Lin Chao Ci looked with mild surprise at Li Si Han, the aloof campus beauty before him, with her stunning looks, cool demeanor, and plain clothes.
In his previous life, although he and this aloof campus beauty had been classmates, they had barely interacted. They had been practically strangers, exchanging words fewer than five times over four years of college.
By all rights, Li Si Han should not have approached him on her own.
"Thank you!"
Without offering an explanation, Li Si Han bowed deeply to Lin Chao Ci, bending a full ninety degrees the moment they met.
She left Lin Chao Ci utterly baffled. "What are you thanking me for? What did I do?"
"I watched the security footage. It was your driver who paid my father's medical bills. And that gangster who owned the factory paid me compensation before he was arrested. I know you were helping me behind the scenes!"
After requesting leave from school, Li Si Han had planned to find the construction site boss and demand compensation for her father's workplace injury.
But the doctor had told her that someone had already paid for her father's surgery and even brought in the province's best orthopedic surgeon to treat him.
Li Si Han had gone to the hospital in a daze, suspecting that the doctor was lying to her. She knew her family's financial situation better than anyone. How could they afford eighty thousand yuan for surgery, let alone hire the best orthopedic surgeon in the province?
Only when she arrived at the hospital did she realize that the doctor had not lied and she was not dreaming.
By the time Li Si Han tried to find the person who had paid, he had long since left.
If Li Si Han had not later checked the security footage and memorized the face of the person who paid, she would never have known.
Today, she happened to see Xiao Wang, Lin Chao Ci's driver. The two faces immediately overlapped in her mind, and only then did she realize that Lin Chao Ci was the one who had helped her.
Later, Li Si Han also learned that the boss of the construction site where her father had worked was a gangster who committed every kind of crime. Not only had he killed people, he had also raped quite a few girls.
After learning this, Li Si Han could not help trembling with fear. She had been so foolish back then, actually planning to approach him and demand compensation for her father's injury.
Thank goodness I didn't go! If I had, I probably would have ended up like those girls in the news.
Lin Chao Ci had, in a sense, saved not only her father but her as well.
That was why Li Si Han had come specifically to thank him.
"Oh? Then how do you plan to thank me?"
Lin Chao Ci spoke with a faint, teasing smile.
If Liu Shuang'er had not been beside him, Lin Chao Ci would definitely have tried a line like, "Beautiful, you wouldn't want anyone else finding out..."
"I can repay the medical expenses tomorrow. As for the favor I owe you, I'll do one thing for you, as long as it doesn't break the law or cross my boundaries!"
Li Si Han believed in repaying kindness. She knew the medical expenses were a small matter; the debt of gratitude was the hardest part to repay.
Whether it was bringing in the province's best orthopedic surgeon or getting the factory boss arrested, Lin Chao Ci had worked behind the scenes.
"All right. I haven't decided how to call in that favor yet. I'll tell you next time we meet!"
With Liu Shuang'er beside him, even if Lin Chao Ci had something in mind, he could not say it. He could only wait until their next meeting to discuss it.
Lin Chao Ci stole a glance at Liu Shuang'er's expression. She looked perfectly normal and did not seem jealous. She was even smiling.
"All right!"
Li Si Han nodded, glanced at Liu Shuang'er before leaving, and walked away without hesitation.
After Li Si Han left, neither Liu Shuang'er nor Lin Chao Ci spoke. They simply walked slowly, shoulder to shoulder.
"Why did you help her?"
Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Liu Shuang'er cautiously probed.
Of all the people he could have helped, he had chosen the aloof campus beauty. His intentions could hardly have been more obvious.
Liu Shuang'er felt a pang of jealousy. She was a sunny, youthful junior throwing herself at him, yet he did not want her. Instead, he had taken the initiative to help the aloof campus beauty.
Am I too ugly? Or am I not good enough for you?
"You've misunderstood. That factory boss was a henchman for a criminal organization. I sent someone to investigate him, and they happened to uncover Li Si Han's family situation!"
"We're classmates, after all. Once I knew, how could I not help? Besides, it was only a few tens of thousands of yuan..."
Lin Chao Ci's mind raced, and he immediately came up with a reasonable explanation.
All he had to do was change the order of events, and everything made sense.
"That's a relief. I thought I was too ugly, and you liked her instead of me..."
Hearing Lin Chao Ci answer her question, Liu Shuang'er felt a flicker of surprise.
Before, Lin Chao Ci had always been indifferent toward her.
He really had changed so much. Not only did he reply to her messages on his own initiative and praise her looks, he even knew how to reassure her now.
Warmth filled Liu Shuang'er's heart. She felt that all her efforts had finally paid off.
"Of course not. If you weren't pretty, there would hardly be any pretty girls in the world. You really were beautiful onstage. You captivated quite a few men..."
"Were you one of those men?"
"Ah! Yes, I was. I think you're very pretty!"
"Hee-hee, here's your reward!"
A radiant smile spread across Liu Shuang'er's face at his praise. Being complimented by the person she liked was a wonderful feeling.
Grinning, Liu Shuang'er launched a surprise attack, rising onto her tiptoes to plant a sweet kiss on Lin Chao Ci's cheek.
Lin Chao Ci felt a fragrant breeze brush his face, and a pink lipstick mark appeared on his cheek.
"Sneaking kisses isn't a good habit! If you want to kiss me, do it openly!"
Lin Chao Ci ruffled Liu Shuang'er's hair, speaking boldly and directly.
His words made Liu Shuang'er blush bright red. He had even managed to fluster her, the normally bold one who always took the initiative.
"R-really?"
But after a moment, Liu Shuang'er quietly looked up at Lin Chao Ci's extraordinarily handsome profile and asked tentatively.
"Of course! Getting kissed by a beauty like you is hardly a loss for me!"
Lin Chao Ci spread his hands and answered frankly.
"Mwah~"
The next second, Liu Shuang'er grabbed Lin Chao Ci's arm. They stopped and stood facing each other.
The cold wind whistled around them, but at that moment, they had eyes only for each other, their gazes full of affection.
Lin Chao Ci lowered his head slightly, and Liu Shuang'er shyly closed her eyes.
Their thin lips met.
Neither knew how much time passed. Only when their breathing grew uneven from kissing did they slowly pull apart.
They gazed at each other. Liu Shuang'er's eyes held only Lin Chao Ci, and she wished she could pour her entire heart into him.
Lin Chao Ci stroked Liu Shuang'er's long, smooth black hair and smiled. "It's cold out here. Let's head inside first..."
"Mm-hmm!"
Liu Shuang'er nodded like a demure little wife and held on to Lin Chao Ci's arm. Their relationship had taken another step forward.
They arrived at a restaurant outside the campus, chose a private room, and ordered a few dishes.
Then Liu Shuang'er looked at Lin Chao Ci with affection brimming in her eyes and asked a little shyly, "Can we kiss again?"
Lin Chao Ci wondered whether he was hearing things.
Wasn't it usually guys who were more lustful?
But Liu Shuang'er...
Since she was his woman, Lin Chao Ci could only indulge her. He lowered his head slightly...
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