Luring Her to Take the Bait - Chapter 16

Inside the lounge, the busy lawyers—who usually inhaled their food just to squeeze in a ten-minute nap—were breaking protocol today. They sacrificed their precious sleep to linger over empty plates, staring in shock at the “intimate” pair sitting not far away.

Then, they collectively swallowed hard.

Why do this to ourselves? It was pure self-inflicted torture. Not only were they forced to eat “dog food” (watching a public display of affection), but their stomachs were also staging a full-scale protest, lured by the sight and scent of that table full of gourmet delicacies.

Someone whispered to a colleague.

“Hey, look at the logo on that tray. Yue Shi Fu. That place is the absolute peak of Fujian private dining in the capital. Word is the owner has a quirky temper—they don’t publish their address or reservation times. You can’t get in even with money; they only serve regulars.”

“Do you think… I could go snag a bite? President Pei looks pretty easygoing. She probably wouldn’t say no, right?”

The colleague looked at her as if she were a fool, then quirked an eyebrow and gestured with her chin toward Fu Su.

The look said it all: Go ahead, be my guest. Fu Su is sitting right there. Go try and see if you can get a single bite.

In the end, no one dared.

Pei Wenjin might have been a newcomer, but she wasn’t the least bit constrained. Her voice was softer than usual, yet it carried an irrepressible chirpiness. She spoke fast, chattering away like a little bird.

“Susu, try this Australian lobster. The taste is sweet, the meat is plump, and the flavor is delicate.”

Pei Wenjin kept using the serving chopsticks to pile food onto her plate. She remembered how reserved Susu had been the last time they ate together, so she decided to be the proactive one!

She had long since forgotten the rule about not talking while eating, and Fu Su didn’t say anything to stop her.

Fu Su maintained a calm expression. She didn’t mind Pei Wenjin serving her, though she couldn’t quite keep up with the pace of the delivery. Occasionally, after swallowing, she would say softly, “You eat more, too.”

Pei Wenjin turned her head, her cheeks puffed out, her eyes bright as she crinkled them into a smile. She fished a fishball out of the gently simmering clay pot and placed it in Fu Su’s bowl. After chewing and swallowing, she said, “I am eating~! The fishball soup is their specialty. Since we were short on time today, I could only order delivery. Next time we’ll go to the shop; it’ll be even fresher and sweeter.”

Fu Su picked up the translucent, plump fishball. Sitting perfectly upright, she took a bite with an air of refined elegance. Pei Wenjin couldn’t help but steal another glance. She picked up a fishball of her own and, out of habit, opened her mouth wide to take a huge half-bite, making her cheeks bulge. Pei Wenjin paused, glanced at Fu Su, and then stuffed the remaining half in anyway.

There’s no one else here, why worry about my image? Whatever, whatever.

Ye Zhen freshly shucked some surf clams to scald in the fishball soup, carefully rearranging the dishes. She placed three porcelain bowls next to the clay pot and served a piece of ginger-soy chicken. Lifting her gaze to sweep over Pei Wenjin, she said blandly, “President Pei, we are in public. Mind your image.”

Pei Wenjin pouted. “…Oh.”

After a bowl of fresh fishball soup, Pei Wenjin rubbed her stomach contentedly. Her stomach felt comfortable, and a wave of laziness washed over her as she leaned back against the sofa.

Ye Zhen brought out handmade strawberry cakes, placing one plate by Fu Su’s hand before looking at Pei Wenjin. “Do you still want dessert?”

“Yes” Pei Wenjin answered drowsily. She grabbed her fork and finished it off in no time, then slumped back onto the sofa, squinting her eyes as she rubbed her belly.

Fu Su ate her cake in small bites, though her movements were quick. Pei Wenjin’s gaze drifted over the pale skin behind Fu Su’s ear, and she suddenly remembered the purpose of this trip.

“Susu, are you free this Saturday afternoon onwards?”

“Speaking of which, do lawyers get weekends off?”

Pei Wenjin blinked her eyes, looking at Fu Su with a dazed, innocent expression. She was genuinely curious.

Fu Su felt a sudden urge to scratch her under the chin. Her fingertip brushed against the sofa fabric as she lowered her lashes. “Theoretically, we have weekends. But when a project is urgent, we have to work overtime. Basically, I’m on call during my free time.”

“Oh, it’s just…” Pei Wenjin’s face suddenly flushed a faint pink. She gave a well-behaved smile, her eyes shining. “It’s our one-week anniversary.”

It was the first time Fu Su had ever heard of a one-week wedding anniversary; usually, people celebrated the one-year mark.

Although she wasn’t as busy as the other non-litigation lawyers—generally handling her work within weekdays—and didn’t have many hobbies, she didn’t usually stay idle on weekends. She would read Supreme Court guiding cases, study new judicial documents, go to court to observe, or otherwise grind away at cases in the firm.

She had originally planned to meet a divorce client this Saturday afternoon to supplement evidence materials. Since Pei Wenjin was asking her out, she would just move the client to the morning.

“Let me think… Saturday is a day off. After working a whole week, one definitely needs to relax.”

Before Fu Su could speak, Pei Wenjin was already counting down the plan on her fingers. “First we’ll go to a cat cafe, then watch a movie, bake cookies, have dinner, and in the evening we’ll go for a massage. Before going home, we can ride the motorcycle through the park~”

She squeezed her fist and puffed out her chest. “A perfect plan! Super relaxing!”

“Uh…” Pei Wenjin realized only after she’d finished speaking that she had been caught up in her own excitement. She didn’t even know if Susu was free yet. This made it look like she was forcing her.

She peeked at Fu Su. Seeing no reaction, she rubbed her nose and quickly tried to backtrack. “If you’re busy, go ahead with work. It’s not like you have to spend it with me…”

“I have time,” Fu Su said.

“It’s okay, it’s okay… huh?” Pei Wenjin blinked. Her gaze suddenly fell on the tiny red mole under Fu Su’s right eye. Because Fu Su’s skin was so pale, the red stood out vividly. When she smiled—even that thin, slight smile accompanied by a faint arch of the brow—that red mole added a touch of allure to those overly cold eyes. The “forbidden” aspect was stripped away, leaving only the “desire.”

Humans are visual creatures, and she was no exception.

Even…

Pei Wenjin stole a fleeting glance at her thin lips.

“I said,” Fu Su composed herself, pulling a tissue and handing it to her, “I have time. Let’s go together.”

Whatever Pei Wenjin wanted, she would satisfy it.

Night.

Pei Wenjin was curled into a ball on the armchair, wrapped in an air-conditioning blanket. She held her phone, typing with her head down, her lips pressed tightly together and occasionally bitten. Her eyelids drooped listlessly.

【Changxia, I kind of hate myself.】

Knowing Changxia was busy, she didn’t wait for a reply. Pei Wenjin pulled the blanket down to cover her white feet and continued typing:

I lied to her.

I clearly hate dishonest behavior the most, yet I lied to her. I didn’t tell her the reason for the marriage.

And now I’m still nursing the delusional hope that she might fall in love with me.

If she finds out I lied, will she hate me?

I gave her roses this morning and she smiled. She looks so beautiful when she smiles, I was so happy.

She even agreed to spend our one-week anniversary with me. Doesn’t she find it strange? Who celebrates a one-week anniversary? My sister laughed at me, but she didn’t. She even agreed. She must be very busy, but she said yes.

I want to be closer to her. I want to be with her forever.

I want to be like an ordinary couple with her.

How can I make her fall in love with me?

Pei Wenjin grabbed a throw pillow and collapsed onto the sofa, curling her legs and toes, rubbing her ankles together. She stared at the words she’d typed and shrank her neck into her shoulders.

Thoughts that flickered from time to time made her heart tighten.

It’s so detestable, thinking like this.

Wanting to kiss her, wanting to be intimate, so that we won’t get divorced.

Pei Wenjin eventually drifted off to sleep. When she woke up, in her hazy state, she heard two “beeps” from the door.

Then came the sound of the front door gently closing.

Fu Su changed into her slippers, moving very quietly as she carried her bag into the room. However, as soon as she turned her head, she met a pair of misty eyes.

Pei Wenjin was leaning over the back of the sofa, chin resting on her arms, her curly hair draped messily over her shoulders. She rubbed her eyes, her voice thick with sleep. “Susu, you’re back.”

Fu Su looked at the soft figure bathed in the warm light and replied softly, “Mm. Why didn’t you go to your room to sleep?”

“I accidentally fell asleep.” Pei Wenjin let out a yawn, a few tears pricking the corners of her eyes. “I’m not sleepy now.” As she spoke, she snuggled against the sofa again.

Fu Su’s footsteps were light. Her gaze fell briefly on the empty yogurt carton on the coffee table, then she placed a paper bag down. Her thin lips moved slightly.

“Do you want some strawberry cake?”

The person who had been curled up like a lazy cat just a moment ago suddenly had her ears perk up. Her eyes sparkled. “Yes!”

Pei Wenjin sat cross-legged on the rug, eating heartily. She wiggled her toes happily and licked a bit of sweet strawberry cream from the corner of her lip. “Mmm, so delicious. Thank you, Susu~”

“I passed a dessert shop while picking up the milk. I saw that you liked the cake at noon today, so I bought a similar one.”

In her loungewear, Susu looked even more slender than her shadow under the spotlight. Pei Wenjin watched as she cleared the empty yogurt carton into the trash and gathered the remaining scattered yogurt cups together. “Do you want more? If not, I’ll put them in the fridge.”

Pei Wenjin licked her lips. “…Leave one for me, Susu.”

“Mm.” Fu Su placed one by her hand.

Pei Wenjin watched her lean back as she walked away, sensing that something had changed.

As she took the last bite of cake, she saw two notifications on her lock screen.

They were from Changxia.

She said: 【If there’s a problem, solve it. Don’t you love being a “straight shooter”? Why not just tell her?】

The second message was sent ten minutes ago.

【If it can’t be solved, then buy a little cake to eat. You’re the best at making yourself happy.】

Pei Wenjin held up her phone and took a photo of the empty cake plate. She sent it to Changxia with a slight smile tugging at her lips. The caption read: 【Already ate it! It was delicious, and I’m fine now. SHE bought it for me!!! (Excited Dog.JPG)】

She turned her head again to look at Fu Su.

The smooth dark hair was loosely gathered into a low bun at the back of her head, revealing a long, porcelain-white neck. From the side, the bridge of her nose was high and elegant.

Fu Su grabbed two bottles of milk in one hand. She suddenly turned to look over, raising her hand slightly. “Drink it now, or later?”

Pei Wenjin blinked, instinctively saying, “Now, I guess.”

Fu Su closed the fridge, her left hand still gripping the two fairly thick glass bottles. “Okay.”

She held one between her thumb and forefinger, while the other three fingers gripped the second bottle against her index finger.

Susu’s fingers are so long.

Pei Wenjin sat up straight and twirled a strand of hair around her finger.

She felt she had become much more indecisive than before.

She used to be a straight shooter because she never cared what people thought of her. If they could get along, they’d be friends; if not, then that was the last time they’d meet.

But Susu was different. She didn’t want Susu to hate her.

Not even a little bit.

In that case, she would just have to be twice as good to Susu.