Chapter 481 - 421: Male Companion
Chapter 481: Chapter 421: Male Companion
Xiao Man introduced Yang Liu’er to everyone. When the other guests learned that Yang Liu’er’s family owned a clothing company, many of the young women eagerly struck up conversations with her. They were particularly interested in the slim-fitting dress she was wearing, which she had supposedly designed herself.
Yang Liu’er’s smile was perfectly polite, and she handled the attention with poise and ease. She had changed so much, both inside and out. Xiao Man was certain that, given time, she would radiate an even more dazzling brilliance, just as she herself had said she would: she would become someone who commanded the attention of the masses.
Xiao Man swirled the juice in her cup. Seeing there wasn’t much left, she drained it in one go. Just as she was about to turn to set the cup down, a hand reached out from her side and took it. A man chuckled softly and asked, "Here, let me. Would you like another?"
Xiao Man looked at Jun Rui, who had appeared out of nowhere, and offered a small smile. "No, thank you!"
Jun Rui walked to a nearby table to set down her cup, placing his own glass of red wine there as well. He returned to Xiao Man’s side. "It’s quite crowded tonight. Don’t you think it’s a bit stuffy in here? How about we go sit by the window for a bit?"
Xiao Man gestured toward Yang Liu’er. "I brought her with me. She’s a little shy, so I’m worried she might come looking for me."
Jun Rui laughed bitterly to himself. ’That young woman is older than Xiao Man, and she’s graceful and utterly charming. She’s surrounded by a group of women, and plenty of men are staring at her too. How is any part of that shy? Her eyes are sparkling, and she looks completely animated. She couldn’t be happier with the conversation. If anything, she’s probably worried Xiao Man might come and interrupt her!’
He knew Xiao Man was just making an excuse to turn him down, but he was tactful enough not to call her out on it. The two of them remained standing where they were and continued to talk.
They caught up for a bit. Jun Rui asked about Grandpa Tang and Grandma Tang’s health, and Xiao Man replied that they were both doing well, thanking him for his concern. Jun Rui sighed. "The love our elders have for the younger generation is truly unconditional. It’s a shame we younger ones can rarely ever repay it." Hearing his tone, Xiao Man felt compelled to bite the bullet and ask, "Is Grandpa Jun doing well? And I hope Uncle Jun and Aunt Jun are in good health?"
Jun Rui thanked Xiao Man for her well-wishes as well. His handsome brows knitted together slightly, and his smile was tinged with sorrow. "My grandfather’s health has never been robust, but it’s not usually this bad, either. He typically gets over minor illnesses with a bit of medicine. This time, however, is different. He’s been bedridden for four or five days and can’t get up. He has no appetite and can’t eat, so he’s been relying entirely on an IV for nutrition..."
He stared at Xiao Man, his gaze intense. "Manman, I heard you’re starting your residency at De Ren Hospital next semester. I’d like to transfer my grandfather there. Would it be possible to ask you to examine him a bit ahead of schedule? It would be a favor I would never forget."
Xiao Man was speechless. ’Are all the scions of aristocratic families this sharp and resourceful? Bai Junfan managed to wheedle a Heart Protection Pill out of Grandpa Tang for Mr. Bai, and now Jun Rui is trying something similar... He even knew to use a roundabout strategy. By first finding out I was about to start my internship, he saved his parents from having to make a direct request, which would have been awkward for everyone.’
The Gu and Tang Families had never publicly acknowledged Xiao Man’s medical skills, which made their position clear: unless Xiao Man herself agreed, no one was to ask her to treat anyone before she graduated. If the Jun Family had made a direct appeal, they would have faced two possible outcomes: rejection, or a growing distance between their family and the Tang and Gu Families.
Xiao Man asked Jun Rui who told him she was going to intern at Ren De Hospital. Jun Rui glanced across the main hall, his eyes settling on Sun Meirong. "Second Miss Sun met Jun Ran in Country M and brought back a letter from her. I drove her home the other day, and she was the one who told me."
Xiao Man nodded. "I wasn’t planning on starting my practice this early, but I was taught by Imperial Doctor Sun and I study Sun’s Traditional Chinese Medicine. With the Sun Family’s medical practice making a comeback, it was only right that I accept their invitation to join. Since that’s the case, go ahead and transfer Grandpa Jun to De Ren Hospital. Just let me know once it’s all arranged, and I’ll go take a look at him."
"Yes, alright! Thank you so much, Manman!"
Overcome with excitement, Jun Rui reached for Xiao Man’s hand, but at that exact moment, someone strode to her side, wrapped an arm around her, and pulled her away.
Xiao Man didn’t struggle. She recognized the familiar scent—the line of skincare products she had custom-made for Zheng Shaolian. It was supposed to be for his exclusive use, but Zheng Shaojin had said he wasn’t picky and started using it as well.
Zheng Shaolian was swamped with work at year-end; there was no way he could have come. This had to be Zheng Shaojin.
And it was indeed Zheng Shaojin. Dressed in a crisp suit and gleaming leather shoes, he looked dashing and refined. He gave Jun Rui a faint smile and a slight nod, then turned to Xiao Man. "I have a couple of friends over there I want you to meet."
With that, he led Xiao Man away without a second glance at Jun Rui’s expression.
Xiao Man tilted her head to study Zheng Shaojin, amused. "There aren’t any VIPs or elders here. Why are you dressed so formally? Hoping to get set up on a date while you’re at it?"
Zheng Shaojin glanced around, catching the shy, admiring gazes of countless young women. He instinctively pulled Xiao Man a little closer and whispered, "Don’t be ridiculous. I did this for you! You came all by yourself without a male escort. Don’t you know the proper etiquette?"
"I have a female companion. And if I absolutely had to have a male one, Sun Yiming could have filled in, couldn’t he?"
"Absolutely not," Zheng Shaojin said. "My uncle sent me to be your escort. And for your sake, my dignity is in tatters—I’m a grown man, and my aunt still barged into my room to supervise me getting dressed. Look at my hair! She styled it herself!"
Watching him gingerly touch his slick, heavily gelled hair, Xiao Man bent over laughing. "No wonder I thought you looked a little off! It’s your hair..."
Zheng Shaojin lightly tapped the back of her head. "Stick with me, you hear? If anyone asks you to dance, they have to go through me first. Got it?"
"But what about my friend? I can’t just ditch her."
"I brought a couple of guys with me. I’ll have them keep her company."
Xiao Man was speechless. ’Is that really going to work?’
Zheng Shaojin’s friends were just like him—handsome, scholarly, and refined. After a brief chat, Zheng Shaojin led Xiao Man to the buffet table to find something to eat. Poor Zheng Er had not only been roped into this at the last minute, but he’d also come on an empty stomach.
A handsome man is a popular man, no matter where he is. Even as he was loading up his plate at the buffet, one beautiful woman approached, quickly followed by two more. They enthusiastically vied to wait on him, asking if he needed hot milk or hot coffee.
Zheng Shaojin was forced to stop his hunt for food. With an elegant posture and a gentle smile, he chatted with the women. Spreading his hands in a gesture of regret, he mentioned that he preferred Chinese food, but alas, they only had Western-style pastries. The three women immediately volunteered, insisting that it would be no trouble at all to get him some Chinese food from the kitchen!
Xiao Man stepped aside to watch the flirting unfold. When the three women were actually coaxed into leaving, Zheng Shaojin snatched up his plate and began shoveling food into his mouth, all while glancing around warily in case any more women came to interrupt him. The sight of his comically innocent expression was so funny that she had to cover her mouth to stifle her laughter, tears welling up in her eyes.