Kang Jun, who sat in front of her, glanced at AnLing. Seeing her displeased expression he frowned before looking down to her phone. There, he could make out the words Migraine #3 flash across AnLing's screen.
It was Mr. Jing calling.
Turning to look at it, she began to frown and then she let the call go to voicemail but he called again. She ignored him for the second time but when he called a third time, AnLing was so annoyed that she picked up the call but she didn't speak.
AnLing was used to Mr. Jing calling her as just a formality. When Grandma Lu had first been hospitalized the man had called her and then hung up on her face when she answered. But this time was different.
Why was he calling her so much? Had something happened at home?
"Eldest Miss? Hello?" Mr. Jing's voice came through softly.
AnLing's cold face twisted slightly into one of complete confusion. Mr.Jing was acting completely strange. Why did he say her name so kindly and acknowledge her as the 'eldest miss'?
This was not the Mr. Jing she knew and hated. This had to be an imposter.
"Hi…" AnLing said awkwardly.
Mr. Jing: "Ah, I'm so glad I reached you."
AnLing's eyes flew open in complete shock.
'Did Mr. Jing just say that he was 'glad' he reached me?' Her mouth immediately went dry and AnLing just stared blankly at Kang Jun who sat opposite of her.
AnLing: "… What's wrong?"
"I'm afraid your grandmother isn't doing well. Your mother told me to inform you." His words were followed by a long pause.
AnLing thought that he had given her the opportunity to answer but then, as she opened her mouth, he began to speak once more, this time his tone was filled with disgust. "I heard you hadn't come to visit her at all since you came to the country. Please Eldest Miss, be reasonable. I understand that you don't get along with the rest of the Lu family but your grandmother has always been kind to you."
AnLing frowned.
Yep… that was Mr. Jing alright.
AnLing could only assume why the man had spoken to her so kindle a couple of seconds ago. She knew, that the only person capable enough to cause such a reaction was her mother.
"I'll be there right away," AnLing said without delay. She allowed him to hang up the phone but this time, he didn't so she ended up doing it herself.
Kang Jun and Mingyu who had been sitting quietly as she took her call stared at her intently. At first, they'd believed that she was being called by someone she hated but from what they could hear of the conversation they weren't sure what to make out of it.
Once she hung up, AnLing's face looked pale as if she had been drained of blood.
"What's wrong?" Kang Jun asked her.
AnLing: "My grandmother doesn't seem to be feeling well. I need to go."
She prepared herself to stand up. She was worried about her grandmother but judging by how calm Mr. Jing was, despite his change in attitude, whatever had happened wasn't that serious.
"Okay." Kang Jun pushed himself up from the table, causing AnLing to look at him in confusion.
"Where are you going?"
From her chair, AnLing turned so her body faced Kang Jun. Seeing this, he stopped and looked at her softly.
"I'm just going to pay." He said.
"But you guys didn't eat yet. You should stay here. I can go to the hospital by myself. It's fine."
Kang Jun and Mingyu exchanged looks. They both knew well that she could do that but that didn't mean they would let her go so easily.
Kang Jun gave her a look of disappointment. "I refuse."
"Same," Mingyu answered nonchalantly.
Their responses left AnLing speechless.
When the three left, they brought with them doggy bags filled with food. In the car, AnLing and Mingyu ate to their fill but Kang Jun suffered as drove. The blissful aroma of seafood surrounding him.
He swallowed hard trying to get himself in the right frame of mind. He couldn't be distracted, but the scent made it so hard to resist. The man was a foodie by no means but he did love tasting good food.
Noticing his discomfort, AnLing brought a shrimp to his mouth.
Kang Jun didn't expect that to happen so as soon as he found himself face to face with the shrimp he swerved and because of the way, he drove, AnLing could feel the car tip.
"Ahhhh!" AnLing screamed as she gripped the seat hard. "What are you doing that for?!"
In the back seat, Mingyu looked at the both unfazed. He had been through a lot worse. When Kang Jun was the driver, even if they never got into an accident, nothing good would happen, so a person would just need to sit back, get over it and relax.
"Blame yourself." Kang Jun furrowed his eyebrows as he steadied the car.
AnLing: "Why?"
"You shocked me." Kang Jun's words came out with all the seriousness in the world.
"With a shrimp?! I wanted to feed you."
At first, she had believed she had said this in her head but when the sound of her voice reached her ears, AnLing felt as if she crossed a line. Her heart began to beat fast and her palms began to sweat. Why had she said that? She was being too informal towards the man…
He was her landlord, not her friend.
But Kang Jun's answer eliminated all bit of uneasiness within her.
Kang Jun: "If you do that, I'll get expectations."
Hearing this, AnLing blushed hard. 'What expectations?! I just felt bad that everyone was eating and you were stuck playing the chauffeur!'
AnLing: "Just eat. You're supposed to be my landlord so if you're too kind I'll get spoiled and start taking advantage of you."
"As long as it goes both ways, I wouldn't mind." Kang Jun chuckled.
The man was becoming more and more shameless as the hours went by.
AnLing couldn't handle Kang Jun at all.
Due to Kang Jun's driving, they were able to get to the hospital 10 minutes earlier than they would have if he had respected the speed limit.
AnLing really wanted to complain about it but there was barely anything she could say. She had told him she needed to go to the hospital quickly and he had fulfilled that promise.
Once they arrived, Kang Jun didn't park he just drove up to the entrance and let her out there. When she got out, AnLing made sure to tell both of them thank you and goodbye but before she could leave, Kang Jun's voice spoke clearly.
"I'll drop Mingyu and then come back to pick you up."
Hearing this, AnLing paused. Seeing as how the hospital was 40 minutes away from Hotel Helios and close to one hour away from where Mingyu lived, AnLing didn't feel right about Kang Jun's suggestion.
"No. You really don't have to. I can take a taxi." AnLing hugged herself under her jean jacket.
Kang Jun: "I don't, but I will."
Kang Jun looked at her with eyes as deep as the ocean. They communicated a wide array of information but the most important pieces, he liked to communicate with words.
"No… I'm serious you shouldn't do all of this for me."
Kang Jun: "Then what about if I consider it as compensation for cutting our date short? Though, you'd have to also give me a repayment date."
Nothing AnLing could say would change his mind so she said nothing at all. Considering this a sign of acceptance, Kang Jun smiled.
"Good girl."
AnLing lowered her head to hide her blush, but it was unnecessary. Kang Jun had already begun driving away.
As they drove, Mingyu watched AnLing from the back seat as the car brought him further and further away from her.
Kang Jun had been hogging his auntie the whole time they drove, and because he had been speaking to her, Mingyu hadn't gotten the chance to ask her for a hug either. His face began to darken.
When he turned, he looked at Kang Jun's face from the rearview mirror and began to pout. 'How come you're the only one who gets compensation.' his face practically screamed,
Seeing the boys look, Kang Jun smirked.
"Don't worry, you're coming to my place."
'So you're going to be seeing much much more of your auntie.'