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Luan Mingrui was thoroughly irritated by Liang Chengmin.
Doctor? Teacher? Worker? Dream on! You’ll just have to settle for being the wife of a small business owner for the rest of your life!
With a stern face, he returned home. As soon as Luan Mingcheng saw his expression, he approached and asked, “Brother, did you go to change your medicine?”
“Yeah.”
“So, did you see that scary female doctor?”
“Who are you calling scary? Didn’t you shout at her in the hospital, making her lose her temper?” Luan Mingrui didn’t even let his younger brother finish before shutting him down, as if she were already part of the family.
“No, no. Guess what? That female doctor is my classmate’s cousin. Her name is Liang Chengmin.”
Luan Mingcheng tapped his own head and muttered, “Liang Chengmin? Wasn’t there someone else with the same name introduced to you recently? And wasn’t she also a doctor?”
Luan Mingrui interrupted him, “Just say what you want to say.”
“Oh, right. They say that this female doctor is twenty-seven and still not married. Rumor has it that she dated a male classmate back in school, but he left later.”
Liang Chengmin? Dated someone?
With her dull personality, clearly inexperienced in love, who would she date?
Luan Mingrui laughed at the idea of Liang Chengmin being inexperienced in love, as if he himself had any experience. At twenty-nine years old, he hadn’t dated anyone. Back then, people like him were considered oddballs. But luck was on his side; he was blessed with good looks. If an unattractive man over thirty remained unmarried, he’d be called a bachelor, while for someone like him, remaining single was interpreted as being picky.
He secretly planned to marry Liang Chengmin. He remembered every word she had said and intended to settle the score with her later. The most urgent matter at hand was to bring her into his home. He didn’t want some other fool to come along and cause trouble.
The next day, just before Liang Chengmin was about to finish work, he rushed over again. After confirming with the nurse that she was still seeing patients, he registered for her consultation once more. Pushing open the door, he saw her inserting acupuncture needles into her own hand. Luan Mingrui, unfamiliar with how doctors often practiced their skills on themselves, found her behavior strange, thinking her brain must have been damaged from all her studies.
Seeing him enter, Liang Chengmin removed the needle from her Hegu point and gave him a disdainful look. “What do you want?”
“To change the dressing.”
“You don’t need to change it daily. Go out.”
“My wound seems to be infected.”
“Nonsense!” Liang Chengmin had full confidence in her medical skills. How could a wound she dressed become infected? She stood up to cut his gauze, her cold fingertips brushing against his arm. He teased, “Doctor, aren’t you supposed to wear gloves? Isn’t this improper procedure?”
...
Liang Chengmin was ready to kick him out when he suddenly grabbed her wrist. “You’re no fun.”
She shook off his hand. “How dare you touch me? Do I know you well enough to joke around with you?”
“One or two interactions, and we’ll get to know each other.”
“Who wants to know you?”
“Eye contact perhaps?”
When Luan Mingrui spoke like this, it didn’t sound flirtatious at all—it was more like a challenge. Liang Chengmin was driven to frustration. She opened the gauze. “Where’s the infection? Where’s the damage?”
“If it’s fine, then help me rewrap it.”
Liang Chengmin nodded. “Okay, I’ll wrap it.” As she wrapped the bandage, she deliberately applied extra pressure. Luan Mingrui let out a low hum, lowering his head, the pain reddening a section of his neck.
Suddenly, Liang Chengmin smiled.
Her smile was exceptionally beautiful.
She was naturally a pretty girl, though she usually appeared somewhat rigid due to her serious demeanor. But when she smiled, it was like a solitary flower blooming between the cracks of southern cobblestones—tender and pitiable.
Looking at her smile, Luan Mingrui’s gaze turned deep and intense, as if he wanted to devour her whole.
Meeting his eyes, Liang Chengmin blushed and scolded him. “What are you staring at!”
Her blush amused him further, and he teased, “Dr. Liang, would you consider marrying me? Once married, you can scold me all you want, and I won’t mind. No one else dares to marry you with your bad temper, so why not settle for me?”
“Settle? I’d rather never marry than marry you,” Liang Chengmin snapped back. She disliked Luan Mingrui’s mannerisms—he always looked like someone owed him money, spoke rudely, and made even simple statements sound sarcastic. Even when discussing marriage, he made it sound trivial, without any seriousness.
Angered, her face grew even redder.
Luan Mingrui glanced at her, smiling. He rarely smiled, but when he did, it carried a hint of gentleness.
Every day, Luan Mingrui came to the hospital. After his arm healed, he waited for her outside the hospital entrance. Liang Chengmin avoided him, asking a young nurse to check whether that “pest” was still waiting. The nurse confirmed he was there, so Liang Chengmin slipped out through the back door.
One day, just as she exited the back door, she saw Luan Mingrui standing there. “Are you avoiding me?”
“You coming here every day gives off a bad impression,” Liang Chengmin said.
“What impression? I’m single, you’re single, and I’m waiting for you. What’s wrong with that?”
“I don’t want anything to do with you. It’s bad for me.” Though she argued defiantly, she couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes.
“Fine,” Luan Mingrui replied and walked away. Liang Chengmin kept dodging him, and their relationship felt like a game of cat and mouse—one chasing, one running. Over time, it became tiresome. Luan Mingrui suddenly realized something about dating: it only works if both sides engage.
The next day, he didn’t show up.
Liang Chengmin couldn’t explain her feelings toward Luan Mingrui. When she saw him, she wanted to argue, but when he didn’t come, she felt strangely empty inside.
After several days of not seeing Luan Mingrui, her colleagues at the hospital joked with her, “Is the rich young master not coming anymore?”
“What does it matter to me if he comes or not?” Liang Chengmin retorted, her face flushing.
She rode her bike home, weaving left and right. During dinner, her mother asked, “Mrs. Wang next door mentioned seeing you talking to a young man at the hospital entrance the other evening. Who was he?”
“A patient.”
“Which patient?”
“...I don’t remember.” Liang Chengmin knew exactly whom Mrs. Wang referred to—the very same young master—but she didn’t want to tell her mother, fearing her overreaction.
“Ah.”
Later, Liang Chengmin went on a few more blind dates.
To her, blind dates felt like a political duty. She had to go, otherwise it would reflect poorly on her attitude. To avoid her mother’s nagging, she reluctantly attended them.
One such date took place at a state-owned restaurant. As soon as she entered, she spotted Luan Mingrui sitting by the window, fiddling with a button of unknown origin. She thought about avoiding him to prevent awkwardness but ended up meeting his gaze. He gave her a brief glance and pretended not to recognize her.
A short while later, his date arrived. She heard him ask the girl, “What would you like to eat? Order whatever you want.” The girl was beautiful, with delicate features and soft-spoken, a typical southern belle.
“I’m fine with anything,” the girl said modestly and only ordered stir-fried greens. On the other hand, Luan Mingrui ordered shrimp and crab. “No need to save money. We can’t take it with us anyway.”
While conversing with the girl, Luan Mingrui eavesdropped on Liang Chengmin’s table. When he heard the young man across from her mention being a teacher, he glanced over. The young man was neatly dressed, clean-cut, and handsome.
“Being a teacher is great,” Liang Chengmin nodded earnestly. “Educating people, spreading knowledge far and wide—it’s noble.”
“Saving lives as a doctor is noble too.”
They started exchanging flattery.
“So, do you often travel out of town?” the girl asked Luan Mingrui.
“Yes.”
“The matchmaker said you’re looking for someone who can manage the household.” The girl blushed slightly. She had known about Luan Mingrui for some time, having seen him from afar a few times. Many girls in the small town admired him. “Do you think I’d be suitable?”
The girl was straightforward, seeking a clear answer from Luan Mingrui. “I’ll tell the matchmaker when I get home.” Luan Mingrui gestured to the shrimp and crab on the table. “Eat more, don’t hold back.”
“Do you go on blind dates often?” the girl suddenly asked him. “Have you been on many? Do you already have someone in mind?”
“Just once, with a doctor. She thought too highly of herself. I didn’t like her.”
When Liang Chengmin heard that line—”thought too highly of herself, I didn’t like her”—she felt as if something had struck her heart.
The girl felt awkward, finding it uncomfortable to peel shrimp in front of Luan Mingrui. Unlike Liang Chengmin, who confidently used her elegant fingers to grab at the shrimp and crab, showing no hesitation.
After eating with the male teacher, as they were about to leave, the teacher asked her, “Would you like to go to the library with me another day?”
“Sure.”
When Luan Mingrui heard that “sure,” he finally lifted his head and gave her a serious look. Every day he waited for her outside the hospital, but she avoided him like the plague. Yet when someone else invited her to the library, she said yes without hesitation.
Fine, just fine.
Luan Mingrui got up to escort the girl home. Her house was in the same direction as Liang Chengmin’s. Walking along this road, her house was right by the roadside. He was in a bad mood and hardly spoke until they reached her doorstep. Turning back, he saw Liang Chengmin walking together with the male teacher. Unlike how she acted around him—running away as soon as she saw him—this time, she appeared calm and composed.
Luan Mingrui thought bitterly, You can marry whoever you want. It’s none of my business. With an indifferent expression, he walked past her.
Suddenly, Liang Chengmin became angry. First, he showed up uninvited; then, he pretended not to know her. She called out loudly, “Luan Mingrui!”
Luan Mingrui turned back and looked at her. “What is it, Dr. Liang?”
“Didn’t you see me?”
“No, I didn’t. My eyesight isn’t good—I wear glasses.”
With that, he walked away, leaving Liang Chengmin speechless, her face flushing red. Unbeknownst to her, tears welled up in her eyes, and she ran off. The male teacher behind her hesitated, unsure whether to chase after her or stay put.
A few days later, she finally had a day off. During lunch, her mother brought up another arrangement: “This afternoon, give it your best shot. Remember that Luan Mingrui you met before? The matchmaker says he’s taken.”
“Who’s taken?”
“Luan Mingrui. Apparently, both families are preparing to meet.”
Liang Chengmin choked on her food, unable to swallow. Only now did she realize that when he’d asked her to marry him, he’d just been teasing her.
After finishing her meal, she went back to her room and lay on the bed, feeling listless. She couldn’t pinpoint why, but perhaps it was her mother’s comment during lunch that reminded her of Luan Mingrui. Everything seemed pointless now. She flipped through a book, then set it aside, staring absentmindedly at the osmanthus flower in the vase by the window. A while later, she slumped over and fell asleep, sleeping soundly until night fell. Her mother saw her peaceful sleep and, knowing how hard she worked, decided not to wake her.
Ping! A small pebble hit her window. She lay still, thinking it was just children playing. A moment later, another pebble came, with the same force. Children wouldn’t have such steady aim. She sat up, pushed open the window, and saw Luan Mingrui standing on the cobblestone path under the moonlight, his figure bathed in silvery light, clean and clear.
Her face instantly flushed red. She quickly closed the window and sat there alone, trying to catch her breath, her heart inexplicably racing.
Ping! Luan Mingrui threw another pebble.
She opened the window again and whispered, “Why are you throwing pebbles at my window?” Her voice was soft, like a mosquito’s buzz, but her eyes were sharp.
“Come out,” Luan Mingrui whispered back.
“It’s bedtime!”
“Come out.”
“I’m not coming out!”
She slammed the window shut again.
Luan Mingrui threw another pebble, annoying Liang Chengmin. She picked one up, opened the window, and hurled it back forcefully. She heard a muffled grunt and looked out to see Luan Mingrui clutching his glasses.
“Did I hit you?” she asked.
Luan Mingrui didn’t respond, but Liang Chengmin could tell he was angry.
“Wait for me,” she hastily threw on a sweater, tiptoed out of the house, carefully closed the door, and walked up to Luan Mingrui.
“Let me see your eye.”
Without a word, Luan Mingrui handed her his glasses and turned to walk away. She noticed a crack in the lens and chased after him, following him into a narrow alley. The alley was long and deserted, with only the occasional stray cat padding softly across the stones. Liang Chengmin quickened her steps, caught up to him, and grabbed his wrist. “Stop! Let me see your eye!”
Finally, Luan Mingrui stopped.
He was tall, and she couldn’t see properly, so she stood on her tiptoes. Still unable to see, she grew impatient. “Can you lower your head?”
Luan Mingrui bent down, his breath brushing against her forehead as he looked at her upturned face, unusually docile. There was a faint trace of blood on his eyelid, likely from being scratched by a shard of glass.
“Does it hurt?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
She stepped back and asked, “What are you here for?”
“To give you wedding candy.” Like a magician, Luan Mingrui pulled a chocolate liqueur truffle from his pocket. Such chocolates were rare at the time, and though Liang Chengmin had tasted them once or twice and liked them, she wasn’t in the mood today.
“What wedding candy are you giving me? Are you showing off? Are you trying to say that if I won’t marry you, plenty of others will?”
“Are you asking every girl you meet to marry you? Or does it depend on your mood?”
“Are you so proud of getting married that you’re flaunting it in front of me?”
“Who wants your stupid wedding candy!” Liang Chengmin grew flustered, her eyes reddening. She couldn’t explain why, but she felt a mix of grievance and regret.
When Luan Mingrui saw a tear roll down her cheek, he finally softened. “It’s my cousin’s wedding candy.”
…
If there had been a hole in the ground, Liang Chengmin would’ve crawled into it. She bit her lip, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Want some?” Luan Mingrui asked again.
“Yes.” She wiped her tears, held out her palm, and he placed the chocolate in her hand. She peeled off the foil wrapper and popped it into her mouth, savoring it slowly without biting.
“Is the chocolate tasty?” he asked, his voice slightly hoarse.
“Yes.”
“Let me try.”
Suddenly, he leaned down and kissed her lips, his tongue lightly licking the corner of her mouth. Liang Chengmin’s mind went blank, and she froze.
When Luan Mingrui’s lips approached again, she remained motionless, like a fool.
Luan Mingrui wasn’t foolish—he simply wanted to taste the chocolate. With one hand holding her head, his tongue ventured inside. That single move ignited something within him. Her sweet lips and subtle scent of alcohol made him feel as if a stubborn tree had suddenly blossomed after nearly thirty years. His tongue curled around hers, drawing the melted chocolate into his mouth, along with her tongue. Instinctively, he cupped her face, feeling that the distance between them was too great. He abruptly pulled her into his arms.
Liang Chengmin collided with his body, startled by what she felt pressing against her. She struggled in his embrace. “Let me go!”
“No!”
“I’ll scream!”
“Go ahead!”
Luan Mingrui pinned her between himself and the wall, their breaths ragged. “You’re not going to scream, are you?” he asked, gazing into her pitiful eyes before kissing her again. This time, more urgently than before, their teeth clashing. He didn’t care, tilting his head until he found the perfect angle.
Liang Chengmin lost her balance, and he caught her, pulling her close, becoming her support and anchor.
For days, he had been thinking about her but couldn’t bring himself to admit it. Today, seeing someone else get married stirred envy in him. Was dignity and pride more important than bringing Liang Chengmin home?
Of course not!
Why fight with her now? Why not marry her first, then deal with everything else later?
After finally parting, Luan Mingrui’s heart was full. He asked her again, “Liang Chengmin, will you marry me?”
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