Using Marriage as Bait : Extra 16
Extra 16
Jiang Zhouming's ears turned red as he put his clothes back on and said, “Alright, you’ve seen enough. Let’s go and get some food.”
Although she hadn’t quite had her fill of teasing, Lu Wantang wasn’t overly demanding. She relented and asked, “What should we eat?”
“What do you want to eat?”
“Let’s go back to that place you took me to last time for braised pork trotters. I think it was pretty good.”
Meanwhile, Lin Xiyu had been abroad for the past few days attending a calligraphy exchange event. Worried about her family, she flew back as soon as the event was over.
Now that her children were grown, Lin Xiyu, a middle-aged woman, had shed the naivety of youth. Time had imbued her with elegance and poise.
Dressed in a blouse and pencil skirt, her figure was as good as ever. She walked gracefully through the airport hall when a man approached her respectfully and said, “Mrs. Lu, Mr. Lu is waiting at the entrance.”
Recognizing the man as Lu Junting’s assistant, Lin Xiyu found it amusing. Her husband, well into his years, was still trying to surprise her.
Outside the airport, Lu Junting’s car was parked. The assistant helped her with her luggage. As Lin Xiyu opened the car door, she saw her husband sitting inside, holding a bouquet of fresh flowers. He greeted her warmly, “Master Lin, you’ve worked hard.”
Though they’d been married for years, Mr. Lu’s romantic gestures had never waned. Lin Xiyu got into the car, took the flowers, and inhaled their fragrance. “They smell wonderful. Thank you.”
At over forty, Lu Junting had mellowed significantly compared to his younger, sharper self. He now exuded a steady and refined demeanor. Though fine lines marked his face, years of meticulous care made him look handsome still—a charming older man who could easily earn compliments from young women.
“How were things at home while I was away?” Lin Xiyu asked.
“Everything was fine. Our daughter was very well-behaved.”
Lin Xiyu shot him a knowing glance. “I know you too well. Even if she caused trouble, you’d still think she was an angel.”
Lu Junting moved closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Never mind that. Answer me first—did you miss me while you were away?”
Despite their years together, Mr. Lu’s clingy nature hadn’t changed. Always asking if she missed him—it was endearing and exasperating at the same time.
Lin Xiyu lightly punched his shoulder. “Aren’t you embarrassed to be so cheesy at your age?”
“Cheesy or not, I want to know—did you miss me?”
Lin Xiyu couldn’t resist him. “Yes, yes, I missed you terribly.”
Satisfied, he smiled.
Lu Wantang had been eagerly awaiting her mother’s return. As soon as Lin Xiyu stepped through the door, her daughter rushed over and hugged her tightly.
“Mom, I missed you so much!”
Lin Xiyu hugged her back, laughing. “I missed you too.”
Lu Wantang released her and led her to the couch, offering to massage her shoulders with sweet words. “You’ve worked so hard, Mom.”
Enjoying her daughter’s pampering, Lin Xiyu thought, though this girl could drive her up the wall at times, she was mostly a sweet and caring child.
After dinner, Lu Wantang went to her room to video call her brother. Lu Chengmao was studying abroad and only returned during breaks.
Wrapped in a blanket, she sprawled on her bed as the video call connected. Her brother appeared on the screen, wearing headphones and studying in a library.
“It’s ten at night over there. Why aren’t you asleep yet?” he asked.
“I missed you and wanted to video call,” she replied.
“Don’t give me that. You only think of me when you need something,” he retorted.
“Oh, come on, brother. Ever since you left, I’ve been thinking about you all day and night. How could I not seize the chance to see you?”
“Alright, then. Take a good look while I get back to my book. Hang up when you’re done.”
“Wait!” she exclaimed.
“What now?”
Twisting her fingers, she sheepishly said, “You know the anime I like? They just released some new merchandise, but I don’t have enough money. You know how Mom and Dad hate me spending on this stuff, so I’m asking you…”
Her brother’s face showed an expression of “I’ve figured you out.”
“So, what do you want?”
“Could you lend me some money?”
“You still owe me 2,000 from last time.”
“......”
Cornered, she quickly said, “Don’t be so stingy, bro! I’ll pay you back soon. If I don’t buy it now, it’ll sell out.”
After a moment of silence, he relented. “How much?”
Her eyes lit up. “5,000. That’ll be enough.”
“I’ll transfer it later.”
Overjoyed, she practically jumped up. “Thank you, brother! Love you so much!”
“Dial it down. Love me less, or I might not live long enough.”
“Oh, don’t say that! My brother will live a long, healthy life.”
After the call ended, the money arrived shortly. Lu Wantang was ecstatic—having a brother was the best! If her father couldn’t pay for her, her brother could pay for her. She quickly placed her order and, after completing it, happily rolled around on her bed.
She quickly placed her order and, after completing it, happily rolled around on her bed.
She also ordered several cosplay outfits and sent a screenshot of the order to Jiang Zhouming.
Lu Wantang: “Jiang Zhouming, once the clothes arrive, I’ll wear them for you. Get ready to be amazed!”
Jiang Zhouming received the text before bed. He stared at the text message and smiled. It was not bad. At least, there was something worth looking forward to in the near future.
Jiang Zhouming: “Okay.”
The two had attended different high schools but were in the same year. Jiang Zhouming had deliberately repeated a grade in elementary school to be in the same class as Lu Wantang. They’d been classmates from elementary through middle school. Although Lu Wantang had wanted to attend the same high school as him, her parents insisted on sending her to a better school.
On the other hand, Zhang Minmin was in the same class as Lu Wantang from kindergarten to high school. The two also started their friendship in kindergarten by eating a lollipop together.
After class one day, her childhood friend, Zhang Minmin, whispered conspiratorially, “Tangtang, I heard your brother Chengmao is coming home soon?”
Lu Chengmao went to college abroad and would only come back during holidays. In fact, the high school department was already on winter vacation, but Lu Wantang and the others would be seniors next semester and were still making up classes.
“Next week,” she replied.
Zhang Minmin’s eyes sparkled. “Can I come to your house then?”
Knowing her friend had a crush on her brother, Lu Wantang happily agreed. “Sure, come over when he gets back.”
The day her brother returned, Zhang Minmin dressed to impress, donning a dress she’d been saving for a special occasion.
In Lu Wantang’s room, she twirled in front of her friend. “How do I look, Tangtang?”
Lu Wantang gave her a thumbs-up. “Perfect! Absolutely stunning!”
Encouraged, Zhang Minmin felt more confident, hoping Brother Chengmao would find her beautiful too.
Lu Chengmao had called in advance to let them know he’d arrive in the evening. The entire Lu family had been waiting since the afternoon. Zhang Minmin, upon hearing that Lu Chengmao was coming back, made a special visit to the Lu residence. She was close friends with Lu Wantang and often visited, making her almost as familiar with the Lu household as her own.
Even though Tangtang had assured her that her outfit looked great, Zhang Minmin still felt a bit uneasy. Every time she glanced at the door, her fingers would involuntarily fidget.
Lu Chengmao arrived as dusk fell. Now 21 years old, he had inherited his parents' best features and grew up to be exceptionally handsome. Despite his youth, his brows and gaze carried an air of authority that was hard to ignore. A sports enthusiast, he had a tall and well-built physique, and he’d been the subject of countless admirers from a young age.
Lin Xiyu hadn’t seen her son in a long time. The moment she spotted him, she ran over and hugged him. Lu Junting had always been proud of his eldest son, and Lu Chengmao had never disappointed him. Even though Chengmao had grown into a mature man, Lu Junting still stepped forward and embraced him as a father would.
Tangtang, who was always close to her brother, also ran up to hug him.
Zhang Minmin, twisting her fingers nervously, walked over. As a guest, she naturally couldn’t be as close to Lu Chengmao as his family. She greeted him quietly, “Brother Chengmao.”
Lu Chengmao acknowledged her with a nod. “Zhang Minmin, long time no see.”
It was just a simple greeting, but Zhang Minmin was overjoyed. Her face flushed red, and she quickly tried to hide her excitement. “Yes, it’s been a while.”
Before she could say more, another young woman entered the house behind Lu Chengmao. She was around the same age as him, with long, flowing black hair cascading down her back and a strikingly beautiful face.
Zhang Minmin froze at the sight of this girl.
Lu Chengmao introduced her to the group. “This is my classmate. We’re in the same group for a project, and since there’s an important part we haven’t finished yet, she’ll be staying here for a while to work on it with me.”
The family was momentarily stunned, but Lin Xiyu was the first to recover. She quickly welcomed the girl warmly, “Come in, make yourself at home.”
The girl greeted everyone politely, her demeanor sweet and well-mannered.
Lu Wantang noticed that Zhang Minmin’s expression didn’t look good and that she was distracted during dinner. Although Lu Chengmao had introduced the girl as just his classmate, the fact that he brought a female classmate home suggested they shared a special relationship. Furthermore, the girl was poised and easily engaged in conversation with the elders, which only deepened Zhang Minmin’s low spirits.
Originally planning to spend the night at the Lu residence with Lu Wantang, Zhang Minmin decided to leave after dinner. Despite Lu Wantang’s repeated attempts to persuade her to stay, she insisted on going.
Later that night, as expected, Zhang Minmin video-called Lu Wantang before bed. Lu Wantang wasn’t surprised; she knew her friend wouldn’t be able to sleep.
“Tangtang, are you sure that girl isn’t Brother Chengmao’s girlfriend?”
“If she were, my brother would’ve said so directly. He wouldn’t have called her his classmate.”
“But if she’s just a classmate, why would he bring her home?”
“My brother already explained it—something about finishing a project.”
Still uneasy, Zhang Minmin sighed. Lu Wantang comforted her, “How about I keep an eye on them for you? If there’s really something going on, it’ll come out sooner or later.”
“Okay.”
Lu Wantang had supplementary classes and wasn’t home often. However, whenever she was, she would find excuses to check on her brother’s room—delivering tea or snacks, for instance.
Each time she went in, Lu Chengmao and the girl were focused on their work, showing no signs of anything inappropriate.
Lu Wantang shared her findings with Zhang Minmin, but her friend still felt a bit downhearted. Not wanting to see her friend in such low spirits every day, Lu Wantang suggested going out for some fun that weekend.
The high school had supplementary classes, but only until Saturday morning. The rest of Saturday and Sunday were free.
“Where should we go?” Zhang Minmin asked.
Lu Wantang thought for a moment. “Let’s go to Absolute.”
Absolute was a bar. Lu Wantang knew about it because Jiang Zhouming loved hanging out there. The bar was owned by the Jiang family and served as Jiang Zhouming’s base of operations. It was a relatively safe place for them to visit.
Although Lu Wantang and Zhang Minmin were underage, they easily got in with Jiang Zhouming’s backing.
What Lu Wantang didn’t expect was to run into her brother there.
As the owner of Absolute, Jiang Zhouming didn’t manage the bar directly but held absolute authority there. He enjoyed sitting in the spacious main hall with his crew nearby. The seats around him were empty; no one dared to sit too close.
A woman in a short skirt, swaying her hips, approached with a glass of wine. She sat boldly beside Jiang Zhouming and raised her glass to him with a smile. “Brother Zhou, a toast to you.”
The woman worked at the bar and knew Jiang Zhouming was the boss. Absolute only hired women with good looks and figures, and this woman seemed confident enough to make such a move.
Jiang Zhouming turned his head to glance at her, but as he did, he spotted someone walking in. Lu Wantang had called him before arriving, so he had someone waiting at the door to escort her inside.
The moment Lu Wantang walked in, she saw the scene—a curvaceous woman in a tight dress sitting close to Jiang Zhouming, her chest almost pressing against his arm.
The sight made Lu Wantang uncomfortable. She had a peculiar sense of possessiveness toward Jiang Zhouming. Though they had grown up as friends, she couldn’t stand seeing other women get close to him.
She walked over and casually sat on his other side, teasing, “Brother Zhou, someone’s flirting with you again?”
Jiang Zhouming chuckled, his eyes softening as he smiled. However, when he turned to the woman beside him, his expression hardened.
“Are you new here?”
The woman stiffened. She had thought her beauty would earn her some favor, but his tone was far from polite.
“Yes, I’m new here.”
“No wonder…” Jiang Zhouming dragged out his words, his tone laced with an icy chill. “So you don’t understand the rules.”
The woman shivered. The manager overseeing the bar, Absolute, was startled by the scene and quickly approached, smiling nervously as he pulled the woman away.
“Teach her the rules before letting her return to work.”
Jiang Zhouming's voice was lazy, but every word carried a clear warning. The manager nodded repeatedly, bowing. “Yes, yes, boss.”
After handling the situation, Jiang Zhouming finally turned his attention to Lu Wantang and her friend. “What brings you to my place all of a sudden?”
“It's the weekend, so we came to relax,” Lu Wantang replied, looping her arm through his. “Get us some drinks, won't you?”
She batted her eyes at him. Whenever she wanted something, she'd always add a bit of coquettishness to her request, knowing Jiang Zhouming usually gave in. But this time was different.
“Minors can’t drink alcohol,” he said firmly.
Lu Wantang pouted, scoffing. “Then how come you can drink?”
“I'm an adult.”
“......”
Jiang Zhouming had repeated a grade; otherwise, he would have graduated high school this year.
Leaning back on the sofa, Lu Wantang grumbled, “So boring.”
Her sulky demeanor amused Jiang Zhouming, though he still didn’t relent. Instead, he ordered someone to bring them two cans of soda.
Since Jiang Zhouming refused to give them alcohol, Lu Wantang obediently sipped on her soda. Halfway through, Jiang Zhouming stepped away to take a phone call. This was Zhang Minmin’s first time in a place like this, and she felt uneasy. Clinging tightly to Lu Wantang’s hand, she whispered, “Tangtang, what if we run into a teacher here?”
Lu Wantang tapped her forehead lightly. “What nonsense are you thinking?”
“I'm just scared…”
Scanning the room but not spotting Jiang Zhouming, Lu Wantang leaned closer to her friend and said quietly, “Sit here for a bit.”
“Huh? Where are you going?”
“Don't worry, I’ll be right back.”
“Tangtang…”
The bar was crowded, and within moments, Lu Wantang had vanished into the throng.
She found Jiang Zhouming upstairs, standing at the staircase landing with a phone pressed to his ear. Not wanting to disturb him, she rested her hands casually on the railing, waiting for him to finish.
Jiang Zhouming quickly noticed her presence. Wrapping up his call in a hurry, he asked, “What are you doing up here?”
Lu Wantang didn’t answer directly, instead fixing him with a teasing, almost mischievous smile before posing an unrelated question.
“Jiang Zhouming, do you like big boobs?”
Jiang Zhouming: “...”
His expression was a mix of bewilderment and disbelief. “What nonsense are you spouting now?”
“Do you like big boobs or not?”
“No.”
“Then you must like small ones?”
“Why are you asking me such ridiculous questions?”
“Just answer me—do you like small boobs?”
Jiang Zhouming’s gaze flickered over her, pausing briefly at her chest. Turning his head to the side, he replied with a deadpan expression, “Yeah, I do.”
Lu Wantang burst into laughter, her voice clear and melodious. “Well, what a coincidence! Mine aren’t big.”
Jiang Zhouming: “...”
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