CH 19.1

"Ning Ning, you should be taught a lesson.” (1)

Upon pulling open the door, Lin Yu He saw a cold-looking man standing on the doorsteps. His expression which was always flawlessly calm finally twitched. “... Mr. Lu?”

The rain lasted the whole night and had only stopped briefly during dawn. Before the sky lit up, the rain started pouring again and brought along with it the ice and snowflakes. The weather was at its coldest when the man came hastily amidst the downpour. There was no sign of wetness on his shoulder but he emitted a thick coldness.

Lin Yu He had never come to this villa before so he didn’t know how good the soundproofing was. He wasn’t sure how much he said earlier was heard by Lu Nan. Upon thinking of the possibility of being heard, Lin Yu He stiffened.

The man directed his gaze at him. It was the same gaze that came from a higher ground and loomed over him. Lin Yu He felt as though the gaze was materialized around him and somehow he felt that the man heard everything he said.

Even though they stared at each other for so long, nothing happened. Lu Nan only asked, “Did you plan to go out just like that?”

Lin Yu He was still in a daze. “...huh?”

“Where’s your scarf? Mask? Gloves? You’re going out without any of them?” Lu Nan asked again, listing off every piece of clothing article.

Lin Yu He finally recovered from his daze and rubbed his nose, feeling sheepish as he admitted, “I forgot to bring them.”

Lu Nan did not speak and only stared at him. The man stood back-facing the light. The rays that fell on him caused a shadow to loom across his expression and it was all the more difficult to read him.

The silence was louder than being scolded. Lin Yu He wanted to say something but he felt a weight on his shoulders that stopped him from speaking.

Lu Nan held his shoulders and brought him further into the house. “Go in.”

The wind outside was blocked off in the corridor, but it was still not as warm as the interior of the house. Lin Yu He widened his eyes and couldn’t react to why the man brought him inside. He wasn’t the only one stunned, even Wu Xin and Lin Feng were stunned.

Compared to Lin Feng, Wu Xin was more shocked. She had never expected Lu Nan to come over personally. However, she reacted quickly and wanted to greet the visitor. “Mr. Lu…”

Lu Nan ignored her. He took off his own scarf and wrapped it around Lin Yu He’s neck. When he wore it himself, it was loosely knotted and hung in front of his chest like an accessory piece. However, he wrapped it neatly and carefully around Lin Yu He so that his neck was fully covered and even his chin was partially buried under the soft fabric.

Once he knotted the scarf, Lu Nan asked again, “Where’s your mask?”

Lin Yu He lifted his head from the bundle and said softly, “Finished.”

Lin Yu He would always use a one-time mask whenever he headed outside. The last one he had was used last night when he came over so he hadn’t restocked yet.

Fang Mu Sen who followed from their back took out a new face mask from his briefcase and passed it over. Lin Yu He had wanted to reach for it but someone else took it first.

Lu Nan, who took the mask, opened the sealed plastic that held it. The crunching sound of plastic rang as he crumpled it between his fist and then put the mask on Lin Yu He.

The tip of Lu Nan’s fingertips brushed lightly against the shell of Lin Yu He’s ear. The latter’s ear turned red from the slight touch that felt like a sting from fire.

Lin Yu He finally found the chance to speak after the scarf and mask were both put on him. “This is enough. I can just put my hands in my pocket, no need for gloves.”

The man looked at him without expression. “I don’t have gloves prepared for you anyway.”

Lin Yu He was dumbfounded. However, Lu Nan didn’t offer an explanation and only said, “Let’s go.”

Thus, the two of them left and the original occupants of the villa were left stunned in the house. They had never thought Lu Nan had this side to him. After witnessing Lu Nan and Lin Yu He’s interaction, they felt a wave of shock and didn’t notice Fang Mu Sen was still there with them.

They only regained their senses after Fang Mu Sen knocked on the table. She didn’t even manage her expression before she asked hastily, “Assistant Fang…”

Fang Mu Sen interrupted, “There’s a message Mr. Lu wants me to relay to you two.”

Wu Xin responded eagerly, “Please, do tell.”

Lin Feng, however, was somewhat surprised when he looked at Fang Mu Sen. He had met him once before, but it was a glance from a distance. Now that they were in close proximity, he felt that Fang Mu Sen looked somewhat familiar. As to where he had seen him before, he couldn’t remember.

“Assistant Fang, please have a seat.” Wu Xin offered Fang Mu Sen to sit on the sofa

However, Fang Mu Sen stood firm in his spot. “Mdm. Wu, I believe we made it clear last time.”

Lin Feng turned to his wife in confusion. He couldn’t understand what was the “last time” Fang Mu Sen just said.

Wu Xin stiffened as if she was guilty of something. Even when she opened her mouth to speak, there was a hint of stuttering. “U-Understand, o-of course. Didn’t we do as instructed? The audio surveillance bug was removed immediately, and the time when we took a picture of the bill too. We never did the same thing as that to anything related to Mr. Lu since then. I believe you’re all aware of these.”

She spoke very quickly but Lin Feng heard all of it, and he was utterly shocked. He never knew about all these happenings.