Volume 1, Chapter 35: There Is Something Wrong With His Gaze

Lu Miao rarely exercised; climbing twenty floors all at once meant her legs would surely be ruined by tomorrow.

Although this man was doing it for her sake, they weren't boyfriend and girlfriend—having him carry her up like this was hardly appropriate.

"I don't want this. Put me down, quick."

Lu Miao was thin-skinned and struggled awkwardly in his arms. A low, gravelly warning descended from above: "Don't move, or we’ll both go tumbling down."

He intentionally loosened his grip, and Lu Miao shrieked in fright, her small hands frantically hooking around his neck. "D-don't let go! If you dare drop me, I’ll be sure to drag you down with me!"

Fu Shiyue let out a muffled, low chuckle. "Still acting tough?"

In the darkness, she couldn't see his expression, but she could imagine how gleeful his dark eyes must be.

Lu Miao turned her face away, feeling both embarrassed and vexed. She truly couldn't walk anymore, and the thought of climbing ten more floors made her decide to endure the shame rather than suffer so much discomfort.

However, she caught the scent of alcohol on him, and the skin on the side of his neck felt scorching hot to her touch, his pulse racing.

Lu Miao felt a bit worried. "My grandfather says people who have been drinking shouldn't do strenuous exercise. Are you okay?"

Fu Shiyue let out a scoffing laugh. "Strenuous exercise?"

Lu Miao realized too late that he had misunderstood her, and her cheeks turned instantly hot. "Y-you’re not allowed to think dirty thoughts!"

Even as Fu Shiyue tried to restrain himself from thinking such things, his mind couldn't help but conjure up some absurd images.

In truth, that small amount of alcohol wasn't enough to make Fu Shiyue drunk, but the medicinal liquor Xu Mubai had mixed was lethal. It had taken effect the very moment he touched Lu Miao.

The young girl in his arms was fragrant and soft. Fu Shiyue tightened his arms. "You’re too light. I could carry two of you without any trouble."

"Hmph, don't brag."

"Don't wiggle. Hold the phone steady and light the way for me." The man’s grip on her arms was steady and powerful.

Lu Miao obediently held the phone, trying her best to aim the light forward.

Fu Shiyue caught his breath and, before the effects of the potion became too intense, carried her swiftly upward.

In the dark, empty stairwell, the heavy sound of his footsteps seemed to echo against Lu Miao’s heart. The surroundings were so quiet that she felt as if they were the only two people in the world.

Fu Shiyue’s breathing carried his unique scent of ebony and sandalwood, surrounding her entirely; she felt enveloped by his presence.

Lu Miao’s body went limp in his arms. She could feel that the man was sweating; beads of sweat rolled down from his hairline, dampening her wrists.

Sensitive to this, Lu Miao pulled her hands back from his neck, wiped them awkwardly on his shirt, and then curled her small hands against her own chest.

The man carrying her paused. He realized what she had done, but acted as if nothing had happened and continued up the stairs.

Pressed against his damp shirt, listening to the heavy, powerful heartbeat in his chest, a strange sensation welled up in Lu Miao’s heart.

This man had come here under the influence of alcohol, seemingly without intending to come up at first. Was it because he was worried about her being alone, so he accompanied her?

Arriving at the twentieth floor, Fu Shiyue set Lu Miao down in front of the door. He took a step back and leaned against the wall, catching his breath.

The emergency light shone on his face. Lu Miao saw him sweating profusely and let out a dainty huff. "And you said I was acting tough? Look at you, you're about to collapse yourself."

He had been a soldier for ten years and held a high rank; normally, he could run for kilometers while carrying a hundred-pound load without issue. Was he really sweating this much just from carrying her eighty-pound frame up twenty floors?

Lu Miao gave him a suggestive look. "You need to work out."

Fu Shiyue’s face darkened. "If it weren't for..." He stopped, let out a soft scoff, and waved his hand. "Forget it. Go on in."

"Aren't you coming in to rest for a bit?"

Fu Shiyue shook his head, staring at the innocent, easily deceived girl with burning breath. If he went in, she definitely wouldn't be able to escape him tonight.

"Then wipe yourself off." Lu Miao wanted to say thank you, but felt a bit awkward. She pulled a pack of tissues from her bag and handed it to him.

Fu Shiyue looked down at her small, white hand—so delicate. He swallowed hard, reached out, and took them.

After taking them, he gripped them tightly in his palm. He glanced at the girl’s red lips and, before a frantic impulse could take hold, quickly looked away.

His voice was hoarse and flat. "Go inside, quick."

Lu Miao didn't notice his strangeness and opened the door to go in.

Fu Shiyue pressed his back against the cold wall, trying to use the chill of the tiles to cool himself down.

He pulled out his phone to call Shen Lü. When Shen Lü saw the call, he hid in the bathroom to answer. "Hello? Fifth Brother, are you alright?"

Shen Lü wanted to ask how the medicinal liquor felt and if he felt as vigorous as an eighteen-year-old again.

Fu Shiyue said hoarsely, "Come over here and take Lu Miao home."

Shen Lü’s scalp tingled upon hearing this. "What the hell? You’re with her?! Then... aren't you two...?"

"Shut up." Fu Shiyue rubbed his brow. "Get over here, hurry. Take her downstairs for me. Her friend’s car is parked in the underground garage."

After hanging up on Shen Lü, Fu Shiyue pushed open the window in the stairwell and lit a cigarette, his brows furrowed as he tried to suppress the heat rising within him.

That glass of wine from Xu Mubai was truly vicious. For someone like Fu Shiyue, who had never touched a woman, the effect was ferocious and swift.

When Lu Miao came out later, he certainly wouldn't be able to send her home, but how could he let her go downstairs alone?

It was so dark; the young girl would surely be afraid.

As Lu Miao packed her clothes, she couldn't help but think of the kiss from the night before.

He had been drinking tonight, too, yet he hadn't tried anything with her, which was enough to show that his character under the influence was decent.

Everyone had impulses after drinking, and this man had managed to restrain himself.

If she kept holding onto it, how would they be able to get along in the future?

Lu Miao felt much more at ease. She packed her clothes and laptop into a large shoulder bag. When she stepped out, she saw Fu Shiyue leaning against the windowsill, smoking.

"I’m done," Lu Miao said, walking up to him and looking up.

The emergency light didn't reach this area. Fu Shiyue’s upper body was buried in shadows; Lu Miao couldn't see his expression, only his long, well-defined legs.

Clutching her books, she thought for a moment, wanting to make peace. "About what happened last night, I’ve forgotten it. You should forget it too. Let’s just pretend it never happened. After I go stay with my friend for a couple of days..."

She was about to say she would be back in a couple of days, but before she could finish, the lights flickered back on with a *snap*.

Lu Miao’s heart skipped a beat as the light instantly flooded Fu Shiyue’s face.

Lu Miao saw the pained expression on his face and her eyes widened in shock.

His complexion was flushed, his neck reddened, and he looked as if he had been pulled from water. His breathing was ragged, and the fingertips holding the cigarette were trembling.

She had thought he was just drunk before, but looking at him now, this was clearly not the state of being merely tipsy.

"What’s wrong with you?" Lu Miao was startled. "Where do you feel unwell?"

The man didn't speak, his gaze fixed on her in a way that felt wrong. Lu Miao panicked slightly and instinctively reached out to touch his forehead. "Do you have a fever?"

Before her hand could touch him, the man’s scorching-hot, large hand firmly clamped onto her wrist.

The strength was immense. Lu Miao felt a jolt of alarm, and meeting his dangerous, dark, and murky eyes, she realized his state was deeply wrong and tried to pull her hand away.

"Don't touch me. Take your things and leave, now."

Fu Shiyue released her hand.

He crushed the cigarette fiercely and strode toward the room.

He desperately needed to submerge himself in ice water, but he hadn't expected the young girl to follow him inside out of concern.

"You have to go to the hospital. I’ll call a doctor for you."

Lu Miao thought he might have alcohol poisoning and reached for her phone to call for help.

Suddenly, a force grabbed her arm and shoved her hard against the entryway wall.