Volume 1, Chapter 24: Why Is His Physique So Perfect?

Embarrassment and awkwardness continued to spread.

The bed was neat and tidy, while she and the quilt lay on the floor—proof enough that the man hadn't lied. Yet, how could Lu Miao ever admit to something so shameful?

She turned her head away in annoyance. "I must have rolled off by accident. Why didn't you wake me up? Why were you holding onto me?"

Fu Shiyue had held her all night, leaving him stiff and sore. As he sat up to stretch his neck, he heard her indignant questioning. He paused, raising an eyebrow to look at her flushed, pouty face.

He couldn't help but chuckle. Not only was this child refusing to admit her own "crimes," but she was also trying to turn the tables on him?

"I tried to put you back in bed, but you held onto me for dear life, crying and begging me not to let go."

Lu Miao was stunned. Could she really have done such a thing?

She didn't know when her sleepwalking habit had started. She never remembered anything after waking up. She had seen doctors who prescribed medication, suggesting it might be stress-related, but she could never recall what kind of trauma she might have suffered. Had she started having episodes again because she had stopped taking her medication recently?

Feeling disgruntled, Lu Miao glared at the man. "So that gives you an excuse to take advantage of me?"

Unable to seize the initiative, she was resorting to deflecting blame?

Fu Shiyue offered a mischievous smile, his narrow eyes filled with playfulness. "Just a moment ago, your hand was inside my shirt."

As he spoke, he went to lift his hem to prove it. Lu Miao covered her face in a panic. "Hey! I'm warning you! Don't be a hooligan so early in the morning!"

Ignoring her, Fu Shiyue pulled his shirt up to his chest. Looking down at his own abdomen, he said in a low voice, "You pinched me red."

What did he mean, pinched red by her?

Lu Miao subconsciously parted two fingers, peeking through the gaps at a sight that made her blood boil. She had never seen a man with such a physique! It was an absolute explosion of hormones!

His abdominal muscles were deep and well-defined, and two prominent, rugged veins ran along his hip bones, disappearing into his loose waistband. There were faint red marks on his waist that looked suspiciously like pinches.

Did she pinch him? Could her hands really be that... proactive?

Fu Shiyue lowered his shirt and, seeing her stunned expression, gave a faint, mocking smile. "Are you done looking?"

Lu Miao’s face burned with embarrassment. She gave a light cough. "I was asleep. How would I know anything about that?"

Fu Shiyue raised his eyes, suddenly leaning in to pin her against the edge of the bed. He narrowed his eyes, his aura dangerous. "You aren't going to admit it?"

His dark, sharp gaze was like a net, capturing the little girl who had committed a crime but refused to plead guilty.

Lu Miao’s face turned crimson to the roots of her hair. She bit the bullet and shifted the blame. "What do you mean, I won't admit it? Everything I did was unconscious! You’re a grown man who was wide awake; if you couldn't push away a delicate girl like me, that's your problem!"

"If it’s not a problem with your mind, then it’s a physical problem. You should eat more supplements to boost your vitality!"

With that, she pushed him away and stormed off to the bathroom.

...

Fu Shiyue: ...

He would accept the claim that he had "mental issues."

But saying he needed a boost...

He had been holding back all night with nowhere to vent. Should he let her experience it?

Lu Miao fled to the bathroom, leaning her back against the door and gasping for breath while clutching her chest. That old man was too good at flirting; she had almost fallen for his trap!

She quickly checked herself for any signs of assault. Ten seconds later, she ran out of the bathroom, furious. "What exactly did you do to me last night?"

"Why are there bruises on my arm?!"

Fu Shiyue was just about to get up, having tossed aside the quilt, when Lu Miao charged over to question him angrily. He paused, glancing at her slender arm.

He reached out, pulled her onto the floor mat, and examined her arm closely. On her delicate, flawless skin were three fingerprints—his. They were faint and barely noticeable.

Fu Shiyue had spent a sleepless night and looked haggard, but seeing this, his mood inexplicably improved. He curled his thin lips and explained calmly, "You were hugging, biting, and gnawing on me, saying you wanted to eat me. I tried to pull you away and accidentally used a bit too much force..."

He gently stroked the spot with his thumb. "Does it hurt?"

The rough calluses on his fingertips created a slight, stinging sensation, triggering a subtle electric shock. Lu Miao’s body went limp, and her face flushed red instantly. "That’s just your side of the story! I don't believe it!"

She pulled her hand away, catching something odd. "What’s wrong with your neck?"

Fu Shiyue paused, reached up to touch it, and curled his lips. "A dog bit me."

Lu Miao immediately reacted. "Are you calling me a dog?"

The man sneered. "I said you bit me. You didn't admit it..."

Lu Miao was so ashamed she didn't know where to hide. Angrily, she grabbed the quilt and threw it over his head. "You dog of a man, spouting nonsense with a straight face! I think you just took advantage of the situation and now you're too cowardly to own up to it!"

In a fit of pique, she straddled him, pinning him to the floor mat, and prepared to punch him.

*Knock, knock, knock!*

A knock sounded on the door. Lu Miao’s fist froze in mid-air, and she pricked up her ears in alarm.

"Miaomiao, it's eight o'clock. Time to get up," came Lu Guoxun’s stern voice.

Lu Miao’s scalp tightened. She lowered her hand and pretended she had just woken up. "It’s Sunday. I want to sleep in."

Lu Guoxun’s tone grew heavier. "Get up. Once you've washed up, I’m taking you home."

Lu Miao frowned in disgust. "I told you, I’m not going back."

"Don't be willful, Miaomiao. Your grandfather called just now; he insists you come home tonight."

Lu Guoxun was actually using her grandfather to pressure her!

When she was a child, her grandfather had been very kind to her. Even if she hated the rest of the Lu family, whenever her grandfather called to say he missed her, she would go back to see him.

Lu Miao went silent, using her quietude to resist.

Lu Guoxun didn't push it further. "I’m going out for a moment. Don't run off. I’ll come to pick you up this afternoon."

Without giving her a choice, Lu Guoxun took a call and hurried out.

Hearing the door close, Lu Miao let out a breath and slumped like a frostbitten eggplant.

The man threw off the quilt and sat up. Seeing her frustrated expression, he pinched her cheek. "Why the long face? Where did that spirit to hit me go?"

"Stop it." Lu Miao swatted his hand away and climbed off him, feeling listless. "My uncle is gone. You can leave now."

Fu Shiyue paused, stood up, and walked over to pull her in front of him. "After you see your grandfather, I’ll come pick you up."

Fu Shiyue was barefoot on the wooden floor. She lowered her eyes to look at his feet. At the Fu residence, he surely had servants to fetch his shoes, yet here, he was so careful.

Realizing their relationship was getting too close, she took a step back. "We'll see. If I actually go, I might not be able to come back."

Previously, Lu Yan had been there to help, but now that Lu Yan had gone abroad, Lu Guoxun must have convinced her grandfather.

Fu Shiyue looked down at the young girl who had been bickering with him but was now deliberately distancing herself. His chest felt heavy, and his voice deepened. "I can make you stay."

Lu Miao looked up into his dark eyes and scoffed. "How? By using your status as my guardian?"

She shook her head. "It’s useless. Lu Guoxun doesn't even care what my uncle thinks."

"Now that Lu Yan is gone, there’s no one left to keep him in check."

She walked to the door and gave him a smile. "Don't worry about it. If I go back to the Lu family, it’ll be easier for you."

Fu Shiyue stood still in her room, his thin lips pressed tightly together, a small crease forming between his brows. His cold, hard face maintained its usual emotionless mask, but the vein bulging on his neck betrayed his deep displeasure.

Lu Miao felt that if she went back this time, their guardianship would definitely end. In the future, they probably wouldn't see each other again.

"Get out of my room quickly. Make sure you take all your clothes with you..."

She said as she opened the door. Halfway through her sentence, she saw Lu Guoxun standing right outside.

Lu Miao’s expression stiffened, and she let out a shrill scream in terror.

"AH!!!"