Chapter Four: I Thought You Had Forgotten My Name

If it weren't for Uncle Wang being such an honest man, Gu Yao would have suspected that Lu Zheng had rammed her car on purpose! Otherwise, how could he have caused such damage even after she had already come to a complete stop?

Because the accident was straightforward, the traffic police and insurance adjusters arrived and left quickly. Both vehicles were soon towed away. At the same time, an understated black Maybach slowly pulled up beside them. The door opened, and Ming Lang stepped out from the driver’s seat, walking quickly to stand behind Lu Zheng.

"Mr. Lu."

Lu Zheng nodded, his gaze shifting to the two women crouching on the ground nearby. Shu Nuan’s intoxication was hitting her hard again; feeling dizzy, she squinted, on the verge of falling asleep right there on the roadside. Gu Yao supported her, soothing her gently with concern:

"Nuan Nuan, stay here and don't move. I’ll go flag down a taxi."

As she spoke, the light in front of them was suddenly blocked by a pair of long legs. Gu Yao paused and looked up at Lu Zheng. The man looked down at her, his towering stature creating a sense of being looked down upon from above.

"Get in. I’ll take you."

Hearing this, Gu Yao lowered her lashes and stood up. "No thank you, Mr. Lu. We will hail a cab ourselves."

With that, she stepped around him to wave down a car. But the moment she raised her hand, it was seized by the man who had followed her. His large hand was warm and broad, completely enveloping hers. The firm, distinct knuckles, so different from her own, pressed against the back of her soft, delicate hand, giving Gu Yao an inexplicable illusion of being cornered by a hunter.

Gu Yao’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively tried to pull away! But the man’s grip was perfectly calibrated—not enough to hurt her, yet impossible to escape. Flustered and angry, she glared at him with her phoenix eyes, her brows tightly knitted.

"Lu Zheng, let go!"

The woman’s voice was clear and crisp, laced with a hint of indignation. Upon hearing it, the corners of Lu Zheng’s eyes twitched with amusement. His gaze flickered, and he unexpectedly laughed, the warmth of his smile melting the icy hardness of his features.

"So, you still remember my name!"

He seemed to be lamenting, or perhaps blaming Gu Yao for her distant coldness. "First it was 'Mr. Lu,' then 'Young Master Lu,' and now it’s 'Mr. Lu' again. I was starting to think you’d forgotten that my name is Lu Zheng!"

The grievance in the man’s tone was unmistakable. Gu Yao opened her mouth, stunned. What was he implying? He spoke as if the distance between them was entirely due to her lack of regard for their past!

Seeing Uncle Wang and Assistant Ming watching, she ultimately said nothing. She composed herself, keeping her expression as calm as possible. "Let go. I need to help her into the car."

This time, Lu Zheng did not hesitate and released her. Ming Lang helped open the door, and Gu Yao settled Shu Nuan inside before getting in herself. Outside, Lu Zheng stood by the roadside, taking a cigarette box from his pocket and placing one between his lips. He lowered his voice to the two men beside him:

"Uncle Wang, good work. You can go home now. Ming Lang, transfer a ten-thousand-yuan bonus to Uncle Wang later."

Uncle Wang nodded happily and left by taxi. Ming Lang returned to the driver’s seat, but Lu Zheng did not get in immediately; he remained outside to smoke.

Inside the car, Gu Yao stared at the man outside for a few seconds. The shadows cast by his sharp, cold brow bone hid his long, thick lashes, and his broad shoulders and narrow waist were outlined beneath his black shirt, radiating a wild, untamed aura. She looked away and closed her eyes.

People always have a desire to possess beautiful things, and Gu Yao was no exception. In her youth, she had often softened toward his unreasonable demands simply because she loved his face. Now, that same face was even more sharp and profound, and seeing it repeatedly made her heart tremble despite herself. But, that was all it was!

At eight o'clock on a summer evening, a light breeze stirred. The warm orange streetlights were interspersed with the flickering headlights of passing cars, forming a dazzling, cold galaxy. Lu Zheng stood by the road, took one last drag of his cigarette, crushed the butt in a trash can, and finally climbed into the car.

Shu Nuan was leaning on Gu Yao’s shoulder in the backseat, half-asleep. She held her liquor well enough, at least not prone to drunken rampages. Assistant Ming drove smoothly, and by the time they reached Shu Nuan’s apartment building, she was fast asleep.

Gu Yao tried to wake her for a while, but she wouldn't stir. Just as she hesitated about whether to drag her out, Lu Zheng suddenly walked to her side and pulled her away. "Ming Lang, carry her out!"

Gu Yao was startled. She stumbled and steadied herself beside Lu Zheng, about to refuse, but seeing Shu Nuan sleeping so soundly, she fell silent for a moment and nodded helplessly at Ming Lang. "Assistant Ming, sorry to trouble you!"

Ming Lang shook his head quickly. "It’s no trouble at all, Miss Gu, no trouble at all!"

As he spoke, he took off his suit jacket and handed it to Gu Yao. "Miss Gu, could you please drape this over Miss Shu?"

Gu Yao took it, looked at Shu Nuan’s midriff-baring yellow crop top, and immediately understood his intention. She looked at Ming Lang with some surprise, finding herself appreciating his gentlemanly conduct. She smiled gratefully at him and turned to cover Shu Nuan.

However, that smile caused Ming Lang to break out in a cold sweat! The moment the corners of Miss Gu’s mouth lifted, he felt his boss’s air pressure drop significantly. If looks could kill, he would have been riddled with holes by now! He reflexively tapped his right hand. *Damn it, why did you have to be so helpful with that jacket!*

When Gu Yao turned back and saw this, she looked puzzled. Sensing his boss’s icy glare again, Ming Lang quickly explained, "I... I was swatting a mosquito. Haha, a mosquito!" He gave a bitter laugh and tapped his right hand hard again. In his peripheral vision, he could see his boss’s chiseled jawline tightening.

He dared not speak to Gu Yao again and hurried around her to lift Shu Nuan from the car. Gu Yao, confused by Ming Lang’s odd behavior, saw him pick up Shu Nuan and immediately set her doubts aside, following closely to support them in case he dropped her.

Fortunately, there was an elevator in Shu Nuan’s building. When they reached the apartment, Shu Nuan’s roommate opened the door. The young girl was clearly startled, her eyes widening in awe as she looked at Lu Zheng and Ming Lang. When she saw Gu Yao, her eyes brightened again, but she shyly lowered her head and followed them into the room.

Lu Zheng did not enter; he stood by the elevator, leaning against the wall. Ming Lang put Shu Nuan down and immediately retreated from the room. As soon as he stepped out, he was met with his boss’s frigid gaze.

"Tomorrow, swap shifts with Xu Linze."

Ming Lang froze, then nodded with a bitter face. "Understood, Mr. Lu."