Click the links or visit the shop from the menu to get your copy today!
Su Ci’s face did itch terribly. She sniffled in grievance. “Then you can’t dislike me for becoming ugly.”
“I won’t.”
Only then did Su Ci turn her face toward Lu Zhe.
Lu Zhe removed the hat on the girl’s head. The pair of pink-and-white rabbit ears immediately sprang upright. Her face was covered in many red rashes, yet her eyes were still glistening and bright.
Mm, she looked like a pitiful little flower-faced rabbit.
Lu Zhe squeezed the ointment onto a cotton swab. Lowering his head, he leaned close to the girl and carefully dabbed the medicine onto her face.
The ointment felt cool when it touched her skin, while the boy’s breath brushed warmly against her.
If it were any other time, being this close to Lu Zhe, Su Ci would’ve already started acting spoiled and asked for a kiss.
But now, with her face looking so ugly and having to face Lu Zhe like this, she only felt tormented.
Su Ci leaned back slightly. “You’re too close.”
Lu Zhe’s injured hand rested lightly on her waist. “Don’t move. It’ll be done soon.”
He leaned in again.
Su Ci pressed her lips together. Her face didn’t just itch, it felt hot. She had never been this embarrassed in her life.
No matter when, Su Ci had always been a delicate girl. Now her face was covered in rashes, her cheeks even swollen. Looking this ugly, how could she possibly accept it? And it was in front of the person she liked.
Thinking of this, Su Ci’s eyes reddened with grievance.
Her eyes shimmered with a layer of tears, the corners turning red. Lu Zhe sighed, put down the cotton swab, and lifted her onto his lap.
“Don’t cry. Your tears will smudge your face.” Lu Zhe gently wiped the corners of her eyes with his thumb. “When we find whoever harmed you, I’ll help you get justice.”
He knew the girl felt wronged.
Su Ci wanted to lean her head against Lu Zhe’s chest, but her face was covered in ointment. If she leaned on him, she would smear it.
She had no choice but to turn her head away. “You’re not allowed to look at me.”
Seeing the mischievous little troublemaker who usually loved teasing people now looking like a pitiful, blotchy-faced rabbit spirit, Lu Zhe felt distressed and amused at the same time.
He reached out and held her chin, making her look at him.
Lu Zhe’s dark eyes fell on her face, then met her gaze. “Tuan Tuan, you’re not ugly right now.”
Su Ci pressed her lips together, refusing to respond.
The pad of Lu Zhe’s thumb rubbed gently at her chin. His voice softened, comforting her. “Even if you really became ugly, I still wouldn’t dislike you.”
He asked her, “Did you think I only liked your face?”
Su Ci’s voice was muffled. “No.”
Other people might like her because she was pretty, but Lu Zhe definitely wasn’t one of them. She looked so beautiful it was almost Yaojing-like in how she hooked his soul, yet he could stay completely unaffected. How could he possibly be someone who valued her for her looks?
Lu Zhe let out a soft laugh. He leaned toward her again, his fingers holding her chin so she couldn’t retreat.
Cool lips pressed against her rosy little mouth, kissing lightly, impossibly gentle.
The little troublemaker who was usually proud and smug had suddenly become insecure, it made one’s heart ache.
Lu Zhe tangled with her softly yet firmly. After a long moment, he pulled back slightly. His pitch-black eyes held a deep, deep color. “Whether you’re beautiful or whether you become ugly, I like you all the same.”
His voice was slightly hoarse. “Do you like it when I kiss you like this?”
Su Ci felt as though something had pinched at the tip of her heart. Her black eyes were bright, and her lips glistened faintly.
She nodded, the pair of rabbit ears on her head swaying along with the movement. “I like it.”
Wu… she liked it to death.
This gentle Lu Zhe was hers.
– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –
In the recording room, the air seemed to freeze.
Su Zhiyuan’s assistant reported to him that the bowls and chopsticks had been tested — they were clean, with nothing on them.
People nearby couldn’t help whispering in low voices.
Beside them, the director finally let out a breath he had been holding the entire time.
He had been worried that Su Ci’s discomfort was caused by the food prepared by the production team.
Now that both the food and the utensils had been checked with no issues found, it seemed the team wasn’t responsible.
Su Zhiyuan’s sharp brows tightened. He looked toward Qin Shiyan not far away.
Qin Shiyan met his gaze. She smiled and nodded as a greeting.
“President Su.” At that moment, Guan Jing suddenly approached Su Zhiyuan.
Her gentle, pretty face carried a polite smile. “President Su, I know why Miss Su felt unwell.”
Su Zhiyuan looked at her, signaling for her to continue.
Seeing his gaze fall on her, Guan Jing couldn’t help feeling a surge of excitement.
She steadied herself. “It was Xie Yumin. Miss Su ate the lamb skewer Xie Yumin handed her.”
Since the problem wasn’t with the sweet soup, then the issue could only be with the lamb skewer Xie Yumin gave to Su Ci.
“President Su, Miss Su felt unwell shortly after eating the lamb given by Xie Yumin and ran out of the recording studio. Everyone present saw it.” Guan Jing’s tone was firm.
Earlier, she wasn’t completely sure, but after hearing the report that the sweet soup and utensils were fine, she was ninety percent certain the problem lay with the lamb skewer Xie Yumin had given Su Ci.
Xie Yumin glared coldly at Guan Jing. “I would never harm Su Ci, much less do something so stupid with this many cameras around. And I ate the lamb myself. Please don’t spread lies about me.”
Now that things had completely fallen apart, seeing Guan Jing’s true colors, she finally realized just how blind she had been before.
Su Zhiyuan ignored the quarreling pair and spoke directly to the director. “Bring up the footage from the earlier recording.”
Hearing this, Guan Jing shot Xie Yumin a triumphant look.
The director hurriedly had someone replay the recorded program for Su Zhiyuan.
Wearing a hat and mask, Su Ci followed Lu Zhe from the lounge to the recording room. She saw her brother reviewing the livestream footage. The camera happened to be on the segment where Xie Yumin was grilling.
The assistant told Su Ci that they had not found anything yet.
Everyone saw how tightly Su Ci was covered, she truly looked like she was unwell.
“Wait. Please rewind twenty seconds.” The boy’s cool voice sounded.
The director didn’t even wait for the staff to respond. He swiftly rewound the footage twenty seconds. It happened to show Xie Yumin picking up a lamb skewer from the grill and sprinkling cumin powder over it.
Lu Zhe asked Su Zhiyuan, “Has this bottle of seasoning been tested?”
Su Zhiyuan’s gaze sharpened. He told the nearby staff to immediately take all the seasonings for examination.
Su Ci blinked and looked at the boy’s sharply defined side profile. Why was he so attentive?
The Su family’s efficiency was extremely high. Not long after, the test results came out — all of the cumin powder prepared by the program team contained peanut powder.
The director finally understood. Someone was clearly trying to harm the Su family’s heiress.
The director swallowed nervously. “President Su…”
Su Zhiyuan stood up. His refined face was cold as he ordered an immediate investigation into who was responsible for the seasonings — where they were purchased, and who had come into contact with them.
Facing Su Zhiyuan’s anger, everyone on set felt as though a hand had clenched tightly around their hearts. They were so frightened they didn’t dare breathe too loudly, afraid they would be implicated.
Guan Jing couldn’t help speaking. “President Su, the seasoning passed through Xie Yumin’s hands. Her suspicion is the greatest. She should be the first to be investigated.”
She had earlier pointed out that the lamb Xie Yumin handed to Su Ci had a problem. Although the real issue turned out to be the seasoning, her direction wasn’t wrong — it was indeed related to Xie Yumin.
Su Zhiyuan shot her a cold glance. “I don’t need you to tell me how to do my job.”
Guan Jing’s heart tightened. She didn’t dare speak recklessly again.
Su Ci, unlike the others, didn’t look toward Xie Yumin after learning the problem was in the cumin powder. Instead, she instinctively glanced at Qin Shiyan, who was standing quietly.
Remembering something, Su Ci walked to the director and moved the video’s progress bar to Qin Shiyan’s segment.
On the screen, Qin Shiyan grilled skillfully. She brushed a layer of honey over the skewers. The meat turned golden, glistening with oil, incredibly tempting.
Then Qin Shiyan offered the perfectly grilled skewer to Su Ci, who rejected it.
The director was completely lost. He didn’t see any issue here.
Su Ci continued dragging the progress bar forward, still staying on scenes of Qin Shiyan.
Onscreen, after being rejected by Su Ci, Qin Shiyan looked disappointed. But she still maintained a smile, gracious and well-composed.
She continued grilling, making several more skewers and other foods. Then, she sprinkled cumin powder over the newly grilled skewers.
Su Ci dragged the footage further.
Lu Zhe’s brows furrowed tightly.
Su Ci dragged the footage further. More clips appeared of Qin Shiyan sprinkling cumin powder over the finished skewers, then quietly eating them herself.
Except for the very first skewer, the only one brushed with honey instead of sprinkled with cumin, every skewer Qin Shiyan grilled afterward was seasoned with cumin powder.
So why was the one she handed Su Ci not sprinkled with cumin?
Because Qin Shiyan knew the cumin powder was problematic.
Because Qin Shiyan couldn’t personally hand her the skewer that contained it.
Su Ci’s gaze turned icy. Beside her, Su Zhiyuan and Lu Zhe also darkened their expressions.
The director felt the oppressive tension radiating from the three of them and couldn’t help shivering.
What was going on?
Could it be… Qin Shiyan was the one who tried to harm Su Ci?
But that didn’t make sense. Su Ci had refused Qin Shiyan’s skewer, and Qin Shiyan had been quietly grilling the entire time.
Su Ci walked up to Qin Shiyan. The eyes showing above her mask were cold. “You’re the one who put peanut powder in the cumin.”
She stared straight at Qin Shiyan, her voice nearly gritted through her teeth. “Why did you try to harm me?”
Qin Shiyan was stunned by the accusation. She spoke softly, “Cici, did you misunderstand something? How could I ever hurt you?”
Su Ci continued to stare coldly at her. “Because I made it impossible for you to survive in the entertainment industry.”
Qin Shiyan’s breath caught. Her fingertips dug sharply into her palm.
“Besides my family, only you know I’m allergic to peanuts.” Su Ci coughed several times. Then she lifted her hand and slapped Qin Shiyan hard across the face.
“You didn’t just try to ruin my face, you wanted my life!”
Smack!
The loud sound made everyone’s hearts jump violently.
Seeing Su Ci standing there with her full aura unleashed, everyone wished they could burrow into the ground or turn invisible. The Su family’s young miss was terrifying.
A sharp pain spread across Qin Shiyan’s cheek. A bright red palm mark appeared instantly. She covered her face in disbelief. “Su Ci!”
“Does it hurt?” Su Ci stared at her coldly. “You deserve it.”
Of all the things Qin Shiyan should never have done, the worst was touching her century-level beauty!
