“Oh, that’s right,” Yao Yan added. “I didn’t come here just to thank you. I was supposed to help you apply your medicine. You don’t mind me doing it in Tangtang’s place, do you?”
This time, it was Cheng Yanwho had to hold back from hittingYao Yan.
He was still deliberating with himself whether this was Yao Tang’s idea orYao Yan’s when the other man spoke.
“Tangtang asked me to come. Don’t worry. I may not be a professional, but I have a lot of experience in treating wounds. My technique shouldn’t be too bad.”
Cheng Yan’s lips twitched. “Forget it. I’m sure Mr. Yao is very busy. I wouldn’t want to waste your time.”
“It’s quite all right,” Yao Yaninsisted, his expression remaining neutral. “You did save my sister. This is the least I can do. If I bail now, I won’t be able to explain myself to her later.”
But Cheng Yanwas just as stubborn. He wavedYao Yanaway, his eyes flashing with a hint of disdain. “I’m telling you, it’s okay. I have no intention of keeping you from whatever business may be waiting for you out there.”
If Yao Yanwould be the one to treat him, then he might as well bleed himself dry.
Yao Yan nodded in the end, looking somewhat satisfied with the way things turned out. He didn’t want to have anything to do withCheng Yan, either.
Since he had done his part, there was no need for him to stay any longer. With a curt nod, Yao Yanturned on his heel and walked out the door.
Cheng Yan glared at his back until he was out of sight.
“You devious little thing,” he muttered through gritted teeth once he was alone again. “You really have no conscience, do you?”
The next day.
Yao Tang had just returned home when she received another message fromCheng Yan, saying that his wound had split open again.
As if on cue, Yao Yancame walking down the stairs at that moment. “Big Brother,”Yao Tangcalled out to him. “Cheng Yanis having trouble with his injuries again. He wants you to pop in and check.”
From what she had heard from both men, it seemed like they got along pretty well. They had even commended each other.
There shouldn’t be any trouble moving forward.
Yao Yan froze in his tracks, his eyes blinking rapidly. For a long moment, he wasn’t sure what to say.
Yao Tang realized that her brother must be busy with his own business, so she quickly took back the request.
“Never mind. If you have other things to take care of, then go ahead and deal with them. I’ll go check on Cheng Yanmyself.”
Yao Yan immediately snapped back to his senses. “No, wait, hang on. It’s fine, I’ll go. Just stay home and get some rest. You must be tired from school.”
With that, he bounded back upstairs and into his room.
He made quick work of changing into outdoor clothes and fleeing the house, afraid that she would change her mind and insist on going by herself.
Yao Tang watchedYao Yandisappear in a flurry of movements, her brows furrowed in puzzlement.
Was her brother that worried about Cheng Yan?
When did those two get so close? Perhaps Lin Xinwas right, perhaps men did connect with each other better.
…
That night, Yao Tangwalked into a high-end billiard club wearing a hat, a mask, and a large pair of black-rimmed sunglasses. She was dressed in all black as well.
The receptionist was watching a video on his phone without a care for the patrons coming and going through the establishment. He didn’t even look up when Yao Tangapproached.
He just asked, “Want me to open a table for you?”
“No.”
“What are you even here for, then?” The receptionist raised his eyes and sneered at Yao Tangbefore looking back at his screen.
Yao Tang leaned over the counter and said softly, “I want you to open a private room for me.”
That finally caught the receptionist’s full attention. He stood straight and studied Yao Tang, noting her efforts to conceal her appearance.
“We don’t have private rooms here,” he said warily.
“Stop beating around the bush.” Yao Tangcasually reached over and handed the man a USB drive.
The receptionist’s eyes widened ever so slightly when he saw a familiar logo printed on the surface of the drive.
He respectfully took it with both hands and inserted it into her computer. In the next second, a line of words appeared on the screen.
It took him a while to verify the information, then he ejected the drive and gave it back to Yao Tang, still with both hands.
He walked around the front desk counter and gestured with his hand. “This way, please. Follow me.”
Yao Tang found herself being led to the elevator banks.