Volume One, Chapter 106: She Seemed... to Have Fallen for Him a Little!

From the Lou residence to Wanxin Apartments was only a few minutes’ drive.

In the front seats, Rong Jing and Yang Yan kept their eyes fixed ahead, each quietly watching the road, not daring to turn around once. Yet even so, they sensed the icy aura that seeped from the rear of the car. Their gazes met, bewilderment written across their faces.

Rong Jing: What’s up with your Miss Sang? Wasn’t she just all radiant, throwing herself into the Boss’s arms? What’s happened now?

Yang Yan: They argued? Or... is she sulking? Wait, what’s up with your Boss? He’s a grown man—can’t he just bow his head a little?

Rong Jing: …

Yang Yan: !!!

Lou Ye stared out the window, brooding silently, his mind full of Sang Wan’s earlier gentle self-examination. When he returned to himself, the car was already pulling into the complex.

The Maybach stopped in front of the apartment building.

Lou Ye turned to Sang Wan, “Go on ahead. I have an appointment and won’t be back for dinner.”

“Alright.”

Sang Wan got out.

From the front seat, Rong Jing shot frantic glances at Yang Yan: ??? What’s going on? Are they living together already?

Yang Yan’s smile was full of meaning: Oh, you didn’t know? I’ve known for ages!

Rong Jing: …!!!

Sang Wan felt the weight of several pairs of eyes on her back all the way into the lobby. Only when the elevator doors closed did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Alone, Sang Wan had no desire to cook a proper meal. She rummaged through the fridge, put together a yogurt bowl, and carried it to the sofa.

Her phone chimed, the sound coming from her watch. She answered, and Lu Xiaomu’s little face appeared.

Lu Xiaomu sat in Lu Jinnian’s lap; father and son wore matching loungewear.

“Mama, Daddy says he’ll take me to a party on Saturday. Will you come with me?” Lu Xiaomu asked sweetly.

Sang Wan shook her head, refusing, “Mama won’t go. Do you want to go?”

Lu Xiaomu looked up at Lu Jinnian.

Lu Jinnian took the watch, looking at Sang Wan, “It’s Old Master Jiang’s ninetieth birthday, Wanwan. Join us, let’s pay our respects to the elder, alright?”

Old Master Jiang was a titan of architecture in the capital, once president of the city’s architectural association—a respected elder and a revered figure in the industry. In past years, every birthday or Lunar New Year, Sang Wan would accompany Lu Jinnian to visit him.

But this year, after the divorce, she neither wanted nor had any reason to accompany Lu Jinnian to such social affairs.

“It’s the Lu family who has ties to the Jiang family, not me.”

Sang Wan refused firmly, not even glancing at Lu Jinnian. “Xiaomu, do you want to go? If not, we can go to the amusement park instead. How about that?”

The screen shook as Xiaomu snatched back the watch, his lively face returning. “Alright, then I won’t go either. I’ll go to the amusement park with Mama.”

They set a time and chatted about kindergarten.

She learned that the children had already forgotten the events of Sports Day and were friends with him once more.

Sang Wan felt a little relief.

They talked until half past eight, when Sang Wan urged Lu Xiaomu to bathe and sleep, then hung up.

In the group chat, the gossip had long since ended.

Flipping through channels with the remote, she found nothing worth watching.

She retreated to the study to sketch for a while, then practiced yoga for half an hour, before showering and lying in bed.

Before sleep, she checked her phone. Lou Ye hadn’t messaged her, not even the usual goodnight.

Nothing.

She wanted to smooth things over, to say “Drink less,” or “Remember to call a driver if you’re drinking.”

But before she could type a word, that photo flashed before her mind’s eye.

Sang Wan couldn’t remember the face of the girl Lou Ye had been matched with. She only recalled the elegant, modern outfit—graceful and beautiful. A touch more would have made her look plump, a touch less would have made her seem frail. From shoulder to chest to waist, everything was perfectly fitted.

The paparazzi’s skill and angle were impeccable; the composition was flawless.

As the group had said: a handsome man and a beautiful woman, perfectly matched.

Sang Wan knew she had no right to be jealous, but the more she thought, the more aggrieved she felt, forgetting even her original intent to offer a way out.

She tossed her phone aside in a huff and turned off the light.

She tossed and turned, as if sleep was a distant traveler yet to reach her.

In the darkness, she had no idea how long she lay there, half-awake, half-asleep, until she was finally about to drift off—when the doorbell rang, loud and insistent.

Annoyance surged.

She wanted to ignore it, but feared waking the neighbors.

Sang Wan opened the door in a fury, ready to kick Lu Jinnian out and ask if he was sick—or seriously ill.

She yanked open the door, her anger abruptly halted.

Lou Ye was leaning against the doorframe, his face puzzled. “Don’t you have access?”

Fingerprint, code, facial recognition—he had all of them!

Lou Ye said nothing, only looked at Sang Wan with resentful eyes, staggered inside with his arm over her shoulder, and collapsed onto the sofa.

A faint scent of alcohol wafted out; the cat 2S, which had jumped into his lap, quickly scampered away.

Lou Ye was even more annoyed, pointing at 2S with a disgruntled face. “Ungrateful cat!”

Sang Wan: …

Why did it feel like he was indirectly cursing her? Was he really trying to call her an ingrate?

Lou Ye was drunk.

Tonight’s gathering was all close friends. Even if someone wasn’t, no one in this circle dared force him to drink.

Not much business was discussed; his mind was filled with Sang Wan’s shy, peach-blossom eyes from a moment ago, and then her calm, composed expression.

Her words echoed in his ears, slowed to three-quarters speed: she wouldn’t restrain him, and he was free.

The more he thought, the angrier he became, and before anyone could offer a toast, Lou Ye had already got himself drunk.

“Sang... Sang Wan?”

His mind was clear.

Yet his thoughts spun, and his tongue felt heavy. The pothos plant and 2S circled near and far before his eyes.

He looked around but didn’t see Sang Wan, realizing that although she hadn’t shut him out, she’d ignored him after he came in.

Lou Ye grew even more frustrated.

“Sang Wan!!!”

He shouted in exasperation, just as Sang Wan emerged from the kitchen carrying a bowl of hangover soup.

Lou Ye’s mind stalled, and his tongue knotted.

“How did you end up drinking so much?” Sang Wan scolded gently, helping him sit up as she muttered, “Weren’t you with Rong Jing and Yang Yan? Didn’t they help you dodge any drinks?”

She blew on the soup, checking its temperature.

Sang Wan fed Lou Ye a few spoonfuls.

The tart, sweet taste of hawthorn mingled with honey.

Lou Ye stared blankly at her.

With every spoonful, his anger dissolved, replaced by bubbles of honeyed hawthorn.

With another cooling breath, it all vanished.

He could not even muster a trace of anger toward her.

“Sang Wan, Sang Wan... be a little kinder to me, just a little more, please?”

He slumped against her shoulder as if finally drunk, his body leaning into hers.

She caught him, his whole weight falling into her arms—and all of it pressed upon her heart.

Sang Wan felt a pang of sadness.

“Sang Wan, Sang Wan…”

“Be a little kinder to me, please?”

His voice was tender, lingering, a soft plea.

Sang Wan felt as if her heart were breaking.

What should she do? She seemed... she really seemed to be falling for him!

As soon as the thought surfaced, Sang Wan ruthlessly suppressed it.

She was not worthy!

If she could go back ten years, before she’d been with Lu Jinnian, she wouldn’t even have been able to reach Lou Ye.

Let alone now.

Lou Ye was the brightest star in the night sky.

And she was a withered leaf, trembling on an autumn tree.

If she could survive the winter and become green again, it would be a blessing brought by a previous life.

To dream of flying up to reach the stars?

Impossible!