The first person Xia Yan thought of the moment she retreated outside the room was Lu Zhengting. Flustered, she hurriedly pulled out her phone to call him, her tone tinged with panic. At that moment, Lu Zhengting had just driven out of the neighborhood, but he immediately made a sharp U-turn, headed back to the parking garage, scooped up Xiao Han from the back seat, and rushed upstairs.
"Ding..."
Xia Yan was now like a startled bird—any tiny sound could jangle her nerves. Hearing the elevator chime, she instinctively jogged over. As the doors slid open, she saw Lu Zhengting holding Xiao Han, and the tension in her body instantly eased.
Lu Zhengting carried Xiao Han with one arm and took Xia Yan's hand with the other, leading her into the living room. Under the bright lights, the chaotic state of the room was laid bare, like a disaster scene. Every cabinet in the space had been rummaged through, their contents strewn carelessly across the floor. Xia Yan paused, then let go of Lu Zhengting's hand and walked into the bedroom. The wardrobe and nightstand were all in disarray.
"What's wrong?" Lu Zhengting followed her into the bedroom and found her standing still, lost in thought.
Xia Yan squinted slightly, crouching down to sift through the nightstand. "The jewelry I kept here is gone—the pieces my mother left me."
"Who called the police?"
Hearing this, Lu Zhengting's brow furrowed tightly. At the sound of movement outside, he turned and strode to the living room, glancing at the hurriedly arriving police officers. "I did," he said coldly.
The officer who spoke recognized Lu Zhengting and wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him. This man, rarely seen in Jiangcheng, was showing up in an ordinary apartment like this?
Lu Zhengting shot him a sharp look, snapping the officer back to reality. He scurried over obsequiously. "Mr. Lu, rest assured, I'll handle this with utmost care. You can count on me."
Xia Yan slowly emerged from the bedroom. The officer, spotting her, realized she was the woman linked to Lu Zhengting in those rumors. He quickly approached her. "Miss Xia, please check if any valuables are missing. If so, we'll preliminarily classify this as a burglary..."
"Yes, the jewelry in the bedroom is gone, along with some cash."
Xia Yan scanned the living room. The place was uninhabitable now—the living room and bedroom were a mess, and the police investigation meant she couldn't stay here either. Lu Zhengting gently draped an arm over her shoulder, as if reading her thoughts, and said softly, "Come to my place for now. Leave this to them. I'll have Ning Xi check it out tomorrow."
Xia Yan looked up at Lu Zhengting and nodded.
At Lu's residence.
Xia Yan came out of the bathroom after her shower, still wrapped in a towel. Lu Zhengting was on the phone with Ning Xi. She stood silently by the bed, watching his silhouette on the balcony. When he hung up and turned around, she quickly grabbed a towel and began drying her dripping hair.
"Still thinking about tonight?"
Xia Yan lowered her head, pondering for a moment. "I feel like something's off, but I can't put my finger on it."
Lu Zhengting frowned slightly, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. His gaze was tender as he looked at her, his lips parting slightly. His deep, resonant voice echoed softly in the quiet room. "Don't overthink it. Leave this to me."
Xia Yan blinked in confusion, meeting his clear, dark eyes. They seemed to pierce straight into her soul. "Lu Zhengting, do you know what I'm thinking?"
"Be good. Let me handle this." Lu Zhengting didn't want Xia Yan involved. He leaned in and kissed her forehead, then walked to the cabinet, pulled out a hairdryer, and began drying her hair. Xia Yan sat on the edge of the bed with her back to him as the warm air tousled her strands, carrying a faint, elusive scent. His movements were incredibly gentle, as if handling something fragile and precious.
Xia Yan grew drowsy. Though the break-in weighed on her mind, having Lu Zhengting by her side now filled her with warmth and a sense of security. Lu Zhengting ran his fingers through her half-dry hair, brought it to his nose, and inhaled, his expression softening with affection.
Noticing his gesture, Xia Yan turned her body and looked up at him, his face brimming with tenderness. Her heart began to race wildly. The apartment incident faded from her thoughts, replaced entirely by the image of Lu Zhengting in this moment.
The soft light above illuminated their space, and the silence around them was palpable. She could hear his breathing quicken, feel her own heart pounding in her throat. Lu Zhengting looked down at her fair, smooth face, her clear, bright eyes shimmering with emotion. He reached out, cupping the back of her head with one hand while gently tilting her chin with the other. As their eyes met, the warm orange light cast a glow on Xia Yan's face, and Lu Zhengting could read every nuance of her expression.
A kiss—soft and slow—descended. Xia Yan closed her eyes instinctively, her arms winding around his neck as she leaned closer. His hand roamed lightly over her waist. A simple, gentle kiss was no longer Lu Zhengting's style. He launched a tender assault, guiding her body back onto the bed behind them. He pressed over her, gradually advancing, claiming ground. The towel she'd been wrapped in had long since disappeared, leaving them bare. His warm hands teased every sensitive spot, like a deliberate provocation.
Xia Yan let out a soft moan, her mind blank, her body tingling as if electrified. She cracked her eyes open to see Lu Zhengting gazing back at her. She smiled faintly, then pulled him closer, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Her voice, soft and sweet, escaped her lips. "I think I really love you."
"..." Lu Zhengting paused for a moment, the heat between them burning. He caressed her cheek, kissed her lips, and rasped, "Baby, I'll make you love me even more."
The words had barely left his mouth when Xia Yan's brow furrowed, her face paling slightly. She gritted her teeth and whispered, "It hurts..."
The next day, Xia Yan woke up groggy, feeling like she hadn't fully recovered from the night before. She opened her eyes slightly and tried to move, but a sharp ache shot through her legs. She frowned, annoyed at Lu Zhengting's behavior from the previous night. He was nothing but a cultured scoundrel!
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She glared at Lu Zhengting, still asleep, and reached out to pinch his nose. But he suddenly opened his eyes, his broad hand catching hers. With a mischievous grin, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.
"Baby, sleep a little longer. Last night was exhausting." At that, Xia Yan's face flushed crimson. She yanked her hand back and glared at the offending man. "Lu Zhengting, I was the one exhausted last night—me!"
"Baby, are you sure you want to argue about this first thing in the morning?" His suggestive words hit Xia Yan's ears, sending a chill down her spine. She pulled the blanket over her head.
Seeing this, Lu Zhengting couldn't help but laugh.
Xia Yan had indeed been pushed to her limits the night before. As a first-timer, Lu Zhengting's lack of restraint left her legs trembling with every step. Despite her protests, she had no choice but to follow him to the company. When they appeared together, it sparked the commotion she'd anticipated.
Once in the office, she barely wanted to move. Luckily, there wasn't much Lu Zhengting needed her for. Still, when Secretary Zhou came to pick up documents, Xia Yan caught the amused look in her eyes as she sized her up.
Ning Xi had gotten Lu Zhengting's call the night before, so he was up early and headed straight to the company. He breezed into Lu Zhengting's office and noticed the barely concealed joy on the man's face. Leaning in with a sly grin, he whispered, "So, you finally had your way with little sis last night?"
Lu Zhengting shot him a glance. "Go check out the apartment later."
"So that's a yes." Ning Xi's grin turned lecherous, pure Ning Nan style, but Lu Zhengting ignored him completely.
Unfazed, Ning Xi studied Lu Zhengting. After all, this was his bread and butter—reading people. Still, he looked at Lu Zhengting with a probing gaze and whined, "Bro, don't you think I'm overqualified for this?"
Lu Zhengting gave him a look, but before he could speak, Ning Xi waved him off. "Alright, I'm off to the apartment to check the scene."
With that, Ning Xi slipped out, only to bump into Ke Yaru. He froze, his face going blank. Ke Yaru spotted him too, offering a calm smile as she approached. "Ning Xi, when did you get to Jiangcheng? Why didn't you say something?"
"Sorry, I've got nothing to say to you." Ning Xi's face hardened as he turned to leave.
"Ning Xi, I'm sorry about what happened back then. I didn't expect you still haven't let it go."
Ning Xi stopped in his tracks, hesitated, then stepped back to stand in front of Ke Yaru. Leaning in, he lowered his voice. "Ke Yaru, in the past, I might have fallen for your act. But now? Are you overestimating yourself?"
Ke Yaru's expression flickered. They were in the hallway, and she glanced around before forcing a smile. "Ning Xi, I'm not overestimating myself. What makes you say that?"
"Is that so? Let me tell you, don't let me catch you with anything. Otherwise, the image you've built in front of Lu Zhengting will come crashing down." Ning Xi shot her a cold glare, then walked straight to the elevator, leaving her standing there alone.
Ke Yaru hadn't expected to run into Ning Xi here, let alone hear such words from him. Her heart skipped a beat. She pulled herself together, took a deep breath, and headed toward Lu Zhengting's office.