For some reason, Meng Wanyu stayed utterly composed facing her romantic rival—as if watching a showy peacock strut in a zoo.

In her presence, Su Qiaoman always felt a step beneath.

No matter what tricks she pulled, they only added to Meng Wanyu’s amusement.

This feeling was deeply unsettling.

Yet she couldn’t change it. She could only grit her teeth and endure.

Lu Chengzhou sighed. “It’s getting late, Miss Meng.”

He deliberately avoided continuing her earlier topic.

Picking it up would’ve sparked a fight—guaranteed offense to the female lead.

Though… this version of the female lead felt nothing like the one he remembered.

He’d lost his grip on Su Qiaoman’s thoughts too.

“Right. It is late,” Meng Wanyu agreed.

She dropped the “little nanny” matter, slipped off her coat, stood, and walked over.

Draping her slender, fair arms over his shoulders, she murmured, “Since I’m both your employer and student… shouldn’t you let me stay the night, Teacher Lu?”

Suggestive tone. Intimate gesture. Lingering gaze.

Yet her words held zero ambiguity.

Phrased as a request, it landed like a command.

Lu Chengzhou had no choice but to comply.

After all, she offered far too much…

And his gut warned: to survive here, he needed the Meng family’s backing.

Offending Miss Meng wasn’t an option.

(Not that he’d ever admit the selfish part of him enjoying time with the charming, alluring Miss Meng.)

“No!”

Before Lu Chengzhou could answer, Su Qiaoman blurted the refusal.

Meng Wanyu shot her a sharp glare.

Intimidated, Su Qiaoman lowered her head guiltily.

“This isn’t the Su residence. Since when do we need your approval?” Meng Wanyu sneered.

“I…” Su Qiaoman bit her lip, fingers tightening on her skirt hem.

Despair washed over her—she truly couldn’t stop this.

What could she do?

Was she really to watch Meng Wanyu move into Lu’s home too?

Her chances would shrink even further.

When would A-Zhou return to her side?

As her mind spiraled, another knock echoed.

Both girls froze. Lu Chengzhou looked bewildered.

Who now?

Please—not another pretty girl…

He was already drowning in a love polygon. One more, and he’d collapse.

“You. Open the door.”

Meng Wanyu’s commanding aura was overwhelming.

Though Su Qiaoman seethed inwardly, she obeyed.

At the door stood Jiang Aiyu, their newly moved-in neighbor.

Her face remained cold as frost.

“Could I borrow salt? I’ve run out.”

Borrowing with that icy expression? Su Qiaoman let out a cold snort.

Meng Wanyu narrowed her eyes, studying her.

Years had passed—recognition should’ve been impossible.

Yet a flicker of familiarity stirred.

“Excuse my forwardness… may I ask your name?”

Jiang Aiyu opened her mouth, hesitated, then closed it.

Her father’s warning echoed: never tell strangers your name.

Lu Chengzhou remembered—she lived across the hall, likely moved in today.

Good neighbors meant smoother living.

He handed her the full bag of salt he’d bought earlier.

“Thank you. You’re such a nice guy.”

“Heh. You’re welcome.”

Hearing “nice guy,” Lu Chengzhou’s lips twitched.

*Got the “nice guy” card out of nowhere…*

As the door clicked shut, Meng Wanyu’s expression turned thoughtful.

An answer surfaced in her mind.

“This person… seems to be Jiang Heng’s daughter. Jiang Aiyu?”

Late at night.

With both girls refusing to leave, Lu Chengzhou reluctantly agreed to host them.

As a gentleman, he couldn’t let his benefactor sleep on the floor.

He offered his bed to Meng Wanyu.

Watching this, Su Qiaoman’s heart soured—like swallowing gallons of lemon juice.

She hadn’t even slept in A-Zhou’s bed yet!

Why did Meng Wanyu get to?

*Lu Chengzhou must be bewitched by this wicked woman!*

Meng Wanyu hugged the quilt, deliberately rolling across the tidy bed.

Unlike most guys his age, Lu Chengzhou kept things clean.

No clutter. Neatly folded quilt. Sun-warmed scent mingled with faint shower gel.

Miss Meng was pleased—though the bed was a tad small.

*“Hmm… I should buy Teacher Lu a bigger bed. Then we could roll around together~”*

Meanwhile, Lu Chengzhou silently laid a floor bedroll.

After lying down, he asked Meng Wanyu’s permission before switching off the light.

Though usually restless in new beds, Meng Wanyu slept deeply that night.

She even had some… indescribable sweet dreams.

Waking to find Lu Chengzhou still asleep, she crept closer, chin propped on her hands.

“For a guy, his eyelashes are so long,” she murmured, gently poking them.

He didn’t wake—just pursed his lips, turned over…

And rolled straight into her arms.

His arm draped naturally over her waist.

Meng Wanyu: “…”

Her body stiffened. She swallowed hard.

*This closeness is dangerously intimate!*

But… he held no ill intentions. Never reacted to her tests. Did she really need to flee?

Still—if he woke now… running would be pointless.

*“I just wanted to play a game… not actually trap myself like this.”*

Her heart hammered.

*“But… this closeness is so rare…”*

As she hesitated—

Lu Chengzhou woke up.