"Were you slacking off just now?—"
Sang Lu spoke faster, beating him to the punch.
"—Several class schedules were outdated, and you only threw one away. Not very diligent, are you?"
Feng Yan fell silent, staring at her, momentarily at a loss for words.
But Sang Lu had no intention of waiting for his reply. She arched a brow slightly and continued,
"Don’t think I don’t know—you just couldn’t stand the words written on them..."
Feng Yan stiffened.
His deep gaze swept over Sang Lu’s face.
The knot of frustration that had weighed on him like a boulder for hours was laid bare by her casual remark.
He couldn’t quite describe the feeling.
For a moment, there was an odd sense of relief.
Yes.
He wasn’t magnanimous.
He couldn’t stay calm and composed after learning she’d once liked another man.
His eyes locked onto hers, unblinking.
Emotions churned within him.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened, and a self-mocking voice echoed in his chest.
"Those words weren’t written by me. My desk mate scribbled them while filling out the schedule for me..."
Sang Lu’s voice was steady, each word landing sharply in his ears.
Feng Yan’s gaze flickered, caught off guard.
Sang Lu studied his sharply defined features and said, "Back in high school, there was a time I mistakenly thought I had a crush on Lu Sheng. Turns out, it was all a misunderstanding."
With that, Sang Lu exhaled softly.
She hated unnecessary misunderstandings.
Now that it was out in the open, she felt lighter.
Before her, Feng Yan’s expression seemed to freeze for a split second, and his grip on the steering wheel loosened slightly.
"Okay, misunderstanding resolved~"
Sang Lu flashed a smile at the brooding man.
"But I still want to add one thing—"
She exaggeratedly held up her pinky finger, measuring a tiny space.
"—President Feng, you’re so petty. Your heart’s as small as this..."
Whenever she teased him, she called him "President Feng."
Meeting Sang Lu’s amused gaze, the tangled web of emotions in Feng Yan’s chest suddenly loosened. He watched her silently for several seconds.
"Tried being magnanimous. Failed."
Feng Yan’s voice was eerily calm, his sharp brows unwavering.
His dark eyes burned with a determination Sang Lu had never seen before.
"Because I like you too much. Couldn’t help it."
Thump-thump—
The unexpected words slammed into Sang Lu’s ears. Her heart raced violently, eyes widening slightly.
Feng Yan’s intense gaze pinned her in place, his voice low and clear:
"Sang Lu, I really like you."
As if worried she hadn’t heard, he repeated it.
Thump-thump-thump—
Her heartbeat grew even wilder, pounding against her ribs.
Sang Lu felt her breath hitch.
Just then, the traffic on either side began moving.
The red light turned green.
Feng Yan tore his gaze away and drove forward.
Truthfully, he wasn’t as composed as he appeared either.
The web trapping him had merely transformed, settling heavily in his chest.
He wanted her response.
Yet feared what it might be.
Eyes fixed ahead, he focused on driving steadily.
His thumb rubbed against the steering wheel repeatedly, betraying his unease.
After passing two intersections,
another traffic light came into view.
The countdown showed three seconds before it turned red.
With unwavering resolve, Feng Yan accelerated slightly.
The black sedan glided smoothly through the intersection.
At that exact moment, Sang Lu’s sweet, lilting voice reached him.
"What a coincidence. I like you too."
Feng Yan’s eyelids twitched, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
The midday sun had passed its peak.
The light no longer stung,
but poured directly into his dark irises, illuminating the slow spread of joy within them.
The entire world outside seemed softer, brighter.
The same beam of sunlight warmed Sang Lu’s cheeks,
leaving them flushed and glowing.
She gazed out the window, lips pressed together lightly.
Her thoughts were a jumbled mess.
She’d simply followed her heart and spoken those words.
The sound of her heartbeat drowned out everything else.
Wind rushed against her face, yet did nothing to cool the heat in her cheeks.
She wanted to press her hands to her face to cool down.
But the moment she lifted them, a larger, warmer hand enveloped hers.
Dazed, she looked down.
Feng Yan’s long, elegant fingers slowly interlaced with hers.
Palm to palm.
A lazy smile played on his handsome features as he drove one-handed, eyes forward.
The car moved at a leisurely pace.
His calloused thumb traced idle circles over her skin, occasionally giving a gentle squeeze.
He held her hand without a shred of hesitation, toying with it the entire way.
......
Feng Family Estate.
Feng Yi had been waiting at the entrance, timing his arrival perfectly.
Ever since learning this month’s family dinner was moved earlier, he’d been counting down the days.
Lately, he’d been attending school diligently, turning down invitations to race cars or hit the bars with friends, focusing solely on his studies.
He couldn’t wait to report his progress to his elder brother and sister-in-law—proof of his reformed ways.
Now, the usually rebellious Second Young Master of the Feng Family stood under the sun, uncharacteristically patient.
Hands in pockets, he paced back and forth.
Every now and then, he rose on his toes, peering down the road.
Finally.
His brother’s car came into view.
His face lit up instantly, and he waved both arms enthusiastically from afar.
"Brother! Sister-in-law—"
The black sedan rolled into the estate, parking smoothly by the fountain in the front yard.
Feng Yi hurried over eagerly.
But the moment his brother and sister-in-law stepped out, his feet stuttered to a halt.
Pupils shaking.jpg
Why were his brother’s ears so red?
His gaze shifted.
Pupils shaking harder.jpg
His sister-in-law was even worse—redder than his brother!
Feng Yi blinked dumbly at the sky.
Was it really that hot today?
The sun didn’t feel particularly scorching...
Just as he opened his mouth to speak, he saw his brother wrap an arm around his sister-in-law’s waist.
Feng Yi: ???
What the—?
Haven’t they been married for ages?
And why was his sister-in-law coughing awkwardly, looking everywhere except at his brother—what kind of act was this?
Before Feng Yi could make sense of it, a cane tapped his back.
He turned to find Old Master Feng scowling at him in disapproval.
"Still so clueless at your age!?"
Feng Yi pointed at himself. "Huh? Me?"
The old man huffed.
"Addicted to being a third wheel, are you? Still standing there like an idiot? Get inside on your own—or are you waiting for your brother and sister-in-law to escort you?"
