Amidst the misty smoke, Fu Huai’an’s eyes were half closed. His movements were calm and unhurried, every action radiating a vibe of nonchalance.
Lin Nuan was startled by Fu Huai’an’s sudden move. The fresh scent of cigars on his body struck her senses and she instinctively dodged and retreated back. She then immediately realized how childish her reaction just looked and adjusted her posture awkwardly.
At eye level, she could spot Fu Huai’an’s Adam’s apple from his open collar shirt gently gliding up and down. Lin Nuan’s face burned like fire as she looked down and heard Tang Zheng poking fun at her.
“Hey hey hey… Brother Fu, that’s not the way you protect someone. How could you let Miss Lin drink juice when I’m offering drinks?” Tang Zheng complained as he pretended to be unhappy about it.
Bai Xiaonian knew Tang Zheng and Fu Huai’an’s special bond, yet she didn’t like the sight of someone trying to make Lin Nuan drink more.
Lin Nuan usually didn’t drink. She only accompanied Bai Xiaonian to have a drink today to relieve her of the agony in her heart.
Bai Xiaonian remembered that she had already decided to switch industries and was suddenly not intimidated by Tang Zheng anymore. She raised her glass to Fu Huai’an and said, “Mr. Fu, let me give you a toast. You’re a true man and wouldn’t trouble a lady.”
Bai Xiaonian’s comment was an obvious attack towards Tang Zheng. He then turned his head to look at Bai Xiaonian seriously.
Fu Huai’an hadn’t raised anything yet. His cigar-wielding hand lifted up the cup he’d just swapped with Lin Nuan. He raised his glass to acknowledge the toast and took a sip, his movements reflecting a calm and collected appearance.
Sensing Fu Huai’an was holding her own glass of beer, the scene of her lips pressed up against Fu Huai’an’s suddenly popped up in her head. Lin Nuan felt incredibly uneasy.
She pretended to act calm as she raised her glass to take a sip of the orange juice. Her movements were so stiff as if she was worried that people wouldn’t be able to see how nervous she actually was. Tang Zheng smirked and fell into a great mood. He forgot what Bai Xiaonian had said to him.
Lin Nuan’s gaze fell outside the transparent car window. She saw a young couple wearing the Ocean City’s third high-school uniform kissing and hugging as they pleased under the bus stop sign. Her face burned even more and she immediately looked elsewhere.
The scene of their kiss last night suddenly appeared in her head. Fu Huai’an was sitting right next to her at that moment. Lin Nuan wasn’t the unabashed type of girl and couldn’t manage to stay unbothered.
After admiring Lin Nuan’s expression, Tang Zheng turned around and interrogated Bai Xiaonian, “Miss Bai, so according to your words… I’m just a hypocrite?”
“Then Chief Tang is admitting that he’s troubling a lady?” Bai Xiaonian smiled at Tang Zheng.
Bai Xiaonian felt like she had nothing to back herself up. If it wasn’t for Fu Huai’an collecting the certificate with Lin Nuan, and if it wasn’t for the fact that she was already planning on leaving the Ocean City radio station, she probably wouldn’t have the courage to say all that.
Seeing Tang Zheng lift his eyebrows, Bai Xiaonian added sheepishly, “But for such an elegant man like Chief Tang, you wouldn’t trouble a lady right…?”
“Miss Bai on her high horse truly is intimidating!” Tang Zheng grinned like a sly fox. “If I demand a drink from you, wouldn’t that make me an unpolished hypocrite who likes to trouble ladies?”
Tang Zheng was a notorious nitpicker in their circle—he wouldn’t let himself suffer any losses. What he said left Bai Xiaonian at a complete loss for words.
That made Bai Xiaonian feel like she’d just shot herself in the foot.
Without waiting for Bai Xiaonian to disagree, Lin Nuan was already replying with irritation, “Chief Tang—”
“Just focus on eating your meal.”
Fu Huai’an almost spoke at the same time as Lin Nuan did. His voice was calm and cool yet magnetic at the same time.
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