MY - 11

Their eyes met, and Lu Nandu on the other side froze for a moment.

Jiang Xi didn’t avert her gaze, looking at him.

Lu Nandu slowly reacted. One second he was furiously cursing, the next he was like a child caught red-handed doing something wrong, settling down.

Xu Yanran wasn’t as discerning as Shen Zexiao. She was still pleasantly surprised and said to Shen Zexiao, “Sister Jiang Xi and Brother Nandu also know each other.”

As Xu Yanran’s words fell, both of them fell silent.

Lu Nandu didn’t dare to speak easily; he knew Jiang Xi didn’t like him.

Seeing him like this, Jiang Xi looked away.

Even a thick-skinned person like Xu Yanran felt the awkward atmosphere, but she didn’t think much of it, simply assuming their relationship wasn’t close.

Shen Zexiao was about to say something to break the ice when Lu Nandu spoke: “I know her.”

Jiang Xi had already looked away. Hearing this, she looked back, her gaze calm and indifferent.

Only after meeting Lu Nandu’s gaze did Jiang Xi realize she had been tricked.

He was doing it on purpose, deliberately speaking to make her look at him. After all these years, his subconscious nature hadn’t changed.

Lu Nandu’s words were instinctive; he was simply anxious because Jiang Xi wasn’t looking at him.

He had expected Jiang Xi to refute him, but instead, Jiang Xi simply retracted her gaze and didn’t look at him again, remaining silent.

This surprised Lu Nandu somewhat, and he was slightly taken aback.

Shen Zexiao coughed, then said to Xu Yanran, “Yanran, we’re going to eat too. We won’t delay your hotpot.”

Xu Yanran nodded, instructing: “Tell Zhuo Pei to eat more!”

Shen Zexiao clicked his tongue: “Alright, I’ll keep him well-fed so you don’t have to worry for the rest of his life.”

Xu Yanran said: “No, I’ll take care of him myself for the rest of his life.”

Shen Zexiao retorted playfully: “Oh, then Zhuo Pei must be overjoyed.”

They exchanged a few more words and then quickly hung up the call. Afterwards, Jiang Xi didn’t look at Lu Nandu again.

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Jiang Xi didn’t suffer from insomnia; she just slept for a few hours and then woke up. No nightmares, no disturbances, she simply woke up for no apparent reason.

The curtains were tightly drawn, and the person on the bed lay motionless, covered by the blanket.

After more than ten minutes, she still couldn’t fall back asleep. Jiang Xi opened her eyes and threw off the covers.

The bedroom was pitch black.

It had been like this for the past few days; she wouldn’t suffer from insomnia, her body clock would put her to sleep on time, but she would always wake up in the middle of the night.

Jiang Xi felt a bit irritated and got up from the bed.

Jiang Xi’s women’s cigarettes were on the hotel table. She walked over, picked them up, and took one out to put between her lips.

The lighter clicked, the only point of light in the room.

Jiang Xi suddenly thought of Xia Xinyan.

She probably started smoking during her university years. A few times during holidays at home, Xia Xinyan saw her smoking. Xia Xinyan didn’t tell her not to smoke, only to smoke less, telling her that when she was agitated, she should first try to endure it, and only smoke if she couldn’t.

Jiang Xi smiled, took the cigarette from her lips, and threw it into the trash can.

Why couldn’t she break this bad habit? She hadn’t changed since the day she learned to smoke.

Indeed, having one relationship had given her a whole host of bad habits.

After they got together back then, Lu Nandu stuck to Jiang Xi almost every day, to the point where he hardly hung out with his rowdy friends anymore.

He rarely skipped classes to go to internet cafes, dedicating himself entirely to Jiang Xi, and rarely got into fights.

Only smoking was something he repeatedly couldn’t quit, and he had a heavy addiction.

That time, Jiang Xi failed her university final exams, and Lu Nandu took her to a private room to relax.

Lu Nandu often smoked, but Jiang Xi couldn’t stand the smell of smoke. Every time she smelled it, she’d cough, so she snatched the cigarette from Lu Nandu’s mouth.

“It’s too choky,” Jiang Xi fanned her nose with her hand, “My nose gets stuffy when I smell this smoke.”

With the cigarette taken from his mouth by Jiang Xi, Lu Nandu wasn’t angry. He lifted the hand that was resting on the back of the sofa chair and pulled Jiang Xi into his arms.

“Still unhappy?” Lu Nandu leaned in and kissed her cheek, “Do you believe that smoking can help you relax?”

“It smells so bad,” Jiang Xi complained, rolling her eyes at him, “Do you think I’m stupid?”

Lu Nandu could barely say a few proper words: “Why would I lie to you? I’m serious.”

Jiang Xi eyed him suspiciously, but she didn’t resist, clearly believing him: “Really?”

“Really,” Lu Nandu laughed nonchalantly, reaching for the cigarette Jiang Xi held in her hand, and putting the filter to her lips.

The cigarette tip emitted a faint white mist. Jiang Xi hesitated a little.

“Jiejie,” Lu Nandu coaxed her, touching her lips with the cigarette filter: “Really, once you smoke it, you won’t feel choked anymore.”

Although his words were improper, his eyes were exceptionally sincere.

Lu Nandu had smoked this cigarette. Jiang Xi leaned in and took it into her mouth.

Then she took a puff as if through a straw.

“Cough, cough, cough, cough—” The next moment, Jiang Xi’s windpipe felt like it was about to burst from the smoke.

Tears instantly blurred her vision: “Lu Nandu, you bastard.”

Lu Nandu was amused by her reaction: “Hey, hey, hey, don’t get angry.”

He quickly threw the cigarette away and pressed her down onto the sofa.

Then he removed the hand she was covering her mouth with, pinched her chin with the other, and abruptly lifted her head.

The smell of smoke still lingered in her mouth. Lu Nandu lowered his head and fiercely kissed her, conquering her.

That kiss, Jiang Xi didn’t know why, she didn’t like the smell of tobacco, but that kiss, full of tobacco smell, she remembered for many years and thought about for many days and nights.

No matter how much she hated Lu Nandu later, she never forgot it.

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Jiang Xi eventually fell asleep. When she woke up the next day, besides feeling a bit drowsy, she had no other discomforts.

That evening after filming, the crew leader informed them about a dinner gathering.

The crew had been together for most of their time, and this was their first gathering. The producer and director asked all actors to try and come, taking advantage of everyone still being on set, as it would be hard to gather again once filming wrapped.

Near the filming location was a villa area available for rent for parties and other activities.

The crew rented a villa for the night; it was brightly lit.

The villa was large, with a swimming pool. Several male actors were laughing there, daring each other to go for a swim.

A few staff members and female actors were tending to the barbecue grills. Xu Yanran was also there, watching the lively scene.

Jiang Xi wasn’t interested. She sat on a swing in the yard, occasionally sipping from a glass of champagne.

The weather was good tonight; stars and the moon were visible in the sky, and the atmosphere was lively all around.

Occasionally, a gust of wind would blow, scattering the white smoke from the barbecue.

After a while, Xu Yanran came over to her with two skewers of lamb: “Sister Jiang Xi, I grilled these for you!”

Jiang Xi glanced at them and smiled: “They’re grilled quite well.”

“Of course,” Xu Yanran said proudly, “I learned it since elementary school.”

Jiang Xi smiled and asked her: “How old?”

Xu Yanran: “Around elementary school, Zhuo Pei and Brother Zexiao used to barbecue a lot, and I learned from them.”

She was a girl who had been pampered since childhood, yet she didn’t have the unbearable temper of a princess.

Xu Yanran offered the skewers to her again: “Sister Jiang Xi, do you want some?”

Jiang Xi gestured to her champagne glass: “I’m drinking, you eat.”

Xu Yanran sat beside Jiang Xi, taking small bites of the skewers.

Several older individuals were sitting in the living room inside, chatting.

After a while, Director Chen Meng, who was inside, waved to Xu Yanran through the floor-to-ceiling glass window, signaling her to come in.

Xu Yanran had just finished her skewers. Seeing her mother call her, she told Jiang Xi: “My mom probably wants something, I’ll go over for a bit.”

Jiang Xi nodded.

She sat bored outside, not paying attention to the villa’s living room.

Inside, several actors were sitting in a circle playing truth or dare. The past month had been intense with filming; it was rare to have such a relaxing time.

Jiang Xi felt a little drowsy.

She rested her hand on her forehead. After watching them play for a while, she found it uninteresting and looked away.

Her gaze swept across unintentionally, and Jiang Xi froze.

Through the floor-to-ceiling glass window, a man in a shirt and trousers sat on the sofa. Beside him, Chen Meng seemed to be introducing something to other influential people.

Jiang Xi looked at Lu Nandu.

He wasn’t there for business, so he was particularly relaxed, leaning back on the sofa with his legs crossed. He had a rare glimpse of his old self.

Jiang Xi suddenly recalled the video call from a few days ago, how Lu Nandu shed his work-related seriousness and joked around with friends in private.

At such times, she could somewhat see glimpses of the young Lu Nandu.

Since their reunion, Jiang Xi could feel a difference in Lu Nandu.

The youthful Lu Nandu, whether in formal matters or in private, was very undisciplined, joking around, skipping classes, fighting, and having a sweet tongue, able to chat and laugh with anyone, very good at making girls happy.

The current Lu Nandu, though his character hadn’t changed, was no longer as carefree as before when doing serious business; instead, he was mature, stable, and serious. Only in private was he more informal.

Nor did he chat with everyone like he used to.

He had grown up, after all.

Jiang Xi momentarily forgot to withdraw her gaze. Lu Nandu seemed to sense something, lifted his eyes, and looked over.

Their eyes met.

Lu Nandu’s gaze paused, fixed on her.

Jiang Xi’s face showed no emotion. A few seconds later, she looked away.

She didn’t look back there again, slowly drinking the champagne in her glass. Only when the stemmed glass was empty did Jiang Xi get up from the swing.

She didn’t say goodbye to anyone and slowly walked back to the hotel.

The irritation she had felt when waking up at dawn this morning gradually returned, yet Jiang Xi’s expression was as blank as if nothing had happened.

She clearly knew what she was irritated about.

Every bit of softness she felt towards Lu Nandu added a bit more anxiety.

She reached an intersection, a desolate area with no cars, only a single streetlight illuminated.

The pedestrian crossing light was green.

Jiang Xi walked straight across the crosswalk.

She had only taken two steps when a car suddenly sped out from the left lane, with its high beams on, no horn, and no slowing down.

Jiang Xi froze for a moment, then quickly reacted, intending to step back.

But before she could react, she was suddenly pulled back onto the sidewalk.

Jiang Xi’s back hit the person behind her, and the car sped past.

Before she could even stand straight, Jiang Xi was spun around by the person behind her.

Lu Nandu gripped her shoulders, nervously scanning her from head to toe. After confirming she was unharmed, he visibly relaxed.

Jiang Xi remained unmoved.

Lu Nandu looked up to meet her gaze, not letting go of her.

“What are you doing here?”

Lu Nandu’s lips parted.

Jiang Xi thought he wouldn’t say anything more, but Lu Nandu spoke: “Looking for you.”

After a few seconds of staring, Jiang Xi showed no gratitude, pulling his hands off her and turning to walk away.

Lu Nandu became anxious, taking a quick stride forward, and directly hugged her from behind: “Jiejie.”

Jiang Xi froze.

This was the closest they had been since their breakup years ago.

She quickly reacted, trying to break free from his embrace.

Lu Nandu wouldn’t let go, holding her shoulders tightly, leaning close to her face: “Jiejie.”

Hearing the slight catch in his voice, Jiang Xi’s fingers trembled slightly.

Lu Nandu hugged her even tighter: “You didn’t say you didn’t know me in the video call a few days ago. You don’t dislike me, right, Jiejie?”

As these words fell, Jiang Xi finally understood why Lu Nandu was acting so bold tonight.

Indeed, that one second of softness from her a few days ago hadn’t escaped his eyes.

Jiang Xi’s irritation these past few days was also because of that second; she would not allow herself to be soft towards Lu Nandu.

The moment she indulged him, Lu Nandu would press his advantage even more: “Jiejie, I came all this way to see you, will you please look at me?”