Chapter 140: It Is I Who Am Hungry

While Chen Shujie was busy with his own scattered thoughts elsewhere, Lu Yi was plunged into deep contemplation on the other side of the wall.

Holding that lace slip, which had so little fabric it barely covered the palm of his hand, he felt a mix of shock and bewilderment, his heart skipping a beat with an inappropriate jolt. At first, he assumed Rong Xin had bought it, intending to surprise him. But a second thought quickly brought him back to reality.

That wasn't right. If she wanted to surprise him, why would she have it delivered to his dormitory? Once he ruled out Rong Xin, it took Lu Yi less than two seconds to identify the real culprit. He was struck speechless and couldn't help but let out a cold, cynical laugh. He wasn't unfamiliar with the risqué games couples played, but he had never seen anyone so bold as to have the "tools" mailed directly to the girl's older brother.

Lu Yi coldly tucked the nightgown away, emerged from the bathroom, and sat back down at his desk as if nothing had happened.

...

As the sun sank, the sounds of basketballs hitting the court drifted in from outside the dorm building; the campus was noisy and vibrant. By this hour, there were almost no students left in the men's dorm—those who played ball were on the courts, and those who were hungry were at the cafeteria. Only a few idle students hung over the corridor railings, chatting away.

Cheng Xingye returned from the laboratory building, greeting people along the way. He offered a faint nod in response, occasionally stopping to swap a few words. When he reached the third floor and pushed open his dorm door, a white shadow suddenly flew toward him.

Cheng Xingye caught it with quick reflexes. Before he could even see what it was, he noticed the strange texture—slippery, fuzzy, like some rare, exotic fabric. He looked down and saw, to his astonishment, a lace and satin nightgown with a trim of white fur along the hem.

Cheng Xingye: "???"
Cheng Xingye: "..."

Utterly confused, he looked up to see Lu Yi sitting at his desk, tilting his chair back and forth with a meaningful, mocking sneer. "You’ve got some pretty twisted tastes, don't you!"

Subjected to this unprovoked personal attack, Cheng Xingye didn't get angry. Instead, he calmly pinched the suggestive little nightgown in one hand and asked, "Whose is this?"

Whose could it possibly be?! Lu Yi sneered, "You’ve got the nerve to ask!"

Cheng Xingye: "...Don't tell me it's mine?" He had certainly never bought anything so gaudy and improper. Seeing his genuine confusion, Lu Yi immediately guessed that it was the work of that little brat, Lu Qingyue, acting on her own accord. Even knowing Cheng Xingye hadn't initiated it, Lu Yi still felt an inexplicable irritation, a feeling like his precious cabbage, which he’d spent so much effort raising, was about to be snatched away by a pig.

He curled his lips into a cold, mocking smile. "A surprise prepared by your girlfriend. Do you like it?"

Cheng Xingye: "..."
This really was a hell of a surprise! But since Lu Yi had seen it, the surprise had turned into a nightmare. He figured that from now on, every time he saw this dress, he would be haunted by Lu Yi’s cold, punch-able face. Who could possibly get turned on after that?!

Speechless, Cheng Xingye stared at the fabric in his hand for a few seconds. Connecting it to Lu Qingyue’s pure and innocent face, he let out a resigned chuckle. "That does sound like something she would do."

Lu Yi, who couldn't stand the sight of Cheng Xingye’s smug, nonchalant expression, held out his hand with a cold demand. "Give it back."

Cheng Xingye raised an eyebrow. "What for?" It was obvious she had bought this to seduce him; how could he possibly give it to Lu Yi?

Seeing him refuse to cooperate and even tease the thin fabric between his fingers, Lu Yi asked in disbelief, "You don't actually plan on trying it, do you?"

Well, why wouldn't he? Since it was already bought. Cheng Xingye gave a faint, cynical laugh, shook out the lace nightgown, and folded it neatly, placing it in his wardrobe right in front of Lu Yi. He remained calm and composed, his tone matter-of-fact. "It's a young lady's item. Keeping it with you wouldn't be appropriate, would it?"

Lu Yi watched the dress disappear into the wolf's wardrobe, raised an eyebrow, and relentlessly exposed him. "And you think it's appropriate for you to keep it? Don't think I don't know what you're thinking right now!"

Cheng Xingye: "It's only natural that I have thoughts. Or would you prefer I have absolutely no thoughts about Dian Dian at all?"

Lu Yi: "...?"
He frowned slightly, suddenly feeling that the guy had a point. In truth, he was conflicted. As Lu Qingyue’s only brother, he naturally hoped Cheng Xingye hadn't touched her. But on second thought, if he truly had no desire for her at all, wouldn't that suggest something was wrong with him? If his future brother-in-law were impotent, the problem would be much more serious. Since Cheng Xingye was being so brutally honest—admitting he had those thoughts—though he might seem like a beast on the surface, it at least proved he was normal in that department.

Lu Yi felt an inexplicably misplaced sense of relief, but after a few seconds of thought, he couldn't help but warn him, "Cheng Xingye, I have to warn you not to cross the line! That brat is only eighteen!"

Though he had started dating when he was eighteen himself, he had always maintained boundaries—unlike Cheng Xingye, who was a sly fox enjoying the taste of "young grass."

Cheng Xingye glanced at him with amusement. Of course, he knew she was only eighteen; otherwise, they wouldn't have been living together for so long while he remained on his best behavior. If Chen Shujie and Lou Zhao found out, they would tease him about it for the rest of his life. He let out a low, weary sigh, half-resigned and half-self-deprecating. "Don't worry, she won't be taken advantage of under my watch."

...

At six in the evening, the library lights flickered on. From afar, it looked like a lighthouse floating on a sea of dense fog. After a light rain earlier, the temperature had dropped significantly. Lu Qingyue had only worn a thin hoodie and jeans, and she shivered the moment she stepped out of the library. She scurried toward the car parked on the campus road with its hazard lights flashing.

As soon as she pulled the door open, the warm air inside enveloped her, dispelling the damp chill. She settled comfortably into the passenger seat before turning her head to complain, "Cheng Xingye! Why are you so late? Didn't you promise to stay at the library with me today?"

According to their plans, Cheng Xingye was supposed to join her to study for tomorrow's English exam after finishing his work in the lab. Instead, she had waited and waited until five o'clock, only to receive a text saying he was busy and would pick her up directly to go home.

Cheng Xingye didn't even turn his head, merely reaching over to adjust the heater. His voice was flat. "Something came up."

The temperature in the car seemed to rise a little more. Lu Qingyue didn't press him for details, quickly changing the subject. "So, where are we going now?"

Since they had been living together, they usually ate dinner at the cafeteria before heading home. But it was so late that there was likely no food left. Cheng Xingye replied offhandedly, as if distracted, "Home to eat."

Lu Qingyue blinked. "But I'm not hungry. I had a milk tea and two cream puffs this afternoon."

Finally, the man in the driver's seat turned to look at her. His face appeared as calm and gentle as ever, but his voice carried an unexpected, magnetic rasp.

"I'm the one who's hungry," he said in a low, husky tone.