When sick, one becomes like a child who loves to act coquettishly. In such a big room, having someone around would make one feel less lonely.
Yan Xia stared blankly at the mottled light and shadow on the ceiling. How unpredictable life was! She had never imagined that one day she would be sharing a bed with Lu Qianzhou.
Especially with such an intimate act as holding hands, which seemed to carry some kind of mysterious signal.
Beside her, Lu Qianzhou was breathing evenly. With his eyes closed and the bangs on his forehead damp with sweat, he seemed to be asleep.
He had been in a volatile mood today, but Yan Xia looked so much like someone. Her soothing words and the warmth she radiated seemed to replace that person and allow him to fall asleep peacefully. It was as if that person had always been by his side and had never left.
After waiting for a while and seeing that Lu Qianzhou showed no more signs of movement, Yan Xia guessed that he was asleep. So she moved her body and tried to pull her hand back. Just as she was halfway through, his tired yet warning voice sounded.
"Put it back."
She was stunned. She hadn't expected that he was still awake. So she obediently put her hand back.
Yan Xia was drowsy. Come to think of it, Lu Qianzhou's hand was really warm, like a stove.
With his eyes closed, Lu Qianzhou started chatting with her. "Cheng Yan Xia, if the Cheng family hadn't encountered this trouble, what would you be doing now?"
Originally... Yan Xia thought groggily. She had originally planned to pursue a doctoral degree.
She said, "I would continue my studies."
She really missed the old days. Her sister and father had protected her so well that she had never seen the evils of the world. It was not until she saw her family's life and death unknown and the complete downfall of the Cheng family that she began to doubt herself. Why had she been able to live so naively and carefree in the past?
The two of them lay side by side on the bed, holding hands and chatting.
"Your family has a rather poor eye for people." Lu Qianzhou suddenly said.
Yan Xia was taken aback. Sometimes, being simple and kind was indeed a mistake.
"Are you talking about Fang Jiangyi?"
It couldn't all be blamed on them. It was just that he had disguised himself so well. Who could have predicted that someone would lie in wait for three or four years for their own goals? Anyone would have been touched by his perseverance.
Lu Qianzhou suddenly felt ironic. "You really are a young lady living in a honeypot, knowing nothing."
He hoped that the day when she learned the truth wouldn't be too devastating for her.
After saying that, he coughed violently several times.
Yan Xia put her emotions aside. "You're coughing again. Stop talking."
In the second half of the night, Lu Qianzhou tried to throw off the quilt several times, but was always stopped by Yan Xia. Perhaps she thought it was too troublesome to keep covering him with the quilt and was afraid that his cold would recur. So she simply pressed her arm on him through the quilt, as if embracing him.
Feeling something pressing on his chest, Lu Qianzhou opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a slender arm.
He turned his head and saw a person lying beside his shoulder. Her short hair was messily scattered on her cheeks, and she was breathing heavily.
Lu Qianzhou stared at her for a long time.
She had slept on the quilt all night, pinning him down like an octopus to prevent him from moving around. Her short hair was in a mess, and her small face was fair. Under the sunlight, the blood vessels under her skin could be clearly seen.
Having seen so many fake and deliberate things for so long, perhaps it had been a long time since he had seen someone with such a natural charm. He suddenly hooked his lips and smiled.
He threw her hands and feet aside and then turned over and got out of bed.
Yan Xia woke up to the sound of water in the bathroom. She bounced up from the bed. Just as she was about to leave Lu Qianzhou's room first, she saw him come out of the bathroom wrapped in a bath towel and drying his hair.
His muscles were well - defined, and his abs were obvious.
One had to admit that this man was top - notch in both figure and looks.
Seeing that he was in good spirits, Yan Xia finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Have you taken your temperature? Has the fever gone?"
Lu Qianzhou looked at her.
Yan Xia walked to the table and stuffed the thermometer into his hand. "The thermometer is here. Take your temperature. If you feel uncomfortable, just tell the servant. I have to leave first."
She had work to do today.
Instead of taking his temperature, Lu Qianzhou took out a cigarette from the cigarette case and said, "Try to stabilize Fang Jiangyi for now. Don't even think about the Xinghaiwan project. It's impossible. The most important thing about this project is to get the reclamation approval from Wang Keding. You can give it a try."
Yan Xia turned around. He seemed to have regained his energy, completely forgetting the lingering warmth from last night and returning to his aloof self.
She understood. "So that's why you introduced me to him last time."
Lu Qianzhou gave a soft grunt.
When leaving the villa, Yan Xia ran into a person head - on. It should have been the first time she had seen him, but the other person recognized her. He even nodded and called her Miss Cheng, as if he wasn't at all surprised to see her here with Lu Qianzhou.
As they passed by each other, Yan Xia turned to look at him.
The maid came up and greeted him warmly, calling him "Mr. Mu."
Since he could find his way here, he must be an acquaintance of Lu Qianzhou.
The maid led Mu Rui to the second floor. Lu Qianzhou, wearing a bathrobe and holding a cigarette between his lips, was standing by the window watching Yan Xia get in the car and leave.
"Mr. Lu, Mr. Mu is here."
Mu Rui entered the room and followed his gaze. He couldn't help but laugh.
"You're still staring. The car is gone."
Mu Rui was very relaxed in front of him. "I called you out to play basketball yesterday, planning to fight to the end. Who would have thought that you left early because you weren't feeling well. How was last night? You didn't lose your temper and hurt the people around you, did you?"
Lu Qianzhou gave a perfunctory response.
Mu Rui said seriously, "Don't be perfunctory with me. You're in a very bad state right now."
Irritated, Lu Qianzhou threw the thing in his hand away and turned around to go to the study. Mu Rui followed him the whole way.
"Have you taken your medicine on time?" Mu Rui asked.
Lu Qianzhou rubbed his temples. "I'm fine."
Mu Rui thought for a while and didn't pursue the matter further. Instead, he analyzed on his own.
"I've summarized several special days for you when you need to control your emotions. Yesterday was a special day, but it seems that you're in good spirits today."
Lu Qianzhou suddenly stabbed the cigarette in his hand into the ashtray.
"Was Miss Cheng here last night too?"
"Yes."
"You were with her?"
"Yes."
Lu Qianzhou was still as concise as ever.
Mu Rui laughed and nodded understandingly. "Then I'll get to the point. It's about the Xinghaiwan project."
As he spoke, he kept an eye on Lu Qianzhou's actions and emotional changes. Finally, he said,
"Changling's current plan is already very perfect, and they've also contacted Wang Keding. He has received a lot of benefits from Changling in recent years, so he's easy to talk to. However... probably after hearing the recent news about the Lu family, he asked for something."
Lu Qianzhou paused and looked up sharply.
Mu Rui didn't hesitate and said directly, "He wants Miss Cheng."
Lu Qianzhou's movements stopped for a few more seconds, and he squinted his eyes.
"What did you say?"
"Wang Keding said he wants Miss Cheng." Mu Rui sat on the chair, leaned back, and said, "It's up to you to decide, but actually you don't have to make this decision. He probably thought that Lu Sheng was the apple of your uncle's eye, so he's using the reclamation approval to hold you back."