The poison wasn’t used in the end. When Wei Junze learned the reason she had come to find him, he was both exasperated and amused: "So this is how you see me?"
"Though I did hope the truth would come out and Uncle Ji would separate you two."
"But I’d never resort to such underhanded methods."
Wei Junze’s lips curled coldly, a clear sign that the heartbreak had left him in a foul mood.
Of course, the main blow had been Ji Nian’s earlier remark about "liking his face." Had she mentioned anything else, Wei Junze might not have taken it so hard—but she had to zero in on his looks.
"Hey, listen up."
"I’ll warn you—this little prince of yours is no saint. He’s exactly the type to plaster your photos all over his walls. If you ever try to break up with him, he might threaten suicide or even lock you up."
"You’d better think carefully."
Wei Junze’s expression was utterly serious as he spoke.
Sensing his sincerity, Ji Nian refrained from snapping back for once. "Thanks for the warning."
"He wouldn’t do that."
At the very least, she didn’t believe Lu Jinghuai would resort to suicide threats.
Perhaps his true nature wasn’t as innocent as she’d once imagined, but he wasn’t the extreme type Wei Junze described.
Despite the hardships of his childhood, he had still grown up surrounded by love. He had his own pride.
He wouldn’t grovel for a failed relationship by harming himself.
Ji Nian was more inclined to believe he’d never let things reach the point of "failure" in the first place.
By the time their conversation ended, Wei Junze’s mood hadn’t improved. Instead, he stared at Ji Nian’s faint, knowing smile—clearly lost in some pleasant thought—and his eyes darkened further.
"Could you at least pretend to sympathize with someone who just got dumped?"
Ji Nian coughed. "My bad."
As she stood to leave, Wei Junze leaned back against the sofa, his gaze lingering on her. "If I kept chasing after you, knowing full well you’re with him, what would you do?"
Ji Nian tilted her head in thought.
"I wouldn’t want to upset him, so I’d beat you up every time I saw you—until the mere sight of me made your bones ache with fear."
She flashed him a grin, baring her teeth in a way that was more unsettling than cute.
Wei Junze scoffed, unable to hide his admiration.
"Damn it, saying things like that only makes me like you more."
Ji Nian rolled her eyes. "Don’t make me reconsider our partnership, Wei Junze."
...
"Are you free this afternoon? Let’s go on a date."
Ji Nian handed Lu Jinghuai two tickets.
He had changed into fresh clothes and was waiting on the sofa when she returned.
After sniffing her to confirm she hadn’t picked up any unwanted scents, he smiled contentedly.
Hearing the word "date," his eyes curved involuntarily.
"Sure."
He took the tickets and glanced down at them.
Ji Nian sat close to him, a hint of guilt in her voice. "I’m sorry our relationship has to be kept hidden."
Lu Jinghuai shook his head. "No need to apologize."
He lifted her hand to his cheek, pressing a kiss to her skin.
Beneath his slightly tousled bangs, his silver-gray eyes gleamed with a mix of tenderness and mischief—far from the image of a saint, he now resembled a fallen creature, desperate for affection and willing to play any role to earn her love.
"Just knowing you care is enough to make me happy."
The system was speechless: [...A true master.]
If only it could record this and send it to He Xiang and Wei Junze.
Judging by her expression, Ji Nian was thoroughly charmed.
[If our nation ever faces peril a century from now, just play this scene at my grave. I’ll claw my way out and defend our land, smashing enemies with my bare bones.]
The tickets were for a bullfight, courtesy of Wei Junze.
He had originally planned to go with Ji Nian, but after meeting Lu Zhi, he’d likely drown his sorrows in alcohol. Rather than let the tickets go to waste, he gave them to Ji Nian as a goodwill gesture.
Even if they couldn’t be lovers, they could still be partners.
At the very least, he wanted to keep a place by her side.
Lu Jinghuai studied the address on the tickets as they got into the car.
"What’s wrong? Is there an issue with the tickets?" Ji Nian asked, noticing his scrutiny.
He shook his head. "No, they’re perfect."
The seats were arguably the best in the house.
But...
"I just didn’t think you’d enjoy something like this."
Ji Nian had never actually seen a bullfight before.
For reasons most would understand, she tended to avoid crowded events—even private boxes didn’t appeal to her much.
Lu Jinghuai, on the other hand, was well-versed in such spectacles. Even though Wei Junze was no longer a threat, he couldn’t resist pointing out the subtle trap laid within the gift.
"It seems Mr. Wei enjoys this sort of thing, to give you these tickets."
His smile was deceptively gentle.
The sudden shift in their relationship had altered Ji Nian’s perception of him. For once, she wasn’t completely disarmed by his charm and instead recalled Wei Junze’s earlier assessment.
Teasing, she asked, "Lu Jinghuai, would you really cover your walls with my photos?"
His smile didn’t waver. "Sounds intriguing. Would you like me to?"
Ji Nian shuddered. "No thanks."
Wouldn’t that be creepy to wake up to at night?
The event was packed that evening.
Before entering, Ji Nian even took a photo with a statue outside the bullring—a man dressed in an elegant, ornate matador’s suit. She didn’t recognize him, but the sculpture perfectly captured her romanticized vision of the tradition: a graceful, daring dancer locked in a deadly waltz with the bull.
For a moment, she felt a flicker of anticipation.
Even after they took their seats, waiting for the show to begin, she couldn’t resist teasing Lu Jinghuai.
"I’ve seen clips of bullfights before, but I never paid much attention."
Lu Jinghuai draped an arm around her. "Was it the pants?"
Those tight, curve-hugging trousers that accentuated every line of the matador’s waist...
Ji Nian’s mind wandered to another question inspired by the outfit.
Though they were in a foreign country, she still lowered her voice, leaning in to whisper mischievously to her newly minted boyfriend.
"Lu Jinghuai, which side do you usually dress to?"
Almost immediately, she regretted it.
This was the kind of question better suited for private moments—asking it in public might embarrass him.
Besides...
Would he even understand what she meant?
The air between them froze for a second.
Ji Nian shook her head and scooted away slightly. "Never mind, just pretend I didn’t—"
Before she could finish, Lu Jinghuai murmured, "Right."
To ensure she heard him, he leaned in again, his dyed-black hair brushing against her arm as he lowered his voice—husky and deliberate—near her ear.
"It’s the right side."
Ji Nian: "……………………………Oh."
[I had something vulgar to say, but love is about restraint. I’ll hold back.]
The system: "[...]"
As the symphony began to play, Ji Nian soon witnessed the legendary bullfight for the first time.
Unlike the cheering crowd around her, her expression turned blank the moment she realized the true purpose of the spectacle—to torment the bull to death.
Watching the animal, its back pierced by spears, bleeding profusely as it writhed in agony, she understood…
No wonder Lu Jinghuai had said she wouldn’t like it.
Just as she lowered her gaze, a hand gently grasped hers.
"Would you like to keep watching?" Lu Jinghuai asked softly.
Ji Nian shook her head lightly.
"No."
"Then let’s go."
Hand in hand, they walked away from the stands, leaving behind the roar of the exhilarated crowd.
