Lan Lan had come solely to complete her leader’s task. With the items delivered, she had no desire to engage in pleasantries with Shang Ting. Just as she was about to leave, Shang Ting suddenly said, “I need to go out and buy something. Since you’re here, could you look after him for me?”
Shang Ting pointed to Liang Yufeng’s IV drip, which was nearly empty. It was true that someone needed to stay with him at a time like this. Shang Ting, without waiting for Lan Lan’s consent, picked up her wallet and left. Even though Lan Lan was reluctant, she had no choice but to stay in the ward with Liang Yufeng.
Liang Yufeng looked even more haggard than he had when he had a high fever that night. Lan Lan couldn’t help but wonder if he had looked much the same when he was getting an IV drip at the school clinic after being drenched in the rain years ago.
This ailment was caused by her. Lan Lan wasn’t so heartless as to abandon him. She found a cup and poured Liang Yufeng a glass of hot water. “Would you like some water?”
Liang Yufeng seemed to be angry about something. Ever since she appeared, he hadn’t spoken a word to her. She had to take the initiative. Lan Lan had initially placed the water on the bedside table, but upon seeing Liang Yufeng’s IV-drip hand, she brought the cup to his lips. “Take a sip.”
Liang Yufeng looked at Lan Lan. Her expression was natural, as if she had forgotten their argument from that day, or perhaps, he had been the only one angry from the start. Liang Yufeng remained indifferent, as if she didn’t exist.
“Fine, I won’t force you,” Lan Lan said. “Since you don’t want to see me that badly, let’s end our friends-with-benefits relationship here. I won’t bother you again. I wish you and…”
“You dare,” he interrupted before she could finish. The man who had been silent finally spoke.
Lan Lan chuckled. “Little brat, can’t I handle you?”
“Oh, so what else? I don’t have a habit of offering a warm face to a cold backside. I brought so many things to visit you, and I still have to endure your mood, Mr. Liang.” Lan Lan spoke sarcastically.
“Offering a warm face to a cold backside? You mean yourself?” Liang Yufeng seemed to hear a joke. When did their relationship reach a point where such words could be used to describe it? For so many years, it had always been him offering a warm face to a cold backside.
“Is there a problem?” Lan Lan complained to him. “Since I entered this ward, you haven’t said a word to me. You even told me to get lost that day. How humble I was in front of you.”
Liang Yufeng: “…” What a reversal of blame. She seemed to have no idea what had angered him.
“I thought you wanted to break up with me. I tried to get a reaction from you, but you wouldn’t let me go. Mr. Liang’s heart is too deep for ordinary people like me to fathom. Give me a clear answer.” Lan Lan became more and more theatrical, as if she were the one who had been wronged.
“I won’t let you go.” Liang Yufeng’s attitude was very clear.
“Okay, I understand.” Lan Lan was not surprised by this. Liang Yufeng hadn’t settled his score with her yet, so he wouldn’t let her off easily. “Can I give you water now?”
With that, she picked up the cup and offered it to him. Liang Yufeng, giving her some face, drank half of it.
After drinking the water, it seemed as if his anger had subsided a bit. He even took the initiative to talk to her. “What have you been doing these past few days?”
“Working, what else?” Lan Lan said. “I took leave today to see you. Isn’t that sincere? Mr. Liang, shouldn’t you reward me properly?”
Teasing him had become a habit. Perhaps it was because he looked so frail today, lacking his usual oppressive aura, which made her feel a sense of their past. She casually teased him.
Unexpectedly, Liang Yufeng actually picked up his phone and transferred twenty thousand yuan to her via WeChat. Lan Lan saw it and said playfully, “Mr. Liang is so generous. Twenty thousand for three hours. Do I still need to work?”
“Then resign, and I’ll give you money.” Liang Yufeng didn’t seem to be joking. He said it more seriously than anyone else.
Lan Lan accepted the money. “That won’t do. Earning some extra money occasionally is enough. I love my job.”
Liang Yufeng suddenly sneered, his expression turning gloomy again. His mood changed as quickly as the weather in July. Lan Lan didn’t quite understand. “Mr. Liang, what have I done to upset you now?”
“Besides work, what else do you love?” Liang Yufeng asked.
Lan Lan thought about it carefully before answering, “Many things. I love money, traveling, shopping for bags, drinking… Oh, to combine similar items, it’s all about loving money.”
Work was also for earning money. Plus, the sense of accomplishment from leveling up and defeating monsters, and the novelty of new business opportunities were all captivating. She was born with a restless spirit, otherwise, she wouldn’t have entered this profession.
Lan Lan showed a moment of weakness, and this conflict was considered over. Liang Yufeng was hospitalized for five days and was discharged on the weekend. Lan Lan received his text message and rushed to his place that weekend.
With Liang Yufeng recovered, the task of cooking naturally fell to him. All the dinner dishes were Lan Lan’s favorites. As they were enjoying their meal, Liang Yufeng suddenly said, “Go to Runcheng with me next week.”
“What for?” Lan Lan asked. “I have work, I can’t get leave.”
“It’s a business trip. I’ve already spoken to your leader.” Liang Yufeng acted first and reported later. Lan Lan knew her leader’s style too well. Even if Liang Yufeng asked her to go to the moon, her leader would have her packed and delivered to him.
A business trip it is, and to Runcheng, no less…
Lan Lan remembered something Lin Mei had been investigating recently and contacted her. It was a good opportunity; perhaps she could help Lin Mei find some valuable information on this trip, making it worthwhile.
The next day, Lan Lan went home to pack her luggage and flew to Runcheng with Liang Yufeng. Meanwhile, Xu Zhengxi received news that Liang Yufeng was taking Lan Lan on a business trip and immediately arranged for people to follow them to Runcheng.
Xu Zhengxi’s expression was serious. Liang Yufeng’s sincerity towards this woman had exceeded his imagination!
Runcheng had a very different atmosphere from Nanjiang. Both were first-tier cities, but Runcheng’s pace of life was much slower than Nanjiang’s, and it had many delicacies.
After Lan Lan and Liang Yufeng arrived at the hotel, Lan Lan opened her phone to search for nearby eateries. Within tens of minutes, she had already identified several places. There was a very popular fried skewer shop nearby, and Lan Lan planned to have dinner there. But Liang Yufeng…
Lan Lan looked at him. He was in business attire again today, wearing a black suit, his posture upright. He stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, as if separated from the world by a barrier. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like for him to eat at a fried skewer shop.
“I’m going out for dinner,” Lan Lan decided not to ask him along. She informed him and prepared to leave.
Upon hearing this, Liang Yufeng immediately turned around. “I’ve ordered room service at the hotel restaurant.”
“Eating hotel food is so boring. I found a restaurant nearby,” Lan Lan told him. “I’m going out to try it.”
“What about me?” Liang Yufeng asked.
“You eat the hotel food,” Lan Lan replied. Seeing his gloomy expression, she added, “I don’t think that place matches your style; you might not want to go.”
“What place?” Liang Yufeng asked.
“Fried skewers,” Lan Lan pointed at his clothes. “Your attire isn’t suitable for going in there, is it?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Liang Yufeng actually began to undress in front of her!