Don’t Ignite It chapter 85

Difficult to Escape Blame – Xu Zhan × Ruan Sen (14)

Aurora keenly sensed something in his words, but they soon entered the banquet hall for dinner, and she didn’t get a chance to ask further. Ruan Sen’s father also returned, bearing some resemblance to his two sons but also different. At first glance, he appeared to be a very mild-mannered gentleman, just back from work, still wearing a dark pinstripe suit. His eyes were filled with tenderness, and there were faint wrinkles at the corners, yet he remained charming even in his late forties.

He greeted Aurora warmly and then turned to Ruan Sen, wanting to hug his son. However, Ruan Sen just pulled Aurora along and gave his father a nod, polite but distant, as if they had not even greeted each other. In this family, Ruan Sen’s relationship with his father had always been strained, and everyone acted as if they hadn’t noticed.

Meanwhile, Qin Shaoyu, who didn’t talk much to anyone, was asked by her father about her studies and her recent involvement in environmental activities. She appeared somewhat complex for a moment but eventually answered sincerely.

It wasn’t until the understated and private family dinner ended, with only family members present, that Aurora finally had the chance to talk to Ruan Sen privately. She sat on the sofa on Ruan Sen’s bedroom balcony, her silver dress shimmering like flowing water under the night sky. Her long curly hair was alluring, and her hazel eyes held a certain shrewdness and calmness. She lit a cigarette.

Her usual impression was that of a passionate, outgoing, generous, and cheerful person, but now, with only Ruan Sen present, she appeared much more reserved than usual. Her beauty seemed less dazzling, and her eyes revealed a degree of keen and cold calculation.

She asked Ruan Sen, “What did you mean by what you said earlier today? You mentioned wanting to talk to me. About what?”

Before returning home, Ruan Sen had actually messaged her about wanting to discuss something with her. As childhood friends, she keenly sensed that Ruan Sen’s attitude was out of the ordinary.

Ruan Sen reached out and touched the jadeite beads on his wrist. They had warmed up from wearing them for a long time. He thought of Xu Zhan, who was probably experiencing the same warmth. He recalled last night when Xu Zhan slept in his arms, leaving visible marks on his neck. Despite the roughness in their intimate encounter, Xu Zhan had nestled obediently in his embrace. Ruan Sen blinked and looked at Aurora.

He spoke candidly, “I met someone in China, and I think I might like him.”

Aurora’s eyebrow raised slightly. She had picked up on something from his words, clearly indicating that the person in question was male. She maintained her composure but gave him a meaningful look, encouraging him to continue.

Ruan Sen said, “At first, I didn’t take it seriously with him. You know me; I don’t like committed relationships. I prefer brief companionship, kisses, hugs, and parting when morning comes. I thought it would be the same with him. But he’s…”

Ruan Sen hesitated to find the right words to describe Xu Zhan. Any description seemed too casual and careless, as if Xu Zhan was just like anyone else. But Xu Zhan was special. Ruan Sen’s gaze even revealed a hint of sweetness as he concluded, “He’s someone who makes me feel at ease.”

That was the most significant feeling Xu Zhan had given him. More than returning home, he felt a sense of security when he leaned against Xu Zhan, rested his head on Xu Zhan’s lap, and listened to Xu Zhan’s soft and gentle voice. He wished that time could stand still and never end.

“So, I want to give him something I’ve never given anyone else,” Ruan Sen confessed, looking straight into the eyes of his fiancée. Aurora was exquisitely beautiful, and any man would be enchanted by her, but Ruan Sen preferred Xu Zhan’s fair and elegant appearance. “I want to give him a promise.”

Aurora had maintained her composed demeanor until now, but her eyebrow raised slightly, indicating that Ruan Sen’s words were unexpected. She had known from the start that they would never get married, but she had thought this engagement could last a bit longer. Now, it seemed that Ruan Sen wanted to end it prematurely.

She had to remind Ruan Sen, “Are you sure you love him and it’s not just a fleeting infatuation? You’ve seen so many alluring beauties, and encountering a well-behaved person occasionally could cloud your judgment.”

Ruan Sen calmly responded, “it’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before.”

The answer was clear.”

The two sat in silence on the balcony for a while. The mansion, covering two thousand square meters, remained brightly lit even in the late night. The warm yellow lights shone on the stone walls, illuminating the spacious balcony.

Aurora extinguished her cigarette in the ashtray. Her hazel eyes remained fixed on Ruan Sen as she finally sensed that he wanted to end their engagement.

Ruan Sen touched his lips, apologizing sincerely, “I’m sorry, Aurora. I ran away halfway.”

They had been friends for more than a decade, and their relationship was quite deep. It was more like brother and sister than friends. Ruan Sen knew about the drugs she hid, her failed relationship at nineteen, and everything she hated but loved at the same time. They weren’t interested in each other romantically, but they had helped each other without any ulterior motives.

Their engagement was the same. Aurora hoped to exchange it for her father’s favor, which would help her establish a firmer foothold in the company and gain a larger share of the family’s wealth distribution.

Now Ruan Sen wanted to withdraw from it halfway, which, in retrospect, seemed rather unfair to Aurora.

Ruan Sen pursed his lips and continued, “We don’t have to announce the end of our engagement too quickly. We can take it slow.”

Aurora crushed her cigarette in the ashtray, her hazel eyes fixed on Ruan Sen.

This young man, who was like her younger brother, had a handsome face which appeared cold but charming

“As for the engagement, we can discuss it later. I already know your thoughts on that,” she whispered. “But what about the person you’ve fallen in love with? What’s his background, and will your family accept him? Also, are you really ready to embrace a marriage, Ruan Sen?”

She called him by his surname, speaking in proper, eloquent Chinese as if reminding him of a past that had faded away.

“Ruan” was his mother’s surname.

In the year he was born, this name, which combined his parents’ surnames, was originally filled with hope and tenderness.

But just three years later, his name was changed to Qin Sheng.