Chapter 84: We Are Not Involved

Xia Kelan's face was clouded with confusion.

"The legitimate wife?"

"Are you referring to Fu Liangmu?"

Zuo Qingyan raised an eyebrow.

"Indeed."

"And the concubine?"

Zuo Qingyan adjusted his glasses back onto his nose.

"She's the kept woman's handsome companion."

"By the way, the reason I summoned you this time is to have you thoroughly assess Fu Liangmu — to see whether he truly treats my precious one well."

Xia Kelan nodded and made an OK gesture.

"No problem."

"Everything that needed to be said has been said. I'll take my leave now. Goodbye."

After waiting for half an hour at the airport entrance, a sleek red sports car pulled up before her.

Xie Cheng sat inside, whistling appreciatively as he eyed Xia Kelan's scantily clad figure — a tiny camisole paired with ultra-short shorts.

Xia Kelan cast him a sidelong glance and shifted a few steps away.

Xie Cheng promptly followed and honked twice.

With a hand in her pocket, Xia Kelan pulled out two crisp bills and tossed them inside.

"The parking lot is just ahead. Hurry up and move; don't block my view."

A faint smirk played on Xie Cheng's lips as he draped an arm over the steering wheel, his fingertips tapping rhythmically.

"Miss, please get in."

Xia Kelan wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Sorry, sir, but we are not involved."

Xie Cheng's face immediately darkened.

"Sir?"

"Do I look that old?"

Having charmed countless women over the years, many of whom had succumbed to his allure, this woman not only wore a disdainful expression but also implied he was aged?

"I'd say you're about twenty-six or twenty-seven, right?"

"Compared to me, you're certainly old."

Xie Cheng chuckled, amused by her teasing, and emphasized, "You're mistaken. Haven't you heard the saying 'a man in his thirties is like a blooming flower'?"

Xia Kelan made a face of utter revulsion.

"You call that not old?"

"That kind of crude talk is something only my father's generation would say!"

"Go away, go away! Don't pollute my eyes — if I keep looking, I'll go blind!"

Dragging her suitcase, Xia Kelan spun on her heel, determined to put distance between herself and this man.

Xie Cheng swiftly stepped out of the car and grabbed her wrist.

Like she'd been shocked by electricity, Xia Kelan wildly flailed,

"Don't force me to chop off my own hand!"

"Chopping someone else's hand is illegal," Xie Cheng smiled.

"I said my own!" Xia Kelan snapped, "It's dirty, filthy, utterly ruined!"

"Hey, you don't have to be so disgusted by me. After all, we've met before. And if you think about it, you might still owe me a favor."

Xia Kelan paused, seriously lifting her chin to scrutinize his features, her large eyes sparkling and blinking.

Unaccountably, a flicker of hope stirred in Xie Cheng's heart.

"Uncle, can you stop babbling?"

"What bar would hire a young master as old as you?"

Recalling how she had visited countless bars, called on innumerable young men to sing, play, and drink with her, any one of them was surely better than this man.

Xie Cheng's mouth twitched, veins bulging on his forehead. Had this girl mistaken him for that kind of person?

"Go, go, get away. You're not my type."

"Then who is your type? Su Wanwan?"

Xia Kelan's advancing foot froze mid-air. Her neck seemed to wind like a clock spring, slowly twisting to face the man's sullen expression.

"You… you were sent by Wanwan to pick me up?"

"Isn't that so?"

Xia Kelan immediately broke into a sweet laugh.

"Sorry, sorry, my mistake, my mistake!"

She had thought this man was just hitting on her!

"You're a driver; just say who you are when you arrive. No need to put on such a show."

Shaking her head, Xia Kelan started toward the sports car.

"Oh, and help me with my luggage… ah!"

Before she finished, Xie Cheng grabbed her wrist again, pulling her back.

His low voice carried a hint of displeasure.

"Who are you calling a driver?"

Xia Kelan steadied herself by holding his arm.

"Well, then who are you…"

The words Zuo Qingyan had spoken flashed through her mind.

Suddenly, she understood and lightly patted his shoulder.

"Oh\~ got it, got it! Sorry to trouble you."

Xie Cheng's brow twitched sharply. Watching her pitying expression, he felt a strange unease.

"Trouble?"

Xia Kelan sighed deeply, as if she had seen through everything.

"Trouble indeed — you have to make room for the legitimate wife!"

"To win Su Wanwan's favor, you even personally came to pick me up."

The more Xie Cheng listened, the more bewildered he became, feeling trapped in a maze with no escape. Adding to his discomfort was the way Xia Kelan looked at him — it made him shiver.

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

"I'm a friend of Liangmu. Su Wanwan was injured, and these past days, Liangmu has been taking care of her."

"This morning, on my way to visit Su Wanwan at the hospital, I got a call asking me to pick you up on the way."

Xia Kelan's astonishment grew; she covered her lips.

"My goodness, you're actually friends!"

"Do you think what you're doing is fair to Fu Liangmu?"

Once she saw Su Wanwan, she would have a serious talk with this girl. Even if he kept a handsome kept man, he should at least keep one who was young and stayed far away!

Xie Cheng: "?"

He took a deep breath, suppressing the fury swelling in his chest, and grit his teeth to say two words,

"Get in."

"Oh…"

The car slowly started moving.

Xia Kelan buckled her seatbelt and turned to look at him.

"How much does Wanwan pay you monthly?"

Xie Cheng looked puzzled.

"Why would she pay me?"

Xia Kelan blinked twice,

"Is she… freeloading?"

Xie Cheng pursed his lips, unwilling to engage further.

For the remainder of the journey, neither uttered a single word.

Bang!

Xie Cheng forcefully set Xia Kelan's suitcase down.

"VIP ward, fifth floor, room three."

"Oh."

Xia Kelan reached the ward door and pushed it open.

Fu Liangmu, who had been reading a magazine, looked up.

Startled by his appearance, Xia Kelan instinctively stepped back, her foot catching the threshold.

Fu Liangmu closed the magazine calmly, rose naturally, and headed out.

Xia Kelan turned around and shut the door, disbelief etched across her face.

"So… that's Fu Liangmu?"

"He's… definitely somewhat…"

Xia Kelan shrugged slightly, her meaning clear.

"Alright, don't say that in front of him."

Su Wanwan softly chided.

"Oh, so you're defending him now?"

Xia Kelan teased.

"He's been injured in the face and has surely suffered much hardship over the years, hearing many unpleasant words."

Xia Kelan nodded repeatedly, speaking frankly,

"Don't worry, I'm no fool."

Su Wanwan finally exhaled in relief.

She knew Xia Kelan's straightforward nature meant she said whatever came to mind, with no ill intentions. But anyone more sensitive would overthink things.

Xia Kelan took Su Wanwan's hand and glanced worriedly around the hospital room.

"Wanwan, why are you in the hospital?"

"When your second brother called to tell me, I was terrified."

"How did you sleep last night?"

"Did you… have nightmares?"