At that moment, Lu Jinnian bent down to reach for a bottle of orange juice and turned to get his change. 

Qiao Anhao hurriedly stuffed the box back into her pocket. She held onto the empty cup, concealing the pill inside. 

When he came back with her drink, he first unscrewed the bottle before pa.s.sing it over to her. 

She reached for the bottle and poured some into the cup with the pill, heaving a sigh of relief. Reaching for another empty cup, she poured the orange juice in. 

Qiao Anhao placed the remaining juice on the table before pa.s.sing the cup with the pill over to Lu Jinnian. Looking up at him, she fluttered her long lashes and said in a sweet tone, “Here’s yours.” 

Lu Jinnian usually opted for coffee, tea, or just plain water. He never touched sweet drinks. Glancing at the juice, he shook his head in rejection. “I don’t want it.” 

In hesitation, he added another sentence to sound less harsh. “You can have it.” 

Inwardly, he laughed bitterly. Even after she had caused him so much hurt, he still felt an urge to cheer her up when she felt down. 

Qiao Anhao held the cup in the same position wordlessly, staring at him with the same clear, harmless eyes. 

Lu Jinnian couldn’t handle the gaze any longer. He reached over and took the drink from her hands. 

Qiao Anhao smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. Reaching for her own drink, she touched her cup to his before downing the whole juice in one go. 

Lu Jinnian stared at her smile, mesmerized. Placing the cup back down, Qiao Anhao realized that he hadn’t moved, so she asked him about it. At that moment, he lowered his lashes and took a sip. 

It was sweet, sickeningly so, and a little sour. It wasn’t a taste that he enjoyed, but just when he was about to place the cup down, he noticed her gaze. After just a moment of hesitation, he downed the entire cup. 

Qiao Anhao stared at him till he finished the entire cup, only then did she pick up her chopsticks to resume eating. Deep down, she was starting to get anxious. 

Zhao Meng told her that the pill would take effect in half an hour… This meant that she had to return to the hotel soon… 

 Qiao Anhao hurriedly finished the entire bowl of rice. Turning to look at Lu Jinnian who was staring out the window, she said, “I’m done.” 

Lu Jinnian averted his gaze. He wordlessly reached for his wallet and headed to the cas.h.i.+er. 

Once they left the restaurant, Qiao Anhao and Lu Jinnian entered a cab and returned to the hotel. 

As they entered the elevator going to the top floor, Lu Jinnian’s face started to redden, and his breath started to get uneven. His gaze started to get fiery, as though suppressing an overwhelming inner desire. 

When the elevator finally reached the top floor, Lu Jinnian took large steps forward, as though trying to get rid of Qiao Anhao. 

Qiao Anhao could sense his abnormality. Without allowing him any opportunity, she ran after him. Just when he was about to open his room’s door, she dashed forward into his embrace.