Since we are both reborn, of course I would choose the rich woman!

Chapter 287 Lü Yao: Am I lucky? (6k subscriptions!!)

Contrast is a very advanced skill, and it's not limited to those female bloggers and internet celebrities on short videos who suddenly strike seductive poses and get all worked up.

It can be reflected in every aspect of life.

Even in drama, people are keen to see traitors die for loyalty, unfaithful people die for love, travelers die on their way home, pious people die for their faith, and tyrants die when they have nothing... Every contrast can evoke people's instinctive and endless emotions.

Therefore, the impulsiveness of a reckless person is worthless, while the impulsiveness of a rational and calm person can move people's hearts.

When someone as shrewd and calculating as Lü Yao, who is usually calm and collected, starts to act impulsively, even a woman like Jian Xiaojie, who is used to sweet talk and vows of eternal love, can't help but be moved.

The emotions between people are built up in such moments.

An endless silence still permeated the yacht's cabin, and Jian Xiaojie stood there as if frozen in place for a long, long time.

It wasn't until Lü Yao raised his hand and tugged at the towel on his head that Jian Xiaojie suddenly withdrew her hand as if she had been electrocuted, and even subconsciously took a step back. It was a kind of... lingering fear instinct after being bitten by a snake.

But Lu Yao didn't grab her hand; he just pulled on the towel and started to lift his head.

After Lü Yao took the towel off his head, he turned to look behind him and asked in surprise, "What's wrong with you?"

Jian Xiaojie panicked for a moment, her eyes instinctively darting away as she said, "No, nothing."

Lu Yao took a deep breath through his nose, feeling a bit stuffy: "Damn, is it that effective? It's given me a cold already?"

Just as Lü Yao was sitting on the sofa feeling a bit down, Jian Xiaojie quietly came over and opened her arms, hugging Lü Yao from behind the sofa.

Jian Xiaojie's embrace was very large and deep, almost burying Lü Yao entirely in it.

As a result, Lü Yao's breathing became somewhat difficult.

Lu Yao struggled to stick his head out: "You're hugging me too tightly... Ugh!!"

His words were completely cut off by Jian Xiaojie's lips, followed by Jian Xiaojie's raging invasion. The flames emanating from Jian Xiaojie, filled with impure intent, almost completely stole the air that Lü Yao could breathe through his mouth and nose.

Lu Yao tried to push Jian Xiaojie, but what he felt was Jian Xiaojie's almost unyielding fighting spirit.

Tonight, Jian Xiaojie seemed even more determined and surging in her fighting spirit than before when playing cards. Her moves were so skillful that it was as if she had read Sun Tzu's Art of War, making it difficult for even a card master like Lü Yao to defend against her.

Jian Xiaojie was acting very strangely tonight, to the point that Lü Yao didn't know how to deal with it.

Lü Yao knew that some of the things he had done might have touched Jian Xiaojie, but he hadn't expected things to turn out this way.

Fortunately, Lü Yao was no pushover either.

After holding out for a long time, she was finally defeated by Jian Xiaojie, whose fighting power was off the charts.

The yachts moored at Jiangwan Wharf finally stopped rocking, and ripples spread in all directions in the thick, inky night before finally settling into stillness.

Just like Jian Xiaojie, who was lying on Lü Yao at that moment.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Jian Xiaojie remained silent, relentlessly pressuring Lü Yao to deliver her blows. Even though Lü Yao had been completely defeated by her, she still didn't utter a single word.

In the cabin filled with an ambiguous atmosphere, the silence and solemnity emanating from Jian Xiaojie left Lü Yao speechless. So he could only reach out and gently embrace Jian Xiaojie, who was pressing down on him.

The warm, strong arms were like a gentle rope, encircling Jian Xiaojie.

Gradually.

Lu Yao felt a fine, cool tear slide down his neck...

This stumped Lü Yao.

After a moment of hesitation, Lü Yao didn't move, but simply hugged Jian Xiaojie even tighter.

Only after the tears on Lü Yao's neck had dried did Jian Xiaojie prop herself up on her arms and get up. Then, she casually stood up and stretched, her outstretched figure attracting Lü Yao's attention. Then, Jian Xiaojie turned around and went into the yacht's bathroom: "I'm going to take a shower."

Lü Yao smiled.

I never expected Jian Xiaojie to have so many little tricks up her sleeve.

After the sound of showering came from the yacht's shower room, Lü Yao followed and took a shower with Jian Xiaojie.

The yacht wasn't small, but the shower room was still not spacious enough, so much so that the distance between Lü Yao and Jian Xiaojie as they squeezed in became increasingly ambiguous with their movements. If Lü Yao hadn't felt that he was about to catch a cold, the yacht would definitely have started rocking again.

After Lü Yao finished showering and came out wrapped in a towel, Jian Xiaojie followed behind and leaned against the shower door, saying with a hint of resentment, "Isn't that a bit irresponsible of you?"

Lu Yao's nasal congestion worsened, and he even felt like he had a fever: "What did your friends say before they left? I feel a little unwell."

Jian Xiaojie sat down on the sofa and opened her arms: "Come quickly into your big sister's arms~"

Lü Yao didn't stand on ceremony and nestled into Jian Xiaojie's arms.

As his nasal congestion worsened, Lü Yao felt his condition deteriorating. His entire back of the head felt a stinging and pricking sensation, like after choking on water. Seeing Lü Yao's worsening condition, Jian Xiaojie couldn't help but hug him even tighter.

She scolded him playfully, "Aren't you stupid! It's so cold, Jiang Wan, you just jump like that?"

Although Lü Yao was in very poor condition, his mind was not confused. He laughed and said, "Oh no, Sister Jian, you can't possibly straighten me out, can you?"

Jian Xiaojie laughed in exasperation: "I can't be defined by being curved or straight. If I had to say, I'm a fishhook, both curved and straight."

Although neither of them mentioned Wang Shu's matter, Lü Yao could sense that the knot and frustration that had been weighing on Jian Xiaojie's heart had been untied, which made Lü Yao breathe a sigh of relief.

When Jian Xiaojie felt Lü Yao's body temperature rising in her arms, she became anxious: "That's strange, let's go to the hospital!"

Lü Yao originally didn't want to go.

It was just a cold caused by a sudden chill. Even if he went to the hospital for a check-up and an IV drip, it wouldn't matter. But Jian Xiaojie didn't give Lü Yao a chance to resist. After helping Lü Yao change his clothes, she took him directly to the hospital.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Lü Yao described his symptoms, and the hospital treated him for a cold.

But by the next day, Lü Yao's high fever had worsened, remaining above 38.5 degrees Celsius. The man, who had been relatively lucid, began to become increasingly confused, and his cough intensified. Jian Xiaojie, who had been taking care of him in the VIP ward of the hospital all night, sensed something was wrong and immediately sought a doctor for a re-examination.

After a series of tests and procedures, Lü Yao was diagnosed with mild pneumonia.

After the treatment was changed to a more targeted approach, Lü Yao's condition gradually stabilized.

Jian Xiaojie sent the news of Lü Yao's hospitalization to their group chat, and by the afternoon, Wang Shu, Rong Nianqing, Gan Xiaoxi, Cheng Xinyu, Zhou Bella, Zhu Junyan, Zhou Xiangyang, and even Zhu Junyan's older brothers had come.

Illness is the best opportunity to bring people closer together, so anyone who is close to Lü Yao comes to check on him and offer their condolences after hearing the news.

Lu Yao's hospital room was almost overflowing with various flowers and fruit baskets.

This was the first time Lü Yao had received such treatment since returning from studying abroad in the future.

However, when everyone asked Lu Yao about his illness, he felt a little embarrassed. Fortunately, he was already good at lying calmly, so no one suspected the reason for his illness.

Besides those close to me, there were also local chambers of commerce in Shangnan, and even chambers of commerce from other places. For example, Liang Yilan, President Shang, and even President Lei all called to express their condolences.

Upon learning of this, Zhang Xiaonan, who was in Beijing, went to great lengths to take a flight that same day to come over.

For a moment, Lü Yao's ward was bustling like a banquet party.

It wasn't until the third day after Lu Yao was hospitalized that things gradually quieted down around him. Wang Shurong, Nian Qing, and the others finally came and had time to spend some quality time with Lu Yao.

Rong Nianqing was very busy with many things, so she left the hospital shortly.

On the afternoon of the third day, only Wang Shu and Jian Xiaojie remained in the ward. Wang Shu remained suspicious of the cause of Lü Yao's illness, so once everyone else was in the room, Wang Shu asked curiously, "How did you get pneumonia?"

Lü Yao: "I've been too busy lately, and I've probably been smoking too much. Plus, the weather is getting colder and my immunity has dropped, so this is what happened."

Wang Shu stared at Lü Yao quietly, his eyes seeming to say, "You can fool others, but can you fool me? Besides, you shouldn't have lied to me."

The atmosphere in the ward suddenly became tense.

Just as Jian Xiaojie was about to say something, Lü Yao spoke up first: "That's really the reason. It's just that we were exposed to the cold wind by the river for a while." As he spoke, Lü Yao grabbed Wang Shu's hand and comforted him with a smile: "It's okay, it's just mild pneumonia, nothing serious."

Mild pneumonia caused by the normal seasonal change can often be treated as a common cold. Lu Yao has also undergone a comprehensive examination at the hospital, and there are no major problems. He should be able to recover and be discharged in a few days.

Seeing Lü Yao's insistence, Wang Shu stopped pursuing the matter and instead said, "You should smoke less. I'm not trying to control you, but you know our plan; I can't take care of your health all by myself."

"It'll only be for a short time, okay?"

Wang Shu looked at Lü Yao very seriously.

Upon hearing this, Jian Xiaojie unconsciously turned around and went to the window of the ward. For some reason, she really wanted to smoke a cigarette in the ward. Yes, she wanted Lü Yao and Wang Shu to be exposed to secondhand smoke as well.

but……

In the end, she only thought about it.

Under Wang Shu's tender gaze, Lü Yao had almost no resistance and had no choice but to agree.

Afterwards, Wang Shu gave some other instructions on what to pay attention to in daily life. Then, Wang Shu stood up to leave. However, before leaving, she looked at Jian Xiaojie by the window of the ward and smiled, "Xiaojie, let's go downstairs and sit for a while. We've all been busy lately, and it's been a long time since we've gotten together."

Jian Xiaojie paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay."

Wang Shu took Jian Xiaojie's hand, then turned to Lü Yao and smiled, "You should rest well. Let's go downstairs first."

Lü Yao waved his hand: "Go."

It wasn't until a minute or two after Wang Shu and Jian Xiaojie left the ward that Lü Yao finally couldn't suppress his violent coughing. He had wanted to cough for a while, but he had held it in because he didn't want Wang Shu to worry.

So Lü Yao didn't get to cough properly until Wang Shu left.

……

After leaving the hospital, Wang Shu and Jian Xiaojie got into Wang Shu's newly purchased Mercedes-Benz GLC. They chatted and laughed all the way, and soon arrived at a coffee shop. Because he needed to rest, Wang Shu ordered himself a pot of honey grapefruit water and Jian Xiaojie a cup of her favorite double espresso.

After the two of them sat down and had some free time, Wang Shu turned his head and thought for a moment before saying, "I want to apologize to you, Xiaojie."

Jian Xiaojie paused for a moment, then grinned and said, "Why are you talking about this?"

Wang Shu leaned forward and gently took Jian Xiaojie's hand: "I know how you feel about me, a feeling that is completely different from others, so I accept your feelings and treat you with my whole heart without reservation. But you know, I'm not really part of your circle."

Jian Xiaojie looked away as if she had been burned, and even tried to pull her hand back from Wang Shu's grasp.

She didn't want to hear those words!

But Wang Shu held her hand tightly: "Originally, I could have continued to walk with you like this forever. But then I met Lü Yao... You don't dislike him, do you? You even get along very well with him."

Jian Xiaojie fell silent.

If it were before Lü Yao came to see her that night, Jian Xiaojie would definitely have blurted out, "How can that be the same?"

We used to just play around, but now that guy Lü Yao has cheated on me.

But now, Jian Xiaojie finds herself unable to say those words anymore.

What happened that night truly changed Jian Xiaojie.

The unfathomable silence that night was the best proof.

And when he was playing cards with Lü Yao, the sense of satisfaction that came from the deepest part of his heart, unlike anything he had ever felt before, became the most powerful proof of his feelings.

Wang Shu stood up, went to Jian Xiaojie's side, put his arm around her, and said earnestly, "Don't worry, I won't leave. I'll always be by your side. I'm much older than you, and much older than Lü Yao, so the time I can spend with him is limited."

As he spoke, Wang Shu couldn't help but touch his face.

Her face is very well maintained thanks to years of care and maintenance. In order to maintain her youthful appearance, Wang Shu also often goes out with young people with Jian Xiaojie, so there are hardly any signs of aging on her body.

Wang Shu's rosy complexion and vibrant spirit were better than many of the girls in Class 25 or 26 who had a strong sense of class.

Even standing next to a group of beautifully dressed, youthful, and fashionable women, Wang Shu is not at all intimidated. She is like another Xu Qing, always looking incredibly good.

Even so, Wang Shu understood.

Is there any woman in the world who never ages?

No matter how well she takes care of herself, how long can she last? One day, she will no longer be able to stand by Lü Yao's side.

But Jian Xiaojie is different.

Wang Shu's eyes fell on Jian Xiaojie with tenderness yet complexity: "You are much younger than me, and not much older than Lü Yao. You are the one who can stay by his side forever. He is no ordinary person either; he will eventually stir up trouble."

"When that day comes, you'll be standing next to him, and you'll look like a perfect match."

Jian Xiaojie felt extremely uncomfortable: "What are you talking about?"

Wang Shu smiled and said, "The road I can accompany him on is limited; I entrust his future to you."

Jian Xiaojie instinctively resisted: "I'm not a mother hen, you should do this kind of thing."

Wang Shu smiled and said, "Don't you have any feelings for Lü Yao? Of course, I'm not saying I want you two to become a couple in the future. I just hope you can help me go with him for a while. He will need you by his side in the future."

Even close business partners or female companions on important occasions are acceptable, and it's not just Lü Yao who needs Jian Xiaojie; Jian Xiaojie also needs Lü Yao.

So Wang Shu held Jian Xiaojie's hand and said earnestly, "If you join forces and support each other, you can go further."

Jian Xiaojie couldn't help but roll her eyes slightly.

She asked, "And what about you? The way you spoke today was so unlucky."

Wang Shu laughed and said, "After I get pregnant and give birth, I will focus on taking care of the child. I'm different from you guys; I really love children."

Wang Shu's face was beaming with happiness as she talked about something that was still far from being finalized.

Seeing Wang Shu's hopeful expression, the last trace of resentment in Jian Xiaojie's heart vanished.

It wasn't that she had suddenly become magnanimous, but seeing Wang Shu's expectant and happy expression, Jian Xiaojie no longer had the strength to resist this situation.

Actually, her distress is very easy to understand.

It's like a lesbian couple who have known each other for many years, but one day, one of them can't resist the pressure from her family to get married and finally chooses to find a man to marry and have children... Even if she promises to stay with you in the future, you will still feel sad.

To avoid that day, Jian Xiaojie even became a card-playing buddy with Lü Yao, along with Wang Shu.

Although exchanging card skills with Lü Yao was indeed a great experience, Jian Xiaojie was always just going through the motions and never really put her heart into it.

Until this time...

Looking back now, Wang Shu and Lü Yao were nothing short of a calamity in her life.

Jian Xiaojie felt that the maternal radiance emanating from Wang Shu was almost blinding her, so she quickly said, "Okay, okay, I know, don't worry."

As she spoke, she solemnly assured, "I promise."

Jian Xiaojie's assurance was quite effective, and Wang Shu followed suit with a relieved and happy smile.

But in the blink of an eye, Jian Xiaojie's expression turned playful and mischievous: "So, shouldn't you make it up to me properly recently?"

As she spoke, Jian Xiaojie lifted Wang Shu's chin, her originally gloomy expression becoming as charming as the evening breeze in the south: "It's perfect timing to let me experience this again while you're recuperating."

Wang Shu's face turned red instantly: "Stop fooling around, I have things to do later."

This time, Jian Xiaojie held Wang Shu's hand tightly: "There's no rush. You're too anxious... I think your car is quite spacious."

"you…"

But before Wang Shu could finish speaking, Jian Xiaojie sealed his words with her lips: "You can't refuse."

After saying that, she grabbed Wang Shu and left.

It wasn't until it was completely dark that Jian Xiaojie parted ways with Wang Shu, and then went to the hospital with a feeling of ease, joy, and satisfaction.

Before she could even open the door to Lü Yao's ward, Jian Xiaojie could vaguely hear coughing coming from inside.

Jian Xiaojie pushed the door open and went in: "Why are you coughing so badly? Should I call a doctor?"

Lu Yao put down the water he was drinking to soothe his throat: "No need, it's not a big deal. I think I really need to quit smoking, this cough is too uncomfortable."

Jian Xiaojie nodded in agreement, saying, "It's time to quit, otherwise it might really affect the child. I've already talked to Sister Shu about it; I'll be the child's godmother in the future... wait, that sounds weird. How about godmother?"

Lü Yao laughed so hard he started coughing: "How come I think my godmother is even stranger?"

Jian Xiaojie: "Ugh, so annoying, but it doesn't matter. You can call me Second Aunt if you want. Do you think it will be a boy or a girl? A boy would actually be better, otherwise I think that woman Li Rongzhen would be too arrogant."

"But I prefer girls' clothes. I'll buy her little dresses and build her a big castle house!"

Listening to Jian Xiaojie's self-talk, Lü Yao was a little stunned. What had she been doing when she went out? Why did she suddenly seem like a different person? She was even starting to fantasize about Wang Shu's future child.

And why are you getting so excited about someone having a baby?

Lu Yao asked in bewilderment, "Who are you? Are you possessed?"

Jian Xiaojie rolled her eyes at Lü Yao: "You're not happy that I'm spoiling you, are you?"

"Of course I'd love to!" Lü Yao said very seriously.

Lu Yao had no experience as a father, and because he had returned from studying abroad, he was surrounded by many women. This complicated environment made him unsure of how to be a good father. Moreover, Lu Yao had never had a good role model growing up.

Therefore, he genuinely felt that Wang Shu's decision was somewhat hasty, and he could only learn as he went.

Seeing Lü Yao's expression, Jian Xiaojie couldn't help but feel a little angry: "You're really lucky. Sister Shu is so fond of you, and Miss Hu from Hangzhou is also so fond of you. Even Li Rongzhen is willing to have your child."

Lu Yao's smile became complicated: "Am I lucky?"

Jian Xiaojie retorted, "Isn't this good enough?"

Without waiting for Lü Yao's reply, Jian Xiaojie asked, "Speaking of which, what was Miss Hu from Hangzhou's reaction when she found out about these things?"

Recalling Hu Xiaoyu's various actions, Lü Yao couldn't help but scratch his head: "It's very strange."

Jian Xiaojie took out a cigarette from her bag, but put it back as soon as she did: "People who study art are all hard to deal with. I don't understand what she's insisting on." As she spoke, Jian Xiaojie even tilted her head and stared at Lü Yao, puzzled: "What's so good about you?"

This sounds like a question, or perhaps a self-examination.

However, Lü Yao didn't engage in such a profound topic, and instead laughed, "Maybe it's better for me to use it."

Jian Xiaojie snorted coldly: "You used it on Miss Hu?"

Lu Yao shook his head: "Not yet, maybe she figured it out."

Is this something that can be observed?

Look at you, you big-headed ghost!
Jian Xiaojie changed the subject: "You and Sister Shu are planning to have a baby. Aren't you going to New Zealand with Sister Shu this Chinese New Year?"

Lu Yao shook his head: "I promised Miss Hu that I would spend the New Year with her this year."

(End of this chapter)