Chapter 4: Do You Like Him?

Under the flickering candlelight, Lu Huaijin stood in a white robe, exuding an aura of cold elegance. He lifted his hand to pull back the embroidered quilt.

Su Yao’s eyes remained tightly shut, her long lashes gently trembling against her eyelids.

Lu Huaijin’s heated breath caressed the sensitive skin near her ear, his palm warm as it traced over her flat abdomen.

“Yao’er...” His voice was hoarse, laced with desire.

Her heart fluttered. She knew Lu Huaijin appeared aloof, but beneath that exterior was a man driven by passion. Once stirred, he would not relent until his desire was fulfilled.

Delicate, insistent kisses landed on her earlobe, carrying Lu Huaijin’s unique warmth and scent.

A shiver ran through Su Yao as she opened her eyes.

Lu Huaijin smiled softly, gently brushing her disheveled hair from her forehead.

“What’s the matter? Not pretending anymore?”

In the candlelight, his features were sharply defined, his eyes deep and bottomless, as if capable of swallowing everything whole.

Undeniably, his handsomeness was striking. Time seemed unusually kind to him; though well past his thirties, not a trace of age marred his appearance.

Moreover, his power, wealth, and looks were unparalleled, making him the ideal match coveted by countless women in the capital.

Su Yao could not understand why, if he desired children, there were many willing women outside to bear his heirs, yet he would not let her go.

Lu Huaijin sneered coldly, gripping the nape of her neck.

“Don’t...” Su Yao’s brows knitted tightly, her face pale, a dull ache lingering in her abdomen. “I’m really tired today.”

His hand paused, his expression darkening as his fingers brushed her cheek.

Her heart tightened sharply.

Though a scholar-official, Lu Huaijin’s palms bore calluses, rough enough to make her cheek sting faintly.

The man’s voice was hoarse as he spoke, “Really tired?”

Lowering her gaze, Su Yao softly murmured assent.

He frowned in irritation but, recalling the hardships she endured that day, he found it difficult not to soften even his iron heart when faced with her fragile appearance.

Suppressing his desire, he gently pulled her into his embrace.

“Then sleep early.”

Su Yao twisted slightly, attempting to break free.

His voice turned cold, “Don’t move. I’ll hold you just like this.”

Resigned, she took a deep breath, unwilling to stir again.

---

“Why did you come here?”

“I can’t sleep without you by my side.”

“Aren’t you afraid he won’t find you?”

Lu Huaijin’s impatience surfaced. “Close your eyes and sleep.”

Su Yao wanted to say more but was cut off by his low voice.

“If you don’t sleep now, you won’t sleep at all tonight.”

Her face paled as she bit her lip. “I really can’t sleep.”

Suddenly, Lu Huaijin’s eyes snapped open. He reached into a small box he held, pulling out an aromatic sachet and placing it near her nose. The herbal scent calmed Su Yao immediately.

This sachet was precious, an ancestral calming incense passed down in the Lu family. It contained rare medicinal herbs that swiftly induced sleep without harming the body—only bringing complete relaxation and a release from worries.

In the past, only the main wives forced to remain in the Lu family’s rear courtyard could use it.

This revealed that Lu Huaijin’s inherent tyranny was also ancestral—a deep-rooted, corrupt despotism.

He held her tighter, whispering softly into her ear, “Yao’er, you’re so good.”

The next morning, Su Yao slowly opened her eyes to find the bed beside her empty. Sitting up, her dark hair spilled over her shoulders; drowsiness still clouded her gaze, and it took a moment to collect her thoughts.

“Miss, you’re finally awake?” Chun Tao entered carrying a steaming basin of water.

Su Yao rubbed her brow gently, unable to recall when she had fallen asleep, but the rest had certainly been refreshing.

Chun Tao helped her wash, and Su Yao studied her reflection in the bronze mirror, filled with mixed emotions.

After the New Year’s festival, she would turn eighteen. The city was already steeped in festive spirit; many households had hung red lanterns.

Once, the Shangshu Mansion’s New Year celebrations had been lively. Her mother would decorate the estate festively and personally prepare red bean cakes for her and her sisters.

Now, she was like a drifting leaf, adrift and alone.

She sighed deeply. Though the scenery remained, the people had changed, leaving a bitter ache in her heart.

“Let’s go out today. The New Year is near; we should prepare some festival goods. It’s too quiet here.”

Chun Tao hesitated, troubled. Finally, she blurted, “But Miss, the master ordered me to watch over you at all times, so...”

“You were only told to keep an eye on me, not forbid me from going out,” Su Yao replied.

Chun Tao considered this sensible—so long as she didn’t leave Su Yao’s side, she hadn’t disobeyed orders.

She nodded slightly.

Outside the courtyard, Su Yao tightened her white fox fur cloak against the piercing cold wind. It was truly bitterly cold.

---

Su Yao and Chun Tao visited her favorite old pastry shop, selecting several boxes of cakes. As they stepped outside, a horse-drawn carriage suddenly stopped at the gate.

From the carriage emerged a young man with long hair tied high, his heroic bearing accentuated by a dark red robe that made his already handsome features shine even brighter.

He spotted Su Yao from afar, a smile instantly lighting up his face as he hurried over. “Little Yao! Long time no see!”

Seeing Lu Chuyao, Su Yao’s nose tingled with emotion. Two years had passed; he was taller and tanned.

“Brother Chuyao, what are you doing here all of a sudden?”

Excitedly, Lu Chuyao grabbed her hand. “I just returned to the capital yesterday. My father told me your family had troubles. I thought I might never see you again.”

Embarrassed, Su Yao withdrew her hand. They were no longer children. She lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

Lu Chuyao chuckled softly, circling her and surveying her from head to toe.

“Still shy, little girl? You’ve grown into a young lady these two years.”

Her cheeks flushed deeper as she shyly tucked her hair behind her ear.

His eyes then fell on the cakes in Chun Tao’s hand, lips curling into a smile. “Looks like your tastes haven’t changed, still fond of those pastries from the old shop in the eastern city. I just came hoping for a chance and unexpectedly ran into you.”

As they basked in the joy of reunion, a deep male voice suddenly sounded behind them.

“What a coincidence.”

Su Yao’s face turned ashen; she dared not look back.

“Father?”

Lu Chuyao turned slightly and bowed to Lu Huaijin, his face alight with joy. “Look who I ran into—Little Yao. I plan to take her around to see the sights.”

Lu Huaijin raised an eyebrow, glancing at Su Yao. “Oh? Take her around?”

A wave of panic surged in her chest. Unconsciously, she clenched the sleeves of her robe into fists, her fingertips digging painfully into her palms.

Yet, no pain could compare to the turmoil inside her.

“I’m not going. I should go home.”

“Don’t want to go around?” Lu Chuyao’s smile froze. “You must be tired. I’ll take you back. Wait here; I’ll get the carriage.”

Once he had gone, Su Yao finally dared to meet Lu Huaijin’s cold, icy gaze.

“Do you like him?”