The fresh scent and crispness from the man enveloped Xia Liyang’s senses.

In her fluster, the hem of her dress rode up a bit.

The exposed skin of her thigh came into direct contact with the soft, thin fabric of his black suit pants.

The smooth touch and the coolness of the air conditioning sent goosebumps racing across her skin, making her heart race as well.

“Sorry, Mr. Lu, I think I tripped over your foot…”

Xia Liyang awkwardly bit her lip, hurriedly trying to get up from Lu Huaicheng’s thigh, but he restrained her movement with his warm hand on her waist.

“You’re already sitting on my leg, and you want to just say sorry?” Lu Huaicheng slowly lifted his gaze, his dark eyes shimmering with a dim light.

Xia Liyang’s nerves tightened, and she stumbled over her words: “Then, um, do you want to sit on my legs instead?”

“…” Lu Huaicheng was momentarily taken aback, then he chuckled softly, “With your little thin legs, you’re not afraid I’ll break them?”

Feeling his mocking tone, Xia Liyang’s ears turned red, and she couldn’t help but retort, “I’ve exercised before; I’m not as weak as you think.”

“Oh? Where did you exercise?” Lu Huaicheng squinted at her with his slanted eyes.

“I…” Xia Liyang opened her mouth, almost blurted out that she had exercised at the gym.

Fortunately, she quickly caught herself and stammered, “I exercised in the fields at my hometown.”

“?” Lu Huaicheng was slightly taken aback, his expression shifting from curiosity to confusion.

“It was during the busy farming season; I had to help out in the fields,” Xia Liyang explained awkwardly.

Then, seemingly afraid that he wouldn’t believe her, she hurriedly added, “You wouldn’t know unless you’ve experienced it. Planting and harvesting wheat is very tiring; it’s no less strenuous than your workout at the gym!”

“Don’t they all use harvesters now?” Lu Huaicheng frowned slightly, his tone tinged with skepticism.

Xia Liyang immediately lowered her eyes, her long lashes fluttering pitifully as she spoke in a soft, aggrieved voice: “You know our family’s financial situation; we can’t afford a harvester at all.”

Lu Huaicheng stared at her with dark, calm eyes for a moment before averting his gaze and releasing the large hand that had been gripping her slim waist.

“I underestimated you.”

Xia Liyang let out a silent sigh of relief, hurriedly jumping off his lap. She looked down to smooth the hem of her dress and then raised her eyes to ask him anxiously, “So, do you want to sit on my legs?”

Her clear, captivating eyes were unusually bright in the dim light.

Her long, flowing hair brushed against his hand like seaweed.

What was supposed to be a somewhat playful question at this moment felt particularly easy to misinterpret.

Lu Huaicheng’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, and his deep voice carried a hint of restraint as he replied, “No.”

“Oh, once you pass this village, you won’t find this shop again,” Xia Liyang joked half-heartedly, trying to ease the awkward and tense atmosphere.

Lu Huaicheng paused, lifted his eyelids, and glanced at her teasingly, “Are you that eager for me to sit on your leg?”

“It’s not like you weren’t holding on to me earlier,” Xia Liyang pouted, playfully reproaching him.

“Yeah, it’s my fault.” Lu Huaicheng smiled, his voice soothing, gentle, and indulgent.

It felt like a feather brushing against her heart.

Xia Liyang’s heart skipped a beat, and she nervously said, “We should start watching the movie; otherwise, we’ll miss the beginning.”

She pressed her dress down and quickly sat on the sofa beside him.

The opening music of the movie had already ended, and the railway tracks led to the encounter between the male and female leads.

When she saw the male lead inviting the female lead to get off in Vienna for a one-day date, Lu Huaicheng suddenly asked, “If it were you, would you get off with him?”

“…”

Xia Liyang was taken aback. She hadn’t really been paying attention before, as she had been calculating how to get closer to him and create some opportunities for inspiration.

She could only answer based on her feelings: “I probably wouldn’t.”

“Why?” He raised an eyebrow slightly.

“Because getting off with a man I just met not long ago in an unfamiliar place is very dangerous, right?” She pursed her lips and said softly.

“Even if you have a good impression of him?” he pressed further.

“Um… I generally don’t have a good impression of people I just met,” Xia Liyang replied.

“Is that so?” Lu Huaicheng paused slightly and said in a low, deep voice, “I remember someone faking an ankle sprain to get closer to me on her second visit.”

“…” Xia Liyang’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly processed her thoughts and said, “You are my only exception.”

Upon hearing this, Lu Huaicheng chuckled lightly.

It was hard to tell if he believed her fabricated romantic words.

Xia Liyang swallowed nervously and quickly changed the subject, asking him, “What about you? Would you choose to get off?”

“No,” Lu Huaicheng answered firmly without hesitation.

“Why?” She tilted her head.

“Because I don’t like to change my original plans for anyone,” Lu Huaicheng replied.

“Even if you have a good impression of her?” she mimicked his questioning tone.

“Hmm.” Lu Huaicheng nodded slowly.

He then gave her a meaningful glance.

Xia Liyang’s heart raced as if she understood the meaning behind his words.

He has feelings for her.

But he wouldn’t change anything for her.

In fact, this was the best scenario for her.

The two were like the male and female leads in this movie; after a brief encounter and joy, they would eventually face a farewell without future meetings.

She only hoped that the moment of farewell would be decided by her.

Xia Liyang turned her face, feeling somewhat complicated as she looked at the movie still playing.

Lu Huaicheng’s dark, deep gaze lingered on her for a moment before he turned back to the screen.

The female lead got off the train with the male lead, and they walked along the streets of Vienna, finding topics to chat about.

The long, dull dialogue with no real plot started to make Xia Liyang feel sleepy.

She sneaked a glance at the man beside her.

His handsome, striking face appeared even more deep and charming in the movie’s flickering light.

He was focused on the screen, seemingly more invested than she was.

She hadn’t expected this man to be quite the romantic, able to endure such a boring love story.

He and Xu Songnian would probably get along well.

After all, Xu Songnian had dragged her to watch a whole summer of artistic romance films.

Xia Liyang thought to herself, tentatively shifting closer to him, her delicate hand gently entwining with his lowered arm.

Lu Huaicheng paused slightly, glancing at her sideways.

Xia Liyang’s nerves tightened, her eyes blinking as she innocently met his gaze for two seconds.

It was unclear whether he was too focused on the movie to pay her any mind or if he had silently permitted her boundary-pushing attempt.

After studying her for a moment, Lu Huaicheng quietly averted his gaze.

So Xia Liyang leaned closer to him like she had in the Rolls Royce, pressing against his arm and resting her head on his shoulder.

But while then it was done secretly, now it was done openly.

Her long hair fell like silk, smooth and soft, lightly brushing against the back of his hand resting on his lap.

The sweet citrus scent enveloped him like thin smoke in every moment of his breath.

The soft touch pressing on his arm gently teased his nerves.

It lingered, impossible to ignore.

Lu Huaicheng’s gaze remained calm as he stared at the movie.

Yet the muscles under his clothing grew tighter.

When the male and female leads in the film shared a passionate kiss, his Adam’s apple rolled heavily.

But his expression remained unaffected as he casually turned his head, as if just realizing she was completely nestled against him, saying, “Why are you so close to me?”

“It’s a bit cold,” Xia Liyang lifted her thick lashes, revealing a pair of pitifully beautiful eyes, using the same trick again.

Lu Huaicheng’s dark gaze lightly brushed over her thin dress, his voice deep: “Then go change into something warmer from the wardrobe in the bedroom.”

“But I haven’t showered yet, how can I change into clean pajamas…” Xia Liyang paused in surprise.

“Then go take a shower,” Lu Huaicheng said firmly, picking up the remote to pause the movie.

The screen froze on the scene of the amusement park after the kiss.

Without the romantic music, the atmosphere in the room instantly became subtly awkward.

Xia Liyang slowly loosened her grip on his arm, a bit bewildered as she stood up.

Clearly, he had been allowing her to stay close before, yet now he was so insistent on sending her away.

She hadn’t done anything out of the ordinary!

What had gone wrong?

Xia Liyang walked out of the home theater room, deep in thought, and opened the wardrobe in the bedroom.

She found that he had prepared quite a few outfits for her: dresses, pants, summer and winter clothing, all neatly organized by color hanging in the closet.

However, she suspected Lin Shen had helped arrange this.

She couldn’t help but feel a bit more sympathy for Lin Shen.

It was really not easy to work for a boss like Lu Huaicheng, who had such unpredictable demands.

She thought she had figured out his temperament, only to find herself completely confused again.

Xia Liyang sighed, picked out a cotton long-sleeve top and pants, and headed for the bathroom.

When she finished showering and returned to the home theater room in her pajamas, Lu Huaicheng was still in the same position, lazily leaning against the sofa, his brows slightly lowered, fingers casually scrolling on his phone.

The lights were off, and the dim blue light from the phone screen faintly illuminated his deep features.

It made his demeanor feel both aloof and mysterious.

Upon hearing her footsteps, he lifted his gaze slightly, his eyes dimly assessing her.

He then set down his phone and picked up the remote, pressing play.

Xia Liyang moved her lips, wanting to say something to him.

But seeing that he seemed uninterested in talking, and with the movie moving to the next scene, she quietly sat back on the sofa.

She maintained a social distance that was neither too far nor too close.

In the movie, after the couple kissed, it was as if a switch had been flipped; their thoughts and souls began to collide more closely, and their dialogue became increasingly intense and profound.

Xia Liyang, who originally wasn’t keen on romance films, soon lost the drive for intimate contact with Lu Huaicheng to gain inspiration. Her eyelids grew heavier, and she began to doze off.

Crouched on the sofa, she let out a light yawn and secretly glanced at the man beside her.

Seeing him still focused on the movie, she decided not to fight it anymore and simply closed her eyes, hoping to take a quick nap.

But perhaps the soft leather sofa was too comfortable, and the surroundings were too dim.

As she squinted, she unexpectedly fell asleep.

Eventually, her head tilted and rested on Lu Huaicheng’s shoulder.

Lu Huaicheng felt a weight on his left shoulder and frowned slightly.

Turning to glance at the girl whose head had fallen onto his shoulder, his lips parted as he intended to ask her to sit up properly.

But he suddenly noticed her eyes were gently closed, her long lashes trembling with her deep breathing.

Clearly, she had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Lu Huaicheng paused for a moment, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

Who asks to watch a movie together and then just falls asleep?

It made him seem a bit ridiculous, especially since he had been irritated by her teasing earlier and was now holding back his annoyance to finish the movie with her.

Lu Huaicheng’s dark gaze lingered on her for a moment. Noticing her soft red lips slightly parted, the collar of her pajamas slightly opened, the rising and falling of her chest as she slept soundly, he felt a slight tightening in his chest and adjusted his sitting position to make himself more comfortable while gently laying her down so her head rested on his lap.

Unaware, Xia Liyang slept for more than half an hour, only waking up because her curled legs had gone numb.

With her sleepy eyes, she glanced at the rolling credits on the screen.

She was a bit confused as to why the screen seemed to be tilted.

After a while, she finally realized that it wasn’t the TV that was crooked; she had lain down.

And she was lying on Lu Huaicheng’s lap.

Xia Liyang was startled and immediately sprang up from him.

The suddenness of her movement caught Lu Huaicheng off guard, as he had just looked down to check on her.

Her head collided heavily with his nose.