Better Than Summer: A Marriage Before Love Romance - Chapter 22

The remaining bit of unfinished work was completed by Shen Tingxia and Lin Muning together.

However, the site managers were mostly men, and they preferred communicating with Lin Muning, paying little attention to her.

This touched a nerve for Shen Tingxia. She warned herself inwardly that one day, she would become a leader among men. In this society still dominated by male power, she would compete for their social resources.

At 7:30 PM, they were seated in a restaurant. Lin Muning handed the menu to Shen Tingxia: “Tingxia-jie, see what you’d like to eat. My treat. And this isn’t the meal I owe you from Saturday – remember you promised to keep Saturday free so I can properly take you out to dinner.”

Shen Tingxia took the menu, ordered two dishes that looked good, then handed it back: “You order the rest.”
Lin Muning glanced at the menu and added two more dishes.

After the waiter left, Shen Tingxia got straight to the point: “Lin Muning, do you like me?”

Although they hadn’t known each other long, that was the impression Lin Muning gave her.

Whether her feeling was right or wrong, being direct couldn’t hurt. After all, they were colleagues – who would want messy ambiguity with a colleague…

Hearing this, Lin Muning froze for a moment, then laughed awkwardly: “Tingxia-jie is this direct?”

Shen Tingxia’s expression remained unchanged, revealing nothing extra. Nor could she glean much more information from his face.

But she couldn’t use her married status to reject him. She wasn’t ready yet to let her colleagues know her marital status had changed from single to married.

Shen Tingxia found another way to refuse: “Too bad. I don’t like younger men.”

After dinner with Lin Muning, Shen Tingxia drove back to Xi Cheng’an’s place.

She had agreed to live there afterward. Even though her things weren’t moved in yet, she needed to start getting used to it, right?

Shen Tingxia parked her car in a spot near the complex entrance again, unsure if Xi Cheng’an had managed to rent a space in the underground garage yet.

Locking the car, she walked into the building with practiced ease.

Standing at his door, she used her fingerprint to unlock it and found the lights on inside.

Shen Tingxia walked in, kicking off the high heels that had practically tortured her to death at the entrance. I should have worn the flats I keep in the car for driving, she thought.

Hearing movement from the kitchen, she limped in, leaning against the wall. Now that she was relaxing, her senses were heightened, and her feet throbbed intensely – she hadn’t felt it this badly in the elevator.

Xi Cheng’an, standing by the stove, had already heard the noise at the entrance and looked over. As Shen Tingxia came into view, he said: “You’re back.”

With just one glance, he noticed something was wrong. Shen Tingxia also looked up at him.

Perhaps due to his doctor’s instinct, Xi Cheng’an turned off the stove and walked over, concerned: “What’s wrong?”

With no wall to lean on, Shen Tingxia instinctively grabbed Xi Cheng’an’s forearm.

Feeling the external pressure on his arm, Xi Cheng’an naturally supported her elbow, looking down. He saw her heels were rubbed raw and red. Looking closer, they were actually broken and bleeding.

The cause was obvious.

Before Shen Tingxia could speak, Xi Cheng’an proactively asked: “Need help?”

Shen Tingxia grimaced: “How?”

The sofa was a distance from the entrance. Xi Cheng’an simply bent down, scooped Shen Tingxia up in a princess carry, and walked inside.

The sudden weightlessness made Shen Tingxia wrap her arms around Xi Cheng’an’s neck.

So this was the kind of help he meant.

Shen Tingxia watched the man’s face up close. His jawline was sharp and distinct, his overall facial contours smooth and well-defined. Thin lips, a high nose bridge, and those uniquely shaped phoenix eyes… Purely in terms of looks, Xi Cheng’an was no less handsome than current idol stars. Shen Tingxia even felt his features were more refined and enduring than many celebrities’. She inexplicably felt it was a waste he wasn’t a male model.

The range hood hummed in the kitchen; the apartment wasn’t quiet. Yet she could distinctly hear the thumping of her own heartbeat.

At the same time, she felt the radiating warmth of Xi Cheng’an’s body.

Seemingly sensing her frank gaze, Xi Cheng’an looked down. Their eyes met abruptly.

Perhaps whenever they looked at each other, their gazes automatically rippled. Within half a second, they were tightly intertwined.

Xi Cheng’an asked casually: “What are you looking at?”
“Who’s looking at you?” Shen Tingxia retorted defensively, quickly averting her eyes. Spotting the sofa, she added, “Just put me down already.”

It was only a few steps, yet it felt like an eternity.

Xi Cheng’an bent down to place Shen Tingxia on the sofa, then turned to find iodine swabs and band-aids from the cabinet under the TV. Returning to sit beside her on the sofa, he asked: “Apply it yourself or shall I?”

Shen Tingxia didn’t answer, simply placing her feet on his thigh.

Even through the fabric, the warm touch was impossible for Xi Cheng’an to ignore. He paused briefly before breaking open an iodine swab and dabbing it gently on her wound.

The lightest touch made Shen Tingxia flinch and suck in a breath. “Ouch!” she complained, “Dr. Xi, are you this rough with your patients too?”

Xi Cheng’an looked up at her. He hadn’t felt he used much force. Besides, when he “worked” on his patients, they were under anesthesia and felt no pain.

Then he remembered: this woman beside him had a heightened sensitivity to pain.
“I’ll be gentler.”

With that, Xi Cheng’an brought the swab back to her heel. Shen Tingxia watched his movements, leaning sideways.

The reddish-brown iodine swab was held between his slender fingers. After her reminder, Xi Cheng’an’s movements became even more tender. As he applied it, he blew softly. The cool sensation swept over her skin, making it tingle. It was like several light feathers simultaneously landing on still water, creating faint ripples.

After disinfecting, he let it air dry for a moment. Then he carefully peeled open a band-aid and gently placed it over the wound.

Once treated, Shen Tingxia’s feet remained resting on his thigh. Xi Cheng’an patted the sole of her right foot with his right hand, the trash from the treatment held in his left.

Shen Tingxia didn’t understand. “What?”
Xi Cheng’an nodded towards her feet: “Put them down.”

Prompted, Shen Tingxia realized her feet were still on his leg. She jerked them back as if shocked.

Seeing this, Xi Cheng’an chuckled softly: “No need for such a big reaction.”

Before Shen Tingxia could react to what he meant, he was already standing up and walking back to the kitchen. He tossed the trash into the bin, washed his hands, and turned the stove back on.

Standing at the stove, Xi Cheng’an glanced towards the living room. Shen Tingxia was glaring at him, pouting. Unfazed, he smiled and deliberately asked: “Have you eaten?”

Shen Tingxia spoke slowly, enunciating clearly: “Sorry, Dr. Xi. I ate out with a colleague.”

Xi Cheng’an’s tone was flat: “The male colleague dressed in light-colored casual clothes?”

Shen Tingxia’s previously haughty expression instantly turned stunned: “How did you know?”
If she recalled correctly, Lin Muning had indeed been wearing light blue clothes today.

“Passed by. Saw you.”

On his way home from the hospital, waiting at a red light, his eyes had casually swept over and spotted the two of them eating by the window in a restaurant.

He didn’t know why, but even though she was free to do as she pleased, it felt strangely uncomfortable. He didn’t go in. Sitting in the driver’s seat, he watched for a few seconds, let out a couple of self-mocking laughs, and as the cars ahead started moving, he drove on without lingering. Back home, he only cooked for one.

Nevertheless, Shen Tingxia explained: “Don’t misunderstand. Really, just colleagues.”

The food in the pan was almost done. Xi Cheng’an turned off the stove and then the range hood. The large apartment instantly fell quiet. He looked over at her again, a faint smile playing on his lips: “What exactly are you worried I might misunderstand?”

Shen Tingxia was momentarily speechless, unsure how to react. After a dazed couple of seconds, she suddenly stood up. “Who knows what you might misunderstand! Ugh, you’re so annoying!” she exclaimed.

She threw the pillow she’d been holding back onto the sofa, slipped on her slippers, and limped towards the bedroom.

Watching Shen Tingxia’s flustered retreating figure, Xi Cheng’an laughed softly.

He hadn’t known before that Shen Tingxia was the type to run away when she couldn’t win an argument.

Interesting.

Back in her room, Shen Tingxia changed out of her outer clothes. She wanted to shower, but the band-aids on her feet were fresh. She changed her plan: she’d first summarize the key points from the site visit today. She guessed Zhuang Wenshu and Zhao Xuning probably wouldn’t think to do it. She’d set the example so they had a reference.

But the spare room didn’t have a workspace. Shen Tingxia picked up her laptop and sheepishly returned to the living room.

Xi Cheng’an was now sitting at the dining table eating.

Shen Tingxia pulled out a chair beside him, placed her laptop on the table, and opened it, the aroma of the food filling her nostrils.

Xi Cheng’an watched her expressionless face: “Work?”
Shen Tingxia glanced at him. “Mhm.”
“You can use the study.”

Shen Tingxia looked at Xi Cheng’an in surprise again: “You have a study?”
Xi Cheng’an stood up. Shen Tingxia closed her laptop again and followed him as he opened the study door.

She had always assumed his three rooms were three bedrooms. She hadn’t realized one was a study.

Her first sight was a wall full of books.

Astonished, Shen Tingxia walked in and stood before the tall bookshelves, carefully scanning the titles.

Medical texts, law books, finance, economics, management, classic and modern works from China and abroad, renowned authors, and some books she couldn’t even categorize.

Shen Tingxia turned to Xi Cheng’an, disbelief on her face. Pointing at the book wall behind her, she asked: “You’ve read all these books?”
Xi Cheng’an replied mildly: “Most of them.”
Shen Tingxia was visibly stunned, unable to find the words. Finally, she chose the simplest two, giving him a thumbs-up: “Impressive.”

Xi Cheng’an smiled slightly. These books weren’t much; his parents’ house held nearly half as many again. He’d also read plenty of e-books.
“Take your time. I won’t disturb you.”

With that, Xi Cheng’an picked up his own laptop from the desk and headed out. He had a paper to write later too.

Reaching the doorway, Xi Cheng’an turned back. “Oh, the parking spot is sorted. It’s to the left of mine. Your license plate is already in the system; it’ll recognize it automatically.”

Xi Cheng’an had resolved this matter within just a few days. Why was everything about him surprising her today? If it were her, she’d probably procrastinate forever.

Shen Tingxia praised him sincerely: “Dr. Xi is impressively efficient. How much is the rent? I’ll transfer it to you.”

She picked up her phone, but before she could even open WeChat, the man at the door stated succinctly: “No need. Didn’t rent it. Bought it.”