BXBX NOVEL Chapter 435: Orange Juice
Chapter 435: Chapter 435: Orange Juice
The only real loss was Lin Ruoxi's concern for the old mansion, which had been severely damaged and would take considerable time to repair. No matter how much it was restored, it could never be exactly the same as before.
Of course, after this incident, everyone in the family had more or less a new understanding of Yang Chen. Lin Ruoxi chose to avoid Yang Chen altogether, silently returning to Yu Lei to oversee the counterattack.
A wise person once said, "The most perfect contempt is silence."
Yang Chen didn't think Lin Ruoxi despised him, but she was definitely angry with him. Knowing this, he couldn't do much to remedy the situation.
As his lover, Rose, not only showed no hostility toward Lin Ruoxi but also used her life to protect the family. This was like a hard slap to Lin Ruoxi's proud face!
Moreover, Lin Ruoxi could only swallow her bitterness. She had to be grateful to Rose, even though Christine, the talkative woman, was the one who ended everything. Rose still played a crucial role in delaying time and thus saving everyone.
Lin Ruoxi had no reason to hate her savior, so she could only vent all her grievances, shame, pain, and repulsion on Yang Chen.
"Rose, my dear, you've really put me in a tough spot," Yang Chen thought to himself with a helpless smile.
Fortunately, Yang Chen had a thick skin. Even though he knew he was now like a target at home, with everyone metaphorically shooting arrows at him, he still pretended to kindly ask Guo Xuehua and Wang Ma if they were hurt, instructed the Sea Eagle team to protect them, and then cheerfully left, turning left towards Rose's house.
It was his first time visiting the new home that Rose and Mo Qianni shared. The door was open, perhaps intentionally or just forgotten.
The style and layout of the house were similar to the Lin family's old mansion, but the interior was darker and more profound, likely remnants from Situ Mingze.
Western oil paintings were interspersed with calligraphy, and the decorations were primarily wood carvings and stone statues. For someone timid, living in this house might be terrifying, with strange "ghosts" everywhere.
When Yang Chen entered the kitchen, he saw Rose, seemingly calm, taking a carton of fresh orange juice from the fridge, leisurely planning to drink a glass, showing no signs of having just experienced a life-and-death battle.
Seeing Yang Chen suddenly appear in her home, Rose wasn't too surprised. She smiled serenely and asked, "Would you like a glass?"
"It seems my worry was unnecessary; you don't appear to be injured," Yang Chen remarked as he scrutinized Rose. She had already changed into a loose, comfortable cotton pajamas, and her movements showed no signs of impairment, which put Yang Chen at ease.
"That big guy never intended to fight from the start, so I didn't get much of a chance to engage him. Fortunately, Christine showed up in time," Rose said curiously. "Hubby, isn't Christine a top-tier singer and actress? How is she so skilled in martial arts? I have no idea how she managed to kill that big guy."
Rose was neither a fan of Christine's music nor her movies, so she wasn't particularly shocked by what had happened. She just assumed Christine was a woman with hidden talents. When it came to strength, Rose still firmly believed that Yang Chen surpassed Christine.
"Don't pay attention to that woman. It's best to stay far away from her, or she'll bring trouble sooner or later," Yang Chen frowned. "She doesn't know martial arts; it's just her innate abilities."
"Innate abilities?" Rose sipped her orange juice, clearly not understanding but chose not to press further seeing Yang Chen's reluctance to explain.
Yang Chen stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Rose's slender waist and gazing into her delicate face. "I've always said I'd face dangerous situations for you, but it seems I can never do what I promised. If you cried in my arms or scolded me, I'd feel better. But you act like everything is normal, endure grievances without complaint, and almost lose your life without flinching. What should I do with you? Don't silently endure everything, Rose. Let me understand what's in your heart."
Rose bit her lower lip, took another sip of orange juice, but didn't swallow it. Instead, she lifted her head and kissed Yang Chen's lips.
Caught off guard, Yang Chen responded to the kiss, feeling Rose's tongue entwining with his, gradually transferring the orange juice into his mouth.
Rose seemed deeply absorbed, putting down her glass and wrapping her arms tightly around Yang Chen as if wanting to meld into him entirely.
The familiar rose fragrance of her body filled Yang Chen's senses, making him feel incredibly fulfilled and content.
When the kiss ended, Rose opened her misty eyes and looked at Yang Chen with her watery gaze. "How does it taste?"
"Hmm?"
"The orange juice."
Yang Chen licked his lips and smiled, "Sweet, sour, and a bit astringent."
Rose smiled sweetly, "That's how I feel inside right now. Do you understand?"
Yang Chen fell silent, exhaling deeply with a sense of melancholy. He said nothing more, simply holding this foolish woman tightly.
After a long while, Rose opened her eyes, blinking softly, and said quietly, "Actually, I'm okay. I've gotten used to waiting over time. But, hubby, you know, Qianni often complains to me, calling you an irresponsible scoundrel who uses people up and leaves them."
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Yang Chen cautiously asked, "What else does Little Qian Qian say about me?"
Yang Chen never expected that Mo Qianni would complain about him to Rose. If she had any complaints, she should have just told him directly. She always acted so busy; how could he possibly attend to everything? That woman deserved a talking to.
"Qianni said, we've moved for so long, and you haven't come to see us. The two of us combined don't attract you as much as Lin Ruoxi alone. Other men think wildflowers are more fragrant than house flowers, but you're the opposite. Since you're so biased, we might as well find other men to marry," Rose said seriously.
Yang Chen was caught between laughter and tears. Lin Ruoxi was currently giving him the cold shoulder, and now his other two lovers were upset with him too. Although Rose spoke through Mo Qianni's words, it was clear that these were also her own thoughts.
"Don't joke about that anymore. I'll come to see you both more often. It's just that Qianni's strong-willed nature means she rarely calls me, and I didn't want to disturb her work," Yang Chen explained.
"And what about me? I'm currently unemployed," Rose pouted.
Unemployed?! Yang Chen's face stiffened, and he joked, "Since my dear Rose is so bored, why not expand the Red Thorns Society to other cities? How about unifying the underworld of Yanxia in the future?"
"Really?!" Rose's eyes suddenly lit up, filled with anticipation. "If you're that supportive, hubby, I'll really go for it!"
A chill ran down Yang Chen's spine. This felt like some kind of trap.
Frowning, he said, "Rose, darling, what do you mean by that? You don't really want to expand the Red Thorns Society's influence, do you?"
Rose's gaze wandered, not matching her words. "Actually, recently, a few powerful leaders approached me, hoping to ally with our Red Thorns Society to expand into the southern underworld. I was tempted but worried you wouldn't allow me to continue, so I thought I'd ask."
Yang Chen took a sharp breath. Indeed, he had fallen into a trap. Rose had already had plans brewing for some time.
"Why do you suddenly want to play again? Didn't you feel bored before and handed over many tasks to Rongrong?" Yang Chen asked, puzzled.
Rose seemed a bit embarrassed, lowering her head as she spoke. "Although I'm now investing and collaborating with your company, I've realized I'm not cut out for business. I can't help much with those things. And now, I spend almost every day at home with no friends outside. Many of the brothers and sisters in the organization also seem to have lost their drive. The organization is becoming more and more slack. So, I thought expanding our influence might not be a bad thing?"
Yang Chen realized he had underestimated the restless blood within Rose. While she might be good at enduring in relationships, it didn't mean she could stay in one place peacefully forever.
Growing up under the influence of a father like Situ Mingze, even if Rose didn't particularly enjoy bloodshed, it didn't mean she didn't like seizing territories and expanding influence.
That night when they took over Dongxing, Yang Chen saw the burning flame in her eyes. And now, it seemed that flame was reigniting.
"People say that if you love someone, you should support what they love to do. I never thought I'd end up supporting my woman in expanding the underworld," Yang Chen shook his head and sighed with a smile.
Rose, excited, kissed Yang Chen on the cheek. "I knew it! You wouldn't deny me this small wish. As long as you support me, I won't fear anything!"
Yang Chen naturally understood Rose's meaning. Since he agreed to let her handle these matters, he would naturally be there to clean up the mess when difficulties arose.
In fact, Yang Chen didn't see it as a big deal. Not to mention, Rose's Red Thorns Society was already one of the largest gangs in the country, so the difficulty of expansion wasn't significant. Moreover, the underworld in Yanxia couldn't compare to the mafia in the U.S. or Europe. The strongest "gang" in Yanxia was the two-million-strong army.
Allowing his woman to have some fun in life wasn't something Yang Chen would mind.
He didn't bother asking for more details, knowing that Rose was more professional in underworld affairs than he was. However, her reminder made him realize that he hadn't spent time with Mo Qianni in a long while.
That proud woman, who always acted tough, had probably cursed him hundreds or thousands of times in her heart by now. Thinking this, Yang Chen bid a smiling Rose farewell, then left and drove to the headquarters of Yu Lei International. At this time, Mo Qianni was likely still working overtime.