Lu Qingxu, clad in a bathrobe and slippers, a cigarette dangling from his lips, lounged boisterously on the sofa, watching television.
Upon hearing the door open, his gaze shifted. Zhan Beijue and Mai Ledi simultaneously looked at him, both wearing expressions of disbelief.
"Why haven't you left yet?"
"How are you here?"
The siblings spoke in unison.
Lu Qingxu was quite pleased with their reactions.
To him, they were a couple caught in a clandestine affair. Their embarrassment and shock at being discovered were only natural.
He offered no explanation, slowly exhaling a puff of smoke, and returned his attention to the screen, awaiting an explanation from Zhan Beijue.
Seeing his demeanor, Mai Ledi, visibly angered, stormed over.
She spoke harshly to Lu Qingxu in English.
"I'm talking to you! Didn't I tell you to leave? Why are you still here?"
"Who told you to dress like this? To mess with my things? Who let you smoke in my room?"
"You are absolutely infuriating, get out!"
See, she reacted so strongly upon being caught by Zhan Beijue. It was a complete reversal from yesterday. She clearly cared for Zhan Beijue, yet still behaved ambiguously with other men. And not only that, she was disdainful of them afterward. He'd considered her a goddess, only to find her so flawed. With both his goddess and his friend's image shattered, and his own innocence lost, Lu Qingxu's mood was no better than theirs.
He glanced at the furious Mai Ledi and took another slow drag of his cigarette.
"Didn't you ask me to come over?"
"After serving you all day yesterday, can't I rest a bit before leaving? It's just a pack of cigarettes, I'll pay for it, why so fierce?"
Zhan Beijue looked as if he'd heard the most incredulous nonsense and strode over.
"What did you say? She asked you to come? You two yesterday..."
"Lu Qingxu, what exactly is going on?"
"Isn't it obvious? We slept together. Are you surprised? But that's the reality..."
Despite the gravity of the situation, he wore an indifferent expression! He dared to be so brazen when it involved his own sister? Zhan Beijue suddenly exploded with rage, lunging forward and grabbing Lu Qingxu by the collar, yanking him up.
"It's obvious? You have the audacity to tell me it's obvious? Didn't I make myself clear that day? Didn't I tell you what kind of person I was looking for?"
"Why would you do this? Who authorized you to act on your own?"
Heh, it seemed their relationship was confirmed. Mai Ledi was Zhan Beijue's, and he had accidentally touched her. What a mess! Lu Qingxu was utterly exasperated, wondering how he would interact with Zhan Beijue in the future.
"It's already happened, what's the point of you yelling at me?"
"You were the one who sought me out first, she's the one who invited me over, it's not like I forced myself! I didn't even gain anything, so don't act like you're wronged by me!"
"You!"
Zhan Beijue had never found Lu Qingxu more detestable. This was his sister, his own flesh and blood. He didn't want her entangled in their messy affairs, and certainly wouldn't expose her identity within his circle. If Lu Qingxu butted in without understanding the situation, he might ruin everything...
"It was my mistake not to clarify things with you before. I won't dwell on what has already happened. But from now on, Lu Qingxu, she is not someone you can touch. Go back to Nan Cheng immediately."
"Delete all contact information between you two and keep this matter buried."
Zhan Beijue, accustomed to being pampered and ordering people around since childhood, instinctively felt that everyone should obey him. He didn't consider that everyone has feelings. Lu Qingxu was a man, after all, why should he be dictated to in every matter? And buried? Didn't he even deserve an explanation?
"What is your relationship? Is it really just a normal partnership as you say?"
"You'd rather find just anyone for him than let me touch her. What kind of psychology is that? Zhan Beijue, I don't understand."
"Is she yours? Because you've tainted her, I can't touch her anymore? Just say it directly!"
Zhan Beijue couldn't believe that someone as intelligent as Lu Qingxu would be so foolish at a crucial moment. He had publicly stated countless times that he only loved Jiang Nan Fang and was uninterested in other women. How could he possibly think of them in that way?
"Stop acting foolish. She doesn't belong to our circle, she shouldn't be involved with us. Therefore, I'd rather find anyone else than you."
"Don't ask why. Let this mistake end here. I'm in a bad mood today and don't want to talk much with you. Hurry up and leave."
Lu Qingxu didn't see it that way. The more Zhan Beijue remained silent and evasive, the more it seemed their relationship was unusual. He felt betrayed. Betrayed in friendship and in "love" simultaneously. Not only had they betrayed him, but they were also blaming him, which was unbearable!
"Heh," he pushed Zhan Beijue's hand away, a bitter, mocking laugh escaping him.
"If it's yours, just say it, why be so secretive with me? Don't worry, I won't tell Jiang Nan Fang. And with so many women in the world, I, Lu Qingxu, am not desperate for her..."
Lu Qingxu knew Zhan Beijue's vulnerabilities and struck at his heart with every word. Zhan Beijue's eyes blazed with fury. "Lu Qingxu, I warn you, stop spouting nonsense."
"What? You want to fight me? Fine, for some woman you can't even acknowledge..."
Mai Ledi couldn't listen any longer. "Stop talking! Our business has nothing to do with you! Please leave my room immediately!"
"I'm going. Through this, I've finally seen clearly. Zhan Beijue, the word 'hypocritical' – you embody it perfectly."
Zhan Beijue already felt guilty for bringing his mother to Bei Cheng without telling Jiang Nan Fang. Now, he still had to plan their treatment, and he didn't know how long that would take; he was utterly frustrated. And at this critical juncture, Lu Qingxu dared to call him hypocritical...
"Get out now! Lu Qingxu, say one more word, and I can't guarantee I won't resort to violence!"
Both of them, having done something they felt guilty about, were now pointing fingers and telling him to leave? Heh, Lu Qingxu felt utterly humiliated and wished he could just have a good fight to relieve his frustration!
"What do you mean, *you'll* refrain from hitting me? It's *me* who's too lazy to fight you!"
"Don't think you're so great just because the Zhan family has money. Constantly showing off your authority, Zhan Beijue, I've put up with you for too long!"
Put up with him for too long? After more than ten years of friendship, Lu Qingxu called him hypocritical and said he'd had enough! Zhan Beijue's brow furrowed, and he stared at him coldly.
"What did you say? Say it again if you dare."
"I will! I, Lu Qingxu, have had enough of you. You want to fight? Come on, do you think I'm afraid of you?"