Ning Nan glanced around randomly and saw Xu Xiao staring straight at him. He gave an awkward smile in return, but caught Ning Dong's murderous look out of the corner of his eye. He instantly shuddered—being married to a henpecked husband was really unbearable.
"Why are you all staring at me like that? I just finished filming, and now I'm starving to death."
Xu Xiao raised an eyebrow and swept her gaze over him. "If you want to eat, explain things first. Tell me what you know."
"Sister-in-law, I don't know what you're talking about. I'm really starving." Ning Nan shifted his pleading gaze to Xu Su and winked. Seeing this, Xu Su sat up straight, cleared her throat a couple of times, and looked at Xu Xiao.
"Sis, how about we eat first, then make him explain?"
"No, explain first, then eat." Xu Xiao's determined eyes locked onto Xu Su, then she raised an eyebrow at Ning Dong. "Honey, don't you think Nan Nan should explain first before eating?"
"Ning Nan, say what you know first, then you can eat."
Ning Nan stared at Ning Dong, speechless and helpless. He began to wonder how he ended up with such a henpecked older brother—it didn't match his tough-guy image at all!
Facing the eager, questioning looks from everyone, Ning Nan, under duress, glanced at the delicious food on the table, swallowed quietly, and slowly recounted what he had just seen.
"So, Xiao Ting went to find Yan Yan?" Xu Xiao looked at Ning Nan with a gossipy expression.
"Unless something unexpected happens, that's it. Sister-in-law, can I eat now?"
Hearing this, Xu Xiao waved her hand, rubbed her chin, and rolled her eyes at Ning Nan. "Go ahead, eat."
Ke Yaru couldn't sit still after learning that Lu Zhengting had gone to find Xia Yan. She secretly glanced at everyone present, then suddenly pulled out a tissue to wipe her mouth and said gently, "Sister Xiaoxiao, I just remembered I have something to take care of. I might need to..."
Xu Xiao stared steadily at Ke Yaru and smiled. "What's so urgent that you have to handle it right now? We rarely get to come back, and leaving halfway like this—aren't you taking us too lightly?"
Ke Yaru's smiling face stiffened as soon as Xu Xiao finished speaking. Xu Xiao's lofty words made it clear she didn't want her to leave now. She pondered silently for a moment—Xu Xiao was someone she couldn't afford to offend, not just because she was from the Xu family, but also because of her deep ties with the Lu family.
"In that case, I'll make a phone call and have my subordinates handle it. Is that okay?"
"Go ahead."
On the other side, Lu Zhengting left the hotel and headed straight for the address Ning Nan had sent him. But the rain was too heavy at that moment; raindrops fell so fast they blurred the road ahead. The pitch-black night sky was occasionally lit up by lightning streaking across it, accompanied by deafening thunderclaps that plunged the entire city into an inexplicable panic. Some streetlights in the alleys had gone out...
Xia Yan squeezed into the crowd at the entrance of the department store, hoping this sudden downpour would stop. She gazed at the congested traffic on the distant road—getting an empty cab to pass by her now was nearly impossible.
The rain grew more violent, slanting with the gusty wind. Even standing in a sheltered spot, she couldn't avoid getting wet.
Lu Zhengting finally navigated through the jammed cars and pulled over to the side of the road. His sharp eyes scanned the crowd as he pulled out his phone to call Xia Yan, but a robotic female voice answered—it was turned off...
He got out, grabbed an umbrella from the trunk, and strode through the rain. Following the address Ning Nan had given, he reached the department store entrance. Scanning the crowd, it seemed like in an instant he spotted the small woman huddled among them, shivering slightly.
"Xia Yan."
A hallucination? Xia Yan lowered her head, thinking she heard someone calling her name, but when she looked up, all she saw were countless heads, no familiar face. She shook her head—it must be her imagination.
Lu Zhengting pushed through the crowd and stood before Xia Yan, looking down at her, who was completely unaware. His deep voice slowly rang out, "Xia Yan."
Hearing this, Xia Yan found the voice familiar. Thinking about it, it sounded close, almost right beside her. She slowly looked up to the side and froze instantly, stammering, "You, how, how are you here?"
"I'll take you back." Lu Zhengting took Xia Yan's hand and pulled her into his arms, holding the umbrella with one hand as they pressed tightly together, charging into the pouring rain.
Xia Yan instinctively shifted her gaze to Lu Zhengting. She had actually imagined earlier how wonderful it would be if he appeared before her now. At this moment, her eyes were fixed on this man holding her as they walked through the rain.
Her heart began to race inexplicably.
"Lu Zhengting, your sleeve... Move the umbrella over a bit."
"It's fine."
The distance from the department store to where Lu Zhengting had parked wasn't far, but this scene was deeply etched into Xia Yan's memory.
A flash of lightning split the sky. Xia Yan watched Lu Zhengting's sharply defined face, his clear black-and-white eyes staring straight ahead. She instinctively wanted to shift her gaze to his sexy lips, her eyes unblinking, as if she was falling into the trap of his good looks.
Standing by the car, just as Lu Zhengting opened the door, another thunderclap roared. Xia Yan reflexively lunged at him, clutching his sleeve tightly with both hands, burying her head deep in his chest.
Seeing this, Lu Zhengting looked down at the clearly trembling Xia Yan, frowned deeply, quickly opened the car door, and whispered softly in her ear, "Get in the car first."
Xia Yan didn't react, just clung stubbornly to his sleeve, silent.
"Xia Yan, be good, let's get in the car first."
Hearing this, Xia Yan looked up at him for a long time. The tenderness in his eyes made her heart tremble. Those deep eyes held emotions she dared not read. She nodded silently, a bit dazed.
Once in the car, Lu Zhengting leaned over. In the air-conditioned cabin, their eyes met. Xia Yan's eyelashes fluttered; she blinked and parted her lips slightly. Above her, Lu Zhengting's features were incredibly clear, mere inches away.
A click sounded. After a pause, Xia Yan snapped back to reality and realized how close she and Lu Zhengting were. Suddenly, she couldn't control herself and let out a hiccup. Then she lowered her head, glanced up cautiously at him, and saw him looking at her with a faint, amused smile, lips pressed together leisurely. In an instant, Xia Yan felt her face burning.
Lu Zhengting withdrew his gaze, started the engine, and turned the car toward Xia Yan's apartment.
The rain gradually lessened, but lightning and thunder still appeared occasionally, as if waiting for an even heavier downpour. Xia Yan slumped in her seat, her eyes glazed as she stared out the window. Pedestrians on the sidewalk seemed to struggle with every step, while those sheltering under eaves looked anxious, worried, or impatient...
Xia Yan felt her whole body heating up. She closed her eyes, and waves of drowsiness washed over her like a tide. Lu Zhengting glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and instinctively reached out to touch her forehead. Hot?
He sped up, but traffic was terrible. By the time they reached the apartment, Xia Yan was already half-asleep. He glanced at her, didn't hesitate, and carried her in a bridal-style hold back to her place.
Her head felt heavy and weighed down. Xia Yan knew someone was carrying her. She tried to open her eyes but found it difficult. A light seemed to shine above her, dazzling her. She wanted to raise her hand to block it but lacked the strength.
She felt herself being laid down on something soft. A warm, solid hand touched her forehead. Another thunderclap outside made her frown, and she instinctively reached out to grab whatever was nearest.
Lu Zhengting sat on the edge of the bed, frowning at the hand Xia Yan was gripping tightly. After a few seconds of thought, he placed his hand back on her forehead—it was hotter than before.
He considered his options, pulled out his phone, and called the family doctor, ordering him to get there as fast as possible. But half an hour passed, and the doctor still hadn't arrived. He called again, only to find the doctor stuck in traffic—even at top speed, it would take at least an hour.
Lu Zhengting described Xia Yan's condition over the phone and followed the doctor's instructions to prepare. He pried her hand loose, went to the kitchen, grabbed some ice from the freezer, wrapped it in a towel, and returned to the room.
Xia Yan felt the cold touch, her expression shifted instantly, and she raised her hand to slap it away. Lu Zhengting, caught off guard, couldn't dodge her sudden move, and her palm landed squarely on his face.
In an instant, the room's temperature dropped to freezing. Xia Yan unconsciously grabbed Lu Zhengting's hand again, looking satisfied. Watching her, Lu Zhengting didn't know whether to laugh or cry. With his free hand, he picked up the ice pack and placed it on her forehead.
The rain lasted most of the night. In the latter half, the sky began to clear, the clouds dispersing to reveal a dark void. The moon slowly emerged in the sky, and every corner of Jiangcheng was filled with the fresh scent of rain. On the distant horizon, a faint fish-belly white began to appear.
Morning came. After last night's storm, leftover raindrops still dripped outside the window. Xia Yan slowly opened her eyes, and a patch of black met her vision. She reached out groggily and touched it—warm. She pinched it—springy. She pondered, slowly lifted her head, and instantly snapped to full alert.
She reflexively kicked out. "Why are you sleeping in my bed again!"
Lu Zhengting had only fallen asleep around dawn. Now, kicked awake by Xia Yan, he exuded a murderous aura. Sensing danger, Xia Yan didn't hesitate to jump off the bed and glare at him.