Lu You did not answer him immediately.

She simply walked to her desk, opened a drawer, took out a file folder, and began methodically tidying up some necessary documents, her passport, bank cards, and a slim laptop.

Her movements were quick yet steady, without the slightest sign of panic.

Cheng Zhou stared blankly at her busy work, completely unable to understand what she was trying to do.

Questioning? Rejection? This reaction was completely unexpected.

"Sister You? What are you doing?" Cheng Zhou couldn't help but ask.

Lu You stuffed the last document into her bag, zipped it up, and then finally looked up at Cheng Zhou.

Her eyes were firm, as if she had made a major decision.

"I'm not going to stay."

She spoke clearly, each word resounding with conviction.

"I want to leave here with you."

"What?" Cheng Zhou was completely stunned, his brain seemed to have crashed, unable to process this sudden change.

He was both surprised and delighted, but what followed was more confusion.

"You want to come with me? Why? You're not..."

“I didn’t leave because of you,” Lu You interrupted him, her tone so calm it was almost cruel.

She needed to clarify things, and she needed to make Cheng Zhou understand, "I'm doing this for myself."

She walked to the window and looked at her father's indistinct figure in the courtyard below.

She lowered her voice and said, "I have been a dutiful daughter of the Lu family for more than 20 years and have never disobeyed his wishes. I have tried my best to do my best and to meet everyone's expectations, but I have also lost my freedom."

She turned around and looked at Cheng Zhou, her eyes filled with relief and a resolute determination for a new beginning: "Cheng Zhou, thank you, thank you for your antics today, thank you for barging in without a care and waking me up."

"I'm not eloping with you, nor am I agreeing to be with you."

She emphasized, as rationally as a machine program, "I'm just taking this opportunity to leave this suffocating place and breathe some fresh air. I'll handle the Yu family's affairs online; I won't shirk my responsibilities. But my people must leave first."

Lu You paused, looking at the undisguised love in Cheng Zhou's eyes and the confusion in his eyes, and sighed softly, her tone softening.

"As for you and me... Cheng Zhou, I do have feelings for you, perhaps more than just a little, but that's precisely why I can't treat this lightly."

"Relationships can't be maintained by impulse and being moved. I need time and space to think things through calmly and figure out whether my feelings for you are just a momentary thrill or genuine affection."

We can't be together until I've thought it through. That wouldn't be fair to you, and it wouldn't be responsible to me either.

As Cheng Zhou listened to her words, his initial elation turned to slight disappointment, and finally he chose to respect her words.

What he liked was Lu You, who seemed strong and cold, but was actually clear-headed and responsible.

Cheng Zhou suppressed the complex emotions in his heart and nodded: "I respect you. No matter how much time you need, whatever your final choice is, I will accept it. Now, I will take you away from here first."

For him, the greatest victory would be if she were willing to take that step and leave this cage.

Lu You looked at him, and a faint smile and gratitude finally appeared in her eyes.

"Thank you, then... let's go."

Lu You didn't have much luggage, just a backpack containing her important items.

She didn't even look back at her home one last time.

Cheng Zhou protected her, and the two quietly left through the side door, quickly getting into the sports car parked not far away.

With a roar of the engine, the car sped away from the Yu family's old house like an arrow.

When Lu Zheng finally sensed something was wrong and sent someone to check the study, it was already empty.

Only the study window remained wide open, a gentle breeze stirring the curtains, seemingly mocking his control.

Lu Zheng stood in the empty study, his face ashen, and slammed his hand hard on the desk.

He never expected that his usually obedient adopted daughter would actually dare to run off with that brat right under his nose!

Inside the speeding car, Lu You watched the scenery rushing past the window, feeling an unprecedented sense of freedom, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

The future is full of uncertainties, but this time, she chooses to live for herself.

Cheng Zhou focused on driving, occasionally glancing at her in the rearview mirror.

The future of their relationship remains to be seen.

But at least, their story has a chance to begin.

Soon, the two boarded a flight bound for Yecheng and the plane took off.