During dinner, Guo Lin Qing also took the initiative to sit with Lin Xiao Tian, making Xia Qing Ling feel like a third wheel.
She no longer thought Lin Xiao Tian was gay; the facts proved her initial assumptions were wrong.
Of course, Guo Lin Qing's cooperation played a part in this.
When she initially believed Lin Xiao Tian was gay, Guo Lin Qing had sided with her. If Xia Qing Ling hadn't witnessed their affectionate moments today, she would have continued to believe that Lin Xiao Tian was gay.
"You little brat, you deliberately told me Lin Xiao Tian was gay to stop me, didn't you?" Xia Qing Ling sent a message to Guo Lin Qing.
"I didn't, don't talk nonsense," Guo Lin Qing replied immediately via WeChat.
"Hmph! Who knows?" After sending the message, Xia Qing Ling attached several pictures.
These pictures were taken when she had been tracking them. Xia Qing Ling had no intention of keeping them hidden any longer.
"How do you have these photos?" Guo Lin Qing was clearly taken aback.
"It's because I was worried about you! You've been distracted these past few days, and you were in such a hurry when you left yesterday. I followed you and took these photos. You little brat, you don't tell me when something's wrong. We're good friends!"
Reading Xia Qing Ling's message on WeChat, Guo Lin Qing felt a surge of emotion.
"Don't worry, I'll keep your secret with Lin Xiao Tian. Also, I'm not interested in Lin Xiao Tian, so you don't need to specifically guard against me."
"I wasn't guarding against you. Anyway, the thing about him deceiving you is quite complicated to explain."
"Alright, alright, I forgive you."
After sending these messages, Xia Qing Ling deliberately pinched Guo Lin Qing's arm.
"Ow! That hurts! You little brat, you're so rough." Guo Lin Qing immediately retaliated.
Their sudden roughhousing left Lin Xiao Tian bewildered.
They were having a perfectly fine meal, and suddenly they started playfully fighting for no apparent reason.
After dinner, Lin Xiao Tian decided to go out to buy some water and other things.
When he went out, Lin Xiao Tian ran into Xia Qing Ling.
"Xiao Tian," Xia Qing Ling greeted him enthusiastically.
Lin Xiao Tian politely returned the greeting.
"Qing Ling," at that moment, a familiar voice came from behind them.
Lin Xiao Tian turned his head and saw that the speaker was none other than Lü Ke.
"Xiao Tian," Lü Ke also greeted Lin Xiao Tian.
Ever since witnessing Lin Xiao Tian's background last time, Lü Ke had become much more subdued when meeting him, and his personal conduct had improved significantly. This made Lin Xiao Tian feel gratified, as they were still classmates and now colleagues, and Lin Xiao Tian didn't want their relationship to be too strained.
Lü Ke's greeting to Lin Xiao Tian today was genuinely warm.
The main reason was that Lin Xiao Tian and Guo Lin Qing's relationship rumors had spread.
Everyone at the clinic now believed that Guo Lin Qing and Lin Xiao Tian were a couple.
This made Lü Ke happy.
If Lin Xiao Tian was taken, then Xia Qing Ling wouldn't end up with him.
He had always liked Xia Qing Ling and had even been jealous of Lin Xiao Tian's intimate behavior with her before. But now, he only felt gratitude towards Lin Xiao Tian.
"Qing Ling, where are you going? Shall I give you a ride?" Lü Ke asked with a wide smile as he approached.
Lü Ke's behavior surprised Lin Xiao Tian.
Lü Ke had always presented himself as aloof and cold. He never expected him to be so fawning towards Xia Qing Ling.
"No, thank you. I'm just going to the nearby supermarket to buy something," Xia Qing Ling politely refused.
"I happen to need to buy something too, let's go together!" Lü Ke insisted on joining them.
Xia Qing Ling gave an awkward smile and didn't say much more.
After all, it was a public road, and she couldn't forbid Lü Ke from going to the supermarket.
"Xiao Tian, you coming with us?" Xia Qing Ling asked Lin Xiao Tian.
Lin Xiao Tian had initially wanted to refuse, but seeing Xia Qing Ling's playful wink, he immediately understood.
It seemed Xia Qing Ling wasn't interested in Lü Ke and wanted him to join them.
Lin Xiao Tian thought for a moment. Compared to his relationship with Lü Ke, Xia Qing Ling was clearly more friendly, so he decided to go along.
When Lü Ke saw Lin Xiao Tian joining them, though he didn't say anything, his expression clearly conveyed his feelings.
Thus, the three of them entered the supermarket together. Lin Xiao Tian wandered off to find other items, while Xia Qing Ling quickly finished her shopping and waited at the entrance for Lin Xiao Tian.
Lü Ke, of course, would not miss any opportunity to be alone with Xia Qing Ling and soon followed her out.
Lin Xiao Tian searched for a while in the supermarket. After finding all the items he needed, he headed to the checkout counter.
As he reached the entrance, Lin Xiao Tian glanced outside and saw that beside Xia Qing Ling, besides Lü Ke, there was now another man.
The man held a large bouquet of roses, and a Rolls-Royce was parked behind him, indicating his extraordinary status.
"Qing Ling, be my girlfriend!" the man said loudly, kneeling on one knee.
The man's voice immediately drew the attention of the surrounding people. Especially the ninety-nine roses in his hand, which were incredibly ostentatious.
However, Xia Qing Ling's face was not pleased at all.
"Dong Lin, didn't I tell you? I only consider you a friend. Can you please not do this?"
"Qing Ling, don't be stubborn. Your family has already agreed to our relationship. Besides, in this world, who else is worthy of you besides me, Dong Lin?"
Looking at the persistent Dong Lin before her, Xia Qing Ling was truly troubled.
Their families had been friends for generations, and both were medical families. She and Dong Lin had grown up together, but Xia Qing Ling didn't like Dong Lin. She had always avoided his advances whenever possible.
She hadn't expected Dong Lin to be so persistent, despite his repeated failures. While Dong Lin's spirit was indeed admirable, she simply didn't like him, and such things couldn't be forced.
"In any case, can you get up first? Let's talk privately," Xia Qing Ling said helplessly.
"No, if you don't agree today, I won't get up." Dong Lin was very determined.
The situation became awkward. Xia Qing Ling didn't want to waste any more time with Dong Lin, so she made up her mind and continued, "I'm sorry, I can't agree to you."
"Why? Is there something wrong with me?" Dong Lin became hysterical.
The worst-case scenario had occurred. Xia Qing Ling couldn't stand Dong Lin acting like this. It made her feel like she was hurting him, but a sharp pain was better than prolonged suffering. Xia Qing Ling continued:
"I have a boyfriend."
"What? Who is he? I don't believe he's more outstanding than me?" Dong Lin became enraged.
The next moment, he suddenly saw Lü Ke beside Xia Qing Ling.
"Who are you?"
"I'm Qing Ling's... oh no, Dr. Xia's colleague," Lü Ke quickly explained.
Hearing Lü Ke's answer, Xia Qing Ling couldn't help but roll her eyes.
She had heard that Lü Ke had feelings for her. She had expected him to step forward and prove himself, but he had backed down so quickly.
Xia Qing Ling secretly felt fortunate that she hadn't chosen Lü Ke.
Of course, Lü Ke had his own difficulties.
It wasn't that he didn't want to step up!
It was simply that he didn't dare!
The Dong Lin before him was one of the major shareholders of the National Medical Hall, the young master of the Dong family.
Could he afford to offend someone like that and still keep his job?
Just then, Lin Xiao Tian walked over.
Lin Xiao Tian didn't know what was happening here, but judging by the situation, he could guess it was a scene of a failed marriage proposal.
He couldn't miss such a rare spectacle.
With that thought, Lin Xiao Tian unethically joined the ranks of onlookers.
But at that moment, Xia Qing Ling suddenly glared at him.
Lin Xiao Tian spread his hands in resignation. He truly couldn't help with this kind of situation.
But the next moment, he felt something was amiss.
A hint of a smile had clearly flashed across Xia Qing Ling's face just now.
Lin Xiao Tian had a bad feeling about this.
As he was thinking this, Xia Qing Ling suddenly pointed at him.
"He is my boyfriend."