Siheyuan (courtyard house): My father, Li Yunlong!

"Zhenhua, this Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is a secret recipe, made with carefully selected ingredients and a complicated process. It's not something that's easily shown to others. Your aunt has put a lot of thought into this, so you should have a few more bowls."

Lou Bancheng also chimed in with a smile, his tone carrying an air of undeniable authority.

Li Zhenhua was completely unprepared for this disease.

"Auntie's cooking is absolutely amazing. This soup is so fragrant and delicious, it makes my mouth water."

As he spoke, he picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and brought it to his lips.

He didn't swallow it immediately, but let the soup linger in his mouth for a while, savoring it with the tip of his tongue.

Lou's mother and Lou Xiao'e exchanged a barely perceptible glance, both seemingly relieved.

Lou Bancheng's smile became much more natural.

After chatting for a while longer, Li Zhenhua began to feel some abnormalities in his body.

At first, a warm current rose from the dantian. This warm current was not uncomfortable, but rather somewhat comfortable. However, soon, this warm current began to become restless, like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins, surging through the limbs and bones.

My blood seemed to be flowing faster, my heartbeat became strong and rapid, and an indescribable heat spread from the depths of my body.

The things before him began to take on a faint halo, and Lou Xiao'e's beautiful face seemed even more alluring in his eyes.

"What happened? Were you drugged?"

Li Zhenhua felt a chill run down his spine.

He turned to look at the three members of the Lou family, and when he saw that Lou Xiao'e's face was flushed, he immediately understood.

He forced himself to remain calm, put down his spoon, and smiled casually.

"This soup is really nourishing. After just one bowl, I feel warm all over."

His voice sounded normal, but only he knew how much willpower it took to keep his tone steady.

Upon seeing this, Lou Bancheng's eyes flashed with a hint of smugness, and he then pretended to be concerned.

"It seems Zhenhua, you really need to replenish your energy. Your face is a bit flushed. Why don't you go and rest in the guest room next to the study? I have some excellent hangover tea there."

This is a clear signal.

Li Zhenhua knew that the real drama was about to begin.

He went along with it, rubbing his temples and showing a hint of fatigue.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you, Uncle and Aunt. It's really getting a bit too much."

"Xiao'e".

Lou Bancheng immediately gave instructions to his daughter.

"Take Fu Zhenhua to his guest room to rest and be well taken care of."

His tone carried an unquestionable command.

Lou Xiao'e stood up, walked to Li Zhenhua's side, and said softly.

"Comrade Zhenhua, let me help you across."

Her voice trembled slightly as she reached out and took Li Zhenhua's arm.

The moment their fingertips touched, Li Zhenhua could feel the coldness and dampness of her palm, clearly indicating that she was extremely nervous.

Li Zhenhua did not refuse and stood up with her help.

The effects of the medicine were now spreading like wildfire within him, and the dam of reason was being assaulted wave after wave.

The faint scent of perfume emanating from Lou Xiao'e, mixed with the natural fragrance of a young girl, acted as a powerful catalyst, making it almost impossible for him to control himself.

With his remaining willpower, he struggled to maintain his steady pace, and with Lou Xiao'e's support, he left the restaurant and headed to the guest room that had been prepared on the second floor.

The guest room was decorated very elegantly, yet it exuded an ambiguous atmosphere.

Soft Persian carpets, low-hanging velvet curtains, and a faint fragrance in the air; a large Western-style carved bed occupies the center of the room, adorned with brocade quilts and embroidered pillows, creating a scene of enchanting beauty.

Lou Xiao'e helped Li Zhenhua sit down on the edge of the bed, while she stood by, at a loss, her cheeks flushed, her breathing rapid, both afraid and expectant.

She looked at Li Zhenhua. His brows were slightly furrowed, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He seemed to be trying his best to endure something. His forced composure only added to his masculine charm, making her heart pound.

"Comrade Zhenhua...are you...are you alright?"

Lou Xiao'e asked timidly.

Li Zhenhua did not answer; all his energy was focused on fighting the roaring beast within him.

He knew that Lou Bancheng and his mother must have found an excuse to leave, creating a space for them to be alone.

This was an elaborate trap, and he had already stepped into it.

Just then, Lou Xiao'e seemed to have made up her mind.

She remembered her mother's advice, her obsession with Li Zhenhua, and the bright future she might have after it was all done.

She gritted her teeth, walked up to Li Zhenhua, and began to unbutton the Chinese knot buttons on her cheongsam.

His movements were awkward and trembling, yet they carried a resolute determination.

"Comrade Xiao'e...you..."

Li Zhenhua wanted to speak up to stop him, but his voice was hoarse and low, carrying a desire that even he himself was unfamiliar with.

The first button was undone, revealing a slender neck and a small patch of snow-white skin.

This scene was like a spark thrown into an oil depot, instantly igniting the desire that Li Zhenhua had been suppressing.

At this moment, the string of reason finally snapped.

He suddenly reached out and pulled Lou Xiao'e into his arms.

He was enveloped in the warmth and fragrance of the young woman's body; her softness and sweet scent completely overwhelmed his last vestiges of consciousness.

Lou Xiao'e exclaimed in surprise, and was immediately silenced by a burning kiss.

She struggled symbolically for a moment, then softened in Li Zhenhua's strong embrace, responding awkwardly.

In a state of confusion and infatuation, their clothes slipped off one by one, and the bed curtains swayed gently.

The moonlight outside the window was hazy, while inside, spring was in full bloom.

Li Zhenhua felt as if he were in the midst of a raging storm, and could only rely on instinct to go with the flow, throwing all restraint and calculation to the winds.

The next morning, the faint light shone through the gaps in the heavy velvet curtains, casting a narrow strip of light on the luxuriously carpeted floor.

The air was still filled with the ambiguous atmosphere of last night's lovemaking, mixed with a faint fragrance and a hint of sweetness.

Li Zhenhua was awakened by an intense thirst and a splitting headache.

He suddenly opened his eyes, his mind blank for a moment, and then the chaotic and erotic scenes from last night flooded into his mind like a tide.

Lou Xiao'e's charming face, smooth skin, melodious moans, and her almost out-of-control wildness.

His heart sank, and he instantly became completely sober.

With the slightest movement, I felt a warm, soft body pressed tightly against me.

Looking to the side, Lou Xiao'e was curled up beside him, fast asleep.

Her disheveled black hair lay on the pillow, which made her pale face appear even more languidly satisfied.

The quilt slipped down to her shoulders, revealing ambiguous red marks on her neck and collarbone, silently telling the story of last night's intensity.

Li Zhenhua's eyes instantly turned cold and sharp, like a blade tempered with ice.

They fell for their trap!

The Lou family actually resorted to such despicable means!

A violent rage rose from the depths of his heart, almost bursting out of his chest.

Li Zhenhua, a man of great skill and influence, had never suffered such a loss or been so humiliated, whether in the factory or the courtyard house!

But he took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his surging anger.

Anger doesn't solve problems; it only makes things worse.

He quickly calmed down and began to analyze the situation at hand.

The Lou family set up this scheme with the aim of forcing him to submit and marry Lou Xiao'e.

They must have thought that with such "ironclad evidence" in hand, they were completely at the mercy of others.

Thinking of this, Li Zhenhua's lips curled into a cold smile.

Lou Bancheng, you've calculated everything, but you've probably overlooked one thing.

I, Li Zhenhua, am not the kind of mediocre person who would be driven to a dead end by such underhanded tactics!

If you want to play with fire, you must be prepared to be burned to ashes!

He gently moved Lou Xiao'e's arm away from him, his movements steady and without the slightest panic.

Just as he was about to get up, Lou Xiao'e beside him whimpered and woke up.

Their eyes met, and a hint of confusion flashed in Lou Xiao'e's eyes, which was then replaced by immense shyness and panic.

She gasped and abruptly pulled the quilt up to cover herself, her cheeks instantly turning bright red, her eyes darting away, unable to look at Li Zhenhua.

But soon, beneath that shyness, a complex emotion welled up: pride, anticipation, and a hint of barely perceptible fear.

"Zhen... Comrade Zhenhua... you're awake..."

Her voice was barely audible, tinged with a post-coital hoarseness.

Li Zhenhua looked at her expressionlessly, his eyes deep and unreadable.

He didn't respond to her greeting, but instead sat up straight, revealing his muscular upper body.

With his back to Lou Xiao'e, he began to put on the clothes scattered on the ground, his movements unhurried, as if he were just getting up on an ordinary morning.

Lou Xiao'e was somewhat at a loss because of his calm, almost indifferent attitude.

According to her preconceived script, Li Zhenhua should at this moment be either panicked, furious, or tender and comforting, and discussing the next steps.

It shouldn't be like this...

It was as if nothing had ever happened, a calm that prevailed.

Beneath this calm surface lay a pressure that made her heart pound.

She bit her lip, mustered her courage, got up, put on her bathrobe, and walked barefoot to Li Zhenhua's side. Like the most docile wife, she picked up his shirt, wanting to help him put it on, her voice filled with flattery and a hint of timidity.

"I...I'll help you."

Li Zhenhua neither refused nor accepted, but simply let her clumsily dress him.

His gaze pierced through the crack in the window, peering at the gradually brightening sky outside. His mind raced, refining his counterattack plan.

To him, Lou Xiao'e's service at this moment was merely the opening act of a play, and the director would soon be replaced.

Dressed neatly, Li Zhenhua adjusted his collar in front of the mirror.

The young man in the mirror had a slightly pale face, but his eyes were sharp and his lips were tightly pursed, exuding an unassailable air of authority.

Very good, you're in good shape.

"Let's go downstairs."

He said it casually, not as a discussion, but as an order.

Then, without waiting for Lou Xiao'e's response, he opened the door and went out.

Lou Xiao'e was stunned for a moment, then quickly straightened her bathrobe and jogged to catch up.

She was filled with unease; Li Zhenhua's reaction was completely beyond her expectations.

Downstairs in the restaurant, a long Western-style dining table was already set with an exquisite breakfast, complete with milk, bread, fried eggs, and fruit.

Lou Bancheng and his mother were already seated in the main and secondary seats, seemingly enjoying their breakfast leisurely, but their tense lips and the occasional glances toward the stairwell betrayed their inner anxiety.

Upon hearing the sound of footsteps on the stairs, the two immediately sat up straight, displaying just the right amount of surprise and concern.

"Zhenhua, Xiao'e, you're awake? Come down and have breakfast."

Lou's mother spoke first, her smile kind, as if she were only concerned about a younger relative who had gotten up late.

Lou Bancheng also put down his newspaper and looked intently at Li Zhenhua, trying to find any clues on his face.

However, all he saw was a calm, expressionless face, even with a hint of mockery.

Li Zhenhua walked steadily down the stairs, while Lou Xiao'e followed closely behind him, head down, like a dutiful daughter-in-law.

This scene does indeed resemble a newlywed couple paying respects to their elders.

"Good morning, Uncle and Aunt."

Li Zhenhua walked to the dining table, nodded slightly, and was polite but distant and indifferent.

"Please sit down, please sit down."

Lou Bancheng gestured for him to sit down, then waved to the servant, who tactfully withdrew, leaving only the four of them in the dining room.

The atmosphere instantly became heavy.

Lou Bancheng cleared his throat, deciding to stop beating around the bush. He put down his knife and fork, placed his hands on the table, adopted a negotiating stance, looked directly at Li Zhenhua, and spoke in a "sorrowful" and "serious" tone.

"Zhenhua, last night...sigh, since it has already happened, we, as elders, can't say anything more. Young people, it's understandable to act impulsively."

He paused, observing Li Zhenhua's reaction. Seeing that the other party remained expressionless, he continued.

"However, Xiao'e is, after all, a girl, and her reputation is the most important thing. Now... the deed is done, so shouldn't you and Xiao'e's marriage be put on the agenda? Although our Lou family isn't exactly a high-ranking family, we absolutely cannot let our daughter suffer any injustice. Don't worry, you will definitely not be shortchanged in terms of dowry."

Lou's mother quickly chimed in.

"Yes, Zhenhua, you and Xiao'e are a perfect match, both talented and beautiful. Now that you have this relationship, it's a match made in heaven. The sooner you get things done, the less gossip there will be, and it will be good for both of your futures."

After saying that, she looked at Li Zhenhua expectantly and then gestured to her daughter with her eyes.

Lou Xiao'e received her mother's signal, raised her head, looked at Li Zhenhua timidly yet expectantly, her cheeks flushed, and whispered.

"Comrade Zhenhua, I...I'll do whatever you say."

The three of them, working in unison and employing both soft and hard tactics, made their intention to force him into marriage crystal clear.

All eyes were on Li Zhenhua, awaiting his answer.

The restaurant was so quiet you could hear each other's heartbeats.

However, faced with this invisible pressure, Li Zhenhua suddenly smiled.

It wasn't a happy laugh, nor an angry laugh, but a laugh filled with deep sarcasm and coldness.

He picked up a napkin from the table and slowly wiped his mouth, as if he had just enjoyed a delicious breakfast rather than being subjected to a coup.

"marriage?"

Li Zhenhua raised his eyes, his gaze like two beams of cold lightning. He first swept over Lou Xiao'e, making her shiver involuntarily, and then fixed his gaze on Lou Bancheng's face.

"Uncle Lou, are you joking with me?"

Lou Bancheng's face darkened.

"Zhenhua, what do you mean by this? This is no joke!"

"Child's play?"

Li Zhenhua leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table, staring intently at Lou Bancheng. His tone remained calm, yet carried an invisible sense of pressure.

"I think it's you, Uncle Lou, your aunt, and Comrade Xiao'e who have treated such a huge disaster as a joke, haven't you?"