After getting in the car, Lu Yan asked in a deep voice, "Where to?"
Assistant Song was driving in the front seat. Ning Anmiao still had a strange feeling in her heart and replied cautiously, "Back to Yanyan's place. I've told her I'm coming."
"Okay." Lu Yan nodded and gently admonished, "Get some rest early when you get back. Don't stay up late working on your manuscripts."
Ning Anmiao shrank her head and replied in a soft, deliberately lowered voice, "I know."
Seeing that she was reluctant to show their relationship in front of others, Lu Yan's face darkened for a moment, but he quickly composed himself.
He knew that Miao Miao needed time to adapt.
A few strands of her hair by her ear were a bit messy. Lu Yan lowered his eyes, reached out his hand, and gently tucked the strands behind her ear. Then he softly ruffled her hair.
This affectionate gesture warmed Ning Anmiao's heart, and her nervousness eased a bit.
When the car pulled up downstairs, Ning Anmiao got out. Lu Yan followed suit.
Ning Anmiao was taken aback when she saw him get out too.
The man was dressed in a suit, with a tall and straight figure. His aura was calm and reserved, exuding a natural air of nobility and aloofness.
It was a bit intimidating.
At this moment, he was looking at her with gentle eyes.
"Can you go upstairs by yourself, or do you need me to accompany you?"
His tone was calm, but there was an unmistakable hint of doting.
Ning Anmiao looked up at him with a bright smile on her face. "No, the lights in the stairwell have been fixed. I'm not scared anymore."
Lu Yan looked into her eyes, feeling an urge to pull her into his arms.
"Who fixed it?" he asked in a deep voice. Looking at her twinkling eyes, he suddenly regretted sending her back here.
He should have just driven her home.
Ning Anmiao's tone was soft. Without even realizing it, she pouted and said, "You know the answer already."
Lu Yan was taken aback for a moment. He didn't expect her to figure it out.
He smiled and deliberately drawled, "Since you know it was me, how are you going to reward me?"
There was a hint of provocation in his calm voice.
Ning Anmiao was caught off guard by his question. "Huh? A reward?"
She looked utterly confused. "You fixed the light in the stairwell for the benefit of all the residents in the building. Why do you need a reward from me?"
She rolled her eyes and deliberately raised her voice. "The old lady in the building said you were a kind - hearted young man. I guess she was wrong!"
She sounded quite self - assured.
Lu Yan leaned closer, his presence overwhelming her. He spoke very slowly, "She knows very well who I did it for."
"As for the others, it was just a minor act of kindness on the side."
He enunciated each word, his tone full of meaning. "You know I never do anything without an expected gain."
It was clear that he was waiting for her "reward".
Ning Anmiao looked up at him. Under his intense gaze, she knew she couldn't get out of this. So she tiptoed.
"Since you've been so selfless, Mr. Lu, I'll give you a little reward." With that, she wrapped her small hands around his neck and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
It was just a fleeting touch.
Lu Yan wasn't satisfied with this small gesture. Before her heels touched the ground, his large hand cupped the back of her head, pulling her back into his arms and deepening the kiss.
It was only when Ning Anmiao, blushing, pushed him away.
"Cough, cough. Assistant Song is still here!" She blushed and glanced nervously at Assistant Song, who had the car window open.
The next second, the car window was slowly rolled up, as if by telepathy.
It seemed like Assistant Song was saying, "Carry on."
Ning Anmiao: …
She covered her face in shame, wishing she could find a hole to hide in.
Assistant Song must have seen and heard everything.
How embarrassing!
"I'm going home!" She took several steps back as if fleeing and quickly ran into the building. When she reached the corner of the stairwell, she waved at him.
Lu Yan pursed his lips. Watching her lively figure disappear into the building, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
...
Only after seeing the light in Miao Miao's room upstairs turn on did Lu Yan open the car door and get in.
He didn't immediately tell Assistant Song to drive away. Instead, he took out a cigarette from his pocket.
Assistant Song, noticing his intention, lowered the back - seat window.
Lu Yan flicked his lighter and lit the cigarette. The smoke quickly rose.
Lu Yan took a puff, half - closing his eyes, and asked in a deep voice, "Has there been any news from my mother lately?"
Assistant Song replied politely, "Lately, the old lady has been busy socializing with other upper - class families. She's probably looking for a suitable marriage partner for you."
Lu Yan felt like laughing.
He exhaled a puff of smoke, sneered, and said sarcastically, "She didn't want the daughter - in - law I chose for her, but now she's busy all day long."
"Mr. Lu, I think the old lady has a misunderstanding about Mrs. Lu," Assistant Song said in a timely manner. "Maybe you should tell her about Mrs. Lu's family background."
"If the old lady knew that Mrs. Lu comes from the prestigious Ning family..."
"No need." Lu Yan squinted his eyes, took another puff of the cigarette, and reached out the window to tap the ash.
He had considered this solution before but quickly dismissed it.
If his mother knew about Miao Miao's family background, it would indeed change her attitude towards Miao Miao to a great extent. But at the same time, it would bring other troubles.
Since he returned to the Lu family, his mother had changed. She had become more ostentatious, loving to show off.
By then, the Ning family would become one of her assets to show off.
This was definitely not what Miao Miao wanted.
He understood all this.
Lu Yan stubbed out the cigarette and said in a solemn tone, "Don't worry about her. Spread the word that any company or family that tries to introduce a woman to me will never have the chance to cooperate with Xinghe again."
His eyes were unfathomable, and his voice was cold. "Those who are brave enough to try or think they can marry into the Lu family are welcome to give it a shot."
Assistant Song knew that his boss was determined to be faithful to his wife.
By cutting off his own options, he couldn't help but give him a mental thumbs - up.
"Understood, Mr. Lu."
---
Ever since Lu Yan made that announcement, anyone who dared to talk to him about marriage or try to introduce a woman to him would permanently lose the opportunity to cooperate with Xinghe.
After that, no one dared to pick up on Mrs. Lu's hints about matchmaking.
After all, no matter how eloquent Mrs. Lu was, in the end, it was Lu Yan who had the final say in the Lu family.
No one dared to take that risk.
Mrs. Lu was pacing around in anxiety. Seeing the daughters of several prominent families in Shanghai getting married into equally prestigious families, she felt an indescribable sense of unease.
She had to talk to Lu Yan.