Xu Qingyan quickly caught on and immediately withdrew her smile.

Li Huai rolled his eyes. “Brother, look, sister finally managed to smile, and you had to shoot her down with a sarcastic remark.”

Feeling somewhat innocent, Liang Jiankong replied, “I didn’t do anything.”

Xu Qingyan felt increasingly trapped and made a quick decision, saying to Li Huai, “I’m really sorry, but I have something to attend to tonight.”

Li Huai couldn’t hide his disappointment, and Liang Jiankong stood up, not insisting any further. “Next time, then,” he said.

Xu Qingyan’s heart tightened at the thought of a “next time”. She quickly lifted her gaze and coincidentally met Liang Jiankong’s calm eyes. Was it just her overthinking? Perhaps this ”next time“ was merely a polite phrase exchanged in social interactions.

Ever since Xu Qingyan had crossed paths with Liang Jiankong, her life had undoubtedly changed. She found herself becoming increasingly sensitive and suspicious, plagued by a deep-seated fear of delving further into any connection with him. Worries crept into her mind, unsettling her peaceful existence, as she dreaded the potential disruption this external force could bring. 

Li Huai made one final effort, saying, “Opportunities like this are rare. It’s nearly impossible to get tickets to Maestro Zhao’s concert. Sister, come with me and ignore my brother. Just pretend he’s invisible, okay?”

His words conveniently provided Xu Qingyan with an excuse, and she blinked her pleading, innocent eyes at Xu Qingyan.

Unable to resist, Xu Qingyan’s lips curved into a smile. “It’s been ten years since I last had the chance to experience a live performance by the maestro.”

Before Li Huai could even celebrate his victory, Liang Jiankong glanced at his watch and abruptly interjected, “I’m hungry.”

Having finished her lunch, it was already nearing 2:30, and Xu Qingyan felt no hunger at all. However, she couldn’t resist the demands of the ever-busy Boss Liang. And then there was Li Huai with his sweet talk. While Xu Qingyan had developed a strong immunity to sugar-coated words, Li Huai’s words were like honey that had been delicately preserved, sweet and delightful without being cloying. They had the power to enchant Xu Qingyan’s ears, and on several occasions, she couldn’t help but suppress a giggle.

In the end, she was coaxed and deceived by Li Huai, who pulled her out of the shop.

“Are you going to eat too? Have you finished work?” Liang Jiankong intercepted his eager little brother.

Li Huai wore an expression that said, “Second Brother, are you sure you’ve got this right? Dr. Xu is here because of me. You have nothing to do with it. Are you just riding on my coattails?”

Liang Jiankong, who was generally more indulgent towards his younger brother, didn’t bother to argue and leisurely followed behind them.

Li Huai began introducing the nearby restaurants to Xu Qingyan, and she really wanted to say that it wasn’t her who wanted to eat. However, this enthusiastic little brother was so eager that she felt hesitant to interrupt him.

“There’s a Spanish restaurant nearby. Do you like Western cuisine, Sister?” Li Huai asked.

“I think this place looks good,” 

Suddenly, a certain gentleman chimed in from behind, causing both of them to stop in their tracks and look to the right—there stood a rustic farmhouse stir-fry restaurant.

“……”

Li Huai was already at a loss for words to describe his own brother’s behavior. Meanwhile, Boss Liang had already stepped into the restaurant ahead of them. Li Huai let out a sigh, still trying to salvage the situation. “Sorry about that. Normally, his taste isn’t this bad. I think he’s just really famished today.”

Liang Jiankong casually settled onto a short stool, crossing his long legs, and remarked, “People like us often go without a meal, so as long as we have something to eat, it’s good enough.”

Liang Jiankong ordered a selection of home-style dishes, while Xu Qingyan simply requested a glass of water. Ah Bao and their group occupied the neighboring table, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.

As Liang Jiankong and Li Huai engaged in conversation, Xu Qingyan took on the role of attentive listener. She had already finished her glass of water, and the dishes began to arrive one by one.

“It looks delicious,” Liang Jiankong commented, as he deftly wielded his chopsticks. He glanced at Xu Qingyan across the table and asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to order anything?”

Xu Qingyan maintained a poised posture, constantly on guard in Liang Jiankong’s presence. “I’m not hungry,” she replied firmly.

Liang Jiankong began to dig into his meal, and Xu Qingyan noticed that he had ordered a variety of spicy dishes. He had a strong tolerance for spice, and she remembered how she used to enjoy meals with Shen Yuechu in the past. However, Shen Yuechu was incapable of handling spiciness. Just a little bit of chili sauce would make him break out in a sweat, which often resulted in Xu Qingyan teasing him playfully.

Liang Jiankong’s pace of eating was remarkably swift, showing no concern for maintaining a polished image. He quickly devoured half of the dishes on the table, a contented smile appearing on his face. It seemed that this meal had brought him genuine satisfaction, putting him in a cheerful mood.

With his improved mood, Liang Jiankong took the initiative to strike up a conversation. “Don’t always wear such a stern expression. Don’t listen to what they say. I’m actually quite easy to get along with,” he remarked.

“……” Li Huai choked and swiftly grabbed Xu Qingyan’s glass, taking a big gulp.

Liang Jiankong cast a sidelong glance at Li Huai, holding his gaze for a moment. Suddenly, it dawned on Li Huai, and he quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, my mistake. Sister, let me get you a new glass.”

Xu Qingyan didn’t pay much attention to it and got up to pour herself another glass. She also poured one for Li Huai.

With a natural ease, Liang Jiankong reached for the glass intended for Li Huai and took a sip. Li Huai stared at him, wide-eyed, while Liang Jiankong set the glass down, looking puzzled. “Wasn’t this one for me?”

Xu Qingyan sighed inwardly, realizing the situation, and rose once more to fetch yet another glass of water.

Liang Jiankong added another spoonful of chili sauce, causing Li Huai to break into a sweat at just the sight of it. “Brother, can your stomach handle all this spiciness? You always eat such spicy food.”

“I won’t die from it,” Liang Jiankong replied nonchalantly.

As a doctor, Xu Qingyan had an instinctive urge to caution him, but considering the countless wounds he had endured, a little discomfort from spicy food seemed trivial in comparison.

Liang Jiankong absentmindedly touched his chin with his right hand and shifted the conversation towards Xu Qingyan. “Dr. Xu, do you know where the biggest scar on my body is?”

As Xu Qingyan pondered Liang Jiankong’s scars, a vivid image of his bare body flashed through her mind, followed by a recollection of the prominent scar on his abdomen.

But could she answer? Was this some sort of test from him?

“You don’t have to be so cautious. If I were intentionally targeting you, I wouldn’t need to test you. Do you feel threatened by me?”

Liang Jiankong had the uncanny ability to perceive even the slightest changes in her facial expressions. What was even more unsettling was his apparent ability to read her thoughts. Could this person actually possess mind-reading abilities?

Xu Qingyan truthfully responded, “The scar on your abdomen.”

Liang Jiankong wore a profound expression. “So you do remember.”

…

Xu Qingyan was left speechless, her mouth agape. Weren’t they supposed to avoid these tests?

“Why are you asking this, brother?” Li Huai questioned.

“Just trying to gauge how much attention I’ve attracted,” Liang Jiankong replied.

“……” Xu Qingyan and Li Huai remained speechless.

Seemingly pleased by their expressions, Liang Jiankong spoke generously, “I believe Dr. Xu wouldn’t casually meddle in others’ affairs. Alright, if there’s anything you want to know now, go ahead and ask.”

Meanwhile, Ah Bao, who was nearby, couldn’t help but overhear their conversation. Suppressing his surprise to maintain his usual composed demeanor, he struggled not to let his jaw drop in amazement. Across from him, Mark, the American man, wore a dumbfounded expression, his mouth agape as if it could swallow an ostrich egg.

Liang Jiankong, you claim he has a good temper. Well, it’s true he appears to have a good temper. He smiles whether dealing with families or enemies. However, once you discover that his temper isn’t as good as you initially thought, it’s already too late. His dominance is concealed; most people neither dare nor desire to challenge him in any way. He carries legendary tales and secrets, and anyone who tries to unravel his secrets seems to mysteriously vanish. Curiosity killed the cat, and it’s best not to probe him with questions.

Xu Qingyan harbored an indescribable resistance towards Liang Jiankong, a resistance that stemmed from his inherent allure. He was far from the dark figure she had imagined; there was something peculiar about him. Though well-hidden, she could catch a faint whiff of it during fleeting moments, reminiscent of the dry scent emanating from a sun-drenched blanket. His smile and aloofness alternated, making it impossible to discern whether he was gentle or cruel. It was an abyssal depth of emotion that defied categorization.

What caused this scar?” Xu Qingyan pointed to the area below his eyelid.

The scar in that particular location was incredibly perilous, and it was a stroke of luck that his sight remained intact.

Liang Jiankong raised his hand, his slender fingers brushing over the crescent-shaped scar, and smiled. “To protect my eldest brother, I took a knife for him.”

As he calmly recounted the reason, a bead of cold sweat formed on Ah Bao’s forehead. This past incident had stirred up a storm at the time, and nearly everyone was aware of it. Though Liang Jiankong was a member of the Li family, his position was rather delicate. However, when he later saved Li Tong’s life, what initially appeared to be a positive turn of events became a double-edged sword. It solidified Liang Jiankong’s status while also subjecting him to relentless criticism and accusations of acting. 

That one fateful blade held immense significance. Li Tong’s trust in him soared to unprecedented heights, resulting in the gradual expansion of Liang Jiankong’s influence, even surpassing that of Li Tong himself. Remarkably, Li Tong willingly stepped back, showing no inclination to suppress him. 

In the present, no one dared to openly use this incident as ammunisation, but in the midst of the tumultuous undercurrents of today, those with ulterior motives quietly emerged. 

Xu Qingyan didn’t dwell on it for long; she was simply once again astounded by the ruthlessness of Liang Jiankong’s world.

“Are you surprised?” he asked.

Xu Qingyan shook her head, then nodded in agreement. “Aren’t you all afraid of death?”

“We are,” Liang Jiankong admitted. Yet, looking at his expression, there was no trace of fear to be found.

“Brother, didn’t you used to say that you’re never afraid of death?” Li Huai couldn’t resist teasing his second brother, considering his past ruthlessness; it was hard to imagine him being afraid of death.

“I am also afraid,” Liang Jiankong calmly took the water glass and gave it a gentle shake. “But, you see, there are doctors like Dr. Xu who can save me.”

Xu Qingyan’s breath caught in her throat.

Shen Yuanchu was always getting into minor scrapes and injuries. Whenever Xu Qingyan couldn’t bear to see it, she would scold him, saying it would be better if he died early and reincarnated sooner, so as not to bring trouble to society. He would simply laugh it off, playfully teasing her, “Why don’t you give up on playing the piano and study medicine instead? That way, my life would be in your hands.”

Those seemingly innocuous words struck a deep chord in her wounded heart.

Xu Qingyan found herself at a loss for words, unable to articulate her emotions. Liang Jiankong raised an eyebrow and provocatively asked, “Isn’t it true?”

Xu Qingyan had a vivid recollection of how she had responded to him back then. Filled with anger, she had flung the medical kit into his lap, retorting, “I’m not a deity. If you want to die, no one can stop you.”

Lowering her gaze, Xu Qingyan suppressed her emotions and replied with a touch of indifference, “Boss Liang, you overestimate me.”

Li Huai furrowed his brow, still perplexed, and queried, “Sister, I recall you used to study music. Why did you switch to studying medicine?”

Xu Qingyan’s gaze fell upon the young man, his boyish appearance contrasting with the earnestness in his eyes. She couldn’t help but soften her tone as she spoke, “To truly feel the essence of music, to connect with its soul, it requires me to pour my very life into it. But one day, I realized that I had lost that ability, the ability to truly experience life and immerse myself in the melodies. In that moment, I questioned, what would I have left to play?”

There was a brief pause as Liang Jiankong contemplated her words, before he gently voiced his disagreement, “Hope exists everywhere in life. You are too pessimistic.” 

Xu Qingyan chose not to argue further. For someone who had grown accustomed to witnessing life and death, and even viewed life and death with indifference, the concept of life held little significance.

Noting Xu Qingyan’s apparent indifference, Liang Jiankong pondered for a moment before speaking, “To put it another way, as long as we are alive, there is always hope. Hear me out: those who dwell in the past can never embrace the future.”

With a determined tilt of her head, Xu Qingyan replied coldy, “I don’t need it.”

Mark, witnessing someone displaying such an attitude towards Boss Liang for the first time, found his jaw dropping once again.

Liang Jiankong, resembling an indulgent adult dealing with a sulking child, smiled gently and said, “You will understand in the future.”