The copy is also quite catchy: Tonight, a girl posted a series of videos on social media. Many netizens saw footage of Lu Xiu holding a girl, unsure if she was his girlfriend. Shortly after, the girl removed the videos.
Su Qing's heart skipped a beat as she clicked on the video. The footage showed the intertwining lights of a bar, with Lu Xiu prominently in the background. His refined profile made it hard to ignore him. He leaned against the sofa, with a girl seated on his lap, clad in a white coat, appearing delicate in his embrace. The dim lighting obscured the girl's face, but Lu Xiu's gaze never left her. After a few seconds, he gently pulled the girl's head towards him and planted a kiss on her forehead.
The video abruptly ended, with the dim lighting making it hard to discern their expressions. However, their actions were intimate. If it were someone else, it might suggest a romantic relationship, but for someone like Lu Xiu, a scion of the business world, it wasn't certain. Su Qing blinked, unable to resist checking the comments section.
--- Another one of these? Does Young Master Lu ever have a shortage of scandals? Why does he have to interfere every time someone dates?
--- Damn, I have to admit Lu Xiu's face is top-notch! Is there anyone in the entertainment industry as handsome as him? But it's hard to see their expressions, so we don't know if they're dating or not. But it's not uncommon for them to date girls like this.
--- But I don't think that girl's style matches the others around her. It's a pity we can't see her face clearly. Lu Xiu's actions of holding her are quite provocative. Maybe someone should dig into this girl's background. It feels different from his previous scandals; Lu Xiu has never been this proactive before.
Su Qing breathed a sigh of relief after reading the top few comments. Luckily, her face wasn't shown in the video. She wasn't afraid of being exposed to the public, but she felt a sense of resistance.
After reading, she finally put down her phone. It was late at night, and she was too tired. She fell asleep in a daze.
After finishing his shower, Lu Xiu came out and saw the figure on the bed. His eyes softened, and the room was quiet. He got into bed, and the girl seemed to sense his presence, subconsciously snuggling into his arms. Lu Xiu hugged her, and they fell asleep together.
As dawn approached, the sky gradually brightened.
The next day.
The weather was clear.
Su Qing felt a headache seeing the messages in the work group, which included a notice about the upcoming Spring Festival holiday. She hadn't received any job offers yet.
She rubbed her temples and glanced at her phone. Lu Xiu had gone to work, leaving her alone at home, feeling a bit bored. She had never experienced this feeling before. Her previously monotonous routine had become a habit, and now her life seemed filled, making her feel a bit happy.
A message on her phone brought her back to reality.
Lu Xiu: [Have you had lunch?]
[Just had.]
Lu Xiu: [Miss me? I'm still in a meeting, trying to finish early to come back.]
Lu Xiu leaned back in his office chair, smiling as he looked at the message on his phone. The person reporting the news to him almost lost focus at the sight.
[Go back to work quickly.]
She dodged the question directly.
Su Qing didn't really know what Lu Xiu did for a living, only that his family was wealthy and had been in business for generations. Lu Xiu didn't inherit the family business but started his own company after returning to the country. She didn't know the specifics.
She lay on the sofa, feeling a headache coming on.
She was awakened by someone in a daze, blinking like a disturbed cat, emitting a soft "hmph."
A mocking laughter sounded in her ear, making her cheeks itch.
Lu Xiu looked at the sleeping girl in front of him with a helpless expression. The girl was so unaffected by his actions that he felt a bit startled. After a moment of silence, she said, "You're annoying. I want to sleep."
"It's already seven o'clock. Do you want to stay up late?"
Su Qing pursed her lips, stretched out her hand, and spoke softly, "I want a hug."
Lu Xiu immediately pulled her into his lap. She was light but felt solid. Su Qing leaned against his shoulder. "I miss you."
She felt that Lu Xiu was usually the one clinging to her, but now that he was working, she felt a bit uncomfortable. Smelling the faint scent of tobacco mixed with a hint of lemon on him, she felt a bit relieved.
Her waist suddenly tightened, and Lu Xiu's voice became deep, "Want to work in my company?"
Her mind suddenly exploded, as if she had made some important decision. After a moment of silence, she said seriously, "Lu Xiu, I haven't been to college. I started working right after high school." Lu Xiu's eyes were deep, with an unknown emotion shimmering in them. His eyelashes trembled, and his lips pressed into a thin line.
The suspicious redness at the corner of his eyes was difficult to imagine on such a nonchalant youth. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, "Why?"
He couldn't fathom why the girl who had been ranked first in their year would give up her studies. He had considered investigating her after she went abroad, but reason prevailed; he feared becoming even more entangled the deeper he delved.
After all, her words back then had been too final. There was a flicker of hidden pain on Su Qing's face as she spoke gently, "My mother passed away, and then my father disappeared. My mother left me some money, but I didn't want to continue studying."
They had agreed to attend the same university, but she had broken that promise. Those times had been too hard to endure. She was grateful she hadn't cried when she spoke, thinking she would never get past that time.
Everyone else was moving forward, while she remained stuck in place.
The man's eyes were almost unbelieving, heavy with the weight of her revelation. He regretted not asking her why that summer. He regretted not being there for her during each difficult night.
This wasn't what she should have had to endure. He couldn't imagine it, and he dared not...
"I'm sorry," he suddenly embraced her, resting his head on her shoulder, apologies tumbling out one after the other. He had always felt it was his fault, why hadn't he asked her back then?
Su Qing's lips curved into a faint smile. She had grown accustomed to it, to the point that many things didn't scare her anymore. She reached out to pat Lu Xiu's head gently and then his shoulder, "It's not your fault. We're both not to blame. It's all in the past, the hard days are over."
Lu Xiu froze for a moment, speaking earnestly, "I'll take care of you. I'll take care of you well."
She chuckled lightly, but her reply was serious, "I know you will."
He had always been passionate and unrestrained like this, always loving her earnestly. She could feel it. Compared to him, she was the one unable to move forward.