with shyness. After speaking, she gently bit her lower lip.

Then, the two got into the car, and Lu Chen started the engine, driving towards the Liu family's old residence.

As the car was driving, Lu Chen suddenly deliberately dropped the car keys, which slid down his leg to his feet.

"The car keys fell. Help me pick them up," Lu Chen said, a hint of playfulness in his eyes, and he raised an eyebrow.

Liu Ruyan was slightly startled, instinctively looking towards Lu Chen's feet. She hesitated for a moment but slowly bent down.

She was wearing a tight-fitting dress, and as she bent down, the skirt stretched taut over her body, fully revealing the curves of her ample buttocks. Her legs were long and straight, slightly parted by the bending motion, forming a highly seductive angle.

Liu Ruyan reached out to pick up the keys, but their position was awkward, forcing her to lean forward slightly, her body almost touching Lu Chen's thigh. Her cheeks instantly flushed crimson, her breathing quickened, her heart pounded like thunder, and tiny beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.

"You... don't move," Liu Ruyan whispered, her voice trembling, her mind filled with the thought of how disheveled she must look at this moment.

Lu Chen, however, acted as if he hadn't heard, deliberately moved his leg, and gave a slight cough, causing Liu Ruyan's body to press even closer to him.

Liu Ruyan's body stiffened, her eyes filled with panic, and she instinctively tried to brace herself against the seat to maintain balance.

Liu Ruyan struggled to reach the keys, her fingers brushing against the edges several times, until she finally grasped them, then quickly stood up and smoothed her skirt.

Her eyes darted away, not daring to meet Lu Chen's gaze, her cheeks still burning, and her breathing not yet completely steady.

She gently bit her lower lip, which turned a faint pink from her teeth, looking pitifully charming.

"Here," Liu Ruyan handed the car keys to Lu Chen, her voice almost inaudible, her hand still trembling slightly.

Lu Chen took the keys, his fingers intentionally or unintentionally brushing Liu Ruyan's hand. Liu Ruyan quickly pulled her hand back as if shocked, letting out a soft gasp.

"Thank you," Lu Chen said with a smile, the playful glint in his eyes deepening, and he shook his head slightly.

The car continued to drive forward. Lu Chen rested his hands casually on the steering wheel, turned his head to look at Liu Ruyan, still wearing that subtle smile on his face, the teasing in his eyes deepening even more.

"So meticulously dressed, aren't you going to pick up your husband?" Lu Chen asked with a smile, as if countless inscrutable thoughts were hidden within that smile.

When Liu Ruyan heard this, the blush on her face instantly gave way to a flash of disgust, her brows furrowed into a small knot, and her eyes were full of disdain.

"Don't mind him," Liu Ruyan almost gritted out these words, her tone cold and resolute. After speaking, she turned her head to look out the window, seemingly unwilling to mention Ye Chen in the slightest.

Soon, the car arrived at the Liu family's old residence.

The Liu family's old residence was extraordinarily grand. The dark gray high walls exuded an ancient and solemn air under the sunlight, and above the main gate, a plaque bore the strong and vigorous characters "Liu Mansion."

The stone lions at the entrance were majestic, with open mouths, as if displaying the Liu family's authority. The courtyard ground was paved with smooth flagstones, meticulously clean, not a speck of dust.

Luxury cars were neatly parked, gleaming brightly in the sunlight. The surrounding scenery was reflected on their bodies, refracting a colorful display.

Many people had already gathered in the courtyard. Most of the men were dressed in sharp suits, their leather shoes polished to a shine, almost reflecting their images.

They stood in groups of three or five, holding exquisite wine glasses, the red wine gently swirling within, emitting a rich aroma.

The women, on the other hand, wore splendid gowns, either form-fitting long dresses that accentuated their graceful figures, or voluminous dresses like blooming flowers.

They wore dazzling jewelry, diamond necklaces, jade bracelets, sparkling with captivating brilliance in the sunlight, and conversed with polite smiles on their faces.

Liu Ruyan took a deep breath, smoothed her skirt, and walked into the old residence with Lu Chen.

As soon as they stepped into the spacious living room of the old residence, warm yellow light cascaded down, illuminating the entire space, making it bright and cozy.

The air was filled with a faint scent of perfume and the mellow aroma of red wine, intertwining to create a luxurious yet ambiguous atmosphere.

As soon as Liu Ruyan stood firm, several exquisitely charming women, dressed provocatively, swayed their hips and surrounded her.

They wore daringly cut evening gowns, with very low necklines revealing large expanses of fair skin, and skirts that were just short enough that their long, beautiful legs could be vaguely seen with every step.

Their hair was either in large waves cascading over their shoulders or pulled up high, revealing elegant necklines, adorned with diamond necklaces that gleamed with cold light under the illumination.

"Ruyan, you're finally here! You look truly beautiful today!" a woman giggled, reaching out to lightly grasp Liu Ruyan's arm, her eyes, however, intentionally or unintentionally glancing at Lu Chen beside her.

Liu Ruyan wore a polite smile on her lips and exchanged greetings with each of them, her eyes occasionally drifting towards Lu Chen.

Lu Chen was leisurely seated on a nearby sofa, his legs crossed, one hand casually resting on the armrest, the other holding a glass of red wine, gently swirling it.

Just then, a tall woman gracefully walked up to Lu Chen. She wore a nearly transparent lace blouse on top, with black lingerie subtly visible underneath, and a tight leather skirt on the bottom that perfectly hugged her ample buttocks, revealing every curve.

She bent down slightly, her cleavage almost spilling from her neckline, and whispered, "Handsome, it must be so boring being here alone."

Lu Chen looked up, a hint of appraisal in his eyes, and a subtle smile played on his lips as he unhurriedly began to chat with her.

His voice was deep and magnetic, every word seemingly hooked, causing the surrounding women to frequently let out bursts of charming laughter.

When Liu Ruyan saw this, a pang of sourness inexplicably welled up in her heart, like she had eaten a handful of tart green plums.

She frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes, and quickly walked towards Lu Chen.

Upon reaching him, Liu Ruyan reached out and grabbed Lu Chen's arm, clamping his arm tightly against her chest, her ample breasts pressing against his arm, and deliberately raised her voice, saying, "Excuse me, I have something to discuss with him."

Seeing this, the women who had been chatting with him flashed a hint of embarrassment and could only turn away reluctantly.

Lu Chen looked down at Liu Ruyan, the playful glint in his eyes deepening.

He lightly patted Liu Ruyan's hand that was holding his arm, his fingers intentionally or unintentionally caressing the back of her hand, and chuckled in a low voice, "What, are you jealous?"

Liu Ruyan's cheeks flushed, and she wanted to release Lu Chen's hand, but he held it firmly, making her unable to move.

She bit her lower lip and chided, "Who's jealous? It's just annoying to see you surrounded by these women."

Lu Chen leaned in slightly, his lips almost touching Liu Ruyan's ear, his warm breath fanning her neck, causing her to shiver.

He whispered, "I only chat with pretty ones for a few words. What, are you afraid I'll be seduced away by someone else?"

Liu Ruyan turned her head away, not looking into Lu Chen's eyes, and mumbled softly, "You can chat with whoever you want, I don't care at all."

Lu Chen, however, had no intention of letting her go. With his other hand, he gently pinched her chin, forcing her to turn her head. Their gazes met, and Lu Chen's eyes were full of aggression. He chuckled, "Still stubborn, your eyes can't lie."

As he spoke, his fingers lightly traced her cheek, finally resting on her lips, gently caressing them.

Liu Ruyan's breathing hitched, her cheeks burning. Her eyes began to glaze over slightly. She wanted to break free, yet she also craved this ambiguous atmosphere.

She struggled slightly, whispering, "You... don't do this. So many people are watching."

Lu Chen, however, acted as if he hadn't heard. His fingers slid down from her lips, tracing her chin and neck.

Finally, he paused at the neckline of her dress, lightly tugging at her clothes, revealing a small patch of fair skin, and chuckled, "What, afraid of people seeing you in this little state?"

Liu Ruyan was both embarrassed and annoyed. She forcefully slapped Lu Chen's hand away and was about to speak, but Lu Chen cut her off, saying, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore, but you really need to keep a close eye on me, otherwise I might really be snatched away by someone else."

With that, he stood up, took Liu Ruyan's hand, and led her deeper into the old residence, leaving behind only the astonished and envious gazes of those around them.

Lu Chen, holding Liu Ruyan's hand, passed through the bustling crowd and entered the inner quarters.

Unlike the lively noise outside, the inner quarters were exceptionally quiet.

Several ancient calligraphies and paintings hung on the surrounding walls, exuding a faint scent of ink under the soft lighting. The floor was paved with smooth marble, impeccably clean, clearly reflecting their figures.

There weren't many people inside, but from their demeanor and every gesture, one could tell their extraordinary status.

At the head of the table sat an elderly woman with white hair. She wore a dark purple cheongsam, exquisitely embroidered with golden patterns, every stitch and thread speaking of the passage of time.

Though the old woman's face was etched with the marks of time, her eyes were still sharp and spirited, commanding respect without needing to be angry.

When the old woman saw Liu Ruyan enter, her previously stern face instantly lit up with joy, her eyes narrowing into slits, her lips curving upward, and the wrinkles on her face smoothing out.

She raised her hand and gently beckoned, signaling Liu Ruyan to come over.

Liu Ruyan released Lu Chen's hand and gracefully walked to the old woman's side, bowing slightly, her posture elegant.

She leaned slightly closer to the old woman, lowering her voice, and began to chat with her. The two occasionally chuckled softly, or nodded in acknowledgment, the atmosphere very harmonious.

Just then, a middle-aged man in a black Zhongshan suit stepped forward, cleared his throat, and announced loudly, "The Qingchen Grand Assembly officially begins!"

As soon as his voice fell, a young man was the first to stand up.

He held an exquisite wooden box in both hands. The box's surface was carved with lifelike patterns of a Dragon and Phoenix bringing prosperity, made of fine rosewood, emitting a warm luster.

He respectfully walked to the old woman, bowed slightly, and then slowly opened the box. Inside was a small, delicate Hotan jade Buddha statue, the jade warm and smooth, and the Buddha's brows and eyes carved so lifelike, as if bearing a compassionate smile.

Following him, several other people successively presented their gifts.

There were precious ancient rare books, their pages already yellowed, exuding an old scent.

There were also exquisite handicrafts from foreign lands, uniquely shaped and masterfully crafted.

Each gift was imbued with the giver's sincerity and respect.

Finally, it was Liu Ruyan's turn.

She took a deep breath, reached into her bag, and took out a beautifully wrapped gift box.

The gift box was wrapped in red satin, with a pretty bow tied on top.

Liu Ruyan held the gift box in both hands, ready to walk towards the old woman.

Just then, a high-pitched voice suddenly rang out from outside the door: "Wait!"

The voice was abrupt and piercing, instantly breaking the previously harmonious atmosphere in the room.

Everyone turned their heads to look at the doorway, only to see a figure rushing into the room, the sunlight falling on him, outlining a slightly peculiar silhouette.