Lu Shaoyan felt a bit speechless, but he also knew this was when Lu Keran was at her most vulnerable.
He was rather good at making women cry—though usually in bed.
His hand gently rose to her cheek, his thumb lightly wiping away the tear that had fallen. The touch felt good, whether for slapping or for caressing.
“Don’t cry. Crying doesn’t suit you.”
Lu Keran froze for a moment at his action, and then her tears began to fall again.
“Mmm~,” she murmured in response, yet her tears only increased.
“Brother, if I’m really not Dad’s daughter…”
Lu Shaoyan had no choice but to wipe her delicate, easily flushed face again. After a brief thought, he interrupted, “No matter what the result is, I’m still your brother.”
In truth, he had no patience to keep listening to her repetitive worries. He just wanted to send her away as soon as possible. His tone carried a trace of impatience and indifference, yet Lu Keran looked at him with watery eyes, bit her lip, and nodded firmly. “Mm!”
Lu Shaoyan comforted her half-heartedly for a while longer before saying, “Alright, go back and rest. It’s late.”
To him, her current attitude was better than nothing. A rebellious child—taking revenge on her would only make him seem petty. At most, she had just treated him badly before. Now her anxiety and fear could be considered a bit of interest paid back.
If there was anyone worth truly retaliating against, it was Liu Yun. That woman had genuinely wanted him dead.
Lu Keran had been about to nod, but then she spoke softly, “Brother… I can’t sleep if I go back.”
“Can you… can you stay with me?”
Lu Shaoyan felt a hint of irritation. He hadn’t slept enough, and Lu Keran clearly didn’t realize just how much of an effect her current appearance could have on a man.
There was a reason people said that once basic needs were satisfied, desires followed.
That once proud and somewhat disdainful beautiful face now carried faint tear marks. With a slight flush from the alcohol, and dressed in a thin, gauzy light-colored nightgown, although it covered her well, the fabric clung to her body, subtly outlining a young girl’s allure.
“I’m tired… I haven’t slept well these past few months in Qingshan.”
Lu Keran still looked a little aggrieved. In the past, Lu Shaoyan had always doted on her. But now she also understood that he must have suffered quite a bit in the hospital—he truly seemed exhausted.
Her slender fingers gripped the hem of her nightgown as she hesitated, unsure how to continue. She was genuinely uneasy, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
Lu Shaoyan let out a sigh. “It’s so late. It’s not appropriate for you to stay in my room. If someone sees, there’ll be gossip.”
Instead, his words stirred her defiance. “Let them gossip. They’ll talk sooner or later anyway. I’ll just have them all driven out in the future.”
Only after saying that did she murmur softly, “You’re my brother.”
“You treated me the best before.”
She said it with rare sincerity. Faced with everything that had suddenly happened, Lu Keran realized she had no one to confide in, no one to rely on.
Only Lu Shaoyan wouldn’t mock or despise her. Because he was her brother—and they shared a similar situation. This chapter was taken from novelping.com without permission.
“Brother, let me stay here for a while. Just having you nearby is enough.”
Hearing her words, Lu Shaoyan didn’t insist on sending her away. “Then stay for a bit.”
He lay back against the headboard, and Lu Keran, without any restraint, sat on the edge of his bed.
On one hand, she had no real resistance toward him deep down—they had grown up together. During the period when she had been obedient, she had even followed him everywhere.
On the other hand, his bed was large enough.
Thus, the “siblings” began to talk. Mostly, Lu Keran spoke, while Lu Shaoyan responded with vague, perfunctory sounds.
Just enough to get by.
As drowsiness overtook him, he realized that Lu Keran had already fallen asleep before him.
Looking at her slightly flushed, delicate face, Lu Shaoyan thought for a moment, then lifted her legs onto the bed before lying down himself, no longer bothering with her.
He truly couldn’t hold on any longer.
When he closed his eyes, he didn’t see that Lu Keran, who was lying on her side, opened hers. In the pitch-dark room, her deep, shadowy gaze lingered on him for a long while.
Brother has changed a lot.
He wasn’t as “good” to her as before, but he was still good.
Lu Keran quietly shifted closer to him. Only when she could feel the warmth of his breath did she stop moving.
At a time like this, having Lu Shaoyan by her side felt reassuring.
When morning came, Lu Shaoyan woke feeling refreshed. Just as he was about to get up, he noticed something unusual—a slender leg was draped over his body.
He froze slightly before remembering that Lu Keran had slept in his room last night.
His gaze shifted. Because of her restless sleeping posture, part of her nightgown had ridden up to her waist. A pair of light pink cotton underwear came into view, carrying a faint youthful charm.
Her flat abdomen was smooth, without a trace of excess.
Lu Shaoyan carefully moved his body out from under the pressure of her fair leg, also avoiding certain natural reactions that came with waking in the morning.
Even though he tried not to let his thoughts wander, the soft, lingering sensation of her leg sliding across him remained vivid in his mind.
This girl’s skin really was good. And her legs were long.
Before he could get up, however, Lu Keran seemed to sense his movement. She turned over, and a slender arm draped itself over him again. This story is hosted at g.com.
Only then did Lu Shaoyan understand why such a large bed still felt cramped—he had been pushed to the edge by her.
Having her arm across his chest was one thing, but her leg followed, draping over him as well. He instinctively thought of the dolls she kept—this girl probably liked hugging something with her legs while sleeping.
But soon he felt something off. Her thigh was rubbing against his lower abdomen.
Her small face, eyes still closed, furrowed slightly, as if uncomfortable.
Lu Keran adjusted her leg position, finally finding a bit of comfort. Throughout the night, something had been poking at her, even warm.
Half-asleep, she thought that once she woke up, she would definitely scold the servants. What kind of thing was left on the bed without being cleaned up?
Lu Shaoyan, however, inhaled sharply.
These legs really were smooth.
Watching her relaxed expression as she even seemed to move closer to him, Lu Shaoyan abruptly sat up and, without hesitation, slapped her.
The movement finally woke Lu Keran. She opened her sleepy eyes, her dazed gaze fixed blankly on him.
“You’re awake?”
Only after he spoke did she respond with a dull “Mm.”
“Since you’re awake, go back to your own room.”
Only then did Lu Keran hurriedly pull up the strap of her slipped nightgown.
At the same time, she clearly felt the soreness in her thigh.
Did Brother hit her?
It seemed there was even a faint red mark.
Waking up on Lu Shaoyan’s bed left her feeling oddly unsettled. She attributed it to having drunk a little the night before.
Meanwhile, Lu Shaoyan had already gotten dressed. Seeing her still sitting there in a daze, he said, “What are you staring at? Aren’t you going back to your own room?”
Startled, Lu Keran quickly responded, “Oh… oh,” as she got up, though she couldn’t help sneaking another glance at him.
Brother’s figure is this good?
He even seems to have abs.
She had never noticed before.