Blushing bright red, Ruan Xingchen pushed his face away and huffed. In your dreams.
Kissing him back would still mean she lost out.
Lu Jingyuan let out a low chuckle. He picked up the cotton swab, dipped it in ointment, and gently dabbed the bruises on her cheeks.
The medicine felt cool, but it still stung against her wounds. Though the girl bit her lips and said nothing, her big dark eyes soon welled up with tears.
Lu Jingyuan frowned softly. Does it hurt that bad?
Sniffling, she mumbled in a tiny, muffled voice. It hurts.
One girl had held her down while the other punched her straight in the face. It had been terrible.
Lu Jingyuan's gaze turned darker. He said nothing more, only made his movements even gentler.
When he finished treating her face, he asked quietly. Anywhere else hurt besides your face?
Her cheeks flushed. She didn't dare admit she'd been pinched hard on the waist several times—she had no idea if there were bruises there too. Afraid he might lift her skirt if she told him, she lied quickly. No other places.
Lu Jingyuan didn't press her. He tidied the medicine back into the first-aid kit and handed it to her. Rest well at home. I've excused you from school. No need to come clean, cook, or do chores these few days.
Hugging the kit, she looked touched. You're such a nice man, uncle.
A glint flickered in Lu Jingyuan's eyes. Can a nice man get a kiss as reward?
…
Blushing furiously, she shot him an annoyed glance and stood up from the sofa.
Just as he thought she'd run off without another word, she suddenly leaned forward and planted a loud smooch on his cheek.
Lu Jingyuan froze.
By the time he reacted, she was already gone.
He touched the spot she'd kissed, a slow smile spreading across his lips.
…
Downtown Hospital
Worried about Ruan Xingchen, Lu Bai had gone out to buy fruit and wandered around for nearly an hour before dragging her feet back to Grandma Lu's ward.
She pushed the door open, took one step inside, and crashed straight into a solid wall of muscle.
Stepping back while holding her forehead, she looked up—and met a handsome face with a lazy smirk. Her cheeks heated up instantly.
She glanced at the room number again: 1303. She hadn't gone to the wrong ward.
Before she could wonder further, Grandma Lu's familiar voice came from inside. Is that Bai Bai back?
The man stepped aside to let her pass. Glancing at him, Lu Bai carried the fruit bags inside. Grandma, I'm back.
Grandma Lu frowned at her bags. Why did buying fruit take so long?
Lu Bai set them down and smiled shyly, offering no explanation.
Spotting the man still standing by the door, Grandma Lu suddenly remembered something. Bai Bai, this is your great-aunt's youngest son. Call him Cousin Uncle.
Cousin Uncle? Lu Bai turned to look at the quiet man.
He looked about the same age as her uncle, dressed in a sleek black suit, with a roguish smile and lazy eyes that seemed uninterested in everything. Compared to her upright uncle and Uncle Wei Xiaoyuan from their prominent family background, he was clearly an odd one out.
When his gaze fell on her, Lu Bai's heart fluttered nervously. She quickly lowered her eyes and greeted politely. Hello, Cousin Uncle.
The man nodded faintly and looked away.
Glancing at Grandma Lu, Lu Bai took two apples into the small kitchen attached to the ward.
Soon, his voice drifted inside. So this is the girl Sister Jingyun adopted all those years ago?
Lu Bai pouted and turned on the tap to wash the apples.
That's her. Grandma Lu sighed and gestured for him to sit. Yu Shao, it's been years since you visited City C. How long will you stay this time?
Yu Shao smiled casually. As long as you don't try matchmaking for me, Auntie.
You child! Grandma Lu tapped his hand lightly, scolding him. Don't follow Jingyuan's bad example. You're both well into your thirties—men your age already have kids old enough to run around!
She added firmly. Don't rush back. Stay here with me for a while. Once I'm discharged, I'll find nice matches for both of you together.
Yu Shao's mouth twitched.
Now he understood perfectly why Lu Jingyuan refused to come to the hospital.
Just as Lu Bai walked out of the kitchen, she heard those words. She peeked at him secretly and thought to herself: Another old bachelor.
…
Not long after Ruan Xingchen left, Lu Jingyuan changed clothes, grabbed his keys, and headed out too.
He drove straight to the company.
With less than fifteen minutes until his meeting, there was no time for lunch.
Back on the top floor, his assistant greeted him at once. Boss, the He Group representatives are waiting in the reception room.
Ignore them. Prepare for the meeting.
Understood.
Reception Room
Mr. He had been pacing anxiously for almost an hour.
He'd overheard staff saying Lu Jingyuan had returned—and immediately gone into a meeting.
He could wait, but his thousands of employees couldn't.
He'd never expected Lu Jingyuan to be so ruthless—willing to destroy the partnership even if it hurt both sides.
Worse still, other businesses, seeing the He Group had offended Lu Jingyuan, were scrambling to cancel their contracts too.
If this kept up, the He Group would go bankrupt soon.
Mr. He sighed and made a phone call.
At least the other party still answered.
Before he could speak, the man on the line said coldly. You're calling about renewing the contract, aren't you? I'll tell you straight: not unless you fix things with Nanyuan. We're no powerful clan—we can't afford to cross the Lu family.
Mr. Li…
Heard about the Yu family? Their daughter bullied a girl the Young Master favors. He crushed the Yu Group without mercy. We're nowhere near as strong as them, and we don't have powerful in-laws like the Wei family backing us up.
The call ended sharply.
Mr. He's vision blurred. His legs gave way, and he sank weakly onto the sofa.
…
Back at home, Lu Jingyuan had already excused Ruan Xingchen from school and given her a break from cleaning, cooking, and chores. She lazed comfortably in her apartment to recover.
Now that Yu Shao had arrived at the hospital, Lu Bai was finally free to leave. She went to school, found Ruan Xingchen absent, asked the teacher about the fight, then rushed straight to Wutong Apartment after class.
Ruan Xingchen was making fried rice with eggs when the doorbell rang. She turned down the stove and ran to open the door.
Why aren't you at school?! Don't you want to get into uni— Lu Bai's angry words died instantly when she saw her swollen bruised face. She reached out carefully, afraid of hurting her, her voice trembling with heartache. Does it hurt badly?
Ruan Xingchen thought for a moment. Not much anymore.
The ointment Wei Xiaoyuan gave her worked really well—it only stung a little when applied.
Lu Bai's eyes turned red with rage. Tell me who did it! I'll go scratch their faces too!
The uncle already dealt with them.
How?
Don't know.
Lu Bai glared at her helplessly while Ruan Xingchen blinked innocently.
Suddenly a burning smell drifted from the kitchen.
Sniffing the air, Lu Bai frowned. What's that smell?
Oh no! Ruan Xingchen hurried back to turn off the stove and stirred the slightly burnt fried rice.
Thankfully, it was only a little charred.
She called out. Have you eaten yet, Bai Bai?
Not yet.
Looking at the single serving of fried rice, Ruan Xingchen decided to make steamed egg custard as well.
Soon she set two half bowls of fried rice and one bowl of custard on the table.
Lu Bai stared in shock. Are you obsessed with eating eggs now?
I didn't go grocery shopping today.
…
After eating, the two girls leaned lazily against the sofa.
Suddenly remembering something, Lu Bai turned to her. Hey, that night you called me? My phone died. When I charged it and saw the missed call, I was about to ring you back when you called again.
Ruan Xingchen hesitated, unsure whether to tell her what had happened.
If she said it, Lu Bai would definitely call her stupid again.
But if she didn't… She glanced nervously at Lu Bai, who stared fiercely back, making her heart tremble.
That night… the grumpy uncle…
Spit it out! What did my uncle do?
Closing her eyes tightly, she blurted out. He kissed me.
…Lu Bai froze completely.
She'd known her uncle liked Xingchen a little—but she'd never thought he'd dare do something like that to a girl who'd barely just come of age!
Yet the way Xingchen looked… she didn't seem upset or disgusted at all.
What on earth had happened while she was gone?!
Holding her forehead, Lu Bai asked helplessly. Did he do anything else?
Afraid Xingchen wouldn't understand, she put it plainly. Like what Ruan Shuqing and Jiang Heng do—taking clothes off and rolling around on the bed?
Ruan Xingchen's mouth twitched. Didn't you say your uncle couldn't…?
Lu Bai twitched too. How was I supposed to know?!
I never tried it myself… cough—stop thinking about that!
The doorbell suddenly rang. Ruan Xingchen stood and walked to the entrance.
Still lost in thought, Lu Bai mumbled absentmindedly, Yu Shao's face popping into her head. Actually… older men aren't all that bad.
Just as Ruan Xingchen opened the door, the man outside heard every word. His dark eyes landed sharply on the lovestruck-looking Lu Bai on the sofa, his brows narrowing coldly.