“If you don’t open your eyes, I’ll strip you naked,” the leader said. The girl instantly opened her eyes, her large, wet pupils resembling a frightened deer.
Her delicate beauty softened the two men momentarily, but the man holding her laughed lewdly, saying, “Boss, I can’t hold back anymore. I’ll do her right here; there’s no one around.”
“She’s worth a lot. Chen Guo and Ji Guo have invested heavily in her,” the leader replied, touching his lower body unconsciously. “You’re too rough. How can she handle it? If something goes wrong, we won’t get the money.”
The wild man swallowed. “They just said to find her; they didn’t say we couldn’t play with her.”
The leader’s heart stirred as his hand gripped the girl’s slender leg, slowly spreading them apart.
Facing her terrified, tear-filled eyes, he suddenly smiled, “You’re too heavy-handed. I’ll go first, then it’ll be your turn.”
The girl’s heart turned to ashes. She gritted her teeth, but the leader was faster. He pinched her chin, forcing her mouth open, tore off a piece of her red clothing, and stuffed it in her mouth, laughing, “Princess Changlé, just make do with it. Consider it an early marriage to some consorts.”
Closing her eyes in despair, the wild man shouted, “Boss, you can’t always do this! You always get the best parts, and I’m left with leftovers. I found this beauty first, so I should go first.”
He suddenly noticed the girl had opened her eyes, her wet gaze encouraging him. The wild man was startled. Looking again, she winked at him and shook her head at the leader.
Understanding her intention, he punched the leader, who was just undoing the skirt ties. “Did you hear me? I’m going first!”
Caught off guard, the leader was hit in the eye. Angry, he struck back, but this time the wild man fiercely retaliated. Soon, they were wrestling together, neither noticing that the girl had already slipped away.
“Jiaojiao, you’re taking revenge on me. What kind of plot is this!” Ruan Ning ran desperately, realizing the system was retaliating. Why else would it send her back in time just as those two men were about to undress her?
“The host’s traversal plot point is random. Please don’t judge a gentleman’s heart with a villain’s mind,” the system’s voice replied smugly.
Before Ruan Ning could respond, her hair was grabbed. The bloodied leader pulled her towards the trees, and she caught a glimpse of a wild man lying motionless in the distance, apparently dead.
“Let me go, I’ll give you money, lots of money!” Ruan Ning pleaded in terror.
The leader dragged her into a hidden space among the trees, tore off his blood-stained clothes, and lunged at her. Despite her desperate attempts to throw leaves to defend herself, he overpowered her, twisting her arm and pinning her legs.
Just as he was about to press down, a figure clad in black descended from the trees, piercing the leader with a sword and kicking him away.
Blood splattered on the fallen leaves. Ruan Ning screamed and covered her face, feeling a sudden lightness as the black-clad man lifted her into his arms. His cold voice, filled with a chilling intent, said, “Don’t be afraid. It’s me.”
Ruan Ning opened her eyes to see a distinct face, around 26 or 27 years old, with iron-hook eyebrows and silver lines. His well-defined muscles made her feel safe.
“Your father has paid tribute to Ji Guo and signed a peace treaty. The war is over,” the black-clad man said, his hand close to her hair, seeming to want to stroke it, but ultimately pulling away. “A Ruan, I’ll take you back.”
A Ruan? Was this her surname or name? Ruan Ning quickly recalled the text but couldn’t remember any female character named A Ruan. How could she deduce the plot with such limited information?
The man brushed her messy hair behind her ear, frowning: “No one can know you encountered bandits.”
Deep in the forest was a clear, shallow pool. The man ordered, “Wash and clean up before I take you away.”
His voice carried authority. Ruan Ning didn’t object. The girl A Ruan had likely suffered during her escape, with mud and bandit’s blood on her clothes. She wanted to wash away these unpleasant memories.
She looked at him. His gaze was clear and bright, without a hint of desire.
Ruan Ning trusted her instincts and hid behind a large rock, removing her clothes and sliding into the cool water. Her feet touched a soft sandy bottom as she swam towards the center of the pool, reaching up to remove the golden hairpin.
At that moment, the man turned, seeing her hair cascade down like a black waterfall, covering her small, white shoulders. Droplets danced on her rounded shoulders like dew on lotus petals, leaving only her hand holding the hairpin, glistening from fingers to elbow.
The man’s breath caught for a moment. Ruan Ning saw her reflection in the water—deep black eyes, cherry-red lips—a blend of seductive charm and pure innocence, embodying both woman and girl.
Beauty in a chaotic world might be a burden or a capital. Ruan Ning was curious about how the new world would respond.
“A Ruan,” a man’s voice called, “Come.”
Ruan Ning did not turn back, uncertain of his intentions.
“Don’t be afraid, I have something to tell you,” he said, waiting patiently. If he were to use force, she would be unable to resist, yet he remained courteous. Ruan Ning hesitated, sinking deeper and covering herself with her hair, then slowly turned back.
Like a lotus just born, with morning dew fallen.
The moment their eyes met, the man’s upright body tensed, a strange light flashing in his eyes before returning to calm.
“A Ruan, do you remember me? I am Sui Huan.”
Ruan Ning nodded, feeling disappointed at not recalling this name.
He walked closer, stepping into the shallow water. He crouched down and extended his hand: “Let me help you up.”
Ruan Ning shook her head, turning away and sliding further into the soft sand. Her wet hair traced an arc on the water’s surface, etching itself into the man’s heart. At that moment, he saw not Princess Chang Le, but a fairy of the wilderness.
A few days prior, after Chen’s capital fell, he had seen her again—still a spoiled child, willful and arrogant, even in desperate escape, dazzlingly dressed, making him recognize her in the chaotic crowd. But now she was quiet and soft, increasingly resembling the person in his heart.
Perhaps pain can make one grow up overnight. She had been captured by rogue soldiers, harassed by refugees, bullied by bandits, and witnessed her guards and servants die one by one. This had rapidly matured her, shifting her from naive to quiet and forbearing, her once innocent eyes now holding depth.
She was growing up, about to become a woman.
Sui Huan felt a stirring in his body—a sensation he hadn’t experienced in years. His will wavered as he considered transforming her into a woman. Yet, he quickly suppressed that thought. He was at a crucial turning point in her life, having rescued her during her most lonely moment. He would be her source of support, and in return, she would become a powerful ally.
The pleasure from her beauty was insignificant compared to this.
Resolutely suppressing his desires, Sui Huan cut through the soft silk.
On the third day, the carriage arrived at Chen’s capital, where the Chen Emperor came out to welcome them. Ruan Ning sensed his enthusiasm was fueled by both concern for his daughter and fear of Sui Huan. Despite Sui Huan’s remarkable elegance and noble demeanor winning over others, it did not affect Ruan Ning.
To her, he seemed too normal to be a yandere, and she believed it was best not to provoke unnecessary emotions since her stay was temporary.
However, Sui Huan initiated their interaction.
After the banquet, when the Chen Emperor was seeing Sui Huan out of the palace, Sui Huan suddenly turned and flashed a gentle smile at Ruan Ning.
