Chapter 23

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The pupils dilated in an instant.

It wasn’t just Qiao Jing who was stunned, but Zhan Qipei as well.

In fact, compared to Qiao Jing, the tumultuous waves in Zhan Qipei’s heart surged even more intensely.

Because he actually didn’t repel the girl’s lips touching his, but instead felt an indescribable thrill that shot from his brain to every limb.

Under this unspeakable stimulation, Zhan Qipei’s hands started to have a mind of their own, slowly lifting, intending to wrap around the girl’s waist.

Just as his fingers were about to touch the girl’s waist, Qiao Jing suddenly came to her senses from her stupor and pushed Zhan Qipei away with one hand, wiping her mouth.

“Eh—why can’t I push it open? Is something stuck?” Lin Xiuxiang’s muttering echoed from outside the door.

Qiao Jing glanced at Zhan Qipei who was still in a daze, frowned, then stepped aside to make way for Lin Xiuxiang to come in.

“Qiao Qiao, you—” Lin Xiuxiang spoke before noticing Zhan Qipei standing in the room.

“Um, hello there!” Lin Xiuxiang greeted Zhan Qipei.

Lin Xiuxiang had seen Zhan Qipei before at the entrance to the Angel Welfare Institute, Qiao Jing’s temporary husband.

Zhan Qipei politely nodded, still looking somewhat bewildered. He pursed his thin lips and his gaze swiftly and discreetly flitted over Qiao Jing’s lips.

His eyebrows knitted together in thought as he sat down on the sofa. Fingers interlocked and propped against his chin, he pondered the earlier moment when their lips met and the uncontrollable desire of his hands to wrap around the girl’s waist. The more he thought, the tighter his brows twisted…

In the end, he concluded that he must be bewitched.

Lin Xiuxiang came to the French window, looking out, “Wow! Indeed, we can see our welfare institute! Qiao Qiao, you chose such a good spot. This way you can visit the kids more often in the future. If those children knew that you could come to see them often, they’d be thrilled.”

Zhan Qipei’s train of thought was interrupted by Lin Xiuxiang’s words, and he turned his head to look out the French window.

Is that the welfare institute across the street?

So that’s why she chose to live here up to now?

Zhan Qipei had more or less learned about Qiao Jing’s relationship with the Angel Welfare Institute through the demolition incident that happened last time.

Qiao Jing’s grandfather had been ill and hospitalized, and during that time, the young her was sent to the welfare institute, where she had cherished childhood memories.

Thinking of this, he wasn’t as angry about what Qiao Jing had said earlier.

It’s just that this place is really too small.

Forget it, it’s only the remaining 90 days. Just endure it, and it will be over.

That evening, upon seeing the four dishes and one soup on the table, Zhan Qipei’s mood instantly brightened.

“Moving out isn’t too bad,” Zhan Qipei said to himself.

“Go get the chopsticks,” Qiao Jing said, carrying the steamed rice out of the kitchen.

He’s to work? Zhan Qipei paused for a second before silently heading to the kitchen.

Time to eat!

He had long wanted to taste just how delicious Qiao Jing’s cooking really was.

He reached out his chopsticks and picked up a piece of sweet and sour spare rib, placing it in his mouth. Before he could chew and swallow it completely, his chopsticks stretched out again for a second piece.

Then he went for other dishes, over and over again.

His cheeks were constantly puffed up as he ate, his hands busy on the table.

After tasting a bite of rice, Qiao Jing looked up at Zhan Qipei and couldn’t help asking, “Didn’t you have lunch?”

The question turned Zhan Qipei’s ears instantly red, though his face still wore his usual serious expression.

“I ate a little at noon,” Zhan Qipei managed to mumble after a while.

“Oh,” Qiao Jing responded indifferently, no longer paying attention to Zhan Qipei and continued with her meal.

All the dishes and soup were devoured cleanly, without a drop left.

Zhan Qipei went back to his room, rubbing his slightly protruding belly, feeling a bad premonition—that if he continued this way, he would end up like one of those potbellied bosses.

Fortunately, there were only 90 days left with Qiao Jing, so he wouldn’t be able to eat her cooking after that.

Thinking this, Zhan Qipei felt it was such a shame not to be able to enjoy such delicious meals in the future.

This thought surfaced, and Zhan Qipei immediately began to doubt himself.

What’s wrong with him? Why had he become so lacking in self-respect?

Then Zhan Qipei took comfort in the fact that even the usually steady Xu Hongzu had lost his composure over Qiao Jing’s cooking, and he felt somewhat balanced again.

For the time being, he decided not to think too much about it and go out for a run instead. He didn’t want to become potbellied. What if, in the future, he found that girl and she despised him for his altered physique?

The next morning.

As Qiao Jing was preparing to leave, Zhan Qipei had already gone out.

She had not planned to visit the patient she had operated on herself the day before, because she learned from the hospital phone call that the patient was recovering well.

Who knew the patient would complain of feeling unwell today and refuse to let other doctors examine them, insisting on having her come over. Since she was free that day, she decided to make the trip, and it would also be a chance to sit in for some consultations.

In the VIP ward of the hospital.

Zhan Ruiting occasionally peered towards the door, “Why hasn’t she arrived yet?”

“You’ve been muttering that for 72 times. Repeating it won’t make her appear,” Zhan Qipei retorted after glancing at his watch, then stood up.

“Cousin, are you leaving?”

“I’ve waited with you for twenty minutes, there’s work at the company, I’m leaving first.”

“Don’t go, Cous—”

“Knock, knock—” A knock on the door sounded twice.

She’s here!

Zhan Ruiting looked towards the door excitedly.

Out of curiosity, Zhan Qipei also turned to look.