Xia Liyang was momentarily stunned, completely surprised that Lu Huaicheng had actually taken her feelings to heart.

Her heartbeat quickened, and her voice softened as she replied, “You were still thinking about it…”

“Didn’t I say it before?” Lu Huaicheng paused for a moment, his voice calm yet reassuring as he reminded her, “I always mean what I say.”

“Well, then, sorry I might keep you waiting a bit longer.” Xia Liyang hastily dried herself off and stepped out of the tub.

“Oh, what are you busy with?” His voice carried a playful undertone.

“Busy…busy bathing.” Xia Liyang blurted out in a moment of panic.

“You’re bathing and still talking to me on the phone?” Lu Huaicheng’s tone now held a bit of skepticism.

“I was just about to start!” Xia Liyang quickly corrected herself.

Afraid he might say, “Then don’t bathe and just come down,” she hurriedly added, “I’ve already taken off my clothes!”

“…”

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before Lu Huaicheng’s helpless, soft laugh came through, “Alright, I’ll wait for you.”

“By the way, you can wait for me at the north gate of the school. No need to drive in.” Xia Liyang suddenly remembered to instruct him.

Otherwise, she’d have a hard time explaining why she wasn’t coming from the dormitory building.

“Oh.” Lu Huaicheng paused, his deep voice sounding slightly disappointed, “So I’m not someone you can be seen with?”

“No, it’s not that.” Xia Liyang’s breath caught for a moment, her mind racing as she quickly explained, “I’m just worried people might see and gossip. After all, your car is a bit conspicuous…”

Hearing this, Lu Huaicheng didn’t push the matter further, simply responding lightly with, “Got it, finish your bath quickly.” Then he hung up.

Xia Liyang sighed in relief, hastily wiped off her wet hair, changed into her clothes, and grabbed the necklace from her dressing table before heading out.

She initially wanted to take a cab to the school, which would be easier and less conspicuous.

However, on a Friday night, it was hard to find a taxi, and by the time she got out of the elevator, her ride-hailing app still hadn’t found a match.

Reluctantly, she headed to the garage, got into her Porsche, and sped toward the school.

As she reached the south gate, she spotted Lu Huaicheng’s black Rolls-Royce parked on the street.

What the heck? What was going on?

Did his driver mix up the gates, or did Lu Huaicheng change the meeting location for some reason?

Her nerves tightened, and she instinctively ducked her head, easing off the gas pedal.

As if that would help her sneak into the campus unnoticed.

Thankfully, even as she passed at a safe distance, the Rolls-Royce remained still.

Xia Liyang’s heart settled a bit as she found a discreet parking spot behind the dormitory, quickly put on the necklace, and got out of the car.

She hurriedly checked her phone while walking towards the south gate.

Sure enough, ten minutes earlier, Lu Huaicheng had sent her a message saying there were too many students coming and going at the north gate, so he had moved to the south gate.

He actually believed her excuse about not wanting to be seen with him!

Xia Liyang hesitated for a moment, feeling conflicted, then replied, “I got it, almost there.”

After putting her phone away, she broke into a jog.

The summer night was filled with cicadas chirping and warm winds rustling through her damp hair.

Sweating from her forehead and back, Xia Liyang couldn’t help but feel her bath was wasted.

Panting, she finally arrived at the school gate, where she immediately spotted Lu Huaicheng leaning against his Rolls-Royce, casually scrolling through his phone.

He was still dressed simply in a white shirt and black pants, his broad shoulders and slim waist standing out, with his long legs crossed casually.

The soft light of the streetlamp bathed his face, making his features appear even more striking, and his usual air of aloofness seemed even more pronounced tonight.

Perhaps hearing her approaching footsteps, he lazily lifted his gaze, his deep eyes locking onto her.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Lu.” Xia Liyang panted slightly, looking up at him, her eyes shimmering with clarity and allure.

“You took quite a while for that bath.” Lu Huaicheng’s long, narrow eyes squinted slightly, his tone half-teasing.

“Well…” Xia Liyang nervously bit her lip, quickly thinking of an excuse, “Since I was going to see you, of course, I had to clean up thoroughly, so you wouldn’t be displeased.”

“Oh.” Lu Huaicheng paused, a teasing glint flashing in his dark eyes, “What exactly were you planning to do with me, that you were so worried I might be displeased?”

Xia Liyang was slightly taken aback and, after a moment of processing, understood the meaning behind his words.

Her face instantly flushed, and she lightly blinked her long lashes, stammering, “I… I wasn’t planning on doing anything.”

“Is that so?” His eyes filled with a growing smile, and the corners of his mouth lifted.

“Yes, yes.” Xia Liyang’s gaze wavered, and she explained a bit awkwardly, “I just wanted to say that, well, the car is enclosed, and I was worried that I might smell bad from sweating, so I took a longer shower.”

“I see.” Lu Huaicheng’s eyes roamed over her, eventually resting on her damp hair, and he murmured in a deep tone, “Then it seems that shower was in vain.”

“…” Xia Liyang awkwardly bit her lip, tucking a strand of damp hair behind her ear, “I was just in a rush to see you and overlooked that.”

Her clear, elegant face was lowered slightly. She wore a light beige dress that perfectly hugged her figure, striking a balance between fullness and slenderness.

Around her slender neck hung the diamond necklace he had given her, and the rose-gold color highlighted her skin, making it look like smooth porcelain.

She was like a delicate flower blooming in the night—elegant, serene, and quietly exuding a captivating fragrance.

Lu Huaicheng’s dark eyes flickered slightly. He didn’t pursue her clumsy explanation further and simply gestured toward the trunk.

Xia Liyang let out a breath of relief, though she was still a bit confused as she walked around to the Rolls-Royce’s trunk. “Did you need me to get something for you?” she asked uncertainly.

“No.” Still leaning against the car with a casual air, Lu Huaicheng lowered his gaze and pressed the key in his hand. “It’s something for you.”

The trunk opened slowly, illuminated by soft orange lights, revealing a space filled with flowers.

They were Ecuadorian Stardust Roses, a beautiful, deep blue that seemed to glow in the dim light, resembling a serene, romantic night sky.

It was as if he had truly scooped a piece of the Milky Way to give to her.

Xia Liyang was momentarily stunned, her clear eyes reflecting the starlit scene, feeling a strange emotion spreading inside her.

A bit dazed, she looked at the man beside her. His sharp features, deep eyes, and dark gaze met hers, holding a flicker of light—like a starry sky, profound and distant.

Her heartbeat skipped a few beats as she quickly turned back, her long lashes lowering to hide her gaze, focusing back on that “Milky Way” in the trunk.

“Do you like it?” Lu Huaicheng’s voice was as smooth as jade.

“Yes.” Xia Liyang pressed her lips together, trying to calm her inexplicably quickened heartbeat.

She lifted her face, clear and sweet, smiling obediently, “I like it very much. Thank you, Mr. Lu.”

Lu Huaicheng’s lips curled into a faint smile. Teasingly, he asked, “Are you still mad at me?”

“I was never mad at you,” Xia Liyang’s long lashes fluttered, her bright eyes looking at him.

“Still won’t tell me the truth, hmm?” Lu Huaicheng chuckled, casually slipping his hands into his pockets.

“…” Xia Liyang hesitated, then, searching for the answer he might want, softly said, “I was a little upset before, mainly because you ignored me.”

“And now?” Lu Huaicheng tilted his handsome face slightly, giving her a sidelong glance.

“Now, I’m only a tiny bit mad.” Xia Liyang’s long lashes fluttered again.

“And that last bit is because?” His voice was cool and smooth, like melted glacier water.

“Because you brought so many flowers that I can’t take them back to my dorm room. It’s painful to leave them behind after seeing them just once,” she muttered.

Hearing this, Lu Huaicheng’s smile deepened as he opened the car door and gestured for her to get in.

“Get in,” he said, his chiseled jawline tilting slightly towards her.

Xia Liyang hesitated. “Where to?”

But Lu Huaicheng just smiled silently, first sliding into the back seat.

She hesitated outside, then cautiously peeked at the man in the car. “Mr. Lu, our dorm has a curfew. If we go somewhere far, we might not make it back in time…”

“It’s fine. You don’t have to go back,” Lu Huaicheng leaned back casually, his gaze playful and tone cool.

“…” Xia Liyang’s heart skipped a beat, nervously wondering if he was planning to spend the night together. Isn’t this moving a bit fast? They hadn’t even kissed yet!

Seeing her flustered face, Lu Huaicheng let out a low laugh, his voice teasing, “What are you imagining now?”

“N-Nothing.” Xia Liyang swallowed, lowering her gaze slightly.

Her eyes dropped from his sharp features to the open collar of his shirt, where she caught a glimpse of his collarbone, exuding a restrained allure.

His chest, firm and well-built, pressed perfectly against his shirt.

In that instant, she remembered what Song Jinghe had said about him having a great body, and her thoughts spun wildly.

Her cheeks flushed, unsure where to look.

Seeing her growing discomfort, Lu Huaicheng’s teasing smile softened, and his voice turned gentle, “Don’t worry, I’m just taking you somewhere to keep the flowers.”

“Oh.” Xia Liyang relaxed, slipping into the car, and, trying to cover her awkwardness, added, “I wasn’t worried at all.”

Lu Huaicheng gave a knowing smile but didn’t call her out.

The air conditioning in the Rolls-Royce was still set low.

The cool air made Xia Liyang, who was still drying from her earlier shower, shiver, as she wrapped her slender arms around her shoulders.

Noticing her discomfort, Lu Huaicheng glanced at her and calmly told the driver to adjust the temperature.

“It’s fine; there’s no need. Aren’t you sensitive to heat?” Xia Liyang pressed her lips together, lifting her gaze to meet his.

” If you catch a cold, you’ll end up relying on me to take care of you. Quite a hassle,” Lu Huaicheng chuckled.

“But if you don’t want to, could I even rely on you?” Xia Liyang blinked, her voice soft as she countered.

“…” Lu Huaicheng’s expression froze momentarily, clearly caught off guard.

Xia Liyang couldn’t help but let a slight smile play on her lips, her tone playful as she continued to probe, “Besides, if I’m cold, you could help warm me up. Last time, I helped you warm your hands, so this time, let’s just call it a fair exchange.”

“True.” Lu Huaicheng laughed softly, extending his hand gracefully, his voice calm and polite, “Would you like a fair exchange?”

“Yes.” Xia Liyang’s eyes curved into a crescent as she placed her hand in his palm.

His long, warm fingers gently threaded through hers, their fingers intertwining.