Chapter 4

Chapter 4

As the end of the year approached, Lu Xuzhou’s workload increased.

Heavy snow drifted outside the window while I played the piano inside. My fingers flew across the black and white keys, so absorbed that I didn’t even notice when Lu Xuzhou returned.

“Going to a class reunion tomorrow?”

I turned around. Perhaps because he was still carrying the chill of the outdoors, Lu Xuzhou stood a bit of a distance away from me.

My fingers paused only briefly before I continued playing. My gaze fell on Lu Xuzhou as I gave a soft nod.

He hadn’t had time to change out of his clothes yet, and he still carried the aura of a high-ranking executive. Silhouetted against the light behind him, his presence was even more commanding than the white grand piano.

He took off his overcoat and stepped closer to me.

A cool hand rested on the top of my head, gently ruffling my hair. “Why are you only telling me now?”

“It’s not that important,” I whispered. From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the fountain pen in his breast pocket. Before I could think further, my fingers automatically transitioned into the main melody of “Moonlight.”

It was gentle, ambiguous, and heart-stirring.

Lu Xuzhou’s hand stroked the ends of my hair in time with the rhythm of the music.

“I have to go to Japan tomorrow.”

I actually knew that.

Given Lu Xuzhou’s personality, if I were attending a class reunion, he would have personally dropped me off and picked me up, even if he couldn’t stay the whole time. If he had known the date of the reunion beforehand, he never would have scheduled work in Japan.

But I had intentionally kept it from him.

The faint scent of cedarwood in his breath seemed to invade my body through my pores. Even though I knew Lu Xuzhou had a very good temperament, I couldn’t help but tremble.

Would he get angry?

How would he treat me in his anger?

I stole a glance at Lu Xuzhou’s eyes. They were dark and somber, as if he were making a decision on a major corporate issue.

After a long moment, he withdrew his hand. His suit cuff brushed against the piano, making a clear, sharp sound. I tried to keep my eyes on the keys.

As expected, was he still not going to do anything?

Then, I heard the sound of sleeves being rolled up behind me. “Naughty Ah Sui.”

I was so nervous I could almost hear the sound of my own swallowing.

Lu Xuzhou unhurriedly took off his suit jacket. When the rustle of fabric stopped, a pair of strong hands slid under my arms from behind.

I was hoisted up from the piano bench, the world spinning as I was pulled back into his embrace.

Even though those hands were very steady, I still couldn’t help but wrap my legs tightly around his waist and hook my arms around his neck.

We were so close-close enough to hear the thumping of a pulse. Fast and powerful.

I couldn’t resist resting my head in the crook of his neck. He tilted his head toward me, his stray hairs pricking my ear until it turned red.

“I heard someone secretly bought some… toys.”

Lu Xuzhou supported my weight with one hand under my bottom and carried me toward the TV cabinet. His goal was clear: the drawer where I had hidden the ruler.

When Lu Xuzhou gripped that ruler in his palm, my breath nearly stopped. Under the dim light of the floor lamp, the long, black wooden ruler glinted with an oily yet cold luster. No one would doubt the kind of red welts such a hard ruler would leave if it landed on skin.

I couldn’t help but shrink back.

“Scared?” When Lu Xuzhou laughed, his chest vibrated against me. He rubbed his thumb over the body of the ruler, creating a dry, rasping sound.

“When I found it, I thought it was something I’d bought before and forgotten about.”

“Only now do I realize… it was a little cat fishing for a reaction.”

I suddenly remembered that night, and what Lu Xuzhou had done after calling me a “pretty kitty.”

He’d devoured me completely.

Lu Xuzhou watched with composed interest as my face grew increasingly flushed.

“Purposely didn’t tell me about the reunion?”

He held the ruler and pressed it gently against my supple, fair skin. With just a slight downward pressure, that patch of skin already bloomed with a shy red.

I shook my head, my hair rubbing back and forth against his neck. I couldn’t tell if I was feeling anticipation or fear.

The pressure from the ruler grew heavier.

Then it suddenly pulled away, followed by the sound of it cutting through the air.

I squeezed my eyes shut, my muscles tensing instinctively.

The next second…

The ruler tapped against me as light as a feather.

I trembled subconsciously, only realizing after the fact that Lu Xuzhou hadn’t used any force at all. My stunned expression seemed to please him.

Lu Xuzhou tossed the ruler aside and held me firmly with both hands. “Just teasing you.”

He straightened me out in front of him until our foreheads touched. His voice was low and husky. “I couldn’t bear to hit you.”

I couldn’t see his expression clearly at that moment. But feeling his racing heart and burning body temperature, I felt like there was more he wanted to say. It was as if he were suppressing himself-in every way possible.

But I didn’t have time to think about it.

He said he might be out of the country for many days this time.

He said he would miss me very much.

He said he loved me.

And so, he had to collect an advance on the next few days’ quota.