The drive as quiet as Xu Chenyao tapped her chin, it's been a while since she had been in such a awkward situation.
"This herbal store...do you trust them, are the herbs top quality?"
Ilya spoke up bringing Xu Chenyao attention back to him.
"Yes, I always get my herbs from there or I grow the ones I need..."
Ilya raised his brows, he could feel some sort of sophistication she carried, something other women didn't.
Or maybe it was because you rarely see any woman talking about herbs or have taste in this kind of dressing.
"I'll take your word for it.." he said curtly and increased his speed, following whatever direction Xu Chenyao asked him to take.
"Slow down, I'm sure you can see the shop as well.."
Ilya nodded and released his foot from the brake and placed his hand on the gear.
Xu Chenyao watched as his muscles flexed, revealing just how veiny his hands actually was.
She gulped, he had the features to make any woman lose her mind.
"Are you okay, your cheeks are.."
"Fine, I'm fine...I'm fine.." she muttered as she patted her cheeks,
why the heck was she blushing?!.
Ilya smiled as he chuckled lowly, if it were other women he would have found it annoying but she looked cute.
"We're here!"
Xu Chenyao quickly got down, reaching to grab her bag and parasol, but Ilya placed his hand on her's, stopping her movement.
"No one would steal them, if you left them in the car.."
Xu Chenyao didn't hear a word Ilya said as stared at her hand which was now covered by a larger one.
She felt like she was hallucinating when she saw him stroking her hand, yes! It must have definitely been her mind playing tricks on her.
"Right...right.."
She broke out of her reverie and withdraw her hand. Ilya nodded and got down from the car, locking it before placing the keys inside his pockets.
As they walked inside the store, he couldn't help but stare at his hand. Her hand felt so soft and warm, he felt a little cold when she withdrew her hand.
Like he had sank back into a ocean filled with ice cold water.
"Chenyao? You're here to get some herbs?"
Xu Chenyao lips twitched as she frowned, Cheng Gu and his blabbermouth. She did not want Ilya to find out about her name, she had a feeling they would have more encounters in the future.
"Ah yes..."
"Just came back from visiting a patient? Who's the handsome man behind you, is he your boyfriend? Husband? Look at his hair la! And his features, can't tell me he's not mixed..."
Xu Chenyao lips twitched as she facepalmed, blabbing! He just kept blabbing nonstop.
"Cheng Gu...what did I tell you about blabbing?"
Her eyes twitched making Cheng Gu purse his lips and keeping quiet.
"Not to..." he let out shakily, taking a step back, good things did not happen to the men that offended this woman.
"He's not my boyfriend or husband, yes he's handsome I can see that, he's mixed yes, now give me the damn herbs on the list and shut the hell up.."
Nodding, he grabbed the paper and ran off, Xu Chenyao took a deep breath and turned to smile at Renji.
"You stay here, there are some herbs I want to buy myself.."
Ilya blinked as Xu Chenyao drew his attention to her.
"Let me help.."
"I don't need your help.."
"What if there's a shelf you can't reach? You're short.."
Xu Chenyao lips twitched, giving Ilya a hard stare, how dare he call her short!
"I'm taller than most woman, I refuse to accept being called short.."
"Even if you are?"
"..."
Ilya blinked, he could never understand why short people refuse to accept being short, it's not like they could grow any taller.
"Or maybe you are too tall, which makes me look short in your eyes.."
Ilya nodded he was 6'5, looking at Xu Chenyao, he guessed she was about 5'5 or 5'6ish.
"Then we've registered the fact that you're short and I'm tall, so let me help you.."
".."
Xu Chenyao felt her blood pressure would raise if she spent another minute with this man.
"For the last time, I don't need your help...if you follow me, I will break your legs. I know kung fu!.."
Ilya smiled, this was definitely one interesting woman he could tell she wasn't just saying this words to threaten him.
"Mhm...i also happen to know kung fu, judo, jujutsu, taekwondo..and many more, that's not an issue right?.."
Humph!
Xu Chenyao didn't say anything and directly walked away, mumbling endlessly as she did.
"So annoying!"
Xu Chenyao turned back, not surprised to see Ilya behind her, his footsteps were light, if she hadn't trained her ears. She would have never noticed his presence.
"The herbs I need are just to make a starter pack medicine, after seeing the patient tomorrow I'll devise a more suitable treatment plan.." she muttered to herself, as she scanned through the shelves.
Salvia, astragalus, reishi mushroom..these were the herbs she needed.
"Found them and they're so fresh!"
Xu Chenyao excitedly picked them up, shopping for herbs for her favorite thing to do.
"You really love these herbal medicine job doesn't you?.."
"Mhm...I'm a Doctor, I'm always happy to find new ways to cure people.."
Xu Chenyao nodded, this amount would be enough for the starter pack medicine tomorrow.
When they got back to the counter, Cheng Gu had already brought the herbs Ilya wanted.
"Right lets get to the billing shall we?"
"I'll also be paying for hers as well..."
Cheng Gu raised a brow, these herbs were pretty expensive can he afford them both?.
"Suit yourself..."
He quickly swiped the herbs through the scanner, it made a beeping sound each time.
"Your total is 2500 yuan.."
Ilya nodded and brought out his card handing it to Cheng Gu.
"A black card huh? Chenyao where did you find this handsome, rich, husband of yours!"
"For the last time, he's not my husband...yet.." Xu Chenyao mumbled the last part but Ilya still heard it.