Chapter 567: Chapter 567

"So you mean to say, you actually noticed that girl was into you just now?"

Lu Jingchen frowned slightly, clearly displeased by Song Qiao’s questioning. His clean, handsome brow kinked as he spoke coolly, "I’m not blind!"

Song Qiao’s eyelashes fluttered, and she pursed her lips before continuing to mutter, "Then weren’t you just making me draw hostility earlier? What if I encounter that girl when I go to your company to find you? And what if she goes around the company announcing our marriage?"

Listening to Song Qiao’s soft, whiny voice, Lu Jingchen felt his slightly agitated emotions being soothed away. Obviously charmed by her vexed tone, which was layered with coquettishness, his mood began to brighten. He somewhat enjoyed her soft, complaining tone, and then reached out to pinch her smooth, soft cheek, saying, "Even if she did, it wouldn’t matter. After all, you are now Madam Lu of the Lu Family. No matter how much hostility you attract, I’ll protect you well!"

The man’s words were like sweet nothings, and when Song Qiao looked up, she met his deep eyes, which seemed unfathomably more profound compared to before, like bottomless whirlpools, into which she could not help but sink.

Forcing her gaze away, Song Qiao lowered her head, silent for a few seconds. A smile tinged her tranquil face—her voice still feigning dissatisfaction as she spoke, "Who knows? It sounds good now, but maybe it won’t be the same when it actually happens!"

Lu Jingchen gazed down at her petite face, his eyes brimming with a faint smile.

How long had it been? His mood had never been so uplifted. It seemed like it had been such a long time!

Since Song Qiao left all her belongings in Night City last night, she didn’t even have her phone on her, let alone the keys to her house.

Guessing that Ning Wan was probably at home, Song Qiao just thought of knocking on the door to have Ning Wan open it for her.

Indeed, after only a couple of knocks, the voice of Ning Wan, loud and clear, along with the sound of slippers scraping the floor, came from inside, "Coming, coming. Hold on, who is it?"

Song Qiao looked somewhat embarrassedly at Lu Jingchen beside her, speaking with a hint of apology, "Don’t mind it, Wanwan is always a bit brash, but she’s actually not bad!"

Lu Jingchen glanced at her and merely smiled lightly without a word.

Just then, the door in front of them was flung open. Before Song Qiao turned around, she heard Ning Wan’s exclaimed voice, "Qiaoqiao, where have you been? I’ve been so worried about you all night. Look at me, I didn’t sleep a wink because I was so worried. Do you know you could have given me a heart attack?"

Before Song Qiao could react, Ning Wan had already pounced on her, embracing her as she spoke with a mix of complaint and grievance.

A warmth spread through her heart. It would be a lie to say she wasn’t touched. Besides her grandfather and Shinian, probably only Ning Wan would care for her this much, considering her the most important person in her life, worrying about her when something happened!

"Where were you last night? Don’t you know I’ve been trying to call you all night and couldn’t get through? Couldn’t you have let me know in advance, just so I’d know you were safe? I almost panicked enough to call the police. If you hadn’t come back, I would’ve really filed a missing persons report!"

Ning Wan released Song Qiao, inspecting her from head to toe for injuries. Despite the reproach laden in her words, it couldn’t mask her worry and care, even letting out a couple of irritated snorts.

Song Qiao looked amusedly at Ning Wan before her, knowing her complete concern, and couldn’t help but smile, but she just watched her silently without a word.

It must be said that Ning Wan probably hadn’t slept all night, with dark circles under her eyes and messy hair. Even the clothes she wore seemed to be thrown on haphazardly, looking like a completely different person from the usual Ning Wan.

After checking Song Qiao and seeing she was unharmed and even wearing a nice dress, Ning Wan heaved a sigh of relief. Glancing up to see Song Qiao still smiling, she pinched her subconsciously, "You’re still laughing? Do you realize you could really scare someone to death?"

In fact, Ning Wan’s pinch wasn’t hard or painful, but Song Qiao still pretended to cry out in pain, her expression almost twisted.

Ning Wan’s face changed instantly, and she quickly let go, looking somewhat flustered, "What’s wrong? Did I pinch you too hard? Sorry, Qiaoqiao. I was just worried about you. Humph, it’s because you made me worry all night!"

Ever since she returned last night, Wanwan had noticed that Song Qiao wasn’t home. At first, she knew that Song Qiao had gone to the hospital to visit her grandfather, but when there was still no sign of her by 10 p.m., Wanwan decided to call the Mu Mansion. Song Qiao’s cousin, Mu Shinian, informed her that after dropping him off at the Mu Mansion, Song Qiao had left.

Ning Wan asked Mu Shinian not to tell Elder Mu, starting to worry that Song Qiao might have met with an accident or disappeared. She began to call Song Qiao’s phone, and even called others who might be in contact with her.

However, no one answered Song Qiao’s phone. Due to Song Qiao’s identity, Ning Wan did not want to draw attention to the matter. She thought that if Song Qiao didn’t return, she would go directly to that person.

Just as she was about to desperately go find that person, Song Qiao had already come back.

At that moment, Ning Wan’s heart finally relaxed, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit angry, yet she couldn’t bring herself to express it.

Looking at Ning Wan with an apologetic gaze, Song Qiao knew she must have caused concern and started to apologize, "Wanwan, I’m so sorry. I lost my phone and haven’t gotten it back yet. Last night...something happened, but everything is fine now. I promise I won’t worry you all again..."

"You still think there’ll be a next time?" Ning Wan glared at her and spat on the ground three times, correcting her, "Don’t say such things carelessly. It has to go smoothly from now on!"

"Sure!" Song Qiao laughed, and then recalled Lu Jingchen who was beside her, pulling Ning Wan to introduce him, "Wanwan, this is Lu Jingchen, the one I’ve mentioned before... um, my intended fiancé!"

In An City, news about Lu Jingchen wasn’t abundant. Most people had only heard the name Lu Jingchen without actually seeing the person. Ning Wan also probably only heard of him from the news but had likely never met him.

Ning Wan turned her head and saw Lu Jingchen standing nearby, but she froze on the spot, her facial expression stiffening, even conveying a sense of utter shock.

Song Qiao, unaware of Ning Wan’s change in expression, introduced her to Lu Jingchen, "This is my best girlfriend, Ning Wan. We’ve been living here for eight years. Our relationship is a little more than friendship, and a little more than love!"

Lu Jingchen maintained a gentle and elegant smile on his face, his gaze falling on Ning Wan with serene indifference. He reached out his hand and with slightly parted lips, said, "Thank you for taking care of Qiaoqiao these past few years."

Only then did Ning Wan compose her expression somewhat, bringing back her usual smile, but still slightly rigid. Her voice was calm yet carried a suppressed unease, "It’s what I should do!"

Their hands brushed briefly before they quickly withdrew.

Upon entering the residence of the two girls, Lu Jingchen realized that the space, which was quite small in his view, a neat two-room flat with a kitchen and a bathroom, was very clean and consequently comfortable. Get full chapters from 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡~𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚~𝙣𝙚𝙩

Especially because it exuded a feeling of ’home,’ making Lu Jingchen feel a touch of envy, thinking he would let Song Qiao decorate the villa when he went back.

Song Qiao went to her room to tidy up, while Lu Jingchen sat on the living room sofa. Tall and upright, he was dressed in an impeccably ironed suit that seemed somewhat out of place here.

Ning Wan brought out a cup of plain water from the kitchen and spoke with a hint of apology, "We don’t have any tea or coffee at home, and I guess you wouldn’t drink sodas either, so it’s just plain water!"

Towards Lu Jingchen, Ning Wan still treated him with a bit of suppressed emotion, fearful that she could not contain her feelings.

With a nonchalant hum, Lu Jingchen took a sip from the cup before putting it down, his every move exuding an air of noble elegance. He turned his gaze to Ning Wan, his expression unreadable and profound, "Don’t worry so much. He doesn’t know you’re here. But you should still be careful; he will return to the country soon."

Upon hearing the first part of Lu Jingchen’s statement, Ning Wan breathed a sigh of relief, but the second part startled her, causing her to look up incredulously at him. Her lips quivered as she instinctively asked, "Isn’t he... already engaged to that woman?"

"Yes, they are engaged!" Lu Jingchen replied calmly, as always speaking in a very even tone, "But they haven’t gotten married yet, have they?"

Ning Wan turned pale, yet as if suddenly recalling something, she laughed bitterly. With a weak gesture, she touched her forehead as if drained of all strength, and said, "If I remember correctly, he said he planned to settle overseas with that woman. Why is he coming back now? The Ning Family doesn’t welcome her, do they? Would he really let his beloved woman get hurt?"