The KTV was dimly lit, with the polished floor tiles reflecting the ceiling lights.
Zhou Wan followed Lu Xixiao inside.
This was her first time in such a place. She felt it was some kind of entertainment venue and couldn’t help feeling timid, carefully observing her surroundings while staying close behind Lu Xixiao.
Knowing the group would order alcohol, Lu Xixiao ordered juice for her to be delivered later.
At the entrance to the private room Jiang Fan mentioned, Lu Xixiao turned back: “It’s not too late to leave now.”
The music was loud, muffling his voice through the door.
Zhou Wan hadn’t heard clearly: “Huh?”
Lu Xixiao leaned down, moving close to Zhou Wan’s ear to repeat himself.
His warm breath brushed against her ear, making the thin skin there flush instantly.
Zhou Wan blinked: “It’s fine.”
Lu Xixiao curved his lips and pushed open the door.
When the group saw Zhou Wan, they all stood up, enthusiastically saying “Sister-in-law” should sit in the middle.
Zhou Wan quickly waved her hands, saying she couldn’t sing and would rather sit at the side.
Lu Xixiao let her have her way, sitting beside her as well.
After the incident last time when Zhou Wan accidentally drank alcohol during dinner, no one pressured her to drink this time. Among the dozen or so people in the room, only Zhou Wan held a glass of juice.
Seeing how reserved and well-behaved their “little sister-in-law” was, they even put out their cigarettes, afraid that any negligence might anger Lu Xixiao again.
Lu Xixiao leaned back on the sofa, one hand holding his drink, the other arm around Zhou Wan’s shoulders.
He half-leaned against Zhou Wan, his collar loose, revealing his slender collarbone and Adam’s apple, his black hair neat, perfectly fitting into such an environment.
Zhou Wan was uncomfortable with such intimate gestures, her entire spine stiff as she forced herself to sit straight.
But she still allowed Lu Xixiao to hold her, not moving away.
She guessed that with Lu Xixiao’s perceptiveness, he could certainly sense her discomfort, but he was taking pleasure in her awkwardness, enjoying seeing her like this.
During this time, someone mentioned: “By the way, Sister-in-law, heard you got first place in the monthly exam?”
Others joined in with compliments.
“Sister-in-law is amazing, all hail the study god.”
“Sister-in-law is like a cultural oasis coming to reform our cultural desert.”
“Hahaha, then Sister-in-law being with Boss Xiao is like a desert reclamation project.”
…
Lu Xixiao laughed too, turning his head to ask: “First place?”
“Mm.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Zhou Wan blinked and swallowed, saying softly: “Didn’t feel like there was anything worth mentioning.”
“Teacher Zhou is so modest,” Lu Xixiao teased.
The words “Teacher Zhou” sounded particularly playful in his voice, flirtatious and teasing.
Zhou Wan didn’t respond.
After that, Lu Xixiao had some drinks, and chatted for a while, but didn’t stay long before taking Zhou Wan’s hand and standing up: “We’re leaving first.”
“Leaving so early?”
Lu Xixiao tugged at the corner of his mouth: “The good student needs to go study.”
The group responded with knowing “ooh”s, their expressions suggestive.
“Then we’ll leave too, these songs aren’t worth singing anyway,” Jiang Fan said. “Let’s continue somewhere else.”
So everyone left the private room.
Outside, when the cold wind hit her, Zhou Wan realized she had taken off her scarf earlier and left it in the room.
“I’ll go back for a moment,” she said.
Lu Xixiao asked what was wrong.
“Left my scarf.”
“I’ll go,” he said, turning back inside.
Zhou Wan waited outside with the other young men. She was still reserved, but they weren’t shy at all, occasionally asking her random questions.
At this moment, another person walked up, greeting Jiang Fan with a smile: “What a coincidence, you’re here too.”
Jiang Fan high-fived him: “We were just about to leave.”
“Boss Xiao didn’t come today either?”
“He came, just went back up, we’re waiting for him.” The young man looked about their age but probably wasn’t from Yangming High School—Zhou Wan hadn’t seen him before.
The young man noticed her gaze and looked over, raising his eyebrows and smiling at her: “Oh? You’ve got a beauty here and didn’t invite me?”
The others froze, about to say this was “Boss Xiao’s” girlfriend and not to be messed with.
But he was already pulling out his phone, giving no chance for intervention: “Little sister, let’s get to know each other, be friends.”
Jiang Fan moved to stop him, but by then Lu Xixiao had already come down with the scarf.
A girlfriend needed her boyfriend to protect her—Jiang Fan silently mourned for his friend for three seconds and withdrew his hand, not interfering.
The young man caught sight of Lu Xixiao and greeted him excitedly.
Lu Xixiao gave a faint “mm,” his gaze falling on the phone that was almost thrust in Zhou Wan’s face.
The young man looked at Zhou Wan again, smiling: “Don’t be so stingy, just getting to know each other.”
Zhou Wan glanced at Lu Xixiao.
He had no expression, standing there with his hands in his pockets, chin slightly raised, gaze calm.
Zhou Wan thought about it—this young man seemed to know Lu Xixiao, probably a friend.
So… at least she shouldn’t let his friend be embarrassed, right?
Zhou Wan raised her hand, took his phone, and began entering her phone number.
Everyone immediately fell silent, holding their breath.
They all inwardly marveled—Sister-in-law was something else, truly extraordinary.
Lu Xixiao’s brows furrowed slightly, his lips curving in a cold smile. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding slightly, his jawline tense, emanating a sharp coldness.
He said nothing, walking straight through the crowd and leaving.
Zhou Wan froze, watching his back.
“Lu Xixiao.”
He ignored her.
Zhou Wan hadn’t even finished entering the number. She hurriedly pushed the phone back to the young man and ran after Lu Xixiao: “Lu Xixiao!”
*
The young man was bewildered.
He was completely confused, having no idea what had just happened.
Jiang Fan patted his shoulder, sighing: “Brother, you’re cannon fodder.”
“Huh?”
“That girl you were hitting on? She’s your sister-in-law.”
“…”
The young man’s mind went blank. After a long while, he couldn’t help cursing: “What the hell? Why didn’t you say so?”
“Did you give me a chance to say it?”
“Then why didn’t Boss Xiao stop me when I asked for her number? He just watched his girlfriend give me her number?” The young man felt extremely wronged. “Wait, Sister-in-law gave me her number right in front of Boss Xiao—was she playing me? Is she cunning? Deliberately making Boss Xiao jealous?”
Jiang Fan punched him: “She doesn’t have your dirty thoughts.”
“But still.” He gradually came to his senses. “Even if she’s Boss Xiao’s girlfriend, so what? He’s not usually that petty. I was just making conversation, I didn’t do anything.”
“Haven’t you noticed?” Jiang Fan said. “Compared to his previous girlfriends, their relationship dynamic is reversed.”
“…”
That’s right—before, it was always Lu Xixiao being approached, with those girls getting jealous and angry.
And when those girls were approached, Lu Xixiao did not react at all.
The young man had a sudden realization and asked quietly: “So, I’m done for?”
Jiang Fan glanced at him: “You’re done for.”
“…”
“Unless—”
“Unless what?”
“Unless our sister-in-law can cheer up Ah Xiao, you might still live.”
“…”
The young man’s vision darkened. “With that temper? Who could cheer him up?”
Jiang Fan laughed gleefully at his misfortune: “So I suggest you book a hospital bed in advance.”
*
Zhou Wan chased a long way before finally catching up to Lu Xixiao.
She grabbed his sleeve, panting heavily, unable to even straighten her back, breathless: “Lu Xixiao, don’t walk so fast.”
Lu Xixiao looked down at her: “Zhou Wan, you’re quite bold, daring to flirt right in front of me.”
Flirt.
Such a serious accusation.
Zhou Wan felt like a huge pot had been dropped on her head.
“I didn’t,” she tried to catch her breath and explain. “I just thought he was your friend, and I didn’t want him to lose face in front of so many people.”
Lu Xixiao couldn’t be bothered to listen and turned to leave.
Zhou Wan was exhausted but continued to chase after him.
“Lu Xixiao.” She softened her tone. “I didn’t know you would be angry. I won’t do it again.”
Lu Xixiao suddenly stopped, and Zhou Wan almost crashed into his back, quickly stepping backward.
“Come here,” he frowned at her movement.
Zhou Wan hurriedly walked up beside him.
Lu Xixiao continued walking, but at least he had slowed down.
His aura remained cold. Zhou Wan quietly walked beside him, feeling quite wronged herself, and couldn’t help muttering softly: “Being with you is like being with a tiger.”
She said it very quietly, like a soft mumble, not expecting Lu Xixiao to hear.
“Insulting me?” Lu Xixiao said.
Zhou Wan immediately shut up, pretending to be completely unaware, shaking her head.
“I heard you.”
Zhou Wan lowered her head: “Sorry.”
Lu Xixiao laughed coldly: “Acting well-behaved again.”
“…”
They took a taxi home.
At the entrance to the residential area, Zhou Wan asked softly: “Lu Xixiao, are you still angry?”
“Yep.”
“…”
Zhou Wan was quite good at comforting children, but she didn’t know how to comfort Lu Xixiao. She could only apologize again, “I’m sorry.”
“Is sorry enough?” He raised an eyebrow. “You try to make me a cuckold and just say sorry?”
This accusation was getting more and more outrageous. Zhou Wan’s eyes widened when she heard it.
“I didn’t,” she corrected, then explained, “I just didn’t know how to date, and thought I should give it to him in that situation.”
“So I have to teach you how to date?” he asked rhetorically.
Zhou Wan said nothing.
“Fine.” Lu Xixiao nodded as if being generous. “I’ll teach you.”
“What?”
“When your boyfriend is angry, just saying sorry isn’t useful. You need to do something practical.”
Zhou Wan looked at him with clear eyes, asking: “What practical thing?”
Lu Xixiao looked at her for a while, then leaned forward with a light laugh, moving closer to her.
He had drunk some alcohol earlier, and his breath carried a warm alcoholic scent as it enveloped her.
Zhou Wan instinctively felt unsafe and leaned back slightly, but her feet seemed nailed to the ground, unable to move. Her pupils dilated unconsciously as her doe eyes stared at him blankly.
Lu Xixiao leaned in even closer, raising his hand to hold Zhou Wan’s chin, lifting it playfully as he leisurely observed her expression.
After a while, he smiled: “For example—”
His thumb brushed across Zhou Wan’s lip, pressing gently back and forth.
“Give me a kiss, and I’ll forgive you.”