"Xia Yan." "Present." "..." Xia Yan caught a glimpse of Lu Zhengting's half-smile as he looked outside, and felt a pang of annoyance. When he called her name just now, she blurted out a response like a teacher taking attendance, which was embarrassing. She wouldn't admit it was because Lu Zhengting's profile was too tempting, and her meager resistance had failed. His occasionally bobbing Adam's apple, his sharp jawline, his straight nose, his sexy lips, and his eyes like stars—clear and dazzling...
Xia Yan couldn't help but swallow. Before Lu Zhengting noticed, she quickly averted her gaze and pretended to look out the window nonchalantly.
"If the chances of something are slim, would you still go through with it?" "That depends on what it is." "Hmm?" "If I know that no matter what I do, there won't be any result, I definitely wouldn't start in the first place," Xia Yan said lightly. Some people had asked her similar questions before, and after hearing her answer, many disagreed. She always brushed it off with a smile. Everyone has their own views and ways of handling things; she didn't want to waste time on things that would never yield results.
Lu Zhengting pressed his lips together, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "Like making you love me?"
Hearing this, Xia Yan's heart jolted. She suppressed her racing pulse and gave a sheepish smile at Lu Zhengting. "Lu Zhengting, you really know how to joke."
"Do I?" Lu Zhengting turned to glance at Xia Yan, who was trying to change the subject, and asked softly.
"Yeah, you're universally adored, Mr. Lu. Women who admire you are like the endless Yellow River, flowing without stop. I don't need to join in, right? Besides, I can't swim, so I dare not jump into the river," Xia Yan said, rubbing her nose with a laugh. Tonight's questions were sharp enough and boring enough. It was tough on her during her period that Lu Zhengting would pick such a loaded topic.
Lu Zhengting curled his lips and blinked. "If you can't swim, I can save you."
"Don't joke around. I usually don't walk by the river," Xia Yan said, tugging at the small blanket on her shoulder and rolling her eyes. A phrase suddenly popped into her head: Are you afraid to love me? Thinking about it, she silently muttered to herself, afraid.
Lu Zhengting smiled faintly, then suddenly leaned in close to her ear and slowly uttered two words, "Don't be afraid."
"Ah..." Xia Yan immediately backed away, staring at Lu Zhengting with confusion. Was he having a fit tonight? Discussing love with her.
"Too bad, I like a challenge," Lu Zhengting said with an ambiguous remark before heading toward the big bed, leaving Xia Yan standing there stunned. Like a challenge, like a challenge, like a challenge...
The two words echoed repeatedly in Xia Yan's mind. She shivered, her heart a little shaken.
She took a slow step toward the bed, knowing she was at Lu's residence and had her own room. After a moment's thought, she decided without hesitation to leave Lu Zhengting's room. But unexpectedly, Lu Zhengting, who was lying on the bed, suddenly got up, grabbed her hand, and pulled her forcefully onto the bed.
"Lu, Lu..." Xia Yan fell into his arms before she could react. As she struggled, Lu Zhengting's arm quickly wrapped around her, trapping her. She buried her face in the crook of his arm and immediately found it hard to breathe.
"Don't move. Let me hold you for a bit."
Xia Yan really wanted to complain: Don't use the excuse of holding me for a bit to cop a feel!
"It's hot!" She was burning up!
Hearing this, Lu Zhengting still didn't let go. Instead, he rested his chin on top of her head. "Don't move."
Don't move? She was dying of heat, and she wasn't allowed to move?
She was going to move anyway!
Xia Yan twisted and turned, suddenly feeling something pressing against her thigh, which was uncomfortable. Frowning, she was about to reach down to feel what it was, but Lu Zhengting was faster, grabbing her hand and pinning it behind her back.
"What are you doing?" "Don't move." Lu Zhengting's voice, low and slightly hoarse like a cello, slowly sounded in Xia Yan's ear, carrying a hint of warning and a sharp edge.
"I'm uncomfortable. Why shouldn't I move?" "If you move, I get uncomfortable." "So it's my fault you're uncomfortable?" Xia Yan rolled her eyes and said gloomily.
"Xia Yan."
Hearing this, Xia Yan's heart pounded rapidly a few times. Why did he have to say her name in such a sexy voice right in her ear? Heaven knew she was a sucker for voices! Ripples stirred in her heart, and she suddenly hiccupped, her face turning bright red.
Lying on Lu Zhengting's chest, listening to his strong heartbeat and the low laughter that traveled through his chest to her ears, she felt an intoxicating sensation. Xia Yan silently shook her head and, without thinking, bent her knee and aimed straight for Lu Zhengting's lower abdomen!
Lu Zhengting hadn't expected Xia Yan to do that, let alone dare to do it!
"Sorry, sorry, are you okay?" Xia Yan scrambled out of Lu Zhengting's arms, stood by the bed, and watched him grimacing as he clutched his lower abdomen. Could she make a run for it now?
"Xia Yan!" Lu Zhengting gritted his teeth as he called out the culprit's name, glaring fiercely at her. He wanted nothing more than to hang her up and give her a beating. Was that a place to kick?
From the feel of it, Xia Yan had no idea how hard she'd hit. Especially when he was already aroused—was she trying to make him sterile?
"I heard you, I heard you! Are you in pain? Should I call a doctor?" Xia Yan said urgently, seeing his ashen face and sweaty forehead.
Call a doctor? To have the doctor see his boss in such an embarrassing state?
Lu Zhengting's anger grew, and Xia Yan became more anxious. Her anxiety only made her own menstrual cramps, which had just eased, start throbbing again.
"Then what do you want?" "Just be quiet for a while." "Okay."
One stood, one lay. They stared at each other.
Lu Zhengting furrowed his brow and shot a dark look at Xia Yan. "Come here." "What are you going to do?" "Am I going to eat you?" "Yes." "Come here. Don't make me say it a third time." "I'm in pain..." Xia Yan said without thinking, clutching her stomach and blinking her clear eyes at Lu Zhengting with utmost sincerity and seriousness, almost as if she had "believe me" written on her face. Her instinct told her that Lu Zhengting calling her over now was definitely not good. Remembering how she had acted spoiled on the phone at the snack street, and how Lu Zhengting, who had been resistant, suddenly agreed readily, a lightbulb went off in her head. She decisively used the same tactic again.
Sure enough, Lu Zhengting's mouth twitched. "Get out."
Hearing this, Xia Yan didn't hesitate and bolted out.
Lu Zhengting stared in disbelief at Xia Yan running out, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. How had he never noticed this girl had so many tricks up her sleeve?
Xia Yan returned to her room on the second floor. After a restless night, she was especially tired and sleepy. She fell onto the bed, closed her eyes, and quickly drifted off to sleep.
The cool night brought a drizzling rain, washing away the city's stuffiness and bringing a gentle breeze. The rain fell all night long.
At dawn, the sky showed a faint fish-belly white. In the distance, the glow of the morning sun could be vaguely seen. Thick, pure white clouds clustered together, forming various shapes floating in the sky. When the wind blew, they scattered and then gathered again. The fiery red sun slowly rose from behind the eastern hills, its blazing light illuminating the entire mountain, as if covering it in a layer of red.
The light rain outside the window stopped, and inside, Xia Yan was woken by a ray of sunlight breaking through the window. She opened her drowsy eyes, but quickly shut them again when faced with the glaring light, lazily stretching.
After freshening up, she went to the dining room. Little Han was eating a sandwich with big bites. When he spotted Xia Yan at home, he widened his eyes, put down his sandwich, ran over to her, and looked up. "Sister Yan, when did you get here? I didn't know!"
"I came when you were already fast asleep." Xia Yan pinched his nose and smiled.
"Did you come back with Dad?" Little Han glanced at Xia Yan, his eyes sparkling with gossip.
"..." "Did you?" Little Han winked, looking at her slyly.
"Go eat breakfast." "I knew it. You came back with my dad." Little Han gave Xia Yan a knowing look and trotted back to his seat.
Seeing this, Xia Yan glanced at Lu Zhengting, who was sitting nearby looking serious, and sat down as if nothing had happened. Aunt Chen brought a cup of brown sugar water from the kitchen and placed it in front of her. Xia Yan paused for a moment, then shifted her gaze to Lu Zhengting.
"What's this?" "Mr. Lu ordered it," Aunt Chen said with a smile.
Xia Yan looked up at Lu Zhengting. In this house, only Lu Zhengting knew she was on her period. She took a few sips from the cup and couldn't help but think that a man like Lu Zhengting even knew to make brown sugar water for a woman during her period. She wondered how many times he had ordered it. At that thought, the sweetness in her heart quickly soured.
Lu Zhengting wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin and noticed Xia Yan's scrutinizing gaze. He pressed his lips together and asked casually, "Is there something you want to tell me?"
"What?" Xia Yan took another sip of the brown sugar water.
Hearing this, Lu Zhengting's mouth twitched slightly. Was Xia Yan not thinking of asking him for help with Yang Jinkuan's attack on the Xia family?
Xia Yan stared at Lu Zhengting in confusion for a long time, until a sudden ringtone broke their eye contact. She pulled out her phone and saw it was a call from the Xia family. Her finger instinctively moved to reject it, but then she quickly swiped to answer.
"What is it?" "Wait, I'll be right back."
Xia Yan hung up and stood abruptly, heading for the door. Xia Siyue had told Xia Minghui about the hospital matter, and now the whole Xia family knew that her mother wanted to leave things to her. But the old Mrs. Xia thought Xia Siyue should also have a share. The call just now was from the hospital, telling her that Xia Siyue was making a scene in the ward. Her mother's condition had just started to improve and couldn't handle any stimulation or emotional upheaval.
Xia Yan reached the living room, then turned back to the dining room. "Lu Zhengting, can you take me to the hospital? Or lend me a car?"