Don't Let Chu Ran Die on Your Watch

Chu Ran arrived outside the Zheng Family's house early that morning.

With a cigarette between his lips, he leaned against his car. Although he was waiting for someone, there wasn't a trace of impatience in his eyes.

But... why was Ning Shile at the Zheng Family's house?

Chu Ran held the cigarette in his mouth, his thick lashes lowered. Occasionally, a dark glimmer stirred in his otherwise calm eyes, vanishing so quickly it was almost impossible to notice.

I'd better ask once he gets in the car.

"Chu Ran!" the Butler opened the villa's front door, and a bright male voice rang out.

Chu Ran looked toward the voice. The golden sunlight was a little blinding, and he had to narrow his eyes before he could make out who was coming.

"You're here so early!" Ning Shile wore a pale yellow hoodie that complemented his little mop of curls. The moment he saw Chu Ran, his eyes curved into a smile, and he waved. "When did you get here? Have you been waiting long?"

"Just got here." Chu Ran stubbed out his cigarette, the corners of his lips lifting. He was about to open the car door for Ning Shile when he noticed someone else behind him.

Chu Ran's smile vanished instantly.

Zheng Ye.

Zheng Ye, on the other hand, seemed to be in an excellent mood. An enchanting smile graced his lips, making him look positively refined. "Sorry for the trouble of coming to pick us up."

What do you mean, pick you up? I'm here for Ning Shile.

The sight of Zheng Ye immediately soured Chu Ran's mood. He was smiling like a sly old fox—clearly up to no good. Chu Ran straightened and blocked the way to the car, looking up at Zheng Ye with a raised brow. "Sorry. Not enough seats."

"Oh, I see. I'll get my car, then." Zheng Ye seemed to have been waiting for exactly that response. He turned to Zheng Mother. "Mom, wait here with Lele for a moment."

Chu Ran: "?"

Zheng Mother nodded and stepped out of the house. "All right. Go ahead."

"Lele can get in my car first." Chu Ran opened the passenger door.

"No need," Zheng Ye declined. "Lele can keep my mom company."

Zheng Ye's scheming was so blatant it might as well have slapped Chu Ran in the face.

Chu Ran closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then looked up. "Then everyone get in. We're going the same way anyway."

"Huh?" Zheng Ye pressed his lips together lightly. "Wouldn't that be imposing?"

Don't give me that act.

Barely resisting the urge to punch Zheng Ye, Chu Ran opened the car door with a stony expression. "Get in."

Zheng Ye chuckled, then turned to Ning Shile. "I'll sit up front, then. Lele, you can sit in the back with my mom."

Ning Shile nodded, blinking at Chu Ran's increasingly dark expression.

[Why does Chu Ran seem so unhappy?]

[These two always seem ready to fight the second they meet. What is this, some born-enemies setup? Can I ship them?]

Seeing the half-smile on Zheng Ye's face, Ning Shile grew worried.

[Take it easy, Brother Ye. Don't let our Chu Ran die on your watch.]

Zheng Ye raised his loosely curled fist to his lips, unable to hold back a quiet laugh.

Chu Ran: "..."

What the hell was that supposed to mean!

They arrived just as the Groom came to pick up the Bride.

The rooms were bustling with excitement. Balloons and streamers covered the floor, and several Bridesmaids in pale blue, off-the-shoulder dresses were enthusiastically hiding the shoes.

The small living room was packed. The Bride sat in the bedroom in her wedding gown, a white veil draped over her head. Happiness and laughter shone in her eyes, and her face was full of hope for her marriage.

[Oh, she's so beautiful, but that Gambler is going to ruin everything!]

A Gambler?

Chu Ran was puzzled by what he heard. What Gambler?

[Sister Bai Qiongyu dated that scumbag Han Jin for a year. During that time, Han Jin took care of her in every possible way, from her food, clothes, housing, and transportation right down to peeling fruit and shelling things for her.]

[A lot of the time, girls don't expect a guy to be rich or particularly handsome. They just want him to treat them right.]

[Han Jin's attentiveness won Bai Qiongyu over. She even defied her family to marry beneath her station. Little did she know that Han Jin was addicted to online gambling, and he was only marrying her for her money!]

Chu Ran frowned slightly at that. So that was what was going on?

The Bridesmaids nearby were teasing one another. Several of the girls glanced toward Zheng Ye, then, amid a flurry of chatter, pushed one Bridesmaid forward.

"Hey, handsome." The Bridesmaid stumbled half a step, her face flushing scarlet. Looking at Zheng Ye, she asked softly, "Could you please help us put this shoe on top of the wardrobe?"

Zheng Ye nodded, took the shoe, and placed it on top of the wardrobe for them.

"Thank you." The bridesmaid's lashes fluttered, and she didn't dare look him in the eye. Clasping her hands, she seemed to spend a long time working up her courage before asking, "My name is Tao Wan. What's yours?"

"Zheng Ye," he answered politely.

Zheng Ye?

Tao Wan froze for a moment. That name sounded so familiar. Was he the young master of the Zheng Family?

No wonder. He has such an air about him...

A little dejected, Tao Wan stepped back twice, no longer daring to strike up a conversation with Zheng Ye.

After watching for a while, Zheng Mother couldn't resist joining the bridesmaids, eagerly helping them hide the shoes.

Less than three minutes after they finished hiding them, the groom, Han Jin, and his wedding party poured in.

Han Jin looked the part of a respectable man. As he came through the door, he adjusted his bow tie and stepped into the bedroom.

When the rest of his party moved to follow him into the bedroom, several young bridesmaids hurried over to remind them, "You have to find the shoes! You can only take the bride away once you've found them!"

The groom's party consisted of a few burly men with vicious expressions who looked like trouble. Hearing that, they frowned. "What shoes are you talking about?"

Ning Shile recognized them at once. [Those four must be the loan sharks!]

[Han Jin owed five million, and in just two years, compound interest ballooned it to thirty million. He told them that once today's wedding was over and the marriage was a done deal, he could pay them back immediately.]

[The loan sharks were afraid Han Jin would run away, so they sent people to keep an eye on him.]

The girls were a little frightened. They backed up half a step, not daring to speak.

The four men sneered at the sight, their gazes full of disdain.

Ning Shile stepped forward to help the bridesmaids out. "It's a wedding tradition. You have ten minutes left."

The men stopped smiling at his words and turned to him with furrowed brows.

The moment the leader, a man with a buzz cut, met Ning Shile's eyes, his expression changed, as though something had caught his interest. "Where'd this pretty boy come from? How about having a drink with us after the wedding?"

Hearing that, Zheng Ye stepped forward.

"Nine minutes left," Ning Shile said, as though he hadn't heard him. "If you don't find the shoes, the Bride won't be leaving with you."

"Oh, for fuck's sake," the leader cursed. They were only here to make sure Han Jin married Bai Qiongyu so he could repay his debt.

And now they couldn't take her away without finding some shoes? He spat under his breath and turned around. "Find the damn shoes!"

With their boss giving the order, the other three had no choice but to turn around and search.

The bridesmaids were all good friends of the bride. This part of the ceremony wasn't meant to make things difficult for the groom, so their hiding places weren't particularly tricky.

The first shoe was behind the couch, and the second was on top of the wardrobe, visible as soon as anyone looked up.

Inside the bedroom, the host was still asking questions according to the program.

No matter what he was asked, Han Jin answered smoothly, making Bai Qiongyu feel both shy and happy.

Ning Shile leaned against the doorframe, watching them quietly.

The camera operator, the master of ceremonies, and the friends gathered around all watched the scene.

Seated in the middle, Bride gazed at Groom with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes.

She was like a piece of fruit steeped in honey wine, sweet and full.

Amid a few bursts of laughter, Groom could no longer resist lifting Bride's veil. He leaned close, cupped Bride's face, and rested his forehead against hers.

Neither of them spoke in that moment, yet it was like a gentle rain falling over every inch of a lawn, nourishing everything in silence.

The photographer zoomed in, preserving the moment.

Ning Shile found it hard to believe that Han Jin was faking the love he showed in that moment. If it was all an act, it was far too cruel.