Wait… the next glass couldn’t possibly be for Lu Shijia, could it?
Sure enough, it was.
She smiled as brightly as a blooming flower, seemingly unconcerned that her cheeks might cramp from smiling so much.
Lu Shijia accepted the apple juice awkwardly. Thinking about what he’d said earlier, guilt welled up inside him. He wanted to explain himself, but then wondered what if she hadn’t heard those words at all?
With everything settled, Xu Nianchu stood to leave.
“I’ve already explained all the medicine-brewing instructions to the orderly. If Grandpa Lu feels uncomfortable anywhere, just let me know. I’ll be going now.”
For some reason, Lu Shijia suddenly felt an emptiness in his heart. He quickly stood up.
“I’ll take you home.”
Grandpa Lu stopped him.
“Let your uncle do it. Your driving skills aren’t good enough.”
Lu Shijia could only smile awkwardly. He silently resolved to ask his uncle to teach him how to drive later. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even be able to escort a young lady home.
Lu Beichen remained expressionless as he drained the glass of apple juice beside him in one gulp.
Picking up his jacket, he said coolly,
“Let’s go.”
The apple juice was refreshingly sweet, reminding him of the peach-like fragrance he’d smelled that night. His expression remained calm as he suppressed the thought.
Xu Nianchu followed him out.
Once the car started moving, Xu Nianchu finally relaxed.
Now that she had secured a job, the next step was emptying the Xu family house.
Her gaze drifted to Lu Beichen’s hands.
His fingers were exceptionally attractive.
She stared absentmindedly.
Lu Beichen sensed someone watching his hands and flexed his fingers slightly.
He couldn’t understand it.
Xu Nianchu clearly had striking features—bright eyes, white teeth, exquisitely beautiful brows, the kind of face that naturally carried an intimidating aura.
Yet every time he looked into those eyes of hers, all he could think was…
She looked pitiful enough to protect.
“What is it?”
The silence inside the car was suddenly broken by Lu Beichen’s voice.
Xu Nianchu looked up blankly.
“Huh?”
“What are you worrying about?”
Only then did she remember the conversation she’d started with Lu Shijia before they entered the house.
“Oh… I have to bring my little brother with me to work. I don’t know if they’ll let two people stay in the dormitory.”
“How old is your brother?”
“Seven.”
“The art troupe will only assign you a single room. He’s already that old—you can’t possibly sleep in the same bed forever.”
Xu Nianchu frowned.
Despite possessing a fortune in her space, she had absolutely no way to use it.
“Then… what if I build my own house inside the military base?”
Lu Beichen tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“Only officers at regiment level or above are generally allowed to bring family members into the base. I’ve never seen anyone build a private house there.”
“You’ve got quite a bit of nerve.”
Xu Nianchu pouted.
She hadn’t expected bringing her brother along to be this troublesome.
But leaving him behind wasn’t an option.
Seeing her troubled expression, Lu Beichen thought of the Xu family’s environment.
It truly wasn’t a suitable place for a child.
“If you absolutely have to bring him, he can stay in my quarters.”
“During the day, he can attend the military elementary school.”
Xu Nianchu’s peach blossom eyes widened.
“Really? Wouldn’t that be too much trouble?”
“It’s no trouble.”
“If you have a better solution, feel free.”
Xu Nianchu beamed.
“Thank you so much. I’ll definitely repay you.”
A faint smile tugged at Lu Beichen’s lips.
“Repay me?”
“The kind where you marry me?”
Xu Nianchu pursed her lips.
This man…
He was actually teasing her.
She nearly coughed up blood.
Puffing out her cheeks, she finally came to a realization.
Lu Beichen only looked cold on the outside.
In reality…
His tongue was absolutely poisonous.
Still, her brother now had a backup place to stay.
She clicked her tongue inwardly.
Typical man—his mouth said one thing while his actions said another.
She had always believed in repaying kindness.
When the car stopped, she took a bag of apples from her handbag.
“Here, these are for you.”
“Guaranteed sweet and crispy.”
A vein twitched on Lu Beichen’s forehead.
“Does your family sell apples or something?”
“Why do you carry apples everywhere you go…?”
You gave them to Lu Shijia.
Now you’re giving them to me too?
What exactly am I supposed to be?
Xu Nianchu’s smile immediately disappeared.
These weren’t ordinary apples.
They were apples grown inside her space, nourished by the essence of heaven and earth.
That jade bracelet had come from the Lu family.
On top of that, Lu Beichen had helped arrange a place for her brother.
That was why she’d been willing to part with these apples.
And yet this man—
He had such a handsome face.
Too bad it came with that mouth.
Was his tongue dipped in poison or something?
“If you don’t want them, then forget it.”
She reached over to take the apples back.
Unexpectedly, although he said he didn’t want them…
His hand gripped the bag tightly.
Xu Nianchu lost her balance.
The next second, she stumbled straight into him.
Her hand landed on…
A place that couldn’t be mentioned.
She froze.
Not daring to move even an inch.
A vein throbbed violently at Lu Beichen’s temple.
“…Do you dare move?”
“No.”
His cool voice sounded again.
“You can.”
The thing beneath her hand was changing at an alarming speed, becoming increasingly impossible to ignore.
Xu Nianchu swallowed.
Even if she’d never eaten pork, she’d certainly seen pigs run.
She naturally understood exactly what was happening to him.
Lu Beichen watched as she stared downward at him.
She wasn’t moving at all.
Unable to endure it any longer, he set the apples aside.
Then he grasped her wrist and lifted her hand away.
Only then did Xu Nianchu realize what she’d just done.
No wonder her best friend sometimes jokingly called her a little pervert.
Apparently…
She really did have the potential.
She simply hadn’t had the opportunity before.
Now that someone had practically delivered himself to her…
She’d admired everything to her heart’s content.
Thinking back on the eighteen different thoughts that had flashed through her mind in that single second…
It was unbelievable.
She couldn’t even lift her head anymore.
How was she supposed to face him now?
The veins stood out on Lu Beichen’s hand.
Every muscle in his body was taut, and he’d even shifted his legs into a different position.
His voice was low and gloomy.
“Are you satisfied?”
Xu Nianchu jerked her head up.
“What?”
Did he mean what she thought he meant?
His expressionless face gave away none of the awkwardness from moments earlier.
He added calmly,
“I accepted the apples.”
“Are you satisfied now?”
Xu Nianchu let out two dry laughs.
“Yes… very satisfied.”
She no longer dared let her eyes wander.
Grabbing her bag, she bolted from the car.
Lu Beichen watched her fleeing figure.
No matter how he looked at it…
She seemed to be running away in utter panic.
When Xu Nianchu got home, she was still clutching her wildly pounding heart.
The moment she entered, however, she was greeted by a horrifying sight.
Xu Xinglin had been tied to the ground.
A rag had been stuffed into his mouth.
Xu Shanchuan was whipping him.
Xu Nianchu screamed.
She rushed over, shielding her younger brother with her own body before glaring furiously at the others.
“What are you doing?!”
Tang Jinhua and Xu Xunle immediately stepped forward and pulled her away.
Xu Shanchuan looked at her with a twisted expression.
“So he really is the one you care about most.”
“I’m telling you right now.”
“No matter who you’ve managed to latch onto…”
“Tonight, you’re going to accompany Director Wu.”
“Otherwise…”
“Don’t blame me for what happens.”
He lashed Xu Xinglin again.
With his mouth stuffed, the boy could only let out muffled whimpers.
Xu Nianchu glared at him.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to the police?”
Xu Shanchuan laughed coldly.
“The police?”
“My son is being disobedient.”
“I’m disciplining my own son.”
“Even if the police came, they’d have to stand aside.”