CHAPTER 45: 045: HANDSOME ENOUGH TO CHARM YOUNG GIRLS AT ANY TIME

"It hurts so much..." Lai Yang, having never suffered much in her life, cried petulantly, her face buried in Ning Guiwan’s embrace. Ning Guiwan stroked her head. "Don’t be so impulsive in the future."

"I just got so angry..." Lai Yang choked out, her voice muffled against Ning Guiwan. "Of all people Quan Xiangru could cheat with, he had to go for the one who stole your dad! And then there’s Chen Qinghan. Stealing your dad wasn’t enough for her; she had to steal your boyfriend too! You liked that Quan so much..."

"I know you must be very upset..." Lai Yang lifted her tearful eyes, full of sympathy for her dear friend. Ning Guiwan gently wiped away the tears from the corner of Lai Yang’s eyes.

Memories of Father’s different attitudes towards me and the Ning Rongyue sisters surfaced in my mind... And that past romance. Not many people knew about my relationship with Quan Xiangru. Even Father only found out later. His reaction wasn’t concern about whether I would be heartbroken or upset; instead, he told me to stay away from Quan Xiangru to avoid destroying Ning Qinghan’s marriage.

Holding Lai Yang, Ning Guiwan’s arms slowly tightened. After a while, she began to smile faintly, her voice light and seemingly nonchalant. "If someone can be taken away from me, it means they were never mine to begin with. There’s no reason to be sad."

"Then you don’t like Quan Xiangru anymore?" Lai Yang asked, her eyes brimming with tears.

Ning Guiwan smiled, her tone conveying a sense of release. "I stopped liking him a long time ago."

...

Outside the treatment room, Quan Yu paused upon hearing the conversation inside. The last rays of the setting sun fell on him, gilding the sun-facing half of his figure. In the shifting light and shadow, his expression was chillingly indifferent. Behind him stood Quan Xiangru.

Quan Xiangru stared at the ajar, ash-gray door, Ning Guiwan’s words—"I stopped liking him a long time ago"—echoing in his ears. Each of those six words struck his heart with the weight of a thousand pounds.

Quan Yu turned, his back to the light. "Go take care of the person you’re supposed to. I’ll bring these two home."

Quan Xiangru’s gaze shifted to the man before him—his nominal second uncle. When he was adopted by the Quan Heng couple, Quan Yu had already been in Canada for several years. He had only heard things about this second uncle but had never truly known him until Quan Yu returned to the country. Perhaps due to differences in age and seniority, or perhaps because of their disparity in experience and status, he always felt a sense of intimidation in Quan Yu’s presence. Just like now. Quan Yu spoke in such a calm tone, yet to Quan Xiangru, it sounded like a command.

Quan Xiangru clenched his fists, unwilling to leave just like that. He opened his mouth to speak, but Ning Qinghan walked over, calling his name from a distance. "Xiangru..." Her voice was filled with affection.

After her miscarriage, she hadn’t been feeling well, especially in the afternoons. She had called Quan Xiangru to accompany her to the hospital for a check-up. Initially, he said he was busy, so she had her driver take her to the company, intending for her sister to accompany her. Before she reached the company, she received a call from Quan Xiangru saying he was now available. Ning Qinghan wasn’t cunning, but she wasn’t stupid either. She guessed her sister had called his mother, and his mother had told him to make time to accompany her. Even so, she was happy.

She had the driver stop at the nearest hospital and waited almost half an hour to see the person she longed for. Ning Qinghan hadn’t seen him for several days. The moment she caught sight of him, she felt as if her whole world brightened. Overcome with emotion, she couldn’t help but rush over and hug him. But just then, someone forcefully pushed her away from Quan Xiangru and spoke rudely to her. Seeing Lai Yang’s face, Ning Qinghan immediately thought of Ning Guiwan. In a fit of anger, she had lashed out. Consequently, Quan Xiangru had gotten angry with her and hadn’t even accompanied her for the check-up.

"Brother Xiangru..." Ning Qinghan’s expression was full of the bashfulness of a girl in love. But the moment she caught sight of Quan Yu, her face turned pale, and she halted, not daring to go any further.

Quan Yu glanced at her indifferently, then lifted his hand to the door handle and said to Quan Xiangru, "Control your woman. If you can’t manage her, someone else will." His deep voice was casual, yet the intimidation was palpable.

Quan Xiangru’s face turned even uglier, and Ning Qinghan was terrified. If someone else had said this, Ning Qinghan would have immediately retorted. But the man who spoke was Quan Yu—the powerful head of Ruiyin, whose mere stomp could send tremors through all of Shencheng. His words carried a different weight.

After speaking, Quan Yu didn’t spare the two youngsters another glance.

CLICK.

The soft sound of the door latch completely separated those inside from those outside.

After a moment, Ning Qinghan stepped forward and slowly, tentatively, took hold of Quan Xiangru’s hanging hand. "Brother Xiangru... I’m sorry..."

Quan Xiangru glanced at the hand holding his and gently withdrew it. "Let’s go." With that, he walked away first.

Ning Qinghan watched his unfeeling back, her eyes reddening. She looked down at her own hand as silent tears fell. Four years. Enough time to warm a stone, yet this man’s heart is colder than any rock.

...

Lai Yang, who had been sobbing, heard her Second Uncle Quan’s voice from outside and was instantly too scared to cry. When she saw who entered, she instinctively shrank closer into Ning Guiwan’s embrace. "Second Uncle Quan..." she greeted softly.

Quan Yu’s black suit jacket was open, revealing a black shirt underneath. His features were devoid of emotion, his deep brown, glass-like eyes colder and more desolate than the season itself.

Lai Yang shrank further into Ning Guiwan’s embrace. "How did you know I was here?" Apart from Xiaowan, I didn’t tell anyone else.

Quan Yu sat down on a nearby chair, leisurely crossing his long legs. The fitted shirt highlighted the firm, flat lines of his abdomen, showing no signs of the paunch common for his age—clear evidence of a disciplined fitness routine. "You’ve only been back a few days, and you’re already causing trouble?"

His tone was light, yet Lai Yang became flustered. "I didn’t start the fight! You mustn’t tell my dad... If he finds out, he’ll have the perfect excuse to drag me back home."

Quan Yu’s voice was even lighter. "Don’t let it happen again."

Lai Yang was so grateful she was on the verge of tears. Grimacing from the pain, she raised her hand and nodded in promise. "Yes, yes!"

Ning Guiwan caught a glimpse of Quan Yu’s hand resting on his thigh, his wrist adorned with a black business watch that perfectly accentuated his elite, professional charm. The young nurse treating Lai Yang’s wound had blushed the moment he entered. This man is top-tier at fooling people, and he’s no slouch at attracting women either, Ning Guiwan thought.

"Although the wound isn’t large, it’s deep," the nurse said. "When you go home, try to rest in bed as much as possible and avoid using your knee. I’ll ask the doctor for some medication later. Clean the wound and change the dressing regularly..."

Perhaps because Quan Yu was present, the young nurse was particularly thorough in her instructions. While speaking, her eyes occasionally darted towards the man sitting nearby. His dashingly handsome features, his tasteful attire, and the calm, unhurried, yet powerful aura he exuded—all of it irresistibly drew one’s gaze. She couldn’t help hoping he might glance her way just once.

But Quan Yu’s attention never strayed to the pretty young nurse. Ning Guiwan noticed the disappointment and resentment in the nurse’s eyes as she left and couldn’t help but glance again at the man in question, who looked completely unconcerned.

"Something to say?" Quan Yu suddenly lifted his eyes to meet hers.

Ning Guiwan was startled internally, but her face betrayed nothing. She smiled slowly. "I’ll go get Lai Yang’s medicine. You can keep her company for a bit, can’t you?"

"No!" Lai Yang blurted out. "I want to go with you to get the medicine..." I don’t want to face Second Uncle Quan’s terrifying face alone, even if he is handsome enough to attract young girls at any moment! He’s still so terrifying!