Seducing Him - Chapter 7

“When I left, didn’t I say you should send me a message? Is this how you send one, sister?”
His smile deepened, his dark pupils heavy like polished glass, carrying a hypnotic allure.

Seeing the interface he showed her, Ci Yiyang instinctively took a step back, widening the distance between them. With guilt in her tone, she explained:
“Sorry, I really meant to send you a message, but I accidentally deleted it… and I didn’t have your phone number…”

Her head was lowered, freshly washed hair draping over her shoulders, wet and pitiful—like she was the one wronged.

Her excuse was hollow, lacking sincerity.

Lu Jin reached out his hand. “Your phone.”

Ci Yiyang glanced at him, turned to her room, and handed him her phone.

He lowered his gaze, added himself back again, and this time also saved his phone number.

When he handed it back, the corners of his peach blossom eyes carried a trace of glittering amusement. Though it didn’t reach his eyes, it gave his face an added allure.

“Next time if you don’t see my reply, remember to call me. After all, I was waiting outside for you, and you just sent me one line—‘I’m home.’ For a moment, I really didn’t know what to say back.”

Ci Yiyang accepted the phone, lifted her pale face, and smiled faintly at him.
“I understand. Before, it was only because I didn’t have your number, otherwise I would’ve called.”

Lu Jin didn’t expose her—how she never intended to call in the first place, how she only sent one sentence, I’m home, then deleted him right after.

Now that he’d added himself back, he left.

When Ci Yiyang opened her contacts, she caught sight of the new number he’d saved under the note: Dog.

Lu Lan’s illness wasn’t serious, so today she was discharged and returned.

At three-thirty in the afternoon, the gates of the Beicheng estate swung open. A red carpet lined the path as a black car drove in. The servants already lined up lowered their heads, staring at their shoes.

The car stopped at the entrance.

The butler, who had been waiting, respectfully opened the door. “Madam.”

A pair of silver heels stepped onto the carpet. Lu Lan emerged in a white dress, long hair falling elegantly. Even with oversized sunglasses covering half her face, her beauty was undeniable.

“Where’s A Jin?”

Not seeing her son, Lu Lan removed her sunglasses and turned toward Luo Lin. “Didn’t you say Yiyang was here too? Why haven’t I seen her?”

Luo Lin took the sunglasses from her. “Maybe inside the house.”

Lu Lan thought for a moment, then smiled, linking arms with him. “Let’s go in.”

Luo Lin nodded.

The estate belonged to his son, who disliked having outsiders around, so only a cook remained in the main house.

Out of respect, Lu Lan only let the servants carry the luggage to the third floor.

She sat on the sofa and asked the housekeeper, “Where’s A Jin?”

The housekeeper bowed. “Young master is in the third-floor studio.”

Lu Lan glanced at the clock on the wall, brows knitting. “At this hour, still in the studio? Didn’t he know we’d be back today?”

Luo Lin placed a hand on her shoulder, soothing. “It’s fine. That’s how young people are.”

His words had just landed when someone slowly descended the stairs.

A young man, brows heavy with languor, short black hair messy, exuding a lazy, careless air.

“A Jin.” Lu Lan’s face lit up, her earlier sternness melting as she waved him over.

Lu Jin’s gaze lingered briefly on her gentle smile, before sliding sideways to Luo Lin. Calmly, he greeted, “Uncle Luo.”

“A Jin.”

They exchanged greetings. Then Lu Lan asked, “Why don’t I see Yiyang?”

Luo Lin also turned his eyes to him. He was curious too, unsure whether his daughter was here.

The boy leaned against the sofa, sunlight spilling over his dark hair. Half-lifting his lids, he said casually, “She’s coming down.”

Right then, Ci Yiyang appeared on the stairs.

Everyone’s gaze shifted toward her as she descended slowly.

“Dad.” She took the initiative to greet Luo Lin.

Since her mother’s passing, she had rebelled against him—this was the first time she’d spoken so calmly.

Luo Lin gave a soft “Mm” and said, “This is Aunt Lu.”

The scene overlapped with memories from months before, giving her a dreamlike disorientation.

Ci Yiyang shifted her eyes to the woman seated beside her father.

Lu Lan was elegant and refined, her slender brows softening her beauty into something approachable—less distant than Lu Jin, her warmth evident at a glance.

This was Ci Yiyang’s second time seeing Lu Lan. Both times in the same context. But this time, she smiled politely.
“Hello, Aunt Lu.”

Lu Lan had heard rumors that Ci Yiyang opposed her marriage with Luo Lin. She had been worried. But hearing the girl greet her so readily, she relaxed.

Her expression gentle, she invited the girl to sit.

Ci Yiyang didn’t choose Lu Lan’s side. Instead, her eyes swept briefly around before she headed straight for Lu Jin.

Sitting naturally beside him, she whispered, “Why didn’t you wait for me? You came down by yourself.”

Her voice was soft, but in the quiet hall it carried, making their intimacy seem oddly suggestive.

Lu Jin turned his head.

Her clear eyes brimmed with reproach, as if they had arranged this beforehand.

He studied her for a few seconds, then raised his lips in a soft smile. “I thought sister would take longer.”

“Fine then.” Her expression softened, as though she were reluctantly forgiving him.

Only after speaking with him did she seem to recall the others in the room. She turned naturally to them with a pure smile.

Lu Lan, noticing no awkwardness in their rapport, felt reassured instead.

She even leaned forward to ask whether Lu Jin ever bullied her.

Ci Yiyang answered patiently, though between them sat Lu Jin.

He lounged back, eyes half-lidded with languor. Unconsciously, Ci Yiyang placed her hand on his leg while talking.

Her fingertips were pale pink, like petals stained with color.

His gaze followed her hand upward, fixing on her calm expression as she continued speaking without a hint of guilt.

She glanced sideways, catching the strange look in his eyes.

What was he smiling at?

That night, after Lu Lan and Luo Lin’s return, they all ate dinner together. But disgust gnawed at Ci Yiyang, so she excused herself early.

Later, when the hall was empty, Lu Jin emerged from the shower. Just then, a knock sounded at his door.

He glanced at his laptop on the bed, closing it and placing it carelessly on the sofa.

Only after the third knock did he open the door.

A girl stood there, hair damp and loose, her white shirt soaked as if she’d been caught in rain. The thin fabric clung to her, faintly revealing graceful curves.

Flustered, she stammered, “Sorry to bother you so late.”

He wasn’t surprised, though his eyes swept over her figure before fixing on her face. He said nothing.

Holding a towel, she explained, “I was showering, but the hot water in my room stopped working. Could I… borrow your bathroom?”

“My bathroom?” His head tilted slightly, as though he hadn’t heard right.

“Yes.” Her eyes shimmered with water.

At this hour, asking to share a bathroom could hardly be considered proper. She wasn’t sure he’d believe her, but she presented herself in a way that begged for sympathy.

She’d even applied a faint “no-makeup” look before coming.

Brows furrowed, hair spilling down like silk, she let her best features show unconsciously.

“Aunt Lu is resting in her room. I didn’t want to disturb her, so I came to you.”

Lu Jin didn’t step aside. “I’ll call someone to fix it. You can use the guest room’s bathroom.”

Her eyes reddened slightly, her head lowering in disappointment. Her voice was soft, tinged with shame.
“I just woke from a nightmare and sweated all over… I’m scared to be alone in a guest room no one lives in.”

At that, Lu Jin lowered his lashes, as if considering whether to let her in.

Seeing his hesitation, Ci Yiyang stepped closer, lifting her pale face, eyes misty like she’d just woken. Her pleading look was hard to refuse.

“I’ll be very quick.”

He stared at her, silent.

“Please?”

She blinked, eyes shimmering, lips trembling, like she’d cry if he said no.

Finally, his lashes trembled. “You can borrow it, sister. But wait a moment—I just finished showering, so it’s not tidied up yet.”

Only then did she notice his damp hair and faint cool fragrance.

So late at night, he’d been showering?

Grateful, she nodded. “That’s fine. I can wait.”

He glanced at her reddened eyes before gesturing for her to sit on the sofa. Then he went back into the bathroom.

He didn’t make her wait long. Soon, he returned, his damp eyes catching the mist. With a faint smile, he said,
“You can go in now. Though it’s still a bit wet.”

She nodded, carrying her clothes inside.

He watched her enter.

Ci Yiyang closed the door, setting her clothes aside. Only then did she realize what he meant by “wet.”

The floor was soaked, mirrors fogged, droplets beading everywhere. It looked like shower gel had been spilled, its rich scent hanging thick in the air.

The bathroom was already oddly designed—now it felt oppressive, like stepping into a reptile’s damp cave. Condensation clung like sticky webs.

She hadn’t expected someone could shower like this.

With a grimace, she scrubbed down the tub before filling it with hot water.

The tub was large, clearly built for a man. She slipped inside, water covering her collarbones, hair inevitably dampened.

The warmth made her body relax.

She hadn’t lied—she really was afraid of being alone.

Meanwhile, in the room outside, Lu Jin had changed into a dark silk pajama set. Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, his laptop balanced on his knees, his slender fingers tapped calmly at the keys.

About half an hour later, the bathroom door clicked open.

He froze mid-typing, looking up.

The girl emerged, hair dripping, her skin flushed and damp, eyes shining with water. A faint redness still lingered on her collarbones.

She wore only an oversized white shirt, hem falling mid-thigh, barely covering her long, slender legs.

He stared at her.

Ci Yiyang lowered her eyes at herself, seeing nothing amiss, and looked up at him blankly. “What’s wrong?”

Lu Jin’s gaze lifted to her face, dark and unreadable. “…Nothing.”

But his hoarse voice carried a rough edge, rasping low in her ears like a lingering caress.

“Oh, good. I thought maybe I’d put the shirt on backwards.” She tucked loose strands of hair behind her ear, exposing the pale pink of her earlobe.

“Right, Lu Jin—I need another favor.”

Under the cold-white lights, her pale face glowed faintly as she smiled, walking toward him.

Lu Jin tilted his head, unmoving. His sharp canine pressed against his tongue, pain grounding him against the hunger clawing at his throat.