Chapter 69 Amateurs Pecking at Each Other

The banquet hall glittered with lights, filled with laughter and chatter.

But Lu Er felt restless, as if the velvet chair beneath him were covered in invisible thorns.

His mind kept circling one thought—what if Gu Jinzhou used some trick to lure Song Jingmo into bed?

Just the possibility made his blood rush to his head, leaving him unable to sit still.

He stole a glance at Yan Huaijin, who was politely chatting with others beside him. Taking advantage of the moment, Lu Er slipped away from the noisy banquet hall.

As soon as he stepped outside, a cool breeze mixed with the faint scent of tobacco drifted over.

Focusing his gaze, Lu Er first felt his heart loosen in relief—then tighten again with an inexplicable surge of anger.

In the corner of the open terrace not far away, Song Jingmo and Gu Jinzhou were indeed together.

Leaning against the railing, both had cigarettes between their fingers.

Through the swirling smoke, Gu Jinzhou was saying something with a smile on his face.

Song Jingmo listened, his expression calm, but his posture made it look like they were having a pleasant conversation.

The tension in Lu Er’s chest eased—they were safe.

But the sight of the two of them getting along so well made a strange fire flare up inside him, burning and suffocating his chest.

Back in school, he had been close to Chu Mian and Jiang Sheng—skipping classes, getting into fights, even trying to smoke and coughing until tears streamed down his face.

When Song Jingmo had caught him, his expression had turned cold and disappointed: “Chu Mian and Jiang Sheng skip classes, fight, and smoke. Stay away from them.”

But now?

Gu Jinzhou had a messy private life, indiscriminate with men and women alike. Yet Song Jingmo could stand there with him like a close brother, smoking and chatting.

What a double standard.

Judging by how familiar they looked, what next—throwing arms around each other’s shoulders and heading off together to pick up young models?

Gu Jinzhou raised an eyebrow and smiled, lifting the cigarette pack in his hand. “Top star Lu, out for some air? Want one?”

Suppressing his irritation, Lu Er refused coldly, “No. I don’t smoke.”

Gu Jinzhou let out a mocking chuckle. “Oh, I forgot.”

“Best Actor Yan is famous in the industry for his old-school discipline and clean lifestyle. He’s the one keeping you in line, not letting you smoke, right?”

Lu Er didn’t respond. He simply pressed his lips together, his gaze drifting toward Song Jingmo.

Song Jingmo was looking at him too—his eyes calm, unreadable.

At that moment, a gust of night wind carried the faint smell of tobacco.

Lu Er’s throat, sensitive to the smoke, tightened and he coughed softly, his eyes watering slightly.

The instant the cough sounded, Song Jingmo—who had shown little reaction until now—quickly stubbed out his cigarette against the nearby trash can.

That small action brushed lightly against Lu Er’s heart like a feather, strangely calming the turmoil inside him.

Clearing his throat, Lu Er asked, “Are you waiting to go back with Aunt Qu?”

Song Jingmo lifted his gaze, noticing the slight redness at the corners of Lu Er’s eyes. His voice was a little hoarse. “No. She’s staying somewhere else. I’m at the hotel alone.”

Hearing that, the bit of anger Lu Er had just suppressed flared up again, mixed with an unexplainable tension.

Then he glanced at Gu Jinzhou, who looked like he was eager to stick close, and his discomfort peaked.

Unable to hold back, he blurted out—his tone edged with urgency and possessiveness he didn’t even realize: “Then… do you want to go back to the hotel together?”

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted it. It sounded too deliberate.

Before Song Jingmo could reply, Gu Jinzhou cut in with a suggestive smile.

“It’s only ten. Going back to stare at your phone? We’ve already made plans to find somewhere to relax.”

Seeing Lu Er’s expression darken, Gu Jinzhou grew even more pleased, lowering his voice into a tone every man understood.

“Want to join us? Polish girls—blonde, blue-eyed, incredible bodies. Totally different experience.”

That comment was like lighting a fuse.

Lu Er exploded instantly, his voice rising as he rebuked him righteously: “Prostitution, gambling, and drugs are illegal! As a public figure, you’re breaking the law knowingly? It’s people like you who ruin the entertainment industry!”

Gu Jinzhou burst out laughing at his sudden sense of justice. “Oh please, this is Poland.”

“It’s legal here—clearly priced, and they don’t even pay taxes. Get it?”

That only added fuel to the fire. Lu Er’s face turned red with anger, and he snapped without thinking: “Aren’t you afraid of getting a disease?!”

Then he turned sharply to Song Jingmo, his tone almost childishly threatening: “If you dare go to a place like that with him, I’ll tell Aunt Qu!”

Gu Jinzhou froze for a second, then burst into laughter. “Hahaha, how old are you? Still tattling?”

“Doctor Song is a grown man—doesn’t he even have that much freedom? You’re way too childish.”

Lu Er’s face flushed instantly, embarrassed and furious, but he couldn’t find the words to argue back.

He could only puff out his cheeks like an angry pufferfish.

At that moment, the banquet hall doors opened again, and Yan Huaijin stepped out.

Noticing that Lu Er had been gone for a while, he had come to look for him. Seeing the tense atmosphere among the three on the terrace, he paused briefly before walking over calmly.

Still fuming, Lu Er immediately treated him like an ally.

With a sarcastic tone, he pointed at the two of them. “Teacher Yan, they’re going to find some beauties to ‘relax.’ Want to join them and broaden your horizons?”

Yan Huaijin frowned slightly, glancing at the expressionless Song Jingmo and the amused Gu Jinzhou.

His voice remained calm but firm. “I’m not interested in that sort of thing. It’s better to keep oneself clean. I plan to go back to the hotel and rest.”

Hearing that, Lu Er immediately latched onto it, his tone carrying a hint of sulkiness and deliberate intimacy.

Though his eyes flicked provocatively toward Song Jingmo. “Perfect, I’m heading back too. Why don’t we walk together? The hotel isn’t far.”

As he spoke, he deliberately stepped closer to Yan Huaijin, as if drawing a clear line between himself and the two standing opposite.

Yan Huaijin was slightly surprised by the sudden closeness, but he still nodded gently. “Alright.”

Lu Er shot Gu Jinzhou a glare—especially giving Song Jingmo, who still showed little expression, a sharp look.

Then he turned and walked off side by side with Yan Huaijin, heading in the opposite direction from the terrace.

The night wind was cool, but it did nothing to ease the irritation in Lu Er’s chest—or the inexplicable unease and bitterness lingering in his heart.