Rejected.
Su Ci's eyes widened in anger.
She didn't ask him why; instead, she reached out her hands and held them on both sides of Lu Zhe's face.
In his astonished gaze, Su Ci took the initiative and kissed him, gently licking his cold lips.
Just moments ago, she had fed him a milk candy.
The boy's thin lips now carried a hint of milkiness.
Su Ci's eyes curved mischievously, her gaze filled with mischief. With her slightly parted lips, she bit his lip.
The boy winced in pain, his eyes darkening.
Su Ci wanted to continue her antics, but her gaze inadvertently landed on Su's mother and Wen Ya, who were returning from the restroom and walking towards the car.
She had to let go of her hands that were holding Lu Zhe's face on both sides, and her pearly white teeth also released the lightly bitten lower lip.
Su Ci was about to retreat when, in the next second, a cold finger pinched her chin.
Her dark eyes filled with astonishment as she watched Lu Zhe lean in, helplessly yet indulgently scolding her: "Can't you be a little more obedient?"
His thin lips pressed fiercely against hers.
His tongue tangled with hers, and Su Ci, seeing Su's Mother and Wen Ya approaching, pushed against Lu Zhe, only to be met with an even more intense entanglement.
Suddenly, Su Ci remembered a saying: "No pain, no gain."
The car door opened.
Su's mother got in, finding the car unusually quiet. Her daughter was sitting obediently, looking out the window, while the boy in the front passenger seat was also silent. The two seemed to have no interaction, like rivers that do not cross each other's paths.
Had they argued?
Wen Ya also got in, "Where's the driver?"
Lu Zhe turned his head and replied softly, "He went to buy something."
As soon as he finished speaking, the driver quickly ran back, opened the door, and got in, "Sorry, madam, I just went to buy some water."
Wen Ya smiled, "It's fine, let's drive."
Su Ci quietly looked out the window, her lips slightly pursed, her cheeks and the corners of her eyes tinged with a faint blush.
After getting off the highway, the car drove for nearly half an hour before reaching their destination.
The temple was on a mountain, with many cars parked below, indicating a popular attraction.
The driver parked the car.
When Su Ci got out, she saw many stalls around, selling incense and candles, charms, lucky windmills, and food, creating a lively atmosphere.
The temple was near a village, and the stalls were run by villagers.
Wen Ya and Su's Mother also got out, "I didn't expect it to be so lively here."
Lu Zhe got out from the passenger seat, closed the door, and turned to see Su Ci's fair and slender legs exposed.
He hadn't noticed in the car, but now he saw she was wearing short jeans.
Normally, Su Ci's outfit would be ordinary, but her snow-white skin and slender straight legs made her appearance striking.
Her legs were so beautiful they caught the eye, and many glances were already directed at the girl.
Lu Zhe sighed, opened the car door, and took a thin jacket from the driver's seat.
It was close to noon, and the sun was getting stronger.
Su Ci looked at the seemingly endless stairs and felt a bit dizzy.
Wen Ya's bright face was full of smiles, "Looks like today is not just about praying but also about exercising."
Su's Mother, who usually kept fit, wasn't bothered by the long walk but was concerned about her daughter, "Ci Ci, if you get tired later, remember to tell us, we can walk slower."
Su Ci nodded, glad she wore comfortable white sneakers and had applied sunscreen.
Wen Ya and Su's Mother walked ahead, Su Ci in the middle, and Lu Zhe at the back.
Su Ci walked slowly, gradually falling behind.
She wanted to look back at Lu Zhe, but the next moment, a hand went up to her waist.
Su Ci was surprised to see Lu Zhe tying the black thin jacket around her waist.
“Cover up,” Lu Zhe said after securing the jacket, shielding her overly fair and beautiful long legs from view.
Su Ci blinked, refusing outright, "No, it looks ugly."
Lu Zhe pressed her hand, "It's not ugly."
Su Ci wasn't going to listen to him.
Seeing Su's Mother and Wen Ya ahead, Lu Zhe held her hand and kissed her, "Tuan Tuan, be good."
Su Ci let out a light hum, and the little rabbit that had been showing its teeth and claws just a moment ago instantly calmed down, reluctantly accepting his jacket.
Under the sunlight, the girl's face looked even more fair and translucent.
Lu Zhe chuckled at her reluctant expression, finding her love for beauty amusing.
Not knowing how long they had walked, Su's Mother and Wen Ya slowed down, both being accustomed to a luxurious lifestyle where they were usually chauffeured.
Su's Mother noticed the black jacket tied around her daughter's waist, clearly Lu Zhe's, but she pretended not to see, "We're almost there, Ci Ci, hang in there."
Su Ci's face was red from the sun, looking both adorable and pitiful. She nodded weakly.
After climbing so many stairs, only Lu Zhe showed no signs of fatigue, his breathing steady.
If not for the presence of elders, he would have already carried Su Ci up.
The higher they went, the more serene and ancient the surroundings became, exuding a solemn atmosphere.
When they reached the temple, Su Ci's legs were sore.
She followed Su's Mother and Wen Ya into the temple, where the faint scent of incense filled the air, not unpleasant.
Su's Mother and Wen Ya lit incense and bowed before the Buddha statues.
Wen Ya had something on her mind and sincerely prayed for a divination.
Su's Mother knew she was praying for Lu Zhe.
Seeing her daughter obediently standing by waiting, Su's Mother followed Wen Ya to the divination place.
The old man took the inscription, "What did madam ask for?"
Wen Ya's bright face showed anxiety, "My son's health."
The old man put on glasses, "Madam's sign is 'first ominous then auspicious', with a heavenly blessing star, meaning a noble person will assist and bring good fortune, turning everything around."
Hearing this, Wen Ya anxiously asked, "Does this mean my son's illness will improve?"
Next to her, Su's Mother looked at the old man with anticipation, hoping Lu Zhe would live a long life.
The old man slowly explained, "This is a good omen. If madam is asking about illness, there will be no disasters and no major issues."
Wen Ya's expression brightened.
During her son's treatment, his condition hadn't worsened and seemed almost normal.
If not for the diagnosis reports confirming his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, she often felt her son was healthy, no different from others.
What gave her hope was that some experts believed his condition might be improving.
Such cases were rare, and they needed more observation and treatment to be sure.
Now, hearing the old man's interpretation of the divination, Wen Ya felt a weight lifting from her chest, allowing her to breathe easier.
Though others might find it unbelievable or unconvincing, she held onto the hope that her son would get better.
Su Ci and Lu Zhe waited nearby, seeing the cheerful expressions of Wen Ya and Su's Mother, knowing it was a good sign.
Su Ci wasn't curious, as she knew better than anyone that Lu Zhe would recover.
She reached out and hooked Lu Zhe's hand by her side.
Lu Zhe looked at her.
Su Ci asked, "Do you want to go to offer incense?"
Lu Zhe shook his head; he never believed in Buddha.
Su Ci whispered, "I don't either. If I were to pray, it would be to the God of Matchmaking."
Then, she blinked at Lu Zhe, whispering, "I'd ask the Old Man under the Moon to replace our red thread with iron wire, binding us tightly."
Lu Zhe curled his lips and chuckled softly, holding her mischievous hand, "You don't need to ask the Old Man of the Moon; just ask me."
Su Ci's eyes gleamed with mischief, teasing him, "Then, even the Deliverer of Children Guanyin isn't needed; just ask you?"
Lu Zhe tightened his grip on her hand, not responding.
The gods couldn't see the boy's black hair, his ear tips quietly turning red.
Wen Ya and Su's Mother both received the best fortune and were in high spirits, deciding to donate incense money.
Due to the large amount, the Abbot came out to greet them.
The Abbot's face was serene, his eyes bright. After Wen Ya and Su's Mother donated, he gifted each of them a blessed peace talisman.
When his gaze fell on the tall boy following them, his expression changed slightly.
“Is there something wrong?” Wen Ya saw the abbot looking shocked at Lu Zhe, and her heart tightened involuntarily.
The abbot closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. His expression calmed down. “This young man is a person of great fortune.”
Wen Ya's heart, which had been lifted just a moment ago, settled back down. She wanted to ask the abbot if he had seen something—if her son's illness would heal.
But the abbot didn't continue speaking.
“There will be vegetarian dishes served in the courtyard. You may move to the dining hall to enjoy them.”
The abbot withdrew.
By his side, the disciple couldn't help but ask the abbot, “Master, is there something wrong with that young man?” He rarely saw his master look so shocked.
The abbot had just seen Lu Zhe's upper body covered in golden light, but when he opened his eyes again, the light had disappeared.
He marveled, “That young man is filled with virtue. He is a person of great fortune.”
The disciple was curious how his master knew this.
Before the disciple could ask further, the abbot shook his head. “It cannot be spoken of.”
In the dining hall, there were many guests who had come to offer incense, enjoying their meals.
A disciple led them to a quiet room.
Su Ci found that the vegetarian dishes here were very delicious. Though the variety was not great, each dish was prepared with excellent color and aroma.
After lunch, Su's Mother and Wen Ya didn't rush to leave. Hearing that there were monks giving lectures on Buddhist scriptures, they were eager to attend.
Su Ci found it boring and secretly pulled Lu Zhe's hand, sneaking out from the back.
Su's Mother watched her daughter and Lu Zhe sneak out and sighed, continuing to listen to the Buddhist scriptures.
The temple had a long history, unlike the modern temples that were built with grandeur. The surroundings had an ancient, solemn, and mysterious atmosphere.
It was autumn, and many of the trees' leaves had turned yellow. The ground was covered with fallen leaves, and stepping on them produced a "crunch" sound.
Su Ci held Lu Zhe's hand and wandered around aimlessly.
Before they knew it, they had arrived at a lake.
Next to the lake stood a sign that read: "Release Lake, where you can make a wish."
Su Ci looked over and saw that in the middle of the lake was a stone statue of a large turtle, with a small turtle on its back. Around the turtles were piles of coins.
It seemed many people came here to make wishes.
Lu Zhe pulled out a coin from somewhere and handed it to her, "Do you want to make a wish?"
Su Ci originally wanted to say she had no wishes. Everything she wanted, she already had.
Her dark eyes twinkled, and she took the coin from Lu Zhe's hand.
She spoke to the coin: "I hope Lu Zhe will kiss me more." Then, she tossed the coin directly into the center of the lake.
Su Ci turned back, looking at Lu Zhe with a meaningful gaze. "I wonder if my wish will come true."
Lu Zhe: ...
At that moment, a little boy walked to the edge of the lake, holding something that he threw into the water.
Seeing the fish gather around, the boy jumped with joy and even climbed onto the stone steps by the lake.
There were no railings around the lake, only stone steps. Pilgrims could sit by the lake to feed the fish or release them.
The boy sat by the lake.
"I want fish, I want fish." The boy reached out toward the water, trying to grab one. His body leaned toward the lake, and unsurprisingly, he fell into the water.
A loud "splash" startled Su Ci and Lu Zhe.
The boy struggled in the water.
Before Su Ci could react, Lu Zhe had already run over and jumped into the water.
"Lu Zhe."
Su Ci hurried over.
Seeing Lu Zhe swim quickly to the boy and hold him with one arm, Su Ci breathed a sigh of relief.
Lu Zhe swam toward the lake's edge, where he found stairs leading up.
The boy was crying loudly, scared.
Lu Zhe carried him up the stairs, hearing his cries and knowing the boy was fine.
Su Ci approached, looking at the drenched boy and Lu Zhe. She quickly asked, "It's okay, don't be afraid. Where are your parents?"
Su Ci's gaze naturally fell on the boy's wrist, where she saw his life force was represented by seven yellow bars.
"Mommy, I want mommy." The boy cried loudly, tears and snot streaming down his face.
Su Ci looked around. The Release Lake was quiet, with no one in sight. She couldn't see the boy's parents anywhere. "Let's take him to the abbot."
Lu Zhe nodded. He rarely held children, and his movements were a bit stiff. With the child's loud wailing in his ears, he said softly, "Don't cry."
The boy's wide-open mouth suddenly froze, and the crying stopped abruptly.
He looked at the brother who had saved him, scared and confused, pouting resentfully.
Su Ci found it amazing. "Is he afraid of you?"
Lu Zhe nodded. "Maybe."
The boy sniffled, resting on Lu Zhe's shoulder and whispering, "I want mommy."
Su Ci saw Lu Zhe completely soaked, water dripping from his trousers. Fortunately, the sun was out, and the temperature wasn't cold, but she still felt heartbroken.
As they walked back, they heard a woman's sharp voice: "My son!"
Su Ci saw a woman rushing over.
The boy recognized the voice and quickly turned his head. "Mommy, mommy, scared..." He twisted in Lu Zhe's arms, trying to get free.
The woman quickly took her son, glaring viciously at Lu Zhe.
Meanwhile, an old lady pushed through the crowd. "Found him? My dear grandson, you scared your grandma to death." The old lady reached the woman's side, feeling her grandson's clothes soaked through. "What a sin, the child's clothes are all wet."
The woman pointed at Lu Zhe. "Mom, this man took Xiao Pei."
The old lady raged. "Call the police, hurry! Someone tried to kidnap my dear grandson."
"Ladies, before jumping to conclusions, please get the facts straight," Su Ci said, recognizing the old lady as Ye Shangjin's domineering grandmother and the woman holding the boy as Luo Minglu's mistress, whom she had seen in her investigation files.
Seeing the two women wrongly accuse Lu Zhe, she was angry. "My boyfriend saw this child fall into the lake and saved him out of kindness. There's no reason he should be treated like a criminal for doing a good deed."
The woman looked startled. Her voice lowered, clearly lacking confidence. "How do I know if what you're saying is true?"
The old lady chimed in. "Exactly."
Su Ci was speechless. "Can't you see? My boyfriend is completely soaked. He saved your child. Instead of a thank you, you accuse him. If I had known, I wouldn't have let my boyfriend save him."
"How can you be so wicked? Did you want to watch my son drown?" the woman retorted.
"So you admit we saved him now?" Su Ci lifted her chin, her fair face showing an arrogant expression. "You failed to watch your child. We had no obligation to save him. My boyfriend acted out of kindness. You should thank him. There's no reason to be ungrateful after being saved."
The woman hugged her child tightly, awkwardly mumbling, "Thank you."
Su Ci snorted. "It sounds so insincere. It's as if we owe you something."
The old lady grew impatient, scolding the woman. "You should have watched the child better. My dear grandson almost lost his life. Hurry and take him to change his clothes. What if he catches a cold?"
The woman lowered her voice, soothing the old lady. "Mom, I'll take Xiao Pei to change right away."
The old lady grumbled as she pulled the woman away.
Su Ci wondered how Ye Xi could tolerate such a grandmother, and this mistress wasn't any better.
People who could break up a relationship couldn't be expected to have good character.
"Don't mind me being harsh with them. They were unreasonable and lacking in manners. They should have thanked you," Su Ci frowned, turning back to Lu Zhe.
"I know," he said. She was defending him.
Lu Zhe felt his chest swell with warmth. How could he possibly dislike her?
Su Ci was satisfied. She ignored the two women who had walked away and looked at him anxiously. "Do you have spare clothes in your car?"
Lu Zhe was wearing a white shirt, now completely soaked.
Earlier, when he was holding the child, he hadn't noticed, but now Su Ci saw the wet shirt clinging to his body. The wet fabric was translucent, revealing the well-defined muscles underneath.
Lu Zhe told Su Ci, "There are clothes in the trunk."
Su Ci knew that Lu Zhe exercised every day, and his physique was excellent. His muscles were lean and well-defined, creating a perfect silhouette. He wasn't the bulky type that some might find unattractive, nor was he too skinny. He was just right, proportionate and balanced.
Su Ci tossed the black jacket back to him and said, "Put this on first. We'll change in the car."
"Mm."
Su Ci called Su's Mother and explained the situation to her, telling her they would head down the mountain first.
Descending the mountain was much faster than climbing up.
The Driver, having received the call, was already waiting.
Lu Zhe retrieved his spare clothes from the trunk. As soon as he got into the car, Su Ci climbed in from the other door. Meanwhile, the Driver had tactfully stepped away, strolling off to admire the scenery.
Lu Zhe looked at her with confusion. "Tuan Tuan, I need to change clothes."
Su Ci's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Lu Zhe. "Go ahead, I'll keep watch."
Lu Zhe: ......
The one he should be most wary of was this little mischief-maker.
