23. Missing Underwear

Lu Chen noticed the shy look in Liu Jie's eyes and couldn't help but smile. "I'm not doing anything. Didn't you tell me I could take a look around? I just thought this wardrobe was quite elegant. But don't worry, I'm not interested in what's inside."

Liu Jie shot him a glare and pushed him out of the room. "Hmph! Get out of here and explain where that fragrance on you came from. If you don't, forget about having dinner!"

Lu Chen chuckled. "Yes, ma'am! I'll report everything truthfully to the party, confess everything honestly, and hope for the leader's forgiveness."

Seeing him act so playfully, Liu Jie couldn't help but smile as she shoved him out and slammed the door shut.

She flopped onto the bed, tossed aside her towel, and looked around, but after a while, she realized her underwear was nowhere to be found. Her face flushed bright red as it dawned on her that her underwear had somehow ended up in Lu Chen's hands. She felt a mix of embarrassment and anger, biting her lip as she fought the urge to rush out and snatch her clothes back. But the shame held her back.

When Liu Jie finally emerged from the room, she avoided making direct eye contact with Lu Chen. He, however, could easily guess what had happened, realizing that she had discovered he'd hidden her underwear.

Both of them felt awkward. As they sat down at the table, the aroma of the dishes filled the air. Lu Chen broke the silence first. "Wow, this smells amazing! Let me taste your cooking, XiaoJie."

His words helped dissolve the tension, and Liu Jie smiled slightly. "I guarantee you'll be coming back for more."

Lu Chen grinned as he took a bite. "This good? I'm worried I might get addicted and end up asking you to cook for me for the rest of my life."

Caught off guard, Liu Jie trembled slightly, her face turning crimson. "In your dreams! It's not that easy!"

Seeing her shy reaction, Lu Chen felt a surge of joy. His words had been quite bold, and he was sure that with her intelligence, Liu Jie understood what he was implying. Her lack of a direct rejection made him even more excited.

Noticing the excitement in his eyes, Liu Jie's blush deepened. She snapped at him, "Hey, what are you staring at? Hurry up and explain where that scent on you came from! If you can't explain it, don't even think about finishing this meal, let alone having any in the future!"

Her pouty lips and serious expression were tinged with a playful glint in her eyes. It was rare to see her act so coquettish, and Lu Chen was once again captivated by her, forgetting all about the food.

Seeing how deeply he was entranced by her, Liu Jie felt a sweetness in her heart. She knocked her chopsticks against the bowl lightly. "Snap out of it! Hurry up!"

Lu Chen came back to his senses and looked at her earnestly. "Don't worry. If it means I get to eat your cooking for a lifetime, I'll tell you everything."

With that, he began to recount what had happened the previous night as he ate. Of course, he omitted several key details. He wasn't foolish enough to tell her that He Suyan had attempted suicide because he accidentally witnessed something private, or that his foot injury was caused by her attending physician stepping on him.

As Liu Jie listened, a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, making Lu Chen wonder if she suspected he was lying.

She believed about seventy percent of his story. As a woman with a keen eye, she knew that a doctor wouldn't step on someone for no reason. There must have been something else between them that Lu Chen chose to gloss over.

However, Liu Jie wasn't upset about his omission. Everyone has their secrets, even with someone close.

"When did your home become a refuge for celebrities? How come I didn't know?"

Liu Jie had already figured out that the woman who attempted suicide that morning was a famous actress, and that the actress had done so in Lu Chen's home. Who knew what else might have happened between them? After nearly four years of dating, she knew Lu Chen's temperament well, but she was also well aware of how men could be tempted by beautiful women. Her words carried a hint of jealousy.

Lu Chen could easily detect the sour note in her voice, and it filled him with joy. He might be the first to make the usually cool Liu Jie jealous.

Despite his delight, he quickly explained, "I felt sorry for her, so I let her stay with me temporarily. You haven't met He Suyan, but if you did, you'd understand—she's in such a pitiful state that even the toughest person would shed a tear."

Liu Jie nodded silently. When she didn't respond further, Lu Chen grew anxious. "If you don't believe me, I can take you to the hospital to see He Suyan."

Liu Jie rolled her eyes at him. "It's not like we're in a relationship. You can live with whoever you want. I'm not going to interfere."

Lu Chen laughed. "I'm just worried you'd misunderstand. We might not be in a relationship now, but what about in the future?"

Liu Jie pouted playfully. "Alright, enough of that. Did you bring the medicine I asked for?"

A mischievous smile spread across Lu Chen's face. "Jie, do you really need that kind of medicine? If you're not feeling well, why don't I help you recover? I guarantee you'll be fully cured."

As he spoke, his eyes lingered on her ample chest, a sly smile tugging at his lips.

Liu Jie shot him a fierce glare. "I am saying it the last time, the medicine isn't for me! It's for my sister-in-law. Do you understand now?"

Unable to bear his gaze any longer, she finally revealed who needed the pills.

Lu Chen nodded. "Oh, I see. But it's rare for women to have low libido. Even if they're frigid, they'd still have some desire. Could it be that your brother…"

"Shut up! My brother is perfectly fine, thank you very much! Stop prying and just hand over the medicine. If it doesn't work, you'll have to answer to me."

Lu Chen handed her the jade bottle. "This medicine is highly effective. If you don't believe me, you can take one yourself and see."

Her face flushed as she quickly snatched the bottle from him. "You... You didn't give me some kind of aphrodisiac, did you? If it is, I'm not giving it to my sister-in-law. I don't want to get scolded."