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Lu Pingnan walked over, placing his hands on Jian Xi’s shoulders. “Why is it always him? He’s everywhere. To be so disliked as a person is...”
Jian Xi slowly raised her head to look into his eyes.
Lu Pingnan immediately fell silent. Her gaze was cold, with hints of sadness she couldn’t hide.
“Let’s go eat,” Lu Pingnan smiled, trying to appear relaxed.
Jian Xi dodged his outstretched hand. “No need.”
“Then I’ll take you home.” Lu Pingnan persisted, following closely. “Don’t feel like eating? Then let’s have Western food, or Thai cuisine?”
“I don’t want to eat anything!” Jian Xi suddenly shouted.
Lu Pingnan froze.
“I don’t need you to take me home, and I don’t want to eat with you. Your actions just now were very impolite. Do you understand?” Jian Xi poured out her emotions. “You can leave; I’m very tired from work today.”
Jian Xi left the hospital. The cold wind helped calm her down a bit. She suddenly thought, if He Ran came back, would she still have the courage to tell him, “Let’s be together.”
After imagining it briefly, Jian Xi felt she probably wouldn’t be able to say it.
A woman’s courage is like walking on thin ice. Missing that fleeting moment of bravery means even the most cautious choices fall back into a difficult dilemma.
Jian Xi took the subway. While waiting for the train, she opened He Ran’s WeChat. Their last chat dated back to that night on Yati Road. Jian Xi’s fingers hovered over the chat box several times. Reaching out lacked a bit of courage, but not reaching out felt regretful.
This state of indecision felt like being fried in oil.
Finally, Jian Xi steeled herself and sent a message: [He Ran.]
But the system replied: Sorry, the other party has not added you as a contact. Please reapply to add as a friend.
Had He Ran blocked her?
Jian Xi’s mind went blank. The little pride she had was like a fragile glass house, shattered into pieces by He Ran’s finger.
________________________________________
Yati Road.
He Ran went to Lao Yao to settle accounts, collecting last month’s debt share, totaling just over ten thousand yuan.
Lao Yao invited him for a late-night snack. “There’s a new barbecue shop on East Street. The boss lady is beautiful. Brother Ran, why don’t you give it a try?”
He Ran counted the money, stuffing it into his pocket. “Are we tasting barbecue or the boss lady?”
Lao Yao laughed heartily. “You know the boss lady. She used to be Mrs. Li. Her husband passed away years ago. She’s mentioned more than once that she admires men like you.”
He Ran chuckled silently, not saying anything.
“Whether it’s barbecue or the boss lady, if Brother Ran wants to taste both, it’s easy peasy.”
He Ran slowed his pace, glancing at Lao Yao. “What’s there to taste? I’m not marrying her.”
Hearing this, Lao Yao became excited. “Aside from being married before, she’d make a great wife—beautiful, capable, and wealthy.”
“What do you mean by beautiful? You haven’t seen real beauty.” He Ran scoffed.
“Beautiful women won’t look at us,” Lao Yao’s eyes darted around. “Of course, Brother Ran has seen all kinds of women.”
He Ran thought, nonsense, the best woman in the world was blocked by me three hours ago.
Damn proud of myself.
Just after patting himself on the back, a deep sense of loss followed. He could wait patiently for the woman he liked, but he couldn’t tolerate her wavering between two men.
He Ran suppressed his rising anger. Everyone says doctors are compassionate, but his heart was almost taken by Jian Xi.
Fucking hell.
________________________________________
This week hit new lows in temperature. Sheets of rain accompanied by bone-chilling winds made the number of pregnant women visiting for colds increase by fifty to sixty percent.
The intern nurse felt Dr. Jian had been incredibly aloof this week. Her usual warmth and kindness disappeared, and aside from medical consultations, she barely spoke an extra word.
“The sugar tolerance test results are high. You need to control your weight. Eat sensibly; eating more doesn’t necessarily mean better nutrition.”
Jian Xi wrote in the medical record while speaking. “Excessive nutrition only makes you fat.”
The pregnant woman’s family nodded repeatedly. “Doctor, could you prescribe some calcium supplements?”
“You don’t lack calcium; don’t supplement randomly.” Jian Xi confirmed the blood test results. “Eat more fruits and vegetables, take appropriate walks. The baby’s development matches the gestational age.”
Returning the medical record, Jian Xi told the nurse, “Call the next patient.”
At this moment, the phone inside her white coat buzzed. Jian Xi took it out and saw it was Lu Hanxiao.
“Hold on before calling the next one.” Jian Xi pressed the intern nurse’s hand and answered. “What’s up?”
Lu Hanxiao chuckled. “Can’t I call you without an issue?”
“I’m really busy right now.” Jian Xi said, “If there’s nothing, I’ll hang up.”
“No, no, no,” Lu Hanxiao asked, “You’re not on night duty today, right? Come over for dinner after work. Give you a chance to extort me.”
Jian Xi tapped her toes lightly, pushing the rolling chair away slightly, massaging her neck while saying, “Alright, but you have to pick me up. I didn’t drive.”
“Where’s your car? Getting serviced?”
“Yeah.”
“Alright, I’ll come get you at five-thirty.”
After hanging up, Jian Xi lowered her gaze. She hadn’t told the truth. Her car wasn’t being serviced; she simply didn’t want to drive. Somewhere in her subconscious, there was a slim hope. If He Ran ever appeared riding his flashy new motorcycle, she’d have an excuse for him to take her home.
________________________________________
Brother Lu Hanxiao was also quite the character, full of charm, under thirty, rich, powerful, and well-connected, capable of playing and causing trouble.
As soon as Jian Xi hung up, he called He Ran again. “Ran Ran, come and have fun. 36D at your disposal.”
He Ran became wary and asked him, “Who else is there?”
“Xiaoli, Chun Chun, Ajiao, Rose.” Lu Hanxiao kept talking non-stop.
He Ran coolly commented, “Idiot.”
“Don’t worry,” Lu Hanxiao stopped joking. “My sister isn’t here.”
He Ran cursed. “Who asked about her? Can you show some face?”
“I have too many sisters. How do you know which one I’m talking about? Anyway, I only care about money, not face.” Lu Hanxiao laughed loudly.
He Ran changed clothes and went out, riding his new motorcycle arrogantly.
“Fei Yan” was a newly opened club in the south, top-notch decoration and service. The owner was Lu Hanxiao’s childhood friend, who reserved the largest private room for him. Lu Hanxiao, loyal to his friends, brought a large group to support, making it extremely lively.
To pick up Jian Xi, he even set an alarm and refrained from drinking any alcohol before she arrived.
Lu Hanxiao left at four-thirty. He Ran asked someone, “Where did Mr. Lu go?”
“To pick up his little sister.”
He Ran’s heart sank, feeling Lu Hanxiao might stir up trouble again.
Sure enough, at six o’clock—
“Be careful, there are steps here.” Lu Hanxiao’s voice grew clearer as he pushed the door open.
He led Jian Xi into the private room.
Seeing her, He Ran felt like he was on fire.
Jian Xi stiffened, then turned her head, glaring angrily at Lu Hanxiao.
“Little Xi, find a seat. Call me if you need anything—Hey, those drinking over there, who dares not call me?”
He quickly slipped away.
He Ran inwardly despised him countless times, sitting back on the sofa, pretending not to see.
The sofa was long, extending to the corner. The curtains were thick, creating a dim effect even during the day.
Jian Xi stood still. Seeing her genuine anger, Lu Hanxiao returned to her side. Before he could speak, Jian Xi snapped, “Are you annoying? You invited me for dinner, where’s the food?”
“... Damn it,” Lu Hanxiao realized Jian Xi was truly angry. He quickly put down his wine glass and shouted to his friends, “Let’s eat. We’ll continue the fun later.”
The usually flamboyant and arrogant Mr. Lu was now like a foolish treasure bearer, hovering around Jian Xi to appease her.
He Ran followed behind, slightly curling his lips. “Sycophant.”
After the meal, some people left. When they returned to the private room, a new batch of friends arrived.
Jian Xi sat by the bar. Lu Hanxiao shielded her, preventing others from offering her drinks.
“Aren’t you annoying?” Jian Xi pushed him. “I rarely get out of the delivery room. Now that I’m finally out having fun, you’re messing around again. If I can’t get married, it’s all your fault.”
Lu Hanxiao clicked his tongue, wishing it were true. “Seriously, if you’re still unmarried by tomorrow, I’ll marry you.”
Jian Xi ignored him. “I’m going to the restroom.”
In the restroom, she splashed cold water on her face, bracing herself against the sink edge, taking several deep breaths.
He Ran treated her like air, not sparing her a glance since entering. He played happily with the group, drinking and singing. A slender woman even caressed his face with her fingers.
Thinking of this, Jian Xi felt empty, like a clown.
Other people turn their backs and find lovers everywhere, huh.
When she returned to the private room, Jian Xi froze. This lover had already blossomed into a garden.
A row of beautiful women stood neatly, stunning in posture and figure. In front stood a man in a suit, bowing respectfully to Lu Hanxiao.
“These are arranged by Boss Lin. Our most beautiful PR ladies are here for Mr. Xiao to choose from.”
Lu Hanxiao, who normally accepted all comers, was wild even to the point of scaring himself.
He crossed his arms and paced, smiling with peach-blossom eyes, selecting a type He Ran liked. “You, go drink a few cups with him.”
He Ran neither agreed nor explicitly refused. Seeing Jian Xi standing stiffly at the door, he acted defiantly, fully relaxing against the sofa backrest, arms spread wide over the armrests.
“Big Brother,” the beauty cooed seductively, sitting close to He Ran. “Shall we drink white or red?”
He Ran didn’t respond but directly pressed his lips to the glass in her hand, sipping slightly, drinking a small mouthful.
“What you have, I’ll drink.”
The beauty burst into laughter, her branches swaying.
Meanwhile, Jian Xi at the door felt like thunder had struck her, instinctively fleeing.
He Ran’s heart sank. Not only did he not feel the satisfaction of revenge, but his irritation grew stronger.
The beauty slowly writhed in his arms, brushing her voluptuous chest teasingly against He Ran’s arm. Just as He Ran was about to push her away, the private room door opened again.
Jian Xi, dressed in white, gathered all her resolve, walking briskly to He Ran, stopping in front of him.
“You,” she nudged the beauty’s high heels with her shoe tip, calmly saying, “Move aside for me.”
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