“Lu Zhe.”

Su Ci looked in surprise at the suddenly appearing young man.

Lu Zhe quietly looked at the girl standing beside Ji Chi, a bit of coldness in his eyes. “Tuan Tuan, come here.”

Meeting Lu Zhe’s gaze, Su Ci inexplicably felt a sense of guilt. She had just hung up on his call, and she didn’t expect to be caught by him outside the bar the very next moment.

Su Ci turned her head and instructed the bodyguards, “Send Ji Chi to the hospital.”

Then, she obediently walked toward Lu Zhe.

The soft, flowing hem of the girl’s skirt brushed past his fingertips. Ji Chi tightened his hand.

There were injuries at the corner of his mouth and brow, yet they didn’t lessen his handsomeness in the slightest. Instead, the hardness and coldness of his face carried a hint of unruliness.

Watching the girl walk lightly toward this young man, Ji Chi weakly released his hand.

“Why are you here?” Seeing Lu Zhe suddenly appear, Su Ci was pleasantly surprised.

“I was just nearby talking over some things with a client.” Lu Zhe naturally placed his hand on the girl’s waist, full of possessiveness. “And you?”

“I came here to take care of something.” Su Ci thought of how she had gained another golden marshmallow, and now that she could see Lu Zhe, her mood brightened.

Lu Zhe glanced at Ji Chi opposite them, his eyes a little cold. He asked Su Ci, “Are you done with what you came for?”

Su Ci nodded. “It’s already handled. I’ll go with you.”

The stiffness in Lu Zhe’s cold face eased a little. “Okay.”

Boss Fang had been keeping an eye from inside the car on what was happening between Lu Zhe and Su Ci. Seeing that before long Lu Zhe was bringing Su Ci over, he tactfully hurried out from the back seat.

Su Ci greeted him, “Uncle Fang.”

Boss Fang smiled cheerfully. “I was just discussing something with Xiao Zhe and some clients nearby.” He sized up Su Ci and Lu Zhe’s expressions. It seemed like nothing was wrong?

“Get in the car. We’ll send Uncle Fang back first.” Lu Zhe opened the back seat door.

“Actually, I can just take a taxi back.” Boss Fang was extremely tactful. He had been young once too; of course he didn’t want to be a light bulb between the two of them.

Su Ci was rarely embarrassed. “It’s fine, Uncle Fang, get in the car.”

“Then I’ll sit in front.” Boss Fang opened the front passenger door and got in.

With Boss Fang in the front, Lu Zhe and Su Ci sat in the back.

The car started. The dazzling lights quickly retreated behind them. There weren’t many pedestrians on the road; the nighttime highway felt a bit quiet.

Disliking how far she was sitting from Lu Zhe, Su Ci quietly shifted her body, inching closer until her arm touched Lu Zhe’s. Only then did she stop.

At this moment, outside the bar entrance—

Ding Xiaoyou stared in shock as Su Ci went toward the suddenly appearing young man. Didn’t she like Ji Chi? How could she leave with another man?

“Ji Chi, I’ll go to the hospital with you.” Since the pampered girl had left, she had to seize the opportunity even more. “You got hurt saving me. I should take care of you.”

Ji Chi stood with his back straight. He turned his head, looking at Ding Xiaoyou’s slightly smiling face. “Please stay away from me.”

Ding Xiaoyou’s face turned pale, instantly pierced by the coldness in Ji Chi’s eyes.

The bodyguard drove the car over and stopped in front of Ji Chi. “Young Master Ji, please get in.”

Ji Chi no longer paid attention to Ding Xiaoyou and got into the car directly.

Outside the bar, many drunk customers were coming and going.

Left alone, Ding Xiaoyou could only call a taxi. At this moment, a drunk, big-bellied man appeared from who-knows-where and bumped into her. “Little girl, you alone?”

Ding Xiaoyou’s face turned deathly pale. “I don’t know you. Stay away from me.”

The drunk man stared at Ding Xiaoyou with a foolish grin and tried to reach out to hug her. The next second, perhaps because he was too drunk, he gagged, retching once, almost vomiting.

Ding Xiaoyou glanced at him in disgust and tried to move away.

She didn’t even have time to step aside before the drunk man failed to hold it back. The vomit in his mouth sprayed directly toward Ding Xiaoyou.

“Ah…”

The foul, nauseating vomit splattered onto her white dress. Ding Xiaoyou nearly collapsed. Thinking of Su Ci leaving in a luxury car and Ji Chi abandoning her, she began to cry again in grievance.

Her family was already so poor, why did the heavens still let her encounter so many terrible things?

– – – ˗ˋˏ♡ˎˊ˗ – – –

The inside of the car was very quiet.

Su Ci turned her head to look at Lu Zhe, and in the next second, he lowered his head to look at her too.

His pitch-black eyes held an indescribable depth in the dim lighting.

Su Ci’s heart suddenly trembled. She wanted to see Lu Zhe’s eyes more clearly, but he reached out and touched her hair, breaking her focus.

The car arrived at Boss Fang’s residential area. After watching Boss Fang get out, Su Ci urged Lu Zhe to get out as well.

“I have something good to give you.” The apartment Lu Zhe previously rented across from Boss Fang hadn’t been returned yet. Going there made it more convenient to kiss him.

Lu Zhe looked at the girl pulling his hand—her fingertips pale and delicate.

This time, Lu Zhe didn’t refuse; instead, he cooperated very well.

Night deepened. The residential area was quiet.

Su Ci let Lu Zhe hold her hand as they went upstairs.

Lu Zhe took out the key and opened the door.

He turned on the living room light. The warm yellow glow fell into the girl’s eyes like fragments of beautiful stars.

After closing the door, Lu Zhe’s cold voice was slightly low. “Do you want water?”

Su Ci shook her head.

Her fair jade-white arms wrapped around his shoulders, her body pressing against his. Unable to wait to give him the golden cotton candy, she said, “Kiss me.”

Lu Zhe didn’t move.

Su Ci stood on tiptoe and leaned closer, suddenly catching the scent of alcohol on his thin lips.

“You drank?” She was a little surprised. Lu Zhe got drunk easily when he touched alcohol.

Lu Zhe steadied her waist. “I only had one glass.”

The young man’s eyes were dark and damp, as if tinged with drunkenness. Su Ci smiled. “Lu Zhe, are you drunk?”

Lu Zhe shook his head. “No.”

He lowered his gaze to the girl, gently tucking her loose strands of hair behind her ear. His cool voice was especially clear and pleasant in the quiet living room. “Tuan Tuan, why did you hang up on me tonight?”

“Ji Chi got into trouble at the bar. I was busy saving him and didn’t answer your call.” Su Ci explained, “The second time I hung up, it was because the bar was too noisy. I didn’t want you to know I was there.”

The girl was very honest.

Lu Zhe’s eyes darkened. His cool fingertips fell on her ear, lightly rubbing her small earlobe. His throat felt dry. “Why did you go to the bar? Was it because of Ji Chi?”

Su Ci nodded. The next second, she felt the fingers pinching her earlobe tighten in pressure.

It didn’t hurt, but it tickled terribly.

Su Ci wanted to reach up and scratch her ear.

She said righteously, “I went to do a good deed.”

Lu Zhe looked at her.

Su Ci explained to him, “Ji Chi was beaten up in the bar. I went to save him.”

Lu Zhe released her small earlobe. He lowered his head, his thin lips drawing close to her ear. His injured hand held her small hand, pressing it against his chest. “Tuan Tuan, it feels uncomfortable here.”

Su Ci froze. Under her palm, she felt the strong, powerful heartbeat in the young man’s chest.

His cool thin lips lightly brushed the girl’s small earlobe. “Do you like Ji Chi?”

Su Ci was so startled by Lu Zhe’s words that she looked up at once. “How is that possible!”

She wanted to see the expression on Lu Zhe’s face, wanted to explain to him — and the next second, her earlobe was suddenly caught between Lu Zhe’s thin lips.

Cool, ticklish sensations spread out. Su Ci stared wide-eyed in shock.

Lu Zhe held the girl’s small hand firmly against his chest. Inside, it was sour and painful.

“Lu Zhe…”

Not only were Su Ci’s rabbit ears sensitive, even her current ears were sensitive.

Her little earlobe was suddenly lightly bitten, and Su Ci couldn’t help letting out a soft hum, the watery shimmer in her eyes deepening.

Pressed close to Lu Zhe, her body felt a little weak.

“Lu Zhe, are you jealous?” Su Ci endured the young man’s teasing at her ear, keenly sensing his low pressure.

“Mm.” Lu Zhe released his teeth and gently kissed the reddened, teased earlobe.

He had thought that once he was gone, the girl would eventually find someone else to accompany her. And the moment the thought rose, it was enough to drive him mad with jealousy.

“Tuan Tuan, don’t like anyone else.” Lu Zhe knew he was selfish. Even though he knew he had a terminal illness and didn’t have much time left, he still wanted to trap her, wanted her eyes to hold only him.

On Ji Chi, he saw a shadow similar to himself.

Cold. Lonely.

When he saw Su Ci and Ji Chi standing together, he couldn’t help fearing she might come to like him.

After all, in this world, anyone had more right than he did to stand by her side.

Su Ci blinked. This was the first time she had ever heard pleading come from Lu Zhe’s mouth.

She liked seeing Lu Zhe jealous, but she couldn’t bear seeing him this humble.

“I never knew you liked me this much.” Su Ci looked up at him, delight hidden in her shimmering eyes. “I won’t like anyone else. I only like you.”

Lu Zhe quietly looked at her.

“I went to the bar this time to save Ji Chi, just like how I saved Li Chengyu on the mountaintop last time.”

Su Ci’s hand gently touched the young man’s stiff, cold side profile. “You’re so smart, you should’ve noticed something strange about me long ago. I told you before, I was originally a very selfish person. But because of you, I can become an angel who saves people.”

Lu Zhe realized the girl was about to reveal her greatest secret in front of him.

His heart pounded violently, his fingertips numb.

Su Ci asked him, “Lu Zhe, test results may deceive you, but your body won’t. Haven’t you ever wondered why your condition has been improving?”

Lu Zhe froze.

The light in his eyes wavered.

He knew Su Ci saved many people, and every time she always seemed prepared to do so. As for his ALS, the frequency of flare-ups had indeed decreased compared to before.

But he had never connected the two.

Su Ci stood on tiptoe and kissed the young man’s cool thin lips. “You can take a bold guess.”

After all, she had never deliberately avoided him each time she saved someone.

Lu Zhe had always been smart, yet now his thoughts were in disarray. “You save people because of me?”

Su Ci nodded.

“Why?” Lu Zhe didn’t understand the connection, even feeling like he was overthinking. He was very unsure. “After you save someone… my condition improves?”

The next second, Su Ci nodded again. She couldn’t say anything too explicit.

This didn’t really count as telling him directly… right?

Receiving the answer, Lu Zhe’s dark eyes grew deeper. A look of disbelief surfaced on his stiff, cold face. “Tuan Tuan, why…”

“I can’t say.” Su Ci looked at him. “Just remember — as long as I’m here, you won’t die.”

“Tuan Tuan.” Lu Zhe called the girl in a low voice.

It was all too shocking; he needed time to digest it.

Ever since he learned he had ALS, he had already prepared himself mentally for only a few years left. He hadn’t given up, but he lived each day carefully.

He had never dared to hope his illness could improve.

But now, the girl in his arms told him his condition would get better, that he wouldn’t die.

Heat surged in his chest, and Lu Zhe furrowed his brows tightly.

“You’re not happy?” Su Ci looked at him in confusion. She had hidden the secret for so long. She thought he would be happy to know.

Lu Zhe nodded. “Happy.”

He didn’t doubt that the girl was telling the truth. Before, he couldn’t understand why his condition seemed to be improving, but now he had found the answer.

He was surviving because Su Ci saved people for him.

Lu Zhe lowered his head, resting his forehead against Su Ci’s. “I don’t want you putting yourself in danger because of me.”

Su Ci smiled. The first thing her boy thought of was whether she would be in danger, not that he could keep living.

Su Ci had always cherished her own life. She would never throw herself blindly into danger. “Don’t worry. I won’t save people recklessly. If it’s beyond what I can do, I’ll give up.”

Su Ci stood on tiptoe and offered her red lips. “So, you need to kiss me more. I’ll give you something good, and you have to get better quickly.”

“What is the good thing?” Every time Lu Zhe heard her say she had something good for him, it meant she wanted to kiss him.

But he had never seen this “good thing” she spoke of.

Su Ci wanted to tell him that the good thing could heal him, but the words simply wouldn’t come out.

Her kiss fell on Lu Zhe’s cool lips. Between their lips and teeth, she replied, “Guess.”

Lu Zhe realized the “good thing” she spoke of must be something that treated his illness. So she had started saving people long ago… to extend his life.

Heat surged through his chest.

He finally knew what she had been doing for him all this time.

Lu Zhe parted his lips and caught the girl’s mischievous little tongue, tangling with it fiercely.

After quite a while, Su Ci’s legs were weak, her lips numb. She didn’t know if it was because Lu Zhe had drunk alcohol, but this time his kissing was especially fierce — even the base of her tongue hurt.

She leaned weakly against Lu Zhe, her black eyes shimmering with water. “Now you should know that I saved Ji Chi for you, right?”

“Mm.” Lu Zhe held the girl tighter, afraid she would slip.

Su Ci’s pale fingertips weakly pulled at his clothes. “You don’t need to be jealous. The only person I like is you.”

The stiff lines of Lu Zhe’s face softened completely under the light. He still only gave a soft, “Mm.”

The warmth in his arms let him know he wasn’t dreaming.

Su Ci was dissatisfied. She shot him an annoyed glare and accused, “I already confessed. You have to confess to me too.”

Lu Zhe was silent for a moment.

His thin lips moved to her ear, his cool voice carrying a hint of coaxing, incredibly gentle. “I only like you.”

Hearing that, Su Ci’s eyes lit up. She pretended, “Too soft. I didn’t hear it clearly.”

Lu Zhe repeated, “I only like you.”

Su Ci tasted sweetness and melted against him, her beautiful brows curved, unable to hide her smile. “Didn’t hear it. Say it again.”

Lu Zhe looked at her, completely unable to get angry. “I like you.”

Su Ci started acting up again. She complained, “Why are there fewer and fewer words each time? This one doesn’t count.”

Lu Zhe’s thin lips touched her ear. “Su Ci, I like you.”

In the young man’s arms, Su Ci smiled like a little fox who had successfully stolen something sweet. “Lu Zhe, I still want to hear…”