Chapter 190

The two arrived at the restaurant, and Shen Li received the menu, finding herself in a bit of a dilemma. So many years had passed without them spending time together, and she didn't know if his tastes had changed, nor did she know what to order for him.

Shen Li moved her gaze away from the menu, looked up at him, paused for a moment, and asked him, "Is it okay to order based on how we used to?"

Xie Qin ordered two sweet dishes that used sugar: sugar-crisp meat and red-braised pork, as well as a dessert.

His meaningful gaze met hers. He paused for a second, the corners of his lips slowly curling into a slight arc, and he replied in a low voice: "Mm, that's fine."

After ordering, the waiter left.

Shen Li picked up the lemon water on the table and poured him a glass. Xie Qin took it without standing on ceremony. "Thanks."

The atmosphere was somewhat stagnant.

Shen Li was naturally a person of few words, and now that she was trying to find a topic, she didn't know what to say. She looked at Xie Qin; it seemed that if she didn't speak, Xie Qin wouldn't take the initiative to speak to her either.

In the past, whenever something came up, he was always the one to speak first.

From the moment they walked into the restaurant until now, Xie Qin hadn't played with his phone, nor had he taken the initiative to speak. His gaze landed on her, yet he remained silent.

Shen Li held the cup with both hands, trying to chat about some topics: "Xie Qin, do you have a regular time for your physical check-ups?"

Xie Qin leaned back in his chair, his hands crossed in front of his chest. "Why the sudden talk about this? What are you trying to plot against me this time?"

Shen Li avoided his gaze, lowered her head, and looked at the water in her cup, her voice softening: "It's nothing, really. I just think that for the sake of your health, it would be better to have regular check-ups. Can I book you an appointment at the Jiangchuan University Affiliated Hospital's physical examination department? I know some professors there, they... are quite capable."

A dejected mood appeared along with it.

In her heart, she had been thinking about the six months Xie Qin spent in a coma after his car accident.

She wanted to confirm for herself whether he was truly alright.

Xie Qin looked at her with a half-smile, tilting his head. "Shen Li... when you're chatting with me, can you lift your head and look at me while you speak? Am I... not worth your gaze?"

Being told this, Shen Li lifted her head in slow motion, her lips pressed faintly. It was just that the look in her eyes as she watched him held an extra layer of sorrowful guilt, and her smile faded.

She just looked at him like that, without blinking, and didn't speak.

Xie Qin had a rebellious streak and retorted, "If I don't agree, are you planning to tie me up and take me there?"

Shen Li looked at him earnestly and shook her head: "No. I just want to confirm whether your health is good."

Xie Qin curled his lips and let out a low laugh, his shoulders trembling slightly. "For something like this, you! As my pursuer, why don't you... examine me yourself?"

He specifically emphasized the word "you."

"Mm. I will be by your side, accompanying you." Shen Li added: "Is next Monday okay?"

Shen Li didn't notice the double meaning in Xie Qin's words at all, nor did she think deeply about it. Trapped in her own subjective world, seeing that he didn't immediately agree, she softened her voice further. "On Monday at noon, I won't take up too much of your time. Or... you can arrange another time; I'm free to accompany you whenever."

Only by confirming you are truly recovered can I reduce the guilt in my heart.

Xie Qin...

Can you... please don't refuse me.

Shen Li wasn't someone who could take jokes very well, especially when she was taking something seriously. Now, even if Xie Qin said a joke in passing, she would take it to heart.

Xie Qin moved his body slightly, changing his posture to sit up straight. His spine was held casually, like a young master used to being served, and he commanded Shen Li: "It's not like I can't give you this face."

"I'm not used to drinking tea with flavors; go get me a bottle of cold mineral water."

His tone carried a hint of bestowing a favor.

See that I've agreed, you can be grateful now.

Seeing his agreement, Shen Li's brows relaxed. "Okay."

She stood up and came back, personally unscrewing the room-temperature mineral water for him.

Xie Qin tilted his head slightly and glanced at her. He took the water from her hand, felt the temperature of the bottle, and the young master let out a 'tsk' of slight disdain: "I just did you a favor..."

Shen Li pursed her lips and advised him earnestly: "Drinking cold things isn't very good for your health."

"I haven't even agreed to your pursuit yet, and you're already starting to manage me? You're quite..." Xie Qin's tone was lazy; he paused, as if weighing a perfectly appropriate word, and only after a long while did he slowly add, "... bossy!"

Bossy?

Mm...

Very fitting.

Shen Li had specifically ordered chicken soup for him to nourish his body. She picked out the chicken bones and put the meat into his bowl, along with the soup, constantly feeding him.

Xie Qin knew her little intentions and didn't expose her!

The two finished this lunch happily.

When Shen Li finished class in the evening, she dragged Xie Qin to go shopping at the supermarket downstairs from his apartment.

Xie Qin took the cart from her hands. Seeing her take out a sticky note with many small words written on it, he raised an eyebrow at her. "You wrote this?"

Shen Li didn't look up, her gaze still fixed on the list, and she replied softly: "I'm used to thinking things through before buying them and writing them down; it saves a lot of time."

She walked in front, and Xie Qin slowly pushed the cart behind her, following her pace.

Finally, Xie Qin carried two large shopping bags and walked in the direction of home.

Shen Li had wanted to help him share the load, but she was refused. He said: "These hands of yours that hold scalpels are very precious. As for me... I'll just take the loss today and share the burden for you."

She curled her lips and smiled: "Okay."

After returning home, Shen Li entered the door lock password using her birthday and changed into a pair of pink slippers in the entryway, her movements familiar, not treating herself as an outsider at all.

Xie Qin followed behind, sorting the items they bought and putting them in the refrigerator, asking intentionally or unintentionally: "When did you learn to cook?"

Shen Li thought about it carefully and said: "When I was studying in Germany, my mother and I couldn't get used to the foreign food, so we tried cooking for ourselves, and gradually I learned."

"What I make might not be as delicious as in restaurants, but it won't be too bad either."

The refrigerator was soon full. Xie Qin closed the refrigerator door, leaned lazily against it, and watched her back with a composed expression. "I won't eat the food you make for nothing; shall I help you out?"

Shen Li lowered her head, washing vegetables in the sink, a few fine strands of hair falling over her forehead: "It's okay, I can do it myself, you don't need to help. Why don't you go play some games, or... watch some TV?"

"About half an hour should be enough, it'll be quick."

"Mm." A low, deep response rolled from his throat. His dark gaze traced her slender and well-defined waistline inch by inch, lingering, as if he wanted to carve her entire person into his eyes from head to toe, without missing a single detail. He refused to let any part go.

Xie Qin spoke slowly: "There's something I forgot to tell you."

Shen Li turned down the faucet, the sound of the water softening, and listened intently: "What?"

Xie Qin: "I don't need a virtuous wife and a good mother."