Chapter 21: The Aloof Heiress

“I’m hungry too,” she murmured.

The setting sun outside the window shone straight into Luo Yihuan’s eyes, the hazy orange glow masking the undercurrent of desire and fascination in their depths.

Her gaze fell unabashedly on the exposed skin of Jiang Li’s neck. Luo Yihuan narrowed her eyes, tracing a path from the woman’s exquisite snowy-white throat down to her slender collarbone, lingering on the tantalizing glimpse beyond.

Since they were indoors, Jiang Li had unbuttoned the top two buttons of her shirt. She had only just sat up moments ago, leaving her clothes slightly disheveled. Luo Yihuan could peer right into that expanse of creamy softness with a single glance.

Her nose twitched faintly. The sweet fragrance drifting in the air stirred the heart, swirling around Jiang Li.

It was like the loaves artfully arranged in a bakery window—beautifully shaped, stuffed with all sorts of enticing fillings. But what truly ignited desire was the aroma wafting from the ovens: that irresistible scent of freshly baked goods, sparking curiosity about their true flavor.

And now, woven into that sweetness was Jiang Li’s unique scent, which only heightened Luo Yihuan’s greedy longing.

Her fingertips, resting at the edge of her pants, dug into her palm. The sharp fragments of pain snapped Luo Yihuan back to clarity, even as they sent uncontrollable shivers through her.

That patch of snow-white skin approached her slowly, drawing closer and closer until it stopped just a hand’s breadth away.

Jiang Li raised her hand, her lips pouting slightly as she unwittingly adopted a coquettish tone. “Silly?” she said helplessly.

“I’m hungry. I want to eat.”

Luo Yihuan’s lips curved upward uncontrollably. She gazed at the soft, adorable Jiang Li before her—and most importantly—

Li Li herself hadn’t even noticed that when she said those words to her, was she hoping they could go eat together?

This Li Li, who had taken the initiative to draw close to her… it felt so wonderful.

Luo Yihuan hooked the corners of her lips and picked up on Jiang Li’s words. “In that case, Doctor Jiang, could you do me the honor and join me?”

“After our last trip to the orphanage, it only makes sense for me to treat you, all things considered.”

Jiang Li pinched her chin in mock contemplation, pretending this required serious thought. She looked Luo Yihuan up and down.

Mm, so stunning she could eat an extra bowl of rice just gazing at her.

Luo Yihuan stood there, letting Jiang Li appraise her. She even obliged by turning in a circle and stepping a bit closer, bringing her flawless features right into Jiang Li’s space.

Her long lashes suddenly loomed near, the outer corners of her eyes teasingly fluttering for an instant. Her cheeks no longer held the icy solitude of someone perched high above the world; instead, they evoked the seductive pull of a drug drawing one into the abyss.

Jiang Li’s breath hitched for a moment. She quickly turned toward the sofa, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Her voice came out a little flustered. “Let’s eat, then. What do you want?”

Luo Yihuan tipped her chin and followed. She suggested a highly exclusive private kitchen restaurant.

The chef there mastered multiple cuisines. In his younger days, he had helped out at a friend’s restaurant, but later grew tired of the grind and struck out on his own with a reservation-only setup.

Jiang Li nodded. She trusted Luo Yihuan’s taste.

Her makeup a bit smudged, Jiang Li borrowed Luo Yihuan’s cosmetics from the office to touch it up. She even applied a tube of lipstick that Luo Yihuan personally recommended—her usual favorite.

Luo Yihuan drove them to the Private Kitchen Restaurant.

They parked upon arrival, but after only a few steps, Jiang Li halted abruptly and froze in place.

Luo Yihuan followed her line of sight, her brows arching in surprise.

Not far ahead stood none other than Luo Qing and Su Yize.

Jiang Li peered intently, recalling the sight just before entering Luo Corporation. It seemed Su Yize and Luo Qing’s romantic storyline had kicked off.

But what a coincidence. Right after Luo Yihuan had turned Su Yize down, their relationship progressed—and smoothly, at that.

Su Yize and Luo Qing stood beside a starlit SUV. He held her intimately in his arms. Compared to the cheerful openness on Luo Qing’s face when Jiang Li first met her, this version carried an extra layer of sweetness from being immersed in love.

A smile played on her lips as she nestled into Su Yize’s embrace, wrapping her arms around his waist and tilting her head up coquettishly.

After a while, Luo Qing finally pulled away reluctantly. Before leaving, she tiptoed to plant a kiss on Su Yize’s cheek.

Once done, Luo Qing drove off, leaving Su Yize standing alone.

As he watched the SUV vanish into the distance, the smile faded from Su Yize’s face. He straightened his crooked tie—mussed by the woman’s touch—and his expression turned cold.

He pulled out a cigarette. Smoke curled across his features, accentuating the gold-rimmed glasses and lending an air of ruthless detachment.

The two women watched quietly from their vantage point as Su Yize finished his smoke and turned to enter the restaurant behind him—the same one Luo Qing had just emerged from.

Luo Yihuan’s expression remained neutral while observing Luo Qing and Su Yize’s intimacy. She showed no shock that the man who had confessed to her just a week ago was now cozying up to her cousin.

Only when Su Yize turned back toward the restaurant did a flicker of annoyance cross her face.

With the pair having parted, Jiang Li no longer stared. She turned to Luo Yihuan. “Shall we go? Where is it?”

Luo Yihuan’s voice sounded a touch sullen. “The one he just entered.”

Jiang Li stifled a laugh at the disgust on Luo Yihuan’s face. What kind of luck was this?

They had driven all the way here in Shore Lake City, a sprawling metropolis, only to bump into the male and female leads—and even end up at the exact same dining spot.

“Oh well, no big deal. We’ll just pretend we didn’t see him.” Jiang Li took Luo Yihuan’s wrist and headed for the restaurant. “We’re here to eat, after all.”

Since Jiang Li didn’t mind, Luo Yihuan went along with it, allowing her to lead the way by the wrist.

Over that short distance, Luo Yihuan quietly flipped her wrist, her palm sliding to capture Jiang Li’s steady pulse. She savored the warmth of Jiang Li’s skin and the rhythm of her veins.

In placing herself under Jiang Li’s grasp, Luo Yihuan also held Jiang Li firmly in her own.

The moment they stepped inside, the doorman recognized Luo Yihuan and approached with a greeting. “Miss Luo, good evening.”

“The window seat again today?”

Luo Yihuan nodded, and the doorman summoned another uniformed staff member to wait by the entrance. He then led the two women inside.

Walking hand-in-wrist through the dining room felt awkward to Jiang Li, so she tried to let go. But Luo Yihuan did not.

Glancing at the hand on her wrist, Jiang Li teased softly, “What, can’t live without me? Gripping so tight?”

Luo Yihuan’s smile deepened. She kept her hold firm, waves of lazy satisfaction rippling in her eyes.

“Yes, I’d die without you,” she replied airily. Yet her fingers clamped down securely, refusing to release even over those few steps across the hall.

Occasionally, acquaintances of Luo Yihuan would spot her and come over to say hello. She strode on with Jiang Li’s wrist in her grasp—a somewhat mismatched sight—but she didn’t find it improper at all.

Her expression remained calm, while Jiang Li felt acutely self-conscious. Subtle glances swept from her wrist to her face as people greeted them.

Unable to shake free, she simply turned her head away. Though they had already seen her face, it offered some small comfort.

The doorman escorted them to a window table and seated them.

The restaurant’s locations were impeccably chosen.

The row of window seats near the entrance overlooked the towering headquarters of Shore Lake City’s top corporations—prime real estate, inch for inch. At nightfall, the view was an endless panorama of glittering lights and bustling nightlife.

The other side featured a meticulously landscaped grove of trees and flowers. Branches clawed playfully at the panes, vibrant blooms and leaves rustling softly, illuminated by tasteful lighting for optimal viewing.

The doorman handed over the evening’s menu and departed, leaving them alone.

Luo Yihuan’s eyes held a hint of grievance. She ignored the menu on the table, staring fixedly at Jiang Li instead.

Jiang Li pretended not to notice the plea in Luo Yihuan’s gaze, focusing intently on the menu. But eventually, that insistent stare from across the table proved impossible to ignore.

She lifted her wrist—the one Luo Yihuan had just relinquished with evident reluctance, its lingering warmth still tingling. A smile tugged at Jiang Li’s lips as she soothed the woman opposite her.

“We’re at the table now. We have to let go sometime.”

Finally acknowledged, Luo Yihuan’s grievance melted away. Her lips curved smugly, a dark glint flashing in her eyes, deep as the enveloping night.

As Jiang Li’s gaze dropped again, Luo Yihuan leaned back. Her stare burned with deep affection laced with intense desire, fixed on Jiang Li’s moving lips. Her interlaced fingers pressed into her thighs, gripping tighter.

She wanted to kiss her.

“Jiang Li.”

A shadow fell over the table, accompanied by a low female voice in their ears.

Jiang Li looked up in surprise. “Yang Mu!”

Yang Mu shifted to stand beside Jiang Li, her hand resting on the woman’s shoulder as she softly echoed the greeting.

Then her gaze lifted, the smile vanishing from her lips. No longer concealing the and savagery in her eyes, her surging rage unleashed unchecked toward Luo Yihuan. Her face turned to ice, evoking dread.

Luo Yihuan, you dare…

The hands clenched on her lap had, the instant that palm touched Jiang Li’s shoulder, dug viciously into her own flesh. Fury roiled within Luo Yihuan, icy glares shooting from her pitch-black eyes.

She stared deathly at that hand. Her body tensed to the breaking point, like an arrow nocked and drawn. Her lips trembled as she hissed two barely audible words.

“Let. Go.”