“Senior Lin, good afternoon.”
Zeng Xiaoya spoke first.
Doctor Lin paused for a moment before replying, “Xiaoya, have you finished your lunch break? Or are you already at work?”
“I have not started work yet. I am just about to. What is it?”
“It is nothing much. I just wanted to call you, to hear your voice.”
Zeng Xiaoya fell silent for a moment, then said, “Senior Lin, you do not need to do this. It is truly impossible between us. I have made everything clear.”
“Besides, this is a matter between the two of us. It has nothing to do with Zhan Yue. Please do not go looking for Zhan Yue. He and I are, at most, ordinary friends.”
“Did Zhan Yue complain to you? I did not do anything to him. I only chatted with him. Xiaoya, Zhan Yue is not suitable for you. He does not even have a proper job. When I asked about his work, whether it was collecting rent for his cousin-in-law, he actually looked proud of it.”
“Do not be deceived by his handsome appearance and sweet words.”
Doctor Lin had not expected that, after he had only chatted with Zhan Yue last night, Zhan Yue would immediately tell Xiaoya. Was this not ruining his image in front of her?
“We have known each other for so many years. We know each other inside out. We are in the same profession. We are the most suitable for each other.”
Zeng Xiaoya said helplessly, “Senior, I have told you. The issue between us has nothing to do with anyone else. It is not related to Zhan Yue, nor even to He Yuehua. It is simply a problem between us.”
“Zhan Yue has never said sweet words to me. Almost all our interactions revolve around the renovation of his house. Yet in Senior Lin’s eyes, it has become as if he and I are in love.”
“Xiaoya, he likes you. Last night I asked him, and he admitted it himself. He said he likes you and wants to compete fairly with me. He is a latecomer. On what basis should he compete fairly with me?”
Doctor Lin said resentfully.
“Whether he likes me is his business. I am not in a relationship with him. Moreover, liking someone is not the same as loving them. Plenty of people like me.”
“Senior Lin, if you keep talking about this in future, I really will not want to answer your calls anymore.”
Doctor Lin said bitterly, “I know you do not like hearing it. Alright, I will not say these things again. I will not mention Zhan Yue. Xiaoya, when is your next day off? My parents have come to the city. I would like to invite you to dinner.”
“Oh, and this afternoon I am taking my parents to the seaside for the afternoon. We will return tomorrow morning. Shall I bring you some fresh seafood?”
Zeng Xiaoya gently declined his kindness. “Senior Lin, there is no need. You should spend time properly with Uncle and Auntie. Take them to eat fresh seafood. You could stay at the seaside for a couple more nights and enjoy yourselves for a few more days.”
“It is rare for Uncle and Auntie to come to the city. Take them around to different places. With your current circumstances, even if the clinic closes for a few days, it will not affect you too much.”
“Xiaoya, tomorrow my mum is going to the hospital where you work for a check-up, then to collect some medicine to take home. Her blood sugar is high. She needs to take medication long-term.”
“They arrived in the evening without calling me in advance. I only found out they had come when I got home. By then, we could not get an appointment slot. So we changed it to tomorrow’s slot.”
“We booked your slot.”
Doctor Lin deliberately emphasised that they had booked Zeng Xiaoya’s appointment.
“My parents quite like you. They say you look like someone with good fortune, that you are very pleasing to look at. Xiaoya, I also like you very much. I love you deeply.”
Zeng Xiaoya touched her round face. Did this face of hers really look like it carried good fortune?
Why did everyone keep saying she looked like someone with good fortune?
“So we can only enjoy half a day. This morning I took them shopping and bought some things. I was thinking, if you have a day off in the next few days, whether you could join me to accompany my parents around.”
“You are a native of Guancheng. You know the city better.”
In truth, he wanted Zeng Xiaoya to spend time with his parents, to build some goodwill with them, so they would favour her and support his continued pursuit.
At present, He Yuehua had deeply won his parents’ affection.
If he succeeded in winning his wife, but his parents did not like Xiaoya much, conflicts would easily arise later.
He did not want his parents to feel wronged, nor did he want his wife to feel wronged.
The best approach was to help the woman he loved build a good relationship with his parents before marriage, to avoid too many conflicts after marriage that could hurt feelings.
“Senior Lin, you have also lived in Guancheng for many years. I think you are very familiar with it by now.”
