Chapter 9 A Rueful Smile

• Bai Ruoxi had no idea how to respond to her compliment.
• Yin Rui came closer and whispered to her, “Ruoxi, it’s not as difficult as you thought. You just need to know that men are all horny. Even righteous men like Xuanshuo…”
• Bai Ruo stood up and stopped her. “Yin Rui, I… I just recalled that I’ve something urgent to do. Would you mind?”
• Then she opened the laptop on the desk. She couldn’t bare hearing anything about their sex life. It might drive her insane.
• Yin Rui pouted and grabbed her bag. “Now that you’re busy with work, I’ll leave you alone. Let’s talk later.”
• “Sure.” Bai Ruoxi fixed her eyes on the screen and typed quickly on the keyboard.
• Yin Rui waved at her, “See you.”
• “See you!”
• The moment Yin Rui left the room, Bai Ruoxi broke down.
• She leaned against the chair, and everything was a blur to her.
• It was sunny outside, but she felt freezing cold.
• Yin Rui’s visit added insult to her injury. It was so painful.
• Finally, she felt tears on her cheeks.
• For the rest of the day, she locked herself in the room.
• At the dawn of the next morning,
• Bai Ruoxi freshened up and put on casual clothes. She was ready to focus on her mother’s case.
• The living room was quiet. While she walked downstairs, she heard loud and rhythmic footsteps, which usually belonged to trained personnel.
• She hurried up and caught sight of two soldiers walking into the study on the first floor.
• Were they here to see Qiao Xuanshuo?
• Bai Ruoxi was confused and curious. But she had a feeling that this was about her mother. Driven by curiosity, she crept towards the study.
• A man was reporting inside. “Tang Lide has been bailed out.”
• Then she heard Qiao Xuanshuo speaking in his deep voice. “Who bailed him out?”
• “Someone from Qiao’s Group. Tang is back to the company today.”
• “Who is behind this exactly?”
• “It seemed to be your grandfather.”
• Qiao Xuanshuo didn’t ask any more questions.
• The study was in complete silence.
• What Bai Ruoxi just heard made her hair stand on end.
• Tang Lide was the man who attempted to rape her, and if someone in this family had instructed him to do so, it would be most frightening.
• She didn’t think grandfather would do such things. There must be hidden facts to be discovered.
• “Ruoxi.”
• Suddenly, a sharp and cold voice startled her.
• It was Yin Yin, Yin Rui’s sister. She married Qiao Xuanshuo’s elder brother five years ago and they had a son.
• Bai Ruoxi was embarrassed, “Good morning.”
• Yin Yin was always dignified and graceful, dressed in expensive dress. Carrying a luxury handbag, she scolded, “Whom are you eavesdropping on? This isn’t right, young lady.”
• Bai Ruoxi didn’t care about right or wrong considering the current situation, but it suddenly occurred to her that Yin Yin was running the company where Tang Lide worked.
• So, she rushed to Yin Yin, who was now changing shoes at the door. “Do you know an employee of yours named Tang Lide? Can I go to the company with …”
• Before she finished the sentence, someone seized her by arm from behind. With no preparation, she was dragged into the study.
• “Ah!”
• She was then thrown on the sofa and Qiao Xuanshuo pressed himself against her.
• She was terrified. His eyes were sharp and of course, cold.
• He supported his body with hands and looked into her eyes.
• Uninterested in their drama, Yin Yin left the house afterwards.
• “Bro…Brother…” Bai Ruoxi was so nervous that even her voice shivered. He was a good-looking man, but now his expression was horrifying.
• “Do not get involved in this. Stay as far as you can from that man,” ordered Qiao Xuanshuo.
• “But…”
• “You have choice but say yes.” He interrupted her explanation.
• ‘I’m not your soldier.’ Bai Ruoxi thought to herself.
• Qiao Xuanshuo frowned and added, “I’ll take care of your mother’s case. Don’t take risk.”
• The scent of his masculinity was overwhelming. Bai Ruoxi found it hard to breathe properly, so she nodded.
• Qiao Xuanshuo stepped back and stretched out one hand to the two soldiers beside.
• They passed him two pieces of paper at once.
• Qiao Xuanshuo gave them to Bai Ruoxi and demanded, “Sign your name over there.”
• “Sign?” Bai Ruoxi was baffled.
• “If you want me to save your mother.”
• There was not a word on the paper. Was she going to sign without knowing what the conditions were?
• Not fair at all.
• “What if I don’t?” Bai Ruoxi asked.
• Qiao Xuanshuo smiled dangerously and said in a lower voice, “Your mother’s innocence is at your hand.”
• Bai Ruoxi smiled bitterly and held back the tears, “You have been investigating the murder from the beginning, haven’t you? You’ve decided to help her no matter what. But you tricked me into signing this ridiculous agreement. Do you know how terrible you are?”
• Her eyes watered and tears were about to fall.
• Her innocent look almost melted his heart, but after a deep breath, he put his hands into the pockets and didn’t utter a word.
• Bai Ruoxi wiped the tears and murmured, “You are the most horrible and evil soldier I have ever seen.”
• She was the kind who valued promises as well, so she made up her mind and started to look for the pen in the bag.
• One of the soldiers handed her a pen at once, “Please use this, Miss Bai.”
• Bai Ruoxi recognized him. He was Xing Chen, a close confidant of Qiao Xuanshuo.
• She signed her name with the pen without hesitation.
• Thus, she traded her future for his help.
• After that, she gave the paper to Xing Chen and left determinedly.
• For the first time in her life, she found him obnoxious.
• Qiao Xuanshuo stood still, watching her leave.
• “Mr. Qiao, Miss Bai has signed as requested,” Xing Chen said respectfully.
• Qiao Xuanshuo didn’t respond unitl Bai Ruoxi walked out of the house. “Did you hear what she just said?”
• Xing Chen and Liang dared not to speak.
• Qiao Xuanshuo answered his own question, “I’m the most horrible and evil soldier she’s ever seen.”
• He couldn’t help smiling while repeating her words.
• A rueful smile though.