Chapter 1757

"Alright, I need to go prepare breakfast now. You two chat for a while." With that, Lu Si headed into the kitchen.

Lu Si's cooking was excellent, her knife work superb, and soon the aroma filled the air, whetting one's appetite.

Ximen Wudi leaned back on the sofa, eyes closed, breathing in the fragrance of the food, feeling his weariness ease a little.

"By the way, what did you say yesterday? That you were going to treat me to a meal?" Victoria said.

Although she hadn't been able to hear the conversation between Lu Si and Ximen Wudi, she had pieced together a few things from Ximen Wudi's words and actions.

"We met at the hotel entrance yesterday, don't you remember?" Ximen Wudi said. "You two were nearly attacked, and I was the one who saved Lu Si."

"I remember that, but you don't owe me anything." Victoria said.

"Your father and mother are my friends, so saving you was simply the right thing to do." Ximen Wudi said lightly.

"No. If you hadn't saved us back then, I might already be dead. You saved my life, and that is a debt of gratitude." Victoria said, setting down her spoon, fixing her gaze on Ximen Wudi—her eyes bright, her gaze sharp as a blade, as if she could see through every hidden motive.

This beautiful Miss's eyes burned with a fierce fighting spirit as she said, "You don't need to keep talking about this, because I must repay you. It is a debt of gratitude—the kind I could never repay in a lifetime."

"Then… alright." Ximen Wudi shook his head. "We're friends now."

Having said that, he turned and went to take a shower.

Watching Ximen Wudi's tall, sturdy back, a complicated look flashed through Lu Si's eyes. She then shifted her gaze, stared at the ceiling, and said softly, "I hope you can keep walking forward, my brother."

…………

Ximen Wudi woke up feeling utterly refreshed all over. He stretched lazily and let out a moan of pure comfort.

"Ah, finally I can take a proper hot bath in peace. I've been holding it in forever."

Ximen Wudi rubbed his body as he sighed.

However, the moment he raised his eyes, he was startled to find that the bathroom door had opened at some unknown point.

And a graceful figure was standing in the doorway.

It was Lu Si.

"You're awake." A faint smile on her face, Lu Si looked at Ximen Wudi and said, "What a coincidence—I just finished my shower and was about to go out and buy breakfast, so I came to wake you up."

As she spoke, Lu Si sidestepped to make way.

The corner of Ximen Wudi's mouth twitched.

"Um, no need to buy breakfast. How about we go somewhere else to eat?"

Ximen Wudi wasn't trying to cover anything up—he was genuinely a bit embarrassed.

"Sure." Lu Si said, walking in.

"You…" Ximen Wudi looked at Lu Si—her feet in slippers, her body wrapped in nothing but a bath towel—and swallowed hard with great difficulty. He coughed twice and asked, "Um… do I have a change of clothes in my room?"

"Nope." Lu Si blinked.

She seemed to be deliberately teasing Ximen Wudi—her damp hair was still draped over her shoulders.

Ximen Wudi looked toward the window. The curtains were drawn tight; it was the absolute dead of night outside.

"Uh, then what are you going to wear?" Ximen Wudi asked.

"I'll wear yours." Lu Si said, and with that, she flung off the bath towel!

With a rustle.

Lu Si's figure was on display without the slightest reservation.

"Cough, cough… what kind of stunt are you pulling…" Ximen Wudi was nearly struck dumb by this girl's antics. "We're not that close."

Lu Si giggled. "Your body's so nice, I have to get a good look, don't I?"

Ximen Wudi's arms dropped stiffly to his sides as he said, "We really aren't close, we don't even know each other… just grab a blanket and wrap yourself up, will you?"

"I'm not afraid of the cold. Besides, weren't you running around bare-bottomed last night too? I didn't take advantage of you, so no need to be so shy." Lu Si said with a beaming smile.

What she said seemed to be true, but Ximen Wudi still couldn't quite believe it. "Last night? Last night… when were we ever in the same bed?"

A blush rose across Lu Si's pretty face.

"Um, actually… um, I got drunk last night. I don't even know what I did, but… I'm definitely not your type, and I'm not interested in men either." Lu Si explained.

"I understand, I get it, I really get it." Ximen Wudi burst out laughing.

"Hey, can you not talk nonsense?" Lu Si glared at Ximen Wudi, annoyed. "Do you have any idea that saying things like that really hurts a girl's self-esteem?"

Why does that tone sound like she's jealous?

"A woman like you doesn't need any self-esteem at all. Otherwise, I'd have probably fallen at the hem of your pomegranate skirt long ago." Ximen Wudi said.

"That might not be true. Your flirting skills are too trash—you probably have ninety-nine moves out of a hundred and eight." Lu Si's face was full of teasing.

Still, from this one could tell that Lu Si's personality wasn't exactly the cold, aloof type.

"Are you looking down on me?" Ximen Wudi said.

"I didn't mean it that way." Lu Si pressed her lips together and smiled. "I'm a normal pretty girl—liking handsome guys is a perfectly normal psychological response."

At that moment, an image of Ximen Wudi stark naked suddenly flashed through Lu Si's mind, and the temperature on her pretty face rose even higher.

Mm, certain things were already on the verge of bursting out.

"But then, you really fit my tastes, so…" Lu Si paused, then said, "Thank you for taking care of me last night."

"Don't mention it, don't mention it—it was just a small effort, and besides, it was my responsibility too." Ximen Wudi thumped his chest, looking very hearty. "Lu Si, I'm a man, taking care of you is part of my duty. But where were you planning to go to buy breakfast?"

"Just wait a moment, I'll get ready in no time." Lu Si said.

Ximen Wudi sat on the sofa, watching her bustle about. His eyes rolled, and he asked, "What about your family?"

"I'm an only child." Lu Si said.

"Then is your place rented, or…" Ximen Wudi asked.

After all, this house isn't cheap.

"The property deed has my dad's name on it." Ruth smiled and said, "These past few years my mom has always wanted to move away from here, but she can't bear to leave the neighborhood. My dad couldn't talk her out of it, so he had to agree. Still, it was my dad who helped find this listing—he couldn't bear to kick his own wife out to live in a hotel either."

"So that's how it is." Ximen Wudi smiled, then pointed at the bathroom: "Do you want to go freshen up and change clothes?"

Of course, he was referring to the nightgown Ruth had been wearing earlier.

Although Ruth's nightgown was a loose style, it still clearly outlined her Eight Linglong curves, and Ximen Wudi's heart itched at the sight.

"Sure." Ruth smiled and said, "You go freshen up, I'll go to the bathroom and change out of this nightgown."

Saying so, she stepped toward the bathroom on her own, and even, as she closed the door, Ruth shot Ximen Wudi a flirtatious glance.

Is this seduction?

Ximen Wudi rubbed his nose: "No matter how you look at it, this counts as you owing me one."

After waiting for Ruth to finish changing, the two walked out of the hotel and grabbed some xiaolongbao at a nearby breakfast stall.

Ruth ate at an astonishing speed, swallowing everything in a few bites. Ximen Wudi had assumed she was starving, but this top student from the finance school actually downed two full steamer baskets of buns—an absolutely staggering amount of consumption.

"You've got quite the appetite," Ximen Wudi said, giving a thumbs-up.

"Because I rarely eat breakfast normally," Ruth said.

Her voice was very gentle, utterly different from her usual cold, aloof style.

"Why?" Ximen Wudi asked, puzzled.

Ruth glanced at him: "Because I've never liked exercise since I was little, so my baseline weight never met the mark. My mom worried I was malnourished and made me work out every day, which is why my physique far surpasses people my age."

"I see." Ximen Wudi nodded at her words. "That's true—otherwise, such a beautiful Miss shouldn't have a figure this good."

His remark wasn't teasing at all, but rather stating an objective fact.

"You're pretty impressive too. That punch last night really hurt me—I still haven't recovered from it," Ruth said.

"That wasn't an ordinary punch, that was a finishing move." Ximen Wudi grinned, then said: "If it were on the battlefield, one punch from me would be enough to blow your head apart."

Ruth frowned slightly: "What's a finishing move?"

"It's the kind of technique that kills in one strike," Ximen Wudi shrugged.

"You're bluffing, I don't believe it."

"Don't you dare not believe me. I'm the worst at lying, especially bad at deceiving women." Ximen Wudi said with a grin: "Actually, I know some Chinese kung fu too. How about I teach you when we get back?"

His expression was utterly sincere.

"You Chinese people's kung fu is all so amazing." Ruth blinked: "Like your fist technique, like that thing you call… Iron Sand Palm."