Chapter Twenty-Six Transformation

  "Why didn't you accompany your fiancée? She'll come looking for me again and take it out on me. You promised to explain things clearly to her yourself, did you?" Little Ruan still looks like she wants to beat me up the moment she sees me. Although I said I'd accept her challenge, if this keeps going on without any clarity, I'll just be making enemies left and right. Even if I were a reincarnation of Buddha, it's easy to get frustrated."

  His face still had a lazy expression, as if he didn't care about anything. What did he take me for? Did he think I was easy to bully?

  "Do you think she'll let you off if I tell the truth? You really don't understand Li Xiaoran." He suddenly became serious, with a hint of brightness in his eyes: "I'll protect you from now on, so don't worry about that..."

  He said he wants to protect me? This devil who has been playing with me all the time, actually says he wants to protect me? Did I hear that wrong? Or did he suddenly have a change of heart and feel guilty for treating me badly all this time? I was stunned, and didn't hear anything else he said, my mind kept circling around those three words "protect you".

  "Hey! Are you spacing out? Did you hear me?" An impatient face loomed in front of me, furrowed brow staring at me. I snapped back to reality, hastily turning my head away and avoiding eye contact.

  "What? What did you say?"

  "Come with me, I still need you after the dinner speech is over."

  He finished speaking, tilted his head and raised his chin, indicating for me to follow him. He had his hands in his pockets, and his back gave off a carefree feeling that didn't match his retro image at all. I furrowed my brow and stared at him, not moving an inch. Why did he want me to cooperate again? Hadn't he already hit it off with Xiaoran? What was going on here? Was he changing partners too frequently? And if I followed him like this, wouldn't his mom think I was clinging to him and be impolite to me, kicking me out of the house directly? Although she wasn't very welcoming to me, I still showed respect to my elders. After all, she was also Shu Yu's beloved mother. If I provoked her, I would be the one in trouble.

  "Aren't you already following your mom's will? Why do you still need me?" Raising her tone, showing dissatisfaction, it seems our relationship is indeed one of naked exploitation and being exploited. "Besides, it's getting late, just send me home."

  "Come quickly." He stood at the door, his tone was light but firm, and he also stretched out his hand to me.

  "Your mother, I really can't take it anymore, you'd better ask someone else for help. I'm not good enough to enter her eyes, and don't lose your life next time!" I calmly looked into his deep eyes, with a self-mocking smile.

  "My mom doesn't need you to show up, just being by my side is enough..." His eyes sparkled, his voice was soft and gentle, he slowly walked back to my side. His sudden change left me standing there without resistance, my face was gently lifted, a warm and soft touch lightly fell on the center of my forehead, my heart skipped a beat, a surge of heat flowed through me, suddenly my whole body felt burning hot, dizzy and disoriented.

  What is he doing? Why did he suddenly do this to me? This kiss, unlike the one in the bar that night, was gentle and delicate. I heard a wall crumbling inside my body, and it felt like we took another step closer together.

  "Come with me, okay?" He asked this time in a seeking opinion tone. Looking at the expectation in his eyes, I felt as if I was hypnotized, and put my hand into his palm, letting his warmth spread throughout my body.

  Back at the party in the backyard of the swimming pool, it was still noisy with people talking. My aunt and Xiao Ran were standing together chatting, when Yu pulled me to stand before them, interrupting their conversation. Both of them frowned, staring at me, their eyes moving from my face to the hands that Yu and I were holding, their expressions becoming even angrier.

  "Mom, Li Xiaoran, you don't have to worry about it anymore. I've made up my mind and no one can change it. And don't bother Mimi with this either, if there's anything, come to me directly, got it?" His face was stern, his tone brooked no refusal, and the expressions on Baomu and Xiaoran's faces were those of utter incredulity, as if they were seeing Ruyu for the first time.

  It seems that this is his more authentic side, much more mature than the playboy image I had of him before. It turns out he's indeed six years older than me. Previously, I thought he was heartless and cold, loved to toy with others, and didn't have a grown-up demeanor at all. Now, I also have to admit that he can be quite charming too.

  "A Yu, I've only been away for a few days, how did you change so much? Does this girl have some kind of magic that has bewitched you?" Auntie asked loudly, questioning Yu. He slightly furrowed his brow, not responding, with an indifferent expression on his face.

  Yu, do you really dislike me that much? Am I not even comparable to her? The four years we spent together, all those things, have you forgotten them all? You can't treat me like this! Xiaoran's eyes sparkled as she rushed over and grabbed his arm, my hand falling down by the way. If you're really so heartless, don't blame me for speaking out! She threatened, her teeth clenched, looking at Yu who still had a indifferent expression.

  "Li Xiaoran! I'm warning you, if you dare to say it, I guarantee you'll die a terrible death!" He dodged Xiaoran's hand, his eyes cold and familiar, his voice low and menacing in her ear, but clear as day to me standing beside them.

  Should I say something? What should I say? Is there some secret that I shouldn't know about? But during this period of being coerced by him, I've been surrounded by strange things at all times, layer after layer peeling away to reveal more and more of his true nature. Yet, despite seeing so much of him, I still can't see through to his essence. And because of this, it's as if I've become someone else, standing on the edge of perversion, occasionally even reminiscing about the torture he inflicted upon me... Zhang Ze Yu, towards him, I don't know what kind of emotions I have, sometimes they scare me, sometimes they attract me, making me want to understand him and get close to him. Perhaps in his body really does reside many different versions of himself.

  Xiao Ruan's face was again severely hurt, to say nothing of others, she is also quite admirable, belonging to the Xia Qiang type, even if she has been abandoned, she still doesn't give up on trying to win back Yu Wu, if Yu Wu's mom and Ji Dong's mom had this kind of heart, then both of them could grow up in an environment full of fatherly love, becoming outstanding beautiful young men.

  "Aunt, Xiaoran! Although you both don't like me, there's something I still want to say. Jiayu is already an adult, please respect him, especially Aunt, if you use your mother-son relationship to threaten him, you're really not worthy of being a mother. If you were my mom, I would also resist to the end." With Jiayu by my side, it seems like I can absorb strength from him and have gained a lot of courage, daring to reason with Aunt again.

  "It's none of your business!" Auntie scolded me harshly, then turned to Yu with a frown, "Yu! Listen to Mom..."

  Perhaps in her aunt's heart, her business is the most important thing, so she insists that Jiayu and Xiaoran must be together, or perhaps she simply dislikes me. In any case, her resolute attitude shows that I am absolutely not possible to climb up to their family.

  I'm also relieved now, seeing Yu's attitude towards me has changed, I'm secretly delighted in my heart. That kiss may not mean anything to him, but it was a very important breakthrough for me. My abnormal inner self is excited again because I caught a glimpse of his gentle and considerate side. Although I got scolded by Auntie this time, I seem to have taken another step closer to understanding Yu. For someone like me who doesn't have any grand ambitions, it's already worth it!

  "Mom, I really don't want to argue with you. The party should be over, I'll go wrap things up." Yu swiftly cut her off, gave a slight bow, and then led me away, my hand in his palm, feeling safe for the first time.

  "Ladies and gentlemen! I'm delighted to have spent a wonderful evening with all of you today! Tonight's wine tasting dinner is coming to an end! Finally, let's dance together one last time to conclude tonight's banquet! Thank you!"

  The majestic figure of Yu stood on the high small stage, elegant and refined, his demeanor was impressive. I couldn't take my eyes off him from below the stage, he truly was a dazzling person, nothing could block his radiance.

  "What are you staring at? Hand it over." A low, stern voice sounded in my ear. I smiled slightly and stretched out my hand to him. At this moment, no matter what Auntie and Xiao Ran thought after seeing this, even if they sent assassins tomorrow, I would never regret the words I said or the things I did.

  "It's really you... Do you know? I've always hoped to see you again."

  Elegant light music, I stepped barefoot on the slightly wet grass, gazing tensely into his eyes, where a strange emotion surged, once again so close to his body, smelling so good, with slightly damp palms, the boy who had shed his phantom mask was still mesmerizing.

  Our story has developed up to this point, but I still feel that it's not quite right. A demon like him actually having good feelings for me? Does that mean I also...

  My heart is racing, with each beat clearly pounding against my chest. I really want to let out my true feelings, but he's teased me so many times before, who knows if this time will be the same too? And there are still many things that I haven't sorted out yet. His change of heart has come so suddenly that it's left me a bit unable to accept it, even though deep down I was hoping for this, but now that the moment is here, I'm not used to it yet.