Let me explain, it's not what you think.

Yes, after spending time with Lu Chen these past few days, she felt more and more that Lu Chen was a true gentleman.

He always keeps his distance from me and never oversteps the mark, but this only makes me like him even more.

A few days later, Zhuang Jingbai grew anxious when she realized that Lu Chen still hadn't shown up.

She didn't know what was wrong with her, she just wanted to see Lu Chen.

Looking at the treasure Lin Tian had given her in her hand, she gritted her teeth.

"No, I have to go see him."

She found a suitable reason for herself.

Lin Tian obtained this treasure in the forbidden area, so he can use it to apologize to Lu Chen, since both Lin Tian and he himself made a mistake back then.

Immediately afterwards, Zhuang Jingbai found Lin Tian.

"Ah? My wife, you're going to give him that treasure that can unlock the second entry?" Lin Tian felt a pang of heartache.

"Isn't this too expensive?"

"How could you be so at ease when you knocked him unconscious and threw him into the bridal chamber? Didn't you notice that Lu Chen hasn't come looking for you all this time?"

"And me, I kidnapped them back then, so I have to apologize to them both morally and logically..."

Lin Tian awkwardly shut his mouth.

Soon, the two landed on their swords at the entrance of Lu Chen Cave.

"Junior brother! Open the door! Your sister-in-law and I have come to see you!"

Inside the cave, Lu Chen had just sobered up and was sitting cross-legged, adjusting his breathing.

Upon hearing Lin Tian's voice, he opened his eyes and subconsciously glanced in the direction of the guest room.

The guest room door was tightly closed.

He took a deep breath and got up to open the door.

"Senior brother, sister-in-law, what brings you here?" Lu Chen stepped aside and invited the two in.

As soon as Zhuang Jingbai entered, his gaze subtly swept over the interior of the cave.

It's so clean, so incredibly clean. I never imagined Lu Chen cared so much about his living environment.

She silently gave Lu Chen a few more points in her heart.

"Junior brother, what's wrong with you here..." Lin Tian was also stunned.

"What's changed? Did you hire someone?"

Lu Chen's heart tightened, but he remained calm and said, "I tidied it up myself. When I came out of seclusion, it was a mess, so I tidied it up."

"You alone?" Lin Tian scratched his head.

"When did you become so diligent? You even laid flooring and started growing flowers?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of wariness flashed in Zhuang Jingbai's eyes.

It turns out that this was only recently done.

"Please sit down." Lu Chen led the two to the table and poured them tea.

"Senior brothers, what brings you here today...?"

Lin Tian took a small box out of his pocket and put it on the table.

"Junior brother, this is for you."

Lu Chen opened it and was stunned.

Inside the box was a crystal-clear jade pendant, engraved with intricate patterns, and faintly shimmering with spiritual light.

"This is……"

"The opportunity I gained in the forbidden area allows me to create another entry for someone."

Lu Chen's hand trembled, and he almost dropped the box.

"Senior brother, this is too precious! I cannot accept it!"

"Keep it."

"I was wrong to knock you unconscious and throw you into the bridal chamber to make you take my place. Consider this my apology."

Lu Chen looked at Zhuang Jingbai, who was drinking tea with her head down and seemed not to have heard him.

"Senior brother, that matter is in the past. Besides, my sister-in-law and I are nothing..." Lu Chen pushed the box back.

In the original story, Lin Tian acquired quite a few of these items, but he only used them for himself and the female lead, and only gave them to his relatives and friends much later on.

Lin Tian then gave him the female lead's things, which made him a little scared, and he unconsciously covered his buttocks.

Could it be that his appearance caused Lin Tian's orientation to change?

"Just take it! Otherwise, you're still holding a grudge against me?"

"no……"

"If not, then accept it!"

Lu Chen had no choice but to accept it.

In the guest room.

Jiang Huaiyu pressed herself against the door and peered out through the crack.

She heard the entire conversation.

Knocked unconscious? Substituted for the bridal chamber?

She looked incredulously at the young man outside who was refusing the gift.

He went to the bridal chamber in place of his senior brother, and faced with the bride, he actually did nothing? It was their wedding night, the bride was right in front of him, and he... he held back?

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Jiang Huaiyu's heart.

She recalled her time with Lu Chen these past few days. He always kept his distance from her, and even when they were alone in a room, he never had any improper thoughts.

Now she knows that he had already put her through this test.

He could still remain completely chaste even in the face of a beauty like Zhuang Jingbai. So what about himself…?

She suddenly felt a sense of inexplicable loss.

At the same time, it made me even more certain about one thing.

Lu Chen is a responsible and good man, a true gentleman. This is the kind of person you can entrust your life to.

Inside the hall.

Lin Tian looked around the cave and suddenly said, "Junior brother, tell me honestly, did you really not hire anyone to clean it? I remember you weren't such a diligent person before."

"It was just a whim after I came out of seclusion."

Zhuang Jingbai put down her teacup and suddenly stood up.

"I'm going to the kitchen."

Lu Chen's heart tightened, but he couldn't stop her. He could only watch her figure disappear through the kitchen doorway.

In the kitchen, Zhuang Jingbai's gaze swept over the stove, cutting board, and dish rack.

It's too clean. But cleanliness isn't the point; the point is...

She leaned closer to the stove and took a gentle sniff.

A faint, pleasant fragrance wafted into my nose.

It wasn't Lu Chen's scent.

She closed her eyes and carefully discerned the details.

It was a woman's natural fragrance, mixed with a hint of orchid scent; very faint, but definitely present.

Moreover, it wasn't recently left. This aroma has been lingering here for some time.

She turned and walked out of the kitchen, her gaze sweeping subtly over the doors of several rooms deep within the cave.

There was one room, and the door was tightly closed.

She looked away and sat back down at the table.

"What's wrong?" Lin Tian asked.

"It's nothing."

Zhuang Jingbai picked up her teacup, took a small sip, but her gaze fell on Lu Chen.

"Junior brother, you've really tidied up this cave dwelling." She said meaningfully.

Lu Chen smiled but didn't reply.

In the guest room.

Jiang Huaiyu held her breath and watched through the crack in the door as Zhuang Jingbai sat back down at the table, and breathed a sigh of relief.

But the next moment, Zhuang Jingbai's gaze seemed to sweep in her direction intentionally or unintentionally.

Jiang Huaiyu's heart tightened, and she quickly took a step back, hiding in the shadows behind the door.

She suddenly felt a pang of regret.

Why should I hide?

She's the victim. She lives here because she has nowhere else to go. She did nothing wrong; she and Lu Chen are completely innocent.

But she just didn't dare to go out.

It wasn't because she felt guilty, but because... she didn't know how to explain her presence here.

Inside the hall, Lin Tian was still rambling on about something, and Zhuang Jingbai occasionally responded, but her mind was no longer on the conversation.

Lu Chen sat opposite him, appearing calm on the surface, but cold sweat was already seeping from his back.

峮956丶272滑稽670

He knew Zhuang Jingbai must have noticed something; this woman was too perceptive.

Half an hour later, Lin Tian finally got up to say goodbye.

"Junior brother, make good use of that opportunity, and buy me a drink later!"

"must."

Lu Chen escorted the two to the door, watched them fly away on their swords, and then slowly closed the door.

He leaned against the door and let out a long breath.

The guest room door opened, and Jiang Huaiyu came out with a hint of apology on her face.

"I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

Lu Chen shook his head: "It's not your fault."

Jiang Huaiyu looked at him, hesitant to speak.

"I heard everything you just said."

Lu Chen was taken aback.

"About taking Lin Tian's place in the bridal chamber." Jiang Huaiyu looked at him, her gaze complex. "You...didn't do anything?"

Lu Chen remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

How could he dare to tell anyone about this?

Jiang Huaiyu looked at him, her eyes swirling with emotion. After a long while, she spoke softly, "You're a good person."

……