Volume One, Chapter Six: Call My Name

Those around were a mix of onlookers, worriers, and some who were afraid—like Wu Di. He sensed Lu Jinye’s murderous glare and the chilling aura that seemed to plunge to the abyss, and he regretted playing this game.

Jiang Li felt even more awkward. Lu Jinye’s gaze seemed as if he wanted to skin her alive, yet she harbored her own grievances. Lu Jinye no longer had anything to do with her—why was he still acting this way? After all these years, did he still hold a grudge against her?

An embrace was out of the question. Jiang Li smiled and shook his hand instead, finishing three glasses of wine.

Perhaps tonight was truly unsuitable for going out. When the bottle pointed at her for the third time, Jiang Li felt on the verge of collapse.

“May I ask, Jiang Li, do you still love someone now?”

Lu Jinye’s grip tightened abruptly on the glass. He stared intently at the red wine as if it had suddenly transformed into a person, piquing his curiosity.

Did she have someone she loved? Shen Yechu?

After all, they had only recently divorced. She had just said she once loved Shen Yechu, so perhaps she still did.

Jiang Li found herself unable to answer that question.

Shen Yechu? Or maybe she had loved him once, but after witnessing him with Bai Nannan, she no longer loved him.

Lu Jinye? He held a distinct place in her heart; just thinking of him still caused a dull ache.

But did she still love him now? After three years apart, she didn’t know...

Jiang Li gave him an apologetic smile and downed the glass in front of her.

...

“Jiang Li, can you tell us why you and Shen Yechu divorced?”

“Jiang Li, why did you leave everything behind in the divorce?”

“Jiang Li, why did you break up with Lu Jinye back then?”

The last question came from Wu Di.

Jiang Li hadn’t expected such an embarrassing question, as if she were being roasted over a fire.

She looked at him, and beyond the drunkenness in her eyes was a disappointment impossible to ignore.

Wu Di was helpless; this was the task Lu Jinye had assigned him today—to find out the real reason Jiang Li had broken up with him.

He shot Lu Jinye a resentful glance and noticed his hand trembling slightly. Though he gripped the glass tightly, the wine inside swayed unnaturally, betraying his nervousness.

Wu Di sighed. Why couldn’t these two just talk face to face?

He raised his glass to Jiang Li, “Sorry, Jiang Li, I’ll drink as a penalty.”

Jiang Li tilted her head, confused.

Her mind was already foggy; she merely followed Wu Di’s lead, swirling the glass and then drinking it down.

By the third glass, Xie Ya pressed her hand down, “Stop drinking. I’ll do it.”

Jiang Li shook her head, tugged the glass back fiercely, “I’ll do it myself.”

Xie Ya rolled her eyes. Jiang Li was drunk.

She was perfect in every way—except when drunk, she became stubborn to the point where not even ten oxen could pull her back from a decision.

Worse, those decisions were always made while drunk, and she’d regret them the next morning.

---

Xie Ya pulled out her phone and messaged Chen Junyu, telling them to come quickly.

Then she watched Jiang Li happily finish the last glass and skillfully refill her own.

Idiot, she cursed herself silently. Next time, she would never bring Jiang Li drinking again. If she did, she’d be a fool.

When it was Wu Di’s turn to spin the bottle, he followed its direction with his eyes widening slowly, then his heart sank.

It landed on Jiang Li again.

Just as he prepared to ask a trivial question to change the subject, Lu Jinye put down his glass and pressed down on his hand.

“I’ll ask.”

Hearing his voice, Jiang Li instinctively turned to look.

Lu Jinye had drunk the most but sat the straightest.

His collar was slightly open, his shirt less tidy than before. One hand lightly tapped on the table, a cigarette unlit dangling from his lips.

Jiang Li used to love watching him hold a cigarette, exuding casual masculine charm.

But she never let him actually smoke.

Lu Jinye often just held a cigarette for show, never lighting it.

Yet now, Lu Jinye took out a lighter and “click”—ignited the cigarette. The smoke curled, blurring his features.

Jiang Li, dazed, stared at him and blurted, “Why are you smoking again?”

Xie Ya was stunned beside her; Wu Di was dumbfounded. Lu Jinye’s breath momentarily caught.

This overly familiar tone gave him the illusion of closeness with Jiang Li.

His voice hoarse, Lu Jinye asked, “What’s my name?”

Jiang Li brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, looked at him, and softly answered, “Lu Jinye.”

There was no hint of drunkenness in her voice—only tender whispers between lovers.

Emotions surged in Lu Jinye’s eyes. He bit his lip hard, hating Jiang Li, and even more hating the part of himself so easily stirred by her.

He gave Wu Di a look, then stood up and, under everyone’s gaze, walked to Xie Ya’s side.

“I want to talk to her.”

Xie Ya slammed the table, “No! She’s drunk and can’t have a proper conversation!”

But Lu Jinye ignored her and pulled Jiang Li, who was still sitting, toward the exit.

Jiang Li was dazed and looked at Lu Jinye, thinking she was still in college, and affectionately took his hand in hers.

Lu Jinye stiffened but quickly dragged her outside.

Wu Di hurried to stop Xie Ya, earnestly advising, “Don’t interfere, missy! Their issues need to be settled sooner or later. Let them talk.”

“But Jiang Li is drunk! She can’t communicate normally!”

“You think that young master is any more normal? Anyway, I can’t stop him now. If you can, go try.”

Xie Ya was speechless. Real communication only happened when problems were solved. The way these two were now was like chickens talking to ducks.

She gave up and sat back down. “I want to see what Jiang Li can even say to him in this state.”

---

Meanwhile, Lu Jinye took Jiang Li straight to the parking lot. He tossed her into the passenger seat of a white sports car and got in himself.

Of course, he had no intention of driving anywhere.

He was most familiar with Jiang Li when drunk—like a gentle cat.

Right now, that cat sat beside him, eyes bright and shining just as they were four years ago.

They had rushed out, and Jiang Li hadn’t worn a coat. Although the car had air conditioning, her champagne-colored, form-fitting slip dress made a strong impression on Lu Jinye.

The dress’s fine tailoring accentuated her delicate figure. Jiang Li’s fair skin, flushed slightly at the joints from the wine, made Lu Jinye’s inner fire burn hotter.

“Jiang Li,” his voice was hoarse.

Jiang Li, unaware, smiled brightly, thinking Lu Jinye was her boyfriend.

Seeing him call her name and then fall silent, Jiang Li pouted, “Why don’t you hug me?”

Her coquettish tone was just like before.

Lu Jinye had always been unable to resist her charm. He’d soften and hold her, no matter how angry he was, his temper melting away in her warmth.

But now, he hated this side of Jiang Li with all his might. Surely she had once acted this way toward Shen Yechu too?

Letting Shen Yechu hold her, kiss her, and possess her wantonly.

His face darkened with rage, shadows growing in his heart, overtaking his reason and turning into overwhelming hatred.

He grabbed Jiang Li’s chin, forcing her to look up close to him, asking, “Who am I?”

Jiang Li obediently replied, “Lu Jinye.”

Unable to control himself any longer, Lu Jinye lowered his head and kissed her lips.

The softness was terrifyingly real.

He lifted Jiang Li from the passenger seat, trapping her on his lap.

Her slender waist fit perfectly in his palm, and through the dress, he could feel her body’s heat.

Lu Jinye’s masculine desire flared uncontrollably. He tilted her head again, voice thick with passion, “Say my name.”

“Lu Jinye.”

His wild kisses fell on her lips. Lu Jinye’s restless hands roamed her body.

He kept asking, “Who am I?” and Jiang Li answered each time, “Lu Jinye.”

Her lips carried a faint sweetness of red wine, making Lu Jinye feel even more intoxicated.

His kisses grew more reckless, as if venting all his pent-up emotions on her ears, neck, and smooth shoulders.

Jiang Li was inexperienced, but the wine made her more sensitive. Wherever Lu Jinye touched, a tingling sensation spread, causing her to moan softly.

Hearing her alluring sound, Lu Jinye abruptly stopped.

Jiang Li was drunk, but he was sober. What was he doing?

At that moment, panic gripped him. He feared that when Jiang Li sobered up, she would despise him.

Flustered, he hurriedly placed her back in the passenger seat, massaged his aching temple, his expression dark and heavy.

Jiang Li had fallen asleep at some point. Lu Jinye quietly watched her. She had gained some weight since before; perhaps... she was living well now.

He reached out to touch her face when a knock came on the passenger window.

Lin Xunan politely nodded to Lu Jinye, “I’m here to take Miss Jiang home.”

Yet the look in his eyes was unmistakably guarded and hostile.