Chapter 29

The KTV was dimly lit, the bright floor tiles reflecting the lights on the ceiling.

Zhou Wan followed Lu Xixiao inside.

It was her first time in a place like this, and she couldn't help but feel it was some sort of decadent place. She grew timid, cautiously surveying her surroundings from behind Lu Xixiao.

Knowing that the group would definitely be ordering alcohol, Lu Xixiao ordered a glass of fruit juice and asked the waiter to bring it over later.

When they reached the private room Jiang Fan had mentioned, Lu Xixiao looked back and said, "It's not too late to leave now."

The music was loud, seeping through the door and drowning out Lu Xixiao's voice.

Zhou Wan didn't hear him clearly. "Huh?"

Lu Xixiao leaned down and repeated it into Zhou Wan's ear.

His hot breath brushed against her ear, and the thin skin instantly flushed.

Zhou Wan blinked. "It's okay."

Lu Xixiao's lips curled as he pushed the door open and went in.

Seeing Zhou Wan, the group of people all stood up, hooting and telling their "Sister-in-law" to sit in the middle.

Zhou Wan quickly waved her hands, saying she couldn't sing and that sitting on the side was fine.

Lu Xixiao let her be and sat beside her.

After the incident last time where they accidentally let Zhou Wan drink alcohol, no one tried to persuade her to drink this time. Among the dozen or so people in the room, only Zhou Wan was holding a glass of fruit juice.

Seeing how well-behaved and reserved this "Little Sister-in-law" was, they all stubbed out their cigarettes, afraid that the slightest neglect would provoke Lu Xixiao's anger again.

Lu Xixiao leaned back into the sofa, a glass in one hand, the other arm around Zhou Wan's shoulder.

He was half-leaning against Zhou Wan, his collar open, revealing his lean collarbones and Adam's apple. His black hair was neat, perfectly fitting into such a setting.

Zhou Wan was really not used to such intimate gestures. Her entire spine was stiff as she forced herself to sit upright.

But she still let Lu Xixiao hold her, not dodging away.

She guessed that with a mind as perceptive as Lu Xixiao's, he could naturally sense her discomfort. It was just that he was taking pleasure in her misfortune and enjoyed seeing her like this.

During this time, someone said, "By the way, Sister-in-law, I heard you got first place in the monthly exam again?"

The others chimed in with flattery.

"Sister-in-law is awesome, I worship the god of studying."

"Sister-in-law is a cultural oasis that has come to our cultural desert to reform us."

"Hahahahahaha, then isn't Sister-in-law and Brother Xiao getting together a 'reforest the desert' project?"

...

Lu Xixiao laughed along, turning his head to ask, "First?"

"Mhm."

"How come I didn't hear you mention it?"

Zhou Wan blinked and swallowed, saying softly, "I felt there was nothing much to say."

"Teacher Zhou is so humble," Lu Xixiao teased.

The words "Teacher Zhou," when spoken in his voice, became exceptionally improper, frivolous and playful.

Zhou Wan didn't reply.

After that, Lu Xixiao drank a little, chatted for a while, and didn't stay long. He then took Zhou Wan's hand and stood up. "We're leaving first."

"Leaving so early?"

Lu Xixiao tugged at the corner of his mouth. "She's a good student, has to go back and study."

The crowd went "Ooh," "Ooh," their expressions ambiguous.

"Then we'll leave too. There's nothing good to sing in this crappy song selection anyway," Jiang Fan said. "Let's find another place to continue the party."

So, the entire group walked out of the private room.

Outside, when the cold wind blew, Zhou Wan realized she had taken off her scarf earlier and left it in the room.

"I'll go back and get it," she said.

Lu Xixiao asked what was wrong.

"I left my scarf."

"I'll go." After saying that, Lu Xixiao turned around and went back inside.

Zhou Wan waited outside with the other guys. She was still reserved, but they weren't shy at all, asking her nonsensical questions from time to time.

Just then, another person walked over, smiling and greeting Jiang Fan, "What a coincidence, you're here too."

Jiang Fan high-fived the person. "We were just about to leave."

"Master Xiao didn't come today either?"

"He came, but went back up. We're waiting for him."

The guy looked to be about the same age as them, but he probably wasn't from Yangming High School. Zhou Wan had never seen him before.

The guy noticed her gaze, looked over, and then raised his eyebrows, smiling at her. "Yo, you guys have a beauty here, how come you didn't call me?"

The others paused, just about to say that this was the girlfriend of the "Master Xiao" he had just mentioned and was not to be messed with.

But he was extremely forward, pulling out his phone without giving anyone a chance to stop him. "Hey little sister, let's get to know each other. Be friends."

Jiang Fan moved to stop him, but at that moment, Lu Xixiao had already grabbed the scarf and was coming downstairs.

'One has to protect their own girlfriend.' Jiang Fan silently mourned for the brother in front of him for three seconds, withdrew his hand, and didn't interfere.

The guy caught sight of Lu Xixiao and greeted him with considerable excitement.

Lu Xixiao gave a faint "mhm," his gaze falling on the phone that was practically shoved in Zhou Wan's face.

The guy looked at Zhou Wan again and said with a smile, "Don't be so stingy, let's just get to know each other."

Zhou Wan glanced at Lu Xixiao.

He had no expression on his face, just stood there with his hands in his pockets, chin slightly raised, his gaze calm.

Zhou Wan thought for a moment. It seemed this guy knew Lu Xixiao and could be considered a friend.

In that case... she at least shouldn't let his friend be embarrassed.

Zhou Wan raised her hand, took his phone, and began to enter her phone number.

Everyone instantly shut their mouths, holding their breath in concentration.

They all marveled inwardly, 'Sister-in-law is really something else, truly no ordinary person.'

Lu Xixiao's brow furrowed slightly. He curled his lip into a cold sneer, lightly grinding his back teeth. The line of his jaw tensed, creating a grim, cold feeling.

He didn't say a word, just walked straight through the crowd and left.

Zhou Wan froze for a second, watching his retreating back.

"Lu Xixiao."

He ignored her.

Zhou Wan hadn't even finished typing her number. She hurriedly shoved the phone back into the guy's hands and chased after him. "Lu Xixiao!"

The guy was bewildered.

He was utterly baffled, having no idea what had just happened.

Jiang Fan clapped him on the shoulder and sighed, "Bro, you're cannon fodder."

"Huh?"

"The little sister you hit on is your sister-in-law."

"..."

The guy's mind went blank. After a long moment, he couldn't help but curse, "Fuck? Then why didn't you say so?"

"Did you give me a chance to say anything?"

"Then when I was asking for her number, Master Xiao didn't stop me and just watched his own girlfriend give me her number?" The guy felt he had been terribly wronged. "No, and Sister-in-law gave me her number right in front of Master Xiao. Was she playing me? Is she scheming? Playing hard to get to make Master Xiao jealous on purpose?"

Jiang Fan punched him. "She doesn't have your dirty thoughts."

"That's not right." He was starting to get it. "So what if she's Master Xiao's girlfriend? He's not that petty. It was just hitting on her, I didn't actually do anything."

"I don't know if you've noticed," Jiang Fan said, "but compared to all those girls before, their roles in the relationship have been reversed."

"..."

That's right. Before, it was always Lu Xixiao who got hit on, and those girls would get jealous and angry.

But when those girls were hit on, Lu Xixiao never reacted at all.

A sudden realization dawned on the guy. He asked quietly, "So, I'm done for?"

Jiang Fan glanced at him. "You're done for."

"..."

"Unless—"

"Unless what?"

"Unless our Sister-in-law can coax Ah Xiao into a good mood, then maybe your life can be spared."

"..."

The guy's vision went dark. "With that rotten temper of his? Who could possibly coax him?"

Jiang Fan laughed, taking pleasure in his misfortune. "That's why I suggest you book a hospital bed in advance."

Zhou Wan had to chase for a long way before she finally caught up to Lu Xixiao.

She grabbed Lu Xixiao's sleeve, panting so hard she couldn't even straighten her back, gasping for breath. "Lu Xixiao, don't walk so fast."

Lu Xixiao looked down at her. "Zhou Wan, you've got some nerve, daring to flirt right in front of me."

Flirt.

Such a serious accusation.

Zhou Wan felt as if a giant wok had been slammed down on her head.

"I didn't." She tried to even her breathing, wanting to explain to him, "I just thought he was your friend, and I didn't want him to lose face in front of so many people."

Lu Xixiao couldn't be bothered to listen to her and turned to leave.

Zhou Wan was exhausted but still had to continue chasing after him.

"Lu Xixiao." She softened her tone. "I didn't know you would get angry. I won't do it again."

Lu Xixiao suddenly stopped walking. Zhou Wan almost bumped into his back and quickly took two steps back.

"Come here." He frowned, watching her movement.

Zhou Wan quickly stepped forward to his side.

Lu Xixiao continued walking, but he finally slowed his pace.

The aura around him remained cold. Zhou Wan followed by his side in silence, feeling quite wronged herself, and couldn't help but mutter under her breath, "Accompanying a ruler is like accompanying a tiger."

She was extremely quiet, like a soft mumble, not expecting Lu Xixiao to hear it.

"Cursing me?" Lu Xixiao said.

Zhou Wan immediately shut her mouth, pretending to be oblivious and shaking her head.

"I heard you."

Zhou Wan lowered her head. "I'm sorry."

Lu Xixiao sneered. "Playing innocent again."

"..."

They took a taxi home.

At the entrance to her residential complex, Zhou Wan asked softly, "Lu Xixiao, are you still angry?"

"Yeah."

"..."

Zhou Wan was actually quite good at coaxing children, but she really didn't know how to coax Lu Xixiao, so she could only apologize again eagerly, "I'm sorry."

"Is 'I'm sorry' enough?" he raised an eyebrow. "You cheat on me and all I get is an 'I'm sorry'?"

The accusation was getting more and more outrageous. Zhou Wan's eyes couldn't help but widen when she heard it.

"I didn't," she corrected, then explained, "I just don't know how to be in a relationship. I thought in that kind of situation, I was supposed to give it to him."

"Do I have to teach you how to be in a relationship?" he retorted.

Zhou Wan didn't speak.

"Fine." Lu Xixiao nodded, as if making a generous donation. "I'll teach you."

"What?"

"When your boyfriend is angry, saying sorry is useless. It's better to do something practical."

Zhou Wan looked at him with her crystal-clear eyes and asked, "What kind of practical thing?"

Lu Xixiao looked at her for a moment, then chuckled lightly, leaned down, and moved closer to her.

He had drunk a little earlier, and his breath carried the warm scent of alcohol, enveloping her with a sense of aggression.

Zhou Wan subconsciously felt unsafe and leaned her body back, but her feet seemed nailed to the spot, unable to move. Her pupils dilated unconsciously, her doe-like eyes staring blankly at him.

Lu Xixiao followed her movement and leaned in further. He raised a hand to cup Zhou Wan's chin, lifting it frivolously, and leisurely observed her expression.

After a long moment, he laughed. "For example—"

The pad of his thumb touched Zhou Wan's lips, pressing back and forth, neither lightly nor heavily.

"Kiss me, and I'll forgive you."