Leng Yulai rolled her eyes alluringly and said irritably:
"You could even guess that? I'm impressed."
"Because I don't believe that with your one-track mind, you could be perceptive enough to notice that I've been under a lot of pressure lately."
Lu Jun deliberately made a joke, trying to ease the somewhat sentimental atmosphere.
"...Just how deep is that stereotype of me in your mind?"
Leng Yulai shot him a mildly annoyed glare, yet still stuffed the wineglass filled with crimson liquid into his hand.
"Since you already know, just do as you're told. That girl Nana was worried about you, afraid you'd bottle everything up and carry it all by yourself. That's why she specifically asked me to come see whether I could help ease some of your pressure."
"How?" Lu Jun asked instinctively, holding the slightly cool wineglass.
"Of course, with my methods."
A mysterious, faintly wild smile curled Leng Yulai's red lips. She raised her own glass and lightly clinked it against his.
After the crisp chime of glass against glass, they smiled at each other. The earlier awkwardness and probing seemed to melt into the wine.
They sipped the rich red wine as they chatted casually, from amusing stories of the past to their recent experiences. The mood was relaxed and harmonious, and Lu Jun truly felt his tightly wound nerves ease considerably after days of strain.
"Dark Phoenix Crown, might I have the honor of inviting you to a dance?"
An ill-timed voice interrupted them. A richly dressed young man from some top-tier faction, outwardly elegant in manner, wore what he clearly believed was a charming smile as he extended his hand to Leng Yulai.
The smile vanished from Leng Yulai's face in an instant, replaced by icy coldness. She could not even be bothered