MY - 30

Jiang Xi was still holding Lu Nandu’s wrist. The moment her words fell, she could feel his tension.

The person who usually clung to her so tightly now instinctively wanted to pull his wrist away from her hand. But perhaps remembering that the person in front of him was Jiang Xi, he hesitated for a few seconds and ultimately didn’t pull away.

Jiang Xi didn’t force him either.

A person’s lifespan varies from nothingness to a hundred years, and everyone’s daily experiences differ. Ultimately, human personalities are diverse. No one has the exact same experiences, and there is no true empathy.

This world is not short of ugly faces who scoff at others’ wounds and ridicule those who are riddled with holes but still refuse to fall, calling their backbone weak and unable to withstand any storm.

Jiang Xi knew that feeling and certainly didn’t want to become that kind of person. She wouldn’t blame Lu Nandu for hiding things from her. After all, if those things were so easy to confide, Lu Nandu wouldn’t be like this now.

Something must have happened back then, Jiang Xi just wasn’t sure what.

Lu Nandu couldn’t speak now, and Jiang Xi didn’t press him. This matter couldn’t be rushed.

She released Lu Nandu’s hand and changed the subject: “Didn’t you ask me to come over to discuss compensation? Let’s talk about it now.”

Jiang Xi really hadn’t expected the Maybach owner from the previous scrape to be Lu Nandu, but once she knew it was him, the whole thing no longer seemed strange.

A luxury car being scratched without extortion, reaching an agreement yet the noble person being forgetful, only remembering to discuss compensation today.

She had originally thought he was some philanthropist with too much money to spend, finally running into a good person. In the end, it was indeed only Lu Nandu who would foot the bill.

Lu Nandu was stunned; he had forgotten until she mentioned it.

From the very beginning, his intention in having his assistant ask for her number was impure. Tonight, naturally, he hadn’t asked her to come over to discuss compensation.

Lu Nandu felt a little guilty, stammering for a long time before managing to squeeze out a phrase: “No compensation.”

Jiang Xi naturally understood Lu Nandu’s purpose in asking her to come over; the negotiation was just an excuse.

She said, “Find a time for your assistant to set the compensation amount.”

Lu Nandu could guess Jiang Xi’s attitude. He neither agreed nor refused.

The bedroom was exceptionally quiet for a while. Jiang Xi glanced at the quartz clock on the wall; it was nine o’clock.

Lu Nandu noticed her gaze, knowing she was about to leave. The moment Jiang Xi stood up, he grabbed her hand, using his injured one.

Jiang Xi, of course, knew Lu Nandu’s little tricks, but she indulged him and didn’t shake off his injured hand.

She looked down at him: “Anything else?”

Lu Nandu asked her, “Have you had dinner?”

Only then did Jiang Xi remember the takeout she had ordered before leaving.

Before she could answer, Lu Nandu spoke again: “Stay and have dinner together.”

Jiang Xi looked into his eyes and, after a long moment, said, “I’ve already had dinner.”

Even she didn’t believe her own words. At the time she arrived, it was impossible for her to have had dinner given her routine.

Lu Nandu clearly knew it too. His expression instantly showed a hint of grievance, but he didn’t make things difficult for her, reluctantly letting go of her hand.

Jiang Xi was able to break free, and Lu Nandu saw her downstairs.

This was likely Lu Nandu’s private residence, devoid of any homey feel, with a dim porch.

Jiang Xi stopped at the doorway and still said, “Remember to change your dressing.”

Hearing her concern, Lu Nandu’s eyes curved into a smile, and he nodded: “Mhm.”

Jiang Xi said nothing more. Without saying goodbye, she walked out into the courtyard and drove away.

________________________________________

Jiang Xi forgot she had ordered takeout.

There were several missed calls on her phone. The delivery driver had called her many times two hours ago, but Jiang Xi’s phone was on silent, so she didn’t hear it at all.

The delivery driver finally sent a text message saying the takeout was left at the door.

After two hours, the takeout was already completely cold. Jiang Xi had lived there for so long that her kitchen didn’t even have a pot to boil things, so she simply ordered another takeout.

High-rise residential building, the noise of the bustling city only drifted faintly. This quiet atmosphere easily induces drowsiness. Jiang Xi leaned her head against the back of the sofa, feeling sleepy.

But she didn’t truly fall asleep until the delivery driver delivered her dinner.

After all this trouble, Jiang Xi’s appetite had been reduced by more than half. The takeout, once brought in, held no appeal.

The white rice steamed, and the side dishes looked appealing, with a mix of spicy, salty, sour, and sweet flavors. Even though she had no appetite for these dishes, Jiang Xi still forced herself to eat a few bites.

________________________________________

That night, after washing up, Jiang Xi lay in bed, inexplicably thinking about the year after Lu Nandu’s college entrance exam.

That year, they confirmed their relationship, spending a month intensely together in a rented apartment. Later, Lu Nandu went back, and his mother passed away.

Jiang Xi lay in bed, her mind replaying the events of that period over and over.

She had a gut feeling that Lu Nandu’s abnormality might be related to what happened during that time, yet she couldn’t find any abnormalities; he even remained exceptionally calm after his mother’s death.

Later, after returning to her side, his state was also normal, with nothing out of the ordinary.

Lu Nandu was a rascal. She originally thought he had finally become obedient, but of course, that was impossible.

She had thought they could continue to live in peace like this, but unexpectedly, after only a few days, he had thrown everything into disarray.

Jiang Xi placed her arm over her eyes, and after a long moment, let out a barely perceptible sigh.

________________________________________

In the following days, Lu Nandu didn’t contact Jiang Xi again.

An artist without buzz gets bored. Jiang Xi spent her time at home flipping through books and watching old movies, which wasn’t boring at all.

________________________________________

That night, just as she was about to go to bed, her phone rang.

Jiang Xi had few friends, and during non-work hours, she rarely received calls. She picked up her phone and saw it was Ji Yuanzhou calling.

Jiang Xi leaned back against the headboard. After she answered, Ji Yuanzhou’s side was very quiet.

She asked, “Coming down?”

A sentence completely unrelated to emotions, yet Jiang Xi sensed something was off. She glanced out the window, then looked back: “Are you downstairs?”

Ji Yuanzhou lazily hummed in affirmation, then asked, “Going to a bar?”

Jiang Xi hummed: “Wait for me to get dressed.”

“Okay.”

Ten minutes later, Jiang Xi appeared at the community entrance. In the blue taxi, Ji Yuanzhou’s back passenger window was half-lowered, revealing a pair of charming and captivating eyes.

Jiang Xi got in on the other side and saw Ji Yuanzhou had lowered the window: “Not cold?”

Ji Yuanzhou saw she was wearing a coat, and raised the car window: “It’s fine.”

Going to a bar inevitably involved drinking, so they usually didn’t drive there. The taxi was exceptionally quiet, the windows tightly closed, and the atmosphere was inexplicably oppressive.

Jiang Xi leaned back in her seat, looking at Ji Yuanzhou.

The car sped along, and the varying shades of streetlights swept across her face. A chilling red mark encircled her fair neck, yet Ji Yuanzhou’s face remained remarkably calm.

Jiang Xi subtly averted her gaze.

________________________________________

Half an hour later, they arrived at the Liquor City. Ji Yuanzhou, with her captivating personality, disliked booth seating and gravitated towards the lively areas.

They sat on high stools at the bar.

A handsome man in a uniform was behind the bar. Ji Yuanzhou ordered two tequilas from him.

Both of them held their liquor well, but even so, they rarely ordered hard liquor when they went to bars. Jiang Xi was originally lazily leaning against the bar. Hearing Ji Yuanzhou order tequila, she asked, “Aren’t you afraid of getting drunk?”

Ji Yuanzhou tilted her head slightly to look at her, chuckling: “Not that easily.”

“True,” Jiang Xi also chuckled, “Another glass wouldn’t be a problem for you.”

The bartender handed them two drinks. Ji Yuanzhou held one in each hand and passed one to Jiang Xi.

Jiang Xi took it and took a small sip.

Ji Yuanzhou said, “It’s rare to come to a bar, so of course you have to drink something strong.”

Jiang Xi hadn’t expected this. After another sip, she asked, “How long has it been since you were here?”

Ji Yuanzhou tilted her waist, her gaze returning from the dance floor to Jiang Xi, a slight curve on her lips: “A month, believe it?”

Rare indeed.

Jiang Xi didn’t look at Ji Yuanzhou: “He doesn’t allow it?”

“Who knows,” Ji Yuanzhou cursed with a laugh, “that scoundrel.”

Jiang Xi also chuckled.

________________________________________

After a while, a man came over to strike up a conversation, taking a drink and sitting next to Jiang Xi.

Ji Yuanzhou glanced at the man behind Jiang Xi, then raised her chin towards her: “Look, someone’s looking for you.”

Then she chuckled, “Quite good, ten minutes.”

Jiang Xi knew what she meant; someone had already come to chat them up within ten minutes of their arrival.

Being approached in a bar was normal. Jiang Xi usually didn’t bother with it. She calmly turned around and politely said, “I’m sorry, I’m leaving soon.”

This sentence clearly and directly conveyed refusal, yet it also saved the other party’s face.

The man paused when he saw her face, but said nothing, smiled at her, and after a usual exchange of pleasantries, left.

As soon as he left, Ji Yuanzhou said to her, “You’re lying through your teeth.”

Jiang Xi: “Isn’t my acting just better?”

Ji Yuanzhou was amused by her. Then she said, “That person probably recognized you. Next time you come to the bar, do you need to cover yourself up more?”

Jiang Xi: “No need. I haven’t done anything disgraceful.”

Ji Yuanzhou also thought it unnecessary, but merely gave a friendly reminder. She thought of something else and said, “It’s quite boring.”

“What is?”

“Being famous means no freedom.”

Jiang Xi didn’t know why she heard a different meaning in that sentence, but Ji Yuanzhou clearly didn’t want to say more, so she didn’t ask.

________________________________________

Shen Zexiao walked into the bar with a girl wrapped in his arm.

Having just come from another lively venue, this was merely a transition. Two months had passed, and Young Master Shen still hadn’t changed partners; the pure-looking girl was still by his side.

He was a regular customer. As soon as the bar staff saw him, they immediately greeted him.

This scion had always been fond of women; any woman with a bit of charm rarely escaped his notice.

As Shen Zexiao passed the bar, his peripheral vision keenly caught a figure. He instinctively glanced over.

A woman with a slender waist leaned against the bar, drinking.

Just by looking at that back, Shen Zexiao recognized who it was. He raised an eyebrow.

When the waiter led him to the booth, Lu Nandu and Zhuo Pei were already there.

Shen Zexiao put his arm around the girl and sat on the sofa: “How long have you two young masters been here? Haven’t seen the person at the bar?”

“You have the nerve to ask us when we arrived?” Zhuo Pei chuckled, “You seem to be having a lively time, Young Master Shen.”

Shen Zexiao also chuckled: “Beauty corrupts, is that not allowed?”

The girl in his arms instantly blushed.

“Why not?” Zhuo Pei said, “Having a girlfriend is impressive.”

“I think what you said is quite right,” Shen Zexiao said provocatively, “being single means you don’t even have a fun partner, just alcohol. Looking at it that way, having a girlfriend really is impressive.”

Zhuo Pei kicked him, laughing: “Get lost, give you an inch and you take a mile, huh?”

Lu Nandu was sprawled on the sofa playing a game. Shen Zexiao’s mouth itched: “CEO Lu, your hand is like that, and you’re still playing games?”

Lu Nandu slowly lifted his eyes and glanced at him: “Can’t I?”

“Alright, alright, you can.”

Lu Nandu played one round of the game, and he still didn’t mention his woman.

As soon as Lu Nandu finished a round of the game, Shen Zexiao immediately snatched his phone and threw it aside.

Zhuo Pei witnessed the entire scene: “Shen Zexiao, are you asking for trouble tonight?”

Shen Zexiao hurriedly handed a drink to the short-tempered Lu Nandu, his words lacking any seriousness: “Don’t be angry, CEO Lu, come, have a drink.”

Lu Nandu chuckled: “Are you sick tonight?”

Shen Zexiao clicked his tongue: “Whether I’m sick or not, I don’t know, but you might want to call me ‘Dad’ later, I know that much.”

Lu Nandu shot him a glare.

Shen Zexiao chuckled: “I can call you ‘Dad’ too.”

________________________________________

Boys gathered together, nothing but bragging and wild talk. Shen Zexiao chattered lively with the people next to him, not forgetting to ply Lu Nandu with drinks.

________________________________________

Ji Yuanzhou finished her drink and went to the dance floor.

Jiang Xi slowly drank at the bar. Ji Yuanzhou had originally wanted to pull her along, but Jiang Xi didn’t like crowds.

________________________________________

Midway, she received a message from Ji Yuanzhou.

Ji Yuanzhou had been dragged back from the dance floor by that man, and only had time to text Jiang Xi in the car. Ji Yuanzhou said she would treat her to a drink next time as an apology.

Jiang Xi didn’t mind, telling her to take better care of herself.

She didn’t leave the bar immediately. Time passed minute by minute, and someone approached the bar.

A man rested his arm on the bar, leaning against it, and tapped his knuckles on the surface.

Jiang Xi heard a male voice say, “Do you have any anti-inflammatory medicine and bandages here?”

People tend to get impulsive when they drink, and fights are common in bars, so the establishment usually keeps emergency supplies like these. The bartender said, “One moment.”

Jiang Xi didn’t pay attention.

A few seconds later, the male voice spoke, chuckling: “Oh, isn’t this Jiang Xi?”

Only then did Jiang Xi turn her gaze. She remembered Shen Zexiao; she had seen him once during Xu Yanran’s video call.

Jiang Xi nodded politely in return.

“What a coincidence,” Shen Zexiao said, “There’s a drunkard over there who keeps yelling your name.”

Jiang Xi understood what he meant, glanced at him, but said nothing.

Shen Zexiao was effortlessly familiar and spoke to himself: “I’m just here to get him bandages and medicine. He injured his hand and didn’t notice spilling alcohol on it.”

Shen Zexiao omitted some details: he was the one who spilled the alcohol.

At this moment, the bartender walked over and handed the bandage and medicine to Shen Zexiao: “Sir, here are the bandages and medicine you asked for.”

Shen Zexiao took them: “Alright, thanks.”

Then he said to Jiang Xi, “I’m leaving now.”

Jiang Xi nodded. To her surprise, after walking a few steps, Shen Zexiao turned back and hissed, “Um, can I ask you, do you know how to bandage a wound?”

Jiang Xi finally spoke: “You guys don’t?”

“A bunch of big men, who would know?”

Jiang Xi put down her drink and followed him. Lu Nandu seemed to be already drunk, slumped back in the sofa.

His white shirt sleeve was stained with beer.

Shen Zexiao raised his chin: “There, he is.” Then he handed her the things in his hand.

Jiang Xi took them.

Even if Zhuo Pei hadn’t understood before, he understood now. He subtly gave Shen Zexiao a thumbs-up.

Jiang Xi looked at the items in her hand; there was no alcohol, and the medicine wasn’t complete.

Shen Zexiao asked her, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Xi: “He needs to go to the hospital.”

She looked at Shen Zexiao: “You guys take him.”

Shen Zexiao looked at her for a few seconds: “Okay.”

He helped Lu Nandu up from the sofa and walked out. Passing Jiang Xi, he asked her, “Lend a hand?”

A drunk person was indeed heavy. Jiang Xi was silent for a few seconds before walking over and supporting Lu Nandu’s arm over her shoulder.

________________________________________

Once outside the bar, the sound of music significantly softened.

All three of them had been drinking, so they had to call a cab. A car quickly pulled up, and the two men squeezed Lu Nandu into the back seat.

Jiang Xi was just about to get out when the seemingly unconscious man suddenly grabbed her hand.

She looked up, meeting Lu Nandu’s hazy gaze. He seemed to know she was leaving, and his eyes drooped for a moment: “Jiejie.”

Jiang Xi indeed had no intention of accompanying him to the hospital.

The driver in front urged them on.

Jiang Xi tried to pry his hand open, but Lu Nandu, with a child-like stubbornness, held on tightly.

Shen Zexiao watched from the side and sighed, “Just go with him, alright? When he wakes up and you’re gone, he won’t remember anyway.”

As if afraid Jiang Xi would find it troublesome, he added, “You can drop him off at his house; someone will come out to take him in.”

Jiang Xi knew how difficult it was to soothe him once his stubborn streak came out.

Lu Nandu was still staring intently at her.

Jiang Xi finally relented and said to him, “Move in a bit.”

This time, he was obedient, quietly shifting further inside.

Shen Zexiao stood outside the car, helping them close the door: “I won’t go; my girlfriend is still inside.”

Jiang Xi hummed.

The car soon drove away.

Lu Nandu refused to leave her side, clinging tightly to her.

The car swayed along. After an unknown amount of time, his head rested on her shoulder.

Jiang Xi’s gaze returned from outside the car window and settled on Lu Nandu’s face.

His eyelashes were very long, quietly closed, casting a small arc of shadow on his fair skin.

He was asleep.

A few seconds later, Jiang Xi averted her gaze, looking out the window again.