The moment she wrapped her arms around him, Lu Linshen turned and stepped aside.
The movement was subconscious, yet it cast an awkward chill over the room.
As his arm pulled away, Tang Yiyi stumbled forward. Her sultry nightgown revealed more than intended, and her expression turned piteous and moving.
"Ashen, are you still unwilling to forgive me for leaving without a word?"
Lu Linshen’s brows furrowed slightly, his gaze never once landing on her.
"The doctor said you need to stay in good spirits; you shouldn't be dwelling on worries."
Unreconciled, Tang Yiyi gripped the sheets beneath her, feigning frailty and mocking herself.
"This broken body of mine should have died abroad. At least then, you would have forever remembered me as I was—beautiful."
Seeing her like this, Lu Linshen let out a soft sigh, walked over, and pulled the quilt over her shoulders.
"A heart donor will be found. With me here, you won't die."
Tang Yiyi seized the opportunity to take his hand and press it against her cheek, her eyes filled with obsessive longing.
"Ashen, find some time and accompany me for a walk on Changhong Street, would you?"
That was the place where they had defined their relationship.
Having received the answer she wanted, Tang Yiyi finally quieted down, though the jealousy in her heart burned ever brighter.
She was dressed like this, yet Lu Linshen remained unmoved.
Was it because of Ye Ran?
A cheap spawn born to a chauffeur—how dare she compete with her!
When he returned to Liyuan, it was already past eleven.
Lu Linshen did not go to the guest bedroom but returned alone to the master bedroom to rest.
After washing up, he found he could not sleep at all. The massive bed felt empty, and with it, his heart felt empty as well.
After tossing and turning for a long time, he rose irritably and silently pushed open the door to the guest bedroom.
The dim night light illuminated a small mound on the bed.
Ye Ran was sleeping very soundly.
Her palm-sized face was buried in the soft pillow, her long hair scattered haphazardly, a few strands brushing against her ears.
He raised a hand to gently tuck them behind her earlobe. The touch of his fingertips made the woman let out a soft, cat-like murmur, and she nuzzled against his palm with a spoiled air.
His heart seemed to be nuzzled along with it, both itching and softening.
Driven by longing, his thumb slid from her earlobe to her soft, pink lips, grazing them with light pressure.
Ye Ran was in a deep sleep and showed no intention of waking; she simply felt something pressing on her and suddenly pushed out the tip of her tongue, licking directly against the pad of his finger.
It was warm, moist, and possessed a surprising, resilient strength.
The sensation instantly ignited his desire. Lu Linshen felt the blood in his entire body boiling and rushing toward one point, throbbing with heat and pain.
He rose quickly and hurried into the bathroom, his retreating figure appearing somewhat frantic.
His loss of control over his desires irritated him.
……
His usually precise internal clock failed him for once.
When Ye Ran woke up, it was nearly eight o’clock.
Remembering Lu Linshen’s breakfast, she scrambled to throw off the covers, but she quickly came to a halt.
They were going to be separated; from now on, everything about Lu Linshen had nothing to do with her.
She sat back down on the bed, only then noticing that someone had occupied the space beside her—a man's watch lay abandoned on the pillow.
It was Lu Linshen’s.
Not only had he returned last night, but he had slept in the guest room with her?
Ye Ran’s heart could not help but fall into disarray.
Her start date was next Monday, and she had applied for staff housing through her professor.
After a simple breakfast, she packed her luggage, pulled her suitcase, and left the home where she had lived for three years.
Just as she was getting settled, she received a call from her childhood friend, Nanchen.
She and Nanchen had grown up in the same compound and had attended the same schools from kindergarten all the way through university.
In her sophomore year, the Nan Family had moved abroad to expand their business, and they hadn't seen each other since.
Arriving at the pre-arranged hotpot restaurant, Ye Ran had barely pushed open the door to the private room when she was met with a massive bear hug.
The scrawny boy she once knew was now a head taller than her, with much broader shoulders.
He was dressed in designer labels, smiling in a way that was both roguish and handsome.
"Ranran, did you miss me? Aren't you surprised and delighted to see me?"
He wore a smug grin, opening his arms as if to hug her again.
He hadn't changed one bit.
There was no trace of the distance that years apart should have created. Ye Ran dodged him easily and rolled her eyes, catching sight of the girl standing behind him.
"And this is……?"
Nanchen pulled the girl over and made the introduction.
"My girlfriend, Su Ying. Beautiful, right? She’s got an amazing figure, too."
Ye Ran was speechless.
This guy was still as crude and uninhibited as ever.
She extended her hand politely. "Hello, I’m Ye Ran. It’s nice to meet you."
Su Ying shook her hand, her voice sugary-sweet, though her eyes were far from friendly.
"Nanchen said you were one of his 'bros.' I expected a tomboy, not such a great beauty."
She retracted her hand and, as if marking her territory, wrapped her arms around Nanchen’s waist.
"You were too rough last night; you nearly broke my waist."
"That’s just because this young master is capable."
Nanchen lifted his chin, looking smug, and gestured for Ye Ran to sit in the seat next to him.
Ye Ran quickly pulled her arm back.
Whether the girl was good or bad, she had no right to comment on their relationship, and she certainly didn't want to cause any misunderstandings.
"I’m a respectable married woman now, someone else’s wife. You need to keep a safe distance, or my husband might get jealous if he sees this."
A flash of darkness crossed Nanchen’s eyes, but he quickly returned to his usual demeanor.
The mutton hotpot was soon boiling.
It used to be Ye Ran’s favorite, but now, the mere smell made her feel nauseous.
Not wanting to ruin the mood, she endured it for a while, but eventually, she couldn't take it anymore. She excused herself to the restroom and hurried out.
She spent a long time retching in the bathroom before she felt better. After fixing her makeup, she pushed open the door to leave, only to find Su Ying standing by the sink with her arms crossed, clearly waiting for her.
"Miss Ye, since you're already married, you shouldn't covet what doesn't belong to you. If this leads to trouble for everyone, don't say I didn't warn you."
So, she wasn't pretending anymore?
Ye Ran was surprised by the intense hostility upon their first meeting.
"Miss Su, you must be mistaken. Nanchen and I are just friends."
"Don't play dumb with me!" Su Ying reverted to her true persona, showing none of the delicacy she had displayed in the private room.
"Trying to use your 'buddy' history to drive a wedge between me and Nanchen? I’ve seen all these tricks before. With Nanchen’s net worth, there are plenty of cheap vixens trying to throw themselves at him. I have plenty of ways to deal with people like you."
Ye Ran couldn't stand the smell of the mutton anyway, and she didn't want to put Nanchen in a difficult position.
"Since Miss Su minds, I’ll leave you two to it."
She turned to go, but Su Ying grabbed her wrist.
Su Ying’s manicured nails dug deep into her skin.
Ye Ran cried out in pain and instinctively shook her off. Just as she was about to check the wound, Su Ying suddenly stumbled backward, her head striking the edge of the sink, causing a patch of skin to swell and bleed instantly.
"Miss Ye, what are you doing?"
She covered her forehead, fresh blood streaming down her cheek, looking pitiful and tragic.
Ye Ran was stunned.
At that moment, Nanchen’s voice rang out from behind her.
"What happened here?"