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The club manager personally saw Lu Jin and Xu En’tang to their car.
Lu Jin had taken a taxi there and was returning the same way.
He instructed the driver, “Head to the Western Suburbs.”
As the car began to drive, it was already two in the morning, and the bustling Beicheng was surprisingly quiet.
The back seat of the car was even quieter.
Lu Jin sat casually, scrolling through his phone, while Xu En’tang gazed out the window.
There was a noticeable distance between them.
This was the first time Xu En’tang found herself alone with Lu Jin since her rebirth.
“Where were you?” Lu Jin asked.
In the shadow of the car window, Xu En’tang’s eyelashes fluttered.
“I accidentally fell asleep in the small room next door.”
She wanted to ask him how he ended up there but held back the question.
She figured someone at Fuyuan must have noticed she hadn’t returned and, unable to reach her by phone, called him instead.
Lu Jin asked, “Are you going to keep following me?”
Xu En’tang pursed her lips, remaining silent.
Lu Jin smirked slightly, a hint of mockery in his tone, “You really are persistent.”
It’s not like she wanted to follow him.
Xu En’tang’s voice turned a bit icy, “I told you I wouldn’t be a bother.”
Lu Jin challenged, “Wasn’t it a bother tonight?”
The words made Xu En’tang’s nose tingle, feeling an inexplicable sense of grievance.
She blinked her stinging eyes, staring out the window, and softly said, “I’m sorry.”
Her earlier coldness vanished, like a flag being lowered.
Lu Jin paused and glanced at her.
At that moment, the car was waiting at a red light.
The driver, resting his hand on the steering wheel, looked back through the rearview mirror.
“Hey, is this your sister or your girlfriend?” the driver asked, breaking the silence.
“Whether sister or girlfriend, you shouldn’t speak like that; it’s quite hurtful.”
Lu Jin frowned, feeling a bit irritated.
The red light turned green.
He reminded, “It’s green now; drive safely.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll be safe.”
The driver promised, but thought to himself that the young man seemed a bit reckless.
The street scenery outside the car moved by.
The inside of the car fell silent again.
The shifting lights cast a mix of brightness and shadow, highlighting Xu En’tang’s serene profile.
Before long, Lu Jin’s phone rang.
A few seconds later, Xu En’tang caught sight of Lu Jin’s phone, along with his hand holding it.
“It’s Zhou Yi calling,” Lu Jin said.
Xu En’tang glanced at the screen, where Zhou Yi’s name was displayed.
The phone continued to ring.
Lu Jin added, “She must have noticed you weren’t home and called me. Now she’s waiting for your news.”
Xu En’tang paused for a moment, then silently took the phone from his hand, answered the call, and held it to her ear.
“Zhou Yi.”
“Tangtang.”
On the call, Xu En’tang explained why she hadn’t returned and how her phone had died.
Only her soft, even voice filled the car.
After finishing the call, she handed the phone back to Lu Jin and then closed her eyes.
She wasn’t fully asleep but felt drowsy throughout the ride.
When the car stopped, she opened her eyes.
Zhou Yi had been waiting for them.
“You two little ancestors finally made it back.”
Xu En’tang felt quite embarrassed, saying, “I’m sorry, Zhou Yi, for worrying you.”
Zhou Yi replied, “As long as you’re safe, it’s fine.”
Xu En’tang asked, “Did we disturb Grandpa Lu and Grandma Lu?”
Zhou Yi reassured her, “No, they didn’t wake up.”
Xu En’tang sighed in relief. “That’s good. This matter…”
“Let’s not tell them to avoid worrying,” Xu En’tang said.
Zhou Yi replied, “Alright, you should go rest. Sleep in tomorrow and don’t get up too early.”
Xu En’tang nodded, “You should also get to bed early, Zhou Yi. Goodnight.”
After Xu En’tang left, Zhou Yi turned to Lu Jin.
“And you, little ancestor, are you staying here so late?”
Lu Jin replied with a casual “Mm.”
Zhou Yi probed, “Did you two have a fight on the way? Tangtang doesn’t seem very happy.”
Lu Jin quickly dismissed the idea, “No.”
Zhou Yi was aware that Xu En’tang and Lu Jin had returned late at night, something Old Master Lu and Madam Lu were unaware of.
Zhou Yi had only mentioned in the morning that Lu Jin had come over last night and that Xu En’tang was still asleep, so she wouldn’t be joining them for breakfast.
Old Master Lu was still irritable, and whenever Lu Jin was mentioned, his expression soured.
Madam Lu commented, “It’s a rare weekend; Tangtang should get some extra sleep.”
By ten o’clock, Lu Jin got up.
Old Master Lu was in the bonsai garden, meticulously arranging his plants, and pretended not to see Lu Jin when he arrived.
Lu Jin approached, casting a slanted shadow over the small cliff-style juniper that Old Master Lu was tending to.
“How long do you plan to have her keep an eye on me?” Lu Jin asked.
Old Master Lu remained stoic, not lifting his head, “What’s the problem?”
Lu Jin replied, “It should be enough by now.”
Old Master Lu paused his pruning, his scissors halting mid-air. “What kind of attitude is this? Are you warning me?”
Lu Jin explained, “What I mean is, this time I was in the wrong; I went too far.”
Old Master Lu was somewhat surprised by this admission.
“It was indeed too much,” he acknowledged.
Lu Jin added, “Next time, I’ll be more careful.”
Old Master Lu scoffed, “There’s going to be a next time?”
Lu Jin smirked and continued, “Just don’t have her follow me anymore.”
Old Master Lu retorted, “I think having Tangtang keep an eye on you is showing some results.”
Lu Jin snorted lightly, “Is this how you take care of your close granddaughter?”
“What do you mean? Did you bully Tangtang?” Old Master Lu frowned.
Even though Old Master Lu had stepped back from his official duties, he still maintained an air of authority, especially when he was serious.
If it were anyone else, they wouldn’t dare to breathe too loudly in his presence.
Lu Jin remained his usual nonchalant self.
“Not really. I’m just curious; did you bring her here so she can’t go home from school and act as your spy?”