The kiss, filled with warmth and a hint of intoxication, lasted for quite a while.
Five hundred thousand!
To Ye Xixi, this was a colossal fortune!
With this money, she could buy Uncle Lu a precious gift to express her gratitude for his life-saving kindness.
Thinking of this, the corners of Ye Xixi’s lips curled upward. She quickly stored the poster carefully in her backpack.
Then, holding a bottle of mineral water, she walked out of the small shop.
Outside, the scorching sun remained unbearably intense.
Ye Xixi raised a hand to shield her eyes from the sunlight.
Suddenly, three short beeps of a car horn sounded behind her.
Ye Xixi turned her head to look—it was Lu Peishen’s Bentley.
She quickly steadied her small pregnant belly with a gentle hand and walked toward the car.
Once inside, she closed the door securely.
Shao Bai, noticing through the rearview mirror that Ye Xixi’s forehead was beaded with sweat, thoughtfully handed her a tissue. “Young Madam, it’s quite hot outside, isn’t it? Please wipe your sweat.”
“Thank you, Assistant Shao.” Ye Xixi accepted the tissue without hesitation and dabbed her forehead.
Shao Bai smiled warmly. “Young Madam, there’s no need to be polite with us. You are our mistress.”
“Oh, and President Lu bought you roses.” As he spoke, Shao Bai retrieved a large bouquet of roses from the passenger seat and handed it to Ye Xixi in the back.
Seeing the vibrant, dew-fresh roses, Ye Xixi’s already rosy cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink.
Was Lu Peishen being too good to her?
Hadn’t he rushed into this marriage with her only because of his grandmother’s pressure?
Why was he pampering her so thoroughly in every way?
And even giving her roses—the kind typically exchanged between lovers?
Ye Xixi felt utterly bewildered.
Over the past couple of days, Lu Peishen had been so exceptionally kind that she found it easy to lose herself in it.
“Young Madam, President Lu also asked me to check if you like them. If not, he’ll send something different next time,” Shao Bai added.
Ye Xixi replied, “I like them.”
After a brief pause, she hesitated but couldn’t resist asking, “Assistant Shao, did Uncle Lu used to send roses to Miss Liu as well?”
“Why did they break up?”
As soon as the words left her mouth, Shao Bai, who was driving, froze completely. Miss Liu???
What was she talking about? He didn’t understand.
“Young Madam, which Miss Liu? Our President Lu has never given flowers to anyone before. You are the first.”
Ye Xixi clarified, “I mean… Miss Liu Congwen, the ballet dancer.”
Ah! Liu Congwen!
Shao Bai finally understood—she was President Lu’s good friend. “No, he never gave her flowers. But President Lu and Miss Liu did part ways last year.”
“Miss Liu went to Paris to further her studies.” Incidentally, Liu Congwen had also gone to Paris to be with her boyfriend.
Of course, Shao Bai didn’t mention this private matter.
Having received her answer, Ye Xixi felt a slight twinge of disappointment in her heart.
So, they really had broken up?
Ye Xixi didn’t ask any more questions.
Shao Bai, being a straightforward man, was completely unaware that his way of speaking had been misleading. He didn’t realize he had misspoken and simply continued driving.
Soon, the car arrived at the villa.
Ye Xixi collected her thoughts, steadied her emotions, and quickly got out of the car to head inside. She had been thinking—perhaps Uncle Lu was heartbroken.
Was he treating her with the same affection he had once shown Miss Liu?
That must be it.
She decided that when he returned, she would comfort Uncle Lu properly.
Having made up her mind, Ye Xixi’s mood lifted slightly. Carrying her backpack, she entered the house.
Aunt Fang, who was cleaning the living room, noticed Ye Xixi returning from school so early and considerately came over to take her backpack. “Young Madam, were your classes tiring? I’ve prepared some bird’s nest soup.”
“Please come and try it.”
Ye Xixi nodded. “Thank you, Aunt Fang.”
“Aunt Fang, how about I cook with you today?”
Aunt Fang was puzzled. “Why? Are you dissatisfied with my cooking, Young Mistress?”
Ye Xixi shook her head. “No, not at all… I want to cook a meal for Uncle Lu.”
“He’s bound to drink at his business dinner today, and drinking makes one hungry. Shall we prepare some late-night snacks for him?”
So that was it. Aunt Fang breathed a sigh of relief and immediately chuckled. “You gave me a scare. I was afraid you didn’t like my cooking.”
Ye Xixi wasn’t that picky and quickly replied with a smile, “I like it.”
“Aunt Fang, shall we go prepare now?”
“Of course, but Young Mistress, you must drink the bird’s nest soup first.” Aunt Fang had to make sure she drank it.
Otherwise, President Lu would scold her for not taking good care of her when he returned.
President Lu truly cherished this young mistress now.
“Aunt Fang, why are you worried I won’t drink it?” Ye Xixi pursed her lips and smiled. “I’ll drink it.”
Aunt Fang also smiled. “Alright.”
Then, the mistress and servant chatted and laughed as they headed to the dining room.
Time flew by, and at nine in the evening, Lu Peishen was brought back by Shao Bai, having drunk quite a lot.
However, thanks to his superior constitution, he wasn’t completely drunk despite the amount he’d consumed.
He only had that charming, slightly tipsy aura.
Shao Bai escorted him into the living room, where Ye Xixi was doing her university homework.
She was solving problems while waiting for Lu Peishen.
When he finally came in, she saw his slightly intoxicated state.
Ye Xixi immediately put down her pencil and hurried over to support him. “Uncle Lu, are you drunk?”
“No, just a little dizzy.” Lu Peishen didn’t want to scare Ye Xixi. “Xixi, don’t be afraid. I’m not a drunkard.”
Ye Xixi almost laughed. Her soft hands holding his sturdy arm, she said gently, “Uncle Lu, I never said you were a drunkard.”
“Then don’t be afraid of me.” Lu Peishen turned his face slightly. Because of his tipsiness, his voice carried a faint huskiness.
Like frosted glass.
It tingled as it reached Ye Xixi’s eardrums.
“I’m not afraid.” Ye Xixi helped Lu Peishen sit on the sofa, observing his slightly flushed face and the thin layer of sweat on his forehead.
She quickly prepared to fetch a damp towel.
But the moment she stood up, the man didn’t want her to leave. He wanted her by his side.
His large hand gripped her wrist tightly, unwilling to let her go, his voice unconsciously soft. “Xixi, are you leaving?”
“Don’t go, okay? You’ve married me.”
Ye Xixi hadn’t planned to leave. “Uncle Lu, I was going to wipe your sweat.”
“I’m not leaving.”
After all, she wouldn’t leave unless Uncle Lu mentioned divorce.
“Mm, don’t go. Stay by my side.” Lu Peishen’s voice was hoarse, his eyes deep like abysses, gazing affectionately at the standing girl, almost coaxing. “I want to hold you. May I?”
When he wasn’t tipsy, he was always gentlemanly and restrained.
But now, with the alcohol taking effect, he revealed his true feelings.
Ye Xixi was startled. Was Uncle Lu… mistaking her for Miss Liu?
After a pause, Ye Xixi turned her slightly flushed face toward Aunt Fang and said, “Aunt Fang, could you please fetch a towel?”
“And the hangover tea.”
Aunt Fang understood. She felt too embarrassed to stay in the living room watching them be affectionate.
She quickly turned and went to the kitchen to get the hangover tea and towel.
When she returned, she whispered, “Young Mistress, I’ll return to my room now. Call me if you need anything.”
Ye Xixi blushed and nodded, “Okay, Aunt Fang.”
Aunt Fang looked at the two of them with a knowing smile. As she stood up, she said to the assistant Shao Bai, who was still standing there dumbly, “Assistant Shao, don’t interfere with President Lu and the young mistress’s intimate time.”
Shao Bai was slow to react, then awkwardly left immediately.
He was used to guarding Lu Peishen.
Last time, when someone drugged him, it was his negligence.
Although fortunately, that girl was the one President Lu liked, it was still his failure.
But in this situation, he, a single dog, really shouldn’t stay any longer.
Now, all unrelated personnel had left the living room.
In an instant, the living room fell into an unnervingly quiet atmosphere.
Ignoring the infatuated gaze of the man half-leaning on the sofa, Ye Xixi first wiped the sweat from his forehead and then fed him the hangover tea.
After feeding him, Ye Xixi asked, “Uncle Lu, are you hungry? I made some late-night snacks for you.”
“Xixi, you cooked for me?” Lu Peishen’s mind was somewhat clear but still hazy. He unconsciously reached out and gently wrapped his arm around Ye Xixi’s slender waist, pulling the girl tenderly into his embrace.
“You’re so good to me.” Even though he hadn’t eaten the late-night snack yet.
He still had to praise his wife verbally.
But Ye Xixi, blushing intensely, was forced to lean against the man’s broad, firm chest. Uncle Lu’s drunken appearance was really… a bit too seductive.
“Because you’re good to me too.”
Lu Peishen hummed softly in response. As he lowered his gaze, his eyes fell on the girl’s face in his arms. He took a gentle breath of warm air, his throat tightening uncontrollably.
Ye Xixi didn’t notice. Tilting her face up to look at his handsome, slightly intoxicated expression, she was about to say something.
But as soon as her rosy lips parted,
Lu Peishen lowered his head and kissed her gently. The suddenness of the kiss startled Ye Xixi.
Instinctively, she wanted to push him away, but Lu Peishen held her tightly.
She couldn’t break free.
She had no choice but to relent, her body softening as she let him kiss her freely.
This tender, drunken kiss lasted for a while.
Only when Ye Xixi felt like she had run out of breath did Lu Peishen release her. As soon as he let go, her face was already as hot as a boiled shrimp.
She quickly covered her burning cheeks with her hands and tried to comfort him, “Uncle Lu, are you… are you heartbroken and sad?”
Is that why he kissed her like that?
“Don’t be sad.”
Lu Peishen didn’t understand, and being slightly drunk, he lowered his gaze and gently stroked her brow bone with his fingers, saying, “Me, heartbroken???”
Ye Xixi: “Miss Liu.”
Miss Liu?
For a moment, Lu Peishen didn’t connect it to his good friend Liu Congwen. His voice was hoarse, his eyes deep as he stared at the girl trying to comfort him, “Xixi, I don’t know who you’re talking about.”