Chapter 100: Lu Sheng Side Story (Part Two)

He Cai exclaimed, "He’s not my boyfriend!"

Dongfang Xuan, who harbored a grudge against Chen Shuo, frowned and tried to pull He Cai away, but she shook off his hand and quickly opened the car door, jumping into the passenger seat.

"He Cai!" Dongfang Xuan chased after her, attempting to drag her out.

But before he could touch her, his wrist was firmly grasped by another hand.

Chen Shuo leaned forward, deftly twisting Dongfang Xuan’s arm. His grip was skilled, rendering Dongfang Xuan powerless.

Chen Shuo smiled politely, "A gentleman would never force a lady to do something she doesn’t wish to do."

Chen Shuo was very close; He Cai’s back pressed against the seat, yet the scent of tobacco from the man lingered around her nose.

She nervously clutched her seatbelt. "Officer Chen, did you smoke again?"

Chen Shuo answered with a quiet "Mm."

That deep voice echoed in her ear, making her heart suddenly race.

[Oh heavens, why am I finding this man a bit handsome? That can’t be right. I’m not someone who falls for looks, am I? He’s so rough—he’s not my type at all!]

Dongfang Xuan, abruptly attuned to He Cai’s inner thoughts, grew anxious. "He Cai, get out of the car!"

Chen Shuo flung Dongfang Xuan’s hand aside, slammed the door shut with a bang, and the car sped away, leaving the furious Dongfang Xuan behind.

Inside, silence reigned; the atmosphere was awkward.

Chen Shuo, being older, casually remarked, "There are so few streetlights on this road. It’s so dark, really uncomfortable."

He Cai glanced out the window, blinking, and wondered if this grown man was afraid of the dark. With the poise of a young lady, she said, "Another day, I’ll donate some of my pocket money to install more streetlights here. Both sides of the road will be bright!"

Chen Shuo’s fingertips gently caressed the steering wheel; the urge to smoke flickered in him, but he resisted and instead asked, "Do you dislike the smell of cigarettes?"

He Cai replied, "I just don’t like it."

He said, "Then I won’t smoke anymore."

He Cai looked up, surprised. "Ah?"

Chen Shuo laughed softly but said nothing more.

Elsewhere, the Yu Hua Society was aglow with warm, bright light inside a white house.

Bai Yao, fresh from her bath and clad in a nightgown, emerged to find Lu Sheng furtively fiddling with her bag.

She tiptoed behind him and suddenly called out.

Lu Sheng jumped in fright, clutching the items in his hands, his face full of terror. "Yao Yao, you scared me to death!"

"Guilty as a thief." Bai Yao snatched the things from him. "What are you up to?"

Lu Sheng glanced at her, looking sheepish. "I just wanted to scent your bag with flowers—make it smell nice."

Bai Yao rummaged through her bag and found a red flower. She’d noticed before that whenever she went to school, a flower would appear in her bag. She used to think it was a sweet surprise from Lu Sheng, but now her feelings had changed.

She squinted at him. "Does this flower have another purpose? Be honest."

Lu Sheng’s gaze darted nervously. "I… I’m afraid you’ll go somewhere I can’t find you. As long as there’s a flower, I can always locate you."

She pressed further, "Is it just for tracking?"

Lu Sheng lowered his eyes, muttering, "Sometimes it can act as my eyes and ears."

Instead of anger, Bai Yao was curious. "Is it part of you?"

Lu Sheng, timid, whispered, "You could say so."

Bai Yao’s eyes widened. "So you can bloom, too?"

Lu Sheng grew excited. "Do you want to see?"

Bai Yao nodded with enthusiasm. "I do!"

Lu Sheng’s body began to change. Cracks appeared on his skin, from which green branches sprouted. Gradually, he transformed into a lushly branched tree, green vines spreading throughout the room, climbing the walls and ceiling.

Bai Yao was surrounded, her gaze filled with vibrant greenery.

Then, buds blossomed one after another atop the vines, their dazzling colors echoing with the green, bursting with life and brilliance.

A vine dangled from the ceiling, and a flower slowly unfurled before her eyes.

Bai Yao stared at the flower, her curiosity giving way to emotion as memories of Lu Sheng’s past hardships surfaced. Her eyes grew moist; she carefully cupped the flower on the branch, sniffing softly.

At her touch, every flower in the room trembled, as if stirred by some powerful stimulus. They all opened wide, releasing pollen that filled the space with a delicate fragrance.

A vine stealthily wrapped around her leg, slipping beneath her skirt.

Bai Yao suddenly realized something: flowers are the reproductive organs of plants.

Now, with vines filling the room, encircling her, and pollen occupying her every breath, what did it all mean?

She yanked the vine from her skirt and screamed, "Lu Sheng! You pervert!"

Her cries were answered by vines blooming with flowers, enclosing her tightly like a cage from all directions.

On the rooftop across the way.

Xiao Xiong, holding a small black cat, watched the shadows of wild vines dancing through the distant window, and said to the cat, "Meow."

They really play with flowers.

The cat replied, "Meow~"

Good children shouldn’t learn from that.