Lu Yuwen poured a glass of orange juice, then thought for a moment, set it down, and asked a nearby server: “Do you have plain warm water?”

“Yes, just head that way and you’ll see it.”

“Thank you.”

A female guest sidled up next to him and struck up conversation: “I’d like some water too. Handsome, could you bring me a cup?”

Lu Yuwen smiled and gestured toward Su Man’s table. “Sorry, there’s quite a group — I can’t manage more.”

The woman took the hint, smiled, and walked away.

This kind of flirtatious approach felt a little novel to Lu Yuwen.

Back when he was in school, he had a limp, and few girls had anything to do with him. Later, when he started his own business and made a bit of money, he did attract some female attention — but the irony was, they were willing to talk marriage with him, yet unwilling to go out on dates, go shopping, watch movies, or travel with him.

Only Su Man. She was the only woman who had never minded his limp — not even a little.

Lu Yuwen recalled the various ways she’d treated him over time and couldn’t help but smile. He genuinely didn’t know if this woman had an unusually large heart or if she’d simply been born missing a nerve.

He carried one cup of water and one cup of orange juice on his way back, and as he passed a group of young people, he happened to overhear Su Man’s name. His footsteps stopped involuntarily.

“…The Su and Li families go back generations. Have Su Man’s parents come talk some sense into your family — they might agree to let you go.”

Li Li frowned deeply. “That’s a terrible idea. If Su Man’s mother finds out, she’ll team up with my parents to talk me out of it.”

His companion said, “Then there’s nothing to be done. If your family won’t agree, even if Yan Qingwen says yes, it won’t work.”

“Forget it! Don’t go then. Besides, haven’t you always found Su Man’s constant tagging along annoying? Now you can finally have some peace and quiet!” another companion said.

“Childhood sweethearts, of course she tags along. And she’ll tag along for life! Ha ha ha!” someone else teased.

Li Li’s frown deepened. “Don’t joke about it. Living with that kind of woman for a lifetime would drive me out of my mind.”

“That’s a bit heartless — she’s at least a pretty girl…”

“You don’t know about her terrible habits. Let me tell you…” Li Li was in the middle of speaking when someone nearby suddenly crashed into him, sending both the orange juice and the plain water splashing all over him!

Half of Li Li’s clothes were soaked!

And the person who knocked into him gave no reaction at all — just walked on ahead, empty cup in hand.

“Hey!” Li Li stormed after him, furious. “Eyes open? You bump into someone and don’t even know to apologize?!”

Lu Yuwen turned around. His face carried no expression, but the words out of his mouth were particularly unfriendly: “I bumped into a dog. Why would I apologize?”

“You?!” Li Li was livid. He threw his fist forward!

But before it even came close, the man’s mouth curved in a faint mocking smile — and then he deliberately let himself fall back, crashing into a table, sending bowls and dishes and platters clattering to the floor in a tremendous racket!

The noise was so loud that everyone around turned to look, including Su Man and Bai Youwei in the distance.

Su Man saw Lu Yuwen collapsed on the floor and was startled. She ran over quickly to help him up. “Are you okay? Where does it hurt?”

Lu Yuwen shook his head. “I’m fine…”

Su Man glared at Li Li. “Apologize!”

“He apologizes to me?!” Li Li was seething, pointing at the water stains all over himself. “He splashed drinks all over me — how do I account for that?!”

Li Li’s friends gathered around, backing him up: “Right, he was the one who bumped into us first. We all saw it.”

Lu Yuwen’s brow creased slightly. He calmly dusted himself off and said to Su Man evenly, “It wasn’t intentional. I also apologized, but he felt my apology wasn’t sincere enough.”

Su Man trusted him without question. She rounded on Li Li furiously. “Li Li, you’ve really outdone yourself — Lu Yuwen, the most even-tempered person around, and you still have to bully him!”

“I’m bullying him?!” Li Li was nearly spitting blood. “Su Man! Are you blind?!”

His friends chimed in one after another: “This guy was clearly picking a fight on purpose…”

Su Man jabbed back at them: “You’re all on his side! Of course you’re speaking up for Li Li!”

At that point Lu Yuwen took her arm and said kindly, “It’s fine… he’s probably just too eager — trying to get ahead of me and become a subject himself…”