All day long, Zhou Wanning felt uneasy.
At noon, Lu Jinzhou sent a WeChat message.
He asked what she had for lunch and if she was still feeling unwell.
Zhou Wanning was annoyed. Why did he have to keep bringing this up?
She didn’t reply.
A moment later, he sent another message that shocked her to the core.
【Send me a photo to check. If it’s not better, you need to go to the hospital.】
Zhou Wanning’s face flushed with heat. Was he insane?
【It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt anymore. No need to go to the hospital.】
【I’ll check tonight. If you’re lying, you’ll be punished.】
Insane, Zhou Wanning cursed him again in her heart.
But he said he would check tonight? Was he coming to her house again?
Her parents weren’t home, but Zhou Leyu—yes, her younger sister was there.
But this morning, Zhou Leyu had been home too, and he had still bullied her in the bathroom without a care.
She carried this anxious feeling with her until the end of the workday.
“Just two more days, and then summer vacation starts,” Teacher Zhang from the same office sighed.
Yes, summer vacation—over a month of holiday. She could buy a ticket and leave.
“This year, I plan to travel abroad for a few days.”
“You’re unmarried and child-free, so you can go anywhere. Not like me—even during the holidays, I have to stay home and take care of the kids.”
Zhou Wanning didn’t join their conversation. She was still thinking about how to avoid Lu Jinzhou.
【I’m waiting for you across from the school. License plate: Hai A758L2】
【Can you wait for me across from where I got out of the car this morning?】
【No.】
Zhou Wanning delayed for a while, waiting until almost everyone had left before slowly walking out of the school gate.
There were no luxury cars across the street, only a Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
She glanced at the license plate—it was the car Lu Jinzhou had mentioned.
She opened the passenger door and got in.
“So slow. The school’s almost closed before you come out.”
“I had some unfinished business.”
Lu Jinzhou didn’t call her out on it. He started the car and asked, “What do you want to eat?”
She didn’t want to eat anything. She had no appetite.
“Whatever.”
“There’s no dish called ‘whatever.'”
Zhou Wanning slumped her shoulders. “I’ll eat whatever you want to eat.”
Her phone rang, temporarily breaking the awkward silence.
It was an unfamiliar number.
“Hello?”
“Wanning, it’s me.” It was Luo Shuhang.
All his contact information had been blocked by Zhou Wanning, so he had to call from a different number.
“Don’t hang up, Wanning. I know I’m not a good person, but tell me—didn’t you entertain President Li properly? Why did he refuse to sign the contract with me?”
Ridiculous. How dare he have the nerve to call and ask about this?
Was she some kind of escort? “Didn’t entertain President Li properly”? She wanted to curse him out so badly.
“What does your business have to do with me? Don’t call me again.” Zhou Wanning angrily pressed the end call button.
Lu Jinzhou glanced at her. “Luo Shuhang?”
“Yes.”
Lu Jinzhou’s expression darkened. That useless man still dared to contact her.
“How does it feel to be sold out by your boyfriend?”
Zhou Wanning glared at him, though of course, she didn’t actually look at him while doing so.
Why did this man have to be so harsh with his words?
“It’s a lesson—a failure to judge people properly.”
Zhou Wanning didn’t reply because she had nothing to say.
After all, no one could have expected Luo Shuhang to do something like this.
“Don’t answer his calls from now on. And if he bothers you again, tell me.”
When she didn’t respond, he asked, “Did you hear me?”
“I heard you.”
The car headed toward a Western restaurant. Lu Jinzhou had already reserved a private room.
The lobby manager spotted Lu Jinzhou and walked over to greet him. “Mr. Lu, your private room is ready.”
This was Zhou Wanning’s first time visiting such a high-end Western restaurant.
The first floor was the lobby, while the second floor was the dining area.
Zhou Wanning pursed her lips. He had already reserved a table, yet he still asked her what she wanted to eat.
After they were seated, Lu Jinzhou handed her the menu.
Zhou Wanning glanced at the French text and ordered two dishes.
Lu Jinzhou wasn’t surprised. He knew Zhou Wanning had taken French as an elective in college and had performed quite well.
Zhou Wanning returned the menu to the waiter, while Lu Jinzhou ordered a few more dishes and some dessert.
A vase of freshly bloomed white roses adorned the table, and the flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the wall.
The intimate atmosphere, Lu Jinzhou’s intense gaze, and Zhou Wanning’s evasive glances created a strange sense of balance in the private room.
“Would you like some wine?”
Zhou Wanning had developed a fear of alcohol and shook her head vigorously. “No, thank you.”
The waiter brought over a decanter and a bottle of red wine. Zhou Wanning fell silent for a moment.
Was this man playing games with her? She had clearly said she didn’t want to drink, yet he still poured her a glass.
“Try it. This red wine has a smooth, mellow flavor.”
Zhou Wanning had no knowledge of wine, nor did she enjoy drinking.
Yet the man across from her raised his glass and watched her expectantly.
Reluctantly, Zhou Wanning picked up her glass and lightly clinked it against his.
She took a small sip before setting the glass down.
Lu Jinzhou let out a soft scoff. “What? Afraid I drugged your wine?”
Afraid? Right now, he was the one she feared the most.
She could never predict what he might do next, leaving her utterly defenseless.
Halfway through dinner, Zhou Leyu sent her a WeChat message, asking why she hadn’t returned home yet.
She replied that she was having dinner with a friend.
Zhou Leyu didn’t respond further.
After dinner, Zhou Wanning said, “Le Yu is still at home and probably hasn’t eaten yet. I should go back and make dinner for her.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she tried to leave but was pulled back by Lu Jinzhou.
“Is that so? If she hasn’t eaten, I’ll buy dinner and bring it to her.”
Lu Jinzhou called Zhou Leyu right in front of Zhou Wanning.
“Have you had dinner yet?”
“Mm, I’ve eaten. What would you like? I’ll buy it and bring it over.”
“Alright, wait for me at home.”
After hanging up, he sent a message to his assistant.
Zhou Wanning looked at him in disbelief. “You’re coming to my house?”
He pinched her chin and gave it a gentle shake. “I’m going to see your sister. What’s wrong? You don’t want me to?”
This man liked to ask rhetorical questions, but he wasn’t actually seeking an answer.
Lu Jinzhou’s driver arrived in a Maybach to pick them up, while his assistant had already delivered the food Zhou Leyu wanted to the entrance of her apartment building.
“Let’s go.” Lu Jinzhou took the dinner from his assistant and walked ahead.
Zhou Wanning followed behind him, knowing there was no way to avoid this. Lu Jinzhou wasn’t going to leave.
When they reached the door, Lu Jinzhou motioned for her to open it.
Her hand trembled as she held the key, so he reached from behind and steadied it, his warm breath brushing against her neck. “Don’t panic.”
Zhou Leyu stood at the doorway, looking at Zhou Wanning in surprise. “Why are you with Jinzhou…”
“We ran into each other downstairs.” Zhou Wanning lowered her head to change into slippers and hurriedly retreated to her room.
In her panic, she didn’t even notice she had put on the wrong slippers.
“Thank you, Jinzhou. You’re so kind.”
Zhou Wanning’s bedroom door slammed shut.
She had made up her mind—she wouldn’t leave her room as long as Lu Jinzhou was there. Feeling uneasy, she went back and locked the door from the inside.
With headphones on while scrolling through videos, she couldn’t hear any sounds at all.
But as she kept scrolling, she grew drowsy. Forgetting to change her clothes, she fell asleep right by the edge of the bed.
A warm sensation touched her lips.
She opened her eyes and, in the moonlight, saw Lu Jinzhou’s wicked face, staring at her like a sinister, damp male ghost.