Chapter Eight: Stopping with a Blush

Jiang Mengnan blinked.

At this moment, Lu Yu still wore a baseball cap and a mask, but in his dark eyes, there was an unmistakable sense of unease.

Lu Yu stepped closer, discreetly observing Jiang Mengnan’s emotions.

She seemed unaffected.

He lowered his gaze, removed his hat and mask, and walked inside.

Worried that he had appeared overly enthusiastic earlier, Lu Yu added as he walked, “That was a wedding gift from Qi Yihuai.”

Qi Yihuai knew?

That meant everyone knew.

Jiang Mengnan quickened her pace, trailing behind Lu Yu while muttering, “Weren’t we supposed to keep it a secret? If Qi Gou knows, then Yun Shu does too, followed by Jing Yan. I’ve been guarding this like a fortress according to our agreement, but one Weibo post and suddenly everyone around me knows.”

The two arrived at the restaurant. Lu Yu pulled out two wine glasses and a decanter, handling them with practiced ease.

Unlike the impatient Jiang Mengnan, Lu Yu’s expression remained calm. “Qi Yihuai is my boss. As for the others, they won’t find out.”

Jiang Mengnan didn’t believe him, gazing at him with a look of grievance.

Lu Yu smiled calmly and then asked, “By the way, who is ‘Qi Gou’?”

Jiang Mengnan lowered her head in frustration, choosing not to explain.

Just as she was about to make her escape, a wave of wine fragrance drifted over, compelling Jiang Mengnan to stay seated.

It wasn’t that she loved drinking; rather, the scent was so familiar she couldn’t quite place where she had smelled it before.

Noticing her reaction, Lu Yu pushed a glass towards her. “Interested?”

Jiang Mengnan shook her head. “No, it’s just the scent feels familiar.”

Lu Yu’s hand paused, slowly setting down the glass. “Familiar? The aroma of red wine is broadly similar; without careful attention, it’s impossible to tell them apart.”

Jiang Mengnan shrugged. “Maybe it’s because I don’t usually drink. I’m more sensitive to fruity aromas.”

Lu Yu raised his glass to smell, then looked thoughtfully at the bottle.

Jiang Mengnan imitated him, leaning in to catch the scent.

Putting aside the sense of familiarity, she had to admit—wealthy people’s wine was something else. It carried an air of elegance just in its aroma.

She took a sip. It tasted quite good.

Then she took another, feeling a pleasant warmth rising.

It was almost magical, drawing Jiang Mengnan to sip again and again.

Soon, the glass was empty.

She reached for the bottle but was stopped by Lu Yu. “Not feeling well?”

Recalling her call with Jiang Yulin, Jiang Mengnan shook her head wearily. “I’m fine.”

Lu Yu glanced at her, clearly sensing something was on her mind.

Originally intending to kindly dissuade her, Lu Yu, remembering why he had brought the wine home, silently refilled her glass—again, and again.

Gradually, a rosy flush spread across Jiang Mengnan’s cheeks, and her awareness began to wane.

Touching her heated face, she murmured, “I feel like I’m flying.”

Hearing her babble, Lu Yu leaned in to observe.

Jiang Mengnan looked at Lu Yu’s suddenly enlarged face and giggled foolishly, “Hey, why did your head just get so big?”

Lu Yu rubbed his forehead.

He hadn’t expected Jiang Mengnan to get so drunk after just three glasses of wine.

Just as he was about to comment, she added, “But even with such a big face, you’re still so handsome.”

After speaking, Jiang Mengnan chuckled softly a few more times.

Her pure and sweet laughter infected Lu Yu, and he couldn’t help but smile lightly.

Suddenly, Jiang Mengnan stretched out both hands and boldly cupped Lu Yu’s cheeks.

The abrupt gesture and the warmth of her touch made his heart skip a beat.

Though somewhat flustered, he was reluctant to withdraw her hands.

It was an unprecedented feeling, like an electric current running through his body.

Holding his breath, Lu Yu stared at Jiang Mengnan in a daze.

She leaned closer, gazing into his eyes. “I suddenly feel like you look very much like someone.”

Her eyes seemed to see through Lu Yu, searching for another “him.”

Lu Yu’s throat felt dry. After a few seconds, he asked, “Like who?”

Her clear voice lingered in Jiang Mengnan’s ears like a gentle stream, evoking a distant memory.

She withdrew her hands and settled back in her seat.

Recalling the past, her eyes grew a little forlorn. “He was as pitiful as I am.”

Lu Yu lowered his voice gently. “Would you like to tell me about him?”

In a hazy moment, Jiang Mengnan thought she heard “his” voice.

She looked at Lu Yu, a curve of a smile lifting her brow. “Is that you? Your older brother still bully you? Looks like you listened to me and hid well.”

After spouting a string of disjointed words, Jiang Mengnan’s vision blurred.

Before she could say more, dizziness overcame her, and she collapsed onto the table, drifting into sleep.

Lu Yu tried to rouse her. “Miss Jiang?”

No response.

He called her name again, “Jiang Mengnan?”

She remained motionless, still lying face down.

Jiang Mengnan appeared to be in a deep sleep.

Now Lu Yu faced a dilemma.

Having another woman in the house was already awkward enough.

Now, he had to deal with a woman unconscious from drink.

What was he supposed to do?

He couldn’t help but think of scenes from romantic dramas.

Usually, the male lead would gallantly carry the female lead into the bedroom for a night of ambiguous intimacy.

Imagining that, Lu Yu shook his head in distaste.

At best, their relationship was that of partners—no need for such familiarity.

But leaving her here like this was also out of the question.

Rubbing his temples, Lu Yu sank into thought.

About five minutes later, he came up with a compromise.

Rolling up his sleeves, he went to Jiang Mengnan’s side and nudged her again. “Jiang Mengnan?”

He bent close, greeted only by her steady breathing.

Sighing, he lifted her, cradling her horizontally.

With an expressionless face, Lu Yu carried Jiang Mengnan into the room.

Gently laying her on the bed, he surveyed the surroundings, opened the wardrobe, and fetched some change of clothes for her.

But when he opened a drawer, he blushed and stopped abruptly.

Closing the wardrobe, Lu Yu called the butler. “Send up a strict female housekeeper.”

After hanging up, Lu Yu finally allowed himself to appreciate Jiang Mengnan’s room.

Her luggage was sparse, and she wasn’t one for decoration—it looked rather meager.

The large bedroom suddenly felt empty and desolate.

On the bed, Jiang Mengnan shifted, muttering something.

Lu Yu returned to her side and sat down. “Jiang Mengnan?”

Listening closely, he realized she was murmuring the words “poor little thing.”

Looking at her peaceful sleeping face, faint memories surfaced in Lu Yu’s mind, softening his heart.

It wasn’t until the butler knocked and entered that Lu Yu felt comfortable leaving.

Back in his own room, he collapsed onto the bed, unconsciously touching his cheek, puzzled.

He hadn’t drunk much of the wine—why did his face feel warm too?