Falling For The Contract Bride

Chapter 45

Chapter 45 Someone She Used to Love

Mu Zhi panicked as looked at the notes on the walls.

She did not know how to answer Lu Jinye.

Should she tell the truth?

Or lie?

Mu Zhi clenched her teeth before replying, “I didn’t.” Text © 2024 NôvelDrama.Org.

Lu Jinye arched his eyebrow and stared her down, “Oh? Really?”

He was testing her. The hairs stood up at the back of her neck, but she stubbornly stuck to her statement.

She didn’t write a note. That was the story she was sticking to. She would never admit to having written one.

But Lu Jinye did not let up his stare.

His deep gaze was filled with emotions that Mu Zhi could not fathom. For a moment, she thought that maybe there were something more between them.

If there wasn’t, he would not be concerned with her past relationships.

So, maybe there was something more…

Just as this was running through her head, Lu Jinye smirked. He withdrew his gaze and pointed to a post-it note hanging in a corner.

It was obvious that that one had been there for a while. It was significantly faded from being exposed to the sun. But the words were still legible. Written on it was her name.

And the contents were, ‘Marry Mr. Lu!!!’

The Mr. Lu of her university years could not possibly be Lu Jinye. She had not met him then.

Lu Jinye was aware of that too.

Mu Zhi’s face flushed red.

She did not know how to explain herself. At that moment, Lu Jinye’s phone rang.

His phone was on the table. When it rang, Mu Zhi easily saw the name that flashed on the phone’s screen.

It was Xiao Qingqing.

She pretended not to see it. She lowered her head and continued eating her bibimbap.

Lu Jinye slowly lifted the phone to his ear and answered it. His undertone was cold and distant, “Yes?”

“Jinye…” Xiao Qingqing’s voice was filled with hesitation. But she still had to know. “Have you spoken with Miss Mu?”

Hearing this, Lu Jinye looked up at Mu Zhi. His gaze seemed to deepen.

Mu Zhi overheard Xiao Qingqing. She was troubled, especially when she heard her name.

But she kept her head down and pretended not to hear. She mixed the bibimbap evenly with her spoon before bringing a spoonful to her mouth.

Lu Jinye looked away, stood and headed out the door.

Mu Zhi only raised her head to look at him when she was sure that he was far enough.

Before this, he had always been open with his phone calls around her. She had heard her name. What kind of call was it that he had to hide it from her?

As Mu Zhi was contemplating this, Lu Jinye had finished with his phone call and was on his way back. Mu Zhi lowered her head back towards her bowl and took a couple of mouthfuls.

Lu Jinye reached in and gently told her, “Something’s happened at the company. I need to leave. I’ll get the chauffeur to come pick you up.”

“There’s no need. I’d like to walk around a bit before heading home.”

Lu Jinye did not insist. He paid the bill and left.

All the girls in the restaurant stirred when Lu Jinye left. Their whisperings intensified when they saw that he had left on his own.

But Mu Zhi’s attention was not on them, it was on the bowl of bibimbap meant for Lu Jinye. It was untouched. He had not taken a single bite, nor did he stir it.

Just as Mu Zhi lowered her head, the girls in the restaurant all gasped.

It was the kind of sound that could only be made when a hottie walked by.

Mu Zhi kept her head low, only for a shadow to fall onto her table.

She raised her face up, but the man beat her to it, “Is anyone sitting here?”

It was Lu Junnian.

Mu Zhi looked at him but did not answer.

Lu Junnian was in his casual clothes. The Versace hoodie, jeans and canvas shoes look made him appear youthful. Those who did not know him could mistake him for a graduate student from the university.

“No one.”

At that moment, the owner came out of the kitchen with a bowl and placed it on their table. He spoke when he saw Lu Junnian.

He was surprised to see Lu Junnian. Only then, he realized that he had mistaken the previous man for this one.

“This bowl has not been touched. The previous gentleman had just left… What do you think?”

The owner did not want to waste his ingredients.

“Take this away and please make me another one.”

The owner glanced at Lu Junnian’s stoic stance and did not dare argue with him.

Besides, anyone watching could tell that it was complicated.

Mu Zhi did not leave. She had only eaten a few mouths and did not want to waste the food.

Her emotions were already in a mess. If she left because of Lu Junnian, then this day would be unsalvageable.

Mu Zhi lowered her head and took a large bite.

The owner was quick. Within a few minutes, Lu Junnian food had arrived.

Lu Junnian picked up the hot sauce and drizzled some onto the rice before starting to eat.

Mu Zhi realized what he was doing, and her hand couldn’t help but stop in its movement.

The Lu Junnian she knew could not have spicy food. When Mu Zhi had first brought him here, she had him try the hot sauce. It was made in house and was delicious.

Lu Junnian had only had a bite before his face flushed red.

At that time, Mu Zhi had encouraged him to take a few more bites.

She had reasoned that the spice would go away after a bit.

Lu Junnian could not refuse her. Or maybe he wanted to spoil her. He had eaten way more than he had wanted to and agreed with how delicious it was.

Nothing seemed out of place until that night when they stayed up all night conducting experiments. Lu Junnian stomach began to burn.

Xu Changshu was their mentor and would often come to check on them. Mu Zhi was afraid that she would find out about her relationship with Lu Junnian and did not dare say anything. Lu Junnian held it in until Xu Changshu finally left before fainting.

Mu Zhi was scared silly. She rushed him to the hospital.

He had acute gastroenteritis. The doctor scolded them for delaying their visit to the hospital.

Xu Changshu knew Lu Junnian. Ever since he was young, he could not eat anything spicy. How could he have eaten so many hot peppers to the extent of giving himself gastroenteritis?

Xu Changshu came to the conclusion that someone had instigated Lu Junnian.

And that instigator was Mu Zhi.