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Jian Xi’s voice wasn’t particularly loud, but it still drew the attention of others.
The beauty felt humiliated and chose to pretend to be deaf and dumb.
At this moment, Jian Xi was also emboldened. Her words were like a sharp blade, capable of ending someone’s life with each cut. She repeated, “Are your ears not working? Our hospital’s ENT department is quite famous. Let me give you the number to make an appointment.”
The beauty, well-versed in the ways of the nightlife, had seen all kinds of big scenes. When women confront each other, the one who shows weakness loses. Thus, she glared angrily, “You...”
“Yes, it’s me. I’m telling you to move aside.”
Lu Hanxiao couldn’t help but smile. This little sister of his was just like when she was a child—never resorting to explosive arguments, always using these cutting remarks that left you speechless.
Looking at He Ran, damn, he was still so calm, refusing to even glance her way.
“Big Brother,” the beauty changed tactics; appeasing the backstage was more effective than anything else. She pressed herself closer to He Ran, “Do you want to drink more?”
Before He Ran could respond, Jian Xi beat him to it, “He doesn’t.”
The beauty acted as if she hadn’t heard, pressing the glass in her hand to He Ran’s lips, smiling coyly, “Try this.”
Jian Xi lost her patience, snatching the glass away and slamming it hard on the table. Then, she looked seriously at He Ran, “Come out, I have something to say to you.”
In truth, she was afraid. She feared this man might be heartless and refuse to go with her.
So Jian Xi turned around first, like a student who had just handed in their test paper but was unsure of the answers—nervous, expectant, wanting to escape yet eager to know.
Fortunately, He Ran wasn’t too much of a jerk. He followed her to the outer corridor.
Jian Xi stopped, turning back. He Ran stood a meter away, biting a cigarette, looking cool and unconcerned.
Deliberately tormenting her.
“That day, I didn’t know Lu Pingnan…”
“Which day?” He Ran’s tone was cold, suppressing the courage Jian Xi had painstakingly mustered to explain.
He Ran watched her lower her head in silence, “Talk.”
Jian Xi pursed her lips and remained silent.
“Not talking? Then I’ll leave.” He Ran pretended to walk away. Halfway through passing her shoulder, Jian Xi panicked.
“It was the time you came to pick me up. I didn’t know Lu Pingnan would come over.”
He Ran stopped, turning his head slightly and sneering coldly, “So the two of you met by chance, and hugging each other was how you expressed your love, huh?”
Jian Xi opened her mouth to explain, but found no words. Finally, she managed to squeeze out three words, “I didn’t.”
This pitiful appearance almost made He Ran surrender.
He cursed inwardly, thinking, if you dare to cry, I’ll kiss you right now.
He Ran feigned calmness, his tone still high and cold, “Finished? Can I leave?”
Jian Xi was almost driven to death by him, both angry and aggrieved. She finally hardened her heart, taking a big step forward to block He Ran.
She asked, “You did it on purpose, didn’t you?”
“On purpose for what?”
“To deliberately treat me coldly.”
He Ran sneered convincingly, “Dr. Jian, don’t overthink things.”
Jian Xi completely let go, adrenaline pushing her to face any challenge.
She crossed her arms, relaxing her back, determined to get an answer, “Alright, then let me ask you. Was what you said that day true?”
He Ran swallowed, “What did I say?”
Jian Xi: “That before, I disturbed you a lot, and from now on, I won’t bother you anymore. Is that true?”
He Ran’s mind briefly froze, thinking this woman might cause trouble. Before he could choose his words carefully, he heard Jian Xi softly laugh, “Not speaking? Fine, I’ll take your silence as a yes.”
He Ran: “...”
“Then let’s clear things up today.” Jian Xi secretly took a deep breath. Her pride in logical thinking and composure as a science student returned.
“All our past interactions will never be mentioned again. In the future, if we meet, don’t greet each other. As for your previous declarations of love for me, I think there’s no need to thank you because our exchanges balance out.”
Jian Xi spoke without pausing for breath, leaving He Ran somewhat stunned.
What did “our exchanges balance out” mean?
—I love you.
—I love you too.
He Ran dissected the phrase “our exchanges balance out,” and the flames inside him nearly exploded into fireworks.
On the surface, Jian Xi remained calm, but inside, she was on the verge of collapse. She delivered her final line, “That’s it. I don’t think I need to say goodbye to you.”
He Ran: “Right, no need to say goodbye.”
Jian Xi was another centimeter closer to breaking down. She felt she had to leave, or she might burst into tears on the spot.
Before she could take a step, her arm tightened, pulled by a strong force. It was He Ran embracing her tightly, saying fiercely, “Looking for death, huh?”
His voice was hot and heavy, rolling over her tender earlobe, “No need to say goodbye, because every day and night from now on, I’ll be the first man you see when you open and close your eyes.”
This sentence exploded in her mind, and Jian Xi’s eyes instantly heated, “Filthy scoundrel.”
He Ran laughed softly, “The scoundrel is holding you. Struggle free if you can.”
“I won’t listen to you.” Jian Xi bit her lip, still defiant.
He Ran intertwined his fingers with hers, gripping them tightly, “That day, seeing Lu Pingnan hugging you, I was so jealous I nearly went crazy.”
Jian Xi’s nose tingled, “You walked away without giving me a chance to explain and blocked me.”
“Either I block you, or I kill Lu Pingnan. You choose.” He Ran’s lips brushed her earlobe, “Dr. Jian, killing comes with consequences. Do you want to be a widow?”
Jian Xi wouldn’t fall for it, “You’re not my husband.”
“Eh, good girl, your husband is here.” He Ran skillfully picked up on the last two words, interpreting them as a call to him.
Jian Xi felt like hitting him, but inexplicably sweet feelings bubbled up inside. She tried to pull away from his embrace, but He Ran held her head firmly in place, “I have something to tell you.”
“I used to do business—not exactly a respectable man. Later, the business failed, and I went bankrupt. Two years ago, I moved here from Yao Province. I only have an elderly grandmother at home.” He Ran lightly placed his hand on her waist, “I don’t have much money now, but I saved some previously, enough for a down payment on a three-bedroom apartment.”
Jian Xi “Hmm”-ed, hearing the heartbeat in his embrace “Thump thump thump.”
“In other people’s eyes, I’m just a thug. Think carefully. Are you still willing to be with me?”
The latter half of He Ran’s sentence trembled slightly.
Jian Xi couldn’t help but let her lips curl upwards. She turned her face, completely burying it in his chest. Her response carried a light laugh, relaxed yet charming.
She said, “If being a thug means being with you, then bring it on. Who’s afraid of whom?”
________________________________________
When they returned to the private room, Lu Hanxiao was nearly dumbfounded, “Damn, why are you two holding hands so tightly?”
He Ran gave him a glare, “Mind your own business.”
Jian Xi quickly shushed Lu Hanxiao, who was about to explode, “Shh…” Then, looking up at He Ran, she said, “It’s none of his business.”
Lu Hanxiao: “???!!!”
Her loyalty clearly shifted to Tiananmen Square.
All the beauties were sent away, and the atmosphere in the private room became slightly more serious.
Lu Hanxiao understood. He Ran had struck first. He was dissatisfied, “Little Xi, don’t offend your family. When you cry later, you’ll still need me to back you up.”
He Ran calmly responded, “She has already mourned for you. How can you back her up? Jump out of your coffin?”
Lu Hanxiao thought, wow, utterly shameless.
Jian Xi suppressed a laugh. She knew that when it came to being thuggish and unscrupulous, no one could match He Ran.
“Hey, someone at the karaoke stand, request a song for me,” Lu Hanxiao said.
“Sure, what song?”
“Just that ‘Bachelors Have a Hard Time.’”
Jian Xi laughed uncontrollably, walking over to push Lu Hanxiao, “Hey, had enough fun?”
“I haven’t had enough fun. He has,” Lu Hanxiao pointed at He Ran, “This guy has settled down.”
Jian Xi’s smile was like a blossoming flower. Lu Hanxiao stared for a while before moving his gaze. For a fleeting moment, his peaceful demeanor seemed to avoid dust within a ten-mile radius.
“Have a daughter,” Lu Hanxiao suddenly said.
“Huh? What?” Jian Xi didn’t understand.
“If you and He Ran end up together, have a daughter,” Lu Hanxiao raised his eyebrows teasingly, “Let me see what you looked like as a child.”
Jian Xi was momentarily stunned. The exaggerated prelude to chaos began, and someone shouted, “Old Xiao, your ‘Bachelors Have a Hard Time’!”
“Coming, give me both microphones. I’ll handle the male and female parts alone.”
Lu Hanxiao resumed his carefree playboy image. His cheerful departing figure quietly healed a small wound, leaving no trace.
After He Ran returned from the restroom, he called Jian Xi to leave first.
“I’m hungry. Can we go to the snack street?”
He Ran glanced at her, “Didn’t you eat enough dinner?”
“You distracted me. I was too busy being angry.”
“How did I distract you?” He Ran teased her.
Jian Xi: “My heart.”
He Ran held her hand, “You woman, stop lying. Would admitting you like me kill you?”
“Why are you always so mean to me?”
“Tsk,” He Ran patted her head, “Holding grudges.”
They were just a turn away from the snack street. Jian Xi bought a few skewers of snacks and two cups of honey pomelo tea, handing one cup to He Ran and pointing to the cabbage leaf on the meat skewer, “I don’t like cabbage leaves.”
Actually, she was just saying it casually. He Ran heard it and commented, “Not only holding grudges but also picky eater.”
Then he pulled Jian Xi’s wrist, slightly lowering his head, and bit off the cabbage leaf from the skewer in her hand.
Jian Xi was startled by his natural action.
“Hurry up and eat. It won’t taste good when it’s cold,” He Ran urged.
She finally snapped out of it, slowly eating the grilled meat.
Walking one behind the other, He Ran suddenly stopped, and Jian Xi almost bumped into his back.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
He Ran turned around, suddenly leaning close to her face, smirking, “Does this count as indirect kissing?”
“...” Knowing he was teasing her, Jian Xi lifted her chin, fearlessly, “Count it. What are you going to do about it?”
He Ran was momentarily stunned, then laughed, “Nothing. Let’s go.”
Straightening his back, he was about to take a step forward.
“Wait.” Jian Xi’s voice was clear, “It’s unfair. You haven’t asked me yet.”
He Ran chuckled, “Alright, alright. Then I’ll ask you. What do you want to do?”
Waiting for this very moment, boldness and courage made Jian Xi appear striking and captivating. She said word by word, “I want to kiss you.”
After saying that, she held up her skewers and climbed onto He Ran’s shoulders, tilting her head to press her lips against his.
The man’s lips weren’t smooth; they had a rough texture. Jian Xi couldn’t resist tasting them with her tongue. Just like a spark igniting, He Ran’s mind buzzed.
Exploding into a brilliant display of fireworks.
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