Chapter 46: Remember to Treat Each Other with Respect

By the time she returned home, it was already ten o’clock.

Lu Yi had not come back yet, but the lights were on at home, which meant her parents were already there.

Carrying her shopping bags, Lu Qingyue got out of the car and waved obediently. “Thank you, Xingye. Goodbye, Xingye.”

Cheng Xingye responded with a simple “mm,” watched her enter the house, then started the car and drove off.

As she stepped inside, sure enough, Lu Jiachen and Xi Yu were still up, sitting in the living room watching television.

Hearing the door open, Xi Yu turned first. Seeing her daughter walk in alone, she asked in surprise, “You’re back, Diandian? Where’s your brother?”

She had specifically asked Lu Yi that morning to take his sister out for a bit. Why was only Lu Qingyue back now?

Lu Qingyue changed into her slippers and answered honestly, “He seemed to have gone to the airport to pick someone up, so he didn’t come home with me.”

Lu Jiachen turned around as well, puzzled. “Then who brought you back?”

She replied, “My brother’s friend, Cheng Xingye.”

Lu Jiachen was a little surprised to hear it was Lu Yi’s friend. He raised his brows slightly and glanced at the shopping bag in her hand, probing casually, “Oh? You bought new clothes?”

Lu Qingyue, not one to lie, answered truthfully, “Xingye bought them for me.”

Even Xi Yu picked up on something now; her eyes drifted to the brand logo on the bag.

The brand targeted the mid-to-high-end market for young women, leaning toward a light luxury style, so the prices were anything but cheap.

Just a friend’s little sister? Who would so casually give such an expensive gift?

Xi Yu keenly sensed something was off, but she didn’t press further, only gently reminded, “Since it’s so expensive, you should pay him back.”

Lu Qingyue nodded, replying obediently, “I know.”

Although it was clear Cheng Xingye didn’t lack money, she couldn’t just accept something from him for no reason.

Who would have thought that a casual mention from her would actually result in him taking her to buy a dress?

Fortunately, she’d been saving her allowance this semester and still had quite a bit left. Paying for this dress would be just like buying herself a new outfit for the New Year.

...

“If you’d stayed out any longer, I’d have called the cops!”

Cheng Xingye had just stepped inside when Chen Shujie came barreling over, shouting.

About a dozen people were still in the room, the coffee table piled with empty bottles. Parties like this never ended before dawn.

When the birthday boy finally returned, someone on the sofa called out for him to join in for drinks.

Before he could go over, though, Chen Shujie dragged him to the bar, lowered his voice, and grinned mischievously, “Where did you just take Lu’s sister? Did you do something bad?!”

Cheng Xingye shot him a cold glance. “Is something wrong with you? Do you ever say anything that isn’t nonsense?”

Chen Shujie blinked, slinging an arm around his shoulder and dropping his voice meaningfully, “Just worried you might lose your head and cross a legal line!”

Cheng Xingye brushed him off, opened the fridge, and pulled out a cold bottle of water. Twisting open the cap lazily, he replied, “What line could I possibly cross? I just took the girl to buy a dress.”

Honestly, he still didn’t understand why Lu Qingyue—who seemed so carefree—insisted on getting a dress tonight.

He tipped his head back, taking a drink, his neck taut and defined, Adam’s apple rolling with each swallow—an effortlessly seductive sight.

Just watching him, Chen Shujie couldn’t help but think this guy was born to ensnare hearts. Clicking his tongue, he teased, “Seriously! Taking a minor shopping for a dress—don’t you think that’s already risky?”

They aren’t even dating yet and you’re taking her shopping—if you start dating, what’s next, the bedroom?

He’d have to stay vigilant and keep a close eye on this troublemaker for Lu.

Cheng Xingye shot him an amused glance, drawling, “What are you so worked up about? Are you jealous?”

“Is it because I bought Diandian a dress and not you?”

Chen Shujie: “???”

Why would he, a grown man, be jealous of a teenage girl?!

And who the hell wants a dress!

If he thought he could take Xingye in a fight, he’d have dragged him out for a brawl by now.

While they bantered back and forth at the bar, suddenly Cheng Xingye’s phone buzzed in his pocket.

He set the water bottle on the bar and fished out his phone. To his surprise, the message was from a certain troublemaker who had never texted him before—a WeChat transfer of 1280 yuan.

Cheng Xingye frowned slightly as he unlocked the screen.

There was another message below.

[Lu Diandian]: Thank you for taking me to buy a dress, brother. [clasped hands][clasped hands][clasped hands]

Across the screen, Cheng Xingye could imagine her bowing with that infuriatingly cute look.

He found it both amusing and, inexplicably, a little irritating.

What did she mean by paying him back? Was she drawing a clear line between them?

There was no way he’d accept the money. 1280 meant nothing to him, and besides—

Why shouldn’t he buy her a dress?

This little troublemaker was getting better at getting under his skin.

Leaning against the bar, veins faintly visible on the back of his hand, he typed a reply, fingers long and elegant.

[hOShinO]: Don’t mention it. Keep the money and buy yourself some candy.

Her reply came quickly.

[Lu Diandian]: I can’t do that. I didn’t do anything to deserve it. I can’t accept such an expensive gift from you for nothing.

Well, it wasn’t entirely for nothing, Cheng Xingye thought. At least her presence had made his birthday party worthwhile.

He lounged against the bar, remembering coming out of his room earlier—only to find her unexpectedly at the front door. For a moment, he thought he must be dreaming.

He glanced toward the living room.

Lou Zhao and the others, tipsy, were still playing cards, slapping them onto the coffee table with wild bravado. The loser had to bark like a dog, and the whole place was filled with boisterous laughter.

For no reason at all, he remembered Lu Qingyue leaning close to him earlier, her soft form pressed against his arm, whispering for him to sabotage his teammate’s hand.

He could almost feel her gentle breath near his ear, the lingering tingle of her touch on his skin.

Cheng Xingye swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and suddenly felt the urge to tease her.

He stared at the screen, a silent, mischievous smile on his lips, and replied with a hint of roguishness—

[hOShinO]: It’s not for nothing. From now on, whenever you see your brother, remember to treat him with due courtesy.

[Lu Diandian]: ???