Chapter 96: Do You Dare to Swear?

By accident, Xu Anan had made a blunder, and now she was so embarrassed that she wanted to curl her toes into the floor. "Actually, Second Master and I are just friends. Ordinary friends."

Wen Huairou blinked. "If you were really just ordinary friends, how could Second Master give you so many special privileges?"

"But honestly, I’ve never seen Ali be so attentive to any other woman before."

"You really are the first."

If Xu Anan hadn’t worked at the magazine and known that her colleagues sometimes snapped photos of Jiang Li dining with other women, she might have believed it. Of course, none of those photos ever saw the light of day—no one dared to publish them.

Xu Anan smiled. "Director Wen, you’ve just returned from abroad. I think you still need to get to know Second Master better."

"Get to know me in what way?" Jiang Li happened to walk in just then, one hand in his pocket, his usual air of casual arrogance. He pulled out a chair and sat down beside her. Stretching out his long leg, he deliberately hooked her chair closer.

The wheels of her swivel chair slid too quickly, making Xu Anan grab the armrests in fright. She glared angrily at Jiang Li. "Second Master, what do you think you’re doing?"

"You were too far from me."

"How so? You could have sat here, but you chose that side yourself."

"The view’s better over here. I dragged you over to enjoy it. Aren’t you going to thank me?"

"Oh, thank you ever so much!"

"You’re welcome."

Watching the two of them bicker like schoolchildren, Wen Huairou’s pupils trembled slightly. It was the first time she’d seen Jiang Li so lively and animated.

In the past, his face was always expressionless, indifferent to everyone.

If anything displeased him, those around him suffered the consequences!

As expected, Xu Anan was a special existence for Jiang Li.

"Director Wen? Director Wen?"

Xu Anan had to call her several times before Wen Huairou returned to herself. "Are you alright?"

Wen Huairou smiled gently. "Sorry, I was just thinking about some cases with comatose patients. I didn’t quite catch what you were saying."

Xu Anan waved her hand. "I’ll do my best to track down those former doctors you mentioned."

"That would be wonderful."

"Thank you for your help. I’ll take my leave now," Xu Anan said, rising to her feet.

Jiang Li stood as well, giving Wen Huairou a brief wave without saying much more, leaving her somewhat disappointed.

After all, when he was a boy, he used to call her "big sister"!

As Jiang Li followed her out, Xu Anan asked, "Aren’t you going to talk to Director Wen?"

"About what?"

"So why did you come?"

"To find you."

"But we just separated this morning—has it even been an hour?" Xu Anan complained. "If you needed something, why not tell me before we left?"

"I want to see you, so I see you. You have a problem with that?"

"No, no, having Second Master Jiang come to find me personally is a tremendous honor." Xu Anan feigned a smile and rolled her eyes as she turned away.

This man was truly childish!

Jiang Li reached out and smacked her lightly. "Rolling your eyes at me behind my back? You think I won’t notice?"

"Hey, where do you think you’re hitting!"

Xu Anan’s cheeks turned pink with embarrassment. She glanced around anxiously—thankfully, no one was behind them, or she really would have died of shame. This man had absolutely no sense of propriety.

Jiang Li reached out and pulled her closer, wrapping a large hand around her slender waist.

He grinned wickedly. "What are you afraid of?"

"Let go!"

"I won’t."

"Let go, now!"

"Give me a kiss."

The two of them bantered all the way out, while behind them, a solitary figure slowly emerged, her silhouette looking exceptionally lonely.

After leaving the hospital, Xu Anan planned to visit a retired university professor and declined Jiang Li’s company.

She chose to take a taxi.

Gazing at his reflection in the rearview mirror, her heart suddenly softened.

"Driver, stop a moment."

"You can come with me, but you have to be quiet, okay?" Xu Anan beckoned Jiang Li over, feeling as if she were calling back an abandoned puppy.

Jiang Li raised an eyebrow, strolling over lazily.

"Why the sudden change of heart?"

"Are you coming or not? If not, forget it," Xu Anan said, climbing into the car but leaving the door open.

In the end, Jiang Li went with her.

The retired professor lived in the university district. Her son and daughter-in-law were both teachers, and her grandchildren all attended the same university.

Xu Anan had scheduled the meeting well in advance and brought along fruit and pastries.

Jiang Li took the bags from her. "Let me carry these. Otherwise, someone will be inwardly complaining about my lack of gentlemanly manners—and that would be so unfair!"

"As if I’m always complaining about you in my heart."

"Would you swear that’s not true?"

"Hey, that pastry shop up ahead looks good—let’s buy some more!" Xu Anan hurried forward, like someone caught red-handed.

With his long legs, Jiang Li easily caught up to her.

He grabbed her by the nape of her neck with one hand. "Run, then, why’d you stop? Tired already?"

"Jiang Li!" Xu Anan struggled, but right now she was like a kitten being carried by the scruff—completely unable to resist, making her furious.

And they were still on the street!

He might not care about losing face, but she certainly did!

"Who else could it be but Jiang Li?"

"Your grandpa."

"Ha! My grandpa’s been dead for ages!"

A passing auntie laughed. "Young couples these days are so affectionate! When we were young, we kept everything bottled up."

"That’s right! If I’d had the courage of today’s youngsters, I wouldn’t have missed out on my Da Niu!"

Xu Anan turned to glare at Jiang Li, teeth clenched in frustration. "Let go now! You may enjoy making a scene, but I don’t!"

Seeing her so riled up, Jiang Li couldn’t help but laugh.

But before Xu Anan could explode, he released her. "How could this be embarrassing? Everyone’s busy, no one’s paying attention to you."

"Are you sure?" Xu Anan glanced around and saw several female students sneaking peeks at Jiang Li. "Hmph, look at you—never able to behave."

Sure enough, a female student mustered her courage and approached, holding out her phone to Jiang Li. "Can I have your contact info?"

"Wow, the campus belle is actually asking for a guy’s number!"

"Well, he is handsome!"

Recalling what her colleagues had said about Jiang Li’s preference for sweet, innocent campus beauties—and the photos they’d snapped—Xu Anan’s face immediately fell. Scowling, she marched ahead.

Jiang Li didn’t spare a glance for anyone else, quickly catching up to her and taking her hand, their fingers interlaced tightly.

"Now you can’t possibly be jealous, right?"

"Who’s jealous?" Xu Anan’s cheeks flushed. "Let go!"

"If you dare let go now, just wait and see how I deal with you tonight!"

"You—!"

Xu Anan tried to cover his mouth, but he only kissed her palm, earning another glare from her. "If you keep this up, I’ll really get angry."

Finally, Jiang Li relented. "Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you."

The ignored female student was left behind, and many people laughed at her for overestimating herself. "Can’t she tell they’re a couple? Still tried to butt in! She really thinks every man likes her. Just because someone calls her the campus belle, she thinks she’s all that!"