Chapter 117

Lu Na silently followed Wang Chuan into the dormitory.

Wang Chuan drank half a bottle of water in large gulps, twisted open the cap, and handed Lu Na a bottle of mineral water.

After a minute, Wang Chuan noticed Lu Na's emotions had calmed considerably.

'The rational mind of middle age failed to control the feverish body of a twenty-year-old.'

'Thankfully, Lu Na didn't cry out—there's still a chance to explain.'

'Think about how to explain this behavior.'

Wang Chuan's gaze shifted to Lu Na's beautiful face, observing whether her expression had changed.

Suddenly, a sob escaped from Lu Na's lips, instantly filling the small three-person dormitory.

Lu Na hugged her arms tightly, tears finally spilling from her eyes, tracing down her hot cheeks, pooling at her tiny chin, then dripping onto the front of her pink T-shirt, spreading in a dark stain.

At the door, she had held back, afraid of being seen; after entering the dormitory, she could no longer contain herself.

Although she liked Wang Chuan, this first kiss had been taken too suddenly—her pent-up grievance turned to tears, bursting forth.

Wang Chuan watched Lu Na's tear-streaked face, still carrying a hint of stubborn defiance, and thought, 'Let her cry it all out. See what demands she'll make afterward.'

'It's unlikely she'll run to the police station or drag me to the office to accuse me of harassment.'

'After all, I don't look like some sleazy middle-aged man. I'm so young, so handsome—my modeling is here; she's not even at a disadvantage!'

Suddenly, the dormitory was filled only with the creaking sound of the old electric fan.

'Wang Chuan, do you like me?'

Wang Chuan looked at Lu Na's eyes, brimming with tears, and answered without hesitation, 'I do. But I just kissed you not because I like you.'

This answer, Wang Chuan felt, was clever—it severed the causal link between liking her and kissing her.

I like you, but the kiss had a reason—this leaves room for explanation.

Wang Chuan spoke slowly: 'I just raced against Death God in the Emergency Department, saving a patient with myocardial infarction. For the first time, I felt how fragile human life is, how close I came to Death God.'

'After saving him, I was utterly drained, not knowing what to do.'

'It was your voice that woke me up. I realized this world still holds beauty.'

After speaking, Wang Chuan stole a glance at Lu Na, knowing his words made no logical sense, no causal connection—would he now kiss her every time he saved a dying patient?

Lu Na seemed to be slowly processing his words; the grievance on her face began to fade.

Wang Chuan continued: 'Lu Na, you've known me for less than a month. But you're cute and beautiful—who wouldn't like you?'

He subtly replaced his earlier 'I like you' with the idea that he, Wang Chuan, liked her only as any other guy would like a pretty girl.

Not any special, exclusive liking for you.

After saying this, he walked out of the dormitory, brought back a basin of clean water from the washroom, dipped a towel in it, wrung it out, and handed it to Lu Na: "Wipe your face. Don't mind using my towel."

'Your~~'

Lu Na hesitated half a second, then took the towel and wiped her tear-streaked face clean.

Earlier, when Wang Chuan wasn't in the dormitory, Lu Na had thought: Wang Chuan's forceful kiss didn't make him a shameless rogue.

It's normal for doctors to be under pressure; she'd even seen other doctors, when overwhelmed, smash chairs and kick tables in the rest room.

He must have sensed her fondness for him.

He verbally said he liked her, though later clarified it was the same as any other guy liking a pretty girl.

That's fine! At least he admitted I, Lu Na, am a pretty girl.

After all, we've known each other less than a month; our contact time is short. Let's take it slow.

I just used his towel—other girls probably haven't. Pei Nanli, that cold Pei Nanli, would never tolerate a guy's towel.

Lu Na's innermost potential rival—she believed it was Pei Nanli, not Shang Yan, and certainly not her cousin Wang Jia.

She had never seen Wang Chuan and Xin Chanxi passionately kissing at Old Bund.

She had never seen Wang Chuan and Lin Weiwei passionately kissing against the bar wall, so these two girls weren't on her rival list yet.

Lu Na suddenly remembered her important reason for coming to find Wang Chuan today.

'Then... then...' Lu Na sniffled, struggling to regain her voice.

'Does your bar... still need a cashier? My mom... she... she just lost her job...'

Wang Chuan frowned slightly: 'Why doesn't your mom work at your dad's clinic?' He was puzzled—running a clinic might not make big money, but it could at least earn enough to support her staying home idle.

Lu Na understood his implication: 'My mom has worked since she married. Her old company went bankrupt.'

'She's applied to two other companies for part-time accounting and cashier work. She wants to take on even more part-time jobs—maybe she'll earn more than before.'

'My mom says a woman who supports herself stands taller at home!'

Lu Na added anxiously: 'Actually, my dad is great—he respects my mom's choices. He doesn't want to tie her to his side.'

Wang Chuan watched her anxious, shy expression and softened his tone: 'The bar already has a finance officer and cashier. But...'

'Ah~~' Lu Na didn't wait to hear the rest; disappointment flickered across her face. No opportunity here—she'd just find another company. No big problem.

Wang Chuan spoke: 'Let me finish. My new company, Suguangchuan Consulting, is in the process of registration and will be established soon. I've already hired a college student from Mingzhou University's Accounting School as finance officer and driver. But I still need a cashier.'

Lu Na snapped her head up, her almond eyes wide: 'R-really?!'

The faint disappointment in her eyes transformed into delight.

'Really.' Wang Chuan watched the light in her eyes and felt slightly relieved. 'Once the new company's license is approved, I'll meet your mom to discuss the exact duties and salary.'

'Since it's part-time, the pay might be low—around three hundred or so. But the new company won't have much work at first.'

'Great! Great! Thank you! Thank you, Doctor Wang Chuan!'

Lu Na nodded eagerly, finally smiling—her tears had been wiped away, but faint blushes still lingered.

Wang Chuan suddenly asked: 'Lu Na, are we friends?'

Lu Na was startled, unsure of his intent.

If we're friends, one person saying so isn't enough; if we're not friends, only one person can decide.

Suddenly, Lu Na inexplicably recalled a line: why does falling in love require two people to agree, yet breaking up only needs one person to stop loving? The blush on her cheeks instantly deepened.

"If we're friends, then from now on you'll call me Wang Chuan, or Brother Wang Chuan, or Big Brother Wang Chuan."

"Call me Doctor Wang Chuan, and I'll think that sitting in front of me is a female patient—a cute and pretty female patient."

Lu Na, after listening, said, "Okay, Wang Chuan... Brother."