"Get lost. If you stay here any longer, I won't know what I'll do if I lose control." Xia Yan's face darkened as she stared at Xia Siyue, her voice cold and eerie.
Seeing this, Xia Siyue instinctively stepped back, clutching her handbag tighter, and snorted, "Xia Yan, don't get too cocky!"
Xia Yan shot her a blank look. If there were a broom in the hospital room, she'd have no choice but to sweep her out with it!
After Xia Siyue left, Xia Yan was alone in the room, staying until dark. When Xiao Lanzi woke up, she patted Xia Yan's head. "Yanyan, you've had a rough time all these years."
"Mom, what are you talking about? I haven't been through anything tough."
"Silly child," Xiao Lanzi murmured softly. Xia Yan smiled and handed her a peeled apple, then tidied up the trash without a second thought, pulled back the covers, and lay down on the hospital bed, curling up in Xiao Lanzi's arms as they talked about childhood memories.
Xia Yan looked up at Xiao Lanzi in disbelief. "Mom, is that really me you're talking about? I knew how to kiss boys when I was little?"
"Yes, I remember that little boy was so clever, delicate, and fair as jade. And you, the moment you saw him, you shouted that you wanted to be his bride, then tackled him to the ground and kissed him straight on."
"Mom, I'm convinced that person wasn't me." Xia Yan's forehead broke out in a cold sweat. She really had no memory of that at all. She'd always thought she was a quiet, adorable little girl back then—who knew she'd been bold enough to force a kiss on someone?
Xia Yan looked at Xiao Lanzi with a mix of laughter and exasperation, firmly denying her childhood antics.
Outside the window, the clear moonlight spilled into the hospital room, casting a lonely, cold glow on the white walls. Watching Xiao Lanzi, who had fallen asleep, Xia Yan carefully got out of bed. Hearing her stomach growl, she realized she hadn't eaten all day. After a moment's hesitation, she grabbed her phone and wallet, planning to grab a quick bite downstairs.
Xia Yan tiptoed out of the room and walked alone along the shaded path in the hospital's rest area. A warm evening breeze blew gently, and she squinted instinctively. The hospital cafeteria was already closed, and the food at nearby restaurants wasn't great. After thinking it over, she decided to leave the hospital and find somewhere random to eat.
Exiting the hospital's main gate, she went straight to an intersection. Turning left led to a snack street, where she'd always come when leaving the hospital late.
"President Lu, isn't that Miss Xia?" Secretary Zhou said in surprise.
Lu Zhengting closed the folder and followed the secretary's gaze. There was Xia Yan walking alone on the sidewalk, lost in thought, looking a bit downcast, even walking absentmindedly. When he saw her bump into two people in a row, Lu Zhengting furrowed his brow. The secretary sitting across from him turned around and saw this, swallowing the words he was about to say.
"Stop at the next intersection."
"President Lu, there's a video conference with Im Company later."
"What time?"
"Nine thirty."
Lu Zhengting nodded. "Pick me up here at nine."
Xia Yan walked in a daze, realizing she'd bumped into someone again. She quickly bent over to apologize. "Sorry, sorry."
"Xia Yan."
Hearing her name, she froze for a moment, then looked up abruptly, startled enough to stumble. Lu Zhengting caught her waist swiftly. "What are you spacing out for?"
"Why are you here?" Xia Yan blinked, asking softly.
"Just passing through."
"Grumble... grumble..."
Xia Yan covered her face with her hands in embarrassment. This was utterly humiliating! She parted her fingers to sneak a peek at Lu Zhengting, who was staring at her seriously.
"Hungry?"
"A little." Xia Yan gave him an awkward smile.
Lu Zhengting glanced around—there were no decent star-rated hotels nearby. Frowning, he pulled out his phone to have his secretary order a meal at the Jiangcheng International Hotel.
Xia Yan quickly grabbed his phone, laughing nervously. "President Lu, you don't need to bother with dinner. There's a snack street around the corner up ahead. I'll just grab something there."
"Snack street?" Lu Zhengting repeated the words, puzzled.
"You've never been to a snack street?" Xia Yan looked at him in surprise, as if he were some oddity.
"No, I haven't."
Hearing his serious reply, she held back her laughter. Thinking about it, it made sense—it would be strange if Lu Zhengting had ever been to a snack street. She snapped her fingers. "Want to come with me?"
Lu Zhengting pursed his lips, hesitating, but seeing the sparkle in Xia Yan's eyes, he found himself nodding.
Xia Yan smiled, grabbed his hand, and quickly led him through the alleys to the entrance of the snack street. The place was packed with waves of people. Lu Zhengting smelled the mix of various odors in the air and frowned deeply.
Seeing him standing at the entrance, unwilling to take the first step, Xia Yan rolled her eyes and tugged at his sleeve. When he still didn't react, she felt a strange disappointment toward him.
Lu Zhengting glanced at her and said flatly, "You're set on eating here?"
"Don't underestimate this place. A lot of it is the old flavors of Jiangcheng. Exaggerating a bit, some things you can only get here."
Hearing this, his tight frown didn't ease. Xia Yan gave him a faint look and sighed. "I knew you wouldn't go for it. I shouldn't have brought you."
"What do you want to eat?"
"I want the barbecue from that place over there."
"Barbecue isn't nutritious."
"Then I'll have the beef noodles from the noodle shop next to it."
Lu Zhengting watched Xia Yan walk inside, baffled as to why she liked eating here. He had to squeeze through the crowd while keeping an eye on her. In the sweltering summer with so many people, he caught the smell of sweat mixed with women's perfume in the air—an unbearably pungent combination.
Xia Yan walked ahead, but when Lu Zhengting didn't catch up for a while, she had to stop and wait. Standing apart from the crowd, she watched him struggle through it under the streetlights. Most people around him were college students, and he stood out starkly in his formal suit.
Seeing this, Xia Yan couldn't help but laugh. When she noticed him getting annoyed after being bumped, she quickly ran over, grabbed his hand without thinking, and pulled him out.
"Lu Zhengting, do you know I've been standing here waiting for you for ages?"
"Are you eating here?" He ignored her complaint and the sly glint in her eyes, looking up at the sign above. The shop was simply decorated—the white walls, likely stained by grease, had yellowed, and the tables and chairs looked worn.
Xia Yan nodded. Catching his look of disdain, she rolled her eyes and walked straight in without waiting for him, raising her voice to the owner, "One bowl of beef noodles."
Lu Zhengting hesitated repeatedly. When he realized Xia Yan really wasn't going to acknowledge him, he threw caution to the wind and followed her in, sitting across from her with a stern face. The owner, bringing out the noodles, saw this and was about to ask what he wanted but was scared off by his intimidating aura.
"Lu Zhengting, if you're not comfortable, you can leave early."
"Eat your noodles!"
"Tsk, I mean it. I never expected you to get used to it." Xia Yan slurped down the beef noodles heartily. This shop's beef noodles were their signature—chewy noodles, tender and flavorful beef, each bite bursting with savory juice.
"You're not leaving? Want a bowl too?" Xia Yan waved grandly and ordered another from the owner.
After eating her fill, she looked at Lu Zhengting, who hadn't moved, and the untouched bowl in front of him. "What a waste."
"..."
"Lu Zhengting, you should really try it. I'm not lying—this beef noodle is their specialty. I guarantee you'll want more."
Hearing her enthusiastic pitch, Lu Zhengting watched her intently, moved, and took a bite without thinking.
"See? I wasn't lying. It's good, right?"
Seeing her smug expression, the corners of his eyes lifted slightly, and a faint smile escaped his lips. Under her gaze, he took a few more bites.
Xia Yan led Lu Zhengting by the hand through the snack street. Spotting an ice cream stand ahead, she dragged him over quickly. "Boss, one cherry blossom ice cream. Lu Zhengting, want one?"
A grown man holding a cherry blossom ice cream—what would that look like? He flatly refused.
But Xia Yan bought an extra one anyway. If he wouldn't eat it, she would.
The consequence of eating ice cream was a stomachache.
She'd alternated between hot and cold foods without a care. Now, her stomach cramped in waves, and she instinctively tightened her grip on Lu Zhengting's hand.
"Xia Yan?"
"My stomach hurts. Help me out."
Seeing this, Lu Zhengting's expression turned serious. "I'll take you to the hospital."
"I think I just ate too randomly, so it's a bit sore. Help me over there—I'll rest a bit and be fine."
Xia Yan clung to his hand. There was a public restroom not far ahead. She'd just remembered her period was around this time. She could only pray it wasn't Aunt Flo visiting.
Lu Zhengting waited outside the restroom for a long time, but Xia Yan didn't come out. Just as his patience was wearing thin, his phone rang.
"Lu Zhengting, I, my aunt's here..."
"You ran into your aunt?"
"..." Xia Yan slapped her forehead. Was she being too subtle?
"I mean, my period started."
Hearing this, Lu Zhengting held the phone, understanding her predicament. So, what did she want him to do by calling?
"Lu Zhengting, can you go to the shop ahead and buy that thing?"
"No." Lu Zhengting said flatly.