Xia Yan scowled, directly addressing the person in the driver's seat. "What does Xiao Han's fussing have to do with you coming to my school?"
Lu Zhengting, sitting beside her, let out a low chuckle. Xia Yan jolted, slowly turning her head to glance at him. She saw Lu Zhengting sitting upright, arms casually crossed over his chest, his bright, clear eyes sparkling as he stared at her, seemingly with amusement and teasing. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, curving into a graceful arc.
"Lu Zhengting, you..." Without realizing it, Xia Yan blurted out his name, staring at him dumbfounded, her mouth unsure whether to open or close.
"Go on."
"Go on with what?"
"Keep talking." Lu Zhengting seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood, his tone carrying a hint of delight that Xia Yan could sense. But whether he was in a good mood or not, her own mood was complicated.
What else was she supposed to say? Now that she had calmed down, how could a small fish like her contend with a big fish like Lu Zhengting? The man sitting beside her could affect Jiangcheng's GDP with just a slight move. For someone of his stature, she had to tread carefully in both words and actions.
Xia Yan silently resigned herself to her bad luck. Besides, Lu Zhengting had indeed helped her resolve the issue with Yang Jinkuan. At least for now, Yang Jinkuan hadn't come looking for her again. Even Xia Siyue seemed to have quieted down during this time.
Xia Yan remained silent. Seeing this, Lu Zhengting narrowed his eyes and studied her carefully. Her face was unusually calm. If he hadn't noticed her fingers interlaced tightly on her lap, he might have believed she was truly at ease.
Lu Zhengting had indeed seen Xia Yan chatting animatedly with a man in the coffee shop from the car. The moment he saw her smile, it struck him as jarring, and his mood turned unpredictable. Giving her five minutes to handle it, in his view, was already generous.
Both harboring their own thoughts, they finally arrived at the Lu residence after forty minutes. Xia Yan reined in her emotions, got out of the car without a second thought, and immediately entered the villa.
"Mr. Lu, this?" The driver watched Xia Yan enter the villa in shock, secretly admiring her from the bottom of his heart. To dare show attitude in front of Lu Zhengting and still be alive, without any anger radiating from him—this was a first for him.
"You may go now," Lu Zhengting said calmly. But in his mind, he thought Xia Yan was truly an interesting woman. The first time she saw him, she clung to him like a lifeline. Since learning who he was, she had started to disdain him, and now she was even getting angry at him. Interesting...
Xia Yan had no idea that her perfectly normal behavior was seen as "interesting" by Lu Zhengting. Entering the living room, she was greeted by a mess: shattered glass scattered across the floor, decorative items that hadn't escaped Xiao Han's clutches now lying in pieces. The household staff kept their distance, standing nervously nearby.
"Xiao Han, is this all your doing?" Xia Yan exclaimed in surprise.
"Sister Yan, you broke your promise. I agreed to go three days without sweets, and you said you'd come make cake today, but you didn't show up." Xiao Han jumped off the sofa, storming over to Xia Yan, his eyes blazing with anger as he looked up at her.
This was the first time Xia Yan had seen Xiao Han's destructive power on such a scale. She frowned slightly, about to organize her words, when she noticed Lu Zhengting behind her calmly taking in the scene. The phrase "used to it" came to mind—he seemed immune.
Xiao Han was still young, and proper discipline couldn't be skipped. Thinking it over, she decided to start with Lu Zhengting, as he seemed more like the root cause.
Xia Yan crouched down in front of Xiao Han, gently touching his forehead and smoothing out his slightly rumpled clothes with her slender fingers. Softly, she said, "Xiao Han, it was wrong of me today to promise something and not follow through. I'll make you a cake soon. But don't you think you shouldn't take it out on these things?"
Following her gaze, Xiao Han glanced briefly at the mess on the floor, then turned to look at Lu Zhengting. "Our family isn't short on money," he said matter-of-factly.
Xia Yan's face darkened as she glanced at Lu Zhengting, who looked unperturbed. While what Xiao Han said was true, saying it in such a serious context made it hard for her to respond, especially with Lu Zhengting acting so nonchalant.
Xia Yan realized that if she kept talking to Xiao Han, he might end up lecturing her instead.
"I'll go make the cake now."
Watching Xia Yan flee, the amusement in Lu Zhengting's eyes deepened. As Xia Yan entered the kitchen, Xiao Han dashed over to Lu Zhengting, hugging his leg and looking up with a bright smile. "Dad, don't you think Sister Yan is adorable?"
"Not bad."
"Didn't you tell me not to lie? You clearly think she's adorable too." Xiao Han tilted his head, quietly ordering the stunned servants to clean up the mess, while eagerly waiting for Xia Yan's cake.
Lu Zhengting cast a faint smile toward the kitchen, then turned serious, staring at Xiao Han. "Do you know how much you just broke?"
"We have money," Xiao Han replied earnestly.
Just as Lu Zhengting was about to scold him sternly, the little devil pouted, looking on the verge of tears. He let go of Lu Zhengting's leg, dashed into the kitchen, and hugged Xia Yan, mumbling, "Sister Yan, I know I was wrong..."
Xia Yan's hands were covered in flour. Faced with Xiao Han's sudden hug and emotional shift, she naturally assumed Lu Zhengting had been too harsh with him. She didn't know how to describe Lu Zhengting.
Wiping some flour off her hands, she said gently, "Xiao Han, I'm glad you realize you were wrong. You're good at knowing right from wrong. The cake is almost ready; it just needs to go into the oven."
"So Sister Yan won't hate me?"
"Of course not." As soon as Xia Yan finished speaking, the previously sad and wronged boy perked up, especially when he heard the cake would be ready soon.
Seeing this, Xia Yan felt happy too. Though Lu Zhengting was overly domineering, for Xiao Han's sake, she had to accept it.
After Xiao Han finished his cake, he started to get sleepy. Xia Yan realized it was almost nine o'clock.
"Sister Yan, it's so late. Don't leave tonight."
"No way..." Xia Yan refused outright.
Lu Zhengting, coming out of the study, overheard her firm refusal. He furrowed his brows slightly, slowly descending the stairs in wooden slippers that made a muffled sound on the wooden floor. The noise was neither loud nor soft, but Xia Yan heard it. She turned to see him suddenly appear and felt her luck was truly bad.
"Sister Yan, why?" Xiao Han asked quietly, head down.
"Well, I have things to do at school. I have to go back." Xia Yan lied through her teeth. She was in her last semester of junior year, theoretically busy, especially since she'd soon start looking for internships.
Xiao Han spotted Lu Zhengting, pulled him over to Xia Yan, and looked up. "Dad, Sister Yan insists on going back to school, but it's so late. I'm worried she might run into trouble on the road, so why don't you drive her to school?"
"..." Xia Yan just wanted to shut Xiao Han up. Why did he have to suggest Lu Zhengting drive her?
"Mr. Lu, I can go back on my own. No need to trouble yourself."
Hearing her address him so formally again, Lu Zhengting's expression shifted slightly. He walked to the entrance, grabbed the car keys from the shelf, changed his shoes, and headed out.
Seeing Xia Yan frozen in place, Xiao Han couldn't help but push her. "Sister Yan, hurry up! My dad is taking you back to school."
She couldn't find the words to describe her feelings. What was all this?
Lu Zhengting was driving himself this time, and Xia Yan was again ordered to sit in the passenger seat. Deep down, she wanted to argue and refuse, but faced with his imposing demeanor, she reluctantly accepted.
The summer breeze carried a hint of heat, but the car's air conditioning was so cold it made Xia Yan shiver. She instinctively hugged her arms, but when she felt Lu Zhengting's gaze sweep over her, she quickly lowered them.
The chill in the car seemed to ease. Thinking about the evening's events, Xia Yan couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Lu, are you usually very busy?"
"Hmm?"
"I suggest you spend more time with Xiao Han..." Xia Yan didn't finish her sentence, realizing she might be overstepping by meddling in their family matters. After all, he was Xiao Han's father.
With that thought, she noticed Lu Zhengting's gaze on her, shook her head, and dropped the topic.
Jiangcheng's nightscape was famously beautiful. The road they were on offered a view of the city's iconic landmarks. The trees lining the street rustled in the evening breeze and the wind stirred by passing cars. Green leaves, vibrant flowers, a touch of red amidst the green, and dazzling neon lights illuminated the scene. Towering buildings rose one after another, and the lights of countless homes created the city's lively atmosphere.
Xia Yan loved Jiangcheng's nightscape, especially under the cover of darkness. Built along the river, the city boasted the famous Two Rivers New District. But tonight, their route back to school wouldn't pass that way.
Bored, she sat in her seat, occasionally glancing at the man focused on driving. He had swapped his usual work attire for a casual sportswear set, his hair slightly messy yet stylish. His long fingers gripped the steering wheel, and from the side, his sharp profile was striking—a prominent nose, sensual lips, and a slender neck she had never noticed before.