The bedroom was quiet, with dust particles suspended in the air, waiting for the air to be disturbed.
Lu Yu only poked her little head out from under the blanket, silently listening to the thoughts of everyone in the Jiao family's old house.
The door opened and closed again, and Jiao Yuyin finally reappeared in front of her.
Lu Yu sat up abruptly in bed. "Jiao Yushen is up to no good again."
Jiao Yuyin rubbed Lu Yu's furrowed brow, which was furrowed with anxiety. "I know."
"Don't touch me." Lu Yu leaned back to avoid Jiao Yuyin's hand. "I want to hear what they're all thinking."
Lu Yu's eyes were red, and her voice still had a muffled tone at the end, as if it had a tilde, which sounded very coquettish.
"You cried?"
“.….”
"Why are you crying?" Jiao Yuyin sat on the edge of the bed, facing Lu Yu.
"Because you don't trust me."
Jiao Yuyin raised an eyebrow at Lu Yu, clearly surprised by the answer.
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, I’m just confused and need some time and space.” Jiao Yuyin sighed softly. “I won’t let Jiao Yushen succeed, don’t worry.”
Jiao Yuyin's eyes were gentle, and for some reason, Lu Yu seemed to be able to detect a trace of tenderness in them.
She must have been so frightened today that she had a fit of hysteria, which is why such a surreal scene occurred.
Jiao Yuyin's expression was solemn. "Lu Yu, I've made up my mind. I'm prepared to participate in the family competition. Although I need you, you... this time you really can refuse. The process is very dangerous. Today, you heard and saw it all—this family is filled with rotten hearts..."
Lu Yu stared into Jiao Yuyin's dark eyes, the color of his eyes hidden behind his glasses revealing determination and pain.
Lu Yu just wanted to give him the greatest support through her actions.
Lu Yu leaned forward, wrapped her arms around Jiao Yuyin's waist, and rested her forehead on his shoulder.
"I'm not afraid anymore. Today I've seen what truly terrifying human nature is. I will help you...and support you."
Her soft, nasal voice came out intermittently.
Jiao Yuyin couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke her hair. "Lu Yu, I have no distrust of you whatsoever... I'm just afraid that I won't be able to protect you."
Sometimes, he really wished Lu Yu could hear his thoughts, so he wouldn't have to go through all this trouble. Having to bury his feelings for someone he liked and constantly have to explain himself was truly agonizing…
"Jiao Yuyin, you're still a good person. You always remember your promise. You said you wouldn't let your partners be in danger, and you've tried your best to keep that promise."
"..."
He knew that this spoilsport woman could surprise him at any time...
Jiao Yuyin smelled the familiar scent of raspberries, his chest rising and falling with each breath. "Lu Yu, I'm sorry... I only truly learned about your family's situation today... I have to tell you, the truth without sufficient evidence cannot be a weapon against the enemy. I cannot reveal the truth now, not because I disregard life, but because doing so would not be enough to fight against wicked people, understand?"
This explanation inexplicably soothed the unspeakable rift in Lu Yu's heart.
Lu Yu immediately raised her head, her almond-shaped eyes reflecting the autumn sunlight.
From this angle, Lu Yu can clearly see Jiao Yuyin's prominent Adam's apple and well-defined jawline.
Lu Yu asked in confusion, "So what do you plan to do?"
"At this point, there aren't many options left. Jiao Yushen will never step forward to take responsibility just because he supported Tao Peng. In fact, what he wants most right now is enough external pressure and enough chaos at home, so that whether the old man falls ill or is prosecuted and arrested, he will be the most legitimate person in power. After all, he and Jiao Huaan have their hands on Yuhua Group's most important cotton textile company."
Jiao Yuyin, like a patient teacher, spoke softly, explaining the underlying logic. "What we can do now is to let the old man continue to control Yuhua Group and buy time. Therefore, the Jiao family must send someone to take charge of the Shifu Mining matter."
Lu Yu's eyes lit up, clearly understanding Jiao Yuyin's meaning. "Jiao Yuchen?"
Jiao Yuyin reached out and patted Lu Yu's head. "Yes, more than two hours have passed, and Jiao Yuchen must have figured this out by now. If my dad were in good health, the two of us could put pressure on Jiao Yushen and maybe make him suffer. But given the current situation, Jiao Yushen can't possibly give up the prize he already has."
Lu Yu looked worried and sighed repeatedly. "But if that's the case, Jiao Yuchen will also find a way to force you to take the fall."
Jiao Yuyin shook his head and smiled: "I have a way to persuade him. Because I have an advantage over him."
"What?"
"It's all about information asymmetry. His perception of me is that I'm not ambitious. In this matter, whoever has the biggest ambition to take power in the Jiao family will suffer. He's more afraid of Jiao Yushen taking power than I am."
After Jiao Yuyin finished speaking, he got up, picked up the water glass on the bedside table, poured himself another glass of warm water, and stood next to the tea table, watching Lu Yu on the bed from a distance.
Lu Yu didn't understand why Jiao Yuyin suddenly stopped and stared at her for a few moments.
The next second.
Jiao Yuyin tilted his head back and gulped down the water from the cup she had used.
His Adam's apple bobbed up and down, stirring up the air and the dust in the light and shadow...
His gaze remained fixed on her behind his glasses, a playful look in his eyes.
Jiao Yuyin's lips were pressed against the rim of the transparent glass, covering the light pink lipstick mark.
He drank the entire glass of warm water.
The lipstick stain on the rim of the cup had faded a bit, but the blurry outline could still be vaguely seen.
It wasn't until the warm water from the kettle poured back into the cup, making a splash, that Lu Yu snapped out of her daze and took a breath.
Did she... forget to breathe just now?
Why does it react the same way as when kissing...?
The glass of warm water was handed back to her.
"There's only one cup in the bedroom, and I don't want to go downstairs," Jiao Yuyin explained, half-jokingly, with a hint of trying to cover up the truth.
"......"
Looking at the scorching lipstick mark, Lu Yu felt her cheeks become even redder and hotter than before.
"I'm going to talk to Jiao Yuchen now. Wait for me to come back."
A voice moistened by warm water gives people a sense of security.
After Jiao Yuyin finished speaking, he turned and left.
The bedroom finally quieted down...
Lu Yu swirled the cup, avoiding the faint, blurry lipstick mark, and sipped warm water...
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