After her dramatic cousin stopped acting up, the aloof doctor got anxious.

"Who?"

Qi Wenshen's fingers tightened slightly as he gripped his phone.

Wei Jing's voice carried that unspoken understanding between men, "Your cousin? I made plans to have dinner with her at a Japanese restaurant, so I'm really not free tonight. Let's do it another day. I'll treat you another day."

He hung up the phone after saying that.

Qi Wenshen remained standing motionless beside the car, holding his phone in the same position.

The garage lights shone a stark white light on his face, illuminating his expression clearly. Beneath that usual indifferent exterior, something was slowly cracking open.

It turns out that the colleague was Wei Jing.

The phone screen went dark, then he turned it back on.

It went dark, then turned back on.

He opened Shen Ruo's chat window.

Delete and reduce.

Finally, a message was sent.

Come back right after dinner; it's not safe to be out too late, I'll worry.

After typing that line, he stared at it for a long time.

Isn't it too obvious?

Will it make her think it's strange?

It's understandable that the older cousin is worried about his younger cousin's safety.

In truth, he hoped she could glean something else from it.

After sending the message, he put his phone in his pocket, opened the car door, sat in the driver's seat, gripped the steering wheel with both hands, and did not start the car.

He sat there in the dark carriage, the lights from outside the window casting a clear contrast between light and shadow on his profile.

Shen Ruo has her own social life and her own choices. She can choose who to eat with, who to chat with, and who to...

Qi Wenshen closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then started the car.

Japanese food store.

Wei Jing arrived ten minutes early and chose a window seat. The background music was a soothing Japanese song, creating a great atmosphere.

He even changed into a dark blue shirt and styled his hair, making him look quite presentable.

He mentally rehearsed tonight's schedule.

Talk about work first, then about life, casually ask about her hobbies, and then suggest going to see a movie on the weekend. That's it.

The door was pushed open.

Wei Jing looked up, but his smile froze on his face before it could fully open.

Shen Ruo has arrived.

Wearing a beige dress, with her hair down and draped over her shoulders, she wasn't dressed up at all, but her face alone was enough to make people unable to look away.

The key point is that there was another person standing next to her.

Zhou Lan smiled brightly, clinging to Shen Ruo's arm like conjoined twins.

She exclaimed "Oh!" in an exaggerated way as soon as she entered the room.

"Vice Dean Wei? What a coincidence! I came here for lunch and just happened to run into Shen Ruo. What a coincidence!"

You're so clever!

Wei Jing mentally uttered those four words with a clattering sound.

But he still wore a polite smile. "It's quite a coincidence. Why don't we sit together?"

His words were like a knife to his heart.

What he meant was, "Why don't you sit at the next table?"

But he's the vice dean; he can't be so rude.

"Okay, okay."

Zhou Lan pulled Shen Ruo down to sit, their positions perfectly positioned between Wei Jing and Shen Ruo, separating them completely.

Wei Jing maintained his smile, but the curve of his lips stiffened slightly.

Zhou Lan pretended not to see it, picked up the menu, flipped through a couple of pages, and bumped heads with Shen Ruo.

Shen Ruo covered her face with the menu. "How about we leave?"

Zhou Lan also covered her face with the menu and replied in the same low voice, "We're already here, it would be disrespectful to leave now. Hurry up and order, order the expensive stuff."

Zhou Lan grinned like a mouse in a rice jar, "Vice Dean Wei, you're treating, right? Then I won't be polite."

Wei Jing smiled and nodded, "Order whatever you like, don't be shy."

He regretted it as soon as he said those four words.

Because Zhou Lan really didn't hold back.

"This sashimi platter, the largest kind, please. Six of these sea urchins, please. And this Wagyu beef, do you have M9 or higher? Yes, then two portions. Oh, and drinks? Do you have Dassai? Yes, okay, one bottle."

A visible crack appeared in Wei Jing's smile.

He glanced at Shen Ruo.

Shen Ruo was looking down at the menu, her eyelashes drooping and casting a small fan-shaped shadow under her eyes. Her lips were slightly pursed, and the corners of her mouth had a slight upward curve.

She seemed to sense his gaze, looked up, and smiled at him.

Her eyes curved into two shallow crescent moons, but when those watery eyes looked over, Wei Jing felt his heart skip a beat.

In an instant, Zhou Lan, the rift, and the heartache over the money were all forgotten.

He smiled gently, his expression changing faster than a traffic light. "Order whatever you like. If this place doesn't suit your taste, I'll take you somewhere else next time."

Zhou Lan rolled her eyes and cursed inwardly, "Next time? You wish! There won't be a next time after this one, you big bad wolf."

But she didn't say anything, just smiled and handed the menu to the waiter, adding, "And another serving of foie gras, please."

Shen Ruo gently kicked Zhou Lan under the table, indicating that it was enough.

Zhou Lan kicked it back without changing her expression, meaning that it was far from over, and this was just the beginning.

Wei Jing watched the two girls across from him exchanging little gestures, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and thought to himself, "It's okay, if it doesn't work this time, there's always next time."

Shen Ruo added him on WeChat; that was the first step.

Zhou Lan is causing trouble today, but he has plenty of time.

Zhou Lan is just a nobody, how could she possibly follow Shen Ruo around every day?

As long as Shen Ruo doesn't dislike him, he has a chance.

He put down his teacup, looked at Shen Ruo, his gaze so tender it seemed to melt hearts, "Shen Ruo, what do you usually like to do on weekends? I've been thinking of seeing that new movie that just came out, how about tonight..."

What?

Want to go to the movies?

Wouldn't that be like a lamb entering a tiger's den?

Zhou Lan's eyes darted around, and the salmon on her chopsticks fell into the soy sauce dish with a thud, splashing out a few small black specks that landed precisely on the cuff of Wei Jing's blue shirt.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

Zhou Lan hurriedly grabbed a tissue to wipe it up, but in her haste, she knocked over the teacup, spilling tea all over the table.

Wei Jing's smile finally crumbled.

Shen Ruo lowered her head, her shoulders trembling slightly, trying so hard to suppress her laughter that she almost suffered internal injuries.

The Japanese restaurant was brightly lit and warm, with the aroma of salmon and Wagyu beef mingling in the air. Across from him, Wei Jing wiped his sleeves while cursing under his breath, while Zhou Lan apologized while secretly laughing to herself.

When Qi Wenshen returned home, Sister Chen was preparing to set the table.

He told Sister Chen to go home first.

After finishing his meal, he was supposed to go to his study.

The medical records weren't finished being organized, and tomorrow's surgical plan needed to be checked again carefully; a lot of things awaited him.

But as if possessed, he sat in the living room, picked up the remote, turned on the TV, and randomly selected a channel.

He hadn't watched television in a long time.

A modern romance drama is playing on TV.

Qi Wenshen held the remote control expressionlessly. He wanted to change the channel, but his finger remained on the button without pressing it.

On the screen, a young couple sits by the window in a restaurant, with an exquisite Western meal laid out on the table and a glass of red wine more than half full.

The man was dressed in a suit and tie, the woman in a flowing dress, and the two of them looked at each other with sweet eyes.

The man put down his wine glass, smiled gently, and said, "After dinner, let's go see a movie. There's one you like on the show."

"Okay, okay."

The woman nodded repeatedly, her eyes lighting up with joy.

Qi Wenshen's eyes flickered slightly, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

The scene shifts to a movie theater.

The two sat side by side, their faces illuminated by the light from the large screen.

The man placed his hand on the armrest and slowly moved toward the woman, tentatively getting closer.

The fingers touched, but the woman didn't pull back.

The man grew bolder, placed his palm on top of hers, and slowly interlocked his fingers.

The woman blushed, lowered her head, but the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

They successfully paired up.

Qi Wenshen's mind began to race.

Will Wei Jing also invite Shen Ruo to the movies?

The moment this thought crossed his mind, he felt a chill run through him from head to toe.

Isn't this exactly what Wei Jing is best at?

Have dinner first, then watch a movie. Create a romantic atmosphere while eating, and then take the opportunity to hold hands in the movie theater.

Having gone through this whole process, he's quite experienced and has used this method to seduce countless girls.

Shen Ruoling has zero experience.

Qi Wenshen unconsciously clenched his fist around the remote control.

Will Shen Ruo, like that woman on TV, not resist being held in the hand, and even blush and have her heart race?

He slammed the TV off, stood up abruptly, strode to the entrance, grabbed his car keys, and pulled open the door handle with the other.

He stopped halfway through pulling the doorknob.

The cold wind blew on his face, cooling his feverish mind a little.

Where is he going now?

Go to a Japanese restaurant?

Should we rush in and drag her out?

and then?

What identity should be used?

Can a cousin tell his cousin what to do about eating or watching movies?

Even if he manages to bring Shen Ruo back, what will Wei Jing think?

What will Shen Ruo think?

She'll think he's unreasonable and nosy.

Qi Wenshen cursed under his breath and closed the door.

Forget it.

can not go.

Going there would be like being a fool.

At the same time, at a Japanese restaurant.

Zhou Lan stuffed the last piece of foie gras into her mouth, squinted her eyes in satisfaction, picked up her teacup and drank it all in one gulp, letting out a long sigh.

"I'm satisfied, my life is complete, it was worth it."

All the plates were empty, not even the side dishes were left.

They really didn't hold back.

Wei Jing, sitting opposite him, maintained a polite smile.

He refilled his teacup five times, barely touched his chopsticks, and spent the entire time maintaining his image and keeping the atmosphere comfortable.

As a result, the two ladies gave him no room to maneuver at all; they ate the whole time and didn't even waste a moment to look up at him.

"Are you full? How about we order a few more?"

Wei Jing's voice was still gentle, but with a hint of stiffness.

Zhou Lan answered before Shen Ruo could, her eyes crinkling with laughter, "I'm full, I'm full. Thank you, Vice Dean Wei, you've gone to so much trouble."

Wei Jing smiled.

Once you're full, hurry up and get out of here, don't keep me from picking up girls.

Stepping out of the Japanese restaurant, Shen Ruo breathed a sigh of relief as the night breeze blew by. The restaurant's heating had made her face flush, and now she could finally breathe in some fresh air.

Wei Jing took out his phone, opened the ride-hailing app, and said casually, "I'll call a car for Zhou Lan."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Lan's eyes darted around.

Should I help her hail a taxi?

Should we send her away first?

So he and Shen Ruo can have a private chat, right?

Think beautifully.

Zhou Lan rolled her eyes inwardly, but glanced at Shen Ruo without showing any emotion, and gave her a meaningful look.

This person is trying to get me away; don't fall for his tricks.

Shen Ruoxin understood and smiled at Wei Jing, "Thank you, Vice Dean Wei, but it's alright. I've made plans to go shopping with Zhou Lan, and it's on my way, so we can just take a taxi."

Zhou Lan gave Shen Ruo a thumbs up in her heart.

Wei Jing's smile faltered for a moment, and he naturally put his phone back in his pocket. "Alright, be careful on the road."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Lan had already hailed a taxi, opened the door for Shen Ruo to get in first, and then followed her in.

"Goodbye, Vice Dean Wei."

Zhou Lan leaned out of the car window, smiling brightly in the sunlight.

"Bye-Bye."

Shen Ruo also waved her hand.

Wei Jing was left standing by the roadside, disheveled in the wind.

Inside the taxi, Zhou Lan tilted her head and looked at Shen Ruo, "Are you really going shopping?"

Shen Ruo smiled and shook her head, leaning back in her chair and stretching like a lazy cat. "Don't I walk enough to work? Shopping? I don't have the energy for that."

"Then let's all go back to our own homes and find our own mothers."

The two looked at each other and laughed at the same time.

The taxi stopped at an intersection shortly after it started moving.

Zhou Lan got out of the car first, and before leaving, she leaned against the car window and reminded him, "Message me when you get home."

"Okay, okay, now go."

Shen Ruo leaned against the car window, watching the street scene outside gradually become familiar, and her heartbeat unconsciously quickened a little.

I wonder if Qi Wenshen is home?

He should be at home, right?

He rarely goes out at this time.

Is he waiting for her?

Shen Ruo felt her face flush as she thought about her last thought, and quickly shook her head to get rid of those messy ideas.

What are you thinking about?

No one would be idle enough to wait for a cousin to come home.

Qi Wenshen checked the time.

8:30.

Shen Ruo has not returned yet.

He sat in his study, unable to concentrate on a single word.

Pick up the phone, put it down, pick it up again, put it down again.

Finally, frustrated, she ripped open her collar and went to take a shower.