Chapter 16: She Was Unwell

In the middle of the night, a cold wind swept in, and the person on the bed turned over, intending to change position.

A wave of warmth enveloped her, a large hand gripping Ning Lu’s waist. In an instant, she opened her eyes wide to meet a pair of deep, intense eyes.

“Ah!” Ning Lu gasped in fright.

She thought Lu Hongyu had truly gone mad—bursting in at this hour without a word.

“I heard you told the old man you wanted to learn from me?” Lu Hongyu raised an eyebrow, his voice low and hoarse.

Ning Lu lifted her hand to push him away, but he remained motionless, both hands bracing her on either side, pinning her down.

“Get up first…” Ning Lu’s voice carried a hint of the laziness that comes with just waking.

“Ning Lu, you still want to be involved in my business?” Lu Hongyu’s tone was loaded with mockery.

“No,” Ning Lu shook her head calmly, her voice steady.

She wriggled out from under his arms and jumped onto the soft carpet.

Lu Hongyu swung his legs off the bed and stood, their eyes locked in a silent stare-down.

“I’m pretty bored at home. Going to school now isn’t practical. I just told Uncle Feng I wanted to learn a bit,” Ning Lu said deliberately, her expression composed and without a hint of guilt.

“Just like that?” Lu Hongyu responded, half in doubt.

“Yes. I’m more interested in culinary arts. I originally planned to help out at a restaurant, and Uncle Feng said Lu Sui managed that part, so he let me learn under you,” Ning Lu explained truthfully, not a word out of place.

“Well, you do love learning,” Lu Hongyu said sarcastically.

Ning Lu ignored his remark, walking past him to pour a glass of warm water and take a sip.

Lu Hongyu strode over and suddenly grabbed Ning Lu’s waist.

“Don’t—” Ning Lu pressed his arm down, “I’m not feeling well today.”

Lu Hongyu frowned slightly, his eyes darkening with a cold glint as he looked at her.

His hand pressed against his pants revealed a slight bulge; he immediately understood what Ning Lu meant.

Cold sweat broke out on Ning Lu’s forehead; her whole body felt uncomfortable. She pushed him away and returned to the bed.

Every month when that time came, Ning Lu suffered so much pain she felt as if she were dying, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

She had taken half a painkiller before bed and managed to doze lightly, but after Lu Hongyu disturbed her, all sleepiness vanished.

“When you leave, please close the glass door behind you,” Ning Lu’s voice was weak.

Lu Hongyu heard her command, as if she were ordering him around.

---

Lu Hongyu approached the bed and gripped Ning Lu’s neck with one hand.

“Are you ordering me?” he growled, irritable all over.

“No,” Ning Lu shook her head, knowing that if she didn’t yield a little, he wouldn’t leave.

“Ning Lu, you say you want to learn from me, then arrange to be around me. Now you tease me but don’t put out the fire…” Lu Hongyu bit his teeth, accusing her, “Are you playing hard to get with me?”

Ning Lu had no patience for the young master’s antics; her head was dizzy.

The familiar pain surged back—she knew the painkillers were wearing off, and only pain remained.

She stayed silent, biting her lip, eyelids heavy, looking as if she had just survived a serious illness.

“I’m in a lot of pain. Please let me go…” Ning Lu’s voice was weak and pleading.

Lu Hongyu threw back the covers and saw the red stains on Ning Lu’s pale pajama bottoms, the sharp metallic scent of blood hitting him.

“If you keep going like this, you’ll lose too much blood!” Lu Hongyu frowned deeply, his voice rising involuntarily.

“I’m fine. Just help me to the bathroom,” Ning Lu grasped his arm, eyes full of desperation as if she would die without his help.

Lu Hongyu carried Ning Lu in his arms to the bathroom, watching as she crouched down to search a cabinet.

“What are you looking for? Can’t find anything after all this time?” Lu Hongyu complained gruffly.

“I…” Ning Lu hadn’t finished speaking when there was a knock at the door.

“Knock knock, Miss Ning, are you alright?” a servant gently asked.

Ning Lu immediately covered Lu Hongyu’s mouth, signaling him to be silent.

Her heart leapt, terrified someone would discover them together the next moment.

“I’m fine,” Ning Lu whispered.

Outside, the sounds quieted; she thought the servant had left and slowly removed her hand.

“You…” Ning Lu hadn’t finished when the knocking came again.

“Ning Lu, I’m coming in to check,” Lu Yanfeng’s voice came through the door. Before Ning Lu could react, Lu Hongyu shut the door.

Ning Lu’s eyes widened; she heard footsteps outside, each step pounding against her heart.

Her whole body tensed as images of Lu Yanfeng and Lu Hongyu filled her mind.

“Ning Lu, are you alright?” Lu Yanfeng asked softly.

---

Lu Yanfeng scanned the room but didn’t see Ning Lu. The bed was disheveled, and his gaze settled on the closed bathroom door.

He stepped cautiously toward it, worried for her.

The man leaning against the wall nearby smirked wickedly, looking at Ning Lu with a mischievous grin.

“Uncle Feng, I’m fine,” Ning Lu lowered her voice, struggling to keep it steady.

“I just happened to pass by your room and heard the servant calling for you, so I came to check,” Lu Yanfeng said patiently, hearing the weakness in her voice.

“Are you feeling unwell?” he knocked lightly on the door. “Shall I ask the servant to help?”

Her hand trembled on the doorknob. Taking a deep breath, her eyes betrayed a flicker of unease.

“I—I’m fine. It just hurts a bit every month; I’m used to it,” Ning Lu bit her lip, answering carefully.

“Every month?” Lu Yanfeng furrowed his brow, his voice low.

He wasn’t familiar with a woman’s monthly ordeal but had heard some suffered unbearable pain.

“Yes, I’ll be better soon,” Ning Lu tried to reassure him.

“Alright, if you need anything, just call the servant,” Lu Yanfeng said, not pressing further, thinking it wasn’t appropriate to enter.

“Okay, you should get some rest too,” Ning Lu whispered.

Cold sweat broke out all over her; her back was damp, and her legs trembled—she couldn’t tell if it was pain or fear.

Leaning against the bathroom door, Ning Lu heard the sound of the door opening and closing outside, her heart easing slightly.

“Afraid?” Lu Hongyu’s mouth curled into a smile.

Ning Lu turned and pushed him, “You should leave now!”

She opened the bathroom door and hurried him out, not wanting to see him there for even a second longer.

“What’s there to be afraid of?” Lu Hongyu folded his arms, speaking calmly.

“Get out of my room immediately!” Ning Lu stomped her foot in frustration.

“Fine,” Lu Hongyu quickened his pace to leave.

Just as the glass door closed, the room door opened once more. Ning Lu spun around sharply to look.