The voice was as pleasant as a cello, and when it entered Ning Li’s ears, it felt rather numbing.
She turned around and saw a delicate face. She blinked.
“Second Master Lu?”
Lu Huaiyu slightly squinted his eyes and sized up the girl. He then looked at Ji Shu with a raised brow.
“Where are you going?”
For whatever reason, Ning Li suddenly felt as if she had been caught red-handed doing something wrong.
2
Ji Shu realized it a moment later and had an inkling of who the man was.
He was handsome and his family name was Lu.
‘Lu Huaiyu? Why is he here? Wait, why does he look like he knows Ning Li? He sounds like they’re close too?! I never heard about him from her before!”
Ning Li froze for a moment before saying, “We have some matters to deal with.”
Lu Huaiyu squinted his eyes.
Matters? What kind of matters could a girl in her third year possibly have and must deal with at night?
He stuffed the bag of books into her arms.
“Take this.”
Ning Li took the bag curiously. “What in the…”
1
When she got a clear look at the mock test papers and studying materials, the words that got stuck in her throat were swallowed back into her stomach.
“You’re already a third-year high school student. Pay more attention to your studies,” Lu Huaiyu said nonchalantly.
Ning Li did not know what to feel when she saw the brand new books in her arms.
‘What is Lu Huaiyu thinking?!’
“Second Master Lu, to what do I owe this visit? Don’t tell me you came all the way here just to give me this,” Ning Li said.
“I have an appointment with Cheng Xiyue here. He’s late, so I wandered around.”
Ning Li was not completely convinced by what he said.
The two rich young masters could meet up anywhere yet they decided to meet in front of Yunzhou Second Senior High School?!
If she remembered correctly, Lu Huaiyu only studied high school for a year and was in university for one and a half years. He got a double degree upon graduating.
How would he know what kind of books a third-year student needed?
However, it was rather far-fetched to claim that he came all the way here just to give her the books.
Lu Huaiyu looked at her.
Ning Li sighed helplessly and put the books into her bag.
The empty bag was stuffed after she loaded the books inside. It had been a long while since she had a bag full of books. She could barely remember when the last time was.
Ji Shu finally reacted to the situation. He smiled and greeted Lu Huaiyu, “Second Master Lu? I’m Ji Shu.”
Ji Shu had a valiant look. His wild and untamed aura could not be contained. He looked energetic and sharp.
He was one of those young men who would turn heads wherever he went.
Lu Huaiyu nodded like a blue blood he was and said, “I’m Lu Huaiyu.”
A car drove over from the corner and stopped in front of the few of them.
Cheng Xiyue popped his head out of the window.
“Hey, Little Ning Li! What a coincidence running into you here.”
Ning Li went quiet for a moment. “Master Cheng, I’m a student of Yunzhou Second Senior High School now.”
2
How could it be a coincidence if Cheng Xiyue saw Ning Li at her own school?
Lu Huaiyu looked asquint at him. “You’re five minutes late.”
Cheng Xiyue was baffled by what Lu Huaiyu said.
He had been at dinner when Lu Huaiyu called him. He came as fast as he could.
Before he could find out why, Lu Huaiyu hung up the phone on him. He had to ditch the guests who he was having dinner with, but when he arrived, Lu Huaiyu told him he was late?!
Unfortunately, it was not appropriate for him to diss Lu Huaiyu in front of Ning Li, but he marked it down in his heart.
‘Brothers? More like someone who gets the plot moving… I’m just a tool guy…’
6
Lu Huaiyu looked at Ning Li. “It’s getting late. You can do whatever you want to do tomorrow. I’ll take you home.”
Ning Li shook her head. “No.”
Lu Huaiyu stared at her and saw the determination as well as stubbornness in her eyes, which caused him to furrow his brows slightly.
A moment later, he decided to take a step back.
“Get in the car. I’ll drive you.”
Ning Li originally did not want to trouble them, but when she looked at Ji Shu and remembered what happened in her past life, the best way out of the situation would be getting into Cheng Xiyue’s car.
“Thank you.”
She then looked at Ji Shu and said, “Put your bike here. Call someone to drive it back and get into the car with me.”
Ji Shu frowned. It was not that he could not accept the arrangement, but the original plan was for the two of them to go to the promised location. It was supposed to be the two of them only.
If he got into the car, Cheng Xiyue would surely tag along.
The Ji family and Cheng family knew each other. Ji Shu might not be close to Cheng Xiyue, but he knew the guy, let alone Second Master Lu who came from the capital.
Ning Li really did not want Ji Shu on the bike, but ever since they knew each other, she knew Ji Shu loved his bike. She really had no say in this.
Now, they were in Yunzhou, so…
Cheng Xiyue looked at everyone and said with a smile, “Ji Shu, since Little Ning Li has made it clear, stop standing there and get in the car. Not anyone can make me their personal driver.”
2
Since he was older than Ji Shu, his words were able to convince him.
Ji Shu was a cool guy, after all. He smiled, shook his silver hair, and said, “Of course!”
He got off his bike and made a call. Someone would come over and pick up the bike later.
The group wanted to get into the car.
Lu Huaiyu opened the rear door and signaled at Ning Li with his chin.
Ning Li got closer, and when she wanted to get into the car by bending over, the burden on her shoulders was lifted.
She turned around and saw Lu Huaiyu holding her bag for her. The heavy bag felt like feathers in his hand.
Lu Huaiyu sensed the girl staring at him. He looked down at her and grinned softly.
“It’s heavy, it might squash you.
1
Ning Li was 168cm tall, yet she could not find the words to talk back to him.
‘Fine. As long as you’re happy.”
Ji Shu wanted to get into the backseat with Ning Li, but before he could make a move, he felt chills running down his back.
He stiffly turned around and saw an abysmal, cold gaze directed right at him
He suddenly felt immense pressure on his shoulder.
Cheng Xiyue smiled and said, “Ji Shu, it has been a while since we met. Come sit in front, let’s have a chat.”
Ji Shu felt immediate salvation and quickly ran to the front passenger seat.
Lu Huaiyu then got into the car.
Cheng Xiyue’s car was spacious, but for whatever reason, Ning Li felt that the atmosphere was tense and tight with Lu Huaiyu beside her.
A faint scent came from him. It was as refreshing as cedar leaves.
Cheng Xiyue started the car and asked, “Where to, Little Ning Li?”
Ning Li said calmly, “Xiaosong Hill.”
Cheng Xiyue was shocked. He stared at her through the rear-view mirror.
Lu Huaiyu was closing his eyes to get some rest, but when he heard the location, he slowly opened his eyes.
“Xiaosong Hill?” Cheng Xiyue frowned for a bit and then looked at Lu Huaiyu with a worried expression.
Lu Huaiyu leaned back on the seat, hiding his face in the shadow. However, his abysmal eyes could still be seen.
No one could see what kind of expression he was wearing.
Xiaosong Hill was a sightseeing spot in Yunzhou’s suburbs. The view was great up on the hill.
However, it was known not because of its magnificent view but because it was an underground racing track in Yunzhou.
A race would be held every month in Xiaosong Hill, and all the participants were either blue blood or wealthy people. The reward for winning the race was high, hence it had always been competitive.
He did not expect Ning Li and Ji Shu to be heading to Xiaosong Hill.
Cheng Xiyue showed a flattering smile. He held onto the thinning hope in his mind and asked, “Little Ning Li, are you going there to… watch the race?”
Ning Li shook her head and said with a serious tone, “No, I’m going there to earn money.”