Chapter One: Falling Into Lu Yu’s Embrace

In the golden autumn of October, Shen City welcomed a pleasant season.

At the Dream Connection Bookstore on Aitang Road, the manager, Jiang Mengnan, sat behind the counter, participating in the filming of a work-themed variety show called "Go! Workers."

To her astonishment, the guest star for the premiere episode was none other than the entertainment industry's rising heartthrob, Lu Yu.

Not long ago, Lu Yu had appeared on a countryside farming reality show, which had garnered widespread acclaim.

On that show, his genuine, pure, and steady nature had nearly captivated every female viewer.

Unexpectedly, his ever-growing popularity had even reached her bookstore.

Jiang Mengnan had a feeling that once the episode aired, she could leverage the bookstore to change her fate and finally live a life of effortless wealth.

With this thought, she lifted a "reference book" to hide her face, chuckled softly, and began plotting how to make the most of this top-tier celebrity to benefit her bookstore.

Just as she was daydreaming, a magnetic voice sounded above her head: "Miss Jiang."

Startled, Jiang Mengnan quickly wiped the smile from her face and looked up, stammering, "Lu... Lu the Emperor?"

For the sake of the show, Lu Yu was dressed in the bookstore’s uniform, adopting a disguised appearance.

Wearing a hat and mask that covered much of his face, he still could not conceal the depth of his dark, profound eyes.

Clear yet unfathomable, they seemed to hold a vortex capable of drawing people in.

He nodded slightly and politely asked, "Would you like a cup of coffee?"

Jiang Mengnan was overwhelmed with delight—an idol of such stature making coffee for her? How could she possibly refuse?

Without hesitation, she nodded, "A latte, please."

Surprised by her straightforwardness, Lu Yu’s eyes curved in a smile. "Alright, please wait a moment."

He then turned and headed back to the café bar to prepare it.

Jiang Mengnan sat where she was, eyes fixed on the café, eagerly anticipating.

A few minutes later, his tall figure reappeared in her sight.

"Miss Jiang, here is your latte." Lu Yu handed her the coffee.

Surrounded by cameras and crew, Jiang Mengnan quickly stood up and accepted it. "Thank you."

At that moment, Lu Yu’s gaze lingered on the front of her neck for a few seconds, his expression intriguingly ambiguous.

Following his gaze, Jiang Mengnan looked down.

She puzzled over what he could be staring at. Her outfit was simple and unremarkable today, with only the jade pendant at her chest holding any value.

Looking more closely over herself, she found nothing unusual.

What exactly was he looking at?

After a brief moment of distraction, Lu Yu lowered his eyes, cleared his throat to cover his slip, and then produced a QR code with a calm tone: "Forty yuan, please."

"Ah?" Jiang Mengnan was stunned, confused as she looked at Lu Yu.

He pointed to the coffee cup beside her and patiently explained, "Forty yuan per cup."

It dawned on Jiang Mengnan that Lu Yu’s "part-time job" for the show was to successfully sell ten cups of coffee.

So, his earlier politeness toward her was purely to complete the task.

Well, no pain, no gain—she still hoped to get rich through him someday.

Resigned, she nodded and took out her phone to scan the code and pay.

Upon hearing the payment confirmation, Lu Yu’s mood lifted. "Thank you. If you like it, I’ll personally make you another."

The word "personally" instantly caught Jiang Mengnan’s attention.

Since it was in front of the cameras, she couldn’t refuse him outright and smiled sweetly. "Alright."

That led to a second cup of cappuccino, then a third caramel macchiato.

Fortunately, Lu Yu completed his task in the end; otherwise, Jiang Mengnan would have had a sleepless night.

By five in the afternoon, the first episode’s filming wrapped up, and Lu Yu was still discussing filming details with the director, looking quite earnest.

Jiang Mengnan rubbed her coffee-sated belly and stretched wearily.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated. Glancing at the screen, she quickly slipped into the break room.

After ensuring no one was around, she answered the call with enthusiasm, "Hello, Manager Liu! How have you been? Busy lately?"

Unfortunately, Manager Liu had no time for pleasantries and got straight to the point: "Miss Jiang, the month is almost over. When will you repay the money?"

Jiang Mengnan rolled her eyes but kept a polite tone. "Manager Liu, I’ll pay it all back once my house sale funds clear tomorrow. Also, I must correct you—the debt is not mine, but my father Jiang Yulin’s."

Thinking of her father, who had fled to Australia with his wife and child after a failed investment and broken finances, leaving her to clean up the mess, Jiang Mengnan felt a burning resentment.

She never intended to sell her property to pay off his debts, but the bank had presented a guarantee document with her signature, holding her jointly responsible and threatening to sue if the debt wasn’t settled.

With a loan of thirty million yuan, what choice did Jiang Mengnan have but to sell the house and repay?

"The bank can’t find your father, so they’re coming after you. I’m warning you, if the money isn’t in place this week, we’ll have no choice but to file a lawsuit. Then, your bookstore won’t escape being seized and auctioned off."

After delivering the ultimatum, Manager Liu hung up without leaving room for negotiation.

"What a lousy bank. They talk like loan sharks," Jiang Mengnan muttered with displeasure as she turned to leave.

After taking a step, she unexpectedly saw Lu Yu leaning against the break room door, absorbed in his phone.

She stood still, quietly observing him.

Worried he might have overheard her conversation with Manager Liu, Jiang Mengnan felt a pang of guilt.

Then she thought, even if he did, so what? As long as she wasn’t embarrassed, the awkwardness would be his.

With that resolve, Jiang Mengnan straightened her back and confidently approached him.

She was still pondering how to begin the conversation when Lu Yu beat her to it.

"Would you like to grab a quick meal?" he invited.

Surprised by his initiative, Jiang Mengnan was momentarily at a loss for words.

Seeing her hesitation, Lu Yu explained, "You’ve spent on three cups of coffee today; consider this my way of thanking you."

Lu Yu’s private generosity caught her off guard. She nodded, feigning modesty, "I couldn’t let you do that."

Smiling faintly, Lu Yu put on his fisherman's hat and mask, then pointed toward the back door. "Let’s go."

This time, Jiang Mengnan readily agreed, "Okay."

They exited through the back and quickly slipped into a chauffeured vehicle. Almost simultaneously, the driver pressed the accelerator, and the car sped away.

Along the way, Jiang Mengnan, like a curious child, examined the luxurious interior.

Lu Yu reclined against the seat, eyes closed, resting.

She turned slightly, boldly gazing at his enchanting profile.

His thick lashes curled gently, veiling his deep black eyes.

His sharp nose sculpted with perfect contours, looking like a masterpiece.

And those thin lips.

Jiang Mengnan found herself lost in thought, staring at his mouth.

No wonder the girls all fell for him.

Just as she was engrossed, the driver suddenly floored it, and the car twisted like a rattlesnake weaving through traffic.

Losing her balance, Jiang Mengnan stumbled forward.

Coincidentally, the armrest beside her was lifted, and she fell straight into Lu Yu’s arms.