Chapter 10

Looking at the obscure and unreadable emotions in Lu He’s eyes, I felt a little dazed.

Was he angry?

After a long pause, I avoided his gaze and reached out to pick up the hair dryer from the floor.

Just as I was about to stand up, my legs felt numb from squatting for too long, and I frowned slightly.

Suddenly, a large hand gripped my arm, gently but firmly pulling me back onto the sofa.

I turned to look at Shen Xianzhi.

He was sitting right next to me, staring at Lu He, his expression unreadable. “It’s so late. Why are you here? Looking for Jiajia?”

Lu He looked at him, his expression cold, lips pressed tightly together. “You’re back. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Shen Xianzhi’s tone was calm. “Sorry, I forgot.”

Lu He’s face darkened even more. He clenched his fists and walked straight over to me.

He stared at me for a long time before finally speaking:

“Why haven’t you replied to my messages?”

I was stunned for a moment, then remembered the last WeChat message he sent, asking me to pick up something for Tuan Zi at his place.

Did I really not reply?

I’ve been busy with work and house hunting these days, and when I get home, I’ve been cooking with Shen Xianzhi. It seems I really haven’t reached out to him in a while.

After a moment of silence, I looked up at him and said, “Sorry, I forgot.”

As soon as I finished speaking, a muffled laugh came from beside me.

I turned my head and saw Shen Xianzhi stand up, his tone light and clearly in a good mood. “You two talk. I’ll go upstairs to get something.”

Not long after Shen Xianzhi left, Lu He took something out of his pocket and placed it on the table.

“Tuan Zi loves this the most. You forgot to take it last time.”

I looked at the bell on the table and lowered my eyes.

This cat bell was a prize Lu He won for me at the amusement park last time.

And that’s exactly why I didn’t take it.

I asked calmly, “You came over tonight just to bring this bell?”

Lu He was silent.

Just then, Tuan Zi came downstairs.

Seeing Lu He, Tuan Zi meowed and quickly walked over to him, affectionately rubbing against his leg.

Lu He picked up Tuan Zi and sat on the sofa, placing Tuan Zi on his lap and gently stroking its fur.

After a while, he said, “See, Tuan Zi really misses me.”

His tone was indifferent, as if hinting at something, yet as if there was nothing more to it.

But I didn’t want to guess anymore, so I asked him directly, “Did Zhao Yue know you came to see me?”

Lu He frowned slightly. “What does this have to do with her?”

I reminded him, “It’s so late. Isn’t she scared to be alone at your place?”

Lu He was taken aback, as if something occurred to him, and raised his eyebrows slightly. “Is that why you’ve been ignoring me these days?”

I looked at him in silence.

He put Tuan Zi down and tried to take my hand, but I avoided him.

Seeing my resistance, a dark look flashed in his eyes, his voice hoarse:

“Jiajia, Zhao Yue has been through a lot. She can’t be on her own right now, so I let her stay at my place. I’m just trying to take care of her, that’s all.”

I couldn’t help but laugh, staring into his eyes, enunciating each word, “Taking care of her in your bed?”

Lu He’s face turned pale.

……

Back in my room, I buried my face deep into the pillow, trying hard to calm my emotions.

But my mind kept replaying what Lu He had just said, unable to shake it off.

He said that night Zhao Yue came to him, crying about her fiancé’s betrayal, and he drank a lot with her.

He said that night was just an accident.

Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.

I opened the door to find Shen Xianzhi leaning against the wall, holding a bottle of red wine.

I was startled for a moment and asked softly, “Did Lu He leave?”

Shen Xianzhi shook his head. “It suddenly started pouring outside, so I told him to stay here for now.”

I nodded.

Soon after, he asked again:

“I have something I want to talk to you about. Can I come in?”

Seeing the bottle of red wine in his hand, my heart skipped a beat, and I didn’t know where to look.

My gaze wandered and landed on Lu He standing not far behind him.

He was staring at us expressionlessly.

For a moment, the atmosphere felt a little tense.

“Come in,” I heard myself say.