"This is all ancient history; isn't it time to move on?" This man was so stubborn, even more so than her.
"We had a flash marriage, and neither of us knows each other well. I'm trying to understand everything about you, Mrs. Lu, so please cooperate seriously."
Mo Nuan felt frustrated. She never considered herself slow-witted. While her eloquence might not be top-notch, she often managed to coax even the most difficult clients into speechlessness. Why was her mind blank today, leaving her speechless under his scrutiny?
Mo Nuan's sense of foreboding intensified. She had a feeling she was going to fall into this man's hands.
Under Lu Jin's coercive gaze, Mo Nuan could only grit her teeth and reply, "There might have been a few times."
"Specifically?"
Mo Nuan glanced up at Lu Jin. "Mr. Lu, is it really necessary to dwell on someone's past like this?"
"It's not necessary, unless it pertains to something that could jeopardize marital harmony. When it comes to fostering marital harmony, there's no such thing as too much or too little."
His logic was twisted, and Mo Nuan felt helpless. "Three times, then."
Actually, it had been a long time since she had encountered any thugs. She had faced more of them in her first two years of overtime. But ever since she kicked a man and made a name for herself in this area, there have been few thugs bold enough to harass her.
Of course, she wasn't going to tell him about those incidents. They weren't things to be proud of, and mentioning them would probably earn her a scolding.
Lu Jin didn't say anything; he just quietly looked at Mo Nuan for a moment, then put his hand on her shoulder and gently applied pressure. "Trust me, I won't let anything like that happen to you again. You're not alone anymore; you have me."
The unfamiliar male scent with a hint of cool mint between his nostrils caused Mo Nuan's body to stiffen slightly, but when she thought about their relationship, she gradually relaxed. "Are you done with work?"
"Yeah, I'm done. Tomorrow, I'll accompany you home and meet your family. For now, accompany me to eat something."
"Have you not eaten yet at this late hour?" Mo Nuan looked up from his embrace.
Lu Jin's obsidian-like eyes flashed with a glimmer of light that quickly disappeared. "Can I take this as Mrs. Lu's concern?"
Mo Nuan initially wanted to say it was just a polite inquiry, but seeing the man's expectant expression, she couldn't bear to disappoint him. In the end, she could only nod. "What would you like to eat?"
"I'm not picky, and I'm not very familiar with this place either. Mrs. Lu, you can take me wherever you want."
At this hour, some mobile barbecue stalls were bustling with activity. After some thought, Mo Nuan unconsciously took the man's hand and led him towards a narrow alley.
Lu Jin watched her holding his hand, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
After several turns, Mo Nuan brought Lu Jin to a stall selling spicy hotpot. The owners were an elderly couple from Sichuan, and their hotpot was very authentic. The stall was always crowded every evening, and Mo Nuan often had to take something away. Fortunately, there was still one small table available tonight.
"Mo Nuan, are you working late again today?" The boss asked warmly.
Mo Nuan smiled and nodded, then turned to Lu Jin. "Can you handle a bit of spice?"
"Moderately."
"Boss, one order of mildly spicy hotpot, please."
The boss's wife looked at Mo Nuan, then at Lu Jin, and smiled ambiguously. "Sure, you two sit down for a moment; it'll be ready soon."
Sitting down, Mo Nuan couldn't help feeling that the man in front of her and this place were mismatched. He was still the same as when she first saw him, dressed in a perfectly tailored high-end suit, exuding an innate aura of nobility and arrogance. His tall frame looked quite awkward sitting on that small stool, and she regretted her impulsive decision. "Sorry, there are only these kinds of small stalls around here."
Lu Jin smiled. "It's okay; I'm used to it."
Seeing his indifferent demeanor, Mo Nuan breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good."
After waiting for a few minutes, the boss's wife finished preparing the spicy hotpot. "Would you like some rice?"
"Yes," Lu Jin replied promptly.
Seeing the boss's wife busy, Mo Nuan got up to serve him rice. When she returned to the table, she saw Lu Jin rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt and adding vinegar to the hotpot skillfully. "You're quite good at seasoning."
Lu Jin looked up with a hint of confusion on his handsome face. "Isn't hotpot supposed to be delicious when it's sour and spicy enough?"
Mo Nuan smiled. "It depends on personal taste. Some people don't like adding vinegar. Let's eat some rice first, or it'll hurt your stomach."
After the meal, the two walked side by side.
"By the way, are you coming to my house tomorrow?" Mo Nuan suddenly stopped and looked up at Lu Jin.
The ink-like eyes sparkled under the cold moonlight, and Lu Jin's gaze flashed with a glimmer. His heart was stirred, and he couldn't help but pull the person beside him into his arms.
Mo Nuan was startled by the man's sudden movement. She struggled for a moment and bumped her nose against his solid chest, causing tears to well up in her eyes from the pain. Rubbing her small, round nose with her hand, she complained softly, "What kind of person are you? You're as hard as a rock."
With eyes that seemed to shimmer like waves, Lu Jin let out a low chuckle and pressed her head against his chest.
Listening to the steady and strong heartbeat of the man, Mo Nuan's face turned hot. She only heard the man's voice coming from above her head. "Of course, I have to go. I've kidnapped a precious niece like you. If I don't visit soon, I'm afraid I won't have a good time in the future."
Mo Nuan felt a little annoyed. "Do you think dealing with parents is that easy? My uncle said we must find a man who can cook, and my aunt has a bit of a temper. I haven't told them about us yet. You won't have an easy time tomorrow."
Their relationship had progressed significantly because of this incident.
With a perfect arc on his lips, Lu Jin said, "Mrs. Lu, this is something Mr. Lu should worry about. Just wait and see, Mrs. Lu."
Mo Nuan looked at his confident expression and didn't know what to say for a moment.
The next day, on the weekend,.
After a week of continuous overtime, Mo Nuan was a bit tired. It was rare for her to sleep in bed, but she was awakened by her aunt's urgent knocking on the door. "Nuan Nuan, come out quickly."
Mo Nuan didn't know what had happened, so she opened the door groggily. "Auntie, did an earthquake happen or is the house on fire? Why such a commotion?"
"It's nothing, but if you don't come out and explain things clearly, I'm ready to set you on fire." Zhang Rui's voice carried a hint of suppressed anger.
Mo Nuan saw her aunt's cold gaze and felt a bit puzzled. Her aunt rarely showed her such a cold face. She asked cautiously, "Who made you angry?"
"Good morning, Nuan Nuan."