I slept in late on the weekend, not getting up until three in the afternoon.

I tidied up and went to Lu Ci's place.

The furnishings in his home were just as I imagined, simple black, white, and gray, just like him.

He hadn't come back yet, and I didn't tell him I would be coming today.

I wanted to see if fate existed between us.

If we could meet before nine in the evening, I would marry him.

As it neared nine, I heard a noise at the door.

I was about to rush out of the study.

Lu Ci's phone rang.

I thought I’d wait until he finished the call before coming out.

But the voice on the phone chilled me to the bone.

It was Shen Leyun's voice.

She coquettishly asked Lu Ci, "Did Su Nian agree?"

I pressed my ear to the study door, quietly waiting for Lu Ci's answer.

Could it be that Lu Ci was also under Shen Leyun's spell?

They teamed up to make a fool of me.

I clenched my fists, itching to rush out immediately.

"Shen Leyun, you’re bold enough to mess with even my driver?" Lu Ci's voice was icy.

"I just wanted to check on my brother, since you usually ignore me, so I had to ask your driver. But I really didn’t expect you to like a woman like Su Nian."

"My affairs are none of your concern. You and that woman better behave." Lu Ci said coldly.

"I know. Mom always talks about you. When will you come back to see her?"

"I’m warning you one last time, stay out of my business, or I'll make you leave Beijing."

Lu Ci threw the phone heavily on the ground.

I didn't dare make a sound in the study. In this situation, I didn't know whether I should go out.

I knew a bit about the Lu family.

Lu Ci's mother was with Grandpa Lu, who was nearly fifty, when she was twenty. But after giving birth to Lu Ci, she disappeared.

From the phone conversation just now, Shen Leyun should be Lu Ci’s half-sister from the same mother.

"Still not coming out?" Lu Ci's deep voice came from outside the door.

So he knew I was here.

I bit my lip and walked out cautiously.

He lounged on the sofa, his eyes deep and brooding.

"Uncle." I rubbed my hands awkwardly.

He extended his long arm and pulled me into his embrace:

"Heard it all?"

I nodded, wondering why he couldn’t speak without making a move.

"Now that you know my secret, to be fair, shouldn't you exchange something with me?"

"You deliberately let me find out," I muttered quietly.

He leaned back, my ear pressed against his lips.

"A-Nian."

His warm breath brushed my neck, making me shiver involuntarily.

"From now on, I have no secrets from you. I hope you can be honest with me too, okay?"

I slowly lifted my head, his gaze burning like two flickering sparks.

Burning so intensely that I couldn't help but nod.