She didn’t act like she used to—blushing, shy, unable to even lift her head whenever she saw him.
Completely different. Now, Su Xiaowan was a completely different person from the past.
“When did you learn medicine?” Bai Fulin’s lips curved slightly, a hint of an evaluating smile in his eyes.
Just as expected, this moment had come.
After what had happened at noon, she had already anticipated this confrontation.
According to her memories, the Su family had a fairly close relationship with Bai Fulin’s family.
Bai Fulin’s father seemed to hold a rather high position…
They had grown up in the same courtyard, so Bai Fulin naturally knew Su Xiaowan’s past inside and out.
They were only a year apart in age.
From school on, the original Su Xiaowan and Bai Fulin attended the same schools, all the way through high school.
They had even been classmates in high school.
Su Xiaowan’s eyes flicked; she immediately put on an enthusiastic, sparkling expression and looked at him brightly. “So you’ve been paying attention to me all this time? Could it be… you actually like me?”
Her sudden shift instantly awakened Bai Fulin’s memory of the girl he had always avoided.
He had been lazily leaning against the tree, but now he unconsciously straightened up.
Ashes fell from the cigarette between his fingers; they burned slightly, and he hurriedly flicked them off.
Seeing Su Xiaowan revert to that old demeanor, the curiosity that had just sparked in him vanished immediately, replaced with pure annoyance.
“Don’t flatter yourself. How could I possibly like you?” Bai Fulin’s disdain was clearly written across his face.
Su Xiaowan immediately put on a hurt expression, dramatically clutching her chest. “How heartbreaking… I thought you had feelings for me! Since you don’t care about me, how would you know I can practice medicine?”
“You didn’t know this stuff before!”
“Of course not, because I didn’t need to,” Su Xiaowan said boldly. “There are so many great doctors in the city—why would I need to show off? Only here, in a place with such poor medical conditions, is my help actually needed.”
“If you really had the skill,” Bai Fulin countered, hitting the point, “you’d have stayed in a city hospital. Why would you be sent to the countryside?”
He knew how harsh life in the countryside was. Any capable young person would find a way to stay in the city.
Bai Fulin himself had been sent here by his family to gain experience.
Su Xiaowan was slightly irritated by his questioning, but she quickly found a reason. “I like the countryside scenery—it’s so beautiful!”
She couldn’t help but think: what is this Bai Fulin’s problem? Never-ending! Isn’t he the male lead? Shouldn’t the male lead be focusing on the female lead?
Why does he keep staring at me?
I’m not clinging to him anymore—shouldn’t he be happy about that?
“That excuse is a little weak. You used to be lazy and afraid of hard work,” Bai Fulin said, his tone softening slightly with a hint of a smile. “Besides, when I got injured recently, you weren’t like this.”
His words reminded Su Xiaowan of the story in the book.
It had really happened.
Shortly after Bai Fulin came to the countryside, he had accidentally hurt himself because he didn’t know how to use a sickle.
At the time, the original Su Xiaowan fainted from seeing him bleeding…
Damn it!
Facing Bai Fulin’s meaningful gaze, Su Xiaowan had no choice but to grit her teeth and explain: “You’re different from others. I was so worried about you that I fainted from anxiety.”
“Oh? You care about me that much?” Bai Fulin’s pale face resumed its usual indifferent smile.
His gaze had already moved past Su Xiaowan, landing behind her.
A chill ran down her spine, and even under the scorching sun, she broke out in cold sweat.
Turning around, she saw Lu Hanzhou standing there, expressionless.
His gaze was deep and piercing, lips tightly pressed together.
Though he didn’t speak a word, his cold, stern eyes made Su Xiaowan shiver all over.
Her heart screamed: “This is bad! This is really bad!”
She realized Bai Fulin—the jerk—was setting a trap for her here!
Su Xiaowan spun around and glared at Bai Fulin, her eyes full of murderous intent.
She remembered the book saying Bai Fulin was clever and calculating, like most male leads—nearly perfect.
And like most male leads, he held grudges.
Just because the original Su Xiaowan had once plotted against him, he was now seizing this opportunity to retaliate!
Her glare had no effect on Bai Fulin; instead, it made him realize how quick she was to change her expression. He was somewhat surprised.
Not bad—she really was a completely different person now.
He wanted to see how she would handle this situation.
But the next moment, he heard Su Xiaowan turn to Lu Hanzhou: “Husband, Bai Fulin is bullying me—you have to stand up for me, woo…”
As she spoke, she walked over, looped her arm around Lu Hanzhou’s, and tilted her face up, looking utterly wronged, like a little child who had finally found someone to protect her.
Bai Fulin’s smile froze.
When had he ever bullied her?!
—This woman really knew how to twist things around!
Su Xiaowan clung to Lu Hanzhou’s sleeve pitifully.
Fortunately, Lu Hanzhou, though his expression was stern, didn’t push her away.
She immediately seized the opportunity to complain: “I was just delivering food to you and about to leave, but Bai Fulin stopped me. He said I’d changed too much and suspected something was wrong. He kept me from leaving, and others saw it too—it was clearly him who stopped me! I think he’s paying attention to me now because I ignore him. I was scared, so I acted like before and said things to annoy him.”
Everything she said was true.
Bai Fulin was too despicable; luckily, she wasn’t an easy target.
After speaking, she hid behind Lu Hanzhou and secretly made a face at Bai Fulin.
Bai Fulin ground his teeth in anger, but he couldn’t help but laugh—this woman was impressive!
At first, Lu Hanzhou had felt anger and irritation hearing Su Xiaowan’s words.
He even suspected that her recent kindness might be to convince him to agree to a divorce—pleasing him on the surface while secretly liking Bai Fulin.
How ironic.
But now, hearing her explanation, the dark feelings inexplicably dissipated.
If Su Xiaowan really liked Bai Fulin, she would never have said those harsh words in front of him.
“Don’t worry, he can’t touch you.”
Lu Hanzhou said, then lifted his gaze to Bai Fulin.
A casual glance, but it carried an invisible pressure that made Bai Fulin shiver down his back.
Because of his father’s connections, Bai Fulin was aware of certain circles in the provincial city. Now he fully sensed Lu Hanzhou’s exceptional nature.
He knew who Lu Hanzhou was—a genius who had risen from a remote place like Gouxiongling Brigade to the capital through sheer ability.
Before being discharged due to injury, he had already become a regiment commander.
Even after six months out of the military, his presence remained imposing.
Just one glance from him felt like a mountain pressing down on your shoulders.
The two men’s eyes met in the air.
Next to Lu Hanzhou, Su Xiaowan seemed completely unaware of the tension.
She rubbed her cheek against his arm and said softly: “Of course I think so! Bai Fulin can’t compare to you—just his body alone falls short. Anyone would choose you, duh~”
As she spoke, she couldn’t resist reaching out to touch Lu Hanzhou’s stomach.
Even through the clothes, the hard shape of his muscles was clear.
She secretly thought: when will I really be able to touch this? Oh, I want it so badly!
Bai Fulin’s eyes went wide.
This woman, who used to be too shy to even lift her head in front of him, was now hugging and touching Lu Hanzhou?
When did she become so… shameless?
And comparing him to Lu Hanzhou in terms of physique?