The Next Morning Wang Mansion
Ruoxi's eyes fluttered open.
After freshening up, she changed into comfortable loungewear, grabbed her laptop, and headed downstairs.
Finding the living room empty, she clicked her tongue.
"Tsk. I'm sure Mom and Dad are in Dad's office romancing each other." She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Do they still think they're twenty-two?"
Still grumbling, she walked to the refrigerator, grabbed several bags of snacks, and settled onto the couch to binge watch a new series.
She was in the middle of laughing at a scene when...
Smack.
A hand landed lightly on the back of her head. "Early in the morning?" Yun Ai frowned. "Does this look healthy to you, Wang Ruoxi?"
Ruoxi rubbed the back of her head. "Tsk, Mom. Weren't you supposed to be with your husband? Why are you here?"
Yun Ai narrowed her eyes. "Listen to how you're talking to your mother." She folded her arms. "You disrespectful brat. It's too early in the day to be lazing around."
"Mom..." Ruoxi groaned dramatically. "Just today, okay? Nothing urgent is happening at work."
Yun Ai's eyes suddenly lit up. "Really?"
Ruoxi immediately became cautious. "...Yes."
"Wonderful." Yun Ai clasped her hands together. "Go visit your boyfriend."
Ruoxi blinked. "What boyfriend?"
"You forgot you have a boyfriend already?"
"Oh..." Realization dawned on her. "You mean Xiang." She scoffed. "Why should I visit him? If he wants to see me, he can...". She stopped the moment she noticed the expression on her mother's face. "...Okay... okay, I'll go".
Satisfied, Yun Ai smiled brightly.
Ruoxi let out an exaggerated sigh before carrying her laptop upstairs. After changing into a casual skirt, a simple blouse, and a pair of white sneakers, she came back downstairs.
She had originally wanted to wear something oversized and comfortable, but another lecture from her mother wasn't worth it.
"My beautiful daughter...".
"Bye, Mom!" Ruoxi interrupted before Yun Ai could continue and hurried out of the house.
Moments later, her car rolled out of the Wang Mansion. As she drove, she muttered to herself. "The hell am I going to see him for?". She snorted. "Brother Zihan is probably already buried in paperwork...". A grin slowly spread across her face. "I'll go to my jiejie instead." She started humming happily. "Free breakfast." With that, she turned the steering wheel toward the Zhu Villa instead.
Zhu Villa
"Zihan, at least give me some space to finish what I'm doing." Guo Min sighed as she dropped the marinated meat into the simmering pot.
"No." He wrapped his arms around her waist again, resting his chin lightly on her shoulder.
"My schedule will become hectic soon. Your new project starts next week, and the election period is around the corner. I'll be tied up with meetings." He sighed quietly. "If I don't spend time with you now... when will I?"
Guo Min couldn't help smiling. "...Are you the one running for president?"
He smiled. "No."
"Then why is the election making you so busy?"
"Because people like me become busy whenever politics does."
She frowned. "I don't understand."
He finally loosened his embrace, giving her enough room to stir the pot. "There are four major contenders this time," he explained. "Ordinary citizens don't directly choose the country's top leader. The senior leadership makes that decision after a long selection process."
Guo Min nodded slowly. "So... what does that have to do with you?"
Zihan leaned casually against the kitchen counter. "Politics isn't only about politicians." His voice was calm. "There are influential business families, financial groups, military figures, and old networks. During times like this, everyone wants support."
"So... they're looking for allies?"
"Exactly."
She looked at him curiously. "But if they're already powerful... why do they need you?"
He smiled faintly. "Power isn't one thing, there is political power, there is financial power, there is influence, and there are people capable of moving all three."
Guo Min blinked. "... I don't understand." She folded her arms. "So the government rules the country...and people like you influence what happens behind the curtain?"
Zihan smiled neither confirming nor denying it. "Let's just say some doors don't open because someone has authority but they open because they knows which key to use."
Guo Min stared at him for a few seconds before bursting into laughter. "I still don't get it all but I think I understand."
He laughed softly. "I'm not choosing a president." He stepped closer and hugged her from behind once more. "I'm simply making sure the wrong people don't gain more influence than they should."
"...ohhh, I get it now."
"Hm, good".
"You've suddenly become so talkative these days."
"Hm." He buried his face against her shoulder again. "Only around you."
A few minutes later, the two of them had settled at the dining table for breakfast. Just as Guo Min picked up her bowl...
"Jiejie!". The familiar voice echoed through the villa.
Guo Min looked toward the entrance and raised a brow. "Ruoxi?"
Ruoxi marched straight into the dining room as though she owned the place. She halted the moment her eyes landed on Zihan. "What are you doing here?" she asked, pointing at him.
Zihan looked up calmly. "...In my own house?".
Ruoxi blinked once. "...Tsk." She shamelessly pulled out a chair and sat beside Guo Min. "Big sis... I'm hungry." Without waiting for permission, she reached for a bowl and began serving herself.
Guo Min couldn't help laughing. "Big sis?, You only call me that when you want something." She eyed her knowingly. "Let me guess, you came here for food, such a freeloader you are."
Ruoxi flashed an innocent smile while already stuffing a dumpling into her mouth. "I missed your cooking."
Guo Min glanced sideways just in time to see Zihan trying to add yet another piece of meat to her bowl and she lightly smacked his chopsticks away. "That is enough."
"...Okay," he replied, even though he looked slightly disappointed.
Ruoxi looked from one to the other before grinning. "Tsk... you two make me wanna puke."
Ignoring her teasing, Guo Min poured herself a glass of soy milk. "How are mom and dad?"
Ruoxi let out a dramatic sigh. "They're doing great and they're as annoying as ever."
Guo Min chuckled knowingly. "I wasn't expecting anything less".
"MinMin... I'm so full." Ruoxi flopped onto the couch dramatically, one hand resting on her stomach.
Guo Min couldn't help chuckling. "You brought this upon yourself."
Ruoxi let out another groan before suddenly sitting upright. "Let's go see Lixi."
Guo Min shook her head. "Not today. We can visit her tomorrow. I'm a little tired."
"Ugh... whatever." Ruoxi grabbed a glass of orange juice from the coffee table and took a long sip. "So..." She raised a brow. "How's your project going, big sis?"
Guo Min looked at her strangely. "Didn't you just say you were full?"
"...Whatever." Ruoxi waved a dismissive hand. "Answer the question."
A small smile appeared on Guo Min's face. "It's going well. Only the finalization remains, and that should be completed by Monday."
She leaned back against the sofa. "Starting next week, I'll be extremely busy."
Ruoxi smiled genuinely. "I'm really happy for you."
A brief silence followed before she spoke again. "So... you'll barely have time for me from next week?"
Guo Min looked at her. "...Probably."
Ruoxi's lips immediately formed a pout. "It's been so long since we actually hung out together." She hugged a cushion dramatically. "You don't have time for your little sister anymore."
Guo Min sighed helplessly. "...Where do you want to go?"
Ruoxi's eyes sparkled instantly. "Illegal racing." She clasped her hands together. "Just like the old days."
Guo Min didn't even hesitate this time. "No. I don't have the energy to listen to Mom and Dad lecture us for another three hours".
Ruoxi deflated. "Aww... Come on, MinMin." Ruoxi shuffled closer until she was practically leaning on her sister. "We were born rebels, we break rules." She grinned mischievously. "It's work, hospitals and meetings lately."
She stretched both arms dramatically. "Let's go lose ourselves for one night..."
"...Just one, I miss the old days, with you".
Guo Min remained silent, then she exhaled slowly before shaking her head with a helpless smile. "...One race, just one."
Ruoxi's eyes widened and threw both fists into the air. "Yes!". Grabbing Guo Min by the wrist, she pulled her towards the entrance. "Let's go before you change your mind!"
Which made Guo Min laughed despite herself and the two sisters hurried out of the villa, quietly slipping away before anyone noticed they were gone.