provocative

Not long after Han Yi left, Mu Han's phone vibrated. It was a message from Lu Zhizhi: [Hanhan, are you free tomorrow afternoon?]

Mu Han stared at the screen for a long time before replying slowly: [No time]

Lu Zhizhi replied after a while: [I guessed you would say you were busy]

Mu Han glanced at it, didn't reply, and put the phone aside.

The next day, Mu Han had just gotten up when he heard the door open. He slowly opened the door, but no one was outside. Only a single, beautiful rose lay quietly on the doormat. Mu Han bent down to pick it up, turned back inside, and placed the flower in the living room vase—which already contained many roses that had appeared at the door every morning during this period. He had a vague suspicion that Lu Zhizhi had put it there, but he had no evidence, so he could only let the suspicion linger in his mind.

Today, he stayed in his home studio, preparing to paint instead of going to the studio. Outside the window, several ginkgo trees stretched out their branches in the morning light, their edges tinged with a light golden hue. Mu Han gazed at the scene, slowly spreading out his drawing paper and beginning his day's work.

Not long after, the door rang again. Mu Han frowned, muttering to himself: Who is this? Can't I be left alone for a while? He strode over and opened the door with a bit of impatience, but it was Han Yi who came into view.

Mu Han asked calmly, "Why are you here so early?"

Han Yi smiled and raised the watch on his wrist: "What's so early? Look at the time now. Why haven't you changed your clothes yet?"

Mu Han then looked down at the time and saw that it was already past three in the afternoon. He exclaimed, turned around and rushed into the room, hurriedly changing his clothes.

After a while, Mu Han came out of the room fully armed, in a suit and tie, with his hair neatly combed. Han Yi saw this and said with a smile, "Okay, let's go."

…

The two drove to the banquet venue. This time the event was held outdoors, and the brightly lit venue was particularly eye-catching in the night. They arrived neither too early nor too late, just in time for the opening. The two found a relatively quiet corner to sit down. Mu Han looked at the gradually increasing crowd around them and said slowly, "Xiao Yi, will there be too many people today? I'm a little annoyed by this kind of bustle."

Han Yi looked at him sideways, his tone gentle: "Hanhan, actually I didn't want to come either, but my uncle forced me to come. Forget it, if you feel uncomfortable, we can leave at any time."

Mu Han nodded and was about to say something when a cheer suddenly erupted from the doorway. It turned out to be a big-name actor arriving. Mu Han glanced at them casually, feeling only a little familiar, but paying them no attention. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of two figures approaching from behind—Lu Zhizhi and Bai Zihan. Mu Han glanced at them again with disdain and turned his head away, not wanting to have any interaction with them.

Lu Zhizhi's gaze accidentally fell on Mu Han. He strode straight towards Mu Han, as if he didn't see Bai Zihan beside him.

Just as he was about to walk to Mu Han's side, a figure suddenly blocked his way. It was Li Jinghui. Li Jinghui looked at Mu Han with a smile: "Hanhan, I didn't expect you to come too."

Mu Han responded calmly: "Brother, why are you here too?"

Li Jinghui shrugged helplessly: "I didn't want to come either, but my dad insisted that I come and show up."

Mu Han was about to respond when Han Yi beside him spoke slowly, "This must be Han Han's senior brother, right?"

Li Jinghui looked at Han Yi and said slowly, "Nice to meet you. This must be the younger brother Hanhan often mentioned."

Their eyes met, a hint of competition etched in their gazes. Mu Han frowned helplessly, "What are you all doing? There are so many people here, can't you just be more restrained?"

The two of them finally settled down and stopped talking. Mu Han stood up and said, "I'm going to the bathroom."

After saying this, he left slowly.

…

While Mu Han was washing her hands in the bathroom, a figure walked in. It was Bai Zihan. Bai Zihan looked at Mu Han in the mirror and said slowly, "You're destined to lose. Tomorrow is Ah Zhi's birthday. He promised my dad that he would come to my house for dinner tomorrow. Then my dad will discuss our marriage with his uncle."

After saying that, she smiled triumphantly. Mu Han looked at himself in the mirror and replied slowly, "Really? Then let's make a bet. Will he be at your house tomorrow, or at my..."

Bai Zihan interrupted him and smiled confidently, "He will definitely be at my house tomorrow. He listens to his uncle the most."

Mu Han said calmly, "Then we'll wait and see tomorrow."

After saying that, Mu Han turned around and strode out. Bai Zihan stood there, looking at his back, smiling and muttering to himself, "You will definitely lose."

As Mu Han walked out of the bathroom, he saw Han Yi talking to someone about work. He didn't bother to interrupt them, but found a quiet corner and sat down. Bai Zihan's words echoed in his mind. Not long after, he felt someone else beside him. He turned around and saw it was Lu Zhizhi. Lu Zhizhi calmly sat down next to him and asked gently, "Um...it's my birthday tomorrow. Can you accompany me?"

Mu Han said slowly, "Accompany you? Mr. Lu, this isn't a good idea."

Lu Zhizhi showed an aggrieved expression on his face: "What's wrong with that? I just want you to accompany me."

Mu Han looked at him, then looked off into the distance—Bai Zihan was walking towards them. He suddenly leaned in close to Lu Zhizhi, his warm breath brushing against his ear, and whispered, "But I only have time tomorrow afternoon."

Lu Zhizhi was startled by his sudden closeness, and her cheeks instantly turned red. She couldn't suppress her excitement and said, "It's okay, it's afternoon, I'll wait for you."

At this time, Bai Zihan had already walked in front of them. Mu Han leaned close to Lu Zhizhi's ear again and whispered, "Then I'll wait for you at home. I have something else to do, so I'll leave first."

After saying that, Mu Han stood up slowly, gave Bai Zihan a provocative look before leaving, and then turned and left. Lu Zhizhi was still immersed in the words "He's waiting for me at home" and didn't come back to his senses for a while. Bai Zihan was holding back a lot of anger, but he still pretended to be calm, sat down next to Lu Zhizhi, and gently called out: "Azhi."

She called out several times before Lu Zhizhi finally responded. Bai Zihan said delicately, "Azhi, you must come to my house tomorrow."

Lu Zhizhi glanced at her without saying a word. He just stood up and walked away slowly, leaving Bai Zihan alone.

After the banquet, Mu Han returned home, took a shower, and went to sleep. However, Lu Zhizhi spent the entire night tossing and turning, unable to sleep, thinking over and over again about Mu Han's words, "I'll wait for you at home."