《Became the Terminally Ill Supporting Male Lead's Rabbit Spirit》


 Chapter 1: 01

    <h4>Chapter 1</h4>


    Raindrops kept falling from outside the window onto the desk, dampening the cardboard box ced on its surface.


    A small snowball-like figure climbed onto the cardboard box, struggling to jump out. Due to the effort, it lost control and tumbled off the desk towards the floor.


    Su Ci closed her eyes in panic, her whole body tensing up.


    The next second, instead of feeling pain, she found herself enveloped in coldness.


    Su Ci slowly opened her eyes, and a young man''s handsome face came into focus before her.


    His expression was nk, his hair wet from the rain. Water droplets slid down his bangs, trailing across his sharp, cold profile, slowly dripping from his chin. His pitch-ck eyes were emotionless and bottomless, making it difficult to maintain eye contact.


    Su Ci blinked - he had returned.


    Lu Zhe looked down at the white bunny in his palm before cing it on his bed.


    The room was rather small, with a single bed covered in a grayish bedsheet. Su Ciy obediently on the bed, afraid to move, fearing she might end up trapped in the small cardboard box again.


    It had been three days since she arrived here, and she had no choice but to ept that she had be a rabbit - a palm-sized baby rabbit at that - and had been picked up by the young man before her, Lu Zhe, on the day she arrived.


    Su Ci raised her rabbit head, looking at Lu Zhe with aplicated expression.


    She remembered that Lu Zhe was the female protagonist''s brother, a minor character who only appeared a few times in the book.


    Once was when the book exined how the female lead had behaved terribly before her rebirth and was abandoned by everyone, yet Lu Zhe still protected her, sacrificing everything for her, even dying for her sake.


    Another time was when the female lead was reborn and began to see this brother she had always despised in a new light.


    Lu Zhe''s final appearance in the plot was when the female lead visited his grave.


    Before she could gather her thoughts, Su Ci watched as Lu Zhe closed the window and began removing his wet clothes.


    The young man was tall and well-proportioned, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.


    As he changed clothes, Su Ci clearly saw the lean muscles on his chest, evenly distributed and powerful, with beautiful flowing lines -pletely different from how slim he appeared when clothed.


    Even though she had seen many male celebrities and models before, Su Ci had to admit that Lu Zhe''s physique was impressive.


    Lu Zhe casually changed into a ck T-shirt, his already expressionless face appearing even more rigid and cold against the dark color.


    His gaze moved to the rabbit, and he picked up a nearby towel, wrapping the bunny in it to dry off the rainwater.


    The towel wasn''t soft, and the young man''s movements were rough. Su Ci felt ufortable as the coarse towel rubbed against her head.


    The rabbit''s snow-white fur became fluffy and disheveled, making it look even more like a snowball, adorably silly. Su Ci wiggled her tiny feet, and just as she was about to try escaping from the young man''s cold hands, the doorbell rang.


    The door opened.


    "Bro... brother."


    The girl standing at the door looked excited yet timid. After hesitantly calling out to Lu Zhe once, her next words came out more firmly, "Brother."


    Zhao Youyou tried hard to contain her excited, trembling heart.


    Thinking of how in her previous life, when she had behaved terribly and was abandoned by everyone, only Lu Zhe - this cold, lonely, and downtrodden brother she had always despised - had appeared to save her, Zhao Youyou''s eyes welled up with tears.


    She looked at the young man before her with sincere gratitude. The current Lu Zhe hadn''t died trying to save her; he was still here, alive and standing before her.


    Thank goodness.


    Lu Zhe looked at Zhao Youyou indifferently, "What is it?"


    At this moment, Su Ci, who had been quietly nestled in Lu Zhe''s hands, carefully observed Zhao Youyou''s excited expression. She realized this girl was the female protagonist.


    Hearing the female lead call Lu Zhe "brother," Su Ci confirmed that Zhao Youyou had indeed been reborn. In the book, it was described that after her rebirth, the female lead began calling him brother out of gratitude.


    Zhao Youyou looked at Lu Zhe with teary eyes.


    After falling asleep and waking up three years in the past, thinking of Lu Zhe who had died for her, she had rushed to find him, wanting to confirm this wasn''t a dream.


    Meeting Lu Zhe''s cold gaze, she wanted to say something but realized she couldn''t tell him about her rebirth - such an extraordinary thing.


    Zhao Youyou sniffled, "Brother, have you been welltely?" If this were her previous self, she would never have said such things, preferring to keep Lu Zhe as far away as possible.


    Lu Zhe''s expression remained nk, his ck eyes showing no emotion, "Mm."


    In the past, Zhao Youyou had hated this side of Lu Zhe, but not anymore.


    Zhao Youyou smiled at Lu Zhe for the first time, noticing he was holding a snow-white rabbit.


    "How cute. Brother, when did you get a rabbit?"


    Zhao Youyou reached out and took the rabbit from him, "Brother, is this my birthday present?"


    Looking at the calendar, she had noticed her birthday was in a few days. The rabbit must be a birthday gift from Lu Zhe - otherwise, given his cold personality, how could he suddenly start keeping pets?


    Suddenly being held by Zhao Youyou and hearing her words, Su Ci was stunned.


    Was she being given to Zhao Youyou?


    Before she could react, a sharp pain interrupted Su Ci''s thoughts.


    Zhao Youyou was pulling out her fur!


    Su Ci was extremely sensitive to pain, and now as a rabbit, having her fur forcibly pulled out made her red eyes well up with tears.


    Zhao Youyou held the rabbit in one hand while stroking it with the other, happily telling Lu Zhe, "The rabbit is really cute." As she spoke, her hand unconsciously grabbed a tuft of the rabbit''s fur and pulled it out.


    Zhao Youyou had a habit of pulling fur whenever she touched something fuzzy.


    As more fur was pulled out by Zhao Youyou, Su Ci trembled in pain.


    It hurt so much.


    No, she couldn''t go with Zhao Youyou - she would end up bald!


    Su Ci began struggling, kicking her tiny legs frantically. She looked at Lu Zhe, thinking she would rather stay with him and eat carrots every day than be a bald rabbit.


    "Brother, thank you for the birthday gift. Ah, is it trying to bite me?" Zhao Youyou held down the restless rabbit, "The rabbit is a bit fierce, I''ll have to train it when I get home."


    Lu Zhe looked down, seeing the rabbit in Zhao Youyou''s hands struggling anxiously, its red eyes seemingly filled with tears as it looked pleadingly at him.


    Meeting Lu Zhe''s gaze, Su Ci struggled even harder - don''t give her to Zhao Youyou!


    Lu Zhe''s expression remained indifferent.


    Having just returned from her rebirth, Zhao Youyou''s emotions were still vtile. Confirming that Lu Zhe was still alive, she felt relieved.


    "Brother, you haven''t had dinner yet, right? I won''t bother you anymore." She needed to go home and think carefully about what would happen next - she couldn''t repeat the same mistakes.


    As more fur was pulled from her back by Zhao Youyou, Su Ci struggled even harder as Zhao Youyou prepared to leave with her.


    "Ah!"


    Zhao Youyou''s hand was scratched by the rabbit''s paw, startling her into letting go. The rabbit fell straight to the floor.


    Su Ci was dazed from the painful fall.


    In her confusion, she found herself picked up by cold hands.


    Looking at Lu Zhe who had picked her up, Su Ci didn''t mind his cold hands at all. She gently licked his fingertip and affectionately nuzzled her aching head against his palm.


    Given how docile and adorable she was being, please don''t send her away!


    "Is the rabbit hurt?" The baby rabbit''s ws weren''t sharp, and Zhao Youyou saw that her hand hadn''t been scratched. She reached out to take the rabbit back.


    Su Ci curled into a ball, wanting nothing more than to burrow into Lu Zhe''s embrace.


    The snowball in his hands was soft and fluffy. Lu Zhe lowered his gaze to look at his fingertip, which was wet from being licked.


    He moved his hand away from Zhao Youyou''s reaching grasp.


    "Brother?" Zhao Youyou looked at him questioningly.


    "I found this rabbit. It''s not your birthday gift." As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Zhe felt the rabbit in his palm nuzzling against his hand even more eagerly, being incredibly well-behaved.


    Zhao Youyou finally realized her misunderstanding, but didn''t feel embarrassed, "Ah, so you found it."


    This was fine - not epting Lu Zhe''s gift meant less involvement between them. In her previous life, Lu Zhe had died saving her. In this life, while she was grateful to Lu Zhe, his personality was cold and downtrodden, and he had a terminal illness - she wouldn''t fall for him.


    Zhao Youyou left.


    Su Ciy on the gray bed, her heart finally at ease.


    She had almost be a bald little rabbit!


    Su Ci snorted indignantly, thinking about how Zhao Youyou had plucked her soft and cute fur three times. No matter how the book described the reborn female lead as gentle and intelligent, Su Ci had lost all goodwill towards her.


    The rain outside grew heavier, pounding against the window incessantly.


    Su Ciy listlessly, thinking about the possibility of being a rabbit for the rest of her life, she couldn''t even muster the energy to be angry.


    After drinking some water, Lu Zhe picked up the dumbbell in the corner and began his workout.


    Su Ci watched the young man perform bicep curls, one after another, at a slow but steady pace. His movements were a bit stiff, but it was clear to see the muscles on Lu Zhe''s arms bulging, tight and firm, as if brimming with explosive power.


    Su Ci watched quietly, and when her gaze fell on Lu Zhe''s wrist, she noticed a symbol there.


    She blinked hard, making sure she wasn''t seeing things.


    What was that?


    She clearly saw a horizontal bar divided into ten small sections on Lu Zhe''s inner wrist, three of which were red, with the annotation: 3 years.


    ¡¾This is your life value.¡¿


    Suddenly, a sweet, childish voice appeared in Su Ci''s mind.


    She was so startled that she covered her rabbit head with her little paws, thinking she was hallucinating.


    The sweet voice didn''t worry about scaring Su Ci to death. ¡¾One section represents one year. Lu Zhe''s life value shows three sections, meaning he only has three years left to live.¡¿


    Su Ci lifted her rabbit head in surprise.


    She looked at Lu Zhe, who had a stern face and was slowly and forcefully lifting the dumbbell. He only had three years to live?


    The male supporting character was really pitiful.


    Then, Su Ci heard the sweet voice say: ¡¾Every time you kiss Lu Zhe, he gains an extra day of life.¡¿


    Each word made sense individually, but together, she didn''t understand. She kissed Lu Zhe once, and he could live an extra day?


    Sweet voice: ¡¾That''s right.¡¿


    Su Ci scoffed, why should she? Lu Zhe''s life and death weren''t her responsibility.


    ¡¾Because he picked you up.¡¿


    Su Ci: ......


    Su Ci admitted she wasn''t a kind-hearted person. Now that she was just a rabbit, she couldn''t even take care of herself, let alone someone else''s life. Maybe she would die even faster than Lu Zhe.


    Thinking about this, Su Ci felt even more distressed. She wasn''t afraid of anything, except for bing ugly and dying.


    Sweet voice: ¡¾Also, your life is bound to Lu Zhe''s. If he dies, you will die too.¡¿


    Upon hearing this, Su Ci''s eyes turned even redder with anger. She had already be a rabbit, wasn''t that bad enough? Now her life had to be bound to a short-lived male supporting character?


    What a tragic fate!


    Sweet voice: ¡¾Reward: Kissing Lu Zhe can restore you to human form.¡¿


    As soon as the sweet voice finished, Su Ci''s red eyes lit up with excitement. Really? Don''t lie to her!


    Kissing Lu Zhe could make her human again, she could even kiss his lips swollen!


    Sweet voice: ¡¾Zhao Cai never lies.¡¿


    Su Ci slowly digested the sweet voice''s words and quickly understood.


    So, she was the tool to save the male supporting character, and in return, Lu Zhe was the tool to help her be human. Moreover, their lives were bound together.


    Knowing there was a way to be human again and not have to be a rabbit forever, Su Ci''s mood instantly improved. She asked if Zhao Cai was the sweet voice''s name.


    ¡¾This was the name my previous master gave me. Now you are my master.¡¿


    Su Ci realized this must be her golden finger from crossing over.


    She happily narrowed her eyes. Zhao Cai was toomon,cking taste. She decided to rename it: Fu Gui.


    It was hard to tell how much time had passed when Lu Zhe finally put down the dumbbell.


    Just finished with his workout, his arms were pumped with blood, muscles tight to the extreme. Feeling the muscles twitch one by one, Lu Zhe''s expression remained unchanged. He clenched his fists, alleviating some of the weakness.


    Even if he exercised every day, it barely made a difference to his condition.


    Lu Zhe put the dumbbell back in the corner and turned around, his eyes meeting the bright red eyes of the rabbit.

 Chapter 2: 02

    <h4>Chapter 2</h4>


    Lu Zhe''s ce was rather run-down. The narrow living room had no space for a dining table. By the window sat a faded sofa and coffee table, while directly ahead was a TV cab with a television. The small space was easily taken in at a nce.


    Su Ci, ced on the coffee table by Lu Zhe, looked with surprise at the bowl of rabbit food in front of her. She leaned in to smell it - the food contained oats, corn, and grass. While not unpleasant, it wasn''t particrly appetizing either.


    Had Lu Zhe finally realized that as a baby rabbit, she wasn''t suited for and didn''t like carrots?


    Su Ci was someone who valued her life, so to avoid starving, she took a deep breath and tried a bite of the rabbit food.


    The rabbit food had a strong grassy taste in her mouth.


    As Su Ci was taking small bites of her food, Lu Zhe came over with a te of stir-fried beef and ced it beside her. He then sat down on the sofa to eat his dinner.


    It smelled wonderful.


    The savory aroma of meat wafted over. Looking at the beautifully colored, fragrant beef, Su Ci suddenly found the rabbit food in her mouth hard to swallow.


    Lu Zhe noticed the rabbit, who had been eating diligently before, had stopped and was staring intently at the te of beef, as if ready to pounce on it at any moment.


    Finally seeing some emotion in those dark eyes, Lu Zhe pressed his cold fingertip against the rabbit''s pink little nose and said coldly, "You can''t eat this."


    Rabbits were herbivores and couldn''t eat meat.


    With her nose being pressed, Su Ci came to her senses, knowing that in her current rabbit form she couldn''t eat meat.


    Oh, how miserable she was.


    Early morning came, and the rain had stopped. The entire city seemed freshly washed, with the air filled with the scent of grass and earth, full of vitality.


    The room was quite narrow, only able to fit a single bed that barely amodated the tall young man.


    In his drowsy state, Lu Zhe felt something fluffy brush against his arm, creating a ticklish sensation. He opened his eyes, his dark pupils still clouded with sleepiness.


    He turned his head to look and saw the small white rabbit, like a snowball, had somehow made its way onto his bed and was brushing against his arm, trying to get closer.


    Lu Zhe grabbed the rabbit and held it up to his face.


    Suddenly meeting the young man''s dark eyes, Su Ci froze - was he awake? She had been nning to steal a kiss from him.


    Originally, Su Ci thought that by acting cute and being adorable, she could easily get Lu Zhe to kiss her, as it was hard for anyone to resist such a soft and cute little animal.


    However, this didn''t apply to Lu Zhe.


    Since bringing her home, apart from preparing her food and asionally patting her head, Lu Zhe hadn''t shown any other signs of affection.


    Lu Zhe was too aloof, really difficult to get close to.


    Now that her attempt at stealing a kiss had failed, Su Ci felt dejected, her two rabbit ears drooping lifelessly.


    Such a tiny snowball, looking so pitiful with drooping ears, was heart-meltingly cute. Lu Zhe''s dark eyes fixed on the small rabbit, his gaze softening slightly. He raised his other hand and gently pinched one of its long ears.


    It was fluffy and soft.


    Rabbit ears were full of blood vessels, and when the young man''s cold fingers suddenly pinched her ear tip, Su Ci''s whole body trembled. A strange, tingling sensation spread through her, making her body go weak.


    Why were her ears so sensitive!


    The baby rabbit before him was small enough to fit in one palm, small enough to fit in a teacup. Its red eyes were bright like gleaming rubies, now staring at him nkly, somehow making his heart soften.


    Lu Zhe yed with the rabbit''s pink-white ears a few more times, feeling it tremble slightly in his palm, and he curved his lips into a smile.


    ......


    Thendscaping at First High School was beautiful, and after being washed by the rain, the leaves were a vibrant green. White magnolia petals carpeted the ground, and the campus was filled with the fragrance of flowers.


    After being reborn and spending a night to regain herposure, Zhao Youyou was no longer as naive as in her previous life. This morning, she didn''t follow her friend''s advice to wear heavy makeup that had ruined her naturally pretty features. At eighteen, she didn''t need foundation to enhance her appearance.


    Breathing in the familiar floral scent of the campus, she entered her ssroom with high spirits.


    As expected, the originally noisy ssroom fell silent the moment she stepped in.


    Zhao Youyou confidently met her ssmates'' shocked gazes, maintaining herposure under their scrutiny.


    "Why does Zhao Youyou look prettier?"


    "Wow, is that really Zhao Youyou? How did she change so much after just two days off?"


    "She''s not wearing makeup today, is she?"


    The suddenly more beautiful and poised Zhao Youyou caused quite a stir in the ss.


    Sitting in thest row, Lu Zhe put down his backpack and took his seat, paying no attention to themotion Zhao Youyou was causing.


    He had noticed when leaving home that his left leg was beginning to weaken, causing him to arrive at school ten minutester than usual.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened as he lowered his gaze.


    Next to him, Li Dongliang moved his desk closer to Lu Zhe''s, breaking their usual distance. He grinned mischievously and said, "Lu Zhe, did Zhao Youyou get stic surgery over the weekend? How did she suddenly be so pretty?"


    Lu Zhe was the top student in their grade, and with his outstanding appearance, he was very popr at school. However, Zhao Youyou had revealed on the school forum that Lu Zhe was a child her parents had adopted from an orphanage. Though nominally her brother, he was actually treated as a servant in their home. Lu Zhe had fallen from his pedestal overnight.


    The boys were relieved to have one less formidable rival, while the girls'' pink-tinted dreams were shattered.


    Most shocking was that at the beginning of this semester, Zhao Youyou had leaked Lu Zhe''s medical report, and the whole school learned that he had a terminal illness.


    Already naturally distant, coupled with his orphanage background, servant status in Zhao Youyou''s family, low social standing, and incurable disease, Lu Zhe had be someone the sspletely avoided.


    Some people sympathized with him, but more often there was mockery and malicious nder. Some even expressed concerns on the school forum about being infected by his bad luck, questioning why someone with such limited time left to live hadn''t dropped out of school.


    Lu Zhe raised his eyes and gave Li Dongliang a cold look.


    "Never mind, forget I asked."


    Meeting Lu Zhe''s gaze, Li Dongliang felt a chill.


    Although everyone mocked Lu Zhe for being sick and dying, Li Dongliang had witnessed how formidable Lu Zhe was in a fight. Once, Lu Zhe was cornered in an alley by five people. Though usually quiet, he had fought all five of them, fighting ruthlessly as if his life depended on it, forcing those five outsiders to flee the alley in defeat.


    So when it came to actually confronting Lu Zhe, Li Dongliang was neither willing nor brave enough - he wasn''t tired of living, after all.


    Lu Zhe ignored Li Dongliang and opened his backpack to take out his textbook, but his fingers touched something soft and fluffy.


    He looked down.


    In his backpack, the snowball-like little rabbit was staring at him with ruby-like eyes.


    Lu Zhe fell silent.


    When had the rabbit managed to sneak into his backpack?


    The previously dark backpack suddenly lit up. Su Ci looked up and immediately saw Lu Zhe''s handsome but cold face outside the bag.


    She didn''t try to hide, instead deliberately softening her gaze and looking at him withplete dependence.


    Lu Zhe''s personality was too cold; even a gentle, non-threatening cute creature like her found it hard to get close to him, let alone get him to kiss her.


    She had sneaked into his backpack this morning just to stay by Lu Zhe''s side, hoping for more chances to interact with him. She refused to sit idly in the cardboard box waiting for fate to take its course.


    Under Lu Zhe''s scrutinizing gaze, she nuzzled his hand that had reached into the bag, being as soft and adorable as possible.


    This was Lu Zhe''s first time keeping a pet, and he wasn''t sure if all rabbits were like this.


    A bit mischievous, escaping from the cardboard box several times, yet also obedient, with beautiful wet eyes looking at him softly, gently nuzzling his palm.


    Feeling the warmth in his palm, Lu Zhe lightly stroked the rabbit a few times.


    He didn''tpletely zip up the backpack, leaving a small opening, then tucked the bag into his desk drawer.


    Zhao Youyou''s transformation had shocked the ss, and she remained the center of attention throughout several ss periods.


    Especially among the male students, many who had previously disliked her heavy makeup and dramatic behavior were now captivated by her suddenly refined appearance. Even in the in white and blue school uniform, she looked vibrant and graceful. When she nced at them, the boys would blush, triggering waves of teasing from their ssmates.


    They suddenly realized that the current Zhao Youyou was nearly as beautiful as the ss beauty from next door.


    Even when Su Ci was hiding in the backpack, during break time, she could hear nearby students discussing Zhao Youyou, their conversations filled with surprise and praise about how pretty she had be.


    Su Ci knew this was the protagonist''s halo effect after her reincarnation.


    But what bewildered her was that although Zhao Youyou had been a poor student before her reincarnation, she suddenly ranked in the top ten of the ss afterward. She continued to improve until she reached the top ten in her grade. The reincarnated Zhao Youyou seemed to have gotten a new brain, transforming from a struggling student into an academic star.


    Su Ci enviously poked her little head out from the backpack in the drawer, looking up at Lu Zhe, wishing she could quickly return to human form.


    There was a PE ss in the morning.


    As ss time approached, students gradually left the ssroom for the gymnasium.


    Li Dongliang, who had been sleeping on his desk, suddenly became energetic. He grabbed his basketball from the corner, spinning it on his finger as he strode out.


    "Youyou, let''s go, ss is about to start," urged her deskmate Ling Hui.


    She noticed that Zhao Youyou hadn''t just be prettier; her personality seemed to have changed too. She was no longer as sharp-tongued, aggressive, and difficult to get along with as before. Now Zhao Youyou would smile at her gently, and she quite liked this change.


    Zhao Youyou looked toward Lu Zhe, who sat in thest row. She remembered that due to his health condition, teachers had excused him from PE ss: after all, if anything happened, the school would be responsible. So while the whole ss went to PE, Lu Zhe stayed alone in the ssroom.


    Zhao Youyou turned away, "Alright, let''s go."


    Only Lu Zhe remained in the now eerily quiet ssroom.


    A snow-white figure quietly crept out of the backpack, jumping directly onto Lu Zhe''s leg.


    Lu Zhe continued writing on his paper without pause, using his other hand to easily catch the rabbit that hadnded on his leg.


    He ced the rabbit on the desk and spoke in a pleasant voice, "Don''t move around."


    The young man before her had distinct angr features in profile, with cold, hard lines and deep-set eyes as he concentrated on his calctions. Su Ciy there, carefully observing Lu Zhe, having to admit that even as a supporting character, he was strikingly handsome.


    When Lu Zhe put down his pen, he noticed the white baby rabbit lying quietly on his textbook, being unusually well-behaved.


    He lowered his head.


    Seeing his handsome face up close, Su Ci''s eyes brightened: she wanted him to kiss her sweet, adorable little self.


    Lu Zhe reached out to pat the rabbit''s head, then picked up the cup behind Su Ci and walked out.


    Watching Lu Zhe''s figure leave the ssroom, Su Ciy down dejectedly, having failed again in her quest for a kiss.


    At that moment, a tall, thin male student walked in, his eyes lighting up with surprise and something else when he saw the empty ssroom.


    The student, Jia Mingyang, strode to thest row.


    Su Ci hadn''t expected someone to suddenly appear at Lu Zhe''s seat, so she remained motionless on the desk. The neer clearly paid no attention to the small rabbit on Lu Zhe''s desk.


    Jia Mingyang quickly took off his watch and pulled out Lu Zhe''s backpack from the drawer, hiding the watch inside it.


    Su Ci''s eyes widened as she watched his crude attempt at deception. Her gaze fell on the boy''s wrist, where she could see his life value on the inner side: five yellow boxes on the bar.


    Su Ci remembered Fu Gui telling her that a red box represented one year, a yellow box represented ten years, and a green box also represented ten years, indicating a lifespan over a hundred years.


    Even without seeing the numbers beside it, Su Ci knew he had at least fifty years of life left.


    Though this boy''s character was questionable, his lifespan was quite long.


    Watching him stuff the backpack back into the drawer and hurriedly leave, Su Ci narrowed her eyes.

 Chapter 3: 03

    <h4>Chapter 3</h4>


    Lu Zhe returned after filling up the water, only to find that the rabbit that had been on the desk had somehow jumped to the floor.


    He picked up the small bunny that looked like a snowball.


    Su Ci let out a sigh of relief as she fell into the boy''s ice-cold palms. She was exhausted.


    When the ss bell rang, students gradually returned to the ssroom. After a period of physical education, everyone was in high spirits, creating a lively atmosphere with their chatter and yful banter.


    Lu Zhe, quietly reading his book, appeared particrly isted amidst themotion.


    Li Dongliang walked in bouncing a basketball, his body covered in sweat, with both his hair and back soaked through. He returned to his seat, twisted open his drink, and took several big gulps before leaning back in his chair. He nced at Lu Zhe beside him - while all the other boys had gone to y basketball, Lu Zhe could only sit alone in the ssroom. Tsk, quite pitiful.


    Jia Mingyang, sitting in the front row, was searching for his watch.


    "It''s gone," Jia Mingyang said with furrowed brows as he rummaged through his drawer.


    His deskmate eximed in surprise, "How could it just disappear? Could you have left it somewhere?"


    He remembered that Jia Mingyang''s watch was bought at the beginning of this month, reportedly brought back by his father from abroad. It cost five figures, and when he had shown it off to everyone, it had sparked quite a bit of envy.


    "I put my watch in the drawer before PE ss. It couldn''t be anywhere else," Jia Mingyang said with certainty.


    "Could it have been stolen?" his deskmate asked in shock.


    "My watch doesn''t have legs. It must have been stolen."


    Jia Mingyang walked straight to thest row and mmed Lu Zhe''s desk, demanding, "Did you steal my watch?"


    In the drawer, Su Ci heard the boy''s usation against Lu Zhe. She perked up her rabbit ears, ready to witness the drama.


    Lu Zhe raised his eyes to look at him.


    "My watch is missing, and you were the only one in the ssroom. Did you steal it?" Jia Mingyang''s voice was loud, drawing the attention of surrounding ssmates. Zhao Youyou, who had just returned to the ssroom, was stunned upon hearing his words.


    Meeting Lu Zhe''s cold gaze, Jia Mingyang remained undaunted. "Give me back my watch."


    Lu Zhe replied, "I don''t have your watch."


    "I put my watch in the drawer, and you were the only one in the ssroom. If it wasn''t you, who else could it be?" Jia Mingyang''s confident tone sparked discussions among the onlookers.


    Lu Zhe scoffed coldly, "You''re making baseless usations."


    Jia Mingyang lifted his chin, "Whether I''m making baseless usations or not, we''ll know once we search your bag."


    Li Dongliang, who didn''t get along with Jia Mingyang,zily interjected, "You have no evidence. What right do you have to search someone''s belongings? If you suspect your watch was stolen, just check the security cameras."


    "Hah, the cameras have been broken for two days," Jia Mingyang said with hidden satisfaction in his eyes. He looked at Lu Zhe, "If you won''t let me search, I''ll get a teacher to do it."


    In the drawer, Su Ci snorted. This boy was so shameless.


    "Wait," Zhao Youyou came over, "We''re all ssmates. There''s no need to make this a bigger issue."


    She remembered that in her previous life, a simr incident had urred. Lu Zhe had refused to let his bag be searched, and Jia Mingyang had reported it to the teacher. In the end, the teacher had found the watch in Lu Zhe''s bag. Even though Lu Zhe denied it, the evidence was there, and he received a demerit from the school.


    She couldn''t let this happen again.


    Zhao Youyou gave Lu Zhe aplicated look, then asked Jia Mingyang softly, "If he lets you search his bag, will you not involve the teachers?"


    Jia Mingyang, facing the suddenly beautiful Zhao Youyou, maintained a decent attitude, "Yes, but Lu Zhe really did steal my watch. He needs to apologize and run tenps around the track."


    Hearing this, the surrounding students clicked their tongues.


    Running tenps around the track might just be tiring for others, but for Lu Zhe, who couldn''t even attend PE ss, it was like asking for half his life. This punishment was cruel.


    "Brother, let him search. Running tenps is better than making this a bigger issue," Zhao Youyou said gently, trying to persuade Lu Zhe.


    Zhao Youyou analyzed thatpared to Lu Zhe''s previous life where he was known throughout the school as a thief and endured discrimination and abuse, simply apologizing and runningps to resolve this matter was clearly the better choice.


    In the drawer, Su Ci gnawed her rabbit teeth in anger. Wasn''t Zhao Youyou''s implication basically admitting that Lu Zhe had taken the watch?


    Was Zhao Youyou helping Lu Zhe or setting him up? As Lu Zhe''s nominal sister, shouldn''t she have at least some trust in him?


    Su Ci huffed angrily and secretly poked her little head out from the drawer to look up at Lu Zhe.


    The boy sat in his chair, his face rigid and cold, eyes downcast with long dense eyshes touched by frost, his thin lips carrying a hint of mockery, "Why should I agree to your demands?"


    Li Dongliang, lounging in his chair like he had no bones, watched the drama while asionally interjecting, "Jia Mingyang, you only mentioned the punishment if Lu Zhe stole the watch, but what if he didn''t take it at all? Being falsely used? That''s not fair at all."


    "If Lu Zhe didn''t steal my watch, I''ll apologize to him and run tenps around the track. Is that fair enough?" Jia Mingyang said carelessly.


    "Fifteenps," Lu Zhe said coldly.


    Jia Mingyang agreed immediately, "Fine, now let me search your bag." He had long disliked Lu Zhe. Before Lu Zhe''s background and terminal illness were revealed, the school beauty Jiang Mengqi had liked Lu Zhe.


    Once Lu Zhe was exposed as a thief, the school beauty would surely regret liking such a person and regret rejecting him for someone like that.


    "Brother, just let him search," Zhao Youyou, knowing the consequences from her previous life, truly hoped the matter wouldn''t escte.


    "Hand over the bag, give me back my watch," Jia Mingyang reached out and pulled the bag from the drawer.


    Su Ci, who had been watching the drama with one foot on the bag strap, tumbled head over heels in the drawer as the bag was yanked away.


    Fortunately, it didn''t hurt, but she was angry.


    Having obtained the bag, Jia Mingyang''s eyes lit up with excitement. In front of everyone, he opened the bag and dumped all its contents onto the desk.


    Keys, books, notebooks, pens.


    That was all.


    Where was his watch?


    Jia Mingyang was dumbfounded. He turned the bag inside out, but it waspletely empty.


    "Where did you hide my watch? Why isn''t it in your bag?" Jia Mingyang demanded loudly.


    Zhao Youyou also stood there in a daze. No watch in the bag?


    Lu Zhe stood up, his tall stature and cold demeanor creating an inexplicably chilling atmosphere. He sneered, "Now that you see there''s no watch in the bag, you still want to falsely use me?"


    "I clearly..." Jia Mingyang gritted his teeth in anger.


    "Apologize," Lu Zhe said coldly, staring at him.


    Jia Mingyang clenched his fists, looking both embarrassed and furious.


    "Jia Mingyang, is this your watch?"


    Over there, a male student picked up a watch with a broken face from near the trash can, covered in sticky liquid that appeared to be someone''s discarded juice.


    Seeing his beloved watch damaged and filthy, Jia Mingyang''s face immediately turned unsightly.


    "The watch has been found. Tsk, Jia Mingyang, you were just making false usations. Hurry up and apologize," Li Dongliang was delighted to see Jia Mingyang''s predicament.


    "I''m! Sorry!" Jia Mingyang''s face flushed red with humiliation. Why was his watch near the trash can?!


    Lu Zhe sat back down, his tone indifferent: "See you at the track after school."


    Li Dongliang couldn''t stopughing, "That''s right, that''s right, Jia Mingyang, you have to run fifteenps. The whole ss heard it, don''t try to back out."


    Jia Mingyang shot Li Dongliang a fierce re before storming off in anger.


    Zhao Youyou stood there in a daze, wanting to say something to Lu Zhe, but he didn''t even give her a nce.


    ......


    The ss bell rang, and everyone quickly returned to their seats after watching the drama.


    Li Dongliang was about toy down for a nap when suddenly, he saw a white snowball jump out from his deskmate''s drawer andnd on Lu Zhe''s leg.


    His eyes widened in shock.


    It was a palm-sized baby rabbit, covered in snow-white fur, with pink and white ears, and eyes red like rubies. Heavens, it was so cute!


    Watching the little rabbit''s head gently nuzzling Lu Zhe''s palm, soft and adorable, it was enough to make one''s heart melt.


    Li Dongliang immediately moved his desk closer to Lu Zhe''s, leaning over to ask, "Lu Zhe, did you bring a rabbit to school?"


    Lu Zhe''s palm tickled from the rabbit''s nuzzling, "Mm."


    "Let me pet it."


    Li Dongliang''s eyes were glued to the little bunny, unable to look away. Such a tiny ball of fluff must be so soft to touch.


    "No," Lu Zhe said while looking at the ckboard, his fingertips gently pinching the bunny''s ear tips.


    Su Ci''s rabbit ears were very sensitive. Being teased by Lu Zhe''s slender fingers made her so weak that she flopped down immediately.


    Don''t pinch her ears!


    Li Dongliang wouldn''t give up. He put on a humble face: quite the contrast from his usual role as the ss bully: and said, "I stood up for you against Jia Mingyang earlier. Let me pet the little bunny."


    Li Dongliang was tall and strong, but he had always loved pink things and fluffy animals. His backpack was hot pink, his shoes were pink, and his socks were pink too. If not for the school uniform requirement, he would wear pink every day. As for fluffy animals, his mother was allergic to animal fur, so they couldn''t keep pets at home. Otherwise, he would have had ten pets by now.


    Seeing the adorable little bunny now, he desperately wanted to pet it.


    Lu Zhe called him out directly, "You were just watching the drama earlier."


    Li Dongliang, thick-skinned as ever, made an offer, "I''ll buy you breakfast for a month if you let me pet it."


    Lu Zhe refused: "No."


    "How about I give you a hundred yuan to borrow the bunny for an hour?" Li Dongliang knew that Lu Zhe had been kicked out of his foster family''s home and needed money for medical treatment, so he probably didn''t have much money.


    Su Ci looked up at this obsessed fan. She didn''t want to be petted by him at all. She hugged Lu Zhe''s fingers with both paws and buried her head in his palm.


    Lu Zhe felt the warmth of the little snowball nuzzling his palm. He smiled slightly, "No."


    Li Dongliang wanted to say more but caught the math teacher''s warning nce from the podium. He sheepishly closed his mouth and could only watch enviously as Lu Zhe petted the bunny.


    The bunny''s ears were pink and white, so cute.


    The bunny''s nose was light pink, so cute.


    The bunny''s little feet were fluffy and white, so cute.


    Li Dongliang was bing increasingly infatuated.


    ......


    After school.


    Su Ci sat properly in Lu Zhe''s cold palm as he held her, watching Jia Mingyang running angrily on the track field under the scorching sun, sweating profusely.


    Serves him right!


    Thinking about how she had bitten that watch and dropped it by the garbage bin, and couldn''t even wash her mouth afterward, Su Ci wished he would run a few moreps.


    Watching Jia Mingyangplete his tenthp, his pace getting slower and slower, Lu Zhe remained expressionless, showing no sympathy.


    During their confrontation, Jia Mingyang must have had the watch in his backpack, but when it was searched, the watch wasn''t there. Jia Mingyang''s expression had been one of shock.


    He was shocked that the watch wasn''t in the backpack.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened.


    So, Jia Mingyang had put the watch in his backpack, but for some unknown reason, the watch ended up by the garbage bin.


    He looked down at the bunny in his palm, remembering that when he returned from getting water, the bunny had been on the ground.


    He lifted the bunny to eye level, their gazes meeting.


    Su Ci blinked, her red eyes watery and bright.


    She was someone who believed in returning favors. Quick, give her a kiss!

 Chapter 4: 04

    <h4>Chapter 4</h4>


    The orange sunlight fell on the trees, piercing through branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.


    The tall boy in his school uniform had deep-set eyes, holding a snow-white rabbit in his hands - the scene looked like a beautiful painting.


    Su Ci shifted her tiny feet ufortably as she looked expectantly at Lu Zhe.


    "Lu Zhe!"


    From the other direction, Li Dongliang, wearing a pink backpack and pink sneakers, came running over. Seeing the little rabbit in Lu Zhe''s hands, his eyes lit up, "Lu Zhe, let me pet it!"


    Looking at the fluffy, snowball-like rabbit, it would be against nature''sw not to want to pet it.


    "No," Lu Zhe tly refused.


    They were so close - she had felt Lu Zhe was about to kiss her when they were interrupted!


    Su Ci red at the pink-d boy with reddened eyes.


    How infuriating!


    "Ah, look, the bunny is looking at me! It likes me!" Li Dongliang noticed the rabbit staring at him nkly, and his heart melted from its cuteness. He desperately wanted to reach out and pat its head.


    Hmph!


    Su Ci rolled her eyes at him.


    "Look, it''s looking at me again!"


    Su Ci noticed six yellow squares on the inside of his wrist as he reached out to touch her - sixty years!


    Su Ci''s eyes grew even redder at the sight.


    Why did everyone else get to live so long?


    Looking at Lu Zhe who was holding her, with only three years of life left, he was undoubtedly destined for a short life as a supporting character!


    "Ah, the bunny is looking at my hand, it must want me to hold it!" Li Dongliang''s originally handsome and sunny face broke into a silly grin like andlord''s foolish son.


    Su Ci was so annoyed she simply closed her eyes.


    Seeing the rabbit close its eyes, looking adorably docile, Li Dongliang''s rough masculine heart started pounding again from the cuteness. "Brother Zhe, is the rabbit soft? Let me pet it just once, just for a second."


    When had the ss bully ever begged anyone for anything? But for the chance to pet a rabbit, he didn''t care about his pride. He was about to get a nosebleed from how cute the rabbit was.


    Lu Zhe dodged Li Dongliang''s outstretched hand and gave him a cold nce, "Jia Mingyang still has fourps to go." With that, he turned and left with the rabbit.


    Unable to pet the rabbit, Li Dongliang''s face fell as he shouted at Jia Mingyang, who was running like a dead dog: "Jia Mingyang, you''re so slow! Are you even a man? Running this slowly, you''re making mete for dinner!"


    Over there, Jia Mingyang was panting heavily, his clothes soaked with sweat. Hearing Li Dongliang''s words, he nearly choked on his breath.


    Who cares about his supervision?


    Just leave already!


    Lu Zhe worked part-time at theputer store on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and weekends.


    The store owner was an overweight man, short in stature, with flesh bulging at his cheeks and messy curly hair.


    "You''re here, kid. Alright, watch the store. Son, keep your Brother Zhepany, Dad''s going upstairs to make dinner," Boss Fang grabbed the keys from the desk and went upstairs.


    The boss''s son, Fang Kuaile, was just over three years old, almost four. He was fair-skinned and delicate-featured, looking quite different from Boss Fang.


    Sitting in his miniature wheelchair, when he saw Lu Zhe arrive, heboriously wheeled himself over to Lu Zhe''s side and politely greeted him, "Brother Zhe, you''re five minuteste today."


    The little one was very clever, having already learned to tell time and do addition and subtraction within a hundred.


    Lu Zhe''s coldrge hand patted his head, his thin lips curving slightly, "Mm, I had something to do today." He put down his backpack, unzipped it, and took out the rabbit to prevent it from getting too stuffy inside.


    Little Kuaile saw the snow-white bundle of rabbit on the table, and his dark eyes immediately widened, "A... a rabbit."


    He was a bit scared but also attracted to it, "Brother Zhe, this is a little rabbit."


    "Mm."


    Little Kuaile looked enviously at the small rabbit, "The rabbit has four legs, it must run very fast."


    The child before her spoke in a tender voice, looking like a porcin doll, like a little angel, but Su Ci noticed he was sitting in a wheelchair, without legs.


    An angel with broken wings.


    "Daddy said when we have money, he''ll help Kuaile get two legs, and then I can walk, and run fast like the little rabbit," Little Kuaile said cheerfully.


    He didn''t know that even with prosthetic limbs, just learning to walk normally would require tremendous effort, let alone running like others.


    Su Ci''s eyes held a trace of pity.


    "Brother Zhe, what''s the rabbit''s name?" Little Kuaile asked Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe answered simply, "Doesn''t have one."


    "Ah, the little rabbit doesn''t have a name?" Little Kuaile''s mouth gaped in surprise, "You should give it a name quickly, or it will be sad."


    Lu Zhe remained silent for a moment.


    He looked at the snowball-like rabbit and casually said: "Tuan Tuan."


    "The rabbit is called Tuan Tuan?" Little Kuaile blinked his bright ck eyes.


    "Mm."


    Su Ci hadn''t expected Lu Zhe would name her.


    What kind of name was Tuan Tuan? Like a bundle of something? Or was he saying she was as round as a ball?


    No matter how she thought about it, it wasn''t a good name. She snorted, absolutely refusing it!


    "Brother Zhe, does Tuan Tuan bite?" Little Kuaile asked Lu Zhe again.


    "No."


    Hearing this, Little Kuaile reached out his hand, his short little fingers gently touching the rabbit. His eyes brightened, "Tuan Tuan be good, don''t bite Kuaile." As he spoke, his little fingers touched the rabbit again.


    Just from this simple contact, Little Kuaile was already grinning, showing his white baby teeth.


    Su Ci didn''t move.


    She saw the life value on the inside of his wrist, with only a thin red line that didn''t even fill one square: 1 day.


    He only had one day to live?


    Su Ci''s reddened eyes filled with shock. She could hardly imagine that this fair and tender child before her only had one day of life left.


    She called out to Fu Gui, "He only has one day left to live? Could there be a mistake?"


    Fu Gui: [There''s no mistake!]


    Su Ci met Little Kuaile''s bright ck eyes brimming with smiles, and asked Fu Gui, "Can he be saved? If I kiss him, will his lifespan increase?"


    Fu Gui: [I don''t know if you can save him, but your kisses only work on Lu Zhe, they have no effect on others.]


    Su Ci: "You don''t know?"


    Fu Gui: [Previous owners could only see one person''s life value. There''s never been a case like yours where someone could see everyone''s life values, so I don''t know if you can save him.]


    Su Ci: "Oh."


    Fu Gui: [Don''t be sad.]


    Su Ci: "I''m not sad. Life and death are predetermined."


    Su Ci epted it quickly. Before she transmigrated here, she had died from heart disease, so she was also someone who had lived a short life.


    Fu Gui had thought his owner would cry and beg him to find a way to save people, as his previous owner had been a very kind-hearted girl with active tear ducts and strong sympathy. He hadn''t expected the current owner to be so cold-hearted?


    After learning that her kisses only worked on Lu Zhe, Su Ci felt relieved. She wasn''t a savior, nor did she want to bear such a responsibility. Right now, she was just a poor, weak, and helpless little rabbit who couldn''t even take care of herself.


    Little Kuaile saw the rabbit hop towards him, and his round bright eyes grew even brighter.


    He took out two candies from his pocket that he had been saving, thoughtfully unwrapped them, and offered one to the rabbit, "This is candy, one for you and one for me. We''re good friends now!" The little one remembered his father saying that good children should learn to share.


    "It can''t eat candy," Lu Zhe sat at the nearbyputer, his hands operating the keyboard while speaking coldly.


    "I know, rabbits eat carrots," Little Kuaile''s bright ck eyes curved into crescents, adorably melting hearts.


    Remembering how he had fed the rabbit carrots for three straight days after finding it, a hint of embarrassment lurked in the depths of Lu Zhe''s dark eyes.


    Lu Zhe''s working hours at theputer store were from six to nine PM for three hours on weekdays, and from nine AM to six PM on weekends.


    As night fell, the crescent moon peeked out from behind the clouds.


    Lu Zhe left carrying the rabbit.


    The street outside theputer store was lined with various stalls. He stopped at an old man''s small essories stall.


    "Young man, feel free to look around. My jewelry is very popr with girls," the old man sitting on a small stool said with a smile.


    Lu Zhe picked up a bracelet from the street vendor''s stall. The red cord was thin, with a small stic gourd charm about the size of a fingernail in emerald green attached to it. Even in the dim light, one could tell the gourd was made of stic and wasn''t of particrly good quality.


    "Young man, are you buying this bracelet for your girlfriend? I have better ones," the elderly vendor said.


    The old woman pulled out another bracelet from the bag hanging at her waist. This one had a white jade gourd charm, also fingernail-sized, attached to its red cord. The quality was noticeably superior to the one Lu Zhe was holding.


    "If it''s for your girlfriend, you should get this one. She''ll definitely love it," the old woman said, having never seen such a handsome young man before and not wanting to deceive him.


    "It''s not for a girlfriend," Lu Zhe put down the bracelet he was holding, took the one the old woman offered, and wrapped the red cord around the rabbit''s hind leg.


    The jade gourd looked exceptionally cute on the little bunny''s foot.


    Su Ci wiggled her little foot, making the small gourd charm tremble. Did Lu Zhe get this for her?


    She looked up but could only see the young man''s stern jawline.


    Lu Zhe asked, "How much?"


    "Well, this gourd charm is made from jade remnants, so it''s not cheap - three hundred yuan. If you''re buying it for a rabbit, the previous one would do fine. That one''s only thirty yuan." The old woman was straightforward and honest.


    "Hmm, I''ll take this one." Lu Zhe paid the vendor directly and left with the rabbit in his arms.


    At the stall, the old woman held the three hundred yuan, amazed that the young man would buy such an expensive bracelet for a rabbit.


    Streetmps cast shadows along the road.


    Nestled in Lu Zhe''s arms, Su Ci looked down at the red cord on her foot, feeling a bit embarrassed. This was the first time she had worn such inexpensive jewelry.


    ......


    The next morning.


    Lu Zhe opened his backpack and, sure enough, found the snowball-like bunny had hidden inside at some point. He took it out.


    "Stay home," Lu Zhe held the rabbit up to his face and gently tapped its light pink nose.


    Caught again, Su Ci snorted in frustration. Would she never have a chance to return to human form?


    Thinking this, she bit her rabbit teeth and backed up her legs slightly. In the next moment, she recklessly jumped forward with all her might toward the handsome face before her.


    Lu Zhe was startled at first but caught the falling rabbit. His mouth was bumped by the bunny - it didn''t hurt, but it felt strange.


    He looked down at it, noticing its red eyes were unusually bright.


    Sighing, Lu Zhe put the rabbit back in the cardboard box where a small bowl of rabbit food waited. He needed to buy a proper rabbit cage.


    He closed the door.


    Lu Zhe walked slowly, feeling the numbness in his left leg was stronger than yesterday.


    Perhaps before long, even walking would be a problem.


    The bedroom was very quiet.


    The red cord wrapped around a snow-white, delicate ankle, the jade gourd charm appearing even more elegant against the fair foot.


    Su Ci looked at her body in confusion. She was snow-white all over, with graceful curves. Her jet-ck hair covered her ample chest, and just her figure alone was as beautiful as an alluring sprite.


    Realizing she wasn''t wearing any clothes, Su Ci quickly grabbed the gray bedsheet.

 Chapter 5: 05

    <h4>Chapter 5</h4>


    Su Ci hadn''t expected to actually turn back into a human.


    Standing in front of the old-colored wardrobe, Su Ci opened its doors and discovered that Lu Zhe didn''t have many clothes. Among the few pieces, there were two sets of school uniforms.


    With no other choice, Su Ci put on Lu Zhe''s school uniform.


    Her current height was simr to what it had been before, probably around 168cm. The blue and white school uniform hung loose on her body, with the hem falling to her thighs. The pants were also too long, so she had to roll up the cuffs several times to reveal her slender, snow-white ankles tied with red string.


    Su Ci was very curious about her current appearance. As a girl who cared about her looks, she certainly hoped her human form would be beautiful.


    A small square mirror hung on the bathroom wall. Though notrge, it was enough for Su Ci to clearly examine her appearance.


    In the mirror, she saw a young woman with red lips and snow-white skin. Her features were delicate, with bright, liquid eyes and a small beauty mark beneath the outer corner of her eye that added a touch of allure.


    Beforeing here, she had been known for her beauty in the entertainment industry, but this face was even more beautiful than her previous one.


    Her former look had leaned towards innocence - even slightly reddened eyes would make people feel sympathetic. Now her appearance was both pure and seductive. When she raised the corner of her eye, the beauty mark made her eyes seem almost bewitching, captivating at first nce.


    Was she really a rabbit spirit and not a fox spirit with looks like these?


    Su Ci touched her cheeks - they were fair, translucent, smooth, and delicate, making her reluctant to stop touching them.


    Her figure was even more remarkable - a slim waist and ample chest, with noticeable curves visible even under the loose school uniform.


    The more Su Ci examined herself, the more satisfied she became. This body was practically wless - if forced to find a fault, it would be that it was too perfect.


    She called out Fu Gui, "Am I now the most beautiful woman in the world?"


    Fu Gui: [I don''t know.]


    "Hmm?" Su Ci''s tone carried a hint of threat.


    Fu Gui trembled: [In Fu Gui''s eyes, Master is the most beautiful in the world.]


    Su Ci''s lips curved into a smile. "How long will my recoveryst?" She didn''t believe that just one kiss with Lu Zhe would let her maintain a human body indefinitely.


    Fu Gui: [5 hours. Each kiss adds one hour.]


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes, "So you''re saying the next time I kiss Lu Zhe, I can maintain it for 6 hours, right?"


    Fu Gui: [That''s correct.]


    Su Ci nced at the clock on the wall. It was just past seven, which meant she would turn back into a rabbit around noon.


    Time was running out.


    The morning streets were busy with people hurrying to school or work. Brilliant sunlight fell on the street''s green trees, casting shadows below.


    The girl walked from afar, wearing an oversized, ill-fitting school uniform and shoes several sizes too big. Her exquisite face made passersby turn their heads.


    Su Ci wanted to get some breakfast, but she discovered she didn''t have a single penny. Passing by breakfast shops earlier, she had almost been moved to tears by the delicious smells.


    So hungry!


    Stopping at an intersection, Su Ci waited for the green light.


    "Big sister is so pretty." A sweet, childish voice came from beside her.


    Su Ci looked down and found it was Little Kuaile, with Boss Fang busy on the phone behind him.


    "Big sister is pretty."


    Seeing Su Ci look at him, Little Kuaile''s big dark eyes lit up. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two candies.


    "Big sister, have some."


    Little Kuaile generously offered one candy to Su Ci.


    Su Ci looked at his chubby little hand, her gaze falling on the inside of his wrist. The life value there, originally a red line, was bing increasingly faint and about to disappear. Beside it was marked: 30 seconds.


    Su Ci''s eyes darkened.


    Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.


    Little Kuaile''s fair, chubby face looked as soft and adorable as a little angel in the sunlight. "Big sister, have candy."


    Whether she was a rabbit or turned human, Little Kuaile always liked to offer Su Ci candy.


    20 seconds.


    17 seconds.


    12 seconds.


    The red line had be almost invisible.


    Su Ci could hear her heart pounding violently, her throat feeling constricted.


    10 seconds.


    Nearby, a young boy on roller skates tripped on the ground''s steps. Unable to stop himself, he stumbled towards them.


    In the confusion, the young boy''s hand pushed Little Kuaile''s wheelchair toward the road.


    People watched in horror as the mini wheelchair quickly rolled away.


    "Fu Gui!"


    Su Ci''s mind froze for a moment.


    Boss Fang, who had been on the phone, saw a car approaching, about to hit his son''s wheelchair. He turned pale with fright.


    "Ah!" Someone screamed in panic, seeing the child about to be crushed by the car.


    The next second.


    The mini wheelchair was caught by an exceptionally fair hand.


    Su Ci forcefully pulled the wheelchair back, rolling across the ground to dodge the car that barely grazed past her body.


    The wind from the car swept through her long hair.


    The shoes were too big, and when Su Ci lunged forward, she stumbled and fell to the ground.


    She had barely managed to save Little Kuaile.


    Boss Fang''s legs went weak with fear.


    He ran to his son, and seeing that he was unharmed, immediately went to help the girl, wanting to help her up.


    Su Ci ignored Boss Fang''s outstretched hand and stood up by herself, brushing off the dirt from her clothes.


    "Thank you, youngdy. I''m so grateful to you." Boss Fang''s voice trembled as he bowed deeply to Su Ci, his expression full of gratitude.


    He had almost lost his son.


    His legs were still weak, and his hands were shaking.


    The young man on roller skates was also stunned - he had almost caused someone''s death.


    Being quite young and encountering such a frightening situation for the first time, he tremblingly apologized to Boss Fang, "I''m... I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to."


    "Your carelessness almost killed my son! If it weren''t for this youngdy..."


    Boss Fang thought of how the car had barely missed the youngdy''s body in that dangerous moment. Taking a deep breath, he scolded, "Isn''t the square and park area enough for your roller skating? Why did you have to wear roller skates on the main road? Don''t you know how dangerous that is?"


    "I''m sorry." The young man''s eyes reddened; he had been frightened too.


    "I''m also at fault. I should have held onto my son''s wheelchair tightly, never letting go for a moment." Boss Fang looked down at his son Little Kuaile and began scolding himself.


    The crowd sighed, none having expected to witness such a dangerous scene on their way to work.


    Fortunately, the girl had saved the child.


    Looking at the girl again, people noticed how beautiful she was.


    It truly embodied the saying "beautiful both inside and out" - she had saved two families, the child''s father and the young man.


    Boss Fang quickly asked Su Ci, "Youngdy, are you hurt from the fall? Why don''t I take you to the hospital for a check-up? It would be terrible if you were injured."


    At this moment, Boss Fang was full of gratitude towards Su Ci. His son was his life, and Su Ci had saved his son, making her his lifesaver.


    "I''m fine," Su Ci shook her head.


    She had known Little Kuaile would die, which was why she had reacted faster than everyone else when the wheelchair rolled away.


    "You''re my savior. I really don''t know how to repay you." Boss Fang was still emotional, unsure how to properly thank the youngdy before him.


    "No need." It had been instinctive for her.


    "Pretty big sister, have candy." Little Kuaile''s chubby little hand still held two candies; he hadn''t realized he had just died ande back to life.


    Su Ci looked down and saw that the life value on his wrist had changed to seven yellow bars.


    Little Kuaile had at least seventy more years of life ahead of him.


    Su Ci took one of the candies from Little Kuaile''s hand. "Thank you."


    After leaving.


    Su Ci, with Little Kuaile''s candy in her mouth, asked Fu Gui, "Why did Little Kuaile''s lifespan change to seventy years after being saved?"


    Fu Gui was eating something golden yellow and sweet like cotton candy, which it had received after Su Ci saved someone.


    Fu Gui let out a satisfied burp: [When the death knot is untied, it returns to the normal lifespan it should have.]


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes. So, if Little Kuaile hadn''t died this time, he would have originally lived to be around seventy.


    Fu Gui: [Master, why did you save him?] It had thought its master wouldn''t save people.


    Su Ci: "Didn''t you hear him call me beautiful sister?"


    Fu Gui: [...]


    So, does his owner like to hear ttery?


    ......


    At theputer store.


    After school, Lu Zhe received a call from Boss Fang asking him toe over.


    Boss Fang had calmed down and recounted the morning''s dangerous incident to Lu Zhe, "Thankfully, that brave youngdy was there, otherwise..."


    He shuddered at the thought.


    Lu Zhe hadn''t known about the morning''s events.


    He nced at Little Kuaile sitting in the wheelchair beside him. The little one had a sweet candy in his mouth, his eyes curved happily into crescents. Hearing his father''s words, he said in his childish voice, "Pretty sister ate Kuaile''s candy."


    Lu Zhe''s cold hand gently patted his head.


    "Zhe, that youngdy didn''t say anything, just took one of Kuaile''s candies and left. I haven''t properly thanked her for such a great kindness."


    Boss Fang asked Lu Zhe, "She was wearing your school uniform, must be from First High School. She was very fair-skinned and delicate-looking, do you know her?"


    Lu Zhe remained silent.


    Boss Fang continued, "A girl that beautiful must stand out at your school, probably the school beauty." In his opinion, it would be hard to find someone who could match that youngdy''s looks.


    "I want to find her and thank her properly." Such a great kindness deserved formal acknowledgment, not just a casual dismissal.


    Lu Zhe rarely paid attention to the girls at school, so he found it difficult to answer Boss Fang''s question.


    Obviously, Boss Fang knew Lu Zhe''s personality and didn''t press further.


    After wandering around outside, Su Ci returned to Lu Zhe''s ce.


    Only aftering out did she realize that Lu Zhe lived in an old residentialplex. There wasn''t much greenery around, just an open parking lot and a bicycle shed with a rusty roof that looked quite dpidated.


    In the living room, Su Ci found a day-old bread in the refrigerator. The bread had be cold and hard, and she pitifully nibbled on it. If she hadn''t been about to turn back into a rabbit, she would have preferred to cook some instant noodles rather than eat cold bread.


    Just as she finished thest bite, there was a faint sound of keys at the door.


    Su Ci choked in fright - was Lu Zhe back?


    Her body reacted faster than her mind. She got off the sofa, ran back to the room, her heart pounding. She looked at her body, then opened the wardrobe and hid inside.


    Lu Zhe had left theputer store and stopped by to pick up some things.


    He walked to the refrigerator to get a bottle of water, and just as he was about to open it, he noticed the bread was missing.


    Closing the refrigerator, Lu Zhe''s long fingers held the mineral water as he turned around. His gaze fell on the sofa where there was a transparent stic bag.


    The bag had oil stains and bread crumbs on it.


    His eyes darkened as Lu Zhe looked around, then strode toward the bedroom.


    He discovered that the cardboard box that had been on the floor was ttened, and the rabbit was gone.


    His rigid face filled with frost as Lu Zhe''s fierce gaze fell on the wardrobe.


    Inside the closet, Su Ci hugged her legs, her long ck silky hair naturally falling down her back, her small face fair and somehow looking pitiful.


    Why did she have to hide?


    Su Ci pressed her lips together, trying to suppress her wildly beating heart. It''s not like she was afraid of Lu Zhe! She just didn''t know how to face him as a human after transforming back.


    Outside, Lu Zhe licked his teeth and reached out to open the wardrobe directly.


    In the wardrobe, he saw the snow-white bunny sitting quietly on his clothes, its red eyes staring at him nkly.


    Lu Zhe: ...


    How did the rabbit get into his wardrobe?


    Lu Zhe leaned in to pick up the rabbit, and in the next moment, his gaze paused. He picked up his school uniform and saw a ck stain on the back.


    He sniffed it - it smelled like gasoline.


    Su Ci was dumbfounded. It must have been from when she got gasoline on herself while saving someone on the road.


    She looked up, nervously ncing at Lu Zhe, but she could only see the young man''s cold, rigid jaw, not his expression.


    The next day, the ssroom was bustling with activity.


    When Zhao Youyou came to her seat, her deskmate Ling Hui immediately leaned over, "Youyou, I heard that our school received a thank-you letter from someone outside the school. It said a beautiful girl from our school saved his son. The principal is taking this very seriously."


    Ling Hui winked at Zhao Youyou, "Although everyone''s guessing whether it was you or the school beauty who saved the person, I know it was you since you were the only one absent from school yesterday." She hugged Zhao Youyou''s arm, "Youyou, I''m right, aren''t I? You''re the one who saved them, right?"


    Zhao Youyou remembered helping a fallen child on the road yesterday morning, so she nodded.

 Chapter 6: 06

    <h4>Chapter 6</h4>


    When Ling Hui heard Zhao Youyou admit that she was the one who helped someone, she excitedly grabbed her hands and said, "Ah, it really was you! They were all guessing if it was the school beauty Jiang Mengqi, but they should have known someone as proud as her wouldn''t help others."


    Zhao Youyou smiled.


    Yesterday, a little boy had fallen and hurt his knee. She had helped him up and used tissues to cover his wound. The boy''s parents were very grateful, but she hadn''t expected them to write a thank-you letter to the school.


    In thest row, Lu Zhe put down his backpack and ced the rabbit from his bag into the desk drawer.


    After kissing Lu Zhe yesterday and briefly turning human, Su Ci had given up on the idea of going to school with him. After all, she couldn''t kiss him in front of so many people to transform back into human form.


    But unexpectedly, Lu Zhe had put her in his backpack before leaving.


    From his actions of closing the window and cing a strand of hair by the door before leaving, Su Ci knew that Lu Zhe must have suspected someone had broken into his ce yesterday.


    Fortunately, the residentialplex was so old that there weren''t any security cameras in the building, so Lu Zhe wouldn''t discover that she was the one who had entered his ce.


    "Lu Zhe, no, Brother Zhe!" Li Dongliang had just reached his seat when he saw Lu Zhe taking out something snow-white from his bag - it was a rabbit!


    "Brother Zhe."


    Li Dongliang tossed aside his pink backpack and quickly moved his desk closer to Lu Zhe''s side. Shamelessly, he leaned in closer, "You brought the little rabbit? Brother Zhe, let me see it. I won''t touch it, just want to look."


    Su Ci poked her head out from the drawer, then hopped onto Lu Zhe''sp. She didn''t want to stay in that small dark space anymore, and now she could appear openly.


    Lu Zhe held her small, soft body, letting her rest on his legs.


    "Ahh!"


    Li Dongliang opened and closed his mouth, holding back his exmation. He enviously looked at the white bundle on Lu Zhe''s blue uniform pants. "Just one day apart, and the little bunny has be even cuter!"


    It was absolutely killing him with cuteness!


    Li Dongliang resisted the urge to reach out and pet the rabbit, staring at it adoringly.


    Heavens above, even the way the bunny closed its eyes to sleep was adorable.


    Su Ci ignored the creepy Li Dongliang beside her. She could hear people around them discussing whether it was Zhao Youyou or the school beauty who had helped someone. Some analyzed that since the school beauty had arrived early yesterday, it must have been Zhao Youyou who helped.


    Su Ci thought that Zhao Youyou truly lived up to being the female lead - helping someone and receiving a thank-you letter from parents, bing known throughout the school. She really did have that main character''s halo.


    During break time, Zhao Youyou was called to the Principal''s office.


    Seeing school beauty Jiang Mengqi standing to the side, she could guess why the Principal had called them.


    "You must have heard about the thank-you letter the school received from a parent?"


    The Principal didn''t maintain a serious face, but smiled warmly. "The school takes this matter very seriously. This spirit of helping others deserves to be promoted, so the school has decided to put the student who helped on the Honor Board for a month."


    Usually, only outstanding achievements or major awards would earn a ce on the Honor Board. Letting a student who helped someone be featured for a month showed how much the school valued this incident.


    Hearing this, Zhao Youyou couldn''t help but feel surprised.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Mengqi felt a tightness in her chest. She hadn''t helped anyone, so it must have been Zhao Youyou.


    This Zhao Youyou used to wear heavy makeup and had an unreasonable, brainless personality. She had been quite ugly. Who would have thought she would suddenly change, not only going bare-faced but also bing gentle and elegant in demeanor. Jiang Mengqi knew that recently many people had beenparing Zhao Youyou to her, some even saying Zhao Youyou looked better than her!


    Now Zhao Youyou had helped someone and could be featured on the Honor Board - such an honor made her extremely upset.


    Jiang Mengqi shook her head at the Principal: "I didn''t help anyone."


    The Principal''s gaze shifted to Zhao Youyou.


    Knowing she could be on the Honor Board, Zhao Youyou couldn''t help feeling secretly delighted. "I did help a little boy yesterday, and his parents already thanked me."


    The Principal smiled, "The parent specifically wrote a thank-you letter to the school, clearly very grateful that you risked your life to save their son. Please prepare to share your story at next Monday''s g-raising ceremony. Someone will also be responsible for putting your photo on the Honor Board."


    The Principal said, "Alright, you can go back to ss now."


    Risked her life to save their son?


    That wasn''t right.


    She had only helped a child who fell on the street and cleaned his knee.


    Zhao Youyou''s smile froze, and she had an ominous feeling. Had she misunderstood?


    "Is there something else?" The Principal noticed the student standing there in a daze.


    Zhao Youyou couldn''t smile anymore. She quickly shook her head, opened her mouth wanting to say something, but didn''t know how to exin. Now it wasn''t just her who had misunderstood - everyone had misunderstood, right?


    She felt very uneasy, but then thought that the parent probably didn''t know the name of the student who helped, which was why everyone was guessing between her and Jiang Mengqi.


    Besides, she had indeed helped a little boy, so she shouldn''t feel guilty.


    Thinking this way, Zhao Youyou''s racing heart calmed down a bit.


    After Zhao Youyou and Jiang Mengqi returned from the Principal''s office, news that Zhao Youyou had helped someone quickly spread throughout the school.


    The Principal reported Zhao Youyou''s name to the Headmaster.


    Recently, First High School had been in the running for an advanced school award. A student risking their life to save someone would add points to their application, which was why the school was taking this so seriously.


    The Headmaster thought that if the leaders saw parents thanking their student in person, it would be perfect for promoting First High School students'' noble character, letting the leaders know their school fully qualified as an advanced school.


    Boss Fang received a call from the school saying they had found the student who helped his son, and asked him toe to the school that afternoon.


    Boss Fang breathed a sigh of relief.


    Yesterday''s events were still vivid in his mind. Last night he had even had a nightmare where his son wasn''t saved. The heart-wrenching feeling from the dream still made him shudder after waking up, covered in cold sweat.


    After waking up, he immediately wrote a thank-you letter, wanting to thank that kind young girl who had helped without leaving her name again in person.


    Thinking of this, Boss Fang touched his son who was quietly solving a Rubik''s cube beside him. "This afternoon, dad will take Kuaile to meet the sister from yesterday, okay?"


    Little Kuaile really liked the sister from yesterday. Hearing his father''s words, his round big eyes immediately lit up, and he replied in his childish voice: "Okay, I want to give sister candy too."


    In the afternoon, while the Headmaster and Principal were weing the visiting leaders, Boss Fang arrived at the school pushing Little Kuaile.


    This time, Third High School was a strongpetitor. From the leaders'' tone, the Headmaster felt this evaluation was somewhat precarious. Seeing Boss Fang''s arrival, he couldn''t help showing a pleased expression, hoping it would add some more points for the school.


    The Headmaster sent someone to notify Zhao Youyou.


    When Zhao Youyou, who had been called out to the ssroom door by the teacher, heard that the parent who wrote the thank-you letter hade to thank her in person, she was so shocked her whole body trembled.


    "Teacher, I... I need to attend ss."


    "It''s fine, it will only take a moment. The parent brought their child specially to thank you at school. Come with me," the teacher said.


    Zhao Youyou really didn''t want to go. She hadn''t expected the parent toe to school. Once they met face to face, everyone would know she had falsely imed to be the rescuer.


    She couldn''t go.


    "What''s wrong? Don''t worry, the homeroom teacher has approved, and the Headmaster is also present. Don''t keep everyone waiting." This was a good thing - the teacher didn''t understand why this student was being so hesitant.


    Hearing that the Headmaster was there, Zhao Youyou''s face turned pale. Despite the hot weather, she was breaking out in a cold sweat.


    Boss Fang was describing yesterday''s dangerous situation to the Headmaster and leaders in the break room when the teacher who had left earlier returned with a student.


    The person wore First High School''s uniform and was slender, with their head lowered.


    Boss Fang quickly stood up.


    The teacher watched as Zhao Youyou kept her head down without making a sound. She quietly pushed her from behind - what was going on? This timid behavior made it hard to imagine her decisive action of rushing onto the road to save someone.


    Zhao Youyou''s shoulders trembled as she slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with tears.


    She was crying from fear.


    Boss Fang looked at the student in front of him and frowned unconsciously, "This isn''t my lifesaver. Did your school make a mistake?"


    The appearance of the student in front of him was far different from his lifesaver.


    "It''s not the pretty sister."


    From the side came a small milky voice. Little Kuaile, holding two candies in his chubby hands, hadn''t seen Su Ci. His little mouth slightly pouted.


    The Headmaster noticed the leader''s nce and his expression became awkward, embarrassed to the extreme.


    ......


    In just one afternoon, the rescue incidentpletely turned around.


    Zhao Youyou''s false im of being the rescuer was posted on the school forum, causing public mockery.


    Her deskmate Ling Hui looked at Zhao Youyou''s reddened eyes and sighed, not knowing how tofort her, only able to hand her tissues.


    "Yesterday morning, I did help a little boy. He fell down, I helped him up and stopped his bleeding. When you asked me this morning if I had saved a little boy, I thought you meant that incident. I didn''t know it would be such a coincidence," Zhao Youyou exined to Ling Hui, her voice loud enough for surrounding ssmates to hear.


    "Anyone with a brain would know that just helping a little boy up wouldn''t make parents write a thank-you letter to the school," someone sneered.


    "Didn''t she go to the Principal''s office? I don''t believe the Principal didn''t verify her story."


    "They must have asked, she probably just wanted to take credit."


    "I heard there were not only reporters today but also leaders from above. Being exposed for falsely iming to be the lifesaver on the spot is really embarrassing for our school."


    "I feel so ashamed too. That parent said right there that the school got it wrong. Just thinking about it makes my toes curl with embarrassment."


    "Wasn''t it said this morning that Zhao Youyou would be on the honor roll? She must have been driven by vanity to make this false im."


    Hearing the discussions around her and feeling the mocking gazes, Zhao Youyou''s face turned red. She began crying softly again in shame.


    "What''s she crying for? The person she impersonated is the one who should feel wronged."


    "The Headmaster should be the one crying. I heard his face was still pale when he was seeing the leaders off."


    "I feel so bad for our Headmaster."


    "Poor Headmaster."


    ......


    Later, Su Ciy in Lu Zhe''s arms. Several people noticed her presence and just gave a few surprised looks without saying anything.


    After all, Li Dongliang was sitting next to Lu Zhe. Anyone who dared to say a word about the bunny would immediately face the little tyrant standing up ready to fight, acting like a dedicated bunny protector. No one dared to make a sound.


    Su Ci wiggled her little feet, the small jade gourd on them looking even more delicate. She was perking up her ears, happily listening to the gossip about Zhao Youyou.


    Who would have thought that in just one afternoon, the female lead would fall from grace?


    When she heard them say that the parent came with a wheelchair-bound son, Su Ci didn''t expect to be eating melon seeds about herself - turns out she was the lifesaver they were talking about.


    Thinking about how she had secretly worn Lu Zhe''s school uniform yesterday, it''s no wonder they mistook her for a student from First High.


    Zhao Youyou iming to be her, tsk, she deserved to be exposed and humiliated on the spot.


    Hmph.


    At such a dangerous moment, she even fell while saving someone. If Zhao Youyou had really taken credit for her deed, she would have been absolutely furious.


    Su Ci was being gently scratched on her back by Lu Zhe''s slender fingers, making her sofortable that she hummed softly, her body remaining rxed.


    During ss earlier, while he was listening to the lecture, his hand had been gently pinching and ying with her ear tips, making her body constantly weak.


    She had told him not to y with her ears!

 Chapter 7: 07

    <h4>Chapter 7</h4>


    After school, Lu Zhe went to theputer store.


    Boss Fang told him about what happened at school today, "What was that girl thinking? I don''t understand how she could falsely im to be my savior. How could someone make such a im?" He was angry and would have yelled at her if she hadn''t started crying.


    "But the girl who saved Kuaile was so striking-looking, surely people at your school would know her?" Boss Fang persisted, "Lu Zhe, could you help keep an eye out for her when you have time?"


    Last night''s dream had felt so real - even now he could still feel the pain from it. He wouldn''t feel at ease until he properly thanked that girl.


    "Let me describe her - she''s tall and slim, with long hair."


    Hearing this, Su Ci, nestled in Lu Zhe''s arms, shifted her mouth slightly. Any girl could match that description - was she really that ordinary-looking?


    Boss Fang pped his leg, "Oh right, her skin was very fair, and she had delicate features - basically, she was beautiful. Much prettier than that girl who falsely imed to be her today."


    Lu Zhe was quiet for a moment before asking: "No other distinguishing features?"


    Boss Fang narrowed his eyes in thought, his gaze falling on the rabbit in Lu Zhe''s arms. He suddenly pped his forehead, "I remember now! That girl had a red string around her ankle, very simr to the one on your rabbit''s foot."


    The situation had been urgent then, with the girl lying on the road. He had noticed it identally when trying to help her up, and only just remembered now.


    Su Ci froze, instinctively pulling back her little foot with the red string.


    "Alright, Uncle Fang, I''ll keep an eye out," Lu Zhe agreed.


    It was already nine o''clock when they left theputer store. The streets outside were lively - it was peak time for the night market.


    Smelling the barbecue aromas wafting through the street, Su Ci''s red eyes brightened in Lu Zhe''s arms, desperately craving food. Apart from that hard, cold bread she''d eaten when she briefly returned to human form, she''d been eating nothing but rabbit foodtely and was sick of it.


    Watching a girl walk past with a grilled squid skewer, she swallowed enviously.


    Lu Zhe was unaware that the rabbit in his arms was staring intently at the street food. He walked slowly, even slower than the pedestrians beside them.


    A bicycle approached from ahead, and Lu Zhe moved aside to make way.


    The next moment, Lu Zhe, holding the rabbit with one hand, suddenly tripped and fell.


    Su Ci was stunned, and before she could react, Lu Zhe had already pulled her protectively into his embrace, hisrge hand shielding her entire body.


    The girl on the bicycle was startled - she hadn''t hit him, her bicycle had been several handspans away from him.


    "Are you alright? My bike didn''t touch you," the girl asked nervously, worried about potential scammers.


    Lu Zhe lowered his head, checked that the rabbit was unharmed, then slowly stood up using one hand for support. Ignoring the strange looks from passersby, he said coldly, "I''m fine."


    The girl then noticed how handsome the fallen young man was and stared in surprise, "That''s good then."


    Lu Zhe left with the rabbit in his arms.


    Under the yellow streetlights, Lu Zhe''s rigid face became increasingly cold in the night.


    Su Ci felt something was off, though she couldn''t understand why Lu Zhe had suddenly fallen.


    Back at his ce.


    After preparing food for the rabbit, Lu Zhe went to the corner, picked up a dumbbell, and began doing bicep curls - slowly, deliberately, his arm muscles taut with strength.


    After about a hundred curls, Su Ci watched as Lu Zhe got down on the floor and started doing push-ups.


    Su Ci counted them out of boredom. When she reached fifty and saw Lu Zhe still going, she blinked in surprise.


    She remembered once on a variety show, a male celebrity had been punished with push-ups and could only manage 28. That''s when she learned that men typically could do 20-30 push-ups, and doing 50 in one go was already impressive. Yet Lu Zhe seemed to be doing them effortlessly?


    Intrigued, Su Ci continued counting.


    By the hundredth push-up, seeing that Lu Zhe showed no signs of stopping, she gave up counting and just watched with bright eyes.


    Lu Zhe''s forehead, neck, and back were covered in sweat, his school uniform soaked and clinging to his body. Su Ci could vaguely make out his muscr back.


    After what seemed like ages, Lu Zhe finally stopped.


    He sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, catching his breath. His bangs were wet with sweat, his expression still rigid, but his dark eyes were bright.


    The young man before her was devastatingly handsome.


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes and jumped straight onto Lu Zhe - this was the perfect chance to kiss him.


    Feeling something on his leg, Lu Zhe looked down. Sweat ran down his deep-set brow bone, along his profile, and disappeared into his uniform cor.


    Seeing the snow-white rabbit jump onto his leg, Lu Zhe''s lips twitched slightly, and his cold hand pressed down on its small body as it tried to climb higher.


    Su Ci struggled, catching the strong masculine scent on Lu Zhe,pletely different from his usual cool fragrance - it must be his sweat.


    As the little rabbit struggled in his hands, Lu Zhe, covered in sweat, knew he shouldn''t hold it. He simply pinched the rabbit''s pink-white ears, and immediately, as if deted, it went soft and stopped fussing.


    Lu Zhe smirked.


    He ced the rabbit on the desk, then opened a drawer and took out some medicine, which he swallowed with water from a nearby cup.


    Su Ci, her body still limp, stretched to peek into the drawer.


    The next moment, she froze.


    Lu Zhe closed the drawer.


    Su Ci looked up at Lu Zhe in shock, having seen three words on the report: ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).


    So Lu Zhe had ALS?


    No wonder his life value was only three years.


    She had read about this disease online before. Patients experience weakness and numbness in their fingers and arms, fatigue easily, have muscle twitches and atrophy, tend to trip while walking, eventually be unable to walk, their bodies be frozen and immobile, and finally develop slurred speech and difficulty swallowing.


    She could hardly imagine that this tall, strong, handsome young man before her would one day be like a withered vine, so fragile that the lightest touch could break him.


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe withplex emotions.


    So his sudden fall on the street earlier - was it because his legs were already beginning to weaken?


    No wonder he exercised so frantically after returning home.


    Meanwhile, Zhao Youyou, ignoring her ssmates'' misunderstandings and mockery, immediately left after school and ran to the lottery store.


    "Youngdy, buying lottery tickets again today?" The store owner had seen Zhao Youyou for several consecutive days now.


    "Yes."


    Zhao Youyou smiled shyly, dawdling while choosing numbers, her eyes fixed on each customer who entered.


    When a chubby man wearing flowered pants and ck-framed sses appeared, Zhao Youyou''s eyes lit up, and her hands tightened on her clothes.


    She had been waiting at the lottery store for days just for him.


    "Dong Jian''s here? What numbers do you want today?" The lottery store owner knew this man in flowered pants, as he had been buying lottery tickets there for over two years without winning.


    The man in flowered pants scratched his head, picked up a pen, wrote down his numbers, and had the owner print his ticket.


    Zhao Youyou walked up beside Dong Jian, staring at the ticket in his hand. She smiled shyly and gently, "Uncle, today is my mother''s birthday, and I just noticed that some of the numbers you chose make up my mother''s birth date whenbined."


    Without heavy makeup, Zhao Youyou looked fresh and pretty, and having cried at school earlier, her red-rimmed eyes made her look pitiful and touched people''s hearts. She asked softly, "Would you sell your ticket to me? I''d like to give it to my mother as a birthday gift. I can pay you a hundred yuan for it."


    Dong Jian gave her an odd look, "You can buy your own ticket."


    The lottery store owner, seeing the girl''s pitiful expression, chimed in: "Come on, Dong Jian, you''ve never won anyway. Just sell it to the youngdy. She probably wants to show filial piety, and you''ll make a hundred yuan profit to buy more tickets. You won''t lose anything."


    Zhao Youyou couldn''t see the numbers on the lottery ticket, but worried the other person might refuse, she quickly took out her money and looked at him sincerely, "Is this okay, uncle?"


    Dong Jian scratched his head and epted Zhao Youyou''s money, giving her the lottery ticket. After all, he wasn''t losing anything.


    "Thank you, uncle, you''re so kind." After getting the ticket, Zhao Youyou gave him a grateful look and immediately left the store.


    The lottery shop owner asked Dong Jian, "So, want to buy the same numbers again?"


    "Help me change one number," Dong Jian thought for a moment and changed one of the previous numbers to a different digit.


    After returning home, Zhao Youyou tried hard to contain her excitement. It wasn''t until that night, when she saw on herputer that the winning numbers matched exactly with those on her ticket, that her heart finally settled down.


    She immediately shared the news with her parents.


    "What did you say? Five million?" Zhao''s Mother''s voice was shrill.


    Zhao Youyou quickly covered her mother''s mouth, frightened. "Mom, keep your voice down."


    Zhao''s Mother looked at the lottery ticket her daughter held out, her hands trembling, "Am I dreaming?" Their family''s savings were only fifty thousand at most.


    Beside her, the short-statured Zhao''s Father was also visibly excited, swallowing hard several times, his hand holding a cigarette trembling, "Youyou, are you sure it''s really five million?"


    "Yes, it''s really five million." Zhao Youyou nodded firmly.


    In her previous life, the person who won the five million was that man wearing flowered pants at the lottery store today.


    Their family lived on the fifth floor, while that man lived on the eighth floor. After he won, everyone in the neighborhood knew about it, and at that time, Zhao''s Father had regretted not ying the lottery.


    After being reborn, she had always kept this incident in mind, and now, she was the winner.


    "After we collect the five million, let''s give some money to help brother with his medical treatment," Zhao Youyou suggested.


    "Child, has the excitement made you lose your mind? What nonsense are you talking about?" Zhao''s Mother patted her daughter''s head.


    "No way."


    Zhao''s Father also objected, "His condition ispletely incurable. Spending money on his treatment would be like throwing it into the sea."


    Zhao Youyou thought about thest time she saw Lu Zhe in her previous life - his gaunt, sunken cheeks, rigid limbs, and how he still walked with a limp. ALS was indeed an incurable disease.


    Zhao''s Father''s small eyes narrowed with a hint of malice, making him ufortable to look at. "Tell Lu Zhe toe home tomorrow and take all his things away."


    This money belonged to their family, and Lu Zhe shouldn''t get a single penny of it.


    Obviously, Zhao''s Mother shared the same thoughts as her husband, "Right, we''ve supported him for all these years for nothing. There''s no reason we should still be burdened by him now. Our family''s money is our family''s, it has nothing to do with him."


    Lu Zhe had contracted a terminal illness and be useless to them. Zhao''s parents were afraid that if Lu Zhe learned about their five million win, he would try to im a share. Now, they couldn''t wait to sever all ties with him.


    Zhao Youyou opened her mouth but ultimately said nothing more.

 Chapter 8: 08

    <h4>Chapter 8</h4>


    In the ssroom.


    Li Dongliang had switched to another new pink backpack today. Despite his tall and sturdy build, his good looks allowed him to pull off such a pink bag without appearing gaudy. Instead, it gave him a youthful, teenage vibe.


    Su Ci was lying on Lu Zhe''sp, having been brought to school early by him. She needed to catch up on sleep.


    "Brother Zhe, I brought lots of good stuff for the little bunny," Li Dongliang excitedly approached them.


    Su Cizily lifted her eyelids and noticed a pink pompom hanging from his backpack today.


    Li Dongliang opened his backpack and pulled out several bags of rabbit food. "Brother Zhe, this is rabbit food I had someone bring back from abroad. The taste is absolutely fantastic. If you feed this to the little bunny, her fur will be smooth and beautiful."


    Su Ci closed her eyes, knowing that even the most expensive rabbit food would just taste like grass in her mouth.


    Lu Zhe nced down at the rabbit, then looked at the rabbit food in Li Dongliang''s hands. "How much in total?"


    Li Dongliang, who had expected Lu Zhe to refuse, quickly shook his head. "No cost - I bought it for the bunny, it''s free."


    Lu Zhe looked up. "Then I won''t take it."


    "120 yuan per pack."


    He had bought three packs, so 360 yuan total. For Lu Zhe, this wasn''t cheap at all.


    After all, he knew Lu Zhe spent a lot of money on medicine for his illness.


    "Brother Zhe, instead of paying me money, why not let me pet the little bunny?" Watching Lu Zhe stroke the bunny during ss every day made him envious. As his deskmate, he could only look on with envy - forget about petting the rabbit, he hadn''t even touched its fur.


    Lu Zhe gave him a cool nce. "Take out your phone."


    Li Dongliang pulled out his phone and added Lu Zhe as a friend. The next second, he received the money transfer.


    Looking at Lu Zhe''spletely ck profile picture, Li Dongliang clicked into it and saw that there was nothing posted on his Moments page.


    This was too much.


    The little bunny was so cute - not using its photo as a profile picture was one thing, but not even posting any pictures of it on Moments?


    This was simply uneptable!


    Before Li Dongliang couldin, Zhao Youyou walked over.


    Herplexion was good, probably because she had won five million yuan in the lottery. She didn''t seem to mind the subtle mocking nces from her ssmates anymore.


    "Brother," Zhao Youyou came to Lu Zhe''s desk.


    She looked at Lu Zhe with guilt in her eyes. She was grateful that Lu Zhe had saved her in her previous life, but as her father had said, Lu Zhe''s illness was incurable. Even if she gave him part of the money, it wouldn''t make much difference.


    Beside them, Li Dongliang wore an expression of someone eager to watch drama unfold. He thought Lu Zhe''s nominal sister was quite dramatic.


    It was strange how Zhao Youyou, who used to have such a fierce and foolish personality, had suddenly changed so much recently, as if she had be a different person, transforming into a delicate flower.


    Yesterday, when she failed to take credit for something in ss, she cried so pitifully that anyone would think she had suffered some great injustice.


    "What is it?" Lu Zhe looked up.


    "Dad wants you toe home for a bit."


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip, hesitating before saying, "You still have some clothes at home... Dad said you cane get them after school today."


    Hearing this, Li Dongliang next to them pursed his lips and clicked his tongue. Hmph, they just wanted Lu Zhe to collect his things and get out for good.


    Su Ci squinted her eyes as Lu Zhe''s long fingers continued to stroke her back. Hearing Zhao Youyou''s words, she hummed disapprovingly and went back to sleep.


    "Mm," Lu Zhe agreed.


    ...


    The residentialplex where the Zhao family lived was somewhat old but well-maintained, with goodndscaping around it. The environment was several times better than Lu Zhe''s rented ce.


    Su Ci poked her head out of Lu Zhe''s backpack and saw him standing at the door, pressing the doorbell.


    A thin-faced middle-aged woman opened the door. She had curly hair and upturned eyes with a calcting gaze - clearly Zhao Youyou''s mother.


    "Come in. We haven''t touched your things. Take a look at what you want to take with you."


    Knowing her daughter had won five million yuan in the lottery, Zhao''s Mother had been so excited she hadn''t slept all night, but still looked fresh. Now seeing Lu Zhe, she even had a smile on her face, no longer calling him a freeloader.


    Lu Zhe walked into the house.


    In the living room, Zhao''s father had a cigarette in his mouth and was holding his phone. When he saw Lu Zhe enter, he looked up briefly without making a sound.


    Ever since his daughter had found Lu Zhe''s medical records in his room and learned about his terminal illness, Zhao''s father hadn''t shown Lu Zhe a kind face. In his view, the decades of raising Lu Zhe had been wasted.


    He hadn''t gotten any benefit from Lu Zhe at all.


    Lu Zhe walked to his former room.


    Su Ci perched on the backpack zipper, her little head poking out to survey the surroundings.


    She noticed this room was even smaller than Lu Zhe''s current rental. It was more like a storage room, with nothing but a single bed and a small wardrobe.


    Lu Zhe opened the wardrobe and pulled out a small box from the bottom.


    Su Ci watched him open the box, which contained a golden badge.


    Lu Zhe stared at the badge for a while, then closed the box and put it in his pocket.


    "Brother," Zhao Youyou stood at the doorway.


    After school, she had originally wanted to walk home with Lu Zhe, but she had ssroom duty today. Because of yesterday''s incident, the other students on duty had deliberately left all the garbage for her to take out.


    "Brother, why don''t you stay for dinner before leaving?" Zhao Youyou felt somewhat guilty.


    "No need," Lu Zhe refused and walked past her.


    The doorbell rang again, repeatedly and urgently.


    "Who is it? Ringing like their life depends on it," Zhao''s Mother got up to open the door.


    Outside stood a man and a woman. The man, Dong Jian, had curly hair, wore sses, and had on floral pants. The woman beside him was his wife, Li Changfang, who was rather plump.


    "Who are you looking for?" Zhao''s Mother looked puzzled at the angry-looking pair.


    "Looking for your daughter, Zhao Youyou." Li Changfang pushed past Zhao''s Mother and squeezed into the house. "Where is your daughter? Tell her to return our lottery ticket immediately."


    "What do you mean, your lottery ticket?" Zhao''s Mother''s heart skipped a beat when she heard them mention the lottery, feeling somewhat panicked.


    "Your daughter scammed the lottery ticket from my husband. That ticket won five million yuan - give it back to us right now." Li Changfang was built broadly and had a loud voice, like she was speaking through a megaphone. Before Zhao Youyou had evene out, she could hear everything clearly.


    Zhao Youyou froze in fear.


    Zhao''s Mother wasn''t a pushover - Zhao Youyou''s previous fierce and stubborn personality was inherited from her. "I don''t understand what you''re talking about regarding five million yuan. If you don''t leave after barging into my home, I''m calling the police."


    Lu Zhe walked out from inside.


    Zhao Youyou followed behind him, trembling.


    "It''s you! So young, yet you dared to scam my husband''s lottery ticket? Give it back to us right now." When Li Changfang saw Zhao Youyou with her long hair and pretty features, anger welled up inside her and she red fiercely. "Return the five million to us."


    "What five million? Are you crazy? Where would we have five million?" Zhao''s Mother denied.


    "Hmph, the lottery shop owner can testify. Justst night, your daughter scammed my husband''s lottery ticket at the shop." Li Changfang hated Zhao Youyou deeply - that five million should have been theirs.


    Su Ci poked her little head out of Lu Zhe''s backpack to watch the drama unfold.


    Hearing their words, she was taken aback.


    Five million?


    Su Ci remembered that Zhao Youyou had indeed won five million yuan in the lottery thanks to her reincarnation advantage, but she only now realized the ticket had originally belonged to someone else - Zhao Youyou had stolen someone else''s fortune.


    Tsk, stealing someone''s fortune was wrong.


    She felt that Zhao Youyou''s character hadn''t improved much after reincarnation; she had just changed her methods of causing trouble.


    After all, a person''s true nature wouldn''tpletely change just because they were reincarnated.


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about." Zhao''s Mother continued to deny everything. Worried about Lu Zhe overhearing, she impatiently said to him, "Why haven''t you packed up and left yet? Do you want to stay and watch the show?"


    "I don''t want those things anymore. You can throw them away," Lu Zhe said as he walked toward the exit.


    Ah, no more drama to watch?


    Su Ci looked back and saw the couple seemed angry enough to get physical with Zhao Youyou.


    "Miss, yesterday you definitely scammed the ticket from me. You told me your mother''s birthday matched the numbers I bought, and begged me to sell you the ticket."


    Dong Jian''s forehead was covered in sweat, knowing that his winning lottery ticket worth five million yuan had been scammed away from him. He had been in a state of breakdown all night, and his wife had been arguing with him the entire time.


    Zhao Youyou''s face was pale as she bit her lip, "I didn''t scam your lottery ticket. I gave you a hundred yuan to buy it from you."


    "Heh."


    Beside them, Li Changfang sneered and pulled out a hundred yuan, throwing it at Zhao Youyou, "Here''s your money back, now return our lottery ticket."


    This little wretch, still ying innocent. She probably used the same expression yesterday to deceive her husband.


    "He was willing to sell it to me, and besides, he could have bought another ticket for himself." Was this confrontation happening because they wanted to im an extra share of the money, or because they hadn''t actually bought another ticket?


    Zhao Youyou didn''t know the winning numbers, she only knew Dong Jian would win, which was why she had tried to get the ticket from him.


    She had assumed he would print another identical ticket.


    "Stop with all this nonsense, just give us back the ticket." Li Changfang had nearly died of angerst night after hearing her husband Dong Jian''s ount of what happened.


    It was clear the other party had deliberately tricked her husband into giving up the ticket.


    "She bought it from you, so the ticket belongs to my daughter. Stop making trouble here and leave our house immediately," Zhao''s Mother said, having gathered the gist of the situation from their conversation.


    The five million was now theirs, and no one was going to take it away.


    "Little sister, given how things have developed, let''s split the five million between our two families. My business has failed, and I owe over two million to others. This money would help me pay off my debts." He had given up hope of getting back the entire amount.


    "We won''t give you a single cent. Leave now." Zhao''s Father spoke from the side, his half-closed eyes shing with menace as he firmly refused.


    Hearing this, Li Changfang became furious and lunged forward, grabbing Zhao Youyou''s clothes, about to p her.


    ......


    After leaving the Zhao family, Lu Zhe went to theputer store.


    Su Ciy listlessly in the backpack, feeling somewhat regretful as she wanted to know what happened next.


    Lu Zhe entered the store and saw Boss Fang organizing some things.


    "Ah Zhe, you''re here?" Boss Fang''s face was full of smiles as he put away the receipts and closed the store, "Come on, let''s go upstairs for a drink."


    "Something good happened?" Lu Zhe rarely saw Boss Fang this happy.


    "I found a good technician. Little Joy will be able to get his prosthetic limb soon."


    While good prosthetics were important, having a skilled technician was even more crucial.


    Boss Fang had learned that if the prosthetic wasn''t installed properly, it could cause skin abrasions or blisters while walking.


    He didn''t want Little Joy to suffer like that, so he had been searching for a skilled technician.


    Lu Zhe knew about this, and his usually rigid expression softened slightly, "Congrattions."


    Boss Fang sighed thoughtfully. He understood Lu Zhe''s condition; when he first hired him, it was indeed out of sympathy. Butter, he discovered Lu Zhe''s strong abilities - he had taught himself programming and coding, and had helped him tremendously.


    Now Boss Fang was about to get through his difficulties, but Lu Zhe''s situation was different.


    Lu Zhe''s path led to an inevitable end.


    Boss Fang cooked a few small dishes and brought out the beer he had prepared earlier.


    "Just have a few sips with me," Boss Fang said, worried that Lu Zhe couldn''t handle alcohol.


    Lu Zhe smiled, and a small dimple appeared on his usually stern face, "It''s fine, I want to know my alcohol tolerance too."


    At eighteen, Lu Zhe had never drunk alcohol before.


    "Alright, if you get drunk, I''ll call you a car," Boss Fang said, popping a crispy peanut into his mouth and opening the cans of beer.


    In the backpack, Su Ci yawned, feeling bored. She didn''t want to watch them drink.


    Some timeter, Lu Zhe was brought home by Boss Fang.


    Only after Boss Fang left and the door was closed did Su Ci crawl out of the backpack.


    She saw Lu Zhe lying on his side with his eyes closed.


    He was clearly drunk.


    Su Ci hopped closer to Lu Zhe, catching the faint smell of alcohol mixed with his cool, fresh scent - it wasn''t unpleasant.


    She reached out her little paw and pushed Lu Zhe''s arm, but he didn''t respond.


    Her red eyes suddenly lit up.


    Without thinking, Su Ci jumped forward, bringing her little head close to Lu Zhe''s handsome face.


    Her small mouth pressed directly against Lu Zhe''s cold lips.


    She did it!


    It was just a light touch.


    Su Ci waited quietly, and after a while, she saw her snow-white, jade-like skin and long legs.


    With a smile on her red lips, Su Ci quickly pulled the nearby nket over Lu Zhe''s head.


    She went to the wardrobe, put on Lu Zhe''s school uniform, and turned to pull back the nket covering Lu Zhe''s head.


    The moment she pulled it back, she unexpectedly met the youth''s pitch-ck eyes. Su Ci''s heart jumped in fright, and she immediately let go of the nket.


    Ah ah ah, was he awake?

 Chapter 9: 09

    <h4>Chapter 9</h4>


    Su Ci stood frozen in ce, frightened. She pressed her lips together, nervously watching Lu Zhe whoy on the bed.


    Her mind was racing, wondering how she should exin her identity.


    In the quiet room, Su Ci could hear her own heart beating chaotically in her chest.


    Why was she feeling so guilty and scared?


    The young many motionless.


    Su Ci grew a bit braver and moved her feet forward one step.


    In the next instant, the young man on the bed suddenly sat up, startling Su Ci so much that her eyes widened and she froze.


    Oh no, he shouldn''t startle people like that.


    Lu Zhe''s cold, pale, handsome face bore the flush of alcohol, and his pitch-ck eyes had lost some of their usual coolness, appearing wet and bright.


    His gaze fell on Su Ci standing by the bed. "Who are you?"


    Su Ci''s heart skipped a beat - was he drunk? Or not?


    Since he had discovered her, it was a good opportunity to exin her situation. "I..."


    Before Su Ci could finish, Lu Zhe interrupted her.


    The young man''s handsome brows furrowed, "This belongs to Tuantuan."


    Huh?


    Su Ci was confused.


    Lu Zhe got off the bed and crouched in front of Su Ci. To her shock, the young man''s cold hand directly grabbed her ankle.


    Her foot suddenly lifted, causing Su Ci to lose bnce and fall sitting on the edge of the bed. "What are you doing?"


    Lu Zhe gave her a nd look, and Su Ci could clearly see the disdain in his eyes. "This belongs to Tuantuan."


    It was what he bought for Tuantuan!


    Only when she saw his hand caressing the red string on her ankle did Su Ci understand what Lu Zhe meant.


    She blinked, noticing the young man''s ck eyes were zed,cking their usual rity - was he really drunk?


    Su Ci let out a breath and tried to pull her ankle from Lu Zhe''s grip, but couldn''t break free. "Let go."


    "This belongs to Tuantuan," Lu Zhe repeated.


    Hisrge hand gripped Su Ci''s slender ankle as he lowered his head to pull at the red string, clearly intending to remove it from her foot to return it to his Tuantuan.


    Su Ci didn''t bother arguing with a drunk person. She supported herself with her hands on either side, allowing her foot to rest on the crouching Lu Zhe''s knee.


    The skin of Su Ci''s current body was truly beautiful - snow-white all over, smooth and delicate. Even her feet were exquisitely pretty. Perhaps due to their delicateness, her small toes and ankles had a faint pink tinge.


    Delicate and fragile.


    Held in the young man''srge hand, it seemed as if the slightest pressure could crush them.


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze, seriously working to untie the red string.


    The small jade gourd on the red string swayed continuously.


    Whether due to his progressive freezing syndrome or not, Lu Zhe''s hands were always ice-cold. His calloused fingers kept brushing against her foot, causing a tingling sensation that made goosebumps rise on Su Ci''s calf.


    Usually being carried by Lu Zhe meant she didn''t need to walk, so Su Ci hadn''t noticed before. But now with him holding her foot like this, she realized that not only were her rabbit ears sensitive, but her feet were extremely sensitive too.


    She had read online before that rabbits'' feet shouldn''t be touched carelessly as they were sensitive zones.


    Now feeling those waves of ticklish, tingling sensations, she clearly understood - they really were sensitive!


    "Hurry up," Su Ci said, unable to bear it as she tried to pull her foot back.


    Even drunk, Lu Zhe''s long fingers remained dexterous. In just a few movements, he had untied the red string from the girl''s ankle.


    Pulling her foot back, Su Ci stepped onto the cold floor. Only then did the ticklish sensation in her sole slightly subside. She quietly watched Lu Zhe, curious to see what surprising action he might take next.


    After retrieving the red string, Lu Zhe didn''t spare a nce at the stunningly beautiful Su Ci sitting on the bed. Holding the string, he began searching the room for the rabbit.


    Su Ci could tell what the young man was doing. She coughed - she was right here by the bed, where else would he look for her?


    She stretched out her long leg, her toes touching the drunk young man who was searching through the desk drawers, kindly telling him, "Stop looking, I''m right here."


    Lu Zhe turned around, giving Su Ci a disdainful look. "Tuantuan is prettier than you."


    Su Ci immediately stood up from the bed. She could take any criticism, but not being told she wasn''t pretty.


    How could her rabbit form possibly be prettier than her current appearance?


    She called out Fu Gui, "Who''s the prettiest in the whole world?"


    Fu Gui clearly heard the gritted teeth in Su Ci''s voice, [In Fu Gui''s heart, Master is the prettiest in the whole world.]


    Su Ci humphed, now that''s what she wanted to hear.


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhe''s ck eyes grew increasingly zed, his rigid face bing redder, clearly showing the alcohol taking full effect.


    He turned toward the fair-faced Su Ci, "This is for Tuantuan."


    Su Ci watched dumbfounded as Lu Zhe crouched down again, grabbed her ankle, and put the red string he had just removed back on her foot.


    Well, he waspletely drunk.


    ......


    At the Zhao residence.


    Li Changfang grabbed Zhao Youyou''s cor and pped her directly.


    Her palm was thick with flesh, making the p very loud, stunning Zhao Youyou.


    With one p, her fair cheek was marked with a red handprint, visibly swelling.


    "You hit my daughter? I''ll fight you!" Seeing her daughter being hit, Zhao''s Mother immediately went to attack Li Changfang.


    Li Changfang was broad and fat, and the thin Zhao''s Mother was no match for her. She took several hard ps from Li Changfang, but she didn''t take it lying down, firmly pulling at Li Changfang''s hair.


    When Dong Jian saw Zhao''s father trying to help, he immediately intercepted, and the two men also began fighting.


    The Zhao family''s house instantly descended into chaos.


    Zhao Youyou stood stunned, tears streaming down her face from the pain. She hadn''t expected things to turn out like this.


    She had read some reincarnation novels before, where the female protagonists would buy lottery tickets, buy houses, and be wealthy after being reborn. Why had things turned out so differently for her?


    "Stop fighting, please stop fighting." Zhao Youyou didn''t dare approach, anxiously stamping her feet on the sidelines.


    "You little tramp, give us back the lottery... lottery ticket and we''ll stop," Li Changfang said while pping Zhao''s Mother.


    Zhao''s Mother wouldn''t let go of the other woman''s hair, "Get lost, the lottery ticket belongs to our family."


    Taking her money was like taking her life.


    Zhao Youyou had no choice but to call the police.


    Even though Zhao Youyou had lied, and Zhao''s Mother''s birthday numbers didn''t match those on the ticket, since this happened before the lottery win, even if Zhao Youyou had deceived them, it was only for 2 yuan. In the police''s view, she couldn''t have known in advance that this ticket would win.


    Moreover, Zhao Youyou had spent a hundred yuan to buy the ticket from Dong Jian - it was a willing transaction, so the ticket belonged to Zhao Youyou.


    As for the lottery shop owner''s testimony, it only proved that Zhao Youyou had indeed spent a hundred yuan to buy the ticket from Dong Jian.


    Dong Jian and Li Changfang left the police station grinding their teeth, having no choice but to agree to mediation. Seeing the Zhao family walking out behind them, Li Changfang spat viciously.


    "We''ll settle this eventually." Their family lived on the eighth floor, and the Zhao family on the fifth floor - dealing with the Zhao family would be easy.


    They couldn''t do anything illegal, but they could still do things to make their lives miserable.


    The next day, when Zhao Youyou opened her door and saw the garbage spread all over her doorstep, including some foul-smelling liquid stains, she nearly threw up her breakfast from the stench.


    She finally understood what Li Changfang meant by settling things eventually.


    ......


    The room was very quiet.


    When Lu Zhe woke up, daylight had already broken. The warm morning sunlight shone through onto the grayish bed, making him close his eyes again.


    After a while, Lu Zhe opened his eyes again, his ck pupilspletely clear.


    His head hurt a bit.


    Lu Zhe remembered drinking with Boss Fangst night. He must have gotten drunk, and then had dreams all night long.


    In his dream, he had helped put a red string on the rabbit''s little foot.


    No, he had also dreamed of a girl who had a red string tied around her ankle. He couldn''t see her face clearly, but he knew her skin was very white.


    She had scolded him in a delicate voice, telling him to stop fooling around.


    Lu Zhe''s long eyshes concealed the look in his eyes. When he got up, he found his school uniform beside him, with the rabbit''s body buried in it, only its small head visible, sleeping soundly.


    Not far away was the red string that had been untied from its little foot.


    When they got to the ssroom and Su Ci was taken out of the backpack by Lu Zhe, she finally woke up.


    She couldn''t remember how long Lu Zhe had fussedst night, repeatedly untying and retying the red string. Eventually, she sumbed to drowsiness and drifted off to sleep.


    To her surprise, when she woke up, she had turned back into a rabbit.


    Don''t ask her how she felt about it - she only regretted not taking the chance to kiss him more times while she could. Looking up at the young man with his stern face and determined jawline, she found it hard to imagine that this was the same person who had acted like a foolst night, holding her foot and making a fuss for half the night.


    Su Ci looked down at her tiny feet. This morning, he had wrapped the string around them again.


    "I heard there''s a transfer student joining our ss."


    "I saw him when I passed by the teachers'' office. He''s tall and handsome, and his family even donated a library to the school."


    "Wow, he must be rich and handsome!"


    "It''s senior year, why would anyone transfer now?"


    ...


    Zhao Youyou wasn''t in a good mood this morning. Her mother wanted to confront that family, but she stopped her since there was no evidence proving they were responsible. Besides, she didn''t want her mother arguing with that unreasonable couple, fearing it might lead to another fight.


    Her face was still swollen from Li Changfang''s p. Even after a night, the swelling hadn''t gone down, and it hurt to talk.


    She sniffled, feeling wronged about everything - from the incident two days ago about taking credit for saving someone, to the lottery ticket situation. She feltpletely misunderstood.


    She had indeed saved someone - she hadn''t lied about that. It was just a different person than they thought. Her conscience was clear.


    As for the lottery ticket, she had paid for it fair and square. It was a willing transaction between both parties. Dong Jian had changed the numbers afterward - that wasn''t her fault.


    Biting her lip, Zhao Youyou''s eyes reddened. When she happened to look up, she saw a male student walking alongside the teacher in the distance. His gaze was domineering, his presence powerful, and his handsomeness impossible to ignore.


    Zhao Youyou froze in shock.


    Was it him?


    Lying on Lu Zhe''s leg, Su Ci perked up her rabbit ears, listening to the discussions around her. She recalled that this transfer student must be the male protagonist from the book.


    She remembered the book''s description of the male lead, then looked up at the young man above her.


    Now that the male protagonist had appeared, the supporting male character would be even more invisible, wouldn''t he?


    Ci Ci: Quick, kiss the cutie!

 Chapter 10: 010

    <h4>Chapter 10</h4>


    During ss, the teacher walked into the ssroom with a transfer student.


    "Please introduce yourself to the ss," the teacher said.


    The boy had an athletic build, handsome features, and an arrogant gaze. His whole demeanor exuded a cold aura that suggested he wasn''t someone to be trifled with. "Fu Baili," he stated simply.


    A collective gasp went through the room.


    The transfer student''s arrival immediately sparked heated discussions among the students.


    He was so handsome: definitely had the looks of a campus heartthrob.


    "The transfer student is so handsome! I heard from others that his family donated an entire library to the school. Good looks and wealth: he must have lots of admirers already," Ling Hui excitedly whispered to Zhao Youyou beside her.


    "Yeah..."


    Zhao Youyou was lost in thought.


    She remembered that in her previous life, she had been one of Fu Baili''s pursuers, shamelessly following him around despite others'' mockery.


    Now, havinge to her senses, she clearly understood the vast difference in their social status. She wouldn''t fall for him this time.


    "Fu Baili, there''s an empty seat at the back. Please sit there for now," the teacher said.


    Fu Baili strode down from the podium toward the empty seat. With raised eyebrows and a roguish smile ying on his lips, he set the female students'' hearts aflutter once again.


    Fu Baili''s seat was right across the aisle from Lu Zhe''s right side.


    When ss ended, Fu Baili''s desk was surrounded by students.


    Especially girls, who eagerly offered to help him with his studies. While some male students were irritated by Fu Baili''s arrogant attitude, they didn''t dare confront him, knowing about his wealthy background.


    Su Cizily lifted her eyelids, her ears twitching at the annoying noise.


    She nced across at Fu Baili, who maintained his cold demeanor as if he were the most important person in the world. Hearing everyone discuss how Fu Baili was the campus heartthrob, she rolled her red eyes.


    If Lu Zhe hadn''t developed ALS, which made his face stiff and his cheeks slightly sunken, how could Fu Baili possiblypare to him?


    Moreover, Lu Zhe was the top student in their grade, while this protagonist Fu Baili was just a poor student.


    Unfortunately, Fu Baili''s protagonist halo was too bright, blinding everyone to the point where they ignored the top student and instead fawned over an academic underachiever.


    Su Ci turned her head and went back to sleeping.


    In just one day, Fu Baili''s name dominated dozens of threads on the school forum, with many requesting photos of the campus heartthrob. Numerous girls deliberately passed by the ssroom door or waited outside the school gates just to catch a glimpse of him.


    After school, when Fu Baili got into a limited edition luxury car, everyone stared in amazement.


    Su Ci poked her little head out from behind Lu Zhe''s backpack: well, the protagonist''s halo had just grown even brighter in everyone''s eyes.


    ......


    At night, the bright moonlight fell on the treetops along both sides of the road, and an evening breeze swept away the day''s stuffiness.


    Being Thursday, Lu Zhe didn''t need to go to theputer store.


    Su Ciy on his grey bed, watching him sit at his desk typing on the keyboard, the screen filled with code she couldn''t understand. Theputer screen''s light fell on Lu Zhe''s profile, outlining his distinct features.


    As she watched, Su Ci became mesmerized.


    She truly felt that every aspect of Lu Zhe''s appearance matched her aesthetic perfectly.


    Deep-set eyes, straight nose, sensual thin lips.


    His figure was even more impressive: broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs that even the in blue school uniform pants couldn''t hide. Even his fingers, typing away at the keyboard, were long and beautiful, and felt nice when he patted her head.


    Su Ci suddenly thought that kissing Lu Zhe wouldn''t be a bad deal at all.


    The frustrating thing was, he wouldn''t kiss her.


    How could he resist kissing such an adorable and soft bunny like her? Hadn''t there been any moments when his emotions overflowed and he felt the urge to kiss her?


    Thinking about this, Su Ci gritted her teeth and called out Fu Gui, "Can you help me make Lu Zhe pass out? Then I could do whatever I want and kiss him freely."


    Fu Gui trembled: [I can''t. I don''t have a physical form and can''t control anyone.]


    Su Ci was so disappointed, "What use are you then!"


    Fu Gui felt very wronged but kept quiet.


    Su Ci scratched her head with her two little paws, feeling frustrated. Did she have to wait until Lu Zhe got drunk again to have a chance to return to human form?


    The night grew deeper.


    Lu Zhe came in after his shower, water droplets still clinging to his face and trailing down his chin into his cor. Reaching the bed, he casually picked up the little rabbit lying there, intending to put her in the rabbit cage.


    Realizing Lu Zhe''s intention, Su Ci struggled fiercely.


    Ever since Lu Zhe bought the rabbit cage, he would lock her in it every night before bed to prevent her from escaping,pletely thwarting her ns to steal kisses from him at night.


    Seeing him try to put her in there again, she refused toply.


    Approaching the rabbit cage, Lu Zhe noticed the rabbit in his hands struggling intensely, its four little feet kicking wildly, its soft body squirming non-stop, and its red eyes looking at him pitifully.


    Lu Zhe stopped.


    The rabbit also stopped.


    "You don''t want to go in?" Lu Zhe asked the rabbit in his hands.


    Su Ci quickly nodded and sweetly nuzzled his palm with her head.


    She didn''t want to be locked in a cage: she wanted to sleep on the bed!


    He knew the rabbit he''d picked up was quite intelligent, but he hadn''t expected it to actually understand his words.


    His cold palm tingled from the nuzzling, and Lu Zhe''s lips curved into a smile. He closed the rabbit cage and turned off the lights in the room.


    When Su Ci settled back on the bed, she froze as she felt the mattress dip beside her.


    Ah, ah, ah, heaven rewards those who persevere!


    Her little heart beating rapidly, Su Ci stayed still as she breathed in the young man''s fresh scent beside her. She nned to wait until Lu Zhe fell asleep before stealing a kiss.


    The dimly lit room was quiet except for the spinning fan and asional car sounds from outside.


    Su Ci''s eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Was Lu Zhe asleep yet?


    She was so sleepy.


    Gradually, Su Ci''s eyes closedpletely.


    After some time, a sudden muscle spasm jolted Lu Zhe awake just as he was about to drift off.


    In the darkness, his ck eyes were as dark as ink. Recently, the frequency of his muscle spasms in his hands and feet had been increasing.


    Lu Zhey there with his eyes open, mind nk, waiting for the muscle spasms to stop.


    Suddenly, something soft and warm brushed against his cold hand, reminding him that he''d let the rabbit sleep on his bed.


    Turning to his side, Lu Zhe could see the rabbit curled up into a small white ball in the moonlight streaming through the clear ss window.


    A faint smile appeared in his dark eyes.


    He''d noticed thattely, this little pet was constantly seeking his attention.


    Scooping the rabbit up from beside his hand and cing it against his chest, Lu Zhe lowered his head and kissed the soft little creature.


    The night was deep, and the room had no air conditioning: the fan couldn''t dispel the stuffiness.


    Su Ci hated heat the most.


    Feeling the cool temperature beside her, she drowsily pressed her body against it, naturally hugging the big ice block.


    Still not satisfied, Su Ci nuzzled her head against the ice block, content only when she felt the coolness spread.


    Lu Zhe had just fallen asleep when he suddenly felt something hugging his waist and something soft nuzzling his chest.


    He reached out to touch it.


    His hand encountered smooth, delicate skin.


    His eyes snapped open, and he looked down.


    In the hazy moonlight, the girl looked as beautiful as a fairy, her soft face nuzzling his chest, her skin as white as snow.


    Lu Zhe froze, quickly grabbing the nearby sheet to cover the girl''s unclothed body, concealing the startling sight.


    He got up and immediately switched on the bedsidemp.


    The dim room suddenly lit up.


    Su Ci''s eyes were stung by the light, and she instinctively buried her head in the nket. "So sleepy, why did you turn on the light?" Her voice was soft and pleasant, heavy with drowsiness, almost like she was spoiling someone.


    Lu Zhe stood by the bed, his dark eyes fixed on the slender figure buried under the nket, his mind nowpletely alert.


    "Who are you?" he demanded.


    Under the nket, Su Ci shifted slightly and continued to sleep deeply.


    When there was no response, Lu Zhe leaned forward to shake her awake. In that moment, his gaze inadvertently fell on the girl''s ankle exposed outside the nket. A red string with a small jade gourd was wrapped around it, the delicate thread making her ankle appear even more fair and beautiful.


    Lu Zhe squeezed his eyes shut, trying hard to suppress the absurd thoughts in his mind.


    He reached over and lifted a small portion of the nket, exposing the girl''s face to themplight. Lu Zhe''s voice was ice-cold, "Get up!"


    The harsh light made Su Ci''s beautiful brows furrow.


    She let out a sleepy yawn as her eyes slowly opened.


    The cold, handsome face loomedrge before her.


    Su Ci blinked, and in her hazy consciousness, she remembered her intention to kiss Lu Zhe.


    "Oh, it''s Lu Zhe, how wonderful. I want to kiss you."


    She raised her soft "paws" and gently clung to Lu Zhe''s shoulders on both sides. Lifting herself slightly, she pressed her beautiful red lips directly onto Lu Zhe''s.


    It felt slightly soft and cool.


    She blinked again.


    Su Ci felt the young man''s shoulders instantly tense beneath her palms.


    She pulled back, sensing something wasn''t quite right. Su Ci shifted her gaze to her hands that were still gripping Lu Zhe''s shoulders, only to find her small "paws" had transformed into fair, delicate arms.


    Su Ci froze for a moment.


    She quickly looked down and saw her elegant corbone exposed from lifting herself up, along with the half-concealed, enchanting snow-white skin.


    As awareness returned, Su Ci''s misty eyes gradually widened in shock.


    Ah ah ah!


    Su Ci couldn''t believe it. She frantically called out in her mind to Fu Gui.


    "Fu Gui,e quick! I think I''ve turned back into a human in front of Lu Zhe!"


    I''m going to die! I''m going to die!

 Chapter 11: 011

    <h4>Chapter 11</h4>


    Su Ci had imagined many times how she would transform back into a human in front of Lu Zhe, but she never thought it would happen in bed!


    And so unexpectedly!


    Most importantly, when she turned back into a human, she would bepletely naked - did he... did he see everything?


    ncing at the young man before her, who was frowning with dark eyes fixed on her, Su Ci quickly pulled up the nearly falling nket around her.


    She had lost all dignity!


    Su Ci asked Fu Gui: "How did I suddenly turn human? Did I kiss Lu Zhe in my sleep?"


    Fu Gui: [He kissed you.]


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe in disbelief - he kissed her?


    Why did it have to be while she was sleeping!


    Lu Zhe wiped the spot where Su Ci had kissed him with his fingertip, his brows deeply furrowed, "Who are you? How did you get in my room?"


    Su Ci stared nkly at Lu Zhe''s lip-wiping gesture, utterly incredulous: "Is he disgusted that I kissed him?"


    In her current form, forget men, even she would want to kiss herself if she saw her reflection, yet Lu Zhe was disgusted by her kiss?


    That really hurt!!!


    Fu Gui trembled: [Maybe his lips were just itchy, so he wiped them.]


    Su Ci scoffed at it.


    The next moment, she looked at Lu Zhe with her dark, moist eyes appearing pitiful, her voice soft and gentle, "I''m the rabbit you''ve been keeping. You kissed me, and that''s why I could turn into a human."


    "Thank you," Su Ci said with an innocent expression.


    Lu Zhe''s brows furrowed even deeper, "Rabbit?"


    His gaze fell once again on the girl''s ankle exposed outside the nket, which indeed had the red string he had tied on the little rabbit, and his rabbit was nowhere to be seen.


    Su Ci nodded, "You named me Tuantuan."


    He had only told Little Kuaile the rabbit''s name; no one else knew about it.


    Even though this situation was extremely absurd and unbelievable, Lu Zhe had no choice but to believe that the girl before him was indeed the rabbit he had been keeping.


    Su Ci, worried that Lu Zhe might think she was some kind of demon or rabbit spirit, told him that she wasn''t actually a rabbit but a human, though she didn''t know why she had turned into a rabbit before he found her.


    Lu Zhe looked at her, "Where''s your home?"


    Su Ci hadn''t expected to dig herself into this hole. She bit her lip, lowered her gaze, and said in a soft, pitiful voice, "I don''t know. I only remember that I don''t belong here, and my name is Su Ci."


    Lu Zhe pinched the bridge of his nose. Having such an incident happen in the middle of the night had left his thoughts in disarray. "Since you''ve turned human now, you should leave tomorrow."


    Lu Zhe wanted to drive her away?


    How could she possibly leave? She probably wouldn''t even make it past the doorway before turning back into a rabbit tomorrow!


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe pitifully and exined, "Lu Zhe, I can''t leave. I can only maintain human form for a few hours, and I need to kiss you to maintain it continuously. I don''t know why, but if I leave you, I''ll quickly turn back into a rabbit."


    "Besides, when I kiss you, I can help you... help you..."


    Su Ci discovered that she couldn''t say what she wanted to say anymore. "Fu Gui, what''s happening?"


    Fu Gui: [Master, you can''t tell anyone about being able to see life values, and you can''t mention that kissing Lu Zhe can help restore his lifespan. These are heaven''s secrets.]


    Being able to see someone''s life force was against thews of nature.


    Su Ci fell silent for a moment, then said to Lu Zhe, "A cute bunny like me would get caught by someone."


    Su Ci held the nket with one hand while pulling at Lu Zhe''s clothes with the other.


    Her delicate fingertips appeared pink and white in the light, fragile and tender. "I might even get eaten by someone. You''ve taken care of me for so many days, could you bear to let me get eaten?"


    As she spoke, she nuzzled his hanging palm like she used to do as a rabbit.


    Getting no response, Su Ci secretly gritted her teeth and began counting on her pretty fingers, "Besides, I can wash your clothes."


    "I can cook for you."


    "I can clean the house."


    ......


    After counting everything, Su Ci smiled brightly at Lu Zhe: "I''m very useful." Thinking about Lu Zhe''sck of money and worried he might not be able to afford keeping her, she added thoughtfully: "I can even earn money myself, I won''t be a burden to you."


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze to look at the girl''s fingers clutching his clothes, tender and fresh, with light pink fingertips. He remembered when she was a rabbit, her paws were also pink and white.


    His tone was t, "I only have one room here, there''s no ce for you to stay."


    "That''s okay, I can stay in the storage room." She knew there was a small storage room next to the living room.


    Lu Zhe looked at her, pulled his clothes from her hands, and picked up his pillow, "It''s veryte now, I''ll sleep outside."


    The door closed.


    Su Ci blinked, "Fu Gui, does this mean he''s agreed to let me stay?"


    Fu Gui: [Master is so beautiful and multi-talented, he definitely agreed to let you stay.]


    Fu Gui,pletely unprincipled, firstvished some ttery.


    Su Ci nodded satisfactorily, "But I lied to him just now, I don''t know how to wash clothes."


    Since childhood, she had dedicated servants for herundry, and even after her family went bankrupt and she entered the entertainment industry, thepany had hired a life assistant for her.


    "I don''t know how to cook." She only liked eating, had never even entered a kitchen.


    "I also don''t know how to clean." Let alone a broom, she had never even touched a cleaning cloth.


    Fu Gui covered its conscience: [Master, you''re the most beautiful woman in the world, you don''t need to learn these things.]


    Fu Gui suddenly realized that its current master appeared to be a sweet white candy on the surface, but in reality, she was a ck salty sesame ball.


    ......


    The next day, there was a knock on the door.


    This time Su Ci wasn''t dead asleep, and remembering the revtion of her identity, despite being drowsy, she still got up to open the door.


    "Morning," Su Ci greeted Lu Zhe with a smile.


    The girl was wearing a ck T-shirt that covered down to her thighs, revealing two long, fair legs below, enticingly obvious.


    Lu Zhe nced at her and finally understood why he had found his school uniform stained in the closet earlier - she must have worn it and gotten it dirty.


    "I''m getting my clothes," Lu Zhe walked in.


    Su Ci quickly moved aside, knowing he needed to change into his school uniform.


    Su Ci didn''t know if Lu Zhe would drive her away, so for now she could only act like an obedient little pitiful thing, "You''re going to school now, take care on your way, I''ll be good and wait here for you toe back."


    Lu Zhe took out his school uniform from the closet. When he turned around, he saw Su Ci standing by the door, barefoot, her feet uncertainly touching the floor. Whether from the cold floor or not, her toes were slightly curled.


    Lu Zhe looked away and said coldly, "I''lle back at noon to take you shopping for clothes." She couldn''t keep wearing his clothes forever.


    Hearing this, Su Ci''s eyes lit up, "And underwear too." Not having any underwear made her feel very insecure.


    Lu Zhe nced at her, "Mm."


    He walked out, changed into his school uniform, and left.


    From her time with Lu Zhe, Su Ci knew he was hard to get close to. As long as he didn''t drive her away now, she would have plenty of chances to slowly build their rtionship.


    Su Ci hummed an unknown tune as she went back to bed to catch up on sleep.


    ......


    In the early morning, students gradually entered through the school gates.


    A luxury car stopped at the entrance, drawing everyone''s attention. Many recognized it as the car that had picked up the transfer student Fu Baili yesterday.


    Sure enough, the next moment the car door opened, and Fu Baili stepped out.


    He wasn''t wearing the school uniform, but rather a stylish ck casual outfit that made everyone around want to scream with excitement.


    Fu Bailipletely ignored everyone as he walked into the school with an aloof air.


    "Ah, is that the transfer student from the next ss? He''s so handsome, no wonder the forum was full of posts about him yesterday," a short-haired girl said to the school beauty Jiang Mengqi beside her.


    Jiang Mengqi slowly came back to her senses, lifting her chin with proud eyes, "Fu Baili is the sole heir to the Fu family in S City." When she heard Fu Baili''s name yesterday, she thought it sounded familiar and specifically asked her father about it, not expecting him to really be the Fu family heir.


    Her family was considered wealthy, butpared to the Fu family, they were worlds apart.


    "The Fu family?" the short-haired girl asked with confusion.


    "You don''t need to know about that. It''s beyond your level," Jiang Mengqi replied with an air of arrogance.


    The short-haired girl nodded, "Ah, Mengqi, that''s Lu Zhe over there." As Jiang Mengqi''s follower, she naturally knew about her former crush on Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe was handsome and academically excellent, once a legendary figure at school.


    But ever since his sister Zhao Youyou exposed his background and revealed his terminal illness on the school forum, this golden boy fell from grace.


    Now nobody paid attention to Lu Zhe anymore.


    Jiang Mengqi looked over and confirmed it was indeed Lu Zhe.


    He was wearing his school uniform, with an upright posture but a cold expression. As much as she had once found him attractive, she now found him unlucky to look at.


    She turned away, "What''s there to look at? Don''t mention him in front of me."


    Lu Zhe entered the ssroom. Just as he sat down, Li Dongliang, who had been greeting Fu Baili, immediately came over. "Bro Zhe, you''re here!"


    "Quick, bring out your bunny! I brought my turtle today. Let''s have them race!" Li Dongliang loved fluffy pets, but since he couldn''t keep any, he settled for a small turtle instead.


    He took out his "little rascal" from a transparent box.


    Lu Zhe gave him a nd look, "Didn''t bring the rabbit."


    Thinking of the "rabbit" at home and looking at the turtle before him, Lu Zhe''s lips curled slightly, "Even if I had brought it, my rabbit wouldn''t race against your turtle."


    Hearing that Lu Zhe didn''t bring the rabbit, Li Dongliang wailed dramatically, "How could you not bring it? Don''t you feel lonely during ss without petting your rabbit? Don''t your hands get itchy?"


    "No."


    Li Dongliang deted, putting his turtle back in its box with disappointment. Without seeing the bunny, his whole day was ruined.


    There were four morning sses, and thest period was supposed to be math, but the math teacher had somethinge up and switched it with the afternoon''s self-study period.


    During self-study, many students were diligently solving practice problems, as the college entrance exam was approaching and they couldn''t help but feel nervous.


    However, the atmosphere in thest row waspletely different.


    Lu Zhe was quick and urate with his work, having already finished his test paper, and was now reading other books. Meanwhile, Li Dongliang had pulled his chair over to Fu Baili''s desk, and they were ying games.


    Li Dongliang''s family had done business with the Fu family several times, so he and Fu Baili were somewhat acquainted.


    If Su Ci were here, she would definitely tease Li Dongliang about being one of Fu Baili''s three main followers.


    "Brother Li, why did youe to D City? And transfer to First High?" Li Dongliang was purely gaming forpany, finding it less entertaining than petting bunnies.


    Fu Baili leaned casually against his chair, his fingers moving quickly over the game controls, "Grandmother''s not feeling well, so I came back with her for some fresh air. It doesn''t matter where I study anyway."


    Li Dongliang nodded in agreement. For ckers like them, changing schools just meant changing where they slept and yed games.


    He nced sideways at Lu Zhe. Why would they need to study as seriously as Lu Zhe did?


    Still, consistently ranking first in the grade and staying ahead of second ce by more than twenty points was impressive. Even as a poor student, he admired Lu Zhe for that.


    The bell rang.


    Lu Zhe stuffed his book into his backpack and stood up to leave.


    "Bro Zhe, are you going home for lunch?" Li Dongliang looked up to ask as Lu Zhe passed by.


    "Mm."


    "Remember to bring your bunny this afternoon! I bought a pretty pink bow for it, it''ll look so cute!" Li Dongliang said eagerly.


    "Not bringing it." Lu Zhe walked out.


    Li Dongliang''s face fell, losing interest in the game. Catching Fu Baili''s puzzled look, he quickly exined, "Lu Zhe has this super cute white rabbit."


    Fu Baili lowered his head to continue gaming, showing absolutely no interest.


    It was exactly noon when Lu Zhe returned home.


    As soon as he opened the door, the girl immediately came to greet him, "You''re back?"


    Su Ci was still wearing his oversized ck T-shirt on top, barely managing to wear a pair of long pants with the legs rolled up several times, just revealing her delicate ankles.


    Lu Zhe ced a pair of white canvas shoes in front of her, which he''d bought on his way back. "I don''t know your size, but try these first. If they don''t fit, we''ll buy another pairter."


    "Thank you!" Su Ci wouldn''t refuse.


    She took the shoes and went to the sofa to try them on. When she slipped her foot in, there was about two fingers'' width of space at the heel - too big.


    But it was better than wearing his shoes.


    "Alright, let''s go."


    Apart from the time she transformed back into human to save Little Joy, this was her second time going out in human form.


    However, after just a few steps outside the residentialplex, Su Ci wasn''t happy anymore. She discovered that the white canvas shoes had very hard soles, clearly cheap shoes with no quality. Whether due to her rabbit form''s influence or not, even in human form, her feet were extremely sensitive, making the shoes very ufortable.


    Lu Zhe was walking ahead when he felt his clothes being tugged.


    Looking down, he saw the girl''s pink-white fingers clutching his hem again.


    He turned around and met Su Ci''s dark, liquid eyes.


    "Lu Zhe, are we walking there?" she asked somewhat embarrassedly. "How far is it? My feet hurt."


    Hearing Su Ciin about foot pain, he frowned. Froming downstairs to the entrance, they''d barely walked a few steps. Plus, the shopping mall was only a ten-minute walk away - not far at all - so Lu Zhe hadn''t nned on taking a taxi.


    Worried he wouldn''t believe her, Su Ci easily slipped off the loose white canvas shoe to show Lu Zhe her foot.


    In the sunlight, the girl''s foot was snow-white like jade, tiny, and because the shoe was too big, Su Ci had to shift her weight forward, causing her round little toes to be red from rubbing.


    Thest time she wore his shoes out, her feet had developed blisters, but she''d turned back into a rabbit then and was carried by Lu Zhe, not having to walk herself.


    Lu Zhe had grown up tough - in the orphanage, they would continue wearing clothes and shoes even when they had holes. Even after being adopted by the Zhao family, he was raised with minimal attention, wearing whatever clothes and shoes that were functional.


    This was his first time knowing that there could be someone so delicate in the world, getting red feet from just walking a few steps.

 Chapter 12: 012

    <h4>Chapter 12</h4>


    Lu Zhe''s brows furrowed tightly.


    Su Ci noticed his expression and weakly spoke up, "If it''s not too far, I... I can hold on for a while."


    No, she didn''t want to walk at all.


    Su Ci had been pampered growing up, but she wasn''t this delicate before. Now that she was in this body, she felt both love and hate for it.


    Lu Zhe withdrew his gaze and said, "No need, let''s take a taxi."


    The midday sun was scorching. After getting out of the car, Su Ci felt the wave of heat hitting her face as she followed Lu Zhe into a nearby small shopping mall.


    There weren''t many shoppers in the mall. Lu Zhe and Su Ci''s outstanding appearances drew frequent nces from passersby as they walked through.


    The first floor of the mall was filled with cosmetics and essory boutiques. The two went up to the second floor.


    "Let''s buy you a pair of shoes first."


    The white canvas shoes Lu Zhe had bought for Su Ci were size 39, clearly not suitable for her. Besides, being so delicate, she couldn''t wear shoes of such quality.


    Su Ci nodded and followed Lu Zhe into a women''s shoe store.


    A sales assistant approached them with a bright smile, "Wee! How may I help you both?"


    Lu Zhe said, "Find her a pair of shoes, they need to be soft."


    The sales assistant had never seen such a handsome young man before. Her eyes lit up, and when she looked at the girl beside him, she was stunned: the girl was so exquisitely beautiful that it was hard to look away.


    The sales assistant was almost mesmerized, "Please,e this way."


    She picked up a pair of trendy sandals decorated with crystal sequins. "This style is very fashionable and one of this year''s hottest items. Would you like to try them, miss?"


    Lu Zhe noticed the heels on the sandals and frowned, "Not suitable for her. No heels." She could get blisters even in canvas shoes; heels would be even worse for her.


    Su Ci also shook her head; she didn''t find the style attractive at all.


    "These are ts, one of our best-selling styles, and they have quite soft soles," the sales assistant picked up another pair of shoes. They were pink patent leather with arge bow on top.


    Lu Zhe took the shoes and squeezed the sole, saying tly, "The sole isn''t soft enough."


    The sales assistant was taken aback: these shoes weren''t soft enough? Usually, customers chose shoes based on looks, rarely focusing so much on sole softness.


    The sales assistant walked to another shoe rack and brought back another pair, "These just arrived in store this morning, and I guarantee the soles are soft enough."


    Lu Zhe took the shoes, squeezed them, bent them slightly, and then handed them to Su Ci, "Try these."


    Su Ci looked at the cream-colored ts in hisrge hands. The design was simple, and she had no objections.


    "Miss, what''s your shoe size?" the sales assistant asked Su Ci.


    Su Ci didn''t know her current size, but looking at her feet, they seemed simr to before, "Around size 36."


    "These are exactly size 36."


    The sales assistant put the shoes down, ready to help the girl try them on. She watched as the girl removed one loose canvas shoe and extended her foot.


    Having served many female customers, this was the first time the sales assistant had seen such beautiful feet: small and delicate with adorably rounded toes. It made her want to kneel down and help her put on the shoes!


    Su Ci tried them on; the size was perfect, and both the sole and the part wrapping around her feet were light and soft.


    Lu Zhe asked her, "Want these?"


    Su Ci shook her head and walked to Lu Zhe''s side, slightly rising on her toes to whisper in his ear, "These shoes are expensive."


    She had seen the price tag: 600 yuan.


    In the past, Su Ci wouldn''t have batted an eye at shoes costing seven figures, but things were different now. She was dependent on others, and Lu Zhe was an orphan living in an old apartmentplex, still in high school, and needed money for medicine. How could he afford this?


    Su Ci had overheard the housemaids gossiping before about how men cared about their pride, so she softly said to Lu Zhe, "Let''s look at some others."


    The girl suddenly leaning close, her warm breath tickling his ear.


    Lu Zhe looked down at her and asked, "Do they fit properly?"


    "Perfect."


    "Mm." Lu Zhe asked the sales assistant to ring them up.


    "Lu Zhe?" Su Ci was surprised: 600 yuan wasn''t a small amount for him, was it?


    Hearing the surprise in her voice, Lu Zhe''s lips curved slightly, "I can afford it."


    Hearing this, Su Ci exchanged a nce with Lu Zhe and fell silent.


    Since Lu Zhe was willing to buy them for her, she wouldn''t object. After all, these shoes suited her and were much morefortable than the white canvas ones.


    Su Ci, wearing herfortable new shoes, followed Lu Zhe to a women''s clothing store.


    Being beautiful with a graceful figure, she looked good in everything. The store assistants''pliments flowed freely, constantly praising her beauty.


    Su Ci called out Fu Gui, telling it to learn from them.


    Fu Gui: [Fu Gui has learned quite a lottely.] Since the master liked ttery, it had to work hard at learning.


    Su Ci picked several new outfits, choosing soft fabrics which weren''t cheap, but Lu Zhe didn''t object and silently paid for them.


    In the past, Su Ci always used her own card for shopping, but now she finally understood why women liked having men pay for them: it simply felt good.


    She stood aside waiting and asked Fu Gui what it had learned.


    Fu Gui''s small voice trembled with excitement: [Master, your eyes are as ck as grapes, your face as pointed as a melon seed, your lips as red as cherries, your hair like a waterfall...]


    Su Ci nearly choked, "You can stop now!"


    Arge melon seed with two grapes and a cherry on top?


    What nonsense was this?


    Fu Gui felt wronged: don''t humans like this kind of praise?


    Seeing Lu Zhe finish paying, Su Ci ignored Fu Gui and walked to his side, "I''ll pay you back for today''s expenses. I won''t let you lose out."


    Lu Zhe gave her a nd look, "Whatever you want."


    Next, Su Ci needed to buy underwear, and since Lu Zhe was paying, she dragged him into the store.


    Su Ci was even more particr about underwear than clothes, as they were items worn against the skin and needed to befortable.


    She didn''t know her current bust size and needed to try them on. Taking a white bra, she walked toward the fitting room, "Lu Zhe, wait for me outside."


    Su Ci closed the fitting room door.


    After a while, she stretched her hand through the door gap, "Lu Zhe, this one doesn''t fit. Could you ask the store assistant to get me arger size?"


    Lu Zhe looked over to see the girl''s pink-white fingertips holding the white bra she had taken in, decorated with smallce trim.


    He averted his gaze and didn''t step forward, instead asking the female store assistant to help.


    Inside the fitting room, Su Ci put on therger bra and looked down at her rather prominent assets, tsk, she had underestimated her figure.


    Su Ci came out of the fitting room to find Lu Zhe standing in ce, his face rigid, showing no sign of being flustered by her teasing.


    "I''m done changing."


    Su Ci hadn''t just changed into the underwear; she had also put on one of the new dresses bought today. It looked much better than Lu Zhe''s loose, ill-fitting clothes, and made her feel more secure.


    The light smoky purple dress made Su Ci''s skin look as white as snow, beautiful and enchanting. Just a slight lift of her eyes could make anyone lose their head.


    There was a mirror in the fitting room, and Su Ci was quite satisfied with how she looked.


    "Lu Zhe, do I look pretty?" Su Ci asked the young man before her without any shyness.


    Lu Zhe didn''t answer her question. He checked the time and said, "After lunch, I''ll give you money for a taxi home. I have afternoon sses."


    "Alright." Su Ci obediently agreed.


    During lunch, Su Ci ate with great enjoyment. After eating rabbit food for so long, she could finally eat human food: something she had been craving.


    Across the table, Lu Zhe poured a cup of tea and passed it to Su Ci''s side, "Are you full?"


    Su Ci''s dark eyes sparkled, "Yes, I''m full."


    Lu Zhe took out a hundred-yuan note and gave it to Su Ci, "Take a taxi hometer. Do you know the apartmentplex address?"


    "Yes, I do." The first time she had turned human and run out, she had paid attention to the street signs.


    "I have to work at theputer store after school. For dinner, you can either cook or eat out." Lu Zhe gave Su Ci another hundred yuan.


    Su Ci looked at the money in her hand and suddenly felt sorry for Lu Zhe.


    At an age when most of his peers were still their families'' darlings with studying as their only concern, Lu Zhe had already stepped into society, juggling both work and school.


    Now, he had taken on another burden - her, who was quite demanding to care for.


    What a poor thing he was.


    After leaving the restaurant, as Lu Zhe prepared to leave, Su Ci quickly grabbed him, "Lu Zhe, you can''t go yet. You''ve forgotten something very important."


    Lu Zhe looked at her.


    "You forgot to kiss me."


    When she woke upst night at around one o''clock, Lu Zhe had kissed her once. Compared to the previous six hours, this added one more hour, making it seven. After she woke up, she had kissed Lu Zhe once more in her drowsy state, making it eight hours, totaling fifteen hours.


    She counted on her delicate fingers for Lu Zhe, "If we start counting from 1 AM, I''ll turn back into a rabbit at 4 PM. This won''t do, Lu Zhe, you need to kiss me more."


    Lu Zhe remembered what she had told himst night about how his kiss had turned her back into a human.


    Su Ci pulled at his clothes, leading him to the corner by the restroom. At this hour, the hallway was empty.


    Then, he watched as Su Ci blinked and asked, "Should you kiss me, or should I kiss you? The effect is the same either way."


    The girl''s dark eyes sparkled as she looked at him, without a trace of shyness.


    Lu Zhe remained motionless.


    "Hurry, hurry, while there''s no one around. People wille soon," Su Ci urged him, afraid he might refuse to kiss her.


    Su Ci knew how difficult it was to get close to Lu Zhe. Despite being more beautiful than a fairy, she had to worry about whether the young man before her would kiss her - how pitiful she was!


    After a while, Lu Zhe sighed.


    He reached out with hisrge hand, suddenly covering Su Ci''s eyes with his cold palm, blocking her overly bright gaze.


    Su Ci was startled but cooperatively closed her eyes.


    She felt the coolness on her eyelids.


    The next moment, something lightly touched her lips.


    Soft and cool.


    Just a gentle brush.


    Then, Lu Zhe''s maic voice sounded near her ear, "Is that enough?"


    Su Ci quickly shook her head, being greedy, "Not enough, kiss me a few more times."


    Lu Zhe''s hand covering Su Ci''s eyes trembled.


    His cool lips fell on Su Ci''s red lips again, still just a gentle touch before withdrawing.


    The epitome of gentlemanly behavior.

 Chapter 13: 013

    <h4>Chapter 13</h4>


    When Su Ci opened her eyes, she saw Lu Zhe had already turned around and was walking away quickly.


    Su Ci didn''t continue to pursue him, afraid that pushing too hard would scare Lu Zhe away.


    Lu Zhe ended up beingte, arriving at the ssroom more than ten minutes after ss had started.


    This was his first time beingte.


    The teacher was very lenient with this top student who suffered from a terminal illness, and didn''t say much, simply telling him to return to his seat.


    "Zhe," Li Dongliang saw Lu Zhe sit down and immediately leaned over, "Did you bring the bunny?"


    "No," Lu Zhe took out his textbook.


    Li Dongliang instantly deted, lying bored on his desk, thinking days without seeing the bunny were meaningless.


    At the stairwaynding.


    Fu Baili looked down at the shy girl before him who dared not meet his gaze. With his hands in his pockets, he looked down at her condescendingly, "Are you afraid of me?"


    Unlike other girls, this one would immediately hide whenever she saw him.


    ying hard to get?


    She had indeed caught his attention now.


    "No, Fu Baili, please let me pass. ss has already started," Zhao Youyou said in a delicate voice, her eyes red.


    When she left home that afternoon, there was garbage dumped in front of her door again.


    The couple living upstairs had be even more outrageous. After learning her family had received a 5 million yuan reward, they somehow gathered lots of leftover food and foul-smelling garbage, dumping it at their doorstep every day. Even afterining to property management, nothing could be done.


    This time when her mother went upstairs to argue with the couple, she was almost pushed down the stairs.


    She had also cried after hearing their nasty words.


    Fu Baili''s tall frame didn''t budge. The girl in front of him spoke weakly, her eyes red like a little rabbit''s, making one want to tease her.


    "You''re alreadyte anyway, what difference does a few more minutes make?" Fu Baili blocked Zhao Youyou''s path, "You keep avoiding me, is it because you like me?"


    "You..." Zhao Youyou looked up at him in disbelief.


    In her previous life, she was the one who liked and pursued him, while Fu Baili treated her with disdain.


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip resentfully. Why was it that when she liked him, he ignored her, but now that she no longer wanted to like him, he was pursuing her?


    She gathered her courage to look up at Fu Baili, "You''re overthinking it. I don''t like you." Worried Fu Baili wouldn''t believe her, Zhao Youyou desperately exined, "I like Lu Zhe, not you."


    She wasn''t afraid her lie would be exposed. Although she didn''t actually like Lu Zhe, she knew Lu Zhe liked her.


    The smile disappeared from Fu Baili''s lips as he sneered, "Lu Zhe? You like someone who''s going to die soon?"


    "That''s none of your business." Zhao Youyou''s heart raced under Fu Baili''s gaze, and she quickly lowered her head.


    "Indeed, it''s none of my business." Fu Bailiughed coldly before walking away.


    In the ssroom, only the teacher''s voice could be heard when suddenly the back door was kicked open.


    Everyone looked over to see Fu Baili striding in angrily. No one knew who had provoked the young master.


    The teacher looked annoyed and wanted to scold him but remembered the principal''s instructions and held back. He mmed the podium, "Pay attention to the lesson!"


    Everyone quickly turned back around.


    Fu Baili pulled out his chair and casually leaned back, ncing sideways at Lu Zhe across the aisle.


    Hmph, what a bookworm.


    ...


    After leaving the mall, Su Ci suddenly remembered she didn''t have the key to Lu Zhe''s ce, so she couldn''t get in even if she went back.


    Knowing Lu Zhe had to work tonight until 9 PM, she sighed in frustration. She couldn''t wait outside all day, so she could only go to his school to get the key from him.


    The summer sun was fierce, its harsh rays falling on the treetops along both sides of the street, making the branches and leaves droop from the heat.


    Su Ci hated the heat. She bought an iced milk tea and wandered around, in no hurry to find Lu Zhe at school since he wouldn''t be done with sses anytime soon.


    As she sipped her sweet milk tea, she observed the life values visible on the inner wrists of passersby. She noticed most had yellow squares, and she hadn''t seen anyone with green ones indicating lifespans over a hundred years.


    She called out Fu Gui, "Why can''t I see my own life value?"


    Fu Gui: [Fu Gui doesn''t know either.]


    Su Ci: "You said before that my life is bound to Lu Zhe''s, that I''ll die when he dies. So does that mean Lu Zhe''s life value is my life value?"


    Fu Gui: [No, when Lu Zhe dies, you''ll definitely die, but if you die, Lu Zhe might not necessarily die.]


    Su Ci felt her eyes burning with anger. She bit down hard on her straw, not expecting any fairness, "So you''re saying my lifespan is unknown, right?"


    Fu Gui trembled, [Yes.]


    Su Ci snorted angrily and took another big sip of milk tea.


    Just then, an elderlydy wearing gold and silver jewelry with white hair walked slowly ahead, followed by two tall men in ck suits. Many passersby turned to look, clearly the olddy was someone important.


    Su Ci looked too, but her gaze fell on the olddy''s hands.


    The life value squares showed only a thin, barely visible red line that was about to disappear.


    This wasn''t the first time Su Ci had encountered such a situation - thest person like this was Little Joy.


    The olddy only had 1 minute left to live.


    Su Ci studied her appearance - the olddy''splexion was healthy, showing no signs of imminent illness.


    So it would be an ident?


    But with two such tall bodyguards, what kind of ident could happen?


    Su Ci wasn''t one to meddle in others'' affairs. In her view, if the olddy was destined to die despite having two strong bodyguards, then what could a weak young girl like her do to prevent it?


    Looking regretfully at the almost-vanished red line on the olddy''s hand, Su Ci walked past her.


    Fu Gui: [Master, save her! Save her!]


    Su Ci: "Be quiet, can''t you see she has bodyguards? What do you think I can do with my skinny arms and legs?"


    Fu Gui: [Something''s falling from above! It''s going to hit her head! Master, save her quickly!]


    Su Ci froze mid-sip. She looked up in disbelief, just in time to see something falling from the high-rise.


    Her body reacted before her mind could process it. Su Ci threw away her milk tea and quickly pushed the olddy who was passing by, "Watch out!"


    Seeing the olddy suddenly pushed, the bodyguards steadied her. One turned to grab Su Ci, shouting, "What are you doing?"


    Suddenly, "Bang!" A ss water bottle barely missed the security guard''s body, crashing and shattering into pieces at his feet.


    Both bodyguards and the olddy were stunned.


    Su Ci looked up at the building but couldn''t see anything, not knowing which floor it had been thrown from.


    "I saved the olddy," Su Ci red at the bodyguard who had tried to grab her.


    "Thank you, youngdy."


    The olddy looked at the shattered ss on the ground, feeling a wave of fear. If this youngdy hadn''t pushed her away, such arge ss water bottle falling on her head would likely have killed her instantly.


    She instructed the bodyguard beside her, "Go investigate who threw that object. Call the police and handle it ording to thew."


    The bodyguard responded, "Yes, Madam."


    The olddy walked up to Su Ci, smiling kindly, "You saved my life."


    Su Ci blinked and admitted straightforwardly, without a hint of modesty, "Yes, I did."


    Su Ci was invited to the olddy''s home.


    Looking at the vi''s decorations and environment, it was no wonder the olddy needed bodyguards when going out.


    The olddy went upstairs to change clothes and came down still adorned in gold and silver, wearing several jade nes and white jade pendants around her neck, golden bracelets on her wrist, and an antique emerald jade ring on her finger.


    She exuded an air of nobility.


    Su Ci sat on the wine-red sofa, drinking tea served by the servants, her manners and posture perfect, showing no signs of nervousness.


    The olddy nodded repeatedly in approval, taking a great liking to this youngdy. Not only was she her lifesaver, but the youngdy was also beautiful.


    She had seen many wealthy youngdies, but none could match the beauty of this young girl. Even though the girl had several enchanting beauty marks beneath the corners of her eyes, her gaze was pure and righteous, indicating she must have good character.


    "I really owe you my thanks," the elderlydy sighed. "I never thought I''d have such a close brush with death."


    Su Ci nodded in agreement.


    She looked at the life value on the elderlydy''s wrist, which had changed to two yellow squares and three red squares, with a notation beside it: twenty-three years.


    Su Ci earnestly said to the elderlydy, "After surviving a great cmity, good fortune will follow."


    The young girl''s voice was pleasant to hear, and having just been saved by her, the elderlydy smiled at these words, her time-worn face growing even more kindly. "You''re right."


    At that moment, a tall, lean figure strode in from outside. "Grandmother, are you alright? Are you hurt?"


    "I''m fine. Weren''t you supposed to be at school? Why did you suddenlye back?" Old Madam Fu asked her grandson.


    "The butler said you had an ident. I was worried." Fu Baili''s lips were pressed together, his handsome face indeed showing signs of concern.


    Su Ci leisurely took a sip of tea, realizing that the elderlydy was Fu Baili''s grandmother.


    "I''m fine, thanks to this youngdy. She saved me, and we must properly thank her," Old Madam Fu smiled as she introduced her to her grandson. "Her name is Su Ci."


    "This is my grandson, Fu Baili."


    Though Fu Baili had an arrogant personality, he still maintained some propriety. He thanked Su Ci: "Thank you for your simple act of helping my grandmother."


    Simple act?


    Su Ci felt that Fu Baili was really downying her life-saving deed.


    "There''s 20,000 yuan in this card, as a token of our gratitude." Fu Baili pulled out a card.


    Su Ci was a bit dumbfounded.


    Wait, wasn''t the Fu family supposed to be extremely wealthy in the novel? Fu Baili was trying to dismiss her with just 20,000?


    Fu Baili noticed the girl staring at him nkly, and he frowned instinctively. He had encountered too many girls who were infatuated with him, except for Zhao Youyou.


    "You don''t want it?" Fu Baili asked Su Ci.


    Su Ci quickly grabbed the card, "I do!"


    She had put in the effort, so why shouldn''t she take it!


    Although she knew wealthy families were most concerned about owing favors and Fu Baili wanted to repay her life-saving deed with money, but as the male lead, shouldn''t Fu Baili be more extravagant and generous?


    Twenty thousand didn''t match his status at all!


    Su Ci deeply felt that Fu Baili, this wealthy young master, was too stingy.


    "I''ll have the driver take you home," Fu Baili began dismissing her.


    "Oh."


    Su Ci really didn''t have a good impression of Fu Baili as the male lead at all. She took the card, said goodbye to the elderlydy, and left.


    Su Ci had the driver drop her off at First High School''s entrance.


    Non-students weren''t allowed to enter the school, so Su Ci found a shaded spot to wait for Lu Zhe to finish sses.


    She finally had time to ask Fu Gui: "How did you know how Old Madam Fu would die?"


    After finishing another golden cotton candy, Fu Gui was very satisfied: [Last time after the master saved someone, Fu Gui received a golden vapor. After eating it, Fu Gui could predict how people would die.]


    Su Ci was surprised, "Then why did you keep asking me to save people earlier?"


    Fu Gui: [When master saves people, Fu Gui gets another golden cotton candy.]


    Su Ci scoffed, "So you get the benefits while I do all the work?"


    Fu Gui trembled: [Master is the kindest person in the world.]


    Su Ci: "I only acknowledge that I''m the most beautiful woman. I''m not kind at all. I''m not a savior, don''t expect me to help you save people."


    Fu Gui: [Eating golden cotton candy helps Fu Gui level up, and after leveling up, master will get a big surprise.]


    Su Ci: "Oh, I''m not interested."


    Su Ci didn''t even ask what the surprise was, she just told Fu Gui to be quiet.


    After waiting for who knows how long, Su Ci''s face was flushed from the heat, a light pink showing through her snow-whiteplexion, making her look very beautiful.


    Students passing by couldn''t help but turn their heads to look at her, and quite a few male students blushed.


    Su Ci didn''t spare a single nce for anyone else. When she saw that tall figure slowly walking out, her dark eyes finally lit up.


    "Lu Zhe."


    When Lu Zhe walked out of the school gate, she quickly grabbed the hem of his clothes.


    Meeting Lu Zhe''s surprised gaze, she exined, "You didn''t give me the key, so I couldn''t get back in."


    Lu Zhe was silent; he had forgotten.


    Su Ci told him, "I''ve been standing at the school gate for a long time."


    Lu Zhe''s eyes showed apologetic feelings.


    Su Ci softly said to him, "My legs are so weak from standing, I can barely walk."


    "I''m sorry," Lu Zhe apologized, it was indeed his fault for forgetting to give her the key.


    Su Ci''s clear eyes sparkled with mischief, "It''s okay, just give me the spare key when we get back."


    Giving her the key also meant he wouldn''t make her leave.


    "Mm." Lu Zhe responded.


    Su Ci immediately broke into a smile, her eyes catching the fragments of the setting sun. Her tone was gentle, almost like she was spoiling him: "Lu Zhe, my legs are weak. When we get somewhere less crowded, will you carry me on your back?"


    No need for a taxi, she would help the poor boy save money.


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond, but Su Ci unhurriedly followed behind him,pletely ignoring the shocked looks around them.


    Where did such a beautiful girle from? Could she be Lu Zhe''s girlfriend?


    Su Ci refused to return to the residence alone since there was nothing there, preferring to go with Lu Zhe to theputer store.


    The shortcut from school to theputer store was through the alleyways, and Lu Zhe was used to taking this route.


    Following behind him, Su Ci noticed that Lu Zhe''s left leg seemed a bit unsteady when walking. Had his condition worsened?


    She wondered if kissing Lu Zhe would increase his lifespan, and if that meant it could help his condition improve?


    Just as she was about to ask Fu Gui about this, the young man walking in front suddenly stopped.


    Lu Zhe leaned forward, his knees half-bent, "Get on."


    Huh?


    Su Ci had only been teasing when she said her legs were weak from standing, she hadn''t expected him to actually offer to carry her.


    Su Ci blinked, her red lips curving into a smile.


    She really did climb onto Lu Zhe''s back, her jade-like arms wrapping around his neck. She tilted her head, moving close to Lu Zhe''s ear, and softly praised him: "Lu Zhe, how can you be so nice?"

 Chapter 14: 014

    <h4>Chapter 14</h4>


    Lu Zhe remained silent.


    The small alley was quiet, with the setting sun casting shadows on the ground, showing their ovepping silhouettes.


    Su Ci looked at their shadows on the ground and asked Lu Zhe, "Lu Zhe, am I light?"


    When she was a rabbit before, she often watched Lu Zhe exercise, so she knew that although he looked lean, he had quite a bit of muscle. Given her slender frame, she surely couldn''t be heavy for him.


    Lu Zhe, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke with an indiscernible tone, "Not light."


    Those two simple words made Su Ci bristle immediately. If she were still in her rabbit form, her snow-white fur would have stood up, puffing up like a snowball.


    Lu Zhe said she wasn''t light, which meant he thought she was heavy!


    By extension, that meant he thought she was fat!


    Weight and appearance were absolute taboos for girls.


    She pressed against Lu Zhe''s back, leaning close to his ear, and said huffily, "How am I heavy? I''m slim where I should be slim, and curvy where I should be curvy. My figure is perfect!"


    By his ear came the girl''s gritted words, her warm breath brushing against the back of his ear, making Lu Zhe feel a bit ticklish.


    He looked ahead, a hint of amusement floating in his dark eyes. "Mm."


    Su Ci let out a small huff. Her gaze fell on Lu Zhe''s ear, and she was surprised to discover a tiny mole on his earlobe, which was somehow quite adorable.


    She reached out and gently touched his ear with her fingertip.


    Lu Zhe, who was carrying her, suddenly stiffened.


    "Su Ci." The young man''s voice was cool.


    "Yes?"


    Su Ci, as if discovering something fascinating, said with augh, "Lu Zhe, you have a small mole on your left ear, and I have one below the corner of my left eye. Though yours isn''t as cute as mine."


    The girl on his back was soft and gentle, herughter like tinkling bells, and she reached out to touch his ear again.


    Lu Zhe''s cool voice carried a hint of resignation, "Mm."


    Along the way, Lu Zhe walked at a steady pace, neither too fast nor too slow.


    As they were about to exit the small alley, Su Ci jumped down from his back.


    She walked beside Lu Zhe and said, "Boss Fang will be surprised when he sees me."


    Lu Zhe nced at her and pushed open the door to theputer shop.


    Inside the shop, Little Kuaile sat in his small wheelchair ying with his toys, while Boss Fang was repairing aputer.


    "Big brother Lu is here."


    Little Kuaile''s dark round eyes lit up instantly when he saw Lu Zhe. When he noticed Su Ci beside Lu Zhe, his little mouth fell open in surprise, and he was so excited that he dropped his toys, "It''s the pretty sister, Dad, it''s the pretty sister!"


    Little Kuaile had only met Su Ci once, but he remembered her.


    "You little rascal, what pretty..." Boss Fang looked up from behind theputer, and when he saw Su Ci, his expression mirrored Little Kuaile''s.


    His... his lifesaver.


    He dropped his tools and hurriedly stood up, excited, "Xiao Zhe, you found my lifesaver? That''s wonderful."


    Su Ci nudged Lu Zhe beside her and looked at him with a bright smile, "Didn''t I tell you so?"


    Lu Zhe was clever and immediately understood that Su Ci was the lifesaver Boss Fang had been mentioning, the one who had saved Little Kuaile.


    Fair skin, long hair, wearing First High''s uniform, with red strings tied around her ankles like a rabbit.


    All these descriptions matched Su Ci perfectly.


    Boss Fang quickly came to stand before Su Ci. He was so excited that he wanted to shake hands with her, but seeing his hands covered in dust, he immediately wiped them repeatedly on his clothes.


    The young girl''s hands were pristinely white, and Boss Fang ultimately couldn''t bring himself to extend his hand, afraid of dirtying the youngdy''s hands.


    "Finally found you. Last time you saved my son, I didn''t get to properly thank you," Boss Fang said, looking at Su Ci gratefully afterposing himself.


    Su Ci replied, "You already thanked mest time." She had also eaten Little Kuaile''s candy.


    "Such a great debt of gratitude can''t be repaid with just a word of thanks. If you ever need any help in the future, youngdy, please don''t hesitate to ask me," Boss Fang promised.


    Su Ci casually acknowledged his words, feeling that she didn''t really need Boss Fang''s help - the person she needed was Lu Zhe.


    Little Kuaile wheeled himself over to Su Ci''s feet and looked up at her, "Pretty sister."


    Su Ci looked down, "You remember me?"


    Little Kuaile nodded vigorously, "Sister is pretty, Kuaile remembers."


    Su Ci was quite pleased with the little one''s ttery, and rewarded him with a big smile, "I''ll treat you to candy next time."


    Beside them, Boss Fang patted Lu Zhe''s shoulder, "Xiao Zhe, thank you so much this time for helping me find my lifesaver." Finding the lifesaver finally put him at ease.


    Lu Zhe replied, "I just found out that the lifesaver you mentioned was her, Uncle Fang."


    Boss Fang looked at Lu Zhe in surprise, "You already knew the youngdy?"


    "Mm."


    Boss Fang sighed and patted Lu Zhe''s shoulder again, "This must be fate." He had employed Lu Zhe, and Lu Zhe''s friend had saved his son.


    Seeing the youngdy ying with Little Kuaile, he pulled Lu Zhe aside and asked in a low voice, "Xiao Zhe, what does your friend like to eat? I''ll cook some dishes to properly host her."


    Lu Zhe responded, "I''m not sure."


    Boss Fang gave him a sideways nce, "How can you not know? As a boy, you should..." His words came to an abrupt halt.


    Boss Fang had originally thought that Lu Zhe and the youngdy made a good-looking pair, and being friends, they might even be a couple in the future. But he suddenly remembered Lu Zhe''s illness, and the words caught in his throat.


    If he were a normal young man, Lu Zhe could have experienced a youthful romance.


    He had specifically researched ALS online before, and he only knew that this disease was incurable. That youngdy was youthful and beautiful, full of life, while Lu Zhe''s life had a visible end - the terminal illness would drain his vitality, causing him to wither and die.


    They could never be together.


    Boss Fang felt a bitter ache for Lu Zhe, "Never mind, I''ll ask the youngdy what she likes to eatter."


    "By the way, there''s a job tomorrow, are you interested?"


    Boss Fang not only ran theputer shop but also took on frence work, sold developed products, and epted house calls forputer repairs. Lu Zhe sometimes helped out, and considering Lu Zhe''s situation, Boss Fang didn''t take anymission from him.


    "Mm."


    Boss Fang said, "I''ll send you the addresster." Ever since he met this young man, there hadn''t been a day when he didn''t feel regret for Lu Zhe''s situation.


    Setting aside Lu Zhe''s looks and excellent academic performance, hisputer skills were also impressive.


    At such a young age, he had already developed several products, and previously, through Boss Fang''s connections, they had sold for good prices.


    If Lu Zhe didn''t have ALS, his future would certainly have been bright.


    Lu Zhe said, "Thank you, Uncle Fang."


    During dinner, Boss Fang showed off his culinary skills, and Su Ci found the food quite tasty, eating quite a bit.


    When they left theputer shop, she felt a little stuffed.


    Lu Zhe nced at her and went to a nearby convenience store to buy a bottle of yogurt, "Drink this."


    Su Ci took the yogurt and started sipping it through a straw. She took back her criticism that Lu Zhe was emotionally dense.


    The poor dear was quite thoughtful.


    "Lu Zhe, aren''t we going back now?" Su Ci followed Lu Zhe, noticing they weren''t heading toward the residential area.


    "My ce doesn''t have any daily necessities you can use."


    Lu Zhe took Su Ci to the supermarket - towels, toothbrush, toothpaste, slippers... everything needed to be bought.


    Su Ci had never bought these things before. She bit on her straw and obediently followed beside Lu Zhe, watching him push the shopping cart and slowly help her select items.


    "Lu Zhe, I want the pink toothbrush."


    "I want the white cup."


    "The towel needs to be soft."


    "I want the peach-scented shower gel."


    "Are these slippers'' soles soft enough?"


    ...


    Su Ci only spoke while Lu Zhe did all the work.


    Looking at the young man standing before the shelves, quietly helping her select slippers without a word ofint, Su Ci hadpletely bent the straw in her mouth.


    Why did she suddenly feel like she was being cruel, bullying this poor dear?


    "Try these on to see if they fit." Lu Zhe picked out a pair of light pink soft-soled slippers and ced them on the ground for Su Ci to try.


    Su Ci tried them on and nodded with satisfaction, "Veryfortable."


    "Mm."


    Lu Zhe ced the slippers in the shopping cart.


    Coming out of the supermarket, Lu Zhe''s hands were full of shopping bags. Su Ci, considering herself not heartless, said, "Lu Zhe, let me help you carry some."


    Looking at the girl''s outstretched hand, with slender fingers and light pink fingertips, they looked too delicate to do any heavy lifting.


    "No need," Lu Zhe refused.


    Su Ci didn''t insist. Instead, she took out a bottle of drink from one of Lu Zhe''s bags, unscrewed the cap, and held it to his lips. "Then let me help you drink some water, your lips are dry."


    Su Ci felt that Lu Zhe was too capable; if she didn''t do something to help, she would feel disappointed in herself.


    Lu Zhe didn''t let Su Ci feed him. He put down the bags, took the bottle from her hands, and took two big gulps.


    Well, even her one small contribution had been rejected.


    When they returned home, night had fallen, and the moon hung high, showing only half its face.


    Inside the house, besides Lu Zhe''s room, there was only one storage room. Last night, Su Ci had offered to stay, willing to sleep in the storage room.


    She opened the storage room door and turned on the light.


    The windows were tightly shut, and a musty smell wafted out. Apart from a few broken chairs and some cardboard boxes, there was nothing else. The space was cramped, about half the size of Lu Zhe''s room.


    Su Ci estimated that it could barely fit a single bed and a small wardrobe, nothing more.


    She felt a pang in her heart.


    She only had 20,000 yuan left, nothing else. Even if she were to rent a new ce, it wouldn''tst many months.


    Plus, she had already spent quite a bit of Lu Zhe''s money, which she would need to repay.


    Su Ci felt she needed to find a way to earn money.


    Feeling dejected, she stepped out of the storage room, preparing to clean it as she would have to sleep there tonight.


    "I''ve put on new bedsheets and changed the pillow. You''ll sleep in my room," Lu Zhe came out of his room and told Su Ci.


    Su Ci peered past him and saw that the grayish bedsheets on his single bed had been reced with light pink ones, and the pillowcase matched the color.


    These were the ones he had helped her pick at the supermarket earlier.


    "What about you?" Su Ci asked the young man before her.


    "I''ll clean up the storage roomter."


    The implication was clear - he would sleep in the storage room.


    Su Ci felt something gently prick her heart, and she asked Lu Zhe directly, "Why are you so nice to me? Taking me in, buying me clothes and shoes, daily necessities, and now giving up your room. Lu Zhe, do you like me?"


    Lu Zhe gave her a nd look, "No. You asked me to take you in."


    "Don''t overthink it. When you were a rabbit, I bought you rabbit food and a cage too." After saying this, Lu Zhe went to clean the storage room.


    Su Ci pursed her lips and asked Fu Gui, "What does Lu Zhe mean? So in his eyes, am I still just a rabbit?"


    Fu Gui: [Even as a rabbit, Master is the cutest rabbit in the world!]


    Su Ci: "Get lost!"


    Fu Gui: [Okay!]


    After showering, Su Ci knocked on the storage room door.


    Lu Zhe opened it quickly.


    The storage room had been cleaned, and the windows were open, but the air still smelled unpleasant.


    Su Ci looked inside and saw a folding bed in the middle, presumably where Lu Zhe would sleep tonight.


    At that moment, Su Ci felt even more sorry for Lu Zhe.


    "Why don''t I stay here instead?" Although Su Ci was delicate, she didn''t think she waspletely unable to endure hardship.


    "No need."


    For Lu Zhe, it didn''t matter where he slept; he had no particr requirements.


    In his childhood at the orphanage, twenty-some children would squeeze ontorge beds, each trying to take up as little space as possible. Sleeping on a folding bed wasn''t particrly difficult for him.


    Su Ci looked up, her dark eyes glistening with moisture as she carefully studied Lu Zhe. The next moment, she stepped forward, her fingers tugging at the hem of his clothes.


    "Lu Zhe, you should kiss me now."


    Lu Zhe: "Already kissed twice this afternoon."


    Once for nine hours, once for ten hours, totaling neen hours - enough tost her until tomorrow.


    Su Ci had just showered and was wearing her new nightgown, a white cotton dress with soft, skin-friendly fabric. The hem was embroidered with several cute little flowers, exuding a strong girlish charm.


    Perhaps because the shower water had been too hot, the skin exposed by her dress had a slight pink tinge.


    Her soft hair tips were slightly damp, falling across her chest.


    The Su Ci before him was like an alluring little spirit. If any other man had heard Su Ci''s invitation for a kiss, they would have agreed immediately, not refused like Lu Zhe.


    Su Ci wasn''t willing to listen to him. In her view, the more kisses, the better.


    This was beneficial for both her and him.


    The more, the merrier!


    Aliali: 674546a8c4f3f33ac44c92acSu Ci stood on her tiptoes and actively kissed Lu Zhe.


    Her soft red lipsnded directly on the young man''s cold ones.


    Surprise shed in Lu Zhe''s dark eyes.


    Su Ci greedily kissed him twice, and when she saw that Lu Zhe hade to his senses and was about to push her away, she quickly wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed him once more.


    Before retreating, her teeth gently nipped at the young man''s thin lips.


    Su Ci happily stepped back.


    She looked at Lu Zhe and asked mischievously, "It''s a bit salty. Lu Zhe, did I taste your sweat?"


    The summer weather was hot, and the storage room was particrly stuffy with poor venttion. Lu Zhe had indeed worked up quite a sweat while cleaning.


    The girl before him had a hint of mischief in her eyes.


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes gave her a nd look, and he closed the door right in front of Su Ci''s face.

 Chapter 15: 015

    <h4>Chapter 15</h4>


    The smile in Su Ci''s eyes froze.


    She blinked in disbelief, "Is Lu Zhe shy? Or angry?"


    Fu Gui: [He might be sleepy.]


    Su Ci snorted, "Whatever, you better keep quiet."


    Fu Gui trembled.


    Entering the room, the pink bed added a ssh of color to the otherwise cold space.


    Su Ci''s gaze fell on the desk, where there sat a cup decorated with little rabbit patterns - one she had picked out. It was adorable; she really did have good taste.


    She picked up the cup, which contained lukewarm water. Lu Zhe must have poured it for her while she was taking a shower.


    For someone who appeared so cold, he was unexpectedly attentive.


    The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows, filling the small storage room and diminishing its coldness.


    Disturbing noises came from outside the door. Lu Zhe opened his eyes, still clouded with drowsiness, his usual coolness somewhat softened. He got up from the folding bed.


    Opening the door, the sounds became clearer.


    Lu Zhe walked out and discovered the noise wasing from the kitchen.


    "What are you doing?"


    Lu Zhe''s maic, slightly hoarse voice was pleasant but startled Su Ci in the kitchen.


    She almost burned herself.


    "Good morning," Su Ci turned around and told Lu Zhe, "I''m making breakfast."


    Lu Zhe observed the water-sttered floor, rice scattered on the cab, and carrot peels. He remembered Su Ci telling him she was a good cook.


    Smelling the burnt odor from the kitchen, Lu Zhe walked in without showing any reaction.


    Standing beside Su Ci, he lifted the pot lid to find thick porridge with no liquid left, almost bing sticky rice.


    "I didn''t add enough water," Su Ci said regretfully.


    Lu Zhe nced at the other pot containing carrots, which were unevenly cut and burnt.


    "These carrots are so hard to cook, they won''t soften no matter what," Su Ciined quietly.


    This morning, instead of sleeping in, Su Ci had woken up early to make breakfast.


    For the past two days, Lu Zhe had been taking care of everything. As someone staying under his roof, she felt she needed to show some initiative, to prove she wasn''t just freeloading but could actually help out.


    To present her best self to Lu Zhe, she had specifically worn the new dress bought yesterday and partially tied up her hair, giving herself a gentler appearance.


    However, while she looked beautiful, her breakfast was aplete disaster.


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe pitifully, holding up her finger that had been cut by the knife.


    Since making a good impression was clearly impossible now, she decided to aim for sympathy points instead.


    Su Ci told Lu Zhe, "Lu Zhe, I got cut while making your breakfast."


    She lied with a straight face, "It was bleeding a lot earlier, I don''t know if it might get infected."


    Lu Zhe looked down.


    Her pale pink fingertip did have a cut, but it had only broken the outermostyer of skin. The thin red mark was barely visible - hardly the kind of wound that would bleed, let alone require bandaging or medicine.


    He looked at Su Ci before him, with her moist dark eyes and fair face, looking as if she''d suffered some great injustice. Without a doubt, her previous ims about being good at housework andundry must have been lies too.


    Lu Zhe said: "Go sit outside."


    Su Ci nodded obediently, not offering to help in the kitchen - she at least had that much self-awareness.


    Some timeter.


    Su Ci saw that the porridge Lu Zhe brought out looked different - he had clearly added water and recooked it. Her burnt, chunky carrots had been reced with fresh side dishes, and there was also a te of steamed custard buns.


    Su Ci nced at Lu Zhe, who sat down across from her without a word. The young man''s face was stern and expressionless, but somehow Su Ci found him impressive.


    Well, anyone who could cook better than her was impressive in her eyes.


    Su Ci picked up a custard bun and took a bite. The bread was soft, with fragrant custard flowing out - it tasted wonderful.


    Compared to her previous diet of rabbit food or raw carrots, Su Ci felt incredibly blessed to be eating such buns now.


    Lu Zhe told Su Ci, "I need to go out this afternoon."


    "Where are you going?"


    "Work." Boss Fang had sent him the client''s address yesterday.


    "I''ll go with you," Su Ci said without hesitation.


    It would be too boring staying here alone; she''d rather be by Lu Zhe''s side, "I promise I won''t interfere with your work."


    Just as she finished speaking, the doorbell rang.


    "Are you expecting someone?" Su Ci asked Lu Zhe.


    The doorbell rang several more times.


    "I''ll check," Lu Zhe stood up.


    Opening the door, he saw a middle-aged man in a suit, with two people behind him carrying gift bags.


    "Is Miss Su Ci here?" the middle-aged man asked Lu Zhe.


    "You''re looking for me?"


    Hearing that someone was asking for her, Su Ci came over and immediately recognized Fu Butler, "What is it?"


    Fu Butler smiled and said: "Miss Su Ci, these are thank-you gifts that Old Madam asked me to deliver to you."


    "I remember your young master already thanked me with 20,000 yuan that day," Su Ci definitely remembered how stingy Fu Baili was.


    Fu Butler caught the sarcasm in the girl''s voice but maintained his polite smile, "Old Madam said she needed to thank you personally. Each of these gifts was carefully selected by Old Madam herself, please ept them."


    He continued, "The police have found the person responsible for throwing objects from height. They did it because they were in a bad mood and carelessly threw down a broken ss kettle. They''ve been detained now. Thanks to Miss Su Ci, Old Madam avoided disaster. Old Madam said that if Miss Su Ci ever needs help in the future, she can always turn to the Fu family."


    Previously, many youngdies had tried various ways to get close to Fu Baili, even attempting to approach Old Madam just to get near him.


    This time, Su Ci saving Old Madam seemed too coincidental, which made people suspicious. Fu Baili worried this might have been pre-nned too.


    That''s why Fu Baili had casually dismissed Su Ci, and Old Madam hadn''t objected. But after the police revealed the truthst night, Old Madam immediately sent people with gifts to express gratitude.


    Su Ci was clever and immediately understood the implications in Fu Butler''s words. Everyone in wealthy families had their suspicions. Now that the Fu family had confirmed she truly was Old Madam''s savior, they were finally showing proper respect.


    She understood why wealthy families were cautious, but that didn''t mean she had to like it.


    Of course, she would ept the thanks she deserved.


    Su Ci agreed to let them bring the gifts into the house without furtherment.


    "Miss Su Ci, if you need anything, you can alwayse to the Fu residence to find me. I can ry your message to Old Madam," Fu Butler was very courteous.


    Su Ci agreed casually, not taking it seriously.


    After all the gifts were moved inside, Fu Butler and his people left. Before leaving, he couldn''t help but give an extra nce at the silent young man standing to the side.


    Su Ci started opening the thank-you gifts and found several bags contained clothes - soft fabric, fashionable styles, quite matching her taste.


    She opened other small gift boxes containing jewelry - diamond nes, gold bracelets, and some crystal earrings. The total value must have been several hundred thousand yuan.


    Su Ci felt slightly disappointed that the Fu family hadn''t given her cash, considering how poor she was now.


    But her mood improved when she realized she could sell these pieces of jewelry when she needed money.


    She moved closer to Lu Zhe and told him, "Yesterday I saved an elderlydy who turned out to be wealthy, and they came today to thank me."


    Then she asked Lu Zhe, "Don''t you think I''m both beautiful and kind-hearted?"


    The fair-skinned girl looked proud, her dark eyes bright as she gazed at him. Before Lu Zhe could respond, she started praising herself: "Beautiful people aren''t as kind as me, kind people aren''t as beautiful as me. Oh my, what an absolute treasure I am!"


    Watching the self-proimed "absolute treasure" eagerly opening gift boxes beside him, a faint smile crossed Lu Zhe''s dark eyes.


    In the afternoon, Su Ci insisted on apanying Lu Zhe out.


    "It''s very far," Lu Zhe told Su Ci.


    Su Ci responded thoughtfully: "That''s fine, we can save money by not taking a taxi. Let''s take public transport." After all, she had never taken a bus before.


    Lu Zhe said coldly, "It''s very sunny outside."


    Su Ci waved the umbre in her hand, "Don''t worry about me, I brought an umbre. Let''s hurry, it''s not good to keep clients waiting."


    Lu Zhe: "I was actually ready to leave."


    Su Ci thought about how she had applied sunscreen and found an umbre, and smiled sweetly at Lu Zhe, "Lu Zhe, let''s go."


    The afternoon sun was fierce, making the ground hot enough to burn one''s feet.


    Su Ci followed Lu Zhe to the seventeenth floor of a tall building.


    Since it was Saturday, none of thepany''s employees were working, except for one young Female Employee who was responsible for coordinating with them.


    The Female Employee had gentle features. She politely poured water for Lu Zhe and Su Ci, "Those twoputers over there are the ones with problems." Thepany''swork administrator was on leave, and with no staff avable, they had to call for external help.


    Lu Zhe stood up, "I''ll take a look."


    Beside him, Su Ci immediately said, "Go ahead, I''ll be good and wait here for you."


    Lu Zhe nced at her before going to check theputers.


    The Female Employee looked at Su Ci enviously, "You and your boyfriend seem to have a great rtionship."


    Su Ci turned her head to look at her, "He''s not my boyfriend."


    "Oh, I''m sorry," the Female Employee quickly apologized. The young man and this girl were both exceptionally good-looking and seemed like a perfect match, so she had assumed they were a couple.


    "It''s alright," Su Ci curved her red lips, "Maybe he will be in the future."


    The Female Employee was stunned for a moment before letting out a gentleugh, the worry in her brow lessening, making her appear even more graceful.


    "You have a beautiful smile," Su Ci rarelyplimented people, but this Female Employee''s smile was genuinely pleasant.


    The Female Employee was taken aback, her eyes showing more mirth, and her face showing a hint of shyness.


    Beingplimented on her smile by such an exquisitely beautiful girl made it hard not to feel shy, "You... you''re very beautiful too."


    Su Ci nodded in agreement.


    Her gaze fell on the Female Employee''s wrist, and she couldn''t understand why this Female Employee would die in twenty minutes.


    Fu Gui: [Fu Gui knows, Fu Gui knows, Master, please save her.]


    Su Ci: "I don''t meddle in others'' affairs."


    Fu Gui silently retreated.


    "It might take a while longer. Are you hungry? There are some snacks in the break room. If you''d like some, I can get them for you," the Female Employee worried the girl might be bored waiting.


    Su Ci looked at her, "Sure."


    The Female Employee got up to fetch snacks, selecting some that girls typically enjoy, "These won''t cause internal heat, and they''re low in calories, so you can eat them without worry."


    Su Ci smiled and epted the snacks she handed over.


    She opened a peach-vored yogurt stick and slowly nibbled on it, asionally ncing at the life value above the Female Employee''s head - only fifteen minutes remaining.


    Every time the Female Employee met her eyes, she would smile shyly. Su Ci found it hard to imagine how someone who spoke and acted so gently would die.


    Fu Gui appeared again, [Fu Gui knows! Master can ask Fu Gui.]


    Su Ci bit into the yogurt stick, her mouth full of peach vor, "Go ahead."


    Fu Gui''s small voice was excited, [She''s going to slit her wrist.]


    Su Ci''s eyes narrowed as she examined the Female Employee again, "You''re saying she''s going to slit her wrist here at thepany?"


    Fu Gui: [Yes, Master, please save her.] The golden cotton candy was too delicious, Fu Gui wanted more.


    Su Ci raised her eyebrow, the small beauty mark below her eye looking particrly alluring. She continued nibbling on the yogurt stick, lost in thought.


    Ten minutester, Lu Zhe had finished fixing bothputers, "Theputers are working now."


    "Thank you for your hard work." The Female Employee transferred the maintenance fee to Lu Zhe, "Let me see you out."


    "Thank you for the snacks, they were delicious. No need to trouble yourself, we can find our way out," Su Ci stood up and walked to Lu Zhe''s side.


    "Alright then, I won''t see you out," the Female Employee gave Su Ci a gentle smile and turned to check theputers.


    Licking the sweetness from her lips, Su Ci suddenly pulled Lu Zhe behind the nearby employee lockers.


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes looked at her.


    Su Ci blinked and mouthed to Lu Zhe, "Shh!"


    Since the woman would die in five minutes, that meant she would slit her wrist very soon.


    Aliali: 674546a8c4f3f33ac44c92acFu Gui became excited: [Master, didn''t you say you wouldn''t save her?]


    Su Ci: "Haven''t you heard the saying ''after epting someone''s food, you feel obligated''?"


    The space behind the storage lockers was very small, barely enough for two people.


    Now, looking at how her body was pressed against Lu Zhe''s, her light blue dress brushing against his ck pants, her upper body tightly pressed against his chest, it felt rather intimate.


    Despite Su Ci''s usual thick skin, her fair face still blushed.


    She tried to shift her feet to create some distance, but as soon as she moved, Lu Zhe''s entire body tensed up.


    Seeing Lu Zhe look down at her, Su Ci quickly covered his eyes with her hand.


    His vision went dark.


    Lu Zhe heard the girl''s suppressed voice by his ear, preemptively defending herself, "Lu Zhe, don''t move."


    Lu Zhe: Heh!

 Chapter 16: 016

    <h4>Chapter 16</h4>


    Lu Zhe kept his eyes closed.


    He rarely interacted with girls and wondered if all of them were like Su Ci - not only delicate but also full of mischief.


    "Mm," Lu Zhe responded softly.


    Su Ci''s hand remained covering Lu Zhe''s eyes as she tried to inch away like a snail, hoping to escape the awkward situation.


    Just as she moved a small step away, the young man''srge hand suddenly gripped her wrist.


    His palm was cold, his fingertips rough.


    She was startled and wanted to tell Lu Zhe to stop fooling around, but hisrge hand moved to remove her hand from his eyes.


    Lu Zhe''s pitch-ck eyes were unfathomably deep. He nced at her, then lowered his head to whisper in her ear, returning her earlier words, "Don''t move." The soft sensation continued pressing against his chest - his limbs might be numb, but he wasn''tpletely without feeling.


    Just as Su Ci was about to say something, she heard the female employee''s footstepsing from inside.


    The woman pushed open the door of the administrative office in front of the lockers, followed by the sound of a chair being pulled out.


    Everything went quiet again, and Su Ci couldn''t hear any other sounds.


    After mentally counting the time, Su Ci whispered, "Quick, let''s get out."


    She squeezed past Lu Zhe to get out.


    The office door wasn''t closed, and when Su Ci emerged from behind the lockers, she saw the female employee holding a knife, its tip pointed at her own wrist.


    Su Ci stood in the doorway, not moving closer.


    Lu Zhe, who had followed her out, also saw what the female employee was trying to do.


    The woman looked up at them in surprise, not expecting them to return, "You... why did youe back..."


    "Oh, I forgot something and came back to get it," Su Ci''s voice was pleasant but her tone was indifferent. "Are you trying to cut your wrist?"


    The employee was stunned, clearly caught off guard by Su Ci''s directness.


    Still gripping the knife, she said, "Don''te any closer."


    Su Ci nodded, "I won''t."


    Looking at the woman, she asked, "Why do you want to die? When you cut yourself and watch the blood drain from your body, don''t you think that''s torturous?"


    The employee''s gentle face showed deep pain, "You''re too young, you don''t understand that some things are more terrifying and unbearable than death."


    Su Ci''s fair face showed no trace of a smile, her expression cold, "Indeed, I don''t understand what could be more frightening than death."


    The employee''s hand holding the knife trembled, her eyes full of sorrow.


    "I can''t empathize with you, but I know life onlyes once, and nothing is more precious than life itself," Su Ci looked at her, anger visible in her dark eyes. "I despise people who don''t value their lives and seek death. In this world, many people want to live, but it''s just a luxury for them. Yet you fortunate ones who have many years ahead of you don''t know how to cherish it, always thinking death will solve everything - it''s utterly foolish."


    Sometimes it was truly ironic.


    Those who wanted to live couldn''t, while those who could live didn''t cherish it.


    Before her transmigration, Su Ci had severe heart disease, and she knew from childhood that she wouldn''t live long.


    However, she never thought about giving up.


    Even when her family went bankrupt and her parents died, she never considered giving up her life - each additional day of life was a blessing to her.


    Until finally, she died from a heart attack while filming. When she opened her eyes again, she had be a rabbit.


    Though this current body was healthy, and although she couldn''t see her own life value, her fate was now bound to the short-lived Lu Zhe, she was still grateful and cherished life.


    Even Lu Zhe, despite knowing he had a terminal illness, with numbness in his limbs and gradually stiffening body, still lived each day earnestly - attending school, working part-time, taking his medicine on time, and exercising.


    They both knew that each day that passed meant one day less.


    "Death might end everything, but do you think it''s worth it? Life is precious - even elementary school students understand this," Su Ci gave her a cold look and turned to leave.


    She wasn''t a savior; if someone truly wanted to die, she had no obligation to intervene.


    "Let''s go," Su Ci said to Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe looked at her with deep eyes, "Mm."


    "Wait," the female employee called out to Su Ci.


    She had been holding everything in for too long.


    "I... someone took inappropriate photos of me," she began.


    Once she started, it became easier to continue, "He''s been using the photos to ckmail me, and every time I see his disgusting face, I feel sick. I don''t want to die, but I have no way to deal with him." The employee moved the knife away, seeming to lose all strength.


    She didn''t really want to die; she just felt helpless.


    When she first started working, she was young and naive, too pure to see through her superior''s hideous nature. She was tricked into takingpromising photos and had been ckmailed ever since.


    "So you chose to cut your wrists in the office to scare that man?" Su Ci turned back, "That''s foolish. If you died, he might forget about you the next day and continue living well."


    "I know, but this is my only way to escape," the employee''s face was full of pain.


    "Do you know where he keeps your photos?" Su Ci asked.


    The employee nodded, "On hisputer, but I can''t ess it."


    Su Ci tilted her head to look at the young man beside her, "Lu Zhe, can you help?"


    Lu Zhe walked to aputer, "A man can''t say no."


    The employee realized something and bit her lip, dropping the knife, "I know hisputer''s IP address."


    "Mm." Lu Zhe turned on theputer, his distinct knuckles and long fingers moving across the keyboard.


    Su Ci looked down at the employee''s wrist, where the life value had changed to five yellow squares, meaning she had fifty years of life left.


    Curving her lips, Su Ci turned to watch Lu Zhe working at theputer.


    Mm, Lu Zhe looked really handsome when he was focused.


    Everything about him perfectly matched her aesthetic standards. If only Lu Zhe would cooperate and let her kiss him, he''d be even more handsome.


    Soon, Lu Zhe stopped typing and asked the employee, "This should be the folder, take a look." He moved aside, avoiding looking at the photos on theputer.


    The employee''s hand trembled as she held the mouse. She opened the folder, and tears immediately filled her gentle face.


    "These are them." She struggled to control her shaking hand as she clicked delete on the folder.


    The employee noticed an encrypted folder nearby, and her heart started racing, "Could you help me open this encrypted folder?" She knew that man had embezzledpany funds, and the evidence was on hisputer.


    "Mm." Lu Zhe easily broke through the multipleyers of encryption on the folder.


    "Thank you." The employee''s heart was nearly jumping out of her throat as she copied all the evidence from the folder.


    Su Ci observed the employee''s expression and guessed what she nned to do. She approved of her approach - eliminating one such scumbag would be doing society a favor.


    Clutching the evidence tightly, the employee looked gratefully at Su Ci and Lu Zhe, "Thank you both. If it weren''t for you, I would have already..."


    Her voice choked up as she bowed deeply to Su Ci and Lu Zhe, "Thank you for helping me escape from the abyss."


    She had fantasized about someone reaching out to help her, but all she''d found was despair. She never expected that when she was about to give up, someone would extend a helping hand.


    "Thank you!"


    The employee''s gentle face was full of gratitude.


    "I ate your snacks earlier, so consider that your thanks," Su Ci licked her lips. "They were quite tasty."


    The employee smiled, life returning to her eyes, the deep worry between her brows disappearing. Her smile was beautiful, "I''m Li Ran. May I know your name?"


    Su Ci curved her red lips, "Su Ci."


    Li Ran silently repeated the name to herself.


    When they left the building, the sunlight wasn''t as harsh as when they had arrived.


    Su Ci opened her umbre - as a girl who cared about her appearance, she didn''t want to get tanned at all.


    "Lu Zhe, could you hold the umbre for me? My hand suddenly feels so tired," Su Ci handed the umbre to Lu Zhe, smiling brightly at him.


    Lu Zhe now knew that Su Ci''s previous pitiful, innocent appearance was just an act - this little rascal with mischief in her eyes and heart was the real Su Ci.


    He took the umbre from her hand.


    Su Ci immediately stepped under the umbre, unwilling to let herself be exposed to the sunlight.


    "Lu Zhe, I just saved another person," Su Ci spoke up.


    "Mm." Indeed, she had saved a life.


    Su Ci nced at Lu Zhe and said with self-admiration, "Aren''t you going to praise me?"


    Lu Zhe tilted the umbre toward her side and, instead of responding to herment, asked, "How did you know she was going to slit her wrist?" Su Ci had pulled him behind the storage lockers, as if she had known Li Ran''s intentions all along.


    In the sunlight, Su Ci''s small face appeared even more fair. She opened her eyes wide and made up an excuse, "Li Ran''s expression told me something was wrong. I didn''t expect to be so clever and actually guess correctly."


    She wanted to tell him the truth, but the system wouldn''t allow it.


    Lu Zhe neither expressed belief nor disbelief. He held the umbre while sunlight fell on his shoulders.


    Su Ci reached out to tug at his clothes, "Lu Zhe,e here..."


    Before she could finish speaking, Lu Zhe suddenly stumbled forward.


    "Lu Zhe!"


    Su Ci quickly supported him. Thest time at the night market, Lu Zhe had already fallen once.


    Lu Zhe didn''t fallpletely; he reacted quickly enough that only his hand grazed the ground.


    Su Ci frowned.


    Hadn''t she kissed Lu Zhe? Why was even walking bing a problem for him now?


    Fu Gui: [Master''s kiss can only extend Lu Zhe''s life to prevent death, but it won''t change his condition.]


    Lu Zhe could keep hanging onto life without dying, but the ALS remained. Eventually, he would bepletely rigid and unable to move.


    Su Ci: "Why didn''t you tell me this before?"


    Fu Gui''s voice was very small, [Master never asked.]


    Lu Zhe had already steadied himself. He stood straight, continuing to hold the umbre, walking slowly. His rigid face showed no expression, as if he hadn''t almost fallen just moments ago.


    Aliali: 674546a8c4f3f33ac44c92acSu Ci: "Is there any way to cure Lu Zhe''s ALS?"


    Fu Gui''s small voice replied reluctantly: [If he eats enough golden cotton candy, he can be cured.]


    Su Ci knew that after she saved someone, Fu Gui would receive a piece of golden cotton candy. So that could help Lu Zhe?


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes, "I just saved Li Ran, you got the golden cotton candy, right?"


    Fu Gui happily shared: [Fu Gui got it, thank you, Master.]


    Su Ci: "Hand it over, Lu Zhe needs it."


    Fu Gui felt utterly wronged.


    Su Ci didn''t care about its feelings. It had concealed such important information from her, so she locked Fu Gui away.


    Now that she knew the purpose of the golden cotton candy, Su Ci felt even more convinced that she was just Lu Zhe''s tool!


    She turned her head to look at Lu Zhe, who had be so quiet he was almost invisible, "Lu Zhe, how lucky must you be to meet an absolute treasure like me?"

 Chapter 17: 017

    <h4>Chapter 17</h4>


    When they returned home, Su Ci''s cheeks were flushed from the heat, her dark eyes bright and alluring, glistening with a captivating gleam.


    Walking to the couch, she quickly sat down. "It''s so hot."


    As midsummer approached, each day grew hotter than thest. The living room had no air conditioning, only a fan, and Su Ci felt even the breeze it produced was warm.


    Seeing Lu Zhe sit down on the other side, she quickly moved closer to him.


    Perhaps due to his ALS condition, Lu Zhe''s skin felt cooler than hers to the touch, like ice, making him perfect for cooling down against.


    "Lu Zhe, I want to eat peaches," she said. When they had returned, she had seen an elderlydy selling honey peaches at the entrance of theirplex, and she had asked Lu Zhe to buy a few.


    Lu Zhe was responding to Boss Fang''s message when he heard the girl''s words. He gave her a cool nce and said, "Wash them yourself."


    "I hurt my hand this morning while making your breakfast," Su Ci held up her injured finger.


    Lu Zhe looked at the girl''s pale pink fingertip, where the thin scratch had already be invisible. He said, "A hurt finger doesn''t prevent you from eating peaches."


    Su Ci felt no shame in her shamelessness. She moved closer to Lu Zhe, pressing her arm against his to absorb some of his coolness. "When you''re injured, you can''t touch water, so I can''t wash the peaches. And when you''re injured, you can''t use knives, so I can''t peel them."


    She looked at Lu Zhe with pitiful dark eyes. "If I can''t eat peaches, I''ll be sad. And if I''m sad, the injury I got because of you will heal more slowly. Could you bear that?"


    After going in circles, Su Ci just wanted him to wash and peel the peaches for her.


    Putting away his phone, Lu Zhe stood up,pletely ignoring the girl''s water-filled dark eyes. He said coldly, "If you want to eat, wash them yourself."


    In just a few short days, he had discovered that whenever he took even a small step back, Su Ci would push forward arge step, and she was very good at taking miles when given inches.


    Lu Zhe vaguely sensed this was bing a serious problem.


    Watching the young man walk into his small storage room, Su Ci was a bit stunned. Why did she feel like Lu Zhe was looking down on her?


    Hmph, fine, she''d wash them herself.


    The corner of her eyes curved upward, making the small beauty mark below them appear even more alluring. Su Cizily stood up and took a honey peach to wash it herself.


    The storage room was very small, and now that it had been converted into a bedroom, it seemed even smaller.


    Lu Zhe didn''t have many belongings. He had already moved hisputer, clothes, and other misceneous daily necessities from his original room. Everything was ced on a small cab, with clothes piled on a chair, looking somewhat cramped.


    Lu Zhe stood by the folding bed, doing bicep curls with a dumbbell.


    Up and down, the muscles in his arms were pumped with blood, tensed to their limit.


    The storage room had its window open, but no air conditioning or fan. In just a moment, Lu Zhe''s forehead was covered in sweat.


    The young man was strong, and sweat ran down his sharp-featured profile, falling into his cor with a silent sensuality.


    At this moment, there was a knock on the door.


    Without thinking, he knew it was Su Ci.


    Lu Zhe had no intention of helping her wash or peel the peaches. Su Ci was too spoiled, and he didn''t n to indulge her.


    Lu Zhe continued his exercise.


    Outside the door, Su Ci knocked a few more times, and when the person inside still didn''t respond, she angrily kicked the door with her toe. "Lu Zhe, where''s the first aid kit? My hand is bleeding."


    The next second, the door opened.


    Su Ci hadn''t had time to withdraw her foot, and her toe kicked Lu Zhe''s calf.


    The girl''s strength wasn''t much, and Su Ci''s shoes were soft, so the kick on Lu Zhe''s leg was merely like a tickle.


    Lu Zhe ignored the footprint on his pants leg and looked at Su Ci''s hand with his dark eyes. This time, it really was cut and bleeding.


    "Look, I''m really hurt this time, and it won''t stop bleeding," Su Ci pitifully held out her bleeding finger in front of Lu Zhe.


    "How did you do that?" Lu Zhe asked.


    Su Ci gave him a resentful look, righteously shifting the me, "It''s your fault for not helping me peel the peach."


    Lu Zhe didn''t make a sound. He walked out of the room to get the first aid kit.


    On the sofa, Su Ci sat next to Lu Zhe, naturally letting him bandage her wound.


    Lu Zhe held her hand with one of his, while the other hand used cotton with medicine to clean her wound.


    When the medicine touched the wound, the girl''s finger twitched.


    Su Ci''s hands were fair and soft, beautiful and delicate. The cut on her finger was as long as a fingernail, like a scratch mark on beautiful jade.


    Lu Zhe frowned.


    He hadn''t expected Su Ci to hurt herself doing something as simple as peeling fruit. Lu Zhe felt his understanding of Su Ci''s delicateness was being refreshed time and time again.


    Su Ci whimpered in pain. Looking at the young man who was seriously treating her wound, she said, "I''m so unfortunate, injured this morning and now injured again. Am I bing an unlucky baby?"


    Lu Zhe wrapped a bandage around her slender white finger and said coldly, "You''re not unlucky, you''re clumsy."


    Clumsy hands and feet kind of clumsy.


    Not good at anything, but first-rate at being delicate.


    Lu Zhe sighed, clearly realizing that what he had picked up wasn''t a cute little rabbit, but a little troublemaker.


    Su Ci widened her eyes in disbelief, "Fu Gui, did I hear wrong? Did Lu Zhe call me clumsy?"


    The released Fu Gui got excited, [Master, Lu Zhe is calling you clumsy, don''t give him the cotton candy, give it to Fu Gui.]


    It was Su Ci''s first time being called clumsy, and she huffily was about to agree with Fu Gui.


    By the sofa, Lu Zhe sat down again, holding a washed honey peach. Being fresh, the peach was juicy and pink-white, looking sweet and refreshing.


    He took a small knife, and the honey peach quickly spun in hisrge hands.


    In less than a minute, Lu Zhe had peeled the peach. He washed it again, then cut it into even pieces, ced them on a small te, and handed it to Su Ci.


    How could Su Ci remember being angry from a moment ago? She smiled brightly as she ate a piece of honey peach, "Lu Zhe, you''re so amazing."


    The honey peach was very fresh, crisp and sweet in her mouth.


    Su Ci ate happily, her small mouth bing sweet, "What would I do without you?"


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond to her casual ttery and stood up to prepare dinner.


    But the next second, his clothes were grabbed by the girl''s hand.


    "Don''t go yet." Su Ci''s voice was muffled as she was still eating the honey peach.


    "Hmm?"


    "Kiss me first."


    Lu Zhe: "You kissed me three timesst night." No, she had kissed him three times and bitten him once.


    By his calction, that shouldst her until tomorrow at least.


    Su Ci didn''t care how many times she had kissed him yesterday. In her opinion, it was never enough. The more kisses, the better, and besides, she had something to give him.


    "This time is different," she said.


    Lu Zhe: "What''s different?"


    "Kiss me and you''ll find out." Su Ci tilted her head up, her fingers still holding onto his clothes.


    Lu Zhe looked down at the girl on the sofa.


    Snow-white skin and ck hair, wearing a light blue silk dress that clung softly to her body, her red lips stained with honey peach juice, moist and glossy. Even though Lu Zhe usually paid little attention to girls, he knew that the Su Ci before him was extremely beautiful.


    And she seemedpletely unaware of it, her dark eyes looking at him expectantly, urging him to kiss her.


    If he didn''tply, she would use him with her eyes, as if he had done something unbelievable and terrible.


    Lu Zhe''s expression was stiff. He bent down, nning to give Su Ci a casual kiss on the lips so she would let go of him.


    His lips touched the girl''s red lips.


    Just a light touch, and he could taste the fruit juice on her lips, the sweet honey peach fragrance filling his nose.


    Lu Zhe lowered his eyelids, hiding the look in his eyes.


    He raised his head, about to pull away, when the next second, the girl''s arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him back down towards her. Lu Zhe was caught off guard, his hand bracing against the sofa back.


    "Don''t move," Su Ci said. She kissed Lu Zhe''s lips, her dark eyes fixed on him. Where Lu Zhe couldn''t see, a golden piece of cotton candy entered his mouth and gradually disappeared.


    Lu Zhe bent over, his whole body tense, his eyes deep and dark, the veins on his hand that was bracing against the sofa standing out. Unlike his coolness, the girl''s lips were warm and soft, making one want to bite them at any moment.


    Their lips stayed together for several tens of seconds before Su Ci pulled back. "This time, did you feel anything?"


    Lu Zhe met her bright dark eyes, and he stood up straight. "No."


    "Really nothing?" Su Ci blinked, thinking Lu Zhe would have felt something unusual.


    Well, since he couldn''t see what she had eaten, it was normal that he didn''t feel anything.


    Wait, what did she mean by not feeling anything? Being kissed by such a stunning beauty like her, shouldn''t he feel something?


    Looking at Lu Zhe again, the young man''s face was stiff and cold, his eyes equally frigid - he really didn''t feel anything at all.


    Su Ci kicked Lu Zhe''s foot in frustration, "Are you even a man?"


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes nced at her coldly before he turned and left.


    ......


    In the ssroom, Li Dongliang came to his seat and enthusiastically greeted Lu Zhe, "Morning, Brother Zhe."


    Lu Zhe: "Morning."


    Li Dongliang had a new pink backpack today. He excitedly opened it and pulled out a small cage containing a tiny grey baby rabbit.


    "Brother Zhe, isn''t my rabbit cool?" Li Dongliang pushed the cage toward Lu Zhe, "Did you bring your bunny? I want my T-Rex to y with your bunny. Your bunny will definitely like it."


    Lu Zhe finally raised his head to look at Li Dongliang''s rabbit.


    The little grey rabbit was hopping around in the cage, with a vacant look that made it appear somewhat silly.


    Li Dongliang had already found a ce to keep rabbits, as long as he didn''t bring them home. He happily suggested to Lu Zhe, "Brother Zhe, let''s arrange a marriage between them! My T-Rex and your bunny will definitely have lots of adorable baby bunnies together."


    Although the grey rabbit was nice to pet, he still coveted Lu Zhe''s bunny.


    "What do you think? It''s a great idea, right? Our rabbits know each other well, we don''t need to find wild rabbits for breeding." Li Dongliang had even calcted how many baby bunnies the two rabbits would have - he could definitely afford to raise them all.


    Lu Zhe gave Li Dongliang a cold look and spoke in a tone Li Dongliang had never heard before, "Is it worthy?"


    Li Dongliang and the little grey rabbit stared at Lu Zhe in shock, why did they feel so deeply despised?


    After waking up and eating the breakfast Lu Zhe prepared for her, Su Ci went to the mall.


    Since it wasn''t the weekend, there weren''t many people in the mall.


    Su Ci went to the phone store on the second floor to pick out a phone.


    Yesterday Lu Zhe offered to buy her a phone, but thinking about how the poor boy probably didn''t have much money, Su Ci decided to buy it herself, since she had the twenty thousand yuan that the Fu family had given her.


    Su Ci didn''t have many requirements for the phone. She simply picked one that looked nice and paid for it, spending nearly three thousand yuan.


    In the past, three thousand yuan wouldn''t have been enough to buy even one piece of clothing, but now it felt like a fortune to her.


    She was so poor now.


    After getting the new phone, Su Ci immediately entered Lu Zhe''s phone number into her contacts - she had to ask him for it. In the past, people would beg for her contact information, but now she had to ask Lu Zhe for his number. The roles hadpletely reversed.


    It was so frustrating.


    The young man was cold, stubborn, dense, and blind. She was such a stunning beauty who kept appearing before him and even took the initiative to kiss him, yet Lu Zhe was still reluctant.


    Every time she only got to kiss him once or twice to maintain her human form. When she wanted more kisses, he wouldn''t allow it.


    Either Lu Zhe was blind or his aesthetic sense was broken.


    Su Ci would never doubt her own charm.


    After leaving the phone store, it was still early, but perhaps because she had set the newly installed air conditioner too low while sleepingst night, she had caught a cold. Her nose was congested, her head felt dizzy, and her throat was ufortably dry. Su Ci nned to go back and take some cold medicine.


    At that moment, a little boy suddenly rushed out from a nearby store and crashed into Su Ci.


    The new phone in her hand became unstable and fell to the ground.


    Su Ci: !!


    She quickly picked up the phone; thankfully, the screen wasn''t broken.


    "You weren''t holding your phone properly just now, it has nothing to do with my son. Don''t try to me my son if your phone is broken," the boy''s mother came over, speaking aggressively.


    "Auntie, your son bumped into me. Shouldn''t you have him apologize to me instead of rushing to shirk responsibility?" Su Ci said irritably.


    "It was just a child ying and identally bumping into you. Why are you being so petty about it with a child?" The boy''s mother''s voice was very loud, especially after hearing herself being called ''auntie'' by the other party. She became even more upset and raised her voice further, "I look about the same age as you, why are you calling me auntie? Don''t you know how to respect others?"


    Su Ci looked at her - explosive curly hair, a face as round as a pie, wearing ordinary striped clothes and long pants.


    Tsk, Su Ci suddenly realized she wasn''t the most narcissistic person around.


    Where did this auntie get the confidence to think she looked simr to her?


    "Auntie, you''re really joking," Su Ci raised her delicate chin, her words nearly causing the middle-aged woman to die of anger, "Please don''t say you look like me. I don''t want you lowering the standard of my otherworldly beauty."


    Then, Su Ci''s gaze fell on the superhero toy in the little boy''s hand, where there was only a thin red line on his wrist indicating his life value, with a note beside it: 1 hour.


    Su Ci called out Fu Gui, "How does he die?"


    Fu Gui: [The little boy ys on the elevator, rolls down from above, and dies from excessive bleeding.]


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes and seriously said to the middle-aged woman: "I won''t pursue the matter of your son bumping into me, but as a mother, you should properly teach and supervise your child."


    The boy ying on the elevator and rolling down clearly showed the mother''s negligence.


    The middle-aged woman held her son''s hand and red angrily at the excessively beautiful girl in front of her, "How I teach my son is none of your business. Who are you to tell me what to do?" With that, she pulled her child away.


    Su Ci stood there, watching the little boy pass by her, the red line of his life value on his wrist faintly visible.


    She gripped her phone and sighed softly.


    After the argument, Su Ci felt her headache getting worse, and her breath felt hot. Was she running a fever?


    Just as Su Ci was about to feel her forehead to check if it was hot, suddenly her head started itching, and it felt like something was about to emerge from both sides.


    Strangely, Su Ci remembered having the same feeling when she transformed from human back to rabbit.


    Heavens, was she about to turn back into a rabbit right now?


    But that couldn''t be right - she had gotten two kisses from Lu Zhe before going to bedst night.


    The itching on her head intensified, as if something was about to break through any second. She covered the top of her head with one hand and looked around, not knowing where the bathroom was.


    Su Ci was getting anxious with her headache. She could feel something actually emerging from the top of her head.


    Wah!


    Keeping one hand firmly on top of her head, Su Ci bit her lip and quickly walked into a nearby clothing store.


    Without saying anything to the female clerk, Su Ci grabbed several pieces of clothing from the rack and asked, "Where''s the fitting room?"


    "Over... over there." The clerk, seeing such a beautiful girl, hadn''t even recovered from her surprise before watching the other party run into the fitting room with the clothes.


    After closing the door, Su Ci finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.


    There was a full-length mirror in the fitting room. Su Ci stood in front of it and stared in shock - a pair of rabbit ears had sprouted from the top of her head!


    Was she really turning back into a rabbit?


    ......


    This was math ss, and instead of teaching, the teacher had the students working on test papers.


    Li Dongliang had only casually filled in the front questions on his test paper, not touching any of the answer sections at all.


    He was secretly petting his little grey rabbit in his drawer, asionally ncing at Lu Zhe beside him.


    It was bad enough that Lu Zhe wouldn''t agree to their rabbits'' marriage, but he even looked down on his grey rabbit for being ugly.


    He decided to formally pursue Lu Zhe''s bunny on behalf of his grey rabbit. He would only ept Lu Zhe''s bunny as his grey rabbit''s wife.


    Lu Zhe had just finished his test paper when his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.


    He looked at the phone number - it was an unknown caller.


    Lu Zhe rejected the call.


    Two secondster, his phone vibrated again, and Lu Zhe frowned.


    He nced at the math teacher at the podium and answered the call.


    From the other end of the phone came the girl''s melodious voice, "Lu Zhe,e quickly to the clothing store on the second floor of the mall to save me."


    Lu Zhe''s hand gripping the phone tightened, and he suddenly stood up.


    The sound of a chair scraping back drew everyone''s attention in the ssroom as Lu Zhe rushed out through the back door.


    Damn! Damn! Damn!


    Li Dongliang, sitting next to him, was dumbfounded. Did his deskmate just skip ss right in front of the math teacher?


    A smallmotion erupted in the ssroom.


    The math teacher''s face darkened as he mmed the podium. "No talking. Continue with your test papers."


    He walked to Lu Zhe''s seat and saw the test paper on the desk,pletely filled out with neat handwriting. His expression softened.


    The math teacher picked up Lu Zhe''s test paper, ncing at Fu Baili in the aisle, who was ying with his phone without having written anything on his test. The difference between these two students was truly vast.


    Lu Zhe ran out of school, took a taxi to the mall, and rushed up to the second floor.


    He immediately spotted the clothing store Su Ci had mentioned.


    Entering the store, Lu Zhe saw a female clerk standing outside the fitting room, repeatedly knocking on the door. "Miss? Do you need any help?" The girl had been in there trying on clothes for almost half an hour.


    Lu Zhe hurried over. "Su Ci."


    "Lu Zhe, you''re here?" Su Ci''s delighted voice came from inside the fitting room.


    Hearing Su Ci''s voice, Lu Zhe let out a relieved sigh. He gestured for the clerk to step aside.


    "Lu Zhe, only you cane in." Su Ci opened the door just a crack.


    Aliali: 674546a7c4f3f33ac44c928a"Mm."


    Then, Lu Zhe pushed the door open slightly and stepped inside.


    The door closed again, leaving the bewildered clerk outside.


    Just then, customers entered the store, and the clerk had no choice but to attend to them.


    "Lu Zhe, you came." Su Ci was on the verge of tears.


    Lu Zhe stared at the girl before him who had suddenly sprouted rabbit ears, surprise shing in his dark eyes.


    "What happened?"


    "Quick, kiss me." Su Ci anxiously moved closer to Lu Zhe, standing on her tiptoes, trying to kiss him.


    Lu Zhe was forced to step back as the girl, with her pink and white rabbit ears, looked adorably pitiful in her urgency, clearly about to cry.


    He leaned against the door, watching the girl who was about to kiss him. A faint smile lurked in his dark eyes as his hands steadied her waist. "Don''t rush."

 Chapter 18: 018

    <h4>Chapter 18</h4>


    The fitting room was tiny, and with two people inside, it felt even more cramped.


    Hearing Lu Zhe''s words, Su Ci red at him fiercely. How could she not be anxious at a time like this? A pair of rabbit ears suddenly appeared on her head, and the female shop assistant had knocked on the door many times, almost to the point of breaking it down.


    At such a critical moment, how could Lu Zhe still be so reserved?


    He''s not a real man!


    Su Ci felt both anxious and angry. Ignoring Lu Zhe''s words, she hurriedly moved closer to him, her hands climbing up to his shoulders. Standing on her tiptoes with her feet on top of his, she pressed her red lips directly against his.


    The girl was very anxious.


    Her soft red lips carried a sweet fragrance. Lu Zhe endured her messy kisses, while under his palms, her delicate waist kept squirming restlessly.


    His dark eyes deepened.


    Lu Zhe tried to turn his head away, but the girl wouldn''t let him go.


    Their breathing became hot, and the girl''s pink-white rabbit ears swayed before his eyes. His gaze darkened, and Lu Zhe finally reached out his hand.


    The tips of her ears were soft, and he gently pinched one.


    In the next second, Su Ci, who had been clinging to him, went limp, her body powerlessly leaning against Lu Zhe. Her jade-like arms barely managed to hold onto his shoulders as she angrily bit his chin, "You jerk, don''t pinch my ears!"


    Wuu!


    Lu Zhe actually pinched her ears again!


    A rabbit''s ears are full of blood vessels, making them very fragile and sensitive. When she was a rabbit, Lu Zhe loved to y with her ears. Back then, being held by him and going weak didn''t feel so bad, but now that she had turned human, he was still pinching her rabbit ears...


    Su Ci felt her whole body going weak, barely able to stand.


    After she bit his chin, Lu Zhe let out a muffled groan of pain. His voice was a bit deep when he spoke, "Stop messing around."


    "Who''s messing around?" Su Ci red at him furiously. Who made the first move? "Lu Zhe, hold me tight, I''m about to fall!"


    She waspletely powerless now.


    The girl''s body was soft and fragrant with a young woman''s scent, leaning against him as if boneless. Those rabbit ears were fluffy as they brushed against his chin, making it tickle.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes shed with surprise; he hadn''t expected Su Ci''s rabbit ears to be so sensitive.


    Hisrge hand at her waist changed to embrace Su Ci, and Lu Zhe said softly, "I''m sorry." He hadn''t known that lightly pinching her ears would cause such a strong reaction.


    Su Ci snorted angrily. She had discovered Lu Zhe''s little quirk: he just loved ying with her rabbit ears.


    Ignoring him, she touched the top of her head. She had already kissed Lu Zhe several times, so why hadn''t her rabbit ears disappeared?


    Su Ci frowned and called out to Fu Gui, "Why did I suddenly grow rabbit ears?"


    Fu Gui: [Master is sick,cking the vital energy to maintain human form, that''s why the rabbit ears appeared.]


    Su Ci remembered that she did have a cold and seemed to be running a fever. "I just kissed Lu Zhe, why haven''t the rabbit ears gone back?"


    Fu Gui: [They''ll retract once Master recovers from the illness.]


    Hearing Fu Gui''s words, Su Ci was dumbfounded.


    So this meant that as long as her cold persisted, she would have to keep these rabbit ears?


    Fu Gui: [Even with rabbit ears, Master is still the most beautiful person in the world to Fu Gui.]


    Fu Gui never missed a chance to tter her, hoping that Master would pamper it more and not give all the golden cotton candy to Lu Zhe.


    Su Ci felt dejected. She had thought that kissing Lu Zhe would make the rabbit ears disappear, which was why she had immediately called him for help. But now Fu Gui was telling her it was because of her illness.


    She looked up, her ck eyes glistening like rippling water. Lying weakly against Lu Zhe''s chest, she told him, "Lu Zhe, I''m sick."


    "Hmm? Do you have a fever?" He held her, thinking it was his own low body temperature that made her feel so hot, but she was actually sick?


    Su Ci nodded and sighed, "My rabbit ears won''t go away until I get better." She felt frustrated, "How am I supposed to go home looking like this?"


    There was a small stool in the fitting room for customers to put their clothes on.


    Lu Zhe helped the powerless Su Ci sit down on the chair, "Sit here for a moment."


    "What are you going to do?" Su Ci looked at him, puzzled.


    "I''ll be right back." With that, Lu Zhe opened the fitting room door halfway, stepped out, and quickly closed it behind him.


    The female shop assistant was attending to other customers when she saw the fitting room door open and a handsome boy in school uniform walk out. Before she could ask what had happened, she saw him go to the essories section and pick up a white bucket hat.


    "Please help me check this out," Lu Zhe walked to the cashier to pay.


    After paying, he took the hat back to the fitting room.


    The shop assistant was curious about the mysterious female customer inside, wondering what was going on.


    Su Ci watched Lu Zhe return with a hat in his hand.


    "Put this on," Lu Zhe handed the hat to Su Ci.


    Su Ci looked at him and said matter-of-factly: "You help me put it on."


    The girl sat on the small stool with pink and white rabbit ears on her head, her ck eyes gleaming and staring straight at him, looking exactly like a rabbit spirit.


    Lu Zhe didn''t make a sound. He stepped forward and moved to put the off-white hat on Su Ci''s head.


    "Your ears..." The girl''s two rabbit ears were standing up, making it impossible to put the hat on. Lu Zhe worried that forcing it would hurt her.


    Su Ci also realized this problem. She took a breath, trying to control her rabbit ears.


    In the next moment, Lu Zhe watched as Su Ci''s previously upright rabbit ears drooped down, hanging limply on both sides.


    "How''s that?" Su Ci was a bit proud, having learned to control them.


    The hand holding the hat gradually tightened. No matter how cold or straightforward Lu Zhe was, he couldn''t help but feel his heart flutter at Su Ci''s adorable appearance.


    He lowered his gaze, avoiding eye contact with Su Ci, and quickly helped her put on the hat.


    Su Ci turned to look in the full-length mirror behind her. The bucket hat was a bit big, so she pressed down the brim, which perfectly covered her rabbit ears, leaving only the lower half of her face visible.


    Su Ci finally cheered up.


    She tugged at the hem of Lu Zhe''s clothes, "Okay, we can go now."


    Her head was throbbing, and she wanted to get home quickly to take medicine and recover. Besides, she had been in the fitting room for so long that the store staff must be annoyed.


    Lu Zhe asked her, "Can you stand up?"


    Su Ci shook her head, "Help me up." If they weren''t in a crowded mall, Su Ci would have shamelessly asked Lu Zhe to carry her on his back.


    "Mm."


    Lu Zhe obligingly helped her up, and Su Ci unabashedly leaned against his chest as they walked out.


    Outside, the female shop assistant had just finished helping another customer when she finally saw the fitting room door open.


    She saw the handsome boy half-embracing the girl as they walked out. The girl wore a hat, showing only her snow-white nose tip and delicate chin.


    The shop assistant hurried forward, "Is there anything I can help you with?" She wondered if the female customer had fallen ill.


    "I got heatstroke earlier and had to rest in your fitting room. I''m sorry for the trouble," Su Ci lied without hesitation, the words flowing smoothly.


    The shop assistant quickly replied, "It''s no problem at all." Even though only half of the girl''s face was visible, she was extraordinarily beautiful. Seeing her unable to walk without support, she was clearly genuinely ill.


    After leaving the clothing store, Su Ci and Lu Zhe walked to the first floor of the mall. Diagonally across from the elevator was a children''s specialty store, where a nursery rhyme was ying:


    Little rabbit white and bright


    Two ears standing tall and right


    Loves to eat carrots and greens so light


    Hopping and jumping, such a delightful sight


    Little rabbit with long ears and short tail


    Oh my, oh my, what a peculiar detail...


    Suddenly hearing the familiar nursery rhyme, even though Su Ci was thick-skinned, she couldn''t help but blush.


    She looked up at Lu Zhe, just as the young man looked down. Their eyes met, and she immediately saw the amusement in his gaze.


    Su Ci turned away angrily, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.


    Huh, she felt thoroughly mocked.


    As the little white rabbit song continued to y, looking at the girl with two rabbit ears in his arms, Lu Zhe''s lips curved up, revealing a shallow dimple on his left cheek.


    ......


    Just before leaving the mall, Su Ci remembered the little boy who had bumped into her earlier.


    He had about ten minutes left before his death.


    The mall was huge, with elevators on every floor. Su Ci had no idea where to find him, and given that middle-aged woman''s personality, even if she tried to intervene, the woman might use her of meddling.


    Su Ci pressed her lips together.


    "Wait a moment," Su Ci asked Lu Zhe to stop, "I need to make a call."


    Then, Lu Zhe watched as Su Ci took out her phone and dialed emergency services. He heard her report an ident at the mall, saying someone was severely injured.


    Su Ci quickly hung up the phone. She wasn''t a savior, and although she wanted the golden cotton candy to save Lu Zhe, it didn''t mean she had to save everyone. She was very clear about her capabilities - she was just a delicate beauty, nothing more.


    Fu Gui had told her the boy would die from blood loss after falling down the elevator.


    The ident hadn''t happened yet, but she had timed it well, calling the ambnce in advance. When the ident urred, the ambnce should arrive just in time.


    Whether the medical staff could save the boy would be up to fate - this was all she could do.


    "Lu Zhe, don''t look at me like that. I can''t tell you anything anyway."


    She knew making such a call in front of Lu Zhe would cause his surprise and confusion, but she would be saving more people in the future, and it would be difficult to hide from him. Since that was the case, there was no point in trying to conceal it.


    Lu Zhe: "Mm."


    Su Ci blinked, "Aren''t you going to ask more questions?"


    "Would you tell me?" Lu Zhe looked at her.


    "Nope!"


    ......


    Ten minutester, Su Ci and Lu Zhe had already left the mall.


    The distance between the first and second floors was the highest in the mall, with the longest elevator ride.


    At this time, the middle-aged woman, both hands full of shopping bags, was cursing as she led her son to the elevator.


    Today had been unlucky - first her son had bumped into that fox-spirit-like beautiful girl, then at the supermarket, a shopping cart had hit her, scraping the skin off her heel, and she had gotten into an argument with the person pushing the cart.


    She let her son get on the elevator first, standing in front of her while she stood behind him with the shopping bags, still mutteringints.


    The little boy ced his Superman toy on the handrail, letting it move along with it.


    The next moment, the boy''s grip slipped, and the toy slid down through the middle of the elevator.


    "My Superman..." Watching his toy fall, the boy anxiously tried to grab it, but his foot missed the step, and he tumbled forward, rolling down the elevator.


    "Son!"


    There were no other passengers in the elevator.


    Watching her son roll down the elevator, the middle-aged woman let out a heart-wrenching scream and rushed down the elevator with her shopping bags.


    The little boyy at the elevator entrance, blood slowly seeping from the back of his head.


    He had hit his head on the elevator steps, creating arge wound.


    "Son, son, don''t scare mommy..." The middle-aged woman''s legs went weak as she rushed forward.


    "Don''t move him!" Several mall customers gathered around, and someone stopped the middle-aged woman.


    "Help, please, save my son!" The middle-aged woman, usually so fierce in arguments, hadpletely lost herposure in this situation.


    "Son, there''s so much blood, so much blood, please someone save my son!" The middle-aged woman cried hoarsely, her hands covered in blood.


    "Someone should call an ambnce," suggested an onlooker.


    "Someone already called an ambnce. But the boy''s face is turning blue, and he''s lost so much blood. If we don''t stop the bleeding, he might not make it until the ambnce arrives," someone sighed.


    Everyone knew that even at top speed, it would take twenty minutes for an ambnce to reach the mall from the hospital, and by then, the boy would be...


    As the blood on the ground spread and the boy''s condition worsened, the crowd looked on helplessly. "Does anyone know first aid? Please help!"


    However, the onlookers were mostly casual shoppers, aunties and uncles who had no medical training, and none dared to step forward.


    The middle-aged woman''s cries grew louder and more desperate. She deeply regretted not watching her child more carefully, not holding his hand, letting him fall from the elevator.


    She beat her chest in remorse.


    The mall security guards had also arrived, and seeing the boy''s condition, they knew it was bad.


    Just when everyone was feeling hopeless for the middle-aged woman, the sound of an ambnce siren suddenly rang out from the mall entrance.


    Who had called the ambnce? How did it arrive so quickly?


    The middle-aged woman, seeing the sudden appearance of medical personnel, began crying even harder, all her previous arrogance gone.


    Su Ci didn''t know how things had turned out at the mall. She was now lying in bed with a throbbing headache.


    "Lu Zhe, I''m hungry," she said. After all the morning''s events, her head was aching and her stomach was empty.


    Lu Zhe: "I''ll make some porridge. You can take medicine after eating."


    "I don''t want porridge." Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe pitifully and started listing her food wishes. "I want mango cake, the roast duck from that street vendor, honey chicken wings, or even just grilled wings, and I also want crab roe xiaolongbao."


    She hadn''t thought much about it before, but now that she was sick, she suddenly had so many cravings.


    Lu Zhe looked down at the girl lying in bed, wearing pink and white bunny ears, chattering away. He coldly interrupted her, "Only in porridge."


    "I''m sick right now, and sick people are very fragile. Shouldn''t you be fulfilling all my requests?" Su Ci looked at him expectantly.


    Lu Zhe turned away - the girl was too good at using her advantages.


    He ignored her requestspletely, "Get some sleep first."


    Lu Zhe walked out.


    Su Ci was dumbfounded. Had Lu Zhe just ignored her?


    Questioning her charm, Su Ci endured her headache and got up from the bed, walking to the mirror.


    Due to her fever, her snow-white cheeks had a slight flush, making herplexion beautifully rosy. Her eyes were especially striking - bright and alluring, with that enchanting beauty mark. Combined with her bunny ears, even her simplest expressions were adorably devastating.


    Well, she confirmed again that Lu Zhe must have poor eyesight and questionable aesthetic taste.


    When Lu Zhe came back in, Su Ci was already asleep.


    He stood nearby, observing how his originally cold room had gained a feminine warmth. His desk and surroundings were now filled with Su Ci''s belongings, transforming it into a girl''s boudoir.


    Looking at Su Ci on the bed, her eyes tightly closed, bunny ears drooping softly on either side, she appeared preciously docile and peaceful.


    He reached out his hand, intending to wake her for food.


    But his fingertips seemed to have a mind of their own,nding on the girl''s pink and white bunny ears instead.


    They were soft and pleasant to touch.


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved slightly as he let the white fur of the bunny ears tickle his palm.


    Su Ci was awakened by Lu Zhe. She opened her eyes groggily, her head still throbbing.


    Lu Zhe asked her quietly, "The porridge is ready. Do you want to eat here or in the living room?"


    "I don''t want to move," Su Ci said weakly.


    Lu Zhe brought in aptop table from somewhere and set it up over the bed. After arranging the table, he brought in the prepared porridge.


    Su Ci had originally nned to protest against eating in porridge. But seeing the corn, mushrooms, and some minced meat in the bowl, all cooked into a fragrant, thick porridge, she silently began eating.


    It had to be said that Lu Zhe''s cooking was excellent. Even with Su Ci''s picky pte, she loved the food he made.


    Su Ci contentedly finished the entire bowl of porridge.


    She leaned against the headboard, her dark eyes looking at Lu Zhe, "Lu Zhe, I want some water."


    Lu Zhe cleared away the bowl and small table, then poured a ss of warm water and handed it to Su Ci along with her medicine.


    Su Ci obediently took the medicine. Looking at the young man standing nearby with his rigid expression, she made another request: "Lu Zhe, I''m a bit hot, could you turn on the air conditioning?"


    Lu Zhe walked to the air conditioner, raised his hand to test the temperature, then set it to 27 degrees - just right.


    "Lu Zhe, I want to eat peaches," Su Ci made yet another request.


    Lu Zhe nced at her, meeting the girl''s innocent gaze.


    He left without making a sound. After a while, he returned with a te of neatly and evenly sliced peaches, apanied by a small fork.


    Aliali: 674546a8c4f3f33ac44c92acAfter finishing the peaches, Su Ci felt content. She turned her gaze to Lu Zhe beside her. The young man was wearing a white and blue school uniform, his features sharp and cold, his figure tall and slender. No matter how she looked at him, he was handsome, and every part of him was exactly what Su Ci liked.


    Her red lips curved into a smile as she continued making unreasonable demands, "Lu Zhe, I want to kiss you."


    Worried that he wouldn''tply, Su Ci added, "If you let me give you one kiss, I''ll go to rest."


    Meeting her gaze, Lu Zhe let out a sigh. He leaned down, his thin lips actively meeting the girl''s glossy red ones, catching her sweet scent. It was just a light touch before he pulled away, saying, "Go to sleep now."


    Su Ci''s eyes sparkled.


    She yfully asked Lu Zhe, "Now that you''ve kissed me, won''t you catch my virus?" Then she shook her head, answering her own question: "Oh, probably not, since we didn''t exchange saliva."


    Lu Zhe gave her a long, quiet look before turning and walking out.


    As the door closed, Su Ci broke into a smile, her rabbit ears swaying back and forth, making her look exactly like a mischievous little rabbit spirit.


    Just as Lu Zhe walked into the living room, the doorbell rang.


    He opened the door to find Zhao Youyou standing outside.

 Chapter 19: 019

    <h4>Chapter 19</h4>


    "Something wrong?" Lu Zhe asked the person at the door.


    Zhao Youyou spoke softly, "During the math test today, you suddenly rushed out of the ssroom. I was worried about you, so I came to check if everything''s alright."


    After all, she had never seen Lu Zhe loseposure like that before. Something important must have happened to make him leave in such a hurry.


    Lu Zhe replied coldly, "I''m fine."


    "Things haven''t been peaceful at hometely. A couple living upstairs has been dumping their garbage in front of our door because of some lottery issue. Mom and Dad have argued with them several times and almost got beaten up. Brother, could youe back and help mediate?" In Zhao Youyou''s view, that couple was being so overbearing because there was no one in their family who could stand up to them.


    Lu Zhe was tall and strong, with a cold exterior that made him look intimidating. With him around, that couple wouldn''t dare to be so reckless.


    Lu Zhe looked at her with an indifferent expression, "I''ve already left the Zhao family."


    Zhao Youyou remembered how her parents had worried that Lu Zhe would im a share of the prize money, so they had himpletely move out of the Zhao household. Even his household registration was no longer in their family registry.


    Indeed, Lu Zhe now had no connection to their family.


    Thinking about this, Zhao Youyou felt somewhat ashamed, "Even if you''ve left the Zhao family, you''re still my brother." He had saved her before, and she wouldn''t forget that.


    "Won''t you invite me in to sit?" Zhao Youyou didn''t mention asking Lu Zhe to return home again. She recalled that she hade to find Lu Zhe several times but never had the chance to look inside.


    Inside the room.


    Su Ci was preparing to rest when she heard a girl''s voice from outside.


    Her beautiful brows furrowed instinctively.


    She recognized it was Zhao Youyou''s voice.


    Su Ci sat up again, wanting to go out, but suddenly remembered she was wearing rabbit ears. She couldn''t let others see her current appearance.


    Walking to the door, Su Ci perked up her ears to eavesdrop on Lu Zhe and Zhao Youyou''s conversation.


    When she heard Zhao Youyou asking Lu Zhe to return and help her deal with the people whose lottery ticket she had stolen, she couldn''t help but roll her eyes.


    Su Ci didn''t dislike white lotuses, but she despised those who wore the facade of a white lotus while acting like a hypocritical bitch.


    Hearing that Zhao Youyou wanted toe in, Su Ci''s eyes curved mischievously, a hint of yfulness shing in them.


    Outside the door, Zhao Youyou wore a faint smile, waiting for Lu Zhe to invite her in.


    At that moment, a girl''s voice came from the room opposite the living room, "Lu Zhe, I can''t sleep. Come in and talk with me."


    The girl''s voice was soft yet carried a willful coquettishness, clearly someone who was spoiled.


    Zhao Youyou was stunned.


    She looked at Lu Zhe in disbelief. There was someone else in his house, and it was a girl?


    Was Lu Zhe living together with a girl?


    How was that possible?


    "You... you don''t live alone?" Zhao Youyou found it hard to believe that Lu Zhe was living with a girl.


    Lu Zhe responded directly: "That''s none of your business."


    Zhao Youyou left with an awkward expression.


    Walking in the narrow and dim stairwell of the old apartmentplex, she couldn''t remember Lu Zhe having any contact with girls in her previous life.


    Living in such conditions and suffering from a terminal illness, no one would want to associate with Lu Zhe. After all, everyone knew that Lu Zhe had ALS; he was a burden, a liability.


    In her previous life, thest time she saw Lu Zhe, his condition had worsened significantly. His cheeks were gaunt, and his limbs were stiff, making him look strange. Even now, thinking about it made her feel somewhat disgusted, let alone others.


    So, who was the girl in Lu Zhe''s room? What was their rtionship?


    Recalling the girl''s spoiled voicemanding Lu Zhe, Zhao Youyou felt inexplicably ufortable.


    Because she realized that Lu Zhe had refused to let her enter because of that girl.


    Inside the room.


    Su Ci waited and waited but Lu Zhe didn''te in.


    She got up from the bed again.


    Without even putting on her shoes, she opened the door and went out. She had originally nned to subtly inquire about him and Zhao Youyou, as she remembered that in the book, he died saving Zhao Youyou. She had once praised this cannon fodder male supporting character for being deeply devoted, but now everything was different.


    She and Lu Zhe were each other''s tools. If she was pure in body and mind, Lu Zhe must be too.


    Otherwise, she would die of anger.


    Su Ci frowned, her fair face filled with displeasure.


    Not seeing Lu Zhe in the living room, she heard sounds from the kitchen and went to look there.


    As soon as she reached the doorway, Su Ci saw the tall young man standing in front of the cab, silently focused on washing dishes.


    Somehow, the balloon of anger in Su Ci''s heart seemed to be pricked by a needle, detingpletely.


    Su Ci asked Fugui, "Why is Lu Zhe so handsome?"


    Fugui didn''t want to answer this question. Lu Zhe waspeting with it for the golden cotton candy; they were enemies, and it didn''t want to praise its enemy.


    Fugui: [Master, ording to the book''s setting, the male lead Fu Baili is supposed to be the most handsome.]


    Su Ci pouted with disgust, "That stingy Fu only knows how to fight, his eyes turn red at the sight of Zhao Youyou, he has a violent temper like a mental patient, and he''s a poor student. Tell me, what''s handsome about him?"


    Fugui didn''t dare to argue, feeling wronged: [So Lu Zhe is a bit more handsome than Fu Baili?]


    Su Ci raised an eyebrow: "Hmm?"


    Fugui trembled: [In Fugui''s eyes, Lu Zhe is the most handsome person in the world.]


    Su Ci let out a light snort and walked toward that world''s most handsome person.


    She kicked him lightly with her toe, "Lu Zhe, why didn''t you answer when I called you?"


    Lu Zhe turned on the faucet to rinse the dishes. Without looking at the girl beside him, he said, "Didn''t you say you had a headache? You should rest."


    Su Ci watched hisrge hands with distinct knuckles, still looking beautiful under the running water. The young man''s washing movements were practiced, as if he often did chores like washing dishes and cooking, no wonder his hands had a thinyer of calluses.


    "I can''t sleep." Su Ci moved closer to him, her ck eyes staring straight at him, asking bluntly, "Lu Zhe, do you like Zhao Youyou?"


    Lu Zhe continued washing without pause, ignoring her words.


    Su Ci persistently stayed close to him.


    Lu Zhe was wearing a short-sleeved summer school uniform, revealing strong, powerful arms. She nced at them, then started counting on her pretty fingers, "Zhao Youyou isn''t as beautiful as me, doesn''t have as good a figure as me, doesn''t have as nice a voice as me, doesn''t have skin as fair as mine, isn''t as kind and cute as me..."


    Su Ci counted for quite a while to Lu Zhe, then eximed, "Wow, I didn''t realize I had so many good points!"


    Lu Zhe had grown used to the girl''s thick-skinned behavior and didn''t respond.


    "Lu Zhe, your aesthetic sense must be on point, don''t overlook my excellence." Su Ci tugged at his clothes and shamelessly made demands: "Now that you have to kiss me every day, you need to keep your body and heart pure until I''mpletely human again. Of course, during this time, I won''t like anyone else either."


    Lu Zhe put the clean dishes aside and finally looked at Su Ci, his dark eyes profound, "You''re overthinking."


    He wouldn''t like anyone, and no one would like him either.


    He understood clearly that even she was just ying around, wanting to tease him and see his awkwardness and embarrassment.


    Lu Zhe sighed, "Go rest. I need to return to school."


    The young man''s expression was indifferent, making it impossible to read his thoughts.


    Su Ci didn''t like Lu Zhe being like this.


    Her eyes curved yfully, a mischievous light shing in them as she kicked Lu Zhe again with her toe, "Carry me back to my room, I forgot to wear shoes."


    Lu Zhe looked down and saw that the foot that had just kicked him was bare, small and snow-white, with the red string he had bought still around her slender ankle, adorned with a cute little jade gourd.


    "Why did youe out without shoes?" Lu Zhe frowned.


    "I was in a hurry to find you!" Su Ci urged him, "Hurry up, the floor is cold."


    Lu Zhe bent down and picked her up in a princess carry.


    Nestled in the young man''s broad embrace, Su Ci lifted her chin and kissed Lu Zhe''s lips.


    Caught off guard by the girl''s kiss on his thin lips, Lu Zhe''s whole body trembled in shock.


    Su Ci didn''t care about Lu Zhe''s reaction. His hands were upied carrying her, so he couldn''t resist. It was the perfect opportunity for her to kiss him.


    Her soft, fragrant red lips kissed the young man''s cool thin lips greedily, again and again.


    While kissing, Su Ci counted: "Add 11 hours."


    "Add 12 hours."


    "Add 13 hours."


    The rabbit in his arms was clever and mischievous. Her soft red lips kissed him randomly, and as his Adam''s apple bobbed, Lu Zhe tightened his arms around her, only managing to scold her in a suppressed voice, "Tuantuan, stop it."


    He turned his head away.


    After several kisses, Su Ci was satisfied. Her rabbit ears twitched happily, and her dark eyes curved into crescents. At this moment, Su Ci was far from an innocent rabbit spirit; rather, she was like a little fox who had sessfully stolen a treat and was now being alluring.


    At the hospital.


    The little boy had been brought in for emergency treatment.


    Only when the doctor announced that the rescue was sessful and her son was out of danger did the middle-aged woman finally breathe a sigh of relief, copsing weakly onto a chair in the hallway.


    The doctor had told her that if the ambnce hadn''t arrived in time, the child would have died from blood loss.


    Thinking about it now, she trembled with fear, breaking into a cold sweat, as if she could already envision the devastating pain of losing her son.


    She didn''t know who the kind person was who had called the ambnce in time, but once her son recovered, she would surely pray for that good Samaritan''s blessing every day.


    By this time, Su Ci had fallen asleep, and only Fugui knew that its master had received another golden cotton candy.


    ...


    Su Ci''s cold came and went quickly; in less than three days, her rabbit ears had disappeared.


    Looking at the money Lu Zhe handed her, Su Ci blinked, "Why are you suddenly giving me money?"


    "I''ll be away for a few days, so you''ll need to handle your own meals," Lu Zhe said, looking at the girl sitting on the sofa. The rabbit ears on her head had vanished, and she had returned to her normal appearance.


    "Where are you going?" Su Ci didn''t take the money.


    "I need to go to City B for apetition." The teacher had earlier helped him register for the national Hope Cup mathematicspetition.


    Upon hearing this, Su Ci immediately said without thinking, "I''ll go with you."


    She didn''t want to stay here alone; the takeout food wasn''t good at all, and it couldn''tpare to Lu Zhe''s cooking.


    Lu Zhe seemed to have anticipated her response, and he said, "You can''te along." He looked at her, "You don''t have any ID, so you can''t board the ne."


    Su Ci froze.


    She remembered that she indeed didn''t have an ID card and couldn''t board the flight.


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe irritably, "Are you happy that I can''t go with you?"


    The girl''s gaze was as reproachful as could be. If her rabbit ears were still visible, they would surely be drooping, and her watery eyes would be using him.


    Lu Zhe rarely saw her at such a loss, and his dark eyes held a hint of amusement. "No."


    Su Ci huffed.


    The next second, thinking of something, she suddenly smiled, "It doesn''t matter if I don''t have an ID. I can just turn back into a rabbit, and you can take me on the ne as a pet."


    Su Ci stood up happily, "I''m such a clever little thing. Lu Zhe, I''ll go pack my clothes now, and you can carry them for me."


    Watching the girl happily return to her room, her light blue skirt disappearing through the doorway, Lu Zhe pinched the bridge of his nose.


    By the time they reached City B, it was afternoon, and the sun was still intense.


    Walking out of the airport, Lu Zhe took the rabbit out of the cage and held her in his hands.


    Su Ci had been miserable in the pressurized cabin for so long; only now, being held in Lu Zhe''s hands, did she feel a bit better.


    Zhao Youyou stood nearby, surprised that Lu Zhe was so fond of this rabbit that he''d even bring it to thepetition. "Brother, can I hold it?" She also loved fluffy pets.


    Su Ci knew that Zhao Youyou had alsoe to participate in thepetition, getting a spot thanks to her protagonist''s halo when the teacher gave her one of thepetition slots.


    She remembered that Zhao Youyou''s participation in thispetition had caused quite a stir, with several female supporting characters who disliked her causing trouble and mocking her for holding the school back.


    Su Ci knew that in thispetition, Zhao Youyou would perform as if she had cheat codes, winning third prize and thoroughly shutting up those female supporting characters.


    However, none of this concerned her.


    Now, hearing Zhao Youyou''s request to hold her, Su Ci''s red eyes rolled. She still remembered the first time Zhao Youyou held her and pulled out her fur.


    Su Ci stretched out her little paws and hugged Lu Zhe''s fingers, her ruby-like rabbit eyes warning him not to let anyone else hold her!


    Zhao Youyou reached out to hold the rabbit.


    Lu Zhe refused, "No, it doesn''t like you."


    Su Ci looked up at the young man above her, then contentedly nuzzled his palm with her head.


    Zhao Youyou hadn''t expected Lu Zhe to be so blunt. Even though she was used to his cold personality, she still felt embarrassed.


    There were five people in total, with Teacher Huang leading the team. Besides Lu Zhe and Zhao Youyou, there were two other students participating.


    When they arrived at the hotel, Teacher Huang began assigning rooms.


    Zhao Youyou and another girl would share a double room, while Lu Zhe and the other male student would share another.


    "I''m sorry, but I''d like a room to myself," Lu Zhe told Teacher Huang. "I can pay for my own room."


    Teacher Huang remembered that Lu Zhe had health issues, so it was understandable that he might not befortable sharing with others. "There''s no need for you to pay; I''ll get you another room."


    Finally, Lu Zhe received his key card; his room was on the seventeenth floor, on a different level from Zhao Youyou and the others.


    As soon as they entered the room, Su Ci in Lu Zhe''s hands eagerly patted his palm with her paws, wanting him to kiss her quickly.


    Lu Zhe looked down to see the rabbit staring up at him urgently with her red eyes.


    His cold hand stroked her head, enjoying the incredibly soft, fluffy feeling.


    She was indeed cuter as a little rabbit.


    After several strokes, Lu Zhe carried the rabbit into the bathroom.


    He looked down and kissed the rabbit''s little mouth, then ced the small rabbit on the floor, taking out the prepared clothes from his backpack and hanging them nearby.


    Lu Zhe went out.


    The door closed, and after a while, the milk-white, snow-like little rabbit on the floor transformed into a graceful young woman.


    With ck hair falling down her back, Su Ci covered her chest as she stood up. She casually nced in the mirror and clicked her tongue: all she saw was snow-white skin and alluring colors, truly bewitching.


    The bathroom door opened.


    Su Ci walked out, now wearing a light smoky purple silk dress. The ethereal color made her skin appear even more fair and translucent. "Finally back to normal," she said.


    She sat down on the bed.


    "I ordered food for you; room service will bring it up soon."


    "What about you?" Su Ci''s feet were bare, not yet wearing shoes, as she stepped on the grey carpet. Her small feet looked even more snow-white and delicate.


    "I need to go downstairs to meet Teacher Huang and the others. After eating, we''ll go check out thepetition venue," Lu Zhe said as he took out Su Ci''s luggage and neatly arranged it nearby.


    Even such ordinary, simple actions looked particrly handsome when Lu Zhe did them.


    Su Ci nodded, not unreasonably asking to go along.


    She looked around the guest room. Being a single room, it wasn''t veryrge. Arge bed sat in the middle, with a TV cab and television in front, and two single armchairs and a small tea table near the window.


    Thinking of something, Su Ci poked Lu Zhe, who was standing by the TV cab, with her toes.


    The young man turned around.


    He saw the girl''s dark eyes twinkling with mischief, a look he was familiar with.


    Sure enough, the next second, he heard her say, "Lu Zhe, there''s only one bed here. Are we sleeping together tonight?"


    His temple twitched.


    Lu Zhe took a deep breath, "I''ll ask service to bring another nket."


    Su Ci smiled triumphantly, "Even with another nket, we''ll still be sharing the same bed."


    Even though she would be sleeping with Lu Zhe at night, she didn''t believe he would do anything to her. Usually, she had to be the one to initiate and beg for kisses, and he was always reluctant. She had questioned his aesthetic preferences several times, or whether he was even a man.


    However, she just enjoyed teasing Lu Zhe, liked seeing him helpless yet patient, unable to do anything about her behavior.


    After eating, Su Ci didn''t obediently stay in the room as Lu Zhe had told her to; she prepared to go out for a stroll.


    Tianseyan was a private restaurant that wasn''t open to the public.


    The ssical decor,bined with the bamboo garden outside, created an elegant atmosphere.


    Several people had just finished their meal and were leaving the private room.


    He Ermeng, the young master of the He family, strolled leisurely behind, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Looking at the woman maintaining her dignified posture in front of him, he wore a displeased expression. "She really thinks she''s the He family''s precious daughter."


    Beside him, Shen Jun pushed up his sses and said, "Well, she did grow up in the Su family, and now that their daughter is gone, Mr. and Mrs. Su miss their daughter and see her as a recement. It''s natural for her to seize the opportunity to climb up the socialdder. Though who would have thought that someone who appeared to be such an innocent rabbit was actually hiding such depths?"


    He Ermeng removed the cigarette from his mouth. "A recement? She''s not worthy."


    The group walked to the entrance to get their cars.


    Qin Shiyan turned around, removing her sunsses. Under the harsh sunlight, the small beauty mark at the corner of her eye was particrly striking. "My agent is waiting for me, and I have appointments this afternoon. It was lovely dining with you all today. Let''s meet again soon."


    Shen Jun nodded with a cultured smile.


    Qin Shiyan returned his smile warmly, but in the next moment, her gaze caught something in the distance and she froze.


    Aliali: 674546a8c4f3f33ac44c92acHe Ermeng followed her line of sight, and instantly gripped his cigarette so tightly in excitement that he didn''t even notice when it burned his fingers. "Is that her?"


    The slender figure of the girl quickly disappeared around the corner.


    He Ermeng threw away his crushed cigarette and made to chase after her.


    Qin Shiyan snapped back to reality. "Young Master He, you must be mistaken."


    He Ermeng shot her a fierce re. "That''s bullshit." He didn''t even bother to get his car, running frantically in that direction.


    "Who did you all see?" Shen Jun turned to look but saw nothing.


    Qin Shiyan''s beautiful face resumed its gentle expression, the alluring beauty mark below her eye somewhat at odds with her features. "Young Master He saw a girl who looks very simr to her."


    Shen Jun understood.


    This wasn''t the first time this had happened. Whenever He Ermeng saw a simr back view or profile, he would mistake it for her and chase after it like a man possessed.


    He still couldn''t ept the fact that the Su family''s daughter was dead.

 Chapter 20: 020

    <h4>Chapter 20</h4>


    From the hotel, Su Ci decided to take a leisurely stroll alone.


    She found the surroundings quite familiar. The environment in the book should have been described by the author based on real life, as many famousndmarks existed and were in the same locations as in her original world.


    This world wouldn''t make her feel too alien.


    The afternoon sun was scorching. After walking for a while, Su Ci felt both thirsty and tired. She pushed open the door of a nearby beverage shop and walked in.


    The slender figure had already disappeared. He Ermeng watched the bustling street, kicking the tree trunk beside him forcefully, his eyes dark.


    At that moment, his phone rang.


    "Shen Jun said you saw Xiao Ci?" The man''s voice on the other end was deep.


    He Ermeng panted, his breathing unsteady, "Brother Yuan, this time I didn''t misidentify her. The person I saw was definitely Su Ci."


    His tone was certain, "Su Ci isn''t dead."


    On the other end, Su ZhiYuan was silent for a moment, "Where is she?"


    He Ermeng wiped the sweat from his face. The little tyrant had never been so disheveled before. His voice lowered, "When I chased after her, she disappeared."


    Su ZhiYuan spoke firmly, "I''ll have someone investigate the nearby surveince cameras."


    It was a hot summer day, and the beverage shop was bustling with business.


    Su Ci stood in line, and the two boys in front of her asionally turned back to sneak nces at her. When their eyes met, one of them, a handsome boy, instantly blushed, wanting to strike up a conversation but was extremely shy.


    This was the normal reaction boys had when they saw her.


    Unlike Lu Zhe, who remained indifferent despite her stunning beauty constantly in his presence.


    "Would you like to go ahead?" The boy in front mustered up the courage to talk to Su Ci, offering to let her cut in line.


    Su Ci nced at his reddening face and directly refused, "No, thank you."


    The handsome boy''s disappointment was evident as he withdrew his gaze.


    Su Ci didn''t care, and at that moment, someone tapped her on the back.


    Behind her, a man in green clothes handed her a business card, "Hello, I''m a talent agent from Creation God Company. Are you interested in doingmercials?"


    The man in green removed his sunsses, satisfiedly examining the girl in front of him.


    The entertainment industry wasn''t short of beautiful actresses, but few were as stunning that one couldn''t take their eyes off them. With such looks, if she entered the industry, others would only be background.


    Discovering a promising talent, the man in green was a bit excited, "You''ve heard of Creation God Company, right? Xie Yinan and Zheng Hao, these two top actors, are from ourpany."


    Su Ci looked at him with a hint of excitement and slowly said, "No, I haven''t heard of them."


    The book mainly focused on Zhao Youyou and Fu Baili''s passionate love story, with no mention of the entertainment industry.


    Moreover, it was unclear whether this man was a scammer.


    After all, some scammers posed as agents, iming to find models formercials or magazines, targeting young girls on the street.


    They would lure the girls to a so-called advertisingpany, make them take model cards, and then charge them a hefty fee to buy the cards, iming that having the cards would make it easier for the girls to get more advertising jobs.


    This was something she had heard from her assistant, who also mentioned that many girls fell for it, losing a lot of money.


    It was unclear whether this man was a scammer.


    "You''ve never heard of Xie Yinan?" The man in green looked shocked.


    "No." Su Ci''s gaze fell on the hand offering the card, noticing a red line on his wristbeled: 9 hours.


    She called out to Fu Gui, "How did this man die?"


    Fu Gui: [Died in a drunk driving ident.]


    Su Ci nced at the man a few more times. Drunk driving?


    She detested those who drove under the influence, as it was irresponsible for one''s own and others'' lives.


    The man in green didn''t expect a young person not to know Xie Yinan, as Xie Yinan was almost a household name.


    "It doesn''t matter if you don''t know him. You just need to know that ourpany is very capable. If you enter the entertainment industry, we can definitely make you a star."


    Su Ci had a good self-awareness. Even without the man''s praise, she knew she would be a star if she entered the industry.


    "So, are you interested?" The man in green looked at Su Ci with eager eyes.


    After his previous artist became famous, the artist broke the contract with thepany, causing thepany to be dissatisfied with him. His rival, who had recently brought a new talent to stardom, took the opportunity to belittle him.


    If he could sign the girl in front of him, he could definitely turn things around.


    Su Ci was currently broke and knew she would return to the entertainment industry, as it was a ce to make money and a familiar job for her.


    If this man was truly an agent, this was an opportunity presented to her.


    Taking the man''s business card, Su Ci''s red lips curled up, "I''m interested in entering the entertainment industry, but I need to confirm if you''re a scammer. Also, if you want to be my agent, you can''t get drunk."


    The man in green looked bewildered at this request.


    Su Ci didn''t care what he thought. She pocketed the card, "I''ll contact you, hopefully, your phone is on."


    Don''t die in a drunk driving ident.


    The man in green quickly said, "Don''t worry, my phone is on 24/7."


    Su Ci nced at him and said no more.


    ...


    After viewing thepetition venue with other contestants, Teacher Huang led them back to the hotel.


    Zhao Youyou called out to Lu Zhe, "Brother, this is my first time in City B. Thepetition doesn''t start until tomorrow. How about you take me out for a walk?"


    Zhao Youyou wanted to explore, but she only knew Lu Zhe here.


    "I''ve done my homework beforehand and know where the good food is. Brother, let''s go together." Zhao Youyou suggested.


    Lu Zhe coldly refused, "No."


    Watching Lu Zhe''s tall figure disappear into the elevator, Zhao Youyou''s eyes filled with grievance. She remembered that in her previous life, Lu Zhe was also cold to her, but not as resolute as now.


    Zhao Youyou suddenly thought that this life, she had won the lottery, leading her parents topletely evict Lu Zhe from their home. It must be this incident that made Lu Zhe distance himself from her.


    Although this was her original intention, seeing Lu Zhe ignore her now made Zhao Youyou feel ufortable.


    She walked dejectedly towards the hotel entrance.


    At that moment, a beautiful girl walked in.


    She wore a light mauve dress, her skin fair, looking like a blooming violet on a hot summer day, exquisite and beautiful, making others feel inferior.


    After her rebirth, Zhao Youyou was always called the school flower.


    With her light makeup, she looked delicate, her figure slender, her skin white, prettier than the original school flower, Jiang Mengqi.


    So, in terms of appearance, Zhao Youyou was very confident.


    Now, seeing the girl walking into the hotel, Zhao Youyou was both amazed and, for the first time, found someone so perfectly beautiful.


    Watching the beautiful girl pass by, Zhao Youyou couldn''t help but look at her back.


    She knew that most girls like this were pampered and built by money, unlike her, who was naturally beautiful.


    Su Ci had already noticed Zhao Youyou. She nced at her indifferently and walked past her.


    Previously, she hadn''t paid much attention, but just now, she saw that Zhao Youyou''s life value on her wrist was green!


    This was the first time she had seen a green life value.


    A full green life value meant Zhao Youyou could live to be over a hundred years old. Was this the heroine''s halo? Even her lifespan was longer than others?


    Su Ci felt a pang of envy. She wanted a green life value too. She wanted to live to be a hundred.


    In the hotel room.


    After returning, Lu Zhe didn''t find Su Ci in the room. Remembering her innocent face in the afternoon, telling him she would stay in the room and wait for him, Lu Zhe curled his lips.


    What a little liar who doesn''t bat an eye.


    When Little Deceiver herself returned, she looked at Lu Zhe sitting across from her, ready to have dinner, and felt a surge of happiness.


    "You''re back," she said, walking over and sitting down on the other side, starting to use him first, "I waited for you for a long time, and it was so boring that I went out for a stroll."


    Lu Zhe nced at her, his gaze lingering on her flushed, lively, and beautiful face, possibly from the heat of walking. "Go wash your hands and eat."


    Su Ci looked at the table, where several dishes were to her liking. She smiled and picked up a wet wipe from the hotel, handing it to Lu Zhe. "My legs are sore, I don''t want to move. I can just use the wet wipe to clean my hands."


    She extended her hands towards Lu Zhe, her watery eyes blinking. "Lu Zhe, help me wipe them, my hands are covered in dust, they''re so dirty."


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze.


    The girl''s hands were fair and slender, with her fingertips faintly pink under the light¡ªthere was no dust as she imed.


    With his cold,rge hands, Lu Zhe easily gathered her small hands together, pushing them back along with the wet wipe into her own hands, his voice calm: "Wipe them yourself."


    Su Ci was taken aback.


    This man truly had no heart!


    He had no desire!


    Late at night, the entire city was immersed in darkness.


    After taking a shower, Su Ci stepped out wearing the hotel''s white disposable slippers, walking over to the bed where the boy was arranging the nkets.


    Lu Zhe had indeed asked the hotel staff for an extra nket, which he folded into a strip and ced in the middle of the bed.


    Su Ci realized that the little pitiful one had a conservative heart. "I''m not worried that you''ll do anything to me, why are you putting the nket in the middle?"


    Lu Zhe finished arranging the bed''s boundary and replied, "I''m afraid you''lle over during the night."


    Su Ci: ......


    Hmph, I''m annoyed!


    After Lu Zhe showered and came out, he saw Su Ci already lying in bed, her eyes closed, presumably asleep. Next to her, the nket he had arranged was pushed to the side by the girl, leaving him only a narrow space.


    With a helpless smile, he turned off the light.


    Lu Zhey down in the space left by the girl.


    Having gotten used to sleeping on a foldable bed, this narrow space was no problem for Lu Zhe.


    He closed his eyes.


    His muscles began to twitch, and Lu Zhe was used to this kind of twitching pain. However, he was surprised to find that the frequency of muscle twitching had decreased in recent days.


    The night was deep.


    The scent of the girl''s warmth reached his nose, and Lu Zhe''s eyes remained closed, waiting for the muscle twitching to stop.


    At that moment, the sound of fabric rubbing came from beside him.


    In the next instant, a soft touch pressed against him, and the girl suddenly snuggled into his embrace.


    "Su Ci!"


    "Here I am," Su Ci kicked the troublesome nket away, which fell to the ground, and embraced Lu Zhe, her voice filled withughter, "Lu Zhe, you forgot to kiss me. You only kissed me once today, and tomorrow at noon I''ll turn back into a rabbit."


    The girl''s body was soft and pliant, as if boneless, leaning against him. Lu Zhe''s jaw tightened. "Go back to sleep, I''ll kiss you tomorrow."


    Su Ci was dissatisfied. "Why wait until tomorrow? You''ll bepeting tomorrow."


    Lu Zhe''s muscles twitched, and the girl in his arms was extremely restless, slipping around like a fish. He tensed up all over and, in the darkness, kissed her haphazardly.


    "Lu Zhe, you kissed the wrong ce, you kissed my eye."


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips pressed together, and he kissed again, just as the girl turned her head.


    Su Ci was wicked, using the boy, "You kissed the wrong ce again, you kissed my neck."


    Aliali: 67486ac8c4f3f33ac478693dLu Zhe gritted his teeth, feeling that the girl in his arms was even worse than a demon.


    In the dim light, Su Ci''s eyes curved withughter. "Forget it, I''ll kiss you."


    Saying that, she raised her chin and her red lips uratelynded on the boy''s cold lips.


    Having good night vision as a rabbit, Su Ci felt she could see Lu Zhe''s astonished expression clearly even in the dark.


    She felt a little triumphant.


    Her eyes narrowed, and the little teardrop mole was both alluring and captivating. Su Ci slightly parted her teeth, lightly biting Lu Zhe''s lip, teasingly rubbing it with the tip of her teeth.


    Ouch!


    Lu Zhe wasn''t sure if it was his twitching muscles or his heart throbbing.


    He suddenly rolled over, pinning the girl beneath him.


    His clear voice, for the first time, carried a tone of gritted teeth, "Su Ci!"


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 21: 021

    <h4>Chapter 21</h4>


    The girl was naughty and demanding.


    Lu Zhe''s brows furrowed, his thin lips pressed tight, wanting to scold her and tell her to stop fooling around.


    Below him, Su Ci looked up with bright eyes at the young man who was exasperated by her behavior. She wrapped her arms around his neck without any shame, pulling him down while using, "Don''t be angry. When I ask for a kiss, you should kiss me properly."


    The girl lying beneath was soft all over. Lu Zhe had his hands propped on either side, afraid of crushing her, when she suddenly pulled him down, causing him to fall unexpectedly on top of her.


    Lu Zhe found himself surrounded by softness.


    His entire body tensed up, and he gritted his teeth, scolding in a low voice: "Let go!"


    When had Su Ci ever obediently listened to him?


    Her eyes curved with mischief, "Lu Zhe, you''re so heavy, I can barely breathe."


    Lu Zhe: ......


    How could there be a girl so full of mischief?


    She was infuriating, yet there was nothing he could do about it.


    Lu Zhe sighed.


    He lowered his head to her ear, his low voice carrying a hint of coaxing, "Stop fooling around."


    Then, in the night, his cool thin lips pressed against her soft ones.


    He knew the little rabbit liked to be pampered.


    With just that gentle kiss, the girl quieted down.


    "Go to sleep, I have apetition tomorrow," Lu Zhe''s cool voice sounded even deeper in the quiet room.


    Su Ci blinked.


    The cool sensation lingered on her lips. This wasn''t the first time Lu Zhe had kissed her, but it felt different somehow. Her heart felt like someone had gently poked it.


    It was tingly and numb, and it felt nice.


    Su Ci was greedy. Her slender arms tightened around Lu Zhe''s neck, "Lu Zhe, kiss me one more time and I''ll let go." One more kiss, and she could maintain her human form for the whole day tomorrow.


    Lu Zhe looked at her, lowered his head, and kissed those overly soft lips again.


    His nose was filled with her sweet scent, and Lu Zhe''s dark eyes grew even deeper.


    After Su Ci''s yful disruption settled down, Lu Zhe''s muscle spasms had stopped. Looking at the moonlight streaming through the window, he somewhat regretted his indulgence towards the girl.


    She was too clever, testing his boundaries time and again, forcing him to retreat step by step.


    Lu Zhe''s rigid face remained expressionless as he gently moved the girl''s arm from his waist.


    Turning to his side, he faced away from the girl and fell asleep.


    ......


    In the morning, the entire city was bathed in golden sunlight.


    Lu Zhe was awakened by something nudging him.


    He opened his eyes and looked down to see the girl''s head burrowed into his chest, her fair face pressed against him, unconsciously nuzzling.


    His eyes darkened as he pushed her away.


    The air conditioning was on in the room, making it slightly cold. He got up and pulled the fallen nket back up, gently covering Su Ci.


    When the doorbell rang, Lu Zhe had just finished washing up.


    He opened the door to find Zhao Youyou standing outside.


    "Brother, good morning! Are you ready? I came to get you for breakfast. Teacher Huang said we''ll meet in the lobby at nine to leave together." Zhao Youyou was in high spirits today, wearing a pale yellow dress.


    Ever since she won the five million lottery, her family''s financial situation hadpletely changed. She had thrown away all her old clothes, and her mother had apanied her to buy a new wardrobe.


    The dress she was wearing was newly bought, making her appear even more fair and beautiful. Zhao Youyou loved her new look.


    She urged Lu Zhe, "Brother, the other two team members are already downstairs having breakfast, let''s hurry."


    "I''m not going. You go ahead," Lu Zhe refused.


    Having just washed his face, water droplets clung to Lu Zhe''s deep-set brow bone, trailing down his sharp jawline and disappearing into his cor, exuding an indescribable sensuality.


    Zhao Youyou was momentarily stunned.


    Before her reincarnation, Zhao Youyou hadn''t understood why so many girls at school liked the destitute, cold, and wooden Lu Zhe. Now that she had returned, she understood - if it weren''t for his terminal illness and orphan status, he was indeed exceptional.


    "So noisy."


    A girl''s spoiledint suddenly rang out from inside the room,pletely interrupting Zhao Youyou''s thoughts.


    Zhao Youyou was dumbfounded, her face full of shock.


    There was a woman in Lu Zhe''s room?


    She peered inside in disbelief and finally noticed someone lying in Lu Zhe''s bed. The person had their back to her, covered by a nket, and she could see one foot peeking out from under the covers.


    It was a small foot, as if dipped in snow, with a red string tied around the delicate ankle.


    Just one nce was enough to set imagination running wild.


    Not only was there a woman in Lu Zhe''s room, but they had spent the night together?


    Zhao Youyou''s head spun, as if struck by something heavy, unable to process the situation.


    She thought of Lu Zhe who had saved her in her previous life, then looked at the Lu Zhe before her who was cold towards her and had a woman in his room. Zhao Youyou felt a sourness in her heart, like a child whose favorite toy had been stolen.


    Even though she had given him up before, now that someone else had taken him, she found herself unwilling to let go.


    Zhao Youyou''s eyes reddened with jealousy as she looked at Lu Zhe awkwardly, "I''ll head down first."


    With that, she practically ran away, her pale yellow dress disappearing around the corridor corner.


    Lu Zhe closed the door and turned around to see Su Ci sitting up in bed, wrapped in white sheets, her pure white face full of drowsiness.


    "Zhao Youyou asked you to breakfast?" Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe with reproachful eyes.


    Afraid of what the girl might say, Lu Zhe directly told her: "I refused."


    Su Ci had certainly heard him refuse Zhao Youyou; otherwise, she would have shown herself already.


    Su Ciy down and moved to the foot of the bed, watching the young man check his documents and stationery in his backpack.


    She propped her face in her hands, her dark eyes twinkling with smile, "I won''t wish you luck for thepetition, you''ll definitely get first ce anyway."


    Lu Zhe turned to look at her, "Why are you so sure I''ll get first ce? What if I don''t?"


    Su Ci nced at him and said matter-of-factly: "First ce belongs to you."


    Su Ci sat up, the jade gourd on her foot swaying with her movement.


    Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Lu Zhe, "How about we make a bet? If you get first ce, you kiss me five times. If you don''t get first ce, you kiss me ten times."


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond, he just picked up his backpack and walked out.


    This was an affirmative proposition, not a multiple choice question.


    ......


    After Lu Zhe left, Su Ci went back to sleep, not waking up until noon.


    Seeing the lunch delivered by room service, Su Ci realized Lu Zhe had already ordered food for her.


    Tsk, the poor dear was so thoughtful.


    Su Ci remembered the agent from yesterday, and she found his card and called the number.


    She wasn''t sure if anyone would answer.


    However, the call was picked up after just two rings.


    Looks like he hadn''t died.


    Su Ci was a bit happy. She closed her eyes and discovered she had received a golden cotton candy, presumably from the agent.


    Previously, Lu Zhe had eaten two golden cotton candies, one from when she saved Li Ran, and one from the little boy at the mall.


    She had been observingtely. Before, when Lu Zhe walked, one of his legs would limp slightly. It wasn''t noticeable when he walked slowly, but became apparent when he walked faster. These past few days, she noticed Lu Zhe''s leg seemed to have improved somewhat, at least she hadn''t seen him fall while walking.


    Su Ci was curious about how many golden cotton candies Lu Zhe would need to eat to fully recover.


    On the other end of the phone, the agent''s tone was somewhat impatient, "Who is this?"


    Su Ci replied unhurriedly, "Mr. Xu, you gave me your card yesterday."


    Hearing Su Ci''s voice, agent Xu Duo immediately remembered, "It''s you." His voice carried a hint of joy; he had finally received a call from this girl.


    "Are you interested in signing with ourpany?" Xu Duo asked her.


    "I want to know more about the advertisement you mentioned - what kind of advertisement it is, and what thepensation would be. I haven''t decided about signing with thepany yet." She needed money now, and since an opportunity to earn had presented itself, she had no reason to refuse.


    If it were any other young artist being so presumptuous, Xu Duo would have hung up already. But Su Ci was different - not only did she have exceptional qualities, but she also brought him good fortune.


    Xu Duo strongly believed in feng shui and destiny.


    Last night his friend had invited him out for drinks, but he had declined, and the reason for his refusal was Su Ci.


    Before, he drank every day because of work issues and was taken advantage of by his rival, but after meeting Su Ci, Xu Duo knew his chance to turn things around hade, so he no longer wanted to drink in frustration.


    Therefore, he declined his friend''s invitation yesterday.


    It wasn''t until this morning that he received a call: his friend had been involved in a serious car identst night due to drunk driving, suffering aminuted fracture in one leg, which might leave him crippled, and three broken ribs, with severe head trauma. After a night, the doctors barely managed to pull him back from the brink of death.


    While feeling sad for his friend, Xu Duo was also filled with fear, breaking out in a cold sweat.


    If he had gone out drinkingst night, he would have been in that car, and perhaps he would have died in the ident.


    Although it sounded far-fetched, he couldn''t help but feel that it was because of this girl that he had escaped death.


    Thinking this, Xu Duo''s attitude towards Su Ci became even more amiable. "There''s an ad for a beverage, and the client wants to find a beautiful new face. Do you have time toe for an audition tomorrow?"


    Su Ci didn''t notice the change in the agent''s attitude towards her. "Send me the audition address."


    Xu Duo readily agreed.


    ......


    The day after thepetition, Lu Zhe didn''t leave with the group but instead requested to stay for two more days.


    Zhao Youyou felt that Lu Zhe staying behind must be because of the person in his room. She was ufortable and wanted to know what the woman in Lu Zhe''s room looked like, who she was.


    In the previous life, up until his death, he had been alone, never having much contact with any woman.


    When Lu Zhe returned to the hotel, Su Ci had already changed her clothes.


    She asked Lu Zhe to apany her to the audition.


    Upon arriving at the audition location, Xu Duo was already waiting at the door.


    Su Ci noticed that this agent liked to wear green clothes. Yesterday it was dark green, and today it was a mint green suit, even the socks were mint green. The only thing missing was a green hat.


    This green-d man made Su Ci think of Lu Zhe''s ssmate, the little pink one.


    Tsk, if the two walked together, they''d be the little pink and the little green.


    "You''re here," Xu Duo wiped the sweat from his forehead. When he saw the young man beside Su Ci, his eyes lit up. "Is this your friend?"


    Xu Duo, having been in the entertainment industry for so many years, had long since developed a sharp eye.


    Su Ci''s friend was not only tall and well-built, with a model''s frame, but also had an outstanding face, good bone structure, and a unique, aloof temperament. If he entered the entertainment industry, he would undoubtedly be a heartthrob.


    "Don''t even think about it," Su Ci saw through Xu Duo''s intentions at a nce and directly cut off his fantasies. "He''s not entering the entertainment industry."


    She would earn money to support Lu Zhe.


    Xu Duo''s eyes showed a hint of regret, but when he looked at Su Ci''s face, he was invigorated again. He wasn''t greedy; having found one treasure was enough. Having too many treasures would be bad luck.


    Xu Duo wiped the sweat from his forehead again. "I''ll take you in. Just follow the photographer''s instructions for the photoshoot." Although it was called an audition, for Su Ci, it was just a formality. The role was definitely hers, and they could start shooting right away.


    After introducing Su Ci to the director and photographers, Su Ci prepared to go to the makeup room.


    "Lu Zhe, wait for me here for a bit, it won''t be long," Su Ci led Lu Zhe to a seat and sat down. It was just a small ad with only a few shots, so the shooting time wouldn''t be very long.


    "You might get bored," Su Ci let go of his hem, "but you have to endure it."


    Lu Zhe was already used to boredom. "Mm."


    Su Ci''s red lips curved. She leaned close to the boy''s ear and whispered, "I''m going to earn money to support you."


    The warm breath of the girlnded on his ear, a bit ticklish.


    By the time Lu Zhe came to his senses, the girl had already walked into the makeup room.


    Support him?


    Lu Zhe''s expression on his stiff face was indifferent. He lowered his eyes and clenched his hand at his side.


    In the makeup room, the makeup artist felt she had encountered the most awkward moment in her career.


    Facing such a wless face, she didn''t know where to start.


    Her makeup skills were excellent; she could turn an ugly person into a fairy, but she didn''t have the ability to turn a fairy into a god.


    "Yourplexion is the best I''ve ever seen among the artists I''ve worked with," the makeup artist couldn''t help but praise Su Ci.


    Su Ci nodded in agreement. Apart from anything else, she had always been very confident in her appearance.


    Since the ad was for a yogurt drink, with a sweet theme, Su Ci had to change into a pink dress prepared by the costume designer.


    The content of the ad was simple: Su Ci sitting on a tree picking fruit, then putting the fruit into milk, and finally filming her delicious expression while drinking the beverage.


    Lu Zhe watched the girl under the lights and camera, glowing as if she were born to be in front of the lens, born to receive the attention and praise of the crowd.


    After finishing the shot of picking fruit on the tree, Su Ci came over to Lu Zhe to rest while waiting for the props team to set up the next scene.


    "Lu Zhe, how did I do?" Su Ci leaned close to him without any hesitation.


    Lu Zhe''s expression was calm. "Very good."


    "Really?"


    Receiving praise from Lu Zhe, Su Ci''s eyes curved with a hint of pride. After all, in her previous life, she entered the entertainment industry not by acting but by her looks, which led to her being constantly criticized as a vase.


    She couldn''t tolerate being called ugly, but she could ept being criticized for not having acting skills. She wasn''t a professional, nor was she born with acting talent. The haters were just stating facts when they said shecked acting skills.


    Now that Lu Zhe praised her for acting well, Su Ci felt a bit pleased.


    She bent down, untied the red string from her ankle, and stuffed it into Lu Zhe''s hand. "I''ll be shooting full-body shotster, you hold onto this for me, don''t lose it." After saying that, she went back to shoot the remaining shots.


    Lu Zhe looked at the red string in his hand.


    It was a thin string with a jade-colored gourd, something he had casually bought for the rabbit at a street stall, not a valuable item. But the girl wore it every day.


    He looked at Su Ci, who was stunning under the camera. The girl seemed to sense his gaze, looked over, and smiled at him, her eyes like stars.


    Lu Zhe tightened his grip on the red string.


    The ad shoot went smoothly, and the director was very satisfied with Su Ci''s performance. Xu Duo could see that Su Ci had a good sense of the camera, born to be in the entertainment industry.


    He paid Su Ci and tried to persuade her to sign a contract. "I''ll send you an electronic version of the contractter. If you think it''s okay, we can arrange a time to sign."


    Su Ci wasn''t in a hurry. "Sure, I''ll give you a reply after looking at the contract."


    Xu Duo was genuinely sincere about signing Su Ci. "Don''t worry, after I go back, I''ll try to negotiate with thepany to give you a top-tier contract." If such a good seed were snatched away by anotherpany, he would be devastated.


    Su Ci smiled. She had signed contracts before, so she would decide everything after looking at the contract.


    Xu Duo saw her to the door, chatted a few more words, and then left.


    At that moment, a car drove in from outside.


    Inside the car, seeing the familiar face outside the window, Qin Shiyan was shocked.


    "Shiyan, what''s wrong?" The agent beside her didn''t get a response and patted Qin Shiyan''s hand.


    Qin Shiyan''s blood seemed to freeze, and she could clearly hear her heart beating.


    It was her!


    It was Su Ci!


    No, she should be dead, she couldn''t be here.


    Qin Shiyan tried to suppress the shock in her heart and looked back at the girl.


    The familiar teardrop mole at the same position as hers made her heart skip a beat.


    After getting out of the car, Qin Shiyan hadposed herself. She asked her assistant to find out what the girl outside the door was doing here.


    Soon, the assistant returned. "Shiyan, I asked around. She''s here to shoot an ad. They were filming an ad for a small-brand beverage in the next studio just now."


    Qin Shiyan subconsciously frowned.


    She was certain that the person outside the door was Su Ci. Even if she didn''t want to admit it, there could be no second Su Ci, the princess raised by the Su Family, only one.


    Since Su Ci wasn''t dead, why hadn''t she returned to the Su Family and instead came to shoot such a small ad?


    Qin Shiyan''s eyes shed with a dramatic thought. Could it be that Su Ci had lost her memory?


    "Sister Fang, I want to take over the ad next door," Qin Shiyan discussed with her agent.


    "The ad next door has already been shot," the agent frowned. "And such a small ad doesn''t match your current status."


    "Sister Fang, help me get the director to rece the person. I don''t care about the ad fee."


    Su Ci must not appear in front of the Su Family. Ideally, Su Ci should disappear forever.


    At the Su Family residence.


    Su Zhiyuan returned from thepany, his usually gloomy and heavy brows slightly rxed.


    "Young Master, you''re back," the servant greeted as she saw Su Zhiyuan.


    "Where''s my mother?" Su Zhiyuan''s features were delicate and beautiful, but he had no trace of femininity. His demeanor was cold, exuding an ethereal air of a noble gentleman.


    "Madam is in Miss''s room," Hua''s Wife said with a hint of sorrow.


    She had been with the Su Family for a long time and had watched the youngdy grow up. In a disrespectful way, she considered the youngdy as half her daughter. The beautiful and pampered youngdy was gone, and the entire Su Family had been in deep mourning for a long time.


    "I''ll go take a look," Su Zhiyuan went upstairs. He hadn''t stepped into his sister''s room for a long time. Everything was kept as it was, each piece of furniture and decoration was what his sister liked.


    Su Zhiyuan saw his mother sitting on his sister''s bed in a daze. He strode over and knelt in front of her, "Mom."


    "You''re back," Su''s Mother looked at her eldest son, her eyes instantly turning red. "I miss Ci Ci." Her daughter was her heart and lungs. Now that she was gone, she felt like she couldn''t breathe.


    Su Zhiyuan took out a stack of photos from a file, "Mom, look, it''s Ci Ci."


    The photos were screenshots from a surveince camera.


    Su''s Mother''s hands trembled as she held the photos. She wanted to look closely but was blinded by tears, making the images blurrier.


    Su Zhiyuan handed her a tissue, "Mom, Ci Ci is not dead."


    "Have you found her?" Su''s Mother''s voice trembled. Her well-maintained face was wet with tears, and she didn''t care about her disheveled appearance. "Where is Ci Ci? Take me to see her quickly."


    Su Zhiyuan''s expression darkened, "We only have footage from part of the surveince. She left the camera''s view, and my people haven''t found out where she went yet. However, we can now confirm that Ci Ci is not dead. This is good news. I will find her as soon as possible."


    Su''s Mother was overjoyed and cried, "Has your father been informed?"


    Su Zhiyuan shook his head, "Not yet."


    "I''ll call your father." Since their daughter''s disappearance, she had heard her husband cry in the middle of the night several times.


    The next day, Su Ci received a call from her agent, Xu Duo, informing her that her ad had been reced by a newly popr actress.


    Su Ci was a bit surprised. Were resources so tight now that even such a small ad could be snatched?


    However, she didn''t care much. After all, she would still get paid. Xu Duo didn''t take muchmission from her, and she would receive 30,000 yuan, which was a reasonable price for a neer who hadn''t appeared on screen.


    After hanging up the phone, Su Ci leaned close to Lu Zhe.


    "Lu Zhe, what''s your bank card number?" Su Ci asked him.


    Lu Zhe was packing their luggage. Hearing the girl''s question, he gave her his card number.


    A few minutester, he received a text message indicating that 30,000 yuan had been transferred to his ount.


    Aliali: 67486ac8c4f3f33ac478693dSu Ci leaned closer to him and nced at the message, "It''s in the ount, pretty fast."


    Lu Zhe frowned, "Why are you transferring money to me?"


    "I want to support you," Su Ci blinked at him. "And I don''t have a card, so I''ll keep all the money I earn with you."


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips tightened. His pitch-ck eyes looked deeply at Su Ci, "I don''t need you to support me."


    Su Ci remembered that men had pride and didn''t like to live off others. She understood and casually said, "Then consider it as temporarily stored with you."


    "Mm," Lu Zhe didn''t object further.


    Su Ci sat on the bed, continuing to watch Lu Zhe pack their luggage.


    Thinking of something, her eyes lit up, "Lu Zhe, let''s go eat hot pot tonight. I want spicy."


    Lu Zhe nodded. He had no particr preferences when it came to food.


    Su Ci''s eyes curved slightly, and she said shamelessly, "After eating spicy, you can kiss me. I want a fiery kiss."

 Chapter 22: 022

    <h4>Chapter 22</h4>


    They indeed had hotpot for dinner.


    Su Ci used to be unable to eat spicy food, and unexpectedly, even with this new body, she still couldn''t handle spice.


    After dipping into the spicy side of the split pot, she found it very hot, while beside her, Lu Zhe expressionlessly ate the food she picked for him, which was covered in red chili oil.


    "Isn''t it spicy?" Su Ci had originally thought she could handle spice and Lu Zhe couldn''t, but it turned out to bepletely opposite.


    Lu Zhe maintained hisposure, "It''s fine."


    The hot soup was steaming, and through the vapor, Su Ci stared intently at Lu Zhe''s lips. Due to the spicy food, his lips had turned a deep red, and his usually sharp facial features appeared softer in the steam.


    Male beauty could be quite alluring too.


    "Lu Zhe, I want to try spicy again," Su Ci said, resting her chin on her hand while gazing at him with sparkling eyes.


    Lu Zhe helped her pick some food from the non-spicy side and ced it in her bowl, "Are you sure you can handle it?"


    Earlier, she had coughed with reddened eyes after just a tiny taste of spice.


    Su Ci nced at the bubbling red oil in the pot, shook her head, and looked at him with bright eyes, "I don''t want the pot''s spiciness, I want to taste it from your lips."


    His grip on the chopsticks tightened as Lu Zhe gave her a cool nce.


    Even though Lu Zhe knew Su Ci was both mischievous and demanding, every time she said something shocking, it tested his patience anew.


    Lu Zhe coughed and said coldly, "We have a flight tomorrow."


    Su Ci nodded, of course she knew that.


    "It''s six now, our flight is at ten tomorrow morning. If you kiss me once, the time willst until an hour before the flight, when I''ll turn back into a rabbit," Su Ci started calcting.


    Kisses were important matters, and she kept careful track of the timing: he couldn''t fool her!


    Watching the girl count so seriously, a faint smile flickered in Lu Zhe''s dark eyes, though it quickly disappeared in the steam.


    "Mm." He did owe her one kiss.


    Hearing Lu Zhe''s agreement, Su Ci''s eyes curved with satisfaction and a hint of smugness. She looked around: there was a potted nt blocking the view in front, and the seats nearby were empty. It seemed quite suitable for some mischief.


    After seeing a waiter pass by, Su Ci urged Lu Zhe, "We can kiss now."


    As the girl leaned closer, perhaps due to the heavy steam from the pot, he saw her ck eyes were filled with a watery gleam, and her small mouth was beautifully flushed. He slightly averted his gaze, his rigid face maintaining seriousness, "Wait until we get back."


    Su Ci gave him a sidelong nce, originally wanting to argue, when her eyes happened to fall on Lu Zhe''s ears. She noticed the tips of the young man''s ears had turned red.


    She leaned in closer in surprise, discovering that half his ear waspletely flushed.


    Was Lu Zhe embarrassed?


    Su Ci was delightfully surprised, like a mischievous person who had discovered a treasure and wanted to unwrap it and im it for herself.


    She moved closer to him.


    Su Ci reached out and touched the young man''s ear, "Lu Zhe, your ears are red."


    His grip suddenly tightened, nearly breaking the chopsticks in his hand. Lu Zhe lowered his eyelids, refusing to look at the little temptress beside him who was smiling with curved eyes.


    ......


    It was already the next afternoon when they returned to their lodging.


    Su Ciy in Lu Zhe''s palm, her ruby-red eyes looking up expectantly, hoping Lu Zhe would kiss her soon!


    Lu Zhe looked at the small rabbit in his palm, almost hopping with impatience, snow-white like a little dumpling, very cute. Yet this adorable dumpling became quite mischievous when transformed into a human.


    Getting no response, Su Ci grew more anxious, rubbing her head against Lu Zhe''s palm, urging him to kiss her.


    Lu Zhe unhurriedly ced the rabbit on the bed. Remembering how the girl had pinched his ear and teased him about his redness at the hotpot restaurant yesterday, he stroked her head and then lightly pinched her ear.


    In the next moment, the rabbitpletely melted onto the bed.


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved into a smile as he leaned closer to the rabbit, whose eyes were now red and who had turned into a soft puddle. His dark eyes held amusement.


    Finally, under her pitiful gaze, Lu Zhe lowered his head and kissed her.


    The door closed.


    After a while, Su Ci pulled the nearby nket to cover her naked body. Lu Zhe was so mean, pinching her ears again.


    When Su Ci recovered enough strength toe out, she saw Lu Zhe with pursed lips, wearing a backpack.


    "Are you going out?" she asked him.


    Lu Zhe looked at Su Ci, "I have something to do, I''ll be gone for two days."


    "What happened?" They had just returned from City B and hadn''t even had a chance to rest properly.


    "The orphanage director is seriously ill, I''m going to visit her." Lu Zhe had received a message from his friend at the orphanage about the director''s condition, asking him toe back.


    Su Ci stared at him intently with her dark eyes for a moment, then turned back to the room without a word.


    Lu Zhe lowered his eyes and prepared to leave, his friend''s car was already waiting outside.


    Just as he opened the door, the sound of wheels rolling came from behind.


    Su Ci had pulled out her just-stored suitcase again, "Why didn''t you wait for me?" She gave Lu Zhe an using look.


    "You don''t need toe along. It''s over two hours by car, you''ll be tired from the journey." Besides, the orphanage was in a remote location, she wouldn''t like it there.


    Su Ci handed the suitcase handle directly to Lu Zhe, "It''s so heavy, please carry it for me. Come on, let''s go. Are we getting a ride?"


    Lu Zhe reminded her, "The journey will be tough."


    Su Ci didn''t mind at all, "I''m someone who can endure hardship."


    Lu Zhe smiled, "Mm."


    He hoped the delicate girl wouldn''t end up crying.


    Lu Zhe''s friend Fat Fu was two years older than Lu Zhe. He hadn''t gone to university but had opened a small restaurant which was doing quite well.


    The restaurant''s food was good, and his once-slim figure had changedpletely: he had started putting on weight even before middle age.


    He and Lu Zhe had both received the director''s kindness when they were young, and upon hearing about her serious illness, they wanted to go back to see her immediately.


    Fat Fu checked the time: Lu Zhe hadn''te down yet.


    Just as he was about to call Lu Zhe, a tall young man pulling a suitcase walked out of the old apartmentplex.


    Fat Fu opened the trunk and lowered the car window, "We''re only going for two or three days, yet you''ve got both a backpack and a suitcase: that''s not like you."


    At that moment, a girl peeked out from behind Lu Zhe, "The suitcase is mine."


    Fat Fu stared dumbfounded at the stunningly beautiful girl before him.


    After putting the suitcase in the trunk, Lu Zhe opened the car door and let the girl get in first.


    "Zhe, aren''t you going to introduce us?"


    Fat Fu had never seen such a beautiful girl before. He felt a bit awkward, thankful that he had washed his car beforeing and even sprayed air freshener inside: otherwise, he would have felt embarrassed letting such an elegant girl ride in his car.


    "This is Su Ci," Lu Zhe introduced Su Ci to Fat Fu, "He''s my friend from the orphanage, Qi Fu."


    "You can also call me Fat Fu," Fat Fu didn''t dare to look directly at Su Ci.


    Su Ci thought his appearance and name were both quite likeable. She peered at his wrist and saw six yellow squares of life value: at least sixty years of life left, indeed a fortunate person.


    During the journey, Su Ci discovered that Lu Zhe''s friend had apletely opposite personality to Lu Zhe.


    While it was nearly impossible to get a word out of Lu Zhe, Fat Fu talked non-stop. As a small restaurant owner who dealt with different customers daily, he had met many people and knew lots of interesting stories.


    Su Ci leaned against the car seat, listening attentively and asionally joining in with ament or two.


    Once they got on the highway, Fat Fu stopped talking and concentrated on driving.


    Su Ci was getting sleepy. They had been on a morning flight and hadn''t had time to rest, and now they were in the car.


    She touched the young man next to her, who had his eyes closed and was resting.


    Lu Zhe looked at her.


    "I''m sleepy," Su Ci gazed at him with puppy eyes.


    "It''s still two hours until we arrive, you should get some sleep," Lu Zhe''s stern features softened slightly in the alternating light of the tunnel.


    He had intended to let her lean on his shoulder to sleep, but unexpectedly, Su Ci patted his thigh, "I''ll sleep here."


    Lu Zhe: ......


    Su Ci directlyy down, resting her head on Lu Zhe''s thigh.


    Looking up at Lu Zhe from below, she could only see his strong jawline. She blinked, "Lu Zhe, your thigh is too hard, it''s notfortable at all."


    Lu Zhe regrly exercised, so his leg muscles were firm, unlike her soft, delicate ones.


    Lu Zhe looked down, "Get up."


    Su Ci wouldn''t listen to him at all, closing her eyes in refusal.


    Lu Zhe gradually rxed his body, trying to soften the muscles in his legs. He opened the backpack beside him, took out a clean piece of clothing, folded it neatly, and lifted the girl''s head with one hand to ce the makeshift pillow beneath it.


    The air conditioning in the car was a bit cold, so he took out another clean piece of clothing and draped it over Su Ci''s legs.


    Su Ci felt the warmth on her legs, opened her eyes, and gave Lu Zhe an appreciative nce before going back to sleep.


    Fat Fu asionally nced in the rearview mirror, observing what Lu Zhe was doing. Although Lu Zhe hadn''t exined his rtionship with Su Ci, Fat Fu could tell they were more than just friends.


    Su Ci was truly exhausted, and she fell asleep shortly after closing her eyes. Unconsciously, she turned her body, facing toward Lu Zhe''s direction.


    Her fair face pressed close to him, causing Lu Zhe to stiffen. He quickly moved her head away. The next moment, Su Ci ufortably leaned back toward him, even nuzzling against him.


    Lu Zhe gritted his teeth and pushed her away again.


    Su Ci was awakened by Lu Zhe''s pushing. She opened her eyes and looked up, immediately meeting the youth''s intensely dark eyes. "Are we there?" she asked.


    Lu Zhe''s face was tense, appearing increasingly cold. He pushed her away, saying, "No, sit up to sleep."


    Su Ci sat up, thinking she had made his leg go numb. She voluntarily reached out to massage his thigh, asking, "Did I make your leg fall asleep?"


    The girl''s hands were soft and gentle, with barely any strength. Lu Zhe''s leg muscles remained tightly tensed, and before he could lose hisposure, he moved her hands away, saying, "That''s not necessary."


    Su Ci didn''t insist. She squinted her eyes, still feeling drowsy. Like a boneless creature, she leaned toward Lu Zhe''s shoulder, saying, "Then I''ll continue sleeping."


    Lu Zhe closed his eyes briefly before responding with a simple, "Mm."


    By the time they arrived at the orphanage, it was evening. The orange sunset illuminated the roof, highlighting the words "Happy Joy House" inrge characters.


    Su Ci had never been to an orphanage before. In her imagination, orphanages gave off a gloomy, mncholic, and deste feeling, but now, looking at the childish murals on the walls, she realized she had beenpletely wrong.


    A young girl, who was a staff member at the orphanage, came out to meet them.


    "The Director should be awake now, please follow me," the staff member led the way.


    Passing by a room that resembled a ssroom, they saw children inside looking at them with curious and innocent eyes.


    Su Ci walked forward and secretly hooked her finger with Lu Zhe''s.


    Lu Zhe turned his head to look at her.


    Su Ci smiled brightly, wondering if Lu Zhe had been as adorable as these little ones when he was young.


    The Old Director had just returned from the hospital yesterday and was lying in bed, clearly looking unwell.


    "It''s little Zhe, isn''t it?" The Old Director had many silver hairs and wrinkles etched by time on her face. Her features were proper and kind, with a peaceful demeanor that made her well-loved by the children.


    "Director, it''s me." Seeing the Old Director trying to sit up, Lu Zhe quickly went forward to help prop a pillow behind her back.


    "You''ve grown up, but you haven''t changed, little Zhe. Still so thoughtful." The Old Director put on her sses from the bedside table and noticed the unfamiliar girl standing nearby. "And this is...?"


    "Hello, Grandma Director, I''m Lu Zhe''s friend. I came with him to see you," Su Ci stepped forward. With her delicate beauty and natural charm, she spoke sweetly, as ifpliments cost her nothing. "Lu Zhe often mentions you, saying how kind you are and how well you''ve always treated him..."


    The Old Director followed Su Ci''s lead and began talking about Lu Zhe''s childhood.


    Lu Zhe had always been quiet since he was young. While other children would gather to y games, he would sit alone in a corner, holding a book. No one knew if he could understand what he was reading, but he could stay that way for an entire day.


    Moreover, he had never thrown tantrums like other children. He never cried or got into arguments with other children. He was an exceptionally well-behaved child.


    Su Ci could imagine a miniature version of Lu Zhe, with his little face tense, expression cold, sitting in a corner with a book.


    Cute, yet heartbreakingly mature.


    Su Ci looked up at the young man standing straight beside her. Little Lu Zhe had grown up but was still a poor dear.


    Lu Zhe poured a cup of warm water for the Old Director.


    The Old Director only then realized how dry her mouth had be from talking. She took the water from Lu Zhe, saying, "Little Zhe is truly thoughtful."


    "Director, I brought many good things for you, praise me too," Fat Fu walked in from outside. He had unloaded some supplies from the car and asked the staff to distribute them to the children.


    "You''re Qi Fu, aren''t you? You''ve gotten fat," the Old Director said with a smile on her wrinkled face.


    "Yes, it''s me. The food at my ce is too good, I can''t control my appetite, so I started gaining weight," Fat Fu walked over. "How are you feeling, Director?"


    "Better, better, better," the Old Director smiled.


    Meanwhile, Su Ci watched the Old Director''s hand holding the water cup, and the smile disappeared from her pretty face.


    The Old Director''s life value was shown in red lines, with a notation beside it: 2 months.


    Su Ci called out to Fu Gui, "Will the Old Director die from illness?"


    Fu Gui: [Yes, master, you can''t save her.] Otherwise, it would have eagerly urged its master to save her already.


    Su Ci: "I know."


    She could help prevent idents, but when it came to illness, she was powerless.


    The Old Director wasn''t feeling very well, so after chatting for a while, they left the room.


    "I asked the staff member who takes care of the Director, and she told me the doctors said the Director''s condition isn''t good. The olddy probably knows about her condition and doesn''t want to stay in the hospital anymore," Fat Fu sighed deeply, knowing that the Old Director was just buying time now.


    Lu Zhe: "We''ll stay here tonight. Tomorrow when the Director is feeling better, we''ll talk with her properly. Even if she doesn''t want to go back to the hospital, we can at least keep herpany and chat."


    "You''re right. I''ll ask the staff if there are any empty rooms avable for us to stay tonight." The vige was remote, with no hotels nearby, and it would take over half an hour to drive to the town center.


    "If you''re ufortable staying here tonight, I can take you somewhere else," Lu Zhe said to Su Ci.


    "No need," Su Ci shook her head.


    If little Lu Zhe could sleep here, how could she not manage?


    The orphanage had two vacant rooms, each with eight bunk beds. Correspondingly, there were eight small lockers in each room, presumably for the children to store their belongings.


    The beds were already made with uniform sky-blue bedding.


    Su Ci had never experienced sleeping in a bunk bed before. She didn''t dare sleep on the top bunk, worried she might roll off in the middle of the night, so she chose the bottom bunk.


    The orphanage was very quiet at night, with asional sounds of children ying andughing.


    Su Ci tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.


    The bunk beds had hard wooden boards with only a thin padding on top, and the boards were digging into Su Ci''s body, making her ache all over.


    She picked up her phone and sent a message directly to Lu Zhe: Lu Zhe, I can''t sleep.


    In the other room.


    Fat Fu was chatting with Lu Zhe.


    "Are you and Su Ci a couple?" He had been curious the whole way and couldn''t help but ask.


    Lu Zhe was drying his hair with a towel and coldly replied, "No."


    Fat Fu could see something special between Lu Zhe and Su Ci, but thinking about Lu Zhe''s health condition, he paused and said quietly, "You two look good together."


    One handsome, one beautiful - they matched perfectly.


    Fat Fu asked Lu Zhe, "Does Su Ci know about your illness?"


    "Yes."


    Su Ci knew about Lu Zhe''s illness and was still willing to stay by his side. "Su Ci must like you."


    Throughout their journey, he had seen Su Ci sticking close to Lu Zhe. Between the two, Su Ci was clearly the more proactive one.


    "No," Lu Zhe lowered his gaze.


    He knew that Su Ci''s kisses and staying by his side were all to maintain her human form.


    Not because she liked him.


    Fat Fu felt he wasn''t wrong, "How is it not? I can see that she..."


    His head was covered by the towel Lu Zhe threw at him.


    "I don''t have long to live," Lu Zhe''s words directly cut off what Fat Fu was about to say.


    Fat Fu yanked the towel off his head, seeing Lu Zhe''s stiff face under the incandescent light, his expression indifferent, with a hint of self-mockery at the corner of his lips. At that moment, a knock on the door broke the awkwardness in the room.


    "Who''s knocking?" Fat Fu was about to get up to open the door, but Lu Zhe had already walked to the door.


    The door opened.


    Standing outside was Su Ci, wearing a light mist blue dress. She was a beauty, even standing in the dim light, she was dazzling.


    "What''s up?" Lu Zhe asked her.


    "Lu Zhe, you didn''t reply to my message." Su Ci looked at him usingly with her small eyes.


    "I didn''t check my phone just now, what''s wrong?"


    "I can''t sleep." She was a bit embarrassed, "The bed is too hard." She wouldn''t admit she was being delicate, it was just that her body was delicate.


    Lu Zhe had slept on these bunk beds for several years as a child, so he knew the girl wouldn''t be used to it.


    "I''ll find some soft cushions for you to pad it." Su Ci nodded, of course, she wouldn''t refuse.


    Fat Fu watched as Lu Zhe was called away by Su Ci.


    He remembered that Lu Zhe didn''t like to have contact with girls when he was a child, and it was the same when he grew up. But now, he had just seen it, Lu Zhe was pulled away by Su Ci holding his hand, and he didn''t shake it off.


    Tsk, the body is more honest than the mouth.


    The vige was located in a remote suburb, where not only was the air good, but at night, the sky would be filled with stars.


    Su Ci wasn''t in a hurry to go back and make the bed. She asked Lu Zhe to take her for a walk around the orphanage.


    Behind the orphanage, there was a small grassy slope, with many slides and other y facilities built beside it.


    Su Ci sat on a child''s swing, turning her head to look at the boy pushing the swing beside her, "People are born, grow old, get sick, and die."


    She couldn''t tell Lu Zhe that the Old Director only had two months to live.


    Lu Zhe looked at her, "I know."


    "If the person who likes you is gone, someone else will take their ce." If the Old Director was really gone, she would also care for and take care of Lu Zhe, and earn money to support him.


    Lu Zhe gave her a faint look, she indeed easily found people who liked her.


    Su Ci didn''t know if Lu Zhe got her hint, she looked at him with firm eyes, "Anyway, whoever leaves you, I won''t leave you." After all, she and he were bound together by fate.


    Lu Zhe pushed the swing, seeing the girl''s mist blue dress bloom under the moonlight, "Hmm."


    Su Ci''s eyes curved up, the small tear mole at the corner of her eye was particrly enchanting in the night, she asked Lu Zhe, "Lu Zhe, there''s no one here, they say kissing on the grassy slope is especially thrilling, do you want to try it?"


    Lu Zhe was used to the girl teasing him from time to time, he gave her a deep look and said, "Tomorrow I''ll ask the director to help with a certificate, then I''ll take you to the police station to get an ID card."


    Su Ci didn''t have an ID card, making it difficult to move in this society.


    Su Ci nodded, "Okay."


    Aliali: 67486ac8c4f3f33ac478693dShe signaled Lu Zhe to stop, she got off the swing, pulling Lu Zhe to the side of the grassy slope, "Quick, lie down, I''ll kiss you."


    Under the moonlight, the girl, as beautiful as a fairy, had a face full of eager anticipation.


    Lu Zhe held his forehead, the coldness in his eyes scattered, even the coldest person would be forced to surrender by this mischievous girl.


    Su Ci looked at the boy lying on the grassy slope, his face handsome and clear, shey on his chest, her body seemingly boneless as she pressed against him, sheughed with a slight tremble, her nose a bit sour, "Lu Zhe, you''re so good."


    Not having eaten enough at night, Fat Fu went to a small shop near the orphanage to buy two instant noodles.


    He was slurping the noodles when he saw the door to the room suddenly open.


    Fat Fu looked at Lu Zhe walking in, he almost spat out the noodles in his mouth.


    He swallowed hard, wiped his mouth, and eximed, "Wow, did you roll in the grass? Why are you covered in grass?"


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond.


    Thinking of the girl lying on his chest just now, licking his lips one by one, Lu Zhe''s ck short hair, the tips of his ears turned red.

 Chapter 23: 023

    <h4>Chapter 23</h4>


    In the early morning, Su Ci was awakened by theughter of children.


    Coming out of her room, she saw several children ying around Fat Fu. On the other side, a few kids were gathered around Lu Zhe, standing by the fence, doing something unknown.


    Su Ci walked over, and the children around Lu Zhe looked at her with shy and curious faces. One fair-skinned little girl couldn''t help but say in a sweet voice, "Sister is so pretty."


    "I know, I know, she''s the angel sister," a little boy beside her chimed in.


    Another boy in a red shirt argued, "She''s the fairy sister." His cheeks were red, a bit shy, not daring to look directly at Su Ci.


    Receiving such sweetpliments early in the morning, Su Ci''s sleepy eyes brightened, and she nodded in agreement, "You all have eyes that discover beauty, such good vision, truly the lovely flowers of our nation."


    Hearing the praise, the little girl beside her smiled with her eyes curved, "Pretty sister praised Tutu for being amazing."


    "I''m amazing too."


    "I''m the most amazing..." The little ones crowded around, vying for attention.


    With her pretty face, Su Ci quickly integrated into the children''s circle. She was about to show off to Lu Zhe, but when she turned her head, she saw Lu Zhe holding a white rabbit from the fence.


    How could he hold another rabbit!


    Su Ci walked over, scrutinizing the big white rabbit in Lu Zhe''s hands with a critical eye, "The fur isn''t pure white, not smooth, the eyes are dull, and it''s chubby."


    "This rabbit isn''t cute at all," Su Ci concluded.


    Lu Zhe said, "It''s very gentle."


    Su Ci stared intently at Lu Zhe''srge hand petting the rabbit, "Lu Zhe, are you going to stray with other rabbits?"


    She leaned closer to him.


    Seeing Lu Zhe''s fingers touch the rabbit''s ears, she felt a pang of jealousy, remembering how Lu Zhe used to love pinching her rabbit ears.


    Su Ci huffed, ring at the expressionless rabbit in Lu Zhe''s hands, "We''ll have braised rabbit head tonight!"


    "No eating rabbits, you can''t eat rabbits!" the little girl beside her shook her head in fear.


    "Rabbits are friends, you can''t eat them, they''re so good," the boy in red quickly persuaded Su Ci.


    Lu Zhe looked at Su Ci with an ambiguous expression, his cool voice carrying a hint of coaxing, "Don''t be silly, you can''t eat your own kind."


    Su Ci: ......


    She was infuriated!


    Su Ci called out to Fat Fu, "How could Lu Zhe be so awful, holding another rabbit right in front of me!"


    Fat Fu got excited, [That''s too much, master, this is cheating behavior, you can''t condone it.]


    Su Ci''s eyes curved slightly.


    Fat Fu began to sow discord, [Master, you should punish Lu Zhe, next time don''t give him all the golden cotton candy.]


    Better to save half for Fat Fu.


    Su Ci didn''t respond to it.


    She took the rabbit from Lu Zhe''s hands and tossed it to the boy in red, looking very much like a wicked witch from a fairy tale, "You better take this ugly rabbit away, or I''ll have spicy rabbit head tonight."


    The boy quickly hugged the rabbit, "Sister is bad, you can''t eat the rabbit, let''s hide the rabbit." With that, the little ones scurried away with the rabbit.


    Su Ci took Lu Zhe''s hand, leading him to the sink, turning on the faucet, and putting his hand under the water, "You touched another rabbit, you need to wash your hands clean."


    Lu Zhe looked down, watching the girl''s fair, soft hands rubbing hisrge palm under the faucet.


    "Do you care so much that I held another rabbit?" He found it somewhat amusing.


    After a few rubs, Su Ci felt Lu Zhe''s hand was clean.


    She turned off the faucet, shook the water off his hand, and red at him with her dark eyes, "You''re too greedy, having me and still holding other rabbits. Are other rabbits as cute as me? As pretty as me?"


    Su Ci leaned closer to Lu Zhe, taking his clean hand and cing it on her cheek, "You can only touch me, only hold me!"


    Holding other rabbits is not allowed!


    The girl''s face was fair and smooth, soft to the touch, making Lu Zhe''s palm heat up.


    How could there be such a little demon, with unreasonable and domineering demands, yet so naturally making it hard for him to refuse?


    Lu Zhe asked her in a low voice, "What if I don''t agree?"


    Su Ci red at him fiercely, "For every rabbit you hold, I''ll eat a spicy rabbit head!"


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly.


    Only then did Su Ci notice that when Lu Zheughed, there was a shallow dimple on his left side, and she couldn''t help but look at it a few more times, liking it very much.


    The boy''s dimple must be filled with honey, otherwise, why would it be so sweet?


    ......


    After the old dean woke up, Lu Zhe and Fat Fu went to find her.


    Su Ci wandered around the orphanage alone. She heard that there were more than twenty children here, the older ones already in middle school, the younger ones not even one or two years old.


    Looking at those innocent, cute faces, Su Ci couldn''t understand why anyone would be willing to abandon them.


    Su Ci thought of Lu Zhe, was he also left at the orphanage?


    Su Ci walked into a ssroom.


    Inside, the desks and chairs were neatly arranged, clearly a ce where children usually had sses and meals. In the corner of the podium was a piano, looking a bit worn, perhaps donated by a kind person.


    Su Ci walked over and sat down in front of the piano.


    Her slender fingers danced on the keys, and the melodious piano sound slowly filled the orphanage.


    After a piano piece ended, several little ones stood beside her, looking at her with big, curious eyes.


    "Does it sound good?" Su Ci asked them.


    "It sounds good, is sister an angel?" The little boy thought the sister in front of him was so pretty.


    Su Ci shook her head, "Angels save the world and help everyone." But she wouldn''t.


    "Then what is sister?" The little girl beside her looked at Su Ci with curiosity.


    "Sister is a pretty fairy, and if any child misbehaves, I''ll eat them." Su Ci looked at them, "Are you well-behaved?"


    "Yes, I''m the most well-behaved."


    "Baby is well-behaved too."


    "Listen to sister, don''t eat me."


    ......


    Tsk, children are so easy to coax, much easier than Lu Zhe.


    "Tiancai is about to die." At this moment, a little boy pointed to the corner, "Sister, Zhen Tiancai is about to die, you can eat him."


    Su Ci looked over and saw a child sitting there.


    "Why is he about to die?" Su Ci asked them.


    "The nurse sister said Tiancai''s heart has a problem, if it stops beating, he''ll die," the older boy beside her told Su Ci.


    Su Ci blinked.


    Heart disease?


    She walked to the corner and found that the boy named Zhen Tiancai was very good-looking, his face a bit pale, and his big ck eyes staring at her quietly.


    Su Ci remembered the old dean mentioning Lu Zhe''s childhoodst night. Was Lu Zhe like this boy back then, sitting alone in this corner, watching other children y?


    "Is your name Zhen Tiancai?" She leaned against the wall, mimicking the boy''s posture and sitting down. She was wearing long pants today, so she wasn''t worried about exposure.


    The boy, Zhen Tiancai, nodded, looking at the unfamiliar sister with puzzled eyes.


    "Why don''t you y with the other kids?" Su Ci asked him.


    Zhen Tiancai shook his head.


    "I heard from the other kids that you''re sick, is that true?"


    Zhen Tiancai''s bright eyes dimmed, and he nodded, "I''ll die soon." He had overheard others saying he wouldn''t live long.


    The child''s innocent voice made Su Ci pause.


    She reached out, turning Zhen Tiancai''s small hand over, and saw that the life value on his wrist was six yellow squares, meaning he had sixty years left to live.


    Su Ci smiled.


    "No, you won''t." Su Ci patted his head, "You won''t die."


    Zhen Tiancai''s eyes widened, looking at her in confusion.


    "Do you know who I am?" Su Ci asked him.


    Zhen Tiancai shook his head again.


    "I''m an angel." Su Ci smiled at him, "The pretty angel sister tells you, you won''t die, you''ll live a long, long time."


    Zhen Tiancai''s eyes widened, his little eyes bright and happy, yet disbelieving.


    Su Ci extended her finger, "Angels don''t lie. If you don''t believe me, let''s pinky swear."


    Zhen Tiancai hesitantly extended his little finger, hooking it with Su Ci''s.


    Su Ci hooked her pinky finger with his and said, "Little genius can live for a very, very long time, just as long as other children. So you can do many things you want to do, don''t worry about dying."


    Zhen Tiancai''s big eyes sparkled like little stars, and he nodded vigorously, "Mm-hmm."


    The angel sister said he wouldn''t die.


    Su Ci thought children were so easy tofort. If only Lu Zhe was as easily persuaded, it would be much more convenient when she asked for kisses.


    As she walked outside, she saw Lu Zheing to find her.


    "Go back to your room and get your suitcase. We''ll go to the police stationter to apply for your ID card," he said. Orphans could apply for ID cards at their local police station aftering of age with relevant documentation from their orphanage. He had just asked the orphanage director to help prepare a certificate.


    "Are we going back?" Su Ci asked him.


    "Yes, we''ll head back after we''re done." They still had matters to attend to at Fat Fu Restaurant and couldn''t dy too long.


    In the car.


    Su Ci lowered the window and looked at the innocent little faces outside. They were waving goodbye to her enthusiastically, especially Zhen Tiancai. The little fellow stood behind several other children, smiling shyly as he said, "Goodbye, Angel Sister."


    Su Ci smiled. These little ones were so adorable. She hoped they would grow up happily.


    At the local police station, they were assisted by a female officer who asked Su Ci to fill out forms and submit photos.


    Finally, Su Ci left her and Lu Zhe''s address. The police station would mail her ID card once it was ready.


    After Su Ci and Lu Zhe left, the female officer kept staring at the girl''s photo, feeling like she had seen her somewhere before.


    "Why do you keep staring at her photo? Is there something wrong?" The male officer next to her nudged her with his elbow, "Though I must say, this girl is really beautiful. Feels like I''ve seen her somewhere."


    "You think she looks familiar too?" the female officer asked.


    "If I''d seen such a beautiful girl before, I wouldn''t have forgotten," the male officer couldn''t recall either, "Never mind, let''s get back to work."


    The female officer put away the photo and was about to enter the data when her eyes fell on the name the girl had written.


    Su Ci?


    The female officer frowned, then suddenly stood up with the photo in hand. She remembered where she had seen this girl - this was the Su family''s missing daughter they were looking for!


    On their way back, Su Ci received a call from her agent, Xu Duo, asking if she would be interested in participating in a food show for three episodes.


    There weren''t many food shows in China, and they weren''t very popr. This show had a low budget and was only a small production. One of the guests had been difficult to work with and quit the show. The director was his friend and was looking for a suitable recement, and he immediately thought of Su Ci.


    Xu Duo could see that Su Ci needed money.


    His rmendation this time was a gesture of goodwill, as he sincerely wanted to sign Su Ci.


    After listening to the exnation on the phone, Su Ci nced at the young man resting beside her with his eyes closed, and agreed.


    A food show was great - she could eat and earn money to take care of Lu Zhe. Of course she was willing to participate in the recording.


    ......


    At the Su family home.


    Qin Shiyan had no schedule today and came specially to visit Su''s Mother. "Auntie Su, I made these myself, please try them," she handed the box she was carrying to Hua''s Wife.


    She had practically grown up at the Su family home, though in the past she had always used the back door.


    It wasn''t until her father saved Su Shengguo''s life and became more than just the Su family''s driver, but Su Shengguo''s lifesaver, that she had the opportunity to be a ymate of the Su family''s daughter and enter through the main door.


    "Just leave it there, I don''t have an appetite right now," Su''s Mother said coldly.


    Qin Shiyan''s smile faltered slightly, "Auntie Su, are you not feeling well?"


    She wasn''t sure if it was her imagination, but ever since she had added a small tear mole below her outer eye corner, just like Su Ci''s, Su''s Mother''s attitude toward her had changed significantly.


    Her eyes darkened. Had she miscalcted?


    Originally, she had nned to let the Su family see Su Ci''s shadow in her. Having spent years by Su Ci''s side, she had picked up many of Su Ci''s mannerisms and behaviors. She didn''t mind bing Su Ci, didn''t mind being Su Ci''s shadow.


    However, since adding the tear mole, she felt this move might have been a mistake.


    Su''s Mother''s attitude toward her had obviously grown much colder.


    But it didn''t matter. Qin Shiyan considered herself a patient and clever person.


    She lowered her chin, her voice full of mncholy and loss, "Auntie Su, I dreamed of Ci Cist night."


    This finally caught Su''s Mother''s attention, stirring her emotions, "What did you dream about her?"


    "I dreamed about the times when Ci Ci and I used to y together. I grew up with her, and now that she''s gone, I miss her every day." Qin Shiyan''s eyes welled with tears as she asked directly: "Auntie Su, do you dislike that I have the same tear mole as Ci Ci?"


    Su''s Mother indeed disliked that Qin Shiyan had added a tear mole identical to her daughter''s.


    In her view, everything about her daughter was unique, and she didn''t appreciate Qin Shiyan''s deliberate imitation.


    "I just miss Ci Ci so much. I even wonder why it wasn''t me who was kidnapped, why it wasn''t me who fell into the sea." Tears spilled from Qin Shiyan''s eyes, her face showing genuine sorrow, "That''s why I got this tear mole like Ci Ci''s. When I look in the mirror, I can remember her."


    No matter how much Su''s Mother loved her daughter, she couldn''t say she wished someone else had died instead. Thinking about how this child had grown up with her daughter and their deep friendship, she sighed, "That''s thoughtful of you."


    Since her son had shown her the photo of her daughter two days ago, proving she wasn''t dead, Su''s Mother''s grief had turned to anxiety.


    Both her son and husband had sent people to search for their daughter, and she believed it wouldn''t be long before they found her.


    However, she hadn''t mentioned this to anyone. They didn''t n to make it public until their daughter was found.


    Qin Shiyan noticed Su''s Mother''s gaze softening and knew her words had moved her.


    She continued to chat about Su Ci, asionally bringing up amusing stories about her, and gradually, a smile appeared on Su''s Mother''s face.


    Hmph, what amusing stories did Su Ci have?


    That pampered, spoiled daughter of the Su family had never truly considered her a friend.


    Su Ci''s personality was both delicate and willful, always finding ways to tease her, yet to Su''s Mother, these were all just amusing anecdotes about her daughter.


    How annoying.


    Fortunately, Su Ci was gone now.


    Thinking of her recent encounter with Su Ci, Qin Shiyan''s eyes darkened again. Bad weeds truly never die.


    After chatting with Su''s Mother and coaxing her into better spirits, Qin Shiyan finally left.


    As she reached the garden, she saw Su ZhiYuan returning home. She smiled brightly, her expression gentle, "Brother Su, you''re back."


    Su ZhiYuan merely nodded at her and walked past without stopping.


    Qin Shiyan bit her lip.


    Although her appearance couldn''tpare to Su Ci''s, she surpassed countless female celebrities in the entertainment industry, and had gained arge following of fans who admired her beauty when she first entered the industry.


    Yet all along, Su ZhiYuan had ignored her affections. If it weren''t for Su Ci, he probably wouldn''t even spare her a nce.


    Su ZhiYuan entered the house and saw his mother sitting on the sofa. He walked over, "Mom, I''m flying to D City tomorrow. I''ll be back soon."


    "Have you found Ci Ci?" Su''s Mother straightened up suddenly.


    "No, it''spany business. Dad and I will have our people speed up the search. Sister will be back soon." He had received information from the police that Su Ci was in D City, and he nned to go there personally to bring his sister back.


    He didn''t want to disappoint his mother again until he had seen his sister with his own eyes.


    Su''s Mother''s expression dimmed, "I''ll have Hua''s Wife pack your luggage. Be careful on your trip."


    Su ZhiYuan responded, "I will."


    ......


    Lu Zhe had gone to school, and the show recording wouldn''t start until next month, leaving Su Ci feeling terribly bored.


    She checked the time and decided to pick up Lu Zhe after school, then go to work at the restaurant together.


    The sun was fierce outside, and although her skin was now as white as snow, Su Ci took great care of herself. After applying ayer of sunscreen, she put on a pretty dress, took an umbre, and finally set out at a leisurely pace.


    Walking was out of the question, so she took a taxi to the front gate of No. 1 High School, arriving early.


    Su Ci nned to sit for a while at the beverage shop across from the school. At that moment, a girl came walking out of the school gates in tears.


    She was wiping her tears while crying, looking utterly heartbroken.


    However, in the next second, she was stopped by the security guard - students weren''t allowed to leave campus without a permission slip before dismissal time.


    The girl started arguing with the security guard.


    Su Ci stood outside the gate with her umbre, watching the scene for a few moments. Then she noticed that the girl''s life value disyed as a red line on her wrist, showing just 10 minutes remaining.


    Su Ci frowned and asked Fat Fu, "How does this girl die?"


    Fat Fu: [She''s going to jump off the building, Master. Save her and get the golden cotton candy.]


    Fat Fu remembered that yesterday Master was angry about Lu Zhe''s infidelity and hugging other rabbits. Perhaps this time the golden cotton candy would be his.


    Fat Fu: [Master save her, Master save her...]


    Su Ci was annoyed to death. "Shut up."


    She saw that the security guard wouldn''t let the girl leave, and the girl angrily turned back toward the school building.


    She couldn''t be going to jump off the building, could she?


    Su Ci quickly tried to follow but was stopped by the security guard. "Are you a student here?" The guard hadn''t seen such a beautiful girl at school before.


    "I have an urgent matter, I''m here to see my brother," Su Ci said, looking innocently at the security guard.


    "You need to register to enter the school. Please fill out this form first," the security guard instructed Su Ci.


    Watching the girl walking further away, Su Ci hurriedly filled out the form.


    The girl went crying up to the rooftop of the teaching building. Su Ci quietly followed her, climbing six flights of stairs until her legs were shaking.


    There were so many ways to end one''s life, why did it have to be the rooftop?


    Ugh, she was sacrificing so much to save someone, all for Lu Zhe''s sake.


    Su Ci was panting when she finally reached the rooftop and immediately spotted the girl already sitting on the railing.


    "Wait... wait a moment," Su Ci called out to stop her.


    "Don''te any closer!" the girl shouted when she saw someone suddenly appear.


    "Oh, I won''te over. It''s too sunny over there. I''m fine standing right here," Su Ci said, standing in a shaded spot.


    Shen Xue: .......


    "Are you going to jump?" Su Ci asked after catching her breath.


    "I want to die, what''s it to you?" Shen Xue cried while berating Su Ci.


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes, her gaze falling on the student name tag pinned to the girl''s upper left.


    Shen Xue?


    That name seemed familiar.


    Su Ci pursed her lips, thinking for a moment before remembering that in the book there was a cannon fodder supporting character named Shen Xue. She had liked Fu Baili and always caused trouble for Zhao Youyou. Eventually, when she tried to frame Zhao Youyou but failed, Fu Baili exposed her.


    Su Ci remembered that this female cannon fodder did indeed die - the book only mentioned that she met a tragic end.


    So this was how - she jumped from the rooftop.


    Looking at this clearly dumbed-down cannon fodder character before her, Su Ci sighed, "You''re right, it''s none of my business. I just came up here for some fresh air. But you''re quite pretty - if you really jump, your face will be ruined. Your skull will shatter, your face will split open, and your eyeballs might even pop out. Are you sure you want to jump?"


    Hearing Su Ci''s words, Shen Xue choked on her sobs and froze.


    She gripped the railing tightly and said weakly, "It''s... it''s none of your business."


    "I know, I just came up here for some air," Su Ci said, standing elegantly by the stairwell with her umbre. "If you''re going to jump, I have one request - could you wait until after I leave the school? I''m afraid seeing your horrifying state would give me nightmares."


    "You..." Shen Xue''s breath caught - was this stranger trying to encourage her to jump or trying to stop her?


    "Sigh." Su Ci sighed again. "Why do you want to die? Because you lost face in front of Zhao Youyou? Or because Fu Baili broke your heart?"


    "How do you know?" Shen Xue''s eyes widened.


    Aliali: 67486ac8c4f3f33ac478693d"The whole school is talking about it," Su Ci told her.


    Shen Xue: ......


    Now she wanted to die even more.


    "I have to say, your taste in men is terrible. Is Fu Baili really worth dying for?" Su Ci couldn''t understand at all.


    "Don''t you dare insult him," Shen Xue still harbored strong feelings for Fu Baili.


    Su Ci pouted with disdain, "I''m just stating facts. He''s not as handsome as my Lu Zhe, not as academically excellent as my Lu Zhe, and his personality isn''t as gentle as my Lu Zhe''s."


    Ah, making theseparisons made her realize Lu Zhe was even better.


    "What do you see in Fu Baili? That he''s blind enough to like Zhao Youyou? Then you''re even blinder than him." Su Ci''s tone was somewhat contemptuous - she looked down on people who would so easily give up their lives for others.


    Shen Xue stopped crying and gritted her teeth.


    She had never seen anyone try to talk someone down like this before!


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 24: 024

    <h4>Chapter 24</h4>


    ¡°How can you be so mean with your words?¡± Shen Xue wiped away her tears and red angrily at Su Ci.


    The rooftop was particrly sunny, with not a hint of breeze, making Su Ci feel unbearably hot.


    She retorted impatiently, ¡°Honest words hurt, but what I said is the truth. There are plenty of guys out there who are better looking than Fu Baili. Is it really worth dying for him? He probably doesn''t even know your name.¡±


    In the book, it was mentioned that after the supporting female character died, the male lead Fu Baili didn''t even pay attention to her name.


    Wasn''t that a waste of life?


    She had heard of many people who had sought death for love before, and she always found it unbelievable, thinking them both foolish and pitiable.


    Shen Xue in front of her was just like those people, hopelessly in love. She had a whole forest of options but insisted on crashing into a mediocre tree, wasn''t that just foolish?


    Su Ci nced at Shen Xue''s hand gripping the railing. The life value on her wrist had turned yellow, although she couldn''t see the exact lifespan, the red line was gone, indicating Shen Xue wouldn''t jump.


    ¡°Aren''t youing down?¡± Su Ci asked Shen Xue, ¡°School''s about to end, and I need to find Lu Zhe.¡±


    Since the other party no longer wanted to die, she wouldn''t waste any more time here.


    Seeing Su Ci really turn to leave, Shen Xue quickly called out, ¡°Ah, wait, don''t go! Aren''t you afraid I''ll really jump?¡±


    Su Ci was speechless, ¡°No.¡±


    Shen Xue was dumbfounded. The other girl really left without a second thought, not caring about her at all.


    ¡°Wait, wait,¡± Shen Xue hastily called out.


    Su Ci turned back, frowning at her, ¡°Do you still need something?¡± The bell had just rung for the end of ss, and she was in a hurry to find Lu Zhe.


    Shen Xue bit her lip. Her eyes were red, her face flushed with shame. ¡°I''m feeling weak, can you help me down?¡±


    She hadn''t felt it when she was intent on dying, but now sitting on the railing and looking down, she felt as if she were suspended in mid-air, terrifyingly so.


    Her legs were trembling.


    Su Ci looked at her incredulously, ¡°I thought you were brave enough to face death, I was about to praise you.¡± But now she seemed so timid. Where did her courage to jumpe from?


    Su Ci walked over with an umbre, extending her hand to Shen Xue, ¡°Get down quickly, I''m in a hurry.¡±


    Shen Xue, having failed to die, now felt only shame. She took Su Ci''s hand and slowly climbed down from the railing.


    Her legs were still shaking when she touched the ground.


    The rush of wanting to die had passed, and now Shen Xue felt only a lingering fear. If not for Su Ci''s persuasion, she really would have jumped.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Shen Xue said, despite her usual pride. In this moment, she was filled with gratitude towards this girl who had saved her life.


    Su Ci looked at her, her eyes narrowing slightly as she smiled, ¡°I just saved your life, didn''t I?¡±


    Shen Xue nodded.


    ¡°A life-saving grace deserves a great repayment, right?¡± Su Ci asked.


    Shen Xue nodded again.


    Su Ci considered herself someone who expected repayment for her kindness. Now that she was Shen Xue''s savior, she felt a pleasant sense of satisfaction. ¡°In that case, you owe me a favor.¡±


    Seeing Shen Xue''s stunned expression, Su Ci narrowed her eyes dangerously, ¡°You don''t want to acknowledge it?¡±


    ¡°No, I understand,¡± Shen Xue quickly agreed.


    ¡°Add me on social media,¡± Su Ci took out her phone.


    Shen Xue added Su Ci as a friend. Looking at her profile picture, a beautiful selfie, Shen Xue had to admit that Su Ci was even more stunning in person. Despite her own good looks, she couldn''t help but feel a bit inferior.


    ¡°Alright, I''m leaving now. I''ll contact you if I need help,¡± Su Ci said, not knowing if Lu Zhe had already left school.


    Su Ci''s arrival was sudden, and her departure was just as abrupt. Before Shen Xue could say anything more, the hem of her gauzy skirt had already disappeared down the stairs.


    Su Ci called Lu Zhe and learned that he had already left school. She asked him to wait for her at the alley entrance.


    ¡°Lu Zhe, I''m so tired,¡± Su Ci said, handing him her umbre and leaning against him as if she had no bones.


    ¡°Why are you here?¡± Lu Zhe asked, holding the umbre with one hand and letting her cling to the other.


    Su Ci replied naturally, ¡°To pick you up from school and keep youpany while you work.¡±


    Lu Zhe tilted the umbre towards her, shielding herpletely from the sun.


    ¡°Lu Zhe, did anything happen in your ss today?¡± Su Ci asked, eager for gossip. She knew Zhao Youyou must have had a conflict with Shen Xue, with Fu Baili siding with Zhao Youyou, which led to Shen Xue''s attempt to jump off the building.


    Lu Zhe nced at her, ¡°I don''t know.¡±


    Lu Zhe never paid attention to what was happening around him.


    Su Ci didn''t press further. ¡°I saved a girl who wanted to jump off the roof of your school today. If I hadn''t shown up, she would have died.¡±


    Lu Zhe listened quietly. It seemed she always encountered such situations and ended up saving people.


    ¡°I know, a girl as beautiful and kind-hearted as me is like an angel,¡± Su Ci boasted without hesitation, ¡°But I don''t want to be an angel. Angels have to save everyone.¡±


    She was selfish.


    Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, and Lu Zhe looked at her, speaking softly, ¡°You just need to be yourself.¡±


    Su Ci nodded, then shook her head.


    She looked at Lu Zhe with sparkling eyes, her smile bright, ¡°No, I want to be your little angel.¡±


    She didn''t want to be an angel who saved others, but she was willing to be Lu Zhe''s angel.


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond.


    Su Ci tugged at his arm, ¡°I have something good for you.¡± She had just saved Shen Xue and received a new golden cotton candy.


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Lu Zhe lowered his gaze to see the girl''s bright ck eyes, filled with a mischievous intent he was familiar with.


    He had a bad feeling.


    Sure enough, he heard her say, ¡°Kiss me, and I''ll give it to you.¡±


    Su Ci calcted the time; they had kissed three times the night before at the orphanage, and the time was almost up.


    ¡°Let''s wait until we get back,¡± Lu Zhe said.


    Su Ci wouldn''t listen. She pulled him into the alley, eager, ¡°I''ve never kissed in an alley before, I want to try it.¡±


    In Su Ci''s opinion, kissing in different settings was a fun experience.


    The alley was rarely frequented, and Su Ci led Lu Zhe to stand between the walls.


    Her eyes curved with delight, she enjoyed seeing Lu Zhe''s resigned yet indulgent expression. ¡°Don''t you want it? If you don''t, I''ll give it to someone else.¡± Little Kuaile really liked golden cotton candy.


    Hearing her say she would kiss someone else, Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened.


    He looked at her deeply, pressing her against the wall.


    With one hand on the back of her head, Lu Zhe gazed into her bright eyes, sighing softly before his cool, thin lips pressed gently against hers, full of tenderness.


    The softness of the girl was intoxicating.


    Lu Zhe tightened his grip on the umbre, tilting it to shield their bodies.


    Passersby could only see the umbre and the feet of the girl and the boy beneath it.


    The sunset shyly retreated.


    Emerging from the alley, Su Ci''s eyes were even brighter. Even though they had only kissed lightly, this time it was Lu Zhe who initiated it, making her feel exceptionally happy. If Lu Zhe could take the lead in kissing her in the future, she wouldn''t need to scheme for kisses.


    ¡°Lu Zhe, we''ve kissed so many times, but your kissing skills haven''t improved at all,¡± Su Ci teased, taking advantage of her good fortune.


    Each time Lu Zhe kissed her, it was a light touch, not even approaching the stage of exchanging saliva. Su Ci was just teasing the boy.


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes nced over her, then he pushed the door into the shop.


    Su Ci followed behind him, her fair face filled with small satisfaction.


    In theputer shop, Little Kuaile''s eyes lit up when he saw Su Ci, ¡°Ci Jiejie.¡±


    ¡°Little Ci is here too,¡± Boss Fang smiled.


    ¡°I''m here to keep Lu Zhepany while he works,¡± Su Ci said.


    Boss Fang looked at Lu Zhe with a meaningful expression, feeling both happy and sad for him.


    ¡°Ci Jiejie, I''ll have legs tomorrow!¡± Little Kuaile excitedly shared the good news with Su Ci.


    His father had told him that he would get a pair of legs tomorrow, and then he could walk like other kids and go to school.


    Su Ci was taken aback, then reached out to pat Little Kuaile''s head, ¡°That''s great! Once you can walk, I''ll take you to the amusement park.¡±


    Hearing Su Ci''s words, Little Kuaile''s eyes lit up even more. He had never been to an amusement park before.


    Little Kuaile nodded vigorously, "Sister Ci, I will learn to walk quickly." He then asked Su Ci, "If Kuaile can walk tomorrow, can we go to the amusement park the day after tomorrow?"


    "Ask Brother Lu Zhe. I''ve never been to an amusement park either, and we need Brother Lu Zhe to take us." Su Ci passed the ball to Lu Zhe.


    "Brother Lu Zhe, can we?" Little Kuaile looked at him with big, expectant eyes.


    Next to them, Su Ci mimicked Little Kuaile''s childish voice, also looking at Lu Zhe with bright eyes, "Brother Lu Zhe, can we?"


    Faced with the ck, shining eyes of both the big and small, Lu Zhe coughed ufortably, "Um."


    With Lu Zhe watching the shop, Boss Fang pushed Little Kuaile out to stroll through the night market.


    Su Ci moved a small stool and sat behind the cashier, ready to assist Lu Zhe in watching the shop diligently.


    At that moment, two boys walked into theputer shop, ready to pick out aputer. Their eyes inadvertentlynded on the girl sitting behind the cashier, and they were instantly stunned, unable to hide their admiration.


    Lu Zhe walked up to them, his cold face expressionless, blocking their view, "What are you buying?"


    "Uh... anything," one of the boys still hadn''t recovered.


    His friend wearing sses nudged him with his elbow.


    "Aputer, I want to assemble one. Could you help me pick out the configuration?" The boy''s face turned red, ncing asionally at the cashier, "I want the best configuration."


    Lu Zhe''s pitch-ck eyes were a bit cold, "Mm."


    In less than a minute, Lu Zhe had already picked out the most expensive and best configuration for the boy, "This set isplete."


    The boy looked at the bill, secretly took a deep breath, but feeling the girl''s gaze at the cashier, he paid the money with a stiff face.


    Seeing Lu Zhe collect the money, Su Ci, mimicking the usual staff in the shop, smiled at the boy and said, "Thank you, wee toe again."


    The boy was instantly invigorated; the pain from spending so much money was nothingpared to the sweet smile from the girl in front of him. It was worth it.


    The two boys dragged their feet for a while before finally leaving theputer shop with the expensive assembledputer.


    "Lu Zhe, you get amission for selling aputer, right?" Su Ci asked the boy next to her.


    "Mm," Lu Zhe''s expression was indifferent. Thinking of the girl''s smiling face towards others earlier, he said coldly, "Next time, you don''t need toe to theputer shop. There are many peopleing and going, it''s quite chaotic."


    Su Ci shook her head, she leaned close to Lu Zhe''s ear like a boneless little fox spirit, her voice soft, she asked bluntly, "Lu Zhe, did you get jealous when that boy kept staring at me?"


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened, his thin lips pressed tightly together.


    Su Ci looked at the small mole on the boy''s ear, her eyes glinting with mischief, her lips almost touching the mole on his earlobe, her voice was extremely soft, "Don''t worry, you''re much better looking than him, I only look at you."


    Lu Zhe wanted to ask, if someone better looking than him appeared, would she look at others then?


    His thought had just arisen when the next second, the girl''s lips lightly touched his ear.


    An unusual tingling sensation shot up from the base of his spine.


    Lu Zhe couldn''t help but let out a muffled groan, quickly turning his head away.


    Su Ci next to himughed like a demon, "Lu Zhe, the mole on your ear is so cute."


    Cuter than her little teardrop mole, she wanted to bite it, but she couldn''t bear to.


    When they returned to the old residential area, it was already past nine o''clock, the night was deep, and asionally a child''sughter could be heard nearby.


    Su Ci held the honey-zed skewers that Lu Zhe had bought for her, eating with a satisfied face. It was her first time realizing that the snacks in the night market were so delicious.


    She ate while walking upstairs beside Lu Zhe.


    Su Ci stretched her hand with the sauce on it in front of Lu Zhe, "Lu Zhe, my hand got stained with honey sauce, help me wipe it."


    The corridor was dimly lit, the girl''s hand was slender and white as jade, with a light pink fingertip indeed stained with honey sauce.


    Lu Zhe took out a tissue and gently wiped her hand.


    Su Ci took a bite of the meat, watching the boy''s serious expression as he wiped her hand, her heart softened, she held the skewer to the boy''s mouth, asking him, "Do you want a bite?"


    As the words fell, a deep voice suddenly sounded from the other end of the corridor, "Ci Ci."


    Su Ci was stunned, and she and Lu Zhe looked over at the same time.


    A tall, handsome man walked out from the darkness, his deep eyes filled with excitement, "Ci Ci,e here."


    Lu Zhe''s grip on Su Ci''s finger tightened.


    In the cramped living room, the atmosphere was a bit stiff.


    Su Ci sat beside Lu Zhe, looking at the unfamiliar man opposite her, "Are you my brother?" When did she have a brother?


    Before she came here, she was the only daughter of the Su family, now she had turned into a rabbit in a book.


    Unless the other person was also a rabbit?


    Su ZhiYuan had imagined many scenarios of finding his sister, but he never expected that his sister wouldn''t recognize him.


    "My name is Su ZhiYuan, you are Su Ci, I am your brother," Su ZhiYuan looked at Su Ci seriously, "Don''t you remember? What about Mom and Dad, do you remember them?"


    Su Ci looked at him in confusion, of course she remembered her parents, but she didn''t know his, "Are you mistaken? I don''t know you."


    Su ZhiYuan raised his eyebrows, "Do you think anyone else could look like you?"


    He and his sister Su Ci had inherited their parents'' good genes, the Su family''s looks were famous in City B.


    Su Ci nodded, she also thought it was impossible for anyone to look like her, she was a unique beauty!


    "It''s also possible that you''re trying to scam me, attracted by my beauty, trying to trick me away," Su Ci really didn''t know the other person.


    Su ZhiYuan gave his sister a speechless look, she had lost her memory, but her self-obsession hadn''t changed at all.


    He took out a photo and handed it to Su Ci, "This is a family photo of Dad, Mom, me, and you. If you doubt the photo is photoshopped, I can let you do a paternity test with Mom and Dad."


    Su Ci pursed her lips, the people in the photo were indeed her, and the other person''s tone was certain, not like a lie.


    Su Ci was a bit bewildered and caught off guard, facing this suddenly appearing brother, to be honest, she felt an indescribable sense of closeness, and from the other person''s facial features, she could see that they looked somewhat alike.


    "Then let''s do the paternity test," she also wanted to know what was going on.


    "Okay," Su ZhiYuan nced at the boy next to his sister, his eyes darkened, "I''ll have someone bring Dad''s hair from City B, we''ll do the test the day after tomorrow."


    He hadn''t expected his sister to have lost her memory, no wonder she hadn''t died but hadn''t returned to the Su family.


    Now that his sister treated him as a stranger, they could only wait for the test results toe out before he could take her away.


    Su ZhiYuan left with his subordinates, he had someone return to City B overnight to get his father''s hair, and for the time being, he kept the matter from his mother.


    The living room returned to silence.


    Su Ci blinked, she asked Lu Zhe, "Lu Zhe, if Su ZhiYuan is really my brother, what do you think I should do?"


    The boy had been sitting quietly beside her, hearing the girl''s question, he finally spoke, "If you are really his sister, the youngdy of the Su family, you should return to your family."


    Lu Zhe''s cold face was expressionless, making it impossible to tell what he was thinking.


    Su Ci reached out and tugged at Lu Zhe''s clothes, "The Su family is in City B, if I go back, won''t you miss me?" Moreover, with her current situation, how could she leave Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe frowned, "This ce isn''t suitable for you."


    Aliali: 67497f30c4f3f33ac4879907She would eventually have to leave, if she could find her family, it was a good thing.


    Su Ci''s fingers gripping Lu Zhe''s clothes tightened, the light pink fingertips turned white, she looked at Lu Zhe in disbelief.


    She asked angrily, "Is Lu Zhe trying to drive me away?"


    Today, the system had received a tiny bit of cotton candy from its host, [Master, Lu Zhe seems to dislike you staying here, don''t give him the cotton candy.]


    Su Ci red at Lu Zhe with her watery eyes, "If I leave you, who will help me maintain my human form?"


    Lu Zhe looked at her, "Before you leave, I can kiss you many times, enough to maintain your human form for a long time."


    Su Ci was truly angry. Normally, even when she begged him for an extra kiss, Lu Zhe would push her away. Now, just to get her to leave, he was willing to go as far as to "overdraw"?


    She snorted coldly, stood up, and directly plopped down onto Lu Zhe''sp. Under his astonished gaze, she slightly raised her chin, looking like a proud siren. "Go ahead, kiss me."


    Wasn''t he so eager to overdraw?


    Let him kiss until his lips were swollen!

 Chapter 25: 025

    <h4>Chapter 25</h4>


    Lu Zhe stared at the girl who suddenly sat on hisp, his eyes darkening as he said coldly, "Get off."


    Su Ci red at him, "Didn''t you say you could kiss me many times at once? Here''s your chance."


    The girl on hisp was like an angry bunny, fierce and bristling, as if she might pounce and bite him at any moment.


    Lu Zhe knew he should try to soothe her, but the girl was too much - pushing his boundaries step by step. This time, he didn''t want to indulge her.


    "Get off," Lu Zhe''s dark eyes fixed on Su Ci, his expression cold.


    Su Ci lifted her delicate chin defiantly, refusing to listen. "Are you going back on your word?"


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips pressed together as his hands moved to her waist, intending to lift her off hisp.


    Seeing his intention, Su Ci immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing closer to him. "I won''t get off. Just hurry up and kiss me so we can be done with it."


    The girl in his arms clung tightly to his neck, her body squirming like a fish, constantly brushing against him with her movements. Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened further, his voice growing colder, "Get off!"


    Su Ciughed in frustration.


    How could this man remain so unmoved while holding such an enchanting beauty like her?


    Su Ci absolutely refused to admit that her charm wasn''t enough!


    She wrapped her arms tightly around Lu Zhe''s neck, burying her head in the crook of his shoulder. Her red lips asionally brushed against his neck, her warm breath falling on his skin. "No."


    Lu Zhe''s entire body tensed, his hands on her waist tightening slightly.


    "Su Ci!" The girl was being unreasonable, clinging to him softly, making him frustrated yet helpless.


    Su Ci was furious with Lu Zhe. This man was so cold and rigid - here she was throwing herself at him, and not only was he unmoved, he was scolding her!


    Feeling his hands gripping her waist, about to pull her away, Su Ci parted her teeth and bit down on the young man''s neck.


    Feeling him shudder, Su Ci felt a little smug. She kept her teeth there, letting out an angry huff.


    She hadn''t really used any force at all.


    The sensation was slightly painful, slightly ticklish, even stimting - like having a vital point captured. Lu Zhe''s dark eyes grew deeper, his hands tightening on her slim waist. The coldness left his voice as he retreated once again, "Tuantuan, stop messing around."


    Su Ci kept her teeth where they were.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes held a trace of indulgence, the rigid lines of his face softening under the light as he sighed softly, "I''m not trying to drive you away. If you find your family, you should return to them."


    The little bubble of anger in Su Ci''s chest deted as if Lu Zhe had pricked it with a needle.


    She released her bite and red at Lu Zhe usingly, "You just said you''d kiss me all at once and let me leave." Had he been thinking this way all along?


    Lu Zhe was silent for a moment. "I''m sorry."


    Su Ci looked at him, still not letting go of her hold around his neck. "Fine, let''s wait for the DNA test results before deciding anything."


    Leaning against his chest, sheined, "Lu Zhe, my waist hurts. You gripped too tight and hurt me."


    Only then did Lu Zhe realize how he had lost control earlier. "I''m sorry."


    He loosened his grip.


    Su Ci licked her lips, her eyes curving upward, looking exactly like a mischievous little temptress full of schemes. "Lu Zhe, you''ve made my legs go weak. You''ll have to carry me back to my room."


    She slumped against Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe gave her a cool nce,pletely resigned as his hands returned to her waist as he stood up.


    The young man was incredibly strong - even with the girl clinging to him like a ko, he could still carry her steadily back to her room.


    ......


    Because of the DNA test, Su Ci worried that being a rabbit might be discovered.


    But when she asked Fu Gui, she learned that Lu Zhe''s kisses could turn her back into a human, and since she was essentially human, she didn''t need to worry about this issue.


    When Su ZhiYuan received the DNA test results, Su Ci wasn''t particrly shocked by what she saw.


    She listened as Su ZhiYuan exined that she had been kidnapped and fallen into the sea, leading everyone to believe she had died.


    Su Ci had transmigrated into this story - she was certain she wasn''t the Su family''s daughter from the book, but this body was. The original owner had probably died when she fell into the sea, and somehow this body had turned into a rabbit, just as she transmigrated here.


    She had no memories of the original owner; she had always thought she had simply transmigrated into a rabbit.


    In reality, she had transmigrated into the Su family''s daughter, even sharing the same name.


    Looking at Su ZhiYuan before her, Su Ci feltplicated emotions.


    He was indeed this body''s brother - no wonder she had felt a sense of familiarity when she first saw him.


    Su ZhiYuan had someone put away the report, then looked at the silent Su Ci. He reached out to pat her head, smiling, "Are you disappointed to learn you''re my sister?"


    Su ZhiYuan''s warm touch waspletely different from Lu Zhe''s cool one - it was the warmth a brother should have.


    Su Ci looked at him withplex emotions and shook her head. "No."


    The original owner had died, and she had transmigrated here, bing this world''s Su Ci, bing the Su family''s daughter - something she had never imagined. She had always thought she was just a poor, weak, helpless little rabbit.


    "Mom and Dad miss you so much. Since your ident, Mom cries almost every day, sitting in your room all day long. Dad works from dawn to dusk, constantly having people search for you. He even fell ill recently. Even your little brother keeps asking when you''lle home."


    Su ZhiYuan looked tenderly at his recovered sister, "We all believed you weren''t dead. Now that we''ve found you, our family is finallyplete again."


    Hearing this, Su Ci felt a twinge in her heart - she knew these weren''t her feelings, but the original owner''s.


    Su Ci lowered her eyes, remaining silent.


    "Xiao Ci, I''ve already booked flight tickets. We''ll go home tonight," Su ZhiYuan said.


    He had actually booked the tickets before getting the DNA test results. The moment he saw Su Ci, he knew she was his sister - the DNA test was just to convince the amnesiac Su Ci.


    "Why so soon?" Su Ci looked up in surprise.


    "Dad already knows I''ve found you, though I haven''t told Mom yet." The gloom disappeared from Su ZhiYuan''s handsome features as he smiled, "I know you''ve lost your memories, but that''s okay. Once we''re back, I''ll get the best doctors to treat you."


    Su Ci didn''t respond, thinking of Lu Zhe.


    What would happen to Lu Zhe if she left?


    Seeing his sister''sck of response, Su ZhiYuan looked at her puzzled, "You don''t want to go home? Xiao Ci, Mom is waiting for you."


    Hearing these words, Su Ci''s heart twinged again - the original owner''s reaction.


    Su Ci clenched her hands.


    She knew that since she had taken over the original owner''s body, bing her, she should take on her responsibilities.


    "I''ll go back," Su Ci said, and immediately the painful tugging in her heart disappeared.


    Su Ci''s eyes darkened.


    ......


    The car stopped at the entrance of the old residentialplex.


    Su ZhiYuan apanied Su Ci upstairs to pack her belongings, though in his opinion, it wasn''t necessary since the Su family had everything she could need. But he knew his sister wanted toe back to say goodbye to that young man.


    He was grateful to him for taking in and caring for his sister.


    It was Tuesday, and Lu Zhe didn''t need to work at theputer store, so he came straight home after school.


    Seeing Su Ci sitting on the sofa, along with the man who had imed to be her brother that night, Lu Zhe''s gaze deepened.


    "You''re back," Su Ci stood up and walked toward Lu Zhe. "Brother, let me talk to him." With that, she pulled Lu Zhe into her room.


    As the door closed, Su ZhiYuan frowned slightly, feeling that his sister cared too much about this young man.


    The sunset was falling, and with the lights off, the room was dim.


    After closing the door, Su Ci cornered Lu Zhe against it, asking, "Lu Zhe, what should I do? I really am the Su family''s daughter."


    Lu Zhe looked down at the frowning girl before him. They hadn''t talked much about this topic these past two days; he knew she was conflicted and hesitant.


    Lu Zhe let out a soft sigh, "Your family must have been searching for you for a long time. Su Ci, go back."


    Su Ci instantly became like an angry snow-white bunny, her ck eyes ring at him intently - he still wanted her to leave!


    "You should be with your family," Lu Zhe said coldly.


    She was the daughter of the Su family, always pampered since childhood. Such a delicate person like her should have lived under the protection of her family, but by his side, she could only endure hardship.


    She should be sleeping on the softest bed, wearing the most beautiful clothes, the mostfortable shoes, eating the finest dishes - not sleeping on his narrow bed, wearing ordinary clothes and shoes, and eating street food.


    Moreover, he couldn''t take care of her for long. Now that Su Ci could return to her family, it was the best choice.


    Su Ci knew everything Lu Zhe said was right.


    She stared at him intently, "If you want me to stay, I won''t leave." For Lu Zhe, let her heart ache if it must.


    Lu Zhe''s pitch-ck eyes met hers, offering no response. The answer was obvious.


    Su Ci thought Lu Zhe was absolutely heartless!


    She lifted the corner of her eyes, giving Lu Zhe a proud look, "Lu Zhe, you''re not only blind but also not man enough. You''ll regret letting go of a precious gem like me."


    Lu Zhe showed no anger, merely responding with, "Mm."


    Su Ci was still angry. She reached out with both hands, grabbed Lu Zhe''s shoulders, and pushed him back against the door. Through gritted teeth, she said, "My brother booked tonight''s flight. I''m leaving soon."


    Lu Zhe froze.


    Su Ci stood on her tiptoes, lifted her chin, and pressed her lips directly against Lu Zhe''s cool, thin ones. "So, you can go all out now."


    Usually, their kisses were brief and light, but this time Su Ci was clearly different.


    She was angry.


    She deliberately used her lips to caress Lu Zhe''s thin ones, nuzzling affectionately, then mischievously traced his lip shape with the tip of her tongue.


    Lu Zhe gave the girl before him a deep look, his brows furrowed.


    Su Ci deliberately caught his lower lip between hers, parted her teeth, and bit down.


    In the next moment, she felt the young man against the door tense uppletely.


    "Tuantuan." Lu Zhe''s brows knotted tightly.


    Su Ci wouldn''t let him go. She wickedly grazed his lip with her teeth, letting out an impatient whimper.


    Lu Zhe''s ck eyes were bottomless.


    The girl''s bite seemed to strike at his heartstrings, painful and itching, driving him mad. When he felt her soft tongue trying to slip inside, the veins on Lu Zhe''s forehead became visible. Hisrge hand gripped the girl''s waist, and in one motion, they switched positions.


    Lu Zhe and Su Ci traded ces.


    Su Ci was now pressed against the door.


    The young man lowered his head, his thin lips pressing hard against the girl''s red ones.


    Thest ray of sunset disappeared on the horizon, and the room fellpletely dark.


    Su Ci''s face burned, her head dizzy.


    The young man''srge hand cradled the back of her head, pulling her toward him, while his fingers gripped her chin, forcing it up. At first, when his tongue pushed in, it was cool, but now Su Ci felt only waves of warmth in her mouth.


    Unable to take it anymore, Su Ci pushed at him, but her small gesture seemed to stimte the young man further, and he kissed her even more fiercely.


    Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.


    "Xiao Ci, are you done talking? We need to catch the flight." Su ZhiYuan knocked on the door from outside.


    In the darkness, Su Ci felt the young man''s movements be more forceful, taking several deep, fierce kisses that made her lips ache.


    Mmph!


    Su ZhiYuan knocked again.


    Finally, Su Ci''s voice sounded from within the room, "Just a moment."


    Leaning against the door, Su Ci''s legs were weak, her lips painfully sore. She had no idea how long he had kissed her or how many times.


    She pushed Lu Zhe away, didn''t look at him again, opened the door, and quickly walked out.


    "Brother, let''s go."


    "Didn''t you say you needed to pack?" Su ZhiYuan asked his sister who was hurrying ahead.


    "I realized there''s nothing I need to take." Su Ci kept her head down as she walked quickly toward the exit.


    The door closed, and the house fell silent.


    In the room, Lu Zhe stood motionless, his breathing slightlybored. In the light filtering in from the living room, the cold light in his ck eyes hadpletely faded, reced by passion.


    All the way, Su Ci kept her head down, knowing her lips must be swollen.


    She was angry.


    Lu Zhe could be so fierce when aroused, showing no tenderness. Her mouth hurt, and he had probably nearly kissed her lips raw.


    "Xiao Ci, don''t worry. That young man sheltered and took care of you, so the Su family owes him a favor. If he needs anything, we''ll help him," Su ZhiYuan said, thinking his sister''s downcast demeanor was because she was reluctant to leave the young man.


    Something about the young man''s features gave him a familiar feeling, as if he''d seen him somewhere before.


    "Mm." Su Ci responded softly.


    By the time they reached City B, it was already past ten at night.


    Along the way, Su Ci listened to Su ZhiYuan reminisce about the past, and she couldn''t help but feel moved.


    She could tell that the Su family was different from other cold-hearted wealthy families - this was a loving family.


    The parents loved each other, and the siblings were close.


    Her heart softened too.


    The Su family residence was located in the city center, with the vi upying a vast area.


    Since Su ZhiYuan''s appearance that day, Su Ci had researched information about the Su family online - they were one of the top wealthy families, a leader in real estate.


    The only family that could rival the Su family was the Lu family, and the two families were adversaries.


    The car drove through the Su family''s gates, and the vi was brightly lit, indicating that the people inside were still awake.


    Su Ci got out of the car with Su ZhiYuan.


    "Xiao Ci, do you remember anything about the surroundings?" Su ZhiYuan asked his sister.


    Su Ci shook her head; shecked the original owner''s memories.


    "It''s okay, we can slowly recover those memories," Su ZhiYuan said as he led her toward the vi.


    Before they reached the entrance, they could already see several people standing at the door, with a couple standing in front - clearly Su''s Father and Su''s Mother.


    Su''s Mother was visibly emotional, covering her mouth and looking at Su Ci with tears in her eyes before breaking into sobs.


    Beside her, Su''s Father held his wife, and even thismanding patriarch''s still-handsome face couldn''t hide his excitement, his eyes glistening with emotion at his daughter''s return.


    Su''s Mother pushed away from her husband and hurried forward to embrace her daughter. Mad with longing for her daughter, she cried, "Ci Ci, you''ve finallye back."


    Su Ci was embraced, feeling her mother''s intense love for her daughter, and her heart ached.


    She instinctively hugged Su''s Mother back, "Mom, I''m home."


    Sitting in the living room, facing the Su family members and her surroundings, Su Ci didn''t feel strange at all.


    "Ci Ci, you''ve lost weight," Su''s Mother sat beside Su Ci, holding her hand with a look of loving concern. Upon hearing from her eldest son that her daughter had lost her memory, she felt even more heartbroken.


    Her daughter must have suffered so much.


    "I haven''t. I weighed myself yesterday and gained half a pound," Su Ci replied. It was mainly because Lu Zhe''s cooking was so good and suited her taste - she often couldn''t control her appetite.


    For a great beauty like her, even gaining half a pound was a sinful thing!


    The sadness in Su''s Mother''s eyes quickly disappeared at her daughter''s words. She stroked her daughter''s head, "Really? You''ve been on the ne for so long, are you hungry? Tired? I''ll have someone prepare food for you. Your room has been kept clean, you can rest wellter."


    Su Ci shook her head; she had eaten the airne meal and wasn''t hungry.


    "Now that Xiao Ci is back, I''ll set a date for a banquet to let everyone know the Su family''s precious daughter has returned," Su''s Father, famous for doting on his wife and daughter, naturally wanted to celebrate his family''s jewel returning home, announcing it to all and silencing the gossips.


    Su Ci was indifferent about the banquet and simply nodded.


    "Sister."


    At that moment, a small figure appeared at the doorway, white and chubby, being led inside by someone.


    Su Ci looked over, knowing this must be her brother, Su Ning.


    "Sister''s home." Su Ning was just over three years old, and thanks to the Su family''s good genes, even at such a young age, his features were already properly formed and beautiful.


    Su Ning had been sent to his grandparents'' house recently. When Su''s Mother suddenly learned that her daughter had been found, she was angry at her husband and son for keeping it from her and hurriedly had someone bring her youngest son back.


    Su Ning walked up to Su Ci, looking at his sister a bit shyly, "Ning Ning missed sister."


    Su Ci patted his head.


    The next moment, little Su Ning pulled out a small pudding from his pocket. He offered it to Su Ci, "Pudding for sister." Little Su Ning loved pudding the most, and he was sharing his favorite food with his sister.


    Su Ci''s red lips curled up as she prepared to ept her little brother''s wee gift. However, when her gaze fell on her brother''s wrist, she paused in bewilderment.


    "Fu Gui, how did my brother die?"


    Little Su Ning''s life value was marked by a red line, showing only seven days.


    Fu Gui quickly responded: [Master, Fu Gui can only see deaths within three days. Seven days is too far ahead, Fu Gui cannot see that far.]


    Su Ci frowned, only now realizing that all her previous encounters had been with people who were about to die, indeed all within three days.


    Fu Gui: [Master, if Fu Gui eats more golden cotton candy, it can see further into the future.] After all, golden cotton candy was a good thing that could help it level up.


    Su Ci remained silent as she looked at her brother before her - fair-skinned, soft, and slightly shy, peering at her timidly. She epted his small pudding.


    "Thank you," Su Ci smiled at him.


    Little Su Ning shyly hid his chubby little body behind Su''s Mother.


    Su Ci shifted her gaze to other family members. She looked at Su''s Mother''s wrist, where a red line indicated one month.


    Su Ci''s eyes froze as she turned to look at Su''s Father - the same, one month.


    "Dad, I''ve already ordered all our men to withdraw," Su ZhiYuan walked in from outside, having just finished a phone call. He had removed his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves.


    Su Ci only now noticed that this brother''s life value was only three months.


    Her brows furrowed tightly - was everyone in the Su family, including the original owner of this body, destined for a short life?


    Aliali: 67497f35c4f3f33ac487995aPushing down the various thoughts in her mind, Su Ci was led to her room by Su''s Mother.


    The room was spacious, decorated in off-white tones, elegant and cozy.


    The floor was covered with a soft white wool carpet, and through therge floor-to-ceiling windows was arge balcony. Looking through the sheer white curtains, she could see various flowers and nts growing outside.


    Everything here perfectly matched her taste.


    "Ci Ci, get some rest early. Mom will have a proper chat with you tomorrow," Su''s Mother''s eyes held reluctance to leave her daughter, fearing that once she turned around, her daughter would disappear again.


    Su Ci stepped forward and hugged Su''s Mother. "Good night, Mom."


    Feeling her daughter''s warmth, Su''s Mother''s heart settled. "Alright, good night."


    The door closed.


    Su Ci pulled out her phone, only to find no messages or calls.


    She bit her lip in annoyance - Lu Zhe was heartless!


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 26

    Coming out of the bathroom, Su Ci enjoyed afortable hot bath.


    Her fair face was flushed pink from the steam, her dark eyes glistening with moisture. Her wet hair clung to the sides of her face, making her small face appear even more pristinely fair and radiant.


    Su Ci was wearing new pajamas prepared by Su''s Mother.


    Su''s Mother doted on her daughter, typically buying her a new batch of clothes every month, never letting her wear the same style twice. The clothes were all tailored to her previous body''s measurements, but now, Su Ci felt the upper part was a bit tight - the old size no longer fit.


    Su Ci walked to the bed and lit up her phone screen, but there were still no messages.


    Annoyed, she bit her lip and sat on the edge of the bed with her phone, turning on the bedsidemp.


    After finding the most ttering angle, Su Ci initiated a video call with Lu Zhe.


    For some inexplicable reason, Su Ci felt nervous. She grabbed the small mirror from the nearby cab and checked her reflection. Seeing her bright eyes and white teeth in the mirror, she put it down, satisfied.


    After a while, the video call connected.


    On the phone screen, Lu Zhe''s handsome face appeared erged before Su Ci.


    "Lu Zhe," Su Ci''s eyes lit up.


    On the other end of the screen, Lu Zhe''s expression froze momentarily.


    Having just finished exercising, Lu Zhe''s forehead was covered in sweat. He had answered when he heard the phone ring, not expecting the girl''s face to suddenly appear on screen - only then realizing it was a video call.


    "Why did it take you so long to answer?" Su Ci asked him.


    "I was exercising," Lu Zhe, experiencing his first video call, felt somewhat ufortable seeing the girl''s erged face on screen. "You''re home?"


    "I''ve been home for ages," Su Ci red at him. "I waited so long without receiving any messages or calls from you. Don''t you care about my safety at all?"


    Having justpleted two hundred push-ups, Lu Zhe was slightly out of breath. He sat down on the bed and looked at the girl on screen. The coldness in his eyes melted away, and instead of answering her question, he asked, "Are they treating you well?"


    It must be good, he thought. She was so delicate, obviously pampered since childhood. Her family must have cherished her like a precious jewel.


    "Yes, they are," Though she didn''t have the original owner''s memories, she could feel the genuine love from the Su family. Her only worry was that they would die one after another, and so far, she didn''t know the cause.


    Su Ci felt dejected. She could only wait until three days before their deaths to try to prevent the idents from happening.


    This also meant she wouldn''t be able to see Lu Zhe for a long time.


    Su Ci gazed longingly at the young man on her phone screen. "You have two months until the college entrance exam. Have you decided which university you want to attend?"


    If Lu Zhe applied to universities in City B, with his grades, it wouldn''t be a problem. That way, it would be convenient for her to meet him.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes paused for a moment. "Haven''t thought about it yet."


    "You haven''t decided?" Su Ci''s dark eyes sparkled under the soft light. She looked at Lu Zhe expectantly. "Will you apply to B University? Then we could see each other often."


    Just thinking about Lu Zheing to City B in two months made Su Ci''s mood instantly better.


    Lu Zhe asked, "You want me to go to B University?"


    "Of course!" Su Ci responded immediately.


    Then, Lu Zhe watched as the girl on screen furrowed her pretty brows and said worriedly, "If you don''t go to B University, I could apply to universities near you instead."


    Su Ci felt somewhat frustrated. Before transmigrating into the book, her family had gone bankrupt, and she had given up on the college entrance exam to enter the entertainment industry. She hadn''t expected that after transmigrating, she still couldn''t escape the fate of taking the exam - she was still a high school senior now.


    Lu Zhe felt scalded by the light in the girl''s eyes. "You don''t need toe here." Their city only had two universities, neither of which ranked well nationally.


    "So does that mean you''ll apply to B University?" Su Ci smiled.


    The soft light fell into the girl''s eyes, sparkling like gentle starlight. Initially angry about hisck of messages, now she only hoped he woulde to City B to find her.


    The ice shell cracked, and his sealed heart suddenly skipped a beat. Lu Zhe''s thin lips curved slightly upward.


    "Mm." Lu Zhe gave a soft affirmative.


    Perhaps he could go see where she lived.


    Getting his response, Su Ci''s eyes curved into crescents with her smile.


    Then, she earnestly reminded Lu Zhe, "There are only two months left. You need to study hard. Don''t worry about other people''s troubles, just focus on studying. Remember to test into B University to find me."


    "Mm." Lu Zhe agreed to everything.


    Su Ci was in a great mood. The corners of her eyes lifted, and her small beauty mark appeared somewhat alluring under themplight. Her dark eyes held the mischievousness that Lu Zhe was familiar with. "You kissed me too hard tonight. My lips still hurt."


    Lu Zhe''s gaze fell on the girl''s small mouth, which gleamed with a glossy sheen, beautifully red.


    His dark eyes darkened further as he said softly, "I''m sorry."


    He didn''t know how he had lost control at the end either.


    After a moment of silence, Lu Zhe''s lips pressed together slightly as he said, "It won''t happen again."


    Remembering Lu Zhe''s forceful kisses and swallowing earlier, Su Ci''s face grew warm for once. She didn''t continue teasing him, just gave a light huff before ending the video call.


    Su Ci patted her warm cheeks, then found Shen Xue in her contacts. Her tool person could be put to use now.


    In the old residentialplex.


    Lu Zhe still held his phone, though the screen had gone dark. He sat on the folding bed, head lowered.


    Moonlight fell on the treetops outside the window, and everything was quiet.


    In Lu Zhe''s pitch-ck eyes, emotions rose and fell - indulgence, intoxication, before finally settling into calmness.


    The night deepened.


    Lu Zhe''s neck was embraced by the girl''s jade-like arms as she pressed against him like a boneless creature, constantly trying to get closer to his embrace.


    Her waist was extremely slim and soft.


    He turned his head away, but the girl was quite naughty. Her bare feet stepped directly onto his feet, and her pretty little mouth sought his lips, about to bite down.


    Her sweet fragrance invaded his nose.


    His hands tightened, supporting the powerless girl who clung to him.


    He heard the girlugh like a temptress by his ear, "Lu Zhe, kiss me."


    His hands tightened, and he finally snapped, directly pressing down the bad and teasing girl in his arms.


    He saw her smiling, watery eyes.


    Lu Zhe suddenly opened his eyes.


    He sat up on the folding bed, feeling the wetness below, his dark eyes terrifyingly deep.


    ......


    Early morning, golden sunlight filtered through the white curtains into the room.


    Su Ci was awakened by the sound of iing messages on her phone.


    Shezily opened her eyes, heavy with drowsiness.


    Groggily picking up her phone, Su Ci half-squinted at it and saw it was a message from Shen Xue.


    Only then did she be interested in opening it.


    Shen Xue had sent a video. Su Ci clicked on it and immediately saw the young man standing on the g-raising tform.


    The sleepiness in Su Ci''s eyes disappeared.


    She sat up, letting her hair fall to both sides as she watched Lu Zhe on screen giving a speech.


    The young man wore a white and blue school uniform, tall and slender. His rigid face bore a faint expression as the morning sunlight fell on his hair, coating it with a soft glow.


    Su Ci''s heart melted.


    She leaned against the headboard and watched the young man in the video intently.


    Ah ah ah, how could Lu Zhe be so handsome!


    After sending the video, Shen Xue sent several more messages to Su Ci, saying she almost had her phone confiscated by the teacher while trying to film Lu Zhe.


    Su Ci watched it twice before replying to Shen Xue: Why is the video so short?


    Shen Xue, upon receiving the message: ......


    Lu Zhe had won first ce in the National Hope Cup Mathematics Competition, and the school had him give an eptance speech. The break between sses was only twenty minutes - did Su Ci expect to hear Lu Zhe''s entire speech?


    Su Ci sent another message: Whenever you see Lu Zhe at school and have a chance to take videos, send them all to me!


    Tool person Shen Xue: You like Lu Zhe?


    Su Ci replied quickly: Never mind that, if anyone gives Lu Zhe trouble, or if other girls confess to him, you need to tell me immediately.


    Shen Xue finally realized why Su Ci wanted her to repay the favor - she needed someone to keep watch!


    Tool person Shen Xue: Don''t worry, no one at school would confess to Lu Zhe.


    She thought Su Ci was worrying unnecessarily. Everyone knew that Lu Zhe had a terminal illness and was an orphan, so no girls would be interested in him. Most of the girls at school were infatuated with Fu Baili now.


    Even though she had nowe to her senses and didn''t like Fu Baili as much anymore, her heart still raced whenever he walked past her.


    As for Lu Zhe, he was well-known in school as an invisible person who excelled in his studies.


    Su Ci: "No, you need to keep watch. Someone else might have good taste like me."


    Shen Xue (the helper): "Alright!"


    After Su Ci left the chat, she watched the video again and saved it.


    When she woke up, Su Ci couldn''t fall back asleep, so she freshened up and went downstairs wearing a new dress.


    "Ci Ci, why are you up so early? Did you sleep well?" Su''s Mother had been waiting downstairs with her husband. Since their daughter had returned, the two were so excited they hadn''t slept all night, afraid that if they closed their eyes, it would all turn out to be a dream.


    "Good morning, Dad and Mom," Su Ci walked over to them, "I slept very well."


    The bed had its familiar softness, and after video chatting with Lu Zhest night, she had slept until being woken up by messages.


    Su''s Mother''s face and eyes were filled with joy, "That''s good. I''ve prepared your favorite breakfast, let''s go eat."


    "Thank you, Mom." Su Ci felt warmth in her heart, truly feeling a mother''s love for her child.


    As Su Ci walked with her mother to the dining area, she asked, "Where are brother and Little Ning?"


    Su''s Father spoke up beside them: "Your brother is out running, and Little Ning just woke up, he''ll be down soon."


    Just as he finished speaking, Su ZhiYuan walked in from outside.


    He was wearing white sportswear and looked incredibly handsome. Su Ci had to admit that her brother perfectly fit the image of a dominant CEO from novels.


    Compared to the male leads in books, Su ZhiYuan''s appearance and aura could put Fu Baili to shame.


    Of course, Su Ci''s heart belonged to Lu Zhe, and she felt that no matter how handsome her brother was, he couldn''tpare to Lu Zhe.


    Unaware that his sister''s heart had already drifted so far away, Su ZhiYuan smiled at Su Ci and said, "Little Ci is awake."


    Su Ci greeted him, "Good morning, brother."


    "Good morning, you look energetic," Su ZhiYuan smiled.


    "I slept wellst night." Perhaps it was because this body was sleeping in its own bed, but she didn''t feel any difort at all.


    "That''s good. Dad, Mom, I''ll go up and change clothes." Su ZhiYuan had a habit of morning runs. Unless the weather was bad, he would insist on running even in winter, showing great self-discipline.


    "Go ahead, go ahead." Su''s Mother had the breakfast brought out, "Ci Ci, you should eat more." Even though her daughter said she had gained weight, as a mother, she always hoped her children would eat more and put on some weight.


    Su Ci obediently replied, "Okay."


    Soon after, Little Su Ning came down as well.


    He was wearing overalls with a white T-shirt decorated with dinosaur patterns underneath. His face was fair and tender, making people want to pinch his adorable cheeks.


    He automatically walked to the other side of Su''s Mother, where his special high chair was located.


    Su Ci nced at the little one''s wrist, noticing that his life value had decreased by nearly half a day.


    Little Su Ning looked healthy and showed no signs of illness, so it must have been an ident, a sudden incident that caused it.


    As for Su''s Father, Su''s Mother, and Su ZhiYuan, they probably didn''t have any illnesses either, and since Su''s Father and Su''s Mother had the same life value and would die at the same time, it further confirmed it was due to external causes.


    Su Ci suppressed herplicated thoughts and joined her family for breakfast.


    It was worth noting that although the Su family was a top-tier wealthy family, their family atmosphere wasn''t stern or cold, but rather warm and cozy.


    Even though Su Ci had also grown up in a wealthy family before and was simrly pampered, her parents had always been busy and didn''t have much time to apany her. Instead, theypensated by providing material things, giving her everything she wanted.


    She rarely experienced this kind of gentle warmth.


    After breakfast, Su''s Father and Su ZhiYuan left for work.


    Su Ci stayed with her mother to drink tea and chat, while Little Su Ning yed by himself nearby.


    Su''s Mother asked about Su Ci''s life during the past period.


    Yesterday, she had asked her son and learned that her daughter had been taken in by a young man. Her son had told her about his situation.


    While feeling sympathy, Su''s Mother was also grateful to this young man for taking care of her daughter for such a long time.


    She could tell from her daughter''s face and smile that she hadn''t suffered.


    "The young man who took you in is called Lu Zhe?" Su''s Mother asked her daughter.


    "Did brother tell you?" Su Ci was a bit surprised.


    Su''s Mother smiled, "Yes, your brother told me. He took you in and cared for you, so he''s our Su family''s benefactor. I want to properly thank him. Is there anything he needs?"


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up, "Mom, if you want to thank him, just give him some money. He needs money."


    She didn''t want Lu Zhe to take so many outdoor jobs to earn money. The weather was hot and sunny now, and it would be exhausting for him to doputer repair house calls.


    Su''s Mother also knew that the young man was an orphan with a terminal illness, so he indeed needed money, "Alright, I understand."


    Su Ci nned to send Lu Zhe a message telling him that if her family gave him money, he must ept it and not be polite about it.


    At this moment, Hua''s Wife came over and said to Su''s Mother, "Madam, Miss Qin is here."


    In the past, when Qin Shiyan''s father was just a driver for the Su family, she wouldn''t have been able to freelye and go from the Su family home like this.


    But now, with the Su family''s support, she had not only be known as Miss Qin to others, but she had also entered the entertainment industry, using her connection as the Su family''s adopted daughter.


    Anyone who had any connection to the Su family seemed to be touched by gold. The fact that Qin Shiyan could freely enter and exit the Su family home and carry the title of their adopted daughter made everyone look at her differently.


    Especially in the entertainment industry, knowing that she had the Su family as her backing, no one dared to cause her trouble. Even herpany gave her many good resources, which was why she had be famous in less than half a year since her debut.


    Having found her daughter, Su''s Mother was in a good mood, "Little Qin is here? Let her in."


    Su''s Mother''splexion was rosy, and thanks to good maintenance and excellent genes, even in middle age, she maintained her beautiful appearance. Sitting next to her daughter, she looked more like an older sister.


    Su''s Father had been known as a noble young master in his youth, and Su ZhiYuan looked like him. Su Ci resembled Su''s Mother, and Little Su Ning''s features also favored Su''s Mother more. The whole family was blessed with superior looks.


    When Qin Shiyan debuted, she was dubbed a once-in-a-century beauty. While her looks were considered top-tier in the entertainment industry, whenpared to the Su family''s appearance, she immediately lost her luster and became ordinary.


    This was also something that bothered her internally.


    Qin Shiyan''s parents were average-looking, and she often thought that if Su''s Father and Su''s Mother were her parents, she would have inherited better genes and been even more beautiful.


    When Qin Shiyan walked into the room, the smile on her face froze when she saw the person on the sofa, her pupils slightly contracting.


    Su Ci?


    How was Su Ci here?


    When did she return to the Su family?


    "Little Qin, you must be shocked too." Su''s Mother saw her stunned expression and smiled, "We found Ci Ci, and she''s doing well."


    Qin Shiyan forcefully suppressed her shock, and the next moment, her eyes turned red with tears, "Ci Ci really isn''t dead."


    She quickly walked to Su Ci''s side, opening her arms to hug her, "Ci Ci, I''ve missed you so much."


    "Ci Ci?" Qin Shiyan''s expression froze when Su Ci held her back with her hand.


    "Don''t hug me, I don''t know you." The Su family members were one thing, but who was this person crying so ugly and trying to hug her?


    Except for the Su family, she only allowed Lu Zhe to hug her!


    "You don''t know me?" Qin Shiyan awkwardly withdrew her hands and looked at Su''s Mother in confusion, "Auntie Su, what''s wrong with Ci Ci?"


    "Little Qin, sit down first. Ci Ci has lost her memory and temporarily doesn''t remember us," Su''s Mother sighed. Although she was sad that her daughter didn''t remember her, she was content just having her daughter back.


    Qin Shiyan was even more surprised. Su Ci had lost her memory?


    No wonder Su Ci hadn''t returned to the Su family; her previous spection was correct.


    Qin Shiyan sat down on the opposite sofa, her face showing anxiety, "How did she lose her memory? She even forgot all of us. How could Ci Ci possibly forget us? Unless..."


    "Unless I''m not Su Ci," Su Ci leaned back against the sofa, tilting her chin up with a curved nce at the corner of her eyes. "Is that what you mean?"


    Qin Shiyan froze, quickly shaking her head, "That''s not what I meant."


    The amnesiac Su Ci was even more irritating than before.


    "ZhiYuan has already taken Ci Ci for a DNA test, but even without it, would I mistake my own daughter?" Su''s Mother, usually gentle from being pampered by Su''s Father, could be forceful when needed. "Little Qin, whether Ci Ci is my daughter or not isn''t something you have the right to question. Remember your ce."


    Qin Shiyan''s face turned pale. She hurriedly apologized, "I''m sorry, Auntie Su, sorry Ci Ci. I misspoke. I was just too excited. I''m truly happy that Ci Ci is back. Ci Ci, I''m Qin Shiyan, your childhood ymate."


    This was the true face of wealthy families - they could turn on her the moment she said something wrong.


    Her father had beme saving Su''s Father, and they had only given them a few hundred thousand to dismiss them. If her father hadn''t suggested making her Su Ci''s ymate, the Su family would have likely forgotten their life-saving debt entirely.


    "Is that so?" Su Ci responded coldly, feeling no fondness for this supposed ymate.


    Having spent time in the entertainment industry and being naturally perceptive, Su Ci could easily distinguish between sincere words and lies.


    Clearly, everything Qin Shiyan said was lies.


    "I know you''re concerned about Ci Ci, but even if she has amnesia, she is my daughter - that''s an indisputable fact. As Ci Ci''s friend, you should be caring for her in this situation, not immediately questioning her identity," Su''s Mother wouldn''t allow anyone to speak ill of her daughter.


    Her daughter was her heart and soul.


    Qin Shiyan''s face grew increasingly pale. "Auntie Su, I understand. I was wrong. Ci Ci, I''m sorry." Her hands clenched at her sides, knuckles turning white.


    "Sister Yan, have this." At that moment, Little Su Ning ran to Qin Shiyan''s side, offering her his favorite pudding.


    "Little Ning is so sweet. Thank you for giving Sister Yan a gift, but Sister Yan isn''t hungry. You eat it, Little Ning. It''s your favorite pudding." Qin Shiyan softened her gaze, patting Su Ning''s head.


    Across from them, Su Ci watched as her brother clung to Qin Shiyan, clearly fond of her.


    Su Ci remembered thatst night, the little one had been shy and somewhat afraid when he saw her, showing none of the closeness he disyed with Qin Shiyan now.


    Su Ci''s eyes curved upward as she suddenly wanted to throw away her brother''s pudding to let him experience the harshness of society!


    Afterward, Qin Shiyan yed with Little Su Ning while chatting with Su''s Mother.


    Though she had made a mistake earlier, she recovered quickly, getting back up where she had fallen. She continuously discussed Su Ci with Su''s Mother, her eyes reddening with emotion when hearing about Su Ci''s past hardships.


    As for Su Ci''s cold stares, Qin Shiyan not only pretended not to notice but also warmly showed concern for Su Ci, maintaining just the right amount of attention that feltfortable.


    Su Ci''s red lips curled into a smile - this ymate of hers was quite something.


    .....


    After school, Shen Xue passed by Lu Zhe''s ssroom and casually nced inside, catching him on cleaning duty.


    She quickly took out her phone to message Su Ci: Lu Zhe is on cleaning duty, want to see?


    Su Ci replied instantly: Yes, hurry!


    Then she sent a video call request.


    When Shen Xue answered, she was momentarily stunned by the stunning beauty that appeared on screen.


    "Point the camera at Lu Zhe, I want to see him," Su Ci urged from the other end of the phone.


    Once again, Shen Xue had the impression that Su Ci was just Lu Zhe''s fangirl. She stood outside the window, secretly extending her phone through it to point at Lu Zhe.


    Su Ci watched Lu Zhe holding the broom on screen and sighed: "Poor Lu Zhe has to clean the ssroom."


    Shen Xue: I just finished cleaning my ssroom too.


    Su Ci bluntly replied: I only care about Lu Zhe.


    Shen Xue felt she was clearly just being used as a tool.


    Su Ci sat at her desk, resting her chin on one hand, seriously watching Lu Zhe on screen. She thought it must be distance making him more attractive - why else would she find him even more handsome now?


    Just then, an annoying figure suddenly appeared on screen.


    "Brother, today is your birthday," Zhao Youyou pulled out a small gift box from her backpack. "This is my birthday gift for you. Brother, happy birthday."


    Zhao Youyou wore her school uniform with her hair down, looking pretty and pure. It would be hard for anyone not to be moved by such a girl giving a birthday gift.


    Su Ci straightened up angrily, her eyes narrowing as she coldly stared at the gift in Zhao Youyou''s hands.


    If Lu Zhe dared to ept it...


    "Su Ci, should I go interrupt them?" Shen Xue, being the dutiful tool she was, remembered that Su Ci had asked her to keep watch and prevent other girls from approaching Lu Zhe.


    Su Ci''s tone was light, "No need!"


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze without reaching for the gift. "Move aside, you''re in my way while I''m sweeping."


    Zhao Youyou: ......


    She instinctively stepped aside as Lu Zhe continued sweeping the floor''s trash,pletely ignoring her.


    "Su Ci, Lu Zhe didn''t ept the gift," Shen Xue reported in real-time.


    "I saw," Su Ci rested her chin on her hand, all traces of her earlier fierce expression gone. She murmured, "Poor thing has to clean on his birthday, so pitiful."


    Shen Xue was amazed at how quickly Su Ci could change her attitude.


    When Lu Zhe arrived at theputer store, he saw Boss Fang had hung up a "temporarily closed" sign at the entrance and prepared a table full of dishes.


    "Little Zhe, today is your birthday. Call Little Ci over too, let''s celebrate properly," Boss Fang patted his shoulder with a smile.


    "Find Sister Ci to celebrate Brother Zhe''s birthday!" Little Kuaile had received his prosthetic limb but needed to learn to walk at the rehabilitation center, so he was still in his wheelchair.


    Lu Zhe: "Her family found her. She''s gone back."


    Boss Fang was shocked, "Gone back where?"


    "City B." Lu Zhe looked at Boss Fang, "Uncle Fang, Su Ci is the Su family''s daughter."


    This time, Boss Fang was even more shocked. The Su family in City B was so famous that everyone in the country knew about them.


    No wonder Su Ci had such a noble air about her - ordinary families couldn''t raise someone like that.


    Boss Fang remained silent for a while before letting out a deep sigh.


    He had originally fantasized about something developing between Su Ci and Lu Zhe, but now, Su Ci was the Su family''s daughter. No matter how excellent Lu Zhe was or how capable he might be, he was still an orphan - and one with a terminal illness at that.


    One in heaven, one on earth.


    How could they be together?


    "It''s okay if Little Ci isn''t here. Kuaile and I will celebrate with you." Boss Fang hid the sadness on his face.


    "Thank you, Uncle Fang." Lu Zhe knew what Boss Fang was thinking.


    But what Boss Fang was thinking about, Lu Zhe had never considered.


    Boss Fang drove Lu Zhe back to his ce. He had drunk some alcohol and was slightly dizzy.


    Lying on the folding bed, Lu Zhe closed his eyes to ease the waves of dizziness.Aliali: 674aec4f3f33ac49acb42


    At this moment, his phone rang.


    Lu Zhe fumbled for his phone and answered it. A girl''s clear voice filled the room, "Lu Zhe."


    Lu Zhe opened his eyes, his dark pupils moist as if with alcohol, "Mm."


    "Lu Zhe, happy birthday." Su Ci''s face came close to the screen.


    Lu Zhe then noticed the pair of rabbit ears on the girl''s head and immediately sat up, asking in a deep voice, "Your rabbit ears appeared again?"


    "No, these are hair essories I bought. It''s your birthday, so I wanted to show you my rabbit ears. Though they''re not real, they''re the most simr-looking ones."


    She knew Lu Zhe liked her rabbit ears, so she had specially gone out tonight to buy these essories, spending a long time choosing until she found these headband rabbit ears that looked most like her real ones.


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe with sparkling eyes and said mischievously, "If you were beside me right now, I''d let you touch my rabbit ears."


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes deepened, and he said in a low voice, "Tuantuan, don''t tempt me."


    He might be greedy.

 Chapter 27

    Su Ci disliked following orders the most. When Lu Zhe told her not to tempt him, she deliberately went against his wishes.


    She brought the camera closer to herself, her stunning beauty unafraid of close-ups. With curved red lips, she smiled and said to Lu Zhe, "I''m not lying. Next time I''m sick, I''ll let you touch my bunny ears as your birthday present."


    Su Ci was quite narcissistic; she thought such a gift was simply priceless. After all, no one else could see her bunny ears, let alone touch them.


    Lu Zhe lowered his eyelids and chuckled softly.


    Su Ci rarely saw Lu Zhe smile or heard himugh. "What are youughing at?"


    The young man looked up, his pitch-ck eyes meeting the girl''s through the screen. His thin lips curved upward, "Tuantuan, don''t be naughty."


    She would cry if he teased her.


    Su Ci didn''t catch Lu Zhe''s meaning. Looking at the shallow dimple on the left side of his face, she desperately wanted to poke it. "Lu Zhe, smile again."


    The intoxication in the young man''s eyes deepened as he gave a softugh to the girl, "It''ste, go to sleep."


    After hanging up the video call, Lu Zhey down on the folding bed, closing his eyes and letting his heart sink involuntarily into sweet thoughts.


    ......


    During her days at the Su family home, Su Ci stayed obediently by her mother''s side, giving Su''s Mother plenty of reassurance.


    When Su''s Mother saw the measurements the staff took for her daughter, she realized her daughter had grown taller again, and even her upper body measurements had changed. No wonder she felt the previously tailored clothes didn''t quite fit her daughter - they had be too small.


    Su''s Mother was beautiful herself, and her husband was handsome and distinguished. She was very proud that their three children had inherited their excellent genes.


    Especially her daughter, who grew increasingly beautiful and outstanding, with a perfect figure that was wless in every way.


    She wondered what kind of person would be worthy of her daughter, who had been raised like a precious jewel in their palm.


    At this moment, Little Su Ning walked in. He had just taken an afternoon nap and hadn''t fully shaken off his drowsiness. With his dazed expression, fair skin, and adorable chubbiness, the little dumpling was absolutely heart-melting.


    He walked to Su''s Mother''s side, naturally taking his mother''s hand.


    "Awake already?" Su''s Mother handed the small towel from his back to a nearby servant. Children tend to sweat during sleep, and even with air conditioning, his back would be quite sweaty when he woke up.


    "Mama, I want pudding," Little Su Ning said, his mouth watering at the thought.


    "Mama still has things to do. Ask your sister to take you to get some," Su''s Mother said.


    In the past, her young son had always liked to stick close to his sister, but her daughter was typically an impatient person. She would often grow tired of ying with her brother after just a short while, and it was usually Qin Shiyan who yed with him. Gradually, the little boy became less close to his sister and grew closer to Qin Shiyan instead.


    Meanwhile, the staff had finished taking Su Ci''s measurements for her entire body, including shoe size.


    Su Ci walked over and took Little Su Ning''s other small hand. Seeing that his life value was only 4 days, her eyes darkened slightly. "Come on, sister will take you to eat pudding."


    Suddenly being held by his sister, Little Su Ning felt a bit timid and shy.


    "Good, you two go y," Su''s Mother said, as she still needed to select this month''s outfits for her daughter.


    Little Su Ning followed Su Ci downstairs.


    "Which vor of pudding do you want?" Su Ci opened the refrigerator to find an entire shelf filled with various puddings, clearly prepared especially for the little one.


    "Strawberry pudding." Little Su Ning''s big dark eyes lit up instantly when he saw Su Ci take out a pink pudding, and his little mouth seemed to water.


    Su Ci handed him the small pudding, "What else does Little Su Ning like to eat besides strawberry pudding?"


    Holding his beloved pudding, Little Su Ning answered, "I like the pudding that Yan sister makes."


    "Yan sister?" Su Ci narrowed her eyes, "Qin Shiyan?"


    Little Su Ning nodded his little head, "Yan sister''s pudding is delicious."


    Su Ci patted his head and asked, "Then do you like sister or Yan sister more?"


    Hearing his sister''s question, Little Su Ning became very troubled and conflicted. Usually when mama asked if he liked papa or mama more, whenever he answered that he liked mama, papa would be unhappy and frown.


    So, if he chose either his sister or Yan sister, the other person would be unhappy.


    But mama had said that children shouldn''t lie.


    Little Su Ning''s delicate eyebrows furrowed in worry, his little mouth pouting, but he still answered honestly: "Yan sister."


    At that moment, Su Ci really wanted to snatch the pudding from the little one''s hands and make him cry!


    Little Su Ning secretly nced at his sister, afraid that she would be hurt, and quickly added, "I like sister too."


    Su Ci crouched down to look at the little one, "But you like that Qin Shiyan more, right?"


    Little Su Ning clutched his pudding tightly; sister looked fierce, and he was a bit scared.


    Su Ci wasn''t one with a gentle personality. She reached out and cupped Little Su Ning''s cheeks, squishing his fair, chubby face until his little mouth puckered like a goldfish.


    She kneaded his face a bit, messing up his soft hair and making his cheeks turn red. The little angel instantly became a pitiful sight, though still adorably cute.


    "Little Su Ning doesn''t like sister, sister is heartbroken," Su Ci pretended to rub her eyes.


    Little Su Ning was so frightened that he immediately dropped his pudding and hugged his sister, anxiously saying, "Like sister, Ning Ning likes sister."


    He maturely patted Su Ci''s back tofort her, "Ning Ning won''t like Yan sister anymore, only likes sister, don''t cry sister."


    "Really?" Su Ci stopped rubbing her eyes.


    "Ning Ning doesn''t lie." Little Su Ning straightened his back, his little belly protruding adorably.


    Su Ci thought this brother was so easy to coax, much easier than Lu Zhe.


    She couldn''t help but pinch his chubby cheeks, "Alright, I believe you."


    Little Su Ning saw that he had finally consoled his sister and smiled, "Sister crying, shame shame."


    "You little smooth talker,e on, let''s go y games." Su Ci picked up his pudding and put it back in his hand, then held his other little hand as they walked toward the living room.


    "Sister ying with Ning Ning, don''t think Ning Ning is troublesome." Little Su Ning''s voice was childish.


    "When did I ever say you were troublesome?" Su Ci paused mid-step, "Did I say that before?"


    Little Su Ning''s little mouth drooped, his big dark eyes showing a hint of hurt.


    Su Ci crouched down in front of him, ruffled his hair, and spoke in her gentlest tone ever, "I''m sorry, sister carelessly said things that hurt Little Su Ning''s feelings. Sister was wrong. You''re a little angel, not trouble at all, and sister likes you very much."


    Little Su Ning''s round eyes brightened, "Ning Ning likes sister too."


    "Come on, share half your pudding with sister."


    "Okay, Ning Ning will share half with sister."


    ......


    When Little Su Ning''s life value was down to three days, Su Ci learned from Fugui that her brother would die by drowning.


    The Su family''s front yard had a fountain, and the backyard had a lotus pond. After learning this, Su Ci immediately had someone inspect the railings around the lotus pond.


    "Young Miss, there are no problems with the railings around either the fountain or the pond," the butler reported to Su Ci.


    "Have someone keep an eye on these two areas at all times." Su Ci was always cautious. Now that she knew the cause, she wanted to eliminate any possibility of danger.


    Although the butler didn''t understand Su Ci''s intentions, he still passed down the orders, having people patrol regrly.


    On the final day, Su Ci looked at Little Su Ning''s life value, knowing the danger hadn''t passed.


    Early in the morning, Su Ci got up to apany Little Su Ning.


    Since she had made it clear that she didn''t find him troublesome, Little Su Ning had be much closer to her, no longer showing his previous timid and fearful demeanor.


    Children are truly pure-hearted.


    After lunch, Su Ci saw that Little Su Ning had fallen asleep, and feeling drowsy herself, she decided to go back to her room for a nap, nning to continue ying with Little Su Ning after he woke up.


    The afternoon sun grew increasingly fierce, making the leaves of the trees in the courtyard droop listlessly.


    Su Ci suddenly awoke with a strong sense of panic.


    She sat up, thought of Little Su Ning, and quickly put on her slippers to run to his room.


    Little Su Ning''s room was separated from Su Ci''s by a study and a guest room.


    When she opened the door, she found his blue little bed empty.


    "Where''s my brother?" Su Ci grabbed a passing servant.


    "Miss Qin took the young master out to y," the servant quickly replied.


    Su Ci''s brows furrowed as she fired off questions: "Qin Shiyan? Why didn''t anyone tell me? Why did you let my brother go with her? Why didn''t you stop them?"


    Everyone in the Su household knew that Su Ci had lost her memory and forgotten past events. The servant hastily exined, "Miss, you previously agreed to let Miss Qin take the young master out. He''s apanied by the driver, nanny, and bodyguards. You said before that when Miss Qin takes the young master out, there''s no need to report to you."


    In the past, Su Ci had been impatient about taking Little Su Ning out to y and always pushed the task onto Qin Shiyan.


    Su Ci was taken aback. "Where did Qin Shiyan take my brother?"


    "Miss Qin didn''t specify, only saying she''d bring the young master back by 4 PM," the servant answered.


    Su Ci''s brows remained knitted. "Where are my parents?"


    "Sir is at thepany, and Madam went out on business." Before the servant could finish speaking, she saw her young mistress rushing downstairs.


    In the car, Su Ci obtained Qin Shiyan''s contact information from Su''s Mother, but Qin Shiyan wasn''t answering her calls.


    After hanging up, Su Ci finally called her brother''s nanny and learned that Qin Shiyan had taken him to the swimming pool!


    Su Ci was furious. Despite all her precautions, Qin Shiyan had managed to disrupt everything in such a short time by taking Little Su Ning to the swimming pool.


    Without a doubt, this was where Little Su Ning would drown.


    Su Ci gave the address to the driver and told him to hurry there immediately.


    Ever since learning about Su Ci''s return to the Su family, Qin Shiyan had felt uneasy. She had a nagging feeling that she would lose the Su family''s backing and desperately wanted to do something about it.


    Su''s Father and Su''s Mother both favored Su Ci, while Su ZhiYuan ignored herpletely, no matter how many flirtatious nces she cast his way.


    In the entire Su household, only Little Su Ning liked her.


    In fact, Su Ning preferred her over his own sister, Su Ci.


    She had to hold onto Su Ning as leverage.


    She had no scheduled appearances today, and since Su Ning had previously expressed interest in swimming, which she had promised him, it was the perfect opportunity to take him out.


    Qin Shiyan had the nanny and bodyguards wait outside the swimming pool. After all, this pool was one of the Su family''s properties, a private facility where outsiders couldn''t freely enter, so there shouldn''t be any danger.


    "Ning Ning,e here, let Sister Yan put this life ring on you. After I finish swimming, I''ll teach you. For now, sit by the pool and watch me swim," Qin Shiyan had scheduled a private instructor today, as she swam to maintain her figure.


    "Okay." Little Su Ning, wearing his small swimming trunks, obediently sat at the pool''s edge, kicking his little feet in the water.


    Knowing that Su Ning was always well-behaved, Qin Shiyan had someone bring him a ss of juice before she followed her instructor to the other end of the pool.


    The instructor was handsome with a great physique and excellent swimming skills. He was also Qin Shiyan''s fan, and she enjoyed his admiring gazes.


    Their asional eye contact and physical touches gradually raised the water temperature around them.


    Then, somehow, Qin Shiyan pulled the instructor out of the pool and headed toward the changing room.


    The car stopped outside the swimming pool. Su Ci saw the nanny and bodyguards sitting in the lobby and coldly demanded, "Where''s my brother?"


    "Miss." The nanny quickly stood up. "Miss Qin is swimming with the young master inside."


    "Why aren''t you in there with them!" Su Ci snapped through gritted teeth before running inside.


    Su Ci had never been good at running. In her previous life, she had a heart condition that prevented any strenuous exercise, and running was impossible.


    This body clearly wasn''t used to exercise either. Su Ci felt like she couldn''t run properly, her breathing became rapid as she stumbled and pushed open the swimming pool door.


    Her eyes fell on the pool area, and she nearly lost her mind!


    Little Su Ning was struggling in the pool, with no one around, let alone any sign of Qin Shiyan.


    Su Ci rushed over and jumped into the pool without hesitation.


    The nanny and bodyguards who had followed behind finally reacted, and seeing the situation, they rushed over to help.


    Su Ci swam to her brother''s side and grabbed his chubby little body.


    "Don''t be afraid, sister''s here." She held her brother tightly. The little one''s face had turned pale from choking on water, and his small hands unconsciously wrapped around his sister.


    Su Ci lifted him to the pool''s edge, where the bodyguard quickly pulled him up. The nanny grabbed a towel from the lounge chair and wrapped the young master in it.


    "Oh heavens, what happened? How did the young master end up drowning? Where''s Miss Qin?" The nanny''s hands trembled as she dried Su Ning off.


    If Miss Su hadn''t rushed in when she did, with the young master alone in such arge pool, he could have drowned!


    If anything had happened to the young master, the Su family''s retribution would be beyond what she could bear.


    With these thoughts, the nanny''s hands continued to shake as she wrapped Su Ning up. "Young master, are you alright? Does anything hurt?"


    Su Ci climbed out of the pool, not caring about her soaked clothes as she rushed to her brother''s side. "Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"


    Little Su Ning was crying and whimpering, his face pale as he said in his baby voice, "Ning Ning was scared."


    Su Ci examined her brother''splexion. He must have fallen into the pool just moments ago; she had arrived just in time.


    She wiped the tears from his face. "It''s okay now. From now on, Little Su Ning will be safe and sound, and live a long life."


    The green life value squares on Su Ning''s wrist all lit up.


    Little Su Ning leaned dependently against his sister, still frightened.


    At that moment, the door of the changing room at the far end opened, and Qin Shiyan emerged with the instructor.


    Qin Shiyan''s face still held a coquettish smile, her eyes full of allure.


    But when she saw the additional people in the pool area, her smile instantly vanished.


    Why was Su Ci here?


    Her heart tightened suddenly, and Qin Shiyan quickly walked over, asking in confusion, "Ci Ci, why are you here?"


    "Miss Qin, where did you go? You promised to watch over our young master, but you left him alone in the pool, and he nearly had an ident." The nanny couldn''t contain herself and immediately used Qin Shiyan, indirectly telling Su Ci that Qin Shiyan had promised to watch over the young master, and any ident would be her fault.


    Only then did Qin Shiyan notice that Su Ning, held in Su Ci''s arms, was pale-faced, his eyes showing fear, his entire body wrapped in a towel.


    Even Su Ci was soaked through.


    "What happened to Ning Ning?" Qin Shiyan panicked and quickly stepped forward.


    If anything happened to Su Ning, she and her family would be finished!


    "Get lost!" Su Ci forcefully pped away Qin Shiyan''s outstretched hand.


    The sharp "p" made Qin Shiyan wince in pain.


    "Don''t touch my brother with your filthy hands." Su Ci''s fair face was covered in cold fury, her dark eyes ring at Qin Shiyan. "You took my brother out but didn''t watch him. Do you know he almost drowned in the pool just now?"


    This woman had actually abandoned Little Su Ning to fool around with a man in the changing room?


    Su Ci''s anger burned like fire in her heart. Only she knew that if she hadn''t arrived in time, Little Su Ning would have truly drowned.


    Qin Shiyan was shocked and quickly tried to exin: "Ci Ci, I didn''t know, I only left for a moment..."


    Another sharp "p!" rang out, even louder this time.


    Su Ci''s handnded directly on Qin Shiyan''s face. "Shut up!"


    She didn''t want to hear a single word of Qin Shiyan''s excuses.


    Su Ci gave her a fierce re, then struggled to pick up Little Su Ning and headed out.


    Qin Shiyan stood frozen in ce, touching her pped face in disbelief.


    Su Ci had hit her?


    In the past, Su Ci would at most tease and mock her, but never resort to physical violence. Yet this amnesiac Su Ci had be so assertive that she actually struck her!


    Qin Shiyan felt both angry and wronged.


    "Are you okay?" The instructor had been standing aside, not daring to intervene. The other party''s imposing presence and distinguished air clearly showed she wasn''t an ordinary person, and a mere swimming instructor like him didn''t dare speak up for Qin Shiyan.


    Qin Shiyan''s face twisted with anger. "Get lost!"


    When they returned to the Su residence, Su''s Mother had alreadye back.


    Seeing her daughter and young sonpletely drenched, she rushed forward in rm, "Ci, what happened? Why are you both soaking wet?"


    Su Ci immediately had someone take Little Su Ning to his room to change clothes. "Mom, everything''s fine. I''ll go upstairs to change first and exinter."


    "Alright, hurry up then." Su''s Mother ordered someone to prepare ginger soup, worried about her daughter and son catching a cold despite the hot weather.


    After giving instructions, Su''s Mother asked the nanny who had been watching her young son to report what had happened that day.


    When Su Ci came back downstairs after changing out of her wet clothes, she found her mother''s well-maintained face filled with anger.


    "Ci,e sit here with mom." Su''s Mother suppressed her anger and patted Su Ci''s hand. "Thank goodness you got there in time, otherwise Ning..."


    The mere thought of what could have happened to her young son made Su''s Mother''s anger rise again.


    "Mom, I don''t know what my friendship with Qin Shiyan was like before I lost my memory, but I really dislike her now." Su Ci had always been straightforward about her feelings.


    She truly didn''t like Qin Shiyan.


    "Mom understands." Even if Su Ci hadn''t said anything, after today''s events, she would hold Qin Shiyan ountable.


    She instructed the butler beside her, "From now on, Qin Shiyan is not allowed to freely enter the Su residence. Make it clear to everyone that she has no connection to our family."


    The butler quickly agreed. When the madam was angry, it meant Qin Shiyan could no longer rely on the Su family''s support.


    Su Ci heard her mother''s decision but didn''t interfere.


    Although she hadn''t interacted much with Qin Shiyan, she knew the other woman was quite calcting. Getting rid of such a troublemaker was for the best.


    After chatting with her mother for a while, Su Ci returned to her room, finally able to breathe easy now that Little Su Ning was safe.


    As Su Ciy on her bed, she received a message from Shen Xue.


    As usual, anything from Shen Xue was rted to Lu Zhe.


    She quickly opened it.


    Shen Xue had sent a photo showing Lu Zhe entering a hospital.


    Tool-friend Shen Xue: I was afraid Lu Zhe would notice me following him, so I didn''t go inside.


    Su Ci: Thanks.


    Why would Lu Zhe go to the hospital? Was he sick?


    Su Ci frowned, then remembered Lu Zhe had ALS. He was probably going for a check-up or follow-up appointment.


    She wondered how his condition was now, and how long the effects of the four golden cotton candies he had eaten wouldst.


    At the hospital.


    Lu Zhe hade to get his prescription refilled as he had run out of medicine.


    He told the doctor that his hands and feet were feeling numb, and his muscle twitches had decreased, asking if this meant his condition was improving.


    Looking at the examination report, the doctor knew this young man had always been very cooperative with treatment. He didn''t want to discourage him, but ALS was a chronic, fatal neurological disease with no current cure.


    Many ALS patients died within three to five years after symptoms appeared.


    Only a small percentagested up to ten years.


    Seeing the hope in the young man''s dark eyes, the doctor couldn''t bear to be harsh, "Just keep following the treatment n."


    His eyes darkened as Lu Zhe took the report, "Mm."


    After leaving the hospital, Lu Zhe received a video call from the girl.Aliali: 674aec4f3f33ac49acb42


    "Lu Zhe, I''m very angry today." On the screen appeared the girl''s exceptionally fair face.


    Lu Zhe walked to a tree by the roadside. His rigid face remained expressionless, but his cool voice carried a hint of tenderness, "What happened?"


    Su Ci angrily told Lu Zhe about the day''s events, "I almost lost my little brother."


    Lu Zhe quietly listened to the girl''s story, "Are you and your brother okay now?"


    "We''re fine now." Su Ciy on her bed. She had changed into a white dress with a rather low neckline, and lying down like that revealed arge expanse of fair skin.


    "Sit properly." Lu Zhe averted his gaze.


    Su Ci ignored his words. She noticed Lu Zhe turning his face away, his ear facing the camera, the small mole on his earlobe clearly visible ¨C the one she had kissed before.


    "Lu Zhe, I miss you," the girl said frankly. "Do you want me toe back to you? I have something good for you."


    She had obtained another golden cotton candy today.


    Lu Zhe gripped the report in his hand tightly. The sunset filtered through the tree branches onto his shoulders as he said softly, "No."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 28

    Upon hearing Lu Zhe''s words, Su Ci on the other end of the screen red and immediately hung up the video call.


    Su Ci summoned Fu Gui, "Is my charm not enough? With my stunning beauty, how dare Lu Zhe say he doesn''t want to see me?"


    She had always been confident, but after being repeatedly rejected by Lu Zhe, she couldn''t help but wonder if she held any attraction for him at all.


    Fu Gui perked up energetically: [In Fu Gui''s eyes, Master is the most beautiful person in the world, with eyes as bright as stars, a delicate pointed face, and a straight nose. Lu Zhe doesn''t know how to appreciate beauty. Master shouldn''t give him the golden cotton candy anymore.]


    Su Ci resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Are you sure you''re not describing an alien?"


    Fu Gui felt dejected. It had asked its friend Ba Dao, who said the master would definitely like hearing suchpliments.


    Had it praised wrongly again? No wonder Ba Dao said women''s thoughts were hard to fathom.


    Every time it thought Lu Zhe had angered Master and she wouldn''t give him the golden cotton candy, the next moment Lu Zhe would give her one look, and her anger would dissipate. She would even happily rush to give him the cotton candy.


    Lu Zhe must possess some kind of magic power; how else could he make such a difficult master so obedient?


    Fu Gui retreated dejectedly.


    That night.


    Qin Shiyan was waiting in the living room for her father, Qin Zhiming, to return.


    "Dad." Qin Shiyan called out.


    "Xiao Yan, you''re back? No work today?" Qin Zhiming limped slowly to the sofa. He had just finished ying chess with friends and had some drinks.


    "No schedules today. Dad, did you go drinking with Uncle Stone from next door?" Qin Shiyan smelled the faint scent of alcohol on her father.


    Qin Zhiming scratched his head, "Just had a couple of drinks."


    After saving Su''s Father, Qin Zhiming''s leg becameme. To show gratitude, Su''s Father gave him several million as thanks. Their current house was also a gift from Su''s Father, and even his daughter''s smooth entry into the entertainment industry was thanks to the Su family.


    Qin Zhiming couldn''t drive anymore, but now that he had money and his daughter was earning well in the entertainment industry, he didn''t need to work. He spent his time ying chess and drinking with neighbors.


    Although he limped when walking, his life was nowfortable and he no longer needed to struggle like before. He felt it was worth it.


    Looking at her father who appeared like a good-for-nothing, Qin Shiyan had lost the energy to scold him.


    When she was young, she knew her father was the Su family''s driver. She was already aware of the gap between herself and the Su family''s daughter, Su Ci. Su Ci lived in a beautiful vi, wore pretty princess dresses, and was fair-skinned and delicate like a little fairy.


    Meanwhile, she lived in a rundown urban vige, surrounded by shabby tenants. Her home was worlds apart from the Su family''s.


    She often thought how nice it would be if Su''s Father and Mother were her parents. Her biggest childhood wish was to be Su Ci.


    Now grown up, she clearly knew her wish would nevere true. She couldn''t be Su Ci, but she could work hard to be wealthy.


    With the Su family''s backing, she sessfully entered the entertainment industry and became a popr starlet, with better resources than other rising stars.


    But today, due to a moment of carelessness, she made a big mistake.


    At the swimming pool, she had been reckless. She only meant to have some excitement, but unexpectedly, Su Ning almost drowned.


    She couldn''t afford to lose the Su family''s support.


    When she debuted, she was known as the Su family''s adopted daughter, and everyone in the entertainment industry regarded her highly. Without the Su family, how could a neer with no background possibly seed?


    "Dad, didn''t you say grandmother sent some local specialties from the countryside yesterday?" Qin Shiyan suggested with a smile, "Why don''t you take some to the Su family tomorrow to visit Uncle and Auntie Su? It''s been a while since you''ve visited them."


    Having her father visit the Su family was to remind them of his life-saving deed. She wouldn''t tell her father about today''s incident, as that would be too obvious and deliberate.


    "I''m just a nobody, how could I dare disturb the master and madam?"


    Qin Zhiming knew his ce.


    Everything he had now was given by the Su family, and he had been clever enough earlier to suggest his daughter be Su Ci''s ymate, giving her the opportunity to associate with the wealthy family, paving her way early on.


    He dared not think beyond that.


    Having worked for wealthy families for years, he knew the upper ss could be ruthless. Everyone in those circles was shrewd; how couldmon folk like them outsmart the rich?


    "Dad, why are you like everyone else? You saved Uncle Su''s life! Auntie Su mentioned you to me just the other day, she''s very grateful to you." Qin Shiyan couldn''t stand her father''s timid attitude.


    "The master and madam are too kind. How could I give them grandmother''s local specialties? That would be embarrassing." Qin Zhiming waved his hand in refusal.


    "The Su family is wealthy and has seen everything. Are you nning to give them jade instead? Even if you did, Uncle and Auntie Su wouldn''t care for it." Qin Shiyan reminded her father, "They know our family''s situation well. Giving expensive gifts would only make them think we''re trying too hard to curry favor."


    Qin Zhiming was stunned, thinking his daughter''s words made sense.


    "So, giving local specialties from our hometown shows our sincerity, not that we''re deliberately trying to please them." Qin Shiyan knew how to handle things.


    Having spent so much time with the Su family, she naturally understood their personalities.


    If they saved money to buy expensive gifts, no matter how costly, they would probably be things the Su family would easily discard.


    This was the difference between their family and the Su family.


    "You''re right." Qin Zhiming was convinced by his daughter. "I''ll take the local specialties to the Su family tomorrow." He thought of it as thanking them for looking after his daughter all this time.


    ......


    The next day, Su''s Mother, worried about her young son''s fright from yesterday, stayed by his side afterforting him to sleep at night and watching over him since morning.


    "Mom, is sister up yet?" Little Su Ning still remembered falling into the swimming pool yesterday and his sistering to rescue him.


    When he was scared, his sister was like a superhero, holding him tight.


    Sister had promised to protect him.


    He really loved his sister, and when he grew up to be a man, he wanted to protect her too.


    "Sister hasn''te downstairs yet. She has school today, but she''ll y with Ning Ning after she returns," Su''s Mother stroked her young son''s head.


    Her youngest son had a different personality from her older son and daughter. He was especially sweet and gentle, truly like a little angel. Thinking about how he almost had an ident yesterday, she couldn''t help crying to her husbandst night, extremely frightened in retrospect.


    "Okay, Ning Ning will wait for sister." Little Su Ning nodded obediently.


    Children forget easily; he had forgotten yesterday''s fear of drowning and only remembered his sister protecting him.


    At this moment, Su Ci came down from upstairs, her eyes heavy with sleepiness.


    She really didn''t want to go to school.


    Heavens, why did she have to go to school even after transmigrating into a book?


    She wore the Chuangming High School uniform, different from Lu Zhe''s white and blue uniform from First High. Chuangming High School was considered an elite school, where girls wore campus-style white shirts and id skirts, while boys wore white shirts and trousers.


    Su Ci had a great figure, and wearing the short skirt showed off her straight, slender legs. With her fair skin, her legs were dazzlingly white, making it impossible not to stare.


    "Ci Ci''se down,e have breakfast." Su''s Mother had someone serve her daughter''s breakfast. "Thepany''s been busytely, your father and brother have already left." She informed her daughter.


    As Su''s Mother watched her daughter approach, she noticed the school uniform was notably tighter than before. Not only was the top snug, but the skirt had also be shorter. "Look at my memory, I forgot to order new uniforms for you."


    Of course, seeing how well her daughter wore the uniform, Su''s Mother was proud.


    Her daughter hadpletely inherited her beauty, and was even more beautiful than she was.


    "Sister is beautiful." Little Su Ning''s big round eyes stared at his sister in awe.


    His sister was so pretty.


    Su Ci gained a little fanboy, and her mood about going to school improved. "Mom, no need to order new ones, there''s less than two months until the college entrance exam anyway."


    She thought she looked good in this fit, even if it was a bit form-fitting.


    At this moment, the butler conveyed to Su''s Mother, "Madam, Qin Zhiming is waiting outside."


    "What brings him here so early in the morning?" Su''s Mother frowned, thinking about yesterday''s incident with Qin Shiyan.


    "He says he wants to bring some local specialties for the master and madam," the butler asked, "Shall I let him in?"


    "Show him in." During the years Qin Zhiming worked as a driver for the Su family, she hade to understand his character, and considering he had once saved her husband, she couldn''t entirely me him for Qin Shiyan''s mistakes.


    After the butler left, Su''s Mother told Su Ci that Qin Zhiming was Qin Shiyan''s father.


    Su Ci was unhurriedly eating her fragrant, creamy porridge when she saw the butler return with a middle-aged man of average height and appearance, walking with a slight limp.


    He was carrying several bags, looking nervous, with an honest rather than cunning face.


    "Good morning, Madam, Miss, Young Master," Qin Zhiming greeted them respectfully.


    Su''s Mother, with her gentle appearance and kind nature, didn''t deliberately make things difficult for him. "Have you had breakfast?"


    "Yes, thank you for asking, Madam." Qin Zhiming replied sheepishly. "I brought some local specialties for the master and madam to try. It''s just a small token of my appreciation for taking care of Shiyan. If she ever misbehaves, please let me know, and I''ll make sure to discipline her properly."


    Even though his daughter hadn''t said anything, he had noticed something was off about her yesterday.


    "Did your daughter ask you toe?" Su''s Mother asked while adjusting little Su Ning''s bib to keep his clothes clean.


    "No, no," Qin Zhiming quickly denied.


    He became even more nervous, "I haven''t visited the master and madam for too long. Thanks to your care over these years, I''ve been able to live a stable life, and Shiyan has been doing well in her work. I came to thank you both and hope I''m not disturbing you."


    Su Ci looked away, thinking that while Qin Shiyan was quite calcting, her father seemed to be a reasonable person.


    Su Ci needed to get to school and didn''t listen further to what Qin Shiyan''s father was saying. She knew that despite Su''s Mother''s gentle appearance, she could be quite firm when it came to matters concerning her children.


    The car stopped at Chuangming High School.


    Su Ci got out of the car and walked toward the school.


    This school''s environment was quite simr to her previous high school, with well-maintainedndscaping.


    Su Ci noticed the numerous gazes directed at her. Being naturally beautiful, she was used to such attention.


    Since she had no memories of her past, but her older brother had told her which ss and seat were hers, Su Ci walked unhurriedly to her ssroom.


    When she arrived, everyone in the ss wore shocked, incredulous expressions. Su Ci realized they probably all thought she had actually died.


    "Su Ci!!!"


    "Su Ci is back!"


    "Oh my god, am I seeing a ghost?!"


    "Su Ci isn''t dead!"


    "Ouch, I''m not dreaming, Su Ci really is back!"


    ......


    People around started discussing frantically. After all, Su Ci had been kidnapped and fallen into the sea, and with no body found for so long, everyone assumed she was dead, perhaps eaten by fish.


    Her sudden appearance gave everyone quite a shock.


    Though surprised, none of her ssmates dared to approach Su Ci.


    As the Su family''s daughter, she was beautiful and academically excellent. Combined with her proud personality and tendency to ignore her ssmates, people preferred to admire her from afar, not wanting to risk rejection.


    Just as Su Ci sat down, a tall figure appeared hurriedly at the doorway.


    He saw Su Ci at her desk, rushed over, and stared at her with reddening eyes.


    Su Ci looked at him, puzzled.


    "Ci Ci, it really is you!" He Ermeng, the school bully, looked at Su Ci with red eyes, "I knew you weren''t dead. That person I saw on the street really was you!"


    Everyone watched as this school bully stood emotionally at Su Ci''s desk with red eyes, looking like a puppy who had finally seen its owner return.


    He Ermeng was known as the school bully, from a good family, good-looking, fierce in fights, and feared by all - except he was afraid of Su Ci.


    Everyone knew He Ermeng was famous for being attracted to beautiful people, and when he first saw Su Ci, he waspletely smitten and had been pursuing her for nearly three years.


    When Su Ci had gone missing, someone had discussed her death within He Ermeng''s earshot. He beat that person so badly they were hospitalized. Due to He Ermeng''s family background, the victim didn''t darein.


    After that incident, no one at school dared to discuss whether Su Ci was dead or alive.


    "Do I know you?" Su Ci was ufortable with his intense stare and reddened eyes.


    "You don''t recognize me?" He Ermeng looked as if he''d been punched in the chest,pletely devastated.


    Su Ci shook her head, "I''ve lost my memory."


    He Ermeng and everyone around were shocked.


    Su Ci had amnesia?


    This news spread throughout the school in just one morning. As the Su family''s daughter, school beauty, and top student, Su Ci was the school''s most prominent figure, and even the smallest news about her would cause a stir on the school forum.


    Now that Su Ci had returned safely but with amnesia, people couldn''t stop creating new forum threads to discuss this development.


    "Ci Ci, when did youe back? Why didn''t Su''s brother tell me?" He Ermeng was heartbroken that he hadn''t been the first to know about Su Ci''s return to the Su family.


    "Did you lose your memory from a head injury?"


    "Was it from hitting your head when you fell into the sea? Does your head hurt?"


    "Ci Ci, I''m He Ermeng, don''t forget me. Will you never remember me?"


    "No, I need to take you to the hospital."


    He Ermeng took over Su Ci''s seatmate''s ce, sat next to her, and kept talking non-stop.


    Su Ci couldn''t take it anymore, "Be quiet."


    Despite hisrge frame, He Ermeng immediately fell silent at Su Ci''smand. He looked at her with wet eyes, looking extremely wronged, "Ci Ci, I''m worried about you."


    When Su Ci had gone missing before, He Ermeng felt like he was going crazy.


    Now seeing Su Ci safely sitting beside him, it felt like a dream, and he desperately wanted to talk to her, to hear her respond.


    Su Ci frowned slightly, "Before, you and I..." She was somewhat worried about what kind of rtionship the original Su Ci had with this He Ermeng.


    He Ermeng looked at her expectantly.


    "What kind of rtionship did we have before?" Su Ci asked him.


    "Lovers!" He Ermeng quickly grabbed Su Ci''s small hand resting on the desk, covering it with both of hisrge hands.


    Ci Ci''s little hand was so soft and smooth, it felt so nice to hold!


    He looked at Su Ci excitedly, "Ci Ci, I''m your boyfriend."


    Su Ci rolled her eyes and forcefully pulled her hand back, "Impossible!"


    He Ermeng looked hurt, "How is it impossible? Ask anyone around, aren''t I your boyfriend?"


    He red coldly at everyone around, as if threatening to beat up anyone who dared to deny it.


    Everyone quickly lowered their heads. The school bully was clearly trying to take advantage of Su Ci''s amnesia to im to be her boyfriend.


    How despicable, but they didn''t dare say it!


    "Ci Ci, I really am your boyfriend. You used to like me so much." He Ermeng lied without blinking.


    Su Ci was even more certain now. She gave him a cold look, "You''re not handsome enough. I couldn''t possibly have liked you."


    The girl''s words were like a knife to He Ermeng''s chest, and people couldn''t help but snicker.


    "Ci Ci, you''ve forgotten, I''m the school''s most handsome guy, the most good-looking in the whole school," He Ermeng quickly defended himself.


    "Then our school must have pretty low standards for male beauty," Su Ci looked at him, "Are you the top student in our grade?"


    Her words were like a second knife, stabbing into He Ermeng''s chest again.


    He Ermeng took a deep breath. Like a shy bride, he nced at Su Ci bashfully, "I am the top student."


    Su Ci gave him an extra look of surprise.


    He Ermeng straightened his back and said, "I''mst in our grade, and Su Ci, you''re first in our grade. We''ve imed both extremes of the rankings - Su Ci, we''re truly meant for each other."


    Su Ci realized for the first time that she wasn''t the one with the thickest skin.


    "Leave quickly, stop bothering me!" Su Ci had already determined that she had no rtionship with He Ermeng - if there was anything, it was just his one-sided pursuit of her!


    It seemed the original owner of this body had standards as high as hers.


    Hmm, now only Lu Zhe caught her eye.


    The annoying thing was, that guy didn''t even want to see her!


    "Ci Ci..." He Ermeng stared intently at Su Ci''s fair face. He discovered that after not seeing her for a while, his Ci Ci had be even prettier - he could never tire of looking at her.


    Su Ci said irritably, "Just get lost."


    "Then I''lle see you after ss. Would you like some milk? Or maybe some snacks? I can go buy them for you." He Ermeng was reluctant to leave.


    "No need. Seeing you has already filled me up. Now leave quickly." Su Ci found him truly persistent.


    The little tyrant He Ermeng gave Su Ci a shy look, "So to Ci Ci, I''m a feast for the eyes."


    Su Ci: ......


    After school, Su Ci was once again pestered by He Ermeng.


    "I''m going home. Don''t tell me you''re nning to follow?" Su Ci lifted her chin, ring at him fiercely.


    He Ermeng''s eyes lit up, "Ci Ci, you''re willing to let me get in the car?"


    He looked at Su Ci expectantly, nearly having "devoted puppy" written all over his face.


    Su Ci mmed the door shut and lowered the car window. Looking at He Ermeng outside, she said directly, "I don''t like you, stop bothering me."


    He Ermeng outside nodded, "I know." It wasn''t the first time she had rejected him.


    "Anyway, besides me, no one is worthy of you, Ci Ci. I''ll wait until you fall for me." He Ermeng looked at Su Ci with moist ck eyes, the little tyrant transformed into a puppy.


    Su Ci closed the window, toozy to deal with him anymore.


    After returning to the Su residence, Su Ci yed with little Su Ning for a while before returning to her room.


    Looking at her phone that had been silent all day, she angrily dug out the bunny ear headband she had already packed in her suitcase and tossed it aside.


    Originally, she had nned to take advantage of the time before Su''s Father and Su''s Mother''s incident, and with the uing May Day holiday, she could go back to find Lu Zhe and wear these bunny ears for him to see. After all, she couldn''t make herself sick just to sprout a pair of real bunny ears for him.


    But Lu Zhe didn''t seem to miss her at all, so now she decided he wouldn''t get to touch the bunny ears.


    ......


    Tomorrow was the May Day holiday, and everyone left the ssroom early after school.


    Li Dongliang watched Lu Zhe pack up his things to head home. He quickly shouldered his pink backpack, hugged his grey rabbit, and caught up with Lu Zhe.


    "Brother Zhe, I''m heading the same way today, let me walk with you." Li Dongliang walked beside Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe walked forward, "Mm."


    "Brother Zhe, I haven''t seen you bring your little bunny for a long time. Let me visit your ce to see it." Li Dongliang had the idea of using this as an excuse to let his grey rabbit spend more time with the white rabbit.


    After all, since Lu Zhe hadn''t been bringing his bunny anymore, his grey rabbit hadn''t had any chance to interact with the white rabbit.


    He considered himself an open-minded parent who supported freedom in marriage. If the white rabbit and his grey rabbit hit it off, the two rabbits could have a free romance and then breed.


    Lu Zhe gave him a nd look, "The rabbit''s not here anymore."


    "What do you mean not here? Could it be..." Li Dongliang looked at Lu Zhe in disbelief, panicking, "Did the bunny die?"


    Lu Zhe red at him coldly, "It''s not at my house."


    Li Dongliang breathed a sigh of relief, "You scared me."


    Hugging his grey rabbit, he said, "It''s fine, let me just visit your ce. I''ve been your desk mate for so long but never been to your home. I''ve been really remiss."


    He didn''t believe Lu Zhe''s words. He could tell Lu Zhe really liked the white rabbit, so how could he possibly give it to someone else? The rabbit must be at his house.


    Li Dongliang was determined to bring his grey rabbit to Lu Zhe''s house. His grey rabbit was destined to be with the white rabbit.


    Li Dongliang consciously started educating Lu Zhe, "Brother Zhe, is your rabbit three months old yet? Do you know that small rabbits usually reach sexual maturity around three months? My grey rabbit is almost three months old, and if the timing is right, you know, let them..."


    Li Dongliang gave him a knowing look.


    Lu Zhe cast an icy cold nce at him with his pitch-ck eyes, toozy to respond.


    Li Dongliang wasn''t bothered by the cold treatment at all, shamelessly following Lu Zhe all the way, determined to visit his house.Aliali: 6749083ac4f3f33ac4814cd4


    They walked into the old residentialplex.


    Lu Zhe took out his keys and looked at Li Dongliang holding the grey rabbit beside him, "Whether or not the rabbit is at my house, it''s not going to have anything to do with your rabbit."


    He cast a cold nce at the grey rabbit in Li Dongliang''s arms.


    "Brother Zhe, I just want to visit your ce." Li Dongliang wasn''t embarrassed at all about being seen through.


    Lu Zhe looked away and was about to turn the key.


    The next moment, the door opened from inside.


    "Lu Zhe, you''re back."


    Behind the door stood a girl in a white dress, with bright eyes and white teeth, impossibly beautiful. Most eye-catching of all were the bunny ears on her head.


    Damn! Damn! Damn!


    Li Dongliang was about to have a nosebleed - so cute!

 Chapter 29

    Looking at the girl behind the door, Lu Zhe''s gaze deepened as it fell on her rabbit ears.


    He turned his head to see Li Dongliang holding his gray rabbit beside him, staring intently at the girl''s rabbit ears with an increasingly infatuated expression.


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips pressed together as he stepped forward, pushing the girl inside andpletely blocking Li Dongliang''s view.


    "Z-Zhe... Brother Zhe," Li Dongliang stammered, looking as dumbfounded as the gray rabbit in his arms. "Brother Zhe, are you hiding a rabbit spirit in your house?"


    Heavens, that girl was so beautiful.


    She was wearing snow-white, fluffy rabbit ears that looked so cute - just like a real rabbit spirit. Even if the ears were fake, he really wanted to touch them.


    "You can leave now," Lu Zhe said coldly as he stood blocking the doorway, giving Li Dongliang an icy stare that clearly meant he should go.


    Li Dongliang knew his desk mate wasn''t easy to get along with or mess with. When he received that cold re, he instinctively shuddered. "Alright, alright, I get it, I get it."


    He wasn''t socially inept - seeing the girl dressed like that inside, she must have been preparing for some exciting roley with Lu Zhe.


    How could he dare to be a third wheel?


    Though he had to admit, his desk mate was quite the dark horse, hiding such a beautiful girl at his ce. No wonder he had remained unmoved when the school beauty pursued him before - many people thought Lu Zhe was being foolish then.


    Now he finally understood why. After seeing that girl inside, the school beauty was nothing inparison.


    The door mmed shut in his face with a "bang."


    Li Dongliang awkwardly rubbed his nose.


    He looked at the gray rabbit in his arms and sympathetically patted its head. "Poor thing, your path to love really isn''t smooth. I wanted to introduce you to your future wife, but turns out your father-inw has other ns. Guess we''ll have to wait till next time. Just hold on through your mating season - I''ll make sure you get extra food when we get back."


    Li Dongliang sheepishly left with his gray rabbit.


    After the door closed, Su Ci turned to Lu Zhe and asked, "What''s with that expression - are you pleasantly surprised or shocked? Why did Li Dongliange back with you?"


    The tall boy at the door earlier wearing a pink backpack with pink shoes and socks was unmistakably Li Dongliang.


    Lu Zhe carefully examined the rabbit ears on top of the girl''s head, finally determining they weren''t her real rabbit ears.


    He sighed, "He wanted toe in and visit."


    Lu Zhe didn''t tell her that Li Dongliang had foolishly brought his gray rabbit hoping to find it a mate - she would definitely get angry if she knew.


    He asked her, "Why did youe?"


    "I''m about to lose control of my human form, so of course I had toe find you." That time they had kissed quite a few times, but she only had a few days left before she couldn''t maintain it anymore.


    Fugui had been keeping track of the time.


    That day Lu Zhe had lost control - at first he could still count, but by the end, he had forgotten to keep track.


    His eyes darkened slightly. "When did you arrive?"


    "I took an early morning flight and got here by noon." Su Ci gave him a sideways nce. "I waited for you for so long - aren''t you happy to see me?"


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond.


    The shock outweighed the pleasant surprise.


    Earlier at the door, when he unexpectedly saw her wearing rabbit ears, he thought her real rabbit ears had appeared again.


    Su Ci didn''t expect him to say anything sweet anyway. She smiled brightly at Lu Zhe, pointing at the headband on her head. "I told you these rabbit ears look just like my real ones, right?"


    "Mm." They weren''t as pretty as her real ears.


    Su Ci asked again: "I''m cute, aren''t I?"


    Lu Zhe was used to her narcissism by now. "Mm." If she wasn''t cute, who was?


    Getting his response, Su Ci took off the rabbit ears in front of Lu Zhe, her eyes filled with smugness. "But you can''t touch them, even if they''re cute!"


    That''s what he got for not seeking her out - he could look but not touch. She''d make him yearn for it.


    Lu Zhe: ......


    Su Ci tossed the rabbit ear headband aside and walked to Lu Zhe''s side, looking up at him with pitiful watery eyes and azy tone, "Lu Zhe, I''m hungry. I haven''t eaten since noon because I was waiting for you."


    She was lying to him.


    She had eaten airne food at noon, though it wasn''t very good and she only ate half.


    The coldness in Lu Zhe''s eyes faded. "Why didn''t you message me?"


    "I wanted to surprise you. You still haven''t said if you''re happy to see me." Su Ci moved closer to him, feeling the young man''s consistently cool body temperature.


    Lu Zhe looked down and responded softly, "Mm."


    He put down his backpack. "Sit down first, I''ll make dinner."


    Su Ci nodded.


    Watching the young man''s back as he walked into the kitchen, she smiled like a fox who had sessfully stolen some chicken.


    Lu Zhe usually ate alone and kept things simple, just enough to fill his stomach. Now with another person to feed, he took out all the ingredients from the refrigerator.


    Su Ci stood in the kitchen doorway, watching the tall figure by the cab, her delicate features filled with smiles.


    She used to think men wearing aprons would look effeminate, but now seeing Lu Zhe, she realized it depended on the person wearing it.


    Watching Lu Zhe cook, she found everything about him pleasing to the eye.


    Oh my, he really was exactly her type in every way.


    "Lu Zhe, my room is still the same - were you hoping every day that I''de back?" Su Ci leaned against the kitchen door and askedzily.


    When she returned, she was surprised to find her room exactly as she had left it, and clean too - not a speck of dust on the tables.


    She had thought Lu Zhe would move back to his room, since his storage room was so cramped it didn''t even have a proper bed.


    Now it seemed Lu Zhe must have been hoping for her return.


    Su Ci''s expression was filled with satisfaction - she had figured out that Lu Zhe liked to say one thing while meaning another.


    Lu Zhe continued chopping vegetables without pause, his voice cool. "I haven''t had time to clean it up yet."


    "Want to guess if I believe that?" Su Ci was convinced Lu Zhe had kept the room for her. Otherwise, how did he have time to keep her room clean but not move back in?


    As if she''d believe that nonsense.


    In a good mood, Su Ci walked into the kitchen and stood beside Lu Zhe, leaning against his back like she had no bones. "Lu Zhe, lying is such a childish thing - even my little brother wouldn''t stoop so low." Su Ci felt no shame about her own frequent lies.


    The girl''s body was soft and warm, carrying a feminine fragrance as shezily pressed against his back.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened slightly as he said coldly: "Stand properly."


    Like an extremely annoying little demon, Su Ci wouldn''t listen to him at all. She brazenly said, "I''m so hungry I can''t stand straight."


    Lu Zhe: ......


    How had she managed to walk from the doorway just a moment ago?


    Finally, after pestering Lu Zhe to carry her out, she obediently sat at the dining table waiting to be fed.


    Lu Zhe made three dishes - they looked beautiful and smelled delicious. Su Ci picked up a slice of meat that was cooked perfectly tender and gave Lu Zhe an approving look.


    Just then, Su Ci''s phone rang.


    It was an unknown number.


    As soon as Su Ci answered, He Ermeng''s voice came through: "Ci Ci, where did you go?"


    Su Ci: "Where I go is none of your business."


    Beside her, Lu Zhe could clearly hear the male voiceing from the girl''s phone as he quietly ate his meal.


    "I saw you took leave from school today and was worried. I went to the Su house to look for you, and Auntie Su said you went to D City. Do you have something urgent to handle? I can apany you." On the other end of the phone, the little tyrant He Ermeng spoke anxiously.


    These past two days seeing Su Ci had felt like a dream, and when she suddenly didn''te to school today, he had been terribly worried. He had only just managed to get through to her phone.


    "I don''t need yourpany." Su Ci rejected him directly. "Do you have anything else? I''m eating."


    He Ermeng lowered his voice, trying to be submissive: "Ci Ci, when are youing back?"


    "Don''t know," Su Ci replied casually.


    He Ermeng eagerly continued: "Ci Ci, let me know when you''re back, I''ll pick you up from the airport."


    "No need!"


    He Ermeng tried to say more, but Su Ci cut him off: "If there''s nothing else, I''m hanging up."


    "Wait, wait." On the other end, He Ermeng took a deep breath, his tone unusually shy. "Well then, Ci Ci,e back soon. I''ll miss you."


    The next second, Su Ci immediately hung up the phone.


    She put down her phone and unexpectedly met Lu Zhe''s dark eyes.


    Suddenly, she felt an inexplicable guilt.


    "This person is so annoying," Su Ci exined obediently. "He likes me, but I don''t like him. Don''t worry, even if I''m far away, I''ll keep myself pure in body and mind."


    "Besides, he''s not as handsome as you, and his grades aren''t as good as yours. How could I possibly like him?" Su Ci gave Lu Zhe a meaningful nce. "You can rest assured."


    Lu Zhe gave her a cool look and put some food in her bowl. "Eat."


    After dinner, Lu Zhe was washing dishes in the kitchen.


    Su Ci had gone to take a shower early, as she had been running around all day in the hot weather and had sweated quite a bit.


    After some time, when Lu Zhe finished washing the dishes and utensils and tidied up the kitchen, he came out just in time to see the bathroom door open.


    Steam billowed out from inside.


    The next second, he saw Su Ci walking out wearing only a white towel, shuffling in her slippers.


    "I forgot to bring my clothes," Su Ci exined, holding the towel to her chest.


    During her time staying at the Su family home, her room had its own bathroom, but she disliked how stuffy it got after showering, so she had gotten used to walking out wrapped in a towel before changing into clothes.


    Lu Zhe turned his gaze away, avoiding looking at the girl''s exposed, exceptionally fair and smooth shoulders and beautiful corbone. "Hurry back to your room and get dressed."


    Su Ci had been feeling a bit shy at first, but when she noticed Lu Zhe couldn''t bring himself to look at her, she felt mischievous. "The hot water was too hot just now, I''m feeling dizzy. Carry me back to my room." She deliberately leaned against Lu Zhe.


    The girl''s small face was indeed flushed red from the heat, but her ck eyes were bright and clear, showing no signs of fainting at all.


    Lu Zhe really wanted to pinch the girl''s face ¨C how could she be so shameless!


    He tried to push away the soft body leaning against him, his face stiff and cold. "Stand properly."


    Lu Zhe increasingly felt that she was like a boneless creature ¨C everywhere his hands touched was soft and pliant.


    Su Ci, wearing her soft-soled slippers, angrily kicked at him with her toes. "I can''t stand properly!"


    She seriously doubted whether Lu Zhe was even a man anymore.


    She was now wearing nothing but a towel that seemed ready to fall at any moment, and even she had blushed looking at herself in the mirror ¨C she couldn''t have been more seductive.


    But Lu Zhe seemed blind to it all,pletely ignoring her sexiness and beauty!


    The girl''s kick wasn''t strong; it felt more like a tickle against Lu Zhe''s calf. Receiving her reproachful gaze, Lu Zhe sighed and bent down to pick her up in a princess carry.


    Su Ci''s pouting face instantly lit up with a smile, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, nuzzling her head against his chin. "Why can''t you be more proactive?"


    His jaw tightened as her hair tickled his chin, and his nose was filled with her fragrance.


    The coolness in his voice dissipated, reced by an indulgent tone, "Why can''t you be more well-behaved?"


    The girl was demanding and full of mischief, yet somehow impossible to resist.


    Su Ci hugged him tighter,ughing triumphantly, "Never."


    The next day, Su Ci woke up early.


    She changed into casual shorts and a t-shirt, applied sunscreen, and prepared to go out with Lu Zhe to pick up Little Kuaile.


    She had promised Little Kuaile that once he got his prosthetic leg and could walk, she would have Lu Zhe take them both to the amusement park. Now that it was holiday season, it was the perfect time to fulfill that promise.


    When she opened her door, she saw Lu Zhe also dressed casually.


    Lu Zhe usually wore his school uniform, but today he was dressed all in ck, making his fair face appear even more striking against his cool demeanor, making him even more handsome.


    Su Ci felt her heart skip a few beats.


    "Let''s go," Su Ci moved closer to Lu Zhe. "I''ve never been to an amusement park before, you''ll have to take good care of me."


    She had a heart condition when she was younger, so she had never been to an amusement park ¨C she wouldn''t have been able to ride anything anyway. Plus, she had no one to go with, so she never really yearned for it as a child.


    Lu Zhe''s sharp facial features softened slightly as he said, "I''ve never been either."


    Su Ci turned to look at him, "That''s perfect then, it''s our first time together."


    With a slight smile in his dark eyes, Lu Zhe let the girl lean against him. "Mm."


    Little Kuaile knew they were going to the amusement park today, so he had gotten up early, packed his own little backpack with his water bottle, tissues, and small towel, and was sitting obediently in his wheelchair waiting for Su Ci and Lu Zhe to pick him up.


    Boss Fang yawned and patted his son''s head, instructing him, "If you get tired of walking, or if your foot hurts, remember to tell your Brother Zhe, okay?" His son had only recently started practicing walking and still needed time to adjust.


    "I know," Little Kuaile nodded obediently.


    Just then, Su Ci and Lu Zhe pushed open the shop door.


    "Sister Ci, Brother Zhe!" Little Kuaile''s big dark eyes lit up.


    "You''re here. This little one got up and packed his bag all by himself, waiting to go out," Boss Fang smiled. "I''ll leave him in your care, I''m going back to sleep for a bit."


    "No problem, let''s go, Little Kuaile." Su Ci went forward to push Little Kuaile''s wheelchair, as he wasn''t yet ready to walk long distances.


    "Bye, Dad!" Little Kuaile happily waved his small hand at Boss Fang.


    Boss Fang nodded, "Mm, go on, have fun."


    Seeing his son so happy made him happy too, but what surprised him was that wasn''t Su Ci supposed to have been taken back by the Su family? How was she back here?


    Because it was holiday season, the amusement park was crowded with visitors, and all the attractions had queues.


    It was the first time at an amusement park for all three of them. Lu Zhe was fine, but Su Ci and Little Kuaile beside him had their ck eyes wide open, constantly looking around at everything.


    "Lu Zhe, I want to ride that," Su Ci pointed at the carousel in the distance. She was afraid of heights, so she didn''t dare try the more thrilling rides.


    "Me too," Little Kuaile stared intently.


    Lu Zhe suddenly felt like he was taking two children out for the day.


    There weren''t many people queuing for the carousel, so it was soon Su Ci and Little Kuaile''s turn.


    After Su Ci helped Little Kuaile onto a colorful horse, she sat on a white horse behind him. She waved at Lu Zhe who was standing outside the railing, "Remember to take pretty pictures of me."


    From the front, Little Kuaile said in his sweet voice, "Brother Zhe, make Little Kuaile look handsome."


    "Mm." Lu Zhe looked through the camera at the brightly smiling girl and pressed the shutter.


    After sending the photos to his own phone, Lu Zhe deleted the message history.


    Su Ci carried Little Kuaile down, and when they came out, she moved close to Lu Zhe, "Did you take good pictures?"


    Lu Zhe returned her phone to her.


    Su Ci eagerly looked at her photos and couldn''t helpining, "As expected of a straight man, you made me look so fat."


    Lu Zhe looked at the photos of the girl with her curved eyebrows and bright smile, looking exceptionally beautiful, and couldn''t see anything fat about her face at all.


    "Good thing I''m naturally beautiful, to make up for your straight man photography skills," Su Ci looked at the photos a few more times before starting to praise herself again.


    It was Little Kuaile''s first time on a carousel, and he was so excited his eyes were practically glowing like light bulbs.


    "Tired?" Lu Zhe opened his wheelchair for him to sit back down.


    Little Kuaile shook his head, "Brother Zhe, let''s go y over there." His little finger pointed at the children''s drop tower not far away.


    "Mm."


    The weather was very hot, and after apanying Little Kuaile on several rides, Su Ci was exhausted.


    She sat in the rest area, tugging at Lu Zhe''s clothes beside her, "I want ice cream."


    Little Kuaile''s eyes lit up, and he swallowed, "I... I want some too."


    "I''ll go buy it," Lu Zhe had been taking care of Su Ci and Little Kuaile the whole time without anyints.


    There was a convenience store next to the rest area selling drinks and ice cream.


    Lu Zhe''s tall figure and outstanding looks attracted many nces from girls while he was queuing.


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes at this sight and asked Little Kuaile beside her, "Am I pretty?"


    "Pretty, Sister is beautiful," Little Kuaile, at three and a half years old, already showed excellent aesthetic judgment.


    "Is Brother Lu Zhe handsome?" Su Ci continued asking.


    Little Kuaile nodded, "Handsome." Feeling that wasn''t enough, he added, "Super handsome."


    "Do Sister Ci and Brother Lu Zhe look good together?"


    Little Kuaile nodded again, "Good, super good."


    Su Ci contentedly patted his head, "Little Kuaile has such good taste." Unlike Lu Zhe, whose aesthetic sense was outside the normal range.


    After Su Ci finished her ice cream, she didn''t want to walk under the sun anymore. She had looked at the amusement park map and knew there was a cinema here.


    "Let''s go watch a movie." There was a showing starting in ten minutes.


    Little Kuaile had never seen a movie before, and his face was full of anticipation.


    When Su Ci and Lu Zhe entered the theater, it was packed with people, with only seats in thest row remaining.


    Su Ci was supposed to sit next to Lu Zhe, but since Lu Zhe needed to take care of Little Kuaile, he sat between them.


    It was a 3D movie. After Lu Zhe helped Little Kuaile put on his children''s 3D sses, the lights in the theater dimmed, and the film began. Little Kuaile watched the big screen excitedly.


    Lu Zhe turned back, and beside him, a fair hand reached out.


    "I want you to help me put mine on too," Su Ci handed her sses to Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe took the sses, tucked the girl''s hair behind her ear, and helped her put on the sses.


    The screen''s light fell on his face, making him appear somewhat gentle.


    "Done," Lu Zhe withdrew his hand.


    The movie ying was the amusement park''s themed film "Beauty and the Beast." Little Kuaile watched curiously, his big eyes unblinking.


    Meanwhile, Su Ci was getting drowsy. Her arm touched Lu Zhe''s arm resting on the armrest, absorbing the coolness from his skin. On such a hot day, Lu Zhe was like an ice cube.


    Su Ci loved this fairy tale the most and knew the plot by heart. Shezily shifted her gaze to Lu Zhe beside her.


    The screen''s light fell on the young man''s face. She looked at his sharp features and perfect jawline, feeling her heart flutter.


    Su Ci simply rested her chin on her hand and studied him intently.


    Watching Lu Zhe was far more interesting than watching the movie.


    The girl''s gaze was intense, and Lu Zhe couldn''t possibly not notice. He ufortably coughed and turned to tell her, "Watch the movie."


    Su Ci shook her head, "The female lead isn''t as pretty as me, it''s not interesting."


    Lu Zhe: ......


    At this moment, Su Ci noticed that the couple sitting in front of them had their heads close together.


    Looking up to the left, that couple had also turned into kissing fish.


    Her dark eyes brightened, and Su Ci touched Lu Zhe''s arm.


    The young man lowered his head and asked in a low voice, "What is it?"


    Su Ci licked her lips, somewhat excited, "Look, they''re all kissing."


    Lu Zhe looked up and saw the girl''s bright eyes hiding mischief.


    The next second, Su Ci said, "Lu Zhe, remember to cover Little Kuaile''s eyes."


    With that, she lifted her chin and actively kissed his lips.


    The sweet softness invaded his senses, and Lu Zhe''s dark eyes grew intense behind his sses. He let out a low groan, raised his hand, and reached back to cover Little Kuaile''s eyes.


    The girl was terribly teasing, deliberately rubbing her lips against his, her soft lips pressing against his, making his heart tremble.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened, and he fiercely bit her greedy little mouth.


    Beside them, Little Kuaile was confused, trying to pry Lu Zhe''s hand away, "Brother Zhe, I can''t see the movie!"


    After who knows how many kisses, when they separated, Lu Zhe was breathing heavily. He released his hand covering Little Kuaile''s eyes.


    Su Ci''s small mouth was red and alluring, her dark eyes like pools of water, enchantingly beautiful.


    She looked at Lu Zhe like a little demon who had sessfully stolen a treat, and softlyughed, "Lu Zhe, I feel your kissing technique has improved a bit."


    The young man''s jaw tightened, his ear tips reddening in the dim light. He helplessly scolded her, "Just be quiet."


    Su Ciughed and leaned against his chest.


    In the car.


    Lu Zhe looked at Little Kuaile and Su Ci sleeping against him on either side. He softened his posture to let them rest morefortably.


    The sunset light fell into the car. Thinking about his indulgence in the movie theater, he closed his eyes briefly.


    Just then, a phone rang.


    Su Ci had asked him to help take photos along the way, so her phone was still in his hand.Aliali: 6749083ac4f3f33ac4814cd4


    Seeing the unknown caller on the phone, he narrowed his eyes.


    Lu Zhe had an excellent memory and rarely forgot anything he''d seen once. He remembered this was the same number that had called Su Cist night.


    He nced at Su Ci sleeping against his chest and pressed the answer button.


    "Ci Ci, can youe back the day after tomorrow? There''s a gathering, and I''d like to invite you toe," on the other end, the little tyrant He Ermeng spoke somewhat cautiously. He really hoped Su Ci woulde but worried she might refuse.


    After a while, with He Ermeng''s heart fluttering without receiving a response, he spoke again, "Hello, Ci Ci?"


    Lu Zhe held the phone, looking down at Su Ci, and lowered his voice: "She''s asleep."


    "What the!" He Ermeng heard a strange male voice on the phone and instantly exploded, "Who are you? How did you get Ci Ci''s phone? Where''s Ci Ci? Let here to the phone."


    Lu Zhe repeated, "She''s asleep. When she wakes up, I''ll ry your message to her."


    "Bullshit, I don''t need you to ry anything! Who exactly are you! Why are you with Ci Ci!" He Ermeng cursed, but the phone had already been hung up with a beeping sound.


    Lu Zhe put down the phone, his chin touching the girl''s forehead, his voice deep and gentle, "I''ll only be selfish this one time."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 30

    When the car stopped at theputer store, Su Ci woke up.


    She saw Lu Zhe carefully lifting Little Kuaile from beside her and getting out of the car.


    He carried Little Kuaile with one arm while using his other hand to take out a folding wheelchair from the trunk and walk into theputer store.


    Su Ci rested her chin on her palm, leaning against the car window to watch him.


    The young man had already developed a man''s strength.


    Boss Fang was waiting in theputer store. When he saw Lu Zhe carrying his son in, he quickly stood up and came forward, "Thank you for your trouble. You must be tired from taking him out today."


    "Not at all, Uncle Fang. Little Kuaile had a great time today," Lu Zhe said as he handed Little Kuaile over to Boss Fang.


    Boss Fang took his sleeping son with a touch of emotion.


    Previously, when his son couldn''t walk, he tried to avoid taking him to parks or ygrounds. Those ces were children''s paradise, but for his son, they weren''t necessarily ces of joy.


    Now that he was slowly learning to walk, he hoped his son could live a normal child''s life and experience more happiness.


    "Xiao Zhe, thank you," Boss Fang asked Lu Zhe, "Where''s Su Ci?"


    "She''s in the car."


    "Wasn''t she back with the Su family? Why is she here again?" Boss Fang was genuinely surprised to learn of Su Ci''s return. After learning about her identity, he had always felt that Su Ci belonged to a different world than their ordinary lives.


    Lu Zhe replied, "She has some business here."


    Boss Fang didn''t want to pry further. "By the way, that new product you gave mest month - a buyer has contacted me. If the deal goes through, it''ll be worth at least six figures."


    In fact, if they were apany rather than individual developers, the other party wouldn''t have pushed the price so low. In his opinion, Lu Zhe''s product was worth seven figures at least.


    "Thank you, Uncle Fang."


    "No need for thanks, you''ve helped me plenty." Boss Fang paused before continuing, "However, Xiao Zhe, I''ve been thinking - why don''t we start apany together?"


    Even though Lu Zhe was still in school, he had never underestimated him.


    They say poverty makes children grow up fast, and Lu Zhe had shown his capability by earning money early to treat his illness. If someone else had Lu Zhe''s background and terminal illness, they would have broken down long ago.


    Since Lu Zhe had the ability, it seemed a waste for him to just work at his small store. Starting his own business would be better.


    "However, to start apany, we''re still short on capital. If you agree to partner with me, I''ll gather the funds whether I have to sell the store or borrow money." Boss Fang wanted to give his son a better life, and he wanted to take this chance.


    "What do you think, Xiao Zhe?"


    Lu Zhe replied, "I need to think about it."


    "You should think it through. There''s no rush - your college entrance exam is the most important thing right now." Boss Fang had this idea, but starting apany wasn''t like shopping at the market - they needed a n, and it couldn''t be rushed.


    "Alright."


    When Lu Zhe came out of theputer store, he saw the girl leaning against the lowered car window.


    "Why did you take so long?" Su Ci had her chin resting on her arms, looking up at himzily.


    Lu Zhe walked over with long strides. Perhaps because his condition had improved somewhat, he could now walk quickly without limping like before, and he hadn''t fallen recently.


    Lu Zhe got in the car. "I was chatting with Uncle Fang." He helped Su Ci close the window. "Still sleepy?"


    Su Ci shook her head, her body naturally leaning towards Lu Zhe, feelingzy.


    The car continued driving towards their destination.


    Su Ci leaned against Lu Zhe, idly ying with his hand out of boredom.


    "Lu Zhe, your hand is so big." Su Ci stretched out her palm,paring it to Lu Zhe''srge hand, which made hers look tiny inparison.


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond. He looked down at the girl leaning on his shoulder, his voice carrying a hint of awkwardness, "When you were asleep earlier, I answered a phone call for you."


    "Hmm?" Su Ci responded indifferently.


    "It was from that boy you mentionedst night. He asked if you could attend a gathering the day after tomorrow." Lu Zhe said coldly.


    Su Ci finally showed interest, sitting up to look at Lu Zhe, "What did you say?"


    Lu Zhe said, "I told him I''d pass the message to you."


    Su Ci studied Lu Zhe''s expression, but his face remained neutral, showing no particr emotion. "That''s all?" Receiving a call from another boy for her, and he wasn''t even a little jealous?


    Lu Zhe: "Mm."


    Su Ci red at him in frustration, not wanting to talk to him anymore.


    The next day, after breakfast, Su Ci went out with Lu Zhe to help watch the store.


    When Boss Fang saw Su Ci sticking close to Lu Zhe, he smiled, but worried for Lu Zhe in his heart.


    Since Su Ci''s return from City B, she had been following Lu Zhe everywhere. At this point, he wouldn''t believe anyone who said Su Ci didn''t have feelings for Lu Zhe.


    But the Su family was wealthy and powerful. As the Su family''s daughter, whether or not she needed to enter an arranged marriage, the Su family would never allow her to be with Lu Zhe.


    It wasn''t just about Lu Zhe''s background - his illness alone would be enough reason for the Su family to prevent Su Ci from being with him.


    This was the reality of the situation.


    If he had a daughter, he wouldn''t want her to be with someone who had a terminal illness either.


    Rationally, this was how he thought, but emotionally, he definitely sided with Lu Zhe and hoped he could have some beautiful memories during his youth.


    Boss Fang found himself caught in this worry for Lu Zhe, and in the end, could only give Lu Zhe a regretful look.


    "Yesterday, Little Kuaile''s grandmother brought some plum wine. Let''s try it during lunch - young girls usually like this kind of drink," Boss Fang said to Lu Zhe and Su Ci, pushing aside his various thoughts.


    Su Ci''s first reaction was to remind Lu Zhe, "I can drink, but you can''t have alcohol - you get drunk just from a taste." She had been there the first time Lu Zhe drank; he got drunk after just two cups and bothered her all night.


    Boss Fangughed, "Plum wine has very low alcohol content, but it''s true that Xiao Zhe can''t handle his alcohol. He''ll need to practice more in the future."


    "Mm." Lu Zhe''s lips curved into a smile.


    At this moment, Little Kuaile slowly came downstairs, holding a small notebook and a pen. Once summer vacation was over, he would be starting kindergarten.


    The little fellow had been overjoyed when he learned he could go to school, and had started practicing drawing and writing.


    Boss Fang went out to buy groceries.


    Lu Zhe watched the store while Su Ci sat bored at the small round table, resting her chin on her hand as she watched Little Kuaile scribbling on paper.


    "What are these two?" Su Ci asked him.


    Little Kuaile''s big ck eyes moved around, looking a bit shy as his chubby little hand gripped the pen, "It''s Sister Ci and Brother Lu Zhe!"


    Su Ci looked at the drawing that only showed two round heads, "Is this how ugly I look in your eyes?"


    "Sister is pretty," Little Kuaile quickly said.


    Su Ci raised an eyebrow and took Little Kuaile''s notebook and pen, "Let me borrow these."


    She walked to the counter and moved close to Lu Zhe, looking at him with bright eyes, "Can you draw?"


    Su Ci directly pushed the notebook into Lu Zhe''s hands.


    Lu Zhe looked up, "Draw what?"


    "Me, of course." Su Ci pulled up a small stool and sat beside Lu Zhe, her eyes showing a hint of pride. "I''ll be your model, so draw well." A beautiful model like her was rare to find, after all.


    Lu Zhe gave her a look, then picked up the pen and began sketching in the notebook.


    Su Ci sat up straight, trying to maintain her most beautiful pose so Lu Zhe could draw her more beautifully.


    However, in less than two minutes, Lu Zhe put down the pen. "It''s done." He closed the notebook and handed it back to Su Ci.


    "Done already?" Su Ci was surprised. "Did you not draw anything? Are you tricking me?"


    Lu Zhe smiled.


    Little Kuaile was very curious about Brother Lu Zhe''s drawing of Sister Ci, so the little fellow came over and peered at the notebook as Su Ci opened it.


    The next second, Little Kuaile''s mouth fell open in surprise, "Ah, it''s a little bunny!"


    It was a chubby, adorable little rabbit.


    "Sister Ci is a fat bunny!" Little Kuaileughed, his plump little belly shaking.


    The smile disappeared from Su Ci''s lips as she looked at Lu Zhe reproachfully, "In your eyes, I''m just a rabbit?"


    And a round, chubby rabbit at that?


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes heldughter, "Rabbits are cute." Just like you.


    When Boss Fang returned with the groceries, his expression wasn''t very good.


    Su Ci asked curiously, "Did something happen?"


    "Oh my, I almost got hit by a car at the market entrance earlier. I nearly lost my life," Boss Fang said with lingering fear. If anything happened to him, his son was still so young, and there would be no one to take care of him.


    Su Ci nced at Boss Fang''s life force and told him, "Don''t worry, Boss Fang. Your facial features indicate longevity. You''ll ovee any future dangers and turn misfortune into fortune."


    If anyone else had said this, Boss Fang wouldn''t have believed them. But Su Ci was different - she had saved his son before, carried an air of nobility about her, and seemed almost fairy-like. Somehow, her words were inherently convincing.


    Boss Fang''s brow rxed, and he smiled, "I''ll go cook some dishes for you all."


    With that, he carried the vegetables upstairs.


    Su Ci nced at Lu Zhe, who was sitting at theputer. She moved closer and saw the screen filled with code she couldn''t understand. She said to him, "Lu Zhe, I can see you also have features indicating longevity. You''ll ovee any life-threatening dangers in the future too."


    With her around, he would definitely live a long life.


    Oh, she was such a precious treasure!


    Lu Zhe''s hands didn''t pause from typing on the keyboard. He responded with a mild "Mm," showing little interest in the girl''sforting words.


    Before long, Boss Fang had prepared lunch.


    He took out the plum wine that Little Kuaile''s grandmother had sent from the refrigerator. On such a hot day, something cold and sweet-and-sour would be perfect.


    Su Ci had a small ss and found the plum wine quite tasty.


    Before transmigrating into this story, her body couldn''t handle alcohol, but now things were different. Apart from needing to maintain human form and being somewhat delicate, this body was perfectly healthy.


    She didn''t need to be as careful as before.


    "The plum wine''s good, isn''t it?" Boss Fang noticed Su Ci pouring herself another ss. "Little Kuaile''s grandmother made it herself. Kuaile''s mother used to love drinking it too."


    Beside them, Little Kuaile blinked and quietly ate his meal.


    "Though you shouldn''t drink too much. This wine has quite a kick to it," Boss Fang said with a smile.


    Su Ci wasn''t worried about getting drunk - after all, Lu Zhe was there.


    However, when she finished her third ss, Fugui couldn''t help but jump out.


    Fugui anxiously warned: [Master, you can''t drink anymore. If you do, your rabbit ears will pop out!]


    Su Ci''s hand froze on the wine ss. "What?"


    Fugui quickly exined: [Drinking harms the body and depletes your vital energy. If your vital energy drops even a little, your rabbit ears will appear - it''s just like being sick.]


    Su Ci was dumbfounded. "Why didn''t you tell me earlier!"


    Fugui trembled slightly: [Master, I forgot.]


    Su Ci was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth. Worried that her rabbit ears might actually pop out in front of Boss Fang and Little Kuaile, she quickly put down her ss and didn''t dare touch it again.


    However, she had already drunk three sses of plum wine, and feeling the tingling sensation on top of her head, Su Ci realized it was toote.


    Under the table, a small hand reached out and tugged at Lu Zhe''s clothes.


    He looked down at Su Ci beside him, seeing the girl gazing at him pitifully, trying to figure out what to say.


    At that moment, Boss Fang got up to get more rice from the kitchen. Su Ci quickly leaned closer to Lu Zhe, "Lu Zhe, we need to leave right now."


    Lu Zhe was confused. "Hm?"


    Su Ci''s face turned red with embarrassment. "My rabbit ears are about to pop out!"


    Lu Zhe instinctively looked at the top of her head, his brows furrowing. "What''s going on?"


    "I just remembered I can''t drink alcohol." Su Ci tugged at his clothes. "Quick, take me home."


    "Xiaozhe, there''s still plenty of rice in the kitchen, eat more," Boss Fang said as he came back with the rice.


    Lu Zhe stood up. "We''re full, Uncle Fang. I''ll take the afternoon off."


    Boss Fang was surprised. "What''s wrong?"


    "I... I''m drunk, Lu Zhe needs to take me home," Su Ci''s body went soft, and she leaned directly against Lu Zhe.


    Boss Fang guessed that perhaps this batch of plum wine was stronger than usual, taking effect so quickly. He regretted letting the youngdy drink so much. "Then, Xiaozhe, take little Ci home. I''ll watch the shop."


    "Alright," Lu Zhe supported Su Ci as they went downstairs.


    Once outside the shop, Su Ci smiled, her eyes curving. "Lu Zhe, aren''t I clever? I know how to pretend to be drunk."


    Lu Zhe raised an eyebrow. "You forgot something as important as your rabbit ears appearing when you drink - are you sure you''re clever?"


    Su Ci''s breath caught, unable to defend herself. She could only take the me for Fugui.


    "Stand here for a moment." Lu Zhe had the girl stand still while he ran into a nearby boutique.


    Soon after, he returned with a hat and helped Su Ci put it on.


    Su Ci''s anxious heart immediately settled. She looked at the young man before her with sparkling eyes. "Lu Zhe, you''re so good to me. When we get back, I''ll let you rub my ears."


    Lu Zhe gave her a deep look but didn''t respond.


    Sitting in the car, Su Ci felt her rabbit ears actually emerging, and she quickly held the hat in ce.


    When they got home, she took off the hat and ran to her room. Looking at herself in the mirror with a pair of rabbit ears, she asked Fugui, "When will my rabbit ears go back this time?"


    Fugui: [They''ll retract once the effects of the alcohol wear off, Master.]


    Hearing this, Su Ci''s dark eyes brightened. Sobering up wouldn''t take long, so she didn''t have to worry about being confined indoors for days like when she was sick.


    Thinking this, Su Ci''s mood improved, and she couldn''t help but examine herself in the mirror.


    Not to be narcissistic, but she was naturally beautiful. Now, with the alcohol''s effects, her eyes seemed to shimmer with moisture, bright and lively, and her fair face was tinged with a light pink - she looked unbelievably beautiful.


    Now with these incredibly soft and adorable rabbit ears, if Lu Zhe could still ignore herter, he truly wasn''t a man!


    Su Ci left her room and found Lu Zhe in the kitchen.


    "What are you doing?" The young man was wearing an apron, busy at the counter.


    "Making sobering soup." He had looked up the recipe online; it wasn''t difficult.


    Su Ci had other ns in mind. She had no desire to drink any sobering soup - if she did, the alcohol''s effects would disappear immediately, and her rabbit ears would retract right away.


    She went over and grabbed Lu Zhe''s hand. "I don''t want to drink that. You don''t need to make it - I''m not even drunk."


    Lu Zhe looked down at her. The girl''s dark eyes were particrly bright, glistening with moisture, clearly contradicting her words.


    Su Ci pulled him out of the kitchen. "Lu Zhe, take this chance to feel my ears."


    She was being deliberately mischievous, trying to tempt Lu Zhe to kiss her.


    Yesterday in the movie theater, they had only kissed three times - far from enough. With over a month until the college entrance exam, such a long time without seeing Lu Zhe, she needed more kisses to maintain her human form.


    The pink and white, fluffy rabbit ears were right in front of him, and the girl was openly inviting him to touch them.


    Lu Zhe didn''t move.


    Su Ci urged, "Hurry up!" Could it be that her rabbit ears had lost their appeal to Lu Zhe?


    That couldn''t be possible.


    Her rabbit ears - even she found them irresistibly cute and wanted to touch them. There was no way Lu Zhe wouldn''t like them.


    "Are you sure?" Lu Zhe''s lips tightened slightly.


    He remembered how extremely sensitive her rabbit ears were - even the slightest touch would make her weak all over. Last time, when he pinched the tips of her ears, she could barely stand.


    When Lu Zhe asked this, Su Ci began to hesitate, remembering how incredibly sensitive her ears were. She still remembered the helpless feeling of weakness fromst time.


    After thinking for a moment, worried she might not be able to stand steadyter, she pulled Lu Zhe to sit on the sofa. "Okay, I''m sitting down so I won''t fall. Now hurry up and touch them."


    It was a fair exchange - after touching her ears, she would kiss him.


    Lu Zhe found it amusing. "Mm." As long as she didn''t regret it.


    Hearing the young man''s response, Su Ci moved her head closer to him to make it easier for him to touch her ears. "Be gentle."


    Lu Zhe''srge hands were cool to the touch as he reached for the girl''s pink-white ears. Perhaps due to their sensitivity, her ears twitched at his touch.


    They were soft and fluffy, feeling wonderful to touch.


    As soon as hisrge hands touched her ears, Su Ci''s body instantly went soft. She rested her head against Lu Zhe''s chest, her voice low and fine as she reminded him, "Lu Zhe, just... just one touch."


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved into a smile, but he didn''t respond.


    Hisrge hands continued to stroke and gently massage her rabbit ears, showing no signs of stopping.


    Su Ci''s dark eyes were glistening like pools of water, enchantingly beautiful. She leaned weakly against Lu Zhe, enduring waves of strange sensations coursing through her body. Feeling annoyed, she wanted to bite him. "You were only supposed to touch once!"


    She had clearly said only one touch to her ears was allowed, but now she had lost count of how many times Lu Zhe had stroked her rabbit ears. "I''ve been cheated! Totally cheated!"


    Lu Zhe''s palm tingled from the soft white fur on her ears. Hearing the girl''s words, he let out a low, maicugh. "Weren''t you the one who eagerly asked me to touch them earlier?"


    When he hadn''t touched them, she had been ready to get angry.


    Don''t ask - Su Ci was deeply regretting it now.


    She feltpletely powerless, like a plump rabbit on a chopping board, at Lu Zhe''s mercy.


    Lu Zheughed softly as he gently pinched the tip of her ear, asking in a low voice, "Will you still try to be naughty in the future?" Her initiative in letting him touch her ears made her intentions obvious to him - he could guess what little scheme she had nned.


    Su Ci''s body melted even further, nearly turning to liquid. She looked at Lu Zhe pitifully, "Mmm, no more touching."


    Meeting her watery, bright ck eyes, his cool voice carried a gentle coaxing tone, "Be good from now on."


    "How am I not good?" Su Ci''s fingers weakly clutched at the hem of his clothes, trying to distract herself from the strange sensations.


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips curved up, revealing his shallow dimples, "You''re not good in every way." The girl often had mischievous ideas, wanting to tease him.


    So very naughty!


    Thinking this, he lowered his head and pressed his cool, thin lips against her soft ear.


    In the next moment, Su Ci''s eyes widened in disbelief, her sensitive ears trembling slightly, feeling both numb and tingly.


    Her face flushed red, feeling like she might melt awaypletely.


    ......


    The May Day holiday was only three days long, and on thest day, Su Ci had to return to City B.


    She watched the young man helping her pack her luggage, feeling a bit unhappy. Yesterday, he had touched her ears so many times that she could only lie in bed all day,pletely drained.


    They had kissed, but she could only ept Lu Zhe''s light butterfly kisses. They had previously exchanged deeper kisses, but now they were back to these fleeting touches - there was no intensity at all.


    She looked down on Lu Zhe - he must have been a monk in his previous life.


    Lu Zhe closed the suitcase and took out a card to hand to the girl sitting on the bed.


    Su Ci was surprised and didn''t reach out to take it. "Why are you suddenly giving me a card?"


    "Your family gave this to me. I haven''t used any of the money, so take it back." Earlier, her family had sent someone to give him the card as thanks for taking care of Su Ci for a while.


    He could earn his own money and didn''t need money from her family.


    "Why won''t you take it? You took care of me, so you deserve this money. The Su family has plenty of money anyway, you don''t need to worry about me." At this point, she wished she could just support himpletely.


    "Take it back," Lu Zhe said coolly.


    Su Ci wouldn''t listen. Her dark eyes gazed at him earnestly, "Keep it. You might need it for emergencies. If you really mind, just consider it a loan from me - you can pay me backter."


    The college entrance exam was approaching, and she didn''t want him working part-time jobs in this scorching weather anymore.


    Lu Zhe''s reluctance to ept her money wasn''t due to excessive pride, but rather because he saw no need for it. Now the girl was staring at him, looking ready to pounce and bite him if he didn''t ept.


    He sighed, "Alright, I''ll consider it a loan."Aliali: 674c23b4c4f3f33ac4ac1d8c


    Su Ci finally smiled. She nudged his calf with her toe and made her demands: "You have to contact me actively after I go back."


    Lu Zhe: "Mm."


    "You have to video chat with me often."


    Lu Zhe: "Mm."


    "You have to say goodnight to me every evening."


    Lu Zhe: "Mm. Anything else?"


    Su Ci tossed aside her phone and wrapped her arms around Lu Zhe''s waist. "I don''t want to leave anymore."


    The girl was being clingy.


    Lu Zhe''s stern features softened slightly as he said quietly, "I''ll apply to B University."


    He would stay by her side as long as she needed him.

 Chapter 31

    Upon returning to the Su family home.


    Su''s Mother and Little Su Ning immediately rushed to greet her.


    "You just got off the ne, Ci, are you tired? I''ll have the kitchen prepare something for you," her mother said. She had always pampered her daughter, and this time when her daughter traveled far without anyone apanying her, not even bodyguards, Su''s Mother had been terribly worried. If her daughter hadn''t been sending messages these past two days to let her know she was safe, she would have been sick with worry.


    "Sister is tired tired," Little Su Ning said, not even bothering with his pudding anymore. The little one automatically clung to Su Ci, his small hands giving her a massage in an adorably proper manner.


    "I''m not tired," Su Ci patted his head. She noticed that both Little Su Ning and Little Happy were quiet and well-behaved children who would make good friends if given the chance.


    Su''s Mother asked, "Ci, now that you''ve been to D City, you won''t need to go there anymore, right?"


    Her daughter had only mentioned having some business there without exining the details, but she had a vague suspicion it had something to do with that young man.


    Su Ci shook her head, "No, I won''t." After the college entrance exam, Lu Zhe would being here.


    Su''s Mother finally felt relieved. Suddenly remembering something, she said, "Ci, He Ermeng, the youngest son of the He family, hase looking for you several times. I told him you hadn''t returned yet. Does he have something urgent?"


    She knew that the He family''s youngest son had been pursuing her daughter for several years now.


    But her daughter was still young, and both she and her husband didn''t want her dating yet. However, she also knew her daughter had high standards. If she wouldn''t even consider the He family''s youngest son, she certainly wouldn''t be interested in other boys at school.


    So, she and her husband weren''t worried about their daughter''s romantic affairs.


    "I know, I''ll contact him," Su Ci responded casually, having no intention of dealing with He Ermeng.


    She had already guessed that He Ermeng was looking for her because of Lu Zhe answering her phone.


    He Ermeng wasn''t anyone to her, they had no rtionship whatsoever, and she had no desire to exin anything to him.


    "Oh, one more thing," Su''s Mother smiled at her daughter, "Your father has decided to hold a banquet in ten days to announce your return." Otherwise, people might still think their precious Ci was really dead.


    "Ten days?" Su Ci was startled.


    "What''s wrong?" Su''s Mother noticed her daughter''s strong reaction, "Ci, are you not willing?"


    "It''s not that." Su Ci pressed her lips together. She looked at the life value on her mother''s wrist - only ten days remaining. This meant they would meet with misfortune on the day of the banquet.


    Su''s Mother stroked her daughter''s head, "We''ll only invite close friends from prominent families and business partners that day, no reporters or outsiders. In a couple of days, I''ll have someone bring over several designed formal dresses for you to choose from." Her daughter must be the most beautiful.


    Su Ci suppressed her various thoughts and nodded, "Alright."


    The next day.


    When she returned to the ssroom, Su Ci saw He Ermeng brazenly upying her seatmate''s ce.


    "Ci, you''re here." He Ermeng perked up like a puppy catching the scent of meat when he saw Su Ci appear.


    "Ci, I brought lots of breakfast for you, see what you''d like to eat." He Ermeng, wearing his Chuangming High School uniform, looked handsome with his distinguished features.


    Su Ci directly refused: "I don''t want any."


    He Ermeng circled around Su Ci, "Ci, did you already eat at home? No worries, you can have some snacks when you get hungry during break. I had our family chef make these especially for you, you''ll definitely like them."


    "I''m not hungry, take them back and eat them yourself. ss is about to start, what are you still doing here?" While other girls might have softened to such attentive wooing from the school''s young lord, this didn''t apply to Su Ci.


    The other students in ss secretly watched, marveling at how the young lord only showed such submission before Su Ci.


    Of course, some who couldn''t stand it thought Su Ci was too arrogant. He Ermeng had been pursuing her for so long, yet she always ignored himpletely. They wondered what kind of man would be good enough for her.


    "Ci, I haven''t seen you for several days," He Ermeng''s bright ck eyes gazed at her intensely, "You went to D City? That day when I called you, who was that boy who answered the phone?"


    At the time, he had almost bought a ne ticket to D City to find her.


    Su Ci pushed away his face as he leaned in, "It''s none of your business."


    He Ermeng''s expression immediately fell.


    He looked at her with a sad, wronged expression, "Ci, I was just jealous, so I wanted to know who that guy was, why he could have your phone and answer calls for you." After a pause, he guessed, "Could it be that your phone was stolen?"


    Comparatively, he would actually prefer if Su Ci''s phone had been stolen.


    Su Ci couldn''t help but roll her eyes, "Your phone is the one that got stolen."


    She stabbed straight at He Ermeng''s heart, "I gave him my phone to hold, and if he answered calls for me, I''d be more than happy about it. What do you think my rtionship with him is?"


    Su Ci wasn''t sure herself what her rtionship with Lu Zhe was. If she had to define it seriously, perhaps they had a saliva-exchanging rtionship.


    He Ermeng was stunned.


    He took a deep breath, "Ci, that joke isn''t funny at all. If you don''t want breakfast, I''ll take it away now."


    He stood up and casually handed the several boxes of carefully prepared breakfast to someone sitting behind, leaving them dumbfounded.


    "Ci, I''m going back to ss now. If you need anything, just have someone call me from the next ssroom," He Ermeng said, looking at the girl reluctantly.


    "Just go already," Su Ci said irritably.


    A poor student who didn''t focus on studying and only thought about romance, how could she possibly like him?


    She and Lu Zhe were both top of their grade, and they weren''t even dating yet!


    He Ermeng could only leave Su Ci''s ssroom. His handsome face no longer showed any trace of the pitiful puppy act from earlier; his features now carried deep malevolence. Once he found out who that boy on the phone was, he would kill him.


    The ss was used to seeing the young lord either storming off angry or heartbroken because of Su Ci. Once again, they witnessed Su Ci''s pride and cold heart.


    In a corner of the first group, a girl finished watching the drama and happily posted on the forum: "School prince rejected by school beauty again."


    As Su Ci''s ssmate, she would post any news about Su Ci on the forum immediately, and there were always many replies.


    Sure enough, shortly after posting, many people startedmenting.


    She nudged her deskmate, "Duoyu, how many times do you think this makes that Su Ci has heartlessly rejected the school prince?"


    Wen Duoyu was startled when touched and sat up straight, "What?"


    "Weren''t you listening to me?" the girl rolled her eyes, "I asked how many times Su Ci has rejected He Ermeng."


    "I don''t know," Wen Duoyu seemed out of sorts.


    The girl pursed her lips, her tone sour, "What''s wrong with you these past few days? You''re always spacing out when I talk to you. Do you think you''re Su Ci? That you can look down on everyone?"


    Wen Duoyu didn''t dare talk back. She moved her lips and finally spoke, "Could you lend me five thousand yuan?"


    "What?" the girl gave Wen Duoyu a strange look, "You borrowed two thousand from me justst week and haven''t paid me back yet."


    The girl sneered, "Let me tell you, you schrship students who came to our school should focus on studying. The school didn''t ept you to teach you how to spend money. When are you going to pay me back?"


    Wen Duoyu''s fingernails turned white as she gripped her pen. She said quietly, "I don''t have money now, but I''ll pay you back as soon as I can."


    "When exactly is ''as soon as I can''?"


    The girl was dissatisfied, "I don''t know why the school even epts students like you. Su Ci is first in our grade, and neither second nor third ce are schrship students like you. Your grades are only in the top twenty in ss, nothing special."


    She said again, "I really don''t understand why the school epts you people."


    Wen Duoyu''s lips turned pale as she bit them, keeping her head down without making a sound.


    The girl lost interest and pursed her lips, returning to browsing the forum.


    Su Ci received a call from the driver saying the car had some problems on the road and would bete, so she could only wait in the ssroom.


    "Ci Ci, let me give you a ride home," He Ermeng came running over after school.


    With his striking features and privileged background, his expression naturally carried an air of arrogance. When he previously told Su Ci that he was the school''s most handsome boy, he wasn''t lying.


    Many girls at school liked He Ermeng, especially because of his reputation for being deeply romantic. Even though he seemed unapproachable, he received confessions from girls almost daily.


    Now, with softened eyes like a pitiful puppy, he was trying to win Su Ci''s favor. Any other girl would have melted and fallen for him by now.


    Su Ci nced at him with disdain and said, "With less than two months until the college entrance exam, you''re still here bothering me when you''re rankedst in our grade? Stay away from me - stupidity might be contagious."


    Thick-skinned He Ermeng wasn''t bothered by Su Ci''s contempt at all. "Ci Ci, you know the college entrance exam isn''t important for people like us."


    While others relied on the exam to change their fate, for people like them, their futures were determined by birth. Good exam results would merely be icing on the cake.


    Su Ci rested her chin on her hand and rolled her eyes. "Don''t make excuses for your stupidity."


    "Does Ci Ci want me to study seriously?" He Ermeng looked at Su Ci with bright eyes.


    "Whether you study or not has nothing to do with me." She only cared about Lu Zhe''s grades now, though it seemed she didn''t need to worry about those either.


    At that moment, Su Ci''s phone rang - it was the driver calling.


    She picked up her bag and left, ignoring He Ermeng''s continued chattering.


    "Ci Ci, wait for me!" He Ermeng gracefully jumped from his seat and chased after Su Ci. "Ci Ci, can I ride in your car?"


    Su Ci replied wearily, "After talking so much, isn''t your mouth tired?"


    "Not at all, thanks for caring, Ci Ci." He Ermeng gazed at Su Ci with wet, dark eyes.


    Su Ci didn''t want to give him even a nce. She suddenly felt grateful that Lu Zhe rarely spoke - his cold personality waspletely different from He Ermeng''s, which was quite nice.


    Just then, a girl walked out of the doorway with her head down and identally bumped into Su Ci.


    "Watch where you''re going!" He Ermeng pushed the girl away with one hand, then turned anxiously to Su Ci. "Ci Ci, are you okay? Did you get hurt? Does it hurt? Do you need me to rub it?"


    Su Ci swatted away his outstretched hand and said angrily, "I''m not made of ss - I won''t break from a bump." She looked at the girl who He Ermeng had pushed into the wall. "Are you alright?"


    The girl, who was Wen Duoyu, shook her lowered head and left.


    As she passed by, Su Ci saw the life value on her wrist - it was a thin red line with a notation: 15 minutes.


    Fugui jumped out: [Most beautiful and kindest master in the world, save her, quick!]


    It hadn''t tasted golden cotton candy in a long time. Now that Lu Zhe wasn''t around, surely the master would give it some golden cotton candy.


    If this had happened before, Su Ci would definitely have been unwilling to meddle in others'' affairs. But after learning that golden cotton candy was useful for Lu Zhe, she wasn''t being willful anymore.


    Su Ci asked Fugui, "How does she die?"


    Fugui: [She walks onto the road and gets hit by a car.]


    Su Ci watched the figure walking ahead with surprise. "Is it an ident?"


    Fugui: [No, she wants to die.]


    Su Ci: "Oh, so it''s suicide."


    Su Ci dreaded encountering deaths from illness or suicide the most. With the former, she was powerless; with thetter, if someone was determined to die, she was equally helpless.


    Fugui: [Dearest master, save her!]


    Su Ci: "I know, you can be quiet now." Even if she wanted to save someone, she had to assess the situation.


    Last time she was able to save Shen Xue because Shen Xue''s mind was just temporarily clouded, but this case might be different.


    Su Ci followed after her.


    "Ci Ci..." He Ermeng instantly transformed into Su Ci''s shadow, following her wherever she went.


    The driver was already waiting at the school gate.


    Su Ci got into the car,pletely ignoring He Ermeng''s expectant look, and closed the door.


    "Uncle Fang, follow that girl with the dark green backpack," Su Ci said.


    "Miss, should we avoid being noticed?"


    Su Ci leaned back in her seat, watching the girl walking with her head down, and said, "Yes, just follow slowly behind."


    And so the ck luxury car crawled along behind the girl with the green backpack, who remainedpletely unaware.


    Su Ci checked the time - five minutes left, and they were approaching the main road.


    "Miss, there''s a car that keeps following us," the driver informed Su Ci.


    "Ignore it. Uncle Fang, stop the car, I''m getting out." Without needing to think, Su Ci knew it was He Ermeng''s car. She ignored it and got out to follow the girl on foot.


    Su Ci walked while keeping an eye on the time.


    With two minutes remaining, the girl stopped at a traffic light.


    Su Ci stood beside her, also stopping.


    The girl kept her head down, and Su Ci couldn''t see her expression.


    They were at a major intersection, and being rush hour and school dismissal time, there was heavy traffic and noise all around.


    Just then, the traffic light turned from red to green, and Su Ci saw the girl finally lift her head.


    Su Ci watched her movements carefully.


    When the girl was about to rush onto the road despite clearly seeing the cars speeding by, Su Ci grabbed her hand.


    Wen Duoyu stumbled, turning back in shock to see who had grabbed her hand, only to find it was... Su Ci!


    Su Ci held onto her and said coolly, "It''s red now, and there are so many cars on the road. Are you sure you want to rush out?"


    "You must have learned about following traffic rules in elementary school. Jaywalking endangers both yourself and others." Su Ci held the girl''s hand and noticed it was ice-cold and trembling.


    Was this girl afraid?


    Afraid of what? Death?


    Wen Duoyu tried to pull her hand back. "Su Ci, I... I wasn''t..."


    Su Ci looked at her. "I saw you trying to rush onto the road." Her tone grew colder. "You say you weren''t trying to run a red light, so what were you trying to do? With so many cars on the road, rushing out there is basically suicide."


    Wen Duoyu''s hand trembled, and she lowered her gaze, avoiding Su Ci''s piercing look.


    "Am I right?" Su Ci released her hand, noticing that the life value remained unchanged - still a thin red line.


    Su Ci''s gaze grew even colder as she looked at Wen Duoyu. "What are you afraid of? Did I guess correctly?"


    Wen Duoyu''s shoulders began to tremble as well.


    At that moment, the pedestrian light turned green.


    Su Ci, who strongly disliked people who didn''t cherish life, spoke bluntly: "If you want to die, please find a quieter ce and don''t drag others into it. If you suddenly rush out, the driver who hits you would be innocent. They''d be burdened with responsibility through no fault of their own, and suffer both mental and emotional trauma."


    Wen Duoyu''s face suddenly turned pale. "I''m sorry."


    She just wanted to die - did she have to think about the consequences after her death too?


    Su Ci sighed. "Why do you want to die?" She was trembling so much - where did she find the courage to want to rush onto the road?


    Wen Duoyu bit her lip and remained silent.


    "Are you still going to try to kill yourself?" Su Ci looked at her. "I could stop you once, but I can''t stop you a second time. Life is precious and you only get one - surely you understand such a simple truth."


    Wen Duoyu''s lips had turned white from biting them, and her eyes suddenly turned red as she looked helplessly at Su Ci.


    Su Ci was the school beauty, pretty, from a good family, and excellent in studies. Her very existence was a focal point of attention. Even her desk mate would constantly make sourments about Su Ci.


    She knew it was out of jealousy.


    How could Su Ci, such a high and mighty goddess, understand the struggles and difficulties of an ant like her?


    Su Ci was clever and saw right through her thoughts. "You''re not afraid of death, yet you''re afraid to speak of what''s troubling you? You can tell me why you want to die - perhaps I can help."


    Unlike Shen Xue, this girl was different. While she could provoke Shen Xue because it was just a momentary impulse, and Shen Xue didn''t really want to die, the girl in front of her, even after being stopped, hadn''t given up her thoughts of death. Clearly, this wasn''t just an impulse.


    Wen Duoyu stared at Su Ci in disbelief.


    Su Ci was incredibly beautiful and rarely interacted with her ssmates. She was like a celestial maiden from the heavens, and now this divine being had extended her helping hand.


    Seeing her dazed expression, Su Ci simply pulled her away from the traffic light intersection and into the car that the driver had parked under the trees.


    Once the car door closed, the noise from the street was shut out.


    "Tell me what''s wrong," Su Ci said, taking some tissues from the car and handing them to the girl.


    Wen Duoyu epted the tissues and whispered, "Thank you."


    She wiped her face sheepishly, keeping her head down. After a while, she slowly began to speak: "My family isn''t well off financially. My father died in an ident at a construction site, and my mother, devastated by his death, became mentally unstable and got into a car ident. Even after recovery, she has serioussting effects and needs constant medication."


    Wen Duoyu didn''tin about her humble background, but her parents'' sessive misfortunes had left her struggling to breathe.


    "I wanted to earn some money for my mother''s treatment. I joined an online part-time job group from an advertisement to help with fake orders. I was so focused on easing my family''s burden that I didn''t realize it was a scam."


    Wen Duoyu bit her lip and continued, "I believed the scammers and paid money to ce orders. At first, I did make some money and got a taste of sess, butter I discovered that to get back my invested money, I needed to put in even more. That money was for my mother''s medical expenses - I couldn''t lose it. By then I was blinded and foolishly kept putting in more money."


    Su Ci frowned, unfamiliar with such scams.


    The driver in front, hearing Wen Duoyu''s story, couldn''t help but speak up, "Youngdy, you''ve fallen for a scheme. There are many such scams online, mostly targeting students looking for part-time work. My neighbor''s younger daughter was also scammed out of several hundred yuan recently."


    He had heard of college students being scammed for even more, some even resorting to loans.


    Su Ci asked Wen Duoyu, "How much did you lose?"


    Wen Duoyu''s face turned pale. "Twelve thousand yuan, with two thousand borrowed from my desk mate." Ten thousand yuan was an enormous sum for her family, and she didn''t dare tell her mother about misusing this money, though she knew she couldn''t hide it for long.


    She couldn''t face telling her mother.


    "That''s quite a significant amount you lost," the driver sighed.


    The scammers were too clever, gradually luring students into their trap. Students were naive, inexperienced in the ways of the world, and easily deceived.


    After hearing Wen Duoyu''s story, Su Ci''s brow smoothed. If it was just about money, she didn''t see it as much of a problem.


    She asked Wen Duoyu, "Do you still have your chat history with the scammers and other evidence?"


    Wen Duoyu nodded, "Yes, I haven''t deleted anything. They were still pressuring me to send more money today." That''s why she had thought about borrowing another five thousand from her desk mate. Even knowing it was a scam, she found it hard to escape and felt helpless.


    That''s when she had thought about death.


    "Uncle Fang, take her to the police stationter to file a report. See if they can recover the money," Su Ci instructed.


    "Yes, Miss," the driver replied, somewhat surprised but noting that his young miss''s personality had changed since her memory loss. Previously, she wouldn''t have gotten involved in such matters, let alone offered help.


    Wen Duoyu stared at Su Ci in amazement, never expecting that she would not only save her but also help her.


    Even though she didn''t know the full extent of the Su family''s influence, she had heard enough from her desk mate to understand their status. Someone of Su Ci''s position willing to help her was beyond her expectations.


    Wen Duoyu''s eyes reddened as she looked sincerely at Su Ci, "Thank you."


    Su Ci waved it off, "I''m just helping because it''s convenient. If the money can''t be recovered,e to me. I can lend it to you. You can pay me back when you''re able."


    Wen Duoyu was neither family nor friend, and saving her was already kind enough. She wasn''t so kind as to give away money freely, even though ten thousand yuan meant little to her now.


    The girl had indeed been foolish and careless to be scammed, but paying back the money gradually would serve as a lesson.


    Wen Duoyu looked gratefully at Su Ci. People used to say Su Ci was proud and cold-hearted, but she realized they were all wrong. Though Su Ci appeared cold on the outside, she had a warm heart.


    Su Ci didn''t know what Wen Duoyu was thinking, nor did she care. She nced at Wen Duoyu''s wrist and saw that her life value had changed to yellow squares, with 65 years remaining.


    Su Ci''s eyes flickered slightly. Oh, she had received a golden cotton candy.Aliali: 674c23b4c4f3f33ac4ac1d8c


    She''d save it for Lu Zhe.


    Just then, someone knocked on the car window.


    Su Ci lowered the window to find He Ermeng''s handsome face up close.


    "Ci Ci, is your car broken down? Why are you parked here?" He Ermeng held up the milk tea he had just bought. "I bought you a drink. Should I call someone to tow your car?"


    "My car isn''t broken. I''m leaving now, so let go," Su Ci knew He Ermeng''s car had been following behind them.


    He Ermeng hung onto the window, refusing to let go. He gazed at Su Ci with bright eyes, clearly smitten, "Ci Ci, isn''t your family holding a banquet for you next week? I want to be your dance partner."


    Su Ci red at him in annoyance, "Not needed! Uncle Fang, drive."


    The driver reluctantly followed his young miss''s orders and started the car.


    He Ermeng was forced to let go.


    Watching the departing car, he raised his eyebrows, his expression growing more arrogant and willful.

 Chapter 32

    At night, Su Ci was video chatting with Lu Zhe, telling him about another good deed she had done today.


    Lu Zhe noticed that since he''d known Su Ci, the girl had helped quite a few people. He knew that while she usually liked to tease people, she had a soft and kind heart.


    Lu Zhe spoke in a calm tone, "Be careful about your safety when helping others." If helping others would put her in harm''s way, he''d rather she be a little more cold-hearted.


    No one else was as important as her.


    "Don''t worry, I know," Su Ci was quite afraid of death, and she wasn''t a bleeding heart who helped everyone indiscriminately. When helping others, she always made sure of her own safety first, only acting when she was certain there was no danger.


    If anything really went wrong, she would run faster than anyone else to protect herself.


    Lu Zhe: "Mm."


    Just then, he heard someone knocking on Su Ci''s door.


    "Wait a moment, I''ll get the door," Su Ci said, putting down her phone.


    Su''s Mother was standing outside with a servant who was holding an evening gown.


    "Mom."


    "Ci Ci, the design studio sent over a gown. Try this one first; there are several moreing in a few days." Su''s Mother had particrly liked this dress when helping her daughter choose gowns, certain it would look beautiful on her daughter.


    Su Ci looked at the gown and suddenly thought of something, her dark eyes lighting up. "Thank you, Mom. I''ll try it on in a bit."


    The servant brought the gown into Su Ci''s room and hung it in front of the wardrobe. Under the lights, the blue gradient dress sparkled brilliantly.


    After Su''s Mother and the servant left, Su Ci closed the door, walked back to her bed, and picked up her phone. Lu Zhe was still there on the video call.


    Looking at the handsome, cool features of the young man on screen, she smiled sweetly at him. "Lu Zhe, I''m attending a banquet the week after next. Mom just brought me the gown."


    Lu Zhe didn''t know much about banquets; such things were far removed from his world.


    Su Ci continued: "Do you want to see how I look in the gown? I can change into it now for you." Seeing the young man''s indifferent expression, she red at him imperiously, "You''re not allowed to say no."


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved into a smile. "Alright, I''ll look."


    Su Ci finally smiled, "Wait a moment, I''ll be right back."


    Su Ci put her phone on the bed and walked barefoot to the wardrobe to take down the gown.


    Lu Zhe sat on his folding bed, looking at the moonlight outside while hearing the soft rustling of fabric through the phone.


    He knew the girl was changing clothes.


    Lu Zhe suppressed his wandering thoughts.


    Su''s Mother had always had good taste; she chose her daughter''s clothes every month, knowing exactly what styles looked best on her.


    Su Ci put on the gown, and since it was custom-made, it fit perfectly - not too loose, not too tight, conforming beautifully to Su Ci''s figure.


    The room''s lighting was a bit dim, so Su Ci turned on all the lights.


    She walked back to the bed and ced her phone upright on the dressing table.


    "Lu Zhe, I''m done changing."


    Su Ci chose an angle that would let Lu Zhe see her full figure, and asked him confidently, "Aren''t I beautiful?"


    On screen, Lu Zhe frowned instinctively, "Why aren''t you wearing shoes?" His gaze fell on the girl''s feet; even from a distance, he could see her bare feet touching the floor.


    "I''m standing on the carpet," Su Ci paused, then red at Lu Zhe angrily. "You''re not supposed to be focusing on my feet!"


    She had dressed up so beautifully and sensually, yet he hadn''t properly looked at her, instead worrying about her not wearing shoes?


    Su Ciined, "You should be looking at my dress, at my figure!"


    The girl on screen was getting quite exasperated.


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips curved up, his dark eyes filled with amusement, "I see them."


    Su Ci''s breath caught, "That''s it?"


    This wasn''t how she had imagined it - shouldn''t his eyes be full of amazement, or shouldn''t he bepletely captivated by how beautiful she looked? Or at least he couldpliment her.


    Not to brag, but her looks and figure were truly unmatched.


    Especially now in the gown, her figure looked even more graceful and curvaceous, her upper body''s lines full and beautiful. She was truly enchanting; even she couldn''t help but admire herself.


    Su Ci walked closer to the dressing table and picked up her phone, using the young man, "Do you not have any desire at all?"


    Then, Lu Zhe heard her ask bluntly, "Lu Zhe, have you ever had wet dreams?"


    Lu Zhe: ......


    He gave her a long look.


    Su Ci sat down in the chair with her phone, adjusting her grip to make herself morefortable.


    Looking at the unresponsive young man, she raised an eyebrow, "Even if you don''t answer, I know you haven''t."


    This person''s heart was like ice and hadn''t awakened yet. She pouted boredly, "Then you definitely haven''t watched any adult videos either."


    "Have you?" Lu Zhe finally spoke.


    Su Ci tilted her head, thinking seriously, "No." She sighed, "I don''t know where to find them."


    Lu Zhe: ......


    His temple twitched.


    At this point, Lu Zhe''s cool voice became slightly lower, carrying a hint of coaxing, "Tuan Tuan, don''t watch those." Such things weren''t good.


    Su Ci was just teasing Lu Zhe; she would never actually look for such things.


    She lifted her chin, making demands of the young man, "If you won''t let me watch those, thenpliment me. Do I look good in this?"


    Under the lights, the girl''s dark eyes sparkled, the small beauty mark below her eye corner adding a touch of allure, like a little enchantress trying every way to tempt a deity''s mortal heart.


    Lu Zhe raised his eyes to meet the girl''s gaze, his lips curved in a smile, his cool features somewhat otherworldly, "Beautiful."


    The girl was incredibly clever, always able to make him retreat step by step.


    At night, everything was quiet around him.


    Lu Zhe reached out to push away the girl who was softly leaning against his chest, powerless.


    She looked at him with using watery eyes, as if his pushing her away was some terrible crime.


    Lu Zhe stopped his hand, and the girl took the opportunity to wrap her jade arms around his shoulders, pressing her body close to his.


    Her extremely soft, slender waist moved under hisrge hand, and Lu Zhe realized for the first time that his palm could feel so hot.


    He wanted to let go, but the girl rose on her tiptoes, her red lipsnding on the corner of his mouth.


    Herugh was light and clear, like a little troublemaker who had sessfully yed a prank, "Lu Zhe, do you like it when I kiss you like this?"


    The girl''s soft, fragrant breath washed over him.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened, and he gripped that extremely soft, slender waist, wanting to pull her down, but in the next moment, the girl disappeared.


    He slowly opened his eyes.


    Looking at the dim light in the room, Lu Zhe ced one hand over his eyes, hiding the intense desire in his dark eyes.


    ......


    The next day, Su Ci arrived at the ssroom and saw Wen Duoyu, the girl she had saved yesterday. Compared to yesterday, herplexion had improved significantly, and her emotions had stabilized.


    In her seat, Wen Duoyu identally met Su Ci''s gaze and gave her a slightly shy smile.


    Su Ci''s driver had taken her to the police station to file a case, and she had submitted all the evidence. There was a good chance of recovering her money.


    After yesterday''s events, her outlook had changed considerably. When she returned home and saw her mother sitting at the dining table waiting for her toe home for dinner, she couldn''t help but feel emotional.


    Wen Duoyu felt that her previous thoughts of using death to escape her problems and difficulties were foolish and selfish. If Su Ci hadn''t held her back and she had rushed onto the road and been hit by a car, her mother probably wouldn''t have been able to cope either.


    She was truly grateful to Su Ci for saving her. To her, Su Ci was her salvation.


    "I just saw Su Ci outside the door," Wen Duoyu''s desk mate leaned over and said, "She came in a different luxury car again today. Just how many luxury cars does her family have?"


    Wen Duoyu kept her head down, working on problems, not participating in her desk mate''s conversation.


    Su Ci was so beautiful, had such a kind personality, and excellent academic performance. She wanted to learn from Su Ci, follow in her footsteps, hoping to get closer to her.


    "I''m talking to you, did you hear me?" Her desk mate was very dissatisfied with Wen Duoyu''sck of response.


    Wen Duoyu nodded, "I heard you."


    The deskmate continued with satisfaction: "Su Ci is so lucky to be born into the Su family, raised like a princess since childhood. Look at how the little tyrant He Ermeng can only leave sulking every time Su Ci rejects him, yet he can''t do anything about it. That''s because he doesn''t dare offend the Su family. If Su Ci''s family background was inferior to his, I bet He Ermeng would have forced Su Ci to be with him long ago."


    Wen Duoyu, who was in Su Ci''s car yesterday, could also tell that Su Ci didn''t like He Ermeng from the neighboring ss.


    At this moment, she felt somewhat grateful for Su Ci''s good family background. She believed that beautiful girls like Su Ci should be born into wealthy families, growing up protected and cherished, always held dear in someone''s palm.


    Inexplicably, Wen Duoyu''s ears turned red as she thought that if she were rich, she would definitely pamper Su Ci too.


    "However, even though Su Ci rejects He Ermeng now, besides the He family, it''s hard to find another family''s heir in City B suitable for marriage with Su Ci. The Su family is too powerful. Apart from the equally powerful Lu family, the He family''s strength barely qualifies as top-tier, making it into the top three."


    Seeing Wen Duoyu listening in a daze, her deskmate continued to show off her analysis, "The Lu family has always been at odds with the Su family, and the Lu family''s leader has neither son nor daughter. If Su Ci marries He Ermeng in the future, it would be a powerful alliance between the Su and He families."


    These were all things she had overheard from her elders.


    The deskmate lowered her voice and said to Wen Duoyu: "So, don''t mind Su Ci acting so proud now, arrogantly rejecting He Ermeng. We''ll just wait for the day when she ps her own face."


    Wen Duoyu detected the strong jealousy in her deskmate''s tone. She frowned instinctively and couldn''t help speaking up: "We''re all ssmates. You shouldn''t eagerly wait for a ssmate to be embarrassed; that''s not a good mindset. Besides, Su Ci doesn''t like He Ermeng, and there''s nothing wrong with her decisively rejecting him. That''s not arrogance."


    She felt there was absolutely nothing wrong with Su Ci''s actions.


    Love should be like that - straightforward, rejecting someone if you don''t like them, not giving false hope.


    Su Ci wasn''t like some girls who, even when they don''t like someone, don''t reject them and continue tofortably enjoy being pursued. That would be wrong.


    "You''re actually defending Su Ci?" The deskmate suddenly being confronted, looked at Wen Duoyu in disbelief.


    Usually when she bullied Wen Duoyu, the other party wouldn''t make a sound, but now Wen Duoyu was actually contradicting her words for Su Ci''s sake?


    This time Wen Duoyu didn''t remain silent. She said, "Stop speaking ill of Su Ci every day. She''s a good person."


    The deskmate''s face was full of disbelief as she gritted her teeth in anger, "Don''t forget you still owe me two thousand yuan."


    Wen Duoyu bit her lip and said firmly, "I''ll pay you back. After the college entrance exam, I''ll get a job and pay you back as soon as I earn the money."


    Su Ci was her lifesaver, and being such a good person, she didn''t want to hear her deskmate''s malicious words about Su Ci anymore.


    The deskmate shot an angry re at Wen Duoyu, who had gone back to doing her exercises.


    Meanwhile, in City D.


    Lu Zhe was discussingpany matters with Boss Fang.


    "You agreed?" Boss Fang''s face lit up.


    Lu Zhe: "Uncle Fang, I n to apply to B University."


    Boss Fang gave Lu Zhe a meaningful look, "For little Ci?"


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved slightly upward, and rarely, his usually rigid face showed a trace of shyness, "Yes, she hopes I''ll attend university in City B."


    Hearing this, Boss Fang understood Lu Zhe''s meaningpletely. If Su Ci wanted Lu Zhe to go to City B, Lu Zhe agreed. If it weren''t for love, how would someone as cold as Lu Zhe listen to Su Ci''s wishes?


    "Are you sure about this? The Su family..." Boss Fang hesitated.


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze, his long thick ck eyshes hiding his eyes, "Uncle Fang, I know my situation. The problems you''re thinking of won''t exist."


    Boss Fang heaved a deep sigh. Young men as excellent as Lu Zhe were rare, but unfortunately, his fate wasn''t good.


    Even with a poor background, he could still fight for his future through hard work, but his problem was physical - something predetermined by heaven. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t go against fate.


    He patted Lu Zhe with the sympathy and regret of an elder.


    Lu Zhe smiled resignedly, "I''ll go to City B after the college entrance exam. If we''re going to start apany, I probably won''t be able to manage it here."


    "You mean to open thepany in City B?" Boss Fang''s brows furrowed in thought, "City B certainly offers many opportunities, but funding is an issue right now. If we open thepany there, the costs will be higher."


    He wanted to give his son a better life, and while City B offered a better environment, it also meant they needed more capital.


    "Uncle Fang, don''t worry about the funding. The Su family gave me some money; consider it a loan from them." Even if Su Ci didn''t mind his background and condition, the Su family was different.


    He wanted to try his best.


    He didn''t want people to look down on or mock the girl because he stood beside Su Ci.


    ......


    Three days before the banquet, Su Ci finally learned from Fugui that Su''s Father and Su''s Mother died in a fire.


    Su Ci was quite shocked, "Was it deliberate murder?"


    Fugui: [Someone deliberately set the fire.]


    Su Ci''s eyes darkened. Fugui only knew the cause of death but didn''t know where the fire urred. So she didn''t know exactly where Su''s Father and Su''s Mother died - was it at home or at the banquet venue?


    The household servants had all worked for the Su family for many years, and probably didn''t have any ill intentions. Could someone from outside have entered the Su house to set the fire?


    Or perhaps someone nned to set fire at the banquet venue?


    There were too many possibilities, making it difficult to save them.


    Over the next two days, Su Ci had the butler prepare several fire extinguishers in the Su house. Though puzzled, the butler immediately had people prepare them.


    As for the banquet venue, Su Ci learned it would be held at the International Hotel, where the Su family had rented an entire floor. Su Ci felt that with so many potential targets at the hotel, saving people would be even more difficult.


    On the day of the banquet, various luxury cars filled the parking lot outside the International Hotel.


    Many people in high society wanted to get invitations to the Su family''s banquet, as opportunities to connect with the Su family were rare. Moreover, all the guests attending the banquet were top figures in their circles, and such asions were full of opportunities.


    The hotel lobby was filled with guests in formal attire, borate makeup, and various perfumes mixing in the air, creating a not unpleasant blend.


    Su ZhiYuan wore a fitted ck suit, his features refined and outstanding. As the future heir of the Su family, he was the target of many guests seeking connections.


    "Brother ZhiYuan, why hasn''t Cie out yet?" He Ermeng, also wearing a ck suit, looked more mature and increasingly handsome.


    He stood beside Su ZhiYuan, waiting for Su Ci to appear.


    Su ZhiYuan didn''t particrly like this person who constantly tried to steal his sister away, but when his sister''s life had been uncertain, He Ermeng had searched for her like a madman and even cried several times. This had reduced Su ZhiYuan''s dislike of him somewhat.


    At least he genuinely liked his sister.


    "Girls need time to prepare," Su ZhiYuan said.


    "Other girls who are ugly need to prepare, but Ci is so beautiful, why would she need any preparation?" He Ermeng was absolutely Su Ci''s number one fan when it came to her looks.


    Su ZhiYuan gave him an exasperated look.


    At that moment, Su Ci came out with Su''s Father and Su''s Mother.


    Su Ci was already beautiful, and with light makeup, wearing a blue gradient dress studded with crystals, she looked like a beautiful mermaid enchantress.


    Su ZhiYuan nced at He Ermeng beside him, and sure enough, he was staring in a daze.


    How immature!


    He Ermeng saw Su ZhiYuan walk over and quickly followed. Up close, he found Su Ci even more beautiful.


    Damn, Ci is so beautiful tonight!


    The young tyrant He Ermeng''s heart couldn''t help but beat rapidly as he stared straight at Su Ci, "Ci, you look so beautiful today."


    Su Ci was already used to He Ermeng''s infatuated gaze. She said irritably, "I look beautiful every day."


    "Yes, Ci looks beautiful every day." He Ermeng agreed with whatever Su Ci said.


    Su Ci ignored him.


    He Ermeng still gazed at Su Ci expectantly while greeting Su''s Father and Su''s Mother.


    Su''s Mother responded, thinking that the He family''s younger son truly did love her daughter.


    Su''s Father was different; his sharp gaze scrutinized He Ermeng, and even though he could see the wolf-like nature in this young man from the He family, he still didn''t approve. No matter how he looked at it, he felt the boy wasn''t worthy of his daughter.


    When people around saw Su''s Father and Su''s Mothering out with the Su family''s precious daughter, many came over to socialize.


    One couldn''t help but marvel at how the Su family standing together created a stunning sight.


    The Su family''s genes were exceptional. Not to mention Su''s Father and Su''s Mother who were famous for their looks in the past, now their heir Su ZhiYuan, daughter Su Ci, and even the little baby Su Ning in the servant''s arms - they all possessed otherworldly beauty with outstanding faces.


    Su Ci''s mind wasn''t on the banquet at all. She looked at the life values on Su''s Father and Su''s Mother''s wrists, feeling tense.


    Only ten minutes left.


    She had thought about asking Su''s Father to change the time, but the invitations had already been sent out, and she couldn''t think of a reason to change the banquet time. More importantly, she couldn''t be certain if the fire would start in the hotel.


    Now that Su''s Father and Su''s Mother only had ten minutes of life value left, it seemed their ce of death would indeed be at the hotel.


    The difficulty was that with so many guests present, Su Ci didn''t know who would start the fire or where in the hotel it would begin.


    Moreover, with the hall full of guests, it was hard for her to abruptly take Su''s Father and Su''s Mother away from the hotel.


    Su Ci''s brows furrowed deeply.


    Su''s Mother noticed her daughter''s furrowed brows and, thinking she was unwell, asked worriedly, "Ci Ci, what''s wrong? You look terrible."


    Su Ci''s eyes brightened. She moved closer to Su''s Mother and said weakly, "Mom, I''m not feeling well. Could you and dad take me home? I don''t want to stay here."


    She knew her excuse was flimsy, but the situation was urgent, and she couldn''t hesitate anymore.


    "What''s wrong? Where are you feeling unwell?" Su''s Mother looked at Su Ci with concern. "I''ll take you to the rest room, and we''ll have a doctore check on youter."


    Su Ci quickly shook her head, "I''m not feeling well anywhere. I want to go home."


    She didn''t need a doctor; she just wanted to get her family out quickly.


    Seeing her daughter''s determination, Su''s Mother was a bit worried, "Wait a moment, let me tell your father, and I''ll go back with you."


    Su Ci shook her head, "Let''s all leave together."


    "Ci Ci, the banquet has just started. Your brother and father need to stay here to entertain the guests." Otherwise, people would think the Su family was being discourteous.


    Su Ci''s brows furrowed again, watching as the red line of Su''s Mother''s life value grew fainter. She directly grabbed Su''s Mother''s hand, wanting to find Su''s Father and leave together.


    At that moment, the rm suddenly rang through the hall.


    Su Ci''s heart sank.


    "Fire! There''s a fire downstairs! Quick, everyone evacuate!" Someone shouted at the entrance, dropping what felt like a bomb in the hall, causing immediate panic.


    The guests who had been chatting just moments ago instantly scattered in fear, throwing the entire hall into chaos.


    "Ci Ci, quick, follow mom." Su''s Mother held her daughter''s hand, wanting to find her young son.


    However, perhaps because the guests could feel the heat rising from below, the panic intensified, with everyone rushing to get out first.


    Su Ci''s hand was separated from Su''s Mother''s several times in the crowd.


    At the doorway, Su''s Mother pushed Su Ci outside, "Ci Ci, your brother is still inside. I''m going to find him - you need to leave quickly." She had seen the servant with her young son fall behind in the crowd.


    "Mom......" Su Ci had no strength to resist and was pushed along with the crowd, forced to move with them.


    Someone shouted, "Run! It''ll be toote if we don''t run now!"


    Su Ci tried to move against the crowd to find Su''s Father and Su''s Mother, but then someone grabbed her hand.


    "He Ermeng!"


    "Ci Ci, quick,e with me this way. There''s a passage over there that hasn''t beenpletely burned yet. Let''s go that way." He Ermeng held Su Ci''s hand.


    "You go quickly. My mom and brother are still inside." Su Ci tried to break free from He Ermeng''s grip, but he held on tighter.


    He Ermeng had lost his usual puppy-like demeanor. His face was stern, "Ci Ci, don''t be difficult. The firefighters are almost here. With your condition, who could you save? I''m taking you away."


    He forcefully pulled Su Ci along.


    Su Ci was furious as He Ermeng half-dragged, half-pulled her away.


    The fire in the hotel grew more intense, and the firefighters hadn''t arrived yet.


    Once He Ermeng sessfully got Su Ci out and released her hand, she immediately pped him across the face, "I don''t need you to manage me."


    He Ermeng touched his pped cheek, looking at Su Ci with bright eyes, "Even if you hit me, I don''t regret it. I couldn''t bear to see you get hurt."Aliali: 67489a52c4f3f33ac47b5160


    Su Ci didn''t want to deal with him. She anxiously looked up at the building, seeing the fierce mes.


    "Ci Ci." At that moment, Su ZhiYuan came out carrying little Su Ning, whose face was streaked with tears.


    "Brother, where are mom and dad?" Su Ci ran forward.


    "They haven''te out yet?" Su ZhiYuan had only found their brother; there were too many people in the hotel, and he hadn''t seen their parents.


    Knowing their parents hadn''t emerged, Su ZhiYuan''s face darkened. Even if they wanted to go up now, it was impossible.


    Su Ci''s brows were tightly knitted. Was she still unable to prevent it?


    Just then, Boss Fang appeared from somewhere and called out to Su Ci, "Little Ci, have you seen Lu Zhe?"


    "Uncle Fang?" Su Ci''s heart was already in chaos. She looked at Boss Fang in shock, "Why are you here? Lu Zhe is here too?"


    Boss Fang looked anxious, "Lu Zhe and I came here for something. When passing by the hotel, he heard about the fire and knew you were upstairs, so he went up to find you."


    Su Ci''s mind went nk, unable to hear anything else.

 Chapter 33

    People were fleeing from the hotel one after another. The fire was intense, and many who came outte had their hands or feet burned.


    Su ZhiYuan handed his younger brother to a bodyguard who had also escaped, and he made phone calls to dispatch more people to help.


    Su Ci stood frozen and cold. She couldn''t hear what her brother was saying beside her, couldn''t hear Little Su Ning crying for his mother, and couldn''t hear the wails of the injured people around her.


    She remembered the day she died, watching people''s indifference toward her, but even then her body hadn''t felt this cold.


    Su Ci''s eyes were fixed on the hotel where mes were shooting out of the windows, spreading more and more fiercely.


    Lu Zhe was still inside; he had gone in to look for her.


    Su Ci recalled their phone conversationst night when Lu Zhe had asked where the banquet was being held. She had told him without giving it much thought.


    So he had been in City B yesterday.


    Boss Fang watched the fierce mes with reddened eyes, his forehead covered in sweat from the surrounding heat. His voice was choked with emotion, "I should have stopped young Zhe from going in."


    They hade to City B happily, nning to find a ce to open apany, but in an instant, Lu Zhe was trapped in the inferno, his fate unknown.


    He nced at Su Ci, seeing the young girl standing stiffly, her usually fair face looking particrly pale in the firelight.


    He Ermeng had somehow found a clean towel and poured bottled water on it. "Ci Ci, your face and hands are dirty. Let me help you clean up."


    Compared to others'' disheveled state, He Ermeng still looked fresh and clean, standing out notably in the crowd.


    As he spoke, he reached out with the towel to help wipe the soot from Su Ci''s face.


    Su Ci turned her head away, avoiding his hand. "I don''t need your help."


    "Ci Ci, the firefighters will be here soon. Su''s Father and Su''s Mother will be fine," He Ermeng said in a deep voice, trying tofort her, his handsome face showing no trace of his usual yfulness.


    Su Ci ignored him.


    As her rationality slowly returned, she called out to Fu Gui, "Lu Zhe still has more than three years of life value left, doesn''t that mean he won''t die now?"


    Normally, she wouldn''t ask Fu Gui such a basic question, but right now she desperately needed a definitive answer.


    Fu Gui: [Master, Lu Zhe has more than three years of life value, which means he won''t die until after three years.]


    Hearing this, Su Ci finally felt sensation returning to her numbed body. She didn''t dare ask Fu Gui whether Su''s Father and Su''s Mother were already dead inside.


    Every previous rescue attempt had been sessful, which led Su Ci to believe this time would be no different, that she could sessfully save Su''s Father and Su''s Mother.


    However, she had overestimated her abilities.


    Su Ci''s lips were pressed into a thin line, turning white.


    She regretted not being more forceful earlier; she should have insisted on making Su''s Father and Su''s Mother leave.


    Chaos erupted around them.


    Firefighters and ambnces arrived one after another.


    He Ermeng wanted to protect Su Ci and move her away, worried that others might bump into her.


    However, the girl was stubborn and refused to let him touch her at all. He could only stand guard nearby. He called home to report his safety, with the old man urging him to return.


    He Ermeng nced at Su Ci beside him, feeling too worried to leave. If Su''s Father and Su''s Mother had perished in the fire, the Su family would likely face major upheaval in the near future.


    His only concern was Su Ci.


    "Ci Ci, will you go home first?" Su ZhiYuan''s refined face looked troubled, his features clouded with worry. With their parents'' fate unknown, his most important task now was to ensure his sister and brother were safe.


    Su Ci shook her head, her face pale and lips dry, "Brother, I''m not leaving."


    She needed to wait for Lu Zhe and her parents toe out.


    Inside the hotel, fire was everywhere, with scorching temperatures and thick smoke making it almost impossible to breathe.


    Su''s Mother coughed continuously as she struggled to move the heavy debris pinning down her husband.


    Her husband was unconscious, and as the mes approached, Su''s Mother fell into despair.


    At that moment, a figure passed by.


    The young man observed the surrounding mes and saw a woman and an unconscious man about to be engulfed by the fire.


    His eyes darkened as Lu Zhe grabbed a tablecloth from a long dining table. He took several bottles of mineral water and poured them over the cloth, then draped it over himself before rushing forward.


    "Please, save my husband," Su''s Mother pleaded upon seeing the young man emerge from the mes, shocked but hopeful.


    Lu Zhe threw the wet tablecloth to Su''s Mother and moved forward to lift the debris crushing Su''s Father.


    The veins on Lu Zhe''s arms bulged as he gritted his teeth and heaved with all his might, finally managing to remove the heavy debris from the man''s body.


    "Help me support him, I''ll carry him," Lu Zhe said in a deep voice.


    Su''s Mother quickly stood up to help the young man get her husband onto his back.


    The fire was approaching rapidly.


    Lu Zhe carried Su''s Father but suddenly stumbled, nearly sending both of them falling into the mes.


    Su''s Mother was terrified.


    Lu Zhe steadied himself, gritting his teeth through the sudden muscle spasm.


    "Cover yourself with the cloth, we''ll make a run for it," Lu Zhe told Su''s Mother.


    Su''s Mother quickly picked up the wet tablecloth, covering herself with half of it and draping the other half over her husband.


    Just as they escaped one ring of fire, they found another wall of mes ahead.


    Su''s Mother looked at the young man in panic, "You should escape on your own, don''t worry about us. Save yourself if you can." Her husband was still unconscious, and she could see the young man struggling under his weight. They were only holding him back.


    Sweat covered Lu Zhe''s forehead as he clenched his jaw, looking at the raging fire ahead. He turned sideways and kicked hard at a door in the hallway.


    The door didn''t budge.


    Lu Zhe set Su''s Father down and kicked the door again.


    After about fifteen forceful kicks, there was a "click" as the lock gave way.


    Lu Zhe delivered one final kick, and the door swung open.


    The fire hadn''t spread into the room yet. Lu Zhe rushed inside.


    He surveyed the room and found no windows; all the ss was sealed. He went into the bathroom, turned the faucet to full st, and soaked several towels.


    "Cover your nose," Lu Zhe handed a towel to Su''s Mother. "We''ll go that way, the fire is less intense there."


    Su''s Mother gratefully epted the towel. If it weren''t for this young man, she and her husband would surely have perished in the mes.


    Lu Zhe wrapped another towel around Su''s Father''s face.


    He lifted the man onto his back again.


    Su Ci stood until her legs went numb, her eyes fixed on the hotel entrance, praying for the firefighters to rescue Lu Zhe and her parents.


    "Ci Ci, have some water," He Ermeng noticed Su Ci''s dry lips and opened a bottle of mineral water.


    Su Ci didn''t take it.


    Little Su Ning had already been taken home by the bodyguards, and her older brother was arranging for people to assist the firefighters, trying to buy more time for the rescue.


    Boss Fang stood nearby, anxiously waiting for Lu Zhe to emerge.


    The girl''s fair face was smudged with soot, her lips dry, yet none of this diminished her beauty. Instead, it gave her the poignant beauty of a fallen fairy.


    He Ermeng felt he could never tire of looking at Su Ci''s beautiful, delicate face.


    Just as He Ermeng was about to ask if Su Ci was hungry, he saw her eyes suddenly brighten and her lips curve into a smile.


    The next moment, Su Ci lifted her formal dress and ran forward.


    He looked over to see a tall young man emerging, carrying Su''s Father on his back, with Su''s Mother following behind, looking disheveled.


    Su''s Father and Su''s Mother had made it out alive.


    Su Ci and Su ZhiYuan ran quickly toward their parents.


    Lu Zhe let medical personnel take Su''s Father from his back to transport him to the hospital.


    Seeing his parents, Su ZhiYuan''s tightly furrowed brows finally rxed. "Mom, are you alright?"


    "I''m fine, thanks to this young man who saved your father and me," Su''s Mother looked gratefully at Lu Zhe, having thought she and her husband would die in the fire.


    "It''s you?" Su ZhiYuan looked surprised. He hadn''t expected the young man who had once taken care of his sister to now save his parents. This young man truly seemed destined to be connected to the Su family.


    "ZhiYuan, you know him?"


    "He''s Lu Zhe, the one I told you about who took care of little Ci before," Su ZhiYuan nced at his sister beside him, then lowered his gaze. "Mom, go to the hospital with dad first. Brother has been sent home, and I''ll bring sister to see you at the hospitalter."


    Su''s Mother had inhaled a lot of smoke and was feeling unwell. Worried about Su''s Father''s condition, she followed the medical staff into the ambnce.


    Su ZhiYuan made a phone call to arrange for someone to wait at the hospital, ensuring his parents would be taken care of immediately. The Su family had been hosting a banquet here today when the ident urred, and he still needed to investigate whether the fire was intentional or idental.


    "Lu Zhe," Su Ci gazed at the disheveled young man before her with glistening eyes. "Thank you for saving my parents."


    Relieved to see the girl unharmed, Lu Zhe let out a breath, "I didn''t know they were your parents." But he was grateful he could save them.


    "Thank you anyway," Su Ci moved closer to him. "Uncle Fang said you went into the hotel looking for me. Why are you so foolish? You knew there was a fire, yet you still went in."


    Lu Zhe''s gaze deepened.


    Then, he heard the girl say: "But I love how you lost all reason for my sake."


    Su Ci''s eyes sparkled, "You must consider me very important, even more important than yourself, to risk danger to save me."


    She asked him worriedly, "Are you hurt?"


    Lu Zhe: "No."


    His gaze fell on the girl''s face, noticing some soot on her left cheek. He raised his hand toward her face.


    "p!" A crisp sound rang out.


    "Who gave you permission to touch her?" It was He Ermeng who had violently knocked Lu Zhe''s hand away. His handsome features were filled with hostility as he scrutinized Lu Zhe sharply.


    "He Ermeng, are you crazy?" Su Ci red at He Ermeng, then grabbed Lu Zhe''s hand that had been struck and ced it on her face. "He can touch me however he wants."


    "Su Ci!" He Ermeng stared in disbelief at the scene before him - Su Ci actually letting this boy touch her face.


    Su Ci ignored He Ermeng and looked at Lu Zhe instead. "My face is dirty, help me wipe it clean."


    The girl''s coquettish words felt like a knife twisting in He Ermeng''s heart, causing both pain and jealousy.


    Earlier when he had offered to wipe her face, she had tly refused, but now she was actively asking this unknown boy to do it!


    He Ermeng''s eyes reddened, the sharp look in them fading to be reced by a wet sheen as he looked at Su Ci. "Ci Ci, I can help wipe your face too."


    "I don''t need you, I only want him!" Su Ci rejected him clearly.


    Lu Zhe looked at his soot-covered hand and withdrew it.


    Su Ci''s expression darkened, about to scold him.


    Lu Zhe wiped his hand several times on his clothes, cleaning both his palm and the back of his hand, before reaching out again. His cold fingertips touched Su Ci''s face.


    His rough fingertips gently wiped away the soot on her face.


    He Ermeng watched, wanting nothing more than to beat the other man to death. He spoke through gritted teeth: "He''s the one who answered your phone that day, isn''t he?"


    "So what if it was him?" Su Ci''s mood had improved now that she saw Lu Zhe and her parents were safe.


    He Ermeng had nned to send people to investigate in City B, but now it seemed unnecessary.


    He wanted to ask Su Ci if she liked this boy, but seeing how she was taking his side, he swallowed his words.


    He was afraid of the answer.


    He Ermeng''s eyes were fixed on Lu Zhe''s hand touching Su Ci''s face, wanting to chop it off.


    Lu Zhe''s rigid face remained expressionless as he wiped the soot from the girl''s face, quickly withdrawing his hand afterward. He cast a cold nce at the person called He Ermeng, knowing this was the one Su Ci had mentioned who had been bothering her.


    The two men''s gazes met, creating a tense atmosphere.


    Su ZhiYuan came over after finishing his phone call, "Ci Ci, let''s go to the hospital to see Mom and Dad."


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe: "Go ahead."


    Su ZhiYuan turned to Lu Zhe, "Thank you for saving my parents. The Su family won''t forget this debt of gratitude."


    Lu Zhe''s gaze deepened, "I only did what I should have." He would have saved anyone, even if they weren''t Su Ci''s parents.


    "Regardless, our family owes you two favors." Su ZhiYuan was genuinely grateful to the young man, knowing his parents might not have survived until the firefighters arrived without him. "There''s still much to handle today, but I''ll properly thank you another time."


    Su ZhiYuan left with a reluctant Su Ci.


    After Su Ci left, Boss Fang hurried to Lu Zhe''s side, "Xiao Zhe, are you alright?"


    Lu Zhe shook his head, "I''m fine."


    "You really scared me to death, I thought..." Boss Fang quickly spat to ward off the bad thoughts, "It''s so good that you''re okay."


    At his age, he had nearly been frightened half to death.


    With Su Ci gone, He Ermeng had no reason to stay either.


    Before leaving, he fixed Lu Zhe with a vicious stare, running his tongue along his pte before saying coldly: "I''ll remember you. If you don''t want me to kill you, stay away from Su Ci."


    He had watched over Su Ci for three years; she belonged to him.


    Lu Zhe''s expression remained cold as his dark eyes met He Ermeng''s scrutiny directly. "Do as you please." After all, he wouldn''t live long even without the other''s intervention.


    He Ermeng had always been the school bully, and even among the wealthy families, others his age had to mind his mood. This was the first time he''d met someone who wasn''t afraid of him. He looked at Lu Zhe mockingly - he''d heard plenty of tough talk before, but in the end, those people all ended up beaten down by him.


    Finally, He Ermeng''s lips twisted into a sneer as he left.


    "Xiao Zhe, I heard that person''s surname is He." Boss Fang worried for Lu Zhe. Given the other''s proud character and surname, among those qualified to associate with the Su family, there could only be one He family.


    This wasn''t someone ordinary citizens like them could afford to offend.


    He could see that the young He was in love with Su Ci, while Su Ci seemed to like Lu Zhe, and Lu Zhe probably liked Su Ci too, which was why the He boy wanted to cause trouble for Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe, with no power or influence, could easily be taken advantage of.


    "Uncle Fang, don''t worry, it''s fine." Lu Zhe patted Boss Fang''s shoulder to bring him back to reality. "We still need to look at the venues."


    Boss Fang hadn''t forgotten their purpose ining to City B, but he looked at Lu Zhe with concern, "Are you sure you''re okay? Maybe we should go back to the hotel to rest first, and lookter?" There had been such a big fire, and Lu Zhe had rescued people while dealing with his own illness - he worried Lu Zhe might be too exhausted.


    "I''m fine, let''s hurry and look at a few more ces." They had bought tickets for tomorrow, time was running short.


    Boss Fang understood their situation and sighed, "Alright, let''s go."


    ......


    That evening, Su Ci and Su ZhiYuan returned home together from the hospital.


    Su''s Father had regained consciousness but had suffered serious injuries to his back and needed to stay in the hospital for some time. Su''s Mother remained at the hospital to care for him.


    Little Su Ning sat alone at the dining table. Seeing Su ZhiYuan and Su Ci return, his bright ck eyes lit up, "Brother, Sister."


    The little one had experienced the fire today and must have been frightened. With his parents, brother, and sister all away, he had cried several times, and it took the servants a long while to calm him down.


    Su Ci went forward and stroked Little Su Ning''s head, "Has Ning Ning been good at home?"


    Little Su Ningpletely forgot about crying for so long and nodded, "Yes."


    "Mom and Dad still have things to take care of and won''t be home for a few days. Is it okay if Sister takes care of you?" Su Ci asked him.


    Little Su Ning had always loved his sister, and now that she no longer saw him as a nuisance, he loved ying with her. He answered in his baby voice: "Okay."


    Su Ci stroked his head again, "Good boy."


    Su ZhiYuan saw that his sister was now willing to care for their brother, and his eyes softened with tenderness. He asked for his meal to be sent to the study - today''s events had major implications, and he had many matters to handle.


    After dining with Little Su Ning, Su Ci had someone take the little one for his bath.


    Back in her room, Su Ci called Lu Zhe directly.


    The call was answered after just a few rings.


    "Lu Zhe, where are you now?" Su Ci sat on the edge of her bed, still wearing the formal dress from the banquet, not having had time to change.


    "What''s wrong?"


    The young man''s cool voice came through the phone, with some background noise.


    "Tell me where you are, and I''lle find you." The afternoon location wasn''t suitable, and she hadn''t had a proper conversation with him. Besides, she wanted to know why he suddenly came to City B.


    Lu Zhe was having dinner with Boss Fang at a small restaurant near the hotel. The environment wasn''t great, crowded and noisy - how could Su Cie to such a ce?


    He lowered his gaze, "You don''t need toe here. I''lle find you."


    He knew she would definitely want to see him.


    Su Ciughed, "I''ll send you my home address."


    After hanging up, Lu Zhe met Boss Fang''s gaze.


    "Was that little Ci?" Boss Fang recalled that Lu Zhe didn''t seem to have any other friends besides Su Ci.


    "Yes, I''m going to see her." Lu Zhe lowered his head and quickened his eating pace.


    Boss Fang smiled, "We''re leaving tomorrow, so you should definitely see little Ci. After this, you two won''t be able to meet for quite a while."


    Aftering to City B, he had gained a deeper understanding of the Su family. Today, they had visited many office buildings, several of which belonged to the Su family''s enterprises.


    And these office buildings were merely insignificant assets to the Su family.


    The gap between Lu Zhe and Su Ci was like an unfathomable abyss.


    Leaving the small restaurant, Lu Zhe took a taxi to the Su residence.


    After getting out of the car, Lu Zhe texted Su Ci: I''m at your front gate.


    The Su residence was like a castle in the heart of the city, and Su Ci was the pampered princess within.


    After a while, the iron gate opened.


    Lu Zhe watched as the delicate princess came out, while he stood in the darkness, like a delusional thief stealing nces at a princess.


    "Lu Zhe."


    Su Ci walked out, looking at the tall young man standing under the tree in the shadows, andined, "Why are you standing there? I almost didn''t see you."


    Lu Zhe stepped out of the shadows and stood under the streetmp. The warm yellow light softened his rigid features as he asked the girl, "Have you eaten?"


    "Yes." Su Ci walked closer and directly took his hand, trying to pull him into the Su residence.


    Lu Zhe didn''t move. He looked at the girl with a calm expression, "I won''t go in."


    "Do you want me to stand at the gate to chat with you? I''ll get tired." Su Ci lifted her formal dress skirt and stretched out her foot for Lu Zhe to see.


    The girl was wearing crystal silver stilettos, and on her delicate ankle, she still wore the cheap red string that shed terribly with her formal dress.


    Su Ci winked at Lu Zhe and teased, "Don''t worry, my parents are still at the hospital, my brother is working in the study, and my little brother is already asleep. They won''t know you came."


    Then, she pulled Lu Zhe inside.


    Meeting the surprised gaze of the security guard, Su Ci raised her eyebrows and threatened yfully, "You didn''t see anything."


    The security guard straightened his back and tactfully looked away - he hadn''t seen anything.


    The front yard of the Su residence had a garden and fountain, while the backyard had a lotus pond with a specially built pavilion in its center. Sitting in the pavilion to appreciate the lotus flowers in summer was the best view.


    Streetmps were installed all around the backyard, keeping the surroundings well-lit.


    Su Ci led Lu Zhe into the pavilion and sat down.


    As soon as she sat down, Su Ci kicked off her high heels. Her feet had been aching all day from wearing them.


    "Ufortable?" Lu Zhe knew how delicate the girl''s body was - even slightly hard shoes could make her feet turn red. Now wearing high heels, she was obviously notfortable.


    "My feet hurt." Su Ci stretched out both feet.


    Under the warm yellow light of the pavilion, Lu Zhe could see that the girl''s heels were bright red from chafing.


    His eyes darkened, "Remember to apply medicine when you get back."


    "Mm." Su Ci responded perfunctorily.


    Su Ci''s mind wasn''t on her feet. She blinked and said to Lu Zhe, "Lu Zhe, doesn''t this feel like I''m sneaking you home for a secret rendezvous behind my family''s back? I find it so thrilling."


    Lu Zhe gave her a long look - who would say such things about themselves?


    When Su Ci didn''t get a response, she kicked Lu Zhe''s leg with her toes, "Am I wrong?"


    Lu Zhe knew how to humor her, "Mm."


    Su Ci''s red lips curved into a smile. She moved closer to Lu Zhe and continued asking, "You couldn''t see clearly in the video, but now I''m wearing a formal dress. Do I look beautiful?"


    The moon''s reflection rippled on the pond''s surface.


    Lu Zhe looked at the girl who was as beautiful as a fairy in the moonlight, his heart skipping a beat.


    He softly responded, "Mm."


    Su Ci wasn''t satisfied with that.


    She leaned closer to him, her jade-like arms naturally draping over Lu Zhe''s shoulders. The next moment, she felt the young man''s body tremble.


    "What''s wrong?" She paused her movement.


    Lu Zhe shook his head, "It''s nothing. Sit properly."


    The neckline of the girl''s dress was rather low, and with just a slight downward nce, he could see arge expanse of pristine white skin at her chest.


    Su Ci wouldn''t listen to him. Her hand touched the spot where she had felt him flinch, and once again, Lu Zhe''s body tensed.


    Su Ci frowned, stood up, and directly pulled open Lu Zhe''s cor, discovering burn wounds on the young man''s shoulder.


    Su Ci became a bit angry, "You''re hurt and you didn''t tell me."


    Lu Zhe met the girl''s watery gaze, the coldness in his voice dissipating, "It''s not serious, just needs some medicine."


    "Did you apply any medicine?" Su Ci red at him.Aliali: 67489a52c4f3f33ac47b5160


    Lu Zhe: ......


    After leaving the hotel in the afternoon, he had been out with Boss Fang and hadn''t had time to go back and apply medicine.


    Su Ci pressed her lips together, gave Lu Zhe a look, and left.


    Lu Zhe''s rigid face gained an extra touch of coldness in the night.


    After what seemed like a long time, when Su Ci returned, she had a tube of ointment in her hand.


    She looked at Lu Zhe and said directly, "Take off your clothes."


    Lu Zhe rubbed his forehead, "Give me the ointment, I''ll apply it myself when I get back."


    Su Ci sat down beside him, her slender white fingers grabbing his clothes, "I''ll help you take it off."


    Lu Zhe gripped her hand, his dark eyes filled with helplessness and indulgence, "I''ll take it off myself."


    As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Zhe saw the girl''s dark eyes instantly light up.

 Chapter 34

    The girl gazed at Lu Zhe intently, making him feel somewhat ufortable.


    He gripped the hem of his shirt, hesitating before saying, "I can just lower the cor a bit."


    Su Ci looked at him with reproachful eyes. "No!" She insisted on seeing him take off his shirt.


    Back when she was a rabbit, she used to watch Lu Zhe exercise almost every day, and she knew exactly how good his physique was.


    She felt it had been too long since she''dst watched him exercise, and she missed it.


    "Hurry up and take it off," Su Ci urged impatiently, resembling a shameless little rogue harassing an innocent person.


    Lu Zhe gave her a helpless look. "Someone mighte..."


    Su Ci cut him off immediately, "No one wille, and the security cameras can''t see this pavilion. You can undress without worry."


    Lu Zhe: ......


    He could tell how eager the girl was for him to remove his clothes.


    Su Ci grew impatient with Lu Zhe''s dawdling. She raised an eyebrow, "Come on."


    The girl sat in her blue dress under the moonlight, looking like a beautiful sprite yet acting like a mischievous devil.


    Lu Zhe gave her a long look, bit his lip, and finally took off his ck T-shirt.


    The night breeze swept past, and Lu Zhe instinctively straightened his posture.


    Lu Zhe: "Give me the medicine, I''ll apply it myself."


    Su Ci removed her high heels and stood up, her bare feet touching the floor as she positioned herself in front of Lu Zhe.


    In the moonlight, the girl who looked as beautiful as a sprite had an expression of barely contained anticipation.


    Su Ci kept her eyes fixed on Lu Zhe: "You can''t see your own back, I''ll help you apply it." She acted coy despite taking advantage of the situation, "Aren''t you happy to have me taking care of you?"


    She had seen male models at photo shoots for magazines before, and while she''d thought they maintained their figures well, she hadn''t felt anything special.


    But now, looking at Lu Zhe before her, who usually wore white and blue school uniforms and had a tall, lean figure like a typical teenager, she found his shirtless form quite captivating.


    The thinyer of muscle with perfect definition wasn''t too slight nor overly bulky.


    Su Ci suddenly realized she could be quite lustful too.


    "Weren''t you going to help apply the medicine?" Lu Zhe couldn''t bear the girl''s intense gaze any longer and turned his head away.


    "Oh." Su Ci snapped out of her daze, having been mesmerized by the young man''s beauty.


    Lu Zhe turned sideways, his back facing Su Ci.


    He straightened his posture, fully exposing the wound on his shoulder to Su Ci.


    The wound was about half the size of a palm, with blisters from the burn that had been rubbed open, the area red with dried blood around it.


    Su Ci, whether before or after transmigrating into the book, had always been well-protected and rarely got hurt, let alone suffered burns.


    Just looking at such a wound made her feel pain.


    How had Lu Zhe endured the pain all afternoon and evening without treating it?


    With only the asional cricket chirping in the nearby bushes, the surroundings grew increasingly quiet, and as the girl had said, no one came by.


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze, watching the moon''s reflection in the lotus pond, asionally broken by swimming fish.


    After a while, feeling no movement behind him, Lu Zhe asked Su Ci, "Are you done?"


    Su Ci didn''t respond.


    Just as Lu Zhe was about to turn around to look at her, the girl''s soft, jade-like hands touched his back.


    Lu Zhe''s back muscles instinctively tensed.


    Then, somethingnded beside his wound.


    The slight pain and tickling sensation made Lu Zhe straighten his posture even more, his back muscles tensing painfully.


    Lu Zhe frowned, "Su Ci..."


    "Don''t move." The girl''s small hand pressed against his back, preventing him from turning around.


    This time, Lu Zhe''s sensation was clearer - Su Ci was kissing him!


    Her soft lipsnded beside the wound, gentle yet stimting with a slight sting that made him itch.


    Lu Zhe''s entire body tensed severely as he tried to endure the tingling sensation running down his spine. "Tuantuan!" His usually cool voice was slightly hoarse in the night air.


    "Did I hurt you?" Su Ci lifted her head.


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes were filled with deep emotion as he softly replied, "Mm."


    Her kisses were more unbearable than the burn itself!


    Su Ci had kissed him out of sympathy for his injury, "Then we should apply the medicine quickly, the wound is all red and swollen."


    She opened the cap and gently dabbed the ointment on his wound with a cotton swab. Lu Zhe''s shoulder would asionally tremble, probably from the pain.


    Su Ci became even gentler, applying the medicine while softly blowing on the wound, trying to ease his pain.


    Lu Zhe lowered his eyelids, the night concealing the look in his eyes.


    "There, when you showerter, make sure you don''t get the wound wet, or it might get infected," Su Ci instructed Lu Zhe.


    "Mm." Lu Zhe picked up his shirt to put it back on, but the girl grabbed his hand.


    "You can''t put your clothes on yet, I just applied the medicine and it hasn''t dried. Your shirt will wipe it off," Su Ci red at him. "You can''t waste all my hard work."


    Lu Zhe: ......


    So, she wanted him to sit shirtless with her in the pavilion and chat?


    Su Ci casually set aside the ointment and cotton swabs, walked in front of Lu Zhe, and to his astonishment, sat sideways on hisp.


    Su Ci''s eyes curved up as she justified herself matter-of-factly: "The stone bench is too hard, it''s ufortable."


    Lu Zhe asked her softly, "And my legs aren''t hard?" He remembered herining before about his legs being ufortable.


    Su Ci leaned against his chest, somewhatzily, "A bit morefortable than stone."


    Lu Zhe exercised regrly, and his thighs were all muscle and quite firm, not particrlyfortable to sit on, but she preferred hisp to the stone bench.


    Su Ci was always sensitive to heat, and Lu Zhe''s skin temperature ran cool, making him like a big ice block in the hot summer - veryfortable to lean against.


    Previously when Lu Zhe had held her, they''d both been fully clothed, but now with his upper body bare and her dress being so thin, this skin contact created an indescribable intimacy.


    The girl''s body was soft and light, molding against him as if boneless, and her formal dress was sensual with a somewhat low neckline. If Lu Zhe looked down, he could see quite an alluring view.


    His jaw tightened as he turned away his gaze and said coldly, "Tuantuan, sit properly."


    Su Ci was used to being shameless.


    In the moonlight, she was like a wicked, alluring sprite, "I just finished helping you apply medicine, and now I''m so tired, I have no strength left, I can''t sit properly." She looked up at him with a slightly wronged expression, "Are you trying to cast me aside now that you''re done using me?"


    Lu Zhe gave in: "No."


    Only then did Su Ci smile. If she hadn''t been worried about pushing Lu Zhe too far, she would have wanted to touch his tense muscles long ago.


    The night breeze blew past, making the lotus flowers in the pond sway.


    Su Ci remembered something and her red lips curved up, her eyes carrying a mischievous glint, "Lu Zhe, there''s no one here, you should kiss me."


    Thest time he saved Wen Duoyu from their ss, she had saved the golden cotton candy she got as a reward for him. Fu Gui had been eyeing it every day, but she hadn''t been willing to share even a bit with Fu Gui.


    Lu Zhe gave her a nd nce. The girl''s eyes held that familiar gleam he knew well. He coughed and replied, "The number of kisses fromst time should be enough tost you until the college entrance exam."


    Su Ci refused to ept this. She told a tant lie with wide eyes, "You counted wrong." She lifted her delicate chin and urged, "Quick, I have something good for you."


    In Lu Zhe''s experience, whenever Su Ci said she had something good for him, he knew she wanted a kiss.


    Under the warm yellow light of the pavilion, the girl''s face was fair, her bright eyes fixed on him, looking as if she might bite him if he refused.


    Lu Zhe lowered his head, his well-shaped thin lips cooled by the night air, meeting her red lips.


    Their eyes met, and he saw the sparklingughter in hers.


    Lu Zhe''s kiss was very gentle, just a light taste. After Su Ci took the opportunity to give Lu Zhe the golden cotton candy, she clung to him insatiably.


    The fish in the pond were so embarrassed they hid under the lotus leaves, creating ripples on the water''s surface.


    Su Ci sat sideways on Lu Zhe''sp, leaning weakly in his embrace, her watery eyes enchanting, her small face tinged with a light pink, and even her little mouth seemed thoroughly kissed, a deep red.


    Su Ci felt thatpared to Lu Zhe''s loss of controlst time, this gentle exchange of kisses made her heart flutter just as much.


    The young man''s stern features had softened, and in the moonlight, he looked elegantly handsome. She loved it so much.


    After they just kissed, the small beauty mark below Su Ci''s eye corner appeared even more alluring. She softly nestled in Lu Zhe''s embrace before bringing up the main topic, "Why did you suddenlye to City B?"


    Lu Zhe adjusted his position, trying to make the girl morefortable, "Uncle Fang wants to coborate with me to open apany. We came to look at office spaces."


    Su Ci was a bit surprised, though she knew Lu Zhe was very capable. "Why didn''t you tell me?"


    If not for today''s ident, she wouldn''t have known he was here. Was he nning to secretly see her, or perhaps not see her at all and just leave after finishing his business?


    "There wasn''t enough time. Uncle Fang and I have flights tomorrow morning." He knew Su Ci had to attend the banquet and must be very busy.


    "You''re leaving tomorrow?"


    Lu Zhe softly responded, "Mm."


    Su Ci pouted, "I just got to see you." She felt that waiting another month before seeing Lu Zhe again would be quite long.


    Lu Zhe stroked the girl''s hair, "I''lle after the college entrance exam."


    Only then did Su Ci smile again.


    As night deepened, it was gettingte.


    The ointment on his shoulder had long dried, and Lu Zhe put his clothes back on amidst the girl''s yful teasing.


    Lu Zhe gestured for Su Ci to get up, as she was still sitting on hisp.


    Su Ci didn''t move. She lifted her dress hem to show Lu Zhe her bare feet and began to act spoiled, "I''m not wearing shoes yet, will you carry me back?"


    Not to mention there were many servants in the vi, and as Su Ci had mentioned earlier, her brother Su ZhiYuan was also there. Lu Zhe had been sneaked in by her, and if he carried her back, everyone would see them.


    The girl didn''t mind, but Lu Zhe couldn''t be so indulgent.


    Lu Zhe picked Su Ci up and ced her on the stone bench.


    Su Ci red at him angrily, "Lu Zhe."


    Lu Zhe bent down to pick up the high heels from the ground. To the girl''s surprise, he knelt on one knee, held her foot, patted away the dust on her foot, and helped her put on the shoe.


    Su Ci''s chest, which had been puffed up in anger just a second ago, immediately deted.


    Her heart melted.


    She watched as her foot was held in the young man''srge hands, his eyes lowered and focused on helping her put on her shoes. Though Su Ci hadn''t drunk any alcohol, she felt intoxicated.


    Otherwise, why would her face feel hot and her heart beat so fast?


    What should she do? Lu Zhe was so good to her that she wanted to secretly hide him away.


    "Little Ci!"


    A sudden voice broke the quiet in the pavilion.


    Su Ci looked up and immediately saw her tall brother Su ZhiYuan standing outside the pavilion, his brows furrowed as he looked at her disapprovingly.


    Su Ci''s heart skipped a beat.


    It was too thrilling ¨C she''d been caught by her brother.


    In the study.


    Su Ci stood in front of the desk, feeling nervous. If her brother scolded Lu Zhe, she would take all the me.


    After all, she was the one who had actively pursued Lu Zhe.


    As the heir to the Su family, Su ZhiYuan had inherited the family business early and managed the vast Su Corporation. Even though his features were beautiful, they couldn''t hide his aura of authority.


    He looked at his sister, "Why didn''t you invite Lu Zhe inside when he came?"


    Su Ci didn''t know how her brother had discovered her and Lu Zhe in the backyard. She was somewhat relieved that her brother hadete and hadn''t seen them kissing. Otherwise, even her thick skin couldn''t handle such embarrassment.


    Su Ci answered, "He''s shy."


    Su ZhiYuan gave his sister an exasperated look, "Then why did hee to the Su family?"


    "I wanted to thank him for saving Dad and Mom. He wouldn''t let me go find him, so I had to make hime to me." Though expressing gratitude was secondary, wanting to see Lu Zhe was the real reason.


    "You know about thanking people? Lu Zhe saved our family''s lives," Su ZhiYuan said disapprovingly, "How could you let him kneel on the ground to put on your shoes?"


    Huh?


    Hearing this, Su Ci was a bit stunned.


    Wasn''t her brother angry about Lu Zhe being with her? She had prepared a belly full of words to defend her rtionship with Lu Zhe, but now, her brother was scolding her, not Lu Zhe?


    She had been ready to protect Lu Zhe to the death, but wasn''t her brother''s focus wrong?


    "Little Ci, Lu Zhe has done our Su family great favors twice. He not only took care of you but also saved Mom and Dad''s lives. You can''t bully him as you please." Su ZhiYuan knew his sister''s temperament ¨C she had been spoiled since childhood and often liked to tease people, full of mischief.


    Obviously, he thought Lu Zhe had been bullied into helping her put on shoes.


    Su Ci hurriedly refuted, "Brother, I didn''t bully Lu Zhe."


    Lu Zhe helping her put on shoes was absolutely voluntary!


    Su ZhiYuan clearly didn''t believe Su Ci''s words. He warned his sister, "When Dad gets out of the hospital, we will properly thank him."


    Su Ci hadn''t expected her brother''s novel interpretation, thinking she had bullied Lu Zhe.


    She gave up exining. Let the misunderstanding be ¨C anyway, they would be separated until after the college entrance exam.


    In the hotel.


    After returning, Lu Zhe worried that Su Ci would be scolded by her brother, since thetter''s expression hadn''t looked good when he left.


    He took the initiative to call her.


    The call was answered within seconds.


    "Did your brother scold you?" Lu Zhe''s brows furrowed slightly, regretting his earlier indulgence.


    Su Ci had just finished showering and was lying on her bed, "Yes, he did."


    Lu Zhe''s hand tightened around the phone, his lowered eyelids hiding the gloom in his eyes, his handsome face growing increasingly rigid.


    He would go to the Su family to apologize.


    When Lu Zhe spoke again, his voice carried extra weight, "Don''t be afraid, I''ll resolve this."


    It was he who wanted to steal a glimpse of the Su family''s treasure; he deserved to be beaten or scolded.


    Su Ci, ufortable lying on her stomach, turned to lie on her side, "What are you going to resolve? My brother now highly values you as our family''s savior. When he saw you helping me put on shoes, he said I was being troublesome and told me not to bully you."


    Lu Zhe''s expression froze on the other end of the phone.


    Then, the girl''s sweet and slightly indignant voice came through, "You were the one who voluntarily helped me put on shoes, you were the one bullying me, holding my waist and kissing me hard. My brother didn''t see that."


    The girl''s angry but straightforward words instantly broke through Lu Zhe''s previously cold and gloomy expression, making his ears turn red, "Tuantuan."


    Hearing Lu Zhe''s helplessness, Su Ci''s red lips curved into a smile like a cunning little fox, "But thankfully brother camete. If he had appeared while we were kissing, I would have died of fright."


    Lu Zhe: ......


    He had overthought it; the girl didn''t need hisfort at all.


    ......


    In the car.


    Qin Shiyan had been filming advertisements all day and only now had time to check her phone.


    Looking at the hotel fire news that had topped the trending topics, she narrowed her eyes, her hand unconsciously tightening around the phone.


    She quickly scrolled down, wanting to know about the casualties in this incident.


    When she saw one news report about the Su family hosting a banquet and both parents being hospitalized, she wasn''t too surprised, but rather furrowed her brow.


    With Su''s Father and Mother in the hospital, what about Su Ci?


    Had she escaped?


    Qin Shiyan felt it was a pity, though her initial purpose had been somewhat achieved.


    The hotel fire was deliberate ¨C she knew this better than anyone, and the arsonist lived on the floor above her.


    That person was a hotel employee who, due to a gambling addiction, had umted significant debt. Additionally, his mother had cancer and needed arge sum for treatment. He had started stealing hotel items to sell online.


    After several incidents, the hotel discovered this and not only demandedpensation but also fired him.


    That person needed money for his mother''s treatment and refused to leave, but the hotel manager had security throw him out.


    In the end, that person''s mother died, and he hated the hotel for firing him, which had left him without money for his mother''s treatment.


    She had heard all this from her mother during dinner.


    Unexpectedly, she happened to meet him in the elevator one time.


    Qin Shiyan recalled how, while chatting with him, she had deliberately leaked the time when the Su family would be hosting their banquet at the hotel.


    And now, that man had chosen the time she revealed to take revenge on the hotel.


    He wanted to use the Su family to strike at the hotel, while she wanted him to ruin the Su family''s banquet. Even if the Su family investigated, they could never discover that she had yed a part in this, and even the arsonist didn''t know she was using him.


    Su Ci had returned from a brush with death, and the Su family had organized such a grand banquet for her. Now that it had been ruined, with many guests injured and some deaths, if people could be made to think that Su Ci was bad luck, specifically prone to causing deaths, and that being close to her would bring misfortune, that would be perfect.


    After all, most people in wealthy families tend to believe in feng shui and fate.


    Qin Shiyan pondered for a moment, thinking her idea wasn''t bad.


    If everyone believed Su Ci was that kind of person, even with her status as the Su family''s youngdy, no one would want to get close to her.


    Perhaps the Su family would even abandon her.


    ...


    Su''s Father''s injuries weren''t severe; he had been knocked unconscious when hit and had injured his back, forcing him to lie on his side.


    Su''s Mother poured a ss of water for her husband when they heard a knock. A bodyguard entered to ry a message, "Sir, Madam, Miss Qin is outside requesting to visit."


    At such ate hour, Su''s Mother hadn''t expected Qin Shiyan toe. After the previous incident with their younger son, although it was due to her carelessness, Su''s Mother wouldn''t tolerate it.


    She had issued orders preventing Qin Shiyan from freely entering and leaving the Su residence, and it had been quite some time since they''dst seen her.


    Su''s Mother frowned, "Let her in."


    Qin Shiyan entered carrying flowers and a fruit basket. "Uncle Su, Aunt Su, I''vee to see you." Her expression was sincere. "I''m sorry, I was filming advertisements all day, and I just noticed the news about you being in the hospital."


    She asked anxiously, "I''m truly sorry I''mte. Uncle Su, Aunt Su, are you both feeling better?"


    From the moment she stepped into the Su residence, Qin Shiyan had been carefully observing Su''s parents'' expressions. She knew better than anyone that the Su family would be her future backing, and to gain their trust, she needed to curry favor with them.


    She probably understood Su''s parents'' expressions and emotions even better than Su Ci did.


    "It''s nothing serious," Su''s Mother replied softly.


    Qin Shiyan seemed not to notice Su''s Mother''s coldness and distance. Upon hearing there was nothing serious, her worried expression rxed into joy. "That''s wonderful, I was really frightened. My hands and feet were numb the whole way here." As she spoke, she secretly shook her fingers as if they were actually numb.


    Su''s Mother had always been gentle by nature and pure-hearted. Since Qin Shiyan had grown up alongside her daughter, she was like a junior family member she had watched grow up. The displeasure in her heart lessened somewhat, and her expression became less cold. "Thanks to someone who saved us, we escaped disaster."


    "Uncle Su and Aunt Su are blessed and kind-hearted people. After surviving this great ordeal, everything will go smoothly from now on, with blessings rolling in," Qin Shiyan noticed the change in Su''s Mother''s expression, and her heart rxed a bit.


    "When did you learn to be as sweet-tongued as Ci-ci?" Su''s Mother constantly thought of her daughter, even bringing her up whenplimenting others.


    Qin Shiyan responded as if used to it, smiling and agreeing with Su''s Mother, "Aunt Su, is Ci-ci alright? I''m very worried about her too. May I go see her?"


    Su''s Mother had previously forbidden her from freely entering and leaving the Su residence. Though outsiders didn''t know yet, it would eventually be discovered.


    She now wanted to use this opportunity of visiting Su Ci to get Su''s Mother to change her mind.


    "She''s fine. You''re busy with work, you should go home and rest well. No need to see Ci-ci," Su''s Mother remembered that her daughter currently strongly disliked Qin Shiyan.


    Since her daughter disliked her, she certainly wouldn''t allow someone her daughter despised to appear before her.


    With her ns thwarted, Qin Shiyan maintained her expression unchanged. She chatted with Su''s Mother for a while longer but still couldn''t find an excuse to regain ess to the Su residence.


    After Qin Shiyan left, Su''s Mother poured another ss of water for Su''s Father and sighed, "That Qin child is bing increasingly calcting." Though Su''s Mother was gentle-natured, it didn''t mean she was naive.


    How could anyone in wealthy families be truly naive?


    "No wonder Ci-ci doesn''t like her now," Su''s Mother said.


    Su''s Father finished his water and smiled at his wife''s words, the sternness leaving his still-handsome face. He said with amusement, "Our daughter is even more calcting than her."Aliali: 6748bd42c4f3f33ac47d6fd0


    Su''s Mother shot her husband a displeased look, "Ci-ci isn''t calcting, she''s clever." Su''s Mother''s heart waspletely biased toward her daughter.


    Su''s Fatherpletely agreed with his wife, "You''re right."


    Su''s Mother brought up the day''s rescue, "We''re so fortunate that young man Lu Zhe saved us. Once you''re discharged, we must properly thank him. He was the one who had been taking care of Ci-ci before, and now he''s saved us today. We owe Lu Zhe two favors."


    Su''s Father nodded, "We should indeed thank him."


    Su''s Mother held her husband''s hand, "You were unconscious, but at that moment, I thought we would die there. I had already given up hope when Lu Zhe suddenly appeared. He saved us without hesitation. That young man truly has a kind heart. Last time I paid him off with money, but doing so again this time would be too disrespectful."


    Su''s Father agreed with his wife, "There''s no rush. We can think about what he needs, or we can promise that if he ever needs the Su family''s help in the future, we''ll do our best to assist him."


    "I remember ZhiYuan mentioning that Lu Zhe had a difficult background, being an orphan, and he has a terminal illness." Su''s Mother''s heart was full of sympathy and regret.


    She recalled Lu Zhe''s appearance, finding it familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before. But for the moment, she couldn''t remember where.


    Su''s Father said, "In that case, if he needs it, we can help him search for his family, or provide him with the best medical team."


    Su''s Mother thought this was a good idea, "We''ll ask Lu Zhe what he thinks about it."

 Chapter 35

    The next day, Lu Zhe and Boss Fang left City B.


    Su Ci didn''t go to see them off at the airport, choosing instead to go to school. Looking at the pile of snacks and flowers on her desk, she knew without thinking that He Ermeng had sent them.


    However, today he hadn''t upied her deskmate''s seat to wait for her arrival as usual.


    Su Ci asked a ssmate to return everything. She wasn''t some little girl who loved snacks, and she certainly had no interest in flowers.


    Though, epting gifts depended on who they were from. If these had been from Lu Zhe, she would have eaten them despite the risk of gaining weight.


    Ah, she really spoiled Lu Zhe too much.


    He Ermeng looked at the returned items without much surprise, as if he was already used to it.


    "Brother Meng, I haven''t had breakfast yet. Let me have some of these treats," said his deskmate, eyeing the pile of imported snacks hungrily.


    "Take them if you want," He Ermeng said coldly, leaning back in his chair.


    His deskmate Li Haohan didn''t hesitate, immediately opening a pack of mini cakes. While stuffing them into his mouth, he said, "Miss Su is really heartless. Brother Meng, you''ve been pursuing her for nearly three years now. Even a deity would be moved, but she shows no reaction at all. She''s even more cold-hearted than the gods - could it be shecks the capacity for love?"


    Many girls at school would deliberately pass by their ssroom just to catch a glimpse of He Ermeng, and they would secretly slip gifts and love letters into his desk.


    But not Su Ci. That youngdy was incredibly proud and refused to even look at He Ermeng.


    He Ermeng turned to look at him.


    Feeling the re, Li Haohan quickly swallowed his cake and hurried to exin, "I''m just telling the truth. Brother Meng, you might as well give up. There are so many pretty girls in our school, why bang your head against a wall with Miss Su?"


    After saying this, Li Haohan felt a bit uneasy.


    True, there were many pretty girls at school, butpared to Su Ci, they could barely match a strand of her hair.


    Setting aside Su Ci''s family background and academic achievements, her face and figure alone made her a rare beauty.


    No wonder He Ermeng had been fixated on her for almost three years.


    He Ermeng gave his deskmate a cold look. He thought about yesterday, how Su Ci had smiled so intimately at that Lu Zhe person, showing such dependency - where was her usual pride then?


    At this thought, He Ermeng''s eyes turned violent. He suddenly stood up, his chair scraping back with a harsh sound.


    Seeing his fierce expression, Li Haohan thought he was about to get beaten up. "Brother Meng, I''m sorry, I''m sorry! I support you in continuing to pursue Miss Su. She''ll definitely be moved by you eventually. Please don''t hit me!"


    He Ermeng didn''t even look at him as he strode out, his clothes cutting through the air sharply.


    Li Haohan was dumbfounded.


    However, in less than ten seconds, He Ermeng, who had just stormed out of the ssroom in anger, returned. He sat back down, looking somewhat dejected. "She needs to prepare for the college entrance exam. I can''t bother her."


    Otherwise, she would hate him even more.


    Li Haohan opened another mini cake and stuffed it into his mouth.


    It was quite something - the little tyrant was usually so arrogant, but when it came to Miss Su, he waspletely tamed. No, that wasn''t quite right - Su Ci didn''t even need to tame him. Just one look from her was enough to dete the little tyrant.


    ......


    With the college entrance exam over, all senior students could finallyy down their burdens.


    Even Su Ci let out a sigh of relief.


    Whether before or after transmigrating into this book, her academic performance had always been excellent, simply because she was naturally intelligent. But that didn''t mean she enjoyed being buried in studies all day. Now that she was finally free, Su Ci felt a liberating sensation in her soul.


    Outside, the weather was stuffy and the sun was scorching.


    Su Ciy in her room with the air conditioning on, eating peaches that the housekeepers had cut for her, half-reclining and nning to be aszy as a rabbit-turned-salted fish.


    At this moment, her phone suddenly rang.


    The message was from Shen Xue.


    Tool Friend Shen Xue: Breaking news! Lu Zhe''s ss is having a gathering tonight, and he''s signed up to attend.


    Seeing the message, Su Ci sat up from her lounge chair, quickly replying to Shen Xue: Time and ce, details!


    Tool Friend Shen Xue: Seven tonight, Yongxiang Hotel.


    As everyone knew, post-exam graduation gatherings were the perfect time for confessions.


    Although Shen Xue felt that given Lu Zhe''s situation, no girl at school would like him, and Su Ci didn''t need to worry about anyone confessing to him.


    However, as Su Ci''s lookout tool, she deeply understood that in Su Ci''s eyes, Lu Zhe was perfect.


    Su Ci checked the time, and despite the scorching sun outside, she quickly gathered her things, grabbed her small bag, and left.


    That evening, the private room at Yongxiang Building was full of people, the atmosphere harmonious as many discussed their futures and dream universities.


    Lu Zhe sat in a corner near the air conditioner, his back straight and expression rigid, somewhat out of ce amid the surrounding festivities.


    Originally, Lu Zhe hadn''t nned to attend the gathering, intending instead to help organize inventory at theputer store. Boss Fang had sold the store, and they would be moving to City B to develop their business in a while.


    Boss Fang thought Lu Zhe was too withdrawn,cking any youthful vigor and having no friends. Since it was a rare graduation gathering, Boss Fang refused to let Lu Zhe stay at the store to help, instead urging him to attend.


    Now, Lu Zhe sat quietly, in stark contrast to Fu Baili, who was surrounded by crowds across from him.


    Everyone knew Fu Baili was the young master of the Fu family. Usually, ssmates didn''t dare interact with him too much, but now, taking advantage of the rxed atmosphere, many tried to curry favor with him.


    As for Lu Zhe, in everyone''s eyes, no matter how good his academic performance was, even if he could be the top scorer in the college entrance exam, it didn''t matter. His condition was what it was - he didn''t have many years left. Combined with his invisible presence in ss, no one approached him to talk.


    On another side of the room, Zhao Youyou was dressed beautifully tonight in a light pink floral dress, her hair carefully styled. She was in a good mood, with no trace of her previous gloom.


    Recently, she had been troubled by the couple living upstairs, but her mother had used Zhao Youyou''s lottery winnings to buy a new house, and they had sold their old one.


    After moving into the new house, Zhao Youyou finally felt that this reborn life was different, and she believed her college entrance exam results would be much better than in her previous life.


    In her past life, she couldn''t even get into college, but now, she was confident she could enter a top university.


    Zhao Youyou took a few sips of sweet rice wine and looked at Lu Zhe sitting quietly in the upper left. She picked up her wine ss and walked toward him.


    "Brother, happy graduation." Even though they were in the same ss, Lu Zhe had never interacted with her, maintaining a frightening distance.


    But Zhao Youyou understood Lu Zhe''s personality well and didn''t me him. "Brother, have you decided which university you want to attend? Maybe we''ll end up at the same school."


    With Lu Zhe''s excellent grades, he could choose any domestic university he wanted.


    Lu Zhe''s expression remained indifferent as he replied, "Don''t know."


    Zhao Youyou looked beautiful tonight, and with her naturally pretty features, she had attracted quite a bit of attention just by walking over to Lu Zhe''s side. Fu Baili in particr found it irritating to see her standing next to that short-lived ghost.


    Fu Baili immediately stood up and strode over, grabbing Zhao Youyou''s hand. "I need to talk to you." Under the shocked and whispered gazes of others, Fu Baili pulled Zhao Youyou out of the private room.


    Lu Zhe''s expression didn''t change at all as he quietly continued eating, fading into the background.


    In the fire escape hallway, Fu Baili pinned Zhao Youyou against the wall.


    He looked at the girl before him with dark eyes, his voice hoarse, "Why are you ignoring me? Are you angry with me?"


    Trapped by him, Zhao Youyou blushed, her voice unconsciously bing coy, "Don''t do this."


    In her previous life, Fu Baili had despised her and wouldn''t even look at her, but now he shamelessly pursued her every day, making her both delighted and incredulous.


    "You said you didn''t want to date before college, and I respected that. Now that the entrance exams are over, shouldn''t you be with me?"


    Fu Baili thought Zhao Youyou looked especially beautiful tonight, so stunning he couldn''t take his eyes off her. As she looked at him shyly and vulnerably, it made his blood boil.


    How could she be so adorable, just like a pure little white rabbit?


    While other girls eagerly flocked to him, only Zhao Youyou remained indifferent and unwilling to pay him any attention. Yet paradoxically, he was desperately in love with her precisely because of this attitude, to the point where he would give her his heart if he could!


    Fu Baili lowered his head, attempting to kiss Zhao Youyou, but she blocked him with her hand.


    "Your grandmother doesn''t like me."


    Thest time Fu Baili took Zhao Youyou to the Fu family home, she clearly felt the elderly Mrs. Fu''s dislike towards her. The olddy''s sharp gaze made her very ufortable.


    Zhao Youyou remembered that in her previous life, Fu Baili''s grandmother had passed away before the college entrance examination. During that time, Fu Baili had taken leave and hadn''te to school for a long time. She had been very worried about him then, so she remembered it clearly.


    Why hadn''t Fu Baili''s grandmother passed away in this life?


    Fu Baili moved the girl''s hand away from his mouth, "I will convince grandmother."


    Zhao Youyou turned her head away, blushing as she avoided his kiss, "We can''t kiss."


    Fu Baili frowned, "Why? Are you still unwilling to be with me? Is it because of Lu Zhe?" He remembered Zhao Youyou mentioning that Lu Zhe liked her, and he had already taken a dislike to Lu Zhe because of this.


    Zhao Youyou shook her head, her delicate hands weakly pushing against his chest in feeble resistance, "Someone mighte here."


    Fu Baili understood her meaning perfectly. He raised an eyebrow, his arm around her waist, "Come with me."


    Fu Baili led Zhao Youyou away.


    If Su Ci were here, she would certainly know that the main characters had finally gotten together, and that they had begun their intimate rtionship right after bing a couple.


    Of course, there would be drama between themter - plots involving the male lead''s fianc¨¦e, a car ident, misunderstandings, and more. Su Ci had found it so tedious that when she first read the book, she had skipped through many parts.


    The atmosphere in the private room grew increasingly lively, with several people ordering alcohol. The ss monitor led the way, going from table to table for toasts.


    When they reached Lu Zhe''s table, they automatically ignored him and moved on to the next table.


    Lu Zhe put down his chopsticks and checked the time on his phone, preparing to leave.


    Just then, a message popped up.


    Su Ci: Which private room are you in?


    Lu Zhe''s eyes focused intently, and he immediately called her.


    Su Ci quickly answered the phone, asking, "Lu Zhe, which private room are you in?"


    Lu Zhe, being naturally clever, quickly caught on and instead asked her, "Where are you?"


    "I''m at the Yongxiang Building. Quick, tell me your room number."


    Lu Zhe immediately stood up, "We''re in Sky and Earth Room One. Where exactly are you? I''lle find you."


    He walked quickly towards the exit, opened the private room door, and immediately saw Su Ci standing outside.


    The girl was still holding her phone, smiling brightly at him, "Surprised?"


    Lu Zhe hung up the phone, his cool voice particrly melodious in the noisy environment, "Why did youe?"


    Su Ci smiled, "To celebrate your graduation, of course."


    That was a lie.


    She had actuallye to keep watch, preventing anyone from confessing to Lu Zhe.


    She hadn''t attended her own ss''s graduation party because she knew several boys were nning to confess to her, and someone had informed her that He Ermeng would make a heartfelt confession during the party.


    She couldn''t be bothered to deal with it, so she simply didn''t attend the party.


    "May Ie in?" She hade to stake her im, so of course she wanted to go inside.


    Lu Zhe asked her, "Have you eaten?"


    "No, I came straight to see you after getting off the ne." Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe with puppy eyes, "I''m tired and hungry."


    "I''ll take you in to eat something." Though there were many people drinking in the private room and the environment was chaotic and noisy, Lu Zhe didn''t want to let Su Ci in, but hearing that she was hungry, he couldn''t consider too much else.


    Lu Zhe led Su Ci into the private room.


    The noisy crowd suddenly fell silent.


    They looked with disbelief at the stunningly beautiful girl who followed Lu Zhe in.


    While Zhao Youyou and the school beauty Jiang Mengqi were considered quite pretty at school, they couldn''tpare to even a finger of this girl - just look at her delicate and fair fingers clutching Lu Zhe''s clothes, they were exquisitely beautiful beyond words.


    Compared to the earlier rowdiness, now people were whispering, afraid of disturbing the girl.


    Lu Zhe had originally been sitting in front of the air conditioner, but that spot was cramped and directly in the air flow, not suitable for Su Ci.


    "Brother Zhe, over here, there are empty seats here," Li Dongliang called out, waving.


    He hadn''t expected Lu Zhe to bring his little enchantress out. Looking at everyone else''s expressions, they were just as shocked as he had been when he first saw her - all stunned by Lu Zhe''s little enchantress.


    Lu Zhe led Su Ci over, and they sat down in the two empty seats next to Li Dongliang.


    Up close, many people noticed that the girl next to Lu Zhe was even more beautiful. She was so fair-skinned, and surprisingly wore no makeup - not even foundation, probably not even primer. Her skin was smooth and porcin-white to an excessive degree.


    Lu Zhe asked for a clean set of bowls and chopsticks from the server, washed them with hot water, and then began picking out dishes for Su Ci.


    Having lived with Su Ci for a while, he understood her tastes well.


    Su Ci sat very close to Lu Zhe, ignoring the furtive nces from others.


    Su Ci drank the juice Lu Zhe had poured for her and ate the food he had selected, her beautiful features full of happiness, "Lu Zhe, did you drink any alcohol?"


    She had smelled a strong scent of alcohol when she came in.


    Lu Zhe: "No."


    Su Ci looked at the young man whose features appeared even more strikingly handsome under the lights. His eyes were clear, showing no signs of intoxication. She leaned closer to him and continued asking, "Did any girls confess to you earlier?"


    Lu Zhe gave her a nd look, "No."


    Su Ci smiled and began eating contentedly, as she was genuinely hungry.


    The people around them watched as Lu Zhe asionally picked out food for the girl, while she ate with her cheeks puffed out like a hamster, her small mouth red and moist, beautiful and enchanting. They wondered where Lu Zhe had found such a beautiful enchantress.


    Everyone was filled with envy.


    Someone bolder approached, blushing as they said to Su Ci: "H-hello, there are many other delicious dishes here. What would you like? I can order for you."


    Su Ci methodically finished chewing the food in her mouth before looking up and directly refusing: "I only eat what Lu Zhe picks for me."


    She turned to look at Lu Zhe, "I want to try that five-colored lotus root dish."


    A slight smile appeared in Lu Zhe''s dark eyes, and without a word, he continued picking out food for the girl.


    Someone secretly took a photo of Su Ci. Though it was just a profile shot, it was breathtaking.


    They posted the photo on the forum: We wronged Lu Zhe all these years! I used to think Lu Zhe was foolish for rejecting the school beauty, but I was the foolish one!


    As soon as the post appeared,ments started flooding in.


    "OP, I know who you are! *crying* I''m also at the scene, the beauty is sitting near me right now, my heart is racing, my hands are shaking as I type."


    "Also present at the scene +1, don''t say anymore, I envy Lu Zhe!"


    "As someone who appreciates beauty, even though the photo is just a profile, I''m already in."


    "Lu Zhe? Lu Zhe from ss 1, Grade 3? He has a girlfriend?"


    "Is this the same Lu Zhe who has a terminal illness? I''ve seen him at school, cold and wooden, how did such a beautiful girl end up being his girlfriend? She must be blind!"


    "Let''s put everything else aside for now, OP, was this photo taken with the original camera? You didn''t use heavy skin smoothing or beauty filters, right? Can such a profile really exist?"


    The original poster replied to the previousment: "Original camera, no beauty filter, no effects, the photo doesn''t capture even one-tenth of her real beauty!"


    "I''m also at the scene, in the same ss as OP. I can verify what OP said, she''s incredibly beautiful in person, I could admire Lu Zhe''s girlfriend''s face for a lifetime."


    "I take back everything I said about Lu Zhe being blind. He didn''t reject the school beauty because he was blind, he rejected her because she wasn''t up to his standards!"


    OP: "I heard Lu Zhe''s girlfriend say she only eats food that Lu Zhe picks out for her."


    "Nothing else needs to be said, I envy Lu Zhe! I want to be Lu Zhe!"


    "Envying Lu Zhe +1."


    "Envying Lu Zhe +100."


    "Step aside, let me: Envying Lu Zhe +10086..."


    Su Ci''s appearance made everyone at school suddenly realize that Lu Zhe wasn''t pitiful at all - he had a girlfriend whose beauty was beyondpare.


    Those who had previously mocked Lu Zhe for foolishly rejecting the school beauty were now nursing bruised faces.


    ......


    It was already past nine when they returned home.


    Su Ci hadn''t brought any luggage with her, but her room and belongings were still there, carefully preserved by Lu Zhe.


    After traveling all day, looking travel-worn, Su Ci finished her shower and went straight to knock on Lu Zhe''s door.


    Turning the handle, Su Ci found it unlocked.


    She opened the door to find Lu Zhe doing push-ups on the floor.


    The young man had always been disciplined, exercising almost daily.


    Seeing the girl enter, Lu Zhe paused.


    "Keep going, don''t mind me," Su Ci sat on his folding bed, watching him with bright eyes. "I haven''t watched you do push-ups in so long. Please continue, I won''t disturb you."


    Lu Zhe gave her a cool nce before actually continuing his push-ups.


    The young man was still in his school uniform, and the exercise had made him sweat considerably, soaking through the back of his shirt. The fabric clung to his back, revealing his muscles beneath, radiating power and silent allure.


    Su Ci watched intently.


    Some say men look most handsome while working, but she thought men looked their best while exercising.


    Su Ci noticed the veins standing out on Lu Zhe''s arms as he pressed against the floor, his muscles taut. No wonder every part of him was so firm.


    After watching him from the folding bed for a while, Su Ci felt an inexplicable strange sensation in her body, especially when looking at Lu Zhe''s powerful form during exercise. The peculiar feeling grew stronger.


    She felt an urgent need to do something.


    "Lu Zhe..." she had just begun to speak.


    Lu Zhe''s phone, ced to the side, started ringing.


    Lu Zhe stood up, "What is it?"


    Su Ci pressed her lips together, "Answer your phone first."


    The call was from Fat Fu. Lu Zhe frowned instinctively, having a bad feeling as he answered.


    "Zhe, the old director has passed away."


    Lu Zhe gripped his phone tightly.


    "I''m driving over to pick you up now. Get ready," Fat Fu said.


    With the director''s passing, they needed to return for the funeral.


    "Mm."


    Su Ci couldn''t hear what was being said on the other end of Lu Zhe''s phone, but seeing the young man''s expression darken, she quickly asked, "What happened?"


    "The director has passed away. Fat Fu ising to pick me up. You..." Thest time they visited the orphanage, the girl had suffered quite a bit. Now with the deep night, rushing over would be even more exhausting.


    "I''ming with you," Su Ci stood up. "I''ll go change clothes first, wait for me."


    She was wearing a white nightgown from her shower.


    Fat Fu arrived quickly. Seeing Su Ci standing next to Lu Zhe, he wasn''t surprised. "Get in."


    This trip to the orphanage was more somber than thest. Fat Fu wasn''t in the mood for jokes, driving quietly.


    It was past ten at night. Usually, Su Ci would have been in bed by now. In the dim light of the car, she started feeling drowsy.


    Lu Zhe''s voice was cool but gentle, "Sleep first, I''ll wake you when we arrive."


    Su Ci leaned directly against Lu Zhe, noticing that the strange sensation in her body diminished slightly.Aliali: 6748bd42c4f3f33ac47d6fd0


    Instinctively, she pressed closer to Lu Zhe.


    Perhaps it was because Lu Zhe''s skin temperature ran cool, but being next to him feltfortable.


    Like a little snail, Su Ci snuggled even closer to Lu Zhe.


    It felt reallyfortable, and the odd sensations in her body decreased significantly.


    Suddenly, Lu Zhe lowered his head, bringing his mouth close to the girl''s ear, speaking in a low voice with a hint of gritted teeth, "Stop moving around. Are you going to sleep or not!" His dark eyes no longer held any coolness, only indescribable turbulent emotions.


    Did she think he was senseless?


    Having such a soft, pliant body constantly squirming against him would drive even a saint to distraction!


    "I can''t sleep," Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe pleadingly. "Why don''t you hug me?"


    Lu Zhe rubbed his temples, "If you don''t want to sleep, then don''t. Just sit properly." Who else would be like her, so boneless and soft, clinging to others like this?


    Su Ci knew Lu Zhe wasn''t in a good mood and didn''t want to bother him, but her body wouldn''t cooperate. She really didn''t know what was wrong with herself.

 Chapter 36

    Late at night, there were few vehicles on the highway, with only asional car horns breaking the profound silence of the deep night.


    Su Ci was made to sit up straight by Lu Zhe, as the young man wouldn''t let her cling to him so closely.


    Su Ci gazed longingly at Lu Zhe in the dim light. Knowing he wasn''t in a good mood, she obediently corrected her posture and stopped trying to stick close to him.


    She leaned back against the seat, enduring the strange waves of sensation coursing through her body.


    What was happening to her body?


    Having rushed to find Lu Zhe today and traveling all this way, Su Ci finally sumbed to drowsiness, her eyelids gradually closing.


    In her hazy state, she felt herself being pulled into an embrace. She nuzzledfortably and drifted off to sleep.


    Fat Fu had already notified the orphanage staff, and the female worker who had received themst time was waiting.


    The woman looked unwell, with reddened eyes. After exchanging a few words with Fat Fu, she told him, "The Old Director is at the hospital. The children are all asleep. Would you like to go see him?" The funeral would be held tomorrow, and their staff were also managing things at the hospital.


    Fat Fu drove to the hospital.


    The hospital at night had an indescribable stillness and eeriness about it.


    Su Ci followed Lu Zhe to see the Old Director. Thest time she saw him, he had been talking to her about Lu Zhe''s childhood. Now, this elderly man had closed his eyes forever.


    Even though Su Ci had known the Old Director only had two months to live, when actually facing this moment, her heart still ached with a sense of helplessness. She knew he would die but couldn''t prevent it.


    Beside her, Fat Fu''s eyes reddened as he sobbed uncontrobly, deeply grieved.


    Su Ci turned to look at Lu Zhe beside her.


    The young man''s rigid face wasposed, making it impossible to read his thoughts. The cold white light falling on his face gave him an indescribable pallor.


    Su Ci knew Lu Zhe was heartbroken.


    She reached out, her soft small hand slipping into his cold palm, and held his hand.


    She was here for him.


    Fat Fu was crying inconsbly, and finally, Lu Zhe had to help him to the car.


    Fat Fu slumped over the steering wheel, crying for quite a while longer as Lu Zhe handed him tissues.


    In such a crystal-clear night, there was an indescribable loneliness and sorrow.


    Su Ci sat quietly in the back seat, wondering if anyone had cried for her like this, grieved for her like this, when she died before entering this book world.


    Considering it was alreadyte at night and the children and staff at the orphanage were asleep, Fat Fu found the closest hotel to the orphanage.


    This hotel was only a few stories tall and rather basic. The guests were a mixed crowd - while they were checking in, several drunk people hade and gone, and some even kept staring at Su Ci, their eyes practically glued to her.


    Lu Zhe inspected the room and, after ensuring there were no safety issues, said to the girl, "You should sleep. I''ll be across the hall. Call me if anything happens."


    Su Ci sat on the bed, tugging at his clothes, "Can I sleep with you?" The strange sensations in her body made her want to stay close to him, to cling to him.


    Lu Zhe gave her a cool look. "No."


    "Why not?" Su Ci looked at him pleadingly. "It''s not like we haven''t slept together before." Previously, when she and Lu Zhe had shared a bed, everything had been fine.


    She trusted him.


    "I promise I won''t bother you," Su Ci assured him.


    After all, thest time she had yed tricks, it had made Lu Zhe grind his teeth in frustration. Now she knew Lu Zhe wasn''t in a good mood, so she would behave and simply sleep next to him.


    Lu Zhe coldly refused, "No!" He pulled his clothes from the girl''s fingers. "Get some rest."


    Lu Zhe left, closing the door behind him.


    The room fell silent.


    Watching Lu Zhe leave so heartlessly, Su Ci was stunned, deeply realizing that her beauty was worthless in front of Lu Zhe!


    Su Ciy on the bed, feeling as if countless ants were crawling across her heart, making it unbearably itchy. The strange sensations in her body kept surging, making her want to do something to release them.


    Turning over, Su Ci helplessly closed her eyes.


    After a while, she impatiently turned to the other side.


    She couldn''t sleep.


    Despite being exhausted from traveling all day, she still couldn''t fall asleep.


    Su Ci closed her eyes and started counting in her mind: one Lu Zhe, two Lu Zhe, three Lu Zhe...


    By the time she counted to a hundred Lu Zhes, she only wanted him more.


    Su Ci opened her eyes and looked at the time - it was past three in the morning.


    For a beauty-loving girl like her, staying upte was equivalent to letting herself be ugly, a copse of beauty.


    This was a very sinful thing.


    Su Ci got out of bed, put on the disposable slippers beside it, and went straight to find Lu Zhe.


    The hotel corridor waspletely empty, making it feel creepy.


    Su Ci came to the door across the hall and pressed the doorbell directly.


    Within seconds, the door opened.


    As soon as Lu Zhe opened the door, a slender figure quickly slipped past him. By the time he turned to look, she had already quickly taken off her slippers and dived under his covers.


    Lu Zhe: ...


    Su Ci poked her head out from under the covers, looking at the young man by the door with sparkling eyes. "I was worried you couldn''t sleep because you were sad, so I came to keep youpany."


    He had opened the door just seconds after she rang the bell - he definitely hadn''t been sleeping.


    Lu Zhe: "Not necessary."


    Su Ci blinked. "Then I can''t sleep, so keep mepany."


    Lu Zhe remembered how the girl had previously pushed his boundaries, forcing him to retreat step by step.


    Lu Zhe spoke tly, "Go back to your room."


    Su Ci waspletely shameless. She closed her eyes directly. "I left my room key inside, I can''t open the door." She had done it on purpose.


    Then, Su Ci added thoughtfully, "It''s sote, don''t go bother the front desk. Let them rest properly."


    Lu Zhe gave her a long look, then closed the door.


    Su Ci kept her eyes tightly shut. She heard the door close, and after a while, the bed dipped beside her. She knew Lu Zhe hadid down.


    Her red lips curved secretly.


    She turned to her side, moving her body closer to Lu Zhe until she was right against him. The little rabbit in her heart stopped fidgeting, and Su Ci contentedly nuzzled her head against Lu Zhe''s chest.


    Lu Zhe: "Su Ci!"


    "Yes?" Su Ci kept her eyes closed and yawned. "I''m sleepy." With that, she stopped moving and fell asleep against Lu Zhe.


    The room fell quiet.


    After returning to his room, Lu Zhe indeed hadn''t slept. He had been thinking about his life at the orphanage, where the Old Director was the only adult who had ever shown him kindness during his growing years.


    He was still immersed in his grief when Su Ci arrived.


    His chest felt soft where the girl was leaning against it.


    Lu Zhe let out a quiet sigh, ced his hand on the girl''s waist, and slowly closed his eyes.


    The next day, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains into the room.


    When Su Ci woke up, it was almost noon, and Lu Zhe was no longer beside her.


    She blinked, clearing the sleepiness from her eyes. Why hadn''t Lu Zhe woken her?


    After getting up and freshening herself, she changed into her clothes, wanting to go find something to eat.


    Just as she reached the ground floor lobby, the front desk staff called out to her.


    Both Su Ci and Lu Zhe were too striking in appearance, so the staff recognized Su Ci at a nce.


    They told Su Ci that Lu Zhe had ordered breakfast for her and asked if she wanted it delivered now.


    Su Ci thought that although Lu Zhe appeared cold on the outside, he was always very thoughtful.


    After breakfast, Su Ci returned to her room to wait for Lu Zhe toe back.


    Lu Zhe returned after lunch, and Su Ci saw the young man dressed all in ck, his expression cold and serious. She could sense the mncholy emotions surrounding him.


    "Is everything done?" Su Ci asked him.


    Lu Zhe: "Yes, we need to visit the orphanage shortly, then we''ll return to D City tonight."


    "Okay."


    Su Ci had only brought one change of clothes and no other luggage, so she was packed in no time.


    Fat Fu was handling the check-out procedures in the lobby. When Su Ci saw him, she noticed his eyes were swollen and bloodshot, clearly having cried for a long time.


    His car was parked outside the hotel. Once they got in, the atmosphere in the car was very heavy, with no one inclined to speak.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe sat in the back seat. She sat close to Lu Zhe, andpared tost night, she felt the strange sensations in her body seemed to have disappeared?


    The journey from the hotel to the orphanage wasn''t far, taking only about ten minutes.


    It was afternoon, and the children at the orphanage had woken up from their naps and were ying in the courtyard.


    The staff were sorting through the Old Director''s belongings, with Lu Zhe and Fat Fu helping out.


    Su Ci didn''t join them. The children remembered her and were overjoyed to see her again. Children are the purest souls - they love beautiful things and beautiful older sisters. They gathered around Su Ci, greeting her one by one.


    The children were still young and didn''t understand what the Old Director''s passing meant. The staff had told them that the Old Director had be a ray of sunshine, watching over them whenever the sun rose.


    Among the little ones, Su Ci didn''t see the small boy Zhen Tiancai fromst time.


    "Where''s Little Genius?" Su Ci asked the children.


    The boy in the red clothes told her, "Zhen Tiancai is in his room changing into new clothes. His new parents areing to pick him up soon."


    Su Ci was startled - someone was adopting Zhen Tiancai?


    Adoptive parents usually preferred healthy and lively children, while Zhen Tiancai was quiet and shy, with heart problems. Most people wouldn''t want to adopt such a child.


    Now that a couple was willing to adopt Zhen Tiancai, she was truly happy for the little boy and hoped he would have a happy life ahead.


    Su Ci told the little ones to go y instead of crowding around her. She had no experience with children, except for asionallyforting Little Su Ning, but Little Su Ning was so well-behaved that she hardly needed any guidance.


    Having so many children chattering around her was giving her a headache.


    Feeling bored, Su Ci walked over to the fence where the rabbit that Lu Zhe had heldst time was kept.


    No matter how she looked at it, she thought this rabbit was ugly.


    Its fur wasn''t as pure white and smooth as hers, it was chubby, not small and cute like her at all, and its red eyes weren''t as bright and beautiful as hers.


    So why did Lu Zhe want to hold it before!


    The rabbit in the enclosure kept hopping around, running about, and going in circles. Su Ci watched curiously, thinking the rabbit looked rather silly.


    "The bunny seems sick, it''s been making noises these past few days," said the little girl named Tutu, standing beside Su Ci, her small hands gripping the bamboo fence as she stood on tiptoes to look at the rabbit.


    "Sick?" Although Su Ci was half-rabbit herself, she didn''t know much about rabbits.


    "Let me look up what''s wrong with the rabbit."


    The little girl''s eyes lit up as she waited patiently for the big sister to help.


    Su Ci took out her phone and searched for the rabbit''s behavior online. The results made her hand tremble.


    The rabbit was in heat?


    Su Ci clicked on a post about rabbits that exined how rabbits might look innocent and pure, but they were actually quite lustful creatures.


    Su Ci''s mood became rather peculiar.


    Reading further, she learned that rabbits have mating seasons! Rabbits typically experience their first heat at 3-4 months, with smaller rabbits starting earlier andrger ones usually at 5-6 months.


    Su Ci looked at the rabbit in the enclosure, estimating it to be around 5-6 months old.


    She remembered when she was a rabbit, she was only palm-sized, being a dwarf rabbit. Even if she returned to rabbit form, no matter how much she grew, she would still remain small.


    Su Ci licked her lips, pondering if she were still a rabbit, would that mean she would have entered this so-called embarrassing period around three months of age?


    She was shocked and scared, but also relieved that she was now human and not a rabbit.


    "Pretty sister, is the bunny sick?" the little girl asked Su Ci worriedly.


    Looking into the little girl''s innocent big eyes, Su Ci couldn''t bring herself to tell her that the rabbit wasn''t sick but in heat.


    At that moment, Lu Zhe suddenly appeared beside Su Ci. "What are you talking about?" His gaze inadvertently fell on the girl''s phone, which showed search results about rabbits in heat.


    "Brother Lu Zhe, the bunny is sick," the little girl told him.


    Su Ci put away her phone and nodded, "Yes, this rabbit is lovesick. You should tell the staff to see how to handle it."


    The little girl''s eyes brightened, and she volunteered eagerly, "Tutu will go tell the caretaker sister." With that, she happily ran off.


    "Why did youe out? Is everything done?" Su Ci asked Lu Zhe.


    "No, I brought you water." Lu Zhe unscrewed the cap of the mineral water bottle and handed it to her.


    Su Ci realized she was indeed thirsty. She took several sips and handed the bottle back to Lu Zhe. "You can go back to work, I''ll be fine by myself."


    Lu Zhe looked at her, somewhat surprised by her docility.


    But in the next moment, the girl''s eyes curved up as she leaned close to his ear and said, "Lu Zhe, aren''t I being very considerate?"


    Su Ci''s lips were almost touching Lu Zhe''s ear. "When we get back, you have to give me lots of kisses, okay?" Knowing he wasn''t in a good mood, she had been ying the role of an obedient and caring little angel these past few days.


    Lu Zhe gave her a nd look and left.


    Su Ci pursed her lips - was that a yes? Or a no?


    Standing in the shade, Su Ci watched the rabbit in the enclosure with boredom. The more she watched, the more frightening she found the rabbit in heat - it was jumping and running around frantically, kicking its legs. Was this what unfulfilled desire looked like?


    Just then, a white car stopped outside the orphanage gate. The children ying in the courtyard all stopped and looked over curiously.


    One of the little boys eximed happily, "It must be Zhen Tiancai''s new mom and dading to pick him up!"


    "Quick, call Zhen Tiancai out!"


    "I''ll go tell Sister Yinzi that Zhen Tiancai''s new parents are here!"


    The children were excited and thrilled. To them, having parents was a joyful and blessed thing, and everyone was happy for Zhen Tiancai.


    Su Ci looked toward the gate and saw a middle-aged man and woman getting out of the car.


    The middle-aged man wore an ill-fitting loose suit, while the middle-aged woman beside him wore a dress withrge floral prints.


    A female staff member from the orphanage, whom the children called Sister Yinzi, hurried to greet them. "Mr. Zhang, Mrs. Zhang, wee." The Old Director had arranged for them toe today, but now the Old Director was gone.


    "We''re here to pick up the Tiancai child," the middle-aged man said with a smile.


    Several children shyly hid behind Sister Yinzi. Someone spotted Zhen Tiancaiing out and excitedly shouted, "Zhen Tiancai''s here, Zhen Tiancai''s here!"


    Su Ci looked over and immediately saw Zhen Tiancaiing out from the corridor. The little one was wearing new clothes, and although his face was tense, his ck eyes were bright with barely concealed joy.


    The little one was very happy that someone wanted to adopt him.


    He would have parents now.


    "Oh my, this must be Tiancai! Come here to auntie, I''m going to be your mother from now on." The middle-aged woman''s voice was quite loud, perhaps from excitement at seeing the child.


    Zhen Tiancai was shy and wary of strangers. He secretly nced at the female staff member, and after receiving her encouragement, he walked up to the middle-aged woman.


    Su Ci saw the little one''s hands nervously sped behind his back, clearly very tense.


    The middle-aged man smiled at Zhen Tiancai and casually stuffed a teddy bear into his arms. "From now on, I''m your father, and she''s your mother. When youe to our home, you must be good and obedient, understand?"


    Zhen Tiancai hugged the teddy bear and nodded bewilderedly.


    "Mr. Zhang, Mrs. Zhang, you can chat with the child first. I need to prepare some paperwork that will need your signaturester," the staff member said.


    She wore a smile, happy that one of the orphanage''s children was being adopted.


    "Alright, you go ahead with your work, we''ll talk with the child," the middle-aged man said with a smile.


    After the staff member left, the children looked at the two strangers and shyly dispersed, running to a distance to secretly watch them. Everyone envied Zhen Tiancai for having parents now.


    Su Ci stood boredly by the fence, watching the couple interact with Zhen Tiancai. She unconsciously narrowed her eyes.


    Having been in the entertainment industry, she could recognize people''s expression management and acting skills.


    The couple''s smiles were perfunctory, especially the middle-aged woman who checked her watch three times after the staff left. Her face showed impatience rather than the joy of adopting a child.


    The middle-aged man was chatting cheerfully with Zhen Tiancai, but his wife pulled him away.


    Su Ci frowned, nced at little Tiancai, and decided to follow them.


    She secretly hid behind some nts around the corner.


    "Didn''t you say this child had a good personality? Why didn''t he make a sound when I talked to him? Could he be autistic or something?" The middle-aged woman''s tone was very dissatisfied.


    The middle-aged man tried tofort his wife, "No, I asked about that. He only has a heart condition. There shouldn''t be any mental issues. It''s normal for children to be shy and quiet around strangers."


    "Isn''t having a heart condition bad enough?" the middle-aged woman snapped. "If it weren''t for your terrible idea about adopting him to please your boss for a promotion, I would never agree to raise a sick, useless child."


    "You know my boss''s daughter has leukemia and has a rare blood type. This child happens to have the same rare blood type."


    The middle-aged man continued to cate his wife, "After we take him home, I''ll tell the boss about it. By offering this boy as a walking blood bank for his daughter, he''ll definitely value me. In exchange, I''ll get the general manager position - he''ll surely agree. Don''t worry about the child''s personality. It''s not like you''ll have to take care of him every day."


    "Don''t forget he has a heart condition. I''m worried he''ll be a huge burdenter," the middle-aged woman said, somewhat mollified by her husband''s words.


    "You mentioned his heart condition - if anything happens, we''re not doctors. Would we be expected to save him?" The middle-aged man patted his wife''s hand. "Don''t overthink it. As we discussed before, once I be general manager, you can enjoy life as the general manager''s wife."


    This statementpletely won over the middle-aged woman, and she finally smiled.


    "Let''s gofort the child. Try not to frighten him," the middle-aged man reminded his wife.


    The middle-aged woman red at her husband, "I know that. Do you think I''m stupid?"


    "You''re not stupid - you''re cruel!"


    From around the corner, Su Ci emerged. Her dark eyes coldly fixed on the couple, showing rare anger.


    The middle-aged woman was startled by the sudden appearance and immediately demanded harshly, "Who... who are you? Why are you here?"


    Su Ci''s lips curved into a cold smile, "Don''t speak so loudly - you''ll frighten the children nearby. Raising your voice won''t hide your guilty conscience."


    "Youngdy, you must be joking. What do we have to feel guilty about?" The middle-aged man was notably calmer than his wife, his tone probing, unsure if she had overheard their conversation.


    Su Ci lifted her chin slightly, "You have ill intentions. You''re adopting Zhen Tiancai to use him for treating your boss''s daughter."


    She had no intention of beating around the bush or speaking in riddles. She directly revealed that she had overheard them.


    The middle-aged woman looked at her husband in shock - they''d been discovered.


    The middle-aged man squeezed his wife''s hand, signaling her to stay calm. "Youngdy, some jokes shouldn''t be made carelessly. We''re a childless couple who have taken a liking to Zhen Tiancai and want to adopt him, to give him a better life beyond being an orphan. Don''t you realize that your baseless usations could make this child miss his chance at being adopted?"


    Hearing her husband''s words, the middle-aged woman''s panic instantly subsided.


    Right, this young girl had no evidence. No one would believe her words.


    "This child has a heart condition. If we weren''t kind-hearted and charitable, no one would want to adopt a child with a heart condition."


    The middle-aged woman straightened her back, "Didn''t you see how happy the child was knowing we would be his parents? As our son, he won''t have to worry about his future happiness. Youngdy, please don''t make jokes about us and ruin the child''s good fortune."


    Su Ci couldn''t help but roll her eyes. This was the first time she had encountered such thick-skinned, shameless, and ck-hearted people.


    She challenged them, "Living a happy life with you - you mean he''ll enjoy it in the afterlife?"


    Su Ci''s voice was ice-cold, "Zhen Tiancai is only five years old and has a heart condition. Your hearts must bepletely rotten to target a small child like this."


    She stared coldly at the couple before her, "You''re practically signing his death warrant."


    Su Ci found this couple utterly vicious and disgusting.


    She nced at their life values.


    The man had over thirty years left, the woman over forty. These two appeared to be in their thirties, meaning the man would live into his sixties and the woman into her seventies.


    Su Ci irritably asked Fu Gui, "Why do such evil people get to live so long?"


    Fu Gui: [Master, lifespan is predetermined by heaven. Fu Gui doesn''t know why.]


    Su Ci: "Is there any way to reduce their lifespan a bit?"


    She was truly angry.


    Fu Gui, sensing its master''s anger, tried to minimize its presence and replied in a tiny voice: [Master, this is heaven''s decree.]


    Su Ci pressed her lips together. Although she was just asking rhetorically, Fu Gui''s answer still annoyed her. Indeed, the wicked seem to live forever.


    As the couple was about to retort to Su Ci''s sarcastic remarks, their faces darkening, the female staff member returned, apanied by Lu Zhe.


    The female staff member sensed the tense atmosphere between the middle-aged couple and Su Ci, looking at everyone in confusion.


    "Mr. Zhang, Mrs. Zhang, the paperwork is ready. Please sign the adoption certificate," the female staff member handed the documents to them.


    "Yes, yes, of course." The middle-aged man reached out with a smile, but a delicate white hand suddenly snatched the papers away.


    Su Ci said coldly, "Hah, you really dare to sign!"


    "Miss Su?" The female staff member looked at Su Ci in confusion.


    Lu Zhe walked to Su Ci''s side, "What''s happening?"


    Under everyone''s gaze, Su Ci''s cold and aggressive demeanor instantly transformed. She turned to the young man beside her with glistening eyes, looking pitiful as she said, "Lu Zhe, these people are bullying me!"

 Chapter 37

    The girl''s ability to change expressions was truly remarkable.


    Especially that couple - they stared at Su Ci in disbelief. Who was really bullying whom? The person who had been arguing with them just a second ago suddenly turned into a pitiful little rabbit?


    Lu Zhe frowned instinctively, "What happened?"


    "These two aren''t good people. They have ulterior motives for adopting Tiancai. I overheard their conversation, and when I exposed them, they became angry and started insulting me," Su Ci said.


    She was beautiful, with a fair face that glowed enchantingly in the sunlight. Her dark eyes sparkled with moisture, making her impossibly likeable from any angle. Even if she were the one bullying others rather than being bullied, people would instinctively find it justified.


    "You''re lying," the middle-aged woman rushed to argue. "What''s wrong with you, youngdy? We have nothing but good intentions in adopting a child from the orphanage. Why are you ndering us? What do you gain from ruining this child''s opportunity? You''re just making up stories."


    After all, the other party had no evidence and couldn''t prove anything.


    The Female Staff Member hadn''t expected such a sudden turn of events. "Miss Su, what exactly did you hear Mr. Zhang and Mrs. Zhang say?"


    Adoptive parents were all thoroughly investigated and had to meet certain criteria to qualify for adoption.


    Mr. Zhang and Mrs. Zhang had no children of their own, and they had good financial means. They didn''t even mind that Zhen Tiancai had a heart condition. This was a rare opportunity, and just as Zhen Tiancai was about to be adopted, the Female Staff Member really didn''t want anything to go wrong.


    After all, given Zhen Tiancai''s heart condition, if they missed this good opportunity, it would be very difficult to find anyone else willing to adopt him.


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze to Su Ci and asked her as well, "What did you hear?"


    Su Ci directly quoted the middle-aged man''s words, "He said his boss''s daughter has leukemia and needs blood from someone with the Panda blood type. Tiancai happens to have Panda blood type. He''s adopting Tiancai to make him serve as a mobile blood bank for his boss''s daughter, and in exchange, he would be promoted to general manager."


    Su Ci pursed her lips in contempt and continued, "Oh, and this woman wants to be the general manager''s wife. After they were exposed by me, they started yelling at me. If you hadn''t arrived, they probably would have gotten physical with me."


    The first part was true, but thest sentence was false.


    If they had really dared to get physical, she would have screamed for help!


    The Female Staff Member looked incredulous. "Mr. Zhang, Mrs. Zhang, is what Miss Su saying true?"


    Were they adopting Zhen Tiancai with such malicious intentions?


    The middle-aged man and his wife''s faces darkened at Su Ci''s words.


    "When did we ever try to get physical with you?" Mrs. Zhang demanded angrily.


    Su Ci replied airily, "Just now."


    After all, as they had said earlier, words carry no proof, and lying only requires a mouth - Su Ci felt she excelled at this!


    "You..." Mrs. Zhang had never encountered such a sharp-tongued girl who could infuriate people to death.


    The middle-aged man was much calmer than his wife. He held his wife''s hand, signaling her to stay quiet. "We came here today to adopt a child, to do a good deed. Now your orphanage is making such a scene - who would dare toe adopt children in the future?"


    The man''s words carried an obvious threat - if they continued to make a big deal of this, only the orphanage and the children would suffer.


    "Besides, you''re ndering us and damaging our reputation. Do you know I could sue you?" The middle-aged man had many tactics up his sleeve.


    In his view, he had seen many young people like her who thought they were being righteous but were actually muddle-headed. They thought they were doing good deeds, but when real trouble came, they would be the first to back down.


    "I believe her," the young man''s cool voice rang out. "It''s simple to verify if she''s lying. We just need to confirm whether your boss''s daughter has leukemia and needs blood transfusions. That will make everything clear."


    When Su Ci heard Lu Zhe say he believed her, she immediately shot him a satisfied nce.


    The Female Staff Member nodded in agreement. If Miss Su wasn''t lying, then this couple with such malicious intentions couldn''t be allowed to adopt Zhen Tiancai.


    The middle-aged man''s face darkened, but he still refused to admit it. "Even if my boss''s daughter is sick, that doesn''t mean I want the child to donate blood."


    In contrast to the couple''s fury, Su Ci maintained a rxed expression except for the coldness in her eyes. She stood close to Lu Zhe, taunting the couple like she was ying with mice. "Is it true that heartless people like you always have such thick skin? As long as your face isn''tpletely torn apart, you''ll just keep denying everything?"


    "Watch your words," the middle-aged man''s face turned extremely ugly as he warned Su Ci.


    Su Ci acted as if she was frightened, immediately leaning against Lu Zhe and looking at him with pitiful eyes. "Lu Zhe, he''s being mean to me and wants to hit me."


    "You..." The middle-aged man''s temple throbbed with anger.


    In the sunlight, there was a hint of amusement in Lu Zhe''s dark eyes.


    Even though he knew the girl was just putting on an act, his body still moved forward slightly, standing in front of her to block the middle-aged man''s fierce re.


    "How do you want to resolve this? If you''re going to bully us like this, we''ll leave today and won''t dare to adopt the child. Whoever wants to adopt him can go ahead." The middle-aged man couldn''t deal with Su Ci, so he spoke directly to the Female Staff Member.


    The Female Staff Member was in a difficult position. The child had already packed his belongings and was eagerly expecting new parents. If she told him now that this couple wouldn''t be adopting him, the child would surely be devastated.


    However, if Miss Su''s words were true, the child absolutely couldn''t go with this couple.


    The Female Staff Member fell silent.


    Su Ci watched the couple''s furious expressions and, leaning against Lu Zhe, let out a lightugh. "Alright, I''ll stop teasing you now. I can''t stand looking at your ugly expressions anymore."


    Under their angry res, Su Ci took out her phone and yed the recording she had made earlier.


    Hearing the voices in the recording, the middle-aged couple immediately knew they were in trouble. They hadn''t expected this little girl to be so cunning as to make a recording.


    Initially, the couple had been calm because they thought she had no evidence - after all, under normal circumstances, anyone with evidence would have produced it immediately. But Su Ci was different; she preferred to toy with people, gradually exposing the couple''s true nature before delivering the final blow.


    The recording quality was good, and the volume was clear enough for everyone present to hear distinctly.


    The Female Staff Member was filled with anger. "Mr. Zhang, Mrs. Zhang, you''ve gone too far. The child is so young and has a heart condition. You had such evil intentions - you have absolutely no conscience."


    The middle-aged couple''s faces were both embarrassed and ugly. Even with their thick skin and shamelessness, being exposed and humiliated on the spot left them unable to maintain their arrogance.


    The middle-aged man started ying on emotions, "We did this to save someone. My boss''s daughter needs telet transfusions, and Panda blood type is very rare, with limited blood bank supplies. We saw how this little girl was so young yet suffering from such an illness, barely hanging on. We felt sorry for her, that''s why we nned to have Zhen Tiancai donate blood. This is a good deed to save someone."


    "Oh, shut up," Su Ci was exasperated. "Our ears work fine, we''re not deaf. In the recording, you clearly said you were trading Zhen Tiancai for a general manager position. Now you''re portraying yourself as a savior? I think your skin is so thick even a bullet couldn''t prate it."


    Su Ci suddenly realized her own skin wasn''t thick at all - this middle-aged couple''s shamelessness made them the kings of thick skin.


    Lu Zhe cast a calm nce at the girl beside him. Right now, her eyes were bright, like a rabbit that had extended its ws, adorably fierce as she attacked the bad people.


    The middle-aged couple had never encountered such a shrewd girl who was also skilled at verbal attacks. For every ten sentences they spoke, she couldpletely shut them down with just one, leaving them furious but unable to rebut.


    The Female Staff Member spoke up: "Mr. Zhang, Mrs. Zhang, due to your ill intentions in adopting the child, you cannot take him with you." Now that the couple''s motives were clear, the child absolutely couldn''t go with them.


    The middle-aged man persisted, "Are you sure? Do you think anyone else would adopt a child with a heart condition after passing up on us?"


    "That''s not your concern, Mr. Zhang." The female staff member wasn''t foolish - she knew that staying in the orphanage was better than falling into a wolf''s den.


    "Hmph!" The middle-aged woman snorted angrily. Now that their scheme had failed, there was no need to pretend anymore. "You really think I wanted to raise a sick, useless child? Fine, we won''t adopt. What''s the big deal?"


    As she spoke, she tried to pull her husband away.


    "Do you know why you''ve never been able to have children of your own?" Su Ci''s words sessfully stopped them in their tracks.


    Seeing the middle-aged couple turn around, she curved her red lips into a cold smirk and said, "It''s because you''re too wicked."


    "What did you say?" The middle-aged man''s expression turned vicious. Their childlessness was a sore spot, and being called out on it made him snap.


    Lu Zhe shielded the girl behind him, his dark eyes coldly meeting the middle-aged man''s. "Want to try something?"


    The young man was tall, with a stern face, standing half a head taller than the middle-aged man.


    Meeting the youth''s dark eyes, the middle-aged man''s aggression deted somewhat. "Not worth my time."


    As they turned to leave, they noticed Zhen Tiancai hiding behind a potted nt.


    Faced with the child''s bright eyes, the middle-aged couple finally felt a hint of difort.


    "It''s not that we don''t want to adopt you, it''s the orphanage that won''t allow it," the middle-aged woman said, somewhat embarrassed under the child''s innocent gaze.


    Zhen Tiancai was still holding the teddy bear the middle-aged man had casually given him earlier. He looked at the couple and said, "I''m not afraid of pain. I can donate blood to save someone."


    Su Ci looked over in shock - had the little one heard everything?


    "I can save people." He was sick himself and hoped someone would save him too. Now hearing that a little girl was sick and only he could save her, little Tiancai felt he wasn''t afraid of pain and could help.


    "Are you serious?" The middle-aged man thought their n had failed, but now the child was volunteering.


    "Yes, I want to save people." Though Tiancai''s voice was childish, his words were firm.


    Su Ci instinctively looked at Lu Zhe, seeing in Tiancai a glimpse of Lu Zhe''s childhood - quiet on the outside, cold in appearance, but with a pure and passionate heart.


    Su Ci took out her phone and asked the middle-aged man directly, "What''s your boss''s phone number?"


    "What are you nning to do?" The middle-aged man had grown wary of this sharp-tongued young girl.


    "Just give it to me, no questions," Su Ci said coldly. "If you don''t, I''ll put your recording online and let the whole country condemn you."


    "You..." The middle-aged man''s eyes grew bloodshot with anger, but with evidence against him in her hands, he had no choice but toply.


    After getting the contact information, Su Ci snorted, "Now you can get lost."


    She noticed Tiancai''s eyes dim.


    She went over to him and said, "You''re still young. Even if you want to save someone, you need the doctor''s approval. Only if the doctor examines you and says you can donate blood can you help save someone, understand?"


    Tiancai nodded obediently.


    "Miss Su, are you really going to let him donate?" the female staff member asked.


    "Sister Yin, I want to save people," Tiancai answered proactively.


    Su Ci pinched his serious little cheeks and reminded him, "Your healthes first. You can only help if the doctor approves."


    Tiancai nodded, "I understand."


    Su Ci walked back to Lu Zhe''s side andined pitifully, "That couple was so mean, cursing at me and trying to hit me. My poor heart almost jumped out, and my legs are weak now."


    Lu Zhe was clearly used to the girl''s dramatic exaggerations - it was actually the couple who had been angered to the point of nearly having heart attacks before storming off.


    "Want me to carry you?" Lu Zhe asked coldly.


    Su Ci was surprised - had Lu Zhe finally caught on?


    Her eyes lit up, without any pretense of modesty, "Yes! Yes! Yes!"


    Lu Zhe reached out, his long fingers lightly flicking her smooth forehead, "Just kidding." With that, he walked towards Fat Fu, who was waving at him from a distance.


    Su Ci stood there stunned.


    Wah, her young man had learned to be naughty!


    ...


    Fat Fu drove while Su Ci and Lu Zhe took Zhen Tiancai to the hospital for a medical examination.


    Su Ci had contacted the boss mentioned by the middle-aged man, who was already waiting at the hospital.


    The distance from the orphanage to the town hospital wasn''t far - they arrived twenty minutester.


    Su Ci met the boss, whopared to the middle-aged man, had an upright appearance and clear, honest eyes. His brow was furrowed with worry, but he didn''t seem like a cunning person.


    "Miss Su, thank you all so much for being willing to help my daughter," Boss Wu said, his shock from the sudden phone call now transformed into gratitude and hope.


    "Don''t thank me yet. We still need the doctor''s approval for whether the child can donate blood, and you should be thanking him, not me," Su Ci said, standing beside Lu Zhe with Tiancai at her side.


    "Yes, yes, of course." Boss Wu''s eyes were moist as he led them into the hospital.


    Soon after, Tiancai finished his examination, and they needed to wait for the results.


    "Uncle, can I go see little sister?" Tiancai asked Boss Wu in his childish voice.


    "Of course you can." Boss Wu was genuinely grateful to the little boy.


    Boss Wu''s daughter was in the inpatient department, and he led Su Ci and the others there.


    It was a private room with a pretty little girl lying in bed and Boss Wu''s wife standing nearby. She clearly knew the situation, as her eyes shone with both gratitude and sympathy when looking at Tiancai - like her daughter, he too was ill, yet remained kind and pure-hearted.


    The little girl obviously hadn''t seen so many strange brothers and sisters before. Though slightly shy, she still politely greeted everyone.


    "Chacha, this big brother is here to help you. Say hello," Boss Wu smiled at his daughter.


    Little Chacha''s beautiful big eyes looked at Tiancai. Her face was pale and bloodless, her baby-like voice somewhat weak. "Hello, big brother. I''m Chacha."


    "I''m Zhen Tiancai." His fair little face remained serious as he introduced himself formally.


    "Brother Tiancai, you must be very smart." Mom had told her that ''tiancai'' meant genius.


    Tiancai looked at the little sister lying in bed. Being praised made his ears turn red, and his serious expression almost slipped.


    The little girl''s handy outside the nket. Su Ci looked at her wrist and saw that her life value was marked in red, with a notation of one month beside it.


    Su Ci called out Wealth: "The little girl dies from illness?"


    Wealth: [Yes, they couldn''t find a suitable blood donor, and she died from her illness.]


    Su Ci pressed her lips together. This wasn''t something she could save - only Tiancai could help.


    But everything depended on not harming Tiancai''s health.


    The examination results came an hourter.


    Tiancai''s blood type indeed matched the little girl''s.


    The moment she saw the report, Su Ci noticed the little girl''s life value change from a red line to five yellow squares.


    She fell silent. Even before the doctor spoke, Su Ci knew Tiancai was suitable to donate blood to the little girl.


    ...


    They left the hospital with Boss Wu and his wife''s gratitude. Before leaving, Su Ci made a request to Boss Wu to fire the middle-aged man. Even though the couple''s scheme hadn''t seeded, they were still despicable, and such wicked people deserved some punishment.


    With his daughter''s life crisis temporarily resolved, Boss Wu was already overjoyed and didn''t dare ask for more. He was truly grateful for Tiancai''s life-saving help.


    Actually, even without Su Ci''s suggestion, Boss Wu had nned to fire Zhang Yong. He allowed his subordinates to have ambition, but not tock morals and conscience. Moreover, the middle-aged man had intended to harm his daughter''s savior, which he absolutely wouldn''t tolerate.


    Back in the car.


    The car fell silent again. With the passing of the old dean and the failed adoption hopes for the little genius, everyone was quiet.


    Su Ci nced at the little genius sitting beside her. He was looking out the window, sitting quietly.


    From learning about his potential adoption, to having those hopes dashed, to his need to donate blood - the little fellow hadn''tined once or thrown any tantrums. He was mature beyond his years.


    She remembered how shy yet bright-eyed he had been when meeting that middle-aged couple. No matter how mature he acted, he was still a child, and every child hopes for parents.


    Su Ci wondered if Lu Zhe had been like this little genius when he was young, making people''s hearts ache for him.


    She looked over at Lu Zhe beside her.


    The young man sat just as quietly - the big and little one really did share simr personalities.


    In the front, Fat Fu drove silently. He understood the whole situation, having stayed at the orphanage with Lu Zhe. They knew well an orphan''s yearning for parents - they all wanted to be like normal children with loving mothers and fathers.


    Though the little genius had escaped a bad situation this time, it would be difficult for him to find adoptive parents in the future, not only because of his heart condition but also because he was already five years old.


    At the orphanage, potential parents preferred to choose younger children who hadn''t formed memories yet, believing it would be easier to form close bonds with them.


    Fat Fu felt deep sympathy for the little genius who shared his background.


    The car returned to the orphanage.


    Su Ci opened the car door for the little genius.


    "Goodbye, Sister Ci." The little genius knew Su Ci and Lu Zhe would be leaving today.


    Su Ci stroked his head and asked, "Are you feeling sad?"


    The little genius stared at Su Ci nkly before tears suddenly welled up in his big dark eyes. He nodded honestly, "A little bit."


    "Just a little?" Su Ci watched his flowing tears.


    The little genius didn''t like lying. He pressed his small lips together, unable to contain his sadness anymore. His childish voice became choked with emotion, "Very sad."


    He was a child that nobody wanted.


    "It''s okay to cry. You''re a child - cry when you want to cry,ugh when you want tough. There''s no need to hold it in." Su Ci patted his little head, wondering how a five-year-old could act so much like a little old man. Was Lu Zhe the same way when he was young?


    "Mm." The little genius wiped his tears with his small hand and nodded.


    "I''m leaving now. We''ll meet again if we have the chance." Su Ci waved to him.


    The little genius''s eyes were full of reluctance, but he obediently raised his small hand to wave, "Goodbye, Sister Ci."


    After closing the car window, Fat Fu started the engine.


    Su Ci nced at the little genius still standing dazed outside the car. She turned away and leaned against Lu Zhe, asking, "Will someone willing to adopt hime along in the future?"


    Su Ci had never considered herself an emotional person, but this child was as sweet as an angel. He deserved to live in a happy family and enjoy parental love.


    Lu Zhe let the girl lean on him and replied tly, "I don''t know."


    Su Ci pressed her lips together and looked up at Lu Zhe. Though his expression was cold, his gaze at her was gentle. She nced at the driver''s seat where Fat Fu was concentrating on driving.


    Su Ci lifted her head and quickly kissed Lu Zhe''s lips before saying: "Fat Fu, please drive back to the orphanage."


    "Did you forget something at the orphanage?" Fat Fu slowed down.


    "Yes, I forgot the little genius." Su Ci''s eyes crinkled as she smiled, meeting Lu Zhe''s shocked gaze.


    She hadn''t been able to raise little Lu Zhe, but she could raise this little genius.


    Su Ci took out her phone and called Su''s Mother directly. "Mom, I found a friend for Su Ning. What do you think?"


    Su''s Mother was surprised but didn''t have a particrly strong reaction. To her, it seemed normal that her daughter would find a ymate for her little brother, just as Su Ci had Qin Shiyan as a ymate when she was young.


    Su''s Mother was more concerned about when her daughter would return home, as she missed her very much.


    After reporting to Su''s Mother, Su Ci called her older brother Su ZhiYuan and exined the orphanage situation, telling him she hoped to adopt the child today.


    After the car had left, the little genius sniffled, standing quietly and looking outside the orphanage gates. Sister Ci had said he was a child and could cry if he wanted to.


    He pressed his little lips together as tears streamed from his eyes. He would cry just this once, and afterward, he would be very strong.


    Through his tear-blurred vision, he saw the car that had just left returning.


    The little genius watched the car stop at the entrance and saw Sister Su Ci get out. He stood there dumbfounded.


    "Little genius, I forgot something very important that I needed to take with me," Su Ci said, both amused and heartbroken at the sight of the crying child.


    The little genius asked in his naive, stuffy voice, "What did Sister Ci forget?"


    "You." Su Ci stroked his head. "Would you like toe with me? I''ll take you to my home."


    Though the little genius was clever, he was still just a five-year-old child, and hearing Su Ci''s words, he clearly hadn''t processed them yet.


    Su Ci asked him: "Would you like toe home with me as my little brother?"


    She wasn''t someone who indiscriminately helped everyone. While all the children at the orphanage were lovely and pitiful, she only wanted to take the little genius home.


    She saw Lu Zhe''s shadow in the little genius.


    She wondered if Lu Zhe had been like this little genius when he was young, standing at the entrance crying sadly, hoping someone would adopt him.


    Su Ci turned back to look at Lu Zhe standing by the car. In the sunset, the young man stood tall with elegant features.Aliali: 674c156ac4f3f33ac4ab57b1


    She hadn''t told Lu Zhe about her ulterior motive - that she wanted her family to adopt this child because he reminded her of Lu Zhe''s younger self.


    ......


    It was already night when they returned to D City.


    Su Ci looked at the little genius sitting somewhat uncertainly in the living room and smiled, "We have to catch a flight tomorrow, so you should rest early. Go to sleep now."


    "Okay." The little genius shuffled in Lu Zhe''s slippers, which were a full half size bigger than his feet, and obediently went to the room Su Ci had prepared for him.


    Su Ci turned off the TV, her eyes crinkling as she walked to another room and knocked on the door.


    The door opened, and the young man stood behind it.


    She smiled at him and said, "The little genius is sleeping in my room, so it looks like I''ll have to squeeze in with you tonight."


    Squeeze what?


    The fold-out bed, of course.

 Chapter 38

    Chapter 38


    Lu Zhe had just finished exercising and was covered in sweat.


    Standing behind the door, watching Su Ci who was about to enter, he said coldly, "The folding bed can''t fit two people."


    Su Ci had never slept on a folding bed before, and the thought of squeezing together with Lu Zhe made her both curious and excited.


    Slipping past the young man into the room, Su Ci smiled, "It''s fine, I''m skinny, and I don''t mind being close to you."


    Lu Zhe was already familiar with the girl''s personality. Seeing her sitting on the edge of the folding bed, he pressed his lips together, grabbed his clothes, and went to take a shower.


    After Lu Zhe left and closed the door, Su Ci carefully examined his room.


    She had been in here a few times before but hadn''t really observed it properly.


    Su Ci thought of her eldest brother Su ZhiYuan''s room, which was easily a hundred timesrger than Lu Zhe''s storage room. Every piece of furniture and decoration in her brother''s room was expensive; even the simplest items exuded an aura of wealth.


    Even Little Su Ning''s room, despite him being just a baby, was veryrge. His bed alone was almost bigger than this entire room.


    Looking at the modest room, Su Ci felt a twinge in her heart thinking about how her poor dear lived in such a small storage room every day.


    Su Ci suddenly remembered that when she was still a rabbit, she had gone with Lu Zhe to pack luggage at Zhao Youyou''s house. His room there was also converted from a storage room and wasn''t much bigger than this one.


    Su Ci felt even more heartache. Her poor dear seemed to have grown up in such environments all along.


    She realized that she had always been like a flower raised in a greenhouse, while Lu Zhe waspletely opposite to her - like a wild grass growing naturally by the roadside.


    Now, that wild grass had grown into a handsome campus heartthrob.


    Su Ci took off her shoes andy down on Lu Zhe''s folding bed, discovering that it wasn''tfortable at all.


    She tossed and turned, still feeling ufortable, with a constant sensation that she might fall off.


    How had Lu Zhe endured sleeping here for so long?


    Su Ci slightly regretted suggesting to sleep on the folding bed, but the thought of lying next to Lu Zhe made her think she could endure it.


    After what seemed like a long time, the door opened again.


    Lu Zhe came in fresh from his shower, bringing a wave of moisture with him. The water droplets on his face hadn''t been wiped away, trailing down his profile and disappearing into his cor, emanating an unspoken sensuality.


    Seeing the girl on the folding bed squirming like a worm, Lu Zhe found it amusing, knowing her pampered nature meant she wouldn''t be used to such a bed.


    "Ufortable?" Lu Zhe looked down at the girl.


    Su Ci stopped moving, trying to suppress the strange sensations suddenly emerging in her body. She sat up, making a small space for Lu Zhe, and mumbled, "No."


    "Come lie down quickly," she urged him.


    The strange feelings in her body made her desperately want to do something to release the difort.


    Lu Zhe looked at the tiny space and smirked, "I''ll sleep on the couch in the living room."


    Su Ci wasn''t about to let go of this rare chance to share a bed, especially with her body feeling ufortable again. Right now, she just wanted to be close to Lu Zhe.


    She got off the folding bed, "You lie down first."


    "Put your shoes on," Lu Zhe frowned when he saw the girl''s bare feet touching the floor. Unlike her room, his floor had ceramic tiles instead of carpet, and her feet could easily get cold touching the ground directly.


    Hearing this, Su Ci obediently put on her shoes, looking eager, "Hurry up and lie down."


    Lu Zhe gave her a deep look, theny down on the folding bed.


    The young man''s tall and broad frame took up nearly two-thirds of the folding bed when hey down, leaving hardly any space for Su Ci.


    Although Lu Zhe''s folding bed was already an extrarge version, 1.9 meters long and nearly 80 centimeters wide, it was still a tight squeeze for two people.


    Lu Zhey there with one hand behind his head, his dark eyes containing a hint of amusement as he looked at the girl standing beside the bed, "There''s no room for you."


    Su Ci realized the young man had be quite mischievous.


    She let out a light snort, kicked off her shoes, and her slender figure dove straight into the young man''s arms, pressing close against him.


    Lu Zhe instinctively caught the girl, worried she might fall. He shifted his body to the side, trying to make more room.


    "See? I can fit now, can''t I?" Su Ci''s eyes curved with triumph.


    Lu Zhe asked, "Isn''t it ufortable lying like this?"


    "It is ufortable," Su Ci admitted cheekily, "Lu Zhe, hold me tighter, I''m about to fall off."


    Indeed, being this close to Lu Zhe made the strange sensations in her body diminish significantly, making her feel less ufortable.


    The first time it happened, she had thought she was just tired from a long day, but now she was certain something was wrong with her body.


    Su Ci called out to Fugui, "Why have I been having these weird feelings in my body these past few days? And why do they get better when I''m close to Lu Zhe?"


    Fugui replied somewhat shyly: [Master, you''ve entered your heat period.]


    Su Ci was stunned, "What?"


    Fugui: [Master''s rabbit body is now equivalent to three months old. Congrattions on growing up.]


    Su Ci waspletely bewildered. Heat period?


    Suddenly, Su Ci remembered the white rabbit she had seen at the orphanage yesterday. She had seen how that rabbit behaved during its heat, and she had also researched online about rabbits'' embarrassing periods.


    Rabbits were such perverts!


    So these strange feelings in her body were because she was experiencing a rabbit''s heat period?


    Thinking about that rabbit''s lustful behavior, Su Ci was about to have a breakdown.


    She asked Fugui: [How long will this periodst?]


    Fugui: [It urs once every three months,sting three days, with episodes happening once or twice a day.]


    This meant that the heat period would ur every three months, and during those three days, Su Ci would experience these bodily changes 2-3 times.


    Su Ci calcted: the day before yesterday and yesterday counted as one time, and today was the third day with another urrence. After this time, the next heat period wouldn''te for another three months.


    Pressing her lips together, Su Ci worried, "Will these periods cause any harm to my body?" She felt truly unfortunate.


    Fugui knew about this and eagerly answered: [It won''t cause any harm to master''s body. In fact, it''s very beneficial.]


    Su Ci''s eyes brightened at the mention of benefits, "What benefits?"


    Fugui: [During this time, it''s easiest for master to conceive babies.]


    Su Ci: "Shut up and get out of here!"


    Fugui quickly shut up, feeling wronged. Didn''t humans love babies the most?


    Fugui retreated without telling master that the heat periods would gradually change.


    Despite Su Ci''s thick skin, thinking about Fugui''s words made her face heat up. What nonsense about having babies - her rtionship with Lu Zhe waspletely pure right now, just holding hands and innocent kisses.


    Now understanding why her body felt strange and why she kept wanting to be close to Lu Zhe, Su Ci realized she needed to release these physical urges.


    Su Ci felt embarrassed, as these were difficult things to talk about.


    Feeling the strong hand tightening around her waist to prevent her from falling, Su Ci finally returned from her scattered thoughts.


    As the strange sensations continued to surge through her body, now that she knew the source of her problem, Su Ci decided to actively address it.


    She raised her upper body, softly lying on Lu Zhe''s chest, and said with a slight tilt of her eyes, "I''m going back to City B tomorrow, and you still have some time beforeing with Uncle Fang. Shouldn''t you give me a proper kiss?"


    Lu Zhe calcted the time and agreed.


    He lifted his chin and gave the girl a light peck on the lips, barely touching them.


    When he went for a second kiss, Su Ci deliberately turned her face away andined, "It''s only been a little over a month since we werest apart, and your technique has already regressed this much?" They had already exchanged deeper kisses before, and now he was just giving her these light pecks to brush her off!


    Su Ci was very dissatisfied.


    Looking at the young man with his cool demeanor, she always wanted to tease him until he lost control, yet felt helpless about it.


    Only a smallmp was lit in the room.


    Su Ci''s eyes curved upward as she cast a light nce at Lu Zhe. "If you''re so capable, then don''t kiss me." She thought someone like Lu Zhe, who showed no interest in physical intimacy, must either be impotent or was a monk in their previous life.


    As she spoke, she lowered her head, deliberately brushing her lips against his thin ones, opening her teeth to give a gentle bite.


    The girl was both mischievous and seductive, even intentionally tracing his thin lips with the tip of her tongue.


    Hisrge hand, hanging at his side, clenched tightly, with veins visible on his muscr arm.


    In the next moment, his lips parted.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened; he thought the girl really had a death wish.


    Lu Zhe moved his hand from the girl''s waist to the back of her head, pressing her towards himself. His thin lips pressed forcefully against hers, and his eyes darkened as he watched her eyes widen in surprise.


    The small room had no air conditioning, only a rotating floor fan. Even though cool breezes asionally blew through the summer night, the temperature remained high.


    Su Ci was already feeling hot, and now with the young man''s warm breath falling on her face, she felt like she was about to break into a sweat.


    She pressed tightly against Lu Zhe, trying to draw the coolness from his body to make herself morefortable. Her lips hurt a bit, but this intimate contact helped alleviate the strange sensation in her body, making her feel veryfortable.


    Su Ci greedily wanted more.


    As the girl kept moving and rubbing against him, Lu Zhe''s ck eyes seemed to drip with ink. He pulled back slightly and whispered against her ear, almost through gritted teeth, "Tuantuan, stop moving."


    Su Ci''s dark eyes were glistening with moisture, ck and bright. Her voice was soft as she honestly replied, "This feels good."


    Lu Zhe nearly ground his teeth to powder. He pressed against her ear, his cool voice bing very deep, "Don''t make yourself cry."


    Time passed, though neither knew how long.


    Lu Zhe looked down at the sleeping girl, tightening his arms to pull her body closer to his chest as she was about to slip onto the floor.


    Outside the window, the night was deep, moonlight falling on the windowsill, making thete hours seem even more quiet.


    Lu Zhe sighed; the girl''s advances hadpletely broken down his defenses.


    ......


    The next day.


    Little Genius woke up early, feeling insecure in the unfamiliar ce.


    After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he obediently sat on the living room sofa, waiting for Su Ci to wake up.


    Little Genius knew that today he would be going to Su Ci''s home with her. He felt excited, nervous, and a bit scared.


    He worried whether Su Ci''s family would like him, and whether his heart condition would cause trouble for Su Ci and her family.


    At just five years old, Little Genius already understood many things. He knew he was different from other children. Other kids could run and y, while he could only stay still. The care worker had told him that it would be troublesome if he got sick.


    Sometimes when adults came to choose children, he secretly heard them say he was a burden, that they couldn''t take him home.


    He didn''t know what "burden" meant, but he knew it must be something bad because adults wouldn''t smile when they saw him.


    At such a young age, Little Genius already carried many worries and concerns.


    His happiness faded, and the little one began to feel uneasy.


    He wasn''t a child that people liked.


    The sun was already high in the sky when Lu Zhe checked the time - it was nearly nine o''clock.


    Knowing Su Ci''s flight was around ten o''clock, and it would take over twenty minutes to reach the airport from here, he had to wake her up.


    Su Ci was so sleepy.


    She had been traveling for the past two days without proper rest. Now being woken up by Lu Zhe, she gave him a reproachful look through half-closed eyes, nuzzling her head into his embrace before closing her eyes to continue sleeping.


    "You have a flight to catchter," Lu Zhe''s cool voice carried a hint ofziness, sounding so pleasant it made one''s ears go soft.


    "So sleepy," the girl''s voice came from within his embrace.


    The girl''s long hair fell across Lu Zhe''s arm, tangling around it. He stroked her long hair, the soft strands tickling his palm.


    He released the girl and got up to leave the room.


    Su Ci nced at the closed door before continuing to sleep.


    Lu Zhe found Zhen Tiancai sitting quietly on the sofa in the living room. The little one''s fair face was serious, wearing an expression too mature for a child.


    "You woke up early?" Lu Zhe walked over.


    Seeing Lu Zhe, Little Genius shyly greeted him, "Good morning, Brother Lu Zhe. I just woke up."


    Knowing that this Brother Lu Zhe had alsoe from an orphanage, even though the other''s expression was cold, the little one wasn''t afraid of him. Instead, he felt a sense of kinship.


    "Mm, I''ll make breakfast. What would you like to eat?" Lu Zhe asked him.


    Little Genius was used to having the same fixed breakfast every day at the orphanage and wasn''t used to choosing. The little one shook his head, "Anything is fine."


    Lu Zhe didn''t ask further. He went into the kitchen and started preparing breakfast.


    When he was at the Zhao family, Lu Zhe was responsible for all three meals every day. He would get scolded if the food wasn''t good, so at a young age, Lu Zhe had already learned to cook very well.


    He prepared breakfast quickly, and after setting it on the table, Lu Zhe gestured for Little Genius to start eating.


    Then, Lu Zhe went to the bathroom, filled the rinse cup with water, and put toothpaste on the toothbrush.


    When he returned to the room, the girl was still sleeping soundly.


    Lu Zhe leaned over and called softly in Su Ci''s ear, "Wake up!"


    He reached over and pulled the girl up, "Breakfast is ready, and I''ve prepared your toothbrush. Get up quickly."


    The cool young man was most dangerous when he became gentle, making it impossible to resist.


    Su Ci opened her eyes, her soft body leaning against him, her jade-like arms wrapping around his shoulders as she murmured, "How can you be so good?"


    Lu Zhe chuckled, "Get up."


    "My legs are weak from all your kissingst night, I can''t get up. Carry me," Su Ci whined shamelessly, her delicate white face showing no shame.


    Lu Zhe''s lips tightened slightly.


    The door opened again.


    Little Genius was already sitting at the dining table when he saw Brother Lu Zhe carrying Sister Su Ci out of the room.


    ......


    Coming out of the airport, Little Genius was still excited - it was his first time on a ne.


    Su''s Mother knew her daughter wasing home today and had already sent the family driver to wait outside the airport.


    They arrived at the Su family home in the afternoon.


    Knowing Su Ci wasing back and bringing a child with her, Su''s Mother had specially rushed back from the hospital. Su''s Father was still hospitalized due to his injuries.


    Soon, the car drove into the Su familypound.


    Su Ci noticed Little Genius beside her with a tense face, his small hands unconsciously clenched, obviously very nervous.


    She patted his head, "Don''t be afraid, my family will all like Little Genius."


    Little Genius nodded, but his small pale eyebrows remained furrowed, not rxing at all.


    After getting out of the car, Su Ci held Little Genius''s hand as they walked into the house.


    Su''s Mother was already waiting in the living room. Seeing her daughter return, she immediately smiled and called for someone to prepare food for her daughter.


    "You left in such a hurry the other day, I''ve been worried about you. Next time you go out, remember to take bodyguards with you," Su''s Mother hugged her daughter lovingly.


    "Alright, I''ll listen to you," Su Ci smiled. She nced at Little Su Ning sitting next to her mother and deliberately asked, "After not seeing me for several days, I wonder if Little Su Ning missed his sister?"


    "I missed sister!" Little Su Ning immediately poked his head out from beside Su''s Mother, saying in his baby voice, "Ning Ning missed sister super much!"


    Su Ci looked at her brother''s chubby little belly andughed, "Has Ning Ning gotten fatter again?" Little Su Ning had delicate features, but that didn''t stop him from being pleasantly plump all over, making him look adorably chubby.


    "Mommy says Ning Ning looks good with meat on his bones," Little Su Ning said with a bit of pride.


    Su Ci reached over to pinch his cheeks.


    Then she pulled Little Genius forward, "Mom, this is Zhen Tiancai, the child I told you about on the phone."


    Su''s Mother had a gentle and kind nature, and always enjoyed doing charitable deeds.


    She had already heard about this child from her daughter on the phone and felt sympathy for him. Now seeing the child''s clear and proper features, and how well-behaved he was, as a mother herself, she couldn''t bear to see such a small child in such a pitiful state.


    Her face showed a warm and weing smile, "So you''re Zhen Tiancai?"


    Little Genius was still a bit nervous, "Hello, Auntie Su."


    Su''s Mother patted his head, smiling as she said, "Don''t be afraid, this will be your home from now on."


    Little Su Ning peeked out from the side to look at this unfamiliar brother.


    "His name is Su Ning, he''s younger than you, he''s your little brother. I believe you two can be good brothers and friends," Su''s Mother didn''t force the child to call her mom, nor would she make him forcibly change his name. When he gets older and more mature, she''ll let him make his own choice.


    "Hello, little brother Su Ning, I''m Zhen Tiancai," Little Tiancai maintained a serious expression, hisrge eyes earnestly looking at Little Su Ning.


    He wanted to smile at little brother Su Ning, but he couldn''t manage to. Would little brother Su Ning dislike him?


    Little Su Ning looked at his unfamiliar brother. Though slightly shy, he bravely responded, "Hello, big brother."


    Little Su Ning was only three years old. His older brother Su ZhiYuan and sister Su Ci were much older and couldn''t y with him. When Su''s Mother was busy, only the servants were left to look after Little Su Ning, making him quite lonely.


    Now having a child of simr age was a happy asion for Little Su Ning.


    Little Su Ning took out his favorite pudding and offered it to Little Tiancai, "Brother, eat this."


    It was Little Tiancai''s first time receiving a gift from another child. Hisrge dark eyes looked uncertainly toward Su Ci.


    "Take it, the little brother likes you."


    Little Tiancai''s eyes brightened. He reached out his small hand and shyly epted the pudding from Little Su Ning, "Thank you."


    Children''s emotions are pure, and they quickly became familiar with each other. Su''s Mother asked the servants to take the two children to y.


    She asked her daughter, "Ci Ci, your father said that after he''s discharged from the hospital, we should visit Lu Zhe. He not only took care of you but also saved your father and me. He''s our family''s great benefactor. We should properly thank him in person. Do you know if he has any family members? You''re more familiar with him, what gifts do you think we should prepare?"


    "Lu Zhe was previously adopted by a family, butter they kicked him out, so he has no family, just himself." Su Ci tried to think about what Lu Zhe liked but realized he didn''t seem to have any particr preferences.


    Except forputers, he appeared indifferent to everything. Even when she, with her stunning beauty, moved around in front of him, he could ignore herpletely.


    Moreover, Lu Zhe''s self-control was terrifyingly strong. Only when she deliberately tried to entice him would he lose control.


    Su Ci thought, since Lu Zhe was so indifferent to everything else but lost control only with her, could this mean that she was the only thing Lu Zhe liked?


    As soon as this thought urred, Su Ci''s eyes lit up, feeling both proud and happy.


    Although she had heard about Lu Zhe''s unfortunate background before, hearing it again from her daughter made Su''s Mother feel even more sympathy for him.


    She told her daughter, "Your father and I have discussed it. If Lu Zhe is willing, we can provide him with a medical team and help him find specialists for his ALS treatment. We can also help him find his biological parents."


    Find the best medical doctors?


    That wouldn''t be much use for Lu Zhe; at most, it would only extend his life by a few years. It would be better to let him be more intimate with her and eat more golden cotton candy.


    She had never heard Lu Zhe mention wanting to find his biological parents. In her view, what good coulde from finding parents heartless enough to abandon their child at an orphanage?


    Su Ci said, "He''ll being to City B in a few days. We can ask about his wishes then."


    "He''sing here?" Su''s Mother was surprised, remembering that the young man lived in City D.


    Su Ci nodded, "Yes, he''s applying to B University. I n to attend the same university as him."


    Su''s Mother knew her daughter''s personality well and easily detected the happiness in her voice. Her previous trip back to City D must have been to see Lu Zhe, right? And this time, somehow, she felt her daughter had also gone to City D because of Lu Zhe.


    Su''s Mother had a thought, "Ci Ci, do you like this young man, Lu Zhe?" She and her daughter had always been able to discuss anything.


    But she thought since her daughter didn''t even like the youngest son of the He family, she probably wouldn''t like Lu Zhe.


    Su Ci blinked and answered frankly, "Yes, I do." Initially, she got close to Lu Zhe only because she needed to maintain her human form, but gradually, she developed a desire to possess him.


    Even though she had never dated before, she knew this feeling was called love. She liked Lu Zhe, which was why she constantly wanted to kiss him, wanted to stick close to him, and worried when other girls might confess to him at gatherings, immediately taking a ne to find him.


    She liked Lu Zhe; Lu Zhe was hers.


    Hearing this, Su''s Mother instinctively frowned. She knew her daughter had been cared for by Lu Zhe for a while, and perhaps her daughter was mistaking gratitude for love.


    She asked again, "Ci Ci, the ''like'' mommy is asking about isn''t the kind you feel for family members or friends."


    Her daughter had always been proud, looking down on all the boys at school. She didn''t even like the youngest son of the He family. She thought perhaps her daughter''s romantic feelings hadn''t awakened yet.


    "Mom, I like Lu Zhe," Su Ci said seriously.


    She had never thought about hiding or concealing her feelings for Lu Zhe. There was nothing shameful about him; she was proud to admit her feelings.


    Hearing her daughter''s words, Su''s Mother''s heart sank. She instinctively said, "Ci Ci, you''re still young. You''ll understand what real love is in the future."

 Chapter 39

    When Su Ci heard her mother''s words, she blinked and said, "Mom, you know He Ermeng has been pursuing me, but I know I don''t like him. When He Ermeng is around me, I feel nothing, I don''t even want to acknowledge him. But Lu Zhe is different."


    She told her mother, "I feel happy when I see Lu Zhe, my heart even beats faster. I might not know what love is."


    Su Ci pointed to her chest, "But this part of me doesn''t lie."


    Her mother waspletely stunned by her daughter''s words.


    Even though she had been in love with her husband when she was young, they had gone through many misunderstandings, feeling awkward and helpless, before finally ending up together.


    She never expected that her daughter, whom she had always thought was emotionally inexperienced and somewhat proud, would be so honest and passionate about her feelings.


    While surprised, Su''s Mother felt her heart sinking, "Ci Ci, are you and Lu Zhe together?"


    Her mother''s question caught Su Ci off guard - she and Lu Zhe hadn''t officially confirmed their rtionship!


    In Su Ci''s mind, she already considered Lu Zhe as hers, and surely Lu Zhe must think the same way.


    But then remembering his cold demeanor, she became uncertain again.


    Seeing her daughter''s stunned expression, Su''s Mother realized that she and Lu Zhe probably weren''t together yet, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Ci Ci, does Lu Zhe like you too?"


    Although in Su''s Mother''s eyes, her daughter was so outstanding that no one could help but like her, and if her daughter liked Lu Zhe, that young man couldn''t possibly not like her daughter back, she still couldn''t help but ask.


    Su Ci pressed her lips together, unable to answer. She had never asked Lu Zhe this question.


    What a loss! What a loss!


    Seeing her daughter''s inability to answer, Su''s Mother was even more surprised, "Lu Zhe doesn''t like you?"


    In her eyes, her daughter was perfect in every way. Although she didn''t want her daughter to be with Lu Zhe, knowing that her daughter liked him while he might not like her back made Su''s Mother feel conflicted.


    How could anyone not like her daughter?


    "I don''t know," Su Ci stopped worrying, "Whether he likes me now or not, he definitely will in the future. We''ll definitely end up together."


    She was Lu Zhe''s tool person, and Lu Zhe was her tool person. She was so beautiful, and Lu Zhe was so handsome - he matched her aesthetic preferences perfectly. In her view, she and Lu Zhe were meant to be, a match made in heaven!


    Thinking this, Su Ci smiled and hugged her mother, "Mom, don''t worry, Lu Zhe will like me."


    Su''s Mother found herself in a difficult position.


    She wasn''t someone who cared much about family background. Even though Lu Zhe came from a poor background and was an orphan, he had good character and matched well with her daughter''s appearance. However, he had a terminal illness.


    This was something her daughter must surely know.


    Su''s Mother knew her daughter''s personality - though raised delicately, she wasn''t soft at all, but rather very strong-willed. This was her first time liking someone, and if she and her husband tried to forcefully intervene, it might backfire.


    Su''s Mother collected herself. As things stood now, Lu Zhe not liking her daughter might be a good thing - at least they weren''t together yet, so there was still time to intervene.


    ......


    Theputer store''s inventory had all been transferred, and the shop had been sold. Boss Fang was determined to start his business venture this time. Although the risks of entrepreneurship were high and he might lose all his assets, looking at the cold-faced young man beside him somehow made him feel at ease.


    He believed he hadn''t misjudged Lu Zhe - he was truly talented. Even if he lost this gamble, worst case scenario, he could go back to street vending; he and his son Little Kuaile would manage to survive somehow.


    "Is this all your luggage?" Boss Fang asked in surprise, looking at Lu Zhe with his backpack and tworge suitcases.


    He and his son Little Kuaile only had onerge suitcase between them, yet Lu Zhe had so much luggage?


    In his memory, Lu Zhe didn''t have many clothes, just a few sets including two school uniforms. But then again, considering they were going to settle down in City B, Lu Zhe probably packed all his belongings.


    "My son heard about moving and thought we were going on vacation. He hasn''t stopped smiling sincest night, especially after hearing that little Ci is in City B. This kid can''t wait to get there." Boss Fang looked at Little Kuaile ying nearby, his face showing a father''s deep love for his son.


    "This silly child doesn''t realize that his Sister Ci isn''t someone he can just see whenever he wants to now." Boss Fang nced at Lu Zhe, sighed, and went back to packing their luggage. They were flying to City B that afternoon.


    Lu Zhe and Boss Fang arrived in City B at night. They had booked rooms at a hotel earlier, two adjacent rooms.


    It was Little Kuaile''s first time on a ne. The little fellow was very excited at first but fell asleepter on.


    "Xiao Zhe, get some rest early. Tomorrow morning we''ll go sign the contract for the venue and get thepany up and running as soon as possible." Boss Fang, holding his sleeping son, looked tired but his eyes were full of hope for the future.


    "Yes, Uncle Fang, you should rest early too."


    After putting away his luggage, Lu Zhe''s phone rang. Without thinking, he already knew who was calling.


    Lu Zhe answered the video call, and the girl''s exceptionally beautiful face immediately appeared on the screen.


    On screen, the girl blinked and teased him deliberately: "Lu Zhe, you answered so quickly this time. Were you waiting for my call?"


    "Mm." Lu Zhe gave a light response, and the girl''s eyes on screen grew brighter, with a proud look as if saying she had guessed correctly.


    "Are you in City B now?" Su Ci knew Lu Zhe''s flight was in the afternoon, and she had timed her call ordingly.


    Looking at the girl on screen, under the light, Lu Zhe''s cold features softened slightly, "Yes, I''m here."


    "My parents want toe thank you in person. When are you free?" Su Ci''s father would be discharged from the hospital tomorrow, and she wanted to see Lu Zhe too.


    Lu Zhe had heard from Su Ci before that her parents were grateful for him saving their lives and wanted to meet him.


    He thought for a moment, "I''m not free tomorrow. Would the day after work?"


    Tomorrow he had an appointment with Boss Fang to sign the venue contract.


    "Okay, I''ll let them know," Su Ci said with a smile.


    During every video call, Su Ci would choose her most ttering angle and turn on the warm yellow deskmp beside her. She knew the soft lighting would make her already snow-white skin look even more beautiful.


    While others might put on natural makeup when video calling their boyfriends, she waspletely bare-faced and kept her face close to the phone screen.


    She had a hidden agenda - to make it impossible for Lu Zhe to ignore her stunning beauty.


    However, the young man on the other end seemed habitually blind to her beauty,pletely oblivious to her looks.


    Su Ci''s eyes curved slightly, hiding mischief as she said, "Today mom asked me if I like you."


    Her words made Lu Zhe grip his phone tighter, his dark eyes focused intently on her.


    At this moment, Su Ci, who had been sitting,y down on the bed. She was wearing a white sleeveless nightgown with a round neck that was slightly loose. When shey down, the neckline revealed arge expanse of fair skin.


    Lu Zhe caught a glimpse and his eyes darkened. He immediately looked away, "Su Ci, sit properly."


    "My arms are tired from holding the phone, lying down is morefortable," Su Ci was doing her best to entice the young man, having deliberately chosen this nightgown with a neckline that was loose but not too revealing.


    Lu Zhe spoke tly, "Sit up, or I''ll end the video call."


    Su Ci: ......


    She felt like she would die of frustration. Was this person made of stone? So inflexible,pletelycking in romance!


    Su Ci knew Lu Zhe meant what he said. She bit her lip and sat up resentfully, looking at him with grievance, "I''m sitting up now."


    Only then did Lu Zhe look back at Su Ci, seeing her cheeks puffed up in displeasure as she stared at him.


    His thin lips curved into a smile, and Lu Zhe chuckled, "Be good."


    Stoping up with so many sneaky ideas.


    Su Ci was dissatisfied - how was she not being good?


    "How did you answer?" Lu Zhe finally asked her.


    Su Ci was feeling a bit angry now and didn''t want to tell him, but when she met the young man''s dark eyes on the screen, she found herself weakly saying, "Do you want to know?"


    "Yes," he wanted to know.


    Su Ci''s previously defeated heart instantly revived, and a hint of pride crept into her expression. "Say something nice to coax me, and I''ll tell you." She had never heard Lu Zhe praise her before.


    The warm yellow light fell on the girl''s face, which was as white as jade. Her dark eyes reflected the light, like they were filled with scattered stars. Lu Zhe''s Adam''s apple bobbed as he said softly, "Tuantuan, I want to know."


    Su Ci felt like she was done for.


    He hadn''t even praised her, but just one look from him made her heart tremble.


    Forget dignity - Su Ci was ready to give up everything for him. She said, "I told mom that I like you."


    The girl was honest and straightforward. Lu Zhe looked directly at her and called out softly, "Tuantuan."


    Usually when the girl clung to him, constantly asking for kisses and teasing him, enjoying seeing him lose control because of her, he had always seen it as just her ying around.


    Now, hearing the girl''s indirect confession, Lu Zhe couldn''t control himself. He felt his heart contract painfully.


    Su Ci was thick-skinned. After speaking, she looked at Lu Zhe with sparkling eyes, "When mom asked about our rtionship, I couldn''t answer. I couldn''t exactly tell her that we''re currently in a saliva-exchanging rtionship."


    She continued, "Lu Zhe, I''ve told you I like you, now it''s your turn."


    One person at a time - that''s only fair.


    Thinking about what Lu Zhe might say next, she felt a little nervous. Unconsciously, she straightened her back, her ears practically perking up.


    Quick, confess quickly, she was ready.


    Su Ci also thought it would be nice if Lu Zhe were beside her right now - after his confession, she could kiss him.


    The girl''s eyes were bright. Lu Zhe pressed his lips together and said in a deep voice, "Tuantuan, you know I have ALS."


    Su Ci nodded, "I know, but that''s not an issue. That''s not what I want to hear."


    "My illness is the biggest problem," Lu Zhe looked at her. "ALS patients'' limbs and body gradually atrophy, be numb, weak, paralyzed, and moreover, I only have 3-5 years to live."


    The young man''s low voice became somewhat hoarse, "Tuantuan, are you sure you still want to like someone like me?"


    He had always known his time was limited, so he could y with her, do things she liked, stay in City B since she wanted him nearby.


    Anything beyond that, Lu Zhe didn''t dare to think about.


    Couldn''t think about.


    The smile disappeared from Su Ci''s lips, and her eyes were filled with seriousness. "Yes, I like you."


    She told Lu Zhe, "Your illness isn''t a problem. Lu Zhe, you can live for a long time."


    Hearing the girl''sforting words, Lu Zhe gave a lightugh, "Tuantuan, I''m serious."


    "I''m serious too," Su Ci exined: "As long as I kiss you, you..."


    She couldn''t get out the rest of what she wanted to say, knowing she wasn''t allowed to say it.


    She bit her lip in frustration, "Anyway, you won''t die. You just need to stay with me."


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes looked at her, filled with hidden tenderness. "Mm."


    As long as she was willing, as long as he could still move, he would stay by her side.


    ......


    The next day, Lu Zhe and Boss Fang brought Little Kuaile along, as Boss Fang wasn''tfortable leaving the child alone in the hotel.


    They went to the He Sheng Building to meet with the person in charge.


    "Why hasn''t the person in charge arrived yet?" Boss Fang checked the time - it had been twenty minutes past their appointed time. "They wouldn''t stand us up, would they?"


    Lu Zhe: "They shouldn''t. A prestigious property like He Sheng Building wouldn''tck such credibility. Uncle Fang, let''s wait a bit longer."


    After another five minutes, the person in charge finally arrived.


    Manager Chen''s attitude was decent enough, "I''m very sorry, have you both been waiting long? I sincerely apologize, something came up."


    Boss Fang''s expression softened somewhat, "It''s fine, Manager Chen. Can we sign the contract now?"


    "Please wait a moment. This contract is being handled by our Second Young Master, he''ll be here shortly," Manager Chen had received a call from President He saying that the Second Young Master was on break and needed more practice, so he should shadow him to learn.


    This signing was very simple, just a very minor contract - it would be impossible to go wrong with the Second Young Master handling it.


    In truth, it was just to give the Second Young Master some experience.


    Boss Fang and Lu Zhe had no choice but to remain patient and continue waiting for the Second Young Master that Manager Chen mentioned.


    Soon, He Ermeng, who had just parked his car, walked into the building, his handsome features full of casual arrogance.


    Thepany employees weren''t seeing the He family''s Second Young Master for the first time. Watching him walk with his hands in his pockets, looking handsome and casual, everyone couldn''t help but steal extra nces.


    Pushing open the conference room door, He Ermeng walked in, wanting to get this over with quickly. The old man just couldn''t stand seeing him idle and kept finding ways to torment him. Now he was even making him learn from others - how boring. He''d rather spend this time figuring out how to pursue Su Ci.


    He strode in, "What do I need to sign?"


    "Second Young Master is here," Manager Chen weed him with a smile.


    Boss Fang and Lu Zhe looked at the neer, only to realize this Second Young Master was someone they''d met before - the He family''s second son.


    Seeing Lu Zhe sitting to the side, He Ermeng''s gaze sharpened. He stood by the conference table, not taking a seat, "It''s you?"


    He Ermeng shot a fierce look at Lu Zhe and sneered, "Manager Chen, since when did we start signing contracts with any random nobody?"


    After seeing Lu Zhe at the fire scene that time, He Ermeng had already had someone investigate Lu Zhe''s background. He knew Lu Zhe was not only an orphan but also had a terminal illness.


    Such a person wasn''t worthy of standing beside Su Ci, let alone having her affections.


    "Second Young Master, this..." Manager Chen was confused, "These two gentlemen have already negotiated to rent an entire floor at the Tianzi Building."


    He Ermeng raised an eyebrow, looking at Lu Zhe arrogantly, pronouncing each word clearly, "We won''t rent to you!"


    Just a dying orphan - he could destroy him with a mere flick of his finger.


    "We''ve already reached an agreement. Is the He Sheng Group so untrustworthy?" Boss Fang frowned instinctively upon hearing they wouldn''t rent to them.


    Manager Chen hadn''t expected this situation either. He reminded, "Second Young Master, the contract is already prepared."


    He Ermeng''s gaze turned cold as he looked at Manager Chen, "Are you deaf? Didn''t you hear me say we won''t rent? What contract are you still talking about!"


    Lifting his chin, He Ermeng stared directly at theposed Lu Zhe, "Forget about renting the ce, whether it''s from our He Sheng Group or anywhere else. As for Su Ci, she''s mine. Stay away from her."


    Lu Zhe looked up, meeting the other''s fierce gaze, and replied calmly, "She belongs to herself."


    The more He Ermeng looked at Lu Zhe, the more irritated he became. "Are you asking for death? Oh, I forgot, even if you don''t, you''ll die soon anyway."


    "Second Young Master, you''re going too far with your bullying," Boss Fang couldn''t help speaking up. The other party was not only going back on their word but now also making personal attacks, hitting where it hurt most - it was too much.


    "You call this bullying?" He Ermeng dismissed it. He warned Lu Zhe, "Just get lost quietly. If I find you hanging around Su Ci again, I''ll make you taste what regret feels like."


    Lu Zhe let out a lightugh: "You''re wrong. It''s not me clinging to her - she needs me by her side."


    In an instant, He Ermeng across the table nearly exploded with rage.


    After leaving the building, Boss Fang was still cursing under his breath. If it hadn''t been for Manager Chen and the security guards holding him back earlier, that crazy He family''s second son would have kept fighting with Lu Zhe.


    "Xiao Zhe, I didn''t know your fighting skills were so good," Boss Fang smiled, thinking about how the Second Young Master had taken a few punches from Lu Zhe - it served him right.


    Fortunately, everyone knew He Ermeng had thrown the first punch. He who strikes first is in the wrong - even if the He family pursued the matter, they wouldn''t have a leg to stand on.


    Lu Zhe said in a deep voice, "Uncle Fang, I''m sorry. Because of me, we couldn''t sign the contract."


    "It''s alright, we can look for other ces. City B is huge, it can''t all be owned by the He family," Boss Fang said while holding his son''s hand, still full of motivation.


    Lu Zhe nodded, though his eyes dimmed slightly.


    ......


    "Is Ci ready? We can leave now." Su''s Mother had already arranged for the car, preparing to go meet Lu Zhe.


    She had prepared many gifts, showing her sincere intentions.


    Su Ci changed into a beautiful dress, a taro-colored one-piece that made her skin appear snow-white. The dress was custom-made, with a waist-defining design that entuated the girl''s slender waist.


    She wore soft white ts, with a red string around her delicate ankle that caught the eye.


    "I''m ready to go," Su Ci said, having specially applied a honey-orange lip gloss to meet Lu Zhe.


    Her beautiful lips looked even more alluring.


    At this moment, Su ZhiYuan also came downstairs.


    "Big brother, are youing too?" Su Ci thought he had already gone to thepany.


    Su ZhiYuan patted her head, "You go with Mom and Dad. I have matters at thepany, but next time I''ll properly thank Lu Zhe."


    Su Ci looked at her brother''s outstretched hand, noticing that the life value on the inside of his wrist showed less than two months remaining.


    She suppressed herplex emotions and nodded, "Okay."


    Su''s Father and Su''s Mother sat in the first car, while Su Ci, little Su Ning, and Little Tiancai rode in another car.


    After staying with the Su family for several days, Little Tiancai was no longer as nervous as before.


    The Su family was different from other wealthy families - there were no stern or cold-hearted power struggles. The atmosphere was warm and weing.


    Su''s Mother had a gentle and kind personality. While Su''s Father was shrewd in business, he didn''t maintain a serious face at home. As for Su ZhiYuan, although he had a strong presence as someone in power, at home he was an approachable big brother.


    And little Su Ning needed no mention - now that he had Little Tiancai as a ymate of simr age, he stuck to him all day, and the two got along very well.


    Even now in the car, little Su Ning chose to sit next to Little Tiancai, the two little ones huddled together chattering about something.


    Su Ci sent a message to Lu Zhe telling him they were on their way.


    Lu Zhe hadn''t found a suitable house yet, so he and Boss Fang were temporarily staying at a hotel. Compared to a luxury hotel, the environment here wasn''t very good.


    He looked around the standardly furnished room - two chairs, a tea table, a TV and TV cab, very simple.


    Lu Zhe went next door and knocked on Boss Fang''s door.


    He said, "Uncle Fang, I''d like to borrow two chairs from your room."


    Boss Fang had originally nned to go venue hunting with Lu Zhe today, but Lu Zhe said he wasn''t free because Su Ci''s parents wereing to see him.


    "Sure, I''ll help you carry them over."


    "Thank you, Uncle Fang."


    "No need for such formalities between us. But won''t Su Ci''s parents mind the environment here? Should we find a better ce outside, maybe get a private room where we can eat and talk?" Boss Fang worried, thinking about how the Su family was top-tier wealthy, and this small hotel was too modest. He was concerned they might mind.


    Lu Zhe replied, "It''s fine, they know my background."


    Excessive concealment would seem insincere.


    Boss Fang sighed and helped Lu Zhe move the chairs.


    Su Ci asked Lu Zhe for the address, and soon the cars stopped outside the hotel.


    The sudden appearance of several luxury cars outside the small hotel, especially the tall, expressionless men in ck suits who looked like bodyguards, created quite a spectacle. The grand arrival attracted the attention of many passersby and hotel guests, even stirring up the hotel staff.


    What kind of wind brought such important people to this small hotel today?


    The two receptionists felt nervous and quickly went to wee them.


    "I''m looking for the guest in room 308," Su Ci said.


    The receptionist was stunned by the girl''s beautiful face, unconsciously holding her breath as she quickly replied, "Please follow me."


    While leading the way, the receptionist secretly observed the family, unable to help but marvel at their appearance. What heavenly looks they all possessed!


    The couple, though older, were well-maintained with an innate nobility that money couldn''t buy. The youngdy beside them needed no description - if she entered the entertainment industry, she would instantly outshine all actresses.


    As for the two little boys bouncing along in front, they were explosively cute.


    Are all rich people this good-looking?


    Arriving at room 308, Su Ci gestured for the receptionist to leave, and she pressed the doorbell herself.


    Within seconds, the door opened from inside.


    "Lu Zhe, I''m here," Su Ci smiled at him.


    "Come in," Lu Zhe opened the door fully. Looking at Su Ci''s parents behind her, he said, "Uncle Su, Aunt Su, wee."


    Su Ci stood beside Lu Zhe, letting her parents enter. Behind their backs, her fingers secretly brushed against Lu Zhe''s hand as she looked at him with smiling eyes.


    The young man wore a white shirt, different from his usual all-ck cold appearance, adding a touch of casualness and brightness that made his features appear even more refined and otherworldly.


    Su Ci knew exactly how many sets of clothes Lu Zhe owned, and the shirt he was wearing now was definitely newly bought.


    Su Ci couldn''t help but smile secretly.


    He must be taking this meeting with her parents seriously if he bought new clothes specially for it.


    At this moment, Su''s Father, standing at the door, looked at the young man before him with shock.


    He and Lu Chen from the Lu family had been arch-rivals since childhood, having seen each other even in split pants. He could immediately see that this young man called Lu Zhe had features that were identical to Lu Chen''s.


    Su''s Father was startled.


    Lu Zhe was an orphan, and Lu Chen had lost his son... Could it be such a coincidence that Lu Zhe was actually Lu Chen''s son?


    Su''s Mother noticed her husband standing still and tugged at him, "Shall we go in?"


    Su''s Father concealed his shock and went in with his wife.


    The two little ones followed their parents inside. When passing Lu Zhe, Little Tiancai politely greeted him, "Hello, Brother Lu Zhe."


    He really liked this older brother who came from an orphanage like him.


    Su Ning didn''t know Lu Zhe, but he was a polite child. Following Little Tiancai''s lead, he also said, "Hello, Brother Lu Zhe."


    Su Ci watched her parents go in, then bent down and tapped both little ones on their foreheads, "Don''t call him Brother Lu Zhe."


    Little Tiancai and Su Ning looked at their sister in confusion.


    Su Ci''s eyes curved up as she nced at Lu Zhe, speaking in a lowered voice just loud enough for him to hear, "You should call him brother-inw."

 Chapter 40

    Little Tiancai and Little Su Ning only knew what "sister" meant but didn''t understand the meaning of "brother-inw." However, they were both obedient children. When their sister said they couldn''t call Lu Zhe "brother" and should call him "brother-inw" instead, they nodded in agreement.


    As Little Tiancai opened his mouth to say "brother-inw," Su Ci quickly covered his little mouth.


    The little one''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "Keep it down. This is our secret; we can''t let others hear it," Su Ci said. No matter how thick-skinned she was, she didn''t dare to be so bold with her parents around.


    Little Tiancai understood and whispered very softly to Lu Zhe: "Brother-inw."


    Su Ci was quite satisfied.


    Little Su Ning followed suit, copying Little Tiancai with his baby voice, whispering: "Brother-inw."


    The young man standing next to Su Ci nced at them quietly, his ear tips turning red beneath his ck hair.


    "What are you all doing standing at the doorway?" Su''s Mother asked as she sat down with Su''s Father, noticing the children still lingering by the door.


    Su Ci secretly brushed her fingertips against Lu Zhe''s hand that hung by his side, then walked inside with a bright smile.


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze, hiding the amusement in his dark eyes.


    There was an electric kettle in the hotel room, but its bottom was covered in limescale. Lu Zhe didn''t want to use such a kettle to serve water to Su''s parents, so he bought several bottles of mineral water from the hotel.


    Originally, the room only had two chairs; the other two were borrowed from Boss Fang.


    Su''s Father and Mother each took a chair, while Su Ci sat in the chair near the floor-to-ceiling window. The two little ones sat on the bed, their small heads close together, whispering about something.


    Lu Zhe walked over and sat down in the chair opposite Su Ci.


    Su''s Father, being a man who had been through major events, had calmed his initial shock. He carefully observed the young man before him.


    Lu Chen, that fellow, was bewitchingly handsome, like a fox spirit always attracting butterflies and bees.


    But Lu Zhe''s features were proper and dignified, his face stern and rigid. Apart from some slight resemnce to Lu Chen in his features, his eyes and demeanor werepletely different.


    Su''s Father felt conflicted.


    "Uncle Su, Aunt Su, please excuse the humble amodations," the usually cold andposed young man showed hints of nervousness and restraint when facing Su Ci''s parents.


    Su''s Father waved his hand, "We don''t care about such things. We came today to thank you for saving our lives. During the fire, you saved me and my wife, and you''ve also taken care of my daughter before. We are all very grateful. You are Su family''s lifesaver. If there''s anything you want, just ask."


    Setting aside whether Lu Zhe was Lu Chen''s son or not, this young man had done great favors for the Su family, and he should properly repay him.


    Lu Zhe nced at Su Ci sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window and shook his head, "Uncle Su, I don''t want anything. At the fire scene, I would have helped anyone who was there."


    He never expected that the people he saved would turn out to be Su Ci''s parents. When he found out, he felt relieved but had no intention of using this to gain favors.


    Beside them, Su Ci grew anxious, constantly giving Lu Zhe meaningful looks. If her parents weren''t present, she would have kicked Lu Zhe''s foot already.


    How silly, her family had lots of money, and it would be better to ept some money than nothing at all.


    Su''s Father had heard from his wife about Lu Zhe''s good character, and he could see it himself. This aspect waspletely different from Lu Chen, who had a bewitching face, many schemes, and was ruthless. He had suffered several losses at that man''s hands.


    "You show kindness without seeking reward, but we Su family don''t leave debts unpaid." Su''s Father looked at Lu Zhe and said frankly, "Don''t mind, but when we found Little Ci before, we had people investigate your background and know about your situation."


    Lu Zhe listened quietly.


    "We know you''re an orphan and that you have ALS." Su''s Father spoke not with his business negotiation tone, but with the caring voice of an elder to a junior, "We can provide you with the best treatment."


    Even though ALS was incurable, at least an excellent medical team could help Lu Zhe slow down the progression of his condition.


    Su''s Father continued, "And if you want, we can help you find your biological parents."


    Although he couldn''t be certain whether Lu Zhe was Lu Chen''s son, considering Lu Zhe''s life-saving grace to the Su family, he could temporarily set aside his animosity toward that fox Lu Chen and investigate whether Lu Zhe was his son.


    Hearing this, Lu Zhe shook his head, "Thank you, Uncle Su, Aunt Su, but I don''t want to."


    Su Ci wasn''t surprised to see Lu Zhe refuse her father''s offer to find his parents. After all, being abandoned at an orphanage, such parents weren''t worth finding. Of course, there might have been some circumstances back then, but after so many years, it didn''t matter anymore.


    Hearing Lu Zhe''s words, Su''s Father somehow thought of Lu Chen again. If Lu Zhe really was Lu Chen''s son and didn''t want to acknowledge his parents, he could at least enjoy watching that fox''s predicament.


    Su''s Mother spoke up, "We understand if you don''t want to find your parents, but please don''t refuse treatment. We''ve already contacted the most authoritative experts in this field."


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips pressed together, and his peripheral vision caught Su Ci before he agreed.


    If treatment worked, he hoped to have more time to spend with her.


    Su''s Mother finally rxed, after all, this young man seemed to want nothing, making it difficult for them to repay their debt of gratitude.


    At this point, Su''s Father had people bring up the thank-you gifts prepared in the car, all chosen by Su''s Mother. "Please ept these gifts, don''t refuse. You saved us, so you deserve them."


    "Yes, yes, yes," Su Ci chimed in, her eyes narrowed with a threatening tone, "You''re not allowed to refuse."


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved into a smile, and he didn''t reject anymore.


    Soon, the already small room was filled with gift boxes and bags.


    Su''s Mother, being more attentive, smiled and said, "I heard from Ci Ci that you''ll be staying in City B. Have you found a ce to live? If not, we can provide one for you."


    A house meant nothing to the Su family.


    Lu Zhe declined, "Thank you, Aunt Su, but I''m already looking for a house and will settle on one soon."


    Su''s Mother didn''t insist, "If you need any help from the Su family, just ask. Regarding the medical treatment, once the specialists arrive, I''ll have someone contact you right away."


    Ever since her daughter told her about liking Lu Zhe, whether out of personal interest or the desire to repay his kindness, Su''s Mother hoped this young man could get better, or at least have his condition managed even if there was no cure.


    Lu Zhe: "Thank you."


    Su''s Father had just been discharged from the hospital yesterday and hadn''t fully recovered, so he couldn''t sit for long. After chatting casually with Lu Zhe for a while, he prepared to leave.


    He still needed to send people to investigate Lu Zhe''s background. Even if Lu Zhe didn''t want to find his parents, he wanted to know if Lu Zhe was really that fox Lu Chen''s son.


    Watching her parents and the two little ones walk ahead, Su Ci deliberately slowed her pace.


    Until they had walked out, Su Ci remained in the room. She suddenly turned around and reached out with both arms, clinging to Lu Zhe''s shoulders.


    "Su Ci!" Lu Zhe was startled by the girl''s action ¨C her parents had just walked out the door.


    "Shh!" Su Ci winked at the young man, "Keep your voice down."


    Lu Zhe reminded her, "You should go."


    Su Ci''s dark eyes shed mischievously, "Kiss me, and I''ll leave quickly."


    Looking at the girl practically hanging on him, Lu Zhe realized that not only was she thick-skinned, but she was also quite bold.


    He sighed, "If your parents turn back and find you''re not there, they''lle looking for you."


    Su Ci nodded, "I know, so hurry up." Her eyes held a hint of mischief, "I''m wearing lip gloss today, see how much prettier my lips look?" She had deliberately applied it before going out.


    Lu Zhe knew nothing about girls'' lipsticks, but his gaze fell on her lips, which did look somewhat different from her usual rosy color.


    He responded, "Mm."


    Su Ci smiled, "Quick, try it, this lip gloss is peach-vored, with candy ingredients, it''s a bit sweet."


    Try what?


    The girl was asking him to taste her lips.


    Lu Zhe knew the girl''s temperament well - if he didn''t go along with her whims, she would only be more mischievous.


    The young man lowered his chin, and his cold, thin lipsnded on the girl''s honey-orange lips. Just as he got close, as the girl had said, he caught the sweet scent of peaches, and her lips were even softer than ripe peaches.


    Lu Zhe only gave her the lightest touch.


    Su Ci wasn''t satisfied. "You haven''t even tasted it properly," she said, rising on her tiptoes to offer her lips more deliberately.


    The sweet fragrance spread between their lips and teeth.


    Su Ci was still worried that her parents, who had just left, might turn back and see her. After a brief moment of entanglement with Lu Zhe, she pulled away.


    Hearing the young man''s slightly heavy breathing beside her ear, Su Ci looked at him with bright eyes. "How was it?"


    Her makeup, skincare products, including her lip gloss, were all custom-made at Su''s Mother''s request. The lip gloss contained only natural ingredients, so it was harmless even if ingested.


    Lu Zhe''s tongue was filled with the sweet fragrance from her lips. His dark eyes gazed deeply at her, and the coolness in his voice dissipated as he said, "Very nice."


    Then, his lips moved close to her ear, his breath warm, "Tuantuan, you should go now."


    Su Ci''s ear instantly turned soft at his words.


    The door closed.


    Lu Zhe leaned against the door, steadying his breath. He touched his lips with his fingers and found traces of the girl''s honey-orange lip gloss on his fingertips.


    Licking the corner of his mouth, Lu Zhe''s dark eyes sparkled with amusement. The girl was getting bolder and bolder. One day, he thought, she would cry from her own actions.


    After leaving Lu Zhe''s room, Su Ci ran into her mother who hade back looking for her.


    Su Ci felt a wave of relief - that was close, she had almost been caught in the act.


    "Mom," she said.


    She smiled and linked arms with her mother, exining voluntarily, "I had something to discuss with Lu Zhe, so I came outte. I thought you and dad had already left."


    After learning about her daughter''s feelings for Lu Zhe, how could Su''s Mother feel at ease letting her daughter be alone with him?


    She looked at her daughter and her sharp eyes noticed that her daughter''s lip gloss waspletely gone.


    If it had been Su''s Father, he definitely wouldn''t have noticed such a small detail. But Su''s Mother was different. As a woman, she naturally paid attention to lip color and makeup details, especially since she hadplimented her daughter on her specially chosen lip color earlier that day.


    Su''s Mother was experienced, and even now, her rtionship with her husband remained passionate. How could she not know why her daughter''s lip gloss had disappeared?


    Looking at her daughter''s smiling face, her heart sank a little.


    ......


    Back at the Su residence.


    Su''s Father said to Su''s Mother, "Last time you mentioned that Lu Zhe resembled someone, do you remember?"


    Su''s Mother sat down beside her husband, "Yes, but I couldn''t quite ce who it was." She felt she had seen someone like him before.


    Su''s Father asked her, "Could it be Lu Chen?"


    Su''s Mother was startled. As her husband mentioned it, she suddenly realized - didn''t Lu Zhe''s features resemble Lu Chen?


    No wonder she thought Lu Zhe looked familiar; he looked just like the head of the Lu family, Lu Chen.


    However, their temperaments werepletely opposite. Lu Zhe was more cold and calm as a young man, while the Lu family head had a more mercurial personality, which was why she hadn''t made the connection between them.


    But her husband was different. He and Lu Chen had been rivals since childhood, always at odds with each other.


    The saying that enemies know each other best wasn''t without reason. Her husband knew Lu Chen well, so he could immediately see that Lu Zhe resembled Lu Chen.


    "Lu Zhe is an orphan, and Lu Chen''s son was lost at a young age. Could Lu Zhe be Lu Chen''s child?" Su''s Mother was shocked by the coincidence.


    Su''s Father nodded, "It''s very possible."


    Even though he had sent people to investigate, it hadn''t yielded any results, especially since Lu Chen had deployed so many people but still couldn''t find his child.


    "I n to find out if Lu Zhe is Lu Chen''s child," Su''s Father told his wife. "The day after tomorrow, Grandpa Qin is hosting a banquet. That fellow Lu Chen has already epted the invitation, and I n to attend too."


    It didn''t matter if the investigation proved fruitless; as long as he could get Lu Chen''s hair at the banquet, they could do a paternity test to reveal the truth.


    Grandpa Qin''s seventieth birthday celebration had invited many prominent families, with the most attention focused on Lu Chen of the Lu family and Su Shengguo of the Su family. Both were leaders of top-tier wealthy families, and given their mutual animosity, their divine battle might provide quite a show for the lesser guests.


    Su''s Father attended the banquet with Su''s Mother. After all these years, both had maintained their good looks, and their bearing was even more distinguished than before.


    Even though the Su family was famous for their exceptional looks, the guests still gazed admiringly at Su''s Father and Mother, impressed not only by their handsome and beautiful appearance but also by how their love had endured over the years.


    Unlike this couple from the Su family, Lu Chen of the Lu family attended the banquet alone.


    The years had been kind not only to Su''s Father and Mother but to Lu Chen as well.


    Time had been particrly generous to this man, leaving no trace on his face. Not only was he handsome, but he also possessed enchanting phoenix eyes. Whether in his youth or now, when people thought of the most bewitching man in City B, they would inevitably think of Lu Chen. In his day, countless women had pursued him relentlessly.


    Now, Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, his phoenix eyes twinkling with mockery as he looked at Su''s Father, "I heard you nearly died in a fire recently. I thought you''d be lying immobile in a hospital bed, but here you are."


    Su''s Father didn''t back down, "I''m naturally resilient."


    Lu Chen''s lips twisted, "Indeed, bad weeds are hard to kill."


    Su''s Father smiled, "Speaking of which, I owe it all to the person who saved me. I think you might be interested in meeting my savior."


    "Has the fire addled your brain? Why would I be interested in meeting someone who saved you?" Lu Chen''s expression wasnguid as he sneered, "If I met them, I''d scold them for meddling and saving such a nuisance."


    Su''s Father: "Even if you wanted to meet them, I might not let you."


    Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, "Who cares?"


    "You sly fox, you seem rather irritable tonight. Could it be you''re envious that I have my wife by my side while you''re all alone?" Su''s Father knew exactly where to hit Lu Chen''s sore spot.


    After Lu Chen''s son went missing, his rtionship with his wife Wen Ya had soured.


    Lu Chen, thick-skinned as he was, had once made headlines throughout City B when he knelt in the rain, begging his wife not to divorce him.


    They didn''t end up divorcing, but after their son''s disappearance, Wen Ya remained cold towards Lu Chen. Even though Lu Chen shamelessly pursued his wife, he couldn''t win back her affection.


    Su''s Father never failed to seed in provoking Lu Chen with this topic.


    Sure enough, Lu Chen''s face darkened. He snorted heavily and walked past Su''s Father, deliberately bumping his shoulder as they passed.


    "Shengguo, are you alright?" Su''s Mother quickly steadied her husband, exasperated by the childish behavior of Lu Chen and her husband who seemed to fight every time they met.


    Su''s Father watched Lu Chen walk away triumphantly. He straightened up and said, "I''m fine."


    He showed his wife his hand, which held a single hair.


    "Got it," he smiled.


    "Whose hair?" Su''s Mother didn''t immediately understand.


    "That sly fox Lu Chen''s." Earlier, he had been wondering how to get close enough to Lu Chen to obtain his hair, but unexpectedly, the man had bumped into him himself, and his suit sleeve had caught this strand of Lu Chen''s hair.


    He knew Lu Chen well - the man had severe germaphobia and wouldn''t let anyone except his wife get close to him. Therefore, this short hair must be Lu Chen''s.


    When Su''s Mother heard her husband''s words, she quickly caught on, "You want to use Lu Chen''s hair for a paternity test with Lu Zhe?"


    Su''s Father stroked his wife''s head, "Xin Xin is as clever as ever."


    Su''s Mother gave him a coquettish re, "There are many people watching."


    Su''s Fatherughed, "Who would dare to stare?"


    Getting just one hair from Lu Chen wasn''t enough. He had already arranged for people at the venue to keep an eye on Lu Chen and collect his discarded cigarette butts. Next, they just needed to get Lu Zhe''s hair, and then they could proceed with the paternity test.


    ......


    In these two days, Lu Zhe and Boss Fang worked separately - he was responsible for finding an apartment, while Boss Fang focused on securing office space.


    This arrangement proved highly efficient. Lu Zhe eventually chose an apartment in a suburban residentialplex. Though it was somewhat far from downtown, the environment was pleasant, with well-maintainedndscaping throughout themunity.


    Lu Zhe rented a two-bedroom apartment, while Boss Fang rented the one directly across from him, also a two-bedroom unit. Both apartments belonged to the samendlord and were already fully furnished, having been renovated some time ago.


    The apartments came fully equipped with furniture - all they needed to do was bring their suitcases and move in.


    Both Lu Zhe and Boss Fang were eager to move in, and thendlord was amodating. After receiving the deposit and rent, she handed over the keys to them.


    The apartment had two bedrooms, one of which had excellent lighting and venttion.


    Lu Zhe wheeled his tworge suitcases into the well-lit room. After wiping down the wardrobe, he opened his luggage.


    It turned out that the two suitcases that Boss Fang had previously assumed contained all of Lu Zhe''s worldly possessions were actually filled with beautiful women''s clothing.


    Lu Zhe picked up a dress with light, soft fabric and hung it in the wardrobe.


    When it came to the undergarments, Lu Zhe''s ears turned red. He pressed his lips together as he neatly folded the feminine underwear and ced them in the wardrobe drawer.


    His fingertips burned where they touched the soft fabric.


    That night, Su Ci video called Lu Zhe, knowing he had moved into his new rental.


    "I want to see your new ce," Su Ci said, lying on her bed. Learning from her previous experience, she didn''t try to tempt Lu Zhe by wearing a low-cut dress this time.


    "Wait until I''ve finished tidying up," he replied, as the room was still somewhat messy.


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up. "Then can Ie over the day after tomorrow?"


    Lu Zhe smiled. "Mm-hmm."


    Just then, someone knocked on Su Ci''s door.


    "Hold on, I''ll get it," Su Ci said,zily climbing off her bed with her phone.


    Opening the door, she found two little children standing there.


    "Sister, this is for you," Little Su Ning held out a te of sliced peaches.


    "Ning Ning is so sweet, thank you," Su Ci patted his head.


    Beside him, Little Tiancai also held something - a bowl of washed cherries. "Sister Ci, these are for you."


    "Thank you, Little Tiancai," Su Ci patted his head too.


    After the two little ones eagerly ced the fruit in Su Ci''s room, she crouched down in front of them with her phone, turning the screen toward them. "Come on, say hello to your brother-inw."


    With her parents absent, Su Ci could be mischievous without restraint.


    Little Tiancai and Little Su Ning curiously looked at Lu Zhe on the screen. Little Tiancai instinctively called out, "Hello, Brother Lu Zhe."


    Little Su Ning corrected him in his baby voice: "Sister said he''s brother-inw."


    "That''s right, Ning Ning has such a good memory!" Su Ci''s eyes curved with her smile as she pinched her brother''s chubby cheeks.


    He really made his sister proud!


    Little Tiancai quickly corrected his mistake and called out loudly, "Hello, brother-inw!"


    Su Ci smiled so widely her eyes became crescents. She turned the screen back to herself. "Lu Zhe, they''re calling you brother-inw. Don''t you have anything to say?"


    On the other end of the call, Lu Zhe''s dark eyes couldn''t hide his amusement. He helplessly called out, "Tuantuan."


    Su Ci, prioritizing romance over her brothers, sent the two little ones away and returned to lying on her bed to continue chatting with Lu Zhe.


    Su''s Mother was watching TV downstairs when she saw Little Su Ning and Little Tiancaiing down afterpleting their mission. She smiled and asked, "Did you give the fruit to your sister?"


    "Yes, we did!" Little Su Ning stood proudly.


    Little Tiancai nodded as well.


    "What was your sister doing?" Su''s Mother invited the children to sit beside her.


    Little Su Ning answered quickly, "Sister was talking to brother-inw."


    Little Tiancai suddenly realized something and said to Little Su Ning, "We can''t tell others that Brother Lu Zhe is brother-inw. That''s our secret with sister."


    Hearing the children''s innocent words, Su''s Mother was startled, her heart sinking once again. She knew she couldn''t let this continue any longer.


    ......


    The afternoon sun was fierce, its harsh rays making everyone ufortable.


    Lu Zhe stood straight under a tree when a white luxury car stopped in front of him. The window lowered, revealing a woman''s well-maintained face.


    The driver opened the door for Lu Zhe.


    "Auntie Su," Lu Zhe sat in the car, politely greeting Su''s Mother.


    Su''s Mother nodded, "The specialist has arrived. I''m taking you to the hospital."


    Lu Zhe replied, "Thank you for your trouble."Aliali: 67480c4f3f33ac476d3de


    The car drove smoothly and soon arrived at the city''s best hospital.


    Su''s Mother got out, with Lu Zhe following slightly behind her.


    "Before the examination, I''d like to take you somewhere," Su''s Mother said to Lu Zhe. "Do you mind?"


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes deepened, but he shook his head without asking where. He simply followed behind Su''s Mother.


    Soon, led by the bodyguard, Su''s Mother and Lu Zhe arrived at the inpatient department.


    Reaching the fifth floor, Lu Zhe''s thin lips tightened as he saw the sign reading "ALS Ward."


    This floor housed patients with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). Some could only sit in wheelchairs, their bodies atrophied and movement limited. Others could no longer walk, struggling even to breathe and eat, confined to their beds and dependent on nutritional drips to sustain life.


    Lu Zhe calmly followed Su''s Mother, passing by patient rooms one after another.


    Then, Su''s Mother spoke: "Lu Zhe, Ci Ci told me she likes you."


    She turned to look at the silent young man behind her, her face showing traces of reluctance, but she still asked, "Do you like my daughter?"

 Chapter 41: 041

    At that moment, a woman pushing a wheelchair with an ALS patient passed by them.


    Both Su''s Mother and Lu Zhe watched the pair until the woman wheeled the patient into the hospital room.


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes turned cold, his thin lips losing their color as his entire body went numb.


    The dream was over.


    Su''s Mother watched the silent young man, patiently waiting for his answer.


    "Yes, I do."


    Lu Zhe''s cool voice was slightly hoarse, "I like Su Ci."


    Su''s Mother seemed unsurprised, as if she had expected this.


    Lu Zhe''s face turned pale, his expression increasingly rigid and cold. "But please don''t worry, I won''t have any further thoughts."


    He knew better than anyone that his life would be short; he never dared to hope for anything. Now Su Ci''s mother had actively sought him out, begging him to leave her daughter.


    Someone like him, standing in the darkness, truly had no right to covet the Su family''s little princess.


    Hearing Lu Zhe''s words, Su''s Mother''s face showed reluctance, but she bit her lip and continued: "Auntie knows you''re a good child, but you and Ci Ci aren''t suitable for each other. I shouldn''t be saying these things to you, but Ci Ci likes you. Although she appears gentle and soft, she''s actually quite proud and strong-willed. This is her first time liking someone, and if I forcefully intervene, she absolutely won''t listen."


    Su''s Mother looked at Lu Zhe, "I''vee to you hoping that you will be the one to reject her."


    The gentlest people often inflict the deepest wounds.


    Lu Zhe listened quietly, his dark eyes bing hollow, his arm muscles twitching as he weakly agreed.


    While Su''s Mother felt relieved, she also felt increasingly grateful and guilty towards the young man. "The Su family will cover all medical expenses for the ALS treatment. You don''t need to worry about that."


    The treatment costs were very high, beyond what ordinary people could afford.


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips were dry, his throat parched as he spoke in his cool, deep voice, "I will pay it back."


    "There''s no need to pay it back. You''ve helped the Su family so much; this is our responsibility." Su''s Mother had a gentle and kind nature. For her child''s sake, she was hurting another child. She felt her actions were selfish and hated herself for it, but for her daughter, she was willing to be the viin.


    Whether or not Lu Zhe was from the Lu family, she had no objections to his background, and she believed he was a child with excellent character. If Lu Zhe had been healthy, she definitely wouldn''t have stopped her daughter from liking him.


    But things weren''t as she wished, and for her daughter''s sake, she could only y the role of the viin.


    Su''s Mother took Lu Zhe to see several specialists in ALS treatment.


    Lu Zhe underwent a series of neurological examinations, electromyography, special serum antibody tests, and other checks, but the results were the same as before.


    Since learning that her daughter liked Lu Zhe, Su''s Mother had researched ALS online.


    She learned that ALS patients typically die within three years after onset, some within five years, and only a small number survive up to ten years. In extremely rare cases, patients might live for 30 years after onset.


    This meant that Lu Zhe''s life could likely end within three years.


    This was why she couldn''t continue letting her daughter like Lu Zhe.


    One of the specialists, learning that Lu Zhe had been ill for nearly a year, was surprised.


    Based on his experience with ALS patients, symptoms typically worsen after the first year. By this time, patients usually have difficulty speaking, slower speech rates, and unclear pronunciation. In more severe cases, patients'' limbs begin to atrophy.


    Yet this young man, ill for nearly a year, only showed early ALS symptoms. His speech was clear, his build was tall and strong, and his limbs showed no signs of atrophy.


    "Are these the medications you''re taking?" The specialist reviewed Lu Zhe''s medical records. While these drugs were appropriate for the condition, other patients taking the same medications hadn''t shown such good results, suggesting it wasn''t just about the medication.


    The specialists asked Lu Zhe, "Besides taking medication regrly, do you get acupuncture or massage therapy?"


    Lu Zhe replied, "No, but I exercise every day."


    During the examination, the specialist had noticed the young man''s arm muscles were tight and firm,pletely unlike what would be expected of someone with ALS after a year.


    While exercise might have some alleviating effects, it shouldn''t be this effective. If exercise alone could treat ALS, it wouldn''t be one of the world''s five major terminal illnesses.


    The specialists hadn''t expected the young man''s condition to be so different from what they anticipated.


    Finally, they needed to study how to maintain Lu Zhe''s current condition, or at least slow down the disease''s progression.


    ......


    Su Ci only learned about Su''s Mother taking Lu Zhe for examinations that evening.


    Looking at the young man in the video call, she said, "If I had known Mom was taking you to the hospital for checks, I definitely would have gone with you."


    Although she felt that even bringing in a group of authoritative experts wouldn''t make much difference to Lu Zhe''s condition, she had wanted to see him.


    However, Su Ci realized she hadn''t gotten any golden cotton candy for Lu Zhe in quite a while, and she wondered how his body was recovering.


    Su Ci called out to Fugui, "How much golden cotton candy do we need to cure Lu Zhe''s ALS?"


    Fugui: [Master, Fugui doesn''t know.]


    Su Ci began to show her disapproval: "Why don''t you know anything?"


    Fugui''s little voice sounded somewhat shy: [Fugui''s age in system years is equivalent to a three-year-old human child. Fugui is still a child.]


    It was still a child, so master shouldn''t expect too much from it.


    Su Ci''s breath caught - no wonder this thing was both silly and greedy.


    Fugui seemed to sense Su Ci''s disapproval and quickly exined: [If master shares more cotton candy with Fugui, Fugui can level up and grow.]


    Fugui no longer hoped that master would give it all the golden cotton candy; now it was happy just to get a tiny bit from what master gave to Lu Zhe.


    Su Ci asked it: "What new functions will you get after leveling up?"


    Fugui: [After leveling up, Fugui can see life values for up to one month ahead.]


    Su Ci had heard this from Fugui before, but now she had no golden cotton candy to share with it.


    Su Ci told Fugui to go back.


    Looking at the young man on the screen, she asked, "Lu Zhe, how were your examination results?"


    She felt the golden cotton candy must be very effective for Lu Zhe, otherwise Fugui wouldn''t be so fixated on it.


    Previously, she would notice Lu Zhe limping slightly when walking, but now that had stopped, and he no longer suddenly fell while walking either.


    Lu Zhe''s expression remained calm, "The results are the same as before." He should be grateful that his condition hadn''t worsened.


    He knew well that in thete stages of ALS, his limbs would be rigid, his body would waste away, just like the ALS patient he''d seen in the hospital today - bedridden, unable to eat, struggling to breathe, just waiting for death.


    Lu Zhe had thought about it - when he became like that in the future, regardless of whether Su Ci would despise him or not, he would leave and go far away.


    He didn''t want Su Ci to be like that woman at the hospital, pushing her husband''s wheelchair.


    However, he had hoped for too much. Even now, he couldn''t continue staying by her side.


    "The same?" Su Ci blinked, lying down on her bed and adjusting to afortable position, her snow-white feet raised and swaying asionally.


    "It''s okay, you''ll live to be a hundred anyway." As long as she could get more golden cotton candy for him, his illness would be cured.


    Lu Zhe gave a softugh. Living to a hundred, huh?


    He didn''t ask for a hundred years; he only wished for one year by her side, but even that had be an unreachable dream.


    "What are youughing at?" The young man''sugh was very light, but Su Ci heard it.


    She loved seeing Lu Zhe when she pushed him to his limits and he lost control, and she loved seeing his dimples when he smiled.


    In fact, she loved Lu Zhe in every way.


    On the screen, the girl''s dark eyes were sparkling, her fair and delicate face close to the camera, beautiful yet somehow adorable. Lu Zhe curved his lips into a smile for her.


    Su Ci felt she was so weak - how could just one smile from Lu Zhe make her heart flutter like this?


    But Su Ci was used to being shameless, and even with a blushing face, she teased him, "Lu Zhe, I want to lick the little dimple on your face, it must be sweet."


    Lu Zhe looked at her deeply, withdrawing the smile from his eyes, "Last time, you asked me if I liked you."


    Su Ci blinked, wondering if he was about to confess to her since he suddenly brought up such a topic.


    Thinking this, Su Ci''s eyes brightened, and her swaying bare foot stilled as she looked at Lu Zhe expectantly.


    Under the light, Lu Zhe''s pale white skin appeared almost ghastly, his face increasingly rigid and cold, "Su Ci, I don''t like you."


    The smile faded from Su Ci''s lips, and she looked at Lu Zhe, saying fiercely, "You''re terrible at telling jokes."


    "It''s not a joke," Lu Zhe lowered his eyelids, his features unbearably cold. "You''re too delicate, which I don''t like. You''re always full of schemes, which I don''t like. You enjoy ying tricks on people, which I also don''t like."


    Su Ci sat up on the bed, gripping her phone tightly, her dark eyes fixed intently on Lu Zhe''s image on the screen. "You''re lying. I''m so beautiful, and my personality is so kind, it''s impossible for you not to like me."


    Su Ci refused to believe she had actually been rejected. Whether before or after transmigrating into this novel, she had always been the one being pursued. Only with Lu Zhe had she fallen first, and now she was being rejected?


    How was this possible?


    Lu Zhe said softly, "Even your narcissism, I don''t like."


    Su Ci felt a tightness in her chest, as if it were stuffed with cotton, making her anxious and ufortable.


    She felt like she could barely breathe, and angrily asked Lu Zhe, "Do you have a new bunny outside?"


    The girl''s words almost made Lu Zheugh. He looked up at her with deep eyes, "No!"


    Su Ci''s delicate eyebrows furrowed tightly. True, if Lu Zhe could ignore someone as stunningly beautiful as her, he wouldn''t be interested in other women or bunnies.


    Su Ci was always clever and quickly realized something. "Is it because of what my mother said to you today?"


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond.


    "Did my mother tell you not to be with me?" Su Ci seemed to have found the reason. "Don''t worry, I''ll talk to her..."


    "No," Lu Zhe interrupted her words. His dark eyes were dim and lightless. "It''s that I don''t like you. It has nothing to do with anyone else."


    Su Ci red at Lu Zhe angrily, "Lu Zhe, I''m angry."


    She abruptly ended the video call, not wanting to hear any more words that hurt her.


    Looking at the screen that had exited the chat, Lu Zhe''s face grew increasingly pale under the light.


    Su Ci was furious. She threw her phone aside andy on the bed, her chest feeling sour and bitter. She thought Lu Zhe was colder than stone - even stones could be warmed up, but Lu Zhe only grew colder the more you tried to warm him.


    How could there be such an annoying person?


    Ah, she was burning with anger!


    Meanwhile, in Su''s parents'' room.


    During Lu Zhe''s examination today, Su''s Mother had specifically arranged for someone to obtain a sample of Lu Zhe''s hair.


    Su''s Father said to Su''s Mother, "The DNA test results will be ready tomorrow morning."


    "If Lu Zhe is indeed from the Lu family, it would be a good thing, considering all the hardships he''s been through," Su''s Mother felt both grateful and guilty towards Lu Zhe.


    Su''s Father nodded. Setting aside his dislike for Lu Chen, helping this young man find his family would be a way to repay Lu Zhe''s life-saving grace to the Su family.


    At this moment, there was a knock on the door.


    Su''s Mother opened the door to find her daughter standing outside. "Ci Ci, what''s wrong?"


    "Mom, I need to talk to you about something," Su Ci said.


    "What''s this? You have secrets to discuss with your mother that your father can''t hear?" Su''s Father joked from inside the room.


    "This is a secret between Mom and me." Su Ci pulled her mother out.


    After closing the door, the hallway was quiet.


    Su Ci directly said to her mother, "Mom, I told you before that I like Lu Zhe."


    Su''s Mother''s heart tightened, knowing that Lu Zhe must have said something to her daughter.


    Su Ci''s fair face was serious, "But I never told you that if I lose Lu Zhe, I might never like anyone else again."


    "Ci Ci!" Su''s Mother looked at her daughter in shock.


    "Since I was little, whatever I liked, you would have it sent to me." Whether before or after transmigrating into the book, she got whatever she wanted. For her, this was the first time she desperately wanted something - she wanted Lu Zhe.


    "Mom, I like Lu Zhe, and I hope you won''t stand in our way." Su Ci''s dark eyes looked seriously at her mother. "Because you can''t stop me."


    "Ci Ci!" This time, Su''s Mother was truly shocked by her daughter.


    Just as she said, her daughter had always gotten whatever she wanted since childhood. This was the first time her daughter had so firmly told her that she wanted Lu Zhe.


    "If you''re worried about Lu Zhe''s ALS, that''s not a problem." Su Ci didn''t know how to exin. "No matter what his condition is or how much time he has left, I want to be with him."


    "But he will die," Su''s Mother realized her daughter truly liked Lu Zhe; it wasn''t just talk. "If he dies, what will you do?"


    If Lu Zhe died and Ci Ci loved him this much, would she do something foolish because of him? This was what she had been worried about all along.


    Su Ci protested, "He won''t die, I can..."


    The words caught in Su Ci''s throat, and she felt powerless.


    Hearing her daughter''s naive words, Su''s Mother stroked her head soothingly, "Ci Ci, Mom knows you like Lu Zhe, but Lu Zhe told me he doesn''t like you."


    She trusted Lu Zhe''s character; if he promised to stay away from Ci Ci, he would keep his word.


    Su''s Mother''s words felt like an invisible knife piercing Su Ci''s chest. Su Ci remembered Lu Zhe''s words during their video call, and she could no longer speak.


    Su''s Mother couldn''t bear to see her daughter''s dejected expression. She stroked her daughter''s hair gently, saying softly, "Ci Ci, you''ll meet someone you like even more in the future."


    Su Ci muttered in protest, "No, I won''t." After saying this, she left.


    .......


    The next day, after receiving the DNA test results, Su''s Father went directly to the Lu Corporation.


    Lu Chen sat in his office chair,zily leaning against the backrest, his face full of displeasure. He sneered at Su''s Father sitting on the sofa, "Early in the morning, what are you doing here? Looking to be scolded? I''m not in the mood to scold you today."


    His wife had banished him to the study to sleepst night, so he wasn''t in a good mood today.


    Su''s Father, being a father himself for many years, was much more mature than Lu Chen and wouldn''t easily be provoked by him. "I can see that. You''re sexually frustrated - did Wen Ya kick you out of the bedroom this time, or out of the house?"


    Lu Chen was hit where it hurt. He red at Su''s Father, "If that''s all you came to say, you can get lost."


    "Wait," Su''s Father took out an envelope, smiling, "I''m here to save you. Here, take a look at this, and don''t be too grateful afterward."


    "Are you calling a puppy?" Lu Chen raised his phoenix eyes, unwilling to deal with Su''s Father.


    Seeing this, Su''s Father smiled, "Lu Chen, if you don''t look at it, you''ll regret it for the rest of your life."


    Lu Chen raised an eyebrow and finally stood up. "What is it? If you''re ying games with me with a bunch of waste paper, you won''t be leaving through this door today."


    Su''s Father remained unfazed, "Don''t worry, after you see it, you''ll definitely be grateful to me."


    Lu Chen sneered and picked up the envelope from Su''s Father with an indifferent expression.


    He opened the envelope and took out the documents inside, immediately noticing therge characters on the document.


    Instinctively, his hand holding the document tightened.


    Lu Chen quickly read through to thest word, then asked Su''s Father with a stern face, "What do you mean by this, forging documents to fool me?"


    He and Su''s Father had been rivals since childhood, often ying tricks on each other, and he absolutely believed this was another of Su''s Father''s schemes.


    Su''s Father sat calmly on the sofa, "Why don''t you keep reading?"


    Lu Chen nced at him before continuing to flip through the pages. His gaze fell on a photograph at the back, and those familiar features nearly made his legs give out.


    He red fiercely at Su''s Father, "You think finding someone who looks like me and forging a paternity test will make me believe this person is my son?"


    Su''s Father understood Lu Chen''s personality, just as Lu Chen understood him. He smiled and said, "Lu Chen, if you don''t believe me, you can check for yourself. If your son hadn''t saved me and my wife during that fire, do you think I would bother helping you find your son?"


    Su''s Father stood up and patted Lu Chen''s shoulder. "Fox, you''ll know if this is your son just by taking one look."


    Watching Su''s Father leave the office, Lu Chen''s almond-shaped eyes narrowed.


    Meanwhile, Su Ci woke up feeling thirsty, her throat dry and scratchy.


    She opened her eyes and tried to get up, but found herself with a headache and weak limbs.


    The air conditioning in the room was so cold that she instinctively curled up under the covers and sneezed several times.


    Hearing her own congested voice, Su Ci remembered thatst night, angry and feverish, she had turned the air conditioning to its lowest temperature. Plus, she had washed her hair and fallen asleep without drying it properly, no wonder she caught a cold.


    A cold?


    Su Ci instinctively reached up to touch the top of her head.


    Soft and fluffy.


    Sure enough, her rabbit ears had popped out.


    Oh no!


    She was at home with so many servants around. If they saw her rabbit ears that had appeared, what would she do?


    Su Ci immediately made a video call to Lu Zhe.


    He answered quickly.


    "Lu Zhe, my rabbit ears came out," Su Ci said pitifully.


    Before Su Ci could say more, Lu Zhe had already seen the white fluffy rabbit ears on top of the girl''s head in the video. He frowned instinctively, "Are you sick?"


    "Mm-hmm, I caught a cold because you made me angry." Su Ci boldly med the young man.


    Lu Zhe asked her, "Have you taken any cold medicine?"


    Su Ci shook her head, making her rabbit ears sway with the movement, looking so soft and cute that one would want to pinch them. "I don''t have any cold medicine in my room."


    Lu Zhe shifted his gaze away from the girl''s rabbit ears, "Put on a hat and have someone buy you cold medicine."


    Su Ci shook her head again, "That won''t work. If Mom knows I''m sick, she''ll definitely worry. She''ll either send me to the hospital or have the family doctore check on me."


    Lu Zhe thought for a moment, "I''ll buy medicine and bring it to youter."


    "Where are you? I need toe to your ce. I can''t stay at home, there are too many people here, I could easily be exposed."


    Lu Zhe was concerned about her cold and gave her his address.


    After hanging up, Su Ci quickly got up to change clothes. After washing her face, she looked at herself in the mirror with the rabbit ears on top of her head. Though anxious, she couldn''t help but admire herself for a few moments. Her already beautiful face topped with rabbit ears made her look like a little sprite.


    Coming out of the bathroom, Su Ci put on a hat and went downstairs.


    Su''s Father and her older brother Su ZhiYuan had gone to thepany, while Su''s Mother had taken Little Tiancai and Little Su Ning out, leaving only a few servants at home.


    Su Ci made sure the hat securely covered her rabbit ears and asked the driver to prepare the car to take her to Lu Zhe''s ce.


    When the car reached themunity entrance, she already saw the young man standing straight by the iron gate.


    It was almost noon, with no shade around, yet Lu Zhe stood there waiting for her under the scorching sun.


    Su Ci asked the driver to stop and got out of the car.


    "Why didn''t you wait in the shade?" Su Ci quickly walked up to Lu Zhe.


    The girl''s voice was notably congested, confirming she had a cold. Lu Zhe reached out to feel her forehead - her temperature was normal, no fever.


    He withdrew his hand and asked, "Have you had breakfast?"


    Su Ci shook her head; she hade straight to find him.


    "Let''s have some breakfast first, then take the cold medicine," Lu Zhe said as he led her into themunity.


    Su Ci nodded obediently.


    This was her first time visiting Lu Zhe''s newly rented house. Compared to the one in City D, she noticed this house was muchrger and brighter. Though simple, it was clean andfortable.


    "Come have breakfast," Lu Zhe brought out freshly cooked porridge.


    Su Ci removed her hat, and immediately her white, soft rabbit ears popped out, catching the cold-faced young man''s attention for an extra moment.


    Su Ci noticed this right away.


    She remembered his words from yesterday about not liking her, and she hadn''t gotten over her anger yet.


    Su Ci stood by the sofa, not moving closer. She was wearing a white dress today that perfectly matched her white rabbit ears, making her look just like a rabbit spirit.


    She nced at Lu Zhe and deliberately said, "I don''t have an appetite, I don''t want to eat."


    Lu Zhe: "You need to eat something before taking medicine."


    "I was already full from being angry with youst night," Su Ci looked at him with reproachful eyes, "I haven''t digested that yet."


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze and said in a deep voice, "Eat breakfast first, then take the medicine, and your ears will go back to normal."


    Su Ci wasn''t concerned about her ears anymore.


    She walked up to Lu Zhe and stared at him directly, "You made me want to cry." The next second, her eyes turned red.


    Crying at home wouldn''t work; if she was going to cry, it had to be in front of Lu Zhe.


    Seeing the young man''s suddenly panicked expression, Su Ci knew her crying skills hadn''t deteriorated at all.

 Chapter 42

    The girl started crying suddenly, startling Lu Zhe.


    Panic flickered across his dark eyes, and his chest felt as if someone had squeezed it tightly, both sour and painful.


    He apologized to her directly, "I''m sorry."


    Su Ci''s eyes weren''t just red; her naturally moist eyes were brimming with tears, teardrops hanging precariously in her eye sockets, looking utterly pitiful.


    The rabbit spirit was breathtakingly beautiful, and when she cried, it tugged at one''s heartstrings.


    Not to brag, but Su Ci had specially trained in the art of crying. She knew exactly how to cry and which angle made her look most appealing yet pitiful.


    Now, with reddened eyes, she gazed at Lu Zhe with tear-filled dark eyes, her red lips pressed together, not making a sound. This silent, pitiful crying was enough to drive anyone mad.


    Lu Zhe had seen Su Ci act coquettish before, and he''d seen her being deliberately mischievous, but this was the first time he''d seen her cry.


    Where was the young man''s usual coolness now?


    Lu Zhe anxiously reached out, wanting to wipe away the tears clinging to her eyshes. His voice was deep, his tone nervous yet unconsciously gentle: "I was wrong, Tuantuan, don''t cry."


    Su Ci looked at him with red eyes. She was getting tired of standing, and even while crying, she didn''t forget to be spoiled, "Hold me."


    How could Lu Zhe refuse? He pulled her to a nearby chair, and as soon as he sat down, Su Ci naturally settled sideways on hisp.


    Su Ci already had a cold, and now with crying, her nose was stuffed up and quite ufortable. She pitifully sniffled and asked Lu Zhe in a muffled voice, "What exactly did you do wrong?"


    Lu Zhe held the girl''s waist to keep her steady, and hearing her question, he said softly, "Everything."


    Making her cry was his fault.


    Su Ci let out a light hum, her usually clear and melodious voice now nasal, both pitiful and adorable. "Last night you said I was too delicate, and you didn''t like that."


    She had recorded all his words in her little notebook, and now it was time to settle ounts.


    Lu Zhe met the girl''s red eyes, looking at the pink and white rabbit ears drooping on her head - she looked like a pitiful rabbit spirit.


    He paused before saying, "I lied to you."


    Su Ci continued her usations, "You also said you didn''t like how I often hide my scheming nature."


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes held a deep color, "I was lying about that too."


    "You said you didn''t like how I tease people, and you hate my narcissism," Su Ci stared at him with her red eyes, still angry.


    Did she have no good points at all?


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened, and he sighed, leaning forward to rest his forehead against hers, "I''m sorry, those were all lies."


    Su Ci''s anger, which had been like a balloon in her chest, instantly deted. With their eyes locked and sharing breaths, how could she stay angry?


    She really had no backbone.


    "I don''t have much time left, I can''t always be with you," Lu Zhe''s rigid face softened, "You can find someone better."


    The little balloon that had just deted suddenly inted again. Su Ci red at him with her reddened eyes, "You want me to find someone better? So, you want me to kiss others like I kiss you? Or do you want me to be held by someone else like this..."


    "Tuantuan!" Lu Zhe interrupted her, his dark eyes intense.


    Just hearing her words made him sick with jealousy.


    Su Ci huffed, softly nestling in Lu Zhe''s embrace, her hand covering his chest, "Lu Zhe, does it hurt here?" Yesterday, after hearing his words, her chest had felt congested.


    Lu Zhe rested his chin on her forehead, calling out weakly, "Tuantuan."


    Ever since he learned about his terminal illness, he had been living day by day, thinking it wouldn''t matter if he died when the disease took him.


    But now, he selfishly hoped he could live longer, that the ugly symptoms wouldeter.


    That he could stay by Su Ci''s side longer.


    Su Ci pressed her hand firmly against his chest, feeling his heart beating strongly underneath, "Lu Zhe, I promise, you won''t die."


    She looked up at him, "If you don''t believe me, we can wait a year, two years, even three years, or even longer. You''ll definitely live well. Didn''t I tell you I''m your angel?"


    Though, rather than being an angel, she''d prefer to be his little demon.


    "Tuantuan." Lu Zhe felt his chest burning where she touched it.


    "Let me ask you again, do you like me?" Su Ci looked at him seriously.


    The girl''s eyes were still red-rimmed, like touches of peach blossoms, and her rabbit ears drooped helplessly on her head, looking both cute and pitiful.


    Lu Zhe pressed his lips together, his throat dry. He thought about his promise to her mother yesterday, about how she had silently cried earlier. His eyes darkened, "Mm."


    Su Ci''s eyes brightened, though her voice remained dissatisfied, "What does ''mm'' mean? I don''t understand."


    Lu Zhe pressed his thin lips against her pink and white rabbit ear, both tender and helpless, "I like you."


    This time, it was the truth.


    Su Ci felt the heart beneath her palm beating frantically, and her eyes curved into a smile. She knew Lu Zhe couldn''t resist her charm.


    "Lu Zhe, did you fall for me the first time you saw me?" Su Ci couldn''t help but be smug.


    Lu Zhe chuckled, "The first time I saw you, you were by the garbage bin, a dirty little bundle."


    Su Ci: ......


    That was when Lu Zhe had found her.


    Not giving up, she continued asking, "Were you stunned by me the first time I transformed into human form?"


    The girl was persistent, and Lu Zhe had no resistance, "No."


    He didn''t know exactly when he had fallen for her.


    Su Ci gave him an annoyed re. He had made her cry, couldn''t he at least say something nice tofort her?


    Lu Zhe seemed not to notice the girl''s reproachful look. He tightened his hold on her waist and said softly, "What I saidst night was all lies, but it''s true that I can''t be with you."


    Su Ci looked at him unhappily.


    Lu Zhe gently stroked the girl''s soft hair and continued, "Maybe I have a year, or maybe two years. Tuantuan, knowing this, do you still want to be with me?"


    "Yes!" Of course she wanted to be with him.


    Hearing the girl''s definitive answer, Lu Zhe''s lips curved slightly, his dark eyes brightening.


    He held her tighter, his thin lips dry, "I''ll stay by your side, but we won''t make it public. If in the future, you find someone you like more... I''ll leave on my own." This was hisst bottom line.


    Su Ci lifted her chin and bit his Adam''s apple.


    The girl''s bite wasn''t painful, but the stimting sensation of having his vital point in the girl''s mouth made Lu Zhe lose control, "Tuantuan."


    Su Ci released her bite and looked at the young man''s handsome features, asking, "Are you proposing to be my secret lover?"


    Lu Zhe lowered his eyes.


    "Whatever you want," Su Ci agreed. As long as they could be together.


    In Su Ci''s view, no matter how much she argued that Lu Zhe wouldn''t die, no one would believe her now. She could only quickly gather more golden cotton candy to cure Lu Zhe.


    Since Lu Zhe wanted to keep their rtionship private, and Su''s Mother didn''t approve of their rtionship, having a secret romance seemed quite suitable.


    Besides, she had never been in a rtionship before, and she was quite excited about such a thrilling secret affair.


    Thinking this way, Su Ci wasn''t angry anymore.


    She nestled softly against Lu Zhe''s chest, sniffled, and said in a muffled voice, "Lu Zhe, I''m hungry."


    Lu Zhe touched the bowl on the dining table, it was still warm, "Want some breakfast?"


    "Feed me. You made me sick with worry, and now my whole body is weak. You need to take good care of me." Su Ci, who could cry and recover just as quickly, had returned to being a little minx.


    Lu Zhe had no resistance, "I''ve never fed anyone before."


    The girl in his armsughed, "That''s okay, I''ve never been fed by anyone either. It''ll be the first time for both of us."


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes sparkled with amusement.


    Su Ci noticed that after Lu Zhe ate the golden cotton candy, not only did his walking improve, but his previously rigid face had regained much of its color. Though his expression was still cool, his features, which had been frozen before, seemed toe alive, making him even more handsome and otherworldly.


    She couldn''t help but reach out to touch the handsome young man''s face, saying candidly, "Lu Zhe, I really want to kiss you, but I have a cold right now, so I''ll let you off for now." She didn''t want to infect him with the virus.


    Aww, she was so considerate.


    Lu Zhe lowered his head and, to the girl''s surprise, took the initiative to kiss her lips. "Let''s have breakfast."


    Throughout breakfast, not only did Su Ci sit on Lu Zhe''sp, but he also hand-fed her. Su Ci was very satisfied with the meal.


    After taking cold medicine, Su Ci felt sleepy.


    "There are two rooms here. Is one of them prepared for me?" Su Ci asked Lu Zhe.


    "Yes." Even though he knew she now had the Su family, he still prepared a room for her.


    The girl smiled and opened the door to find the room already furnished.


    The curtains were apricot yellow with delicate floral patterns, tied back on both sides, allowing bright light to stream in from the small balcony, illuminating the entire room.


    Arge bed sat in the middle, covered with light pink sheets and bedding. The room''s furnishings were simple yet cozy andfortable.


    Su Ci stepped onto the pure white shag carpet and noticed several small green potted nts on the windowsill. Clearly, Lu Zhe had put a lot of thought into decorating the room for her.


    Su Ci walked to the wardrobe and opened it, surprised to find it filled with all her clothes from City D. "You brought all my clothes here?"


    "Yes." He didn''t want any of her belongings left elsewhere.


    Su Ci pulled open a drawer to find neatly folded underwear inside. The corner of her eyes curved mischievously as she looked at Lu Zhe. "You brought my underwear too? And even folded them?"


    Lu Zhe turned his gaze away. "Yes."


    Su Ci noticed the young man''s reddening ears and smiled triumphantly, her dark eyes sparkling. "Lu Zhe, just how much do you like me?"


    Her smugness was on full disy.


    Now lying in bed, she demanded Lu Zhe sleep beside her, and not just that ¨C she wanted him to tell her a story.


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly. "I only know the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. Want to hear it?"


    Su Ci nced at him. "Then sing for me instead." His voice was pleasant, so his singing must be nice too.


    Lu Zhe: "I only know the national anthem."


    Su Ci sniffled and buried her head in his chest, mumbling, "Never mind then, I''m going to sleep. Hold me tighter."


    "Alright."


    The girl in his arms gradually settled down.


    After some time, her soft breathing indicated she had fallen asleep.


    Lu Zhe lowered his head and stroked her drooping, pink and soft bunny ears.


    He would have to break his promise to Su''s Mother ¨C he wanted to stay with Su Ci for another year.


    Having stolen the Su family''s treasure, such a selfish and despicable person like him would probably go to hell after death.


    By evening, Su Ci''s bunny ears still hadn''t retracted, so she could only call home to tell Su''s Mother that she was feeling down and needed to go out for two days to clear her mind.


    Su''s Mother thought it was because she had prevented her daughter from liking Lu Zhe that made her unhappy. Though her heart ached for her daughter, she still wouldn''t change her stance. Her daughter was still young; when she encountered more choices in the future, she would gradually get over Lu Zhe.


    After hanging up, Su''s Mother worried that her daughter might not have enough money in her card, so she transferred arge sum to her.


    The next day, Lu Zhe woke up early to prepare breakfast, left a note on the dining table, and went out.


    The previous venue matter had been disrupted by He Ermeng, and he and Boss Fang hadn''t found a suitable location yet. Today they had arranged to meet with a real estate agent to look at other office spaces.


    "Little Zhe, I see your energy is good today," Boss Fang said, still carrying Little Kuaile. It was summer vacation, and the kindergarten wasn''t in session yet, so he didn''t feelfortable leaving his son home alone and had to bring him along.


    Lu Zhe smiled.


    The morning sunlight was gentle, and asional breezes made the green trees along the road sway their branches.


    This time, the venue Lu Zhe and Boss Fang were considering was a bit far from the city center, but the building was newly constructed with a nice environment. To attract tenants, the rent was considerably cheaper.


    Boss Fang was very satisfied with what he saw. For the same price as before, they could rent an entire floor here. He immediately asked the agent when they could sign the contract, hoping to secure the venue quickly so they could proceed with subsequent matters.


    "If you''re willing, I can go back to the office right now to print out the contract, and we can sign it today," the agent hadn''t expected the client to be in such a hurry.


    "Today it is then." After what happenedst time, Boss Fang had learned his lesson. To avoid anyplications, it was better to sign quickly.


    Lu Zhe had no objections.


    At this moment, the agent suddenly received a phone call.


    Boss Fang watched as the agent responded timidly to the person on the other end, and he had an inexplicable bad feeling.


    After hanging up, the agent said to Boss Fang and Lu Zhe, "I''m very sorry, gentlemen. My boss just called to say this floor has already been rented out. I made a mistake. I''m sorry."


    Sure enough, it was bad news. Boss Fang frowned, "How could you make such a mistake? We''ve been discussing for so long, almost ready to sign the contract, and only now you tell us it was a mistake?"


    The agent seemed indifferent, "I''m very sorry."


    Boss Fang gritted his teeth, "Then show us the floor above now."


    The agent had mentioned earlier that the seventh and eighth floors hadn''t been rented out. Boss Fang was somewhat particr about feng shui, and with "seven up, eight down," he had chosen the seventh floor.


    Now that the seventh floor was taken, they could only look at the eighth floor.


    Agent: "I''m sorry, the eighth floor has also been rented out."


    "What is yourpany ying at? Just moments ago, you said both the seventh and eighth floors were vacant, and now suddenly you''re telling me they''re both rented? Is yourpany trying to make fools of us?" Boss Fang sternly questioned.


    Anyone would be angry when an agreed-upon deal was suddenly reversed.


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips tightened as something urred to him.


    The next second, someone walked in through the opening ss door.


    "Yes, we are making fools of you. What can you do about it?" The speaker was He Ermeng. He had long since had people monitoring Boss Fang and Lu Zhe, and whenever they found a potential venue, someone would report to him.


    He was determined to destroy Lu Zhe. A nobody with a short life span, yet daring to try entrepreneurship?


    He Ermeng''s features were filled with malice and arrogance. "I told you, whether it''s the He family''s property or anywhere else, you won''t be able to rent anything."


    Boss Fang was exasperated: "You..."


    "What? Want to hit me?" He Ermeng met Lu Zhe''s cold gaze and smirked. Outside, two bodyguards in ck suits walked in and stood straight behind He Ermeng.


    Last time he had underestimated this short-lived wretch''s fighting skills and suffered a bit, but this time he came prepared. The bodyguards behind him were top-notch fighters.


    "Little Zhe, let''s go. Don''t waste time here." Boss Fang looked at the two bodyguards behind He Ermeng; they couldn''t confront He Ermeng directly.


    With that, Boss Fang carried Little Kuaile with one arm and pushed Lu Zhe away with the other. A wise man knows when to retreat.


    Seeing Boss Fang and Lu Zhe about to leave, He Ermeng raised an eyebrow and said, "In a while, it will be Ci Ci''s birthday. I''ll be attending her birthday banquet as her dance partner, while you, a short-lived wretch, won''t even qualify to enter the Su family''s house, let alone attend the banquet."


    He had seen many such presumptuous people trying to reach beyond their station.


    Lu Zhe''s footsteps halted, his eyes turning cold.


    "Little Zhe, ignore him. Let him say what he wants. You know who Little Ci really likes, and that''s enough." Boss Fang was genuinely worried Lu Zhe might lose control and fight with He Ermeng, especially with those two tall bodyguards behind him.


    They weremon citizens; when faced with such bullying from wealthy young masters, what could they do besides endure? Fighting back for pride would be like an egg hitting a stone ¨C they would only hurt themselves.


    Boss Fang was a practical man who knew when to bend and when to stand firm. He pushed Lu Zhe hard to leave.


    Coming out of the building, Boss Fang put his son down from his single-armed hold.


    Taking a deep breath, he patted Lu Zhe''s shoulder, "It''s okay. If this deal doesn''t work out, we''ll find another ce. I was already prepared for this. Starting a business is always difficult at first. Besides, the He family can''t control everything in City B. I don''t believe he can keep watching us forever."


    Lu Zhe: "I''m the one he''s targeting."


    "That Young Master He is like a mad dog. We should ignore him. If he wasn''t born lucky into a wealthy family, he''d probably be nothing," Boss Fangined. "Besides his good looks and family wealth, what else does he have? Such young men probably only know how to deceive innocent girls. Don''t worry, Su Ci has good judgment; she definitely won''t be interested in him."


    Lu Zhe thought of Su Ci waiting at home, and his rigid expression softened. "Mm."


    "Let''s head back. It seems today isn''t working out. We''ll look again tomorrow," Boss Fang held Little Kuaile''s hand. "Son, when we get home, daddy will cook something delicious for you, okay?"


    Little Kuaile nodded obediently, responding in his childish voice: "Okay."


    Just as Lu Zhe and Boss Fang were about to leave, an imposing ck luxury car stopped in front of them.


    Such a luxurious car was rare even to see online. Boss Fang couldn''t help but take a second look, thinking to himself that City B truly had many wealthy people.


    At that moment, the car window lowered, revealing a man''s refined profile.


    The man looked out toward them.


    Boss Fang nced at the man, then instinctively looked at Lu Zhe beside him. He was shocked to discover that Lu Zhe actually bore a striking resemnce to the man in the car.


    Heavens!


    Inside the car, Lu Chen observed the young man outside, noting that just like in the photos, his features strongly resembled his own.


    Lu Chen opened the car door and stepped out, wearing a custom-made royal blue suit that made him look both handsome and slightly mboyant. Standing before Lu Zhe, he looked at him with half-lidded phoenix eyes, "Lu Zhe?"


    After seeing the information provided by Su''s Father yesterday, he had immediately ordered an investigation and obtained some of the young man''s background information. He knew this youth came from an orphanage.


    If this wasn''t some scheme by Su''s Father, this young man could very well be his son.


    He didn''t trust the paternity test report Su''s Father had provided, so he wanted to take this young man to do another test personally.


    "As you can see, you must know you look very simr to me," Lu Chen noticed that although this young man''s features resembled his own, their temperaments werepletely different - the youth actually reminded him somewhat of the old master.


    Boss Fang was stunned. What was going on? Could it be that Lu Zhe''s family had found him?


    Lu Zhe looked at him coldly, "What do you want?"


    "Of course I want something. You''re an orphan, and I lost a son. Come, let''s do a paternity test," Lu Chen said straightforwardly. Though still uncertain, Lu Chen had an inexplicable feeling that this young man before him was indeed his offspring.


    Lu Zhe gave him a look and tly refused: "No. I have no family."


    "Do you know who I am?" Lu Chen raised his phoenix eyes, still captivating even in his forties. "I''m the head of the Lu family. If you''re my son, you know what that means."


    Beside them, Boss Fang was experiencing wave after wave of shock. The Lu family?


    When he had previously researched Su Ci''s family background, he had also looked up the Lu family online. Both families were top-tier aristocratic households in the country, and the He family couldn''t evenpare to them.


    Just earlier, he had beenmenting about how He Ermeng, that spoiled rich young master, relied on his privileged birth to bully others. Now, in a major twist, Lu Zhe might actually be the son of the Lu family patriarch?


    Boss Fang felt his brain couldn''t process this anymore.


    Such a dramatic turn of events was too shocking.


    "The Lu family has nothing to do with me," Lu Zhe said coldly.


    Lu Chen looked at the young man before him with surprise, noting that he truly had some of the old man''s proud and aloof manner.


    "Whether it has anything to do with you or not, I''m taking you for a paternity test," Lu Chen became more convinced the longer he looked - after all, it was impossible for anyone else in the world to have a son who looked so simr to him.


    "I won''t do it," Lu Zhe said to Boss Fang beside him, "Uncle Fang, let''s go."


    "Huh?" Boss Fang came back to his senses. They''re just leaving like this? They look so alike, they might really be father and son!


    Boss Fang wanted to persuade Lu Zhe to take the paternity test, but this was Lu Zhe''s business, and he couldn''t interfere too much.


    "Sir, should we follow them?" the driver stood beside Lu Chen, unable to contain his excitement.


    He had been with the Lu family for many years. Since the young master''s disappearance over a decade ago, it had remained an unhealed wound for everyone - the master, madam, and old master Lu.


    And now, the young man who had just left could very well be the Lu family''s young master.


    "Of course we''ll follow," Lu Chen thought about how his wife had banished him to the study against night. He stroked his chin and said, "Old Cao, doesn''t that child look just like me?"


    Driver Old Cao nodded eagerly, "Yes, especially the eyes, nose, and mouth - they''re identical."


    "Alright, follow them in the car. If he won''t take the test willingly, we''ll force him," Lu Chen smiled.


    "Sir, perhaps the young master is just shocked and needs time to process this. Please don''t frighten him away," Old Cao knew well Lu Chen''s casual nature - only his wife could control him, not even the old master could manage him.


    Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, "The paternity test hasn''t even been done, and you''re already calling him young master?"


    Old Cao''s face was full of joy, "It must be him."


    The distance to the residentialplex wasn''t far, so Lu Zhe and Boss Fang walked back.


    The car kept slowly following behind Lu Zhe and Boss Fang. Boss Fang resisted the urge to look back, "Xiao Zhe, that car has been following us."


    Lu Zhe: "Ignore it."


    Boss Fang asked him, "Xiao Zhe, why won''t you agree to take the paternity test with that Lu family member? If he really is your father..."


    Lu Zhe interrupted Boss Fang, "Uncle Fang, when I learned about my condition, I had already given up on finding my family."


    Boss Fang was shocked into silence. He opened his mouth but couldn''t make a sound. What could he say?


    Even if Lu Zhe was his son, and they reunited, Lu Zhe only had a few years left to live. If they reconnected now, wouldn''t it just make his family suffer the pain of losing him again?


    It might be better not knowing where their child was, at least they could imagine he was living happily.


    Boss Fang, at his age, felt his eyes growing wet with sympathy for Lu Zhe. If only this child could be a bit more selfish.


    The car followed Lu Zhe to the residentialplex. Lu Chen got out and frowned at the surroundings.


    Seeing Lu Zhe enter the building, he continued to follow.


    Su Ci woke up around ten o''clock. Her cold hadn''tpletely cleared up, and the rabbit ears on top of her head hadn''t retracted yet.


    She saw the note Lu Zhe had left, knowing he had gone out on business, so she obediently ate the breakfast he had made and waited for his return.


    Just as she was getting bored enough to consider calling him, the doorbell suddenly rang.


    Was Lu Zhe back?


    No, Lu Zhe had keys; he wouldn''t ring the doorbell.


    Was someone looking for Lu Zhe?Aliali: 674b6b12c4f3f33ac4a257b6


    Su Ci went back to her room to put on a hat, making sure her rabbit ears were hidden, before going to open the door.


    When the door opened and she saw the tall young man standing outside, Su Ci happily rushed forward and threw herself into his arms, "Lu Zhe, you''re back! I''ve been waiting forever for you, you need to kiss me to make up for it."


    "Tuantuan." Lu Zhe caught her, showing some difort: "Stand properly."


    Su Ci was about to protest against Lu Zhe''s steadying hand on her waist when she identally met a pair of smiling phoenix eyes outside the door.


    There was someone else here?


    Lu Chen stroked his chin, hiding his surprise, "Su Shengguo''s daughter?"


    Su''s Father often boasted to Lu Chen about his daughter, so of course Lu Chen recognized Su Ci. Throughout the country, how many could match the beauty of the Su family''s treasure? Su''s Father had good reason to brag about his daughter.


    And now, Su Shengguo''s daughter seemed to be involved with this son of his who wasn''t yet confirmed?


    Strangely, Lu Chen imagined Su''s Father''s furious reaction when he learned of this.


    He gave his son an approving look - truly worthy of being his offspring.

 Chapter 43

    Su Ci looked at the man with phoenix eyes standing outside the door and was startled to discover that his features somewhat resembled Lu Zhe''s.


    Since there was someone else present, she stopped clinging to Lu Zhe and asked him, "Who is he?"


    "Don''t know him," Lu Zhe said as he led the girl inside.


    "How can you not know me? I just said I might be your father." Lu Chen felt an inexplicable sense of being rejected. He stepped forward wanting to say something, but the next moment, the door was mmed shut in his face with a "bang."


    Lu Chen was stunned.


    "Old Cao," Lu Chen said to the driver waiting nearby, "I remember over all these years, many people have tried to im they were my son or wanted me to adopt them. Howe now there''s someone who doesn''t want to be part of the Lu Family?"


    Old Cao smiled and said, "Young Master doesn''t care for wealth and has a pure nature. Others can''tpare to him."


    Lu Chen''s lips twitched, his phoenix eyes showing traces of pleasure.


    "Sir, if the young master refuses to do a paternity test, what should we do next?" Old Cao felt that the young man inside must be their Lu Family''s lost young master.


    At this moment, Boss Fang, who had returned to his residence across the street, walked out with a bag of garbage to dispose of. He hadn''t expected the Lu Family patriarch to still be standing outside Lu Zhe''s door.


    He nodded in greeting.


    "Wait," Lu Chen called out to him. He had seen this man walking with Lu Zhe earlier, and they seemed quite familiar with each other.


    "Does Mr. Lu need something?" Boss Fang thought that this Lu Family patriarch might really be Lu Zhe''s father.


    Lu Chen asked him, "Are you close with Lu Zhe?"


    "We''ve known each other for almost two years. I used to be his boss when he worked at my shop." If this man was indeed Lu Zhe''s father, Boss Fang wanted him to feel some heartache for Lu Zhe.


    Lu Chen frowned. "Worked?"


    He had ordered an investigation yesterday into whether Lu Zhe really came from an orphanage, but so far he only had partial information. The rest hadn''t been investigated yet.


    "He has no parents and can only support himself through work."


    The smile in Lu Chen''s phoenix eyes disappeared. "I want to know about Lu Zhe."


    Boss Fang looked troubled. "These are Lu Zhe''s private matters. I''m not at liberty to discuss them."


    Lu Chen said, "Even if you don''t tell me, it''s just a matter of time before my people investigate. Rather than waste time, why not let someone who knows him well tell me?"


    In the living room, after being led inside by Lu Zhe, Su Ci asked in surprise, "Who was that person? He seemed to know me."


    No, more urately, he knew Su Ci''s father.


    "Lu Zhe, did you notice? He looks a lot like you," Su Ci said curiously.


    "Have you had breakfast?" Lu Zhe patted her head, which was now covered with a hat.


    He had rung the doorbell to remind the girl, and she had indeed been clever enough to put on a hat before opening the door.


    "I have." Su Ci looked at him disapprovingly. "Lu Zhe, you''re avoiding my question."


    Lu Zhe asked her again, "Is your cold better?"


    Su Ci felt her nasal congestion had improved. "A little better. But you still haven''t answered my question. I just heard that man say he might be your father. What''s that about?"


    Lu Zhe reached over and took off the hat from the girl''s head. Two pink and white fluffy rabbit ears stood up. He stroked her head and asked, "Did you take your medicine?"


    "I did. Now answer my question quickly." Su Ci was dying of curiosity, but the young man kept dying his answer.


    Lu Zhe looked at the girl''s rabbit ears and told her, "I don''t know him. He wants me to take a paternity test."


    "Did you agree? Maybe he really is your father." Otherwise, why would their features look somewhat simr?


    "No," Lu Zhe gently stroked the girl''s hair. "I have no intention of finding my rtives."


    Su Ci blinked. "Why?"


    The hand stroking Su Ci''s hair paused, and Lu Zhe''s fingertips touched the girl''s fluffy ears. He couldn''t help but pinch the pink and white ear tips.


    "Lu Zhe." Su Ci''s legs instantly went weak, and she fell back helplessly into Lu Zhe''s arms.


    Lu Zhe could feel the girl''s ears trembling under his palm, looking utterly pitiful.


    He lowered his head and kissed her ear tips, saying softly, "I don''t have much time left. Isn''t it enough just to be with you?"


    Su Ciy limply in Lu Zhe''s embrace, her rabbit ears tingling intensely. Hearing Lu Zhe''s words, her eyes brightened, feeling both happy and slightly bitter. "Okay."


    Su Ci was very clever. She saw through Lu Zhe''s thoughts: "Lu Zhe, don''t think too much. You won''t die. You deserve to enjoy the love of family. And putting aside the matter of life and death, do you really not want to find your family?"


    That man from earlier knew Su Ci''s father, which clearly indicated his high status. If reconnecting with family would benefit Lu Zhe, Su Ci hoped he would find his rtives.


    At their youthful age, she wanted her young man to live freely and happily, not exhausting himself working for money.


    Of course, it would be fine if Lu Zhe didn''t want to acknowledge his rtives. She could support him in the future.


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze, his fingertips ying with the rabbit ears in his palm. His voice was soft, "I don''t want to."


    He didn''t dare to even think about it.


    Su Ci was stunned. She blinked, her heart turning sour and feeling slightly frustrated. She gently bit the young man''s hard shoulder, "I told you not to pinch my ears!"


    She could barely stand steady.


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly, a shallow dimple appearing on his left cheek. The rigid look in his features softened, finally showing the genuine feeling of youth. "Sorry, couldn''t help it."


    Su Ci felt she had absolutely no self-control. When Lu Zhe smiled, her body became even weaker.


    Meanwhile, on Boss Fang''s side, Lu Chen was listening to him describe Lu Zhe''s situation.


    When he heard that Lu Zhe had ALS, all traces of humor vanished from his ethereally handsome face. He fixed Boss Fang with a sharp gaze, "He has ALS?"


    Even Old Cao, standing to the side, felt his heart sink.


    "Mr. Lu, why do you think Lu Zhe refuses to take a paternity test with you? Why doesn''t he want to find his rtives?" Boss Fang felt terrible for Lu Zhe. "It''s because he knows he doesn''t have much time left. He doesn''t want to find his family only to have them lose him soon after."


    Who could bear that?


    Old Cao''s eyes grew moist hearing this. How much suffering had their young master endured?


    While other wealthy heirs lived carefree lives, wanting for nothing, their young master had grown up in hardship and now suffered from a terminal illness.


    Was this to be the end of the Lu Family line?


    Lu Chen''s eyes darkened, all casual indolence gone from his bearing. His voice became uncharacteristically heavy: "How many years does he have left?"


    "Little Zhe has been ill for nearly a year," Boss Fang said, describing Lu Zhe''s condition with a bitter taste in his mouth. "ALS patients typically only live about 3 years after onset, with some rare casessting 5 years."


    Boss Fang looked at Lu Chen''s dark expression: "Mr. Lu, when you said earlier that Lu Zhe might be your son, I was truly happy for him. Though he seems cold, he has a warm heart. If you are Lu Zhe''s father and want to acknowledge him, please make sure to treat him well."


    Beside them, Old Cao could no longer hold back. Wiping his tears, he said, "Sir, let''s quickly bring the young master home."


    Lu Chen stood up directly. Without responding, he strode out.


    On the way back, Old Cao nced at Lu Chen in the backseat through the rearview mirror, wanting to speak but hesitating.


    At this point, Lu Chen spoke: "Old Cao, today''s events must not be leaked."


    Old Cao was shocked. "Sir, aren''t you going to tell Madam and the Old Master about finding the young master?"


    He knew that Madam had always been concerned about the young master, and the elderly Old Master, advanced in years, constantly wished to see his grandson onest time.


    Lu Chen pinched the bridge of his nose. "We haven''t confirmed if he''s my son yet. I''ll find an opportunity to tell them."


    Old Cao opened his mouth but could only agree.


    The Lu Family''s rise to prominence predated the Su Family by many years. Their old mansion, though located in the city center, remained secluded and peaceful. The rockery, streams, and arrangement of flowers and nts in the courtyard were all carefully designed, with every scenic spot perfectly ced and good feng shui implications.


    Lu Chen walked into the house, and the butler came forward to take his coat.


    "Where''s Madam? Has she gone out?" Lu Chen asked the butler.


    The butler reported respectfully, "Sir, Madam is upstairs. She hasn''t gone out today."


    Lu Chen unbuttoned the top two buttons of his cor with one hand and headed upstairs.


    He pushed open the bedroom door but couldn''t find his wife. She wasn''t in the bathroom or the dressing room.


    As Lu Chen walked out, he unexpectedly discovered that his study door was open. Thinking of the documents he had been readingst night and hadn''t put away, his heart skipped a beat, and he quickly pushed open the study door.


    Seeing the slender figure standing in the study, Lu Chen felt his heart was about to jump out of his throat.


    "Ya Ya," Lu Chen called out to his wife.


    Wen Ya turned around, holding a document in her hand. She threw it onto the desk and red at Lu Chen with reddened eyes.


    Just before Wen Ya could speak, Lu Chen skillfully dropped to his knees before her with a "thud," saying, "Ya Ya, I was wrong."


    No need to say anything else - if his wife was unhappy, it was his fault.


    Wen Ya''s beautiful face showed no reduction in anger. "When did you find my son?"


    Lu Chen stood up and hurried to his wife''s side. "Just yesterday. I only got these documentsst night. I wasn''t trying to hide it from you; I just wasn''t sure if he was our son. I didn''t want to give you hope only to have it taken away."


    Hearing her husband''s exnation, Wen Ya''s anger subsided slightly, though her eyes remained red. "What about now? Are you sure?"


    "He refuses to do a paternity test," Lu Chen''s voice lowered, his peach blossom eyes dimming.


    He had originally nned to keep this matter hidden temporarily, but his wife had discovered it.


    "Why?" Wen Ya was stunned.


    Lu Chen''s jaw muscles tightened, tasting blood in his mouth. He looked at his wife, his eyes filled with indescribable gloom, and spoke word by word: "He has a terminal illness and doesn''t want to be recognized."


    Wen Ya''s head buzzed, and she felt dizzy.


    She waspletely stunned.


    "Ya Ya..." Lu Chen supported his wife. "He might not be our..."


    Wen Ya''s beautiful eyes were covered with tears. "Where is he? I want to see him."


    "I''ve already met him. He doesn''t want anything to do with me," Lu Chen tenderly wiped his wife''s tears. "Calm down first. I''ll take you to see him tomorrow."


    He was truly worried she might faint from heartbreak.


    Wen Ya took a deep breath and stood straight. "No, I want to see him now."


    Lu Chen always yielded to his wife. He grabbed some tissues nearby and continued wiping her tears before saying, "Alright, I''ll take you to see him. If he won''t do the test willingly, I''ll have someone force him to."


    "If you dare bully our son, you''ll be sleeping in the study for a month," Wen Ya scolded him through her tears.


    Lu Chen muttered quietly, "He might not even be our son..."


    Wen Ya pushed him away. "I''m going to change clothes. Hurry and have the car prepared."


    In the car.


    Old Cao had just heard Lu Chen''s instructions not to spread this matter and keep it from Madam, but unexpectedly, the master himself had revealed it immediately.


    However, only Madam could have such control over him.


    "Do you think when our son sees me, he''ll think I''ve grown old?" Wen Ya was both nervous and heartbroken. In the blink of an eye, their son had grown up, and she had be a middle-aged woman.


    "No, you''re the most beautiful in my eyes," Lu Chen was best atforting his wife, sweet words flowing naturally.


    Wen Ya''s features tended toward bright and proud, with extremely charming eyes. Thanks to her good care of herself, she showed no signs of aging and instead appeared more womanly.


    Wen Ya''s mind waspletely upied with thoughts of her son, leaving no room to pay attention to Lu Chen''s sweet talk.


    In Lu Zhe''s residence.


    He was apanying Su Ci for her afternoon nap. The girl leaned softly against his embrace, while he repeatedly yed with and teased her rabbit ears.


    "Lu Zhe," Su Ci''s ck eyes seemed capable of producing tears as she pitifully spoke, "I was wrong."


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips curved slightly, his fingertips not releasing her pink and soft rabbit ears, "Will you still cause trouble?"


    The girl was bing increasingly bold and loved to tease people.


    "I wasn''t causing trouble," Su Ci blinked her watery eyes. "I just licked your dimple because I like it."


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes deepened, and his hand ying with her ears applied slightly more pressure, nearly making the girl melt, "Tuan Tuan, do you think I won''t do anything to you?"


    That''s exactly what she thought.


    But now that her rabbit ears were in the young man''s hands, she dared not agree.


    "Don''t pinch them, I was wrong," the usually naughty and clingy Su Ci softly begged.


    Her eyes were moist, her small face white with a hint of pink, and the small beauty mark below her eye corner was extremely alluring. How could she be a little rabbit spirit? At this moment, she seemed more like an enchanting fox spirit.


    If others saw Su Ci in this state, hearing her submit so obediently, they would have lost their souls, but this didn''t apply to Lu Zhe.


    The young man''s fingertips lightly brushed over the girl''s rabbit ears, making them tremble pitifully.


    The next second, under the girl''s watery gaze, he lowered his head and moved closer to her rabbit ears.


    His thin lips parted slightly as he took the tip of her ear into his mouth.


    Su Ci widened her eyes in disbelief, not only did her ears tremble, but her entire body shook.


    Wuu, she was going to die from the stimtion!


    At this moment, the doorbell rang outside.


    Lu Zhe released Su Ci''s ear and looked at the girl who appeared dazed with a hint of allure at her eye corners. He curved his lips and asked in a low voice, "Have you learned your lesson?"


    The girl was too mischievous; she needed to taste some hardship to be more restrained.


    Su Ci nodded obediently.


    Only then did Lu Zhe pat her head and get up to open the door.


    Standing outside were Lu Chen and Wen Ya.


    Lu Chen had already met Lu Zhe before, and when Wen Ya saw the young man whose features resembled her husband''s, how could she contain herself?


    She immediately embraced Lu Zhe, "My dear son, Mom has finally found you."


    All the tears Wen Ya had shed in her life were almost all for her son. Even when she had wanted to divorce Lu Chen back then, her eyes hadn''t reddened at all.


    "Ya Ya, we haven''t confirmed if he..." Lu Chen saw his wife hugging Lu Zhe and crying painfully, and he wanted to step forward to pull her away.


    Wen Ya held Lu Zhe tightly, refusing to let go. "No need for testing, he is our son. He has a small mole on his left ear."


    Lu Chen also had a small mole on his left ear. She had told her mother before that their son not only looked like Lu Chen but even had a mole in the same position as Lu Chen''s ear. She had even been jealous, saying their son''s appearance was biased.


    Lu Chen looked at the young man''s left ear and finally noticed that he indeed had a small mole on his earlobe.


    Actually, when Lu Chen first saw Lu Zhe, he had already made some calctions, but he was always cautious in his actions. Moreover, this matter had gone through Su Ci''s father''s hands, so he had to verify multiple times.


    Now it seemed Lu Zhe really was his son.


    Wen Ya''s beautiful face was covered in tears as if she wanted to release all the longing she had felt for her son over the past decade and more.


    Lu Zhe allowed her to embrace him, his hands hanging powerlessly at his sides, his eyes lowered, thoughts unknown.


    Across the way, Boss Fang, disturbed by themotion, opened his door. Seeing the scene before him, how could he not understand what was happening?


    It seemed Lu Zhe really was the Lu family''s child; his birth parents hade to find him.


    "Dad, why is she hugging Brother Lu Zhe and crying?" Little Kuaile poked his small head out by the doorway.


    Boss Fang pushed his son inside, "Because she''s happy."


    Wen Ya was crying with hups. Lu Chen couldn''t bear to see his wife crying so heartbrokenly and quickly went forward to support her. "Alright, alright, we''ve found our son. Let''s talk properly. You''ll scare him if you cry like this."


    Only then did Wen Ya release Lu Zhe. She exined to him with red eyes, "Mom just missed you too much."


    Lu Zhe''s hands at his sides were numb. He responded with a low "Mm."


    In the living room.


    Wen Ya hadposed herself. She had read the investigation documents Lu Chen had gathered and knew about her son''s situation in the orphanage. Thinking about how her precious son had endured so much hardship, her nose stung, and she wanted to cry again.


    "Son, I''m sorry. Mom and Dad found you sote," Wen Ya stared intently at Lu Zhe. In the blink of an eye, her son had grown so tall and handsome, yet she hadn''t been able to stay by his side.


    Lu Zhe''s throat felt dry as he looked up at the couple before him. Even if he didn''t want to acknowledge it, the connection of blood rtions felt different.


    "I know this is sudden for you, but you really are our son. We failed to protect you before and lost you. Mom is so sorry," Wen Ya said. Before marrying Lu Chen, she had been the proud daughter of the Wen Family, and her personality had been equally proud. No one could make her bow her head, except now in front of her son.


    "Could you... call us Mom and Dad?" Wen Ya looked at him longingly.


    Lu Zhe stood up, gave Wen Ya and Lu Chen a nce, and walked back to his room.


    Wen Ya fearfully asked her husband, "Does our son not want to acknowledge me?"


    Lu Chen tightly gripped his wife''s trembling hand. "He just needs time to ept this."


    At that moment, Lu Zhe came back out. He sat down in his original spot and extended his hand.


    In his palmy a small golden badge.


    Upon seeing the badge, Wen Ya covered her mouth and burst into tears again.


    In the bedroom, Su Ciy weakly on the bed. Lu Zhe had yed with her rabbit ears for so long that she had no strength left.


    Her rabbit ears perked up, clearly hearing the conversation outside.


    Was that man from this morning really Lu Zhe''s father? And now even Lu Zhe''s mother hade?


    Hearing Lu Zhe''s mother cry so heartbrokenly, it was obvious that Lu Zhe wasn''t a child they had abandoned. There must be some other reason behind all this.


    Listening to their conversation, Su Ci thought it was good that there were now two more people who would cherish Lu Zhe.


    After some time, Lu Zhe opened the door and quickly closed it behind him.


    Su Ci blinked as she watched the young man approach the bed.


    "Can you get up?" Lu Zhe asked her.


    Su Ci shook her head, giving him an usatory look. "It''s all your fault!"


    The corner of Lu Zhe''s lips curved up, the coldness in his expression melting away, making him look even more handsome.


    "Did you hear our conversation?" he asked the girl.


    "I did." Su Ci''s eyes sparkled with joy. "Lu Zhe, you have parents now."


    Lu Zhe made a soft sound of acknowledgment. "I''m going back with them for a while. I''ll return tonight."


    "Go ahead, I''ll be good and wait for you," Su Ci said sweetly.


    Lu Zhe smiled and reached out to pinch the tip of her rabbit ear again.


    Su Ci was about to cry. "Ah, Lu Zhe, you''re so mean!"


    By evening, Su Ci discovered her ears had retracted, and perhaps due to working up a sweat from Lu Zhe''s teasing in the afternoon, her mild cold had actually improved.


    Just then, Lu Zhe returned. She immediately got up from the sofa and walked toward him. "Did you finish reconnecting with your family?"


    "Yes." Lu Zhe had originally nned not to acknowledge them, but with his birth parents showing up at his door and knowing of his existence, there was no point in denying it one-sidedly.


    "What''s your family like? Are they good to you?" From Lu Zhe''s father''s appearance and demeanor, Su Ci could tell he wasn''t an ordinary person. The Su Family was unusual among wealthy families for itsck of internal scheming, having only warmth instead. She worried whether Lu Zhe might face difficulties in his family.


    "There''s Dad, Mom, and Grandfather," Lu Zhe said. The Lu Family was quite small. Seeing the concern in her eyes, he reassured her, "They care for me very much."


    Lu Zhe wasn''t just saying this tofort her. When he had returned to the Lu Family, everyone, including the elderly Mr. Lu, had been wiping away tears. Before dinner, when he mentioneding back here, his grandfather had almost refused to let him leave.


    Su Ci finally rxed. She hugged Lu Zhe,zily hanging onto him. "My ears have gone back to normal, so I''ll head home soon. You should go home too." Now that he had found his family, he had a home to return to.


    "Mm." Lu Zhe picked her up, feeling her bare feet, which were a bit cold. He set her down on the sofa and turned to get her shoes. "Don''t walk barefoot on the floor."


    Su Ci nodded obediently.


    Lu Zhe sighed. The girl would always agree, but then immediately forget about it afterward.


    He held her delicate ankle and helped her put on her shoes.


    The red string he had bought for the little rabbit was still tied around her snow-white ankle, with a small jade gourd hanging from it, looking delicate and cute.


    Unable to resist, he touched the small gourd with his fingertip and asked softly, "Your birthday ising up soon?"


    Su Ci felt ticklish from the calluses on the young man''s fingers. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she dered, "I have amnesia, so I don''t remember!"


    Lu Zhe didn''t pursue the matter further.


    ......


    After Lu Zhe was acknowledged by the Lu Family, Su Ci realized this was the same Lu Family that her father didn''t get along with.Aliali: 6749083ac4f3f33ac4814cd4


    She looked at her father sitting beside her eating breakfast and couldn''t help asking, "Dad, how bad is your rtionship with the Lu Family?"


    Her father looked at her. "Why is little Ci suddenly asking about this?"


    "I''ve lost all my previous memories, and yesterday I happened to see some news online about our families not getting along," Su Ci tentatively said. "I want to know just how bad the rtionship is between the Su Family and the Lu Family?"


    Meeting his daughter''s inquiring gaze, her father cleared his throat and exined, "Actually, there''s no real conflict between the Lu Family and our Su Family. It''s just that Dad has some personal grievances with Lu Chen from their family."


    Su Ci let out a relieved breath. "That''s good, as long as it''s not a deadly feud."


    Her fatherughed, "How could it be? My rtionship with Lu Chen is at most like oil and water - where there''s one, there can''t be the other."


    Su Ci: ......


    Her father put down his newspaper and asked her kindly, "Who would you like as your dance partner for your birthday celebration?"


    Su Ci quickly shook her head.


    Except for Lu Zhe, who still couldn''t be seen in public, she didn''t want anyone else.

 Chapter 44

    Meanwhile, at the Lu family residence.


    Lu Zhe came downstairs, and Wen Ya was already waiting for him in the living room.


    "You''re awake? Did you sleep wellst night?" Wen Ya asked her son.


    She had barely slept the entire night, feeling as if she were in a dream, afraid that if she closed her eyes, her son would disappear when she woke up. During the night, she got up several times to walk to her son''s door, wanting to wait for him to wake up so she could see him first thing.


    If Lu Chen hadn''t pulled Wen Ya back to their room, she would have waited outside her son''s door all night.


    Later, after just two hours of sleep, she got up early to make breakfast for Lu Zhe.


    As a wealthy youngdy, Wen Ya had barely ever set foot in a kitchen. She learned to make steamed buns by watching the family chef. She even burned her hand while cooking porridge, but she didn''t mind at all.


    Now she wanted nothing more than to offer her son the very best, trying to make up for the eighteen years of maternal love he had missed.


    "Very well," Lu Zhe nodded.


    The room where Lu Zhe slept was one that Wen Ya had always kept for her son. Its decor had evolved from childish to boyish to teenage styles, with furnishings changing ording to Lu Zhe''s different age stages.


    Wen Ya had been waiting for her son''s return every single day.


    Despite barely sleeping, Wen Ya''s beautiful face remained bright as she smiled, "That''s good. If you don''t like the room''s setup, just tell Mom, and I''ll have it changed right away."


    "No need to trouble yourself. Everything is fine," Lu Zhe had never been particr about living conditions.


    In the orphanage, he had lived in a twelve-person room with wooden bunk beds. After being adopted by the Zhao family, he lived in a storage room with a small bed. In his previous rental apartment, he had even slept on a folding bed for a while.


    Wen Ya felt a pang in her heart - her son was too understanding.


    "Mom prepared breakfast for you. Come eat something. Your father has already contacted the best specialists in treating ALS. They''ll arrive this afternoon, and I''ll apany you for the examination," Wen Ya''s nose stung and her eyes reddened at the thought of her son''s terminal illness.


    "I''ve already been examined," Lu Zhe told Wen Ya about the specialists the Su family had arranged for him a few days ago, saying the results would be the same anyway.


    "The Su family?" Wen Ya was surprised.


    The Lu family and Su family were at most adversaries, though not exactly enemies. It was purely because her husband and Su Shengguo had disliked each other since childhood. Whenever they met, they would exchange sarcastic remarks, leading others to believe the two families were at odds.


    Lu Zhe: "Yes, I saved Uncle and Aunt Su."


    Wen Ya knew that these two members of the Su family had been caught in a fire and were rescued. She hadn''t realized her son was their savior.


    "Baby, were you hurt?" Wen Ya became anxious, even using Lu Zhe''s childhood nickname.


    Lu Zhe looked slightly ufortable and shook his head, "No."


    Wen Ya let out a relieved breath and said worriedly, "If you don''t want to get examined again, that''s fine. We can just give the doctors your test results. Mom will have them figure something out."


    After learning about her son''s ALS, she had spent her sleepless night researching the condition, and the more she read, the more her heart ached.


    No matter what, she had to find a way to treat her son.


    At this moment, Grandpa Lu walked in from outside. The elderly man had a habit of exercising early every morning.


    "Little Zhe is awake," Having found his grandson, he felt both happy and heartbroken.


    His grandson had been found, but was terminally ill. Grandpa Lu had also barely slept all night while processing this news.


    Lu Zhe: "Good morning, Grandfather."


    Regardless, Grandpa Lu was very fond of his handsome,posed grandson. "In a while, I''d like to hold a banquet to celebrate your return. What do you think?"


    Wen Ya had the same idea - her son''s return should be celebrated grandly.


    However, Lu Zhe immediately declined.


    He looked seriously at Grandpa Lu and Wen Ya, "There''s no need for a special banquet. I don''t have much time left."


    If possible, he would prefer to quietly return to the Lu family and, when the time came, quietly pass away.


    "Baby!" Wen Ya felt heartbroken.


    She understood her son''s meaning. If the Lu family held a banquet to announce his return, everyone would learn about his terminal illness. The newly found Lu family grandson soon to die - many would mock the Lu family.


    "What kind of talk is that? The Lu family will spare no effort to find treatment for you."


    The elderly grandfather couldn''t bear to hear his grandson speak this way. "If you don''t likerge crowds, we can just have a family dinner and invite only close rtives and friends. You''ve finallye back; we can''t keep it hidden from everyone."


    Lu Zhe knew this was his family''s goodwill, so he nodded in agreement.


    ......


    Su Ci knew Lu Zhe would be busy with many things after returning to the Lu family. On this hot day, she was bored watching cartoons with Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai.


    At this time, she received a call from her agent, Xu Duo.


    If he hadn''t suddenly called, Su Ci felt she would have forgotten about this person entirely.


    "Su Ci, remember that variety show I arranged for you to record? You''re scheduled to be a guest host the day after tomorrow, so please prepare well." Over the past month, Xu Duo had been very busy, with friends either getting into car idents or falling down stairs.


    While helping his friends, Xu Duo was even more grateful that he hadn''t gone out drinking because of Su Ci, thus saving half his life.


    Now, after receiving notification about Su Ci''s recording schedule, he quickly called her.


    His position in thepany was currently awkward, and he desperately needed to find a powerful trump card.


    Hearing Xu Duo''s words, Su Ci blinked and honestly replied, "I forgot."


    Recently, her heart had beenpletely focused on Lu Zhe, and she had indeed forgotten. Besides, now that she was with the Su family, she didn''t need to earn money.


    Xu Duo was surprised, "Miss Su, how could you forget such an important matter? I used my connections with the director to get you this recording opportunity. Have you taken other work?"


    "No."


    Xu Duo breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he hadn''t been outmaneuvered by others.


    "That''s good. Do you need me to arrange transportation for you in advance?" Xu Duo was full of sincerity, remembering that Su Ci seemed to be short on money.


    "Wait a moment, I''ll call you back," saying this, Su Ci hung up.


    Su Ci put on her shoes and walked to the dining room, where she found Su''s Mother arranging flowers. "Mom, someone wants me to record a variety show. What do you think?"


    Although she often lied without blinking, she was still someone who kept her word. When she was short on money before, she had indeed agreed to Xu Duo''s request to record the variety show, and she had no reason to suddenly stand him up - that would be too unprofessional.


    However, she needed to ask her family''s opinion.


    "Ci Ci, do you want to enter the entertainment industry?" Su''s Mother was a bit surprised.


    "When I was poor and needed money before, that person found me to shoot advertisements, andter I agreed to help record the show." Su Ci asked Su''s Mother, "Mom, do you dislike me entering the entertainment industry?"


    "No, whatever you like to do, Mom will support you." Su''s Mother put down the flower stems and stroked her daughter''s smooth long hair, smiling, "Besides, Ci Ci is so beautiful, you''ll definitely look good on camera."


    Su''s Mother didn''t have strong opinions about her daughter entering the entertainment industry. Although the entertainment industry was chaotic, the Su family''s influence was substantial enough to protect their daughter.


    "Our family also owns a mediapany. If you want to try the entertainment industry, tell your brother and let him arrange staff for you. You''ll need everything - manager, assistant, bodyguards, nothing can be missing," Su''s Mother said.


    "Our family has a filmpany too?" Su Ci was curious, "Which one?"


    "I think it''s called Creation God Company." Su''s Mother didn''t pay much attention to the group''s affairs.


    Su Ci blinked - wasn''t Creation God Company the one Xu Duo had mentioned to her before? So it belonged to her family?


    "There''s no need to trouble Big Brother with arranging staff for now. I''m just going to record a small variety show." She hadn''t decided yet whether to enter the entertainment industry.


    Su Ci had no particr ambition to make it big in the entertainment industry. What satisfied her before was that the industry paid well, and she received daily praise and ttery from her fans.


    Someone with her stunning beauty deserved to be praised every day.


    After learning that Su''s Mother had no objections, Su Ci returned many phone calls, inquiring about times and locations.


    That night, Su Ci told Lu Zhe that she was going to record a variety show. "It''s an online live streaming show. Will you watch it?"


    Xu Duo had told her it was a live cooking show. Compared topetitive or task-based shows, Su Ci thought a cooking show would be incredibly easy and rxing.


    After asking, she immediately added, "You must watch it. If you miss the live broadcast, watch the rey."


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved into a smile. "Mm."


    Su Ciy on the bed, watching through the video call as Lu Zhe wore a deep blue silk pajama top. Two buttons were undone at the cor, revealing his pale neck and prominent Adam''s apple.


    She couldn''t help but love everything she saw.


    With a yful nce, Su Ci''s eyes held mischief. "Lu Zhe, why don''t you undo a few more buttons?"


    Lu Zhe looked at her, puzzled.


    The girl had transformed into a little rascal - if she still had her rabbit ears, she''d definitely be a naughty bunny.


    Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Lu Zhe. "Let me see your abs."


    Lu Zhe gave Su Ci a meaningful look. It seemed she had already forgotten about having her rabbit ears pinched yesterday - typical of someone who forgets the pain once the wound heals. "Go to sleep."


    Su Ci was clever. She knew Lu Zhe wouldn''t show her, but she brought it up to prepare him mentally. After mentioning it a few more times and testing his boundaries step by step, his defenses would lower.


    He would show her eventually.


    The calcting girl was like a cunning little fox, always trying to tempt Lu Zhe into mischief.


    ......


    On the day of recording, Su Ci put on a beautiful dress and took a car to the recording location.


    This cooking show had already aired three episodes, with mediocre results and general reception. The five guests were either third-tier celebrities or inte celebrities, none with significant following.


    Recently, the show secured a major sponsor, so the director temporarily hired a currently popr rising actress. When a previous inte celebrity guest threw a tantrum and quit, Su Ci took that spot.


    Xu Duo was free today and had been waiting for Su Ci at the recording site. After not seeing her for some time, Xu Duo noticed that Su Ci''s fair face had be even more delicate and beautiful, almost translucent. Even if she just sat there during the show, she would be impossible to ignore.


    Xu Duo was wearing green today as usual, but different from before - this green outfit had moreyers to it. He wore a mint-colored suit jacket, light green trousers, and even his socks were luminescent green, with only his shoes being white.


    Su Ci thought he must dress in all green topensate for his ordinary looks, using bold colors to draw attention away from his unremarkable appearance.


    "Your face doesn''t even need makeup. Who else can go on camera with a bare face like you?" Xu Duo had managed many female artists and knew well how different they looked before and after makeup.


    Su Ci smiled at thepliment. "No, I still need to put on some lipstick at least."


    "Alright, alright." Xu Duo took her to meet the director.


    Although Xu Duo had repeatedly assured that the artist he rmended was stunning, the director hadn''t expected her to be this extraordinary.


    He was more than satisfied. Originally, he had nned to give the popr rising actress the final entrance shot, but he felt this Su Ci could definitely be the show''s finale.


    Su Ci was led to the break room where several guests had already arrived.


    When Su Ci entered, everyone turned to look at her.


    The other guests had recorded three episodes together and were already acquainted. When such a beautiful neer suddenly appeared, their eyes showed amazement.


    The first to speak was a male artist who had recently debuted with a group. He had fair and delicate features, and though not very famous, he had over a million fans. "You must be the new female guest today."


    Su Ci replied, "Yes, I''m Su Ci."


    "I''m Nan Yi." The male artist was quite outgoing and introduced himself.


    The other two were female guests. The one with a mature and elegant appearance was called Guan Jing, an inte celebrity.


    Next to her sat another guest with short hair, whose features were delicate yet androgynous, named Xie Yumin, currently a third-tier actress.


    Su Ci exchanged introductions and greetings with them, her gaze falling on their wrists. She knew this trip wasn''t wasted - rather than waiting for golden cotton candy to appear, she might as well actively seek it out.


    This was one of the reasons she agreed to record the show.


    Nan Yi''s life value showed only three yellow squares, meaning he had about thirty years of life left. Guan Jing had over fifty years, while the short-haired Xie Yumin''s life value was a red line, indicating only three days remaining.


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes and called out to Fugui, "How does Xie Yumin die?"


    Fugui, who hadn''t eaten golden cotton candy for so long, was excited to see its owner willing to save someone. Its small voice trembled with excitement, [Master, she dies from an overdose of sleeping pills due to cyberbullying. You must try hard to save her!]


    Su Ci gave Xie Yumin another look. The other woman appeared cool and unapproachable, not at all like someone with a fragile spirit. What could possibly lead to her being cyberbullied?


    Just as Su Ci was about to search online for information about her, staff members came in to announce the start of recording, and the popr rising actress had arrived.


    The show had set up a spacious cooking live stream room with a long white table in the middle, and each guest''s seat had a small hot pot.


    It seemed this episode would be about hot pot.


    Su Ci sat down next to Xie Yumin, with Guan Jing and Nan Yi sitting across from her.


    The show''s host was the director himself, who sat at the head of the long table. "We''re all in for a treat this episode."


    Nan Yi smiled, "I love hot pot the most."


    "Then you should eat moreter. Our show provides plenty," the directorughed.


    At this moment, the popr rising actress walked in. "Sorry, Director, I''mte."


    Su Ci heard the familiar voice and looked up to see Qin Shiyan walking in - she was the popr rising actress.


    "It''s fine, Xiaoyan, you must be very busytely. Just treat this recording as a chance to rx," the director was very polite to this new rising star, as she was the most famous among the five guests and had thergest fan base.


    Qin Shiyan smiled as she took her seat, but was shocked to discover Su Ci sitting next to her!


    "Ci Ci!" Qin Shiyan swallowed her urge to scream, calling out to Su Ci with both restraint and agitation, "Ci Ci, why are you here?"


    The director was a bit surprised, "You two know each other?" Isn''t this Su Ci a neer? How does Qin Shiyan know her?


    "We know each other." Before understanding the situation clearly, Qin Shiyan didn''t want to reveal too much. She wondered if the Su family knew about Su Ci suddenlying to record a show.


    "Ci Ci, how did you end up here?" Qin Shiyan asked again in a lowered voice.


    "Someone invited me, so I came." Su Ci noticed the anxiety in Qin Shiyan''s eyes and asked directly, "What''s wrong, am I not allowed to record shows?"


    "No, that''s not it." Qin Shiyan quickly denied, "It''s just that you used to look down on entertainment industry artists, I didn''t expect you..."


    When she first entered the entertainment industry, Su Ci had mocked her. What did it mean that Su Ci was now here to record a show herself? Was she pping her own face?


    Qin Shiyan felt displeased, but more than that, she felt a strong sense of crisis.


    Su Ci was too beautiful. If she wanted to enter the entertainment industry, with the Su family backing her, who wouldn''t be famous if not her?


    Qin Shiyan felt very ufortable. Why could Su Ci easily obtain what she had struggled so hard to achieve, and even looked down on it?


    Su Ci nced at her, "I lost my memory, so whatever I said before doesn''t count."


    Qin Shiyan: ......


    Just as Qin Shiyan wanted to say more, the director announced the start of the livestream.


    The director introduced each guest to the online viewers, with the camera focusing on each guest''s face as they were introduced.


    When introducing the male guest Nan Yi,ments kept flooding the screen.


    "Next up is our sincerely invited new guest, Qin Shiyan. Wee, little Yan."


    As a rising starlet, whether thepany valued Qin Shiyan''s looks and talent or her backing from the Su family, they gave her excellent resources. In just over six months since her debut, she had already amassed more than five million fans.


    When the camera turned to Qin Shiyan, the screen was flooded with even morements.


    "She''s here, she''s here! Qin Shiyan is so beautiful."


    "Smiling Face checking in, little Yan is so gorgeous."


    "Came specially to watch little Yan''s mukbang, she''s too thin, needs to eat more."


    "Does the livestream camera have a beauty filter? Why is Shiyan so beautiful? She''s stunning."


    "Only came to watch this food livestream because of little Yan, don''t know the others."


    "Truly worthy of being the entertainment industry''s most beautiful flower, unrivaled. Shiyan looks so good, the title of once-in-a-century beauty isn''t given for nothing. Hope she eats moreter, work has been tough, she''s lost weight."


    "When will the production team serve the food? Want to see how Shiyan eats, must be super cute."


    ...


    The director continued introducing: "Next up is another new guest called Su Ci, let''s wee her with apuse."


    The camera that was originally focused on Qin Shiyan moved directly to her side, pointing at Su Ci.


    Su Ci in the frame was breathtakingly beautiful, with no issues of looking bigger on camera at all.


    "Is she a neer? Haven''t seen her before, she''s so beautiful."


    "Wow, why does it look like there''s a beauty filter when the camera''s on this female guest? Did she pay for special effects?"


    "Heavens, what stunning beauty is this? That face must be surgically enhanced, right?"


    "To the fans who were just praising Qin Shiyan as the most beautiful in entertainment with no rivals,e out and face reality."


    "I thought Qin Shiyan was quite pretty earlier, but after seeing this guest, I now know what true beauty is."


    "Don''tpare some unknown stic surgery product with our natural little Yan, okay?"


    "Little Yanes from an extraordinary background, her family has connections, her aura is much better than this Su Ci."


    ...


    Whileizens were discussing, staff members brought in prepared dishes.


    They ced them in front of each guest.


    The director announced: "Today we''re having rabbit hot pot."


    Su Ci froze.


    Then, she saw what the staff brought: spicy rabbit head, braised rabbit meat, rabbit meat and radish stew, diced rabbit, stir-fried rabbit, and some uncooked sliced rabbit meat, along with other side dishes.


    Su Ci pressed her lips together, looking at the director in disbelief. She seriously suspected whether the director had some deep-seated grudge against rabbits, to the point of serving an all-rabbit feast!


    "No wonder the director said we''re in for a treat today, rabbit meat is indeed delicious." Nan Yi''sugh was hearty, though his paleplexion gave him a somewhat sickly appearance. "Well then, I won''t stand on ceremony."


    The director was also a foodie, one of the reasons he made this show was because he loved eating. "Hurry and try it, today''s chef is excellent at cooking rabbit."


    "It looks delicious." Guan Jing smiled gracefully and started eating.


    Despite her refined appearance, in the previous three episodes, except for Nan Yi, she ate the most and got more camera time than other guests.


    Xie Yumin didn''t say much but also started eating.


    For a food show, viewers most enjoy watching celebrities eat heartily, as it stimtes their own appetite. No one wants to watch stars being pretentious, taking tiny bites, or eating very little.


    Qin Shiyan understood this principle well, so she also began eating.


    "Ahh, little Yan, eat more!"


    "I shouldn''t have watched this show while eating."


    "My instant noodles suddenly don''t taste as good anymore."


    "Qin Shiyan isn''t pretentious at all, she''s eating so well, the way she gnaws on the spicy rabbit head is just like me."


    "Nan Yi is eating so fast, child don''t rush, don''t rush, the production team said there''s plenty today."


    "Guan Jing is eating so heartily, I saw her put lots of rabbit meat into the pot."


    "Am I the only one who noticed that Su Ci is just sitting there not moving? Everyone else is eating so well, but she''s just sitting there?"


    "Su Ci must be maintaining her figure, not everyone can eat without gaining weight like little Yan."


    Su Ci was unaware of theizens'' constant criticism. Although she had once threatened Lu Zhe that she would eat a spicy rabbit head every time he hugged a rabbit, she was just joking.


    As a half-rabbit, how could she possibly eat rabbit meat?


    Su Ci didn''t pick up any rabbit meat, instead choosing other side dishes and eating small bites.


    Beside her, Qin Shiyan naturally noticed that Su Ci hadn''t eaten any rabbit meat. After swallowing her food, she actively picked up a spicy rabbit head and ced it in Su Ci''s bowl, "Ci Ci, this tastes good, you should try it."


    Su Ci nced at the red rabbit head in her bowl, suppressing her difort, she said: "I don''t eat rabbit meat."


    She put the bowl aside and took a new one.


    Qin Shiyan was slightly stunned, as if just realizing, and yed along, apologizing: "I''m sorry, I didn''t know you don''t like rabbit meat."


    Fans who saw Qin Shiyan kindly offering food to Su Ci, only to be ungraciously rejected, immediately became angry.


    "This Su Ci''s pretentiousness makes me want to vomit. Little Yan is too kind, just eat more yourself, don''t mind others."Aliali: 6749083ac4f3f33ac4814cd4


    "Coming to a food show just to establish some ''kind to animals'' image?"


    "Am I the only one who noticed the camera looks like it has a beauty filter when it''s on Su Ci''s face? Is her skin really that good?"


    "Everyone else is eating so well, this female guest barely eats anything, just make her leave."


    ...


    Lu Zhe had just gone with Boss Fang to look at venues. When Lu Chen learned his son wanted to open apany but hadn''t found a location yet, he immediately had someone take his son to choose suitable office space from among their properties.


    Properties that they wouldn''t have dared consider before, in prime locations where every inch was worth gold, were now easily obtained. Boss Fang felt like he was dreaming, finding it hard to believe.


    Previously he had worried about that madman from the He family constantly blocking them, but now with the Lu family''s backing, Boss Fang felt his backbone straighten.


    "Little Zhe, if you have other matters to attend to, you can head back first," Boss Fang noticed the young man seemed somewhat distracted.


    Lu Zhe nodded, "Then I''ll take my leave."


    As he walked, he opened his phone, and when he logged in, Lu Zhe saw Su Ci expressionlessly eating vegetables while the bulletments were all demanding she leave the show.

 Chapter 45

    Lu Zhe had never paid attention to the entertainment industry or watched variety shows. Looking at the abusivements in the danmu (bullet screenments), his dark eyes grew cold.<span>0


    He casually scanned through several messages criticizing Su Ci for participating in a food show, acting arrogant, being ungrateful by not epting Qin Shiyan''s goodwill, and using her of having stic surgery.<span>0


    Lu Zhe noticed that all the dishes ced in front of Su Ci contained rabbit meat, which she didn''t touch, eating only the side dishes instead.<span>0


    Meanwhile, the guests around her were eating heartily.<span>0


    She had be the target of criticism.<span>0


    Lu Zhe''s eyes turned ice-cold; he knew better than anyone why Su Ci wouldn''t eat rabbit meat.<span>0


    But he couldn''t understand why refusing to eat rabbit meat warranted such attacks. As forizens using Su Ci of stic surgery, it was even more iprehensible - were their eyes medical scanners? How could they determine if someone had stic surgery through a screen?<span>0


    "Young Master," Old Cao waited outside the building.<span>0


    Lu Zhe got in the car, "Uncle Cao, I need to go to the film studio on Green Banyan Road."<span>0


    Old Cao quickly responded, "Yes, Young Master."<span>0


    Sensing the tense atmosphere in the car, Old Cao couldn''t help but nce in the rearview mirror, noticing that the young master''s expression didn''t look good.<span>0


    Still recording the show, Su Ci had tried every side dish but hadn''t touched a single piece of rabbit meat. She wasn''t aware of thements about her in the danmu, but even if she knew, she still wouldn''t eat rabbit meat.<span>0


    The director, who had his phone and was monitoring onlinements, felt bad seeing so manyizens attacking Su Ci. He kindly suggested, "Su Ci, the spicy rabbit head is really delicious, why don''t you try some?"<span>0


    Su Ci declined again: "I''m sorry, Director, but I don''t eat rabbit meat."<span>0


    "Who is this neer Su Ci? She won''t even listen to the director? So unprofessional."<span>0


    "LOL, what makes her think she''s bigger than my Shiyan?"<span>0


    "Are all these people attacking the neer Qin Shiyan''s fans?"<span>0


    "Since when is not wanting to eat rabbit meat a crime? Can you stop focusing on Su Ci? Why not pay attention to Nan Yi instead? He''s eating so much, truly a foodie..."<span>0


    "Watching Shiyan eat makes me hungry, totally different from someone putting on airs."<span>0


    The livestream onlysted 40 minutes. By the end, Su Ci noticed that Nan Yi across from her had finished all his rabbit meat, and Guan Jing beside him had done the same.<span>0


    Xie Yumin had also eaten quite a bit. Although Qin Shiyan had been eating continuously, she chewed each bite slowly, taking over ten chews before swallowing. Her pace wasn''t fast, and she hadn''t actually eaten much of the rabbit meat in front of her, but she created the illusion of eating a lot by constantly having food in her mouth.<span>0


    As for Su Ci, she had finished all the side dishes but hadn''t touched any rabbit meat.<span>0


    As soon as the recording ended, Qin Shiyan immediately asked her assistant to bring her digestive medicine, while Guan Jing had someone help her to the bathroom to purge.<span>0


    The male guest Nan Yi wasn''t looking well either. He leaned back in his chair ufortably, holding his stomach, his naturally pale face growing even paler.<span>0


    His assistant quickly brought him a cup of hot water, "Brother Nan, take your medicine quickly."<span>0


    When Nan Yi debuted, hispany had created a foodie persona for him, and fans loved watching him eat. Whenever he was on camera or in front of fans, he maintained this image of a big eater.<span>0


    Having just finished so much rabbit meat, he was already stuffed. Given that Nan Yi already had stomach problems, eating so much at once was too much for his stomach to handle.<span>0


    "Ci Ci, this is how tough the entertainment industry is. Though we might look morous on the surface, everyone has to work hard just to get a bit more attention and love from the audience and fans," Qin Shiyan advised Su Ci. "Ci Ci, there''s no need for you to suffer like this if you''re so delicate."<span>0


    "Oh," Su Ci responded casually, her attention not on Qin Shiyan''s words at all, but rather on Xie Yumin to her right.<span>0


    Qin Shiyan felt a bit awkward, "Ci Ci, I have another schedule to attend, I need to go. If you need anything, feel free to contact me anytime."<span>0


    Su Ci couldn''t be bothered to respond and instead asked Xie Yumin, "Can I have your contact information?"<span>0


    Qin Shiyan maintained herposed expression, brushed her hair, and left.<span>0


    Xie Yumin was surprised at being asked for her contact information, as she and Su Ci had barely exchanged five sentences throughout the show. "Sure."<span>0


    After adding each other as friends, Su Ci continued asking Xie Yumin: "Are you free on Friday?"<span>0


    Xie Yumin thought this extraordinarily beautiful girl might be too friendly.<span>0


    She asked Su Ci, "Is there something going on?"<span>0


    Su Ci thought for a moment and said, "Friday is my birthday. I don''t have many friends, and I''d like to invite you to my birthday party."<span>0


    Today was Tuesday, and Xie Yumin would die on Friday, which happened to be her birthday. Since she couldn''t keep watching Xie Yumin constantly, she needed to keep her close by. Surely Xie Yumin wouldn''tmit suicide at her birthday party.<span>0


    Xie Yumin hadn''t expected Su Ci to invite her to her birthday party. "I''m sorry, I..."<span>0


    "I really hope you cane," Su Ci looked at Xie Yumin with herrge, moist eyes. "When I first saw you, I felt an instant connection. I want to be friends with you."<span>0


    Su Ci was beautiful and naturally drew people in. With her deliberately softened voice and bright, dewy eyes, anyone would melt at such a look.<span>0


    Xie Yumin had a cold, aloof exterior that made people feel distant, and others found her difficult to approach. This was the first time she''d met someone so beautiful who actively wanted to be her friend.<span>0


    "I don''t have any friends, and I really hope you cane to my birthday party," Su Ci wasn''t lying - she truly didn''t have any friends here.<span>0


    At that moment, Xie Yumin''s manager came over to inform her that the car was ready, as she had another appointment to attend.<span>0


    Xie Yumin stood up and looked down at Su Ci, "Send me the time and location."<span>0


    Su Ci''s eyes curved into a smile, "No problem."<span>0


    It seemed no one could resist her charm, except for that stone-cold Lu Zhe!<span>0


    Su Ci also stood up to leave when Xu Duo came rushing over with a phone.<span>0


    "Something else?" Su Ci was momentarily dazzled by Xu Duo''s green outfit, thinking he looked like a walking tree.<span>0


    Xu Duo came up to Su Ci, "You''re trending."<span>0


    Su Ci wasn''t particrly surprised. In the past, she had been a regr on trending topics just because of her face, practically owning a yearly subscription to the trending list. Now that she was even more beautiful than before, trending was normal. "What nice things are people saying about me?"<span>0


    Xu Duo looked at her with aplicated expression, "They''re not praising you. Look for yourself - they''re criticizing you."<span>0


    Su Ci took the phone. The trending topic read: Qin Shiyan''s First Variety Show Appearance, Kindly Offers Food But Gets Rejected.<span>0


    "The headline is about Qin Shiyan, what does it have to do with me?" Su Ci was bewildered, noting that even the title featured Qin Shiyan.<span>0


    "Click and read it," Xu Duo hadn''t expected Su Ci''s first show appearance to trend like this, piggybacking on someone else''s poprity and getting criticized.<span>0


    Su Ci clicked on the trending topic. It contained a video clip from Qin Shiyan''s food livestream, showing not only segments of Qin Shiyan eating but also the part where she offered food to Su Ci and was rejected.<span>0


    Most of thements were from Qin Shiyan''s fans.<span>0


    "Qin Shiyan is so beautiful, her skin is amazing."<span>0


    "Shiyan is too thin, she should eat more."<span>0


    "Watching Shiyan eat makes me hungry too."<span>0


    "Why did that guest next to her reject our Shiyan''s offered food?"<span>0


    "I wish Yanyan would offer me food too, the guest next to her is so ungrateful."<span>0


    "I watched the livestream, that female guest was so stuck up. Everyone was eating rabbit meat, but she pretentiously refused. So annoying. Our Shiyan is so famous but has no celebrity pretenses, that''s why she''s my idol."<span>0


    "Not a fan of either, but just from the video, this female guest is really beautiful."<span>0


    "To thement above, the female guest obviously paid for better camera effects. Whenever the camera shows her face, it glows white, her skin looks even better than Qin Shiyan''s, it''s so fake."<span>0


    "I hate this Su Ci guest, she even copied our Shiyan by having a small tear mole under her eye corner, that''s our Shiyan''s signature!!!"<span>0


    As Su Ci read more, she became increasingly frustrated. Were all of Qin Shiyan''s fans brainless? What was wrong with her not eating the food Qin Shiyan offered? Whichw stated that one must eat food offered by others? And why was she being criticized for not eating rabbit meat?<span>0


    All of that was somewhat tolerable, but being used of stic surgery was something Su Ci absolutely couldn''t stand. They could question anything about her, but not her natural beauty!<span>0


    Moreover, Qin Shiyan''s fans even imed that her beauty mark was copied from Qin Shiyan? Thispletely crossed Su Ci''s line.<span>0


    She had seen Qin Shiyan''s old photos - Qin Shiyan only got her beauty mark a few months ago. How did it suddenly be her exclusive trademark?<span>0


    Xu Duo noticed Su Ci''s unhappy expression and tried tofort her: "For your first TV show recording, trending on social media isn''t necessarily bad. Even negative attention is still attention. Besides, she''s currently popr and has apany and team backing her promotional efforts. You haven''t signed with anypany and don''t have any resources behind you. You''ll just have to take this loss."<span>0


    Su Ci handed the phone back to him, "I hate losing the most." She wasn''t nning to let this go.<span>0


    "What are you going to do?" Xu Duo was a bit surprised, knowing Su Ci was just a girl without money or connections.<span>0


    "I''ll handle it," Su Ci didn''t borate. Just then, she received a message from Lu Zhe.<span>0


    Outside, a ck car was waiting.<span>0


    Su Ci got in and immediately saw Lu Zhe in the seat.<span>0


    He was wearing a white dress shirt today, crisp and well-fitted, made of high-quality fabric. The buttons were done up to the top of the cor, and the young man''s cool demeanor gave off an inexplicable sense of restraint.<span>0


    Usually, Lu Zhe wore either the white and blue school uniform or simple ck t-shirts. This was the first time Su Ci had seen him in a white dress shirt.<span>0


    She found herself mesmerized.<span>0


    "How was the recording today?" Lu Zhe grabbed a bottle of mineral water from beside him, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to her.<span>0


    Su Ci took a couple of small sips, her lips bing more moist and glossy. She shook her head and looked at Lu Zhe pitifully, "It wasn''t fun at all."<span>0


    "Did you watch my livestream?" Su Ciined to Lu Zhe: "The director must have something against rabbits - he prepared an all-rabbit feast. I didn''t eat any of it, and now I''m being criticized on social media."<span>0


    Lu Zhe: "It''s not your fault."<span>0


    "Of course it''s not my fault." Su Ci was very annoyed.<span>0


    Seeing the girl puffing up with anger, and thinking of the online abuse directed at her, Lu Zhe spoke up: "I''ll help you get revenge."<span>0


    "Hmm?"<span>0


    Though Lu Zhe now lived at the Lu residence, he hadn''t given up his rented apartment yet.<span>0


    At his ce, Lu Zhe sat at theputer, his fingers flying across the keyboard.<span>0


    Su Ci had been curious about how Lu Zhe nned to help her get revenge. Now she watched as the young man deleted one negativement after another about her from the bullet screenments, even banning those ounts from posting. Her heart warmed.<span>0


    Su Ci remembered when she first entered the entertainment industry and was deliberately targeted by haters. Back then, she was fighting alone, creating alternate ounts to argue back one by one, even spending money to hirement armies.<span>0


    But now things were different.<span>0


    She watched the serious-faced young man, joy hidden in her eyes.<span>0


    Lu Zhe was impressive - he not only deleted all thements criticizing her but even removed the trending topic. Su Ci didn''t know how he managed it. "Lu Zhe, you''re amazing." She could have paid someone to remove the trending topic, but this was different.<span>0


    Lu Zhe was protecting her now.<span>0


    After finishing his work, Lu Zhe stopped typing, "Don''t worry, their ounts will be banned frommenting for the next month. They''ll just think their ounts are malfunctioning."<span>0


    Su Ci wasn''t even thinking about thoseizens anymore. She had been angry, but didn''t actually care that much. She had just been acting pitiful in front of Lu Zhe to tease him.<span>0


    She hadn''t expected the young man to take it so seriously.<span>0


    Su Ci swung one leg over him, straddling his legs, and sat on hisp, smiling at him. "Lu Zhe, how much longer can I stay in human form?"<span>0


    "Two days," Lu Zhe kept track in his mind.<span>0


    "Then you should kiss me," Su Ci said matter-of-factly.<span>0


    Lu Zhe was forced to lean back in his chair. He looked helplessly at the girl as she reached out to unbutton his shirt. "I can kiss you, but why are you unbuttoning my shirt?"<span>0


    "Isn''t it ufortable with your cor buttoned so tight?" The young man''s buttons were done up tightly, making them difficult to undo.<span>0


    Her small hands fumbled around his neck area. Lu Zhe grabbed her wandering hands with hisrger ones, holding them behind her back. "Stop fidgeting, I''ll undo them myself."<span>0


    The girl was forced to straighten her back, making her upper body curves more prominent.<span>0


    Lu Zhe was about to let go, worried about hurting her, when Su Ci lifted her delicate chin and gave him a testing look, asking suggestively: "Are you trying to force a kiss on me?"<span>0


    Lu Zhe tried to keep a straight face. "No."<span>0


    "Then let''s try it." Su Ci found it thrilling.<span>0


    Lu Zhe didn''t want to indulge the girl''s strange ideas. "Get down, I''ll take you home."<span>0


    Su Ci deliberately wiggled in his arms, clinging to him softly, "Kiss me quick, you''re not a man if you don''t!"<span>0


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened. He gave the mischievous girl a long look and chuckled, "Tuantuan, you really are..."<span>0


    Really what?<span>0


    Su Ci didn''t hear the end of it. Her hands were still held behind her back by the young man''srge hands, and then she was forced to lean against the edge of theputer desk, the wooden edge digging ufortably into her back.<span>0


    Lu Zhe lowered his head, his cool thin lips meeting Su Ci''s small mouth. Unlike the usual light, fleeting kisses or gentle caresses, the heavy pressure made Su Ci''s lips hurt.<span>0


    Until her teeth were forced open by his insistent pressure, her mind went nk.<span>0


    After what seemed like forever, Su Ci was truly weak this time. She licked her lips, knowing without looking in a mirror that they must be swollen.<span>0


    She deliberately took a sharp breath and used Lu Zhe, "Are you part dog? You bit me!"<span>0


    The coolposure had long since left Lu Zhe''s features. He looked down at the girl - her lips were a beautiful red and glistening wet. He ran his thumb over them and chuckled, "Next time you misbehave, I won''t just bite you here."<span>0


    Su Ci blinked in disbelief. Oh no, oh no, her young man had turned bad.<span>0


    When Su Ci got home, she received threerge bank transfers one after another.<span>0


    They were from Su''s Father, Su''s Mother, and her older brother Su ZhiYuan.<span>0


    Su Ci was surprised - why were they all sending her money?<span>0


    "Ci Ci, you''re back?" Su''s Mother had been waiting in the living room.<span>0


    "Mom, why did you transfer money to me again?" Su Ci went over to sit down.<span>0


    "Mom watched your livestream. My daughter is so beautiful - thoseizens have no taste. Ci Ci, don''t mind what they say." During the livestream, Su''s Mother had watched the whole time. Seeing her daughter being abused byizens made her both angry and heartbroken.<span>0


    "I''m not bothered by what they say." Just Qin Shiyan''s brainless fans.<span>0


    Su''s Mother saw that her daughter''s expression was normal, her fair face still carrying a light blush, looking healthy. Indeed, she showed no signs of being hurt, which made her mother breathe a sigh of relief.<span>0


    "But why did you, dad, and brother all transfer money to me?" The three transfers added up to nine figures.<span>0


    "Your father and brother sent you money too?" Su''s Mother said with a smile: "We were worried you might be feeling down, so we wanted you to go shopping to cheer yourself up." They hadn''t expected their daughter to bepletely unbothered.<span>0


    Just as Su''s Mother finished speaking, Su Ci received a message from Su''s Father: "Little Ci, if anything makes you unhappy, just tell dad. Dad will help you solve it."<span>0


    Even her older brother Su ZhiYuan sent a message: "Whoever bullies you, big brother will bully them back."<span>0


    Su Ci blinked, hiding the moisture in her eyes.<span>0


    She felt that being spoiled by so many people would only make her more pampered and willful.<span>0


    Meanwhile, after leaving the recording site, Qin Shiyan was informed by her manager that she was trending on social media. Seeing her fans'' abuse of Su Ci in thements, she had to admit it felt as refreshing as eating ice on a hot day.<span>0


    The precious Su family youngdy, actually being despised and cursed by so many people - how could she not feel secretly delighted?<span>0


    "Xiao Yan, your first variety show appearance had great results," her manager praised with satisfaction.<span>0


    During the recording earlier, she was worried that Qin Shiyan''s spotlight might be stolen by the new female guest, but unexpectedly, thetter made a fatal mistake, causing manyizens to dislike her, essentially handing over poprity to Qin Shiyan.<span>0


    "That new female guest doesn''t seem very smart. You can interact with her again next time," the agent''s words were clear - the female guest was foolish, and Qin Shiyan could use her as a stepping stone.<span>0


    How could Qin Shiyan not want to step over Su Ci? But she wasn''t stupid enough to forget about the Su family backing Su Ci.<span>0


    If she really dared to use Su Ci as a stepping stone, she might disappear from the entertainment industry the very next day.<span>0


    Even now, with her fans cursing Su Ci on the trending topic, she wasn''t sure if the Su family would hold her responsible.<span>0


    Thinking about this, Qin Shiyan''s secret satisfaction vanished. She considered whether to remove the trending topic, "Sister Fang, it''s not right to bully neers like this. Should we remove this trending topic?"<span>0


    "Xiaoyan, are you exhausted to the point of confusion?" her agent said, "So many people dream of trending, and you want to remove it for a neer?"<span>0


    Qin Shiyan felt frustrated. She didn''t really want to remove the trending topic - she wished everyone would hate Su Ci, but she had to consider the Su family''s influence.<span>0


    Never mind, she thought, since she didn''t buy the trending topic herself, it had nothing to do with her. Theizens cursing Su Ci were acting on their own,pletely unrted to her. Even if the Su family wanted to investigate, it wouldn''t be her fault.<span>0


    Most importantly, she wanted more people to hate and curse Su Ci.<span>0


    However, not long after, while Qin Shiyan was still feeling smug, the trending topic about her was suddenly removed.<span>0


    Her heart skipped a beat, and then she watched as her agent answered a phone call.<span>0


    The agent''s voice was loud: "What do you mean rece Qin Shiyan as the spokesperson?"<span>0


    Beside her, Qin Shiyan nearly bit her lip until it bled, her body turning cold.<span>0


    Just a moment ago, she was still holding onto hope, but now, the Su family''s warning had arrived.<span>0


    Su Ci was blessed with such good fortune that it made others both envious and resentful.<span>0


    ......<span>0


    Su Ci''s birthday party was held at the Su family home, with invitations extended to close friends and business partners. Surprisingly, the Su family had also invited the Lu family.<span>0


    Everyone knew about the discord between the Su and Lu families - Su Shengguo and Lu Chen, the heads of both families, had even publicly mocked each other. Now everyone was wondering what this meant and whether the Lu family would ept the invitation.<span>0


    At the Lu residence.<span>0


    Wen Ya watched her husband leisurely changing clothes, frowning as she urged, "Can''t you hurry up?"<span>0


    "Yaya, no need to rush. The main characters always appearst," Lu Chen said mboyantly as he tried on a navy blue suit with subtle patterns.<span>0


    "Today''s main character is the Su family''s eldest daughter. What kind of main character are you?" Wen Ya rolled her eyes, "Wear the ck suit - even our son dresses more maturely than you." This troublemaker would cause chaos every time he went out.<span>0


    Lu Chen gave his wife a wronged look, but wife''s orders couldn''t be defied, so he could only take out the ck suit squeezed in the corner of the closet.<span>0


    "The Su family invited us this time purely because our son is their lifesaver, not because of you," Wen Ya''s heart waspletely focused on their son now. "You can''t antagonize Su Shengguo at the banquet anymore. If you cause trouble and embarrass our son, you''ll be sleeping in the study for three months."<span>0


    Previously, Lu Chen couldn''t even bear sleeping in the study for a week. Hearing his wife mention three months, how could he dare to misbehave?<span>0


    Lu Chen raised his eyebrows and eagerly promised, "Don''t worry, I guarantee that even if Su Shengguo insults me, I won''t talk back, and if he hits me, I won''t fight back."<span>0


    Only then was Wen Ya satisfied.<span>0


    Downstairs, Lu Zhe was already waiting for his parents. He wore a custom-made ck suit that made him look even more handsome, his refined features gleaming under the lights.<span>0


    Wen Ya, supported by her husband, came downstairs. Seeing her son standing there with perfect posture, her eyes welled up - her son had grown into a man.<span>0


    The Su family home was especially lively today. Little Tiancai and Little Su Ning were both wearing small ck suits, looking particrly dashing.<span>0


    Su''s Mother instructed two servants to keep a close eye on the children.<span>0


    Little Tiancai and Little Su Ning gathered at Su Ci''s door, secretly watching their sister. "Sister is beautiful."<span>0


    Su Ci was indeed beautiful today, wearing a nude pink evening gown adorned with starry crystal embellishments. With her snow-white skin, dark hair, red lips, and white teeth, she was beautiful enough to mesmerize anyone.<span>0


    Xie Yumin was led to Su Ci''s room, still in a daze.<span>0


    She could never have imagined that Su Ci, the new guest on the cooking show, was actually the Su family''s eldest daughter.<span>0


    Everyone in City B knew about the Su family''s background - even the leading entertainmentpanies were just one of the Su family''s many enterprises.<span>0


    She had heard that Qin Shiyan, another guest on the cooking show, had risen to fame so quickly because she was the Su family''s adopted daughter, but those were just rumors.<span>0


    However, the Su Ci before her was real - she was genuinely the Su family''s eldest daughter.<span>0


    "What''s wrong? Are you stunned by my beauty?" Su Ci stood up and asked Xie Yumin with a smile.<span>0Aliali: 67544169ab2494648e03cfe5


    "You''re the Su family''s daughter," Xie Yumin tried to find her voice.<span>0


    Su Ci nodded, "Yes, I am."<span>0


    "But you said..." Xie Yumin felt like she had been fooled. Back then, Su Ci had seemed so pitiful when she spoke, which had softened her heart and made here to Su Ci''s birthday party. "You''re the Su family''s daughter - how could you not have friends?"<span>0


    With Su Ci''s status, others would be fighting to be her friend. No wonder Qin Shiyan had been so polite to Su Ci during the recording, with a hint of caution in her tone.<span>0


    It also exined why the trending topic about Su Ci was removed so quickly, and why no more information about her could be found online.<span>0


    "Being the Su family''s daughter and whether I have friends are two different things," Su Ci nced at Xie Yumin''s wrist - she had three hours left in her life value.<span>0


    Su Ci continued, "Friends made with ulterior motives can only be considered business rtionships or partnerships, not true friends. I sincerely want to be friends with you, and I wasn''t deliberately hiding my identity."<span>0


    Xie Yumin was surprised by her candor and apologized, "I''m sorry."<span>0


    "It''s alright. I''m very happy you came," Su Ci winked at her, "I hope you''ll enjoy yourselfter."<span>0


    At that moment, Little Su Ning ran in on his short legs, putting his hands on both sides of his face and calling out to Su Ci in his baby voice, "Sister, brother-inw is here!"<span>0

 Chapter 46

    Although Little Su Ning had only met Lu Zhe twice - once at the hotel and once during a video call - the clever little boy had a good memory and recognized Lu Zhe immediately when he appeared.


    Even though he was young, he knew his sister liked his brother-inw, and his sister would always smile happily when video calling him.


    So when the little one saw Lu Zhe, his first thought was to tell his sister.


    "Sister, brother-inw is here," Little Su Ning went to his sister''s side and repeated in his sweet childish voice.


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up. She bent down and patted the little one''s head, "Ning Ning is so thoughtful, truly worthy of being my brother. Tonight, sister will reward you with a big pudding."


    Little Su Ning beamed with bright eyes, delighted by his sister''s praise and the promised reward.


    Xie Yuting, who was standing nearby, was shocked. She had never heard about the Su family''s daughter being married - where did this brother-inwe from?


    As the banquet was about to begin, Su Ci, knowing that Xie Yumin had attempted suicide due to cyberbullying, had already arranged for people to monitor online discussions. Any topics about Xie Yuting would be immediately removed, as cyberbullying was the root cause.


    Meanwhile, Su Ci had someone escort Xie Yumin downstairs, keeping watch over her movements.


    As guests gradually arrived at the banquet, Lu Zhe came with his parents to the Su residence.


    The arrival of the three immediately drew everyone''s attention.


    Lu Chen needed no introduction - with his devastatingly handsome face, he had always been the center of attention. Beside him, Wen Ya was strikingly beautiful. This couple, whether fifteen years ago or now, was so perfectly matched that they inspired both admiration and envy.


    However, this time, many noticed an exceptionally good-looking young man beside them, whose features somewhat resembled Lu Chen''s.


    "Could that be Lu Chen''s son?"


    "Wasn''t Lu Chen''s son lost fifteen years ago?"


    "Yes, he was lost. This must be an illegitimate child. I knew the Lu family couldn''t be without an heir."


    "I thought Lu Chen loved Wen Ya so much, but aren''t all men the same? The illegitimate son is already this grown up."


    "The Lu family is wealthy and powerful; they need an heir to inherit their empire. Ever since Wen Ya lost her child, she hasn''t been able to conceive. Even if Lu Chen has an illegitimate son, she can only turn a blind eye. Otherwise, why would they bring him to such a public event?"


    Several female guests huddled together, whispering. After all, they had long been jealous of how Lu Chen doted on Wen Ya all these years. Especially since Wen Ya hadn''t given the Lu family an heir, yet her position remained unshakeable, with Lu Chen wrapped around her finger and not a hint of scandal.


    Meanwhile, their own husbands kept mistresses outside. Theparison was infuriating. Now, seeing an apparent illegitimate son in the Lu family, they couldn''t help but make acidic remarks.


    Lu Chen seemed to sense their gossip and cast a nce in their direction, immediately silencing the whispering group.


    At this moment, Su Ci''s parents emerged, with Su ZhiYuan at their side.


    The Su family was famous for their good looks, and the Lu family was equally blessed in that department. Everyone agreed that City B''s most beautiful people were all born into either the Su or Lu families.


    "Lu Chen, I thought you''d be thest to arrive again," Su Ci''s father said, well aware of his character.


    Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, his phoenix eyes twinkling with amusement, "I''m in a good mood today, so I''ll give you some face."


    "Uncle Su, Aunt Su, Brother Su," Lu Zhe greeted them politely.


    Su Ci''s father had a good impression of this young man. When he had investigated Lu Zhe''s background and revealed it to Lu Chen, it was mainly out of gratitude. Now seeing him return to the Lu family, he felt happy for them.


    "Good," Su Ci''s father nodded, then said to Lu Chen with a smile, "I helped you find your son - how will you thank me?"


    Lu Chen was an old fox, and it wasn''t easy to extract anything from him.


    He gave a coldugh, refusing to yield an inch, "I recall you mentioning that my son was your family''s savior. If anyone should be thanking anyone, you should be thanking us."


    Su Ci''s father and Lu Chen continued their verbal sparring, neither gaining the upper hand.


    Wen Ya and Su Ci''s mother were already used to such situations.


    "Is Su Ciing down soon?" Wen Ya asked Su Ci''s mother.


    "Yes," Su Ci''s mother replied, seeing Lu Zhe had already returned to his parents'' side. She was somewhat acquainted with Wen Ya, who had spent so many years searching for her son. Now that Lu Zhe had returned to the Lu family, Wen Ya would surely cherish him dearly.


    She felt this could somewhat ease her guilt.


    Meanwhile, He Ermeng had already arrived with his older brother at the Su residence. Several youngdies of simr age tried to approach him for conversation, but his arrogant and aloof demeanor didn''t spare them even a nce.


    He was waiting for Su Ci.


    After so many days of vacation, he hadn''t seen her and was desperately missing her.


    He followed his brother around listlessly, casually responding to those trying towork with them. When his eyes inadvertently caught sight of Lu Zhe, who had suddenly appeared at the Su family banquet wearing a ck suit, he was shocked.


    What was Lu Zhe''s status that he could attend Su Ci''s banquet?


    He Ermeng''s eyes shed with anger, but then he remembered that Lu Zhe had saved Su Ci''s parents.


    "What are you looking at?" His older brother patted his shoulder, "Come on, the Lu family is here, let''s go greet them."


    Although the He family was powerful, they still couldn''tpare to the Lu and Su families.


    He Ermeng suppressed his thoughts and followed his brother.


    "Uncle Lu, Aunt Lu, Uncle Su, Aunt Su, hello everyone," the elder He brother greeted them politely.


    He Ermeng approached, increasingly irritated by Lu Zhe''s straight posture and cold expression.


    "Both brothers are here," Su Ci''s father smiled, "How is your father''s healthtely?"


    He Erjie replied, "He''s doing well, just often mentions wanting to y golf with you and Uncle Lu."


    "When I have timeter, I''ll arrange another match with your father."


    He Erjie''s gaze fell on Lu Zhe, noticing his resemnce to Lu Chen. Like other guests, he had his suspicions, "Uncle Lu, this is..."


    He Ermeng immediately looked at Lu Chen. Earlier, he had thought Lu Zhe was invited to the banquet because of his debt of gratitude to the Su family, but now up close, he realized Lu Zhe had arrived with the Lu couple.


    Lu Zhe, Lu Chen, the Lu family...


    What was the connection?


    Just as he was forming an unpleasant theory, Lu Chen spoke up: "This is my son," his tone carried a hint of pride, "My son has been found."


    Everyone in City B knew that Lu Chen''s son had been kidnapped years ago.


    After so many years, everyone had assumed the Lu family''s son would never be found.


    And now, this tall young man who resembled Lu Chen was the Lu family''s young master who had been lost fifteen years ago?


    He Erjie was stunned but quickly recovered, "Congrattions, Uncle Lu, Aunt Lu."


    "Hello, I''m He Erjie, you can call me Brother He, and this is my younger brother, He Ermeng," He Erjie''s personality waspletely opposite to his brother He Ermeng''s. He was cultured and polite, even his tone of voice was pleasant.


    Lu Zhe shook his hand, "Hello, I''m Lu Zhe."


    Meanwhile, He Ermeng stared at Lu Zhe in disbelief. He was the Lu family''s kidnapped son?


    How could this be such a coincidence?


    He Ermeng studied Lu Zhe, noting that his features indeed resembled Lu Chen''s. His expression darkened.


    Even though He Ermeng was rebellious and careless, he knew the Lu family''s influence far exceeded the He family''s.


    With Lu Zhe now part of the Lu family, it would be much harder for him to deal with Lu Zhe.


    The surrounding guests kept ncing at their group. City B''s three most powerful families were gathered together - it seemed the Su family''s daughtermanded great respect. Not only the He family but even the Lu family had epted the invitation to attend.


    The guests marveled at the sight of these celestial beings from the Lu, Su, and He families conversing, but while envious, they didn''t dare approach. After all, how could they possibly fit in among these three families?


    At this moment, Su Ci appeared.


    As expected, she was dazzlingly beautiful. Even though many had seen Su Ci before, they were still stunned by her beauty.


    The young woman wore a nude pink starry evening gown, her exposed skin as white as jade. Her exquisitely beautiful face and perfectly proportioned figure made her look like a divine being, not to mention the alluring beauty mark at the corner of her eye.


    The Su family''s genes for beauty truly inspired both admiration and jealousy.


    At the moment Su Ci made her entrance, He Ermeng had already forgotten about Lu Zhe standing before him. He hurried forward, his eyes fixed intently on Su Ci, his gaze bright and warm, "Cici, you look beautiful today."


    "I''m always beautiful," Su Ci lifted her chin slightly as she looked toward Lu Zhe standing among the crowd.


    He was wearing a fitted ck suit today, looking every bit like an elegant young master from a wealthy family.


    Su Ci walked over slowly.


    "Dad, Mom, Big Brother," Su Ci greeted as she approached.


    "Cici looks so beautiful today." The dress had been chosen by Su Ci''s mother, and she clearly hadn''t made a mistake - her daughter was so stunning that no one could take their eyes off her.


    Su Ci gave a slight smile, her gaze sliding almost imperceptibly across Lu Zhe''s face. However, the young man was clearly more practiced than her, not sparing her even a single nce.


    She felt somewhat annoyed.


    "Cici, these are Lu Zhe''s parents," Su Ci''s mother introduced. The current Su Ci had lost her memories and no longer recognized Lu Chen and Wen Ya.


    "Uncle Lu, Aunt Lu, hello." Su Ci''s eyes curved into crescents as she immediately transformed into a well-behaved junior.


    Lu Chen''s phoenix eyes nced at his son with amusement. Tsk, his son''s personality was truly the opposite of his - while he was openly flirtatious, his son was reserved yet passionate. Despite having something going on with the Su family''s little princess, he was pretending not to know her well.


    His gaze shifted to Su Ci''s father as he smugly stroked his chin, saying nothing but waiting for the day when the other party would be furious enough to jump in anger.


    Wen Ya had met Su Ci several times before and had always envied Su Ci''s mother for having such a beautiful daughter. She hadn''t expected that after so many years, the Su family''s youngdy would grow up to be even more beautiful. It would probably be difficult to find another face as exceptional as hers in the entire country, no wonder the Su family treasured her like a precious jewel.


    Finally, Su Ci greeted Lu Zhe, "Lu Zhe."


    The young man opposite her maintained a cool expression and merely nodded.


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes. Although their rtionship was secret, being treated so coldly by him suddenly made her feel ufortable.


    "Xiao Ci, are you nning to dance the opening danceter?" Su Ci''s father had asked his daughter before, but she had said she had no partner.


    He Ermeng extended his hand in invitation, "Cici, may I be your dance partner?"


    His ck eyes were bright and moist as he looked at Su Ci. While he was like a fierce wolf dog when facing his rival Lu Zhe, he had now transformed into a puppy when facing Su Ci, looking at her with expectant eyes.


    He waited patiently for her response.


    He Ermeng''s older brother knew that his younger brother had always liked the Su family''s daughter. Seeing him so enchanted by Su Ci, he found it amusing but didn''t voice any opposition.


    Su Ci nced at Lu Zhe from the corner of her eye. The young man''s lips were slightly pressed together, his eyes cold.


    Only then did she smile contentedly, "I won''t dance with you. I''ll dance with Lu Zhe."


    Su Ci asked Lu Zhe directly, "Will you dance the opening dance with me?"


    The young man met the girl''s bright gaze, looking at her quietly before saying in a low voice, "I don''t know how to dance."


    Lu Zhe had grown up in an orphanage before being adopted. Having barely enough to eat, where would he have had the opportunity to learn dancing?


    "That''s alright, just follow my lead," Su Ci extended her hand.


    The girl''s fair hand was soft and boneless. Lu Zhe took it and tightened his grip.


    His heart softened a bit too.


    Watching them leave, He Ermeng''s gaze darkened, his eyes shing with severity.


    His older brother patted his shoulder.


    This younger brother often caused trouble, so it would do him good to suffer a bit and learn that in this world, not everything goes ording to one''s wishes.


    Su Ci pulled Lu Zhe toward the dance floor. As the music started, everyone''s attention fell on them.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe''s appearances were truly outstanding. Even if they just stood there doing nothing, it was enough to captivate everyone''s attention.


    "Put your hand on my waist," Su Ci''s hand slipped into Lu Zhe''srge one, their fingers intertwining.


    Lu Zhe ced one hand on her lower back.


    Su Ci moved closer to him, "When I take a step, you take a step."


    "Mm."


    Then, Su Ci slowly led Lu Zhe in following the music.


    "Lu Zhe, hold me tighter," Su Ci requested.


    The young man''srge hand tightened its grip.


    "Lu Zhe, you stepped on me," Su Ciined.


    The young man''s ears turned red, "Sorry."


    "Lu Zhe, if I hadn''t asked you to dance with me earlier, would you have let me dance with another man?" Su Ci asked him.


    "No."


    Hearing this, Su Ci finally smiled, her previous displeasure at being ignored by the young man instantly disappearing, "Hold me even tighter."


    Meanwhile, Lu Chen watched his son dancing in sync with Su Ci, and said to Su Ci''s father with a smile, "Your daughter is quite good at teaching dance."


    Su Ci''s father had always been proud of his daughter, and hearing Lu Chen''s praise for her, he was willing to return the smile, "Of course."


    Su Ci''s mother watched her daughter with Lu Zhe standing together, her expression not particrly pleased. Seeing her husband''s joyful expression now, she felt both anxious and angry - he didn''t even know that their daughter was about to be stolen away by the Lu family.


    During the entire dance, Lu Zhe stepped on Su Ci''s feet several times.


    She looked at him with her dark eyes, "You stepped on me and it hurts."


    "I''m sorry," Lu Zhe''s ck eyes showed traces of embarrassment.


    "It''s a pity there are other people around," the girl sighed.


    Lu Zhe looked at her.


    Sure enough, the next moment, the girl said regretfully, "Otherwise, you could have carried me on your back."


    Lu Zheughed softly, "Let''s go back, Auntie Su must be worried." The girl had taken the initiative to invite him to dance, and Auntie Su would definitely be unhappy about it.


    Only then did Su Ci stop teasing him. She walked back to her mother''s side and acted coquettishly, "I haven''t danced for so long, I''m so tired."


    Su Ci''s mother smiled, "That''s because youck exercise. Why don''t you start getting up early tomorrow to exercise with your big brother?"


    "Ah, no need, I suddenly don''t feel tired anymore," Su Ci stood up straight, looking pitifully at her mother.


    Su Ci''s mother was amused by her daughter, and her concerns about her daughter dancing with Lu Zhe finally eased.


    After cutting the cake, Su Ci received a phone call informing her that some gossip about Xie Yumin had spread online, though it had all been deleted.


    Su Ci looked toward Xie Yumin, who had just received a piece of cake. As if sensing her gaze, Xie Yumin looked back and smiled at her.


    Xie Yumin had short hair and delicate features, looking cool and aloof, not easy to approach. Her coldness was different from Lu Zhe''s - Lu Zhe was naturally quiet and didn''t like to talk, while Xie Yumin''s cool exterior and personality were her protective coloring, as well as her public image.


    "Find out who leaked the information," Su Ci instructed over the phone.


    Generally speaking, those who try to cken an artist''s reputation are usually rivals of simr status and style, since resources are limited. Taking down apetitor means getting more resources - this was amon tactic in the entertainment industry.


    After hanging up the phone, Su Ci patted little Zhen Tiancai beside her, who was eating cake with cream all over his mouth. Something urred to her, and her eyes lit up.


    Lu Zhe stood beside his parents as people continuously came up to chat with them.


    At that moment, his hand hanging at his side was tugged by a small hand.


    Lu Zhe looked down to find Zhen Tiancai, with cream around his mouth, pulling at his hand.


    "What is it?" Lu Zhe asked the little one.


    The little genius grinned at Lu Zhe, then slipped something into his palm before running away.


    Lu Zhe gripped the small paper ball in his palm, and instinctively looked through the crowd toward the girl standing beside her parents.


    Then, the girl lifted her dress and went upstairs.


    Lu Zhe opened the small paper ball, which read: Meet me on the second floor.


    After a few knocks, the door quickly opened from inside.


    Su Ci saw Lu Zhe at the door and smiled as she pulled him in.


    "Why did you ask me toe up?" Lu Zhe had told his parents he was going out for some air, then came up when they weren''t paying attention.


    "To have you share some cake with me." Su Ci had arranged for a small cake to be ced in the room. Therge cake downstairs was for the guests, but this one was just for her and Lu Zhe.


    Whether before or after transmigrating into the book, her birthday remained the same day. Su Ci thought this was quite convenient, saving her the trouble of celebrating twice.


    Su Ci had already cut the small cake and gave half to the young man.


    This was Lu Zhe''s first time entering Su Ci''s room in the Su house. The girl''s room was primarily decorated in cream white, with her light fragrance floating in the air. The strong presence of a young girl''s essence made it clear this was where a little princess was pampered.


    Lu Zhe felt like a peeping tom who had sneaked into a princess''s boudoir.


    The small cake was cut in half, making it even smaller, and Lu Zhe finished it in a few bites.


    "Why are you eating so fast?" Su Ci beside him had only taken two small bites.


    The girl was wearing a nude pink starry evening dress, sitting quietly and delicately on the edge of the bed. She held the cake in her hands, with a bit of cream on her lips, looking beautiful from every angle.


    Lu Zhe said, "You''re today''s main character. It''s not good to disappear for too long; we''ll be discovered."


    Su Ci''s mother had been keeping an eye on their movements. If he and Su Ci disappeared from the party for too long together, her mother would definitely notice.


    Su Ci didn''t care at all. She took a bite of the cake, her mouth full of sweet, creamy vor. "Don''t you have something to say to me?"


    "Happy birthday." Lu Zhe used his fingertip to wipe away the cream from the corner of her mouth.


    Su Ci blinked, "Is that all?"


    Then, Lu Zhe pulled out a small royal blue gift box from his pocket. "Your birthday present."


    Su Ci was the daughter of the Su family, and the guests at the party were giving luxury cars, watches, and even entire floors of buildings as gifts. His gift would be worthless among such expensive presents.


    Su Ci opened the small box to find a silver chain with a cute little rabbit head charm, only the size of a fingernail. "I love it. Help me put it on."


    Su Ci noticed several knife cuts on the young man''s fingers, andbined with the somewhat clumsy-looking rabbit, she knew Lu Zhe had carved it himself.


    If she weren''t clever and observant, she wouldn''t have thought twice about it or known how secretly romantic Lu Zhe could be.


    Lu Zhe half-knelt at the girl''s feet, his cold hands gripping her delicate ankle as he ced her foot on his knee.


    Her snow-white ankle against his ck suit pants appeared even more fair, with a kind of fatal fragility.


    The young man''s eyes darkened as his nimble fingers untied the red string from her ankle and reced it with the new chain. The simple rabbit charm looked surprisingly elegant against the girl''s snow-white skin.


    "All done," Lu Zhe said, flicking the little rabbit charm with his fingertip.


    Su Ci swayed her foot, making the little rabbit on her ankle dance. She looked down at the young man kneeling at her feet, "Thank you for the birthday gift."


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly, "Let''s go back downstairs."


    "Let''s wait a little longer." Mischief gleamed in her eyes as she reached out to tug at Lu Zhe''s suit jacket.


    Lu Zhe followed the girl''s movement as she pulled him onto the bed.


    Su Ci turned and sat on Lu Zhe''s legs, the jade rabbit charm on her ankle swaying continuously.


    In themplight, the girl smiled like a enchantress, her small beauty mark incredibly alluring. "When I saw you downstairs earlier, guess what I was thinking?"


    Lu Zhey beneath the girl without resistance, his dark eyes half-lidded as he looked at her. "What were you thinking?"


    Su Ciy on his chest,ughing tremulously, "I was thinking how handsome Lu Zhe looks in a suit, and I wanted to strip it off him!"


    Lu Zhe maintained a regr exercise routine and had an excellent physique, with ayer of lean muscle throughout his body - powerful but not unsightly. Su Ci had been wanting to touch him for a long time.


    Lu Zhe: ......


    The girl was getting bolder and bolder, daring to say anything.


    Lu Zhe reached out to steady the girl, "Tuantuan, get up."


    The party guests were still downstairs; he couldn''t indulge her mischief.


    "I won''t strip your clothes, just let me touch you once." Su Ci was clever; since thest time, she had been testing Lu Zhe''s boundaries step by step.


    First making requests, then implementing small touches, then gradually making more demands.


    Su Ci knew that for someone like Lu Zhe, who was detached and hard as stone, pushing too much at once wouldn''t work. It was better to conquer bit by bit, and only with gentleness.


    "Tuantuan, stop fooling around." If the timing weren''t so inappropriate, Lu Zhe would have really wanted to show the girl the consequences of her teasing.


    Just as Su Ci was about to say something, she suddenly received a golden cotton candy.


    It was from Xie Yumin!


    Receiving the golden cotton candy meant Xie Yumin wouldn''t die.


    Su Ci happily narrowed her eyes; this mission had been surprisingly simple. She looked at Lu Zhe, "Kiss me, and then I''ll let you go downstairs."


    Lu Zhe''s hand supporting the girl moved to cradle the back of her head as he pulled her toward himself.


    Having just eaten cake, the girl''s lips and mouth were filled with a sweet, milky vor.


    Soft and fragrant.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened further.


    Su Ci fed him the golden cotton candy, a glint of cunning shing in her dark, liquid eyes. The next moment, her small tongue followed it inside.


    Therge hand pressing against the back of her head tightened, pulling her even closer as Lu Zhe tasted the milky sweetness filling his mouth.


    Then, a soft little hand tugged at the hem of his suit jacket. Lu Zhe froze.


    Before he could react, it had slipped inside and quickly brushed against his abdomen.


    That single touch nearly drove Lu Zhe mad. He gritted his teeth and called out against the girl''s lips: "Tuantuan!"


    Su Ci''s delicate brows were full of satisfaction, "Yes?"


    Some timeter, Lu Zhe emerged from the girl''s room.


    Just as the door closed, He Ermeng, who had walked out from around the corner, called out to him.


    Lu Zhe turned to look at him.


    "What were you two doing in there?" He Ermeng demanded, his eyes bloodshot with rage.


    It was clear he had been waiting outside the whole time. Lu Zhe''s voice was cold, "It''s none of your business."


    He Ermeng rushed forward, trying to grab Lu Zhe''s clothes, but Lu Zhe dodged.


    "Lu Zhe, are you worthy? Are you worthy of Su Ci?" The mere thought of Lu Zheing out of Su Ci''s room made He Ermeng angry enough to want to kill him.Aliali: 675457d0bd5e46c3089d162d


    Lu Zhe looked at him coldly, "At least I''m the one she likes."


    The young man''s words cut straight to the bone, driving He Ermeng into a corner like a trapped beast.


    "Bullshit." He Ermeng''s gaze shed at Lu Zhe. "So what if you''re a son of the Lu family now? Don''t forget, you have a terminal illness. With ALS, how many years do you think you have left?"


    He Ermeng sneered, "Even if she likes you now, so what? I can stay by her side, and after you die, I can pursue her just the same."


    He Ermeng continued with a mocking smile: "The one whoughsst is the winner, and you have less than three years left, while I can apany her for a lifetime!"


    A lifetime - everyone had a lifetime, but Lu Zhe''s lifetime was less than three years!


    Such a person, without any self-awareness, actually dared to dream of being with Su Ci?


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips lost their color, his arm going numb as his muscles twitched repeatedly.


    He looked coldly at He Ermeng, his voice low, "If she wants me by her side for a day, I''ll stay by her side for that day."


    His lifetime might not be long, but it all belonged to Su Ci.

 Chapter 47

    The first floor was bustling with noise, while in the hallway of the second floor, He Ermeng and Lu Zhe were facing off against each other.


    Upon hearing Lu Zhe''s words, jealousy nearly made He Ermeng see red, and his response was even more hurtful, "Keep herpany? How can you do that? Surely you know that ALS patients'' limbs will atrophy after a year, and it gets so severe that even walking bes impossible. You''ll be bedridden, needing help with basic bodily functions."


    He Ermeng''s temple throbbed with anger as he questioned Lu Zhe: "Do you intend to stay by Su Ci''s side with such a body? What''s your purpose? Don''t tell me you want her to take care of you when you be useless?"


    "As an ALS patient, you know better than me what you''ll be. If you truly care for Su Ci, you should stay far away from her and not burden her." He Ermeng red at Lu Zhe, emphasizing each word: "You know you''re going to die, yet you still stay with her. How selfish!"


    Lu Zhe lowered his eyelids, his rigid face appearing exceptionally pale under the hallway lights, his thin lipspletely bloodless.


    His fingertips were numb with cold.


    He looked up, his dark eyes meeting He Ermeng''s, "I''m prepared to go to hell after death."


    He Ermeng''s jaw clenched in anger, his temple pulsing, "You''re just going to burden Su Ci!"


    At that moment, the door opened.


    Both Lu Zhe and He Ermeng turned to look. The girl standing in the doorway had an icy expression.


    "Cici, Lu Zhe has a terminal illness. Don''t stay with him," He Ermeng''s tense face softened as he looked intently at Su Ci. "He won''t live long and can''t spend a lifetime with you."


    Su Ci looked at him seriously, "Are you sick in the head?"


    "I remember telling you very clearly that I don''t like you, and my business is none of your concern."


    When Su Ci turned harsh, she was even more cutting than He Ermeng, "I''m the one who doesn''t like you. What''s the point of causing trouble for Lu Zhe? Venting your frustrations? Do you think this is like elementary school where you can get the toy by bullying others?"


    Su Ci''s voice was beautiful, but her icy tone was like a knife stabbing into He Ermeng''s chest, "Your angry and childish behavior just makes you look stupid in my eyes."


    He Ermeng stared at Su Ci in disbelief, his body feeling as if it had been struck hard, nearly losing his bnce.


    The arrogance in his expression faded, his eyes turning bloodshot as he looked at Su Ci, "Cici, you''re taking advantage of my feelings for you to hurt me."


    Su Ci shook her head, her eyes turning cold, "You''re wrong. I''m not taking advantage of your feelings. It''s because I don''t like you that I don''t care whether I hurt you or not. You insult the person I like, I insult you back. That''s fair."


    He Ermeng had always been used to getting his way. Coming from a good family, he had been the little tyrant since childhood, getting whatever he wanted, until he met Su Ci and fell hard for her, only to get hurt.


    The girl''s cold words pierced He Ermeng''s chest, making his eyes turn red.


    He struggled to breathe, ring at Su Ci and Lu Zhe, his chest full of resentment.


    "My brother is being foolish. I apologize for the trouble he''s caused you both."


    At this point, Brother He stepped out.


    His face still wore its usual refined smile as he walked over and grabbed his brother He Ermeng''s hand, "Thank you for the Su family''s hospitality today. We have matters to attend to at home, so we won''t intrude any longer."


    "Let''s go." Brother He firmly pulled He Ermeng away, half-dragging and half-pushing him to leave.


    The Su family''s daughter was in love with the Lu family''s recently found son. If the Su and Lu families were to unite, theirbined power would be formidable.


    After Brother He left with He Ermeng, the hallway returned to silence.


    Su Ci went over to hold Lu Zhe''s hand. The girl who had just moments ago worn a cold expression and fiercely confronted others instantly transformed back into an adorable sweetheart, "I heard what you and He Ermeng were saying."


    Lu Zhe''s pale lips twitched, and his numb fingers gradually regained sensation as the girl held them, "Although He Ermeng was targeting me, what he said wasn''t wrong."


    He raised his cold hand to tuck a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, "Tuantuan, I am indeed selfish."


    Su Ci gave him a displeased look, "Nothing He Ermeng said was right, and nothing you''re saying now is what I want to hear."


    You won''t die. You still have a long life ahead.


    "Do you know what I want to hear right now?" Su Ci lightly kicked Lu Zhe''s foot to express her displeasure, making the silly little rabbit on her ankle bounce and sway, as if it was angry too.


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes held indulgence, "What?"


    Su Ci''s fair fingers intertwined with the young man''s cold hand, "Lu Zhe''s entire long life belongs to Su Ci."


    ......


    When the banquet ended, Su Ci personally arranged for a driver to send Xie Yumin home.


    "Thank you foring to my birthday banquet tonight. If you need any help in the future, you cane to me," Su Ci said to Xie Yumin in the car.


    She had investigated Xie Yumin and discovered she had mild depression, which exined why she had attempted to overdose on sleeping pills after being cyberbullied.


    This time, she had intercepted the news about Xie Yumin, preventing the scandal from breaking and sessfully averting her suicidal thoughts. However, the person behind the leaked information still needed to be found ¨C after all, if she hadn''t intervened, they would have been responsible for taking a life.


    "Thank you for inviting me," Xie Yumin couldn''t help but marvel at how everyone present tonight was from the upper echelons of society. Without a certain status and position, one couldn''t possibly appear at Su Ci''s birthday banquet.


    She originally had a scheduled appearance tonight, and her manager had berated her for canceling it to attend a friend''s birthday party.


    But when the car arrived at the Su residence, her manager was shocked to discover she was attending the Su family''s banquet. His attitude immediately changed dramatically, and he began looking at her differently, repeatedly instructing her to seize the opportunity and not make any mistakes at the banquet.


    Previously, Xie Yumin had only a vague concept of the Su family''s influence, but after tonight, she felt she finally had some understanding of their power.


    If Su Ci hadn''t deemed her worthy, a third-tier actress like her wouldn''t have had the chance or qualification to attend such a grand event even after a lifetime of struggle.


    Xie Yumin got out of the Su family''s arranged car when it reached herpany-assigned apartment building.


    As she alighted, she ran into Guan Jing who was also returning.


    Guan Jing nced at the departing car, a dark light shing in her eyes, "Yumin, who just dropped you off? That wasn''t apany car, was it? I remember that''s a limited edition luxury car. Don''t tell me you''re..."


    Guan Jing was Xie Yumin''s college ssmate and roommate. Xie Yumin had entered the entertainment industry first, while Guan Jing had be an inte celebrity through live streaming. Later, through Xie Yumin''s connections, Guan Jing had also signed with Xie Yumin''spany, and thepany had arranged for them to live together in the same apartment.


    Facing her friend, Xie Yumin dropped her cold exterior facade, her refined features showing a hint of a smile, "Don''t get any wrong ideas."


    "I haven''t said anything yet, how do you know what I''m thinking?" Guan Jing teased, "I wanted to ask if you''ve found a wealthy boyfriend."


    Xie Yumin shook her head, "No, I''ve told you before, I won''t date anyone until I''ve established my career."


    Guan Jingughed and walked over to link arms with her, "Alright, alright, but I''m still curious about who just dropped you off. Someone who can afford a car like that must be quite wealthy."


    She knew that in the world of the wealthy, some limited edition cars could only be purchased if one''s assets reached a certain threshold. The car from earlier was supposedly one that money alone couldn''t buy.


    When did Xie Yumin get to know such wealthy people?


    "You''ve misunderstood," Xie Yumin exined to her friend. "That was the Su family''s driver. I attended the Su family daughter''s birthday banquet tonight."


    Guan Jing''s grip on Xie Yumin''s arm tightened, her nails almost digging into her flesh as she asked in shock, "The Su family? Which Su family? It couldn''t be..."


    "Yes, that Su family," Xie Yumin tried to pull her arm free. "Jing, you''re hurting me."


    Guan Jing quickly released her grip.


    Xie Yumin wasn''t angry at her friend''s reaction. After all, when she first learned that Su Ci was the Su family''s daughter, she had been equally shocked.


    "Yumin, when did you establish connections with the Su family?"


    The Su family - such an elite and prestigious household. How did Xie Yumin manage to connect with them?


    Xie Yumin shook her head, "I haven''t established any connections with the Su family. The Su family''s daughter wanted to be friends with me and invited me to her birthday party." She smiled, and her cold face gained some vivid color. "You know the Su family''s daughter too."


    Guan Jing looked at her puzzled.


    "The new guest from that day''s food show recording."


    "You mean Qin Shiyan?" Guan Jing had heard that Qin Shiyan was the Su family''s adopted daughter. Had Xie Yumin already attached herself to Qin Shiyan during the recording?


    "Not her, the other new guest, Su Ci," Xie Yumin told Guan Jing. "Su Ci is the Su family''s true daughter."


    Guan Jing stood there stunned, looking at Xie Yumin in disbelief. "Su Ci is the Su family''s daughter?"


    She remembered that day when this new guest arrived, she had instinctively looked at her several times. After all, with such a beautiful face, anyone would see her as a threat, and she didn''t like it.


    So, apart from the initial greeting, she hadn''t had any interaction with her.


    Moreover, she had been worried that Su Ci would be famous on the show because of her beautiful face. Unexpectedly, she ended up being criticized by Qin Shiyan''s fans and trending on social media. No wonder the trending topic was removed so quickly and all the online criticism of Su Ci was deleted - it turned out Su Ci had such a powerful background.


    She recalled that Xie Yumin had chatted with Su Ci for a while that day. Was that how Xie Yumin had connected with Su Ci?


    Guan Jing was filled with regret. With the Su family''s status, even Qin Shiyan could be popr in the entertainment industry just by being rumored as the Su family''s adopted daughter, and no one dared to offend her. If she had connected with the Su family, it would have been like ascending to heaven in one step.


    "Yumin, tell me what you saw at the banquet today, who you met, and what Su Ci''s personality is like. I really want to know..." Guan Jing pestered Xie Yumin, trying to learn about the Su family.


    Before the banquet ended, Lu Chen and Wen Ya had already left with Lu Zhe.


    In the car, Lu Chen suddenly said to his son, "I saw youing down from the second floor earlier."


    Lu Zhe, who had been looking out the window, slowly turned his head and met his father''s teasing phoenix eyes.


    "What''s wrong with our soning down from the second floor?" Wen Ya didn''t understand her husband''s meaning.


    Lu Chen leaned closer to his wife and told her, "Yaya, you don''t know, but our son was with the Su family''s youngest daughter."


    "Dad," Lu Zhe called out helplessly.


    "What do you mean by ''was with''?" Wen Ya immediately realized the next second, "Son, are you dating Su Ci?"


    She had wondered why the Su family''s youngest daughter had invited her son to dance. So they were a couple?


    "But that''s not right." Wen Ya recalled that at the banquet, her son and Su Ci had only exchanged polite greetings, nothing more. "Why did you and Su Ci seem so formal with each other?"


    "Isn''t it obvious? He and the Su family''s youngest daughter are dating secretly behind our backs," Lu Chen raised his eyebrows with a knowing look. "I won''t oppose our son dating, but they''re clearly hiding it from Su Shengguo and his wife."


    "Son, is that true?" Wen Ya felt she had been too negligent of her son, not even knowing such an important thing as him liking the Su family''s daughter.


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips pressed together, and facing his parents'' gazes, he gave a soft affirmative response.


    Lu Chen had already known about the two young people being together, so he wasn''t very surprised. Knowing his son had gone upstairs to meet Su Ci, he was just teasing them.


    But it was different for Wen Ya. Suddenly learning about her son''s rtionship both surprised and worried her.


    "Was I too cold towards Su Ci earlier?" Wen Ya recalled her expressions and actions, feeling regretful that she hadn''t been more warm towards Su Ci.


    How had she not noticed anything unusual between the two children?


    "No, no, Yaya, you''re always gentle," Lu Chen shamelesslyplimented his wife,pletely ignoring their son''s presence.


    "It''s all your fault. You knew early on, why didn''t you tell me?" Wen Ya red at her husband.


    Thick-skinned as he was, Lu Chen remained unfazed by the re. He leaned closer to his wife, "I was afraid you''d get too excited and give it away in front of the Su couple."


    "Son, do Su Shengguo and his wife not know about you and Su Ci?" Wen Ya asked her son.


    Lu Zhe knew he couldn''t hide his rtionship with Su Ci from his parents anymore. "Uncle Su and Aunt Su don''t know about my rtionship with Su Ci, and I don''t n to let them know."


    "Why?" Was her son nning to be with Su Ci without any formal recognition?


    "I don''t have much time left. I don''t n to make my rtionship with Su Ci public, and her parents wouldn''t approve anyway." Lu Zhe lowered his eyelids, hiding the expression in his eyes.


    Wen Ya couldn''t bear to hear her son talk like this. Her eyes grew hot and swollen, "Mom will have people do their best to treat you. If you like Su Ci, Mom will support you, but son, please don''t talk about not having long to live anymore. It hurts Mom to hear that."


    Her son had been smart and well-behaved since childhood, and now he had grown up so quickly. She hadn''t even had the chance to properly make it up to him. She prayed to heaven, asking for her son to live a long, healthy life without pain or illness.


    Lu Zhe responded with a soft sound of acknowledgment.


    Beside them, Lu Chen fell silent, pain shing through his phoenix eyes.


    The Lu family might be powerful, but they were still helpless in the face of life and death.


    Summer weather could change in an instant. After the banquet ended, heavy rain began to fall.


    The rain in the deep night carried a chill as it fell all around, leaving only the sound of rushing water.


    The security guard saw a man get out of a car, stumbling as he stood at the iron gate, and hurried forward to inquire about the situation.


    "I want to see Ci Ci, tell her toe out and see me," He Ermeng''s handsome face was flushed with alcohol.


    "Young Master, let''s go back. Miss Su is already asleep. Let''s not disturb her rest," the driver said, holding an umbre, trying to pull He Ermeng away.


    "Get lost, I''m going to wait for Ci Ci toe see me," He Ermeng reeked of alcohol as he pushed the driver away.


    The security guard finally realized this was the He family''s young master. With such heavy rain, if the He family''s young master caught a cold, the He family would make trouble, and it would be problematic.


    The driver approached the security guard and said, "Our young master has had too much to drink, but he insists on seeing Miss Su. Could you help pass along the message? Otherwise, the young master won''t leave until he sees Miss Su."


    The rain grew heavier, and the security guard frowned, "I''ll have someone pass along the message, but whether the young misses out or not is not up to us."


    "Of course, thank you for your trouble." The driver''s umbre covered He Ermeng''s head, but his clothes were already soaked.


    Su Ci was woken up by knocking on her door.


    She stood behind the door, eyes half-closed, "What is it?"


    The servant was flustered and somewhat cautious as she ryed the message: "Miss, Young Master He is standing in the rain at the main gate, waiting to see you."


    "What time is it?" Su Ci''s voice was heavy with sleepiness, somewhat soft andzy.


    The servant replied, "Two-thirty in the morning."


    Su Ci couldn''t help but yawn. She opened her eyes, and her moist, dreamy eyes held a cold light, "It''s the middle of the night. He''s not sleeping, but I need to sleep. What''s wrong with him?"


    "The security guard says Young Master He is drunk," the servant quickly added, feeling tense.


    "Oh, so he''s having a drunken fit." Su Ci was exasperated, "Go tell He Ermeng that I won''t go out to see him."


    She would have to be crazy to go out in such heavy rain.


    "The security guard says that Young Master He won''t leave until he sees you, Miss. If he keeps standing in the rain, this..." The servant thought the He family''s young master was truly devoted to their young miss, and perhaps the young miss would be moved.


    Su Ci frowned, "If he wants to stand in the rain, let him. Life isn''t a romantic drama - even if he catches pneumonia or dies from the rain, I still won''t like him if I don''t like him. If he still won''t leave, just call his older brother and have someone take him away forcibly. Don''t disturb my sleep."


    "Miss..." The servant was somewhat incredulous hearing Su Ci''s cold words.


    "What are you standing there for? Go!" Su Ci had been sleeping soundly before being suddenly awakened, so her tone wasn''t very gentle. "Ry my words directly to He Ermeng, and tell him to stop bothering me."


    "Yes, Miss." The servant didn''t dare think too much and hurried to deliver the message.


    Raindrops as big as beans fell painfully on his body.


    The servant held an umbre and repeated every word Su Ci had said to He Ermeng without missing anything.


    "Did Ci Ci really say that?" He Ermeng''s face was covered in rain, his bloodshot eyes blurred by the water. "I must be nothing but a joke in her eyes, right?"


    The servant didn''t dare make a sound.


    At that moment, a car stopped in front of the Su family''s gate.


    Brother He got out of the car with an umbre. Seeing his brother leaning dejectedly against the gate in the rain, he walked over and said, "Ermeng, let''s go home."


    He Ermeng looked at his brother with drunken, confused eyes and burst into tears like a wronged child.


    He admitted that when he first saw Su Ci, he was indeed attracted by her beauty. But being beautiful was her virtue - who said you couldn''t like someone because of their looks?


    Gradually, he came to love not just her face, but everything about her.


    He even loved it when she fiercely scolded him for being annoying and told him to get lost.


    Sitting in the car, He Ermeng''s wet clothes clung to his body. Though the temperature was low on this rainy night, he seemed numb to the cold. The usual wildness and arrogance had disappeared from his features, leaving him looking lost and lonely.


    His chest felt hollow.


    Brother He asked the driver to turn on the heater. Looking at his dispirited brother, he didn''t say much.


    His brother had gotten too many things easily since childhood. It was time he learned that not everything in life goes the way you want it to.


    His little brother needed to grow up.


    ......


    Su Ci didn''t know that after He Ermeng left in the rain that night, he developed a high fever and remained sick for over a week. The once arrogant and unruly young man seemed to have be a different person.


    But Su Ci couldn''t care less about how He Ermeng was doing. Her and Lu Zhe''s college entrance exam results hade out.


    The moment Su Ci''s father learned of his daughter''s results, the first person he called was Lu Chen: "The college entrance exam results are all out. My daughter is this year''s top scorer."


    When it came to bragging about his daughter to Lu Chen, Su Shengguo never needed to beat around the bush.


    In the past, when Lu Chen had lost his son, he would be left speechless whenever Su Shengguo bragged about his child, the pain striking right at his heart. But things were different now.


    Lu Chen leaned back in his office chair, raising his eyebrows and saying smugly into the phone, "Oh, what a coincidence, my son is also the top scorer."


    Times had changed - not only could Su Shengguo brag about his daughter, but he could also brag about his son.


    "I''m nning to throw a proper celebration for my son," Lu Chen said self-satisfyingly as he swiveled in his chair. "By the way, which university did your daughter apply to?"


    Su Shengguo remembered that ording to investigations, Lu Zhe had always been an excellent student. He clicked his tongue - Lu Chen really lucked out with this fox. "What''s this? Are you seeking my advice?"


    Lu Chen smiled more cunningly than a fox, "Yes, yes, yes. You see, I haven''t had much experience being a father for a long time. Now that my son is going to university, I naturally want to choose well for him."


    Lu Chen lowered his stance to gather intelligence for his son, "Tell me which university your daughter applied to. Your choice must be excellent, I''d like to use it as a reference."


    Completely unaware of Lu Chen''s intentions, Su Shengguo was in a good mood and answered his question, "My daughter applied to B University."


    "B University is good, close to home, convenient," Lu Chen said, his phoenix eyes filled with cunning mirth.


    After hanging up, he immediately called his wife to im credit, "Ya Ya, I found out Su Ci applied to B University. Let''s have our son choose B University too..."


    Su Ci had already agreed with Lu Zhe to choose the same university. After seeing her results, she wasn''t surprised at all. What did surprise her was receiving sessiverge transfers from her parents and older brother as rewards.


    She realized her family liked to give her money at every opportunity.


    Even Little Tiancai and Little Su Ning took out their pocket money and happily stuffed red bills into her hands, praising their sister for doing so well in the exam and giving her rewards.


    The two little radish heads were absolutely adorable.


    Her brother Su Zhiyuan only had one month left in his life value, and Su Ci could only wait. Meanwhile, it was time for the second recording of the food show.


    Everyone in the crew thought that after thest incident where Su Ci was criticized on social media, she wouldn''t be in a good mood. However, when the girl appeared at the studio with rosy cheeks and bright eyes, they realized they had overthought it - clearly, Su Ci didn''t care about what happened online.


    In the guest lounge.


    When Guan Jing saw Su Cie in, she took out a thermos from her bag and walked over to her.


    With a caring smile on her delicate face, she said, "Su Ci, the weather has been quite hottely. I made some snow pear and white fungus sweet soup at home and brought some for you. Would you like some?"


    Seeing the eager expression on her face, Su Ci directly refused, "No need, I don''t want any."


    Guan Jing put down the thermos with a smile and continued asking Su Ci, "During the recordingter, can I sit next to you?"


    "Why?" Last time, Guan Jing hadn''t been this eager to please.


    Guan Jing exined, "Sitting next to Nan Yi makes me feel too much pressure."


    Su Ci didn''t agree, coldly saying, "The guests'' seating is arranged by the director."


    Guan Jing was rebuffed, and when Xie Yumin came in after finishing her makeup, she whispered to her, "This Su family youngdy is so arrogant. I just tried to chat with her and even wanted to share some sweet soup with her, but shepletely ignored me."


    Although Xie Yumin hadn''t interacted much with Su Ci, she felt that while Su Ci had the pride of a youngdy from a wealthy family, she wasn''t one to put on airs. "Maybe she''s just not familiar with you."


    Guan Jing bit her lip and didn''t say anything more.


    Soon after, staff members came to notify that all guests had arrived and recording could begin.


    Qin Shiyan had already finished her makeup in another waiting room.


    As soon as they walked into the recording room, several guests caught a whiff of the smell and instinctively made gagging motions.


    "It smells terrible," Guan Jing covered her nose and couldn''t help saying.


    Qin Shiyan had just walked in and smelled the air, her brows furrowed as she said with disgust, "What is this smell?" She gagged once, then couldn''t help but gag several more times.


    Was this meant to suffocate people with the stench?


    Xie Yumin, who was walking behind, was better off - she just sniffed her nose, while Nan Yi beside her took a deep breath and said, "I think it smells quite nice." He strode in.


    Su Ci, walkingst, slightly furrowed her delicate brows. Strangely, she felt this production team had a peculiar sense of humor.


    She didn''t say anything and walked to her seat.


    The guests had no idea that from the moment they stepped into the room, the livestream had begun, and all their reactions were being broadcast.


    "Hahaha, did someone fart in the recording studio? The guests are almost fainting from the smell."


    "So funny, Qin Shiyan almost threw up from the stench."


    "Hugs to my dear Shiyan, why does the recording room smell so bad? Did the director fart?"


    "I bet someone was eating durian in there earlier?"


    "Am I the only one who noticed that even Su Ci''s frown is beautiful? What kind of fairy is she?"


    "Get lost, stic surgery monster. My Shiyan is the real fairy."


    "Did the production team prepare something really smelly?"


    Theizens were curious, after all, watching the guests nearly faint from the smell was hrious.


    Then, as the camera followed the guests'' movements to the long dining table, everyone discovered that the table was already full of food.


    The director sat in the main position and smiled as he spoke: "Today we''ve prepared some special foods for you. People who like them really enjoy eating them, while those who don''t will find them very unptable."


    The director smiled and had the staff remove the covers from the dishes, exposing one dish after another, and the smell grew stronger.


    The director introduced: "Today we''ll try some special stinky tofu, river snail rice noodles, stinky winter melon, pork intestines, stinky mandarin fish... And of course, the king of fruits, durian."


    "Hahaha, I can already see the guests'' faces looking like they''ve given up on life."Aliali: 675457d0bd5e46c3089d162d


    "To be honest, although these smell terrible, they taste delicious."


    "Shiyan is covering her mouth wanting to throw up, what should we do, I feel so bad for her."


    "Can''t they not make our Shiyan eat these things? She''s a youngdy from a good family, she''s definitely not used to eating such food."


    "The production team is too mean. I can see tears in Shiyan''s eyes from the smell. I hate the production team."


    "Eat it or not, other guests can eat it, so why is Qin Shiyan too noble to eat? Last time when Su Ci didn''t eat rabbit meat, she was attacked by your crazy fans for being pretentious. Don''t be such a hypocrite."


    "Is the person above a fan of that stic surgery product Su Ci? You probably don''t know Qin Shiyan''s background - she was raised in luxury at the Su family since childhood and has never eaten these street foods."


    "Exactly, our Yan hasn''t tried these before. Everyone knows that people who haven''t tried stinky tofu and river snail rice noodles find them smelly and hard to ept. Whypare others to our Yan?"


    "Please don''tpare Su Ci with our Yan. She even copied the small tear mole under the corner of Yan''s eye. It''s disgusting."


    ...


    Su Ci had no idea she was being criticized again. She picked up a piece of stinky tofu and examined it - it was ck and smelly. She frowned, hesitating before taking a small bite.

 Chapter 48

    Su Ci had eaten all kinds of precious ingredients but rarely tried special street foods.


    Although the food in front of her smelled pungent and unpleasant, she wasn''t afraid to try new things. Except for rabbit meat since rabbits were half her kind, she was willing to taste these specialty dishes before her.


    When she bit into the stinky tofu, the outeryer was crispy, and as she chewed, there was a fresh and spicy vor. It was quite delicious, truly living up to the saying "smells stinky but tastes delicious."


    Even while eating stinky tofu, Su Ci maintained her lifelong etiquette training, disying an indescribable elegance. She finished the piece of stinky tofu in a few small bites.


    Beside her, Qin Shiyan''s delicate brows were furrowed. After barely recovering herposure, she smiled awkwardly at the Director and said, "Thank you, Director, for thoughtfully arranging these special snacks for us."


    The first three episodes of this show had received lukewarm responses without much buzz. But with new guests now, the previous episode unexpectedly trended on social media, generating heated discussions - whether it was the traffic brought by Qin Shiyan or the controversy over Su Ci being criticized for not eating rabbit meat, it all contributed to the show''s poprity.


    The Director seemed to have had an epiphany and was no longer focused solely on food tasting. This episode''s theme revolved around stinky foods, emphasizing the guests'' expressions and reactions while eating.


    The production team wasn''t worried about whether they would eat or not - as long as there were enough talking points and highlights.


    "Xiaoyan, you haven''t touched your chopsticks yet? Try it, you''ll find it delicious once you taste it," said the Director, who was a foodie himself and was eating with great enjoyment.


    Seeing Su Ci eat a piece of stinky tofu, Qin Shiyan''s eyes flickered with an unusual light, and she also picked up a piece.


    However, just as she brought it to her mouth and smelled the bathroom-like odor, Qin Shiyan''s face turned pale. Involuntarily, she recalled news she had once read about unscrupulous vendors using sewage water to pickle stinky tofu to enhance its smell.


    "Ugh!"


    Qin Shiyan couldn''t help but gag, immediately dropping the stinky tofu.


    "Don''t make Xiaoyan eat it, she''s about to throw up."


    "So heartbreaking, why is the production team treating Xiaoyan like this? She can''t eat these things."


    "I saw tears in her eyes from trying to hold back, she really doesn''t like it. Please be humane, production team."


    "Hugs to Xiaoyan, don''t eat if you don''t want to, don''t force yourself, we understand."


    "Can Qin Shiyan''s fans stop spamming? Every other guest can eat it, why can''t your idol? You weren''t saying this when you were criticizing Su Cist time."


    "Right,st episode when Su Ci didn''t eat rabbit meat, Qin Shiyan''s fans were brutal in their criticism and even made it trend. Now when their idol won''t eat, they''re all saying they feel sorry for her. Talk about double standards - that''s Qin Shiyan''s fanbase for you."


    "I know this one - they criticized Su Ci for being pretentious before, so now let me criticize: Qin Shiyan can eat or not, but she''s being extremely pretentious. Don''t argue with me - I learned how to argue from Qin Shiyan''s fans."


    "No need for that. How can Su Cipare to Xiaoyan? Don''t outsiders know that Xiaoyan was raised pampered? It''s normal that she hasn''t eaten these special snacks before."


    "Qin Shiyan was pampered? Is her family that well-off? Never heard of that. When filming a show, shouldn''t you be professional? That''s what you all said to Su Ci before, so I''m throwing it back at you."


    "Xiaoyan is the adopted daughter of the Su family, you know? Surely you''ve heard of the Su family? Xiaoyan always has the best of everything, of course she can''t handle these stinky foods. I don''t like them either, so what? Is it pretentious to dislike something?"


    "Ah ah ah, Su Ci eats so deliciously! Why does she look so elegant even when slurping noodles? When I think about how messy I look eating at home, I''m not worthy!"


    "Somehow Su Ci makes stinky tofu and river snail rice noodles look high-ss."


    "Have to admit, is there anyone in the entertainment industry who can match Su Ci''s beauty?"


    "Absolutely not. I love this beautifuldy, and she looks so good even when eating noodles..."


    Su Ci hadn''t expected the river snail rice noodles to taste so good. Though they smelled strange, they were delicious to eat.


    With Su Ci''s beauty and excellent dining etiquette, her graceful eating quickly caughtizens'' attention. Even Qin Shiyan''s fans had to admit that Su Ci ate with genuine enjoyment, making them crave noodles too.


    "Sorry, I need to step away for a moment."


    "Be back in a few minutes, going to make some river snail rice noodles."


    "Haha, this is killing me. I just finished eating but I''m debating whether to have another bowl. Whatever, I''ll order delivery again. Diet can wait until tomorrow."


    "Don''t think I didn''t notice - Su Ci seemed a bit disgusted at first, but now she''s totally won over. Thankfully I was prepared and already ordered river snail rice noodles delivery."


    "Crying, my bread suddenly doesn''t taste good anymore."


    "Ahh, why did I have to watch this show during work hours?"


    "To the sisters above, let me slurp in your honor."


    "No one can escape the true deliciousness of river snail rice noodles."


    Netizens watched as not only Su Ci was slurping noodles, but Nan Yi, Xie Yumin, Guan Jing, and even the Director were all eating river snail rice noodles. The show was filled with slurping sounds, making everyoneugh. Only Qin Shiyan sat there with a wronged expression, not touching her chopsticks - a scene that felt familiar.


    The difference was thatst time Su Ci was the one being criticized, while Qin Shiyan was being sympathized with by her fans.


    After the recording finished, the studio still reeked of the pungent smell that hadn''t dissipated. As soon as the Director finished his closing remarks, Qin Shiyan quickly got up and rushed out like she was escaping.


    Guan Jing, who had eaten a lot during this episode, was now being helped by her assistant to the bathroom to throw up.


    Nan Yi was still looking unwell, leaning against her chair waiting for her assistant to bring stomach medicine.


    The most rxed were Su Ci and Xie Yumin, who had eatenfortably within their limits. The river snail rice noodles were a bit spicy, and Su Ci had to drink several sips of coconut water to cool down.


    Her small lips were red from the spiciness, looking quite pretty. "Come with me, I have something to give you," Su Ci said to Xie Yumin.


    Xie Yumin was curious, "Alright."


    When the two left the recording studio and breathed in the fresh air outside, they finally felt clearheaded. The studio had been so smelly that even their clothes seemed to have absorbed the odor.


    At this time, the neighboring set had also finished filming, and there was amotion.


    Then, Su Ci saw several staff members escorting a tall male artist past her.


    The male artist noticed the stunningly beautiful Su Ci standing to the side and unconsciously took a second look.


    "That''s Zheng Hao, the currently popr singer. He''s having a concert next month, and he was probably filming promotional material next door," Xie Yumin said, noticing Su Ci staring at the male artist without blinking, assuming she was interested in Zheng Hao.


    So this male artist was Zheng Hao, whom Su Ci had heard mentioned many times. Zheng Hao was Creation God Company''s current star, which meant he was an artist under herpany.


    Su Ci withdrew her gaze, "What date is his concert next month?"


    "The 8th." Xie Yumin''s cold face showed a smile, "Do you want to go?"


    Su Ci shook her head.


    She had just seen that Zheng Hao''s life value was a red line, with only one month remaining. Today was the 8th, exactly one month until his concert date next month.


    In other words, Zheng Hao would die on the day of his concert.


    How tragic - would it be from illness? Or an ident?


    With only a month left, Su Ci could only put aside her thoughts for now. She turned to Xie Yumin and said, "Come on, let me give you those things."


    Back in the break room, Su Ci took out a document and handed it to Xie Yumin, "Take a look."


    These materials were from her investigation, which had uncovered who was behind the release of Xie Yumin''s scandal.


    Xie Yumin opened the envelope and took out the materials. At that moment, several photos fell to the floor.


    She picked up the photos but started trembling when she saw what they showed.


    "How did you get these photos?" Xie Yumin looked at Su Ci in disbelief.


    "Read the contents of the document first," Su Ci sat down on the sofa.


    She spoke slowly, "On the day of my birthday party, these photos of yours were originally going to be leaked online, but I had them deleted immediately. I also helped investigate who was behind it all."


    Xie Yumin saw the name "Guan Jing" in the investigation materials, and her whole body went cold.


    In the photo, she was being helped to leave after getting drunk at a dinner with some investors. The investor tried to take her away, but fortunately, her agent intervened in time.


    She hadn''t expected that someone would still manage to take photos.


    The investor helping her was a married man. If these photos were to be exposed, regardless of whether she was the victim or if anything actually happened, her reputation would be damaged and her career ruined.


    That day, she had indeed told Guan Jing about having a dinner appointment, and Guan Jing had asked about the location.


    As it turned out, Guan Jing had been waiting to set her up.


    Xie Yumin''s personality wasn''t as tough as her cold exterior suggested. Being betrayed by a friend and facing cyberbullying,bined with her existing depression, led her to attempt suicide by taking arge number of sleeping pills.


    If Su Ci hadn''t intervened, Xie Yumin would have been gone.


    "I''ve given you all the information. It''s up to you how to handle it," Su Ci stood up, preparing to give Xie Yumin time to think.


    At the doorway, Su Ci suddenly paused, "Someone who betrays you isn''t worth being friends with. Since they''re not your friend, there''s no need to keep them in your heart, let alone do something foolish for them." She looked at Xie Yumin, "Don''t you agree?"


    Xie Yumin''s vacant eyes gradually regained focus. Looking at Su Ci, she felt an inexplicable sense of support.


    Xie Yumin sincerely thanked Su Ci, "Thank you."


    Su Ci smiled, d that Xie Yumin could see things clearly now. She opened the door to leave, and there stood Guan Jing outside.


    Guan Jing had just returned from purging in the bathroom. Seeing Su Ci, she smiled eagerly at her, only to receive a cold look in return.


    Watching Su Ci leave directly, her beautiful face showed traces of displeasure.


    Guan Jing turned around and met Xie Yumin''s angry gaze.


    When Su Ci left the break room, Xu Duo found her and informed her about trending on social media again.


    Su Ci was used to trending topics and wasn''t particrly concerned, but Xu Duo felt that since Su Ci had only recorded two episodes and trended twice, she would definitely be a huge star.


    Xu Duo asked Su Ci, "Do you have some beef with Qin Shiyan? Her fans areparing your photos with hers, saying you copied her beauty mark under the eye."


    Xu Duo looked around and lowered his voice, "This Qin Shiyan has powerful connections. Don''t offend her carelessly. If there''s any friction during the show recording, as a neer, you should just endure it."


    In the entertainment industry, it wasmon for neers to face suppression before making it big.


    "Qin Shiyan has powerful connections?" Su Ci caught the key point.


    Xu Duo told her, "You''re new to this industry, so you might not know, but everyone in the circle knows Qin Shiyan is the adopted daughter of the Su family. You should know the Su family''s status, so whatever you do, don''t offend Qin Shiyan."


    Su Ci gave Xu Duo a strange look, "The Su family doesn''t have any adopted daughters."


    Her parents only had one daughter - her. Where did this adopted daughtere from?


    And Qin Shiyan? She wasn''t worthy.


    Xu Duo was wearing green again today, with a red tie, looking like a Christmas tree with decorations. Hearing Su Ci''s words, his eyes widened, "You absolutely cannot say that in front of Qin Shiyan. It would offend her."


    Seeing Su Ci looking naive and clueless like ab mouse, Xu Duo couldn''t help but teach her, "Qin Shiyan has close ties with the Su family and can freelye and go from their house. Even if she''s not their daughter, her rtionship with the Su family is deep. They say Qin Shiyan is even best friends with the Su family''s daughter."


    "Regardless of Qin Shiyan''s rtionship with the Su family, you can''t offend her. Otherwise, as a small-time actress who hasn''t even reached third-tier status, Qin Shiyan could end your career with just one word." Xu Duo earnestly advised Su Ci.


    Hearing Xu Duo''s words, Su Ci felt likeughing, "Is Qin Shiyan really that popr now?"


    "Of course." Xu Duo was very knowledgeable about this, "With the Su family backing her, how could she not be popr?"


    Su Ci blinked, "Okay, I understand."


    "What do you understand?" Xu Duo called out to Su Ci''s retreating figure, raising his voice, "Remember my advice!"


    After getting in the car, Su Ci finally took out her phone to check the trending topics. The topic was ranked fourth and had high engagement, likely to climb higher.


    She clicked in, and sure enough, there were photos of her and Qin Shiyan.


    The person who posted the message was clever, deliberately choosing a photo of her eating from the side, highlighting the small tear mole below her eye. As for Qin Shiyan''s photo, it was clearly carefully selected, showing her in an evening gown with professionally done hair and makeup.


    Su Ci pressed her lips together in displeasure. She had wondered howizens could possibly think she was less attractive than Qin Shiyan - it turned out the photos were manipted.


    Taking an unttering screenshot of her and cing it next to Qin Shiyan''s edited photo - such a crude tactic was beneath her notice.


    Reading thements below, Su Ci grew increasingly angry.


    "Wow, this nobody inte celebrity is riding on our Shiyan''s poprity twice now."


    "LOL, these media outlets see our Shiyan trending and just keep trying to piggyback? Not everyone deserves to bepared to our Shiyan."


    "Shiyan is beautiful on her own, noparisons needed."


    "Shiyan was hailed as a once-in-a-century beauty when she debuted. What''s that thing next to her? How dare theypare to our Shiyan?"


    "Watched the livestream, lots ofments saying she had stic surgery and even copied Qin Shiyan''s tear mole. Isn''t it embarrassing for the copycat to sit next to the original?"


    "I''m just a casual fan, but am I the only one who thinks this post is maliciously targeting Su Ci? Using someone''s candid screenshot topare with Qin Shiyan''s professional photo? How shameless?"


    "Stop makingparisons, leaving with my princess Shiyan."


    "Shiyan is all natural. She looked beautiful with her tear mole before, others can copy but they''ll never capture her essence."


    "Su Ci is so thick-skinned, clinging to Qin Shiyan? Know your ce - you want topare yourself to Shiyan? She has powerful backing, you just have a surgically enhanced face, how can youpete?"


    After reading thements for a while, Su Ci''s eyes grew cold.


    For Su Ci, people could question anything about her, but they couldn''t question her legendary beauty.


    She sent a message to Su''s Mother: "Mom, do you have photos of me from when I was little? Send me a few."


    Su''s Mother''s phone was full of photos of her children from childhood to present, and she never lost a single one even when changing phones.


    Receiving her daughter''s message, Su''s Mother, who was drinking tea, immediately started selecting photos. Her daughter was so beautiful as a child, every photo was adorable, making it hard to choose.


    After a while, Su''s Mother finished deliberating and sent over twenty photos to Su Ci. If her daughter hadn''t specified just a few, Su''s Mother would have sent them all.


    Su Ci then messaged her older brother, saying she wanted to open an ount but had no followers.


    Su ZhiYuan always granted his sister''s requests. He immediately had someone set up an ount for her with arge number of purchased followers, and these weren''t just bot ounts.


    Su Ci changed the ount name to her own andposed a message: 1. I''ve had this tear mole since childhood - chronologically speaking, who''s copying whom? 2. I''ve been beautiful since birth - who says I had stic surgery? 3. The Su family has only one daughter - me. There are no adopted daughters, so please stop trying to associate yourself with us.


    Below the message, she attached photos of herself from kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and current selfies.


    In photos from every age, the small tear mole below Su Ci''s eye was clearly visible.


    Qin Shiyan was informed about trending with Su Ci again after leaving the recording site. Her first reaction was to ask her manager to remove the trending topic, but remembering the previous oue, Qin Shiyan leaned back in her car seat and decided to ignore it.


    Whether she removed the trending topic or not, the Su family would me her anyway. In that case, why not let more people criticize Su Ci?


    Beside her, her manager joked yfully: "Shiyan, you''re trending so frequentlytely, you might as well live on the trending list."


    The manager was naturally happy about their artist''s constant exposure.


    Qin Shiyan just smiled without saying much.


    However, when Qin Shiyan finished shooting her nextmercial and came out, she saw her manager looking at her with a troubled expression.


    ¡°Sister Fang, what''s wrong?¡± Qin Shiyan took the water handed over by her assistant, took a few small sips, leaned back in her chair, and closed her eyes to rest.


    ¡°You''re trending again.¡± The agent didn''t show any joy this time.


    Qin Shiyan was a bit tired. She opened her eyes and asked, ¡°Is it still the same trending topic from this afternoon?¡±


    The agent handed her the phone with a bad look on her face, ¡°A new trending topic, take a look yourself.¡±


    Qin Shiyan noticed that the agent''s expression was off.


    She sat up, took the phone, and found that she had reached the top of the trending list. The title read: Qin Shiyan, Debuting Half a Year, Lies Upon Lies


    Qin Shiyan frowned deeply, her first reaction being that someone was trying to smear her.


    She clicked into the trending topic and saw screenshots of messages posted by Su Ci.


    Her heart skipped a beat, and Qin Shiyan swallowed hard. She opened the photo and saw Su Ci''s rification.


    Upon reading Su Ci''s rification, Qin Shiyan''s face turned pale in an instant, her hand holding the phone trembling.


    ¡°Xiaoyan, is this Su Ci really the daughter of the Su family? Is it true that she said you were trying to ride on the Su family''s coattails?¡± The agent''s tone was stern. She hadn''t expected to be deceived by Qin Shiyan as well.


    ¡°Sister Fang.¡± Qin Shiyan felt a chill run through her, her lips turning pale, ¡°Su Ci is indeed the daughter of the Su family.¡±


    The agent red harshly at Qin Shiyan, ¡°Why didn''t you tell me earlier?¡±


    If Qin Shiyan had offended the Su family because of this, not only would her career be over, but she might not even be able to stay in City B.


    Qin Shiyan kept it to herself because she had selfish motives. She never wanted others to know Su Ci''s true identity.


    ¡°Su Ci is the daughter of the Su family, and what she said about you trying to ride on the Su family''s coattails is true?¡± The agent was now furious, with no trace of kindness left.


    Qin Shiyan had built her image as a foster daughter of the Su family since her debut. People in the industry, seeing her connection to the Su family, dared not offend her. Now that she was exposed for trying to ride on the Su family''s coattails, those she had offended before might start targeting her.


    Even thepany had been focusing on cultivating Qin Shiyan. Now that this scandal had erupted, thepany would certainly hold her ountable.


    She was going to be dragged down by Qin Shiyan.


    Qin Shiyan quickly exined, ¡°I didn''t try to ride on anyone''s coattails. I really do know Uncle Su and Aunt Su, and I grew up with Su Ci.¡±


    The agent demanded sharply, ¡°So, are you really the foster daughter of the Su family?¡±


    Qin Shiyan''s hand holding the phone turned white, ¡°No.¡±


    She had grown up with Su Ci, yet the Su family hadn''t given her a title, instead adopting a child brought back by Su Ci from an orphanage.


    Why?


    Her father had saved Uncle Su, yet she couldn''t even get the title of a foster daughter!


    The agent''s phone rang. It was thepany calling, instructing her to take Qin Shiyan back to the office immediately.


    Qin Shiyan lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously scrolling through the web pages on her phone.


    The fans who had once adored her now seemed to turn against her, questioning everything about her.


    ¡°I just ate a huge piece of gossip. Is Qin Shiyan''s noble background fake?¡±


    ¡°Who is this Su Ci? Is she really the daughter of the Su family? Why should we believe her?¡±


    ¡°Hey, Qin Shiyan''s fans, please go check Su Corporation''s ount. They''ve already reposted Su Ci''s message,plete withments and likes. I can feel the staff''s eagerness to suck up to Su Ci.¡±


    ¡°With Su Corporation''s endorsement, Su Ci''s identity can''t be fake. Your idol''s background is the one that''s fake. Trying to ride on the Su family''s coattails, what a bold move.¡±


    ¡°Qin Shiyan must be out of her mind. She built herself up as a nobledy, creating an image of a pampered heiress. Now she''s been exposed by the real Su family heiress. I feel so embarrassed for her.¡±


    ¡°Qin Shiyan''s fans,e out. Just now, you were still using the real Su heiress of stic surgery and imitating your idol''s teardrop mole. Su Ci''s photos have been posted, showing she''s had that mole since she was a child. Your idol''s mole seems to have been added just a few months ago, right?¡±


    ¡°What face does Qin Shiyan have to im that Su Ci is imitating her mole? It''s clearly the other way around!¡±


    ¡°If I were Su Ci, I''d be furious too. Being cyberbullied by Qin Shiyan''s fake fans, and being used of stic surgery and imitating Qin Shiyan. She''s the real heiress, and her mole has been there since childhood. No wonder Su Ci had to issue a statement.¡±


    ¡°I''m indifferent to Qin Shiyan. Not only did she use the Su family heiress tag to debut, but she also imed to be a once-in-a-century beauty. Does she deserve it? I think Su Ci''s beauty is truly once-in-a-century. Ah, Su Ci is so beautiful.¡±


    ¡°Su Ci was so delicate even as a child. No wonder she''s the Su family heiress. I want to hug Su Ci''s thigh. I can serve tea, cook, and doundry.¡±


    ¡°I just want to ask, do Qin Shiyan and her fans feel the pain on their faces now? Are they swollen?¡±


    ¡°Luckily, my eyesight is good, and I never liked Qin Shiyan. The higher she stood on the Su family heiress tform, the harder she falls now. Serves her right!¡±


    ¡°Exclusive news, Qin Shiyan is not the Su family''s foster daughter; she''s the daughter of the Su family''s driver.¡±


    ¡°Is the news above true? Wow, does Qin Shiyan even have any shame?¡±


    ...


    Following that, Qin Shiyan''s true identity trended again, withizens furiouslymenting.


    Netizens weren''t angry because Qin Shiyan''s true identity was ordinary; they were angry because she had lied about being a noble heiress from the start, deceiving everyone. Now that she was exposed, how couldizens not be furious?


    The sudden revtion of her true identity after hiding it for so long made Qin Shiyan''s already pale face even whiter. She felt a chill all over her body and couldn''t hear what the agent was saying anymore.


    She was finished.


    ...


    Su Ci liked to retaliate in kind. Whoever provoked her, she would repay in the same manner.


    Qin Shiyan liked to trend, so now Su Ci would send her to trend.


    Of course, Su Ci didn''t reveal Qin Shiyan''s true identity. After all, there were already people in the entertainment industry who disliked Qin Shiyan, but they refrained from acting against her because of her connection to the Su family. Now that Qin Shiyan was exposed as just the driver''s daughter, her rivals couldn''t hold back anymore.


    Su Ci received a call from Qin Shiyan.


    ¡°Ci Ci, I didn''t know about the fans insulting you before. Don''t be mad at me.¡±


    Qin Shiyan had no choice but to beg Su Ci, ¡°I''ve been busy with work. It was only just now that my agent told me you were insulted by my fans.¡±


    ¡°Ci Ci, I''m really sorry.¡±


    Qin Shiyan took the initiative to apologize, ¡°But I have five million fans. I can''t manage every fan''s behavior. The fans'' actions don''t represent my thoughts. Ci Ci, this time it was the fans who were unreasonable, offending you. I hope you can look at the fact that we grew up together and don''t be mad at me because of the fans'' mistakes.¡±


    Su Ciughed, ¡°You don''t know that fans'' actions are the idol''s responsibility? The first trending topic, I already forgave.¡±


    Su Ci''s voice was a bit cold, ¡°For me, there''s no second chance. Qin Shiyan, don''t take me for a fool.¡±


    Su Ci directly hung up the phone. Qin Shiyan had to swallow the bitter fruit she had sown herself.


    Last time, she didn''t act when the fans insulted her for not eating rabbit meat. But this time, Qin Shiyan had crossed her bottom line. She couldn''t be questioned about anything, especially not her beauty.


    Besides, Qin Shiyan not only allowed her fans to question her stic surgery but also imed her looks couldn''tpare to Qin Shiyan''s? That was a capital offense.


    Whatever fate befell Qin Shiyan, she deserved it!


    In the following days, Su Ci had no interest in how Qin Shiyan was doing because she realized she hadn''t seen Lu Zhe for several days.


    Lu Zhe had been busy with setting up hispany. Although his father, Lu Chen, had assigned some people to help him, he still needed to learn.


    Only after confirming thepany''s affairs did he have time to meet the girl.


    The apartment Lu Zhe had previously rented had be their rendezvous spot.


    Su Ci handed the pomegranate she had brought from home to Lu Zhe, saying confidently, ¡°Help me peel it.¡± Her favorite fruit wasn''t peach but pomegranate.


    But pomegranates were troublesome to eat, and Su Ci hated to do it herself the most.


    Lu Zhe didn''t make a sound. He fetched a small bowl from the kitchen, washed his hands, cut open the pomegranate, and started picking out the seeds into the bowl.


    The young man wore a white shirt, the hem neatly tucked into his trousers, buttons all the way up to the cor, his posture upright.


    It''s unclear whether it was due to the golden cotton candy he atest time, but Lu Zhe''s face no longer appeared as stiff and cold as before, and his cheeks no longer slightly sunken due to the progressive muscle dystrophy.


    His deep-set eyes now carried a few more refined features, and coupled with the fact that he had been busy withpany matters recently, he had shed a few traces of youthful naivety and gained a bit more maturity.


    This young man is undergoing a transformation.


    Su Ci particrly liked the way Lu Zhe looked in a white shirt, appearing exceptionally refined and ethereal.


    The ruby-red pomegranate seeds were deftly peeled by his slender fingers and fell into the bowl.


    Su Ci picked up a pomegranate seed with her fingers and ced it in her mouth, gently biting down. The juice of the pomegranate seed sshed on her tongue, sweet and refreshing.


    However, it''s more satisfying to eat pomegranate seeds one spoonful at a time.


    "Eat up," Lu Zhe said, having peeled a full bowl of pomegranate seeds in less than a minute.


    "Lu Zhe, you''re so amazing," Su Ci said, her words sweet as honey, effortlessly praising him.


    Lu Zhe had grown ustomed to the girl''s ttery. "There''s yogurt in the fridge. Should I get you a bottle?"


    Lu Zhe was always meticulous.


    Even when he wasn''t staying here, Lu Zhe would regrly stock the fridge with things Su Ci liked to eat, just in case she dropped by.


    The yogurt was a bit cold, so Lu Zhe ced it on the coffee table to let it warm up a bit before handing it to Su Ci to drink.


    Su Ci held the white porcin bowl filled with pomegranate seeds, leaning back against Lu Zhe as if her body had no bones, eating the pomegranate seeds.


    "Lu Zhe, our family is going on a trip the day after tomorrow," Su Ci said. The resort mountain vi invested by Su Corporation had beenpleted, and Su''s Mother proposed to take the whole family to experience it, which Su''s Father naturally agreed to.


    Lu Zhe held a small dish to catch the pomegranate seeds she spat out. "Where to?"


    "The resort mountain vi my father invested in, we should be there for two or three days." At this moment, Su Ci tossed aside the spoon in her hand and directly picked up a red pomegranate seed with her fingers, holding it between her lips.Aliali: 6754d302bd5e46c308a67379


    She sat up, kneeling beside Lu Zhe, and with one hand cupped his face, she pressed her lips, redder than the pomegranate, against his.


    The sweet pomegranate was crushed into juice between their lips.


    Su Ci wickedly pushed the pomegranate seed into Lu Zhe''s mouth, then pulled back,ughing as she licked the pomegranate juice from her lips. "It would be nice if you coulde with me on the trip."


    The taste of pomegranate lingered sweetly between their lips and teeth.


    Lu Zhe lowered his head, spitting the pomegranate seed into the small dish, and he looked deeply at the girl. "I''ve been a bit busytely."


    Su Ci nodded. She wasn''t the willful type and wouldn''t insist on Lu Zhe apanying her.


    ...


    That morning, the sun was bright and clear.


    Su''s Father and his family had already prepared everything. Su ZhiYuan, due topany matters, couldn''t leave and saw them off to the airport, then left.


    In the lobby, the Lu family of three was present. Lu Chen, with his charming eyes, greeted Su''s Father with a smile, "Hey, good morning. Where are you headed?"

 Chapter 49

    The Lu Family suddenly appeared. Su Ci looked at the tall young man standing beside Lu''s father and Lu''s mother, her sleepy eyes brightening.


    Su Ci winked at Lu Zhe.


    "We''re going on vacation. Are you traveling somewhere too?" Su''s father was in high spirits with his wife by his side.


    Lu Chen narrowed his eyes, smiling like a cunning fox, "I heard your holiday resort isplete and open for business. I''m bringing my wife and child to support your business. How''s that? Touched?"


    Su''s father was taken aback, "You''re going to the resort too?"


    Lu Chen raised his eyebrows, smiling, "Is there any reason I shouldn''t?"


    Su''s father didn''t think much of it, "Since you''re willing to bring business to my door, I have no reason to turn away money. Though we''re also going there for vacation."


    Lu Chen snapped his fingers, "Oh, that''s great! The more the merrier."


    On the side, Su''s mother found it too coincidental that the Lu family was also going to the holiday resort.


    Her gaze unconsciously drifted to the cool-mannered Lu Zhe. She trusted the young man''s character, but this seemed too convenient.


    Wen Ya took the initiative to chat with Su''s mother, "Those two always have endless topics when they meet. Sometimes I feel like I''m just a third wheel."


    Su''s mother''s thoughts were interrupted, and sheughed, "Indeed..."


    Su Ci knew the Lu family was also going to the resort and taking the same flight as them. She secretly shot a triumphant look at Lu Zhe.


    How could there be so many coincidences?


    It was clearly premeditated.


    Along the way, Su''s father and Lu Chen kept bantering back and forth, while Su''s mother was drawn into a conversation with Wen Ya about recent fashion trends.


    The two little ones held hands walking in the middle, asionally stealing nces back at their sister and brother-inw.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe walked side by side, maintaining a meter''s distance.


    She turned to look at the expressionless young man beside her, who truly appeared unfamiliar with her, and said with a smile, "Didn''t you say you were very busytely?"


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes turned to her, "Yes, Uncle Fang will have to work hard these few days I''m away."


    Su Ci blinked, her dark eyes brimming with mischief, "Lu Zhe, admit it, you just wanted to see me."


    The young man kept his eyes forward, ignoring the girl''s teasing, but the tips of his ears turned red beneath his ck hair.


    Su Ci noticed Lu Zhe''s reddened ears and resisted the urge to go over and bite them.


    This reserved boy, why couldn''t he just say he wanted to see her? If she was in a good mood, she might even reward him with a kiss.


    Mindful of their parents ahead, Su Ci didn''t dare to openly flirt with Lu Zhe.


    Only after boarding the ne did Su Ci realize that Lu Zhe''s family''s seats were right in front and behind them. Su''s mother and father each sat with one child in front, while Lu Chen and Wen Ya sat across the aisle.


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe sitting beside her, her eyes curved in a smile as she asked in a low voice, "Did you deliberately buy tickets to sit next to me?"


    Lu Zhe shook his head, "My father arranged it."


    Lu Chen had more experience in matters of the heart than his son Lu Zhe. After learning about the Su family''s vacation ns, he eagerly reported to his wife and had someone investigate their flight details, then booked all the remaining first-ss seats.


    Now there were no other passengers in first ss besides the Su and Lu families.


    Su Ci was surprised to discover that Lu Zhe and his father only shared simr features, but their personalities werepletely opposite.


    She felt fortunate that Lu Zhe was more aloof and quiet, rather than outgoing like his father.


    The flight from City B to the resort would take two hours.


    Su Ci was bored sitting there, but with her parents in front, she didn''t dare to openly get close to Lu Zhe.


    Instead, she reached out her hand, deliberately using her fingertips to hook onto Lu Zhe''s hand resting on the armrest.


    The girl was being naughty, her fingertips like little insects burrowing into his palm, her fingertips teasing his palm one stroke at a time.


    It made his heart itch.


    Lu Zhe''s hand tightened, gripping the girl''s mischievous hand. He gave her a helpless look and said in a low, indulgent voice, "Stop teasing."


    When had Su Ci ever obediently listened to him?


    She continued to tease him with her fingertips, wanting to see Lu Zhe''s helpless yet losing-control expression.


    At that moment, Su''s mother suddenly turned around, and Su Ci immediately looked out the window with a serious expression, though her hand remained firmly in Lu Zhe''s grip. Fortunately, the seats blocked the view, and Su''s mother couldn''t see.


    After Su''s mother turned back, Su Ci turned her head back, smiling at Lu Zhe like a fox who had sessfully stolen something.


    In the bright light, Su Ci''s smiling eyes were filled with starlight.


    Such a beautiful and charming girl, yet full of mischief, it was enough to make one''s teeth itch with frustration, yet there was nothing to be done about it.


    Lu Zhe gripped her small hand tightly, bringing her teasing fingertips to his lips. Watching the girl''s widening eyes, Lu Zhe opened his mouth and directly bit her fingertip.


    When they got off the ne, Su Ci''s face was flushed red. She obediently followed behind her parents, no longer teasing Lu Zhe.


    Thinking about her finger that had been bitten and then sucked on, her ck eyes sparkled brightly, her cheeks warm.


    She realized Lu Zhe had learned to be naughty, even more so than her!


    Outside the airport, cars were already waiting.


    The Su family got into their car, while on the Lu family''s side, Lu Chen had clearly arranged for transportation as well.


    In the car, Su''s mother asked her husband, "Why did the Lu family suddenly decide to vacation at the resort? And on the same day as us?"


    Not just the same day, but the same flight too. Too many coincidences to be mere chance.


    Su''s father smiled, "Lu Chen, that cunning fox, always has topete with me in everything. I casually mentioned taking you all on a trip, and this guy brings his wife and son along, clearly just to challenge me."


    Su''s father was used to Lu Chen''spetitive behavior of trying to outdo him in everything, "That cunning fox is so childish, wanting topete even over going on vacation."


    Su''s mother knew her husband hadn''t made any connection to their daughter and Lu Zhe.


    "But how can hepete? We have three children, he only has one son." On this point, Lu Chen could never win against him.


    Su''s mother was speechless, whenever her husband and Lu Chen got together, they became more childish than elementary school students.


    In another car, Su Ci was in a great mood,pletely unaware that Su''s mother was suspicious about the Lu family''s sudden appearance.


    The holiday resort was built in a vige nestled against mountains and waters. Not only was it spacious, but its decorative style was also ssically elegant. Combined with the peaceful surroundings and fresh air, it put everyone in a pleasant mood.


    The Su family''s holiday resort had done good preliminary promotion, andtely, since its opening, there had been quite a few touristsing to visit.


    However, the ce was expensive, and the visitors were either wealthy or came out of respect for the Su family.


    When the cars arrived at the resort''s parking lot, after everyone from both families got out, the resort manager was already waiting at the entrance to wee them.


    "Mr. Su, the rooms are ready," the manager said with a respectful smile.


    The staff took care of everyone''s luggage while the manager led Su''s father and the others inside.


    It happened to be Saturday, and there were quite a few tourists around.


    The manager gave introductions while reporting to Su''s father about the business situation since opening.


    Lu Chen, thick-skinned as ever, directly asked Su''s father for two rooms next to theirs, iming it would be convenient for everyone to spend time together.


    Finally, Su''s father and mother, along with their two young ones, stayed in the luxury suite. Su Ci''s room was next to her parents, Lu Chen and Wen Ya''s couple''s room was next to Su Ci''s, and Lu Zhe''s room was opposite his parents''.


    The resort, nestled between mountains and waters, was cooler than the outside temperature during the hot summer, with asional pleasant breezes.


    When Su Ci got to her room, she discovered it not only had a courtyard but also a private outdoor hot spring.


    However, Su Ci hadn''t brought a swimsuit, and she wasn''t in the habit of soaking in hot springs under the sun.


    She was extremely protective of her skin, so if she was going to use the hot spring, she nned to wait until sunset.


    After unpacking, Su Ci came out and happened to meet Lu Zheing out of his room across the way. She went over to ask him, "Do you have a hot spring in your room?"


    Lu Zhe responded, "Yes, in the courtyard."


    Hearing this, Su Ci seemed to think of something. Her eyes lit up with a hint of mischief, "After dinner, let''s go to the hot springs together."


    "No." Lu Zhe rejected without hesitation.


    Su Ci red at him with widened eyes.


    Hot springs were such a romantic and intimate activity for couples, how could Lu Zhe reject her?


    Su Ci wasn''t ready to give up. She lowered her voice and said to Lu Zhe, "Don''t you want to see how I look in a swimsuit?"


    Although she hadn''t brought one, she could ask the resort staff for er. The resort had hot springs, so they must provide swimsuits for guests. Otherwise, she had a tank top and ultra-short shorts in her suitcase that she could wear for the hot springs.


    Lu Zhe gave the girl a helpless look, "Not interested."


    Su Ci pursed her lips in displeasure. Her figure was so good it made even herself blush; if she wore a swimsuit, it would definitely be worth seeing. How could Lu Zhe show zero interest in her?


    She red at the young man, then scanned his body up and down, "If you don''t want to see mine, I want to see yours."


    Lu Zhe was dressed casually today, wearing a white shirt and ck pants, simple yet handsome. Though the young man appeared slim, she knew he had an excellent physique underneath. She still remembered the firm feeling when she touched his absst time.


    Lu Zhe gave her a meaningful look and pinched her delicate cheek with his cool fingers, "Don''t even think about it." He saw right through the girl''s naughty intentions - couldn''t she behave herself?


    Su Ci was about to say something when the door to Lu Zhe''s parents'' room opened beside them.


    Lu Chen instinctively looked at his son, "Oh, you''re both here. Ready for dinner?"


    Wen Ya also came out of the room. Seeing Su Ci, she warmly held the girl''s small hand and took the opportunity to say, "Auntie has always wanted a beautiful and well-behaved daughter like you."


    Wen Ya found Su Ci''s small hand soft and tender, with slender white fingers that felt pleasant to hold.


    Up close, Wen Ya couldn''t help but marvel at how Su Ci was indeed the treasured daughter of the Su family. Her skin was snow-white and smooth, so delicate it seemed you could pinch water from it, and her ck eyes were bright and clear - truly a fresh and lovely girl.


    The more Wen Ya looked, the more she liked Su Ci. She thought Su Ci and her son made a very pleasing couple, "I''ve always envied your mother. If I had even half a daughter like you, I would be content."


    Hearing this, Su Ci''s eyes sparkled. So, Lu Zhe''s mother really liked her?


    Su Ci wanted to be with Lu Zhe, so naturally she was happy that his family liked her.


    Meanwhile, Su Ci''s mother and father also came out. Her mother saw her daughter''s hand being held by Wen Ya, and the two seemed to be getting along well.


    Inexplicably, Su Ci''s mother felt her heart skip a beat, "Ci Ci, go check why your brother and the others haven''te out yet."


    Su Ci obediently responded and withdrew her hand from Wen Ya''s.


    Wen Ya smiled and said to Su Ci''s mother, "Little Ci is so well-behaved. Daughters really are like little cotton-padded jackets, so warm and considerate. Tong Xin, I wish I had a daughter as sweet as Little Ci every day."


    Su Ci''s mother''s eyes flickered with an odd expression. She smiled and shook her head, "Don''t be fooled by her pretty appearance. She can be quite stubborn. Sometimes raising a daughter is even more challenging than raising a son."


    Wen Ya smiled and agreed, not daring to probe further.


    Lunch was served upstairs in the resort. The dining hall was separated from the mountain by a ss wall, offering a panoramic view of the mountainside. Enjoying delicious food while taking in the beautiful scenery put everyone in a pleasant mood.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe were separated by little Su Ning.


    The little one had been reminded several times by Su Ci that when others were present, he couldn''t call Lu Zhe "brother-inw" and could only call him "big brother." The little one remembered Su Ci''s words and didn''t slip up throughout the meal.


    "I heard your resort offers boating?" Lu Chen asked Su Ci''s father.


    "Yes, we do have that activity. Are you interested?" Su Ci''s father was serving food to his wife.


    "Indeed, we should all go y. Isn''t there fishing too?" Lu Chen also served food to Wen Ya, his attentiveness no less than Su Ci''s father across the table. "Let''s have apetition, with thend in the West District as the stake."


    He had recently heard that Su Corporation wanted that piece ofnd in the West District, and coincidentally, he was also interested in acquiring it.


    The Su Corporation and Lu Group were evenly matched in strength. If theypeted for it, it would only waste time and money. It would be better if one side yielded.


    But neither he nor Su Ci''s father would back down, so apetition was the perfect way to decide.


    The business world would never know that this billion-yuan piece ofnd was decided by a fishingpetition between Lu Chen and Su Ci''s father.


    Beside them, Wen Ya said to Su Ci''s mother, "While the men go fishing in this hot weather, we shouldn''t join them. I heard from the staff that the resort has arge natural hot spring. It would be more suitable for us to enjoy the hot springs together."


    Su Ci''s mother indeed had no interest in fishing. She smiled and agreed, then turned to ask her daughter, "What about you, Ci Ci?"


    "I''ll go boating," Su Ci was more interested in that.


    "Yes, let the young ones go together. No need to join us older folks," Wen Ya smiled and said to Su Ci''s mother, "My son can look after them, so Ci Ci can enjoy herself without worry."


    Su Ci immediately agreed.


    Su Ci''s mother looked at her daughter worriedly, swallowing her objections. She could only hope that Lu Zhe would remember his promise.


    After the meal, Su Ci''s mother had wanted to make ast attempt by having little Su Ning and the other child apany her daughter''s group boating. With the two children present, at least it would prevent any romance between her daughter and Lu Zhe.


    Wen Ya was clearly more astute than Su Ci''s mother. She reminded her that the children were too young and it would be dangerous near the water, which dispelled Su Ci''s mother''s intentions.


    Theke at the resort was artificial, created with considerable manpower and resources, and stocked with fish.


    Under the sunlight, theke''s surface sparkled with ripples. Along with the gentle breeze, Su Ci nced at the ethereal young man in white beside her, and her heart began to flutter.


    With no one else around, Su Ci let Lu Zhe hold her small hand tightly.


    Su Ci asked Lu Zhe, "Do your parents know about our rtionship?"


    The girl had always been clever. She could see what was happening when Wen Ya and Lu Chen kept creating opportunities for her and Lu Zhe to be together.


    "Yes, they know," Lu Zhe didn''t approve of his parents'' actions, but he knew they were doing it for him.


    Su Ci gave Lu Zhe a proud look, "When Auntie Wen Ya said she wanted a daughter like me, she meant she wants me as her daughter-inw, right?"


    Lu Zhe thought that if the girl were to turn back into a rabbit now, her tail would definitely be pointing proudly to the sky.


    "My parents really like you," Lu Zhe felt very selfish.


    Knowing that Su Ci could never be his wife or the Lu family''s daughter-inw, he selfishly didn''t want to break the illusion.


    Several new boats were moored by theke, with staff in charge of watching them.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe boarded one of them. The canopied boat perfectly blocked the sun while allowing venttion on both sides and views of the scenery, which suited Su Ci''s preferences.


    Su Ci sat close to Lu Zhe while a staff member handled the rowing outside.


    After a while, as their boat passed under a bridge and turned, another small boat brushed against their hull, nearly colliding.


    "Don''t you know how to row a boat?" a girl from the other boat angrily questioned their staff member.


    The rowing staff member was quite innocent. He had been rowing in a straight line, and his boat was in front while the other was behind - the other boat hade at them.


    The staff member had received professional training and knew that the resort''s guests were either wealthy or noble, not people he could afford to offend. He politely and diplomatically exined, "Miss, my boat was in front. I apologize for not paying attention to the situation behind us earlier."


    However, the girl was used to being spoiled and wouldn''t let it go. "The Su family spent so much money, and this is the kind of useless people they hire?"


    Su Ci was already annoyed by the sudden incident, and now hearing the other party mention the Su family, she frowned and lifted the curtain with one hand.


    She looked at the small boat beside them, which had several young people aboard. The girl sitting in the middle with a pouty expression and dissatisfied look was clearly the one harassing the staff member.


    Su Ci propped her chin on one hand against the railing, her eyes narrowing with an arrogant expression, "How the Su family spends their money is none of your concern."


    When the curtain lifted to reveal such a beautiful face, the young people on the other boat were stunned, including the girl in the middle who had been berating the staff member.


    With bright eyes, white teeth, snow-like skin, ck hair, and an alluring beauty mark beneath the corner of her eye - who else could this be but the youngdy of the Su family?


    The group of young people had all seen Su Ci at previous banquets and recognized her immediately.


    They hadn''t expected to crash into Su Ci''s boat.


    The girl in the middle widened her eyes, surprised and somewhat displeased, "Su Ci, is that you?"


    Su Ci raised an eyebrow - they knew her?


    "So what if it is?" Su Ci thought for a moment but couldn''t remember who these people were.


    Well, it didn''t matter anyway. They weren''t important.


    Li Chenyu, the girl in the middle, looked shocked, "You don''t recognize me?"


    "I previously lost my memory and don''t remember anyone. You can introduce yourself," Su Ci''s attention was drawn to the life value on the other''s wrist, where a thin red line showed only 15 hours remaining.


    Oh, someone with a short life ahead.


    Li Chenyu knew Su Ci had gone missing for a while but hadn''t expected her to lose her memory. She felt somewhat gleeful about it, "I''m Li Chenyu, the youngdy of the Li family."


    Though her family couldn''tpare to the Su Family, Lu Family, or He family, they were still quite powerful.


    Plus, she was beautiful too. If it weren''t for Su Ci, she would have been the most outstanding youngdy among City B''s elite families.


    "Chenyu?" Su Ci wanted tough - was it meant to mean ''beauty that could sink fish''?


    Su Ci was perceptive and easily noticed Li Chenyu''s dislike for her. "Earlier was your fault. If you want to pursue this matter, take anyints to the manager. I''ll give instructions ordingly, so don''t bother me about it."


    Hearing this, Li Chenyu red. Why had Su Ci be even more detestable after losing her memory?


    "Is there anything else?" Su Ci asked them.


    How could any of them dare to provoke Su Ci? The Su Family was powerful, and they were on Su Family territory. They all shook their heads, not daring to make a sound.


    Although Li Chenyu disliked Su Ci, she couldn''t do anything about it. She could only swallow her frustration.


    "If there''s nothing else, enjoy yourselves," Su Ci said with a smile.


    Guests were guests, and they were here spending money on Su Family property. Su Ci had no grudge against them and wouldn''t deliberately give them attitude.


    "Wait," Li Chenyu saw Su Ci about to lower the curtain and quickly spoke up: "Su Ci, has your older brothere to the resort?"


    Su Ci raised an eyebrow, "No."


    "Oh." Li Chenyu looked disappointed.


    Su Ci lowered the curtain and clicked her tongue. This person couldn''t be hoping to be her sister-inw, could she?


    Su Ci called Fu Gui out, "How does Li Chenyu die?"


    Fu Gui got most excited when encountering people close to death. Its tiny voice was excited, [She falls down the mountain and dies.]


    Su Ci was startled.


    Falls down the mountain? She dies at the resort?


    With 15 hours left, Su Ci calcted - that would be around five or six tomorrow morning. Why would Li Chenyu be climbing mountains instead of sleeping at such an early hour?Aliali: 6754ee2abd5e46c308a836c6


    Su Ci frowned. She draped herself over Lu Zhe like a boneless creature and looked at him pleadingly, "Can I go mountain climbing with you tomorrow to watch the sunrise?"


    She hated getting up early, hated climbing mountains, and hated watching the sunrise even more.


    Wasn''t it morefortable to sleep in a soft, warm bed?


    Lu Zhe was a bit surprised, "Mountain climbing?"


    He knew how delicate she was - even ill-fitting shoes could make her feet red and sore, let alone climbing a mountain.


    "Yes." Su Ci nestled in Lu Zhe''s arms, reluctantly and insincerely saying: "I want to watch the sunrise with you. It must be very romantic."


    She thought sleeping together with Lu Zhe would be more romantic than watching the sunrise.


    If it weren''t for wanting to save up golden cotton candy for Lu Zhe, if it weren''t for not wanting him to die at the resort, Su Ci definitely wouldn''t be willing to endure such hardship.


    Whimper, she was too good to Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe chuckled, his tone full of indulgence as he held her tight, "Alright."

 Chapter 50

    Knowing they were in the wrong, the young people''s small boat had already left.


    With the troublemakers gone, Su Ci pulled Lu Zhe to the stern of the boat. The sunlight wasn''t as harsh now, and she sat down at the stern.


    The girl wore delicate sandals with thin straps that wrapped around her feet and ankles, creating an indescribably elegant look.


    Su Ci untied the straps, took off her shoes, and dipped her feet directly into the water.


    The artificially createdke was crystal clear to the bottom. The cool, refreshing water temperature spread up from her feet - it felt wonderful on such a hot summer day.


    Lu Zhe watched the little rabbit charm on her ankle swaying in the water. He crouched beside her, holding her steady, afraid she might fall into the water.


    The air in the mountains was fresh, the scenery beautiful, and everywhere was peaceful. Sitting in the small boat, ying with the clearke water, with her beloved beside her, Su Ci felt as if a little fish had swum into her chest, constantly blowing bubbles.


    "Do you want to sit down?" Su Ci encouraged Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe shook his head, "The water''s a bit cold. You shouldn''t soak for too long."


    "Oh." Su Ci swung her feet idly.


    After ying for quite a while, as the boat was approaching the shore, Su Ci pulled her feet out of the water,pletely wet.


    She reached for her shoes to put them back on, but the next moment, the young man''srge hand reached out and gently gripped her ankle.


    "Let''s dry your feet first," Lu Zhe stopped her from putting on her shoes.


    Su Ci wanted to say there weren''t any towels, and besides, she was wearing sandals so it didn''t matter if her feet were wet.


    However, watching the young man crouching beside her, using the hem of his own shirt to dry her feet, all words got stuck in her throat.


    "Lu Zhe..." Su Ci called his name softly.


    "Mm." The young man responded, head lowered, focused intently on wiping the water from her feet.


    "Lu Zhe, you''ll get your clothes dirty." Su Ci tried to pull her foot back, but he held it firmly.


    Even though Su Ci was usually quite bold, having Lu Zhe dry her feet with his clothes made her feel embarrassed.


    Lu Zhe didn''t mind, "It''s fine."


    The girl''s feet were snow-white, her toes round and cute with a slight pink tinge, looking even more delicate and dainty in the sunlight. After wiping a few times, his fingers reached for her shoes and helped her put them on.


    His fingers were deft, tying a beautiful butterfly knot at her slim ankle.


    "Done." After helping her put on her shoes, Lu Zhe couldn''t resist yfully touching the little rabbit charm on her ankle before letting go of her foot.


    Su Ci''s eyes sparkled as she leaned forward and kissed Lu Zhe''s cool lips.


    This thoughtful and gentle young man was hers.


    As the sun set, only thest orange glow remained in the mountain resort.


    Su''s Father and Lu Chen returned from fishing.


    After handing the fish to the staff to take to the kitchen, Su''s Father sat down happily beside his wife.


    Seeing her husband''s delighted expression, Su''s Mother asked, "Did you win?"


    "I won." Su''s Father nced at Lu Chen across from them. "I got that piece ofnd in the West District."


    Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, "Don''t worry, I''m a good sport."


    Then, Lu Chen leaned close to Wen Ya and whispered in her ear: "Yaya, I didn''t really lose - I let him win just now." For his son''s happiness, he deliberately lost to Su Shengguo.


    He truly was a great father.


    Wen Ya rewarded her husband with a rare smile.


    At this time, Su Ci and Lu Zhe also returned for dinner.


    Su''s Mother immediately had her daughter sit beside her, "Ci Ci, did you have fun?"


    "This ce is really nice." Su Ci was in a good mood.


    Su''s Mother saw the smile in her daughter''s eyes, her beautiful features filled with joy. She held back a sigh - it wasn''t the resort that was nice, it was probably because Lu Zhe was with her.


    Su''s Mother unconsciously nced toward the Lu family''s side, where she saw the young man quietly taking his seat, his posture straight and dignified, neither humble nor arrogant, indeed a good match for her daughter.


    Su''s Mother withdrew her gaze - it was a pity he had a terminal illness.


    Dinner was very pleasant, and the resort even put on a fireworks disy.


    Their dining position was perfect, next torge floor-to-ceiling windows that directly overlooked the fireworks blooming between the mountains.


    Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai were excited, constantly eximing in wonder.


    While everyone else was looking out the window, Su Ci turned to look at the young man.


    Lu Zhe happened to be looking at her too.


    Su Ci''s eyes curved into crescents, and only then did she happily turn to watch the blooming fireworks outside.


    It was nearly eight o''clock after dinner.


    Su''s Mother apanied her daughter back to her room, and even though she knew the resort was very secure, she still checked the room''s safety once more.


    "Mom, go rest, I''ll be fine by myself," Su Ci said to her mother.


    "Will you be alright? Your father and I are next door, remember to knock if you need anything," Su''s Mother reminded her.


    "Mom, if anything happens, I can call the front desk for resort staff. You and dad should just rest well, don''t worry about me." After saying this, Su Ci deliberately yawned.


    She had figured it out - why was her mother lingering, seemingly reluctant to leave?


    Could it be that she wanted to keep watch over her?


    Seeing her daughter''s sleepy appearance, Su''s Mother finally smiled and said, "Alright, alright, if you''re tired, get some rest early."


    "Mm." Su Ci obediently agreed.


    Only after Su''s Mother left and closed the door did she let out a sigh of relief.


    Su Ci took out a small camisole and ultra-short denim shorts from her suitcase - she hadn''t brought a swimsuit, so this would have to do for the hot spring.


    Taking the clothes, Su Ci first took a shower before changing into the camisole and shorts.


    Coming out of the bathroom, she picked up her phone from the bed and sent a message to Lu Zhe: I''ming over to see you, open the door.


    With her parents'' room right next door, she didn''t dare ring Lu Zhe''s doorbell or knock on his door.


    However, the young man only replied with four words: Go to sleep early.


    Su Ci was used to being willful and wouldn''t listen to him. She sent another message: I''m going to knock.


    After sending the message, Su Ci opened her door with a smile, and sure enough, she saw the door diagonally opposite was already open, with the young man standing straight behind it.


    Su Ci''s eyes curved with joy.


    She checked that there was no one else in the corridor, quickly went over to Lu Zhe''s side, and pushed him back inside.


    "I knew you''d open the door." Su Ci''s eyes crinkled with a smug smile.


    Lu Zhe looked at the girl''s outfit - she wore a crop top that showed her midriff, perfectly outlining her curves, and shorts that revealed her long, slender legs, gleaming white and eye-catching.


    His gaze darkened, "What did you want to see me for?"


    "I came to use the hot spring," she said. Her room had one too, but what was the point of using it alone?


    Su Ci took Lu Zhe''s hand, "Let''s go together."


    She deliberately moved closer to Lu Zhe, "Don''t you want to? Using the hot spring together, just thinking about it is exciting."


    Lu Zhe pulled her back to his side, "No." His dark eyes looked at her, "Go back to your room and use your own."


    Su Ci was held back, her feet in soft disposable slippers. She unhappily kicked at Lu Zhe''s foot with her toe, "I''m going to use this one, and I want to use it with you."


    Su Ci had put thought into her outfit.


    When she changed clothes, she had looked in the mirror - she had a good figure, and even in a simple camisole and shorts, she looked very alluring. She couldn''t help admiring herself in the mirror, so why was Lu Zhe showing no reaction?


    "Come on." Su Ci''s bright eyes looked at him.


    Lu Zhe pressed his lips together.


    The weather was nice at night, and the moon was enchanting.


    Su Ci thought the mountain moon was particrly bright. She deliberately sshed some water onto Lu Zhe across from her.


    She pouted in boredom, "Who gets into a hot spring fully clothed?" The young man hadn''t undressed, he had gotten into the water wearing all his clothes,pletely covered up.


    Lu Zhe''s rigid face was wet from the water, softening his features, making him look even more handsome. He avoided looking at the bright-eyed girl across from him, who had mischief in her eyes, "This is fine."


    "Why are you so far away from me?" Su Ci''s eyes were full ofint, she asked him, "Are youing here, or should I go there?"


    The hot spring pool was two meters long and one meter wide.


    Currently, they were at opposite ends.


    Lu Zhe finally gave the girl a long look. Under the moonlight, she was like a little sprite trying every way she could to tease him.


    She always forgot the pain once the wound healed, and was being willful again.


    Lu Zhe leaned against the pool edge, his arms spread out resting on the stone walls. He curved his lips in a slight smile, "Come here."


    Only then did Su Ci be happy.


    She slipped into the young man''s arms like a cunning little fish in the water, softly leaning against him.


    Their bodies pressed together in the water, adding a wet intimacy. Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe with a hint of smugness, enjoying how he kept backing away from her advances.


    Lu Zhe met the girl''s eyes, deliberately avoiding looking at her stunning curves beneath the water. He stroked her wet hair and suddenly asked, "How long can you maintain human form?"


    Su Ci counted in her head, "Probably until tomorrow afternoon."


    Lu Zhe nodded.


    Suddenly, he lowered his head, hisrge hand that had been stroking her wet hair moved to cradle the back of her head, pulling her towards him in one swift motion.


    His cool lips were covered in water droplets, making Su Ci''s eyes widen in surprise.


    When Lu Zhe bit her lip gently before pressing against her as they both fell back into the water, she instinctively held him tight.


    Su Ci couldn''t hold her breath, so she pushed against Lu Zhe, but the young man didn''t budge.


    Her mind went nk as she could only let Lu Zhe share his breath with her.


    After a while, they emerged from the water. Lu Zhe looked at the girl who was weakly leaning against him, her face flushed red and her eyes more alluring than the water itself.


    He brushed aside the wet hair from her face and softly kissed her forehead, "Will you stop teasing now?"


    Su Ci obediently shook her head, still seeming dazed from the intense experience.


    Lu Zhe lifted her out of the pool and wrapped her in a nearby towel, "I''ll take you back to your room."


    Su Ci nestled in his arms, "I want to sleep here tonight." Shemanded him weakly, "Go to my room and get my clothes, don''t forget my underwear."


    "Should we go for another round?" Lu Zhe asked helplessly, trying to intimidate her.


    Su Ci, now more alert, looked at him with sparkling wet eyes and smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, "Let''s try again tomorrow."


    She had just discovered that kissing underwater was quite fun.


    Lu Zhe: ......


    He found the girl''s clothes in her suitcase, including her intimate apparel, which he didn''t look at too closely, wrapping everything together to carry back.


    Just as he closed the door to her room, the door next to it opened.


    Lu Zhe''s hand tightened on the doorknob in surprise.


    "Son, what are you doing?" It was Lu Chen.


    Seeing his son standing in front of Su Ci''s door, Lu Chen raised an eyebrow and teased, "What are you nning to do with Su Ci at this hour? Surely not moongazing?"


    Lu Zhe hid the girl''s clothes behind his back, "No, it''s not that."


    Lu Chen knew his son wasn''t as outgoing as himself, rather more reserved. He smiled and said, "Be careful, if Su Shengguo finds out, well..." He gave his son a meaningful look before returning to his room.


    After closing the door, Lu Chen immediately bragged to his wife, "Yaya, I saw our son going to find Su Ci..."


    Lu Zhe sighed and hurried back to his room.


    Su Ci had already removed her wet clothes and was lying in bed wrapped in a towel.


    When Lu Zhe entered and saw the wet clothes carelessly thrown aside on the floor, his gaze deepened.


    He handed the clothes to Su Ci, "Here are your clothes, put them on quickly."


    Su Ci sat up, took the clothes from Lu Zhe, and then, under the covers but right in front of him, tossed aside the towel that was wrapped around her.


    "Tuantuan." Lu Zhe called her name in a low voice.


    Having recovered her energy after resting, Su Ci winked at Lu Zhe and said matter-of-factly, "I''m changing clothes, don''t peek."


    Lu Zhe cleared his throat ufortably and walked into the bathroom.


    When he came out, the girl had changed into her clothes and was sitting quietly on the bed waiting for him.


    Her wet ck hair fell naturally down her back, her eyes soft and bright - now Su Ci looked like the gentle fairy she was.


    Lu Zhe plugged in the hair dryer, "Come here, you need to dry your hair before sleeping."


    Su Ci inched over like a little snail and automaticallyy down on Lu Zhe''sp, "Go ahead."


    Lu Zhe closed his eyes briefly.


    He turned the girl''s face away from his inner thigh before starting to dry her wet hair from bottom to top.


    Looking up from below, Su Ci could only see Lu Zhe''s sharp jawline, "Lu Zhe, why are you so attentive?"


    The young man smiled.


    "You''re as attentive as a father, you''re not treating me like a daughter, are you?"


    The girl''s words sessfully froze the smile on the young man''s lips. He gave her a deep look before leaning down to bite her rosy lips, "What do you think?"


    Su Ciughed brightly: "We''re going up the mountain tomorrow morning."


    "Mm." He remembered she wanted to watch the sunrise.


    "We need to reach the peak around five, so should we leave around three or four?" Su Ci felt pained just thinking about having to wake up so early.


    For a beauty-loving girl like her, not getting proper sleep was practically a sin - it was like willfully letting herself be ugly.


    "Can you wake up?" Lu Zhe knew Su Ci liked to sleep in, "We can watch it another time."


    "No, it has to be this time." Su Ci blinked, looking up at Lu Zhe pleadingly, "Remember to wake me up, and even if I can''t wake up, you must get me up. We have to go up the mountain."


    "Mm."


    ......


    The predawn darkness was thick, everything was quiet except for the asional sound of insects in the courtyard, making everything seem even more serene.


    When Lu Zhe woke up, it was still pitch ck outside.


    He pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyes gradually bing clear.


    He nudged the girl in his arms, "Tuantuan, wake up."


    Su Ci didn''t respond at all.


    Lu Zhe nudged her again, but the girl just nuzzled closer to his chest, showing no signs of opening her eyes.


    Lu Zhe lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "If you don''t get up now, we won''t go see the sunrise."


    Su Ci wiggled like a little worm.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes held hiddenughter as he pulled her straight out of bed and carried her to the bathroom.


    In the early morning mountain air, the temperature was quite low. Su Ci wore shorts and pants with Lu Zhe''s white shirt over top, drowsily letting him lead her up the mountain.


    "Sleepy?" Lu Zhe stopped, seeing the girl''s eyes almost closing, "Should we skip the sunrise?"


    Su Ci instinctively shook her head, "No, we have to see it."


    She leaned weakly against Lu Zhe, looking at him pitifully, "I''m doing this all for you, you know. You should be nicer to me, and when it''s time to kiss me, kiss me more."


    Lu Zhe was both amused and exasperated by the girl''s twisted logic, "Wasn''t it you who wanted to see the sunrise?"


    Su Ci felt a twinge in her heart - she didn''t really want to see the sunrise at all.


    There was only one path up the mountain, man-made with stone steps and handrails, clearly built with considerable effort and expense.


    But in the predawn darkness, they could only rely on Lu Zhe''s phone shlight to guide them step by step.


    Knowing they would be climbing, Su Ci had wornfortable sneakers, but halfway up, her delicate constitution got the better of her, and her legs went weak.


    Lu Zhe opened a bottle of mineral water, let her take a few sips before taking a big drink himself from where she had drunk.


    "Hold the phone to light the way, I''ll carry you," Lu Zhe said, handing her the phone and bending down in front of her.


    At this point, Su Ci was being very considerate, "Kiss me, and I''ll have the strength to walk myself."


    Lu Zhe insisted: "Get on."


    Su Ci moved over and climbed onto Lu Zhe''s back, "You offered to carry me, so you can''tin that I''m heavy."


    "Mm."


    Lu Zhe didn''t walk fast, but took steady steps one at a time.


    The path grew steeper as they went higher.


    After what seemed like forever, Lu Zhe finally carried Su Ci to the mountaintop.


    The early morning wind blew with a whistling chill, and the sky was beginning to lighten imperceptibly.


    Su Ci looked around and pointed to a pile of rocks, "Let''s hide over there."


    "Didn''t you want to watch the sunrise?" Lu Zhe asked.


    "We can watch from behind the rocks," Su Ci jumped down from his back.


    She hadn''t heard any movement behind them and wasn''t sure if Li Chenyu hade, but since there was only one path up the mountain, she and Lu Zhe could just wait here.


    Su Ci pulled Lu Zhe to hide behind therge rocks.


    Looking at the girl pressed close to him, acting all secretive, Lu Zhe suddenly realized she hadn''te up here to watch the sunrise at all.


    It made sense - someone so resistant to waking up early couldn''t possibly be interested in watching the sunrise.


    Lu Zhe didn''t rush to ask her what was wrong. He sat quietly with her behind the rock, his eyes full of indulgence.


    Su Ci checked the time - it was almost five o''clock. Why hadn''t Li Chenyu arrived yet?


    The sky was brighter than before, with bits of golden light breaking through the clouds.


    Su Ci was getting bored waiting. It was past five, and she wondered if Li Chenyu was stilling. She was supposed to fall down the mountain at six.


    Suddenly, Su Ci realized a serious problem.


    Fugui had only said that Li Chenyu died from falling down the mountain. She had instinctively assumed it was from the peak, but what if Li Chenyu had fallen while climbing up, halfway through when she ran out of energy?


    That would still count as falling to death from the mountain.


    Su Ci was stunned.


    Had all her efforts been in vain?


    Just as Su Ci was caught in this dilemma, she heard a girl''sining voice.


    Su Ci''s expression changed instantly, and she became alert.


    Was that Li Chenyu?


    Beside her, Lu Zhe observed Su Ci''s expression. He had already figured out that she hadn''te to the mountaintop for the sunrise; rather, she seemed to be waiting for someone. And now, that person had arrived.


    On the other side, Li Chenyu waspletely exhausted. She was breathing heavily and said in a delicate voice, "I must have been crazy to listen to you and put myself through this torture."


    The girl next to Li Chenyu was also breathing rapidly, but clearly in better shape. She consoled Li Chenyu, "Xiaoyu, your effort will be worth it."


    Li Chenyu''s expression softened a bit as she thought of the person in her heart.


    "Let''s go over there to watch, the sun is about to rise," the girl said to Li Chenyu with a smile.


    Li Chenyu looked in the direction she was pointing. The spot did seem perfect, so she walked over.


    Behind therge rock, Su Ci quietly poked her head out. She opened her phone, switched to video recording mode, pressed start, and then handed the phone to Lu Zhe, asking him to film Li Chenyu.


    Although she knew Li Chenyu was about to die, she wasn''t foolish enough to rush out and stop her. Not only did Li Chenyu dislike her, but who would believe something that hadn''t happened yet? They might just think she was crazy.


    Whether or not they could save Li Chenyu, at least they would have footage of the ident to prove her and Lu Zhe''s innocence.


    Now, she just needed to wait.


    Su Ci asked Fugui, "There are two minutes left before Li Chenyu rolls down the mountain, right?"


    Fugui: [Yes, master.]


    Su Ci felt inexplicably nervous as she watched Li Chenyu walk to the edge, with the other girl following her.


    The girl stood behind Li Chenyu''s right side, and suddenly reached out her hand toward her.


    Su Ci''s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Li Chenyu was going to be pushed down?


    One minute left.


    At this moment, Li Chenyu suddenly turned her head and said impatiently, "Why hasn''t the sune up yet?"


    Who could answer such a demanding question?


    The girl maintained her good temper and naturally withdrew her hand. "Just wait a little longer. When the sun rises, remember to make a wish."


    Li Chenyu turned away from her. "As if I needed you to tell me that."


    The girl behind her smiled even more broadly and reached out her hand again.


    Sensing intense danger, Su Ci stepped out from behind therge rock and said coldly, "What are you doing?"


    Li Chenyu and the girl hadn''t expected anyone else to be on the mountaintop. They turned to Su Ci in shock, their faces pale with fright.


    Especially the girl, who instinctively withdrew her hand in fear.


    "Su Ci, why are you here?" Li Chenyu''s voice nearly cracked from shock.


    Su Ci replied matter-of-factly, "This entire mountain resort belongs to my family. Why shouldn''t I be here?"


    Her cold gaze swept over the girl before finallynding on Li Chenyu''s wrist, where she noticed the life value had changed to seven yellow squares.


    Li Chenyu was speechless, unable to argue.


    "Rather, what are you doing up here?" Su Ci asked Li Chenyu.


    Though scared, Li Chenyu couldn''t do anything against Su Ci. She replied irritably, "I came to watch the sunrise."


    "Oh, you were willing to risk your life just to see the sunrise," Su Ci''s eyes curved upward. "How admirable."


    "What do you mean risk my life?" Li Chenyu couldn''t understand Su Ci''s words at all.


    Su Ci prompted her, "You can ask your friend standing next to you."


    "Did you understand what she meant?" Li Chenyu asked Li Xiaoli.


    Li Xiaoli didn''t know what this suddenly appeared girl had seen or how much she had seen, but the meaning in her words suggested she knew her intentions.


    Li Xiaoli steadied herself and shook her head at Li Chenyu, "I don''t understand either."


    The golden light at the horizon was growing stronger, and the sun was about to rise. Li Chenyu didn''t dare provoke Su Ci, and she had more important things to do anyway. She didn''t want to deal with Su Ci. "Su Ci, if you have something to say, just say it. I want to watch the sunrise."


    Su Ci decided to be direct, "Sunrise? If it weren''t for me, you''d already be lying at the bottom of the mountain, dead. Still thinking about watching the sunrise? Your friend here just tried to push you down the mountain."


    "Don''t make things up," Li Xiaoli quickly defended herself. "It was so dark just now, how could you have seen me trying to push her?"


    Li Chenyu was shocked and quickly moved away from the dangerous edge. "You were going to push me?"


    Li Xiaoli was on the verge of tears. "Xiaoyu, how could I possibly push you? You can''t believe what this person is making up."


    "I''m not making anything up. I saw you reach out with your right hand just now," Su Ci said lightly.


    Li Xiaoli challenged Su Ci, "I don''t know you. Why are you trying to frame me?"


    Li Chenyu''s eyes were full of confusion, not knowing whose words to believe.


    "You reached out with your right hand twice," Su Ci said calmly. "I saw it all."


    Li Xiaoli froze, then shook her head with red eyes, "This isn''t something to joke about. Please don''t randomly use people. I can''t bear the burden of a murder charge."


    Seeing Li Xiaoli''s wronged expression, Li Chenyu bit her lip and asked Su Ci, "Did you really see her try to push me?"


    "Do you think I have so much free time that I''d make fun of you for no reason?" Su Ci watched as the girl called Li Xiaoli rubbed her eyes pitifully, and her lips curled into a smirk.


    Tch, trying to fake cry in front of her?


    Su Ci offered sincere advice: "Rubbing your eyes won''t force tears out. I suggest pinching your thigh, or your arm works too. Wherever is most sensitive, pinch there."


    Back when she couldn''t cry on cue, she used to pinch her thigh hard to make herself cry from pain. As for why she didn''t use eye drops? It was to make the director think she was dedicated to her craft.


    Li Xiaoli''s movements stopped. She suppressed her anger, wondering how someone could be so annoying.


    Su Ci felt she had yed enough. Seeing that she had pushed the other person to the brink of breakdown, she smiled and said, "I''m just kidding."


    Li Xiaoli waspletely confused by her. So, she had been joking earlier? She hadn''t actually seen anything?


    Li Chenyu was also dumbfounded. Around Su Ci, she always felt not only inferior in presence but also in intelligence.


    This was also why she disliked Su Ci.


    Su Ci ran back behind therge rock, bent down to kiss the young man''s cold thin lips, and pulled him up.


    Li Chenyu and Li Xiaoli were shocked again to see another person on the mountaintop. Who else could be up here?


    "Who is he?" Li Chenyu felt mentally exhausted. She had worked so hard to climb the mountain to watch the sunrise, only to encounter Su Ci, who then used Li Xiaoli of trying to push her down. She waspletely confused.


    "You don''t need to know who he is," Su Ci took the phone from Lu Zhe''s hand and waved it at Li Xiaoli. "The evidence is right here."


    Then, Su Ci yed the video Lu Zhe had recorded and showed it to Li Chenyu.


    Beside them, Li Xiaoli''s face turned pale.


    When Li Chenyu saw Li Xiaoli reach out her hand the first time, her heart started racing. Fortunately, she had turned around at that moment. When Li Xiaoli reached out the second time, Su Ci had appeared just in time.


    If Su Ci hadn''t shown up, it meant she really would have been pushed down the mountain by Li Xiaoli.


    Thinking about rolling down from this height, Li Chenyu felt a chill run from her feet up her spine.Aliali: 6754ee2abd5e46c308a836c6


    "Why did you try to kill me?" Li Chenyu pped Li Xiaoli across the face, her hand still trembling.


    "I didn''t..." Li Xiaoli continued to deny.


    "You attempted to murder me. I''m calling the police," Li Chenyu, both frightened and angry about her near-death experience, red fiercely at Li Xiaoli, looking as if she wanted to bite her to death.


    Li Xiaoli grabbed Li Chenyu''s hand, "We can''t call the police. I wasn''t trying to kill you."


    Su Ci casually twisted the knife, "I can give you the video as evidence."


    Li Xiaoli shot Su Ci a fierce re - she had almost seeded.


    "Don''t re at me, I''m so scared," Su Ci leaned against Lu Zhe, saying softly, "Lu Zhe, she''s frightening me."


    Lu Zhe naturally embraced the girl, his fingers gently pinching her cheek. In his mind, she was usually the one scaring others - how could this little troublemaker be scared of anyone else?


    Li Xiaoli''s breath caught in her throat.


    How could there be such a shameless person in this world!

 Chapter 51

    The sky gradually brightened as the sun began to peek over the horizon.


    Having obtained the golden cotton candy, Su Ci no longer wanted to deal with Li Chenyu. After all, she could provide the evidence, and how to handle Li Xiaoli was Li Chenyu''s business, not hers.


    When Li Chenyu threatened to call the police, Li Xiaoli panicked, as she hadn''t expected things to turn out this way.


    Li Chenyu might appear arrogant, but she was actually quite foolish. Her n could have seeded if not for this unexpected person whopletely disrupted everything.


    She had been so close.


    "Chenyu, please don''t call the police. You know my mother is sick, and if something happens to me, no one will be able to take care of her," Li Xiaoli knelt before Li Chenyu, "Please, I''m begging you."


    The ground at the mountaintop was covered in small stones, and as Li Xiaoli knelt down, her knees pressed against them, causing genuine tears to flow.


    Li Chenyu was furious. "Your kneeling won''t help. You attempted murder, and I''m definitely calling the police." She had nearly been pushed off the mountain by Li Xiaoli. "Why did you try to kill me?"


    Hearing Li Chenyu''s insistence on calling the police, Li Xiaoli stumbled to her feet, abandoning her pleas.


    "Why did I try to kill you?" She looked at Li Chenyu with hatred. "We share the same father, so why are you the precious daughter of the Li family while I''ve had to live with my mother in a dirty, cramped apartment since childhood?"


    "You asked where my father went," Li Xiaoli said mockingly. "He was stolen by you and your mother."


    Su Ci leaned against Lu Zhe, watching the drama unfold like a spectator eating popcorn. She hadn''t expected such a melodramatic revtion between these two.


    Li Xiaoli and Li Chenyu were actually half-sisters.


    Li Chenyu incredulously denied Li Xiaoli''s words, "Impossible, my father only has one daughter - me."


    Now that everything was exposed, Li Xiaoli didn''t hold back. "If you don''t believe me, I''m ready to take a DNA test anytime."


    Li Chenyu bit her lip, her hands trembling. "You''re my father''s illegitimate daughter? Did he know about you?"


    "You''re the illegitimate one," Li Xiaoli snapped, as if struck a nerve. "I''m three months older than you. If it weren''t for Dad''s arranged marriage to your mother, why would he have broken up with my mom?"


    When she had first learned about her true identity, she immediately went to confront Li''s Father.


    However, he showed no concern for her as his daughter, even offering money to make her go away, insisting that Li Chenyu was the Li family''s only daughter.


    They both shared his blood, so why did Li Chenyu get to be the pampered princess of the Li family while she lived in the slums? Why had she been mocked and bullied since childhood for not having a father?


    Especially after meeting Li Chenyu at school, she saw her as nothing but a spoiled, arrogant, brainless rich girl who had nothing going for her except her status.


    That''s why she had nned to get close to Li Chenyu and then eliminate her.


    Without Li Chenyu in the picture, she would be Li''s Father''s only daughter, and surely she would be the Li family''s princess.


    The brainless Li Chenyu was easy to deceive. Knowing that Li Chenyu had a crush on the Su family''s eldest son, she told her after arriving at the mountain vi that if she made a wish at sunrise from the mountaintop, her wish woulde true, especially wishes about love.


    She couldn''t believe Li Chenyu had fallen for it so easily.


    Killing her would have been effortless.


    If these two unexpected people hadn''t shown up, she would have seeded in disguising the murder as an ident - Li Chenyu falling off the mountain.


    Hearing Li Xiaoli''s words, Li Chenyu''s mind was in chaos, unable to determine if what she was hearing was true.


    All along, she had been the Li family''s only daughter, doted on by both parents. Now this despised follower, Li Xiaoli, was suddenly iming to be her father''s illegitimate daughter - she couldn''t ept it.


    "Li Chenyu, are you sure you want to call the police? Make this public?" Li Xiaoli red at Li Chenyu. "If you don''t mind all of City B knowing I''m Dad''s daughter, go ahead and call."


    Li Chenyu was furious. The usually meek follower who trailed behind her had turned out to be a venomous snake.


    In the end, Li Chenyu didn''t call the police. She nned to go home and let her father handle this situation, believing he wouldn''t allow Li Xiaoli to get away with attempting to kill her.


    As Li Xiaoli left, Su Ci turned to Li Chenyu, "She''s gone, why aren''t you leaving?"


    The Li family had an illegitimate daughter surface, and from today''s events, it was clear this illegitimate daughter was not only calcting but also ruthless, knowing when to advance and retreat, and even able to use the Li family''s reputation to threaten Li Chenyu.


    While Li Chenyu was proud, shecked intelligence. In a battle between the two, Li Chenyu would definitely be at a disadvantage.


    However, none of this was Su Ci''s concern.


    She had saved Li Chenyu today, already proving herself to be a kind fairy.


    "She just left. What if she''s lying in wait somewhere, still trying to kill me?" Li Chenyu wasn''t so foolish now.


    Su Ci nced at her life value and smiled: "Don''t worry, if she kills you, I''ll help identify her as the murderer."


    Li Chenyu''s eyes widened, "Why are you so mean?"


    "Mean or not, I''m still your savior!" Su Ci lifted her chin proudly. "Remember, I saved your life, you owe me a favor." She had suffered fromck of sleep, early morning ugliness, and exhausting mountain climbing - regardless of her motives, she had saved Li Chenyu.


    Li Chenyu was indeed grateful for Su Ci''s timely appearance. If not for her, she would have been lying dead at the bottom of the mountain.


    "Thank you," Li Chenyu said awkwardly, but sincerely. "I''ll remember that I owe you a favor."


    Su Ci nodded with satisfaction.


    At that moment, the sun rose steadily, illuminating half of the dark sky.


    "The sun is rising," Li Chenyu looked toward the sun peeking over the horizon.


    "You climbed up here and nearly died just to watch the sunrise?" Su Ci asked Li Chenyu.


    "Li Xiaoli told me if I made a wish at sunrise, I could stay together with the person I like forever." Li Chenyu replied shyly.


    Su Ci truly thought Li Chenyu was naive, "Such a childish lie was enough to lure you up here?" No wonder Li Xiaoli resented Li Chenyu being the Li family''s princess.


    Li Chenyu finally realized her mistake, her face turning pale. "She lied to me?"


    Su Ci was speechless, "I wonder what''s actually inside your head."


    Li Chenyu bit her lip, her face reddening, "I just liked someone so much that I was desperate to grasp at any hope. You don''t have anyone you like, so how could you understand my feelings?"


    Su Ci let out a scoffingugh, her fair face glowing even whiter in the golden light of dawn, "Who says I don''t understand? If you like someone, why not confess to them directly, why not make an effort to win them over, instead of making unrealistic wishes to the sun? Don''t tell me this is pure maiden''s heart - being maiden-like doesn''t mean being stupid."


    Li Chenyu felt hurt by Su Ci''s mockery.


    She had nearly been killed by Li Xiaoli, and now Su Ci was ridiculing her.


    Su Ci stopped paying attention to Li Chenyu and reached for Lu Zhe''s hand, "The sun''s up, let''s go over there to watch the sunrise."


    Since they were here, they shouldn''t waste the opportunity.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe sat on a smooth rock.


    The sun''s golden light grew stronger, creating what looked like a golden line across the horizon.


    Whether it was a lie or not, Li Chenyu followed them over. Looking at the rising sun, she suddenly felt that even if it had been a lie, seeing such beautiful scenery was some constion.


    Li Chenyu''s agitated and troubled heart began to calm.


    At that moment, the girl''s melodious voice rang out, "I want to be with Lu Zhe forever."


    "Didn''t you just mock me for making wishes to the sun, saying it was stupid?" Li Chenyu looked at Su Ci in surprise. "Why are you making a wish now?"


    Su Ci gave Li Chenyu a sideways nce, "Which eye of yours saw me making a wish?"


    The golden sunlight fell on Su Ci''s face and the top of her head, making the girl look as beautiful as a little sprite. She smiled and leaned into Lu Zhe''s embrace, looking up at the young man whose ears had turned red, "I was confessing to him."


    Li Chenyu was speechless.


    She finally shifted her gaze to the young man beside Su Ci. Earlier, she had been so shocked by Li Xiaoli''s murder attempt that she hadn''t noticed the young man with Su Ci.


    Seeing Su Ci leaning in the young man''s embrace, her eyes filled with shock, "You and him..."


    Su Ci liked this boy?


    In their social circle, Su Ci was the untouchable princess whom everyone envied.


    She had heard that even He Ermeng from the He family pursued her with trepidation and hadn''t seeded yet. Unexpectedly, Su Ci had someone she liked now.


    Li Chenyu was stunned; she hadn''t expected Su Ci to have someone she liked!


    Su Ci nced at Li Chenyu and said, "Some things are better kept to yourself."


    Li Chenyu understood immediately, "Don''t worry, you saved my life once, I won''t tell anyone."


    The romance of the Su family''s daughter was a big deal, and she understood why Su Ci wouldn''t announce it publicly, but did Su Ci''s parents know about the person she liked?


    By the time they descended the mountain, daylight had fully broken.


    The morning mist in the mountains had dispersed, and golden sunlight fell on the trees, making the branches appear as if they were adorned with golden leaves.


    Going up had been difficult, buting down was much easier.


    Su Ci didn''t need Lu Zhe to carry her this time; instead, he held her hand as they slowly made their way down.


    Li Chenyu left before Su Ci, calling her father to tell him about the day''s events. Li''s Father had already arranged for a car to pick her up.


    Su Ci wasn''t concerned about the Li family''s affairs. She was just happy that after all her efforts, she had finally obtained the golden cotton candy.


    Su Ci was feeling tired at this point, so she stopped to rest against arge rock. With Li Chenyu gone and no one else around, it was the perfect moment for some affection.


    "Have some water," Lu Zhe unscrewed the cap of a mineral water bottle and handed it to the girl.


    Su Ci leaned against the smooth boulder, took a few sips, and handed the bottle back to Lu Zhe. Then she tugged at his clothes, "Come a bit closer."


    The familiar sparkle in the girl''s eyes made Lu Zhe smile as he moved closer to her.


    His fingertips brushed against her flushed cheeks as he asked, "What is it?"


    "I have something nice for you," Su Ci said, cing both hands on Lu Zhe''s shoulders.


    Lu Zhe already knew that whenever the girl said she had something nice for him, it meant she wanted to kiss him.


    The coldness in his eyes melted into amusement as he looked down at her, "Want a kiss?"


    Su Ci blinked, thinking how the once wooden and cold youth had changed, now even asking her about kisses.


    "Yes, quickly," Su Ci hoped Lu Zhe would get better soon after eating the golden cotton candy.


    "Mm."


    The youth''s cool thin lips met the girl''s soft mouth, slowly savoring her sweet breath.


    A morning breeze rustled through the surrounding green trees, making their branches sway shyly.


    Lu Zhe was exceptionally gentle, gradually iming every corner of her mouth, leaving her tongue with nowhere to retreat, helplessly yielding to his teasing. Su Ci felt her legs weaken as she softly leaned into Lu Zhe''s embrace, allowing him to steal her breath away.


    By the time they returned to the foot of the mountain, it was past seven.


    "After we rest, let''s go horseback riding this afternoon. I heard from Dad that there''s a horse ranch in the resort," Su Ci was tired but in good spirits, her face rosy, eyes gleaming, and lips enticingly red.


    "Mm, I''ll watch you ride," Lu Zhe didn''t know how to ride horses.


    "I can teach you," Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe with a bright smile, teasing him, "We can even ride together, with me in front and you holding me from behind."


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved into a smile as he was about to nod.


    Just then, a door opened nearby.


    Su''s Mother saw her daughter''s smiling face and Lu Zhe beside her, her expression not pleased, "Ci Ci, where have you been?"


    Su Ci hadn''t expected to be caught by her mother, but she remained calm and smiled, saying, "I was just heading to breakfast and happened to meet Lu Zhe. I was asking him about afternoon activities."


    The smile on Lu Zhe''s lips faded slightly as he politely greeted Su''s Mother, "Good morning, Auntie Su."


    Su''s Mother nodded and stroked her daughter''s hair, "Your father and I have finished washing up and are also ready for breakfast. Wait for us."


    Su Ci obediently nodded, "Okay."


    When Su''s Mother turned back into the room, Su Ci secretly winked at Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe''s hand hanging at his side felt slightly numb as the smile disappeared from his eyes.


    After breakfast, Su''s Father suddenly said he had business to attend to and proposed leaving.


    The Lu family left shortly after.


    They had onlye to the mountain resort because of the Su family, so there was no point in staying after the Sus left.


    On the way back, Lu Chen stroked his chin and said, "Yesterday Su Shengguo promised to continue our fishingpetition today, why did he suddenly say he had to leave? He really doesn''t keep his word."


    Wen Ya ignored her husband and looked at her son, who had been silent and sitting by the window, thinking he was unhappy about not seeing Su Ci. "It''s alright, in a few days, I''ll host a tea party and invite little Ci. You can see each other then."


    Lu Zhe looked at his parents, "There''s no need. You don''t have to go to such lengths to get Su Ci and me together."


    "Son, what''s wrong?" Wen Ya looked at her son with concern.


    "Auntie Su knows, and she won''t be happy about it."


    The Su family''s sudden departure was because Su''s Mother had seen him with Su Ci this morning. Though she hadn''t said anything to him or used him of breaking his promise, her attitude was clear.


    Wen Ya, being a mother herself, understood what Su''s Mother was thinking.


    Every mother is selfish. When their son liked Su Ci, she and her husband tried to find ways to bring them together.


    Wen Ya paused before speaking, "If Xin doesn''t agree, I can beg her."


    Her son had suffered so much since childhood, and now with time running short, she selfishly wanted to give him everything he loved.


    Lu Zhe shook his head and looked seriously at his parents, "Dad, Mom, we can''t force Uncle and Auntie Su to let their precious daughter be with someone who has a terminal illness."


    Every day he had now was borrowed time.


    Su Ci didn''t belong to him.


    Wen Ya''s eyes suddenly welled up with tears. Why did her son, who was so good and obedient, have to suffer like this?


    ...


    Her brother had only two weeks left to live. After saving Xie Yumin and Li Chenyu, Su Ci had given the golden cotton candy to Lu Zhe but kept a bit for Fu Gui. However, the amount wasn''t enough, and that fellow hadn''t leveled up yet.


    She would have to wait until thest three days to see her brother''s cause of death.


    "Ci Ci, alright, let''s go," Su''s Mother finished her phone call and walked over, telling the store''s sales staff to deliver all the clothes they had selected to the Su residence.


    "Are we going home now?" These past few days, Su''s Mother had kept Su Ci by her side, shopping, getting beauty treatments, having afternoon tea, almost as if she wanted to keep her daughter tethered to her.


    Su''s Mother smiled, "I just received a call from an old university friend. Her son got into B University, and he''sing early to get familiar with the environment. He''ll be staying at our house during the time before school starts."


    Su''s Mother and her friend had been very close in university, but they hadn''t stayed in frequent contact after her friend married and moved far away.


    Now that her friend''s son wasing to City B for university, she could help out.


    The Su family not only had plenty of money but also many rooms in their vi. They could easily amodate not just one guest, but twenty or thirty.


    "Fang Qin and I were university friends. Who would have thought you and her son would be schoolmates?" Su''s Mother found it quite fateful, "The boy is already at the airport, so we''ll pick him up on our way."


    Su Ci nodded casually.


    It would take some time to reach the airport from the mall.


    Su''s Mother was on a voice call with her friend the whole time. Su Ci sat beside her, bored, resting her chin on her hand as she listened to her mother discuss old times with Auntie Fang. She could tell that her mother must have been very close with this person during their university days.


    Su Ci nced at her mother, seeing her engrossed in conversation, and secretly sent a message to Lu Zhe: What are you doing?


    Lu Zhe had been very busy these past few days. Even during their evening video calls, she could see piles of documents on his desk. She knew that hispany with Uncle Fang had just been established and there would be lots of work, so she was understanding and didn''t disturb him.


    Lu Zhe replied quickly: In a meeting.


    The meeting was actually just Lu Zhe, Boss Fang, and a few newly hired employees discussingpany matters.


    Su Ci responded thoughtfully: Oh, then you should focus on your work.


    From the other end, Lu Zhe asked: What about you?


    Su Ci secretly nced sideways at her mother and replied: Apanying Mom to pick up a guest who will be staying at our house for a while.


    Just then, the car pulled up outside the airport.


    "Madam, Miss, we''ve arrived," the driver reported.


    Su''s Mother lowered the car window and immediately spotted her friend''s child from the photos she had received.Aliali: 6754d302bd5e46c308a67379


    Su Ci quickly typed: "Got him."


    She exited the chat before her mother could look over.


    Su''s Mother asked the driver to call over her friend''s child.


    Su Ci put away her phone and looked out the window. She saw a lean young man wearing a white shirt and faded pants, carrying a ck backpack. With a cold expression, he was walking towards them behind the driver.


    "Aunt Su, hello," the young man''s voice was deep and pleasant.


    "You must be Ji Chi?" Su''s Mother observed that the young man didn''t look much like her friend; his sharp, cold features must take after his father.


    Ji Chi nodded, "Yes, I am."


    Su''s Mother said with a smile, "No need to be so formal. Your mother and I are good friends. Even without her asking, I would take care of you. This is my daughter Su Ci. She also got into B University, so you''ll be schoolmates from now on."


    Ji Chi nced at the girl next to Su''s Mother. She had delicate features, with an alluring beauty mark below the corner of her eye. Shezily lifted her gaze and said, "Hello."


    Ji Chi politely withdrew his gaze and replied, "Hello."

 Chapter 52

    The driver opened the passenger door.


    Ji Chi politely said, "Thank you."


    Su''s Mother found her friend''s son overly formal, so she asked, "How is your mother''s healthtely?"


    Ever since the incident with Fang Qin''s family, Fang Qin had rarely been in contact with her.


    "She''s doing well, thank you for asking," Ji Chi answered Su''s Mother''s question with rigid formality.


    "If you and your mother need any help, please don''t hesitate to ask," Su''s Mother felt both regret and sympathy thinking about her friend''s current situation.


    Fang Qin''s husband''spany had gone bankrupt, and heter died in a car ident, leaving behind only a mountain of debt. Fang Qin had to raise her son alone while working multiple jobs to pay off the debt.


    She wanted to help Fang Qin, but her friend was stubborn and didn''t want their friendship to be tainted by money. The only time Fang Qin had asked for help was when debt collectors showed up at her door, leaving her with no choice but to borrow money.


    Fortunately, over the past few years, Fang Qin had gradually paid off all the debts, and her son had been epted into B University.


    It seemed Fang Qin''s dark clouds were finally clearing, revealing the bright moon.


    Ji Chi''s voice softened slightly, "Thank you, Aunt Su."


    His mother had told him that Aunt Su was her good friend, but there was no need to trouble her unnecessarily.


    It was nearly evening by the time they arrived at the Su family home.


    Ji Chi had heard about the Su family''s background from his mother and knew they were an elite family. Being able to stay at their home for a while was already fortunate, and his mother had repeatedly reminded him to avoid causing any trouble for the Su family and Aunt Su.


    Looking at the room the servant led him to, even though it was described as merely a guest room, it wasrger than his entire homebined.


    "Young Master Ji Chi, this is the second floor. The third room on the left is the young miss''s room, and the other two rooms belong to young master Su Ning and the little genius young master."


    Ji Chi acknowledged each point.


    "Young Master Ji Chi, these are the clothes Madam asked me to bring you. They''re all clean and new clothes from the eldest young master. Please try them on to see if they fit. If not, Madam said we can get new ones for you," the servant spoke very politely.


    Even though the boy before them wore worn clothes and faded pants, the madam had specifically instructed them to take good care of him, so the servants didn''t dare look down on him.


    Ji Chi knew that staying at the Su family home while wearing his current clothes wouldn''t be appropriate. For a family of their status, his worn appearanceing and going from their house would reflect poorly on them and might even make them aughingstock.


    Though Ji Chi had strong self-esteem, he wasn''t unreasonable.


    Looking at the clothes in the servant''s hands, he selected two sets in ck and white, the simplest designs. "These two sets will be enough, I don''t need the rest."


    Even these seemingly ordinary designed clothes felt different to the touchpared to regr clothing.


    Ji Chi pressed his lips together, deciding to consider it a debt to the Su family that he would repay in the future.


    After changing into the clothes the servant had brought, Ji Chi went downstairs and saw Su''s Mother ying with two children in the living room, while a girl with azy expression sat on the sofa.


    "Ji Chi, you''vee down?" Su''s Mother noticed Ji Chiing downstairs. "You look smart in those clothes. We''ll be having dinner soon, please have a seat for now."


    "Thank you for the clothes, Aunt Su." Ji Chi was wearing all ck, and the quality of the clothing,bined with his tall stature and good features, gave him an unconsciously noble air.


    "No need for thanks." Su''s Mother patted the two little ones beside her. "This is Brother Ji Chi, say hello to him."


    The little genius was well-behaved and called out in his childish voice, "Hello, Brother Ji Chi."


    Ji Chi nodded, "Hello."


    Little Su Ning had his mouth full of pudding, his cheeks puffed out as he hurriedly tried to swallow.


    Su Ci patted his back, both amused and helpless. "Ning Ning, no need to rush."


    Little Su Ning nodded, his cheeks still bulging and his round ck eyes wide, looking absolutely adorable, making both Su''s Mother and Su Ciugh heartily.


    After a while, when little Su Ning had finally swallowed his pudding, he lifted his head to look at the tall Ji Chi, his sweet voice still carrying traces of pudding''s sweetness, "Hello, Brother Ji Chi."


    Ji Chi noticed that this younger child''s features somewhat resembled Su Ci''s on the sofa, with delicate features as beautiful as a little angel.


    "Hello."


    Su''s Mother gestured for Ji Chi to sit down, telling him not to stand on ceremony. "Little Chi, please sit. What do you usually like to eat, or is there anything you don''t eat?"


    Ji Chi sat down on the single sofa opposite them, his back straight. "Aunt Su, I don''t have any dietary restrictions."


    Su''s Mother nodded with a smile, "That''s good."


    Meanwhile, little Su Ning climbed onto the sofa, his chubby little body leaning towards Su Ci.


    "What is it?" Su Ci was about to send a message to Lu Zhe, but her brother''s proximity interfered with her typing.


    She had to put down her phone and support little Su Ning''s plump body. Had the little one gained more weight recently?


    "Sister." Little Su Ning leaned close to Su Ci''s ear, mysteriously putting his little hand up to shield her ear, and whispered in his baby voice, "Brother Ji Chi looks like brother-inw."


    What?


    Little Su Ning was saying Ji Chi looked like Lu Zhe?


    She helplessly flicked his forehead, "Your head must be confused, no pudding for you for two days."


    Little Su Ning had thought mentioning brother-inw would earn him pudding rewards.


    He rememberedst time when he told his sister that brother-inw had arrived, she rewarded him with lots of pudding. Why was he being punished now for saying Brother Ji Chi looked like brother-inw?


    To little Su Ning, Ji Chi was tall and slim with a cold expression, very simr to his quiet brother-inw.


    Punished by his sister, little Su Ning''s lips turned down in disappointment, and his toys suddenly seemed less fun.


    Su Ci lifted her gaze to look at Ji Chi, who was chatting with Su''s Mother.


    Her eyes moved from his face down to his hands.


    As Ji Chi reached out to ept the tea brought by the servant, Su Ci noticed the life value on the inside of his wrist - a red line with a time indication of one month.


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes but didn''t call out Fugui. There was still a month''s time anyway, and Fugui couldn''t see how he would die right now.


    Su Ci rested her chin on her hand propped on the sofa, her eyes half-closed. Was this what you''d call a golden cotton candy delivered to your doorstep?


    However, Su Ci did some calctions and realized she was quite busy.


    Her big brother''s life value only had two weeks left.


    That celebrity Zheng Hao, if she remembered correctly, had about three weeks of life value left.


    Though she had no contact with Zheng Hao, their only connection was that he was an artist under Creation God Company, a subsidiary of Su Corporation. Whether she could save him would depend on circumstances.


    And now Ji Chi, standing before her, also only had about a month of life value left.


    Su Ci felt both excited and troubled, somehow getting the feeling she wouldn''t be able to handle it all.


    During dinner, Su''s Father and Su ZhiYuan had both returned home.


    Su''s Mother informed them that Ji Chi would be staying with them temporarily.


    Su''s Father was familiar with his wife''s good friend Fang Qin - she had even helped pass messages when he and his wife were dating and arguing. Knowing Ji Chi was Fang Qin''s son, he showed interest by asking several questions about Ji Chi''s studies.


    "Big brother," Su Ci sat next to Su ZhiYuan and asked, "Has work been very busytely?"


    Her big brother had been leaving early and returningte every day, and she rarely got to see him.


    Su ZhiYuan wore a fitted silver-gray suit with a ck shirt underneath. His features were refined, andbined with themanding presence of someone in power, hepletely embodied the image of a business tycoon.


    Though Su ZhiYuan maintained a cold exterior in public, his features softened when with family, especially his sister, showing the gentleness of an older brother. "Thepany has quite a few investment projectstely."


    Su Corporation was involved in many industries, but mainly focused on real estate, hotels, financial investments, and new energy development.


    "Do you have any particrly important matters in the next two weeks?" Su Ci probed.


    Su ZhiYuan''s dining manners were elegant, exuding an indescribable nobility. He put down his chopsticks and reached over to pat his sister''s head, "Why are you so concerned about your brother today?"


    Su Ci blinked her eyes and said withplete conviction, "I''ve always cared about you, brother. Have you gotten your schedule for the next two weeks?"


    Her older brother frequently traveled for business. If he were to fly somewhere else when the time came, it would be difficult for her to rush to save him in time.


    "I have several meetings this week, and next week I''ll be flying to City C to negotiate contracts and inspect the progress of a project. I''ll probably stay there for a few days," Su ZhiYuan always answered his sister''s questions. "You''ll be starting school in about a month, right? I''ll make time to take you there when the timees."


    "City C?" Su Ci frowned, wondering if that was where her brother would meet his fate.


    Su ZhiYuan noticed his sister''s furrowed brow, "What''s wrong?"


    "Brother, do you absolutely have to go to City C next week?" Su Ci still didn''t know the cause of her brother''s death, nor was she certain if the incident would ur in City C. If she prevented him from going to City C this time, what about next time?


    Only by finding the root cause could she truly prevent his death.


    "If you''re going, please take me with you. I don''t have any ns next week anyway," Su Ci looked at Su ZhiYuan. "I can go with you to rx."


    Su ZhiYuan was somewhat surprised, "I''m going on a business trip. I won''t have time to apany you sightseeing."


    "I know, don''t worry, I won''t interfere with your work," Su Ci promised.


    When she was little, his sister used to follow him around like a little tail, going wherever he went. But as she grew up, she became a graceful and quiet princess, no longer clinging to her brother as she did in childhood.


    Now that his sister was asking to apany him on a trip, Su ZhiYuan was both surprised and happy. "I''ll have someone make arrangements. But remember, you can''t change your mind if you get bored."


    "I absolutely won''t change my mind." After all, sightseeing wasn''t her purpose.


    The dinner atmosphere was pleasant. Ji Chi hadn''t expected that although the Su family was a top-tier wealthy family, they would have such a warm family atmosphere.


    After dinner, when he returned to his room, he received a call from his mother.


    Hearing the worry in his mother''s voice, Ji Chi reassured her: "Auntie Su is very kind to me, and everyone in the Su family is nice. I''m only staying with the Su family temporarily. Once school starts, I''ll be living in the dormitory."


    Fang Qin knew Su''s Mother well; her gentle nature meant she would certainly take good care of her son. "Remember not to cause any trouble for Auntie Su and the Su family."


    She continued: "You''ve met Tong Xin''s children, right? Get along well with them, and avoid conflicts. If there really is any disagreement, you should be the one to yield."


    Fang Qin knew her son was always sensible, but she still reminded him, like a habit ingrained in her bones.


    Ji Chi lowered his head, his gaze falling to the floor as he quietly acknowledged her words.


    Fang Qin reminded her son: "If you don''t have enough money, make sure to tell me, and I''ll send you some."


    Ji Chi''s low, maic voice was particrly clear in the quiet room, "I''m going to look for a part-time job tomorrow, Mom. You don''t need to worry about my living expenses."


    Fang Qin felt a pang in her heart.


    Before their family went bankrupt, they had been quite wealthy, and her son had grown up in a privileged environment.


    But after thepany went bankrupt and her husband died in a car ident, these events forced her son to grow up quickly.


    Ji Chi''s face remained expressionless as he chatted with his mother for a few more minutes before hanging up.


    Just then, there was a knock on his door.


    A servant of the Su family stood outside, "Young Master Ji Chi, these are your daily necessities. If you need anything else, please let us know."


    Ji Chi took the tray from the servant''s hands, which contained toothpaste, toothbrush, cups, towels, and other items. "Thank you."


    After the servant left, Ji Chi discovered there was also a bank card on the tray, with a note attached showing the PIN.


    Ji Chi quietly looked at the card for a few seconds before walking out with it.


    He returned the card to Su''s Mother. The tens of thousands in the card might be insignificant to the Su family, but to him, it was an enormous sum.


    He couldn''t ept it.


    In her room, Su Ci was video chatting with Lu Zhe.


    She was lying on her bed, chin propped up on her hands, looking down at Lu Zhe working on the screen.


    He had been so busytely.


    Su Ci didn''t disturb Lu Zhe, just quietly watching him. Under the light, the focused young man looked so handsome.


    Just then, someone knocked on Su Ci''s door.


    Su Ci didn''t get up, simply saying, "Come in."


    The door was then opened from outside.


    Little Su Ning walked in first, saying in his childish voice, "Sister, Ning Ning brought you fruits."


    Su Ci had a habit of eating fruit after dinner, and little Su Ning always took it upon himself to bring fruit to his sister.


    "Thank you, Ning Ning." Su Ci finally looked up at her brother, not expecting to see a tall figure standing behind him.


    Su Ci was surprised, "Why did youe in?"


    She was holding her phone, immediately sitting up on the bed.


    "Some grapes fell, and Brother Ji Chi helped Ning Ning," little Su Ning voluntarily exined to his sister.


    Ji Chi was holding a te of washed grapes, his cold face expressionless as he asked Su Ci, "Where should I put the fruit?"


    Suddenly hearing a man''s low, maic voice, Lu Zhe, who had been looking at documents in the video chat, looked up, but only saw the chandelier in the girl''s room.


    Su Ci quickly got off the bed, her dress falling around her legs as she walked over in her slippers.


    Ji Chi averted his gaze, avoiding looking at the girl''s exceptionally fair and slender legs.


    Su Ci took the fruit te, "Thank you, I''ll take it." She was still holding her phone, so she could only take the fruit te with one hand.


    "You''re wee," Ji Chi said formally, "I won''t disturb you anymore."


    Ji Chi stood straight and quickly walked out of the room filled with a young girl''s fragrance.


    In the video chat, Lu Zhe caught a glimpse of Ji Chi''s profile as he left.


    His dark eyes deepened as he closed his documents.


    After Ji Chi left, Su Ci fed a grape to little Su Ning, "Come on, say hello to your brother-inw."


    "Intercepted......" Su Ning mumbled with the fruit in his mouth, making Su Ciugh.


    She patted his head, "Alright, you can go now. Sister doesn''t have time to y with you right now."


    Su Ci was clearly showing favoritism towards her boyfriend over her brother.


    After closing the door.


    Su Ci carried the fruit te to her dressing table, turned on the tablemp to give herself good lighting. Her already fair face looked even more delicate and beautiful under the soft light.


    Only then did Su Ci ce her phone on the stand and continue video chatting with Lu Zhe.


    "Have you finished reading the documents?" Su Ci saw that all the documents in front of Lu Zhe were closed.


    Lu Zhe watched as the girl''s face came closer to the camera, filling the screen, "Mm."


    Hearing that Lu Zhe was done with work, Su Ci became happy, "Then chat with me for a while."


    "Who was that person who brought you fruit just now?" Even though he only saw a profile, he knew that man wasn''t Su Ci''s older brother Su ZhiYuan, and he had heard little Su Ning call him Brother Ji Chi?


    "I sent you a message this afternoon about the guest my mother and I picked up - that was him. His name is Ji Chi, he''s the son of my mother''s good friend, and he''s staying at our house temporarily." Su Ci lowered her eyes and started peeling a grape, finding it quite troublesome as she hated peeling fruit.


    Lu Zhe unconsciously frowned.


    Su Ci put the peeled grape in her mouth, clearly not concerned about Ji Chi, and instead said, "Next week my brother is going to City C on a business trip, and I''ll be going with him."


    Lu Zhe asked her, "Is there something you need to do there?"


    Su Ci nodded, the corners of her eyes curving up as she smiled sweetly at Lu Zhe, "I''m going to save up something nice for you."


    Lu Zhe looked confused, not understanding what she meant.


    Su Ci didn''t expect him to understand anyway.


    She peeled another grape with her pretty fingers, and after putting it in her mouth, her voice carried the sweetness of the fruit, "When Ie back, I''ll give you the nice things."


    Lu Zhe knew that whenever Su Ci said she had nice things for him, it meant she wanted to kiss him.


    Hiding a smile in his eyes, he looked at the girl, "Okay."


    Su Ci''s fingers were covered in grape juice, and she licked her fair fingertip, mischievously saying to Lu Zhe on the screen, "Then you''ll have to cooperate well with me."


    Cooperate with what?


    Lu Zhe thought about her naughty and clingy nature, but pretended not to understand.


    ......


    The next morning, when Su Ci came out of her room, she happened to see Ji Chi leaving as well.


    "Good morning," Ji Chi politely greeted as he passed by the girl.


    Su Ci nodded.


    She noticed that Ji Chi, who was staying at her house, was like an invisible person, excessively quiet, and these past few days he had been leaving early and returningte, making him seem even more non-existent.


    Last night, she heard from Su''s Mother that Ji Chi had taken two part-time jobs to earn living expenses.


    From the first day Su Ci saw Ji Chi''s attire, she knew his family circumstances weren''t good, though she didn''t particrly care about it.


    Today was Sunday, and Ji Chi didn''t need to go to his part-time jobs.


    After breakfast, Su''s Mother went out on an errand, while Ji Chi was dragged by little Su Ning and the little genius to y board games with them.


    The two little ones had be quite good at reading people''s expressions. Although Ji Chi appeared cold, they knew this big brother wasn''t scary or intimidating.


    "Sister," Su Ning saw his sister walking past with a cup of yogurt, and he scampered over to pull at her, "Sister,e y board games with us."


    Su Ning had learned to y Ludo these past few days and had be obsessed with it. He even forgot about his pudding, and whenever adults were around, he would drag them to y with him.


    Su Ci sipped her yogurt and looked down at her brother, "It''s too boring, I don''t want to y."


    Only children liked to y such boring things.


    Su Ning''s little mouth turned down sadly, and he protested in his childish voice, "It''s not boring, it''s fun."


    Seeing that she had hurt her brother''s childish feelings, Su Ci couldn''t help but pinch his chubby cheeks, "Alright, it''s not boring. I''ll y one round with you."


    Hearing his sister agree, Su Ning''s big eyes lit up, and he nodded obediently, "Okay."


    His chubby little hand took hold of his sister''s, pulling her toward the coffee table.


    The game pieces were already set up, with Ji Chi and the little genius each taking a side.


    Su Ning ran to his position, saying happily, "I want the green pieces!"


    Su Ci sat down opposite Ji Chi, "Let''s begin."


    The morning sunlight streamed through therge floor-to-ceiling windows into the living room, filling it with soft light.


    Amid the children''s cheerfulughter, Ji Chi kept his eyes lowered, avoiding looking at the exceptionally beautiful face of the girl opposite him.


    "It''s my turn," the girl''s voice was melodious.


    Ji Chi watched the game board as Su Ci''s slender, fair fingers reached out to pick up a piece.


    Ji Chi realized for the first time that a girl''s fingers could be so beautiful, even her nails had a subtle pink tint, more exquisite than white jade.


    "It''s your turn, Ji Chi," Su Ci said.


    Ji Chi''s lowered eyelids concealed the look in his eyes as he picked up his game piece.


    When Su''s Mother returned, she was surprised to see Su Ci and Ji Chi ying board games with the two children around the coffee table, all of them enjoying themselves.


    Especially her daughter, who seemed to be talking about something with Ji Chi opposite her, and although Ji Chi maintained his cold expression, he was responding.


    The two of them appeared to be getting along well.


    Su''s Mother''s heart skipped a beat as something urred to her.


    Whether it was an illusion or not, she now noticed that Ji Chi, with his tall, slim figure and cold demeanor, somewhat resembled Lu Zhe.


    Su''s Mother''s gaze fell on her daughter''s smiling face, and her heart softened. She thought her daughter was too young to understand what love really was.


    Her daughter liked Lu Zhe, so what about now that Ji Chi, who shared some simrities with Lu Zhe''s temperament, had appeared?


    ......


    Su Ci was busy packing her luggage to go to C City with her big brother.Aliali: 6754d302bd5e46c308a67379


    She heard from her brother that they would stay there for a few days, so she needed to pack her skincare products, pretty clothes, matching shoes, and even her bags.


    Su ZhiYuan was going to C City on a business trip, and besides bringing his sister as a tag-along, he also had a secretary, two assistants, and three bodyguards.


    The hotel rooms had already been arranged, so Su Ci just needed to follow her brother to check in with their luggage.


    Su Ci''s room was next to her brother''s. Shey on the bed, watching the suddenly changing weather outside as dark clouds filled the sky, clearly indicating iing heavy rain.


    She checked the weather forecast; it would rain in C City for the next few days.


    Su Ci hated rainy days. The thought of going out and having rain soak her shoes and dirty her dress made her feel gloomy.


    Just then, there was a knock on her door.


    Su Ci got upzily to answer it.


    Su ZhiYuan had changed into a royal blue casual suit, giving him more of a young master''s air, "Xiao Ci, I have a dinner appointment with clients tonight to discuss contracts. I''ve ordered dinner for you, so stay in your room and don''t wander around. It''s about to rain outside."


    Su Ci nodded obediently, knowing that her brother had four days left in his life value, and tomorrow she would know the cause of his death.

 Chapter 53

    At night.


    Su Ci emerged from the bathroom after taking a shower. She had just enjoyed a hot bath, and her snow-white skin had a subtle pink glow.


    Her fair face was flushed from the heat. After the hot bath, Su Ci felt an inexplicable difort throughout her body. Strange sensations kept coursing through her, and the familiar feeling made her furrow her brows instinctively.


    Could it be...


    Su Ci was startled. She remembered that it hadn''t been three months since thest time. Could it being early?


    Feeling unwell, Su Ci walked towards therge bed.


    The peculiar sensations within her body continued to surge, making her snow-white cheeks flush and her eyes glisten.


    Su Ci''s breathing became unsteady. She sat there, feeling ufortable and embarrassed, inexplicably wanting to do something.


    Perhaps it wasn''t just her imagination, but this time the sensations felt stronger than thest, so intense that she couldn''t ignore them.


    Lying helplessly on her side in bed, Su Ci closed her eyes and recited Buddhist scriptures, trying to calm herself.


    With her feet together, half her face buried in the pillow, it wasn''t working.


    Mmm... she missed Lu Zhe.


    At that moment, her phone, ced to one side, rang.


    Su Ci picked up the phone and saw it was a video call from Lu Zhe.


    She answered the video call.


    The next second, the young man''s cool, handsome face appeared on the screen.


    Su Ci''s eyes brightened, and she called out to him weakly.


    On the screen, the girl''s small face waspletely flushed, her gaze moist as shey on her side against the pillow, brows slightly furrowed, appearing unwell.


    Lu Zhe''s gaze paused, "What happened?"


    Su Ci blinked and immediatelyined to the young man, "Lu Zhe, I don''t feel well."


    "Where don''t you feel well? Are you sick?" Lu Zhe''s gaze instinctively moved to the top of the girl''s head, and he only rxed when he saw no rabbit ears poking out.


    "My whole body feels ufortable, everything hurts." Her heat cycle had annoyinglye early.


    The girl''s small face waspletely flushed, her gaze moist, truly looking unwell. Lu Zhe worried, "Are you in a lot of pain? Should we go to the hospital?"


    Su Ci refused: "No hospital."


    What good would the hospital do? Could doctors treat a rabbit''s heat cycle?


    She ufortably rubbed her feet together, whimpering, "When I see you, I don''t feel as bad."


    At the girl''s words, Lu Zhe''s anxiety instantly dissipated, and he chuckled softly: "Am I your medicine?"


    The strange sensations within her body came more forcefully, making Su Ci even more ufortable thanst time. Her face grew redder, the small beauty mark below her eye corner carrying a seductive quality. The girl was like the most delicate flower on a branch, utterly enchanting.


    Su Ci''s bright ck eyes looked at Lu Zhe, "Yes, you''re my medicine."


    She wanted to be close to him so badly, to feel a little better.


    Through the screen, Lu Zhe also noticed the girl''s face growing increasingly red, as if she barely had the strength to speak. He became worried again, "Tuantuan, what''s really wrong?"


    Her heart felt like it was being nibbled by countless little ants, not painful, but very itchy.


    Su Ci tried hard to ignore her body''s strange sensations. Gripping her phone tightly, she said pitifully: "Lu Zhe, I don''t feel well, only you can help me."


    Thinking about how she was in City C while Lu Zhe was in City B, Su Ci felt desperate.


    She was so unlucky, how could her heat cyclee at a time like this.


    Su Ci pressed her lips together, knowing she would have to endure it alone.


    "I''m hanging up." Just seeing Lu Zhe on the phone screen without being able to touch him would make Su Ci feel worse.


    Besides, Su Ci didn''t want Lu Zhe to see her in this state.


    Previously, before every video call, she would adjust the lighting perfectly, choose the best angle, and wear her prettiest dress, ensuring she looked most beautiful in Lu Zhe''s eyes.


    But now, her hair was wet and messy as shey on her side - she didn''t look pretty at all.


    The girl quickly ended the video call.


    Lu Zhe''s brows furrowed.


    "Darling, it''s sote, you haven''t had dinner yet, are you going out?" Wen Ya saw her soning down with a travel bag, "Are you going on a trip?"


    "Mom, I have something to do, I need to go to City C, I''ll be back soon." There was a hint of urgency on Lu Zhe''s usually cold face.


    Wen Ya worried about her son''s health, "Darling, it takes two to three hours to fly to City C from here, at least eat some dinner before you go."


    "Mom, don''t worry, I''ll eat on the ne." Lu Zhe checked the time, "I have to go now."


    Watching her son''s hurried figure, even though Wen Ya didn''t know what had happened, she could guess it must be rted to Su Ci.


    Over this period, she had almost figured out her son''s personality,pletely opposite to his father''s - naturally cold, mature and reserved despite his young age. Except for Su Ci, he never showed his emotions about anything else.


    Her son must have suffered a lot to develop such a quiet and cold personality.


    Wen Ya''s heart ached.


    ...


    As night deepened, the rain in City C had been falling continuously since afternoon, creating a disturbing pitter-patter.


    Su Ci turned over ufortably again. She received a message, nced at it, and casually replied.


    Some time passed.


    The doorbell rang.


    Su Ci''s face was flushed as she tugged at her falling nightgown and weakly crawled out of bed.


    She looked through the peephole and the sight of that cool face brought her to her senses.


    As soon as she opened the door, Su Ci looked at the young man standing outside in surprise, "Why did youe?"


    The girl''s cheeks werepletely flushed, with fine beads of sweat on her forehead. Lu Zhe reached out to feel her forehead temperature - it was normal. "Where don''t you feel well?"


    The young man''srge hand was cool, seeming to carry the coldness of the rain outside. Su Ci pressed his hand against her red face, softly nuzzling it, "Did youe because I said I wasn''t feeling well?"


    Lu Zhe looked down at her, "Mm."


    Su Ci''s eyes brightened - how wonderful her young man was.


    Lu Zhe continued asking: "How did you suddenly be unwell? Should I take you to the hospital?"


    Su Ci''s fair fingers curled around the hem of his ck clothes. She stood on tiptoe, moving close to his ear, "Do you want to know why?"


    The young man''s thick, long ck eyshes trembled slightly as he waited for the girl''s words.


    Su Ci was unusually shy, but she still honestly told him, "It''s a rabbit''s heat cycle."


    Lu Zhe''s eyes showed shock as his dark eyes looked at her.


    Strangely, Lu Zhe remembered his deskmate Li Dongliang saying that three-month-old rabbits would enter sexual maturity, meaning they would go into heat. At the time, Li Dongliang had even tried to breed his ugly gray rabbit with Lu Zhe''s Tuantuan.


    And now, the girl was...


    The door closed.


    Lu Zhe looked at the girl softly leaning against him, her face flushed and eyes bright, like a freshly picked peach still covered in dewdrops, so tempting one wanted to take a bite.


    He tried to steady her extremely soft waist, his expression bing somewhat unnatural, "How can we make it return to normal?"


    Su Ci pressed against him, feeling slightly less ufortable, "If you hold me tight, I''ll feel a bit better."


    Lu Zhe held her tight.


    The girl wore a silk slip nightgown, the smooth fabric both light and slippery against her skin. Lu Zhe felt his palms growing hot.


    Su Ci pulled Lu Zhe to the bed, directing him to lie down.


    Shey on his chest, finally feeling a little better.


    Su Ci was slightly dissatisfied, "Hold me tighter."


    Lu Zhe didn''t make a sound but tightened his arms.


    The difort eased a bit more, and Su Ciy quietly, "Originally it was supposed toe every half month, I don''t know why it came early this time."


    "How long will this statest?"


    "Once every three months,sting three days, once or twice a day." Su Ci looked pitifully at Lu Zhe, "Why am I so miserable?"


    She remembered seeing rabbits in heat before - it was terrifying, and now she was just like those rabbits.


    Su Ci rubbed her cheek against Lu Zhe''s chest, "Lu Zhe, you need to help me."


    The matter of a rabbit''s heat cycle waspletely beyond Lu Zhe''s understanding. He had no knowledge about this aspect. He stroked the girl''s soft hair on her back, "How can I help you?"


    Su Ci''s chest felt like it contained a mischievous little rabbit, constantly jumping around. The strange sensations surged again, and she ufortably rubbed against Lu Zhe''s body. She raised her head and bit his exquisite chin, "Let''s do it."


    She felt a bit nervous, but also very expectant.


    Being with Lu Zhe was what she wanted.


    A slight stinging sensation came, and Lu Zhe didn''t know if it was from the pain or if he was startled by the girl''s words. His dark eyes deepened as he directly refused, "No."


    Even though the girl hadn''t rified what she wanted to do, he sensitively guessed her meaning.


    Su Ci looked up at him with eyes brimming with tears, "Lu Zhe, I don''t feel well."


    Lu Zhe refused her with a serious tone, "Tuantuan, no."


    "Is it that you can''t?" Su Ci red at him angrily.


    Lu Zhe: ......


    Su Ci was being mischievous, deliberately provoking him. Her body, almost melting like water, purposely shifted, "If you really can''t, I won''t me you."


    With bright eyes and white teeth, Su Ci looked beautiful like an alluring little sprite at that moment.


    Hiss!


    Lu Zhe''s muscles tensed throughout his body.


    He knew the girl was naughty and bold, but he hadn''t expected her to be more daring each time.


    Lu Zhe closed his eyes briefly before grabbing the nket beside them and covering them both.


    In her surprise, Su Ci heard the young man''s cool voice carrying a hint of gritted teeth, "Tuantuan."


    ......


    Su Ci felt her body was covered in sweat. Hearing the doorbell ring, she really didn''t want to get up - she was so tired, and her lips hurt so much.


    Lu Zhe bent down to kiss the girl''s forehead, "Who could it be at this hour?"


    Su Ci didn''t want to deal with it, but the bell kept ringing. She opened her eyes, which were filled with glistening tears, "Could it be brother?"


    Thinking it might be her older brother, she finallyzily got up from Lu Zhe''s embrace.


    Her legs were a bit weak as she walked to the door in the hotel''s disposable slippers. She looked through the peephole.


    Suddenly, her legs felt even weaker.


    It really was her older brother.


    She turned back to look at Lu Zhe lying on his side on the bed. His ck shirt had several buttons undone by her, his face handsome, and his lips reddened from her kisses, exuding a silent sensuality.


    Su Ci suddenly felt guilty, like she was hiding a lover and about to be discovered by her family.


    She ran back, "It really is my older brother outside."


    Even though Su Ci was thick-skinned, she didn''t dare let her brother know that after just one evening, she had Lu Zhe hidden in her room.


    Lu Zhe sat up, "Do I need to hide?"


    "Yes, yes, yes." Su Ci looked around - only the wardrobe would work.


    "Hide in the wardrobe," Su Ci pulled him.


    Lu Zhe was extremely cooperative. He got off the bed and walked directly to the wardrobe.


    The wardrobe was deep brown with sliding doors, divided into upper and lower sections, each about a meter high.


    Lu Zhe was tall and broad; he sat inside, his back against one side of the wardrobe, his long legs bent.


    Oh, the poor dear looked even more pitiful.


    Su Ci crouched down, stuck her head into the wardrobe, and gave Lu Zhe inside a kiss, "Be good, I''ll let you out soon."


    "Mm."


    Su Ci closed the wardrobe door with a heartache.


    She ran to grab a coat from the chair and put it on, messed up her hair, and only then opened the room door.


    "Brother, did you need something?" Su Ci''s face showed drowsy confusion.


    Su Zhiyuan had just finished discussing business with clients. He had drunk some alcohol and his eyes showed signs of intoxication. He reached out to pat his sister''s head, "Just checking if you were asleep. Did I wake you?"


    "I was just about to fall asleep," Su Ci said, deliberately yawning.


    Su Zhiyuan said, "My room is right next door. Come find me anytime if you need anything."


    Su Ci nodded obediently, "I know."


    At this moment, Su Zhiyuan pushed open his sister''s room door with one hand and walked in.


    "Brother?" Su Ci straightened up in shock.


    "I''m going to check your room," Su Zhiyuan looked around the room. Therge floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of the entire city and werepletely sealed.


    He looked at the ceiling, then walked into the bathroom to check the mirrors.


    Although this hotel had high security, he still wanted to ensure his sister''s safety. Recently there had been several news reports about girls being harassed in hotels, and even cases of hidden cameras being installed in rooms. When it came to his sister, he couldn''t be too careful.


    Su Ci''s eyes inadvertently caught sight of the ck shoes by the bed. She drew in a sharp breath, and while her brother was in the bathroom, she quickly kicked Lu Zhe''s shoes under the bedside table to hide them.


    Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, Su Ci saw her brothering out of the bathroom and walking towards the wardrobe.


    "Brother!" Su Ci''s eyes widened in fear.


    "What''s wrong?" Su Zhiyuan looked at his sister with drunk eyes.


    "This is a five-star hotel with good security, you don''t need to worry. I already checked everything this afternoon," Su Ci yawned again deliberately. "Brother, I''m so sleepy, I want to go to bed. You should go rest early too."


    Su Zhiyuan''s alcohol-tinged eyes were full of gentle light, "Tomorrow I need to go to the project site. After you have breakfast at the hotel, don''t wander around. I''ll try toe back and have lunch with you when I''m done."


    To others, he was a cold authority figure, but to his younger siblings, he was truly a gentle big brother.


    Su Ci continued to respond obediently, "Okay."


    Seeing his sister''s sleepy appearance, Su Zhiyuan reached out to rub her head, "Go to sleep."


    He walked towards the door.


    "Good night, brother," Su Ci waved and quickly closed the door.


    Su Zhiyuan looked at the hastily closed door and shook his head with a smile. The weariness between his brows lessened somewhat as he loosened his tie and walked into the room next door.


    After her brother left, Su Ci finally breathed a sigh of relief.


    She quickly walked to the wardrobe and threw open the door.


    The young man was leaning against the side of the wardrobe, long legs bent, the warm light from the entrance illuminating his cool face.


    Su Ci met Lu Zhe''s dark and quiet gaze, and she couldn''t take it anymore.


    Wearing the hotel''s disposable white slippers, she stretched her foot inside, her toes touching Lu Zhe''s feet, "Lu Zhe, position your feet better."


    Lu Zhe was about toe out of the wardrobe and looked at her in confusion.


    The next second, the girl seemed to have found something she liked. Her eyes bright and sparkling, showing none of the drowsiness she had pretended to have in front of her brother.


    She crouched down and also crawled into the wardrobe, sitting directly on Lu Zhe''sp. She looked at him with a smile, "We haven''t tried kissing in a wardrobe yet."


    Lu Zhe held his forehead.


    Just earlier in bed, she had been red-eyed, voice carrying traces of crying, saying her mouth hurt - how had she not learned her lesson?


    His fingers, with their slight calluses, brushed against the girl''s red little mouth, "Doesn''t it hurt anymore?"


    "A little," Su Ci lowered her body, lying in his arms with an expression of having gotten away with something, "Just kiss me gently."


    As she spoke, she reached over and closed the wardrobe door.


    Mm, exciting.


    ......


    The next day, Su Ci woke up in Lu Zhe''s arms, the strange feeling in her body had disappeared.


    She blinked, clearing the sleepiness from her eyes, and called out Fugui, "How did my brother die?"


    Knowing its master was worried about her family and had been concerned about her brother''s cause of death for three months, Fugui didn''t dare dy. Its small voice directly replied: [Master, your brother was stabbed to death.]


    Hearing this, Su Ci suddenly sat up in bed, her eyes filled with coldness.


    "What''s wrong?" When Su Ci suddenly left his embrace, Lu Zhe opened his eyes. He had already been awake but was reluctant to let go of the girl.Aliali: 6754d302bd5e46c308a67379


    Su Ci turned back, the coldness in her eyes receding, "Lu Zhe, I feel my brother will be in danger these few days."


    Lu Zhe sat up, his eyes clear and alert, "Did you have a nightmare?"


    Su Ci shook her head, resting her head against Lu Zhe''s chest, "No."


    Lu Zhe gently stroked her long hair, "How do you know your brother is in danger?"


    Su Ci''s voice was muffled, "I can''t say, but I just know. Lu Zhe, I need to save my brother."


    "Okay." Lu Zhe didn''t continue questioning the girl.


    He remembered the incident on the mountaintop when Su Ci saved Li Chenyu.


    That day, she hadn''t gone up the mountain to watch the sunrise, but rather seemed to be waiting for someone. She appeared to have known in advance that Li Chenyu woulde up the mountain, and that someone would push Li Chenyu off.


    Lu Zhe lowered his head, gently kissing the top of the girl''s head.


    His Tuantuan was keeping secrets she couldn''t tell.

 Chapter 54

    The weather in City C hasn''t been goodtely, with intermittent rain falling continuously.


    Su ZhiYuan went to the construction site with two assistants. When the contractor in charge heard that the eldest son of the Su family had arrived, he rushed out to receive him, "Young Master Su, what brings you here?"


    "How is the worker who was involved in the ident at the site recently?" Su ZhiYuan asked the person in charge.


    Previously, a worker had fallen from a height at the construction site and was injured. Some media outlets had reported this news, forcing the group to take it seriously. Su ZhiYuan''s visit this time was not only to discuss contracts but also to address this incident.


    The person in charge maintained a respectful attitude and quickly reported to Su ZhiYuan: "Mr. Su, I''ve already given thepensation to the family as per thepany''s instructions, and they''ve received the money."


    He hadn''t expected Su ZhiYuan to personallye to City C to inquire about this matter, after all, Su ZhiYuan was the head of Su Corporation, and such small matters shouldn''t require his attention. Fortunately, the situation had been resolved.


    "Mr. Su, rest assured, I personally went to the hospital to check on the injured worker, and there''s no longer any danger to his life," the person in charge said with a lowered brow and bowed posture, smiling as he told Su ZhiYuan, "The worker''s family has agreed to ept thepensation, and the money has been transferred to them. This matter has been perfectly resolved."


    Su ZhiYuan didn''t ask any further questions.


    The rain continued to fall, and many workers were resting in temporary tin shelters, waiting for the rain to stop so they could resume construction.


    Su ZhiYuan, wearing a silver-gray fitted suit, stood in the messy construction site, exuding an indescribable air of nobility and refinement. As he walked further in, the muddy water on the ground soiled his shiny expensive leather shoes, but he seemedpletely unaware.


    "Mr. Su, it''s quite messy inside, and I wouldn''t want your clothes and shoes to get dirty. There''s my rest area over there, would you like to sit there for a while?" the person in charge suggested cautiously.


    Surrounded by steel bars and cement, the person in charge was worried that someone of Su ZhiYuan''s status might get hurt here.


    "It''s fine," Su ZhiYuan took the umbre from his assistant''s hand, held it himself, and walked through the muddy water, inspecting the construction site.


    The person in charge could only follow behind Su ZhiYuan respectfully with an umbre, continuously reporting on the project''s progress.


    At this moment, a worker came running over and gave the person in charge a meaningful look.


    The person in charge immediately said to Su ZhiYuan, "Mr. Su, I apologize, but this fellow has something to discuss with me."


    Su ZhiYuan nodded.


    The person in charge pulled the worker aside to the cement pile, "What is it? Can''t you see I''m attending to Mr. Su?"


    "Brother Li," the worker lowered his voice and said anxiously, "Zhou Ming''s family is here, they''re outside and want to talk to you about thepensation money."


    "What?" The person in charge was startled, instinctively looking toward Su ZhiYuan who had walked away, "Quickly find someone to stop them, they can''t disturb Mr. Su."


    The worker hurriedly said, "Several brothers are holding them back outside. It''s Zhou Ming''s older brother, and he''s demanding to see you."


    The person in charge bit his lip and instructed the worker, "Keep them steady, tell him I''m busy now and can''t talk. Ask him toe another day. If he won''t leave, tell him to wait. I''ll talk to him after I''m done attending to Mr. Su."


    "Alright, Brother Li, I''ll go tell him right away." The worker quickly ran off in the rain.


    The person in charge hurried back to Su ZhiYuan, smiling apologetically, "Mr. Su, I''m sorry, these boys under me are quite impetuous and always have matters to discuss."


    Su ZhiYuan had seen enough, "It''s fine. Although we need to rush the project''s progress, employee safety shoulde first."


    The person in charge had thought that someone in power like Mr. Su would prioritize profits, and was surprised to hear such words.


    He quickly agreed, "Of course, Mr. Su, please rest assured, incidents likest time won''t happen again. With the bad weather now, I''ve had them all rest properly in the shelters, just to prevent any issues."


    "Mm."


    Su ZhiYuan prepared to leave with his two assistants.


    Watching Su ZhiYuan get into the car, the person in charge breathed a sigh of relief.


    Though this Mr. Su looked like a privileged young master who knew nothing of worldly hardship, how could he dare treat him as just another rich kid, given his position as the head of Su Corporation?


    Everyone knew that since Su ZhiYuan took over Su Corporation, thepany''s profits had at least doubled in these few years.


    The person in charge smiled as he watched the car start.


    "Li Gui!" Suddenly, a tall, strong figure burst out from the side, breaking free from the other workers who couldn''t hold him back.


    The worker who had delivered the message earlier said apologetically, "Brother Li, he insists on seeing you."


    "Alright, alright. You all go inside, I''ll talk to him." Li Gui quickly nced toward Su ZhiYuan''s car, which was just driving away.


    Li Gui said to Zhou Ming''s older brother, "You''re Zhou Ming''s older brother? Here about Zhou Ming''spensation?"


    Zhou Hao''s expression was agitated, "Yes, you''re being too unfair! My brother fell from a height, and the doctor says he''s paralyzed from the waist down. You need to take responsibility andpensate!"


    Li Gui took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, "We''ve already transferred thepensation to your ount, and you''ve signed the agreement epting the settlement. What, getting greedy now?"


    Zhou Hao clenched his fists, his eyes filled with anger, "You took advantage of my elderly mother''s poor eyesight, tricked her into signing! You said it would be 100,000, but the agreement only stated 10,000, which isn''t even enough for my brother''s surgery. You''re too much, clearly just bleeding us dry!"


    "We agreed on 10,000 from the start, where did 100,000e from?"


    Li Gui bit down on his cigarette, lookingpletely unconcerned as he continued speaking to Zhou Hao, "I''m just an employee too, don''t make things difficult for me. You saw that luxury car that just left, right? Do you know who was in it? That was the famous Su ZhiYuan, Mr. Su himself. This entire plot ofnd, this whole project, it''s all his property."


    "Even I have to bow and nod to him, following his every word," Li Gui said meaningfully, "Regarding thepensation, I''m just following Mr. Su''s orders. You know how these capitalists are, they''re all bloodsuckers who don''t care about the lives of usmon folk."


    Thinking of his brother lying in the hospital, Zhou Hao trembled with anger, "I don''t want to hear your excuses. You can''t think you''ll get away with just 10,000. My brother is still unconscious in the hospital, and our family simply can''t afford all these medical expenses."


    "I know, and I sympathize with you," Li Gui took the cigarette from his mouth and sighed, "Zhou Ming worked under me for a while, he''s like a brother to me. How could I just stand by and watch this happen to him? Here, take this 1,000, use it for now, and if it''s not enough, I''ll try to find a way to gather more."


    Li Gui stuffed the money into Zhou Hao''s hand, "Don''t make things difficult for me. I just told you, I''m only carrying out Mr. Su''s orders. How muchpensation your family gets is all up to him. I''ve already transferred the money to you, so don''te making trouble for me. I''m in a difficult position too. Earlier, Mr. Su didn''t even want to give the 10,000, I had to fight hard for that."


    Zhou Hao looked at the money that had been pushed into his hand, gripping it tightly as if holding his brother''s life in his hands. His eyes turned red, "He''s too cruel! Isn''t my brother''s life worth anything?"


    Li Gui secretlyughed at the other''s naivety.


    He patted Zhou Hao''s shoulder, "You know how it is, those rich people have always looked down on us, they don''t value our lives at all. When we suffer losses, we can only ept it quietly, there''s nothing we can do. After all, how can eggs fight against rocks?"


    The fine rain soaked Zhou Hao''s clothes as he clutched the 1,000 yuan tightly.


    "Anyway, I''m just following Mr. Su''s arrangements. Don''te looking for me again with any issues. You''ve taken the money and signed the papers, the matter is settled. Go home and take good care of Zhou Ming." Li Gui left with these words, the cigarette still in his mouth.


    Zhou Hao stood there, the money crumpled in his grip, his eyes red and the veins in his neck standing out prominently.


    "Brother Li, has Zhou Ming''s brother left?" The worker who had delivered the message earlier saw Li Guie in and quickly approached.


    "I''ve sent him away. If hees again, just ignore him." Earlier he had only cated the man because Mr. Su was present.


    "Brother Li, this......" The young worker hesitated.


    Li Gui warned the worker, "Keep your mouth shut tight. As long as I''m around, I''ll make sure you eat well."


    The worker quickly promised, "Brother Li, don''t worry, I absolutely won''t say a word."


    Li Gui was too ruthless. When the corporation provided over a million inpensation, he used all of it to pay off his gambling debts, giving only ten thousand to Zhou Ming''s family.


    He discovered this by ident and, fearing Li Gui''s methods, could only ept the money and promise to keep quiet.


    As for Zhou Ming, he was just unfortunate to have such a heartless and cruel boss.


    Su Ci knew her brother wouldter be stabbed to death, and she felt constantly uneasy about it.


    She didn''t know the people around her brother well, and there were too many potential suspects. Who wanted to kill her brother?


    These past two days, she had been insisting that her brother keep three bodyguards with him at all times.


    On the third day, Su Ci went to find Su ZhiYuan early. Looking at the thin red line representing his life force on his wrist, she knew her brother was still in danger.


    Who wanted to kill her brother?


    Could it be a business rival?


    "Weren''t you supposed to apany me for breakfast?" Su ZhiYuan noticed his sister''s dazed expression and flicked her forehead. "Let''s go."


    "Okay." Su Ci apanied her brother to the hotel''s dining area for breakfast. Just as they sat down by the window, she noticed Lu Zhe sitting diagonally across from her.


    When did hee down?


    Because she was worried about her brother making surprise inspections of her room, Lu Zhe had booked a separate room yesterday.


    Usually, Su Ci would have clung to him and stayed in Lu Zhe''s room, but with her brother in danger, she had no mood for teasing Lu Zhe.


    Seeing Lu Zhe having breakfast there made her a bit happy, and when her brother wasn''t looking, she winked at Lu Zhe sitting diagonally across from her.


    "Brother, you don''t have anything to do today, right?" Su Ci turned back and asked Su ZhiYuan sitting opposite her.


    "Mm, I''m done with work. Why? Feeling bored here and want to go home?" He had been busy these past two days while his sister stayed in the hotel. "I have nothing to do today, I can show you around City C."


    "No need." Su Ci immediately shook her head.


    Walking outside would be more dangerous - anyone around them could be the potential attacker. She couldn''t protect against that.


    "No need?" Su ZhiYuan was a bit surprised. He raised his eyebrows and asked his sister, "Didn''t you say you came to City C to rx?"


    "I suddenly don''t feel like rxing anymore. I realized there''s nothing interesting here, might as well stay in the hotel." Su Ci worried about Su ZhiYuan going out. "Brother, you''ve worked hard these past few days, just rest well in your room today. Don''t go out. We''ll return to City B tonight."


    "Alright." Su ZhiYuan agreed with a smile.


    Su Ci pressed her lips together and repeatedly urged, "Brother, you absolutely cannot go out this afternoon! Stay in your room properly."


    Su ZhiYuan gave his sister an indulgent smile and agreed again: "Alright, but why are you so worried about me going out?"


    "It''s raining so heavily outside. If you go out, you''ll easily get wet and catch a cold." Su Ci lied without blinking. "Just stay in your room today, and I''lle check on you regrly."


    Su ZhiYuan''s refined face was full of smiles,pletely different from his cold demeanor towards others. "I''ll do whatever little Ci says, okay?"


    After breakfast, Su Ci urged her brother to return to his room. As she left, she secretly winked at Lu Zhe in the distance.


    After watching her brother enter his room, Su Ci returned to her own room. She sent a message to Lu Zhe, telling him she would have lunch with her brother today.


    Her brother''s life force had four hours left.


    As long as he stayed properly in his hotel room, they couldn''t kill him.


    As for whether they would try againter, Su Ci needed to see how Su ZhiYuan''s life force changed after these four hours.


    If it remained a thin red line, it meant they still wanted to kill her brother. If the life force turned yellow or green, it meant her brother''s danger had passed, and even if they tried to harm him, they wouldn''t seed.


    At noon, Su Ci had food delivered to Su ZhiYuan''s room, then went over to have lunch with him in his room.


    Just as Su Ci said, she kept her brother from leaving his room.


    Su ZhiYuan watched as his sister came to his room five or six times that morning, borrowing everything from chargers to tissues to even a hair dryer - she had every excuse.


    "Little Ci, what are you worried about?" He felt his sister was particrly strange today.


    "I''m worried you won''t listen to me and run outside. It''s raining heavily, I don''t want you to go out." After lunch, Su Ci wasn''t in a hurry to leave. She watched her brother''s life force, which had just over an hour left.


    Su ZhiYuan reached out and lightly tapped his sister''s head. "Am I someone who breaks promises?"


    Su Ci became sycophantic at this moment, "Brother is the most trustworthy person."


    Su ZhiYuan stood up and called for service staff to clear the room''s dishes. "Alright, go back to your room. I want to take a nap."


    Being watched by his sister constantly made Su ZhiYuan feel both helpless and ufortable.


    "Then sleep for 30 minutes first, I''lle check on youter." Su Ci stood up, determined to keep watching her brother.


    "Okay." Su ZhiYuan was dressed casually today, looking exactly like a refined young master from a wealthy family. His bare feet stepped on the thick carpet as he escorted his sister to the room''s door. "You should rest well too."


    His sister was too clingy today, and Su ZhiYuan finally felt annoyed.


    Su Ci was disdainfully sent out by her brother and returned to her room helplessly.


    Thirty minutester, Su Ci ran back to her brother''s door and rang the doorbell.


    Su ZhiYuan looked at his sister behind the door and raised his eyebrows. "What are you borrowing this time?"


    "I just wanted to see if brother was awake. Are you still sleepy? Continue sleeping, I''lle check on youter." After confirming her brother was still in the room and safe, Su Ci disappeared like smoke.


    Although she had ordered the bodyguards to protect her brother outside and prevent strangers from approaching his room, she still couldn''t help worrying. With less than an hour left, she couldn''t rx.


    Another thirty minutes passed, and just as Su Ci rang the doorbell, Su ZhiYuan opened the door.


    Su Ci smiled at her brother, who looked helpless at the door, before leaving again.


    Almost there, almost there, just twenty minutes left.


    Su ZhiYuan thought his sister was too strange today. Why was she so intent on preventing him from going out?


    He looked at the pouring rain outside and dismissed his doubts.


    At this moment, Su ZhiYuan''s phone rang. It was a call from his assistant.


    "Mr. Su, something''s happened."


    After hanging up the phone, Su ZhiYuan''s brows furrowed as he strode out.


    He had already notified for a car to be ready at the entrance.


    Su ZhiYuan took the elevator to the lobby. Lu Zhe, who was returning from outside, saw Su ZhiYuan hurriedly walking out.


    With only ten minutes left, Su Ci ran over and rang her brother''s doorbell again.


    After a while, the door wasn''t opened.


    The smile froze on Su Ci''s face as she desperately pressed the doorbell. "Brother, brother, open the door!"


    There was still no response from inside the room.


    Su Ci''s heart kept sinking as she trembled while taking out her phone to call her brother.


    "Brother, where are you?" Su Ci felt her voice shaking, thankfully her brother answered her call.


    "Something happened at the construction site, I need to go handle it. I''ll be back soon, don''t worry, I brought an umbre so I won''t get wet," Su ZhiYuan exined.


    "Brother, you can''t go!" Su Ci gripped her phone tightly, her throat dry. "You''ll be in danger, brother,e back immediately!"


    The journey from the hotel to the construction site wasn''t far. Looking at the site in the distance, he said to his sister, "Don''t worry, I''ll take care of myself. I''ll talk to you when I get back. Alright, I''m here now, we''ll talkter."


    The call was hung up, and Su Ci frantically went to find the bodyguards. "My brother went out, why didn''t you tell me?"


    "Miss......"


    "Forget it, I don''t want to hear excuses." Su Ci looked anxious. "Take me to the construction site immediately."


    Su ZhiYuan arrived at the construction site, where his assistant was already waiting at the entrance. "Mr. Su, the injured worker''s family is causing trouble. They''ve taken the person in charge hostage and demand to see you."


    The rain was too heavy. Even though Su ZhiYuan had an umbre, his pants still got wet.


    "Where are they?"


    "They''re over there." The assistant asked Su ZhiYuan, "Mr. Su, should we call the police?"


    Su ZhiYuan''s low, pleasant voice seemed to carry the coldness of the air, "Call them!"


    The assistant quickly dialed the number.


    Su ZhiYuan walked to the halfpleted building where several construction workers had gathered. Other workers, fearing injury, were hiding inside, only daring to peek out their heads to watch themotion through the heavy rain.


    "Get your boss here," Zhou Hao pressed the knife against Li Gui''s neck, the sharp de already leaving a red mark.


    Li Gui''s legs were trembling as he begged, "We''ve already notified Mr. Su. Zhou Hao, I''m just a small-time contractor, this has nothing to do with me. If you have any issues, take them up with Mr. Su."


    "It''s all because of you heartless, cold-blooded people. My brother worked for you, fell from height, and you even withheld hispensation. Today, when my brother woke up and realized he couldn''t be cured and would need extensive medical treatment, hemitted suicide out of despair. You drove my brother to his death." Zhou Hao pressed the knife deeper into Li Gui''s neck.


    The sharp pain made Li Gui turn pale. "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, Brother Zhou Hao, this really isn''t my fault. How could I know Zhou Ming would be so fragile... Ah! Help! Watch the knife, please watch the knife!"


    "Hao, don''t do anything rash..." Zhou Hao''s mother, having learned of her son''s revenge n, had rushed over. Having lost one son, she couldn''t bear to lose another.


    Zhou Hao ignored his mother, his muscr arm gripping the knife tightly. "Is your bossing or not?"


    "You''re looking for me?" Su ZhiYuan stood in the pouring rain holding a ck umbre, wearing casual clothes, yet maintaining an air of elegant nobility despite the downpour.


    As he lifted his umbre, everyone saw his refined face.


    The Su family had good genes. Except for Li Gui who had met Su ZhiYuan before, others only now realized that the famous Mr. Su they''d heard about was such a handsome young man.


    Su ZhiYuan walked over with his umbre, "You''re the injured worker''s family member? Why are you looking for me?"


    "You''re the boss here?" Zhou Hao''s face twisted with extreme anger, the veins bulging on his muscr arm that held the knife.


    "Mr. Su, save me!" Li Gui cried with a miserable expression, his legs weak.


    Zhou Hao red fiercely at Su ZhiYuan, "Because of you ruthless, bloodsucking capitalists, my brothermitted suicide. I''m here today to settle ounts with you."


    "The injured person was your brother? Why did hemit suicide?" He had already instructed the finance department to issuepensation to Li Gui to handle the matter, and had indicated that if there were any further needs, they could approach Su Corporation.


    "You have the nerve to ask why?"


    Zhou Hao roared in anger, "My brother was paralyzed from the fall, and you onlypensated one thousand yuan, even taking advantage of my mother''s poor eyesight to trick her into signing a settlement agreement. One thousand yuan wouldn''t even cover my brother''s surgery costs. My brother knew our family''s situation and didn''t want to be a burden, that''s why hemitted suicide."


    Su ZhiYuan''s brows furrowed deeply as he nced at the hostage Li Gui, "Thepensation we issued was 1.8 million yuan, not one thousand."


    Obviously, thepensation never reached the family and had been pocketed by Li Gui.


    Zhou Hao couldn''t hear Su ZhiYuan''s words at this point, believing he was just making excuses. He sneered, "If you want to save him,e trade ces yourself."


    "Why would I trade ces with him?" Su ZhiYuan found this absurd. He looked at Zhou Hao, "Release him, and I''ll investigate thepensation matter and give you an exnation."


    "My brother is dead, what exnation do I need?" Zhou Hao''s knife tip pierced deeper into Li Gui''s neck, causing more blood to flow, nearly making Li Gui faint. "I just want you to pay with your lives."


    "Hao!" Zhou Hao''s mother shouted to stop her son.


    While everyone''s attention was on Zhou Hao, his mother somehow produced a knife and, unnoticed by others, lunged at Su ZhiYuan, "Pay for my younger son''s life!"


    As the knife approached, Su ZhiYuan instinctively stepped back.


    "Mom!" Zhou Hao shoved Li Gui aside and ran toward his mother.


    Zhou Hao''s mother, seemingly gone mad, kept stabbing at Su ZhiYuan frantically. Unable to dodgepletely, Su ZhiYuan''s arm was cut.


    Zhou Hao came to help, his strength overwhelming as he knocked down the assistant who tried to intervene.


    Su ZhiYuan kicked the knife from Zhou Hao''s mother''s hand, but as he turned, Zhou Hao''s knife came stabbing toward him.


    Su ZhiYuan blocked with his umbre, the knife piercing through it.


    ncing down at the sharp de tip, Su ZhiYuan kicked Zhou Hao away.


    Zhou Hao had boxing experience and was tall and strong. Although Su ZhiYuan was skilled inbat, against Zhou Hao who fought with reckless abandon and fierce determination, Su ZhiYuan quickly found himself at a disadvantage.


    The construction workers had all fled far away, none daring toe near.


    Just as the knife was about to pierce Su ZhiYuan''s heart, his gaze sharpened.


    In the next moment, Zhou Hao''s knife was caught by arge hand.


    Both Su ZhiYuan and Zhou Hao were stunned.


    Police sirens wailed outside.


    Zhou Hao yanked the knife from therge hand, drawing blood as he did so, only to be kicked back forcefully.


    Lu Zhe''s palm was numb, blood flowing continuously from it.


    His dark eyes coldly watched Zhou Hao, dodging the knife as thetter charged forward andnding a punch to Zhou Hao''s side.


    Zhou Hao froze in pain.


    "Don''t move! Nobody move!"


    The police had arrived.


    Su ZhiYuan, who had fallen to the ground, stood up with his clothes covered in cement. He looked at Zhou Hao, who was now detained by police, then walked toward Lu Zhe who had appeared suddenly, "Thank you for saving my life. Your hand is bleeding."


    "Brother!" Su Ci came running over, her clothes soaked by the rain, the bodyguard''s umbre behind herpletely useless.


    "Lu Zhe?" Su Ci noticed Lu Zhe''s presence as soon as she arrived.


    Her eyes fell inadvertently on the young man''s hand, and she cried out, "Your hand is bleeding!"


    Su Ci''s eyes no longer saw her brother; they were fixed on Lu Zhe''s bloody hand.


    At the hospital.


    Su ZhiYuan had been cut once, but the wound wasn''t deep and had been bandaged.


    He was still wearing his cement-stained clothes, but his outstanding presence meant he still attracted many nces despite his disheveled state.


    Su ZhiYuan watched as Lu Zhe got his wound bandaged nearby, while his sister hovered around Lu Zhe like a bee drawn to honey.


    He couldn''t help but walk over, seeing his sister''s beautiful brows furrowed as she looked at Lu Zhe''s hand with concern.


    Su ZhiYuan tugged at his sister''s ponytail, "Your brother''s hand is injured too. Why aren''t you asking about my injury?"


    Was his sister being overly concerned about Lu Zhe?


    Su Ci looked at her brother''s life value bar which had turned green, and replied irritably, "You deserved it. I told you not to go out, but you wouldn''t listen."


    Her brother had even gotten Lu Zhe injured, which broke her heart.


    "Brother, go handle your business quickly, don''t disturb the nurse while she''s bandaging," Su Ci turned to Lu Zhe and asked, "Does it hurt?"


    Strangely, Su ZhiYuan felt deeply rejected by his sister.


    Su ZhiYuan awkwardly rubbed his nose.


    He hadn''t expected his sister''s words to prove so prophetic - she had been right to tell him not to leave the hotel room.


    Looking at the young man quietly getting his wound bandaged, Su ZhiYuan spoke gratefully, "Lu Zhe, thank you for saving me. Once again, you''ve be our Su family''s lifesaver."


    If Lu Zhe hadn''t grabbed Zhou Hao''s knife in time, that de would likely have pierced his chest.


    He couldn''t help but marvel at how fate seemed to connect Lu Zhe with their family - he had practically saved their entire family.


    Su ZhiYuan still needed to help the police with their statement, and seeing that Lu Zhe had finished being bandaged, he arranged a car for them before leaving early.Aliali: 6754d302bd5e46c308a67379


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe''s hand wrapped in thick white gauze and kissed it gently out of concern, "Why didn''t you tell me you followed my brother to the construction site?"


    Lu Zhe''s lips were pale as he replied, "Telling you wouldn''t have helped, and I didn''t know at the time that your brother would really be in danger."


    He had simply remembered Su Ci''s words about how she was worried something would happen to her brother today.


    He had followed without much thought at the time.


    He was d he did.


    "Lu Zhe, you saved my brother''s life. Once again, you''ve be our family''s savior. We''re afraid we can never repay such an enormous debt of gratitude."


    Lu Zhe gave a soft chuckle. "No need to repay it."


    "But we must."


    The nurse had already left, and with no one around, Su Ci moved closer to Lu Zhe and took the initiative to kiss his cold lips.


    Her dark eyes sparkled with joy as she gazed at him. "For saving one''s life, one should offer themselves in return. On behalf of my family, I''m offering myself to you."

 Chapter 55

    Lu Zhe extended his uninjured hand and gently pinched the girl''s fair cheek, his dark eyes filled with deep emotion.<span>0


    Her parents wouldn''t approve, and neither would he.<span>0


    Getting no response, Su Ci became displeased.<span>0


    Her delicate white fingers clutched at Lu Zhe''s clothes. "You still haven''t answered me."<span>0


    The young man remained silent. Su Ci red at him, "You don''t want to?" She had offered herself to him, and he actually didn''t want her?<span>0


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips pressed together.<span>0


    Su Ci let go of his clothes, her small face tightening as she made a shocking statement: "We''ve held hands, kissed, and even slept in the same bed. If you don''t want me, Lu Zhe, you''re just a scumbag."<span>0


    A heartless scumbag with poor eyesight at that.<span>0


    For him to reject such a beautiful treasure like her throwing herself at him, he must definitely have vision problems.<span>0


    Lu Zhe sighed, his cool fingertips brushing against the girl''s puffed-up snow-white cheeks. His cold voice was soft and gentle as he said, "I''m sorry."<span>0


    Su Ci met the young man''s deep gaze, and the little balloon of anger in her chest instantly deted, as if she had fallen into a ss of lemon water - sour and bitter.<span>0


    She knew Lu Zhe thought he was going to die and didn''t want to burden her.<span>0


    Su Ci felt somewhat frustrated; she could only work hard to collect golden cotton candy to cure Lu Zhe.<span>0


    She had thought she would receive a piece of golden cotton candy today, but instead, Lu Zhe had ended up saving her brother.<span>0


    Unable to get the golden cotton candy, Su Ci felt anxious.<span>0


    Previously, she had been hesitating about whether she could save the popr actor Zheng Hao, but now that she couldn''t get her brother''s golden cotton candy, she would have to focus on saving Zheng Hao and Ji Chi.<span>0


    Thinking this way, Su Ci wasn''t angry with Lu Zhe anymore. She looked at him with mischief in her eyes, "I don''t want an apology. Just kiss me instead."<span>0


    The girl stood on her tiptoes, offering her beautiful red lips.<span>0


    Lu Zhe lowered his head, and after a medical staff member passed by in the hallway, his cool lips gently pressed against the girl''s small mouth.<span>0


    ......<span>0


    Because the engineering issues hadn''t been resolved and Lu Zhe was injured, Su ZhiYuan and Su Ci dyed their return to City B by two days.<span>0


    Su ZhiYuan had people investigate thepensation matter. Li Gui had indeed embezzled thepensation money, and Zhou Ming''s family had only received 10,000 yuan inpensation, which they had been tricked into epting by Li Gui.<span>0


    When Zhou Ming woke up and learned that he was partially paralyzed and his family was burdened with enormous medical bills, he chose tomit suicide, which led to his older brother Zhou Hao and mother losing their minds and seeking justice for Zhou Ming.<span>0


    Su Ci learned all this from her brother.<span>0


    In her view, Li Gui was a heartless person who deserved death the most, having ruined three lives in the Zhou family.<span>0


    He would face appropriate legal punishment for embezzling thepensation money, and the Su family wouldn''t let him have an easy time in prison.<span>0


    While Zhou Hao''s actions were understandable and pitiable, he shouldn''t have resorted to such extreme measures. He had hurt her brother and, more importantly, injured Lu Zhe.<span>0


    Su Ci was selfish; she would only side with her brother and Lu Zhe. She didn''t approve of Zhou Hao''s actions and wouldn''t sympathize with him.<span>0


    Whether it was attempted murder or intentional injury, it would be decided by a judge, and the Su family wouldn''t interfere.<span>0


    As for Zhou Ming''s mother, who already had mental health issues and acted violently under the shock of her younger son''s suicide, the Su family didn''t n to pursue charges against her. Instead, they would pay all duepensation to the Zhou family, even arrange Zhou Ming''s funeral, and hire someone to care for the elderly Mrs. Zhou.<span>0


    When thewyer conveyed all this to Zhou Hao, after a day, his emotions had calmed considerably. After hearing thewyer''s words, he realized how badly Li Gui had deceived him.<span>0


    Zhou Hao''s biggest concerns were his brother''s funeral and his mother having no one to care for her. When he heard from thewyer that Chairman Su had arranged everything, even hiring a caregiver for his mother, Zhou Hao finally realized how deeply he had erred.<span>0


    With her brother not at the hotel and Lu Zhe injured, Su Ci had a legitimate reason to go to Lu Zhe''s room, iming she needed to take care of him.<span>0


    She brought out some washed grapes and sat down next to Lu Zhe, "Brother says we''re going back tomorrow."<span>0


    She took a grape and started peeling it, "My parents already know about you saving someone yesterday. They''re very grateful that you saved my brother."<span>0


    After removing the red skin, revealing the translucent grape flesh, her slender white fingers held it up to Lu Zhe''s lips, "After we return, they want to invite you to our home for dinner."<span>0


    Lu Zhe opened his thin lips, forced to eat the fruit the girl fed him. The sweet juice immediately spread in his mouth, "Is that your parents'' idea?"<span>0


    "Of course! You''re now our family''s greatest hero, our honored guest. My parents said they want to properly host and thank you this time." Su Ci brought another peeled grape to Lu Zhe''s lips.<span>0


    "I can eat by myself," Lu Zhe''s lips were touched by the girl''s fingertips, and he instinctively pressed them together.<span>0


    "Don''t move, your hand is injured." Su Ci remembered the doctor saying Lu Zhe''s hand injury had almost reached the bone.<span>0


    Lu Zhe was again forced to eat the fruit the girl fed him. He said seriously, "I injured one hand, my left hand is fine."<span>0


    Su Ci gave the straightforward man before her an exasperated look, "This is what couples do for romance, don''t you understand? Besides, this is my first time feeding someone, you should be happy."<span>0


    Lu Zheughed softly, "Mm, I understand now."<span>0


    He had no resistance left, "I''m sorry, please continue feeding me."<span>0


    Today Lu Zhe wore a white shirt and casual ck pants, his stern face appearing increasingly handsome and otherworldly.<span>0


    He leaned back in his chair, his eyes dark, with a somewhatzy air about him.<span>0


    Su Ci''s gaze fell on the young man''s thin lips, which were wet with fruit juice.<span>0


    She peeled another grape and brought it to her own lips with her fair fingers, lightly biting it. Su Ci moved closer to Lu Zhe, offering him the grape she held between her teeth.<span>0


    The sweet juice spread between their lips and teeth, leaving a sweetness on their tongues.<span>0


    Lu Zhe''s uninjured hand instinctively covered the back of the girl''s head, pulling her closer to himself.<span>0


    After a while, Lu Zhe''s eyes deepened, his breathing somewhat unsteady.<span>0


    Hisrge hand released the girl, his retreating lips now moist, "Tuantuan."<span>0


    The girl kept nuzzling against his chest, forcing him to push her away.<span>0


    Su Ci''s beauty mark below her eye corner appeared especially alluring. Shey softly in Lu Zhe''s arms as that strange feeling suddenly surged again.<span>0


    She ufortably shifted her waist, "I don''t know what''s wrong, the heat period should onlyst three days, and it''s been more than three days now."<span>0


    She looked pitifully at Lu Zhe, "I don''t feel well."<span>0


    These sensations were getting stronger each time. The first time she could ignore it, but a few days ago, it had be hard to ignore, and now, it had developed into an urgent need to do something to release it.<span>0


    The coldness in Lu Zhe''s eyes had long since scattered. He gave the girl a deep look, "Can you endure it?"<span>0


    Su Ci let out a soft whimper, "It''s ufortable, I don''t want to endure it."<span>0


    She didn''t resist doing intimate things with Lu Zhe as couples do; in fact, because it was him, she was secretly eager to try.<span>0


    However, the young man before her had incredible self-control. No matter how she had tried to tempt him in the past few days, he had managed to resist.<span>0


    Thinking of this, Su Ci felt both frustrated and angry. She furiously questioned Lu Zhe, "Do you not have any desire at all?"<span>0


    Lu Zhe steadied the girl, creating some distance between their bodies, "Tuantuan, we can''t."<span>0


    He couldn''t give her a future, so he couldn''t ruin her innocence.<span>0


    Lu Zhe lowered his head, his cool thin lips kissing the girl''s angry eyes, "Tuantuan, be good, endure it a little longer."<span>0


    The young man was gentle as water.<span>0


    Su Ci pressed her lips together, the strange feeling inside her growing stronger, making her feel ashamed.<span>0


    She couldn''t help but nuzzle against Lu Zhe again, even taking his uninjured hand and cing it on her face. Her watery ck eyes gazed at him tenderly, her voice tinged with sweetness, "I can''t, I can''t endure it."<span>0


    Su Ci felt as if her heart was being nibbled by countless ants, not painful but extremely itchy.<span>0


    She remembered the rabbit in heat at the orphanage, and the online descriptions of rabbits - that these pure and cute creatures were natural seducers.<span>0


    She couldn''t take it anymore. Her delicate white fingers reached for the buttons of Lu Zhe''s white shirt, anxiously trying to undo them.<span>0


    "Tuantuan." Lu Zhe easily caught Su Ci''s small hands.<span>0


    He watched as the girl''s snow-white face was flushed red, her brows furrowed, clearly in genuine difort.<span>0


    He sighed, his cool voice slightly hoarse, "I can use my hands."<span>0


    Under the boy''s ck short hair, the tips of his ears quietly turned red.<span>0


    Su Ci was stunned, quickly understanding Lu Zhe''s meaning. Her upturned eyes were tinged with red, feeling both embarrassed and secretly curious, "Okay."<span>0


    Being able to push Lu Zhe to this point, she suddenly felt like she had pulled down a deity who was untouched by mortal desires.<span>0


    A rabbit spirit teasing a god.<span>0


    Mmm, Su Ci found it so thrilling.<span>0


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe with moist, bright eyes, urging him, "Hurry up."<span>0


    As soon as the words fell, in the next second, Su Ci froze.<span>0


    A familiar sinking feeling came from her stomach, and she stared at Lu Zhe in a daze, her snow-white face turningpletely red.<span>0


    Lu Zhe gently stroked the girl''s hair, "What''s wrong?"<span>0


    Su Ci wanted to cry, "My period..."<span>0


    Could it be that her heat cycle, which wasn''t due for another half month, hade early because her period was approaching?<span>0


    Su Ci was sure that must be it.<span>0


    Her face burning hot, Su Ci felt she had already stained Lu Zhe''s pants.<span>0


    She looked at Lu Zhe with wet eyes, embarrassed, "Go to my room and bring me some sanitary pads and clothes."<span>0


    Lu Zhe had already felt the wetness on his leg, and he nodded.<span>0


    Su Ci got off Lu Zhe''s leg. She was wearing a light purple dress, which now had red stains on it.<span>0


    Her gaze ufortably went to Lu Zhe''s pants, but because they were ck, only a faint mark could be seen, not very noticeable.<span>0


    Though Su Ci was thick-skinned, even though this situation was embarrassing, she adjusted quickly. She said softly to Lu Zhe, "Don''t forget to bring underwear too."<span>0


    "Mm." Lu Zhe stood up, his departing figure somewhat flustered.<span>0


    After changing clothes, Su Ci came out of the bathroom.<span>0


    Her gaze inadvertently fell on Lu Zhe''s pants, and her eyes were full of shyness: "Why haven''t you changed your pants yet?"<span>0


    Although it wasn''t very visible, she had still stained them after all.<span>0


    "Mm." Lu Zhe came over with a cup of brown sugar water, which he had gotten from the hotel.<span>0


    He put the cup on the coffee table, "It''s still a bit hot, let it cool for a while before drinking."<span>0


    Su Ci nodded obediently, watching Lu Zhe''s back as he went to change his pants. Even before drinking the brown sugar water, her heart was already filled with sweetness.<span>0


    ......<span>0


    In City B, when Su''s Mother learned that her son had nearly gotten into trouble, she was so frightened that she wanted to rush to City C immediately, but Su''s Father persuaded her not to, saying it was just a scratch on the arm, nothing serious.<span>0


    "This time, we''re really thankful that Lu Zhe appeared in time to save ZhiYuan." After so many incidents, even though Su''s Father had opinions about Lu Chen, that fox spirit, he had absolutely noints about his son Lu Zhe, and was even very grateful.<span>0


    Su''s Mother had also heard from her son that Lu Zhe had saved him - if Lu Zhe hadn''t appeared at that moment, the knife would likely have struck her son''s chest.<span>0


    Su''s Mother was very grateful to Lu Zhe. He had saved her daughter, saved her, saved her husband, and now had saved her son.<span>0


    She hadn''t expected that this young man Lu Zhe would have such deep ties and connections with the Su family.<span>0


    The Su family''s debt to Lu Zhe seemed impossible to repay.<span>0


    "How should we thank him this time?" Su''s Father had the same thought - the Su family owed Lu Zhe too much. Now that Lu Zhe had returned to the Lu family, he didn''tck money, and his medical treatment was also arranged by the Lu family.<span>0


    The current Lu Zhe was no longer the penniless young man he once was.<span>0


    "Who knows what Lu Zhe wants?" Even Su''s Father, who was formidable in the business world, had a headache over this - debts of gratitude were the hardest to repay.<span>0


    Su''s Mother nced at her contemtive husband and sighed. What did Lu Zhe want?<span>0


    He wanted the Su family''s little princess.<span>0


    Su''s Father asked his wife, "Do you have any ideas?"<span>0


    Su''s Mother came back to her senses, "ZhiYuan and Ci Ci will be back tomorrow, and we''ve invited Lu Zhe toe for dinner. We can ask about his thoughts then."<span>0


    If Lu Zhe were to use this life-saving grace to ask to be with Su Ci, Su''s Mother felt she would find it very difficult to refuse.<span>0


    At this moment, a tall, slim figure came down from upstairs.<span>0


    Su''s Mother saw Ji Chi preparing to go out and called out to him, "Xiao Chi, do you still have part-time work tomorrow evening? ZhiYuan and Ci Ci areing back from City C, and we''ll have another guest too. Come back for dinner then."<span>0


    Ji Chi nodded, "Alright, Auntie Su."<span>0


    Ji Chi currently worked two part-time jobs, at a milk tea shop during the day and as a waiter at a bar at night.<span>0


    With school starting soon, Ji Chi hoped to earn more money in a short time, since after school started, he would focus mainly on his studies and have less time for part-time work.<span>0


    Su''s Mother smiled, "I asked Fang Qin, and she said you like fish, right? I''ll have some prepared tomorrow night."<span>0


    Ji Chi was wearing a ck T-shirt. He was tall and slim, looking good in clothes - even a simple T-shirt looked stylish on him.<span>0


    Hearing Su''s Mother''s words, he politely declined, "Auntie Su, there''s no need to trouble yourself, please don''t prepare special dishes for me."<span>0


    Fang Qin''s child had stayed at the Su house for a while, and his quiet and sensible nature was evident to Su''s Mother. She could see that he was very worried about causing trouble for them, which was touching in its thoughtfulness.<span>0


    Su''s Mother smiled, "It''s no trouble at all, just one dish."<span>0


    Ji Chi didn''t refuse further, as it would have been ungrateful to keep declining someone''s kindness.<span>0


    Watching Ji Chi leave, Su''s Mother then said to Su''s Father, "I heard from Xiao Chi that he''s working at a milk tea shop now. This child has good grades, always ranking first in his grade at school. Working at a milk tea shop is really beneath him."<span>0


    Since Ji Chi was her friend''s son, Su''s Mother always wanted to help, "I offered him a suitable position at ourpany, just for learning experience, but he wouldn''t ept. He seems very afraid of troubling us."<span>0


    Su''s Fatherforted her, "Ji Chi has his own judgment and knows what he needs. Besides, I remember he applied for a medical major, so working at thepany wouldn''t help with his medical studies. If he really faces financial difficulties, we can help him quietly, after all, young people have their pride."<span>0


    Su''s Mother smiled, "You''re right."<span>0


    ......<span>0


    Su ZhiYuan returned to City B the next day, arriving home as darkness fell.<span>0


    Watching her brother walking ahead, Su Ci quietly pulled at Lu Zhe''s uninjured hand, "Later, I''ll sit next to you and help you with the food, okay?"<span>0


    The vi''s path lights had alreadye on.<span>0


    The soft light fell on the girl''s face, and Lu Zhe''s cool features softened, "No need, just eat properly yourself."<span>0


    Her parents wouldn''t like to see their precious daughter busy taking care of him.<span>0


    Su Ci pursed her lips, perfunctorily responding, "Oh."<span>0


    In the living room, Su''s Mother and Su''s Father had already had the meal prepared. Su Ning and Little Tiancai, knowing their big brother and sister wereing back, were sitting obediently on the sofa waiting.<span>0


    Ji Chi sat quietly in a single chair. He had asked another employee to switch shifts with him today, so he wasn''t working at the bar.<span>0


    Su ZhiYuan entered first.<span>0


    Seeing her eldest son with white gauze wrapped around his arm, Su''s Mother hurried forward, anxiously looking him over from head to toe, "Thank goodness you''re alright, you scared me to death. Didn''t you take bodyguards to City C? How did you still get hurt?"<span>0


    Su ZhiYuan shook his head with a smile. The incident had happened suddenly, and he hadn''t taken the bodyguards to the construction site because he had his own fighting skills. He hadn''t expected things to change so suddenly, but most importantly, he had wanted to leave the bodyguards to protect his sister.<span>0


    "I''m fine, this won''t happen again, but this time I really owe thanks to Lu Zhe," Su ZhiYuan said with a smile.<span>0


    Only then did Su''s Mother look outside, seeing that cool young man walking into the house, her daughter by his side, the two having an indescribablepatibility.<span>0


    Su''s Mother felt her heart tighten, yet also felt a sense of inevitability.<span>0


    "Mom." Su Ci walked quickly forward, hugging Su''s Mother, with a hint of coquettishness.<span>0


    Being hugged by her darling daughter, all of Su''s Mother''s other thoughts vanished.<span>0


    Her well-maintained face was full of doting smiles as she asked her daughter, "Are you tired? Hungry? Mom has already had the food prepared, all your favorites."<span>0


    Su Ci affectionately held onto Su''s Mother''s arm: "Thank you, Mom."<span>0


    Lu Zhe walked in, greeting both Su''s Mother and Su''s Father respectfully.<span>0


    Su''s Mother''s gaze fell on the young man''s hand wrapped in white gauze, and her eyes showed emotion. "Thank you so much for saving our ZhiYuan. How is your hand?"<span>0


    "Mom," Su Ci couldn''t help speaking up: "Lu Zhe''s wound is very deep. The doctor said it almost reached the bone, and I saw him lose a lot of blood."<span>0


    Su Ci spared no effort in describing Lu Zhe''s wound, wanting her parents to understand how much Lu Zhe had sacrificed.<span>0


    Su''s Mother had a gentle nature; if it weren''t for her daughter, how could she bear to hurt a young man of such good character?<span>0


    Now, seeing Lu Zhe injured from saving her eldest son, her heart was filled with both gratitude and guilt.<span>0


    Su''s Father also sighed, thinking that Lu Zhe waspletely different from Lu Chen. If it had been Lu Chen, forget about saving someone - he''d probably be eating sunflower seeds while watching people fight.<span>0


    He spoke up: "The meal is ready. Let''s go in and talk while we eat."<span>0


    "Yes, yes, yes." Su''s Mother turned to ask the servants to bring out the food.<span>0


    As she spoke, she led her daughter toward the dining room.<span>0


    When little Su Ning and Little Tiancai, the two little sprites, passed by Lu Zhe, they quietly called out to him: "Brother-inw."<span>0


    The coldness in Lu Zhe''s eyes faded, reced by an expression of helpless indulgence as he patted both little ones on their heads.<span>0


    Ji Chi, who had been quiet and almost invisible, unconsciously nced at Lu Zhe before entering the dining room.<span>0


    Su''s Mother had originally wanted her daughter to sit next to her, but when she saw Lu Zhe take a seat opposite them, her daughter, like a bee drawn to flower nectar, immediately stuck to his side.<span>0


    Su''s Mother felt a headacheing on - couldn''t her daughter show a little restraint?<span>0


    Seeing there was soup, which she knew was for blood replenishment, Su Ci immediately had someone serve a bowl to Lu Zhe.<span>0


    "What would you like to eat? I''ll help you get it." Although Lu Zhe had just told Su Ci to eat her own meal, how could she listen to him?<span>0


    Under the watchful eyes of the Su family, Lu Zhe maintained his calm demeanor and said, "Anything is fine."<span>0


    Lu Zhe had never been picky about food.<span>0


    Knowing he was injured, Su Ci thought for a moment before picking up arge piece of fish and cing it in his bowl.<span>0


    The fish was tender and looked appetizing under the lights.<span>0


    Su Ci carefully removed the fish bones and ced the small bowl of white, tender fish meat beside Lu Zhe''s hand. "Here, eat."<span>0


    Fish was good for wound healing, so it was perfect for Lu Zhe.<span>0


    The girl''s slender fingers were even whiter than the porcin bowl by two shades. She smiled at him brightly, and even though Lu Zhe knew Su''s Father, Su''s Mother, and the other Su family members were present, his heart couldn''t help but flutter.<span>0


    Lu Zhe softly said: "Thank you."<span>0


    Su Ci secretly gave him a little look, then continued picking up fish meat, removing bones, and feeding Lu Zhe, without having taken a single bite of her own meal.<span>0


    Su''s Mother couldn''t help but speak up, "Ci Ci."<span>0


    "Mom, Lu Zhe''s right hand is injured, and it''s difficult for him to eat," Su Ci said righteously. "He''s now our family''s great benefactor, I need to take care of him and help him with his food."<span>0


    Now with a legitimate reason, Su Ci grew particrly bold.<span>0


    Su''s Mother: ......<span>0


    Meanwhile, Su ZhiYuan''s right arm was also injured, though it was just his arm. These past few days, he had noticed that his sister was constantly taking care of Lu Zhe,pletely ignoring him as her brother, as if she couldn''t be bothered with him at all.<span>0


    "Little Ci, big brother''s hand is also injured, and I''d like some fish too," Su ZhiYuan looked at his sister hopefully.<span>0


    Su Ci''s heart waspletely devoted to Lu Zhe, "If you want some, get it yourself."<span>0


    Lu Zhe had been injured because of him, and she still hadn''t received her golden cotton candy - she was still angry with her big brother.<span>0


    Knowing his sister was still holding a grudge about him leaving the hotel, Su ZhiYuan knew he was in the wrong. He awkwardly rubbed his nose and went to get his own food.<span>0


    Su''s Mother had a headache and felt utterly helpless.<span>0Aliali: 6756d87fbd5e46c308ce46df


    Previously, she had asked Lu Zhe to stay away from her daughter, hurting him unreasonably.<span>0


    Now, Lu Zhe''s connection with the Su family had deepened further, and she couldn''t possibly tell him the same thing again, asking him to stay away from her daughter.<span>0


    But Lu Zhe had a terminal illness, and even if he got together with Ci Ci, there could be no future.<span>0


    What would happen to her daughter if Lu Zhe passed away? Right now, her daughter only liked Lu Zhe a little, but what if that grew into deep love...<span>0


    She dared not think further.<span>0


    Su''s Mother was caught in a dilemma.<span>0


    She decided to stop watching her daughter serving food to Lu Zhe, and her gaze inadvertently fell on Ji Chi, who was sitting quietly at one end. She spoke up: "Little Chi, why aren''t you eating?"<span>0


    This child was so quiet that if they couldn''t see him, he might as well have been invisible.<span>0


    Ji Chi responded: "I am eating."<span>0


    Lu Zhe looked over, remembering Su Ci''s mention of a temporary guest staying with the Su family - it must be him.<span>0

 Chapter 56

    After dinner.


    Su''s Father asked someone to make tea. He said to Lu Zhe, "This time you saved ZhiYuan, and our Su family owes you another favor. Is there anything you need our help with? Or how would you like us to thank you?"


    Lu Zhe sat on a single sofa with a straight posture. His expression was calm as he replied, "Uncle Su, I don''t need any thanks. If anyone else had been in danger instead of Su ZhiYuan, I would have helped them too."


    During the fire, Lu Zhe had unhesitatingly saved Su''s Father and Su''s Mother. This time at the construction site, he had also rescued Su ZhiYuan.


    Others might have considered the risk to their lives, but Lu Zhe knew his own life would be short.


    Su''s Father waved his hand, "No, your kindness to the Su family isn''t as simple as just once or twice."


    Lu Zhe had practically saved their entire family.


    Su''s Father said, "You were also injured this time. Your father wouldn''t be happy about that when he finds out. I''ve thought about it, and I n to transfer 10% of Su Corporation''s shares to you. What do you think?"


    Everyone knew what Su Corporation meant. Even 1% of its shares would be worth several billion, let alone 10%.


    More importantly, Su''s Father transferring these shares to Lu Zhe meant he valued him as much as a member of the Su family.


    Beside them, Su ZhiYuan was shocked, but since Lu Zhe had saved both his life and his parents'' lives, he felt his father''s decision was reasonable.


    Su''s Mother hadn''t expected her husband to make such a decision, but saving someone''s life was an enormous debt of gratitude, and money was just material wealth. Lu Zhe had saved their family multiple times, so 10% of the shares was indeed appropriate.


    Moreover, privately, she hoped Lu Zhe would ept the shares.


    After all, to her, her daughter was more important than shares, and Lu Zhe was a smart child who should know how to choose.


    The living room fell silent, with only the subtle sound of the servant pouring tea. The two little ones had already been taken upstairs by the servants to bathe, and Ji Chi had returned to his room to rest.


    Su Ci sat next to Su''s Mother, but her gaze remained fixed on Lu Zhe. She looked at him expectantly, hoping he would ept the shares.


    Su Ci didn''t think her heart was being unreasonable at all. She believed Lu Zhe deserved this, considering he had risked his life to save people both during the fire and at the construction site.


    She was so worried about him.


    Money wasn''t nearly as important as Lu Zhe.


    The bright lights fell on the young man''s head. Lu Zhe wore a ck T-shirt that made his features appear even more handsome. Seeing Su Ci winking at him, he curved his lips slightly and said, "Uncle Su, I cannot ept the shares."


    "You won''t take the shares?" Su''s Father''s sharp eyes examined Lu Zhe.


    Even Su ZhiYuan was shocked.


    Lu Zhe nodded seriously, "No."


    He had stolen the Su family''s little princess, which had alreadypensated for all the life-saving favors.


    Su''s Mother''s gaze unconsciously turned to her daughter beside her, only to see her daughter staring at the young man opposite them with her dark eyes, not blinking once.


    She sighed again.


    Su''s Father had originally nned to give some shares to Lu Zhe as thanks, but now that he had been refused, there was nothing he could do.


    This young man Lu Zhe was nothing like that cunning Lu Chen who always put profit first.


    Su''s Father looked at Lu Zhe with approval, "Since you won''t ept Su Corporation''s shares, then the Su family will continue to owe you these favors. If you ever need anything from the Su family in the future, feel free to ask."


    Only then did Lu Zhe agree.


    After chatting for quite a while longer, Su ZhiYuan needed to discuss some matters about the construction project with Su''s Father, so they went to the study.


    Just then, a servant came to find Su''s Mother, saying that little Su Ning was looking for her.


    Su Ci thought her brother''s timing was perfect.


    Su''s Mother looked at her daughter, then at Lu Zhe, frowning as she temporarily left.


    Suddenly, only Su Ci and Lu Zhe were left in the living room.


    The girl quickly got up and walked over to Lu Zhe, taking his hand, "I''ll help change your bandages."


    Yesterday, it was Su Ci who had helped change the bandages, and afterward, she had sneakily put Lu Zhe''s medicine in her suitcase.


    Her suitcase had already been taken back to her room by the servants.


    "Come on," Su Ci pulled the young man.


    Lu Zhe had no choice but to stand up and follow her upstairs.


    In the hallway, Su Ci walked close to Lu Zhe, "Why won''t you ept my family''s shares?"


    "I''m already holding the Su family''s most precious treasure in my hand." Lu Zhe squeezed the soft little hand that had slipped into his palm. "If I epted your family''s shares too, your parents would be angry when they found out."


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe in surprise; it was rare to hear him praise her.


    Her dark eyes lit up, and joy spread across her delicate features.


    She smiled and leaned against Lu Zhe, pressing him, "If I''m the Su family''s precious treasure, then am I your dearest darling?"


    Lu Zhe looked down at her, "Yes."


    Getting the answer she wanted, Su Ci''s eyes curved into crescents with happiness.


    She lifted her chin and kissed Lu Zhe''s cheek with her beautiful red lips, "That''s your reward."


    Lu Zhe raised his eyes and looked toward Ji Chi, who had just walked out of his room and was looking in their direction.


    Instinctively, Lu Zhe''srge hand rested on the girl''s waist.


    Ji Chi closed the door. He walked past Su Ci and Lu Zhe holding a cup, nodding to them as he passed. His expression remained neutral as he walked out of the hallway and went downstairs.


    When the servant saw Ji Chi with an empty cup, they quickly came forward and said, "Young Master Ji Chi, do you need water? Let me help you."


    Ji Chi refused, "Thank you, but there''s no need. I can do it myself."


    During his time at the Su family home, even though the servants were very respectful to Ji Chi, he always did things himself and rarely asked the Su family''s servants for help.


    He clearly knew his position.


    He was only staying at the Su family temporarily, and none of this had anything to do with him.


    Ji Chi walked into the kitchen and poured himself a ss of water.


    Unconsciously, the scene of the girl standing on tiptoe to kiss that young man called Lu Zhe floated through his mind.


    Water spilled from the cup.


    Ji Chi''s lowered eyelids trembled slightly. He put down the water pitcher and took a cloth, wiping the wet countertop with practiced movements.


    In the hallway, Su Ci hadn''t expected someone to witness her kissing Lu Zhe, but fortunately, it was only Ji Chi and not her parents.


    Lu Zhe asked the girl, "Is his room next to yours?"


    Su Ci blinked, quickly realizing that "he" referred to Ji Chi. "Not next door, it''s several rooms away."


    Lu Zhe''s hand remained on the girl''s waist, pulling her even closer, "I remember you saying he''s your mother''s friend''s son, staying here temporarily."


    Su Ci nodded, "Yes, he''ll move to the school dormitory after sses start. Right now, he works two part-time jobs, leaving early and returningte, so he doesn''t spend much time at our house."


    Lu Zhe''s lips tightened slightly, "Mm."


    "What''s wrong?" Su Ci was curious why Lu Zhe would ask about Ji Chi, given that someone with his personality rarely showed interest in things or people.


    Meeting the girl''s clear, bright eyes, Lu Zhe gave a lightugh, "I''m a bit jealous."


    Su Ci looked at him, not understanding.


    Lu Zhe''s cool lips kissed her beautiful eyes, "I want to live under the same roof as you too."


    The girl''s eyes brightened, and she buried her face in Lu Zhe''s chest, trembling withughter, "Are you being jealous?"


    She thought the poor little thing speaking such sour words was too cute!


    ......


    Previously, Lu Zhe had left many things behind when he went to C City because of Su Ci, and he had be busy during this period.


    Su Ci was understanding and didn''t disturb him, only asking about his wound during their video calls at night.


    The food show hadn''t finished filming yet, and Su Ci wasn''t one to give up halfway. When she arrived at the guest lounge, the other three guests were already there.


    Since Su Ci had given the investigation materials to Xie Yuminst time, she hadn''t paid attention to how Xie Yumin had handled the matter.


    However, seeing Xie Yumin and Guan Jing sitting far apart from each other, it was clear that their rtionship had soured.


    Who could tolerate their close friend stabbing them in the back?


    As long as Xie Yumin wasn''t too emotional and maintained a clear head, she would know how to handle her rtionship with Guan Jing.


    Seeing Su Ci arrive, Xie Yumin''s cold face finally showed a smile, "You''re here?"


    "Your expression tells me you''re surprised?" Su Ci sat down in the seat next to her.


    Xie Yumin spoke frankly, "I thought you wouldn''te to film anymore."


    Now that Su Ci''s identity has been exposed online, everyone knows she is the daughter of the Su family. Netizens have been hotly discussing her, with all sorts ofments.


    Today, Su Ci wore a honey-orange dress that made her skin look as white as snow. She slightly raised her chin and smiled, "The onlinements can''t hurt me."


    She wouldn''t stop recording just because some haters said nasty things.


    Xie Yumin nodded. The daughter of the Su family has enough capital to be arrogant and capricious.


    Over there, Guan Jing saw Su Ci arrive and hesitated whether to go over and chat with her. However, seeing Xie Yumin chatting andughing with Su Ci, she was so angry that she almost broke her nails.


    Xie Yumin somehow found out about the little tricks she had been ying behind the scenes. After a big fight with her, she moved out of thepany''s rented apartment.


    Now, she and Xie Yumin are in an adversarial rtionship. Seeing Xie Yumin attaching herself to the Su family''s youngdy, she couldn''t bear it.


    After hesitating for a while, Guan Jing finally got up and walked over to Su Ci. Her tone was somewhat ttering, "Miss Su Ci, I heard that Qin Shiyan is also a guest for today''s recording."


    Everyone in the industry knows that Qin Shiyan tried to ride on the Su family''s coattails, and the Su family''s youngdy dislikes Qin Shiyan.


    Su Ci looked at her.


    Guan Jing seemed encouraged and was very proactive, "Qin Shiyan''s actions are too annoying and disgusting. She deliberately stepped on you in thest two hot searches. I really couldn''t stand it. If you''re willing, I can help you get back at herter."


    Xie Yumin, for the first time, realized how ugly her former friend''s face was. She turned her head away, not wanting to see Guan Jing again. Every time she saw her, she only felt that she had been blind before.


    Su Ci was speechless. Qin Shiyan''s character had issues, and Guan Jing wasn''t much better. "My business isn''t something you should meddle in."


    Her voice was cold, directly snubbing Guan Jing.


    Guan Jing didn''t expect Su Ci to be so direct. Feeling embarrassed, her smile stiffened. She secretly resented Su Ci''s arrogance but could only sit back in her seat awkwardly.


    The staff announced that the recording was about to start.


    Su Ci walked into the recording studio and found that Qin Shiyan had already arrived. She was quietly sitting in her guest seat and politely greeted Su Ci and the other guests as they entered.


    Her face was rosy, as if she wasn''t the one who had been exposed as not the adopted daughter of the Su family, angeringizens and thepany.


    Even the cunning Guan Jing couldn''t help but nce at Qin Shiyan a few times. She had expected to see Qin Shiyan in a miserable and haggard state, but instead, Qin Shiyan''s mental resilience was so strong that she acted as if nothing had happened.


    Guan Jing found such people the most terrifying.


    Su Ci also had to admire Qin Shiyan''s thick skin. She half-closed her eyes and sized up Qin Shiyan. She wasn''t afraid of a troublesome opponent, but she was wary of an enemy who hid their knives behind a smile and had a meticulous mind.


    Before the recording started, Qin Shiyan was still sitting next to Su Ci. She sincerely apologized to Su Ci, "CiCi, I''m sorry. It was my fans who hurt you and made you unhappy."


    She looked at Su Ci earnestly, "Thepany has taken all my resources and given them to others. My fans have also unfollowed me. I''ve been punished. Will you forgive me?"


    After Su Ci sent her a message scolding her for riding on the Su family''s coattails and having no rtion to the Su family, both thepany and her fans were furious.


    As a popr young actress, thepany had arranged many resources for her. After this incident, thepany was wary of her offending the Su family, so the resources originally meant for her were given to other artists. Her fans collectively unfollowed her, calling her a liar andunching a cyberbullying campaign against her. Many even waited downstairs at herpany, throwing things at her.


    During this time, except for the originally scheduled variety show and film roles, she stayed alone in the hotel, not daring to go anywhere.


    She endured all this with gritted teeth.


    The more others wanted to see her as a joke, the more she couldn''t be one.


    Qin Shiyan''s tone was sincere, even pleading, "CiCi, can you forgive me and let me off?"


    Everyone around them pricked up their ears, secretly enjoying the drama.


    Before, Qin Shiyan was so morous, relying on the Su family and debuting to instant fame, with resources pouring in and easily pushing other artists aside. Everyone could only secretly resent and envy her.


    Unexpectedly, Qin Shiyan had a fall from grace.


    The little neer turned out to be the real heiress, while the fake heiress tried to suppress the real one but ended up suffering greatly.


    Now, seeing the once-morous Qin Shiyan humbly begging for mercy in front of the Su family''s youngdy, everyone couldn''t help but sigh.


    Su Ci rested her chin on one hand and asked the director who had taken his seat, "Director, hasn''t the recording started yet?"


    She didn''t even look at Qin Shiyan.


    The director, being addressed, felt a pang of anxiety and quickly responded, "It''s starting now, it''s starting now."


    Where on earth did that guy Many find this little ancestor? Initially, Su Ci was just a beautiful neer, but in the blink of an eye, she became an untouchable gold mine.


    Completely ignored, Qin Shiyan''s expression was a bit forlorn, but when the recording began, she quickly adjusted her facial expression.


    The recording started, and the screen was quickly filled with flyingments.


    "Finally, the live broadcast of this show. I''m here to see the Su heiress."


    "I''m here for Su Ci."


    "Su Ci is so beautiful. Is she wearing makeup today? I see the other female guests are all made up, but her face is so clean, not even eyeliner or eyeshadow."


    "She''s wearing no makeup! My friend is one of the crew members, and she told me Su Ci looks even more beautiful in person, with superb skin."


    "Before, I mistakenly thought Su Ci was funded into the production, and the camera was using beauty filters for her. It turns out I was ignorant. She''s a fairy who has been beautiful since childhood."


    "I remember Qin Shiyan''s crazy fans using the Su heiress of stic surgery. Why aren''t they speaking up now?"


    I heard that the Su family has high looks, and Su Ci is so beautiful purely because of her parents'' good genes.


    "Why is Qin Shiyan still here? Doesn''t she feel awkward sitting next to Su Ci? Her fans also used Su Ci of imitating her teardrop mole. I wonder if the fans'' faces hurt?"


    "Qin Shiyan didn''t have a teardrop mole before. It only appeared a few months ago. Clearly, she was imitating Su Ci. I''m curious where her fans got the audacity to use Su Ci?"


    "I always felt Qin Shiyan''s teardrop mole was out of ce, given her looks. Only her fans gushed about how nice it looked."


    "No wonder I felt Qin Shiyan''s teardrop mole was awkward. It''s meant to be on a face like Su Ci''s!"


    "Woohoo, I also want to get a teardrop mole. Su Ci''s mole is too beautiful."


    "Enough said, Su Ci''s divine beauty is blowing up."


    ...


    Most of the people who questioned Su Ci''s beauty were Qin Shiyan''s fans. After Su Ci posted photos from her childhood to adulthood and proved her identity, Qin Shiyan''s fans didn''t dare to spray anymore.


    Knowing that Su Ci hadn''t had stic surgery, wasn''t using beauty filters, and was even wearing no makeup on camera,izens were truly captivated by this face. Faced with such a beautiful face, who could resist not being moved?


    Each person had a small eco-friendly grill in front of them, and long tables were set with tes of skewered meat.


    The director announced, "This episode, we''re grilling our own food."


    Since the addition of Su Ci and Qin Shiyan as guests, the show has gone from being unremarkable andcking buzz to attracting arge wave of traffic.


    The director didn''t care about the bickering between Su Ci and Qin Shiyan, as bickering meant heat.


    The director had the staff help the guests set up their grills, "Grill whatever you want to eat."


    Su Ci was d it was just grilling and not cooking.


    If she had to cook in front of so manyizens, she definitely wouldn''t want to. After all, she had no cooking skills, and she didn''t want to be flustered in front of so many people, damaging her image of beauty.


    Su Ci casually took a few skewers of beef and ced them on the grill, waiting for them to cook.


    Xie Yumin, Guan Jing, and Nan Yi all started grilling.


    Grilling was no big deal for them; everyone had tried it at parties.


    Nan Yi, in particr, was very skilled at flipping the skewers, which sizzled with oil.


    "Who burned their food?" The director, busy with work, smelled something burning.


    Su Ci felt a bit embarrassed, "Mine." The beef on the grill waspletely ckened.


    "CiCi, you''ve never grilled anything before, let me help you. Here, I''ve already grilled this, you can eat it first," Qin Shiyan said beside her, cing the grilled meat skewers on a porcin te and handing it to Su Ci.


    She grilled it very well, the skewers brushed with honey sauce, golden in color, glistening with oil, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, extremely tempting.


    "Wow, I really want to eat it. To be honest, Qin Shiyan''s grilling skills are really good."


    "Su Ci is a rich youngdy, how would she know how to do these things? Usually, the servants at home prepare everything for her."


    "Now I finally understand how to distinguish between a real rich girl and a fake foster daughter. They are separated by a barbecue."


    "So what if Qin Shiyan''s grilling skills are good? She has a crooked mind, lies without batting an eye."


    "Why do I feel Qin Shiyan is so humble? It seems like she''s trying to curry favor with Su Ci."


    "The one before, be bolder, remove the ''seems,'' she is indeed currying favor with Su Ci."


    "What''s wrong with currying favor with Su Ci? I''d also like to cling to the leg of the Su family''s youngdy."


    "I don''t cling to legs, I''d be a leg hair for Su Ci, look at me, I can grill for you every day."


    "Who would want to eat Qin Shiyan''s stuff? Su Ci, don''t eat it, I can make it for you."


    ...


    Then, theizens saw Su Ci directly refuse Qin Shiyan''s meat skewers.


    "You can eat mine." Beside her, Xie Yumin handed a skewer of grilledmb to Su Ci, "It doesn''t look very good, but the taste should be okay."


    "Okay, thank you." Su Ci epted Xie Yumin''s skewer.


    Su Ci refused Qin Shiyan but epted Xie Yumin''s, her attitude towards Qin Shiyan was very clear.


    Rejected, Qin Shiyan''s expression was forlorn, she quietly continued grilling.


    At this moment, staff pushed a small cart in.


    The director smiled, "I also specially prepared sugar water for everyone."


    The staff served sugar water to each guest.


    When the staff served the sugar water to Su Ci, he slipped, spilling the entire bowl of sugar water on the ground.


    He was so scared that he quickly apologized, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry..." He had heard that this one was the youngdy of the Su family, not to be offended.


    Su Ci was not injured, she looked at the staff who was panicking and found it amusing, was she that scary? "I''m fine, you don''t need to be nervous."


    The director asked the staff to refill a bowl.


    "There are clean bowls and chopsticks here." Qin Shiyan smiled and told the staff.


    "Thank you." The staff quickly took the bowl and refilled a bowl of sugar water for Su Ci.


    Su Ci couldn''t grill, so she decided not to try and just ate the sugar water prepared by the program team.


    The recording studio was filled with the aroma of grilled food, the recording was about to end, and the food on the long table was almost eaten up by the guests.


    Beside her, Su Ci scratched her neck again, she felt itchy.


    Su Ci frowned, what was going on?


    Soon, her face also began to itch, she couldn''t help but want to scratch.


    Suddenly, her head also started to itch, Su Ci was stunned.


    Were her rabbit earsing out?


    In the recording studio, Su Ci suddenly stood up, "I''m not feeling well."


    With that, she quickly walked out, leaving everyone and theizens in shock.


    Su Ci ran back to the restroom quickly, locking the door behind her.


    Her face was itchy, her head was itchy.


    What was going on?


    After a while, Su Ci felt the rabbit ears on her head, she opened the front camera of her phone, and saw herself with a pair of rabbit ears on her head, and red rashes on her face.


    She was shocked, her eyes wide, what was happening?


    Su Ci immediately called Lu Zhe, asking him toe and pick her up, then she called her brother Su ZhiYuan, asking him to control the situation.


    The other guests came out of the recording studio and found Su Ci locked herself in the restroom.


    No matter who knocked on the door, she didn''t open it.


    It was unclear how long it had been, a tall young man walked over, the crowd still wondering who this new rising star was, looking so outstanding.


    The young man knocked on the door twice, whispering something.


    The next second, the door opened, and the handsome young man was pulled in.Aliali: 6756d87fbd5e46c308ce46df


    The door was closed again.


    "What is Miss Su ying at?" Guan Jing sneered.


    "Whatever she''s doing, it''s none of your business. I advise you to mind your own mouth," Xie Yumin said coldly and left.


    Guan Jing was choked with anger, "You..."


    Inside, Su Ci wore a hat and a mask, only revealing a pair of dark eyes, "Lu Zhe."


    Her voice was choked with tears.


    Lu Zhe rushed over in a hurry, his breathing a bit unsteady, "What happened?"


    Su Ci took off her hat, revealing a pair of snow-white, fluffy rabbit ears, then she took off her mask, revealing many red rashes on her fair little face.


    Su Ci couldn''t help but cough a few times, "My face is so itchy."


    Woo, she had turned into an ugly rabbit spirit!

 Chapter 57

    Su Ci''s porcin-white skin was now covered with noticeable red rashes.


    Looking at the girl''s condition, Lu Zhe''s gaze intensified as he grabbed her hand that was about to scratch her face. "Darling, don''t scratch. It will leave scars."


    Hearing Lu Zhe''s words, Su Ci immediately controlled her hand.


    Her eyes were reddening, and she was about to cry, "Am I going to be disfigured?"


    Just thinking about it made Su Ci want to cry.


    She wasn''t afraid of anything except death and bing ugly.


    Usually, Su Ci took great care of her face and snow-white smooth skin. Now that her face was suddenly covered with so many red rashes, looking so horrifying, how could she handle it?


    "You won''t be." Lu Zhe''s brows furrowed, the coldness in his eyes reced by concern. "Did you touch something, or eat something that caused an allergic reaction?"


    The girl''s current condition looked like an allergic reaction.


    Su Ci sniffled pitifully, "During the show recording earlier, I ate somemb and sweet soup."


    When Su Ci''s face started itching, besides calling Lu Zhe first, she also called her elder brother Su ZhiYuan to have him send people to control the scene.


    "I called my brother to help investigate," she said. Whether it was an ident or intentional, she wanted to get to the bottom of this.


    The girl''s cheeks were bing slightly swollen, and Lu Zhe, worried about bacteria on his hands, dared not touch her face.


    He took the hat she had removed earlier and helped her put it on, carefully hiding the white fluffy rabbit ears, then gently helped her put on a mask. "I''ll take you to see a doctor first."


    At this moment, there was another knock on the break room door, and Su ZhiYuan''s voice came from outside.


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe, "My brother is here."


    Originally, Su ZhiYuan was in apany meeting, but after receiving his sister''s call, he immediately dismissed the meeting and rushed over with his assistant.


    Su ZhiYuan was tall and elegant, wearing a tailored silver-gray suit with a ck shirt underneath. His refined features appeared even more stern, and his powerful aura as an authority figure waspletely unmasked, causing everyone on set to turn and look.


    "It''s the CEO of Su Corporation!" someone whispered in excitement.


    Many people held back their urge to scream - he was too handsome.


    Outside the break room, Guan Jing hadn''t left yet. When she saw Su ZhiYuan''s sudden appearance, she was shocked - this was Su Ci''s older brother?


    There were many celebrities filming in the neighboring studio today, including some handsome male stars, but none of them couldpare to the young man who had just walked into the break room, nor to Su ZhiYuan.


    Looking at Su ZhiYuan, Guan Jing felt nervous and somewhat shy.


    The director, after being notified by staff that the Su family''s eldest son had arrived, hurriedly came over, frightened. "Mr... Mr. Su."


    Why had hee?


    "Where''s Su Ci?" Su ZhiYuan''s expression was cold.


    So Su ZhiYuan hade for Su Ci.


    The director replied, "Miss Su just finished recording the show. She seemed unwell and is currently in the break room."


    The director felt uneasy. Su Ci suddenly became unwell - was it because she ate something from their production team? How had it even rmed Mr. Su?


    If that little ancestor really became ill from eating what they had prepared, he couldn''t imagine if their small production team could withstand the Su family''s fury.


    Su ZhiYuan didn''t look at the nervous director, instead knocking on the break room door.


    After a while, the door opened, and Su Ci only showed her bright eyes, "Brother, only you cane in."


    Everyone watched as Su ZhiYuan entered the break room, while his assistant and bodyguards remained outside.


    The director reacted quickly and shrewdly.


    He immediately had his assistant stop the staff from clearing away the food and utensils from the recording studio, and the food in the kitchen couldn''t be moved either. Although they didn''t know what had happened to the little ancestor inside, the fact that it had rmed Mr. Su meant it wasn''t a small matter.


    Inside the break room, Su ZhiYuan was surprised by his sister''s appearance, "Little Ci, what happened?"


    "Brother, I''m disfigured," Su Ci startedining to her brother, "My face is covered in red rashes, and it''s so itchy."


    Upon seeing his sister, Su ZhiYuan''s intimidating aura disappeared, "Did you eat peanuts?"


    Lu Zhe spoke up: "She''s allergic to peanuts?"


    "Little Ci has been allergic to peanuts since childhood, but only family members know about this." Su ZhiYuan remembered that his sister had lost her memory and didn''t remember her peanut allergy, "It''s my oversight. I forgot you lost your memory and don''t remember your peanut allergy."


    Su Ci indeed didn''t know this body was allergic to peanuts. She shook her head, "I only atemb and sweet soup earlier, I didn''t eat any peanuts."


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened: "It doesn''t have to be peanuts, it could be peanut powder."


    If Su Ci had eaten peanuts, it might have been prepared by the show''s team, and Su Ci ate them by mistake - that would be an ident.


    But if it was peanut powder, it meant someone might have known about Su Ci''s peanut allergy and deliberately tried to harm her.


    Su ZhiYuan had the same thought, "My people are outside. No one will leave until we investigate this clearly."


    Su Ci coughed several times ufortably, her cheeks itching terribly, "Brother, besides our family, doesn''t Qin Shiyan also know about my peanut allergy?"


    If someone was trying to frame her, she could only think of Qin Shiyan, who was also present.


    "She probably knows." Qin Shiyan used to y with his sister, so she would indeed know about this.


    Su ZhiYuan told her, "You rest here first. I''ll call a doctor, and I''ll handle this matter. If this wasn''t an ident, I won''t let whoever harmed you get away with it."


    Su Ci nodded.


    After calling and notifying their family doctor toe immediately, Su ZhiYuan finally looked at Lu Zhe, "Why are you here too?"


    "I asked him toe," Su Ci quickly exined for Lu Zhe, fearing her brother would give him a hard time: "I originally wanted to find him about something, but then this happened."


    Even though Su ZhiYuan was slow when it came to emotions, he could now sense something different between his sister and Lu Zhe, but now wasn''t the time to say anything about it. "The doctor is on his way. You rest first, and I''ll go out now to investigate the cause."


    If this was intentional, he wouldn''t let whoever tried to harm his sister get away with it.


    Su ZhiYuan had people begin searching the entire set.


    Now everyone knew that Su Ci had gotten sick from eating the show''s food. They quietly waited on the side, no one daring to say anything, all cooperating with the search, as none of them dared to offend the Su family.


    Guan Jing watched Su ZhiYuan sitting there, his expression cold and his aura powerful, and her face reddened.


    Su Ci''s beautiful appearance was definitely an exception, and setting her aside, Guan Jing considered herself above average in looks within the entertainment industry.


    Having this rare opportunity to meet the legendary head of the Su family, from the moment she saw Su ZhiYuan, her heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat.


    Who wouldn''t like a man who was both exceptionally handsome and capable?


    In the end, Guan Jing didn''t act like a naive girl and approach Su ZhiYuan, worried that she would be stopped by his bodyguards before she could even get close.


    "What do you think happened to Su Ci? All of us guests ate the food prepared by the show''s team, why is she the only one who became unwell?" Guan Jing whispered to her assistant beside her.


    "Miss Guan, could someone be trying to harm Miss Su?" the assistant spoke very quietly, "The fact that it rmed Miss Su''s brother means it can''t be as simple as a production team error."


    Guan Jing was startled, a glint shing in her eyes.


    Su ZhiYuan''s people searched through all the food prepared by the show''s team, both at the recording site and in the kitchen, but found no traces of peanuts or peanut powder.


    Even the sweet soup that Su Ci had eaten, with only a small amount remaining, was sent for expert analysis, and it contained no peanut ingredients.


    After eating peanuts, Su Ci would show allergic reactions within half an hour, which meant she definitely ate something from the show''s team and it wasn''t caused by other food, but no peanuts or peanut powder were found in any of the food on site.


    Su ZhiYuan''s refined face bore a cold expression.


    Finding no evidence made him more convinced that this was intentional, someone trying to harm his sister.


    The assistant asked the silent Su ZhiYuan, "Mr. Su, should we continue searching?"


    Su ZhiYuan''s sharp gaze fell on the recording room''s long table. "Have all the unused tableware tested as well."


    His assistant quickly responded, "Yes, President Su."


    In the break room, the doctor had arrived promptly.


    After examining Su Ci, he confirmed that she was suffering from an allergic reaction causing rashes and a sore, coughing throat.


    "Fortunately, Miss Su didn''t consume much peanut, otherwise it could have been life-threatening." In foreign countries, peanut allergies were quitemon, and there were numerous cases of deaths due to dyed treatment.


    Lu Zhe pressed his thin lips together, his dark eyes fixed on Su Ci, filled with unspoken fear.


    The doctor advised, "Miss Su must be careful with her diet from now on and avoid peanut-based foods."


    Lu Zhe''s voice was slightly hoarse, "Her face is very itchy. Is there anything that can help with the itching?"


    The doctor nodded: "I''ll prescribe some antihistamines and ointment that will help with the itching."


    Su Ci''s voice was muffled, "My face won''t be permanently disfigured, will it?"


    The doctor instructed: "Miss Su, don''t scratch it. As long as you avoid the allergen, you''ll recover quickly."


    Hearing this, Su Ci finally let out a sigh of relief.


    After the doctor left, Lu Zhe poured a ss of warm water and read the medication instructions before sorting out the pills for her, "Take these first."


    Su Ci wasn''t in the mood to act coy or yful with Lu Zhe now. She took the medicine and obediently swallowed it.


    Lu Zhe washed his hands and sat down beside Su Ci. He took out the ointment the doctor had given them, "Turn your face towards me, I''ll help you apply the medicine."


    "I can do it myself." Now that she looked ugly, Su Ci didn''t want Lu Zhe to look directly at her face, let alone help her apply medicine.


    Before every video call, she had always prepared the perfect lighting and chosen her best angles to show Lu Zhe her most beautiful self.


    Now her face was so ugly, covered in red rashes. She couldn''t even stand looking at herself, and she definitely didn''t want Lu Zhe to see her looking so unsightly.


    Lu Zhe''s tone was gentle, with a hint of coaxing: "There''s no mirror here, it''ll be difficult for you to apply it yourself. Didn''t you say your face is itchy? It''ll be faster if I help you."


    Su Ci''s face was indeed very itchy. She sniffled pitifully, "Then you can''t dislike me for bing ugly."


    "I won''t."


    Only then did Su Ci turn her face toward Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe removed the hat from her head, and a pair of pink and white rabbit ears immediately stood up. Her face was covered in red rashes, but her eyes remained bright and watery.


    Hmm, like a pitiful, spotted-faced bunny.


    Lu Zhe squeezed some ointment onto a cotton swab. He leaned down close to her, carefully applying the ointment to her face with the swab.


    The ointment felt cool on her face, while the young man''s breath felt warm against her skin.


    Usually, being this close to Lu Zhe, Su Ci would have already been trying to steal kisses from him.


    But now that she looked so ugly, being face-to-face with Lu Zhe was pure torture.


    Su Ci leaned back slightly, "You''re too close."


    Lu Zhe''s injured hand rested lightly on her waist, "Don''t move, it''ll be done soon."


    He leaned in closer again.


    Su Ci pressed her lips together. Her face wasn''t just itchy now, but also burning hot. She had never been so embarrassed before.


    No matter when, Su Ci had always been an exquisite girl. Now her face was covered in red rashes and swollen. How could she ept looking so ugly? Especially in front of the person she liked.


    As these thoughts ran through her mind, Su Ci''s eyes welled up with tears.


    Seeing the girl''s eyes brimming with tears and reddened corners, Lu Zhe sighed. He put down the cotton swab and pulled her onto hisp.


    "Don''t cry, you''ll mess up your face with tears." Lu Zhe gently wiped her eyes with his fingertips, "Once we find who did this to you, I''ll help you get revenge."


    He knew the girl was feeling wronged.


    Su Ci wanted to rest her head against Lu Zhe''s chest, but her face was covered in ointment, and she didn''t want to smear it on him.


    She could only turn her head away, "You can''t look at me."


    Seeing the usually mischievous little troublemaker turned into a pitiful spotted-faced bunny spirit, Lu Zhe felt both heartache and amusement.


    He reached out to cup her chin, making her look at him.


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes fell on her face, then met her gaze, "Tuantuan, you''re not ugly now."


    Su Ci pressed her lips together, not wanting to respond.


    Lu Zhe''s fingertips stroked her chin a few times as he softlyforted her, "Even if you became ugly, I wouldn''t mind."


    He asked her, "Did you think I only liked you for your face?"


    Su Ci''s voice was muffled, "No."


    Others might like her for her beauty, but Lu Zhe definitely wasn''t like that. Even when she had tried to enchant him with her beauty like a spirit, he had remained unmoved. How could he be someone who only cared about looks?


    Lu Zhe let out a softugh. He leaned in close again, his fingers holding her chin so she couldn''t back away.


    His cool lips met her rosy ones in a gentle, tender kiss.


    It hurt his heart to see the usually proud and confident little troublemaker suddenly be so insecure.


    Lu Zhe kissed the girl tenderly yet firmly. After a while, he pulled back slightly, his dark eyes filled with deep emotion, "Whether you''re beautiful or be ugly, I''ll still like you."


    His voice was slightly hoarse, "Did you like me kissing you like that?"


    Su Ci felt her heart skip a beat. Her dark eyes were bright, and her lips were glossy.


    She nodded, her rabbit ears on top of her head bobbing along with the movement, "I liked it."


    Wuu, she liked it too much.


    This gentle Lu Zhe was hers.


    In the recording studio, the air seemed to have frozen.


    Su ZhiYuan''s assistant reported to him that all the tableware had been tested and was clean, with nothing suspicious found.


    People around them couldn''t help but start whispering amongst themselves.


    Beside them, the director finally felt able to rx the tension he''d been holding.


    He had been worried that Su Ci''s condition was caused by food provided by the show''s staff. Now that both the food and utensils had been checked and found clean, it seemed the show wasn''t responsible.


    Su ZhiYuan''s handsome features creased into a frown as he looked toward Qin Shiyan in the distance.


    Qin Shiyan met Su ZhiYuan''s gaze and nodded with a smile in greeting.


    "President Su." At this moment, Guan Jing suddenly approached Su ZhiYuan.


    Her beautiful face wore a polite smile, "President Su, I know why Miss Su became unwell."


    Su ZhiYuan looked at her, gesturing for her to continue.


    Guan Jing''s heart fluttered when she saw Su ZhiYuan''s gaze fall on her.


    She steadied herself and said, "It was Xie Yumin. Miss Su ate themb that Xie Yumin gave her."


    Since it wasn''t the sugar water, the problem must have been with the grilled meat that Xie Yumin gave to Su Ci.


    "Guan Jing!" Xie Yumin hadn''t expected Guan Jing to openly use her.


    "President Su, Miss Su became unwell shortly after eating Xie Yumin''smb and ran out of the recording studio. Everyone present saw it," Guan Jing said with certainty.


    Originally she hadn''t been sure, but after hearing President Su''s staff report that the sugar water and tableware were clean, she was ny percent certain the problemy with themb skewer Xie Yumin had given to Su Ci.


    Xie Yumin red coldly at Guan Jing, "I would never harm Su Ci, and I certainly wouldn''t do something so stupid in front of so many cameras. Besides, I ate themb myself. Please don''t spread rumors about me."


    Now that their rtionship had soured and she could see Guan Jing''s true face, she realized how blind she had been before.


    Su ZhiYuan ignored the two arguing women and directly told the director: "Pull up the footage that was just recorded."


    Hearing Su ZhiYuan''s words, Guan Jing shot Xie Yumin a triumphant look.


    The director quickly had someone rey the recorded program for Su ZhiYuan.


    Su Ci, wearing a hat and mask, came from the break room to the recording studio with Lu Zhe. She saw her brother reviewing the earlier broadcast, with the camera focused on the part where Xie Yumin was grilling.


    The assistant told Su Ci that they hadn''t found anything yet.


    Everyone noticed that Su Ci was heavily covered up, indeed looking like someone who was unwell.


    "Wait, please rewind twenty seconds." The young man''s cool voice rang out.


    The director didn''t wait for the staff to react, quickly rewinding the video twenty seconds himself, right to the moment when Xie Yumin took amb skewer from the grill and sprinkled cumin powder on it.


    Lu Zhe asked Su ZhiYuan, "Has that bottle of seasoning been tested?"


    Su ZhiYuan''s eyes sharpened, and he ordered the nearby staff to take all the seasonings for testing immediately.


    Su Ci blinked and looked at the young man''s chiseled profile, thinking about how attentive he was.


    The Su family worked efficiently. Soon, the test results came back showing that the cumin powder provided by the show''s production team contained peanut powder.


    The director immediately understood - someone was clearly trying to harm the Su family''s precious daughter.


    The director nervously swallowed, "Mr. Su..."


    Su ZhiYuan stood up, his refined features cold with anger. He ordered an immediate investigation into who was responsible for the show''s seasonings, where they were purchased, and who had ess to them.


    Faced with Su ZhiYuan''s fury, everyone''s hearts felt like they were being squeezed by an invisible hand. They were so nervous and scared they could barely breathe, fearing they might be targets of his anger.


    Guan Jing couldn''t help speaking up: "Mr. Su, the seasonings passed through Xie Yumin''s hands. She''s the most suspicious and should be investigated first."


    She had earlier warned Su ZhiYuan that themb Xie Yumin gave to Su Ci was problematic. Although the actual issue was with the seasoning, her suspicion of Xie Yumin wasn''t entirely wrong.


    Su ZhiYuan gave Guan Jing a cold look, "I don''t need your advice on how to handle this."


    Guan Jing''s heart tightened, and she didn''t dare speak out of turn again.


    Unlike the others, when Su Ci heard the problem was with the cumin powder, she didn''t look at Xie Yumin but instinctively nced at Qin Shiyan, who was standing quietly.


    Remembering something, Su Ci walked over to the director and scrolled through the video footage to Qin Shiyan''s scenes.


    On screen, Qin Shiyan was grilling skillfully. She brushed ayer of honey ze on the meat skewers, turning them golden brown and glistening with oil, making them look incredibly appetizing.


    Then, Qin Shiyan offered the grilled skewers to Su Ci, who declined them.


    The director looked confused, not seeing anything suspicious.


    Su Ci continued scrolling through the footage, again stopping at Qin Shiyan''s scenes.


    The screen showed that after Su Ci''s rejection, Qin Shiyan looked disappointed but maintained a graceful smile, remaining poised and proper.


    Qin Shiyan continued grilling, preparing more meat skewers and other foods, then sprinkled cumin powder on the grilled meat.


    Su Ci continued advancing the footage.


    Lu Zhe''s brows furrowed deeply.


    There were several more shots of Qin Shiyan sprinkling cumin powder on the grilled meat and quietly eating the skewers.


    Except for the first time, when Qin Shiyan offered her honey-zed meat without cumin powder, every subsequent time she grilled, she used cumin powder.


    Why didn''t Qin Shiyan put cumin powder on the meat she offered to Su Ci?


    Because Qin Shiyan knew there was something wrong with the cumin powder, and she couldn''t personally hand problematic meat to Su Ci!


    Su Ci''s gaze turned cold, and beside her, both Su ZhiYuan and Lu Zhe''s expressions darkened.


    The director felt their oppressive aura and couldn''t help but shudder.


    What was going on?


    Was Qin Shiyan trying to harm Su Ci?


    But that didn''t make sense - hadn''t Su Ci refused Qin Shiyan''s meat skewers? Qin Shiyan had just been quietly grilling the whole time.Aliali: 6754b6e1bd5e46c308a4c310


    Su Ci walked up to Qin Shiyan. Her eyes, visible above her mask, were ice-cold. "You put peanut powder in the cumin powder."


    Looking at Qin Shiyan, her tone was nearly venomous, "Why did you try to harm me?"


    Qin Shiyan was stunned by Su Ci''s usation and replied softly, "Ci Ci, there must be some misunderstanding. How could I possibly harm you?"


    Su Ci red at her coldly, "Because I ruined your career in the entertainment industry."


    Qin Shiyan''s breath caught, her fingernails nearly digging into her palms.


    "Besides my family, only you knew about my peanut allergy." Su Ci coughed a few times, then raised her hand and pped Qin Shiyan hard across the face. "You not only wanted to ruin my face but also wanted to take my life!"


    The sharp "p" made everyone present jump. Watching Su Ci''s overwhelming presence, they wished they could sink into the ground or turn invisible - the Su family''s daughter was terrifying.


    As the pain spread, a visible red handprint appeared on Qin Shiyan''s face. She touched her cheek in disbelief, "Su Ci!"


    "Does it hurt?" Su Ci looked at her coldly. "You deserve it."


    Qin Shiyan should never, ever have dared to threaten her stunning beauty!

 Chapter 58

    Qin Shiyan was furious. Why was Su Ci so arrogant? Was it just because she was born into the Su family?


    She covered her face, which had been struck, and could only swallow her anger, trying to reason with Su Ci, "Su Ci, catching thieves requires evidence. Without any evidence, you can''t nder me or even hit me. The Su family doesn''t rule everything."


    Hearing Qin Shiyan''s words and seeing her lower her stance, it seemed to everyone that Su Ci was indeed using her power to bully others.


    Thinking of the previous online feud between Su Ci and Qin Shiyan, it was possible that Su Ci was taking advantage of the situation.


    Su Ci had taken anti-allergy medication, but her throat was swollen, making her melodious voice a bit muffled, "Are you so confident that the Su family can''t find any evidence? Anything done will leave traces. Qin Shiyan, you can rey the footage from earlier. You only bypassed the cumin powder the first time you grilled the meat, deliberately brushing honey sauce on the skewers and then handing it to me."


    Su Ci smirked, "But every subsequent time you grilled, you conveniently added cumin powder. Because you knew there was peanut powder in the cumin, you wouldn''t tamper with the meat you personally handed to me."


    Qin Shiyan was taken aback, "You suspect me just because I didn''t add cumin powder to your meat?"


    She retorted with a wronged expression, "You have no evidence. These shots can''t prove anything."


    Su Ci''s dark eyes were full of coldness, "For me, it''s enough to prove that the one who plotted against me was you." She turned to her older brother and said, "Brother, call the police. Someone attempted to murder me."


    Qin Shiyan looked at Su Ci in astonishment, "Su Ci, you can''t nder me like this."


    "The doctor said I was fortunate to have eaten only a little. If I had consumed more peanut powder, I wouldn''t be standing here now but in the hospital being resuscitated," Su Ci said, looking at Qin Shiyan, "You should be very clear about the consequences of peanut allergy. Since you plotted against me, your goal was to take my life, wasn''t it?"


    "The one who plotted against you wasn''t me. You can''t take personal revenge," Qin Shiyan''s face was no longer calm andposed as it had been earlier.


    Su Ci''s tone was cold, "Whether it was you or not, the police will investigate. If it was indeed you, then you are guilty of attempted murder."


    Su ZhiYuan''s assistant called the police.


    The police arrived quickly, and no one else dared to speak.


    Qin Shiyan''s hands and feet turned cold, "Ci Ci, we grew up together. Even if you didn''t consider me a friend, my father saved your father and ended up with a crippled leg. Do you have to repay kindness with enmity?"


    Su Ci looked at Qin Shiyan''s resentful eyes and said coldly, "The one repaying kindness with enmity is you. Our family has already repaid your father''s kindness, and as a condition of the exchange, you were allowed to freely enter and leave the Su family since childhood. Moreover, everything you''ve gained in the entertainment industry was exchanged with the Su family''s reputation."


    If Qin Shiyan hadn''t provoked her, Su Ci wouldn''t have bothered with her.


    Everyone saw Qin Shiyan being taken away by the police, crying softly and looking wronged, while her agent and assistant were also taken away for investigation.


    This time, everyone finally saw the decisiveness of the Su family''s youngdy, showing no mercy.


    Su Ci, who still had rabbit ears on her head, didn''t stay in crowded ces for too long. After dealing with Qin Shiyan''s matter, she left with her older brother.


    Originally, Su Ci wanted to go with Lu Zhe, as her rabbit ears were out, and going home would easily expose her. But her older brother wasn''t at ease, so he insisted on sending her back.


    When they arrived at the Su family home, Su''s Mother already knew about her daughter''s incident. Seeing her daughter return wearing a hat and mask, she hurried forward, "Ci Ci, how are you?"


    "Mom, I''ve already taken the medicine. The doctor said I didn''t eat much peanut, so I''ll be fine soon," Su Ci pressed down her hat.


    "Let me see your face," Su''s Mother wasn''t reassured.


    "It''s too ugly, don''t look," Su Ci vigorously shook her head.


    Su''s Mother sighed, "Silly child, what''s the harm in letting your mother see? You''ll still be my precious even if you''re ugly."


    Su Ci still shook her head, "Mom, I want to go back to my room and rest."


    Concerned about her daughter''s fatigue, Su''s Mother said, "Alright, you go and rest well."


    After her daughter went upstairs, Su''s Mother asked her older son about the whole incident.


    After listening to Su ZhiYuan''s ount for a while, Su''s Mother said angrily, "We raised a white-eyed wolf in the Su family."


    Although gentle and kind-hearted, as a mother, she wouldn''t allow anyone to harm her child. "Tell the police to investigate thoroughly. If it was indeed Qin Shiyan, handle it ording to thew."


    Su ZhiYuan had no intention of showing mercy, "Alright."


    At that moment, the butler came in to report that Qin Zhiming, Qin Shiyan''s father, hade, "Madam, Qin Zhiming says he has something important to discuss with you and Sir."


    Su''s Mother''s beautiful face showed no trace of a smile, "Tell him to leave. Tell him that those who make mistakes must bear the consequences."


    The butler quickly responded, "Yes, Madam."


    The butler knew well that the youngdy was the Su family''s treasure. Whether it was Sir, Madam, or the young master, none of them would tolerate anyone harming the youngdy. Even though Qin Zhiming had saved Sir''s life, the rewards the Qin family had received from the Su family were more than enough to repay the favor.


    Moreover, Qin Shiyan had always seemed so clever and well-behaved. How could she have been so foolish as to plot against the youngdy?


    As the sky darkened, Su Ci didn''te down for dinner.


    The servant conveyed Su Ci''s words to Su''s Mother, "Madam, the youngdy says she won''te down for dinner and will eat in her room."


    Knowing that her daughter must be hiding her facial rash and didn''t want to see anyone, Su''s Mother had the kitchen prepare another meal and sent it upstairs to her daughter.


    Ji Chi didn''t need to work at the bar today. He had also heard about Su Ci''s allergy incident after returning from the milk tea shop.


    As he passed by Su Ci''s room, he happened to see the servant bringing her dinner. She opened the door from the inside.


    The girl wore a beige fisherman''s hat, its brim pulled low, revealing only the lower part of her nose.


    Her skin was too pale, and Ji Chi inadvertently nced at her, noticing that her cheeks were covered with red rashes.


    Su Ci took the servant''s meal and quickly closed the door, locking it.


    Su Ci took off her hat, and a pair of rabbit ears stood up. She sat in front of the vanity. Now, the swelling on her face had subsided, but there were still some red rashes, which would probably disappear by tomorrow.


    For Su Ci, who cherished her beauty, every minute of being ugly was too difficult to endure.


    At this moment, someone had already leaked today''s recording scene online, and the top three hot searches were all about this incident.


    "Qin Shiyan Plots to Harm the Su Family''s Young Lady."


    "Qin Shiyan Taken Away by the Police."


    "The Su Family''s Young Lady ps the Fake Young Lady in the Face."


    Netizens were thrilled to feast on the gossip.


    "Is it true? Qin Shiyan was taken away by the police?"


    "When Qin Shiyan was exposed as not being the Su family''s foster daughter, I thought she was very calcting. I didn''t expect her to be so vicious. It''s said she put something in the food to harm Su Ci during the recording."


    "Is that the popr actress who previously tried to im kinship with the Su family? Oh my, isn''t this attempted murder?"


    "I was a fan of Qin Shiyan before. I even attacked Su Ci, the new guest, for her. I really was blind to have idolized such a person."


    "Am I the only one who thinks this is a conspiracy? Could it be that Su Ci set up Qin Shiyan?"


    "Do you have evidence? Why nder Xiao Yan without evidence?"


    "Are you a brainwashed fan of Qin Shiyan? If Su Ci really wanted to deal with Qin Shiyan, she only needed to say a word to make Qin Shiyan unemployable in the entertainment industry. She doesn''t need to resort to tricks. Don''t underestimate the Su family''s power, okay?"


    "It''s said that Su Ci''s brother was also rmed and personally went to the recording site to investigate. Later, the police intervened, so there''s no fabrication or nder against Qin Shiyan."


    "Where are Qin Shiyan''s fans? Why aren''t they defending their idol now? Open your eyes and see what kind of artist she is. Trying to take someone''s life, and you still praise her for being kind? Spare kindness, please."


    "I was a staff member on the scene and witnessed everything today. Su Ci knew it was Qin Shiyan who plotted against her and pped her across the face. I don''t know why, but I found it very satisfying."


    "Qin Shiyan staged an ident iming to be the adopted daughter of the Su family, incited her fans to cyberbully Su Ci, and now schemed against Su Ci. I can only say that such an artist should be banned immediately, I don''t want to see her making money anymore."


    "Don''t worry, if the police find that Qin Shiyanmitted intentional murder, she will go to jail and won''t appear in the public eye again."


    ...


    Su Ci boredly scrolled throughizens''ments, many of whom were concerned about her health, leaving messages and even private messages on her ount.


    Seeing the manypliments fromizens, Su Ci''s depression finally eased.


    With the cooperation of the police and the Su family, it was quickly discovered that it was indeed Qin Shiyan who instructed her assistant to add peanut powder to the seasoning.


    Even Qin Shiyan''s father, Qin Zhiming, came to the Su family to plead for mercy, but was rejected by Su''s Mother. Qin Shiyan intended to harm her daughter; if it weren''t for the small amount she ate at the time, her life would have been in danger.


    Therefore, the Su family would not let Qin Shiyan off easily.


    Qin Shiyan, having attempted to kill and with the Su family''s involvement, would not have an easy time.


    ...


    Su Ci''s rash had cleared up, and the rabbit ears on her head had disappeared.


    Seeing her face return to its usual fair and smoothplexion, Su Ci was delighted and cherished her face even more.


    After her allergy was cured, Su Ci remembered that in three days, it would be the concert of the popr young idol Zheng Hao.


    If she remembered correctly, he should die on the day of the concert.


    Su Ci searched online and found that all the tickets had been sold out.


    She remembered that Zheng Hao was an artist from her family''spany.


    Su Ci directly called Su ZhiYuan.


    In thepany, an underling was reporting work to Su ZhiYuan.


    At that moment, Su ZhiYuan''s phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, his usually stern expression softened instantly, and his voice became gentle, "Little Ci."


    Su Ci got straight to the point, "Brother, I want tickets to Zheng Hao''s concert."


    "Who is Zheng Hao?" Su ZhiYuan frowned, clearly not familiar with the male artist.


    On the other end of the line, Su Ci said, "He''s an artist from Creation God Company. I want to go to his concert; are there any extra tickets?"


    "Yes," Su ZhiYuan didn''t know Zheng Hao, but it didn''t matter if his sister wanted tickets to the concert.


    Hearing her brother say there were tickets, Su Ci smiled, "I want two tickets for the concert."


    The other ticket was for Lu Zhe.


    Su ZhiYuan didn''t think much of it, "Alright."


    Even if his sister wanted to buy out the entire concert, it wouldn''t be a problem.


    Su Ci continued to make requests, "Brother, I want to see Zheng Hao, even just a nce will do."


    Su ZhiYuan waved his hand to signal his subordinate to leave. He swiveled in his office chair, wanting to advise his sister, "Little Ci, it''s not good to be a fan of celebrities."


    Su Ci knew her brother misunderstood, so she blinked and sweet-talked him, "Brother, don''t worry, you are my idol in my heart. I have business with Zheng Hao, not for fandom."


    Su ZhiYuan rarely heard such sweet words from his sister, so heughed, "I''ll arrange it for you."


    Su ZhiYuan''s efficiency was always high, especially when it came to matters he promised his sister.


    The next day, Su Ci saw Zheng Hao at Creation God Company. He was practicing dancing in the dance studio, preparing for the concert.


    Su Ci didn''t go in; she stood at the door and saw that Zheng Hao only had two days left on his life meter.


    Su Ci called out to Fu Gui, "How did Zheng Hao die?"


    Knowing that her master wanted to save someone, Fu Gui, excited for the chance to taste golden cotton candy again, answered in a small voice, "He fell off the stage and died."


    Su Ci wasn''t surprised, as she had already guessed.


    Whether it was due to a problem with the stage or Zheng Hao identally falling off, Su Ci couldn''t be sure yet.


    At night, Su Ci video-called Lu Zhe. Now that her face had returned to its original state, fair and wless, she didn''t hesitate to bring the camera close to her face. "Are you free the day after tomorrow? I want to go to a concert with you."


    Today, she received the concert tickets from her brother.


    Lu Zhe nodded, "Yes."


    He didn''t ask why the girl suddenly wanted to go to a concert.Aliali: 675808d88ac4f9fc8900ed42


    Su Ci''s eyes curved with joy. She happilyy down on the bed, her nightgown''s neckline a bit low, revealing arge expanse of fair skin. She didn''t notice.


    On the video call, Lu Zhe awkwardly looked away, "Tuan Tuan, sit up."


    Su Cizilyy on the bed, not wanting to move, "Why? My hand holding the phone is tired."


    Lu Zhe sighed, "Fix your neckline."


    Su Ci looked down and realized her neckline was too low, and her chest, pressed down, presented a tantalizing sight. It wasn''t much; she wore even less when swimming.


    She slowly sat up, "I''m sitting up now."


    Only then did Lu Zhe look at her.


    Su Ci was mischievous, deliberately teasing the boy, "Lu Zhe, are you satisfied with what you see?"


    Lu Zhe gave the girl a reproachful look, his ears turning red.


    He didn''t know how the Su family had raised this precious girl, so delicate and teasing.

 Chapter 59

    <h1>Chapter 59</h1>


    The concert was scheduled for the weekend.0


    Su Ci started getting ready early. Although her main purpose was to save someone, it was also like a date with Lu Zhe, so she absolutely wouldn''t allow herself to be careless and just wear anything out the door.0


    She changed into a white dress. It was sleeveless with pleated skirts, resembling a sporty dress that fell just to her knees. She wore white sneakers and tied her hair back in a ponytail with a light yellow ribbon.0


    Though she had an innocent appearance, Su Ci''s features were strikingly beautiful. The small beauty mark at the corner of her eye added a touch of allure, making her both pure and seductive.0


    Just as she came out of her room, she saw Ji Chi also emerging from his room, carrying a ck backpack and preparing to go out.0


    Su Ci instinctively nced at his wrist, seeing that Ji Chi''s life value only had one week remaining.0


    "It''s Sunday, are you still going to work part-time?" Su Ci actively asked Ji Chi.0


    Ji Chi nodded, "Yes."0


    Su Ci felt that in some ways, Ji Chi was indeed simr to Lu Zhe - they were both men of few words. "I heard from Mom that you work at a bubble tea shop during the day, what about at night?"0


    Meeting the girl''s clear, bright eyes, Ji Chi instinctively lowered his gaze and answered softly, "A bar."0


    He worked as a waiter at a bar at night, which wasn''t something to be ashamed of.0


    There was no disdain or judgment in Su Ci''s eyes as she said, "Bars can be quite chaotic sometimes. Be careful when you''re working, and if you run into any trouble, you can ask Uncle Li for help."0


    Uncle Li was the Su family''s butler and a long-time employee; people outside generally showed him respect.0


    Ji Chi looked at her with slight surprise and nodded in agreement.0


    Su''s Mother was arranging flowers in the living room when she saw Su Ci and Ji Chiing downstairs, both dressed to go out. "Ci Ci, are you and Little Chi going out together?"0


    Although it was already past four in the afternoon, the sun was still strong and the temperature was hot.0


    Su Ci smiled and told her mother, "I''m meeting a friend to go to a concert tonight."0


    Ji Chi also spoke up: "Auntie Su, I have the night shift today."0


    Su''s Mother realized she had misunderstood, "Alright,e back early." She worriedly reminded her daughter, "There will be lots of people at the concert, be careful."0


    "Don''t worry, Mom. Brother has sent plenty of bodyguards and staff to the concert venue, there won''t be any problems."0


    Only after Su Ci promised to take care of herself did her mother let her go.0


    Lu Zhe''s car was already waiting outside.0


    Watching the girle out of the Su residence with Ji Chi walking beside her - the girl beautiful and bright, the young man tall and handsome - they made an eye-catching pair.0


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened slightly.0


    He thought about the medical report from his hospital check-up today, and slowly withdrew his gaze, his hand hanging at his side feeling slightly numb.0


    "Have you been waiting long?" Su Ci opened the car door and sat inside, finally escaping the heat.0


    The August weather was still scorching; just walking outside for a moment made one sweat.0


    Lu Zhe''s skin was cool, and Su Ci sat close to him, pressing against his arm.0


    Feeling the girl''s warmth, Lu Zhe regained sensation in his fingertips. He inserted a straw into a ss of lemon water and handed it to her, "Not long."0


    Su Ci took a sip, the ice-cold drink making her feel much better.0


    She looked at the white bandage still wrapped around Lu Zhe''s hand, feeling somewhat distressed, "Did you change your bandage today?"0


    "Yes, I did." Lu Zhe naturally took the drink from the girl''s hands and ced it in the armrest holder beside them.0


    Su Ci ced her hand on Lu Zhe''s bandaged hand, gently hooking her fingers with his.0


    Her brother''s arm injury was no longer serious, but Lu Zhe''s wound was too deep and would take at least another month to healpletely.0


    "When your hand is better, I''ll go with you to have the bandages removed," Su Ci said with a smile.0


    Lu Zhe took her restless little hand in his other palm, "Mm."0


    The concert was scheduled to start at 7:30 PM.0


    Since they had left early, Su Ci and Lu Zhe had dinner before heading to the venue.0


    When they arrived at the concert entrance, it was already packed with people. Fans were holding light sticks and support lights while waiting to enter, and some who hadn''t managed to get tickets were haggling with scalpers.0


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe used the VIP entrance, where a manager was already waiting to receive them, having been informed of her arrival.0


    "Miss Su." The manager had received a call from his superiors about the Su family''s princessing, so he had been waiting early.0


    Now seeing Su Ci in person, the manager couldn''t help but marvel at the Su family''s good looks.0


    "Miss Su, you can enter now," the manager respectfully led the way.0


    Su Ci held Lu Zhe''s hand as they walked inside. The manager noticed their joined hands but didn''t dare to look too long or say anything.0


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe''s seats were arranged in the front-center VIP section, which had the best view and optimal stage effects.0


    Su Ci had already had people thoroughly check the stage multiple times.0


    "Is Zheng Hao backstage? I''d like to meet him," Su Ci turned to Lu Zhe and said, "Wait here for me, I''ll be back soon."0


    Now that the stage had been confirmed safe, she needed to check Zheng Hao''s life value.0


    Lu Zhe knew this concert was for the male artist Zheng Hao that Su Ci had mentioned, though he wasn''t sure when she had be a fan.0


    He didn''t say anything, just watched as the girl followed the manager backstage.0


    Backstage was chaos, full of backup dancers and performers busy with makeup and costume changes.0


    The manager protected Su Ci as they made their way through, preventing others from bumping into her. "Miss Su, Zheng Hao''s dressing room is inside. He should be doing his makeup."0


    At the door, the manager knocked.0


    When he opened it, they immediately heard arguing voices from inside.0


    Zheng Hao was leaning back in his chair, raising an eyebrow at his agent, "I don''t agree. This is my concert and I''m in charge. I don''t need others telling me how to perform."0


    The agent was getting a headache, "Didn''t we agree during yesterday''s rehearsal? The effect was good, and the safety wire is for your protection."0


    Zheng Hao pushed away the makeup artist''s hand trying to touch up his makeup, insisting, "I refuse. The wire doesn''t achieve the stunning effect I want. Brother Qi, I haven''t made any mistakes during all this time rehearsing. You should have more faith in your artist."0


    "Zheng Hao, this is thepany''s order," the agent said with difficulty.0


    He certainly had faith in Zheng Hao and knew he hadn''t made any mistakes during rehearsals. However, for Zheng Hao''s safety, thepany had mandated that he use safety wires for such dangerous performances.0


    Zheng Hao shrugged, "It doesn''t matter. During the concert, I''m in charge. I''ll exin to thepany afterward."0


    Zheng Hao knew thepany meant well, but he was a perfectionist. He wanted his first concert to amaze and satisfy his fans.0


    At this moment, the dressing room door opened.0


    Zheng Hao and others in the room looked over to see the manager standing at the door with a stunningly beautiful girl beside him.0


    The girl''s beautiful fair face wore a somewhat cold expression.0


    The agent quicklyposed himself and said to the manager, "Zheng Hao is doing makeup, photos will have to wait untilter."0


    The agent was used to seeing wealthy young fans with connections, but he hadn''t expected the Su family''s daughter toe.0


    Su Ci''s gaze fell on Zheng Hao''s wrist, seeing that his life value only had one hour left. Clearly, the stage wasn''t the problem - something would happen during the performance.0


    She knew Zheng Hao''s concert program and was aware that one of his performances involved doing a backflip on a rising tform. Such a difficult move in such a dangerous ce was obviously going to be the cause of the incident.0


    That''s why she had her brother order that Zheng Hao must use safety wires during this performance to ensure his safety.0


    Su Ci spoke directly to Zheng Hao: "You must use safety wires when performing the backflip."0


    Zheng Hao had seen Su Ci once on a TV show. Her face was unforgettable after just one look, and the Su family''s daughter had been trending frequently these past two days.0


    Zheng Hao had changed into his performance outfit - a loose ck sweater with shimmering gold threads, the neckline plunging low enough to reveal hints of his muscr chest. He wore ck leather pants paired with ck boots, looking both sexy and handsome.0


    His bangs were styled back, fully revealing his handsome face. The eyeliner he wore made him look sensual and alluring.0


    There was a reason why Zheng Hao was so popr.0


    He raised an eyebrow at Su Ci, with a slightly roguish smile ying on his lips. "Miss Su, are you worried about me?"0


    Su Ci ignored his flirtatious nce. "You need to follow thepany''s arrangements."0


    Zheng Hao''s lips twitched. "Everything during the concert is my decision."0


    Su Ci frowned. If it weren''t for needing to collect golden cotton candy for Lu Zhe, she wouldn''t even bother with someone as stubborn as Zheng Hao.0


    "You might be confident in yourself, but thepany needs one hundred percent safety. If anything happens to you during the concert, thepany will be affected by your willfulness," Su Ci threatened directly. "You''re now Creation God''s artist, so you must follow thepany''s arrangements, unless you want to be shelved."0


    After speaking, Su Ci left without looking at him again.0


    The manager patted the agent''s shoulder and followed her out.0


    Zheng Hao stood up and kicked the chair violently.0


    The agent looked at his rebellious demeanor. "You heard what Miss Su said. She''s the Su family''s treasure, even the CEO listens to her. You can''t act recklessly."0


    Zheng Hao irritably ran his fingers through his hair, causing some bangs to fall forward, making his handsome face look even more dashingly unruly. "I''m not even worried about idents happening to me, but this Su Ci is using thepany to pressure me. So annoying."0


    Hearing Zheng Hao''s words, the agent deeply felt that this young master needed another, more formidable young master to keep him in check.0


    Su Ci walked out angrily.0


    She wasn''t sure if Zheng Hao had taken her words seriously or if he would be swayed by her threats.0


    "Have medical personnel been arranged to be on site?" Su Ci asked the manager.0


    The manager quickly responded, "Please rest assured, Miss Su. The medical personnel are already on site, ready at any moment."0


    The manager felt that thepany was taking Zheng Hao''s concert very seriously. Not only had they assigned many staff members to handle the concert, but they had also repeatedly checked the stage multiple times to ensure its safety.0


    They had even specially invited a medical team to be present on-site, so if any idents urred during the concert, immediate treatment would be avable.0


    Su Ci let out a breath of relief.0


    She had done everything she could. If Zheng Hao insisted on being stubborn and any idents urred, hopefully, the medical personnel could save him immediately.0


    Su Ci walked towards the VIP seats.0


    The other audience members hadn''t entered yet, and the stage was still testing the lighting. The surrounding lights weren''t on, and she saw Lu Zhe sitting in his original position, his figure seeming to merge with the darkness, carrying an indescribable loneliness.0


    Su Ci pressed her lips together and quickened her pace towards him.0


    She sat down next to Lu Zhe, leaned close, and directly kissed his cold lips.0


    "Darling." Lu Zhe nced around at the many staff members near the stage.0


    Su Ci felt the coldness leave the young man''s body, and she became happy.0


    Blinking her eyes, Su Ci''s eye corners curved up as she deliberately asked in surprise, "What''s wrong? Don''t you like me kissing you?"0


    Lu Zhe: ......0


    He reached out to pinch the girl''s cheek, his dark eyes filled with both helplessness and indulgence. In the dim light, he said softly, "I like it."0


    Su Ciughed joyfully, her beautiful eyes full of smugness.0


    She knew it - being such a beautiful and cute little enchantress with sweet lips, how could Lu Zhe not like her kisses?0


    At seven o''clock, the audience members started entering gradually.0


    The regr seats were separated from the front VIP seats by some distance, ensuringfort in the VIP area.0


    Soon, the audience seats were filled with fans.0


    When the concert began, the fans'' deafening cheers erupted.0


    "Zheng Hao, Zheng Hao, Zheng Hao......"0


    The calls grew even more excited when Zheng Hao appeared, and Su Ci even heard someone''s voice crack from behind.0


    Su Ci had always been someone else''s idol before; this was her first time experiencing fan culture as an observer.0


    "Do you have any favorite idols?" Su Ci asked Lu Zhe beside her.0


    Lu Zhe: "No."0


    Su Ci had already guessed the answer. She would have been surprised if Lu Zhe had said yes.0


    Zheng Hao was excellent at both singing and dancing, and the atmosphere quickly became energetic.0


    Amidst the fans'' excited screams, Su Ci was counting the time - Zheng Hao''s life value had only half an hour left.0


    From her front position and the close-ups on the big screen, Su Ci barely managed to see the life value on Zheng Hao''s wrist when he raised his hand - it was still a thin red line.0


    She felt somewhat nervous.0


    Even though she didn''t care about Zheng Hao personally, this was still a human life, and she didn''t want to witness its loss.0


    Twenty minutes left.0


    Zheng Hao was giving it his all on stage, and the fans'' screams grew more excited.0


    Su Ci''s attention waspletely focused on Zheng Hao''s wrist.0


    At this moment, she identally noticed across the stage that a group of people were escorting someone in, and the person in the middle was too eye-catching to ignore.0


    "Brother?" Su Ci gasped softly.0


    Lu Zhe followed her gaze.0


    It was indeed Su ZhiYuan.0


    "Why did big brothere?" Su Ci shrank against Lu Zhe''s side, trying to hide herself as much as possible, thankful for the dim lighting around the stage.0


    She had told her brother she wasing with friends, but now that she was sitting with Lu Zhe, it was obviously impossible to hide.0


    Su Ci suddenly felt the embarrassment of two schoolchildren caught by their parents while ying hooky.0


    Several seats in the middle of the VIP section were upied, and Su ZhiYuan sat down several seats away from Su Ci.0


    Su Ci let out half a breath of relief, unsure whether her brother had seen her and Lu Zhe.0


    She buried her head in Lu Zhe''s chest. "My brother didn''t see me, right?"0


    The girl''s cowardly behavior made Lu Zheugh. "Probably not. Your brother seems to havee with friends."0


    Su Ci secretly peeked out, looking in that direction. Indeed, there was a woman sitting next to her brother, seemingly talking to him about something.0


    Su Ci finally rxed. With a friend present, her brother probably wouldn''t have time to pay attention to her.0


    Su Ci nned to quietly leave with Lu Zhe after watching the changes in Zheng Hao''s life value for these twenty minutes.0


    Next, Su Ci tried to keep herself hidden behind Lu Zhe while anxiously waiting for Zheng Hao''s backflip performance.0


    Doing a backflip on t ground was already impressive, but Zheng Hao was attempting to perform a backflip on a three-meter-high lifting tform. The fans were excitedly chanting his name continuously.0


    In the audience stands, Zheng Hao''s support colors filled the space, like stars scattered across the night sky.0


    Su Ci checked the time on her phone.0


    Five minutes left.0


    At this moment, Zheng Hao came out in his performance outfit - this time wearing a deep purple silk shirt with a loose hem hanging out, and several strands of his hair sprayed with deep purple hair dye, making him look like a purple demon.0


    "Nervous?" Lu Zhe felt the girl''s hand tightly gripping his palm.0


    Unlike other fans'' excited state during the concert, Lu Zhe noticed that Su Ci showed no excitement or joy, but rather seemed nervous.0


    Why was she nervous?0


    Su Ci''s eyes were focused intently on the stage, where Zheng Hao stood on the lifting tform. Dry ice created a fog effect as the tform slowly rose.0


    Seeing the steel wire behind him, Su Ci''s red lips curved up, her delicate features finally rxing. She smiled and told Lu Zhe, "After the concert, I''ll have something nice for you."0


    Lu Zhe turned his head to look at her, seeing the girl''s eyes sparkling brightly, as if something had suddenly made her happy.0


    On stage, the lifting tform stopped at its designated height. As Zheng Hao''s song neared its end, he began his backflip for the finale.0


    Just as Zheng Hao flipped backward, at the moment ofnding, his foot slipped, with one footnding outside the lifting tform, and his entire body began to fall.0


    The fans stared in horror, screaming, "Zheng Hao, be careful......"0


    In the next instant, just as Zheng Hao''s body was about to hit the ground, he was caught by the steel wire attached to him, leaving him suspended half a meter above the ground before slowly being lowered.0


    As he touched down, dry ice vapor rose from the stage while purple petals scattered through the air.0


    This beautiful scene caused fans to gasp in surprise before erupting in joy.0


    Zheng Haoy on the stage, his chest heaving violently, his heart feeling as if it would burst from his chest from fright.0


    He closed his eyes briefly, then stood up amid the fans'' cheers and took a deep bow toward the audience.0


    Only he knew how close he hade to death.0


    His manager had been watching Zheng Hao''s performance from offstage. When Zheng Hao had slipped, the manager nearly jumped up in terror - a fall from a three-meter-high lifting tform could have been unthinkable.0


    The manager patted his chest in lingering fear, his pale face taking a while to regain its color.0


    He realized that if Su Ci hadn''t appeared in the dressing room earlier and insisted on using the steel wire, Zheng Hao would likely be lying on the stage now, being rushed to emergency care.0


    This Su Ci was truly remarkable - they were incredibly fortunate that she had helped Zheng Hao avoid disaster.0


    The venue was filled with fans'' cheers.0


    While Zheng Hao, his manager, and the fans all breathed sighs of relief, only Su Ci stared at Zheng Hao on stage in disbelief.0


    Her gaze fell on Zheng Hao''s wrist, where on therge screen, his life value remained a thin red line.0


    Su Ci quickly pulled out her phone and checked the time on the screen - she hadn''t gotten the timing wrong, Zheng Hao''s danger should have passed.0


    Everything that had just happened had indeed prevented Zheng Hao''s death.0


    Su Ci''s brows furrowed deeply.0


    Why was Zheng Hao''s life value still showing as a thin red line?0


    In the past, whenever she saved someone, their life value would change immediately. This was the first time Su Ci had encountered such a situation - where someone she had saved still showed a red line for their life value.0


    Su Ci watched Zheng Hao, wondering if he was destined to die after all.

 Chapter 60: 060

    <h1>Chapter 60</h1>


    Even if things go wrong, Zheng Hao''s concert must go on, and the fans'' cheers and apuse continue to echo.0


    Su Ci watched as the red line indicating Zheng Hao''s life still appeared on his wrist. She couldn''t understand why the danger had passed, yet he was still in mortal peril.0


    She summoned Fu Gui. "The life-threatening danger for Zheng Hao should be over, but why is his life still showing a red line?"0


    Fu Gui''s voice, usually calm, was unusually excited. **Master, you still need to save him; he''s still in danger.**0


    Su Ci frowned. "So, he''s still going to die?"0


    Fu Gui responded: **He''s going to have a car ident.**0


    Su Ci was speechless. So, even if Zheng Hao survived the concert, he was still going to die after the show.0


    She really didn''t know how toment on that.0


    Fu Gui sensed that its master wasn''t too happy, so it quickly added: **Master, if Zheng Hao dies twice and you save him, you''ll get two golden cotton candies!**0


    Fu Gui''s tone was filled with excitement. If its master got the golden cotton candies, one for itself and one for Lu Zhe¡ªperfect.0


    Su Ci was surprised. "Two?"0


    Fu Gui replied: **Yes!**0


    Just a moment ago, Su Ci was still annoyed by Zheng Hao being a troublemaker. But after hearing Fu Gui''s words, her gaze toward Zheng Hao on stagepletely changed. She liked the idea of getting something in return for her efforts. Saving him once and getting a golden cotton candy seemed fair.0


    Lu Zhe, who had little interest in the performance above, often kept his gaze on Su Ci. Seeing the girl''s expression change constantly, he was a bit puzzled. "What happened?"0


    The stage lights reflected on Su Ci''s face, and her eyes sparkled. "I suddenly found something good."0


    Lu Zhe chuckled. "What''s that?"0


    Su Ci turned to look at him, her mischievous little eyes gleaming. "I''ll tell you after the concert."0


    The concertsted two and a half hours. Before it even ended, Su ZhiYuan got up and left, and the female friend sitting beside him followed suit.0


    Su Ci, seeing her brother leave surrounded by people, finally straightened up. Hopefully, he hadn''t seen her.0


    As the concert was nearing its end, Su Ci took Lu Zhe''s hand and stood up, heading toward the backstage.0


    The manager was very respectful. "Miss Su, are you leaving?"0


    There was a backstage passage leading to the parking lot. Su Ci thought for a moment and instructed the manager, "My car is in the parking lot. After the concert, have Zheng Hao get in my car."0


    "Miss Su, there are many reporters outside. I''m afraid..." The manager hesitated.0


    Su Ci insisted. "It''s fine. Do as I say. I''ll take Zheng Hao away."0


    The manager, who dared not disobey the youngdy of the Su family, quickly agreed.0


    The concert ended with the fans'' cheers and apuse.0


    Zheng Hao returned to the backstage,pletely exhausted, and slumped onto the couch in the makeup room, his mind nk.0


    He was still wearing his performance outfit, his face still made up, too tired to move.0


    At that moment, his agent, Li Qi, came to inform him to go out for a group photo.0


    Zheng Hao, forced to continue working, went through the group photo session. Afterward, the manager found him and his agent.0


    The manager ryed Su Ci''s instructions. "There are too many fans outside. When you leave, Zheng Hao, you''ll take a different car. Miss Su has arranged it, and it''s already waiting in the parking lot. Li Qi, you take the assistants and leave in the van. We''ll take care of sending Zheng Hao back."0


    Zheng Hao was a bit confused. "Su Ci is sending me back?"0


    The agent was also surprised. "Miss Su?"0


    If it weren''t for Su Ci''s strong insistence that Zheng Hao take precautions, he might have fallen from the lift tform during the concert. Not only would the concert have been ruined, but Zheng Hao would have been in serious danger.0


    Hearing Su Ci''s name now, both Zheng Hao and his agent felt a deep sense of gratitude toward her.0


    Especially Zheng Hao. Before the incident, he had resented Su Ci''s meddling. But when he was on stage, lying there after the ident, hearing the fans'' screams, the only thing that came to his mind was Su Ci''smand to use a safety wire.0


    No one knew better than him the feeling of brushing against death in that moment.0


    Hey there, his limbs numb, his mind filled with gratitude toward Su Ci.0


    She had saved his life.0


    Now, hearing that Su Ci had arranged for him to take her car, he was surprised but not opposed.0


    Zheng Hao agreed.0


    After the manager left, Zheng Hao returned to the makeup room.0


    "Are you really going to get in Su Ci''s car?" Li Qi followed him in and closed the door behind him. "There are reporters everywhere. If they catch you getting into her car, do you know what that means?"0


    "I''ll be careful," Zheng Hao said, leaning tiredly against the couch. "I owe her my life. At least I should thank her in person."0


    Li Qi nodded. "You should indeed thank Miss Su. If it weren''t for her strong insistence that you take safety measures, I can''t imagine what would have happened if you had fallen from the three-meter-high lift tform."0


    "But you can thank her at another time. Your fans are still waiting outside." Li Qi didn''t agree.0


    Zheng Hao was silent for a moment. "Li Qi, didn''t you tell me that we can''t disobey Miss Su?"0


    Li Qi was momentarily speechless, then red at him.0


    "Have someone buy some milk tea and snacks for them. Tell them to go home and be careful on the road," Zheng Hao said, heading to the makeup table to start removing his makeup.0


    "I know how to handle it," Li Qi said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "But this Miss Su came to your concert, was worried about your ident, insisted on safety measures, and now, after the concert, she''s arranged for you to leave in her car. Do you think she might be..."0


    Zheng Hao paused while removing his makeup. He raised an eyebrow and looked at Li Qi in the mirror. "Li Qi, what are you trying to say?"0


    Li Qi smiled. "Miss Su isn''t just your fan; she likes you, doesn''t she? Otherwise, why would she care so much about you?"0


    There were many girls who liked Zheng Hao, and arge crowd of them were waiting outside the door. Su Ci, with her noble background, was still just a young girl. It was normal for her to like Zheng Hao.0


    Zheng Hao''s heart skipped a beat. If it were any other girl, he would have justughed it off. But hearing Li Qi''s words now, he felt an inexplicable sense of anticipation.0


    Li Qi, who had been with Zheng Hao for a long time, saw the expression on his face and knew what he was thinking.0


    Li Qi had to remind Zheng Hao, "You need to think carefully. Miss Sues from a prestigious family, and your career is just taking off. You should know what kind of fatal blow a rtionship would be for an idol."0


    Zheng Hao wiped the eyeliner from his eyes. "Li Qi, you''re overthinking."0


    After Li Qi left, Zheng Hao had already removed his makeup. He changed out of his performance clothes, wearing a ck hoodie and jeans, looking clean and refreshing, like a boy just out of school. He slung a ck backpack over his shoulder.0


    He put on a mask and a ck fisherman''s hat, then left the makeup room.0


    "Be careful not to get caught by the reporters," Li Qi reminded Zheng Hao again. "I won''t escort you over; I don''t want to be recognized."0


    Zheng Hao pulled his hat lower. "Mm."0


    He went through the backstage passage to the parking lot.0


    Zheng Hao spotted the ck car the manager had mentioned at a nce. He checked the license te and walked over.0


    Regarding Su Ci, apart from the initial "amazement" when they first met, he also felt a deep sense of gratitude toward her. Now that she had suddenly offered to take him home, he couldn''t help but think more about it.0


    Other fans, he could easily refuse, but Su Ci had saved his life and was beautiful. It was hard to deny that such a girl was hard to resist.0


    Zheng Hao was caught in a dilemma.0


    In the car, Su Ci and Lu Zhe were already waiting for Zheng Hao toe out.0


    Bored of waiting, Su Ci began ying with Lu Zhe''s fingers.0


    The boy''s hands wererge, with distinct knuckles, and though there were some calluses, they didn''t detract from the hands'' slender beauty.0


    Su Ci pinched and rubbed Lu Zhe''s fingers from time to time, counting the time.0


    When Zheng Hao was on stage, she only saw the red line on his wrist but didn''t see the countdown. But Fu Gui had told her there was only an hour left.0


    From the end of the concert to now, she and Lu Zhe had been waiting for nearly forty minutes.0


    That meant Zheng Hao''s life was down to just twenty minutes.0


    Su Ci was getting impatient. As she was about to call the person in charge again, her gaze inadvertently caught sight of a tall figure walking towards them outside the car.0


    Su Ci lowered the car window and confirmed it was Zheng Hao. "Over here."0


    Seeing the girl''s face in the car window, Zheng Hao''s gaze lingered for a moment as he quickened his pace.0


    There was an inexplicable feeling of joy stirring in his heart.0


    Zheng Hao pulled his cap lower, nced around to ensure there were no cameras, and walked to the other side of the car, opening the door.0


    Just as he was about to sit down, his expression froze beneath his mask.0


    The smile in his eyes halted as Zheng Hao stared in bewilderment at the handsome young man inside the car.0


    Su Ci poked her head out from beside Lu Zhe, "Get in."0


    Lu Zhe gave Zheng Hao a cool nce.0


    Zheng Hao quickly regained hisposure and sat down.0


    As the door closed, an awkward atmosphere seemed to fill the car.0


    "Miss Su." Zheng Hao quickly collected his thoughts and removed his mask.0


    Su Ci nced at Zheng Hao''s hand holding the mask, noticing that his life value showing beneath his sleeve had only 18 minutes remaining.0


    Su Ci looked away and smiled at Zheng Hao, "Congrattions on sessfullypleting your concert."0


    There was aplex look in Zheng Hao''s eyes. Su Ci wasn''t quite what he and his manager had imagined. He pushed aside his scattered thoughts and replied with sincere gratitude, "I should thank you for the concert''s sess."0


    "If you hadn''t insisted on using safety wires for my backflip, I probably would have fallen from the lifting tform when that mistake happened," Zheng Hao was willful but not ungrateful. "You saved my life."0


    Su Ci didn''t act modest - she had indeed saved Zheng Hao, though not just once, but twice.0


    She epted his gratitude, "I hope you won''t be so stubborn in the future. Pursuing perfection is good, but safety shoulde first. I might be able to save you once or twice, but there''s no guarantee I can save you a third time."0


    Zheng Hao agreed, truly frightened by that moment of error.0


    Though he hadn''t suffered any consequences, he had learned his lesson.0


    Listening to their conversation, Lu Zhe realized that Su Ci had saved Zheng Hao''s life.0


    Lu Zhe unconsciously nced at Su Ci. After so many instances, he had noticed that she had saved quite a few people.0


    Little Joy, that femalepany employee, an elderly grandmother, a high school girl, her brother, Li Chen Yu, and now Zheng Hao - these were just the ones he knew about. There might be many more he didn''t know of.0


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved into a slight smile; his darling had such a pure and kind heart.0


    ...0


    After Zheng Hao left, his manager and several assistants exited through the main entrance, with one of them dressed to look like Zheng Hao.0


    "Zheng Hao!"0


    "Ahh, Zheng Hao!"0


    "Zheng Hao, your performance today was amazing!"0


    "Zheng Hao, keep going, I''ll always support you!"0


    "Hao Hao, make sure to rest well!"0


    ...0


    The fans who hadn''t left yet rushed forward frantically.0


    Security guards protected Zheng Hao''s double as he got into the car.0


    The manager waved to the fans, "Zheng Hao needs to rest now. Thank you all foring tonight. Everyone should go home and rest well - it''ste, and it''s not safe to return toote."0


    The manager got into the car.0


    "Hao Hao, this is a gift for you!"0


    "Zheng Hao, I''ll always support you!"0


    "Zheng Hao, you were so handsome tonight!"0


    "Hao Hao..."0


    Manager: "Everyone should go home now, stop taking photos. Watch your hands, I''m closing the door."0


    The manager closed the door, shutting out the fans'' mor.0


    "Old Wu, let''s go," the manager signaled the driver to start driving.0


    The car started moving, with fans still banging on the doors, seemingly wanting to stick to the car.0


    Old Wu looked in the rearview mirror and unconsciously shook his head - nowadays, young fans were more fanatical than anyone when it came to following celebrities.0


    The car started moving, with some fans even running after it until they were finally left behind as the car drove away.0


    The double removed his mask and cap, finally breathing a sigh of relief. He had been worried that a fan might reach over and pull off his mask.0


    The manager, clearly used to such scenes, smiled at the two assistants, "You all worked hard today. Zheng Hao has no schedule tomorrow, so everyone can have a good rest."0


    At this moment, Old Wu in the driver''s seat nced in the rearview mirror, "Brother Qi, there''s a car following us."0


    Li Qi turned around and looked out the window, confirming that a ck car was indeed following them, and quite closely.0


    The manager looked back, "Old Wu, shake them off."0


    One of the assistants spoke up, "Brother Qi, they don''t seem like paparazzi."0


    Following this closely wasn''t typical of reporters.0


    The manager frowned, "Must be sasaeng fans."0


    Old Wu began to speed up, but the car beside them elerated too. Old Wu turned, and the other car followed, sticking to them like glue.0


    Meanwhile, in Su Ci''s car.0


    She had already instructed the driver to drive slowly, emphasizing safety first.0


    The ck car moved steadily through the night.0


    Su Ci kept watching the time, counting down.0


    Three minutes.0


    Two minutes.0


    One minute.0


    Su Ci pressed her lips together, watching as the time changed from thirty seconds to a countdown of ten seconds, five seconds. Her gaze moved past Lu Zhe to Zheng Hao''s hand ying with his phone, where she saw his life value on his wrist change from a red line to six yellow squares.0


    It worked.0


    Receiving two golden cotton candies at once, Su Ci couldn''t help but smile, her eyes curving with joy.0


    Zheng Hao seemed to sense something and looked up at Su Ci, seeing her smiling at him. Even in the car''s dim light, she was beautiful and captivating.0


    Zheng Hao''s heart suddenly began to race.0


    He had to admit, Su Ci''s beauty was unmatched even in the entertainment industry.0


    Lu Zhe''s body shifted, blocking Zheng Hao''s view. He looked down, his dark eyes gazing intently at Su Ci as hisrge hand stroked her head, "Do you want some water?"0


    Su Ci licked her slightly dry lips. She had been tense since the concert and hadn''t drunk water for a while. She was indeed thirsty, so she nodded.0


    Lu Zhe unscrewed the mineral water bottle. Instead of handing it to her as usual, he brought the bottle directly to her lips.0


    Su Ci took small sips from the bottle he held.0


    Their intimate interaction made Zheng Hao look away. He could tell that Su Ci and this young man had a special rtionship.0


    His and his manager''s previous assumptions about Su Ci had been mere fantasy.0


    Zheng Hao felt a bit ufortable, and at that moment, his phone rang.0


    It was one of his assistants calling.0


    Zheng Hao answered the phone.0


    He heard a chaotic noise, "Hello? Why are you calling?"0


    After a while, the assistant''s voice finally came through, weak and tearful with urgency, "Brother Hao, we''ve had a car ident. Brother Qi and the driver are seriously injured. The paramedics have arrived and are taking them for emergency treatment."0


    The assistant helplessly said, "Brother Hao, pleasee quickly."0


    Hearing the assistant''s words, Zheng Hao sat up straight in shock, his eyes full of disbelief, "Which hospital are you at?"0


    The assistant told him the hospital name.0


    Su Ci had already guessed what happened from Zheng Hao''s words.0


    She hadn''t expected that while Zheng Hao had escaped disaster, the ident still urred. However, she hadn''t noticed anyone with a red life value backstage today.0


    After hanging up, Zheng Hao looked at Su Ci, "My manager and assistants have been in an ident. Could you take me to the hospital?"0


    "Alright," Su Ci agreed.0


    She had seen the life values of Zheng Hao''s manager and assistants; she remembered they were all yellow squares.0


    They wouldn''t be in life-threatening danger.0


    Zheng Hao looked gratefully at Su Ci, "Thank you."0


    Su Ci had saved his life again. If he hadn''t gotten into her car, would he have been among those lying in the hospital now?0


    The car stopped at the hospital entrance.0


    Zheng Hao put on his mask and cap, "I''m here, thank you both."0


    Zheng Hao gave Su Ci onest meaningful look. She had saved him twice today.0


    Su Ci was truly his guardian angel.0


    Su Ci nodded, "Be careful."0


    Su Ci had already called her brother to inform him about the manager''s ident. Since they were employees of her family''spany, they would naturally send people to help.0


    Then, the car drove to the Su family''s home.0


    "Come down with me," Su Ci held Lu Zhe''s hand.0


    Lu Zhe followed her out of the car, "What is it?"0


    "I have something nice for you." Mindful of the driver and security guard nearby, Su Ci led Lu Zhe by the hand towards the iron gate.0


    "Tuantuan," Lu Zhe stopped, "Your family is all home, it''ste. You should go rest."0


    Every time she said she had something nice for him, he knew she wanted to kiss him.0


    It was already veryte, not really the best time.0


    He bent down and gave her a quick kiss on her small lips, "I''ll watch you go in."0


    Su Ci licked her lips and shook her head, "Not like that."0


    She wanted to give him the golden cotton candy.0


    Her enchanting gaze fixed on him, "Come with me, just for a moment." She held onto his hand, refusing to let go.0


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes fell on her porcin-white fingers, his heart softening as he followed her inside.0


    Su Ci had already coerced the security guard to pretend he saw nothing.0


    Once again, the guard yed dead, allowing his young mistress to openly lead the young man inside by the hand.0


    The lights were on in the vi, making it bright when viewed from outside.0


    Su Ci knew her parents and even her older brother were home. She didn''t dare take Lu Zhe to the backyard, having been caught there once by her brother.0


    There was an artificial mountain in the front yard, with bamboo nted beside it.0


    Su Ci pulled Lu Zhe towards the artificial mountain and ducked behind it.0


    "Isn''t this like having a secret affair?" Su Ci stood face to face with Lu Zhe, mischief dancing in her eyes.0


    Lu Zhe sighed, wondering how he''d gotten caught up in her yfulness.0


    The young man''s eyes deepened as he asked, "Don''t you find this troublesome?"0


    Being with him meant always hiding and sneaking around - wouldn''t she feel wronged?0


    Su Ci shook her head, "I don''t. Are you finding it troublesome?"0


    She red at him fiercely, looking ready to bite him if he dared say yes.0


    Lu Zhe reached out to pinch her cheek, "No."0


    He was just worried about making things difficult for her.0


    Su Ci finally smiled, cing both hands on his shoulders and offering her beautiful red lips to Lu Zhe.0


    She blinked, herughter melodious, "Kiss me properly, no half-hearted attempts."0


    In the moonlight, she looked like an alluring little sprite.0


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved up, his expression indulgent, "Mm."0


    The space behind the artificial mountain was small, barely enough for two people.0


    Su Ci pressed close to Lu Zhe, and during their kiss, she passed a golden cotton candy to him.0


    She had gotten two pieces of cotton candy this time - one for Lu Zhe and one for Fu Gui, since Fu Gui could only see causes of death within three days now, which was too troublesome. She needed to help it level up.0


    As the golden cotton candy dissolved between Lu Zhe''s lips, Su Ci''s eyes curved into crescents as she yfully touched her tongue to his, teasing him.0


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened.0


    He ced one hand on the back of her head, pulling her closer.0


    Su Ci''s back pressed against the artificial mountain, the stones digging ufortably into her. After a while, she grew ufortable and pressed herself closer to Lu Zhe.0


    "Tuantuan."0


    Lu Zhe pulled back slightly, his dark eyes now like pools of ink. His bandaged hand gripped her waist as he spoke through gritted teeth, "Don''t move around."0


    Su Ci couldn''t bear even a bit of difort. Her dark eyes immediately used him, "You''re pressing me against the rocks, my back hurts."0


    Lu Zhe froze, "I''m sorry."0


    He took a breath and switched positions with her, letting his back rest against the mountain instead.0


    Su Ci smiled again, transforming back into a bewitching little sprite as she rose on her tiptoes to kiss him again.0


    Lu Zhe''s hand tightened on the back of her head, his fingers identally catching the yellow ribbon in her ponytail.0


    The ribbon came loose.0


    As the girl''s silky hair fell down, Lu Zhe''s heart began to race in his chest, his fingers tingling.0


    This tingling was different from when he was ill - it was like a small current flowing from his fingertips throughout his body, bringing an indescribablefort.0


    Lu Zhe kissed her deeply a few more times before releasing her.0


    His voice had lost all its usual coolness.0


    In the moonlight, the handsome young man''s features were touched with desire as he steadied her waist, "Let''s go back."0


    Having gotten her fill of pleasure, Su Ci nodded obediently, her soft hair falling down her back, looking like a little angel.0


    Lu Zhe picked up the yellow ribbon from the ground, the delicate strip barely hanging from his long fingers.0


    "Shall I tie it back for you?" Lu Zhe was curious how such a thin ribbon could hold her hair.0


    Su Ci shook her head and snatched the ribbon back, "Give me your hand."0


    Lu Zheplied.0


    Su Ci wrapped the ribbon around Lu Zhe''s wrist and tied it into a pretty bow. She smiled and nestled into his embrace, "Lu Zhe, you''re my gift."0


    Lu Zhe''s gaze fell on the bow, and he chuckled softly, "Mm."0


    In the moonlight, Lu Zhe heard his own unsteady heartbeat.

 Chapter 61: 061

    <h1>Chapter 61</h1>


    When Su Ci entered the house, she looked like a little fox that had sessfully stolen a treat, her eyes and brows brimming with joy.0


    As she passed by the study, she noticed the light seeping through the crack of the door.0


    "Ci Ci."0


    At that moment, the study door opened from inside, and Su ZhiYuan walked out.0


    He was holding a cup, clearly on his way to get some water.0


    "Brother, it''s sote, are you still busy with something?" Su Ci thought of the concert tonight and felt a bit guilty, not knowing if her brother had seen her with Lu Zhe.0


    "Yes, there are still some documents to handle."0


    Su ZhiYuan had changed into casual attire, looking like a refined young master from a wealthy family. He held the cup with one hand and casually tucked the other into his pocket. "Was the concert tonight good?"0


    Su Ci kept a straight face and nodded. "It was alright."0


    "You said you were going to the concert with a friend. Was that person Lu Zhe?"0


    Her brother''s question was direct, indicating he had seen her with Lu Zhe.0


    Su Ci didn''t deny it. "Yes. Last time he got injured saving you, so I invited him to the concert as a way to repay his life-saving favor."0


    Su Ci was bold and confident, now using the excuse of repaying a debt to date.0


    Su ZhiYuan looked at his sister closely. "How''s Lu Zhe''s injury?"0


    "The wound on his hand hasn''t healed yet. He probably won''t be able to remove the bandages for another month."0


    Su ZhiYuan knew Lu Zhe''s injury wouldn''t heal so quickly, but hearing the concern in his sister''s voice, he couldn''t help but frown. "Ci Ci, I will repay Lu Zhe for saving our lives. You don''t need to take on that responsibility."0


    Su Ci looked at her older brother. "It''s not a responsibility. I''m just doing what I want to do."0


    "Ci Ci?" Su ZhiYuan realized then that his sister''s feelings for Lu Zhe were different.0


    Even though he had sensed something before, he had only thought she was grateful to Lu Zhe and hadn''t given it much thought.0


    Su Ci looked at him seriously. "Brother, you don''t need to worry. I know what I''m doing." She changed the subject. "How are Zheng Hao''s agent and assistant after the car ident? Are they okay?"0


    Su ZhiYuan knew his sister was deliberately changing the topic. "They''re still in critical condition. I''ve already sent someone to follow up on it."0


    Su Ci nodded, pretending to yawn. "Brother, I''m a bit tired. I''m going to my room to rest. You should go to bed early too."0


    Su ZhiYuan, who managed such arge corporation with numerous employees, could see through even the most cunning tactics of his subordinates. His sister''s clumsy excuse to avoid the topic was obvious to him.0


    Watching his sister go to her room, he sighed and rubbed his temples.0


    Su ZhiYuan was different from Su''s Mother.0


    On one hand, Su ZhiYuan had never been in love, and he didn''t believe that life was iplete without love. On the other hand, he knew his sister''s personality well¡ªonce she made up her mind, it was hard to change it. He wouldn''t interfere too much with her feelings.0


    As an older brother, Su ZhiYuan wouldn''t restrict his siblings'' behavior or thoughts. He would only be there to support them whenever they needed him.0


    The night was deep.0


    When Lu Zhe returned to the Lu Family home, he saw the living room light still on, with the sound of a TVing from inside.0


    He walked in.0


    "Son, you''re back." Wen Ya heard the footsteps and straightened up, holding back a yawn.0


    Lu Zhe was a bit surprised. "Mom, it''s sote. Why haven''t you rested yet?"0


    "I just finished watching this drama and was about to sleep." Wen Ya''s gaze inadvertently fell on her son''s wrist, where she noticed a yellow ribbon tied with a beautiful bow.0


    She smiled with meaning, looking at her son. "Did you meet Su Ci tonight?"0


    Lu Zhe: "Yes."0


    Wen Ya saw the joy in her son''s eyes that he couldn''t hide, feeling both happy and a bit sad.0


    "Mom recently found a doctor abroad who is very skilled in treating ALS. When do you have time? I''ll invite him over for a consultation." Wen Ya had never given up on treating her son''s illness.0


    Even though she knew ALS was one of the world''s seven major incurable diseases, her son looked healthy and normal. She couldn''t ept that he would eventually fall ill and pass away.0


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened. He nodded. "Next Monday."0


    Since returning to the Lu Family, his parents had been seeking out many experts to treat him. He had been cooperating, actively taking medicine, undergoing examinations, exercising, and massaging his limbs without anyints.0


    He felt his body was better than before.0


    Previously, his left leg would go numb and weak, causing him to limp or even fall. But such incidents hadn''t urred recently.0


    Even his arms no longer frequently went numb, and the frequency of muscle twitching had decreased.0


    After nearly a year of illness, his condition hadn''t worsened but had improved.0


    No matter how cold Lu Zhe''s personality was, he still had hopes.0


    He didn''t harbor unrealistic hopes that his illness would improve, but he longed to live longer.0


    Two years was too short.0


    He wanted to apany Su Ci for a longer time, even longer.0


    Wen Ya, hearing her son''s words, smiled brightly. "Alright, Mom will help you schedule an appointment for next Monday."0


    Seeing her son so cooperative, she, as a mother, would never give up.0


    ...0


    Zheng Hao''s concert mishap had made it to the trending searches, followed by news that he had been in a car ident after the concert.0


    Some marketing ounts reported that Zheng Hao''s van had been hit by a ck car, and both he and his agent were rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.0


    "Zheng Hao got into a car ident? What happened? I just came back from his concert!"0


    "Please bless my Hao Hao. The agent was bleeding a lot. How is Hao Hao? Did anyone get a photo of his injuries?"0


    "I heard that after the concert, Hao Hao''s car was followed by a stalker fan, and the stalker caused the ident by rear-ending them."0


    "Seeing this news, I''m so angry I''m shaking. Do stalker fans have a mental illness? Wasn''t the concert enough for you? Why follow the car?"0


    "Stalker fans are crazy, right? Please act like human beings and stop making Zheng Hao go to the hospital! You''re murderers!"0


    "Stalker fans are disgusting, extreme, and brainless. Do you have nothing better to do? Is this what you call ''chasing a star''? You''re just rats in the sewers."0


    "How is Hao Hao now? I''m so worried. In the photos, I only see Hao Hao''s back. His hands seem to be covered in blood."0


    "Do stalker fans really love Hao Hao? This is too terrifying. You''re trying to kill Zheng Hao!"0


    "After the concert, we normal fans just waited at the gate to say goodbye to Hao Hao. I didn''t expect stalker fans to follow him. Why are there always some people who don''t act rationally when chasing stars, doing things that hurt Hao Hao under the guise of love?"0


    "I''m just a passerby, but I also think stalker fans are terrifying. Seeing this hot search, I got goosebumps."0


    "Please, be rational when chasing stars."0


    "Why can''t you keep your distance from your idol? Why do you have to be so crazy and follow them? Now that something has happened, I hope the police will punish them and make them pay for their wrong actions..."0


    Zheng Hao''s fans were heartbroken and angry upon seeing this news. They had juste back from the concert and couldn''t ept that their idol had been in a car ident.0


    As the trending topic continued to stir up waves ofments from fans, another piece of news suddenly topped the trending list: Zheng Hao secretly met with the Su Family''s daughter and escaped the car ident.0


    Clicking into the trending topic, there were photos of Su Ci at the concert and in the parking lot, where Zheng Hao got into her car.0


    Originally, fans were worried about Zheng Hao''s uncertain fate and furious about the stalker fans hurting him. But now, there was a big twist: not only had Zheng Hao not been in a car ident, but he had also secretly met with Su Ci, the Su Family''s daughter. The fans werepletely confused.0


    "Is the news true? Did Zheng Hao not get into a car ident?"0


    "What''s going on? One moment it''s a car ident, the next it''s secretly meeting the Su Family''s daughter."0


    "Please, Su Ci, don''t try totch on to my Hao Hao, okay? Without a clear face, we won''t acknowledge it."0


    "Isn''t this Su Ci the one who recently made it to the trending searches because of being framed by Qin Shiyan? Why is she here again? Is she crazy for fame?"0


    "I have to admit her family background is good, and she''s beautiful, but she''s not the type my Hao Hao likes. Maybe they''re just friends who know each other, since Hao Hao''s family background is also good."0


    ¡°Does anyone upstairs know Su Ci''s family background? Zheng Hao is just a second-generation rich guy from a small business, how can hepare to the Su Family? Let me put it this way, one Su Corporation is worth more than ten thousand of Zheng Hao''s familypanies. That''s the difference. Zheng Hao and Su Ci definitely aren''t friends; I''d say they''re more likely to be lovers.¡±0


    ¡°Did Zheng Hao really get into a car ident?¡±0


    ¡°Su Ci is both beautiful and rich; I think Zheng Hao is not good enough for her.¡±0


    ¡°Su Ci''s face is indeed wless, and her family background is unbeatable. However, please don''tpare my Hao Hao to her.¡±0


    ¡°Taking my Hao Hao away. The photo is so blurry; which eye of the paparazzi could possibly identify him?¡±0


    ¡°Zheng Hao didn''t get into a car ident but went on a secret date with Su Ci? I was so worried and nervous earlier, and now I''m furious. I''d rather he got into a car ident and ended up in the hospital than see him dating another woman.¡±0


    ¡°Calm down, let''s just wait for the studio to release a statement...¡±0


    Su Ci only saw the trending news online the next day.0


    In just one night,izens had already assumed she was dating Zheng Hao?0


    Su Ci was speechless.0


    At that moment, she received a call from her older brother.0


    After returning to thepany, Su ZhiYuan had received a report from his subordinates, ¡°Xiao Ci, what''s going on between you and Zheng Hao?¡±0


    Su Ci exined, ¡°The news online is all fabricated. I don''t like him at all.¡±0


    ¡°Alright, I''ll have someone take down the news.¡± Hearing his sister''s exnation, Su ZhiYuan didn''t say anything more.0


    Just as Su Ci hung up the phone with her brother, she received a call from her father.0


    "Xiao Ci, have you been getting close with any boys recently?" Su''s Father asked indirectly, feeling a bit heartbroken. Imagining his precious daughter being taken away by some young man, he felt so frustrated that he wanted to beat that guy up.0


    Clearly, Su''s Father had also seen the news online.0


    ¡°No, Dad, that male artist is an employee of ourpany. I just went to his concert yesterday with a friend. I don''t like him.¡± Su Ci repeated the same exnation she had given her older brother.0


    Hearing this, Su''s Father finally felt relieved, ¡°Those media outlets are too reckless. Don''t worry, I''ll have someone deal with them and delete the news.¡±0


    After hanging up the phone, Su''s Father turned around, and soon there was a knock on the door of Su Ci''s room.0


    Su''s Mother walked in.0


    ¡°Ci Ci...¡±0


    Su Ci interrupted her mother, repeating the same exnation she had given to her father and brother.0


    Su''s Mother was astonished but recovered quickly, ¡°These media outlets have no conscience. They''ll write anything for clicks. I''ll have your brother send them awyer''s letter.¡±0


    ¡°Mom, did youe in to talk to me about this?¡± Su Ci thought her mother had also heard the news online.0


    ¡°No, I¡¯m taking Ning Ning and Tian Cai outter, and the two kids insisted that I bring you along.¡± Su''s Mother walked over and gently rubbed her daughter''s soft hair, ¡°Get up, let your brother handle the online stuff. Don''t worry.¡±0


    Su Ci nodded,zily getting out of bed.0


    The Lu Family also knew about the news regarding Su Ci.0


    Especially Wen Ya, who often browsed trending topics when she was bored, looking for some gossip.0


    Unexpectedly, she ended up eating the gossip about her own son''s girlfriend.0


    Wen Ya clicked into the trending topic, where not only were there photos, but the analysis was quite convincing. Thements had already exceeded one hundred thousand.0


    The person in the photo was indeed Su Ci.0


    Wen Ya frowned.0


    At that moment, Lu Zhe came downstairs.0


    ¡°Baby, you''re up.¡± Wen Ya looked at her son, her smile a bit forced.0


    ¡°What happened?¡± Lu Zhe sensed her unnatural expression.0


    Wen Ya looked at her son with a mixture of pity and sympathy, ¡°Mom has something to tell you. Don''t be too sad.¡±0


    ¡°Mm.¡± Lu Zhe took the phone from his mother.0


    The screen showed the news of Zheng Hao secretly meeting Su Ci after his concert.0


    After ncing at it for a few moments, Lu Zhe handed the phone back to his mother, ¡°Last night, I went to the concert with Su Ci.¡±0


    Hearing her son''s words, Wen Ya finally felt at ease.0


    However, she still looked at her son with pity and sympathy. Compared to that male artist, did her son not even have a name?0


    ...0


    While shopping, Su Ci saw a private message from Zheng Hao: I''m sorry for causing you trouble. I''ll rify this matter.0


    The Su Family had already deleted all the online news and issued a rification, but mostizens still remained skeptical.0


    After the concert, Zheng Hao had been extremely tired. Adding to that, he had stayed in the hospital for half the night, and after returning home, he had almost passed out from exhaustion. It was only after waking up that he saw the trending news.0


    Regarding the marketing ount''s leak, he had secretly hoped for it beforehand.0


    But after getting into the car and seeing how Su Ci interacted with that young man, he clearly understood that Su Ci liked that young man, not him.0


    Zheng Hao''s face still showed deep fatigue as he typed out a message and sent it directly: Su Ci has saved my life twice. She is my savior, and I hold her in great respect and gratitude. Please stop specting and attacking her. Otherwise, I won''t hesitate to take legal action to stop the rumors.0


    His message was posted, and within a minute, it had received over ten thousandments.0


    ¡°It''s so good to know Hao Hao is fine. I was scared to death thinking he got into a car ident.¡±0


    ¡°Hao Hao''s savior is also our Hao Fan''s savior.¡±0


    ¡°Where are the ck fans who were stirring up trouble yesterday?¡±0


    ¡°Su Ci actually saved Hao Hao? This sister is both beautiful and kind-hearted. I''m a fan now.¡±0


    ¡°Yesterday''s news was one shock after another. Thankfully, Hao Hao came out to rify, and Su Corporation also issued a statement. But some people choose to be blind.¡±0


    ¡°As long as it''s cleared up, thank you, Su Ci, the fairy sister, for saving our Hao Hao.¡±0


    ...0


    After a while, the news that Su Ci was Zheng Hao''s savior topped the trending list, and the rumors about them were finally rified.0


    Su Ci received many messages and private messages from Zheng Hao''s fans, and her follower count increased rapidly.0


    Her older brother had previously bought her over a million fake followers, but after a few trending topics, her follower count had already risen to over two million.0


    Zheng Hao was a top influencer, currently very popr, with over thirty million followers. Even if only a small portion of his fans followed her, the number was still significant.0


    Su Ci didn''t bother checking her rapidly growing follower count. She put away her phone and apanied Su''s Mother, Little Su Ning, and Little Tiancai while shopping.0


    Su''s Mother had already enrolled the two little ones in school. In September, not only would Su Ci be reporting to school, but these two little ones would also be starting kindergarten.0


    Little Tiancai was over five years old and was originally supposed to go to middle ss, but he wanted to take care of Little Su Ning and agreed to attend the small ss with him. Su''s Mother was out today to prepare some items they would need for kindergarten, like small water bottles and backpacks.0


    At that moment, as they passed a beverage shop, Little Su Ning suddenly stopped.0


    His big, ck eyes rolled around, and with a small finger pointed toward the shop, he said in a sweet, childish voice, ¡°It''s Chicken Wing Brother.¡±0


    Su Ci looked up.0


    Ji Chi was wearing a ck employee uniform, his face cold and handsome. In front of him, many girls were excitedly waiting to buy drinks.

 Chapter 62: 062

    <h1>Chapter 62</h1>


    Su''s Mother heard Su Ning''s words and looked into the shop. The tall boy standing at the cash register was Ji Chi.0


    "So Xiao Chi works here," Su''s Mother said with a smile. "Su Ci and Little Tiancai must be tired from walking. Let''s go in for a drink and say hello to Xiao Chi."0


    Su Ci had no objections.0


    It wasn''t a weekend, but the shop was bustling with customers, indicating a thriving business.0


    Su Ci and Su''s Mother sat at a small round table near the door.0


    "What would you like to drink? I''ll go order," Su Ci asked Su''s Mother and the two kids.0


    "Just a simple juice will do," Su''s Mother replied, not feeling particrly thirsty. She took out her phone to send a message to her friend Fang Qin, assuring her that Xiao Chi was working diligently and she could rest easy.0


    Su Ning pointed at the advertisement on the signboard, his big eyes sparkling. "Sister, I want a watermelon juice."0


    "Alright," Su Ci agreed and turned to Little Tiancai. "What about you?"0


    Today, Little Tiancai was wearing a blue id shirt, looking both cute and handsome.0


    After staying at the Su family for so long, constantly ying with Su Ning, Little Tiancai was no longer as reserved and introverted as he used to be.0


    He smiled shyly, pointing at the purple drink on the advertisement board. "I want that one."0


    Su Ci nced at it; it was a grape yogurt drink. "Okay, you wait here, and I''ll go order."0


    "Sister, Ning Ning wants toe too," Su Ning said, grabbing Su Ci''s skirt with his chubby hand.0


    "Let''s go."0


    The line to order was quite long.0


    Su Ci and her brother stood at the end of the queue.0


    Both Su Ci and Su Ning were exceptionally good-looking.0


    The girl had bright eyes and white teeth, her skin snow-white, while the little boy had a soft, fair face, his chubby cheeks making him irresistibly cute. The two looked like a perfect sibling pair, drawing frequent nces from those in front of them.0


    Ji Chi was also very handsome. Before he started working at the milk tea shop, the business wasn''t as booming.0


    The boss noticed that many customers came specifically for Ji Chi, so he assigned Ji Chi to handle the cash register and be the face of the shop.0


    His decision paid off. Since Ji Chi took over the cash register, the number of customers increased even more, and every day, many female customers asked for Ji Chi''s contact information or secretly took photos of him.0


    After all, a tall, handsome, and cold-yet-attractive guy like Ji Chi was rare.0


    Su Ci held Su Ning''s hand, noticing that many customers in the queue were taking photos of Ji Chi.0


    It seemed that good-looking people were always popr wherever they went.0


    Soon, it was Su Ci''s turn.0


    She picked up her little brother, who was standing on the ground.0


    "Chicken Wing Brother," Su Ning greeted Ji Chi with a wide smile, revealing his white little teeth, his voice soft and sweet.0


    Ji Chi had spotted Su Ci and Su''s Mother as soon as they entered the shop.0


    His usually stern face softened with a smile, which made the girls behind the queue blush.0


    Su Ning, seeing a familiar face in an unfamiliar ce, was overjoyed. "Ning Ning wants watermelon juice."0


    Ji Chi looked at Su Ci. "Anything else?"0


    "One grape yogurt and two orange juices," Su Ci replied, her gaze falling on Ji Chi''s wrist. His life value was only five days left.0


    Su Ci summoned Fu Gui. "Did you eat an entire golden cotton candyst night? Did it work?"0


    To prove that he wasn''t a freeloader, Fu Gui quickly replied: [Master, Fu Gui can now see the cause of death within a week!]0


    Hearing this, Su Ci''s eyes lit up.0


    Although Fu Gui still couldn''t see a month ahead, being able to see within a week was a significant improvement.0


    She asked Fu Gui, "How will Ji Chi die?"0


    Fu Gui: [He will be beaten to death by someone.]0


    Su Ci was stunned. She looked at Ji Chi, who was cing an order with his head down, wondering how he could be beaten to death.0


    What was going on?0


    Ji Chi handed the receipt to Su Ci. "The order has been ced. You can wait at your table, and I''ll bring the drinks over."0


    Su Ci came back to her senses. "How much is it?"0


    Ji Chi wanted to say he could pay, not wanting to charge her.0


    The Su family had already done so much for him.0


    But Su Ci had already taken out her phone. Ji Chi''s eyes darkened. "Fifty-six yuan in total."0


    "Okay."0


    After paying, Su Ci took Su Ning back to their table, where Su''s Mother was exchanging messages with Fang Qin.0


    Ji Chi asked another staff member to help with the order and went to the back to prepare the drinks.0


    A young female staff member followed him in.0


    Ji Chi''s tall stature made him stand out among the male employees.0


    The female staff member walked over to him, taking the order to help prepare the drinks. "Is that guest a friend of yours?" she asked softly, smiling at Ji Chi.0


    Ji Chi put the chopped watermelon into the juicer. Since Su Ning was too young to drink anything too cold, he didn''t add ice. "Someone I know," he replied.0


    "Does she have a boyfriend?" another male staff member couldn''t help but ask. The moment the girl entered the shop, everyone was struck by her beauty.0


    She was not only exquisitely beautiful but also had fair skin, making her seem to glow.0


    Ji Chi lowered his eyes, thinking of the boy named Lu Zhe. "Yes," he replied.0


    Hearing this, the female staff member breathed a sigh of relief. She blushed as she looked at Ji Chi. "Are you still working a part-time job tonight?"0


    Ji Chi casually responded, "Yeah."0


    The young female staff member, Ding Xiaoyou, watched Ji Chi''s handsome profile and softly said, "Don''t overwork yourself."0


    She knew Ji Chi''s family background was simr to hers, both working part-time to ease the financial burden at home. She felt a kindred spirit with Ji Chi.0


    "Xiaoyou, I''ve worked with you for so long, and this is the first time I''ve seen you show so much concern for someone," the male staff member teased, as if seeing through her.0


    Ding Xiaoyou shyly nced at Ji Chi before turning to hit the male staff member. "Is it a problem to care about my colleagues?"0


    Ji Chi ignored their banter and ced the four prepared drinks on a tray, carrying them out.0


    Ji Chi came to the small round table by the door. "Aunt Su, your drinks are ready."0


    "Xiao Chi, Auntie just found out you work here," Su''s Mother said. "The business is good, and it''s so busy. Are you tired from work?"0


    Ji Chi shook his head and carefully inserted the straws for Su Ning and Little Tiancai. "Not too tired."0


    He had once worked a night shift at a gas station, standing all night, so the milk tea shop, where employees could take turns to rest, wasn''t too exhausting.0


    Su''s Mother thought highly of her friend''s son. She checked the time. "You''re almost off work, right? We''ll sit here for a while and wait for you to finish. Then we''ll have lunch together, and we won''t go home for lunch today."0


    Ji Chi agreed.0


    ...0


    Although it wasn''t a weekend, the mall was located in the city center, surrounded by many office buildings. The lunch hour brought an influx of people, especially on the fifth floor''s food court, which was bustling with activity.0


    Su''s Mother chose a Chinese restaurant. The private rooms were all upied, so they had to settle for a table in the main dining area.0


    Su Ning and Little Tiancai were a bit excited. The Su family had a private chef, and since the two kids were young, they rarely dined out.0


    They picked arge round table. Su Ci sat next to Su''s Mother, with Su Ning on the other side of Su''s Mother.0


    Little Tiancai sat on Su Ci''s right.0


    Ji Chi''s seat was separated from Su Ci by Little Tiancai.0


    The Su family''s high level of attractiveness was evident, with Little Tiancai also appearing delicate and handsome. With Ji Chi''s good looks added to the mix, the group immediately drew the attention of many in the dining area.0


    Too good-looking.0


    At a table by the window, Boss Fang was surprised to tell Lu Zhe, "Xiao Zhe, I see Su Ci."0


    He and Lu Zhe had just signed a contract with a client and, since it was lunchtime and thepany was nearby, they chose this restaurant. They didn''t expect to run into Su Ci.0


    Lu Zhe followed Boss Fang''s gaze and saw Su Ci''s fair-skinned face. The girl was strikingly beautiful and hard to miss.0


    Boss Fang chuckled. "You two are really fated. Picking a random restaurant and still running into each other."0


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved up as he saw Su''s Mother and the two kids as well. His gaze moved to Ji Chi, who was seated one seat away from Su Ci, and he was slightly surprised to see him there.0


    The atmosphere was harmonious, and Ji Chi seemed to havepletely blended into the Su family.0


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes darkened.0


    Boss Fang asked Lu Zhe, "Who is that boy? Is he Su Ci''s brother?"0


    Boss Fang had seen Su''s Mother, who was rescued by Lu Zhe from the fire scene, and had also met Su Ci''s older brother. Now, there was an unfamiliar boy who seemed to be talking to Su Ci. He couldn''t help but take a few more nces, feeling a sense of familiarity with the boy''s demeanor.0


    "No," Lu Zhe told Boss Fang, "His name is Ji Chi. He''s a guest of the Su family and is currently staying with them."0


    Boss Fang took another look at Ji Chi, noticing his stern features. When he turned back to look at Lu Zhe, it suddenly dawned on him.0


    No wonder he felt a sense of familiarity with the boy. The cool aura around Ji Chi was indeed very simr to Lu Zhe''s.0


    The boy reminded Boss Fang of Lu Zhe when he first started working at hisputer shop.0


    Boss Fang saw that Ji Chi and Su Ci seemed to be chatting quitefortably. A teenage girl and boy, they looked quitepatible.0


    Boss Fang subconsciously frowned and asked Lu Zhe, "Xiao Zhe, since we''ve run into them, do you want to go over and say hello to Su Ci?"0


    Lu Zhe shook his head, "No, there''s no need."0


    Su''s Mother was also there, and he didn''t want to disrupt their atmosphere.0


    Boss Fang, having experienced a lot in life, could roughly understand Lu Zhe''s thoughts. "Does Su Ci''s family know about your rtionship?"0


    Lu Zhe didn''t hide it from Boss Fang, "No, they don''t."0


    Boss Fang sighed, not saying anything more.0


    He knew Lu Zhe''s situation better than anyone else.0


    This young man, though cold on the surface, had a warm and gentle heart, always considering others.0


    Apart from his health, Lu Zhe was superior to others in both appearance and ability. Hispany had just started, yet he had already received numerous orders. Even the issue of his orphaned background no longer existed.0


    If it weren''t for his terminal illness, Lu Zhe and Su Ci would have been a perfect match, and there would have been no parental objections.0


    Lu Zhe looked at the sight of Su Ci smiling at Ji Chi, his thin lips tightening, and his eyes darkening.0


    Boss Fang felt a pang of regret and quickly changed the subject, "Regarding the new project we just took on, I have some other ideas. Let''s finish eating and head back to the office to discuss them."0


    Lu Zhe lowered his eyes, "Alright."0


    ...0


    Su Ci knew that Ji Chi had been beaten to death, but she didn''t know who the perpetrator was.0


    She nned to observe Ji Chi''s surroundings over the next few days.0


    In the morning, she emerged from her room with heavy sleepiness in her eyes, just in time to meet Ji Chi, who was also heading out.0


    The boy was still dressed in ck, with a ck backpack on his back. His features were sharp and cold, undeniably handsome.0


    "Good morning," Su Ci greeted him proactively.0


    Ji Chi saw the girl''s sleepy eyes and a few stray hairs hanging by her face, making her fair cheeks appear even softer. He didn''t dare to look too long, "Good morning."0


    Su Ci asked him, "Are you going to work?"0


    Ji Chi acknowledged, "Yes."0


    Su Ci said, "After breakfast, I''ll go with you. The drinks at your shop are quite good, and I want to buy one."0


    For someone like Su Ci, a youngdy of her stature, she could have just ordered the drink via delivery or had her family''s staff buy it for her.0


    But Ji Chi didn''t say anything more.0


    After breakfast, Su Ci followed Ji Chi out the door.0


    The morning sun was gentle, warm and not too harsh.0


    Ji Chi usually walked a distance from the vi to the bus stop to take the bus to work. He didn''t want to trouble the Su family''s driver.0


    After all, as someone working a part-time job, how could he justify taking a luxury car to work?0


    Su Ci, being pampered all her life, wouldn''t consider taking the bus with Ji Chi. "Get in the car."0


    Ji Chi didn''t move.0


    "It''s on the way anyway. Get in the car. Do you really want to waste money taking the bus to work?" Su Ci sat in the backseat, puzzled as she looked at Ji Chi standing outside the car.0


    Ji Chi didn''t insist further. He opened the door to the passenger seat, got in, and politely thanked the driver, "Thank you."0


    The driver quickly responded, "Mr. Ji Chi, you''re too polite."0


    The journey was quiet.0


    Su Ci, having woken up early, leaned back in the seat and dozed off.0


    Sunlight filtered through the car window, casting a soft glow on her face, making her look like a little fairy.0


    Ji Chi nced at her through the rearview mirror but didn''t dare to look too long.0


    The car stopped outside the mall.0


    Ji Chi got out of the car, arriving at work ten minutes earlier than usual.0


    Su Ci dozed off in the car for a while, feeling a bit more awake. She felt she was making too many sacrifices for Lu Zhe.0


    After thest time she got up early to go hiking and stake out, now she had to observe potential murderers.0


    Actually, she had considered having Ji Chi stay at the Su family home on the day of his death.0


    But after the incident with her brother, she had learned a lesson. Keeping Ji Chi at the Su family home might not necessarily prevent idents. There could be reasons that forced him to go out, or he might even have an ident at the Su family home.0


    So, Su Ci believed the best solution was to find the person who would kill Ji Chi.0


    If she couldn''t find them, there was nothing she could do. She had done her best.0


    The milk tea shop was already open, and the employees had changed into their uniforms and were ready to start work.0


    "Ji Chi, good morning. I brought two breakfasts today. Have you eaten? I''ll share one with you," Ding Xiaoyou saw Ji Chi arrive and quickly approached him.0


    Ji Chi coldly refused, "I''ve already had breakfast, thank you."0


    "Xiaoyou, I haven''t had breakfast yet. Share one with me," a male employee teased.0


    Ding Xiaoyou red at him, "I''ll save it for lunch."0


    "Wow, the beauty from yesterday is here again," the male employee saw Su Ci enter the shop and immediately nudged Ji Chi, "Did youe with your friend?"0


    Ji Chi didn''t respond. He went to the staff room to change into his work uniform.0


    Ding Xiaoyou couldn''t help but look at the girl with snow-white skin and a face so beautiful it was almost unbelievable. Not only was she beautiful, but her aura was also impable, and her attire was beyondpare.0


    She was clearly a girl who had been pampered since birth.0


    Ding Xiaoyou bit her lip and pushed the male employee away, her tone a bit sharp, "It''s time to work. Are you going to ck off?" She lifted the curtain and went into the back of the shop.0


    Su Ci wasn''t in a hurry to order. She walked to a small round table in the corner of the shop, where the view was good.0


    She propped her chinzily, asionally ncing at the shop''s employees.0


    At the same time, their information had already been sent to her phone.0


    Su Ci felt she was getting better at her "rescue missions."0


    She skimmed through the employees'' information, finding nothing special or noteworthy.0


    Ji Chi''s quiet and reserved nature didn''t seem like the type to easily provoke others.0


    Su Ci pondered.0


    "Excuse me, please move aside," Ding Xiaoyou''s mop stopped by Su Ci''s feet.0


    Su Ci came to her senses and looked down. She stood up to make room for Ding Xiaoyou to mop.0


    Up close, Ding Xiaoyou found the girl even more stunning, with a beauty that was breathtaking.0


    Her eyes were bright and watery, with a small teardrop mole below her eye, exuding a captivating charm. Her skin was wless, and her lips were a glossy, vibrant red.0


    Most importantly, she was wearing no makeup.0


    Ding Xiaoyou mopped the floor, her gaze inadvertently falling on the girl''s feet. She was wearing light pink sandals, and her toes were pink and white, adorable.0


    She thought of herself. As a girl, her feet were not big, but the skin on her soles and the back of her feet was rough, nothing like the smooth and delicate skin of the pampered girl.0


    A girl raised in luxury waspletely different from someone like her, who had started working part-time early to support her family.0


    The girl''s life was truly enviable.0


    However, such a pampered princess would undoubtedly be arrogant and self-centered, unlike girls like her who were understanding and knew the ways of the world.0


    She and Ji Chi came from simr backgrounds, both from struggling families. No one understood Ji Chi better than she did.0


    Su Ci didn''t realize she was beingpared. She continued to look at the information on her phone and observe the employees.0


    Lu Chen, with his vast business empire, had given Lu Zhe the entire building in the city center as his office building after learning that his son wanted to start apany.0


    Lu Zhe''spany was located near this mall.0


    Boss Fang had been workingte into the night and was feeling a bit sluggish today. As he headed to the beverage shop to buy a cup of coffee, he was surprised to see Su Ci there.0


    "Su Ci," Boss Fang greeted her proactively.0


    Su Cizily lifted her gaze and, seeing a familiar face, smiled, "Boss Fang, what a coincidence."0


    Boss Fang smiled and approached, "I''m here to buy a coffee to perk myself up. What about you, why are you here?"0


    "The drinks here are quite good," Su Ci replied. It had been a long time since shest saw Boss Fang. "How is Little Kuaile doing?"0


    When Boss Fang mentioned his son, his face filled with paternal love and joy. "He''s walking almost normally now, and he''s adapting well to his prosthetic limb. I n to send him to kindergarten in September."0


    Su Ci really likes the child named Xiao Le, who is sensible and well-behaved. "That''s great, both of my younger brothers will also be going to kindergarten."0


    After chatting for a while, Boss Fang learned that Su Ci''s two younger brothers would also be attending the same kindergarten as his son. Although the tuition was expensive, he wanted to give his son the best and had decided to enroll him there despite the cost.0


    Since the Su family''s children were also going to that kindergarten, it seemed his choice was right.0


    "I hope they end up in the same ss and be good friends," Su Ci said, feeling that the three children''s personalities were quite simr¡ªwell-behaved and quiet.0


    Boss Fang smiled. "That will depend on whether the kids are fated to meet."0


    After a few more words, Boss Fang had to rush back to work and didn''t linger to talk with Su Ci further. He walked to the cashier to ce his order.0


    As he looked at the boy in front of him, Boss Fang was startled and turned to nce at Su Ci, who had already returned to her seat.0


    An unsettling thought began to creep into his mind.0


    When he returned to thepany, Boss Fang happened to see the young man carrying documents walking out of the office.0


    "There''s a data omission here. Check it again," Lu Zhe said, handing the file to an employee. His countenance was stern, and even without scolding, the employee felt nervous.0


    "Boss Fang," Lu Zhe turned and saw Boss Fang holding a cup of coffee.0


    The young man was very attentive. "Did the coffee in the pantry run out? I''ll have someone buy moreter."0


    "Such minor matters will be handled by the HR department," Boss Fang replied, his gaze lingering on Lu Zhe with a mix of hesitation and indecision.0


    Lu Zhe today wore a white shirt with excellent texture, buttoned up to the highest point of the cor, looking serious and ascetic.0


    He was wearing a high-quality white shirt, with buttons fastened up to the cor, looking both serious and ascetic. His posture was straight, his sleeves rolled up, revealing strong, muscr arms. There was a youthful freshness to him, yet also a mature steadiness that was irresistibly attractive.0


    Lu Zhe noticed Boss Fang''s unusual expression. "Is something wrong?"0


    Boss Fang hesitated, then finally said, "I just saw Su Ci at the beverage shop while buying coffee. She''s probably still there. You shouldn''t always be so busy with work; you need to spend time and effort on a girl."0


    He suggested to Lu Zhe, "Su Ci is likely still at the beverage shop. Why don''t you take a day off today and spend some time with her?"0


    Lu Zhe chuckled, "No need, she knows I''m following up on a project recently. She told me to find her after I''m done."0


    Although Su Ci could be clingy and persistent at times, she wasn''t unreasonable. She understood when he was busy and would patiently wait for him to finish.0


    Boss Fang couldn''t help but re at Lu Zhe, feeling that he wasn''t being proactive enough.0


    The boy at the beverage shop not only resembled Lu Zhe in demeanor but also lived in the Su family''s house, making it all too easy for something to happen.0


    Moreover, as much as it pained him to admit, the boy had a healthy body.

 Chapter 63: 063

    <h1>Chapter 63</h1>


    Uncle Fang hesitated, then asked Lu Zhe, "What did Uncle Fang want to say to me?"0


    "Nothing," Uncle Fang quickly shook his head, took a sip of his coffee, and forced himself to praise it despite its scalding temperature. "This coffee is pretty good. No wonder Su Ci likes that beverage shop."0


    He nced at Lu Zhe. "Xiao Zhe, you should try buying a cup sometime when you''re free. I need to get back to work now."0


    Uncle Fang felt he had done his best. Whether his suspicions were right or wrong, at least he had given Lu Zhe a warning.0


    The beverage shop was getting busier by the minute, with many customersing specifically to see Ji Chi. Who wouldn''t love a handsome young man? Especially one as tall, handsome, and cold-natured as Ji Chi, whose looks could rival those of a male celebrity.0


    Su Ci observed the employees and also noticed the line of customers, mostly young and cute girls. They blushed when they saw Ji Chi and spoke in soft, gentle tones, making it hard to imagine anyone would harm him.0


    Checking the time, Su Ci felt bored and decided it was time to leave.0


    Lu Zhe wasn''t stupid. He noticed Uncle Fang''s strange expression and his hesitation, plus the repeated mentions of the beverage shop and Su Ci. That''s why he hade.0


    Outside, Lu Zhe peered through the ss wall of the shop and spotted Su Ci sitting at a small round table.0


    The girl''s fair face stood out. She kept ncing toward the cashier counter.0


    Following her gaze, Lu Zhe saw the tall, handsome boy in the milk tea shop uniform, busy taking orders and handling money.0


    His dark eyes grew even darker.0


    Lu Zhe''s hand at his side felt numb.0


    He suddenly realized that Su Ci''s gaze, which had always been on him, could easily shift to someone else.0


    His cold, stiff face turned pale, and an unfamiliar tightness gripped his chest.0


    The pain in his muscles jolted him back to reality.0


    Lu Zhe had always known that Su Ci liked him now, possibly because of the need to kiss him, which had sparked her affection.0


    She was young, and in the future, she would meet many more outstanding peers, especially in college, where everyone was full of vitality and youth.0


    One day, she might realize that someone like him, with a terminal illness, wasn''t worth her affection.0


    Or maybe, after seeing him during one of his episodes, unable to walk, move, or speak, lying in bed as his body withered and life slipped away, she would regret being with him.0


    He had thought of all this.0


    That was one reason he had initially refused to publicize their rtionship¡ªhe didn''t want to be a stumbling block for her.0


    In the future, when she grew tired of him and found someone she truly loved, she could easily walk away.0


    Watching Su Ci''s gaze shift to Ji Chi, Lu Zhe stood silently, his arm muscles twitching, his thin lips pressed tightly together, losing color.0


    His fingertips tingled. After a while, Lu Zhe took out his phone and called Su Ci.0


    Her sweet voice came through quickly. "Lu Zhe."0


    Lu Zhe looked up, through the ss, at Su Ci inside the shop. "I see you."0


    Su Ci looked puzzled and nced up, immediately spotting the tall boy outside. Her dark eyes lit up, and she quickly got up and walked out.0


    "Why are you here?" Su Ci ended the call and stood next to Lu Zhe. "Did Uncle Fang tell you he saw me here?"0


    "Yes," Lu Zhe put away his phone and met Ji Chi''s gaze at the cashier counter inside the shop.0


    "Did you miss me so much that you came to find me as soon as you knew I was here?" Su Ci smiled brightly, taking Lu Zhe''s hand. "Your hands are so cold. Are you feeling chilly?"0


    The boy''s fingertips were icy.0


    Lu Zhe looked away and shook his head.0


    He tightened his grip on her hand. "Uncle Fang said the drinks here are good."0


    Su Ci gave him a yful look. "You just wanted to see me."0


    Lu Zhe lowered his eyes to her, his lips regaining some color. "Yes."0


    He felt not only his heart frozen but also rotten.0


    Selfishly and despicably, he wished this stolen time couldst a little longer.0


    At Lu Zhe''s response, Su Ci''s beautiful red lips couldn''t hide her smile. "I knew it."0


    Now that Lu Zhe was here, Su Ci wasn''t in a hurry to go home. She held his hand and strolled through the mall.0


    Passing by a skincare store, Su Ci went in. The new semester was about to start, and there would be military training.0


    She hadn''t wanted to participate, not caring about the whole "building physical strength" argument. With her delicate body, she would probably copse before the training even began.0


    In the Su Family, Su''s Mother supported Su Ci skipping the training, but Su''s Father and Su ZhiYuan wanted her to participate. In their view, Su Ci needed to toughen up.0


    Moreover, Su''s Father had mentioned that Lu Zhe was also participating, making it even harder for her to refuse.0


    Her protests were in vain, and Su Ci felt utterly miserable.0


    Withte August''s weather still hot and the sun scorching, military training would be brutal. Aside from worrying about her body''s ability to handle it, Su Ci was more concerned about her skin.0


    Her skin was snow-white and delicate, something she adored. The thought of standing under the sun and getting tanned made her want to cry.0


    Su Ci asked the staff to bring ten bottles of sunscreen spray and cream.0


    Lu Zhe was surprised. "Do you really need so many?"0


    "I''ll share half with you," Su Ci reached out to touch Lu Zhe''s face. Perhaps due to the effects of his illness, his expression was always cold when he wasn''t smiling.0


    But his skin was wless, with a paleplexion and sharp features that made him look incredibly handsome.0


    "Remember to apply sunscreen during the training," Su Ci pinched his cheek, mimicking how he often did to her. "You need to protect this handsome face."0


    If he got tanned, she would be heartbroken.0


    Lu Zhe looked at her with his dark eyes. "Do you like my face?"0


    Su Ci was honest. She nodded. "Yes."0


    Every part of Lu Zhe was exactly her type. She couldn''t help but adore him.0


    Lu Zhe moved her hand away from his face and said seriously, "I''ll protect my face well."0


    Hoping she would like him for a little longer.0


    After paying, Su Ci added a tip and had the sunscreen products delivered to both the Su Family and Lu Family homes. She then continued strolling with Lu Zhe.0


    The second floor had more clothing stores, but Su Ci''s clothes were all custom-made by a studiomissioned by Su''s Mother. The designs were beautiful, and the fabrics were soft andfortable.0


    After returning to the Lu Family, Lu Zhe also had someone taking care of his wardrobe, with everything custom-made.0


    So, neither of them was particrly interested in the clothing stores.0


    As they passed by an underwear store, Su Ci''s attention was caught by the mannequins disyed in the ss window.0


    One mannequin was wearing a school uniform, but it was different from the one she had worn before. This one was more form-fitting, with a low neckline and a very short skirt.0


    Su Ci teased Lu Zhe by lightly scratching his palm with her finger. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she asked him, "Do you think this skirt looks good?"0


    Lu Zhe nced at the mannequin in the window.0


    Su Ci tiptoed and whispered into his ear, "Do you know what kind of clothes these are?"0


    Lu Zhe answered, "School uniform."0


    Su Ciughed softly in his ear, her voice light and melodious. "They''re cosy outfits."0


    Lu Zhe''s grip on her hand tightened. His lowered eyshes fluttered. "Tuan Tuan."0


    Su Ci was being quite naughty. She continued to lightly scratch his palm, asking him, "Should I wear this for you?"0


    Lu Zhe''s expression was both uneasy and helpless. He tightened his hold on her hand. "No."0


    He knew exactly what she was up to.0


    Feeling rejected, Su Ci pouted unhappily. "You have no sense of romance at all."0


    She then pulled Lu Zhe into the underwear store.0


    "Tuan Tuan," Lu Zhe stood still, refusing to move.0


    Su Ci raised an eyebrow. "I like this skirt. I''m buying it for myself, not for you."0


    As for whether he would identally see her wearing it, that wasn''t something she could control.0


    Lu Zhe looked at her deeply, then had no choice but to let her buy the cosy outfit she had mentioned.0


    That night.0


    Su Ci changed into the outfit she had bought at the underwear store.0


    The top wasn''t like a regr school uniform shirt but was made of stretchy white material for a more fitted look.0


    After putting it on, Su Ci was amazed by the effect.0


    Her figure was already great, and this outfit entuated her curves even more.0


    Su Ci put on the id skirt as well, which was about a third shorter than her school uniform skirt.0


    The original length of her school uniform skirt stopped just above her knees, but this one barely covered her thighs, which exined why it was considered a "special" uniform.0


    Su Ci examined herself in the mirror, finding herself both pure and alluring. She looked more like a seductive fox spirit than a bunny spirit now.0


    She was more and more satisfied with what she saw.0


    Su Ci thought, it would be great if she could find an opportunity to show Lu Zhe her beautiful outfit.0


    At that moment, her phone on the bed rang.0


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up.0


    The opportunity hade to her.0


    Su Ci walked over and answered the video call from Lu Zhe, "Aren''t you busy today?"0


    Usually, at this time, he would still be working.0


    "I''ll apany you first, then go back to work," Lu Zhe said, having taken Uncle Fang''s words to heart.0


    For him, work was indeed not as important as she was.0


    Su Ci blinked, a bit surprised, "Lu Zhe, did you eat honey today?"0


    He was actually saying sweet things.0


    Lu Zhe chuckled.0


    Su Ci picked up her phone and walked to the dressing table, cing it on the stand. She stepped back a bit to let the camera capture her whole figure.0


    She deliberatelyined to Lu Zhe, "I tried on the clothes I bought today, and it seems they''re a bit small, a little tight, and the skirt is a bit short."0


    Su Ci didn''t feel she was being unreasonable, because she could be even more so.0


    Lu Zhe: ...0


    The girl in the camera was indeed wearing clothes that were too small. The top revealed her slender waist, while the bottom showed her long, straight, and slender legs.0


    The low neckline also exposed arge expanse of her fair skin.0


    Lu Zhe rubbed his forehead. He finally understood why this school uniform was considered a "special" outfit by the girl.0


    Su Ci deliberately turned around in front of Lu Zhe, her face calm as she self-praised, "Although the skirt is small, it suits me well and looks good. What do you think?"0


    Lu Zhe''s gaze inadvertently swept over her exposed waist. He had held her so many times and naturally knew how soft and slender her waist was.0


    He didn''t dare to look closely at the girl in front of him, who was so beautiful and alluring. "It looks good."0


    Su Ci red at him discontentedly, "You didn''t even look at me."0


    Lu Zhe was forced to raise his eyes to look at her, his gaze deep. "Very beautiful."0


    Only then did Su Ci give him a satisfied look.0


    If she were wearing this skirt in front of Lu Zhe, Su Ci might have felt a bit shy. But now, with a screen between them, her thick skin left no trace of embarrassment.0


    She wasn''t in a hurry to change her clothes and continued the video call with Lu Zhe.0


    Seeing Lu Zhe''s ears turn red and his eyes avoiding her, Su Ci felt a sense of aplishment.0


    She loved seeing Lu Zhe flustered and unable to do anything about her.0


    ...0


    When Ji Chi had only half a day left of his life, Su Ci had been waiting at the milk tea shop since morning.0


    The shop employees had already seen Su Ci several times, but every time they saw her, they were still amazed.0


    In the backroom, several male employees were marveling at Su Ci''s beauty.0


    Ding Xiaoyou looked at Ji Chi, who was drinking water.0


    The boy tilted his head back, and the Adam''s apple on his neck became more pronounced as he swallowed. She was captivated, her heart racing, and her face turning red.0


    She thought that only a boy like Ji Chi wouldn''t be as superficial as other men, focusing only on beauty.0


    These past few days, that spoiled girl hade to the shop several times, clearly aiming for Ji Chi, with a thick skin.0


    Fortunately, Ji Chi seemed to be indifferent to that spoiled girl.0


    However, the saying goes, "Women pursuing men is like a thread separatingyers of gauze." Ji Chi might not be swayed now, but that didn''t mean he would never be.0


    After all, that spoiled girl was indeed very beautiful.0


    Ding Xiaoyou bit her lip, feeling uneasy.0


    She asked Ji Chi, "Are you going to the bar for your part-time job tonight?"0


    "Yeah," Ji Chi put down his cup and prepared to go out to work.0


    Ding Xiaoyou''s fingers unconsciously twisted the thread on her clothes. Ji Chi worked harder than she did, and she couldn''t find a chance to invite him out.0


    Su Ci was so bored. Finally, she waited until Ji Chi finished work. She picked up her phone and leisurely followed him out of the beverage shop.0


    Ding Xiaoyou frowned as she watched. The spoiled girl wasn''t nning to follow Ji Chi to his night job, was she?0


    How could there be such a shameless girl?0


    She threw down the rag in her hand and quickly went to the restroom to change out of her work clothes, then chased after them.0


    At the entrance of the mall, Ding Xiaoyou indeed saw the spoiled girl leisurely following behind Ji Chi.0


    She hurried over and walked beside Ji Chi, "Ji Chi, my friend invited me to the bar where you work. Since we''re going the same way, do you mind if I go with you? I''m not very familiar with the route."0


    Ji Chi, with a ck backpack, wasn''t wearing his work clothes from the milk tea shop but instead a white T-shirt and jeans. The young and handsome boy made Ding Xiaoyou''s face turn red again.0


    "It''s fine," Ji Chi walked out of the mall and headed towards the nearby bus stop.0


    Ding Xiaoyou, not rejected, felt secretly delighted and even nced back at Su Ci.0


    During rush hour, the bus stop was already crowded with people waiting.0


    Ding Xiaoyou followed Ji Chi onto the bus, but before she could steady herself, another wave of people pushed in.0


    In an instant, the bus was packed, with no room to turn around, let alone stand.0


    Ding Xiaoyou, pushed away by others, could only look longingly at Ji Chi, who was several people away from her.0


    Ji Chi held the handrail with one hand, and the crowd around him didn''t affect his handsome aura at all.0


    Originally, Ding Xiaoyou had nned to take advantage of the crowded situation to slip into Ji Chi''s arms and have him protect her.0


    After all, that''s how romantic scenes yed out in dramas.0


    But now, she couldn''t even get close to Ji Chi.0


    Ding Xiaoyou was frustrated.0


    When Su Ci came out of the mall entrance, she slowly walked to the parking lot outside.0


    The driver was already waiting, and seeing here out, he quickly opened the car door for her.0


    Su Ci got into the back seat and asked the driver to follow the bus ahead.0


    She didn''t invite Ji Chi to ride with her because she knew he would refuse, and she didn''t want to waste her effort.0


    Moreover, if he asked why she was following him, she could justifiably retort that it was just a coincidence.0


    The people on the bus kept squeezing, and the daytime heat made many people sweat. All squeezed into such a small, enclosed space, the air was filled with a suffocating smell of sweat.0


    Ding Xiaoyou was used to taking the bus, but today she had specially worn a white long skirt. She tried to shrink her body to avoid touching the greasy men around her, fearing that her white skirt would be stained with their body odor and dirtied by them.0


    When she got off the bus, she pushed through the crowd, stumbling down the steps, and her skirt was already wrinkled.0


    Ding Xiaoyou quickly smoothed out the wrinkled parts with her hands.0


    Seeing Ji Chi walking ahead, she could only quickly adjust her skirt and then hurried to catch up, "Ji Chi, wait for me."0


    As they were about to reach the entrance, a ck luxury car stopped in front of them, and the driver opened the door.0


    A snow-white ankle stepped onto the ground, adorned with a silver chain, and a small, clumsy rabbit pendant.0


    The owner of the ankle stepped out, her appearance beautiful and charming, even her hair seemed to be illuminated by light, smooth and shiny.0


    Ding Xiaoyou had always known that her family background was not good, but she didn''tin and even worked hard to earn money.0


    But now, seeing the fresh and clean spoiled girl in front of her, unlike her, who was sweaty and smelly after squeezing on the bus, Ding Xiaoyou subconsciously bit her lip.0


    Especially when she saw the spoiled girl wearing a light mauve dress that made her skin look like snow. Ding Xiaoyou didn''t know much about luxury brands, as those were beyond her reach, but she could tell that the fabric of the spoiled girl''s dress was of high quality.0


    The light and flowing fabric must not be something that could be bought in an ordinary mall.0


    Ding Xiaoyou felt like she had eaten a raw grape, her mouth sour and astringent.0


    For the first time, she felt it was unfair. Why was the spoiled girl''s life so good, born into a wealthy family?0


    And why did she, a hardworking and positive girl, have to suffer and endure grievances?0


    Ding Xiaoyou subconsciously moved a little closer to Ji Chi. At least she and Ji Chi were from the same world, and she understood him better.0


    Thinking this, the sourness in Ding Xiaoyou''s mouth slightly diminished.0


    The next second, two more cars suddenly stopped in front of the door.0


    Ding Xiaoyou instinctively nced over and saw several men dressed in uniform ck, all tall and strong, stepping out of the cars. Their steps were orderly, their presence imposing, as they strode toward them.0


    Ding Xiaoyou was so scared that she instinctively hid behind Ji Chi.0


    The few burly men stopped in front of Su Ci and greeted, "Miss."0


    Su Ci nodded, "Let''s go in."0


    With her frail body, don''t expect her to physically intervene and save Ji Chi from the assant.0


    Ding Xiaoyou watched the several tall men follow behind the delicate youngdy, surrounding and escorting her into the building.0


    Ding Xiaoyou was utterly shocked.0


    Was this the lofty demeanor of a youngdy from a wealthy family?0


    The sourness in Ding Xiaoyou''s mouth couldn''t be suppressed and surged back up.

 Chapter 64: 064

    <h1>Chapter 64</h1>


    The bar was doing great business, and all the private rooms were already booked out.0


    Su Ci had only been to a bar once before, and that was for a celebration dinner with the crew. She wasn''t particrly fond of such noisy ces.0


    The flickering, morous lights inside the bar created an eerie and chaotic atmosphere.0


    Su Ci was wearing a light pinkish-purple dress, her soft, long hair naturally cascading down her shoulders. With her fair skin, she looked like a pure bunny who had identally wandered into a dark swamp.0


    As soon as she appeared, she caught the attention of many in the room.0


    Since all the private rooms were full, Su Ci didn''t n to go to one. After all, her purpose foring wasn''t to consume; it was harder to keep an eye on Ji Chi''s situation inside a room.0


    Just at the entrance, she had checked Ji Chi''s life bar, which was now down to just one hour.0


    She found a seat at a booth, not too hidden but not too conspicuous either.0


    Su Ci had just sat down when a bartender approached her with a drinks menu. "What would you like to drink, miss?"0


    The male bartender had been working at the bar for two years and had seen many beautiful womene and go¡ªsexy, charming, cute, and innocent ones too. But none couldpare to the girl in front of him.0


    Just watching her delicate fingers flip through the menu made him momentarily lose focus.0


    Such a beautiful girl in a bar was like a little rabbit among wolves and beasts; she was bound to be devoured.0


    Su Ci''s current body couldn''t handle any alcohol, so she had no intention of drinking. "A fresh orange juice, please."0


    "Of course." The bartender wasn''t surprised she didn''t order alcohol. After all, with her beauty, many would surely offer to buy her drinks.0


    He tore his gaze away from her pale fingers. "Would you like some snacks, miss?"0


    "A fruit tter, please." Su Ci handed the menu back to the bartender. She looked at him and asked, "Is Ji Chi an employee here? What does he do?"0


    The bartender was taken aback. So, she was here for Ji Chi too.0


    Ever since Ji Chi started working here part-time, many female customers had specifically requested him to take their orders.0


    Besides their base sry, bartenders mainly earned from drinkmissions. In less than a month, Ji Chi had already made five figures just frommissions. It really paid to have a handsome face.0


    The bartender replied, "Yes, miss. Ji Chi is one of our servers."0


    Su Ci nodded. "You may go now."0


    The bartender smiled politely and left with the order.0


    No sooner had he left than a man in a white shirt, his hair slicked up with gel, approached Su Ci. He held a ss in one hand and had the other in his pocket.0


    "Hello, mind if I join you?" The man''s lips curved into a confident smile as he looked at the girl.0


    Su Cizily lifted her eyes. "I do mind."0


    Man: ...0


    Despite being rejected, the man didn''t give up. He had never seen such a beautiful girl before. Under the flickering lights, she was dazzling.0


    "I wonder if I might have the honor of inviting you to have a drink with me?" He raised his ss slightly, revealing an expensive watch on his wrist.0


    Su Ci propped her chin on one hand, not even bothering to lift her eyes. "Not interested."0


    The man ran a smallpany, was young, and had assets. He had approached many beautiful girls before and never failed.0


    Smiling, he pulled a car key from his pocket and ced it on the table. "It''s too stuffy here. Would you like to take a night drive with me?"0


    Su Ci was getting annoyed. She looked at the man and thought that not everyone could pull off a white shirt. Lu Zhe looked clean and refined in one, but this man just looked greasy.0


    Her tone was tinged with impatience. "You''re annoying. Can you shut up?"0


    The man''s breath hitched, his face turning red with embarrassment. He red at Su Ci before snatching his car key and leaving.0


    The bartender soon brought over a delicate fruit tter and a freshly squeezed orange juice.0


    Su Ci listened to the band performing on stage while munching on fruit.0


    Meanwhile, Ding Xiaoyou had lied to Ji Chi earlier, iming her friend had invited her to the bar. The real reason she followed Ji Chi was twofold: she couldn''t stand seeing Su Ci clinging to Ji Chi and was worried that Ji Chi might fall for Su Ci.0


    The other reason was that she wanted to wait for Ji Chi to finish his shift.0


    When she saw the pampered youngdy enter the bar with a group of bodyguards, Ding Xiaoyou noticed that Ji Chi was also about to go in. She quickly reached out to grab his arm. "Wait, are you going in to start your shift?"0


    Ji Chi''s cold gaze fell on her hand gripping his arm. "Yes."0


    Feeling Ji Chi''s displeasure, Ding Xiaoyou quickly let go. "It''s my first time at a bar. I''m a bit nervous. Can I follow you in?"0


    Ji Chi didn''t respond but walked inside.0


    "I''m starting my shift now. Go find your friends," Ji Chi said coldly as he entered the bar, making it clear Ding Xiaoyou shouldn''t follow him.0


    Ding Xiaoyou looked around at the chaotic lights and noisy atmosphere. She suppressed her unease. "Ji Chi, what time do you get off? It''s not safe for a girl like me to go home alone. I want to wait for you to finish and go back together."0


    Ji Chi''s stern features looked even more pronounced under the flickering lights. "I finishte and won''t have time to escort you home."0


    With that, he headed to the staff room.0


    The bar''s uniform consisted of a white shirt and a ck waistcoat.0


    Ji Chi''s tall, well-built frame made him look dashing even in the simple uniform.0


    At that moment, his phone in the locker rang. It was Fang Qin calling.0


    "Have you eaten, Xiao Chi?" Fang Qin hadn''t called her son in a while, worried she might disturb his work.0


    Ji Chi replied, "Yes."0


    Fang Qin asked her son, "Are you tiredtely?"0


    "Not really."0


    Fang Qin knew her son would answer that way.0


    Ji Chi had always been a sensible child. After their family went bankrupt, he started working part-time. During school breaks, he would even tutor elementary students to earn money because of his good grades.0


    "Make sure to rest and don''t overwork. School starts in a few days. Focus on your studies. Tuition and living expenses, Mom will take care of them," Fang Qin said, knowing her son was working two jobs and worried he was pushing himself too hard.0


    Ji Chi nodded in agreement.0


    "After school starts, move into the dorms. We shouldn''t trouble the Su family anymore," Fang Qin reminded her son, knowing how sensible he was.0


    Ji Chi''s eyes unconsciously fixed on the locker. He responded softly, "I know."0


    Fang Qin asked a few more questions about her son''s recent situation before hurriedly ending the call, not wanting to dy his work.0


    The manager saw Ji Chie out of the staff room.0


    He wasn''t pleased. "The guests at table four specifically asked for you to take their order. Hurry up."0


    Ji Chi nodded and walked out.0


    At table four sat several women dressed in revealing outfits. Seeing Ji Chi approach, they excitedly nudged each other, their eyes glued to his face. Some even flirted with him, asking for his contact details.0


    Ji Chi''s expression remained stern, but he maintained his professionalism, politely asking what they would like to order.0


    The handsome boy''s lips curved into a smile, causing the women to squeal with excitement.0


    After the guests ordered their drinks, Ji Chi turned to leave, his smile disappearing. As he nced up, he saw Su Ci, who stood out from the chaotic surroundings.0


    His grip on the order slip tightened.0


    Ji Chi felt like he was sinking in a swamp, while Su Ci stood clean and untouched on the edge, looking down at him with an air of superiority.0


    His lips pressed together, and a sense of shame shed in his eyes. He nodded at Su Ci before leaving.0


    Ji Chi''s face remained cold as he served drinks to the female guests, not daring to look at Su Ci again, fearing he might see any hint of disdain or contempt on her face.0


    Su Ci finished the fruit tter and sipped her juice, bored. She checked her phone; there were still half an hour left.0


    She noticed that no matter if it was at the bubble tea shop or the bar, Ji Chi was quite popr.0


    So, how did he end up being beaten to death?0


    Su Ci bit her straw, asionally keeping an eye on Ji Chi.0


    Over there, a man with sses and a partially bald head walked over. "Little sister, are you alone? Big brother can buy you a drink."0


    The man wanted to sit down opposite Su Ci.0


    "Did I agree for you to sit down?" Su Ci raised her eyes, and the small teardrop mole under her eye, illuminated by the changing lights, had an indescribable allure.0


    The bald man was instantly captivated.0


    Tonight, he felt like he had struck gold. Such a rare beauty was the first he had ever seen. Not only was she stunning, but her exposed skin was milky white, and even without touching it, he could tell the texture would be exquisite.0


    "Please, little sister, let big brother sit down." The bald man gazed at Su Ci with infatuation.0


    Su Ci frowned in disgust. "You''re not qualified to be my big brother. At your age, with your hair almost gone, how can you even call yourself a brother?"0


    Her only big brother was Su ZhiYuan.0


    "Get lost!" Su Ci couldn''t be bothered to engage with him.0


    The bald man''s face turned ugly from the scolding, but he was unwilling to give up on such a beautiful girl for the first time.0


    He licked his lips and toyed with the few remaining strands of hair on his forehead. "Do you know who I am?"0


    Su Ci was speechless. "Who you are is none of my concern."0


    The bald man chuckled. The girl''s fiery temperament only made him more intrigued.0


    As he gazed at her lovely face, he reached out to touch her snow-white, smooth cheek.0


    Across from them, Ji Chi frowned deeply. He quickly walked over, intending to stop the man.0


    However, four bodyguards hidden in the shadows moved even faster.0


    One bodyguard grabbed the bald man''s hand and twisted it behind his back, while another bodyguard pinned his neck.0


    "Miss." The bodyguards waited for Su Ci''s instructions.0


    Su Ci propped her chin on one hand, her expressionnguid, but her tone was full of disdain. "Throw him out of the bar. I don''t want to see his face again."0


    "Yes, Miss."0


    Then, the bald man was muffled by two bodyguards, his arms pinned, and half-dragged, half-carried out of the bar and thrown onto the street.0


    The crowd was stunned.0


    In less than a minute, the situation hadpletely reversed. Some had beenmenting that such a beautiful girl was about to be taken advantage of by the bald man, but they were shocked by the sudden twist.0


    Seeing the two tall bodyguards standing behind the beautiful girl, they were left in awe. This was no delicate, easily preyed-upon little rabbit¡ªthis was a queen.0


    Ji Chi retracted his foot and chuckled self-deprecatingly. The precious treasure of the Su family wasn''t something he could protect.0


    Ji Chi picked up the tray and left.0


    The manager saw Ji Chie in and grabbed him. "This is the order for room 108. You''ll be in charge. The guests inside are from the Lu Family, and they''re a big deal. You absolutely cannot offend them. Serve them well, understand?"0


    Ji Chi nodded.0


    At that moment, inside room 108, the sound ofughter andmotion could be heard.0


    "I... I don''t know you. Please let me go." Ding Xiaoyou bit her lip, her weak and helpless demeanor only fueling the man''s desire to possess her.0


    Lu Wudi not only didn''t let go of Ding Xiaoyou''s hand but pulled her closer to his chest. "You ran into me yourself earlier. You were the one who seduced me."0


    The woman wasn''t particrly beautiful, but she wore a white long dress, looking pure and lovely, quite different from the heavily made-up, sexy women in the bar.0


    After indulging in rich, luxurious meals, a simple home-cooked dish wasn''t bad either.0


    Moreover, Lu Wudi had never seen a woman with such an unyielding expression before. He found it quite intriguing.0


    He was wealthy, and many women threw themselves at him. But a delicate, pure girl like this was a first for him.0


    "I didn''t." Ding Xiaoyou''s eyes reddened. Her dress was wrinkled from struggling, and the surrounding people were all watching her humiliation. She felt humiliated and wanted to cry.0


    Earlier, she had been in the corridor, trying to find Ji Chi, when this drunken man had bumped into her and pulled her into the private room.0


    Lu Wudi tightened his grip on her hand, inhaled a drag of his cigarette, and blew the smoke into Ding Xiaoyou''s face. He had drunk quite a bit and felt a bit dizzy, only finding the woman in his arms soft and weak, yet stubbornly unyielding.0


    He pulled her closer and whispered in her ear, "Do you know who I am? I''m from the Lu Family, the cousin of the richest man. Be my girlfriend, and whatever you like, I can give you¡ªcars, houses, beautiful clothes, jewelry. If you want it, I can give it to you."0


    Ding Xiaoyou''s struggle momentarily paused.0


    She looked at the man holding her in surprise. She had heard of the Lu Family.0


    Ding Xiaoyou had once heard her colleagues at the store mention that the Lu Family was incredibly wealthy. If converted to cash, even a shopping mall might not be enough to hold all their money.0


    Lu Wudi kissed her cheek. "You''ve heard of us, haven''t you? Follow me, and you can have anything you want. What''s your name?"0


    Ding Xiaoyou looked at the man kissing her. He wasn''t as handsome as Ji Chi and was slightly overweight, but his features were decent, and his expensive suit gave him an air of wealth.0


    She bit her lip and whispered, "Ding Xiaoyou."0


    Lu Wudi kissed her again. "Xiaoyou, what a lovely name."0


    "Lu ge, congrattions on getting a new girlfriend." The other men raised their sses, joining in themotion.0


    "I''m not his girlfriend. I didn''t agree to it." Ding Xiaoyou quickly denied.0


    She frowned, feeling conflicted. "I don''t want your gifts. My family may be poor, but I can earn my own money. Let me go. I want to go home."0


    "I''ve never met a woman with such backbone." Lu Wudi let out a burp, full of alcohol. He raised an eyebrow. "Woman, you''ve caught my attention."0


    Ding Xiaoyou blushed. She pulled at his hand. "Let me go."0


    At that moment, the door opened, and a handsome waiter pushed a cart in. "Sir, here are your drinks."0


    Ding Xiaoyou suddenly saw Ji Chi appear. She was momentarily stunned, then her face flushed with humiliation. Seeing the handsome Ji Chi, she no longer wanted to deal with the man holding her.0


    "Ji Chi, save me." Ding Xiaoyou pleaded with Ji Chi, hoping he woulde to her rescue.0


    "Oh, you know this little waiter?" Lu Wudi pulled Ding Xiaoyou closer.0


    "I don''t like you, and I don''t want your money. Let me go." Ding Xiaoyou struggled. "Ji Chi, save me. I don''t know him. This man suddenly pulled me into the private room."0


    "You''re asking a mere waiter to save you?" Lu Wudi, seeing the woman he liked turn to another man for help, became even more displeased. He kicked a bottle of foreign liquor off the table with his foot.0


    The ss bottle shattered immediately.0


    Lu Wudi looked at Ji Chi triumphantly. "Oh, it''s broken. Waiter,e and pick it up."0


    Ji Chi''s lips tightened. Without a word, he went to get a broom and dustpan from outside.0


    Lu Wudi raised his chin, looking down at Ji Chi. "I told you to pick it up with your hands."0


    Ji Chi lowered his eyes and let go of the broom, bending down to pick up the ss.0


    Lu Wudiughed, then caressed Ding Xiaoyou''s face. "Look, do you like a man who grovels like this? What can he give you?"0


    Ding Xiaoyou was stunned. She felt a pang of heartache. "Who I like is none of your business. Ji Chi, save me."0


    Lu Wudi was about to sneer, but the next second, a piece of ss was pressed against his neck. "Sir, please let her go."0


    Ji Chi''s expression was cold. He didn''t want to cause trouble, but even if it was a girl he didn''t know, he couldn''t stand by and do nothing, let alone a colleague he knew.0


    He had studied medicine not only to treat his mother but also to help others.0


    A healer needed apassionate heart.0


    If he turned a blind eye now, he wouldn''t be fit to practice medicer.0


    Lu Wudi red at Ji Chi and chuckled coldly. "Heh, you''ve got some guts."0


    Feeling the sharp edge of the ss against his neck, he let go of Ding Xiaoyou.0


    Ding Xiaoyou quickly hid behind Ji Chi, clutching his clothes tightly. "Thank you, Ji Chi."0


    Ji Chi took back the ss in his hand and said to Lu Wudi, "I''m sorry for the offense."0


    The moment Ji Chi''s words fell, several men rushed over. "You punk, daring to mess with Lu Shao? You''re asking for it!"0


    "Don''t fight!" Ding Xiaoyou quickly dodged to the side, terrified as she watched Ji Chi being surrounded by the men.0


    Lu Wudiughed sarcastically. "If he dies, it''s on me."0


    Ding Xiaoyou''s pupils shrank instantly.0


    She knew this time she had truly gotten herself into trouble. The Lu Family was so wealthy, and both she and Ji Chi came from poor families¡ªthey simply couldn''t afford to provoke them.0


    For people like them, even if their limbs were broken or they were beaten to death, it would be considered normal.0


    Ding Xiaoyou bit her lip in fear, knowing that Ji Chi was no match for them.0


    She slowly moved toward the door, pushed it open, and ran outside.0


    Ding Xiaoyou fled in fear.0


    In the lobby.0


    Su Ci nced at the time on her phone; there were still ten minutes left.0


    Her gaze searched the surroundings for Ji Chi, but she couldn''t see him. Just a moment ago, he had been nearby.0


    Su Ci frowned and instructed the bodyguard behind her, "Find Ji Chi immediately. I need to know where he is right now."0


    The bodyguard quickly responded, "Yes, Miss."0


    At that moment, Su Ci spotted Ding Xiaoyou in the crowd, her figure disoriented and fleeing in panic.0


    She narrowed her eyes and said to another bodyguard, "Go and stop her."

 Chapter 65

    After Ding Xiaoyou escaped, she was terrified like a startled bird. Seeing the man in ck suddenly blocking her path, she fearfully stepped backward, "Please, don''t catch me. I won''t run away anymore."


    Ding Xiaoyou was anxious and helpless. Thinking of Ji Chi being surrounded and beaten by them, she worried that Elder Young Master Lu would treat her the same way.


    She sniffled pitifully, "I can agree to be Young Master Lu''s girlfriend."


    The bodyguard couldn''t understand what she was saying, "Our young miss wants to see you. Pleasee with me."


    Ding Xiaoyou was stunned - wasn''t it Young Master Lu who sent someone to catch her?


    She followed the man in ck clothing with confusion and reluctance. Only when she saw the girl sitting in the booth - beautiful and bright-eyed, still stunning even in the flickering lights and noisy environment - did Ding Xiaoyou realize who it was.


    It was that privileged princess.


    Ding Xiaoyou bit her lip, looking at her own wrinkled dress and disheveled appearance, then at the other girl''s refined looks, surrounded by bodyguards in her elevated position. She felt bitter and resentful.


    Was this the difference between the poor and the wealthy?


    She was toyed with by rich people and had to live in fear, while this privileged princess sat herefortably with so many people protecting her.


    Su Ci met her gaze and felt the milk tea shop employee''s hostile look.


    Why?


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes, examining the other person, "Why were you running away in such panic earlier?"


    Ding Xiaoyou bit her lip, thinking of her earlier humiliation, not wanting to tell the other party and let themugh at her.


    Su Ci continued asking, "Did you see Ji Chi earlier?"


    Ding Xiaoyou''s expression froze.


    Su Ci stared at her, saying with certainty, "You did see him. Where is he?"


    Ding Xiaoyou opened her mouth, seeing the bodyguards next to the privileged girl. The other party could send her people to help Ji Chi.


    But if the privileged princess saved Ji Chi, she was certain that Ji Chi would be moved by her.


    The next second, thinking that Ji Chi might still be getting beaten by Young Master Lu''s men, she couldn''t bear it.


    Ding Xiaoyou took a deep breath, just as she was about to tell the other party where Ji Chi was, a tall bodyguard walked over quickly.


    "Miss, I asked the bar manager. Young Master Ji Chi just delivered drinks to Room 108," the bodyguard told Su Ci.


    Beside them, Ding Xiaoyou couldn''t help speaking up, her voice tearful, "Ji Chi was trying to save me. He''s now being surrounded and beaten by a group of people in Room 108."


    Su Ci immediately stood up, her gaze fierce as she coldly looked at Ding Xiaoyou, "Why didn''t you say so earlier!"


    Ding Xiaoyou''s breath caught, her voice very low, as if frightened by Su Ci, "I... I thought he might have escaped."


    Su Ci gave her a harsh re, then said to the bodyguard: "Lead the way."


    "Yes, Miss."


    Su Ci left without another nce at Ding Xiaoyou.


    She looked at the time on her phone - six minutes left. She hoped Ji Chi could hold on.


    In the private room.


    Several people surrounded Ji Chi, punching and kicking him.


    At first, Ji Chi didn''t fight back, but when he realized these people were trying to kill him, he started to resist and strike back.


    But the other side had more people, and Ji Chi wasn''t skilled at fighting. One person directly smashed a ss bottle against his head.


    Blood immediately flowed from his forehead.


    Ji Chi was forced down on one knee.


    Five people beating one, and with his head injured, Ji Chi could barely resist.


    "Dare to threaten me? You''ve got guts," Lu Wudi hupped again, looking mockingly at Ji Chi. "Just a little waiter, trying to y hero and save the damsel in distress. Don''t you know your ce? Now you''re being beaten like a dead dog."


    Lu Wudi opened a bottle of red wine, one foot on the coffee table, and beckoned to Ji Chi like calling a dog, "Come on, crawl between my legs, and I''ll let you go."


    Ji Chi''s lips had lost their color, but he coldly stared at the other person, kneeling on one knee with his back still straight, refusing to submit.


    "Lu''s telling you to crawl through, are you deaf?" Ackey beside pushed Ji Chi, but he didn''t move an inch.


    "Crawl through."


    "Boss, he probably hasn''t been beaten enough."


    "Crawl through like a dog." One of them kicked Ji Chi''s straight back.


    Ji Chi frowned in pain, letting out a muffled groan, but still didn''t move.


    "Boss, this guy''s stubborn. Let us help you train him some more. He''ll behave once we soften him up." Someoneughed.


    Lu Wudi looked down at Ji Chi, "Fine, keep beating him until he listens."


    Hearing Lu Wudi''s words, several people started a new round of punching and kicking Ji Chi.


    Outside, Su Ci followed the bodyguard toward Room 108.


    At this moment, her phone suddenly rang.


    It was Lu Zhe calling.


    Su Ci hesitated.


    "Miss, Room 108 is ahead," the bodyguard reminded her.


    Su Ci pressed her lips together and rejected Lu Zhe''s call.


    She walked forward, her voice cold, "Open the door directly. If it won''t open, break it down."


    "Yes, Miss."


    The bodyguard followed Su Ci''s order and turned the door handle. The door wasn''t locked.


    He pushed it open directly.


    Su Ci stood at the doorway, looking inside.


    She saw Ji Chi kneeling on one knee, someone pressing down on his back, while a man in a suit stood in front of Ji Chi, raising a wine bottle high, about to smash it down on him.


    Just as the bottle was about to fall, one of the bodyguards rushed forward and stopped it.


    "Who are you?" Lu Wudi was shocked to see the man suddenly appear before him, "Don''t meddle in young master''s business."


    Su Ci''s gaze swept around the room.


    The interior was smoky and chaotic, the coffee table covered in wine bottles and sses, aplete mess. From their dress and appearance, she could tell they were all rich kids.


    Su Ci''s melodious voice carried a hint of coldness, "Whatever they did to Ji Chi, do it back to them."


    Everyone was shocked to see the beautiful girl at the door who looked like an ethereal being, thinking they must have misheard.


    Ji Chi heard Su Ci''s voice and suddenly raised his head. Blood was flowing from his forehead, one side of his face was swollen and red, and his mouth corner was also stained with blood.


    He looked at the girl at the door, his damaged lips twitching slightly, his hard features softening as he stared at her without blinking.


    He hadn''t expected that the personing to save him would be Su Ci.


    His chest, which had been kicked several times, hurt even more, and his heart was beating wildly inside.


    The bodyguards moved simultaneously. They were specially trained and could beat those rich kids until they howled in pain, yet without leaving obvious injuries.


    Ji Chi supported himself on the ground, slowly standing up.


    Ding Xiaoyou had somehow slipped in from behind the door, "Ji Chi."


    She quickly went forward to support him as he swayed.


    Ji Chi dodged her hand, saying coldly, "I''m fine."


    Ding Xiaoyou awkwardly withdrew her hand.


    Seeing Ji Chi''s gaze fixed on Su Ci, she bit her lip, "When I ran out earlier, I met your friend. I told her you were in danger."


    Ding Xiaoyou''s implication was that Su Ci came to save Ji Chi because of her plea for help.


    Ji Chi didn''t look at her at all. He clutched his painful chest, slowly walking to Su Ci''s front, his voice low and hoarse as he looked at her, "Thank you."


    She had saved his life.


    Su Ci''s gaze fell on Ji Chi''s hand covering his chest, seeing that his life value at his wrist had changed from a red line to green squares.


    Ji Chi, who hadn''t died, would live past a hundred.


    Su Ci looked once more, "You''re injured. I''ll have someone take you to the hospital."


    Ji Chi couldn''t tell if his chest hurt from being kicked or if his heart was beating so strongly it caused pain.


    "Thank you."


    Ding Xiaoyou cast a resentful look at Su Ci, then walked to Ji Chi''s side. Seeing the wound on his forehead, her eyes reddened as she reached out to touch it, "Ji Chi, you''re bleeding."


    "Don''t touch his wounds with your hands. You have bacteria on them that will cause infection and inmmation," Su Ci spoke coldly, stopping Ding Xiaoyou''s action.


    Ding Xiaoyou bit her lip pitifully, "I''m sorry, I didn''t know. Ji Chi got hurt because he saved me, I''m just so worried about him."


    "You''re not only ignorant, but also stupid and selfish."


    Su Ci didn''t hold back at all, directly contradicting what Ding Xiaoyou had just said, "You knew Ji Chi was beaten up while trying to save you, so why didn''t you call for help? When my people stopped you, you were stammering and hiding things from me. If my bodyguards hadn''t found where Ji Chi was, were you nning to let him die for you?"


    If she hadn''t saved Ji Chi, he would have been beaten to death by now.


    Not only was it because he tried to save this woman, but also because this woman was selfish and ran away in fear.


    If this woman had sought help in time, Ji Chi might not have been beaten so severely.


    Su Ci looked at Ding Xiaoyou with disgust, then turned to Ji Chi and said, "You saved an ungrateful wretch."


    Ji Chi nodded, "Indeed."


    Hearing this, Ding Xiaoyou''s face turned pale, drained of all color, while her neck flushed red with shame. "That''s not true, I was just too scared... Ji Chi, I wanted to find someone to save you..."


    Su Ci refused to look at Ding Xiaoyou''s tearful, pitiful expression, finding it both sickening and fake.


    Without her intervention, this woman''s selfishness would have gotten Ji Chi killed.


    "Miss, how should we handle these people?" Several bodyguards had easily beaten the rich young men, who were now lying on the ground, howling in pain.


    Su Ci looked at the group coldly and said, "Call the police. These people attempted murder."


    "Calling the police won''t help you. Do you know who I am?" Lu Wudi clutched his stomach, shouting through his pain.


    Su Ci was exasperated; this wasn''t the first man tonight to ask if she knew who they were. "I don''t care who you are. If you break thew, you must face legal consequences."


    "Bah, you''re trying to scare me with thew? Let me tell you, I''m from the Lu family." Lu Wudi showed no fear.


    Su Ci''s red lips curved into a smile. She grabbed an ice bucket from a nearby cart, which was used for chilling wine. Though some ice had melted, it was still half full of ice cubes.


    Su Ci carried the bucket over to Lu Wudi and looked down at him, her dark eyes full of contempt and arrogance.


    Lu Wudi instinctively swallowed, struck by the girl''s stunning beauty.


    However, just as his heart started to flutter, Su Ci lifted the small bucket and poured all the ice and water directly onto Lu Wudi''s head and body.


    "Ahhhh, you crazy woman!" The ice cubes hit Lu Wudi''s head and slipped inside his cor, chilling him to the bone.


    Lu Wudi waspletely disheveled but couldn''t get up as the bodyguards kept him pinned down.


    Su Ci threw the empty bucket at Lu Wudi and asked, "Are you awake now?"


    Lu Wudi red at Su Ci with hatred.


    "I have no interest in knowing who you are, and as far as I know, Uncle Lu only has one son. With your stupidity, how dare you im to be Lu Zhe''s brother?" Su Ci''s beautiful lips delivered devastating words. "Don''t try to intimidate me with the Lu family name. Uncle Lu won''t do anything to the Su family because of a fool like you."


    The Su family?


    Lu Wudi, who had been twisted with anger just a moment ago, and the other rich young men all looked at Su Ci in disbelief. She was from the Su family?


    After being beaten up, they had sobered up, and hearing Su Ci''s words, it took them a while to realize - could this girl be the little princess of the Su family?


    By this time, the police had already arrived quickly.


    The group who had been so arrogant earlier now knew they had crossed the wrong person with the Su family, and their bravadopletely disappeared.


    Even Lu Wudi''s connection to the Lu family was useless. Everyone in City B knew that the Su family wasn''t afraid of the Lu family, and the Lu family wouldn''t dare confront the Su family''s little princess over a mere distant rtive.


    Watching these previously arrogant and condescending rich young men being taken away, Ding Xiaoyou was both shocked and bitter.


    This pampered girl was actually the Su family''s daughter?


    While she had been terrified, her tormentors had been easily subdued by this privileged girl. Was this the tragedy of being poor?


    Because she had no family background, she was bullied pitifully, while this pampered girl was lucky enough to be born into the Su family, fearless even of the powerful, and others had to treat her with respect.


    Ding Xiaoyou''s eyes reddened with bitterness. She bit her lip, thinking how unfair this world was to the poor.


    Having sessfully saved Ji Chi and earned a golden cotton candy, Su Ci''s anxious heart finally settled down.


    "Let''s go. I''ll have someone take you to the hospital to dress your wounds," Su Ci said to Ji Chi.


    Ji Chi nodded, not refusing, "Thank you for the trouble."


    Just as they walked out of the nightclub hall, Su Ci''s phone rang again.


    It was Lu Zhe calling again.


    The environment wasn''t right, with all the noise around, it wasn''t suitable to take the call or exin things.


    Su Ci steeled her heart and hung up the call, nning to call Lu Zhe back when she got home.


    In the car.


    Boss Fang watched as Lu Zhe''s call was hung up again. "What''s wrong? Little Ci won''t take your call?"


    Lu Zhe put away his phone. He had just finished entertaining clients and had drunk a little, his eyes showing slight intoxication. "She might be busy."


    Boss Fang didn''t say much more. "I could have drunk that ss for you earlier. Your alcohol tolerance isn''t good, there was no need to drink yourself."


    Lu Zhe''s status was different now; even if he didn''t drink, others wouldn''t dare to do anything.


    "Uncle Fang, it''s fine. My alcohol tolerance isn''t good, so this can be practice." Many future asions would require drinking, and Lu Zhe wasn''t one to avoid challenges.


    Boss Fang smiled, "Alright, I won''t try to persuade you anymore."


    Though young, Lu Zhe had always had his own principles.


    Boss Fang loosened his tie; even after wearing suits for so long, he still hadn''t gotten used to them - they weren''t asfortable as T-shirts.


    He sighed tiredly and looked out the car window, seeing a girl walking out first from the magnificent nightclub entrance.


    Boss Fang thought his eyes were ying tricks on him and rubbed them hard.


    He nudged Lu Zhe with his elbow and eximed in surprise, "Little Zhe, isn''t that... Little Ci?"


    Lu Zhe followed Boss Fang''s gaze and saw a girl standing at the nightclub entrance. With such an exquisite and beautiful face, who else could it be but Su Ci?


    "Stop the car."


    Lu Zhe''s voice was somewhat deep.


    The car pulled over to the side.


    Boss Fang looked at Lu Zhe, then at Su Ci in the distance, and noticed that boy was there too?


    This was bad - could his earlier thoughts being true? If Su Ci had really changed her heart, what would happen to Lu Zhe?


    Boss Fang watched Lu Zhe get out and close the car door, then sighed.


    Young love was really troublesome.


    Su Ci instructed her bodyguards to take Ji Chi to the hospital for examination, wound dressing, and to get an injury report.


    Ji Chi slowly moved in front of Su Ci. It was his first time being this close to her, and he felt his chest hurt even more from his rapidly beating heart.


    He looked down at her and sincerely thanked her again, "Thank you for saving my life."


    He owed her his life.


    Ding Xiaoyou stood at a distance, clenching her fists, her heart bitter.Aliali: 675e95b59234b3e7f2f07a3d


    Was Ji Chi angry with her?


    But he should understand that poor people like them couldn''t fight against those rich young masters. She was physically weak and couldn''t fight them; all she could do was run away to save herself, so his rescue wouldn''t be in vain.


    If she had the same background and family status as this pampered girl, she would have saved Ji Chi too, instead of fleeing in disgrace.


    Su Ci had received her golden cotton candy and was in a better mood. She said to Ji Chi, "Your mother and my mother are good friends. I couldn''t just watch you die."


    Ji Chi''s injured lips tightened slightly as he gratefully said, "Regardless, you saved me."


    Su Ci smiled, "Alright, go to the hospital now."


    If she were being honest, he was just a tool for her to earn golden cotton candy.


    Ji Chi could only agree.


    As the two turned to get in the car, they caught sight of a tall young man in a white shirt.


    His dark eyes were fixed on them.

 Chapter 66

    "Lu Zhe."


    Su Ci was surprised to see the young man appear suddenly.


    Lu Zhe quietly watched the girl standing next to Ji Chi, his gaze a bit cold. "Tuan Tuan,e here."


    Meeting Lu Zhe''s gaze, Su Ci felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. She had just hung up Lu Zhe''s call, and in the blink of an eye, he caught her outside the bar.


    Su Ci turned her head and instructed the bodyguard, "Take Ji Chi to the hospital."


    Then, she obediently walked over to Lu Zhe.


    The soft and flowing hem of the girl''s dress brushed past Ji Chi''s fingertips, and he clenched his hand tightly.


    His mouth and eyebrows were bruised, but it did not diminish his handsomeness. Instead, his hard and cold face gained a few traces of unruliness.


    Watching the girl walk lightly towards the young man, Ji Chi weakly loosened his grip.


    "Why are you here?" Seeing Lu Zhe suddenly appear, Su Ci was pleasantly surprised.


    "I was just nearby, discussing some business with a client," Lu Zhe''s hand naturally rested on the girl''s waist, showing strong possessiveness. "What about you?"


    "I had some business here," Su Ci thought of the golden cotton candy she had just obtained and the fact that she could now see Lu Zhe, her mood improved.


    Lu Zhe nced at Ji Chi across from them, his gaze a bit cold. He asked Su Ci, "Is your business done?"


    Su Ci nodded, "It''s done. I''ll go with you."


    Lu Zhe''s stiff face softened slightly. "Alright."


    Boss Fang had been paying attention to Lu Zhe and Su Ci''s situation from inside the car. Seeing that Lu Zhe was about to take Su Ci away, he quickly got out of the back seat.


    Su Ci greeted him, "Uncle Fang."


    Boss Fang chuckled, "I was just discussing some business with Xiao Zhe and some clients nearby." He observed the expressions of Su Ci and Lu Zhe, wondering if there was anything wrong between them.


    "Get in the car. Let''s first send Uncle Fang back," Lu Zhe opened the back door.


    "Actually, I can take a taxi back," Boss Fang was very tactful. He had been young before and certainly didn''t want to be a third wheel.


    Su Ci felt a bit embarrassed, "It''s okay, Uncle Fang, please get in the car."


    "Then I''ll sit in the front," Boss Fang opened the door of the passenger seat and sat down.


    With Boss Fang in the front, Lu Zhe and Su Ci sat in the back.


    The car started, and the lights quickly receded behind them. There were not many pedestrians on the road, and the night highway was a bit quiet.


    Su Ci felt the distance between her and Lu Zhe was a bit too far, so she quietly moved her body until her arm touched Lu Zhe''s, then she stopped.


    At this moment, outside the bar.


    Ding Xiaoyou was surprised to see Su Ci walk towards the suddenly appeared young man. Didn''t she like Ji Chi? How did she leave with another man?


    "Ji Chi, let me apany you to the hospital," Since the pampered girl was gone, she had to seize the opportunity, "You got injured saving me, I should take care of you."


    Ji Chi stood straight, he tilted his head and looked at Ding Xiaoyou with a faint smile on her face, "Please stay away from me."


    Ding Xiaoyou''s face turned pale, instantly hurt by Ji Chi''s cold gaze.


    The bodyguard drove the car over and stopped in front of Ji Chi, "Young Master Ji Chi, please get in the car."


    Ji Chi ignored Ding Xiaoyou and got into the car directly.


    There were quite a few drunk customersing in and out of the bar.


    Left alone, Ding Xiaoyou could only take a taxi. At that moment, a drunk, pot-bellied man appeared from somewhere and bumped into Ding Xiaoyou, "Little sister, are you alone?"


    Ding Xiaoyou''s face turned pale with fright, "I don''t know you, stay away from me."


    The drunk man looked at Ding Xiaoyou andughed foolishly, wanting to reach out and hug her. The next second, not sure if the man was too drunk, he made a vomiting sound and seemed about to throw up.


    Ding Xiaoyou looked at him with disgust, wanting to move away.


    Before she could, the drunk man couldn''t hold it back and vomited directly onto Ding Xiaoyou.


    "Ah..."


    The foul and disgusting vomit covered her white dress, and Ding Xiaoyou was on the verge of copse. Thinking of Su Ci leaving in a luxury car and Ji Chi abandoning her, she felt wronged and cried.


    Her family was already very poor, why did heaven make her encounter so many bad things?


    ...


    The car was very quiet.


    Su Ci turned her head to look at Lu Zhe, and the next second, he also lowered his head to look at her.


    His dark eyes, in the dim light, had an indescribable depth.


    Su Ci''s heart suddenly trembled, wanting to see clearly the color of Lu Zhe''s eyes, but he reached out and stroked her hair, disturbing her vision.


    The car arrived at Boss Fang''s residential area. Seeing Boss Fang get out of the car, Su Ci also urged Lu Zhe to get out.


    "I have something good to give you," Lu Zhe''s previous rental house opposite Boss Fang''s had not been canceled, it was more convenient to go there to kiss him.


    Lu Zhe looked at the girl pulling his small hand, her fingertips white and delicate.


    This time, Lu Zhe did not refuse, but was very cooperative.


    The night deepened, and the neighborhood was very quiet.


    Su Ci allowed Lu Zhe to hold her hand and walked upstairs.


    Lu Zhe took out the key and opened the door of the house.


    He turned on the living room lights, the warm yellow light fell on the girl''s eyes, like filled with beautiful stars.


    Closing the door, Lu Zhe''s cold voice was a bit low, "Do you want to drink water?"


    Su Ci shook her head.


    Her two white jade arms directly wrapped around his shoulders, her body pressed against him, eager to give him the golden cotton candy, "Kiss me."


    Lu Zhe did not move.


    Su Ci tiptoed, getting closer to him, and suddenly smelled the smell of wine on his thin lips.


    "Did you drink?" She was a bit surprised, Lu Zhe easily gets drunk when he drinks.


    Lu Zhe steadied her waist, "Just one cup."


    The boy''s eyes were dark and moist, as if intoxicated, Su Ci smiled, "Lu Zhe, are you drunk?"


    Lu Zhe shook his head, "No."


    He lowered his eyes to look at the girl, his hand gently tucked her messy hair behind her ear. His cold voice, in the quiet living room, was exceptionally clear and pleasant, "Why did Tuan Tuan hang up my call tonight?"


    "Ji Chi got into trouble in the bar, and I was busy saving him at that time, so I didn''t answer your call," Su Ci exined, "The second time I hung up, it was because the bar was too noisy, and I didn''t want you to know I was there."


    The girl was very honest.


    Lu Zhe''s gaze darkened, his cold fingertipsnded on her ears, gently rubbing her small earlobe. His throat felt dry, "Why did you go to the bar? Because of Ji Chi?"


    Su Ci nodded, the next second, she felt the fingertips rubbing her earlobe increase in strength.


    It didn''t hurt, but it was very itchy.


    Su Ci wanted to reach out and scratch her ear.


    She said confidently, "I went to do good deeds."


    Lu Zhe looked at her.


    Su Ci exined to him, "Ji Chi was beaten in the bar, and I went to save him."


    Lu Zhe loosened his hand rubbing the girl''s small earlobe, he lowered his head, his thin lips approaching her ear, the injured hand holding her small hand, pressing it against his chest, "Tuan Tuan, it hurts here."


    Su Ci was stunned, in her palm, she felt the strong and powerful heartbeat of the boy.


    The cold thin lips gently touched the girl''s small earlobe, "Do you like Ji Chi?"


    Su Ci was directly shocked by Lu Zhe''s words, "How could it be!"


    She wanted to see Lu Zhe''s expression, wanted to exin to him, and the next second, her earlobe was directly captured by Lu Zhe''s thin lips.


    The cold, itchy sensation came, and Su Ci was so startled that her watery eyes widened in shock.


    Lu Zhe held the girl''s small hand, pressing it hard against his chest, where it felt both sour and painful.


    "Lu Zhe..."


    Su Ci was not only sensitive to her rabbit ears, but also to her current ears.


    The small earlobe was suddenly lightly bitten by teeth, Su Ci couldn''t help but let out a low hum, the wateriness in her eyes even more pronounced.


    She was closely beside Lu Zhe, her body feeling a bit weak.


    "Lu Zhe, are you jealous?" Su Ci endured the boy''s mischief by her ear, she sensitively felt his low mood.


    "Mm," Lu Zhe loosened his teeth, gently kissed the teasingly red little earlobe.


    He had thought that after he was gone, the girl would surely find someone else to apany her, and the mere thought of it was enough to make him jealous to the point of madness.


    "Tuan Tuan, don''t like anyone else," Lu Zhe knew he was selfish, even though he knew he was terminally ill and had little time left, he still wanted to trap her, wanted her eyes to only have him.


    In Ji Chi, he saw a shadow simr to his own.


    Lonely, cold.


    When he saw Su Ci standing together with Ji Chi, he couldn''t help but worry that she might fall for the other man. After all, in this world, anyone else seemed more deserving to stand by her side than him.


    Su Ci blinked, surprised for the first time to hear Lu Zhe utter a pleading tone. She enjoyed seeing him jealous, but she couldn''t bear to see him so humble.


    "I didn''t know you liked me this much," Su Ci said, looking up at him. Her radiant eyes sparkled with joy. "I won''t like anyone else. I only like you."


    Lu Zhe quietly gazed at her.


    "This time, I went to the bar to save Ji Chi, just likest time on the mountain when I saved Li Chenyu." Su Ci''s hand gently touched the cold, stiff side of Lu Zhe''s face. "You''re so smart, you must have noticed something unusual about me a long time ago. I told you, I''m inherently selfish, but because of you, I can be an angel who saves people."


    Lu Zhe realized that the girl was about to reveal her biggest secret to him. His heart pounded violently, and his fingertips tingled.


    Su Ci asked him, "Lu Zhe, a medical report might deceive you, but your body won''t. Haven''t you ever wondered why your condition has been improving?"


    Lu Zhe was stunned. His eyes flickered with uncertainty.


    He knew Su Ci had saved many people, and each time it seemed she was always prepared to do so. As for his amyotrophicteral sclerosis, the frequency of his episodes had indeed decreased. But he had never connected the two.


    Su Ci tiptoed and kissed the cold, thin lips of the young man. "You can guess boldly."


    After all, she had never deliberately avoided him when saving others.


    Lu Zhe was usually sharp, but now his thoughts were a bit muddled. "You save people because of me?"


    Su Ci nodded.


    "Why?" Lu Zhe couldn''t understand the connection, even feeling it was just wishful thinking. He was unsure. "Does your saving people... improve my condition?"


    In the next moment, Su Ci nodded again. She couldn''t say anything too explicit.


    Wasn''t she just letting him figure it out on his own?


    With the answer, Lu Zhe''s dark eyes deepened. His stiff face showed an expression of disbelief. "Tuan Tuan, why..."


    "I can''t say," Su Ci looked at him. "Just remember, as long as I''m here, you won''t die."


    "Tuan Tuan," Lu Zhe softly called out to the girl.


    The revtion was too shocking, and he needed time to process it.


    Since learning he had ALS, he had mentally prepared himself for only a few years left to live. He wouldn''t give up; he would make the most of each day.


    He had never dared to hope his illness could be cured.


    And now, the girl in his arms told him his condition would improve, that he wouldn''t die. A surge of warmth filled his chest as Lu Zhe tightly furrowed his brows.


    "Aren''t you happy?" Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe in confusion. She had kept this secret for so long, and she thought he would be overjoyed to know.


    Lu Zhe nodded. "Happy."


    He didn''t doubt the girl was lying to him. Before, he couldn''t understand why he felt his body improving, but now he had the answer.


    He was being sustained by Su Ci''s acts of saving others.


    Lu Zhe lowered his head, pressing his forehead against hers. "I don''t want you to put yourself in danger because of me."


    Su Ci smiled. Her boy was more concerned about her safety than his own life.


    Su Ci was always very cautious about her own safety. She would never put herself in unnecessary danger. "Don''t worry, I won''t blindly save people. If it''s beyond my ability, I''ll give up."


    Su Ci tiptoed and pressed her red lips against his. "So, you need to kiss me more. I''ll give you something good, and you''ll get better quickly."


    "What''s the good thing?" Lu Zhe asked. Every time the girl mentioned giving him something good, it usually meant she wanted to kiss him.


    But he had never seen what she referred to as the "good thing."


    Su Ci wanted to tell him that the "good thing" could cure his illness, but she couldn''t say it outright.


    She kissed his cold lips and, between their lips and teeth, she replied, "You guess."


    Lu Zhe realized that the "good thing" Su Ci mentioned must be something that could treat his illness. So, she had been saving people to extend his life for a long time.


    A wave of warmth surged through his chest.


    He finally understood what she had been doing for him all along.


    Lu Zhe opened his mouth and captured the girl''s mischievous little tongue, passionately entwining it with his own.


    After a while, Su Ci''s legs felt weak, and her lips were numb. Maybe it was because Lu Zhe had been drinking, but this time he kissed her fiercely, making her tongue ache.


    She leaned weakly against Lu Zhe, her dark, radiant eyes glistening with moisture. "Now, you should understand that I saved Ji Chi for you."


    "Mmm," Lu Zhe tightened his hold on her, afraid she might slip away.


    Su Ci''s slender fingers weakly clutched at his clothes. "You don''t need to be jealous. The only person I like is you."


    Under the light, Lu Zhe''s stiff facial features softenedpletely. He simply replied, "Mmm."


    The warm sensation in his arms made him realize he wasn''t dreaming.Aliali: 675e95b59234b3e7f2f07a3d


    Su Ci pouted in dissatisfaction. She red at him, usingly. "I confessed to you, so you should confess to me too."


    Lu Zhe was silent for a moment.


    His thin lips moved to her ear, his cold voice now carrying a gentle, coaxing tone. "I only like you."


    At his words, Su Ci''s eyes lit up. She pretended to be coy. "Too quiet, I can''t hear you."


    Lu Zhe repeated himself, "I only like you."


    Su Ci was delighted and leaned against Lu Zhe, her beautiful brows curved with joy. "Didn''t hear that, say it again."


    Lu Zhe looked at her,pletely patient. "I like you."


    Su Ci started to act up again,ining, "The words are getting fewer each time! That one doesn''t count."


    Lu Zhe''s lips pressed against her ear. "Su Ci, I like you."


    Su Ciughed in the boy''s arms, looking like a little fox who had gotten what it wanted. "Lu Zhe, I want to hear it again..."

 Chapter 67

    When Su Ci returned to the Su household, Ji Chi had alreadye back from the hospital after having his wounds bandaged. Su''s Father and Su''s Mother were also present.


    Apparently, the bodyguards had informed them about what happened tonight.


    Seeing Ji Chi in such a state, and knowing that the attackers were in the wrong, Su''s Mother was filled with anger. She directly said to her husband, "We can''t let this go. If the Lu family gets involved, we must too. It''s not right for Ji Chi to be beaten after saving someone."


    Su''s Father nodded, "I''ll mention this to Hua Hu Liter. If he decides to intervene, I''ll block him."


    However, based on Su''s Father''s understanding of Lu Chen, that sly fox wouldn''t step in for a troublemaking junior from the Lu family''s branch without any benefit.


    Su''s Mother was still furious, "Thank goodness Su Ci brought bodyguards. Otherwise, would Ji Chi have been beaten to death? These rich kids are too arrogant."


    Thinking about her friend''s child almost losing their life, she felt a wave of fear.


    "Su Ci, why did you go to the bar?" Su''s Father was more concerned about his daughter''s visit to the bar.


    The bar was a ce with a mix of people, and even though it was a familiar establishment, he was not at ease. Moreover, the bar''s security was not strong, which was why those rich kids dared to cause trouble there.


    "I went to see what it was like, Dad. Don''t worry, I didn''t drink, and I had people with me," Su Ci sat next to Su''s Mother and turned to her to act cute, "Mom, I would never put myself in danger. I was just a bit curious about what the bar was like."


    She knew her father always listened to her mother.


    Meanwhile, Ji Chi''s gaze lightly swept over Su Ci''s face, not daring to look at her overly red, glistening lips.


    Su''s Mother red at her husband, "What''s the big deal about our daughter going to see something? If she hadn''t taken people with her tonight, Ji Chi might not be alive."


    Su''s Father, scolded by his wife, didn''t get angry. "I''m just worried about our daughter''s safety. Su Ci, if you go to such aplicated ce again, make sure to take more people."


    Their precious daughter couldn''t be allowed to be bullied.


    Su Ci obediently nodded.


    Seeing the wounds on Ji Chi''s face, Su''s Mother looked distressed, "Ji Chi, go upstairs and rest. Leave the rest to us."


    Su Ci looked up and saw that Ji Chi''s forehead was bandaged with gauze, and his mouth and cheek were covered with band-aids. His originally tough and handsome appearance now looked a bit ridiculous, and less cold.


    Ji Chi responded, and as he looked up, his gaze met Su Ci''s, causing his heart to tighten. He nodded at her and then went upstairs.


    Back in his room, Ji Chi received a call from Fang Qin.


    "I heard from Tong Xin that you got into a fight?" Fang Qin''s voice was anxious on the phone, "Ji Chi, how are you hurt? Is it serious? Do you need me toe and see you?"


    "Mom, I''m fine," Ji Chi sat on the bed, feeling the band-aid on his face about to fall off. He pressed it down, feeling a sharp pain.


    Ji Chi told his mother, "I just came back from the hospital. The wounds have been bandaged, and it''s not serious."


    Fang Qin breathed a sigh of relief, "What exactly happened? Tong Xin said you had a conflict with some rich kids at the bar? Ji Chi, will they retaliate against you?"


    Those families are powerful, and she and her son are just ordinary people. If the other side holds a grudge and doesn''t let it go, her son will definitely suffer.


    Fang Qin became more and more worried.


    "Mom, don''t worry. They won''t do anything to me. Su''s Father and Su''s Mother will help resolve it," Ji Chi spoke calmly, reassuring Fang Qin on the other end of the phone.


    Hearing her son''s words, Fang Qin finally rxed, "I have to trouble the Su family again."


    Fang Qin was worried about being a burden, as their family situation made it hard for them to repay the Su family''s kindness.


    Ji Chi gripped the phone tightly.


    Fang Qin continued, "Ji Chi, why did you get into a fight with those rich kids?"


    She knew her son''s character and knew he wouldn''t start trouble.


    "A colleague was in trouble at the time," Ji Chi said calmly.


    Fang Qin sighed, "Ji Chi, if something like this happens again, don''t be impulsive. Our family''s situation is different from theirs."


    Over the years, with so many debts, Fang Qin had developed a fear of any small disturbance. She only wanted to carefully protect her family and her son.


    Ji Chi lowered his eyes, his voice in the quiet room sounding particrly heavy, "I know."


    Fang Qin reminded Ji Chi a few more times, as the start of the semester was approaching, to take care of his wounds and not to take on any part-time jobs.


    After Ji Chi agreed to each point, she hung up the phone.


    Only the bedsidemp with a warm yellow light was on in the room. Ji Chi''s tall figure cast a lonely shadow on the wall.


    ...


    With the Su family stepping in, Lu Wudi and the others were still detained at the police station.


    Lu Wudi''s grandfather was a cousin of the Lu family''s patriarch, making Lu Wudi and Lu Zhe cousins.


    "Brother, Sister-inw, Wudi has been detained by the police all night. He''s never suffered like this before. As his elders who have watched him grow up, you certainly don''t want to see him suffer," the woman with a mournful face was Lu Wudi''s mother, He Yun.


    Last night, when she learned that her son had been detained by the police, she immediately sent awyer to bail him out, but was unexpectedly rejected.


    After investigating, she found out that the one who reported the incident was the Su family''s young princess.


    She usually relied on the Lu family and was always the center of attention among some minor wealthy families. But when it came to the Su family, she could only rely on Lu Chen to stand up to them.


    He Yun pleaded, "Brother, please send someone to rescue Wudi. The child must have suffered a lot in there."


    Lu Chen loungedzily on the sofa, one arm draped over Wen Ya''s shoulder.


    Hearing He Yun''s words, Lu Chen chuckled, "Su Shengguo called mest night. He said that if I get involved, he''llpete with me for the project in S City."


    He Yun was stunned, then heard Lu Chen say, "That project in S City, onceunched, is worth at least a billion. Is Lu Wudi worth that much?"


    Lu Chen''s character was like that. Except for Wen Ya, he had no mercy for anyone. Sometimes his sharp tongue could infuriate people.


    Even though she knew Lu Chen''s character was detestable, He Yun still flushed with anger.


    She took a deep breath and held back, then turned to beg Wen Ya, "Sister-inw, your dear nephew has been detained all night. He''s been pampered since childhood. How can he stand the environment in the police station?"


    At that moment, Lu Zhe came downstairs.


    Perhaps afterst night''s honest conversation with Su Ci, the feelings of inferiority and darkness that had weighed on him had dissipated.


    Lu Zhe''s face was still stiff, but his clear eyebrows had rxed, making him even more handsome and outstanding.


    He wore a white shirt, his posture straight, and walked down the stairs slowly. Being raised in a wealthy environment,pared to before, Lu Zhe now exuded a noble aura.


    "Baby, are you going out?" Seeing her son, Wen Ya had no more attention to spare for He Yun''sints.


    "Yes, there''s something at thepany. I''ll go over," Lu Zhe replied politely, nodding to the guest, He Yun.


    Wen Ya cared, "Will you be back for dinner tonight? I''ll have them prepare your favorite dishes."


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved into a smile, "Thank you, Mom. I''ll be back for dinner tonight."


    "It''s the weekend. Is the nephew going to thepany?" He Yun''s voice was a bit high.


    Wen Ya''s son had been lost early and, after so many years, had been found again.


    When Lu Zhe was first found, the Lu family privately held a family banquet to introduce his identity.


    At that time, she noticed that Lu Zhe''s features resembled Lu Chen''s, but Lu Zhe looked cold, with a wildness that didn''t seem like a rich kid.


    Seeing Lu Zhe again, He Yun found that in just a short time, the aura of this nephew who had been raised outside hadpletely changed.


    He Yun''s eyes showed a hint of displeasure.


    She disdainfully pursed her lips.


    He Yun had heard that Lu Chen and Wen Ya''s son suffered from ALS. She had looked it up and found that ALS was one of the seven major incurable diseases in the world, and even wealth couldn''t cure it.


    Originally, she had been afraid that this unexpected return of Lu Zhe wouldpete with her son for the family inheritance. However, after learning that he didn''t have much time left to live, she felt reassured.


    Nevertheless, at this moment, looking at the tall and robust figure of Lu Zhe with his healthyplexion, it was hard to tell that he was suffering from a terminal illness.


    If it weren''t for her investigation revealing that Wen Ya and Lu Chen were desperately searching for experts to treat amyotrophicteral sclerosis (ALS), confirming that Lu Zhe indeed had ALS and didn''t have long to live, how could she have been so at ease?


    Wen Ya''s radiant face was filled with a deep smile. "My dear son is very diligent with his work. I''ve asked him to rest, but he refuses, always focusing on his tasks."


    He Yun could clearly hear the underlying meaning in Wen Ya''s words¡ªwas she mocking her son, Lu Wudi, for only indulging in eating, drinking, and having fun?


    What did it matter if Wen Ya was currently triumphant? In the future, her son would still die.


    The vast family fortune of the Lu family would eventually need to find another heir.


    Within the Lu family, only her son had the closest blood rtion to Grandpa Lu. Other distant rtives couldn''tpare to her son.


    Ultimately, Wen Ya and Lu Chen would have to rely on her son.


    Thinking this way, He Yun felt very confident. "Sister-inw, you haven''t agreed to my request about Wudi. Last night, it was that little waiter who wasn''t paying attention and dared to hit Wudi. That''s why Wudi taught him a lesson. Why should that waiter go free while my Wudi gets arrested?"


    Yesterday''s incident, Su Ci had already told Lu Zhe about it.


    Upon hearing He Yun''s words, Lu Zhe spoke up. "That waiter was a guest of Su''s Mother. Last night, Lu Wudi dragged his colleague into a private room, harassed him, and restricted his freedom. Su''s Mother''s guest intervened to help, which angered Lu Wudi, who then had him beaten up."


    Lu Zhe recounted the sequence of events as Su Ci had told him, not allowing He Yun to distort the truth.


    He Yun was momentarily stunned. She hadn''t expected Lu Zhe to be so well-informed about the details.


    She felt somewhat annoyed. "Little nephew, you and Wudi are both members of the Lu family, brothers. You should be helping your own family, not siding with outsiders."


    "Those who do wrong should be punished," Lu Zhe replied, thinking of how Su Ci had puffed up her cheeks in anger when mentioning this incident. His lips curved slightly. "The Lu family doesn''t have the power to cover up everything. I hope Lu Wudi will stop using the Lu family''s name to engage in illegal activities outside."


    He turned to his parents and said, "I''ll go take care of some things now."


    Wen Ya smiled and nodded. "Go ahead."


    He Yun red in anger. She hadn''t expected this newly returned Lu Zhe to be so bold as to criticize her son.


    "Hmph, little nephew must be new to the Lu family and hasn''t developed any sense of kinship yet. He doesn''t understand what brotherhood means," He Yun couldn''t help but sarcastically add.


    Wen Ya cherished her son the most. Ever since he returned, even Lu Chen had taken a backseat to him. How could she tolerate anyone saying a single bad word about her son?


    "Lu Chen and I only have one child. It''s normal for him not to understand brotherhood," Wen Ya said with a hint of pride on her radiant face. She wasn''t naive; she knew exactly what He Yun had been plotting all these years.


    Wasn''t it just her dream that her good-for-nothing son would inherit the Lu family?


    Dream on.


    He Yun''s expression darkened. Wen Ya''s words clearly meant that Lu Zhe and Lu Wudi were not brothers.


    Wen Ya didn''t care how embarrassed He Yun felt. She deliberately yawned. "We can''t help you with Wudi''s situation. You might want to go plead with the Su family, since Wudi was in the wrong."


    "Brother, sister-inw, how can you just believe little nephew''s words? He wasn''t even therest night. He only heard about it from someone else. His ount might not be urate," He Yunined unhappily.


    Wen Ya pulled at her red lips. "Whatever my son says, my husband and I believe. He''s my son. What''s wrong with that?"


    Lu Chen noticed his wife yawn and wouldn''t bother considering He Yun''s feelings. A distant rtive dared toe to his house and order them around? If it weren''t for Grandpa Lu''s face, he would have long grown tired of wasting time listening to her nonsense.


    Lu Chen directly called the butler. "My wife needs to rest. Show her out."


    "Yes, sir," the butler approached He Yun. "Please."


    He Yun, despite her fear of Lu Chen, had to leave reluctantly. In the Lu family, the most intimidating person wasn''t Grandpa Lu, but the unpredictable and moody Lu Chen. When he was ruthless, he could easily destroy you.


    He Yun could only leave in frustration.


    Lu Chen raised an eyebrow. "What a nuisance. A good-for-nothing like that isn''t worth wasting my time on." Lu Chen had never taken Lu Wudi, his distant nephew, seriously.


    After speaking, Lu Chen turned to his wife.


    A moment ago, his face had still shown disdain, but now, Lu Chen instantly changed his expression. With his peach blossom eyes raised, he spoke very tteringly to Wen Ya. "Ya Ya, are you tired? Let me help you upstairs to rest."


    Wen Ya lifted her chin, allowing her husband to ce his hand on her waist as he helped her upstairs.


    ...


    In September, the weather was still hot, with no breeze around. Pedestrians would sweat profusely after walking for just a short while.


    Su Ci stepped out of the car and immediately opened an umbre.


    She was very vain and couldn''t bear to let her fair skin be exposed to the scorching sun.


    Today was the start of the new semester.


    The university entrance was adorned with banners weing new students. Many freshmen with luggage were around, and not far away, volunteer booths were set up, with senior students offering assistance to the neers.


    Su Ci came to handle her enrollment procedures, pick up some military training supplies, and attend her ss meeting.


    She wore a delicate white dress with floral patterns. Her fair skin and the umbre she held made her so beautiful that people couldn''t take their eyes off her.


    Su Ci walked at a leisurely pace, looking rxed, unlike the surrounding students who were dragging luggage, hurrying, and sweating profusely.


    Passing freshmen couldn''t help but sneak nces at her.


    "Su Ci!"


    Not far ahead, someone called out to Su Ci.


    She turned around to see a girl dragging a white suitcase, sweating profusely, hurrying towards her.


    Oh, it was the tool character Shen Xue.Aliali: 675f8fba9234b3e7f2017a08


    Since Lu Zhe arrived in B City, Su Ci no longer needed Shen Xue, and she had almost forgotten about her existence.


    "I''m exhausted," Shen Xue panted as she reached Su Ci. "I didn''t expect to be at the same university as you. We''re so fated."


    Su Ci nodded. "It''s a bit of a coincidence, indeed."


    "But it''s not just me. A few other people from our school also came to B University," Shen Xue slowly caught her breath.


    Su Ci wasn''t from the same high school as Shen Xue, so she wasn''t particrly interested in the others.


    Shen Xue pouted. "Zhao Youyou and Fu Baili also came to B University."


    She had once liked Fu Baili, and Zhao Youyou was her rival in love. Naturally, Shen Xue paid attention to which university they chose.


    Upon hearing this, Su Ci frowned.


    She hadn''t expected the main characters, Fu Baili and Zhao Youyou, to also be at this university.


    She didn''t like Zhao Youyou. The girl''s character wasn''t great, but more importantly, every time she thought of how Lu Zhe had died for Zhao Youyou in his previous life, she couldn''t help but dislike her.

 Chapter 68

    Shen Xue had once tried to jump off a building for Fu Baili, but Su Ci had saved her. Now, seeing Su Ci frown, Shen Xue quickly exined, "I''m not still obsessed with Fu Baili to the point of caring about him and Zhao Youyou."


    Su Ci looked at her.


    Shen Xue awkwardly cleared her throat, "How should I put it? My family background and looks aren''t any worse than Zhao Youyou''s. Losing to her, of course, I''m not convinced. I just want to see how long Zhao Youyou and Fu Baili canst together."


    Su Ci knew this question well, "I''ll tell you, they''re bound together for life. You don''t need to waste your energy."


    Fu Baili and Zhao Youyou are the main characters of this rebirth sweet-pet romance novel, destined to be together. As for Shen Xue, she''s a supporting character who barely survives a few chapters. If Su Ci hadn''t saved her, she would have died.


    "If you''re blind and continue to like Fu Baili, I can save you once, but I might not be able to save you a second time," Su Ci said. After all, in this book, all the supporting characters who target Zhao Youyou end up as cannon fodder.


    Shen Xue hadn''tpletely given up on Fu Baili. Saying she didn''t like him was just self-deception and a way to deceive others.


    She looked depressed at Su Ci, "How can you be so sure they''ll stay together forever? I''ve heard that Fu Baili''s grandmother doesn''t like Zhao Youyou and opposes their rtionship."


    Su Ci was a bit surprised. In the book, only the male protagonist''s parents were mentioned, who tried to bribe Zhao Youyou with money. There was no mention of Fu Baili''s grandmother opposing them.


    However, she remembered saving Fu Laotai.


    If she hadn''t saved Fu Laotai, the olddy would have been killed by a falling object. There wouldn''t have been a scenario where Fu Laotai opposed the main couple''s rtionship.


    Su Ci''s red lips curved into a smile. She loved drama and didn''t mind making things moreplicated. She hadn''t expected to create such a big trouble for Zhao Youyou.


    Su Ci said impatiently, "Even if Fu Laotai opposes them, what can you do about it? Do you think you can take her ce?"


    Regardless of the process, the main couple would eventually end up happily together.


    Su Ci''s tone was disdainful, "You''re not that stupid, are you? Thinking of bing a stepping stone for their rtionship, helping their love grow?"


    Shen Xue gasped. She had experienced how vicious Su Ci could be with her words.


    However, despite the harshness, the truth was undeniable.


    Shen Xue muttered, "No, I''m not that stupid."


    Su Ci scrutinized her, "A smart person wouldn''t jump off a building for someone who doesn''t love them."


    "Ah, don''t bring up my past mistakes! I was just momentarily confused back then," Shen Xue said, feeling both embarrassed and ashamed. Thinking about her past foolishness, she wished she could dig a hole in the ground with her feet.


    Su Ciughed, "As long as you feel regret and shame, you''re notpletely hopeless."


    Shen Xue pleaded, "Gorgeous Su, please, leave me some dignity."


    The sun was high, and the sunlight was intense.


    Su Ci was getting impatient standing there, and people around her kept ncing her way. She held an umbre,pletely shielding herself from the sun. "Do you have anything else?"


    Shen Xue shook her head.


    "Oh, then I''m leaving," Su Ci said, not wanting to stay in the sun any longer.


    With that, Su Ci turned and left without a second thought, her exquisite skirt swaying gracefully.


    Shen Xue was deeply puzzled. With Su Ci''s pride, temper, and beauty, how could she like Lu Zhe?


    Afterpleting her enrollment procedures, Su Ci followed the instructions to the designated ssroom for the ss meeting.


    "Su Ci," Shen Xue, sitting in the third row, waved enthusiastically at Su Ci as she entered the ssroom.


    Su Ci sat down next to her.


    Shen Xue''s face was red, either from excitement or the sun. "I can''t believe we''re in the same ss. What a coincidence!"


    Su Ci adjusted her skirt, "A coincidence of misfortune?"


    Shen Xue pouted, feeling wronged, "You''re really harsh."


    But the more Su Ci rejected her, the more Shen Xue wanted to stick to her. "I didn''t expect you to choose the Chinese department. Do you like literature too?"


    Su Ci shook her head. She propped her chin with one hand, boredly waiting for the ss meeting to start. "I couldn''t think of anything I liked."


    Lu Zhe had chosenputer science, a science major. She thought for a moment and chose a liberal arts major. One science, one liberal arts¡ªperfect match.


    Shen Xue would never have guessed that Su Ci chose her major so casually.


    At that moment, a girl with an excited voice approached Su Ci, "Um... can I sit here?"


    Su Cizily lifted her eyes to look. Oh, another familiar face.


    Su Ci nodded.


    Wen Duoyu''s eyes were filled with excitement. She suppressed the urge to scream and carefully sat down next to Su Ci.


    Originally, her grades weren''t particrly outstanding in her grade.


    But Wen Duoyu had set a goal to attend the same university as Su Ci. She worked hard in the run-up to the college entrance exam, studyingte into the night and using every spare moment to do practice questions.


    She hadn''t expected her wish toe true.


    Not only could she attend the same university as Su Ci, but they were also in the same ss, and now she was sitting next to her.


    Wen Duoyu felt all her efforts were worth it. She had no regrets.


    Wen Duoyu mustered her courage to greet Su Ci, her voice a little soft, "Su... Su Ci, long time no see."


    She secretly took a breath, as if smelling the scent around Su Ci.


    Su Ci smelled so good.


    Wen Duoyu was so excited that she secretly clenched her hands.


    Su Ci nodded, "Long time no see."


    Shen Xue curiously examined Wen Duoyu. The girl was fair and clean, her face and eyes full of shyness. She seemed very introverted. "You two know each other?"


    Wen Duoyu shyly nodded, "Yes, we were in the same ss before. Su Ci saved my life."


    "She saved your life?" Shen Xue''s eyes widened in surprise.


    Wen Duoyu nodded again, "I once wanted tomit suicide, but Su Ci pulled me back and helped me solve my problems."


    Su Ci had taken her to the police station to report the case, and that''s how she got her money back. Now that she could attend B University, arge part of it was due to Su Ci''s influence.


    She was truly grateful to Su Ci. If not for her, she wouldn''t be sitting here.


    "I too..." Shen Xue was a bit excited, "Su Ci also saved me."


    Wen Duoyu looked at Shen Xue in surprise. It was truly amazing that both people on either side of Su Ci had been saved by her.


    "Sister, it turns out we''re both people saved by Su Ci. What a coincidence!" Shen Xue almost wanted to shake hands with her.


    Wen Duoyu nodded vigorously.


    Su Ci was sandwiched between the two chatting, and she let out a soft hum, "Should I switch seats with you?"


    Wen Duoyu''s face turned red.


    Shen Xue quickly stopped, "Su Ci, how many people have you saved?"


    Su Ci started counting with her beautiful fingers: "One, two, three, four..."


    Seeing Su Ci actually counting, Shen Xue looked at her in horror, "Are you serious? You''ve saved so many people?"


    She had thought Su Ci only saved her, but then there was Wen Duoyu. Now seeing Su Ci seriously counting, Shen Xue was shocked, "Are you serious? You''ve saved that many people?"


    Su Ci stopped counting and smiled, "I''m just kidding. Do you think I''m some kind of angel or a savior?"


    "In my eyes, you are an angel," Wen Duoyu mustered the courage topliment Su Ci, then blushed again.


    Su Ci was beautiful, kind, and had excellent grades. In Wen Duoyu''s eyes, she was a fairy.


    After receiving a wave ofpliments, Su Ci''s mood instantly improved.


    Indeed, her ears were only suited for hearing praise.


    The ss gradually filled up, with more boys than girls.


    During the ss meeting, the counselor asked everyone to vote to elect the ss monitor and other ss leaders.


    When it was Su Ci''s turn to stand up and introduce herself, the surrounding apuse was intense.


    No wonder, Su Ci was too beautiful. Unless someone was blind, it was hard not to like her.


    Su Ci was usually quiteid-back, and she had no interest in running for ss leader positions. She simply introduced her name and sat down.


    Her attention was on the wrists of the students introducing themselves, using the nearest principle to see if there were any golden cotton candies in the ss.


    However, after a circle, Su Ci found that everyone in the ss had yellow life bars.


    She wasn''t discouraged. After all, she couldn''t hope for others to die.


    After selecting the ss leaders, the counselor announced the time and meeting ce for the military training the next day, and then dismissed the meeting.


    Su Ci followed Shen Xue and Wen Duoyu to pick up the military training supplies. When she saw the military training shoes, she was stunned.


    She pinched the sole of the shoe and found it unusually hard for her.


    Shen Xue said, "I did some research beforehand and looked it up online. You need to add ayer of breathable shoe pads inside the military training shoes to make them morefortable. However, I saw somements on forums suggesting using sanitary pads as shoe pads."


    At this moment, Su Ci''s ck eyes widened in surprise, looking especially adorable. "Sanitary pads?"


    Wen Duoyu was also shocked. "Why would you put... that in your shoes?"


    "Look at these shoes," Shen Xue exined to Su Ci and Wen Duoyu. "The soles are so hard and thin. Wearing them for such a long time during military training will definitely make your feet hurt or even cause blisters. Putting a sanitary pad inside can act as a shoe pad and also absorb sweat."


    Wen Duoyu had never heard of using sanitary pads this way before. She blushed and shook her head, refusing the idea. She found it too awkward to imagine her feet stepping on a sanitary pad.


    "I bought a lot of overnight sanitary pads, which are thicker. I n to use them as shoe pads," Shen Xue said, taking good care of her feet.


    Hearing Shen Xue mention the possibility of getting blisters, Su Ci could already imagine that, with her delicate feet, it wasn''t just a possibility but a certainty. The thought of it made her feel pain.


    When Su Ci returned to the Su household, Ji Chi was also back. He had a white bandage on his forehead, and his wound had not fully healed yet.


    Originally, Ji Chi had decided to move into the dormitory during the first few days of school, but due to his injury and the uing military training, Su''s Mother suggested he wait until his injury was fully healed before moving out. She believed that the food at home would be more nutritious than the cafeteria during the tough military training period.


    Even Fang Qin, worried about her son''s injury, advised him to wait until his wound healed before moving into the school dormitory.


    As a result, Ji Chi continued to stay at the Su household for a while, nning to move into the dormitory after the military training ended, by which time his wound would surely have healed.


    Seeing her daughter and Ji Chi return one after the other, Su''s Mother''s gaze fell on the military training uniforms they were holding. She couldn''t help but smile. "You''re back. Are you tired? Sit down and rest for a while."


    Su Ci wasn''t physically tired, but she was mentally exhausted.


    She sat down next to Su''s Mother and took the juice brought by the servant, sipping a few mouthfuls before saying, "Do I really have to go to military training tomorrow?"


    The thought of standing under the scorching sun made her feel miserable.


    Su''s Mother, who always doted on her daughter, didn''t want her to suffer either. However, Su''s Father had argued that military training could strengthen Su Ci''s body, improve her physical fitness, and build her willpower, which would be beneficial for her. Since other college students were participating, Su Ci couldn''t be too spoiled and miss out on such a collective activity.


    "Just experience it, Ci Ci. Fifteen days will pass quickly," Su''s Mother said, gently stroking her daughter''s smooth hair. She picked up the military training uniform from the side. "Have you tried this on? Is it the right size?"


    Su Ci shook her head. "I just picked it up ording to the size. I haven''t tried it on yet."


    Her frame was small, and as long as it was the small size, she could wear it. Moreover, these military training uniforms were generally oversized.


    "I haven''t seen you in camouge before. Why don''t you try it on and see if it fits? We can make any necessary adjustments overnight if needed," Su''s Mother suggested.


    Su Ci nodded. She was also curious about how she would look in the military training uniform.


    "Ji Chi, you should try yours on too," Su''s Mother said to Ji Chi, who was sitting across from them. "And put on the shoes as well to see if they fit."


    "Okay," Ji Chi replied and went upstairs with the clothes.


    By the time Ji Chi changed into his uniform, Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai had alreadye downstairs and were sitting on the sofa. The two little ones were also about to start school in two days.


    When Little Su Ning saw Ji Chi in his camouge uniform, his eyes lit up. "Chicken Wing Brother is so handsome."


    Little Tiancai stood up, his small body straight, and saluted Ji Chi. "Police Brother, hello."


    Su''s Mother was instantly amused by the two little clever ones.


    She turned to look at Ji Chi. "Ji Chi, you look very fitting in this uniform. Very spirited."


    Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai ran over and curiously reached out to touch Ji Chi''s pants.


    At that moment, Su Ci also came downstairs, having changed into her camouge uniform.


    "Ci Ci,e over and let me take a look," Su''s Mother said, her eyes lighting up when she saw her daughter. As expected of her daughter, she was beautiful and looked good in anything.


    Su Ci''s waist was slim, and her legs were long. She had put on the hat and tucked all her hair inside, revealing her delicate and beautiful swan-like neck. "This uniform isn''t breathable. It''s so hot."


    "The fabric is very durable and resistant to friction, so it''s not very ventted," Su''s Mother exined, unable to resist taking out her phone. "Ci Ci, look here and smile."


    Su Ci adjusted her belt and, hearing her mother''s words, looked over.


    Su''s Mother pressed the shutter button and took a photo of her daughter. "My daughter is so beautiful."


    "Mom, did you take a photo?" Su Ci was a bit surprised. "No, I look ugly right now."


    Su Ci was very protective of her appearance and didn''t want any unttering photos of herself.


    Su''s Mother saved the photo, nning to post it on her WeChat Moments to show off her daughter. "How could you look ugly? You look very spirited in this."


    Little Su Ning walked over to Su Ci and sweetly praised her. "Sister is beautiful."


    "Thank you, Ning Ning," Su Ci said, moving her feet. "These shoes are very ufortable."


    The soles were too hard for her, and wearing them was pure torture.


    Su''s Mother thought of something and said, "I have several new shoe pads at home. I''ll have someone bring them to you. You can put them in your shoes to make them morefortable."


    Su Ci nodded.


    "Ji Chi, are your shoesfortable? Let me see if ZhiYuan has any new shoe pads to give you," Su''s Mother asked Ji Chi, who was standing quietly beside them, almost like a shadow.


    Ji Chi politely declined. "Thank you, Aunt Su, but it''s not necessary. They fit me well right now."


    Su Ci looked at Ji Chi.


    It was undeniable that the camouge uniform looked very handsome on Ji Chi. His tall and sturdy frame suited the uniform perfectly, and his cold, hard features gave him a strong, military-like aura.


    Su Ci thought of Lu Zhe and wondered how he would look in this camouge uniform. He would definitely be very handsome!


    "It''s so hot. This uniform isn''t breathable at all. I''m going to change out of it," Su Ci said, not only finding the fabric non-breathable but also feeling it scratch her skin.


    Hearing her daughter''s words, Su''s Mother quickly said, "Then go upstairs and change out of it."


    After her daughter went upstairs, Su''s Mother sent the photo of Ji Chi to her friend Fang Qin and then posted the photo of Su Ci on her Moments.


    The photo had just been posted when it quickly received a lot of likes andments.


    Su''s Father: Little Ci looks very spirited and handsome in this uniform. As expected of my daughter.


    Su ZhiYuan: Little Ci looks great. Good luck with military training.


    Wen Ya: Little Ci takes after her parents in looks. She looks good in anything.


    ...


    There were alsoments from Su''s Mother''s various friends, all praising Su Ci''s beauty. It wasn''t just ttery; Su Ci was genuinely beautiful.


    In the car, Wen Ya and Lu Chen were apanying Lu Zhe after returning from school registration.


    "The children of the Su family really know how to pick genes. Su Ci haspletely inherited the best traits from Tong Xin and Su Shengguo," Wen Ya said, after liking andmenting on Su''s Mother''s Moments. She couldn''t help but sigh.


    When Lu Zhe heard Su Ci''s name mentioned, he instinctively looked at his mother.


    Wen Ya noticed her son''s gaze and couldn''t help butugh. "Little one, Tong Xin posted a photo of Su Ci in her military training uniform on her Moments. Do you want to see it?"


    Lu Zhe nodded. "Send it to me."


    Not only did he want to see it, but he also nned to save it.


    Wen Yaughed at her son''s serious request for Su Ci''s photo. "Okay, I''ll send it to you."


    A momentter, Lu Zhe received the photo from his mother.


    In the photo, the girl''s eyes showed a hint of surprise, clearly unaware that she was being photographed.


    She wore a camouge uniform and a hat, with all her hair tucked neatly inside. The slender, fair neck that peeked out was so delicate and radiant that it was hard to look away. Beneath the hat, her dark eyes sparkled, and her small, fair face was both beautiful and exquisitely delicate.


    Wen Ya watched her son captivated by a photo of Su Ci and sighed, turning to Lu Chen on the other side with a touch of heartache. "It seems my son is no longer under my control."


    Taking the opportunity to curry favor, Lu Chen chimed in, "A son will always belong to his wife in the future, Ya Ya. Only I will always belong to you. You should cherish me more."


    Wen Ya was momentarily taken aback by his words, pushing his face away with augh. "At your age, you''re stillpeting for favor with your son? Lu Chen, have some self-respect."


    Lu Chen raised an eyebrow. When had he ever cared about self-respect?


    ...


    The next day, Su Ci woke up early for military training. She half-closed her eyes as she changed into her uniform, brushed her teeth, and had breakfast. Even when she arrived at the assembly point, she was still in a daze, too sleepy to function properly.


    Shen Xue was already waiting at the assembly point. Seeing Su Ci arrive, she quickly approached her. "Su Ci, that''s just too much."


    Su Ci looked at her, puzzled.


    "How can you make the camouge uniform look so good?" Shen Xue couldn''t help but admire.


    With her slender waist and long legs, it was simply perfect. Coupled with Su Ci''s beautiful appearance and her snow-white, glowing skin, it was no wonder people said that beautiful people could look good even in a sack.


    Shen Xue had often heard the saying that wearing a military training uniform could test one''s true appearance. Seeing Su Ci now, she finally understood why.


    Hearing thepliment, Su Ci felt more awake and her mood improved. She had thought her looks might have been diminished.


    Not long after, Wen Duoyu arrived, her expression a mix of shyness and excitement as she greeted Su Ci. The thought of being able to train alongside her idol had kept her up half the night.


    As time passed, the morning sun grew stronger, and the surrounding air seemed to heat up.


    Lu Zhe, being tall, stood at the very front of the first row, making him quite noticeable. With his handsome features and the camouge uniform entuating his upright posture and strong, muscr legs, girls from other sses couldn''t help but nce his way.


    Lu Zhe''s ss had more boys, and during breaks, they quickly mingled.


    "Did you see that girl from the next ss? She''s so pretty," one boy couldn''t help butment.


    "Which one?"


    "The one in the third row,st position. Even in a military uniform, she looks so pure and beautiful."


    "Why don''t we have girls like that in our ss?"


    "Could she be our school''s campus queen?"


    "Does anyone know her name?"


    "I think she''s called Zhao Youyou."


    ...


    "That guy who was standing in the first row earlier is so handsome. I want to get his contact info," a girl from the next ss couldn''t help but say during a casual chat.


    Zhao Youyou wiped the sweat from her forehead. Her fair skin seemed even whiter under the sun. Having returned from a rebirth, she hadpletely transformed.


    Hearing the other girls discussing Lu Zhe, she instinctively frowned and sincerely said, "He''s my brother, but his health isn''t very good."


    She didn''t want others to blindly fall for Lu Zhe.Aliali: 675f8fba9234b3e7f2017a08


    "Your brother?" someone eximed in surprise.


    "He was adopted by my father from an orphanage. We''re not blood-rted," Zhao Youyou exined clearly.


    Another girl couldn''t help but ask, "Does he have a girlfriend? His health isn''t a problem. What matters is that I''m very good at taking care of people."


    Zhao Youyou shook her head. "My brother doesn''t have a girlfriend. He has amyotrophicteral sclerosis (ALS) and isn''t suitable for a rtionship."


    "ALS?" someone whispered in shock.


    In everyone''s mind, ALS was a terrifying disease that could be fatal.


    The girl who had mentioned being good at caregiving didn''t dare to speak up. Even if the person was incredibly handsome, ALS was a terminal illness, and looks couldn''t feed you.


    Someone murmured softly, "What a pity."


    Zhao Youyou nodded. "Please don''t spread this around. I don''t want others to look at my brother with prejudice."


    The girls assured her, "Don''t worry, we won''t tell anyone."

 Chapter 69

    The sun baked the ground, making it scorching hot, and the surrounding trees drooped their leaves listlessly.


    Su Ci''s ss had more boys than girls, and the eleven girls in the ss were lined up at the very back. Su Ci stood in the middle. After just a short while of marching, she already felt her feet hurting from the hard-soled shoes.


    Su Ci had looked it up online. A rabbit''s feet are different from those of a cat or a dog¡ªthey don''t have thick pads. A rabbit''s feet are covered in dense fur, small, sensitive, and very delicate. Even after bing human, her feet remained overly sensitive. Ufortable shoes could easily rub them raw, let alone the hard, thin-soled military training shoes she was wearing now.


    Ordinary people would find them ufortable, but for Su Ci, it was even more unbearable. Sweat trickled down the side of her face, and she pursed her lips, enduring the pain in her feet.


    When the instructor finally called for a break, her originally bright and moist lips almost lost their color.


    The group dispersed and headed to the shade of the trees to cool off and drink water.


    "I''m so tired. The morning isn''t even over yet, and I feel like I can''t take it anymore," Shen Xue said weakly as she sat on the stone steps.


    Su Ci took a few small sips of water, then lifted the hem of her pants to check her heel. She found that it had already turned red from the friction of the shoes.


    "Ah, Su Ci, are your shoes not fitting properly?" Shen Xue looked over and saw that Su Ci''s exposed heel was snow-white, but the part in the middle was rubbed raw and red.


    Wen Duoyu, who was nearby, quickly said, "I have band-aids here. You can put them on your heels to prevent them from rubbing." She took out a few band-aids from her pocket, tore off two, and handed them to Su Ci.


    Su Ci took the band-aids and said, "Thank you."


    "But, Su Ci, why aren''t you sweating at all?" Shen Xue asked, wiping her sweat with a tissue that was already soaked. Su Ci still looked fresh and clean, while everyone else was drenched in sweat. Even Wen Duoyu''s bangs were stuck together in strands. Only Su Ci remained spotless, which was simply delightful to look at.


    Su Ci, who was most afraid of heat, retorted, "My inner clothes are already soaked with sweat."


    Shen Xue looked at Su Ci and noticed a few stray strands of hair clinging to her neck. She realized that even when a goddess sweats, she still looks better than a mortal.


    After a ten-minute break, the training resumed.


    When the instructor called for everyone to gather, the group dragged their feet and hurried over, not daring to waste any time.


    By the end of the morning, just simple marching, counting, and standing in formation were enough to leave Su Ci feeling weak in the legs.


    The hardest part, however, was the afternoon. The sun was at its most intense, making it difficult to keep one''s eyes open and causing dizziness.


    There was not a breath of wind on the yground, and the ground was scorching hot. Everyone in the ss stood perfectly still and straight.


    Su Ci pursed her lips, her dark, glistening eyes moist, while her lips were dry.


    She felt as if her legs were no longer her own. The band-aid on her heel had long since been rubbed off, and blisters had formed.


    On the other side of the yground.


    "Report, Instructor, I''m not feeling well," a girl said timidly.


    Under his cap, the instructor''s expression was stern. "What''s wrong?"


    "I feel a bit dizzy," the girl said softly.


    The instructor walked over to her, scrutinized her for a moment, and said, "Stand properly. Your middle finger should be touching your trouser seam, and pull your stomach in."


    The girl nervously kept silent.


    "Report, Instructor," Zhao Youyou said in a soft voice.


    The instructor replied, "Speak up. Didn''t you eat lunch?"


    Hearing this, many in the group couldn''t help but silently grumble about the instructor. He was truly a terrifying "ck-faced god," even to girls.


    Zhao Youyou blushed and repeated, "Report, Instructor."


    "Go ahead," the instructor said.


    "Why won''t you let her rest when she''s not feeling well?" Zhao Youyou couldn''t help but speak up for the girl.


    She spoke with righteous indignation, "If a student is unwell, the instructor should be considerate and not force them to continue training. We''re here to build our physical strength and improve our fitness, not to push ourselves to the limit."


    The girl was astonished. She hadn''t expected anyone to speak up for her.


    "Stand properly," the instructor said sternly. "If you''re truly unwell, should I have someone take you to the school clinic?"


    The girl quickly shook her head, frightened.


    She just felt extremely sore and thought she might not be able to hold on any longer.


    The instructor looked at Zhao Youyou. "If she''s genuinely unwell, I''ll allow her to rest. You just need to focus on yourself and not jump to conclusions."


    Zhao Youyou''s face turned red, and she felt wronged, biting her lip and her eyes turning red.


    During the break, Feng Xiaoyu, a girl next to Zhao Youyou, handed her a tissue. "Thank you for speaking up for me. You''re really kind."


    Zhao Youyou took the tissue. "We''re ssmates, so we should support each other."


    "You''re so beautiful and kind," another girl chimed in. "The instructor doesn''t know how to be gentle with girls. You were so cool standing up to him earlier. I really admire you for sticking up for others like that."


    Zhao Youyou smiled. "I was just saying what needed to be said."


    Feng Xiaoyu linked arms with Zhao Youyou. "You''re amazing."


    By the end of the afternoon military training, Su Ci felt her legs were so sore that she could barely walk.


    The rest of the ss began to leave.


    "Su Ci, are you okay?" Shen Xue noticed Su Ci frowning and sitting ufortably on the stone steps. She was a bit worried.


    Wen Duoyu also stayed behind, equally concerned about Su Ci.


    "My feet hurt a bit. You two go ahead. Someone''sing to pick me up," Su Ci said, having already called Lu Zhe.


    She hadn''t seen him in a few days.


    Shen Xue nodded. "Alright, see you tomorrow. If you''re really not feeling well, take a sick day tomorrow." After today''s training, she was exhausted, let alone Su Ci, who was even more delicate than she was.


    Just as she was about to leave with Wen Duoyu, Shen Xue saw a tall figure walking toward them, cutting through the crowd. The boy exuded a cold, aloof aura that made people turn their heads.


    Shen Xue had thought the personing to pick up Su Ci would be her family, but to her surprise, it was Lu Zhe.


    However, this was to be expected.


    Shen Xue turned back and saw that the girl on the stone steps'' eyes instantly lit up.


    Shen Xue ced a hand on her forehead, fully understanding what was going through Su Ci''s mind.


    "Who is that...?" Wen Duoyu asked, surprised to see the unfamiliar boy approaching Su Ci.


    "I can answer that," Shen Xue said proudly, having yed a part in Su Ci and Lu Zhe''s rtionship. "He''s the person Su Ci likes."


    Wen Duoyu was even more surprised. Su Ci had someone she liked?


    She recalled back in high school when He Ermeng often pursued Su Ci, but she never liked him. At the time, her deskmate often made snidements, saying Su Ci had high standards and didn''t like He Ermeng.


    Wen Duoyu wasn''t sure how to judge whether a boy was good or not, but she believed Su Ci''s taste must be excellent.


    As the yground gradually emptied, everyone hurried to the cafeteria.


    Lu Zhe crouched down in front of Su Ci. "Are your feet hurting?"


    He had been worried about Su Ci''s condition all day.


    He knew how delicate she was. Previously, even wearing mediocre shoes would rub her feet raw. Now, with the hard-soled military training shoes and prolonged exercises, she must be struggling.


    "My feet hurt," Su Ci admitted. During the military training, she had endured the pain, but now facing Lu Zhe, she didn''t want to hold back.


    She pouted and sniffled, "I don''t want to do military training tomorrow."


    Lu Zhe sat down beside her. "Let me take a look."


    He bent down, hisrge hand gripping her ankle and cing her foot on his thigh.


    Su Ci wiggled her foot, feeling a bit embarrassed since her feet had probably sweated after a day of training. "It''s okay, you can just help me to the gate."


    "Don''t move. Let me see if you''ve blistered or broken the skin," Lu Zhe said, holding her ankle firmly with one hand while using the other to remove her shoe.


    Su Ci wore pure white short socks, which looked tiny in Lu Zhe''srge hand.


    Lu Zhe said, "I''ll take off your socks."


    Since Lu Zhe didn''t seem to mind, Su Ci decided to just let him do as he pleased. She leaned back, trying to hide behind the tree.


    Lu Zhe gently removed the girl''s socks. Her plump toes were red and rubbed raw, and blisters had formed around the edges.


    Lu Zhe frowned.


    He then looked at the back of her heel, where the blister had burst, and there was even some blood, which had stained her sock.


    No wonder she felt pain.


    Lu Zhe inspected very carefully.


    He removed Su Ci''s other shoe and found the same issue¡ªblisters had been rubbed raw.


    Lu Zhe carefully folded her socks and helped her put her shoes back on. Then, he bent down and picked her up in a princess hold, "I''ll take you to the school clinic to get some medicine."


    Su Ci obediently nodded.


    Lu Zhe chose a small path to take, as most students were at the cafeteria at this time, and they didn''t encounter anyone along the way.


    Su Cifortably nestled in Lu Zhe''s arms. She looked up at him and couldn''t help but notice his sharp jawline.


    Yesterday, she had been fantasizing about what Lu Zhe would look like in his camouge uniform.


    Now, looking at the young man holding her, with his clear and handsome face under the cap, deep-set features, and slightly pursed thin lips, he exuded a sense of coolness.


    His physique was even more impressive. Lu Zhe was tall with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs. Plus, he regrly worked out, so just through his clothes, she could feel the solidity of his chest.


    Su Ci was head over heels for him.


    She raised her chin and leaned in closer to Lu Zhe, gently kissing his cold, thin lips.


    Then, her mischievous little mouth moved down andnded on Lu Zhe''s Adam''s apple.


    "Tuan Tuan," Lu Zhe felt the strange tickle at his neck, and his Adam''s apple involuntarily slid up and down.


    He tightened his grip, holding the girl firmly, and suddenly stopped in the middle of the path.


    Su Ci lightly kissed and then pulled away.


    She looked up, licked her lips, andined, "It''s salty."


    Lu Zhe''s face flushed with embarrassment, and his dark eyes showed a mix of awkwardness and helplessness. "I''ve been sweating a lot."


    Su Ci leaned in closer to Lu Zhe''s neck and sniffed.


    Lu Zhe couldn''t stop her, "Tuan Tuan."


    The next moment, he heard the girl''s clear, melodiousughter. "There''s indeed a strong smell of sweat."


    Lu Zhe deeply looked at her. Boys were different from girls; when they sweated, the smell became stronger, and their body odor intensified.


    But the girl in his arms was still fresh and clean, and he could smell her faint, natural fragrance.


    He lowered his head and, mimicking her mischievous behavior, gently bit her lips, deliberately rubbing his teeth against them a few times before letting go. "Be good, or I''ll drop you."


    Su Ci got her little reward and smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.


    She finally settled down.


    When they arrived at the school clinic, the school nurse was about to leave after finishing her shift.


    "What''s wrong?" The female nurse, seeing the tall boy carrying a beautiful girl inside, sat back down.


    "Her feet are blistered, and we need some medicine," Lu Zhe ced Su Ci on a chair.


    "Show me your feet," the nurse instructed Su Ci to lift her foot.


    Su Ci let the nurse examine the back of her heel.


    The nurse had never seen such beautiful feet before¡ªso white and tender. She adjusted her sses and said, "The blisters here have been rubbed raw. It''s not a big issue. I''ll give you some ointment. Try to avoid getting them wet."


    Such situations weremon during military training, so the nurse was used to it.


    Lu Zhe took the ointment and carried Su Ci out.


    "Do you want me to help you apply it?" There were benches on both sides of the path outside the clinic.


    Su Ci took the ointment from Lu Zhe''s hand, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "No, I''ll apply it at home."


    ...


    When Su''s Father and Su''s Mother returned, they saw their daughter sitting on the sofa, pitifully applying medicine to her feet.


    Upon learning that their daughter''s feet had blistered and even bled, they were both heartbroken.


    Especially Su''s Mother, who insisted that Su Ci stay home and rest, not participating in the military training.


    Su Ci was eager to nod, looking pitifully at Su''s Father, "What do you think, Dad?"


    Su''s Mother couldn''t help but re at her husband.


    Su''s Father wanted his daughter to build her physique, but she had been pampered since childhood and couldn''t endure such hardships. He didn''t have the heart to force her.


    After just one day of military training, her feet were already in such a state. If he insisted she continue, it might do more harm than good.


    Receiving his wife''s angry look, Su''s Father coughed lightly, "Xiao Ci, stay home and rest. Dad will arrange for you to take leave from school." Such a long leave would require parental intervention.


    Su Ci was overjoyed, not in vain for her foot pain today.


    "How was your first day of military training, Xiao Chi? Was it tough?" Su''s Mother asked Ji Chi, who was quietly sitting on the side.


    Ji Chi''s cold gaze swept over the girl''s snow-white feet but didn''t linger. "It was fine. The initial training wasn''t too heavy."


    "I''ve asked the kitchen to prepare soup. Both Xiao Ci and Xiao Chi, you should drink itter," Su''s Mother turned to instruct the servants to prepare dinner.


    Su Ci obediently nodded.


    After dinner, Su Ci went upstairs to take a bath and apply a face mask.


    She took great care of her skin. After being exposed to the sun all day, she needed to pamper herself.


    After removing the mask, Su Ci looked at her well-hydrated face and couldn''t resist touching it. It was so smooth; she loved it herself.


    At that moment, there was a knock on her room door.


    Outside, the boy was tall and slender.


    Ji Chi handed Su Ci the ointment in his hand, "This ointment is very effective for your foot injury. You can try it."


    Su Ci was a bit surprised, "Thank you." She took the ointment.


    She noticed the white bandage on his forehead and politely asked, "Is your injury better?"


    Ji Chi''s lips curved slightly, a rare smile for him. "It''s almost healed."


    He maintained a polite distance, "I''ll go back to my room now. Goodnight."


    Su Ci nodded, "Goodnight."


    ...


    For the next two days, Su Ci lounged around the house like azy fish. After applying the ointment to her feet and wearing herfortable shoes, walking was no longer an issue.


    On this day, Su Ci woke up early.


    It was the first day of kindergarten, and she nned to apany Su''s Mother to send Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai to school.


    When she changed and came downstairs, she saw the two little ones already dressed in their new, handsome outfits, sitting obediently on the dining chairs.


    "Good morning, Sister," Little Tiancai''s tender little face couldn''t hide his excitement.


    When he was in the orphanage, Little Tiancai knew that children would go to school when they grew up. But he had heard that his health was poor and he might never go to school.


    Little Tiancai was very disappointed.


    Since learning that he could go to kindergarten, he had been very happy.


    When no one was around, Little Tiancai would hold his little heart and quietly ask it to behave and not get sick, as he really wanted to go to school.


    Today was the first day of school, and as soon as it was dawn, Little Tiancai got up, dressed himself, and brushed his teeth, waiting eagerly to go to school.


    Little Su Ning didn''t know what kindergarten was, but he knew he would have many friends in the future and was also very happy.


    He grinned, showing his little white teeth, "Good morning, Sister."


    Su Ci sat beside them and patted their little heads, "Good morning, Little Tiancai and Ning Ning. You both look so handsome today."


    The two little ones, praised by their sister, smiled so hard their eyes squinted.


    "Xiao Ci, are your feet still hurting? Maybe I can take them to kindergarten," Su''s Mother ced a ss of milk beside her daughter.


    "It''s okay, my feet don''t hurt anymore. And today is the first day of school for my brothers. I want to apany them," she remembered that Little Happy was also attending the same kindergarten, and maybe they would meet.


    Little Su Ning took a big gulp of milk, leaving some on his lips, looking incredibly cute.


    He spoke in a childish voice, "Sister loves Ning Ning."


    "Yes," Su Ci couldn''t help but wipe the milk from the little guy''s lips, "Ning Ning, be good at school and listen to the teacher."


    Little Su Ning nodded vigorously.


    On the first day of kindergarten, the school gate was filled with various vehicles. Car horns, conversations, and children''s cries made the surroundings noisy.


    Su Ci held Little Tiancai''s hand, while Su''s Mother held Little Su Ning''s, and they walked into the school.


    Unlike other children, the two little ones weren''t crying; instead, they curiously looked around.


    The kindergarten teacher waiting at the ssroom door was already prepared. Seeing Su Ci and the others arrive, she was amazed. This family''s looks were outstanding, especially the young girl, who was simply a goddess.


    The two children also had delicate features, and most importantly, they weren''t crying.


    Several other children had been crying nonstop, giving the teacher a headache. Meeting such well-behaved, obedient kids was a relief.


    No teacher disliked well-behaved students.


    Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai greeted their teacher politely with their tender voices, which melted hearts.


    The kindergarten teacher held the hands of the two little ones and said, "You are so well-behaved. Let me take you inside to sit down. Say goodbye to your mom and sister."


    Su Ci and Su''s Mother did not leave immediately. Like other parents, they stood outside the ss window, watching the children inside.


    Su Ci watched as her brother and Little Tiancai obediently sat down in their seats. Unlike the other children who were crying and shouting, the two little ones huddled together, whispering something to each other.


    At that moment, a loud wailing sound came from the ssroom door, causing a headache.


    Su Ci looked toward the door.Aliali: 675f8fba9234b3e7f2017a08


    There stood a chubby little boy wearing blue clothes. In one hand, he held a chicken drumstick, and in the other, a cup of c. His mouth was stuffed with meat, and he was wailing loudly. The meat in his mouth was about to fall out.


    Next to him was an elderly woman, presumably his grandmother. "My grandson hasn''t finished his chicken drumstick yet. Why can''t he bring it into the ssroom? Are you telling him to throw it away? I''ve never seen a teacher like you."


    The olddy''s voice was very strong.


    The kindergarten teacher spoke gently, trying to exin to the olddy, "We don''t rmend children bringing snacks into the ssroom. It not only affects other children but also disrupts their normal eating habits at the kindergarten."


    "Grandma, I want to eat my chicken drumstick, I want to eat my chicken drumstick..." The chubby boy cried even louder when he heard the teacher wouldn''t let him eat, stomping his feet.


    "Did you hear that? My grandson wants to eat. What right does a teacher have to stop my precious grandson from eating his chicken drumstick?" The olddy pulled the chubby boy into the ssroom, saying, "If other kids want to eat, let their parents buy it for them."


    "Hey, olddy..." The kindergarten teacher quickly followed them inside.


    Su Ci had never seen such a stubborn and unreasonable olddy before, but her attention was focused on the chubby boy''s wrist. She noticed that the boy''s life force was a thin red line.


    She narrowed her eyes and immediately summoned Fugui. "How did this chubby boy die?"


    Fugui''s little voice was excited, as it could enjoy golden cotton candy again. It quickly replied: [Master, he fell from a building and died.]

 Chapter 70

    Little Fatty died from a fall?


    Su Ci looked into the ssroom and saw the Old Lady leading Little Fatty to a table. Little Fatty, with his greasy hands still holding a chicken leg, directly pushed away a little girl who was sitting in the seat.


    The little girl stood up, startled and crying.


    Little Fatty, acting domineeringly, sat down in the girl''s seat and continued gnawing on his chicken leg.


    The kindergarten teacher approached, presumably to intervene, but the Old Lady blocked the teacher, her aggressive stance suggesting she was scolding the teacher.


    Children at that age are highly impressionable and tend to mimic the behavior of the adults around them. The Old Lady''s domineering behavior was clearly influencing Little Fatty.


    Su Ci frowned. Most of the children in this national kindergarten came from well-off families, so their parents should have decent manners.


    Su''s Mother had just finished a phone call and saw the dispute unfolding in the ssroom. She noticed the Old Lady speaking arrogantly to the kindergarten teacher. "That seems to be the Old Lady from the Ye Family?"


    "Mom, do you know her?" Su Ci was a bit surprised.


    "I''ve met her once," Su''s Mother told Su Ci. This Old Lady was from the Ye Family.


    The Ye Family, though not on the same level as the Su Family, was still a well-known wealthy family. Many people knew that the current head of the Ye Family was from a rural background and hadter married into the Ye Family. The Old Lady herself was also from a rural area. It wasn''t that rural people were looked down upon, but the Old Lady''s crude and unreasonable behavior was truly something.


    One of the reasons Su''s Mother remembered the Old Lady was from a tea party where the Old Lady had publicly insulted her daughter-inw, Ye Xi, the Ye Family''s daughter. She had even thrown a tantrum, using her daughter-inw of not serving her properly and not respecting her as a mother-inw. Her shrewish and unreasonable behavior was truly astonishing.


    "To be honest, Ye Xi''s personality is too soft. She''s the daughter of the Ye Family, yet she lives so miserably," Su''s Mother said with some regret.


    Su Ci nodded.


    From her mother''s words, she could tell that Ye Xi had a good hand to y but had somehow messed it up.


    However, the Ye Family''s affairs were none of her concern. All she needed to do was save Little Fatty to get the golden cotton candy.


    The only thing bothering her was that she didn''t know where Little Fatty would fall and die.


    ...


    Su Ci didn''t need to attend military training.


    Shefortably lounged at home, enjoying the fruits brought by the servant, when she suddenly received a message from Shen Xue.


    Shen Xue had sent a video.


    Su Ci thought of something and quickly sat up in her hammock. She clicked on the video and immediately saw Lu Zhe standing in the first row, first position, during military training.


    Even through the screen, she could feel the intensity of the sun.


    The sunlight fell on Lu Zhe, giving him a radiant glow. The young man stood tall and straight, exuding a cold and refreshing aura.


    Since they were practicing standing at attention, the video was like a still image,sting only fifteen seconds.


    Su Ci saved the video.


    She sent a message to Shen Xue: Why is the video so short?


    Shen Xue, feeling the implicit dissatisfaction from Su Ci, replied: They were dismissed for a break. Do you want to see a video of Lu Zhe resting too?


    Today, their ss happened to be next to Lu Zhe''s ss during training. Perhaps because she had often acted as Su Ci''s "tool person," she instinctively filmed Lu Zhe and sent the video to Su Ci.


    Su Ci: Yes, yes, yes...


    Shen Xue: Wait.


    Su Ci popped a small piece of peach into her mouth and patiently waited for Lu Zhe''s video.


    After a while, the second video arrived.


    Su Ci clicked it open.


    The weather was hot, and everyone had taken off their hats to fan themselves, sitting listlessly on the ground. Lu Zhe, however, sat upright on the stone steps, lifting his head to drink water.


    Shen Xue cleverly zoomed in the lens, allowing Su Ci to clearly see Lu Zhe''s Adam''s apple moving up and down as he swallowed.


    There was an indescribable sensuality to it.


    Su Ci remembered the other day when she kissed Lu Zhe''s Adam''s apple, and his intense reaction.


    Could his Adam''s apple be a sensitive spot for him?


    Su Ci popped another piece of peach into her mouth and continued watching the video of Lu Zhe.


    After drinking water, he sat quietly, not engaging in conversation with others.


    Su Ci felt that even if Lu Zhe didn''t move, just looking at his face was pleasing to the eye.


    In the next second, the video shook slightly, and Su Ci saw a girl walk up to Lu Zhe. The girl took out a pack of tissues and handed it to Lu Zhe.


    Su Ci instinctively sat up straight.


    She saw Lu Zhe in the video lift his head to look at the girl.


    Then, the video ended!


    Su Ci: Who is that girl? Why didn''t you continue filming?


    However, Shen Xue didn''t reply.


    After waiting for a while, there was still no response.


    Su Ci knew that Shen Xue was probably in training.


    Not seeing the continuation made Su Ci feel anxious and ufortable.


    She felt herself bing petty, not being able to stand any girl getting close to Lu Zhe, not even to give him tissues!


    Su Ci summoned Fu Gui''er: "Fu Gui''er, do you think your master is petty?"


    Fu Gui''er felt that Su Ci was indeed petty. Every time she got golden cotton candy, she gave most of it to Lu Zhe and only a tiny bit to it.


    Fu Gui''er felt wronged but didn''t say anything.


    Its friend Badao had said that women should be pampered and can''t hear a single bad word.


    Fu Gui''er''s sweet little voice said: [Master is the most generous person in the world, not petty at all. And with Master''s beautiful appearance, being a little petty is perfectly natural, isn''t it?]


    Fu Gui''er was clever. It already knew that its master loved to hear people praise her beauty.


    Hearing Fu Gui''er''s ttery, Su Ci nodded in agreement.


    With her breathtaking beauty, being a little petty was perfectly fine.


    On the yground.


    Lu Zhe looked up.


    "I have tissues here. Can I lend them to you to wipe the sweat?" The girl was from the same ss as Lu Zhe. Holding the tissues, she saw Lu Zhe looking at her and smiled gently.


    Lu Zhe coldly replied: "Thank you, but I don''t need them."


    The girl nodded and put the tissues away. She asked politely, "Can I sit here?"


    This was a public ce, and she could sit wherever she wanted, but she considered Lu Zhe''s feelings and asked politely.


    Lu Zhe: "As you wish."


    The girl smiled and sat down not far from Lu Zhe.


    After sitting down, she didn''t try to engage Lu Zhe in conversation but quietly used the tissues to wipe the sweat off her face.


    On the opposite side, the group had already gathered and was training. Shen Xue, seeing a girl sitting next to Lu Zhe, thought that if Su Ci saw this, the youngdy would definitely be jealous.


    It wasn''t until after training that Shen Xue had time to reply to Su Ci.


    Shen Xue: Lu Zhe didn''t take the tissues. Later, the instructor called for the group, and I didn''t have time to keep filming.


    Su Ci, seeing that Shen Xue said Lu Zhe didn''t take the girl''s tissues, felt her mood improve. She sent a few small hearts to Lu Zhe.


    Around four in the afternoon, Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai returned from school.


    Su Ci, wearing soft-soled slippers, walked downstairs.


    She was dressed in a pistachio green dress, which made her skin look even fairer. As she walked, the skirt swayed gently.


    Even at home, Su Ci was a delicate girl.


    "Did you have fun at kindergarten today?" Su Ci sat down next to her brother.


    The two little ones had been in school for two days and had already adapted to the kindergarten environment.


    Little Su Ning gulped down the orange juice brought by the servant and nodded.


    "And you, Tiancai?" Su Ci patted Little Tiancai''s head.


    Little Tiancai liked going to school, so he also nodded, "Fun."


    Su Ci smiled, "Did you make any new friends?"


    "Sister, my new friend is called Fang Kuaile," Little Su Ning said with bright, shiny eyes.


    Little Su Ning''s features had some resemnce to Su Ci''s. Both siblings had bright eyes when they were happy or encountered something they liked.


    "We became friends with Fang Kuaile," Little Su Ning said in a sweet, childish voice.


    Su Ci was a bit surprised. She hadn''t expected Fang Kuaile to have such a fate with the two little ones, ending up in the same ss.


    She smiled, "That''s great. You should get along well in the future."


    The personalities of the three children were all well-behaved, pure, and kind-hearted, and she believed they would get along well.


    Little Su Ning nodded firmly, "Okay."


    "Sister, Ye Shangjin bullied Kuaile today," Little Tiancai couldn''t help but tell his sister.


    "Who is Ye Shangjin?"


    "He''s very fat, even fatter than Ningning," Little Su Ning often heard his sister say he had a lot of meat, but Ye Shangjin had even more.


    ¡°Little Fatty?¡± Su Ci remembered the little boy from the kindergarten, so his name is Ye Shangjin?


    Little Fatty has three days left to live. She had calcted the time, and the incident where Little Fatty fell from the building should have happened at the kindergarten.


    Su Ci asked Little Tiancai, ¡°How did he bully Kuaile?¡±


    Little Tiancai, with his fair and tender cheeks, showed signs of anger, ¡°He poured water on Kuaile¡¯s pants, and he didn¡¯t apologize.¡±


    ¡°Ye Shangjin is bad.¡± Little Su Ning also felt angry.


    ¡°Sister, why are Kuaile¡¯s feet different from ours?¡± Little Tiancai suddenly asked Su Ci.


    Su Ci was taken aback.


    Then she heard Little Tiancai say, ¡°When Kuaile changed his pants, the other kids saw that his feet are different from ours.¡±


    ¡°Some kids saw Kuaile¡¯s feet and got scared and cried.¡± Little Su Ning pouted his small mouth, thinking they were too timid.


    It turned out that in the afternoon at the kindergarten, Kuaile¡¯s pants were soaked when Little Fatty poured water on them.


    When he changed his pants, the other kids in the ss saw his feet.


    Some of the more timid children were frightened by Kuaile¡¯s feet and started crying.


    Little Fatty, being more bold, saw that Kuaile¡¯s feet looked strange, like a monster¡¯s feet, and loudly called Kuaile a monster.


    The kindergarten teacher had made a mistake; she had momentarily forgotten that Kuaile¡¯s feet were prosthetic.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to be with a monster.¡± Little Fatty, with a fierce expression, drove Kuaile away, ¡°Monster, go away, or I¡¯ll hit you.¡±


    The kindergarten teacher was faced with several crying children and the mischievous Little Fatty, feeling a headacheing on.


    She quickly had Kuaile put his pants back on and sit in the corner.


    After gradually calming down the crying children, the teacher also forgot to have Kuaile return to his original seat.


    For the entire afternoon, Kuaile sat quietly on the small stool in the corner.


    In the past, when Kuaile couldn¡¯t walk, he could only sit in his wheelchair, admiringly watching the other kids jump and y.


    Until his father told him that after getting his prosthetic feet, he could also walk, Kuaile was very happy, realizing that he could also walk like the other kids.


    However, seeing the other children who were scared and cried because of his feet, Kuaile first realized that even if he could walk, he was still different from the other kids.


    Kuaile lowered his head in disappointment.


    His hands awkwardly touched his feet; he wasn¡¯t a little monster.


    However, Su Ci was unaware of all this.


    ¡°Kuaile¡¯s feet are different from everyone else¡¯s because he is a little angel, and that¡¯s his symbol of bravery.¡± Su Ci patted Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai on the head, ¡°Tomorrow when you go back to school, you can give Kuaile a hug.¡±


    A little angel with broken wings should be cherished by everyone.


    The next day, when they returned to the kindergarten, Kuaile no longer had the excitement of the first day of school.


    He sat quietly in his seat, feeling a bit nervous. He secretly nced at the other kids, afraid that he might scare them again.


    ¡°Kuaile.¡± After handing his little backpack to the teacher, Little Su Ning trotted over to Kuaile, ¡°Here.¡±


    Kuaile was a bit surprised when Little Su Ning handed him a piece of candy.


    Before Kuaile could react, he was suddenly hugged by Little Su Ning.


    Little Su Ning said in a childish voice, ¡°Sister said you¡¯re a brave angel, and I want to be your friend. Ningning is also an angel.¡±


    Kuaile¡¯s big, shiny eyes lit up in disbelief.


    Over there, Little Tiancai also walked over.


    ¡°Ningning, it¡¯s my turn to hug him.¡± Little Tiancai pulled his brother away.


    Little Su Ning let go.


    In the next moment, Little Tiancai also hugged Kuaile, ¡°Now that I¡¯ve hugged you, we¡¯re friends.¡±


    Kuaile¡¯s nervous heart calmed down. His big, shiny eyes curved into a smile, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°You hugged a monster.¡± Beside them, Little Fatty looked at them in horror.


    ¡°Kuaile isn¡¯t a monster; my sister said he¡¯s an angel.¡± Little Su Ning red at Little Fatty, ¡°You¡¯re mean, you¡¯re not a good kid.¡±


    Little Fatty crossed his arms over his chubby belly, lifting his chin with a look of disdain, ¡°Fang Kuaile doesn¡¯t have feet; his feet are fake. A kid without feet is a monster.¡±


    He had asked his grandma yesterday, and she told him that.


    His grandma also told him not to y with the monster who didn¡¯t have feet.


    Little Tiancai was very angry. His fair little face turned stern, ¡°You¡¯re so fat, you¡¯re different from us. Are you a monster too?¡±


    Little Fatty was stunned.


    He looked at Kuaile, Little Tiancai, and Little Su Ning, then at his own chubby body. He was indeed different from the other kids.


    Little Fatty panicked, ¡°I¡¯m not a monster; Fang Kuaile is.¡±


    Little ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Tiancai red at him fiercely, ¡°If you keep calling Kuaile a monster, we¡¯ll call you a monster too, a scary big monster.¡±


    Little Fatty was so angry.


    No one had ever dared to bully him like this before. His grandma said he was a precious treasure, and everyone should listen to him.


    ¡°You¡¯re mean to me, and I won¡¯t share my chicken legs with you.¡± Little Fatty was so angry that his chubby body trembled.


    Little Su Ning nodded, ¡°Ningning doesn¡¯t like chicken legs; I only like pudding.¡±


    Little Tiancai: ¡°I don¡¯t like them either.¡±


    Kuaile whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t eat chicken legs; I like candy.¡±


    Little Fatty was dumbfounded.


    His grandma had prepared chicken legs for him and put them in his backpack. She told him that if any other kids wanted to eat his chicken legs or take them away, he should tell the teacher to scold them.


    But why didn¡¯t the other kids like chicken legs?


    In the evening, Su Ci again heard the two little boysining, saying that Little Fatty was bad and called Kuaile a monster.


    Su Ci remembered that Little Fatty had two days left to live, ¡°Sister will help Kuaile get even.¡± She wanted Little Fatty to experience what it¡¯s like to face the harsh realities of society.


    At that moment, Su Ci received a video from Shen Xue.


    Tool-person Shen Xue: Just got dismissed, didn¡¯t have time to send it to you.


    Because Lu Zhe was undergoing military training and had to deal withpany documents at night, Su Ci, being understanding, had not pestered him these past few days, relying on the videos Shen Xue sent as her source of mental sustenance.


    Seeing the two little boys nearby, Su Ci took her phone and went back to her room.


    Closing the door, she happilyy on the bed and clicked on the video.


    This time, the shooting distance was a bit far, and after the camera zoomed in, the image was a bit blurry, but Su Ci didn¡¯t mind at all.


    The video showed Lu Zhe resting, just like yesterday, quietly sitting to the side.


    Su Ci had always known that Lu Zhe was a loner, and she didn¡¯t mind at all because she was also a loner.


    Su Ci¡¯s eyes sparkled as she watched Lu Zhe in the video. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was her imagination, but he seemed to have tanned a bit?


    She felt a bit heartbroken.


    However, the next moment, a girl walked up to Lu Zhe and naturally sat down beside him.


    Su Ci¡¯s gaze paused, narrowing her eyes as she recognized the girl as the one who had given Lu Zhe a tissue yesterday.

 Chapter 71

    <h1>Chapter 71</h1>


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes.0


    She watched the video where a girl sat down not far from Lu Zhe, removed her hat, and took small sips of water. Su Ci examined the girl, who had fair skin and a gentle appearance, though not particrly beautiful. The girl finished drinking, took out a tissue to wipe her sweat, and didn''t exchange any words with Lu Zhe. It seemed as though she had simply coincidentally sat next to him.0


    Su Ci then shifted her gaze to Lu Zhe. He was half-lowered his head, and only his well-shaped lips and chin were visible under the brim of his hat.0


    The video was short, only about a minute long.0


    Su Ci habitually saved the video and sent a message to Shen Xue: "Keep it up!"0


    What did "keep it up" mean?0


    Shen Xue, the tool person, immediately understood Su Ci''s intention. Su Ci wanted her to keep filming videos of Lu Zhe.0


    Yesterday, Shen Xue had been worried that the girl sitting next to Lu Zhe might have a crush on him. Clearly, she had overthought it, as the girl didn''t interact with Lu Zhe at all.0


    At school, rumors had started circting that Lu Zhe had amyotrophicteral sclerosis (ALS). Apart from Su Ci, it was unlikely that any other girl at school would like Lu Zhe.0


    ...0


    That day, Su Ci woke up early. As she left her room, she saw Ji Chi closing the door and walking towards her.0


    He greeted her first, "Good morning."0


    "Good morning," Su Ci replied, ncing at him. She noticed that after just a few days of military training, he had tanned.0


    Ji Chi''s features were already sharp and cold, but after nearly a week of military training, he seemed like a sharpened de, exuding a more intense aura.0


    She felt Ji Chi was undergoing a transformation.0


    Ji Chi nodded at Su Ci and then passed by her, heading downstairs.0


    Su Ci followed behind him.0


    Little Fatty''s life value had only two hours left.0


    She had already sent someone to guard outside the Ye family''s house. If Little Fatty left, they would send her a message.0


    "Ci Ci, why are you up so early today?" Su''s Mother was a bit surprised. She was well aware that her daughter liked to sleep in.0


    Su Ci sat down next to her mother and said, "I''m going to take Ning Ning and Little Tiancai to schoolter."0


    The two little ones, hearing that their sister would take them to school, their big eyes lit up.0


    Meeting their surprised gazes, Su Ci smiled, "Why are you looking at me? Do I look especially pretty today?"0


    Across the table, Ji Chi, who was quietly eating breakfast, couldn''t help but nce at Su Ci. His gaze quickly swept over her fair, delicate face.0


    For the first time, he found that Su Ci was quite self-confident.0


    After breakfast, it was 7:30 a.m., and the sun was already out.0


    The sunlight at this time wasn''t too strong; it was warm and pleasant, apanied by a gentle breeze. Walking outside, one''s mood was light and cheerful.0


    Su Ci walked in front, with Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai on either side of her, each carrying the school''s uniform backpacks.0


    Ji Chi had originally nned to take the bus to school, but seeing the slender figure in front of him, he unconsciously slowed his pace and walked behind the three of them at a leisurely pace.0


    He suddenly felt that today''s weather was very nice.0


    The car was already prepared.0


    Before getting into the car, Little Su Ning turned around and waved at Ji Chi, "Goodbye, Chicken Wing Brother."0


    Ji Chi''s lips curled slightly, "Goodbye."0n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    After getting into the car, Su Ci received a message from her bodyguard: Little Fatty had left the house.0


    The car stopped at the kindergarten gate. Su Ci escorted Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai to their ssroom, where they happened to meet Little Kuaile, who was being led by a teacher.0


    "Ci Sister," Little Kuaile''s big eyes lit up. He hadn''t seen Su Ci in a long time.0


    "Good morning, Little Kuaile," Su Ci noticed that Little Kuaile had grown taller.0


    Although Little Kuaile had lost his legs, his upper body, including above the knees, would still develop. In the future, prosthetics would be customized ording to his growth.0


    "Ci Sister, are you taking Ning Ning and Tiancai Brother to school?" Little Kuaile already knew that Su Ci was the sister of his two good friends.0


    "Yes, I also wanted to see you," Su Ci greeted the kindergarten teacher and then led Little Kuaile to the side, "I know that there''s a child in your ss who bullies you, right? Sister will help you teach him a lesson, okay?"0


    Little Kuaile shook his head, "Ning Ning and Tiancai Brother protect me. No one bullies me."0


    Su ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Ci smiled. It seemed that the three little ones got along very well.0


    "Sister," Little Kuaile looked at Su Ci, blinking his big eyes, a bit unsure and a bit lost.0


    He pulled up his trouser leg, revealing the prosthetic underneath, "My feet scared the other kids, and they cried. Will they hate me now?"0


    Ye Shangjin had called him a monster, but he didn''t eat people. He wasn''t a monster.0


    Before, he had thought that being able to walk was a happy thing, but now his feet made others cry.0


    Little Kuaile wasn''t feeling very happy anymore.0


    Su Ci crouched down, making eye contact with him. The little guy''s big eyes were ck and shiny, pure and innocent.0


    Su Ci softly told him, "No, they just don''t know you well yet. In the future, they''ll understand that you''re a kind and lovely little angel, and they''ll all like you very much."0


    Little Kuaile''s eyes lit up. He believed whatever Ci Sister said.0


    Su Ci patted his head, "Ning Ning and Little Tiancai like you very much. You have two good friends."0


    Children were easy tofort, and Little Kuaile immediately felt better.0


    Su Ci said, "Don''t think too much with your little head. Just stay happy and cheerful."0


    After chatting, Little Kuaile waved goodbye to Su Ci and slowly walked to the ssroom. He had already gotten used to the prosthetics and walked like other kids.0


    Su Ci didn''t leave. She checked the time and found there was still over an hour left.0


    Soon, she saw the Old Lady leading Little Fatty walking over.0


    Little Fatty was wearing a red T-shirt today, and his body was so plump that it seemed ready to burst out of his clothes. He was holding a giant hamburger in his hand.0


    Every time she saw him, he was eating so much high-calorie food. No wonder he was so fat.0


    "Shangjin, Grandma''s leaving now. There are chicken legs in your backpack. If you get hungry during ss, remember to eat them," the Old Lady said, worried that her grandson might get hungry.0


    Little Fatty took a big bite of the hamburger as he walked and went straight into the ssroom.0


    The kindergarten teacher took the backpack from the Old Lady, feeling quite helpless.0


    The school rules stated that children couldn''t bring other food in, and the school provided breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks, so the kids wouldn''t get hungry.0


    However, this Old Lady was very stubborn and difficult tomunicate with. Sometimes, dealing with such unreasonable parents was a headache for the teachers.0


    During ss, Su Ci stood outside the ssroom and watched. She had alreadymunicated with the kindergarten leaders, and two bodyguards were hidden in the shadows.0


    Su Ci stood in an inconspicuous spot and looked inside.0


    It was time for breakfast. The teacher distributed milk and bread to each child.0


    After finishing his breakfast, Little Fatty, taking advantage of the teacher''s inattention, threatened the child next to him to give him half of his food.0


    Su Ci was speechless. Little Fatty had fully inherited the Old Lady''s domineering (stubborn and unreasonable) nature.0


    During ss, the other children sat properly with their hands on their desks, listening attentively to the teacher''s story. Meanwhile, Little Fatty fidgeted in his seat, moving around like a plump, restless worm.0


    The kindergarten teacher had to call out Little Fatty''s name several times, but after a while, he would start fidgeting again.0


    Eventually, the teacher had no choice but to let him be.0


    When it was time for free activities, Su Ci noticed that the other children yed together in groups. Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai, along with Little Kuaile, gathered together to study building blocks, while only Little Fatty sat alone at his seat, with no one to y with.0


    He yed with his toys by himself, asionally ncing at Little Kuaile and the others from a distance.0


    Su Ci suddenly felt that the lonely Little Fatty was quite pitiful.0


    The next moment, Little Fatty stood up and walked over to Little Kuaile and the others.0


    Then, he reached out and pushed over the castle they had built.0


    Su Ci was stunned. She retracted her earlier thought about Little Fatty being pitiful. No wonder no other child wanted to y with him; he was a little tyrant.0


    Outside the ssroom, Su Ci had been standing for nearly an hour. She was thirsty and tired.0


    She checked the time and found there were still fifteen minutes left.0


    Soon, it was time for outdoor activities, and she saw the children lining up.0


    Su Ci reached the corner, not intending to disturb the children''s ss.0


    The kindergarten teacher led two rows of little children out, and thewn was set with many amusement facilities, which were the children''s favorites.0


    Su Ci hid in the corner and saw her brother having a great time. Little Kuaile, except for the previous time when he went to the amusement park with Lu Zhe and Su Ci, rarely had the chance to y on the slides in the park.0


    This was his first time ying, and he was a bit nervous.0


    Due to the prosthetic limb, his movements on the slide were a bit clumsy, but when he slid down, his little face was filled with the same joy as the other children.0


    "Kuaile, let''s go again," Little Su Ning held Little Kuaile''s hand and walked up the small staircase next to the slide.0


    Little Tiancai stood guard beside them understandingly.0


    Su Ci''s gaze shifted to the little fatty not far away.0


    He stared longingly at Little Kuaile and the others, and when Little Kuaile looked at him, he would re back fiercely.0


    "Shangjin, why aren''t you ying?" The kindergarten teacher noticed Little Fatty standing alone and asked him to join the other children.0


    Little Fatty snorted and turned his head, "I don''t want to y with them."0


    The kindergarten teacher was troubled, as this child was unmanageable, and if she disciplined him too much, his parents mightin to the school.0


    The kindergarten teacher said softly, "If you don''t want to y, then stand under the tree. It''s too sunny here."0


    Little Fatty reluctantly walked to the shade of the tree.0


    Su Ci nced at the time; Little Fatty''s life value was less than ten minutes.0


    So, where did he fall to his death?0


    As Su Ci was puzzled, Little Fatty seized the moment when the teacher was overseeing the other children and quietly slipped away.0


    Su Ci: ......0


    So, it''s no wonder he fell from the building with such an unruly, disobedient, hyperactive child.0


    Su Ci wanted to see what Little Fatty was up to.0


    She followed him.0


    Little Fatty headed upstairs.0


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes and followed him up.0


    First floor.0


    Second floor.0


    Third floor.0


    Seeing Little Fatty heading to the rooftop, Su Ci was exhausted and couldn''t help but speak up, "What are you going up there for?"0


    Little Fatty, slow to react, noticed someone following him.0


    He was so startled that he stumbled and fell to the ground, "Are you a bad guy?"0


    Su Ci retorted, "Have you ever seen a bad guy this pretty?"0


    Little Fatty shook his head, "No."0


    The older sister in front of him was as beautiful as a fairy.0


    "Why are you going to the rooftop?" Su Ci looked down at Little Fatty, who was sitting on the ground.0


    Little Fatty instinctively covered his pockets with both hands, "I won''t tell you."0


    Su Ci nced at his life value, which was down to five minutes.0


    She took a deep breath, ready to chat with this little brat until time ran out.0


    Su Ci said, "Did you hide food in your pockets?"0


    Little Fatty was surprised, "I won''t share my food with you."0


    He hugged his pockets even tighter.0


    Su Ci asked him, "Did you run up here to hide and eat snacks secretly?"0


    Little Fatty turned his head, very arrogant, "None of your business."0


    Oh, so that''s it.0


    Su Ci was speechless. So, he ran upstairs to eat alone and then fell to his death?0


    Was the Ye family really nning to spoil this child rotten?0


    "Don''t worry, I won''t eat your stuff," Su Ci asked Little Fatty, "Am I pretty?"0


    Little Fatty reluctantly nodded. This older sister was the prettiest he had ever seen.0


    "Do you know why I''m so beautiful?" Su Ci''s dark eyes gleamed with mischief, "Because I never overeat."0


    She took out a small mirror from her bag, opened it, and ced it in front of Little Fatty, showing his face, "Look at you, aren''t you ugly?"0


    Little Fatty, although chubby, was fair and tender, not ugly, but very cute. However, his bossy and unreasonable personality made him unpopr among the adults, especially among the many lovely and well-behaved children.0


    "No one told you that you''re so fat. If you keep eating like this, you won''t just get uglier, you''ll turn into a pig," Su Ci nced at Little Fatty''s life value, which was down to four minutes.0


    Little Fatty looked at his round face in the mirror, not as pretty as the older sister''s. He pouted, "Grandma says it''s a blessing to be able to eat, and being fat is a fortune."0


    Su Ci felt helpless. She thought it was terrifying how some older people held onto outdated and unfounded beliefs, thinking that being fat was a blessing.0


    They didn''t realize that a child''s body bing too obese, without controlling their diet, could cause serious harm, leading to abnormal bone development, affecting health, and even triggering various diseases.0


    This wasn''t loving the child; it was harming him.0


    "Your grandma must not have told you that fat kids are more prone to sickness and be stupid," Su Ci said.0


    Little Fatty''s mouth ttened, "You''re lying."0


    Su Ci knew it was no use reasoning with this Little Fatty. "I''m so pretty, how could I lie? I''ll tell you, because you eat too much and are too fat, the other kids don''t like ying with you."0


    She directly stabbed at Little Fatty''s fragile little heart.0


    Little Fatty red at Su Ci angrily, "I don''t want to y with them."0


    Su Ci nced at the life value, which was down to three minutes.0


    She smiled and continued to tease Little Fatty, "If you keep eating, you''ll get even fatter and uglier, and you won''t be able to walk. When someone beats you, you won''t be able to catch up. Then, all the kids in kindergarten willugh at you as a fat pig, a monster."0


    "But, you''re already a little fat pig, a little monster," Su Ci remembered how he bullied Little Kuaile.0


    Little Fatty was so upset by Su Ci that he burst into tears, "I''m not a fat pig... I''m not a monster."0


    Su Ci was ruthless, "I''m a beautiful fairy, and I say you are, so you are."0


    Little Fatty cried even harder. In the Ye family, he was the little tyrant, spoiled, and in kindergarten, he bullied others. This was the first time someone called him ugly and said he was a fat pig.0


    Little Fatty, though domineering and unreasonable, was merely a four-year-old child. Upon hearing such words, his delicate little heart was shattered.0


    Su Ci leaned on the stair railing, changing to a morefortable position, looking down at Little Fatty crying, not intending tofort him.0


    Let him experience what it feels like to be scolded and disliked, and what it''s like when no one indulges or spoils him.0


    Su Ci took out a tissue from her bag and threw it into Little Fatty''s hand, "Cry, and when you''re done, wipe your snot yourself."0


    "You''re bad, you''re bad, I''ll hit you," Little Fatty tried to get up and push Su Ci.0


    "If you hit me, I''ll throw you down from here, try it," Su Ci wasn''t going to indulge him. Little Fatty was a little devil, and she would be even more of a devil.0


    Oh, the pretty older sister was so scary.0


    Little Fatty was too scared to hit her.0


    In an instant, he cried even harder.0


    Su Ci found it noisy and was about to tell Little Fatty to shut up when the next second, she received a golden cotton candy.0


    She looked at Little Fatty''s wrist, where the grid had turned yellow with five segments.0


    That meant Little Fatty could only live until he was fifty.0


    Among all the people she had saved, his lifespan was the shortest. She didn''t know if it was due to his obesity.0


    Receiving the golden cotton candy, Su Ci became less impatient. She softened a bit, "Alright, stop crying, or I''ll throw you down."0


    Little Fatty choked.0


    This pretty older sister was so terrifying and annoying.0


    The kindergarten teacher, realizing Ye Shangjin was missing, panicked and started looking for him.0


    If the parents found out they had failed to supervise him, the consequences would be severe.0


    One teacher stayed in the ssroom to watch over the other children, while the other teacher found the security guard and searched the school for the missing Ye Shangjin.0


    "Could the child have run out of the school?" The teacher was frantic, and if the child was really lost, not only would she be fired, but she might also be held responsible.0


    "We need to check the surveince to be sure," the security guard said.0


    "Hurry up and check."0


    Just as the teacher was on the verge of tears, she saw the beautiful girl appear, and behind her was Ye Shangjin.0


    The kindergarten teacher was stunned for a moment, then quickly ran over.0


    ¡°He just ran upstairs by himself, wanting to go to the rooftop, which is very dangerous,¡± Su Ci said to the teacher. ¡°Although Ye Shangjin is mischievous and hard to manage, as teachers, you should treat all children equally and have the responsibility to supervise every child.¡±0


    Little Fatty is problematic, but he is only a four-year-old child. If he really fell from the building, the main reason would still be the negligence of the kindergarten teachers.0


    If they had supervised him, the ident wouldn''t have happened.0


    Hearing this, the kindergarten teacher was stunned, then her face turned pale with shame.0


    It was as if her dark secrets had been exposed.0


    She had indeed, because of Ye Shangjin''s mischievous nature and unlikable demeanor, unconsciously neglected him.0


    Su Ci stopped there.0


    She lowered her eyes to look at Little Fatty beside her, ¡°Stop thinking about eating all the time. If I find you fatter next time, I¡¯ll still call you Fatty.¡±0


    Little Fatty sniffled, feeling like crying again.0


    After saving him, Su Ci returned to the car and finally breathed a sigh of relief.0


    Although the process of saving Little Fatty was smooth, without any idents orplications, she had stood outside the ssroom for over an hour, and her legs were already sore.0


    Su Ci leaned back in her seat, letting the driver take her back to the Su family home.0


    At that moment, her phone received a message.0


    It was another video from Shen Xue.0


    Su Ci perked up and opened the message.0


    In the video, Lu Zhe was practicing military boxing.0


    The young man''s gaze was sharp, his movements were crisp and decisive, and there was an indescribable fierceness about him that was captivating.0


    Whether it was the bow stance punch or the horse stance strike, every move of Lu Zhe''s was filled with explosive power.0


    Su Ci waspletely entranced, her eyes curved into a smile, instantly turning into a fan girl.0


    After finishing the routine, the instructor dismissed them to rest.0


    Lu Zhe sat down alone on the stone steps, while others gradually began to rest.0


    Su Ci noticed that the girl this time did not sit next to Lu Zhe but walked to his front side.0


    The girl kept her face turned sideways, chatting with the girl next to her, her smile never fading.0


    Then, the girl picked up her water bottle, ready to drink.0


    When she twisted the cap, her hand slipped, and the cap fell to the ground, rolling backward.0


    The video was far away, and there was no sound, so Su Ci couldn''t hear what the girl said, but she could guess that the girl was asking Lu Zhe to pick up the cap that had rolled to his feet.0


    The girl took back the water bottle cap from Lu Zhe''s hand, smiled, and thanked him, then turned back to continue chatting with her friend.0


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes.0


    Then, she saw the girl take out some candy and distribute it to those around her. Finally, she turned around and handed the candy to Lu Zhe, asking if he wanted any.0


    Under the brim of his hat, Lu Zhe''s cold, stiff face showed a faint expression. Through his mouth movements, Su Ci knew he said: "No, thanks."0


    Su Ci felt a bit annoyed. She sent a message to Shen Xue: What''s that girl''s deal?0


    Tool-person Shen Xue: Which girl?0


    Shen Xue didn''t understand what Su Ci meant. She also opened the video Su Ci had sent her, watched it once, and then replied: You mean the girl sitting in front of Lu Zhe?0


    Su Ci: Yeah.0


    Tool-person Shen Xue: I don''t see anything wrong with that girl.0


    Her water bottle cap fell, so she asked Lu Zhe to help pick it up. As for the candy, she gave it to everyone around her, so it wouldn''t be right not to give some to Lu Zhe behind her.0


    Su Ci likes Lu Zhe too much, which is why she can''t stand any girl having the slightest contact with him.0


    However, I think Su Ci''s worry is unnecessary.0


    I don''t see any indication that the girl has feelings for Lu Zhe.0


    Shen Xue couldn''t see any issues, but Su Ci was different. She had been in the entertainment industry before, where there were all kinds of skilled characters. There were many people with exquisite acting skills.0


    ying small tricks and using little schemes were things that, in her eyes, weren''t so easy to get away with.0


    On the yground, the instructor called everyone to gather.0


    Lu Zhe quickly stood up.0


    The girl followed behind Lu Zhe, catching up to him and kindly patted his back, "Lu ssmate, your shoce is untied."0


    Lu Zhe lowered his eyes and saw that thece on his left shoe was indeed loose. "Thank you," he said.0


    He bent down, his long fingers deftly tying the shoce.0


    After Lu Zhe straightened up, the girl gently said, ¡°You''re wee.¡±0


    Then, she ran to join the gathering.0


    The girl had just unintentionally given Lu Zhe a kind reminder.

 Chapter 72

    <h1>Chapter 72</h1>


    After finishing the military boxing session in the afternoon, the instructor dismissed everyone.0


    Sweat poured down everyone''s faces. After more than a week of this, everyone''s skin had darkened significantly. The girls fared slightly better, as many of them applied sunscreen and even used facial masks afterward. Most of the boys, however, had tanned considerably.0


    Lu Zhe was about to leave.0


    In the next moment, someone gently patted him on the back.0


    He turned around.0


    "Lu Zhe, I had a few moves in the military boxing that I didn''t perform well. Can I ask you for some guidance?" Lu Zhe''s boxing skills were excellent, and even the instructor had praised him. During training, Lu Zhe had been selected as a model to demonstrate the correct moves to everyone.0


    It was Yang Shujing who had approached him for help.0


    "You were so impressive during the demonstration earlier," Yang Shujing said, her eyes filled with admiration, as if Lu Zhe were glowing.0


    She spoke softly to him, "I''ll perform the moves for you. Can you watch and tell me if I''m doing them correctly? If there''s anything wrong, could you help me correct it?"0


    Lu Zhe directly refused, "The instructor is over there. I suggest you ask him if you have any doubts."0


    Yang Shujing had removed her hat, her high ponytail neatly tied, and her gentle features still exuded a sense of serenity despite the sunburn. Her appearance was the kind that was harmless and endearing, and many of the boys in the ss had noticed her when the military training began.0


    Now, she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her slender neck, and said shyly, "The instructor is too strict... I... I don''t dare to ask him. Since the instructor praised your moves as standard, could you guide me?"0


    Most of the girls in the ss were afraid of the instructor.0


    Nearby, a boy approached, standing next to Lu Zhe. "Lu Zhe, why don''t you teach her? If she doesn''t perform well tomorrow, the instructor will make her run fiveps around the field."0


    Yang Shujing gratefully nced at the boy.0


    Lu Zhe''s expression was as cold and stern as the instructor''s. "I''m sorry, I''m in a hurry."0


    Yang Shujing quickly shook her head, understandingly saying, "It''s me who should apologize for holding you up, Lu Zhe. You go ahead and take care of your business. I''ll ask another ssmate for help."0


    The boy immediately volunteered, "I can teach you."0


    "Then I''ll have to trouble Ma ssmate you," Yang Shujing said, thanking him with her eyes.0


    The boy, a bit shy, rubbed the back of his head. "It''s... it''s no trouble at all."0


    His sunburned face turned red.0


    Lu Zhe left, and his im of being in a hurry wasn''t just an excuse.0


    In the private room, Su Ci was already waiting.0


    She had dressed up specially for the asion, wearing a white sleeveless top and a light pink floral skirt. Her hair was loosely tied into a bun, making her look youthful and absolutely pure and adorable.0


    A few strands of hair naturally fell on either side of her face, which was tender and delicate, making her look even more beautiful.0


    She was boredly ying with her phone, not knowing how long she had been waiting. The door to the private room opened.0


    The teenager in camouge uniform strode in.0


    Lu ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Zhe had arrived.0


    Su Ci perked up immediately. She looked at him andined, "I''ve been waiting for you for so long."0


    Lu Zhe sat down beside her, removing his hat. "I''m sorry, I''mte. Are you hungry?"0


    Su Ci''s watery eyes looked at him pitifully, her tonenguid. "I''m hungry. So hungry that I feel weak all over."0


    She was lying to Lu Zhe.0


    Before leaving, Su Ci had eaten a lot of fruit. She just wanted the boy to feel sorry for her.0


    Lu Zhe wanted to pat her head, but noticing her hair was tied up, he didn''t want to mess up her hairstyle.0


    He picked up the menu and let her choose what she liked to eat. "Let''s order first."0


    After the waiter came in to take their order and left, the door was closed again.0


    Su Ci began to examine Lu Zhe. She eximed in surprise, "Lu Zhe, you''ve gotten darker!"0


    She reached out to touch his face.0


    In the next second, Lu Zhe caught her hand. "Don''t touch me. I''m sweaty and dirty."0


    Su Ci smiled brightly at him. "I don''t mind."0


    Previously, Lu Zhe had a paleplexion, but now he had tanned.0


    Because he was wearing a hat, his face was still rtively lighter, but his neck and other exposed skin had turned wheat-colored, giving him a rugged look. Wearing the camouge uniform, Su Ci found him strangely more stern and increasingly handsome.0


    The boy, polished by the training, revealed his edge, making him even more outstanding.0


    Su Ci''s heart skipped a beat as she looked at him.0


    Originally, Lu Zhe had nned to go back to change clothes after the military training and then apany Su Ci for dinner. But worried that she might wait too long, he decided toe straight from school.0


    "Aren''t you hot? Take off your jacket," Su Ci suggested, noticing he was still wearing the long-sleeved camouge uniform. She felt hot just looking at it.0


    Lu Zhe was indeed hot, and he reached for the belt around his waist.0


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up. She reached out, "Let me help you with that."0


    Her soft hand, like it had no bones, wrapped around Lu Zhe''s belt, and her slender fingers began to undo the buckle.0


    Lu Zhe quickly grabbed her mischievous hand. "I can do it myself."0


    Su Ci teased him, "Are you disdainful of my service?"0


    Her ck eyes sparkled, and her face was fair and delicate. Lu Zhe wanted to pinch her cheek but refrained. "No."0


    "Then let me help you," Su Ci said, her eyes narrowing as she nced at him. "This is a little romantic gesture between couples. Do you understand?"0


    Lu Zhe lowered his head, holding her restless hand tightly. "Can a man''s belt be undone so casually?"0


    Su Ci pulled her hand back, pouting. "Fine, then don''t ask me to help you next time."0


    Lu Zhe: ...0


    He looked at her deeply.0


    In the next second, he grabbed her hand and ced it on the belt around his waist. "Undo it."0


    Su Ci couldn''t help butugh.0


    She had never seen Lu Zhe so timid before.0


    She smiled sweetly at him, continuing her yful antics. "I don''t feel like helping you now. You can do it yourself."0


    Su Ci''s fingers toyed with the buckle on the belt, "But if you beg me, I''ll help you."0


    How could there be such a mischievous girl? So capricious and torturous.0


    Lu Zhe had no temper left. "I''m begging you."0


    Su Ci licked her lips, feeling excited. "You''re the one who begged me."0


    Her slender fingers began to undo Lu Zhe''s belt. Her movements were not very skillful, and her hands kept fidgeting around his waist.0


    Lu Zhe could see that she was deliberately ying around.0


    He reached out, holding her hand and guiding her to press on both sides of the buckle.0


    "Click."0


    The buckle came undone.0


    Lu Zhe let go of her hand, his dark eyes fixed on her. "Pull it out."0


    Somehow, Su Ci''s face felt warm.0


    Under Lu Zhe''s intense gaze, she pulled the belt out of the metal buckle.0


    She threw the belt onto Lu Zhe''sp and stopped ying. "You can take off your clothes yourself."0


    A faint smile appeared on Lu Zhe''s thin lips as he chuckled softly. "Okay."0


    After removing the jacket, Lu Zhe was wearing a short-sleeved camouge T-shirt, which made him appear even more rugged and handsome.0


    At that moment, the waiter brought in the dishes.0


    Su Ci put aside her yful intentions and started eating obediently.0


    Lu Zhe picked out the bones from a fish and ced the meat in her bowl. "Have some soupter."0


    After finishing the shrimp ball in her mouth, Su Ci told Lu Zhe about saving the little fat boy this morning. "After we finish eating, I''ll give you something good."0


    Lu Zhe frowned. Although he knew from Su Ci''s ount that this time the rescue was not dangerous, what about next time?0


    Moreover, every time it was her who risked her safety to save people for him.0


    Before, he knew nothing, but now that he knew, he couldn''t let her take the risks while he did nothing.0


    "Tuan Tuan," Lu Zhe looked at the girl beside him, her cheeks puffed up as she ate. He picked up a napkin from the side and helped her wipe the sauce that had identally gotten on her hand.0


    Su Ci let him wipe her hand. Lu Zhe''s hand had also tanned, turning a wheat-colored.0


    Her snow-white hand rested on his, creating a striking contrast between ck and white.0


    Su Ci marveled at how beautiful her hand was.0


    "What is it?" she asked him.0


    "In the future, if you need to save someone, you can''t act alone." Lu Zhe gently kissed the tip of Su Ci''s pinky finger after wiping her hands clean. "The burden of saving others shouldn''t fall on you. You shouldn''t be the only one working hard for me while I sit back and enjoy the benefits."0


    The coldness in Lu Zhe''s eyes faded as he tightened his grip on Su Ci''s hand. "If you need to save someone in the future, you must tell me. You can''t carry the burden alone."0


    Su Ci nodded in agreement.0


    In fact, he hadn''t done nothing. He had helped in saving thepany''s female employee and Li Chenyu on the mountain.0


    Most importantly, he had saved her family.0


    After finishing thest gulp of her juice, Su Ci felt full.0


    She then stood up and walked to the door, locking it in front of Lu Zhe''s surprised gaze.0


    Lu Zhe''s eyebrows twitched.0


    The next second, he heard her say, "Lu Zhe, we haven''t kissed in the private room yet."0


    He cleared his throat awkwardly, "You haven''t finished your meal."0


    "I''m already full."0


    Su Ci began counting the days since theirst kiss with her pretty fingers,ining, "I''m almost turning back into a rabbit."0


    She walked over and instead of sitting back down, she directly sat on Lu Zhe''sp.0


    With her short skirt, this action caused the hem to rise, revealing her exceptionally fair thighs. "Kiss me."0


    Lu Zhe wasn''t devoid of desires; he just had strong self-control.0


    He pulled her skirt down and leaned in close, whispering, "Tuan Tuan, don''t wear such short skirts."0


    Su Ci kissed his lips, which were stained with juice, "Not pretty?"0


    Her ck, glistening eyes stared at him, as if daring him to say it wasn''t.0


    Lu Zhe''s jaw tightened, "Pretty."0


    Su Ci smiled sweetly at him, "I have something good for you."0


    She kissed his cold, thin lips, passing the golden cotton candy to him. Then, her mischievous little tongue slipped in as well.0


    Just as Lu Zhe pursued her, Su Ci suddenly pulled back.0


    In Lu Zhe''s dark eyes, the color deepened. Hisrge hand covered the back of her head, trying to pull her closer.0


    His cool lips followed, but Su Ci turned her head, "Wait."0n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lu Zhe looked at her, puzzled.0


    Su Ci chuckled, "I forgot to ask you something."0


    She was deliberately teasing him, luring him in and then stopping abruptly.0


    Lu Zhe took a deep breath, his voice low, "What is it?"0


    "Recently, are there any girls in your ss who like you?" This was the main purpose of her meeting him tonight.0


    "Hmm?" Lu Zhe was a bit surprised by her sudden question.0


    It was normal that Lu Zhe didn''t know about the girl''s feelings for him, as she had only yed some small tricks and was discreet.0


    Su Ci leaned against Lu Zhe like she had no bones, changing her approach, "Recently, have you been in close contact with any girl?"0


    Lu Zhe couldn''t help but pinch her cheek, "No."0


    He was busy with military training every day and didn''t have contact with other girls.0


    Su Ci smiled, knowing Lu Zhe hadn''t thought much about it. She wouldn''t mention any specific girl.0


    "Lu Zhe, I''m very jealous." Su Ci rested her head on Lu Zhe''s chest, seriously saying, "Remember, if you get close to any girl or flirt in the future, I won''t want you anymore."0


    "Tuan Tuan!" Lu Zhe couldn''t bear to hear her say such things.0


    Su Ci stroked his chest, listening to his rapid heartbeat, "Just be good and don''t attract butterflies and bees, then nothing will happen."0


    Lu Zhe straightened her waist and looked into her beautiful eyes, "Has something happened?"0


    Otherwise, why would she suddenly ask such a question?0


    "Nothing has happened." Su Ci''s slender fingers yed with his shirt hem, "I''m just reminding you. I heard many couples break up in college."0


    Lu Zhe immediately refuted, "We won''t."0


    Before, he had worried that his illness would drag her down, so he had considered letting her go. But now that there was hope for his recovery, how could he bear to push her away?0


    Su Ci nodded, "I know."0


    She trusted Lu Zhe''s character but still felt the need to warn him, "Anyway, you can''t get too close to other girls, or I''ll get jealous. You don''t know, my heart is as small as a needlehole, I''m very petty."0


    Lu Zhe chuckled, agreeing, "Mmm."0


    Su Ci was satisfied.0


    She shifted closer to him, her ck eyes filled with joy, "Do you want to kiss now?"0


    As she moved around in hisp, getting closer to his thigh, Lu Zhe tightened his grip on her slender waist, "Don''t move."0


    His eyes darkened, reminding her, "Tuan Tuan, don''t sit so close." Could a man''s thigh be sat on?0


    Su Ci pouted, dissatisfied, "You have so many demands, not letting me move or get close to you, no kissing then."0


    She pretended to get up.0


    Lu Zhe held her waist firmly, sighing, "Tuan Tuan, retreating at thest moment is not a good behavior."0


    Su Ci blinked, about to argue, but Lu Zhe took the initiative and kissed her, silencing her words.0


    Pushed against the edge of the table, Su Ci was trapped.0


    Lu Zhe was relentless.0


    This little troublemaker needed to learn a lesson.0

 Chapter 73

    <h1>Chapter 73</h1>


    The private room was quiet.0


    Su Ci''s face was flushed red, her dark eyes reflecting the light, shimmering like water.0


    Lu Zhe''s head was buried in the girl''s neck, and after taking a deep breath, he gradually calmed down.0


    "My back hurts," she said. The table behind her was made of wood, and it was digging into her back painfully.0


    Lu Zhe quickly lifted his head and straightened the girl. "I''m sorry."0


    His gaze fell on Su Ci''s neck. Her skin was snow-white and delicate, and he had not controlled his strength, leaving a mark.0


    The red mark was particrly noticeable.0


    He had lost control.0


    His fingertips touched the red mark, and he gently rubbed it. "There''s a mark here."0


    Su Ci raised an eyebrow, the small teardrop mole below her eye looking incredibly alluring. "You should let my hair down," she said softly, leaningzily against Lu Zhe''s chest, not wanting to move at all.0


    Lu Zhe reached out to untangle her hair, awkwardly letting it fall down.0


    The soft ends of her hair curled up, and he gently smoothed it out. "There, it''s done."0


    Su Ci rubbed her flushed face against Lu Zhe''s chest.0


    After a while, she caught her breath and smiled like a sly little fox who had gotten away with something. She praised him, "Lu Zhe, your kissing skills have improved."0


    Lu Zhe couldn''t help but pinch the little troublemaker''s cheek. Under the light, his usually cold face faintly showed a hint of red.0


    At the Su household.0


    Ji Chi rushed back immediately after military training.0


    His breathing was a bit uneven.0


    The maid saw Ji Chi hurrying in with a serious expression and quickly greeted him, "Young Master Ji Chi."0


    "Is... is Su Ci back?" Ji Chi asked the maid.0


    "Miss hasn''t returned yet."0


    Ji Chi calmed down, nodded, and then went upstairs.0


    The maid curiously nced at Ji Chi''s retreating figure, wondering what he was in such a hurry for. Normally, in the Su household, Ji Chi and Miss had little interaction, and they barely had any contact.0


    Su Ci returned home around nine in the evening.0


    As she was about to push open her bedroom door, she suddenly noticed a tall figure standing in the corridor.0


    The person suddenly walked towards her.0


    "Ji Chi?" Su Ci was taken aback.0


    She hadn''t noticed when he appeared, or had he been standing there all along?0


    Ji Chi was still wearing his military training camouge uniform. He strode over with a sharp, forceful air.0


    He stood in front of Su Ci, his hard, cold face showing no emotion.0


    Su Ci asked him, "What''s wrong?"0


    Ji Chi looked down at Su Ci, meeting her shimmering ck eyes. For the first time, Ji Chi felt a pounding in his chest, a heartbeat that echoed in his ears.0


    From a young age, he knew he could like very few things, so he had no excessive desires or fantasies about the world around him.0


    This was the first time he wanted to fight for something.0


    Ji Chi''s hand slipped into his pocket as he looked at Su Ci.0


    Just as he was about to speak, his gaze inadvertentlynded on the girl''s neck. Her skin was snow-white, and the small red mark was particrly noticeable.0


    All the words suddenly stuck in his throat.0


    Ji Chi''s gaze darkened, and he looked away.0


    "What did you want to say?" Su Ci looked at Ji Chi with confusion.0


    Ji Chi''s wildly pounding heart was forcibly suppressed, clenched tightly. He looked calmly at Su Ci.0


    After military training, he had identally overheard someone talking about Lu Zhe''s condition of amyotrophicteral sclerosis (ALS). He had lost his reason, gone mad, and desperately wanted to ask her for confirmation.0


    If that was true, he thought maliciously, could he have a chance, could he wait for her...0


    But now, it seemed all that didn''t matter anymore.0


    Ji Chi regained his sanity, pulling his hand out of his pocket. "Is your foot better?"0


    Su Ci nodded. "Yes, thank you for the ointment."0


    Ji Chi pulled at the corner of his mouth. "That''s good." His voice was low and a bit hoarse. "I won''t bother you anymore."0


    Ji Chi turned and walked back to his room, his tall figure looking a bit lonely.0


    Su Ci frowned, not understanding what was going on.0


    Closing the door, Ji Chi took out a small box from his pocket and opened it.0


    Inside the box was a pure silver clip with a tiny rabbit on it, much more exquisite than the clumsy rabbit on Su Ci''s ankle.0


    Ji Chi closed the box.0


    He opened the drawer, his gaze dark.0


    Ji Chi ced the small box inside the drawer, hiding it away.0


    ...0


    The next day, the weather was still hot. Standing on the yground, even through shoes, one could feel how scorching the ground was.0


    Sweat continuously dripped from their foreheads and necks, and their clothes were soaked.0


    Only after hearing "dismissed" did everyone finally rx, their straight backs copsing.0


    Lu Zhe sat under the shade of a tree, taking big gulps of water. His cold, stern face attracted many furtive nces from girls.0


    If it weren''t for the news on the forum, many girls would have already approached Lu Zhe to strike up a conversation.0


    Yang Shujing walked slowly, and all the other spots were already upied.0


    She leisurely walked to a spot not far from Lu Zhe and sat down.0


    Taking out a tissue, she removed her hat and gently wiped the sweat off her face.0


    After a while, she hesitated and took out her phone, then turned to face Lu Zhe.0


    "Lu ssmate," Yang Shujing spoke in a low, soft voice, gentle and pleasant to hear in the hot weather.0


    Lu Zhe looked at her.0


    Yang Shujing showed him the school forum page on her phone. "Someone on the forum posted about you, saying you have ALS and won''t live long."0


    She looked sincerely at Lu Zhe. "You can file aint and ask the forum admin to delete it."0


    Lu Zhe casually nced at it; the words "ALS" were highlighted in red.0


    Yang Shujing pocketed her phone, "Don''t take theirments to heart."0


    "I think you''re amazing. Even the instructor praised you. You''re much more capable than others and don''t seem like you''re sick at all." Yang Shujing looked at Lu Zhe with admiration, her voice gentle. "Everyone else is trying to avoid military training, but you''re still persisting despite your condition. Lu Zhe, you''re really amazing."0


    If it were any other guy, being looked at by Yang Shujing with such admiration and adoration would have already stirred their emotions.0


    Lu Zhe just nodded expressionlessly.0


    Yang Shujing spoke with concern, "You should take care of your health. If you can''t handle the training, you can tell the instructor and ask for leave."0


    It was only then that Lu Zhe looked at her.0


    Yang Shujing felt a tightness in her heart as she was gazed at by his dark eyes. Her gaze became shy, and her biting her lip betrayed her inner embarrassment.0


    Lu Zhe coldly said, "I know my own condition."0


    Yang Shujing nodded. "My father knows a doctor who specializes in treating ALS. He has a lot of experience in this area. I can add you as a friend, ask my father for the doctor''s contact, and send it to you."0


    Lu Zhe directly refused, "No need."0


    The next moment, the instructor called for assembly, and Lu Zhe quickly stood up and left, not even ncing at Yang Shujing.0


    Yang Shujing pocketed her phone, her eyes smiling, showing no embarrassment from being ignored by Lu Zhe.0


    After military training.0


    Yang Shujing had just returned to the dormitory, and her roommate called out to her, "Shujing, did you break up with Shen Shi?"0


    "Yes," Yang Shujing sat down at her chair, "What''s up?"0


    The roommate said, "Shen Shi called me and asked me to ry that he wants to talk to you. He said you blocked him." She felt a bit unwilling, "If you have time, just give him a call. I''ve already passed on his message."0


    Yang Shujing smiled and said, "We''ve already broken up. There''s nothing to talk about. I don''t want to give him hope and then disappoint him."0


    The roommate was speechless.0


    She and Yang Shujing were ssmates in high school.0


    To outsiders, Yang Shujing''s appearance wasn''t particrly beautiful, but her gentle, submissive eyes and thefortable tenderness she exuded made her popr.0


    In high school, many people liked her.0


    What was unexpected was that Yang Shujing would actively pursue a boy in the ss who was not in good health and had a cold, aloof personality.0


    Not long after, Yang Shujing broke up with the boy and then pursued a senior who had a foot problem and was antisocial.0


    Later, after breaking up with the senior, Yang Shujing began to take care of Shen Shi, who had just transferred to the school.0


    Due to his heart condition, Shen Shi''s personality was rtively quiet and dull.0


    Initially, Shen Shi was cold towards Yang Shujing and didn''t interact with her, but Yang Shujing''s tenderness and persistence eventually wore him down.0


    In the end, the young man lost in darkness was touched by Yang Shujing, who was as gentle as water, like a beam of light.0


    Her roommate wasn''t surprised to hear that Yang Shujing had broken up with Shen Shi. Everyone thought Yang Shujing was beautiful and warm, but her roommate knew her well enough to understand what kind of person she really was.0


    At that moment, her roommate''s phone rang again. She nced at it and handed the phone to Yang Shujing. "Shen Shi is calling me again. You should answer it."0


    Yang Shujing was in front of the mirror, about to apply a face mask. "I''m not answering. Just hang up."0


    Her ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????roommate, holding the phone, couldn''t help but say, "If you didn''t like him, why did you get together with him in the first ce?"0


    Yang Shujing smiled. "I used to like him, but not anymore. You can tell him that I have someone I like now." She turned to look at her roommate. "The person I like now is Lu Zhe."0


    Her roommate was surprised.0


    She knew Lu Zhe from their ss. He was tall and handsome, but she had seen the campus forum today, which mentioned that Lu Zhe had amyotrophicteral sclerosis (ALS).0


    Her roommate frowned. "You don''t really like Lu Zhe."0


    Just like the other boys she had pursued before, Yang Shujing didn''t really like them.0


    Yang Shujing turned back to the mirror. "You''re not me. How would you know what I''m thinking?"0


    The person she liked now was indeed Lu Zhe. Someone with ALS, trapped in darkness, must feel so desperate.0


    She could be Lu Zhe''s light, his hope in life, his angel, giving him warmth.0


    Her roommate asked, "What about Shen Shi?"0n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Yang Shujing''s tone was slightly impatient. "I don''t like him anymore. He''s too annoying, which is why I blocked him."0


    Pursuing people who were trapped in darkness and bing their savior was much more challenging than being with ordinary boys.0


    This time, she had a feeling that Lu Zhe would be more challenging than any of the boys she had encountered before.0


    Her roommate nced at the screen of the phone, which was still lit up. She pressed the end call button. "Shujing, I hope you don''t get yourself into trouble one day."0


    After saying that, her roommate took the washbasin to the bathroom.0


    Yang Shujing looked at herself in the mirror and smiled, shaking her head. Her roommate just didn''t understand her.0


    Bing someone else''s light was a good thing.0


    The forum post about Lu Zhe remained popr. His good looks and terminal illness had attracted a lot of attention, keeping the post trending.0


    Over the past two days at school, whenever people encountered Lu Zhe, they couldn''t help but pay extra attention to him.0


    Lu Zhe, however, wasn''t affected by anyone. Back in high school, he had grown ustomed to the sympathetic or even disdainful gazes.0


    He quietly sat under the shade of a tree. There were only two more days left of military training.0


    The afternoon sun was scorching. After so many days, everyone''s skin had darkened several shades. The girls, despite applying face masks and sunscreen every day, couldn''t avoid getting darker. Moreover, their strict drill instructor had ramped up the training intensity in the past two days, leaving them too exhausted to worry about their skin. All they hoped for was the end of the military training.0


    At that moment, Yang Shujing walked over to Lu Zhe with a thermos sk and sat down, not too close but not too far away.0


    She unscrewed the thermos and poured some mung bean sweet soup into the lid.0


    She handed the lid to Lu Zhe, speaking gently. "It''s so hot today. I got some mung bean sweet soup from the cafeteria at noon. It can help cool you down. Would you like some?"0


    Lu Zhe coldly refused. "No, thank you."0


    Yang Shujing smiled warmly. "I washed the thermos and the lid. They''re very clean. You can feel free to drink without any worries."0


    Lu Zhe looked at her. His dark eyes were calm. "My girlfriend would mind."0


    Yang Shujing''s hand holding the lid tightened.0


    She hadn''t expected Lu Zhe to have a girlfriend.0


    This didn''t make sense.0


    Lu Zhe had a terminal illness, and his life was limited. Everyone knew what ALS patients would eventually be. Logically, girls might feel sympathy for Lu Zhe, but no one would actually like him.0


    Just like the boys she had pursued before, they had all suffered from discrimination, ridicule, and pity. No one had been willing to be with them.0


    Only she didn''t mind, bing their savior.0


    Yang Shujing retracted her hand, her face showing no trace of embarrassment. She sincerely said, "I''m sorry. I didn''t think too much about it. I just thought it was too hot, and your health isn''t good. The mung bean sweet soup can help cool you down."0


    Lu Zhe looked away, not paying her any more attention.0


    Yang Shujing gazed at the young man''s stern profile. There was no denying that Lu Zhe was even more handsome than the boys she had pursued before.0


    She didn''t lose herposure. Instead, she reached out and tapped the boy in front of her. "I brought some mung bean sweet soup. Would you like some?"0


    The boy was ttered. "Thank you."0


    He took the lid from Yang Shujing. If not for his darkened skin from the sun, one could have easily seen him blushing.0


    Yang Shujing smiled graciously. "You''re wee."0


    Then, she held the thermos and sipped the mung bean sweet soup slowly, not bothering Lu Zhe again.0


    It seemed as if her offer to Lu Zhe had been a casual, kind gesture, not something she had nned.0


    ...0


    The air conditioner in the room kept the temperaturefortable, making it easy to feel drowsy.0


    Su Ci had no idea about the forum post regarding Lu Zhe. She was preupied with saving golden cotton candy.0


    The golden cotton candy she had earned by saving the little fat boy earlier had been split: half went to Lu Zhe, and the other half was kept for Fu Gui.0


    Fu Gui had leveled up again.0


    It told her that Lu Zhe needed to consume forty-nine golden cotton candies to be cured.0


    Su Ciy half-reclined in the hanging chair, eating fruit and counting how many people she had saved and how many golden cotton candies Lu Zhe had eaten.0


    After a while, Su Ci realized she had earned twelve golden cotton candies, with nine going to Lu Zhe after splitting some with Fu Gui.0


    That meant she still needed to save forty more people.0


    Saving so many people wasn''t easy for her, but it wasn''t particrly difficult either. It was just a matter of time.0


    Su Ci felt that saving forty-nine people to get Lu Zhe was worth it.0


    Thinking about this, she happily squinted her eyes.0


    Her bare feet swayed with the movement of the hanging chair. Su Ci leanedzily against the backrest, her dark eyes sparkling.0


    Afterpleting her task, Lu Zhe would be hers.0

 Chapter 74

    <h1>Chapter 74</h1>


    The two weeks of military training came to an end.


    On the final day, Su Ci received a message from Shen Xue, celebrating their liberation. Shen Xue also sent a video of Lu Zhe practicing martial arts. The footage was shot from a distance, but it didn''t diminish the fact that Lu Zhe looked incredibly handsome.


    At that moment, someone knocked on the door of Su Ci''s room. She saved the video before going to open the door. It was the housekeeper. "Miss, dinner is ready."


    Su Ci nced at the time. "Why so early today?" It was only a little after five.


    The housekeeper replied, "It was Madam''s instruction."


    Su Ci nodded. "Alright, I understand."


    She closed the door and headed downstairs.


    Su Ci always dressed elegantly, even at home. Today, she wore a delicate light pink dress made of soft, skin-friendly fabric. The hem of the dress reached just above her knees, revealing her fair, straight legs. She stepped down the stairs at a leisurely pace, her soft-soled slippers matching the color of her dress.


    Around her slender ankle, a clumsy little rabbit charm swayed with every step she took.


    Ji ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Chi, who was sitting on the sofa, casually nced at her. He quickly looked away, not daring to linger.


    "Ci Ci, it''s time to eat," Su''s Mother called out, instructing the staff to bring the dishes to the table.


    Su Ci walked over to her mother. Not seeing Su''s Father or Su ZhiYuan, she asked, "Is Dad and Big Brother not back yet?"


    Su''s Mother exined, "Not yet. They have some business to attend to and will be backter. Ji Chi is moving into the school dormitory tonight, so I had the dinner prepared early to avoid dying him. It wouldn''t be good for him to arrive at the dormte and have to unpack."


    "Moving tonight?" Su Ci looked surprised as she turned to Ji Chi.


    Ji Chi had already taken a shower. His ck hair was still damp, slightly messy over his forehead. His sharp, cold features gave off a sense of aloofness.


    Noticing the girl''s gaze, he met her eyes calmly. "Yes, sses start tomorrow. It''s better to move tonight."


    His wounds had fully healed, and it was no longer appropriate for him to stay at the Su family''s home.


    Su''s Mother asked Ji Chi, "Have you packed your things already, Xiao Chi?"


    Ji Chi nodded. "Yes, I have."


    Su''s Mother continued, "After dinner, I''ll have the driver take you to the school. It''s not convenient for you to carry so many things."


    This time, Ji Chi didn''t refuse Su''s Mother''s offer. "Thank you, Aunt Su."


    After dinner, Ji Chi brought down his luggage. When he had arrived, he had only brought a ck backpack. Now, as he left, he still carried only that same ck backpack.


    Seeing how little luggage Ji Chi had, Su''s Mother couldn''t help but say, "Xiao Chi, I heard that dormitories require bedding, mattresses, and other daily necessities. Aren''t you taking those?"


    "Aunt Su, I can buy those at the school."


    "You''re too polite, child. We have all of that here. There''s no need to buy them at the school," Su''s Mother instructed the staff to prepare a new set of bedding, mattress, and other essentials for Ji Chi.


    Ji Chi stood still, waiting. "Thank you for the trouble."


    Little Su Ning was sitting on the sofa. He suddenly realized that Ji Chi going to school was different from him going to school. Ji Chi would be living in the dormitory and wouldn''t be staying at their home anymore. He wouldn''t be able to see Ji Chi.


    "Chicken Wing Brother, are you leaving?" Little Su Ning asked in a sweet, childish voice.


    "Yes, I have to go to school," Ji Chi replied. On days when he wasn''t working, Little Su Ning and Xiao Tiancai would often ask Ji Chi to y with them. They both adored this cold yet gentle older brother.


    "Chicken Wing Brother, will youe back to y?" Little Su Ning looked up at him, his big, round eyes shining brightly.


    Ji Chi''s gaze fell on Su Ci, who was sitting next to Little Su Ning. She too was looking at him with her dark, glistening eyes.


    Seeing the two siblings'' bright, watery eyes, Ji Chi''s heart softened. A faint smile appeared on his usually stern face. "Yes, I will."


    Su''s Mother added, "Xiao Chi,e over for meals whenever you have time during the holidays."


    She knew that Ji Chi was a quiet and reserved young man. If she didn''t remind him, he might worry about being a burden and never visit the Su family again.


    Ji Chi agreed, "Aunt Su, I understand."


    The housekeeper, following Su''s Mother''s instructions, packed the bedding and other essentials for Ji Chi and loaded them into the car.


    Ji Chi, carrying the same ck backpack he had arrived with, got into the car as well.


    As the car drove away from the Su family''s home, Ji Chi looked out the window. His hand reached into his pocket and touched the little rabbit clip.


    His gaze darkened, and he let out a self-deprecating smile.


    The next day, sses officially began.


    Su Cizily dragged herself out of bed. She picked out a beautiful dress to wear.


    During this period of time, being pampered at home had made Su Ci even more fair and delicate. As she walked to school, she naturally became the focal point of attention.


    When she arrived at the ssroom, Shen Xue and Wen Duoyu were already there. Shen Xue''s home was not in B City, and Wen Duoyu''s home was far from the school. She nned to go home only on weekends, so both of them were staying in the school dormitory.


    Shen Xue waved at Su Ci. "Su Ci, over here."


    Wen Duoyu quickly stood up to let Su Ci sit inside.


    Seeing Su Ci sit down, Wen Duoyu shyly asked, "Have you had breakfast? I have an extra one here."


    Su Ci shook her head. "I''ve already eaten, thank you."


    Hearing Su Ci say "thank you," Wen Duoyu was overjoyed, her eyes crinkling into a smile. She had a small tiger tooth on one side, and her face was filled with shyness.


    The goddess looked so beautiful today.


    Thinking about how she would be able to attend sses with Su Ci and even sit next to her, Wen Duoyu felt incredibly happy.


    On the other side, Shen Xue looked at the exquisite and fair Su Ci and almost cried. "Woo, Su Ci, sitting next to you makes me look even darker."


    She had been exposed to the sun for half a month.


    Originally, she was also a fair and delicate girl, but the intense sunlight had darkened her skin several shades, despite her efforts with sunscreen.


    Su Ci''s skin was naturally fair, and now, sitting among a group of people who had been tanned, she stood out like a beacon, drawing everyone''s eyes.


    Shen Xue extended her arm topare it with Su Ci''s.


    She almost cried again.


    Although her skin had never been as fair as Su Ci''s, the difference was now ringly obvious¡ªone pale, one tanned. Shen Xue sighed. "I wonder when I''ll be able to get my fair skin back."


    Su Ci loved her snow-white, delicate skin the most. She knew that even Lu Zhe liked it. Sometimes, when he held her, he would gently caress her arm with his slightly calloused fingertips.


    She was d that her delicate constitution had saved her from the situation.


    Su Ci sympathized with Shen Xue. "Winter ising soon. You''ll have several months to recover."


    Shen Xue leaned closer to Su Ci''s face, full of admiration. She noticed that Su Ci wasn''t wearing any makeup¡ªit was pure, wless skin. Not only was it fair, but it was also smooth, with no visible pores, as if it could be broken by a single touch. "Su Ci, how do you take care of your skin?"


    Shen Xue thought her own skin was good, but now, seeing Su Ci up close, she realized there was noparison.


    Su Ci raised an eyebrow and smiled. "I was born this way."


    Shen Xue: ......


    "You probably haven''t checked our school''s forum, have you?" Shen Xue changed the subject. "Someone leaked that Lu Zhe has ALS, and there are a lot of posts about him on the forum. Many people at school are talking about him."


    Lu Zhe''s outstanding looks and impressive performance during the military training had attracted a lot of attention. Now, with the revtion of his ALS, even more people were talking about him.


    "There are posts about Lu Zhe?" Su Ci frowned.


    "The forum is anonymous," Shen Xue exined, taking out her phone and showing Su Ci the forum page. "We log in with our real names, but when posting, we''re anonymous."


    Su Ci saw several posts about Lu Zhe on the forum. The titles of the posts not only mocked him but also deliberately incited others to discriminate against him.


    "The same person posted all of these," Su Ci handed the phone back to Shen Xue.


    Shen Xue quickly checked the posts. "Huh? How do you know? The anonymous names are different for each post."


    Su Ci, who had been in the entertainment industry, had seen all kinds of tactics used by trolls. She wasn''t fooled by the simple trick of changing usernames. "Thenguage and the way they''re stirring up controversy are the same."


    Someone was targeting Lu Zhe?


    Su Ci''s eyes darkened. She immediately took out her phone and sent a message to her older brother, Su ZhiYuan.


    "Are you going to report the thread owner?" Shen Xue asked Su Ci, "I can help you apply to have the post deleted."


    Su Ci shook her head, "No need, just leave it."


    She was protective of her own, only she could bully Lu Zhe, no one else could.


    On the other side, the ss monitor was having peoplee forward to collect new textbooks.


    Yang Shujing collected her own book and also helped herself to an extra copy. She took the new book and walked over to Lu Zhe''s seat, smiling, "You don''t need to go collect it yourself; I''ve already got one for you."


    Lu Zhe instinctively frowned.


    "You don''t need to be polite, I''ve researched online, ALS patients'' limbs will be affected, your feet are not convenient for walking," Yang Shujing said softly, "We are ssmates, helping each other is only natural."


    Lu Zhe stood up, returning the textbook to her, his voice cold, "My feet are fine, I don''t need help."


    He strode to the front of the ssroom, collecting the books himself.


    Yang Shujing''s expression was a mix of helplessness and tolerance. She handed the extra new book to another male ssmate, "ssmate, I have an extra new book here."


    The boy was ttered.


    Yang Shujing smiled at the boy, then walked to the seat above and to the left of Lu Zhe''s.


    She knew that someone like Lu Zhe, suffering from a terminal illness, would harbor feelings of inferiority, afraid to let others get close, using coldness to mask himself.


    She had already figured out this type of boy, the more insecure, the colder they were, the deeper they yearned for salvation.


    Yang Shujing felt even more eager to make Lu Zhe like her.


    She took out her phone, logging into the school forum.


    Yang Shujing didn''t bother Lu Zhe again the entire morning, until school ended, she saw Lu Zhe packing up to leave, she quickly stood up.


    Seeing the girl blocking his way, Lu Zhe frowned, his voice cold, "Is there something?"


    He hadn''t paid much attention before, but after a few encounters, Lu Zhe realized the girl was using excuses to get close to him, he remembered what Su Ci had said that day in the private room.


    Not to have too much contact with the girls in the ss.


    Yang Shujing looked at Lu Zhe''s cold expression, not feeling disheartened, she was prepared for Lu Zhe being difficult to win over.


    She knew better than anyone that it wouldn''t be easy to get someone in the abyss, in darkness, to open their heart to her.


    Yang Shujing''s skin was tanned, but her eyebrows were gentle, her smile soft, making people feelfortable.


    She spoke softly to Lu Zhe, "I called my dad yesterday, got the contact of a doctor who treats ALS, luckily, that doctor is also in City B, I had my dad make a call, the uncle agreed to let me take you to see him."


    Lu Zhe directly refused, "No need."


    Yang Shujing looked at Lu Zhe with patience and understanding, "I really want to help you, I''ve had sick friends before, I understand how you feel."


    Her gaze was warm as she looked at him, "If there''s even a little hope, you shouldn''t give up treatment, this uncle has some experience with treating ALS, even if it can''t be cured, maybe it can help dy the illness."


    Lu Zhe''s expression was cold, he said coldly, "My affairs have nothing to do with you, you''re meddling too much."


    Yang Shujing was stunned, her gaze at Lu Zhe darkened, a bit wronged, "I''m sorry, I really want to help you, others look at you with biased eyes, but I''m different."


    "How are you different?" A girl''s pleasant voice came from the doorway.


    Lu Zhe looked over, his cold eyebrows softening instantly.


    Yang Shujing was astonished to see an extremely exquisite and beautiful girl walk in, she was so beautiful it was as if she was glowing.


    Su Ci walked to Lu Zhe''s side, her little eyes looking at him resentfully, "I''ve been waiting for you for a long time."


    Didn''t expect him to be chatting with another girl here?


    Lu Zhe patted her head, "Sorry, something came up and I was dyed."


    Yang Shujing wasn''t stupid, seeing Lu Zhe''s gentle actions and soft tone with the girl, how could she not realize the girl was his girlfriend?


    She was stunned by the girl''s beauty, her thoughts a bit chaotic.


    Before, when Lu Zhe mentioned his girlfriend, she had instinctively thought of a in or ordinary-looking girl.


    After all, given Lu Zhe''s situation, a girl with looks or capital wouldn''t waste time on him.


    Yang Shujing knew that her appearance wasn''t extraordinarily beautiful, but she excelled in her gentle temperament, obedient personality, and soothing voice, making her the ideal first love for many boys.


    So, even knowing Lu Zhe had a girlfriend, she didn''t take it seriously.


    She was very confident.


    As long as she worked hard to move Lu Zhe, she could definitely enter his dark world, be the light that illuminated him.


    But seeing Lu Zhe''s suddenly appearing girlfriend, it waspletely different from her imagined image.


    The girl''s skin was as white as snow, wearing a delicate mist-blue dress, her ck eyes gazing at her emotionlessly. For no apparent reason, Yang Shujing first felt a sense of timidity, even embarrassment.


    She found thatpared to the girl, she was highlighted like an ugly duckling.


    Su Ci was already quite displeased with this girl, and now seeing her blocking Lu Zhe in person, her displeasure increased even more. "You said you were dyed, was it because of her?"


    Lu Zhe felt that Su Ci was like a little bunny about to get angry, so he soothed her, "Yes, she blocked me, I had no intention of talking to her."


    Yang Shujing couldn''t believe her eyes, "ssmate Lu?"


    Su Ci''s stern little face from the previous moment broke into a smile, "I''m hungry."


    Lu Zhe held her little hand, "I''ll take you to eat."


    Su Ci nodded, then looked at Yang Shujing, "Put away your flowery words and hidden agendas. Lu Zhe is my boyfriend, and I know his condition better than you do."


    After saying that, Su Ci turned to look at the boy beside her, warning, "If you find such an ugly mistress, give me a green hat to wear, I''ll..."


    Before Su Ci could finish, Lu Zhe''s big hand covered her mouth.


    Lu Zhe''s tone was helpless yet indulgent, "Don''t talk nonsense, I don''t even know her name, I only like you."


    Su Ci''s mouth was covered, she blinked her eyes, full of a triumphant expression.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Yang Shujing felt that this was the first time she had ever been so embarrassed and humiliated.


    Su Ci didn''t care about the other''s feelings; she nced at the other''s wrist, noticing that her life value was a thin red line, with only two days remaining.


    A dying person.


    Hmph, don''t want to save.

 Chapter 75

    <h1>Chapter 75</h1>


    Su Ci pulled Lu Zhe away.


    She had never tried eating in the cafeteria before, and it was crowded all around. Lu Zhe led her to the third floor.


    The third floor of the cafeteria was a restaurant with private rooms. Sometimes, teachers and leaders would choose to dine here. The view from the private rooms was excellent, but of course, the cost was higher. The first and second floors of the cafeteria were already sufficient to meet the students'' needs.


    Lu Zhe ordered a few dishes that Su Ci liked.


    "Drink some water," he ced a ss of lemon water beside her hand.


    Su Ci took a few sips, then turned her head to examine Lu Zhe with her dark eyes. Today, he was wearing a ck T-shirt, and his features were clear and handsome. Even though he had tanned a bit, he was still very attractive. No wonder that girl had tried to use little tricks to get close to him.


    Su Ci let out a soft hum, raising her chin as she began to settle ounts, "If I hadn''t shown up, were you nning to keep chatting with that girl, making me wait?"


    Lu Zhe felt that if Su Ci still had her rabbit ears at this moment, they would definitely be standing tall, showing off her pride.


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly, "No."


    Su Ci''s eyes curved at the corners, and the small teardrop mole below her eye was captivating. She began counting on her beautiful fingers, "That girl isn''t as pretty as me, her voice isn''t as nice as mine, her personality isn''t as good as mine, and her character isn''t as kind as mine..."


    Su Ci couldn''t help but sigh, "I have so many good qualities."


    She looked at Lu Zhe, "You better not be blind and give up on someone as excellent as me to like someone who is inferior in every way."


    Otherwise, she would be utterly disgusted.


    Lu Zhe reached out to pinch her long, silky hair and the small, delicate ear bead beneath it. "What are you talking about?"


    The softness of her ear made Su Ci hum in dissatisfaction, and at that moment, her phone rang.


    Su Ci nced at it and saw that it was information sent by her older brother.


    Earlier that morning, she had asked her brother to investigate the matter on the forum about Lu Zhe, finding out who was deliberately stirring up trouble and leading the charge to discriminate against Lu Zhe.


    Investigating such a small matter didn''t take much time. Su ZhiYuan not only sent the information to Su Ci but also added a message: Prioritize your studies, and treat dating as secondary.


    Su Ci automatically ignored her brother''stter message. In her eyes, Lu Zhe was more important than anything else.


    She opened the investigation results and saw that the person who posted those threads about Lu Zhe was a girl named Yang Shujing. The information included her photo and a detailed investigation of her family.


    Su Ci looked at the familiar face in the photo and narrowed her eyes.


    "Take a look," Su Ci directly ced her phone in front of Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe nced at the girl, then took the phone.


    "What does she want?" Su Ci wondered, "She deliberately smeared you on the forum, leading the charge to mock you, yet in reality, she puts on a caring act, trying to get close to you."


    What exactly was this girl''s intention?


    Su Ci leaned closer to Lu Zhe, "But no matter what her n is, I''m angry that she maliciously attacked you on the forum."


    Lu Zhe stroked Su Ci''s head. He didn''t care about others'' words and gazes; he only cared about her feelings. "I''ll delete those posts."


    "Don''t delete them yet," Su Ci raised an eyebrow, her dark eyes shing with a strange light, "Can you make her reveal her identity when she posts on the forum?"


    Lu Zhe nodded, "Yes."


    Su Ci said, "Then make her reveal it."


    The other party was clearly a rat in the gutter, hiding her malicious intent, pretending to be a kind and gentle flower, which was really annoying.


    Since she had led the charge to incite online bullying against Lu Zhe, let her experience the taste of being bullied online.


    Lu Zhe cooperated, "Alright."


    After eating, Su Ci and Lu Zhe nned to take a walk around the school. She hadn''t had the chance to properly explore the campus.


    At noon, the sun was fierce.


    Many people had already returned to their dormitories to rest after lunch, so there weren''t many people on the road.


    Su Ci slipped her hand into Lu Zhe''s palm, letting him hold her hand.


    Lu Zhe''s body temperature was on the lower side, and in this hot weather, she feltfortable leaning against him.


    Su Ci happily curved her eyes, about to say something to Lu Zhe, when she saw Yang Shujing not far away.


    She frowned, feeling quite displeased.


    Yang Shujing was walking beside a boy, who was half-dragging, half-pulling her away.


    Su Ci noticed the red thread on the boy''s wrist, indicating his life value.


    Tsk, both this boy and Yang Shujing were about to die?


    The distance was a bit far, so she couldn''t see the exact time.


    Su Ci pondered for a moment and called out to Fugui, "How did that boy die? And how many days does he have left?"


    Fugui quickly replied: [Master, he has two days left to live. He will die by suicide.]


    Two days?


    Yang Shujing also had only two days of life left.


    It seemed their deaths were somehow connected.


    Su Ci reluctantly asked Fugui, "How did Yang Shujing die?"


    When she found out earlier that Yang Shujing would die, she didn''t ask Fugui the reason because she didn''t really want to save her.


    Knowing that Yang Shujing had led the charge to cyberbully Lu Zhe on the forum, she was even less inclined to save her.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Su Ci didn''t consider herself a kind-hearted person and had never thought of being a savior.


    If she were to save Yang Shujing, it would purely be for the sake of gold cotton candy and Lu Zhe.


    Fugui, thinking it could get gold cotton candy again, spoke in an excited little voice, [Master, Yang Shujing will be killed.]


    Su Ci was momentarily stunned.


    One was to die by suicide, and the other was to be killed.


    Su Ci quickly guessed two possibilities: either Yang Shujing was killed by someone else, and the boymitted suicide for her, or Yang Shujing was killed by the boy, who thenmitted suicide.


    Su Ci watched as Yang Shujing and the boy walked further away, her fingers lightly hooking around Lu Zhe''s hand, "I saw Yang Shujing. Let''s follow them and see."


    The girl''s fingertips lightly teased his palm, causing a ticklish sensation.


    Lu Zhe tightened his grip on her hand and, without asking for a reason, followed her to track the couple ahead.


    Su Ci watched as the two kept walking upwards, obviously heading to the rooftop.


    She was so tired.


    Why was it always climbing mountains or stairs whenever she had to save someone!


    She hated physicalbor the most.


    "I''ll carry you," Lu Zhe bent down in front of Su Ci.


    Su Ci didn''t refuse. It wasn''t the first time Lu Zhe had carried her, so she skillfully climbed onto the broad, strong back of the young man.


    She wrapped her arms around Lu Zhe''s neck and, leaning her head to the side, whispered softly into his ear, "Keep it up."


    The warm breathnded on his ear, and Lu Zhe tightened his jaw. Without a sound, he slowed his pace and continued to walk upwards.


    The boy and Yang Shujing ahead were clearly immersed in their argument and didn''t notice someone following them from below.


    Pushing open the door to the rooftop, the noon sun directly hit them, making it hard to open their eyes.


    "Shen Shi, you''re hurting me," Yang Shujing struggled, her voice full of grievance.


    Shen Shi led Yang Shujing to the railing of the rooftop, then let go of her hand, "Why break up? Why block my phone number?"


    Shen Shi had a fair, clean appearance and a gentle demeanor. Due to his heart condition, hisplexion was very pale, a fragile, sickly white, and even the color of his thin lips was very light.


    His ck pupils were reflected as brown by the intense sunlight, appearing very gentle.


    He was wearing a white shirt and casual pants, tall and slim, a clean and handsome boy.


    Yang Shujing held her wrist, which had been gripped painfully, and hadn''t expected Shen Shi toe to City B to find her, and they had just happened to meet, "How did you get here?"


    "You don''t want to see me?" Shen Shi''s lips were pale, and his beautiful eyes stared straight at Yang Shujing, "On the phone, you casually said ''break up'', and that''s it?"


    "I''m sorry," Yang Shujing bit her lip, her eyes teary, her gentle expression full of reluctance for Shen Shi, "I don''t like you anymore."


    Shen Shi''s face turned even paler under the sun.


    He mocked, "Who was it that kept chasing after me? Who forced their way into my life? Who shamelessly clung to me, saying they didn''t mind my heart condition, that I could die at any moment? Who said they wanted to warm me? To give me light?"


    A stubbornness appeared in his eyes as he pressed, "Now? You gave me light, and now you''re pushing me back into the abyss?"


    Yang Shujing bit her lip and remained silent.


    Shen Shi stepped forward, his single hand gripping both sides of her face, his tone cold, "Are you ying with me?"


    Yang Shujing quickly shook her head, her face painfully pinched by the other person. Feeling wronged, she started to cry, "I really wanted to help you."


    Shen Shi''s fair, refined face was cold. "Chasing me down, then dumping me¡ªis that your way of helping?"


    Yang Shujing was stunned. She retorted, "That''s not it..."


    "The one you like now, Lu Zhe, has ALS, right?" Shen Shi tightened his grip, leaving red marks on her face as he watched her shocked expression. "Are you nning to pursue him the same way you pursued me?"


    Yang Shujing looked at him in astonishment. How did Shen Shi know?


    "One with autism, one with a limp, one with heart disease, and now another with ALS," Shen Shi sneered at Yang Shujing. "Are you collecting patients? Or do you think you''re some kind of saint? Saving the sick? Offering us redemption?"


    Yang Shujing felt both ashamed and humiliated. Tears in her eyes, she retorted, "Don''t humiliate me like this."


    Down the stairs, Su Ci and Lu Zhe had not left yet. Instead, they were eavesdropping from the stairwell, with Lu Zhe extending his phone out to capture the scene.


    Through the phone screen, they could see the boy and Yang Shujing arguing.


    When they heard the boy use Yang Shujing of liking Lu Zhe, Su Ci huffed unhappily at Lu Zhe. But as the boy went on to list all the people Yang Shujing had liked before, Su Ci was shocked.


    So, Yang Shujing only liked Lu Zhe because he had ALS?


    As the boy put it, did Yang Shujing think she was some kind of savior?


    Was ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????she trying to pull people out of their abyss? Had she been watching too many dramas?


    Su Ci was utterly speechless.


    She could probably guess the reason the boy was killed.


    Su Ci''s legs were getting numb from crouching, and Lu Zhe''s phone was extended from the bottom corner of the wall. They could only watch by crouching.


    Listening to the argument, especially Yang Shujing''s feeble exnations, Su Ci wanted to roll her eyes.


    Bored, she propped her chin on her hand and nced at Lu Zhe, gradually losing herself in thought.


    The boy''s side profile was sharp and defined, his face no longer rigid with illness as it once was.


    His brows and eyes were refined and otherworldly, exuding an indescribable charm.


    He was simply perfect in every way, hitting all the right notes for her.


    As Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe, she suddenly felt that crouching by the wall wasn''t so boring after all.


    The girl''s gaze was bright and intense, burning with intensity as she looked at him. How could Lu Zhe not feel it?


    He turned his head to look at her, and the girl''s eyes lit up even more, sparkling with tiny, beautiful fragments.


    In her gaze was the mischievous intent he was familiar with.


    Sure enough, the girl leaned in and whispered, "Don''t look at me. Turn your head back."


    Lu Zhe nced at her but didn''t respond, turning his head away.


    The next moment, warm breathnded on his ear.


    Lu Zhe smelled the familiar, faint scent of Su Ci.


    Then, a moist sensation touched his earlobe, and the veins on the back of his hand holding the phone stood out.


    An overwhelming sense of pleasure rose, and the boy nearly gritted his teeth.


    His voice was very low. "Su Ci!"


    On the phone screen, Yang Shujing was pushed by the boy to the edge of the rooftop railing, as if about to be pushed off.


    Yang Shujing screamed in terror.


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes were deeply intense, and the sensation of the girl''s light lick on his earlobe sent a wave of numbness through him, almost causing him to lose control.


    He nced at the scene on the phone and asked the girl in a low, hoarse voice, "Should we save her?"


    Su Ci was surprised to see that Lu Zhe''s ears werepletely red, and the little mole on his earlobe looked especially adorable. She had heard Yang Shujing''s scream, but she didn''t want to intervene.


    "No," Su Ci said. Yang Shujing wouldn''t die until two dayster.


    For now, it was just a taste of her own medicine. Who asked her to have such bad intentions?


    She deserved it!

 Chapter 76

    <h1>Chapter 76</h1>


    After teasing Lu Zhe, Su Ci finally turned her attention to her phone.0


    She saw Yang Shujing being pushed by a boy towards the railing, her upper body forced over the edge.0


    In stark contrast to Yang Shujing''s terrified expression, Su Ci watched with amusement, enjoying the other girl''s fear.0


    Su Ci felt herself bing increasingly wicked.0


    But she had never been a soft-hearted person to begin with. Yang Shujing had used underhanded tactics to get close to Lu Zhe, and Su Ci hadn''t pushed her over the railing herself¡ªthat was already quite merciful of her.0


    Feeling a bit tired from squatting, Su Ci leaned her entire body against Lu Zhe, pressing close to him to make herself morefortable.0


    Lu Zhe''s ear, which had just been licked, was nowpletely red, the tip so crimson it seemed as if it might bleed. Su Ci looked up at him, and under the sunlight, she could even see the fine down on the tip of his ear.0


    Her boy was unbearably cute.0


    Su Ci smiled and threw herself into his arms.0


    The girl eavesdropped shamelessly and with abandon.0


    Worried that the noise would draw attention, Lu Zhe held his phone with one hand and covered the girl''s mouth with the other. In a low voice, he reminded her, "Tuan Tuan, don''t make a sound."0


    Su Ci obediently nodded, her lips brushing against the scar on Lu Zhe''s palm.0


    Lu Zhe''s hand had been injured while saving Su Ci''s brother, Su ZhiYuan. The wound had healed, but the deep cut had left a scar, slightly uneven.0


    She gently kissed the scar.0


    The new skin was sensitive, and Lu Zhe easily felt the unusual sensation in his palm.0


    His eyes darkened.0


    Before he could pull his hand away, the girl in his arms kissed the scar again.0


    Lu Zhe nonchntly withdrew his hand, which now felt a bit damp.0


    He avoided looking at the girl''s smug expression. If not for the inappropriate setting, he would have loved to discipline this mischievous little troublemaker.0


    Over by the railing, Yang Shujing''s upper body was pushed over the edge by Shen Shi. Looking down from the height, the sensation of being suspended in midair filled her with terror. She screamed, "Shen Shi, let go of me!"0


    "Are you scared?" Shen Shi tugged at the corners of his pale lips, his sickly appearance evident on his wan face.0


    "Shen Shi, don''t, don''t kill me," Yang Shujing cried, trembling with fear, her voice cracking, "I won''t break up with you, Shen Shi, I won''t break up with you. Don''t do this to me."0


    Hearing Yang Shujing''s words, the madness in Shen Shi''s eyes subsided slightly as he pulled her back.0


    Seeing her fear and the tears staining her face, Shen Shi reached out to wipe them away. "You won''t break up with me?"0


    Yang Shujing shook her head through her tears, unable to help but curse him, "Shen Shi, you''re crazy."0


    Shen Shi''s gaze was dark, and Yang Shujing didn''t notice the obsession in his eyes. "You said it yourself, you didn''t mind that I have a heart condition. Even if I die at any moment, you''d stay by my side."0


    His fingers roughly wiped away the tears on Yang Shujing''s face. "You said all these things, so why the sudden change of heart?"0


    Yang Shujing, too afraid to care about the pain on her face, looked at Shen Shi in terror. "I only wanted to help you because I saw you were so lonely. I''ve taken care of you for so long, isn''t that enough? Let me go."0


    When Shen Shi transferred to their school, he exuded an aura that kept others at bay¡ªcold, aloof, and dispirited. Knowing he had a heart condition, she had found a way to get close to him, bing his salvation, and she had seeded.0


    But now that she wanted to leave, Shen Shi hadtched onto her.0


    Shen Shi watched as Yang Shujing trembled and looked at him in fear. He pulled a smile. "It''s not enough. You said you''d stay with me until I die."0


    Yang Shujing was stunned.0


    Shen Shi tightened his grip on her hand and sneered, "Agree? If you don''t, I''ll throw you down right now. After all, my time is limited."0


    Yang Shujing was truly afraid that Shen Shi would go mad and throw her off the building. She quickly nodded, "I agree."0


    Satisfied with the show, Su Ci pulled Lu Zhe away.0


    As they went downstairs, Su Ci couldn''t help but marvel at Yang Shujing''s shamelessness.0


    She had positioned herself as someone else''s savior, believing she was offering redemption, pulling someone out of the abyss. In reality, it was just a way to satisfy her own desires, dispensing her affection from a high pedestal, and then, once bored, kicking the person back into the abyss.0N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Yang Shujing was more selfish than anyone, yet she had the audacity tobel herself a saint.0


    Su Ci felt a wave of disgust.0


    She told Lu Zhe, "Those two are going to die soon."0


    Lu Zhe knew that Su Ci had followed them, and there was a reason for it. Now that she told him they were going to die, he wasn''t overly surprised.0


    "One willmit suicide, the other will be killed," Su Ci said, not wanting to save Yang Shujing but doing it for Lu Zhe''s sake.0


    Lu Zhe didn''t question how Su Ci knew the cause of their deaths, but he stated firmly, "This time, you can''t act alone to save them."0


    Su Ci obediently nodded.0


    When Yang Shujing returned to the dormitory, she was still shaken.0


    "You''re back? Did Shen Shi find you?" A roommate who had juste out of the bathroom saw Yang Shujing return.0


    Yang Shujing looked at her roommate. "How did you know Shen Shi was looking for me?"0


    "He called me to ask where you were. Is he in B City to get back together with you?" the roommate asked.0


    Yang Shujing''s eyes were still red, and upon hearing her roommate''s words, the grievances she had felt with Shen Shi earlier erupted. "Why did you meddle and tell Shen Shi?"0


    The roommate was a bit stunned by the outburst. "You didn''t handle things properly, that''s why Shen Shi came to me. Do you think I wanted to get involved in your mess?"0


    Yang Shujing snapped, "I told you, I''ve broken up with Shen Shi. Don''t bother with him. Do you know he almost hurt me today?"0


    If she hadn''t pacified Shen Shi, she suspected he might have thrown her off the building or even hit her.0


    Yang Shujing now just hoped Shen Shi would leave quickly. She had a new boyfriend, and he had no reason to keep entangling her.0


    "He hit you?" The roommate was surprised. Shen Shi looked gentle and clean-cut, not someone who would resort to violence.0


    Yang Shujing shook her head. "He took me to the rooftop and threatened me not to break up with him." She was furious, "He has a heart condition. How could I possibly stay with him long-term?"0


    The roommate, who had been worried about Yang Shujing, now felt speechless.0


    At that moment, her phone on the desk vibrated. The roommate nced at it and saw a message from Shen Shi, asking if Yang Shujing had safely returned to the dormitory.0


    The roommate quickly replied, confirming that Yang Shujing was back.0


    She pressed the voice message button and asked Yang Shujing, "Since you''re so bothered by Shen Shi''s heart condition, why did you pursue him so aggressively in the first ce?"0


    Yang Shujing now had no feelings left for Shen Shi.0


    She ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????was both afraid and disgusted by him. "I felt sorry for him. He was so lonely and cold, and he has a heart condition. I wanted to help him, give him warmth, and that''s why I got together with him."0


    The roommate pressed the voice message button again. "So why not continue giving him that warmth?"0


    Yang Shujing spoke with conviction, "I''ve been with him for a year. Isn''t that enough? Do you really expect me to stay with him until he dies? His heart is weak, he gets out of breath just from walking fast. Do you really expect me to stay with him until he dies?"0


    The roommate had never been very close to Yang Shujing, only knowing her as the goddess among the boys in ss¡ªgentle in appearance, soft-spoken, and kind.0


    Now, seeing Yang Shujing''s angry, selfish, and harsh demeanor, she felt those boys had been blind, and even Shen Shi had been.0


    The roommate said the same thing as Su Ci, "Yang Shujing, have you been watching too many brainless dramas? Do you really think you''re some kind of saint? Do you think you glow or something?"0


    Yang Shujing looked at her roommate in disbelief. "You''re insulting me?"0


    I''m just calling it like I see it. When you pursued Shen Shi, you were relentless, talking about giving him light and warming him up. Now that you don''t like him, you''re disdainful of his heart condition. You''re the one who''s crazy.0


    The roommate felt no shame in her actions. She didn''t fear offending Yang Shujing, as she had no intention of being friends with someone like her.0


    Yang Shujing, who had always been the center of attention, was caught off guard by the roommate''s criticism. "What gives you the right to insult me?"0


    The roommate didn''t want to argue with her. "I''m not insulting you, I''m just stating facts." She ignored Yang Shujing and walked out with her phone.0


    As she watched the voice messages send sessfully, her roommate put her phone back in her pocket. If Shen Shi still couldn''t see through Yang Shujing''s true nature, then there was nothing more to say.0


    She hade to university to focus on her studies and had no time to deal with Yang Shujing''s nonsense.0


    Meanwhile, in the dormitory, Yang Shujing was so angry that she threw a pillow across the room.0


    Sitting on her chair, she felt that everything had gone wrong today. First, she was ridiculed by Lu Zhe''s girlfriend, then Shen Shi had pestered her, and now even her transparent roommate had stepped forward to kick her while she was down.0


    Yang Shujing was utterly wronged.0


    She pulled out her phone and logged into the forum, where she immediately posted a thread: "People with terminal illnesses should just stay at home and note out to harm others."0


    After posting, within a few seconds, she refreshed the page and clicked into the thread to read thements.0


    "I came to see the white lotus OP."0


    "OP has some nerve."0


    "What did the people with terminal illnesses ever do to you? I beg you, you disgusting person, just stay at home and don''te to school."0


    "Wow, Yang Shujing is in our ss. During military training, she was so gentle and often treated everyone to candy. What''s she doing now? Two-faced online and in real life?"0


    "This Yang Shujing is toxic. Several of the posts mocking Lu Zhe were actually posted by her. What grudge does she have against Lu Zhe?"0


    "Wow, so it was Yang Shujing who was behind all those posts attacking Lu Zhe? If she hadn''t posted, I wouldn''t have known Lu Zhe has ALS."0


    "Yang Shujing was so gentle with us. When we picked up new textbooks, she even helped Lu Zhe get his. How could she be like this behind the scenes?"0


    "I''m disgusted. Lu Zhe is so handsome, and despite his illness, he still insisted on participating in military training. His spirit is worth learning from. I couldn''t understand why someone with an illness, whom we should sympathize with, was being mocked. Now I see it was because someone was deliberately targeting him."0


    "In those threads, all the users jumping around were actually Yang Shujing herself. What''s wrong with her? She''s a pretty girl, but she''s so disgusting."0


    "Today is a major unmasking event. I''m so embarrassed for Yang Shujing that I could dig a hole in the ground with my toes."0


    "Ah, she''s the ss flower of our Computer Science 1 ss..."0


    ...0


    Yang Shujing stared nkly at thements in the thread. She was on the verge of a breakdown. Why wasn''t her post anonymous?0


    She quickly went back to check the other threads she had posted, and they all disyed her real name.0


    Yang Shujing frantically scrolled through thements. The users who had been jumping around in the threads were all her aliases, but now they all showed her real name.0


    What was going on?0


    Yang Shujing''s hand holding the phone trembled as she realized that other people''s posts also disyed their real names.0


    So the forum had removed anonymity?0


    Yang Shujing panicked and tried to delete her posts, but the system prompted that the forum was under maintenance and posts could not be deleted.0


    As the abuse in the forum grew louder, Yang Shujing couldn''t help but cry pitifully.0


    On the other side, Su Ci was well aware of what was happening. The forum incident was something she had asked Lu Zhe to handle.0


    What made her angry was that Yang Shujing had posted again, mocking people with terminal illnesses. She deserved to be exposed and scolded.0


    If she hadn''t posted so many disgusting things, others wouldn''t have scolded her. After all, everyone hated hypocrites who hid their ugly faces behind a smile.0


    Su Ci leaned closer to Lu Zhe. "Don''t let her delete the posts. Let more people see what kind of person she really is."0


    She had a small heart and loved to repay evil with evil.0


    Lu Zhe closed hisptop. "Hmm." Even if she deleted them, he could recover them.0


    Su Ci smiled then, looking like a little fox who had seeded in getting revenge, with no trace of the innocence of a little rabbit.0


    "Are you still angry?" Lu Zhe gently tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear.0


    She was angry because someone had hurt him.0


    He felt both joy and heartache.0


    Su Ci shook her head.0


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips curved slightly as he extended his hand for her to hold.0


    "I can''t walk anymore. You have to kiss me." Su Ci''s eyes curved at the corners as she refused to move.0


    Lu Zhe stood up, and sunlight filtered through the branches, falling on him, making his features even more refined.0


    He bent down and kissed the little troublemaker on


    the bench.0


    He was very fortunate that he had met Su Ci.

 Chapter 77

    <h1>Chapter 77</h1>


    When Su Ci arrived home, she saw her mother selecting gowns.


    "Ci Ci, you''re back?" Su''s Mother waved for her daughter toe over.


    "Is there a banqueting up?" Su Ci walked over and sat down on the sofa.


    "Yes, it''s Grandmother Fu''s birthday. I n to take you to the banquet," Su''s Mother told Su Ci. "Grandmother Fu had some connections with your grandfather''s generation. She''s been in City S for most of her life but only recently moved to City B."


    The Fu family?


    Could it be the same Fu family she had in mind? She still remembered saving Grandmother Fu.


    "Ci Ci, what do you think of this gown? Do you like it?" Su''s Mother picked up a palevender gown. The gown featured a sheer mesh design at the neckline and was adorned with sparkling rhinestones, giving it a ethereal look.


    Su''s Mother always had good taste and knew exactly what suited her daughter best.


    Su Ci nodded, "You can choose for me, Mom. I have no objections."


    "Then it''s settled. I''ve already picked out the essories to match. I''ll have them sent to you," Su''s Mother said with a cheerful mood. She loved dressing her daughter up beautifully, making her the center of attention at any event.


    Su Ci smiled and agreed.


    ...


    After the incident of unmasking identities on the forum, people at school temporarily stopped posting, as using their real names online felt like being naked, evoking a sense of shame.


    Many went back to review previous posts, curious about who had posted what.


    Yang Shujing''s posts, however, stood out the most. It was impossible not to notice them. Her online persona was so different from her usual gentle and soft-spoken demeanor, creating a stark contrast that left people shocked.


    A day had passed since the incident, and when Yang Shujing entered the ssroom, she drew quite a bit of attention.


    She kept her head down and quickly walked to her seat at the back, avoiding the mocking nces of others.


    Taking a deep breath, Yang Shujing looked up and was surprised to see that the person sitting in front of her was Lu Zhe.


    The young man sat upright, unlike the others around him who either slouched on their desks or leaned back in their chairs without any posture.


    As she gazed at Lu Zhe''s broad back, Yang Shujing felt her heart flutter.


    ncing around, she noticed it was still early and ss hadn''t started yet. Gripping her hand tightly, she hesitated for a while before finally summoning the courage to gently tap Lu Zhe''s back with her finger.


    The young man turned around.


    Yang Shujing looked at his handsome face and instinctively blushed. Lu Zhe was more handsome than any boy she had ever met before.


    Lu Zhe coldly looked at Yang Shujing and asked, "What is it?"


    Yang Shujing''s face heated up. She bit her lip and whispered to Lu Zhe, "The things on the forum aren''t true. I don''t know who hacked my ount and posted those things targeting you."


    She desperately exined to Lu Zhe, "I rarely visit the forum. It was someone else who told me about it. I only found out after the fact that my ount had been hacked, and I''m really sorry for the trouble it caused you."


    Lu Zhe''s expression remained indifferent.


    He suddenly thought of how Su Ci sometimes liked to tell him little lies, but they were always harmless. When it came to important matters, she would always be honest and take responsibility, not make excuses.


    This was a difference in character.


    "Lu Zhe, can you forgive me? I''m also a victim of the hacking incident," Yang Shujing spoke in a soft voice, her gentle demeanor making her look particrly pitiful.


    Her n had been to post about Lu Zhe on the forum to distance more people from him, making them look at him with prejudice. Then, she would stand out by showing concern andfort for Lu Zhe, bing his light.


    However, the n had gone awry. Lu Zhe already had a girlfriend, and now the forum unmasking incident had urred, forcing her to halt her pursuit of Lu Zhe and focus on resolving the current situation.


    Yang Shujing had already nned her method to whitewash her image.


    She was clever and decided to firmly im that her ount had been hacked, denying any responsibility for the posts on the forum. She would then seek Lu Zhe''s trust.


    Once the victim forgave her, others wouldn''t say much, and she could position herself as a victim to gain sympathy.


    Yang Shujing''s eyes glistened with tears as she pitifully looked at Lu Zhe, pleading for his forgiveness.


    However, she overestimated her charm and underestimated Lu Zhe''s self-control.


    Even Su Ci, with her self-proimed stunning beauty, couldn''t sway Lu Zhe when she tried to seduce him. Yang Shujing, who was nothing to Lu Zhe and didn''t even register in his eyes, stood no chance.


    Lu Zhe coldly spoke, "Logging into the forum requires a verification code. I''ve also traced the login address and time. Do you need me to provide proof?"


    Yang Shujing instinctively avoided eye contact with Lu Zhe, her heart filled with shock.


    She realized that Lu Zhe had never believed her from the start.


    He had been coldly watching her perform.


    At this thought, Yang Shujing''s face turned crimson, and she couldn''t muster any words to refute him.


    Lu Zhe ignored her embarrassment and shame. He turned back, picked up his textbook, and stood up, moving to a seat in front.


    Those around noticed Lu Zhe''s actions and looked at Yang Shujing with mocking nces.


    Her face, which had just turned red, now turned pale in an instant. Yang Shujing clenched her lips tightly to keep from crying.


    Su Ci was unaware of Yang Shujing''s attempt to seek forgiveness from Lu Zhe.


    Returning from the restroom, she found her seat piled with small gifts and snacks.


    "Su Ci, you''re back? Several boys left these gifts and ran off," Shen Xue leaned over. "It''s true that a pretty person is always popr wherever they go."


    Su Ci agreed. When it came to beauty, she nevercked confidence.


    "How should I return these gifts?" Su Ci had no intention of keeping them. She had received many small gifts from fans before, but she never epted gifts from pursuers.


    "You want to return them?" Shen Xue carefully examined the gifts. "There are no names or cards on them. They don''t seem valuable. Just keep them," she suggested.


    Su Ci shook her head, "No, I can''t."


    Shen Xue looked at her in confusion, "Why not?"


    "Lu Zhe will be unhappy if he finds out," Su Ci reasoned, putting herself in his shoes. If she knew Lu Zhe had epted gifts from other girls, she would be drowning in a sea of jealousy.


    Shen Xue was surprised to hear such words from the usually proud and spoiled Su Ci. She sighed, "It seems that in this world, only Lu Zhe can rein you in."


    Su Ci red at her, "Wrong. It''s me who reins Lu Zhe."


    Next to them, Wen Duoyu quietly suggested to Su Ci, "You could take these gifts to the broadcasting room and have the ownerse to im them."


    Su Ci gave her an appreciative look and said, "That''s a good idea."


    Wen Duoyu suppressed her excitement at being praised by her idol. "I can help you take them to the broadcasting room."


    "Thank you," Su Ci directly handed the gifts to Wen Duoyu.


    "It''s... it''s no trouble at all," Wen Duoyu blushed, feeling incredibly happy to be able to run errands for her idol.


    ...


    Yang Shujing and Shen Shi''s life values were down to just one hour.


    After school, Su Ci went to find Lu Zhe. Earlier, she had told him about Shen Shi and Yang Shujing''s impending deaths. Now, going to save them, she had fewer reservations.


    On the small path, Su Ci spotted the young man standing under a tree, waiting for her.


    Her eyes lit up, and she quickly walked over. "When did you get out of ss? Have you been waiting long?"


    "Not too long," Lu Zhe handed her the juice he had bought from the beverage shop.


    Su Ci was indeed a bit thirsty. She took a few sips before asking Lu Zhe, "Shen Shi hase to find Yang Shujing."


    She had sent someone to keep an eye on Shen Shi and Yang Shujing. When Shen Shi took Yang Shujing away from school, she was informed.


    Lu Zhe naturally took the drink from the girl, "Do you want to go see?"


    He had sent someone to investigate Shen Shi and Yang Shujing, obtaining their information.


    Shen Shi suffered from heart disease and had recently been frequently visiting the hospital, indicating a health issue. Combined with the blow of being dumped, he had chosen a radical method of revenge.


    Su Ci nodded, "Of course, I have to go."


    "Alright, I''ll have the car ready at the gate."


    Yang Shujing followed Shen Shi out, and he took her to a narrow, dirty alley. The alley was filled with trash, buzzing with flies, and reeked of filth.


    ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡± Yang Shujing covered her nose, her eyes filled with disdain. ¡°It¡¯s so dirty and smelly here. Can¡¯t you find a better ce to talk to me?¡±


    Shen Shi was wearing a white T-shirt and casual pants today. His fair face made him look even more refined and handsome, exuding a clean and approachable aura, like an older brother next door.


    ¡°Dirty and smelly?¡± Shen Shi looked at Yang Shujing, his gaze flickering. ¡°Do I seem fitting to this ce in your eyes?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it that way,¡± Yang Shujing quickly denied.


    Shen Shi chuckled softly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you? You¡¯ve always thought that someone like me, with a severe heart condition, should die early. Living on like this is only fitting for people in such environments.¡±


    He stepped forward and gripped Yang Shujing¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°You said that even if I were about to die, you would stay with me.¡±


    Feeling the chill from Shen Shi, Yang Shujing panicked and tried to struggle. ¡°I¡­ I was just caught up in the moment when we were dating. The things I promised back then shouldn¡¯t be taken seriously.¡±


    Shen Shi held her hand firmly and smiled. ¡°But I took it seriously.¡±


    Yang Shujing swallowed hard, her voice trembling. ¡°What¡­ what do you want to do?¡±


    Shen Shi pulled her into his arms, and from somewhere, he produced a knife. The sharp de pressed against Yang Shujing¡¯s neck.


    ¡°Shen Shi!¡± Yang Shujing felt the cold and sharp pain on her neck, her voice breaking in fear. ¡°What¡­ what are you doing?¡±


    Shen Shi smirked, still looking like the handsome neighbor next door. ¡°I¡¯m helping you keep your promise. Let¡¯s die together.¡±


    Feeling the sharpness of the de, Yang Shujing dared not struggle. She cried and begged, ¡°I don¡¯t want to die! Please, Shen Shi, don¡¯t kill me!¡±


    ¡°You promised to stay with me forever. Weren¡¯t you going to redeem me?¡± Shen Shi whispered in Yang Shujing¡¯s ear. ¡°Let¡¯s die together, and then you can stay with me forever.¡±


    ¡°I lied to you! I¡¯m sorry, I said those things tofort you. I felt sorry for you¡­¡± Yang Shujing regretted provoking Shen Shi. She never thought he would be so deranged as to kill her!


    ¡°Then keep lying to me,¡± Shen Shi said, drawing a faint red line on Yang Shujing¡¯s neck with the knife. The sight made her freeze, on the verge of copse.


    ¡°No! I don¡¯t want to die! Shen Shi, you¡¯re crazy! Let me go!¡± Yang Shujing was drenched in tears, her legs trembling so badly that she would have copsed if Shen Shi hadn¡¯t held her tightly.


    Seeing Yang Shujing break down in tears, her face a mess of snot and tears, Shen Shi sneered. ¡°Regret provoking me?¡±


    Yang Shujing¡¯s voice quivered. ¡°Please let me go. I don¡¯t want to die. Shen Shi, I¡¯m sorry, I really don¡¯t want to die¡­¡±


    In a car around the corner of the alley, Su Ci listened to the voiceing from the phone in the hands of her bodyguard. She nced at the time; there were only five minutes left.


    Su Ci had already arranged for people to be stationed around the area.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get out of the car,¡± Su Ci said, ready to push the car door open. But the next moment, Lu Zhe stopped her.


    ¡°Promise me that if there¡¯s any danger, you¡¯ll hide,¡± Lu Zhe said, his voice firm. The lives of those two didn¡¯t matter to him; he only cared about her safety.


    Su Ci turned back and kissed his cold lips, nodding obediently. ¡°Okay.¡±


    When Su Ci and Lu Zhe arrived at the alley, Shen Shi and Yang Shujing were already being restrained by the bodyguards.


    Yang Shujing was stunned. She hadn¡¯t expected to encounter Lu Zhe and his girlfriend here. ¡°Lu Zhe, save me.¡±


    Yang Shujing was held by two men in ck, her hands pinned behind her back, unable to move. A faint red mark from the knife was visible on her neck.


    ¡°Lu Zhe, please save me.¡± Yang Shujing saw Lu Zhe as her savior.


    Shen Shi looked at the tall young man who had suddenly appeared. He sneered. ¡°So, this is Lu Zhe?¡±


    Su Ci stood next to Lu Zhe, her hand resting on his arm. ¡°Why would my boyfriend save you?¡±


    Yang Shujing bit her lip. The girl in front of her was dressed elegantly, beautiful and charming, looking down at her with an air of superiority that made Yang Shujing feel inferior.


    Hearing Su Ci¡¯s words, Shen Shi nced coldly at Yang Shujing. She had a crush on a boy who already had a girlfriend.


    ¡°Were these men sent by you? Why?¡± Shen Shi was clever and quickly realized that the two men in ck must be their people. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t be so calm in this situation.


    Su Ci walked over and took the knife from Shen Shi¡¯s hand, tossing it aside.


    Shen Shi was held down by the two bodyguards and couldn¡¯t move. ¡°Are you here to save Yang Shujing?¡±n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡°No,¡± Su Ci shook her head. ¡°We¡¯re here to save you.¡±


    Shen Shi sneered, clearly not believing her.


    ¡°Why would I save Yang Shujing? She tried to steal my boyfriend. I¡¯m not stupid enough to save her,¡± Su Ci said bluntly.


    Yang Shujing¡¯s face turned red with shame.


    Su Ci looked at Shen Shi. His face was pale, his lips colorless, and his heart condition was more severe than even the little genius¡¯s. ¡°You wanted to kill her and then kill yourself?¡±


    Shen Shi remained silent.


    Su Ci noticed that Shen Shi¡¯s life bar was down to three minutes. ¡°You don¡¯t seem stupid. You know what kind of person Yang Shujing is. Is it really worth sacrificing your life to kill her? It¡¯s not worth it.¡±


    ¡°Is ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????it because you feel like you¡¯re going to die soon with your heart condition, so you want to take Yang Shujing with you?¡± Su Ci looked at Shen Shi¡¯s life bar, still a thin red line. ¡°Since your life is short, you should cherish it more. It¡¯s not worth wasting it on someone like her.¡±


    Shen Shi¡¯s eyes darkened. He scoffed coldly. ¡°What do you know? Don¡¯t judge others when you can¡¯t feel their pain.¡±


    ¡°What don¡¯t I understand? The palpitations, the irregr heartbeat, the difficulty breathing? The fact that you can¡¯t get too emotional or do strenuous activities, like a flower in a greenhouse, meant only for viewing?¡± Su Ci smiled. ¡°Or the constant fear that you might not wake up tomorrow?¡±


    Shen Shi quietly looked at her.


    Before Su Ci transmigrated, she also had a heart condition. She knew better than anyone the pain of a heart attack, even the feeling of dying from it.


    ¡°If I had a heart condition, I would cherish every day even more,¡± Su Ci said, turning away from Shen Shi and walking toward Lu Zhe. ¡°The world doesn¡¯t stop just because someone is gone. Even if you¡¯re willing to sacrifice your life for someone, you have to ask yourself if they¡¯re worth it.¡±


    Shen Shi¡¯s shoulders slumped.


    ¡°You don¡¯t know how long you¡¯ll live until the very end. Is it really worth it to gamble your remaining life on Yang Shujing? Do you have family? What would they think if they knew you were giving up your life like this?¡± Su Ci said coldly.


    Shen Shi lowered his head, his expression unreadable.


    After a while, he spoke slowly, his voice low. ¡°Why did you save me?¡±


    Su Ci took Lu Zhe¡¯s hand and answered Shen Shi. ¡°Sympathy for someone in the same situation.¡±


    Shen Shi¡¯s voice was filled with doubt. ¡°You also have a heart condition?¡±


    The next moment, Su Ci felt Lu Zhe¡¯s grip on her hand tighten. She smiled. ¡°No, my health is perfectly fine now.¡±


    Only ten seconds remained.


    Then, Su Ci saw Shen Shi¡¯s life bar change from a thin red line to a yellow block, indicating he had ten more years to live.


    ¡°Let him go,¡± Su Ci instructed the bodyguards to release him.


    ¡°You can¡¯t let him go!¡± Yang Shujing screamed, trying to stop them. ¡°He¡¯s going to kill me! You can¡¯t let him go!¡±


    ¡°You deserve to be killed,¡± Su Ci said, looking at Yang Shujing¡¯s tear-streaked face with disdain. She was both toxic and selfish.


    Shen Shi was released and stretched his arms. He picked up the knife that Su Ci had thrown away.


    He walked toward Yang Shujing.


    ¡°Let me go! Shen Shi is going to kill me!¡± Yang Shujing struggled frantically, trembling with fear.


    The de pressed against Yang Shujing¡¯s neck, and her face turned pale. ¡°Lu Zhe, save me, save me!¡±


    Lu Zhe didn¡¯t look at her, his gaze fixed on Su Ci. He trusted her.


    Su Ci¡¯s eyes fell on Yang Shujing¡¯s hand, which was tightly held by the bodyguard. Her life bar had turned into five yellow blocks.


    Su Ci¡¯s eyes lit up as she earned two golden cotton candies. She held Lu Zhe¡¯s hand and prepared to watch the show.


    ¡°Don¡¯t kill me! Please, don¡¯t kill me!¡± Yang Shujing was so terrified that her face turned pale. The sharpness of the de made her fear she would faint.


    Shen Shi thought of the girl who had always chased after him, always gently taking care of him, and promising to apany him. Looking at the disheveled Yang Shujing in front of him, he curled his lips.


    The stubbornness in his eyes faded, and Shen Shi let out a coldugh. He dropped the knife in his hand to the ground, "You really aren''t worth it."


    Yang Shujing was already so frightened that she was dumbfounded,pletely unable toprehend what Shen Shi meant.


    Shen Shi turned and left. As he passed by Su Ci, he paused for a moment, "I don''t know why you helped me, but thank you."


    Shen Shi left, his hands clean, just as they were when he arrived, like a gentle and handsome older brother from next door.


    "Let her go," Su Ci instructed the bodyguards to release Yang Shujing.


    The show was over, and staying any longer was pointless.


    Yang Shujing''s legs were already soft as noodles from fear. Suddenly released by the bodyguards, she lost her support and fell straight to the ground with a cry of "Ah..."


    Su Ci turned to look and saw that Yang Shujing''s face had been scratched by the ss on the ground.


    "My face hurts so much," Yang Shujing dared not touch it, "It hurts so much..."


    Su Ci could see that the wound on Yang Shujing''s face wasn''t deep, but it would leave a scar. Even if the scar were to fade, it would take a lot of effort.


    This can also be considered a lesson and punishment for the other party.


    Back in the car, Lu Zhe suddenly reached out and ced his hand over Su Ci''s chest.


    Su Ci was startled and blinked.


    She shyly gave Lu Zhe a flirtatious nce, "Lu Zhe, you''ve be naughty."


    "It''s healthy, right?" Lu Zhe asked seriously, looking at the girl.


    Su Ci didn''t expect Lu Zhe to be so sensitive. She nodded, "Very healthy. Do you want to hear my heartbeat?"


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips pressed together.


    Su Ci smiled brightly at him, "I was lying to Shen Shi earlier. I don''t have a heart condition, so you don''t need to worry."


    Lu Zhe lightly acknowledged: "Hmm."


    He rxed and was about to withdraw his hand when the next second, the girl pressed his hand down.


    Su Ci''s eyes sparkled with mischief as she smiled at him, "My heart is beating so fast right now. Can you feel it?"


    Under his palm, he could just barely feel the softness of her edge.


    Lu Zhe felt his palm grow hot.


    The boy''s face instantly turned red.

 Chapter 78

    <h1>Chapter 78</h1>


    Su Ci was in a good mood after obtaining two more golden cotton candies.0


    Earlier, she had miscounted; she actually had thirteen golden cotton candies in total. Fu Gui had eaten four, not three!0


    Su Ci was heartbroken, but now, with these two additional golden cotton candies, Lu Zhe had eaten eleven in total.0


    That meant there were still thirty-eight golden cotton candies needed for Lu Zhe''s amyotrophicteral sclerosis to be cured.0


    Su Ci''s slender fingers tugged at Lu Zhe''s hem.0


    "Huh?" Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened as his hand unconsciously tightened, still feeling the softness of the girl''s touch in his palm.0


    Su Ci leaned closer to him, "Kiss me, and I''ll give you something good."0


    Lu Zhe nced at the driver standing outside, who was watching them intently. He thought to himself, her boldness knows no bounds¡ªshe really says whatever she wants.0


    "Hurry up," Su Ci urged.0


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze to her rosy lips, sighed, and directly kissed her.0


    Su Ci handed over the two golden cotton candies to Lu Zhe.0


    As she watched the golden cotton candies disappear into Lu Zhe''s mouth, Su Ci tried to pull away, but the next second, her little tongue was captured, leaving her no chance to retreat.0


    Su Ci met Lu Zhe''s dark eyes, and her heart skipped a beat.0


    By the time the driver finished his task and got back into the car, Su Ci was already leaning against Lu Zhe''s chest.0


    The girl''s fair cheeks were flushed, her dark eyes glistening with moisture, and the small teardrop mole at the corner of her eye was even more alluring.0


    She had only intended to give him the golden cotton candies.0


    Su Ci pursed her lips, feeling a numbness in her tongue.0


    This time, Lu Zhe was so fierce that she had the illusion of being swallowed by him.0


    ...0


    The next day, Yang Shujing didn''t show up at school.0


    Rumors spread that she had toyed with someone''s feelings, been avenged, and dragged into an alley to be beaten, even disfigured. By the afternoon, the gossip had shifted to Yang Shujing stealing someone else''s boyfriend and being disfigured as a result.0


    After the incident with the forum leak, many weren''t surprised by Yang Shujing''s retaliation. Those who do evil will always face retribution.0


    Su Ci knew that Yang Shujing''s face had been shed, the wounds infected, and she had been hospitalized.0


    Yang Shujing hated Shen Shi and had reported the incident to the police, but there were no surveince cameras near the alley, and the police found no leads. Plus, the injury on her face was attributed to her own fall, leaving her to suffer in silence.0


    Su Ci received a report from her bodyguard that Yang Shujing''s parents had gone to the school to handle her transfer procedures.0


    As for Shen Shi, he had returned to his city.0


    Shen Shi had ten years left to live. Su Ci wondered if he hade to terms with it and would make the most of his remaining time.0


    On Saturday, Su Ci was to apany Su''s Mother to Grandmother Fu''s birthday banquet.0


    Fu''s main business was in City S. Back in the day, Grandfather Fu was highly respected, and even now that he was gone, people still gave face to Grandmother Fu and attended her events.0


    Grandmother Fu, young at heart, loved dressing up and looking beautiful. Even in her old age, she enjoyed wearing gold and silver.0


    She wore a maroon cheongsam, her hair white, her wrists adorned with several exquisitely crafted gold bracelets embedded with emeralds.0


    Grandmother Fu''s elegance meant that the abundance of gold jewelry on her neck, wrists, and fingers never appeared tacky.0


    Fu Baili''s parents, who had been abroad on business, had also rushed back to attend and were now greeting guests in the grand hall. Fu Baili helped Grandmother Fu down the stairs.0


    ¡°Are all the guests here?¡± Grandmother Fu asked the butler.0


    The butler replied respectfully, "Madam, the Su family''s guests have not yet arrived." Earlier, Grandmother Fu had already instructed that the Su family''s arrival must be reported.0


    Grandmother Fu slowly descended the stairs, "It''s fine if they arriveter. The banquet hasn''t started yet. Keep an eye out, and when the Su family arrives, give them our best hospitality."0


    The Su family agreeing to attend her birthday banquet was already a great honor. The connection between the Fu and Su families was only due to the old friendship between Grandfather Fu and the Su family.0


    ¡°Yes, Madam.¡± The butler hurried to arrange the reception.0


    Grandmother Fu turned to her grandson and said, "A Li,ter, follow your father and greet the guests properly. Many of them are business friends of the Fu family. You''re grown up now, and in a few years, you''ll take over thepany. Make a good impression."0


    This grandson of hers was hot-tempered, never obedient, and often got into trouble, making Grandmother Fu love and worry about him.0


    Recently, he had been spending a lot of time with a girl surnamed Zhao.0


    Grandmother ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Fu knew her grandson''s personality. He rarely interacted with other girls, so bringing the Zhao girl home clearly meant he liked her.0


    She didn''t necessarily require a match in status, but she did expect the girl to be virtuous.0


    She had investigated and found that the girl''s character was not good. She had a bad reputation at school, had deceived her neighbor''s lottery ticket, and even falsely imed someone else''s life-saving deed.0


    Such a morally wed person was not someone she would approve of for her grandson.0


    Her parents were always busy, so Fu Baili grew up by Grandmother Fu''s side. Although he was rebellious, he still listened to his grandmother. "I understand," he said.0


    Grandmother Fu nodded in satisfaction.0


    The banquet was held at the International Grand Hotel, and guests arrived one after another.0


    When Grandmother Fu was escorted by Fu Baili, many hurried over to greet her.0


    Fu Baili was handsome, dressed in a ck custom-made suit, his tall and slender figure catching the attention of many noble youngdies.0


    "Fu''s young master is indeed outstanding, both in looks and demeanor. I wonder which nobledy he will marry in the future." Guests whispered among themselves.0


    "Fu''s young master is truly exceptional."0


    "With Fu''s young master inheriting the family, there won''t be any internal strife. Whoever''s daughter marries into the Fu family will livefortably."0


    "Does the Fu family have any ns for an alliance?"0


    "Many youngdies here are already smitten. It seems Fu''s young master has captured a lot of hearts."0


    "I heard the Su family is also attending tonight''s banquet. I wonder if the Su family''s youngdy will be present. If she stands next to Fu''s young master, they would make a good match."0


    ...0


    The guests whispered among themselves, and Fu Baili''s striking appearance and superior demeanor made many harbor thoughts of a marriage alliance with the Fu family.0


    Even though the Fu family wasn''t as powerful as the Su or Lu families, it was still a strong force.0


    "Grandmother Fu," a nobledy, Mrs. Wang, apanied by her daughter, approached to greet her. Both were dressed exquisitely, exuding elegance.0


    Wang Xiaoqin''s voice was sweet as she said, "Grandmother Fu, I wish you happiness as vast as the Eastern Sea and longevity as long as the Southern Mountains."0


    "This is our gift for Madam Fu''s birthday," Mrs. Wang handed the gift to the butler.0


    Grandmother Fu smiled and nodded, "How thoughtful. This is Xiaoqin, right? It''s been years since Ist saw her. She''s even more beautiful now. I remember she was studying abroad?"0


    "Yes, this child has just returned recently," Mrs. Wang smiled. "We haven''t had the chance to visit you, so we took the opportunity of your birthday toe."0


    Grandmother Fu smiled, "Is Xiaoqin the same age as Baili?"0


    "Xiaoqin is a year younger. When she was born, you even held her. I remember you joked about arranging a marriage between the two children," Mrs. Wang chuckled, reminding Grandmother Fu.0


    Grandmother Fu carefully examined Wang Xiaoqin. She had to admit that the girl was pretty, with clear eyebrows and a fairplexion, looking pleasing to the eye.0


    "I''m old, my memory isn''t what it used to be. And Baili is grown up now; he doesn''t listen to my old-fashioned ideas," Grandmother Fu said.0


    "Madam, you look radiant and not at all old," Mrs. Wang said, her earlier words just a passing remark. Sometimes, there''s no need to be too explicit.0


    At this moment, Wang Xiaoqin''s face turned red as she secretly nced at Fu Baili. Hearing about their childhood "engagement," her face grew even redder.0


    Mrs. Wang noticed her daughter''s expression and then looked at Fu Baili, who was helping Grandmother Fu.0


    There was no denying that Fu''s heir was outstanding in both appearance and background. If the childhood "engagement" between him and her daughter could be made official, it would be a good thing for the Wang family.0


    Just then, the butler whispered to Grandmother Fu, "The Su family''s guests have arrived."0


    Grandmother Fu perked up, "Good. Let''s go greet them."0


    Mrs. Wang, upon hearing that the Su family would also be attending the banquet, was surprised but tactfully refrained from further disturbing Grandmother Fu.0


    When Su''s Mother and Su Ci made their entrance, they immediately drew the attention of all the guests present. It wasn''t just because of their status, but more so due to their striking appearances.0


    The Su family was well-known for their excellent genes, and everyone knew that the Su family members were exceptionally good-looking. Today, seeing them in person, it was clear that the rumors were true.0


    Su''s Mother, in her youth, was a famous heiress among the wealthy families. Despite the years that had passed, she had maintained her appearance well, looking delicate and gentle. No wonder her husband had always doted on her.0


    And as for the Su family''s daughter, there was no need to mention it¡ªwith her bright eyes and white teeth, her fair skin and jet-ck hair, her appearance instantly overshadowed all the other youngdies present.0


    No wonder everyone said the Su family had such high attractiveness.0


    "Grandmother Fu," Su''s Mother saw Grandmother Fu approaching and quickly stepped forward, "There was a bit of a traffic jam on the way, so I''m a littlete."0


    "It''s notte; the banquet hasn''t started yet," Grandmother Fu smiled, her gaze shifting to Su Ci, "This is..."0


    She looked shocked.0


    "She''s my daughter, Ci Ci. This is Grandmother Fu," Su''s Mother gestured for her daughter to greet her.0


    Su Ci''s red lips curved, her attitude neither humble nor overbearing, "Grandmother Fu, long time no see."0


    Grandmother Fu had lived for most of her life and had experienced all kinds of ups and downs. She quickly adjusted her expression.0


    Grandmother Fu smiled kindly, "Oh, so you''re the daughter of the Su family."0


    Su''s Mother was a bit surprised, "Ci Ci, do you know Grandmother Fu?"0


    ¡°Yes, you could say that I''m still standing here today because of Miss Su,¡± Grandmother Fu had been saved by Su Ci before, and during their conversation, she found the girl''s manners and etiquette to be very good, and her temperament was also very refined, not like an ordinary child.0


    Moreover, with such an outstanding appearance and figure, she must have been pampered.0


    To think that she was actually the daughter of the Su family.0


    It seemed that the two thousand yuan her grandson had given to Miss Su, along with the thank-you gift she had sent through the butler, were not appropriate.0


    Grandmother Fu briefly recounted to Su''s Mother how Su Ci had saved her.0


    Su''s mother had never heard her daughter mention saving Grandmother Fu. "I didn''t expect Ci Ci to have such a fate with you, Grandmother."0


    Grandmother Fu sighed, "If it weren''t for her, I would have been six feet under by now, how could I still be standing here?"0


    "Grandma," Fu Baili, standing beside her, couldn''t help but stop her from saying such things.0


    "You child..." Grandmother Fu smiled and shook her head, then held Su Ci''s small hand, "I''ll call you Little Ci. I didn''t expect to see you today. The previous thank-you gift was just a small token; Grandma still owes you a lifesaving grace."0


    The girl''s small hand was soft and boneless, smooth and delicate, white and beautiful. Such a hand could only be nurtured with meticulous care.0


    So she was a child of the Su family.0


    "Grandmother Fu, you don''t need to be so polite. Consider it a small favor from me," At the time, she had no money on her, which was why she had wantedpensation. Now that she knew Grandmother Fu had ties with the Su family, she would no longer ask the Fu family to repay her.0


    "Little Ci is truly beautiful and kind-hearted," Grandmother Fu liked Su Ci more and more the more she looked at her.0


    Although Su Ci''s appearance was too beautiful, her eyes were clear and bright, her gaze was pure, and her character was virtuous. If it weren''t for the fact that she might be considered as someone out of reach, she really hoped her grandson could get to know Su Ci better.0


    ¡°Little Ci, this is my grandson, Fu Baili. You''ve met before. You young people can go and chat, don''t feel constrained by us elders,¡± Grandmother Fu deliberately created an opportunity for her grandson.0


    Su''s Mother didn''t think much of it.0


    "Then I''ll go get some food," Su Ci didn''t intend to interfere with Su''s Mother''s conversation with Grandmother Fu.0


    Fu Baili was sent by Grandmother Fu to follow Su Ci and protect her, making sure no one bumped into her.0


    Su Ci picked some snacks and walked over to the sofa to sit down.0


    She raised her chin and directly dismissed Fu Baili, "You don''t need to follow me."0


    Fu Baili, being the male lead in the novel, was such that whenever he attended a banquet, the other youngdies'' eyes seemed to stick to him.0


    He''d better stay away from her to avoid causing her trouble.0


    The girl wore a lightvender evening gown, looking like a fairy, yet her gaze towards him was very unfriendly.0


    Fu Baili remembered that the first time this girl saw him, her gaze was also unfriendly, as if she found him a bit distasteful?0


    Why?0


    He looked down at her and tentatively asked, "Do you like me?"0


    What?0


    Su Ci was so shocked that her eyes widened.0


    Fu Baili, dressed in a ck suit, was indeed very tall and handsome. He stood in front of Su Ci and sneered, "If you''re trying to attract my attention with a strategy of feigned indifference, let me tell you, that trick doesn''t work on me."0


    Too many girls had used such tactics in front of him, and he only found them foolish.0


    Su Ci sighed; she considered herself thick-skinned and narcissistic, but she didn''t expect someone even more narcissistic than her.0


    "Your eyesight must be bad. Which eye do you think I like you with?"0


    Su Ci leaned back on the sofa, her delicate chin raised, her fair little face showing an incredibly haughty expression. "You''re not as good-looking as my boyfriend, your family background isn''t as good as my boyfriend''s, and don''t even get me started on your abilities¡ªyou even bought your way into B University. Do you think I would ever consider you?"0


    The girl''s tone was full of disdain.0


    Fu Baili''s veins bulged on his forehead, and his gaze fixed fiercely on the girl who had humiliated him.0


    At that moment, Su Ci curled her beautiful red lips into a smile, "Oh, someone who''s worthy of you has arrived."0


    Her gaze turned to the door.0


    Fu Baili followed her gaze and saw Zhao Youyou appearing at the door.0


    Su Ci let out a soft hum.0n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Fu Baili actually thought she liked him?0


    With her stunning beauty and extraordinary charm, only Lu Zhe could be her match. Fu Baili could only be paired with Zhao Youyou.0


    Previous</a>Next</a>

 Chapter 79

    <h1>Chapter 79</h1>


    Grandmother Fu was against Fu Baili and Zhao Youyou being together. Now that Zhao Youyou was attending Grandmother Fu''s birthday banquet, Su Ci felt that she could enjoy the show.0


    Su Ci noticed Fu Baili''s gaze returning to her. She frowned, "Why are you looking at me?"0


    Fu Baili''s handsome face tightened, and his tone was firm, "You''re gloating." The girl''s eyes sparkled brightly, as if she were anticipating something bad to happen.0


    A bit of irritation rose in his heart.0


    Was she that obvious? Su Ci raised an eyebrow, "I don''t know what you''re talking about."0


    This was the first time Fu Baili had encountered a girl like this¡ªproud, sharp-tongued, and utterly infuriating.0


    He gave her a cold nce and walked over to Zhao Youyou.0


    With the annoyance gone, Su Ci happily indulged in some small pastries.0


    Zhao Youyou had been brought here by Fu Baili''s people. Today was Fu Baili''s grandmother''s birthday, and if she wanted to be with Fu Baili, she had to gain the olddy''s approval.0


    She didn''t want to put Fu Baili in a difficult position between her and his family.0


    Zhao Youyou was wearing a white strapless long gown that Fu Baili had sent over, which added a touch of elegance to her. With her clear and delicate features, her appearance drew the attention of many, who were guessing which family''s daughter she was.0


    Zhao Youyou held her breath quietly.0


    After being reborn, she had changed her previous habits of heavy makeup and staying upte, focusing on skin care. Coupled with her natural good looks, she had even be the school beauty at her high school.0


    So, when she saw herself in the evening gown during her styling, she was also a bit stunned by her own beauty.0


    She was confident that tonight, at the banquet, she would be the most dazzling and beautifulpanion.0


    Zhao Youyou noticed the gazes of the surrounding guests¡ªsome were puzzled, some curious, some appreciative¡ªbut none were truly amazed by her.0


    Zhao Youyou felt a bit disappointed.0


    In the book, every time Zhao Youyou attended a banquet with Fu Baili, she always stunned everyone, especially when she stood beside the male lead, Fu Baili, which inevitably made the other youngdies envious and jealous.0


    However, she didn''t know that Su Ci was present.0


    With Su Ci''s breathtaking beauty in front of them, Zhao Youyou''s clear and delicate appearance instantly paled inparison. She was pretty, but not enough to leave asting impression.0


    Fu Baili strode forward, "You''re here? Don''t be nervous. My grandmother is over there. I''ll take you to greet her."0


    Zhao Youyou nodded and naturally wrapped her arm around Fu Baili''s, a move that caught the attention of the surrounding guests.0


    Was this Fu Baili''spanion? Which family''s daughter was she?0


    "Grandmother, Youyou hase to wish you a happy birthday." Fu Baili led Zhao Youyou to Grandmother Fu''s side.0


    Zhao Youyou acted appropriately, politely saying, "Grandmother Fu, I wish you longevity and eternal happiness."0


    She held a gift in her hand and presented it to Grandmother Fu, "This is my birthday gift for you. I don''t know if you''ll like it."0


    Seeing Zhao Youyou''s arrival, Grandmother Fu''s smile, which had been pleasant while talking to Su''s Mother, changed slightly.0


    Her smile faded, "It''s kind of you. Baili, have someone take your friend to get some food."0


    Grandmother Fu had no intention of epting Zhao Youyou''s gift.0


    "Grandmother, I''ll have the butler take care of the gift," Fu Baili tried to help Zhao Youyou out.0


    "No need," Grandmother Fu said slowly, "Young people don''t have much money. They rely on their parents. No need to spend on me."0


    Zhao Youyou looked aggrieved at Fu Baili, her fingers gripping the birthday gift so tightly that they turned white from the force.0


    Fu Baili couldn''t bear to see his girlfriend feeling wronged, "Grandmother, I''ll take her to get some food first."0


    Grandmother Fu disagreed, "Your parents are over there. Go and greet the guests with them. Many of them are business partners of the Fu family. You''ll take over thepany in the future, so you should get to know them early. As for your friend, I''ll have someone take care of her."0


    Fu Baili frowned. He didn''t feel at ease leaving Zhao Youyou alone, fearing she might be bullied.0


    Zhao Youyou was very understanding, "Go ahead. I can manage on my own."0


    She knew that if Fu Baili insisted on staying with her, Grandmother Fu''s impression of her would only worsen.0


    Fu Baili whispered, "Alright, I''lle find you after I''m done."0


    After the two parted ways, Grandmother Fu sighed to Su''s Mother, "Your daughter, Su Ci, is raised well. She''s obedient and sensible. Unlike my grandson, who doesn''t see clearly."0


    Grandmother Fu no longer had the face to suggest that Su Ci and Fu Baili get closer.0


    Su''s Mother, who always doted on her daughter, was pleased to hear her praised.0


    Zhao Youyou was attending such a grand banquet for the first time. If not for Fu Baili, she wouldn''t have had the chance to witness the lives of these wealthy families.0


    With Fu Baili not by her side, she felt a bit nervous.0


    However, Zhao Youyou reminded herself that she had already lived through another life. She couldn''t afford to be short-sighted and panic like she did in her previous life.0


    Zhao Youyou straightened her back, wearing a gentle smile, afraid of being looked down upon by others.0


    Just as she was about to head to the rest area, she suddenly bumped into someone, and the other person''s red wine spilled directly onto her waist.0


    "You..." Zhao Youyou looked over and realized the other person was wearing the same evening gown as hers.0


    "You bumped into me first," Wang Xiaoqin said, her wine ss now empty, all the liquid spilled on Zhao Youyou''s gown.0


    Zhao Youyou was worried about drawing attention, so she lowered her voice and said aggrievedly, "It was you who suddenly walked over."0


    The other person was deliberately bumping into her.0


    Wang Xiaoqin ced her wine ss on a nearby waiter''s tray and took a tissue to wipe her hands. "Do you have any evidence?"0


    Not only was this woman wearing the same gown as her, but she was also walking with the Fu family''s young master. Wang Xiaoqin found her very disagreeable.0


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip, "Why are you setting me up?"0


    She wasn''t stupid. The other person''s eyes clearly showed hostility toward her.0


    Wang Xiaoqin examined Zhao Youyou''s attire. Besides wearing the same gown as her, the other woman''s outfit was in and her demeanor wasn''t impressive. She didn''t seem like a daughter of any prominent family.0


    "What are you talking about? You identally bumped into me and now you''re trying to frame me? Which family''s daughter are you? Your upbringing isn''t very good." Wang Xiaoqin was a good girl in front of her elders, but that didn''t mean she was kind-hearted.0


    Zhao Youyou''s face turned red. The people present were all influential figures.0


    Even though her family had won the lottery and received five million in prize money, they were still just a middle-ss family. Compared to these wealthy youngdies and young masters, they were nothing. If not for Fu Baili giving her an invitation, she wouldn''t even have the qualification to enter the banquet.0


    Now, being questioned about her identity felt like a stab in the heart, and Zhao Youyou''s face turned red with embarrassment.0


    Wang Xiaoqin gave her a meaningful look, "Take a good look at yourself. You''re only worthy of a ruined gown."0


    Zhao Youyou''s eyes turned red with anger. She clenched her hands and retorted, "Don''t go too far." She had no idea where she had offended the other person.0


    In the restroom, Su Ci, who hadn''t gotten to see the drama between Zhao Youyou and Fu Baili, instead witnessed Zhao Youyou being bullied.0


    The book had mentioned multiple times that at banquets, Zhao Youyou was the target of other youngdies. Whenever she appeared, there would always be a supporting female character trying to cause trouble for her.0


    With the male lead, Fu Baili, by her side, any supporting female character who caused trouble for Zhao Youyou would end up humiliated and suffer.0


    Su Ci sipped her juice, watching the drama of two women fighting over a man with boredom.0


    She wondered if Zhao Youyou''s protagonist halo would work this time and how this supporting female character would be humiliated.0


    In the next moment, Su Ci''s gaze identally fell on the supporting female character''s wrist. She saw that the other person''s life value was a thin red line, barely visible.0


    Was this person about to die?0


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes and summoned Fu Gui, "Tell me, how did this person die?"0


    Rich ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????quickly informed her: [Master, she died from an asthma attack.]0


    Su Ci was momentarily stunned. Died from an illness?0


    If the person had died in an ident or due to someone else''s actions, she might have been able to save them. But she wasn''t a doctor and had no ability to prevent or treat asthma.0


    It was a pity. She couldn''t get this golden cotton candy.0


    The distance was too far, and Su Ci couldn''t see the numbers marked on the other person''s wrist. "How much longer does she have to live?"0


    Fugui''s cute voice, though, spoke the cruelest words: [Master, she has ten minutes left to live.]0n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Su Ci''s brows furrowed tightly; time was running out.0


    Opposite her, the female cannon fodder was still arguing with Zhao Youyou, showing no signs of an impending medical emergency.0


    Su Ci bit on her straw, deep in thought.0


    The quarrel between Zhao Youyou and Wang Xiaoqin had caught the attention of many guests.0


    Zhao Youyou''s eyes were red as she searched the crowd for Fu Baili. He was chatting with someone else and hadn''t noticed her situation.0


    Her white dress was stained with red wine, the mark on her waist particrly noticeable. Zhao Youyou tried to cover the stain with her hand, "I don''t want to argue with you."0


    It was clear that the other party was deliberately making things difficult for her.0


    Zhao Youyou red angrily at Wang Xiaoqin and headed towards the restroom.0


    With so many people around, Wang Xiaoqin didn''t continue her aggressive behavior. Seeing Zhao Youyou walk towards the restroom, she followed.0


    In the restroom, Zhao Youyou used wet paper towels to wipe her dress.0


    The fabric was soaked, and the wine stain had spread, bing even more obvious.0


    Zhao Youyou felt a wave of helplessness. This was her first time suffering such a silent humiliation.0


    At that moment, Wang Xiaoqin pushed the door open and entered.0


    She ced her handbag on the sink, took out her makeup powder, and started touching up her makeup. "No matter how much you wipe, the dress is still dirty. Someone like you, with your background, only deserves to wear a dirty gown."0


    Zhao Youyou kept her head down, vigorously wiping the wine stain on her dress, not uttering a word.0


    After finishing her makeup, Wang Xiaoqin looked provocatively at Zhao Youyou''s reflection in the mirror. "Simrly, someone like you isn''t worthy to stand by Fu Baili''s side."0


    Zhao Youyou''s hand paused. She realized that the other party was targeting her because of Fu Baili.0


    Taking a deep breath, Zhao Youyou couldn''t help but reprimand her, "As long as he likes me, I can be with him. Please don''t measure a person''s worth with money. Even if you have wealth, it doesn''t make you superior. In the face of life, everyone is equal."0


    Wang Xiaoqin seemed to find this amusing, giving her a contemptuous look. "You can save those words for the people outside in the banquet hall." She then pushed open the bathroom door and went in.0


    Zhao Youyou looked at her disheveled reflection in the mirror, biting her lip.0


    The other party was just lucky to be born into a wealthy family. Why did she look down on her?0


    Zhao Youyou felt resentment growing in her heart.0


    As she was about to turn and leave, she inadvertently noticed the medicine in the handbag on the sink. She recognized its purpose instantly, as her cousin suffered from the same condition.0


    Zhao Youyou nced back; the partition door was closed.0


    Her heart raced as she bit her lip, then she reached into the handbag and took out the medicine.0


    Su Ci had already called for an ambnce. ncing at the time, she had only six minutes left. She wasn''t sure if the ambnce could make it in time.0


    After hanging up, as she turned around, Su Ci saw Zhao Youyouing out of the restroom.0


    The other woman looked disheveled and was hurrying.0


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes, watching Zhao Youyou hurry past.0


    She remembered that the female cannon fodder had also gone to the restroom.0


    Opening the restroom door, Su Ci saw the female cannon fodder standing at the sink, frantically searching through her handbag. Her appearance was also quite abnormal.0


    ¡°My medicine, my medicine is gone,¡± Wang Xiaoqin gasped, her breathing rapid, and she copsed to the ground, convulsing.0


    "Medicine..."0


    "Medicine..."0


    Wang Xiaoqin started coughing violently.0


    Su Ci quickly stepped forward, helping to search through her handbag. "There''s no medicine in your bag. Did you drop it somewhere?"0


    Wang Xiaoqin''s forehead and neck were covered in sweat, her lips trembling, unable to speak.0


    "Hang on, I''ve already called the ambnce," Su Ci supported her, leaning her body forward to help her breathe more easily.0


    "Medicine..." Wang Xiaoqin gestured for Su Ci to help her find the medicine.0


    Su Ci looked at the life gauge on her wrist, only two minutes remaining.0


    Su Ci frowned, "Where did you put your medicine?" There was none in the bag.0


    Wang Xiaoqin''s breathing was rapid.0


    Su Ci calmed down and thought of Zhao Youyou, who had just walked out of the restroom. Did she take the female cannon fodder''s medicine?0


    But just now, she had seen Zhao Youyou''s hands empty, with nothing in them.0


    The restroom was empty except for the trash can and the hand soap on the side.0


    Only one minute and thirty seconds remained.0


    The ambnce hadn''t arrived yet.0


    Su Ci looked at Wang Xiaoqin on the ground. Indeed, the heroine''s aura was powerful. The female supporting characters who opposed Zhao Youyou in the book didn''t end well.0


    For the first time, Su Ci witnessed a life slowly slipping away before her eyes.0


    Su Ci thought of her own heart attack, where people around her were indifferent, and shey on the cold ground waiting for death.0


    Wang Xiaoqin looked up at Su Ci, "Save... save..."0


    Su Ci looked at the life gauge on her wrist, only one minute left. She pursed her lips, her dark eyes calm yet powerless.0


    As she lowered her head, trying not to look at the other woman''s painful, twisted face, her gaze fell on the trash can next to her. Under the paper towels, a small bottle was visible.0


    Su Ci immediately reached into the trash can, pulling out the small bottle hidden under the paper ball.0


    Seeing the name on the bottle, Su Ci''s eyes lit up.0


    "Open your mouth," Su Ci removed the cap and ced the nozzle in Wang Xiaoqin''s mouth.0


    Wang Xiaoqin grasped Su Ci''s hand, pressing the spray and taking a deep breath.0


    Su Ci watched as Wang Xiaoqin''s life gauge instantly changed from a thin red line to five yellow bars.0


    Su Ci breathed a sigh of relief. After Wang Xiaoqin calmed down a bit, she stood up, "I''ll go see if the ambnce has arrived."0


    Zhao Youyou came out of the restroom and ran into Fu Baili.0


    Seeing therge wine stain on her dress, Fu Baili instinctively frowned, "How did your dress get dirty?"0


    Zhao Youyou recounted the events to him, "With my background, I really shouldn''t be here."0


    "You''re my girlfriend. No one has more right to attend this banquet than you. Don''t worry, I''ll help you get justice," Fu Baili said, ignoring the curious nces from the guests. He half-hugged Zhao Youyou, "I''ll have someone take you to change clothes. After the banquet, I''ll drive you home."0


    Zhao Youyou obediently agreed.0


    At that moment, the sound of an ambnce was heard outside.0


    The guests were astonished.0


    Zhao Youyou''s heart tightened, feeling inexplicably nervous.0


    An ominous premonition crept into her mind.0


    Soon, she saw the medical staff enter, heading towards the restroom.0


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip, her face pale with panic.0


    "What''s wrong?" Fu Baili noticed her unusual behavior, showing concern: "Are you not used to this environment? I''ll have someone take you to rest."0


    Before falling for Zhao Youyou, Fu Baili was a proud son of heaven, always the one receiving care. He never knew how to care for others.0


    But after being with Zhao Youyou, he changed.0


    In Fu Baili''s eyes, Zhao Youyou was as delicate as a pure little rabbit. Just a moment of his absence had left her being bullied.0


    He had to constantly care for her, sheltering her under his wings.0


    Zhao Youyou shook her head.0


    Then, she saw the medical staff carrying someone out, and it was the youngdy who had provoked her.0


    Zhao Youyou''s face turned pale instantly.0


    The other party had targeted her, and she had only slightly retaliated.0


    She hadn''t expected the other person to have a medical emergency.0


    Zhao Youyou was nervous, worried that the other party would know she had thrown away the medicine.0


    But then, Zhao Youyou remembered that there were no surveince cameras in the restroom. Besides the wealthy youngdy herself, no one else had seen her throw the medicine away.0


    The other party had provoked her first, and she had only yed a small trick. She wasn''t wrong.0


    Thinking this way, Zhao Youyou''s anxious heart settled down.0


    Su Ci saw the female cannon fodder being taken away by the medical staff beforeing out of the restroom.0


    The female cannon fodder''s medicine had appeared in the trash can, clearly not identally dropped.0


    The female cannon fodder wasn''t stupid; she would probably figure out what had happened. After that, the feud between the female cannon fodder and Zhao Youyou had nothing to do with her.0


    "Ci Ci."0


    At this moment, Su''s Mother urgently found Su Ci. Seeing the sudden appearance of ambnce personnel, Su''s Mother''s first thought was to find her daughter, fearing something had happened to her.0


    "Mom, I just went to the restroom," Su Ci said, holding Su''s Mother''s hand.0


    Su''s Mother breathed a sigh of relief. "I''ve finished talking with Grandmother Fu. Let''s go."0


    The gift had been delivered, and the greetings had been exchanged. There was no need to stay any longer.0


    Su Ci nodded. She had just received a golden cotton candy, which she intended to give to Lu Zhe. She also wanted to leave.0


    On the way back, Su Ci did not travel with her mother in the same car. She told her mother she had something else to do.0


    Su''s Mother watched as her daughter got into another car. She could guess that her daughter was going to see Lu Zhe.0


    Regarding her daughter''s rtionship with Lu Zhe, Su''s Mother could only turn a blind eye. Lu Zhe had practically saved their entire family, and in both emotion and reason, she found it difficult to continue ying the role of the stern parent.0


    Su''s Mother sighed, hoping that Lu Zhe could live a little longer, a little longer.0


    Su Ci was unaware that her mother had already figured out her ns.0


    She had an appointment to meet Lu Zhe at the house he was renting.0


    Su Ci was still wearing her evening gown from the banquet, her feet d in delicate high heels. Although they were custom-made and morefortable than ordinary heels, her feet were still rubbed red.0


    Su Ci sat on the sofa, taking off her shoes and walking barefoot on the floor, waiting for Lu Zhe to arrive.0


    After an unknown amount of time, the door opened.0


    Su Cizily lifted her eyes to see Lu Zhe standing at the door, dressed in a ck suit.0


    Lu Zhe had not attended Grandmother Fu''s banquet, but he had gone to another business reception with Lu Chen today.0


    Lu Chen, knowing his son''s poor drinking ability, had taken him to several banquets to help him improve.0


    Over time, Lu Zhe''s drinking capacity had indeed improved a bit, at least he no longer passed out after a single ss.0


    Su Ci leaned back on the sofa, looking up as Lu Zhe strode towards her with his long legs.0


    Lu Zhe had a great physique and maintained a daily fitness routine. After a period of military training, his muscles had be even more solid. Now, dressed in a slim-fitting ck suit, his figure appeared even more striking and outstanding.0


    Su Ci licked her lips, thinking, "Hmph, I really want to strip him naked."

 Chapter 80

    <h1>Chapter 80</h1>


    Lu Zhe paused in his steps towards Su Ci, then turned and walked in the opposite direction.0


    Next, Su Ci saw him head towards the refrigerator.0


    He took out a bottle of yogurt, inserted a straw, and walked towards her.0


    Su Ci suddenly realized she was thirsty. Instead of taking the yogurt from him, she leaned in, her red lips directly touching the straw, and took small sips.0


    After a few sips, Su Ci not only felt thirsty but also hungry.0


    Earlier at Grandmother Fu''s birthday banquet, she had only eaten a few small pastries before getting caught up in the emergency of saving someone.0


    "I''m hungry," Su Ci said pitifully, looking at Lu Zhe.0


    Lu Zhe''s eyes were dark and bright, his voice cool but slightly low, "What do you want to eat?"0


    "Anything," Su Ci moved closer to him, suddenly catching a whiff of alcohol on his breath. She sniffed and asked, "Did you drink?"0


    Lu Zhe unbuttoned the cor of his shirt with one hand, "Mm, just a little."0


    Su Ci carefully observed his expression, but his handsome face showed no signs of drunkenness.0


    "I''ll go check what ingredients we have in the fridge," Lu Zhe said. The house had a regr cleaning service, and the fridge was stocked with fresh ingredients.0


    Su Ci watched as Lu Zhe stood up, unbuttoned his suit, and took it off, revealing a white shirt underneath.0


    All of Lu Zhe''s clothes were custom-made, not only of high-quality material but also perfectly fitted to his body, showcasing his well-toned physique.0


    As he rolled up his sleeves, Su Ci could faintly see the outline of his chest muscles beneath his shirt.0


    Lu Zhe tied an apron around his waist and instructed the girl, "Wait here, I''ll make something now."0


    Then, Su Ci saw the young man, who had just returned from a cocktail party and removed his suit, put on an apron and head into the kitchen.0


    Su Ci''s dark eyes sparkled. She thought Lu Zhe looked incredibly handsome in his suit, but even in an apron, he was so dashing it made her heart race.0


    In the kitchen, Lu Zhe prepared a tomato and egg soup, ready to cook some noodles.0


    Su Ci tiptoed to the kitchen door, admiring Lu Zhe''s cooking skills.0


    The young man had broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his two strong, muscr legs encased in ck trousers.0


    Su Ci felt that every part of Lu Zhe was perfectly aligned with her tastes, making her adore him even more.0


    Lu Zhe''s cooking skills were excellent, honed since childhood. With his natural talent, even a simple tomato soup noodle dish was transformed into a mouthwatering masterpiece.0


    The noodles absorbed the rich tomato broth, topped with a beautifully shaped fried egg, sweet corn kernels, and green onions, creating a visually appealing dish.0


    Lu Zhe carried the finished noodles and turned to see the girl standing at the door.0


    His gaze fell on her feet, noticing she was barefoot and standing on the cold floor. He frowned slightly, "Why aren''t you wearing shoes?"0


    Su Ci, being the spoiled girl she was, replied, "My feet hurt from the high heels."0


    Lu Zhe set down the bowl, walked over, and picked her up, cing her on a chair at the dining table. Then, he fetched a pair of light pink soft-soled slippers from the shoe rack and put them on her feet.0


    Su Ci looked at the young man kneeling before her, holding her ankle, and felt her chest swell with emotion.0


    This gentle Lu Zhe was hers.0


    Lu Zhe''s cooking was so good that Su Ci quickly finished the small bowl of tomato soup noodles.0


    Afterward, Lu Zhe cleaned the dining table, swiftly washing the dishes. These were tasks he had been doing since he was young, and even now as the heir to the Lu family, he handled them with ease.0


    When Lu Zhe finished washing the dishes, Su Ci blocked him at the kitchen door.0


    "Hold me," Su Ci said without any shyness, directly asking for a hug.0


    Lu Zhe''s hands were wet, so he grabbed a paper towel from the countertop, dried them, and then picked her up in a princess hold.0


    As they reached the sofa, Lu Zhe tried to put her down, but the girl clung to his neck.0


    Su Ci smiled at him, "Sit with me in yourp." She didn''t want to sit on the sofa.0


    Lu Zhe didn''t say anything, just sat down on the sofa with her in hisp.0


    Her light purple dress spread out over his ck trousers.0


    Su Ci leaned softly against Lu Zhe''s chest, telling him about the incident where she saved someone tonight.0


    "It must have been Zhao Youyou who threw away the medicine," Su Ci said. When Zhao Youyou came out of the bathroom, she noticed the girl''s hurried steps and flustered expression, clearly showing her guilt.0


    Lu Zhe''s hand rested on Su Ci''s waist, his fingers brushing against her soft hair, making him itch slightly. "If you see her again, stay away from her."0


    Su Ci looked up, ring at him, "Are you worried I''ll bully her?"0


    "No," Lu Zhe met her shimmering eyes, his heart softening. "She''s not a good person. It''s best to keep your distance."0


    Su Ci smiled contentedly, "Don''t worry, I''m not stupid. I won''t interact with her."0


    She had no conflict with Zhao Youyou, and as long as Zhao Youyou didn''t provoke her, Su Ci had no intention of engaging with her.0


    Su Ci''s delicate fingers yed with the hem of Lu Zhe''s shirt, and she said directly, "Open your mouth, I have something good for you."0


    Lu Zhe was used to Su Ci kissing him every time she saved someone.0


    His dark eyes were moist and bright, his thin lips curving slightly as he lowered his head, cooperating with her.0


    The faint aroma of wine lingered between their lips.0


    Su Ci fed Lu Zhe the golden cotton candy she had obtained from saving Wang Xiaoqin.0


    Seeing the golden light disappear into Lu Zhe''s mouth, her eyes curved with joy.0


    Lu Zhe''s gaze deepened as he looked into Su Ci''s bright eyes.0


    Their lips intertwined, Lu Zhe gently but firmly explored, his tendernessced with a hint of intensity.0


    Su Ci''s fair cheeks flushed, her pte and tongue tingling.0


    The gentle invasion gradually overwhelmed her, and Su Ci felt like she couldn''t catch her breath, leaning weakly against Lu Zhe''s chest.0


    She ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????sat sideways on Lu Zhe''sp, her feet dangling, the slippers he had put on her feet slipping off.0


    Her pink toes lightly rubbed against his ck, well-pressed trousers.0


    After a while, Su Ci couldn''t take it anymore, and the corners of her eyes were tinged with a faint blush. She pushed Lu Zhe away, saying, "Enough, no more kissing."0


    She didn''t know when it had started, but she felt Lu Zhe had changed. Before, it was always her teasing him, and he would stop at just a kiss.0


    Now, while he was still gentle, there was an underlying fierceness.0


    She had the illusion that she was being slowly devoured by him.0


    Lu Zhe''s breathing was uneven, his dark eyes deep and intense. His pale lips glistened with moisture, exuding an irresistible allure. "Mm."0


    He was losing control.0


    Su Ci felt the tension in the young man''s body and blinked, unable to resist teasing, "Are you feeling ufortable?"0


    Lu Zhe held her waist, lifting her and cing her on the sofa. He picked up the fallen slippers and put them back on her feet.0


    Hisrge hand gripped her slender ankle as he looked at the clumsy little rabbit on her ankle. He warned her softly, "Tuan Tuan, don''t tease me."0


    She would cry.0


    Su Ci pursed her lips, still feeling the tenderness from his kiss, and didn''t dare to say anything more.0


    ...0


    The next day was Sunday.0


    Su Ci woke up to find the sun already high in the sky.0


    After washing up and changing clothes, Su Ci hadn''t even descended the stairs when she heard the sound of children ying.0


    As she came down, she saw a chubby figure in the living room.0


    How did the little fatty get here?0


    "Sister," Little Tiancai saw his sistering down and happily greeted her.0


    "Good morning, sister," Little Su Ning put down his toy and ran towards his sister.0


    "Good boy," Su Ci patted his head, then looked at the little fatty, "Why are you here?"0


    She remembered this little guy didn''t get along with her two brothers.0


    "Sister, Shang Jin is now our friend," Little Su Ning exined for the little fatty.0


    Now the little fatty often yed with Little Su Ning and the others at school.0


    Children''s likes and dislikes changed quickly.0


    The little fatty saw the beautiful sister again and shyly greeted her, "Hello, sister."0


    Su Ci watched the little fatty wriggle like a white, plump worm and found it amusing. "Hello, since you''re now friends, y well together."0n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Little Su Ning quickly replied, "We y well, Ning Ning even shared his pudding with Shang Jin."0


    "Ning Ning is a good child," Su Ci knew Little Su Ning was well-behaved and understood how to share.0


    Little Su Ning''s ck eyes lit up with joy upon receiving his sister''s praise, and he covered his face shyly.0


    Next to her, the little chubby boy waddled over to Su Ci, "I have one, two, three..."0


    He counted his plump fingers and then raised one hand to show Su Ci, "I haven''t eaten chicken legs for five days."0


    Su Ci was a bit surprised, "You''ve been so obedient?"0


    After saving the little chubby boyst time, she had told him that if he continued to eat so much without controlling his appetite, he would turn into a pig. Did this little guy really take her words to heart?0


    "Mommy won''t let me eat," the little chubby boy pouted, looking very sad and troubled, "Mommy says I''m fat, so she won''t let me."0


    "Your mom is finally taking control of you?" Su Ci couldn''t help but pinch his cheeks. The child was already so fat, why didn''t she control his diet before?0


    The little chubby boy frowned with his two small eyebrows, "Mommy and Grandma had a fight."0


    Su Ci thought of his grandmother, who was stubborn and difficult to deal with. However, what surprised her was that his mother had finally stopped being weak?0


    "You should listen to your mom and not eat too much. If you keep getting fatter, you''ll turn into a big white pig, and no one will want to be your friend," Su Ci half-coaxed and half-threatened him.0


    The little chubby boy stuck out his tongue, "No way, Ning Ning and Little Tiancai are my best brothers now."0


    After saying that, the little chubby boy ran over to Little Tiancai and continued ying.0


    Su Ci was momentarily stunned and couldn''t help but smile.0


    "I heard that the Ye Family has been having some disputestely," Su''s Mother had someone prepare breakfast for her daughter.0


    Su Ci asked, "What happened to the Ye Family?"0


    "The Ye Family''s daughter has filed for divorce from her husband," Su''s Mother felt that despite Ye Xi being a pampered daughter of the Ye Family, she had been living in grievance for so many years, even her own child was being raised poorly.0


    Fortunately, the person who had been weak for so long had finally be strong.0


    Su Ci felt that this Ye daughter had clearly been holding a good hand but had yed it poorly, which was a bit of a pity.0


    After breakfast, the butler announced that someone from the Wang Family had arrived.0


    Su''s Mother was surprised; why would the Wang Family suddenlye for a visit?0


    Su Ci thought of yesterday''s events and told her mother about it.0


    "Was it you who called the ambnce yesterday? The person the medical staff took away was the Wang Family''s daughter?" Su''s Mother was quite astonished.0


    Su Ci said, "I saw her having an attack in the bathroom and immediately called for an ambnce."0


    At that moment, the butler led Mrs. Wang and Wang Xiaoqin into the room.0


    "Sorry to disturb you, but we came today to properly thank Miss Su," Mrs. Wang gratefully spoke, "If it weren''t for you saving my daughter yesterday, I''m afraid..."0


    Mrs. Wang had heard from her daughter that yesterday''s situation was extremely critical, and she had almost died from the attack.0


    Mrs. Wang was still shaken by the thought, "Fortunately, Miss Su was there to help and save Xiaoqin. You are my daughter''s lifesaver, and we must properly thank you."0


    "Please, have a seat," Su''s Mother had someone bring tea, "Just now, Ci Ci also told me about this incident. I didn''t expect such a situation to ur atst night''s banquet."0


    Mrs. Wang pulled her daughter to sit on the sofa opposite, "My daughter has asthma, and she always carries her medication with her. Yesterday, someone took her medication away, and she had an attack. That person''s intentions were so malicious. If it weren''t for Miss Su''s help, I can''t imagine the consequences."0


    Su''s Mother, also a mother who loved her daughter dearly, felt furious just thinking about her daughter being harmed in such a way, "Have you found out who did it?"0


    Mrs. Wang said, "Xiaoqin says she knows who did it, and I will definitely hold them ountable."0


    Next to them, Wang Xiaoqin looked gratefully at Su Ci, "Thank you for saving my life yesterday."0


    Recalling yesterday''s crisis, Wang Xiaoqin still felt panicked. There were several moments when she could barely breathe and was on the verge of death. It was Su Ci who pulled her back from the clutches of death.0


    Looking at Su Ci on the opposite sofa, Wang Xiaoqin truly felt grateful.0


    "After yesterday''s lesson, you must never be without your medication. After all, you won''t always be lucky enough to run into me," Su Ci didn''t feign modesty, epting Wang Xiaoqin''s gratitude. She had indeed saved Wang Xiaoqin''s life.0


    If she hadn''t been in the bathroom yesterday, Wang Xiaoqin would have died from the attack.0


    Wang Xiaoqin blushed and nodded, "Thank you for the reminder, I will remember it."0


    Su Ci didn''t say anything more.0


    Meanwhile, Mrs. Wang couldn''t help but size up Su Ci, and she had to admit that the Su Family''s daughter was truly well-raised.0


    Her skin was fair and delicate, even her fingers were slender and jade-like, with faintly pink tips, clearly the result of being pampered. Her own daughter, also raised in luxury, simply couldn''tpare to this Su daughter.0


    Mrs. Wang sighed and said to Su''s Mother, "Madam Su, your daughter is not only kind-hearted but also beautiful. This time, our Wang Family owes Miss Su a great favor. If there''s ever anything our Wang Family can do for Miss Su or Madam Su, please don''t hesitate to ask."0


    The more affluent and powerful people are, the more they fear owing favors, as these are not things that can be solved with money.0


    However, since the Wang Family only has one daughter, Mrs. Wang was truly grateful that Su Ci had saved her daughter''s life. Nothing was more important than her daughter.0


    Su Ci understood this principle as well and smiled in eptance.0


    Before leaving, Mrs. Wang and Wang Xiaoqin left arge amount of thank-you gifts, from supplements to precious jewelry, filling up the entire table.0


    Mrs. Wang knew that these gifts were insignificant to the Su Family, so she reiterated her offer of a favor.0


    After leaving the Su Family, Mrs. Wang took her daughter straight to Zhao Youyou''s residence.0


    She had already sent someone to investigate, and the person who had harmed her daughter, Zhao Youyou, was Fu Baili''s girlfriend. However, Grandmother Fu did not approve, and Zhao Youyou came from an ordinary family.0


    Zhao Youyou''s move to B City was arranged by Fu Baili, and not only did Zhao Youyoue, but her parents did as well.0


    The house was bought by Fu Baili with a credit card and given to Zhao Youyou, and when Zhao''s father and mother found out, they were overjoyed, praising their daughter for finding such an excellent boyfriend.0


    When they learned that Fu Baili was the heir of the Fu Family, their excitement grew even more, imagining that their daughter would one day be the mistress of the Fu Family.0


    At that moment, Fu Baili arrived at the Zhao residence because of yesterday''s incident where Zhao Youyou had been wronged. He came to take her out to rx.0


    Zhao''s Mother enthusiastically poured tea for Fu Baili and then pushed her daughter into the room, "Quick, go change into a pretty dress. Don''t keep the young master waiting."0


    Zhao''s father also looked eager, "Young Master Fu, have you had breakfast? If not, we still have some at home."0


    Fu Baili''s face was cold, and except for Zhao Youyou, he didn''t like interacting with unfamiliar people, "No, thank you."0


    "Young Master Fu, we haven''t properly thanked you for giving Youyou such a beautiful house," Zhao''s Mother looked at Fu Baili as if he were a shining gold ingot, "We are veryfortable here."0


    Fu Baili nodded, "I''m d you''re satisfied."0


    Zhao''s Mother wanted to say more, but just then, the doorbell rang.0


    "I''ll get it," Zhao''s Mother said with a smile.0


    The door opened, and Zhao''s Mother was startled by the sight outside, "Who are you...?"0


    Mrs. Wang''s face was cold, "We''re here to see Zhao Youyou."0


    Zhao Youyou had just changed into her clothes ande out of the room.0


    Hearing someone call for her, she walked over and saw Wang Xiaoqin standing at the door, her face instantly turning pale.0


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 81

    <h1>Chapter 81</h1>


    Yesterday, Wang Xiaoqin was carried into an ambnce, and Zhao Youyou witnessed it.0


    Unexpectedly, she showed up at her door today.0


    Zhao Youyou had just changed into a new dress, ready to go on a date with Fu Baili, when this situation arose.0


    She steadied her expression and spoke softly, "Is there something you need from me?"0


    Mrs. Wang pushed the door open and stormed into the house, using Zhao Youyou sharply, "Yesterday, you threw away my daughter''s medication. Do you know how close you came to killing her with your viciousness?"0


    Zhao''s Mother, fearing her daughter''s image would be tarnished in front of Fu Baili, immediately refuted, "What medication? What do you mean by trying to kill your daughter? My Youyou is beautiful and kind, how could she harm anyone? Don''t spout nonsense and nder her."0


    Wang Xiaoqin''s eyesnded on the tall young man sitting in the living room. She hadn''t expected Fu Baili to be at Zhao Youyou''s house.0


    Her expression wasplex as she nced at Fu Baili, and she said, "Yesterday in the restroom, I ced my bag on the sink, which contained my asthma inhaler. While I was busy, you threw my medication into the trash and left."0


    Wang Xiaoqin used Zhao Youyou, her voice filled with suppressed anger, "At that moment, I had an attack. If it weren''t for Miss Su saving me, I might have died because of you."0


    Zhao Youyou shook her head, denying it.0


    She hadn''t anticipated the other party would have an attack. Her intention was merely a small revenge.0


    The other party had poured wine over her, unprovokedly provoking and bullying her, and hurled so many insults at her. Couldn''t she fight back?0


    "It wasn''t me," Zhao Youyou knew she couldn''t admit it, and since there were no surveince cameras in the restroom, she couldn''t be pointed out as the culprit.0


    There was no witness either.0


    Moreover, the medication bottle wouldn''t have her fingerprints, as she was wearing white gloves that matched her dress yesterday.0


    Zhao Youyou was aware that as long as she didn''t confess, the other party couldn''t do anything to her.0


    Wang Xiaoqin saw the other party pretending to be weak and feeling wronged, and she suppressed the urge to roll her eyes.0


    She put on an even more fragile expression, "It was you who harmed me. Do you know how severe my attack was yesterday? I almost died. I merely identally spilled wine on your dress, yet you wanted my life."0


    Wang Xiaoqin rubbed her eyes until they turned red.0


    Zhao Youyou was stunned, "I didn''t...," seeing the other party crying, she couldn''tpete in who could cry louder.0


    She turned, feeling wronged, to look at Fu Baili, worried he might misunderstand.0


    Fu Baili couldn''t stand seeing his girlfriend being bullied. He strode over and said, "Mrs. Wang, you''re using my girlfriend of harming someone. Do you have any evidence?"0


    Zhao''s Mother, seeing Fu Baili siding with them, felt bolstered, "Exactly, catching a thief requires evidence. You''re saying my daughter harmed your daughter, where''s the evidence?"0


    Mrs. Wang hadn''t called the police but brought bodyguards. Her original n was to handle this privately, but she hadn''t expected the young master of the Fu Family to be here.0


    Mrs. Wang said, "The incident happened in the women''s restroom, which has no surveince, but there are cameras in the hallway. Yesterday''s hotel is part of the Fu Family''s assets. If Young Master Fu provides the hotel''s surveince footage, everything will be clear."0


    "Without any witnesses or physical evidence, merely the hallway footage showing Youyou entering the restroom doesn''t prove she did anything to Miss Wang," Fu Baili said coldly.0


    Wang Xiaoqin''s eyshes trembled as she lowered her gaze. She liked Fu Baili and had targeted Zhao Youyou because of it. Now seeing Fu Baili defending Zhao Youyou, she felt both heartbroken and even more resentful toward her.0


    Wang Xiaoqin retorted, "I wouldn''t joke about my own life."0


    Her eyes reddened as she looked at Fu Baili, "Yesterday, I was carried out of the restroom by emergency personnel, and many guests saw it. At that time, Zhao Youyou was the only one in the restroom. She resented me for staining her dress and threw away my medication to retaliate."0


    Zhao Youyou, standing behind Fu Baili, said innocently in a small voice, "It wasn''t me. You can''t nder me."0


    Mrs. Wang frowned. It was precisely because there was no evidence that she wanted to resolve this privately and deal with Zhao Youyou. "Whether you harmed my daughter or not, you know it in your heart. I''vee to seek justice. It''s not right for my daughter to almost lose her life because of you, yet you remain unscathed."0


    The bodyguards behind her stepped forward.0


    Fu Baili red harshly at the two bodyguards. His brows rose, "Mrs. Wang, what are you trying to do? Zhao Youyou is my girlfriend. Bullying her means bullying me."0


    "Young Master Fu, are you going to protect her?" Mrs. Wang demanded sternly.0


    "Yes," If he couldn''t protect his own woman, what face would he have left?0


    Mrs. Wang nodded, "So, the Fu Family is taking responsibility for trying to harm my daughter''s life? I don''t think Grandmother Fu is aware of your intentions, is she?"0


    "You''re using my girlfriend of harming Miss Wang. Please provide evidence. Before the truth is clear, you won''t be able to bully her," Fu Baili sneered, "I''ll naturally exin to my grandmother."0


    Mrs. Wang realized that with Fu Baili present, she couldn''t teach Zhao Youyou a lesson and avenge her daughter.0


    She looked at Fu Baili and Zhao Youyou beside him and said harshly, "I''ll go to Grandmother Fu to seek justice for this matter."0


    Zhao''s Mother couldn''t stand the other party''s arrogance. With Fu Baili backing them, she straightened her back and retorted, "It seems anyone thinks they cane to our door to bully my daughter. My daughter is pure and kind, but she''s not to be ndered."0


    "Mom," Zhao Youyou reached out to tug at her mother''s hem, signaling her to stop.0


    Although Fu Baili was there, the Wang Family was a wealthy n, while she came from an ordinary family. They couldn''tpete with them.0


    The only person she could rely on was Fu Baili.0


    Thinking this, she tightened her grip on Fu Baili''s arm.0


    Mrs. Wang and Wang Xiaoqin witnessed what it looked like when a petty person triumphed. They took a deep breath and left with their bodyguards, nning to seek justice at the Fu Family.0


    Zhao''s Mother mmed the door shut, muttering under her breath.0


    Turning back, she smiled broadly at Fu Baili, "Thank goodness Young Master Fu was here. Otherwise, with my daughter''s gentle nature and me and my husband being powerless, we would have been bullied by those people."0


    Fu Baili''s expression was inscrutable.0


    Zhao Youyou worried that this matter would reach Grandmother Fu''s ears. She whispered to him, "Will Grandmother Fu me you after knowing?"0


    "It''s fine. The Wang Family doesn''t have a leg to stand on. They have no evidence," Fu Baili reached out and patted her head, "Don''t worry, I''ve got everything under control."0


    Zhao Youyou looked at him gratefully.0


    Fu Baili''s heart softened at her gaze.0


    After leaving Zhao''s house, Mrs. Wang and Wang Xiaoqin stormed to the Fu Family and reported the incident to Grandmother Fu.0


    After the Wang Family left, Grandmother Fu had the butler retrieve the surveince footage from the hotel hallway from the previous night.0


    ...0


    Afterforting Zhao Youyou, Fu Baili received a call from Grandmother Fu.0


    He hurried back to the Fu Family.0


    Grandmother Fu was sitting in the living room.0


    His mother was also present.0


    "Grandmother, Mom," Fu Baili strode over.0


    "Mrs. Wang has already told me everything," Grandmother Fu''s facecked her usual kind smile, "Last night, such an incident urred at my banquet. I thought it was an ident, but it turns out it was intentional."0


    Fu Baili shook his head, "Grandmother, you can''t believe their one-sided story. They have no evidence."0


    He tried to exin, "Youyou has told me that Miss Wang likes me, so she initially provoked Youyou, pouring wine over her. Her attack might have been a setup to frame Youyou."0


    Grandmother Fu''s sharp gaze fell on her grandson, "Are these words Zhao Youyou told you?"0


    Meanwhile, Fu Baili''s mother couldn''t help but speak up, "A-Li, how can you be so confused? Miss Wang has no reason to joke about her own life. We''ve just had someone investigate at the hospital, and Miss Wang indeed had an attack. If it weren''t for someone discovering her in time, with her critical condition, she could have died at any moment."0


    Fu Baili''s dark eyes widened in surprise.0


    Grandmother Fu''s tone was severe, "You must break up with that Zhao Youyou immediately. Someone with such wed morals, trying to take a life, is not someone you should be with."0


    Fu Baili''s handsome brows furrowed tightly. "Grandmother, even if Miss Wang didn''t lie, it doesn''t prove that Youyou touched her medicine."0n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Grandmother Fu shook her head in disappointment. This grandson of hers waspletely lost. "Show him the video."0


    Fu''s Mother handed her son the phone. "There''s a video fromst night. Watch it yourself."0


    Fu Baili took the phone and pressed y.0


    The video captured the scene from the hall to the restroom.0


    It showed Zhao Youyou entering the restroom, followed by Wang Xiaoqin.0


    Then Zhao Youyou came out of the restroom, her face showing a hint of panic, her steps hurried.0


    "Do you see it?" Grandmother Fu looked at her grandson, who was in a daze. "If Zhao Youyou didn''t do anything, why would she be in such a hurry and flustered? She''s clearly feeling guilty."0


    Fu Baili''s gaze darkened. His handsome features twisted tightly. "Grandmother, there''s still no evidence..."0


    Grandmother Fu mmed her hand heavily on the small tea table beside her, making the cups and saucers rattle. "Are you going to persist in your foolishness?"0


    Grandmother Fu was very angry. "Setting aside this matter of attempted murder, Zhao Youyou has cheated others out of their lottery winnings, imed someone else''s life-saving deeds, and all these incidents show that shecks moral integrity."0


    Fu Baili lowered his eyes, the corners of his eyes turning red. "Grandmother, I''ve been in fights and caused trouble since I was a child. I''m not a good person either."0


    Fu''s Mother stopped her son with a disapproving shout. "A Li!"0


    Fu Baili looked up, his expression serious. "I like Zhao Youyou. No matter what kind of person she is, I like her."0


    Grandmother Fu shook her head in disappointment. "You can only choose between Zhao Youyou and the Fu Family. If you insist on being with Zhao Youyou, then leave the Fu Family."0


    Fu''s Mother''s expression changed, and she grew anxious. "Mother-inw."0


    Grandmother Fu waved her hand. "It''s better to cut off the source than to let such a person marry into the Fu Family and harm it."0


    Fu''s Mother looked anxiously at her son. "A Li, don''t be foolish!"0


    Fu Baili stood up and bowed to both Grandmother Fu and Fu''s Mother. "I won''t give up on Youyou."0


    Grandmother Fu shook her head in disappointment, sighing as she avoided looking at her foolish grandson. "Leave the Fu Family then. I''ll have someone stop your cards. Since you think the Fu Family is unimportant, you have no right to enjoy any of the Fu Family''s resources in the future."0


    The air around them seemed to freeze.0


    Fu Baili''s brows were unyielding as he directly took out his cards from his wallet and ced them on the tea table.0


    He pursed his lips and turned, striding out quickly.0


    "A Li!" Fu''s Mother stood up, wanting to chase after him.0


    "Don''t bother with him," Grandmother Fu stopped Fu''s Mother. "He''s old enough to grow up. Before he regrets it, neither you nor Fu Heng can help him."0


    Fu''s Mother understood her mother-inw''s intentions. Watching her son''s distant figure, she could only helplessly sit back down.0


    ...0


    Su Ci was unaware that the Fu Family had erupted in turmoil, with Fu Baili willing to break with the Fu Family for Zhao Youyou.0


    Even if she knew, she wouldn''t be surprised.0


    After all, this was a sweet romance novel, and the male lead was deeply in love with the female lead, Zhao Youyou. Fu Baili certainly wouldn''t give up on Zhao Youyou because of a female supporting character.0


    In the afternoon, Su Ci saw Miss Ye, the Ye Family''s daughter,e to pick up her son, Ye Shangjin.0


    Ye Xi spoke softly, "I''vee to pick up Shangjin."0


    Su Ci looked at the ethereal woman in front of her, who seemed gentle to the bone, and she was a bit surprised.0


    "Mommy." Ye Shangjin waddled over, holding his mother''s hand.0


    "Did you behave today?" Ye Xi crouched down, taking out a handkerchief to wipe her son''s sweat.0


    ¡°Of course not. Ning Ning and Tian Cai are my brothers, and we get along great.¡± The little chubby boy puffed out his belly, looking very proud.0


    Ye Xi wiped the sweat from her son''s forehead, then felt the back of his clothes, finding them not damp with sweat, and she was relieved.0


    She stood up and politely thanked Su''s Mother and Su Ci. "I''m sorry for bothering you with Shangjin all day."0


    Su''s ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Mother smiled. "Not at all, the children had a great time ying together."0


    She felt that Ye Xi was truly unfortunate. Despite being from a wealthy family, she lived a life of repression and grievance. She had heard that Ye Xi was going through a divorce because her husband had an affair and an illegitimate child.0


    Meanwhile, Su Ci''s gaze fell on Ye Xi''s hand. On Ye Xi''s delicate wrist, the life value was a thin red line, with the time marked beside it: 7 days.0


    Su Ci''s eyes moved to Ye Xi''s face. Ye Xi''s skin was very pale, with a sickly pallor, yet her expression was gentle.0


    Combined with her wearing a light teal dress, she had an indescribable elegance.0


    Su Ci summoned Fu Gui. "How did Ye Xi die?"0


    Fu Gui, seeing another person about to die, was excited, its little voice trembling. [Master, she fell from a building and died.]0


    The previous two times, the master had given the golden cotton candy to Lu Zhe. This time, it should be its turn, right?0


    Su Ci watched Ye Xi lead her son away, her eyes narrowing.

 Chapter 82

    <h1>Chapter 82</h1>


    After learning that Ye Xi had only a week left to live, Su Ci decided to investigate her situation.0


    Soon, she had obtained information about Ye Xi.0


    The Ye Family had only one daughter, and Old Man Ye had doted on her immensely when he was alive.0


    Ye Xi was not only gentle and beautiful but also pure-hearted. During her university days, she fell in love with her senior, Luo Minglu.0


    Luo Minglu''s background was vastly different from Ye Xi''s family status, which Old Man Ye did not approve of.0


    However, Ye Xi, who had always been soft-natured, rebelled for the first time for Luo Minglu, insisting on being with him.0


    Old Man Ye, who had always cherished his daughter, and considering Ye Xi''s poor health since childhood, couldn''t bear to see her unhappy. Eventually, he agreed to their union, with the condition that Luo Minglu would marry into the Ye Family and any future children would bear the Ye surname.0


    Luo Minglu agreed.0


    However, Luo Minglu''s mother was strongly against this arrangement.0


    In her vige, marrying into another family was considered shameful. Her son was a university student, the pride of the vige, and everyone envied her for raising such a sessful son.0


    The thought of her son bing a son-inw to the Ye Family and even having his grandchildren bear another surname was unbearable for her.0


    The olddy made a scene.0


    Eventually, Luo Minglu managed to appease his mother and gain her consent, though it''s unclear how he did it.0


    A few yearster, Old Man Ye passed away, and Luo Minglu took over the management of the Ye Family''spany, with his mother moving into the Ye household.0


    Deeply resentful of her son''s marriage arrangement, the olddy, now without any restraints since Old Man Ye was no longer alive and her son controlled thepany, vented her anger on Ye Xi.0


    In her eyes, even though Ye Xi was a wealthy youngdy, as her daughter-inw, she should respect and be dutiful to her mother-inw.0


    In her vige, it was taken for granted for a daughter-inw to serve her mother-inw.0


    As ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Su Ci read the report, she thought of Ye Xi''s gentle and ethereal demeanor. Despite everything, Ye Xi had managed to maintain herposure and inner peace, which was truly admirable.0


    Su Ci continued reading.0


    The report stated that Ye Xi had discovered Luo Minglu was having an affair and even had an illegitimate child with the mistress.0


    The child was four years old, just a year younger than Little Su Ning.0


    Interestingly, it wasn''t Ye Xi who discovered the illegitimate child, but rather the mistress who deliberately revealed it to her.0


    It was clear that the mistress was unwilling to remain in the shadows and wanted to take Ye Xi''s ce.0


    Upon learning this, Ye Xi immediately filed for divorce, but Luo Minglu refused to grant it.0


    Su Ci nced at a photo of the mistress. The woman wore heavy makeup and had a somewhat vulgar appearance, far from Ye Xi''s elegance.0


    Su Ci couldn''t understand why Luo Minglu, with such a beautiful wife, would seek out such a woman.0


    Was it a case of "the grass is always greener on the other side"?0


    Su Ci had no interest in meddling in the Ye Family''s affairs, but for the sake of Jin Mianhua Tang and her fondness for Little Su Ning, she would do her best to save Ye Xi.0


    Fu Gui mentioned that Ye Xi had died after falling from a building. Was it an ident, or did someone cause it?0


    ...0


    Autumn winds blew, and the morning air was no longer as hot as summer.0


    Su Ci was awakened by Su''s Mother.0


    Today happened to be a day off from sses, and Su''s Mother nned to take her to a temple to burn incense.0


    Su Cizily opened her eyes, her gaze still hazy with sleep, as she looked at Su''s Mother standing by the bed. Her voice was soft, "Temple?"0


    ¡°Yes, that temple is quite effective. I thought we could go and pray for blessings,¡± Su''s mother exined, though she didn''t usually believe in gods or Buddhism. However, after her daughter''s disappearance, she had ced her hope in the divine for a long time.0


    Wen Ya had told her that the temple was very effective, and she wanted to pray for her family''s safety.0


    As for Wen Ya, she was going to pray for Lu Zhe.0


    ¡°Ci Ci, hurry up and get ready. Aunt Wen Ya will be here soon,¡± Su''s Mother reminded.0


    Su Ci fully opened her eyes. "Aunt Wen Ya ising too?"0


    Su''s mother gently brushed her daughter''s hair aside and said softly, "She''s going to pray for Lu Zhe."0


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up. Would Lu Zhe be going too?0


    But then she remembered that Lu Zhe hadn''t mentioned itst night, and he had sses today, so he wouldn''t be free.0


    She dismissed the thought.0


    Su Ci got out of bed, her long, soft hair naturally falling down her back.0


    Seeing her daughter still half-asleep and looking adorably dazed, Su''s Mother couldn''t help but smile. "Ci Ci, hurry up and wash up. Mom will wait for you downstairs."0


    Downstairs, Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai were sitting obediently at the dining table, eating breakfast. Seeing Su Cie down, the two little ones politely greeted their sister.0


    Su''s Mother noticed her daughter had changed and looked even more stunning. "Ci Ci, you look great in that outfit."0


    Su Ci was dressed simply, wearing a white T-shirt and short jeans. Her legs were pale and slender, drawing attention. She wore white sneakers and had her hair tied up in a high ponytail, exuding a youthful, pure girl charm.0


    "Sister looks good," the two little ones echoed Su''s Mother''s words in unison.0


    Su Ci smiled, reaching out to ruffle their hair. "You little rascals."0


    After taking a few sips of milk, Su Ci asked her brothers, "How are things with Ye Shangjin at kindergarten these days?"0


    Little Tiancai nodded. "Shangjin doesn''t bully the other kids anymore."0


    Next to them, Little Su Ning asked Su Ci, "Sister, what is divorce?" The little one spoke in a cute, childish voice, "Shangjin said his mom and dad are getting divorced."0


    Su Ci hadn''t expected her brother to ask such a question. After thinking for a moment, she exined, "Divorce means two people no longer live together."0


    "Ah," Little Su Ning eximed, covering his mouth in surprise. "If Shangjin''s dad and mom don''t live together, what will happen to Shangjin?"0


    Seeing the little one''s worried frown, Su Ci smiled. "This is something adults worry about. Even if his mom and dad get divorced, they will still love him."0


    Little Su Ning nodded, though he didn''t fully understand.0


    In Su Ci''s opinion, divorce always hurts the children the most.0


    However, in this case, with Luo Minglu having an illegitimate child, divorce seemed like the right choice for Ye Xi.0


    ...0


    After breakfast, the butler informed Su''s mother that the Lu family''s car had arrived.0


    Su''s mother instructed the steward to take the two little ones to kindergarten and prepared to leave with her daughter.0


    Outside the gate, Wen Ya lowered the car window and saw Su''s Mother and Su Ci approaching.0


    She invited them to join her in the car, suggesting they could chat along the way.0


    Su''s Mother didn''t refuse.0


    Sitting in the middle, Su Ci was thest to get in. As she closed the door, her eyesnded on the figure sitting in the passenger seat.0


    Su Ci''s dark eyes lit up.0


    Lu Zhe turned around and politely greeted Su''s Mother, "Good morning, Aunt Su."0


    Su''s Mother was clearly surprised to see Lu Zhe and nodded in response, "Good morning."0


    Next to her, Wen Ya exined with a smile, "Lu Zhe had no sses today, so I asked him toe with me to pray for blessings. It shows more sincerity if he goes in person."0


    Hearing this, Su Ci''s eyes curved with a sly smile.0


    She had Lu Zhe''s ss schedule and knew he had sses all day today.0


    She sent a yful nce at Lu Zhe, but the young man in front of her remained expressionless, not even ncing her way, acting very proper.0


    Su Ci pouted in annoyance and looked away.0


    Su''s Mother wasn''t naive; she knew what Wen Ya was up to.0


    With a sigh in her heart, she said, "Ci Ci also has no sses today, so I brought her along."0


    Wen Ya''s charming face was full of smiles. "Perfect. We can chat, and the young ones will havepany and won''t find us boring."0


    Su''s Mother looked at her daughter, whose eyes were sparkling, and her thoughts wereplicated. "Yes."0


    The early autumn weather was pleasant, with gentle morning sunlight and asional breezes, making for afortable mood.0


    Next to her, Wen Ya actively engaged in conversation with Su''s Mother.0


    Su Ci took out her phone, her slender fingers quickly tapping on the screen.0


    In the front passenger seat, Lu Zhe received a message from the girl behind him. It read, "Why didn''t you tell me you wereing to the temple?"0


    Lu Zhe replied quickly: "Surprise."0


    Su Ci couldn''t help but smile mischievously, her eyes gleaming with mischief.0


    She suddenly spoke up, "Lu Zhe, is there a bottle of mineral water on your seat?"0


    Su''s Mother nced over.0


    Su Ci pouted at her mother, "I''m thirsty."0


    Wen Ya quickly chimed in, "Zai Zai, there are a few bottles of water in front of you. Grab one for Xiao Ci."0


    Then, Wen Ya continued her conversation with Su''s Mother,ughing as they picked up where they left off.0


    Su''s Mother finally shifted her gaze away.0


    Lu Zhe picked up the mineral water, naturally unscrewed the cap, and handed it back to the girl.0


    Su Ci reached out to take it, and where Su''s Mother and Wen Ya couldn''t see, her fingertips lightly brushed against Lu Zhe''s palm. She even boldly winked at him flirtatiously.0


    Lu Zhe''s grip on the bottle tightened. He gazed deeply at the mischievous girl and whispered, "Here you go."0


    Su Ci took the water and drank it triumphantly.0


    Lu Zhe turned back to his seat, his dark eyes tinged with a faint smile.0


    The temple was in a neighboring city, and the journey would take over an hour.0


    Su Ci fished a candy out of her small bag. It was something she had casually grabbed before leaving the house today, a snack belonging to Little Su Ning.0


    She peeled off the wrapper and popped the orange-vored candy into her mouth.0


    Then, taking advantage of Su''s Mother''s conversation, she fished another candy out of her bag and peeled the wrapper.0n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Holding the candy, Su Ci''s hand reached directly from the side to the front, exploring for Lu Zhe''s mouth.0


    Su Ci whispered, "Want to share a candy?"0


    Su''s Mother heard the sound and casually nced over, seeing her daughter reaching forward to offer the candy to Lu Zhe.0


    She withdrew her gaze.0


    Su''s mother had no idea that the young man in the passenger seat had bitten down on the candy held by the girl''s hand, his thin lips also pressing against her delicate fingertips.0


    Lu Zhe rolled the candy into his mouth, his tongue brushing against the girl''s fingertips.0


    A moist sensation came over.0


    Su Ci quickly withdrew her hand, feeling the warmth on her fingertips. Her fair little face secretly flushed with a rosy hue.0


    Lu Zhe''s mouth was filled with the aroma of milk; the candy the girl had fed him was a milk candy.0


    Lu Zhe rarely ate candy. When he was a child in the orphanage, well-behaved kids would get candy.0


    His quiet personality made him a small, transparent presence among the lively group of children, naturally not winning him any favor.0


    After Lu Zhe was adopted by the Zhao Family, he was always busy with chores, and Zhao''s parents never bought him candy.0


    Fortunately, Lu Zhe wasn''t particrly fond of sweets.0


    Unexpectedly, the girl had fed him a candy.0


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips curled slightly as the candy slowly melted on his tongue.0


    He didn''t notice that the little mischief-maker behind him was blushing.0


    The car stopped at a highway service area, and Wen Ya and Su''s Mother needed to use the restroom.0


    "Ci Ci, do you want to get out and stretch your legs?" Su''s Mother asked her daughter.0


    Su Cizily leaned against the car seat, "No, I''ll wait for you in the car."0


    Wen Ya looked meaningfully at her son, "Zai Zai, what about you?"0


    Lu Zhe''s expression remained calm, "I''ll stay in the car."0


    Wen Ya pulled Su''s Mother away, "Alright, let''s leave them here."0


    Su''s Mother didn''t say much, nor did she have anything to say.0


    The driver, who often picked up and dropped off Lu Zhe, already knew that their young master was with Su''s daughter. He was clever and said, "Young Master, I think I''ll get out to buy something."0


    Lu Zhe nodded.0


    The driver left, and the car door closed.0


    In an instant, only Su Ci and Lu Zhe remained in the car.0


    Su Ci sat up and directly leaned over the front seat, poking the expressionlessly cold young man with her fingertips, "Lu Zhe, now that no one''s here, do you want to kiss me?"0


    The windows were tinted, and passersby outside couldn''t see what was happening inside the car.0


    Lu Zhe turned his head, his gaze meeting the girl''s overflowing with mirth. He chuckled softly, "No."0

 Chapter 83

    <h1>Chapter 83</h1>


    Rejected.0


    Su Ci''s eyes widened in anger.0


    She didn''t ask him why; instead, she reached out her hands and held them on both sides of Lu Zhe''s face.0


    In his astonished gaze, Su Ci took the initiative and kissed him, gently licking his cold lips.0


    Just moments ago, she had fed him a milk candy.0


    The boy''s thin lips now carried a hint of milkiness.0


    Su Ci''s eyes curved mischievously, her gaze filled with mischief. With her slightly parted lips, she bit his lip.0


    The boy winced in pain, his eyes darkening.0


    Su Ci wanted to continue her antics, but her gaze inadvertentlynded on Su''s mother and Wen Ya, who were returning from the restroom and walking towards the car.0


    She had to let go of her hands that were holding Lu Zhe''s face on both sides, and her pearly white teeth also released the lightly bitten lower lip.0


    Su Ci was about to retreat when, in the next second, a cold finger pinched her chin.0


    Her dark eyes filled with astonishment as she watched Lu Zhe lean in, helplessly yet indulgently scolding her: "Can''t you be a little more obedient?"0


    His thin lips pressed fiercely against hers.0


    His tongue tangled with hers, and Su Ci, seeing Su''s Mother and Wen Ya approaching, pushed against Lu Zhe, only to be met with an even more intense entanglement.0


    Suddenly, Su Ci remembered a saying: "No pain, no gain."0


    The car door opened.0


    Su''s mother got in, finding the car unusually quiet. Her daughter was sitting obediently, looking out the window, while the boy in the front passenger seat was also silent. The two seemed to have no interaction, like rivers that do not cross each other''s paths.0


    Had they argued?0


    Wen Ya also got in, "Where''s the driver?"0


    Lu Zhe turned his head and replied softly, "He went to buy something."0


    As soon as he finished speaking, the driver quickly ran back, opened the door, and got in, "Sorry, madam, I just went to buy some water."0


    Wen Ya smiled, "It''s fine, let''s drive."0


    Su Ci quietly looked out the window, her lips slightly pursed, her cheeks and the corners of her eyes tinged with a faint blush.0


    After getting off the highway, the car drove for nearly half an hour before reaching their destination.0


    The temple was on a mountain, with many cars parked below, indicating a popr attraction.0


    The driver parked the car.0


    When Su Ci got out, she saw many stalls around, selling incense and candles, charms, lucky windmills, and food, creating a lively atmosphere.0


    The temple was near a vige, and the stalls were run by vigers.0


    Wen Ya and Su''s Mother also got out, "I didn''t expect it to be so lively here."0


    Lu Zhe got out from the passenger seat, closed the door, and turned to see Su Ci''s fair and slender legs exposed.0


    He hadn''t noticed in the car, but now he saw she was wearing short jeans.0


    Normally, Su Ci''s outfit would be ordinary, but her snow-white skin and slender straight legs made her appearance striking.0


    Her legs were so beautiful they caught the eye, and many nces were already directed at the girl.0


    Lu Zhe sighed, opened the car door, and took a thin jacket from the driver''s seat.0


    It was close to noon, and the sun was getting stronger.0


    Su Ci looked at the seemingly endless stairs and felt a bit dizzy.0


    Wen Ya''s bright face was full of smiles, "Looks like today is not just about praying but also about exercising."0


    Su''s Mother, who usually kept fit, wasn''t bothered by the long walk but was concerned about her daughter, "Ci Ci, if you get tiredter, remember to tell us, we can walk slower."0


    Su Ci nodded, d she worefortable white sneakers and had applied sunscreen.0


    Wen Ya and Su''s Mother walked ahead, Su Ci in the middle, and Lu Zhe at the back.0


    Su Ci walked slowly, gradually falling behind.0


    She wanted to look back at Lu Zhe, but the next moment, a hand went up to her waist.0


    Su Ci was surprised to see Lu Zhe tying the ck thin jacket around her waist.0


    ¡°Cover up,¡± Lu Zhe said after securing the jacket, shielding her overly fair and beautiful long legs from view.0


    Su Ci blinked, refusing outright, "No, it looks ugly."0


    Lu Zhe pressed her hand, "It''s not ugly."0


    Su Ci wasn''t going to listen to him.0


    Seeing Su''s Mother and Wen Ya ahead, Lu Zhe held her hand and kissed her, "Tuan Tuan, be good."0


    Su Ci let out a light hum, and the little rabbit that had been showing its teeth and ws just a moment ago instantly calmed down, reluctantly epting his jacket.0


    Under the sunlight, the girl''s face looked even more fair and translucent.0


    Lu Zhe chuckled at her reluctant expression, finding her love for beauty amusing.0


    Not knowing how long they had walked, Su''s Mother and Wen Ya slowed down, both being ustomed to a luxurious lifestyle where they were usually chauffeured.0


    Su''s Mother noticed the ck jacket tied around her daughter''s waist, clearly Lu Zhe''s, but she pretended not to see, "We''re almost there, Ci Ci, hang in there."0


    Su Ci''s face was red from the sun, looking both adorable and pitiful. She nodded weakly.0


    After climbing so many stairs, only Lu Zhe showed no signs of fatigue, his breathing steady.0


    If not for the presence of elders, he would have already carried Su Ci up.0


    The higher they went, the more serene and ancient the surroundings became, exuding a solemn atmosphere.0


    When they reached the temple, Su Ci''s legs were sore.0


    She followed Su''s Mother and Wen Ya into the temple, where the faint scent of incense filled the air, not unpleasant.0


    Su''s Mother and Wen Ya lit incense and bowed before the Buddha statues.0


    Wen Ya had something on her mind and sincerely prayed for a divination.0


    Su''s Mother knew she was praying for Lu Zhe.0


    Seeing her daughter obediently standing by waiting, Su''s Mother followed Wen Ya to the divination ce.0


    The old man took the inscription, "What did madam ask for?"0


    Wen Ya''s bright face showed anxiety, "My son''s health."0


    The old man put on sses, "Madam''s sign is ''first ominous then auspicious'', with a heavenly blessing star, meaning a noble person will assist and bring good fortune, turning everything around."0


    Hearing this, Wen Ya anxiously asked, "Does this mean my son''s illness will improve?"0


    Next to her, Su''s Mother looked at the old man with anticipation, hoping Lu Zhe would live a long life.0


    The old man slowly exined, "This is a good omen. If madam is asking about illness, there will be no disasters and no major issues."0


    Wen Ya''s expression brightened.0


    During her son''s treatment, his condition hadn''t worsened and seemed almost normal.0


    If not for the diagnosis reports confirming his amyotrophicteral sclerosis, she often felt her son was healthy, no different from others.0


    What gave her hope was that some experts believed his condition might be improving.0


    Such cases were rare, and they needed more observation and treatment to be sure.0


    Now, hearing the old man''s interpretation of the divination, Wen Ya felt a weight lifting from her chest, allowing her to breathe easier.0


    Though others might find it unbelievable or unconvincing, she held onto the hope that her son would get better.0


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe waited nearby, seeing the cheerful expressions of Wen Ya and Su''s Mother, knowing it was a good sign.0


    Su Ci wasn''t curious, as she knew better than anyone that Lu Zhe would recover.0


    She reached out and hooked Lu Zhe''s hand by her side.0


    Lu Zhe looked at her.0


    Su Ci asked, "Do you want to go to offer incense?"0


    Lu Zhe shook his head; he never believed in Buddha.0


    Su Ci whispered, "I don''t either. If I were to pray, it would be to the God of Matchmaking."0


    Then, she blinked at Lu Zhe, whispering, "I''d ask the Old Man under the Moon to rece our red thread with iron wire, binding us tightly."0


    Lu Zhe curled his lips and chuckled softly, holding her mischievous hand, "You don''t need to ask the Old Man of the Moon; just ask me."0


    Su Ci''s eyes gleamed with mischief, teasing him, "Then, even the Deliverer of Children Guanyin isn''t needed; just ask you?"0


    Lu Zhe tightened his grip on her hand, not responding.0


    The gods couldn''t see the boy''s ck hair, his ear tips quietly turning red.0


    Wen Ya and Su''s Mother both received the best fortune and were in high spirits, deciding to donate incense money.0


    Due to therge amount, the Abbot came out to greet them.0


    The Abbot''s face was serene, his eyes bright. After Wen Ya and Su''s Mother donated, he gifted each of them a blessed peace talisman.0


    When his gaze fell on the tall boy following them, his expression changed slightly.0


    ¡°Is there something wrong?¡± Wen Ya saw the abbot looking shocked at Lu Zhe, and her heart tightened involuntarily.0


    The abbot closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. His expression calmed down. ¡°This young man is a person of great fortune.¡±0


    Wen Ya''s heart, which had been lifted just a moment ago, settled back down. She wanted to ask the abbot if he had seen something¡ªif her son''s illness would heal.0


    But the abbot didn''t continue speaking.0


    ¡°There will be vegetarian dishes served in the courtyard. You may move to the dining hall to enjoy them.¡±0


    The abbot withdrew.0


    By his side, the disciple couldn''t help but ask the abbot, ¡°Master, is there something wrong with that young man?¡± He rarely saw his master look so shocked.0


    The abbot had just seen Lu Zhe''s upper body covered in golden light, but when he opened his eyes again, the light had disappeared.0


    He marveled, ¡°That young man is filled with virtue. He is a person of great fortune.¡±0


    The disciple was curious how his master knew this.0


    Before the disciple could ask further, the abbot shook his head. ¡°It cannot be spoken of.¡±0


    In the dining hall, there were many guests who hade to offer incense, enjoying their meals.0


    A disciple led them to a quiet room.0


    Su Ci found that the vegetarian dishes here were very delicious. Though the variety was not great, each dish was prepared with excellent color and aroma.0


    After lunch, Su''s Mother and Wen Ya didn''t rush to leave. Hearing that there were monks giving lectures on Buddhist scriptures, they were eager to attend.0


    Su Ci found it boring and secretly pulled Lu Zhe''s hand, sneaking out from the back.0


    Su''s Mother watched her daughter and Lu Zhe sneak out and sighed, continuing to listen to the Buddhist scriptures.0


    The temple had a long history, unlike the modern temples that were built with grandeur. The surroundings had an ancient, solemn, and mysterious atmosphere.0


    It was autumn, and many of the trees'' leaves had turned yellow. The ground was covered with fallen leaves, and stepping on them produced a "crunch" sound.0


    Su Ci held Lu Zhe''s hand and wandered around aimlessly.0


    Before they knew it, they had arrived at ake.0


    Next to theke stood a sign that read: "Release Lake, where you can make a wish."0


    Su Ci looked over and saw that in the middle of theke was a stone statue of arge turtle, with a small turtle on its back. Around the turtles were piles of coins.0


    It seemed many people came here to make wishes.0


    Lu Zhe pulled out a coin from somewhere and handed it to her, "Do you want to make a wish?"0


    Su Ci originally wanted to say she had no wishes. Everything she wanted, she already had.0


    Her dark eyes twinkled, and she took the coin from Lu Zhe''s hand.0


    She spoke to the coin: "I hope Lu Zhe will kiss me more." Then, she tossed the coin directly into the center of theke.0


    Su Ci turned back, looking at Lu Zhe with a meaningful gaze. "I wonder if my wish wille true."0


    Lu Zhe: ...0


    At that moment, a little boy walked to the edge of theke, holding something that he threw into the water.0


    Seeing the fish gather around, the boy jumped with joy and even climbed onto the stone steps by theke.0


    There were no railings around theke, only stone steps. Pilgrims could sit by theke to feed the fish or release them.0


    The boy sat by theke.0


    "I want fish, I want fish." The boy reached out toward the water, trying to grab one. His body leaned toward theke, and unsurprisingly, he fell into the water.0


    A loud "ssh" startled Su Ci and Lu Zhe.0


    The boy struggled in the water.0


    Before Su Ci could react, Lu Zhe had already run over and jumped into the water.0


    "Lu Zhe."0


    Su Ci hurried over.0


    Seeing Lu Zhe swim quickly to the boy and hold him with one arm, Su Ci breathed a sigh of relief.0


    Lu Zhe swam toward theke''s edge, where he found stairs leading up.0


    The boy was crying loudly, scared.0


    Lu Zhe carried him up the stairs, hearing his cries and knowing the boy was fine.0


    Su Ci approached, looking at the drenched boy and Lu Zhe. She quickly asked, "It''s okay, don''t be afraid. Where are your parents?"0


    Su Ci''s gaze naturally fell on the boy''s wrist, where she saw his life force was represented by seven yellow bars.0


    "Mommy, I want mommy." The boy cried loudly, tears and snot streaming down his face.0


    Su Ci looked around. The Release Lake was quiet, with no one in sight. She couldn''t see the boy''s parents anywhere. "Let''s take him to the abbot."0


    Lu Zhe nodded. He rarely held children, and his movements were a bit stiff. With the child''s loud wailing in his ears, he said softly, "Don''t cry."0


    The boy''s wide-open mouth suddenly froze, and the crying stopped abruptly.0


    He looked at the brother who had saved him, scared and confused, pouting resentfully.0


    Su Ci found it amazing. "Is he afraid of you?"0


    Lu Zhe nodded. "Maybe."0


    The boy sniffled, resting on Lu Zhe''s shoulder and whispering, "I want mommy."0


    Su Ci saw Lu Zhepletely soaked, water dripping from his trousers. Fortunately, the sun was out, and the temperature wasn''t cold, but she still felt heartbroken.0


    As they walked back, they heard a woman''s sharp voice: "My son!"0


    Su Ci saw a woman rushing over.0


    The boy recognized the voice and quickly turned his head. "Mommy, mommy, scared..." He twisted in Lu Zhe''s arms, trying to get free.0


    The woman quickly took her son, ring viciously at Lu Zhe.0


    Meanwhile, an olddy pushed through the crowd. "Found him? My dear grandson, you scared your grandma to death." The olddy reached the woman''s side, feeling her grandson''s clothes soaked through. "What a sin, the child''s clothes are all wet."0


    The woman pointed at Lu Zhe. "Mom, this man took Xiao Pei."0


    The olddy raged. "Call the police, hurry! Someone tried to kidnap my dear grandson."0


    "Ladies, before jumping to conclusions, please get the facts straight," Su Ci said, recognizing the olddy as Ye Shangjin''s domineering grandmother and the woman holding the boy as Luo Minglu''s mistress, whom she had seen in her investigation files.0


    Seeing the two women wrongly use Lu Zhe, she was angry. "My boyfriend saw this child fall into theke and saved him out of kindness. There''s no reason he should be treated like a criminal for doing a good deed."0


    The woman looked startled. Her voice lowered, clearlycking confidence. "How do I know if what you''re saying is true?"0


    The olddy chimed in. "Exactly."0


    Su Ci was speechless. "Can''t you see? My boyfriend ispletely soaked. He saved your child. Instead of a thank you, you use him. If I had known, I wouldn''t have let my boyfriend save him."0


    "How can you be so wicked? Did you want to watch my son drown?" the woman retorted.0


    "So you admit we saved him now?" Su Ci lifted her chin, her fair face showing an arrogant expression. "You failed to watch your child. We had no obligation to save him. My boyfriend acted out of kindness. You should thank him. There''s no reason to be ungrateful after being saved."0


    The woman hugged her child tightly, awkwardly mumbling, "Thank you."0


    Su Ci snorted. "It sounds so insincere. It''s as if we owe you something."0


    The olddy grew impatient, scolding the woman. "You should have watched the child better. My dear grandson almost lost his life. Hurry and take him to change his clothes. What if he catches a cold?"0


    The woman lowered her voice, soothing the olddy. "Mom, I''ll take Xiao Pei to change right away."0


    The olddy grumbled as she pulled the woman away.0


    Su Ci wondered how Ye Xi could tolerate such a grandmother, and this mistress wasn''t any better.0


    People who could break up a rtionship couldn''t be expected to have good character.0


    "Don''t mind me being harsh with them. They were unreasonable andcking in manners. They should have thanked you," Su Ci frowned, turning back to Lu Zhe.0


    "I know," he said. She was defending him.0


    Lu Zhe felt his chest swell with warmth. How could he possibly dislike her?0


    Su Ci was satisfied. She ignored the two women who had walked away and looked at him anxiously. "Do you have spare clothes in your car?"0


    Lu Zhe was wearing a white shirt, nowpletely soaked.0


    Earlier, when he was holding the child, he hadn''t noticed, but now Su Ci saw the wet shirt clinging to his body. The wet fabric was translucent, revealing the well-defined muscles underneath.0n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Lu Zhe told Su Ci, "There are clothes in the trunk."0


    Su Ci knew that Lu Zhe exercised every day, and his physique was excellent. His muscles were lean and well-defined, creating a perfect silhouette. He wasn''t the bulky type that some might find unattractive, nor was he too skinny. He was just right, proportionate and bnced.0


    Su Ci tossed the ck jacket back to him and said, "Put this on first. We''ll change in the car."0


    "Mm."0


    Su Ci called Su''s Mother and exined the situation to her, telling her they would head down the mountain first.0


    Descending the mountain was much faster than climbing up.0


    The Driver, having received the call, was already waiting.0


    Lu Zhe retrieved his spare clothes from the trunk. As soon as he got into the car, Su Ci climbed in from the other door. Meanwhile, the Driver had tactfully stepped away, strolling off to admire the scenery.0


    Lu ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Zhe looked at her with confusion. "Tuan Tuan, I need to change clothes."0


    Su Ci''s eyes sparkled as she gazed at Lu Zhe. "Go ahead, I''ll keep watch."0


    Lu Zhe: ......0


    The one he should be most wary of was this little mischief-maker.0

 Chapter 84

    <h1>Chapter 84</h1>


    Su Ci saw that Lu Zhe hadn''t moved to change his clothes, so she couldn''t help but urge him, "Go ahead and change. It''s not good to wear wet clothes for too long; you''ll catch a cold."0


    The girl spoke with logic and confidence.0


    Lu Zhe reached out, his long fingers pulling down the zipper, and he removed his ck jacket.0


    The white shirt he wore was soaked through, clinging to his upper body in a way that was undeniably alluring.0


    Su Ci watched without blinking.0


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze, his longshes fluttering as his fingertips slowly undid the buttons on his white shirt.0n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    One by one, from the first to thest.0


    Su Ci saw his broad chest, the seductive lines of muscle extending downward.0


    She shifted her body, moving closer to Lu Zhe, "Let me..."0


    "No."0


    Su Ci red, "I haven''t even finished what I was going to say. How do you know what I want?"0


    "You don''t need to say it. I refuse." Lu Zhe met the girl''s watery eyes, fully aware of the mischievous intentions behind them.0


    Su Ci was momentarily at a loss for words.0


    Lu Zhe picked up the spare set of clothes and prepared to put them on.0


    The next second, the girl directly crashed into his arms, wrapping her arms around his waist.0


    "Tuan Tuan!" His upper body was bare, and the warmth of the girl''s breath fell directly on his skin. Lu Zhe felt a tingling sensation spread from the base of his spine.0


    He gritted his teeth.0


    Su Ci was like a little demon, teasing and tormenting him. Her hand stealthily caressed the lean muscles of Lu Zhe''s waist. "I''m here."0


    Solid, taut.0


    She had confirmed it; the feel was excellent.0


    Lu Zhe looked at the girl in his arms, happily enjoying her little indulgence. The veins on his forehead stood out as he desperately resisted the tingling sensation from where her hand had touched his side.0


    Lu Zhe''s face was stern. The girl''s boldness was growing, and she was unrestrained. "Get up."0


    Su Ci looked up at him and smiled, "Don''t be so harsh! What''s wrong with touching your waist? You can touch mine in return."0


    When it came to shamelessness and boldness, Lu Zhe couldn''tpare to Su Ci.0


    Lu Zhe rubbed his forehead, wanting to say that this wasn''t right.0


    However, before he could even begin to persuade her, the girl''s hand directly pressed against his abdomen, feeling its firmness.0


    Her little hand was soft and warm, and the sensitive location made Lu Zhe clench his teeth. His fair, handsome face flushed red.0


    He felt himself tighten painfully.0


    Closing his eyes, he desperately resisted the urge to crush the little troublemaker in his arms.0


    Lu Zhe firmly grasped the girl''s mischievous hand.0


    Su Ci looked at him in surprise, pouting in dissatisfaction, "Stingy!"0


    She had only touched him once.0


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze, his eyes dark and deep. He straightened the girl up and said softly, "My pants are still wet and haven''t been changed."0


    Su Ci nodded. She knew, and she had even identally rubbed against them.0


    Lu Zhe began to undo his pants, lifting his gaze to look at her, "Want to watch?"0


    Su Ci blinked, her gaze falling on Lu Zhe''s ck pants, feeling a bit shy.0


    This time, Su Ci was quite self-aware. She turned her back, "Go ahead and change."0


    Seeing the girl turn away from him, Lu Zhe''s eyes softened with amusement. The little troublemaker''s boldness wasn''t as big as he had imagined.0


    The car was quiet, and behind her, she heard the faint sound of fabric rubbing.0


    Su Ci unconsciously perked up her ears, hearing the sound of the belt buckle being undone.0


    Then came the zipper.0


    Su Ci''s dark eyes flickered, but she didn''t turn back to look.0


    Oh well, there would be other opportunities.0


    After a while, Su Ci didn''t hear any more sounds. "Done changing?"0


    Lu Zhe responded softly, "Mmm."0


    Su Ci turned around.0


    Lu Zhe had already changed into a clean outfit¡ªa white t-shirt and ck casual pants, simple yet refreshing, pleasing to the eye.0


    Su Ci wanted to tease the young man a bit more, but just then, she saw Su''s Mother and Wen Ya approaching from a distance.0


    What a pity.0


    ...0


    The Ye Family''s vi was located in an upscale neighborhood wherend was expensive.0


    Although the Ye Family couldn''tpare to the Su Family and Lu Family, when Ye Lao Ye Zi was still alive, the Ye Family was quite powerful.0


    At night.0


    The olddy scolded loudly, urging someone to bring her food quickly, "You can''t even do a simple task right. Keeping you is a waste of my money."0


    Feng Sao immediately brought over the prepared meal, "Old Madam, your meal."0


    "So little? Are you trying to starve me?" The olddy''s mood was terrible. Thinking about her precious grandson falling into the water, she was filled with anger.0


    "Old Madam, I''m sorry. I''ll get you another bowl right away." Feng Sao apologized profusely.0


    "Forget it. You''ve been working at the Ye Family for over a decade and still haven''t improved. You might as well leave sooner." The olddy was extremely harsh with the Ye Family''s servants, always feeling that they looked down on her.0


    "Miss..." Feng Sao instinctively looked at Ye Xi beside her.0


    ¡°Feng Sao, you can go now,¡± Ye Xi said, her voice gentle, soothing the irritation in people''s hearts.0


    "Yes, Miss." Feng Sao left the dining room.0


    "You let her go; who''s going to serve me? I dare not order around a youngdy like you." The olddy was furious.0


    She mmed the bowl down forcefully, making Ye Shangjin, who was holding a small spoon, tremble.0


    "Grandma, don''t be angry. I''ll get you some more food," Ye Shangjin said, very adept at reading the situation.0


    The olddy''s expression softenedpletely when she looked at her grandson. "Oh, Shangjin is so well-behaved. Eat more, eat more."0


    Ye Shangjin obediently nodded.0


    Across from them, Ye Xi spoke, "He''s only four years old and already weighs nearly fifty-eight pounds. Being overweight isn''t good for his health."0


    Your health is the one that''s bad. My good grandson eating a lot is a blessing. Do you want him to be like you, eating just a little at a time? Weak as a breeze. The olddy was extremely disdainful of Ye Xi''s slender figure,cking in flesh, sickly, and unable to bear many children.0


    What kind of youngdy was she? She wasn''t even as good as the women in their vige.0


    Ye Xi stood up for herself for the first time, "I am his mother, and it''s my duty to raise him. From now on, I will take care of his affairs."0


    Her health had always been poor, weak since childhood, and after giving birth, her condition worsened. Most of the time, the child was taken care of by the olddy.0


    The olddy often fed the child high-calorie foods like fried chicken legs, wings, and cakes, making him fatter and fatter. She could no longer turn a blind eye.0


    "Are you defying me now?" The olddy''s voice was already loud, and when she raised it even more, it was deafening, even audible from the front gate.0


    Ye Xi responded calmly, "I''m not defying you, just stating the facts. Also, I''ve already filed for divorce with Luo Minglu, and I will be seeking custody of the child."0


    The olddy had long been hoping for her son to divorce Ye Xi.0


    In front of Ye Xi, she couldn''t assert her authority like other mothers-inw, and Ye Xi''s constant illness meant a lot of medical expenses. Divorcing her would be a relief for her son.0


    The olddy dered firmly, "You can divorce Minglu, but the child must stay with him. I''ll have my good grandson change his surname, and you''ll have to move out of our house."0


    Ye Xi shook her head, "Mother-inw, this is my home, part of the Ye Family''s property. After the divorce, it''s you who will move out, and the child will belong to me."0


    "Nonsense!" The olddy was furious, mming the table, "You just stay at home, eating and resting, while my son works hard to support you. How can this house be yours?"0


    Next to them, the butler, who had been standing by, couldn''t help but speak up, "Old Madam, this vi is part of the Ye Family''s property, inherited by Miss Ye. Even if Miss Ye and Mr. Luo divorce, this house will still belong to Miss Ye, as will thepany."0


    Uncle Qi was an old servant of the Ye Family, having followed Ye Lao Ye Zi for years. Seeing the olddy''s unreasonable behavior and how she bullied Miss Ye, he couldn''t hold his tongue.0


    The olddy arrogantly scolded the butler, "When did it be your ce to speak, you lowly servant?"0


    ¡°Uncle Qi is an old family member, and I consider him half an elder. In the Ye Family, he has the right to speak,¡± Ye Xi said, standing up to the olddy for the first time without backing down. ¡°As for this house and thepany, they are all part of the Ye Family''s property, something Luo Minglu is well aware of.¡±0


    Ye Xi stood up, "I''m done eating. I''ll take the child upstairs to rest."0


    "Shangjin,e with Mommy upstairs to rest," Ye Xi walked over to her son and extended her hand.0


    Although Ye Shangjin had always been with the olddy, he preferred his gentle mother.0


    Hearing his mother''s words, he obediently stretched out his greasy little hand.0


    ¡°You''re revolting! Is this how you disrespect your mother-inw? In our vige, a daughter-inw like you who doesn''t honor her mother-inw would have been shamed long ago.¡± The olddy harshly scolded Ye Xi.0


    No matter how she looked at her, she found her displeasing.0


    If it weren''t for Ye Xi, her son wouldn''t have had to take on the family name of his wife, and even her grandson wouldn''t be surnamed Luo. She had be theughingstock of the vige, subjected to gossip and pointing fingers. Her well-raised son had been given away to someone else.0


    ¡°Mother-inw, this is thest time I will address you as such. You often forget, this is the Ye Family, not your vige.¡± Ye Xi led her son away.0


    Ye Xi''s figure was slender, her skirt flowing, exuding an ethereal elegance that only intensified the olddy''s fury.0


    The more noble her daughter-inw appeared, the more crude the olddy, a countrywoman, felt. How could she possibly like her?0


    But at the moment, the olddy was more concerned about thepany. She immediately called her son, urging him toe home quickly.0


    Luo Minglu had been distracted all day. Just after drinking with a client, he received his mother''s call and rushed back.0


    ¡°Mom, what''s the matter? Why did you call me back so urgently?¡± He loosened his tie, his brows furrowed, his expression not too good.0


    The olddy knew that the Ye Family listened to Ye Xi. She quickly pulled her son into the room, ¡°If you divorce Ye Xi, will thepany be yours?¡±0


    Luo Minglu fell silent.0


    The olddy was anxious, ¡°I''m asking you something. You work hard every day, leaving early and returningte. Thepany should be yours, right? There''s no reason you should be working for Ye Xi.¡±0


    ¡°Mom, I won''t divorce her,¡± Luo Minglu said.0


    ¡°She wants a divorce, isn''t that perfect?¡±0


    The olddy urged her son, ¡°Amei has been waiting for you for so long. She''s good at managing the household, takes care of people, is filial to her mother-inw, and is obedient. She''s the ideal wife. You should get the divorce papers signed, kick Ye Xi out of our house, and live a good life with Amei and the child.¡±0


    In the olddy''s eyes, the house and thepany were already her son''s. She wished Ye Xi would divorce her son as soon as possible.0


    Luo Minglu knew his mother''s thoughts, but he couldn''tmunicate with her. Before he married Ye Xi, Ye Laoye had them sign a prenuptial agreement. If he divorced Ye Xi, he would have to leave with nothing.0


    ¡°Mom, you just need to remember, I can''t divorce Ye Xi. Otherwise, I won''t get a single cent. Forget thepany, the house, we might even have to go back to the vige to live.¡±0


    Ignoring his mother''s shocked expression, Luo Minglu pleaded, ¡°So please, I''m begging you, don''t pick a fight with Ye Xi. What''s wrong with her? I only like her, I don''t like Amei at all.¡±0


    The olddy was half-believing, ¡°How can thepany and the house not be yours? You work so hard to support the family. Why should thepany go to Ye Xi? Are you lying to me?¡±0


    Luo Minglu was irritated, ¡°Mom, that was Ye Xi''s to begin with. You think I don''t want it? No matter what I say, you just don''t understand. Just remember, don''t pick a fight with Ye Xi anymore.¡±0


    Luo Minglu walked out, heading upstairs.0


    He paused at the bedroom door, wearily rubbed his temples, then went to the guest room next door.0


    Since Ye Xi had proposed divorce, she had asked him to move to the guest room.0


    Luo Minglu opened the door to the guest room, and as soon as he sat down, his phone rang.0


    Seeing the caller ID, he instinctively frowned.0


    Luo Minglu hung up, but the call came again. After several rings, he finally answered, ¡°Didn''t I tell you not to call unless it''s important?¡±0


    On the other end of the line, a woman''s sobs came through, ¡°Minglu,e quickly. The child has suddenly developed a high fever. He''s burning up all over.¡±0


    Luo Minglu was irritated, "How do you take care of the child?"0


    ¡°The child fell into the water today at the temple. You know he''s young and likes to run around,¡± the woman''s voice was anxious, crying pitifully, ¡°He''s burning up really badly now. Come quickly and take us to the hospital.¡±0


    Luo Minglu clenched his phone, ¡°Call a car and take him yourself.¡±0


    ¡°No, the child is crying for his father. Come quickly. I''m worried he''ll burn his brain,¡± the woman cried, softlyforting her son, ¡°Xiaopei, be good. Daddy will be here soon. Just hold on a little longer...¡±0


    Luo Minglu''s brows were tightly furrowed, "Wait there, I''ming now."0


    After hanging up, Luo Minglu opened the door and walked out.0


    As he reached the next room, the door inside opened, and Ye Xi walked out with a cup in hand.0


    She was wearing a in white dress, her hair casually tied up, the indoor light falling softly on her, exuding a gentle charm.0


    Meeting Ye Xi''s gaze, Luo Minglu felt flustered, "I... a client suddenly called me."0


    Ye Xi nodded, not asking further. As she passed by him, she softly said, ¡°Let''s sign the papers next Monday. I''ve already made an appointment with thewyer. If you agree to sign, I''ll give you some money. If we go through legal channels, you know you''ll get nothing.¡±0


    After saying that, Ye Xi prepared to go downstairs.0


    Luo Minglu looked pained and said, "I don''t want a divorce. I don''t like that woman at all. I only like you."0


    Ye Xi''s beautiful face remained calm, ¡°Don''t say you like me. Just leave me with some good memories. I don''t want to think that all these years, choosing you was a foolish decision.¡±0


    Ye Xi didn''t pay any more attention to Luo Minglu and went downstairs.0


    ...0


    Su Ci calcted the day Ye Xi would meet with misfortune, which was two days away.0


    Once she collected this golden cotton candy from Ye Xi, Lu Zhe would only need thirty-six more.0


    Su Ci felt that the collection would soon beplete.0


    ¡°Little Ci Ci.¡± Beside her, Shen Xue leaned over, interrupting Su Ci''s thoughts.0


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Su Cizily looked at her.0


    ¡°Can I post your photo on the forum?¡±0


    Su Ci propped her chin with one hand, ¡°Why?¡±0


    ¡°There''s a school beautypetition on the forum. I''ve seen it, and none of them canpare to you. You''re the real school beauty. Of course, we should post your photo.¡± Shen Xue encouraged her, ¡°Don''t you want to be the school beauty?¡±0


    Su Ci wasn''t interested. Did she need to be the school beauty to be the prettiest?0


    Anyway, the school beauty chosen wouldn''t be as beautiful as her, and it would be embarrassing for the other person.0


    Seeing Su Ci''sck of interest, Shen Xue sighed regretfully, ¡°The one with the highest votes now is Zhao Youyou. She posted a photo from her military training, and everyone is raving about how pure and beautiful she looks without makeup.¡±0


    Shen Xue pouted, ¡°She''s not even half as pretty as you.¡±0


    She took out her phone, opened the photo album, ¡°Look, this is from your military training. I took it. This photo, if posted, would definitely beat Zhao Youyou.¡±0


    ¡°When ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????did you take this?¡± Su Ci nced at it. It was her in military attire, resting. The angle was pretty good, indeed making her look quite beautiful.0


    ¡°I just thought you looked so pretty, I couldn''t help but take it. Don''t worry, I kept it for myself, never leaked it outside,¡± Shen Xue guaranteed.0


    Su Ci''s eyes narrowed slightly, ¡°Go ahead and post it.¡±0


    ¡°Ah, you agreed?¡± Shen Xue smiled, thinking Su Ci really didn''t care about these titles earlier.0


    Su Ci''s red lips curved, ¡°I agreed. With my beauty, not being the school beauty would be a waste of my face.¡±0


    Shen Xue was already used to Su Ci''s narcissism.0


    Next to them, Wen Duoyu quietly asked Shen Xue, ¡°Do you need to register an ount to ess the forum? I want to vote for Ci Ci.¡±0


    Wen Duoyu usually only loved reading or doing part-time jobs, rarely going online. Hearing about Su Ci''s school beautypetition, she also wanted to contribute.0


    Su Ci found Wen Duoyu quite adorable. She couldn''t help but reach out and pinch her cheek, ¡°Focus on your studies. You don''t need to vote for me. My photo is up, and I''ve already won.¡±0


    When it came to beauty, Su Ci was more confident than anyone.0


    Shen Xue asked Su Ci again, ¡°The ss monitor is nning an activity for National Day to help everyone get to know each other better and unite. Do you want to join?¡±0


    Su Ci shook her head. She had no interest in ss activities.0


    ¡°You don''t know, right? Our ss monitor and the ss monitor of Computer Science ss 1 are a couple. Not only will our ss participate, but Computer Science ss 1 will also join,¡± Shen Xue was well-informed about these small details.0


    Computer Science ss 1?0


    Su Ci''s eyes curved, and the person who had just been uninterested now smiled and said, ¡°I''ll join too. After all, it''s a ss activity. It wouldn''t be good not to participate.¡±0


    Shen Xue was momentarily stunned.0


    Indeed, the only one who could make Su Ci back down was Lu Zhe.0


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 85

    <h1>Chapter 85</h1>


    That evening, Su Ci video called Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe had sses during the day and would handlepany documents at night. As he flipped through the papers, he listened to the girl''s voice.


    "Lu Zhe, I signed up for a ss group activity. You should join too," Su Ci said, hoping they could go together. The activity involved both their sses, and it felt like a mini-vacation for them.


    "Hmm? What activity?" Lu Zhe looked up at the girl.


    Su Ci waszily lying on her bed, her face close to the camera. Her fair, delicate face filled the entire phone screen. Lu Zhe could clearly see her glossy, rosy lips and long, distinct eyshes.


    "Hasn''t your ss monitor told you yet? Our ss is doing an activity together with yours," Su Ci exined confidently. "We''re part of the ss, so we should actively participate in such group events."


    Lu Zhe could see the mischief in her eyes and knew exactly what she was nning.


    "Alright."


    If she wanted him to join, he would sign up.


    At that moment, there was a knock on Lu Zhe''s door.


    He signaled to Su Ci to wait and went to open the door.


    Standing there was his mother, holding a bowl of sweet soup. He quickly took it from her.


    "I made this sweet soup for you. Try it and see if you like my cooking," Wen Ya said with a smile. She had been a pampered youngdy all her life and had never cooked before marrying Lu Chen. But since her son returned, she had started learning to cook.


    Lu Chen, on the other hand, was jealous. He had never tasted his wife''s cooking before.


    "Thank you, Mom."


    Wen Ya nodded, her radiant face full of joy. Ever since she had visited the temple and received a good fortune, she felt more at ease.


    "Soon, it will be your birthday. How would you like to celebrate?" she asked. She and her husband wanted to throw a grand celebration. When they found their son, they had only hosted a small family gathering, and he hadn''t been introduced to others yet.


    "My birthday?" Lu Zhe had never known his real birth date.


    In the orphanage, the children didn''t know their birthdays, so the old director would write some lucky dates on cards and let them draw one. The date on the card became their birthday.


    Lu Zhe''s previous birthdays were all based on those random dates.


    "Yes, Mom didn''t tell you before, but your birthday is the day before Christmas," Wen Ya said, gazing at her son with love.


    Her son was born on Christmas Eve. She wished for him to live a peaceful and healthy life.


    Thinking about how she had only celebrated his birthday twice since his birth, Wen Ya felt a pang of sadness.


    Her little boy had grown so tall, taller than her now.


    She remembered him toddling around, and now she had to look up to him.


    Wen Ya felt both sad and grateful that her son had been found.


    "This year, I want to celebrate your birthday in a big way. We need to make up for all those years we missed," she said, determined to give her son the celebration he deserved.


    As the heir of the Lu family, he deserved to be celebrated grandly. She didn''t want him to feel any injustice.


    Lu Zhe had no objections: "You can decide, Mom."


    Wen Ya smiled. "Then finish your sweet soup and go to bed early. Don''t overwork yourself."


    Her son was so hardworking, bncing school and work. Compared to other rich kids who were spoiled andzy, her son was the best.


    Lu Zhe nodded. "I know."


    "Alright, Mom won''t disturb you anymore." Wen Ya said goodnight and left.


    Back in their room, Wen Ya saw her husband sitting on the bed, looking sulky. "Why aren''t you sleeping? What are you doing sitting there?"


    Lu Chen had already showered and was wearing a deep red silk pajama, which made his handsome face even more striking.


    Other men would look tacky in such a color, but Lu Chen managed to pull it off effortlessly.


    His hair was still damp, and his alluring eyes seemed to shimmer with moisture.


    "Where''s my sweet soup?" he asked.


    Wen Ya went to the dressing table and tied her hair up, ready to shower. "I gave it to our son."


    "No portion for me?" Lu Chen was displeased. He looked at his wife with wounded eyes. "I''ve never tasted your sweet soup before."


    Wen Ya picked up her nightgown. "I only made a little. Next time, I''ll make some for you when I make it for our son."


    Lu Chen realized he was an afterthought.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    His wife''s favoritism was out of control.


    Lu Chen was furious.


    "I just asked our son, and he agreed to a big birthday celebration," Wen Ya said.


    "Oh," Lu Chen replied casually. He stood up and walked toward his wife.


    "What is it?" Wen Ya saw his wet hair and urged, "Go dry your hair and sleep."


    Lu Chen grabbed a towel and handed it to her, smiling ingratiatingly. "You dry my hair, and I''ll help you with yourster."


    Wen Ya ignored him. "Do it yourself. I''m going to shower."


    Lu Chen was shameless. "I''ll help you shower, and you can dry my hair afterward."


    He happily decided on the arrangement, tossing the towel aside and carrying his wife toward the bathroom.


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhe closed the door and carried the sweet soup back to his desk.


    On the screen, Su Ci looked dazed, clearly bored from waiting.


    Lu Zhe chuckled. "What are you thinking about?"


    "I''m thinking about what gift to get you for your birthday," she said.


    Last time, she had missed his birthday, but now that she knew his real birth date, she needed to make it special.


    "You don''t have to get me anything," Lu Zhe said. In the orphanage, he had never received birthday gifts. Even after moving to the Zhao family, he didn''t get any. He often forgot the birthdays based on those random dates.


    Lu Zhe didn''t care much about such things.


    Su Ci wasn''t nning to listen to him.


    ...


    On Saturday.


    Luo Minglu didn''t have to go to thepany. Recently, Ye Xi had been upset with him, and he wanted to mend their rtionship.


    He had met Ye Xi in college.


    Ye Xi was beautiful and gentle, and as the daughter of the Ye family, she was the ideal goddess in many people''s eyes.


    Like everyone else, Ye Xi was his ideal goddess and wife.


    He genuinely liked Ye Xi.


    But due to the difference in their backgrounds, many believed he was trying to climb the Ye family''s socialdder.


    To be with Ye Xi, he had to marry into the Ye family, and even their son took the Ye surname. This had always been a thorn in his mother''s heart and a source of frustration for him.


    His rtionship with Luo Xiaomei wasn''t something he had wanted. It was his mother''s insistence on having a grandson from the Luo family, and Ye Xi''s health issues had led to an idental encounter with Luo Xiaomei.


    Between Ye Xi and Luo Xiaomei, he would always choose Ye Xi.


    Luo Minglu pulled his son, Ye Shangjin, over to him. He patted the boy''s head. "Shangjin, today Dad is taking you and Mom out to y, okay?"


    Ye Shangjin''s eyes lit up when he heard they were going out. "Okay, I want to go to the amusement park!"


    "We''ll listen to Mom and let her decide where to go," Luo Minglu said to his son. "But Mom is still mad at Dad, so you need to help persuade her toe with us, alright?"


    Ye Shangjin knew his parents had been arguing, and he wanted them to make up.


    The little boy puffed out his chest. "Okay!"


    He patted his father''s head like a little adult. "Dad, you made Mom angry. Apologize nicely, and Mom will forgive you."


    Just like when he snuck snacks from the fridge and got caught, as long as he admitted his mistake, Mom wouldn''t be mad anymore and would even give him a kiss.


    Luo Minglu picked up his son. "Alright, Dad will apologize to Mom."


    Ye Xi came downstairs.


    She had been nning to ask Luo Minglu when he was moving out, but seeing their son in his arms, she decided not to bring it up.


    At that moment, the butler came to inform Ye Xi that a woman with a child was at the door, asking to see her.


    Ye Xi asked, "Did she say who she is?"


    The butler replied, "She said her surname is Luo, and you would want to see her."


    Luo Minglu was shocked and quickly stood up with their son in his arms. "Tell her to leave."


    The butler hesitated.


    "Let her in," Ye Xi said, looking at Luo Minglu. "We''ll settle this. We''ll sign the papers on Monday."


    ¡°I disagree.¡± Luo Minglu furrowed his brows tightly, never expecting Luo Xiaomei to show up.


    Ye Xi responded to him, ¡°Uncle Qi, please bring her in.¡±


    The butler acknowledged and retreated.


    Luo Minglu tried to exin, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who brought her here.¡±


    Ye Xi nodded but didn¡¯t look at her again.


    Outside, the butler led the way, while Luo Xiaomei held her son¡¯s hand, walking in from the front gate.


    She straightened her back, her eyes scanning the surroundings, giving off the vibe of a mistress inspecting her domain.


    Luo Xiaomei whispered to her son, ¡°Xiaopei, is this ce beautiful?¡±


    Luo Zaipei nodded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s beautiful.¡±


    Luo Xiaomei was also seeing such a grand and exquisite house for the first time, like a pce. She excitedly told her son, ¡°From now on, this will be your home, and you¡¯ll live here from now on.¡±


    She had heard from her mother-inw that Ye Xi was going to divorce Luo Minglu.


    Once Ye Xi moved out, she would be the mistress of this house.


    The butler walked in front, and upon hearing her words, he couldn¡¯t help but frown. He had no idea where her delusions came from, thinking that the Ye Family¡¯s mansion would belong to her.


    Luo Xiaomei hade today specifically to show off to Ye Xi. She had endured grievances for so many years, waiting for this day.


    She knew Ye Xi was going to divorce Luo Minglu, but that night, when she brought it up to Luo Minglu, he told her not to mention it again.


    How could she not bring it up?


    She wanted Ye Xi to divorce Luo Minglu as soon as possible.


    Luo Xiaomei had deliberately done her makeup, wearing a newly bought tight dress, her walk swaying with charm.


    She was the vige beauty, known for her good looks and eloquent speech, which made her very popr with Luo Mu. Under Luo Mu''s arrangement, she had the chance to be with Luo Minglu.


    She believed her life was good, and soon, she would be the president''s wife.


    Su Ci knew today was Ye Xi¡¯sst day. She didn¡¯t know where Ye Xi would fall down the stairs, so she had sent people to guard around the Ye Family¡¯s mansion.


    If Ye Xi left the house, they would report immediately.


    If Ye Xi met with an ident at the Ye Family¡¯s mansion, Su Ci had also nned ordingly.


    In the car, she told the two little ones beside her, ¡°Later, I¡¯ll take you to Ye Shangjin¡¯s house. You¡¯ll say you miss Ye Shangjin and want to y with him, okay?¡±


    Little Tiancai and Little Su Ning obediently nodded.


    Although they didn¡¯t know why their sister suddenly took them to Ye Shangjin¡¯s house, they were now good friends with Ye Shangjin and liked ying with him.


    Su Ci patted their little heads.


    ¡°Sister, is Brother-inwing with us to Shangjin¡¯s house too?¡± Little Su Ning looked at his sister¡¯s side and asked in a childish voice.


    ¡°Little smarty.¡± Su Ci pinched her brother¡¯s nose.


    She turned to look at Lu Zhe beside her, intentionally asking, ¡°Brother-inw, are youing in with us?¡±


    Lu Zhe nced at her calmly and replied, ¡°Yes.¡±


    She had told him today that they were going to save the Ye Family¡¯sdy. Although he didn¡¯t know what was happening, he didn¡¯t feel at ease leaving her alone.


    Even with bodyguards around, he wanted to be by her side for anything that might happen.


    Inside the Ye Family¡¯s mansion.


    Luo Xiaomei stood face to face with Ye Xi for the first time. In the past, she could only sneak a nce at this Ye Family heiress from a distance.


    Luo Xiaomei raised her chin, trying to appear more confident in front of Ye Xi.


    Luo Minglu red at Luo Xiaomei, who had run to the Ye Family¡¯s house without permission. ¡°Uncle Qi, take a few workers to clean the garden outside.¡±


    He didn¡¯t want any outsiders present to witness this embarrassing scene.


    The butler looked at Ye Xi, waiting for her instructions.


    Ye Xi nodded, ¡°Go ahead, and take Shangjin to y in the garden too.¡± She didn¡¯t want the child to know about these unpleasant matters.


    The butler, worried, nced at his young mistress but ultimately obeyed Ye Xi¡¯s order, ¡°Young Master,e with me.¡±


    Once everyone had dispersed, Luo Minglu said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk in the study.¡±


    Ye Xi nodded and turned to head upstairs first.


    Closing the study door, Luo Minglu, in front of Luo Xiaomei, said to Ye Xi, ¡°Give me some time, I¡¯ll handle things with her. You know, we¡¯ve been together for so many years, and the person I truly like is only you. What happened with her was just an ident.¡±


    Ye Xi felt exhausted.


    She shook her head, ¡°You like me, yet you could have a child with her. Your son isn¡¯t much younger than Shangjin.¡±


    She looked at Luo Minglu with disappointment, ¡°This is your idea of liking me. If you really cared about our years together, let¡¯s part amicably.¡±


    Ye Xi took out a divorce agreement from the drawer and handed it to Luo Minglu, ¡°Sign it.¡±


    Luo Minglu hadn¡¯t expected her to have already prepared the divorce papers.


    Ye Xi had always been gentle and soft-spoken, and she loved him. Once, for him, she had even stood up against her grandfather, Old Master Ye. This was one of the reasons Luo Minglu felt so confident.


    Luo Minglu had thought that if Luo Xiaomei and the child¡¯s affair was discovered, he would apologize to Ye Xi and send Luo Xiaomei and the child abroad. Ye Xi would forgive him.


    However, to his surprise, Ye Xi wanted a divorce, and her attitude was very firm.


    Luo Minglu directly pushed away the divorce agreement in front of him, ¡°I don¡¯t agree.¡±


    Meanwhile, Luo Xiaomei rushed over, snatching the divorce agreement from Ye Xi¡¯s hand, ¡°Minglu, sign it quickly. After signing, you, me, and our child can be together.¡±


    Luo Minglu pushed Luo Xiaomei away, ¡°Are you crazy? Who told you toe to the Ye Family¡¯s house? I¡¯ve told you many times, Ye Xi and I won¡¯t divorce.¡±


    ¡°What are you worried about? After you divorce Ye Xi, thepany will be yours, and this house will be yours too. You drive Ye Xi out, and we can live here happily as a family.¡± Luo Xiaomei had heard these words from her mother-inw the most, and she loved hearing them.


    Ye Xi, a delicate youngdy, was only good for being pampered, doing nothing, and spending money. Unlike her, she could manage the household, be filial to her mother-inw, and take care of the child and Luo Minglu.


    Now that she had finally exposed everything to Ye Xi, and the two were arguing about a divorce, Luo Xiaomei was determined to seize the opportunity.


    Ye Xi stood aside, quietly listening to their argument, suddenly finding it amusing.


    Thepany and the house were all Ye Family¡¯s assets. Why did they think that once she and Luo Minglu divorced, these would belong to Luo Minglu, and she would be driven away?


    Since learning about Luo Minglu¡¯s betrayal and his three-year-old child, Ye Xi had been preparing herself mentally for a long time. Now, watching the two quarrel in front of her, she only felt disappointment in Luo Minglu and guilt toward her father.


    Back then, she hadn¡¯t listened to her father¡¯s advice.


    Ye Xi walked out, ready to leave them to resolve their dispute.


    The car stopped outside the gate. Su Ci got out with the two little ones, and Lu Zhe followed by her side.


    Su Ci nced at the time, only ten minutes left.


    The bodyguard reported that Ye Xi had been at the Ye Family¡¯s mansion all along and hadn¡¯t gone out. Therefore, Su Ci could confirm that Ye Xi would fall down the stairs at the Ye Family¡¯s mansion.


    The gatekeeper notified that guests had arrived, and the butler hurried over. Seeing the guests, he asked, ¡°May I ask who you are¡­¡±


    Su Ci replied, ¡°I¡¯m Su Ci. My brother is a ssmate of Ye Shangjin, and they had an appointment to visit today. I¡¯m here to drop off my two brothers.¡±


    Ye Shangjin, who was ying in the garden, also saw Su Ci and the others. The little boy ran over like a little cannonball, ¡°Ningning, Tiancai, are you here to y with me?¡±


    Ye Shangjin wanted to open the door and let his friends in, ¡°Uncle Qi, they are my good friends, here to y with me. Please open the door.¡±


    Su Ci looked at the time, eight minutes left.


    The butler was originally going to inform Ye Xi, but now seeing that his young master truly knew them, he politely opened the door and invited the guests in, ¡°Let me show you inside.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, we appreciate it.¡± Su Ci let Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai go y with Ye Shangjin, ¡°You two, don¡¯t cause trouble.¡±


    ¡°Sister, we¡¯re good kids. Good kids don¡¯t fight.¡± Ningning knew a lot now.


    Ye Shangjin patted his chubby little chest, ¡°I won¡¯t bully anyone now.¡±


    ¡°Good.¡± Su Ci nced at the time, seven minutes left.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe followed the butler inside.


    ¡°Is only Miss Ye at home?¡± Su Ci asked the butler as they walked.


    ¡°Today, we have guests. The two of you might need to wait a bit.¡±


    "Alright, thank you for your trouble."


    Were there other guests?


    Could ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????it be that Ye Xi fell down the stairs because of the guests the butler mentioned?


    Upstairs, Luo Minglu saw Ye Xi walking out and quickly followed her.


    Luo Xiaomei clenched her teeth, determined to make Luo Minglu divorce Ye Xi. She signaled her son to wait for her and then ran out as well.


    Luo Minglu caught up with Ye Xi at the staircase. He grabbed her and, with a "thud," knelt down directly in front of her.


    The Luo Xiaomei who had followed out was incredulous at the scene before her.


    "Minglu, are you crazy?" Luo Xiaomei couldn''t ept that Luo Minglu would kneel before Ye Xi just to avoid the divorce.


    Luo Minglu didn''t even nce at Luo Xiaomei. He pleaded with Ye Xi, "I know I was wrong. I was foolish. I shouldn''t have done something to betray you. Xiao Xi, please, consider our years of marriage and our child. Forgive me just this once. I''ll send Luo Xiaomei and her child abroad; they won''t appear before you again."


    Luo Minglu looked at Ye Xi with a face full of pain. "I don''t want to divorce you."


    Ye Xi looked down at her husband who was kneeling before her. The charm, grace, and earnest demeanor he had when they first met in college had gradually faded.


    Her voice was soft and soothing, yet it cast Luo Minglu into despair. "A piece of paper stained with ink is dirty, and no matter how you try, you can''t clean it. You know I have a thing about cleanliness; I don''t like dirty things."


    Luo Minglu felt as if his chest had been mmed hard, leaving him feeling both stifled and pained. His expression was utterly humiliated.


    Ye Xi walked past Luo Minglu, intending to go downstairs.


    As her skirt brushed against Luo Minglu''s side, he reached out, wanting to grab her, but his hand grasped nothing.


    He turned back to look at Ye Xi.


    Ye Xi reached the staircase and was about to descend.


    The next moment, a force from behind surged forward, knocking her down the stairs.

 Chapter 86

    <h1>Chapter 86</h1>


    As Ye Xi tumbled down the stairs, Luo Minglu suddenly stood up.


    "Are you crazy?" he wanted to go down and save Ye Xi.


    Luo Xiaomei grabbed Luo Minglu''s hand, her voice urgent and fast, "Don''t go, she wants a divorce from you. If she dies, thepany and the house will be ours."


    Luo Minglu''s attempt to shake off Luo Xiaomei''s grip paused.


    Watching Ye Xi continue to roll down the stairs, her head hitting the corner of the steps, eventually losing consciousness, Luo Minglu did not move.


    Luo Xiaomei knew she had convinced him, "As long as Ye Xi dies, everything she owns will be ours. There''s no one else here, you can just say she lost her bnce and fell down the stairs. No one will know what we did."


    Luo Minglu''s pupils contracted as he looked at Ye Xi''s position, where blood was starting to flow.


    He clenched his fists tightly.


    The divorce agreement Ye Xi had given him, the thought of being left with nothing after the divorce, Luo Minglu stood there, his hands clenched into fists, unmoving.


    Seeing that Luo Minglu hade to his senses, Luo Xiaomei smiled, "Afterward, you and I, along with Xiao Pei, will live a happy life as a family. Ye Xi''s health was already poor, and it''s normal for her to lose her footing and fall down the stairs due to weakness."


    "You two murderers, go and live happily in prison," Su Ci said angrily.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Miss!" The butler, seeing Ye Xi lying on the ground, bleeding profusely, hurried forward in panic.


    Su Ci was about to ask Lu Zhe to call an ambnce, but Lu Zhe had already dialed the number.


    Su Ci approached, "She hit her head."


    Seeing Ye Xi''s dress stained red with blood, "Is she pregnant?"


    The butler''s panicked face was filled with confusion.


    "Butler, you call the police first, and keep an eye on those two, don''t let them escape," Su Ci said, worried that Ye Xi might have other injuries and didn''t dare to move her.


    The butler stood up, looking angrily at the two people upstairs, "You pushed Miss down the stairs, I heard it all just now."


    He took out his phone and immediately called the police.


    Luo Xiaomei didn''t expect so many people to suddenly appear, "Minglu, what should we do?"


    Luo Minglu clenched Luo Xiaomei''s hand tightly and said in a low voice, "You pushed her."


    "What do you mean?" Luo Xiaomei looked at Luo Minglu in disbelief, "You want to incriminate me?"


    Luo Minglu shouted angrily, "You pushed her down, I wanted to save Ye Xi, but you stopped me."


    "I''m Xiao Pei''s mother, how can you treat me like this?" Luo Xiaomei was anxious and flustered, lowering her voice, "If you point me out, I''ll say you were the one who instigated me, and neither of us will get off easy."


    Luo Minglu red at her fiercely, his neck veins bulging, gritting his teeth and said: "Ye Xi lost her footing on her own!"


    Only then did Luo Xiaomei breathe a sigh of relief, realizing that her back was soaked with cold sweat.


    Su Ci watched Ye Xi''s life value, which was down to six minutes.


    She didn''t know if the ambnce would arrive in time.


    "Do you have any white gauze? Or a clean handkerchief will do, we need to stop the bleeding for Ye Xi first," Su Ci asked the butler.


    "We have gauze," the butler immediately ran to get the first aid kit.


    Su Ci quickly took the white gauze handed over by the butler, carefully lifted Ye Xi''s head, and gently parted her hair to find the wound.


    She ced the white gauze on the wound and pressed her fingers against the skin around the bleeding area.


    This was a first aid measure she had identally learned from the inte, and she wasn''t sure if it would work.


    Su Ci watched Ye Xi''s life value, time ticking away, she pursed her lips tightly, continuing to press around the wound with her hand.


    Ye Xi''s blood-soaked dress became more and more, and Su Ci guessed that Ye Xi must be pregnant.


    She was toote.


    Fu Gui had said that Ye Xi died from falling down the stairs, she had thought she could prevent Ye Xi from falling, but didn''t expect Ye Xi had already fallen down the stairs, slowly bleeding to death.


    She pursed her lips tightly.


    The butler had people subdue Luo Minglu and Luo Xiaomei, waiting for the police and ambnce to arrive.


    "Uncle Qi, Ye Xi lost her footing and rolled down the stairs, by the time I chased after her, she was already lying on the ground," Luo Minglu exined, "I know you''re protective of your master, but you''re really misunderstanding us."


    The butler shouted angrily, "I don''t want to hear your excuses, it''s you and this woman who harmed Miss, the police will be here soon, you can exin to them."


    Luo Minglu clenched his teeth, "Do you want to nder me in front of the police? Ye Xi is my wife, why would I harm her?"


    Su Ci couldn''t stand it anymore, "Shut up. Do you still know she''s your wife? If you really treated her as your wife, with her lying here, on the verge of death, you wouldn''t be busy defending yourself instead of even ncing at her injuries. Do you know she''s pregnant?"


    Luo Minglu was shocked, he subconsciously took a step back, "How could that be..."


    Luo Xiaomei grabbed Luo Minglu''s hand, her sharp nails almost piercing into Luo Minglu''s flesh, reminding him, "Even if Ye Xi is pregnant, in the end, it''s because of her weak body, losing her footing, knowing her condition, she should have been more careful going downstairs. When Minglu and I came out of the study, we already saw her lying at the bottom of the stairs."


    Luo Xiaomei forced herself to stay calm, "You didn''t see how Ye Xi fell, so why use us? Without evidence, even the police won''t be able to do anything."


    Su Ci didn''t want to waste words with them, she watched Ye Xi''s life value drop to two minutes.


    Then, it became one minute.


    "How far is the hospital from here?" Su Ci asked the butler.


    The butler replied, "About a ten-minute drive, no traffic, just ten minutes."


    Su Ci''s gaze darkened, it wasn''t enough time.


    She pressed on Ye Xi''s wound at the back of her head, hoping to stop the bleeding, as for the child in her womb, she didn''t know if it could be saved.


    One minute left.


    Su Ci nervously watched Ye Xi''s life value decreasing, the red line barely visible.


    Thirty seconds.


    Twenty seconds.


    Su Ci slowed her breathing.


    Lu Zhe beside her felt the girl''s tension, he gently stroked her back, not making a sound to disturb her.


    Just as Ye Xi''s life value was about to reach zero, Su Ci quickly leaned down, whispered into Ye Xi''s ear, "Ye Xi, hold on, the ambnce is almost here, think of Ye Shangjin, if you''re not there, do you want him to live with a stepmother?"


    Su Ci reached out, tightly grasped Ye Xi''s hand, "For Ye Shangjin, hold on a little longer!"


    The butler was anxious, wiping tears beside him, he had been by Old Man Ye''s side, watching Ye Xi grow up, disrespectfully speaking, he treated Ye Xi as half his daughter, now that she was in trouble, he would have no face to see Old Man Ye after he passed away.


    As Ye Xi''s life value was about to disappear, turning to zero, Su Ci instinctively held her breath, tightening her grip on Ye Xi''s hand.


    Ten seconds.


    Five seconds.


    One second.


    In the next second after turning to zero, Su Ci saw Ye Xi''s life suddenly change to twenty minutes.


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up, there was hope.


    The high-strung heart was temporarily relieved, Su Ci breathed a sigh of relief.


    It was great that Ye Xi could hold on.


    Soon, the ambnce arrived.


    They checked Ye Xi''s wounds, found that the bleeding from the head had temporarily stopped, but the blood from the lower body continued to flow.


    The paramedics quickly moved her to the ambnce for treatment.


    At the same time, the police arrived and took Luo Minglu and Luo Xiaomei into custody.


    "Mommy, Mommy..." Little fatty Ye Shangjin, along with Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai, had been chasing each other in the garden, suddenly seeing his mommy being carried out, covered in blood, he was immediately scared to tears.


    He ran to catch up.


    Su Ci came out, seeing the little fatty crying so hard, she went over and hugged him.


    "Mommy, I want my mommy," the little fatty wriggled his chubby little body, struggling, and Su Ci could hardly hold him.


    Su Ciforted him, "Your mommy just had an ident and fell. Now she''s going to the hospital for the doctors to help treat her. You stay at home quietly, and your sister will go and watch over your mommy, okay?"


    "Mommy is bleeding a lot, I''m scared," the little fatty knew that bleeding would hurt. He had once injured his little finger and bled, and it hurt a lot. Mommy is bleeding so much; she must be in a lot of pain.


    Su Ci gently stroked his little head and said, "Your mother is very strong, you have to believe in your mother. Be a good boy and stay at home, Ning Ning, Tian Cai, you two take care of Shang Jin, I''lle back to pick you upter."


    "Shang Jin, your mom will be fine, don''t worry," Little Su Ning ran over and held the little chubby boy''s hand.


    Little Tiancai took out a handkerchief from his pocket, acting like a little gentleman, he gently wiped the tears and snot from the chubby boy''s face, "I was fine after falling before, your mom will be fine too."


    With thefort of his two good friends, the chubby boy sniffled hard, nodded, and said, "Okay, then I''ll obediently wait for mom toe home."


    Su Ci breathed a sigh of relief.


    She asked the Ye family''s servants to help take care of the children, and she left with Lu Zhe to go to the hospital.


    Ye Xi''s life value was only left with a few minutes.


    In the corridor, Su Ci felt that every minute and every second became very long. She looked at the words "Operation in Progress" and helplessly leaned on Lu Zhe''s shoulder, softly saying, "Ye Xi will be fine."


    Lu Zhe echoed her, "Yes, she will be fine."


    Lu Zhe straightened the girl''s waist, then stood up and left.


    Su Ci felt a bit lost.


    After a while, she saw Lu Zhe return, holding a wet towel in his hand.


    His coldrge hand held hers.


    Lu Zhe gently wiped her hands with the towel.


    Su Ci only then realized that her hands were smeared with Ye Xi''s blood.


    The corridor was very quiet, asionally some medical staff passed by, their eyes couldn''t help but fall on the two sitting on the bench, giving off an indescribable sense ofpatibility and brilliance.


    Su Ci looked at the young man who was lowering his eyes and carefully wiping her hands, his movements were very gentle, wiping each finger one by one.


    The young man''s focused expression made her heart flutter.


    Su Ci kept looking at the time on her phone, already past Ye Xi''s life value time, but the door of the operating room still hadn''t opened.


    Su Ci''s mood was more rxed than before.


    This proved that the doctors were still rescuing, Ye Xi hadn''t died.


    It was unknown how long it had been, Su Ci felt her legs were numb from sitting, just as she was about to get up and move, she received a golden cotton candy.


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up, Ye Xi was fine.


    At that moment, the door of the operating room was just opened.


    The doctor came out and said, "The patient has no life-threatening danger, but she won''t wake up so quickly. As for the child in her belly, we''ve done our best, but it couldn''t be saved. The patient''s head was hit, after she wakes up, we still need to conduct a detailed examination."


    Su Ci quickly thanked the doctor.


    When Ye Xi woke up, it was already night.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe had been in the ward all along.


    Ye Xi looked at them in confusion.


    Su Ci stepped forward, "I''m Su Ci, do you remember me? You''ve seen me at the Su family before."


    "Miss Su, I remember you," Ye Xi''s voice was weak, she wanted to get up.


    Su Ci quickly stopped her, "You just had surgery, you can''t move around yet. Do you remember what happened before you fainted?"


    Ye Xi fell silent.


    After a long while, she recalled, "When I was going down the stairs, someone pushed me from behind, I rolled down the stairs, and then I lost consciousness."


    "Do you know who pushed you?"


    Ye Xi hadn''t fully recovered, her speech was slow, "I didn''t see."


    "However, there are surveince cameras at home." The Ye family''s garden was equipped with surveince cameras to enhance security, but the interior had never been installed.


    Ye Xi was determined to help her son lose weight, controlling his food intake. Just two days ago, she had someone install hidden surveince cameras around the house to monitor whether her son was sneaking snacks or whether her mother-inw was secretly feeding her son high-calorie foods.


    Su Ci nodded, "That''s good, Luo Minglu and Luo Xiaomei have already been taken away by the police."


    Ye Xi didn''t say anything.


    Su ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Ci hesitated a bit, "The child in your belly, it couldn''t be saved."


    Ye Xi had already guessed it, her heart felt like it was empty.


    When she found out she was pregnant before, the doctor had checked and found that the child''s development was abnormal, suggesting she shouldn''t keep the child.


    She had never mentioned this, hesitating, never expected that she would lose the child in this way.


    Ye Xi subconsciously touched her belly, her eyes turned red, her eyes moist with tears.


    After the Ye family''s butler and servants arrived at the hospital, Su Ci and Lu Zhe left; she went to the Ye family to pick up her two brothers.


    On the way home, the car was very quiet.


    Little Tiancai asked Su Ci, "Sister, is Shang Jin''s mom okay?"


    "She''s already fine."


    Little Tiancai''s tense little face finally rxed.


    Little Su Ning spoke up, "Shang Jin''s grandma is so scary, she kept scolding people in the house, Ning Ning was scared."


    Su Ci stroked his head, "Don''t be scared, if she bullies Ning Ning, sister will stand up for you."


    Little Su Ning covered his little mouth andughed, "Ning Ning is a man, Ning Ning can protect sister!"


    Su Ci smiled, she raised the partition in front, then said to her two brothers, "You all close your eyes and cover them, don''t peek."


    Little Su Ning was curious, "Why?"


    Little Tiancai asked, "Does brother-inw also have to close his eyes?"


    "Yes, brother-inw also has to close his eyes," Su Ci urged them, "You all quickly close your eyes, cover them well, whoever peeks isn''t a good child."


    Little Tiancai obediently did as told, "I''m a good child."


    Little Su Ning tightly closed his eyes, his facial features scrunched up, "Ning Ning is also a good child."


    Su Ci turned to face Lu Zhe, meeting his dark eyes, she smiled, "Brother-inw isn''t being good, quickly close your eyes."


    "Brother-inw closed his eyes, he has to be as good as Ning Ning," Little Su Ning closed his eyes and said in a childish voice.


    Su Ci''s eyes curved, "Did you hear that? Ning Ning is more obedient than you."


    Little Su Ning, hearing his sister praise him, closed his eyes even tighter, his little chest proudly straightened.


    Lu Zhe looked at the girl gloomily, then closed his eyes.


    The surroundings were pitch ck.


    A faint fragrance wafted over, Lu Zhe''s thin lips slightly pursed, he subconsciously swallowed.


    His lips felt a softness, Lu Zhe wanted to open his eyes, the next moment, his eyes were covered.


    Su Ci fed the golden cotton candy, she also wickedly pried open Lu Zhe''s lips.


    Just as Lu Zhe was about to entwine with her, Su Ci retreated, she gently bit his lip.


    Lu Zhe let out a muffled groan.


    Su Ciughed, "Brother-inw wanted to peek, he isn''t a good child, he was punished by sister."


    Little Su Ning, with his eyes closed, looked disdainful, why isn''t brother-inw as obedient as Ning Ning.

 Chapter 87

    <h1>Chapter 87</h1>


    The Old Lady went out today and, upon returning home, learned that her son and Luo Xiaomei had been taken away by the police. Furious, she stormed over to the hospital.


    Uncle Qi, the housekeeper, was well-prepared. Two bodyguards stood guard at Ye Xi''s hospital room door, preventing the Old Lady from causing a scene, no matter how much she tried.


    "Miss, the surveince footage has already been handed over to the police," Uncle Qi hesitated for a moment before speaking. "The Old Lady just went back. What do you n to do?"


    Ye Xi''s face was pale. Knowing that her child was gone, she had cried, and coupled with her recent surgery, her body was even weaker.


    "Uncle Qi, go tell her to pack her things and leave. Make sure she''s watched. She can''t take a single thing from the Ye family."


    Uncle Qi finally saw Miss Ye showing some strength. He nodded, "If the Old Lady refuses to leave..."


    Ye Xi closed her eyes and spoke softly, "Just have someone escort her out."


    "Yes, Miss."


    With the surveince footage, the police''s efficiency in recording statements was swift. Luo Minglu directly used Luo Xiaomei of pushing Ye Xi down the stairs.


    As for Luo Minglu, the surveince indeed proved that he was not involved in the incident.


    The footage showed Luo Xiaomei rushing forward and shoving Ye Xi down the stairs, while Luo Minglu, who was kneeling on the ground, got up to go downstairs and save her but was held back by Luo Xiaomei.


    It was Luo Xiaomei who had made the move, not Luo Minglu.


    Luo Xiaomei was charged with attempted murder, while Luo Minglu was released.


    The next day, Luo Minglu returned to the Ye family home. Before he even entered the house, he could already hear his mother''s shouting. He frowned and quickly walked inside.


    "Damned woman! My daughter-inw is so vicious; she wants to take my house and drive me out of my home..." the Old Lady was throwing a tantrum.


    "Mom? What happened?"


    The Old Lady turned around to see that it was her son.


    "Minglu, are you okay? The police took you away." The Old Lady, no longer caring about her tantrum, quickly got up and walked over to her son, examining him from head to toe. "Did they do anything to you?"


    "Mom, I''m fine." Luo Minglu raised his voice, "The police verified that I had nothing to do with Ye Xi''s injury, so they let me go. What''s going on with you?"


    "I told them they were wrong to use you!" The Old Lady was furious. "Now Ye Xi wants to kick us out."


    Luo Minglu asked Uncle Qi, "Uncle Qi, what''s going on?"


    Uncle Qi replied, "Miss Ye will be filing for divorce in court. Now, please pack your things and leave the Ye family."


    "I''m not leaving! This is my son''s house. What right do you have to kick me out? I want to fire you all." The Old Lady started to act out.


    "Old Lady, please remember, this is the Ye family''s house, not the Luo family''s. As for us, only Miss Ye has the authority to fire us." Uncle Qi''s face remained expressionless. "Mr. Luo, Miss Ye said that if you don''t move out by today, we will forcibly remove you."


    Behind Uncle Qi stood three tall bodyguards.


    "Where is Ye Xi? I need to talk to her." Luo Minglu hadn''t expected Ye Xi to be so ruthless as to directly evict him.


    Uncle Qi replied, "Miss Ye had surgery yesterday and needs to rest. Without her permission, she won''t meet you. Please leave as soon as possible and do not take anything from the Ye family."


    Luo Minglu clenched his fists.


    He felt both humiliated and helpless.


    Luo Minglu took out his phone, wanting to call Ye Xi, but the call didn''t go through.


    Ye Xi had blocked him!


    Luo Minglu, the Old Lady, and the child, Luo Zaipei, were all driven out of the Ye family home. Luo Minglu wanted to see Ye Shangjin, but the child had already been taken away for protection.


    "What a curse! Where does a daughter-inw drive her husband and mother-inw out of the house? If this were in the vige, a daughter-inw like Ye Xi would be drowned in spit by everyone." The Old Lady''s hatred for Ye Xi had reached its peak.


    She kept cursing, "Damned woman! She''s stealing my son''spany and his house. I''m going to court to sue her and let everyone see the ugly face of this woman."


    "Mom, stop shouting." Luo Minglu had been in a state of extreme irritation and despair from yesterday until now. "What''s wrong with Ye Xi? She''s beautiful, rich, has a gentle temper, and even gave you a grandson. Why can''t you see her in a good light? Why do you always cause trouble between us?"


    He used, "If it weren''t for you, we wouldn''t have been driven out. I wouldn''t be getting a divorce from her."


    The Old Lady was scolded by her son until her chest hurt. "Son, are you drugged by Ye Xi? She treats you like this, yet you still defend her and speak well of her? Do you think she can hear you?"


    The Old Lady just hated Ye Xi. "What''s the use of her being pretty? She has the looks of a fox spirit, always enchanting you. And don''t talk about the grandson; he has the surname Ye."


    She held tightly to Luo Zaipei''s hand, "Xiaopei is our Luo family''s child."


    Luo Minglu weakly rubbed his forehead and said, "Mom, I''ve told you many times, thepany and the house aren''t mine. Before I married Ye Xi, we signed a prenuptial agreement. If we divorce, I''ll be left with nothing."


    Hearing her son mention being left with nothing, the Old Lady was so shocked that her body trembled, and she felt like she was about to faint.


    ...


    Su Ci heard about Ye Xi driving Luo Minglu and the Old Lady out of the Ye family''s house and thought they deserved it.


    Without the backing of the Ye family, they had lost their capital and confidence to act arrogantly, and they were nothing.


    Having gotten the golden cotton candy and given it to Lu Zhe, Su Ci stopped paying attention to the Ye family''s affairs.


    The next day was National Day holiday, and she prepared to participate in a ss group activity.


    As autumn deepened, the morning breeze carried a chill, and dried leaves on the roadside were lifted and whirled by the wind.


    Su Ci got out of the car and took the suitcase handed to her by the driver from the trunk.


    "Xiaocici, over here." Shen Xue saw Su Ci arrive and quickly waved her hand.


    Shen Xue and Wen Duoyu were both staying in the dormitory, and the gathering point was at the school gate, which was very convenient.


    "Good morning." Su Ci pulled her suitcase over. Today, she wore a light azure blue dress paired with a soft white thin knit, her fine hair loosely tied into a bun, making her look even more radiant and charming.


    Shen Xue, biting on a bread, couldn''t help but stare at Su Ci, her eyes wide. Among them, it seemed like they were just going on a trip, while Su Ci, even in casual wear, looked like she was attending a fashion show.


    "Good morning." Wen Duoyu shyly and softly greeted Su Ci.


    Wen Duoyu''s family background was not good. After entering university, she always seized the opportunity to do part-time jobs. For activities like going on a trip, she usually wouldn''t participate.


    However, when she heard that Su Ci was joining, she specially took a leave of absence and signed up.


    She had recently earned some money and bought a phone with better camera pixels than before. Maybe she would even have the chance to take photos of Su Ci.


    Thinking about this, Wen Duoyu''s face and eyes were filled with uncontrobleughter. Being able to take photos of her goddess was simply too blissful.


    Su Ci looked around, wondering if Lu Zhe had arrived.


    Shen Xue winked at Su Ci, "There are two tourist buses here. The ss monitor just said that students from both sses can mix and board the buses; there''s no need to separate by ss."


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up and gave her an approving look.


    She found that Shen Xue was bing more and more understanding.


    In the distance, the students from ss 1 of the Computer Science department had also arrived.


    Their ss had more boys and fewer girls. Since the former ss flower, Yang Shujing, had gotten into trouble and left for abroad, there were even fewer girls in their ss.


    Seeing that the girls from the Chinese Literature department were almost twice as many as theirs, the boys from the Computer Science department were as excited as if they had been injected with adrenaline.


    ¡°Wow, is that the school beauty?¡± One of the boys saw Su Ci getting out of the car and couldn''t take his eyes off her.


    The boy next to him nodded, "Isn''t she the campus beauty voted on the forum before? Back then, I thought her photo was too unreal, probably photoshopped, so I voted for Zhao Youyou. Okay, now I admit I was blind."


    Several other boys'' eyes also fell on Su Ci. "I wonder if the school beauty has a boyfriend."


    Someone couldn''t help but murmur in awe, "Amazing, such a slim waist. I wonder if it feels soft to hold."


    Then, everyone''s gaze shifted from Su Ci''s beautiful face to her slender, delicate waist.


    Boys in the dormitory often talk about girls'' figures, but with a crowd around, they dared not be too bold. They made a fewments and then stopped discussing, but their eyes kept ncing at Su Ci.


    After all, who wouldn''t want to look at such a beautiful girl?


    At the back of the crowd, a young man wore a ck T-shirt and casual pants. He was tall and lean, with a refined face that seemed cold from the morning air.


    Lu Zhe watched the group coldly.


    At that moment, his phone vibrated. It was a message from Su Ci, asking if he had arrived.


    Lu Zhe quickly replied: "Yes."


    As soon as he sent the message, he looked up and saw the girl across from him searching for him.


    Their eyes met, and the girl''s eyes curved into a smile.


    Su Ci pulled her suitcase and walked towards him.


    "Oh my god, is the school beauty looking at me?"n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Is sheing over?"


    "She seems to be smiling at me."


    ...


    The boys from theputer department noticed Su Ci heading in their direction and couldn''t help but get excited. Each of them watched her nervously and expectantly.


    In the sunlight, everyone saw the dazzlingly beautiful girl pull her suitcase, bypassing them, and walk up to a tall figure.


    "Lu Zhe, did you arrive early?"


    Lu Zhe naturally took the suitcase from the girl''s hand. "I just got here."


    Unlike Su Ci, Lu Zhe only had a ck backpack.


    For ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????boys, traveling only required a couple of sets of clothes to change into.


    Su Ci naturally said, "I want to sit with youter."


    Lu Zhe didn''t refuse. "Okay."


    Before entering university, he had always thought that he and Su Ci''s rtionship should remain private on campus.


    He didn''t want her to be subjected to unkind looks and gossip because of his illness, or for her to find someone she liked more, in which case he would let her go.


    But now, noticing the many boys looking at the girl beside him, he felt how foolish his previous thoughts had been.


    The mere thought of others coveting her was unbearable.


    Everyone was shocked. Had the school beauty and Lu Zhe from their ss gotten together?


    Aside from the post Yang Shujing had made on the forum about Lu Zhe''s ALS, everyone now looked at him with a mix of pity.


    Lu Zhe''s personality was very quiet, and he had little presence in ss, especially when multiple sses had joint lectures. He was almost like a transparent person.


    So, people''s perception of Lu Zhe was that he had ALS. Now, the school beauty was standing next to Lu Zhe, and there was an undeniable air of intimacy between them. Clearly, they were in a romantic rtionship.


    The boys looked at Lu Zhe with envy. The school beauty''s stunning face, perfect figure, and snow-white, delicate skin¡ªLu Zhe was truly lucky.


    However, many felt sorry for Su Ci, considering Lu Zhe''s illness and his short life expectancy.


    But then they thought about how most college couples dated for a few years before breaking up after graduation. They figured that maybe Su Ci and Lu Zhe would break up before Lu Zhe''s condition worsened.


    With everyone gathered, they were ready to board the bus and depart.


    Lu Zhe was worried that Su Ci might not be used to sitting on such a bus, so he chose a seat in the middle and let her sit by the window.


    Su Ci was usually driven around by a private chauffeur and had never ridden a tourist bus before. She adjusted her posture but found it ufortable no matter how she sat.


    The girl next to him kept fidgeting. "What''s wrong?"


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe with a wronged expression. "The seat is ufortable."


    Lu Zhe was about to lean over to adjust her seat when the girl suddenly leaned softly against him. Her body was fragrant and soft, like it had no bones, and she nestled right into his embrace.


    Su Ci smiled and said, "This way, it''s morefortable."


    Lu Zhe supported her waist, trying to get the little spoiled girl to sit properly, but she stubbornly twisted her body.


    Lu Zhe felt the girl''s slender, delicate waist beneath his palm, so soft it seemed like it could be easily encircled by a single hand.


    He sighed, his voice low and filled with helplessness and indulgence. "Fine, you can lean on me, but don''t move around."

 Chapter 88

    <h1>Chapter 88</h1>


    Su Ci woke up early in the morning, still feeling drowsy. Not long after the car started, she leaned on Lu Zhe''s shoulder and fell asleep.0


    Whether it was theputer ss or Su Ci''s ss, everyone was in shock. No one had expected that Lu Zhe would be the boyfriend of the school flower.0


    However, it had to be admitted that both Su Ci and Lu Zhe had very high appearances. When they walked together, they were incredibly pleasing to the eye.0


    On the other side of the aisle, two boys couldn''t help but shift their gaze toward them. They saw the school flower leaning on Lu Zhe''s shoulder, and they could only catch a glimpse of her snow-white, delicate chin.0


    Lu Zhe''s eyes were a bit cold. He shifted his body slightly,pletely wrapping the girl in his arms to block the prying eyes of others.0


    The morning sun was high in the sky, and golden sunlight streamed through the car window, falling on the girl''s face. Her fair skin seemed to be bathed in a soft glow.0


    Su Ci subconsciously frowned.0


    Lu Zhe reached out to pull the curtains, blocking the harsh light.0


    Their destination was a small ind, and the journey by car would take two hours.0


    The bus was very quiet, and most of the people around were asleep.0


    At this moment, Su Ci woke up, feeling her legs numb from sitting for too long.0


    "Legs numb?" Lu Zhe had been resting with his eyes closed, but as soon as the girl woke up, he opened his eyes.0


    Su Ci''s expression was still a bit dazed. "Mm."0


    Lu Zhe took a bottle of mineral water from his backpack, twisted off the cap, and handed it to the girl. Then he leaned over to massage her legs.0


    Su Ci was indeed thirsty. After taking a few sips, she stared nkly at the boy who had just been massaging her legs.0


    "Better?"0


    Su Ci nodded.0


    Lu Zhe then let go of her legs, took the water bottle from her hand, and fished out a pack of snacks from his backpack. He stuffed it into her hands. "Eat."0


    Su Ci realized it was a pack of fruit-vored candies. She knew Lu Zhe didn''t like sweet things, so it was obviously prepared for her.0


    After opening the package, there were several mixed vors of candies.0


    She picked one and finally chose an orange-vored one, popping it into her mouth.0


    Su Ci looked around and saw that everyone in the front, back, and aisle was asleep.0


    She patted Lu Zhe with her hand.0


    "Hmm?" Lu Zhe looked at her.0


    Su Ci smiled and asked him, "Do you want to eat a candy?"0


    Lu Zhe rubbed her head. "No, you eat."0N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Su Ci red at him, whispering disdainfully, "You have no romance at all."0


    Lu Zhe: "Then I''ll have one."0


    Su Ci smiled again. She reached out her hands and cupped Lu Zhe''s face on both sides. "I''ll treat you."0


    Her small mouth pressed against his cold, thin lips.0


    Lu Zhe felt a candy being pushed into his mouth, prying open his lips.0


    The sweet orange juice vor spread on his tongue.0


    Surrounded by ssmates, Lu Zhe thought the girl would retreat quickly. However, along with the candy, her soft little tongue also slipped in.0


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes looked at her. The girl''s eyes were filled withughter.0


    She teasingly hooked him, deliberately poking under his tongue.0


    Lu Zhe''s chest trembled.0


    He kissed her fiercely, wanting to make this little troublemaker beg for mercy with teary eyes.0


    However, Su Ci seemed to know that Lu Zhe would be restrained. In other words, Lu Zhe''s face wasn''t as thick as hers. Not only did she not get teary-eyed, but her eyes were also brimming withughter.0


    She found it truly thrilling.0


    When they finally separated, Su Ci''s eyes were slightly red at the corners, and her cheeks were flushed. She licked her lips, tasting only the sweet orange vor. She wasn''t sure if the candy had been swallowed by her or melted in Lu Zhe''s mouth.0


    She looked like a little fox that had sessfully stolen a snack,ughing and leaning into Lu Zhe''s chest.0


    Lu Zhe tightened his grip on her waist, his cold voice low as he leaned close to her ear. "Just wait."0


    Su Ci was used to being bold and didn''t fear Lu Zhe at all.0


    As they approached the destination, people on the bus began to wake up one by one.0


    When they got off the bus, many couldn''t help but nce at Su Ci. The girl''s lips were red and glossy, her ck eyes sparkling with vitality, and she looked radiant and charming.0


    The boys couldn''t help but feel even more envious of Lu Zhe.0


    Their destination was a small ind, and they had to take a boat to get there.0


    The sea breeze was strong, and many girls, dressed in light clothing, were blown into disarray, shivering from the cold.0


    Su Ci was wearing a thin jacket and didn''t feel cold, but she still coquettishly burrowed into Lu Zhe''s arms, making everyone else feel like they were eating dog food.0


    The ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????boat ride to the ind only took twenty minutes.0


    When they disembarked, many girls were pale from the sea breeze, their hair tangled, and some even vomited after feeling seasick, looking quite disheveled.0


    Shen Xue also felt a bit seasick. Standing on solid ground, she felt like vomiting.0


    After taking a bottle of water from Wen Duoyu and drinking a few sips, she managed to suppress the nausea.0


    Just as she was recovering, she saw Su Ci, her face glowing with joy, holding Lu Zhe''s hand as they stepped off the boat.0


    Shen Xue felt utterly envious and jealous.0


    Despite being a pampered youngdy, Su Ci didn''t seem tired at all. Instead, she looked as if she had drunk some magical elixir, still so beautiful and exquisite.0


    When they arrived at the hotel, the ss leaders had everyone gather by ss to assign rooms.0


    Su Ci was assigned to share a room with Wen Duoyu, while Shen Xue shared a room with another girl from her ss.0


    On Lu Zhe''s side, since there was an odd number of boys in their ss, and many of them were close friends who had already paired up, Lu Zhe, who didn''t interact much with others in the ss, naturally ended up being the odd one out, assigned to a single room.0


    The ss leaders told everyone to first settle their luggage and then have lunch. In the afternoon, there would be a ss vs. ss gamepetition. They reminded everyone to wear clothes suitable for movement since they would be participating in activities.0


    The hotel was by the sea, and Su Ci got a sea-view room with arge balcony where she could enjoy the sea breeze.0


    Wen Duoyu, carrying a backpack, felt both excited and nervous at the thought of sharing a room with her goddess.0


    She had never dreamed of being able to sleep in the same room as Su Ci. She felt like there was a little monster in her chest, roaring with excitement.0


    She slowly put down her backpack and asked Su Ci in a small voice, "Ci Ci, which bed do you want to sleep on?"0


    She wanted to give the bed by the inner side to Su Ci, thinking it would be safer.0


    Su Ci didn''t mind. "Either is fine."0


    "Then I''ll take the outer bed," Wen Duoyu said, having read news about some unsafe hotels where security guards might suddenly open the door with a keycard in the middle of the night.0


    Su Ci nodded.0


    She unpacked her suitcase and remembered that the ss leader had mentioned there would be apetition in the afternoon. Wearing a skirt would be inconvenient, so she took out a set of clothes from her luggage and prepared to change.0


    Soon, Wen Duoyu saw Su Ci emerge from the bathroom wearing short jeans and a white T-shirt.0


    Wen Duoyu was stunned. As expected of her goddess, even her legs were so white and slender.0


    Su Ci thought about going outside in the afternoon, and even though it waste autumn, the UV rays were still strong.0


    She took out a bottle of sunscreen and prepared to apply it. "Do you want some?" She turned to ask Wen Duoyu.0


    "Ah?" Wen Duoyu suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed by the goddess speaking to her.0


    "Stretch out your hands."0


    Wen Duoyu obediently did as she was told, extending both hands and cing them side by side.0


    "Don''t be nervous," Su Ci said, squeezing some sunscreen onto Wen Duoyu''s palm. "There''s going to be sunlight outside, so we need to protect our skin."0


    She leaned closer to Wen Duoyu, carefully observing her skin.0


    Wen Duoyu subconsciously held her breath, feeling so nervous that she thought she might faint at any moment.0


    At such a close distance, she could see that Su Ci''s face had no blemishes or pores, her skin was white and smooth, and she looked so beautiful.0


    "Do you usually not take care of your skin much?" Su Ci nced at her for a few moments before turning back to her luggage.0


    "I''m not very good at these things," Wen Duoyu said, feeling a bit more rxed as she caught a whiff of the goddess''s faint fragrance in the air.0


    Su Ci took out a bottle of lotion from her luggage. "Here, this has moisturizing and pore-tightening effects. Girls should take good care of their skin."0


    Wen Duoyu quickly shook her head. "I... I can''t take this."0


    Although she wasn''t very knowledgeable about skincare, she could tell from the bottle that it must be expensive, and she couldn''t ept it.0


    "Take it," Su Ci said, pushing the lotion bottle into Wen Duoyu''s hands. "I still have more. It''s just a bottle of lotion. There''s no need to be so formal between friends."0


    Su Ci then walked over to the full-length mirror to apply her sunscreen.0


    Wen Duoyu felt the bottle in her palm, as if it were burning hot. Just now, the goddess had said "between friends."0


    She is the goddess''s friend now?0


    Wen Duoyu blushed and smiled happily, feeling both shy and delighted.0


    When Su Ci was fully dressed and ready to go, she and Wen Duoyu stepped out together. As they walked down the corridor, they saw a tall young man in a ck T-shirt heading their way, presumably to take the elevator.0


    Su Ci stood still, waiting for him.0


    However, when the young man approached, he frowned, "Why are you wearing such short pants?"0


    Su Ci nced down at her own pants, "They''re not short. This is the normal length."0


    Besides, her legs were beautiful, and short pants looked better on her.0


    Lu Zhe spoke up, "We might go to ces with trees this afternoon, and there will be more mosquitoes. Aren''t you afraid of being bitten?"0


    "I am," Su Ci replied. Her legs were fair, and her skin was delicate. Being bitten by mosquitoes would leave ugly welts, "Then I''ll go change into a pair of long pants. Wait for me."0


    Lu Zhe was well aware of Su Ci''s obsession with looking good, so he nodded, "Alright."0


    Wen Duoyu was quite surprised. Previously, Su Ci had been very aloof in their ss, treating other suitors coldly. Yet, with just one word from Lu Zhe, she obediently went to change her pants.0


    She suddenly realized that the saying "one thing cures another" made a lot of sense.0


    At that moment, Shen Xue happened toe out of the next room. Wen Duoyu, being tactful, didn''t want to stay and be a bright little lightbulb, so she followed Shen Xue to have lunch.0


    After a while, Su Ci came out of her room, now dressed in a pair of ck slim-fit trousers.0


    The ind was abundant with seafood, so lunch was a luxurious seafood feast at the hotel.0


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe sat together, with Shen Xue and Wen Duoyu sitting opposite them. Several other ssmates from their two sses were also nearby.0


    Shen Xue noticed Lu Zhe pick up a wet towel, wipe his hands clean, and then start to peel the shell and dismantle the meat of a crab.0


    It was autumn, the best season for crab meat, with both the roe and the yellow being incredibly tempting.0


    Lu Zhe''s skillful hands neatly separated the crab roe and meat, cing them in a small white porcin bowl, which he then handed to Su Ci.0


    Shen Xue looked on with a mix of envy and longing, "Su Ci, I regret sitting at the same table as you. This is too much for a single dog to handle."0


    Previously, she hadn''t understood why Su Ci liked Lu Zhe. Although Lu Zhe was handsome, he suffered from ALS and had a short life expectancy, which made it hard for any girl to fall for him.0


    Now, seeing Lu Zhe not only pour water for Su Ci but also peel crabs and shrimp shells for her with such gentleness and attention, coupled with his handsome face, he was practically the perfect boyfriend.0


    She finally understood why Su Ci liked Lu Zhe so much.0


    Su Ci enjoyed the crab roe and meat that Lu Zhe had peeled for her. She raised an eyebrow at Shen Xue with a triumphant smile, "What''s the big deal?"0


    Such a wonderful Lu Zhe was hers.0


    Shen Xue was utterly dazzled by the disy.0


    After lunch, everyone returned to their rooms to rest in preparation for the afternoon''spetition.0


    Su Ci was surprised to learn that Lu Zhe had a room to himself.0


    She started to have a mischievous idea, "I''lle to your room tonight and sleep with you, okay?"0


    Lu Zhe couldn''t help but pinch the girl''s nose, his voice cold, "No."0


    Su Ci let out a light hum, ignoring Lu Zhe. She turned around and entered the room, after all, whether it would work or not was up to her to decide.0


    Su Ci snorted lightly; she ignored Lu Zhe and turned to enter the room. In any case, whether it would work or not, she was the one who decided.0


    The ind had an escapepetition event.0


    The two ss leaders gathered their ssmates and set off for the escape base.0


    The base was not far from the hotel, just a ten-minute drive away.0


    The base was quiterge, surrounded by trees, and had various areas set up with wooden houses, small buildings, stacked oil drums, tires, and other objects as cover.0


    The two sses were divided into two teams, with anyone hit by a paintball being considered eliminated, and the team with the most survivors after two hours being dered the winner.0


    Additionally, the team member with the most kills would receive an extra reward.0


    The staff distributed guns to everyone. The guns were made of metal, quite heavy in the hand, and looked very realistic.0


    The paintballs fired would cause a stinging sensation when they hit, and upon impact, they would burst, releasing red liquid that looked like blood.0


    The staff reminded everyone, "These are protective goggles. The paintballs will hurt when they hit you, so protect your eyes. If you have a jacket, wear it, and we will also provide you with protective vests."0


    The boys were excited, as this was their kind of thing.0


    Everyone put on ck vests and goggles, and after receiving their equipment, they were eager to get started.0


    The ss leaders reminded them, "Remember, friendship first. Avoid conflicts during the game."0


    "Don''t worry, ss leader. Our ss will definitely win," one student said confidently. The other ss had more girls, which was practically giving them free kills.0


    Su Ci''s ssmates couldn''t help but retort, "We''ll see how we take you downter."0


    Su Ci ignored the banter and turned to look at Lu Zhe. He was wearing goggles and a ck protective vest, with ck fingerless gloves on his hands. He looked incredibly handsome.0


    Su Ci asked him, "If you meet me during the game, will you shoot me?"0


    Lu Zhe lowered his eyes to look at her, "We are on different teams."0


    Meaning he would shoot her.0


    Su Ci let out a light snort, "I asked the wrong question. Maybe I''ll take you down first."0


    Lu Zhe chuckled, wanting to pinch her slightly conceited face.0


    When everyone was ready, the staff blindfolded them and took them to different locations. The game began as soon as the blindfolds were removed.0


    Su Ci opened her eyes and found herself in a small house. The interior was decorated realistically, with a sofa, wardrobe, table, and other objects that could be used as cover.0


    She was about to move when the next moment, she heard the broadcast: "Yellow team, one yer eliminated."0


    Su Ci was a bit surprised. Howe someone was eliminated so quickly?0


    She had just stepped out of the house when she ran into a boy. She nced at the wristband on his hand. The blue wristband indicated he was from theputer ss, while the yellow wristband was for her ss.0


    This boy was wearing a blue wristband.0


    He clearly hadn''t expected to encounter an enemy so soon.0


    The boy pointed his gun at Su Ci, and she pointed hers at him.0


    "Wait," the boy, who was quite handsome, moved his gun away from Su Ci, "Don''t be afraid. I won''t shoot you. In exchange, can I add you as a friend?"0


    He hadn''t expected the first person he would meet to be the school beauty. Su Ci was just too beautiful, and he couldn''t bring himself to eliminate her.0


    Su Ci directly refused: "Of course... not."0


    At the same time, her paintball directly hit the boy''s ck vest, right in the heart area.0


    Red liquid burst out like blood.0


    Su Ci curled her red lips and said, "Because I''m eliminating you."0


    The broadcast announced: "Blue team, one yer eliminated."0


    The boy hadn''t expected Su Ci to be so decisive. He was eliminated just like that, and he looked regretful as he was taken away by the staff hiding in the shadows.0


    Su Ci felt a little smug, thinking she was quite amazing.0


    She continued walking, trying to stay near cover.0


    Her phone had been confiscated, so she couldn''tmunicate and didn''t know where Lu Zhe was.0


    As she walked through the forest, she saw a girl from the blue team hiding behind a tree, her back facing Su Ci.0


    Su Ci raised her eyebrows, aiming directly at the girl''s back.0


    "With a pop, the paintball burst on the girl''s back, startling her."0


    The girl only realized she had been eliminated after a moment.0


    When she turned to see who had eliminated her, it was the school beauty.0


    Su Ci was too beautiful, and the girl didn''t even feel upset about being eliminated.0


    ¡°Sorry about that,¡± Su Ci smiled.0


    The girl waved her hand, "It''s... it''s okay."0


    The girl was taken away by the staff.0


    On the way, Su Ci encountered two more boys. While they blushed or stared at her in a daze, she quickly fired her gun.0


    Su Ci proudly shouted out the wealth, "Your master is impressive, right? Who says a beautiful vase is useless?"0


    Fu Gui''s ttery was smooth, "The master is amazing. The master is a vase thatbines beauty and wisdom. How can other vasespare to the master?"0


    Su Ci felt a surge of happiness listening to Fu Gui''s cheesypliments.0


    Next, Su Ci, with Fu Gui''s reminder, eliminated two more blue team members who were hiding.0


    Su Ci thought that she would probably be the king of her teamter.0


    With forty minutes left, Su Ci encountered Lu Zhe behind a sand pile.0


    He had just eliminated a member of the yellow team.0


    Seeing the yellow team member being taken away by the staff, Su Ci stepped out from behind the tree, "Lu Zhe."0


    Lu Zhe''s handsome face remained calm as he turned around upon hearing the girl''s voice.0


    Su Ci asked him directly, "Are you going to shoot me?"0


    Su Ci had already made up her mind. If Lu Zhe dared to shoot her, he wouldn''t have an easy night.0


    She walked toward him.0


    Lu Zhe smirked, setting his gun down and raising his hands. With a lightugh, he said, "Go ahead, shoot me."0


    He was surrendering to her.0

 Chapter 89

    <h1>Chapter 89</h1>


    [This is the third chapter. If you haven''t read the first two, you might be a bit confused.]


    Su Ci was momentarily stunned.


    Then, her eyes curved into a smile.


    Her heart had already melted when Lu Zhe raised his hands in surrender toward her.


    She lifted the gun in her hand and aimed it at Lu Zhe''s chest.


    "Do you want me to shoot you in the chest?" Su Ci tilted her head to look at him.


    Lu Zhe: "Mm, my heart is yours."


    And my life is yours too.


    Su Ci didn''t want to tease him anymore.


    She threw the gun aside and rushed toward the boy who had his hands up in surrender, crashing into his chest.


    She wrapped her arms around him, "Woo, Lu Zhe, I love you to death."


    The girl had her hair tied up, and Lu Zhe didn''t want to mess up her hairstyle. With his ck fingerless gloves, he only gently pinched her cheek. "Not going to shoot anymore?"


    Su Ci didn''t care about unity or teamwork anymore. Compared to Lu Zhe, her teammates were nothing.


    She rubbed her face against his chest. "No, I wouldn''t bear to shoot you even if it killed me."


    Lu Zhe lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "Thank you for your mercy."


    Then Su Ci and Lu Zhe walked together.


    When they encountered members of the Yellow Team, Su Ci hid while Lu Zhe dealt with them. When they met members of the Blue Team, Su Ci took care of it.


    The broadcast announced: One member of the Yellow Team has been eliminated.


    The broadcast announced: One member of the Blue Team has been eliminated.


    ...


    Fifteen minutes remained, and the broadcast announced again: Two members of the Blue Team remain, and one member of the Yellow Team remains.


    Su Ci was quite surprised when she heard the broadcast. So, was she the remaining member of the Yellow Team?


    And besides Lu Zhe, there was one more person left in the Blue Team.


    If they eliminated that person, the game would be almost over.


    The forest path was rough, with potholes everywhere. After such a long game, Su Ci was already exhausted.


    "Tired?" Lu Zhe noticed the girl''s tired expression. "Let''s rest over there for a while."


    There was a pile of cut logs across from them that could serve as cover or a ce to sit.


    "Okay," Su Ci took Lu Zhe''s hand and walked over.


    She was disgusted by the dust on the logs and wanted to find a tissue to sit on, but she realized all her things had been confiscated by the staff and locked in a storage cab.


    Knowing how particr the girl was, Lu Zhe didn''t say anything. He directly took off his ck tank top and ced it on the logs. "Sit."


    Su Ci gave Lu Zhe a satisfied look. "Why are you so thoughtful?"


    Lu Zhe curled his lips.


    Su Ci sat on his tank top and looked up at the tall boy in front of her. "Aren''t you going to sit?"


    "I''m not tired." There was still one member of the Blue Team to deal with. The person was probably hiding somewhere nearby. The surrounding area was full of trees, and some were quite old, making it easy to hide.


    Su Ci put down her gun. Her elbows rested on her knees, and her hands supported her cheeks as she looked at Lu Zhe. "How do you have so much stamina?"


    Lu Zhe nced at the girl and awkwardly turned his head away.


    Su Ci watched as the sun cast a faint red glow on Lu Zhe''s ears. She pursed her lips and suppressed augh.


    After resting for five minutes, Su Ci had recovered. There were only ten minutes left in the game, and she didn''t know where the other member of the Blue Team was hiding.


    Suddenly, Lu Zhe asked her, "Tuan Tuan, do you want to win?"


    Su Ci nodded. She had yed seriously, so of course, she wanted to win.


    She stood up, patted the dust off the tank top, and handed it back to him. "But if ites down to just you and me, we''ll be tied, which means we both win."


    Lu Zhe chuckled lightly, "No, I''ll let you win."


    Su Ci said, "I won''t shoot you."


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes looked into the distance. "I know."


    "Let''s go, we''ll look for your teammate together." Su Ci reached out to take his hand.


    Suddenly, ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Lu Zhe''srge hand grasped hers and pulled her forcefully.


    Su Ci was directly pulled into his embrace, tightly held, and their positions were swapped.


    Su Ci was a bit confused and was about to tease him for suddenly being ovee with emotion, but the next second, she heard a "bang" sound, and something exploded behind Lu Zhe.


    The boy''s arms around her tightened.


    And beside her ear, she heard his cool yet gentle voice: "The princess''s clothes can''t get dirty."


    "Lu Zhe!" Su Ci was first stunned, then angry, soft-hearted, and finally furious.


    She struggled out of Lu Zhe''s embrace and saw a boy with a blue wristband stepping out from behind a big tree, his gun aimed at them.


    The boy clearly hadn''t expected Lu Zhe to take the bullet for Su Ci. "Hey, have you forgotten which team you''re on?"


    "I''m on the Blue Team," Lu Zhe said.


    But he was also the servant of the princess.


    ording to the game rules, teammates couldn''t shoot each other, so all he could do was take the bullet for Su Ci.


    Su Ci let out a light hum, coldly stared at the boy, raised her gun, and before he could react, shot him directly.


    The boy was so scared that he kept stepping back.


    "With a "bang," the paintballnded on the boy''s foot, exploding.


    As long as you were hit, you were considered eliminated.


    The broadcast announced: Two members of the Blue Team have been eliminated, with zero survivors. One member of the Yellow Team remains.


    The boy was frustrated, not expecting to be eliminated. He also hadn''t anticipated that the school belle''s reaction would be so quick.


    Lu Zhe looked at Su Ci. "You win, Tuan Tuan."


    Su Ci didn''t respond. She aimed another shot at the boy''s arm.


    "Hey, hey, hey." The boy couldn''t dodge in time and was hit again.


    The paintball hitting the body would hurt.


    Su Ci raised her chin. "This is your punishment for letting Lu Zhe get hit." She then lowered her gun.


    The boy felt wronged. He thought he was just unlucky, being bullied and also having these two show off in front of him.


    Su Ci walked over to Lu Zhe to check his back. He had taken off his ck tank top earlier to give her a ce to sit, so the paintball had directly hit his back.


    The red liquid on the ck shirt wasn''t very noticeable, but the mark was visible.


    ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Su Ci reached out to touch the spot where he was hit. Her fingertips touched the red liquid, which looked very realistic, like blood.


    Lu Zhe: "It doesn''t hurt."


    Su Ci red at him.


    How could it not hurt? To make the experience of being hit feel real, the paintball would sting when itnded, and it could even cause bruises.


    When she realized Lu Zhe had been hit, her heart ached at that moment, as if someone had clenched it tightly.


    Even though it was just a game, she couldn''t bear it.


    In the lounge, the people from both sses who had been eliminated earlier were brought here.


    They curiously looked around, guessing who the remaining survivor was.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    On the Yellow Team''s side, it was obvious. Su Ci was the most noticeable, and since she hadn''t appeared yet, it was clear that she was the remaining survivor.


    ¡°Wow, is Xiao Ci Ci really that impressive?¡± Shen Xue had been waiting for Su Ci toe out, but she hadn''t seen her until the very end.


    She had thought that Su Ci, being so delicate, would quickly be unable to bear it ande out on her own or be quickly eliminated. Unexpectedly, Su Cisted until the end and was the final winner.


    Wen Duoyu''s delicate face was very excited. "Ci Ci is very amazing."


    She was indeed the goddess she admired. Su Ci was too amazing.


    Soon, Su Ci and Lu Zhe, along with the other eliminated boy, returned.


    Everyone began to apud.


    The staff member came out to announce, "Today, the winning team is the Yellow Team.


    The members of the Yellow Team enthusiastically apuded, excitedly shouting.


    The staff member signaled for everyone to quiet down. "At the same time, among the Yellow Team, the member who killed the most and will receive the reward is: Su Ci."


    The staff member presented a goldenmemorative medal to Su Ci, and everyone was shocked and excited. After realizing what was happening, they apuded wildly.


    No one had expected that the seemingly delicate and weak, like a dodder flower needing protection, would turn out to be the final king.


    Su Ci took the small medal and walked back to Lu Zhe''s side, cing the medal into his hand.


    Lu Zhe looked at her.


    Su Ci blinked at him. "You were the knight guarding the princess for a moment. This is your reward."


    He was the true king.


    Lu Zhe couldn''t help but chuckle. "Mm."


    ...


    After the game ended, the two ss leaders led everyone back to the hotel to rest, preparing for a beach barbecue in the evening.


    On the beach, as the sun slowly set, golden fragments of light spread across the water, covering the entire sea surface. Everyone listened to the distant sound of waves crashing and began to busily barbecue.


    Today, the Blue Team lost, and their punishment was to barbecue for the Yellow Team. The Yellow Team didn''t need to lift a finger and would receive one-on-one service.


    Su Ci naturally sat next to Lu Zhe, and Lu Zhe could only serve her.


    Next to Shen Xue and Wen Duoyu sat boys from the blue team, who were specifically there to serve them tonight.


    The blue team members who were assigned to serve the girls were quite willing, even happy about it, while the remaining blue team members assigned to serve the boys couldn''t help but feel distressed in their hearts.


    ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Lu Zhe changed into a different outfit when he returned to the hotel. He is now wearing a light gray shirt that has a good texture, with the top two buttons of the cor undone, revealing a pronounced Adam''s apple. The sleeves on both sides are neatly rolled up, giving him an indescribable sense ofposure and elegance.


    Su Ci casually said, "chicken wings."


    ¡°Hmm.¡± Lu Zhe grabbed three chicken wings and put them on the grill.


    Lu Zhe''s skills are impressive; even his barbecue abilities are strong. The chicken wings gradually turned golden yellow as he brushed on ayer of honey ze, making them irresistibly aromatic.


    Lu Zhe ced the chicken wings on a paper te and handed it to Su Ci, "It''s a bit hot, let it cool down before eating."


    On the opposite side, Shen Xue looked at the chicken wings in Su Ci''s hand with envy. The boy next to her clearly didn''t know how to barbecue; she spat out the burnt chicken skin before eating the meat inside.


    As for the boy next to Wen Duoyu, he wasn''t much better; the food he grilled was half-cooked, and Wen Duoyu had to step in and salvage it himself.


    Shen Xue looked around and found that among everyone present, Lu Zhe''s roast was the best, and Su Ci was the luckiest in terms of food.


    She has figured out that although Lu Zhe has ALS, aside from his illness, he is like a treasure of a young man, exceptionally talented.


    Of course, she was even more amazed at Su Ci''s keen eyes, starting to keep watch over Lu Zhe so early.


    It''s no wonder that back when shemitted suicide, Su Ci mocked her for having poor taste and liking Fu Baili. Looking back now, aside from her illness and family background, Lu Zhe is indeed better than Fu Baili.


    Shen Xue is grateful that Su Ci saved her at that time and even scolded her awake.


    ¡°There¡¯s a rest station over there. I¡¯m going to buy some drinks. Xiaoci, Duoyu, do you want something to drink?¡± Shen Xue came back to her senses. Her eyes were burning from the soot, and her throat felt dry.


    Su Ci was eating the chicken wings that Lu Zhe had grilled for him. "I''m fine with anything, just pick something for me."


    Wen Duoyu shook his head and said, "I''m not thirsty, thank you."


    Shen Xue got up and reminded the boy to watch the fire. She ran off to buy some drinks.


    The sky has darkened, and the surrounding area is filled with the lively glow of barbecues.


    The firelight reflected on the boy''s face, making his features even more handsome.


    Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe, who was focused on grilling with his head lowered, her eyes shining. She held a chicken wing right up to his mouth and said, "You eat too."


    ¡°I''ll do it myself.¡± Lu Zhe took the te from her hands.


    Su Ci let him eat by himself, "Then I''ll help you roast."


    ¡°Can you do it?¡± Lu Zhe looked at the girl''s slender, fair fingers, which even had a faint pink hue at the tips, exquisite and beautiful. These small hands are only suited to be cherished.


    ¡°No way.¡± Su Ci leaned close to Lu Zhe''s ear and whispered, ¡°Good brother, please guide me.¡±


    Lu Zhe nced at her quietly.


    Su Ci smiled triumphantly.


    Shen Xue is back, holding two cups of drinks in her hands. "Xiao Cici, this cup is for you."


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Su Ci took the drink that Shen Xue handed over. ¡°What is this drink? It looks quite nice.¡±


    Shen Xue sat back in her original position and said, "Isn''t it pretty? As soon as I saw it, I clicked on it. I think it''s called Rainbow." The drink has seven colors and looks very nice.


    Su Ci ate some barbecue and felt a bit thirsty. She took a few sips and found that there was some plum meat added inside.


    Sour and sweet, it''s very refreshing and quite tasty.


    Su Ci suddenly drank more than half a cup.


    Lu Zhe saw that the oysters were very fresh and asked, "Do you want to eat oysters?"


    Su Ci nodded. She saw that Lu Zhe only took two, so she let go of the straw she was biting. "You should grill more oysters, you eat some too."


    Then, Su Ci leaned closer to him and whispered, "I heard that eating more oysters can boost your virility."


    Lu Zhe''s gaze darkened; he really thought this little pomegranate deserved a good scolding.


    Su Ci looked at him, the firelight reflecting in her eyes, bright and captivating. She deliberately urged, "Hurry up, you eat too."


    Lu Zhe had no choice but to take two more oysters and put them on the grill.


    Su Ci sipped her drink, happily watching Lu Zhe''s helpless expression as she teased him.


    After an unknown amount of time, Su Ci felt an itch on her head, as if something was about to emerge.


    She touched the top of her head, ignored it, and continued to grill with Lu Zhe.


    However, the itch on the head grew more intense, and the familiar sensation left Su Ci in a daze. What was going on?


    Are her rabbit ears about to pop out?


    She didn''t do anything at all, just ate a little barbecue and drank a beverage. Why did the rabbit earse out?


    Su Ci frowned, and suddenly remembered something. She asked Shen Xue, "Is there alcohol in the drink?"


    Shen Xue was munching on a chicken leg when she heard Su Ci''s words. She didn''t react immediately, "I don''t know, it doesn''t taste like alcohol."


    Beside her, Lu Zhe reacted quickly and whispered to her, "What''s wrong?"


    Su Ci''s fair fingertips twisted around Lu Zhe''s clothing, and she whispered, "The rabbit ears might being out."

 Chapter 90

    <h1>Chapter 90</h1>


    Lu Zhe''s eyes narrowed.0


    He immediately put down the barbecue fork in his hand and said, "I''ll apany you back to the hotel."0


    Su Ci nodded and quickly stood up, afraid that her rabbit ears would be exposed in front of so many people.0


    "Let''s go back to the hotel first, have fun," Lu Zhe said, holding Su Ci''s hand and preparing to take her back.0


    "What''s wrong?" Shen Xue looked at Su Ci and Lu Zhe, who were about to leave, and was surprised. They had only just started eating.0


    "I''m tired and going back to rest. Go ask the boss if there''s alcohol in the drinks. I''m heading back first," Su Ci said, not borating further, and she left with Lu Zhe.0


    Shen Xue was puzzled. Was there alcohol in the drinks?0


    She put down the chicken leg in her hand and quickly went to the snack station to ask the staff. She realized that the drink she had ordered was one that contained alcohol, as indicated on the menu.0


    When ordering, she had only looked at the picture and hadn''t noticed thebel.0


    The staff exined that the drink contained plum wine, which wasn''t very strong. Could it be that Su Ci couldn''t drink alcohol?0


    It only took two or three minutes to walk from the beach to the hotel.0


    Su Ci felt her head getting itchier and itchier.0


    She reached up to cover her head, but the next second, Lu Zhe pulled her into his arms, shielding her head with one hand and holding her waist with the other. "Follow me."0


    Su Ci obediently hid her head in Lu Zhe''s chest, her gaze fixed on the ground.0


    Su Ci couldn''t return to her own room because Wen Duoyu mighte back at any moment. Fortunately, Lu Zhe was staying in a single room.0


    The ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????elevator door opened, and Lu Zhe led Su Ci out.0


    His room was the third from the end of the corridor.0


    As they passed a room, someone inside opened the door.0


    The woman had heavy makeup, wore a tight ck dress, had big curly hair, and was wearing ten-centimeter stiletto heels, looking both gaudy and somewhat alluring.0


    As soon as she opened the door and saw Lu Zhe passing by, her eyes lit up.0


    Handsome, tall, and a rare find.0


    The woman confidently puffed out her chest and called out to Lu Zhe, "Hey, little brother."0


    Lu Zhepletely ignored her.0


    "Wait a minute," the woman said, trying to catch up in her high heels.0


    Such a man was hard toe by, especially with his cold and detached aura that made her heart race.0


    Su Ci stopped in her tracks, and Lu Zhe was forced to stop as well.0


    She lifted her head from Lu Zhe''s chest and looked at the heavily made-up stranger in front of her, narrowing her eyes. "Is there something you need with my boyfriend?"0


    The woman was stunned. She had been so focused on the cold and aloof man in front of her that she hadpletely overlooked the girl in his arms.0


    Looking at the girl who had suddenly appeared, the woman''s eyes filled with admiration.0


    She had been in the business for so long and had never seen such a beautiful and delicate girl. Her face was so white and smooth, not like the foundation-covered faces they usually saw, but naturally radiant.0


    The skin exposed outside her clothes was also smooth and delicate, which couldn''t be achieved just by regr beauty treatments.0


    Such beauty was priceless in their line of work.0


    "Never mind," the woman said, realizing her own shorings. Although she was confident in her looks,pared to the girl in front of her, she instantly seemed like a cheap knockoff.0


    The woman reluctantly nced at Lu Zhe onest time. What a catch.0


    This little girl was really lucky.0


    She had experience and could read people well. Despite this man''s cold and detached appearance, the possessiveness in his eyes was anything but ordinary. And with that strong nose, he must be quite skilled in bed.0


    Too bad he was taken.0


    The woman swayed her hips and walked away in her high heels.0


    Su Ci let out a soft hum and looked at Lu Zhe''s face. "You''re quite the temptation, aren''t you?"0


    Lu Zhe reached out and pinched the girl''s cute little nose. "Stop talking nonsense. Aren''t you worried your rabbit ears will pop out? Let''s go."0


    Su Ci obediently followed him.0


    After closing the door, Lu Zhe turned around and saw the girl sitting on the bed with a pair of pink and white rabbit ears swaying.0


    He couldn''t help but smile. The girl''s rabbit ears had indeed popped out. "Was there alcohol in the drink earlier?"0


    Su Ci''s phone rang. It was a message from Shen Xue.0


    Shen Xue: Su Ci, I''m sorry. There was plum wine in the drink. I didn''t notice when I ordered. Are you okay?0


    Su Ci replied to the message and told Lu Zhe, "Shen Xue said there was plum wine in the drink."0


    No wonder her rabbit ears had appeared.0


    "I''m hungry," Su Ci said, looking at Lu Zhe. She had only eaten two chicken wings earlier.0


    "I''ll order some food for you. What do you want to eat?"0


    Su Ci: "Anything."0


    Lu Zhe knew her tastes well and ordered a few dishes and soup, asking the hotel staff to deliver them.0


    Su Ci began to look around Lu Zhe''s room. It was a single room with just onerge bed.0


    It was also a sea-view room with arge balcony outside, where one could see the night view of the sea and faintly hear the sound of waves from a distance.0


    After dinner, Su Ci''s rabbit ears still hadn''t disappeared.0


    With her soft and adorable rabbit ears, Su Ci looked at Lu Zhe with a bold expression. "I''m sleeping here tonight."0


    Originally, she had been thinking of an excuse to stay in Lu Zhe''s room, but now she didn''t need one.0


    "Alright," Lu Zhe agreed, knowing that the girl''s current appearance couldn''t be seen by others, especially since she had a roommate in her own room.0


    Hearing Lu Zhe''s agreement, Su Ci felt delighted.0


    She sat on the bedzily and said, "I want to take a shower."0


    She had sweated a lot during thepetition and was covered in dust and dirt. She had been wanting to take a shower for a while.0


    Her eyes bright, she asked, "Do you want to join me?"0


    Lu Zhe: "You go alone."0


    Su Ci was a bit disappointed. She pointed at the boy. "I don''t have any clothes. I''ll wear yours." Her luggage was still in her room.0


    Lu Zhe only had two sets of clothes with him. He had changed into one earlier, leaving only a white shirt and a pair of pants.0


    He went to the desk, took the clothes and pants out of his backpack, and handed them to the girl.0


    Su Ci nced at him disdainfully, taking only the shirt and not the pants. Who would want to wear his pants? Just the shirt was enough, which was much more sexy.0


    Her little n was working perfectly.0


    Su Ci took off her shoes, walked barefoot toward the bathroom, and went in with the shirt.0


    "Tuan Tuan, wear slippers," Lu Zhe said, picking up the hotel slippers and following the rabbit girl into the bathroom to help her put them on before leaving.0


    After the shower, Su Ci realized she only had the shirt and no underwear.0


    She had to wash her dirty underwear, then stood in front of the sink, using the hair dryer to dry it before putting it on.0


    By the time she finished, she had been in the bathroom for quite a while.0


    Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw her pink and white rabbit ears, soft and cute, paired with just a white shirt that barely covered her thighs, looking both pure and seductive.0


    Su Ci was very satisfied.0


    When she came out of the bathroom, she didn''t see Lu Zhe in the room.0


    Looking outside, she saw the boy standing tall by the balcony railing, admiring the night view.0


    Su Ci didn''t wear shoes and walked barefoot on the carpet, quietly making her way outside.0


    The next second, she wrapped her arms around Lu Zhe''s waist from behind. "I''m done."0


    Lu Zhe turned around and saw the girl barefoot. His eyebrows furrowed. "Why aren''t you wearing shoes again?"0


    He bent down, picked her up, and ced her on the bed. He held her snow-white feet in his hands, which felt a bit cold.0


    Su Ci had deliberately not worn shoes, enjoying the way the boy cared so much about her.0


    "The slippers are ufortable," she said.0


    "You still can''t go barefoot," Lu Zhe said, pinching her feet. He really spoiled her.0


    His fingers, with their rough calluses, tickled her feet.0


    Su Ci''s eyes filled withughter, but the focus was on whether she was wearing shoes?0


    Hadn''t he noticed her sexy outfit?0


    Theughter faded, and Su Ci was annoyed.0


    However, Lu Zhe didn''t seem to notice her dissatisfaction at all. He stood up and went to take a shower.0


    The bathroom door closed, and Su Ci rolled around on the bed in frustration.0


    Other boys would either blush or panic when they saw her, but only Lu Zhe could remain calm andposed no matter how beautiful or tempting she was.0


    She should have made Lu Zhe eat the oysters earlier.0


    As the night deepened, the two sses of people were still barbecuing on the beach, eating and chatting, with some even drinking beer, the atmosphere lively.0


    In the hotel room, however, it was unusually quiet.0


    Lu Zhe finished his shower and stepped out, still wearing the same clothes he had changed into that afternoon. His silver-gray shirt made hisplexion appear even fairer, and his damp, mist-covered eyebrows gave him an ethereal, otherworldly look.0


    He noticed that the girl was already lying on the bed.0


    The room lights had dimmed, with only the warm bedsidemps on either side glowing softly.0


    Lu Zhe swallowed hard, his Adam''s apple moving up and down.0


    He dried the wet hair from his forehead with a towel before walking over to the bed.0


    As soon as hey down, the girl from under the nket immediately wrapped herself around him, her soft body feeling as if it had no bones.0


    He wanted to push her away, but his hand, which was resting on the side, identally touched the girl''s bare leg, reminding him that she was only wearing a top.0


    "You should hold me while we sleep," Su Ci said without any shyness, burrowing into his embrace. The fabric of his silk shirt was cool against her skin, and she nuzzled her face against his chest, finding it veryfortable.0


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond verbally but followed her instruction, cing his hand on her waist and holding her close.0


    Only then did the girl settle down.0


    The air conditioner was on, and the nket they were sharing was filled with the faint, sweet scent of the girl.0


    Lu Zhe closed his eyes.0


    The ss door to the balcony was left open, and in the distance, the faint sound of waves could be heard.0


    The room grew even quieter.0


    After an unknown amount of time, just as Lu Zhe was about to fall asleep, the girl in his arms began to move.0N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Tuan Tuan," the young man''s voice was clear and maic in the quiet night.0


    Su Ci hummed softly, pressing her body even closer to him.0


    Despite his ALS, where his muscles and limbs were affected, the rest of Lu Zhe''s body was normal. With the girl constantly moving in his arms like this, how could he endure?0


    Lu Zhe wanted to push her away, but the girl seemed to sense his intention and wrapped her arms around his waist.0


    "Don''t move," Lu Zhe said, feeling the temperature under the nket rise.0


    Su Ci lifted her head, her little face glowing red under the warm yellow bedside light, looking incredibly beautiful. Her eyes were watery, "Help me."0


    It was only then that Lu Zhe noticed something was wrong with the girl. He tried to sit up, and the girl, still holding onto him, sat up with him.0


    He reached out to touch her forehead, "Are you feeling unwell?"0


    Hisrge, cool hand felt incredibly soothing against her skin.0


    "I think I''m in heat," Su Ci softly leaned against Lu Zhe''s chest, twisting her waist ufortably. "It''s very ufortable."0


    Lu Zhe knew how the girl behaved during this period. He held her,forting her, "Be good, Tuan Tuan, endure it for a while."0


    The strange sensation in her body grew stronger, making her feel both embarrassed and overwhelmed.0


    She pressed herself tightly against Lu Zhe, "No, it''s too ufortable, I don''t want to endure it."0


    Su Ci reached out to undo Lu Zhe''s buttons.0


    She wasn''t going to endure it anymore.0


    "Tuan Tuan!" Lu Zhe looked down and saw the girl''s slender fingers fumbling with his cor, desperately trying to undo the buttons.0


    This little rogue rabbit.0


    Lu Zhe quickly grabbed both of the girl''s mischievous hands, and with his other hand, he reached up and gently pinched her soft rabbit ears.0


    The girl immediately lost her strength and copsed into his arms.0


    "Hmph, Su Ci was furious."0


    "Lu Zhe," Su Ci felt both ufortable and angry.0


    Lu Zhe lowered his head, his cool lips pressing against the girl''s ear, "We can''t do it, Tuan Tuan, endure it."0


    "Are you not capable?" Su Ci was both annoyed and frustrated, wanting to bite into his chest, but Lu Zhe''s muscles were too firm, and she couldn''t bite down.0


    Lu Zhe chuckled, then reached out again to pinch the little rogue rabbit''s ears, causing the girl''s body to soften even more.0


    He told her, "Taunting me won''t work."0


    Su Ci''s little face was flushed red, her brows furrowed in difort, and the boy''s incredible self-control meant that no matter how she tempted him, he wouldn''t give in. She was about to cry.0


    Soon, the little rogue rabbit in his arms quieted down, not making a sound or causing any more trouble.0


    Lu Zhe looked down and saw the girl leaning against his chest, her eyes red, quietly shedding tears.0


    A surge of heat spread across his chest, and Lu Zhe panicked, lifting the girl''s head, "Tuan Tuan."0


    Su Ci lowered her eyes, not looking at him or making a fuss, just quietly crying, which was enough to drive anyone mad.0


    "I was wrong, I''m sorry," Lu Zhe''s cool fingertips gently wiped the falling tears from the corner of the girl''s eyes.0


    Where was the slightest trace of coldness in the boy''s eyes now?0


    He was flustered, gently coaxing the girl, "Good Tuan Tuan, we can''t do it."0


    Su Ci''s tears fell even more heavily.0


    Lu Zhe''s chest tightened, "Let''s try another way, okay?"0


    Su Ci finally looked up at him, her drooping rabbit ears perking up.0


    Under the warm light, Lu Zhe''s ear tips turned red, "Lie down."0


    Su Ci didn''t move; she looked at him with her red eyes, her head adorned with pink and white rabbit ears, truly looking like a little rabbit spirit.0


    Lu Zhe tenderly wiped the tears hanging from her eyshes, then held her andid her down on the bed. His handsome face moved closer to hers, and his lips gently kissed her little mouth.0


    Su Ci, already feeling ufortable, found that the strange sensation in her body eased a bit after being kissed, feeling much better.0


    "Tuan Tuan, close your eyes," Lu Zhe''s clear voice was a bit hoarse.0


    Su Ci didn''t listen to him; she kept her red eyes open, wanting to see how he would coax her.0


    Lu Zhe''s ear tips turnedpletely red.0


    He continued to kiss the girl, while hisrge hand moved downward.0


    The coolness of the boy''s hand caused goosebumps to rise on Su Ci''s thigh, sending a wave of tingling through her entire body.0


    A strange sensation washed over her, and she closed her eyes infort, allowing Lu Zhe to kiss her deeply. The distant sound of waves echoed in her ears.0


    After an unknown amount of time, Su Ci opened her eyes again, her eyshes still reddened, and her little face flushed.0


    She looked at the boy above her, his dark eyes unreadable, his thin lips pressed together. Su Ci, usually thick-skinned, rare to flush with embarrassment, pushed him away, her voice muffled, "Go wash your hands!"0


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond, he got up and walked into the bathroom.0


    Su Ci''s rabbit ears drooped softly as she rolled around on the bed, looking like a little rogue rabbit that had gotten what it wanted, her delicate features filled with delight.0


    After an unknown amount of time, the doorbell rang.0


    Lu Zhe, just out of the bathroom, was covered in the cold dampness of the water.0


    He strode over to open the door.0


    "I''m sorry, I... I didn''t mean to disturb you," Wen Duoyu asked anxiously at the door, "Is Ci Ci here?" It waste, and she hadn''t seen Su Ci return, so she was very worried.0


    "Yes, she is," Lu Zhe replied.0


    Wen Duoyu breathed a sigh of relief, then realized she might have really disturbed Lu Zhe and Su Ci, "That''s good, I... I have nothing else, I wish you a good night''s rest."0


    Wen Duoyu wasn''t sure what she was saying, it felt a bit incoherent.0


    She walked back to her room, just about to open the door, when she saw Shen Xue returning as well.0


    "Why are you so flustered? Did you do something bad?" Shen Xue teased her.0


    Wen Duoyu quickly denied, "No, I saw that Ci Ci hadn''t returned to her room for so long, so I went to find her."0


    "You''re so naive," Shen Xue thought Wen Duoyu was such a pure and adorable sweetheart, "On a night like this, little Ci Ci must be spending the night with Lu Zhe, did you really go knock on Lu Zhe''s door?"0


    Wen Duoyu blushed shyly, realizing it now, she remembered that Lu Zhe seemed to have his shirt unbuttoned when she opened the door. Had she really ruined the couple''s moment?0


    Shen Xue saw Wen Duoyu''s expression and knew what she was thinking, "Did you really catch them? What did you see, was it exciting?"0


    Wen Duoyu bit her lip, a little annoyed, she red at Shen Xue, "I didn''t see anything, I''m going to sleep."0


    Knowing the goddess was fine, she felt relieved.0


    Wen Duoyu felt a bit regretful, she had thought she might have a chance to share a room with the goddess.0


    Lu Zhe closed the door and walked back towards the bed.0


    As soon as hey down, the girl leaned over again.0


    Su Ci immediately felt the cold from him, "Did you take a cold shower?"0


    "Yes," Lu Zhe replied.0


    Su Ci hummed softly, "You wanted it too, didn''t you?"0


    Lu Zhe responded with a low "Mmm," then after a while, he said, "Tuan Tuan, ALS might be hereditary."0


    Su Ci was stunned, then pursed her lips.0


    Her face pressed against his chest, her voice muffled, "It''s just a possibility, not a certainty, and I don''t even like kids, I''m still a kid myself."0


    Lu Zhe gently stroked her hair, a softugh escaping his lips, his dark eyes in the dim light were unreadable, "Sleep."0

 Chapter 91

    <h1>Chapter 91</h1>


    ¡¾This is the third chapter, don''t forget to read the first two chapters, sweet moments ahead~¡¿


    The next day, sunlight filtered through the ss, casting a soft glow throughout the room.


    Lu Zhe was awakened by the girl, his eyes gradually clearing.


    He noticed that Su Ci''s foot was hooked around his, her hand resting on his abdomen, and her face pressed against his chest.


    Lu Zhe nced at her hair, noticing that the rabbit ears had disappeared.


    Picking up his phone, he saw the messages in the ss group.


    The ss monitor announced that the morning was free time and introduced the activities on the ind: swings and volleyball on the beach, diving, and even boat trips. After lunch, there would be a break before gathering to return.


    Lu Zhe put down his phone, lowered his head, and kissed the top of the girl''s head, softly calling her, "Do you want to take a walk on the beach?"


    Su Cizily opened her eyes, nced at the outside, and thought, oh, the sun is so harsh, she didn''t want to go out and get sunburned.


    Su Ci closed her eyes and burrowed her head into Lu Zhe''s chest, continuing to sleep.


    Lu Zhe stroked her hair, "I''ll ask the staff to bring breakfast. You should eat a little before going back to sleep?" Skipping breakfast in the morning isn''t good for your health.


    Su Ci didn''t respond.


    Lu Zhe couldn''t do anything, so he had to get up, while the girl remained motionless.


    After Lu Zhe finished washing up and tidying his clothes, the girl on the bed opened her eyes, staring nkly at the tall and slender figure of the boy as he organized his backpack by the desk.


    Lu Zhe turned around and saw the girl sitting on the bed, her soft ck hair cascading down her back, her shirt barely covering her thighs, revealing a pair of long, slender, and alluring legs.


    Lu Zhe didn''t dare to look too closely, "Awake?"


    Su Ci didn''t respond but instead extended her hands toward Lu Zhe.


    Walking ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????over, Lu Zhe intended to carry her like a princess, but the girl wrapped her arms around his shoulders and jumped onto him, her legs wrapping around his waist.


    Su Ci clung to the boy.


    Afraid that the girl might fall, Lu Zhe had to hold her tightly.


    "Good morning," Su Ci whispered close to his ear, her voice soft andzy, and after saying that, she kissed his ear.


    Lu Zhe''s hands holding her tightened instinctively, "Good morning."


    After washing up, Su Ci fully woke up. When Lu Zhe suggested taking her to the beach, she initially refused, not wanting to get sunburned. But thinking she could wear a swimsuit in front of Lu Zhe, she agreed.


    Su Ci hadn''t brought a swimsuit, luckily, there was a small shop selling swimwear outside the hotel.


    Knowing her good figure, with a full bust, a slim waist, and long legs, Su Ci picked up a three-piece swimsuit and asked Lu Zhe beside her, "Is this one nice?"


    Seeing the thin pieces of fabric in the girl''s hand, Lu Zhe frowned, the first time he expressed disgust, "Ugly."


    "Not nice?" Su Ci put the swimsuit back and picked another one, a red one with very little fabric, "How about this one?"


    Lu Zhe: "Not nice."


    Su Ci red at him, "Then you pick one for me, and I''ll pick one for you." She wanted to see what kind of style he could pick.


    Men''s swimwear options were limited, with tight and loose styles.


    Su Ci had long admired Lu Zhe''s figure, so she picked a ck, tight style for him.


    "I''ve picked one for you, what about you?" Su Ci walked back to Lu Zhe''s side, seeing him pick a ck, one-piece swimsuit, probably the one with the most fabric in the bunch, and an old-fashioned style.


    Lu Zhe handed the swimsuit to her, "Hmm, this one is not bad."


    Su Ci looked at it disdainfully, "Old-fashioned."


    However, in the end, Su Ci bought the one Lu Zhe picked, after all, in her opinion, there was no clothing she couldn''t pull off.


    There was a changing room in the store.


    Su Ci went in and changed into the swimsuit.


    Looking at herself in the mirror, Su Ci was very satisfied. She even tied her hair into a bun, exposing arge patch of fair skin at the back.


    Seeing the girle out, Lu Zhe felt he had picked the wrong one.


    Su Ci walked up to him and directly asked, "Nice?"


    Lu Zhe: "Yeah."


    The boy''s reaction was t, making Su Ci a bit dissatisfied. She lightly kicked his foot with her toes, "You didn''t even look at me."


    Lu Zhe looked directly at her, "Nice."


    How could it not be nice? The girl was beautiful, like a tempting little temptress.


    Her skin was already fair, and wearing ck made her skin even more snow-white. The stic and fitted design perfectly outlined her curves. The short skirt barely covered her thighs, revealing a pair of long and slender legs.


    Su Ci was finally satisfied and urged him, "It''s your turn to change."


    Lu Zhe nced at the swimsuit Su Ci had picked for him, and he sighed.


    "Hurry up," Su Ci was already impatient.


    Lu Zhe was pushed into the changing room.


    Su Ci waited outside, and after a while, the door opened, and Lu Zhe came out.


    Her gaze uncontrobly fell on the boy''s broad body, slowly moving down, looking at the ck, tight swimwear tightly wrapped around his parts, the sight making the little flirt blush.


    Lu Zhe felt ufortable under the girl''s gaze, he walked over and pinched her nose, "Control yourself a bit."


    The sun on the beach was harsh, Su Ci had covered herself in sunscreen before daring to walk in the sunlight.


    She held Lu Zhe''s hand, stepping on the fine sand, letting the waves wash over her feet.


    In the distance, Shen Xue and Wen Duoyu were already there. Seeing Su Ci, they couldn''t help but be amazed.


    With a slim waist, long legs, and a full bust, Su Ci had it all. Even in a simple and old-fashioned swimsuit, she was still stunningly beautiful.


    Shen Xue deeply felt that Su Ci was a presence that could be quite striking.


    "Good morning, Ci Ci," Wen Duoyu''s face was red from the sun, seeing Su Ci, she was excited and thrilled, the goddess was still very beautiful today.


    "Good morning," Su Ci saw that Wen Duoyu and Shen Xue''s swimsuits were soaked, "Have you already gone into the water?"


    "Yes, we came early. The clear sea water is perfect for swimming. Ci Ci, do you want to go in?" Shen Xue thought Su Ci in the water would be a sight to behold.


    Su Ci shook her head, refusing. She had just applied sunscreen and didn''t want it to be washed off by the sea.


    "Later, Duoyu and I are nning to take a speedboat out to sea, but there are too many people, we have to queue," Shen Xue thought taking a speedboat would be quite thrilling.


    "Have fun," Su Ci wasn''t interested in these activities.


    Wen Duoyu, seeing Su Ci, felt reluctant to leave. The goddess looked so good, Wen Duoyu wanted to take some beach photos of Su Ci, but was pulled away by Shen Xue.


    Su Ci held Lu Zhe''s hand, stepping on the waves, continuing to walk forward.


    The sun grew more intense, and Su Ci got tired, finding a sunshade and sitting down, watching Lu Zhe swim back and forth in the sea from a distance.


    At that moment, a little boy ran over and started building sandcastles next to her chair.


    The little guy was white and tender, with delicate features, wearing tiny swim trunks, looking incredibly cute.


    Su Ci''s gaze unintentionally fell on the little boy''s wrist, noticing his life value was only ten minutes left.


    Su Ci''s eyes darkened.


    She called out Fu Gui, "How did this little boy die?"


    Fu Gui: [Master, he drowned.]


    Su Ci pursed her lips.


    It wasn''t surprising, she had seen news before about parents taking their kids to the beach, not keeping an eye on them, resulting in the child drowning.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Su Ci lowered her head and struck up a conversation with the little boy sitting in the sand, "Can you teach me how to build a castle?"


    The little boy was about four years old, with a watermelon-shaped haircut, looking silly and adorable.


    Seeing the pretty sister talking to him, "You don''t know how?"


    Su Ci shook her head, "Never yed with sand."


    Hearing this, the little boy looked at her with a pitiful gaze. The sister had never yed with sand before; that''s too sad. He started ying when he was three.


    ¡°Then you sit here, I''ll teach you,¡± the little boy''s voice was tender, like a little teacher, ready to teach Su Ci how to build a castle.


    Su Ci got off the chair and sat down next to the little boy.


    "Sister, look at me, the castle is built like this," the little boy started guiding Su Ci.


    I see, keep going," Su Ciforted the little boy, her gaze falling on his wrist, only nine minutes left.


    The little boy instructed Su Ci in a childish, squeaky voice, "You have to follow my movements and do it yourself. The teacher said that if you don''t do things with your own hands, you can''t bezy, or you''ll never learn anything."


    Su Ci: ......


    Under the little boy''s gaze, she imitated his actions and started piling up the sand.


    The wet sand clung to her hands.


    The little boy corrected Su Ci''s mistakes, "It''s not like that. A castle looks like this."


    "Sister, you can''t bezy. If you''rezy, you won''t learn anything."


    "Sister, your castle is about to copse."


    "Sister, you''re so clumsy..."


    The little boy kept nagging.


    Su Ci took a deep breath. Seeing that the little boy''s life bar had only five minutes left, she endured!


    "Sister, your castle didn''t pass. You have to rebuild it." The little boy knocked down Su Ci''s poorly made sand pile.


    Su Ci was forced to y with the sand again.


    "Sister, you''re so pretty, why are you so clumsy?" The little boy pped his hands.


    For the golden cotton candy she had gotten for free, Su Ci decided she should endure a little longer.


    Three minutes left.


    "Sister, doesn''t my castle look great?" The little boy proudly puffed out his small chest.


    Su Ci remained expressionless: "Yes."


    Two minutes left.


    The little boy looked at Su Ci''s ugly sand pile, pouted, and said, "Sister, you''re clumsy, but you''re so pretty, like an angel. I love angels the most."


    Hearing thepliment, Su Ci''s expression softened.


    She thought the little guy, despite his young age, had good taste and a bright future.


    "Sister, when I grow up, can I marry you?" The little boy blinked his big, shiny eyes and asked Su Ci.


    He liked this pretty sister so much.


    Su Ci looked at his life bar, which had only one minute left, with a faint red line.


    At that moment, a tall figure appeared beside Su Ci, casting a shadow over the sand castle, giving off the vibe of a big viin arriving.


    Su Ci looked up and saw the young man, Lu Zhe, whose hair was wet and dripping with water, his bangs hanging down over his forehead, looking incredibly handsome.


    She stood up and hugged Lu Zhe tightly.


    Su Ci proudly told the little boy, "No, I already have a fianc¨¦."


    Lu Zhe''s eyes showed a hint of amusement.


    The little boy pped the sand off his hands and said in a childish voice, "By the time I grow up, he''ll be an old man."


    Su Ci looked at his life bar, which had changed from a faint red line to seven yellow bars, and her expression brightened. "Even if he gets old, I''ll still like him. I don''t like little kids like you."


    The little boy pouted in grievance, feeling wronged. Just a moment ago, the pretty sister had praised him.


    Lu Zhe looked down at the little boy and said coldly, "Wait until you grow up, thene andpete with me."


    Su Ci, having gotten the golden cotton candy, was now ruthless towards the little boy. "No need topete. Even when you grow up, you won''t be as handsome as him."


    The little boy felt even more wronged. Just a moment ago, the sister had praised him for being so cute.


    At that moment, a woman ran over. "You naughty boy, how could you run off? I turned around and couldn''t find you."


    "I was building a castle with Sister," the little boy told his mom.


    The woman took her son''s hand and pulled him away. "I''ve told you so many times, don''t talk to strangers."


    The little boy''s defiant voice could be heard, "The pretty sister isn''t a bad person. I''m going to marry her when I grow up."


    The woman: "Do you have an itch to be disciplined...?"


    Su Ci ignored the departing mother and son. She looked at Lu Zhe, her eyes shining brightly. "Let''s go back. I have something good for you."


    Lu Zhe''s eyes narrowed.


    He knew that every time Su Ci saved someone, she would kiss him, saying it was a reward. So, had she just saved that little boy?


    "Okay," he reached out to take her hand, but she dodged.


    "My hands are dirty," she said. She had been ying with the sand with the little boy, and now her hands were covered in mud.


    Lu Zhe wouldn''t mind at all. He held her hand and led her to the beach.


    He used the seawater to scrub her hands clean. Soon, her small hands were white and beautiful again.


    Lu Zhe held her fingertips and brought them to his lips, gently biting them. "Now they''re clean."


    Su Ci''s heart skipped a beat.


    Oh no, how could she be so infatuated with this young man?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 92

    <h1>Chapter 92</h1>


    Upon returning to the hotel.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe encountered the charming woman they had met in the corridor the day before.


    She walked towards them, her fiery gaze clearly fixed on Lu Zhe.


    Her eyes scanned him from head to toe, especially since Lu Zhe had juste back from the beach, wearing only a tight ck swimsuit that showcased his muscr chest, making it easy for her to admire.


    Su Ci frowned, let go of Lu Zhe''s hand, and instead wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling him closer.


    Lu Zhe was hers, no matter how many times the woman looked, he was still hers.


    The woman swayed her hips, reluctantly pulling her gaze away from Lu Zhe''s swimsuit.


    She hadn''t been wrong; this young man indeed had good "capital."


    If it weren''t for the fact that she could tell he had no interest in her, the woman would have already tried to strike up a conversation.


    With a regretful sigh, she walked away.


    Su Ci let out a soft hum, ncing up and down at Lu Zhe. Fine, his physique was indeed excellent, which was why he attracted so much attention.


    Back in their room, after closing the door.


    Su Ci pinned Lu Zhe against the door.


    Direct and straightforward, she demanded, "Kiss me!"


    Seeing the girl raise her chin with a hint of pride on her face, he didn''t say a word but lowered his head, pressing his thin lips against hers.


    Su Ci fed Lu Zhe a golden cotton candy, watching the small golden light disappear into his mouth. She smiled contentedly, her eyes curving with joy.


    Now Lu Zhe had eaten 14 golden cotton candies, only 35 more to go before he would be fully healed.


    Thinking about this, Su Ci''s mood improved even more.


    "Tuan Tuan!" Lu Zhe slightly pulled back, grabbing the restless hand that was wandering on his waist.


    Su Ci looked at him with her bright eyes, "I just want to know if the feel of your muscles is good. Don''t be so stingy,st night you also touched..."


    Her words were cut off as her lips were sealed.


    Lu Zhe''s other hand held her waist, pulling her into his embrace and switching their positions.


    Now Su Ci was the one pressed against the door.


    Determined to teach the little rascal a lesson, Lu Zhe fiercely crushed her lips, hisrge hand gripping her small one, kneading it firmly.


    The boy was a bit fierce, no longer the gentle person he usually was.


    Su Ci could only endure, her lips feeling sore, and she could only let out a soft whimper.


    ...


    In the afternoon, the trip came to an end.


    Lu Zhe dropped Su Ci off at the Su family home before leaving.


    As soon as Su Ci arrived, Little Su Ning and Little Tian came rushing towards her like little rockets.


    "Sister, where did you go to y?" Little Su Ning''s cheeks were puffed out, having just finished thest bite of pudding, her little voice slightly muffled.


    Su Ci put her suitcase aside, looking at the two little ones and patting their heads, "Sister went to the beach, did Ning Ning and Tian Tian miss me?"


    Little Su Ning and Little Tian nodded, they had missed their sister.


    "They''ve been talking about where you went for the past two days," Su''s Mother said, carrying a freshly arranged vase of flowers.


    Although it was autumn, the midday sun was still intense, especially at the beach, where it was easy to get tanned.


    Seeing her daughter''s still fair and smooth skin, Su''s Mother asked, "Did you have fun, Ci Ci?"


    Little Su Ning mimicked Su''s Mother''s tone, asking in a childish voice, "Did Sister have fun?"


    Su Ci thought about thepetition where Lu Zhe shielded her from danger, and the embarrassing events of the previous night, and nodded, "It was very fun."


    She had never been in a rtionship before, thinking that just holding hands and kissing would be enough to bring joy, but after experiencing other intimate moments the previous night, Su Ci not only found it thrilling but also veryfortable.


    She liked doing these things with Lu Zhe.


    Sitting on the couch, Su Ci noticed an invitation on the coffee table.


    "Mom, ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????is there a banqueting up?" She picked up the invitation and opened it, discovering it was a birthday party invitation for Lu Zhe.


    Su''s Mother nced at her daughter''s expression and inwardly sighed, "The invitation was sent by the Lu family this morning. Lu Zhe''s birthday is aroundte December, are you going to attend with me and your father?"


    Su Ci didn''t hesitate, "Yes, I''ll attend with you and Dad."


    Su''s Mother wasn''t surprised by her daughter''s response, "Alright, I''ll have someone design your dress in a few days."


    Su Ci smiled and agreed.


    She had already known from a video that Lu Zhe''s real birthday was on Christmas Eve, but she still hadn''t decided what gift to give him.


    After the National Day holiday, the schoolbined the wee party and Mid-Autumn Festival party into one event.


    Each ss had to submit a performance, and after screening, fifteen performances would be selected.


    "Ci Ci, are you going to participate?" Shen Xue couldn''t help but ask Su Ci, knowing that someone like her was born to be in the spotlight, someone so dazzling, very suitable for the stage.


    Su Ci nced upzily from her phone, "No."


    Shen Xue felt a bit regretful, was it that they, mere mortals, weren''t worthy of seeing a fairy perform?


    But then she thought, asking Su Ci, the daughter of the Su family, to perform for them was indeed something they weren''t worthy of.


    When school ended, Su Ci knew Lu Zhe had a meeting and had taken leave from ss, so she had to leave alone.


    "Youyou, that''s Su Ci, the one whopeted with you for the title of school flower," Feng Xiaoyu tugged on Zhao Youyou''s sleeve.


    After the military training, Zhao Youyou had stood up for her and argued with the instructor, making Feng Xiaoyu be Zhao Youyou''s friend.


    Feng Xiaoyu gazed at Su Ci''s exquisite profile until thetter got into a luxury car, then she withdrew her gaze, unable to help but exim, "She''s so beautiful, I thought her photos must have been photoshopped, but she''s even more beautiful in person."


    During the school flower election, Zhao Youyou had the highest votes initially, but Su Ci''s photos were suddenly posted on the forum, and her votes surged ahead of Zhao Youyou''s like magic.


    Feng Xiaoyu had been indignant on Zhao Youyou''s behalf, anyone who saw Su Ci''s photos would think they were heavily edited, too beautiful to be real.


    She had previously been resentful that Zhao Youyou didn''t get the title of school flower, but after seeing Su Ci, she couldn''t feel any anger. Su Ci was indeed much more beautiful than Zhao Youyou, the title of school flower rightfully belonged to Su Ci.


    Zhao Youyou, who was beside her, also saw Su Ci. When she saw Su Ci''s photos on the forum, she knew she would lose, she had met Su Ci once before and knew how stunning she was.


    Feng Xiaoyuforted her friend, "But Youyou, you''re not bad either. I heard Su Ci is the daughter of the Su family, a girl who has been pampered since birth, it''s hard for us topare with her. Apart from Su Ci, Youyou, you''re beautiful and have a great personality, you''re definitely the school flower."


    Zhao Youyou smiled, "It''s okay, let''s go to the rehearsal."


    In fact, she didn''t care much about the title of school flower, being able to be reborn was the most special thing for her.


    ...


    The school attached great importance to this wee party, even inviting guests, nominally as guests, but in reality, to discuss the donation for the library.


    This guest was very important, and the school was very strict with the party''s performances.


    The wee party was held in the evening, and the backstage was already in chaos.


    Zhao Youyou had finished her makeup, thinking that the performance outfit was too long and inconvenient to wear, she went to the bathroom in advance.


    The main hall was already filling up with students, and the seats for the guests had been arranged.


    As Zhao Youyou walked past the stage, heading back to the backstage, she saw a man being escorted by several school leaders.


    The man''s familiar features made Zhao Youyou take a few more nces.


    He seemed...


    Zhao Youyou returned to the backstage makeup room, only then did she recall that the man''s features were somewhat simr to Lu Zhe''s.


    "Youyou, where have you been? It''s time to eat, we need to hurry, or we won''t make it in time," Feng Xiaoyu handed a lunchbox to Zhao Youyou.


    Zhao Youyou''s thoughts were interrupted, she didn''t think more about it, "Thank you."


    Outside, Lu Chen was led by the school leaders to the restroom on the second floor of the hall, listening to the ttery around him, he yawned.


    If this weren''t his son''s school, if it weren''t for his wife urging him to attend, he wouldn''t havee to this party.


    Lu Chenzily leaned against the sofa, "About the library, I''ll have someone transfer the money to the schoolter."


    Hearing this, the school leaders were overjoyed, excitedly saying, "Mr. Lu is truly kind, I represent all the teachers and students to thank Mr. Lu."


    Lu Chen didn''t care, he had never been fond of thanks, it was just doing a good deed for his son.


    As the wee party began, Su Ci and Lu Zhe arrived, taking seats in the back row. Just then, they heard the host introducing the guests, and among them was Lu Chen.


    "Your father is here too?" Su Ci looked at Lu Chen, who was seated in the center of the guests, a bit surprised.


    "Yeah, the school invited him to attend," Lu Zhe replied, handing her the juice he had in his hand.


    Su Ci didn''t reach out to take it; instead, she directly took a few sips from the straw he held out for her.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The performances at the party were quite ordinary. Su Ci was uninterested, as she had been in the entertainment industry before and found the acts on stagecking in appeal.


    At that moment, a ssical dance was being performed on stage.


    Seeing that Lu Zhe was watching intently, Su Ci yfully twirled his shirt hem with her slender fingers and whispered proudly, "I can dance better than her."


    Lu Zhe turned to look at her.


    "If you want to see it, I can dance for you sometime," Su Ci added. Before her life in the book, Su Ci had started learning dance at a young age and was quite skilled. During ancient costume dramas, others would use body doubles for dance scenes, but she always chose to perform herself.


    The flexibility of her current body was also excellent, clearly indicating that she had practiced dance before.


    The warmth of her breath brushed against his ear, making Lu Zhe feel a ticklish sensation. He smiled faintly and agreed, "Sure."


    As the show went on, Su Ci grew restless and decided she couldn''t sit through any more. She pulled Lu Zhe away, heading toward a dimly lit path.


    The quiet surroundings made it the perfect setting for a little mischief.


    "Baili, you''ve misunderstood. I just twisted my ankle when I got off stage, and that''s why he helped me," a female voice said clearly in the stillness.


    Su Ci had only heard that one sentence when she recognized the voices of Fu Baili and Zhao Youyou nearby.


    She signaled to Lu Zhe to stay silent and pulled him behind a nearby flowerbed to hide.


    Fu Baili''s voice was icy cold. "That guy just now touched your waist and held your hand. I''ll break his hand tomorrow."


    Zhao Youyou softened her voice. "Don''t, he was just helping me. I don''t even know his name. Baili, you know I only like you. Please don''t be angry, okay?"


    Hearing Zhao Youyou''s confession, Fu Baili grabbed her waist and pressed her against the tree trunk. "Only like me?"


    Zhao Youyou blushed, shyly lowering her head and murmuring softly, "Only you."


    Hidden behind the flowerbed, Su Ci blinked, as she seemed to hear the sound of Zhao Youyou and Fu Baili kissing.


    Seeing this scene, Lu Zhe wanted to take Su Ci away.


    But when he turned back, he met her bright, curious gaze.

 Chapter 93

    <h1>Chapter 93</h1>


    Lu Zhe watched her with a mischievous glint in her eyes, trying to pretend he didn''t notice.0


    Squatting, Su Ci moved two steps closer to Lu Zhe, leaning against his arm, her face close to his. Her intention was clear¡ªshe wanted a kiss too.0


    Fu Baili and Zhao Youyou were passionately kissing behind the small tree,pletely lost in the moment. Fu Baili asionally whispered some flirtatious words, "How can you be so sweet?"0


    Zhao Youyou responded with soft moans, ying along with Fu Baili.0


    The scene was incredibly stimting.0


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips tightened as he reached out and covered the girl''s ears on both sides.0


    Su Ci blinked in confusion, not understanding why. She still wanted to listen in on the action.0


    Lu Zhe gave her a warning look, signaling her to behave.0


    Su Ci puffed out her cheeks in frustration. Not only did she not get a kiss, but she also wasn''t allowed to eavesdrop. That was too much.0


    Over there, Fu Baili''s hands were already exploring Zhao Youyou''s body, eliciting another moan from her.0


    The two seemed to be escting further. Lu Zhe wanted to take Su Ci away, but the curious girl, even with her ears covered, still peeked out, eager to watch.0


    Lu Zhe decided to let go of her ears and instead covered her eyes.0


    He leaned close to her ear, his voice low and slightly clenched, "Tuan Tuan, don''t look!"0


    Su Ci''s vision was nowpletely dark, and she could smell the fresh, clean scent of Lu Zhe.0


    Su Ci felt like there was a little rabbit jumping around in her chest, urging her to do something.0


    The girl''s eyshes fluttered restlessly against Lu Zhe''s palm, making his skin itch. He kissed her ear tip, hoping to calm her down.0


    Under the tree, Fu Baili reached out to pull at Zhao Youyou''s performance outfit, clearly agitated.0


    "No... no, you can''t tear the clothes. They''re rented and need to be returned," Zhao Youyou''s voice was soft and delicate, almost dripping with sweetness.0


    Su Ci perked up her ears. Tearing clothes? How exciting!0


    She wanted to see too!0


    Fu Baili''s hand went straight inside, "Alright, I won''t tear them."0


    Then, all Su Ci could hear were Zhao Youyou''s moans.0


    Su Ci was dying of curiosity. She tried to move Lu Zhe''s hand away from her eyes, but instead, he held her hand firmly.0


    Su Ci was so frustrated she could barely stand it.0


    After Fu Baili and Zhao Youyou indulged in their passionate moment, the two finally left.0


    Su Ci, who had been squatting, felt her legs go numb. Unable to see the exciting scene and still suffering, she regretted hiding in the first ce.0


    "My legs are numb," she looked pitifully at the boy beside her.0


    Lu Zhe reached out and pulled her up, turning his back to her, "Come on, I''ll carry you back."0


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up, and she obediently climbed onto his broad back.0


    The ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????path was once again quiet, with the faint sound of music from the distant hall. Lu Zhe carried Su Ci, walking slowly but steadily.0


    Su Ci leaned closer to Lu Zhe''s neck, opened her mouth, and gently bit his shoulder, not too hard.0


    A slight sting came from the bite, and Lu Zhe''s muscles tensed, but he didn''t make a sound, allowing the girl to bite him.0


    Su Ci let go, leaving a faint tooth mark on Lu Zhe''s shoulder.0


    She kissed the mark and asked Lu Zhe, "Where did they get to just now?"0


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond.0


    "Did they... do it?" Su Ci asked bluntly.0


    Lu Zhe quickened his pace, not answering her.0


    Su Ci continued to gossip, "Even if they didn''t, they must have touched. I heard it."0


    Lu Zhe paused, almost tempted to put the girl down and lecture her, "Tuan Tuan, don''t pay attention to others."0


    Su Ciughed and rested her head on Lu Zhe''s back, "I''m just using them as a reference."0


    Lu Zhe continued walking, his cold voice sounding pleasant in the quiet night, "No need for a reference, and don''t learn from them."0


    If a man can''t even respect a girl''s basic dignity, he doesn''t deserve to be called someone who likes her.0


    ...0


    Ever since Fu Baili bought a house for Zhao Youyou, the Zhao family sold their house in D City and moved into the one Fu Baili had bought.0


    Fu Baili had a falling out with his family and was kicked out, leaving him with little money. Zhao Youyou, knowing this, directly invited him to live with her, after all, the house was originally a gift from him.0


    As they entered the door, Zhao''s father quickly stood up in the living room, "You''re back. Have you eaten dinner? If not, I can make some noodles for you."0


    "Dad, no need, we ate outside beforeing back," Zhao Youyou changed into her slippers, "Why are you still up sote?"0


    Zhao''s father was not tall, and Zhao Youyou inherited his height, standing at less than 1.6 meters. In the eyes of outsiders, she was considered petite.0


    "I was worried about your safety. Baili,e and sit down quickly," Zhao''s father was full of warmth.0


    Fu Baili walked over and sat on the sofa. All the furniture in the house had been purchased with Fu Baili''s money, from the sofa to the coffee table, all expensive, stylish, and imported.0


    Zhao''s father and mother had been extremely satisfied when they found out.0


    Seeing Zhao''s father''s hesitant expression, Fu Baili directly asked, "Is something the matter?"0


    "Baili, you see, our family isn''t very well-off. Since you had a falling out with your family and moved in with us, our expenses have increased quite a bit." Zhao''s father looked at Fu Baili with difficulty, "Don''t worry, I''m not asking you for money. You''re Youyou''s boyfriend, practically my half-son-inw, so how could we ask you for money?"0


    Fu Baili nodded, signaling him to continue.0


    "The thing is, after we moved from D City, I haven''t found a job yet. Since our expenses have increased, we should work harder to make money. I received a notice from a bigpany, asking me toe for an interview tomorrow to be the driver for one of their leaders. However, I''m worried that my ordinary clothes might make me look bad in front of others..." Zhao''s father''s gazended on Fu Baili''s watch, unblinking.0


    The implication was clear.0


    Fu Baili nced at his watch, took it off, and handed it to Zhao''s father, "Uncle, you can wear it for now."0


    Zhao''s father happily epted the watch and immediately put it on, "Baili, you''re too kind. I''ll just borrow your watch for a few days, and I''ll return itter."0


    "Dad," Zhao Youyou tried to stop her father''s actions.0


    Zhao''s father quickly adjusted the watch, "Baili is lending it to me. I''m not trying to take his watch. Tomorrow, when I go for the interview, I just don''t want to be looked down upon."0


    A watch was nothing to Fu Baili, "Youyou, since Uncle likes this watch, I''ll give it to him."0


    Zhao''s father''s face lit up as he moved the watch on his wrist, "This... this, Baili, you''re too kind. Then I''ll ept it."0


    He had seen it online before¡ªthis watch was worth 250,000 yuan. Since Fu Baili was a young master of the Fu family, the watch must be genuine.0


    Zhao''s father breathed on the watch''s surface and carefully wiped it. He was in a great mood¡ªthis was worth 250,000 yuan! Rich people were indeed different.0


    He wondered if he could still sell the watch for 250,000 yuan.0


    Zhao''s father decided to wear the watch for a few days to enjoy it, then sell it. If Fu Baili ever asked about it, he would just say he identally lost it. After all, Fu Baili had already given it to him.0


    The next day, Zhao''s father wore a suit and the watch for the interview.0


    He had asked around, and it turned out thispany was part of the Lu family''s business.0


    Someone told him that the Lu family was one of the top families in the country. If he could sessfully get the job and drive for one of thepany''s leaders, he might even be able to build connections with them.0


    "Manager Wu, hello," Zhao''s father enthusiastically reached out his hand, wanting to shake hands with the HR manager.0


    "Hello," Manager Wu nced at the watch on the man''s wrist and naturally looked away, "Do you have more than five years of driving experience?"0


    "Yes, yes, yes," Zhao''s father quickly replied, "I''ve been driving for a long time, and my skills are very good. I can ensure the car is smooth, making the leaders feelfortable."0


    Zhao''s father was quite confident in his driving skills.0


    Manager Wu reviewed the medical report the man had submitted, finding no major issues.0


    The Lu Group always provided cars for its management, and since the previous driver had retired, they needed to hire a new one.0


    Although the position wasn''t high-profile, it was crucial for the smooth operation of thepany''s management, so they had to be very selective.0


    Manager Wu asked Zhao''s father a few more questions, all of which received satisfactory answers.0


    Manager Wu collected Zhao''s father''s information and said, "I have a basic understanding of your situation. If you are hired, someone will notify you."0


    "I''m sorry to trouble you." Zhao''s father hurriedly stood up and shook hands with Manager Wu again. "Then I''ll go home and wait for the news."0


    "Alright."0


    After finishing the interview, Zhao''s father came out of the interview room and looked around at the luxurious and high-end decor. This must have cost a fortune. He had also heard that the entire building belonged to the Lu family. They were truly wealthy.0


    As he walked out, he unexpectedly saw a familiar figure.0


    Zhao''s father blinked a few times to make sure he wasn''t mistaken. That was indeed Lu Zhe, following behind an unfamiliar man and heading towards the elevator.0


    His daughter had told him about Lu Zhe getting into B University. He had originally thought that Lu Zhe, who was suffering from a terminal illness, would soon die. But now, seeing him looking quite healthy and agile, he seemed no different from a normal person.0


    He had heard before that someone with amyotrophicteral sclerosis (ALS) would have difficulty walking and muscle atrophy within about a year.0


    This Lu Zhe was indeed tough, managing to hold on for so long despite his illness.0


    The next moment, Zhao''s father saw Lu Zhe identally nce over here. He quickly turned around, afraid of being noticed by Lu Zhe.0


    Ever since they had driven Lu Zhe away, their family had started living a better life. His daughter had won the lottery, and now even Fu Baili, from such a wealthy family, had bought them a house and gifted them an expensive watch. In the future, when his daughter married into the Fu family, they would have more money than they could spend.0


    All these good things had happened after they had gotten rid of Lu Zhe. Clearly, their family had been so unlucky before because Lu Zhe had been bringing them bad luck.0


    Now that their family had finally started to improve, he certainly didn''t want Lu Zhe toe back and cause trouble.0


    Only after Lu Zhe had followed the unfamiliar man into the elevator did Zhao''s father finally rx. He straightened his cor. No, when he got home, he needed to remind his daughter to never reveal their home address to Lu Zhe, to avoid any trouble.0


    The elevator doors opened, and the assistant led the way.0


    The assistant pushed open the door to the chairman''s office and brought Lu Zhe in. "Young Master Lu, the president is still in a meeting, but it should be over soon."0


    "Mm."0


    The assistant''s attitude was respectful. "Young Master Lu, would you like something to drink?"0


    "No, thank you."0


    "Then I''ll get back to work. If you need anything, feel free to call me."0


    Lu Zhe nodded. "Alright."0


    He waited in the office for quite a while before the door was pushed open again.0


    Lu Chen strode in, followed by a group of high-ranking executives.0


    "You''re here?" Lu Chen walked over to the long table, opened a bottle of red wine, poured half a ss, and took a couple of sips before addressing the executives. "This is my son, Lu Zhe. Get to know him; he''ll gradually take over the group''s affairs."0


    All the executives present were veterans of the Lu Group. When Old Master Lu retired and handed the group over to Lu Chen, the yboy, everyone was dissatisfied.0


    But they were clearly wrong. In just half a year, Lu Chen''s sharp and decisive methods had doubled the profits of the Lu Group and cleaned up a bunch of old foxes.0


    Since then, no one in the Lu Group dared to question Lu Chen''s authority.0


    Now, Lu Chen''s son had been found, and looking at the young man in front of them, there were indeed some simrities between him and Lu Chen.0


    Lu Chen''s words were clear: Lu Zhe would inherit the Lu Group in the future.0


    These executives were all skilled at reading the room. They quickly chimed in with ttering remarks: "Like father, like son. Young Master Lu is truly outstanding."0


    "Don''t worry, President Lu. We will do our best to assist Young Master Lu."0


    "Feel free to call on me if Young Master Lu needs anything."0


    "Young Master Lu has a noble bearing; he will surely lead the Lu Group to even greater heights."0n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ...0


    The executives''pliments flowed endlessly, showering Lu Zhe with praise.0


    Lu Chen, however, was tired of their ttery. "Alright, alright, that''s enough. Get out; I have things to discuss with my son."0


    The executives, familiar with their boss''s temperament, quickly left the room.0


    "Starting today, I''ll assign my main assistant to help you. You''ll begin learning to handle the group''s affairs." Lu Chen poured another ss of wine and handed it to his son. "In the future, the Lu Group will be in your hands."0


    Lu Zhe took the winess from his father and frowned. "Dad, my ownpany is just starting up."0


    "What''s your littlepanypared to this? You''ll eventually take over the Lu Group, so it''s better to get familiar with it sooner."0


    Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, looking like a sly fox trying to trick his son. "Your mother keepsining that I don''t have time to spend with her. Once I hand the group over to you, I''ll have more time for her, take her on trips. Don''t you want your mother to be happy?"0


    Ever since they found their son, if it weren''t for his wife feeling sorry for Lu Zhe, Lu Chen would have handed the group over to him long ago.0


    Lu Zhe''s birthday was approaching, and he was another year older. It was normal for him to start taking over thepany''s affairs, and his wife no longer objected.0


    Hearing his mother mentioned, Lu Zhe had no more objections. "Alright."0


    Lu Chen''s eyes sparkled with amusement as he patted his son''s shoulder. "Good boy."0

 Chapter 94

    <h1>Chapter 94</h1>


    From the day of the interview, Zhao''s father waited at home for several days but received no news of being hired.


    Just as he was about to call to ask, he was told that a suitable candidate had already been found.


    Zhao''s father''s mood wasn''t great; he sat in the living room and smoked several cigarettes.


    At that moment, he received a call from a friend, "Old Zhao, the stock we invested in earlier just suddenly plummeted for no reason. You''d better take a look."


    "What?" Zhao''s father was shocked and immediately stood up.


    The person on the other end of the line sounded anxious, "The entire day''s trend and trading volume were normal, but then suddenly, at the end of the day, it crashed. You''d better think of something. I followed your advice and put all my savings into it."


    "Don''t panic. Let me first see what''s going on. Such a sudden crash must be due to capital maniption. It should rise tomorrow," Zhao''s father calmed the other person down.


    After hanging up the phone, Zhao''s father quickly checked the stock market. The stock they had bought was indeed plummeting rapidly.


    This stock had been rmended to him by someone with insider information, and he had invested all the money from selling his house in City D.


    Such a sudden crash was abnormal, and he couldn''t sell now.


    At this moment, Zhao Youyou and Fu Baili returned from outside.


    Ever since Fu Baili moved into the Zhao family home, the two had been going out together almost every day.


    Of course, this was something Zhao''s father and Zhao''s Mother were happy to see. The better the rtionship between their daughter and Fu Baili, the greater the chance of her marrying into the Fu Family.


    "Dad, we''re back," Zhao Youyou noticed that Zhao''s father''s expression wasn''t great and asked, "What''s wrong?"


    Zhao''s father put away his phone, his face showing disappointment. "The job I interviewed for is gone. They''ve already hired someone suitable."


    Zhao Youyou had heard her father mention the interview. Since the Lu family was so famous in City B, she naturally knew about it and hoped her father could work in such arge group. "It''s okay. If this job doesn''t work out, you can look for another one."


    "You''re right," Zhao''s father looked at Fu Baili, whose presence was cold. He asked his daughter what was going on.


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip and looked at Fu Baili, speaking softly, "Today, Baili''s family announced that they are severing ties with him. Grandmother Fu has already started selecting other heirs among the Fu Family''s descendants."


    She hadn''t expected Grandmother Fu to dislike her so much. Fu Baili was her only grandson, yet to force them to break up, she was threatening to sever rtions.


    "How could this be?" Zhao''s father was incredulous, thinking the Fu Family must be crazy. Fu Baili was the only heir to the Fu Family.


    Zhao Youyou lowered her head and didn''t speak.


    Fu Baili''s handsome face was cold, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. "They are forcing me to break up with Youyou."


    Zhao''s father, being a shrewd man, naturally understood the Fu Family''s intentions. It seemed that entering such a wealthy family wasn''t easy.


    "Why don''t you just agree with your family for now? Once you inherit thepany, you can then publicly announce your rtionship with Youyou," Zhao''s father''s n was clear.


    "If I go back, it means I agree to break up with Youyou and get engaged to Miss Huo," Fu Baili exined. His grandmother had long intended for him to marry into the Huo Family.


    "That''s definitely not possible," Zhao''s father eximed, pping his thigh. "If you marry another youngdy, what will happen to my daughter Youyou? Can''t let her be your mistress."


    The Fu Family was really ruthless.


    "I only like Youyou," Fu Baili assured Zhao Youyou. "I won''t agree to get engaged to anyone else."


    Zhao Youyou was moved by Fu Baili''s words. She felt that her rebirth was for the purpose of being with him.


    "Baili, if you don''t go back, will the Fu Family really sever ties with you? With such arge family fortune, won''t they really just hand it over to someone else?" If Fu Baili lost the Fu Family, what would be the point of his daughter being with him?


    Fu Baili leaned against the sofa, his handsome face tense. His grandmother loved him dearly, but she was a strong woman in her youth. Half of the Fu Family''s current sess was due to her. "My grandmother''s decisions won''t change."


    Zhao''s father was shocked. "So, they''ll just give the family business to someone else?"


    Fu Baili was determined to be with Zhao Youyou. "Without the Fu Family, I can still live well on my own abilities."


    Zhao''s father: "This..."


    "Dad, stop asking. Let Baili think it through," Zhao Youyou said, looking at Fu Baili with concern. "You said you were tired, right? Go rest first. I''ll call you when Momes back and finishes cooking."


    "Okay," Fu Baili got up and went to his room.


    After he went in, Zhao''s father couldn''t help but ask his daughter, "Daughter, are you going to let Baili give up being the Fu Family''s young master? You should persuade him."


    "Dad, I''m happy that he''s willing to give up everything for me. He truly loves me," Zhao Youyou knew that Fu Baili was willing to abandon the Fu Family''s wealth just to be with her. No one else would be as sincere to her in the future.


    No, there was Lu Zhe.


    In her previous life, Lu Zhe had given up his life to save her.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    However, she didn''t like Lu Zhe. She only saw him as a brother and could only disappoint him.


    Zhao''s father, concerned about Fu Baili being inside, didn''t say much more.


    However, over the next few days, his stock continued to plummet, eventually hitting the limit down.


    His friend told him that news had broken about the stock being a fraudulent issue with fake performance. Thepany had already gone bankrupt and delisted, which meant his stock was now worthless.


    When Zhao''s father learned of this news, he almost fainted.


    ...


    The weather grew colder day by day. Cold winds blew through the branches, and the few remaining leaves swayed precariously before falling to the ground.


    Su Ci walked into school and was suddenly stopped by a boy.


    He held a bouquet of flowers, dressed neatly, and had the look of a sunny, handsome young man. "This is for you."


    Since it was morning and many students were arriving, everyone immediately recognized Su Ci. Seeing the school beauty being proposed to, many slowed down their steps, eager to watch the show.


    "I don''t want it," Su Ci rejected him outright. "I have a boyfriend."


    "It''s okay. I can wait," the boy insisted, holding the flowers out to Su Ci. From the first moment he saw her, he had fallen for her.


    Seeing her up close, the girl was even more beautiful. The boy felt his heart racing.


    Su Ci finally looked at him. "Do you want to be a male mistress?"


    The boy was stunned. "I''m not..."


    "I''ve already said I have a boyfriend. If you keep pursuing me, what else would you be?" Su Ci''s words were sharp. "And what makes you think I would like you? Your looks? Your family background? Your abilities? Your character?"


    After speaking, Su Ci ignored thepletely stunned boy and walked past him, disregarding the flowers in his hand.


    Those who had hoped to see a romantic proposal were disappointed. How did it end so quickly?


    From a distance, they couldn''t hear what the school beauty had said to the boy proposing, but from his shocked, embarrassed, and dejected expressions, they knew she had definitely rejected him.


    The boy was good-looking, but he was indeed not a match for the school beauty. Being rejected was normal.


    In the distance, Feng Xiaoyu was holding Zhao Youyou''s arm, admiringly watching Su Ci walk away.


    After a while, she sighed, "She really is the school beauty. I heard that every few days, someone proposes to her, and the people proposing are all from wealthy families."


    Zhao Youyou had to admit that Su Ci was indeed very beautiful. Whether in her previous life or this one, Su Ci was the most beautiful girl she had ever seen.


    If it were before, Zhao Youyou might have been jealous of Su Ci, but after her rebirth, her personality had changed. She no longer easily envied or admired others.


    After all, she was different from anyone else. Being able to be reborn made her the most special existence.


    "I heard that Su Ci has a boyfriend, but his conditions seem not very good, so it hasn''t been officially announced," Feng Xiaoyu had heard various versions about Su Ci''s boyfriend. Some said he was from theputer science department, others said he was from the archaeology department, and some rumors imed he was from another school.


    The only thing certain was that Su Ci''s boyfriend''s conditions were not good.


    Zhao Youyou was a bit surprised. She had thought that someone as beautiful and rich as Su Ci would have high standards. She didn''t seem like the type to choose someone with poor conditions.


    "Love isn''t about material things," Zhao Youyou felt a sense of empathy. "Liking someone doesn''t depend on the other person''s conditions."


    ¡°How did you suddenly be so profound in your thoughts?¡± Feng Xiaoyu had no interest in continuing this topic.


    Thinking of something else, she brought up a different subject, ¡°I have a rtive who is a department head at a big hotel. She told me that some wealthy people will be holding arge birthday banquet at the hotel soon, which will require a lot of staff. I n to go and help out, doing some part-time work to earn some money.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to be a hotel waiter?¡± Zhao Youyou had the impression that hotel waiters were very hardworking, needing to take orders, serve dishes, ce orders, and always greet guests with a smile.


    Feng Xiaoyu told her, ¡°It¡¯s only for one day. My rtive is offering a pretty good rate. Do you want toe?¡±


    She leaned closer to Zhao Youyou and said mysteriously, ¡°At a birthday banquet for the wealthy, there will definitely be many other wealthy people present. If I can get to know one or two by chance, maybe I¡¯ll even be able to marry into a wealthy family in the future.¡±


    Zhao Youyou frowned, considering.


    Her father had recently lost all the money from selling their house in the stock market, and her mother had been very upset, nearly getting into a fight with her father. The atmosphere at home had been very low.


    Moreover, after Fu Baili was kicked out of the Fu Family, the money he had left had run out, and she sometimes had to use her saved allowance to help him.


    She was indeed very short of moneytely.


    ¡°Youyou, ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????let¡¯s go together. Just consider it as keeping mepany. The banquet starts in the evening, which means we only have to work one night to earn three hundred. It¡¯s worth it.¡± Feng Xiaoyu encouraged her.


    Zhao Youyou nodded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll just consider it as keeping youpany.¡±


    Feng Xiaoyu was delighted, ¡°Youyou, you¡¯re the best.¡±


    Zhao Youyou shyly smiled.


    ...


    Lu Zhe¡¯s birthday was on Christmas Eve, and now it was already mid-December, so it was soon approaching.


    Su Ci had already decided what gift to give him.


    She looked at Lu Zhe in the video, who was currently flipping through some documents.


    Ever since he started taking over the Lu Group, he had been going to school less and less. It seemed like he had endless work to do, and she hadn¡¯t seen him for a long time.


    ¡°When your birthday banquet is about to end, let¡¯s sneak away, okay?¡± Compared to Lu Zhe, the girl at this moment was far too rxed. Shezilyy on the bed, her snow-white feet gently swinging.


    Lu Zhe didn¡¯t ask why, simply replying, ¡°Okay.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve prepared your birthday gift at the hotel, so you can only see it there,¡± Su Ci said with a hint of pride, looking at Lu Zhe. ¡°You can¡¯t say you don¡¯t like it.¡±


    Lu Zhe raised his eyes and immediately saw the low neckline of the girl¡¯s dress, revealing arge expanse of fair skin. He averted his gaze, ¡°Tuan Tuan, sit properly.¡±


    Su Ci lightly huffed before slowly sitting up. She used him, ¡°You¡¯ve seen it before, and you even kissed me.¡±


    Under the light, Lu Zhe¡¯s features were clear and refined, and his ears werepletely red.


    This little rascal really says anything without hesitation.

 Chapter 95

    <h1>Chapter 95</h1>


    It was a cold day, and today was Christmas Eve. The streets were adorned with Christmas decorations, and everywhere was filled with joy and merriment.0


    The Lu Family hadn''t hosted a banquet in a long time, but this time, the rarely seen young master of the Lu Family was throwing a birthday party, and the elite and powerful were all vying for invitations.0


    "Aunt Yao, this is my friend Zhao Youyou. She came with me to help." Feng Xiaoyu brought Zhao Youyou to the hotel to meet her rtive.0


    Yao Fang gave Zhao Youyou a once-over and smiled, "Xiaoyu, your friend is quite delicate and pretty."0


    Although they were only temporary hires, there were still certain requirements for the appearance of the staff. At the very least, the employees needed to look clean andfortable, so they could serve the guests properly.0


    "Hello, Aunt Yao," Zhao Youyou greeted with a sweet and polite smile.0


    "Hello. Follow me, you two." Yao Fang led them to the staff lounge, asked for their clothing sizes, and handed them two sets of staff uniforms.0


    "Tonight is the birthday banquet of the young master of the Lu Family. There must be no mistakes," Yao Fang instructed the two. "A supervisor will tell you what you need to doter and give you the details to pay attention to. The guests tonight are all people of status and position, so you must be careful and not make any mistakes."0


    "Don''t worry, Aunt Yao. Youyou and I will be cautious and won''t cause any trouble," Feng Xiaoyu assured, patting her chest.0


    "Good, you two go ahead and change into your uniforms. A supervisor wille to assign you your postster." Yao Fang had many other things to attend to, so she hurried off.0


    Feng Xiaoyu held Zhao Youyou''s hand, her expression excited. "Oh my god, I only heard it was a rich person''s birthday party, but I didn''t expect it to be the Lu Family''s young master."0


    Zhao Youyou was also surprised.0


    "The Lu Family, it''s the Lu Family!"0


    Feng Xiaoyu was so excited she was almost incoherent. "Even though we''re just here to work as waitresses, just seeing the people of the Lu Family is worth it. And there will be other socialites and elites¡ªpeople we usually only see on the inte, TV, or in magazines. Being able to see them in person tonight is a big deal for us."0


    Compared to Feng Xiaoyu''s excitement, Zhao Youyou''s expression was calm.0


    In Zhao Youyou''s opinion, her boyfriend Fu Baili was the heir of the Fu Family, and she herself was a reborn person. Other wealthy people didn''t seem particrly special to her.0


    "Alright, rein it in. Don''t let your excitement mess things up while working. Tonight, we can''t afford any mistakes," Zhao Youyou reminded her friend.0


    "I know, Youyou, you''re so good to me." Feng Xiaoyu felt that Zhao Youyou was like a gentle older sister, often guiding her and thinking of her.0


    "Okay, let''s go change," Zhao Youyou said, examining the uniform in her hand. The top was a white blouse, and the bottom was a short A-line skirt, resembling the attire of an officedy, not at all tacky.0


    Zhao Youyou, under the influence of the protagonist''s halo, had be more attractive than in her previous life. Wearing the uniform, she looked even more delicate and pretty.0


    "Youyou, this outfit suits you so well," Feng Xiaoyu also changed into her uniform but felt she didn''t look as good as Zhao Youyou.0


    Before she finished speaking, Zhao Youyou''s eyes flickered with something unusual, and she didn''t respond.0


    Feng Xiaoyu, realizing what she had said, quickly exined, "Ah, I didn''t mean it that way. I didn''t mean you''d be suitable as a waitress. I just meant you look great in this outfit. No, no, I mean, you look beautiful in it." She was anxious to rify to Zhao Youyou.0


    "It''s okay, I know what you meant. Alright, let''s go find the supervisor," Zhao Youyou said, tying her hair into a ponytail and making sure her attire was neat before leading Feng Xiaoyu out.0


    At the Su Family residence.0


    Su''s Mother had someone bring up several gowns for Su Ci to choose from. Tonight was Lu Zhe''s birthday party, and the Su Family, except for their eldest son who was away on a business trip, would all be attending.0


    Five gowns in different styles had been brought up. Su Ci''s wardrobe was always managed by Su''s Mother, who knew exactly what looked best on her daughter. And because she doted on her daughter, all the gowns presented to Su Ci were of the highest quality.0


    Facing the five gowns, Su Ci was a bit indecisive.0


    Thinking of something, she picked up her phone.0


    In just a few seconds, the video call was answered.0


    On the screen, the young man''s clear and handsome face appeared. It was obvious he had already changed into his outfit, as Su Ci could see his white shirt and the cor of his suit.0


    "Are you already on your way?" Su Ci noticed that Lu Zhe was sitting in a car.0


    "Yes, I''m going early to prepare," he said. His parents had already gone to the hotel ahead of time, and he had just finished some work at thepany and was on his way.0


    Su Ci turned the camera to the gowns hanging in front of the wardrobe. "Lu Zhe, which dress do you want me to wear?"0


    Lu Zhe didn''t say "whatever" or "I don''t know." Instead, he patiently examined the gowns on the screen, his gaze finally settling on the red one. "Red, I haven''t seen you in this color before."0


    The other gowns were either low-cut, showed off her waist, or were strapless, while the red one had more fabric than the others.0


    Su Ci turned the camera to herself. "Okay, I''ll listen to you."0


    She liked that dress too.0


    "I''ll go change now. See you tonight," she said and then ended the call.0


    The girl appeared quickly and disappeared just as fast. Lu Zhe leaned back in his car seat, his cold eyes softening with a smile.0


    The winter night fell quickly. By evening, it waspletely dark outside, and the cold wind bit through the air, making the bare trees on the sides of the streets shiver.0


    Inside the hotel, however, it was warm, and the air was filled with a pleasant fragrance.0


    Guests began to arrive one after another, each dressed impably and exuding an air of sophistication with every move they made.0


    Feng Xiaoyu and Zhao Youyou, both looking good, were assigned to greet guests at the entrance of the banquet hall.0


    As they watched the guests arriving, Feng Xiaoyu felt she couldn''t take it all in. So many celebrities from the inte, TV, and magazines, and the youngdies, dressed in beautiful gowns, with exquisite makeup and an aura of nobility.0


    Feng Xiaoyu was filled with envy. While there were no guests at the moment, she couldn''t help but sigh to Zhao Youyou, "These youngdies have it so good. Born into wealthy families, they have the best of everything, and no wonder they have such great qualities. But if Youyou you wore a gown, you''d definitely be prettier than these youngdies."0


    Zhao Youyou smiled softly.0


    At that moment, Feng Xiaoyu suddenly gripped Zhao Youyou''s hand tightly, trying to suppress her urge to scream. "So handsome! Ahhh, I''m going to die!"0


    Zhao Youyou looked up, puzzled, and followed her gaze. Unlike Feng Xiaoyu''s excitement, she was stunned to see the man approaching.0


    Feng Xiaoyu, seeing the maning their way, quickly straightened up, standing properly with her head held high, her gaze glued to his handsome face.0


    Zhao Youyou watched as Lu Zhe walked past her, dressed in a sharp ck suit. His clear, handsome features were cold as usual, and he strode past her with long strides, as if he didn''t know her, heading straight into the banquet hall.0


    After Lu Zhe left, Feng Xiaoyu couldn''t hold back anymore. She whispered in a loud voice, "So handsome, so handsome! He''s even more handsome than any male star. I''m going to die."0


    Zhao Youyou''s mind was in a daze. She couldn''t hear what Feng Xiaoyu was saying. All she could think was, why was Lu Zhe here?0


    ¡°But he looks so familiar, like I''ve seen him somewhere,¡± Feng Xiaoyu said dreamily. ¡°I wonder which wealthy family he belongs to? His demeanor is just killing me.¡±0


    Zhao Youyou came to her senses and whispered, "He''s my brother, Lu Zhe. You''ve met him during military training."0


    "Ah," Feng Xiaoyu was stunned.0


    She swallowed hard, incredulous. "Your... your brother?" She thought back and was shocked. "I remember now. During military training, you said he was an orphan adopted by your family and that he has ALS."0


    Zhao Youyou nodded.0


    ¡°Why is your brother here?¡± Feng Xiaoyu was shocked. Lu Zhe''s aura was too strong, and his noble temperament made him seem like a member of a prestigious family.0


    "I don''t know," Zhao Youyou said, never expecting to see Lu Zhe at such a high-ss event. "Maybe he was invited by a friend he knows."0


    Feng Xiaoyu nodded, "You''re really amazing to have made friends with someone from a wealthy family."0


    It was well known that the guests here were either rich or noble, and any one of them had an extraordinary status.0


    Zhao Youyou didn''t say much more.0


    Not long after, Zhao Youyou encountered the person she feared the most.0


    "Is it you?"0


    Wang Xiaoqin had followed her father to the Lu Family''s birthday banquet. Dressed in a golden evening gown, she red arrogantly at Zhao Youyou, who was standing at the door to greet the guests. "What, can''t Fu Baili afford to keep you, so you have toe out and earn money?"0


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip, feeling wronged, not making a sound. With Fu Baili not around and Wang Xiaoqin being a wealthy youngdy, she couldn''t afford to offend her.0


    Thinking about how Zhao Youyou had stolen her medicine, almost causing her to die in the bathroom, Wang Xiaoqin felt an intense hatred. The fact that Fu Baili had, as if blind, left the Fu Family for Zhao Youyou made her even angrier.0


    "A doorman''s job suits you well," Wang Xiaoqin said sarcastically. "But your service attitude is terrible. Shouldn''t you greet the guests politely and bow? All I saw just now was you whispering to the person next to you. Is that your work attitude? I couldin to the hotel."0


    "You..." Feng Xiaoyu wanted to stand up for Zhao Youyou, but was stopped by her.0


    Zhao Youyou''s eyes glistened with tears, feeling extremely wronged. She forced a smile and bowed to Wang Xiaoqin. "Hello."0


    Wang Xiaoqin hmphed, "What are you feeling wronged about? Isn''t this your job? I''m just asking you to be professional. After all, you once owed me a life."0


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip.0


    Wang Xiaoqin raised her chin and warned Zhao Youyou, "Don''t think I''ll let you off easily." With that, she followed her father into the grand hall.0


    "Youyou, are you okay? How did you offend such a spoiled rich girl?" Feng Xiaoyu looked at Zhao Youyou with concern.0


    Zhao Youyou pretended to be strong and smiled, "I''m fine."0


    At that moment, two other employees came to take over, and they were allowed to take a break.0


    ...0


    As the banquet was about to begin, luxury cars filled the hotel''s entrance.0


    The Su Family''s car stopped at the door, and the driver opened the door. Su''s Father and Su''s Mother stepped out.0


    From the car behind, a beautiful snow-white foot touched the ground, and then the girl leaned out, stepping onto the ground. Her red gown was like fire, incredibly striking in the cold winter night.0


    Su Ci was only wearing a thin shawl. She was afraid of the cold, but even more afraid of looking ugly!0


    She would rather be a frozen beauty than an ugly ghost.0


    As soon as she entered the hotel, the warm air hit her face, instantly making her feel warm.0


    Su Ci took off her shawl and handed it to a waiter.0


    She and her two brothers followed their parents into the hall.0


    The Su Family''s good looks were well-known. When they appeared in the grand hall, the surrounding guests couldn''t help but turn their heads.0


    Su''s Father and Su''s Mother didn''t need to be mentioned; they were well-maintained, and over the years, their appearance hadn''t changed much.0


    The two children beside them had exquisite features, looking like little angels.0


    The most eye-catching was the Su Family''s daughter, dressed in a red gown. The design was simple, but Su Ci was bright and charming, and her fair skin looked even more like snow under the red dress, making her strikingly beautiful.0


    Many people were secretly amazed. Every time they saw Miss Su, they found her even more beautiful than thest time.0


    No one knew how the Su Family had raised their daughter to outshine all the other wealthy youngdies at the banquet. All the guests'' eyes were on Su Ci, unable to look away.0


    Hearing that the Su Family had arrived, Lu Chen half-hugged his wife Wen Ya''s waist, with Lu Zhe following behind. The three of them came out to greet them. Old Master Lu''s health had not been good recently, so he was resting and did not attend the banquet.0


    "Finally, you''re here," Lu Chen said tonight, wearing a ck suit at Wen Ya''s insistence, so as not to steal the spotlight from his son.0


    Su Shengguo shook Lu Chen''s hand. "I was very punctual; I didn''t arrivete."0


    Lu Chen raised an eyebrow. "You weren''tte; I was just too eager to see you. Your son got thend in S City first."0


    Su Shengguo smiled warmly. "So, I came to celebrate your son''s birthday aspensation. Is that enough?"0


    Lu Chen was about toin more when he was red at by Wen Ya.0


    Lu Chen instantly turned from a lion into a kitten, retracting his ws.0


    Wen Ya, in a good mood today, looked even more radiant. "Thank you foring. Let''s talk over there."0


    Su Ci followed her parents, giving a flirtatious nce to Lu Zhe beside her.0


    Lu Zhe''s expression was cold and indifferent. Seeing the red gown he had chosen for the girl, he felt he had made a mistake.0


    He realized that the back of the dress waspletely open, and the girl''s hair was half-up in a princess style, barely covering her back. When her hair swayed, her snow-white back was faintly visible.0


    Walking beside her, Lu Zhe also noticed that the side of the dress was slit, revealing her sexy thighs as she walked.0


    The most alluring thing was the elusive presence.0


    Lu Zhe''s lips tightened.0


    As the banquet began, Lu Chen formally introduced Lu Zhe to everyone, mentioning that Lu Zhe was taking over the Lu Group.0


    The guests were shocked.0


    They all knew that Lu Chen''s son had been found not long ago and had not been officially introduced. They thought the Lu Family didn''t care much about this child, as he wasn''t raised in the Lu Family and probably had no feelings for them.0


    Now, seeing the handsome and soon-to-be heir of the Lu Group, everyone suddenly realized that this young man would be the future ruler of the Lu Family.0


    The guests apuded enthusiastically. Previously, they had only seen Lu Zhe as a junior in the Lu Family, but now, their gaze toward him unconsciously carried a sense of awe.0


    Many wealthy youngdies looked at Lu Zhe with fiery and shy nces. None of them had expected the young master Lu to be so handsome and to inherit the Lu Group.0


    Many began to consider the possibility of a marriage alliance with the Lu Family or making Lu Zhe fall for them.0


    Su Ci nced around, especially noticing many youngdies shyly looking at Lu Zhe. She pouted her little mouth in dissatisfaction.0


    Until the opening dance, everyone watched the two perfectly matched dancers in the center. They suddenly realized that Master Lu and Miss Su were verypatible, and the two families might even get married.0


    Previously, the Lu Family and the Su Family were rivals, but at some unknown point, the heads of both families were not as antagonistic as before. Perhaps there was indeed a possibility of a marriage alliance.0


    Either the Lu Family or the Su Family alone was already very powerful. If they joined forces, everyone couldn''t imagine how strong the two families would be.0


    The girl''s back was exposed, and Lu Zhe''s hand lightly touching her waist easily felt her smooth skin.0


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened slightly, feeling as if his palm was touching a piece of warm jade.0


    ¡°Hold me tighter,¡± Su Ciined unhappily. She disliked how gentlemanly Lu Zhe was and moved closer to him.0


    Their bodies almost touched.0


    Dressed in a red gown, the girl was bright and charming, like a little temptress. Lu Zhe took a step back.0


    Su Ci was even more dissatisfied. "What are you afraid of? Afraid of losing control?"0


    The girl''s straightforward question was startling. Lu Zhe wished he could cover her mouth that spoke so boldly.0


    He looked at her with a deep gaze. "Little rascal, do you just want to see me lose myposure?"0


    This was an indirect acknowledgment.0


    Su Ci finally smiled happily.0


    When the music stopped, the guests couldn''t help but apud enthusiastically.0


    Lu Zhe let go of Su Ci''s hand, and the two went back to their parents. Lu Zhe, the main character of the night, needed to follow his father Lu Chen to mingle with the guests.0


    After finishing their break, Zhao Youyou and Feng Xiaoyu were assigned new tasks by the supervisor, responsible for the beverages at the venue.0


    They carried trays of liquor and drinks out.0


    When they entered the grand hall, the banquet had already been going on for a while, and it was said that Young Master Lu had even performed the opening dance.0


    As they weaved through the crowd, whenever someone needed a drink, they would serve them.0


    Originally, Feng Xiaoyu had thought that both she and Zhao Youyou were quite good-looking and might be noticed by some wealthy man at the banquet, leading to a scenario like in a TV drama where the rich man falls in love with them at first sight.0


    However, after a few rounds, Feng Xiaoyu realized she had overthought things. Although she and Zhao Youyou were good-looking,pared to the many beautiful and elegant youngdies present, they were merely two average-looking waitresses, not standing out at all.0


    Feng Xiaoyu felt disheartened.0


    Su''s ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Mother didn''t restrict her daughter''s movements and encouraged her to mingle and make friends with her peers.0


    As soon as Su Ci sat down, several young wealthy heirs and youngdies surrounded her, of course, all with the intention of getting to know Su Ci.0


    Su Ci remembered her mother''s advice and softened her usual cold demeanor towards them.0


    "Young Master Lu is over there. Why don''t we invite him to join us?" One of them suggested, ncing at Su Ci. After all, she had danced the opening dance with Lu Zhe, so their rtionship must be quite close, right?0


    Su Ci finally smiled. "Go ahead and invite him."0


    Not long after, Lu Zhe actually followed the young heir and walked over.0


    He nced around at the group, then strode over and sat down beside Su Ci.0


    "Don''t you need to apany Uncle Lu for the socializing?" Su Ci caught a whiff of the faint alcohol on Lu Zhe''s breath.0


    "Mm." Lu Zhe noticed the empty space in front of the girl and signaled for someone to bring her a ss of juice.0


    The wealthy heirs and youngdies present were all sharp-witted. From the way Su Ci and Lu Zhe interacted and spoke, it was easy to see that their rtionship was more than just good friends¡ªit seemed more like that of a couple.0


    Once this thought crossed their minds, everyone felt a pang of jealousy.0


    Not only did Su Ci and Lu Zhee from prestigious families, but they were also both exceptionally good-looking. Together, they were practically untouchable.0


    The others looked at them with eyes that seemed to be dripping with lemon juice, utterly sour.0


    At that moment, someone bolder suggested ying a game, as games could help foster rtionships and make it easier to get to know each other.0


    Both Su Ci and Lu Zhe were figures they all wanted to get closer to.0


    Su Ci nodded, finding the idea amusing since she was feeling a bit bored.0


    Since it was a formal banquet, they couldn''t y anything too wild. Instead, they grabbed an empty wine bottle and yed a simple game: spin the bottle, and whoever it pointed to had to either tell the truth or take a dare. If they refused, they had to drink a penalty.0


    Su Ci had never yed before, but she was intrigued. She leanedzily against Lu Zhe''s side and watched as the person across from them spun the bottle.0


    The man across was from the Hu Family. He spun the bottle and, to his excitement, it pointed directly at Su Ci. In their eyes, Su Ci was a goddess.0


    Now, having a chance to talk to the goddess, he felt like he was living a dream.0


    "Truth or dare?" Hu Tian asked Su Ci.0


    Su Cizily replied, "Truth."0


    "Do you... have a boyfriend?" Hu Tian asked nervously, swallowing hard.0


    As soon as he asked, the crowd let out a light cheer. Hu Tian didn''t care; he was eagerly looking at Su Ci, his eyes filled with anticipation.0


    "I do have a boyfriend," Su Ci replied straightforwardly. Even more so, her posture leaning against Lu Zhe became even more obvious.0


    At this point, everyone had to admit that Su Ci and Lu Zhe were indeed a couple.0


    Hu Tian felt a bit disappointed.0


    Next, it was Su Ci''s turn to spin the bottle. It pointed at an elegantly dressed youngdy, and she casually asked her a question.0


    Meanwhile, at the banquet, Zhao Youyou''s high heels had been provided by the head waiter. She rarely wore such thin heels and found it a bit unsteady walking in them.0n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Suddenly, she bumped into someone, and the tray of wine she was carrying spilled all over the other person.0


    "Ah!"0


    The person in front turned around, discovering that their back was now covered in red wine.0


    Wang Xiaoqin red furiously at Zhao Youyou. "It''s you again! I didn''te looking for trouble, yet you deliberately tried to embarrass me?"0


    Zhao Youyou hadn''t expected to bump into Wang Xiaoqin. She quickly shook her head and denied it. "No, I twisted my ankle just now. It was an ident. I''m sorry, I''m so sorry."0


    Wang Xiaoqin''s face was filled with anger. She was so furious that her body trembled, and many of the banquet guests turned to look.0


    She clenched her teeth tightly. "I won''t let this go."0


    With that, Wang Xiaoqin stormed off, needing to change her clothes.0


    Zhao Youyou knew Wang Xiaoqin would seek revenge, and she worriedly bit her lip, quickly picking up the fallen sses from the floor.0


    She wanted to leave, but the head of the banquet seemed to have disappeared, and she couldn''t find anyone.0


    Zhao Youyou was terrified of Wang Xiaoqining after her. She was so anxious that her eyebrows furrowed, unsure of who she could turn to for help.0


    After biting her lip, she suddenly thought of Lu Zhe.0


    Lu Zhe was also at the banquet, and since his friends were from wealthy families, he might be able to help her.0


    Zhao Youyou steadied her panic and walked out of the main hall, determined to find Lu Zhe.0


    At the beginning of the game, the atmosphere was a bit awkward.0


    However, after several rounds, the young heirs anddies started to loosen up, especially when someone chose a dare, leading to a lively atmosphere.0


    Su Ci''s luck tonight was terrible¡ªalmost every round, the bottle pointed at her, and Lu Zhe ended up drinking several penalty shots for her.0


    This time, it was Su Ci''s turn to spin the bottle.0


    Under everyone''s gaze, the bottle pointed at Lu Zhe.0


    The group looked at the two with eager anticipation.0


    Su Ci''s eyes sparkled with mischief. Without giving Lu Zhe a choice, she directly said, "You have to do a dare."0


    The onlookers were on edge, curious about what Su Ci would make Lu Zhe do.0


    The next moment, Su Ci''s red lips parted softly. "Kiss me."0


    At this, everyone couldn''t hold back their cheers.0


    The lively atmosphere caught the attention of many banquet guests, including Zhao Youyou, who had been wandering around the banquet. Finally, she spotted Lu Zhe in the lounge area.0


    Her face lit up with joy, and she was about to walk over when she overheard some banquet guests talking nearby.0


    "Are Young Master Lu and Miss Su a couple?"0


    Definitely. They danced the opening dance together, and look over there¡ªthey''re sitting so close, their behavior so intimate.0


    "Who would have thought that this ''half-blood'' Lu Family heir, not only set to inherit the Lu Group but also managed to win over the Su Family''s precious daughter? Seems like Young Master Lu is quite extraordinary."0


    ...0


    Zhao Youyou wasn''t stupid. Listening to the conversation of the banquet guests, she was shocked as she looked at Lu Zhe.0


    This sudden revtion left her frozen in disbelief.0


    The Lu Zhe she knew, who was once poor and struggling with a degenerative disease, had suddenly be a member of a wealthy family?0


    Zhao Youyou''s gaze fell on Lu Zhe''s side and noticed the stunning girl sitting there¡ªit was Su Ci!0


    She gasped in shock.0


    Before Zhao Youyou could process this, she saw Lu Zhe, who was always cold and aloof, suddenly, in front of everyone, gently cup Su Ci''s chin with his long fingers and passionately kiss her.0


    Unknowingly, Zhao Youyou''s eyes welled up, and her eyes turned red.0


    She felt a surge of bitterness in her chest, as if something she had discarded had suddenly be a precious treasure, snatched up by someone else.0


    The surrounding crowd cheered on, and Su Ci, shameless as ever, looked at Lu Zhe with bright eyes as his cool lips pressed against hers.0


    Lu Zhe held the girl''s chin, unable to resist, and gently kissed her. Then, in the crowd''s eager gaze, he wrapped his arms around her, turning to shield her from view.0


    The others couldn''t see anymore.0


    Su Ci looked at him expectantly.0


    Lu Zhe parted his lips, his dark eyes deep, and gently bit the little troublemaker''s lip before licking it, then let her go.0


    Su Ci smiled triumphantly, the tiny tear mole under her eye making her look even more alluring.0


    The young heirs couldn''t help but feel both amazed and regretful. The flower was already taken, and the one who took it was someone they couldn''t afford to offend.0

 Chapter 96

    <h1>Chapter 96</h1>


    Lu Zhe kissed Su Ci,pletely solidifying their romantic rtionship.0


    The youngdies who had previously harbored thoughts of pursuing Lu Zhe or Su Ci, as well as some wealthy young men, quickly extinguished their hopes. Who would dare topete with the Lu or Su families for their affections?0


    The crowd''s respect for the couple grew even more. If the Lu and Su families were to join forces, everyone else would only be left to fawn over them.0


    The sight of Lu Zhe kissing Su Ci was the most thrilling moment, and after that, the bottle nevernded on them again.0


    After a while, the Lu family''s butler arrived, asking Lu Zhe to cut the cake, which brought the game to a halt.0


    When they reached their parents, Su Ci dared not be bold. She obediently watched Lu Zhe, who was standing in the middle cutting the cake, without teasing him.0


    The guests also gathered around, offering endless blessings to Lu Zhe.0


    From a distance, Zhao Youyou watched as Lu Zhe, suddenly elevated to the position of the Lu family''s heir, was surrounded by adoring guests. She looked dazed, still finding it hard to believe.0


    At that moment, someone grabbed her hand.0


    Zhao Youyou finally snapped out of her trance.0


    "Youyou, why are you standing here in a daze? I''ve been looking for you all this time," Feng Xiaoyu said, holding a tray. She had been at the party but hadn''t run into Zhao Youyou until now, when the crowd had moved to watch the cake-cutting.0


    "What were you staring at? Did you see the Lu family''s young master? Is he handsome?" Feng Xiaoyu''s view was obstructed by the crowd in front of her.0


    She looked around and said, "There''s a spot over there. Let''s go."0


    Feng Xiaoyu pulled Zhao Youyou to a less crowded area, where they could see the person in the middle cutting the cake.0


    Feng Xiaoyu''s reaction was even more intense than Zhao Youyou''s. She covered her mouth in shock, ncing at Zhao Youyou and then back at the cake-cutter. It was Lu Zhe!0


    "This...," Feng Xiaoyu swallowed hard, "Isn''t the person in the middle supposed to be the Lu family''s young master? Youyou, how did it be your brother?"0


    "He is the Lu family''s young master," Zhao Youyou said, watching the elite crowd surrounding Lu Zhe, showering him withpliments and trying to curry favor. She still found it hard to believe.0


    "Oh my God," Feng Xiaoyu covered her mouth tightly to avoid screaming. Youyou''s brother is the Lu family''s young master!0


    "You''re going to live a great life now!" After a while, Feng Xiaoyu calmed down a bit. "Since your brother is the Lu family''s heir, and you were adopted by his family, you''re practically a youngdy of the Lu family!"0


    "Don''t say that. I''m not," Zhao Youyou denied softly, biting her lip.0


    "How can you not be? Since Lu Zhe is your brother, you''re his sister. You''re practically half a youngdy of the Lu family," Feng Xiaoyu said excitedly. "You need to be more confident, Youyou. Compared to the youngdies here, you''re onlycking a title. In other aspects, you''re no less than them."0


    After being reborn, Zhao Youyou was no longer the naive and reckless girl she had been in her previous life.0


    Now, with a mature mindset, she wouldn''t belittle herself because of her humble background. Zhao Youyou indeed didn''t feel inferior to the youngdies present.0


    "Our family did some wrong things to my brother before, and he might still be angry with me," Zhao Youyou said, looking at Lu Zhe in his sharp ck suit. She had to admit that he looked outstanding and dazzling.0


    In her previous life, by this time, Lu Zhe had already fallen ill, and even walking had be a problem. Moreover, there had been no mention of him bing the Lu family''s young master.0


    Why was this life different from thest?0


    Zhao Youyou focused her gaze on Lu Zhe, wondering if it was because of her.0


    Had her rebirth changed everything for Lu Zhe?0


    After the cake-cutting ceremony, many guests seized the opportunity to engage in conversation with Su''s Father and Lu Chen, while Wen Ya and Tong Xin, Su''s Mother, also started chatting.0


    "Sister, where are you going?" Little Su Ning tugged at his sister''s skirt, looking up at her with his head tilted.0


    Su Ci had nned to sneak away with Lu Zhe but was caught by her brother.0


    She rubbed the little guy''s head and whispered, "Sister is going to give her boyfriend a birthday present. Ningning, can you keep it a secret for me?"0


    Little Su Ning extended a small finger to his lips and "shushed" softly, saying in a childish voice, "Ningning will keep the secret for Sister and won''t tell anyone."0


    "Thank you, Ningning," Su Ci couldn''t help but pinch her brother''s chubby cheek, then slipped away unnoticed.0


    Lu Zhe followed her out.0


    Stepping outside the grand hall, the cold wind was biting, a stark contrast to the warm interior.0


    Su Ci, wearing only a backless gown, was instantly chilled to the bone. She hugged herself, shivering.0


    In the next moment, a coat was draped over her shoulders, warming her entire body.0


    Su Ci turned her head to see Lu Zhe had taken off his ck suit, leaving him in just a white shirt. In contrast to her shivering, he stood tall and unbothered by the cold.0


    "I''ve already asked the driver to bring the car around," Lu Zhe said, his hand resting on the girl''s waist. "Where are we going?"0


    "To a hotel," Su Ci said with a smile, "Not this one."0


    She wasn''t bold enough to do anything under her parents'' watchful eyes.0


    At that moment, a slender figure emerged from somewhere.0


    "Brother," Zhao Youyou called out. She had been paying attention to Lu Zhe in the hall and saw him quietly leave, so she quickly followed.0


    Su Ci frowned, not expecting to see Zhao Youyou here, dressed in a hotel staff uniform.0


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond.0


    Zhao Youyou knew that after her family had driven Lu Zhe away, he had been holding a grudge against them. She was used to his cold demeanor, so when he ignored her, she didn''t get upset.0


    "Brother, congrattions on finding your family," Zhao Youyou said sincerely.0


    Seeing Su Ci wrapped in Lu Zhe''s ck suit, looking even more charming, Zhao Youyou felt a pang of difort.0


    Dressed only in a thin work uniform, Zhao Youyou suddenly sneezed, shivering and biting her cold lips. She looked at Lu Zhe with a pitiful expression.0


    In her previous life, he had given his life to save her, indicating that she had been important to him.0


    Now, shivering in the cold, she wanted to know who was more important to him: her or Su Ci. Would Lu Zhe take the suit back from Su Ci and drape it over her?0


    Zhao Youyou stood in the cold wind, trembling, her pale face looking like that of a fragile white flower.0


    She sneezed several times, then looked at Lu Zhe pitifully.0


    However, Lu Zhe remained unmoved.0


    "You''re sick. Please stay away from me," Su Ci said bluntly, annoyed by Zhao Youyou''s hesitant manner and her tea-like gaze on Lu Zhe. What was she trying to imply?0


    Zhao Youyou didn''t expect Su Ci to be the first to speak, and in such a disdainful tone, asking her to leave.0


    "Miss Su, although you''re a youngdy from a wealthy family and my background is humble, you can''t bully me like this," Zhao Youyou retorted with dignity, refusing to back down. "We are all born equal."0


    Su Ci was speechless. "You keep sneezing at me, and the viruses are flying onto me. Asking you to stay away is bullying you?"0


    She raised her chin, looking down at Zhao Youyou. "If I really wanted to bully you, I''d call the security and have you thrown out of the hotel."0


    Zhao Youyou was stunned, unable to believe what she had just heard.0


    Su Ci coldly looked at her. "Stop with your little schemes, or I''ll let you experience what it''s really like to be bullied by me."0


    Zhao Youyou knew that Su Ci came from a prominent family and was beautiful, but she hadn''t expected her to be so willful.0


    She bit her cold, pale lips miserably, looking pitifully at Lu Zhe. Did he know that the person beside him had such an unreasonable personality?0


    At that moment, the driver arrived with the car.0


    "Let''s get in the car," Lu Zhe said, taking the girl''s hand.0


    Su Ci''s mood immediately brightened.0


    "Brother," Zhao Youyou quickly called out as Lu Zhe was about to leave. "Brother, I''m in a bit of trouble. Can you... can you help me?"0


    She was afraid that Wang Xiaoqin woulde back to take revenge on her.0


    Lu Zhe did not turn back to look at her. In the cold wind, his clear and cold voice was very distinct. "Since the day I left the Zhao family, I am no longer your brother. I hope you won''t call me that again in the future."0


    Zhao Youyou could hardly believe her eyes as she watched Lu Zhe lead Su Ci to the car, carefully shielding her head from hitting the roof.0


    Zhao Youyou''s eyes turned red instantly.0


    She remembered when Lu Zhe first came to her house. Back then, he wasn''t as cold and aloof as he is now. He had been eager to fit in and be a good brother.0


    However, she felt that Lu Zhe was there topete for her parents'' affection. She would deliberately tear up his homework and pour out his food. It wasn''t until her parents told her that Lu Zhe was just a servant in their house, someone she could order around at will, that she stopped treating him so harshly.0


    Gradually, in her mind, Lu Zhe''s image was always in the kitchen cooking, in the bathroom washing clothes, or sleeping in the storage room. Once she was sure that Lu Zhe wouldn''t steal her parents'' affection, she stopped targeting him so aggressively.0


    But she still looked at him with disdain and never called him "brother" throughout her childhood. It wasn''t until she was reborn that she realized how cruel her attitude toward Lu Zhe had been.0


    Now, she was willing to call him "brother," but he didn''t allow it.0


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip, a wave of bitterness swelling in her chest.0


    Inside the car, Su Ci didn''t bring up Zhao Youyou again. She didn''t want anyone to ruin her good mood.0


    She was wrapped in Lu Zhe''s coat, and her body had warmed up. Lu Zhe''s hands, however, were always cold, even more so in the winter.0


    Su Ci used both of her hands to envelop Lu Zhe''srge ones.0


    Lu Zhe looked at her.0


    The girl smiled. "Your hands are so cold. Let me warm them up for you."0


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly. "Thank you."0


    Soon, the car stopped in front of the hotel Su Ci had specified.0


    Su Ci had already gotten the room key, so there was no need to check in at the front desk. After getting out of the car, she directly pulled Lu Zhe into the elevator and headed to the upper floors.0


    "Tuan Tuan," Lu Zhe said as they stood in front of the hotel room door. He didn''t step inside. "Go in and get your birthday gift. I''ll wait for you outside."0


    Su ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Ci pushed open the room door and, hearing Lu Zhe''s words, sheughed in exasperation. "Am I a beast? Even if youe in, could I possibly eat you?"0


    At most, she was just a pure and adorable little bunny!0


    The girl red at him, and Lu Zhe gently touched her puffy snow-white cheeks with the back of his hand, smiling. "Alright, go in."0


    Su Ci''s chest deted like a punctured balloon. She took Lu Zhe''s hand and pulled him into the room.0


    As soon as they stepped in, a sweet, overwhelming floral scent hit their noses.0


    Not only was the floor covered in rose petals, but even the white bed was sprinkled with them. On the long dining table in the room, arge bouquet of fiery red roses was arranged.0


    Su Ci had booked the presidential suite, which was not only incredibly spacious but also offered a panoramic view of the entire city of B from the ss wall.0


    Most importantly, in front of the ss wall, there was arge white bathtub.0


    As Su Ci''s gaze fell on the bathtub, she couldn''t help but take a few extra nces.0


    She took the bouquet of roses and handed it to Lu Zhe. "This is for you."0


    The flowers in his arms were fragrant and vibrant, blooming beautifully.0


    Lu Zhe was both amused and speechless. He hadn''t expected Su Ci to give him flowers.0


    Then, Su Ci sent a message and pulled Lu Zhe to the ss wall. A minuteter, beautiful fireworks exploded in the sky in front of them.0


    They were dazzling and magnificent, with streams of light and color.0


    "Did you arrange for these?" Lu Zhe asked the girl beside him.0


    The dazzling light fell on Su Ci''s face, and her dark eyes reflected the light, even more beautiful than the fireworks.0


    Her small hand slipped into Lu Zhe''s palm, and her fingertips yfully teased him. "Do you like it?"0


    At the highest point of the city, she was with him, watching a stunning disy of fireworks.0


    Lu Zhe tightened his grip on the soft little hand, his eyes dark and glistening. "Yes, I like it."0


    The hot fireworks seemed to fall right onto his heart, leaving it scorching.0


    As the fireworks faded, Su Ci let go of Lu Zhe''s hand. She reached out and untied the red ribbon from the bouquet in his other hand.0


    Then, she walked into the bathroom.0


    When she came out, the girl had tied the ribbon around her wrist.0


    She held her hand out to Lu Zhe. "Lu Zhe, now open your birthday gift."0


    Su Ci''s wrist was slender and delicate, and the red ribbon was tied into a beautiful bow around it. Just a gentle tug would loosen it.0


    "Tuan Tuan," Lu Zhe subconsciously pursed his lips and didn''t reach out to untie the bow.0


    "Hurry up, don''t you like this birthday gift?" Su Ci squinted at him. "Or do you not like me?"0


    The rose petals and candlelight in the room created an atmosphere of intimacy, all hinting at what the girl had in mind.0


    Lu Zhe''s gaze fell on the girl''s jade-like wrist, and he said seriously, "I only like you."0


    Su Ci''s eyes curved into a smile. "Then untie it."0


    "Tuan Tuan..."0


    "Hurry up." Su Ci bluntly told him, "Don''t worry, I brought protection."0


    Lu Zhe: "...Where did you get that?"0


    "I bought it online. I didn''t know your size, so I got all kinds of sizes. There must be one that fits you." After Lu Zhe had told herst time that their child might inherit the progressive muscle atrophy, she had made up her mind.0


    Lu Zhe reached out and gently rubbed her soft hair. "Even if we use it, it''s not 100% safe. Besides, that''s something the man should prepare."0


    Su Ci didn''t care whether it was the man or the woman who should prepare it. She urged him, "Hurry up and open your gift."0


    Lu Zhe looked at her deeply. His long fingers touched the beautiful bow on her wrist, and with a gentle tug, the ribbon came loose.0


    Su Ci stepped forward and hugged Lu Zhe tightly. "Do you like your gift?"0


    Lu Zhe lowered his head and kissed the top of her hair. "Yes, I like it."0


    The suit jacket that had been draped over Su Ci was already off, and she was only wearing a red dress. The room was warm with the heater on, so she didn''t feel cold.0


    Even though Su Ci had a thick skin, she was still nervous for the first time.0


    She pulled Lu Zhe to the long table and opened the wine bottle, pouring two sses. "Do you want to have a drink?"0


    Lu Zhe shook his head.0


    Su Ci picked up the wine herself and took several sips. However, her heart was still pounding uncontrobly, and her throat felt dry.0


    She pushed Lu Zhe into the chair and straddled him, facing him.0


    Lu Zhe supported her waist. "Tuan Tuan."0


    "Here," Su Ci replied, her voice trembling with nervousness. She poured another ss of wine for herself to boost her courage. "Lu Zhe, are you nervous?"0


    Lu Zhe gently stroked her back, his fingers touching her smooth skin. "If you''re scared, we can do this another time..."0


    "No way!" Su Ci red at him. Her lips were stained with red wine, even more alluring than the rose petals on the floor. "I''ve been thinking about this for a long time. It has to be on your birthday."0


    "Alright."0


    He was a normal man, and he wasn''t uninterested¡ªhe just couldn''t allow himself to think about it.0


    The girl had already gone this far, and Lu Zhe felt that refusing any further would be ungrateful. Moreover, he didn''t want to upset her or disappoint her.0


    That was Lu Zhe''s thought before any desire took over.0


    Su Ci smiled contentedly, picked up the wine ss, took a mouthful of red wine, and then lowered her head, pressing her lips against Lu Zhe''s.0


    The red wine flowed from the corners of their mouths and dripped down.0


    Su Ci licked the corner of her mouth and took another sip, feeding it to Lu Zhe again.0


    The wine that couldn''t be swallowed in time dripped down Lu Zhe''s perfect jawline, staining his white shirt.0


    Their mouths were filled with the aroma of red wine. Su Ci''s gaze was moist and bright as she looked at Lu Zhe. "Do you want more?"0


    The always cold and aloof deity seemed to be bewitched by a temptress, pulled down from the altar of purity.0


    His handsome features were tinged with desire, and Lu Zhe''s long fingers gently held the girl''s chin. He kissed the red wine that had fallen on it. "Yes."0


    Su Ci continued to feed Lu Zhe small sips of wine.0


    After a while, the bunny ears on top of her head popped out.0


    Lu Zhe''s dark, glistening eyes focused on the girl''s bunny ears. He hooked his lips and pinched the tip of her ear with his fingers. His voice, clear and maic, as if intoxicated, called out, "Tuan Tuan."0


    Su Ci immediately felt weak all over and could only lean softly against his chest.0


    She angrily bit down on Lu Zhe''s shoulder, but instead of stopping him, it only made him more audacious as he continued to y with her rabbit ears.0


    "Don''t touch my ears!" Su Ci weakly protested.0


    Lu Zhe had already drunk quite a bit at the banquet, and now, after being fed most of a bottle of wine by the girl, his dark eyes werenguid, and his handsome face wore an impish expression that Su Ci had never seen before.0


    His low, husky voice carried a light chuckle that made her ears tingle. "Little rabbit, white and fair, with two ears standing up."0


    Hearing his teasing near her ear, Su Ci felt like biting him again.0


    Her soft, pink-and-white rabbit ears were being toyed with by Lu Zhe''s long fingers, drooping weakly. Su Ci''s snow-white face was flushed, and her slender fingers clutched at Lu Zhe''s clothes. "Stop it."0


    The rabbit ears were already very sensitive, and being yed with repeatedly by the young man made Su Ci''s body go limp, leaving her with no strength at all.0


    After a while, Lu Zhe finally stopped. He lovingly kissed both of her rabbit ears on either side, then, holding her in his arms, he stood up.0


    Plopping down on the soft bed, a wave of floral fragrance enveloped them.0


    Su Ci, dressed in a red gown,y among the roses, more captivating than the petals themselves.0


    Looking up at Lu Zhe above her, it felt like a little rabbit was pounding against her heart.0


    "Do you want me to kiss you, Tuan Tuan?" Lu Zhe''s clear, handsome features were slightly intoxicated.0


    "Yes!" Su Ci looped her arms around his neck, allowing him to kiss her deeply.0


    The room''s lights dimmed, leaving only the warm yellow glow from the bedsidemp.0


    The young man''s broad shadow flickered on the wall.0


    The room was filled with the scent of flowers, and the petals scattered on the bed were crushed into juice, staining the white sheets.0


    After a long, long time, the entire city had fallen silent, and the moon had retreated behind the clouds.0


    Su Ciy there weakly, her snow-white facepletely flushed, her eyes red at the corners, and the small teardrop mole beneath her eye was incredibly alluring.0


    "Tuan Tuan," Lu Zhe''s dark eyes had regained rity. He kissed her eyes, her nose, her chin, and continued his actions, gently coaxing her, "Bear with it a little longer, it''s almost over."0


    Su Ci had no strength to push him away. She red at him, realizing that Lu Zhe could also lie.0


    After Lu Zhe left, Zhao Youyou, worried about being retaliated against by Wang Xiaoqin, didn''t even change her clothes before sneaking out of the hotel and heading home.0


    As soon as she arrived home, she received a call from Feng Xiaoyu. "Youyou, where are you? The supervisor needs to see you."0


    Zhao Youyou told her, "I''m home."0


    "What? Why did you suddenly go home?" Feng Xiaoyu was surprised.0


    "I suddenly felt unwell and wanted toe home to rest."0


    "Why didn''t you tell me? Or at least inform the supervisor." Feng Xiaoyu frowned.0


    She felt that Zhao Youyou''s silent departure was very irresponsible and hadn''t considered her. After all, Zhao Youyou was introduced by her, and leaving without a word left her unsure of how to exin to her rtives.0


    "I''m sorry, I really wasn''t feeling well." Zhao Youyou''s voice was weak and feeble over the phone.0


    Feng Xiaoyu really liked Zhao Youyou as a friend. She thought Zhao Youyou was kind and considerate, so maybe she was really unwell and had no choice but to leave urgently.0


    Realizing this, Feng Xiaoyu no longer felt upset. "Then rest well. I''ll exin to my rtives for you."0


    "Xiaoyu, you''re so kind. Thank you."0


    After hanging up, Zhao Youyou turned around and saw Fu Baili standing in the corridor. "Haven''t you rested yet?"0


    "Where did you go? I called you a few times, why didn''t you answer?" Fu Baili walked over, noticing Zhao Youyou''s outfit, and his handsome brows furrowed. "What are you wearing?"0


    Zhao Youyou had been threatened by Wang Xiaoqin, discovered Lu Zhe''s identity, and been coldly rejected by Lu Zhe when she sought his help. She was already mentally and physically exhausted.0n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Now, facing Fu Baili''s questioning, Zhao Youyou no longer had her usual gentle demeanor. "I was doing a part-time job with a friend tonight. I sent you a text, and this is my work uniform, which I need to return."0


    Fu Baili''s expression was grim. "It''s sote, where did you do a part-time job?"0


    "At a hotel." Zhao Youyou, who had been standing in high heels all evening, felt her legs aching. She wanted to go back to her room to rest, but Fu Baili grabbed her wrist. "What''s wrong?"0


    "Why did you do a part-time job?" Fu Baili was very disapproving of Zhao Youyou working sote at a hotel.0


    "I need to make money. You don''t have a single penny, and you''ve spent all my allowance. My dad lost all the money he invested in stocks, and the house is short on money. What''s wrong with me earning some money?" Zhao Youyou''s tone carried a hint of resentment.0


    Ever since Fu Baili left the Fu family and ran out of money, he had been relying on her.0


    Fu Baili, born into a wealthy family, had no sense of restraint when spending. Her already limited funds had beenpletely exhausted, leaving her with less than a thousand dors. She naturally needed to make money.0


    A few days ago, the Fu family announced a new heir, which meant Fu Baili had truly been abandoned by the Fu family.0


    Fu Baili''s expression was cold. He caught the hidden meaning in Zhao Youyou''s words. "So, now that I don''t have money, you''re starting to look down on me?"0


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip. "No, it''s not that..."0


    She advised, "Why don''t you go back to the Fu family and apologize to your grandmother? If you go back, she won''t leave you hanging."0


    Fu Baili coldly stared at her. "You want me to go back and marry some other youngdy? Who did I leave the Fu family for? Who did I give up my heir status for?"0


    Zhao Youyou''s face turned pale. "No, that''s not what I meant. I just think you''re suffering now, with no money at all. If you go back to the Fu family, you won''t have to endure this hardship. I don''t want you to marry someone else."0


    Fu Baili didn''t respond. He turned and walked into the room, mming the door shut.0


    Zhao Youyou felt utterly drained.0


    In the hotel room, Su Ci felt like she couldn''t even lift a finger.0


    Lu Zhe picked her up and ced her on the sofa in the room, then he took out a spare bedsheet and nket from the wardrobe.0


    After making the bed, he picked her up again and ced her back on the bed.0


    Both their clothes were stained with flower juice and couldn''t be worn, so they would have to ask someone to bring new clothes tomorrow.0


    Lu Zhey down beside her, his hand touching her smooth skin.0


    "Tuan Tuan," Lu Zhe''s low, husky voice carried azy tone. "Open your eyes and look at me."0


    Su Ci tightly closed her eyes. She knew the wet bedsheet had been thrown on the floor, and thinking about their earlier loss of control, even she, who was usually shameless, felt too embarrassed.0


    When Lu Zhe didn''t get a response, he yfully reached out and pinched her soft rabbit ears. "Tuan Tuan, look at me."0


    Su Ci angrily opened her eyes, not only looking at him but also ring at him. "Stop touching my ears!"0


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly.0


    Su Ci huffed. She had figured out Lu Zhe''s little quirk¡ªhe just loved ying with her rabbit ears.0


    Even during their intimate moments, he wouldn''t let go of her rabbit ears!0


    Just as Lu Zhe was about to say something, Su Ci''s phone rang.0


    Lu Zhe picked up the phone and handed it to her. It was a call from Su''s Mother.0


    "Answer it," Lu Zhe gently stroked her hair.0


    Su Ci pursed her lips and picked up the call.0


    On the other end, Su''s Mother said, "Ci Ci, it''s about time toe home."0

 Chapter 97

    <h1>Chapter 97</h1>


    The words from Su''s Mother on the phone startled Su Ci so much that she nearly dropped the phone in her hand.0


    She was in no state to go back now. Not only was she too weak to even stand up, but she also hadn''t managed to retract the pair of rabbit ears on her head yet.0


    Su Ci''s face flushed with heat. Her voice was soft and a bit hoarse as she said, "Mom, I''m noting back tonight."0


    "Ci Ci," Su''s Mother clearly didn''t approve. She knew her daughter was with Lu Zhe.0


    Su Ci''s cheeks burned.0


    She nced at Lu Zhe beside her and lied, "I''m with some friends celebrating Lu Zhe''s birthday. We''re nning to stay up all night."0


    Su Ci felt a pang of guilt, like a little kid making up excuses to avoid going home.0


    On the other end of the line, Su''s Mother fell silent. Just as Su Ci was getting nervous, she thought she heard a faint sigh, so soft it might have been her imagination.0


    Then, Su''s Mother said, "Alright, have fun, but be careful. When youe back, have the driver pick you up."0


    Su Ci agreed to everything.0


    After hanging up, she put down her phone and buried her face in Lu Zhe''s chest. Her voice was muffled as she said, "Do you think my mom knows something?"0


    Lu Zhe tightened his embrace. His eyes darkened as he said, "I''ll apologize to Su''s Father and Su''s Mother tomorrow. After we graduate, we''ll get married. If you don''t want it to be so soon, we can at least get engaged first."0


    Su Ci looked up in shock. She gave him a disdainful look. "Who proposes on a bed?"0


    The idea of marriage hadn''t crossed her mind yet.0


    However, one thing was certain: Lu Zhe was hers.0


    Lu Zhe didn''t argue. "I''m sorry." He would prepare everything properly next time before asking for her consent.0


    Su Ci pressed her body against his, their skin touching, creating an intimate closeness.0


    The sensations from earlier were still too intense. Her mind was foggy, unable to think clearly. Her hand unconsciously traced Lu Zhe''s chest, feeling the solidity of his muscles.0


    See, things were different now that they had been so close.0


    Before, if she had dared to touch him like this, Lu Zhe would have scolded her sternly and refused her. But now, he allowed it.0


    Su Ci was delighted. She couldn''t resist teasing him, her fingers lingering on his waist and abdomen.0


    "Ci Ci," Lu Zhe tried to endure, his throat tightening. He finally grabbed her mischievous hand. "Aren''t you tired?"0


    "I am tired," she admitted, but that didn''t stop her from ying with his muscles.0


    What was once forbidden was now allowed. She was going to take full advantage of it.0


    The firmness of his body under her palm reminded her of the peak of their pleasure earlier. She had clung to Lu Zhe, and his body had tensed up, every muscle as hard as stone yet full of explosive power.0


    She loved it.0


    Lu Zhe held her hand tightly, his voice low and hoarse. "If you''re tired, just lie still. Don''t move."0


    "I''m a bit hungry," Su Ci said, her dark eyes shimmering with a pitiful look. She hadn''t eaten at the banquet, and after such prolonged activity, even though she was just the passive one, she was exhausted and famished.0


    Lu Zhe''s cold fingertips gently rubbed the red corners of her eyes. He had hurt her earlier. She was naturally delicate and couldn''t handle pain well, especially during their first time.0


    Remembering how she had cried from the pain, he felt a pang of guilt. He kissed the red corners of her eyes tenderly before getting up. "I''ll order some food."0


    He picked up the scattered clothes from the floor and turned his back to her to get dressed.0


    Su Cizilyy on the bed, her eyes fixed on Lu Zhe.0


    Only now did she have the chance to admire him properly.0


    Tall and broad-shouldered, with a slim waist and muscr thighs.0


    Su Ci''s gaze was bright, her drooping rabbit ears making her look like a mischievous rabbit.0


    After ordering the food, Lu Zhe picked up a white bathrobe, intending to dress her. Her dress''s straps had been torn, so it was no longer wearable.0


    "Do you want to put it on yourself, or should I help you?" Lu Zhe stood by the bed, looking at the girl who was only showing her face from under the nket.0


    Su Ci didn''t hesitate. "You help me."0


    "Alright," Lu Zhe agreed without immediately pulling the nket off her.0n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He sat down on the bed and helped her sit up, letting her lean against him.0


    As they moved, the nket covering Su Ci slipped off unintentionally.0


    Her skin was snow-white and delicate, easily bruising from even the slightest touch. Especially when Lu Zhe had lost control earlier, leaving several obvious marks in intimate ces.0


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes deepened as he tightened his grip on the bathrobe. He looked away, not daring to look too closely.0


    Su Ci reached out and put on the bathrobe,zily letting Lu Zhe tie the belt for her.0


    Dressed, she acted like a little temptress, softly leaning against Lu Zhe''s chest and directing him to pick her up.0


    Lu Zhe ordered a lot of dishes, all of Su Ci''s favorite vors.0


    He first fed her soup, then started feeding her rice. "Ci Ci, open your mouth."0


    Su Ci yed with the belt around her waist. Only when Lu Zhe brought the spoon to her lips did she open her mouth to take a bite.0


    It was Lu Zhe''s first time feeding someone, and his movements were initially clumsy but careful. After a few tries, he got the hang of it.0


    The girl ate small bites, and he patiently fed her one small bite at a time.0


    The shrimp and crab soup were deliciously savory, and the fish had been deboned, its flesh tender. Lu Zhe fed her several dishes.0


    "I''m full," Su Ci turned her head away.0


    Lu Zhe put down the bowl and spoon. "Alright."0


    He took a tissue and wiped her mouth before starting to eat the remaining food.0


    Lu Zhe ate quickly but without making any chewing sounds, and his manners were impable.0


    Su Ci leaned against him, her feet dangling and lightly swaying. The little rabbit charm on her ankle swayed with her movements.0


    asionally, her feet brushed against Lu Zhe''s trousers, and she teased him by rubbing her toes against the top of his foot.0


    Lu Zhe tightened his grip on the bowl, but he didn''t say anything.0


    After finishing the soup, Lu Zhe put down the bowl and leaned down, grabbing her ankle with one hand.0


    Su Ci''s foot was caught and lifted, forcing her to bend her leg. To punish her, Lu Zhe rubbed his fingers on her sensitive soles.0


    Su Ci, naturally sensitive, couldn''t stand the tickling. Sheughed and tried to struggle.0


    She was only wearing a bathrobe, and when her foot was lifted, the robe''s hem slid down her smooth skin, barely covering her thighs.0


    As she struggled, the robe slipped even more.0


    Lu Zhe''s breathing hitched. He warned her, "Ci Ci, stop moving."0


    Su Ci''s beautiful ck eyes were filled withughter. "Then stop tickling me!"0


    "Alright," Lu Zhe let go of her foot, his voice low and husky. "Do you want to take a bath?"0


    Su Ci nodded. She had sweated a lot and felt ufortable.0


    Lu Zhe asked, "Should I help you?"0


    Su Ci''s eyes sparkled as she considered it.0


    Lu Zhe picked her up and tempted her. "It might be very exciting in the bathtub. Don''t you want to try?"0


    Su Ci looked up in surprise, hardly believing such words came from Lu Zhe.0


    "Hmm?" ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Under the light, the young man''s features were deep and handsome, his expression calm, but his dark eyes were unfathomable.0


    Su Ci thought about how it had been painful and exhausting but ultimately satisfying.0


    She narrowed her eyes, like a rabbit tempted by something forbidden. "I do!"0


    ...0


    The next day, sunlight streamed directly through the ss wall of the room,nding on the bathtub in front of it.0


    Even after a night, the water stains on the floor beside the bathtub hadn''t dried, and the surroundings were still damp. The bathrobey on the floor, wet.0


    The rose petals scattered around the room were still fresh and vibrant, filling the air with a sweet fragrance.0


    Su Ci opened her eyes to meet Lu Zhe''s clear gaze.0


    "Awake?" Lu Zhe looked refreshed.0


    He had eaten a lot of golden cotton candy, andpared to when Su Ci first met him, his once pale and slightly sunken cheeks were now normal.0


    Lu Zhe''s features were refined and otherworldly, his every frown and smile exuding an excessive charm.0


    Su Ci huffed, taking Lu Zhe''srge hand and cing it on her waist. "Rub it for me, it''s so sore."0


    Lu Zhe had no objections, allowing the girl tomand him as she pleased.0


    The waist beneath his palm was incredibly soft, and the memory ofst night¡ªwhen he had gripped that slender waist, pinning her against the edge of the bathtub¡ªmade his clear eyes darken.0


    Su Ci''s rabbit ears had long since retracted. She and Lu Zhe had eaten breakfast and changed into fresh clothes before leaving the hotel.0


    Lu Zhe apanied Su Ci to the gate of the Su family home, wanting to get out of the car and apany her inside.0


    "I can go in by myself," Su Ci insisted, not allowing Lu Zhe to get out of the car.0


    "Tuan Tuan, I want to talk to Su''s Father and Su''s Mother about our future marriage and ask for their forgiveness," Lu Zhe gently stroked her soft, long hair.0


    "You''re so naive," Su Ci shot him a nce. "If you don''t tell them, how would my parents know what we didst night? Besides, we''re not yet of legal marriage age!"0


    To Su Ci, as long as she was with Lu Zhe, whether they got married or not made no difference.0


    Moreover, marriage was a matter for the future; there was no need to n for it now.0


    Furthermore, her parents didn''t even know she was with Lu Zhe. Even if her mother knew, her father didn''t.0


    If Lu Zhe were to confess to her parents what they had done, she was sure her father wouldn''t let him off easily¡ªa beating would be the mildest punishment.0


    She didn''t have the nerve to confess their actions to her parents.0


    Su Ci urged Lu Zhe to leave, "You go back now."0


    Lu Zhe sighed, lowering his head to kiss her forehead. "If there''s anywhere your body feels ufortable, you must tell me immediately."0


    Su Ci''s fair cheeks flushed red, and she nodded perfunctorily before getting out of the car.0


    Once home, Su Ci spotted Su''s Mother in the living room at a nce.0


    "Ci Ci," Su''s Mother called out.0


    Su Ci''s n to sneak back to her room was foiled.0


    She smiled brightly at Su''s Mother, "Good morning, Mom."0


    "It''s not morning anymore," Su''s Mother said, instructing someone to fetch a vase so she could arrange some flowers.0


    Su Ci met her mother''s scrutinizing gaze without flinching, "Last night we celebrated my birthday toote, and I almost didn''t wake up this morning. Is Dad at thepany?"0


    Su''s Mother looked at her radiant daughter, her fair face and rosy lips, her dark eyes glistening with a seductive charm at the corners.0


    Her daughter seemed to have blossomed, her features bing even more exquisite and captivating.0


    Su''s Mother was no stranger to such changes. Observing her daughter''s transformation in appearance and the fact that she wasn''t wearingst night''s dress, it was hard not to guess what had happened between Su Ci and Lu Zhe.0


    Su''s Mother felt a mix of anger and helplessness.0


    Sister Rong, tell the kitchen to prepare some nourishing soup for replenishing blood and restoring health, and bring it to the youngdyter," Su''s Mother instructed.0


    The servant quicklyplied.0


    Before Su Ci could react, she heard her mother ask, "Did you and Lu Zhe take precautionsst night?"0


    Su Ci''s eyes widened in shock, her fair face instantly turning crimson. "Mom..."0


    "You like Lu Zhe, and I can''t stop you. But you''re still young, still in college, and you can''t get pregnant."0


    Su Ci was so stunned by her mother''s words that she could hardly gather her thoughts, her face burning uncontrobly. How did her mother find out?0


    Su''s Mother spoke with a heavy heart, "No matter how much you like Lu Zhe, or how much he likes you, you must not get pregnant before you''re married."0


    The future was uncertain, and Lu Zhe''s condition was still unknown. Her daughter''s heart was set on Lu Zhe, and since she couldn''t stop her, she could only demand that Su Ci not get pregnant before marriage.0


    At least, she wanted to ensure her daughter had a way out.0


    Su Ci''s ears turned red as well, "I know."

 Chapter 98

    <h1>Chapter 98</h1>


    After Su Ci returned to her room, for quite a while, the maid, following Mrs. Su''s instructions, brought her a bowl of nourishing soup to replenish her energy and blood.0


    Su Ci''s face turned red again, feeling embarrassed.0


    "Miss, Madam has instructed that you need to finish the soup," the maid said as she brought the soup into Su Ci''s room.0


    "Okay, I understand," Su Ci replied.0


    She thought there was nothing more awkward than being caught by her parents the morning after being intimate.0


    After finishing the soup, Su Ci''s phone rang. It was Lu Zhe calling.0


    She answered the video call, and on the screen, Lu Zhe''s handsome face appeared, his eyshes clearly visible.0


    Su Ci told him directly, "Lu Zhe, my mom knows about what happenedst night."0


    "What did Mrs. Su say?" Lu Zhe asked.0


    He thought about how he had broken his promise to Mrs. Su and now had taken Su Ci, the little princess of the Su family. He knew he was being selfish, and if Mr. and Mrs. Su were to me him, he would ept any punishment withoutint.0


    Su Ci''s face was warm, and her dark eyes sparkled. "My mom told us not to get into any trouble before we get married."0


    On the other end of the screen, Lu Zhe was momentarily stunned, then his ears turned red. He had expected Mrs. Su to be angry or to continue opposing his rtionship with Su Ci, but he hadn''t anticipated her saying something like that.0


    "Lu Zhe, it seems my mom doesn''t object to me liking you," Su Ci said with a smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons. As long as her mom was on board, her dad wouldn''t be a problem; her dad always listened to her mom.0


    Lu Zhe felt a surge of warmth in his chest. The foggy path ahead of him seemed to clear up a bit.0


    "Tuan Tuan," the boy called out softly.0


    Su Ci smiled and responded, "I''m here."0


    "Tuan Tuan," Lu Zhe repeated.0


    Su Ci looked into his dark eyes andughed, her eyes forming beautiful crescents, the tiny tear mole at the corner of her eye adding to her charm. "I''m here."0


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly before asking, "Are your waist still sore?"0


    Su Ci shook her head. "It''s a bit sore."0


    "And... down there?" Lu Zhe asked, feeling inexperienced and a bit like a rookie. If it weren''t for his strong self-control, he might have really hurt her. He had looked it up online, and if she was injured, she would need medication.0


    Su Ci nodded. "Of course, it hurts."0


    Lu Zhe''s appearance was refined and handsome, but that part of him was the oppositerge and assertive. She had suffered at first, but eventually adapted. Now, even sitting was ufortable.0


    Hearing that she was still in pain, Lu Zhe became anxious. "I''ll go buy some medicine and bring it to you."0


    Su Ci gave him a shy yet annoyed look. "Are you going to apply the medicine for me?"0


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened.0


    "Absolutely not!" Su Ci refused. "I don''t need any medicine. It''ll get better in a few days."0


    On the screen, Lu Zhe earnestly reminded her, "Alright, but if you''re still ufortable, let me know."0


    Su Ci nodded obediently.0


    ...0


    Two days had passed since Lu Zhe''s birthday party.0


    In the morning, when Feng Xiaoyu encountered Zhao Youyou on the way to school, she noticed that Zhao Youyou was holding a small rabbit, about the size of a palm.0


    The rabbit was pure white with ck eyes, soft and fluffy, incredibly cute. Feng Xiaoyu was delighted and couldn''t resist reaching out to pet it. "Youyou, why did you bring a rabbit to school?"0


    Who could resist such a cute little animal?0


    "Ah, the rabbit is so adorable," Feng Xiaoyu eximed, looking at Zhao Youyou with longing. She hadn''t been angry with Zhao Youyou for leaving the birthday party early, which had led to her being scolded by her rtives. "Can I hold it?"0


    "I''m sorry, it''s a bit shy around strangers," Zhao Youyou exined. "I didn''t prepare a gift for my brother''s birthday, so I thought about it for a long time and decided to give him this rabbit."0


    She remembered that when they were in City D, Lu Zhe had raised a rabbit of simr size. He must like rabbits. Besides, she didn''t have much money and couldn''t afford an expensive gift, so she thought a thoughtful gift would be better than something expensive but impersonal.0


    Zhao Youyou believed that a heartfelt gift was more meaningful than an expensive one.0


    "Oh, this is your brother''s birthday gift?" Feng Xiaoyu was a bit surprised. She remembered that Lu Zhe seemed cold and aloof, not the type to like small animals.0


    Zhao Youyou nodded. "Yes, my brother used to raise a rabbit of simr size. I don''t know if his rabbit is still alive."0


    Zhao Youyou had thought it through carefully. "If his rabbit has passed away, this one can keep himpany. If it''s still alive, this rabbit might even pair up with his."0


    Feng Xiaoyu fully agreed with Zhao Youyou''s idea. "Youyou, how can you be so gentle and thoughtful?"0


    At that moment, a ck car stopped at the school gate.0


    Feng Xiaoyu saw the person getting out of the car and quickly tugged at Zhao Youyou''s sleeve, excited. "Youyou, it''s your brother!"0


    If it weren''t for her self-control, Feng Xiaoyu felt she might scream out loud.0


    After the birthday party, when she got home, she had deleted all her fan groups, photos, and posts about her idol. Her new idol was Lu Zhe!0


    With Lu Zhe''s face and figure, he was worth all the admiration in the world.0


    Feng Xiaoyu''s gaze shifted to Lu Zhe''s car. Even though she wasn''t very knowledgeable about cars, she had seen pictures of this one online. It was a limited edition model!0


    "Youyou, having a brother like that must be so wonderful," Feng Xiaoyu said excitedly, gripping Zhao Youyou''s arm. "I wonder what kind of goddess could be worthy of someone like your brother."0


    On the night of the birthday party, Feng Xiaoyu had been busy working and hadn''t seen Lu Zhe and Su Ci dancing together or the moment Lu Zhe had passionately kissed Su Ci.0


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip. She thought of Su Ci, who looked like a beautiful spirit standing next to Lu Zhe. Her chest felt sour and heavy, and she didn''t want to tell anyone that Lu Zhe and Su Ci were a couple.0


    "Xiaoyu, you go back to the ssroom first. I want to give my brother his birthday gift," Zhao Youyou said, her hand unconsciously tugging at the rabbit''s fur. The little rabbit squirmed, but she held it firmly.0


    Feng Xiaoyu was reluctant to leave so soon, especially since she had the chance to see her idol. "Youyou, can Ie with you?"0


    If she could get a closer look at her idol, she would probably die of excitement.0


    Zhao Youyou subconsciously frowned. "Xiaoyu, I''m sorry, but I have some things I want to talk to my brother about, and it might not be convenient."0


    Feng Xiaoyu finally gave up. "Alright, I won''t interrupt your conversation with Lu Zhe. I''ll go to the ssroom and save you a seat."0


    "Thank you," Zhao Youyou said.0


    The cold winter morning was windy and gray, with the weather forecast predicting snow in the next few days.0


    Zhao Youyou held the restless rabbit tightly and smiled as she approached the tall, handsome figure of the young man.0


    "Bro..." Zhao Youyou remembered that Lu Zhe had told her not to call him "brother" that night, fearing it would anger him. She changed her tone and called out softly, "Lu Zhe."0


    She stood in front of Lu Zhe.0


    Lu Zhe''s expression was indifferent. "Is there something you need?"0


    "I''m sorry, I didn''t prepare anything for your birthday. I know you like rabbits, so this is my bted birthday gift for you," Zhao Youyou said, holding the small rabbit out to Lu Zhe. She looked at him sincerely. "I''ve been to many ces over the past two days to find a rabbit that looks simr to the one you used to raise."0


    "Do you like this rabbit, Lu Zhe? I want to give it to you."0


    Lu Zhe nced at the rabbit in Zhao Youyou''s hand and said coldly, "I don''t like it, and I don''t need it."0


    He only liked Su Ci, the little rascal.0


    If Su Ci found out he had held another rabbit, he could imagine her giving him a reproachful look with her big, watery eyes or teasing him as punishment.0


    Thinking of Su Ci''s mischievous nature, a faint smile appeared in Lu Zhe''s usually cold eyes.0


    He was about to leave.0


    "Lu Zhe, are you still angry with me, which is why you''re treating me so coldly?" Zhao Youyou quickly spoke up. "I''m sorry. When my parents made you leave the Zhao family, I was young and naive and didn''t speak up for you or persuade them."0


    ¡°I''m sorry, but you''re sick and living alone outside. I should have paid more attention to your life.¡±0


    ¡°I know I had many small ws and issues before, but I''ve changed. I''m not the same person I was. Can you forgive me, and forgive Mom and Dad? They miss you too.¡± Zhao Youyou looked sincerely at Lu Zhe, her eyes glistening with tears.0


    Lu Zhe gazed back at her, his expression cold and indifferent. ¡°Is it because I''m now part of the Lu family that you''vee to me with these random words?¡±0


    Zhao Youyou''s face paled. ¡°I didn''t...¡±0


    ¡°Don''t be so clever.¡± Lu Zhe walked around Zhao Youyou and strode away.0


    The young man''s voice was icy, sending a shiver down Zhao Youyou''s spine.0


    Ever since Zhao''s father lost all the money from selling their house in a stock market gamble, the atmosphere at the Zhao household had been tense.0


    Fu Baili emerged from his room. Once a school bully with poor grades, he hade to B University solely for Zhao Youyou. His family had bought him the degree, even funding the construction of a teaching building at B University.0


    As ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????a result, he rarely attended sses, especially after the Fu family publicly announced a new heir. He found it tiresome to deal with the strange looks from people at school and had stopped going altogether.0


    Zhao''s father had been sitting in the living room, smoking. When he saw Fu Bailie out, he spoke politely but no longer showed the enthusiasm he once had for the young man.0


    The Fu family had publicly disowned Fu Baili and chosen a new heir. The Fu family was no longer his, and it was uncertain whether he could ever return to his former status as a young master.0


    ¡°Awake? There''s breakfast over there. It was prepared early, but if it''s cold, you can heat it up in the kitchen.¡± Unlike before, when Zhao''s father would have heated the breakfast himself and waited for Fu Baili to wake up and eat, now he expected Fu Baili to do it himself.0


    ¡°I''m not hungry,¡± Fu Baili said as he put on his shoes, preparing to leave.0


    Zhao''s father spoke up. ¡°Uh, Baili, if you''re not in a hurry to go out, I¡¯d like to talk to you.¡±0


    Fu Baili walked over. ¡°What is it?¡±0


    Compared to before, Fu Baili''s demeanor was not only colder but also quieter. The arrogance he once had was gone, and he had be increasingly silent.0


    His attire was simple¡ªa white T-shirt and jeans¡ªfar from the quality and price of his previous clothes.0


    ¡°Baili, you''ve been staying with us for quite some time now. When do you n to return to the Fu family?¡±0


    Zhao''s father lit a cigarette. His small eyes half-closed, almost forming a line. ¡°No matter how much you argue, you can''t really cut ties with your family. I don''t want you to fight with your family over Youyou, making my daughter the scapegoat.¡±0


    Fu Baili asked, ¡°Is this what Youyou wants?¡±0


    Zhao''s father shook his head. ¡°No, that silly girl is worried about you but doesn''t know how to express it. I''m speaking for her. She feels guilty about you leaving the Fu family.¡±0


    ¡°Besides, you can see our current situation. After I lost everything in the stock market, Youyou and my wife cried several times. If you could return to the Fu family, these problems would be solved. I know you love Youyou and wouldn''t want to see her sad.¡±0


    Fu Baili lowered his eyes, making it hard to read his thoughts.0


    Zhao''s father continued, more earnestly, ying the role of a caring elder. ¡°There are no grudges between family members. Go back and apologize sincerely to your parents. They will surely forgive you. Then, you can help our family, and Youyou won''t be sad or worried anymore.¡±0


    Fu Baili suddenly stood up, looking down at Zhao''s father. ¡°I''m going out to look for a job.¡±0


    Seeing Fu Baili leave, Zhao''s father''s expression darkened. A rich kid who couldn''t even lift a finger, who had relied on his family to pay for his education, what kind of job could he possibly find? Without the Fu family, he was nothing.0


    When Zhao Youyou returned home, she saw her father looking displeased, while her mother was also full of resentment.0


    Zhao''s father called out, ¡°Youyou,e here.¡±0


    ¡°What is it?¡±0


    ¡°Tonight, you must persuade Fu Baili to return to the Fu family. He can''t keep living here, relying on us to support him,¡± Zhao''s father told his daughter. ¡°If the Fu family really disowns him and doesn''t recognize him, you should break up with him.¡±0


    Zhao Youyou disagreed. ¡°Dad! He left the Fu family for me.¡±0


    ¡°So what? It was his foolishness. He had afortable life as a rich young master and threw it away.¡± Zhao''s father said discontentedly, ¡°He even wants to find a job. What can he do? He doesn¡¯t even know the basics of life.¡±0


    Zhao''s mother also chimed in, trying to persuade her daughter. ¡°Youyou, listen to your father. If Fu Baili can return to the Fu family, that would be great. You could marry into a wealthy family. But if the Fu family truly disowns him, we can''t keep supporting him. He hasn''t contributed a penny to the household expenses and has been spending your money. Don''t think we don''t know about this.¡±0


    Zhao Youyou didn''t want to break up with Fu Baili. In her previous life, she hadn''t even had the qualifications to pursue him. Now that she was finally with him, she didn''t want to part ways.0


    Zhao''s father said, ¡°You know our current situation. We still owe over five hundred thousand yuan, and we don''t have the extra money to support another mouth. Don''t be willful.¡±0


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip. ¡°I haven''t told you, but I saw my brother the other day.¡±0


    ¡°Why would you bring him up?¡± Zhao''s mother felt it was unlucky. She had never agreed with her husband''s decision to adopt Lu Zhe.0


    ¡°Dad, Mom, I saw my brother at a luxurious birthday party.¡± Zhao Youyou told them. ¡°It was his birthday, and he found his real family.¡±0


    ¡°What?¡± Zhao''s father was surprised.0


    ¡°Dad, my brother is from the Lu family. He''s the heir to the Lu family.¡±0


    ¡°Which... which Lu family?¡± Zhao''s father was having trouble processing the information.0


    Zhao''s mother also looked confused. ¡°What does the Lu family matter?¡±0


    Zhao Youyou exined, ¡°The group you interviewed with is part of the Lu family. It''s that top-tier wealthy Lu family!¡±0


    ¡°What?¡± Zhao''s father''s voice rose several octaves, his face filled with shock.0


    Zhao''s mother''s voice trembled. ¡°Is it the Lu family we often see on TV, the very rich one?¡±0


    Zhao Youyou nodded.0


    Zhao''s father pped his thigh. ¡°Indeed, there''s no such thing as a dead end.¡± He turned to scold his wife. ¡°You used to always say I was raising a waste. Look, Lu Zhe isn''t a waste; he''s a god of wealth.¡±0


    Zhao''s mother was also excited, her words incoherent. ¡°You also said I had long hair and short insight. How could I have known Lu Zhe was from a wealthy family?¡±0


    ¡°Not just wealthy, but extremely wealthy,¡± Zhao''s father said, his mood lifting as he forgot the earlier gloom when Zhao Youyou entered the house. He was beaming with excitement. ¡°You, girl, why didn''t you tell us this earlier?¡±0


    ¡°I wanted to give my brother a birthday gift, but he ignored me and was very cold to me,¡± Zhao Youyou said, feeling embarrassed to push herself on him again.0


    ¡°This is your mother''s fault for driving Lu Zhe out of the house,¡± Zhao''s father said.0


    Still in shock, Zhao''s father slowly digested the news. ¡°Your brother is a kind-hearted child. If we apologize to him, he will forgive us. We raised him for over a decade; surely he won''t hold a grudge?¡±0N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Zhao Youyou gently advised, ¡°Then, Mom and Dad, you should sincerely apologize to my brother. Don''t scold or yell at him like before.¡±0


    Zhao''s mother quickly added, ¡°Of course we won''t scold him. He''s the golden goose of our family now.¡±0


    Zhao''s father nodded in agreement. He never expected that with the loss of a Fu family young master, they would gain a Lu family heir, and one who was his own son. It seemed like heaven was sending him wealth.

 Chapter 99

    <h1>Chapter 99</h1>


    That night, after learning that Lu Zhe was the child of the Lu family, Zhao''s Father and Zhao''s Mother were so excited that they couldn''t fall asleep the entire night.0


    They even forgot about Fu Baili not returning home for dinner in the evening.0


    "Do you think the Lu family will ignore Youyou if we send her to their house tomorrow?" Zhao''s Mother turned around and nudged Zhao''s Father''s back.0


    "You''re so short-sighted. Do you know what rich people value the most?"0


    Zhao''s Father looked at his wife and exined, "Rich people don''t care about money, but they care about their reputation. We raised Lu Zhe for them, so we are their benefactors. It''s only right that they should be grateful to us."0


    Zhao''s Mother found her husband''s words very convincing.0


    "Besides, I''m sending our daughter to the Lu family tomorrow to test their attitude. If they really try to deny it, I have other ns." Zhao''s Father''s small eyes gleamed with cunning.0


    Zhao''s Mother could already imagine piles of gold and silver in front of her. "Do you think the Lu family will give us a lot of money as a reward?"0


    Zhao''s Father was extremely disdainful of his wife. "After all these years, how have you not improved at all? Just eating rice and not using your brain?"0


    He continued, "It''s not about how much the Lu family will give us. You should think about how much we should ask from the Lu family. Do you know how powerful and wealthy the Lu family is? Their businesses not only span across the country but also extend to many foreign countries."0


    In B City, the Lu family and the Su family are both well-known for their wealth and influence.0


    Zhao''s Mother swallowed hard. "Should we ask for a million?"0


    Clearly, Zhao''s Father had bigger ambitions. "When Lu Zhe inherits the Lu family, it will be hundreds of billions. Asking for ten million, plus a house, is not at all unreasonable."0


    Zhao''s Mother quickly brushed her hair back and waspletely shocked. "Ten... million."0


    Previously, when their daughter won the lottery and they received five million, she already felt like she was dreaming. Now, after her husband lost all that money, they were about to get ten million again. It was truly divine blessing for the Zhao family.0


    Zhao''s Father was also filled with excitement. "Alright, alright, let''s sleep now."0


    The next day, Zhao Youyou found the address of the Lu family.0


    Standing outside the grand gate of the Lu family''s mansion, she felt timid for the first time since her rebirth.0


    The imposing gate and the high walls made her feel intimidated and hesitant to approach.0n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    She clearly realized that Lu Zhe was indeed different from his previous life. The once cold and destitute young man had now be the heir to a wealthy family.0


    Inside the Lu family''s residence, Wen Ya was entertaining Su''s Mother. She had invited her over to enjoy tea, do some flower arranging, and chat. At that moment, the butler came in to report that a girl was waiting at the gate, iming to be Lu Zhe''s sister.0


    "What''s her name?" Wen Ya put down her cup.0


    The butler replied, "She says her name is Zhao Youyou."0


    After finding Lu Zhe, Wen Ya and Lu Chen had sent people to investigate his past life, including the time he was adopted by the Zhao family.0


    "Did she say what she wants?"0


    The butler said, "Madam, Zhao Youyou says she has something to discuss with you or Sir."0


    Wen Ya paused for a moment, then turned to ask Su''s Mother, "Tong Xin, are you interested in hearing about Lu Zhe''s past?"0


    Although she didn''t know the reason, Wen Ya could clearly sense that Su''s Mother''s attitude towards the two children had softened during their conversation today. This was a good sign.0


    Su''s Father had previously investigated Lu Zhe''s background, so Su''s Mother was also aware of his adoption. "Since we''re just rxing, it wouldn''t hurt to listen."0


    Wen Ya nodded. "Butler, let her in."0


    As Zhao Youyou entered the Lu family''s mansion, she couldn''t help but feel nervous. She walked proudly behind the butler, her eyes constantly wandering around.0


    When they reached the grand and exquisite house, and she saw the two well-maintaineddies in the living room, Zhao Youyou quickly snapped back to reality.0


    "Are you Zhao Youyou?" Wen Ya nced at her and gestured, "Please, have a seat."0


    Although Zhao Youyou was good-looking, to Wen Ya, she was quite ordinary.0


    Not to mention that Wen Ya herself was strikingly beautiful, and the woman sitting next to her, Su''s Mother Tong Xin, was also gentle and graceful. Moreover, Wen Ya was ustomed to seeing many beautiful youngdies from wealthy families. Even more so, the girl she envisioned as her future daughter-inw, Su Ci, was an absolute beauty.0


    "Thank you," Zhao Youyou politely and courteously sat down on the single sofa across from them.0


    Wen Ya had someone bring tea for Zhao Youyou: "You just told the butler that you are Lu Zhe''s sister?"0


    Zhao Youyou felt a bit embarrassed but spoke sincerely, "Madam Lu, I''m very happy that my brother has found his biological parents, but no matter where he goes, he will always be my brother."0


    Wen Ya asked her, "Are your rtionships very good?"0


    Zhao Youyou was startled. Was her rtionship with Lu Zhe good?0


    No, she had always looked down on him and bullied him since they were children. Now, Lu Zhe was also very cold towards her.0


    "Is that question difficult to answer?" Wen Ya looked at the silent Zhao Youyou. "Tell me about Lu Zhe''s life in your family."0


    She and Lu Chen had sent people to investigate Lu Zhe''s life in the Zhao family. The Zhao family had moved away, so the investigators had asked the neighbors around their old house. They learned that Lu Zhe''s life in the Zhao family was not good.0


    The neighbors didn''t know much, as everyone kept to themselves, but they could describe what they had seen.0


    From a young age, Lu Zhe had started helping the Zhao family with shopping, even carrying heavy items like rice and oil.0


    At just under ten years old, he would carry a dozen pounds of rice up five flights of stairs in the winter, wearing thin clothes that left his ankles exposed and old, tattered shoes.0


    Or, the neighbors would open their doors to see Lu Zhe, wearing just a singleyer of clothes, standing outside in the freezing cold, his hands covered in purple welts from being beaten. The young boy stood there, his face stern, his pale lips tightly pressed together, not making a sound.0


    When Wen Ya saw the investigation results, her heart ached.0


    Considering that the Zhao family had adopted her son, she decided not to pursue trouble with them. After all, in her view, the one most deserving of punishment was herself. Her son had been kidnapped, and the main responsibility was hers. She hadn''t protected him well enough.0


    "My brother in our family..." Zhao Youyou wasn''t foolish enough to reveal the true circumstances of Lu Zhe''s life in her family, but she also couldn''t lie, as Lu Zhe would definitely expose her.0


    Zhao Youyou quickly thought for a moment, "My brother was very capable."0


    Wen Ya sipped her tea without responding.0


    Even Su''s Mother, who was sitting beside her, just smiled and remained silent.0


    Zhao Youyou felt nervous and continued, "My brother had a good rtionship with us. He often helped my parents with chores that he could manage."0


    Wen Ya put down her teacup. "Anything else?"0


    "Our family wasn''t well-off, so during vacations, my brother would go out to do part-time jobs." She remembered that from middle school, Lu Zhe had started working part-time during holidays, though most of his earnings were eventually taken by her parents.0


    Wen Ya looked at Zhao Youyou.0


    Zhao Youyou continued, "When my brother was little, he was very caring towards me. He would let me have my way in everything..."0


    Zhao Youyou cleverly avoided the heavy topics, mixing truth with lies, making it hard for others to catch her in deception.0


    Both Wen Ya and Su''s Mother Tong Xin listened quietly. As wealthydies, they had seen all kinds of people.0


    Zhao Youyou might be able to act cute in front of a boy who liked her, but in front of Wen Ya and Su''s Mother, she was simply out of her depth.0


    Feeling impatient, Wen Ya interrupted Zhao Youyou directly, "Enough. What you''re saying ispletely different from the results of my investigation. There''s no need to say any more pleasantries. What is your purpose foring to the Lu family today?"0


    Zhao Youyou, still young, was shocked and ashamed upon hearing Wen Ya''s words, her face turning red instantly.0


    Had she already investigated?0


    So, all the while, they had been listening to her as if she were telling a joke?0


    Zhao Youyou felt so embarrassed that she bit her lip tightly, and her hands, which were resting on her legs, clenched into fists. After her rebirth, this was the first time she had felt so humiliated.0


    "Speak, what is your purpose foring today?" Wen Ya was a smart woman and not easily fooled.0


    Zhao Youyou''s face was burning, but she still remembered her goal. "My parents raised my brother, and now that he has found his family, they are also very happy. But recently, our family has encountered some difficulties. Since my parents have nurtured my brother, I would like to ask him for help."0


    Wen Ya had long anticipated such a day. "How much do you want?" she asked.0


    Zhao Youyou''s throat tightened, and her face burned with shame. "Ten million, plus a house."0


    The air in the living room froze.0


    Su''s Mother couldn''t help butugh out loud. "Wen Ya, I always thought raising Tong Xin was expensive, but I didn''t expect Lu Zhe to cost so much when he was adopted."0


    She continued, "I never knew that raising a child in an ordinary family could cost ten million. A house is worth at least several million, so that''s over ten million in total."0


    Su''s Mother''s words made Zhao Youyou blush with embarrassment. She clenched her palms tightly, feeling utterly humiliated.0


    Wen Ya''s bright face carried a smile, but her gaze was sharp as she looked at Zhao Youyou. "There''s a saying you might have heard: being too greedy can lead to poverty."0


    Zhao Youyou was stunned.0


    Wen Ya spoke slowly: "Butler, see our guest out."0


    The butler stepped forward. "Miss Zhao, please."0


    As she watched Zhao Youyou leave, Wen Ya''s beautiful face showed clear displeasure. If it weren''t for the fact that the Zhao family had indeed raised her son, she would have already taken action against them.0


    Back at home, Zhao Youyou just walked in when her parents, Zhao''s father and Zhao''s Mother, both stood up simultaneously. "Youyou, how did it go? What does the Lu family think?"0


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip and shook her head. "They didn''t agree."0


    Zhao''s father looked anxious. "How did youmunicate? Were they unwilling to give ten million, or not willing to provide a house?"0


    "I presented our demands, and Lu Zhe''s mother warned me not to be too greedy and told me to leave," Zhao Youyou said softly. "Dad, I don''t think the Lu family will give us that much money."0


    "Don''t worry, I''ve already thought of a n," Zhao''s father said, already considering what to do next if the Lu family refused.0


    At that moment, Fu Baili emerged from his room.0


    Zhao''s father, Zhao''s Mother, and Zhao Youyou all turned to look at him.0


    Fu Baili nced at Zhao Youyou before continuing to walk out.0


    "Baili," Zhao Youyou followed him.0


    Zhao''s father''s mood soured. "Look at him now, what is he even doing?" he said to Zhao''s Mother. "He''s just a good-for-nothing, wasting away."0


    Zhao''s Mother quickly covered her husband''s mouth. "Speak softer, he hasn''t gone far yet."0


    Outside the door, Zhao Youyou heard her parents'' words and awkwardly looked at Fu Baili. "My dad didn''t mean you, he wasn''t talking about you."0


    Fu Baili''s handsome face showed no emotion. He spoke coldly: "Did you notice I came backtest night?"0


    Zhao Youyou was shocked. "I was a bit tired yesterday and went to bed early. I didn''t notice when you came back. Where did you go?"0


    "I found a job."0


    Zhao Youyou was truly stunned this time. "A job? What kind of job?"0


    "Extra, 100 yuan a day." Fu Baili had been searching for work all over the past couple of days. He suddenly realized that without the Fu family, he was good for nothing except fighting.0


    Zhao Youyou looked at Fu Baili in disbelief, thinking he had gone mad.0


    In her eyes, Fu Baili was a golden boy. His family was wealthy, and all he needed to do was live a life of luxury. She never expected him to look for a job, let alone one that paid 100 yuan a day as an extra.0


    When had Fu Baili ever cared about 100 yuan?0


    Zhao Youyou''s voice trembled slightly. "You''re not going back to the Fu family?"0


    Fu Baili looked at her seriously. "Yes, I have nothing now. Do you still want to be with me?"0


    Zhao Youyou''s heart was in turmoil. "Why don''t you go back to the Fu family and sincerely apologize to Grandma Fu? She''ll forgive you. I don''t mind waiting until she agrees to us."0


    Fu Baili was silent for a moment before gently rubbing Zhao Youyou''s head. "I mind you feeling wronged."0


    "No..."0


    Fu Baili interrupted her. "You''re better at studying than me. Go back to school and focus on your sses. I still need to head to the set today."0


    With that, Fu Baili turned and left decisively.0


    ...0


    Today, Su Ci had no sses. She received a call from her older brother, Su ZhiYuan, asking her to go to his office and bring him a document. The document was important, and he didn''t trust anyone else to handle it.0


    The Su Corporation building was located in the heart of the city, wherend was expensive. The interior of the building was not only luxurious but also exuded a high-end modern feel.0


    She approached the front desk, where two receptionists politely asked who she was there to see.0


    "I''m here to see Su ZhiYuan."0


    The receptionists looked at the strikingly beautiful girl in front of them, about to tell her that seeing the CEO required an appointment. But at that moment, they saw the CEO''s trusted assistanting down and quickly walking over to the girl.0


    The assistant''s attitude was respectful. "Miss Su Ci, the CEO asked me to escort you. Please follow me."0


    Su Ci nodded. "Thank you."0


    The receptionists watched as the girl followed the assistant into the CEO''s private elevator. It dawned on them that this girl was the Su family''s daughter, the CEO''s sister.0


    Both the CEO and his sister were incredibly good-looking.0


    Su Ci was visiting Su ZhiYuan''s office for the second time. The office''s design remained in shades of ck and gray, cold and austere, reflecting a serious and rigid atmosphere.0


    "Miss Su Ci, the CEO is still in a meeting but will be done soon. He instructed that you wait here, and he''ll take you home after the meeting," the assistant ryed Su ZhiYuan''s message.0


    Su Ci ced the document down. "Alright, I understand."0


    "If you find it boring, I can take you to the eighth floor. A film crew has rented ourpany''s space to shoot, and the lead actor is Xie Yinan, the film emperor under our Creative Gods Entertainment."0


    Su Ci was a bit surprised. "Shooting on the eighth floor? That''s great. Take me there." Since she had nothing else to do while waiting, she figured she might as well go.0


    The assistant led the way.0


    In the elevator, the assistant informed Su Ci that Xie Yinan was currently negotiating a contract termination with thepany, aiming to establish his own studio.0


    Xie Yinan had been promoted to fame by Creative Gods Entertainment and had made a lot of money for thepany. Su ZhiYuan, being a businessman focused on profit, was naturally unwilling to let him go easily.0


    The building upied arge area. The film crew had rented an entire floor, which would usually be expensive, but since Creative Gods Entertainment was an investor in the project, the cost was halved.0


    Su Ci had acted in many films before and wasn''t surprised or curious about the filming process.0


    However, what caught her attention was that the person being grabbed by the cor and beaten was Fu Baili.0


    Su Ci blinked, confirming she hadn''t mistaken him.0


    ¡°Su... Su Ancestor,¡± Xu Duo, the agent, had just returned from the bathroom and saw the beautiful girl watching the scene. He nearly scared his legs to buckle. How did the little ancestor of the Su family get here?0


    "I''m Su, not your grandma," Su Ci said, looking at Xu Duo in his garish green outfit, unimpressed.0


    Xu Duo lightly pped his own mouth. "Look at my mouth, speaking nonsense. I deserve a p."0


    Su Ci found it amusing. She asked Xu Duo, "Are those also actors?"0


    "Yes, yes, they''re extras I hired yesterday," Xu Duo said. Currently, he wasn''t valued by thepany and had no artists under him, reduced to managing extras.0


    He had once fantasized about signing Su Ci and reviving his career, but after discovering that Su Ci was the Su family''s daughter and the boss''s sister, he quickly gave up that idea.0


    Su Ci nced at Xu Duo again, unsure what kind of luck he had. He had once found her for ads and variety shows, and now he had found Fu Baili to be an extra.0


    However, Fu Baili, after leaving the Fu family, had fallen so low as to be an extra, and even one who got beaten up.0


    The director wanted realism, so the actors were really hitting each other.0


    Su Ci''s eyes sparkled as she watched Fu Baili get beaten. She felt no sympathy at all.0


    Until the director called cut, Fu Baili had already taken several punches, his mouth bleeding, while the other two actors were special guests.0


    In the film crew, hierarchy was strictly defined. Extras were at the bottom, and when staff came over, they first asked if the two special guest actors were injured, only then turning to Fu Baili to give him a bandaid.0


    Not only was the staff''s attitude different, but the treatment during breaks was also distinct. The special guest actors had small stools to sit on, while the extras could only find a corner to squat in or sit on the ground.0


    Su Ci noticed thatpared to the Fu Baili she had seen at Grandma Fu''s birthday party, he had changed a lot.0


    In the past, Fu Baili was the school bully, arrogant and unrestrained, with an air of self-importance. Now, reduced to a mere extra in a fight scene, the pride in his eyes has vanished.0


    She watched as Fu Baili casually stuck a bandage on the corner of his mouth and silently retreated to a corner to rest.0


    "I bought some bread. Here, have one. I noticed you didn''t eat breakfast this morning," another male extra said, handing a piece of bread to Fu Baili in the corner.0


    "No, thanks," Fu Baili replied, but his stomach let out a series of "rumbling" sounds, leaving the once-proud young master blushing in embarrassment.0


    He had returned home tootest night and hadn''t had dinner. This morning, he had left without breakfast and was indeed hungry.0


    "Take it," the male extra insisted, pushing the bread into Fu Baili''s hand. "Extras like us aren''t treated the same as other actors. Lunch isn''t included, so it''s best to prepare something in advance."0


    Fu Baili rarely thanked people. His voice was cold and a bit awkward as he said, "Thank you."0


    "We don''t have toe tomorrow. Have you gotten another role?" the male extra asked enthusiastically. "I''m going with another crew for an outdoor shoot the day after tomorrow, acting as a stunt double for 200 yuan a day. They''re still short-handed. Do you want to join? I can introduce you."0


    Fu Baili thought for a moment and replied, "Sure."0


    "Look over there. Isn''t that the new actress the crew hired? She''s gorgeous," the male extra nudged Fu Baili''s arm. "She seems to be looking at us?"0


    Fu Baili lifted his head and saw the actress the male extra was talking about at a nce.0


    It was Su Ci!0


    He averted his eyes indifferently. He remembered how sharp-tongued and arrogant Su Ci had been at his grandmother''s birthday party, traits that made her quite unlikable.0


    This was Su Corporation''s turf, so it wasn''t surprising to see her here.0


    Su Ci''s gaze fell on the male extra''s wrist. She saw that his life expectancy was represented by a thin red line, only two days left, in stark contrast to the green bar on Fu Baili''s wrist.0


    Su ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Ci narrowed her eyes. Another golden cotton candy.

 Chapter 100

    <h1>Chapter 100</h1>


    Su Ci was about to ask Fu Gui about how the male extra had died when, in the next moment, she heard Xu Duo say that the renowned actor Xie Yinan had appeared.0


    She watched the man pass by her, dressed in a tailored silver-gray suit with a ck shirt underneath, exuding a refined and charming aura. He looked young, too. At just twenty-eight, Xie Yinan had already earned the title of "Best Actor," clearly a natural talent for the industry.0


    Su Ci''s gaze fell on his wrist, where he wore a steel bracelet watch that conveniently covered the spot where his life force should be visible. She couldn''t see his life force.0


    Su Ci withdrew her gaze.0


    ......0


    That night, after finishing his scenes, Fu Baili returned to the Zhao family home, where everyone had already gone to bed.0


    There was no food left on the dining table. Fu Baili self-deprecatingly curled his lips and made his way to his room in the dark.0


    The door next to his opened.0


    Light spilled out into the hallway as Zhao Youyou stood at the doorway. "Baili, you''re back."0


    "Were you waiting for me?" Fu Baili paused his hand on the doorknob.0


    "Yes, I was worried about you since you came back sote."0


    Fu Baili''s cold expression softened as he approached Zhao Youyou. He kissed her forehead gently. "There were night scenes today."0


    Zhao Youyou had heard earlier that Fu Baili was working as an extra.0


    "Go to sleep. I need to pack a set of clothes and catch a bus to City A. There''s a production there that needs extras. I''ll be gone for three days." Fu Baili had promised the male extra he would go to City A with him.0


    "How much will you earn?" Zhao Youyou bit her lip and asked.0


    Fu Baili gently patted Zhao Youyou''s hair and said, "The costs over there will be a bit higher, two hundred for two hundred days, three days will be six hundred."0


    Zhao Youyou frowned deeply. She shook her head. "You shouldn''t be like this. You shouldn''t be living this kind of life, running around for just a few hundred dors."0


    In her memory, Fu Baili had always been unattainable, high above everyone else, a carefree and arrogant rich kid. He would never have cared about a few hundred dors. When had he fallen so low as to be a background actor for just a hundred bucks?0


    "Baili, go back to the Fu family. The Fu family''s fortune is yours. You can''t just give it away to someone else." Zhao Youyou couldn''t ept Fu Baili''s current state.0


    "What''s all this noise? Why aren''t you asleep yet?"0


    From across the hall, Zhao''s father opened the door and saw Fu Baili and his daughter. His small eyes shed with displeasure. "So the Fu young master is back. I was wondering who was still up sote. The Fu young master only needs to worry about eating and drinking, but we''re different. We have work tomorrow."0


    "I''m just back to pack some things." Fu Baili entered his room and closed the door.0


    "What''s he saying? Is he leaving our house to go back to the Fu family?" Zhao''s father asked his daughter.0


    Zhao Youyou looked troubled.0


    Then, she saw Fu Baili emerge from the room again, carrying a ck backpack, and stride out without looking back. "Baili..."0


    Fu Baili didn''t turn around.0


    "It''s good if he''s going back to the Fu family. Don''t stop him," Zhao''s father said, even considering going to see Fu Baili off and asking if he needed help finding a ride. It waste, and taxis were hard toe by.0


    "He''s not going back to the Fu family. He''s going to work," Zhao Youyou said, her expression dimming as she heard the door close.0


    Zhao''s father looked at his daughter. "What kind of work?"0


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip and whispered, "Extra work. A couple of hundred a day. He''ll be gone for three days."0


    "He''s out of his mind. Leaving his position as the Fu family''s young master to go be an extra? What a disgrace!" Zhao''s father was furious. "Even if he goes back to the Fu family, they already have a new heir. The Fu family probably already considers Fu Baili useless and weak, which is why they gave up on him so easily."0


    "I told you before. Without the Fu family''s identity, he''s just a good-for-nothing. Now you see it for yourself."0


    "Dad..." Zhao Youyou couldn''t refute her father''s words.0


    "Now your brother is the heir of the Lu family. Don''t be so short-sighted and focus only on a useless man. Tomorrow, we''ll go to the Lu family and get the money." With that, Zhao''s father went back to his room to rest.0


    Zhao Youyou was overwhelmed with mixed emotions.0


    She liked Fu Baili, but she liked the old Fu Baili, the one who was high and mighty, not the one who had fallen so low as to be an extra.0


    The next day, Zhao Youyou followed her father and mother to the Lu Group. Compared to theirst visit to the Lu family, Zhao Youyou felt intimidated.0


    "Dad, do you really think this n will work?"0


    Zhao''s father was confident. "When dealing with big matters, you can''t be timid. Just follow my lead."0


    Zhao Youyou nodded and followed her father into the Lu Group''s towering building. The luxurious and grand design of the lobby made her dizzy with awe. She was reminded once again of how wealthy the Lu family was.0


    All of this would belong to her brother, Lu Zhe.0


    Zhao Youyou regretted her decision. After being reborn, she shouldn''t have tried to distance herself from Lu Zhe, to avoid his affections.0


    If she had been nicer to him, if she had persuaded her parents not to kick him out of the Zhao family, Lu Zhe, with his character, would have doted on her like a princess, no less than any other wealthy daughter.0


    Zhao Youyou regretted not seizing the opportunity of her rebirth.0


    As they tried to enter, they were stopped by a security guard. "Please wait. Non-employees need to register at the front desk to enter."0


    Unlike their previous visit, where they had been timid and unsure, this time, Zhao''s father was full of confidence. "I''m here to see your boss."0


    The security guard remained expressionless. "Please register at the front desk."0


    Unable to proceed, Zhao''s father walked to the front desk.0


    The receptionist was very polite. "Hello, sir and madam."0


    Zhao''s father directly stated, "Call your boss down. I need to speak with him."0


    The receptionist was taken aback. She couldn''t help but nce at the three of them, who didn''t seem like clients with business. "Do you have an appointment with President Lu or Vice President Lu?"0


    "No appointment necessary. I''m the father of your Vice President Lu. Just tell him toe down." Zhao''s father stood tall, his hands behind his back, as if inspecting his own property.0


    The receptionist found this group rather bizarre. "I''m sorry, but to meet President Lu or Vice President Lu, you need to make an appointment in advance or contact them directly."0


    Zhao Youyou sensed the receptionist''s strange look. Did working in a big group make even the employees look down on her and her family?0


    "Could you please inform Vice President Lu that his sister and parents are waiting in the lobby?" Zhao Youyou suppressed her difort and politely asked the receptionist.0


    Sister? Parents?0


    Vice President Lu''s parents were President Lu and Mrs. Lu, weren''t they? How did these people suddenly appear?0


    The receptionist dialed the assistant to Vice President Lu.0


    After reporting the situation, she quickly received a reply. "I''m sorry, Vice President Lu is very busy right now and can''t meet you."0


    In the phone call, the assistant had instructed the receptionist to ask these people to leave, which she had conveyed politely.0


    "Did you make it clear who is looking for him?" Zhao''s father was dissatisfied.0


    The receptionist replied, "It has been made clear."0


    Just as Zhao Youyou was about to say something, a melodious voice spoke up. "Hello, I''m here to see Lu Zhe. Could you please inform him?"0


    Zhao Youyou turned her head and saw Su Ci!0


    What was she doing here?0


    The receptionist was clearly stunned by the sudden appearance of the girl. She looked a bit dazed. "Please... wait a moment. May I ask your name, miss?"0


    "Su Ci."0


    The receptionist immediately made a phone call.0


    On the other end, the assistant instructed her to ensure that Miss Su was well taken care of.0


    After hanging up, the receptionist politely said, "Miss Su, please wait a moment."0


    Su Ci nodded. "Thank you."0


    She turned her head and met Zhao Youyou''s astonished gaze.0


    ncing to the side, she saw Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother as well.0


    Su Ci had seen Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother when she was a rabbit. At that time, Lu Zhe had gone to the Zhao family to pack his things, and the couple had argued with the other pair over the lottery ticket. She remembered them clearly.0


    Were they also here to see Lu Zhe?0


    When Zhao''s father heard that this girl could go up, while they were about to be turned away, he struggled to suppress his anger and prepared to follow the girl up.0


    Today, he couldn''t havee for nothing.0


    Not long after, the elevator doors opened, and a tall figure stepped out quickly, striding forward.0


    The receptionist was astonished; she had never expected that Young Master Lu woulde down personally to receive someone.0


    The young man''s figure was tall and slender. His clear and handsome face was calm, and he wore a well-fitted ck suit that exuded an indescribable elegance and handsomeness.0


    Zhao Youyou stared nkly at Lu Zhe approaching from across the room. Her heart suddenly raced. This Lu Zhe was different from the one she had known before.0


    Unlike the sickly, haggard, and destitute Lu Zhe from her previous life, the Lu Zhe before her now had broad shoulders, a slim waist, and an outstanding aura. Any girl would find her legs turning to jelly at the sight of him.0


    Zhao Youyou''s face inexplicably flushed, and her heartbeat quickened with each beat.0


    Su Ci stepped forward and was immediately pulled into Lu Zhe''s embrace by hisrge hand. He lowered his head and asked her, "Why didn''t you call me?"0


    Su Ci gave a light hum, "Your phone was off."0


    Lu Zhe hadn''t paid attention to his phone''s battery level. "I''m sorry, my phone must have run out of battery."0


    He reached out and held the girl''s small hand, finding it warm, before letting go. "I''ll take you upstairs."0


    Lu Zhe didn''t spare a single nce for the stunned Zhao family.0


    Zhao Youyou saw that Lu Zhe ignored thempletely but treated Su Ci with tenderness and care, showing no trace of his usual coldness.0


    Lu Zhe was too biased.0


    This tant favoritism made Zhao Youyou''s chest burn with jealousy, and her mouth felt bitter.0


    Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother were both shocked. They had never seen Lu Zhe dressed like this before, and his presence was now intimidating.0


    Their impression of Lu Zhe was still stuck in the past, the one who endured their abuse, worked tirelessly, and lived in the storage room. The Lu Zhe who suffered from a terminal illness and was kicked out of their home.0


    The Lu Zhe before them now, who seemed like a wealthy young master, was someone they had never seen before.0


    While they were shocked, their hearts burned with greed. Lu Zhe was truly rich now.0


    "Xiao Zhe, you''re also studying in City B. Why don''t youe home and visit your mom and dad?" Zhao''s fatherpletely forgot how he had turned and hid thest time he met Lu Zhe at the Lu Corporation, worried that Lu Zhe woulde to his house and cause trouble.0


    Lu Zhe nced at Zhao''s father and them but didn''t respond, instead preparing to leave with Su Ci.0


    "Yes, your dad often mentions you at home. You''re our child, and there''s no overnight grudge between family members. You found your birth parents, and you should have told us. We would only be happy for you." Zhao''s mother sounded a bit resentful.0


    Lu Zhe had be rich but kept it hidden. If it weren''t for their daughter discovering his true identity, they might have never known Lu Zhe had be so wealthy.0


    "You once said that I have no rtion to you," Lu Zhe said coldly, "There''s nothing to discuss."0


    "How can there be no rtion?" Zhao''s father red, "We raised you for over a decade. We can''t have raised you for nothing."0


    Since emotional appeals weren''t working, they decided to cut to the chase.0


    "We worked so hard to raise you. Without us, how could you have be the heir of the Lu family?" Zhao''s father was confident, "You shouldpensate us for the money we spent on you."0


    Lu Zhe looked at them.0


    Zhao''s father raised a finger, "Ten million, and a house. These are nothing to you."0


    Su Ci thought she was shameless, but she hadn''t expected someone even more shameless. Knowing Lu Zhe was the son of the Lu family, they came to demand a share. Tsk, dreaming of ten million?0


    Lu Zhe''s tone was calm: "In the Zhao family, I bought groceries, cooked, washed dishes, and didundry. Thatbor is enough to offset the cost of the leftover meals I ate."0


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip, feeling embarrassed.0


    In the Zhao family, after she and her parents finished eating, whatever was left was what Lu Zhe ate.0


    Su Ci knew Lu Zhe''s life in the Zhao family wasn''t good, but she hadn''t expected it to be this bad.0


    Her ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????gaze toward the Zhao family now carried a cold edge. They treated Lu Zhe as cheapbor?0


    "You... you''re lying," Zhao''s mother felt guilty. It was her idea to make Lu Zhe eat leftovers, as she thought adopting him was a waste of rice money.0


    "The money I earned from part-time jobs, you also took it. That money added up is enough to cover my living expenses." Lu Zhe used to take on part-time jobs during vacations, tutoring ssmates, washing dishes in restaurant kitchens, handing out flyers¡ªanything that could earn money, he didn''t shy away from the hard work.0


    Zhao''s father denied it, "What proof do you have that we took your money? We raised you, so you should pay us alimony."0


    With people like Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother, who were shameless and would deny everything, there was no point in arguing with them.0


    Su Ci''s lips curved into a cold smile, "Ten million? And a house? You''re extorting now. I can call the police anytime."0


    ¡°Little girl, this is our family matter. It''s none of your business. I advise you not to meddle,¡± Zhao''s father said unhappily.0


    "She''s my girlfriend. She can handle my affairs however she wants," Lu Zhe said, not allowing anyone to question Su Ci.0


    Zhao Youyou''s chest ached even more. The previous Lu Zhe, even when people looked at him strangely, gossiped about him, or insulted him, he never cared. But now, when Su Ci was scolded by her father, he immediately defended her.0


    This Lu Zhe was too unfamiliar.0


    "And, I''m not part of your family," Lu Zhe looked at the Zhao family, "My name isn''t on the Zhao family''s household register."0


    Zhao''s father was filled with regret when he thought about this. If it weren''t for his short-sighted wife, who was afraid Lu Zhe would share their family''s wealth and had his name removed early, Lu Zhe would now be on the same household register as them.0


    Seeing that Lu Zhe wasn''t giving in, Zhao''s father directly made a phone call.0


    Soon, two reporters with cameras walked in.0


    ¡°Come over quickly, and take pictures of him,¡± Zhao''s father called to the two reporters. ¡°This is the son I raised with great effort. Now that he''s found his wealthy birth parents, he''s turned his back on us, disdainful of poverty and abandoning our family. You guys, take pictures of him and let everyone see what kind of person the heir of the Lu family really is.¡±0


    Zhao''s father had nned this in advance. If he couldn''t get the money smoothly, he would use Lu Zhe''s reputation to threaten him.0


    Lu Zhe, now the son of a wealthy family, certainly wouldn''t allow his reputation to be tarnished or have any stains.0


    "Now our family is heavily in debt. I''m asking him for some money, but this ungrateful son wants to drive us away," Zhao''s mother acted out a heartfelt performance, pretending to wipe nonexistent tears, as if ready to throw a tantrum on the floor.0


    Su Ci was speechless. The Zhao family thought they could get money just by calling reporters?0


    Zhao Youyou stood behind her parents, biting her lip and not uttering a sound.0N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Her silence indicated support for her parents'' actions.0


    The reporters, having been paid, naturally would do their job. Moreover, this involved the heir of the Lu Corporation, which was a big scoop. The two reporters began snapping photos furiously.0


    Zhao''s father threatened Lu Zhe, "Now that there are reporters as witnesses, if you don''t want this to blow up, give us the money quickly."0


    Lu Zhe''s expression was cold. He shielded Su Ci behind him, preventing the reporters from taking her photo. "Which newspaper are you from?"0


    The reporters didn''t answer, busy pressing the shutter.0


    Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother stood tall, feeling confident.0


    Even Zhao Youyou spoke up: "Brother, just give the money to mom and dad. Otherwise, they really will get angry and have people report bad things about you, which will affect you."0


    She didn''t understand. Now that Lu Zhe was so rich, even if her parents had treated him poorly before, at least they had raised him. When the family was in trouble, he should help them out.0


    Ten million and a house were nothing to Lu Zhe''s current status.0


    Su Ciughed coldly. It seemed that although Zhao Youyou had been reborn, her brain hadn''t.0


    If it weren''t for the male lead, Fu Baili, liking her, with Zhao Youyou''s outlook on life and way of thinking, she wouldn''t have been able to, as described in the book, marry into a wealthy family and live a happy life after her rebirth.0


    Lu Zhe didn''t waste words. He directly instructed the security guards to delete the photos from the reporters'' cameras and then had this group of people escorted out of the Lu Corporation building.0


    "Hey, you can''t do that..." The reporters tried to protect their cameras.0


    Lu Zhe coldly looked at them, "Are you sure you want to go against the Lu family?"0


    Since returning to the Lu family, Lu Zhe had been keeping a low profile. This was the first time he used his family''s status to suppress someone.0


    The two reporters were stunned, and the cameras in their hands were snatched away by the security guards.0


    Zhao''s father, Zhao''s mother, and Zhao Youyou were restrained by other security guards, their hands pinned behind their backs. In front of these burly security guards, they couldn''t struggle at all.0


    Lu Zhe''s tone was calm: "Throw them all out. They are not allowed to set foot in the Lu Corporation building ever again."0


    "Yes, Young Master," the security guards responded, dragging the Zhao family and the two reporters out of the building.0


    The Lu Corporation was located in the heart of the city, with many vehicles and pedestrians outside.0


    A group of people was thrown out, and many stopped to watch the spectacle. Tsk, someone actually dared to cause trouble at the Lu Corporation. They must be out of their minds.0


    Zhao''s mother and Zhao''s father cursed loudly outside the building, trying to rush in again, but a line of tall bodyguards stood at the entrance, making it impossible for them to enter.0


    Su Ci watched the Zhao family, shivering in the cold wind outside the door, and her mood finally improved.0


    "I''ll take you upstairs," Lu Zhe said, not wanting those people to disturb her.0


    Su Ci nodded and let him hold her hand.0


    This was her first time visiting Lu Zhe''s office. It was simr to her brother''s office style¡ªcold and simple, with ck and minimalist decor.0


    Lu Zhe told the girl to sit on the sofa, then instructed his assistant to bring in a cup of warm milk.0


    Su Ci noticed that both of Lu Zhe''s assistants were men.0


    "Do you have a female secretary?" Su Ci took a few sips of milk, which was just the right temperature.0


    The room was warm, and Lu Zhe sat down beside her. "No."0


    "Good," Su Ci leaned closer to Lu Zhe. "I don''t want any drama of a female secretary seducing the boss."0


    Lu Zhe nced at her, unable to resist pinching her smooth cheeks. "What are you thinking about?"0


    Su Ci acted cute: "Thinking about you."0


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly, amused by the sweet words from the girl. "Why did you suddenlye to thepany to see me?"0


    "I was bored and had nothing to do, so I came to bother you," Su Ci said softly, leaning against Lu Zhe. She wrapped her arms around his waist. "I''m going to City A tomorrow. Do you want toe with me?"0


    Lu Zhe thought for a moment. "To save someone?"0


    Su Ci nodded. Lu Zhe was getting to know her better.0


    Gently, Lu Zhe tucked the stray hairs behind her ear. "I''ll go with you." He wouldn''t let her act alone.0


    Su Ci smiled. "Okay."0


    The girl''s hands were like restless little rabbits, moving everywhere. After just a moment of holding him, her hands slipped under Lu Zhe''s suit jacket.0


    Through the thin white shirt, her hands roamed freely.0


    Su Ci could feel the muscles under her palms tighten instantly. They were firm, and through the thin shirt, she could make out the contours of his muscles.0


    "Tuan Tuan," Lu Zhe''s voice darkened, trying to stop the girl''s restless hands.0


    Su Ci heard the warning in Lu Zhe''s tone, but she was bold and not one to listen. Her hands continued their mischief, and sheined, "That night, I didn''t get to touch you properly."0


    She felt like she had missed out and wanted to make up for it now, while no one was around.0


    Lu Zhe was both amused and helpless.0


    The girl''s hands were not only fair and beautiful but also soft as silk. With such soft hands touching him everywhere, Lu Zhe felt his muscles tighten painfully.0


    He leaned down and whispered softly in her ear, "Tuan Tuan, there''s a restroom in the office. Do you want me to take you in and take off my jacket so you can see properly?"0


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up instantly. "Yes!"0


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved, and his dark eyes filled withughter. "Alright."0


    He picked her up and walked toward the restroom.0


    Su Ci didn''t hold back. Not only did she make Lu Zhe take off his jacket, but she also unbuttoned his shirt, wanting to touch him without any barriers.0


    The young man''s lean muscles were stunning. Su Ci was like a little rascal, staring without blinking, making Lu Zhe''s ears turn red.0


    After a few rounds of touching, the little rascal was pinned down by Lu Zhe.0


    Lu Zhe''s lips were as cold as ever but soft. Su Ci greedily licked them, and what followed was a fierce kiss.0


    She remembered thest time, it had been quite enjoyable. So when she felt Lu Zhe''s reaction, Su Ci smiled mischievously, her gaze deliberately sweeping downward.0


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened, filled with desire. His breathing grew heavier. "There are no condoms here. We can''t do this." He was trying his best to suppress his desires, despite the aching need in his body.0


    He had been too reckless.0


    "I have some," Su Ci said, her eyes narrowing mischievously. Her lips were kissed red, and her hair was a mess. She looked like a seductive little temptress.0


    Lu Zhe was momentarily stunned.0


    "Fromst time. I left them in my bag," she exined.0


    Lu Zhe remembered the first time, when the girl had pulled out a variety of boxes from her bag. He couldn''t help but chuckle. "Sorry, I''ll make sure to carry them with me next time."0


    He had little experience in this area, but he couldn''t keep relying on her to prepare these things.0


    Feeling the rapid and bold change in the young man''s body, Su Ci blushed slightly, remembering how her legs had turned to jellyst time.0


    She pushed against Lu Zhe, reminding him, "I still need to go home for dinnerter." He couldn''t get too carried away.0


    "Okay," Lu Zhe replied, already lost in the softness.0


    Su Ci hummed softly, teasing him deliberately and wriggling her body. "You don''t need to work anymore? Maybe I should wait until you''re done... Ah."0


    Su Ci felt a surge of sensitivity.0


    Lu Zhe lowered his head, his arm muscles clearly defined as he propped himself up. He almost growled, "You asked for it!"0


    Outside the door, the Zhao family, thrown out, was seething with anger, cursing loudly at the building.0


    At that moment, someone stopped at the entrance.0


    "What are you causing a scene for?" Lu Chen was surrounded by a group of bodyguards.0


    The security guards at the door spoke in unison, respectfully: "Mr. Lu."0


    Mr. Lu?0


    Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother were shocked. They turned around and saw the man with features somewhat simr to Lu Zhe. Was this Lu Zhe''s father?0


    Zhao Youyou had seen Lu Chen at the school''s wee party. Now, up close, she thought Lu Zhe looked even more like him.0


    Zhao''s father tried to calm down, no longer as arrogant as he had been in front of Lu Zhe. He swallowed hard and extended his hand toward Lu Chen. "Mr. Lu, hello. We are Lu Zhe''s foster parents, and this is Lu Zhe''s sister. Nice to meet you."0


    Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, ncing at Zhao''s father''s hand with disdain before looking away.0


    "You''re causing trouble at mypany?" Lu Chen saidzily.0


    Zhao''s father awkwardly retracted his hand. "Not causing trouble. We just wanted to see Lu Zhe and talk about something. But we were thrown out by these security guards. However, we can talk to you, Mr. Lu."0


    "Yes, yes," Zhao''s mother chimed in, meekly agreeing with her husband''s words. She didn''t dare to speak up in front of Lu Chen.0


    "Talk to me?" Lu Chen sneered. "What kind of identity do you have to talk to me?"0


    Lu Chen was always arrogant, giving no face to anyone. Except for Wen Ya, no one could control him.0


    Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother were utterly embarrassed, and even Zhao Youyou''s face turned pale.0


    "Go ahead, let''s hear your nonsense," Lu Chen said condescendingly.0


    Zhao''s father forced a smile, trying to tter Lu Chen. "Well, we think we treated Lu Zhe well. We raised him with great effort. Now that our situation is bad, we want to..."0


    Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, his peach blossom eyes filled with mockery. "You want money?"0


    Zhao''s father''s breath caught.0


    Lu Chen''s peach blossom eyes showed a cold glint. He sneered. "How much?"0


    Zhao''s father saw hope and said with a smile, "Not much. We only want ten million and a house."0


    Lu Chen''s peach blossom eyes turned sharp and fierce. Heughed coldly and asked his assistant, "How much does it cost to raise a child in a family like theirs?"0


    The assistant replied quickly, "From elementary to middle school is nine years ofpulsory education. High school tuition was paid by the young master himself. The Zhao family didn''t contribute a penny. So, the expenses would only be for food and clothing, not exceeding one hundred thousand."0


    Lu Chen stroked his chin. "Let''s say one hundred thousand. You want ten million? Are you crazy? I don''t mind having someone send you to a mental hospital."0


    Lu Chen was a businessman, how could he possibly make a losing deal or be swindled out of money?0


    "Lu Zhe is the heir of the Lu family, how could he only be worth one hundred thousand?" Zhao''s father was unwilling.0


    Lu Chen sneered, "Not satisfied? Then forget it."0


    He looked at Zhao''s father with his smiling peach blossom eyes, "I''m different from my son. Maybe he grew up in your family and would show mercy to you, but I certainly won''t."0


    Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother were stunned, feeling a chill down their spines under his gaze, yet they still didn''t give up, "If you don''t pay up, I''ll let the whole country see what a stingy face the Lu family has."0


    The smile on Lu Chen''s lips disappeared, "Do you know? It''s very easy to kill someone, to make someone disappear without a trace. But, those things aren''t fun."0


    Zhao Youyou felt a chill run down her spine. The next second, she heard Lu Zhe''s father say, "I prefer to watch someone slowly fall into despair, powerless, crying and begging for mercy."0


    Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother were instantly scared and their legs went weak.0


    Lu Chen''s words made people tremble, "Eggs trying to smash jade? Truly courting death. Get out."0


    Last time he heard his wifein about the Zhao family''s greed, he had already taken note. This time the Zhao family came to his door, he wouldn''t be as considerate as his wife or son. Whoever made him ufortable, he would deal with them. Especially those who made his wife ufortable, they deserved to die ten times over.0


    Zhao''s father wanted to speak again, but was pulled back by Zhao Youyou, "Dad, don''t say anything, let''s go."0


    Their family had no ability to deal with the Lu family, their biggest leverage was the nurturing grace towards Lu Zhe, but if the other party didn''t care about it, they were nothing.0


    Zhao Youyou sensitively felt that Lu Zhe''s father wasn''t joking, he really would deal with their family.0


    Zhao''s father was pulled away by Zhao Youyou, while Zhao''s mother was trembling, not daring to make a sound, and quickly followed them out.0


    Lu Chen found it extremely boring. He instructed his assistant, "y with them slowly, make sure this family can''t stay in City B, and never appear in front of my wife and son again."0


    The assistant had been with Lu Chen for many years, he quickly responded, "Yes, Mr. Lu."

 Chapter 101

    The Zhao family left with their tails between their legs, having gained no advantage at all.


    The two reporters not only failed to capture any explosive news, but all the photos in their cameras were deleted. They blocked Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother, demanding payment.


    "You didn''t get anything, and you still have the nerve to ask me for money?" Zhao''s father was unwilling to pay. Not only did he not get any money, but he was also driven away, which left him feeling extremely unlucky.


    "Are you trying to welsh on the deal?" The reporters were also very unhappy. They had originally thought they could get some exclusive scoop, but instead, they offended the Lu family and gained nothing.


    Zhao''s father had promised to give each of them a thousand yuan, but that was because he thought he would get money from the Lu family. "Since the job wasn''t done well, I won''t be paying."


    The reporters picked up their cameras and started taking photos of Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother. "Can''t expose any explosive news about the Lu family, but your ugly faces trying to extort the Lu family should be entertaining for many people to see."


    "Stop, don''t take photos!" Zhao''s father rushed forward to grab the camera.


    "They''re hitting people, help! Someone is beating people in the street!" Zhao''s mother''s loud voice attracted the attention of many passersby.


    Zhao Youyou stood rooted to the spot, feeling so ashamed that she wanted to hide somewhere. "Dad, stop fighting, just give them the money..."


    Since her rebirth, everything had been going smoothly for her. Not only had she gotten together with Fu Baili, the object of her admiration in her previous life, but she had also won the lottery and been admitted to her dream university, where she became the ss flower and department flower, and was the goddess in everyone''s eyes, with many friends who liked her.


    But she doesn''t know when her situation changed.


    Fu Baili had left the Fu family and was no longer the illustrious descendant of the Fu family, reduced to being an extra. The money she won from the lottery was all lost by her father in stock trading. At school, the title of school belle was taken away by Su Ci, and now she was making a fool of herself in the street.


    Faced with the passing attention on the street, with pedestrians pointing and whispering, Zhao Youyou bit her lip, her face pale, nearly fainting from embarrassment.


    At this moment in the break room.


    The pure white sheets were damp and wrinkled beyond recognition. Despite it being the cold winter, Su Ci was drenched in sweat, with her short hair sticking to her cheeks.


    The snow-white little face was glowing with a rosy hue, and a pair of ck eyes sparkled with moisture. The small tear mole at the end of her eyes seemed to add a touch of allure, making her irresistibly captivating.


    With no strength in my hands, I hung feebly on Lu Zhe''s back, fiercely bumping against him, my small hands slipping off several times.


    Unable to bear it any longer, Su Ci took a small bite on Lu Zhe''s shoulder, like a little bunny feeling wronged, and let out a low hum.


    The clumsy little rabbit tied to her slender ankle bounces up and down as the girl sways her foot.


    Su Ci felt that she might faint at any moment.


    Unlike the girl''s difort, Lu Zhe above had pitch-ck eyes, his veins standing out on his forehead. The muscles in his arms braced against both sides, taut with power. He felt an indescribable thrill coursing through his entire body, every cell trembling violently.


    Suci is really delicate; after such a long time under pressure, she is utterly exhausted.


    Feeling the girl starting to resist, Lu Zhe easily held her hand and ced it on top of her head, "Good girl, Tuan Tuan."


    Every time she moves around restlessly, he wishes he could crush her to pieces, longing to merge with herpletely.


    Su Ci struggled, only to receive a greater force in return. Even more so, her head was bumped against the bed board. It didn¡¯t hurt, but it was extremely ufortable.


    Wuwu, return to her gentle and aloof youth!


    At this moment, the door outside the office was opened.


    Lu Chen walked in with his assistant, intending to talk to his son about the Zhao family''s affairs. He looked around but did not find his son in the office.


    Lu Chen raised his pair of peach blossom eyes and said, "Didn''t they say that Lu Zhe is in the office?"


    The assistant quickly responded, "Yes, Mr. Lu."


    Hearing the noise from the office outside, Su Ci was stunned. She looked at Lu Zhe in disbelief; they hadn''t locked the door!


    The veins on Lu Zhe''s forehead were prominently disyed as he lowered his voice and gritted his teeth, coaxing beside the girl''s ear, "Tuan Tuan, rx." He was nearly out of control.


    Suci looked at him in panic, her small face turning red. She whispered, "What should we do? The door here isn''t locked." She couldn''t bear the thought of being caught by her father in this situation, no matter how thick-skinned she was.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Lu Zhe let out a low groan and got up. He directly rolled the bedsheet around the girl and carefully stuffed her into the wardrobe.


    Lu Zhe rarely takes breaks in the office, so he doesn''t keep many personal items in the break room. Even his clothes are few, and his wardrobe is quite empty.


    He wanted to close the wardrobe door, but the girl held his hand.


    Lu Zhe was taken aback for a moment; he took a deep breath and also concealed himself.


    The wardrobe door had just been closed when the door to the lounge was opened by someone.


    The room is empty, and the nket on the bed has fallen to the floor.


    Lu Chen walked in.


    In the wardrobe, Su Ci''s heart leapt wildly, like a frightened little rabbit, beating uneasily. Although they were adults and knew the truth, being openly exposed for doing something improper was still inherently embarrassing.


    The space in the wardrobe is notrge, just enough to amodate two people. Su Ci''s body is leaning against Lu Zhe, and his warm breath falls on her face.


    Su Ci''s dark eyes stared nkly at Lu Zhe. Taking advantage of the light that streamed in through the gap in the wardrobe, she noticed the boy''s disheveled appearance; he hadn''t even caught his breath yet, let alone regain his confidence, pressing against her body in difort.


    Outside, a glint shed in Lu Chen''s peach blossom eyes as he walked towards the wardrobe, then stopped in front of it.


    At this moment, Su Ci''s heart tightened again.


    Lu Zhe pressed his thin lips tightly together, reaching out to pull the bed sheet on the girl to cover her properly.


    Lu Chen had a mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth. His hand reached for the wardrobe door and paused for ten seconds. Then, he let out a low chuckle before turning around and leaving.


    He walked out with his hands in his pockets and casually closed the door behind him.


    The assistant was waiting at the outer door: "Mr. Lu, is Young Master Lu resting?" He did not hear the sound of Mr. Lu and the others talking.


    Lu Chen Tao Hua smiled and said, "He? He isn''t here."


    The assistant was puzzled for a moment.


    Lu Chen has already walked out quickly.


    In the wardrobe, Su Ci pressed her lips together and bit down on the arm of Lu Zhe beside her. Her father must have found out something.


    The girl didn''t use any strength at all; a slight sting came to her. Lu Zhe gently brushed her hair and asked, "Should I carry you out?"


    Suzhi loosened her lips, looking at Lu Zhe with a pitiful expression, "It''s salty; I can taste your sweat."


    Just now, Lu Zhe was sweating a lot. Hearing the girl''s disdainful words, he let out a lowugh and leaned in with his thin lips, "Let me have a taste." His tongue brushed against the girl''s, intertwined with hers.


    After an unknown amount of time, Su Ci was dressed in clothes and a scarf by Lu Zhe, who then carried her out of the lounge. The office door had already been locked, causing Su Ci to blush again.


    Lu Zhe sat down on the office chair, allowing the girl to sit on hisp. "Are you hungry?"


    The sky outside has darkened. He helped the girl tuck her messy hair behind her ears and said, "I''ll take you out to eat."


    Soo Ci''s snow-white little face still had a blush that hadn''t faded. She felt weak all over, and thinking about the stimtion she just experienced in the wardrobe made her dark eyes even more moist and bright, as if she had tasted something savory, and she sensed the satisfaction of a little fox.


    The only thing that dissatisfied her was the huge gap in physical strength between her and Lu Zhe. Moreover, her body was delicate and sensitive, making it impossible for her topare with Lu Zhe, who exercised every day and had a strong physique and exceptional stamina.


    Shey softly on his chest, lifting her eyelidszily and said, "I¡¯m hungry; you¡¯ve drained me dry."


    Lu Zhe: ......


    He reached out and pinched her cheek, saying that Xiaoliumang really dares to say anything.


    The next day, Su Ci and Lu Zhe hurried to City A early in the morning.


    The crew is filming in the mountains, and it rained a few days ago in City A, so the ground is still a bit wet. The actors are wearing ancient-style costumes, especially the actresses, whose skirts can easily get muddy from the ground.


    ¡°Hey, Brother Wang, is there any soy milk left? My friend hasn¡¯t gotten any yet,¡± asked the male extra to the staff in charge of distributing breakfast.


    "It''s good enough to have steamed buns to eat after distributing the packages." The staff''s tone was a bit heavy; gathering in the mountains early in the morning, everyone''s mood wasn''t particrly cheerful.


    ¡°Thank you, Brother Wang.¡± The male actor walked up to the trunk and squatted down. ¡°Let me give you this cup of soy milk. It''s cold, and it''s morefortable to drink something warm.¡±


    The extra, Yao Chengqi, handed his small cup of soy milk to Fu Baili. "Here, take it. I noticed you look really pale. Didn''t you sleep wellst night?"


    The extras were housed in a small motel by the production team, a double room for a hundred yuan a night. The surroundings were poor, the soundproofing was terrible, and the peopleing and going were quiteplex. Fu Baili had never stayed in such a ce before. Even after leaving the Fu family, he had stayed at the Zhao family''s house, which was his property and located in an upscalemunity with good environment and decoration. The amodationsst night had been the first time Fu Baili had truly experienced hardship.


    The small cup of soy milk was ced in his hand, and the warmth in his palm eased Fu Baili''s expression slightly. "It''s fine," he replied.


    "Let''s eat quickly. We need to warm upter, or our hands will be cold, and we won''t be able to perform the action scenes," Yao Chengqi said as he took a big bite of his bun. "My girlfriend''s birthday ising up. After we wrap up, I''ll use my earnings from these few days to buy her a ne."


    Fu Baili ate his cold bread silently, listening to Yao Chengqi''s words.


    "Although I''m poor, she''s neverined about me once," Yao Chengqi said, taking out his phone. He lit up the screen and handed it to Fu Baili. "This is my girlfriend. Isn''t she beautiful? When she smiles, she''s prettier than an angel."


    Fu Baili nodded and continued eating his bun.


    Yao Chengqi kissed the screen and put his phone away, then grinned foolishly. "She doesn''t mind my poverty and is willing to endure hardships with me. The greatest fortune of my life is meeting her. Once I save a bit more money, I''ll marry her. I''ll hand over my sry to her to manage, and I''ll let her manage me too."


    Fu Baili finished thest bite of his bun and said, "I wish you happiness."


    Yao Chengqi patted his shoulder. "You must have a girlfriend too, right?"


    "Yes."


    "I knew it. With your good looks, there must be many girls who like you. You wouldn''t be without a girlfriend," Yao Chengqi said. "Your girlfriend must be kind too, willing to endure hardships with you. Cherish her well."


    Fu Baili lowered his eyes. "Yes."


    Yao Chengqi was the male lead''s stand-in, not only for action scenes but also for several wire-fu shots.


    "Stand-ins, go get your makeup done," a staff member called out.


    "I''ming," Yao Chengqi replied, standing up. After squatting for a long time, his legs were numb. He walked toward the temporary tent.


    Fu Baili stood up, ready to stretch his legs, but was also pulled over for makeup.


    Extras were different from other actors. The male and female leads had dedicated makeup artists, and even supporting actors had regr makeup artists to follow them. Extras, however, had to do their own makeup or were assisted by a makeup artist''s assistant.


    Fu Baili''s role today was one of many soldiers.


    During the shoot, he followed the other extras, holding a prop knife, charging toward the male lead. After one or two moves, he was "killed" by the male lead, falling to the ground and spitting out fake blood.


    Only after the director called cut could he move, and by then, the back of his clothes was already soaked with dirt from the ground.


    A single shot required four or five retakes, filmed from different angles. Fu Baili repeated his death scene four or five times, feeling numb.


    After this shot ended, he needed to change into different costumes to y another role.


    Yao Chengqi changed clothes and was dressed to look exactly like the male lead actor. From a distance, he looked just like the male lead.


    Yao Chengqi handed his phone to Fu Baili. "Brother, I''ll be hanging from the wirester. You keep my phone for me, okay?"


    "Okay," Fu Baili replied, wiping the sweat from his face. After running back and forth for a shot earlier, wearing heavy armor, he was already sweating.


    "Thanks," Yao Chengqi said with a smile as he ran off.


    The staff checked the wire equipment and then called Yao Chengqi over to prepare for the scene.


    The road on the mountain was difficult to navigate, and after leaving the airport, they encountered a traffic ident that caused a severe jam. Su Ci, watching the time, became anxious as they were still fifteen minutes away.


    It seemed that every time she went to save someone, different obstacles would arise to stop her.


    The golden cotton candy really wasn''t easy to obtain.


    "Driver, how much longer?" The driver sent by the crew was an employee of the production team. This film was partially invested by Chuangshen Entertainment, so Su Ci''s visit to the set was also justified.


    "Miss Su, we should arrive in about ten minutes. This mountain road is tricky to drive, and it rained a few days ago, so the road hasn''t driedpletely and is quite slippery. I need to ensure the safety of both of you," the driver exined.


    "Yes, safety first," Lu Zhe said, more concerned about Su Ci''s safety than anyone else.


    Su Ci looked back and saw the other vehicles following not far behind.


    Yao Chengqi was hoisted up by the wires. This scene required the male lead to fly down from a cliff and engage in a fight.


    Fu Baili, not needed for this scene, stood off to the side as a background actor.


    Other extras gathered in groups, chatting or ying games to pass the time. Fu Baili stood alone, watching Yao Chengqi being hoisted into the air. Suddenly, Yao Chengqi fell heavily to the ground.


    "Cut, cut, cut! What happened?" the director shouted. "Go check if the actor is injured."


    Yao Chengqi propped himself up with his hands, dusted off the dirt from his legs, and told the staff, "I''m fine."


    Many on set noticed that the staff had made a mistake in operating the wires, but since it was just a stand-in, and Yao Chengqi himself said he was okay, no one med the staff.


    The director said, "Let''s do it again."


    Yao Chengqi moved his leg and realized his left leg had hit the ground first, causing intense pain.


    He gritted his teeth and nodded to indicate he was ready.


    Yao Chengqi was hoisted up again.


    As he flew toward the cliff, the wires suddenly came off the track, and Yao Chengqi fell from the sky.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Many staff members screamed.


    The director stood up. "What''s going on? Why did he fall again? Go check if he''s okay."


    After the first fall, everyone thought Yao Chengqi would quickly get up again. However, this time, the staff who went to check found Yao Chengqi unconscious with blooding from his head. "Director, he''s unconscious."


    The director felt unlucky. They hadn''t shot many scenes yet, and an actor had already been injured.


    Fu Baili rushed forward, seeing Yao Chengqi with blood on his head. He frowned tightly. "Someone needs to tend to his wounds and take him to the hospital immediately."


    The staff then asked if anyone could handle wounds, but everyone shook their heads.


    "You must take him to the hospital right away," Fu Baili said, not moving Yao Chengqi''s body. After such a high fall, he didn''t know where else might be injured.


    The director finally spoke. "Which few can take a break and take the stand-in to the hospital."


    Everyone looked at each other.


    Fu Baili''s face was cold. Since being disowned by the Fu family and dered not the heir, not only had his former friends distanced themselves, but the Zhao family had also changed their attitude. Now, he deeply felt the harshness of being at the bottom.


    The male and female leads satfortably in recliners, surrounded by people eager to serve them, while those around them showed indifference and even amusement toward the injured extra.


    Fu Baili once again felt that without the Fu family, he was nothing, unable to even help someone in need.


    The once proud son of heaven had been ground down, his sharpness dulled. His shoulders sagged, and his eyes were filled with gloom.


    He thought of the warm soy milk Yao Chengqi had given him earlier, the bread he had shared, and the man''s bright smile as he talked about saving money to marry his girlfriend.


    Fu Baili lifted Yao Chengqi and prepared to carry him to the hospital.


    At that moment, a ck car suddenly appeared, its screeching brakes drawing everyone''s attention.


    A beautiful girl got out of the car.


    While everyone was stunned by her beauty, another car pulled up, and the car door opened, medical personnel in doctor and nurse uniforms stepped out.


    Su Ci immediately spotted the person lying not far away. She frowned and told the medical staff, "Save him!"


    The medical personnel quickly ran over with their supplies.


    Fu Baili was stunned. He looked up and saw the swift actions of the rescue team approaching. He also saw the beautiful girl walking toward him.


    Without the sun today, Fu Baili looked into Su Ci''s eyes as if dazzled by her radiance, and he hastily averted his gaze.


    Su Ci approached, not paying attention to Fu Baili, but watching the medical staff stop Yao ChengQi''s bleeding.


    Her gaze fell on Yao ChengQi''s wrist, where faint red lines were barely visible, with only two minutes remaining.


    The medical staff quickly stopped Yao ChengQi''s bleeding.


    People around were murmuring, and even the lead actors, who werefortably lounging on the set chairs, turned their attention to Su Ci.


    The director, the first to react, received a phone call informing him that the investor''s sister, the youngdy Su, would be arriving, and he was aware that the crew''s driver had gone to pick her up.


    The director hurried forward, his attitude respectful: "Miss Su, you''re here."


    Su Ci''s voice was cold, "Why wasn''t the injured actor immediately sent to the hospital for treatment?" There was a lot of blood on the ground, clearly indicating that Yao ChengQi had fallen from the wire for some time without receiving any first aid.


    "This..." The director stammered, "I was just about to send someone, but then Miss Su arrived with a medical team."


    Su Ci suddenly recalled her previous life, where she had died of a heart attack on set, surrounded by cold, indifferent onlookers discussing the incident.


    She had no interest in listening to the director''s excuses.


    Fu Baili stepped aside to make room for the medical staff, standing by as he watched the director treat Su Ci with a mixture of respect and caution, much like the friends who used to surround him.


    The same faces.


    His gaze unintentionally fell on the girl''s snowy white profile, and he couldn''t help but take a second look, not expecting that this lofty princess of the Su family would appear like an angel.


    Compared to others who were indifferent and apathetic, she questioned why no one had helped Yao Chengqi.


    Fu Baili suddenly felt that this haughty youngdy of the Su family wasn''t as annoying as before.


    Su Ci watched as Yao ChengQi''s life gauge turned yellow with six segments, and she rxed.


    She turned her head and met Fu Baili''s gaze, "What are you looking at me for? Are you suddenly finding me radiant with holy light?"


    Fu Baili: ......


    Su Ci then gave him a once-over. Fu Baili''s face was smeared with dirt, and he was dressed in costume for filming, ying a dying extra, so he was already quite disheveled.


    Su Ci said, "Now that I look at you, you seem more like a human."


    Fu Baili''s face darkened. Did she mean that he wasn''t human before?


    Su Ci didn''t care whether Fu Baili was angry or not. Yao ChengQi was back, and she had already obtained the golden cotton candy. Watching the medical staff carry Yao ChengQi into the car, she turned and left.


    Fu Baili followed, intending to apany Yao ChengQi to the hospital.


    As he got closer, he glimpsed through the rear window of the car that a man was sitting in the front.


    Su Ci got into the car, leaning toward the man, their actions intimate.


    Seeing the man kiss the girl, Fu Baili lowered his eyes and got into the following car.


    Inside the car, Lu Zhe kept a close eye on the situation outside through the tinted windows until the girl got in, then he withdrew his gaze.


    "That person was saved," Su Ci said, not letting Lu Zhe get out because there were too many cameras on set. Lu Zhe had announced his identity as the heir of the Lu family at his birthday party, and many people present recognized him. Su Ci didn''t want the rescue to be high-profile and end up trending on social media.


    She leaned closer to him, whispering, "Hurry and kiss me before the driver gets in."


    Lu Zhe chuckled lightly.


    His cold fingers tipped her chin, and Lu Zhe kissed her.


    Su Ci passed the golden cotton candy, and her little tongue darted in, touching Lu Zhe''s, deliberately teasing him a few times. Just as Lu Zhe was about to deepen the kiss, she quickly pulled back.


    Su Ci ignored Lu Zhe''s deep eyes, blinking innocently, "No more kissing, the driver ising."


    Lu Zhe nced out the window; the driver was indeed hurrying over.


    Lu Zhe curled his lips.


    His hand that had been holding her chin moved to cup the back of her head, pressing her closer to him. His thin lips parted slightly, gently biting her lip, and in her gasp, he hooked her tongue and sucked fiercely a few times before letting her go.


    The driver opened the door, apologizing, "Sorry, I was in the restroom."


    Lu Zhe sat upright, his expression calm and handsome, "It''s fine, drive."


    Su Ci pursed her slightly sore lips, ncing at the boy beside her.


    She felt that the once abstinent and indifferent Lu Zhe had be shamelessly brazen.

 Chapter 102

    The car arrived at the hospital, and the medical staff immediately rushed Yao ChengQi in for treatment.


    Fu Baili stepped out of the car. He looked at the ck car in front of them. The door opened, and after a while, the driver got out and went into the hospital.


    Fu Baili shifted his gaze and quickly walked into the hospital.


    Su Ci didn''t get out of the car. She instructed the driver to check on the situation and take care of the medical expenses.


    Yao ChengQi woke up in the evening. Fu Baili didn''t return to the film crew; he stayed in the ward the entire time.


    "Where am I?" Yao ChengQi''s throat was dry, and his voice was raspy.


    "This is the hospital. You fell from the wire and were seriously injured," Fu Baili said, standing up and gesturing for him not to move.


    Yao ChengQi remembered falling and then everything went ck. He couldn''t recall anything after that.


    He looked around the ward. It was spacious, bright, and quiet. "This room must be expensive, right?"


    Yao ChengQi was anxious. This wasn''t a ce he could afford. "I want to transfer to a regr ward."


    Fu Baili was used to luxury and had seen all kinds of opulent ces. To him, this was just an ordinary hospital room. He hadn''t even considered the difference between a regr ward and a VIP one.


    "Someone has already paid for it," Fu Baili said. He didn''t have much money himself, but when he found out about the medical and hospital fees, Su Ci''s driver had already taken care of it.


    Yao ChengQi was shocked. "Who?"


    "The daughter of the Su family."


    Fu Baili only left after Yao ChengQi''s girlfriend arrived.


    By the time he returned to the small motel, it was alreadyte at night. The environment in the motel was poor, and the sounds ofmotion from the neighboring room kept interrupting the silence.


    Fu Baili was exhausted. He sat on the bed, but his phone remained silent.


    In the past, he would have been bombarded with invitations from friends to go out, drink, or race. Now, not only were his friends not reaching out, but Zhao Youyou hadn''t contacted him all day.


    Fu Baili''s eyes darkened. He sent a message: "Are you asleep?"


    In the car.


    "It''s sote. Who''s texting you? Your boyfriend?" The boy turned the steering wheel and casually asked when he heard the notification sound from Zhao Youyou''s phone.


    Zhao Youyou put her phone away, blushing slightly. "It''s just spam."


    The boy was sunny and handsome. When the traffic light turned red, he nced at her. "So, do you have a boyfriend?"


    His tone was serious, and Zhao Youyou''s heart skipped a beat. She replied softly, "That''s my private matter."


    "I''m sorry, I overstepped," the boy apologized and continued driving.


    The car stopped downstairs at her house. Zhao Youyou unfastened her seatbelt and politely thanked him. "Thank you for helping me again today and for driving me home."


    "We''re ssmates. It''s only natural to help each other," Gao Shangjin said as he watched her about to get out of the car. "There''s a new movie out tomorrow. I bought tickets, but my friends bailed on me. Do you have time to go with me? Otherwise, the tickets will go to waste."


    Zhao Youyou hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Sure, consider it repayment for your help today."


    Gao Shangjin smiled. "See you tomorrow."


    Zhao Youyou''s face was filled with a gentle smile as she waved at him.


    When she got home, her father and mother were still awake, discussing whether to sell the house. With the money, they could pay off the 500,000 yuan debt and buy a smaller ce.


    Zhao Youyou frowned when she heard them. "Dad, that''s not right. This house was bought by Baili."


    "What does it matter who bought it? He gave it to you, so it''s yours," Zhao''s father said, his face still bruised from the fight with the reporters. In the end, he had to pay them off to make them leave.


    Zhao''s mother chimed in, "Your father is right. Besides, Fu Baili has nothing now. It''s kind of us not to ask him for room and board."


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip and remained silent.


    Fu Baili returned to City B the next day,te in the evening. Yao ChengQi''s injury hadn''t healed, so he stayed in the hospital.


    Fu Baili first went to a jewelry store and bought a silver bracelet with the money he had earned over the past few days. For the former Fu Baili, a bracelet worth a few hundred yuan would have been trash, but this was the first time he had earned something through hard work. He wanted to give it to the person he loved.


    Winter nights came quickly. Even though it was still early evening, the sky was already dark.


    The cold wind blew, stinging their faces.


    Fu Baili had caught a cold and was wearing a mask as he hurried toward Zhao''s house.


    As he approached the tree, he suddenly saw Zhao Youyouing out of the building. Fu Baili''s sharp features softened. Although Zhao Youyou hadn''t contacted him in the past two days, he wasn''t the type to dwell on such details. His longing for her could be expressed when he saw her.


    Under the mask, Fu Baili''s lips curved into a smile as he prepared to walk quickly toward his girlfriend.


    However, before Fu Baili could speak, he saw Zhao Youyou pressing her hair down to keep it from being blown by the wind, smiling sweetly as she walked toward a car parked on the side.


    Leaning against the car was a tall man.


    Fu Baili stopped in his tracks.


    He watched as the man took out a small gift box and removed a ne from it.


    "This is my gift to you. Do you like it?" Gao Shangjin was dressed casually today. Although he wasn''t as outstanding and dazzling as Lu Zhe or as handsome as Fu Baili, his sunny and handsome appearance was also quite appealing to girls.


    Zhao Youyou was surprised. "Why are you suddenly giving me a gift?"


    Gao Shangjin was straightforward and good at sweet-talking. "It''s normal to give gifts to a girl you like and pursue her."


    He unfastened the ne sp. "Don''t feel pressured. When I saw this ne, I thought it suited you very well. Moreover, this ne is limited edition, and only you can have it."


    Gao Shangjin was not only romantic but also gave expensive and unique gifts. Combined with his good looks, it was hard for any girl to resist such a charming man.


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip shyly, her voice soft. "I can''t ept this..."


    "If you don''t take it, it will just be a waste. I might as well throw it away," Gao Shangjin said, pretending to throw the ne into the nearby trash can.


    "Don''t!" Zhao Youyou quickly stopped him. She knew this brand of ne was worth at least five figures. She had once fantasized about Fu Baili giving her one.


    Gao Shangjin opened his palm. The diamond pendant sparkled under the warm yellow streetlight. "Let me help you put it on."


    Zhao Youyou was silent for a moment before nodding shyly.


    Gao Shangjin walked behind Zhao Youyou, getting close to her as he fastened the ne. "You look beautiful."


    Zhao Youyou''s face instantly turned red.


    Under the tree, Fu Baili stood still, like a shadow swallowed by the darkness.


    Fu Baili''s eyes were hurt by Zhao Youyou''s shy expression.


    He had thought that she only showed such expressions when she was with him.


    His hands clenched into fists, and a fire burned in Fu Baili''s chest. He stepped out from under the tree, his eyes red.


    He stared intensely at Zhao Youyou.


    The sudden appearance startled Zhao Youyou. She instinctively moved away from Gao Shangjin''s touch.


    "Baili..." Zhao Youyou bit her lip and walked toward Fu Baili. "Don''t misunderstand."


    The mask hid Fu Baili''s expression, but his eyes were cold. "Misunderstand what? That you epted another man''s ne? Or that you let another man put it on for you?"


    Zhao Youyou quickly exined, "We''re just friends. He helped me yesterday. There''s really nothing between us."


    The ne around Zhao Youyou''s neck stabbed at Fu Baili''s heart. He sneered, "I really am a fool."


    Fu Baili took out the small gift box from his pocket and threw it at Zhao Youyou. He gave her a deep look before turning and leaving.


    "Baili!" Zhao Youyou was extremely wronged. She picked up the small gift box, opened it, and found a simple silver bracelet inside.


    "This bracelet doesn''t suit you," Gao Shangjin said, closing the box and taking it from Zhao Youyou''s hand. "You deserve the best. Cheap jewelry doesn''t match you."


    Zhao Youyou looked up, her eyes red.


    "If you like cheap stuff, I can give you a pile of them," Gao Shangjin said, taking the box from Zhao Youyou and tossing it into the grass.


    He smiled and said, "Get in the car. I''ve already had a table reserved. The head chef there was hired from abroad, and his cooking is excellent. I''ll take you to try it out."


    Zhao Youyou, her eyes red, was led into the car by Gao Shangjin.


    As the car drove away, Fu Baili returned, picking up the small gift box from the pile of grass.


    He went upstairs to the Zhao residence, where Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother were on the phone in the living room, discussing with an agent the sale of the house.


    Seeing Fu Baili suddenly return, Zhao''s father casually said a few words to the agent on the phone and hung up.


    He spoke to Fu Baili with displeasure, "Xiao Li, this ce isn''t your home. Remember to inform us when youe and go."


    Fu Baili removed his mask, his expression cold. "Are you selling this house?"


    Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother, feeling guilty, didn''t dare to respond.


    "The house hasn''t been transferred to Zhao Youyou yet. You have no right to dispose of it," Fu Baili said as he walked into the room to pack a few sets of clothes.


    Zhao''s father and Zhao''s mother grew anxious. "What do you mean? Isn''t this house something you bought for Youyou? Once you give it to my daughter, it''s ours."


    Fu Baili slung his backpack over his shoulder. Looking at the two people before him who had torn apart their rtionship, he said coldly, "The house belongs to my parents. It hasn''t reached Zhao Youyou''s hands yet. I''m afraid your ns wille to nothing."


    The house had originally been a birthday gift from Fu Baili''s mother to him. At the time, he had worried that Zhao Youyou wouldn''t ept it, so he had lied and said he had bought it.


    He had never taken Zhao Youyou toplete the transfer procedures because he had left the Fu family, and the matter had been dyed.


    "How could this be..." Zhao''s mother was stunned.


    Fu Baili looked at their greedy faces and didn''t bother to argue further, leaving the house.


    The winter night was particrly cold, and there were few pedestrians on the streets.


    The cold wind brushed against Fu Baili''s face, and his handsome features seemed covered in ayer of frost.


    He didn''t have much money left and could only find a cheap motel to stay in for the night.


    At that moment, a ck car stopped beside Fu Baili. He looked over.


    The window rolled down, revealing the kind face of an elderly woman.


    Fu Baili''s eyes reddened, and his voice instantly became hoarse. "Grandma."


    Grandmother Fu sighed. "Aren''t you getting in the car?"


    The driver quickly got out and opened the door for Fu Baili. "Young Master, please."


    Sitting in the car, the warmth enveloped him all at once. Fu Baili''s cold expression softened, and his eyes reddened. He no longer resembled the arrogant and carefree young master he had once been.


    Now, he seemed more like a child who had endured many grievances and finally found his family.


    Seeing her grandson had lost weight and clearly suffered a lot, Grandmother Fu, who had raised him since he was a child, couldn''t help but feel heartbroken.


    Xiao Li, Grandma has never been one to care about ss differences, nor does she hold prejudice against girls from ordinary families. But all of this is premised on the other person''s character being virtuous.


    Grandmother Fu spoke slowly. "You''ve always been surrounded by people who pampered you. You can be proud, evencent, but you cannot deceive yourself. This time, you were caught in the situation, blinded by your emotions. After such a long time, you should havee to your senses."


    Fu Baili''s eyes were bloodshot, his face pale. "Grandma, I was wrong."


    ...


    Su Ci had never thought that because she had saved Grandmother Fu in the past, it hadpletely altered the rtionship between Fu Baili and Zhao Youyou.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    During this time, she had heard that Fu Baili had returned to the Fu family, and the Fu family was considering a marriage alliance with the Wang family.


    The Wang family had only one daughter, Wang Xiaoqin, whom Su Ci remembered Zhao Youyou had once thrown away her medication, almost causing her death.


    Now, Fu Baili had broken up with Zhao Youyou and might be engaged to Wang Xiaoqin.


    Su Ci suddenly felt that the workings of fate were quite interesting.


    After the New Year, the final exams soon approached, which wasn''t a difficult task for Su Ci.


    After easily finishing the exams, Su Ci stayed at home almost every day. Not only was she afraid of the cold, but also because Lu Zhe was very busy nearing the end of the year, and they could only video call at night.


    At this moment, Su Ci was leisurely lying on the bed, watching Lu Zhe flip through documents on the video call.


    Over the past half year, Lu Zhe''s features had be more defined. Perhaps because he often dealt with a group of cunning old foxes in thepany, the youthful naivety in Lu Zhe''s demeanor had gradually faded, reced by increasing maturity and stability.


    The boy was transforming into a man.


    Su Ci gazed at Lu Zhe''s face, deeply feeling that every feature of his was exactly what she loved. She couldn''t help but adore him.


    Lu Zhe didn''t neglect the girl. After flipping through a few pages of documents, he would lift his eyes to give her a nce.


    Just as Su Ci was about to tease Lu Zhe, she suddenly felt a wave of nausea.


    Su Ci covered her mouth.


    Then, a surge of vomiting urges rose, and Su Ci, covering her mouth, quickly ran to the bathroom.


    On the screen, the girl suddenly ran away, and Lu Zhe''s brows instinctively furrowed.


    After a while, Su Ci walked back, her ck eyes glistening with tears.


    "What''s wrong?" Lu Zhe, no longer paying attention to the documents, looked at the girl on the screen with concern. "Are you feeling unwell?"


    Su Ci was about to speak when she suddenly covered her mouth again, suppressing the urge to vomit.


    Lu Zhe''s brows tightened even more. "Tuan Tuan, are you feeling okay?"


    After recovering, Su Ci let go of her hand. With a pitiful nod, she said, "I feel like throwing up."


    Lu Zhe''s eyes were filled with worry. "Did you eat something wrong? Do you need to go to the hospital?"


    The nausea passed again, and Su Ci shook her head. "I ate the same thing as usual for dinner." Moreover, she hadn''t vomited anything when she went to the bathroom earlier.


    She touched her head. "My rabbit ears didn''t appear." So, it wasn''t that she was sick.


    Lu Zhe felt a little relieved. The next moment, he saw the girl cover her mouth again, feeling nauseous.


    "Tuan Tuan."


    Su Ci let go of her hand, her dark eyes even more watery. With a pitiful voice, she said, "Lu Zhe, am I pregnant?"


    The girl''s words stunned the boy on the other side of the screen.

 Chapter 103

    Su Ci felt another wave of nausea. The more she thought about it, the more she suspected she might be pregnant.


    Tearfully, she looked at Lu Zhe, who seemedpletely stunned. "What if I''m pregnant?"


    Previously, Su''s Mother had reminded her to be careful about contraception, but Su Ci hadn''t taken it to heart. Now that she suspected she was pregnant, she waspletely panicked.


    She was still a child herself, how could she possibly have a baby?


    And if she had a child, her and Lu Zhe''s two-person world would be over.


    Su Ci wanted to cry.


    On the other end of the screen.


    Lu Zhe''s body stiffened, his limbs tingling with numbness. His usually handsome face was filled with tension. "Tuan Tuan, are you sure?" They had taken precautions during their previous encounters.


    Su Ci''s eyes were pitiful to the extreme. "I don''t know, but I feel like throwing up."


    Lu Zhe''s heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly. He remained silent for a moment, thenforted the girl, "We''ll go to the hospital tomorrow to get checked. If it''s true that you''re pregnant, Tuan Tuan, let''s get married."


    He would also need to inform Su''s Father and Su''s Mother about this.


    Originally, he had nned to propose after she graduated from university, but now, he needed to move up his ns.


    ¡°Don''t worry, I''ll take care of everything. If Su''s Father and Su''s Mother are upset, it''s all my fault, and I''ll beg for their forgiveness,¡± Lu Zhe gentlyforted her. ¡°Is there anywhere else you feel ufortable?¡±


    Su Ci shook her head. She had only felt the urge to vomit earlier.


    Lu Zhe felt slightly relieved. "Be a good girl, Tuan Tuan. Go get some rest, and I''ll pick you up tomorrow morning."


    Su Ci''s mind was in turmoil. How had she suddenly be pregnant?


    She checked the time. Unfortunately, it waste at night, and the pharmacy was already closed. She couldn''t buy a pregnancy test, so she had to wait until tomorrow to go to the hospital.


    After the girl ended the video call, Lu Zhe immediately stood up, grabbed his coat from the back of the chair, and strode out.


    Wen Ya had juste out of the kitchen, about to bring her son some freshly cooked soup, when she saw him hurrying down the stairs.


    "Zai Zai, it''s sote, where are you going?" Wen Ya quickly called out to her son.


    Lu Zhe turned back. "Yeah, I have something I need to take care of."


    With that, he quickly left.


    Wen Ya watched her son''s tense and hurried expression, feeling a bit worried. It seemed like something serious had happened.


    She carried the soup back to her room.


    Lu Chen had just finished showering. His midnight blue silk pajamas were only partially buttoned, revealing his chest and corbone. His wet bangs hung over his forehead, looking quite dashing.


    Seeing his wife bringing in the soup, he raised an eyebrow and leaned closer to her. "Ya Ya, did you cook soup for me?"


    Indeed, he was the true love of his wife''s life. Finally, Ya Ya had cooked soup for him.


    Wen Ya handed the bowl to him.


    Lu Chen happily epted the soup, feeling the warmth of his wife''s love.


    "It''s for our son, but he rushed out in such a hurry. I wonder what happened. I saw Zai Zai''s expression wasn''t very good," Wen Ya thought about her son the entire time.


    Lu Chen felt a heavy blow to his chest, and the soup suddenly didn''t taste sweet anymore.


    He huffed. "He''s that old, what could possibly happen? Going out thiste, he''s definitely going to look for the Su family''s youngest daughter."


    Lu Chen was so jealous. He thought the soup was cooked for him, but it turned out he was just benefiting from his son''s leftovers. He handed the spoon to his wife, shamelessly saying, "Ya Ya, my hands are tired. Feed me..."


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhe left home and drove to the Su residence.


    His car stopped under a tree by the roadside in front of the Su house, blending into the night.


    The young man''s angr profile was barely visible in the dim light.


    Lu Zhe sat in the car, staring at the Su family''s gate. The tension and unease in his chest gradually subsided, and his numb limbs slowly regained feeling.


    At that moment, Lu Zhe''s phone rang. It was Su Ci calling.


    He quickly answered.


    "Lu Zhe, I can''t sleep," Su Ci said on the other end, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.


    In the quiet night, Lu Zhe''s voice was low and maic. "Do you still feel like throwing up?"


    "I did again just now," Su Ci turned over, switching hands holding the phone. "Lu Zhe, I want to see you."


    Lu Zhe''s eyshes trembled slightly. His throat tightened. "Tuan Tuan, I''m at your house."


    Su Ci was stunned. "You came to see me?"


    "Yes."


    Su Ci ended the call and got out of bed. She put on a coat, slipped into her slippers, and quickly walked outside.


    The cold winter night was especially chilly.


    Su Ci walked out the door and looked around, spotting a car parked under a tree by the roadside.


    Her eyes lit up.


    Lu Zhe stood by the car. Seeing the girl running towards him, the cold wind brushing against her white skirt and revealing her slender ankles, he quickly stepped forward. "Tuan Tuan, don''t run."


    He gently caught the girl as she rushed into his arms, holding her small, cold hand.


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes were filled with heartache.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Why are you dressed so lightly?" Lu Zhe hugged her tightly and led her towards the car.


    Su Ci was only wearing a white nightgown, casually draped with a long knit sweater. She had white socks on her feet and slippers, obviously rushing out to see him as soon as they hung up the phone.


    The car''s heater was on. Lu Zhe closed the back door and bent down to touch the girl''s ankles, which were also cold. "Are you cold?"


    Su Ci shook her head. Her eyes were bright. "Why did youe?"


    She was so surprised.


    "Were you going to surprise me? Or were you nning to stay outside my house all night if I didn''t call you?"


    Lu Zhe had indeed intended to stay outside the Su residence until dawn.


    He didn''t answer her question. Instead, he gently tucked the stray hairs behind her ear and kissed her. "Do you still feel like throwing up?"


    "Not right now," Su Ci leaned weakly against Lu Zhe''s chest. "What if the test tomorrow shows I''m really pregnant?"


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips were pale. His throat tightened. He wanted to say he would respect her every decision.


    The next moment, he heard the girlin, "We haven''t even started our two-person world yet, and now there''s a baby? After having a child, half of your heart will be taken away."


    Lu Zhe was hers. He could only like her, love her, and pamper her.


    If they had a child, Su Ci could imagine that Lu Zhe''s affection, love, and indulgence would all be divided in half.


    Su Ci felt very selfish. She wanted all of Lu Zhe.


    Hearing this, Lu Zhe was a bit surprised. The concerns he had were different from Su Ci''s.


    Lu Zhe''s slightly furrowed brows rxed. He hugged her tightly. "No."


    Su Ci sniffled, burying her face in Lu Zhe''s chest. "What if the baby we have turns out to be a rabbit?"


    Lu Zhe: ...


    Lu Zhe had never thought about this question, but he wasn''t worried. Both he and she were human, so the baby they had should also be human.


    Su Ci had many concerns. "I heard that pregnancy can make you ugly."


    For Su Ci, the idea of her beauty declining was the most serious issue.


    Lu Zhe was very patient, gently soothing the little princess in his arms. "Tuan Tuan, you''re beautiful no matter what, and I''ll always like you."


    The once cold and reserved young man would never have said such things tofort someone.


    Su Ci looked up at him. "Did you eat candy tonight?"


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly. He kissed her soft, squishy cheek. "Tuan Tuan, don''t be afraid. I''ll take care of everything."


    The next day, Su Ci had breakfast and then went out.


    After talking with Lu Zhe the previous night, she slept very deeply and woke up with good energy, feeling no urge to vomit.


    Lu Zhe was already waiting outside the gate. He hadn''t slept all night. He went home to freshen up and change clothes just before dawn, then rushed back to the Su residence.


    Su Ci got into the car and immediately noticed the red bloodshot eyes under Lu Zhe''s, indicating he hadn''t rested well.


    It was now her turn tofort him. "Don''t be nervous."


    Lu Zhe curled his lips, leaned over to fasten the girl''s seatbelt, and kissed her little mouth.


    Su Ci had drunk milk that morning, and he tasted a hint of milky vor.


    She was wearing a light pink loose sweater today, a gentle color that made her fair little face even more radiant. Lu Zhe couldn''t imagine what the little princess would look like pregnant.


    He had thought about it all night. Would the child be as beautiful, cute, and a bit spoiled and naughty as she was?


    In the morning, the hospital was not crowded.


    Lu Zhe held Su Ci''s hand. He had arranged for the doctor who would examine Su Ci today in advance.


    The doctor looked at the two young people in front of her, clearly ustomed to the nervous expressions they wore. She asked Su Ci some relevant questions.


    Su Ci''s menstrual cycle had always been irregr; sometimes it woulde a week early, and other times it would be dyed. This month, it was dyed, and coupled with her nausea, she suspected she might be pregnant.


    The doctor advised Su Ci to undergo a pregnancy test first.


    Zhao Youyou had been having a tough timetely. After Fu Baili saw her epting gifts from another boy, he got angry and left, even moving out of the Zhao household.


    Fu Baili wouldn''t listen to her exnations; she and Gao Shangjin were just friends, after all.


    Zhao Youyou felt so wronged.


    Moreover, Gao Shangjin, after that day, seemed to vanish into thin air, not contacting her at all.


    Just the day before, he had been showering her with attention, giving her gifts, taking her to dinner, and even to the movies, where he kissed her in the theater.


    Zhao Youyou wanted to ask Gao Shangjin what he meant by all this, but she realized he had never actually said he wanted to be with her.


    She turned to Fu Baili, calling him numerous times, only to hear him say they were breaking up.


    What shocked her even more was that Fu Baili had returned to the Fu Family, and she had seen online that the Fu Family was nning to arrange a marriage with the Wang Family.


    Zhao Youyou sent a message to Fu Baili, questioning if he was breaking up with her because he was going to marry someone else.


    But her message went unanswered.


    Exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and with the weather taking a toll, Zhao Youyou fell ill.


    Entering the hospital, she took a photo at the registration desk and sent it to Fu Baili: "I''m sick. I really wish you could be here with me."


    However, she never received a reply.


    Zhao Youyou felt even more wronged.


    She wore a mask as she walked through the hospital, but she didn''t expect to run into Lu Zhe and Su Ci. Looking up at the department sign, she was shocked to see that Lu Zhe and Su Ci had juste out of the gynecology department.


    Zhao Youyou instinctively pulled her mask tighter, watching as the two walked past her. She cautiously followed them.


    Su Ci had prepared herself mentally and discussed with Lu Zhe how to tell their families about her suspected pregnancy. However, now that the test results showed she wasn''t pregnant, she was momentarily at a loss.


    Lu Zhe looked over the test results several times, his expression always calm and unreadable, making it hard to tell if he was relieved or disappointed.


    Su Ci looked up at him. "What''s that expression for?"


    Lu Zhe put the test results away, gently ruffling her hair. "Relief."


    She was still young, a little spoiled, and not yet ready for pregnancy.


    Su Ci blinked. "Then why did I suddenly feel nauseous yesterday?" Moreover, she had felt a strong sense of pregnancy.


    Strangely, that feeling had disappeared when she woke up this morning.


    Lu Zhe took her hand. "Maybe you caught a cold."


    Su Ci was still puzzled; she wondered if there was some other issue that hadn''t been detected.


    Su Ci summoned Fu Gui (a fictional character or device in the story). "What''s wrong with my body?"


    Fu Gui told her: [Master, you felt nauseous because of pseudocyesis.]


    Pseudocyesis?


    Su Ci was shocked.


    This term was something she hade across while researching rabbit-rted information online. She never expected it to happen to her.


    Fu Gui, with a little baby voice, exined: [Master, before your estrus period, you will experience a day of pseudocyesis.]


    Su Ci was puzzled. "Why didn''t this happen before my estrus period?"


    Fu Gui was a bit shy. [Because before, Master hadn''t done intimate things with Lu Zhe.]


    Su Ci: ......


    Lu Zhe noticed the girl''s nk expression and gently touched her face. "What''s wrong? Are you unhappy?"


    Su Ci shook her head, hugging Lu Zhe tightly. "I made a mistake."


    Lu Zhe chuckled. "We bothck experience; it''s normal to misunderstand."


    However, Lu Zhe thought he should probably learn more about this kind of thing.


    Watching Lu Zhe and Su Ci walk away, Zhao Youyou put away her phone. Although she couldn''t hear what they were saying, from the series of pregnancy tests Su Ci had undergone and her frustrated expression, it was clear that she was pregnant.


    Zhao Youyou had always believed that, despite her humble background, her ability to be reborn meant she would surely turn her life around.


    However, ever since meeting Su Ci, Zhao Youyou felt utterly crushed. Her sense of superiority hadpletely vanished in front of Su Ci.


    Not only did Su Cie from an extraordinary family, but her appearance was also stunningly beautiful, making people envious and jealous.


    Even Lu Zhe, who had a cold personality, had been captivated by Su Ci, to the point where he couldn''t see her anymore.


    Zhao Youyou flipped through the photos she had just taken, and her recently low spirits lifted a bit.


    That night, a sudden news story broke online: "Su Family''s Heiress Pregnant Out of Wedlock, Spotted at Hospital with Unknown Man."


    The article included photos of Su Ci at the hospital, her hand held by someone beside her. The man in the photo only showed his arm, with no visible face.


    Su Ci had previously appeared on a food program and had been a trending topic several times. She had also been rumored to be involved with celebrity Zheng Hao, but it waster rified that she was his savior, which made headlines twice. Given her breathtaking beauty and top-tier family background, the news of her pregnancy out of wedlock caused an immediate uproar online.


    "What is this Su heiress thinking? Pregnant before marriage?"


    "Took my popcorn, ready to watch the drama."


    "No way, Su Ci is my goddess! She''s still in college, how could she be pregnant?"


    I heard that people in wealthy families are very open; I wonder who the man beside her is.


    "Am I the only one curious about who the man is?"


    "Su Ci is from our school; I heard her boyfriend is poor and has a terminal illness."


    "Same school here; many people know that Su Ci has bad taste in men; her boyfriend is an orphan from a small town."


    In thements, someizens were stirring up rumors, imagining all sorts of scenarios.


    "Rich heiresses are often well-protected and can easily be deceived by bad men; no wonder so many people criticize ''gold-diggers.''"


    "Most of the time, pretty girls end up marrying ugly, greasy men."


    "No way, Su Ci is so beautiful and rich; was she tricked by an old man? So stupid and pitiful."


    "Are rich heiresses really that dumb? They all like ''gold-diggers''?"


    "Su Ci is really beautiful and rich, but her brain doesn''t seem to work; what a waste of her good looks and background."


    "Our school''s campus beauty does have a boyfriend; he''s from theputer science department. He''s not ugly, but he''s definitely poor."


    "This beauty is probably being tricked into pregnancy by a man who wants to force her into marriage; otherwise, rich families usually get engaged before marriage."


    ...


    Su Ci learned about the trending topic from her older brother, Su ZhiYuan, who called her.


    Su Ci quickly denied it to her brother. "I''m not pregnant."


    Su ZhiYuan had known about his sister''s rtionship with Lu Zhe. Seeing the news, he immediately called her. Hearing her denial, he breathed a sigh of relief.


    His sister was still young; he didn''t want to be an uncle so soon.


    Su ZhiYuan said, "I''ll have the trending topic taken down, but Dad and Mom will probably hear about it. You''d better think about how to exin this to them."


    After hanging up, Su Ci immediately checked the trending topic.


    She scrolled through thements, seeingizens'' wild spections, feeling sorry for her being tricked into pregnancy and possibly being forced into marriage.


    Manyizens also spected that the man who tricked her was ugly, old, and poor,ing from a rural area.


    Su Ci was speechless.


    She logged into her long-unused ount and posted: "The ''ugly, old, poor man who tricked me into pregnancy and wants to force me into marriage'' boyfriend."


    Below, she attached a side profile photo of Lu Zhe at work.

 Chapter 104

    In the photo, the man was wearing a white shirt, his eyelid low, his angr profile exuding a cold and noble aura.


    Even his hand flipping through the documents was distinctively elegant, with well-defined knuckles, too handsome to be real.


    Earlier, manyizens had been gloating. Su Ci was beautiful, came from a good family, but her taste in men wasn''t great. She had been deceived¡ªtricked into a rtionship, swindled out of money, forced into a marriage, and now, unwed and pregnant. Manyizens had expressed their sympathy for her.


    But now, with the photo posted by Su Ci, the inte exploded.


    "Wow, is this Su Ci''s boyfriend? So handsome, so handsome, so handsome, so handsome, so handsome, so handsome."


    "Oh my god, this man''s profile is unbeatable. What kind of divine beauty is this?"


    Is this beauty real? Su Ci''s boyfriend is so handsome; I need a full-face shot.


    "Ahhhhh, men in white shirts are the best, especially when they''re this handsome and have such a presence. Absolutely perfect, they''re such a divine couple."


    "My goodness, Su Ci''s boyfriend is clearly so handsome. What''s with all thements on the trending topics saying she was tricked by an ugly, old man? If this is ugly and old, please send me a boyfriend like this."


    "Ouch, thoseizens who criticized Su Ci for being duped must have sore faces now. Her boyfriend is even more handsome than a celebrity, and they look so good together!"


    "Someone else''s boyfriend, I''m so jealous!"


    This profile is killing me, boohoo, Su Ci''s boyfriend is so handsome. Who was it that called him a marriage scammer? I''d love to be scammed into marriage by someone like him.


    "I''ve met Su Ci''s boyfriend. He''s the heir to the Lu Family, yes, that Lu Family. I had the privilege of attending this young master Lu''s birthday party. By the way, in the high society circles, the Su Family and the Lu Family are at the center."


    "I heard from my family that this young master Lu was kidnapped when he was a child and was only recently found. The Lu Family not only acknowledged his identity but also handed over the Lu Group to him. He''s definitely the future domineering CEO. He''s very low-key, only officially making an appearance at the birthday party. Those who said he was poor and swindling money, the Su Family and the Lu Family are a power couple."


    "I''m so jealous, it seems like fairies only date gods."


    "Oh, he''s from our school. I heard he has a terminal illness. Is his family really that powerful? So low-key!!"


    ...


    Su Ci watched thements on the trending topics. Theizens who had previously pitied her for being deceived and unwedly pregnant had all changed their tune, with many now drooling over the idea of marrying Lu Zhe.


    She gave a light hum and continued scrolling.


    She noticed onement that read: "Am I the only one who noticed Su Ci''s boyfriend''s Adam''s apple? It''s killing me, looks so kissable."


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes.


    At that moment, there was a knock on her door.


    Su Ci opened the door to find Su''s Mother standing outside, "Mom."


    Su''s Mother looked anxious, "Ci Ci, is the news online true? Are you pregnant?"


    "No, it''s fake," Su Ci reassured her mother, "I''m not pregnant."


    "Then what about the photo of you at the hospital?"


    Su Ci certainly didn''t dare tell her mother the truth, "I had a slight cold and went to the hospital. I didn''t expect to be photographed."


    Su''s Mother breathed a sigh of relief, "I thought... I was going to be a grandmother." Hearing the news of her daughter''s pregnancy had scared her, "Who would be so mean to spread such rumors about you?"


    Su Ci shook her head, "Brother said he''ll investigate for me."


    "Once your brother finds out who''s behind this, I won''t let them off either," Su''s Mother was most protective of Su Ci. She was determined to pursue the matter if her daughter was being ndered.


    At that moment, the maid came up to report to Su''s Mother and Su Ci: "Madam, Miss, Sir is back."


    "Looks like your father also knows about this," Su''s Mother patted her daughter''s hand, "Let''s go downstairs. Your father has always been unaware of your rtionship with Lu Zhe. You should exin it to him properly."


    Su Ci obediently agreed.


    Su''s Father had learned about his daughter''s pregnancy from his subordinates. Originally, he had a contract signing with a client but canceled it immediately and rushed home.


    He and his wife had always pampered their daughter like a treasure, in their eyes, she was still very young, and the thought of her getting married was far off.


    Now, with the sudden news of her pregnancy, he felt like he had been hit hard,pletely stunned.


    At this moment, Su''s Father was sitting on the sofa.


    Little Su Ning and Little Tiancai were quietly sitting nearby, the two little mischief-makers sensing the unusual atmosphere and refraining from ying around.


    Su''s Father watched as his wife and daughter came downstairs. His stern face softened slightly.


    Su''s Mother sat down beside her husband.


    Su Ci sat down on the opposite side, "Dad."


    "Ci Ci, tell me, what''s going on with the news online?" Su''s Father couldn''t bear to speak harshly to his daughter.


    Su Ci quickly denied, "I''m not pregnant, it''s all a rumor."


    Su Shengguo waspletely opposite to Lu Chen in terms of looks. When he was young, his appearance was more refined, gentle, and elegant, but also cunning.


    Lu Chen was a sly fox, while Su Shengguo was a smiling tiger, both equally difficult to deal with.


    Hearing his daughter''s denial, Su''s Father felt relieved but still asked, "Who is the man in the photo?"


    It seemed he had been too busy and hadn''t noticed that some rascal had his eyes on his daughter.


    Su Ci now felt a bit uneasy. She pursed her lips and directly told her father, "It''s Lu Zhe, Dad. I like Lu Zhe, we''re dating."


    Since she had gone public online, she had no intention of hiding it from anyone anymore.


    Keeping their rtionship secret had been exciting, but it was because Lu Zhe had thought his illness was incurable and wanted to give her an out that they hadn''t gone public. Now that Lu Zhe knew his illness could be cured and he wouldn''t die, there was no need for them to hide anymore.


    Su''s Father was truly shocked this time. His daughter and Lu Zhe?


    Su''s Father managed to keep hisposure and looked at his wife, wanting to ask if she knew about their daughter''s rtionship with Lu Zhe.


    Unlike her restless husband, Su''s Mother remained calm, "I couldn''t persuade her."


    A long time ago, she had talked to Lu Zhe, and the young man had distanced himself, but she couldn''t persuade their daughter. There was nothing she could do, and Lu Zhe was also a benefactor to the Su Family; she couldn''t repay kindness with harm.


    Hearing his wife''s words, Su''s Father was slightly startled, "You knew about Su Ci and Lu Zhe being together?"


    Next to them, Little Su Ning, who had been quietly watching cartoons, heard his father mention Lu Zhe''s name. The little rascal quietly asked Su Ci, "Sister, I haven''t seen Brother-inw in a long time."


    Little Tiancai, like a little adult, quickly covered Little Su Ning''s mouth, telling him, "You''re so silly, you can''t call him Brother-inw anymore."


    Little Su Ning thought that since he was asking his sister secretly, his dad and mom definitely couldn''t hear him.


    Su Ci met her father''s gaze, and even with her thick skin, she felt a bit hot.


    "Even they know about you and Lu Zhe?" Su''s Father asked his daughter.


    Su Ci obediently nodded.


    At that moment, Su ZhiYuan came back from outside. As soon as he entered the living room, he heard his father asking his sister such a question, assuming his father was scolding her.


    Su ZhiYuan stepped in to help, "Dad, Su Ci is already in college, it''s normal for her to be dating."


    Su''s Father turned to ask his eldest son, "You knew she was dating Lu Zhe?"


    Su ZhiYuan nodded. He had known since he saw his sister with Lu Zhe at the concert. His sister hadn''t denied it.


    At this point, Su''s Father wasn''t just shocked; he was utterly devastated.


    During dinner, Su''s Father went back to his room, not even touching the food. The Su Family''s precious treasure had been taken away, and even the two little ones knew about it, yet he was the only one in the dark.


    Su''s Father couldn''t bring himself to be angry with his wife and daughter, so he decided to call Lu Chen and take out his frustration on the sly fox.


    Obviously, Lu Chen was also aware of the news online. When he received Su''s Father''s call, he wasn''t surprised at all, and he could imagine the other man''s fury and frustration.


    Lu Chen leanedzily against the chair, his peach blossom eyes sparkling, smiling, "What brings you to call me for a chat?"


    Su''s father heard the pride in Lu Chen''s tone and snapped, "You''ve raised a good son."


    Lu Chen was used to being shameless. Hearing the anger in Su''s Father''s voice, he didn''t care at all, "Of course, my son is good. Your daughter is also well-raised. It''s perfect that they''re a match."


    Su''s Father snorted heavily, clearly understanding the hidden meaning in Lu Chen''s words. "Dream on, you sly fox. Do you really think I would agree to let my daughter, Su Ci, be with your son?"


    Lu Chen, who had known about his son''s rtionship with Su Ci long before anyone else, wasn''t worried at all. The two young lovers were as sweet as honey mixed with sugar.


    "Listen, Old Su, don''t be the viin who tries to break them up," Lu Chen said.


    Su''s Father''s gaze was steady. "You sly fox, I won''t deny that I''m grateful to your son, but you know very well what condition his body is in. I only have one precious daughter."


    Lu Chen''s tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth, and a dark gleam shed in his peach blossom-like eyes. "Then you can try to break them up."


    His words were like a knife, piercing straight into Su''s Father''s heart. Even Su''s Mother had given up trying to persuade their daughter to stay away from Lu Zhe.


    How could he bear to do anything that would make his daughter unhappy?


    As the head of the Su Family, a man who inspired both awe and eagerness to curry favor among outsiders, his wife and daughter were his greatest weaknesses.


    Su''s Father snorted again. "Don''t get too smug. Just because my daughter is dating your son doesn''t mean anything. Young people are always chasing novelty."


    Lu Chenughed, no longer trying to provoke Su''s Father. "Is that so? Then you can wait and see the day they break up."


    Su''s Father hung up the phone without another word.


    Meanwhile, at the Lu Family residence.


    Wen Ya had also seen the news online. Like Su''s Mother, she was in a state of panic.


    She asked Lu Zhe, "Son, am I going to be a grandmother?"


    Wen Ya''s expression was a mix of joy and nervousness.


    Lu Zhe had just returned from thepany. He was stopped at the door by his mother, who threw a perplexing question at him.


    There are rumors online that Su Ci is pregnant. Is it true?" Wen Ya pulled out her phone and showed it to her son. "Ah, the trending search is gone. It must be the Su Family''s doing."


    Hearing his mother''s words, Lu Zhe realized that someone must have taken photos of him apanying Su Ci to the hospital and spread malicious rumors.


    "It''s not true," Lu Zhe frowned. "Mom, I''ll go check who started the rumors."


    With that, he strode away.


    The next day, Lu Zhe went directly to the Su Family''s residence to visit Su''s Father and Su''s Mother. With his rtionship with Su Ci exposed, he felt it was his duty to face the two elders, regardless of their opinions about him.


    Su Ci knew Lu Zhe wasing, so she ran to the front gate to meet him.


    "Why are you dressed so thinly?" Lu Zhe saw the girl''s attire and instinctively frowned.


    Su Ci was wearing only a thin, off-white knitted long dress, paired with a loose outer jacket. The hem of the dress revealed a small section of her slender legs, and she was wearing a pair of fluffy slippers. She had run out like this.


    Lu Zhe couldn''t help but pinch her soft, squishy cheeks. "Is it really that important to be beautiful?"


    Su Ci nodded. She''d rather be a cold beauty than look unattractive.


    Worried that the girl would catch a cold, Lu Zhe took her hand and quickened their pace into the house.


    Su''s Father hadn''t gone to thepany today. At this moment, he was sitting in the living room, his expression dark as he watched his daughter holding Lu Zhe''s hand.


    "Uncle Su, Auntie Su," Lu Zhe greeted the two respectfully.


    "Lu Zhe is here," Su''s Mother said, her attitude towards Lu Zhe much more amicable now that she had given up on separating her daughter and him. "Please, have a seat."


    Lu Zhe sat down on the sofa across from them.


    Su Ci sat unreservedly beside him. After all, her parents already knew about her rtionship with Lu Zhe, so there was no need to hide it anymore.


    Seeing this, Su''s Father could only sigh inwardly.


    He and his wife were well aware of their daughter''s personality. She had been pampered since childhood, and she was proud. If she didn''t like something, she wouldn''t even bother with it.


    From the moment they entered hand in hand, to now still clinging to Lu Zhe, it was clear that Su Ci truly liked him.


    Su''s Mother had been rightst night. If they opposed the rtionship, it would only make their daughter unhappy.


    Lu Zhe sat upright, his posture proper, and his expression was extremely serious. "Uncle Su, Auntie Su, I''m very sorry for keeping my rtionship with Su Ci a secret from you."


    "Dad, Mom, it was my idea to keep it a secret. I was worried you would oppose it," Su Ci quickly defended Lu Zhe.


    Seeing his daughter so eager to protect Lu Zhe, Su''s Father felt a pang of heartache. Despite his reluctance, he had to admit that the Su Family''s precious little princess had been stolen away.


    Su''s Father stood up, his expression dark and unreadable. He nced at his daughter and said to Lu Zhe, "Come with me. We''ll talk in the study."


    Seeing Su Ci about to say something, Su''s Father felt another pang of heartache. "Sit down, Su Ci. Do you think I''m going to beat Lu Zhe up or something?"


    "Of course not," Su Ci smiled sweetly to appease her father. "You two go ahead and talk, Dad. I''ll make tea for you."


    Su''s Father, who doted on his daughter greatly, said, "Such a small matter, let someone else do it."


    Su''s Father led Lu Zhe upstairs. Su Ci got up and followed, watching the two men ascend the stairs. She took out her phone and snapped a photo, then logged into her ount to post a message: "My parents found out about my rtionship with my boyfriend. Now he''s being called to talk by my dad [praying]."


    Below the message, she attached the photo she had just taken of her father and Lu Zhe walking upstairs.


    Last night,izens had been busy digging up information about Su Ci and Lu Zhe''s rtionship. Many had even gone to find Lu Zhe''s frontal photo. It was unclear who had released a photo of Lu Zhe taken surreptitiously at school, but theizens were going wild over how handsome he was.


    Now that Su Ci had posted the message, it immediately sparked a lot of interest.


    "So even a wealthy heiress like you gets nervous about her parents finding out about her rtionship. I feel better now."


    "My goodness, you and Lu Zhe are both godlike in looks, and your families are well-matched. Do you really think your parents wouldn''t approve?"


    "I hereby dere on behalf of your father: I approve of this match."


    "I raise both my feet in approval of this match."


    "I''m crying. Your boyfriend is so handsome even from behind."


    "Ahhh, Lu Zhe''s back view is killing me. His legs are so long!"


    "I''m so jealous again. If your dad opposes and you decide to dump your boyfriend, let me know. I''ll be waiting to pick him up."


    "Sister above, I''ll join you in waiting. I''ll be ready to pick up the boyfriend if Su Ci dumps him."


    "Count me in for picking up the boyfriend."


    "Oh, heavens, have mercy on me and let me pick up such a handsome boyfriend."n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Enough talking. I''m already driving to the Su Family''s gate. I''m begging Su''s Father to throw out Su Ci''s boyfriend."


    "Sister, take me with you."


    ...


    Su Ci didn''t expect thements to be filled withizens moring to "pick up" Lu Zhe.


    She huffed softly and replied in thements: "Wake up, everyone. Lu Zhe is mine."


    Su Ci''s reply was like a double dose of sweetness, leaving theizens feeling envious.


    Su Ci sat restlessly with her mother, drinking tea. She had no idea how long it had been, but finally, her father and Lu Zhe came downstairs.


    She stealthily observed her father''s expression but found nothing unusual. Her gaze then moved to Lu Zhe, whose expression was calm and unreadable.


    Su Ci was very curious about what the two had talked about.


    "Lu Zhe, stay for lunch," Su''s Mother said.


    Since she couldn''t separate her daughter and Lu Zhe, she had no choice but to ept the situation. The future would have to be dealt with as it came.


    "Thank you, Auntie," Lu Zhe replied politely.


    Apart from Lu Zhe''s illness, this young man was excellent in every other aspect. Su''s Mother couldn''t find any fault with him. "You two can chat. I''ll go instruct the kitchen on today''s menu."


    Su''s Father asked Lu Zhe, "Do you y chess?"


    "I''ve learned a bit," Lu Zhe replied. When he was young, he had no ymates. In the Zhao Family neighborhood, many old grandfathers liked to y chess under the trees. When he wasn''t busy with work, he would watch them y as a form of entertainment.


    Children are usually restless andck patience, but Lu Zhe was different. He would quietly sit with his little head propped up, watching intently. The old grandfathers liked him a lot and sometimes even taught him.


    Su''s Father had the chessboard prepared, and he began a game with Lu Zhe.


    ying chess reveals a person''s character.


    As he made his moves, Su''s Father observed Lu Zhe.


    It was clear that Lu Zhe was very different from his father in personality. He was earnest and patient.


    Su Ci, though she found chess boring, was secretly delighted to see her father and Lu Zhe getting along well.


    This must mean they weren''t opposed to the rtionship anymore.


    At noon, the atmosphere was pleasant. Once Su''s Father and Su''s Mother epted Lu Zhe and stopped focusing on his illness, the more they interacted with him, the more they admired this young man.


    Su''s Father even tested Lu Zhe''s drinking etiquette, which he also found satisfactory.


    If it weren''t for his wife''s intervention, Su''s Father might have ended up challenging Lu Zhe to a drinking contest.


    After lunch, Su''s Mother apanied Su''s Father to rest, as he had drunk some alcohol and needed to let the alcohol dissipate.


    Su Ci seized the opportunity to take Lu Zhe upstairs.


    Su Ci handed a wet towel to Lu Zhe to wipe his face. "What did you talk about with my father in the study?"


    "I asked him to agree to let us be together," Lu Zhe replied. The towel was soaked in hot water, still carrying warmth. After wiping his face, his cold, sharp features softened, and his eyes became even darker and brighter.


    "Is that all?" Su Ci was slightly surprised. Was it really that simple for her father to agree?


    "Yes, that''s all," Lu Zhe said. He didn''t tell Su Ci that he had made a solemn vow to Su''s Father, promising to cherish her forever. If he broke that promise, he would die a terrible death and the Su Family could deal with him as they wished.


    As for his illness, if it really couldn''t be cured, on the day it red up, he would disappear and hide far away.


    Her father loved her dearly, and he loved her too.


    Theirmon goal was to ensure Su Ci''s happiness.


    Su Ci didn''t press further. She sat down beside Lu Zhe and asked him, "Do you want to rest in bed for a while?"


    Lu Zhe wasn''t sleepy.


    Just as he was about to decline, he heard the girl teasingly say, "You''ve never slept in my bed before, have you? Don''t you want to try if my bed isfortable?"

 Chapter 105

    Lu Zhe looked up at her, and the girl had an innocent and pure expression on her face. "No, I don''t want to."


    That little troublemaker was deliberately teasing him.


    Even though the boy said he didn''t want to, Su Ci insisted, "Then I want to rest, and you should keep mepany."


    Su Ci took off her fluffy slippers and directly burrowed into the quilt. She urged Lu Zhe, "Come up here."


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond, but he had to go along with her.


    The girl''s bed waspletely different from his. It was very soft, and when hey down, it felt like sinking into a pile of cotton.


    The pale pink quilt was filled with a faint scent of a young girl, which Lu Zhe knew was Su Ci''s natural fragrance.


    As soon as hey down, Su Ci''s body moved closer to him.


    She nestled into his embrace, and at the foot of the bed, her two little feet, restless, were ced between Lu Zhe''s legs. Adjusting to the mostfortable position, Su Ci finally settled down and closed her eyes.


    She was really resting.


    Su Ci considered herself not bold enough in matters of the heart, especially since her parents were at home. She was just teasing Lu Zhe a bit and didn''t dare to go too far.


    Seeing the girl quietly closing her eyes, Lu Zhe smiled and also closed his eyes. Although his alcohol tolerance had improved a lotpared to before, he still felt a bit tipsy.


    After a while, there was a knock on the door.


    Lu Zhe opened his eyes and met Su Ci''s watery gaze. "I''ll go open the door."


    Standing outside the door was a servant. "Young Master Lu, Madam has instructed the kitchen to prepare some hangover soup for you. I''ve brought it here for you."


    "Thank you." Lu Zhe took the tray.


    After closing the door, the girl on the bed had already sat up.


    Her long, soft, jet-ck hair gently fell down her back, her fair face like jade, and her big eyes were glistening. The little teardrop mole under her eye added a touch of cuteness. At the moment, the girl looked very well-behaved.


    Lu Zhe''s heart softened. "I''ll finish the hangover soup first."


    Su Ci nodded, and her two legs, restless under the quilt, rubbed against each other a few times. Her snow-white face showed a faint blush.


    She watched as Lu Zhe picked up the bowl and drank it in big gulps. As he swallowed, his Adam''s apple moved up and down.


    Su Ci remembered thements fromizens about Lu Zhe''s photos. Many people expressed their desire to kiss his Adam''s apple.


    Hmph, theizens could only fantasize, but she could act on it.


    After finishing the hangover soup, Lu Zhey back down on the bed.


    The girl moved closer, softly resting her head on his chest.


    Lu Zhe thought she would go to sleep like this, but instead, her little head moved closer to his neck. Her soft hair rubbed against his chin, tickling him.


    "Didn''t you say you wanted to rest?" Lu Zhe''s hand rested on her waist. "Stop moving around."


    Su Ci didn''t respond.


    The boy''s Adam''s apple was prominent, and Su Ci first extended her hand, gently touching it with her fingertips.


    A slight itch spread from his neck, and Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened. He knew the girl would be restless.


    Lu Zhe closed his eyes to rest, not paying attention to her, thinking she would calm down on her own.


    Her fingertips lightly touched the boy''s prominent Adam''s apple, and Su Ci watched as it moved up and down slightly. Her eyes lit up.


    A sudden surge of pleasure made Lu Zhe suddenly open his eyes. "Tuan Tuan!"


    Su Ci let go of her little mouth, her eyes curved with a smile. "Here I am."


    Seeing the faint teeth marks on Lu Zhe''s Adam''s apple, Su Ci felt a little proud. "Did I hurt you?"


    A shiver ran down his spine, and Lu Zhe closed his eyes. He pulled her down and held her in his arms, his voice deep. "Go to sleep!"


    Su Ci struggled a bit, cing her little feet between his legs, rubbing them restlessly. She said, "I don''t want to sleep anymore." She moved closer to him and kissed his chin. "I feel ufortable."


    Lu Zhe looked at her.


    Under the quilt, her restless feet lightly touched his legs, and Su Ci whispered three words in his ear.


    Yesterday, she had asked Fu Baili about the reason for her nausea, which was due to a false pregnancy before her heat period. Unexpectedly, it came today.


    Su Ci red at him with usation in her eyes. "This time, you can''t just use your hands to brush me off."


    In the past few times, she had to endure it, and during thest heat period, Lu Zhe had used his hands to help her.


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes were filled with a deep, intense gaze. He pulled the quilt up, covering both of thempletely. No more sleeping!


    The girl''s bed was soft, the quilt was soft, and her body was even softer.


    His nose was filled with the sweet scent of a young girl. In the cold winter, Lu Zhe''s forehead and back were covered in sweat.


    Deep in his dark eyes, desire surged and rolled.


    The cold winter wind blew through the ss window, lifting the white curtains. On the pale pink bed, the figures moved up and down.


    It was hard to tell how much time had passed, but the room gradually darkened.


    The wet and slippery sensations spread throughout, and Su Ci''s hands weakly slid down Lu Zhe''s back.


    Her body was already very sensitive, and she didn''t expect it to be even more sensitive during this special period. She almost fainted.


    There was another knock on the door.


    Su Ci didn''t even want to open her eyes.


    She let out a soft hum, not wanting to move at all.


    The servant at the door came to inform Su Ci and them that dinner was ready.


    The pale pink bedsheets were wrinkled and messy, beyond repair.


    Lu Zhe found another set of bedsheets from the girl''s wardrobe. He picked her up and ced her on the chaise lounge, then changed the sheets before putting her back on the bed.


    Lu Zhe smoothed the stray hairs from her face. "Tuan Tuan, do you want to go downstairs for dinner?"


    "No." Su Ci''s cheeks were still flushed. "Mom will notice."


    Last time, even after a night, her mother could still tell something was different. Let alone now, just after they had finished.


    "Alright." Lu Zhe dressed himself and went to open the door, instructing the servant to inform Su''s Father and Su''s Mother that they wouldn''t be joining them for dinner and woulde downter.


    After closing the door.


    Su Ci gave him a re with her glistening eyes. "Why didn''t you make up an excuse or lie about why we''reing downte?"


    Lu Zhe smiled. This little troublemaker was about to do something naughty, and after doing it, she was afraid of being found out.


    Her boldness was always greater than her courage.


    Lu Zhe adored the girl''s timid little demeanor. He walked over and couldn''t resist gently pinching her soft cheeks. "You''re just guilty of being a thief."


    Su Ci let out a soft hum, not even having the strength to push his hand away. It was clearly Lu Zhe who had exerted the most effort, yet she felt like the one who had worked hard.


    At that moment, Lu Zhe''s phone rang. It was a call from one of his subordinates.


    On the other end of the line, the subordinate reported that they had found the person who had spread rumors about Su Ci.


    And at the Zhao household.


    The atmosphere at home had been tense recently. After Fu Baili left, it seemed like everything at the Zhao family had gone wrong.


    Zhao''s father and Zhao''s Mother still hadn''t found suitable jobs. Even though they had passed interviews, they would soon receive calls saying someone more suitable had been found.


    Zhao''s father sat in the living room, smoking nearly an entire pack of cigarettes. The smoke filled the air, making it suffocating.


    Debt collectors came to their door, forcing them to pay back the money, but they had no ie, so how could they repay it?


    Zhao Youyou hid in her room.


    The news on yesterday''s trending searches had been removed. Su Ci''s life was too good. She was born into the Su family, and someone always protected her.


    Even such a fatal topic didn''t cause any real harm to Su Ci.


    Zhao Youyou deleted her contact with the marketing ount and threw away the SIM card she had bought from someone else.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    After taking photos at the hospital yesterday, she sold the news to the marketing ount and received money. The news was posted by the marketing ount, so it had nothing to do with her.


    Zhao Youyou thought she had handled it very cautiously. Even if the Su family investigated, they wouldn''t find her.


    However, Zhao Youyou didn''t know that Lu Chen had already sent people to monitor their every move, slowly tormenting and pressuring them.


    The fact that she had sold the news to the marketing ount had already been reported to Lu Chen and Lu Zhe.


    After hanging up the phone, Lu Zhe''s expression was grim.


    "What''s wrong?" Su Ci was still lying in bed,zily lifting her eyelids.


    Lu Zhe sat down on the bed. "The person who spread rumors about you has been found."


    The girl, feeling hot, put her feet out of the quilt. The little rabbit jade pendant on her ankle hung to the side, looking clumsy and cute. He couldn''t help but reach out to pinch her ankle, then pulled the quilt back up.


    "Who spread rumors about me?"


    "Zhao Youyou."


    Su Ci was a bit surprised. "Does Zhao Youyou have a problem? Why would she spread rumors about me for no reason?"


    Lu Zheforted her: "No matter what her intentions were, since she set a trap for you, she should be punished. I''ll handle this matter."


    ...


    Lu Zhe couldn''t stand to see Su Ci wronged. He acted quickly.


    He directly presented the evidence of Zhao Youyou spreading rumors about Su Ci to the school authorities.


    When Zhao Youyou was called to the dean''s office, she looked bewildered, especially when she saw Lu Zhe inside.


    The school leader ced the evidence Lu Zhe had submitted in front of Zhao Youyou. "Zhao Youyou, take a look. This is what you''ve done. Do you admit it?"


    Zhao Youyou picked up the documents handed to her by the dean, her expression puzzled.


    But when she saw the investigation results, her face turned pale instantly. She looked up at Lu Zhe in panic, "It wasn''t me. I didn''t do such a thing."


    Lu Zhe was wearing a ck turtleneck sweater and a matching trench coat, making him look even more tall and elegant, exuding an aura of a noble gentleman.


    He remained indifferent, not listening to Zhao Youyou''s exnation. Instead, he asked the dean how they nned to punish her.


    The dean was quite savvy. The young master of the Lu family had personally submitted the evidence, and it involved the daughter of the Su family. It seemed that Zhao Youyou had managed to offend both major families.


    How could there be such a foolish student in their school?


    The dean spoke up, "Zhao Youyou has framed and ndered a fellow student, which is not only illegal but also against school regtions. Our school cannot educate such a student and will expel her."


    Zhao Youyou was shocked, her face drained of color. She looked astonished. "Dean, you can''t expel me. I didn''t do it."


    "The school will notify your parents shortly, and we will also announce this to the entire school to serve as a warning to others," the dean said.


    Zhao Youyou felt her hands and feet turn ice-cold, her whole body freezing, and she nearly fainted.


    Lu Zhe had no objections to the punishment for Zhao Youyou.


    "Brother, please help me. I didn''t spread rumors about Su Ci. Please help me beg the dean," Zhao Youyou chased after him.


    She tried to reach out and grab Lu Zhe''s hand, but he dodged her.


    "The message online wasn''t posted by me. I can''t be expelled," Zhao Youyou said frantically, her words jumbled. She never expected this toe out.


    Lu Zhe didn''t listen to her excuses. "The evidence was investigated by me."


    Zhao Youyou was stunned.


    Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt wronged. "Since you had it investigated, you know it was the marketing ount that posted the message."


    "The photos were taken by you and provided by you. I''ve already had awyer''s letter sent to the marketing ount," Lu Zhe said coldly. Anyone who harmed Su Ci would not be spared.


    Zhao Youyou felt a surge of bitterness in her chest, her eyes reddening. "Just because I took photos of Su Ci and sent them to someone, you''re going to ruin me? Su Ci wasn''t harmed at all."


    Lu Zhe looked at her coldly. "ording to you, if someone tries to kill with a knife but fails, it''s not a crime?"


    Zhao Youyou gasped for breath, feeling both wronged and helpless. She bit her lip, unable to refute.


    Lu Zhe didn''t bother with her anymore and turned to leave.


    "Lu Zhe, I''ve lived with you for so many years. Am I really not as important as Su Ci?" Zhao Youyou saw Lu Zhe walking away quickly and panicked, chasing after him again.


    She and Lu Zhe had grown up together. She should have been the most important person to him. In her previous life, he had risked his life to save her, proving this point.


    If it weren''t for Su Ci, she would still be the one Lu Zhe cared about the most.


    Lu Zhe didn''t turn to look at Zhao Youyou. His cold voice rang out, "Don''tpare yourself to Su Ci. You''re not worthy."


    Zhao Youyou froze in ce, her face pale, her eyes instantly red.


    She watched the tall figure of the young man walk away quickly, very indifferent.


    The sky was overcast, with a cold wind blowing.


    Zhao Youyou didn''t want to be expelled, and the only person she could think of to rely on was Fu Baili.


    She couldn''t reach Fu Baili, so she went to the Fu family''s gate.


    After her rebirth, Zhao Youyou had paid great attention to her appearance. Today, she was wearing a pure white sweater paired with a light gray wool skirt. The outfit looked nice but wasn''t warm at all.


    She stood at the Fu family''s gate, shivering from the cold, her lips already turning pale.


    At that moment, a car drove up from afar, and the Fu family''s gate opened.


    Zhao Youyou saw Fu Baili inside the car through the lowered window. She quickly ran over, "Baili."


    The car stopped.


    Zhao Youyou''s face lit up with joy. She stood outside the car and said to Fu Baili, feeling wronged, "Baili, I''ve been waiting for you all afternoon."


    After their breakup, this was the first time she had seen Fu Baili. He had returned to his previous self, handsome and cold, the young master of the Fu family.


    Zhao Youyou looked at his handsome profile, her eyes filled with shyness and excitement. "I have something I want to talk to you about. Please don''t be angry with me anymore. If you don''t like me interacting with other boys, I haven''t been in contact with Gao Shangjin."


    "What do you want to talk to my fianc¨¦ about?" Wang Xiaoqin poked her head out from the side.


    Zhao Youyou was startled. She hadn''t noticed there was someone else in the car with Fu Baili.


    Zhao Youyou steadied herself, then used her, "Miss Wang, Baili is my boyfriend. We had a small argument before. Please don''t interfere in our rtionship. It''s immoral."


    Wang Xiaoqin was furious. "Fu Baili and I are going to get engaged. It''s his grandmother''s decision. What about you? A greedy and vain person like you still wants to marry into the Fu family?"


    Zhao Youyou looked down at Fu Baili, not arguing with Wang Xiaoqin. "Baili, are you really going to get engaged with her? You once said you liked me, that you''d even give your life for me. Were you lying to me?"


    Wang Xiaoqin felt like her punch hadnded on cotton. Hearing Zhao Youyou''s words, she admitted she was jealous.


    She looked at Fu Baili. If he wanted to get back together with Zhao Youyou, she would cancel the engagement.


    She liked Fu Baili, but that didn''t mean she wouldpromise her principles.


    Fu Baili spoke, "What do you want from me?"


    Zhao Youyou didn''t forget her main purpose. "Can I talk to you alone? There are outsiders here."


    Wang Xiaoqin wanted to tear Zhao Youyou''s mouth apart.


    "She will be my fianc¨¦e, not an outsider," Fu Baili said coldly.


    Wang Xiaoqin looked at him in surprise, unable to help but smile secretly, revealing a cute dimple.


    Zhao Youyou''s heart felt like it was being squeezed, both sour and painful, almost making it hard to breathe. "I''ve been expelled from school. Can you help me? You know how hard I worked to get into university. I can''t be expelled."


    If she really got expelled, what would be the difference between this life and her previous one?


    Fu Baili''s brows furrowed slightly. "What did you do?"


    His question was clear: it was about what she had done wrong.


    Zhao Youyou understood. Her chest ached again.


    Before the breakup, if Fu Baili had heard she was being expelled, he would have immediately gone to the school to help her, not questioned what she had done.


    Zhao Youyou remained silent.


    Wang Xiaoqin was impatient. Who would want to watch their fianc¨¦ be entangled by his ex-girlfriend? "If you have something to say, say it quickly. We still have to go in to eat."


    Zhao Youyou looked aggrievedly at Fu Baili. "It was Lu Zhe who got the school to expel me. The news about Su Ci online the other day, Lu Zhe med it on me."


    Su Ci was Wang Xiaoqin''s savior. Knowing about Su Ci''s situation, she had even called her to ask. She knew Su Ci had been ndered.


    Now hearing Zhao Youyou''s words, she became even angrier. "So you were the one who set up Su Ci? I thought you were a white lotus, but you''re actually a ck-hearted one. You deserve to be expelled."


    Fu Baili nced at Wang Xiaoqin indifferently.


    "What are you looking at me for? Did I say something wrong? If you want to help her and be biased, I''ll get out of the car and leave right now. You two can get engaged," Wang Xiaoqin said, liking Fu Baili but not to the point of losing her mind and principles.


    Fu Baili looked away, feeling he was increasingly unable to understand women.


    Earlier at thepany, Wang Xiaoqin had clung to him, insisting on having dinner with him at home. Now, she was angry and said she wanted to leave, even though he hadn''t said a word.


    Fu Baili thought of Su Ci. Thest time he saw her was in City A. She had walked over with a group of medical staff, bathed in light.


    He had seen the news about Su Ci online. He knew the man whose face had been cropped out in the photo was Lu Zhe.


    What he hadn''t expected was that this matter was rted to Zhao Youyou.


    Fu Baili looked at Zhao Youyou. In the past, whenever she would get her eyes welling up with tears out of grievance and speak to him in a soft, gentle tone, his heart would skip a beat. He had thought she was different from other women, pure and lovely, someone who needed his protection.


    He had believed that Zhao Youyou liked him for who he was, not for the Fu family behind him.


    However, reality dealt him a harsh blow, and his grandmother had given him a profound lesson.


    Fu Baili spoke up, "What did you do regarding Su Ci''s matter?"


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip, "I didn''t mean to hurt her."


    Wang Xiaoqin sneered, "So you did it, and that''s why you deserved to be fired."


    "It wasn''t me. I only gave the photos to the marketing ounts. I didn''t release those messages," Zhao Youyou desperately exined.


    "Why don''t you ask a judge if an aplice is guilty?" Wang Xiaoqin shot back without holding back.


    She absolutely detested Zhao Youyou. The woman had almost cost her life. If it weren''t for Fu Baili protecting her, Wang Xiaoqin would have long since taken her anger out on Zhao Youyou.


    Fu Baili remained silent for a while before he mocked himself, "I only realized now that I''ve been quite blind in the past."


    Outside the car, Zhao Youyou''s face turned pale.


    "Within this month, you and your family should move out. I''ll be reiming the house," Fu Baili said, having already decided to take back the house after her parents had schemed to treat him like a fool and sell the property.


    "Baili?" Zhao Youyou couldn''t believe it. "How could you treat me like this?"


    Fu Baili raised the car window and simply said, "Drive."


    Zhao Youyou''s hand, which had been clinging to the car window, was forced to let go. She ran behind the car, but the security guard stopped her at the gate.


    Inside the car, Wang Xiaoqin nced back and saw Zhao Youyou fall to the ground, crying miserably. She felt a surge of satisfaction.


    Turning back to Fu Baili, she noticed his handsome face was cold, showing no emotion.


    Wang Xiaoqin thought that being ruthless was better than being overly sentimental. As long as Fu Baili didn''t continue to be blind, she would work hard to make him like her.


    She was prettier than Zhao Youyou, came from a wealthier family, and was kinder than Zhao Youyou. The only drawback was her asthma, but everything else was an advantage.


    Fu Baili would eventually fall for her, wouldn''t he?

 Chapter 106

    Su Ci knew that Zhao Youyou had been expelled from school, but she wasn''t surprised. After all, Lu Zhe had told her that he would take care of it for her.


    Knowing that Zhao Youyou was the female lead in the book, Su Ci had always maintained a policy of avoidance, at most just enjoying the drama without ever provoking her. Unexpectedly, Zhao Youyou hade to provoke her instead.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Su Ci considered herself neither soft-hearted nor overly kind and saintly. If someone schemed against her, they should bear the corresponding consequences.


    What surprised her was that Fu Baili and Zhao Youyou, the main couple, had really broken up.


    In the past, without the obstacle of Grandmother Fu, Zhao Youyou had smoothly gotten together with Fu Baili and married into a wealthy family, living the life of a wealthy wife.


    Now, Grandmother Fu was still alive, and her opposition had truly separated the sweet-text couple of Zhao Youyou and Fu Baili.


    Su Ci read online that Fu Baili had reimed the house he had given to Zhao Youyou, and the Zhao family had been constantly causing trouble at the Fu residence, refusing to leave.


    Su Ci felt that although Zhao Youyou had been reborn, her brain hadn''t changed.


    In her previous life, she had been a self-centered and thoughtless person, and that didn''t change just because she had a second chance.


    Of course, some people learn from past mistakes and reform, but it seemed Zhao Youyou only changed her appearance; deep down, she was still the same.


    ...


    As the end of the year approached, Su Corporation''s subsidiary, Chuangshen Film and Television Company, held a year-end party, inviting many popr celebrities to attend.


    This year''s party also invited the Lu family. Lu Chen was busy apanying his wife, so he had delegated all recent events to his son, Lu Zhe, to attend in his ce.


    Su Ci only found out from her older brother, Su ZhiYuan, that Lu Zhe would also be attending the party that night.


    "Brother, I''ll join the party tomorrow and help you entertain the guests," Su Ci enthusiastically offered.


    "Didn''t you say you didn''t want toe?" Su ZhiYuan was home resting today, dressed very casually. He had juste down from his study, still wearing his gold-rimmed sses, exuding a refined and handsome aura.


    Su Ci''s small face was full of justification. "That''s because I didn''t know Lu Zhe would be attending."


    The party was boring, but with Lu Zhe there, it was a different story.


    Hearing his sister''s words, Su ZhiYuan took off his sses and rubbed his temples. She was already biased beyond measure just dating Lu Zhe.


    The party was held at a hotel under Su Corporation.


    With many popr celebrities attending, the hotel entrance was already crowded with fans and journalists.


    There was a red carpet and signing session, with Zheng Hao being the first to appear, instantly causing fans to scream wildly.


    Next to appear was actress Xie Yuting.


    She had received help from Su Ci and discovered her friend''s true nature. Later, her friend had used some tricks, and thepany favored her more. So, Xie Yuting terminated her contract with thepany and, with Su Ci''s introduction, became an artist under Chuangshen Film and Television.


    Recently, a work of hers had been aired, and she had yed the lead role in her natural style, gaining some poprity.


    Following that, a newly debuted girl group, which had been very popr recently, entered.


    Then came the renowned actor Xie, other popr artists, and many sponsors and social elites.


    Su Ci appeared with her older brother.


    Su ZhiYuan wore a custom-made navy blue suit, while Su Ci wore a light mauve evening gown embedded with crystal sequins. The brother and sister''s extraordinary good looks instantly outshined everyone.


    It''s said that celebrities are more attractive than ordinary people, but Su ZhiYuan and Su Ci''s looks far surpassed those of the celebrities present.


    "Ah, Su Ci is so beautiful."


    "She''s even more beautiful in person than in photos."


    "Is that Su Ci''s older brother? So handsome!"


    "I heard the Su family has great genes, and now I fully understand."


    "If Su Ci and her brother debuted, the entertainment industry would be theirs."


    "Forget it. Even if they don''t debut, the entertainment industry is already theirs. Look at how many popr artists Chuangshen Film and Television has; they control a third of the industry."


    ...


    The fans at the scene were frantically taking photos of Su Ci and Su ZhiYuan, almost forgetting their idols.


    After entering, Su Ci didn''t see Lu Zhe.


    She texted him and found out that he would be arrivingter.


    The guests were seated ording to designated seats. Su ZhiYuan, well aware of his sister''s fondness for Lu Zhe, had arranged for Lu Zhe''s seat to be next to Su Ci''s.


    The party hadn''t started yet, but many people were already seizing the opportunity to chat with Su ZhiYuan, trying to curry favor with him.


    Su Ci sat at a round table, looking bored.


    At that moment, Zheng Hao, dressed handsomely, came over with a wine ss. He greeted Su Ci, "Miss Su, long time no see."


    Su Ci nodded. She looked at him carefully before remembering that Zheng Hao was the popr singer she had saved.


    "You saved me before, and I haven''t properly thanked you yet," Zheng Hao said, looking down at the girl. It had been a long time since theyst met, and she had be even more beautiful, like a flower in full bloom, dazzling and stunning.


    Su Ci smiled. "No rush; there will always be a chance."


    Zheng Hao was taken aback, then smiled, "Right."


    At that moment, a tall figure approached. Zheng Hao recognized the man as the girl''s boyfriend.


    The girl''s gaze had already fallen on the approaching man, as if she could no longer see anyone else. Zheng Hao restrained his gaze and said, "I won''t disturb you anymore."


    Su Ci casually responded, then smiled brightly at Lu Zhe, "You''re here."


    "Mm," Lu Zhe pulled out the seat next to the girl and sat down. "There was traffic on the way."


    Seeing Su Ci in her sleeveless gown, ethereal and beautiful but thinly d and not very warm, Lu Zhe reached out and held her small hand on the table. "Are you cold?"


    "No, the ce is heated," Su Ci replied, her small hand gripping Lu Zhe''s in return. "Am I pretty tonight?"


    Lu Zhe looked at her and softly responded, "Mm."


    "There are so many actresses here. Am I the prettiest?" Su Ci continued to ask him.


    Lu Zhe was very cooperative. "Mm."


    Su Ci suppressed a smile, her delicate features filled with a small sense of pride.


    The party began, and the host, who was quite famous, introduced many wonderful performances. The evening was as grand as a major festival g.


    The opening act was a dance by the popr girl group, full of youthful energy. The sexy and alluring performance on stage attracted everyone''s attention.


    Su Ci didn''t watch the stage but looked at Lu Zhe beside her, who was helping her with the dishes. "Is the performance good?"


    Lu Zhe took a wet towel from the side and held her hand, gently wiping her fingers. "Didn''t pay attention."


    The girl''s hand was very beautiful, slender and fair, with the tips of her fingers tinted with a faint cherry blossom pink. But such a beautiful little hand was restless, always teasing him, scratching his palm.


    If it weren''t for the fact that there were people sitting next to them, he would have already brought her fingers to his mouth and lightly bitten them.


    Su Ci was very satisfied with Lu Zhe''s answer. Her eyebrows were filled with joy. Just as her small hand was wiped clean, it wrapped around his clothes. She leaned close to him and whispered, "Don''t watch them dance; it''s not good."


    "Mm," Lu Zhe had no interest in others.


    Su Ci continued, "If you want to watch, I''ll dance for you. They''re not as good as me."


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips curved. He thought the girl was teasing him. "Alright, only watch you."


    The performances were wonderful, but the people present were all sophisticated and didn''t juste to watch the show. Everyone began to seize the opportunity towork with the social elites present. After all, such asions were full of opportunities.


    Ever since Lu Zhe made his debut at the birthday banquet, the entire wealthy circle had known he was the heir to the Lu Group. Naturally, he and Su ZhiYuan became the focal points of tonight''s party.


    Just as Lu Zhe got up to go to the restroom, he hadn''t walked far when a figure stepped out from the side, almost colliding with him.


    "I''m... I''m sorry," the woman said, seeing the wine from her cup spill onto Lu Zhe''s clothes. She quickly stepped forward, took out a tissue, and wanted to wipe it for him. "I''m sorry, I''ve soiled your clothes. Let me clean it for you."


    Lu Zhe moved to the side, "No need."


    The woman looked apologetic. Her eyes filled with anticipation as she looked at Lu Zhe. "I''m really sorry. Why don''t you take off your coat and give it to me? I''ll take it to be cleaned for you."


    Upon closer inspection, this young master of the Lu family was even more handsome. Looking around the entertainment industry, there really wasn''t any male artist whose looks couldpare to his.


    The woman in question was Bai Ruxue, a member of one of the popr girl groups. Her eyes were full of charm, and she looked at Lu Zhe with anticipation.


    Lu Zhe frowned and coldly rejected her, "No need."


    He quickly walked away, ignoring the affectionate nces from the woman.


    The woman felt a bit defeated.


    At that moment, another member approached, "What? Did you fail?"


    The other woman chuckled mockingly, "Did you really think that old trick would work on Young Master Lu? Don''t me me for not warning you, but Young Master Lu is the boyfriend of Miss Su, the daughter of the Su family. Do you really think anyone would be foolish enough to give up a gem like Miss Su for a weed like you?"


    "You..." Bai Ruxue remembered the presence of journalists around them and maintained her smile on the surface, but her eyes shot daggers at the other woman, "Are you jealous that I got to talk to Young Master Lu?"


    Bai Ruxue was very confident in her appearance. In the group, she was the most beautiful, and her fan base was twice that of the other members.


    Moreover, which man wouldn''t like a beautiful woman, especially one who came to them willingly?


    The other member resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "Do whatever you want, but don''t drag the team down with you. Otherwise, I won''t be polite."


    Bai Ruxue didn''t bother arguing and turned to leave. She searched for Lu Zhe''s figure, unwilling to miss this rare opportunity.


    She was also aware of her limitations; she didn''t necessarily have to marry into the Lu family, but if she could hook up with Lu Zhe and be his woman, she wouldn''t have to worry about money or resources anymore.


    When Lu Zhe returned, Su Ci immediately noticed the wine stain on his white shirt, "How did you get wine on your shirt?"


    "Someone spilled it on me; they almost bumped into me," Lu Zhe told Su Ci, "I''ll go change."


    Su Ci nodded.


    After Lu Zhe left, she asked the hotel manager to send her the surveince footage from the past ten minutes.


    Knowing that Su Ci was the young princess of the Su family, the manager was respectful and efficient. He quickly sent her the footage from the lobby.


    In the restroom, Bai Ruxue was touching up her makeup.


    She couldn''t find Lu Zhe anywhere and guessed he must have gone to change. It was a pity she didn''t know his room number; otherwise, it would have been more convenient for her ns.


    Bai Ruxue confidently looked at herself in the mirror, applying lipstick.


    The next moment, her elbow was suddenly bumped hard, and the lipstick smeared from her mouth to her face, ruining her makeup.


    "Are you blind? Can''t you see someone is here...?" Bai Ruxue turned around, furious, ready to shout.


    But when her eyesnded on the person''s face, her words stuck in her throat.


    Bai Ruxue had always thought she was very beautiful. Even in the beauty-centric entertainment industry, she believed her looks could rank high.


    After her debut, fans constantly praised her appearance, making her even more confident in her looks.


    She had heard that the daughter of the Su family, Su Ci, was stunningly beautiful, with a face that could topple a kingdom. She didn''t take it seriously, thinking it was just ttery due to Su Ci''s good family background.


    As for the photos of Su Ci online, she had seen them too. With such advanced photo editing technology, she didn''t believe they were real.


    Now, Bai Ruxue recognized the girl in front of her as Su Ci, the daughter of the Su family.


    Her mind went nk for a moment as she realized the photos were real, and Su Ci was even more beautiful in person.


    Bai Ruxue forced a smile, trying to hide her anger, "Did you do that by ident? It''s okay." She couldn''t afford to offend someone from such a powerful family.


    Su Ci raised her chin, her eyes cold yet arrogant, "I did it on purpose."


    Bai Ruxue: ...


    Su Ci ignored Bai Ruxue''s shocked expression and raised her hand.


    It turned out she was holding a ss of wine in her other hand. In Bai Ruxue''s panicked gaze, Su Ci poured the wine directly onto her dress.


    "Ah..." Bai Ruxue cried out, "Are you crazy? How can you bully someone like this?"


    Su Ci ced the empty ss aside, turned on the faucet, and leisurely washed her hands, her slender fingers looking like fine jade under the water.


    She spoke coldly, "Your tricks are really low-ss. You just poured wine on my boyfriend, didn''t you? Did you think no one would do the same to you?"


    Bai Ruxue''s heart skipped a beat, and she retorted, "Miss Su, I just identally bumped into Young Master Lu. You''re being too petty."


    Su Ci nodded, looking at Bai Ruxue in the mirror, "You''re right. I have a very small heart, and I love to repay in kind."


    Bai Ruxue felt flustered under Su Ci''s gaze and didn''t dare to argue.


    Only after Su Ci left did Bai Ruxue angrily stamp her foot.


    The performance on stage was still going on, and the atmosphere around was lively.


    After leaving the restroom, Su Ci went to the backstage for a moment before heading to the hotel room upstairs to find Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe had changed into a ck shirt, still paired with a ck suit.


    The all-ck outfit made his tall and slender figure even more striking, and his face looked even colder.


    After changing, he nned to return to the lobby but received a message from Su Ci, telling him to wait for her in the room.


    Lu Zhe stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking down at the cityscape.


    At that moment, the door opened.


    He turned to see his little troublemaker had arrived.


    Su Ci ced the room card she had obtained from the manager on the coffee table, along with the bag she was carrying, which she set aside. She stretched out her hands toward Lu Zhe, who was standing by the window.


    She wanted a hug.


    A smile tugged at Lu Zhe''s lips as he walked towards her.


    The ck suit pants hugged his strong, long legs, and Su Ci''s heart skipped a beat as she looked at Lu Zhe''s handsome face.


    The next moment, she was pulled into his embrace.


    The pleasant scent of the boy filled her senses, and Su Ci nuzzled her face against his chest before looking up, "I just did something bad."


    "Hmm?" Lu Zhe looked down at her.


    "I taught that woman who spilled wine on you a lesson. She deliberately bumped into you to get your attention and seduce you," Su Ci blinked, "I poured wine on her."


    "You didn''t do anything bad," Lu Zhe felt a warmth in his chest, as if something had filled it, "You were defending me."


    He lowered his head and tenderly kissed the top of her head, "Tuan Tuan, let me handle such things next time."


    Su Ci obediently nodded.


    Anyway, if anyone made her unhappy next time, she would still retaliate.


    The banquet wasn''t over yet, so Lu Zhe let go of her, "Let''s go downstairs."


    "Wait a bit longer. You wanted to see me dance, right? I''ll perform for you," Su Ci picked up the bag she had ced aside, which she had borrowed from a performer backstage.


    Su Ci gave Lu Zhe a flirtatious look, "If you like it, remember to reward me."


    Lu Zhe couldn''t help but pinch her cute little nose, "Alright."


    Su Ci took the bag and went to the restroom to change.


    Lu Zhe sat on the bed, his long legs casually stretched out, looking out at the night view through the ss window, quietly waiting.


    After a while, the restroom door opened.


    Lu Zhe turned his head and his heart skipped a beat as he saw the girl in a red ancient-style long dress, barefoot, walking out.


    Su Ci''s skin was fair, and the vibrant red dress made herplexion even more porcin-like.


    She smiled brightly at Lu Zhe, then raised her hand by her cheek, her movements soft as water.


    Her bare foot lifted to the side, and the hem of her dress fluttered.


    Under the light, the girl was like a seductive demoness.


    On the bed, the boy''s posture was straight, his handsome face expressionless, but his dark eyes revealed his deep emotions, making it hard to tell what he was thinking.


    Her slender waist bent back and then rose, soft to the point of disbelief.


    Her fluttering fingers slid across the table, and with two turns, the girlnded in Lu Zhe''s arms.


    Her fingers held a grape, which she directly fed to Lu Zhe''s lips.


    Lu Zhe opened his mouth, and the small fruit was fed into his mouth.


    Just as he was about to embrace her, she slipped out of his arms like a fish.


    The soft hair brushed against his chin, and Lu Zhe''s jaw tightened.


    Su Ci''s bare feet lightly touched the gray carpet, her long legs lifted and hooked back, with the little rabbit charm on her ankle swaying.


    With one final turn, Su Ci stopped.


    This dance was something she had learned during her time filming a historical drama. Her body was flexible, obviously having practiced dance since she was young, which allowed her to perform it so well.


    Su Ci stood still, gradually steadying her breathing. She asked Lu Zhe, "Did I dance beautifully?"


    It had been a long time since shest danced, and she had made a couple of mistakes in her movements. But with her beauty, even if her movements weren''t entirely professional, it certainly wouldn''t have looked bad.


    Lu Zhe bit into the grape in his mouth, and the sweet and sour juice spread across his tongue.


    His expression calm, he gazed at the girl before him, her red dress contrasting with her fair skin. His eyes lingered on her snow-white feet, slightly damp from the cold. Lu Zhe''s voice was a bit hoarse as he said, "Tuan Tuan,e here."


    Su Ci lifted her dress, her bare feet stepping on the carpet as she walked toward him.


    No sooner had she approached than the young man''srge hand grasped her wrist, pulling her forcefully toward him.


    Su Ci fell into Lu Zhe''s embrace.


    Before she could steady herself, her chin was lifted by his icy fingertips.


    The cool breath of the young man enveloped her, forcing her to part her lips.


    She tasted the grape juice on his tongue.


    It was a bit sweet, and a bit sour.


    This time, Lu Zhe kissed her fiercely, giving Su Ci the illusion that she might be swallowed by him.


    Her head spinning, she heard Lu Zhe murmur beside her ear, "Tuan Tuan, you danced so beautifully."


    He gently kissed her earlobe, "Do you want this reward?"


    What reward?


    Su Ci felt her mind wasn''t functioning properly.


    On the red dress, the bow tied at the girl''s waist was pulled apart, and the dress slid to both sides.


    The fair skin revealed beneath the dress was impossible to look away from.


    The red dress fell to the ground. After a while, a ck suit covered the dress.


    The floor-to-ceiling ss window reflected the undting figures.


    The intense pleasure continued to surge, and Su Ci could hardly bear it. She felt the reward was too much.

 Chapter 107

    The banquet was still in full swing.


    Bai Ruxue, whose dress had been spilled with red wine, was furious. Although her family background was ordinary, she had grown up in the pampering of her parents and those around her. When she participated in the talent show, she stood out from hundreds of contestants with her good looks, umting several million fans. She was the Snow Princess in the eyes of her fans.


    This was the first time she had ever been treated this way.


    After returning from the restroom, Bai Ruxue went back to her seat. Beside her was Huang Ying, the female team member who had just mocked her. Huang Ying noticed Bai Ruxue''s dress at a nce and picked up her wine ss, leaning closer to Bai Ruxue. "Did someone get revenge on you?"


    Bai Ruxue, whose sore spot had been hit, gritted her teeth fiercely. If it weren''t for the many journalists at the guest seats, she would have loved to ssh wine in Huang Ying''s face.


    "Looks like I hit the mark," Huang Yingughed. "Serves you right. Did you really think you were a goddess, and every man would fall at your feet?"


    Usually, Bai Ruxue, with her good looks, not only flirted with advertisers and directors everywhere but also often mocked other team members who were less famous than her. Perhaps she was used to being ttered, and Bai Ruxue truly believed she was a heartthrob.


    Who knows where she got her confidence to seduce the young master of the Lu Family? Now, everyone on the inte knows that the Su Heiress and the young master of the Lu Family are in a romantic rtionship.


    Bai Ruxue smiled on her face, but the anger in her eyes was about to burst out. She pressed her voice and coldly mocked, "No matter what, at least the young master of the Lu Family has seen me and remembered me."


    She didn''t care about the means as long as they were effective.


    Huang Ying was shocked by the other''s shamelessness and couldn''t help but roll her eyes, not saying anything more.


    Bai Ruxue was fuming inside. She looked down at her beautiful gown stained with arge blotch and wished she could ssh a bottle of wine back at Su Ci. Didn''t she just rely on her family''s wealth to be so arrogant?


    Bai Ruxue''s gaze darkened. She picked up her phone and took a photo of the wine stain on her dress, then logged into her ount and posted a message: "Feeling so sad, my beautiful little dress got dirty."


    With the girl group being popr and Bai Ruxue having twice the number of fans as the other team membersbined, her message had just been posted when fans immediately rushed to leavements.


    "Has Snow been bullied?"


    "What happened? How did the dress get dirty? The stain looks like red wine?"


    "Who''s so mean? Dirtying Snow''s dress."


    "Ah, Snow''s dress is a high-end custom from the Xia Family, speechless, who dirtied it?"


    "Snow suddenly posting a message must mean she''s very unhappy. If my pretty dress got dirty, I''d be furious."


    "Snow Princess''s dress can''t be dirty? Hugging the little princess, I''ll help you scold the bad guys."


    ...


    Fans were heartbroken andforted Bai Ruxue, with some even trying to figure out who had dirtied her dress that night.


    Since the team members followed each other, Huang Ying received a reminder message as soon as Bai Ruxue posted her update.


    She nced at Bai Ruxue, who was busy reading fanments, and genuinely felt that if it weren''t for her good looks, Bai Ruxue, with her brain, wouldn''t have been able to debut.


    Huang Ying sneered, thinking of something, and took out her phone, logging into a small ount.


    Soon, under Bai Ruxue''sments, someone revealed that the red wine on Bai Ruxue''s dress had been sshed by the Su Heiress, and Bai Ruxue had offended the Su Heiress.


    As for the reason, no one knew, but that didn''t stop fans from feeling sorry for their idol.


    "Is the Su Heiress the one with a prominent family background, Su Ci? Why did she show up again?"


    "Does being rich make you better? Can you bully people at will? Su Ci, get out!"


    "Do you have evidence? Why did the Su Heiress suddenly target Snow?"


    "I''ll stay neutral. Every time someone curses the Su Heiress, they end up being proven wrong."


    "Protect Snow Princess. Being rich isn''t everything. We fans will always support the little princess."


    "Without evidence, don''t spread rumors. Be careful the Su Heiress sends awyer''s letter."


    "Snow must have been bullied, otherwise, she wouldn''t have suddenly posted such a message. She''s just a small star, how could she dare to fight with a rich heiress? She can only swallow her anger. Heartbreaking."


    "Mommy hugs the little princess. There are too many bad people outside. Come to mommy''s arms."


    "That Su Heiress is bullying our little princess. Disgusting. Does being rich make you better?"


    ...


    Bai Ruxue hadn''t expected someone to dig up that Su Ci had sshed wine on her. She didn''t respond at all, letting her fans curse Su Ci. After all, it wasn''t her who leaked the information, and what theizens said was the truth. Even if Su Ci found out, she couldn''t do anything to her.


    In the room, Su Ci''s phone rang. It was her older brother, Su ZhiYuan, calling. The banquet had already ended.


    Su Ci''s legs were weak, and she asked her brother to leave first. She wasn''t going back.


    Only the warm yellow bedsidemp was on in the room. The girl''s snow-white feet stretched out from the white nket, with a clumsy little rabbit hanging on one side, looking very obedient.


    Su Ci waspletely exhausted, her fair little face flushed, her dark eyes moist, and her small teardrop mole alluring.


    She angrily opened her mouth and bit down on Lu Zhe''s chest.


    However, his muscles were firm, and she couldn''t bite down at all. Moreover, Lu Zhe had sweated a lot earlier, and her tongue was filled with the salty taste of his sweat.


    Su Ci spat disdainfully and pitifully used Lu Zhe, "It was said there would only be one time."


    She initially only intended to dance for Lu Zhe, and this time she truly didn''t mean to seduce him. However, Lu Zhe seemed to have been stimted by something, and he was like someone who had been injected with hormones, exhausting her to the limit.


    Now her waist and legs seem to be useless.


    Beside him, under the warm yellow light, Lu Zhe''s cold features softened a bit as he held the girl tightly, his fingertips greedily rubbing against her smooth back.


    Hearing the girl''sint, he chuckled softly, "Indeed, it was only once."


    However, the time is longer than it has ever been before.


    He is like a greedy beast, savoring his food bit by bit.


    Thinking about how the girl was teased to the point of tears just now, Lu Zhe lowered his head and kissed the red corners of her eyes, gently coaxing her: "I''m sorry, I couldn''t control myself earlier."


    Upon hearing this, Su Ci let out a light snort.


    In the past, no matter how she tempted him, Lu Zhe was always able to maintain control, even turning a blind eye to her beauty.


    However, after the first time, Lu Zhe had changed. He no longer needed her to tease him; just a nce was enough for Lu Zhe to lose control.


    Such extreme intimacy has never been experienced before, or it can still be controlled, but once it is experienced, it bes impossible to suppress.


    Su Ci felt a tickling sensation in her waist as Lu Zhe''s hand brushed against it. She tried to move away, but her body pressed even closer to him. Amusement sparkled in her watery eyes as shezily nced at him. "Don''t pinch my waist; it tickles," she said.


    The skin beneath the palm is delicate and smooth, the girl''s slender waist soft,pletely different from the man''s firm and rough touch. Lu Zhe turned over, his handsome face tinged with desire under the light. "Tuan Tuan, can we do it again?"


    Su Ci is very willful, "Not good."


    Lu Zhe gently brushed his calloused fingers against her waist, causing the girl to tremble again. He whispered enticingly, "Do you want to be on top?"


    Suci''s ck-and-white eyes sparkled.


    Above?


    She has not tried it yet.


    Lu Zhe knew the girl''s personality very well. He lowered his head, leaned close to her ear, and his clear, melodious voice was extremely pleasant, "It''s up to you to take the lead."


    Suci''s eyes shone brighter; each time it was Lu Zhe in control, and she could only be forced to endure. She also wanted to see how difficult it was for him to hold back.


    Lu Zhe gently kissed the tip of her ear and said, "Tuan Tuan, would you like to give it a try?"


    Under the lights, Su Ci had a hesitant expression and said, "I need you to support me, I''m out of strength."


    Lu Zhe let out a lightugh and said, "Hmm."


    Lu Zhe supported her slender waist, easily shifting their positions.


    Suci looked down at him from above for the first time, feeling extremely pleased with herself.


    When she woke up the next day, it was already noon, and Su Ci was awakened by hunger.


    She nced to her side, but Lu Zhe''s figure was no longer there.


    Shezily turned over, picked up her phone, and received quite a few messages. Among them was one from Shen Xue, telling her to check the trending searches online.


    Su Ci then realized that she had once again made it to the trending topics, and this time it was because she was being criticized again.


    She felt that no matter whether she entered the entertainment industry or not, she would still be the kind of person who was both famous and notorious. On the trending topics, there was news about her using her family background to bully the popr actress Bai Ruxue, and below the news, there were endless curses from Bai Ruxue''s fans.


    Su Ci searched for Bai Ruxue and realized that she was the actress whom she had sshed wine on.


    The top three trending topics were about this actress, clearly using her for publicity stunts.


    Su Ci flipped over with her phone in hand, directly lying on the pillow. She logged into her ount and uploaded the video she had obtained from the hotel managerst night, adding the caption: "You deliberately sshed wine on my boyfriend, and I returned the favor. Fair and square."


    As soon as Su Ci''s message was posted, theizens who were following the gossip immediately rushed over.


    "After watching the video, I just want to say, that Bai Ruxue deserved to be sshed with wine. She was trying to seduce Young Master Lu, wasn''t she?"


    "Hahahaha, there are actually people who use deliberately bumping into someone as a way to hit on them. I''m so embarrassed that my scalp is tingling."


    "She deserved to be sshed. I was wondering why Su Heiress suddenly became so aggressive. It turns out someone did something disgusting."


    "Sshing wine is mild. If someone tried to seduce my boyfriend, I''d ssh sulfuric acid on her."


    "Does Bai Ruxue have any shame? Young Master Lu is Su Ci''s boyfriend. How dare she try to be a homewrecker?"


    "She identally bumped into him. Can''t you see clearly? Our Xiaoxue was wearing high heels with thin stilts. She said she''s not used to wearing such high heels. Is it a crime to lose bnce for a moment?"


    "Are you Bai Ruxue''s fans? Don''t try to whitewash this. Even the blind can see she deliberately bumped into Young Master Lu."


    "Young Master Lu and Su Heiress are just boyfriend and girlfriend, not married yet. Doesn''t everyone have the right to pursue someone? Besides, Xiaoxue and Young Master Lu look really good together."


    "Are the trolls here? Being a homewrecker and feeling proud about it? They may not be married, but does that mean you can steal someone''s boyfriend? I wish your boyfriend gets stolen by a homewrecker every day."


    "Do Bai Ruxue''s fans have eyes? Su Heiress outshines your idol in every aspect. Forget about family background, just look at their appearances. Su Ci is a hundred times prettier than Bai Ruxue. What makes you think she''s a match for Young Master Lu?"


    "Does Bai Ruxue have any shame? She''s even trying to incite her fans to attack Su Ci."


    "Luckily, I didn''t take sides. As expected, there''s a twist. Bai Ruxue, who was so eager to be a homewrecker, shouldn''t she be banned?"


    ...


    Su Ci scrolled through thements when a hand reached over and took her phone.


    She looked up and saw Lu Zhe standing by the bed. "Aren''t you hungry? Get up and eat first." He nced at the girl''s phone and put it aside.


    Su Ci turned around and reached out to him, asking to be picked up. "I have no strength. I can''t stand up."


    However, Su Ci forgot that she wasn''t wearing any clothes. As she reached out, the nket slipped, revealing arge expanse of fair skin.


    Lu Zhe''s thin lips pressed together, and his eyes darkened.


    He picked up the clothes he had prepared for the girl and helped her dress.


    Su Ci felt a bit disdainful. The sweater was pink, the jacket was pink, and even the socks he had prepared were pink. Although it was a light cherry blossom pink, it felt too childish.


    She looked at Lu Zhe, who was seriously helping her put on her socks, and teased him, "Are you trying to raise me like a daughter?"


    Lu Zhe''s grip on her ankle tightened. He nced at her with a dark look and then leaned in to bite her mischievous lips. "Little troublemaker, what do you think?"


    A slight sting on her lips made Su Ci let out a soft hum, not daring to argue.


    Last night, she had suffered quite a bit. She had thought she would be in control, but she found it even more exhausting and not at all exciting.


    No, Lu Zhe must have found it exciting; otherwise, he wouldn''t have reacted so intensely, almost driving her to exhaustion.


    After helping the girl dress, Lu Zhe even took the ribbon he had prepared and tied her hair up. Although his technique wasn''t great, Su Ci''s high beauty managed to pull off the slightly crooked ponytail.


    The lunch was sumptuous, all of Su Ci''s favorites.


    She was toozy to lift a hand and let Lu Zhe feed her.


    At the film set, Bai Ruxue was initially in a good mood because she had made it to the trending topics. But in the blink of an eye, arge number ofizens flooded her ount to curse her.


    "That Su Ci is insane. Did she hire trolls to smear me?" Bai Ruxue panicked. She hadn''t expected Su Ci to have the video from the scene.


    Next to her, Huang Ying saw Bai Ruxue''s panic and resentment and couldn''t help but speak up, "Do you think everyone is like you, with their morals twisted? Does the Su Heiress need to hire trolls? Anyone with eyes can see what you did. Who else should they curse but you?"


    Bai Ruxue red fiercely at her. "Whose side are you on? Don''t forget, we''re in the same group."


    Huang Ying red back. "Did you just realize we''re in the same group? Because of you, we''re also being questioned by fans."


    At that moment, the manager hurried over.


    "Sister Ya, how should we handle this?" Bai Ruxue quickly sought help from the manager.


    In the team, the manager had always favored Bai Ruxue the most, as she believed Bai Ruxue had the most fans and the brightest future. Little did she know, Bai Ruxue was a brainless fool.


    Instead of soothing Bai Ruxue as she usually did, the manager replied coldly, "Handle? Thepany has already dealt with you."


    Bai Ruxue''s heart sank. "What do you mean?"


    News then broke online that Bai Ruxue had been banned for offending Su Ci.


    "My god, does Su Heiress have the power to cover the sky with one hand?"


    "Support Su Heiress. Bai Ruxue''s character is wed. She doesn''t deserve to be an idol."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    ¡°Idol misconduct, wrong moralpass. She indeed should be banned. Otherwise, how would it affect younger fans?¡±


    "Su Ci is too ruthless. Offend her, and you get banned."


    Wow, I just started eating melon this morning, and now I see Bai Ruxue being banned?


    "My god, so ruthless. Having a powerful background is indeed different. Who would dare to offend Su Ci now?"


    If it were me, with money and power, anyone who tried to steal my boyfriend would be dealt with severely. Support Su Ci, she''s so dominating!


    "Banned is too much. It''s not like she seeded in seducing him. Maybe Bai Ruxue really fell?"


    ¡°Su Ci''s move is clever. Kill the chicken to warn the monkey. Who would dare topete with her for Young Master Lu?¡±


    ...


    Su Ci learned that Bai Ruxue had been banned and was a bit confused. This wasn''t something she had done. Could it be her parents? Or her older brother?


    Just as she was about to call her family, she came across ament. The user''s nickname was: Su Ci''s Man.


    Thement read: "I did it."


    Su Ci blinked and, for some reason, clicked on the user''s profile. The avatar was a white rabbit, and there was only one tweet. The following: 1, the fans: 0.


    The person she followed was Su Ci.


    Su Ci looked up and turned to look at Lu Zhe, who was sitting behind her. She handed him the phone, "This person is so shameless. He dares to call himself my man."


    Lu Zhe nced at the avatar. Beneath his short ck hair, his ear tips rarely turned red. "It''s me."


    Su Ci''s ck eyes widened. She had only slightly suspected it but thought it might be a coincidence.


    Hearing Lu Zhe admit that the ount was his, Su Ci felt proud. "Why didn''t you tell me you had Bai Ruxue banned?"


    "Mmm."


    Su Ci directly leaned into Lu Zhe''s arms and rewarded him with a kiss on the lips. "How can you be so cute!"


    She adored him to death. Lu Zhe''s actions always spoke louder than words.


    She leaned against him and retweeted hisment: "Thank you [sending a heart]."


    Su Ci''s ount didn''t follow anyone, but now she only followed Lu Zhe.


    As soon as she retweeted, theizens saw it.


    "Su Ci''s Man? Hahahaha, I must be blind, so this is Young Master Lu? What a straightforward name!"


    "My head is about to fall off. The heir of the Lu Family actually has 0 fans? Wait, he has one fan, Su Ci.


    "Shut up, you guys. Does Young Master Lu have no dignity? Don''t say it. I''m going to follow him right now."


    "Me too. Young Master Lu, please post more handsome photos in the future."


    "Is it a fake ount? How pitiful. I have over a hundred fans, but Young Master Lu only has one, and it''s Su Ci. Rounding it up, he has no fans."


    "I just got pped in the face again. Who said Bai Ruxue was banned by Su Ci? It was Young Master Lu who did it to protect Su Ci."


    "Am I the only one focusing on the fact that Bai Ruxue wasn''t banned by Su Ci?"


    "Woohoo, the plot twists and turns, and in the end, it''s just feeding me dog food."


    ¡°Did you see that? This is what happens to people like Bai Ruxue who try to seduce Young Master Lu. Young Master Lu is personally protecting his girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°You two are made for each other. Lock them in!¡±


    ¡°I came here to see some drama, but why am I being fed dog food instead?¡±


    ¡°With Young Master Lu personally stepping in, I doubt anyone will dare to mess with him again.¡±


    ¡°Who would still dare to flirt with Young Master Lu? He¡¯s already taken care of the trouble himself. He¡¯s really protective of his wife.¡±


    ......


    Everyone was busy swooning over the couple, constantly switching between Su Ci and Lu Zhe¡¯s social media ounts. Perhaps out of sympathy for Lu Zhe¡¯s rtively small number of followers, everyone started following him. In less than an hour, he gained over half a million followers, and the number was still rapidly increasing.


    As for Bai Ruxue being cklisted, the inte had already moved on. All people could remember was that you absolutely shouldn¡¯t try to seduce Lu Zhe. Otherwise, even if Su Ci didn¡¯t act, he would personally handle the situation.


    He was devoted to Su Ci but ruthless to others.


    Su Cizily leaned against Lu Zhe¡¯s chest, scrolling throughments. Previously, she enjoyed readingments praising her looks, but now she preferred those that gushed about her and Lu Zhe¡¯s fairy-tale romance.


    Many otherizens had also sent her private messages.


    Su Ci slowly clicked on one.


    The next second, she opened a particrly long message:


    ¡°Su Ci, I¡¯m your fan. I¡¯m a high school student.¡±


    ¡°Ever since I first saw you on the trending page, I¡¯ve been a huge fan. You¡¯re exactly the person I dream of bing. Beautiful, wealthy, confident, brave¡­ Every time you¡¯re attacked by others, you handle it so well.¡±


    ¡°Some say you¡¯re arrogant, but someone like you should be confident and proud, living under the sun. I really like you and want to be like you. Every time I see your news, I feel so inspired, hoping to fight back like you do.¡±


    ¡°But I know it¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°Right now, I¡¯m just too tired. I just want to close my eyes. Maybe next life, I can be as dazzling as you¡­¡±


    Su Ci felt a pang in her heart as she read thest part. She nced at the timestamp and saw that the message had been sent seven minutes ago.


    She quickly clicked into the sender¡¯s ount and saw theirtest post: ¡°I hope I can be a dazzling person in my next life.¡±


    Below the message was a picture of a knife.


    Su Ci¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as she looked at it.


    She turned around and handed her phone to Lu Zhe. ¡°Can you find her address?¡±

 Chapter 108

    Su Ci and Lu Zhe found themselves in a narrow alley, where the uneven pavement and tangled wires hanging low created an oppressive atmosphere.


    "It should be here," Su Ci nced at the door number.


    "Mhm," Lu Zhe agreed.


    He took Su Ci''s hand, positioning her behind him, and stepped forward to ring the doorbell.


    "No one''s answering?" After a while, the door remained closed.


    Su Ci stepped forward and pressed the doorbell several times, finally hearing movement from inside.


    A man in his forties opened the door, "Who are you looking for?"


    Su Ci recalled the username from the private message she had received and said, "Uncle, we''re looking for Xiao Jie. We''re her friends, is she home?"


    The man looked at the two visitors, their elegant attire and striking appearances marking them as anything but ordinary. He was puzzled as to how his daughter could know such people.


    He opened the door wider, "Xiao Jie is in her room. What do you want with her?"


    "We had a n to go to the library together," Su Ci said with a sweet smile, her lie seamless, as if she were truly visiting a close friend.


    The middle-aged man let them in, "She''s in her room, you can go in and find her."


    The house was small and dimly lit, making the living room feel even darker.


    The man shuffled to the faded wooden door, knocking loudly, "You two ssmates are here to see you,e out and greet them."


    After a long pause, there was no response from inside.


    He knocked even harder, "You brat, did you hear me?"


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe stood quietly by.


    "Get out here! You made ns with your friends and didn''t even bother to check the time. They''re here, and you''re stillzing around?" His loud voice was painful to the ears.


    Still, there was no response. Su Ci thought of Xiao Jie''s message and gently tugged at Lu Zhe''s hand, giving him a meaningful look.


    Lu Zhe stepped forward, stopping the man from knocking again.


    "Uncle, Xiao Jie hasn''t responded for so long. What if she''s fallen or something happened? Let''s break the door down," Su Ci suggested to the man. Before he could react, Lu Zhe kicked the door open.


    Their coordination was swift, leaving the middle-aged man no time to stop them.


    The door flew open.


    The man saw his daughter sitting on the floor, holding a knife, her wrist already cut and bleeding. It was clear she had started but was startled by her father''s sudden knocking and hadn''t had a chance to continue.


    The man immediately rushed forward, grabbing the knife from his daughter''s hand and throwing it aside, "Are you crazy?"


    "You stupid girl, what are you doing? Did you read yourself stupid? Trying to kill yourself?" His face showed both worry and anger, his words harsh despite his concern.


    Su Ci entered the room, noting that Wu Xiaojie''s wound wasn''t deep, just a superficial cut. Seeing her life bar at six yellow segments, Su Ci breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Uncle, let''s take Xiao Jie to the hospital to bandage her wound," Su Ci interrupted his tirade. "Our car is outside; we can take her there."


    The man looked at his daughter, who was silently crying, her head bowed. He reached out to pull her up, "Come on, let''s go to the hospital."


    Wu Xiaojie finally looked up, her tears blurring her vision. To her astonishment, the unfamiliar voice belonged to Su Ci!


    "You... you..." Wu Xiaojie whispered in surprise, "It''s Su Ci."


    "Yes, it''s me," Su Ci said gently. "Your wound needs to be disinfected and bandaged at the hospital. I''ll apany you."


    Wu Xiaojie felt like she was dreaming.


    Su Ci pulled out a tissue and knelt in front of Wu Xiaojie, gently wiping the blood from her wound. "I saw your private message. You wanted to see me, didn''t you?"


    Wu Xiaojie was in a daze, her idol right in front of her, her mind unable to process the reality.


    "Let''s take you to the hospital first," Su Ci helped her up.


    Wu Xiaojie, her eyes brimming with tears, looked at the seemingly unreal Su Ci and obediently stood up, cooperating without a word.


    Wu''s Father couldn''t believe his usually quiet and introverted daughter would do something so foolish in her room. If it weren''t for these two friendsing to visit her, she might have...


    The thought made him shudder, his hands and feet going numb, cold sweat breaking out. Despite his frequent scoldings, she was still his daughter, his flesh and blood. How could he not care?


    Seeing his daughter and her friends heading out, Wu''s Father noticed the knife he had thrown aside. He quickly picked it up, wrapped it in a piece of clothing, and hid it in the cab above the TV.


    After hiding the knife, he hurried after them.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe''s car was parked outside the alley. The sleek, ck vehicle stood out starkly against the surrounding environment.


    Wu Xiaojie and Wu''s Father, who had caught up, looked at the car, even without much knowledge of cars, they could tell it was expensive.


    Both of them felt awkward and unsure of what to do.


    "Maybe I should take Xiao Jie to the hospital by taxi. We don''t want to trouble you," Wu''s Father said, feeling ufortable.


    "It''s no trouble. Get in," Su Ci opened the door for Wu Xiaojie.


    Lu Zhe took the wheel.


    The car was quiet, with Su Ci and Wu Xiaojie in the backseat, and Wu''s Father in the front passenger seat.


    Wu Xiaojie still hadn''te to her senses. She couldn''t help but steal nces at Su Ci, unable to believe that Su Ci had appeared and saved her.


    Su Ci noticed Wu Xiaojie''s gaze and turned to smile at her. "Is there something you want to say to me?"


    Wu Xiaojie quickly lowered her head, feeling ashamed. Her disheveled appearance must have disappointed her idol.


    She nervously clenched her hands on her knees, remaining silent.


    In the front, Wu''s Father spoke, his voice as loud as ever, "You better exin why you did something so stupid! Did we not feed you enough? Or not clothe you well? We worked hard to send you to school, and this is how you repay us?"


    Wu Xiaojie''s head drooped even lower, almost touching her knees.


    "Uncle, no one wants to die unless they''re pushed to the brink. And no one chooses this method to escape unless they''re desperate," Su Ci said, looking at Wu Xiaojie. "If you have any difficulties, you can tell me."


    Wu Xiaojie kept her head down, her hair covering her face.


    Wu''s Father, anxious, turned back to look at his daughter, his mouth opening and closing, but he didn''t continue his questioning.


    Su Ci spoke softly, "In your private message, you praised me for being confident and brave, for handling attacks well. You said you wanted to be like me. But if you don''t even have the courage to speak up, how can you be me?"


    Su Ci lowered the partition between the seats. "Now it''s just you and me. You can talk to me alone."


    Wu Xiaojie looked up.


    Su Ci in front of her was even more beautiful than in her photos, her voice soothing, her presence almost too perfect to be real.


    From a young age, Wu Xiaojie had been ordinary in every way¡ªher appearance, her skin tone, her weight.


    At home, she took care of cooking, cleaning, andundry, but her parents often criticized her clumsiness.


    She was average in school, introverted, and had no close friends. She was barely noticed in her ss.


    It wasn''t until high school, after a gym ss where she had sweated a lot, that some girls started rumors about her having body odor.


    Gradually, everyone began to avoid her, looking at her with disdain. Her seat was often targeted with chewed gum or glue.


    Sometimes, when she went to the bathroom, someone would tamper with her water bottle.


    A few girls even liked to corner her after evening sses, verbally abusing her, pulling her hair, and filming the abuse.


    Yesterday, those girls dragged her into the girls'' bathroom, stripped her, and forced her to kneel while filming.


    She felt she couldn''t endure it any longer, so she decided to send a farewell message to Su Ci today. She hadn''t expected Su Ci to see it or reply.


    Su Ci was her idol, beautiful, from a good family, and confident. When attacked, she fought back decisively, and those who bullied her paid the price.


    Su Ci was the person Wu Xiaojie dreamed of bing.


    But she was too tired, and she admitted her own weakness. She couldn''t bear these nightmares of bullying. In this life, she wanted to be free, and she hoped that in the next life, she would have the chance to be someone like Su Ci.


    After hearing Wu Xiaojie''s words, Su Ci remained silent.


    After a while, she asked, "Do your parents know?"


    Wu Xiaojie shook her head, "Those girlse from wealthy families. One of them is even the niece of the school principal." Her family didn''t have money; her parents were just casualborers. Even if they went to the school, the leaders would just try to smooth things over.


    Su Ci understood.


    "Suicide is the dumbest way to deal with this. You should tell your parents. If your parents can''t solve it, you can file aint with the education bureau or expose it to the media. No matter what method you use, you shouldn''t choose this dumbest way."


    Su Ci told her, "You think you''re free, but have you thought about it? The people who bullied you are still living well, and even more, they won''t feel they did anything wrong. They''ll just think you''re stupid."


    Wu Xiaojie started crying softly.


    Su Ci ced her hand on Wu Xiaojie''s hand, holding it tightly. "Since I''m your idol, it''s my duty to protect my fans."n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Through her tears, Wu Xiaojie stared at Su Ci in disbelief.


    At the hospital, the doctor examined the wound on Wu Xiaojie''s wrist. After giving some instructions on what to watch out for, the doctor also gently encouraged her.


    After all, such wounds were clearly self-inflicted.


    Those going through a tough time need to be treated with kindness.


    When Wu''s Father heard the doctor say that his daughter''s hand was fine, his tense expression finally rxed, but his face was still stern. His words carried anger, "See if you dare do something like this again. What were you thinking?"


    Wu Xiaojie kept her head down and didn''t respond.


    Su Ci disagreed and spoke up, "Uncle, Xiao Jie encountered difficulties and suffered a lot. She couldn''t bear it and couldn''t bring herself to talk to her elders. She was forced to the edge and had no other choice. When you get home, you should have a good talk with her."


    Wu''s Father was stunned.


    He looked at his daughter, who was quietly keeping her head down. His heart ached with worry and a mix of me. "This child usuallyes home from school and hides in her room, hardly speaking. She sees me like I''m a tiger, wanting to stay as far away as possible. I''m your father. If you have any difficulties, can''t you talk to me?"


    Wu Xiaojie looked up, her eyes red. She looked at her father, who had worried eyes and graying temples, and whispered, "Dad..."


    After sending Wu Xiaojie and her father home, it was already dark outside.


    Wu''s Mother came home and found out that her daughter had almost died today. She was so scared that she hugged Wu Xiaojie and cried right away.


    Su Ci had originally nned to leave without disturbing their family''s private conversation, but Wu''s Father and Mother insisted on inviting her to stay for dinner.


    Looking at Wu Xiaojie''s eager gaze, Su Ci agreed.


    "Miss Su, Mr. Lu, our family eats simple and light meals. Please don''tugh at us." Wu''s Father had initially thought that these two young people were his daughter''s ssmates, butter, after hearing from his daughter, he learned that Su Ci had received a private message from his daughter and tracked down their address to save her.


    Wu''s Father was very grateful to these two young people and didn''t know how to repay them.


    Moreover, from his daughter''s words, he understood that these two young people had extraordinary backgrounds, which exined why they could drive such an expensive car.


    The house was small, without a dedicated dining room. They had set up a square table in the living room. However, Su Ci didn''t feel ufortable. "You''re too polite. The food is great."


    Su Ci sat next to Lu Zhe, with Wu Xiaojie on her other side.


    Wu Xiaojie had injured her left hand, but the wound wasn''t deep, and she no longer felt pain.


    The fluorescent light in the house was old, making the room a bit dim, but it didn''t stop her from stealing nces at Su Ci. Wu Xiaojie still felt like she was dreaming, and she even saw Su Ci''s boyfriend, the young master Lu.


    They looked so perfect together, even more beautiful than in photos.


    To think that she could sit at the same table and eat with them¡ªthis was something she had never dared to dream of.


    Wu Xiaojie took a bite of rice, her chest filled with excitement. At this moment, she was d she had been saved; she hadn''t died.


    After dinner, Su Ci took out her phone and exchanged contact information with Wu Xiaojie. "Go back to school tomorrow and attend your sses. If you encounter any problems, remember to contact me. I''ll help you deal with them."


    Wu Xiaojie couldn''t believe it when she saw Su Ci''s profile in her friend list. She had added Su Ci as a friend?


    Wu Xiaojie felt dizzy with excitement.


    "Got it?" Su Ci reached out and tapped Wu Xiaojie''s nose with her finger.


    Wu Xiaojie''s face instantly turned red. If her skin hadn''t been darker, it would have beenpletely flushed.


    She quickly nodded, "I understand."


    Ah, her idol was not only beautiful and gentle but also kind. She would be a fan of Su Ci forever!


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe were about to leave. The Wu family saw them off to the door.


    Wu Xiaojie kept waving at Su Ci, "Please be careful on the road."


    Back in the car, Su Ci sat quietly in the passenger seat.


    "What''s wrong?" Lu Zhe leaned over to fasten the seatbelt for the girl.


    Su Ci reached out and hugged Lu Zhe, resting her head on his shoulder. "For the first time, I realize that I can influence others and be a source of motivation for them."


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly and hugged her back. "You''re not just a source of motivation for others; you''re also mine."


    Without her, he might have been waiting somewhere, waiting for his illness to re up and slowly die.


    Hearing this, Su Ci, who had just been feeling sentimental, suddenly felt proud. She smiled, her eyes curving, "I''m not just your motivation; I''m your ultimate cutie."


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes filled withughter. "Mm."


    The alley had no streetlights, and everything was pitch ck.


    Su Ci tugged at Lu Zhe''s clothes, naturally asking for a kiss: "Kiss me."


    After stopping Wu Xiaojie from attempting suicide, she had gained another gold.


    Lu Zhe''s cold fingertips lifted the girl''s chin, and he kissed her. In the dim light, it was incredibly tender.

 Chapter 109

    The next day, Wu Xiaojie''s parents went to the school, asking the teacher to mediate and seek justice, as their daughter had endured so much injustice, and they were determined to get an exnation.


    However, the exnation they received from the teacher was that Wu Xiaojie was usually very quiet in ss, not sociable, and had trouble getting along with her ssmates. There was no evidence of her being bullied by her peers. The homeroom teacher even suggested that Wu''s Father and Wu''s Mother should go home and educate Wu Xiaojie to be more sociable and get along harmoniously with her ssmates.


    ¡°It¡¯s normal for students to have minor frictions and small conflicts. Parents don¡¯t need to overreact to the yful squabbles of children,¡± the homeroom teacher said.


    Wu''s Father felt a pain in his chest from anger.


    The homeroom teacher looked at Wu Xiaojie, who was looking down, and said, "Xiaojie, you should also focus more on your studies. Your midterm exam results dropped a few ces, and there''s only a week left before the final exams. You need to make the most of your time to review."


    "My daughter tried tomit suicide yesterday because she was bullied by her ssmates. How can you call that a simple minor conflict?" Wu''s father challenged the teacher.


    The homeroom teacher looked astonished and replied, "This is a problem with you as parents. If your child exhibits such behavior, it clearly indicates a psychological issue. I suggest you take her to see a psychologist as soon as possible."


    "My daughter is not sick. She''s being bullied by those students," Wu''s Father retorted angrily.


    The homeroom teacher exined, "Mr. Wu, I keep an eye on Wu Xiaojie''s interactions with her ssmates. If she were truly being bullied, I would take action against the troublemakers. But without any evidence, I can''t punish students based solely on your word."


    Wu''s father was about to say something more, but Wu Xiaojie tugged at his clothes hem, stopping him.


    The homeroom teacher said, "I have a ss soon, so let Xiaojie return to her lessons. I''ll also remind the ss to get along harmoniously."


    Wu''s Father and Wu''s Mother left angrily, feeling frustrated but realizing the teacher was deflecting their concerns. As the teacher had said, they had no evidence. The students were cunning, often taking Wu Xiaojie to ces like the stairwell corner or the girls'' bathroom, where there were no surveince cameras.


    Without evidence, there was no way to use those students.


    Wu Xiaojie returned to the ssroom, her seat being second tost and by the window.


    Compared to her previous sadness and gloom, she was still immersed in the joy and excitement of yesterday''s encounter with her idol. She had been saved by her idol, Su Ci, and even had dinner with her.


    As she faced the others'' whispers, Wu Xiaojie quietly returned to her seat.


    Su Ci had encouraged her yesterday, and she didn''t want to disappoint her. She should live well.


    Because her chair would often be sabotaged with chewed gum or her water bottle moved when she left her seat, Wu Xiaojie rarely drank water, reducing the need to go to the restroom.


    The morning passed peacefully for her.


    In the afternoon, as the school day was nearing its end, the teacher reminded the ss to get along harmoniously and even instructed the students to be more amodating and take care of Wu Xiaojie.


    As soon as the teacher left, the students in the ss began to make fun.


    After the teacher left, the girls in front of and behind Wu Xiaojie mocked her for supposedly tattling to the teacher.


    Wu Xiaojie kept her head lowered and habitually remained silent, not responding.


    After school, it was Wu Xiaojie''s turn to clean the ssroom. As usual, the others quickly swept a few times and then left, leaving all the work to her.


    Meanwhile, the usual group of girls who bullied Wu Xiaojie didn''t leave. One of them grabbed Wu Xiaojie by the cor and said, "Come with us to the bathroom to talk."


    ¡°Let go of me, I need to finish cleaning,¡± Wu Xiaojie said, her face turning pale as she gripped the broom.


    "You can finish cleaning after we talk," the girl kicked the broom out of Wu Xiaojie''s hand. "Come on, do we need to invite you?"


    Another girl picked up a book and pped it against Wu Xiaojie''s head. "Did you tattle to the teacher?"


    Wu Xiaojie remained silent.


    ¡°She must have tattled, or why would the teacher remind us to be friends with her?¡± the short-haired girl sneered. ¡°Does she even deserve to be our friend? Dream on.¡±


    "Hurry up,e with us to the girls'' bathroom. Don''t forget we still have your photos of you without clothes," another girl kicked Wu Xiaojie.


    Wu Xiaojie kept her head down and tried to send a message to Su Ci, but the next moment, her phone was snatched away by one of the girls.


    "Did you think about asking for help?" the girl looked at the contact name on the phone and scoffed, "Idol? More like vomit target. Whoever bes your idol is really unlucky, probably cursed by your bad luck."


    Wu Xiaojie looked up, ring at the girl with hatred. "Don''t you dare insult my idol."


    The girl, angered by the re, raised her hand to p Wu Xiaojie, but was stopped by the others. "There''s a surveince camera in the ssroom; we can''ty a hand on her."


    The girl suppressed her anger. The other two girls grabbed Wu Xiaojie by the arms, one on each side, and forcibly dragged her out, "If you don''t behave, we''ll upload your photos online and let everyone see your lewdness."


    A ck car was parked outside the school gate.


    The window rolled down, revealing the snow-white, exquisitely beautiful profile of a girl.


    Su Ci had sent a message to Wu Xiaojie but hadn''t received a reply.


    She sat quietly in the car as the night began to fall.


    After waiting for a while, Su Ci called Wu Xiaojie, but there was no answer.


    Her eyes darkened, and Su Ci pushed open the car door.


    It was dismissal time, and many students were leaving the school. Seeing Su Ci get out of the car, everyone was amazed by her appearance.


    She wasn''t wearing a school uniform, and her tender face looked like that of a student from another high school who hade to their school.


    Su Ci was followed by two bodyguards, which attracted even more attention.


    The guards at the school gate stopped Su Ci, as outsiders needed to register to enter.


    In the girls'' bathroom.


    Wu Xiaojie was pushed inside. Since it was dismissal time, most students had left, and there was no one around the bathroom.


    The short-haired girl handed Wu Xiaojie a cigarette. "Smoke it."


    Wu Xiaojie frowned. "I don''t know how."


    ¡°Don''t act innocent. If you don''t smoke it, we''ll smoke you,¡± the girl lit the cigarette and handed it to Wu Xiaojie. ¡°Take it.¡±


    Wu Xiaojie didn''t move. She knew smoking was a bad habit, and she didn''t want to learn it.


    The girl pped Wu Xiaojie across the face. "Take it, are you deaf?"


    Wu Xiaojie still didn''t move; she wouldn''t smoke.


    The short-haired girl pressed the lit cigarette against Wu Xiaojie''s arm.


    Wu Xiaojie cried out in pain.


    The short-haired girl threw away the extinguished cigarette and signaled the other two girls to teach Wu Xiaojie a lesson. Usually, they would p her and pull her hair, but they were careful not to use excessive force.


    The girls locked the bathroom door.


    Wu Xiaojie bit her lip and backed away.


    However, when she tried to resist and fight back, her strength was no match for the three of thembined.


    Wu Xiaojie was pinned to the ground by two girls, while the short-haired girl stepped on her back. She arrogantly looked down at Wu Xiaojie, who was crying softly. "That''s what you get for tattling to the teacher."


    The girl picked up her phone and started taking photos of Wu Xiaojie.


    Seeing Wu Xiaojie''s despair, sheughed even more triumphantly.


    Just as the girls wereughing loudly and bullying Wu Xiaojie, the bathroom door was suddenly kicked open. Theughing girls froze, stunned to see someone standing at the door.


    Wu Xiaojie, lying on the ground and crying softly, slowly raised her head upon hearing the door open.


    A girl walked in against the light, making her eyes widen in disbelief.


    It was Su Ci!


    Wu Xiaojie felt like she had seen a ray of light. She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again,ughing and crying at the same time.


    Her idol hade to save her.


    "Hey, who are you?" the short-haired girl on Wu Xiaojie''s back regained herposure and arrogantly questioned Su Ci.


    The girl in front of them was strikingly beautiful, and she didn''t look like she was from their school, or the short-haired girl would have recognized her.


    For the first time, Su Ci felt such intense anger. Seeing Wu Xiaojie being stepped on the ground, a surge of fury rose in her chest.


    Her exquisitely beautiful face turned cold, her gaze like icicles piercing the short-haired girl. "You deserve to die."


    The short-haired girl felt a shiver run down her spine and couldn''t bring herself to meet the gaze of the beautiful girl in front of her.


    Su Ci coldly ordered, "You alle in."


    In the girls'' astonishment, three tall and muscr men in ck clothes rushed in.


    "Arrest them," Su Ci said emotionlessly.


    "What are you doing?" The short-haired girl hadn''t yet realized what was happening when, in a sh, she was pinned down by a man in ck, her hands restrained. "Why are you arresting me?"


    Su Ci walked up to Wu Xiaojie, bent down, and extended her hand. "Can you stand up?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Wu Xiaojie''s face was smeared with tears, her hair disheveled from being pulled. She looked at the hand extended toward her¡ªbeautiful, delicate, as immacte as its owner.


    Wu Xiaojie hesitated but eventually reached out, and in the next moment, Su Ci grasped her hand.


    Su Ci pulled Wu Xiaojie to her feet and examined her injuries. "I''m sorry, I came toote." She should have rushed over the moment Wu Xiaojie didn''t reply to her messages.


    Wu Xiaojie shook her head, filled with gratitude and warmth, her once-frozen body now feeling warm.


    In her moment of darkness, her idol had appeared.


    Su Ci had pulled her out of the abyss.


    Wu Xiaojie sobbed softly, feeling both wronged and happy.


    Su Ci thought she was in pain and quickly pulled out a tissue. "I''ll take you to the hospital soon."


    Wu Xiaojie stared at Su Ci, who was gently wiping her tears, and was struck dumb by her idol''s tenderness.


    Her idol was so gentle.


    Su Ci was truly wonderful.


    After wiping Wu Xiaojie''s tears, Su Ci turned her attention to the three girls who had been captured.


    Her gaze was icy. "Do you enjoy bullying people?"


    The short-haired girl was brazen. "Who are you? Let me go right now! My uncle is the school director. If you dare do anything to me, I won''t let you off!"


    "A school director? Is that enough to make you so arrogant?" Su Ci lifted her chin, exuding an even moremanding presence than the short-haired girl. "Hold them under the water."


    "Yes, Miss." The bodyguards turned on the faucet and forced the girls'' heads under the stream of cold water.


    In this freezing weather, even touching cold water stings, let alone having it poured directly over one''s head.


    "Ah!"


    "Let me go!"


    "Help, help me!"


    The girls struggled in vain.


    Su Ci watched coldly. "When you were bullying others, did you ever think you''d be on the receiving end? Remember this feeling well."


    She had never experienced campus violence herself, but she detested such behavior.


    Especially seeing how Wu Xiaojie had been desperate and helpless, trampled on the ground with no dignity left, it had filled her with rage.


    No wonder Wu Xiaojie had chosen to do something so foolish yesterday. Clearly, she had been pushed to her limits time and time again, with no hope in sight.


    Thinking of the malicious bullying that had nearly cost someone their life, Su Ci''s anger refused to subside.


    "Do you have anything to say?" Su Ci asked.


    The bodyguards stopped.


    The short-haired girl spat out the water and snarled, "I''ll tear your face apart!"


    Su Ci''s eyes remained cold. "Continue."


    The bodyguards forced the girls'' heads back under the faucet.


    Wu Xiaojie''s body had warmed up, and she watched Su Ci, who stood before her like a radiant beacon. Her heart felt as though it had been scalded by hot water, growing warmer by the moment.


    Her idol was protecting her, standing up for her, and avenging her.


    Wu Xiaojie couldn''t help but sob softly again.


    This time, she was crying out of gratitude.


    Her idol was just so wonderful. She would be a fan of Su Ci for life.


    Seeing that the three girls had been thoroughly humbled and no longer dared to mouth off, Su Ci ordered the bodyguards to stop.


    Su Ci''s voice was melodious but cold. "Take them to the police station. I''ll take Wu Xiaojie to get her injuries checked. You''re all over eighteen, right? You''re adults now, and what you did to Wu Xiaojie constitutes intentional assault. You''ll have to face criminal charges."


    At this, the three girls were truly frightened.


    Hearing they were going to be sent to the police station, the freezing and trembling girls begged tearfully, "I''m sorry, please don''t call the police, we were wrong."


    "I don''t want to go to jail, I don''t want to go to jail!" One of the girls, with long hair, started crying uncontrobly.


    The short-haired girl was also terrified. She had only bullied Wu Xiaojie for fun; she never imagined such consequences. "Don''t call the police, please, I''m sorry, I was wrong, don''t call the police..."


    The three girls were in a state of panic, their words incoherent.


    Su Ci was not one to be easily swayed, especially given how these three had nearly driven Wu Xiaojie to death.


    If she hadn''t intervened in time, Wu Xiaojie would have been dead, and these three wouldn''t have realized how cruel they had been.


    Su Ci spoke: "Take them to the police station."


    "Yes, Miss."


    The three girls were dragged out, screaming in terror, one of them nearly fainting.


    Su Ci apanied Wu Xiaojie to the hospital.


    Wu Xiaojie''s face was swollen on one side, her arms bore burn marks from cigarette butts, and her body had bruises in other ces.


    After the medical report waspleted, Su Ci had it sent to the police station. As for how the case would be judged based on the injuries, Su Ci would not interfere.


    At the school, Su Ci also hired awyer to handle the matter. Upon learning about Wu Xiaojie''s experience with campus violence, the school quickly convened a meeting, and as a result, both the grade director and the homeroom teacher were fired.


    Wu''s Father and Wu''s Mother were so grateful they wanted to kneel before Su Ci, but she stopped them.


    That night, Su Ci met with Lu Zhe.


    "I suddenly realized I can do good deeds," Su Ci leaned against Lu Zhe''s chest and sighed.


    Lu Zhe corrected her. "You''ve always been doing good deeds."


    She had saved many lives.


    Su Ci shook her head. "It''s different." Before, she had saved people for Lu Zhe, for the sake of earning gold.


    She had never considered herself a kind person. She knew her heart was cold, and if not for Lu Zhe, she might not have saved those people.


    After all, in her previous life, when she died, those around her had been indifferent, no one hade to her rescue.


    Now, she realized her thinking had changed.


    She found it incredible and oddly moving that her small efforts could save a life, could change someone''s fate.


    For the first time, she felt that her actions of saving people had real meaning.


    Her heart had warmed.


    Su Ci looked up, her hands cupping Lu Zhe''s cheeks. "I want to save more people."


    "Mmm," Lu Zhe gazed at her intently. "I''ll be with you."


    Whatever she wanted to do, he would be by her side.


    Su Ci''s eyes curved into a smile, and she joyously kissed Lu Zhe.


    She hoped to save more lives, she hoped Lu Zhe would recover soon, and she hoped that by doing good deeds and umting virtue, their future child wouldn''t inherit the disease of gradual freezing.

 Chapter 110

    As the Lunar New Year approached, the Lu Family and the Su Family arranged to have a meal together, which was essentially a tacit acknowledgment of the rtionship between Su Ci and Lu Zhe.


    After all, the two were inseparable, and with Su Ci and Lu Zhe together, they were a perfect match in every aspect. Su''s Mother and Su''s Father couldn''t think of anyone else who would be a better match for their daughter.


    It had to be admitted that Lu Zhe was indeed very outstanding and doted on Su Ci.


    Su''s Mother and Su''s Father only hoped that Lu Zhe would live a long and healthy life.


    The two families were already very familiar with each other. Wen Ya pulled Su''s Mother, Tong Xin, into an enthusiastic conversation, discussing recent fashion trends and charitable endeavors.


    As for Lu Chen, he was as usual, engaging in yful banter with Su''s Father, Su Shengguo. Both were fathers and held positions of authority over thousands of employees, yet when they met, they behaved like quarrelsome elementary school students, childish to the extreme.


    Su ZhiYuan, apanied by his two younger brothers, wore a light gray high-neck sweater today, looking casual andfortable. His tall nose was adorned with golden sses, giving him a refined yet handsome appearance, reminiscent of a gentle older brother next door.


    At this moment, Su Ci openly sat with Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe picked up a wet towel from the side and naturally wiped the girl''s hands, his skilled demeanor indicating he had done this many times before.


    While chatting with Wen Ya, Su''s Mother''s peripheral vision kept an eye on her daughter and Lu Zhe. Even though she and her husband doted on their daughter, they had never been as attentive as Lu Zhe, whose every move showed his concern for Su Ci.


    If she wasn''t cherished deeply, how could he be so meticulous?


    Su''s Mother withdrew her peripheral vision.


    The girl''s moist fingers glowed even whiter under the light, with faintly pink tips, quite beautiful.


    After cleaning, Lu Zhe released her hand.


    But Su Ci was a bit mischievous. Unnoticed by others, her hand slipped under the tablecloth and rested on Lu Zhe''s thigh.


    Her fingertips deliberately traced lightly on his thigh.


    Lu Zhe looked at the girl with a deep gaze.


    Su Ci innocently blinked at him, while her little hand restlessly squeezed his leg.


    His eyes darkened slightly, and Lu Zhe acted naturally, his hand directly grabbing the girl''s mischievous little hand under the table, squeezing it, signaling her to stop being naughty.


    At that moment, Su ZhiYuan, sitting diagonally across, started a conversation with Lu Zhe about a project in S City.


    Su Ci''s hand was tightly held by Lu Zhe under the tablecloth, and she stopped moving, obediently sitting beside him, listening to Lu Zhe and her older brother talk.


    She noticed that Lu Zhe had moved beyond his youthful innocence, gaining a certain level ofposure. His facial features had be even more pronounced, and the clear contours of his face exuded a mature masculinity.


    Every aspect of him aligned with her aesthetic, making her adore him endlessly.


    The atmosphere in the private room was excellent throughout the meal.


    Especially watching Lu Zhe''s attentive care for Su Ci during the meal, Su''s Mother and Su''s Father had no moreints. They onlymented Lu Zhe''s health issues.


    "Little Ci, I heard you''re interested in establishing a foundation?" Wen Ya, having no daughter, now treated Su Ci as half her daughter, since her son was with Su Ci.


    Su Ci nodded, "I want to set up a foundation that helps students deal with school bullying. I''ve noticed that bullying urs in elementary school, middle school, high school, and even college. When they encounter bullying, they have no way to resolve it, so they can seek help from my foundation."


    Wen Ya was a bit surprised. Many foundations focus on helping poor students, impoverished families, or patients, but she hadn''t heard of any organizations dedicated to addressing school bullying. The public''s attention to this issue was indeed limited.


    "I didn''t expect Ci Ci to have such thoughts," Su''s Mother said with pride and joy, "Whatever she wants to do, I will support her."


    Wen Ya smiled, "This is a good thing. Once your foundation is established, I''ll contribute as well."


    Su Ci smiled sweetly, "Thank you, Auntie Wen."


    With the influence of Su''s Mother and Wen Ya in the high society, their support would naturally attract other wealthydies to contribute.


    "When the timees, let me know, and I''ll also lend my support," Lu Chen chimed in.


    Su Ci quickly agreed, "Thank you, Uncle Lu."


    Diagonally across, Su ZhiYuan adjusted his sses, "If you need help, don''t hesitate to ask me."


    Even Su''s Father quickly expressed his support for his daughter.


    Su Ci agreed, ncing at Lu Zhe.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The young man looked at her and softly said, "I am yours, use me as you wish."


    Su Ci chuckled to herself.


    On the day Su Ci''s foundation was established, she announced it on her ount, drawing considerable attention. Not only did the official ount of Su Corporation re-share it, but so did Lu Corporation, as well as celebrities like Xie Yuting and Zheng Hao.


    Within a few days of the foundation''s establishment, it received numerous donations.


    Regarding donations, every penny''s usage was transparent, detailed, and the foundation''s official ount released monthly reports.


    The foundation also offered psychological counseling.


    Su Ci found that students who had experienced school bullying are prone to psychological shadows, even depression.


    To facilitate students across the country, the foundation provided telephone services and online psychological counseling.


    After establishing the foundation, Su Ci became busier, but she found it very meaningful.


    What surprised her was that after helping several students, Su Ci received money.


    Previously, she would receive a gold bead for saving someone''s life, but now, after helping ten students through the foundation, she would receive one.


    After saving Wu Xiaojie, she had fed Lu Zhe sixteen gold beads, and she still needed thirty-three more to cure Lu Zhe''s ALS.


    Now, helping ten students earned her another gold bead, meaning she only needed thirty-two more.


    Su Ci wasn''t in a hurry. With the foundation, she felt she could soon gather enough gold beads for Lu Zhe.


    On New Year''s Eve, after having dinner with her family, Su Ci ran out.


    Outside the door, Lu Zhe stood by a ck car, dressed in all ck, his tall figure imposing. Seeing the girl, the hard lines of his face softened.


    Su Ci sprinted towards him, directly crashing into his embrace, "Did you wait long?"


    "No," Lu Zhe hugged her tightly, feeling her little hand, which was warm.


    He opened the car door for her.


    The streets were bustling with people, manying out to stroll along the flower street after dinner.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe were holding hands, walking among the crowd. Their good looks attracted many nces from passersby.


    Especially Su Ci, with her arched brows and bright eyes, and her white teeth.


    Dressed in a red sweater for the New Year, her face looked even more snowy white and tender, her ck eyes glistening as if filled with water, her gaze flowing, quite eye-catching.


    Su Ci noticed a new immersive role-ying experience venue in the mall, with many people queuing outside, quite lively.


    She was a bit curious and pulled Lu Zhe to join the queue.


    An attendant brought a tablet for her to choose a script scenario, most of which were detective or horror themes, with one being a tragic love story.


    Su Ci was afraid of death and ghosts, so she chose thest one.


    The script tells the story of a princess and her guard.


    The princess was extraordinarily beautiful, while the guard came from a humble background. He had secretly loved the princess, andter, when the country was invaded by a neighboring nation, the guard was injured while protecting the princess, losing his eyes.


    With the city gates breached, the emperor sent envoys to negotiate peace, agreeing to let the princess marry into the enemy''s family.


    As the princess left the country, the blind guard stood in a corner of the city gate, listening to themon people bidding farewell to the princess, feeling lonely and deste.


    The experience script consisted of only three scenes: the daily interactions between the princess and the guard, the guard saving the princess and getting injured, and the princess going to marry for peace, with the guard standing under the city wall.


    Su Ci had acted in many costume dramas before, but she had never performed a scene with Lu Zhe. She looked at him with anticipation.


    Lu Zhe had no objections, merely indulgingly pinched her cheek.


    The experience venue provided costumes for role-ying and professional makeup artists for styling.


    After paying, Su Ci and Lu Zhe were taken to get their makeup done separately.


    The owner of the experience venue clearly invested heavily, not only in therge space and realistic setup but also in having staff act as actors to apany the yers.


    Moreover, depending on the different scenes, yers would wear different costumes. During the game, there were photographers on-site to take pictures, though yers needed to pay to take the photos home.


    Su Ci was ying the role of a princess. The makeup artist had never encountered such a beautiful yer before, and the girl''s appearance was a perfect match for the character, fully embodying the role of the stunning princess.


    The first scene was the daily life of the princess and her guard.


    Su Ci changed into a light blue ancient dress, and her hair was styled ordingly. Her skin was so wless that she didn''t need any foundation; the makeup artist only applied lipstick for her.


    Su Ci was led by the staff to the first scene, where the surroundings were arranged like a pce. Actors dressed as pce maids were waiting on either side, and upon seeing her arrival, they immediately addressed her as "Princess."


    Su Ci sat down on a redwood chair, and the pce maid naturally served her hot tea and a fruit tter before standing by her side.


    Su Ci curved her eyebrows, feeling that the owner of the experience hall was quite thoughtful.


    Su Ci, embodying the yer spirit, also got into character and asked, "Is Guard Lu here yet?"


    The actors were very cooperative and quickly replied, "Return to the princess, someone has already gone to inform Guard Lu."


    At that moment, another pce maid led Lu Zhe into the room.


    Lu Zhe was dressed in ck guard attire, with a tightly fastened belt that entuated his upright waist. The makeup artist had styled his hair, and he wore a wig with straight long hair tied high with a ck hairband.


    Lu Zhe''s features were hard and cold, exuding a sharpness that made him look like a true guard with a sword.


    Su Ci''s heart raced as she looked at him, almost wanting to step forward and undress him.


    She waved at Lu Zhe, smiling sweetly, "Guard Lu, I''ve been waiting for you."


    Lu Zhe walked over and greeted, "Princess."


    Su Ci picked up the fruit tter beside her and handed it to Lu Zhe, "You feed me."


    ording to the script, the princess was supposed to lie on a long chair while the maid served her fruit, and the guard would stand in the corner, gazing deeply at the princess.


    Clearly, Su Ci wasn''t following the script.


    "Princess, this isn''t proper," Lu Zhe awkwardly coughed.


    Su Ci''s eyes curved, and she raised her delicate chin, looking just like a spoiled princess, "I am the princess. Whatever I say, you should obey. Feed me."


    Lu Zhe eventuallyplied, "Yes, Princess."


    At this point, Su Ciy on the long chair, her skirt draping to the ground, revealing her slender ankles. Lu Zhe stood beside her.


    Su Ci looked up, her gazenguid as she stared at the man standing straight. She lightly tapped his foot with the tip of her soft-soled shoe, "Guardian Lu, don''t you know how to feed someone?"


    Lu Zhe lowered his head and began feeding the pampered princess grapes.


    Hidden behind the scenes, the staff responsible for taking photos thought:


    Although the yer didn''t follow the script, this scene was undeniably captivating. The princess and the guard were both incredibly good-looking. Even the actors on television couldn''t match their looks.


    There weren''t many grapes left in the tter. After a while, Su Ci picked up thest grape and stood up, feeding it to Lu Zhe''s lips, "You served me well. Taste this."


    Lu Zhe''s ears turned red from her teasing. He bit the grape she fed him, his dark eyes fixed on her.


    Lu Zhe swallowed the fruit, "Thank you, Princess."


    The second scene was the guard saving the princess.


    Su Ci changed into another outfit, a lightvender dress with a trailing shawl that looked ethereal.


    The scene was set in a garden, where she was apanied by court maids to admire the flowers, with the guard Lu standing watch by her side.


    ording to the script, an assassin would attempt to kill the princess, and the guard, in saving her, would be blinded.


    When the assassin charged forward, Su Ci was pulled into Lu Zhe''s embrace.


    Lu Zhe warned Su Ci, "Close your eyes."


    Su Ci didn''t listen to him.


    The next moment, Lu Zhe tightened his hold on her as the assassin''s de shed across his eyes.


    Su Ci''s pupils contracted.


    For realism, the actor ying the assassin had a knife smeared with fake blood. When he stabbed Lu Zhe, the fake knife would scratch across his eyes, leaving fake blood on his eyelids.


    As Lu Zhe was injured by the assassin, he also stabbed the assassin in the chest, killing him, and was left blinded.


    Lu Zhe closed his eyes, feeling the sticky fake blood on his eyelids.


    ording to the script, Lu Zhe should have let go of Su Ci and asked if the princess was alright. However, Su Ci held him tightly by the waist, her fingers touching his eyelids.


    Lu Zhe couldn''t see, but Su Ci was heartbroken. She asked him with red eyes, "Does your eye hurt?"


    Lu Zhe wanted to shake his head, thinking it was just fake, how could it hurt?


    But the next moment, a warm, fragrant breath approached him. Lu Zhe''s lips tightened as he felt soft lipsnd on his eyelids.


    Lu Zhe struggled slightly, but eventually, his hands rested on either side of Su Ci''s waist. He softly called out, "Tuan Tuan." He wanted to remind her that they were just ying a game.


    Su Ci stood on her tiptoes, struggling to kiss Lu Zhe''s eyes. Then, she said to the pce maid beside her, "Bring a clean wet towel."


    The pce maid was surprised; this wasn''t in the script.


    But ording to the game rules, slight changes to the script were allowed. The maid hurried to fetch the wet towel.


    Su Ci gently wiped Lu Zhe''s eyes with the wet towel, "Guardian Lu saved me. What reward do you want?"


    Lu Zhe was surrounded by the fragrance of the girl in front of him. He tightened his jaw, "Saving the princess is my duty."


    Su Ci cleaned his eyes and even gently blew on them, "How about I make you my son-inw?"


    Lu Zhe''s ears turned red again from her teasing.


    In the third scene, Su Ci changed into a red bridal gown, stunning everyone, including the makeup artist, actors, and staff.


    ording to the script, Lu Zhe was now blind, and the makeup artist had tied a ck cloth band over his eyes.


    He stood under the city wall, listening to the cheers of the people as they sent the princess off to marry.


    As Su Ci was helped by the pce maid into the sedan chair, she turned back to look at Lu Zhe standing under the city wall. He leaned on a bamboo stick, his eyes covered with a ck cloth strip, his expression deste.


    Su Ci let go of the pce maid''s hand, lifted her skirt, and once again didn''t follow the script. She walked towards Lu Zhe.


    Suddenly, the girl wrapped her arms around his waist.


    Lu Zhe was taken aback, "Tuan Tuan."


    The next moment, the ck cloth strip over his eyes was pulled off, and he was met with the bright light. His gaze immediately locked onto the girl''s dark eyes.


    He saw Su Ci in her red bridal gown, radiant and incredibly beautiful.


    Su Ci turned back and said to the staff, "I''m not going to marry. I want to marry my guard."


    Behind the scenes, the staff:


    The manager spoke up, "I''m sorry, but if the script changes too much, we can''t meet your requirements." After all, the scenes were fixed, and redecorating would require a lot of manpower and resources.


    Su Ci blinked and said, "I''ll pay extra. All the costs will be covered by me. No matter the price, please arrange the scene for me and my guard to pay respects to heaven and earth."


    The staff had never encountered such a yer before.


    The manager of the experience centermunicated with Su Ci and realized she was a wealthy individual. He quickly had his employees prepare the scene.


    Preparing the wedding ceremony scene wasn''t difficult. There was a rted scene in the neighboring area, and with some additional arrangements, it could be used directly.


    This time, Lu Zhe changed into a red ceremonial robe embroidered with gold, his elegant features appearing even more dashing and transcendent.


    The staff looked at Lu Zhe and then at Su Ci. The two of them together were incredibly striking.


    Some of the staff couldn''t help but take out their phones and secretly take photos of them. Their looks seemed almost too perfect to be real.


    As she bowed with Lu Zhe, Su Ci''s eyes curved into beautiful crescents.


    Before leaving the experience hall, yers could purchase photos taken during the game at the front desk.


    Su Ci took Lu Zhe''s hand and went to the front desk. She found that the photographer had taken over a hundred photos of them.


    Usually, the photographer would take about twenty to thirty photos for yers to choose from and print, which they could then purchase.


    However, Su Ci and Lu Zhe''s looks were so high that every move they made seemed like they were in a TV drama. The photographer couldn''t stop pressing the shutter, resulting in many photos.


    Lu Zhe looked at the photos on the tablet and, at the same price, bought all the electronic versions of the photos of him and Su Ci. He also refused to allow the seller to use their photos for advertisements.


    As they left the mall, Su Ci''s face still glowed with joy. All the photos had been sent to her phone.


    She set the photo of herself and Lu Zhe bowing to heaven and earth as her phone''s wallpaper, feeling immensely satisfied. "The experience hall was quite fun. We shoulde again sometime."


    Lu Zhe held her hand and asked, "Alright, where should we go now?"


    "To the hotel," the girl replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She smiled sweetly at him. "After bowing to heaven and earth, it''s time for the bridal chamber."


    Inside the room, the lighting was dim.


    A corner of the nket had fallen to the floor, and the sheets were crumpled.


    Su Ci''s body felt weak, her cheeks flushed red, and her mind was in a daze.


    As the new year arrived, she lifted her head and gently nibbled on Lu Zhe''s ear, whispering, "Happy New Year."

 Chapter 111

    The summer heat was oppressive.


    On the greenway, a young man, his face flushed, held a gift in his hands. "This... this is for you," he stammered.


    The girl in front of him wore a light mist-blue dress. Her snow-white skin and jet-ck hairplemented the delicate fabric, and the hem of her dress revealed slender, fair calves. Even the clumsy little bunny charm on her ankle seemed to shine with elegance.


    The girl''s dark eyes met his, and the boy felt as though his heart might leap out of his chest at any moment.


    "I have a boyfriend," the girl said, her voice melodious but her tone indifferent.


    The boy protested urgently, "I don¡¯t believe it. I¡¯ve been observing you for a month, and there¡¯s no other man around you." He thought her im of having a boyfriend was just an excuse.


    "I¡¯m different from other men. I can stay by your side every moment," the boy insisted, his feelings for Su Ci genuine. From the very first time he saw her, he knew he was a goner.


    Su Ci rejected him outright. "I don¡¯t like men who cling to me."


    The boy was stunned, his confidence shattered.


    Nearby, Shen Xue, who had been quietly observing the scene, cast a sympathetic nce at the young man. He was handsome, but s, no one except Lu Zhe could ever capture Su Ci¡¯s heart.


    Su Ci didn¡¯t spare the boy another nce. She turned to Shen Xue and said, "Let¡¯s go."


    "Alright," Shen Xue quicklyposed herself, setting aside her amusement.


    As they walked toward the ssroom, Shen Xue couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Su Ci¡¯s beauty. It was no wonder so many boys were constantly confessing their feelings to her.


    If Shen Xue were a man, she¡¯d probably fall for Su Ci too.


    Beyond Su Ci¡¯s exquisite features, her wless figure and milky-whiteplexion were enough to make anyone envious. Shen Xue could only imagine how lucky Lu Zhe must feel.


    Shen Xue couldn¡¯t resistmenting, "If I were Lu Zhe, I¡¯d never let you out of my sight." It had been a while since she¡¯d seen Lu Zhe around. "Does he know about all the freshmen chasing after youtely?"


    Su Ci tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The summer heat was unbearable, and even a short time outdoors left her feeling ufortably warm.


    Hearing Shen Xue¡¯s question, Su Ci shook her head. "He doesn¡¯t need to watch over me. I only like him."


    Shen Xue felt like she¡¯d been force-fed a mouthful of dog food. Her ice cream suddenly lost its sweetness. "Right, right, you only like him," she muttered.


    Before Su Ci and Lu Zhe got together, Shen Xue had often yed the role of a helper, filming Lu Zhe for Su Ci. She had witnessed their rtionship blossom, and even now, their love for each other remained as strong as ever.


    Shen Xue couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of envy.


    What impressed Shen Xue the most, however, was that despite being the same age, while she was still muddling through school, Su Ci had already established her own career. Though Su Ci referred to it as a pastime, Shen Xue knew it was far more than that.


    Su Ci¡¯s foundation was well-known across the country. Shen Xue followed its official ount, where letters of gratitude from students who had been helped were shared daily.


    Su Ci¡¯s foundation was making a real difference, assisting many students who had suffered from school bullying and had nowhere else to turn.


    Just yesterday, Shen Xue had read a thank-you letter from a parent on the foundation¡¯s official page.


    The parent¡¯s son had been bullied by a school tyrant, leaving him timid and emotionally scarred. Thanks to Su Ci¡¯s foundation, the boy had finally stepped out of the shadows.


    As Shen Xue looked at the radiant Su Ci beside her, she realized how many lives had been touched and transformed by her.


    At that moment, Wen Duoyu waved at them from ahead.


    "Su Ci, Shen Xue," Wen Duoyu called out, her smile shy. She had just rushed back to campus, her face flushed from the heat.


    Shen Xue handed her a tissue. "Here, wipe your sweat."


    "Thank you," Wen Duoyu replied, her demeanor much more confident than before. She was now interning at Su Ci¡¯s foundation.


    There had been a time when Wen Duoyu felt lost and even contemted ending her life. Fortunately, Su Ci had saved her and offered her support.


    Wen Duoyu was thrilled to now have the opportunity to help others in need. She hoped to one day be a beacon of hope for others, just like Su Ci.


    "Tomorrow¡¯s the graduation photo session. Will your family being, Su Ci?" Shen Xue asked eagerly.


    "Yes, they¡¯ll all be here," Su Ci replied.


    Shen Xue¡¯s eyes lit up. "Will your big brother being too?"


    She had identally caught a glimpse of Su ZhiYuan once before and had been utterly captivated. Though she knew better than to entertain any fantasies about him¡ªafter all, he was a perfect, unattainable figure¡ªshe couldn¡¯t help but feel excited at the prospect of seeing him again.


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes slightly. She could tell Shen Xue had a crush on her brother, but she wasn¡¯t going to interfere. Matters of the heart were between two people.


    She nodded. "My brother will be here too."


    Shen Xue nearly squealed with excitement.


    The next day was the Chinese Department¡¯s graduation photo session.


    Not only did Su Ci¡¯s entire family attend, but Lu Chen and Wen Ya also made an appearance. The presence of both the Su and Lu families caused quite a stir among the school leadership, who hurried to greet them.


    Upon learning they were there for Su Ci¡¯s graduation ceremony, the school officials breathed a sigh of relief.


    The Su family¡¯s striking looks,bined with Lu Chen and Wen Ya, drew frequent nces from the surrounding students. It was almost too much to take in.


    "Su Ci, I can¡¯t get through to Lu Zhe. He¡¯s probably still on the ne," Wen Ya said, handing Su Ci a bouquet. "I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯ll make it in time for the photos."


    "It¡¯s okay. We already discussed it yesterday. If he can¡¯t make it, we¡¯ll take the photos together next week during his graduation session," Su Ci replied. She and Lu Zhe were in different departments, so their graduation schedules didn¡¯t ovep.


    Nearby, Su ZhiYuan also handed Su Ci a bouquet. "Congrattions on your graduation."


    Su Ci beamed. "Thank you, big brother."


    Today, Su ZhiYuan was dressed in a custom-made sapphire-blue suit. Tall and elegant, he exuded the aura of a refined nobleman rather than a corporate tycoon.


    From a distance, Shen Xue watched with bated breath, clutching Wen Duoyu¡¯s arm. She didn¡¯t dare approach. "Oh my, Su Ci¡¯s brother is too handsome. My heart¡¯s racing. I think I¡¯m going to die," she whispered.


    Wen Duoyu, holding a bouquet she had bought with her internship sry, was determined to give it to Su Ci. "Su Ci looks so beautiful today. If you¡¯re too scared to go over, I¡¯ll go ahead. I want to give her the flowers."


    Shen Xue quickly grabbed her arm. "Wait for me, I¡¯ming too."


    Wen Duoyu handed her bouquet to Su Ci, while Shen Xue, standing nearby, stole a nce at the tall and imposing Su ZhiYuan. Her face turned bright red.


    Su Ci gathered her family for photos.


    However, a deliveryman arrived with a bouquet for her. Su Ci was puzzled as she epted it. The card read: *From Li Ran.*


    Su Ci thought for a moment before remembering Li Ran, a former employee who had once attempted to take her own life at thepany. She hadn¡¯t expected Li Ran to know about her graduation, let alone send her flowers.


    Soon after, another bouquet arrived, this time from Xie Yuting, who had recently won Best Actress.


    A littleter, yet another bouquet was delivered, this one from the popr singer Zheng Hao. In recent years, Zheng Hao¡¯s fame had skyrocketed, and to avoid unnecessary trouble, he had opted to send flowers instead of appearing in person.


    Ye Xi, the mother of Ye Shangjin, also sent flowers.


    After her divorce, Ye Xi had changed significantly. Su Ci had heard that He Ermeng¡¯s uncle was pursuing Ye Xi relentlessly, while Ye Xi¡¯s ex-husband, unable to make a living in the city, had returned to the countryside with his domineering mother, Luo.


    The bouquets kepting, and soon Su ZhiYuan, along with Su Ci¡¯s parents, were helping her hold them all.


    Su Ci was surprised when Wang Xiaoqin arrived, arm in arm with Fu Baili.


    "Su Ci, congrattions on your graduation," Wang Xiaoqin said, presenting her with a beautifully wrapped bouquet.


    "Thank you," Su Ci replied, taken aback. "How did you know about my graduation today?"


    Wang Xiaoqin winked. "I saw the news online. Didn¡¯t you know?"


    Su Ci shook her head. It seemed like the whole world knew she was graduating.


    Wang Xiaoqin exined, "Your foundation¡¯s official ount posted a message wishing you, their little boss, a happy graduation."


    Su Ci was momentarily stunned. The foundation¡¯s official ount was managed by staff, and she rarely checked it herself. No wonder so many people had sent her flowers.


    Later, Su Ci also received bouquets from Ji Chi, He Ermeng, Yao ChengQi, and Wu Xiaojie, all of whom sent their congrattions.


    Everyone''s eyes turned to the girl surrounded by a bouquet of flowers. With her bright eyes and radiant smile, she was even more beautiful than the blossoms.


    As noon approached, the sun grew fiercer.


    The photoshoot was nearly over, and Su Ci''s cheeks were flushed from the heat. Just as she was about to leave with her parents, she spotted a man approaching from a distance.


    Su Ci''s eyes instantly curved into a smile.


    Lu Zhe, dressed in a sleek, tailored ck suit, was holding a bouquet of flowers and striding toward her with long, confident steps.


    Over the years, Lu Zhe had transformed from a youthful boy into aposed and mature man.


    With broad shoulders and a narrow waist, his ck suit pants entuated his long, powerful legs. His striking appearance elicited soft gasps from the girls around him.


    Su Ci paid no attention to the onlookers. She ran toward him and threw herself into his strong, broad chest.


    Lu Zhe tightened his embrace, his usually cool expression softening. "I''m sorry I''mte," he said.


    Su Ci''s eyes sparkled. "I thought you wouldn''t make it."


    Lu Zhe leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Happy graduation."


    Nearby, Wen Duoyu watched with a blissful expression. "Now that Lu Zhe is here, Su Ci looks so happy."


    Shen Xue, meanwhile, stole a nce at Su Zhiyuan, Su Ci''s older brother, standing diagonally across from her. She nodded absentmindedly.


    That evening, after both families had dinner together, Lu Zhe and Su Ci left early.


    "Where are we going now?" Su Ci asked, her eyes fixed on the man in the driver''s seat.


    Lu Zhe''s family had been expanding their business overseas, and he had been away on a business trip for over a month. Although they had video-called, the distance still felt palpable.


    Lu Zhe smirked but didn''t answer her question. Instead, he reached into the glovepartment and pulled out some snacks, handing them to her. "It''s a bit of a drive. If you get bored, have something to eat."


    Ever since Lu Zhe had learned to drive, he always kept snacks in his car¡ªall for Su Ci.


    Su Ci leaned back in her seat, unwrapped a piece of candy, and popped it into her mouth. It was orange-vored. She continued to gaze at Lu Zhe, thinking how handsome he looked when he was focused on driving.


    His sharp features were partially hidden in the dim light, adding an air of mystery. His slightly pursed lips made her want to kiss him.


    The car came to a stop at a red light.


    Su Ci, always one to act on her impulses, smiled at him. "Do you want some candy?"


    Lu Zhe turned to her, his gaze tender. "No, thanks."


    Su Ci pouted. "Not even if I feed it to you?"


    Lu Zhe paused for a moment, then leaned closer.


    Su Ci''s face lit up with delight.


    She sat up, her lips sweet with the taste of orange, and kissed him.


    In the dim light, Lu Zhe''s dark eyes deepened. Her soft tongue pushed past his lips, delivering the candy to him.


    The sweet vor filled his mouth, and her tongue yfully brushed against his teeth.


    Lu Zhe''s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his Adam''s apple bobbing slightly.


    Just as he was about to capture her mischievous tongue, she pulled back, gently biting his lower lip.


    Su Ci looked smug. "Was it good?"


    Lu Zhe nced at the traffic light¡ªten seconds left.


    His cold fingers reached for her chin, holding her in ce so she couldn''t retreat.


    He tangled his tongue with hers, kissing her fiercely before finally letting go as the light turned green.


    Su Ci''s cheeks burned, and she bit her lip to stifle a giggle.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Compared to their awkward early attempts at kissing, Lu Zhe now seemed like a seasoned pro.


    The roads were quiet at night, and the car sped along the highway.


    Su Ci began to feel drowsy, her eyelids growing heavier as she leaned against the seat.


    She wasn''t sure how much time had passed when Lu Zhe finally stopped the car. He turned to look at her and found her fast asleep.


    Outside the car, the sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the air, making the surroundings feel even more serene.


    Lu Zhe turned off the headlights, and the car blended into the night. The silver moonlight bathed the vehicle, illuminating Su Ci''s peaceful face as she slept.


    Lu Zhe didn''t wake her. Instead, he quietly watched her sleep.


    Her soft hair fell against her cheeks, partially revealing her fair chin and delicate nose.


    Lu Zhe gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, revealing her soft, pale face.


    Having been apart for over a month, Lu Zhe had missed her deeply. The kiss in the car had stirred something in him, and even her slightest provocation could make him lose control.


    His thumb brushed over her cheek and lingered on her soft lips, pressing lightly.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened.


    Su Ci was awakened by his kiss. Blinking sleepily, she found his handsome face inches from hers.


    Her breath was nearly stolen away as she wrapped her arms around his neck, willingly surrendering to him.


    His cool, refreshing scent enveloped her.


    When Lu Zhe finally pulled away, Su Ci''s lips were glistening and slightly swollen. She was fully awake now. "Were you sneaking a kiss just now?"


    Lu Zhe gently wiped the moisture from her lips and chuckled softly. "Yeah, I couldn''t help myself."


    His lowughter was especially clear in the quiet night, sending a shiver down Su Ci''s spine.


    Her ears tingled.


    She hummed softly and nced out the window, only then realizing they had arrived at the beach.


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up with joy. She had casually mentioned wanting to visit the beach just two days ago, and Lu Zhe had remembered.


    She kissed him again. "You''re so good to me."


    Lu Zhe smiled. "Should we take a walk on the beach?"


    "No," Su Ci said, her slender fingers tugging at his shirt. She kissed his chin. "Have we ever tried doing it in the car?"


    Lu Zhe''s jaw tightened. "Su Ci," he said, his voice low.


    Su Ci''s eyes sparkled with mischief. "Isn''t it supposed to be exciting in the car? The mood, the timing, the location¡ªit''s perfect. Don''t you want to try?"


    Lu Zhe couldn''t help but want to pinch her cheek. How could she be so bold?


    But then, Su Ci''s expression suddenly brightened even more, her face filled with excitement.


    Lu Zhe raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"


    Su Ci''s delicate features were radiant with joy. "Kiss me first, and then I''ll tell you."


    She had finally received thest piece of gold.


    Over the years, she had been helping people through a foundation, earning gold to give to Lu Zhe. She had waited a long time for this final piece, and now it was finally here.


    Lu Zhe obliged, leaning down to kiss her.


    Su Ci immediately fed him the gold. This time, she didn''t tease him but instead watched his wrist intently. The red bars that had lingered for so long suddenly turned green.


    Su Ci''s eyes curved into a smile as she hugged him tightly. "Lu Zhe, may you live a long and healthy life."


    Lu Zhe seemed to sense something. The fatigue and numbness that had gued him for so long disappeared, reced by a newfound strength.


    Su Ci looked at him eagerly. "Can you feel it?"


    "Yes," he replied.


    "Lu Zhe, you''re finally cured," Su Ci said, her voice trembling with emotion.


    Feeling her joy, Lu Zhe''s usually cool expression softened. "Thank you," he said.


    If it weren''t for Su Ci, he would have died long ago in some forgotten corner.


    Su Ci felt a sense of unreality as she nestled into his arms. "Tomorrow, I''ll go with you to the hospital for a check-up."


    Lu Zhe held her tightly. "Okay."


    "After the check-up, we''ll tell our families. We can say it''s a miracle."


    "Okay."


    Su Ci''s dark eyes were filled with happiness. "Lu Zhe, so... do you want to do it in the car now?"


    "Su Ci," he said, his voice a mix of exasperation and affection.


    Over the years, Su Ci had learned to control her rabbit ears at will.


    Now, to tempt Lu Zhe, she let them out.


    Her fluffy, pink-and-white rabbit ears stood upright, framing her beautiful, fair face. The sight was utterly endearing.


    Lu Zhe clenched his fist, his fingers itching to touch them.


    Su Ci didn''t say a word, just tilted her head and looked at him with those ears.


    She knew Lu Zhe loved her rabbit ears and couldn''t resist them.


    Sure enough, the next second, Lu Zhe reached out to touch her ears, unable to help himself. "You little troublemaker. Don''t cryter."


    As Lu Zhe yed with her ears, Su Ci''s body went soft, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. She wasn''t afraid of his threats.


    By dawn, the sun was about to rise. Lu Zhe held Su Ci in his arms as they sat on the beach.


    The girl was exhausted, her eyes closed as she dozed against his chest.


    When the sun finally peeked over the horizon, Lu Zhe gently woke her. "Su Ci, the sunrise is here."


    Su Cizily lifted her eyelids, the golden light falling onto the sea surface, reflecting in her eyes.


    The sun rose slowly, breathtakingly beautiful.


    Su Ci wasn¡¯t looking at the sun. She raised her gaze to Lu Zhe, the golden sunlight falling on his face and in his eyes, softening into a gentle glow.


    The little troublemaker¡¯s eyes sparkled as she looked at him. Lu Zhe chuckled, ¡°Keep looking, and I¡¯ll kiss you.¡±


    Su Ci¡¯s eyes grew even brighter, her lips curling slightly, ¡°Hurry up and kiss me!¡±


    The waves rolled onto the beach, the foam sshing onto the girl¡¯s snow-white feet before quietly retreating.


    The man¡¯srge hand grasped the girl¡¯s foot, carefully drying it with his clothes. Then, he picked up the blushing girl and carried her away.


    Behind them, the waves secretly washed away the footprints on the sand.

 Chapter 112

    In theputer shop, the lights were off, and the interior was dimly lit.


    Boss Fang handed an envelope to Lu Zhe. "Xiao Zhe, here''s this month''s sry. Thank you for always helping out here."


    Boss Fang looked somber, with streaks of gray hair and an appearance that seemed to have aged over a decade.


    Lu Zhe felt the thickness of the envelope and opened it. "Uncle Fang, you gave me too much."


    "Tomorrow, this ce will be transferred to someone else, and I''ll be leaving D City. Take the money; it''s what you deserve. There''s nothing more I can do for you," Boss Fang said with a sorrowful expression. "You''ll be starting university in half a month, and there will be many expenses. Consider the extra as a small token of my appreciation."


    Lu Zhe held the envelope tightly, his eyelids lowering. "Thank you, Uncle Fang."


    Boss Fang patted Lu Zhe''s shoulder, sighed, and then turned to go upstairs.


    Lu Zhe nced around the shop, as if recalling the first time he hade to work here. He remembered Little Kuaile rolling up to him in her small wheelchair, smiling at him.


    His eyes darkened, and his thin lips pressed together, their color faint.


    Lu Zhe left theputer shop and closed the door behind him.


    It was 6 p.m., and the sky hadn''t yet darkened.


    The night market street outside theputer shop was already bustling, with barbecue and snack stalls lining both sides of the road, their aromas filling the air.


    Amid the lively street, the tall young man walked alone. His left leg, affected by ALS, often gave out, and several times, he nearly fell.


    Just then, a chubby boy, like a runaway horse, darted through the crowd and crashed into Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe''s left leg, numb and weak from his condition, couldn''t support him, and he fell to the ground.


    The boy was startled. Seeing the person he had knocked down lying there, he was afraid of being scolded and quickly ran away.


    "Where are you running off to, you brat?" a middle-aged woman scolded, grabbing her son by the cor. "There are so many people around. What if you knock someone over?"


    The boy nced back guiltily at the person he had knocked down. Lu Zhe was slowly pushing himself up from the ground, his expression cold and unreadable.


    The boy quickly hid behind his mother.


    Lu Zhe''s palms were scraped, and his blue school uniform pants were stained with sauce from a nearby stall, the kneespletely soiled.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    He nced at the mess but ignored the curious stares around him. Limping, he walked away.


    The stairwell''s light bulb, long overdue for repair, flickered weakly, casting a dim glow.


    As Lu Zhe climbed the stairs, he noticed several people standing outside his apartment door.


    They were dressed in a non-mainstream style. Among them, Zhao Youyou, with heavy makeup, curly hair, a tank top, and a miniskirt, called out as soon as she saw Lu Zhe. "Lu Zhe, I''ve been waiting for you."


    Her friends turned to look at the approaching young man. His face was pale and gaunt, his cheeks sunken, and his eyes dark, exuding a sickly aura. His gait was slightly uneven.


    Zhao Youyou approached but stopped short when she saw the stains on Lu Zhe''s clothes. She didn''t get too close, her expression one of disdain.


    "Some of my friends have nowhere to stay tonight. They want to crash here," she said matter-of-factly.


    "No," Lu Zhe replied bluntly.


    Zhao Youyou chewed her gum and shot him a contemptuous look. "You''re refusing? What''s so great about this dump? My friends are only willing toe because of me."


    Lu Zhe stared at her coldly.


    Zhao Youyou''s heavy eye shadow and bright red lipstick made her look nothing like a high school student. "Fine, if you won''t let them stay, we''ll find a hotel. But I need money. Lend me some."


    "I don''t have any," Lu Zhe said, his tone icy.


    Zhao Youyou sneered. "You work part-time every day. Don''t tell me you haven''t earned anything."


    "My money is none of your business," Lu Zhe said, turning to unlock his door.


    "You think moving out means you can cut ties with our family?" Zhao Youyou said arrogantly. "You were raised by us. Even if you leave, you still owe us a debt of gratitude. You have to pay it back."


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond.


    He opened the door, ignoring Zhao Youyou, and stepped inside. As her shouts echoed, he closed the door behind him.


    "Wow, Youyou, your so-called brother is pretty heartless," a long-haired girl with heavy makeup mocked. "Weren''t you so sure you''d get money from him?"


    Zhao Youyou bit her lip, furious. She kicked the door several times. "Lu Zhe, you deserve to be poor and sick."


    A buzz-cut boy nearby exhaled a puff of smoke and tossed his cigarette butt to the ground. "Let''s go. We''ll find money somewhere else."


    The apartment was shabby and old, clearly the home of someone with no money. He didn''t expect to get anything from a poor guy like Lu Zhe.


    Zhao Youyou finally stopped kicking the door. She spat her gum onto the floor and left with the others.


    Inside the apartment, Lu Zhe washed the scrapes on his palms. The wounds were superficial, so he didn''t bother applying any ointment.


    The room was cold and quiet.


    That night, Lu Zhe cooked dinner, ate alone at the small coffee table, and then washed the dishes, took a shower, and went to bed.


    His life was as in and uneventful as a ss of water.


    The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window.


    Lu Zhe woke up to find his arms and legs twitching and cramping again.


    Hey calmly in bed, waiting for the spasms to subside.


    When he left the house, he noticed that the numbness and weakness in his arms had worsened.


    A year into his illness, he had already prepared himself for the inevitable progression of his condition.


    The summer heat was intense, and the sun was already high in the sky.


    Lu Zhe was headed to a cybercafe to repairputers.


    The cafe owner was a client of Boss Fang''s. All theputers in the cafe had been purchased from Boss Fang, and whenever there was an issue, the owner would call Lu Zhe to fix them.


    After all, young people like Lu Zhe¡ªhardworking, capable, and diligent¡ªwere hard toe by.


    The owner poured Lu Zhe a ss of water. "The problematicputers arebeled. Take a break first; there''s no rush."


    He had heard from Boss Fang about Lu Zhe''s ALS, and this time, he noticed that even walking had be difficult for the young man.


    "Thank you," Lu Zhe said, taking a sip of water before heading to the server room to fix theputers.


    The owner sighed and shook his head. He had a son around Lu Zhe''s age, but the kid only cared about gaming. He wouldn''t study or even help with chores, alwaysining about how hard it was.


    Compared to Lu Zhe, who was both capable and academically gifted, his son was aplete disappointment.


    Lu Zhe worked quickly, and the owner was satisfied. No matter howplex theputer problems were, Lu Zhe always found a solution.


    The owner paid Lu Zhe and arranged for the next maintenance visit.


    Meanwhile, at Lu Zhe''s apartment, a girl in a light orange dress stood outside, looking around in confusion.


    How had she ended up here after waking up?


    Su Ci recognized this as the ce Lu Zhe had rented in D City two years ago, but it had been demolished long ago.


    Why was she here now?


    She tried calling out for "Fu Gui," but there was no response.


    She pressed the doorbell, but there was no answer.


    Su Ci was at a loss. What was going on?


    She wanted to call Lu Zhe, but she had nothing with her¡ªno phone, no belongings.


    She left the apartmentplex and, relying on her memory, headed to theputer shop Boss Fang used to run.


    The shop was still there.


    Seeing Boss Fang walk out of the shop with a suitcase, Su Ci was stunned.


    After Boss Fang and Lu Zhe had started theirpany, Boss Fang had be a sessful CEO, full of vigor even in middle age. But the man before her now looked over a decade older, his expression sorrowful and vacant, with no sign of Little Kuaile by his side.


    Su Ci stepped forward, intending to greet Boss Fang, but in the next moment, Boss Fang walked past her, pulling his suitcase, as if he didn¡¯t see her.


    Su Ci blinked, quickly calling out, ¡°Uncle Fang.¡±


    Boss Fang didn¡¯t respond.


    Su Ci stepped closer, ¡°Uncle Fang.¡±


    Only then did Boss Fang¡¯s dazed gaze gradually focus. He looked at the unfamiliar young girl in front of him, ¡°Are you calling me?¡±


    Su Ci was startled by the unfamiliarity in his eyes, ¡°You don¡¯t recognize me?¡±


    Boss Fang shook his head, ¡°Youngdy, you¡¯ve mistaken me for someone else. I don¡¯t know you.¡± He pulled his suitcase and left.


    Su Ci blinked. Boss Fang didn¡¯t recognize her, and Lu Zhe¡¯s old residence hadn¡¯t been demolished. She began to realize something was off. Had she traveled back in time?


    After leaving the inte caf¨¦, Lu Zhe had gone to a shop to help a customer fix theirputer.


    By the time he returned to the old neighborhood, it was already afternoon.


    After running around all morning, Lu Zhe¡¯s leg was worse, and he nearly fell when getting off the bus.


    Lu Zhe slowly climbed the stairs. When he reached his apartment, he noticed someone crouching by the door.


    He walked over.


    Hearing footsteps, Su Ci looked up.


    Seeing the person in front of her, she stood up in delight and hugged him tightly, ¡°Why did you take so long toe back? I¡¯ve been waiting for you forever.¡±


    Su Ci had realized she had traveled back in time and decided to wait for Lu Zhe here.


    Her legs had gone numb from standing, and with nowhere to sit, she had crouched down. Finally, Lu Zhe had returned.


    The girl was overwhelmed with emotion. She clung to Lu Zhe, her voice soft and pleading, ¡°Hold me tight. My legs are numb from crouching.¡±


    After saying this, Su Ci nuzzled her face against Lu Zhe¡¯s chest.


    But the next second, Lu Zhe pushed her away.


    Lu Zhe looked at the girl coldly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I don¡¯t know you.¡±


    He stepped past her, opened the door, and was about to go inside.


    Su Ci was stunned. Lu Zhe didn¡¯t recognize her?


    As Lu Zhe pushed the door open and was about to step inside, the hem of his shirt was suddenly tugged.


    He turned to look and saw the girl¡¯s slender, pale fingers gripping his shirt. She looked at him with a pitiful expression.


    ¡°I have nowhere to go. Can you let me stay?¡± The Lu Zhe before her looked at her with unfamiliarity, his expression cold and stiff. He truly didn¡¯t know her.


    Lu Zhe pulled his shirt out of the girl¡¯s grasp, ¡°No.¡±


    Su Ci looked at him with pleading eyes, ¡°Lu Zhe, are you really going to let me wander the streets?¡±


    Lu Zhe frowned, ¡°How do you know my name?¡±


    ¡°I not only know your name, but I also know everything about you. Let me in, and I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Su Ci reached out to hook her fingers around his hand, which hung by his side, ¡°I¡¯ve been standing all morning, and I haven¡¯t eaten. Lu Zhe, I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    Lu Zhe wanted to shake off her hand, but the girl, cunning as a little fox, slipped past him and into the apartment.


    The girl was shameless. She turned back to look at him, ¡°Come in already. Don¡¯t just stand there at the door.¡± With that, she walked over to the worn-out sofa and sat down.


    Lu Zhe¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, his lips pressed into a thin line. He closed the door and walked in.


    Su Ci was indeed hungry. She was about to ask Lu Zhe to cook for her when she noticed him limping as he walked in. She was shocked.


    ¡°Your leg...¡±


    Lu Zhe¡¯s left leg was noticeably unsteady, his expression indifferent, ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, and I don¡¯t recognize you. There¡¯s nothing here for you. Please leave.¡±


    Su Ci barely heard his words. Her gaze was fixed on Lu Zhe¡¯s left leg, her heart aching.


    Only now did she realize that the Lu Zhe of this time still suffered from ALS, and his condition was worse than when she had first met him.


    She thought of Boss Fang, whom she had seen outside theputer shop. Little Kuaile wasn¡¯t with him.


    Su Ci had a sinking feeling.


    She hadn¡¯t traveled back in time. She hade to Lu Zhe¡¯s previous life.


    In his previous life, she didn¡¯t exist.


    Su Ci frowned, not understanding how this had happened. How could she return?


    Lu Zhe nced at the girl on the sofa, her expression troubled. He limped to the kitchen, poured a cup of hot water from the thermos, and brought it out.


    He ced the cup in front of her, ¡°Drink this, then leave. I don¡¯t have room for you here.¡±


    Su Ci pursed her lips, ¡°I want to leave too, but I don¡¯t know how.¡± She told Lu Zhe, ¡°I don¡¯t know how I ended up here. I was sleeping with you, and when I woke up, I was here.¡±


    Lu Zhe looked at her calmly.


    ¡°My name is Su Ci. I¡¯m your fianc¨¦e¡ªno, I¡¯m your fianc¨¦e in your next life. The you now doesn¡¯t know me, but I¡¯ve been with you.¡±


    Su Ci felt like she was rambling, ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m your fianc¨¦e, so until I find a way to leave, you can¡¯t kick me out.¡±


    Lu Zhe¡¯s expression remained calm, clearly not believing her.


    ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡±


    Her dark eyes narrowed as she nced at Lu Zhe, ¡°You have a small mole on your left waist and another near your thigh. I¡¯ve seen every part of you.¡±


    Lu Zhe: ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, once I find a way to go back, I¡¯ll leave.¡± Su Ci cut off Lu Zhe¡¯s attempt to refuse, ¡°You took me in before. Back then, I slept in your room, and you stayed in the storage room. This time, I can sleep in the storage room.¡±


    The girl had appeared out of nowhere, which was strange, but she seemed to know everything about him, even the location of his moles.


    She said she was his fianc¨¦e in his next life.


    Lu Zhe turned away, ¡°Do as you please.¡±


    Su Ci¡¯s lips curved into a smile. She knew Lu Zhe had agreed to let her stay.

 Chapter 113

    Night fell.


    Su Ci watched Lu Zhe preparing dinner in the kitchen. She walked over and offered, "Do you need any help?"


    He coldly refused, "No."


    Lu Zhe was wearing a blue and white summer school uniform. The young man looked both handsome and youthful. Su Ci was used to seeing him in suits, so seeing him in a school uniform gave her a sense of novelty.


    Her eyes sparkled as she gazed at him.


    Lu Zhe skillfully stir-fried the vegetables. When he reached for an empty te, Su Ci had already obediently handed it to him.


    He nced at her briefly.


    There was no dining table in the living room, so Lu Zhe brought out a foldable table from the small storage room and set it up.


    Noticing that Lu Zhe''s legs seemed to be giving him trouble, Su Ci quietly went to the kitchen to fetch a damp cloth and began wiping the table. After finishing, she looked at Lu Zhe with hopeful eyes, seeking praise, but the young man didn''t even nce at her. Instead, he silently went back to the kitchen to bring out the dishes.


    Lu Zhe had only prepared two simple dishes: scrambled eggs with tomatoes and stir-fried cucumber with sliced pork.


    Su Ci wasn''t picky and ate obediently.


    The dining table was eerily quiet.


    As she ate, she asionally stole nces at Lu Zhe.


    His condition seemed worse than she had ever seen before. His face was pale and slightly sunken, with a noticeable sickly appearance.


    Su Ci pursed her lips. Over the past few years, Lu Zhe''s condition had been stable after taking medication. A week before she had arrived, his illness had beenpletely cured.


    She had almost forgotten how he looked when he was sick.


    Lu Zhe ignored Su Ci''s scrutinizing gaze. He ate quickly but not messily. After finishing, he cleared the dishes and took them to the kitchen, leaving Su Ci no chance to help.


    Su Ci felt as though she had gone back to the time when she first met Lu Zhe.


    No, back then, Lu Zhe knew she was a transformed rabbit. He hadn''t been this cold and distant. Now, he was indifferent, not even sparing her a nce.


    To Su Ci, whether it was the Lu Zhe from her previous life or this one, they were the same person.


    She had been spoiled and cherished by Lu Zhe for so long that his sudden coldness was hard to bear.


    Su Ci propped her chin on one hand and tried tomunicate with Fu Gui again, but there was no response.


    Lu Zhe finished washing the dishes quickly. By the time he came out, Su Ci had finished her daydreaming.


    She stood up and looked at him with shimmering eyes. "I''ll go clean the storage room."


    She really didn''t want to clean, but the way he looked at her with such unfamiliarity made her hold back from acting cute and asking to sleep with him.


    "Mm," Lu Zhe responded briefly before heading back to his room.


    Su Ci bit her lip and went to open the door to the small storage room.


    Inside, there were a few cardboard boxes, a broken chair, and a metal shelf. The room hadn''t been opened for a long time, and it smelled damp and musty.


    Su Ci sighed. She didn''t mind too much since Lu Zhe had slept here before, and so could she.


    She started by moving the cardboard boxes out. The boxes had been sitting there for a long time, and as soon as she touched them, her hands were covered in dust.


    Su Ci puffed out her cheeks and continued moving the boxes.


    Next, she moved the broken chair out. Finally, there was only the heavy two-meter-tall metal shelf left.


    Su Ci, who was used to being pampered, had never done much housework or heavy lifting. The weight of the metal shelf was too much for her.


    As she struggled to move it, her finger identally brushed against a sharp edge of the shelf, and it immediately started bleeding.


    The sharp pain made Su Ci frown. She looked at her dirty, bleeding finger and felt frustrated.


    In his room, Lu Zhe was lifting dumbbells. The numbness in his arms was getting worse. Although exercising didn''t help with his ALS, or perhaps it waspletely futile, he remained disciplined and continued to work out every day.


    A knock on the door interrupted his routine. Lu Zhe paused, put down the dumbbells, and went to open the door.


    Su Ci stood there, her beautiful brows furrowed, her eyes glistening with tears, and her face full of grievance.


    Seeing him, she held out her hand and said in a pitiful voice, "Lu Zhe, I''m hurt. I''m bleeding a lot."


    Her small hand, covered in dust, had a red cut on one finger, with blood seeping out.


    "I hurt myself while moving things. It really hurts," she said. The pain was real, but it was within her tolerance. She exaggerated it for Lu Zhe''s benefit.


    "Wait a moment," Lu Zhe said, turning back into his room. He returned with a first aid kit and handed it to her.


    Su Ci didn''t take it. Instead, she said pitifully, "I can''t bandage it myself with one hand."


    Lu Zhe was silent for a moment before picking up the first aid kit and walking out.


    Su Ci sat down on the sofa and automatically stretched out her hands to Lu Zhe. Both hands were dirty, covered in dust.


    Lu Zhe gestured for her to wash her hands first.


    Su Ci blinked and said matter-of-factly, "You should wash them for me. I can''t do it with one hand injured."


    When Lu Zhe didn''t respond, she snorted lightly, "You''ve held my hand before, kissed me, and done even more intimate things. Washing my hands shouldn''t be a big deal. What are you hesitating for?"


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes stared at her intently. "That wasn''t me."


    Su Ci retorted, "The you from the next life is still you."


    It was just a matter of time. To her, they were the same person. She wouldn''t stop loving him just because this was a younger version of him.


    No matter how many lifetimes, as long as he was Lu Zhe, she would always love him.


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond. Instead, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the kitchen. He ced her hand under the running water.


    Su Ci suppressed a smile and continued toin, "It''s not clean yet. You should scrub my hand."


    Lu Zhe remained silent. He bent down, his cold hands gently holding hers under the water, and began to scrub lightly.


    Soon, her hand was clean and fair again.


    Lu Zhe casually handed her a tissue to dry her hands.


    Back on the sofa, Su Ci stretched out her clean hand to Lu Zhe again, asking him to apply the medicine.


    Her hand was soft and delicate, with slender, pale fingers and a faint pink hue at the tips. It was beautiful and refined.


    Lu Zhe dipped a cotton swab in disinfectant and applied it to her wound.


    The sting made Su Ci flinch.


    "Does it hurt?" Lu Zhe asked.


    "Of course it hurts. It''s such a big cut," Su Ci said, looking at her finger. The skin was broken, and her finger no longer looked perfect.


    Lu Zhe nced at the wound again. It was just a small cut, not deep at all. If it were on him, he wouldn''t have paid much attention to it.


    He suddenly realized how delicate Su Ci was.


    "Alright, be careful when you wash your hands," Lu Zhe said, letting go of her hand and packing up the first aid kit before heading back to his room.


    Su Ci was stunned. Was he just going to leave her like that?


    Then she saw Lu Zhee out of his room again. He went into the storage room, moved the metal shelf for her, and started sweeping the floor.


    Compared to Su Ci''s snail-like pace, Lu Zhe quickly cleaned up the storage room.


    The room was aired out, and the damp smell lessened, but the air inside was still unpleasant.


    Su Ci stood nearby, her dark eyes fixed on Lu Zhe as he worked. She eagerly asked, "Are you thirsty? Should I get you some water?"


    "No," Lu Zhe replied curtly.


    Somehow, Lu Zhe had brought out a foldable bed. Su Ci recognized it immediately¡ªit was the same bed Lu Zhe used to sleep on, and she had slept on it too, though back then, she had insisted on sleeping with him.


    Lu Zhe''s voice was cool as he said, "You can sleep in my room. I''ll sleep here."


    Su Ci wasn''t having it. She couldn''t bear the thought of Lu Zhe sleeping in the storage room again. She grabbed his shirt with her uninjured hand and said, "Then let''s sleep together."


    "No," Lu Zhe refused outright.


    Su Ci gave him a sidelong nce. "The smell in here is bad for your health. Just move the foldable bed back to your room. We can sleep in the same room but not the same bed. What are you afraid of?"


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond.


    Su Ci didn''t want to give him time to think. "Are you worried I''ll do something to you? But every time we''ve slept together, it''s always you who took advantage of me."


    Lu Zhe gave her an awkward look. She really had no filter.


    Finally, Lu Zhe was worn down by Su Ci''s persistence. He moved the folding bed into his room. The space in his room wasn¡¯trge, so he could only ce the folding bed side by side with his own bed.


    Su Ci also walked in, her eyes scanning the room. A sense of familiarity washed over her¡ªnothing about the decor had changed.


    Even Lu Zhe''s bed still had the same dull, gray-toned bedsheet.


    "Lu Zhe, I want to take a shower," Su Ci said as she sat down on the edge of the bed. She looked up at him, busy adjusting the folding bed. "I don¡¯t have any clean clothes to change into, so I¡¯ll have to wear yours."


    Beside her, Lu Zhe paused, the pillow in his hands momentarily still.


    Su Ci was familiar with everything in this house. When she stepped out of the shower, her body was still warm and damp, her face flushed pink, and her dark eyes glistening with moisture.


    She was wearing one of Lu Zhe¡¯s ck T-shirts, the hem long enough to cover her thighs.


    Su Ci pushed open the door to the room, facing Lu Zhe, who was sitting on the folding bed. "I¡¯m done," she said.


    Lu Zhe¡¯s gaze inadvertently fell on her legs¡ªslim, straight, and pale. Her delicate ankles were adorned with a clumsy, almost silly-looking little rabbit charm. Her petite feet were tucked into a pair of oversized blue slippers, making them appear even more dainty and delicate.


    He quickly looked away, refusing to linger.


    Su Ci shuffled over to the bed in the toorge slippers.


    "I¡¯m going to shower," Lu Zhe said, standing up. He grabbed the clothes he had prepared and limped out of the room, as if he couldn¡¯t stay a moment longer.


    As the night deepened, Lu Zhe returned from his shower to find Su Ci already lying in bed.


    It was summer, and the heat was stifling. The room didn¡¯t have an air conditioner, only a creaky osciting fan.


    Su Ci, feeling the heat, had forgone the nket and was lying on her side.


    When she saw Lu Zhe walk in, her eyes lit up. But before she could say anything, Lu Zhe flicked off the light, clearly not in the mood for conversation.


    The room plunged into darkness.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Su Ci turned her body toward the folding bed. In the faint moonlight streaming through the window, she could see Lu Zhe lying t on his back, one arm draped over his eyes.


    The young man¡¯s tall frame looked cramped on the folding bed. Su Ci shifted closer to him.


    Reaching the edge of the bed, she whispered, "Lu Zhe, doesn¡¯t it feel ufortable sleeping on the folding bed? We can switch if you want."


    Lu Zhe refused outright. "No need."


    Silence settled over the room again, broken only by the hum of the fan.


    After a while, Su Ci¡¯s voice broke the quiet. "Lu Zhe, are you asleep?"


    Lu Zhe didn¡¯t respond.


    Su Ci pressed on. "Are you hot?"


    This time, Lu Zhe answered. "No."


    Su Ci knew he wasn¡¯t sleeping. She propped herself up slightly. "Do you want to know what you¡¯re like in the next life? Do you want to know about us?"


    Lu Zhe remained silent.


    Su Ci, now intrigued, continued, "In the next life, you fall in love with me at first sight. You chase after me relentlessly. You¡¯re so into me..."


    Lu Zhe listened quietly as Su Ci rambled on about how much he adored her in this imagined future. But the boy beside her showed no reaction.


    Su Ci deted, lying back down on the bed. She lifted her legs slightly, her delicate feet arching in a way that was almost teasing. "Lu Zhe, I miss you."


    "If it were you in the next life, you¡¯d definitely be holding me right now," Su Ci murmured softly. "I want to go back."


    On the folding bed, Lu Zhey with his eyes closed. The faint, sweet scent of Su Ci¡¯s skin filled his senses.


    His lips pressed into a thin line, but he still didn¡¯t respond.

 Chapter 114

    The night deepened, and the surroundings grew quiet. The moon outside the window hid behind the clouds, making the room even darker.


    The girl on the bed had settled down, motionless, clearly already asleep.


    On the foldable bed, Lu Zhe''s arm muscles twitched, and his legs felt numb. A sense of weakness washed over him as he removed his hand from his eyes.


    Hey silently, staring at the ceiling.


    In the quiet, he could hear faint breathing sounds. Lu Zhe listened intently, feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity.


    Suddenly, he heard the girl let out a soft murmur. Lu Zhe turned his head to look at her. She was still asleep, but the next second, he heard her whisper his name: "Lu Zhe."


    His chest tightened.


    Lu Zhe turned his head back, continuing to gaze at the dark ceiling, waiting for the muscle spasms to subside.


    The next day, the sky brightened, and sunlight spilled onto the desk through the window.


    Lu Zhe woke up.


    He opened his eyes, his dark gaze gradually clearing. The first thing he saw was the girl facing him.


    Her eyes were closed, and her hair covered half of her face, revealing only her delicate nose, rosy lips, and fair chin.


    The girl, quiet in her sleep, seemed much more docile than when she was awake.


    Lu Zhe nced at her, then sat up and prepared to get out of bed. As he did, he identally bumped into the small bedside cab, making a noise.


    Lu Zhe immediately looked over at Su Ci on the bed.


    Sure enough, Su Ci was startled awake.


    Su Cizily opened her eyes, her sleepy gazending on Lu Zhe. She murmured, "I still want to sleep."


    With that, she instinctively tried to snuggle into Lu Zhe''s arms but nearly fell off the bed.


    Su Ci opened her eyes, sat up, and wrapped her arms around Lu Zhe''s waist, her face nuzzling against his abdomen. "Why are you up so early? Stay with me a little longer," she cooed.


    Lu Zhe was caught off guard by the sudden embrace.


    His lips pressed into a thin line as he looked down at the girl clinging to him. Her face was flushed from sleep, and her actions felt natural, as if she did this often.


    When she received no response, Su Ci pouted and repeated, "Lu Zhe, stay with me a little longer."


    Su Ci was wearing Lu Zhe''s T-shirt, and without realizing it, the hem had ridden up, revealing more of her slender, pale thighs.


    Lu Zhe averted his gaze, not daring to look too closely. He tried to push her away.


    From Su Ci''s words and actions, it was clear that in another life, he must have doted on her greatly.


    It was evident that Su Ci was a girl ustomed to being pampered. Lu Zhe couldn''t understand how he had ended up with someone like her.


    His dark eyes dimmed as he reached out to push the girl away. However, her body was soft and limp, leaning heavily against him. "Su Ci, let go," he said.


    "Not Su Ci. You should call me Tuan Tuan," Su Ci murmured, her face nuzzling against his waist, full of dependence.


    Lu Zhe''s lips pressed tightly together, almost losing their color. He used a bit more force to push her away.


    Su Ci looked up at him, her eyes filled with confusion and usation, as if his rejection was some unforgivable sin.


    Lu Zhe''s expression remained impassive. "I''ll go make breakfast. You get up on your own."


    The young man turned and limped out of the room.


    Su Ci, now pushed away, blinked in confusion as her thoughts slowly cleared.


    It was then that she remembered she had traveled back to Lu Zhe''s past.


    She sighed and flopped back onto the bed. This version of Lu Zhe wouldn''t let her kiss or hug him and was even harsh with her. He was nothing like the man she knew.


    Outside, after Lu Zhe finished making breakfast, he saw Su Ci emerge from the room.


    She was still wearing his ck T-shirt. With her petite frame, his well-fitted shirt hung loosely on her, almost like a dress.


    The hem swayed as she walked, revealing her long, slender legs. She seemedpletely unaware, walking barefoot on the floor.


    Lu Zhe frowned instinctively. "Su Ci, the floor is dirty. Put on your shoes."


    Hearing this, Su Ci, who was heading to the bathroom, stopped and turned to look at him. "Your slippers are too big, and the soles are hard. They''re notfortable at all," sheined.


    She had initially wanted to use this as an excuse to get him to carry her, but remembering Lu Zhe''s injured leg, she decided against it.


    Lu Zhe''s face hardened. What kind of excuse was that? Just because the shoes were ufortable, she wouldn''t wear them?


    He suddenly realized that the girl was even more spoiled than he had imagined.


    Seeing that Lu Zhe didn''t respond, Su Ci continued on to the bathroom. On the sink, she found a new cup, toothbrush, and toothpaste, clearly prepared by Lu Zhe.


    No matter which version of Lu Zhe it was, he was always thoughtful.


    The sound of the front door closing came from the living room.


    Su Ci raised an eyebrow. Had Lu Zhe gone out?


    A whileter, after Su Ci finished washing her face, she heard the door open again. She knew it was Lu Zhe returning.


    "Put on your shoes."


    The young man suddenly appeared at the bathroom door. Su Ci looked at him in the mirror, surprised to see him holding a pair of light pink slippers.


    Su Ci turned around, her eyes bright with delight. "Did you go out just to buy these for me?"


    Meeting her overly bright gaze, Lu Zhe averted his eyes.


    He ced the slippers by her feet. Her feet were pale, her toes a soft pink, round and cute. He lowered his gaze, not looking too closely. "Put them on."


    Su Ci obediently slipped her feet into the slippers.


    The soles were soft, clearly chosen with care.


    Su Ci bit her lip, hiding a smile.


    Breakfast was simple. Lu Zhe had made corn porridge with some refreshing side dishes.


    Su Ci sat across from him, eating slowly. She was only halfway through her meal when Lu Zhe finished, collected the dishes, and headed to the kitchen.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Seeing Lu Zhe grab his backpack and prepare to leave, Su Ci quickly stood up. "Are you going out?"


    "Yes."


    "Where are you going? I''lle with you," Su Ci said, not wanting to be left alone.


    Lu Zhe refused. "I''m going to work. It''s not convenient to bring you along."


    Su Ci walked over and tugged at the hem of his shirt with her slender fingers. "Boss Fang''sputer shop is closed. Are you going to do part-time work? I''lle with you. I''ll be quiet and won''t disturb you."


    Lu Zhe looked down at her hand gripping his shirt. "No."


    "You used to take me with you when you worked part-time before," Su Ci said, her eyes pleading. "Are you really not going to let mee? What if I suddenly disappear and go back?"


    Lu Zhe''s expression remained cold and unreadable. "Finish your breakfast."


    Only then did Su Ci smile.


    Before leaving, she changed back into the dress she had worn the day before. "Do you have sunscreen?" she asked, looking at the intense sunlight outside.


    "No," Lu Zhe replied, opening the door and stepping out.


    Behind him, Su Ci hurriedly called out, "What about an umbre?"


    But the young man was already striding away.


    Su Ci followed him, walking at his side. Lu Zhe wasn''t moving quickly; his left leg dragged slightly, causing him to limp.


    Su Ci knew that Lu Zhe''s left leg must be numb and weak.


    She pursed her lips and walked quietly beside him, not saying a word.


    Lu Zhe had received a message from the inte cafe owner earlier. Severalputers had broken down, and they needed him toe in today.


    Not far from the old neighborhood was a bus stop. In the morning, it was crowded with people waiting for the bus.


    Su Ci stayed close to Lu Zhe, notining or asking to take a taxi.


    When the bus arrived and stopped, the crowd surged forward. Lu Zhe walked ahead, and Su Ci quickly grabbed the hem of his shirt.


    This was Su Ci''s first time riding a crowded bus. She was slender andcked strength, easily pushed back by others.


    The girl, with her bright eyes and radiant beauty, caught the attention of those around her. Someone deliberately pressed closer to her.


    Su Ci frowned, but the next second, her hand was grabbed and pulled back.


    In an instant, she was brought to Lu Zhe''s side. The young man''s broad frame shielded her as he wrapped an arm around her.


    Su Ci looked up at him. Lu Zhe was tall, and she could only see his sharp jawline.


    "Hold onto the handrail," Lu Zhe said coldly.


    Su Ci ignored him, instead cing her hand on his slim waist. The bus was crowded, and the air was filled with unpleasant smells. She rested her head against Lu Zhe''s chest, breathing in his clean, refreshing scent.


    "Su Ci," Lu Zhe said, his tone warning as the girl grew too bold.


    Su Ci leaned against him and corrected him, "Don''t call me Su Ci."


    In a low voice, she added, "You only call me Tuan Tuan." With that, she yfully blinked at him.


    Lu Zhe''s expression was calm. "I don''t know what you''re talking about. That''s not me."


    "I know, but I can tell you. What do you want to know?" Su Ci''s dark eyes were filled with amusement. "If you''re not Lu Zhe, then who are you?"


    Lu Zhe took a deep breath. He realized that Su Ci was like a little rascal¡ªinfuriating yet impossible to resist.


    During the morning rush hour, more and more people boarded the bus, and the interior grew increasingly crowded.


    The standing space gradually diminished. Lu Zhe shielded Su Ci, bracing against the pressure from the crowd. She, in turn, moved closer into his embrace to give him more room.


    The girl''s body was soft, carrying a faint, pleasant fragrance that stood out amidst the mingling scents in the cramped space.


    Lu Zhe pursed his lips, trying to ignore the sweet aroma of her that lingered at the tip of his nose.


    The journey from the old neighborhood to the inte caf¨¦ took twenty minutes. After getting off the bus, Su Ci felt like she hade back to life¡ªriding a crowded bus was far from pleasant.


    Her delicate skirt had been wrinkled from the squeeze, but she didn''t have time to fix it. She quickly caught up to Lu Zhe, who was already walking ahead.


    It was baffling how he could protect her on the bus but act so cold and distant the moment they got off.


    The inte caf¨¦ hadn''t opened for the day yet, but the owner was already waiting for Lu Zhe.


    Seeing Lu Zhe arrive, the owner smiled and said, "Xiao Zhe, sorry to make youe so early. Have you had breakfast? I bought some bread. You can have some if you''d like."


    "I''ve already eaten, thank you," Lu Zhe replied. Just then, Su Ci followed him inside.


    The owner quickly added, "Miss, we''re not open for business yet."


    "I''m Lu Zhe''s friend," Su Ci said, though she would have preferred to say she was his girlfriend.


    "Oh, you''re Xiao Zhe''s friend?" The owner was surprised. This friend of Lu Zhe''s was strikingly beautiful.


    "Yeah," Lu Zhe responded lightly.


    "Well,e in and sit down. Would you like some water?" the owner offered warmly.


    Lu Zhe shook his head. "Are the brokenputers in the server room?"


    "Yes, I moved them all there."


    Lu Zhe turned to Su Ci and instructed, "Wait here. I''m going to fix theputers."


    Su Ci nodded obediently.


    The owner chimed in, "There areputers over there. Lu Zhe, let your friend y on one while she waits. It¡¯s boring just sitting around."


    "Thank you."


    Lu Zhe led Su Ci to a seat in the middle row, where the area was cleaner, and had her sit near the aisle.


    He looked at her as she settled down. "Are you thirsty?"


    Su Ci nodded.


    Lu Zhe asked the owner for a disposable cup, poured some warm water for Su Ci, and ced it on the table in front of her. He also turned on theputer for her. "y something while you wait. Don''t wander off."


    Su Ci rolled her eyes. "I''m not a three-year-old. Go do your work."


    "Mm," Lu Zhe acknowledged before leaving.


    The owner followed Lu Zhe into the server room, seeking his advice on some technical issues.


    At the entrance of the inte caf¨¦, a tall, slender boy pushed the door open and walked straight to the front desk. Not finding anyone there, he shouted, "Dad!"


    Receiving no response, he noticed the lights were on in the server room and headed that way.


    As he passed the middle row of seats, he suddenly stopped in his tracks,pletely stunned.


    His eyes were glued to the girl sitting in front of theputer. His heart raced wildly.


    The girl had bright eyes and pearly teeth. She wore a honey-orange dress, her skin so fair it seemed to glow. She was so beautiful it felt like she was radiating light.


    Was he dreaming? How could a fairy-like girl be here?


    The boy, Li Dudu, instantly became infatuated. Hepletely forgot about looking for his dad.


    Unable to resist, he approached her. "Hi, my name is Li Dudu. Are you ying a game? I''m really good at games. I can carry you."


    Su Ci nced at him. "No, thanks."


    Her voice was as enchanting as her appearance. Li Dudu was utterly captivated.


    He tried again, "The owner here is my dad. Don''t drink in water. What kind of drink do you want? I''ll get it for you. It''s on the house."


    Su Ci frowned. "No, thank you."


    Li Dudu felt like he was on a high. Up close, the girl was even more stunning. The school beauty queen at his school couldn''t hold a candle to her.


    No, even her hands were perfect¡ªslender, fair, with a hint of pink at the fingertips. The school beauty queen didn''t evene close to this girl''s fingers.


    Li Dudu felt like he was experiencing first love. He was both excited and restless, eager to shower her with attention. "Are you hungry? The caf¨¦ has a lot of snacks. I''ll get some for you."


    Su Ci found him annoying. "No, I don''t know you. Please leave me alone."


    Li Dudu wasn''t deterred by her rejection. He gazed at her adoringly. "There''s an arcade nearby. I can take you there. It''s way more fun than ying games on theputer."


    Su Ci decided to ignore him.


    Undeterred, Li Dudu buzzed around like an eager bee, fetching several bottles of different vored drinks for Su Ci. He even brought out a pile of snacks from the break room and ced them next to her for easy ess.


    "This vor of candy is really good. I think you''ll like it."


    "This brand of chips is great too, but they''re a bit spicy. You can try a little, but don''t eat too much."


    "Should I get you some fruit?"


    ......


    When Lu Zhe came out, he immediately noticed the boy hovering around Su Ci, trying desperately to please her.


    His dark eyes grew colder as he silently observed the scene.


    "Kid, what are you doing?" The owner also emerged and, seeing his son shamelessly bothering the girl, became annoyed. "Li Dudu, get over here!"


    But Li Dudu was too entranced by Su Ci to respond. His heart waspletely captivated by her.


    Su Ci spotted Lu Zhe and stood up in delight. She walked over to him. "Are you done fixing theputers?"


    "Yeah."


    "Let''s go, then," Su Ci said, feeling like she couldn''t take the noise anymore.


    She naturally reached for his hand. Lu Zhe lowered his gaze but didn''t pull away or let go this time. "Okay."


    "Who are you?" Li Dudu asked, on the verge of tears as he watched the fairy-like girl holding another man''s hand.


    "He''s my boyfriend," Su Ci said, ring at Li Dudu with disdain. "Stop bothering me. The person I like is him."


    Li Dudu was dumbfounded.


    "Stupid kid," the owner muttered, quickly stepping forward to grab his son by the ear. "Get out of here and stop embarrassing me."


    He dragged his son away, ignoring his protests.


    "Ow, Dad, that hurts! Be gentle!" The owner hauled him into a back room and shut the door.


    After dealing with his son, the owner returned and paid Lu Zhe. "My son was being rude. Sorry for bothering your friend."


    Lu Zhe''s expression remained cold. "We''re leaving now."


    "Of course, of course," the owner said politely, escorting them to the door.


    Su Ci held Lu Zhe''s hand as they walked. "Are we going back now?"


    "First, I''ll take you to buy some clothes."


    Su Ci blinked, teasing him, "Actually, I could just wear your clothes."


    Lu Zhe refused firmly. "No."


    As they descended the stairs, just a few steps from the bottom, Lu Zhe suddenly lost his footing and fell. In that instant, he let go of Su Ci''s hand.


    "Lu Zhe!"

 Chapter 115

    Lu Zhe fell to the ground with a thud.


    Su Ci hurried over, her eyes immediately noticing the torn fabric at the knee of Lu Zhe''s pants and the scraped skin beneath. Her eyes welled up, and even the tip of her nose tingled with emotion. She reached out to help him up, "Your leg is injured. Are you hurt anywhere else? Let me take you to the hospital."


    Lu Zhe had fallen before, but never this badly. When he fell, his knee had hit the edge of the stairs, and as hended on the ground, the skin had been scraped off. His left leg felt numb and weak.


    "It''s fine, no need to go to the hospital," Lu Zhe said, refusing Su Ci''s help as he slowly stood up on his own.


    "But you''re bleeding," Su Ci bit her lip hard, her eyes reddening as tears pooled in them. "I''m sorry, Lu Zhe. I can''t save you."


    Lu Zhe was taken aback by the girl''s teary eyes. He felt a pang of difort, unsure of how to respond. "It''s not your fault. I fell on my own. It''s just a scrape. I''m really fine."


    Su Ci shook her head. She wasn''t talking about his fall. "I can''t save you from ALS," she said, her eyes growing even redder.


    She couldn''t contact Fu Gui, and she couldn''t see anyone''s life value anymore. This meant she couldn''t save Lu Zhe.


    Hearing her words, Lu Zhe forced a faint smile, finding her a bit naive. "No one can save me."


    "That''s not true. I could have..."


    Lu Zhe had no experienceforting people, and seeing Su Ci''s red eyes made his chest tighten ufortably. He cut her off, "My leg hurts a little. Can you help me?"


    Hearing that Lu Zhe was in pain, Su Ci quickly wiped her tears and moved closer to him, slipping under his arm and letting him lean on her. "Can you walk? I''ll support you."


    "Mm," Lu Zhe replied, though he barely put any weight on her. Su Ci was too slender to support him properly.


    This time, Lu Zhe decided to take a taxi instead of making Su Ci squeeze onto a bus.


    Back at their ce, Su Ci rushed to grab the first aid kit, urging Lu Zhe, "Sit down and roll up your pant leg."


    "I can do it myself," Lu Zhe said, reaching for the kit, but Su Ci ignored him.


    She pulled him over to the sofa and made him sit, gesturing for him not to dawdle.


    Lu Zhe pursed his lips and finally rolled up his pant leg, revealing the wound on his knee. It was arge scrape, with a bruise forming beside it.


    Su Ci''s heart ached as she looked at it. She sniffled, trying to hold back her emotions.


    She knelt beside Lu Zhe''s leg, picking up a cotton swab and dipping it in antiseptic before gently applying it to his wound.


    Seeing Lu Zhe flinch, she quickly asked, "Does it hurt?"


    "No, just sit properly," Lu Zhe said, feeling slightly awkward with Su Ci kneeling at his feet.


    Su Ci nced up at him, then continued cleaning the wound. Worried that the antiseptic might sting, she blew softly on the wound as she applied it.


    Watching her focused expression, Lu Zhe clenched his hand at his side, a strange feeling rising in his chest that he couldn''t quite ce.


    Once Su Ci finished treating his wound, she tossed the cotton swab into the trash and turned to look at Lu Zhe, who was sitting calmly. "Does it still hurt?"


    Lu Zhe reached out and pulled Su Ci up. "Don''t kneel. Sit here."


    Su Ci let herself be pulled up and sat obediently beside him. "You still haven''t answered me. Does it hurt?"


    Lu Zhe met her gaze. Her eyes were still slightly red, their dark pupils clear and watery, reflecting his image. "It doesn''t hurt anymore."


    Su Ci instinctively wanted to lean into Lu Zhe''s arms, but remembering how distant he had beentely, she sat up straight instead.


    Suddenly, Lu Zhe asked, "In your next life, do I still have ALS?"


    Su Ci nodded.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened. If he still had ALS in the next life, why would she stay with him?


    "I''m sorry," Su Ci said, her voice muffled. "In the next life, your ALS is cured. But right now, I can''t save you."


    Lu Zhe was shocked. "Cured?"


    Su Ci nodded. "I don''t know how to exin it, but in the next life, your illness is gone, and you find your birth parents."


    Earlier, at the inte caf¨¦, she had searched for information about the Lu and Su families. To her surprise, she discovered that in this life, there was no Su family, only the Lu family.


    She wondered if this meant she had been transported into the book from another ce, and the system had given her this identity.


    In the previous life, she hadn''t existed, so the Su family didn''t exist either.


    Su Ci pushed aside her tangled thoughts and told Lu Zhe, "Your father is Lu Chen, the chairman of Lu Corporation. Your mother is Wen Ya. They''ve been looking for you and will love you dearly."


    "Lu Zhe, do you want to meet them?"


    The amount of information in Su Ci''s words was overwhelming, and Lu Zhe fell silent.


    After a long moment, he finally spoke. "No, it''s fine."


    Su Ci couldn''t help but re at him. "I knew it. In the next life, you were reluctant to meet them at first too."


    "But your condition is getting worse. If I suddenly disappear..." Su Ci''s nose tingled again. "What will you do alone?"


    Lu Zhe''s ability to walk was gradually deteriorating. If his condition continued to worsen, he would inevitably need someone to take care of him.


    Meeting Su Ci''s worried gaze, Lu Zhe said, "I''ll go to the hospital."


    Su Ci knew that Lu Zhe didn''t want to meet his parents because he didn''t want them to lose him again after finally finding him.


    Su Ci fell silent.


    ......


    After Lu Zhe''s fall, Su Ci became a gentle angel, dutifully helping him apply medicine every day.


    One day, Su Ci saw Lu Zhe returning home with a bag of peaches in his hand. Behind him, workers were carrying in an air conditioner. "Are you installing an air conditioner?"


    "Mm," Lu Zhe replied. When he lived alone, he didn''t care much about the heat, content with just a fan at night. But Su Ci couldn''t handle it.


    Su Ci was sensitive to heat and had woken up several times because of it. That morning, Lu Zhe had gone out specifically to buy an air conditioner for her.


    Su Ci''s eyes curved into a smile. She knew Lu Zhe had bought the air conditioner just for her.


    Her gaze fell on the bag of peaches in his hand, and her smile grew even brighter. She had mentioned wanting peaches yesterday, and he had remembered.


    No matter which life it was, Lu Zhe was always so good to her.


    Lu Zhe directed the workers to install the air conditioner in the room while Su Ci took the peaches to wash them.


    Just then, a girl appeared at the still-open door, peering into the room.


    Lu Zhe looked over, the warmth in his eyes fading.


    "Lu Zhe, didn''t you say you were broke? How can you afford an air conditioner now?" Zhao Youyou eximed, watching the workers carry the air conditioner inside.


    Thest time she had asked Lu Zhe for money, he had refused, iming he had none.


    Lu Zhe limped over. "What do you want?"


    Now that they had graduated, Zhao Youyou had dyed her hair a reddish-brown and styled it in loose curls. Combined with her makeup and outfit, she looked much more mature.


    Zhao Youyou lifted her chin. "I''m staying here tonight. Last time, you refused to let my friend stay over. But now it''s me, so you can''t say no."


    She had gotten into a fight with her family and had no money for a hotel, so she hade to Lu Zhe.


    Just then, a sweet voice came from inside. "I refuse."


    Zhao Youyou looked up in surprise to see a stunningly beautiful girl emerge from behind Lu Zhe, holding a te of peaches.


    The peaches had been washed, their pink skin glistening with water. But the girl holding them was even more captivating.


    With her porcin skin and dark hair, she wore a light, translucent green dress that made it impossible to look away.


    Zhao Youyou was stunned. How could there be a girl at Lu Zhe''s ce, and one so breathtakingly beautiful?


    Su Ci stood beside Lu Zhe and handed him the te of peaches.


    She looked Zhao Youyou up and down. If it weren''t for recognizing her voice, she might not have known it was her.


    She gave Zhao Youyou''s outfit a disdainful nce. "I refuse to let you stay here."


    "Who are you? What right do you have to refuse me?" Zhao Youyou retorted, finding the girl extremely irritating.


    As the other girl approached, Su Ci could see that she wore no makeup, her skin naturally fair and smooth, unlike Su Ci''s own paleplexion, which was the result of foundation. Without a trace of cosmetics, the girl''s face was fresh and radiant.


    Su Ci immediately hooked her arm through Lu Zhe''s and dered, "I''m his girlfriend. Everything about him belongs to me. Do you have a problem with me saying you can''t stay here?"


    After speaking, she turned to Lu Zhe and asked, "Right?"


    Lu Zhe''s arm was entwined with the girl''s, and she shot him a look, as if threatening to pounce on him if he didn''t y along. This was the first time he had seen her act so coquettishly.


    A faint smile tugged at the corner of Lu Zhe''s lips as he indulged her, replying, "Right."


    Zhao Youyou was even more shocked now. Though she didn''t want to admit it, the girl before her was undeniably stunning. And she was Lu Zhe''s girlfriend?


    Zhao Youyou''s earlier sense of inferiority vanished in an instant, reced by a smug sense of superiority. She couldn''t help but sneer, "Do you even know that Lu Zhe has ALS? He doesn''t have long to live. What good is being pretty? All you have is a pretty face, but no brains or foresight. Why would you choose Lu Zhe as your boyfriend? Are you after his poverty? Or his short life?"


    Su Ci''s gaze turned icy in an instant. "Shut up."


    Zhao Youyou flinched under Su Ci''s sharp re but quickly tried to mask her fear, not wanting to appear weak. She pursed her lips and muttered, "I''m just stating facts."


    Su Ci coldly stared her down. "What happens to Lu Zhe is none of your business. Get out, or I won''t be polite."


    The girl''s tone was both haughty and dismissive, as if she were looking at trash.


    Zhao Youyou wanted to fire back with equal arrogance, but for some reason, she couldn''t muster the courage. Whether it was the girl''smanding presence or her air of nobility, Zhao Youyou felt intimidated.


    She wasn''t stupid. She could tell that the girl came from a wealthy background, with her proud demeanor and confident speech.


    "Fine, I won''t stay. What''s so great about this dump anyway?" After her mutteredint, Zhao Youyou didn''t dare to look at Su Ci again. She turned her head away disdainfully and left.


    Su Ci narrowed her eyes. This version of Zhao Youyou from this lifetime was utterly detestable.


    "I don''t like Zhao Youyou. If shees looking for you in the future, just send her away," Su Ci bluntly expressed her dislike for Zhao Youyou to Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze, his eyes resting on the girl''s hand, which was naturally looped through his arm. He softly replied, "Mm."


    That night, Su Ci finished her bath early andy down on the bed. The room was equipped with an air conditioner, dispelling the usual summer heat and making itfortably cool. She rolled over contentedly.


    Just then, Lu Zhe walked in. He had just finished showering, his body still damp, and his hair wet. Water droplets trailed down the sharp lines of his face, disappearing into the cor of his shirt.


    Su Ci sat up and volunteered, "Lu Zhe, let me dry your hair for you."


    "No need," Lu Zhe replied as he walked over to the desk, picked up the hairdryer, and began drying his hair himself.


    Su Ci let out a soft huff andy back down on the bed, propping her chin up with one hand as she watched him.


    Standing by the desk, the young man had his back to her. He wore a ck T-shirt, his tall frame exuding a cool aloofness.


    The sound of the hairdryer was noisy, but Su Ci watched intently. No matter what Lu Zhe was doing, she adored him. As long as it was him, she loved him.


    When Lu Zhe turned off the hairdryer and turned around, he immediately saw Su Ci lying on the bed, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at him.


    Su Ci was wearing a white, low-cut nightgown, and the way she was lying caused the neckline to dip even lower, revealing a generous expanse of her fair skin and a tantalizing glimpse of whaty beneath.


    Lu Zhe instinctively averted his eyes. "Sit properly. What kind of posture is that?"


    Su Ci red at him, annoyed. No matter what version of Lu Zhe it was, he always scolded her for her lounging positions.


    Lu Zhe walked over to the door and turned off the light, plunging the room into darkness.


    The surroundings grew quiet, and even the smallest sounds seemed amplified.


    Su Ci wasn''t sleepy yet.


    Shey on the bed, shifting closer to the folding bed beside her. "Lu Zhe, I can''t sleep. Keep mepany and chat with me."


    After a while, the young man finally spoke. "Mm."


    Thinking of Zhao Youyou from earlier, Su Ci also recalled the events from the book. "From now on, don''t get involved with Zhao Youyou''s affairs."


    Previously, she had wondered if Lu Zhe''s willingness to sacrifice himself for Zhao Youyou in the book meant he had some feelings for her. But after seeing Zhao Youyou''s behavior in this lifetime, Su Ci was convinced that Lu Zhe would have to be blind to like her.


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond.


    "If Zhao Youyou were really in danger, would you save her?" Su Ci wanted to know what he thought.


    Lu Zhe hesitated for a moment. "It depends."


    Su Ci''s eyes widened. So, there was a possibility.


    In the book, he had saved Zhao Youyou.


    Su Ci was both irritated and dissatisfied. "Why?"


    The young man''s voice, clear and maic, was soothing in the quiet night. "If anyone is in mortal danger in front of me, and I have the ability to help, I will."


    Lu Zhe''s voice softened. "My life isn''t long. If I can exchange it for someone else''s, it''s a fair trade."


    He only had less than two years left to live.


    Su Ci was stunned. She remembered how Lu Zhe had saved her parents from a fire, even though he hadn''t known they were her parents at the time. She also recalled how he had suffered a severe hand injury while rescuing her brother.


    The young man''s cold exterior hid a heart that was warm and pure.


    Su Ci''s eyes welled up with tears. She couldn''t bear to hear Lu Zhe talk like this.


    In the next moment, she got out of bed and squeezed onto Lu Zhe''s folding bed.


    Her soft body pressed against him, and Lu Zhe immediately sat up in rm. "Su Ci!"


    Su Ci wrapped her arms around him. "Your life is precious too. You can''t undervalue it."


    She was biased. She only cared about Lu Zhe.


    Su Ci didn''t want Lu Zhe risking his life to save others. "No matter who it is, you can''t sacrifice yourself to save them."


    Just thinking about how Lu Zhe would die saving Zhao Youyou in the book made her both angry and jealous. "Especially Zhao Youyou. If she''s in danger, you can''t save her. Otherwise, I''ll be jealous, heartbroken, and furious."


    Suddenly being hugged by the girl, Lu Zhe stiffened. Especially when she squirmed in his arms, her movements causing his body to tense painfully.


    "Promise me," Su Ci urged.


    "Let go first," Lu Zhe tried to push her away, but her nightgown was made of thin fabric. When his hand touched her waist, he felt nothing but softness beneath his palm.


    He awkwardly withdrew his hand.


    Su Ci clung to him like a little rascal, stubborn and relentless. "Promise me first, then I''ll let go."


    The faint fragrance of the girl filled his senses, and Lu Zhe''s jaw tightened. "Mm."


    His voice deepened. "Let go."


    Su Ci was never one to keep her word, and her shamelessness knew no bounds. "Call me by my nickname first, then I''ll let go."


    "Su Ci."


    Su Ci wasn''t satisfied. "No, that''s not how you usually call me."


    Lu Zhe pressed his lips together.


    Su Ci pestered him. "Say it!"


    In the darkness, the young man''s ears turned red, and he struggled to get the words out. After a few seconds, he finally spoke. "Tuantuan."


    Su Ci''s eyes curved into a smile, and this time she obediently released him. Then, shey down on the folding bed.


    Lu Zhe was stunned. "Go back to your bed."


    Su Ci grabbed Lu Zhe''s hand and pulled him down onto the folding bed with her. She turned to look at him, her eyes brimming withughter. "We''ve slept on this bed together before."


    "That wasn''t me."


    "It was you, it was definitely you." Seeing that Lu Zhe was about to argue, Su Ci covered his mouth with her hand. "I''m so sleepy. Let''s just sleep."


    With that, she rested her head against Lu Zhe''s chest and closed her eyes, determined to be stubborn.


    The room fell silent.


    Lu Zhe could hear the loud thumping of his own heartbeat.


    ...


    The next day, Lu Zhe didn''t have to go out for his part-time job. Su Ci walked over with a bowl of freshly washed peaches.


    Without her having to say anything, Lu Zhe picked up a small knife and began peeling the peaches. He then cut them into even slices and arranged them on a te.


    "Here," he said, pushing the te toward her.


    After noticing Su Ci''s fondness for peaches, Lu Zhe had made sure to keep a steady supply in the fridge.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Su Ci didn''t reach for the te.


    Instead, she looked at Lu Zhe with pleading eyes, the small beauty mark beneath her eye adding to her charm. "My hands are tired from washing the peaches. Feed me."


    Lu Zhe''s expression remained impassive. "Eat them yourself."


    Su Ci leaned closer to him, teasing him on purpose. "Feed me. It¡¯ll taste sweeter if you do it. And if you don¡¯t, I might just disappear all of a sudden. Then you..."


    Before she could finish, a piece of peach touched her lips.


    Su Ciughed, her body trembling as she fell onto Lu Zhe. "Are you really afraid I¡¯ll disappear?"


    His thin lips pressed together, the tips of his ears turning slightly red. His dark eyes were filled with nothing but indulgence.


    But the next second, the girl in his arms suddenly turned transparent and vanished.


    The warmth in his arms faded, and the peach in his hand fell to the ground.


    Lu Zhe froze, his entire body stiffening as he stood there in shock.


    His gaze darkened.


    After a long while, the young man murmured softly to the empty air, "Yes."


    Just then, the doorbell suddenly rang.


    Lu Zhe jerked to his feet, limping as he rushed to the door and flung it open.


    Outside stood a man and a woman.


    The woman¡¯s eyes widened in shock, instantly brimming with tears. "My baby," she choked out.

 Chapter 116

    Su Ci opened her eyes.


    She blinked, staring at the face that was now so close to hers.


    Just a moment ago, she had been teasing Lu Zhe, asking him to feed her a peach. How had they ended up in bed together?


    Su Ci wanted to wake Lu Zhe up, but as soon as her hand reached out, her fingertips brushed against his face.


    Lu Zhe¡¯s face was handsome, his features sharp and defined, his cheeks full. There was no trace of youthful immaturity or illness in him.


    As her fingers traced his features, Su Ci couldn¡¯t believe it¡ªshe had traveled back.


    Suddenly, her hand was caught. Lu Zhe opened his eyes, his dark gaze still tinged with sleepiness. ¡°Awake?¡±


    ¡°Mhm,¡± Su Ci replied softly.


    Seeing her dazed expression, Lu Zhe gently pinched her small hand. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Tuantuan? Are you feeling unwell?¡±


    They had stayed up tootest night, and things had gotten a little out of hand. He was worried he might have hurt her.


    ¡°No.¡± The fact that Lu Zhe called her Tuantuan confirmed it¡ªthis was her Lu Zhe.


    She had returned. Or perhaps, she had just been dreaming?


    But if it was just a dream, it felt too real. In the dream, she had even felt pain.


    Su Ci pulled her hand back from Lu Zhe¡¯s grip and raised it to inspect. Her fingers were slender and fair, the faint pink tips showing no trace of the injury she had gotten from moving the iron shelf.


    Lu Zhe brushed a strand of hair away from her face, his voice low and slightly hoarse. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You seem upset.¡±


    Su Ci buried her face in Lu Zhe¡¯s chest, pressing against him. ¡°I had a dreamst night.¡±


    Her heart felt heavy.


    She couldn¡¯t tell if it was just a dream or if she had truly traveled to Lu Zhe¡¯s previous life.


    She hadn¡¯t expected to disappear so suddenly, and it left her feeling unprepared. She regretted not being able to properly say goodbye to the Lu Zhe from that life.


    Lu Zhe wrapped his arms around her. ¡°A nightmare?¡±


    ¡°No.¡± Su Ci nuzzled her cheek against his chest, her voice muffled. ¡°I dreamed of you.¡±


    Lu Zhe listened quietly.


    ¡°In the dream, you were so mean. You were cold to me, wouldn¡¯t let me hold your hand, wouldn¡¯t let me hug you, and wouldn¡¯t let me kiss you.¡± Her voice was tinged with sadness.


    Whether it was a dream or reality, she felt a sense of relief that she had met the Lu Zhe from that life. Even though he had refused to acknowledge his family, she had been selfish¡ªher eyes had only been on him.


    So, she had secretly contacted the Lu Family.


    At least when his condition worsened in that life, he wouldn¡¯t have been alone. He would have had his parents by his side.


    Hearing herints, Lu Zhe¡¯s lips curved into a smile. ¡°I had a dream too.¡±


    Su Ci looked up at him. ¡°What did you dream about?¡±


    ¡°I forgot.¡± Lu Zhe gently stroked her hair. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. I¡¯ll take you home after breakfast.¡±


    Su Ci¡¯s eyes curved mischievously as she leaned in and bit his chin.


    A slight sting made Lu Zhe let out a muffled groan.


    Su Ci hadn¡¯t bitten hard, just a gentle nip. Seeing the faint teeth marks, she felt a little smug. Her small hand began to wander, sliding down from his chest to his firm abs, and then to the waistband of his pants.


    ¡°Tuantuan.¡± Lu Zhe caught her hand, his voice low and warning. ¡°Be good. Don¡¯t mess around. Who was the one cryingst night?¡±


    It had been her who had cried so pitifully yesterday. But now, she seemed to have forgotten all about it. If they started again, she¡¯d probably end up crying again.


    Su Ci nestled softly in Lu Zhe¡¯s arms. Unlike in the dream, she could now freely let her bunny ears out.


    With a pair of fluffy, pink-and-white bunny ears atop her head, her dark eyes glistened as she looked at Lu Zhe. ¡°It¡¯s been so long, I¡¯ve forgotten what happenedst night. Don¡¯t you want to?¡±


    She wasn¡¯t a bunny spirit¡ªshe was more like a seductive little fox.


    Lu Zhe¡¯s grip on her waist tightened. With a swift movement, he flipped their positions, pinning her beneath him. He gritted his teeth, his fingers teasing her bunny ears. ¡°Don¡¯t cryter.¡±


    As her ears were yed with, Su Ci let out a soft hum, her hands already wrapping around his neck. ¡°I want to.¡±


    It was afternoon by the time they returned to the Su Family home.


    Lu Zhe escorted Su Ci inside, where they ran into Su¡¯s Mother, who had just returned from outside.


    Seeing her daughter with Lu Zhe, Su¡¯s Mother¡¯s face lit up with a smile. ¡°Xiao Zhe,e in and sit. Stay for dinner tonight?¡±


    Since learning that Lu Zhe¡¯s illness had suddenly improved, Su¡¯s Mother and Su¡¯s Father had fully epted their daughter¡¯s rtionship with him. They no longer had any objections.


    It had to be said, Lu Zhe and their daughter made a stunning pair. In every way, theyplemented each other perfectly.


    Su¡¯s Mother was truly grateful to the heavens for keeping Lu Zhe safe and allowing her daughter to be with him.


    ¡°Alright, thank you,¡± Lu Zhe agreed.


    Su¡¯s Mother smiled and went to instruct the kitchen on the evening¡¯s menu.


    Little Tiancai and Little Su Ning were in the first grade. Since it was Saturday, the two little ones didn¡¯t have school and were ying in the living room.


    When they saw Su Ci and Lu Zhe walk in, they greeted them politely. ¡°Sister, Brother-inw.¡±


    Su Ci ruffled their heads. Since the family had epted her rtionship with Lu Zhe, the two little ones no longer had to call him ¡°Brother-inw¡± in secret.


    A servant brought tea and a te of sliced peaches. The pink-and-white peach flesh looked fresh and tempting.


    Su Ci remembered the dream where she had asked Lu Zhe to feed her a peach. She had disappeared before she could taste it.


    She pulled Lu Zhe to sit beside her on the sofa and gave him a yful look. ¡°I want to eat a peach.¡±


    Lu Zhe didn¡¯t respond, but he picked up a small fork and speared a piece of peach, feeding it to her naturally.


    Su Ci took a bite. The peach was sweet.


    It felt like the small regret from her dream had been resolved, and she smiled happily.


    Next week was Grandpa Lu¡¯s 70th birthday, but due to his poor health, the celebration would be a small family dinner. As Lu Zhe¡¯s future wife, Su Ci also went to pay her respects to Grandpa Lu.


    Grandpa Lu was in good spirits today.


    Since Lu Zhe had returned, his health had improved, but age had taken its toll. Seeing his grandson with Su Ci, who made such a perfect pair, Grandpa Lu nodded repeatedly with satisfaction.


    He said to his grandson, ¡°You two have graduated. It¡¯s time to start thinking about marriage.¡±


    Since they were at home, Lu Zhe was wearing a light blue, high-quality shirt. His posture was upright, his features sharp and handsome, exuding an otherworldly charm.


    Hearing his grandfather¡¯s words, Lu Zhe instinctively nced at Su Ci beside him and smiled. ¡°Grandpa, Su Ci is still young. There¡¯s no rush to get married.¡±


    Grandpa Lu wasn¡¯t a stubborn old man. He knew that young people these days preferred to marryter. ¡°As long as you two have it figured out.¡±


    As for marriage, Su Ci wasn¡¯t in a hurry.


    In her eyes, she and Lu Zhe were already living like a married couple, their rtionship as strong as any husband and wife¡¯s.


    Wen Ya, her face radiant with joy, came over to invite them. ¡°Dinner is ready.¡±


    The butler helped Grandpa Lu to the dining room, while Lu Zhe held Su Ci¡¯s hand and followed.


    The Lu Family had hired a chef of national banquet caliber, and the table wasden with dishes that were as visually stunning as they were fragrant.


    A servant poured red wine for everyone.


    Now that Su Ci could control her bunny ears at will, she didn¡¯t have to worry about drinking.


    Lu Zhe noticed the girl beside him eyeing the wine and leaned in to whisper, ¡°Just a little.¡±


    Su Ci nodded obediently, but by the end of the meal, she had managed to drink three sses of wine.


    She wasn¡¯t drunk, but a blush had spread across her cheeks, her dark eyes glistening, making her even more captivating.


    Even Wen Ya couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how well the Su Family had raised Su Ci. Among all the wealthy youngdies she had met, none couldpare to Su Ci¡¯s beauty.


    Wen Ya silently praised her son¡¯s good taste and felt happy for him.


    After dinner, Wen Ya told her son to take Su Ci to his room to rest, freeing them from the formality of staying with the elders.


    Lu Zhe¡¯s room was on the second floor. The decor was in shades of gray and white, cold and minimalist, much like his personality.


    The room had only arge bed, a wardrobe, and a desk by the window. There was also arge balcony outside, but overall, the room felt stark and dull.


    Lu Zhe watched as Su Ci sat on the edge of his bed. ¡°Tuantuan, do you want to take a nap?¡±


    Having had a bit of wine, Su Ci did feel sleepy. She nodded.


    Lu Zhe walked over and crouched down in front of her, helping the girl take off her shoes. "You should rest for a bit. I''ll wake you upter."


    As Lu Zhe''srge hand wrapped around her ankle, Su Ci felt a slight tickle. "Aren''t you going to sleep with me?"


    "I still have some documents to finish. You rest first, and I''ll join youter," Lu Zhe said, pulling back the nket and guiding the girl to lie down.


    Su Cizily yawned, her face slightly flushed. "Then go ahead and do your work."


    The girly down on the light gray bed, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush. Unable to resist, Lu Zhe gently pinched her cheek before covering her with a thin nket. "Alright."


    The room was quiet.


    Su Ci wasn''t sure how long she had slept. When she opened her eyes, she sat up, still drowsy.


    She got out of bed, intending to put on her shoes, only to find them missing.


    Hearing the sound of pages turning, Su Ci nced toward the window and saw Lu Zhe sitting at the desk by the window.


    "Lu Zhe, I''m awake," the girl said softly, her voice sweet and gentle.


    The man at the desk stiffened, his back rigid.


    Su Ci blinked.


    Slowly, the man turned around. His movements were deliberate.


    His dark, intense eyes locked onto Su Ci, and his voice seemed to strain from his throat. "Su Ci."


    Su Ci stared at Lu Zhe, who was wearing a white shirt, his face thinner than she remembered. She hesitated, unsure. "Lu Zhe."


    Lu Zhe''s lips curved slightly, his dark eyes brightening. This wasn''t a dream. The girl who had disappeared for nearly a year had returned.


    He slowly covered his eyes with his hand and let out a lowugh.


    "You''re the Lu Zhe from the previous life," Su Ci confirmed.


    Lu Zhe lowered his hand and looked at her. "Tuantuan,e here."


    Su Ci walked toward him.


    Before she could say anything, Lu Zhe frowned. "Why aren''t you wearing shoes again?"


    The room wasn''t carpeted, and the girl''s bare feet would get cold on the floor.


    "You took them off for me," Su Ci said. Before she fell asleep, Lu Zhe had removed her shoes. She hadn''t expected to wake up and see the Lu Zhe from her previous life.


    But this was still Lu Zhe''s room.


    Su Ci felt a bit confused. Did this mean Lu Zhe had been taken back to the Lu Family?


    Hearing her words, Lu Zhe''s expression darkened. The person she was referring to wasn''t him, but the Lu Zhe from the next life.


    "Lu Zhe, you''ve lost a lot of weight," Su Ci said, noticing how his cheeks were more sunken. She also realized that Lu Zhe was sitting in a wheelchair.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "You disappeared for almost a year. Did you go back?" Lu Zhe''s voice was hoarse as he stared at the girl who had suddenly reappeared, afraid she might vanish again at any moment.


    Su Ci nodded. "I went back."


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened. "Come here."


    Su Ci stepped closer, and in the next moment, Lu Zhe grabbed her hand, pulling her into his embrace.


    "Lu Zhe," Su Ci murmured, struggling slightly. "Your legs..."


    "It''s fine," Lu Zhe said, tightening his hold and settling her on hisp. "Don''t move. I don''t have much strength left, and I might drop you."


    Su Ci stilled.


    Facing him, she said, "I''m a bit heavy. I might hurt your legs."


    Lu Zhe smiled faintly. "You''re not heavy."


    His heart, which had been cold for so long, began to warm. He held her greedily, unwilling to let go.


    Su Ci wanted to take a good look at Lu Zhe, but he held her too tightly.


    His breath brushed against the tip of her ear, and she shivered. Then, she heard Lu Zhe''s low, hoarse voice. "Tuantuan, I regret it."


    The girl in his arms was soft and warm. From the day she disappeared, he had regretted every moment¡ªespecially that night when she had hugged him, and he had pushed her away.


    Every second, he had wished for her sudden return.


    And now, she was really here.


    Su Ci was stunned, but then a knock sounded at the door.


    "Someone''s here," Su Ci whispered, panicking. Her sudden appearance in Lu Zhe''s room would be hard to exin.


    "Sweetheart, Mom''sing in," Su Ci heard Wen Ya''s voice from outside the door.


    Su Ci grew anxious. "Lu Zhe, let go. Your mom''sing in."


    As soon as Lu Zhe released her, Su Ci stood up, looking for a ce to hide.


    Her eyes darted around the room, and she quickly ducked under the desk.


    "Tuantuan," Lu Zhe called softly as the girl hid beneath the desk.


    Su Ci tugged at his pant leg. "Block me."


    The door opened, and Wen Ya entered, carrying a tray with a ss of water and a small box of medicine. "Sweetheart, it''s time for your medicine."


    She walked in and saw her son sitting at the desk, quietly reading.


    "Mom," Lu Zhe said, setting down his book.


    "It''s time for your medicine," Wen Ya said with a gentle smile, cing the water and medicine on the desk.


    Noticing a small nket draped over her son''s legs, Wen Ya asked, "Are you cold? Is the air conditioning too low?"


    Beneath the nket, a small hand tugged at Lu Zhe''s pant leg.


    Lu Zhe''s expression remained calm. "A little."


    Wen Ya quickly found the remote and adjusted the temperature. "I''ll turn it up a bit."


    "Thank you."


    "Mom won''t disturb your reading. The water''s warm, so don''t forget to take your medicine," Wen Ya reminded him before leaving.


    The door closed, and the room fell silent again.


    Lu Zhe lifted the nket from his legs. "You cane out now."


    He looked under the desk.


    The girl in the light blue dress crouched there, her fair skin and dark hair contrasting sharply. Her bare feet peeked out, and her dark eyes looked up at him, pleading and pitiful.


    Lu Zhe''s grip on the wheelchair tightened, his eyes growing darker.


    He leaned down and reached out his hand. "Tuantuan,e out."

 Chapter 117

    Su Ci had just ced her hand on Lu Zhe''s when he pulled her out from under the desk.


    "That was close," Su Ci exhaled in relief.


    "Were you scared?" Lu Zhe asked, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he noticed the visible relief on the girl''s face.


    "I wasn¡¯t scared, but I might have startled others," she replied. After all, she had suddenly appeared in Lu Zhe''s room.


    Lu Zhe nced down at her bare feet on the floor. "Tuantuan, go sit by the bed."


    Su Ci was puzzled but obedientlyplied.


    She sat by the edge of his bed as Lu Zhe wheeled himself over to the door. He picked up a pair of white slippers and brought them back.


    "Lift your foot," he said.


    "I can put them on myself," Su Ci replied. Normally, she would have dly let Lu Zhe help her with her shoes¡ªit was something he often enjoyed doing. But now, with him in a wheelchair, she felt he needed care more than she did.


    "I want to help you," Lu Zhe said, his dark eyes fixed on her.


    Su Ci lifted her foot, the hem of her light blue dress slipping down as Lu Zhe''srge hand gently grasped her slender ankle.


    The coolness of his touch made her shiver slightly.


    Lu Zhe lowered his gaze, his movements slow and deliberate as he slid the slipper onto her foot. The slippers were his, far too big for her, making her delicate feet appear even smaller.


    "Did I help you with your shoes in the next life?" Lu Zhe asked as he finished with one foot and reached for the other.


    "Yes," Su Ci replied. Not just shoes¡ªhe had also loved helping her dress and even tying her hair. She felt utterly spoiled by him.


    Lu Zhe''s fingers brushed against the small rabbit charm on her ankle bracelet, a yful gesture that made Su Ci giggle. "You gave me this," she said, tugging her foot slightly.


    "It wasn¡¯t me," Lu Zhe denied, his tone t.


    "Yes, it was," Su Ci insisted.


    Lu Zhe didn¡¯t respond.


    "It¡¯s time for your medicine," Su Ci said, walking over to the desk to fetch his water and pills. The small box contained several pills. "Do you have to take all of these at once?"


    "Yes," Lu Zhe replied, tipping the pills into his mouth. Su Ci quickly handed him the water cup, but instead of taking it, he leaned forward and drank directly from her hand.


    After a couple of sips, Lu Zhe stopped. "Enough," he said, his lips now moist and slightly glossy, no longer dry and pale.


    Su Ci¡¯s gaze drifted to his legs. She had always been perceptive. "Lu Zhe, your legs..."


    "They don¡¯t work anymore," Lu Zhe said matter-of-factly, his eyes meeting hers. "Do you mind?"


    Su Ci shook her head vigorously. "Of course not."


    How could she ever mind?


    "No matter what happens to you, you¡¯re still you. I¡¯ll always care for you," Su Ci dered firmly.


    A faint smile curved Lu Zhe¡¯s lips. "Mm."


    That evening, the caregiver knocked on Lu Zhe¡¯s door, ready to take him downstairs for dinner. But instead of a response, the door opened.


    "Master Lu, it¡¯s dinner time," the caregiver said with a sweet smile.


    She was highly educated, with professional nursing skills, and had been hired by the Lu Family at a high sry to care for Lu Zhe.


    As she moved to push his wheelchair, Lu Zhe stopped her. "I¡¯ll dine in my room tonight. Bring my meal here, and double the usual portion."


    He paused, then added, "And have the kitchen prepare a dessert¡ªpeach vor."


    The caregiver blinked in surprise. "Peach dessert?"


    "Is there a problem?" Lu Zhe¡¯s tone was cool.


    "No, of course not," she replied quickly, stepping forward to push him back into the room.


    "Go prepare it," Lu Zhe said, dismissing her. He wheeled himself back into the room and closed the door.


    Su Ci emerged from beside the door, teasing him. "Are you keeping me hidden now?"


    Lu Zhe gave her a deep look but didn¡¯t respond.


    Downstairs, Wen Ya saw the caregiver but not her son. "Where¡¯s Xiao Zhe?"


    "Madam, the young master said he¡¯ll dine in his room tonight."


    "Is he feeling unwell?" Wen Ya asked, her concern evident. Her son¡¯s condition had been worsening day by day, and his absence from dinner worried her.


    The caregiver quickly reassured her. "The young master seems in good spirits. He even requested dessert."


    "Dessert?" Wen Ya was surprised. Her son rarely ate sweets. But hearing that he had an appetite for something made her happy. "Tell the kitchen to prepare it quickly and send it up."


    "Yes, Madam."


    The caregiver set the meal on the table, arranging everything neatly.


    "Master Lu, your meal is ready," she said, standing nearby, ready to assist him.


    Though Lu Zhe could still use his hands, his condition required constant care. As his caregiver, she was always on standby in case his health took a turn for the worse.


    "You don¡¯t need to stay. Leave," Lu Zhe said coldly.


    After months of working with him, the caregiver knew he preferred solitude. "Yes, Master Lu," she said, exiting the room.


    Once the door closed, Lu Zhe wheeled himself to the wardrobe and opened it.


    Su Ci sat inside, barefoot, perched on his clothes. Her long, soft hair cascaded down her back, and her bright eyes sparkled as she looked at him.


    Lu Zhe¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He reached out his hands. "Tuantuan,e out."


    Su Ci let him pull her into hisp, her arms naturally wrapping around his shoulders. "Will I have to keep hiding like this?" she asked, a little frustrated.


    It was thrilling but also inconvenient.


    "No," Lu Zhe said, wheeling them over to the table. "Starting tomorrow, you won¡¯t have to hide."


    He couldn¡¯t bear to see her suffer like this.


    "But how will you exin my sudden appearance? And what if I disappear again?"


    Su Ci didn¡¯t notice the darkness flickering in Lu Zhe¡¯s eyes.


    "Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle it," Lu Zhe assured her, seating her in a chair beside him. "You said you were hungry. Let¡¯s eat."


    The table wasden with six dishes, a soup, two bowls of rice, and a peach-vored dessert. The Lu Family¡¯s chef was skilled, and the peach-shaped cake was so realistic it looked like an actual peach. Su Ci took a bite and then scooped up a small piece, offering it to Lu Zhe. "This cake is delicious. Try it."


    She expected him to refuse, but instead, he opened his mouth and ate the cake from her spoon.


    Su Ci noticed thatpared to his cold demeanor thest time she had crossed over, Lu Zhe was now warm and indulgent, much like the Lu Zhe from the next life.


    Her eyes curved into a smile. "Is it good?"


    Lu Zhe rarely ate sweets, but as the peach-vored cake melted in his mouth, he looked at the girl whose smile was sweeter than the dessert. The darkness in his eyes faded, reced by warmth. "Yes, it¡¯s good."


    After the meal, a maid came in to clear the dishes.


    The caregiver also returned. "Master Lu, it¡¯s time for your massage."


    Lu Zhe¡¯s muscles were beginning to atrophy, and daily massages were essential.


    Lu Zhe waved her off. "Not today. Leave."


    The caregiver hesitated. "Master Lu, that¡¯s not advisable. Your legs..."


    "Leave," Lu Zhe repeated, his tone firm and unyielding.


    The caregiver nced at him, but his expression was unreadable. Reluctantly, she left.


    As soon as the door closed, Su Ci emerged from the wardrobe. "Your legs need the massage. Why did you send her away?"


    She was worried about his condition. "I can hide in the wardrobe. It¡¯s ventted, so I¡¯ll be fine."


    "Tuantuan, put your shoes on," Lu Zhe said, frowning at her bare feet. "The floor is cold."


    Su Ci hurried to put on her shoes. Once they were on, she shuffled over to Lu Zhe in the oversized slippers. "If you''re worried about me staying in the closet, you can go to the study and have someone give you a massage."


    "It''s fine. Missing one or two sessions won''t affect my condition much." The massages didn¡¯t do much for him, or rather, their effect was minimal.


    Su Ci crouched down in front of Lu Zhe¡¯s wheelchair. "I can help massage you, but I don¡¯t know how. You¡¯ll have to teach me."


    As she spoke, her hand reached toward Lu Zhe¡¯s calf.


    "Tuan Tuan," Lu Zhe¡¯s jaw tightened, and he wanted to stop her.


    "Don¡¯tin if I don¡¯t do it well," Su Ci said as she began to knead his calf. It was then that she noticed how much thinner his legs had be. The once firm, powerful muscles were now barely there, as if only bones remained.


    Her hand paused, and she wanted to roll up his pant leg.


    "Tuan Tuan, don¡¯t look. My legs are... ugly," Lu Zhe said, his hands gripping the armrests tightly, his eyes darkening.


    Su Ci looked up at him.


    She didn¡¯t roll up his pant leg. She knew that even a young man like him had his pride.


    Her small hands continued to knead and press his legs, though she was well aware of her limitations. "I¡¯m not good at this. Let¡¯s have the caregiver redo it for youter."


    Lu Zhe¡¯s legs were weak, but that didn¡¯t mean he had lost all sensation.


    The girl¡¯s hands were soft and gentle,cking any real strength. Her random kneading felt less like a massage and more like a tease.


    Lu Zhe chuckled self-deprecatingly. In front of the girl he had waited for over a year, he had no self-control left.


    Later that night, Su Ci walked out of the bathroom wearing one of Lu Zhe¡¯s shirts.


    She hadn¡¯t meant to tempt him, but there were no clothes for her here, so she had no choice but to wear his.


    Just then, Lu Zhe pushed the door open and wheeled himself in, fresh from a shower in another bathroom.


    "You¡¯ve finished showering too?" Su Ci wondered how Lu Zhe managed to shower on his own.


    Seeing the neatly dressed young man with damp hair sitting in his wheelchair, her nose tingled with emotion. Simple tasks had be so difficult for him.


    His wet bangs hung over his forehead, and his dark eyes glistened with moisture. "Yes, I¡¯m done."


    "Let me dry your hair for you, okay?" Su Ci volunteered.


    Thest time she had offered, Lu Zhe had refused.


    This time, he smiled faintly. "Okay."


    After she had disappeared, this had be one of his regrets.


    Hearing his agreement, Su Ci happily wheeled him to the bedside. She grabbed the hairdryer and stood behind the wheelchair, drying his hair.


    The sound of the dryer filled the air, and her soft fingersbed through his hair. The faint scent of her drifted toward him, and Lu Zhe¡¯s dark eyes softened.


    Lu Zhe¡¯s hair was soft. Once it was dry, Su Ci smoothed out the tousled strands. She stepped in front of him and cupped his face in her hands. "All done. You look so handsome."


    His freshly dried hair fell neatly, making him look almost boyishly innocent.


    With a faint smile on his lips, Lu Zhe asked, "Do you like it?"


    Su Ci didn¡¯t hold back her feelings. "Of course I do."


    "No matter what you look like, I¡¯ll always like you!" she added firmly.


    Lu Zhe¡¯s lips curved into a wider smile. At that moment, he felt that even if he were to die tomorrow, he would have no regrets.


    The room¡¯s lights dimmed.


    Su Ciy obediently on the bed. She wanted to help Lu Zhe onto the bed, but he refused.


    She didn¡¯t watch as he struggled to lift himself from the wheelchair and onto the bed.


    As soon as Lu Zhe settled onto the bed, Su Ci rolled over and nestled into his arms. Muffled against his chest, she said, "I¡¯ve seen you in every state. I don¡¯t mind. Let me help you next time."


    This time, Lu Zhe didn¡¯t push her away as he had a year ago.


    His hand rested on her waist, and his low voice was clear in the dim light. "Okay."


    Only when he heard Su Ci¡¯s soft, steady breathing did Lu Zhe open his eyes.


    By the light of the bedsidemp, he gazed at the girl before him.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    Under the warm glow, her porcin-like face seemed to be bathed in a soft light. Unable to resist¡ªand not wanting to¡ªLu Zhe leaned down and kissed her cheek.


    His eyes fell on her rosy lips, and his own pressed against them. He tasted her sweetness.


    In the year she had been gone, Lu Zhe had felt himself grow despicable and shameless. He was like a thief, trying to steal something that didn¡¯t belong to him.

 Chapter 118

    The next day, sunlight filtered through the white curtains, scattering speckles of light across the floor.


    Lu Zhe had already woken up. He looked down at the girl nestled in his arms, her head resting against his chest, revealing only the back of her dark-haired head. Her feet werefortably tucked between his, their bodies pressed close together.


    Suddenly, the girl stirred. She lifted her chin, her face brushing against his neck, her warm breath falling softly on his skin.


    A tingling sensation spread through him, and Lu Zhe''s Adam''s apple bobbed as he instinctively tried to pull back slightly. But the girl''s hand rested on his waist, her entire body clinging to him tightly.


    Lu Zhe didn''t move again. Instead, he held her closer, his dark eyes filling with warmth as he gazed at the sunlight streaming into the room.


    Today, Lu Zhe needed to go to the hospital for a check-up. As usual, the caregiver arrived at the scheduled time and knocked on the door.


    The girl in his arms shifted, frowning as she burrowed deeper into his embrace. "Lu Zhe, I still want to sleep," she murmured drowsily, her voice filled with dependence.


    Lu Zhe couldn''t help but feel a pang of jealousy for his future self.


    The caregiver continued knocking outside. Su Ci finally woke up, her eyes hazy with sleep as she blinked at Lu Zhe, still not fully conscious.


    "Did the noise wake you?" Lu Zhe leaned down and kissed the top of her head.


    Su Ci''s voice was soft andzy. "Who''s outside?"


    Lu Zhe reached out and gently pinched her rosy cheek. "It''s the caregiver. I have to go to the hospital for a check-up today."


    "A check-up?" Su Ci''s mind cleared as she realized she was face-to-face with the Lu Zhe from her previous life. "Then you should get up quickly," she said, no longer holding him back.


    "Mm," Lu Zhe responded.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Outside the door, the caregiver frowned when she received no response. Over the past few months, she had learned that Lu Zhe was a highly disciplined person with a very precise internal clock. Normally, he would already be up by this time.


    But today, there was no answer from inside the room. Concerned, the caregiver turned the doorknob and entered.


    As a patient with ALS, Lu Zhe was at constant risk, and his family had given her permission to enter his room in emergencies to ensure his safety.


    The caregiver stepped inside, only to freeze in shock at the sight before her. Lu Zhe was lying in bed, his arms wrapped around someone¡ªa girl in a white shirt, her fair skin peeking out from under the covers.


    Lu Zhe quickly pulled the nket higher, shielding Su Ci from view. His voice was cold as he demanded, "Who told you toe in?"


    "Lu Zhe, I... I thought something might have happened to you," the caregiver stammered, utterly stunned. She had rushed in, fearing the worst, only to find a woman in his bed.


    "Get out!"


    Lu Zhe''s sharp tone left the caregiver flustered. She quickly apologized and hurried out of the room.


    Once the door closed, Su Ci peeked out from under the nket. "What do we do now? We''ve been found out."


    Last night, Su Ci had forgotten to lock the door, and Lu Zhe didn''t have the habit of locking it either, given his condition. If his health deteriorated further, someone needed to be able to reach him at any moment.


    Lu Zhe gently reassured her, "It''s fine. I''ll handle it."


    Since the secret was out, Lu Zhe made no attempt to hide it further. He instructed someone to prepare clothes for Su Ci.


    When Wen Ya heard from the caregiver that there was a strange girl in her son''s room, she was equally shocked.


    When she arrived at Lu Zhe''s room and saw the unfamiliar girl opening the door, Wen Ya had no choice but to believe it.


    "Auntie Wen Ya, hello," Su Ci greeted her with a hint of shyness. Despite meeting her in a different timeline, Su Ci felt no sense of unfamiliarity with Wen Ya, as they had always gotten along well.


    Wen Ya nodded politely and entered the room, where she saw her son sitting in his wheelchair, fully dressed. "My dear, who is this...?"


    Lu Zhe didn''t look at Su Ci. He was being selfish, but he admitted, "She''s my girlfriend."


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up at his words. Had Lu Zhe finally acknowledged their rtionship?


    Wen Ya was momentarily speechless. "Why haven''t you mentioned her before?"


    Lu Zhe''s smile was faint. "Because I thought I''d lost her."


    Wen Ya had never heard her son speak of a girlfriend before, so the sudden appearance of this girl was indeed a shock.


    But as a woman ustomed to high society, Wen Ya quicklyposed herself and turned her attention to the girl.


    Now that she took a closer look, Wen Ya realized how beautiful the girl was¡ªdelicate, refined, and radiant. She had met many youngdies from prestigious families, but none couldpare to the girl before her.


    Wen Ya spoke gently, "What should I call you?"


    Facing the older woman''s scrutiny, Su Ci remained poised and introduced herself confidently. "My name is Su Ci."


    Wen Ya thought for a moment but couldn''t recall any prominent families with the surname Su.


    However, Wen Ya wasn''t one to insist on social status. As long as her son was happy and the girl had a good character, she wouldn''t object, even if Su Ci came from an ordinary background.


    Moreover, she felt an inexplicable fondness and familiarity toward Su Ci. Perhaps it was because the girl''s beauty made it impossible not to like her.


    Wen Ya said to Su Ci, "Lu Zhe hasn''t told me about you. When you have time, you shoulde chat with me."


    Su Ci knew that Wen Ya had epted her.


    Wen Ya turned to her son. "Were you nning to keep her hidden from me?"


    Lu Zhe''s expression softened. "No, I was going to tell you today." He didn''t want Su Ci to have to hide any longer.


    Wen Ya knew her son''s reserved nature well, and given his illness, she hadn''t paid much attention to his romantic life. She never expected him to have a girlfriend.


    In the end, Wen Ya was happy. It wasforting to know that someone was willing to stay by her son''s side.


    After Wen Ya left the room, Su Ci knelt beside Lu Zhe''s wheelchair, her face filled with worry. "What if... what if I suddenly disappear again? How will you exin it to Auntie Wen Ya?"


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened.


    He looked down at her, his cool fingertips brushing against her smooth cheek. "I''ll tell her you left me."


    "That''s not true," Su Ci protested, her eyes wide. "If I disappear, it''s only because I''ve returned to my own time. In the next life, I''ll still be with you."


    Lu Zhe pinched her pouting cheek, his voice low. "It''s not the same."


    Once she was gone, he would no longer have her.


    After breakfast, Lu Zhe went to the hospital for his check-up, apanied by Su Ci and the caregiver.


    The caregiver sat in the front passenger seat, still reeling from the morning''s events.


    She had never imagined that the woman in Lu Zhe''s bed would turn out to be his girlfriend. And not just any girlfriend¡ªSu Ci was stunningly beautiful, the kind of beauty that made others feel inadequate.


    The caregiver stole a nce in the rearview mirror. In the back seat, Su Ci leaned against Lu Zhe, her smile enchanting as she held something up to his lips.


    The caregiver quickly averted her gaze, looking out the window instead.


    She had once thought highly of herself¡ªeducated, attractive, and with no shortage of suitors. Although her family background didn''t match the Lu family''s status, she had considered the possibility of being with Lu Zhe, given his illness and the assumption that no other woman would want him. Now, she felt nothing but shame for even entertaining such thoughts.


    She was grateful she hadn''t acted on her feelings. Compared to Lu Zhe''s girlfriend, she would have been nothing but a joke.


    In the back seat, Su Ci fed Lu Zhe a piece of candy. "Is it sweet?" She had picked up the candy earlier in the living room¡ªall of them were peach-vored.


    Meeting her bright, smiling eyes, Lu Zhe''s usual coldness melted away. "Mm."


    Then, Su Ci handed him another candy. "Your turn to feed me."


    Lu Zhe obliged, unwrapping the candy and holding it to her lips.


    Su Ci opened her mouth, taking the candy and lightly catching his fingertip with her tongue.


    The softness of her tongue sent a shiver through him, and his eyes darkened. He suppressed the surge of desire, his voice low and strained. "Su Ci."


    Su Ci gave him an innocent look. "It''s so sweet."


    Today¡¯s check-up was a routine one. Based on Lu Zhe¡¯s condition, the doctor adjusted his medication dosage. His illness had worsenedpared to before, and the hardening of his muscles had progressed further. Everyone knew that there was no cure for ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), and the only option now was to control the symptoms with medication.


    In thete stages of the disease, not only would Lu Zhe¡¯s muscles atrophy, but even his breathing, swallowing, and speaking would be difficult.


    Su Ci had long memorized the symptoms of ALS. Her nose stung with emotion. In this lifetime, she couldn¡¯t save him.


    After leaving the hospital, Su Ci remained quiet, slowly pushing Lu Zhe¡¯s wheelchair.


    Ahead, Lu Zhe spoke up, ¡°Tuantuan, would you like to take a walk with me?¡±


    Su Ci responded, ¡°Wherever you want to go, I¡¯ll apany you.¡±


    Lu Zhe asked the caregiver to leave first. The caregiver, understanding the situation, didn¡¯t dare to stay and y the role of a third wheel. Moreover, standing next to Miss Su, she felt an indescribable sense of inferiority, which made her ufortable.


    Near the hospital was a shopping mall, and Su Ci pushed Lu Zhe there for a stroll.


    Lu Zhe was handsome, even though his face was now affected by the illness, with sunken cheeks and confined to a wheelchair, his natural good looks were still evident. Paired with the radiant Su Ci, the duo attracted many nces from passersby.


    Lu Zhe¡¯s expression remained calm as he asked the girl behind him, ¡°Tuantuan, do you mind?¡±


    Mind what?


    The whispers of the crowd? Or the pitying looks directed at Su Ci?


    Su Ci was smart and knew Lu Zhe well. She answered firmly, ¡°The only person I care about is you. Everyone else is irrelevant to me.¡±


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly, his sickly face looking even more refined.


    He was just afraid that he wouldn¡¯t have enough time to do anything with her before she suddenly disappeared again.


    If she were to disappear for another year, he might no longer be here...


    ¡°Are we on a date now?¡± Lu Zhe asked the girl behind him.


    Hearing his words, Su Ci was slightly surprised, then sheughed, ¡°Yes.¡±


    She added, ¡°Dates usually involve watching movies. Do you want to watch one?¡±


    ¡°Have you watched movies with the next version of me?¡±


    ¡°Of course, it¡¯s one of the things couples must do.¡± The current Lu Zhe was still very inexperienced, and while Su Ci liked that about him, she also felt the urge to tease him.


    Since Lu Zhe was in a wheelchair, a regr theater wasn¡¯t suitable for him. Fortunately, there was a private cinema on the fifth floor of the mall.


    The cinema had private rooms, perfect for couples or friends, offering a quiet andfortable environment. They also provided drinks and snacks.


    After buying the tickets, Su Ci pushed Lu Zhe into the private room.


    The room was lit with warm yellow lights, featuring a long sofa, a coffee table, and arge screen. The decor was casual and rxing.


    Lu Zhe¡¯s wheelchair was ced next to the sofa. He supported his upper body and, refusing Su Ci¡¯s help, struggled to move himself onto the sofa.


    Su Ci folded his wheelchair and ced it to the side, then sat down next to him.


    At that moment, a staff member knocked and entered, cing drinks, a fruit tter, and snacks on the coffee table before politely exiting.


    The movie began.


    There weren¡¯t any particrly good films recently, so Su Ci randomly picked a sci-fi movie.


    She grabbed a handful of popcorn from the table, feeding a piece to Lu Zhe before eating some herself.


    The movie started with an intense action scene. Su Ci leaned back on the sofa, quietly watching the screen.


    Beside her, Lu Zhe quietly watched the girl. The light from the screen reflected on her face, making her fair skin glow even more.


    ¡°Lu Zhe,¡± Su Ci turned her head, her eyes meeting his gaze. She smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, ¡°Is the movie not as good-looking as me?¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Su Ci¡¯s delicate features filled with a hint of pride. She took a sip of her juice, feeling quite self-satisfied, ¡°I thought so too.¡±


    ¡°But don¡¯t keep looking at me, it¡¯s distracting,¡± Su Ci bit her straw, slightly annoyed.


    She knew she had no resistance against him, yet Lu Zhe kept staring at her like that. Was he trying to tempt her into doing something reckless?


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly. He took the drink from her hand and ced it on the table. His cold fingertips gently held her chin as he leaned closer, ¡°Tuantuan, can I kiss you?¡±


    Su Ci blinked, but before she could respond, his lips were already on hers.


    Cold, yet soft.


    He kissed her slowly, tracing her lips, nibbling gently, his movements still clumsy.


    Su Ci pulled back slightly, teasing him, ¡°Do you not know how to kiss?¡±


    Remembering something, she nodded, ¡°I almost forgot, your first kiss was just as clumsy as this.¡±


    Lu Zhe¡¯s eyes darkened. Men hated beingpared, even if it was to his future self.


    Hisrge hand cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer.


    This time, Lu Zhe kissed her more firmly. Su Ci had just sipped her juice, and her lips tasted sweet. Yet, he seemed tock finesse, eagerly tracing the outline of her lips.


    Su Ci¡¯s eyes sparkled with amusement as she slightly parted her lips.


    Finding his way, Lu Zhe¡¯s gaze deepened, the sweetness on his tongue overwhelming.

 Chapter 119

    The movie continued to y on therge screen, reaching an intense action scene with booming sound effects.


    Su Ci''s eyelids fluttered slightly, her breath almost stolen away.


    Her body leaned softly into Lu Zhe''s embrace, her head spinning.


    At first, the young man was clumsy, his lips bumping against hers, even making her teeth ache. But he was a quick learner, and in no time, he had found the right rhythm, teasing her tenderly, gently ying with her tongue.


    Su Ci could no longer hear the movie''s plot; all she could feel was her heart pounding uncontrobly.


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes gleamed as he heard her soft, helpless whimper. Only then did he pull back slightly.


    Using his thumb, he gently wiped away the moisture at the corner of her lips. Seeing her mouth flushed red and her dark eyes glistening with unshed tears, he couldn''t resist leaning in for another kiss.


    His voice was low and husky, "Do you like it when I kiss you like this?"


    Su Ci''s eyes were moist, shining as she looked at him. "I do."


    Though Lu Zhe was still a bit inexperienced, she loved his kisses. However, she noticed that no matter what version of Lu Zhe it was, he always had a small habit when kissing her.


    Just before pulling away, he would always give her lips a gentle, lingering bite before slowly retreating.


    Su Ci had no idea what was happening on the screen anymore. She leaned weakly against the back of the sofa,zily instructing Lu Zhe to feed her some fruit.


    Lu Zhe fed her a small piece of peach, his heart swelling with joy as he watched her rxed demeanor. Unable to hold back, he leaned in to kiss her again.


    Half of the peach in her mouth was stolen by him, and Su Ci''s eyes widened in surprise.


    She loved the cool,posed Lu Zhe, but she also adored this mischievous side of him.


    After the movie ended, Su Ci pushed the wheelchair in front of Lu Zhe. Using his arms to support himself, Lu Zhe shifted back into the wheelchair.


    Su Ci wheeled Lu Zhe out of the private screening room. It was almost noon now, and she nned to take him out for lunch. As they passed a boutique, she noticed a disy of animal ear headbands at the entrance. Among them, a fluffy white rabbit ear headband caught her eye immediately.


    "What''s wrong?" Lu Zhe turned his head when he felt Su Ci stop behind him. He saw her staring intently at the shop.


    "Lu Zhe, I want to buy something," Su Ci said, pushing him toward the boutique. She picked up the rabbit ear headband.


    Lu Zhe looked puzzled. "You like this?"


    "Not for me, for you," Su Ci replied, unable to suppress a smile.


    A shadow crossed Lu Zhe''s eyes. He knew she was referring to a version of him from another life, not the one sitting before her now.


    For lunch, Su Ci chose a traditional Chinese restaurant.


    The private room was elegantly decorated, with a folding screen adding both style and privacy.


    After the waiter left with their order, Su Ci moved her chair closer to Lu Zhe. "Are you tired? We can head back after we eat."


    "Not tired," Lu Zhe replied. He picked up a damp towel and took Su Ci''s hand, gently wiping it clean.


    Her hands were beautiful¡ªslender, pale, and delicate. She didn''t like nail polish, so her fingertips were a soft, natural pink.


    Lu Zhe lowered his head, his focus so intense it seemed as though he were polishing a piece of precious jade rather than simply cleaning her hand.


    Once her fingers were spotless, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly.


    Su Ci couldn''t help but smile. No matter which Lu Zhe it was, he always loved cleaning her hands and kissing her fingertips without hesitation.


    The dishes they ordered were all Su Ci''s favorites.


    Concerned about Lu Zhe''s health, she yed the role of a caring angel. "Tell me what you want to eat, and I''ll serve you."


    "This is enough," Lu Zhe said, looking at the bowl of fish she had prepared for him. She had even carefully removed all the bones.


    "Then have some soup," Su Ci said,dling a bowl of soup and cing it beside him. "Should I feed you?"


    Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.


    "No, I can manage," Lu Zhe replied.


    Su Ci pouted slightly. "You always feed me, but I''ve never had the chance to feed you."


    Lu Zhe pinched her cheek lightly. "I''m not a child. I can still use my hands."


    "Then why do you always like feeding me?" Su Ci huffed. Lu Zhe loved holding her and feeding her meals.


    The person she was referring to wasn''t him. He had never fed her before. But he could imagine how much joy it must have brought the other version of himself.


    A surge of jealousy welled up inside him.


    Lu Zhe picked up the bowl, but in the next moment, it slipped from his hands. The soup spilled all over him, and the bowl shattered on the floor.


    "Lu Zhe!" Su Ci sprang up, grabbing tissues to wipe him down. "Are you burned?"


    Lu Zhe''s white shirt was now stained with oily soup.


    "Don''t worry, the soup was warm, not hot," Lu Zhe said, trying to reassure her. But his hands trembled uncontrobly, and he felt a wave of weakness.


    A shadow passed over Lu Zhe''s eyes, and his lips pressed into a tight line.


    Su Ci noticed too. She quickly sped his hand, intertwining their fingers.


    Her eyes stung, and the corners turned red. She forced a faint smile. "See? You should have let me feed you."


    Lu Zhe tapped her nose lightly. "You''re right."


    Su Ci let go of his hand and hurried to the door, instructing the bodyguard outside to buy a new set of clothes.


    After closing the door, she returned to Lu Zhe''s side and began unbuttoning his shirt. "Let''s get you out of these clothes. I''ve locked the door." She was grateful for the folding screen, which blocked the room''s security camera.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Su Ci, I can¡ª"


    "Why are you being shy?" Su Ci cut him off, ring at him. "Let me help you."


    Lu Zhe nodded softly. "Okay."


    Su Ci wasn''t used to taking care of someone like this. Her fingers fumbled slightly as she worked on the buttons. Her slender, pale fingers moved slowly, one button at a time. Lu Zhe''s gaze lingered on her focused face, his Adam''s apple bobbing slightly.


    He felt a pang of guilt. She was worried about him, yet he couldn''t help the desire stirring within him.


    Once the buttons were undone, Su Ci noticed how thin Lu Zhe''s body was. Her lips tightened, and she reached to help him remove his pants.


    "Su Ci," Lu Zhe stopped her hand. "I''ll handle this. Go wait behind the screen."


    "I''ve seen every part of you before. There''s no need to be shy," Su Ci insisted. During their intimate moments, Lu Zhe had often guided her hand to explore his body. She was no stranger to him.


    Under her clear, innocent gaze, Lu Zhe felt utterly embarrassed. "Su Ci, please. It''s not something you should see."


    Reluctantly, Su Ciplied and walked behind the screen.


    Only when she was out of sight did Lu Zhe, with trembling hands, remove his soiled pants.


    His gaze fell on his legs, unable to move, and a deep gloom settled in his eyes. His atrophied muscles made his legs look unsightly, and he couldn''t bear the thought of Su Ci seeing him like this.


    After a while, there was a knock on the door. The bodyguard had returned with the new clothes.


    Su Ci took the clothes and locked the door again. "If you won''t let me see, does that mean I can''te over?"


    "Right."


    "Then how am I supposed to give you the clothes?"


    "Pass them to me from behind the screen," Lu Zhe instructed.


    Su Ci was annoyed. He was really guarding himself tightly against her.


    "My arms aren''t that long," she teased. "Should I close my eyes and walk over to you?"


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond.


    Su Ci squinted her eyes, pretending to keep them shut as she walked toward him. Just as she was about to reach him, she let out a yful "oops" and pretended to stumble, falling into his arms.


    "I slipped," Su Ci said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.


    Lu Zhe held her waist, tempted to pinch her cheek. How could she be such a little troublemaker?


    "Here are your clothes. Do you want me to help you put them on?" Su Ci quickly got up, not wanting to put too much pressure on Lu Zhe. Her gaze fell on his legs, and she froze for a moment.


    Lu Zhe sighed, his expression pained. "Su Ci, it''s ugly. Don''t look."


    Su Ci sniffled, then leaned down to kiss his lips. "My Lu Zhe is perfect in every way."


    Her hand touched his thigh, feeling how thin it was, the once firm muscles now gone. "It''s not ugly at all."


    Lu Zhe''s jaw tightened, and his hands gripping the armrests clenched as well. "Tuantuan."


    "Lu Zhe, I like you¡ªnot just your appearance, but the whole of you. No matter how your looks change, I¡¯ll always like you," she said through gritted teeth, ring at him. "Do you really think I¡¯m that shallow?"


    Lu Zhe sighed. "No."


    He just wished that in her memory, he would remain a tall, youthful figure, not someone withered and disfigured by illness.


    "Will you still help me get dressed?"


    Su Ci quickly replied, "Of course."


    ...


    That night, after dinner, Wen Ya called Su Ci over to chat.


    "How did you and Xiao Zhe meet?" Wen Ya was very interested in her son¡¯s rtionship with Su Ci, or rather, she hoped to hear some stories about her son¡¯s past from Su Ci.


    "Lu Zhe saved me, took me in, and that¡¯s how we met," Su Ci recalled. When she had first transmigrated into a rabbit, it was Lu Zhe who had found her and taken her home, sparing her any hardship.


    She felt grateful that it was him she had met.


    Wen Ya was a little surprised. She hadn¡¯t expected her son and Su Ci to have met in such a way.


    "At first, Lu Zhe was very cold and often ignored me. I thought he didn¡¯t like me," Su Ci reminisced. "But I¡¯m thick-skinned, and he couldn¡¯t oust me. I often annoyed him to the point where he was helpless."


    Thinking about how she had managed to make someone asposed and reserved as Lu Zhe fall for her, Su Ci felt rather proud of herself.


    Wen Ya listened quietly, asionally chuckling at the girl¡¯s words.


    After a while, Wen Ya took Su Ci¡¯s hand and slipped a blood-red jade bracelet onto her wrist. "This was passed down by Xiao Zhe¡¯s grandmother. Now, I¡¯m giving it to you."


    "Auntie Wen Ya, this is too precious," Su Ci tried to refuse.


    "Wear it, and don¡¯t take it off," Wen Ya said, her eyes glistening. "No matter how far you and Xiao Zhe go, or whether you stay together in the end, I¡¯m grateful to you."


    Wen Ya was thankful that Su Ci hadn¡¯t left Lu Zhe despite his illness.


    She was grateful because, thanks to Su Ci, Lu Zhe had smiled more in the past two days than he had in the entire past year.


    Normally, Lu Zhe seemed like a person devoid of vitality, calmly waiting for his life to end. But now, with Su Ci by his side, it was as if he hade back to life.


    "Auntie Wen Ya, I¡¯m afraid I might not be able to stay with Lu Zhe until the end," Su Ci said, biting her lip. There was always the possibility that she might disappear at any moment.


    "It¡¯s okay, don¡¯t feel burdened," Wen Ya said understandingly. A young girl like Su Ci still had many choices ahead in life. Even if she were to leave or break up with her son, Wen Ya wouldn¡¯t me her.


    After chatting with Wen Ya, Su Ci returned to her room.


    She pushed open the door and saw the young man sitting in a wheelchair in the middle of the room. Her heart ached as she worried that she might disappear again without having the chance to say goodbye to Lu Zhe.


    With this thought in mind, she walked over to him. He had just taken a bath and was wearing afortable white casual shirt. His damp hair made his features even more striking, and with his slightly sickly appearance, Lu Zhe looked like a delicate, beautiful figure.


    "Finished talking with my mom?" Lu Zhe asked.


    "Yes," Su Ci replied, walking to the bedside. She held out her hand to show him. "Your mom gave me this precious jade bracelet."


    The girl¡¯s fair skin contrasted beautifully with the blood-red bracelet, making her wrist appear even more porcin-like.


    "If she gave it to you, then it¡¯s yours. Keep it on," Lu Zhe said.


    Su Ci fiddled with the bracelet on her wrist. "Lu Zhe, are you afraid I¡¯ll suddenly disappear?"


    Lu Zhe looked up, his dark eyes shadowed. "Yes."


    "Then let¡¯s make the most of every moment from now on, so that if I do disappear, we won¡¯t have any regrets likest time."


    "Tuantuan," Lu Zhe couldn¡¯t bear to hear her talk about disappearing.


    Su Ci leaned in and kissed him gently to reassure him. "Okay, I won¡¯t say it again."


    Then, Lu Zhe watched as the girl picked up a small bag and walked into the bathroom.


    After a while, the door opened.


    Su Ci stepped out, still wearing the white dress from earlier. Lu Zhe¡¯s gaze fell on her head, where she now wore a pair of rabbit ears she had bought at a boutique earlier that day.


    Su Ci walked up to Lu Zhe and crouched down beside him, lowering her head. "Even though these rabbit ears aren¡¯t real, you can still touch them."


    After transmigrating, she couldn¡¯t summon her real rabbit ears¡ªthey seemed to have vanished. Now, she could only wear these fake ones to tease Lu Zhe.


    The girl kneeling by his legs looked incredibly beautiful. Her dark, sparkling eyes paired with the fluffy white rabbit ears made her look like a real rabbit spirit.


    Lu Zhe reached out and slowly touched the rabbit ears.


    They were soft and fuzzy, and his gaze deepened.


    It turned out that not only the future version of him liked touching rabbit ears¡ªhe did too.

 Chapter 120

    "Do you like my bunny ears?" Su Ciy on Lu Zhe''sp, lifting her gaze to look at him with sparkling eyes.


    "Mm," Lu Zhe responded, ying with the bunny ears on her head for a moment before taking her hand and signaling for her to sit on hisp. "Do you want to go see the moon?"


    Su Ci nodded. With him, anything was fine.


    Lu Zhe didn''t let her go. He maneuvered his wheelchair out of the room, holding her in his arms.


    A caregiver stepped out into the hallway, intending to find Lu Zhe for his massage. The next moment, she saw Lu Zhe emerge from the room, his girlfriend cradled in his arms. The girl''s white dress draped over his legs, and her white bunny ears made her look adorable yet alluring.


    The caregiver froze in ce, her expression nk. She had never seen Lu Zhe, who was usually cold and reserved, look so tender and gentle as he smiled at the girl.


    The elevator ascended to the rooftop.


    The Lu family''s rooftop featured a sky garden, built by Lu Chen specifically for his wife, Wen Ya. It included a greenhouse filled with flowers and a variety of beautiful blooms nted around. It was summer, and with dedicated staff tending to the garden, the flowers were in full bloom, filling the air with a delicate fragrance.


    Su Ci worried that sitting on Lu Zhe for too long might strain him, so she slipped off hisp.


    "There''s a pavilion here too?" Su Ci eximed with delight.


    In the center of the rooftop stood a pavilion, its sides draped with white gauze curtains and adorned with strings of warm yellow fairy lights, giving it an ethereal charm.


    Lu Zhe watched as the girl lifted the gauze curtains. "We can lie down here and watch the stars," he said.


    Su Ci noticed the pavilion had no roof, and in the middle was arge circr daybed.


    She turned back to Lu Zhe. "I''ll lie down with you."


    The daybed was soft, sinking like a cloud of cotton as theyy down.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhey side by side, gazing at the dark night sky. There was only a crescent moon and a few faint stars¡ªnothing particrly romantic.


    Su Ci turned onto her side, facing Lu Zhe. She blinked and asked, "Is the moon beautiful?"


    Lu Zhe looked at the sky and replied softly, "Mm."


    Su Ci reached out, cupping his face to turn it toward her. "Don''t look at the moon. Look at me."


    The girl was shameless. "After all, no matter how beautiful the moon is, it''s not as beautiful as me."


    Their eyes met, and Lu Zhe chuckled softly. How could someone be so confidently charming?


    Su Ci shifted closer to Lu Zhe, almost pressing against him. She found looking at him far more romantic than the moon. "Lu Zhe, do you want to kiss me?" she asked bluntly.


    Lu Zhe smirked. "No."


    Su Ci had been ready to lean in for a kiss if he said yes, but his response made her widen her eyes in surprise.


    Fine, no kiss then.


    She huffed lightly and started to turn back.


    But in the next moment, Lu Zhe''s cool fingers gently lifted her chin, preventing her from turning away. His voice was low and husky. "Tuantuan, I don''t just want to kiss you."


    Su Ci froze for a moment, then blushed as she understood his meaning.


    The weather had turned cold, and City B was already nketed in snow.


    Lu Zhe''s condition was worsening. His hands grew weaker, his movements slower, and he struggled to lift heavy objects. Sometimes, even holding a cup of water became difficult, and swallowing food was increasingly challenging.


    Su Ci had saved many people in her life, but she couldn''t save Lu Zhe from his fate in this lifetime.


    Every day, whether it was morning or night, Su Ci stayed by Lu Zhe''s side.


    She learned massage techniques from the caregiver to help ease his difort and mastered the proper way to feed him.


    Despite watching the once vibrant boy grow thinner and frailer, Su Ci never let her worry or sorrow show in front of him.


    In the mornings, she would apany Lu Zhe to watch the snow in the courtyard. After lunch, they would nap together.


    In the afternoons, she would select books he enjoyed and read them aloud to him as they sat on the daybed. When she finished, she would yfully ask for a hug or a kiss, clinging to him like a spoiled child.


    In the evenings, after massaging him, they would pick a movie to watch together. When funny scenes came up, she wouldugh so hard she''d copse into his arms.


    Late at night, Su Ci broke her habit of sleeping deeply. After Lu Zhe fell asleep, she would quietly trace the contours of his brow, nose, and lips, only falling asleep when exhaustion overtook her.


    She feared that when she woke up the next day, he might be gone.


    The day before Christmas was Lu Zhe''s birthday, and the Lu family nned a grand celebration.


    The scene was eerily reminiscent of the day in the next life when the Lu family had announced Lu Zhe''s identity to the world.


    Su Ci leaned down to adjust Lu Zhe''s cor, then kissed his lips. "You look so handsome today. I''ll have to keep a close eye on you tonight. If someone else tries to steal you away, I''ll cry myself to death," she teased.


    Seated in his wheelchair, Lu Zhe''s face was gaunt and hollow. Dressed in a ck suit that hung loosely on his thin frame, he bore little resemnce to the tall, strong, and dashing young man he once was.


    Lu Zhe knew she was teasing him. He managed a faint smile, fully aware of how he looked now¡ªlike a withered branch, barely holding on.


    In contrast, Su Ci was radiant, like a meticulously cared-for flower, full of life and beauty.


    Su Ci leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "Do you know what I gave you as a gift in the next life, at your birthday party?"


    Lu Zhe struggled to form the words, his speech slightly slurred. "No."


    "It was me," Su Ci said softly, kissing his ear. "I gave myself to you. This time, do you still want me?"


    Lu Zhe thought of his counterpart in the next life. He no longer felt jealous; instead, he felt a sense of relief. If he were gone, she would still have the next version of him to love and cherish her.


    Lu Zhe didn''t respond, but his gaze was tender.


    Su Ci chuckled softly in his ear. "I''ll wait for you to get better."


    The birthday party was held at the Lu residence, attended by socialites and dignitaries. Many had heard that the Lu family''s long-lost son had been found, but that he was terminally ill.


    Among the guests were many young women, some with ulterior motives. They thought that marrying Lu Zhe, even if he was ill, would secure them a ce in the powerful Lu family, especially if they bore his child.


    Some even brought nieces or cousins, unwilling to sacrifice their own daughters but happy to offer a substitute from their extended family.


    The guests'' thoughts were interrupted when Lu Chen and Wen Ya made their entrance, prompting a flurry of eager conversations.


    Su Ci pushed Lu Zhe out of the elevator.


    Their appearance immediately drew everyone''s attention.


    Seeing Lu Chen and Wen Ya approach the wheelchair with concern, it was clear that this was the rumored terminally ill Lu heir.


    The young women who had entertained thoughts of marrying Lu Zhe quickly dismissed the idea. The reality was far from their imagination¡ªmarrying someone on the brink of death required a level of emotional fortitude they weren''t prepared for.


    Most of the guests'' eyes, however, were drawn to the girl pushing the wheelchair. She was stunning, dressed in a white evening gown, her bright eyes and delicate features captivating everyone in the room.


    When Wen Ya introduced Su Ci as Lu Zhe''s girlfriend, many looked at her with pity.


    A vibrant, beautiful young woman paired with a dying man¡ªmany assumed the Lu family had somehow coerced her into this role.


    With Su Ci by his side, those who had entertained thoughts of marrying Lu Zhe abandoned their ns. After all, where could they find someone more beautiful than her to marry him?


    Su Ci paid no attention to the guests'' gazes. She stayed close to Lu Zhe throughout the evening.


    "Lu Zhe, are you thirsty?" Su Ci leaned down and asked softly.


    Lu Zhe shook his head.


    His lips were dry and pale. Su Ci instructed a servant to bring a ss of warm water.


    Having spent so much time with Lu Zhe, Su Ci knew he avoided drinking too much water because it made trips to the bathroom difficult.


    When the servant returned with the water and a straw, Su Ci expertly ced the straw to his lips. "Just take a few sips. It''s fine," she reassured him.


    Lu Zhe nced at her and nodded gently.


    Lu Zhe swallowed slowly, even as water spilled from the corner of his mouth.


    The guests watched in stunned silence as the dazzlingly beautiful girl, with a gentle expression and endless patience, wiped the water from Lu Zhe''s lips with a tissue.


    When it came time to cut the cake, the girl held Lu Zhe''s hand, guiding him through the motion. Everyone saw her lean down, whispering something into his ear.


    No one heard what Su Ci murmured to Lu Zhe: "Lu Zhe, happy birthday."


    After cutting the cake, Su Ci wheeled Lu Zhe away, taking him to the rooftop.


    Snow had nketed the rooftop in white, with only the flowers in the greenhouse still in full bloom.


    Su Ci spread a small nket over Lu Zhe''s legs and crouched beside him, watching the snowkes fall together.


    "Lu Zhe, I''m so beautiful. I must look even more stunning in a wedding dress," Su Ci said, resting her head on hisp.


    Lu Zhe''s trembling hand gently stroked her hair. "Mm."


    Su Ci looked up at him. "Do you want to see?"


    "Mm."


    Su Ci stood up. "Wait for me."


    With that, the girl left.


    Snow swirled andnded on Lu Zhe''s legs, melting slowly as he waited calmly.


    After a while, he heard footsteps.


    "Lu Zhe."


    The girl was still in her white dress, but now she wore a veil draped over her hair. She held a bouquet of flowers as she walked toward him.


    Snowkes settled on her, making her look impossibly beautiful.


    Su Ci stopped in front of Lu Zhe, crouching down to ce the flowers in his hands. She hugged him tightly, whispering in his ear, "Lu Zhe, I love you."


    A faint smile tugged at Lu Zhe''s lips, and his cold, stiff body felt a heart beating wildly within.


    After the birthday party, Lu Zhe''s condition worsened, and Su Ci stayed by his side in the hospital.


    The two were inseparable. Without Lu Zhe needing to speak, a single nce was enough for Su Ci to understand him.


    After the harsh winter, early spring arrived, and the skies finally cleared.


    On this day, sunlight streamed through the window, filling the hospital room with warmth.


    Su Ci asked a nurse to help her lift Lu Zhe into his wheelchair.


    "Miss Su, Young Master Lu, he''s already..." the nurse began, but Su Ci interrupted her.


    "I''m taking him out to get some sun. You don''t need toe," Su Ci said.


    The nurse stood frozen, watching in shock as Su Ci wheeled Lu Zhe out.


    The hospital''s greenery was lush, with a small artificialke behind the inpatient building. The area was dotted with green grass and lined with benches.N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Su Ci pushed Lu Zhe to one of the benches and stopped.


    She held Lu Zhe''s hand, which was so thin that his veins stood out starkly, cold and lifeless, like dry twigs.


    She cupped his hand between hers, trying to warm it. "Lu Zhe, the weather is nice today. Let''s enjoy the sunshine."


    The boy, with his eyes closed, gave no response.


    Su Ci rested her head gently on his shoulder. "You used to worry that your illness wouldn''t get better, and that I''d regret choosing to be with you. But look, I stayed with you until the end. I don''t regret a thing."


    Still, there was no response from Lu Zhe.


    Su Ci turned her head and kissed him softly. "Lu Zhe, now that you''re gone, I think it''s time for me to leave too."


    She hugged him tightly, her body gradually bing transparent.


    In bed, Su Ci opened her eyes, disoriented. She recognized the room¡ªit was Lu Zhe''s.


    Suddenly remembering something, she threw off the covers and bolted out of bed. "Lu Zhe!"


    As she opened the door, she collided with a servant carrying a tray. Cups and a teapot crashed to the floor, shattering instantly.


    The servant panicked. "Miss Su, I''m so sorry!"


    "Where''s Lu Zhe?" Su Ci asked urgently.


    "The young master is in the study," the servant replied.


    Su Ci turned and ran.


    "Miss Su, your foot¡ª" the servant called out, noticing the blood trickling from Su Ci''s foot, cut by the broken porcin. But Su Ci seemed oblivious to the pain as she sprinted away.


    Having lived in the Lu household for so long in her previous life, Su Ci knew exactly where the study was.


    She reached the study door and quickly turned the handle.


    "Lu Zhe."


    Her eyes immediately fell on the figure slumped over the desk.


    "Lu Zhe!" Su Ci''s eyes welled up with tears.


    Lu Zhe stirred and looked up, his gaze meeting hers at the door.


    His eyes darkened as he reached out to her. "Tuan Tuan,e here."


    Su Ci rushed over and threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly.


    She buried her face in his chest, feeling his warmth. "Lu Zhe."


    "I''m here," he replied.


    "Lu Zhe," Su Ci murmured, nuzzling against his chest.


    Lu Zhe held her close. "Mm."


    "Lu Zhe," Su Ci''s voice trembled. "It hurts."


    Lu Zhe''s expression turned anxious. "What''s wrong? Where does it hurt?"


    He looked down and saw her bloodied foot, the white skin stained red.


    His face paled. "Tuan Tuan, your foot is bleeding."


    Su Ci looked up, her eyes red and tears streaming down her face.


    She hadn''t cried when she was caring for Lu Zhe, or when his condition worsened, or even when he passed away in front of her.


    But now, in Lu Zhe''s arms, Su Ci wept uncontrobly.


    "Is it very painful? Let me take you to the hospital," Lu Zhe said, his heart aching as he watched her cry.


    Su Ci''s face was wet with tears.


    He gently soothed her. "Tuan Tuan, don''t cry. Let me see the cut on your foot."


    Su Ci barely noticed her injury. Instead, she cupped Lu Zhe''s face in her hands, her tear-filled eyes scanning his features.


    This Lu Zhe was healthy, his face clear and handsome, hisplexion normal.


    "I just had a nightmare. Kiss me," Su Ci pleaded, desperate for hisfort.


    Lu Zhe held her by the waist and leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. His dark eyes swirled with indescribable emotion and longing.

 Chapter 121

    Lu Zhe kissed the girl a few times, tasting the tears that lingered at the corner of her lips.


    His warm fingertips gently wiped away the teardrops clinging to hershes. Lu Zhe was concerned about the injury on her foot. "Tuantuan, let''s take care of the wound on your foot first."


    Su Ci''s dark eyes shimmered with emotion as she stared at Lu Zhe. "I dreamed of you again."


    Lu Zhe''s gaze deepened. He kissed the top of her head, his voice low and husky. "What did Tuantuan dream about me?"


    Su Ci''s hands remained wrapped around Lu Zhe''s lean waist, refusing to let go. The dream had felt so real, the pain of losing him almost suffocating.


    As soon as she spoke, tears began to fall again.


    Su Ci''s heart ached. "I dreamed that your illness didn''t get better, that you left me."


    "No matter how much I tried to talk to you, you wouldn''t respond," Su Ci''s eyes were blurred with tears, her vision hazy.


    The next moment, Lu Zhe lowered his head, his voice soft and slightly hoarse. "It''s my fault."


    His thin lips pressed against her eyelids, gently kissing away the tears clinging to hershes. "I made you sad. Watching me die in front of you must have been unbearable."


    Lu Zhe''s eyes were filled with heartache. "Tuantuan, I''m fully recovered now. What happened in the past life won''t happen again."


    The girl''s tears continued to fall, burning his heart with their heat. He whispered soothingly, "Tuantuan, don''t be afraid. In this life, I''ll always be with you."


    Su Ci sniffled, her red-rimmed eyes staring at Lu Zhe in disbelief. Her mind struggled to process his words. Suddenly, her eyes widened. "How do you know about the past life?"


    Lu Zhe picked up a tissue from the desk and gently wiped away the tear stains on her face. "Whether it''s in the dream or in reality, Tuantuan, it''s always been me. I''ve always been by your side."


    Su Ci was genuinely shocked. "You dreamed about me too?"N?v(el)B\\jnn


    "Yes," Lu Zhe confessed. "The first time, I forgot the contents of the dream. It wasn''t until I woke up from this dream that I remembered everything."


    Su Ci''s expression was one of utter astonishment. She hadn''t expected Lu Zhe to have shared the same dream.


    "Why didn''t you recognize me at first?" she asked. In the beginning, the younger Lu Zhe had been so cold toward her.


    "I''m sorry," Lu Zhe kissed the tip of her reddened nose. "In the dream, I didn''t have memories of reality."


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been so foolish, constantly jealous of his real self.


    Curled up in Lu Zhe''s arms, Su Ci''s tears fell even more freely, as if the regrets from the dream were finally being filled.


    Whether in dreams or reality, it was always him.


    Lu Zhe fetched the first aid kit.


    He knelt beside Su Ci, hisrge hand gripping her ankle as he lifted her foot.


    The inside of her foot had been scraped. Her skin was pale and delicate, making even the smallest red mark stand out, let alone the scratch that had formed.


    Lu Zhe ced her foot on his knee, using a cotton swab dipped in antiseptic to clean the wound. He asked softly, "Tuantuan, how did you get hurt?"


    "I identally bumped into a servant and got scratched by a broken piece of porcin," Su Ci exined, her heart softening as she watched Lu Zhe crouch at her feet, meticulously tending to her injury.


    The sting of the antiseptic made her flinch, and Lu Zhe gently held her foot in ce.


    Her fair foot rested on his ck suit pants, the delicate ankle adorned with the jade rabbit charm he had given her, making her skin appear even more porcin-like.


    Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened, his voice low and husky. "Why aren''t you wearing shoes again?"


    "I was in a hurry to see you and forgot," she admitted. After waking up, all she could think about was seeing him. Shoes were thest thing on her mind.


    Lu Zhe held her foot, carefully applying a bandage to the wound. Then, using a damp cotton swab, he gently wiped away the blood around the injury. "Tuantuan, don''t be afraid. I''ll always be with you from now on."


    "Lu Zhe," Su Ci gazed intently at the man before her.


    Unlike the version of him in her dream, who had been gaunt and frail, this Lu Zhe was healthy and radiant, his face no longer hollow. The ache in her heart slowly began to ease.


    "Hmm?" Lu Zhe responded softly.


    "Let''s get married," Su Ci said. The wedding dress she had worn for him in the dream hadn''t been official. She wanted to wear a real wedding dress for him. "Before, I thought that as long as we were together, it didn''t matter whether we got married or when. But now, my feelings have changed. I want to be with you every moment, every day. I want our names to be together."


    The suffocating pain she had felt in the dream, the kind that made it hard to breathe, was something she never wanted to experience again.


    Lu Zhe''s grip on her foot tightened. He looked up at her, his throat dry. "Tuantuan, I should be the one saying these words to you."


    Su Ci didn''t care about that. "Will you agree?"


    A smile spread across Lu Zhe''s face, his dark eyes shining with joy. He knelt on one knee before her.


    Gently lifting her foot, he ced a sincere and tender kiss on the back of it. "I''ll agree to anything you ask."


    In the dream, his greatest regret had been not being able to marry her, not being able to stay by her side and grow old with her.


    In reality, he would spend his entire life protecting her.


    Lu Zhe and Su Ci were getting married, and both the Lu and Su families were overjoyed. Su Ci''s mother, Tong Xin, and Wen Ya were particrly enthusiastic, diving headfirst into selecting an auspicious date and nning the wedding.


    Su Ci''s investment fund had matured, and with professionals managing it, she no longer needed to worry about it. The wedding preparations were left to her mother, Wen Ya, and Lu Zhe. All she had to do was wait patiently for the big day.


    Su Ci had asked Fu Gui about the dream, as it had felt so real, almost as if she had traveled to Lu Zhe''s past life.


    However, Fu Gui, being a novice system, was clueless and only knew how to consume gold. It had no answers for her.


    Fu Gui''s small, trembling voice piped up, [Master, I asked my good friend, Tyrant, about it. He said that if you think it''s a dream, then it''s a dream. If you think it''s a journey to the past life, then it''s the past life. Everything follows its own logic.]


    Su Ci, lying in bed with a face mask on, almost rolled her eyes. "That''s as good as saying nothing, Fu Gui. Is your friend Tyrant as unreliable as you?"


    Fu Gui felt wronged, but thinking that its master was easier to serve than Tyrant''s master, it consoled itself. [Master, Fu Gui is reliable. Remember when I told you that saving enough gold cotton would bring a reward?]


    Su Cizily raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What reward?"


    Fu Gui couldn''t help but boast: [The reward is that your and Lu Zhe''s future child won''t suffer from ALS and will be very healthy.]


    Su Ci ripped off her face mask and sat up abruptly. "What did you say?"


    Fu Gui was startled, unsure whether its master was happy or not. It lowered its voice, speaking softly: [Your and Lu Zhe''s child will be healthy and won''t inherit Lu Zhe''s ALS.]


    Su Ci''s eyes suddenly filled with tears.


    This had been a concern for both her and Lu Zhe.


    Although Lu Zhe never said it out loud, she knew he felt guilty and afraid. That''s why he always took precautions when they were intimate, being extremely careful to protect her. Sometimes, when they ran out of condoms, he would rather endure the frustration than risk it.


    Fu Gui continued: [Master, this reward is the result of doing good deeds. Fu Gui has consumed a lot of gold, and there will also be a small reward for you.]


    But Su Ci was too overwhelmed by the news about their future child''s health to pay attention to Fu Gui''s mention of a small reward.


    The wedding date was set for autumn, when the weather was neither too hot nor too cold, with asional cool breezes that lifted the spirits.


    Two days before the wedding, Su Ci was invited out by Shen Xue and Wen Duoyu.


    Shen Xue handed Su Ci a gift bag. "This is your wedding gift."


    Su Ci took the gift. "What is it? Can I open it now?"


    Shen Xue winked. "You can open it, but it''s better not to take it out."


    Curious, Su Ci untied the ribbon and opened the bag. Inside was a red dress¡ªa red strapless dress, to be precise.


    "Your skin is fair, so red looks best on you," Shen Xue whispered. "If you wear this, Lu Zhe will definitely love it."


    Su Ci''s eyes curved with a hint of mischief. "I think he''d prefer me not wearing anything at all."


    Shen Xue:


    She thought to herself that it was fortunate Lu Zhe had taken in this shameless little enchantress, Su Ci. Otherwise, who knows how many young men and women would have fallen victim to her charms.


    Across from her, Wen Duoyu took out a delicately wrapped little box, also a wedding gift for Su Ci.


    Inside was a pair of small jade ornaments, carved into cartoon-like figures of Lu Zhe and Su Ci. The little boy and girl were ced side by side, utterly adorable.


    Su Ci couldn¡¯t help but adore them. ¡°I love them, Duoyu. Thank you for the gift.¡±


    Wen Duoyu smiled shyly, sincerely wishing Su Ci and Lu Zhe a lifetime of happiness.


    The night before the wedding, Su Ciy in bed, unable to sleep. Tomorrow, she would marry Lu Zhe. She had thought she wouldn¡¯t be nervous.


    She opened her eyes, staring nkly at the ceiling, idly counting the beats of her own heart.


    One.


    Two.


    Ten.


    No, she missed Lu Zhe so much.


    Su Ci couldn¡¯t resist calling him.


    The phone rang only three times before it was instantly answered.


    The girl¡¯s sweet voice was especially clear and melodious in the quiet of the night, soft and filled with longing. ¡°Lu Zhe, I miss you so much.¡±


    On the other end of the line, Lu Zhe tightened his grip on the phone. ¡°Tuantuan,e downstairs. I¡¯m at your door.¡±


    Su Ci¡¯s eyes lit up.


    Then, Lu Zhe heard the sound of the girl¡¯s slippers hitting the floor, the rhythm quickening.


    ¡°Tuantuan, don¡¯t run,¡± Lu Zhe cautioned her.


    Su Ci¡¯s heart raced along with her steps.


    Late at night, the Su household was asleep, except for the security guard who was still awake. He watched in surprise as the youngdy of the house came running from the distance, ordering him to open the gate.


    After opening the gate, he saw the youngdy sprint out, her white nightgown fluttering in the air as she rushed toward a shadow beneath a tree.


    It was too dark, and the streetlight couldn¡¯t illuminate the scene beneath the tree. The guard didn¡¯t look too closely, nor did he dare to interfere with the youngdy¡¯s affairs.


    Beneath the tree, Lu Zhe stood tall and slender, dressed in a ck shirt that seemed to blend into the night.


    Hearing the sound of footsteps, he looked up to see the girl in her nightgown running toward him.


    In the next moment, Lu Zhe caught her, pulling her tightly into his arms. ¡°Tuantuan.¡±


    Su Ci¡¯s small hands wrapped around Lu Zhe¡¯s waist, her heart racing like a little rabbit that refused to calm down.


    She leaned softly against his chest, her words direct and heartfelt. ¡°Lu Zhe, I missed you so much.¡±


    The coolness in Lu Zhe¡¯s expression melted away, and the corners of his lips curved into a smile. ¡°Me too.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a little nervous. I can¡¯t sleep. Tomorrow, you¡¯re marrying me¡­ will you regret it?¡± Su Ci asked uncertainly.


    Lu Zhe gently smoothed the girl¡¯s disheveled hair, then pinched her cheek lightly. ¡°How could I ever regret it?¡±


    In his dreams, he had waited for what felt like a lifetime¡ªa dream he could never attain. In reality, he had waited four years.

 Chapter 122

    The wedding of Su Ci and Lu Zhe was held at a vi owned by the Lu family, and the grandeur of the event shocked the entire city of B.


    Rumors spread that the number of luxury cars at the wedding could encircle half of the city, and that Su Ci''s wedding dress took a full four months to create, with her diamond ring valued at nine figures.


    Since photos from the wedding day were strictly forbidden from being leaked, the public never got to see how stunning Su Ci looked in her wedding dress, outshining even the most beautiful princesses from fairy tales.


    But only Su Ci knew that on that day, Lu Zhe lost control for the first time.


    That day in the dressing room, Su Ci had already changed into her wedding dress and finished her makeup. Worried that she might be hungry, Lu Zhe brought her some snacks.


    The three makeup artists tactfully stepped aside, not wanting to intrude.


    Once the door closed, Lu Zhe''s dark eyes were filled with awe as he looked at the girl before him.


    Su Ci noticed it immediately. In the past, Lu Zhe had always seemed indifferent to her beauty, as if he were blind to it. But now, seeing the admiration in his eyes, she couldn''t help but feel a little smug.


    "Am I beautiful?" Su Ci asked, her white wedding train trailing behind her as she slowly walked toward him.


    How could she not be?


    Lu Zhe stood frozen in ce, watching the girl approach. Her makeup entuated her wless features¡ªbright eyes, pearly teeth, and a radiant beauty that made her look like a princess stepping out of a castle.


    The pampered little princess threw herself into his arms, her hands wrapping around his neck as her sparkling eyes gazed at him. "Am I beautiful?"


    "Yes, beautiful," Lu Zhe replied, his eyes never leaving her,pletely captivated.


    Su Ci was wearing high heels, so she didn''t need to stand on her tiptoes. She simply tilted her chin up and easily reached his lips. "Theces on the back of my dress are a bit tight. Can you adjust them for me?"


    With that, Su Ci let go of him and turned around, instructing Lu Zhe to loosen theces on the back of her wedding dress.


    Lu Zhe put down the te of snacks he was holding and stepped closer.


    Arge expanse of her back was exposed, her skin fair and delicate. Lu Zhe''s eyes darkened as he leaned in, his long fingers loosening the bow of thece.


    Even more of her back was revealed.


    Su Ci could feel Lu Zhe''s presence as soon as he approached.


    The next moment, as theces were loosened, Su Ci instinctively covered her chest, feeling the warmth of his hand on her back.


    Ever since Lu Zhe''s ALS had improved, she noticed that his hands were no longer cold.


    Then, a soft kissnded on her back, startling Su Ci. She turned her head. "Lu Zhe?"


    The man''s eyes were dark and intense as he tilted her chin and kissed her.


    Su Ci blinked, her head tilted to the side as she was forced to ept his kiss. He was kissing her so fiercely.


    The position was ufortable, and Su Ci let out a small whimper of dissatisfaction. In the next moment, she was turned around and pressed against the dressing table. Before she could say anything, her lips were captured again.


    In the past, Lu Zhe''s kisses had always been gentle and tender. But at some point, he had changed¡ªhis kisses became sharp and aggressive, leaving Su Ci with no way to resist. Her tongue tried to retreat, but he caught it every time.


    She looked into Lu Zhe''s eyes and saw a deep, swirling darkness, as if something turbulent was brewing within him.


    Su Ci held onto the front of her dress with one hand to keep it from slipping, her tongue numb and tears welling up in her dark eyes. The small tear mole at the corner of her eye looked irresistibly adorable.


    Meanwhile, Lu Zhe''srge hand rested on the small of her back, his warm fingertips gently caressing her, sending shivers through her body. Su Ci felt her legs weaken, barely able to support herself as she leaned against the dressing table.


    Only when Lu Zhe saw the blush on Su Ci''s face, impossible to hide even under her makeup, did he finally pull back slightly.


    "My lipstick," Su Ci said, her breathing uneven as she shot him a reproachful look. "You''ve ruined it."


    Her lips were still rosy and glossy, beautiful even without lipstick.


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly and kissed her lips again. "Still beautiful."


    Su Ci red at him.


    "Shall I help you reapply it?" Lu Zhe wiped away the moisture at the corner of her lips with his finger, his deep voice slightly hoarse and incredibly soothing.


    Su Ci''s eyes lit up, and she handed him the lipstick from the dressing table. "Don''t make my lips look ugly."


    Lu Zhe''s dark eyes were filled with amusement. "Okay."


    He bent down, her lips slightly pouted, red and glistening, slightly swollen from his earlier kisses, looking utterly captivating.


    Lu Zhe twisted open the lipstick and began to apply it to her lips, adding a freshyer of color to the already vibrant petals.


    But then, he stopped. Su Ci was about to urge him to continue when, in the next moment, Lu Zhe tossed the lipstick aside. His handsome face loomed closer, and her lips were captured once more.


    Su Ci leaned weakly against Lu Zhe''s chest, feeling the tension in his body.


    He kissed her over and over again, until her mouth was filled with his cool, refreshing scent. Her eyes were red at the corners, her dark pupils glistening with unshed tears, her beauty breathtaking.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Shen Xue, Su Ci''s bridesmaid, arrived shortly after Lu Zhe left. Seeing Su Ci sitting in the chair, her cheeks flushed and her eyes seductive, Shen Xue was almost spellbound.


    Heavens, Su Ci must be a siren in disguise. Even as a woman, Shen Xue felt her soul being drawn in.


    At the wedding, everyone marveled at Su Ci and Lu Zhe. It was impossible to imagine anyone else who could be a better match for them.


    In the seats, Su''s Mother and Wen Ya couldn''t hold back their tears.


    Su''s Mother was reluctant to part with her cherished daughter, knowing she was now in the hands of another man. But at the same time, she feltforted knowing that Lu Zhe would love and pamper her daughter even more than she ever could.


    Her daughter would be spoiled by Lu Zhe for the rest of her life.


    Beside her, Wen Ya was also wiping away tears. No one knew how devastating it had been when she first found her son, only to learn that he had ALS.


    Her heart ached for him. Her son had suffered so much since childhood, and this illness meant he would endure even more pain before his eventual death. It felt as if the heavens had been too harsh on him.


    But now, seeing her son standing tall, healthy, and handsome, with a smile on his face, Wen Ya''s tears flowed even more freely.


    She knew that her son would finally be happy.


    That night, after the wedding festivities ended, Su Ci was taken by Lu Zhe to their new home.


    The vi was not far from either the Su or Lu family residences. After learning that his condition had a chance of improving, Lu Zhe had bought the property and began renovating it.


    The house was decorated in a warm and elegant style, with every detail carefully designed to suit Su Ci''s preferences.


    As the car pulled into the vi, Lu Zhe carried Su Ci out.


    The long train of her wedding dress trailed behind her as Lu Zhe strode inside.


    After a long and tiring day, Su Ci feltpletely exhausted. As soon as Lu Zhe ced her on the bed, shey down.


    Lu Zhe turned and brought her a ss of red wine. "Tuantuan, are you thirsty?"


    Su Ci murmured softly, "Yes, feed me." She was toozy to even lift a finger.


    Lu Zhe walked over to her, took a sip of the wine, and then leaned over her, feeding it to her with his lips.


    The wine spilled from the corner of Su Ci''s mouth before she could swallow it. Just as she reached up to wipe it away, Lu Zhe''s lips chased after it, kissing away every drop.


    "Do you want more?" Lu Zhe asked in a low, husky voice, his dark eyes fixed on the delicate girl beneath him.


    Su Ci licked her lips, tasting the sweet wine. "Yes!"


    Lu Zhe fed her the entire ss of wine before setting it aside.


    When he turned back, he saw Su Ci sitting up on the bed. She was still wearing her white wedding dress, her cheeks flushed, and a pair of rabbit ears had popped out on her head.


    She shook her head, and the pink-and-white rabbit ears swayed adorably.


    Lu Zhe''s throat tightened as he approached her. "Why did your rabbit earse out?"


    "Did they?" Su Ci''s eyes were glistening with moisture as she reached up to touch the soft ears on her head. "I didn''t notice."


    She tried to retract the ears, but in the next moment, Lu Zhe''s hand was already there, pinching the tip of her ear. "Tuantuan."


    "Yes?" Su Ci''s body softened, and she responded obediently.


    "Do you like it when I touch your ears?"


    Every time Lu Zhe stroked her rabbit ears, his touch was gentle and soothing. But her ears were too sensitive, and the tingling sensations made her both love and dread it.


    Lu Zhe kissed the tip of her ear and asked softly, "Do you like it?"


    Su Ci widened her eyes, the glimmering tears swirling within them. She looked at Lu Zhe, feeling as though his eyes were filled with depths she couldn¡¯t quite understand. Still, she answered honestly, "I like it."


    Having her bunny ears gently held by Lu Zhe felt incredibly soothing.


    The long wedding dress slipped to the floor, and after a while, a ck suit jacket fell atop the white gown. The lights in the room dimmed.


    The weather was lovely that day, with asional cool breezes at night. The moon shyly hid behind the clouds, only revealing half its face.


    Inside, the warm, soft yellow light cast the man¡¯s shadow onto the wall. His tall, strong frame bent down again and again, moving rhythmically. The girl, delicate and sensitive, began to cry, her bunny ears drooping weakly.


    Late at night.


    Lu Zhe wasn¡¯t asleep. After tucking the girl in, he got up, picked up the wedding dress from the floor, and walked to the bathroom.


    When he had been feeding her wine earlier, some of the red wine had dripped onto her dress before she could swallow.


    Su Ci had said that she would only wear a wedding dress once in her life, and this one had to be carefully preserved.


    Remembering her words, Lu Zhe brought the dress to the sink and began meticulously cleaning the wine-stained area.


    He had lost control today¡ªwhether in the dressing room or the bedroom, Su Ci had been thoroughly overwhelmed.


    He had imagined countless times what she would look like in a wedding dress. Even in his dreams, he had seen her wearing a veil, but he was still utterly captivated.


    Just seeing her in the wedding dress, smiling at him, was enough to make him lose all restraint.


    This was the dream he had longed for.


    Once the wine stain was gone, Lu Zhe hung the dress up to dry.


    Watching the pure white gown sway gently in the air, his eyes filled with warmth and joy.


    As he walked back into the room, he heard the girl mumble his name in her sleep.


    Lu Zhe strode over and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Tuantuan, I''m here."


    He would always be there for her.

 Chapter 123

    The next day, the sky brightened, and a gentle breeze lifted the white curtains, allowing sunlight to sneak into the room.


    Lu Zhe was already awake, his gaze clear as he looked down at the girl in his arms. Her eyes were tightly shut, and she was still deeply asleep.


    Perhaps feeling too warm, the girl had her hands and feet outside the nket, her little face flushed pink from the heat.


    Lu Zhe''s usually cold and aloof expression softened remarkably. "Tuantuan," he called, wanting to wake her up.


    Su Ci didn''t respond at all.


    Lu Zhe, knowing her habit of sleeping in, gently released her and got up to prepare their luggage.


    After some time, Su Ci was startled awake when Lu Zhe picked her up.


    Herrge, drowsy eyes blinked a few times before shezily murmured, "Good morning."


    Lu Zhe carried her to the bathroom, nting a kiss on her lips. "I''ve already packed our luggage. Once you''re done freshening up, we can head out."


    Su Ci was ced on the bathroom counter, where a cup of water and a toothbrush with toothpaste already prepared awaited her. Lu Zhe, as always, was incredibly thoughtful.


    As her consciousness returned, Su Ci recalled everything from the previous day¡ªshe and Lu Zhe had gotten married, and they had spent a wild night together. No wonder her legs still felt weak.


    She turned to look at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a white nightgown with a slightly low neckline, and the red marks on her neck and corbone were unmistakable.


    Su Ci turned to re at Lu Zhe, her eyes filled with reproach. The once reserved and cold young man seemed to have disappeared; the Lu Zhe before her now was insatiable.


    Her feet dangling in the air, she yfully nudged his ck pants with her toes, using him, "How am I supposed to go out like this?"


    Lu Zhe caught her mischievous foot, his gaze lingering on the red marks on her fair neck. Her skin was so pale that the marks stood out vividly.


    A smile crept into his eyes. "Don''t worry, there won''t be many people where we''re going."


    ...


    Lu Zhe took Su Ci to a small ind owned by the Lu Family for their honeymoon.


    The ind was surrounded by the sea, and only members of the Lu Family were present. The vi was fully equipped and meticulously maintained by a dedicated staff.


    The front yard featured a vast expanse of grass and a sea of flowers, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.


    The car stopped in front of the house, and Lu Zhe carried Su Ci inside, while the driver quickly brought in their luggage.


    Su Ci, who had slept through the entire flight, was finally awake. As she took in the surroundings, she realized they had arrived on the ind. "Is there a beach here?"


    "Yes," Lu Zhe replied, carrying her upstairs. "Do you want to swim?"


    Su Ci looked up, her gaze meeting his jawline. "I do."


    The master bedroom was exceptionally designed, with arge floor-to-ceiling window that opened to a spacious balcony overlooking the sea of flowers in the yard.


    Having slept for so long on the ne, Su Ci was now full of energy. She slipped out of Lu Zhe''s arms and asked, "Is my swimsuit in the suitcase?"


    She rummaged through the luggage, pulling out a ck swimsuit before happily heading to the bathroom.


    However, once she changed into the swimsuit, Su Ci realized that the red marks weren''t just on her neck¡ªthey were also on her waist and the inner parts of her thighs.


    She stormed out of the bathroom, ring at the man standing by the window. "Just how much of a beast were youst night?" She had been given alcohol, her head spinning, and all she remembered was being teased relentlessly by Lu Zhe.


    Lu Zhe turned around.


    The girl was now in a ck swimsuit, the fabric barely covering her curves. Her slender waist and long, straight legs were on full disy, her skin so fair it almost glowed. She looked like a little enchantress.


    Su Ci stepped on Lu Zhe''s shoes with her bare feet, biting his chin in frustration. "How am I supposed to go swimming like this?"


    The girl loved looking pretty, and all she wanted was to wear her swimsuit and enjoy the water.


    Lu Zhe''srge hand rested on her waist, his palm gliding over her smooth, delicate skin.


    Seeing her so flustered, he chuckled softly. "I''m sorry, I couldn''t control myselfst night." It was their wedding night, after all, and Su Ci, with her rabbit ears and tipsy demeanor, had been irresistibly cute and beautiful. How could he have held back?


    Lu Zhe''s gaze was deep, his cold eyes reflecting her image. "Let me make it up to you, okay?"


    Make it up to her?


    Before Su Ci could process his words, Lu Zhe''s hands were already untying the straps of her swimsuit. His warm breath brushed against her ear as he whispered, "Tuantuan, you can take it out on me."


    Su Ci was soon carried to a swing chair, her body swaying with its movements. The intense sensations overwhelmed her, bringing her to the brink of tears.


    In the past, she had been able to tease Lu Zhe with her little tricks, but now, she waspletely at his mercy.


    After a few days of recovery, Su Ci finally made it to the beach. Lu Zhe carried her shoes, walking leisurely behind her as she stepped barefoot on the warm sand.


    When she grew tired, Lu Zhe picked her up, gently brushing the sand off her feet before putting her shoes on and carrying her along the shore.


    At night, he would take her to the sea of flowers to gaze at the stars or yfully wrestle with her in their room.


    Su Ci loved seafood, so Lu Zhe had the chef prepare a variety of dishes, and sometimes he even cooked for her himself.


    What Lu Zhe loved most was when she nestled softly against him, her little wsing out when he teased her too much.


    They spent a month on the ind before leaving.


    Before their departure, Su Ci curled up in his arms, saying she didn''t want to leave. On the ind, she felt as though they could stay together forever.


    Lu Zhe held her tightly, assuring her that no matter where they were, he would grow old with her.


    Back home, Lu Zhe became busy again, with piles of documents waiting for him after their vacation.


    Su Ci''s foundation was now running smoothly, expanding its focus beyond school bullying to include supporting impoverished children and addressing issues like child abuse. The foundation''s reach was growing wider.


    Though she rarely appeared in public, Su Ci was often referred to as the most beautiful angel or fairy, especially by those she had helped. They were deeply grateful, offering heartfelt blessings and prayers for her happiness.


    In their room, Su Ciy on a long chair, her eyelids heavy as she struggled to stay awake. The book in her hand was slipping from her grasp.


    When Lu Zhe returned, he found her dozing off on the chair. Her white dress cascaded down the sides, her small feet neatly tucked together. The sunlight streaming through the window bathed her in a soft glow.


    Lu Zhe walked quietly toward her.


    He knelt by the chair, his eyes drawn to her rosy lips, tempting him to kiss her.


    Leaning down, he pressed his lips to hers. After a while, her eyes fluttered open.


    Ah, the little princess was awake.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    He deepened the kiss, savoring her sweetness.


    When he finally pulled away, Su Ci''s eyes were glistening. "You''re back?"


    "Yes," Lu Zhe replied, gently stroking her hair. "Are you tired? Let me carry you to bed."


    He had noticed that she had been feeling drowsy a lottely.


    Su Ci yawnedzily. "Okay."


    But as soon as she spoke, she suddenly covered her mouth, a wave of nausea rising.


    Lu Zhe, noticing her change in expression, quickly helped her sit up. "What''s wrong?"


    "I feel like throwing up," Su Ci said, taking a deep breath. "It might be a false pregnancy."


    Over the years, she had grown ustomed to experiencing false pregnancy symptoms the day before her heat cycle.


    Lu Zhe, aware of this, fetched a ss of water and brought it to her lips. "Drink some water and rest for now. I''ll have the chef prepare lighter meals today."


    Su Ci nodded obediently.


    False pregnancies usuallysted only a day, but by the second day, Su Ci realized the nausea hadn''t subsided. She hurriedly called out to Fu Gui, asking what was going on.


    Fu Gui told her that the false pregnancy symptoms might have been prolonged.


    Su Ci decided to endure it for another day.


    However, on the third day, she was still vomiting.


    Tears welled up in her eyes as she stepped out of the bathroom, a suspicion forming in her mind.


    "Madam, are you okay?" a maid quickly brought her a ss of water to rinse her mouth.


    Su Ci shook her head.


    "Madam, forgive me for saying this, but you''ve been vomiting for the past two days. Could it be...?" The maid, a long-time servant of the Lu Family who had been assigned to care for the young master and his wife, couldn''t hide her excitement.


    The Lu Family had only one young master, and it had been a long time since they weed a new member.


    Su Ci was momentarily stunned, as she had secretly harbored simr thoughts.


    "Please have the driver prepare the car. I¡¯m going to the hospital," Su Ci said.


    "Should I inform the young master toe back?" The servant¡¯s smile was impossible to hide.


    Su Ci pursed her lips. "No need. He has a meeting today, and it¡¯s not confirmed yet. I¡¯ll tell him after the resultse out."


    "Yes, madam."


    In the evening, Lu Zhe returned home on time, as usual.


    His work efficiency was high, so he rarely needed to work overtime. Besides, with so many talented people in thepany, not everything required his direct involvement.


    His time after work belonged entirely to Su Ci. Social obligations were strictly reserved for working hours.


    "Young master, you¡¯re back," the servant greeted him as soon as he entered.


    "Yes. Where¡¯s Su Ci?"


    "Madam is resting in her room." The servant hesitated, biting back her words. The results of the checkup should be shared by Su Ci herself.


    Lu Zhe nodded. "Go ahead and prepare dinner."


    He strode upstairs.


    In the room, Su Ci sat curled up on the sofa, her knees hugged to her chest. The hem of her dress revealed her delicate, snow-white feet.


    Hearing the door open, she looked up to see Lu Zhe walking in, dressed in a ck suit. His cold, sharp features softened the moment their eyes met.


    "Why are you sitting here lost in thought, Tuantuan?" Lu Zhe approached, touching her hands and feet, which felt slightly cold.


    He frowned.


    Quickly, he took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders. "The weather¡¯s getting colder. You need to keep warm." Su Ci loved looking beautiful but often neglected staying warm.


    She was wearing a light mist-blue dress, ethereal and elegant, but the fabric was thin and offered little warmth.


    Lu Zhe picked her up, and in the next moment, she was seated on hisp.


    Though Lu Zhe had fully recovered, his discipline remained strong. He maintained a daily exercise routine, resulting in a well-toned physique with lean, defined muscles and perfect proportions. Su Ci often found herself unable to resist touching him.


    His thighs were firm and powerful, and sitting on them felt a bit ufortable.


    "What¡¯s wrong?" Lu Zhe noticed the serious look on her face.


    He pinched her increasingly soft and tender cheek. "Do you have something to tell me, Tuantuan?"


    Su Ci asked, "If we have a child, will you end up neglecting me because of them?"


    She had heard that once children came into the picture, parents¡¯ attention would shift entirely to them.


    If Lu Zhe loved their child more than her, she would be devastated.


    Lu Zhe paused for a moment. "Tuantuan, you are and always will be the one I love the most. As for children, we¡¯re in no rush."


    Hearing Lu Zhe¡¯s reassurance that she was his greatest love, Su Ci¡¯s mood lifted.


    She took Lu Zhe¡¯s hand and ced it on her stomach. "Lu Zhe, you¡¯re going to be a father."


    His palm pressed against her soft belly, and Lu Zhe froze. His dark eyes widened in disbelief. He didn¡¯t dare move, whispering softly, "Tuantuan."


    Su Ci could even detect a hint of vulnerability in his voice. Sheughed, trembling as she leaned into his embrace. "I¡¯m not lying. It¡¯s true. You¡¯re going to be a father."


    Lu Zhe swallowed hard, his hand stiff and numb.


    "Don¡¯t be afraid," Su Ci said, holding the rigid man tightly. "Lu Zhe, our baby is healthy."


    In an instant, Lu Zhe¡¯s eyes reddened.

 Chapter 124

    The news of Su Ci''s pregnancy spread to the Su Family and the Lu Family, filling both households with joy.


    Su Ci''s parents immediately rushed to visit their daughter, while Wen Ya and Lu Chen brought arge amount of nourishing food suitable for pregnant women. If it weren¡¯t for Grandpa Lu''s poor health, he would have surelye as well.


    Both Su Ci''s mother and Wen Ya were experienced, and they spent a good amount of time advising Su Ci. Lu Zhe listened attentively, taking note of every detail. Wen Ya even went as far as instructing the staff in the vi to put away all sharp objects.


    Su Ci satzily on the sofa, not sharing the same level of anxiety as her elders. She yawned softly.


    "Tired?" Lu Zhe, sitting beside her, noticed immediately.


    She nodded.


    Lu Zhe quickly stood up. "Let me help you back to your room to rest."


    "Su Ci is tired? Then go and rest. Lu Zhe, make sure you hold her carefully. Don¡¯t let her fall," Wen Ya reminded her son.


    "I know," Lu Zhe replied. If it weren¡¯t for the presence of their elders, he would have carried Su Ci back to the room, unwilling to let her walk even a step.


    Once they returned to the room, Su Ci sat on the edge of the bed while Lu Zhe pulled back the covers, watching as shey down.


    "You¡¯re all too nervous," Su Ci said, feeling that aside from asional nausea and drowsiness, she wasn¡¯t much different from her usual self.


    Lu Zhe sat down beside her, gently stroking her hair. "Because before, you were one treasure, and now there are two. Our care for you has doubled. If you feel unwell, remember to tell me."


    Ever since learning of her pregnancy, Lu Zhe had been on edge. The overwhelming happiness made it feel unreal.


    He even worried that one day he might wake up and find that the previous life¡¯s oue was the reality, and this was just a dream¡ªthat he was still the man suffering from ALS, nearing death, without Su Ci or their child.


    Suddenly, Su Ci tightened her grip on his hand. Lu Zhe looked down at her.


    "I want to sleep on yourp," Su Ci said, her head already resting on his thigh.


    Lu Zhe quickly rxed his muscles to make her morefortable.


    Su Ci wrapped her arms around his waist and asked curiously, "Do you prefer a son or a daughter?"


    Lu Zhe''s cold features softened as he stroked her soft hair. "I like both."


    "What about me?" Su Ci gazed at him with sparkling eyes.


    "You¡¯re my favorite."


    Soon, Su Ci noticed that while Lu Zhe imed to love both sons and daughters equally, most of the baby clothes he prepared were pink, suitable for a girl. Even the crib he chose had a princess theme.


    For Lu Zhe, whether it was a son or a daughter, he would love them dearly. But if he had to choose, he privately wished for a daughter who resembled Su Ci¡ªa soft, delicate little princess.


    By the time Su Ci was three months pregnant, Shen Xue and Wen Duoyu finally learned the news.


    Shen Xue looked at Su Ci, who sat on the sofa with a fairplexion, a faint blush on her cheeks, and bright eyes. She couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how well Su Ci was being cared for. She had heard that pregnancy could be tough, causing skin blemishes, morning sickness, poor appetite, and a decline in energy and appearance.


    But Su Ci was the opposite. Not only did she look radiant, but she had also be even more beautiful.


    She wore a beige dress paired with a loose, pale pink sweater. Her soft, long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes sparkled. Her waist was still slender, and if Shen Xue didn¡¯t know she was pregnant, she would have thought Su Ci had just walked out of school.


    "Time flies," Shen Xue sighed. "I still remember back in high school when you used me as your personal photographer, always asking me to take videos of Lu Zhe. And now, not only have you married him, but you¡¯re also pregnant."N?v(el)B\\jnn


    Back then, she had questioned Su Ci¡¯s judgment, unable to understand why she was so infatuated with Lu Zhe, who was poor and sickly. Su Ci had treated him like a treasure, afraid someone might snatch him away, even though no other girl would have been interested in him at the time.


    Just then, a tall man in a ck suit walked in from outside.


    Shen Xue noticed how Su Ci¡¯s eyes lit up.


    "Why are you back so early today?"


    Lu Zhe strode over. Seeing Su Ci¡¯s friends, he nodded politely to both of them before sitting beside Su Ci. "There wasn¡¯t much to do today."


    What he didn¡¯t say was that after his meeting, he had rushed back. The further along Su Ci¡¯s pregnancy progressed, the more anxious and worried he became, wanting to be by her side at all times.


    "Are you feeling okay today? Still nauseous?"


    Su Ci shook her head. "No, I haven¡¯t felt nauseous today. I even ate a full bowl of rice at lunch."


    Hearing this, Lu Zhe visibly rxed. But then his gaze fell on Su Ci¡¯s feet, and his brows furrowed. "Why aren¡¯t you wearing socks?"


    With that, Lu Zhe stood up and headed upstairs.


    Shen Xue and Wen Duoyu exchanged relieved nces.


    Shen Xue patted her chest. "Su Ci, your husband is so intimidating. I didn¡¯t even dare to speak."


    The current Lu Zhe waspletely different from the past. He exuded an indescribable aura that made people hesitant to look at him directly or even breathe too loudly.


    "He¡¯s not that scary," Su Ci said with augh. "It¡¯s probably just the suit that makes him seem serious."


    Before Shen Xue could respond, Lu Zhe returned from upstairs. His tall frame, d in a sharp ck suit, and his cold, handsome face indeed gave off an air of authority.


    Lu Zhe walked back to Su Ci, knelt down, and took her foot in his hand, preparing to put on her socks.


    Even though the room was heated, Lu Zhe was worried she might catch a chill.


    "I can do it myself," Su Ci said, feeling a bit shy in front of her friends.


    "You shouldn¡¯t bend over," Lu Zhe replied, cing her slender ankle on his knee. He focused intently as he carefully put on her socks.


    Shen Xue and Wen Duoyu watched in stunned silence. They knew Lu Zhe adored Su Ci, but they hadn¡¯t imagined he would go to such lengths, even putting on her socks himself.


    Shen Xue couldn¡¯t help but admire Su Ci¡¯s foresight. In the past, she had criticized Su Ci¡¯s taste, wondering why she had chosen Lu Zhe. Now, she realized how brilliant Su Ci had been. No wonder Su Ci looked so radiant and happy, her eyes filled with joy.


    Meanwhile, Shen Xue felt like she was the one with poor judgment. After graduating, she had been in two rtionships¡ªone where she was cheated on, and another with a yer who only wanted a physical rtionship.


    After Lu Zhe finished putting on Su Ci¡¯s socks and went back upstairs, Shen Xue turned to Su Ci. "Su Ci, you have to teach me your secrets. How do you pick a man like Lu Zhe? I want someone like him too."


    Su Ci blinked. "That¡¯s impossible. My Lu Zhe is one of a kind. No one else could ever be as good as him."


    Shen Xue was fed another mouthful of dog food. She sighed, "Even one-third as good as him would be enough."


    Su Ci handed a small pastry to Wen Duoyu, who had been quietly listening to their conversation. "Try this. It¡¯s delicious."


    Ever since bing pregnant, Su Ci often felt hungry. Lu Zhe had instructed the kitchen to always have small snacks ready, and this rose-vored pastry was her favorite.


    "Thank you," Wen Duoyu said happily, taking the pastry and nibbling on it while continuing to listen.


    Su Ci turned back to Shen Xue. "There¡¯s no trick. When you meet the right person, you just know. No strategy works."


    "But why did you fall for Lu Zhe back then?" Shen Xue asked, still puzzled.


    "Every part of him resonated with me. I knew he was the one for me."


    Su Ci smiled and added, "Of course, it wasn¡¯t just his looks."


    Even as a young man, despite the hardships life had thrown at him, Lu Zhe had a cold exterior but a warm heart.


    Shen Xue was momentarily stunned, thenughed. It seemed Su Ci and Lu Zhe were destined for each other.


    As they left Su Ci¡¯s house, Wen Duoyu¡¯s face was filled with joy. "Su Ci will always be happy," she said with a smile.


    Shen Xue nodded in agreement. "I¡¯ve already told Su Ci¡ªI¡¯m going to be the godmother of her child."


    Wen Duoyu blushed slightly. "I want to be one too."


    "Little bunny, open the door," Shen Xue teased yfully.


    At the door, two little ones were singing nursery rhymes in their adorable, high-pitched voices while knocking.


    "Little Master, Little Miss," a servant approached to take their hands. "Master and Madam haven''t gotten up yet. Let me take you downstairs for breakfast first."


    The little girl, dressed in a white princess outfit with a white bunny ear headband, turned around. Her delicate features and big eyes made her look like a miniature version of Su Ci.


    "Is Mommy still sleeping?" the little girl asked in a soft, milky voice that melted hearts, making one want to scoop her up and shower her with affection.


    The servant smiled and adjusted her crooked bunny ears. "Yes, she is."


    "Then I won¡¯t disturb Mommy," she said, putting a tiny finger to her lips and whispering, "Shh."


    "Such a good girl," the servant praised, holding her soft little hand.


    "I¡¯m a big boy. I can walk by myself," the little boy beside her dered, refusing the servant¡¯s hand. He wore overalls and looked adorably cute, with his refined features resembling Lu Zhe¡¯s.


    He stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked coolly behind the servant and his sister.


    In the room, Su Ci was already awake. Hearing the servant take their son and daughter away, she sighed in relief.


    She tilted her head and yfully bit the man¡¯s chin above her. The next second, he let out a low grunt.


    Su Ci released him, licking the bite mark she left. "Hurry up," she urged. "The kids are waiting."


    Lu Zhe¡¯s arms, propped on either side of her, tensed with visible veins. He immediately silenced her with a kiss.


    It felt like an eternity before they finally stopped. By then, Su Ci waspletely drained, her fingers toozy to move. Shey in Lu Zhe¡¯s arms, wanting to scratch him in frustration. "How am I supposed to walkter?"


    Lu Zhe pinched her flushed cheek. "Rest for a bit. We¡¯ll leaveter."


    Su Ci huffed lightly. "Then you¡¯ll have to exin to the kids yourselfter."


    "Alright," Lu Zhe agreed. He got up, cleaned Su Ci, got dressed, and went downstairs to wash up.


    In the dining room, the two little ones sat obediently at the table, eating their breakfast. When they saw Lu Zhe approaching, their eyes lit up, and they called out in their sweet voices, "Daddy!"


    Seeing the two children, the coldness in Lu Zhe¡¯s eyes melted away, and a smile tugged at his lips.


    "Daddy, my head itches," the little boy across the table raised his hand to scratch his head.


    Lu Zhe quickly walked over and picked up his son. "What did you eat earlier?"


    "Daddy, Daddy, I know!" the little girl chimed in with her milky voice. "Brother sneaked some chocte from the fridge."


    Lu Zhe was stunned. He carried his son to the fridge, where he saw that the package of alcohol-filled choctes had been opened, and three pieces were missing.


    Little Lu Ci scratched his head, looking a bit sheepish as he exined in his childish voice, "I only ate two. Sister ate one."


    Lu Zhe patted his son¡¯s head. "Daddy will take you back to your room first."


    Little Lu Ci obediently nestled in his father¡¯s arms.


    After instructing the servant to take care of his daughter, Lu Zhe carried his son upstairs. As soon as he closed the door, a pair of fluffy white bunny ears popped up on Little Lu Ci¡¯s head.


    Little Lu Ci couldn¡¯t turn into a rabbit, but he had inherited Su Ci¡¯s bunny ears. Normally, he looked just like any other child, but he couldn¡¯t handle alcohol. Even the slightest contact with it would make his bunny ears appear.


    Su Ci had asked Fu Gui about it and learned that as Little Lu Ci grew older, he would eventually learn to control his bunny ears, making them appear and disappear at will.

 Chapter 125

    "Dad, my bunny ears are out," Little Lu Ci shook his head, and the bunny ears on top of his head swayed along.


    The little one was wearing overalls, with a pair of fluffy white bunny ears on his head, looking absolutely adorable.


    Lu Zhe put his son down and crouched to meet his gaze. "Do you know why your bunny ears came out?"


    Little Lu Ci looked very much like Lu Zhe, almost a miniature version of him. He pouted and shook his head again, his bunny ears drooping softly. "I don¡¯t know."


    "Because you ate chocte," Lu Zhe exined, looking at his young son. "The chocte had alcohol in it, and it¡¯s not suitable for you."


    Little Lu Ci¡¯s small mouth opened in surprise. "Mom said I can¡¯t drink alcohol."


    He remembered his mother¡¯s words: before he grew up, he couldn¡¯t drink alcohol, or his long ears woulde back. If others found out, they might take him away from his parents.


    So, besides his parents, no one else could know about his bunny ears.


    "That¡¯s right," Lu Zhe sighed, reaching out to pat his son¡¯s head and gently stroking his soft bunny ears. "If you had eaten that chocte outside and your bunny ears came out, what would you have done?"


    Little Lu Ci¡¯s big, bright eyes were moist, and his bunny ears drooped pitifully.


    Even the cool little Lu Ci was just a three-year-old child. His small voice trembled, "I would have been taken away by bad people."


    Lu Zhe asked, "Will you eat random things again?"


    "No," Little Lu Ci quickly shook his head, his bunny ears swaying cutely.


    Lu Zhe wasn¡¯t a strict father, nor did he scold his children. He and Su Ci preferred to reason with their kids, guiding them and even listening to their thoughts. "You¡¯re still young and can¡¯t tell what you shouldn¡¯t eat. If you¡¯re not sure about something, always ask Mom and Dad first."


    Little Lu Ci had always been clever. He nodded obediently, "When I grow up, I¡¯ll be able to decide for myself."


    Lu Zhe patted his head. "That¡¯s right."


    At that moment, the door opened, and Su Ci walked in.


    Seeing the little bunny standing in front of Lu Zhe, her eyes lit up. "I heard from the maid that you brought our son upstairs. Why did Lu Ci¡¯s bunny ears suddenlye out?"


    "He took some chocte with alcohol from the fridge."


    Su Ci closed the door and walked over to her son, reaching out to rub his soft bunny ears. "Little Lu Ci is so cute."


    Her son looked just like Lu Zhe, a perfect mini version of him, with a pair of soft, fluffy bunny ears. She couldn¡¯t help but find him utterly adorable.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om


    "My ears are itchy, Mom. Don¡¯t rub them. You¡¯re so mean," Little Lu Ci pouted, his small face filled with a hint of grievance as he tried to hide behind his father.


    Su Ci held her son¡¯s small head and gave his ears a good rub before letting go. No wonder Lu Zhe loved ying with her bunny ears so much¡ªrubbing their son¡¯s ears was just as fun.


    "Tuan Tuan," Lu Zhe looked at his son, whose bunny ears were drooping, his small eyes filled with grievance. He took his wife''s hand. "Have you had breakfast yet?"


    "No," she replied. She had rushed over, thinking their son might be feeling unwell.


    "Let¡¯s go downstairs and eat together," Lu Zhe said, holding her hand to prevent her from teasing their son again.


    "What about Little Lu Ci?"


    "He¡¯ll stay in the room for a while until his ears go back. Then he cane downstairs," Lu Zhe looked down at his small son. "You can read a book in the room, and Dad wille check on youter."


    Little Lu Ci nodded obediently, his bunny ears, softened by his mother¡¯s rubbing, drooping cutely on either side.


    Today was Lu Chen¡¯s birthday, and the celebration was being held at the Lu family home. Lu Zhe and Su Ci needed to take the children to offer their blessings.


    After breakfast, Su Ci went upstairs to change.


    When she came back down, she was pleased to see the look of admiration in Lu Zhe¡¯s eyes.


    She was wearing a qipao, custom-made for her by Su Ci¡¯s mother.


    The in white qipao had dark green buttons and perfectly outlined her slender figure. The high slit revealed glimpses of her long legs as she walked.


    Su Ci¡¯s hair was tied up, with a few strands framing her face. Her delicate neckline was elegant, and her eyes sparkled, a small beauty mark adding to her charm. Every movement she made was breathtakingly beautiful.


    "Do I look good?" Su Ci asked Lu Zhe directly.


    "Mommy is pretty."


    "Mommy is the most beautiful."


    Before Lu Zhe could answer, Little Lu Ci and Little Lu Xi were alreadypeting topliment her.


    Su Ci happily patted her son and daughter¡¯s heads, then nced at Lu Zhe.


    The man¡¯s dark eyes were deep with emotion. His hand naturally rested on her slender waist. "You look beautiful."


    By the time they left the house, Little Lu Ci¡¯s bunny ears had already disappeared.


    He walked coolly beside Lu Zhe, his hands in the pockets of his overalls, his small legs striding confidently.


    Little Lu Xi was carried in her father¡¯s arms.


    She had inherited the best genes from both Su Ci and Lu Zhe. She was as beautiful as a little fairy, with big, sparkling almond-shaped eyes. Her gentle and quiet personality made her utterly endearing, the kind of child you¡¯d want to give the stars and moon to.


    The entrance of the Lu family home was already filled with luxury cars.


    Lu Chen didn¡¯t want a grand celebration, so the guest list for today¡¯s banquet was small.


    Wen Ya¡¯s face lit up with joy when she saw Lu Zhe and Su Ci arriving with their two grandchildren.


    Little Lu Ci greeted politely, "Grandma, hello."


    "Grandma," Little Lu Xi slid down from her father¡¯s arms and ran over, her small voice sweet and tender. "I missed you so much."


    Wen Ya¡¯s heart melted. She quickly picked her up and kissed her fragrant little cheeks several times. "Grandma missed you too, Xi Xi."


    After showering her granddaughter with affection, Wen Ya lovingly patted her grandson¡¯s head. "Grandma prepared lots of your favorite snacks. I¡¯ll take you to eat themter, okay?"


    The two little ones¡¯ big, bright eyes sparkled. "Okay."


    Lu Zhe and Su Ci went to offer their birthday wishes to Lu Chen, while Wen Ya took the two children away.


    Su Ci¡¯s parents were also present at the banquet. Not long after, Boss Fang arrived with Fang Kuaile.


    Over the years, the smallpany Boss Fang and Lu Zhe had started had not only stabilized but also expanded with two branches. Now, Boss Fang was known as "Boss Fang," and even Fang Kuaile was referred to as "Young Master Fang."


    "Uncle Fang, you¡¯re here too," Lu Zhe and Su Ci greeted Boss Fang.


    "It¡¯s been a while since Ist saw Fang Kuaile. He¡¯s grown so tall," Su Ci remarked, surprised. Children really grew up so fast, changing every day.


    "He¡¯s been growing a lottely, eating more and shooting up in height," Boss Fang said, his voice filled with pride and joy.


    Though Fang Kuaile didn¡¯t have legs, his prosthetic limbs were adjusted regrly to match his growth.


    Fang Kuaile didn¡¯t look much like Boss Fang. Instead, he resembled histe mother, with delicate features and a gentle, moon-like face that made him look like a refined young man despite his age.


    "Brother Kuaile," suddenly, a small, chubby hand tugged at Fang Kuaile¡¯s pants.


    He looked down and met the big, bright eyes of a little girl. He smiled gently. "Xi Xi."


    "Xi Xi, you can¡¯t run around like that. You might get taken by bad people," Little Lu Ci said sternly, catching up with a serious expression.


    "Brother, it¡¯s Brother Kuaile," Little Lu Xi held onto Fang Kuaile¡¯s pants, her eyes curving into happy crescents.


    "There are a lot of people here. Little Lu Ci and Xi Xi shouldn¡¯t run around," Su Ci said, trying to pick up her daughter.


    "Mommy, I want to y with Brother Kuaile," Little Lu Xi refused to be carried.


    Su Ci was surprised. Her daughter had only met Fang Kuaile once before, but she still remembered him. "You might bother Brother Kuaile."


    "Miss Su Ci, it¡¯s fine. Xi Xi is adorable. I can y with her for a while," Fang Kuaile said softly. He was wearing a white shirt, and his quiet, gentle demeanor made him look even more refined and handsome.


    "Thank you for your trouble."


    "Brother Kuaile, carry me," Little Lu Xi wasn¡¯t shy at all. She reached out her arms, asking to be held.


    Fang Kuaile bent down and picked up the small girl. The sweet scent of a child immediately filled his senses, and his arms stiffened slightly¡ªchildren¡¯s bodies were so soft.


    "Where do you want to y?" Fang Kuaile asked her softly.


    Lu Xi stretched out her little finger, pointing toward the lounge area. "I want to eat cake."


    "Alright."


    "Lu Ci, you have to stay with me and Dad. Don''t run off," Su Ci called out to her son.


    Lu Ci pouted, his little lips forming a small frown. "Mom, I want to go y with my sister too." With that, the little boy chased after Fang Kuaile.


    Inside the lounge, the coffee table was filled with an array of delicate and delicious cakes.


    Lu Ci gobbled them up one by one, his mouth full as he watched his sister being held by Fang Kuaile. In his childish voice, he lectured her, "Xi Xi, you''re a big girl now. You can''t let others carry you anymore."


    "But I want Fang Kuaile to carry me. I''m still a little kid," Lu Xi replied obediently, nestledfortably in Fang Kuaile''s arms.


    "Do you want to try this one?" Fang Kuaile picked up a strawberry cake and brought it to Lu Xi''s lips.


    "Yes!" Lu Xi took a bite, her big eyes narrowing with delight. "Brother, why is your leg so hard?"


    Her tiny hand brushed against Fang Kuaile''s knee, feeling the unusual hardness. Her little face was full of curiosity.


    Fang Kuaile paused for a moment, then grabbed a tissue to gently wipe the cream from her mouth. His voice was soft and tender. "Because my leg is sick, so it feels different from yours."


    "Oh," Lu Xi gasped, her little mouth opening in surprise.


    She had seen her brother sick before. She knew it meant taking medicine and getting shots¡ªit was scary. "Then I''ll touch it and make the sickness go away," she dered.


    With that, Lu Xi gently stroked his knee, as if trying to chase away the pain.


    Her hand happened to touch the spot where his prosthetic leg began. Fang Kuaile couldn''t feel it, but his gaze fell on her small hand, and his expression grew even gentler. "Thank you, Xi Xi."


    Nearby, Lu Ci watched his sister''s eyes crinkle withughter. He let out a soft snort. Silly sister, this brother doesn''t have a real leg.

 Chapter 126

    Little Lu Ci and Little Lu Xi both take after Su Ci, with a sweet tooth, especially for peach-vored treats.


    Little Lu Ci ate his cake bite by bite, while Little Lu Xi snuggled in Fang Kuaile''s arms, obediently eating the cake he fed her.


    "Alright, no more after thisst bite. We¡¯ll have lunch soon," Fang Kuaile stopped feeding her, wiped the cream from the corner of Little Lu Xi''s mouth, and handed her a cup of juice, holding it to her lips. "Are you thirsty, Xi Xi?"


    Little Lu Xi nodded, her voice soft and sweet. "Yes, I am."


    Fang Kuaile fed her the juice.


    "Thank you, Brother Kuaile," Little Lu Xi said politely. She knew Brother Kuaile was taking good care of her. "Brother Kuaile, does holding me make you tired?"


    "Not at all," Fang Kuaile replied. He was just a child himself, and this was his first time holding another child. It felt new and interesting.


    He thought Little Lu Xi was so small, so light, and so soft, with a faint milky scentpletely different from boys.


    Hearing that holding her didn¡¯t tire him, Little Lu Xi¡¯s eyes curved into a smile.


    Fang Kuaile chuckled softly. "Xi Xi, you shouldn¡¯t call me ''brother.'' You should call me ''uncle.''"


    Su Ning and Tian Cai were her uncles, and he was their friend. Since he called Su Ci "sister," by family hierarchy, Little Lu Xi should call him "uncle."


    Little Lu Xi¡¯s small mouth opened in surprise, and she quickly shook her head, her voice sweet but firm. "Not uncle, it¡¯s brother."


    Fang Kuaile corrected her, "Call me Uncle Kuaile."


    Little Lu Ci, standing nearby, nced at Fang Kuaile and then at his silly sister, thinking they were being ridiculous.


    Little Lu Xi¡¯s voice was sugary sweet. "Brother Kuaile."


    Fang Kuaile gave in, patting her head gently. "Alright then."


    At that moment, Su Ci came over to take her children for lunch.


    "Mom, I want to eat with Brother Kuaile," Little Lu Xi said, clinging to Fang Kuaile¡¯s clothes and refusing to let go.


    Su Ci was a bit surprised. Her daughter resembled her not only in looks but also in personality¡ªa little spoiled and usually hesitant around strangers.


    She had only met Fang Kuaile once before, but it seemed she remembered him well and even liked him a lot.


    Su Ci reached out to take her son, who was still munching on his cake, and tried to pick up her daughter. "Brother Kuaile needs to stay with his dad, just like you need to stay with your mom and dad."


    Little Lu Xi pouted, looking pitifully at Fang Kuaile. "I still want to y with Brother Kuaile."


    Fang Kuaile smiled, his lips curling up as he gently stroked Little Lu Xi¡¯s hair. "If you eat your lunch properly, I¡¯ll y with you afterward, okay?"


    Little Lu Xi¡¯s eyes lit up, and she turned to Su Ci. "Mom, is that okay?"


    "Of course," Su Ci replied, watching as her children reluctantly left Fang Kuaile¡¯s arms. She asked her daughter, "Xi Xi, do you like Brother Kuaile a lot?"


    Little Lu Xi, holding her mother¡¯s hand, nodded vigorously. "Brother Kuaile is pretty. I like him."


    Pretty?


    Fang Kuaile chuckled, shaking his head. It was the first time a child had called him pretty.


    In the afternoon, the banquet was still ongoing. The event was attended by family, friends, and business partners. After lunch, many gathered to chat.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe stayed with Wen Ya, Lu Chen, Su¡¯s Father, and Su¡¯s Mother, engaging in light conversation.


    With Su Ci¡¯s permission, Little Lu Ci and Little Lu Xi went out to y with Fang Kuaile, apanied by the Lu family¡¯s bodyguards.


    The car stopped at the entrance of a mall.


    "Little Ci, let me hold your hand," Fang Kuaile said, reaching out to the small boy beside him.


    Little Lu Ci stuffed his hands into the pockets of his overalls, his face serious and cool. "I¡¯m a big boy. I don¡¯t need to hold hands." He was grown up now and didn¡¯t want to be treated like a child!


    "I do! I do!" Little Lu Xi quickly extended her small, soft hand. "Brother Kuaile, hold my hand. I¡¯m too cute; bad people might take me away."


    Su Ci had once joked about this with her, and Little Lu Xi had taken it to heart. She was adorable, and bad people liked to snatch adorable children.


    Her tiny, soft hand slipped into his, and Fang Kuaile couldn¡¯t help butugh. "Alright, I¡¯ll hold your hand."


    Fang Kuaile took the two children to the fifth floor of the mall, where there was a children¡¯s y area and other gaming facilities.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om


    It was Fang Kuaile¡¯s first time looking after children. He asked Little Lu Ci if he wanted to join the other kids in the y area and go down the slides.


    "No," Little Lu Ci pouted, his face serious. "That¡¯s for little kids."


    He had stopped liking slides since he was two and a half.


    Fang Kuaile was amused. He remembered that both Lu Ci and Lu Xi were three and a half years old.


    "What about you, Xi Xi?" Fang Kuaile, unable to crouch due to his prosthetic leg, bent down to meet Little Lu Xi¡¯s gaze.


    His voice was gentle. "Do you want to go in and y?"


    Little Lu Xi blinked her bright, watery eyes. "Will Brother Kuailee in too?"


    Fang Kuaile shook his head. "I¡¯m too tall to go in. Only children under seven can y here, but I¡¯ll watch you from outside."


    "No," Little Lu Xi shook her head. "I want to stay with Brother Kuaile. If you don¡¯t go in, I won¡¯t either."


    Fang Kuaile smiled warmly. "Then what would you like to y, Xi Xi?"


    "That one," she pointed with her tiny finger.


    Fang Kuaile followed her gaze and saw she was pointing at a w machine. "You want to y that?"


    Little Lu Xi nodded.


    Fang Kuaile held her hand and led her to the machine. Little Lu Ci, hands in his pockets, followed reluctantly, his face still cool andposed.


    Little Lu Xi wasn¡¯t tall enough, so Fang Kuaile picked her up and showed her how to operate the machine. "Do you understand, Xi Xi?"


    "Yes," she replied.


    Fang Kuaile inserted the coins and watched as she wobbled the joystick, the w swaying unsteadily.


    Little Lu Xi turned her head, her voice sweet. "Brother Kuaile, I¡¯ve aimed it."


    "If you¡¯ve aimed it, you can press this button," Fang Kuaile said, not telling her that the w was off-center and unlikely to grab anything.


    Little Lu Xi reached out and pressed the button with all her might. The w descended.


    It missed.


    Fang Kuaile patted her head gently. Just then, the w hooked onto the string of a small plump pig next to it and dragged it to the drop chute.


    "I got it!" Little Lu Xi¡¯s eyes sparkled with joy.


    Fang Kuaile patted her head again. "You¡¯re amazing, Xi Xi. Do you want to y more?"


    Little Lu Xi nodded vigorously. "Yes!"


    "Little Ci, do you want to y too?" Fang Kuaile asked the cool-looking boy standing nearby.


    The little boy pouted, looking somewhat disdainful. Before he could open his mouth, Fang Kuaile handed him a few coins.


    "Can you reach it, Little Ci? Do you need me to lift you up?"


    "No need. I¡¯ve grown taller," Little Lu Ci said, walking to the next w machine and standing on his tiptoes.


    After a while, a small crowd had gathered around them.


    The two toddlers seemed to be in apetition, plush toys tumbling out one after another. The onlookers were stunned.


    The little girl and the cool, tiptoeing boy were too skilled for their age¡ªthey looked no older than three, yet they were w machine prodigies. Half the toys in the machine were now piled on the floor.


    And the children were incredibly good-looking.


    Many wanted to take out their phones to capture the moment¡ªafter all, they¡¯d never seen such young w machine experts. But as soon as they pulled out their devices, three tall, burly men in ck stopped them from taking photos.


    Fang Kuaile paid no attention to the crowd. He kept his eyes on Little Lu Xi and Little Lu Ci.


    He noticed that Little Lu Xi pressed the button randomly each time, yet she always managed to grab a toy. Even when she missed, the w would hook onto something, or sometimes even two toys at once. She had incredible luck.


    Little Lu Ci, on the other hand, was more deliberate. He missed the first two attempts but, by the third try, had figured out the trick and didn¡¯t miss again. He was clearly a quick learner.


    The w machine was nearly empty.


    Seeing Little Lu Xi stop, Fang Kuaile asked her, "Not ying anymore?"


    "My hands are tired, I¡¯m done." Little Lu Xi turned around and leaned on Fang Kuaile''s shoulder.


    "I won." Little Lu Ci also stopped beside them.


    Fang Kuaile looked at the piles of plush toys on the ground, too many to carry, and said, "Little Ci, how do you know you won? Maybe Little Xi won. We need to count them to see who has more."


    Little Lu Ci put his hands back in his pockets, his little face serious, and said matter-of-factly, "Little Xi got 18 plushies, and I got 21. I won."


    Fang Kuaile was a bit surprised. "How do you know that?"


    "Big brother secretly counted," Little Lu Xi exined.


    Even for adults, it¡¯s hard to focus on grabbing plushies, keep track of your own count, and also pay attention to how many the other person has.


    Fang Kuaile thought that Little Lu Ci was very smart and impressive, not like an ordinary three-year-old.


    At that moment, a staff member came over with tworge bags to help pick up the plushies on the ground.


    The staff member politely said to Fang Kuaile, "We¡¯re running a promotion here. If you grab three plushies, you get one chance to draw a prize." He didn¡¯t expect these kids to be so skilled, almost clearing out the machines.


    "Do you want to draw for prizes?" Fang Kuaile asked Little Lu Xi and Little Lu Ci.


    Little Lu Ci, looking cool, said, "Let my sister draw."


    "I want to draw," Little Lu Xi blinked her big eyes, letting Fang Kuaile hold her.


    Fang Kuaile smiled. "Alright."


    The arcade owner¡¯s expression grew increasingly grim as he watched the adorable little girl in disbelief.


    He had set up one first prize, two second prizes, five third prizes, and five special prizes, totaling thirteen winning opportunities. Coincidentally, the little girl and boy also had exactly thirteen chances to draw.


    Somehow, the little girl randomly drew the first prize, followed by the second and third prizes, all in one go.


    As the little girl continued to draw second prizes, third prizes, and even the special prizes, the owner swallowed hard, forcing a smile. "Hehe, little miss, you¡¯ve got great luck today."


    The owner¡¯s heart ached. He had invested heavily in the prizes for this promotion.


    Who would have thought this little girl¡¯s luck would be so extraordinary? Thirteen draws, thirteen wins¡ªthis wasn¡¯t human; she must be a little fairy!


    Little Lu Ci, with his hands behind his back, said in a childish voice, "My mom said my sister has really good luck." His little face remained serious, showing no surprise or curiosity.


    "Happy Brother, I¡¯m giving all the prizes to you," Little Lu Xi wrapped her arms around Fang Kuaile¡¯s neck, her sweet little voice saying, "Do you like them, Happy Brother?"


    "Thank you, Xi Xi, but the prizes are yours since you drew them. I can¡¯t take them," Fang Kuaile said gently, his smile warm, not showing any sign of the pain in his prosthetic leg from carrying Little Lu Xi.


    "For Happy Brother," Little Lu Xi insisted, her big, dark eyes fixed on Fang Kuaile. "Only for Happy Brother."


    Fang Kuaile¡¯s lips curled up. "Thank you, Xi Xi."


    When they returned to the Lu family home, most of the guests had already left.


    Su Ci and Lu Zhe saw Fang Kuaile bringing the two children back. The little boy¡¯s expression was as serious as Lu Zhe¡¯s, looking adorably cool, making one want to tease him until he cried.


    The little girl was being carried by Fang Kuaile, and Su Ci noticed that Fang Kuaile didn¡¯t look too well.


    Lu Zhe, standing beside her, also noticed. He reached out to take his daughter from Fang Kuaile¡¯s arms. "Little Xi, did you have fun? Come here, Daddy will carry you. It¡¯s time to go home."


    Little Lu Xi was reluctant. She looked at Fang Kuaile with longing. "Happy Brother, remember toe y with me after I go home."


    "Alright," Fang Kuaile let go, and Little Lu Xi was carried away, leaving his arms feeling empty. "Goodbye, Xi Xi."


    "Kuaile, have you been carrying Xi Xi the whole time?" Both Su Ci and Lu Zhe knew about Fang Kuaile¡¯s prosthetic leg and that he shouldn¡¯t carry heavy loads for long.


    Fang Kuaile¡¯s face remained gentle, his smile still in ce. "It¡¯s fine. Xi Xi is light. I can carry her."


    Little Lu Xi, now in Lu Zhe¡¯s arms, nodded in agreement, her voice soft and sweet. "Xi Xi is light."


    Fang Kuaile chuckled. "That¡¯s right."


    As Su Ci and Lu Zhe left with the children, Fang Kuaile and Boss Fang also departed.


    In the car, Boss Fang reached over to touch his son¡¯s knee. "Remember to apply the ointment when you get back."


    "Dad, my leg is fine. Don¡¯t worry," Fang Kuaile said.


    "Your lips are pale, and you¡¯re saying you¡¯re fine?" Boss Fang red at him but couldn¡¯t bring himself to scold his son, who had always been thoughtful and sensible since he was young.


    Little Lu Xi wasn¡¯t heavy, but for a young man like Fang Kuaile, she wasn¡¯t exactly light either.


    Fang Kuaile pursed his lips, not arguing further. "Alright, I¡¯ll apply the ointment when I get back."


    On the other side, in the car, Little Lu Xi asked Su Ci, "Mom, will Happy Brothere y with me tomorrow?"


    Then she added, "Will Happy Brother like the gifts I gave him?"


    Su Ci asked, "What gifts?"


    "My sister drew a lot of prizes," Little Lu Ci told his mom.


    Su Ci knew her daughter had good luck¡ªit was a little gift from fortune. Her focus, however, was on how much her daughter seemed to like Fang Kuaile. "Xi Xi, do you really like Happy Brother?"


    Little Lu Xi nodded.


    Lu Zhe, holding his daughter, asked, "Why?"


    "Because Happy Brother is good-looking," Little Lu Xi told her dad. "Xi Xi likes Happy Brother."


    Lu Zhe was momentarily stunned, his gaze shifting to his wife beside him.


    "Why are you looking at me like that?" Su Ci¡¯s hand touched Lu Zhe¡¯s face, which hadn¡¯t changed much over the years.


    Lu Zhe¡¯s dark eyes stared deeply at Su Ci. "Back when we first started, why did you like me?"


    Su Ci blurted out, "Because you were handsome."


    As soon as the words left her mouth, Su Ci blinked.


    Lu Zhe resisted the urge to pinch her snow-white cheeks. He said, "Xi Xi is still young. She doesn¡¯t understand anything yet."


    Su Ci nodded in agreement.


    As the night deepened, Lu Zhe returned after putting the children to sleep. He saw Su Cizily lying on the recliner, ying with her phone, still wearing the cheongsam from earlier.


    Because of how she was lying, the high slit on the side of the cheongsam revealed her slender, fair legs, though Su Ci seemed oblivious.


    Lu Zhe loosened the cor of his shirt with one hand and walked over to her.


    "Are the kids asleep?" Su Ci asked as she saw Lu Zhe approaching. She put down her phone and sat upzily.


    "They¡¯re asleep," Lu Zhe said, standing in front of her, looking down at her. "Do you want to take a bath, Tuan Tuan?"


    "Yes," she had been wearing high heels all day, and her feet were sore.


    Su Ci lightly kicked Lu Zhe¡¯s ck trousers with her foot, the little bunny charm on her ankle swaying. "Go on."


    Lu Zhe bent down and picked up the little enchantress from the recliner. "I¡¯ll bathe with you."


    Su Ci¡¯s eyes curved mischievously as she leaned softly against his chest, teasing him. "Lu Zhe, you¡¯re being naughty."


    "Hmm."


    Su Ci couldn¡¯t help but pinch his handsome face. "You¡¯re getting bolder."


    Lu Zhe chuckled softly, carrying her toward the bathroom. "Tuan Tuan, I want to see your bunny ears."


    Su Ci snorted lightly.


    Liar! He didn¡¯t just want to see them¡ªhe wanted to touch them!


    In the bathtub, the wet robe fell to the floor, and the ck suity beside it, pressed tightly together.


    Water sshed everywhere as the mirror reflected a scene too intimate to describe.


    The night grew darker.


    Su Ci,pletely exhausted, was carried out of the bathroom by Lu Zhe and ced on the bed.


    Even after all these years, despite Lu Zhe¡¯s illness being cured, he still maintained a strict exercise routine, his self-discipline unmatched. His muscles were well-proportioned, his physique perfect, and his stamina astonishing.


    Even after so long, Su Ci felt she was no match for him, always being thoroughly overwhelmed.


    She closed her eyes, her face flushed, her eyes tinged with red, and the pair of white bunny ears on her head drooping pitifully, clearly having been thoroughly teased.


    Once the tingling sensation in her body subsided slightly, she opened her eyes, her gaze watery, and red at Lu Zhe. "My back hurts."


    Lu Zhey down beside her, his warm hand reaching out to massage her.


    "You''re getting fiercer these days, like you''re trying to kill me," Su Ci said bluntly.


    Lu Zhe gave her a lingering look. It wasn''t that he was fiercer¡ªit was that she was bing more alluring, and his self-control was utterly lost in her presence.


    After some time, Su Ci had already fallen asleep, and Lu Zhe finally stopped massaging.


    By the moonlight streaming through the window, he gazed down at her.


    As usual, she nestled into his chest withplete dependence, her cheek pressed tightly against him.


    Lu Zhe held her close and slowly closed his eyes.


    In his dream, he saw himself sitting in a wheelchair, lying in a rented room, unable to move, and dying alone with no one by his side...


    Scene after scene, bleak and tragic, and in his dream, Su Ci was nowhere to be found.


    Lu Zhe woke with a start.


    He opened his eyes to find Su Ci''s foot resting mischievously on his [censored], her hand draped over his waist, her entire body clinging tightly to him.


    After a moment, Lu Zhe chuckled softly. He leaned down and kissed Su Ci, waking her with his affection.


    For the long years ahead, he was grateful to have her.


    The End.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!