Lila couldn't fathom what had possessed Lu Zhe today. His over-the-top, teen-rebel outfit, paired with whiny "scaredy" and "feed me" antics, screamed mental meltdown.
"Come to the office with me. I'll be all scaredy without you…" He tugged her sleeve, sounding like a clingy toddler refusing to leave daycare.
Lila rolled her eyes, half-convinced she was babysitting a lunatic.
Especially with his pitiful puppy act. From morning's "feed me" to now's "scaredy," her brain was a sea of question marks. Is this because of Chen Yu?
She wanted to ignore him, but Lu Zhe's commanding-yet-whiny tone—bossy with a bizarre soft edge—left her no choice. With no morning classes, she caved.
Lu Zhe skipped driving, calling a driver instead. Lila expected him to take the front seat, but he plopped right next to her in the back, practically glued to her side.
He stayed silent, extending a finger. Lila stared, finally noticing a tiny cut on his knuckle.
Sighing, she dug out a Band-Aid and handed it over. He took it, grinning, then leaned in and blew a teasing puff of air by her ear.
He's lost it. Completely unhinged.
At the office, Lu Zhe's "edgy CEO" look turned heads. The usually icy, decisive Mr. Lu, now dressed like a wannabe rockstar with a stunning woman in tow? Jaws dropped, but no one dared laugh.
"Happy now? I delivered you. Can I go?" Lila asked, dragging him to his office where he lounged on the sofa.
Lu Zhe's lips curled, his smile wickedly familiar. "Lila, you dressed me like this to make me look foolish, didn't you?"
His tone was cool, but Lila felt a chill. The vibe shifted—dangerous. She turned to bolt.
After hours of playing kid, the wolf's showing his fangs. No way was Lu Zhe letting her slip away.
He'd said he didn't have to love her, but she couldn't betray him.
"Ha! So, Mr. Lu's done with the act?" Lila steadied herself, masking her fluster with a carefree grin. "Enjoy the show?"
"You weren't like this before," he said, eyes blazing with a mix of anger and unease.
True. The old Lila would've bent over backward for him, a shadow in his orbit. Not anymore. She wanted herself back.
Lila smirked. "What do you want me to be? Tell me."
He pulled her close, her back against his chest, their heartbeats syncing. "Stay away from that guy. I don't like it," he murmured, voice low but sharp.
Lila raised a brow. "Scared I'll get snatched?" Noted, she thought.
"I'm not scared," he said, a pang in his chest. "But I don't like you using my money to play with others." The idea of her leaving—her warmth suddenly gone—unsettled him.
"My money's clean, and I don't touch yours," she shot back, indignant. "If there's nothing else, I'm out."
Lila knew his possessiveness but hated his insinuation. Other men? Her heart, for better or worse, only had room for Lu Zhe.
Her tone turned icy. "You can tangle with Vanessa, but I can't even say hi to my childhood friend? That's rich."
Her words stabbed. Lu Zhe froze, speechless, as she stormed out.
At noon, Lila grabbed lunch with Wendy, then powered through afternoon classes. Finally free, she checked her phone. Chen Yu had texted: Lila, got a good deal on the sandalwood. Free tonight? Come check it out.
She replied: No classes tonight. South gate?
After changing, she headed out. Chen Yu's company was just three kilometers from campus—a quick cab ride.
At the south gate, Chen Yu greeted her with a warm wave. He led her to an old-school incense shop, "Glimmering Smile Scent Studio."
Stepping inside, Lila was hit with rustic elegance. A vibrant phoenix-and-birds screen glowed at the entrance, the air laced with soothing sandalwood.
"This place is unreal," she marveled.
"Glad you like it," Chen Yu said. "Heard their sandalwood carvings are top-notch."
A flagrobe-clad woman, poised like a 1920s heiress, welcomed them. "Here for incense?" she asked, her tone kind.
Instead of pushing sales, she shared tales of the shop's heritage and the art of scent. Lila listened, captivated.
"Oh, you're the girl wanting sandalwood, right?" the owner said, circling back. "What size?"
Lila pointed to a Guanyin statue. "About that big—for a birthday gift carving."
"You carving it yourself?" the owner smiled. "Takes patience. Soak it first, and don't let it air-dry overnight, or it'll crack."
Lila nodded, soaking in the advice.
"Can I bug you if I get stuck?" she asked.
The owner laughed warmly. "Anytime. Come back, and I'll teach you loose incense tricks." She swapped contact info.
Chen Yu grinned. "Since when do you carve?"
"Picked it up in a hobby class," Lila said, smirking. "Gonna try my luck."
As they left the shop, a furious shout shattered the calm. "Lila, who's this guy?"
Lila spun around. Lu Zhe stood there, face dark, eyes blazing with barely contained rage.
He'd tailed her, watching her laugh with Chen Yu, their ease as they left the shop. His pent-up frustration from the day erupted.
"Lu Zhe? What, you my parole officer now?" Lila snapped.
Chen Yu recognized him, his smile turning sharp. "Long time, Mr. Lu. Chen Yu."
He extended a hand, but his eyes held no warmth.
The air crackled with tension, a storm brewing between the three.