"Darling, I'm about to start my live stream, is that okay?" Jiang Yan purred sweetly, clearly seeking an affirmative answer from him.
As a rational man, Shang Lu understood he couldn't refuse at this moment, even though their planned intimate time was now off the table. He couldn't muster any enthusiasm, only managing a reluctant nod.
"This is my new job!" Jiang Yan explained as she started the live stream.
Before Shang Lu could respond, viewers flooded in, and Jiang Yan excitedly started chatting with them.
The official boyfriend Shang Lu was left out in the cold, but he took the initiative as usual. He reached for Jiang Yan's soda, prompting a flurry of questions from the live stream. Then he said, "Darling, I want to eat your little dumplings," and Jiang Yan slid her lunchbox towards him. Next, he fed her some shrimp, saying, "Darling, this is delicious."
The comments flooded in, dizzying to read.
[What dog of a man is trying to steal my wife?]
[Ahhh, is this Yan Yan's boyfriend? Looks like it.]
[Don't you feel like this guy is just trying to get attention?]
[Scheming man, divorce him.]
[Wondering if he's handsome.]
[Have to say, his hands are quite nice.]
Jiang Yan read the comments, then looked at Shang Lu and realized.
"Darling, this meatball is delicious," Shang Lu fed it to her mouth. Jiang Yan ate it and asked, "Should you show yourself? They want to see you."
"Can I?" Shang Lu modestly held his chopsticks, not waiting for Jiang Yan's reply before walking behind her and smoothly bending to greet the camera, "Hello everyone, I'm Yan Yan's boyfriend."
His experienced demeanor suggested he had envisioned this moment many times before.
After the greeting, Shang Lu sat back down, his purpose merely to declare his girlfriend belonged to him.
Jiang Yan satisfied their curiosity, thinking she could finally do her live stream properly, but Shang Lu began his mischief in earnest.
As Jiang Yan interacted with the comments, her ankle suddenly felt a tickle - the outwardly composed Shang Lu eating was using his foot to tease and play with her leg under the table, an obvious flirtation.
A man's sharply defined ankle bone intimately caressed a woman's leg.
But Jiang Yan was determined to focus on her career. As an indifferent, cold female side character, she truly worried she might not be able to pay Shang Lu back.
Shang Lu's scheme failed, his deep, alluring peach blossom eyes narrowed in a silent, mocking laugh at Jiang Yan's phone.
Trying to seduce my wife.
Ruining our private time, you third party. Butting into someone else's relationship, are you proud of yourself? Do you think you're something special? You're nothing but a momentary favorite, destined to end up in the cold palace sooner or later.
...
The renowned, gentle, and wealthy noble Shang Lu, with no expression, silently berated a phone over and over, to the point where if the phone had a soul, it would jump up and argue back.
After the meal, today's live stream could end. Jiang Yan contentedly prepared to return to the dorm and rest, but Shang Lu suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Ah?" She looked at him quizzically.
Shang Lu sat on the stone bench, slowly pulling her into his embrace. First, he let Jiang Yan see his dejected expression, then leaned his forehead against her waist, his voice melancholic, "I've been waiting so long, and you still haven't kissed me."
Jiang Yan was shocked, her voice trembling, "You... you're pouting?"
Shang Lu didn't answer, continuing his lament, "Today, you said three times as many words to your phone than to me, and you still won't kiss me."
"Kiss, kiss, kiss!" Jiang Yan hurriedly obliged. Had this man secretly taken acting lessons?
Shang Lu kept his head down, hiding a smug smile out of Jiang Yan's view. Playing the cute puppy was working just as expected.
But even when acting cute, he couldn't restrain his intense, enveloping kisses.
After the kiss, Jiang Yan had to cover her flushed, swollen lips, soothingly chiding him without anger, "Okay, okay, I kissed you."
Shang Lu's gaze, however, remained unrestrained, fixated on her lips peeking through her fingers, unsatisfied. His whining became languid and husky, "Want more."
Hearing that sent shivers down one's spine. Jiang Yan didn't dare provoke that intense, predatory look, quietly stepping back and reaching to pull him up. "We can kiss more later, I already kissed you today. Get up, let's go back..."
Shang Lu looked like a sad puppy denied a treat, dejected yet obedient as he stood. But as Jiang Yan turned away, a triumphant smile played on his lips once more. This was the "advance through retreat" strategy.
Gentle, patient Shang Lu methodically set sweet, tempting traps, aiming to lure his little girlfriend into spending their life together with sugary promises.
In his vision, his little girlfriend would eventually take that fateful step forward, coming to his side.
The profound, reserved noble willingly wished to share his life with this one girl, his alluring peach blossom eyes focused solely on her.
What he didn't know was that Jiang Yan had her own plan to pay him back.