Lu Zhuojin looked down from above, like a beast leisurely admiring its own territory.
The dazzling lights shone on his face, like a dark gray glow transformed into a brilliant, eye-catching spectacle, exuding an overwhelming, unbridled strength.
His handsome face, with fiercely sharp eyes and a carefree expression, held a cigarette between his fingers as the ash slowly fell.
So it was him—the gaze that had made her feel so intensely invaded!
Beside her was her boyfriend, and here she had encountered her one-night stand. She had thought that in the vast sea of people, they would never meet again.
Her mind crackled and hissed, like an old-fashioned TV with no signal flashing snowy, chaotic images.
It had crashed.
How could he be here?
Who was he?
The Lu family had only invited partners and celebrities today. Could he be one of the Lu family’s business partners?
Xia Wanzhi felt a chill run down her spine, damp and cold as sweat slowly seeped out.
Her heart pounded like a drum.
He would probably pretend not to know her, right? After all, something like forced conquest didn’t sound good. Someone like him would definitely not expose it—he’d already taken advantage, so of course he wouldn’t want others to know he had… forced… although it wasn’t entirely forced, but… still…
Xia Wanzhi’s thoughts were a mess.
She didn’t even hear Lu Ruiqian speaking to her until he gently tugged at her waist.
Lu Zhuojin’s indifferent gaze fell on Lu Ruiqian’s hand resting on Xia Wanzhi’s waist—that slender, delicate, almost boneless waist, so soft it seemed as if it could be crushed with a single touch.
But that hand was just too glaring.
That night… his own hand had also been on that waist, and then… had wandered to many other places…
He hadn’t expected to see her here. Interesting.
Lu Zhuojin took a deep drag of his cigarette, the smoke dispersing and enveloping him, obscuring his features.
Then Xia Wanzhi saw Lu Zhuojin give a cold smile, crush his cigarette forcefully, and slowly descend from upstairs, his gaze fixed on her the entire time.
His indifferent eyes held a mocking, almost scornful amusement, laced with icy shards.
Xia Wanzhi’s heart raced wildly.
He… wasn’t planning to greet her, was he?
Her palms were drenched in sweat. That would let Lu Ruiqian know they’d had a one-night stand…
Lu Zhuojin walked from upstairs, down the steps, his gaze never leaving Xia Wanzhi, like a beast watching its prey with a faint intensity, not letting it escape his sight.
Xia Wanzhi’s heart thumped violently, her mind buzzing, sweat breaking out as if she were prey with no escape.
She tried to pull Lu Ruiqian away, wanting to leave immediately. But to her surprise, when Lu Ruiqian saw Lu Zhuojin approaching, he held Xia Wanzhi back, not letting her go. The two of them tugged slightly, and Xia Wanzhi felt like crying—she couldn’t run.
Lu Zhuojin slowly made his way through the crowd, unhurried and elegant, stopping in front of Xia Wanzhi. His voice was deep and pleasant, but to Xia Wanzhi, it sounded like thunder rumbling in her ears: “Aren’t you going to introduce me?”
Xia Wanzhi’s eyes widened in shock. She bit her lip. Introduce what? Lu Ruiqian, this is my one-night stand, the man who forced me to agree? Lu Ruiqian, I slept with a stranger, and this is that stranger?
The next moment, she heard Lu Ruiqian say with a smile, “Zhi Zhi, this is my little uncle, Lu Zhuojin. Little Uncle, this is my girlfriend, Xia Wanzhi.”
Xia Wanzhi’s heart trembled violently in disbelief. She whispered softly, “Little uncle?”
How was that possible?
He and Lu Ruiqian were… uncle and nephew?
He was a member of the Lu family?
He was the little uncle Lu Ruiqian had mentioned before?
A ruthless man with underworld connections abroad, who just returned to the Lu family to vie for power—the little uncle?
No wonder Lu Ruiqian had been so busy lately—it was because the little uncle had returned.
Lu Zhuojin narrowed his eyes, a faint, ambiguous smile playing on his lips. Boyfriend?
His gaze fell on Xia Wanzhi’s delicate, fair neck, where faint red marks were still visible upon closer inspection, like sparks igniting the memories of the night before last.
A strange atmosphere hung in the air.
Xia Wanzhi suddenly looked up, meeting Lu Zhuojin’s teasing eyes. His voice was gentle: “Be good~”
Xia Wanzhi opened her mouth, unsure what to say, her heart racing with panic.
Lu Zhuojin looked at her with amusement, his tone playful: “Say it again~”
Lu Zhuojin wore a dark gray shirt under a matching suit jacket, his chest muscles straining against the fabric, exuding raw, intense masculinity. His demeanor was aggressive, yet his expression remained elegantly composed.
His words reminded Xia Wanzhi of the night before last, when Lu Zhuojin had breathed hotly into her ear, panting, and said the same thing.
Pervert. Psycho.
Lu Zhuojin raised an eyebrow slightly: “Little Wanzhi, you look like you’re cursing me. Do you have some grievance against me?”
Lu Ruiqian whispered into Xia Wanzhi’s ear: “Wanzhi, don’t provoke him.”
Seeing the two of them close together, Lu Zhuojin’s eyes darkened, his tone carrying a dangerous hint: “Could it be… because I didn’t perform well last night…”
Xia Wanzhi trembled, her voice pleading like a kitten’s: “Little uncle~”
She was terrified that Lu Zhuojin would outright mention they had slept together.
Lu Ruiqian looked puzzled: “Last night? Huh, did you two know each other before?”
Xia Wanzhi’s eyes grew moist as she looked at Lu Zhuojin, silently begging for mercy.
Lu Zhuojin’s gaze lingered on Xia Wanzhi’s face, softly sweeping over her. He clicked his tongue, a sound that seemed to resonate deep within him, and smiled: “I didn’t do well last night—I didn’t bring a gift, so the little one is unhappy.”
Xia Wanzhi breathed a sigh of relief: “No need…”
Lu Zhuojin laughed, his tone teasing as he extended his phone: “Why not? Come on, add me as a friend. As an elder, I’ll send you a red envelope, little Wanzhi~”
The words “little Wanzhi” rolled off his tongue like warm water, slow and damp, wrapping around Xia Wanzhi and inexplicably reminding her of that night of endless entanglement—intense and unrestrained.
Xia Wanzhi swallowed hard and stepped back. She wanted nothing to do with this madman.
Timidly, she said: “N-no, it’s really not necessary.”
Seeing her retreat to Lu Ruiqian’s side for protection, Lu Zhuojin’s tone turned cold and oppressive: “Ruiqian, it seems your girlfriend doesn’t like me much. Did you say something bad about me before, making little Wanzhi misunderstand me?”
This subtle jab made Lu Ruiqian break out in a cold sweat. Who would dare offend this king of hell?
Lu Ruiqian quickly forced a smile, bowing and scraping to Lu Zhuojin: “Little uncle, how could that be? Since you took over, all the major projects in the Lu family have progressed so smoothly, all thanks to you. My father told me to learn more from you, little uncle. Please guide me more.”
He gently nudged Xia Wanzhi: “Wanzhi, little uncle means well. Just accept it.”
He had never seen his little uncle actively ask to add someone on WeChat. Who knew he was so caring toward the younger generation? If not for the fact that his little uncle kept his distance from women, he might have misunderstood.
Xia Wanzhi bit her lip, took out her phone, and whispered: “I’ll scan you.”
Lu Zhuojin stared at her rosy lips, his tone casual and indifferent. “If it’s forced, then forget it. I, for one, hate forcing people~”
Xia Wanzhi thought of what Lu Zhuojin had said before—that forced consent was still consent… What “hate forcing people”? He clearly loved forcing people the most.
Her voice softened. “It’s not forced…”
Lu Zhuojin held out his phone with one hand while gripping Xia Wanzhi’s wrist—the one holding her phone—with the other, guiding it to scan his code. His touch was so hot it turned her wrist red, his rough fingers brushing against her delicate skin, sending a shiver through her.
He leaned close to her ear, exhaling warm breath, his voice low enough for only the two of them to hear. “Good~ As long as it’s voluntary.”
The double meaning made Xia Wanzhi’s face flush red.
With a “ding,” the code was scanned, and Xia Wanzhi received a red envelope containing 100,000 yuan. She froze for a moment, but Lu Zhuojin had already turned to leave.
Suddenly, Xia Wanzhi grabbed the hem of Lu Zhuojin’s clothes. “…It’s, it’s too much.”
Lu Zhuojin turned back, his gaze sweeping over her before settling on the red mark on her neck. He chuckled softly. “Did I give too much?”
He leaned in closer, whispering, “Can’t handle it?”
Xia Wanzhi was startled by his words and stepped back, like a frightened rabbit. She glanced toward Lu Ruiqian, afraid he might have heard.
Lu Ruiqian looked at the two of them, confused.
Lu Zhuojin straightened up, teasing, “Consider it… compensation for your hard work.”
He hadn’t expected to have slept with Lu Ruiqian’s little girlfriend. Interesting.
Lu Ruiqian, hearing the words “compensation for your hard work,” asked, “What hard work?”
Xia Wanzhi’s nerves tightened again, afraid that Lu Zhuojin would speak carelessly. He clearly feared nothing, and it wouldn’t be him who suffered the consequences.
Lu Zhuojin’s eyes lingered on Xia Wanzhi’s tense expression before he smiled. “Of course, it’s compensation for Wanzhi’s hard work in attending the banquet.”
His gaze flickered briefly to the red mark before he looked away, slowly uttering words heavy with meaning. “You two seem to have a good relationship?”
Lu Ruiqian smiled sheepishly. “We’ve been together for four years, and our relationship has always been good.”
He turned to Xia Wanzhi, his eyes filled with tender affection. “I was thinking, if we could get married this year, that would be great. It’s just… the Lu family has many rules, and I’m afraid Wanzhi might not adapt.”
Lu Zhuojin’s gaze fell on Xia Wanzhi’s moist eyes, recalling the soft, tearful pleas she had made in the heat of passion—pleas that could stir a person’s heart, igniting recklessness and desire. His smile grew even gentler. “Is that so? Congratulations then~”
To Xia Wanzhi’s ears, however, his tone felt inexplicably chilling.
Though they had only spent one night together, she… had heard Shen Hong say that a person’s behavior in bed reflected their character.
The gentler this man was, the more terrifying he became.