Xiao Luyan’s tone was indifferent, but the lethality of her words was not small. As soon as she said this, the two who had been pretending to be polite both froze.
Jason’s face alternated between red and white. He barely kept the corners of his mouth from twisting into a ridiculous angle, but his pretentious act had already shown flaws after his blinking frequency clearly increased.
Lu Yuezhi saw this—how could she not understand?
Although she had not fully figured out the relationships among them yet, anyone who could make Xiao Luyan take the initiative to attack was clearly no good.
Lu Yuezhi had a mysterious filter for Xiao Luyan. Not to mention that at this moment, she stood side by side with Xiao Luyan, so they naturally belonged to the same camp.
She pretended to be surprised, then couldn’t help asking out of curiosity. With the innocence and humility of someone sincerely seeking knowledge, she said, “We’ve never met before, so how did you suddenly start worshipping me? Did you remember wrong, or misunderstand Jason’s words?”
Though it was a question, the trailing tone was soft and carried no real doubt—instead, it held a faint pampering.
Jason was already in an awkward and depressed state, but even so, Lu Yuezhi’s tone still made him cringe!
Xiao Luyan’s eyes lifted slightly. Her smile was faint, but it was clear her mood was good.
“It shouldn’t be a mistake. These words were said not long ago. Moreover, he specially emphasized to me that he really wanted to meet you. He worshipped and admired you.”
Lu Yuezhi cooperated fully. She opened her mouth and shook her head exaggeratedly several times to show humility.
She turned to look at Jason, calm yet smiling as she explained, “Thank you for such high praise of me. But I’m not as exaggerated as you think. It’s nothing more than fate at work—I was just a bit luckier and gained Luyan’s favor.”
Jason inwardly pondered Lu Yuezhi’s tone. He could hear the deliberately restrained laughter in it, carrying the same sarcasm as Xiao Luyan’s, yet so sincere that it couldn’t be directly called out.
When she mentioned Xiao Luyan, the pampering and tenderness became even more obvious. There was no sign of the age gap between them—they were no different from any other couple.
Jason had inquired beforehand. He knew Lu Yuezhi was six years younger than Xiao Luyan and that she was completely different from old hands like her brother in the romance department. He had assumed that when the two were together, Xiao Luyan would completely dominate while Lu Yuezhi meekly nodded along in agreement.
He thought this discovery needed to be reported to Young Master Quan. He had never imagined it would be like this. But on second thought, if he relayed these details as is, Young Master Quan would explode—and he’d end up as the punching bag.
Yet if he knew and deliberately held back, the consequences would be even worse if Young Master Quan found out!
Talk about a dilemma!
This was truly too contradictory. Jason suddenly regretted paying such excessive attention to Xiao Luyan’s movements. If only he hadn’t deliberately followed them—then he wouldn’t know about these interactions and wouldn’t have to agonize over whether to report it.
Now his expression looked even worse than when Xiao Luyan had roasted him earlier, laced with unease.
Lu Yuezhi had assumed he was the thick-skinned, veteran type and thought her few lines of banter lacked punch. Who knew this guy seemed outwardly strong but inwardly weak—he couldn’t even withstand a few words.
With slight surprise and confusion, she turned to Xiao Luyan, hoping for more hints from her.
In front of Jason, the two naturally couldn’t say much.
Xiao Luyan curved her lips and shook her head lightly, signaling her not to worry. At the same time, she gently pinched the hand she held—and caught a certain someone’s lightly trembling gaze.
Her panic was kind of cute. Xiao Luyan stopped pinching, but the curve of her lips grew more pronounced.
Jason snapped out of his internal struggle and realized how eerily quiet the surroundings had become. He blanked out again. When he looked around, Lu Yuezhi and Xiao Luyan were still there, calmly watching him.
Nothing special showed in their eyes, yet he felt the initiative had inexplicably slipped away. He was like an animal caged for spectatorship, unable to match the two before him any longer.
Lu Yuezhi then proactively asked with concern, “Are you okay? Your face suddenly looks awful. Are you feeling unwell?”
Her words flipped over the embarrassment Jason had just suppressed, stripping away even his last shred of cover!
He was stunned. How could someone be so direct? Didn’t she know about saving face? About a sense of proportion?
But… he couldn’t snap back harshly. Lu Yuezhi’s concern sounded utterly sincere, as if she truly worried for him.
“It’s nothing. The air here probably isn’t circulating well. It’s a bit stuffy.”
Lu Yuezhi nodded. “Then you should exercise more. A healthy body is the foundation of your work.”
Xiao Luyan nearly lost it and pinched her hand again.
She hadn’t expected Lu Yuezhi to take the initiative like this. She herself couldn’t chase Jason with knowing questions, nor was it suitable. After all, she saw Jason often—pretending total ignorance would be too contrived. But for Lu Yuezhi, it fit perfectly.
She had gradually grown accustomed to this person’s style, but Jason was clearly still dazed. Sure enough, he froze after the sudden rug-pull. That look was far more pleasing than his earlier passive-aggressive demeanor.
Xiao Luyan really wanted to tease Lu Yuezhi: Naughty.
How had she never noticed this side before? Probably because Lu Yuezhi was so obedient around her that Xiao Luyan saw her as especially well-behaved.
Jason couldn’t keep up the act. He didn’t want to learn any more about this couple’s rapport and chemistry, so he started fishing for an exit.
“It’s almost quitting time. I need to hurry and grab lunch.” Jason smiled at Lu Yuezhi. “Next time there’s a chance, I’ll chat properly with Miss Lu.”
Lu Yuezhi didn’t try to keep him at all but didn’t forget her concern. “You were so unwell earlier. Eat light for lunch, or you might throw up easily.”
Jason drew a breath and forced a smile. “Thank you for your concern, Miss Lu. Enjoy your lunch.”
Lu Yuezhi nodded happily. “I booked a spot at Lin Duo. Luyan and I will head there soon.”
Lin Duo was the most famous couples’ restaurant nearby—reservations were tough. Many suitors had sent flowers and desperately tried to invite Xiao Luyan there before, only to face cold rejection.
By comparison, Lu Yuezhi truly had Xiao Luyan’s favor.
Jason beat a hasty retreat. He couldn’t stomach hearing more details about these two, or Young Master Quan would torment him to death!
His steps hurried along. He wished he could burrow into the ground and vanish from their sight. If not for decorum, he would’ve broken into a jog.
Only after he vanished at the other end of the passage did Lu Yuezhi turn to Xiao Luyan. “It’s him, right?”
Xiao Luyan raised a brow. “What?”
“The colleague you wanted me to meet. That should be him.”
Xiao Luyan hadn’t expected her to catch on so quickly—it saved her the explanation. She neither confirmed nor denied, simply letting go of the hand she held.
The performance was over, so the feigned intimacy was no longer needed.
Lu Yuezhi’s palm felt empty, and her heart swayed with it. The disappointment passed quickly; she remained focused on Xiao Luyan’s response.
She wanted not just to sort friend from foe, lest she help the wrong side. More than that, she wanted to know Xiao Luyan’s work environment—how many treated her well, how many targeted her.
She wanted to understand everything about Xiao Luyan.
Unfortunately, even after exiting the executive-only passage, Xiao Luyan said little more. Lu Yuezhi didn’t press and silently walked alongside her.
Xiao Luyan led her to her office. Lunch break loomed, and employees bustled about, but no one dared stare openly—let alone confront her like Jason.
Those they passed greeted Xiao Luyan proactively and nodded politely to Lu Yuezhi, but no one joked or pried. They treated her like any ordinary visitor.
Lu Yuezhi’s tension eased somewhat, though she secretly hoped someone would ask a question or two.
Xiao Luyan had little to pack. She simply tidied her bag and prepared to head to Lin Duo with her.
Seeing Lu Yuezhi eagerly surveying the surroundings, she smiled and said, “Next time you come, I’ll give you a proper tour.”
Lu Yuezhi had figured the act would end her visits for a while. Xiao Luyan showed no interest in discussing the auction house further, so she assumed her role as a mobile prop was done.
Hearing about a next time made her eyes light up instantly.
“Really?”
Xiao Luyan glanced at her. “Do I seem like a liar?”
Lu Yuezhi beamed. “I just didn’t expect a next time. I really want to take a good look around!”
How could Xiao Luyan miss her intentions? Lu Yuezhi had been furtively examining everything since the parking lot, down to the wall details.
Time had been tight today, leaving little room for a tour. Jason’s deflated reaction satisfied her immensely, lifting her mood—so she advanced the next invitation.
“If you’re too busy, don’t worry about me. I can wander on my own.” Afraid of disrupting work, Lu Yuezhi downgraded the reception herself.
Xiao Luyan drawled deliberately, “Seems you don’t like guided tours.”
Lu Yuezhi blinked innocently. “No way. I’m just feeling bad for you—afraid you’ll tire out, or that Jason will say you’re slacking.”
Xiao Luyan paused, momentarily bested by her frankness.
Dropping the teasing, Xiao Luyan led Lu Yuezhi from the office toward the parking lot.
A few steps later, urgent calls sounded from behind. “President Xiao, please wait!”
Xiao Luyan frowned slightly, but her mood stayed even. Lu Yuezhi turned with her to see a girl about her age hurrying over with a stack of documents.
Full of apology, she reached Xiao Luyan and explained softly, “Master, sorry—these just came in. They need your signature urgently.”
Such matters were routine, but Cheng Yanran felt extra conflicted today. She hated interrupting Xiao Luyan’s date.
Delaying work, though, would anger her more—Cheng Yanran knew that well. So she steeled herself and came.
Xiao Luyan took the documents without a word and flipped through them swiftly.
Cheng Yanran peeked up, glancing at Lu Yuezhi nearby.
She was deeply curious herself—what kind of person could thaw her master’s heart, frozen for millennia? Her time with Xiao Luyan wasn’t short or long, but she ranked among the closest at the auction house. The “high mountain flower” label fit perfectly—her master seemed disinterested in everyone.
Unexpectedly, Lu Yuezhi met her gaze. Cheng Yanran froze for a beat.
Those eyes shone brightly, clear yet sharp. Vitality brimmed from her—untouched by workplace brutality—with a youthful energy that was intoxicating and nostalgic.
In that instant, she recalled her own fresh-graduation zeal: fleeting, yet missed.
Just like that, she grasped why her master liked this person.
She radiated pure aliveness—vibrant energy and bubbling youth. Simply looking soothed the soul.
Xiao Luyan finished signing, unperturbed by the silent exchange beside her.
She issued calm work instructions, then turned to Lu Yuezhi. “Let’s go.”
Lu Yuezhi clearly sensed Xiao Luyan’s attitude toward this girl differed vastly from her treatment of Jason. No acting involved. So, this was someone trustworthy.
Before leaving, she gave Cheng Yanran one more look.
