Chapter 11 The Canary's Self-Cultivation (Bonus Chapter)

After the chaos of war, both of them took a bath.

Ling Wei was wearing oversized men's pajamas. The steam from the hot water made her cheeks flush like peaches. Her eyes were half-closed, and her hand holding the hairdryer was limp. As she blew the hairdryer, her body slid down the edge of the bed.

Lu Yan had already given up his temper. He resignedly took the hairdryer, sat on the edge of the bed, and helped her dry her wet long hair.

The girl's hair was soft and cool, carrying the same shampoo scent as his.

Water droplets slid down her slender, fair neck and disappeared into her collar.

Lu Yan subtly shifted his gaze, focusing on the movements in his hands.

"I'm angry," Ling Wei suddenly said, her voice muffled.

Afraid he wouldn't hear her, she raised her voice and repeated, "I'm really angry!"

Lu Yan immediately realized that this was an answer to the question she had avoided answering at the barbecue stall.

He turned down the noise of the hairdryer, indicating that he was all ears.

Ling Wei tilted her head back, her wet eyes meeting his downcast gaze: "You're using me as a substitute!" Her eyes quickly reddened, glistening with tears, as if they were about to burst open.

Lu Yan turned off the hairdryer and patiently explained, "I didn't."

"You do!" She slapped the blanket excitedly, making a muffled sound. "You said you saved me because I look like her... Waaah..."

She stubbornly tilted her head back, allowing Lu Yan to clearly see how her eyes gradually filled with tears, like clouds gathering for rain.

Afraid he wouldn't believe her, she struggled to get out of bed again, pulled her phone out of her canvas bag, and handed it to him with a pitiful expression: "Your brother even sent me a text message to insult me..."

Upon hearing Lu Zhao's name, Lu Yan's expression hardened: "Let me see."

If it's true, then this kid really hasn't been beaten enough.

The text message was vicious, including a photo of Su Yuqing, emphasizing her relationship with Lu Yan, and ending with a particularly hurtful sentence: "Whose face do you think you're relying on?"

This text message was from the very person Ling Wei had initially sent a long string of greetings to, but later deleted.

Lu Yan looked at Ling Wei.

The other person was looking at him with those misty, almond-shaped eyes, her expression aggrieved: "I didn't believe it at first... until your brother told me, and then you admitted it tonight..."

No wonder she was angry at the barbecue stand.

Lu Yan lowered his eyes and glanced at the signal code again: "It's not Lu Zhao's phone, but I will find out who it is."

It's obvious to anyone with a brain that Su Yuqing was behind this mess. Ling Wei can't produce any evidence, but she'll still complain.

Want to maintain a pure and innocent image? Dream on.

The onlookers applauded excitedly: Well done! Even drunk, you don't forget to sow discord!

Lu Yan's gaze returned to her face, and he repeated solemnly, "I didn't use you as a substitute. I did notice you because you look like... but that's all."

I'm not that absurd; the person is right in front of me, why would I go looking for someone else?

"So I'm not a stand-in..."

Lu Yan: "Mm."

"She's just a kept woman..."

Lu Yan took a deep breath and decided to give up on engaging in a logical debate with the drunkard.

He pressed her back onto the bed, covered her with the blanket, and turned to leave.

But her wrist was grabbed by a warm hand.

"Thank you..." came the girl's voice from under the covers, muffled and nasal.

Then, she suddenly asked, "Lu Yan, do you have someone you like?"

Lu Yan was stunned.

like?

This feeling was too unfamiliar to him. After all, before he was recognized by the Lu family, he was busy making a living and had no energy to devote to something so illusory.

Su Yuqing's help solved the immediate problem, but is gratitude the same as liking?

He subconsciously searched his mind, trying to discern some vague emotion, his brows furrowed in hesitation and contemplation as he murmured, "What does it feel like to like someone?"

Ling Wei disliked his expression, which suggested he was reminiscing about someone.

She interrupted his thoughts, without answering his question, her tone suddenly becoming clear and serious:

"I will pay you back the five hundred thousand."

Lu Yan subconsciously said, "No need..."

“Use it.” She interrupted him, sat up, still gripping his wrist tightly, and looked directly into his eyes. “Five hundred thousand for me to pretend to be your girlfriend for once… I don’t think I’m worthy of such a high hourly rate.”

Even her drunkenness couldn't hide her stubbornness: "I will pay back the 500,000. Thank you for helping me back then."

Seeing her unusually persistent expression, Lu Yan decided not to argue with the drunkard and compromised, saying, "Okay."

A satisfied smile bloomed on Ling Wei's face, a smile that dispelled her previous grievances and drunkenness, so bright it was dazzling.

"You just asked what it feels like to like someone..." she said softly, suddenly pulling hard on her hand.

Caught off guard, Lu Yan stumbled and fell onto the bed, right next to her.

The girl leaned closer, her body emanating the familiar scent of his shower gel. The wide neckline of her pajamas slipped down, revealing her delicate collarbone.

Her eyes were incredibly bright, reflecting his image.

“Now that I don’t owe you any money,” her breath brushed against his lips, her voice slightly husky and alluring, “our relationship now isn’t one of employer and employee, right?”

The next second, a soft kiss with the refreshing scent of toothpaste and mint landed gently on his lips.

Instantly separate.

“I like it,” she whispered in his ear, as if sharing a sweet secret, “It’s probably because… I’m willing to spend 500,000 to buy peace of mind, and then have… the courage to kiss my sweetheart like this.”

The girl gazed into his slightly widened amber eyes, which held a glimmer of starlight, and her smile was so gentle it seemed to overflow.

Such a direct and passionate revelation of her feelings made Lu Yan instantly unable to meet her gaze, and he could only stand frozen in place.

After a long while, he struggled to find his voice, his Adam's apple bobbing as he said, "I'm sorry, I..."

He lowered his eyes and found that the girl was already leaning against the headboard, breathing evenly and deeply, and had fallen into a deep sleep.

He was left alone, his heartbeat starting to race, and he was completely lost and confused.

Ling Wei's memory ends at the point where she spent 500,000 yuan to buy a kiss.

She collapsed back onto the still-warm bed and buried her face in the pillow.

That's it.

She truly hadn't expected that she could only drink one glass of alcohol!

Not only did he act drunk and disorderly, but he also called himself a canary...

He also vomited...

Although the vomiting made me a little more lucid, which slightly salvaged the situation.

Now that I'm fully awake, I realize I've practically carved a dreamy Barbie castle out of my toes on the apartment's high-end wooden floor.

The system, always eager for drama, asked, "What's wrong, little canary?"

Ling Wei: ...Little mouth, not saying a word.

She quickly changed into yesterday's clothes and cautiously opened the door like a thief.

The living room was silent. Lu Yan's bedroom door was tightly closed. It seemed that she had also exhausted him last night and he was still not awake.

A golden opportunity!

Ling Wei acted decisively—

They've slipped away.

System: You're not leaving already?!

Are you coming back for dinner, Yanza?