Chapter 13: What are you doing?

“What do you think you’re doing?” Yan Ruyue’s voice, barely containing her fury, rang out nearby.

Lu Zhao looked up, his heart jolting. He’d never seen her this angry.

Her icy eyes brimmed with lethal intent.

Ling Chenxi, a worthy rival to Yan Ruyue, kept her smile intact despite the blood flowing from her wrist.

“He’s my daughter’s friend. Can’t I chat with him? Besides, this doesn’t seem to concern you.”

With a flick, she shook off Yan Ruyue’s grip, the broken bracelet fragments clattering to the floor with a crisp ding.

Furious, Yan Ruyue opened her mouth to retort, but Lu Zhao grabbed her injured arm.

“Don’t… just… leave it…”

Halfway through, he met her gaze—pained but restrained.

For some reason, Yan Ruyue’s anger melted away, her lips curling slightly.

She let Lu Zhao pull her toward the bathroom.

Watching them leave, Ling Chenxi’s smile grew cold.

Indeed, this man was different.

Any other man would’ve screamed or fainted by now.

Yan Ruyue, why does your daughter get someone so exceptional? Why, when I’ve already…

Lu Zhao, I’ll make you mine. Our child will be the best!

As the conflict subsided, onlookers cautiously approached.

“President Ling, are you okay? That’s a lot of blood—let’s get you to a hospital.”

Ling Chenxi, reverting to her gentle demeanor, waved them off. “No need. While the deputy mayor’s away, have the staff clean this up. I’ll change.”

“Oh, and keep this quiet.”

Though she smiled, the women around her found it more terrifying than her frown.

The empty corridor echoed with Yan Ruyue’s heels clicking on the floor.

Seeing Lu Zhao’s anxious back, Yan Ruyue felt the day’s frustrations vanish.

“Are you… worried about me?” Her voice carried uncontainable joy.

“…No.”

“Your actions and eyes say otherwise.” Joy turned to smugness.

See? He does care about me, this stubborn guy.

“Don’t make things up. And why were you so reckless? She was just going to touch me—no big deal.”

Yan Ruyue panicked. “No way! You’re my… my daughter’s boyfriend. Not just anyone can touch you.”

“Next time, don’t do that.”

“Why should I listen to you? Who are you to tell me what to do?”

Her provocative words sparked anger in Lu Zhao.

He stopped, tilting his head to meet her eyes.

This time, he didn’t hide, didn’t act like the men of this world.

His gaze was firm and sharp. “I’m saying it again: don’t do that next time.”

Though Yan Ruyue, in heels, was taller, his commanding presence made her feel like she was looking up.

The sensation was novel, even thrilling, her heart racing.

But she quickly snapped out of it.

No, no, what am I thinking? Letting this little man dominate me?

“You dare talk to me like that?” Her weak tone betrayed her panic, unable to meet his eyes.

Though her mind caught up, her body and habits lagged, her voice softening like a pout.

The reaction caught Lu Zhao off guard, his gaze faltering.

The quiet corridor filled with the sound of their heartbeats, the warmth from each other’s skin vivid, intense.

They knew each other too well—a slight shift sparked new sensations.

“Mom? What are you two doing?”

“!”

The voice doused them like cold water.

Lu Zhao reacted first, releasing Yan Ruyue’s arm and hurrying to Yan Qingxin.

“Qingxin, take Auntie Yan to clean up. Her hand’s hurt.”

“Huh?”

Hearing her mother was injured, Yan Qingxin rushed to check, forgetting the odd moment she’d witnessed.

Seeing the blood on Yan Ruyue’s hand, she was heartbroken. “Mom, how’d this happen? You were fine—how’d you get hurt?”

As Yan Ruyue passed Lu Zhao, their eyes met briefly before looking away.

“It’s nothing. The cup was cheap, broke when I squeezed it. Blame Ling Chenxi for pissing me off.”

“…Oh, like that…” The excuse was perfect—Yan Ruyue getting mad at Ling Chenxi was old news, and breaking things wasn’t rare.

“Oh! Auntie Yan, your… uh…” Ling Cang, trailing Yan Qingxin, gasped, then slowly slid down the wall.

“Hey! Hey, Ling Cang, what’s wrong?” Yan Qingxin was alarmed.

Lu Zhao’s mouth twitched. “She faints at blood.”

“…Seriously.”

Lu Zhao scratched his head. Was she even a woman? No, that sounded weird, but also right.

Ling Cang always short-circuited his brain.

With Yan Qingxin handling Yan Ruyue, Lu Zhao helped Ling Cang up, calling two staff members to settle her in a hotel room.

After texting Yan Qingxin the room number, he sank into a chair, exhaling.

“What a mess. Haha… ha…”

Click.

The bathroom door opened, startling Lu Zhao. What? Someone’s here?

Seeing Ling Chenxi emerge, his legs trembled.

“Oh? You’re here?”

“???”

Lu Zhao couldn’t process her casual tone. Why was she here?

She hadn’t showered, just changed.

Her teal qipao was now jet-black, her slim arms in long black silk gloves.

Her legs… still in white silk stockings, he thought, though he only glanced twice.

The sultry black qipao, paired with pure white stockings and her heart-melting gentle smile, stirred an unwanted flutter in him.

“Why am I here?”

“…Yeah.” His response was stiff, his inner thoughts exposed.

Ling Chenxi, barefoot, sauntered over, placing one snowy silk foot on the chair between his legs, her hand lifting his chin.

Her gentle smile turned seductive. “Because I knew my daughter faints at blood, so I had the staff bring you here.”

Did this woman calculate her daughter’s reaction and my involvement the moment her bracelet broke?

Terrifying…