No matter how much money one earned through hard work or how much their net worth increased, in the eyes of the old money families who had been affluent for generations, such people were always seen as nouveau riche, undesirables who couldn't make it to the high society.
Xiang Wan understood this clearly.
She was fundamentally different from those born into wealth and privilege with inherited fortunes.
There was no way she could ever enter a family like Lu Mingzhe's.
Therefore, she never entertained such fantasies.
Lu Mingzhe had never expressed any emotion towards her other than desire.
Even though they interacted more now, Xiang Wan wouldn't naively believe he had fallen for her.
She maintained a very clear professional relationship with everyone.
Everyone knew she was single.
Lu Mingzhe's sudden intrusion could lead to misunderstandings.
If this continued for a long time, it would make it inconvenient for her to find a boyfriend.
Therefore, some things needed to be clarified.
The live streaming results had been good these past two days, and everyone had worked hard.
As the boss, her presence made it difficult for everyone to relax.
Taking this opportunity, it was fine for her to leave first.
After Lu Mingzhe distributed coffee to everyone, Xiang Wan sent a message in the group chat, thanking them for their hard work and telling them to relax and take a break later.
The two of them left the studio together.
Both had driven their own cars.
Since they had to commute to work the next day, Xiang Wan didn't plan to ride with him and walked directly towards her car.
As she walked, she spoke to Lu Mingzhe.
"Are you staying at my place again tonight?"
Lu Mingzhe: "We haven't seen each other for a few days, don't you miss me?"
They were both adults, and some needs were genuine, no need to hide them.
Xiang Wan spoke the truth.
"Can't you be like before, finish what needs to be done and go back to your own home?"
Hearing her say this, and thinking about his past actions, Lu Mingzhe couldn't help but sigh.
He had truly been heartless and carefree before.
To be able to use such a beautiful woman and then discard her, he had never explored her deeply over the years.
Meeting Chen Jiaojiao was perhaps his comeuppance.
"Fine. Since you're so afraid of me disturbing you, we'll do as we did before."
Xiang Wan got into her car.
Lu Mingzhe walked over and got into her car as well.
"I've been drinking. I drove here after drinking."
"...Then how will you get back later?"
"Could you do me a favor and drive me?"
"Young Master Lu, do you know what time it is? I've been busy since eight this morning, I'm very tired."
"Then I'll take a taxi myself."
"What about your car?"
"I'll take a taxi to pick it up tomorrow. You don't manage it, so I'll have to make two trips myself."
When they returned home, her brother had already gone to bed.
The two of them, wearing socks, tiptoed towards the bathroom.
As soon as they entered, Lu Mingzhe pounced on her like a hungry tiger.
After washing up, she dared not use the hairdryer for fear of disturbing her brother.
Xiang Wan returned to the bedroom with her hair wrapped in a towel, and Lu Mingzhe followed.
"Didn't you say you'd leave after we were done? Why are you following me?"
"After working so hard, you won't let me rest? Do you dislike me that much?"
It wasn't that she disliked him.
Lu Mingzhe was good-looking, had a good physique, and was excellent in all aspects.
So far, there was no one around her who surpassed him.
Although she knew she wasn't good enough for him, some things were beyond her control.
Xiang Wan feared that after he had his way, he would leave, and she would be the one to suffer.
"Rest for a bit and then leave quickly."
After saying that, she opened the window slightly and went to the window to dry her hair in the breeze.
The faint lights of the neighborhood cast a glow on her, her skin seemed to be edged with silver.
She was so graceful and captivating.
Watching her, Lu Mingzhe's desire was rekindled.
He walked over and gently embraced her from behind.
"Are you done drying it?"
"Don't you have eyes to see?"
"I'll help you."
Without further ado, he took the towel from her hand, gently held her hair, and began to dry it tenderly.
An electric current spread rapidly from the soles of her feet to her scalp.
In the quiet of the night, the human heart and nerves were at their most sensitive and vulnerable.
His actions like this.
Xiang Wan felt it was dangerous.
But her instinctive craving drove her, and she couldn't bear to push him away.
She had to admit that Lu Mingzhe's increasing involvement in her life recently had caused her distress.
The two stood there, sharing the most intimate relationship in the world.
But their hearts couldn't draw closer, and Xiang Wan felt deeply melancholic.
Lu Mingzhe was different.
He was the master and manipulator of this relationship.
He could enter whenever he pleased and retreat whenever he wished.
He had never intended to take responsibility for Xiang Wan, so the emotions he displayed were always the most genuine.
He appreciated her beauty, simply appreciated it.
As he dried her hair, he leaned close to her ear.
"It's almost done. I'll carry you over."
Xiang Wan immediately turned around.
"What are you doing?"
"Do you know why we've been together for so many years? Xiang Wan, you are so beautiful."
Perhaps no woman in the world could resist the allure of such words.
Even though she knew it was dangerous, Xiang Wan couldn't help but be drawn in again.
In the end, Lu Mingzhe did not leave.
Late at night, Xiang Wan couldn't bear to drive him away.
Lu Mingzhe held her in his arms and fell into a deep sleep.
However, Xiang Wan, due to various psychological activities, despite being exhausted, suffered from insomnia.
When Lu Mingzhe was heartless and indifferent to her, she felt like an iron-willed woman.
She was dedicated to her career, lacked nothing, neither men nor money, and lived her life with great energy every day, as if injected with adrenaline.
She never worried about gains or losses, nor did she indulge in romantic fantasies.
But today, to her surprise, she realized that she was like most women.
Her strength, independence, confidence, and assertiveness were merely self-suggestions.
She also longed to be loved, to have a lasting embrace, and to be affirmed by a man.
She was a weak woman with many desires.
This feeling was truly unpleasant.
After much thought, Xiang Wan decided that since she hadn't fallen too deeply yet, she needed to quickly stop this momentum from developing further.
She remained sleepless until dawn.
Her brother got up to make breakfast, and Xiang Wan followed suit.
They were busy in the living room until breakfast was served, and Lu Mingzhe emerged, groggy from sleep.
Her brother was delighted to see him again.
Xiang Wan, however, nudged her brother into the room.
"Come in for a moment, I have something to tell you."
Despite not sleeping all night, her skin had a good base.
Her face was clean, her hair black and soft, her skin like snow, showing no signs of fatigue.
She had already changed into her work clothes, looking breathtakingly beautiful.
Facing such a beauty, Lu Mingzhe, upon entering the room, began to act inappropriately again.
Xiang Wan pushed his chin away.
"Behave yourself, Lu Mingzhe, I have something serious to tell you."
Seeing her serious and displeased expression,
Lu Mingzhe finally regained his composure.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't want to continue this with you."
"Your current behavior bothers me. It's disrupting my life."
"Let's clear things up. This is it. Let's delete all our contact information later, and don't come to my place anymore."