Lu Shao is cunning; Miss Nan has fallen for his tricks again.

Chapter 8 Doing things that couples do.

Time flies, and it's the weekend again. Although it's already the beginning of autumn, the weather is still a bit hot.

Last night, Lu Zhiyan and Nan Xu discussed it and decided to go camping in a neighboring city today. Nan Xu started packing her things early this morning.

Nanxu tried on clothes back and forth in the dressing room. She was only going for two days and one night, so she didn't need to bring many clothes, but she still felt that her wardrobe was missing a suitable outfit for today.

Lu Zhiyan turned over and found that no one was beside him. He then got up to wash up.

He brushed his teeth while listening to the footsteps that occasionally came from the dressing room.

Lu Zhiyan thought there was no need to get so excited about just one camping trip. If she liked it, he could take her there often.

Nan Xu ran out of the dressing room carrying two pieces of clothing and asked Lu Zhiyan, "Which of these two pieces of clothing do you think looks better?"

On the left is a floral print mini dress with a pastoral style, and on the right is a spaghetti strap backless maxi dress.

Lu Zhiyan looked at it and said, "The left side."

Nan Xu looked at the floral mini-skirt again and affirmed Lu Zhiyan's taste. "Then I'll listen to you." After saying that, she took the skirt and left.

Lu Zhiyan chuckled and shook his head.

After spending these past few days together, their relationship has made significant progress.

Nan Xu thought Lu Zhiyan had good judgment, and she would often ask Lu Zhiyan for his opinion when she had any troubles.

From big decisions like what color clothes to wear every day, to small things like choosing the color of items when shopping online.

Walking into the dressing room, Lu Zhiyan also picked out a casual shirt and black trousers. He unbuttoned a few buttons on the front of the shirt, revealing his tanned skin and a bit of his chest muscles.

Nanxu came out of the dressing room wearing a little dress and sat in front of the dressing table to choose accessories.

Lu Zhiyan came out of the room and happened to see Nan Xu coming to him with two bracelets.

"Bracelet."

Nan Xu uttered two words, and Lu Zhiyan knew what they meant.

"Clothes shouldn't be layered, but bracelets can be. Since you like them, wear them all." After saying that, she took the bracelet from Nanxu and helped her put it on.

Both bracelets were worn on her left wrist, while, as was Nanxu's habit, she would wear a wristwatch on her right wrist.

Nan Xu looked at the bracelet on her wrist, then at Lu Zhiyan, and noticed his clothes today.

Lu Zhiyan usually wears formal attire and is rarely seen in casual wear. Nan Xu's eyes lit up. She suddenly remembered a necklace she bought abroad that would suit Lu Zhiyan perfectly.

She quickly searched the jewelry box and found it soon enough.

The necklace is entirely silver, a European/American men's style. It's a piece of jewelry I bought with a friend at a music festival. The pendant is a plaque with an "X" printed on it.

Nan Xu gestured for Lu Zhiyan to lower his head, and Lu Zhiyan obediently lowered his head. Nan Xu stood on tiptoe to put the hair on Lu Zhiyan.

Lu Zhiyan touched the letter card and asked Nan Xu, "Was this a gift for me?"

"No, I'm just borrowing it for a bit. You have to return it to me when you come back tomorrow night." With that, she went back to tidy up the jewelry scattered on the table.

Lu Zhiyan looked at the letters on the letter card and said, "I agree. Giving someone a gift like this shows a lack of sincerity."

"How is this not sincere? I carefully selected these, you know," Nan Xu replied casually as she tidied up with her head down.

"My name doesn't have an X in it, so if you really give it to me, it won't be very sincere."

Nanxu insisted on giving it to Lu Zhiyan, saying, "Then I'll give it to you; I'm just not being sincere!"

"It's okay, X and Y are inseparable."

"What do you mean?" Nan Xu asked, turning around in confusion.

"It doesn't mean anything. Since you've given it to me, don't ask so many questions," Lu Zhiyan said mysteriously.

After breakfast, Lu Zhiyan went to get the car first, while Nan Xu waited at the door.

Nan Xu noticed that Lu Zhiyan had driven a Jeep. She asked him, "Aren't we going camping? Why are we driving a Jeep?" It's not like we're going to some wilderness.

Lu Zhiyan rolled down the car window. "I wonder how many mosquitoes there are at the campsite. If there are, it'll be more comfortable to sleep in the car."

Nan Xu didn't ask any more questions and got into the passenger seat. Uncle Ji put the things in the trunk.

It's over 300 kilometers to the neighboring city, and it takes more than three hours to drive there. They set off at nine o'clock, and a cool breeze was blowing.

Lu Zhiyan, wearing sunglasses, rolled down all the car windows and rested his arm on the window.

Nan Xu leaned back in her chair and fell asleep. She had woken up around 7 a.m. today, and now she was catching up on sleep so she would have the energy to play tonight.

It was past midnight when they arrived at the campsite. Nanxu had taken a nap and was full of energy.

Lu Zhiyan was busy setting up the tent, which was quite large and difficult for him to do by himself. He didn't ask Nan Xu for help, though. He was a strong-willed person; even if he couldn't do something, he would make it happen.

Nan Xu was packing up the ingredients, snacks, and drinks for the evening's barbecue. She glanced at Lu Zhiyan and noticed that he had been setting up the tent for ages and was still at the same starting point.

Without a second thought, Nan Xu stepped forward, took the tent from Lu Zhiyan, unfolded the bottom of the tent, pulled out the support poles, adjusted both ends... and set it up in no time.

Lu Zhiyan stood by without offering any help, and Nan Xu raised her head at Lu Zhiyan.

"Don't be obsessed with me, it's nothing." She then patted Lu Zhiyan on the shoulder.

Lu Zhiyan watched Nan Xu's actions and touched his cheek with the tip of his tongue.

Was he being mocked?
Obviously, yes.

Nan Xu turned to leave, but Lu Zhiyan grabbed her wrist and said in a slightly annoyed tone, "Were you just mocking me?"

Nan Xu was stunned. "No."

"No? Then what did you mean just now?" Lu Zhiyan pulled Nan Xu's wrist towards him.

Nan Xu looked at the chest so close to hers and swallowed hard.

"I... just want you to learn something." With that, she struggled to free her wrist from Lu Zhiyan's grasp.

Shu Youli was awakened by the sunlight streaming in through the window. He then rubbed his head, still feeling the effects of his hangover. Ling Shu had just finished showering and was drying his hair as he came out of the bathroom.

Ling Shu picked up the bottled water on the table and took a sip. "Remember to call Auntie back. I'll be going now if there's nothing else."

Ling Shu was about to put down the towel and leave.

Shu Youli shook his head. "What are you doing here? And why did you call my mom?"

Ling Shu sighed. "Auntie called me yesterday morning looking for you. I guessed you were here, but I was busy yesterday and only came over last night."

"Okay." Shu Youli threw off the covers, got up, and went to wash up.

Since Shu Youli isn't taking the initiative, let him take the initiative.

Ling Shu turned around, picked up his phone, and texted Nan Xu: Are you home? It's the weekend today, want to go out and have some fun?

Nan Xu was leaning on Lu Zhiyan's shoulder eating skewers, while Lu Zhiyan grilled them for her to eat.

Nanxu: No, I'm in a neighboring city.

Ling Shu frowned. Nan Xu didn't like traveling alone. She didn't have many true female friends.

Apart from Zhou Zan, the others are all abroad.

The person she traveled with was not Zhou Zan; they had just met yesterday.

Ling Shu: Who did you go with? It wasn't Zhou Zan, was it? I saw her yesterday, and she didn't mention going to the neighboring city.

Nanxu shoved the skewers into Lu Zhiyan's hands and typed a reply with both hands: Yes, I was with other friends.

Lu Zhiyan was grilling skewers when he suddenly saw a half-eaten skewer being stuffed into his hand. He glanced at Nan Xu beside him, then continued eating without a care in the world.

Ling Shu: I remember your female friends are all abroad.

Nanxu: Yes, with a friend of the opposite sex.

Nan Xu sensed something was wrong, but couldn't pinpoint what it was. After a moment's thought, she reached for the unfinished skewers from Lu Zhiyan.

Nan Xu picked it up but didn't take it, then looked at Lu Zhiyan's hand.

There's no trace of barbecue skewers left.

Suppressing her anger, Nanxu asked, "Where are my meat skewers?"

Just as Lu Zhiyan was about to throw the skewer into the trash can, he said, "Huh? Didn't you say you weren't going to eat it?"

"When did I say I wasn't going to eat?" Nan Xu asked angrily.

She had only eaten a sandwich and drunk a glass of milk in the morning, and after packing and setting up the tent, she was starving.

She had only eaten a few skewers when she was starving.

Lu Zhiyan realized the danger of the situation. "I'll be done baking soon."

Nan Xu snorted. She walked heavily toward the tent.

Lu Zhiyan was left standing in front of the barbecue grill, looking lost, before finally smiling helplessly.

What a kid. He can't wait a moment longer.

(End of this chapter)