After the Arranged Marriage, I Was Pampered by the Powerful Tycoon - Chapter 10

Cheng Ruan sat absentmindedly in the passenger seat. To keep himself from scratching the itchy rash on his arms and neck, he bit his lip hard, attempting to use pain to distract his nerves.

Through the rearview mirror, Luo Mingzhi observed Cheng Ruan’s expression and pressed down harder on the accelerator.

“We’re almost there,” Luo Mingzhi said suddenly amidst the silence.

Physiological tears welled up in Cheng Ruan’s eyes. Hearing Luo Mingzhi’s voice, he turned his face toward him, nodded, and said, “Okay.”

Luo Mingzhi said no more. He drove all the way until they finally reached the health station.

It was currently the coldest time in Muyao Town. Although Cheng Ruan was wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt, he was no match for the whistling mountain winds. He hugged his arms tightly as he and Luo Mingzhi walked into the brightly lit health station.

Unexpectedly, the infrastructure of the health station was fairly complete, and the environment was cleaner than imagined. An old doctor in a white coat was hunched over his desk writing busily, a thick stack of medical books by his side.

Sensing someone’s arrival, he turned and stood up, spotting the mask-wearing Cheng Ruan first.

“Allergies?” The old doctor perceptively noticed Cheng Ruan’s abnormality, yet he seemed to be asking Luo Mingzhi.

Luo Mingzhi gave a hum of affirmation. Cheng Ruan nodded and added, “It seems I’ve had an allergic reaction to Chinese medicine.”

The old doctor reached a conclusion in his mind. He examined the red rash on Cheng Ruan’s arms and neck, took out a medical kit to treat him, and then prepared several doses of Chinese herbal medicine, writing down a long list of medical instructions to hand to Cheng Ruan.

Cheng Ruan froze slightly. “Doctor, I seem to be… allergic to Chinese medicine.”

The old doctor peered at him through thick glasses. “Heart-sickness.”

Cheng Ruan paused for a moment. He took the medicine and pulled out his phone to settle the bill. “Sorry for the disturbance so late at night. How much is it in total?”

The old doctor smiled and said, “Since Mingzhi brought you here, let’s waive it.”

“You two know each other?” Cheng Ruan looked at Luo Mingzhi in surprise, but the latter remained calm.

The old doctor said, “It can be considered a stroke of fate. Go on.”

Cheng Ruan thanked the old doctor and walked out in a daze, walking side-by-side with Luo Mingzhi to the car.

Cheng Ruan asked curiously, “Did you know that old doctor before?”

Luo Mingzhi said calmly, “He once tried to save my parents’ lives.”

Cheng Ruan hadn’t expected that answer. He let out a belated “Ah” and whispered a soft “I’m sorry.”

“It’s no matter.” Luo Mingzhi glanced at Cheng Ruan, who was hugging his arms to shield himself from the wind, and opened the passenger door.

“Go back and rest early.”

Cheng Ruan slept until dawn. When he woke up, the red rash on his body had indeed faded significantly. After checking himself in the mirror, the doorbell rang. Cheng Ruan walked over to open it; he thought it would be Lu Ling, but to his surprise, it was a hotel waiter.

The waiter entered carrying the Chinese medicine and asked with concern, “This is the medicine Mr. Luo asked us to brew. How are you feeling now, Mr. Cheng?”

Cheng Ruan stared at the medicine in the cup. A familiar and pungent smell wafted over, and he couldn’t help but retch several times, rushing into the bathroom.

A few minutes later, Cheng Ruan emerged from the bathroom with a pale face. He shook his head at the waiter. “Just leave the medicine here; I’ll drink it later.”

The waiter hesitated but eventually followed Cheng Ruan’s instructions and placed the medicine on the table. Shortly after, the doorbell rang again.

As soon as Lu Ling walked in, she smelled the scent of Chinese medicine. She subconsciously frowned, wanting to call someone to dispose of it immediately, but then she heard Cheng Ruan say, “It’s okay.”

Lu Ling hesitated but decided to get straight to the point. “Mr. Cheng, the old lady from that day is surnamed Huang. She is the wife of Mr. Sun Yiliang.”

Cheng Ruan raised an eyebrow. “You saw Master Sun?”

Lu Ling nodded. “We chatted casually for a bit. He doesn’t seem to have any intention of picking up his craft again.”

Cheng Ruan walked to the balcony and took a deep breath. “Then we’ll have to take the long view.”

Lu Ling followed him to the balcony and continued, “The doctor at that health station used to be the vice president of Jincheng First Hospital. But shortly after Mr. Luo’s parents passed away, he resigned from his position and came to Muyao Town to open that health station.”

Cheng Ruan couldn’t help but wonder, “Why?”

Lu Ling hesitated for a moment before stating her guess. “During their lives, Mr. Luo’s parents were very invested in the development of Muyao Town. According to our investigation, their fatal car accident occurred due to competition over the land-use rights of the town center back then.”

Cheng Ruan realized, “No wonder Luo Mingzhi secured the land-use rights shortly after taking over.”

Lu Ling added, “On the eve of Mr. Luo securing those rights, the CEO of the previous developer for the Muyao Town project was anonymously reported and investigated. The entire group has been in prison for ten years now.”

Cheng Ruan rubbed his chin and pondered for a moment. “I see.”

After Lu Ling left, Cheng Ruan stared at the medicine in front of him. His gaze brushed against the ring on his ring finger. After hesitating between pouring it out or drinking it, he chose to pinch his nose and gulp it down in one go.

After finishing the medicine, Cheng Ruan quickly rinsed his mouth several times before the bitterness finally subsided. He pulled up his sleeves; surprisingly, he didn’t have an allergic reaction like he usually did.

Cheng Ruan bit his lip, suppressed his emotions, and prepared to head out.

“Mr. Cheng!” The receptionist on the night shift stood up excitedly upon seeing him. “Are you feeling better?”

Cheng Ruan replied, “Thanks, much better.”

The receptionist said, “That’s great. You’re really so gentle, Mr. Cheng. Your temper isn’t anything like the rumors say…”

Cheng Ruan was puzzled by the receptionist’s rambling. “Huh?”

The receptionist shook her head and smiled. “Nothing! It’s just good that you’re okay. This is the chocolate Mr. Luo asked us to prepare; he said you might need it.”

The receptionist placed a box of chocolates in front of Cheng Ruan, looking at him with great anticipation.

Cheng Ruan declined decisively. “No thanks, I don’t need it.”

The receptionist urged, “It’s a kind gesture from Mr. Luo. The medicine is so bitter; please take it.”

Cheng Ruan thought about it and took the chocolates. “Alright, thank you.”

It was another day of visits and research. Because the schedule was so tight, Cheng Ruan didn’t even have time to say more than a few words to Luo Mingzhi privately. They were set to head back to Jincheng tomorrow. Cheng Ruan curled up in the armchair, his gaze falling on the chocolate box on the coffee table. Thoughtfully, he picked up his phone.

It was 9:15 PM; Luo Mingzhi probably hadn’t gone to bed yet.

Thinking about how he had taken him to the doctor in the middle of the night and even had the receptionist deliver a box of chocolates, Cheng Ruan felt he should thank him in person.

Cheng Ruan stood up and knocked on Luo Mingzhi’s door.

Cheng Ruan sat stiffly on the sofa. Luo Mingzhi seemed to have just come out of the shower; a faint mist of water still clung to him. A black silk bathrobe was loosely draped over his body, accentuating the firm, powerful lines of his muscles.

Cheng Ruan subconsciously swallowed, his throat feeling dry. “Am I… coming at a bad time?”

Luo Mingzhi answered with a question instead. “Is your allergy better?”

Cheng Ruan looked up sharply, saw something, and then lowered his head again. “It’s better.”

“Um…” Cheng Ruan gathered his courage to say thanks. “About last night… and the chocolates. Thank you.”

“I always thought I was allergic to Chinese medicine. I didn’t expect that the thing that cured my allergy this time would actually be Chinese medicine.”

Luo Mingzhi poured a glass of lemon water and placed it in front of Cheng Ruan. He then sat on the sofa opposite him, his sturdy chest faintly visible under the bathrobe.

“Thanks.” Cheng Ruan glanced at the glass.

Luo Mingzhi studied the anxious Cheng Ruan and said calmly, “Why are you so nervous? It’s not like I’m going to eat you.”

Cheng Ruan tried his best to look away from Luo Mingzhi’s chest, taking a sip of water as a cover. “You’re seeing things. Why would I—how could I be nervous?”

“I’m just, just…”

Luo Mingzhi crossed his legs and leaned back relaxedly. “Just?”

Cheng Ruan lowered his head. “Just a little nervous.”

Luo Mingzhi let out a chuckle, his sexy Adam’s apple bobbing slightly. “We’ve already done the most intimate things. Is there anything else that could make Mr. Cheng nervous?”

“You’re not allowed to mention that again!” Cheng Ruan’s weakness was instantly seized. He stomped his foot and couldn’t help asking, “Luo Mingzhi, what exactly are you thinking? I dragged you to the wedding, forced you to marry me, forced you to… do that. Aren’t you angry?”

Luo Mingzhi looked up, seemingly not understanding Cheng Ruan’s question.

“Shouldn’t you hate me?” Cheng Ruan voiced his imagination. “I was so arrogant and overbearing. You should be happy to see me ridiculed by outsiders, stand by and watch when I’m having an allergic reaction, and then look for an opportunity to take revenge on me…”

As Cheng Ruan continued his flights of fancy, Luo Mingzhi interrupted him with a smile. “Why would I do that?”

Luo Mingzhi turned his face away. “Cheng Ruan, I am a businessman.”

“When making any decision, I only consider whether the current choice will maximize profit.”

Luo Mingzhi picked up a slim cigarette and lit it between his fingers, exhaling a puff of white smoke. “Marrying into your family, from any perspective, is not a losing deal for me.”

Cheng Ruan heard the hidden meaning in Luo Mingzhi’s words. Recalling his previous actions, he suddenly felt like he was sitting on needles.

Luo Mingzhi continued to smile. “Since your conscience has found you, do you want to stay and make it up to me?”

Cheng Ruan’s face turned deathly pale from the fright. He stood up abruptly. “I’m leaving.”

Just as he reached the door, Cheng Ruan had a sudden impulse. He turned back, snatched the cigarette from Luo Mingzhi’s hand, and crushed it in the ashtray.

“I hate the smell of smoke.” Cheng Ruan didn’t know where he got the courage, but he looked Luo Mingzhi in the eye with righteous indignation. “My dad died of lung cancer from smoking. If you want to live longer, don’t smoke.”

This time, Cheng Ruan left without looking back.

The door closed. Luo Mingzhi leaned back on the sofa. In the shifting light and shadows, his face held an unreadable stillness.

After a long while, he stood up, the corner of his mouth curving upward ever so slightly.

The first thing Cheng Ruan did after returning was to visit the “grounded” Wu Zhou.

Hearing that he had an allergic reaction in Muyao Town, Wu Zhou had been frantic. He threw tantrums and rolled around with his former brother-in-law, wishing he could grow wings and teleport to Muyao Town immediately. No matter how Cheng Ruan comforted him over the phone, he wouldn’t listen.

Cheng Ruan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Missy, don’t worry. Aren’t I all better now?”

Wu Zhou cursed, “You’re the Missy! Your whole family is Missy! Why were you born so delicate? You made me worry to death.”

“You’re afraid of thunder, allergic to medicine, speak without thinking, and you’re stupid and clumsy. You look like you’re not afraid of anything, but you’re actually a huge coward,” Wu Zhou nagged. “You complain that I’m worried for nothing, but who else would care about your business!”

Cheng Ruan said guiltily, “Oh, Mother Wu, stop worrying. Aren’t I fine? I’m a grown man.”

“I was wrong. How about you hit me to vent your anger?”

Wu Zhou was successfully amused. “Ren Han has been sent abroad to lie low. Do you want to go with him for some re-education?”

Cheng Ruan showed honest disgust. “I’ll pass on that.”

“By the way.” Wu Zhou remembered the first-hand gossip he had just acquired. “I know who exposed Ren Han. Are you interested?”

Cheng Ruan plopped down on the carpet and started fiddling with Wu Zhou’s game console. “Who? I actually am a bit curious.”

Wu Zhou called him out. “You don’t look curious at all.”

Cheng Ruan pressed his hands together. “Please.”

“Fine, this young master will graciously tell you.” Wu Zhou stood with his hands on his hips, satisfied, and began building atmosphere for the big reveal. “After my tireless inquiries through various channels, feedback from countless eyes and ears, and after numerous failed attempts to find out…”

Cheng Ruan quickly interrupted him. “Keep it simple?”

“Hmph, another one who doesn’t understand the essence of a story.” Wu Zhou let out a sigh, let go of his pose, and sat down next to Cheng Ruan.

“My former brother-in-law said that Luo Mingzhi did it.”