Lu Jinxuan was a woman of action. She arranged everything on the spot.
Taking advantage of Lu Jin’an’s night shift, she played up how pitiful she was with no one to keep her company and coaxed Gu Nianyi into coming out.
Gu Nianyi drove to the spot before realizing it was a bar. Who on earth named a bar “It’s Going to Snow”?
The solid wooden sign made it look like a quiet lounge at first glance.
From the outside, it seemed like a respectable establishment.
Gu Nianyi pushed open the door and jumped in surprise. Inside, it was a whole different world.
Deafening music pounded her ears, while shifting, seductive lights dazzled her eyes and set her heart racing.
It only looked respectable on the surface—inside, it was just like any other bar.
Gu Nianyi asked a server for directions and found the private room Lu Jinxuan had booked.
The space was dimly lit; she had to blink a few times to make out that Lu Jinxuan was the only one there.
Lu Jinxuan stood up and waved at her. “Sister-in-Law, over here.”
Her ultra-short crop top and shorts were suddenly on full display in front of Gu Nianyi—far too revealing.
“Aren’t you cold?”
Gu Nianyi felt chilly even in her thick knit sweater, but Lu Jinxuan was dressed like it was the middle of summer.
“Not cold at all. Actually, I’m pretty warm.”
Evidently, the Lu family’s hot-bloodedness was hereditary.
The room played English songs Gu Nianyi didn’t recognize. She had to raise her voice. “What made you think of inviting me here?”
Lu Jinxuan said, “My brother asked me to bring you.”
This was a pot Lu Jin’an would have to carry himself.
Gu Nianyi froze. “Huh? No way—he said if we were going to a bar, it had to be with him.”
Lu Jinxuan quickly spun a reason. “He’s on night shift tonight, so he asked me to take you out and have some fun.”
Gu Nianyi bought it without question. He must have been worried about her being bored alone at home.
And with no strangers in the private room, she relaxed.
After sitting for a bit, Gu Nianyi only dared to sip a little water.
The AC was cranked a tad high, and it was getting warmer. She shrugged off her knit sweater, revealing the thin camisole straps and her slender shoulders and neck.
Lu Jinxuan threw an arm around Gu Nianyi’s neck and looked her up and down. “Sister-in-Law, has my brother been treating you well?”
Gu Nianyi turned her head away. “Huh? What do you mean?”
Lu Jinxuan arched a brow and pointed at her chest. “This area.”
She never would have guessed that her seemingly slim sister-in-law was so well-endowed.
Curves in all the right places, a perfect hourglass figure.
With a whoosh, Gu Nianyi’s porcelain-pale cheeks flushed crimson, impossible to hide even in the dim light.
“Sister-in-Law, you’re so easy to tease.”
Lu Jinxuan poked at Gu Nianyi’s ripe, flushed cheek and slapped her thigh. “Don’t tell me my brother’s the problem.”
“I… um…” Gu Nianyi had no idea how to respond.
Her stammering only confirmed it in Lu Jinxuan’s mind. “Damn, my brother’s all show and no substance.”
Gu Nianyi waved her hands frantically. “No, no—it’s just that we haven’t gotten to that point yet.”
“Ohhh.” Lu Jinxuan gasped dramatically. “Then there’s still something wrong with my brother. You’ve already gotten your marriage certificate, and he still sits unmoved in the face of temptation? Definitely a problem.”
In any case, her brother was hopeless.
“Whatever, whatever. Let’s drink like there’s no tomorrow—forget about that guy.”
Lu Jinxuan tapped away on her phone, and within a minute, a group of male models filed into the room one after another.
No exaggeration—a whole group.
Gu Nianyi peered closely and counted five of them.
All wearing nothing but black vests.
She immediately dropped her gaze. She wasn’t about to look where she shouldn’t.
One more glance, and she’d get pinkeye.
Lu Jinxuan said, “Sister-in-Law, pick one.”
“Do I have to?” Gu Nianyi just wanted to sit quietly. If Lu Jin’an found out…
She couldn’t imagine what he’d do.
“I’ll pick then.”
Lu Jinxuan chose one who looked gentle and handed him over to Gu Nianyi.
The young man was about twenty, clean-cut and fresh-faced, like he hadn’t even graduated yet.
He sat right next to Gu Nianyi and started peeling grapes for her.
A cool mint scent wafted over her. Gu Nianyi recoiled as if he’d unleashed a swarm of terrifying bugs.
“I’m married. Just sit over there, that’s fine.”
The young man glanced at her ring finger—no wedding ring. Clearly an excuse. “I don’t mind. He must be useless, sending a beauty like you out alone. Not very thoughtful or gentle, is he?”
Gu Nianyi gave an awkward laugh and refused the grapes. “It’s not like that. He’s actually a really good person.”
He kept peeling. “Then why doesn’t he come with you?”
“He’s a doctor. He’s busy.”
“Sister, don’t think about him. Your skin is amazing—no pores at all. You’re so gentle, Sister.”
They both called her “sister,” but it felt worlds apart from how Mingxuan said it.
Gu Nianyi stayed on guard the whole time, only taking tiny sips.
But tonight’s drinks were delicious—faintly fruity with a hint of blueberry sweetness.
Before she knew it, she’d had too much.
“Sister, what skincare do you use?” Aside from trash-talking Lu Jin’an, the young man didn’t do anything untoward.
Gu Nianyi let her guard down a bit. “Just regular stuff.”
She still kept an eye on Lu Jinxuan—she was just a kid, after all.
The young man went on. “You’re naturally beautiful. Whoever’s lucky enough to have married you sure doesn’t cherish it, leaving you to guard an empty bed.”
His tone was over-the-top, pumping up her ego for all it was worth.
Suddenly, a cold voice cut through the air beside them. “Me.”
“Dr. Lu, what are you doing here?” The voice was so familiar that Gu Nianyi’s mouth moved faster than her brain.
She blinked a few times to confirm it wasn’t a hallucination.
It was Lu Jin’an in the flesh.
He wore a simple, crisp white shirt with just the top button undone, instantly outshining the half-naked male models in the room.
Lu Jin’an strode over to Gu Nianyi’s side and pulled her shoulder into his grasp, eyes narrowed to slits. “What a coincidence.”
His gaze was deep and gleaming like polished obsidian, his voice as heavy and frigid as a glacier dormant for a thousand years.
“You can go now.”
He’d kept her company all evening, so Gu Nianyi slipped him a small tip.
The young man shot her a wink. “Call me anytime you need me, Sister. I’ll be waiting.”
Lu Jin’an whipped his head around to glare at her. “Do you have his contact?”
Gu Nianyi answered honestly. “Yeah, we added each other tonight.”
She hadn’t wanted to—he’d played the pity card, saying he’d get docked pay if she didn’t.
She hadn’t been able to resist.
“Delete it.”
“Okay.” Gu Nianyi obeyed, deleting the new contact right in front of him.
Lu Jin’an turned his ire on Lu Jinxuan, his voice icy with reproach. “Lu Jinxuan, this is how you show her a good time?”
Gu Nianyi stepped in. “You can’t yell at her.”
She looked like she’d been having a blast—not that he could yell at Lu Jinxuan now.
Lu Jin’an gritted his teeth. “Fine, no yelling. I’ll call Lu Huaizhi to come get her.”
They sat in the room for a quarter of an hour before Lu Huaizhi arrived.
Seeing Lu Jin’an’s ashen face and furrowed brows, he swiftly hoisted Lu Jinxuan onto his back and bolted.
This was the calm before the storm with his brother.
Gu Nianyi and Lu Jinxuan waved goodbye. “Jinxuan, let’s hang out again sometime.”
Lu Jinxuan grinned back. “Sure thing, Sister-in-Law. As long as you’re happy.”
Mission accomplished—her brother would bump up her allowance now.
With the background music off, the room fell silent, the garish lights still flashing across their faces.
“Let’s go, Gu Nianyi.” Lu Jin’an picked up her cardigan from the sofa and draped it over her.
Her pale, delicate shoulders and deep collarbone were on display.
He’d never seen her in just a camisole before.
Lu Jin’an’s throat bobbed involuntarily as he looked away.
Chatting and drinking all evening in a camisole—did she really think men were saints?
Gu Nianyi started to shrug it off. “Dr. Lu, it’s a little hot.”
Lu Jin’an caught her hand and tucked it into his palm. “Bear with it. It’s cold outside.”
They’d only taken two steps when they ran into a man. “Dr. Lu, vanished for ages—turns out you were off on a date with a beauty.”
Lu Jin’an introduced her. “My wife, Gu Nianyi.”
Then to her: “A classmate from my overseas exchange, He Yuheng. He just got back.”
Gu Nianyi smiled politely. “Hello.”
He Yuheng said, “Sister-in-law.”
The others chimed in. “Hey, Sister-in-Law.”
Lu Jin’an said his goodbyes. “We’re heading out. Drinks are on me.”
Once they were gone, He Yuheng consoled the girl beside him. “Stop staring. He’s wearing his wedding ring—that means he takes the marriage seriously. Look at how he holds her hand, like he’s afraid she’ll trip.
He’s been distracted all night, glued to his phone. Probably waiting for messages from his wife.
They got married in a rush, sure, but he’s into it now—that much is real.”
Feng Yuwei replied, “I know.”
She just needed to see it with her own eyes to finally let go.
The girl was draped in his suit jacket, her feelings plain as day.
Lu Jin’an led Gu Nianyi along, his voice cold and stern. “Coming to a place like this late at night—how dangerous.”
Gu Nianyi looked up at him and mustered her courage. “Dr. Lu, you’re here too. You state officials can set fires, but we commoners can’t even light lamps.”
Why was he only scolding her?
Sober, she might not have pushed back, but now she was fuzzy-headed.
Her boldness had grown with the buzz.
Lu Jin’an started settling the score. “Those guys, dressed like that—what kind of decent men wear so little?”
Outside the operating room, he’d never seen a proper guy so exposed.
Were men really that petty? You badmouth me, I’ll badmouth you.
Whoever said women loved catfights—clearly, it was men.
Gu Nianyi was indirectly taking a swipe at him. “He’s a good guy. He didn’t lay a hand on me or hurl any cold remarks.”
He wouldn’t steal a kiss from her, much less force one on her.
Lu Jin’an came to a halt midway, his gaze fixed on her without the slightest attempt to hide it. “You like him?”