Chapter 25 – Uncle Forcefully Steals Love (8)

Another half an hour later, the car finally arrived at the birthday banquet venue.

A waiter opened the car door. Lu Jinzhi stepped out first, and just as Xin Ling was about to get out on her own, a slender hand suddenly appeared before her eyes.

The man stood outside the car, raising his brows at her.

Helpless, Xin Ling handed her hand over, tugging the corners of her lips into a forced smile as she stepped out.

She could already imagine how the crowd outside—perhaps even the media—would blow things out of proportion when they saw Lu Jinzhi personally helping her out of the car.

“What exactly do you want?”

Forced to link arms with him as they walked inside, Xin Ling whispered cautiously.

“If you don’t want people to discover our affair, then baby, you’d better play along with me.” Lu Jinzhi’s lips curved slightly as he lowered his voice to tease her.

In Xin Ling’s eyes, this man was utterly hateful—grabbing hold of her weakness only to torment and threaten her relentlessly.

Too much…

“Wasn’t it said that the fiancée staying at the Lu family’s house, the one clinging to her benefactors, was disliked by everyone? So why did she come with Fifth Master Lu?”

“Who knows. You saw it just now—her official fiancé, Young Master Lu, didn’t even want to bring her here…”

“But she seems to be on good terms with Fifth Master Lu.”

“This only shows that the Lu family doesn’t think much of her. Clearly, Young Master Lu really doesn’t like her.”

“Now that the old master has retired from the spotlight, and the other Lu family members are developing abroad, the only ones left to make decisions at home are Young Master Lu and Fifth Master Lu. If Fifth Master has already taken a stance, why would anyone else object?”

“You’re right—compared to Fifth Master, Young Master Lu doesn’t amount to much…”

“…”

Snippets of conversation drifted into Xin Ling’s ears. She raised her eyes in puzzlement, only to meet Lu Jinzhi’s gaze as he also looked down at her.

Their eyes met, and the man’s casual voice followed: “You heard all that?”

“…It’s because of Lu Ziyao, isn’t it? You’re afraid someone might bully me because of his attitude toward me, so you wanted me to go in with you?”

She had to admit, sometimes Lu Jinzhi really was a strong shield.

“Not too stupid.”

In his dark eyes, a faint glimmer flickered as he stared at her unblinkingly. “The banquet is long, and the venue’s huge. I might not be able to look after you the whole time. I can’t let you be bullied again like last time…”

“But if I find out that you let someone bully you willingly again, baby, you’re finished.”

His smile faded under her gaze, the end of his words curling upward with menace.

“…Oh.”

Xin Ling glanced at him, equal parts cowed and defiant.

Without saying anything more, she let go of his arm, striding ahead in her glittering silver heels toward the banquet hall.

Lu Jinzhi watched her graceful figure sway, licking his lips with a low chuckle.

Truly timid yet daring…

She was betting on the fact that he wouldn’t dare do anything to her in such a setting—that was the only reason she dared bare her tiny claws to provoke him.

Any other time, he would’ve scooped her up by the waist and carried her off without hesitation.

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[Ding! Hidden mission triggered: The Host must take the opportunity during Lu Qinghe’s birthday banquet to drug the male lead Lu Ziyao, and create the illusion of being caught in bed together.]

This was the mission reminder she had received the day before. To prepare, Xin Ling had bought a pack of sleeping pills.

“Lingling, why didn’t you tell Grandpa about all those outrageous things Ziyao did?”

Leading her through the banquet to meet various powerful guests, Old Master Lu suddenly asked. “From now on, whatever happens, tell Grandpa. Grandpa will back you up.”

“Mm, I know, Grandpa.”

Xin Ling smiled shyly and nodded obediently.

If Lu Jinzhi hadn’t pushed her forward, he never would have known Ziyao had done such excessive things outside, nor that Xin Ling had kept it from him all along.

Clearly, this girl truly adored his wayward grandson.

Tsk, such a good girl—what did that brat ever do to deserve her? Worse, he kept bullying her…

The more Lu Qinghe thought about it, the angrier he became. He turned to the man at his side and ordered, “Go find that brat and bring him here to apologize to Lingling!”

“Yes, Old Master.”

The black-suited bodyguard obeyed and left. Then Lu Qinghe turned back to Xin Ling. “When he comes, Grandpa will leave the two of you alone.”

Hearing this, Xin Ling’s eyes lit up and she nodded eagerly.

She had been fretting over how to find the chance to drug the male lead—now the opportunity presented itself!

“Thank you, Grandpa.”

Her shy yet excited expression only reinforced Lu Qinghe’s belief: this girl really did love his grandson deeply.

Since she liked him, they would just have to let her have her way. Even if Ziyao didn’t like her… he would have to!

Lu Ziyao arrived about five minutes later, in a well-furnished lounge where only the two of them remained.

“So you asked Grandpa to make me come apologize to you?”

The man came in with a frown, his face showing clear impatience. He stopped in front of Xin Ling, looking aggrieved, angry but unable to lash out.

“Xin Ling, I advise you not to be so cheap. Acting like this will only make me hate you more!”

“No, that’s not it.”

Shaking her head, Xin Ling lifted a glass of wine she had already laced heavily with sleeping pills and handed it to him, her expression earnest and innocent.

“I wanted to apologize to you.”

Tonight, in Lu Ziyao’s eyes, Xin Ling had dressed up more beautifully than ever before.

Her delicate makeup highlighted her fair skin, accentuating her pretty features until her beauty seemed multiplied.

Her silver-white gown was perfect in both color and cut, wrapping her graceful figure and setting off her pure, lovely appearance.

As he looked, Lu Ziyao swallowed unconsciously.

“You want me to drink this, and you’ll apologize?”

Her voice was gentle, her watery eyes fixed solely on him as though he were her entire world.

For a moment, Lu Ziyao’s face wavered. Then he quickly snatched up the glass and tilted it back, draining it in one gulp.