Chapter 79: Want to Drink
Fu Yuling looked at Lin Shumo and said, "Well, that’s unfortunate. Shall we eat together, then?"
"It is a bit unfortunate." Lin Shumo looked at Fu Yuling apologetically. "I’m sorry, I just remembered I have some work to take care of. I’ll need to get my food to go and eat in my office."
Fu Yuling froze. ’What? But we already agreed to eat together, didn’t we?’
’Now Su Zhaozhao’s gone, and Lin Shumo is leaving too?’
Fu Yuling grew anxious. She had finally gotten a chance to be alone with Lin Shumo.
"Doctor Lin, even if work is busy, you still need to take care of yourself. Why don’t you go back to work after you’ve finished eating?"
"I’m afraid the director can’t wait."
Lin Shumo maintained a polite and courteous demeanor. "Let’s eat together some other day when I’m not so busy."
With that, he turned and strode quickly into the cafeteria.
Fu Yuling wanted to call out to him, but she thought better of it and remained silent.
’She’s not an idiot. How could she not see it? Lin Shumo is doing this because he doesn’t want to get too close to her.’
’Su Zhaozhao’s departure left just the two of them to eat together.’
’And Lin Shumo is the center of attention at the hospital.’
’He never eats with anyone else.’
’It’s probably to avoid gossip.’
’He doesn’t worry about avoiding gossip with Su Zhaozhao, but he does with me.’
Fu Yuling couldn’t help but frown.
’But what could she do about it?’
’The only reason she could even talk to Lin Shumo was because of Su Zhaozhao. Otherwise, their interactions were usually limited to a few words about work.’
’I’m so jealous of Su Zhaozhao.’
’She’d also heard of the soldier who just called Su Zhaozhao away—it was Xie Huaizheng.’
’Another man famous for his handsome looks and incredible abilities.’
’And he’s Su Zhaozhao’s fiancé.’
’Su Zhaozhao is so lucky to be loved by such a wonderful, outstanding man.’
「Meanwhile.」
Su Zhaozhao and Xie Huaizheng left the hospital and walked for a distance.
It was evening, but the sky over West State was still bright.
Su Zhaozhao said to Xie Huaizheng, "You should go eat. I don’t really have an appetite."
She wanted to go back to the guest house and lie down.
To be honest, she was very upset about what had happened with Wang Dahua today.
Even though she was a psychologist and knew how to talk herself out of her sadness, she allowed herself to remain in this state of sorrow.
Perhaps it was because sorrow is a natural human emotion.
Sometimes, there’s no need to hold it in.
But the next moment, Xie Huaizheng took her hand. "You need to eat something."
"I don’t have an appetite," Su Zhaozhao said.
Skipping one dinner was no big deal. When Su Zhaozhao used to be on a diet, she would skip dinner every so often.
But Xie Huaizheng was insistent. "No. How about I take you to Aunt Liu’s? Don’t you love her grilled lamb skewers?"
Su Zhaozhao hadn’t had an appetite, but at Xie Huaizheng’s suggestion, she suddenly felt a pang of hunger.
"Okay." She didn’t want to deny herself. If she felt like eating, she would eat.
Xie Huaizheng drove Su Zhaozhao to the small town. It was the same place as before, which required a slight detour to reach.
When Liu Guiyan saw them, her face lit up with warmth. "Little Xie, Little Su, you’re here!"
"Aunt Liu," Su Zhaozhao and Xie Huaizheng both greeted her.
"We’ll have two bowls of lamb soup and ten grilled lamb skewers," Xie Huaizheng told Liu Guiyan.
"Alright, you got it! Coming right up." Liu Guiyan bustled off to the back kitchen.
Business was still brisk, but there were only two people working in the shop.
Liu Guiyan and her husband.
Su Zhaozhao hadn’t seen Liu Guiyan’s husband last time, but this time, he was the one who brought out the grilled lamb skewers.
He was a square-jawed, middle-aged man in his forties.
He made a variety of gestures, signaling for them to eat.
Su Zhaozhao stared, stunned. ’Is he deaf and mute?’
Su Zhaozhao turned her head to look at Xie Huaizheng, who made a few signs back at the man.
Su Zhaozhao didn’t understand sign language, but after Xie Huaizheng finished, she saw the man break into a wide grin.
He also gave Su Zhaozhao a thumbs-up.
Xie Huaizheng explained to Su Zhaozhao, "I told him you’re my fiancée, and he’s very happy."
Su Zhaozhao froze for a second, then smiled back at the man.
The man turned and went back to the kitchen to continue his work.
"Is that man deaf and mute?" Su Zhaozhao asked curiously.
Xie Huaizheng nodded.
"How... did you meet them?" Su Zhaozhao was curious. Xie Huaizheng even knew sign language!
’If they weren’t close, most people wouldn’t bother learning sign language, right?’
Su Zhaozhao suddenly remembered what Liu Guosheng had mentioned before about Xie Huaizheng’s past.
’Is it related to what happened back then?’
’So, how did Aunt Liu and her husband meet Xie Huaizheng?’
The man before her wore the same expression as always—chilly and unreadable.
He placed a lamb skewer on the plate in front of her. "Eat up. They’re not as good once they get cold."
Su Zhaozhao took a bite.
The lamb was still piping hot, tender, and juicy.
’This is amazing!’
’In this era, everything is all-natural and pollution-free, basically straight from the farm.’
’Transmigrating into a book set in the eighties isn’t all bad.’
’Back in the modern world, Su Zhaozhao had eaten plenty of heavily processed foods, but here, she could enjoy something so completely natural.’
Seeing Su Zhaozhao eat with such gusto, Xie Huaizheng couldn’t help the corners of his lips from turning up in a smile.
’She really enjoys her food. Whether it’s the cafeteria meals, the food at Liu Guosheng’s home, or here, she always eats with such delight.’
’And she definitely looks much healthier than when she first arrived.’
’It’s good to see her like this.’
The people at the next table were drinking. As Su Zhaozhao chewed on her lamb skewer, she felt an itch to have some, too.
"Do you want to drink?" Su Zhaozhao asked Xie Huaizheng.
Xie Huaizheng’s gaze fell on Su Zhaozhao’s lips, glistening from the food.
Her face was bare of makeup, yet she was as vibrant as a red rose, especially her lips, which looked as if she had applied lipstick.
"Do you think I can drink?" Xie Huaizheng retorted, raising an eyebrow.
Su Zhaozhao realized that Xie Huaizheng had to drive. And even if he didn’t, his position meant he probably couldn’t just drink whenever he wanted.
"I’d like to have a little," Su Zhaozhao said.
When she was in a bad mood, she used to go to a quiet bar for a drink.
’I might as well try some now,’ Su Zhaozhao thought.
Xie Huaizheng didn’t try to stop her. He simply raised his hand and called Liu Guiyan over. "Aunt Liu, Zhaozhao would like a little something to drink. Do you have anything suitable for a lady?"
The strong liquor the next table was drinking was out of the question. He could smell its potency even from this distance.
That stuff would definitely burn her throat.
"Oh, yes, I do! I made some green plum wine myself. It’s sweet and sour, perfect for Little Su." Liu Guiyan turned, went inside, and came back with a cup of plum wine for Su Zhaozhao.