“What are you doing?” Yutao glared at him in displeasure, trying to wrench free from his grip, but the man was too strong—she couldn’t move at all.
“Angry?” Lu Yunyang looked at her, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
Seeing him smile made Yutao feel uneasy. Of course she was angry—her face was burning with it—and he had the nerve to ask such a question.
Deliberate!
“What am I angry about?” Yutao lifted her chin slightly, her tone so sour it almost hurt her own teeth. “What grounds do I have to be angry?”
Of course, as a person to Lu Yunyang, she had no right to get mad. Otherwise, it would just look like unreasonable fussing.
“Then why are you pouting?” Lu Yunyang asked, staring at her flushed lips with a teasing smile. Earlier, he had been wondering whether her words yesterday were sincere, but seeing her reaction now, he felt less worried.
Yutao instinctively covered her mouth, then let go. “Who says I can’t pout?”
She tried to tug at her wrists a few times, but still couldn’t pull them free. “Let go. What’s this pulling and tugging supposed to look like?”
“Don’t be mad.” The man’s gaze softened, the harsh lines of his face gentling slightly. “Grandpa called yesterday, said I needed to come back for something. I figured the holiday was approaching anyway, and I also brought some herbs from the storage for you, so I came back.”
“I arrived home, and you were already here,” he added. “I really don’t know what this matchmaking business is about.”
Yutao tilted her head, reluctantly reminding him, “So what? In the end, you still have to go…”
Before she could finish, his wrist moved lightly, and she was suddenly pulled into his embrace, colliding firmly against him.
Her heart jumped. “What—what are you doing?” she exclaimed.
“Taking revenge on you,” Lu Yunyang murmured in a hoarse voice, warm and soft against her. “You said yesterday that if I was unhappy, I could take revenge.”
Leaning against him, Yutao felt the firmness of his body—real and scorching—and a wave of warmth slowly spreading from him.
This felt different from their embrace yesterday. This time, he had acted first, holding her tighter.
She stopped struggling, letting herself be held, feeling his breath and gentle warmth.
Her thoughts swirled chaotically. Yutao swallowed lightly and slowly looked up at him. “Just so you know, I’m not forcing you… don’t misunderstand—”
Before she could finish, he suddenly lowered his head, lightly pressing his lips to hers in a teasing nibble.
Yutao made a soft sound. Before she could savor it, he gently moved to the side and nibbled her ear.
His movements were slightly clumsy but gentle. Yutao drew in a sharp breath, clenching her teeth, fingers curling.
Oh my god!
How did this man know her earlobe was the most sensitive spot? And he was biting it so directly!
She hunched her shoulders, barely able to breathe, completely dizzy.
At this moment, the world seemed to quiet down. The air was thick, and all she could hear was the pounding of her own heart.
His long fingers cupped the back of her head, and he whispered near her ear, “Can you stop being angry?”
His voice was deep, magnetic, making her tremble.
Yutao leaned against him, voice hesitant. “I-I’m not… not angry anymore.”
She was almost breathless—how could she even stay angry?
“I won’t go to the matchmaking,” Lu Yunyang said, suddenly stepping back, hands on her shoulders. He looked into her dazed eyes, then leaned down to kiss her again. “And I won’t just casually meet anyone.”
His words delighted Yutao. She stared at his moist red lips and rolling Adam’s apple, swallowing hard, still too stunned to respond, until the sound of “clack, clack” brought her back to reality.
Both of them turned, only to see members of the Lu Family pushing the door open.
Yutao froze, instinctively hoping they hadn’t seen what just happened.
Then irritation flared. Why did they always show up at the worst possible moment, like clockwork?
She felt something shoved into her hand by Lu Yunyang.
“Take this for now,” he said, raising an eyebrow and whispering, “I’ll come find you later.”
She smelled the herbal scent in her hand, probably the medicine he mentioned earlier.
Song Meihua noticed her son giving something to Su Yutao again and whispered something to Lu Zhijun, their movements intimate. Her face darkened immediately, though she didn’t outwardly show it to Lu Zhijun.
“Yutao, why did you come suddenly today?” Lu Zhijun asked, smiling. “Have you eaten lunch?”
“I-I did,” Yutao stammered, cheeks burning. She was certain her face was extremely red. “I ate before coming.”
Lu Yunzhao seemed to see through her thoughts. “Why is your face so red? What did you do?”
Yutao froze. Lu Yunyang beside her slowly said, “Looks like she’s a bit overheated, came to get medicine from me.”
Yutao: …
No need to curse me like that! Honestly!
“Yeah,” she said, shooting him a glare with the corner of her eyes, then smiled. “It’s too hot; even walking a little makes me breathless.”
“Then go home quickly,” Lu Yunzhao said, clearly not liking to see her flushed like that. What if his brother got seduced?
Being effectively dismissed, Yutao huffed, but then remembered something and smiled at Lu Yunzhao: “I mainly came to see you.”
“See me?” Lu Yunzhao’s eyes widened. Seeing the playful light at her corners, he felt it was not good. “For what?”
Yutao glanced at the others, then pulled her aside, choosing her words carefully. “I heard your brother is going to a matchmaking?”
Indeed, the family had been arranging a match for her brother, but this was neither Lu Yunzhao’s business nor hers.
She grew wary. “What does my brother’s matchmaking have to do with you?”
“Nothing to do with me, but it has to do with him,” Yutao smiled. “Don’t forget, he also has that girl who sends him flowers.”
Lu Yunzhao wasn’t foolish. He didn’t fall for her words so easily. “How do you know it’s not the same girl?”
“Of course I know,” Yutao said with a teasing smile. “If the family had matched him with that girl, he would’ve brought her home himself. Otherwise, why call him back for a matchmaking?”
Lu Yunzhao hesitated, realizing she made a point. If the match was truly the girl who sent flowers, why would grandpa trick him into coming back first?
“Now is the age of free love. People should choose their own happiness,” Yutao coaxed slowly. “What if your grandfather mismatches them? What then?”
Lu Yunzhao felt a sliver of clarity. His brother already had the flower-sending girl. Sending him to another match would be like sabotaging love—a kind of torture.
Seeing her eager, scheming expression, Yutao pressed further: “You should stand with your brother, resist this arranged marriage, let him choose freely!”
“And if it’s your turn later, your brother will stand with you too!”
Lu Yunyang had agreed earlier not to go, but the patriarch of the Lu Family was domineering, and Lu Yunyang tended to obey elders. If Lu Yunzhao could stand with him, it would be better than him facing it alone.
“Do I need you to tell me?” Lu Yunzhao said indignantly, looking at Su Yutao. No one cared about Lu Yunyang more than she did!
“But…” She turned her head, wary eyes on Su Yutao. “Why are you so concerned about my brother? Are you… interested in him?”
“Not at all!” Yutao’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “I just think Doctor Lu, someone so outstanding, shouldn’t suffer through a matchmaking ordeal.”
For some reason, even though Yutao spoke well, Lu Yunzhao felt she wasn’t entirely innocent—something seemed off.
Hadn’t she always refused to get involved with the Lu Family? Why was she suddenly so proactive in his brother’s affairs?
“I won’t say more…” Yutao stopped at the right moment. “Don’t talk about the flower girl. When the time is right, your brother will speak himself.”
“I know!” Lu Yunzhao snorted. “No need to teach me!”
Yutao felt satisfied. She glanced toward the main hall, where Lu Yunyang was surrounded by three other Lu Family members, not looking their way.
“I’ll go home to make the medicine!” she said with a smile and left.
Lu Yunzhao watched her leave, oddly pleased, feeling increasingly tricked by her. But on reflection, she hadn’t exactly been wrong… maybe he was overthinking.
Back inside, he saw his mother handing his brother several photos. “I called you back because of you,” Song Meihua explained.
“These three girls all have jobs. You can choose whoever you like.” She was determined to find someone for her son; at twenty-six, others already had children, and he was still single—a joke in her eyes.
Lu Yunyang frowned, uninterested. “You called me back just to look at three girls?”
Song Meihua noticed his displeasure. “This girl happened to be in the neighboring production team today. You’re off tomorrow anyway, so I called you back.”
“Mom, I’m busy.” Lu Yunyang stood, voice cold. “I see patients and handle tasks every day. Don’t use this excuse to trick me home.”
Lu Zhijun cleared his throat. “You said yesterday afternoon you weren’t busy.”
“That was because you said it was urgent,” Lu Yunyang’s gaze darkened. “Even if I’m not busy, I can’t come home every time for minor matters.”
“Marriage isn’t minor!” Song Meihua exclaimed. “You’re twenty-six. At your age, whose children aren’t running around?”
“I don’t compare with others!” Lu Yunyang’s voice was cold. “Why must everything be compared? Even if I must compare, except for marriage, can anyone surpass me?”
Lu Yunzhao saw his face turn ashen, eyes icy. Her brother was angry—terrifying!
Song Meihua was speechless. His words weren’t false. Apart from marriage, no one in his age group could compare.
“I’m doing this for your own good!” she protested. “While I’m still young, I’ll help raise your kids!”
“Your mother’s right,” Father Lu Zhongzhan added. “Grandpa isn’t in great health. If you can marry, marry soon. We can help raise your children.”
Lu Zhijun coughed harshly, glaring at Lu Zhongzhan—this son dared to curse him?
“Grandpa’s health isn’t bad!” Lu Yunzhao immediately interjected, glaring at Song Meihua. “Mom, don’t sabotage love! My brother already likes someone!”
Suddenly, she realized something and covered her mouth…
Yutao: useless teammate!!!!