The KTV was dimly lit, with glossy floor tiles reflecting the ceiling lights.
Zhou Wan followed Lu Xixiao inside.
It was her first time in such a place, and she couldn't shake the feeling it was some kind of shady entertainment venue. She grew timid, cautiously observing her surroundings while trailing behind Lu Xixiao.
Knowing the others would likely order alcohol, Lu Xixiao asked a server to bring a glass of juice later.
When they reached the private room Jiang Fan had mentioned, Lu Xixiao glanced back at her. "You can still leave now if you want."
The loud music bled through the door, drowning out his words.
Zhou Wan didn't catch them. "Huh?"
Lu Xixiao leaned down, repeating the words close to her ear.
His warm breath brushed against her ear, causing the thin skin there to flush instantly.
Zhou Wan blinked. "It's fine."
Lu Xixiao smirked and pushed the door open.
The group stood up when they saw Zhou Wan, teasingly calling out for "the boss's lady" to take the center seat.
Zhou Wan quickly waved her hands, saying she couldn't sing and would prefer to sit at the side.
Lu Xixiao let her have her way and sat beside her.
After the incident last time when Zhou Wan accidentally drank alcohol during dinner, no one pressured her to drink now. Among the dozen people in the room, only Zhou Wan held a glass of juice.
Seeing how reserved and well-behaved this "little lady" was, they even stubbed out their cigarettes, afraid any slight disrespect might set Lu Xixiao off.
Lu Xixiao lounged on the sofa, one hand holding a glass, the other draped over Zhou Wan's shoulder.
He leaned against her slightly, his collar open, revealing sharp collarbones and an Adam's apple. His black hair was neatly styled, fitting perfectly into the atmosphere.
Zhou Wan was utterly unused to such intimate gestures; her entire spine stiffened, and she forced herself to sit upright.
But she allowed Lu Xixiao to keep his arm around her without pulling away.
She guessed that with Lu Xixiao's sharp perception, he must have noticed her discomfort—but he seemed to take pleasure in it, enjoying seeing her like this.
At one point, someone remarked, "By the way, sis, I heard you ranked first again in the monthly exam?"
The others chimed in enthusiastically.
"Sis, you're amazing! We bow to the Academic God."
"Sis, you're like a Cultural Oasis coming to transform our Cultural Desert."
"Hahahaha, so you and Brother Xixiao together are like a Desert Reversal and Forest Restoration Project!"
...
Lu Xixiao chuckled too, turning to ask her, "First place?"
"Mm."
"Why didn't you mention it?"
Zhou Wan blinked softly and whispered, "Didn't think it was worth mentioning."
"Teacher Zhou is so modest," Lu Xixiao teased.
The way he said "Teacher Zhou" in that voice made it sound utterly improper—flippant and mocking.
Zhou Wan didn't respond.
After a while, Lu Xixiao drank a little, chatted briefly, and didn't stay long. He took Zhou Wan's hand and stood up. "We're heading out first."
"Leaving so early?"
Lu Xixiao smirked. "She's a good student—needs to go back and study."
The group erupted in exaggerated "Aiyo"s and "Aiyo"s, their expressions suggestive.
"Then we'll leave too," Jiang Fan said. "These crappy songs aren't worth singing anyway. Let's find another place to continue."
So the whole group filed out of the private room.
Outside, the cold wind hit her, and Zhou Wan realized she had taken off her scarf earlier and left it in the room.
"I need to go back for a moment," she said.
Lu Xixiao asked what was wrong.
"I forgot my scarf."
"I'll get it." With that, Lu Xixiao turned and went back inside.Zhou Wan waited outside with the boys, feeling somewhat reserved, while they showed no shyness at all, occasionally asking her questions that made no sense.
Just then, another person approached, smiling as he greeted Jiang Fan: "What a coincidence, you're here too."
Jiang Fan high-fived him: "We were just about to leave."
"Is Brother Xixiao not here again today?"
"He's here, but he went back upstairs. We're waiting for him."
The boy seemed about the same age as them, but he probably didn't attend Yangming High School—Zhou Wan had never seen him before.
Noticing her gaze, the boy looked over, raised an eyebrow, and grinned at her: "Hey, why didn't you call me when there's a beauty around?"
The others froze, about to explain that this was the girlfriend of the "Brother Xixiao" he mentioned—and definitely not someone to mess with.
But he, being overly familiar, pulled out his phone without giving anyone a chance to stop him: "Hey, let's get to know each other, make friends."
Jiang Fan moved to intervene, but just then, Lu Xixiao came downstairs with his scarf.
One's own girlfriend should be protected by oneself. Jiang Fan silently mourned for this clueless brother for three seconds, withdrew his hand, and decided not to get involved.
The boy spotted Lu Xixiao and greeted him excitedly.
Lu Xixiao responded with a faint "Mm," his gaze fixed on the phone that was practically shoved in Zhou Wan's face.
The boy turned back to Zhou Wan, still smiling: "Don't be so stingy, just getting to know each other."
Zhou Wan glanced at Lu Xixiao.
He showed no expression, standing there with his hands in his pockets, chin slightly raised, his gaze calm.
Zhou Wan thought for a moment. It seemed this boy knew Lu Xixiao and was considered a friend.
Then... at the very least, she shouldn't make his friend feel awkward.
Zhou Wan reached out, took his phone, and started typing in her number.
Everyone instantly fell silent, holding their breath.
They all thought to themselves, She really is something else—no ordinary girl.
Lu Xixiao's brow furrowed slightly, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smirk. He gritted his teeth lightly, the line of his jaw tightening, exuding a sharp chill.
Without a word, he strode straight through the crowd and left.
Zhou Wan was taken aback, staring at his retreating figure.
"Lu Xixiao."
He ignored her.
Zhou Wan hadn't even finished entering her number. She hurriedly shoved the phone back into the boy's hand and chased after him: "Lu Xixiao!"
The boy was utterly confused.
He was completely bewildered, having no idea what had just happened.
Jiang Fan patted him on the shoulder and sighed: "Bro, you just became cannon fodder."
"Huh?"
"That girl you were hitting on is your sister-in-law."
"..."
The boy's mind went blank. After a long pause, he couldn't help but curse: "What the hell? Why didn't you say something?"
"Did you give me a chance to?"
"And when I asked for her number, Brother Xixiao didn't stop me—he just watched his girlfriend give me her number?" The boy felt utterly wronged. "Wait, so she gave me her number right in front of him? Was she playing me? Is she secretly scheming? Trying to make him jealous on purpose?"
Jiang Fan punched him: "She's not as twisted as you."
"Wait, that doesn't make sense," he gradually realized. "Even if she's Brother Xixiao's girlfriend, he's not that petty. It was just a harmless flirt—it's not like I actually did anything."
"Not sure if you noticed," Jiang Fan said, "but compared to the girls from before, their dynamic has completely reversed."
"..."That's right, before it was always Lu Xixiao who got hit on, and those girls would get jealous and angry.
But when those girls got hit on, Lu Xixiao didn't have any reaction at all.
The boy had a sudden inspiration and asked softly, "So, I'm done for?"
Jiang Fan glanced at him, "You're done for."
"..."
"Unless—"
"Unless what?"
"Unless our sister-in-law can cheer A Xiao up, then you might still have a chance to live."
"..."
The boy's vision went dark, "With that dog-like temper? Who could possibly cheer him up?"
Jiang Fan laughed gleefully, "So I suggest you book a hospital bed in advance."
Zhou Wan chased after Lu Xixiao for a long time before finally catching up to him.
She grabbed onto Lu Xixiao's sleeve, panting heavily, so out of breath she couldn't even straighten her back, gasping for air, "Lu Xixiao, don't walk so fast."
Lu Xixiao looked down at her from his height, "Zhou Wan, you're something else, daring to flirt right in front of me."
Flirt.
What a serious accusation.
Zhou Wan felt like a huge blame had been dropped right on her head.
"I didn't," she tried to calm her breathing, wanting to explain to him, "I just thought he was your friend and didn't want to embarrass him in front of so many people."
Lu Xixiao didn't want to hear her explanation and turned to leave.
Zhou Wan was exhausted but still had to keep chasing after him.
"Lu Xixiao," she softened her tone, "I didn't know you would get angry, I won't do it again."
Lu Xixiao suddenly stopped walking, and Zhou Wan almost bumped into his back, quickly stepping back two paces.
"Come here," he frowned at her movement.
Zhou Wan hurried forward to stand beside him.
Lu Xixiao continued walking but finally slowed down his pace.
His aura remained cold, and Zhou Wan silently walked beside him, feeling quite wronged herself, couldn't help but mutter softly, "Being with a ruler is like being with a tiger."
She said it very quietly, like a soft murmur, never expecting Lu Xixiao to hear it.
"Insulting me?" Lu Xixiao said.
Zhou Wan immediately shut her mouth, pretending she had no idea, shaking her head.
"I heard it."
Zhou Wan lowered her head, "I'm sorry."
Lu Xixiao sneered, "Playing innocent again."
"..."
They took a taxi home.
Arriving at the neighborhood entrance, Zhou Wan asked softly, "Lu Xixiao, are you still angry?"
"Yep."
"..."
Zhou Wan was actually quite good at comforting children, but she really didn't know how to comfort Lu Xixiao, so she could only apologize again, "I'm sorry."
"Sorry is enough?" he raised an eyebrow, "You cuckold me and just say sorry?"
The accusation was getting more and more outrageous. When Zhou Wan heard this charge, her eyes widened in disbelief.
"I didn't," she corrected, then explained, "I just don't know how to be in a relationship, I thought in that situation I should be considerate to him."
"You want me to teach you how to be in a relationship?" he retorted.
Zhou Wan didn't speak.
"Fine," Lu Xixiao nodded, as if generously offering, "I'll teach you."
"What?"
"When your boyfriend is angry, saying sorry isn't very useful. Doing something practical works better."
Zhou Wan looked at him with clear, innocent eyes, asking, "What practical thing?"
Lu Xixiao looked at her for a moment, then chuckled lightly and leaned in closer to her.
He had drunk a little alcohol earlier, his breath carried a warm alcoholic scent that enveloped her with an invasive feeling.
Zhou Wan instinctively felt unsafe, leaning back slightly, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot and couldn't move. Her pupils unconsciously dilated, her deer-like eyes staring blankly at him.Lu Xixiao leaned in further, raising his hand to cup Zhou Wan’s chin and lifting it with a deliberate, provocative tilt, leisurely observing her expression.
After a moment, he chuckled softly and said, “For example—”
His thumb pressed against Zhou Wan’s lips, neither too lightly nor too heavily, rubbing back and forth.
“One kiss, and I’ll forgive you.”
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