Wen Jing didn’t answer his question. Instead, he closed his eyes as if he was tired.
Bai Mu Ning felt bored and quietly sat in the passenger seat playing on his phone.
He contacted the employer to refund the fee. Since he left early today, it shouldn’t be charged.
But the other party didn’t accept the refund and returned the payment, saying his performance today was very good and he deserved it.
Since the employer insisted, Bai Mu Ning didn’t fuss. He accepted it with a word of thanks.
The accident specialist arrived in about ten minutes. After taking photos and leaving contact information, they arranged for the 4S shop to assess the damage. With all the back-and-forth, it was three in the afternoon by the time everything was done.
When they came out of the 4S shop, Bai Mu Ning was so hungry he could barely walk. He had eaten several mints just now inside; otherwise, he’d probably have fainted by now.
Wen Jing pulled out his phone to call a ride and said, “Hungry? What do you want to eat?”
It hadn’t been in vain that Bai Mu Ning had stuck with Wen Jing through the entire traffic incident. Now it was time for some payback.
Bai Mu Ning thought for a moment and said, “I want barbecue.”
He’d been craving it for days. Li Anche had been busy with work and postponed it to next week. Now he could go with Wen Jing instead.
Barbecue was definitely better with more people, just like hot pot. Eating alone felt kind of lonely.
But the moment he mentioned barbecue, Bai Mu Ning regretted it. Wen Jing was someone who took health very seriously and didn’t like barbecue. He would definitely say no.
“Sure, let’s go.”
Bai Mu Ning was momentarily stunned and asked in confusion, “Dr. Wen, as a doctor, shouldn’t you advise people to eat less barbecue?”
Wen Jing opened the car door and said, “Student Xiao Ning, I’m off the clock. I don’t give advice.”
“…?”
Wow. Dr. Wen has two faces.
Wen Jing said he was taking him for barbecue, but they ended up at a bar on Bar Street.
The bar was deserted in the afternoon, with no customers and just a few people scattered around playing cards.
The people inside were all big, burly types with tattoos, looking quite fierce.
When they saw Wen Jing, they greeted him and then shouted out loudly, “Nuan-jie, Jing-ge is here.”
With that, they led them to the second floor.
On the sofa upstairs sat a stunningly beautiful woman who was clearly not to be messed with. She wore a teal embroidered qipao that clashed completely with the setting.
When she saw Wen Jing, she stood up and teased, “Yo, a rare guest ah. What’s a traditional medicine doctor like you doing in my place? Didn’t you say it’s unhealthy here?”
Xu Nuan kept a straight face, but her gaze quickly shifted past Wen Jing and landed teasingly on Bai Mu Ning. “Is this your boyfriend? He’s really good-looking, just the type people love at first sight.”
Xu Nuan reached out, wanting to pinch Bai Mu Ning’s cheek, but Wen Jing blocked her hand.
“Tch, what a precious little thing. So? What are you doing here?”
Wen Jing said, “To eat barbecue.”
Xu Nuan exploded, “This is a bar, not a barbecue restaurant. Where the hell am I supposed to get barbecue for you? You looking for a fight?”
Bai Mu Ning also felt like Wen Jing was just here to cause trouble. Who comes to a bar for barbecue?
It was like going to a Western restaurant and ordering Chinese food, just asking to make things difficult.
Seeing Xu Nuan glaring angrily at Wen Jing, Bai Mu Ning wanted to tug Wen Jing and run. Any later and they’d probably get thrown out.
But Wen Jing pulled Bai Mu Ning down to sit and said, “Your place is clean. I don’t trust anywhere else.”
“…?”
Xu Nuan’s mouth twitched. She gritted her teeth and turned to the person beside her. “Make it for him.”
Bai Mu Ning: “…?”
Since when are bar owners this easy to talk to?
So all those TV dramas were lying.
Xu Nuan sat across from them and poured them some tea. “Old Wen, is he your boyfriend or not? You’ve never brought anyone here before. I’m way too curious.”
Bai Mu Ning was eating fruit and quickly denied it, “No, we’re just colleagues.”
Wen Jing said, “Colleagues.”
But that word “colleagues” had a strange tone—somewhere between a question and a denial.
“Just colleagues? I don’t buy it. If you don’t make a move on someone this good-looking, I will.” Xu Nuan smiled at Bai Mu Ning. “Little cutie, interested in an older woman–younger man relationship?”
“…?”
Bai Mu Ning was so shocked he choked. He quickly took the water Wen Jing handed him and started drinking to calm down.
He finally realized how awkward and inappropriate it had been when he impulsively confessed to Wen Jing back then.
Worst of all, it had come off as flippant, like he wasn’t even serious.
Bai Mu Ning was so scared that he shook his head furiously, even the Hami melon in his hand didn’t taste sweet anymore.
“Tch, so timid. Can’t even take a joke,” Xu Nuan said. “Old Wen is probably your type.”
Wen Jing shot her a look and said, “Don’t think I’m like you, able to lay hands on someone regardless of age. He’s just a little kid, don’t be so filthy.”
“Go make your barbecue.”
Xu Nuan didn’t believe him one bit. She pouted and said, “Old Wen, there’s not a word of truth in that mouth of yours. I don’t believe you. I’m going to find Old Chen and gossip. His mouth is the best at stirring up stories. I want to hear some drama.”
“Are you doing business or not?”
“Fine, fine, I get it. I’m annoying, I’ll go. You two enjoy.”
As Xu Nuan passed by Bai Mu Ning, she leaned in and whispered by his ear, “He’s a total mensao.”[1]
Bai Mu Ning: “…?”
While chewing on Hami melon, Bai Mu Ning felt that Wen Jing was different today. He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, just that there was a down-to-earth warmth about him that was completely unlike his usual composed doctor image.
The bar really did have barbecue. Soon, steaming hot skewers were laid out in front of them.
Bai Mu Ning still couldn’t believe it. Was Wen Jing actually not here to pick a fight?
Wen Jing didn’t touch the food, just quietly sipped his tea.
“You’re not eating?” Bai Mu Ning licked the oil from the corner of his lips. “It’s no fun eating alone.”
He handed a beef skewer to Wen Jing. “Dr. Wen, try one. It’s seriously delicious.”
It was cleaner and more hygienic and delicious than the ones made by the barbecue store outside.
Wen Jing took it, bit into it, and started chewing slowly.
“Are you still going on blind dates?” Wen Jing seemed to realize the phrasing was off and added, “The ones you go to on behalf of others.”
Bai Mu Ning nodded while gnawing on a giant squid skewer. “I need to make money. After deducting insurance and taxes from my salary at Sanwen Hall, I’m left with about 3,500 yuan. What can 3,500 do?”
“I can stay at the school dorms for now, but when they stop letting me stay, I won’t even be able to afford rent. If I don’t take on some part-time work, I’ll starve sooner or later.”
Wen Jing said, “That sounds tough.”
“Yeah, super tough.” Bai Mu Ning finished the squid and moved on to silkworm pupae. “Besides, I want to establish myself in Jingnan. I want to buy a place of my own.”
This had always been Bai Mu Ning’s goal. The place didn’t need to be big, around thirty square meters would do. It was just him, and that was enough.
After his parents passed away, Bai Mu Ning no longer had a home. That’s why he had an obsession with owning a place. He believed that once he had a home, he’d truly have a place to belong. That belief drove him to work so hard to earn money.
“You want to buy a house?”
Wen Jing’s expression turned a little strange, and Bai Mu Ning immediately grew unhappy.
In the past, whenever he shared this goal with classmates, they’d laugh at him for being overambitious. They’d say housing prices in Jingnan were sky-high, and that even if an average person worked their whole life, they still might not afford even a few square meters.
And with such a crappy major? Dream on if you want a house!
“What, you think it’s funny too? Think I’m being unrealistic? That I dare to dream too big? Well, I’m telling you, I will make it happen.”
“So what if housing prices are high? So what if I don’t have the qualifications? I’m still young. I’ve got plenty of time to fight for it. I’ll succeed, eventually.”
Bai Mu Ning was full of fighting spirit, puffing up more with every word.
Wen Jing paused. Then he placed his palm on Bai Mu Ning’s head and gently ruffled his hair. “Bai Mu Ning, come learn traditional medicine from me. I’ll teach you how to stand on your own two feet.”
“…?”
Wen Jing wants me to inherit his medical skills
[1] Someone who looks cold on the outside but is passionate on the inside.