Xu Xiuwen decisively opened the car door and got out.
Lu Xinyao came back later than usual today.
The reason was that her younger brother, who was on summer vacation, felt uneasy about her living alone and missed her after a long time apart. He insisted on coming to see her.
So, after work, she went to the train station to pick him up. After picking him up, she took him out for hot pot, then went shopping together, and finally bought him two pieces of clothing.
After their shopping trip, Lu Xinyao brought him home.
Because she lived in a shared apartment and only had one bed in her room, she initially planned to book her brother a hotel room.
But her brother insisted on seeing where she lived, so she reluctantly brought him back.
She had already made up her mind to let him sleep in her bed and squeeze in with her roommate for the night.
When they arrived downstairs at her apartment building in a taxi, just as they got out of the car, she noticed a very familiar BMW parked by the roadside.
She immediately guessed what was going on.
Sure enough, in the next second, the car door opened, and Xu Xiuwen got out.
Seeing him appear, Lu Xinyao neither ran away nor avoided him. She didn’t ignore him either.
She turned to her brother and said, “Lu Xun, go ahead and call the elevator. I’ll be right there.”
Her younger brother, Lu Xun, nodded.
After sending her brother off, Lu Xinyao walked up to Xu Xiuwen.
Seeing his face full of anger, she remained unusually calm.
After what happened last night, she wasn’t worried about anything anymore.
“So, this is the boyfriend you found?” Xu Xiuwen sneered.
Looking at his expression, Lu Xinyao suddenly smiled faintly.
Her smile completely threw Xu Xiuwen off.
He didn’t understand what her smile meant.
“Your boyfriend looks younger than you, doesn’t he? Ha, aren’t you afraid he’s just playing around with you?”
Lu Xinyao countered, “And were you just playing around with Xiao Youran and Tang Weiwei?”
Her single retort left Xu Xiuwen speechless.
“That’s between me and them!” Xu Xiuwen snapped coldly.
Lu Xinyao pressed her lips together and smiled slightly, then turned to leave.
“Lu Xinyao!” Xu Xiuwen called after her.
“What else do you want?”
In truth, Lu Xinyao hadn’t intended to leave for real.
As soon as Xu Xiuwen called her, she stopped.
Looking at her calm expression, the anger inside Xu Xiuwen surged uncontrollably.
He stared into her eyes with fury and demanded, “Don’t you have anything to explain to me?”
“Explain? Explain what?”
Seeing her indifferent attitude, Xu Xiuwen was infuriated.
He could no longer keep his composure.
He reached out directly, grabbing Lu Xinyao’s shoulders with force.
She couldn’t break free, and the excessive strength he used made her frown in pain.
Xu Xiuwen spoke through gritted teeth, “Don’t push me to lose my temper! Tell me right now—who is he?”
Lu Xinyao looked up at Xu Xiuwen, her gaze steady and fearless, and said calmly, “You already know, don’t you? What else is there to say?”
“Lu Xinyao, you—”
“Xu Xiuwen, can you let go of me now? You’re hurting me.”
Xu Xiuwen knew he had no right to be angry.
Whether Lu Xinyao had a boyfriend or who she chose to date was entirely her business.
But the misplaced sense of possessiveness in his heart made him furious.
“Let go of my sister!”
At that moment, a voice suddenly came from not far away.
In the next second, a figure rushed toward him.
When his sister sent him away, Lu Xun had been wondering about the relationship between the guy waiting downstairs for his sister and her.
He originally didn’t plan to interfere in his sister’s affairs.
But when he saw the man gripping his sister’s shoulder tightly, and his sister frowning in pain, his sense of responsibility as a younger brother kicked in.
He couldn’t stand by and let someone bully his sister in front of him.
Lu Xun rushed up to Xu Xiuwen, grabbed his arm, and tried to force it upward.
His intentions were good.
But after grabbing Xu Xiuwen’s arm, he realized that no matter how hard he tried, the man’s arm didn’t budge.
Unwilling to give up, he used both hands to try and pry Xu Xiuwen’s grip open.
In the end, he still failed.
However, just then, Xu Xiuwen suddenly let go of his sister voluntarily.
Lu Xun didn’t have time to think about why. He immediately stepped between the two of them.
Staring at the man in front of him, who didn’t seem much older than himself, Lu Xun declared, “Don’t you dare bully my sister!”
Xu Xiuwen had been convinced that Lu Xun was Lu Xinyao’s boyfriend.
Even when the boy said, “Let go of my sister,” Xu Xiuwen didn’t catch on.
It wasn’t until Lu Xun repeated, “Don’t you dare bully my sister,” that Xu Xiuwen began to realize what was going on.
The young man in front of him didn’t seem to be Lu Xinyao’s boyfriend at all!
Judging by the way he addressed her as “sister,” he appeared to be her younger brother?
Xu Xiuwen turned to look at Lu Xinyao in surprise.
Lu Xinyao hadn’t planned to hide the truth from him for long.
Now that her brother had blurted it out, she decided to admit it outright.
“He’s my younger brother, Lu Xun.”
Upon learning that the young man wasn’t her boyfriend but her brother, Xu Xiuwen’s mood improved dramatically.
Even his gaze toward Lu Xun softened considerably.
Xu Xiuwen smiled and said, “Hello, Lu Xun. I’m your sister’s friend.”
But Lu Xun wasn’t buying it.
He glared at Xu Xiuwen and demanded, “Why were you bullying my sister?”
“Sorry, I was a bit rough just now. I didn’t mean it,” Xu Xiuwen explained.
“Really?” Lu Xun was skeptical.
He turned to look at his sister behind him and asked, “Sis, did he bully you?”
Lu Xinyao rolled her eyes at him and replied, “He didn’t bully me. And didn’t I tell you to go press the elevator? Why are you back here?”
Lu Xun scratched his head awkwardly. “I was worried someone might bully you.”
Lu Xinyao said exasperatedly, “Go now.”
“Got it, Sis.” Lu Xun was very obedient.
As soon as Lu Xinyao spoke, he turned and left.
Once Lu Xun had gone far enough…
Xu Xiuwen hesitantly asked, “He’s your brother?”
“Yes.”
Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Why should I?” Lu Xinyao countered.
Xu Xiuwen was at a loss for words.
Seeing him so taken aback, a hint of satisfaction flashed in Lu Xinyao’s heart.
She turned to follow her brother.
Seeing this, Xu Xiuwen quickly called out, “Lu Xinyao, I need to talk to you.”
Hearing this, Lu Xinyao stopped, glanced at him, and nodded slightly. “I’ll go upstairs first and come right back.”
“Alright,” Xu Xiuwen agreed.
Then, Lu Xinyao really turned and walked away.
Xu Xiuwen watched her retreating figure.
The thought that she might not come back didn’t even cross his mind. He trusted her that much.
Xu Xiuwen turned and got back into his car.
He didn’t know how much time had passed.
Maybe five minutes.
Maybe ten.
Sitting in the driver’s seat, Xu Xiuwen was lost in thought.
Lu Xun was clearly her brother.
But she deliberately said he was her boyfriend.
Xu Xiuwen guessed she did it to upset him.
But why? Xu Xiuwen could only think of one reason:
She didn’t feel as indifferent and unaffected as she pretended to be.
Realizing this, Xu Xiuwen felt a wave of relief and his mood began to lift.
Click.
The passenger door opened from the outside.
Lu Xinyao got into the car.
Just as Xu Xiuwen was about to speak, she turned to him and said calmly, “This isn’t a good place to talk. Let’s go somewhere else.”
Xu Xiuwen was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered. “Alright, where to?”
“Find a café.”
“Sure.”
Xu Xiuwen started the car and drove away.
He circled the nearby streets and soon found a café.
After parking the car, the two got out and walked inside.
Xu Xiuwen led the way, while Lu Xinyao followed calmly.
Once inside, Lu Xinyao headed straight for a table in the corner.
After they sat down, a waiter came over.
Each ordered a cup of coffee, then they waited in silence.
Neither spoke first.
Before long, the coffee was served.
Lu Xinyao stirred her coffee gently with a spoon.
“What do you want to say?” she asked.
“Why did you leave without saying goodbye?”
“Does it still matter?”
“You still haven’t forgiven me?”
“Forgive you for what? I don’t remember.”
“I told you I could make it up to you—any way you want.”
“I’m not interested.”
Lu Xinyao was like a hedgehog, her prickly demeanor making it impossible to get close.
Xu Xiuwen took a deep breath and asked, “So, the whole boyfriend thing—was that a lie?”
Lu Xinyao countered, “And if it was? What does it have to do with you?”
Her tone wasn’t kind, but Xu Xiuwen could tell she was admitting to the lie.
That admission dispelled the last of his doubts.
Xu Xiuwen thought for a few seconds before speaking seriously, “Of course it matters.”
Lu Xinyao subtly curled her lips, a hint of disdain flashing across her face.
Xu Xiuwen chose not to press further.
“Come back. The secretary position is still waiting for you. I need you.”
Lu Xinyao didn’t respond.
Xu Xiuwen didn’t rush her for an answer.
Their gazes met in the air, lingering.
After a long moment, Xu Xiuwen suddenly said, “Xinyao, your eyes are beautiful.”
Lu Xinyao froze for a second before sneering, “Do you say that to every woman?”
Xu Xiuwen didn’t argue but maintained his sincere tone. “I mean it. Your eyes are truly beautiful. They’re the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.”
Lu Xinyao stared at him for a few seconds, her gaze sharp and searching.
Xu Xiuwen met her gaze without flinching.
In the end, Lu Xinyao was the first to look away.
She lowered her head, picked up her coffee cup, and took a sip.
Her trembling eyelids were shielded from view.
After putting the cup down, she said, “Xu Xiuwen, I’m not like Xiao Youran or the others. Your tricks won’t work on me.”
“Do you really have to be this cold? Is it so hard to smile at me? I like your smile—it reminds me of gardenias.”
“Heh...” Lu Xinyao kept her gaze down. “This is already the best attitude I can give you.”
Xu Xiuwen noticed that as Lu Xinyao spoke, her hand trembled slightly.
It was a subtle, almost imperceptible movement.
If his eyes hadn’t been fixed on her, he might have missed it.
Although she quickly withdrew her hand from the table, Xu Xiuwen had caught it.
“Are you done? If so, I’m leaving,” Lu Xinyao said.
“Did your hand just tremble?”
“What?”
“Did you know your hand just trembled?”
Lu Xinyao’s expression remained calm as she replied, “That’s none of your business.”
Xu Xiuwen pressed on, “Why did your hand tremble? What are you nervous about? Or... do you get nervous when you see me?”
“What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I be nervous?”
“I don’t know. Maybe... because you like me?”
“Heh.”
She let out two mocking chuckles, but they sounded a bit stiff.
“Stop denying it. Even if your words don’t admit it, your body seems to be telling the truth.”
Lu Xinyao fell silent.
Seeing her reaction, Xu Xiuwen grew even more confident.
As she stared at the faint smile on his face, she suddenly said, “Let’s go.”
“What?”
“Let’s go,” she repeated.
“Where?”
“You tell me. Didn’t you come to see me because you want to sleep with me? Why beat around the bush and pretend otherwise?”
Her words caught Xu Xiuwen off guard.
He stared into her eyes as the smile on his face gradually faded.
Her gaze no longer avoided his.
Her dark, deep eyes revealed nothing of her emotions.
Xu Xiuwen was silent for a moment.
He didn’t refute her words, almost as if tacitly agreeing with her.
Lu Xinyao didn’t speak either.
She kept staring at him, clearly waiting for his response.
He hesitated for a second before asking, “You mean now?”
Lu Xinyao suddenly smiled.
From her smile, Xu Xiuwen sensed that she wasn’t joking, nor was she saying it to provoke him. She really meant what she said? Xu Xiuwen’s expression gradually shifted from lighthearted to serious.
Lu Xinyao suddenly spoke, “You’re only bothering me because you want to sleep with me, right? You don’t need to use these tricks on me. I’m too lazy to keep rejecting you over and over. We don’t need to make things so complicated. Anyway, I don’t have a boyfriend, so I might as well give in to you and save you the trouble of bothering me again in the future.”
“Are you serious?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Lu Xinyao responded with a smile.
It was clear that Lu Xinyao wasn’t the kind of girl with a bad reputation. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have maintained her innocence all this time.
But whether her words were truly heartfelt or not, Xu Xiuwen couldn’t tell. He couldn’t think of a better way—one that would change his relationship with Lu Xinyao.
Xu Xiuwen hesitated for a long time.
Lu Xinyao didn’t urge him, instead calmly sipping her coffee.
Her expression suggested that what she had just said wasn’t about a serious matter, but something trivial.
Finally, Xu Xiuwen decided to agree.
“Okay.”
He said one word briefly and then stood up to pay the bill.
When he finished paying, Lu Xinyao had already walked to the door.
Xu Xiuwen quickly followed her.
Arriving at the car, Xu Xiuwen even took the initiative to open the car door for her.
But Lu Xinyao didn’t get in.
She calmly said, “You don’t need to drive. The hotel is right across the street.”
Xu Xiuwen turned his head and looked across the street. Sure enough, there was a hotel.
Did Lu Xinyao see the hotel when she arrived earlier? Was that why she thought his intention was to take her to bed?
Xu Xiuwen fell silent.
Without saying a word, he followed Lu Xinyao as they crossed the street toward the hotel.