6

That night was almost entirely her forceful demand—Luo Li actually didn't want to do it, did she?

It was supposed to be something shared with someone you love... but Luo Li's first time was forcibly taken away by her. Luo Li was just trying to be responsible out of her personal beliefs.

But whenever Lu Cixue thought about Luo Li being with someone else, she could hardly breathe, feeling an overwhelming irritation.

Luo Li's action of transferring food to the plate across from her abruptly stopped. For a moment, she didn't understand what Lu Cixue meant.

But the woman across from her was serious, not joking at all, and even seemed... a bit agitated?

!?

After thinking quietly for a while, the steak that Luo Li had yet to put in her mouth fell with a plop onto her own plate. Her face was full of shock, with a hint of grievance.

So Lu Cixue didn't care about her at all... It was Luo Li who was clinging to her.

Ha... compensation... Hmph, what a cold and heartless woman.

Luo Li chewed the meat in her mouth with force, her inexplicable sadness turning into appetite, causing her to accidentally choke.

It was Lu Cixue who handed her a tissue and water.

Ugh... how embarrassing.

"Alright, I understand what you mean," Luo Li mumbled. "I don't need Director Lu's compensation. I won't bother you about this again."

For a moment, Lu Cixue was stunned, feeling that Luo Li seemed really aggrieved.

Forget it. She couldn't crack open this person's head to see what she was thinking, but in the end, it was her fault and she still needed to make it up to her.

What should she give her?

While one person was lost in thought, the other, Luo Li, was not idle either, her mind working quickly.

Since Lu Cixue didn't want to develop further with her, she wouldn't embarrass herself by trying to please her.

There are so many girls in the world, who cares about Lu Cixue? She's so cold, so strict, so expressionless, barely saying three sentences at a time—Luo Li didn't like her at all.

Not at all.

Hmph.

"You have bad taste, but you two do make a good pair."

"Lulu, that's too much!" The man adjusted his glasses. "It's my fault, but she's innocent. This is our problem; don't drag her into it."

The argument at the neighboring table grew louder. The woman's tone was full of cold laughter as she glanced at the people around her and said to the man across from her, "If you're here just to tell me this, you didn't need to waste my time under the pretense of a date."

As she spoke, the woman stood up to leave. "A phone call would have sufficed. Did you really think you're that important?"

She took only a few steps before turning back, smiling as she said, "By all means, I hope you two marry soon, so there'll be one less piece of trash harming others. Don't you think?"

Luo Li looked on with admiration and shock as the figure grew more distant, accidentally meeting Jing Yao's gaze.

That cheerful guy and the woman who just left exchanged a smile, as if they knew each other.

After the woman left, Jing Yao turned his head, pointed behind Luo Li, and smiled.

?

Luo Li turned around to see Lu Cixue's deep eyes. It was clear that she had been watching Luo Li's intense focus on others.

Luo Li's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly sped up her speech. "I just thought that woman was really cool, dealing with scumbags like that, but I don't have any feelings for her, really!"

Lu Cixue, replying to messages on her phone, looked up and said, "You don't need to explain so much to me."

Right... Why was she explaining at all? Luo Li, frustrated, swallowed another piece of steak, carefully looked up at the person across from her frowning at their phone, just in time to meet Lu Cixue's gaze as she put her phone away.

...Caught again.

But Lu Cixue didn't care too much. She quickly prepared to leave. "Sorry, I have something urgent to handle. Next time, I'll treat you."

Leaving in the middle of a meal is really impolite, so she would treat Luo Li next time as an apology.

But in Luo Li's ears, this made her heart start to beat excitedly again.

"It's okay, go ahead and get busy. Remember to have dinner when you get back."

Lu Cixue paused for a moment, then softly responded with an "Mm."

After she left, Jing Yao sat down across from Luo Li, looking at her, still eating with relish, with a look of exasperation.

"So? Did you guys reach any conclusions?"

Luo Li's chewing paused, then she quickly swallowed and muttered, "She doesn't like me either, so that's that."

Jing Yao laughed, "Do you know how small the odds are of finding someone you like who happens to like you back?"

"But I..."

Before Luo Li could finish, Jing Yao interrupted, "Feelings develop over time. Love at first sight isn't that easy. Don't tell me you don't like her—you're not fooling anyone."

Luo Li silently put down her knife and fork, sitting up straight.

"Your eyes hardly left her, and you were so eager to give her food. How come you've never done that for me?" Jing Yao said seriously, "What are you afraid of? Afraid that after getting to know her, you'll find she's different from what you imagined?"

"Not exactly..."

"I saw how cold she was to you, yet you still kept trying. How could you say you don't like her?" Jing Yao sighed, "If you don't even try, how can you know she won't reciprocate your feelings?"

Seeing the dawning realization on Luo Li's face, Jing Yao teased, "Cowards never find a wife."

Luo Li protested, "You know so much, but you haven't found someone you truly like. What was that earlier?"

"Hm?" Jing Yao's face took on a mysterious smile. "Who knows? Maybe I have?"

Luo Li wanted to press for details, but Jing Yao seemed unwilling to elaborate. "As for earlier, I just wanted to wish those two cheaters well."

Both of them had been cheated on, so working together to vent their anger wasn't such a bad idea.

Luo Li said nothing.

Finding someone you like seems hard, but this person's knack for attracting jerks is quite something.

Luo Li and Jing Yao wandered around a bit more before heading home late at night. As they approached the elevator, someone was already there.

Luo Li casually glanced at the back of the person's head, thinking they looked familiar.

Hm!? Wait, that outfit...

Luo Li slowly walked forward, standing next to the person, and after seeing their side profile, she didn't know what expression to make.

"Director Lu...!?" Luo Li was instantly flustered. "What are you doing here?"

No way, what do you do when your boss shows up at your place late at night? Urgently seeking advice online.

Lu Cixue was much calmer. She scanned her access card and stepped into the elevator, looking at the still-dazed Luo Li as she answered her question, "I'm going home. Aren't you coming in?"

Luo Li nodded and followed her into the elevator.

Oh... she lives here.

?

Wait, living in the same complex? Even in the same building?!

Luo Li's gaze slowly shifted to the numbers on the elevator control panel, and she quietly put her access card away.

Sixteen, a bright sixteen.

She finally understood why no one was ever home across from her. A workaholic like Lu Cixue was always working overtime, leaving after Luo Li was asleep, and getting up earlier than her for work. Compared to her, a night owl, Lu Cixue really was like an old person.

The small space was very quiet, Luo Li's eyes wandering around. Remembering the lesson from Teacher Jing, she awkwardly started a conversation, "Were you working again? Was it difficult?"

Lu Cixue nodded. "It was fine, just a small issue."

...

The conversation ended as quickly as it started, just as the elevator doors opened. Luo Li hesitated, watching the figure walk in the opposite direction.

"Luo Li." The sudden call of her name made Luo Li stop in her tracks.

"Mm?"

"Don't forget about the business trip the day after tomorrow."

Luo Li's raised eyebrows drooped again, and she sighed as she walked home. Just as she was about to unlock her door, a sudden realization struck her.

It's just the two of them going on this trip, right? Doesn't that mean a rare opportunity for some alone time?

Luo Li quickly checked her phone. They were leaving Wednesday morning and returning on Friday, meaning they'd be together for two nights.

Luo Li's eyes lit up with determination. She was going to take this chance to get Lu Cixue...

To get Lu Cixue to at least talk to her more!

Feeling satisfied with her plan, Luo Li happily went to take a bath. When she came out, she saw that her advisor, Jing Yao, had replied.

[Are you sure she'd agree to a movie with that personality of hers?]

Perhaps feeling exasperated with the impulsive youth's enthusiasm, Jing Yao sent a voice message: "You need to take things step by step. You're already imagining dating her. Taking photos sounds good, go with that."

Luo Li nodded in agreement, eagerly pulled out her camera, and was just about to sit on the couch when the doorbell rang.

It's rare to have a thief in this neighborhood, so Luo Li opened the security camera out of curiosity and saw a small white bundle curled up at her door.

A soft paw was pressing on her door, but since the soundproofing was excellent, Luo Li couldn't hear it.

Could this cat be that smart? It even knows how to ring the doorbell? How did it reach that high?

But Luo Li didn't think much of it, as the little white cat seemed eager to come in. She wondered how long it had been waiting at her door.

Luo Li opened the door, unable to suppress a smile.

Knowing that the little white cat was Lu Cixue made her think back to how clingy the kitty was that night, and her mood instantly improved.

"Meow~"

Luo Li's eyes sparkled as she picked up the cat, her tone unconsciously gentle, without the nervousness she felt around the cold and distant Director Lu. "Why have you come over again?"

Luo Li was wearing only a black nightgown, her freshly bathed body still warm, exuding a rich fragrance. The little cat rubbed its head against Luo Li's chest.

Then buried itself there.

Luo Li's heart melted; she couldn't bear to let the kitty sleep alone across the hall, especially since she didn't know why Lu Cixue had turned back into a cat, but with her being so cute, so cuddly, and so clingy, how could she let her sleep alone?

Just as she was about to close the door, the elevator suddenly dinged, and two people, seemingly a couple, stepped out. They were dressed head-to-toe in designer brands, standing out a bit too much.

The man even casually spat on the floor as he walked past.

Luo Li was taken aback, and the little cat quickly and nimbly jumped down, darting into the master bedroom as if it was very familiar with the place.

Well... during the day, they weren't close at all, but at night, she's totally at ease taking over Luo Li's bedroom.

Luo Li found it amusing. Taking another look at the two people she didn't recognize standing outside her always-locked door, she wondered if they were here to see Lu Cixue.

But someone like Lu Cixue, how could she be involved with people like this?

Sure enough, the couple kept ringing the doorbell but received no response, their faces growing impatient.

"She's really gotten cocky, not even answering her phone."

"Maybe she's busy with work?"

"Hah, as if she's busy. She doesn't even consider what time it is. That ungrateful girl thinks she's so capable now that she dares to show us attitude."

Luo Li's mood sank, her brows furrowing in displeasure.

It was clear these two were here to cause trouble for Lu Cixue, and of all times, Lu Cixue wasn't here.

Were they family? If so, they should know about Lu Cixue turning into a cat, right? But with such a tone, Luo Li was unwilling to hand over the little white cat hiding in her bedroom.

But if they couldn't find Lu Cixue, would they cause more trouble later?

Luo Li slipped on a robe and leaned against the door, her tone displeased as she said, "You're not residents here, right? If you keep disturbing people, I'll call security."

The man turned around, ready to argue, but the woman beside him stopped him.

The girl before them had an air of elegance, clearly not from an ordinary family, so it was best not to cause trouble.

"Our daughter lives here. You're her neighbor, right? Do you know where she is?"

Luo Li nodded in sudden understanding. "So you're her parents."

The man snorted, his face full of disdain and arrogance.

"I remember her mentioning she had a business trip, hasn't been back in days. Work can be exhausting, you know, so Uncle, Aunt, you should be more considerate of your child, right?" Luo Li lied without a change in expression.

Only then did their expressions soften, and they chatted with Luo Li about trivial matters before finally leaving.

Once they were gone, the smile on Luo Li's face instantly vanished.

Lu Cixue seemed to have a poor relationship with her family.

Luo Li closed the door and turned to see a pair of blue eyes staring at her.

The little cat was crouched at the bedroom door, only its head poking out, its tail flicking back and forth, clearly listening to the noise outside.

So cute.

Luo Li felt her heart take another hit.

The little cat cautiously approached, placing its paws on Luo Li's black slippers.

Somehow, Luo Li understood what she wanted. She crouched down and asked, "Do you want me to hold you?"

Of course, the little cat didn't answer, but it didn't run away when Luo Li reached out.

The little kitty nestled its head against Luo Li's neck, curling up quietly, not making a sound.

Luo Li didn't know if she was being obedient or sad.

With a click, Luo Li looked at the picture in her phone, satisfied, breaking the peaceful, beautiful moment.

"Since you don't remember anything, I'll just take more photos, so you can't deny it tomorrow."