The young girl before him wore makeup, though she seemed rather unaccustomed to it—her eyes kept blinking incessantly, and powder flaked off her face. She was trying hard to appear gentle and refined, but it was clearly a failed attempt.
Luo Jingfeng didn’t remember who she was, assuming she was just another woman someone had sent his way. He smiled charmingly, though his eyes remained cold and detached. "Alright."
The girl had an impressive tolerance for alcohol, drinking with him for a long while.
Only when Luo Jingfeng felt it was enough did he wave his hand dismissively. "I have matters to attend to tomorrow. No more drinking."
The girl giggled, feigning weakness. "Alright, I’m almost at my limit too."
Luo Jingfeng thought coldly: Her words are too clear—not a hint of drunkenness. She must know martial arts.
With that in mind, he voiced his suspicion. "Who are you?"
The girl cupped her cheeks, beaming as she introduced herself. "I’m Lu Zhu, Lu Feng’s younger sister."
"Lu Zhu? What an ugly name," Luo Jingfeng scoffed, wrinkling his nose. "Even Lu Feng is trying to push women into my bed now."
Lu Zhu wagged a finger at him. "No, I came willingly. Luo Jingfeng, Second Young Master Luo, I like you. I want to be with you."
"Like?" Luo Jingfeng repeated, as if hearing an unfamiliar word. The alcohol clouded his mind, making it hard to think clearly.
The next moment, Lu Zhu leaned in and kissed his lips, then said sweetly, "Here, let me give you a taste. After this, you’ll definitely like me too."
Luo Jingfeng’s mind short-circuited. That kiss snapped the last thread of his restraint, and he pulled Lu Zhu into a fierce kiss of his own.
She really did taste sweet.
"G-g-guest… sir… this is the main hall. Private rooms are upstairs," the waiter stammered, utterly stunned. Though there were no other customers at this hour, if things escalated here, he feared the authorities might shut down the establishment.
Upstairs, in the private room.
Clothes were strewn across the floor as Luo Jingfeng pinned Lu Zhu down, kissing her passionately. The heated atmosphere escalated, and everything unfolded naturally.
Morning came.
Luo Jingfeng opened his eyes to see the girl on the bed clasping her hands over her heart, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at him excitedly. "You’re awake! Good morning!"
The sudden proximity of an unfamiliar face startled him, his pupils dilating in shock.
Luo Jingfeng bolted upright, scrambling to recall the hazy memories of last night. The more he remembered, the more absurd it seemed.
Had he really slept with a stranger in a tavern?
If this woman had been sent by an enemy, or if Concubine Pei had orchestrated this to trap him, he’d fallen right into their scheme!
His expression turned icy. "Who are you?"
Unfazed, the girl grinned and repeated cheerfully, "I’m Lu Zhu, Lu Feng’s younger sister. I like you and want to be with you forever."
I like you… want to be with you forever…
Luo Jingfeng had said those words before, and he’d heard them too.
But how had that ended?
Betrayal. Stabbed in the back. Forced to watch his younger sister be sent to the imperial palace.
Lies. All of it.
Women were nothing but skilled actresses and deceivers.
His face darkened with scorn. "You think one night means anything? A woman is just a plaything—what makes you think you deserve a lifetime with me?"
Lu Zhu tilted her head, puzzled. "Then what would let me stay with you forever? A subordinate? That works too! I’m really good at martial arts—even my brother can’t beat me!"
She rolled up her sleeve, flexing her muscles and patting them proudly to prove her strength.
But all Luo Jingfeng saw were the red marks dotting her arm.
Memories of last night flooded back, and his face burned. He dressed hastily, throwing out a sharp warning. "I don’t need female subordinates. Stay away from me."
Lu Zhu scrambled after him, calling out, "Luo Jingfeng, I like you!"
Enraged, Luo Jingfeng whirled around. "Shut up!"
Pouting, Lu Zhu amended, "Then… I adore you?"
His chest heaved with fury. He paced the room twice before rounding on her again. "If you dare say such things again, don’t expect me to spare Lu Feng’s feelings!"
"Why can’t I say it? Are you shy? Your face is all red," Lu Zhu said innocently. "But there’s no one else here. I won’t shout it outside."
Luo Jingfeng touched his cheek—it was scorching hot.
He told himself it was purely from anger.
Flustered beyond reason, Luo Jingfeng stormed out, still fastening his belt as he went.
By the time Lu Zhu dressed and stepped outside, Luo Jingfeng was long gone. Only Lu Feng stood there, his expression thunderous. "What are you doing here? I warned you not to approach him!"
From a subordinate’s perspective, Luo Jingfeng was a promising leader. But as a brother, Lu Feng knew Luo Jingfeng’s manor was filled with women he treated with cold indifference. If his sister entered that household, she’d never survive the scheming of the inner court.
Lu Zhu crossed her arms defiantly. "If you like someone, you have to try! Otherwise, how would he ever notice me?"
Lu Feng was on the verge of losing his mind. "Since when does noticing you mean he’ll like you? Do you even understand a woman’s chastity—"
"He does like me! He ran away all flustered just now—didn’t you see?"
Lu Feng: "??"
All I saw was rage! He even glared at me on his way out!
Lu Zhu linked arms with him, grinning. "Come on, let’s go home and pack. He’ll send for me soon!"
Lu Feng: "???"
Where is this confidence coming from?!
The Lu family waited for days, but Luo Jingfeng showed no sign of action. Just when they thought the matter was over, the Prince of Southern Pacification's Mansion sent a betrothal gift—for a principal wife.
Luo Jingfeng had formally proposed to Lu Zhu as his lawful spouse.
The entire Lu family was dumbfounded.
Her father stammered, "Our ancestors may have been military officials, but our status is nowhere near the Prince of Southern Pacification's Mansion. Are you sure this isn’t for a concubine?"
Given Luo Jingfeng’s standing, even a concubine in his household would outrank Lu Zhu. How could he possibly want her as his wife?
Lu Zhu grinned at Lu Feng. "See? I told you! He likes me! I thought he’d at most take me as a concubine, but no—he’s crazy about me!!"
Lu Feng: "……"
This is madness. Absolute madness.
He no longer understood his sister—or Luo Jingfeng.
Even Luo Jingyun was baffled. He asked Luo Jingfeng, "Second Brother, what do you see in that Lu girl? I met her once—she’s nothing like your usual type. She even counts on her fingers and still gets the math wrong."
Hopelessly dim, the polar opposite of Wen Lingyu.
