Chapter 40 - Intriguing

Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios

“We were talking nicely, why are you suddenly so angry…”

Behind her, she could still hear Ling Nian’s laughter. However, Banxia did not have time for her and walked towards the black figure.

She walked briskly at first, which then developed into a run when she could not see him down the long corridor anymore. He then disappeared at the turn of a corner.

It was him, Jin Zhanbei.

Banxia clenched her fist. She recognized him, the man Hanyan pursued for seven years, or maybe even…

Banxia finally got to the corner and nearly knocked into someone. She halted in her tracks and moved away.

In a flash, the dark figure had disappeared into thin air.

“Banxia?” Gu Shaoting looked at her in shock. “Why are you running?”

He always imagined Ye Banxia as a quiet gentle girl, typical of a girl born with a silver spoon. It wasn’t her style to be running around wildly in the corridor of the hospital.

Banxia rubbed her temple and tidied her hair. She frowned, ending her search unwillingly.

“Doctor Gu.” She nodded awkwardly at him. “Sorry for behaving inappropriately. I saw an old friend and wanted to chase after him.”

“I see.”

Old friend, what an intriguing term.

Gu Shaoting’s thoughts ran wild. He saw the side figure of the man who gave off a cool and elegant vibe. He must be the “old friend” she was talking about.

But he was surprised that Banxia was so daring to chase after another man so openly despite being Young Master Mo’s woman.

He coughed to hint at her. “Banxia, Young Master Mo has a very bad temper.”

Banxia looked at him weirdly. Was Doctor Gu trying to remind her not to get too close to Mo Chenyan?

But she was already married to him.

“I know, thanks for the reminder.”

Gu Shaoting thought she understood his hint. He smiled proudly, thinking that he helped Young Master Mo.

Ling Nian finally caught up to Banxia and looked angrily at her. “Banxia, why did you suddenly run so quickly? You disappeared in the blink of an eye! What are you doing here? We ran past Hanyan’s ward. Are you angry with me and trying to avoid me?”

She only noticed Gu Shaoting after coming closer. She looked up and greeted. “Hi, Doctor Gu.”

“Hello.” Gu Shaoting said gentlemanly, “You both continue with your conversation, I’ll make a move first.”

Ling Nian only turned around after Gu Shaoting walked far away from them. She grabbed Banxia’s hands and asked seriously, “Why? What’s wrong?”

“Nian Nian.”

Banxia frowned, pursing her lips. Ling Nian could feel Banxia gripping hard onto her hands.

“I think I saw… Jin Zhanbei.”

“Jin Zhanbei?” Ling Nian was stunned. “How could he be here?”

She could see that Banxia wasn’t joking, but that man…

“Did you mistake someone else for him?”

“No, it was really him! I only caught his back view, but…”

Before she could finish her words, Ling Nian interrupted. “I would believe you if you told me you saw his face. There could be so many people with a similar back view,” she said jokingly. Realizing that she made the atmosphere awkward, she turned serious. “Banxia, it couldn’t be him. It’s been a year since Hanyan’s accident. If he wanted to visit, he would have visited her sooner.”

Maybe he didn’t even know that Hanyan got into an accident.

On that fateful day, he was overseas.

Seven years of courtship finally ended, but without closure.

…

At the Li Family Mansion.

For Ye Youran, it wasn’t her first time meeting Li Hanchuan’s parents. However, the previous few times she was here were all because of Ye Banxia. This time, she was here in the capacity of Li Hanchuan’s girlfriend. Naturally, she felt nervous.

Holding the gifts in her hands, she smiled politely to them at the door. “Hello, Uncle and Aunt Li.”

Li Hanchuan’s father Li Yanzheng was reading the newspaper on the sofa. His stern face reflected his serious attitude. Hearing her greetings, he put down the newspaper slowly and nodded at her. “Hello.”

His mother Song Shan was an elegant beauty. Despite her age, her grace did not diminish.

She was brewing tea for Li Yanzheng. Upon hearing Ye Youran, she turned to them as well. “Welcome back.”

After that, she looked back down and prepared another two cups.

Their reaction was neither warm nor cold. Ye Youran seemed awkward standing there.

She knew that for business veterans like Li Yanzheng and Song Shan, they had a dozen ways to ease their awkwardness with another party—but it all depended on their attitude towards the guest.

She remembered how Song Shan looked at Ye Banxia with those motherly eyes the previous time she was here…

She could feel her heart hurting.

Li Hanchuan brought her in nonchalantly. He took over the gifts and placed it on the tea table. “Dad, Mom, these are gifts Youran brought for you.”

She gave Li Yanzheng a jade chessboard, and Song Shan a scarf.

Song Shan walked over casually with the tea. She glanced at the scarf and said, “Miss Ye has really good taste. Thanks.”

Polite but uninterested.

“You’re welcome, Aunt. It’s my first time here, so it’s only right that I brought some gifts.”

Ye Youran clenched her fist tightly. She felt depressed but still kept the smile on her face.

In the next half an hour, it was mainly Ye Youran carrying the conversation. Song Shan would politely reply with a sentence after her.

When she ran out of topics, the atmosphere became awkward.

Right at this moment, Li Hanchuan’s handphone rang in the awkward silence.

His eyes brightened when he saw the caller ID. He immediately went to the balcony to answer the call.

Seeing him quickly walk out with a look of surprise and excitement, Ye Youran frowned. What was he so happy about?

He picked up the phone. Before the caller could start, he asked, “You have news of Ye Banxia?”

“Young Master Li, Miss Ye is visiting her sister at the hospital.”

After hanging up the phone, Li Hanchuan came back to the living room. Looking at Ye Youran, he said, “I have matters to deal with, do you want to stay here or leave with me?”

Ye Youran’s eyes widened instinctively. It was her first time here and he was asking her to leave after just half an hour. She could understand that he had matters to settle, but how could he ask this sort of question?

“I’ll go with you. I’ll visit Aunt and Uncle again.”

Ye Youran turned around and smiled at Li Yanzheng and Song Shan. “Uncle, Aunt, see you next time.”

Li Hanchuan didn’t even send her home personally. He got the chauffeur to do so instead as he went off on his own.

He was afraid that Ye Banxia would’ve left if he arrived late!

Ye Banxia, Ye Banxia.

Li Hanchuan felt his frustration grow as he thought of that name.

He loosened his necktie and furrowed his brows.

Stepping hard on the accelerator, the black Lamborghini sped towards the hospital.