This was not the first time Ning Zhi hugged Lu Jue except, in the past, she was hugging the young Lu Jue who had a small body with the baby fat and the distinctly milky smell that could only belong to a child.

But now, it was the adult Lu Jue that was in her arms.

Unlike when he was a child, his body was broad, study, and smelled refreshing. With his warm cheek against her neck, Ning Zhi felt that where it came into contact with Lu Jue was about to start burning.

“Would you like some water?” Ning Zhi tightened her lips some. She felt a little thirsty.

Lu Jue nuzzled her on her shoulder. Then, like a restless little bug, he wouldn’t stop wiggling. “Cool, you.”

Did he think that she is cool?

Ning Zhi found that odd. “Lu Jue, how much did you drink?”

Ning Zhi put some food into his bowl but he didn’t seem to like them much and ate very little of them.

Lu Jue was a very picky eater.

At the Lu’s, he had specific chefs that cooked for him. If he didn’t like the dishes, he would rather eat plain rice and still not touch any of the other dishes.

Ning Zhi ate a few bites symbolically and, as the banquet was boring and meaningless, was about to take off with Lu Jue.

Mother Lin noticed Ning Zhi’s impatience and said to her, “Xiao Zhi, don’t take off just yet after dinner. I have something here for you?”

“What is it?” asked Ning Zhi.

When Ning Zhi heard terms such as “fool”, “mentally challenged”, or “mental illness”, her smile remained but her eyes turned cold.

Mother Lin smiled and shook her head. “Oh, child. You are so skinny already. Why do you need to be in a diet?”

Hearing Mother Lin’s affectionate tone toward Ning Zhi, the guest next to them smiled and said, “Mrs. Lin is so doting to her niece.”

Mother Lin said, “Xiao Zhi had been with us for so many years. I treat her the same way I treat Tiantian, my own daughter. Of course I dote on her.”

“Miss Ning is so lucky to have an aunty like you.”

“I heard that you have been developing a new project with Mr. Lu overseas. How is it coming along?” asked Father Lin tentatively.

Lu Shenyuan’s voice was full and his aura cold. He was imposing just sitting there. “Right. That is coming along well. The Lu family has the technology, the talents, and the capital. Expanding into a new area is not much of an issue.”

Father Lin nodded at that.

When he heard that the Lu Enterprise was developing a new project, he was dying to be a part of it. His head, however, was still clear and he knew the difference between his own small company and that of the Lu Corporation.

Ning Zhi couldn’t look away from him.

Board shoulder, narrow waist, and long legs.

And that perfect face. Tsk, everything about this little silly boy was exactly her preference.

Had the man in front of her not be autistic, he would charm many with his look and his family background.

“Let’s go.” Ning Zhi held his hand voluntarily, her fingers interlacing with his.

She even purposefully rubbed his fingers with her soft part of her finger. “There will be a lot of others during dinner. But you don’t need to be afraid. I will be next to you the entire time. If you are unhappy, you just let me know and we will take off, okay?”

Ning Zhi already had his sense of aesthetic figured out. “Alright, this one then.”

Lu Jue didn’t say yes but he didn’t reject the idea either.

Ning Zhi, too, went to change. She purposefully picked out a black gown. She hasn’t had her light skin tone back yet. Picking a light-colored dress would just accentuate her flaw.

She was glad that she exchanged all 5 of the little suns for her halo. She at least looked lighter when she was in black.

Ning Zhi only had the makeup artist applied a light makeup for her.

“Miss Ning, the proportion of your facial features are incredible.” The makeup artist was surprised.

“Xiao Zhi had been keeping Xiao Jue company lately,” said Mother Lu with a smile. “Where did you two go today?”

She was happy to see that Ning Zhi had taken Lu Jue out of the house with her and she was also happy to see Ning Zhi spending time with Lu Jue.

Ning Zhi smiled and said to Mother Lu, “To buy presents. I have promised Lu Jue before.”

The smile on Mother Lu thickened. Even the way she was looking at Ning Zhi became more tender.

“What kind of present?” Mother Lu was curious when she saw the paper bag that her son was carrying.

Ning Zhi blinked and said to Mother Lu, “That’s a secret between Lu Jue and I.”

Lu Jue did not respond.

Ning Zhi changed the subject. “Alright, let’s go get your floral print underwear.”

Lu Jue looked up and glanced quickly over at Ning Zhi. He voice was both deep and melodious. “I buy you.”

I buy for you.

Ning Zhi’s lips curved and she toyed with him purposefully. “You want to buy me? I am pretty pricey.”

Lu Jue kept his lips shut for quite a while before he responded to her slowly. “Ugly. No want.”

Ning Zhi was so angry that she could bite him when she heard that. She didn’t mind that he was a fool but he didn’t like that she was ugly?

She was just about to open up the car door and get out of the car when she saw the old red metal door with peeling paint opened up and a woman in her forties walked out with a trash can in her hand.

Her hair was tied up behind her head and only her round face was showing. Ning Zhi recognized her as Aunty Feng.

She walked over stealthily and emptied out the content of the trash can in front of her neighbor’s place.

Aunty Feng turned around complacently and, the very next second, the neighbor’s door opened up and a short-haired woman middle-aged woman jumped out.

“Feng Fang, stand right there! I finally caught you this time. You shameless thing. Take your garbage back with you.” The middle-aged woman ran up and tugged on Aunty Fang.

Opening her eyes, Ning Zhi recollected herself slowly. She was back.

She looked over at Lu Jue sleeping next to her. He slept very properly, lying down flat on his back. Unless her, she liked to hug the blanket when she slept and she also enjoyed rolling around.

Ning Zhi looked at the time. She had spent days over there this time but only 10 minutes had passed. She did the math and figured that each day that she spent over there was equivalent to 5 minutes.

If she was to spend a month there, it would be 150 minutes in present time.

Ning Zhi felt that as she had no idea how much time she would need each time to save little Lu Jue, going at night was her best option.