Chapter 153: Sir, Please Show Some Self-Respect

Zhu Yuan held one in one hand, while her other hand gripped a fox mask tightly, her gaze fixed unblinkingly on the tall, imposing man before her who wore an identical fox mask.

That innate air of nobility and the powerful aura of one long accustomed to high positions, that nonchalant tone—who else could it be but Sheng Yu?

The sound of fireworks masked the frantic beating of her heart.

The moment her body collided with him, the man's hand familiarly pressed against her waist, steadying her figure while pulling her into his embrace.

Zhu Yuan could not free her hands to struggle; meanwhile, Ji Xiang was immersed in the joy of the New Year, wanting to turn back to find Zhu Yuan, but was held by the back of her neck by Enzo's large palm, preventing her from turning.

"Little Ji Xiang, look at that firework, isn't it super pretty!" Enzo shouted, feigning excitement.

Ji Xiang nodded repeatedly, "Yes, it is!"

Completely forgetting about Zhu Yuan, who had disappeared from her side.

Sheng Yu did not remove the fox mask, staring at Zhu Yuan's face, seeing a mix of confusion, shock, and panic intertwined in her eyes.

The only thing missing was joy.

The moment he saw her at the lantern festival, he thought about how she hadn't been seen for nearly half a month, and how she was truly living quite freely.

Like a canary that had gained its freedom, having played outside for so long that it thought it was no longer a canary.

A thought suddenly sprouted in his heart to lock her up and keep her confined.

At this moment, such a thought broke through his mind, spreading through his blood to every limb and bone.

The moment the intense emotion reached his palm, he pulled her waist tighter, and at the same time the fireworks bloomed and the audience shouted "Happy New Year" enthusiastically along with the host on stage, he lowered his head and kissed her lips.

Soft lips, carrying a sweet, sticky taste.

Sheng Yu's lips curled, and pressing against hers, he said in a hoarse, low voice, "Happy New Year."

It was only for an instant; as the fireworks faded, Zhu Yuan angrily threw away the fox mask in her hand and pushed him away!

She feigned not recognizing him and said irritably, "Sir, please show some self-respect."

"Wow, so pretty!"

Ji Xiang cheered, then was suddenly grabbed by the wrist by Zhu Yuan, "It's getting late, let's go back."

As she spoke, Zhu Yuan half-dragged Ji Xiang and walked quickly toward the crowded area; her heart was about to jump out of her throat—how did he come to Yucheng?

Did he come to find her?

"Hey, Xiao Fengzheng, Xiao Fengzheng!" Ji Xiang followed her footsteps with a messy gait, "Wait for me, my legs are short!"

Enzo glanced nervously at Sheng Yu, whose gloomy expression could be felt even through the mask, and hurriedly followed as well.

Through the mask, Sheng Yu's gaze remained fixed on Zhu Yuan's back as she fled in a panic.

Sir, please show some self-respect?

Hah.

Little liar!

The phone in Zhu Yuan's bag rang incessantly, vibrating constantly.

She took out her phone while walking quickly; it was an unfamiliar number with a Yucheng area code, and she answered it without thinking.

"Hello, who is this?"

"Is that Yuanyuan? It's Zhuang Jingxiu."

A clear, gentle voice came from the other end of the line.

Zhu Yuan was stunned for a moment.

Zhuang Jingxiu was the grandson of her grandfather's comrade-in-arms; he used to come to her house to play with his grandfather, and at the time, Grandpa Zhuang even joked that she should marry Zhuang Jingxiu as his wife when she grew up.

It was just that the Zhuang family had moved abroad when she was in middle school; seven or eight years had passed in a flash, and she had almost forgotten the name.

"Brother Jingxiu, you've returned to the country?"

"I went to your house with my grandfather after dinner. Is the performance over? My car is parked opposite the New Year mascot; you'll see it when you come out."

Was Zhuang Jingxiu coming to pick her up?

Just as Zhu Yuan wanted to say there was no need, the signal on Zhuang Jingxiu's end suddenly seemed to cut out, and she couldn't hear him anymore.

She had no choice but to take Ji Xiang and jog in that direction, worried about being caught by Sheng Yu a second later.

Her mind was a mess right now, a complete blank.

She was even out of it when she received the call from Zhuang Jingxiu just now; all her calmness and composure had been shattered by Sheng Yu.

Ji Xiang was panting as she ran, "Xiao Fengzheng, is there a dog chasing you behind us?"

Zhu Yuan turned a deaf ear, and when she looked back and saw Enzo following, she said with displeasure, "Didn't you say you were only staying for one night?"

Enzo's heart skipped a beat, but he kept his expression unchanged, "My temporary ID hasn't been processed yet; no one is working during the New Year."

Although he hadn't heard what the person on the other end of the phone said just now, he heard Zhu Yuan call the other person 'brother'.

It was a man!

He definitely had to follow.

Zhu Yuan couldn't be bothered to expose his lie; as soon as she turned her head, she saw a white sedan with its hazard lights flashing opposite the New Year mascot, and a man in a dark gray tracksuit leaning against the car door.

Before she could even walk close, Zhuang Jingxiu looked up, paused for a moment, his eyes curved, and he smiled, "Yuanyuan?"

Zhu Yuan's brain felt as if it were oxygen-deprived; her mind was filled with fireworks and the man in the fox mask.

At first glance at Zhuang Jingxiu, she hadn't reacted yet.

It wasn't until he walked closer that she remembered to greet him, "Brother Jingxiu."

Enzo frowned deeply.

So intimate?

Zhuang Jingxiu smiled, "Good thing you still remember me."

He reached out his hand, wanting to flick her forehead like he did when they were little.

Suddenly, a broad, thick hand blocked him.

He raised his eyes, met Enzo's warning gaze, and paused slightly.

Thinking of what Grandpa Zhu said about Zhu Yuan not having a boyfriend right now, he smiled affably, "Yuanyuan's friend?"

Enzo gave an expressionless grunt.

Getting handsy, he doesn't look like a good person at all!

"Are you hungry? Do you want to go get something to eat?" Zhuang Jingxiu asked Zhu Yuan.

Zhu Yuan shook her head, "We've been eating all night."

"Then let me drive you two back, it's getting late," Zhuang Jingxiu said.

Enzo said bluntly, "No need, I drove here."

Ji Xiang frowned, "But Brother Enzo, your car is so far from here."

Their legs were already sore from walking all the way here, and if they had to walk back, their legs would probably be ruined by tomorrow.

"You two wait here, I'll go get the car," Enzo said as he started to leave, but then he had a second thought: if he left, he would give this man an opportunity to get close to Miss Zhu.

That little brat Ji Xiang was completely useless.

Thinking this, he pulled back the foot he had stepped out, "It is quite far."

In the end, the group got into the car; to prevent Zhu Yuan and Zhuang Jingxiu from getting close, Enzo sat directly in the front passenger seat and gave Zhuang Jingxiu a dry smile.

When they returned home, Zhu Qi had already woken up from a nap.

As soon as he saw Zhu Yuan and the others enter the house, he asked with a smile, "Did Jingxiu bring you back?"

Zhu Yuan nodded and took off her scarf, but suddenly noticing that her grandfather's expression was off, she frowned in confusion.

"Grandpa, are you keeping something from me?"

Zhu Qi said with a smile, "What do you think of Jingxiu?"

Alarm bells rang in Enzo's heart!

Sure enough, the next second, Zhu Qi said, "I want you to spend some time getting to know Jingxiu. Jingxiu is a man of talent and appearance, and Grandpa knows his family background inside and out; he is worthy of you."