MY - 25

Lu Nandu was alone. The elevator was empty, with only him inside.

It had been many days since their unpleasant parting in Yucheng. Today, their unexpected encounter caused Jiang Xi to drop her smile.

Lu Nandu’s gaze subtly shifted from Jiang Xi’s face, falling instead on Chen Lin.

Chen Lin met his gaze.

The palpable tension between the men required no words, like a territorial instinct.

Lu Nandu silently retracted his gaze, taking no more than a second or two. He didn’t look at Jiang Xi again and walked straight out of the elevator.

Jiang Xi didn’t even look up. The two passed each other as if they were strangers.

Chen Lin and Jiang Xi entered the elevator together, and Lu Nandu’s figure gradually faded into the distance.

Chen Lin’s gaze returned from the man’s retreating back and fell upon Jiang Xi, who was looking down and pressing the floor button. She hadn’t looked outside once throughout.

The elevator doors slowly closed, and the air instantly became sealed.

As the floor numbers descended, Chen Lin suddenly chuckled and asked, “Ex-boyfriend?”

Jiang Xi didn’t turn her head, watching him in the elevator’s reflection.

Chen Lin noticed her gaze and also looked at the elevator reflection: “Am I wrong?”

Jiang Xi wasn’t surprised. Chen Lin appeared gentle on the outside, but in reality, he was the most astute observer.

She chuckled, “Teacher Chen says it’s right, so it’s right.”

Chen Lin was inexplicably amused, and the earlier topic of boyfriends, which had been interrupted, was not brought up again.

Reaching the first floor, they exited the elevator.

“Are you free lately?” Chen Lin asked her.

Jiang Xi nodded: “Yes.”

Chen Lin escorted her to the street to hail a taxi: “Last time I was home, my mom was watching the drama you recently starred in. I watched a couple of episodes with her when I had nothing to do.”

Jiang Xi was an artist; it was customary for her to appear in public, including in front of friends.

Chen Lin said, “Your acting has improved.”

The meaning of his words was not hard to grasp. Since he was complimenting her improved acting, he must have watched quite a few of her previous shows.

Jiang Xi skillfully avoided the topic, only saying, “Thank you.”

Knowing without saying, Chen Lin followed her lead and continued, “You’re not modest at all.”

Jiang Xi chuckled, “I’ve acted in a few after all. If I don’t improve, there’s no need to stay in this industry.”

The two conversed casually, like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in a long time.

They hadn’t exchanged phone numbers last time, so Chen Lin asked for Jiang Xi’s number this time.

Soon, a car was hailed. Jiang Xi said goodbye to Chen Lin and got in.

________________________________________

Shen Zexiao hadn’t seen Lu Nandu for several days.

As soon as Lu Nandu entered the private room, he started to tease: “Damn, our busy man finally decided to show his face.”

Lu Nandu bothered to ignore him and didn’t pay attention to the gazes of everyone in the room. He walked straight in and sat down on the sofa.

Most of the people in the private room were Shen Zexiao’s friends. This person had to gather once every day, and his friends came from all walks of life, of all kinds. The private room was lively.

Shen Zexiao handed Lu Nandu a glass of wine and quietly said, “Uncle Lu finally let you out?”

Lu Nandu took the wine: “None of your business.”

“Aren’t I just concerned about you?” Shen Zexiao said, “You mean a twenty-something year old still being grounded, and he’s even Mr. Lu of Huahong? Who wouldn’t be curious about how many terrible things he must have done?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he was immediately kicked by Lu Nandu: “You talk too much, don’t you?”

Shen Zexiao laughed, clinking his bottle against Lu Nandu’s: “But what was it about this time?” Lu Jinghong hadn’t bothered with Lu Nandu for a long time.

Lu Nandu was in an average mood and too lazy to explain: “Nothing.”

Although he said so, Shen Zexiao could probably guess why.

Old Master Lu’s displeasure with Lu Nandu usually stemmed from two reasons: first, his native family, and second, Lu Nandu’s past romantic messes.

A girl next to them called out to Shen Zexiao.

Shen Zexiao had recently gotten a new girlfriend, and the women by his side never lasted more than three months. This girlfriend was docile, soft-spoken, and had innocent, deer-like eyes.

Shen Zexiao went to accompany his girlfriend, and Lu Nandu was eager for peace and quiet.

The lights in the private room were dim, with colorful lights swirling. The crowd was decadent and extravagant.

Lu Nandu frowned, not knowing what he was thinking.

Shen Zexiao’s girlfriend was uncomfortable, being at such a place for the first time. He coaxed her a few times, embracing her.

When he finished comforting her and turned around, Lu Nandu was nowhere to be found beside him.

His glass was half empty, sitting on the table.

Shen Zexiao clicked his tongue, a smile playing on his lips, “Doesn’t learn his lesson.”

The girl in his arms heard his words, looked up at him, and timidly asked, “What?”

Shen Zexiao’s hand loosely held the wine glass. Hearing her, he looked down and smiled at her: “I said someone’s about to suffer again.”

The girl was confused.

Shen Zexiao kissed her lips: “You have to remember to learn your lesson in the future so you won’t suffer, understand?”

Shen Zexiao, Zhuo Pei, and Xu Yanran all knew Lu Nandu from overseas.

These three had gone abroad to study early on. Lu Nandu had just returned to the Lu family when some changes occurred, and Old Master Lu took him abroad.

They became acquainted during their time studying.

So, they knew quite a bit about Lu Nandu’s affairs.

Old Master Lu seemed gentle, and even when angry, his anger was not apparent, but in reality, he was more ruthless than anyone.

In his second year abroad, Lu Nandu had a falling out with Old Master Lu.

This was the most strained the relationship between the grandfather and grandson had been from past to present. Lu Nandu insisted on returning to China, and Old Master Lu did not stop him.

Lu Nandu didn’t say why, but Old Master Lu knew perfectly well.

Shen Zexiao still remembered what Old Master Lu said at the time: that Lu Nandu, having learned a bit of superficial knowledge, got carried away, dreaming of starting from scratch to support someone, without even considering if that person would still want him.

After returning to China, Old Master Lu froze all his bank cards, saying that since he wanted to leave the Lu family, he was no longer entitled to the treatment of a Lu family member.

Lu Nandu, to his credit, didn’t give in to Old Master Lu.

That day, near evening, Lu Nandu arrived in Beijing. Without a moment’s delay, he rushed to the Academy of Fine Arts.

He didn’t enter the school gate. After buying a pack of cigarettes at a convenience store next to the school, he squatted on the curb across the street, smoking.

The biting cold of winter, fine snow fluttering down, the world was a monochrome of black and white in the night. University students hurried into school with their heads down, while others, despite the cold, still went out to enjoy themselves.

Lu Nandu’s hands were stiff from the cold, yet he couldn’t catch a glimpse of Jiang Xi.

After smoking nearly half a pack of cigarettes, he remembered that Jiang Xi was already in her fourth year this year. He had returned in such a hurry that he forgot to think. It was possible that she wasn’t on campus in her fourth year, and besides, Jiang Xi didn’t live on campus.

Lu Nandu’s arm rested on his knee, his fingertips drooped lazily, the tip of his cigarette glowing red.

He lowered his head, pulled a smile, and chuckled.

How could he possibly find her now?

But he didn’t leave. Even thinking that, he didn’t leave. Lu Nandu didn’t know what he was thinking, he just didn’t want to leave.

Until late at night, Lu Nandu’s shoulders were soaked, and a streetlamp beside him went out.

He seemed to have lost all sensation, not leaving until dawn.

He stood up, extinguished the cigarette, and threw it into the trash can.

As he stood up, a familiar figure suddenly walked out of the school gate across the street. Lu Nandu instantly froze.

Jiang Xi emerged from the school gate, wearing a down jacket that didn’t appear bulky. The light from the streetlamp at the school entrance shone on her face; her skin was as white as if it had been bathed in milk, her features stunning, though her complexion seemed a bit pale.

But she wasn’t alone.

Beside her stood a tall, slender boy with delicate features and glasses.

Lu Nandu’s blood ran cold. As if fearing confirmation, he stared intently at the two figures in the distance.

Jiang Xi accompanied the boy to the front of the convenience store. The boy seemed to need to buy something and went inside alone.

She didn’t go in, waiting outside.

Lu Nandu was hidden in the darkness across the street; she never once looked his way.

Soon after, the boy emerged from the convenience store, carrying a bag.

Lu Nandu watched as he switched the bag to his other hand and took Jiang Xi’s hand.

In that instant, the taut string in Lu Nandu’s heart snapped sharply, and his heart seemed to stop.

He didn’t avert his gaze, staring fixedly, as if afraid to miss the moment Jiang Xi might let go.

But things wouldn’t change just because he wished them to. A few seconds passed, Jiang Xi didn’t move, and the boy led her away.

Lu Nandu even knew they were holding hands, fingers intertwined.

The answer was clearly evident, yet Lu Nandu was like a stubborn child, unwilling to give up until he hit a brick wall.

He followed Jiang Xi from a distance.

She seemed to be heading home. The boy did most of the talking, and she said little.

The boy walked her to the street, helped her hail a taxi, and seemed to give her a few instructions before letting go and letting her get in the car. He was a boyfriend a hundred times better than him.

The car’s taillights lit up, and it quickly disappeared around the corner.

Lu Nandu didn’t move for a long time, just watching that spot.

But she wouldn’t come back.

She didn’t want him anymore.

________________________________________

That time, Lu Nandu didn’t go looking for Jiang Xi again.

Ultimately, Old Master Lu returned from abroad and brought him back. Shen Zexiao also went with them.

Old Master Lu didn’t fly into a rage; he merely said that Lu Nandu would never amount to anything.

A gentle tone, yet delivering the cruelest words.

“You might long for someone your whole life, and they might not even think of you for a second. To fall apart like this for a woman is not worth it.”

Being at someone’s mercy, he would continue to suffer.

It was then that Shen Zexiao realized Lu Nandu had been longing for a woman. He had initially thought Lu Nandu’s infatuation would fade over time.

But he never imagined that his longing would last for nearly a decade.

________________________________________

Jiang Xi arrived home half an hour later.

She got out of the taxi, a cold wind blew by, making her long hair flutter slightly.

The streetlights at the residential complex gate were as bright as day, and the tree shadows swayed.

Cars occasionally sped by on the roadside. At one point, a voice suddenly came from behind her.

“Jiejie.”

Jiang Xi froze, her steps halting.

Lu Nandu called her again: “Jiejie.”

Jiang Xi hadn’t expected him to follow her, especially since they had had no interaction in the elevator earlier.

The cold wind whistled past, leaves rustled, and the light couldn’t reach them, making their shadows on the ground almost ephemeral.

Coming back to her senses, she started walking again without turning back.

Behind her, Lu Nandu grew anxious. He rushed forward and grabbed her wrist: “Who is he?”

The meaning of this question was clear: not asking for Chen Lin’s name, but his identity.

Jiang Xi was held captive by him, unable to break free. Hearing his question, she was silent for a few seconds, then looked up: “I don’t think that concerns you.”

In the next second, Lu Nandu’s voice grew several shades colder: “What’s your relationship with him now?”

In just an instant, his tone was filled with chilling hostility and aggression.

Jiang Xi looked at Lu Nandu’s hostile gaze, momentarily flashing back to the past. When they were together, whenever any guy dared to get even slightly close to Jiang Xi, Lu Nandu would be in this state.

Possessiveness is a basic human flaw.

But in Lu Nandu, it seemed to be magnified many times over.

He couldn’t control his dark psychology; those surging negative desires would forever imprison Jiang Xi at the bottom of a cell.

Jiang Xi could also sense that Lu Nandu’s state was off.

Lu Nandu wouldn’t easily misunderstand her; he hadn’t misunderstood her when the rumors with Cen Wanzhe came out. But this time, Chen Lin caused an exceptionally strong reaction from him.

What Jiang Xi didn’t know was that Lu Nandu recognized Chen Lin, and had known him six years ago.

He was afraid.

Jiang Xi looked at him: “You don’t need to know.”

In the next second, before she could react, she was embraced by Lu Nandu. He held her tightly.

Feeling his whole body tremble slightly, Jiang Xi’s hands, which were about to push him away, froze.

His face was pressed against her shoulder, and his embrace tightly confined her.

She didn’t know how long passed, but Jiang Xi felt a warm drop slide into the hollow of her neck.

Her heart tightened.

“Jiejie.”

“Jiejie, please don’t abandon me.”