Chapter 03

Mrs. Xin knocked on the door of the Lu family, and the one who opened the door was Aunt Zhang, the housekeeper of the Lu family. It was evident that Mrs. Xin was a frequent visitor at the Lu household. Upon seeing Mrs. Xin, Aunt Zhang quickly stepped aside and smiled, saying, "Just now, Madam asked me to call for you."

Indeed, it's quite late in the evening; Xia Nuan should have Zi Ang escort you.

Xin Xia responded awkwardly to his "compliment", "Brother, I don't like this compliment anymore, I'm not a loli"

But now, as she sat down, she did not feel the sweetness she had anticipated, for the driver beside her was not her boyfriend, but rather a small wound in her heart. So small, that she had thought that after all these years, everything had passed. She was almost forgetting that she had once harbored a humble crush on the man she had called "brother" for over ten years.

She said, "Brother, you must help me find a good man; my future happiness depends on you."

Lu Ziang slightly squinted his eyes, smiled calmly, and said, "Of course, I have always cared for Nuan the most"

Xin Mu secretly nudged Xin Xia Nuan, whispering, "Don't forget what you promised me."

What is going on? Xin Xia Nuan felt somewhat perplexed. Usually, at this time, this girl would be entangled with her lover, so why was she looking for her? Why was she being asked to go to a bar for no apparent reason?

Xin Xia Nuan finally came to her senses, momentarily stunned, her embarrassment evident as some lies were exposed. She awkwardly said, "Well, I actually didn't intend to go to the company."

"Ziang, didn't you say you wanted to ask Aunt Xin about something? Why aren't you speaking up?" Ms. Qian reminded her son

This is the second time Xin Xia Nuan has taken a man's car; the first time was when she rode in Bi Fang Shi's car, which was a coincidental arrangement. At that time, Bi Fang Shi was taking Manni home, and coincidentally, Manni was walking with her, so he took her along as well. Sitting in the back seat, she watched the two in front who seemed like a couple, and she once fantasized that if one day she were to sit in the front passenger seat, she would definitely smile sweetly like Manni.

No need, I have a car, I will drive there myself

Xin Xia Nuan rolled her eyes at the ceiling, and after a moment's thought, realized that this phone call had come at just the right time. She could use it as an excuse to leave. After agreeing, she hung up the phone and said to the parents in front of her: "I apologize, my colleague who is working overtime just informed me that there is something I need to assist with, so I must return to the company for a while"

Xin Xia felt warm and thoughtful; why should she be nervous? She and he were still siblings, as their parents had said, and they could not become estranged just because of the passage of time! She forced a couple of laughs, walked over, and sat down in the very spot where Lu Ziang had just been sitting.

"What does that have to do with me?" Xin Xia Nuan said weakly, with three black lines appearing on her forehead. How many times has this been? Is she merely a porter? Sometimes, Xin Xia Nuan truly regrets helping Manni carry that young scion back. Once there is a first time, there will be a second, and it will never end.

Seeing that all the parents were eagerly looking at her, she felt it inappropriate to refuse them, so she could only put on a very grateful expression and said to Lu Zi'ang: "Then I will trouble you, brother"

Lu Ziang smiled faintly, his gaze cool and detached. Although he did not appear particularly warm, he was still polite, saying, "Auntie, you flatter me." He casually glanced at Xin Xianuan, who was sitting next to Xin Mu, and his smile deepened. Just then, Xin Xianuan happened to steal a glance at him, and their eyes met, causing her to shy away from the warmth in his gaze. Lu Ziang smiled slightly, saying, "Nuan, you are still as lovely as ever." This touched on her sensitive spot; after all these years, she was no longer young, yet she still had baby fat on her face! No matter how much gum she chewed, she could not slim down.

Bifang was drunk, like a pile of mud, and I couldn't handle it alone

There is navigation. Having said that, he turned the corner and continued driving

Xin Xiangnuan's home and Lu Ziang's home have relocated three times, and each time they have been neighbors. Xin Xiangnuan sometimes becomes irritable, wondering why they always end up as neighbors, which she does not desire, yet she longs for it. However, no matter how much she wishes otherwise, as long as her father remains a major general in the army, her family will inevitably reside in the A Military District's residential compound, next to the Lu family

It's nothing

At that moment, Xin Xia Nuan's phone rang, and she was taken aback, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Ms. Qian had a look of understanding and reassurance, saying, "It's fine, go ahead and answer the call."

Commander Lu was eating a banana and casually responded, "Xia Nuan, weren't you and your siblings on good terms before? Why have you become so estranged?"

I didn't want to trouble you, but my shoe heel broke, and I am not familiar with this bar. What should I do if a lecherous man bothers me..." The person on the other end even started to cry.

Where are you going?" Lu Ziang asked softly after driving the car out of the community

Xin Xia looked at him with a warm resentment. Since she entered the room, he had been staring at her intently, making her feel as awkward as possible. Under his "intense" gaze, she had no choice but to eat the banana voraciously. He clearly heard her just burp; she had just finished her meal, so how could she eat so many bananas? Moreover, he had chosen the largest banana! Was this not deliberately making things difficult for her? What was he trying to do?

She couldn't help but smile helplessly. She knew he had a tumultuous past, and now she understood why he wore a face of silence. She was aware that he had once been beaten by Uncle Lu until his skin was torn and bleeding, yet he shed tears like a man for the departure of one person. She was merely a bystander, watching his weary figure with a heavy heart, unable to do anything. All she could offer was her own frail shoulder for him to lean on, silently playing the role of the little girl behind him. She was just his childhood friend at the beginning of his life, merely a younger sister.

Xin Xia was momentarily taken aback, staring at the empty seat beside him for a long time, and quickly shook her head, "No, I will sit ... ... "

Xin Xia Nuan had considered moving out, but due to her strict father, she had to give up on that idea. She is not a boy; she is an unmarried girl, and it is best for her to live at home before marriage, isolated from the superficiality of the city. She understands that her father has her best interests at heart, and she has never resisted, content to stay at home and fulfill her duties.

Xin Mu nudged the impolite Xin Xia Nuan, casting a glance as if to say, "Someone is speaking to you, why are you ignoring them?"

Lu Ziang cast her a glance and asked expressionlessly, "Where?"

Lu Ziang frowned slightly. Xin's mother interjected, "With your driving skills, you wrecked the car just a week after buying it. It's getting late; you should let your brother Ziang take you there."

Xin Nuan picked up her phone and looked at the caller ID. It was indeed her superficial friend, Manni. As soon as she answered the call, Manni started talking rapidly on the other end, "Xia Nuan, hurry to the Venus Bar."

Xin Xia Nuan quickly stood up with a smile, preparing to implement the thirty-six strategies, with the best strategy being to leave. Unexpectedly, Lu Zi Ang also stood up with her, saying, "I will escort you."

She is no longer young, she fears pain, and she does not wish to have any further entanglements with him, to remind herself that she still loves him.

"Xia Nuan, come here..." Ms. Qian directly pulled Xia Nuan to sit beside her and smiled at Xia's mother behind her, saying: "I was just about to ask Xiao Zhang to call you, Zi Ang has returned from the United States."

Xin Mu pushed the awkward Xin Xia Nuan forward, pulling her into the house. Xin Xia Nuan hesitated slightly as she walked inside, oblivious to everything around her. In fact, the Lu family could be considered Xin Xia Nuan's second home, as she visited frequently and was quite familiar with it. However, with an additional person in the house now, she appeared quite reserved

Xin Mu's eyes lit up, completely ignoring Xin Xia Nuan's predatory gaze, "Indeed, Zi Ang has some good brothers; we must make sure to connect more with them."

"Oh dear, Xia Nuan, come back soon. Ziang has been saying he wants to see you," Ms. Qian chuckled, winking at Xin Xia Nuan, creating a moment filled with ambiguity.

"Venus Bar, do you know it?" Someone who just returned from the United States would surely know it

Lu Ziang, who was driving, suddenly stiffened up

Then go ahead, official business is the most important. This remark precisely struck Commander Lu's rib, as he prioritizes his career above all else

Xin Xia Nuan immediately crushed the banana in her hand ... ? ... Has this fellow, after studying abroad for several years, really mastered the art of lying without blushing?

As usual, she acted like a polite and well-behaved young lady, the kind that everyone loves and who carries herself with grace. Xin Mu's expectations of Xin Xia Nuan were so ingrained in her that she could recite them by heart. When they reached the hall, Xin Xia Nuan made a concerted effort to avoid looking at the man in a black casual suit sitting to her left. She kept her head high and maintained her sweet smile, saying, "Uncle Lu, Aunt Qian, hello"

He seemed to have no questions about her going to the bar. In the past, he was very controlling over her, forbidding her from this and that, insisting that she only follow his orders, which was quite domineering. However, she enjoyed his domineering nature and always acted in accordance with his wishes. Even when he got into a fight for a girl, she helped him lie to his parents, saying that he was attending extra classes at school

Under the gaze of the crowd, Xin Xia warmly yet bitterly accepted the bananas that Lu Zi'ang had "kindly" sent over, and continued to nibble on them

I know

Oh my, does her mother want her to live? Such a shameful matter, publicized everywhere. Is it really honorable that she has no man wanting her?

Xin Mu turned her gaze towards Lu Zi'ang and said with a smile, "I saw you just now while walking the dog in the neighborhood. Zi'ang, you are becoming more and more handsome, and your demeanor is even more striking than before."

The atmosphere was somewhat strange; why were her mother and the two parents from the Lu family all looking at her? Suddenly, no one spoke. Xin Xia Nuan coughed twice and picked a banana from the table to eat.

Lu Ziang was very pleased, standing at attention, and said to Aunt Xin: "Aunt Xin, I heard from my mom that you have been helping warm-hearted men recently?" After hearing this, Xin Xia Nuan nearly crushed the banana in her hand, looking at her mother in disbelief

Lu Ziang patted the empty seat beside him, his narrow eyes half-squinting, "We haven't caught up in a long time, come sit with me, let's have a good chat"

Lu Ziang also broke a banana from the table, peeled it, and handed it to Xin Xianuan, who had already finished one banana. He glanced at her sideways with a mischievous smile, saying, "Eat more, there are plenty more."

Uh... was she lying so obviously? How did he know she wouldn't go to the company

... ...