Chapter 27: The Wolf Is Passionate, but I Remain Unmoved

Why bother sacrificing your dignity to win back someone whose heart has changed, whether it’s friendship or love? Not every station is the first to publish romance; just search and you’ll know.

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Xue Zhuining turned her head to glance at the man, drenched and climbing ashore, who was slipping into a bathrobe and briskly drying his short hair as he walked toward them.

“Oh, what a day—red rain falls from the sky!” Su Yi raised an eyebrow, feigning shock. “Could it be that some demon has donned your wolf skin to come for me? Quick, let me peel it off and take a good look!”

As he spoke, Su Yi lunged toward Lu Huaining, only to be shoved away. “Stop disgusting me.”

“Su Yi, enough with the nonsense. Go inside and change your clothes first, or you’ll look like a lifeguard at first glance!” Liang Feili was always the epitome of elegance, yet his gaze somehow sent a chill down one's spine.

The group chatted as they walked toward the main villa, the unruly man glancing carelessly in her direction. Yet that fleeting look seemed to pierce straight through her. A gleam flashed in his eyes, gone in an instant, replaced by a playful air. “Young Master Lu, are you introducing your pretty little sister to me on purpose?”

His peach blossom eyes arched, his smile enchanting enough to topple cities. “This young lady looks familiar—could we have shared a romantic encounter somewhere?”

Lu Huaining smiled faintly, settling onto the sofa. “Are you missing the taste of your father’s whip again?”

“Lu Huaining, you petty man, you’re dredging up little master’s embarrassing secrets…”

Liang Feili gently nudged the woman beside him, smiling to smooth things over, though his gaze lingered on Xue Zhuining. “Nian Nian, pour a drink for Young Master Lu. And this young lady…”

Xue Zhuining only stared at the bottle on the table, silent. Lu Huaining’s brow twitched and he spoke coldly, “Li Shao is speaking to you. Don’t you know proper manners?”

“Xue Zhuining.” The crisp, direct reply startled the woman pouring the drink, her hand trembling so the amber liquid nearly spilled.

“Looks like Su Yi, who’s always full of wild talk, is actually right tonight. Huaining, you’ve changed. I remember you always preferred passionate roses. When did you start appreciating daffodils? I even went out of my way to find you a music academy student, a vocalist. How do you want to handle it—keep her for company or…?”

“Let her stay. The more, the merrier. She can learn some sense.”

Liang Feili smiled meaningfully. “Alright. Why is Yao Yao taking so long to touch up her makeup? Go call her.” His gaze flicked toward Xu Liunian, who was kneeling to pour drinks.

Xue Zhuining watched as the woman set down the bottle and stood, reading the room perfectly, when a coquettish, sweet voice sounded behind her. “I wouldn’t dare be a third wheel between Li Shao and Miss Xu. Besides, if I don’t prepare properly, wouldn’t I be slighting Young Master Lu…”

A waft of perfume swept by, and Xue Zhuining was naturally edged aside as a stunning woman slid in next to Lu Huaining, flashing him a charming smile.

Xue Zhuining quietly shifted further away, stealing a glance at Lu Huaining. She was about to avert her gaze when his cold eyes swept toward her. She instantly recalled his instruction to “learn some sense”—her cheeks burned with shame and anger, but she could only endure the humiliation and watch everything unfold.

Yao Yao, laughing softly, clung to Lu Huaining’s arm, urging him to drink with gentle words. Yet even with a beauty in his embrace, his eyes remained cool and indifferent as he exchanged toasts and reminisced with Liang Feili, none of which stirred her interest. Lost in thought, she suddenly sensed someone sitting beside her. Turning, she saw Su Yi, freshly changed, and her lips curled into a distant smile.

Unfortunately, the man was unfazed. He poured two glasses and handed one to her. “At least tell me your name. Otherwise, I’ll just have to call you ‘little sister.’”

Xue Zhuining accepted the drink, knowing there was no point in evading further. She lightly clinked her glass against his. “Xue Zhuining.”

“Zhuining?” The man’s peach blossom eyes arched in surprise as he leaned in, teasing, “Rarely does someone have ‘drunk’ in their name. Did your parents make a mistake after a night of heavy drinking?”

Instead of anger, Xue Zhuining laughed, her eyes flashing with mischief. She asked softly, “Sir, do you know what you’re most lacking right now?”

“Miss Xue knows?” Su Yi took a sip, but the next moment, her words nearly made him spit out his drink.

She curled her lips with disdain and explained, “You need to install a flush toilet in your brain to wash out all that filth!”

Then, in the next instant, she realized her actions might have already angered another man, for she could feel the icy gaze of the one who seemed to be lost in tender affection.

With a soldier’s instinct, Su Yi quickly sensed the silent tension between the two. His gaze swept over Xue Zhuining, who only sipped her drink without reducing its level, and he shook his head with a wry smile. “Seems the wolf has feelings, but the lady is indifferent. Since your heart belongs elsewhere, I’ll help you out—go, serve your man well.”

With that, he pushed her toward Lu Huaining.

Xue Zhuining felt Su Yi was nothing but a smiling tiger. She stiffened, wishing only for this decadent night to end soon.

The men's conversation lasted less than ten minutes before Liang Feili laughed, “Enough, we rarely gather like this. Let’s not talk business. Yao Yao is a top student in vocal performance—a voice worth its weight in gold. If she doesn’t sing to liven things up, it’s a waste of my efforts in inviting her.”

The villa’s lounge was fully equipped. Yao Yao gave a charming smile, selected her accompaniment, and began to sing. When she finished, Liang Feili and Xu Liunian applauded enthusiastically, while Lu Huaining offered only a perfunctory clap, listless and uninterested.

“You don’t seem very entertained. What’s wrong—Yao Yao doesn’t please you?”

“No,” he swirled the wine in his glass, his gaze turning to Xue Zhuining. She startled, hearing Lu Huaining continue, “Miss Xue possesses a golden voice as well. I’d like to see which is superior—the amateur or the trained performer. Comparison makes things interesting, wouldn’t you agree, Feili?”