Chapter 20

The group spent the entire afternoon just rowing boats. By the time they finished, the sky was already ablaze with clouds. It was hard to tell what they had been playing, but everyone was soaking wet, though their spirits were clearly high.

Lu Zhi was secretly amused. That little brat Bai Lu, if nothing else, was a true expert at leading people in having fun.

Even Chen Yongsheng came over and said, “Shen Qing, your sister is something else. She has more energy than the boys.”

Bai Lu was behind her, watching Lu Zhi with a face full of pride and eyes begging for praise.

In the evening, everyone ate dinner by the lake, casually scattered across three ten-seater round tables.

Bai Lu had changed into a fresh smoky-blue long dress, her black hair cascading down. Apart from a single dark green, thin-strap leather watch, she wore no accessories whatsoever, giving her a touch of professional maturity and competence.

Lu Zhi hadn’t done much in the afternoon and hadn’t changed clothes. She was sitting by the lake, chatting with a few of the gentlemen, including Chen Yongsheng, who had come out early. When she turned and saw Bai Lu, she paused for a moment, then smiled.

Seeing her, Bai Lu’s eyes also curved. She ran over and sat down beside her, then leaned in during a lull in the conversation to whisper in her ear: “I’m imitating you. Do I look the part?”

Lu Zhi nodded. “You do.”

At dinner, the clinking of glasses and toasting was inevitable. This time, Lu Zhi didn’t stop Bai Lu from drinking. Bai Lu played to her strengths, entertaining the handsome men and beautiful women she had invited. Drink after drink, she nearly drank everyone else under the table.

Wang Lin had her eyes opened by this young lady, Bai Lu. Halfway through, finding the scene a bit intimidating, she quickly made an excuse and slipped away.

By the end, at the main table, besides Lu Zhi whose eyes remained clear, everyone else had to be supported back by staff.

Bai Lu’s cheeks were flushed pink, her eyes dewy and moist as she looked at Lu Zhi with a grin. “Am I impressive or what?”

Lu Zhi had all her drinks blocked by Bai Lu all evening, so she was very tolerant of her. She reached out and touched Bai Lu’s cheek, warm and flushed like a ripe peach from the alcohol. “Impressive.”

“Hehe…” Bai Lu giggled foolishly, a puff of hot air escaping her mouth. Finding the coolness of Lu Zhi’s palm pleasant, she nuzzled her face against it, eyes narrowing in contentment like a cat’s.

A nearby female staff member came over to ask if help was needed. Lu Zhi nodded, and the woman reached out to support Bai Lu.

But Bai Lu frowned and pushed her away, then clung to Lu Zhi’s arm, tilting her face up to whine, “I don’t want to walk. Carry me back.”

Lu Zhi looked down. Bai Lu was hanging on her like an ornament. She frowned slightly and refused without a shred of mercy. “You’re too heavy. I can’t carry you.”

“I am not heavy! I’m super skinny!” Bai Lu protested angrily, then grabbed Lu Zhi’s hand and pressed it to her own waist. “My waist is so slim. Feel it, it’s even slimmer than yours.”

Lu Zhi didn’t pull her hand away, but followed the motion and traced around. Her arms were full of soft jade, yielding to the touch, just a slender handful.

“Nice to touch, right?” Bai Lu’s beautiful eyes were wide open, holding the night and the starlight within them.

Lu Zhi hummed in agreement, lifting her other hand to touch Bai Lu’s thin eyelid.

Bai Lu smiled triumphantly, then closed her eyes very docilely, resting her chin on Lu Zhi’s shoulder.

The rejected staff member stood awkwardly to the side. Lu Zhi gave her an apologetic smile and told her to leave first.

After a long while of letting her rest, Lu Zhi finally shook the person who was almost asleep on her shoulder. “Time to go back to the room.”

Bai Lu didn’t speak, nor did she let go, but when Lu Zhi moved, she obediently moved along.

Seeing how drunk she was, Lu Zhi supported her with one arm and guided her indoors. On the way, staff came to offer help, but she politely declined them all.

Each room in the mountain villa had a different style. The plaque on the door of the one Bai Lu was staying in was carved with three small seal-script characters: “Plum Cloud Stream.” Lu Zhi helped Bai Lu through the long water corridor in front of the courtyard. Plum blossom-shaped lanterns lined both sides, their reflections dancing on the shimmering water surface—a truly beautiful sight.

By the time they reached the door, Bai Lu was almost embracing Lu Zhi face-to-face, her head buried in Lu Zhi’s neck, their loose long hair tangling together.

The staff member guiding them opened the door. The space inside was large, filled with many latticed wooden decorations paired with deep-toned furniture, arranged in an elegant, rhythmic fashion full of charm.

Once inside, Lu Zhi set the person down on the pure black leather sofa.

The instant Bai Lu touched the sofa, her eyes opened, and she stared blankly at Lu Zhi.

“Feeling unwell? Want to throw up?” Lu Zhi asked her.

Bai Lu shook her head, then flipped over, half-kneeling on the sofa, her hands propped on the cushions, her bright, watery eyes fixed unblinkingly on Lu Zhi.

Lu Zhi was also a bit tired and sat down nearby. Turning her head, she saw Bai Lu’s puppy-like posture and couldn’t help but laugh, reaching out to ruffle her hair. “Little Drunkard.”

Seeing Lu Zhi smile, Bai Lu smiled too, her eyes curving. Then she leaned forward and lightly pecked Lu Zhi’s lips.

Even though it was somewhat unexpected, Lu Zhi didn’t dodge. Only her eyelid twitched when their lips met. By the time she blinked again, Bai Lu had already pulled back, leaving only a faint scent of alcohol and a soft sensation slowly dissipating.

After the kiss, Bai Lu returned to her original position, still staring at her with those dark eyes, glistening with light and shifting shards.

The string in Lu Zhi’s heart snapped with a sizzle. She looked at Bai Lu’s innocent, uncomprehending expression and suddenly curved her lips into an ambiguous smile.

“Do you know who I am?” Lu Zhi looked at her and asked.

Bai Lu froze, her crow-feather lashes fluttering.

Lu Zhi lifted her fingers, touching her beautiful eyes and elegant nose, finally landing on her lips—crimson, like soft rose petals, lightly pursed without any defense, ripe for the taking.

“Bai Lu, who am I?”

Lu Zhi asked her, pressing her fingertip firmly against those crimson petals.

Her fingers were very cool and pressed hard, almost hurting Bai Lu’s lips. Startled by the sudden action and question, Bai Lu felt a jolt in her heart. Her eyes slowly regained some clarity, and her eyelashes began to tremble violently.

Watching Bai Lu gradually sober up, Lu Zhi didn’t get up and leave. She looked into Bai Lu’s eyes, then pinched her small chin and leaned down to touch Bai Lu’s lips.

Bai Lu’s entire being buzzed. Her brain, which had been about to clear, instantly short-circuited. Her lips and teeth were parted effortlessly in her unprepared state, and a warm, wet softness slipped inside, unscrupulously plundering within.

It was the first time she had ever felt a kiss so clearly—so astonishingly soft, yet carrying an overwhelmingly intense assault, gentle and fierce at once, cornering her, leaving her completely defenseless.

Bai Lu knelt stiffly, her hands lost and unsure of where to place them, then felt herself pressed against the back of the sofa.

Her body bounced slightly from the force, and reflexively, she wrapped her arms around Lu Zhi’s slender back.

Because of this interruption, the two briefly separated for a moment.

In that gap, Lu Zhi stroked Bai Lu’s smooth, soft neck, her gaze lingering on her reddened eyes and moist lips, then chuckled softly and leaned back in.

Bai Lu felt her entire body melting.

It was a long kiss. If not interrupted by the doorbell, Bai Lu felt she might have drowned in it forever.

When Bai Lu came back to her senses, Lu Zhi was still leaning over her, not having pulled away, watching her with eyes tinged a faint red from desire. The doorbell rang insistently in her ears.

“Someone…”

Bai Lu wasn’t sure if she even made a sound. Her body wanted to push her away, but she had absolutely no strength.

Lu Zhi’s palm was still cradling Bai Lu’s upturned neck, her thumb gently pressing and rubbing against the most delicate and vulnerable part of her throat. She casually hummed an “Mm,” her voice noticeably husky, but her expression remained completely unchanged by the jarring doorbell. Instead, she continued to lean down and kiss the corner of her mouth.

“Shen… Shen Qing… there’s someone…”

Bai Lu was almost panicking, her voice carrying a trembling plea, unsure if it was because of Lu Zhi’s actions or the noise outside.

Lu Zhi kissed her chin, her neck, then trailed up to her warm, soft, crimson earlobe, her voice so low it was almost a murmur: “Then why don’t you let go of me…”

It took Bai Lu a moment to realize her hands were wrapped around Lu Zhi’s back, her fingers still clutching tightly at her clothes. Bai Lu hurriedly let go. Her finger joints had been gripping so hard that they didn’t even fully straighten in that instant.

Lu Zhi smiled, watching the girl beneath her gradually grow flustered before she stood up and walked toward the door.

Outside, a staff member stood holding a tray. It was the hangover soup Lu Zhi had ordered before entering.

“Thank you.” Lu Zhi nodded in thanks and took it.

After the door closed, silence fell over the space again. Lu Zhi turned back with the tray. Bai Lu was huddled deep in the sofa, arms wrapped around her knees. The corners of her eyes and brows were flushed a beautiful red, and her face… her face was red too.

Lu Zhi approached and noticed that in the brief time it took her to get the soup, Bai Lu had already broken out in a sweat on her forehead.

Lu Zhi placed the tray on the coffee table beside the sofa, making a crisp click. She noticed Bai Lu’s eyelashes tremble intensely at the subtle sound.

“Hangover soup.” Lu Zhi opened the white porcelain jar. “Want some?”

A cold sweat covered Bai Lu’s back. The alcohol had long since been sobered away. There was no moment she had ever been more clear-headed—or more confused. She had absolutely no idea how to handle this situation now, not even how it started…

Started?

Did she start it?!

!!!

Bai Lu blanked out, her gaze wandering dazedly through the room, only to be caught squarely by Lu Zhi.

“I’ll drink it! I’ll drink it!” Her scattered thoughts were abruptly cut off. As if zapped, Bai Lu hurriedly responded while scrambling off the sofa in a fluster. She grabbed the cup and gulped it down, fortunately the soup was at a suitable temperature and not too hot.

As she drank, Bai Lu tried to think of a plan. After the last drop slid down, she slammed the cup onto the table, squeezed her eyes shut, and blurted out a long string of words: “Nothing just happened I was drunk I don’t know anything…”

Before she could finish, she felt her mouth being bitten. A real bite, one that even made her teeth knock together because she’d been talking.

“Now you know.”

Bai Lu opened her eyes. Lu Zhi was very close, a teasing smile in her eyes.

“I…” Bai Lu’s lips moved, but she couldn’t say another word.

Lu Zhi looked at this person trying to fool herself. She hadn’t originally intended to break through the window paper so quickly. After all, Bai Lu hadn’t lived through long years like she had. She was still an innocent young girl. Realizing her own feelings must have already scared her, let alone actually being this intimate with her.

But fate had other plans. Bai Lu was just…

Lu Zhi’s gaze fell on her red, swollen, glistening lips. She leaned in gently and soothingly held the girl’s pretty lip bead in her mouth.