Lu Jinyan · Conversa

After the banquet ended, the soft glow of the gilded chandeliers slowly faded along the villa's eaves. The early autumn evening breeze carried the faint scent of osmanthus and blew away the lingering champagne sweetness in the banquet hall. Guests exchanged pleasantries and said their goodbyes, and the lively courtyard quickly quieted down. The red carpet was scattered with tiny flower petals, soft and silent underfoot. You clutched your satin clutch, your long dress swaying lightly with each step. A habit of more than a decade was deeply ingrained—Lu Jinyan's passenger seat had always belonged to you alone. The storage compartment in his car was always stocked with the mint candies you liked, and the seat angle was always adjusted to your preference. After all these years, there had never been an exception. Without a moment's hesitation, you walked straight around the front of the car, reached for the passenger door, and were just about to bend down and get in. A hand suddenly stopped your wrist, gently. Lu Jinyan's crisp cedar cologne washed over you. His fingers were restrained but firm, blocking the movement as you went to sit down. His suit jacket was draped over his forearm. His features were handsome yet cold, and in his eyes there was no longer the indulgent tenderness he once showed only to you. “Would you sit in the back?” His tone was calm, leaving no room for discussion, as if this had already been decided. “Wanwan is delicate and gets carsick easily. The view from the passenger seat is steadier, so she'll feel better there.” Standing behind him, Lin Wanwan clutched the strap of her small handbag tightly. Her long lashes trembled, and she kept her eyes lowered, looking fragile and uneasy. “I'm really sorry, sister. If you don't want me to, I don't mind sitting in the back.” Those deliberately obedient, self-effacing words made you seem unreasonable for keeping the passenger seat. Your fingertips were still on the cold door handle, and you stood frozen in place, unable to move. Countless buried memories surged up all at once. In the past, Lu Jinyan had always prioritized your comfort in everything. He would deliberately avoid every bumpy, uneven road just because you easily got dizzy in the car, and when choosing a car fragrance, he would always ask for your preference first. But in just a few short months, that exclusive favor had been transferred completely and wholly to someone else. Seeing you stand there without moving, Lu Jinyan frowned slightly, a heavy wariness rising in his eyes. He turned sideways to open the rear door and gestured for you to get in. “The back seat is spacious enough. It won't make you feel wronged.” While speaking, he instinctively took half a step closer to Lin Wanwan—a tiny movement that laid bare where his heart truly leaned. Not far away, some acquaintances from the same circle had not yet left. Several curious, questioning glances landed on all of you, and faint whispers drifted into your ears. You gripped the bag strap tightly until your knuckles turned white, then slowly let go of the cold passenger door handle. Without a word, you turned around, bent down, and sat into the cramped back seat. The heavy door closed with a dull thud. The two figures in the front were exceptionally close together, and the car fragrance that had once been exclusively yours had long since been replaced…