He Lost Control with Jealousy — What Happened to Being Untouchable? - Chapter 43

The narrow hallway by the entrance instantly grew tense with an unspoken tension.

Lu Tingzhou advanced step by step, while Sang Wan retreated until her back pressed against the corner wall, nowhere left to go.

The crisp scent of cedar and faint traces of tobacco clinging to him enveloped her senses, achingly familiar in a way that made her heart race.

“Wanwan,” his voice was rough, gravelly with emotion as his large hands braced against the wall on either side of her, trapping her within the confines of his presence.

“You have to… at least give me a chance to explain.”

Sang Wan bit her lip. “Explain why you have a child?”

Lu Tingzhou responded urgently, “That’s not my child.”

“Lu Tingzhou, don’t be so shameless, own up to what you’ve done!” Her sharp fox-like eyes glared at him.

He reached out, tilting her chin up with his fingers. “Little fox, I haven’t done anything. What is there to own up to?”

Sang Wan turned her face away, refusing to meet his gaze. The image of that happy family of three flashed in her mind, and despite herself, her eyes welled up with unshed tears.

“That child belongs to my former assistant. He died because of me, and I promised to take care of his fiancée and their unborn child.”

Sang Wan froze for a second before lifting her chin defiantly in his grasp. “Take care of them so well that the child calls you Daddy?”

She couldn’t accept it. Helping was one thing, but stepping in as a father? That kind of “care” was something she couldn’t comprehend, let alone tolerate.

“It’s a misunderstanding. His mother told him he’d see his father when they returned. The kid didn’t understand and assumed it was me.”

Sang Wan studied him skeptically.

“Every word is true.”

Seeing his unwavering conviction, she softened slightly. “How did your assistant die?”

Lu Tingzhou didn’t want to answer, didn’t want her to know. But ever since she’d learned of Song Xinran and Kaikai’s existence, the topic had become unavoidable.

Over the past few days, he’d come to terms with the fact that as long as they were together, Song Xinran and Kaikai’s presence could never stay hidden forever.

“He was with me to negotiate a contract. There was a car accident on the way.”

In the end, Lu Tingzhou chose to lie. He didn’t want Sang Wan to know the location or the reason behind the crash.

“A car accident?”

Sang Wan’s eyes widened slightly at the mention. The word brought back memories of her own mother’s death, also in a car crash, though the details had long blurred in her mind.

Lu Tingzhou nodded, quickly steering her thoughts elsewhere. “If you don’t believe me, we can do a paternity test once we’re back in Shencheng.”

Sang Wan pouted before grabbing his hand and biting down hard.

“Why didn’t you explain all this sooner?”

“You didn’t give me the chance,” he said, a hint of helplessness in his eyes. “Take me off your blacklist.”

“That depends on your performance.”

“First, let me check if you’re hurt anywhere.”

Lu Tingzhou bent down and scooped her up into his arms.

As he laid her on the bed, Sang Wan let out a soft hiss, the movement had pressed against the shoulder she’d landed on earlier.

All day, she’d been too preoccupied with worrying about Xiao Yan to notice the injury. But now, the pain was unmistakable.

“Where does it hurt?”

Lu Tingzhou sat beside her, supporting her waist as he helped her sit up.

“My right shoulder.”

She had always been delicate, with a low tolerance for pain. Now, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, making Lu Tingzhou’s chest tighten.

“Don’t move. Let me see.”

His voice remained deep, yet laced with a tenderness reserved only for her.

Sang Wan was wearing a simple and elegant white dress today, with two delicate pearl buttons adorning the collar, accentuating her snow-like complexion.

Lu Tingzhou reached out, his slender fingers moving directly toward the buttons at her collar.

“I can do it myself…” Sang Wan’s cheeks flushed slightly as she instinctively pressed her hand against his, her voice soft and hesitant.

The warmth of his skin against her palm instantly made the tips of her ears turn red.

Sitting this close while he undressed her sent a wave of overwhelming sensations crashing through her mind.

“Don’t move.” Lu Tingzhou’s tone was firm and domineering, yet it didn’t make her feel violated.

His fingertips gently loosened the first button, his movements careful, as if handling a priceless treasure.

Sang Wan could feel the faint roughness of his fingertips brushing against the delicate skin of her neck, sending tiny shivers down her spine.

His scent grew stronger in the air, enveloping her completely.

The second button came undone.

His cool fingers accidentally grazed the smooth skin of her chest, and Sang Wan’s breath hitched. She could even feel the slight tremble in his touch.

Lu Tingzhou’s body tensed for a fleeting moment. His deep gaze flickered over the expanse of pale skin before he forced himself to look away, his eyes settling precisely on her right shoulder.

With just one glance, his expression darkened.

A large bruise, mottled with angry red scrapes, stood out starkly against her jade-like skin, far worse than he had imagined.

The air around Lu Tingzhou instantly turned icy. He abruptly stood up and strode to the room’s intercom, his voice low and urgent as he ordered, “Send up some ointment for bruises.”

His tone was cold, edged with impatience.

Sang Wan watched the tension in his profile, and the lingering shyness and fluttering emotions in her heart dissipated, replaced only by a faint sense of grievance and lingering fear.

“Go take a shower first. I’ll apply the medicine afterward.”

“Shower?” Sang Wan frowned.

How was she supposed to shower with a man in the room?

“It’s not like I haven’t seen you shower before,” the man murmured, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

Sang Wan’s face burned instantly. How could this situation compare to last time?

Looking back now, she truly understood how pressure could bring out hidden potential.

If she hadn’t been so desperate to avoid marrying Wang Sheng back then, she would never have been so bold.

At the thought, she lowered her eyes and smiled. Then again, maybe not, when it came to things she liked, she had always been proactive.

Lu Tingzhou watched as she sat motionless, her lashes lowered, and leaned in slightly. “Do you want me to help you?”

Sang Wan shot him a glance before quickly standing up, muttering, “No need.”

When she stepped out of the bathroom, the room was empty, but the ointment had already been placed on the bedside table.

Sang Wan was puzzled, where had he gone?

She sat on the edge of the bed, about to apply the ointment herself, when the door clicked open.

Lu Tingzhou walked in, dressed in a bathrobe, fresh from his own shower.

“You booked a room?”

“Right next door,” he replied. “Call me if you need anything tonight.”

Sang Wan: “…”

Could she admit that she had been indulging in wild thoughts while showering?

Lu Tingzhou picked up the ointment and a cotton swab, sitting beside her.

He took the tube from her hand, squeezed out a bit of the clear gel onto his fingertip, and then carefully tugged her bathrobe lower.

His movements were gentle and meticulous, a stark contrast to his usual cold and unapproachable demeanor.

As the cool ointment touched her wound, Sang Wan couldn’t help but let out a soft hiss.

“Does it hurt?” He frowned, his movements growing even gentler, almost reverently smoothing the ointment bit by bit.

Sang Wan nodded, her voice tinged with a slight nasal tone. “Of course.”

“Such a delicate flower.”

Though his words were teasing, his hands grew even lighter, even hesitating for a moment as if afraid to touch her.

Every brush of his fingertips felt like a feather grazing the tip of her ear: ticklish, tingling.

Once the ointment was applied, Lu Tingzhou adjusted her collar for her, his gaze regaining some calmness but still deep and unreadable.

This was the first time Sang Wan had seen Lu Tingzhou like this, water droplets still clinging to his hair. His sharp features seemed less stern and distant than during the day, softened by a rare gentleness.

Because of the ointment, the two were sitting extremely close. She could even feel his shallow breaths and the contours of his muscles beneath the collar of his robe.

An impulsive thought surged in Sang Wan’s heart, no wonder they say beauty is hard to resist.

With such beauty right in front of her, even a woman could understand why men faltered!

Were his abs as perfect as those of the streamers she watched?

Lu Tingzhou noticed her blushing ears and the way her gaze lingered below his collar. The corner of his lips curled slightly, his voice returning to its usual cool detachment. “Rest early. Call me if you need anything.”

With that, he stood to leave.

“Lu Tingzhou!” Sang Wan panicked, reaching out without thinking to grab the belt of his robe.

After longing for him day and night for so long, how could she just let him walk away?

Lu Tingzhou paused, glancing down at the small hand clutching his waist. “Something else?”

Sang Wan puffed her cheeks, her fox-like eyes blinking with unmistakable grievance and accusation. “You’ve made me very unhappy lately.”

Lu Tingzhou raised a brow, as if already knowing what she was about to say.

“And?”

“And,” Sang Wan lifted her chin, righteous and bold, “you owe me compensation!”

“Compensation?” His thin lips curved slightly, half-amused. “What kind of compensation do you want?”

Sang Wan’s eyes darted mischievously, testing the waters. “I’ve been in such a bad mood lately, couldn’t eat well, couldn’t sleep well. And today, I was so scared I nearly lost my life…”

Her pitiful complaints, soft and sweet, made Lu Tingzhou’s heart melt.

“So?” He watched her with interest, curious to see if this little fox would actually say it.

“So…”

Sang Wan drew out the word, her gaze wandering over him before settling on the area beneath his robe. Her cheeks flushed faintly. “So, I want to be happy. You have to make it up to me.”

Lu Tingzhou leaned slightly closer, bringing his face near hers. “Go on.”

Without hesitation, she leaned in, pressing her lips lightly against the sharp line of his jaw.

The air grew still, as if frozen.

Sang Wan licked her slightly dry lips, her voice dropping lower, though she feigned boldness as she met his gaze.

“Mr. Lu… can I… touch your abs?”

As she spoke, the hand on his waist began tugging at the belt of his robe.

Lu Tingzhou: “…”

She really had the nerve to ask.

For a moment, Lu Tingzhou was stunned. Then, his eyes darkened, the lingering fragrance of her still in his nose. He caught her restless hand.

Sang Wan thought he was about to refuse and quickly added, “I’ve seen those handsome guys streaming online, their abs are so perfect, like little chocolate squares. I was just… just a bit curious about how they’d feel to touch.”

Her voice grew quieter as she spoke, her head lowering gradually, her ears tinged with a faint blush.

Lu Tingzhou watched her this mix of shyness and boldness, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.

This little temptress always knew how to unsettle him.

He took a deep breath, trying to suppress the rising heat in his chest.

“No,” he said, his voice slightly hoarse.

Sang Wan stared at him, her eyes full of disappointment and grievance. “Why not? It’s not like you’d lose anything if I touched you. You’re so stingy.”

Lu Tingzhou gazed at her with deep, unreadable eyes, sighing inwardly. “You’re injured. You should rest early.”

Sang Wan pouted and muttered under her breath, “Just stingy.”

Her petulant expression was like a kitten denied candy, scratching at Lu Tingzhou’s heart until it itched unbearably.

His eyes darkened as he suddenly leaned in, his warm breath brushing against the sensitive shell of her ear.

“These past few days,” he murmured, his voice low and slightly teasing, “have you missed me?”

Sang Wan stiffened at his sudden closeness, her ears burning crimson instantly.

“N-no! Not at all!” she retorted stubbornly, though her eyes darted away, unable to meet his gaze.

Lu Tingzhou watched her obvious denial, the corners of his lips curling into a faint smirk.

So easily flustered, yet still trying to tease him.

He straightened up, leisurely adjusting his collar, his tone regaining some of his usual aloofness and elegance.

“Is that so?” He chuckled lightly. “Well, if you haven’t missed me, then forget it.”

“Letting just anyone touch me would make me seem like some cheap nightclub host, wouldn’t it?”