Chapter 09
Xia An once again caught the scent of her perfumeârefreshing, elegant, and refined, much like the woman herself. Perhaps because the two of them were standing so close, when Xia An looked into those beautiful eyes and spoke, her voice unconsciously softened. “You treated me at midday, so it’s my treat this time…”
Ye Jin lowered her gaze, staring at Xia Anâs cheek for a second or two. She could see every single one of her long, slender eyelashes clearly. Realizing that the distance between them was a bit too intimate, Ye Jin took half a step back, pulling away to an appropriate distance.
The moment she drew close to her, Xia An distinctly felt her heart rate quicken, just like the night she drank with her.
It felt a bit ambiguous.
As Xia An was absentmindedly thinking about something…
Right at that moment, a little baby voice suddenly popped out: “Mama, I want that oneâ”
A little girl poked her head out from beside Ye Jin. Her eyes were dark and bright, incredibly adorable.
Ye Jin knelt down, scooped the little girl into her arms, and asked softly, “Which one do you want?”
Ye Wan extended a round, chubby little hand, pointing cutely as she cooed coaxingly to Ye Jin, “Mama, this one.”
“Alright.”
Ma… Mama?
Xia An froze on the spot, completely caught off guard.
Authorâs Note: First, I’d like to say sorry to my little angels. Because the three chapters I wrote before didn’t quite have the vibe I intended, I made some minor edits and adjustments based on the original foundation. The original three chapters have now been split into four chapters, so this chapter contains content youâve read before. Please understand any reading inconvenience this may have caused~
The little girl called her “Mama” over and over again.
This scene caught Xia An completely by surprise.
So, sheâs already married…
Although Xia An didn’t know Ye Jinâs exact age, thinking about it carefully, it was completely normal for someone like her to be married. The reason she felt so surprised was probably because she had never thought about it in that direction.
Recalling their encounter at Ye Se a week ago, Xia An had assumed she was single.
“Let me.” Snapping out of her daze, Xia An still beat her to it and paid for the drink. She bent down to retrieve a carton of orange juice from the dispensing slot and handed it to Ye Jin. Still finding it a bit hard to believe, she smiled and asked probing lightheartedly, “Your daughter?”
“Yes,” Ye Jin replied. She caught the look of disbelief in Xia An’s eyes, but almost everyone reacted this way upon learning she had such a big daughter.
Ye Jin was an advocate of remaining unmarried. It had to be said that Ye Wan’s presence saved her from a lot of trouble.
Receiving an affirmative answer, Xia An suddenly felt a bit empty inside. Was it emptiness? Reasonably speaking, a feeling of emptiness only happens when expectations fall through, so what exactly had she been hoping for? Xia An couldn’t put it into words.
Ye Jin handed the orange juice to Ye Wan, lowering her head to instruct, “Say thank you to the auntie.”
Xia An watched the way Ye Jin spoke to the little girl with her head down. Although it was in President Ye’s usual styleâeven carrying a slight hint of strictnessâXia An could feel a rare tenderness laced within her brows.
It was her first time seeing this side of her.
But it made sense upon second thought; aloofness was only meant for outsiders, while she would naturally be different toward the people she loved.
Proud yet sophisticated, cold yet gentle.
How could a woman like this not be charming?
Xia An suddenly felt envious of President Yeâs other half. They must be incredibly happy to have such an elegant wife and such an adorable child.
In front of a stranger, Ye Wan was a bit shy at first. The little one blinked her round eyes and appraised Xia An for a long while before finally saying, “Thank you, auntie.”
A child’s smile truly was the warmest thing on earth; when those bright eyes smiled, they curved into perfect little crescents.
Xia An pinched Ye Wan’s soft, chubby little cheek, mimicking a child’s tender tone as she said, “Youâre very welcome! Auntie will buy it for you again next time, okay?”
“Okay!” Little Ye Wan nodded, proactively sticking out her pinky finger toward Xia An. “Auntie, pinky swear…”
“Mhm, pinky swear.” Xia An cooperated with the little toddler and hooked her pinky, showing immense patience.
Back when Miss Xia was doing her clinical rotation in the terrifying Pediatrics department, she had been highly popular and had quite a knack for coaxing children.
Ye Wan was habitually introverted and afraid of strangers, yet she got along wonderfully with Xia An, which surprised Ye Jin as well. Her gaze swept over Xia An’s profile. Hooking fingers with a four-year-old, she laughed like a big kid herself. Ye Jin once again recalled Xia An’s thousand-glasses-without-getting-drunk demeanor in the nightclub…
Two completely different faces.
Ye Jin couldn’t help but wonder: Is this Miss Xia a drama queen?
Seeing the big one and the little one playing happily together, a faint curve unconsciously appeared on the corner of Ye Jin’s lips as she watched.
Xia An lifted her eyes slightly and caught Ye Jin staring at her face. When their eyes met, that subtle sensation returned. She asked half-playfully, pretending to be relaxed, “Is there something on my face?”
President Ye was indeed President Ye; a look of panic could never be seen on her face. Even when caught red-handed sneaking a glance at someone, she remained perfectly righteous. Continuing to lock eyes with Xia An, she calmly replied with two words: “There isn’t.”
“President Ye, even though I work part-time at a nightclub,” Xia An felt it was still necessary to explain, always sensing a hidden meaning in the way Ye Jin looked at her, “I don’t just do anything…”
Xia An only spoke half the sentence.
“Is that so?” Ye Jin quirked an eyebrow.
“Of course, I have principles.”
The way Miss Xia had flirted with her that night, her eyes and tone had resembled a total little vixen. Thinking of this, Ye Jin appraised Xia An and suddenly remarked, “You seem quite adept at it to me.”
“I…” Quite adept? Xia An didn’t know whether to laugh or cry again. She had only acted a bit cheeky that one time, and yet this woman had remembered it all this time. This President Ye either didn’t speak, or she completely shut people up whenever she did.
“Dr. Xia.”
Hearing her call her that so suddenly, Xia An wasn’t quite used to it.
Ye Jin spoke calmly, “My grandmother is being discharged today. Thank you for taking care of her during this time.”
Xia An smiled. “It’s my duty.”
When treating patients, Xia An was always meticulous.
Ke Ruochu admired Xia An to pieces. So many people were full of fighting spirit when choosing their major, but after a few years of torture, all their passion would be ground away completely.
