A warm breath brushed against his neck, and the man’s mind seemed to explode, instantly going blank.
The fleeting intimacy had been too brief, yet the softness and warmth lingered, like a tiny flame slowly igniting in his chest.
The heat wrapped around him, infused with a subtle sensuality. The already scorching summer air seemed coated with oil, and the little flame surged from his heart outward, so intense he felt suffocated.
“You…” he stepped back, hastily restraining his emotions. “What are you doing?”
His cheeks flushed, and his stiff voice betrayed the trace of confusion in his eyes, visible even to Yutao.
She stepped closer, shortening the distance between them, eyes playful yet daring, staring at his flushed face. “Giving you a gift, of course.”
The subtle fragrance around her intensified as she neared. Lu Yunyang held his breath, gritting his teeth. “This… is a gift?”
What kind of gift was this? This was clearly…
A display of mischief!
“It doesn’t matter,” Yutao said, smiling, eyes curved like crescent moons. “You said you liked whatever I gave you anyway, right?”
Lu Yunyang: …
His face reddened further, his expression stiffening. Yutao felt a thrill of triumph in her gaze. “I asked you earlier, and you said you’d accept it before I sent it.”
Lu Yunyang was completely taken aback.
Yes, he had said those words earlier, but he never imagined she meant this as a gift!
Their relationship had long ended; they were supposed to keep their distance. If anyone had seen such closeness, the consequences were unpredictable.
He could be a man, but she… a girl…
“Su Yutao, don’t be ridiculous,” he said, turning to walk away, his tone a little cold. “This doesn’t do you any good.”
His brows were sharp, a little intimidating, but Yutao knew he was just concerned. “I’m not being ridiculous.”
She murmured, “I know what I’m doing. No need to worry about me.”
Lu Yunyang frowned. Yutao continued, “You said those things earlier. If my actions upset you, then get revenge—just kiss me back!”
Her long eyelashes fluttered gently, a hint of shyness on her face.
She was already beautiful, and today her lips were tinted with red, adding a seductive charm that left him flustered.
Lu Yunyang suppressed the sudden agitation in his chest, knowing that continuing this topic would benefit no one.
He calmed his expression, lowering his gaze to her, then returned to the previous conversation. “What did you want me to promise you just now?”
No matter what it was, he would not be deceived again.
Yutao’s eyes lit up, her voice cheerful. “To have you accompany me for a meal!”
Lu Yunyang: …
He suddenly exhaled in relief.
She didn’t notice his unusual reaction, just smiled. “It’s on me. Thank you for the bone-setting liquid.”
Before she finished speaking, the lounge door swung open with a “bang,” and a man in a white coat appeared.
“Doctor Lu, you’re here?” The man’s eyes landed on the beautiful, almost ethereal girl beside Lu Yunyang, voice surprised. “Who… who is this?”
He walked closer, gaze fixed on the girl. “Is she… your patient?”
Lu Yunyang knew he meant himself, yet his gaze didn’t leave Yutao for a second, causing discomfort.
He, being a man, immediately recognized the look and what it implied. He was about to respond when the girl spoke first: “No, she’s a distant cousin.”
Yutao knew Lu Yunyang would naturally introduce her as his “younger sister” to others. She disliked “younger sister” even more than “cousin,” so she spoke first.
“A cousin, huh?” The man smiled at Lu Yunyang. “Doctor Lu, why didn’t you introduce such a beautiful cousin to everyone?”
The newcomer was Zheng Shaodong, from the same department as Lu Yunyang. They often shared shifts. He was competent and single, with bright eyes that hadn’t left Yutao since he arrived, making Lu Yunyang uneasy.
A gentleman shouldn’t stare so blatantly at a girl.
Lu Yunyang gave a displeased curl of his lips, voice cold. “I’ll introduce her another time.”
He then looked at Yutao. “Weren’t you going to eat?”
The sudden topic change caught her off guard. She hadn’t replied when Lu Yunyang addressed the man again: “We’re going out to eat. Talk later.”
He then looked at Yutao. “Let’s go. If we wait too long, the good stuff will be gone.”
Yutao followed him outside, watching his tall frame, and finally realized, eyes lighting up. “You agreed to eat with me?”
Lu Yunyang glanced at her and nodded.
Suddenly, she remembered something. “Wait a moment.”
“Where?” he asked, gaze dark.
“To get the tickets.” She had wanted Lin Lifang to get a few tickets earlier, but Lin Lifang was too busy and left.
This world required tickets for everything. Coming from the countryside, she had none, and buying them was nearly impossible.
“I have no tickets,” she complained. “Everything here needs tickets. So annoying.”
Her pouting added a touch of coquettish charm.
Lu Yunyang raised a brow, walking. “No need. I’ll get them for you.”
Yutao frowned. “That’s not right.”
She thought for a moment, then looked up at him, playful. “Or… I pay, you get the tickets?”
Persistent, wasn’t she?
Lu Yunyang’s lips twitched. “I’ll owe you this time.”
Those simple words carried another meaning: there would be a next time. Yutao immediately understood and agreed. “Fine, I’ll be ready next time.”
Suddenly, a small figure rushed forward.
Yutao couldn’t dodge in time, stumbled, and fell backward.
Just as she thought she would collide with the ground, someone grabbed her wrist, pulling her sideways into a chest.
Startled, she realized the little child had already run off without apologizing.
“What kind of kid!” she exclaimed, clutching her chest, only to notice she was pressed against a man’s chest.
She looked up, meeting his gaze.
From this angle, the slight rise of his Adam’s apple was strikingly sensual, making her feel an urge to lean up.
Though the surrounding crowd bustled with noise, it felt as if her breath had stopped.
The man’s hand held her shoulder firmly, warmth spreading slowly into her chest.
Yutao swallowed hard.
Suddenly, a voice said, “Sorry,” breaking her flustered thoughts.
Lu Yunyang immediately released her and turned to a woman who had come forward. Coldly: “Hospitals are crowded, with pregnant women and the elderly. Watch your child. Don’t let him run around.”
“What if someone gets hurt?”
The woman shivered under his icy gaze. Seeing Yutao unharmed, she hurriedly nodded and ran off.
Lu Yunyang’s frown deepened as he watched Yutao’s dark eyes dart mischievously, clearly plotting something.
“Are you okay?”
“Nothing. Just thinking.”
He asked casually as he walked. “Thinking about what?”
“About food,” she replied slowly, following him.
He hadn’t expected that after being bumped, she would still worry about food, leaving him speechless.
“At the restaurant, you’ll see the menu.”
Yutao stared at him, lips curling. “But the things I want might not be on the menu…”
He seemed not to hear her. Outside the hospital, he said, “Then eat whatever there is.”
She acknowledged with a soft “oh.”
The afternoon sun blazed. The asphalt burned underfoot, their shadows long. She followed him, stepping into that stretch of shadow toward the restaurant.
It was her first time at this restaurant. Market day and off-work hour made it crowded, but it didn’t affect her mood. Being able to eat with him was enough.
A small blackboard near the serving window listed today’s dishes in messy handwriting. Yutao couldn’t read it.
Lu Yunyang read aloud, then asked, “What do you want to eat?”
She looked at him. “Which one’s tasty?”
“The meat is best,” he said.
She smiled knowingly. “I agree.”
After everything just now, she kept smiling like that, leaving Lu Yunyang slightly bewildered.
They ordered three dishes and two sodas.
The restaurant was packed, tables crowded. Yutao wanted to eat slowly but couldn’t. Various aromas mixed, overwhelming her.
What should have been an hour-long meal ended in twenty minutes.
Having eaten fine food in her past life at the palace, she thought this restaurant’s dishes were mediocre—meat poorly marinated, overcooked. Better than this, she could cook herself.
“I’ll cook for you next time!” Outside, she laughed, eyes sparkling. “I’m much better than here.”
Lu Yunyang didn’t take her seriously. Checking his watch, it was almost one—he still had a shift.
“Are you going to Yuqing?” he asked.
She was surprised. “How do you know?”
He smiled faintly. “It’s the last day of the midterm. Who wouldn’t know?”
She pouted, feeling urged to leave. “Alright, I’ll go to school.”
He watched her quietly, then after a while, took something from his pocket.
Handing it to her, he said, “Take this for now.”
Yutao took it. Tickets of all kinds gleamed in the sunlight.
She looked at them, then at him. “For me?”
He nodded lightly. “I have to go to work.”
After he left, Yutao looked down at the tickets: cloth tickets, meat tickets, and others needed for daily life.
She paused, then smiled suddenly.
These weren’t just tickets.
This was Lu Yunyang’s heart.
Yutao: Come on, try to get back at me~
Lu Yunyang: …