Xia Kelan's bright eyes slowly drifted downward, her gaze meticulously appraising him inch by inch, as if weighing his true worth.
"Uncle, how can your face be so thick-skinned?"
"You're well into your years and yet haven't settled down. How can you utter such shameless words without an ounce of embarrassment?"
Xie Cheng maintained his smile, but a twitch at the corner of his eye betrayed his frustration—his charming peach blossom eyes nearly squinted shut. The blows Xia Kelan had delivered far outweighed anything he'd endured in the past twenty-eight years combined.
"I'm the same age as Fu Liangmu. Why do you only criticize me and not him?" Xia Kelan's expression grew strange.
"He's married and you're not. How can the two of you even be compared?" Xie Cheng suddenly realized and pulled the car over to the roadside.
He turned sideways, resting his hand on the back of Xia Kelan's seat.
"So you're saying you look down on unmarried men of a certain age?"
Xia Kelan smiled sweetly, her beautiful eyes sparkling with amusement. She leaned forward, and the allure beneath her camisole neckline caught Xie Cheng's gaze involuntarily.
"You're overthinking. I simply disdain you."
Able-bodied and capable, yet choosing to be a kept man! Worse, stealing a friend's partner? Xia Kelan loathed such behavior above all else. She resolutely stepped out, slammed the door shut with a bang, and kicked the car as she looked back.
"This car was probably bought by you when you were at your most favored, right?"
"Bah!"
"Scoundrel!"
Watching Xia Kelan's departing silhouette, Xie Cheng sat inside, utterly bewildered.
"Is this woman just clueless, or has she watched too many palace dramas..."
Pushing open the hospital room door, the air was thick with the scent of medicine.
Xia Kelan sniffled lightly.
"Did you change your dressing?"
Su Wanwan sat on the bed, her alabaster face flushed with two faint roseate patches, her long, dense lashes trembling with tangled emotions hidden in her eyes.
"Yes."
Xia Kelan placed a small table over the bed and suddenly noticed something. She leaned in close to Su Wanwan. The distance between them shrank, breaths intertwining.
"Wanwan, why is your face so red?"
Xia Kelan reached out to touch her and found her burning hot.
"Are you too warm? I'll open a window."
She walked over and pulled it wide open, unaware of the fading figure disappearing downstairs.
On the fourth morning, Xia Kelan completed the discharge procedures. Returning to the ward, she found Fu Liangmu already there, supporting Su Wanwan as they prepared to leave.
Xia Kelan froze in place, gazing at Fu Liangmu's disheveled and distressing face so close to Su Wanwan. She sighed deeply.
"No, no, I need to wash my eyes..."
Reflecting on the years, the men who loved Su Wanwan had mostly been refined, accomplished scions of commerce, aristocratic heirs, or rising stars of the entertainment world—each handsome and erudite. Not like Fu Liangmu... No beauty, no talent, and utterly ugly.
Lost in thought, Su Wanwan suddenly faltered, staggering forward, only to be firmly caught by Fu Liangmu.
"Careful."
His hand encircled her slender waist with commanding strength. He gently lifted her off the ground, effortlessly carrying her outside.
Xia Kelan stood dumbfounded, patting her head as realization dawned.
"I think I'm beginning to understand why Wanwan chose a kept man..."
Fu Liangmu helped Su Wanwan into the car, then returned inside for the remaining items. There, he found Xia Kelan standing at the door, her expression conflicted.
Fu Liangmu ignored her and proceeded inside.
"Mr. Fu!" Xia Kelan called out, stepping forward.
"Yes?" Fu Liangmu's eyes glinted with hostility. If not for this girl, he would have been the one by Su Wanwan's side these past days.
"I want to discuss something with you."
"Su Wanwan and I are close friends. We used to eat, live, and play together. We did everything side by side!"
"This time she sprained her ankle badly. I'm really worried about leaving her alone."
"Coincidentally, I have a place in West City. Why not let her stay with me for now\..."
"When she recovers, I'll take her back."
Xia Kelan's voice grew softer and softer. Before her stood a man whose aura was dark and foreboding, his jet-black eyes unreadable, shrouded in an oppressive shadow.
"You... you..."
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
It is said those who have suffered deeply cling even more desperately to warmth. After all, Fu Liangmu's situation makes finding a gentle, virtuous woman extraordinarily difficult.
"Miss Xia, don't you think you're meddling too much?" Fu Liangmu's cold voice cut through the air, his overwhelming presence suffocating.
"Though you two are friends..."
His pale lips parted slowly as he stepped forward deliberately. The heavy thud of his shoe hitting the floor sent Xia Kelan's heart leaping into her throat. This man was terrifying!
"Bro-bro-bro-brother... don't get so worked up. Let's talk this through!"
Fu Liangmu's lips curled into a cruel smile, his words measured and sharp:
"There's nothing to discuss."
Xia Kelan's legs trembled. Instinctively retreating, she stumbled into someone's arms.
A teasing voice rang out above her.
"Alright, alright, don't scare the poor girl."
Fu Liangmu shot Xie Cheng a cold glance before striding away. The oppressive atmosphere vanished instantly.
Xia Kelan exhaled deeply, stepping out of Xie Cheng's embrace and patting her chest, feeling as though she had narrowly escaped death.
"Not a word of thanks?"
"I did help you three times, after all."
Xia Kelan scoffed.
"Only twice, if you count correctly."
"Three times? Where?"
Xie Cheng stretched out his long fingers, counting carefully:
"Yesterday in the elevator."
"And just now."
"And... the Music Sanctuary."
Xia Kelan widened her eyes, staring at him for a long time.
"Sorry, I can't recall any of those."
Having been surrounded by handsome men so often, her memory was simply overloaded!
"You swapped tickets with me." Xie Cheng smiled.
Suddenly Xia Kelan realized and slapped his chest excitedly, making him cough.
"So it was you!"
Xie Cheng let out a faint chuckle. Xia Kelan laughed joyfully, about to say thank you when her expression abruptly darkened.
"I'm telling you, don't waste your effort!"
Xie Cheng looked at her sudden change of mood in confusion, innocent and puzzled.
"What's wrong with me?"
"Do I really have to spell it out?"
Xia Kelan shook her head helplessly, her face etched with worldly wisdom.
"You just want to get close to me, use me as a stepping stone, and have me say good things about you in front of Wanwan, to legitimize your status!"
Xie Cheng fell silent for a moment.
"What does this have to do with Su Wanwan?"
"Are you suggesting I'm interested in her?"