Chapter 37

The same old routine.

Gu Yinxing wasn't annoyed. She rolled her eyes just as the food arrived: two bowls of fennel dumplings, sliced boiled lamb, and smashed cucumber.

"Eat up, both of you. Don't stand on ceremony."

Zhao Donglai urged them on.

Gu Yinxing needed no urging. She lowered her head and ate her dumplings while watching the show.

Yan Ren was walking past the restaurant with his friend Xu Rulin when he glanced over and spotted a girl through the window. Dressed warmly, with a little pom-pom hat on her head, she was eating while secretly rolling her eyes at nothing in particular.

The girl had a small face, a round nose, and a lively, mischievous expression. Her cheeks were rosy against her fair skin, like a peach.

"Yan Ren, why'd you stop?" Xu Rulin turned back, puzzled.

Yan Ren came to a halt. "I've got something to do. Go on to Old Bai's place without me."

"What, spot someone you know?" Xu Rulin leaned over for a nosy look. He spotted Gu Yinxing at once, mostly because she was so quick with those eye rolls.

Xu Rulin grinned. "What's this? Your girlfriend?"

He nudged Yan Ren with his elbow.

Yan Ren smiled. "Soon."

"Look at you. I was thinking of introducing someone to you, but you've already got your eye on a girl. All right, I'll go ahead. Take your time."

Xu Rulin's tone was teasing.

He waved and left.

Yan Ren stood there a while before going into the restaurant.

He figured the girl was getting impatient.

The Forty-Second Day of Being Overheard

"What a coincidence."

Yan Ren tapped the table with his fingers. Gu Yinxing looked up and froze. She looked from Yan Ren to Song Mei. "Why... why are you here too?"

"Just passing by."

Yan Ren smiled and glanced at Zhao Donglai. Zhao Donglai was looking at him with open hostility, but Yan Ren didn't back down. "Mind if I join you?"

"Go ahead. Sit."

Gu Yinxing wasn't sure what had made her say it. Did she want to see Song Mei embarrassed, or did she feel something different about Yan Ren?

Either way, she agreed before Zhao Donglai could refuse.

Zhao Donglai gripped his chopsticks and forced a smile. "Yinxing, who's this?"

Gu Yinxing smiled. "You're asking the wrong person. You should ask Song Mei."

Song Mei had her head down, eating her noodles. Gu Yinxing found it odd.

If Yan Ren was courting Song Mei, shouldn't Song Mei have greeted him?

"Cough, cough!"

Song Mei choked on her noodles and hurriedly covered her mouth with a handkerchief as she coughed.

Zhao Donglai quickly picked up the kettle and poured her a glass of water. "Comrade Song, have some water. It'll help."

"Th-thank you."

Song Mei took the glass, her face bright red. She drank several mouthfuls before she recovered.

She changed the subject. "What a coincidence, running into everyone here today."

Song Mei tried to brush it aside, but while Gu Yinxing might miss other things, she was sharp when it came to matters between men and women.

She glanced at Song Mei, then at Yan Ren.

Yan Ren hadn't looked at Song Mei once since coming in, and Song Mei hadn't looked at him either. Something wasn't right.

Gu Yinxing smiled deliberately. "A coincidence? Don't tell me you two arranged to meet."

Song Mei's face flushed scarlet, right down to her neck.

Zhao Donglai looked startled. "Wait, are you two dating?"

"Nothing of the sort!"

Yan Ren frowned as he denied it.

Song Mei's face went pale, and fine beads of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose.

She looked pleadingly at Yan Ren, hoping he would see how awkward this was for her and stop talking about it.

But Yan Ren sensed something strange was going on. He asked Gu Yinxing, "Why would you think Comrade Song and I arranged to meet? We hardly know each other."

Every trace of color drained from Song Mei's face. She clenched her chopsticks and bit her lower lip.

"Oh," Gu Yinxing said.

Her gaze settled on Song Mei. "So there's nothing between you? I thought you were courting Song Mei."

"Where did that rumor come from? I've never even spoken to Comrade Song!"

Yan Ren's face darkened at once. He had been on the battlefield and held a leadership position in the army. He seemed approachable enough when he smiled, but when his expression turned stern, he was intimidating.

Song Mei gritted her teeth. "Yinxing, everyone's misunderstood. Comrade Yan and I really have nothing going on."

"So people at your hospital are saying Comrade Song and I are dating?" Yan Ren calmly identified the heart of the matter. He quickly realized Song Mei was probably involved in starting the rumor.

"There has been talk. Song Mei told everyone that Comrade Yan asked whether she was single, so everyone thought..."

Gu Yinxing bit her chopsticks, her eyes darting between Yan Ren and Song Mei.

Yan Ren's frown deepened until his brows nearly met. "That's complete nonsense too!"

"Comrade Yan." Unable to bear the embarrassment, Song Mei interrupted him. She lifted her chin, looking shaken but determined to stay strong. "This has nothing to do with me. The Comrade Yan I meant was your aunt. Everyone assumed I meant you. I don't know why they thought that, but I'm a victim of this too."

"That's right. You can't blame Comrade Song for this."

Seeing Song Mei stubbornly hold back her hurt made Zhao Donglai's heart melt. He had never met a girl like her. "Comrade Song was misunderstood too."

"Come on. Was it really that hard to clear things up?"

Gu Yinxing put down her chopsticks and folded her arms, her smile edged with scorn. "If you'd said Ms. Yan or Director Yan asked you, nobody would've misunderstood. You were vague and let everyone think you meant Yan Ren. Now you're playing the victim?"

She had a point.

If Song Mei had wanted to make things clear, why had she said it in a way that invited misunderstanding?

Besides, there had been no reason to bring it up at all.

When Yan Ren's aunt had asked Song Mei, Yan Ren hadn't said a word. He had plainly refused.

Song Mei had harbored her own secret hopes. She wanted to stake a claim first, then work toward making it real.

After all, the nurses at the hospital found Yan Ren a little frightening, and his aunt was a director. Hardly anyone would dare ask either of them about it.

Who would have thought Yan Ren would happen to be here today, and that Gu Yinxing would bring it up? Now the truth was out.

Unable to explain herself, Song Mei lowered her head in hurt, tears falling one by one.

They pattered onto the table.

At the sight, Zhao Donglai's heart softened even more. He spoke sharply to Gu Yinxing. "Yinxing, how can you think the worst of your colleague and friend like that? If you're determined to blame her, you'll always find a reason!"

"Zhao Donglai, I've put up with you long enough! Don't think I'm blind!"

Gu Yinxing was about to lose her temper, but then a thought struck her. Wasn't this the perfect chance to break things off with Zhao Donglai?

She sprang to her feet and pointed at him. "Ever since we sat down to eat, you haven't been able to take your eyes off Song Mei. Now you're defending her and saying I'm in the wrong. I know exactly what you're thinking. You don't want to date me—you want to date her! Fine, I won't stand in your way. We're through!"

Gu Yinxing picked up her little bag and strode toward the door.

Her voice had rung out clear and loud. Everyone in the restaurant had heard her, and now they were all staring at the table.

Zhao Donglai was mortified. He had always cared deeply about saving face and had never suffered such humiliation. "Fine, we're through! I wasn't that interested in you anyway."

He shouted loud enough to leave everyone in the restaurant staring.

Gu Yinxing heard him, of course, but his answer was exactly what she wanted.

Now she had a good reason to end things. With Zhao Donglai's pride, he would never come looking for her again.

The more she thought about it, the happier she grew. As she walked, she even kicked playfully at the snow on the ground.

"What's got you so happy?" Yan Ren's voice came from behind her.

Gu Yinxing jumped. She patted her chest, then turned and saw Yan Ren. Relieved, she rolled her eyes. "Why do you keep appearing out of nowhere? What are you, a scout?"

"You know about scouts?"

Yan Ren smiled as he asked. He fell into step beside Gu Yinxing, taking the side nearest the road.

Gu Yinxing snorted. "Don't underestimate me. I know that much. I also know that after you transferred out of the army, you became the captain of the criminal investigation unit near our hospital."

Yan Ren couldn't help laughing. He stopped walking. "You've done your homework. What are you after?"

Gu Yinxing raised an eyebrow, a sweet dimple appearing at the corner of her mouth. "Nothing. I was just curious what sort of position a capable man like you had. Not bad, Comrade Yan. You've done well for yourself at such a young age."

Yan Ren didn't know whether to laugh or take offense.

She was so young, yet she spoke as though he were her junior.

"Yes, thank you for the praise. I'm flattered, Comrade Gu. Would I have the honor of taking you out for something to eat now?"

Gu Yinxing blinked. "What? Eat again?"

"Ice cream. It might help you cool off." A smile touched Yan Ren's lips.

Gu Yinxing's eyes flickered. Fine, let's go. Who's afraid of him?

He Chunlian was at home reading a playbook when she heard quick footsteps outside. Without looking up, she said, "You're back."

Gu Yinxing lifted the padded curtain and came in carrying a bag. "Yep. Mom, Liang Ying, come here. I brought you strawberry ice cream."

"What's that?" He Chunlian looked up as Gu Yinxing set the bag on the table. Inside was an aluminum lunch box. When Gu Yinxing opened it, the scent of strawberries drifted out.

Liang Ying came out holding the baby and smiled. "What made you want ice cream in the middle of winter?"

"You can skip other ice cream, but this one's especially good. It's from a Western restaurant. You two have to try it."

Gu Yinxing brought over two spoons, grinning.

One look at her, and He Chunlian knew something was up. She said decisively, "Zhao Donglai didn't buy this, did he?"

"Zhao Donglai? We're through!"

Gu Yinxing snorted. "Don't mention him again. He's bad luck."

He Chunlian gave a short laugh. "So there's someone else?"

Gu Yinxing's face turned red. She thrust a spoon into He Chunlian's hand. "Mom, just eat. Why so many questions? I didn't steal it, anyway."

Liang Ying saw the glow in her sister-in-law's cheeks and knew this new prospect must suit her. She smiled behind her lips. "That's right, Mom. Let's eat. We'll meet him sooner or later."

Gu Yinxing's face grew even redder.

She stamped her foot. "Liang Ying! I bring you something nice, and you tease me? Maybe I shouldn't let you have any."

"All right, we'll stop." Liang Ying knew when to quit. She was happy for Gu Yinxing too. Gu Yinxing wore her heart on her sleeve, and if she was this delighted, the new romance seemed promising.

Meanwhile...

Yan Ren carried a bag of cream buns and cakes, along with a dozen bottles of soda, into a large courtyard house in Yishun Alley.

Old Bai, Xu Rulin, and the others had finished eating long ago. When Xu Rulin saw what Yan Ren had brought, he grinned. "Well, look who remembered us."

"We were just betting on whether you'd show up at all today," Bai Ji teased.

Yan Ren was in a rare good mood and let them have their fun. He set everything down. "Of course I came. I even bought all this for you."

"Bought it for us, or picked it up while you were out?" Xu Rulin teased as he came over. He took a closer look at the cake box and grinned. "Hey, it's from Maxim's Restaurant. Look at you, spending big on your friends."

"Oh, shut up." Yan Ren slapped his shoulder. "Keep talking, and I won't go easy on you when we play cards later."

"Don't do that!"

Xu Rulin surrendered at once.

Yan Ren was famously good at bridge. If the bastard decided to target him, Xu Rulin would spend the night with his face covered in paper slips.

Teasing was one thing, though.

Xu Rulin and the others genuinely cared about Yan Ren's love life.

Yan Ren said calmly, "It's looking promising. Just get ready to bring your wedding gifts."

Xu Rulin and the others winced.

"How can you..."