Chapter 44: Settlement Fee (1/2)
Cheng Xi and Cai Yi left in different directions after dinner, and because everyone else also had to work tomorrow, they all left on their own as well.
Once everyone had left, Cheng Xi waited by the roadside for a taxi. But before long, someone tapped her right shoulder, causing Cheng Xi to look towards her left.
As expected, Lin Fan was standing slightly behind and to the left of her. When he saw Cheng Xi turn around, his face lit up into a slight smile. “Ah, I couldn’t fool you after all.”
This was a little game that the two of them had played when they were small. For a decent period of time, Lin Fan had sat behind Cheng Xi in class. Because they were seated next to a window, Cheng Xi would always gaze into the distance to relax after class. Whenever he saw her like this, Lin Fan would tap her on her left shoulder but lean to her right, or tap her right shoulder and lean to her left.
But Cheng Xi never fell for his track, not even once; she was always able to turn around and spot him every single time.
Cheng Xi laughed at his antics. “Do you want to try again?”
And so Lin Fan went back into his original position and tapped her shoulder again. Cheng Xi turned around, saw no one, and then turned to the other side as she amazedly said, “Ah, it’s you!”
Her acting skills were so exaggerated that Lin Fan couldn’t help but laugh, as did Cheng Xi.
It was a very boring game, but it was one that let the two of them laugh at each other for quite a while. After they finally calmed down, Cheng Xi said, “Thank you. I won’t try to return the money.”
He looked at her, half-smiling. “You can try to bring it up. But every time you do so, I’ll kiss you once, alright?”
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xi looked at him with an expression like she was looking at a stranger.
“What’s the matter?”
“I just discovered that you can also pick up girls now.”
Lin Fan lowered his head and looked at her from underneath his bangs, his gaze smoldering. “If I couldn’t, then I’m afraid that I won’t ever find a wife in this life.”
When Cheng Xi heard him say the word ‘wife’ so warmly and bluntly, her smile actually deflated slightly. She looked at him with a strained expression. “Lin Fan……”
“I know, you can’t reciprocate my feelings right now…… Sorry, I only wanted to make you happy. However, you don’t look too well right now.”
Cheng Xi was very shocked. “Really?”
Had she really exposed herself to such a degree that anyone could read her emotions?
Lin Fan nodded as he gently caressed the corner of her lips with a finger. “Perhaps you never even noticed it yourself, but when you’re truly happy, you don’t smile like that.”
Cheng Xi couldn’t help but become dejected. She had thought that she was hiding her emotions very well.
Lin Fan looked at her gently. “Do you want to tell me about it?”
Cheng Xi sighed. “Actually, it isn’t much. Something just happened with a patient of mine.”
“Alright.” A wisp of disappointment leaked into Lin Fan’s expression, but he didn’t continue pressing Cheng Xi about it. “Then I won’t ask. But if you ever need my help, just let me know.”
Cheng Xi was about to nod when a flashy race car drove by them. Not long after, that car reversed directions until it was in front of them.
The window rolled down, revealing Baldy’s arrogant face. “Hi, doctor. Is that really you?” Then he turned to the passenger side, smiled, and said, “Look, I told you I was right, it’s really your partner.”
“……”
Race cars were usually a bit shorter than other cars, and since this section of road wasn’t particularly well-lit, only now did she realize that Lu Chenzhou was actually sitting next to Baldy.
She couldn’t see his full face as the car door obscured most of it. The only thing that was revealed was a chiseled, cold, and hard jaw. This was the first time meeting after Lu Chenzhou’s grandfather’s birthday. After Chen Fuguo’s incident, she hadn’t had time to look for him, and he hadn’t gone searching for her either.
I wonder if the events of that day left a shadow in his mind?
After mulling the situation over for a moment, Cheng Xi bent her head, and then greeted him. “Mr. Lu.”
Baldy sneered. “Heh, this polite? You might as well remove the ‘Lu’ too and just call him mister.”
No one paid any attention to him, and Lu Chenzhou coolly asked in response, “Do you need a ride?”
Cheng Xi looked at Lin Fan; he was silently standing there silently with half-lidded eyes and an unclear expression. She shook her head. “No, it’s fine. I can get back on my own.”
Lu Chenzhou then turned his head slightly. “Get her in the car.”
The back door of the car opened, and a young man all dressed in black walked out. He bowed courteously towards Cheng Xi before gesturing toward the car. “Dr. Cheng, please.”
“……”
Once again, she had forgotten about Lu Chenzhou’s personality. When he asked you a question, it was never an actual question. Rather, it was just a veil of politeness that was better treated as nonexistent.
If it had been the past her, then she would have accepted his intentions blandly. However, today, she resolved herself to draw a line between them. “I’m sorry, but I’m still busy and don’t need a ride from you.”
After speaking, she immediately pulled Lin Fan away and prepared to leave. But just when she had taken a few steps, the man clad in black stretched out his hand to stop her.
Cheng Xi frowned. “What are you doing?”
“Director Lu is cordially inviting you into the car.”
Cheng Xi usually had a pretty good temper, but she couldn’t help but grow angry now. “And if I don’t?”