After leaving the Xia family villa, Xia Yan saw the moving company employees still waiting outside. She composed her stiff expression and said with a smile, "I'll send you the address. Go ahead, I'll be there soon."
With that, Xia Yan stepped aside and booked a car online, then hurriedly called Lu Zhengting. As soon as the call connected, she immediately said, "Lu Zhengting, thank you for earlier."
"Hmm, thanks aren't just spoken—I need actual action."
"What?" Xia Yan covered the receiver, thinking to herself, *I knew Lu Zhengting wouldn't help me so easily.* Then she added quietly, "What do you want me to do?"
"I'll send you the address. Come here right now."
"Can it be tomorrow? I'm busy moving today."
"What do you think? I'll give you half an hour. Is that enough?"
"Hey, Lu Zhengting..." Xia Yan stared at the now-dark screen and couldn't help stomping her foot. She knew that since he had helped her out earlier, he was already demanding repayment.
"Beep, beep..."
"Miss, did you book this car?"
Xia Yan glanced at the license plate and took a deep breath. "Yes, but I need to go to this place now. Can you find it?"
The driver looked at the address on Xia Yan's phone, a bit surprised. "I know it."
The address Lu Zhengting had given was indeed quite secluded. Only someone born and raised in Jiangcheng would likely find it. After getting out of the car, Xia Yan looked at the sign: Mingzhai.
It felt poetic. Xia Yan called Lu Zhengting to say she was at the entrance, and soon a neatly dressed man approached her. "Miss Xia, please follow me."
Without suspicion, Xia Yan figured this was someone Lu Zhengting had arranged. Walking through the quiet, dimly lit corridor, the interior had a Japanese style, built with bamboo and wood. The deeper she went, the more she discovered its hidden charm. Outside, it was scorching hot, nearly 38 degrees Celsius, the ground radiating heat. But here, a gentle breeze flowed in, neither cold nor hot, perfectly comfortable.
Xia Yan tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled at the guide. "Is the air conditioning on?"
"Miss Xia, there's no air conditioning here. It's all natural wind."
"Natural wind? But it's so hot outside, and in here..."
"Miss Xia, we've arrived."
Curious, Xia Yan stared at him until he blushed. The waiter carefully slid the door open and stepped aside.
"Mr. Lu, Miss Xia is here."
Lu Zhengting smiled at Xia Yan, noticing her intense curiosity, and waved his hand. "You may leave."
Xia Yan looked around at the one, two, three, four... so many people, and was momentarily stunned. Among them was Xu Xiao, who had saved her before. Upon closer inspection, they all seemed vaguely familiar. She thought, *What a small world.* They all knew Lu Zhengting and seemed close. She remembered at the mS bar, Xu Xiao had called Lu Zhengting "Xiao Ting"?
Xu Xiao immediately warmed up to Xia Yan, quickly stood up, and pulled her toward the seat next to her. "Ning Nan, move over."
"Sister-in-law, shouldn't Xia Yan sit there?" Ning Nan felt Lu Zhengting's murderous glare and shrugged pitifully at Xu Xiao. But Xu Xiao just slapped his shoulder. "Move over, you talk too much!"
"..." Ning Nan looked at Lu Zhengting with a helpless expression. *I tried my best.* Then he glanced at Xu Su, who looked equally unhelpful, and felt deeply wounded. Ning Dong was even less reliable—he wouldn't help his sister-in-law beat him up, which was already merciful.
Xia Yan looked at Xu Xiao with confusion. This was only their second meeting...
"Xia Yan, don't be so formal. I'm easy to get along with, right?"
"Yeah, Xia Yan, just sit next to Xiaoxiao. No one dares to object, right?" Ning Dong immediately sided with his wife, his last words directed at the other men.
Xu Xiao gave Ning Dong an approving look. "Good boy."
"..." Lu Zhengting frowned, his eyes fixed on Xia Yan. Xu Xiao always stirred up trouble the moment she returned, and Ning Dong had no backbone, always clinging to her. He was fuming inside!
Xia Yan blinked. "Um, how should I address you?"
"I'm Xu Xiao. Let me tell you, that perpetually expressionless guy is Xu Su, my little brother. That flashy Ning Nan is Ning Dong's younger brother—call me sister-in-law. And you already know the last one, so I won't introduce him, right, Xiao Ting?"
"Pfft..." Xia Yan took a sip of water, but before it even reached her throat, she spat it out. Two streams of water dripped from her lips as she felt an intense gaze on her. She quickly pretended nothing happened and wiped her mouth with a tissue.
Ning Nan, sitting beside her, dodged to Xu Su's side and laughed. "Xia Yan, you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine." *Oh my god, Xiao Ting?* She couldn't imagine the stern, murderous Lu Zhengting having such a cute, funny nickname...
"Xiaoxiao, enough." Matters of male dignity couldn't be ignored. Lu Zhengting finally spoke, his sharp gaze on Xia Yan. "Come here now."
Xia Yan blinked at him and said lightly, "Is that a good idea? I think this seat is fine, and Xiaoxiao is very welcoming."
Ning Nan burst out laughing. He had known from the start that Xia Yan, though small, had a proud personality. Making someone who rarely got angry lose his cool was no small feat.
Xu Xiao glanced at Lu Zhengting and patted Xia Yan's shoulder. "Ignore him. He's been like this since childhood."
...
In the end, Xia Yan sat next to Xu Xiao. After some initial awkwardness, she began eating happily. Lu Zhengting kept his eyes on her from his seat, but she pretended not to notice, listening to Xu Xiao call him "Xiao Ting" and urging him to drink.
Ning Dong was not only incredibly skilled but also had an incredible tolerance for alcohol. Xu Xiao kept making Lu Zhengting drink, and Ning Dong ended up drinking for him.
Resist? Solved with force.
Refuse? Solved with force.
Under Xu Xiao and Ning Dong's tactics, no one at the table lasted more than ten rounds.
As for Ning Nan and Xu Su, they were just bystanders enjoying the show.
Finally, Xia Yan couldn't take it anymore. She put down her chopsticks and said to Xu Xiao, "Xiaoxiao, if he drinks too much, how will he get home?"
"You can take him."
"Me? Is that appropriate?"
"What's wrong with it? Look, Ning Dong's drunk, so I have to take care of him. Susu and Nannan have things to do later. That leaves you as the freest one, right?" Xu Xiao said casually, picking up some food.
Susu? Nannan?
Xia Yan secretly glanced at the two named, seeing their faces darken. She admired Xu Xiao—only she dared to use those nicknames.
She hadn't even noticed Xu Su's face, which was scarier than Lu Zhengting's earlier expression.
Xu Xiao waved her hand and put down her chopsticks. "Ning Dong, pay the bill. Let's go home."
Ning Nan didn't dare provoke Xu Su now. Hearing they could leave, he bolted from his seat, but Xu Su was faster, grabbing his collar. "Wait."
"Aren't you going back to the office? I can't just follow you, right?"
"Yeah, let's go together."
Xu Xiao couldn't be bothered with those two. She linked arms with Ning Dong, glanced at the half-asleep Lu Zhengting, and said to Xia Yan, "Yanyan, I'm leaving Xiao Ting to you. Oh, and he has a bad stomach—drinking will make him uncomfortable."
*So she knew he had a bad stomach and still made him drink so much?*
Xia Yan stood frozen, watching the four leave, and sighed to the heavens. *Why did I have to be the one to take care of Lu Zhengting?*
"Come here." Lu Zhengting half-opened his eyes and glanced at Xia Yan, as if reading her thoughts, his expression sour.
Xia Yan sniffled reluctantly and shuffled over to him. "Are you okay?"
"Would you be okay after drinking this much?"
"..." *With that attitude, can I just leave him here?*
"Can you stand? I'll take you home."
"Come closer and hold me." Lu Zhengting said quietly. As Xia Yan approached, he draped his arm over her shoulder and slowly stood up, using the table for support.
Xia Yan's small frame bore nearly all of Lu Zhengting's weight, almost knocking the breath out of her. Gritting her teeth, she reluctantly wrapped her arm around his waist. "Lu Zhengting, can you at least try to support yourself? You're going to crush me like this."
"No strength. Dizzy. Nauseous. Stomach hurts."
"You must be sent by the heavens to torment me!" Xia Yan growled, using all her strength to take a few steps. Spotting a waiter ahead, she saw him as a savior and tried to ask for help, but before she could speak, Lu Zhengting's voice rang in her ear.
"Don't let anyone touch me!"
"Boss, are you faking being drunk? Why are you so heavy, and you won't let me ask for help!" Xia Yan wailed at Lu Zhengting. *Is he really drunk?*
Ning Dong glanced at his wife and said softly, "Xiaoxiao, are you sure this won't backfire?"
"No, it won't."
"Did you tell that waiter to avoid Lu Zhengting?"
"Darling, how did you know? I couldn't stand watching Xiao Ting drag his feet. Slow and steady is too much trouble—better to buy the ticket and board the train first, don't you think?"