Duan Ting’s gaze flickered slightly. "Yu Xi has been kind to me. Even if you didn't say it, I wouldn't leave the research institute."
Luo Jiaqi let out a visible sigh of relief at her definitive reply. "Haven't you had lunch yet? Want to grab something together?"
Duan Ting hesitated for a moment. "You go ahead. I'll just grab something quick at the KFC next door later."
"You should eat less of those fried foods. Also, even if you've made up your mind to reject me, we're still colleagues. It's normal for colleagues to have lunch together."
Duan Ting pursed her lips. "Will eating with me affect your appetite?"
She still remembered the chilling look in his eyes yesterday morning. She wasn't foolish; she had long seen that he liked Lan Yu Xi. However, Lan Yu Xi and Nan Xiao loved each other so much, their relationship was impossible. Why not give him and herself a chance?
Whoever falls first loses!
That's why she came.
But she couldn't and wouldn't agree to him immediately, because she was afraid. She didn't want to end up like her mother.
In the end, Duan Ting had lunch with Luo Jiaqi, and then… nothing happened.
That evening, Lan Yu Xi called Duan Ting, wanting to know how things were progressing between them. After Duan Ting recounted everything, Lan Yu Xi burst into laughter.
"Sister Ting, you did the right thing! If you don't string him along for a few days, he'll definitely become insufferably arrogant later."
Duan Ting was slightly taken aback. "You support me doing this?"
Lan Yu Xi said with a smile, "Of course, I support you! In love, we girls must take the initiative!"
Duan Ting pursed her lips. "But he has someone else in his heart. This initiative of mine doesn't seem so easy to control."
Lan Yu Xi's grip on her phone tightened slightly. "As long as you're outstanding enough, you'll quickly replace that person... Sister Ting, since we're at this point, I won't hide it from you anymore. The person Brother Jiaqi likes is me. But his feelings for me aren't entirely romantic.
His feelings for me are very complex; there's gratitude, pity, and... how should I put it, it's like... he's personally seen the suffering I've endured. He doesn't feel at ease leaving me to anyone else. As for me, I only have sisterly affection for him, because my heart can only hold Nan Xiao and no one else."
Nan Xiao walked in at that moment, hearing that last sentence. The smile in his eyes quickly spread.
Lan Yu Xi glanced at him and smiled, pointing to the phone in her hand.
Nan Xiao understood. He tiptoed to the bed, leaned down, and kissed her forehead.
Lan Yu Xi smiled and pushed him away, listening to the movement on the other end of the phone. "Sister Ting, are you listening?"
A choked sob came from the other end of the line. "Yu Xi, thank you for telling me this. I thought you'd hide it from me forever."
Lan Yu Xi blinked in surprise, then smiled. "I didn't intend to hide it from you. I just didn't have a suitable opportunity before. Today, things just naturally led to it. Sister Ting, believe me, Brother Jiaqi is a man with integrity and responsibility. He's not like Chen Mo."
"Mm, I believe you! He also told me today not to equate him with Chen Mo." Duan Ting paused and asked with some trepidation, "Yu Xi, has his case been judged?"
"It has. There wasn't a public trial... It's life imprisonment, and he'll be sent to the Xinjiang North Prison to serve his sentence in the next few days. If you want to see him, I can arrange it for you."
"...Forget it. He doesn't care about me or my mother. Why should I throw myself at him?"
"Sister Ting, whatever decision you make, I'll support you, including your situation with Brother Jiaqi."
"Thank you. I'm so lucky to have a friend like you!"
"Me too. Then let's be sisters for life!"
"Okay!"
Because Nan Xiao, who was sitting beside her, was being restless, touching her here and there, Lan Yu Xi quickly ended the call.
Seeing that she had hung up, Nan Xiao impatiently kissed her lips.
Lan Yu Xi playfully slapped his back, annoyed. "What's the rush?"
Her strength was like a tickle to Nan Xiao. He glanced at her with a smile and then lowered his head to kiss her again...
Early the next morning, Lan Yu Xi went to the hospital as usual. After giving Ling Yun acupuncture, she went to Luo Jiaqi's office.
Luo Jiaqi's eyes flickered slightly when he saw her. "You seem a little late today. Are you still in time for class?"
Lan Yu Xi's small face flushed slightly. It was all Nan Xiao's fault for keeping her up until the early hours of the morning, otherwise, she wouldn't have overslept again.
"The academy hasn't started yet, so it's fine if I'm a little late." Lan Yu Xi placed the bento box on his desk. "I'm late, you must be hungry already, right?"
"I've already eaten. Aunt Duan asked Duan Ting to bring me something."
Lan Yu Xi asked with a smile, "Is it a one-day treat or long-term? If it's long-term, I won't bring you food tomorrow."
"It should be long-term." Luo Jiaqi smiled. "Don't bring me food anymore. From today onwards, I'll be staying at the apartment and will have breakfast at Aunt Duan's."
Lan Yu Xi raised an eyebrow slightly. "Are you making a move now?"
"She asked me to give her time, but without a deadline. If I don't appear in front of her often, what if she forgets?"
Lan Yu Xi let out a chuckle.
Luo Jiaqi looked at the carefree smile on her face and smiled back. He had finally done something right.
"Yu Xi, thank you for your trouble."
Lan Yu Xi looked at him, confused. "Hmm?"
Luo Jiaqi hooked his lips slightly. "I'm talking about Duan Ting. Thank you for doing so much for me. I will be happy."
Lan Yu Xi nodded vigorously. "I will!"
For you, I will also be happy!
Lan Yu Xi chatted with him for a few more minutes, then went to see Duan Ting, before driving to the academy.
It wasn't time for classes to start yet, so she was at the academy for instructor training.
Among them was Ling Chen. Even Lan Yu Xi hadn't expected that Ling Chen would obtain his teaching qualification in just a few months. After the training, he could become her assistant. She would mentor him for a few months, and once he received his graduation certificate, he could officially start working as an instructor.
As soon as Lan Yu Xi parked her car in the parking lot, her phone rang.
Seeing that the call was from Nan Xiang Dong, Lan Yu Xi answered it while sitting in her car.
"Madam, the eldest young master didn't accept the money you gave him."
Lan Yu Xi blinked. "Does he think I gave him too little?"
"No, he said he can support himself and wouldn't be a burden to you or the master."
Lan Yu Xi said, "How can he support himself? If he doesn't want the money, so be it. From now on, give him dividends every quarter. Ask him for a card and remember to transfer the money to him every quarter."
"I already told him that, but he didn't agree."
"If he doesn't agree, give it to Luan Qian."