Volume One, Chapter 14: Because of That Woman?

He Baizhuo sat on the sofa, wearing a faint, almost teasing smile as he watched Lu Wentian. It was because he genuinely found the situation rather intriguing.

Just imagine—a man fearless of heaven or earth, who could get whatever he wanted without lifting a finger, commanding others to follow his every glance without hesitation.

Yet, when it came to Gu Yan, despite her reluctance, he didn’t dare to take her forcefully in any substantial way.

He was unwilling to let her go, but not ready to lose her either. To prevent her from running off or developing some serious feelings with other men, Lu Wentian would deign to punish himself now and then, finding excuses to seek thrills with the little butterfly.

Work was Lu Wentian’s domain of authority; the small gaps in life were his realm of coercion and temptation. Who else could enter her life?

So this tactic was sure to work—sooner or later, it would reveal the reason behind Gu Yan’s unwillingness.

Smart people’s minds just worked better.

If it were some simple-minded domineering CEO, he would have just kept her, indulged in an abusive romance, and called it done.

Probably unable to bear He Baizhuo’s constant gaze, Lu Wentian didn’t even raise an eyelid, tossing out, “Don’t look at me with that expression. There are three mother cats in the yard; go check on them.”

“Tsk,” He Baizhuo raised an eyebrow. “I was just secretly praising you.”

Everything else was fine—except sometimes her mouth was a bit too ruthless.

“No wonder Gu Yan hates giving you kisses… cough!”

He Baizhuo caught himself just in time, glancing toward the direction where Lu Ye and Gu Yan were coming in.

“Did you have Cong Su check again if there was something hidden about the car accident?” He Baizhuo sat upright immediately, shifting the topic.

Lu Wentian was even more nonchalant, completely at ease.

“A minor accident.”

He Baizhuo snorted lightly. “A minor accident leaves you this injured? You can’t even move your signature finger.”

Lu Ye happened to overhear this and became serious, looking at his uncle.

“Exactly, Uncle, you never take a day off from working for the old man all year round. Taking a day off should be no big deal, right?”

Sure enough, seriousness didn’t last more than three seconds.

Gu Yan listened and felt a deeper pang of guilt. Lu Wentian could have ignored her entirely; then he might have been perfectly fine.

He Baizhuo shot him a sidelong glance. “Tell me, is it because of that woman?”

This wasn’t meant to be offensive.

Before coming, He Baizhuo hadn’t asked Cong Wen or Cong Su about the accident in detail. Upon arriving, he was only focused on talking about Gu Yan, so he didn’t really know what happened in the car at that time.

But Lu Wentian gave him a cold glance and said nothing.

“Looks like I was right.”

He Baizhuo appeared quite annoyed, not holding back even in front of Lu Ye and Gu Yan. “How long do you plan to indulge her?”

Lu Wentian merely furrowed his brows slightly.

He Baizhuo suddenly remembered Lu Ye and Gu Yan beside him and held back for a second.

Then he let loose, “His ex-girlfriend, named Qu Yanqing—not from the capital, but whenever she came, she made a scene. Your uncle really spoiled her.”

“People say he’s not interested in women, that he’s extremely strict—yet he’s like this with that woman. Who wouldn’t believe it’s true love?”

Lu Wentian’s gaze swept over Gu Yan, voice deepening. “You may leave.”

He Baizhuo still looked like he wanted to continue complaining.

Lu Wentian stood up abruptly. Whether truly angry or not, he grabbed He Baizhuo by the collar, forcing him to stand, then personally escorted him out the door.

Once outside, He Baizhuo immediately changed his expression, clearly having deliberately said those things.

Now, silently, he bowed repeatedly to Lu Wentian as if to say: Look how sincere I am—this is not a trap. You have a magnanimous heart; don’t stoop to my level!

Lu Wentian’s face darkened.

After some distance, He Baizhuo became boldly confident. “It’s truly heartbreaking. I, the boss of the prestigious Southern Club, come here to play the clown for you, and you still aren’t grateful? You even slander me? I’m helping you!”

Lu Wentian replied, “No thanks. Take a bowl and perform under the bridge; maybe someone will toss you a coin.”

Seeing his disbelief, He Baizhuo was a little defiant. “I bet Gu Yan will definitely have a reaction after hearing all this.”

Lu Wentian immediately sent him out the front gate. “You think she’s a chemical formula?”

A reaction? Ha.

“What bet…” He Baizhuo stared as the door slammed coldly shut right before his nose.

Still, he was a bit proud—rarely did Lu Wentian fear anything.

Inside the living room, when Lu Wentian returned, Gu Yan was quietly peeling an orange, her head bowed.

Lu Ye, meanwhile, looked at Lu Wentian with great interest. “Uncle, who is Qu Yanqing? I’ve never seen her. You really hid a woman?”

There was no prominent Qu family in the capital, though he had heard of actresses and models with that surname—quite famous ones.

Lu Wentian gave him a cold glare. “Shut your mouth.”

Lu Ye grinned meaningfully. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Grandpa. But I really want to see who she is—who could soften your heart, Uncle?”

Lu Ye had heard rumors but never believed them.

As family, he had never seen any woman around Uncle Lu Wentian.

Lu Wentian merely glanced at him indifferently, saying no more.

Not wanting to press further, Lu Ye sulked and stopped asking, deciding to inquire among his friends in the circle later.

If he could successfully matchmake such an important woman for his uncle, wouldn’t his uncle be grateful for his great kindness?

Gu Yan, having peeled the orange, was slightly distracted, not really thinking about anything specific, just instinctively offering some to Lu Ye.

Halfway through, she realized this was an old habit from when she was the dutiful wife and mother.

She wanted to pull back.

She had to put on a performance in front of the old man, but things were different with Lu Wentian.

He now enjoyed teasing her. If she remained too close to Lu Ye, it might only provoke Lu Wentian’s displeasure.

She gave up thinking about it.

Lu Ye took the orange. For once, the notorious playboy actually broke apart a segment and handed half back to her.

Such a scene of mutual affection.

But Gu Yan couldn’t eat. The back-and-forth made the orange nearly warm.

So she stuffed all the segments into Lu Ye’s hand. “Eat more. Your hands are peeling; you need vitamins.”

Lu Ye paused. His fingertips did have slight peeling—so subtle she noticed?

He couldn’t help but smile. “You’re still the one who loves me most!”

Gu Yan shuddered.

Without looking at him, she stood up. “I’m going to wash my hands.”

After washing, she planned to leave directly.

But just as she stood by the sink, a gentle voice came from behind like a flowing stream: “Miss Gu, Fourth Master asked you to help change the bandage.”

She turned, offering a polite faint smile. “I’ll be right there.”

Because of her injury, she couldn’t stubbornly refuse.

Lu Wentian changed bandages in the room next to the living room, which contained gym equipment, basketball courts, and various sports areas, with a medical room adjacent.

The equipment was far more complete than she had imagined.

Changing his bandage was actually simple, but Lu Wentian said the wound still hurt.

“Could there still be glass shards inside?” he asked.

Gu Yan was startled. “Didn’t you tell the doctor clearly when you went to the hospital?”