Volume 1, Chapter 7: The Scent of Green Tea Is Too Strong!

Lu Miao curled her lip. Who was eyeing him, anyway?

The man scanned the menu briefly. "Two orders of mustard green dumplings."

The waiter jotted it down. "Right away."

Lu Miao looked at him in surprise. "You like mustard green dumplings?"

"Is there a problem with that?"

"Very few people order them, but they’re my go-to every time I come here."

Fu Shiyue stared at her thoughtfully for a moment. "Do you come to this place often?"

Lu Miao nodded. "I’m the one who eats up all the mustard green dumplings here. Even the owner thinks I’m a weirdo."

Fu Shiyue’s lips curved upward. "That’s quite a coincidence."

When Lu Miao was a child, she loved mustard greens so much that Fu Shiyue had the flowers in the garden dug up and replaced entirely with mustard greens. Even the servants thought it was a pity to turn a garden filled with world-class flowers into a private mustard green patch for Lu Miao, but Fu Shiyue insisted it looked good—one could only wonder where his taste came from.

While waiting for the dumplings, Lu Miao poured him a cup of tea. Just as Fu Shiyue lifted the cup, a clear, bright female voice cut in.

"Miaomiao? I saw someone who looked like you from all the way over there, but I didn't think it would actually be you."

Lu Miao looked up to see Wang Gege and Xu Jin. These two were among the closer friends Lu Miao had at university; both came from families with some capital and were just drifting through school to get a diploma before being ushered into their family businesses. A flashy Porsche 718 was parked by the roadside, suggesting they had skipped class as well.

"Miaomiao, did the counselor give you any trouble?" Wang Gege asked, still concerned.

"It's fine, it’s already been handled."

"Miaomiao, you just dumped Wang Mingcheng—did you find a new one already?" Xu Jin had spotted the man sitting opposite Lu Miao the moment she walked in. He had well-defined features, cold and sharp facial lines, and an aura that was at once powerful and restrained, exuding the steady maturity of a real man—a breed you simply didn't see on campus.

Xu Jin’s eyes were locked onto Fu Shiyue, shimmering. "Miaomiao, you’re being too stingy! Hogging someone this good all to yourself and not even introducing us?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? This is my..." Lu Miao glanced at Fu Shiyue guiltily. To avoid any misunderstanding, she gave a light cough and said, "He is my uncle."

*Oh, an uncle?* He was so young; he probably didn't have a girlfriend yet, right?

Xu Jin walked over shyly, eyeing the seat next to Fu Shiyue, and batted her eyelashes coquettishly. "Uncle, may I sit here?"

This "Uncle" was called out with such sweetness and intimacy.

Fu Shiyue smiled. "No."

"..."

Xu Jin was, after all, the "campus belle" of the Hengtong department—she was beautiful, wealthy, and spent millions on birthday parties, earning her the nickname "Miss Xu" among their circle. She had obtained quite a few privileges thanks to her looks; usually, when she offered to join a table, others would have felt honored and scrambled to pull a chair out for her. Yet this man didn't even spare her a glance, refusing so bluntly that he didn't give her an ounce of face.

Xu Jin’s face stiffened for a moment. Lu Miao hurriedly smoothed things over. "Sorry about that, my uncle doesn't like sitting close to others."

Xu Jin’s rigid expression quickly recovered. "No worries, Miaomiao. Handsome guys are always aloof." She patted Lu Miao’s shoulder nonchalantly and leaned in to whisper, "We’re meeting at the usual spot tonight. I’ll be waiting for you."

With that, she stood up straight and glanced at Fu Shiyue one last time. The man really was a feast for the eyes.

"Let's go, Gege." Xu Jin withdrew her gaze reluctantly and walked off, arm-in-arm with Wang Gege.

Lu Miao turned back to find the man opposite her staring at Xu Jin’s retreating figure. "What are you looking at?"

Fu Shiyue withdrew his gaze. "Nothing."

"I’m warning you, don't go getting any crooked ideas about my friends. You and her are worlds apart..."

Before she could finish, a *clack* echoed as he set his teacup heavily on the table. Lu Miao’s brow twitched. "Why are you reacting so strongly?"

"The tea is too bitter."

"..." Was he making an oblique accusation about someone?

...

After finishing the dumplings, Lu Miao couldn't wait to send him away.

Fu Shiyue lowered the car window. "Behave yourself at school. I’ll come pick you up tonight."

"No need for a pickup." Lu Miao turned to leave.

Fu Shiyue reached out, grabbed the hood of her hoodie, and pulled it back, easily reeling her in. "Don't go running around. If I find out you’re skipping class again, I’ll come to school to watch over you every single day."

Lu Miao tilted her head to look at him, her almond eyes dark and deep. "Are you that free?"

Fu Shiyue turned his face away, looking nonchalant. "Quite free."

Lu Miao was so angry her face twisted. "Then go find a job! Stop worrying about other people's children all day long. If you're that desperate, go have one of your own!"

With that, she swatted his hand away and bolted. After she had run a good distance, she stopped to catch her breath, her cheeks flushed.

Why was that man always laying hands on her? She tugged at her hoodie, feeling annoyed. She had made herself so clear just now; if he had any self-awareness, he shouldn't come looking for her again, right?

At eleven in the evening, Lu Miao received a message from Wang Gege: "Oscar, Room 101. Miss Xu is hosting."

She was dressed in a camisole and a short skirt, looking like a fluttering little butterfly, swinging her small bag as she prepared to fly out. When she opened the door, she saw a dark silhouette standing in the threshold and let out a shriek, hiding behind the door.

The man was tall and stood straight, his statue-like face immersed in the shadows. It wasn't until the hallway light flicked on from her scream that his face was revealed.

The young girl, startled by him, poked her head out and looked as if she had seen a ghost. "Why are you here again?!"

Fu Shiyue had just left a drinking party. It was late, and while he had intended to go home to sleep, he worried Lu Miao wouldn't behave herself, so he stopped by to check on her. He didn't expect to catch her red-handed.

"Lu Yan said you like to be active in the middle of the night, so I came to see." He looked her over leisurely, his eyebrows raised slightly. "Were you just about to head out?"

Lu Miao bit her lip awkwardly. "It’s none of your business. You’ve seen me, now you can go back."

The man ignored her words completely. "To save you from staying out all night, I’ll be guarding you here tonight."

He said it with such finality that he strode right inside.

Lu Miao instinctively stepped back. "Who... who gave you permission to come in!"

She stomped her feet in frustration, but unable to stop him, she found herself cornered against the wine cabinet, her face flushing with anger. The man entered and closed the door behind him, his tall frame blocking the light from above as he stood over her, looking down at her outfit.

Her typically pure face was heavily made up, her hair in braids, and she was wearing cat ears—dressed in a gaudy, colorful mess. She smelled fragrant, too, the air filled with her sweet scent. Seeing her dressed so scantily, with