The moment the question left her lips, Lu Meng regretted it.
She and Lu Bofan had no feelings for each other before marriage; they had chosen to be together because they were compatible.
Throughout this marriage, she had remained in a state of calm acceptance.
The many frictions she had expected never occurred. Instead, she and Lu Bofan were surprisingly well-matched—in every aspect.
She hadn't refused his intimate advances, and at certain moments, she even craved them, savored them, and found herself wanting more.
If the question were directed at her, Lu Meng thought, she had a very certain answer in her heart—
Yes, she quite liked kissing Lu Bofan.
But she felt this was perhaps a purely physical fondness.
Moreover, apart from kissing during intimacy, they never did so at other times. Even the goodnight kiss only started tonight.
So she thought Lu Bofan must feel the same way—that it was merely physical fondness, with no other factors involved.
"Should I not like it?"
Lu Bofan's answer pulled her back to her thoughts. The man's fingertip rubbed her lips with gentle pressure, his dark gaze calm and warm: "You're my wife. I like…"
He paused briefly, then continued slowly: "I like kissing you. Is that not allowed? Or would you find it repulsive?"
Lu Meng instinctively refuted: "No."
Her heart was racing wildly, and she even had the illusion that what he liked wasn't just kissing her.
"If you don't like it, we can keep our distance."
He was extremely considerate. Lu Meng's slender white fingers tapped the man's Adam's apple with slight displeasure: "Saying that, but why are you still holding me?"
Lu Bofan's Adam's apple bobbed up and down: "Because you haven't answered yet."
Lu Meng took a deep breath, hooked her arms around the man's neck, and softly uttered two words: "Hyp-o-crite."
Lu Bofan paid no mind to her accusation. His deep eyes leisurely traced her red lips, as if he had kissed every inch of her, yet he still asked with restraint: "So, do you like kissing a hypocrite like me?"
They had kissed so many times before, and still he asked with such a sanctimonious air.
Lu Meng's hands exerted a little force, forcing the man to lower his head.
Unlike the deep kiss from before, she merely pressed her lips lightly against his, her eyelashes trembling unconsciously. She didn't answer the question directly, only said with a hint of pride: "It's passable, I suppose."
Lu Bofan's heart felt as if it had been gently tugged. He tenderly captured the woman's lips.
Lu Meng's breathing grew a little unsteady. She tilted her face up and, with uneven breath, let out a hint of complaint: "If I really pass my cold on to you, you can't blame me."
A smile flickered in Lu Bofan's eyes. He gradually kissed toward her clean eyelids, as if offering a hint of reassurance: "I won't blame you."
"Sleep now. Goodnight."
Just as Lu Bofan had said, he had an excellent constitution and wasn't infected.
Fortunately, Lu Meng's cold didn't worsen either.
Lu Bofan had to go on a business trip unexpectedly. During the two days he was away, Lu Meng's life didn't change much.
After finishing her classes on Friday afternoon, she drove to the airport herself to pick up her senior fellow apprentice.
She and Tang Lingyi had the same advisor. Later, when Lu Meng went abroad to study, Tang Lingyi was also in the United States, and the two gradually grew closer.
Tang Lingyi hadn't been able to make it to her wedding, so this time when she came back, she had specially brought a gift—though it was for Lu Meng alone, a particularly beautiful pair of earrings.
Lu Meng loved them and even took off her original earrings to put on the new ones.
Tang Lingyi took a sip of coffee and asked about her newlywed life: "I remember when you were studying abroad, quite a few people pursued you, but you didn't take a liking to any of them."
"Suddenly saying you wanted to get married really gave me a fright."
Lu Meng was beautiful, from a good family, wealthy, not arrogant or spoiled, always smiling, and also very smart and accomplished.
A girl like that was very popular, so when she received the invitation, she had even entertained some not-so-good thoughts, thinking she was being coerced by her family.
Lu Meng smiled: "He's quite suitable."
Tang Lingyi looked her up and down. Actually, from her state alone, one could tell her life hadn't changed much—if anything, it had only developed in a better direction.
She looked quite happy.
"Oh, right."
Tang Lingyi hadn't forgotten the main matter: "I want to pick out some more gifts for my family. Would you be able to accompany me?"
Lu Meng readily agreed: "Of course."
After finishing afternoon tea, the two went to buy gifts. Tang Lingyi wanted to pick a men's fragrance, but she didn't know much about them, and almost instinctively, Lu Meng thought of Lu Bofan.
He always carried a pleasant, dependable scent of fir.
As Tang Lingyi struggled to choose, Lu Meng's gaze swept to one of the bottles—Berlin Cold Fir.
"How about this one?"
Tang Lingyi heard her suggestion, smelled it on a test strip, then suddenly leaned toward her in confusion, sniffing with a twitch of her nose.
Lu Meng didn't quite understand her behavior, but Tang Lingyi had already looked away. She looked at the fragrance in her hand, as if casually remarking: "The scent on you is a bit similar to this one. Have you taken a liking to this fragrance recently?"
Lu Meng was stunned for a moment. She instinctively smelled her own hand—aside from the fir scent, there was also the perfume she usually wore, as if blended together into a unique, pleasant fragrance.
After marriage, she and Lu Bofan shared a walk-in closet.
Though men's and women's sides were separated left and right, scents still mingled.
She had once seen a post saying that when couples are together for a long time, their scents become similar.
So she and Lu Bofan…
Tang Lingyi picked out a few other things, thinking of choosing a tie for her cousin as well.
That day at the Lu residence, Lu Bofan had easily seen through her favorite brand, and Lu Meng had also quietly observed him.
Most of the man's closet was haute couture.
Lu Bofan had also said he never personally went to choose—brands would deliver to Nanshan Courtyard on a regular basis.
The mall they came to today happened to have the brand from Lu Bofan's wardrobe.
Tang Lingyi followed her in, but instead of going straight to browsing, she squinted and sized her up: "You and your husband have a pretty good relationship?"
Lu Meng's gaze paused, and she didn't deny it: "That obvious?"
Tang Lingyi crossed her arms: "You even remember the brands he likes to use, and that perfume earlier—it's one he likes too, isn't it?"
Lu Meng tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the new earrings swaying gently. "After spending enough time together, you're bound to notice these things."
She had seen this brand's newly released style a couple of days ago, swiped her finger to save it, and actually thought it would suit Lu Bofan quite well.
But after looking around, it wasn't available anywhere. Tang Lingyi was browsing elsewhere, so Lu Meng walked over to ask the sales associate.
"Sorry, ma'am, this style is currently out of stock. If you'd like, we can place a reservation for you."
This piece was a limited edition haute couture item. Lu Meng didn't think much about it and agreed.
Tang Lingyi came over to pay, glancing casually. "You're buying a tie for someone special?"
"I just want to thank him."
Lu Meng had already prepared her excuse—after all, she'd been sick a few days ago, and Lu Bofan had taken very thoughtful care of her.
Tang Lingyi smiled meaningfully. "A thank-you gift worth six figures. President Lu is truly blessed."
In fact, the clothes and watches in Lu Bofan's wardrobe were each worth far more than six figures.
Lu Meng felt a bit embarrassed at being teased. She signed the reservation form with a flourish and muttered under her breath, "Anyway, I have money."
Tang Lingyi noticed her wedding ring and had been wanting to ask for a while. "Where's your pink diamond?"
"It's put away. It's inconvenient to wear it to class, so I switched to this one."
When Tang Lingyi learned it was the work of that designer and estimated the price, she was silent for a long time before saying, "As long as you rich people are happy."
Knowing she was coming back, Lu Meng had booked a private chef's restaurant in advance, but she didn't expect to run into Lu Bofan.
The man, surrounded by admirers like stars around the moon, had a cold, imposing aura. He was conversing with those around him with measured distance when his casual gaze suddenly collided with hers.
Lu Meng didn't go over to him, and Lu Bofan also noticed the friend by her side.
Only after the woman's silhouette disappeared did he message someone one-handed: 【I just landed.】
Lu Meng was indeed wondering why he'd returned early—wasn't his flight supposed to be tomorrow?
She replied distractedly: 【Are things in Haicheng taken care of?】
1: 【Yeah, I wanted to come back early to keep you company, but they held me up. It wasn't that I deliberately didn't tell you.】
Lu Meng did feel a strange discomfort in her heart. Reading his message, she replied awkwardly: 【I have plenty of people to keep me company.】
Lu Bofan had been in a foul mood from all the socializing, but reading her message, his cold features finally softened considerably.
1: 【Do you have more plans with your friend later? Want to ride back in my car?】
Lu Meng thought for a moment and asked Tang Lingyi, "Do you want to take my car later?"
She had just returned to the country and hadn't fully settled everything yet.
Tang Lingyi had also seen Lu Bofan earlier and readily agreed.
After the two finished eating, Lu Meng went to the car to retrieve what she'd bought.
Lu Bofan's car was parked not far away. She got in, placed the gift bag casually by her legs, and didn't rush him.
But what she didn't know was that the moment she got in the car, the driver sent Lu Bofan a message.
In the private room, the man draped his jacket over his arm, preparing to leave. "I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving first. Everyone, please continue."
Since Lu Bofan wanted to leave, no one would really stop him.
However, his business partner beside him noticed his wedding ring and raised his glass. "I didn't make it back in time for President Lu's wedding before. Let me make up for it now with a toast, and I wish President Lu and your wife a hundred years of happiness together."
Lu Bofan paused mid-step. He picked up a glass but didn't drink. "I appreciate President Li's kind intentions."
"But my wife is still waiting for me. I'll substitute tea for wine—next time it's on me."
Lu Bofan returned to the car. Lu Meng seemed to be asleep.
He gently rested her head on his shoulder, and his gaze inadvertently fell on the gift bag she had placed by her feet.
The brand's logo was printed on the outermost layer. Lu Bofan's wardrobe was full of this brand, so he was very familiar with it.
In the quiet car, he lowered his eyelids, picked up the gift bag, and took out what was inside. The tie was packaged very nicely.
Lu Bofan looked at it for a long time, then carefully put it back. The exhaustion all over his body seemed to dissipate in an instant.
He raised his hand to loosen his bow tie and lowered his head to gently kiss the person in his arms.
But Lu Meng had not really been asleep. Hazy and half-awake, she covered her mouth and yawned: "Are you done?"
Outside the car window, the shadows of lights flickered. The night seemed to pour over the man's brows and eyes, as if soaked through with tenderness.
Lu Bofan gave a muffled "mm": "Bought so many things—are you tired?"
She gave a vague response. She had stayed up late last night translating, and today she had an early class, so she was inevitably a little tired.
Seeing how sleepy she was, Lu Bofan said nothing more, only wrapped his arm around her waist and let her lean against his shoulder.
After returning to Nanshan Courtyard, Lu Meng still remembered that she needed to remove her makeup, so she did not go straight to sleep.
Lu Bofan went to the adjacent room to take a shower, then wanted to pour her a glass of water.
He walked downstairs and noticed the things on the island counter. His footsteps paused.
Under the dim light, the island counter had been tidied very cleanly. Apart from the glass cups, the round little bamboo basket was filled to the brim with cookies.
Each one was packaged very nicely, golden and round and flat, as if a cute little pyramid had been piled up.
Lu Bofan walked over and tore open a butter cookie. A sweet, fragrant taste filled his lips and teeth.
She made them.
Lu Bofan thought of the first time he had tasted them, when the woman had said with a touch of spoiled pride: "I won't make them often. Next time, who knows when it will be. You'd better cherish it."
After he finished eating, he had not asked her to make more. After all, Lu Meng baked cookies because it was a hobby.
He could not take it for granted that he was entitled to ask for them.
But now, this place was piled full again.
It was almost too full to hold them all—packed to the brim, with a few pieces even falling out.
Lu Bofan leaned against the island counter and unhurriedly finished a whole pack of cookies. His heart seemed to be steeped in sweet, buttery, milky fragrance.