"Xiaonian, I really love you…"
Lin Nuan could hear Lu Jinbei's voice becoming louder on the other end of the line. Bai Xiaonian quickly finished what she was saying and ended the call hastily.
Lin Nuan kept her soiled clothes and took her bag with her. Just as she was about to leave, she sighted the band-aids, antiseptic lotion, and cotton swabs on the table.
Lin Nuan hesitated for a moment before placing the items into her bag and walking towards the car park.
There were many luxury cars parked at the makeshift cobblestoned car park, and Lin Nuan couldn't figure out which one belonged to Fu Huai'an.
There was a sudden flickering of lights from one of the cars. Lin Nuan turned and saw that Fu Huai'an had already started the engine of his Maybach.
She clutched her bag and walked briskly towards the car. She then opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat next to him.
"I don't think the banquet has ended, is it alright for you to leave? What about Tuan Tuan?" Lin Nuan asked two questions in a row.
Fu Huai'an glanced at Lin Nuan and fixed his gaze ahead. He held the steering wheel with one hand and made his way out of the makeshift car park.
"Tuan Tuan will stay at the mansion tonight. People are handling the banquet, so it's okay for me to leave earlier."
Out of the corner of her eye, Lin Nuan glanced at his slender fingers and the injured hand that Fu Huai'an had placed on the steering wheel. His wound hadn't been properly treated, and it had dried to form a scab.
Lin Nuan had been the cause of the wound, and she couldn't ignore it and still feel at ease.
"Why don't I clean the wound for you?" Lin Nuan said, taking out the cotton swabs and antiseptic lotion from her bag. She lowered her head and used her free hand to rummage through her bag to look for the band-aids, and while doing so, the items in her bag fell out.
She raised her head and said gently, "Stop the car somewhere. We can continue the journey after treating the wound."
Having heard that, Fu Huai'an turned the steering wheel and stopped the car by the roadside.
He unfastened his seat belt, and Lin Nuan grasped his large, slightly calloused hands. She poured some antiseptic lotion onto the cotton swab and carefully cleaned his wound.
The cotton swab became stained with blood almost immediately.
They were within close proximity of each other, and Fu Huai'an's piercing gaze fixated on Lin Nuan's delicate profile and exquisite features. Her head was bowed, and her long hair tucked behind her ears. Her forehead was smooth and full, and her long lashes hung low. Her quiet disposition was comforting.
After cleaning the bleeding scab and putting on a band-aid, Lin Nuan raised her head, and her eyes met his pitch-black and serene gaze.
At that very moment, it seemed as if the air in the car had become thinner, and it was getting harder to breathe.
She wanted to lean back onto the passenger seat, but she caught a whiff of alcohol on Fu Huai'an's suit and deduced that he must have drunk a few glasses after he left the room.
It was a night of socializing after all, and it was unavoidable to have some alcohol.
With that in mind, Lin Nuan said, "Why don't I… take over the wheel? It's not safe for you to drive after drinking. You never know if we might get stopped by the traffic police."
Fu Huai'an looked away and nodded in agreement.
He unfastened his seat belt and got out of the car. Lin Nuan got down from the passenger seat, placed her bag on the rear seat, and got into the driver's seat.
She fastened her seat belt, and by that time, Fu Huai'an was already in the passenger seat.
Seeing that he didn't buckle up, she reminded him, "Your seat belt…"
Fu Huai'an rested on the passenger seat and had some shut-eye along the way. Lin Nuan took the liberty to drive towards Tianfu Bay. She reckoned that if she booked a ride after sending Fu Huai'an home, she would be able to reach her house around 10:30 p.m., which wasn't too late.
Lin Nuan parked the car in front of Fu Huai'an's villa at Tianfu Bay. He opened his eyes and asked in a hoarse voice, "We are here?"