Volume 1, Chapter 20: Lu Zhaoxi, be serious.

As she looked up, her soft lips accidentally brushed against his earlobe.

A tingling sensation instantly surged through Wan Yan's body, and his Adam's apple bobbed instinctively. At twenty-two, Lu Zhaoxi was his sworn enemy, the catalyst for his inner turmoil. Yet, he had never imagined that a twenty-two-year-old version of her would appear twice. In the short time since she had woken up, Wan Yan's composure had been slowly crumbling.

This frightened him. Perhaps feeling thirsty, he picked up his milk tea and drank more than half of it, then easily pulled Lu Zhaoxi onto his lap.

"Let me teach you."

His voice was slightly husky. He had her grip the controller, his own hands covering hers. As he maneuvered it, he explained carefully: "This is for direction, this is to shift the camera angle, this is..."

Perhaps it was Wan Yan's voice and his solid embrace that gave Lu Zhaoxi a sense of security; she slowly stopped being afraid. She studied him from his brows to his thin lips, tracing his lip line with her eyes until she became mesmerized.

"Lu Zhaoxi, pay attention."

Noticing her hands had stopped moving, Wan Yan turned his head in annoyance, only to be caught off guard as his lips met something soft.

Lu Zhaoxi had planted a fleeting, dragonfly-kiss on the corner of his mouth. It was the first time she had touched his lips, and it was heart-stoppingly intense. She didn't even have time to register what it felt like—whether they were hot or cold, dry or soft, she couldn't tell. This bold act left her so nervous and frightened that her eyelashes fluttered uncontrollably as she kept her eyes squeezed shut.

The room was so quiet they could hear each other breathing. After a long while, Lu Zhaoxi opened one eye, sneaking a look at Wan Yan's expression. He wasn't angry, but he certainly wasn't happy either. This abrupt kiss had caused no ripple in him at all; if it weren't for the fact that her hand was aching from his tight grip, she would have thought it was all in her imagination.

Wan Yan pushed Lu Zhaoxi away from his lap, not at all gently, and warned coldly: "I've said before, I don't like being touched."

*Does he not like being touched by anyone, or is it just by me?* Standing before him, Lu Zhaoxi was startled by the thought.

She blocked the screen's light, and they were plunged into darkness.

"But we are married, Wan Yan." Lu Zhaoxi whispered his name. "You said you were forced by Father to marry me. I understand that you don't love me, but many times, you give me the illusion..."

Wan Yan’s heart skipped a beat, guessing what she was about to say. He felt a rare sense of panic, though in the darkness, Lu Zhaoxi could not see it. As he walked quickly toward the door, he still heard her soft, lingering voice behind him, reaching his ears clearly.

"That illusion makes me think that you might love me, that as long as I try hard enough, it’s possible."

He took his hand off the doorknob. The uncontrollable irritation returned, still caused by Lu Zhaoxi.

"Then you should try harder. I’d like to see if my heart is truly that hard."

He was stunned by his own words. He couldn't tell if he meant to use this to humiliate and take revenge on her later, or if he was actually encouraging her. He couldn't even distinguish his own motives. The strange pounding of his heart made him realize he might be sick. Was it because he was annoyed by Lu Zhaoxi? It had to be. He dared not think of any other reason.

To resolve the source of his illness, Wan Yan did not want to see Lu Zhaoxi again, so he left for a business trip early the next morning.

When Lu Zhaoxi arrived at the office and pushed the door open, the office chair was empty. Just as she was about to head to the secretary's office to ask, she ran into Liang Zhijin, who was there to deliver documents.

Liang Zhijin had a slightly protruding baby bump and was wearing a black slim-fit skirt. To protect the child, she wore flat leather shoes, her face looking sophisticated and refined. As luck would have it, Lu Zhaoxi was also wearing flats; being half a head shorter, she instantly lost her commanding presence.

"Looking at you, I assume you don't know where A-Yan went, right?" Liang Zhijin deliberately stroked her abdomen, her words filled with smugness.

Lu Zhaoxi leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms to block the way. "It’s nothing more than a business trip or social engagement. Why is something so obvious worth being happy about?"

"Oh," Lu Zhaoxi said with a sudden realization, "you haven't seen him either, so you're feeling miserable and came to me to find some confidence?"

Accustomed to seeing Lu Zhaoxi’s obedient and gentle demeanor in front of Wan Yan, Liang Zhijin was caught off guard by her sharp tongue and stumbled for a response. However, she recovered quickly, resuming her previous poise. "The one who lacks confidence should be you, shouldn't it? Following A-Yan around like a lapdog all day—don't you know he finds you annoying?"

Lu Zhaoxi wouldn't be easily swayed, for she knew the person before her was a malicious enemy. Enemies love to weave lies to infuriate people. And who doesn't know how to do that?

Lu Zhaoxi mimicked her tone, reflecting, "But his lips were really soft last night. I suppose he left alone because he didn't want to wake me up too early."

"What did you say?" Liang Zhijin was shocked, unable to believe it. "A-Yan and you..."

Not giving her a chance to continue, Lu Zhaoxi straightened her back and pressed forward, forcing her to retreat step by step. "Do you know if his lips are cool or warm, or what his waist size is? Do you know how close you get to his nose when you touch his lips?"

"Impossible!" Liang Zhijin was forced back two steps. She sneered, insisting, "How could A-Yan touch you? Before you lost your memory, he was..."

At the crucial moment, Liang Zhijin clamped her mouth shut. Lu Zhaoxi caught the look of panic on her face—she had almost let something slip. Everyone kept mentioning what Wan Yan had done to her before her memory loss.

"He was what?"

Liang Zhijin glanced at her guiltily, secretly terrified that she had nearly spilled the truth. If Lu Zhaoxi were to go and press Wan Yan for answers... Liang Zhijin felt a chill run through her limbs. Thinking of Wan Yan’s cold and ruthless methods, and his previous warning, she knew she would be sent abroad and would never have a chance to be Mrs. Wan again.

Liang Zhijin’s mind raced, and she raised her voice. "You won't be in the position of Mrs. Wan for much longer. As soon as Mother Wan is released from prison, she will force A-Yan to divorce you!"

Lu Zhaoxi was indeed distracted by this. She remembered the time she snuck out of the hospital; Mother Wan’s expression was one of pure hatred, as if she were terrified that she might even touch Wan Yan. This mother-in-law loathed her to the core. Even though Lu Zhaoxi didn't know why, the malice was undeniable.

"Do you know why he left you without a word that night at the Water Bay villa? It was because I was in the hospital, and he was worried about me and the baby, so he abandoned you!" Liang Zhijin said triumphantly. "Between you and me, he will always choose me."

The reason she was losing her composure was because of Wan Yan’s recent changes. First, she had to ensure a status for herself and her child, only then could she worry about whether her words might affect Wan Yan’s control over the Lu family business. All in all, she realized she had been too hasty.