18 Please Come to My House for Dinner 18

The fury burning within Lu Jin’s chest nearly split him apart. He had said from the start that something was off about Ye Qiao the moment he first saw her—and indeed, this person was trouble.

“What are you two doing?” Lu Jin strode over with a fierce aura, his face taut and restrained, careful not to lose control.

Su Ran, startled by Lu Jin’s sudden appearance, instinctively withdrew his hand from Ye Qiao’s body. Ye Qiao looked at him, frowning, and also adjusted her clothing.

“We…” Su Ran was momentarily at a loss. Lu Jin’s presence felt like he was catching them in a scandal, his questioning implying something improper between him and Ye Qiao. “We were just sketching. I accidentally fell into the water earlier…”

Lu Jin fixed Su Ran with a piercing gaze before shifting his cold stare to Ye Qiao. She met his eyes unflinchingly, then sneered disdainfully, as if to say: Who are you to question me?

Lu Jin took a deep breath, feeling his blood surge upward, a salty, bitter taste rising in his throat. But he was no reckless youth; he kept his emotions tightly sealed.

“Let’s go back,” Lu Jin said quietly, lowering his voice to avoid revealing his simmering anger.

After a moment of calming, he added, “The sun isn’t so strong now. Don’t catch a cold.”

“Oh… right, better head back,” Su Ran said, turning to Ye Qiao. “Have a shower when we get back. Don’t catch a chill.”

Ye Qiao smiled, looping her arm around Su Ran’s shoulder. “Got it, Ranran. You too.”

Lu Jin admitted to himself that Ye Qiao’s tactic had worked. His jealousy burned fiercely, nearly overwhelming him. His eyes locked onto Su Ran’s, staring stubbornly until Su Ran finally met his gaze.

When Su Ran looked back, he felt a strange unease. He couldn’t understand why Lu Jin looked so furious, but within those deep eyes, beyond anger, there was also a trace of suppressed grievance that made Su Ran’s heart stir.

“Um… Mr. Lu, weren’t you supposed to be at the beach with them? Why are you here?” Su Ran asked.

“I was just wandering around. Didn’t expect to find you like this,” Lu Jin replied, his expression cold and taut, yet his eyes grew red.

Su Ran shivered under that gaze, feeling his words carried some hidden meaning. He wondered if Lu Jin was misunderstanding the situation. “We were just sketching. Let’s go back now.”

Su Ran couldn’t explain further—there was nothing to explain, after all.

On the way back, Ye Qiao was in good spirits, chatting and laughing with Su Ran. Lu Jin remained silent and withdrawn.

Back at the villa, Lu Jin stood at the door to open it. Ye Qiao also stood by her room door, smiling as she said to Su Ran, “Good night, Ranran.”

“Good night,” Su Ran replied.

With a sudden bang, Su Ran jumped, startled. He looked toward the next door, which was already firmly shut. How strange. Could Lu Jin still be upset from the last failed attempt to test him?

Lu Jin entered his room, which was eerily silent except for his heavy breathing. He glanced at the mirror, but it was engulfed in darkness.

Scenes from moments ago flashed through his mind. The more he thought, the paler his face became, as a vague dread crept over him, as if something precious was about to be taken away.

His heart seemed to have no outlet; something was swelling in his chest. Without another thought, Lu Jin turned and stormed out, knocking on the neighboring door.

Su Ran had just slipped into slippers, about to change when he heard the urgent knocking. He looked toward the door, sensing something pressing.

Without bothering to change, Su Ran went to open the door. Standing there was Lu Jin, his face urgent but wordless after seeing Su Ran.

“Come in,” Su Ran said, stepping aside. “What’s the matter, Mr. Lu?”

The formal address stung Lu Jin like a blade. He stared at Su Ran, voice hoarse. “What do you think?”

Su Ran blinked, confused. “I don’t know.”

Lu Jin took a deep breath. Though frustrated, the scent on Su Ran—a cool mountain spring freshness—somehow soothed his anger.

“Did you do it on purpose?” Lu Jin’s voice softened.

Su Ran looked genuinely puzzled. “On purpose? What do you mean?”

Seeing Su Ran’s indifferent expression, Lu Jin felt his chest tighten. He was sure it was intentional—Su Ran was provoking him because he refused to be his secret lover. Now he feigned innocence to force Lu Jin to confront the truth and embarrass him.

He appeared gentle and easy to bully, but in truth, he was the one who wielded power.

Su Ran, seeing Lu Jin’s silence, sighed. “Mr. Lu, I’m going to take a shower.”

He began unbuttoning his shirt, signaling that since Lu Jin set boundaries, maybe it was time to leave.

Unexpectedly, Lu Jin remained rooted, face flushed, anxious yet unsure how to act.

His breathing quickened. He reached out and grasped Su Ran’s hand, cool and delicate. Clumsily, he held it tight. “Su Ran, if you leave Jiang Yi, I’ll give you everything you want. Whatever you desire, I will give it.”

Su Ran frowned deeply and shook off his hand fiercely. “Don’t say that again. I’m not leaving him. Get out.”

Lu Jin froze, truly wounded this time, completely humiliated and dismissed.

He couldn’t understand what Jiang Yi had that made Su Ran unwilling to leave.

***

Su Ran hadn’t expected Lu Jin to still be so stubborn. Given his nature, the one thing he couldn’t stand was anyone trying to pull him away from Jiang Yi. Besides, it wasn’t time yet—when the moment came, Jiang Yi would naturally abandon him.

Su Ran’s expression softened as he said quietly, “Mr. Lu, please leave. I really need to shower.”

Lu Jin’s face dimmed. After the first rejection, he could calm down. “Alright.”

With that, he left, still dazed and unwilling.

At that moment, down the corridor, a slender figure stood before Jiang Yi’s door. He was lightly dressed, wearing a sweet smile, knocking as he spoke softly, “Brother, it’s me.”

Lu Jin paused, then understood. He wondered if Su Ran really had no idea what kind of man Jiang Yi truly was.

***

The next day, Su Ran and Ye Qiao returned cheerfully from outside. Su Ran had successfully earned forty thousand, naturally in high spirits. But as they reached the corridor and saw Lu Jin, Su Ran’s smile faded.

Lu Jin was always cold and aloof, his expression often oppressive. During these days out, Su Ran sensed something was off, as if Lu Jin was unhappy. Being in the same space made the atmosphere tense.

Su Ran toned down his smile and greeted Lu Jin before heading to his room. Just as he opened the door, Lu Jin stepped up beside him. “I need to talk to you.”

Su Ran looked puzzled. “About what?”

Ye Qiao turned back to Su Ran. “Ranran, I’ll do the coloring tonight. Come to my room to see the finished piece.”

Su Ran readily agreed. “Okay, I’ll come by tonight.”

Lu Jin inhaled sharply after Ye Qiao entered her room, then said, “There’s a project. I need to discuss it with Jiang Yi. You should come too—after all, your desserts contributed.”

Su Ran was momentarily surprised, a flush creeping to his cheeks, as if being seen trying to ingratiate himself. “Okay.”

Su Ran followed Lu Jin, who was tall and cold. He said nothing, making Su Ran feel an inexplicable seriousness.

“Is Jiang Yi already waiting? Should I call him?” Su Ran asked.

“No need. I saw him in his room just now,” Lu Jin replied.

Jiang Yi’s room was around a corner, somewhat secluded but still on the same corridor.

At the door, Lu Jin knocked firmly. Sounds came from inside, and Su Ran thought he heard Jiang Yi’s angry voice.

Lu Jin knocked again. “Jiang Yi, open up.”

Silence fell, then after some time, Jiang Yi opened the door. He froze at the sight of Su Ran beside Lu Jin, his expression awkward.

Jiang Yi was dressed neatly. Su Ran glanced at him, then into the room, where he saw Zhou Luo. Zhou Luo’s eyes were red, and his gaze toward Su Ran was tinged with sorrow.

Su Ran quickly guessed they’d had a falling out.

Jiang Yi stared at Su Ran uneasily before saying, “Secretary Zhou, you should leave for now. We’ll talk another day.”

Zhou Luo left, casting Su Ran a covert glare as he passed.

Su Ran sensed something was wrong. He looked at Lu Jin, who was watching him closely. Their eyes met, and Su Ran suddenly understood. Lu Jin, wanting him to leave Jiang Yi, was deliberately staging this scene.

Seeing that persuasion failed, Lu Jin sought to strike two birds with one stone: expose Jiang Yi and Zhou Luo’s affair, taking down two rivals at once.

Su Ran felt dazed, absorbing this avalanche of information as they left Jiang Yi’s room.

In the corridor, Lu Jin kept his gaze locked on Su Ran’s reaction. Finally, Lu Jin asked anxiously, “Did you notice?”

Su Ran looked at him. “Notice what?”

“Don’t you see something’s wrong? Jiang Yi and Zhou Luo—didn’t you notice their problem?” Lu Jin pressed.

Su Ran confirmed his suspicion. Lu Jin was indeed playing a double game. He frowned and said irritably, “Mr. Lu, Jiang Yi and Zhou Luo are just superior and subordinate. Your wild assumptions are irresponsible.”

Lu Jin opened his mouth but no words came out, his frustration swallowed.

Then Su Ran added, “I don’t know why you keep trying to sow discord, but it’s wrong.”

Lu Jin stood frozen, watching Su Ran’s retreating back, feeling as if caught in a vast whirlpool. Was Su Ran’s accusation unfair?

Why was it wrong? What was right, and what was wrong?

He no longer knew.

***

That evening, Yan Ze organized a gathering downstairs to play games. After some deliberation, they settled on a timeless classic: Truth or Dare.

The game’s challenges were mild, decided by a spinning wheel indicating truth or dare.

Su Ran sat down, and Ye Qiao took the seat beside him. Jiang Yi arrived late and had no choice but to sit diagonally opposite.

In the first round, fate pointed the bottle at Jiang Yi. He chose dare. The wheel instructed: “Give your most beloved person a hug.”

All eyes turned to him. It seemed inevitable. Only Zhou Luo watched expectantly; Su Ran did too, though uncertain who Jiang Yi would embrace—even though Su Ran was nominally his wife.

Jiang Yi’s gaze lingered on Su Ran, who wore a half-sleeved shirt and khaki shorts, sitting cross-legged. Though nothing special in appearance, his eyes held Su Ran’s gaze longer than expected.

By social convention, they were married. Regardless of feelings, Jiang Yi felt obliged to hug Su Ran.

He rose and gently embraced Su Ran. Su Ran’s shy smile met him, but his gaze quickly slipped away.

Su Ran’s smile was genuine, a shy curve of his lips. Ye Qiao, sitting so close, mirrored that smile—but her eyes were cold.

She shifted her gaze to Jiang Yi. “Hug your most beloved person? Jiang Yi, you’re so hypocritical. Since when was Su Ran your most beloved?”

She was furious, wanting to tear off Jiang Yi’s mask and show Su Ran his ugliness—his debauchery with others—then hold Su Ran close and comfort him until his tears dried.

Jiang Yi returned to his seat, bringing a sudden chill. The scent Su Ran recognized was gone, and Lu Jin’s keen nose caught no trace—meaning once outside the home, Jiang Yi and Su Ran had no further contact.

Yet Lu Jin sat rigidly, unable to breathe from the memory of that embrace.

As night deepened, thunder rumbled outside, soon followed by rain growing heavier. The room cooled.

The group finished playing and retired to their rooms. Su Ran showered and changed into fresh silk pajamas—shorts and a short-sleeved top.

Afterward, he felt a damp chill, as if moisture crept in through the window cracks.

Su Ran pulled the curtains. A flash of lightning illuminated the outside sharply. Hastily, he drew the thick curtains and stepped out to get some hot water.

The house was quiet; the hallway unusually still. On the first floor, the lighting was dim as Su Ran headed to the kitchen.

Unexpectedly, a flash of lightning revealed Lu Jin standing tall by the counter, several empty wine bottles scattered about. He held one in hand, the flickering light casting stark shadows on his sharp features.

The sudden sight startled Su Ran. In the kitchen, Lu Jin’s aura was somber—alone and troubled.

Su Ran hesitated, then approached. Perhaps Lu Jin was anguished over Jiang Yi.

The plot was clear now: Lu Jin understood he must fight for Su Ran himself, no longer meddling with Jiang Yi. Maybe it was time to share something.

“I’ll pour some hot water,” Su Ran murmured, greeting him.

Streetlamp light filtered in, enough for Su Ran to see clearly. He didn’t want to break the heavy, melancholy mood.

Lu Jin studied Su Ran’s silhouette—the contours of his face, eyes, lips, and slender neck.

His thoughts were chaotic, a painful lump blocking his chest. He moved close to Su Ran, reckless and resigned. Boundaries and lines were beyond him tonight. On this stormy, thunderous night, drunk and overwhelmed, he didn’t care to discern right or wrong.

When Su Ran finished pouring and turned, he found Lu Jin standing right before him, reeking of alcohol but eyes bright, fixed unwaveringly on him.

“Su Ran…” Lu Jin reached out clumsily, gripping his arm.

He edged closer, the figure before him growing clearer. The swelling pressure in his chest threatened to burst.

He wondered: if he agreed, would this person kiss him? Hold him? Would he finally possess him?

Seeing Lu Jin like this, Su Ran sighed, deciding to hint at the truth. Hesitating, he said, “Actually… Jiang Yi and I are not really married. We never registered.”

Lu Jin froze completely. His lips parted, voice trembling. “You mean…”

“Yes. I don’t even know if it counts as marriage. We never got a license…”

Before Su Ran could finish, Lu Jin suddenly wrapped him in a tight, airtight embrace. Lightning flashed, thunder roared.

“I know…” Lu Jin’s words were swallowed by the storm, but Su Ran only felt the warmth of being held close.