Chapter 282: Did I Disappoint You? (2)
Paperplane Editor: DarkGemAs Han Ruchu waved Qiao Anhao over to sit down, she also ordered the housekeeper to prepare tea. Without any intention of waving Lu Jinnian to sit down, she turned to look at Qiao Anhao and smiled graciously. She asked with care, “Qiao Qiao, how have you been recently? Has filming been tiring?”
“No.” Qiao Anhao pursed her lips, and thanked her again, politely.
“That’s good. If you’re tired, stop filming. Say you don’t want to work for the Qiao family, I can arrange for you to join the Xu family…” Midway through Han Ruchu’s words, the housekeeper brought a tray over. On it were three steaming cups of tea.
The housekeeper firstly placed a cup in front of Han Ruchu, then another cup in front of Qiao Anhao. The final cup was left on the table, but they didn’t bother to offer Lu Jinnian a drink. It was as though the final cup was just for show.
Qiao Anhao thanked the housekeeper in a low voice, before replying to what Han Ruchu had just said. “I like filming, so please, you don’t have worry about me.”
“Since you like it, then do as you please.” Han Ruchu’s red lips curled into a smile, and she took the cup in front of her.
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Qiao Anhao gave her a warm smile. From the corner of her eye, she saw Lu Jinnian standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. His demeanor was neutral as he stared out the window. Who would know what he was thinking about.
Qiao Anhao gently creased her brows, then remembered that ever since they walked in till now, Han Ruchu was fixated on her. She didn’t care at all for Lu Jinnian. Even the servants of this house didn’t bother to offer him a seat.
There were no outsiders in the house, so everyone knew it was Lu Jinnian impersonating Xu Jiamu. Qiao Anhao didn’t bother playing along, and directly called his name, “Lu Jinnian?”
Lu Jinnian, who was staring out the window, heard Qiao Anhao’s voice but only slightly turned his head. His eyes fell on her. He didn’t say a word, but looked over, puzzled.
Qiao Anhao waved at him and patted the empty seat next to her. In a soft voice, she said, “Why are you standing over there? Come sit?”
With a cup in hand, when Han Ruchu heard Qiao Anhao’s words, her expression froze. For just a second, a hint of avoidance and disgust flashed across her eyes. Then she smiled with her eyes and took a sip of her tea with a relaxed posture.
Despite Han Ruchu’s expression, for an instant, her eyes clearly met Lu Jinnian’s.
Back when he was young, he’d seen the same expression on Han Ruchu’s face the first time she met him – hatred and disdain.
After all these years, she hadn’t changed.
Lu Jinnian’s expression didn’t change at all, as though he was long used to it by now. His composed eyes jumped off of Han Ruchu’s face and into Qiao Anhao’s pitch-black pupils. He blinked gently and said in low voice, “There’s no need.”
He didn’t wait for Qiao Anhao to say anything more and turned around and continued to look out the window.
Han Ruchu curved the corner of her lips into a grin when she heard Lu Jinnian’s words. She then took a few more sips of tea and turned her head. With a sincere smile, she continued to chat with Qiao Anhao about everyday life.
Out of respect and good manners, Qiao Anhao chatted with Han Ruchu, but every now and then, she would look over at Lu Jinnian from the corner of her eyes.
He was very quiet. So quiet in fact, if he wasn’t sneaking a glance at her from time to time, you wouldn’t know that there was a person standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window.Chapter 283: Did I Disappoint You? (3)
Paperplane Editor: DarkGemMid-conversation, a servant came over to quietly ask Han Ruchu a few questions about the party. Han Ruchu smiled apologetically to Qiao Anhao. She turned her head and gave some instructions.
Qiao Anhao hesitated for a moment, before she put her cup down and turned around to walk over to Lu Jinnian. She was just two meters away from him when Xu Wanli walked down the stairs. When he saw Qiao Anhao, he called out, “Qiao Qiao.”
Qiao Anhao stopped in her tracks to greet Xu Wanli. “Uncle Xu.”
Xu Wanli smiled brightly and nodded. As he fixed up his tie, he walked over in front of her. The words from his mouth were directed towards Han Ruchu, though. “Ruchu, it’s been a while since I last saw Qiao Qiao. She’s gotten so much prettier.”
Han Ruchu had already prepared everything. Hearing Xu Wanli’s words, she elegantly and calmly stood up and walked over to him. She reached her arms out and naturally helped Xu Wanli fix his tie. “Qiao Qiao has always been pretty, ever since she was a baby.”
Xu Wanli chuckled a little. When he turned his head, his eyes met Lu Jinnian’s, who had also coincidentally just turned his head when he heard Xu Wanli’s voice.
Xu Wanli’s smile froze, and he flatly turned away to embrace Han Ruchu’s shoulders on his way to the sofa.
Lu Jinnian stared at his back, tightly pursing his lips. His eyes fell, masking the hurt in his eyes.
Xu Wanli hugged Han Ruchu as he sat down. Then he asked how Xu Jiamu’s birthday preparations were coming along, to which Han Ruchu answered in a warm tone of voice. The two of them looked like a married couple who have been in love for many years.
Seeing this, Lu Jinnian felt a sharp pain, as he remembered that because of his birth, his own mother lived miserable and adrift. The two arms by his side silently balled into fists.
Although Xu Wanli’s series of reactions just now seemed quite natural, Qiao Anhao could still clearly see the annoyance in his eyes when he saw Lu Jinnian.
It wasn’t like Qiao Anhao and Lu Jinnian had never pretended that Lu Jinnian was Xu Jiamu when they met Xu Wanli and Han Ruchu. But back then, it was mostly during parties, where everyone had worked hard to keep up the act. They’d never met privately, and so she never realized the reality before.
In actuality, Qiao Anhao could understand why Han Ruchu ignored Lu Jinnian and was cold towards him. For the most part, no woman would be able to speak nicely and treat their own husband’s illegitimate son warmly.
However, Xu Wanli was unexpectedly just as cold towards Lu Jinnian, which left Qiao Anhao a little puzzled. Even if he didn’t like this son, Lu Jinnian, he wouldn’t be so lazy as to not bother to talk to him, right?
An unspeakable pain surfaced in Qiao Anhao’s heart. She instinctively looked over at Lu Jinnian, about to speak, when suddenly he said in a deeply cold voice, “I’m going out for a smoke.”
He didn’t wait for Qiao Anhao to respond, just turned around and strode out of the house.
“Qiao Qiao, come…” Qiao Anhao, who secretly wanted to follow Lu Jinnian out, suddenly heard Han Ruchu’s call.
She replied with an “Oh”. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, she glanced over at Lu Jinnian, who stood by his own car, as he lit up his cigarette. He took a deep one and let out a mouthful of smoke. She turned around and walked towards the sofa.
Chapter 284: Did I Disappoint You? (4)
Paperplane Editor: DarkGemWhen it was almost seven forty, the guests arriving one after the other.
No one knew where Lu Jinnian had went. All Han Ruchu, Xu Wanli, and Qiao Anhao could do was to stand by the door, wearing beaming smiles as they welcomed guests.
On her way, Han Ruchu called the housekeeper over and whispered for him to go and find Lu Jinnian.
At seven fifty, Lu Jinnian still hadn’t turned up. Annoyance surfaced in Han Ruchu’s eyes, but she still kept her smile up as she greeted Xu family’s business investors into the banquet hall. Then she silently left, walking over to the housekeeper who had just walked through the mansion’s doors. Han Ruchu immediately asked in a cold voice, “Where is he?”
Before the housekeeper could speak, Lu Jinnian followed in closely behind, stepping into the house.
Han Ruchu shot the housekeeper a look, from which the housekeeper instinctively knew to walk over and take care of the guests in the hall.
Han Ruchu gracefully walked over to Lu Jinnian on her high heels. Before she could make a sound, two guests walked in. She smiled immediately, holding onto Lu Jinnian’s arm. Smiling from ear-to-ear, she greeted both guests, “Chief Zhao, Madame Zhao.”
She looked at Lu Jinnian warmly, and urged him, “Jiamu, quickly. Come say hellow to Chief Zhao and Madame Zhao.”
Lu Jinnian completely pulled back his cold and estranged self. He never spoke much, but to be more like Xu Jiamu, he played along with Han Ruchu and kindly said, “Uncle Zhao, Aunt Zhao, welcome.”
When he finished speaking, Lu Jinnian headed for the hall with a hand gesture.
Only after waiting for the Zhao’s to stride over to the the hall, did Han Ruchu chase after Lu Jinnian, pulling on his arm. Yet, she also maintained a good distance between the Zhao’s in front of them.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to them, Han Ruchu slightly turned her head and said to Lu Jinnian in an abnormality low, frigid tone, “Tonight is Jiamu’s birthday. I implore you to focus. Don’t make any slip-ups.”
As Han Ruchu said this, a guest unexpectedly came over to her. She immediately stopped her words and flashed a bright smile. Once the guest greeted her as they walked past, she then continued to warn Lu Jinnian in a cruel voice, “Nobody asked you to help from the very beginning. You willingly agreed to do this. Furthermore, don’t you forget, your life belongs to Jiamu!”
The words clearly reached Lu Jinnian’s ears, yet his eyes were composed, as though Han Ruchu’s words were meant for someone else. His line of sight circled the hall. Not too far away, he saw Qiao Anhao. He turned his head to Han Ruchu and smiled. The two of them looked like a loving pair of mother and son. Then he pulled his arm away and walked over to Qiao Anhao.
Han Ruchu was right. The Xu family certainly didn’t force him to do this favor.
Xu Wanli and Han Ruchu didn’t even tell him about it—it was the Xu family’s housekeeper who went to find him.
The housekeeper didn’t offer him any benefits, nor did he beg him. He only simply said that the Xu family was in trouble, and they needed him to pretend to be married to Qiao Anhao to overcome those problems.
Chapter 285: Did I Disappoint You? (5)
Paperplane Editor: DarkGemEven though those words only numbered to a brief dozen, he only paid attention to two: Qiao Anhao.
Back then, it had been a long time since he hadn’t seen her. People around him didn’t know her, and so those two words endlessly replayed in his mind. Suddenly, when he heard someone say the name that was engraved in his heart, he was startled. After a long while, his brain finally started moving again, but all he thought about over and over again was: “to pretend to be married to Qiao Anhao”.
He clearly knew Xu Wanli and Han Ruchu hated him, but after remaining silent for a long time, he still agreed to do it.
He agreed without making any requests or proposing any conditions.
It wasn’t for anything else, but those two words – Qiao Anhao.
Even if he had to endure any grievances and hate, it was worth it.
As no one knew about it. Back then, he had been so excited. He felt like it was the heavens finally giving him such a wonderful opportunity; a reason to appear by her side again.
–
“Jiamu!” Qiao Anxia saw Lu Jinnian first. She waved and smiled at him.
Qiao Anhao, who had her back to Lu Jinnian, immediately turned around. She walked closer to Lu Jinnian, before smiling sweetly and calling out, “Brother Jiamu.”
Brother Jiamu… the woman’s voice was soft and gentle. Those two words coming from between her teeth, it sounded like there were hints of real emotion there.
It wasn’t like how she called him. She would always sound distant and polite with “Mr. Lu”. But recently, she had made him extraordinary satisfied, for she’d called him by his name twice.
Lu Jinnian pushed down the sour feeling in his heart and stared at Qiao Anhao with a little warmth. He naturally pulled her over and hugged her soft hips.
Even though Lu Jinnian was dressed up as Xu Jiamu, his body odor didn’t change. When Qiao Anhao hugged his waist, her heart raced like crazy when she smelt the light scent of him. There were hints of shyness in her eyes.
The new married couple didn’t hold back with their love for each other, as the two of them acted so sweet and affectionate towards one another.
A person’s appearance could change, but not the voice, and so when Lu Jinnian approached someone both he and Qiao Anhao knew, he would do his best not to talk.
As time passed, everyone believed it was Xu Jiamu’s disfigurement by the car accident, which caused him to change in personality and not talk as much.
And so, Lu Jinnian only pursed his lips and nodded at Qiao Anxia who had just greeted him enthusiastically.
After the car accident, Qiao Anxia was very accepting of the silent “Xu Jiamu”, and so she pointed at Chen Yang next to herself. She introduced him, “Jiamu, this is my boyfriend, Chen Yang.”
Chen Yang kindly pulled out his arm. “Hello.”
As usual, Lu Jinnian didn’t say a word, just shook hands with Chen Yang.
Qiao Anhao was afraid that if they lingered for too long, they’d be caught out by Qiao Anxia, so she immediately found an excuse to leave. “Brother Jiamu and I are going to greet other guests.”
After waiting for Qiao Anxia and Chen Yang to nod, she held onto Lu Jinnian and left.
–
Xu Jiamu’s birthday party started at eight on the dot. Xu Wanli and Han Ruchu were also afraid to be caught out, and so they started the party off by giving their birthday wishes. Han Ruchu went up on the podium and spoke.
Lu Jinnian could only stand on the podium and wait for her to finish speaking. He raised a glass and drank with everyone.
Chapter 286: Did I Disappoint You? (6)
Qiao Anhao grabbed onto Lu Jinnian’s elbow when they walked down the stage. Facing the crowd, they raised their glass to toast before walking silently to a corner, leaving the guests to Han Ruchu and Xu Wanli.
Even though there weren’t many people in the corner, there were still some walking around. In order to prevent suspicion, they stood silently, careful not to make conversation, exposing themselves.
When they were greeting the audience, Lu Jinnian had drank a lot in place of Qiao Anhao. Before the dinner, he hadn’t eaten. He slouched against the sofa as his stomach started to hurt.
The mood in the main hall was boisterous, with laughter erupting again and again.
As she listened on to the continuous chatter and laughter, Qiao Anhao recalled the scene before the celebration had began. Lu Jinnian had walked to the side of the car to smoke in silence after Han Ruchu and Xu Wanli had ignored him. Her heart clenched, and she turned to look at him.
Lu Jinnian was currently leaning against the sofa with his eyes shut. Even though his face was filled with scars and had been touched up slightly to look like Xu Jiamu, she could still see past all the facade, seemingly able to make out at his perfect visual.
Qiao Anhao’s eyes turned tender as she stared at him.
As she looked, her mind started to show the image of Lu Jinnian. As his face formed in her mind, her lips curled into a tiny smile.
In the end, Qiao Anhao sunk into a daze, her expression tender and loving.
When Lu Jinnian’s stomach was feeling better, he opened his eyes and collided right with Qiao Anhao’s deep gaze: her stare was intense and slightly intoxicated.
Lu Jinnian’s heart skipped a beat, he was unable to look away. Her eyes were clear and beautiful, and reflected in them, he could see Xu Jiamu.
He frowned, freezing for a few seconds before remembering that he was in Xu Jiamu’s disguise.
Was that why she was looking at him with such an expression? She had mistaken him for Xu Jiamu?
How could he forget… She would lower her lashes or look elsewhere whenever she looked at him, but now she was looking straight into his eyes.
Lu Jinnian felt his heart tighten and throb as though someone had stabbed it. Pain spread through his body and his eyes dimmed. He forced his gaze away, hiding from her harmful eyes.
Qiao Anhao had no idea that Lu Jinnian’s reaction was because of her. She was still deep in thought, unable to snap out of her daze as she continued to stare at him.
Even though he had diverted his gaze, he could still feel her stare. His lips started to feel dry, the voice recording playing in his mind repeatedly.
“In my whole life, I will love you the most.”
“In my whole life, I will only love you.”
Lu Jinnian trembled, then abruptly stood up.Chapter 287: Did I Disappoint You? (7)
Paperplane Editor: DarkGemLu Jinnian thought about it, and slowly got up from his seat.
As more guests arrived, the two of them walked hand-in-hand, like a loving married couple, all the way to the sofa in the corner. After they sat down, Lu Jinnian closed his eyes to regain his composure, but he never let go of Qiao Anhao’s hand.
Qiao Anhao, on the contrary, only stared blankly at Lu Jinnian’s face, completely forgetting that he was holding her hand. Right then, he suddenly got up and dragged her arm up with him, instantly snapped her out of her daydream.
She blinked with some incomprehension in her eyes. But as Lu Jinnian seemed to emit an air of annoyance, she stood up from the sofa and opened her mouth. “Lu…”
After she let out just a syllable, she saw other people walk by and immediately changed her words. “Brother Jiamu, what’s wrong?”
Qiao Anhao’s single word “Lu”, she hadn’t finished speaking the name when the party started getting rowdy, so Lu Jinnian only heard what she said after that.
Brother Jiamu…
He silently pursed his lips and abruptly loosened his grip on Qiao Anhao’s hand. Then he turned to leave.
Qiao Anhao hurriedly chased after him. “Where are you going?”
Lu Jinnian walked quickly. Wearing very tall high heels, Qiao Anhao worked hard to catch up to him. When she managed to grab onto his wrist with great difficulty, he didn’t even turn his head. He just brushed her hand away and went into a restroom.
The restroom door slammed shut in front of Qiao Anhao, leaving her standing there in a daze. Her expression was somewhat stunned, but from the bottom of her heart, she knew Lu Jinnian was in a bad mood.
Thinking back to everything that had just happened, Qiao Anhao was certain that she hadn’t done anything wrong. She turned her head and looked over at the cheerful and laughing crowd. Then she looked at Xu Wanli and Han Ruchu, who smiled politely, standing hand-in-hand.
Suddenly a thought came to her mind – two children, who are both from the Xu family; one is unconscious, and yet he receives such blessings, whereas the other has to endure rolled eyes and abandonment. After his mother passed away, no one even remembered his birthday.
–
Lu Jinnian stood in the cramped cubicle with scattered emotions. He lit up a cigarette.
In the past few years, he’d gotten into the habit of smoking wildly when he was in a bad mood or when he missed that woman.
In actuality, he didn’t like the smell of tobacco. It was a little harsh on the nose, but all these years alone, besides using it to numb his senses, he couldn’t think of any other way…
There were constantly people coming in and out of the restroom. The sound of other toilets flushing could be constantly heard. Even the sound of men peeing standing up and chatting were heard.
Among the chaos, Lu Jinnian inhaled the heavy tobacco smoke, working hard to suppress his raging emotions.
He knew that he was acting jealous.
He knew he was just Xu Jiamu’s replacement, but seeing that her eyes only saw Xu Jiamu’s image, he was still irritated.
As it turns out, if you really love someone, jealousy is an innate instinct. The more you love, the more sensitive you are. It isn’t something you can control.
Chapter 288: Did I Disappoint You? (8)
Paperplane Editor: DarkGemIn the end, Lu Jinnian didn’t even know what he was thinking. When he came back to his senses, he found that there were quite a few cigarette butts in the toilet bowl.
The phone in his chest was constantly vibrating. He pulled it out—it was Qiao Anhao calling. He didn’t pick up, but immediately rejected the call. Then he threw the half of a cigarette in his hands into the toilet and pressed flush.
The water swirled, making a whirling sound before the toilet bowl quickly fell silent. Lu Jinnian took a deep breath, fixed up his shirt, and pushed open the cubicle door. He stepped out and stood in front of the sink, fervently washing his hands. He grabbed a tissue and wiped his hands clean, before walking out of the restroom.
–
Not long after Lu Jinnian went into the restroom, Han Ruchu sent someone to look for both Qiao Anhao and Lu Jinnian to get ready to cut the cake.
Qiao Anhao didn’t dare run off. She only stood by the door of the restroom. On her way there, she took her phone out and dialed for Lu Jinnian, but nobody picked up.
After around ten minutes, Han Ruchu sent someone to rush them over again. Qiao Anhao could only call again. This time, the phone rang just twice before it was cut off. She creased her brows, ready to find someone to go into the men’s restrooms and call for Lu Jinnian to come out when the man came out himself
Qiao Anhao hurriedly walked over. She firstly looked him up and down and realized that he was quite calm. Then she said, “They just came to rush us over. They say you have to cut the cake.”
Lu Jinnian nodded slightly. His movements were so light, it was difficult for others to detect him. He reached his arm out and wrapped it around Qiao Anhao’s waist, as they walked back to the banquet hall.
The banquet hall instantly fell silent when the two of them appeared. All the lights were switched off in a flash. Then two servants slowly pushed out a multi-layered cake, as tall as a person. The top of the cake was filled with candles with swaying flames.
Who knew who started it off, but the birthday song was sung.
The birthday cake stopped in front of Lu Jinnian, and everyone surrounded it. Once the song had finished, everyone stretched their heads out and blew out the candles..
The moment the candles went out, dozens of crystal lights lit up all together. The whole room exploded with cheer. There was someone who whistled, and others who shouted “Happy Birthday”. Everyone had prepared a thoughtful gift and handed them one after the other to Lu Jinnian.
There already were servants standing to one side, ready to immediately take the gifts after Lu Jinnian received them. Even Han Ruchu and Xu Wanli prepared him a gift.
Everyone were busy cheering to notice how stiff Lu Jinnian’s fingers were when he stretched his hands out to take Xu Wanli’s present.
This was the first time in his life receiving a gift from his biological father.
Qiao Anhao was the last to give him a gift. People who Qiao Anhao and Xu Jiamu were familiar with, mischievously ushered her to give the birthday boy a kiss after she gave him his gift.
All of a sudden, everyone started to blindly roar all at once.
Qiao Anhao timidly lifted her eyes and glanced at Lu Jinnian. She hesitated for a moment. Under everyone’s rhythmic chanting of “kiss him”, she summoned her courage, tip-toed, and kissed Lu Jinnian on the lips with her eyes shut. It was a quick peck, like a frog skimming the water.
Suddenly, the deafening sound of cheers and clapping rocked the banquet hall.
Chapter 289: Did I Disappoint You? (9)
Paperplane Editor: DarkGemQiao Anhao’s complexion had a thin layer of foundation, and her eyes quivered with hints of shyness. Her voice was mellow and delicate. “Brother Jiamu, Happy Birthday.”
Lu Jinnian lips lingered with Qiao Anhao’s warm breath. He stared at her for a while, moving his lips, and then lowered his eyes to mask the raging emotions beneath them. The corner of his lips curved into a hint of a smile. A flurry of graceful and composed servants brought over a knife and he started to cut the cake.
–
After eating the cake, guests started to leave one after the other. Qiao Anhao and Lu Jinnian stood at the Xu family doors, politely escorting the guests to their cars. One luxury car after another drove out of the Xu family mansion. Not long after, the mansion was completely empty. In an instant, the previously rowdy place fell overtly silent.
The servants came in and out of the mansion, cleaning up after the party.
Qiao Anhao and Lu Jinnian followed behind Xu Wanli and Han Ruchu just beneath the steps to the mansion, then stopped. Qiao Anhao called out to Xu Wanli and Han Ruchu, who stood half a meter in front of her, “Uncle Xu, Aunt Xu…”
Xu Wanli and Han Ruchu stopped in their tracks and turned their heads at the same time. Perhaps it was because Xu Wanli had drank a little, his face was completely red.
Qiao Anhao pursed her lips into a smile before courteously saying her goodbyes, “We won’t be going in. It’s late, we’ll head out first.”
Lu Jinnian didn’t even make a sound, as he strode directly over to his own car. He opened the car door and sat in, then pulled the car up in front of Qiao Anhao. He pulled down the car window but didn’t say a word, only pressed the car horn. His eyes stared blankly in front of him, never bothering to look at Xu Wanli and Han Ruchu.
Qiao Anhao immediately waved at the two of them. She opened the door and sat down, then put her head out the window and called out to them, “Goodbye.”
Xu Wanli and Han Ruchu also said “Goodbye” to Qiao Anhao, and then gave her a few caring words. Lu Jinnian silently stared up front, waiting for them to politely bid farewell. Then he stepped on the accelerator, turned the steering wheel, and slowly started up the car. He drove out of the Xu family manor.
–
From the Xu family manor to Mian Xiu Garden, they passed the most bustling street of the city.
Night cleaning trucks had just passed, and so the streets were wet. Under the traffic lights, rays of light reflected brightly.
Lu Jinnian pulled the car window down, and the cool night breeze slowly came in, making the ride feel particularly comfortable.
The birthday party lasted several hours long, and Qiao Anhao had been drinking, so was quite tired. As soon as she got in the car, she leaned back and shut her eyes to take a nap, as she thought about giving Lu Jinnian a surprise when they got home.
Lu Jinnian’s car was playing a soothing song by a charming female singer. Lu Jinnian couldn’t recall the song, but he felt that the melody wasn’t bad. After hearing a few lines, he turned his head and glanced over at Qiao Anhao. He saw her eyes were shut, as though she had already fallen sleep, and so he raised his arm and casually turned off the music.
It was quiet in the car. Only the sound of car horns going off were occasionally could be heard from outside.
Qiao Anhao didn’t sleep, but she shut her eyes to get some rest. Suddenly, she heard that there was no more music. She opened her eyes and coincidentally, through the side view mirror outside the window, saw Lu Jinnian turn his head, concentrating on his driving,.Chapter 290: Did I Disappoint You? (10)
Paperplane Editor: DarkGemIt was quiet, this late at night. Both sides of the road were filled with multi-colored neon lights. Lu Jinnian’s posture whilst driving was casual. Every now and then, the bright lights would flash across his face. Though he had a scar on his face, hints of his stunning handsome good looks still exuded from his bones.
Qiao Anhao slightly adjusted her head, and found a more comfortable angle. She couldn’t help but stare at Lu Jinnian in the side view mirror in a daze.
There was a turn in the road ahead. Lu Jinnian instinctively shifted his head and glanced at the side view mirror by Qiao Anhao to check the traffic conditions. Who knew when she’d woken up, but right then, he saw her beautiful pitch-black eyes staring at him, entranced.
Lu Jinnian slightly creased his brows, and quickly turned his head. He smoothly turned the steering wheel, and then sneaked a glanced at the mirror. He saw that face, that looked ninety percent similar to Xu Jiamu, and he couldn’t help but tighten his grasp on the steering wheel.
Lu Jinnian drove patiently for five minutes when he realized that Qiao Anhao was staring at him through the side view mirror without blinking. His eyes became cold, and in the next second, he grabbed the steering wheel with one hand. With his other hand, he grab for a make-up removing wipe and rubbed it frantically over his face.
Following Lu Jinnian’s actions, the shape of Xu Jiamu’s drawn on eyebrows were quickly removed. His original handsome eyebrows were revealed.
With just one hand, Lu Jinnian also casually pulled off the scars on his face, exposing half of his white, smooth face before Qiao Anhao’s eyes.
Qiao Anhao who’d been staring blankly into the side view mirror, instantly snapped back to reality. At first, she turned her head and looked over at Lu Jinnian who was still removing the scar. Then she looked out the window again at Beijing’s most packed street of bars and night clubs. Quite a few celebrities would come at night, and so it also brought quite a few paparazzis there too. As much as seventy to eighty percent of the entertainment news were exposed there. If anyone happened to take their photo, then Lu Jinnian and her would definitely be the headliner the next day.
Qiao Anhao instincitively raised her hand and pulled up her side window. She turned her head to look over at Lu Jinnian’s fully opened window and was just about to signal for him to pull it up, when she saw the windshield in front of her. If anyone wanted to take their photo from the front, then there was no use in closing the car window.
On a normal day, celebrities would come here all dressed up. Having attended a birthday party today, Lu Jinnian and her were dressed up quite a bit. If anyone took their photo, then it’d be difficult to clear their names.
Qiao Anhao thought about it for a moment, and said to Lu Jinnian, who was driving single-handedly, “Don’t remove the scar on your face just now, do it when you get home.”
Lu Jinnian stopped moving his hands for a moment, but then he forcefully tore half of the scar off. Because of the excessive force, thin lines of red appeared on his smooth white skin.
Seeing this, Qiao Anhao creased her brows, and did not hesistate to grab onto Lu Jinnian’s wrist. She stopped him, as he was just about to take the scar off. “Remove it with make up remover. Be careful not to harm your skin…”
Lu Jinnian glanced callously at Qiao Anhao who held onto his wrist with a cold look in his eyes. When he spoke, his voice sounded particularly distant and frigid. “What? Did I disappoint you?”
Translator’s Thoughts
Paperplane
Hi all ^^
Kingbao, Darkgem, and I hope that you’re all enjoying the novel, and would like to give our lovely readers a surprise christmas gift of 10 chapters!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!Chapter 291: Look Clearly at Who I Am (1)
Paperplane Editor: DarkGemDisappointed?
Qiao Anhao didn’t quite understand what Lu Jinnian meant by that. She curved her lips up and made a “Mm?” sound towards him.
Because she grabbed his wrist, her face was quite close to his. She pouted her lips, coincidentally in his line of sight. The light pink matched her white skin and pitch-black pupils, making her look clean and attractive.
The image of her tip-toeing and lightly kissing him on the lips at Xu Jiamu’s birthday among all the jeering surfaced in Lu Jinnian’s mind. It was a soft feeling with the gentle smell of sweet fruit, and hints of shyness, she then called out, “Brother Jiamu, Happy Birthday!”
Malice slowly filled Lu Jinnian’s eyes. From hearing the recording pen to the words Qiao Anhao said to him at this afternoon’s birthday party… He suppressed his raging emotions at those time, but just then, he couldn’t suppress them any longer. Suddenly, he forcefully pulled his wrist away from Qiao Anhao’s grasp. Without any hesitation, he tried everything to rip off the scar on his face in one breath.
His other hand, the one that controlled the steering wheel, turned the car in a small alleyway ahead. He stepped on the accelerator, and the car drifted from side to side until he reached an isolated riverside.
This was clearly not the way home… Qiao Anhao looked at Lu Jinnian filled with suspicion. Just as she was going to ask why he drove there, the car suddenly came to a stop.
Because of the emergency break, Qiao Anhao’s body lunged forward. She heard the sound of the safety belt clicking open. Soon after, Lu Jinnian pushed her shoulders back, her body that was going to fall forward was pushed back to the car seat. Then she heard Lu Jinnian say in a low, stifling voice by her ear, “The dream has been laid bare, are you really disappointed?”
Again, disappointed?
Qiao Anhao furrowed her brows and stared at Lu Jinnian, whose expression looked as though it had frozen over. She gulped and asked in a low voice, “Lu Jinnian, what did you say? What dream?”
Lu Jinnian’s eyes surged with complex emotions. As if he was speaking to himself, his voice sounded particularly low when he murmured, “You were happy today, weren’t you? Because you could see him so lively, and not someone who only lies on the bed, who can’t talk, and can’t look at your body… But I’m not him…”
At this point, Lu Jinnian’s eyes looked angry, but also sad. He didn’t wait for Qiao Anhao to take a good look. His eyes froze over. As he pressed on her shoulder, he suddenly pressed down even harder, as though he was completely filled with hatred. He gritted his teeth with every word, as he quietly said a few words. “I’m not him, I’m not him. In your eyes, why do you only see him, and not me? Why?”
Lu Jinnian’s voice was very low, and his words were everywhere. Qiao Anhao didn’t quite hear him clearly. She only heard a few mumbled phrases. Something about ‘not him’, and ‘can’t see me’?
No matter how she thought about it, she didn’t understand what he was saying. Her brows furrowed even tighter. “What do you mean ‘not him’? What do you mean by ‘can’t see’? Lu Jinnian, what are you even saying?”
Qiao Anhao’s words agitated Lu Jinnian. The words in his mouth stopped abuptly.
Translator’s Thoughts
Paperplane
Hi all ^^
Kingbao, Darkgem, and I hope that you’re all enjoying the novel, and would like to give our lovely readers a surprise christmas gift of 10 chapters!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!Chapter 292: Look Clearly at Who I Am (2)
Qiao Anhao’s words startled Lu Jinnian, his words got stuck in his mouth, and he became dazed. He raised his head to stare at her for two seconds before lowering it down abruptly, covering her lips.
His actions were abrupt and without warning, so when Qiao Anhao finally came back to her senses, her breath had been taken away.
His kiss was violent and aggressive, as though he was trying to vent his frustration. Occasionally, when he didn’t control his strength, her lips would hurt.
He pressed her against his body tightly, not allowing her any opportunity to move. He entered her roughly, without bothering to be gentle, even though he knew that she would hurt. It was as though he wanted her to feel the same pain that she had given him. Without caring about her, he continued on wit increasing speed and roughness. In the end, Qiao Anhao could no longer take the pain, struggling, she pleaded lightly, “It hurts!”
The moment he heard it, Lu Jinnian paused momentarily before carrying on with increased intensity. Tears started welling up in Qiao Anhao’s eyes as the pain intensified. Lowering his head, he could vaguely see tears streaking down her face, as the dim light from the moon fleeted in. His lips pressed together before he lowered his head once more to cover her lips.
It had been a long while since Qiao Anhao had received such torture, time seemed to have stopped, and it went on and on. Unknowingly, after a long while, everything ended.
Qiao Anhao curled into a ball from the pain. Lu Jinnian was startled by her action, reaching out to grab her chin upwards to look into her eyes. His eyes were red, with a hint of pain and insanity, his lips trembling as he breathlessly declared, “Look clearly at who I am!”
After a slight pause, he asked, “Are you clear?” His voice was fierce, interrogating her.
Qiao Anhao shivered at the coldness of his voice.
Lu Jinnian seemed to have seen her tremble, for his lips curled up into a smirk. He loosened the grip on her chin and moved back slightly. Looking at her, he spoke again in a low voice. “Forget it, I must have thought too highly of myself. How can you see me?”
His tone was cold and ruthless, but soaked in sorrow as well. Qiao Anhao remained silent as she listened on in confusion.
Silence sunk on the car, and the river streaming nearby could be heard.
After a while, Lu Jinnian’s usual cold expression came back. Wordlessly, he took out a tissue to clean up before arranging his clothes. Sitting back on his side, he turned to look at Qiao Anhao, but before he could take a look, he took his phone out and pushed open the car door.