Chapter 14: Am I so stunning that you can’t lift your feet?

A familiar voice suddenly sounded heavily from above.

Tang Yu was taken aback. Holding her soaking wet bag, she tilted her drenched head high and saw that it was indeed him, her eyes wide with surprise.

“President Lou?! What are you doing here?”

Was he on a business trip to Haicheng?

Looking at her, Lou Xizhou raised his hand and flicked his fingers against her wet forehead. She couldn’t help but close her eyes briefly.

Then his gaze swept over her thoroughly drenched appearance. Without answering, he put his arm around her shoulders and headed toward the Rolls-Royce parked not far away.

Once inside the car, he instructed the driver to turn up the heat, then handed her a large towel he had prepared. He also took off his suit jacket.

“Wipe yourself off.”

“Thank you.” Tang Yu was immensely grateful for his presence. “President Lou, are you here on a business trip?”

Otherwise, how else could he be here?

But even if he was on a business trip to Haicheng, he wouldn’t be here, especially so late at night.

Lou Xizhou spoke bluntly, “I came because I saw your car involved in a traffic accident on the news. Are you hurt anywhere?”

Ah?

Tang Yu paused in wiping her hair, turned to look at him, only to meet his deep eyes that always seemed to pull her in. Her heart fluttered nervously, and she quickly looked away.

In a slightly quieter voice than usual, she explained, “No, I was hit from behind and my car flipped. It’s not because I’m a bad driver—it was the slippery road—”

“Then you were in a hurry to come for the interview, and the accident happened just like that, right?” Lou Xizhou finished her sentence for her.

“Yes, yes! That’s exactly it!”

After agreeing, she sensed something was off, so she looked back at him and met his mildly reproachful yet helpless gaze.

For some reason, she felt a bit guilty inside.

This wasn’t right, absolutely not right!

This was her normal life, and in the past three years, she had never had such an accident!

It must be bad luck recently that caused this chain of events.

“Let’s go rest at a hotel for the night before heading back,” Lou Xizhou suddenly said.

“No!” Tang Yu exclaimed loudly.

A man and woman alone—how could they share a room?

Lou Xizhou was startled by her strong reaction and looked at her confusedly. “The rain is so heavy now, it’s unsafe on the road. You’re soaked, and so am I. Staying one night is the most reasonable solution. What’s the problem?”

What was she misunderstanding?

“I...” Tang Yu realized she had overreacted and quickly thought of an excuse to cover it up.

“I meant to help the person who came to assist me... Yes, I was about to call him after getting in the car, but then I ran into you and completely forgot!”

She didn’t even know how that person was doing now. It was all her fault for being too busy reporting!

“No need to call,” Lou Xizhou stopped her as she reached for her phone. “I’ve already taken care of it.”

If she went, who knew how long that person would have to wait?

Tang Yu didn’t know how to express her gratitude instantly. She pressed her hands together and looked at him with eyes full of thanks. “President Lou, you really helped me a lot. I’ll treat you to a meal when we get back.”

“Is a meal enough to repay this favor?” Seeing her adorable expression, Lou Xizhou smiled faintly and jokingly made a cross sign with his fingers. “It has to be at least that many.”

“Alright!” Tang Yu responded generously. “Whatever you say, as many meals as you want!”

“Then I was wrong,” he frowned slightly, full of regret.

“Wrong about what?” she asked, puzzled.

“I should have said a month, three meals a day,” he said leisurely.

Tang Yu’s expression stiffened slightly, and she inwardly chuckled.

This was a bit too obvious a way to hold a favor over her head!

Why didn’t he say a year?

Watching the change on her pretty face, Lou Xizhou easily read what she was probably thinking but smiled without saying a word.

He was hoping to use this favor to get her to date him.

But this favor wasn’t big enough.

“Boss, we’ve arrived,” the driver said.

The Rolls-Royce stopped at the hotel entrance, and the door opened automatically.

Lou Xizhou took Tang Yu’s belongings first and got out, then stood by the car door, raising his hand to shield the top edge of the door.

Sitting inside, Tang Yu was momentarily stunned as she looked at the tall, gentlemanly man standing outside the car.

Half in shadow, he stood with one side in darkness and the other in light, the interplay amplifying his unique aura infinitely.

Perhaps because she was familiar with him, she often didn’t feel overwhelmed by his presence, but rather nervousness stirred by his penetrating gaze.

But no matter the angle—now or before—he was impeccably handsome within her aesthetic.

Both handsome and masculine!

A pity…

“Am I so good-looking you can’t even lift your feet?” Lou Xizhou raised an eyebrow and asked when she didn’t move. “Want me to carry you inside?”

In the dim light, Tang Yu’s cheeks flushed red. Embarrassed, she quickly got out and hurried into the hotel.

“I walk faster than you!”

Lou Xizhou pursed his lips with a faint smile and caught up with her in just a few long strides.

At the reception desk, Tang Yu spoke right away. “Hello, we want to book a room.”

Lou Xizhou, standing behind her, put on sunglasses and said nothing.

The receptionist prepared to register. “Please show your ID.” After receiving Tang Yu’s card, she asked, “A double bed room?”

A double bed room?!

Tang Yu’s mind immediately flashed an awkward scene, and her face flushed. “Two rooms, please!”

“Huh?” The receptionist looked confused, glanced at the silent Lou Xizhou behind her, then back at Tang Yu. “Sorry, I thought you two were married or a couple. But there’s only one double bed room left.”

Tang Yu’s cheeks turned fully red.

What a coincidence!

Lou Xizhou finally spoke calmly, “Sorry, miss, we’ve already booked a suite, no need to book another room. Thank you.”

He said this as he tried to take back Tang Yu’s ID and held her hand, heading toward the elevator.

Tang Yu reacted quickly and pulled her hand away. “Give me back my ID. Why didn’t you say you had a suite earlier?”

“How was I supposed to know you’d be so quick to say you wanted to book a room?” Lou Xizhou’s voice was full of amusement.

Tang Yu was immediately embarrassed, pursing her lips silently.

After arriving at the presidential suite, as soon as they entered, Tang Yu’s phone rang. It was Director Li.

“Xiao Tang, this report is excellent, it’s crushing all other financial news! How did you do it?”

Tang Yu sat on the sofa, completely forgetting the time as she spoke.

Lou Xizhou, fresh from his shower clad in a bathrobe, frowned slightly when he saw her still talking on the phone.

Wasn’t she afraid of catching a cold?

“…Director, we’ll talk about it when I get back tomorrow!”

Tang Yu hurriedly hung up, grabbed her bag, and ducked past him into one of the rooms. Once the door was closed, she leaned against it and let out a long breath, patting her burning cheeks.

This was so awkward!

Lou Xizhou turned around.

Seeing that she had entered the room he just came out of, he raised his hand to knock but thought about how shy she was—she had blushed four or five times tonight already.

Forget it, he’d wait for her to realize it herself.

In the bathroom, Tang Yu finally noticed the man’s clothes tossed in the corner while showering.

This was the room President Lou had just used?!

Heaven, who could save her from this mess!