Chapter Twelve

The snow in Chanjing gradually stopped, and the lazy sunlight shone through the sparse tree shade, reflecting off the thick snow and making it sparkle.

The mint by the window looked vibrant in the sunlight.

Mint is difficult to survive in the cold winter, and winters in Chanjing are even colder than in other places. Yet this pot of mint not only did not wither, but also remained as lush as before.

Lu Runxu stood by the window, a ray of sunlight falling on the mint leaves, the dew on the leaves slowly falling, a gentle breeze blowing by, his hair fluttering slightly, but his beautiful fox-like eyes were calm and sad.

Xing Bei left in a hurry the morning after returning from the banquet, and it has been three days since she last returned to Zhuqing Bay.

His messages to Xing Bei went unanswered. He even went to Platinum Mansion to look for her, but the place was clean and tidy, with no trace of anyone having lived there.

Xing Bei didn't want to see him, and he didn't dare to bother her too much, yet he couldn't help but miss her.

He gradually crushed the bright green mint leaf in his hand, and the impulse in his heart seemed to be unable to be suppressed any longer. He took out his phone from his pocket and called Ji Youli.

The phone rang several times before being hung up. He called back four or five times before the other party finally answered.

"Ji Youli, are you with Chi Qingtang?"

Hearing the anxious voices of the other party, Ji Youli glanced at the two women staring intently at him and chuckled, "If I'm not with my girlfriend, am I with someone else's woman?"

"Is Xing Bei...?"

Before Lu Runxu could finish speaking, the other party interrupted him directly: "Don't ask your wife, I don't know anything about her."

Before he could say anything more, the call ended. Lu Runxu looked at his phone, and a slight change finally appeared in his usually cold expression.

Ji Youli looked at the person sitting next to him watching the drama: "Sister-in-law, did you and A-Xu have a fight? These past few days when I went to A-Xu's company, his face looked like someone owed him billions."

Xing Bei turned off her phone and gently shook her head: "We didn't quarrel, we just haven't figured out some things and want to calm down for a few days."

That night, she lay in bed, unable to fall asleep, her mind replaying Zhou Xuzhe's words.

Men all have their own territoriality. In that situation, she couldn't tell how much Lu Runxu liked her, or whether it was his possessiveness aroused by Zhou Xuzhe's attempt to enter his territory.

She didn't dare to ask, and subconsciously preferred to avoid such matters.

While she was in a daze, her phone vibrated slightly. She looked away and glanced at it indifferently.

Lu Runxu: [Beibei, I'm downstairs, let's talk.]

Xing Bei stared at the message for a few seconds. After spending so much time together, their relationship was no longer as pure as it used to be. Perhaps they really needed to have a serious talk.

Whether it was because of the contract or changes in their feelings for each other, she also had her own selfish motives; she wanted to know exactly how Lu Runxu felt about her now.

She doesn't deny that she has feelings for Lu Runxu, but if he's just playing along in this relationship, she'll put away those inappropriate thoughts early on and focus on being a good collaborator.

Miss Camellia: [Okay.]

She quickly tidied herself up, smiled at Chi Qingtang, and said, "Tangtang, I'm leaving now. Thank you for your company these past few days."

Chi Qingtang watched her open her face and mouth, but swallowed some of her words: "It's not a big deal. If Lu Runxu bullies you, just call me and I'll come to help you anytime."

Hearing this, Xing Bei laughed helplessly: "With your skinny arms and legs, you can't even beat me, how can you be of any help?"

“That seems to be true.” Chi Qingtang noticed the man beside her and gave a mischievous smile. “That’s okay, I can call for reinforcements.”

Ji Youli received her look and looked up at Xing Bei: "Don't worry, sister-in-law, I'll definitely stand by your side."

Looking at the way Ji Youli looked at Chi Qingtang, she was worried that the naive Chi Qingtang would be taken advantage of by this man.

After Xing Bei left, Chi Qingtang leaned against Ji Youli's chest and sighed, "I don't know if they're having a cold war. I hope President Lu will cherish me as his good friend."

As Xing Bei's best friend since childhood, she witnessed Xing Bei's heartbreaking crush, only to find that the other person didn't cherish it. Now, she doesn't want her best friend to go through that kind of pain again.

Ji Youli pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheek: "These things are not for us to worry about. I don't know about the others, but A-Xu will definitely cherish Xing Bei, after all, it wasn't easy to win her over."

He recalled the night Lu Runxu got their marriage certificate. They had a gathering at the Late Spring Tavern. The man, who rarely drank, was quite drunk and as happy as if he had won a billion-dollar lottery.

Since he met Lu Runxu, he has never seen him post on WeChat Moments. Before Xing Bei appeared, he was always working, living like a robot.

Now, the first post in my WeChat Moments is about Xing Bei.

No, to be precise, Lu Runxu only posts content related to Xing Bei on his WeChat Moments, and he updates it frequently.

Upon hearing his words, Chi Qingtang instantly sensed the gossip: "Don't tell me our CEO Lu is into this kind of secret crush thing?"

Ji Youli nodded at her, and Chi Qingtang instantly felt warm for Lu Runxu. If he had acted sooner, there wouldn't have been that bastard Zhou Xuzhe.

He had a winning hand, but he played it terribly.

Downstairs, Xing Bei saw Lu Runxu with his hair disheveled. His beautiful fox-like eyes were dull and lifeless, and he exuded a faint sadness. His usual noble and aloof demeanor was completely gone, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes, which showed that he had not slept well.

Xing Bei stared at him for a long time before looking away and walking toward the passenger seat: "Let's go back to Zhuqing Bay."

The two remained silent throughout the journey, and even with the heater on, the temperature inside the car felt like zero.

"Mingzhu, did I do something wrong to upset you?" The car had just arrived at the parking lot of Zhuqing Bay when Lu Runxu turned his head and looked at her seriously.

A hint of surprise flashed in Xing Bei's bright eyes. She hadn't expected Lu Runxu to think that way. She shook her head and said, "It's not your fault. I just want to be alone for a few days to think things through."

The air froze again, and Xing Bei suddenly called his name.

"Lu Runxu".

"You speak, I'm listening."

Xing Bei gently tugged at the hem of her clothes and looked up at him: "Lu Runxu, if you're only being this nice to me because of a contract, then you don't need to be anymore. I like it when people are nice to me for no reason."

These past few days, she's been wondering if Lu Runxu really only got together with her because his family was pressuring him to get married.

Or was it really as Zhou Xuzhe said, that he approached her with a purpose?

But upon closer reflection, Lu Runxu is the eldest son of the Lu family, born a chosen one, lacking nothing.

Although her family wasn't as powerful as the Lu family, they weren't bad off either. She was just a rich young lady who did nothing at the company; what could Lu Runxu possibly want from her?

After hearing what she said, Lu Runxu's face grew darker and darker, and his lips were so tight they were almost bloodless.

Lu Runxu rested one hand on the steering wheel and gently took Xing Bei's slender hand in the other, his eyes filled with a deep black: "Actually, what he said that day was right. I approached you with a purpose. Our first meeting at the coffee shop stirred up ripples in my usually calm heart."

"I approached you because I like you, and I have no other purpose. Xing Bei, are you willing to believe me?"

She looked up at Lu Runxu. His eyes were no longer as bright and sparkling as before; they were filled with desolation, devoid of their former vitality, and even the corners of his eyes were red.

After a long while, she raised her hand and wiped Lu Runxu's moist eyes with her fingertips, asking in a hoarse voice, "Lu Runxu, can I trust you?"

Lu Runxu chuckled softly. Xing Bei looked at him suspiciously, her fingertips curling slightly with nervousness.

What are you laughing at? Is her question really that funny?

Lu Runxu tightened his grip on her hand, and his gentle, slow voice slowly reached her ears: "Mingzhu, I've liked you for a long time, and proposing a collaboration with you was something I've been planning for a long time."

Xing Bei froze on the spot, momentarily thinking she was hallucinating.

She couldn't have misheard, could she? Lu Runxu actually said that he had liked her for a long time.

Seeing her stunned expression, Lu Runxu lowered his eyes and smiled: "If you don't believe me, I hope you can give me a chance to prove it by becoming my girlfriend and testing my sincerity."

Xing Bei stared into his eyes, trying to find even the slightest trace of a lie, but to no avail.

According to Lu Runxu, then wouldn't that mean he also fell in love with her at first sight in the Cloud Cafe?

She brushed Lu Runxu's face, her eyes curving slightly: "Alright, I'll give you a chance."

--

With the problem that had been weighing on her mind resolved, Xing Bei felt much more relaxed.

That evening, Lu Runxu cooked a large table of dishes, all of which were her favorites. During the few days she stayed at Chi Qingtang's house, this person who couldn't cook insisted on showing off his culinary skills, making a complete mess of the kitchen.

Fortunately, Ji Youli came and saved their meals for the next few days. If they had followed Chi Qingtang's cooking, they would have had to go to the hospital to have their stomachs pumped sooner or later.

To be honest, Ji Youli's cooking skills are almost the same as Lu Runxu's. Thinking of this, Xing Bei's eyes rolled, and she looked up at the person opposite her: "Did your friends sign up for the chef class with you? I think Ji Youli is quite good at cooking too."

Lu Runxu was silent for a few seconds: "Is it because my cooking is better, or his cooking is better?"

Xing Bei laughed instantly, looking at him with an expression that said, "Just as I expected." Lu Runxu also saw through her teasing, hummed softly, and continued drinking the soup in his bowl.

Seeing the slightly angry look on his face with his cheeks puffed out, Xing Bei smiled even more and put a piece of sweet and sour pork in his bowl: "Alright, don't be angry anymore. Of course, your cooking is better."

The person opposite him scoffed, "You're smart to know what's good for you."

Xing Bei discovered something strange. Ever since she agreed to give him a chance, he gets jealous over the smallest things. Before, he always had a cold and aloof expression, but now his emotions are all outward, as if some switch has been flipped.

The noble white fox from the snow-capped mountains has transformed into an extremely affectionate Samoyed.

She looked at Lu Runxu, and suddenly curiosity welled up: "Lu Runxu."

When he heard her call his name so seriously, his heart tightened instantly, and he looked at her with feigned composure.

"What's wrong?" Despite his restraint, his nervousness was still palpable.

Xing Bei rested her chin on her hand and stared at him: "Why do I always feel a sense of familiarity with you, as if I've known you for a long time?"

Lu Runxu's fingertips curled unconsciously. He stared at her for a few seconds and said, "We're from two different places. Could it be that you've mistaken me for someone else?"

Xing Bei was silent for a moment, then sighed softly, "Perhaps."

She snapped out of her daze and met Lu Runxu's affectionate gaze. A mischievous thought suddenly surfaced: "Lu Runxu, if I really did intend to get back together with Zhou Xuzhe that day, would you choose to let go?"

Will he let go?

Maybe so, but he would be unwilling to accept it.

Lu Runxu thought about it seriously. Yes, he wouldn't be willing to accept that.

Having finally met her and shown her care, he wouldn't so easily give up the person he liked.

Lu Runxu leaned back in his chair, meeting those eyes that were like clear spring water. His Adam's apple bobbed slightly. "Mrs. Lu, if you choose to get back together with him, I might break your legs so that you can only stay by my side."

Xing Bei: "......" Is this some kind of intimidating threat?

Seeing that his expression didn't seem like he was joking, Xing Bei was genuinely a little scared and quickly tried to save face: "I was just kidding, don't take it seriously."

Seeing the fear in her eyes, Lu Runxu couldn't help but laugh: "Mrs. Lu, I am a law-abiding citizen, how could I do such a thing?"

Xing Bei: "......"

That scoundrel actually tried to scare her.

Xing Bei met his dark, inky eyes and thought it was necessary to explain her relationship with Zhou Xuzhe. Judging from Lu Runxu's subtle emotions, he seemed to care a lot about Zhou Xuzhe's existence.

“Lu Runxu, I’ve thought about it and I still need to make things clear with you.” Xing Bei took his hand and looked at him very seriously. “From the moment I broke up with Zhou Xuzhe, he has been a bystander in my world. I never look back. If I don’t love someone anymore, I just don’t love them anymore.”

Lu Runxu knew very well that these words were meant to give him a sense of security and also to make him understand that there was no possibility between her and Zhou Xuzhe.

"So now you like me?" Lu Runxu looked up and stared at her seriously, his eyebrows raised, with a slightly mischievous smile.

Xing Bei lowered her eyes and thought about it. She could think that way. She leaned over and kissed Lu Runxu's lips, deliberately drawing out her words: "I won't tell you."

After teasing the person, Xing Bei tried to run away, but before she could even get off the chair, she was pulled back.

Xing Bei sat on the man's lap, turned her head and met Lu Runxu's deep, affectionate eyes, and lowered her head shyly.

Lu Runxu stared at the shy person in his arms, whose only two blushing ears were showing, chuckled, pinched Xing Bei's chin and kissed her, starting with a gentle kiss and ending with a passionate French kiss.

The person in her arms also had a thin layer of rouge on their face, and their hands rested on the man's strong shoulders, responding defiantly.

A crisp sound of glass hitting the ground rang in my ears.

Xing Bei woke up and shyly buried her head in Lu Runxu's neck. The faint scent of camellias lingered around his nose, and Lu Runxu closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

As spring approaches, the weather gets a bit cooler, and the dark sky is devoid of stars and moon.

Not long after dinner, Xing Bei rushed upstairs to take a bath. As she lay in the white round bathtub, images of kissing Lu Runxu kept flashing through her mind, and her delicate face suddenly flushed.

Realizing what was happening, she quickly fanned her face with her hands, but for some reason, the temperature on her face not only did not subside, but instead became hotter and hotter.

It's just a kiss, what on earth is she thinking?

It's all because I've spent too much time with Chi Qingtang these past few days; my mind has been filled with things that don't belong to her.

Thinking of that scene, Xing Bei suddenly wondered if everything would have fallen into place if she hadn't touched that water glass. The thought made her a little excited.

How about we try it next time?

Xing Bei thought about it and realized it was time to find some time to fulfill her marital obligations.