162: Forcefully kissing Chen Mengyao!!

Lu Chen looked at the young girl, who was still tense and resembled a startled bird, and said in an increasingly gentle voice, "It's alright, it's alright. I didn't mean to blame you."

His voice was so soft, as if he feared disturbing the dust in the air, and his eyes were filled with an unprecedented warmth and indulgence.

Chen Mengyao looked at Lu Chen, who was still dreamily gentle, and became even more bewildered.

Something was wrong, terribly wrong... What was wrong with Lu Chen today? Why was he so gentle? It was completely out of character.

Chen Mengyao's thoughts began to race uncontrollably. Could it be because he was going to dismiss her?

All sorts of terrifying thoughts flashed through her mind.

At this thought, Mengyao's face instantly turned ashen, and her already tense small hands unconsciously clutched the corner of her clothes.

She looked up at Lu Chen, her eyes filled with fear and caution, and stammered, "Mr. Lu, are you... are you planning to dismiss me?"

This question left Lu Chen bewildered. He looked utterly astonished, completely unable to understand why the young girl would think that.

He frowned slightly and counter-questioned, "You're doing so well, why would I dismiss you?"

Upon hearing Lu Chen's words, Chen Mengyao's heart finally settled down a little, as if the heart that had been suspended in her throat had at last returned to her chest.

She let out a soft sigh, and the tension on her face eased slightly.

Lu Chen scanned the laundry room, seemingly searching for something, then asked, "Where is Xun Xiaoxiao? I haven't seen her. How dare she slack off? It seems she wants to be punished."

Lu Chen's eyes turned cold, and a hundred and eight ways to punish her instantly came to his mind.

Chen Mengyao gasped, as if startled, then quickly waved her hands, hastily saying, "No, no, it's not like that. I thought it was too late, so I let her go rest."

Her words came out quickly, as if she was afraid Lu Chen would misunderstand Xun Xiaoxiao, and her face was filled with anxiety.

Lu Chen nodded in understanding, saying, "So that's how it is."

Chen Mengyao nodded vigorously.

After saying this, the two suddenly fell into silence.

The laundry room was so quiet that only the ticking of the wall clock could be heard, as if time itself had stopped at that moment.

Chen Mengyao lowered her head, not knowing what to say, her fingers nervously intertwined.

"May I ask you a question?" Lu Chen suddenly broke the slightly awkward silence, asking softly.

Chen Mengyao was slightly startled, then quickly nodded like a pecking chick, and softly said, "Okay."

"Do you like me?" Lu Chen asked with a smile, his gaze fixed on Chen Mengyao.

Upon hearing Lu Chen's direct words, Chen Mengyao's face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple, as if it could drip blood.

She lowered her head, her lips slightly parted, as if she wanted to say something but didn't know how to begin.

Chen Mengyao blinked nervously, her emotions a tangled mess, too complex to describe.

She felt that she should like Lu Chen.

However, there were too many women around Lu Chen, and she wasn't sure if Lu Chen liked her.

This uncertainty was like a heavy stone, pressing down on her, making her feel anxious and afraid.

At this moment, Chen Mengyao remembered what her mother had told her.

In fact, she understood that her mother was right; she and Lu Chen were from two completely different worlds.

Lu Chen was high above, while she was as humble as dust, just like the story of Cinderella and the prince.

But she knew that was just a fairy tale; she wasn't Cinderella, and Lu Chen might not be her prince.

At least, not her prince.

Chen Mengyao fell into deep thought, her mind churning with emotions.

And Lu Chen was in no hurry at all, just quietly watching her.

Just as Chen Mengyao opened her mouth to say something, she suddenly caught a faint scent.

It was the scent of a woman's perfume, subtle yet clearly detectable.

The words Chen Mengyao was about to say were instantly swallowed back, her lips tightly pursed, locking all her words and emotions inside.

A trace of sadness flashed in her eyes, like brilliant stars suddenly obscured by dark clouds.

It seemed Lu Chen had just been with another girl... At this thought, Chen Mengyao's expression became even more complex, like a spilled five-flavor bottle, with sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty flavors rushing to her heart all at once.

Her lips were tightly pressed together; she neither said she liked him nor disliked him, just sat there silently with her head bowed.

Lu Chen looked at her like this, the corners of his mouth curving slightly into a meaningful smile.

Lu Chen slowly squatted down, meeting Chen Mengyao's gaze.

He gently raised his hand, wanting to touch Chen Mengyao's cheek, but stopped midway, as if afraid of startling the frightened fawn before him.

"Mengyao, don't overthink it," his voice was as soft as a breeze, "I know I've been negligent lately."

Chen Mengyao slowly looked up, a hint of surprise and confusion in her eyes, looking at Lu Chen.

She hadn't expected Lu Chen to suddenly say such words, and the small flame in her heart, which had almost been extinguished, seemed to be gently stirred again, showing signs of rekindling.

Lu Chen looked into Chen Mengyao's eyes and said earnestly, "You are different from them in my heart. It's just that I... didn't handle things well before, and I made you suffer."

Chen Mengyao bit her lip, a thin mist forming in her eyes, and said with a slight tremor in her voice, "Mr. Lu, what... what do you mean by that...?"

Lu Chen smiled faintly, said nothing, and expressed himself directly through action.

He leaned slightly forward, and under Chen Mengyao's shocked and terrified gaze, he directly kissed the young girl's cool, fragrant, and sweet cherry lips.