Chapter 409: Chapter 409: Are You Satisfied with the Answer?
Xiao Si received Lan Yan’s WeChat message more than three hours after she had sent it.
When she sent the message, he was still in the operating room performing surgery on a patient.
After he changed clothes, he took out his phone to take a look and saw her WeChat message.
After seeing the content in the chat box, he was momentarily stunned.
Then, he laughed.
Lu Zhenyu, who was changing clothes in the locker room with him, was about to speak to him when he noticed Xiao Si holding his phone and laughing foolishly.
He leaned over and asked, “Doctor Xiao, what are you looking at? You’re smiling so happily, let me see too.”
As soon as he leaned over, Xiao Si pushed his head away with his hand.
“Go away, kid. Stay out of grown-up matters.”
“…”
Lu Zhenyu: “I’m not a kid anymore, and you’re not that many years older than me.”
Xiao Si said, “A few years younger is still young.”
After saying that, he turned to leave.
Before opening the door, he suddenly said, “Go check on the previous patient for me. Call me if there are any issues.”
“Where are you going?” Lu Zhenyu shouted.
“I have something very important to deal with. Don’t contact me unless it’s something major.”
With that, he left without another word.
Lu Zhenyu: “…”
After returning to the office and changing out of his white coat, Xiao Si was about to leave.
But as he opened the door, his phone rang.
He glanced at it, furrowing his sword-like brows slightly, but he answered it: “Hello, Jiang…”
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Huai’s panicked and tearful voice came through the line: “Doctor Xiao, please help me.”
Xiao Si paused in his steps, his expression complex, “Where are you?”
Before he could finish asking, there was a loud noise on the other end of the line, followed by Jiang Huai’s scream.
“I’m… I’m at home… ah…”
Outside the hospital gate, Lan Yan had just arrived. As she parked the car and was about to take out her phone, she caught a glimpse of a familiar car driving past her.
She frowned slightly, then decided to put down her phone and followed the car.
Half an hour later, the car drove into a residential area.
She followed in.
Then she saw Xiao Si’s car stop, and he hurriedly got out and ran towards one of the buildings.
At the same time, she noticed a police car parked nearby.
After parking her car, she also followed.
“Officer, we just came to ask her to repay, and we didn’t do anything else, just knocked on the door.”
The police officer looked at the two or three men in front and said sternly, “Is this how you knock on a door? Look at it yourself, the door is almost knocked through.”
The leading man lowered his head slightly, touching his nose with evident guilt.
“Also, you rough men scared the girl. Couldn’t you talk peacefully?” the officer reprimanded.
The man’s attitude was quite good; at least in front of the police, he didn’t say anything too excessive.
“Yes, yes, officer, you’re right, we were too impulsive. We’ll be careful next time.”
After speaking, the man turned to Jiang Huai, “But she owes us money, she has to repay.”
Jiang Huai bit her lip and said, “Officer, I didn’t borrow their money, it wasn’t me.”
At that moment, Xiao Si’s figure emerged from the elevator.
Downstairs, Lan Yan stood by the elevator, watching it stop on the sixth floor.
Subsequently, she pressed the button for another elevator and entered it.
When she arrived, she saw the scene unfold.
Jiang Huai hid behind Xiao Si, clutching the sides of his clothing, her face and body almost pressed against his back.
It looked quite intimate.
Meanwhile, two police officers in uniform and three unfamiliar men were present.
As soon as she walked out, all eyes turned towards her.
Xiao Si was slightly stunned, not expecting Lan Yan to be here.
Jiang Huai was also momentarily surprised.
Lan Yan took a glance and said, “Sorry, I pressed the wrong floor.”
With that, she turned around and re-entered the elevator.
Xiao Si watched her leaving and was just about to follow, but Jiang Huai was still standing behind him.
He slightly furrowed his brows, a faint hint of coldness in his deep, peach-blossom eyes, along with a trace of panic.
After Lan Yan went downstairs, she didn’t drive away immediately.
Not long after, the police escorted the three unfamiliar men downstairs and left.
As for Xiao Si, he still hadn’t come down.
Upstairs, outside the corridor.
Jiang Huai stood in front of Xiao Si, slightly lowering her head, her hands fidgeting with the back of one hand.
“Doctor Xiao, thank you, and I’m sorry for taking up your time,” she said.
Xiao Si seemed somewhat distracted, but he still replied, “As long as you’re okay.”
“At first, I called the police, but I was scared, so I called you.”
“Next time you encounter something like this, you can call the property’s number directly; they usually respond quicker.”
Hearing his words, Jiang Huai paused slightly.
She nodded, her eyes somewhat downcast, “Okay, I understand.”
Actually, when she called him, she hadn’t expected him to come; she was genuinely scared and just wanted to call someone, so she called him.
He did come, but his attitude wasn’t what she had hoped for.
At that moment, Jiang Huai felt a bit embarrassed. Back when he pursued her, she was the one hiding everywhere.
Now she still hoped for things.
Then, she thought of Lan Yan, who had suddenly shown up.
It wasn’t a coincidence that she appeared here.
Jiang Huai looked up at him and instinctively asked, “Doctor Xiao, you and Dr. Lan…”
Before she could finish, Xiao Si promptly said, “Yes, she is my fiancée.”
Jiang Huai’s eyes widened, her limbs frozen at the revelation.
She hadn’t imagined their relationship was like this—he was going to marry Lan Yan.
Swallowing, she said with a tight throat, “I see. Congratulations to you both.”
“I’m alright here, thank you. You should quickly go explain to Dr. Lan. I’m worried she might misunderstand.”
“Alright, I will leave then.”
Finished, Xiao Si didn’t wait for her to say anything else, striding towards the stairway, not even waiting for the elevator.
As he descended the stairs, he pulled out his phone and dialed Lan Yan’s number.
Lan Yan was still in the car.
Hesitating for a few seconds after hearing the ringtone, she finally answered.
“Hello.”
“Xiao Yanyan, where are you?”
“Mmm, downstairs, in the car.”
A minute later, the passenger side door was opened.
The man quickly bent down and got in.
Lan Yan turned her head to glance at him, then looked away, focusing straight ahead.
Xiao Si looked at her profile and chuckled, “You told me you had something to say. What is it? I’m here now, ready to listen.”
Lan Yan calmly responded, “It’s nothing important. Aunt Yun told me there’s a banquet this Saturday and she wants me to accompany her, but she didn’t tell me what kind of banquet it is. So I wanted to ask you.”
Upon hearing her, Xiao Si’s expression darkened slightly.
“Are you mad?” he asked.
Lan Yan turned back to meet his gaze, her expression calm as she answered, “No.”
She truly wasn’t angry. When she saw that scene, she felt slightly uncomfortable, but it was so subtle that she could easily ignore it.
Looking at her, Xiao Si explained, “Lan Yan, I have no romantic feelings for Jiang Huai. I won’t deny I pursued her before, but there was nothing between us. She never responded to me from start to finish, and my feelings for her were fleeting, without any attachment. I just helped her as a friend. But you are different. Even though you often treat me dismissively, it hasn’t lessened my affection for you. It has made me even more eager to spend my life with you. You may be the second girl I’ve chased, but you are the only one I want to marry and the only one I don’t want to give up on.”
“Although what you see with your eyes might be real, it’s not always everything, much like this time. So, please don’t be quick to pass judgment on me.”
As he spoke, he looked genuinely aggrieved.
“If you give me a life sentence now, I might end up a lonely old man.”
Initially, Lan Yan felt a tightness in her chest, but upon hearing this, she immediately felt much lighter.
Yet, she still needed to consider this matter further.
She discovered that her heart wasn’t steady.
She knew that for a couple to work, mutual trust and understanding were imperative, and Xiao Si had demonstrated both.
Then, in a deep, magnetic voice, he continued, “Moreover, the choice between you and her doesn’t exist, now or ever, because she isn’t in my list of choices.”
His dark eyes were full of tenderness, making anyone who looked into them want to lose themselves.
Lan Yan’s heart felt like it had been struck by something.
Frightened, she quickly averted her gaze.
She suddenly felt a sense of unease within her.
“I understand,” she said.
Suddenly, he grabbed her shoulders, turning her to face him again.
He leaned closer, mere inches away.
Staring into her eyes with his ink-black gaze, he said, “Xiao Yanyan, this isn’t the answer I want to hear.”
Xiao Si knew she was retreating again at this moment.
He disliked this feeling.
Previously, he avoided pressuring her, thinking the timing wasn’t right and worrying too much pressure could backfire.
But today was different. She had been ready to step forward, but then pulled back.
Having initiated a step, he couldn’t allow any opportunity for things to progress to slip away.
This close proximity made Lan Yan nervous.
But she hid it well.
Calmly, she asked, “Then what answer do you want to hear?”
With a smile teasing his lips and a twinkle in his dark eyes, the man said, “You know exactly what I want to hear.”
Indeed, she was feigning ignorance; she knew what he sought to hear.
Yet, she was stubborn as a mule.
She said, “I don’t know.”
Xiao Si narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, “Are you sure you don’t?”
Lan Yan answered firmly, “Mm, I don’t know.”
“I’ll give you one more chance.”
Pausing, he looked at her plump lips, and in a low voice, said, “Otherwise, I’m going to kiss you.”
Keeping her gaze locked with his, Lan Yan replied, “Doctor Xiao, it’s not right to be a rogue.”
Laughing, Xiao Si said, “Being a rogue indeed isn’t good, but being a responsible rogue isn’t bad. At least I’m willing to take responsibility for you.”
“…”
“Am I wrong?”
Lan Yan pushed him aside, “You have a lot of twisted logic; I can’t argue with you. Get out, I need to go back.”
Seeing her change the subject, Xiao Si felt helpless but was not ready to let her go.
Narrowing his eyes, his strong arms wrapped around her slender waist and gently lifted her from the driver’s seat onto his lap.
“Ah…”
Startled, Lan Yan hadn’t expected such a move; she instinctively cried out.
Caught off guard, she found herself trapped in his embrace.
Turning her head, she glared at him, “Xiao Si, what are you doing?”
Though used to being held by him, sitting on his lap felt awkward…
“Nothing,” he replied, looking at her with a low, husky voice, “Don’t move. After all, I’m a normal man, and with you being someone I like, it’s hard to be a saint like Liu Xiahui. You know, bottling it up can have side effects for men.”
Her expression darkened, Lan Yan gritted her teeth, “I don’t understand, stop babbling nonsense.”
Xiao Si didn’t want to argue about this; his focus was more pressing.
He stated, “Xiao Yanyan, you weren’t honest with me earlier. You’ve sought me out for a reason today.”
Lan Yan shot back, “I already told you, since when did your ears work so poorly?”
“Have you made up your mind?”
He cut straight to the point.
Pretending ignorance, she replied, “Made up my mind about what? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Attempting to rise from his lap, she soon found it impossible; his hold was too firm.
She asked again, “Can you let me go?”
“No, unless you tell me the truth.”
“…”
She sighed, “Why are you being so unreasonable?”
Recently, Xiao Si discovered that she was neither soft nor hard to deal with, so he opted for middle ground by being unreasonable.
Her skin was thin, while his was thick.
“Hurry and say it, I’m giving you one more minute to think.”
He was determined, resolute in his course.
If he didn’t get an answer today, he’d remain holding her forever.
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll hold you till the end of time.”
After his words, Lan Yan was speechless.
His level of cheekiness was unrivaled.
With patience, she reasoned, “This is a residential area, soon passersby will increase. Do you want us in tomorrow’s headlines?”
Undeterred, Xiao Si responded, “We’re not doing anything over-the-top or affecting the city’s appearance. Besides, holding my future wife isn’t illegal, right?”
“If they dare spread rumors, I’ll send a lawyer’s letter and give Wan something to do.”
“…”
He was truly impervious to reason!
And he’d blocked all her avenues of argument.
He even reminded her of the time.
“You have twenty seconds left.”
“…”
Only Lan Yan knew the internal conflict she felt.
It was like two little voices arguing inside her.
One said, “Hurry and agree.”
Another advised, “Think it over some more.”
The two opposing voices fluttered in her mind.
She closed her eyes, seeking a moment of calm.
“Have you decided?”
Once again, his deep voice echoed in her ear.
His voice barely faded when Lan Yan suddenly turned her head.
Just as he prepared to speak again, her soft hands cupped his face.
Next, her lips gently pressed against his, initiating a kiss.
Xiao Si froze, surprise and incredulity flashing, then transforming into joy and delight.
Her kiss was as fleeting as a dragonfly touching water; she quickly withdrew.
“Does this answer satisfy you?”