Chapter 250 If you don't have the guts to kiss, don't pretend.
So what if she didn't choose him as her husband? Is it really worth getting so worked up over a whole bottle of wine?
Lu You sat upright unconsciously, her red lips slightly smiling, her eyes filled with a hint of reproach, exuding a charming older sister aura.
Cheng Zhou didn't look at her at all. When he put down the wine bottle, his face was already flushed and his eyes were starting to wander.
He forced himself to look at Lu You, his eyes filled with a mix of grievance and resentment, like a child who hadn't received candy.
Lu You put down her water glass and stood up.
She walked up to Cheng Zhou, and before anyone could react, she grabbed his collar and pulled him towards her.
The moment their lips touched, Cheng Zhou froze completely.
Lu You's lips still carried a hint of coolness from the alcohol she had just drunk, yet they were surprisingly soft.
She didn't linger for long, letting go in just two seconds, her tone a mix of disdain and helplessness.
"Cheng Zhou, all you want is to kiss me, right? If you don't have the guts, don't pretend."
After saying that, she picked up her coat from the sofa, turned around, and walked out of the private room.
The footsteps faded into the distance, leaving behind a room full of dumbfounded friends and a completely stunned Cheng Zhou.
Cheng Zhou was stunned for a full half minute. The lingering sensation on his lips was still incredibly clear, and his heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of his chest.
He snapped out of his daze, grabbed his coat from the back of the chair, and rushed out, not even hearing his friend calling him.
The night breeze outside the bar was a bit chilly, and Cheng Zhou spotted Lu You, who was about to hail a taxi.
He rushed over, grabbed her wrist, and his voice trembled with rapid breathing: "Lu You, wait a moment!"
Lu You turned around, struggled but couldn't break free, and raised an eyebrow at him: "What's up?"
“Ms. Zhao and I…” Cheng Zhou hurriedly explained, his words coming out in a jumbled mess, “We were just in contact, we weren’t together, really, I didn’t do anything with her.”
After hearing this, Lu You suddenly smiled.
Looking at the panic in Cheng Zhou's eyes and his eagerness to prove himself, she found it both amusing and a little soft-hearted.
She pulled her wrist back, took half a step back to create some distance, and looked completely bewildered.
Why are you telling me this? I'm not even with you.
Cheng Zhou's words stuck in his throat. Looking at her indifferent expression, he felt a mix of bitterness and resentment in his heart.
"Oh, right." Lu You seemed to suddenly remember something, took a small box out of her bag and handed it to him. The box was tied with a simple ribbon.
"Happy birthday. I bought it in advance before, but I'll just give it to you now."
After saying that, she didn't look at Cheng Zhou's reaction anymore, raised her hand to flag down a taxi, opened the car door and got in.
The car window slowly rolled up, blocking Cheng Zhou's view.
As the taxi drove away, Cheng Zhou stood there, clutching the small box that was still warm to the touch.
A night breeze blew by, and he suddenly laughed, a laugh that was a little silly, yet also somewhat willing.
He touched his lips; that brief touch just now seemed to have left an indelible mark on his heart.
Cheng Zhou looked down at the box in his hand and suddenly understood.
He had already fallen for her, fallen for this woman who was always nonchalant, yet could always easily sway his emotions.
Moreover, they did so willingly.
...
The next day.
When the doctor introduced by Cheng Zhou arrived at the Lu family home, Lu Rang was squatting by the sofa, carefully massaging Shang Wu's calves.
Hearing the doorbell ring, he hurried to open the door, his tone unusually urgent.
"Dr. Qin, thank you for your help."
Dr. Qin is a senior expert in obstetrics and gynecology. She is quite old and carries a silver medical case. She waved with a smile.
"Don't mention it. Cheng Zhou specifically told me that your wife's condition needs to be closely monitored."
Shang Wu sat on the sofa, her hand gently protecting her lower abdomen.
When she saw the doctor come in, she tried to get up by supporting herself on the sofa, but Lu Rang pressed her shoulder down.
"Don't move, I'll help you."
He moved gently, even controlling the force of his hand supporting Shang Wu's arm, as if afraid of hurting her.
Dr. Qin took out a stethoscope and an ultrasound machine and carefully examined Shang Wu.
When he occasionally frowned, Lu Rang's heart would clench.
Only after the examination was over and Dr. Qin put away the equipment did his tone soften.
"The fetus is currently stable, but you had some minor bleeding before, so you need to pay attention to two things."
Shang Wu nodded: "Please go ahead."
First, you absolutely must avoid emotional fluctuations; anxiety and anger can both affect hormone levels. Second, you must avoid overexertion; even walking must be limited in duration, let alone running or jumping.
Lu Rang immediately took out his phone and gave instructions to his assistant on the other end of the screen.
"All court hearings for the next week have been postponed. Let the team prepare the documents first, and I will work from home."
He hung up the phone and then turned to Dr. Qin, "What should I pay attention to in terms of diet?"
Seeing his nervous expression, Shang Wu couldn't help but tug at his hand: "I'm not that delicate. Staying at home for a week would be too boring."
Dr. Qin smiled and spoke up for her: "It's okay to go out for a walk occasionally to clear your head, just avoid crowded places and don't get too tired."
Lu Rang breathed a sigh of relief, and after asking no less than ten more questions, he finally saw the doctor off.
The following afternoon.
Looking at the beautiful weather outside the window, Shang Wu shook Lu Rang's arm.
"I want to go to the mall and browse around, just to take a look, but I won't buy anything."
Knowing Lu Rang was worried, she softened her tone and her eyes held a hint of coquetry.
Lu Rang wanted to refuse, but seeing her expectant eyes, he changed his mind.
"Then I'll go with you, but we can only stay for an hour. If you get tired, we have to come back immediately."
He found a loose maternity coat for Shang Wu to wear, and also put a cushion in the car, taking care of every detail.
There weren't many people in the mall. Shang Wu linked arms with Lu Rang and they walked slowly down the corridor.
As she passed a haute couture dress shop, she stopped and looked at the dresses inside through the glass.
She whispered, "I've worked with this brand before, and their dresses are especially beautiful."
Just as Lu Rang was about to suggest going in to take a look, his phone suddenly rang; it was an emergency call from the law firm.
He glanced at Shang Wu: "I'm going to answer the phone. You wait here for me and don't wander off."
Shang Wu nodded: "Go ahead, I'll wait for you here."
After Lu Rang left, Shang Wu looked at the champagne-colored dress in the shop window and couldn't help but go inside.
She was wearing a loose sweatshirt and sweatpants, with flat shoes, which stood out from the store's elegant decor and the attire of the other customers.
Just as Shang Wu picked up a dress to examine it, she heard several whispered voices behind her.
"Look at what she's wearing! How dare she wear sportswear to this store?"
"Is she just here to freeload off the air conditioning? Didn't she see the price tag? She couldn't afford one of those things with a year's salary."
"Exactly, if you have no taste, don't come in and embarrass yourself. Don't damage her clothes; can she afford to pay for them?"
Shang Wu frowned, turned around and looked coldly at the several women dressed in designer brands.
She rolled her eyes speechlessly and tried to leave, but was stopped by one of the women in a pink dress.
"Hey, why are you rolling your eyes? Are we wrong?"
Just then, Lu Rang's voice suddenly came from the doorway, tinged with obvious coldness: "Who do you think can't afford to pay?"
He walked to Shang Wu's side, put his hand behind her to protect her, and coldly glanced at the other women.
“I’ll take all the dresses she was looking at, as well as the ones you’re holding, including all the clothes on the rack.”
The women were taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing: "What are you bragging about? Do you know how much all these clothes cost?"
Lu Rang didn't waste any words with them. He took out his phone and dialed the brand manager's number.
“I am Lu Rang. I will take all the stock in your store right now. Also, I will buy the clothes these ladies are holding, no matter how much they offer, I will pay double the price.”
The manager on the other end of the phone immediately agreed: "Mr. Lu, don't worry, I'll have the staff handle it right away."
The women's smiles froze instantly, and their expressions turned ugly.
One of them tried to show off: "You think you're so great just because you have money?"
At this moment, Shang Wu stepped out from behind Lu Rang, took out her phone and dialed another number. Her tone was calm but carried an undeniable power.
"Hello, is this the brand headquarters? This is Freya. We collaborated on your spring launch event before."
“I am currently at your physical store and I have encountered several customers who have made personal attacks against me. Please register this and cancel their memberships, permanently blacklist them, and prevent them from purchasing any products from your brand in the future.”
Shang Wu hung up the phone, looked at the panicked expressions of the women, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
“I’ve not only collaborated with your brand before, but I’m also your VIP client. You just said I couldn’t afford to pay? Now do you know who’s not qualified to come in?”
The brand manager arrived quickly, apologized to Shang Wu and Lu Rang as soon as he entered, and then said coldly to the women, "Ladies, please leave immediately. Our brand does not welcome you."
The women's faces turned pale and then red, their previous arrogance completely gone. They slunk away, grabbed their bags, and ran out.
A mixed doubles match between husband and wife, a quick and decisive victory.
The store returned to quiet, and the manager apologized repeatedly.
Lu Rang ignored her, turned around, reached out and touched Shang Wu's face, his tone tinged with lingering fear.
"Did I scare you just now? I knew I shouldn't have left your side."
Shang Wu shook her head, looking at his tense profile, and couldn't help but tease, "Attorney Lu was so fierce just now, just like in court."
Lu Rang took her hand, lowered his head and gently kissed her ring finger, his eyes so tender they could melt water.
"No one can bully you, no matter what, especially now."
He paused, then added, "If you encounter something like this again, call me immediately. Don't waste your breath on them; let me handle it."
Seeing his earnest expression, Shang Wu felt a warmth in her heart and couldn't help but tiptoe and kiss him on the cheek.
"Okay."
Lu Rang smiled and took her hand as they left.
On the way, Shang Wu didn't notice that several pairs of eyes were staring at her from behind.
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