He Lost Control with Jealousy — What Happened to Being Untouchable? - Chapter 87

While men might not be as sensitive as women, if someone has been quietly paying attention to them for years, no matter how well-hidden, it’s impossible not to notice eventually.

So, he figured Song Ze had some idea.

Unexpectedly, his probing actually worked.

Realizing he had spoken too hastily and lost his composure, Song Ze quickly tried to backtrack. “My student is my responsibility, just like your employees are yours. Isn’t that how it works?”

Shen Yubai raised an eyebrow. “Fair point. Your person, then.”

“I’m warning you, stay away from my student.”

Song Ze picked up his chopsticks and started eating, refusing to engage further.

Twenty minutes later, the private room door swung open.

Lu Tingzhou’s tall, imposing figure appeared in the doorway. He had just come from the office, his black suit jacket draped over his arm, the cuffs of his dark gray shirt neatly buttoned, exuding an aura that kept others at a distance.

His gaze swept across the room before finally landing on Shen Yubai’s barely restrained smirk. His brow furrowed slightly.

“Where’s Sang Wan?”

“What’s the rush? Now that you have a woman, you’ve forgotten about your brothers? I’m dealing with something important here.”

Lu Tingzhou realized he’d been tricked by this bastard. He sat down with a cold expression. “What could possibly be so important?”

Shen Yubai rolled his eyes but finally couldn’t hold back any longer. He waggled his eyebrows at Song Ze and spilled the beans.

“Someone has a crush on our dear A’Ze, and has for years. Do you think this guy genuinely doesn’t know, or is he just pretending?”

Song Ze immediately set down his chopsticks. “Liked me for years?”

His reaction was so innocent that Shen Yubai burst out laughing.

Suppressing his amusement, he decided to fan the flames further.

“That girl is head over heels for you. Are you seriously telling me you had no idea?”

Song Ze: “…”

“A’Ze, honestly, your peach blossom luck is so strong even I can smell it. It’s just your nose that’s not working.”

Lu Tingzhou sat down beside Song Ze, still not entirely clear on the situation. He gave Shen Yubai a cool glance, his voice indifferent.

“Judging by that smug grin, it’s probably someone we know.”

His detached gaze shifted from Shen Yubai’s ear-to-ear smile to Song Ze.

He offered a well-meaning warning. “Don’t mistake the wrong person.”

His tone was calm, devoid of emotion, yet carried an undeniable weight.

Song Ze’s fingers around the teacup tightened imperceptibly, his knuckles whitening slightly.

He didn’t respond.

Shen Yubai clicked his tongue, leaning back and spreading his arms in a carefree, playboy manner.

“Look at him!”

He tilted his chin toward Song Ze.

“Look at how guilty he looks. You really think he doesn’t know?”

Shen Yubai dropped all pretense, his grin turning downright mischievous.

“How about this? Let’s go over there right now. They’re in the Orchid Room next door. In front of Sang Wan and Su Mo, we’ll confront little Qu directly. What do you say?”

“Qu You?”

The moment the name left Shen Yubai’s lips, the atmosphere around Lu Tingzhou shifted instantly.

The casual amusement vanished without a trace, replaced by a heavy, unyielding scrutiny.

He didn’t even glance at Shen Yubai again. His deep, inscrutable eyes locked onto Song Ze with unwavering intensity.

“A’Ze, you need to think carefully about this.”

“I heard Wanwan mention that the girl is stubborn and sensitive. Don’t hurt her.”

The words paused, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Lu Tingzhou leisurely adjusted his cuff, his tone carrying an undisguised warning.

“She’s close with Wanwan. If you make her upset… I won’t care about any brotherly bonds.”

At these words, the tight line of Song Ze’s lips finally loosened slightly.

He raised his eyes to meet Lu Tingzhou’s intimidating gaze, his Adam’s apple bobbing once.

Shen Yubai, listening nearby, sucked in a sharp breath before silently giving Lu Tingzhou a thumbs-up.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk…”

He lowered his voice, his face full of teasing, as if he’d seen through the ways of the world.

“Choosing clothes over brothers. Brother Lu, I salute you for being a real man.”

Song Ze slowly set down his teacup, the base clinking softly against the table.

Ignoring the gloating Shen Yubai, he looked directly at Lu Tingzhou and spoke deliberately.

“I admit, I know.”

Shen Yubai’s smug grin froze. “See? He admits it.”

Song Ze continued, his voice low. “I’ve always sensed her feelings for me.”

“But until I’m completely certain of my own feelings for her, I can’t give her any irresponsible response.”

At this, Shen Yubai was utterly stunned.

He cursed under his breath, his face full of disbelief.

“Is it really that hard to figure out if you like someone? Isn’t it just a matter of seeing them and wanting to-”

“Not everyone is as indiscriminately lustful as you.”

Shen Yubai gritted his teeth and glared. Was that any way to insult someone?

Lu Tingzhou shot him a glance before turning back to Song Ze.

Song Ze exhaled, the corners of his lips curving up. “But recently… I think I’ve figured it out.”

“So, I’m trying to get closer to her.”

Lu Tingzhou raised a brow. “Seems I worried for nothing.”

Shen Yubai suddenly realized something and sighed dramatically. “Am I about to be the only single one left?”

Lu Tingzhou and Song Ze exchanged a glance before clinking their glasses together.

After dinner, Lu Tingzhou headed straight for the Orchid Room.

When he pushed open the door, the laughter inside came to an abrupt halt.

Sang Wan, Su Mo, Qu You, and Qi Qi, four girls, were huddled together, giggling over something unknown.

The moment Sang Wan spotted the tall, imposing figure at the door, her eyes lit up instantly.

Those beautiful peach-blossom eyes seemed to sparkle with countless stars.

“Lu Tingzhou!”

She called out cheerfully, like a kitten spotting its owner, and dashed toward him, lifting the hem of her dress.

The cold, hard edges of Lu Tingzhou’s expression softened visibly the moment she ran into his arms.

He reached out, steadying her as she threw herself against him.

“It’s getting late. Time to take you home.”

Qi Qi, ever perceptive, handed over Sang Wan’s coat.

Lu Tingzhou took it naturally, shook it out, and draped it gently over her shoulders, fastening the buttons meticulously, his movements practiced and intimate.

Then he picked up her bag from the side and took her hand in his. The entire sequence was effortless, wordless, yet spoke volumes.

Su Mo and Qu You exchanged a glance. This blatant display of affection was impossible to ignore.

Shen Yubai and Song Ze followed behind. Leaning against the doorframe, Shen Yubai clapped his hands.

“Alright, alright, save the affection for home. We single folks still need our eyes, you know.”

Lu Tingzhou pulled Sang Wan toward the exit, and Sang Wan turned back to wave at everyone, casting a meaningful glance at Qi Qi.

Usually, it was Qi Qi who saw people off, but this time, she didn’t want Qi Qi to do it.

The moment Qi Qi caught sight of Song Ze, she understood.

Meanwhile, Shen Yubai’s gaze lingered on Su Mo, his peach-blossom eyes crinkling with amusement. “Miss Su, it’s getting late. Since we’re heading the same way, why don’t I give you a ride?”

Su Mo was about to refuse when Qi Qi patted her hand. “If Director Shen takes you, I won’t have to make an extra trip.”

With that, she gave Su Mo’s hand a light, deliberate squeeze.

Su Mo instantly grasped the hint and smiled. “Then I’ll trouble Director Shen.”

Qi Qi’s eyes darted around before landing on Qu You, her expression turning hesitant. “Sister Youyou, we’re in completely opposite directions…”

Qu You quickly reassured her, “It’s fine, I can just take the subway.”

“That wouldn’t be right,” Qi Qi said, glancing apologetically at Song Ze behind her. “Dr. Song, it’s so late, would you mind seeing Sister Youyou home? It’s not safe for a girl to go alone…”

This little schemer had everyone sorted in just a few words.

In an instant, all eyes were on Song Ze.

As Shen Yubai left, he even gave Song Ze a firm pat on the shoulder.

Meeting the collective gaze, Song Ze nodded, his voice as steady as ever.

“Alright.”

…

As the crowd dispersed, only Song Ze and Qu You remained in the private room.

The air was so quiet they could hear each other’s heartbeats.

Qu You kept her head down, her toes fidgeting nervously against the soft carpet.

“Professor Song, I really don’t want to trouble you. I… I can just take the subway.”

Mustering her courage, she turned to leave, only for her wrist to be gently caught by a warm, dry hand.

“Qu You.”

His voice came from behind her: deep, firm, resolute.

Her entire body stiffened, as if frozen by a spell, her feet refusing to move another inch.

Slowly, she turned to meet a pair of eyes that were deep and inscrutable.

Those eyes, usually so calm and decisive in the operating room, so stern and focused in the lecture hall, were now filled with emotions she couldn’t decipher.

Song Ze released her wrist and stepped forward, standing face-to-face with her.

“I’ll take you home.”

He paused, his gaze burning into her.

“And… there’s something I want to say to you.”

Her heart skipped a beat. She sensed what was coming, her breath hitching in anticipation.

Wordlessly, she let Song Ze lead her by the hand to the parking lot.

Inside the car, Song Ze didn’t start the engine immediately.

Instead, he turned to the girl beside him, her eyes downcast, silent.

Taking a steadying breath, he spoke as calmly as he could.

“You like me. I know.”

Boom.

Qu You’s mind went blank. All color drained from her face, leaving only humiliation and shame in its wake.

Having a secret exposed in public was one thing, but having the person you secretly loved lay it bare was an entirely different kind of torment.

The latter was nothing short of torture.

Seeing her instantly pale face and reddened eyes, Song Ze’s heart ached as if pricked by needles. He quickly added, “Don’t misunderstand. I’m not mocking you or playing games.”

His tone carried a hint of urgency, betraying his own tension.

“I was just… confirming, confirming what kind of feelings I have for you.”

Qu You’s eyes dimmed completely. How could she ever hope that someone as outstanding as Song Ze would take an interest in her?

He was so dazzling.

“But, at some point, I started unconsciously paying attention to you.”

He looked at her as if recalling a slow-motion film, frame by frame.

“Maybe it was the first time you entered the operating room, clumsy, scolded to tears by me, yet the next time, you had every instrument and procedure memorized flawlessly.”

“Or perhaps, it was watching your father come to you for money, how you gritted your teeth and bore it, tears barely dry before turning around to offer patients a kind smile.”

“Qu You, your resilience, your effort, it’s impossible for me not to notice.”

He turned to face her fully, reaching out to gently guide her ostrich-like posture toward him.

The soft light inside the car cast a gentle glow. For the first time, Qu You was this close to him, her heart pounding erratically, her rhythm thrown into chaos.

“Before, I wasn’t sure what it was.”

“But now, I’m certain.”

His gaze held hers as he spoke deliberately, word by word: “You must have sensed it too, how I’ve been deliberately, or perhaps not so deliberately, getting closer to you lately.”

Qu You froze, staring at him in stunned silence.

“Don’t doubt it. I mean it. I’ve been intentionally approaching you.”

“So, do you want to give this a try with me?”