Chapter 72: You’ll Sleep in My Room
The police contacted Ren Tianhai, who couldn’t believe the actions of Ye Linzhen and her son. He erupted in fury over the phone, wishing he could rush back to his precious daughter’s side immediately and teach that disgusting mother-son pair a proper lesson.
In the end, under Ren Tianhai’s arrangements, the police sent Ren Yun Shen to the hospital for treatment. Ren Tianhai also dispatched subordinates from Haike’s headquarters to take care of him, while he himself booked the earliest flight back to Liaocheng the next day.
The matter was finally settled, but all the commotion had dragged on until half past ten.
Standing at the entrance of the Ren family’s home, Ruan Yu watched the police car speed away into the distance and suddenly realized she needed to return to school.
“Teng Hao, I have to go. See you tomorrow.”
Ruan Yu waved at Teng Hao and turned to leave, but the moment she took a step, she felt the strap of her backpack being yanked from behind, immobilizing her.
Frustrated, she turned around and saw Teng Yi standing beside her.
“At this hour, do you really think you’ll get in?” he asked.
“I will—after getting scolded.”
“Don’t go back. Stay at my place tonight.”
“No! Let go of me!”
Ruan Yu struggled a few times, but Teng Yi didn’t loosen his grip.
“There are no buses at this hour. How are you getting back?”
“I’ll take a taxi.”
“A girl taking a taxi alone in the middle of the night is too dangerous.”
“Then what do you suggest? Escort me yourself?”
“Me? Why should I?” He smirked, mimicking her cold tone from the police station. “We’re not even close.”
Ruan Yu refused to back down, matching his stubbornness. “Exactly. We’re not close. If we’re not close, why are you insisting I stay at your place?”
Teng Yi sighed helplessly. Arguing with a sharp-witted top scorer was exhausting.
“Alright.” He tightened his grip slightly, pulling her closer. “Enough, okay?”
Ruan Yu pressed her lips together, still fuming.
“If you don’t want to be close, then we’re not.” Teng Yi glanced at Teng Hao. “You’re close with him—go sleep at his place.”
Ruan Yu: “…”
This guy was way too cunning!
Teng Hao, who had been watching the exchange with exasperation, yawned. “Top Scorer, just stop being stubborn. My brother’s only looking out for you. Besides, what’s the big deal about staying one night? It’s not like we’re interested in you.”
“Kid, watch your mouth,” Teng Yi shot him a look.
“What? It’s the truth. Unless you are interested?”
Teng Yi stayed silent, but Ruan Yu’s face flushed red.
“Fine, fine! I’ll stay! Stop talking nonsense!”
Teng Hao shrugged.
Teng Yi pulled Ruan Yu toward the Teng family’s front door.
Once inside, the warmth of the house was a stark contrast to the chilly night outside.
Teng Yi took off his suit jacket and headed upstairs.
Ruan Yu and Teng Hao went to the living room. With the tension finally easing, exhaustion set in, and they both collapsed onto the sofa.
“That Ren Zhuo—I knew at first glance he was no good. If I’d known he was such a creep, I would’ve hit him even harder,” Teng Hao muttered, then turned to Ruan Yu. “Top Scorer, don’t you think I was especially cool today?”
“Yes, yes, you’re a true hero who vanquished evil,” Ruan Yu replied flatteringly.
Teng Hao perked up even more, flexing his arms. “Well, now this hero is thirsty. Go pour him a glass of water.”
Ruan Yu glared at him, but he glared right back.
“Hurry up!”
-?-Ruan Yu had no choice. After all, she was staying at their place tonight, so she couldn’t be too stubborn. Besides, Teng Hao had genuinely done a good deed—this level of indulgence was only fair.
She walked toward the bar counter.
On the wooden tray at the bar, there had originally been two identical ceramic cups. Now, there was an extra one, making it three. It had been a long time since she last visited the Teng household, so she didn’t know when this additional cup had appeared or who it belonged to.
Probably Shen Bing’s, she guessed.
Ruan Yu casually picked up one of the cups and flipped it over to check the bottom—a pair of tiny wings. She set it down and picked up another. When she saw the pattern at the bottom, her breath suddenly slowed.
Her fingers instinctively brushed against the stud in her ear.
A little fish.
The bottom of the cup bore the same little fish design as her earring.
"Reward." Teng Yi’s voice came from behind her.
Ruan Yu turned around.
"I owe you a reward," he said as he walked up beside her.
"You still remember that." She was pleasantly surprised.
"Never forgot." He picked up his own cup, poured himself half a glass of water, then glanced at her with feigned nonchalance. "Do you like this reward? Little Fish."
His voice was smooth and melodious.
Little Fish.
It sounded like he was calling her, yet also like he was simply referring to the pattern at the bottom of the cup.
Ruan Yu’s heart raced wildly again, like a deer returning to the forest.
He always had this effect—effortlessly controlling her heartbeat and throwing her off balance.
"Top Scholar!" Teng Hao shouted from the living room. "Why’s it taking you so long to pour a glass of water?"
Ruan Yu quickly set down the cup in her hand, grabbed Teng Hao’s, filled it with water, and carried it out. She deliberately avoided Teng Yi’s gaze—and the question.
"Here, water!" She placed the cup in front of Teng Hao.
Teng Hao studied her.
"What’s up with your face?"
"What about it?"
"It’s really red."
Ruan Yu feigned calm. "As red as when you carried the girl next door?"
"Shut up!" Teng Hao flushed in embarrassment.
Teng Yi walked over with a chuckle and lightly kicked Teng Hao’s shin.
"Go take a shower," he said, then turned to Ruan Yu. "You should go rest too. You’ll be sleeping in my room tonight—I’ve left fresh clothes on the bed for you."
"If I take your room, where will you sleep?"
"I’ll squeeze in with Teng Hao."
"That won’t do!" She couldn’t possibly intrude and take over his space.
"Then what do you suggest? Don’t tell me you want to squeeze in with me?" Teng Hao smirked beside them. "I already said I’m not interested in you."
"I meant I could sleep on the sofa," Ruan Yu said.
"And let a girl sleep on the sofa while we two grown men take the bed? Even if you could sleep, we couldn’t!" Teng Hao declared righteously.
"Oh-ho-ho, you’re barely out of diapers and already calling yourself a grown man?"
"Say that again!" Teng Hao grabbed a throw pillow from the sofa, pretending to hurl it at her. "You think I won’t hit you?"
"If you can’t even bear to make a girl sleep on the sofa, how could you possibly bring yourself to hit one?"
Teng Hao was completely at her mercy, his face burning red again as he angrily kneaded the pillow in his arms.
Teng Yi watched their bickering without a word, simply smiling.
"Bro! See, I told you before! The first time I met her, I knew I’d never like her!"
"Who needs you to like me? I’m not here to date you!" Ruan Yu laughed.
Teng Hao: "..."Why does this sound so familiar again?
-?-
This was Ruan Yu's first time entering Teng Yi's room.
His room was larger than Teng Hao's, with a minimalist style throughout. From the walls to the cabinets to the bedding, everything was in classic black, white, and gray tones—simple yet sharp. A huge mural hung on the wall above the bed, where the artist had sketched a cassette player and a breakdancer in a one-handed handstand with just a few strokes—abstract yet instantly recognizable. The most elaborate part of the room was the lighting. The ceiling light was grand, while several floor lamps were placed by the bed, sofa, and corners, each serving its purpose while also adding to the decor.
As soon as she entered, Ruan Yu's gaze was drawn to the pot of jasmine on the windowsill. Its emerald leaves and delicate white flowers brought a touch of life to the room.
Ever since Teng Hao had called her to the practice room for tutoring, Ruan Yu had been worried about this little jasmine plant. She hadn’t expected Teng Yi to move it into his room, repot it, and take such good care of it.
"Hi," she murmured.
She reached out and gently touched the jasmine’s leaves, as if greeting an old friend. A warmth spread through her chest, dissolving her earlier awkwardness.
The change of clothes Teng Yi had prepared for her lay on the bedside—a white T-shirt and a pair of light-colored sweatpants, both clearly oversized for a man.
Ruan Yu took off her jacket, picked up the clothes, and headed into the bathroom.
The bathroom was also decorated in black, white, and gray—spacious and elegant. Besides Teng Yi’s own toiletries, there was an unopened toothbrush and towel on the sink.
So, that was why he had rushed upstairs earlier—to prepare these for her.
How could a guy be so thoughtful and considerate?
Ruan Yu washed up carefully, making sure not to leave a single strand of hair or any trace behind in his bathroom. As she undressed, a sharp pain shot through her elbow, and she belatedly noticed that the scraped skin on her arm was now red and swollen.
Teng Yi’s bathroom didn’t have a bathtub, just a shower. Gritting her teeth against the pain, Ruan Yu let the water cascade over her. After showering, she used the hairdryer to dry her freshly washed underwear as well.
Just as she finished dressing, there was a knock at the door.
Startled, Ruan Yu quickly stuffed her clothes into a storage bag and double-checked that the bathroom was spotless before opening the door.
Teng Yi stood outside.
He had also just showered, dressed in a similar white T-shirt and sweatpants, the faint scent of soap lingering around him.
"Done?" he asked.
"Yeah," Ruan Yu replied, leaning against the doorframe, too embarrassed to meet his eyes. "What’s up?"
"To put medicine on you." He held up a tube of ointment. "Your arm."
"I can do it myself."
She reached for the ointment, but he pulled his hand back, leaving her grasping at air.
"I’ll help you," Teng Yi said.
"No need."
"What? Afraid I’ll go in there and eat you?" He smirked. "Didn’t realize you were so timid."
"That’s not what I meant."
"Neither did I."
Ruan Yu hesitated.
Teng Yi looked at her. "If you don’t let me help you, how can I trouble you again in the future?"
She knew he was referring to the Yunnan Baiyao spray and patches in the practice room.
"Even if I don’t help you, plenty of others can," she muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" He hadn’t caught it.
"I said, then I’ll trouble you!"She released her hand from the door and let him enter. As he brushed past her, whether intentionally or not, his arm lightly grazed her shoulder.
Ruan Yu quickly sidestepped to avoid him, moving so abruptly and with such exaggerated motion that it made him laugh outright.
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