Chapter 82

Lu Yuezhi carefully pondered Xiao Luyan’s words again. She set aside the matter of the birthday banquet for now; the key lay in those few questions.

After analyzing it, Lu Yuezhi’s conclusion was that she had been too enthusiastic and invested, creating an illusion of not being serious enough.

Did Xiao Luyan think this affection was too abrupt and too intense, hence seeming frivolous?

Lu Yuezhi had no dating experience, and her only two good friends couldn’t help much either. One only dared to indulge in melodramatic tropes in novels, while the other only sought joy in the ocean of academia.

She thought that from now on, she should restrain herself a bit. Maybe this was what people called maturity.

But thinking of the birthday banquet still left her a little uncomfortable. She wasn’t as angry as before, but she couldn’t just pretend nothing had happened. Since Xiao Luyan said she needed to calm down, then she would take it slow first.

At dinner time, both of them appeared in the dining room, but besides eating, there was no further exchange.

Xiao Luyan didn’t eat much, just like in the early days, putting down her chopsticks after only a third.

Lu Yuezhi noticed and subconsciously wanted to urge her to eat more. But the words reached her lips, and remembering to hold back, her lips moved slightly, but in the end, she said nothing.

Xiao Luyan truly had no appetite. The pressure from work, the previous argument, and Lu Yuezhi’s obvious aloofness all diminished her appetite greatly.

The moment she set down her chopsticks, she saw Lu Yuezhi look up. A bit nervous, a bit expectantly out of habit, thinking Lu Yuezhi might say something.

She really didn’t want to eat more now, but she didn’t want to frustrate Lu Yuezhi again either. She thought she could just drink some more soup.

But Lu Yuezhi only paused for a few seconds, said nothing, and continued eating with her head down.

That sour ache from the argument surged up again, making it impossible for Xiao Luyan to stay calm.

She was afraid that staying in the dining room longer would make her eyes redden uncontrollably. This was so unlike her!

She decisively pushed away her bowl and feigned calm: “I’m full. I’ll go back to my room to prepare tomorrow’s documents.”

Seeing that Lu Yuezhi was still holding her bowl, she sincerely added: “Eat slowly.”

Lu Yuezhi nodded: “Mm.”

Xiao Luyan knew Lu Yuezhi was still angry, but she hadn’t expected her to be this aloof. She felt inexplicably aggrieved but couldn’t say more.

She fixedly looked at the person eating with her head down, then sighed faintly.

After Xiao Luyan left, Lu Yuezhi finally looked up completely. Looking at the bowl still left with quite a bit of food, she couldn’t help but worry if this person was getting enough nutrition.

But then she thought she couldn’t associate everything she saw with Xiao Luyan; that really was overthinking it. Lu Yuezhi forcibly looked away and focused on eating.

After dinner, she returned to her room and habitually thought of Xiao Luyan again.

But continuing to think wouldn’t change Xiao Luyan’s mind. If she kept up the old ways, Xiao Luyan would only think her self-indulgence had escalated.

Lu Yuezhi decisively took a shower, instantly cooling down quite a bit. After calming, she shifted her attention to work and optimized the key points to discuss after meeting with Trans.

Her plan to “shock” Trans with egg pancakes hadn’t changed, but lately she’d been busy retouching photos and hadn’t had time to practice. She had planned to consolidate her skills while making breakfast for Xiao Luyan, but now that seemed unfeasible for the time being.

The next morning early, Xiao Luyan didn’t see the familiar egg pancakes in the kitchen. Lu Yuezhi brought out the regular breakfast prepared by the auntie.

Xiao Luyan was stunned for a moment but said nothing.

After finishing breakfast as usual, Xiao Luyan took the initiative to ask: “Been busy lately?”

Lu Yuezhi had temporarily adjusted her work schedule for the Paris trip. Now that Paris was off, she was too lazy to readjust, so these past couple of days were actually quite free.

But she felt Xiao Luyan was asking despite knowing the answer. If she was busy, how could she go to Paris?

Yet she didn’t want to argue with Xiao Luyan. Though she had decided to be more restrained, this was still the person she liked. Seeing that face, she couldn’t bear to snap back.

She said flatly: “About the same as usual.”

Xiao Luyan thought she would say something more specific, but after waiting a few seconds, she only saw the top of Lu Yuezhi’s lowered head.

She didn’t even want to look at her. Xiao Luyan’s heart ached a little.

“Yuezhi, are you still angry?” She didn’t want to go to work with this pent-up feeling.

Lu Yuezhi frowned: “I won’t lie to you; there’s still a bit.”

Before Xiao Luyan could speak, Lu Yuezhi smiled: “Give me some time; I can process it.”

Xiao Luyan felt she didn’t want to communicate anymore and was avoiding the topic.

She had wanted to talk about the Trans team; she wanted to find an opportunity for Lu Yuezhi to meet privately with Su Yiqui or Trans. Even without business dealings, it would be good for peers to connect.

But seeing Lu Yuezhi’s attitude, she decided to find another chance to bring it up.

Time was running short; Xiao Luyan couldn’t delay further. Lu Yuezhi knew she had to go to work and smiled: “Drive safely on the road.”

She used to say this too, but inevitably added a few more nagging words afterward. Occasionally, if she got too excited, Xiao Luyan had even given her an exasperated eye-roll.

But today, it was just this one formulaic farewell.

It was so curt that Xiao Luyan felt it sting, like going out without even a coat—too sparse. She wasn’t used to this change, but knowing Lu Yuezhi hadn’t gotten over her anger, she couldn’t force it, right?

Still…

Xiao Luyan had already changed her shoes and, right before opening the door, suddenly turned back: “Yuezhi.”

Lu Yuezhi had just come out of the kitchen and was preparing to go back to her room to change clothes.

“Um?”

Xiao Luyan pursed her lips: “You be safe too.”

Lu Yuezhi hadn’t expected her to say this specifically and took it as a response to her own earlier words.

“Okay.” It was a kind sentiment; nothing to snap at. Lu Yuezhi didn’t deliberately put on a face.

She thought, was this considered more mature? After all, in the past, she loved adding interjections like “ah” and such.

Seeing that she didn’t even say “okay?” anymore, just that single word, Xiao Luyan recalled yesterday’s message reply. No need to overthink now; she understood Lu Yuezhi’s mood at the time.

Lu Yuezhi stood in place without moving; she wanted to wait for Xiao Luyan to leave before going back to her room. But she restrained herself from going over proactively. Normally, she couldn’t wait to open the door for her.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Luyan suddenly stopped moving, which couldn’t help but worry her.

For a moment, Lu Yuezhi forgot to hold back and stepped forward proactively: “What’s wrong?”

She thought, with emotions suddenly like this, it was probably that special time of the month?

Seeing her standing still, Xiao Luyan lowered her gaze. She hadn’t expected her to come over suddenly, with the same concern as always.

Her low mood lifted quite a bit all at once; even she found it exasperating.

“It’s nothing.” Xiao Luyan looked at her; though her tone was flat, a bit of light appeared in her eyes.

Lu Yuezhi hesitated: “Work is important, but if you’re not feeling well, don’t push yourself.”

No more nagging words could be said. Lu Yuezhi stopped in time.

Xiao Luyan always felt her words today were missing something, like a rabbit’s tail cut off. But said was better than unsaid; she didn’t dwell on it.

After leaving home, Xiao Luyan’s composure was gradually blown away by the autumn wind.

She wasn’t used to Lu Yuezhi’s current attitude. Though it passed on the surface, it really wasn’t the same as before.

She was clearly much more aloof, and her caring words only scratched the surface. As if saying them was enough, regardless of how much the other received.

Xiao Luyan felt sad, especially thinking of Lu Yuezhi’s attitude toward those questions yesterday. Disappointment and loss intertwined, pricking and aching at her heart.

Lu Yuezhi returned to the studio, startling the employees.

Receptionist Xiao Tao looked at her in surprise: “You didn’t forget your ID and miss the flight, did you?”

Lu Yuezhi smiled: “Not telling you.”

Of course, she wouldn’t tell anyone the real situation, but Lu Yuezhi found she wasn’t as angry anymore.

So helpless; she could never stay mad at Xiao Luyan for long. Even if she flared up at the time, she couldn’t hold a grudge.

Lu Yuezhi recalled Xiao Luyan suddenly calling her before leaving and thought carefully—maybe she had something to say but held back.

Lu Yuezhi inwardly chided herself for being too focused on restraint and overlooking other key things.

Thinking of Madam Li’s Touring Exhibition approaching, she hoped it wasn’t work trouble. She knew it was important to Xiao Luyan, and who knew if Quan Ruiyu would keep making trouble. Lu Yuezhi worried for her.

She picked up her phone wanting to ask, but then thought if she was overthinking, wouldn’t that jinx it?

Lu Yuezhi put her phone in the drawer and focused on retouching photos.

Xiao Luyan had meetings all morning and only had a breath at noon. Cheng Yanran brought lunch and saw Xiao Luyan staring at her phone in a daze.

“Master, eat first.” Cheng Yanran saw her serious expression and thought something had happened.

Xiao Luyan came back to herself and casually set down her phone. Seeing the lunchbox, she thought and picked up her phone again, taking photos one by one.

Cheng Yanran watched in a daze, thinking Master also believed in “eat first, post to Moments later?”

But she’d never seen Master post these before meals usually.

After taking the photos, Xiao Luyan opened the chat and hesitated on whether to send them.

After thinking for a long time, she still hadn’t decided.

“Master?” Cheng Yanran couldn’t understand and gently called out.

Xiao Luyan’s fingertip trembled, and the latest photo was sent just like that.

She froze, staring at the screen, suddenly nervous.

A few seconds later, she snapped out of it and quickly withdrew the photo.

Then she quickly typed: 【Sent by mistake.】

After sending, Xiao Luyan still stared at the screen.

Lu Yuezhi didn’t reply. She suddenly deflated, an indescribable irritability surging up.

She set down the phone and only then remembered Cheng Yanran was still there.

She lowered her brows and eyes, pretending nothing had happened, and said flatly: “What is it?”

Cheng Yanran had been stunned for a long time and had already forgotten what she wanted to ask.

“Nothing. Eat while it’s hot.” She woodenly left the office, feeling like Master had been a bit strange just now.