Chapter 34: The Fever Is Gone. Should We Continue Yesterday’s Kiss?

Jiang Se woke up to find that her fever had subsided.

After a night’s rest, her body had returned to normal. Her head no longer ached, and her limbs were no longer weak.

This feeling was the same as every time she had a mild fever—after the heat passed, all the restless negative emotions and unhealthy cells inside her seemed to settle down.

She had slept for an unusually long time. The light seeping through the gap in the curtains was so bright that it looked like a pillar of light.

The door wasn’t closed, and although the room was dim, it wasn’t dark enough to obscure visibility.

As soon as Jiang Se opened her eyes, she saw the man sitting on the sofa.

He was still asleep, his long legs crossed and resting on the sofa. His right elbow propped up on the armrest, head tilted to the right against the back of the sofa, breathing steadily.

It was a single-seat sofa that was originally placed by the window. She wasn’t sure when he had moved it closer to the bed.

Last night, she had been in a daze, and her memories of what happened in the room were hazy.

She only remembered someone continuously feeding her water and making her take another dose of fever medicine in the middle of the night.

She had drunk a lot of water and sweated just as much.

The pajamas she was wearing now were no longer the ones from last night. She vaguely recalled that she had tugged at him, insisting that he help her change.

So… had he stayed and taken care of her the entire night?

Jiang Se blinked slowly, her gaze gradually turning inquisitive as she looked at him.

Just then, the man on the sofa woke up.

Most people would have a trace of grogginess upon waking, but not him. The moment his eyes opened, he was fully alert, immediately looking at her without hesitation.

Jiang Se remained lying on her side, her eyes locked onto his without a single movement.

A moment of silence passed.

Lu Huaiyan was the first to speak. “Let me guess what you’re thinking right now.”

He straightened slightly, his gaze fixed on her, his voice still hoarse from staying up all night. “You’re wondering… does Lu Huaiyan like me more than just a little, right?”

Jiang Se didn’t respond.

At this moment, she knew she didn’t look great. Her hair and body, soaked in sweat, left her feeling sticky and uncomfortable. She felt like a pile of pickled vegetables that had been fermenting in a jar overnight.

The drowsiness from waking up lingered, and she really wasn’t in the mood to deal with him.

Even if what he said was exactly the fleeting thought that had just crossed her mind.

After his half-teasing, half-probing remark, Lu Huaiyan stood up, walked over, and touched her forehead. “The fever’s gone.”

Jiang Se responded with a simple “Mhm,” then lifted the blanket and got out of bed. “I’m going to shower.”

Lu Huaiyan glanced at her, as if something occurred to him, and said, “Remember to dry your hair after.”

Jiang Se slipped on her shoes. Hearing that, she turned to look at him—just a quick glance—before lowering her gaze and heading toward the bathroom.

The sound of running water soon followed.

Lu Huaiyan checked his watch. It was already close to 4 PM.

He called the housekeeper to order a meal, then glanced at the bathroom door before turning back to his own room to freshen up.

After staying up all night, stubble had begun to appear along his jawline.

The razor blade sat at an angle in a narrow glass jar, long and thin like a scalpel—though even thinner than one.

Halfway through shaving, he heard light footsteps outside the door. His movements paused, and he lifted his gaze.

Jiang Se stood at his doorway, wrapped in a bathrobe, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders. “I couldn’t find the hairdryer.”

As she spoke, her eyes briefly swept over the razor in his hand.

Lu Huaiyan tossed the razor back into the glass jar with a clink, then pulled a hairdryer from the drawer beneath the sink. Looking at her, he said, “Come here.”

Jiang Se didn’t hesitate. She walked in, placed her hands on the sink, and hoisted herself up to sit on the counter, waiting for him to dry her hair.

Lu Huaiyan, already accustomed to this routine, switched on the hairdryer and began drying her hair. As he worked, he asked, “Did you really not find it, or were you just too lazy to look?”

Jiang Se answered honestly, “Too lazy.” She had never liked drying her hair since she was little.

The man chuckled. “Did Aunt Zhang always dry it for you when you were a kid?”

Jiang Se replied, “Not just when I was a kid—she still does, even now.”

Lu Huaiyan glanced at her. “Speaking of Aunt Zhang, do you remember talking in your sleep last night?”

“What did I say?”

“You called out ‘Aunt Zhang.’” He leaned in slightly, his hand parting her bangs as he used warm air to dry the hair on her forehead. In a completely serious tone, he added, “And you also called ‘Huaiyan-ge.’”

“…”

Since she stayed silent, Lu Huaiyan glanced at her again. “You don’t believe me?”

Jiang Se said, “I don’t.”

Lu Huaiyan chuckled softly and didn’t tease her further, focusing instead on drying her damp hair.

Once he was done, he set the hairdryer aside and pulled the razor blade from the glass jar where he had tossed it earlier. Looking at her, he said, “You glanced at it at the door and then stared twice more while sitting here. What? Curious about my razor?”

Jiang Se was curious. She took the razor he handed over, examining it closely before praising, “The blade is beautifully made—thin and sharp. Custom-made?”

“Mm.”

“You always use a blade to shave?”

Lu Huaiyan gave another soft “Mm.” “Besides shaving, I use it to trim the calluses on my hands. My grandfather sent me to a training camp for a while when I was younger. Uncle Mo was in charge of me. During that time, the calluses on my hands grew so thick it was unbearable, so Uncle Mo taught me and Mo Jichen how to shave them down with a blade.”

Jiang Se ran her fingertip over the razor’s edge, feeling the icy sharpness of the blade.

“You once asked me what else I enjoyed besides snooker and bartending. I like plenty of things. These thin, sharp blades are one of them.”

Not just blades—she liked playing with darts and guns, too. Skydiving, racing, extreme skiing… Anything that gave her a rush without turning into an addiction.

Every time she visited Cen Mingshu in the U.S., she had to indulge in something thrilling.

In a way, it was a form of release for her. As long as she didn’t put her life on the line, Cen Mingshu never restrained her—she let her go wild.

Seeing her continuously toy with the razor’s edge, Lu Huaiyan’s brow twitched slightly. He lowered his voice. “Careful, or you’ll end up slicing your finger.”

Jiang Se smiled lightly, lifting her dark eyes to meet his. “Lu Huaiyan, let me show you something fun.”

Her gaze shifted downward, landing on his jaw. “If I perform well, I’ll use this razor to finish shaving off the rest of your stubble.”

She didn’t wait for his response. After speaking, she switched the razor from her left hand to her right, closed her eyes, and with a delicate flick of her fingers, the sharp blade spun between them like liquid silver.

The blade flowed effortlessly from her index finger to her pinky and back again, flashing under the light in swift, fluid motions. Within a single breath, the razor returned to rest between her thumb and forefinger, steady and unscathed.

It was a striking contrast—such a beautiful hand playing with something so deadly. A visual contradiction that was both elegant and dangerous.

Lu Huaiyan’s gaze drifted from her hands back to her face.

She still had her eyes closed, her long dark lashes curling into delicate arcs like the wings of a butterfly.

He waited for the moment she opened her eyes.

He wanted to see her pupils.

When Jiang Se lifted her eyelids, she found Lu Huaiyan staring intently into her eyes. Sure enough, she was exhilarated by playing with his razor.

“Did I do well?” She met his gaze with a smile.

For a moment, Lu Huaiyan thought that there must be a magnetic field within her—one that could draw out the madness lurking in a person’s bones.

The closer one got, the stronger the pull.

And the more unhinged a person was, the tighter they were bound to her.

He leaned down slightly, bracing both hands on either side of her, tilting his face to expose the sharp lines of his right jaw. “Go ahead. No shaving cream—just straight to the skin.”

—

It was her first time shaving someone’s stubble, and she was doing it directly against the skin, yet her hands showed no hesitation. Each stroke of the blade cleanly took away the short, coarse hairs.

A few strokes later, the last traces of stubble on Lu Huaiyan’s jaw were completely gone.

Jiang Se set down the razor, picked up a towel, and gently wiped away the remaining hairs clinging to his skin. Then, she leaned back slightly, admiring his smooth, sculpted jawline like one would appreciate a fine piece of art.

She truly loved the feeling of wielding a blade.

And she especially loved the way everything became clean and pristine after using one.

Lu Huaiyan’s gaze shifted downward, watching her through half-lidded eyes. Lifting a hand, he pressed the back of it lightly against her forehead.

After confirming that her temperature was normal, his cool lips parted slightly. “Your fever—”

Just then, the doorbell chimed with a sudden “ding-dong,” rudely cutting off his words.

Lu Huaiyan fell silent.

He glanced at Jiang Se, straightened up, and nodded toward the door. “That’s the meal delivery. Are you hungry? If you are, let’s eat.”

Jiang Se nodded, casually tossing the razor back into the glass jar. “I’ll go change first.”

—

Just like the night before, they ate at the small dining table where she had eaten noodles.

By the time she came out dressed, Lu Huaiyan had already set the food out on the table.

She swept a glance over the dishes—sea cucumber millet porridge, plum spare ribs, sweet and sour fish, fish-flavored shredded pork, tomato shrimp balls, and a dish of lily bulbs with Chinese yam.

Simple, home-style dishes, yet they were all her favorites.

It was nearly 4 p.m., and both of them were starving.

Jiang Se ended up drinking half a bowl more porridge than usual.

After finishing their meal, Lu Huaiyan brewed a cup of black tea for her and asked, “Are you heading back, or staying another night?”

Jiang Se held the warm cup in her hands and replied, “I’m going back. But before that, I need your help with something.”

Lu Huaiyan asked, “What is it?”

“A signed agreement from you—concerning No. 38, Jinxiu Xiang, after the old district renovation.”

Lu Huaiyan raised an eyebrow, his gaze deepening as he looked at her. “You’ve seen the planning documents. After the renovation, Jinxiu Xiang will no longer exist.”

“I know.”

“Then you should also be aware that I can’t sign a demolition agreement on behalf of the group in my personal capacity. Any agreement signed by me alone would be invalid.”

Jiang Se smiled. “Yes, I’m well aware. What I need is precisely an invalid demolition agreement.”

Lu Huaiyan was silent for a few seconds, studying her. Then he asked, “When do you need it?”

“The sooner, the better.”

“Wait here,” he said, setting his teacup down on the table. “Give me the time it takes to finish a cup of black tea.”

Lu Huaiyan was always swift and decisive in his actions. True to his word, he returned with the demolition agreement just as Jiang Se was finishing her tea.

The document stated exactly what she had requested—an agreement for the nonexistent No. 38, Jinxiu Xiang, in the soon-to-be redeveloped district.

Both of them signed the contract.

Lu Huaiyan didn’t ask why she needed such an agreement. He merely said, “I had someone look into Zhang Yue before. Her past wasn’t just unfortunate—it was tragic. Is this agreement for her?”

Jiang Se finished the last sip of her tea and nodded frankly. “Yes.”

She looked at him directly and asked, “Do you think I’m cruel? Zhang Yue’s past wasn’t just unfortunate—it was downright miserable. And yet, I’m going to use a fake agreement to deceive her.”

Lu Huaiyan let out a faint chuckle and nodded toward the document in her hands. “My signature is on it too. If this is cruel, then we’re in it together.”

There was a casual indifference in his voice. He studied her for a moment before adding, “You don’t want me interfering in your affairs, and I won’t. But remember—my number will always be reachable for you.”

She didn’t respond to that. After a moment of silence, she glanced at the sky outside the window and said flatly, “I’m heading back. No need to see me off.”

Lu Huaiyan gave her a look and nodded. “I’ll walk you to the elevator.”

At the elevator, Jiang Se stepped in and pressed the button to keep the doors open. “Go back,” she said. “I’ll head to the parking lot on my own.”

After a pause, she added with a small smile, “My fever wasn’t from the flu, so you won’t catch anything.”

Lu Huaiyan also let out a chuckle.

He didn’t care at all about what virus she had. He was even willing to endure a fever with her. Last night, he finished every last drop of the half-glass of water she had left behind.

Jiang Se let go of the button, and the elevator doors slowly closed.

Lu Huaiyan didn’t rush back to his suite. Instead, he looked up at the floor display above the elevator. The number remained fixed on the top floor.

This was the private elevator for the presidential suite, with only two floor buttons—lobby and top floor.

As long as Jiang Se didn’t press the button for the lobby, the elevator wouldn’t move.

Lu Huaiyan stared at the display, his dark eyes surging with unreadable emotions.

Time passed, second by second, yet the elevator remained on the top floor.

It was unclear how long had gone by before the doors suddenly slid open again, revealing a slender figure inside.

Lu Huaiyan lowered his gaze, locking eyes with the person in the elevator.

Jiang Se held down the open-door button but said nothing. After a moment, she looked at the man still standing outside the elevator and asked in a slow, quiet voice, “Lu Huaiyan, just now in the bathroom, what were you about to say to me?”

Lu Huaiyan looked at her, his Adam’s apple shifting slightly before he finally said, “Your fever’s gone. Should we continue the kiss from yesterday?”

—

In the brightly lit entryway, the door clicked shut with a soft “clack.”

Jiang Se set down her bag and turned to wrap her arms around his neck. Lu Huaiyan hooked one hand around her soft waist, lifting her onto the shoe cabinet. His other hand cupped the back of her head, and without hesitation, he kissed her.

They gazed at each other, lips pressing together, tongues intertwining.

She reached up to remove his glasses. As the movement briefly separated their lips, their chins brushed together. The moment his glasses hit the ground, their lips met again.

The warm air wrapped around them like mingled soft breath, enveloping them in its gentle embrace.

Jiang Se felt hot. Lu Huaiyan slipped her coat off, spreading it flat on the shoe cabinet. His lips trailed to her earlobe, nibbling lightly before moving down to her slender neck.

She had to tilt her head back slightly.

Above her, the light poured into her eyes in a blinding flash.

She squeezed her eyes shut, and amid the quickening sounds of their breaths, she suddenly opened them again and pushed him away.

Lu Huaiyan’s half-lowered gaze burned with dark fire.

He thought she was going to stop, but instead, she simply looked at him and said, “Bring me the bottle of liquor you brought back from England.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “You want to drink now?”

“Mm. You drink.” Jiang Se’s gaze swept over his throat as she added, “I’ll feed you.”

There were three bottles of vintage liquor from England. Lu Huaiyan wasn’t even sure which one he had grabbed.

It wasn’t until Jiang Se tilted the bottle to his lips and poured it into his mouth that he realized it was whiskey.

As the liquid flowed over his tongue and down his throat, she straightened her posture, her soft palm pressing against his Adam’s apple, silently feeling the movement as he swallowed.

Her eyes lifted slightly as she smiled. “That night, when I heard you swallow in the dressing room, I was really curious about how this would feel to the touch.”

His Adam’s apple was sharper than most men’s, grazing against her palm like a hidden blade.

A blade that thrilled her.

Jiang Se tilted her head slightly, the corners of her lips curling up as her eyes shimmered with a seductive glint. “Just as I imagined—very sexy.”

Her face, her eyes—everything about her carried an inherent coolness. Even her voice was crisper than most women’s.

But once a person like her got entangled in desire, the temptation she exuded was more intoxicating than strong liquor.

Lu Huaiyan swallowed the remaining whiskey slowly, lowering himself slightly to ask in a husky voice, “Do you want to hear that swallowing sound again? Right here, one more time?”

His sharp, predatory gaze locked onto Jiang Se’s eyes.

A moment later, he chuckled softly. “Your pupils just shrank, Se Se. You do want to hear it.”

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