About five minutes later, Zhao Siming sat back down.
He wasn't sure if it was due to hitting a particular nerve, but his feet were trembling, and he couldn't control it.
"Junior Brother, I came here in a rush and wasn't properly prepared! But I do have a set of custom-made silver needles at home. They're very hard, and they'll definitely help you!"
"Thank you, Brother!" Xiao Chen, the protagonist, said gratefully.
"We're brothers, no need to be so polite! Rest easy for now, I'll come back tomorrow to help you," Zhao Siming said, patting Xiao Chen lightly on the shoulder.
"Why tomorrow? Why not tonight?" Xiao Chen didn't want to wait another day. He just wanted to get better immediately.
"Because I need to check on my legs first. I'm not sure what's wrong with them!"
"..."
Xiao Chen opened his mouth and said, "Brother, please take care of yourself."
"I'm leaving now, see you tomorrow!" Zhao Siming limped toward the door.
As he opened the door, he ran into Lin Beifan. Lin Beifan looked surprised. "Dr. Zhao, you're leaving already?"
Zhao Siming smiled and said, "Mr. Lin, yes, I'm leaving. I'll check on my junior brother again tomorrow!"
"You can go, but there's something I need to tell you!" Lin Beifan said.
"What is it, Mr. Lin? Please go ahead!" Zhao Siming replied.
"Your junior brother is in the hospital here, and I've already paid for his medical expenses. Now that you're here, can you help me settle the bill? It's a total of 500,000 yuan. Thank you!" Lin Beifan said with a smile.
Zhao Siming: "..."
Junior Brother, you were right—he really is annoying!
Reluctantly, Zhao Siming took out 500,000 yuan.
After receiving the payment, Lin Beifan happily drove to Song's Hospital.
Song Yuqing was a little surprised to see Lin Beifan. "Why are you here?"
"You said you wanted to invite me to dinner. Don't back out now!" Lin Beifan teased as he strolled into Song Yuqing's office.
"But you came way too early. It's not even time to clock out yet!" Song Yuqing glanced at the time and sighed.
"You go ahead and finish your work. I'll just sit here and keep myself entertained." Lin Beifan plopped down onto a chair, pulling out his phone to scroll through it.
Unexpectedly, Song Yuqing grabbed her coat and bag. "Let's go!"
Lin Beifan raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You're leaving work early?"
"I'm not working today," Song Yuqing replied with a mischievous smile. "The biggest headache I've had has already been solved by you, so why not take it easy for once?"
"Great! Let's go now!" Lin Beifan quickly stuffed his phone into his pocket.
As they walked out, Song Yuqing asked, "So, where are we eating?"
"Follow me! I'll take you somewhere special—delicious and affordable!" Lin Beifan grinned.
"Alright, I'm curious now!" Song Yuqing chuckled.
Half an hour later, they arrived at a humble, old-school eatery nestled in a small alley.
Song Yuqing glanced around at the worn-down surroundings, clearly surprised. "I didn't expect a young master like you to know places like this!"
"What, do you think I live in a bubble of luxury? This restaurant has been running for 20 years, and their food is as amazing as ever! It's famous for its authentic flavors. Trust me, you'll love it!" Lin Beifan explained. "Good thing we got here early—this place is always packed!"
Song Yuqing gave him a playful squint. "You come here often, don't you? Tell me honestly, do you bring girls here often?"
Lin Beifan smirked. "Nope. You're the first!"
Song Yuqing felt a warm twinge of emotion at that response.
"If it were other girls, I'd just take them straight to a hotel!" Lin Beifan added cheekily.
Song Yuqing's warm expression froze, her eyes narrowing as she glared at him. "What did you just say?"
"Haha! Just kidding!" Lin Beifan waved off her glare, then added seriously, "But really, you're the first woman I've ever brought here for a meal."
His sincerity softened her mood.
"First in both my past life and this one," Lin Beifan murmured to himself with a small smile.
Though Song Yuqing didn't hear the last part, she felt the significance of the moment and smiled back at him.
Song Yuqing felt her cheeks warm under Lin Beifan's gaze. Trying to compose herself despite the flutter in her chest, she stammered, "You're so annoying! I'm not talking to you anymore. I'll just focus on ordering food!"
With that, the two began choosing dishes for their dinner.
The food at the humble little eatery turned out to be as advertised—authentic, delicious, and affordable. They enjoyed their meal with lively chatter and laughter, savoring every bite.
After a while, Song Yuqing set her chopsticks down. "I'm full. You go ahead and finish the rest."
Lin Beifan looked at her, surprised. "Why so little? Did you not like it?"
Song Yuqing pouted slightly, glancing away. "I'm trying to lose weight!"
Lin Beifan paused, his expression softening. Yesterday's teasing must have hit a nerve, he realized. Feeling a twinge of guilt, he leaned forward. "You know," he began, "I think women who are too skinny look unhealthy, like bamboo poles. A gust of wind could blow them over."
Song Yuqing raised an eyebrow. "Don't all men like thin women?"
Lin Beifan shook his head. "I can't speak for other men, but I prefer women who are a bit more... full of life. Like you—you're just right. Perfect, even. Don't change a thing."
Her heart raced at his words, skipping a beat at what felt like a veiled confession. She quickly masked her feelings with mock anger. "Who cares what you think? You're not my person! Whether I lose weight or not has nothing to do with you!"
Then, with a defiant flourish, she pulled several dishes closer to her.
Lin Beifan blinked. "What are you doing?"
Song Yuqing picked up her chopsticks, speaking with a mix of determination and feigned indignation. "I'm eating! If I'm going to lose weight, I'll need the energy for it. The more I eat now, the more strength I'll have later!"
Lin Beifan burst out laughing, his eyes twinkling. "You've got a point. Here, let me help." He picked up a chicken leg with his chopsticks and placed it on her plate. "For strength. Take good care of yourself."
Song Yuqing looked at the chicken leg, then at him, feeling her cheeks heat up again. She muttered, "Thanks. If I ever lose weight, you'll get some credit." Then she dug into her food with a small smile, her earlier frustration all but forgotten.
Lin Beifan grinned, satisfied. Moments like these made life all the more entertaining.