Chapter 385: Rooftop Night Talk

After giving some instructions to Bian Suwen, Wang Haoran ended the call and stepped out of the restroom. He had just reached the hallway when Feng Rao appeared from the other side, walking straight toward him. Without a word, she grabbed his wrist and tugged him toward the nearby stairwell.

Wang Haoran instinctively wanted to resist. But remembering that his combat power wasn’t anywhere near hers, he wisely chose to drop the idea.

Compared to the elevator, the stairs were barely used. As they ascended, they didn’t run into a single soul. A few moments later, Feng Rao pulled him out onto the rooftop.

Shaking off her hand with visible displeasure, Wang Haoran asked coldly, “Why did you drag me up here?”

He already knew Feng Rao’s situation, but if he wanted to stay in the right, there was no way he could bring it up.

“I didn’t mean to deceive you. I’m sorry,” Feng Rao said softly, no trace of the aloof aura of a reclusive sect expert. Right now, she was just a woman who had made a mistake, desperately trying to hold onto the man she loved.

“You think saying sorry is enough? I’m not even twenty yet. I’ve never been in a relationship before, and you went and toyed with my feelings. One little ‘I’m sorry’ makes it all better?” Wang Haoran’s tone was firm, and his expression serious. He lied without blinking, sounding completely justified.

Guilt welled up in Feng Rao’s heart. She quickly tried to explain, “Yes, I tricked you, but my feelings for you are real.”

“Enough. Let’s just pretend this never happened. From now on, we’re strangers.” With that, Wang Haoran turned to leave.

But Feng Rao panicked and rushed to block his way. “I know you look down on me, but I really can’t live without you. What’s already happened, I can’t change.” Her eyes grew dim with sorrow. “’Still I return the pearl with tears, lamenting we met not when free and unwed.’ If we’re not fated for this life, then we’ll meet again in the next.”

As she spoke, she clutched Wang Haoran’s hand tightly and walked with him toward the edge of the rooftop.

His heart jumped. In that moment, he finally understood why she brought him up here.

This crazy woman wanted to die with him and be reborn together in the next life.

The building was over thirty stories high. Even if he shielded himself with a hundred worth of Internal Energy, there was still a very real chance he wouldn’t survive.

Without using internal energy, death was certain.

“Wait, wait, just listen. I don’t actually look down on you. It’s just… everything happened so suddenly, I haven’t had time to process it.” Wang Haoran’s voice trembled as he spoke.

“Really?” A glimmer of hope returned to Feng Rao’s eyes.

“Of course. After all, you were the first woman I ever loved.” Wang Haoran didn’t care about dignity anymore. He said whatever it took to stop her from jumping.

“You mean it? I’m really the first woman you’ve ever loved?” Feng Rao’s heart soared. The desire to leap into death faded like mist under the morning sun.

“Of course. Life and death, next life or not, those are just empty legends. What matters is cherishing what we have now.” Wang Haoran’s tone turned gentle, almost persuasive.

The suicidal impulse vanished from Feng Rao’s mind. She pulled him back from the edge and led him a few steps away from danger.

“Actually, I was never in love with Yan Feipeng. Our marriage was arranged for the sake of profit,” she said, now calm and sincere.

“Since it was for profit, why didn’t you oppose it?” Wang Haoran was genuinely curious.

“Before I met you, I never believed in love. I didn’t think I would ever fall for anyone. Marriage was just a formality, something I accepted as part of my duty. So I agreed to marry Yan Feipeng, just as my parents wanted,” she replied slowly.

A thought stirred in Wang Haoran’s mind. “What about Yun Churan and Yan Yuntian? Was their engagement also arranged for benefits?”

Feng Rao nodded. “Yes. And honestly, Yun Churan reminds me a little of myself.”

“Really? She seems to genuinely like Yan Yuntian. She doesn’t act like someone forced into marriage.” Wang Haoran narrowed his eyes. He suspected Feng Rao knew more than she was letting on, so he probed a little further.

“You seem quite interested in Yun Churan,” she said, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, you know I don’t get along with Yan Yuntian. I can’t stand seeing him happy. So I want to ruin things between them. Tell me everything you know about Yun Churan.”

Since Feng Rao’s Favorability was maxed out, Wang Haoran wasn’t worried about offending her. His words were blunt and unrestrained.

Feng Rao sighed with helplessness. “The reason I said Yun Churan is like me is because we’ve talked in private. She’s treating the marriage the same way I did. She just wants to secure benefits from the arrangement. The marriage itself doesn’t mean much to her.”

Hearing that confirmed everything Wang Haoran had suspected about Yun Churan.

If her heart wasn’t in the marriage, then he had the perfect opportunity to sabotage her engagement with Yan Yuntian.

“Is there no chance for peace between you and Yuntian?” Feng Rao frowned, her tone serious.

“None,” Wang Haoran replied instantly. Then, his expression sharpened. “So tell me, are you on my side or his?”

“Please don’t force me to make that choice,” she pleaded softly.

“I can,” Wang Haoran replied with a faint smile that quickly turned cold. “Then I’ll take it to mean you’re standing with Yan Yuntian. From now on, we’re enemies.”

Feng Rao felt a pang in her chest. “You’re just a wealthy heir from the mundane world. You can’t win against someone from the hidden martial world. Even if Xuansu supports you, in the end, you might be the one who loses everything.”

“You have three seconds to make a new decision.” Wang Haoran ignored her argument and threw the ultimatum at her again.

“Please, don’t…”

“Three,” he began counting.

“Two.”

“One.”

“I’ll stay out of it. I won’t help either of you. Is that enough?” Feng Rao finally gave in, backed into a corner with no better option.

That answer satisfied Wang Haoran.

It was never realistic to expect her to help take down Yan Yuntian. All he wanted was for her not to interfere.

“Let’s go back,” he said, now that everything had been settled.

“Can’t we stay a little longer?” Feng Rao asked, reluctant to leave.

“You’re not afraid Yan Feipeng will get suspicious if you’re gone too long?” Wang Haoran teased her.

“Hah, I’ve got nothing to fear from him. The moment I put on a serious face, he starts trembling with fear,” she scoffed.

“Fine. Let’s stay a bit longer. What do you want to talk about?” he asked casually.

“Who says we need to talk?” Feng Rao threw him a smoldering look, her eyes laced with temptation.

Wang Haoran felt a jolt in his chest and instinctively took a step back.

“Am I really that scary?” she asked, stepping closer, her body leaning forward slightly. “You used to praise me so much… don’t you want to experience that again?”

Goosebumps raced down his spine.

As expected, older women were bolder than young girls—and much more dangerous.