Extra #4: Liang Chengmin

Liang Chengmin nodded, then shook her head. Her mind was spinning, and the liqueur-filled chocolate had long disappeared—only a faintly sweet, alcoholic aftertaste lingered in her mouth.

Luan Mingrui’s nose brushed against hers. He wasn’t one for sweet talk; his words were always blunt and straightforward. “I’m asking you, Liang Chengmin. Are you willing?”

“If you’re willing, tomorrow I’ll have my parents visit your family. I’m not a teacher, doctor, or worker, but I promise you this: I won’t let you go hungry. Every day, you can eat all the shrimp and crab you love.” Luan Mingrui began to coax her gently.

Finally snapping out of her daze, Liang Chengmin pushed at him, but he didn’t budge. There they stood, locked in place under the cover of night. She pressed against the wall, and he pressed against her, their noses almost touching, their breaths mingling.

“Who needs you to take care of me? I…” she started to speak, but Luan Mingrui only half-listened. It was his first time being so intimate with someone, and he found the sensation intoxicating. The sweet aroma of her words sent him into a daze, and impulsively, he leaned in to seal her lips with his own. He was beginning to get the hang of it, sucking on her lips with purpose. Another wave of heat rushed through Liang Chengmin’s mind.

“What?” Luan Mingrui whispered against her lips.

“I’m a doctor. I can take care of myself…” But Luan Mingrui bit her lip, cutting her off before she could finish her sentence. Back and forth, three or four times, both of them grew short of breath. Finally, Liang Chengmin managed to convey her meaning: she didn’t need him to provide for her. She was a doctor, after all. Even if she couldn’t afford shrimp and crab every day, she could still treat herself once in a while when she got paid.

“I understand. So, you’re saying you’re unwilling, right?” Luan Mingrui glared at her. “If you’re unwilling, then what are you doing here? In the middle of the night, cuddling and kissing with a man in an alleyway—aren’t you the one acting like a thug?” He turned the tables on her, deliberately trying to provoke her.

“Am I the one acting like a thug?” Liang Chengmin was infuriated. She reached out and pinched his waist with all her might. Luan Mingrui let out a groan of pain, grabbing her wrist. Still, he didn’t let up with his teasing. “Where are you touching, Liang Chengmin? Why don’t you move your hand a little lower?”

Liang Chengmin couldn’t believe that this was the same Luan Mingrui the nurses at the hospital described as a haughty young master who rarely smiled. They said he came from a wealthy family, well-educated and cultured. Was that really the same person standing in front of her now? How could he be so shameless?

Seeing her frustration, Luan Mingrui decided to back off. Finally releasing her, he took a step back. “Fine, if you don’t want to marry me, okay. But what about dating freely?”

“No.”

“Then why are you blushing?”

“It’s my face. What business is it of yours?”

Liang Chengmin gave him a shove and turned to run. Once inside, she dashed into her small room, opening the window just a crack. From there, she saw Luan Mingrui still standing outside, looking like a big fool.

Liang Chengmin didn’t know that having someone on her mind would feel like this.

Every time she closed her eyes or opened them, all she could see was Luan Mingrui’s face—and the memory of him holding her tightly, their breaths heavy. When she woke up the next morning, her eyes were red, like a little rabbit’s. After breakfast, she stepped outside and saw Luan Mingrui waiting by her door.

Her face flushed again. “What are you doing here?”

“To take you to work.”

“I don’t need you to take me to work.”

“But I’m taking you anyway.”

Luan Mingrui hopped onto his bicycle and gestured to the backseat. “Get on.”

“I have my own bike.”

“You’re too short. Riding your bike looks ridiculous.”

“…”

Liang’s mother heard the commotion and came out, spotting the two of them in their standoff. She recognized Luan Mingrui—this young man was quite famous in their small town.

“What’s going on here?”

“Good morning, Auntie. I’ve come to take her to work,” Luan Mingrui said confidently.

“Aren’t you getting married?” Liang’s mother asked.

“Just rumors. If I were to marry anyone, it’d be Liang Chengmin. My parents will visit in a couple of days. Please rest assured.”

“Who said I’d marry you!” Liang Chengmin, flustered, smacked him lightly. To her mother, it looked like playful banter. Smiling, she said, “You’re going to be late. Hurry up.” Liang’s mother had a good impression of Luan Mingrui. He seemed respectable, and she thought he made a fine match for her daughter.

Liang Chengmin mounted her own bike and rode off, weaving left and right. Luan Mingrui followed behind her, watching as the wind billowed her clothes. The uneven cobblestone road made her bike bounce slightly as she pedaled.

Watching Liang Chengmin like this, Luan Mingrui thought to himself: This girl is really something.

Aside from her sharp temper, she was perfect in every way.

He followed her all the way to the hospital. When she got off her bike, he remained seated on his, one foot propped on the ground, one hand gripping the handlebars, and the other reaching out to grasp her wrist. “Liang Chengmin, I was serious about what I said last night.”

“What did you say? All you did last night was act like a thug!” Liang Chengmin scolded him in a low voice. “If you pull that again, I’ll report you!”

“Fine. I’ll come pick you up for dinner tonight.”

“I’m not going!”

Liang Chengmin had insisted she wouldn’t go, but throughout the day, her thoughts kept drifting back to him. She found Luan Mingrui annoying—she had always devoted herself entirely to mastering medicine, and this was the first time a man had ever distracted her.

When it was time to leave work, she pushed her bike out of the hospital, and sure enough, Luan Mingrui was waiting there. He grabbed the handlebars of her bike, took it from her, and with a quick slide on the ground, positioned it under his leg. Pointing to the backseat, he said, “Get on.”

“No.”

“If you don’t get on, are you planning to walk to dinner?”

“It’s my bike!”

“Do you even realize how ridiculous you look riding that thing?” Luan Mingrui mimicked her wobbly movements on the bike seat, and passersby couldn’t help but laugh.

“Luan Mingrui!” Liang Chengmin snapped. “Are you insane?!”

“Yes, I’m insane. After we’re married, you can slowly cure me.”

Luan Mingrui was always decisive, precise, and relentless when it came to getting what he wanted. Once he set his mind on something—or someone—he wouldn’t stop until he achieved it. Even if he had to act uncharacteristically, like an obnoxious thug, so be it. He didn’t care. His plan was simple: spread the word, claim her as his, and ensure no one else stood a chance. It was shameless, but effective.

His words startled everyone around them. People passing by stopped in their tracks and stared. Was Dr. Liang really getting married? No one had heard about her having a boyfriend, so how could she already be talking about marriage?

Liang Chengmin panicked. “You’re talking nonsense! In broad daylight, you…”

“What? Are you coming or not? If not, should I tell everyone about the liqueur chocolates?”

The moment Luan Mingrui finished speaking, Liang Chengmin leaped onto the backseat, gripping his shirt tightly. “Let’s go, hurry!”

She was terrified of what might come out of his loose lips.

She didn’t know how she had ended up attracting such a troublemaker. What scared her even more was that she had started to think about him—a lot.

Suddenly, Luan Mingrui slammed on the brakes, causing Liang Chengmin to lose balance and bump her face into his back. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his waist. Then she heard him say, “Hold on tight!”

He zipped through the small town with her clinging to him. The clean, pleasant scent of Luan Mingrui made her heart flutter unpredictably.

When they arrived at the state-owned restaurant, Luan Mingrui squatted down to lock the bike. Liang Chengmin glanced at his clean fingers and neatly combed hair and thought to herself, What’s so bad about marrying him? After all, I spent the entire night thinking about him last night.

As Luan Mingrui stood up, Liang Chengmin said to him, “Luan Mingrui, I can’t eat this meal for free.”

“You can treat me if you want. Did you get your paycheck?” Either way, it didn’t matter who paid—as long as they sat down and ate together.

“What I mean is… I agree to date you freely, and I’m not afraid to marry you.” Her face turned bright red, shy yet resolute, like a seventeen-year-old girl.

Luan Mingrui looked at her and smiled. At work, she appeared so mature—sometimes serious, sometimes troubled, always focused on her patients. But after work, she transformed into an innocent, pure young woman who hadn’t quite grown up yet.

He pinched her cheek gently, and when passersby glanced at them, they didn’t care. What was there to be afraid of?

Luan Mingrui wasted no time. That very evening, he went home and announced his intention to marry her. He was determined and never acted recklessly. When he said he was going to marry someone, he meant it. So, when he asked his parents to prepare gifts and visit Liang Chengmin’s family, they immediately agreed without hesitation.

They knew Dr. Liang—the top-tier girl in the small town. She had good character, a stable job, and reliable parents. They never expected that after both parties initially rejected each other during the blind date, Luan Mingrui would quietly and swiftly win her over.

Luan Mingcheng muttered beside him, “So that’s why you didn’t let me mention her bad temper!”

“She used to call me ‘four-eyes.’ Does she still think that now?”

“The two of you will fight every single day if you live together!”

“None of your business,” Luan Mingrui shot back with a glare.

On the day Luan Mingrui and Liang Chengmin got married, the small town buzzed with excitement. No one thought their marriage was just a matter of convenience due to age. Why? Because when they stood side by side, they lit up the entire town. They were perfect for each other.

It was only right that they got married.

Who else could they possibly end up with?

During the ceremony, Luan Mingrui secretly hooked her finger, tracing a gentle line across her palm. Though Liang Chengmin blushed in front of everyone, she didn’t dare move. She allowed him to hold her hand, savoring the hidden sweetness between them.

Liang Chengmin had secretly asked herself whether she loved Luan Mingrui. If not, why was she marrying him? On the eve of their wedding, she replayed their interactions in her mind. She realized she had fallen into the net he deliberately cast. He was a bad guy, but she didn’t care. This was the first time in her life she had ever been so preoccupied with a man, and she liked the feeling.

The wedding in the small town was lively, with the banquet stretching along the main street. Both newlyweds wore red flowers pinned to their chests, and Liang Chengmin’s hair was braided neatly. Her smile lit up the sky—it was breathtaking.

Luan Mingrui couldn’t take his eyes off her.

In front of relatives, friends, and neighbors, he didn’t bother hiding his admiration, nor did he worry about breaking other girls’ hearts. All he cared about was looking at her.

During the toast, Luan Mingrui intentionally drank less, eventually pulling Luan Mingcheng aside to help him fend off the alcohol. Confused, Luan Mingcheng asked, “You’re getting married, and you won’t let me drink for you?”

“What do you know?!”

Luan Mingrui was saving himself for later. If he got drunk, how could he enjoy the night?

When the hospital colleagues tried to make Liang Chengmin drink, Luan Mingrui pushed Luan Mingcheng forward again. “We’ll send one representative to drink with everyone. Liang Chengmin’s alcohol tolerance isn’t great, and drinking too much will affect her work.”

“She doesn’t have to work tomorrow,” the colleague teased.

Everyone burst into laughter, understanding exactly what the newlyweds were trying to avoid. Most people had been in their shoes before, so they didn’t push them further. The wine was replaced with water, and the clinking of glasses rang just as loudly. As long as everyone was happy, nothing else mattered.

By the time the crowd dispersed from the bridal chamber, it was late. After some playful teasing, the guests left, leaving only the two of them in the room.

Liang Chengmin sat at the head of the bed, while Luan Mingrui sat at the foot. Even their breathing was cautious.

Outside, the window rattled slightly, and someone whispered, “Why’s it so quiet in there?”

Annoyed by eavesdroppers, Luan Mingrui pushed open the window and saw a group of boys scatter.

After closing the window, he returned to sit at the edge of the bed.

After a while, he asked Liang Chengmin, “Do you know the human body really well?”

“Yes.”

“Then study me.