Lu Xiheng didn't bother responding to Shang Lu. With bleary, drunken eyes, he picked up his glass and downed it again. Within a few minutes, he was passed out on the sofa.
As for Shang Lu… he was practically sleepless the entire night.
…
The next morning, 9 a.m.
Shang Lu drove alone to the Li family villa. The sky was gloomy, shrouded in thin mist, and the sunlight was completely blocked by thick clouds.
Still wearing yesterday's shirt and casual pants, he gripped the steering wheel with one hand, bloodshot eyes full of fatigue as he sighed endlessly.
Just a few dozen meters ahead was the Li family's front gate.
The thought of what was about to happen made Shang Lu unbearably irritable.
What the hell was this!
When they arranged this childhood engagement, no one asked for his opinion — but now he had to personally show up to cancel it? Where was the justice in that?!
Grumbling, Shang Lu stared resentfully at the intricately crafted wrought-iron gates.
After giving himself three minutes of mental prep, he finally pushed open the car door and strode toward the entrance.
He pressed the doorbell, and a gentle, melodic chime rang out.
The wrought-iron gates slowly slid open to either side.
Then, standing there empty-handed in the middle of the grand entrance, Shang Lu stared blankly at the villa grounds — swarming with maids.
What kind of family was this?!
All maids??
At that moment, the head maid walked up to him carrying a silver tray.
She picked up a towel from it and, smiling sweetly, said—
Mr. Shang, welcome to the Li family. Please wipe your hands first,"
said the maid, looking very young — almost excessively alluring.
Shang Lu stood there expressionless.
This wasn't the Li family — this was hell.
After a moment of shock, he snapped back to his senses, immediately going on full alert.
He instinctively took a step back, saying coldly, "Put it down. I'll do it myself."
The maid obediently placed the towel back onto the tray — but then, without a word, subtly leaned a little closer to him.
At this point, Shang Lu's handsome, untamed face was already showing a hint of anger.
He narrowed his eyes in suspicion, his voice cold and deep:
"Why are you getting so close?
Is this how the Li family treats their guests?"
The maid smiled sweetly and nodded, "We heard that Mr. Shang is a doctor and frequently visits hospitals. This is just a routine disinfection. Please don't mind."
Shang Lu didn't reply, but he couldn't help feeling like he was being treated like some kind of walking virus.
After a long moment of tense silence, he grimly picked up the towel, planning to quickly wipe his hands and be done with it.
But just as he lifted it — the maid suddenly slipped and threw herself into his arms, crying out:
"Ahh! The floor is so slippery—"
Shang Lu exploded.
"F*ck! Ughhh—"
The moment he started vomiting, the entire courtyard fell into stunned silence.
All the "maids" stood there, gaping, completely frozen in shock.
Holy crap.
There really was someone who would literally vomit just from being touched by a woman?!
As for the maid who had "slipped" — the moment Shang Lu doubled over dry-heaving, she immediately shoved him away and darted to the side, fast as a rabbit.
At this point, even if Shang Lu were an idiot, he could guess what had happened.
The Li family had set him up — deliberately.
Every time Shang Lu physically contacted a woman, he would puke until he was completely drained.
This morning, he hadn't eaten anything, so now he was dry-heaving up nothing but stomach acid.
"You guys— Tell Li Qiao to get out here!"
Shang Lu rasped, his voice hoarse and furious, his bloodshot eyes shining with tears.
His body was already breaking out in red rashes where the maid had touched him, his stomach was churning violently, and even standing was an effort.
But no one answered him.
Just when Shang Lu, struggling to stay upright, raised his eyes in rage — he saw the entire Li family filing out leisurely from under the veranda.
At least they had the decency to show up.
Shang Lu wiped his eyes roughly, trying to straighten his back and maintain some dignity.
He locked eyes with Li Guangming, the head of the family, just about to speak —
when he saw Li Guangming casually wave to the butler and shout:
"Open the door!"