Xia Yan sat stiffly in the passenger seat, enduring Lu Zhengting's stern gaze. She fastened her seatbelt, and Lu Zhengting started the engine without a word, his eyes fixed intently ahead. The steering wheel in his hands seemed like an extension of himself, turning with effortless ease and fluidity. A faint smile flickered in his eyes as he glanced at Xia Yan. "Why were you hiding under the tree eavesdropping?"
"Eavesdropping? What kind of talk is that? Was I eavesdropping?" Xia Yan tugged at her seatbelt, turning sideways to face Lu Zhengting, her eyes brimming with sincerity.
"Besides, did you buy out the hospital entrance? Is everyone who walks by eavesdropping on your conversation?"
"Then why were you so nervous when you saw me coming?"
"Did you misread me? I wasn't nervous at all." Xia Yan gave Lu Zhengting a skeptical look, studying him for a long moment. Nervous? Was he kidding?
"Are you saying I'm blind?"
"..." Xia Yan lowered her gaze. She hadn't said he was blind.
The red light ahead stopped them just in time. Lu Zhengting hit the brakes, bringing the car to a smooth halt. His slender fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the steering wheel, then he suddenly turned his head to look at Xia Yan. The redness and swelling on her forehead hadn't faded. Lu Zhengting's brow furrowed slightly, and he instinctively raised his hand toward the bruised area.
"What are you doing?" Xia Yan reflexively jerked back, pressing her back firmly against the seat. Her eyes widened, a clear mix of resistance and confusion in her gaze. She frowned, pursed her lips, and her sudden backward movement only made Lu Zhengting lean closer, slowly advancing toward her.
In the blink of an eye, Xia Yan panicked, raising the hand she'd hidden behind her to press against Lu Zhengting's chest. Her lips quivered. "Don't come any closer. This could cause misunderstandings!"
"Misunderstandings? Who would misunderstand?" Lu Zhengting's gaze turned playful as he stared at her.
"I..." Xia Yan stammered.
"Would you misunderstand?"
"No, can you please not get so close?" Watching Lu Zhengting inch closer, Xia Yan was both nervous and scared. A sudden thought flashed through her mind. "You know, if someone finds out, they'd misunderstand. You wouldn't want your girlfriend to get the wrong idea about us, would you?"
Girlfriend? Lu Zhengting had been single for decades. What girlfriend?
Lu Zhengting gave a faint, ambiguous smile as he looked at Xia Yan. "Didn't you get that forehead treated at the hospital?"
"It's nothing serious. I'll just put some ice on it when I get back."
Xia Yan noticed the red light turn green and quickly pulled back one hand to point. "It's green."
Hearing this, Lu Zhengting glanced up at the green light, then turned back to start the engine. Xia Yan let out a sigh of relief, but her heart kept pounding uncontrollably. The distance between them earlier had been so close that she could hear the sound of Lu Zhengting's breathing right by her ear. His breath had brushed lightly against her face, and from that moment on, her heartbeat had raced out of control.
Xia Yan had never denied that Lu Zhengting's appeal to women was irresistible. Even if he were poison, those women would drink it without hesitation, falling deeper and deeper, savoring it willingly.
The car stopped in front of a hotel. Xia Yan had been here before, attending a banquet with Xia Minghui under the guise of the eldest Miss Xia. The hotel's entrance was grand and dazzling, with two towering pillars flanking the gate. A row of staff in matching uniforms stood on either side, and a small booth nearby was designated for valet parking.
Lu Zhengting got out, walked around the front of the car to the passenger side. Xia Yan looked at him, puzzled, then grabbed her bag and hesitated for a moment before stepping out. She watched as he handed the keys to a valet and strode straight into the lobby. As he entered the door, Xia Yan was stunned to see the staff at the entrance bow one by one, their attitudes respectful, their faces full of reverence.
The person who finally approached Lu Zhengting was the hotel manager. "Mr. Lu, the private room is ready."
Ready? Xia Yan walked alongside Lu Zhengting, sneaking a glance at the manager and noticing he was also covertly sizing her up. Were these people mistaking her for Lu Zhengting's mistress? At the thought, Xia Yan cautiously tugged at Lu Zhengting's sleeve, glancing around and catching the probing looks from others. She stepped forward, rose on her tiptoes, and whispered in his ear.
"What are you bringing me here for?"
"To eat."
Seeing this, the manager standing before Lu Zhengting was taken aback, eyeing Xia Yan in disbelief. Who was this woman? Mr. Lu hated anyone getting this close to him—even Ke Yaru, who had a close relationship with him, wouldn't dare take such a step. Yet this woman whispered in his ear, and not only did Mr. Lu not lose his temper, he answered as if nothing had happened.
Xia Yan rolled her eyes. "Even if it's just a meal, does it have to be this elaborate?"
Elaborate? His life was always like this.
Lu Zhengting ignored Xia Yan's question and signaled the manager to lead the way.
This private room was reserved exclusively for Lu Zhengting. The hotel's style was opulent and gilded, but this room had a cold, stark feel, with a faint hint of warmth. From the moment she entered, Xia Yan had been wondering why Lu Zhengting had suddenly brought her here to eat.
The manager snapped his fingers, and a variety of dishes were brought out and placed on the table. Counting the ones within Xia Yan's reach, there were already eight. Including the dishes farther away, the entire table was piled high—far too much for just the two of them.
"Is someone else coming?"
"Who were you hoping would come?"
"Wouldn't it be a waste for just the two of us to eat all this?"
Hearing this, the manager's hand trembled as he set down a dish, nearly spilling it on Lu Zhengting. He looked at Xia Yan in alarm. This woman dared to say anything! Didn't she know who she was sitting across from?
Once the room was empty except for the two of them, Xia Yan caught the manager's parting glance. Was he looking down on her?
Lu Zhengting calmly picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of beef, and placed it in Xia Yan's bowl.
"Mr. Lu, I can manage on my own." Xia Yan felt flustered and flattered at being served for the first time.
"It's fine."
Xia Yan lowered her head, trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. But she couldn't escape Lu Zhengting's subtle glance. She was hungry, but now she felt like she was chewing on wax.
Back in his office, the manager hesitated for a long time before finally calling Ke Yaru.
"You're saying Zhengting took a woman to dinner?" Ke Yaru's face, covered in a sheet mask, scrunched up. She shot up from the sofa and yelled into the phone, "Say that again."
"Ms. Ke, well, Mr. Lu brought a woman to dinner."
Ke Yaru narrowed her eyes in displeasure, picturing Xia Yan in her mind. She asked him to briefly describe the woman's appearance, and sure enough, it was Xia Yan. Hanging up, she recalled how Lu Zhengting had had his driver take her home that afternoon. So he had been meeting Xia Yan? She had underestimated that woman.
She quickly stood up, hobbled back to her room on her crutch, and opened the closet. Staring at the rows of neatly arranged clothes, she stood there blankly for a while. Grabbing a dress, she went to the mirror and held it up against herself. After a moment of thought, she hopped over to the bed, found her phone, and dialed a number she had long since memorized.
Xia Yan had barely eaten anything at lunch in the Xia family home, faced with the old lady and Xia Siyue's sneers. After an afternoon of running around, her stomach was now protesting. She took a few bites of the food Lu Zhengting had placed in her bowl, going from initial flattery to eventual indifference. Her refusals seemed utterly meaningless to him.
By the end of the meal, Xia Yan's stomach was round and full, and she couldn't help but let out a burp.
Lu Zhengting's expression shifted slightly, as if a bit disgusted. Seeing this, Xia Yan suddenly grinned at him. "Mr. Lu, thanks for the meal."
"Wasn't this your treat?"
"My treat?" Xia Yan stared at Lu Zhengting in confusion. She didn't remember offering to treat him! Then she thought about how Yang Jinkuan hadn't been bothering her lately. A meal was a small thing, after all.
When it came time to pay, Xia Yan heard the amount and wondered if she had eaten a mountain of gold. One meal had cost her half a month's living expenses.
Under everyone's gaze, she trudged out of the hotel, dejected.
Lu Zhengting suddenly took a call, falling behind her. As she walked, she couldn't help grumbling. Although Xia Minghui gave her more than enough monthly allowance, she hated wasting money on certain things. It might just be her nature—for instance, she thought spending thousands on a bottle of perfume wasn't worth it, because she didn't like strong scents.
But if she were to spend tens of thousands or more on a watch, she'd consider it worthwhile. She loved watches. The watch on Xia Yan's wrist looked ordinary, but it cost seven figures and was a global limited edition.
Standing at the entrance, she saw Lu Zhengting approach. Before she could speak, she heard him say into the phone, "I'm coming now."
Well, that meant she'd have to take a taxi back to school. "Mr. Lu, if you're busy, go ahead."
"No need. I'll take you." Lu Zhengting's assertive tone was something Xia Yan never refused, because she never knew how shocking his words might be.
Xia Yan sat in the car in silence. She noticed Lu Zhengting's phone ring again, and she vaguely heard a woman's voice on the other end. She discreetly glanced at him. Was his girlfriend checking up on him?
Lu Zhengting hung up and casually glanced at Xia Yan. "Eavesdropping again?"
"I wasn't eavesdropping. It's just too quiet in the car."
Hearing this, Lu Zhengting let out a faint, incredulous laugh. "Next time, find a time, and I'll treat you to a meal."
Again? Xia Yan found herself at a loss for words. Was Lu Zhengting out of his mind?