After ninety-nine online romances, I finally met my ex in person when school started.

Zhu Xun Chuan looked at Pei Yan Rou, who looked pitiful in his arms. The woman's inherent softness and gentleness could indeed greatly arouse a man's protective instincts.

He reached out and gently ruffled her loose hair.

"Don't cry." Zhu Xun Chuan said calmly, "We'll set off for Miao territory tomorrow. I'll take care of your sister's problem."

Pei Yanrou stopped crying and nodded vigorously.

She nuzzled his palm affectionately, her eyes filled with trust in him.

On the single sofa, Gu Qinghan adjusted her gold-rimmed glasses. She flipped through her law teaching materials, her face as cold as ice.

"Final exams are just around the corner." Gu Qinghan's tone was curt. "I can't leave. Once you're in the Southwest, you'd better behave yourself. Don't come back with any trouble."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhu Xun Chuan felt a sharp pain in his shinbone.

A long leg encased in black stockings had somehow appeared under the coffee table. The sharp heel of a high heel pressed unceremoniously against his calf, expressing the icy instructor's strong dissatisfaction at not being able to accompany him.

Zhu Xun Chuan's expression remained unchanged, his right hand hanging naturally at his sides. He precisely caught that slender ankle under the table.

Gu Qinghan froze. Her ears flushed crimson, and she tried to pull her foot back, but the man held it firmly.

Unable to break free, she could only feign composure, her gaze fixed on the lesson plan, though her breathing became erratic.

Su Mucheng walked over at the right moment. She squatted down beside Zhu Xunchuan's legs, her voice sweet and gentle: "Brother Chuan, I'll help you pack your bags. It's very humid in the southwest, so bring a couple more windbreakers. You have a sensitive stomach, so you should also pack some of your usual medicine."

This everyday thoughtfulness instantly soothed the tension that lingered in the living room.

A series of crisp sounds of high heels clicking on the marble floor came from the stairs.

Xia Wanying changed into an extremely tailored, wine-white haute couture business suit. She wore red-soled high heels and held a thick document in her hand.

"Smack." She slammed the document onto the coffee table.

"I'll go too." Xia Wanying picked up her wine glass and took a small sip.

Qu Feiyan had just changed into her casual clothes when she heard this and rolled her eyes. She crossed her arms and raised her chin slightly.

"What are you going there for?" Qu Feiyan mocked without any politeness. "There are no nannies or red carpets laid out in Miao territory. A delicate female CEO like you will only be feeding insects. If you encounter poisonous creatures, don't expect us to be distracted protecting you."

Xia Wanying wasn't angry. She glanced down at the young master of Miao territory, her red lips curving into a breathtaking smile.

"Dinghe Group is preparing to invest tens of billions of yuan in Chinese medicinal herbs in several southwestern provinces." Xia Wanying tapped the cover of the document with her finger. "If those stubborn old men in your Qu family dare to disobey, I can smash your ancestral hall with money. From the raw material supply chain to the transportation channels, I can easily make the thirty-six Miao villages have no harvest within a year with just a little manipulation."

She bent down and stared into Qu Feiyan's eyes: "Little sister, the adult world isn't just about fighting and killing. You need to learn more about the principles of capital's destructive power."

Qu Feiyan was rendered speechless. Although she was a young master skilled in both medicine and poison, she was completely ignorant of modern business rules and could not find a rebuttal despite gritting her teeth.

Zhu Xun Chuan looked at Xia Wan Ying, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. This chaebol queen always knew how to find the most dominant breakthrough point in desperate situations.

"Okay, I'll take you with me." Zhu Xun Chuan made the decision immediately.

Late at night, in the master bedroom.

After taking a shower, Zhu Xun Chuan sat on the edge of the bed drying his hair, a towel tied around his waist.

The door lock made a soft "click" sound, indicating that it had been locked from the inside.

Xia Wanying walked in carrying two wine glasses. Her wine-red silk robe was loosely tied around her waist. The neckline was wide open, revealing a large expanse of her snow-white skin.

She walked up to Zhu Xun Chuan and casually placed her wine glass on the bedside table. With a long stride, she sat directly on his lap in an extremely assertive yet alluring manner.

"Going to Miao territory, I wonder how long I'll be surrounded by those beauties." Xia Wanying wrapped her arms around Zhu Xunchuan's neck, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Our Brother Chuan is so charming, there will be no shortage of beauties along the way. It's not too much for me to collect some 'interest' on this business trip in advance, is it?"

She lowered her head, her warm breath brushing against Zhu Xun Chuan's collarbone. Her red lips parted slightly, leaving a faint mark on his neck.

Zhu Xun Chuan took the opportunity to put his arm around her slender waist, ready to respond.

"Knock knock knock".

A timid knock came from outside the door.

"Brother Chuan..." Pei Yan's soft, trembling voice came through the door, "I...I'm afraid of the dark, and I can't sleep alone. Can I come in and sleep on the floor? I promise I won't make a sound."

Xia Wanying paused. She gritted her teeth and pinched the soft flesh of Zhu Xunchuan's waist.

Zhu Xunchuan gasped.

He steadied his breathing and gently massaged Xia Wanying's lower back with his palm.

"Behave yourself." Zhu Xun Chuan lowered his voice.

He turned his head and raised his voice towards the door: "Yanrou, the bedside lamp in the guest room has been changed to a warm light. Go and call Su Mucheng over to sleep with you. I still have things to take care of here."

After a few seconds of silence outside the door, Pei Yanrou's aggrieved reply and the sound of footsteps fading into the distance could be heard.

Xia Wanying snorted coldly: "This innocent girl is really good at acting. Coming here in the middle of the night seeking comfort, our Brother Chuan is really chivalrous."

"Are you still going to collect the interest?" Zhu Xun Chuan flipped over and pressed Xia Wan Ying down onto the soft velvet quilt. "The leader of Ding He can't give up halfway through a project."

Xia Wanying gave a coquettish laugh.

The following morning, Dinghe Group's private jet took off from Nanyuan Airport and landed in the southwestern border city four hours later.

The convoy was already waiting on the tarmac.

Zhu Xun Chuan walked at the front. Xia Wan Ying, in high heels, walked to his right, exuding an air of dominance. Qu Fei Yan and Pei Yan Rou followed behind. Xiao Bai, carrying a black violin case, silently disappeared into the accompanying security team.

The bulletproof Maybach sped along the winding mountain road.

The car was heated by a constant temperature air conditioner, filled with the scent of Xia Wanying's expensive haute couture perfume.

Outside the car window lay the Ten Thousand Mountains, humid and sultry, with the fresh scent of primeval forest vegetation and earthy aromas seeping in from the cracks.

"The mountain road is really bumpy." Pei Yanrou's face was a little pale as she rubbed her temples and leaned back in her seat.

Zhu Xun Chuan handed her a bottle of mineral water. Pei Yan Rou took it and smiled weakly at him.

Qu Feiyan, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced back and said, "This is nothing. Ahead lies Leigong Ridge. Beyond this is the Qu family's territory. The mountain roads are winding and twisting; you'll be seasick."