There was a fresh bouquet of flowers in the vase in the restaurant. Yan Xia had lit candles. Even when dining alone, one should have a sense of ritual.
Before she could start eating, Lu Qianzhou had already walked in from the living room. He had been out of sight these days, and Yan Xia had no idea what he was busy with. She rarely saw him. It was only a little past seven now. It was indeed rare for him to come back so early.
Yan Xia was wearing a simple spaghetti - strap dress and a light - blue headband. Barefoot, she was standing beside the dining table, pouring red wine, exuding a strong sense of life's charm.
Lu Qianzhou raised his eyebrows slightly and leaned against the doorframe.
He was dressed in a white shirt. With his tall and noble figure, the soft bangs in front of his forehead, and his clean and handsome face, he looked extremely charming.
He smiled lazily. "Miss Cheng is in such a good mood. The Peng family is in a complete mess. They've been searching high and low for you, but you seem to be enjoying your leisure time."
Yan Xia always thought Lu Qianzhou was extremely good - looking. His eyes sparkled like stars. His facial features were well - defined but not too sharp. He looked thin in clothes but had a well - built body without them. His daily dressing style was simple and fresh, just like a delicate idol.
His aura was different from Fang Jiangyi's. Fang Jiangyi gave people a sharper impression, while Lu Qianzhou was like a little wolf dog, a bit naughty.
If Fang Jiangyi was a dazzling star in the sky, then Lu Qianzhou was cold and clean ice.
Yan Xia put down the wine bottle and smiled. "I can't always be at their mercy. If I can't even deal with a little Peng Shiyi, how can I win over Fang Jiangyi?"
Lu Qianzhou squinted slightly and walked towards her. "If they come here to apologize on bended knees, will you see them or not?"
Yan Xia looked up and met his eyes. Every time she saw him, she had an intuition that a strange emotion was fermenting.
"Depends on my mood."
The maid brought warm water and pills and placed them on the table.
"Mr. Lu, your stomach is acting up. Please take your stomach medicine right away. What would you like for dinner? We'll prepare it right away."
Yan Xia glanced at him. Lu Qianzhou had a bad stomach?
Lu Qianzhou directly threw the pills into his mouth and swallowed them without even taking a sip of water. Maybe because his empty stomach was hurting so much, he frowned slightly, looking a bit impatient.
He said with great interest, "Miss Cheng can cook too."
Yan Xia looked at the steak she had fried. Although it didn't look very presentable, the smell in the air was really tempting.
However, a person like Lu Qianzhou had eaten all kinds of sumptuous meals. Compared with what he was used to, what she made was just child's play.
"Just made it casually."
The maid was very observant. "Mr. Lu, would you like Western food?"
Seeing that Lu Qianzhou still seemed to be in a lot of discomfort, Yan Xia decided to curry favor with him. Although it was a cooperative deal, Lu Qianzhou was actually more like her backer. After all, everything she had now depended on him.
Yan Xia pulled out a chair for him and motioned. "Since your stomach is acting up, you should eat something first. My fried steak definitely can't compare with what the chef makes. Do you want to eat a little to fill your stomach?"
Lu Qianzhou didn't make an immediate decision. Yan Xia added, "Don't worry. Although the taste can't compare with the chef's, it definitely won't poison you."
Lu Qianzhou couldn't help but laugh and sat down at the dining table.
Yan Xia was flattered. She had just made a casual suggestion, but she didn't expect him to agree.
Lu Qianzhou ate quietly and finished all the dinner she had made. Yan Xia's cooking seemed to suit his taste. When he took the first bite, Lu Qianzhou was a bit surprised. He had originally thought that as the second daughter of the Cheng family, Yan Xia must have been extremely pampered and never done any housework. He didn't expect that her cooking skills were actually quite good. It wasn't an extremely amazing taste but had a simple and homely flavor.
The maid stepped forward in time and asked, "Mr. Lu, would you like something else for dinner?"
Lu Qianzhou said, "No need."
The maid gave Yan Xia a grateful smile.
In the past, when Lu Qianzhou was in a bad mood or not feeling well, he would fly into a rage. The coldness that seemed to be tangible was enough to freeze the whole house. But he said that if someone could take good care of him and make him comfortable, they could avoid his wrath.
Yan Xia didn't know much about Lu Qianzhou's temper yet, but the old servants in the house knew it very well.
Watching helplessly as all her food was eaten by Lu Qianzhou, Yan Xia sighed and decided to make another portion later.
Wen Liang suddenly entered the restaurant and said to Yan Xia and Lu Qianzhou,
"Mr. Lu, Miss Lu, Peng Zixu has come with Peng Shiyi. They said they want to apologize to Miss Lu."
Yan Xia sneered. Even the eldest son of the Peng family had come. Lu Qianzhou had really hit the nail on the head. They knew to come and apologize now. Where were they before?
Lu Qianzhou looked at her. "Do you want to see them?"
Yan Xia said, "I thought... you would make the decision for me."
Lu Qianzhou was holding a red - wine glass, swirling the liquid in it. He stared expressionlessly through the fully transparent glass window in the direction of the door with an inscrutable look.
"This is your business. You make the decision."
Yan Xia curved her lips. "Tell them to go back. Say I've already gone to bed."
Wen Liang nodded and went out to deliver the message.
Seeing Lu Qianzhou so interested in tasting the wine, Yan Xia also poured herself a glass and waited quietly for what was going on outside.
Lu Qianzhou looked at her through the wine glass. She wasn't impatient at all, with her head down. Thinking of the food he had just eaten, he still had a lingering feeling of satisfaction.
"You really surprise me. How many more skills do you have that I don't know about?"
Lu Qianzhou, a man of few words, actually took the initiative to talk to her. Yan Xia took a moment to realize that he was referring to the dinner just now.
Yan Xia said, "Of course I don't have as many skills as you. Didn't you investigate me thoroughly before cooperating with me?"
He gave a half - smile but didn't answer.
The two sat quietly in the restaurant for a while. Sure enough, Wen Liang came back to report.
"Peng Zixu said that he knows Miss Lu is still angry, but they are sincerely here to apologize. They hope Miss Lu will give them a chance. Fang Jiangyi has also called several times, saying he wants to talk to Miss Lu."
Yan Xia had never seen Fang Jiangyi so humble, begging for forgiveness for anyone. When he was with her sister, he seemed to have an unyielding backbone and never bowed his head in front of others.
Her sister's years of whole - hearted love for him had ultimately been in vain.
She swirled the wine glass on the table. "Fang Jiangyi actually has moments of being humble. All for his new love."
She lowered her head, her eyes slightly focused.
"Please show them in."
Lu Qianzhou had been watching her.
"Mr. Lu, would you like to go out and watch the show?"
In the living room, Wen Liang led Peng Zixu and Peng Shiyi in. Yan Xia was lowering her head, peeling an apple, while Lu Qianzhou was reading the newspaper.
Yan Xia smiled at them. "You two don't need to be so polite. Please sit down."
This was the first time Peng Zixu had seen Yan Xia, and he was immediately stunned by her beauty. He had long heard that the adopted daughter of Lord Lu was extremely beautiful, but he didn't expect her to be so stunning.
Peng Zixu stole several glances at Yan Xia. After he looked away, he didn't forget about the business.
He said with a very proper attitude, "We won't sit. Miss Lu, I'm here on behalf of my father, bringing my sister to apologize. My father said that he asked me to apologize to you on his behalf."