Invincible Dad

CREAK—

Fifteen minutes later, the door of Mingyue Tea House opened.

When Ruan Tang, who was waiting at the entrance, saw Xu Lai emerge, the worry on her face vanished, replaced by her usual icy expression.

Li Jie, on the other hand, was completely dumbfounded.

Xu Lai is unharmed? That's impossible.

He demanded loudly, "Xu Lai, why did the Eighth Master let you go?"

Xu Lai didn't even glance at Li Jie, walking straight toward Ruan Tang.

"Stop right there!" Zhu Fang glared. "Young Master Li is asking you a question. Didn't you hear him? You don't even have basic manners."

Xu Lai laughed mockingly. "You've all been on your knees for so long you've forgotten how to stand. Instead of fawning over one person and flattering another, you'd be better off working to become strong enough for others to rely on."

"You—" Zhu Fang was so furious she could have burst.

"I get it now, Young Master Li! Xu Lai is unharmed because of the face they gave Uncle Li," Song Qin suddenly exclaimed, slapping his forehead in realization.

"Li Zhengnan has been fired. What face does he have left?" Xu Yaoyao said, speechless.

"You ignorant woman! Even though Uncle Li was fired, the owner of Mingyue Tea House still gave him face for old times' sake. Is it so strange that they'd let Young Master Li's classmate go?" Song Qin retorted.

Li Jie's brows furrowed. He felt that something had been off from the very beginning. But after thinking it over, this was the only explanation that seemed plausible.

"Remember this, you owe me your life!" Li Jie declared, pointing at Xu Lai from a distance.

Xu Lai opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. Fine. As long as they're happy.

「In the parking lot.」

Ruan Tang drove off in her BMW 3 Series with Xu Lai in the passenger seat. Xu Yaoyao sat in the back, catching a ride since it was on her way home.

Xu Lai toyed with a black card that Su Daiyi had given him as he left. He was told it granted free dining at all restaurants under the Su Family's name—a diamond black card.

Xu Yaoyao's sharp eyes caught the gold-inlaid character for 'Su' on the card, and she couldn't help but ask, "Xu Lai, the owner of Mingyue Tea House has a mysterious background, and her influence is definitely no less than the Eighth Master's. Why did she keep you behind?"

Ruan Tang, who was driving, couldn't help but prick up her ears. Truth be told, she was a little curious herself.

"Her name is Su Daiyi, and she's from the Su Family of Hangcheng. She asked me to be their Martial Dao Venerate and protect the Su Family's safety," Xu Lai explained without concealment.

"Xu Lai, if you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to. Why bother lying?" Ruan Tang's beautiful brows furrowed.

"I'm telling the truth," Xu Lai said with a helpless sigh. The trust between people was dwindling. No one believed the truth anymore.

"Then why would she give you a black card..." Xu Yaoyao trailed off, then suddenly had a realization and exclaimed, "Xu Lai, don't tell me you're being kept by President Su!"

SCREECH—

Ruan Tang slammed on the brakes. Fortunately, both Xu Lai and Xu Yaoyao were wearing seatbelts and there were no cars behind them, so an accident was avoided.

"Xu Yaoyao," Xu Lai glared. "How can you tarnish a person's reputation out of thin air!"

"Sorry, sorry." Although Xu Yaoyao was blunt, she knew she had misspoken. She quickly pressed her hands together in apology. "Ruan Tang, I was just talking nonsense. Please don't let it affect your relationship."

Ruan Tang quietly released the brake.

They were only a fake couple; whatever Xu Lai did had nothing to do with her. She had no right to interfere. He was merely Yiyi's father. That's all.

The rest of the drive was silent. After dropping Xu Yaoyao off at her home, they drove back to the company.

In the CEO's office, Xu Lai closed the door and explained, "Honey, don't be angry. Please don't believe your best friend. There's nothing going on between Su Daiyi and me."

"First, we're a pretend couple, so I'm not going to get angry. Second, it's your freedom to be with whomever you want." Ruan Tang stretched languidly as she looked over the company's accounts, putting her impressive figure on full display. "I just hope that when you're out having fun with other women, you remember to keep Yiyi from finding out. If you do decide to be with her, just let me know. Our contract will be terminated."

Xu Lai's heart shattered. It seemed that mending the rift between him and Ruan Tang and making their relationship real was still a long and distant journey.

The road ahead is long and arduous. I'll just have to take it slow.

After a moment's thought, Xu Lai told Ruan Tang he had found a job, though he omitted that it was as a school doctor at a school owned by the Su Family.

"Dongli University in East Sea?" Ruan Tang was slightly surprised.

Although Dongli University was a private institution, it was ranked among the top ten in the country and was highly prestigious. Xu Lai had managed to become a school doctor at Dongli? It seemed unbelievable.

"If I remember correctly, my sister, Ruan Lan, studies at Dongli. She's a sophomore in the Chinese Department." Ruan Tang suddenly sighed. A complex look flashed in her eyes, and she gave up on questioning Xu Lai further about his new job.

Xu Lai asked, "What do you mean, 'if you remember correctly'?"

"Five years ago, I had just given birth to Yiyi in a village in the northwest when Ye Wanqing forcibly took her from me, and Grandfather brought me back to the Ruan Family." Ruan Tang said with a self-mocking smile, "Grandfather believed I had brought shame upon the family and ruined our reputation."

"My eldest aunt fanned the flames, insisting that my name be removed from the family registry to preserve our family's honor. Then, I was driven out of the Ruan Family. I was nineteen at the time, and Ruan Lan was only thirteen. She secretly gave me her allowance behind our parents' backs so I could barely finish university. But later..."

"The Ruan Family found out?" Xu Lai clenched his fists.

"Yes. My parents forbade Ruan Lan from contacting me, telling her to consider me dead. I was afraid of implicating her, so we rarely saw each other after that. But just yesterday, she called to ask about Yiyi. How could a bond between sisters like ours ever truly be broken?"

Ruan Tang stood up and folded her arms, positioning herself before the huge floor-to-ceiling window. She gazed at the buildings outside, bathed in sunlight, as if to soak in some of their warmth.

"You lost everything because of me back then." Standing beside Ruan Tang, Xu Lai said, each word deliberate, "I will make sure you take back everything you lost with your own two hands. Not a single thing will be left behind."

"Don't flatter yourself. I did it for Yiyi, not for you." Ruan Tang rolled her eyes dramatically. "So, please don't get too caught up in the act. You're just my fake fiancé."

Ruan Tang once had everything. She was a true darling of heaven, but all of it had vanished like smoke. Her family, her dignity, her reputation... she had lost so, so much. So much that she couldn't even count it all.

In a murmur only she could hear, she whispered, If only I could really get it all back... how wonderful that would be.

The office door suddenly burst open.

The secretary rushed in, sputtering, "President Ruan, something—something big has happened!"

"Compose yourself. What's all the panic about? Speak slowly."

"Phew." The secretary caught her breath. "The Chairman of Huashang is here, saying he has major business to discuss with you."

"Huashang?" Ruan Tang paused, her eyes narrowing. "You mean Huashang, the country's leading fashion conglomerate?"

"Yes, yes, yes," the secretary nodded vigorously.

"Take him to the conference room. I'll be right there," Ruan Tang said calmly, though her heart was filled with confusion. Huashang was a behemoth. What kind of business could they possibly want to discuss with her?

Xu Lai's lips curled into a slight smile. Su Daiyi certainly is fast.