Xu Yinyin stood at the hospital gate, stretching her arms in exaggerated freedom. Clad in a fluffy hoodie three sizes too big—Lu Zeyan's hoodie—and a pair of pink slippers, she looked nothing like someone who had been through kidnapping, drugging, and heartbreak. Her energy was magnetic, a little too bright for someone still healing. But that was Yinyin. A walking contradiction.
Lu Zeyan zipped her overnight bag like he was strapping her into a rocket.
"Cancel your trip," she said with a cheeky smirk. "You know you want to."
"Don't test me. I will."
"Zeyan, it's a two-day business summit. You already postponed twice. Go. Dominate the business world. Make enemies. Buy companies. Just leave me my bubble tea app password."
He cupped her face gently. "I don't like leaving you alone."
"You never leave me alone. You leave me with ten bodyguards, four maids, two chefs, and an AI security system that sounds like Darth Vader."
"Still."
She reached up, tiptoed, and gave him a quick peck. "I'll be fine."
He didn't smile. Just nodded once, reluctantly. "Call me the moment you get home."
"Scout's honor."
An hour later, she was lounging on her couch at the Lu mansion, eating spicy hotpot and watching anime. She even called Zeyan on video chat just to show off her calm, unbothered state.
She sent him off with a wink and a threat: "Don't flirt with anyone. I have eyes everywhere."
He rolled his eyes. "Insane woman."
"Your insane woman."
Then she grinned, shut the phone, and got up to head to the bookstore. She wanted to pick up some manga volumes that the mansion library (shockingly) didn't have.