Chapter Twenty-One: Let Me Touch

The scent of jasmine lingered softly nearby, and in a tender tone, Jiang Mengnan spoke the feelings in her heart, stirring a wave of emotion within Lu Yu.

He lowered his gaze to the woman beside him and instinctively asked, “Why are you still afraid?”

Jiang Mengnan let out a contented burp. “He and I—it's just impossible for us.”

Though melancholic, her words were the truth.

She and Lu Yu came from worlds apart; if not for a twist of fate, she might never have had the chance to utter a single word to him in this lifetime.

Jiang Mengnan brushed her hair back, straightened up, and shifted her position to lean against the chair facing a different direction.

Lu Yu withdrew his eyes and stared blankly out the window, deep in thought.

...

The next day at noon, Jiang Mengnan woke up fatigued; a headache and a lingering lightheadedness swept over her once again.

Great, she had gotten drunk again.

Trying hard to recall the previous night, she remembered going to the “Boundless” bar with Zhang Jingyan.

Zhang Jingyan had booked the largest private room, ordered the most expensive spirits, and summoned several young, handsome waiters to attend them—an air of queenly indulgence.

Jiang Mengnan recalled having two cocktails, then...

Nothing else came to mind.

Tsk, drinking really causes trouble!

She had no idea how she had made it back this time either.

Instinctively, she glanced down at the loungewear she was wearing.

Probably that unknown housekeeper had helped her change again.

Annoyed, she tapped her head and slowly got up to wash and freshen herself in the bathroom.

Still groggy, she wandered downstairs and habitually entered the dining room. Jiang Mengnan pulled out a chair and took a bite of the potstickers.

“Delicious,” she murmured with a satisfied smile, eyes squinting in pleasure.

“If it tastes good, eat more,” came Lu Yu’s voice suddenly from across the table.

Startled, Jiang Mengnan snapped her eyes open.

Before her sat Lu Yu, calm and composed, reading a newspaper and sipping coffee with his usual refined demeanor.

Rubbing her eyes uncertainly, she looked again and sure enough, it was him.

“What, thought you were hallucinating?” Lu Yu said, setting down his coffee cup without looking away from the paper.

Feeling guilty, Jiang Mengnan lowered her head and feigned discomfort in her eyes. “No, it’s just... my eyes aren’t feeling well.”

Lu Yu smirked and gestured to Butler Liu.

Carefully, Butler Liu placed a bowl of soup in front of Jiang Mengnan.

“What’s this, Butler Liu?” she asked curiously, leaning in to smell it.

It smelled quite fragrant and should taste good.

But drinking such a nourishing soup first thing in the morning seemed a bit extravagant, didn’t it?

---

Jiang Mengnan, oh Jiang Mengnan, life is definitely looking up.

Before Butler Liu could introduce it, Lu Yu responded first, “It’s a sobering soup. Drink it quickly to sober up. I’m afraid you’ll lose control again soon, holding onto me, crying and laughing.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? How could I cling to you, crying and laughing? Who are you trying to fool?”

Though her heart fluttered nervously—after all, she remembered nothing of the previous night—she still vehemently denied it.

Besides, he had no proof.

Determination gleamed in Jiang Mengnan’s eyes.

This blind confidence stirred a mischievous spark in Lu Yu. He set the newspaper aside and leisurely approached her.

Jiang Mengnan looked up, wary. “What do you want?”

Lu Yu smiled lightly, a roguish curl at the corner of his lips. “Nothing, just inviting you to enjoy some footage I took last night.”

With that, he unlocked his phone and placed it before her.

The video began with chaotic scenes.

Then a cozy room appeared on screen.

Why did it look so familiar?

She was about to say, isn’t that her room...

When her drunken voice echoed from the phone: “Stingy Lu Yu, don’t be so nice to me, okay?”

“You’re so handsome, let me touch you...”

Jiang Mengnan on the screen was unbearable to watch.

She couldn’t even endure more than three sentences of her own drunken confessions.

“Stop playing that!” Jiang Mengnan jumped up excitedly and reached out to grab Lu Yu’s phone.

But Lu Yu, taller and quicker, easily dodged her grasp with a slight lift of his hand.

Her drunken voice continued, fueling her frustration until she leapt up again.

Losing her balance, Jiang Mengnan stumbled and fell onto Lu Yu.

Trying to catch her in surprise, Lu Yu’s foot caught on something, and he pitched forward, landing flat on the carpet.

“Ah... mmph...”

If falling on the floor was a shared fault, then Jiang Mengnan lying atop Lu Yu, accidentally muffling his mouth and instinctively licking it—was something she had no idea how to explain.

In panic, she quickly turned her face away, closed her eyes in frustration, and decided to “play dead.”

Her heart was a tangle of emotions.

That had been her first kiss!

Guarded for so many years, and yet, it was given away so clumsily.

Although the recipient was Lu Yu, so it wasn’t too bad, but still...

---

“Enjoying the aftertaste?”

From above came Lu Yu’s magnetic voice.

His sultry tone was like a feather fluttering over Jiang Mengnan’s heart, stirring an unbearable itch.

Yet his words bore no kindness.

Jiang Mengnan blushed, lowered her head, and shyly tried to hide.

Lu Yu sat up, touching his lips that had been “offended,” clearly savoring the lingering feeling.

He glanced at Jiang Mengnan and teased with a smile, “Miss Jiang, looks like you’re not sober yet.”

He thought this excuse would ease the awkwardness.

But to his surprise, Jiang Mengnan covered her face and dashed away, leaving him sitting alone on the carpet, dazed as he watched her retreating figure.

“Why is she upset now?” Lu Yu muttered, touching his lips in confusion.

Butler Liu approached quietly. “She’s probably just embarrassed.”

Lu Yu raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

Butler Liu nodded and then lifted the sobering soup. “Shall I bring it to the young madam?”

Lu Yu waved his hand. “Yes, go ahead.”

Just as he said this, Lu Yu suddenly stood and called out to Butler Liu.

Taking the soup from him, he checked its temperature before heading upstairs.

At Jiang Mengnan’s door, Lu Yu gently knocked, “Open up.”

Inside, Jiang Mengnan was hiding under her blanket, eyes closed in frustration.

Ignoring Lu Yu’s concern, she chose silence.

She simply couldn’t face him right now.

Unexpectedly, Lu Yu did not leave; instead, he spoke to himself and pushed the door open.

Hearing the noise, Jiang Mengnan wrapped herself tighter. Seeing the lump under the covers on the bed, a hint of tenderness flickered in Lu Yu’s eyes.

“Drink the sobering soup first; there’s no rush to be shy.”

His tone was warm, bright, and inviting.

Such charm was hard for most to resist.

Jiang Mengnan touched her flushed cheeks, hesitating.

When the bed remained still, Lu Yu moved closer.

Sitting beside the bed, he leaned toward the covers. “What, the boss’s orders don’t work anymore?”