CH 4.1

Translator’s Note:

Please be warned the author has set yet another clickbait title, so…. just don’t get your hopes up (´∀｀；)

Not only was there that icy-cold intimidation from the man, but also this sort of high-end environment that he was currently in at the moment, causing Lin Yuhe to be somewhat at a loss.

He had heard of this place before, Huan Xing Restaurant of the International Finance Centre. The dining area was massive, but there were only six spots with their own designated areas. The styles of both the decorations and furnishings used in each area were all completely different as well. Although varying cuisines were offered in each spot, the only similarity they had was the usage of fresh and delicious ingredients, as well as top-notch flavors. Correspondingly, the price rate was also equally jaw-dropping.

But even so, the reservation here was always full all year round. Even though it was not a restaurant that offered private rooms, the spots were far more difficult to reserve than the private rooms of any restaurant.

Shen Huixi, who had the best family background in the dorm, once mentioned that there was one time when his family had to wait in the line for an entire month just to invite someone for a meal in this restaurant.

Lin Yuhe recalled his stepmother told him that Mr. Lu had just arrived in Yong’an these two days, so who knows when this reservation was made.

Furthermore, after he had entered the restaurant, he came to realize that this restaurant had not been divided into six separate areas, like how Shen Huixi had described. Instead, the place was entirely opened up, with only one table in the entire restaurant.

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Meeting him for the first time, Lin Yuhe felt the same way as well.

He was far too cold.

For the first time, he felt such seemingly real bitter coldness and austerity emanated from a person.

Also, Lu Nan was well-known for his temper, and everyone knew how temperamental and cold he was. As such, he not only looked aloof but also very fierce. As he walked closer, Lin Yuhe could see it clearly, and could not help but slow down his steps.

The more he thought about it, the more absurd he felt.

To have to pretend to have an intimate relationship with this sort of gentleman…… 

How does one pretend to do that?

Even Lin Yuhe, who was always indifferent, also could not help but feel that this was somewhat challenging. However, at this moment, he already had no way out, so he could only make his way to the table slowly.

He nodded his head towards the man. “Mr. Lu.”

Lin Yuhe was mentally prepared for the other party to deign to answer, yet he unexpectedly heard a deep masculine voice.

“Sit.”

The man had a very deep voice, laced with some metallic quality, but mostly indifference as well as unexpected magnetism.

Complying with his words, Lin Yuhe took his seat. The moment he raised his eyes, he met a pair of bottomless pools of darkness.

Like his eyes, Lu Nan’s hair was like strands of the purest ink, so black that no other colors were incorporated. It was as if a black birdlike fog hung heavily in the area, causing others to be unable to refrain from holding their breaths.

Lin Yuhe froze slightly, as he had just come to realize that this man had been watching him ever since he stepped into the restaurant.

It was that sort of intense gaze with a sort of unblinking attention, as though he did not want to miss any moment.

Lin Yuhe could not help feeling uncertain.

Does he look very strange?

Just when he began to have doubts about himself, Lu Nan finally opened his mouth.

With a deep magnetic voice, the man pointed out, “You have to change the way you address me.”

The way I address you?

Lin Yuhe froze for a moment before he thereupon understood.

But of course, they were about to pretend to be a couple, so it was indeed quite strange to address him as Mr. Lu.

Lin Yuhe became aware that he addressed him wrongly, but he was not sure how he should change it. So, he could only ask, “How do you think I should address you?”

Lu Nan watched him with his dark eyes, evoking a sense of feeling in people that there was nowhere one could hide.

He then tapped his fingertips gently on the solid wood table. Even though the sound was not loud, the vibrations gave rise to a faint numb sensation in one’s eardrum.

“At least, it should not be ‘you’1.”

Lin Yuhe was flushing slightly with shame.

The interview had only just begun, and he had already made two mistakes in front of Lu Nan.

On the contrary, Lu Nan did not let him feel embarrassed for long. “You can call me by my name or any other forms of address. It is up to you.”

Lin Yuhe still could not quite decide, as it was too disrespectful to call him directly by his name, and there was no way he could say it out loud. If he were to address him by ‘Brother Nan’…… It sounded and felt like he was calling a gangster. 

Despite their age gap of ten years, Lin Yuhe still thought that it was no way for him to address Lu Nan as ‘Uncle,’ as it felt like he was calling Lu Nan old for no reason.

He hesitated for a moment before attempting to feel out Lu Nan. 

“Big Brother?”

Lu Nan’s expression remained unchanged, but his Adam’s apple bobbed slightly in his throat, as he narrowed his eyes.

Somehow, Lin Yuhe felt that what he found in Lu Nan’s gaze was difficult to discern.

Lu Nan did not express his opinion towards the way Lin Yuhe addressed him, but instead, he asked, “Is this how you usually address others?”

Lin Yuhe found that this man spoke a little more than what he expected, and he was also not as cold and ruthless as the exaggerated rumors described. 

He shook his head and answered honestly, “No, I do not. Generally, I would address them as Senior.”

Lu Nan remained silent, unsure whether he was satisfied with this answer.

Lin Yuhe hesitated again for a moment before he probed, “If I were to address you this way, you…… are you alright with it?”

Finally, Lu Nan nodded his head and answered, “Sure.”

Lin Yuhe heaved a sigh of relief, faintly thinking that his first attempt was promising.

If he were to work harder, who knows, the offer might just be heading his way.

Taking the initiative, Lin Yuhe said, “You can also call me Yuhe, or Xiao He.”

He thought to himself: It is also alright if you were to call me Xiao Lin, hearing this brings me the most reassurance.

Lu Nan did not respond.

Lin Yuhe also did not find it strange. After all, this man was known to be sparing of words. Hence, he merely regarded the other party as having heard it. 

However, after a moment’s silence, Lu Nan asked, “Wasn’t it Ning Ning?”

Lin Yuhe’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

‘Ning Ning’ was a nickname his mom gave him.

Not Wu Xin, but it was his biological mother, who had passed away for nearly ten years.