Chapter 18: Mutual Probing

On the highway, Xiao Yi pressed the accelerator to the floor. Glancing back at the insulated box hanging in the car, he smiled knowingly. He had been waiting three whole years for a chance to be alone with Ran Xing.

...

By the time he rushed back to the hospital, it was already late at night. Although it was early autumn, a chill had crept into the air. Approaching the ward door, Xiao Yi slowed his footsteps and gently turned the doorknob. To his surprise, the light inside was still on.

He steadied his breath, casually took off his coat and hung it on the rack, then asked, “Still not asleep?”

“I woke up hungry,” Ran Xing replied comfortably, leaning against the pillow, her eyes scanning the man changing his shoes in front of her.

Feeling unnerved under her gaze, Xiao Yi forced a dimpled smile and began to apologize softly and warmly. “Sister Ran, I’m really sorry. Filming delayed me, so I came back late. You haven’t had dinner yet, right? I specially made chicken soup for you.”

Ran Xing withdrew her gaze and, as if nothing had happened, smiled. “Just in time, I’m a bit hungry.”

As he gently ladled the soup, Xiao Yi probed, “Sister Ran, have you met Wang Ying?”

“Yes.”

“Does she meet your expectations?”

“I don’t know,” Ran Xing said bluntly. “You have to work together to find out. By the way, how far along is the filming?”

“My part is about a third done.”

“And what about Wen Xiaoning? With her scandal, what will happen to her role?”

Xiao Yi paused briefly, indifferent, “The director said they’ll find someone suitable to replace her.”

He brought the soup to his hand, sat beside Ran Xing, and carefully blew on a spoonful before offering it to her. She opened her mouth habitually, sipping while voicing concern, “This drama just started shooting. The lead actress and second female lead both have problems. Luckily, you and the second male lead are fine; otherwise, the drama would be canceled outright.”

Xiao Yi, however, fixed his gaze on her lips as she swallowed. The soup’s oil had made them appear moist and rosy. Unconsciously, he raised his hand to wipe a bit of soup that had spilled at the corner of her mouth. Then, smiling like coaxing a child, he softly said, “Sister Ran, slow down.”

Under those star-filled eyes, Ran Xing felt unsettled but feigned calm, quickly grabbing a tissue to wipe her mouth without a hint of emotion. “Next time, you can just tell me directly.”

She then took the spoon from Xiao Yi’s hand and reluctantly lowered her head, meekly saying, “I can drink by myself, but… it’s a bit troublesome for you to hold it a while longer.”

---

Her rosy lips parted obediently in agreement.

“All right, but next time, don’t wait for me outside so late, okay?”

The woman, leisurely sipping her soup, nearly choked on hearing this. She patted her chest and coughed a few times before raising her eyes to explain, “I was enjoying the night view.”

Mentioning that, Ran Xing’s anger flared. If she hadn’t been acting for his sake, would she be freezing out here so late? Besides, she was injured.

Xiao Yi shifted closer, blinking pitifully with an innocent look, weakly saying, “I thought you were waiting for me.”

Ran Xing pushed him away mercilessly, gesturing toward the soup. She spoke slowly, “If you want me to drink the soup, then be quiet.”

“Oh~”

Xiao Yi obediently withdrew, feigning harmlessness with a rising tone, “Sister Ran, are you allergic to romance?”

Ran Xing: “...”

In all her years, she’d never met anyone like this.

Fearing he’d say more, she quickly changed the subject. “By the way, you said the director wants to find someone else, right?”

“Yeah, the crew wants to maximize efficiency, so they’re considering a replacement.”

Ran Xing raised an eyebrow confidently, scooping some soup leisurely. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Xiao Yi’s eyes, but he masked it and asked, “What do you mean?”

She finished the last spoonful, set down the ladle, chuckled softly, and said quietly, “Literally what I said.”

“But the director won’t use her.”

“The director won’t use her because of the scandal. But if she didn’t have a scandal, why wouldn’t they use her?”

Xiao Yi looked at her admiringly, curious, “Sister Ran, are you trying to help her?”

Ran Xing smiled faintly. “You got it wrong. It’s not helping her, it’s helping me.”

Xiao Yi was puzzled. “But she used the projector to trigger your illness and caused your current state. Why would you help her?”

Ran Xing paused, her heart skipping a beat, then turned and fixed her gaze on Xiao Yi. Her eyes were full of caution.

“How do you know it was Wen Xiaoning who sabotaged the projector?”

He smiled, masking his embarrassment, and stammered, “I guessed. By the way, Sister Ran, what are you planning to do?”

“Have Yang Likang hold a press conference to clarify his relationship with Wen Xiaoning.”

“Do you think he’ll do that?”

“Of course. He has to. Without the Yang Group, he’s nothing.”

“But I still don’t understand what you’re aiming for with this.”

Ran Xing didn’t answer. She just stared blankly out the window, letting the turbulent waves inside wash over her heart.

What she wanted, from beginning to end, was just one man: Xu Ting.

If Wen Xiaoning didn’t have the leverage of her illness, why would she allow someone who harmed her to linger under her own nose?

Seeing Ran Xing lost in thought, Xiao Yi interrupted, “If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine. Did you get the new phone?”

“Yeah, it’s great. Thanks. How much is it? I’ll transfer you.”

She opened WeChat, ready to send money.

Xiao Yi obediently sent his QR code, his phoenix eyes smiling slyly, a bit teasing: “Sister Ran, you haven’t forgotten, have you? We haven’t even added each other on WeChat yet.”

Ran Xing looked up, stunned for a moment, then quickly smiled. A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.

Adding him on WeChat? She was eager for that. Only by getting closer could she understand what the man in her phone meant—especially that phrase about the arsonist and whether it was the same person she was looking for.

Noticing her distraction, Xiao Yi waved his hand in front of her face. “Sister Ran, I sent the request. Please accept it.”

“All right. Don’t forget to tell me the amount.”

Perhaps due to using only one hand, Ran Xing’s operation was a bit clumsy. But to Xiao Yi, watching her movements was simply endearing.

He silently stepped aside, crossed his arms, and quietly savored this rare moment of peace.

But before a minute passed, the quiet was broken by two different phone ringtones.

They answered simultaneously, both asking in unison, “What did you say?”