Chapter 115: Sugar Coating
Ruan Yu had been keeping vigil by Teng Yi's bedside for a long time, but he showed no signs of waking.
Rui Shu said it must be due to the medication administered through the IV and advised Ruan Yu to go home and return the next day. Ruan Yu agreed—no matter what, she needed to change out of her current attire first.
As she descended from the second floor, she spotted Teng Hao sitting alone by the floor-to-ceiling window in the hall, gazing at the soft glow of the courtyard lights, lost in thought.
Hearing her footsteps, Teng Hao turned around.
"How's my brother?" he asked.
"He's fine, just sleeping. Don't worry."
Teng Hao nodded. "Are you leaving now?"
"Yes, I'll come back tomorrow."
He nodded again.
"Get some rest early. I'm heading out."
Teng Hao remained silent as he watched Ruan Yu walk to the foyer to change her shoes. Then, he quietly maneuvered his wheelchair to follow her.
"What's wrong?" Ruan Yu sensed he had something to say.
"Top Scholar... I don’t know how you feel about my brother now, and I have no right to pry into your personal life. But could I ask you, for the sake of your past affection, to help him?" Teng Hao gripped the wheelchair, his eyes drifting toward the second floor. "It's all my fault. My condition wasn’t caused by him, but his suffering is entirely because of me. Yet now, as a useless cripple, I can’t do anything for him. All I can do is beg you..."
"Teng Hao." Ruan Yu crouched down, took his hand, and met his gaze at eye level. "You're not useless. You mustn’t say that, and you mustn’t think it. As long as you’re okay, he’ll be okay too. Don’t worry—I won’t leave him. All these years, there’s been no one else in my heart but him."
"What about Luo Sheng?"
"He’s my friend."
Teng Hao exhaled in relief.
God knew how worried he had been—worried that after finally reuniting with this radiant prize, he’d have to watch someone else snatch her away.
Ruan Yu stood up. "I’ll go now. See you tomorrow."
"Okay, see you tomorrow."
By the time Ruan Yu returned to Duo Garden, it was already midnight. The neighborhood was quiet. Before she even reached her driveway, she spotted Luo Sheng’s sports car parked in her spot.
She pulled over and knocked on his window. The man inside was playing a game on his phone. Seeing her, he gestured at the screen and mouthed, "Give me two minutes."
Ruan Yu didn’t wait. She walked straight past him to unlock her front door.
Luo Sheng hurried after her but paused mid-step, remembering something. He doubled back to his car and pulled out a bouquet of flowers.
"Hey, hey, wait for me!" He slipped inside just as Ruan Yu was about to close the door.
Once inside, he handed her the flowers.
"Here, these are for you. I delivered them personally today. Touched?"
Ruan Yu didn’t take them.
"Why not?"
"Because I don’t dare."
Luo Sheng shot her an exasperated look, set the flowers on the coffee table, and collapsed onto the sofa with a yawn before resuming his game. He didn’t state his reason for coming, but Ruan Yu already knew.
She poured him a glass of water and sat across from him.
"Since you’re here, let’s have a proper talk."
"Why so serious?" He glanced up from his screen. "Feels like we’re about to cut ties."
"Not cutting ties—just making things clear."
"About what?"
Ruan Yu pointed at the bouquet. "Stop sending me flowers from now on."
"Should I stop sending flowers, or stop pursuing you?"
"Both."
Luo Sheng put his phone away and leaned in close, studying her face with a serious expression."You think I'll stop just because you tell me to? Don't underestimate this young master's determination, Ruan Yu. Let me make it clear—you might see me as carefree usually, but my feelings for you are genuine."
"I know they're genuine. That's exactly why I feel guilty toward you." Ruan Yu sighed. "But Luo Sheng, I can't love anyone else."
Whether receiving the most vibrant flowers or the most enviable confessions, the only person she could think of was Teng Yi.
Because he had given her all these things before.
The sweetness of the past had long crystallized into a sugar-coated shell, wrapping around her layer by layer, leaving her unable to feel moved or stirred again.
Luo Sheng fell silent, but it was clear he was holding back his frustration.
"I'm sorry. If you want to blame anyone, blame me. I just don’t want you wasting your time on me," Ruan Yu said remorsefully.
"Wasting time? My time isn’t that precious. Besides, I understand everything you’ve said. After chasing you for so many years, do you think I don’t know my chances? I’m not delusional." Luo Sheng glanced at the living room filled with fresh flowers. "Don’t feel burdened by what I do. I just want to give it one last try. If I don’t, and I lose simply because 'he came back,' I’ll never accept it."
"Have you accepted it now?" Ruan Yu ventured to ask.
Luo Sheng shook his head. "Not yet."
"What will it take, then?"
He looked at her, his eyes suddenly deepening with emotion.
"I’ll only give up once I see him treat you right."
Ruan Yu tossed and turned all night. Though everything had been laid bare between them, her heart remained unsettled—worrying about Teng Yi, and his illness.
At daybreak, she got up, dressed, freshened up, and even made some sandwiches to bring to the Teng household.
When her car arrived at Jinting, she noticed the small trees in the Teng family’s yard had sprouted new buds, blooming with jasmine flowers. The clusters of delicate white blossoms seemed to bloom right in the depths of her heart.
Enchanted, Ruan Yu bent down, moving from one plant to another, inhaling their fragrance, momentarily forgetting to ring the doorbell—until she spotted Teng Yi jogging toward her from the direction of the small park. Only then did she straighten up.
He was still wearing black athletic wear, but not the same outfit as last time. This time, it was a short-sleeved set.
Teng Yi had also noticed her from afar. He had been jogging at a steady pace, but upon seeing her standing at his doorstep, his steps faltered inexplicably, slowing to a walk.
Ruan Yu wasn’t in a hurry either. She waited until he approached before asking, "Why are you out jogging so early in the morning?"
He had just fainted last night—shouldn’t he be resting instead of exercising? Even if he wanted to stay fit, this wasn’t the right time.
"Why shouldn’t I jog?" Teng Yi countered.
The question completely shut her down.
She suddenly remembered Rui Shu’s words last night when she escorted her downstairs: Ruan Yu was to pretend she didn’t know about Teng Yi’s fainting spell. He was prideful—even Teng Hao had been kept in the dark initially. But since the brothers lived together, the truth couldn’t stay hidden forever. Still, aside from Teng Hao, no one else knew about Teng Yi’s condition. And the person Teng Yi most wanted to keep it from was likely Ruan Yu.
Understanding Rui Shu’s meaning, Ruan Yu had agreed—but in her concern, she had nearly slipped up.
"I just meant… it’s still chilly in the mornings and evenings. Aren’t you cold jogging in so little? You might catch a chill."
Teng Yi wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced at her.Ruan Yu felt a bit guilty, but fortunately, he didn’t press the topic further.
“You’re here so early—is something the matter?” Teng Yi asked.
“Oh, I made some sandwiches and brought them for… Teng Hao, for Teng Hao to try.” She held up the lunchbox in her hand.
“Teng Hao’s already left for the company,” he said flatly.
“He’s gone?”
“What? You brought him breakfast without checking in first?”
“We agreed on it last night. He must’ve forgotten.”
“Last night?” Teng Yi seemed to be recalling the events of the previous evening. “At the charity gala, you two discussed breakfast?”
“Why can’t we talk about breakfast at a charity gala? We didn’t just talk about breakfast—we covered lunch and dinner too. For the next few days, I might be intruding on all three meals at your place.”
Teng Yi stayed silent, letting her ramble on.
“Since Teng Hao’s gone, you probably haven’t had breakfast yet. Fine, consider yourself lucky.” With that, Ruan Yu headed toward the foyer.
After a few steps, she realized Teng Yi hadn’t followed. She turned back immediately.
He was still standing in the same spot, watching her motionlessly.
“Why are you staring? Open the door. I’m already here—aren’t you going to invite me in?” She pointed at the door, putting on an air of “a guest is a guest.”
Teng Yi thought for a moment but didn’t argue. He simply stepped forward and opened the door for her.
The two entered together.
Somewhere in the northern part of the house, a window had been left open. The moment Ruan Yu stepped inside, a gust of wind hit her, making her cough twice in succession. Teng Yi immediately turned to her, alert.
“What’s wrong?”
Afraid of making a scene, she covered her mouth and nose, unable to answer right away.
His tension grew.
“I’ve already had the house cleaned, and the cat hasn’t been back. You—”
“I’m fine, I’m fine.” Ruan Yu waved her hand. “Just a normal cough, not an asthma attack.”
He glanced around the room before walking to the north side to close the window.
Ruan Yu watched him with a smile.
“What now?” Her grin unsettled him.
“Did you know I’d be coming back to your place?”
“What do you mean?”
“You had the house cleaned and kept the cat away—wasn’t that to prevent my allergies from triggering another asthma attack? Doesn’t that mean you knew I’d be back?”
Her words tangled like a tongue twister, dizzying yet deliberate. She knew he’d understand.
Teng Yi removed his fitness tracker from his wrist and poured himself a glass of water at the table.
He drank without responding.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Host Ruan has already said it all. What else is left for me?” His tone hovered between admitting concern and denying it.
“Am I wrong?”
“You’re not wrong, but how can Host Ruan be so sure you’re the only one around me allergic to cat hair?”
“Who else? If it’s really such a coincidence, I’d love to meet them.” She parried effortlessly, sharp as ever.
Teng Yi exhaled, the corner of his lips quirking slightly.
It had been a long time since she’d seen him smile. That fleeting expression carried a sense of nostalgia, as if from another lifetime.
Ruan Yu was momentarily stunned.
“Have a seat. I’m going upstairs to shower and change.” Avoiding her gaze, he turned and headed up.
She watched him ascend. Only when the sound of his footsteps faded did she bring her sandwiches to the dining table, arranging them neatly.
A while later, Teng Yi came back down, freshly changed and looking clean and refreshed. Yet as he passed by her, a faint trace of cigarette smoke lingered.
He’d been smoking again.
Rui Shu had mentioned it last night—Teng Yi nowadays was addicted to cigarettes and alcohol, treating them as his lifelines against stress."Did you smoke?" Ruan Yu asked bluntly, completely unaware that she sounded just like a nagging wife.
Teng Yi didn’t seem to notice either. He lowered his head to sniff his clothes, then politely apologized.
"Don’t apologize to me—apologize to yourself. Smoking first thing in the morning isn’t good." Ruan Yu rummaged through her bag and pulled out a strawberry-flavored lollipop. "Next time you feel like smoking, have this instead. I heard sugar can help curb cravings."
Teng Yi: "..."
Smoking first thing in the morning isn’t good, but eating sugar is?
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