Chapter 58: Gaze.

Dining Room

“Xiao Wei, what’s with you? You seem… really happy?” Yu Mulian’s words drew the attention of those nearby.

Lu Zhao then noticed Yu Baiwei, sitting beside him, her lips curled in a subtle, beaming smile.

Under scrutiny, Yu Baiwei turned to him. When their eyes met, his heart skipped a beat.

Her gaze shimmered like a lake reflecting summer sun—bright, with a touch of heat.

“Happy? Nah, not really,” she said to her mother, eyes still on Lu Zhao.

The exchange made Yu’s parents glance at each other in confusion, while Liu Yu looked thoughtful.

Lu Zhao quietly shifted his gaze to his breakfast.

What’s going on? Am I seeing things?

That look… it felt so familiar, but he couldn’t place it.

9 AM

Lu Zhao and Yu Baiwei left the Yu household.

Liu Yu, as usual, began her daily tasks.

In the laundry room, she found a bedsheet left in the dryer.

“Hm? Someone forgot to take this out? From Miss’s room…”

Unfolding it, her eyes widened at a certain mark, then her lips curved into an irrepressible smile.

Lu Zhao was lost in thought, the reason being the woman asleep beside him.

What did you do last night? That tired?

Yu Baiwei had been quiet the whole way—not the gloomy, unwilling-to-talk kind, but the kind savoring some pleasant secret.

At least, she had a smile.

Once on the plane, she leaned back and fell asleep.

Her serene face and steady breathing confirmed she was out.

Lu Zhao frowned, unable to figure her out. He pulled out his phone to tell Yan Qingxin they were back.

Qingxin, I’m with Miss Yu. We’ll be in Goose City soon.

She was probably in class; it took a few minutes for her reply.

Great, I’ll pick you up. Everything go okay?

His fingers paused.

How to put it? It went… too well, almost.

That crazy woman didn’t tell Qingxin about the engagement?

He tested the waters.

Pretty smooth. Oh, I saw Aunt Yan here. She didn’t mention it to you?

Another few minutes. No, where’d you see her? She didn’t misunderstand, right?

Misunderstand? That’s an understatement…

Lu Zhao took a deep breath. She hadn’t said anything.

But it made sense. What could she say? I saw your boyfriend get engaged to another woman, then I had my way with him in front of her. Impressive, huh?

No matter how wild Yan Ruyue was, she wasn’t that far gone. She’d likely kept quiet.

No misunderstanding. Saw her at Miss Yu’s place. I explained everything.

Oh, good. No wonder she didn’t tell me.

“Sigh…” Life wasn’t easy. Lu Zhao exhaled.

If he could, he’d avoid Yan Ruyue forever, but as Qingxin’s boyfriend, that was impossible.

After some thought, he decided to clear up the engagement with her.

Scrolling through their chat, he found the conversation with only one voice message from her.

Seeing the contact name “Ruyue Mama,” his mouth twitched. Glancing at Yu Baiwei to ensure she was asleep, he typed like a thief.

We need to talk.

Yan Ruyue, in a good mood after yesterday’s antics, was in a meeting.

Her phone lit up. Seeing the message, she froze, then smiled softly.

Her shift from stern to gentle stunned the employees below, their eyes drawn to her phone.

Ahem.

Her cough snapped them back, cold sweat prickling their backs for daring to snoop.

“Alright, meeting’s over. Dismissed.”

The staff fled, relieved. In ten seconds, the room was empty, the last one kindly closing the door.

Yan Ruyue picked up her phone. Her contact name for Lu Zhao was “Naughty Little Man,” from what she’d told Qingxin.

Talk about what?

No nonsense, straight to the point.

Adjusting her gold-rimmed glasses, her slender fingers tapped the desk rhythmically, her stockinged foot teasing her heel.

She’d regretted her impulsiveness last night, but done was done.

She’d planned to ask Qingxin what was up, but as Lu Zhao predicted, she didn’t know how.

So she let it go. She was sure neither he nor Yu Baiwei would spill.

They were both on the same tightrope.

The thrill of that taboo made her replay a certain video as a chaser.

A message came after a bit.

I was pretending to be Miss Yu’s boyfriend to help her break off the Mu family engagement. Qingxin knew and agreed. But she didn’t know about the engagement—that was Aunt Yu’s last-minute call.

Lu Zhao thought he’d been clear. It was the truth.

Oh, and then?

Her reply stumped him.

Yeah, and then?

Frowning, he typed.

That’s it. Just letting you know—don’t tell Qingxin anything weird.

Yan Ruyue propped her chin, fingertip tapping her pursed lips.

Weird? Like how great you were last night?

Heh~

Whether he explained or not didn’t matter to her. She didn’t care.

She was just happy he messaged, and she couldn’t resist teasing him.

“Tch.” Lu Zhao sucked in a breath, teeth aching. This woman was impossible!

You… just don’t say anything. And delete the chat.

Got it. You’re pretty practiced at this, huh?

He pocketed his phone, glancing at Yu Baiwei, still asleep.

“Sigh…” He rubbed his forehead.

No shame at all. So hard to deal with.

Yan Ruyue’s finger hovered over delete but paused.

“No one’ll see it anyway. I’ll keep it.”

At the airport exit, Yan Qingxin was waiting, waving with a smile.

As they approached, Lu Zhao started to speak but froze.

Seeing Yan Qingxin’s gaze, he realized where he’d seen Yu Baiwei’s look from.

Qingxin always looked at him like that!