Lu Zhe slid into the driver's seat, and when Lila aimed for the back, he yanked her into the passenger seat with a firm grip.
"Lu Zhe… you're acting weird today," Lila said, eyeing him warily.
"Weird how?" He kept his eyes on the road, his tone as frosty as his usual "you owe me a million bucks" glare.
Lila studied his chiseled profile, then deadpanned, "Like an actual human."
Lu Zhe's lips twitched, nearly swerving the car. He masked his amusement with a blank stare, but inside, he was rolling his eyes. Cheeky.
"You've changed too," he said, glancing at his watch, his voice cool. "A bit smarter… but even more annoying."
"Oh?" Lila shot back, unfazed. "What, you want me to beg your grandma to cancel our engagement?"
"Please do," he said, his tone dark and biting.
Lila leaned closer, her smile defiant. "Too bad. I'm sticking around to make your life miserable."
It was a jab—she had no intention of keeping the engagement—but the car screeched to a halt, the seatbelt jerking her back.
"Lila," Lu Zhe said, his cold laugh slicing the air, "don't cry to me later, begging for a way out."
Interesting, he thought, smirking inwardly. The old Lila clung to him like glue. Now she was playing hard to get? Fine. He'd see how far her little game went.
"Get out," he ordered.
Lila was already halfway out, slamming the door without a glance back.
10:00 AM, Café
Lila pushed open the door, spotting her senior and the contest judge already chatting.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting," she said, bowing slightly.
The judge waved it off, his tone warm. "You're early. Today's about submission guidelines and copyright terms."
Lila handed over her prepared documents, her senior adding his.
"Solid concept," the judge nodded, scanning the files. "But it's the quality that matters. Preliminary results in a week, final review in one to two months." He slid over a contract sample. "Pass the prelims, and you'll get this."
"Does it secure copyright?" Lila asked.
"Absolutely. Prelim terms lock in ownership. If anyone plagiarizes, you can sue."
Lila exhaled, relieved. They finalized the revisions, sent the files, and wrapped up.
As they parted, the senior grinned, offering a handshake—only to be interrupted.
"Lila, so eager to throw yourself at other men?"
Lu Zhe's voice cut through, his face stormy as he loomed behind her.
"Are you sick?" Lila laughed, incredulous. "This is how you see me since the banquet? Some cheap floozy?"
His distrust stung. Her reputation was already shaky, but mocking her integrity? That was a low blow.
The air crackled with tension. "Yes," Lu Zhe spat, his eyes flicking to the senior, who mumbled a goodbye and bolted.
"Vanessa told me you're 'impure,'" he continued, his voice ice. "I've been watching you. Care to explain?"
Explain? Would he even believe her?
They locked eyes, the silence suffocating. Lila's hurt flashed briefly, unnoticed by Lu Zhe.
"No explanation means you're guilty," he said coldly.
Lila's jaw clenched, her voice steady despite the ache. "Think what you want, Lu Zhe. I misjudged you."
She turned and walked away, leaving him stewing in his own frustration.
Fine, Lila. This engagement stays. Let's see who breaks first.
Evening, at the restaurant,Lila worked her shift in a daze, botching orders, her mind elsewhere.
"What's wrong?" Wendy asked, concerned. "Project tanked?"
Lila shook her head, her voice low. "I think… I fell for the wrong guy."
"Lu Zhe?" Wendy scoffed. "Told you he's bad news. Cold as a brick, with that snake Vanessa whispering in his ear. Loving him's a one-way ticket to misery."
Wendy rambled on, but Lila tuned out, catching only the key names: Vanessa, Lu Zhe, his mother. Vanessa was her first target.
"Do you regret the engagement?" Wendy asked. "Wasn't it your dream?"
Lila paused, then shook her head. "No regrets. I'll make them regret."
Wendy grinned. "That's my girl! I'm rooting for you!" Their banter lifted Lila's spirits. Wendy was her rock, the only one who truly cared.
Back home, Lu Zhe was buried in files in the living room, ignoring Lila. She returned the favor, treating him like furniture. She'd finished work early and stopped by the market for groceries.
In the kitchen, she started washing vegetables when a crash echoed from the living room—Lu Zhe, venting his temper, though not at her directly. It felt like a pointed jab.
Lila cooked anyway, her anger simmering but controlled. She made enough for two: braised pork, tofu, a cold salad, and a fish—Lu Zhe's favorite soup.
She showered, slipped into pink pajamas, and kept cooking. Lu Zhe glanced at her bustling figure, his emotions a tangled mess. He'd been furious earlier, but seeing her like this… she didn't seem that infuriating.
Dinner was ready, but Lila didn't call him. He wandered over, eyeing the spread with a skeptical frown. This is it? Used to gourmet meals, he found the simple dishes underwhelming.
Still, he picked up chopsticks and tried the pork. It was… surprisingly good.
Lila served two bowls of fish soup. As she set his down, Lu Zhe's face hardened, a sneer curling his lips.
"Sorry, I dumped it," Lila said, her voice tight, storming off.
She remembered him praising Vanessa's fish soup. Her attempt? A pathetic copy.
"Lila, you don't have to…" Lu Zhe started, but a flush of water cut him off.
His frown deepened—he'd meant to say he wanted to try it. But his scowl made her think: You'll never measure up to Vanessa.
"I can't compete," Lila laughed bitterly. "She's all you see, Lu Zhe. You're pathetic."
She swallowed the rest: Do you know how your precious Vanessa framed me, destroyed me?
"Lila!" Lu Zhe roared, storming over and smashing the soup pot to the floor.
She flinched, ready to fire back, when he yanked her into a fierce embrace, his hold possessive and unyielding.
They stood frozen, hearts pounding. Then he let go, and Lila, face burning, bolted to her room.
Later, Lu Zhe got a call: "Lila's meeting was with a contest teammate about a copyright contract." He hung up, guilt gnawing at him. A misunderstanding?
He typed a text to Lila, agonizing over an apology, but deleted it. I don't do apologies. Instead, he'd make it up to her tomorrow.
In her room, Lila stared at her phone, typing, "Can you trust me just once?" before erasing it, her heart heavy.
Morning came, and neither mentioned the night before. Lu Zhe skimmed a newspaper on the couch, eyeing Lila as she stepped out in a white hoodie and gray wide-leg pants. Plain, he thought, but kept quiet.
"Classes today?" he asked.
Lila blinked, caught off guard. "No, just studying."
"I've got plans. Come with me."
Before she could argue, he hustled her into his car—passenger seat, again. Lila felt oddly calm this time, though still wary of his intentions.
Lu Zhe was different today—no barbed insults, just a strange restraint. Lila wondered if he'd hit his head.
The car pulled up to A City's biggest cinema. Lu Zhe bought tickets to the hottest horror flick and grabbed popcorn.
Inside, Lila munched nervously, eyes glued to the screen. A jump-scare ghost face blasted through, the sound effects rattling the theater. Girls screamed, and Lila choked on her popcorn, flinging a kernel that nailed Lu Zhe square in the face.
Lila: "…"
Lu Zhe: "…"
He turned, his voice arctic. "Explain this rogue popcorn."