At night, Su Ci was video-calling Lu Zhe. She told him that she had done another good deed today.

Lu Zhe realized that ever since he met Su Ci, the girl seemed to have helped many people. He knew that she usually liked teasing others, but she had a soft and kind heart.

Lu Zhe’s tone was faint, “When you help people, you have to pay attention to safety.” If helping others would lead to her getting hurt, he would rather her heart be a little colder.

No one else was as important as she was.

“Don’t worry, I know.” Su Ci was very afraid of dying, and she wasn’t a bleeding-heart saint either. Whenever she helped someone, she would first confirm her own safety, and only take action after making sure it wasn’t dangerous.

If anything really happened, she would run faster than anyone to protect herself.

Lu Zhe: “Mm.”

At that moment, he heard Su Ci’s bedroom door being knocked.

“Wait a moment, I’ll go open the door.” As she spoke, Su Ci put down her phone.

Standing outside the door was Su Mother, and beside her was a servant holding a gown in her hands.

“Mom.”

“Cici, the fashion studio sent over a gown. Try this one first, the others will arrive in a couple of days.” When Su Mother helped her daughter choose gowns, this was the one she liked best. Her daughter would definitely look beautiful in it.

Su Ci looked at the gown, suddenly thought of something, and her dark eyes lit up, “Thank you, Mom. I’ll try it on later.”

The servant brought the gown into Su Ci’s room and hung it in front of the wardrobe. Under the lights, the blue gradient gown shimmered brilliantly.

After Su Mother and the servant left, Su Ci closed the door, walked back to the bed, and picked up her phone. Lu Zhe was still on the video call.

Looking at the boy’s cold and handsome features on the screen, she smiled brightly at him. “Lu Zhe, I’m going to a banquet the week after next. My mom just brought me the gown.”

Lu Zhe didn’t understand banquets. That was something very far from his world.

Su Ci continued, “Do you want to see what I look like in the gown? I can change into it for you right now.” Seeing the boy’s calm expression, she glared at him, very domineering, “You’re not allowed to say no.”

The corner of Lu Zhe’s lips lifted. “Mm, I’ll watch.”

Only then did Su Ci smile. “Wait for me, I’ll be quick.”

Su Ci placed her phone on the bed. Barefoot, she walked to the wardrobe and took down the gown.

Lu Zhe sat on the edge of his folding bed. He looked at the moonlight outside the window, and in his ears were the faint sounds of fabric rustling from the phone.

He knew the girl was changing.

Lu Zhe pushed down the thoughts drifting in his mind.

Su Mother always had good taste. Every month, she chose Su Ci’s clothes for her, and she knew very well which styles looked the best on her daughter.

Su Ci changed into the gown. Because it was custom-made, the size was perfect— not a bit more, not a bit less— fitting Su Ci’s figure flawlessly.

The lighting in the room was a little dim, so Su Ci turned on all the lights.

She walked back to the bed and propped the phone upright on the vanity.

“Lu Zhe, I’m done changing.”

Su Ci selected an angle that allowed Lu Zhe to see her full figure. She asked him with absolute certainty, “Am I very beautiful?”

On the screen, Lu Zhe subconsciously frowned. “Why aren’t you wearing shoes?”

His gaze fell on the girl’s feet. Even from a distance, he could see her two snow-white bare feet stepping on the floor.

“I’m standing on the carpet.” Su Ci paused, then glared at him angrily. “This is not the time for you to be focusing on my feet!”

She was dressed so beautifully, so seductively, and he didn’t even look properly— yet he cared about her not wearing shoes?

Su Ci was displeased. “You should be looking at my gown. Looking at my figure!”

The girl on the screen was a little flustered and exasperated.

Lu Zhe’s thin lips curved, and a hint of laughter dyed his dark eyes. “I see it.”

Su Ci’s breath caught. “That’s it?”

Why was this different from what she imagined? Shouldn’t he be filled with amazement? Or be utterly bewitched by how beautiful she looked? Or at least… he could compliment her, right?

Not to brag, but her looks and figure were definitely not something anyone could easily surpass.

Especially now in the gown— her figure was even more delicate and shapely, her upper body full and well-drawn. She was practically a little temptress; even she liked what she saw.

Su Ci walked closer to the vanity and picked up the phone. She accused the boy, “Do you have no lust at all?”

Then, Lu Zhe heard her ask bluntly, “Lu Zhe, have you ever had a spring dream before?”

Lu Zhe: …

He gave her a quiet glance.

Su Ci sat down on the chair with her phone in hand. She adjusted her grip to make herself more comfortable.

Seeing the boy remain silent, Su Ci raised her brows. “Even if you don’t answer, I know you haven’t.”

His heart was like ice, and he didn’t know how to awaken yet. She pouted in boredom. “Then you definitely haven’t watched any yellow movies either.”

“You’ve watched them?” Only then did Lu Zhe speak.

Su Ci tilted her head, thought seriously, and said, “No.” She sighed. “I don’t know where to find the resources.”

Lu Zhe: …

His temples twitched.

At this moment, Lu Zhe’s cool voice was a little lower, carrying a hint of gentle coaxing. “Tuan Tuan, don’t watch.” Those things weren’t good at all.

Su Ci was only saying it to tease Lu Zhe. She wouldn’t actually look for anything.

She lifted her chin slightly and made her demand to the boy. “If you won’t let me watch, then praise me. Do I look good in this?”

Under the lights, the girl’s dark eyes were bright and watery. The little beauty mark under the corner of her eye carried a hint of seduction, like a little fox spirit trying every trick to tug at a god’s heart.

Lu Zhe lifted his gaze and met the girl’s eyes. The corners of his lips held a smile, and his cool features looked faintly ethereal. “You look good.”

The girl was incredibly clever. She could always force him to retreat step by step.

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

At night, everything around them was quiet.

Lu Zhe reached out, wanting to push away the girl who had gone soft and weak, leaning into his arms.

Her pair of watery eyes looked at him accusingly, as if him pushing her away was some unforgivable crime.

Lu Zhe stopped his hand. The girl’s jade-like arms seized the chance to loop around his shoulders, her body pressing tightly against him.

Her waist—soft, slender—rubbed against his large palm, and for the first time, Lu Zhe learned that even the center of his palm could grow hot.

He wanted to let go, but the girl rose on her toes, and her red lips landed on the corner of his mouth.

Her laugh was light and clear, like a mischievous little imp who had successfully tricked someone. “Lu Zhe, do you like me kissing you like this?”

Her warm, sweet breath washed over him.

Lu Zhe’s eyes darkened. He tightened his grip around that incredibly soft, slender waist, wanting to press her down—when in the next second, the girl disappeared.

He slowly opened his eyes.

Looking at the dim light in his room, Lu Zhe lifted one hand to cover his eyes, blocking the thick surge of emotion in his dark gaze.

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

The next day, when Su Ci arrived in the classroom, she saw the girl she had saved yesterday, Wen Duoyu. Compared to yesterday, the other girl’s complexion was much better, and her emotions had settled.

At her seat, Wen Duoyu unintentionally met Su Ci’s gaze. She gave Su Ci a small, shy smile.

Su Ci’s driver had taken her to the police station to file a report. She had submitted all the evidence as well; the chances of recovering her money were very high.

After yesterday’s events, Wen Duoyu’s mindset had changed a lot. When she returned home and saw her mother sitting at the dining table, waiting for her to come back and eat, she couldn’t help her nose turning sour.

Wen Duoyu felt that wanting to escape her problems and difficulties with death had been foolish and selfish. If Su Ci hadn’t pulled her back—if she had really rushed onto the street, been hit by a car, and died—her mother probably wouldn’t be able to endure it either.

She was truly grateful that Su Ci had saved her. To her, Su Ci was her redemption.

“I just ran into Su Ci outside the classroom door,” Wen Duoyu’s deskmate leaned over and said. “She switched cars again today. Just how many luxury cars does her family have?”

Wen Duoyu kept her head down, working on her exercises, not joining in the topic.

Su Ci was so beautiful, so kind, and her grades were excellent. Wen Duoyu wanted to learn from her, follow in her footsteps, and hoped she could get a little closer to Su Ci.

“I’m talking to you, did you hear me?” The deskmate was unhappy that Wen Duoyu didn’t respond.

Wen Duoyu nodded. “I heard you.”

Only then was the deskmate satisfied and continued saying, “Su Ci’s life is really good—being born into the Su family, raised like a princess since she was little. Look at that little tyrant He Ermeng from the next class—every time Su Ci rejects him, he can only sulk and leave because he doesn’t dare offend the Su family. If Su Ci’s family background were worse than his, I bet He Ermeng would’ve forced Su Ci to be with him long ago.”

Yesterday, when Wen Duoyu sat in Su Ci’s car, she could also tell that Su Ci didn’t like He Ermeng from the next class.

At that moment, she felt relieved that Su Ci came from a strong family. She thought that a girl as beautiful as Su Ci should be raised in a wealthy home, cherished, and held in the palm of someone’s hand.

For some reason, Wen Duoyu’s ears turned a little red. She thought that if she had money, she would definitely spoil and cherish Su Ci too.

“But don’t look at Su Ci rejecting He Ermeng now—aside from the He family, it’s nearly impossible in City B to find another family whose young master could be matched with her in the future. The Su family is too powerful. Besides the equally powerful Lu family, the He family’s strength is just barely enough to squeeze into the top three among elite families.”

Seeing Wen Duoyu dazed, her deskmate continued showing off her analysis, “The Lu family has always been at odds with the Su family. And the Lu family’s head has no son and no daughter. In the future, when Su Ci marries He Ermeng, the Su and He families will be a power alliance.”

Those were things she had overheard from the adults.

Her deskmate leaned close and said quietly to Wen Duoyu, “So, don’t be fooled by how Su Ci is acting now, all high and mighty rejecting He Ermeng. We’ll just wait for the day when she slaps her own face.”

Wen Duoyu could hear the thick jealousy in her deskmate’s tone. She subconsciously frowned, unable to stop herself from speaking. “We’re all classmates. Don’t deliberately wait for a classmate to embarrass herself. That kind of mindset isn’t good. And Su Ci doesn’t like He Ermeng. Her rejecting him cleanly isn’t wrong, and it’s not arrogance.”

She felt there was absolutely nothing wrong with what Su Ci did.

Feelings should be like this—no dragging things out. If you don’t like someone, reject them. Don’t give people false hope.

Su Ci wasn’t like some girls who, even if they didn’t like someone, still wouldn’t reject them and felt at ease enjoying the attention. That was what wasn’t good.

“You’re actually defending Su Ci?” Her deskmate, suddenly talked back to, stared at Wen Duoyu in disbelief.

Usually she bullied Wen Duoyu, and Wen Duoyu never made a sound. Yet now, Wen Duoyu was actually talking back because of Su Ci?

This time, Wen Duoyu didn’t stay silent. “Stop talking badly about Su Ci every day. She’s very good.”

Her deskmate looked utterly shocked. She gritted her teeth angrily. “Don’t forget you still owe me two thousand.”

Wen Duoyu bit her lip, her tone firm. “I’ll pay you back. After the college entrance exam, I’ll go work. Once I earn the money, I’ll pay you back immediately.”

Su Ci was her savior. Someone as good as her—she didn’t want to hear malicious words about Su Ci anymore.

The deskmate, annoyed, shot Wen Duoyu—who had lowered her head and continued working—another fierce glare.