The lily in her hand dropped to the ground, its pure white petals soiled with dust.
That familiar face, like a fleeting glimpse in midnight dreams, perhaps not a pleasant memory, which was why her first reaction upon seeing the man's face was fear.
The man seemed to recognize her too. He stood at the other end of the road, a smile gracing his lips, seemingly kind.
His features were chiseled to perfection, his eyes handsome and charming, exuding an innate elegance and nobility. His jawline was sharp, his lips thin and red.
He opened his mouth and uttered two words.
Shen Yue understood from his lip movements.
He was calling her—Shen Yue.
In that instant, Shen Yue's face turned pale. A surge of intense anger churned within her chest, mixed with an almost irrepressible fear. Both emotions erupted simultaneously, bringing a flush to the corners of her eyes.
As the traffic thinned, the man slowly approached.
He reached Shen Yue, then crouched down to pick up the fallen lilies. He brushed off the dust and tucked the bouquet into her arms.
A smile, as warm as a spring breeze, played on his lips. His voice was clear and crisp, yet carried a gentle warmth, like a feather brushing against the heart.
"Shen Yue, long time no see."
Shen Yue was not swayed by his perfect appearance. Like a startled bird, if Lu Jin made any excessive move or spoke a little louder, she would tremble and hide in a corner, quivering.
Lu Jin's lips curved into a faint smile. He was tall, a head taller than Shen Yue, looking down at the woman before him with an unrestrained gaze.
His eyes swept over her inch by inch, leaving a sticky residue, as if licked by a venomous snake's tongue.
Shen Yue felt it, her eyelashes quivering, her fingertips trembling uncontrollably.
He saw her long, dense eyelashes flutter gently like a butterfly's. Her features were delicate and beautiful, her eyes flushed with a faint rosy hue at the corners. He hadn't done anything yet, hadn't said anything inappropriate, yet the woman before him appeared as if she had already been severely wronged.
And her nervous little movements, her white teeth biting her moist, plump lower lip, making it even redder.
Lu Jin had never kissed her.
He had always disdained kissing, finding it utterly disgusting. What was so good about saliva? The sight made him nauseous.
But now, he found himself unconsciously gazing at her lips, bitten to a point where they almost bled, lingering for a long time, unwilling to look away.
He knew Shen Yue was beautiful; he had always known. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been drawn to her at first sight. At that time, his interest in Shen Yue was purely carnal.
Looking at Shen Yue now, it was the same as half a year ago.
No, there was also something different.
She was now even cleaner and purer, like a untainted lake, transparent to the bottom.
More captivating than before.
Under Shen Yue's uneasy and wary gaze, Lu Jin acted as if he saw nothing. His eyes darkened, like a beast eyeing delicious prey, the greedy desire hidden in their depths.
He took a step forward, his smile deepening, making his handsome and charming face even more alluring.
"What, you don't recognize me?"
As expected, Shen Yue immediately recoiled several steps like a startled rabbit, almost wishing to turn and flee. But she felt her behavior was too agitated.
She had no memory, and although she was afraid, she did not act impolitely by turning and running.
Judging solely by his appearance and demeanor, the man did not seem like a villain. He seemed slightly hurt by Shen Yue's instinctive aversion, his eyes lowered, appearing somewhat wronged.
"Yueyue, why are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?"
However, in the man's eyes, there was no trace of grievance or sadness, only an almost overflowing excitement.
Shen Yue hesitated, still afraid to get closer. Her fingers clenched nervously, her eyes reddening.
Forcing calmness, her voice soft and delicate, "I... I don't know you."
Lu Jin seemed particularly excited upon hearing this. He strode forward a few steps, closing the distance Shen Yue had managed to create. His gaze, as if deeply affectionate, fixed on Shen Yue. His shoulders were firmly grasped by a pair of broad hands, rendering her unable to move.
"How could that be? How could you not recognize me? I'm Lu Jin. I've been looking for you, do you know that? Where have you been for the past six months?"
Shen Yue was dazed by his wronged accusations, her mind feeling heavy, confused, and bewildered.
She asked hesitantly, "Excuse me, what is our relationship?"
Lu Jin's expression seemed to freeze for a moment, then quickly returned to a perfectly normal, affectionate look. However, his hands subtly lingered.
"Currently, we are just friends."
He used the word "currently," adding a touch of ambiguity.
Shen Yue was indeed swayed, but she still harbored a deep-seated fear of the man before her. Her shoulders trembled slightly, her delicate and beautiful face turned pale.
She instinctively bit her lip. "I, I have amnesia. I don't remember anything."
Lu Jin immediately showed a disappointed expression, appearing crestfallen, yet he still asked, unwilling to give up.
"You don't even remember me?"
Shen Yue looked intently at the man's face, feeling a sense of familiarity. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't recall anything, so she shook her head.
Lu Jin appeared heartbroken, but his inner feelings were the complete opposite.
He stroked Shen Yue's soft hair, his dark eyes exceptionally gentle. "It's alright. You'll remember slowly in the future."
Shen Yue suppressed the urge to shake off his hand, her lips pressing together more tightly.
Lu Jin's gaze uncontrollably fell upon those vibrant red lips. The small lip cushions were exceptionally beautiful. He wondered what they tasted like.
A sudden jolt ran through Lu Jin, his Adam's apple bobbed, and the look in his eyes towards Shen Yue became increasingly fervent.
He felt his current actions were ridiculous and childish. He wasn't a patient person. For someone like Shen Yue, without any background, a single word from him would suffice to have her lying in his bed completely by nightfall, at his mercy.
But he chose not to resort to such crude methods.
Instead, he opted for a game of make-believe, indulging in these flashy maneuvers. Yet, he found it incredibly amusing, especially the woman's reactions, which made it even more fun.
She was truly too easily fooled.
A few casual words, and she believed so guilelessly, without a hint of suspicion.
Shen Yue was still lost in thought when she suddenly felt a tug, and the next second she collided with the man's broad, firm chest.
Her body froze instantly. Shen Yue reflexively tried to push him away.
But the man seemed very agitated, the hands holding her trembling.
"I finally found you. Don't disappear suddenly again, okay? I was really so scared."