Chapter 47: Professional Actors.

Yu Baowei took three days off for herself and Lu Zhao.

Early the next morning, they boarded a flight to Bin City.

Everything was going according to her plan, but she felt an inexplicable unease.

Lu Zhao was… too calm.

Last night, she’d expected him to show frustration or demand conditions.

Nothing. He just accepted it silently.

Even this morning.

“Miss Yu, don’t dawdle. We’ll miss the flight.”

His faint smile appeared at her bedside. Waking up, she thought she was dreaming.

“You…”

“Hm?”

“N-nothing.”

Breakfast passed in silence.

On the way to the airport, he didn’t say a word to her.

No need for chatter, but the quiet made her increasingly anxious.

In the waiting lounge, she glanced at him.

He was scrolling his phone, watching a hilarious skit clip.

She nearly laughed, but… Lu Zhao just watched, expressionless.

Biting her lip, unable to stand the maddening silence, she waved a hand in front of him.

He blinked, as if waking from a trance. “What’s up, Miss Yu?”

Her words faltered. “You… okay?”

He looked puzzled. “I’m fine. What’s wrong with me?” Then back to his phone.

Love and hate, like and dislike—they’re opposites, but not the reverse of each other. Indifference is.

To Lu Zhao, she felt like a nobody now, just someone he dealt with out of obligation.

It… stung.

Soon, it was time to board. They sat side by side.

He leaned back, eyes closed, ignoring her apologetic, complex gaze.

Sigh…

His ear twitched at her sigh, head tilting slightly away.

Planes are the safest transport, statistically—unless you hit turbulence.

Summer’s rainy season made air currents tricky.

Bin City had been rainy lately.

“Please fasten your seatbelts. Due to turbulence, the flight may experience some bumps.”

Right after the announcement, the cabin began to tremble.

A sharp jolt drew gasps from passengers.

Lu Zhao wasn’t fazed—normal, right?

Then, his hand was grabbed. Turning, he met Yu Baowei’s worried eyes.

“Don’t be scared. It’s fine, it’ll pass.”

She thought he was afraid.

“I know.” He gently pulled his hand free.

To him, a simple move. To her, a painful rejection.

She thought his pale face meant fear.

In truth, he’d just learned he got airsick—never flown before, didn’t know.

Enduring the discomfort, he kept his eyes closed.

His pallor only convinced her he was scared.

Even like this, you push me away? You really hate me…

Misunderstandings form when one sees no need to explain, and the other assumes concealment.

Off the plane, the weather was fine—just overcast, no rain.

Yu Baowei had called ahead, so someone was waiting.

An elegant woman in a maid outfit stood at arrivals, drawing glances.

She waved warmly at Yu Baowei, then paused, smiling faintly at Lu Zhao.

“Auntie Liu, you came yourself?” Yu Baowei’s mood lifted seeing her childhood caretaker, though she worried about being seen through.

“Madam heard you’re bringing a boyfriend. Of course I had to come for someone so important.”

Lu Zhao knew—showtime.

Stepping forward, he smiled shyly. “Auntie Liu, hi. I’m Lu Zhao, Teacher Yu’s boyfriend.”

Yu Baowei was stunned. That seamless? What did you do before this?

“Teacher… Yu?” Liu Yu blinked, then gave Yu Baowei a teasing look. “Miss, barely started teaching and already…?”

She trailed off, smirking.

Not a big deal—adults, slight age gap, no issue.

Lu Zhao’s acting was flawless; Yu Baowei’s slower response could pass as embarrassment over “eating young grass.”

“Ahem.” She grabbed his hand. “Let’s go, Auntie Liu. Talk at home.”

“Alright.” Liu Yu led the way.

Yu Baowei exhaled—first hurdle cleared.

Liu Yu had been with her since childhood, practically a second mother. If she didn’t suspect anything, her mom should be fine.

As Liu Yu turned, Yu Baowei tried to let go of Lu Zhao’s hand.

He gripped it tighter. She looked at him, startled.

He mouthed, “Play the part fully.”

She turned away, his warmth sending her heart into chaos—unable to break free.

Lu Zhao felt it too: Liu Yu’s subtle scrutiny the whole way.

Made sense. To the Yu family, wasn’t he just a pretty boy chasing status?

He glanced out the car window, a faint smirk forming.

From the rearview mirror, Liu Yu saw it and frowned.

What’s he smiling about?

His assumption wasn’t entirely wrong, but not quite right.

Liu Yu had no preconceptions about him—she just wanted to see if he was worthy of her miss.

First impressions? Decent looks, passable.

Beyond that, unclear. His smirk puzzled her.

No matter—plenty of time to figure him out.

If he was only after money…

Her eyes narrowed. As a housekeeper, she handled many things.