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Psst! We're moving!
Lu Zhou’s ready agreement to her request was so swift that Shen Yihuan actually frowned.
“Why do you give in to me so easily?”
Lu Zhou didn’t seem to mind: “Hmm?”
Shen Yihuan moved out of his embrace and touched his face: “Am I bullying you again?”
Lu Zhou said, “No.”
Shen Yihuan touched his face again, blinking with a bit of surprise. It was prickly: “You have stubble.”
It wasn’t obvious, very short, but clear when touched.
“Mm.”
Shen Yihuan changed to stroking his chin, scratching with her fingers like she was petting a dog, then she smiled: “How did I never feel this before? It’s prickly, and ticklish.”
“Forgot to shave yesterday.”
“Do you have to shave every day?”
“Mm.”
Shen Yihuan smiled, stood on tiptoes and leaned closer to him, observing the barely noticeable stubble on his chin. She poked it with her finger: “How come I’ve never seen you shave?”
“You were asleep then.”
That’s right, Lu Zhou always woke up early. By the time Shen Yihuan naturally woke up, he was already at the training ground.
“You must look very sexy when you shave.”
Lu Zhou raised an eyebrow and smiled.
“Oh, right,” Shen Yihuan released him, “I was thinking earlier, since I’m filming Xinjiang cuisine, I can’t just film the food. Drinks should be included too. I already have yogurt milk tea. Are there any Xinjiang alcoholic drinks?”
Lu Zhou lowered his gaze.
Shen Yihuan held up three fingers, promising: “This drink is truly just for work.”
“I know a place where you can drink. Want me to take you?”
Shen Yihuan nodded, nodded, nodded.
She had expected Lu Zhou to take her to a quiet, small shop where they could drink, but instead, it was a rather large bar with a rock singer on stage, complete with drum kit and electric guitar.
In front of the main stage was an electronic keyboard. The keyboardist had medium-length, naturally curly hair, pulled back with a headband, and a scruffy beard, looking quite rock-and-roll.
Laser lights poured down, piercing through the dry ice mist and cigarette smoke produced on stage.
Shen Yihuan used to frequent such places every other day, but it had been a long time since she had visited one.
Lu Zhou walked ahead of her, holding her hand as they entered. The man standing at the entrance even greeted Lu Zhou quite familiarly.
Shen Yihuan looked up, seeing the man’s features sharply defined by the light, with thin lips and deep-set eyes.
The rock music was deafening, drum beats vibrating in sync with one’s heart.
Shen Yihuan quickened her steps, keeping close to Lu Zhou.
The aura around Lu Zhou now was unfamiliar to her.
Rock-and-roll Zhou Zhou?
A bit peculiar.
Shen Yihuan stood on her tiptoes and whispered something into Lu Zhou’s ear.
The music was too loud. Lu Zhou didn’t hear clearly, so he leaned down slightly, bringing his ear closer: “What?”
Then he heard the young girl’s voice, full of excitement and joy, as if she was about to jump: “I feel like I’m a big boss’s woman now!”
Lu Zhou: “...”
At the bar counter, a man who seemed to be the owner immediately came out from behind, took out a cigarette, and handed it to Lu Zhou: “Captain Lu, why are you here? You didn’t even say anything beforehand!”
Shen Yihuan: ??
So, she really was a big boss’s woman, huh?!
Lu Zhou took the cigarette, rolling it between his fingers, unlit: “Find us a quiet place.”
“Alright, alright, please follow me.” The owner led the way, secretly glancing at Shen Yihuan behind Lu Zhou several times.
The owner led them to a corner booth on the second floor and handed them the drink menu.
“Captain Lu, what would you like to drink?”
Lu Zhou handed the menu to Shen Yihuan. Shen Yihuan looked through it several times and ordered all of the bar’s specialty drinks.
After the owner left, Shen Yihuan said, “Do you come here often? The bar owner even recognized you, Rock-and-Roll Zhou Zhou?”
“Rock-and-Roll Zhou Zhou” familiarized himself with the fruit plate on the table, picked up a slice of cantaloupe, and handed it to Shen Yihuan, nonchalantly saying, “I’ve carried out missions in this bar before, that’s how I know him.”
Speaking of which, the bar owner’s life was also saved by him.
But Lu Zhou didn’t elaborate.
“What kind of mission? Were you hurt?” Shen Yihuan asked.
Lu Zhou: “No, not every mission results in injury. Injuries are rare.”
The owner quickly brought over a variety of wine glasses. After placing them all on the coffee table, he didn’t leave. He picked up a glass of beer himself: “Captain Lu, it’s rare for you to come. I’d like to toast you.”
Lu Zhou stood up, clinked glasses with the owner, and drained it in one go.
Their spot was in the corner, with a circular sofa. Shen Yihuan and Lu Zhou sat close together at one end, and the bar owner sat at the other.
The bar owner glanced at Shen Yihuan and asked, “Captain Lu, who is this?”
Lu Zhou: “My girlfriend, Shen Yihuan.”
“Ah.”
The bar owner was clearly stunned. Although he had considered the possibility when he first saw such a beautiful girl accompanying Lu Zhou, he quickly dismissed it.
The bar owner stood up and extended his hand to shake Shen Yihuan’s, “I thought Captain Lu was single. My apologies for the poor hospitality.”
Shen Yihuan: “We just came here to drink; it’s already very good.”
Shen Yihuan stood up and said to Lu Zhou, “I’m going to the restroom first.”
Lu Zhou glanced at the bustling dance floor outside, frowned slightly: “Should I go with you?”
“You can’t come inside with me.”
The bar owner smiled: “It’s fine, Captain Lu. The restroom is just a short walk. Don’t worry.”
It was indeed just a short walk.
The restroom was quite large, unlike the dim, flickering lights outside; it was brightly lit with white lights. Shen Yihuan pushed the door open and saw a few women with heavy makeup smoking.
She ignored them, used the restroom, and walked out. The sink was outside.
She pulled out a piece of paper to dry her hands. The door next to her opened, and someone walked out. A pair of black stiletto heels stopped beside her. Shen Yihuan tilted her head, her gaze slowly moving upwards to the person’s face.
The woman looked at her directly too.
Long chestnut hair, winged eyeliner, thick eyelashes, somewhat tacky makeup, but the person herself was quite beautiful.
Shen Yihuan calmly raised an eyebrow, threw the paper in her hand, and moved a step to the side. The woman also moved a step, blocking her way.
“Looking for me?” Shen Yihuan looked at her.
The woman extended her hand to her: “My name is Fu Se.”
Shen Yihuan shook her hand, not speaking.
“Do you know Captain Lu?” the woman asked, her chin raised, unconsciously revealing an arrogant demeanor.
Shen Yihuan’s expression finally shifted. She smiled: “Ah, yes, I do.”
“It’s the first time I’ve seen Captain Lu bring a woman here. What’s your relationship with him? Have you slept together?”
I... what...??
Shen Yihuan was actually not a very complex person, having done countless foolish things since childhood. However, she possessed one skill: if she encountered someone who seemed unfriendly, she could put on an act of being “super profound and mysterious,” which was hard for anyone unfamiliar with her to see through.
Shen Yihuan narrowed her eyes slightly, suddenly getting into character, and tucked her hair behind her ear: “Not yet. Lu Zhou wants to, but we’ve only known each other for a short time, so I haven’t agreed.”
The woman’s face changed: “How long have you known each other?”
Shen Yihuan calculated on her fingers: “One month.”
“You’re not from around here, are you?”
“Beijing.”
“Then you’ll have to leave sooner or later. I’ve seen many women like you; they go all in when they first chase Captain Lu, but then they can’t stand this kind of life.”
Shen Yihuan narrowed her eyes slightly: “Seen many? A lot of people have chased Lu Zhou?”
“Duh,” the woman rolled her eyes.
Shen Yihuan felt a little like laughing. She could tell this girl didn’t have bad intentions; she probably tried to chase Lu Zhou before and got frustrated, which was why she found Shen Yihuan annoying.
On the other side, Lu Zhou was unaware of what was happening at the restroom entrance.
The bar owner looked around, then lowered his voice, extinguishing his cigarette in the ashtray: “Li Wu and his crew seem to have run into some trouble recently.”
Lu Zhou asked, “How so?”
“There was a guy who came to the bar before, probably a poacher. Li Wu used to supply all his firearms and equipment, but now he’s got a new supplier.”
“Who did he switch to?”
“That’s unclear. I just heard that the new guy handles things quite ruthlessly. Li Wu probably has a battle ahead of him with this person.”
Lu Zhou lit a cigarette, took a drag, his cheeks slightly sunken: “Li Wu’s chances of winning aren’t great, are they?”
“Right. There’s been no news from Li Wu recently. I heard he’s on the run.”
Lu Zhou was silent, leaning back into the sofa, frowning, lost in thought.
The bar owner was about to say more when he saw Lu Zhou look up at the hallway. He then belatedly heard footsteps, and the next second, the young girl came running in quite happily.
She threw herself into Lu Zhou’s arms.
“You’re smoking again!!” Shen Yihuan glared at him, reaching out directly to take the cigarette from his mouth and throwing it into the ashtray.
She looked up and saw the bar owner sitting opposite them, pausing in her actions.
She thought he had left already.
The bar owner looked at her in shock, then gave Shen Yihuan a thumbs-up and cupped his hands in respect: “Girl, I’m impressed!”
Shen Yihuan: “...”
The bar owner left quickly, leaving only Shen Yihuan and Lu Zhou in the corner.
Shen Yihuan leaned close to Lu Zhou, her face excited: “I just met someone at the restroom door.”
Lu Zhou frowned, his arm draped over her shoulder: “Who?”
“Someone named Fu Se. Do you know her?”
“No.”
Shen Yihuan blinked: “But why did she come up to me looking like a jilted woman to question me? And she’s quite pretty.”
Lu Zhou looked bewildered for a moment, then grabbed Shen Yihuan’s hand nervously: “I really don’t know her.”
Shen Yihuan stared at him for a few seconds, then finally couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
“I wasn’t suspecting you. Why are you so nervous?”
Lu Zhou looked at her, not speaking.
Shen Yihuan looked around outside. From their spot, they could see the people downstairs on the first floor. She saw Fu Se, who had stopped her earlier, on the dance floor.
“Look,” Shen Yihuan pointed to the woman sitting at the bar, “That’s her. Do you know her?”
“She’s the bar owner’s sister,” Lu Zhou said after a glance.
The woman suddenly looked up, staring directly at them. Lu Zhou nodded at her then looked away. The woman froze for a moment, her face, already flushed from alcohol, turned even redder.
“Did she used to chase you?”
“Seems so.”
Shen Yihuan “tsk”-ed.
Lu Zhou looked down at her.
Shen Yihuan raised her hand, “slapped” his cheeks, rubbed them, then kneaded them: “Oh, our Rock-and-Roll Zhou Zhou, how come you’re so popular?”
Lu Zhou: “...”
“How many pretty girls have chased you during the days I wasn’t here?”
Shen Yihuan kept cupping his face as she spoke, leaning her upper body towards him, her eyes bright, a faint milky scent drifting from her.
Lu Zhou, slightly uncomfortable, lightly brushed Shen Yihuan’s fingers away, without force: “Not many.”
“But that Fu Se said there were a lot.”
“None are as pretty as you,” Lu Zhou said.
“So you only like whoever’s pretty? How superficial.”
“You’re the prettiest,” Lu Zhou raised his hand, gently pinching her chin, and said softly, “I only like you.”
Shen Yihuan was happy to be coaxed: “Then have you seen anyone prettier than me?”
Lu Zhou said, “No.”
A series of questions and answers, all sweet words, quite obedient.
There were various types of alcohol on the table, with a strong grain aroma. At first, it was quite unaccustomed to, but after trying a few, it tasted better and better.
None of them had a high alcohol content. Shen Yihuan took a sip of this one, then a sip of that one.
Lu Zhou sat watching her movements and couldn’t help but frown. He took the wine glass from Shen Yihuan’s hand: “Don’t mix your drinks like that.”
“I know my limits; these aren’t high proof.”
Lu Zhou held her wine glass still. Shen Yihuan tried to snatch it, but he raised his hand and held it out of reach.
“Give it to me.”
Lu Zhou directly tilted his head back and drank it all.
“...”
Shen Yihuan pushed the small notebook over: “Then you take notes for me.”
Lu Zhou took the pen and started writing. Shen Yihuan’s handwriting was elegant, clearly a young girl’s script, while Lu Zhou’s handwriting was a size larger and much sharper.
Shen Yihuan leaned over to look and found that Lu Zhou’s notes were actually quite professional, covering aspects like color, aroma, taste, and body.
“...You’re quite professional.”
“I heard the bar owner blabbering about it when he was scamming people before.”
Shen Yihuan laughed: “You’re just secretly calling him a scammer, aren’t you?”
Lu Zhou shared most of the drinks. After tasting them all and taking notes, his face remained clear and he showed no signs of intoxication.
“I found out you have a great alcohol tolerance!”
Lu Zhou looked down. The young girl’s cheeks were flushed, her slender arms wrapped around his neck, her whole body clinging to him. She was clearly drunk.
“Shen Yihuan.” Lu Zhou grabbed her by the back collar and pulled her back, frowning, his expression displeased, “Put on your clothes. We’re leaving.”
“Leave what? I want to drink more!”
She struggled again to grab a wine glass.
Lu Zhou grabbed Shen Yihuan around the waist, pulling her back like a chick. Losing patience, he snatched up her padded jacket and put it on Shen Yihuan.
It took him a while to get it on. He then directly wrapped her in his arms and carried her out.
Shen Yihuan squirmed in his arms.
Lu Zhou pinched her waist: “Stop moving.”
She stopped.
They went downstairs, through the crowd.
Both Shen Yihuan and Lu Zhou had faces that commanded attention. Now, the woman, flushed and limp, lay in the man’s arms, while the man wore an expression of displeasure, his lips tightly pursed.
The bar owner immediately came forward: “Leaving, Captain Lu?”
“Mm.” Lu Zhou paid.
Bar owner: “Should I call you a car?”
Lu Zhou held Shen Yihuan in his arms: “No need. The hotel is right next door. We’ll walk back.”
Although he said “we’ll walk back,” in the end, it was only Lu Zhou who walked that distance. Shen Yihuan was carried back on his back.
“Don’t move.”
Lu Zhou held Shen Yihuan’s wrist, helped her take off her shoes, rolled up her pant legs, applied ointment, and then tucked her into bed.
The next second, the blanket was kicked off.
“...”
Shen Yihuan squinted, smiling at him: “Aren’t you going to sleep inside?”
“I’m going to take a shower.”
“I want to go too.”
Lu Zhou squatted by the bed, holding her wrist: “You can shower tomorrow.”
“Then you too, tomorrow,” Shen Yihuan pouted.
Lu Zhou paused, then finally took off his clothes and got into bed. He pulled Shen Yihuan close. She was staring at him intently, her hand already on his lower abdomen, and she let out a “wow.”
He spoke, his voice hoarse: “Sleep.”
Shen Yihuan burrowed further into his arms, her eyes sparkling. She tilted her chin up to kiss him.
Kissing and giggling: “You’re so handsome.”
“...”
“Kiss me.”
Lu Zhou leaned in.
He rubbed Shen Yihuan’s hair, very close, and asked softly, “Do you like me?”
“Yes, I do.”
Very obedient.
Lu Zhou subtly curved the corner of his lips. After a while, he paused, raised his hand to cover Shen Yihuan’s eyes, and asked, “Who do you like?”
Shen Yihuan chuckled, replying, “Gege.”
“...”
Lu Zhou’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He took a deep breath, and finally cursed under his breath.
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