Chapter 225: Coaxing

Ning Li never could have imagined that she would be so humiliated in front of Lu Huaiyu.

Her stomach growled in the empty and quiet room, so it was very, very clear.

After a momentary silence, Lu Huaiyu let out a low laugh.

“You’ve eaten?”

Ning Li covered her face with the towel in despair and wished that she had never received this call.

Or she could just hang up. Why had she even asked that question in the first place?

There was no more sound from Lu Huaiyu’s end, but Ning Li knew very well that he was still listening and waiting for her answer.

She spoke sullenly, “No…”

Ning Li had been busy repairing the car all day, only having had a simple lunch at noon. In the evening, Ji Shu had wanted to take her to dinner, but she had not had much of an appetite at that time, so she had refused.

After a bath and settling down, she finally felt hungry.

As a result, such a situation occurred.

Lu Huaiyu asked, “What do you want to eat?”

Ning Li froze slightly and thought, ‘Does he want to take me to dinner?’

“Second Brother, I’ll just order takeout later. Don’t trouble yourself.”

“It’s no trouble. I’m out now, so I can order takeaway for you. What do you want to eat?”

‘He’s outside?’

Before Ning Li could speak, she heard Cheng Xiyue’s voice in the background.

“Bro, they’re already here and waiting for you. Eh? Who are you talking to on the phone?”

Ning Li said, “Second Brother, if you have something to do, go ahead.”

Cheng Xiyue heard her voice. “Little Ning Li?”

“Brother Xiyue.” Ning Li greeted him.

Cheng Xiyue heard their conversation.

“Little Ning Li hasn’t eaten yet? Then why don’t we…”

Lu Huaiyu raised his eyes and gave him a silent warning.

Cheng Xiyue had the sense to shut his mouth and took a step back.

‘Fine… She’s all yours… It’s not my place to be concerned for her.’ Cheng Xiyue thought.

Lu Huaiyu continued to say, “We’re in the city center. There are a few nice restaurants nearby. Do you want something lighter or something else? Xiyue’s driving now, so we can send it to you on the way.”

Cheng Xiyue was speechless. ‘Am I just your handy driver, huh?’

Ning Li felt a little headache coming on. “It’s really fine, Second Brother. Don’t you still have an appointment?”

Lu Huaiyu seemed to have heard something.

“You’re not at the Ye family house right now.”

It was not a question, but a definite declarative statement.

“We’re not far from Heyuan district.”

Besides, he had the key, so it would not be much trouble.

Ning Li knew that she could not avoid this, so she took a deep breath and said honestly, “Second Brother, I’m not in Yunzhou…I’m back home in Lincheng.”

Lu Huaiyu’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.

The final exams were coming up. Why had Ning Li chosen to go back to Lincheng at this time?

“You’re alone?”

“Mm.”

Ning Li’s hair was almost dry by then. She felt that Lu Huaiyu’s question was a bit strange.

She had always been dependent on her grandmother in Lincheng, and he knew it.

Now that her grandmother was not there, she was all alone.

“When will you be back?” Lu Huaiyu asked.

“Tomorrow.”

Lu Huaiyu paused for a while.

If Ning Li had gone somewhere else, he would definitely have asked more questions, but Lincheng was her home after all.

Hearing Ning Li’s normal tone, Lu Huaiyu did not continue to probe further and only said, “Then, remember to eat something and stay safe.”

Ning Li nodded, then realized that he could not see her and said, “Okay, Second Brother.”

Her sweet and soft voice sounded so close to his ear that it tickled his heart.

Cheng Xiyue stood next to him and answered the call.

“Yeah, yeah… We’re on the way. You guys go ahead first and put it on Huaiyu’s tab. Yes, yes… It’s all on him.”

Cheng Xiyua turned to look at Lu Huaiyu and lowered his voice slightly. “He’s been in a pretty good mood lately, so this is a rare opportunity!”

Second Master Lu was loaded, so he was always generous, but taking the initiative to throw money at them and being passively coerced was a different matter.

“Alright, he’s here, so I’ll hang up first!”

Seeing Lu Huaiyu walking towards him, Cheng Xiyue quickly hung up the phone.

“So, are we delivering food to Little Ning Li?”

Lu Huaiyu said, “She’s in Lincheng.”

“Lincheng?” Cheng Xiyue was a little surprised.

‘Why had Little Ning Li gone there without mentioning it to them?’

“Then…”

Cheng Xiyue looked at Lu Huaiyu and found that he did not seem to be disappointed. Instead, he looked relaxed and seemed to be in a good mood.

‘Tsk tsk…’ Cheng Xiyue silently gave Ning Li a thumbs up in his heart.

Knowing Lu Huaiyu, this would not have been his normal reaction if he had found out that Little Ning Li had gone back to Lincheng by herself without telling him.

Chen Xiyue did not know how Ning Li had managed to coax this Second Master Lu so well.

‘It’s really…a miracle…’

“Let’s go.” Lu Huaiyu walked towards the parking lot.

…

Ning Li had planned to order a takeaway, but after thinking about it, she put on a jacket and went out.

It was a rare trip back here after all.

She went downstairs, walked across a street, turned a corner, and finally chose a familiar shop on the street.

Just as she was about to go in, a car suddenly pulled up behind her.

A familiar voice came from the car. “Ning Li?”

Ning Li was stunned and turned back.

Gu Siyang was waving at her from the car window.

Next to him was Gu Tinglan.