Return To The Time Before Being Toyed With By My Fiancée - Chapter 67

Ning Ruohuan’s words acted as a soothing balm for Luo Yanzhi. Since that day, although Luo Yanzhi still felt flashes of insecurity, she was much better than before. She no longer chased after Ning Ruohuan as she used to, desperately seeking confirmation of her feelings.

The remaining forces of Luo Qingyun had been completely uprooted from the Luo Group, placing it entirely under Luo Yanzhi’s control. Consequently, the cooperation between the Ning and Luo families deepened as the relationship between the two women grew closer.

The outside world, having just barely recovered from the shock of the internal shifts within both families, was now buzzing again with the news of their alliance. Rumors and speculations flew wild, and even the old engagement pact made by the previous generation was dragged back into the light.

As the sole direct heir of the Luo family, the only person deemed a worthy match for Luo Yanzhi was the direct successor of the Ning family—who was, without question, Ning Ruohuan. Yet, neither the Ning nor the Luo family made an official statement.

Ning Ruohuan sat with her legs crossed, her fingertips sliding across a tablet as she reviewed the latest financial news. She adjusted her headset occasionally, replying briefly to messages from her subordinates.

When the screen finally went dark, Ning Ruohuan rubbed her stiff neck and tilted her head back, sighing. She glanced toward the study door. The orange glow of the setting sun filtered through the half-open window, casting a warm hue across the floor.

She picked up the teacup beside her. The tea was lukewarm and slightly bitter, but she didn’t mind.

A knock sounded at the door. A faint smile touched Ning Ruohuan’s lips as she set the cup down and folded her hands in her lap. “Come in.”

The door opened, and Luo Yanzhi entered carrying a plate of fresh fruit. She closed the door behind her, curious as to why the room was so dim.

“Can I turn on the light?” Luo Yanzhi asked.

Ning Ruohuan nodded. “I was reading and lost track of time. Go ahead.”

Luo Yanzhi laughed softly at the excuse. She flipped the switch, and the sudden brightness chased away the gloom. She placed the fruit plate on the desk, leaning over and playfully spinning the tablet’s stylus between her fingers.

“I just got back and ran into the auntie who was cutting fruit to bring up, so I took it from her,” she said. “I thought I’d bring Sister a little treat.”

Ning Ruohuan arched an eyebrow. “I’m not hungry for treats.”

Luo Yanzhi picked up a small cherry tomato and held it to Ning Ruohuan’s lips. “Well, I am.”

Before Ning Ruohuan could take a bite, Luo Yanzhi leaned in and caught the red fruit between her own teeth. Holding half of it in her mouth, she leaned closer, her watery peach-blossom eyes misty and inviting.

Ning Ruohuan bit into the other half of the tomato. As the fruit broke, their lips met. The sweetness and acidity of the juice exploded in their mouths as their soft lips pressed together.

As Luo Yanzhi pressed closer, Ning Ruohuan was forced to lean back until she had nowhere left to go. Her breath was stolen, and her chest felt tight. Ning Ruohuan eventually placed her hands on Luo Yanzhi’s shoulders, exerting a bit of strength to pull the girl into her lap.

Caught off guard, Luo Yanzhi let out a muffled hum, accidentally choking slightly on the juice. She pushed back, turning her head to cough, her cheeks flushed bright red.

Ning Ruohuan patted her back gently. “Are you alright?”

Luo Yanzhi frowned coquettishly. “Sister, you’re always bullying me.” She took Ning Ruohuan’s hand and slid it under her shirt, resting her face against Ning Ruohuan’s chest while she caught her breath.

Ning Ruohuan gripped her waist, stilling the girl’s restless movements. “Yanyan, it’s not even night yet.”

She’s becoming more and more unrestrained, Ning Ruohuan thought.

Luo Yanzhi’s eyes shimmered with a hint of mischief. “What is Sister thinking? I just wanted you to rub my waist.” She smiled innocently. With her naturally pure and deceptive looks, it was hard to imagine she had any “bad” intentions—even though she usually had plenty.

Ning Ruohuan didn’t let herself be fooled, but she played along, kneading Luo Yanzhi’s waist a few times. “Is that better?”

Luo Yanzhi giggled. “Much better.”

That evening, despite the lingering chill in the air, the two went for a walk. At Luo Yanzhi’s insistence, Ning Ruohuan brought her camera.

The camera hung around Luo Yanzhi’s neck. Usually uninterested in photography, she was now enthusiastically snapping photos of the surrounding scenery.

Click. Click.

Suddenly, she turned the lens toward Ning Ruohuan. “Sister!”

Ning Ruohuan looked over instinctively. Click. Luo Yanzhi hurried over to show her the shot. In the photo, Ning Ruohuan looked slightly dazed, caught off guard in a way that was actually quite endearing.

As she looked at it, Luo Yanzhi realized they didn’t have a single photo together. What an unqualified fiancée I am, she thought.

She pulled out her phone and nudged Ning Ruohuan. “Sister, look here.”

This time, Ning Ruohuan was prepared. She leaned in, and the two of them appeared on the screen. Luo Yanzhi tilted her head against Ning Ruohuan’s shoulder, her lips almost touching the older woman’s cheek.

Snap.

Luo Yanzhi wasn’t satisfied with just one. She dragged Ning Ruohuan into several more poses. Both were stunning, and together, they looked like a perfect match.

Satisfied, Luo Yanzhi took Ning Ruohuan’s phone and sent the original photos to herself. Ning Ruohuan watched patiently, not entirely sure what she was up to until Luo Yanzhi opened the WeChat Moments screen.

“Sister, is this okay?” Luo Yanzhi asked.

They were fiancées; it was only natural for them to share a photo. “It’s fine,” Ning Ruohuan said. “Whatever you like.”

Luo Yanzhi used her own phone to post a photo first, then picked up Ning Ruohuan’s phone to post another.

“Should I block anyone from seeing it?” she asked playfully.

“No need,” Ning Ruohuan replied.

Luo Yanzhi smiled suggestively. “What about Meng Xia? Should we block her?”

Ning Ruohuan realized then that Luo Yanzhi was still holding a bit of a grudge—and that she had likely insisted on the camera just for this moment. “No need,” Ning Ruohuan sighed helplessly. She only felt friendship for Meng Xia and had no intention of hiding her relationship.

“Okay,” Luo Yanzhi chirped.

The two posts went up quietly. Since Luo Yanzhi had many friends, her comment section exploded instantly.

[Wait, what? Is this what I think it means?]

[Yanzhi! What’s going on? We haven’t seen you in a while and now you’re just… in a relationship?!]

[Wow, congrats! Don’t forget to invite me to the wedding so I can share the joy!]

Luo Yanzhi actually took the time to reply to the comments. On Ning Ruohuan’s side, the reactions were more formal, with business partners offering polite congratulations. By going public themselves, they saved everyone the trouble of guessing.

Luo Yanzhi put her phone down, smiling, only to find Ning Ruohuan standing right beside her. “Sister! You’re like a ghost!”

Ning Ruohuan took the camera back. “You were just too focused. Were you replying to friends?”

Luo Yanzhi handed her phone over without hesitation. “Sister, what should we do? Everyone knows about us now. Will it cause trouble?” Her words sounded worried, but her face was full of smug satisfaction.

Ning Ruohuan looked at the screen and laughed. “It’s fine. It won’t cause any trouble.”

“Wow, Sister is the best,” Luo Yanzhi teased.

“And you are… also good,” Ning Ruohuan countered.

The camera was back in Ning Ruohuan’s hands. She directed Luo Yanzhi to stand a few meters away. “Yanyan, act natural.”

Luo Yanzhi was naturally beautiful—bright and pure with a perfect profile. Whether from the front or the side, she was flawless.

Later, they sat together on a wooden bench by the street, their heads leaning together as they scrolled through the photos on the camera. Luo Yanzhi seemed to have achieved a great milestone, radiating youthful energy.

They walked hand-in-hand under the moonlight, their shadows stretching long across the pavement. Luo Yanzhi started playfully stepping on Ning Ruohuan’s shadow.

“How old are you, playing shadow-tag?” Ning Ruohuan teased.

“Sister, time has literally looped,” Luo Yanzhi argued. “If my physical age is younger, why can’t my mental age be younger too?”

Ning Ruohuan had no defense for that logic. “Fair enough. If your mental age is young, should I buy you some candy?”

Luo Yanzhi laughed. “No candy. My teeth always hurt afterward.” She winced as if imagining the pain. “Buy me something else instead.”

“What would you like?”

“I don’t really have anything in mind.”

“Then what do we do?”

“Then I’ll just tell people you refused to buy me anything. Either way, it won’t be my fault.”

Chatting aimlessly, the scenery around them became familiar. They arrived back at their apartment in the city center. Luo Yanzhi tapped in the code, and the door clicked open.

They were greeted by the warmth of the room, but the warmth of each other’s bodies was more palpable. Ning Ruohuan set the camera on the coffee table and hung up her coat.

“Sister,” Luo Yanzhi said, hugging her from behind and sighing contentedly. “I want to do so many things with you.”

She turned to face Ning Ruohuan, gazing intensely into her amber eyes. “Tonight I was your model for the first time. I want to be your model countless more times in the future.”

Her voice softened, becoming earnest. “Sister, I love you. I want to be with you forever.” She toyed with the hem of her shirt, trying to ignore the heat rising in her cheeks. “Sister, will you give me that chance?”

She had never given Ning Ruohuan a truly formal confession before. Now, she didn’t want to miss the opportunity. Though she knew the answer, she was still nervous.

As expected, Ning Ruohuan reached out and stroked the top of her head, just as she had when they first met.

“Okay.”

(End of Main Story)