Chapter 143: 114 has nothing to do with self-discipline, it mainly lacks a partner to laze in bed with me (2 updates)_1 Chapter 143: 114 has nothing to do with self-discipline, it mainly lacks a partner to laze in bed with me (2 updates)_1 After chatting with Sun Qing, the night had grown late; thinking about needing to drop off Lu Han at work early the next morning, Tang Su quickly put down her phone, turned off the lights, and went to bed.

Fearing she wouldn’t wake up on time, Tang Su set three alarms.

One every five minutes.

The next day.

For once, Tang Su was awesome—all three alarms were unnecessary, as she got up by herself.

But at this hour, it was doubtful that breakfast vendors would even be open, right?

Even so, after Tang Su had finished washing up, by the time the second alarm rang, she was out the door.

When Little Douding heard her moving about and saw her emerge from the room, it was somewhat startled, almost mistaking her for someone else.

Tang Su was too rushed to buy breakfast for Lu Han to bother with the little critter.

Plus, when she was on her way to drop Lu Han off at work, she would have to take it along and leave it for another day at the pet store near the hospital.

Tang Su did feel quite guilty toward the little one, so, later on, she would give it an extra meal.

When she dropped it off at the store, she’d buy it an extra can of its favorite beef sauce.

Tang Su carefully closed the door, making as little noise as possible to avoid disturbing Lu Han across the way. But little did she know, as she closed her door with her back to Lu Han’s place, Lu Han was coming out as well.

Seeing her being so cautious, he also closed his door just as quietly, then approached Tang Su from behind.

“Tang Su, up so early today?” Lu Han whispered into her ear, his breath warm.

Startled by the silent approach of Lu Han, Tang Su stammered, “…Doctor Lu, why are you up so early?”

She thought she had gotten up quite early, but unexpectedly ran into Lu Han. Did he install surveillance cameras in her house?

She seriously suspected it.

Hum, hum, hum…

“I usually get up around this time to jog a couple of laps downstairs, then take breakfast back up with me,” Lu Han volunteered his daily routine.

For his own breakfast, he typically had a cup of soy milk, two fried dough sticks, a boiled egg, or maybe two steamed buns with milk, or perhaps porridge with dumplings. Sometimes, he’d even cook some noodles for himself.

Eating this way in rotation kept it from becoming monotonous.

“You’re going to run as well? Do you always have to be so disciplined?” Tang Su pouted.

Wouldn’t the time spent running be better spent lounging in bed?

“It’s not about discipline; it’s mainly because I lack a partner to lounge in bed with,” Lu Han said, looking at her and teasing on purpose.

Tang Su’s face instantly turned red: “…”

Was Doctor Lu hinting at something?

What did he mean by that? It’s early in the morning, isn’t it inappropriate to say such things?

“What’s wrong? Why is your face so red? Where has your mind gone?” Lu Han continued to tease, finding joy in Tang Su’s blushing appearance.

This natural blush was far more attractive than any rouged or powdered look.

“Lu Han—” Tang Su looked up at him, knowing he was teasing, a trace of threat lacing her voice.

“The breakfast vendors aren’t ready yet, and we’ve got some time. How about you take a walk, I run a couple of laps, and then we head up together after buying breakfast?” Having picked up on her warning, Lu Han ceased his teasing and, taking her hand, led her to the elevator.

As they exited the elevator, they ran straight into Sister Cai, who was delivering items to the unit’s residents. Tang Su instinctively let go of Lu Han’s hand.

Lu Han: “???”

Lu Han was puzzled, and Sister Cai looked equally confused; then she assumed it was because Tang Su was young and shy.

“Tang Su, with such a good boyfriend like Doctor Lu, you’re shy about holding hands? If my daughter could land such an impressive boyfriend, I’d tell them to hold hands all the time.”

Sister Cai was very enthusiastic, and her voice boomed, making Tang Su’s face redden even more.

“Good morning, Sister Cai,” Tang Su said softly in greeting.

“Good morning. It’s rare for you to get up this early. But that’s the power of love, isn’t it? Look how it encouraged our bed-loving Tang Su to rise early. Waking up early is good for your health, indeed, but you young folks sure love your sleep.”

“By the way, Tang Su, Lu Han, when did you two get together?”

“It’s recent, Sister Cai. I have to hurry to work now, so I can’t chat anymore,” Lu Han said as he took Tang Su’s hand again, ready to bid Sister Cai farewell.

“Oh right, the last time I came upstairs to see you was to tell you about the homeowner’s association meeting next Friday. I wanted to ask who from your floor would attend. Now it seems, either of you attending works, right?”

“Next Friday, huh?”

“Yeah, do you have time? There’s a notice in the homeowner’s group chat, but you’re both busy, and I didn’t see you reply. If it’s still like before and you can’t make it, you’ll have to sign the proxy authorization notice.”

“That’s bad; I didn’t bring it with me today, though I had it with me that morning.”

“No worries, we’ve bothered you enough. If we’re still unavailable by Friday, we’ll find time to sign at the property management,” Lu Han said.

“Alright, you two go and enjoy your romance; I still have to deliver the payment notice to Old Zhao on the second floor.”

“Sure, we won’t keep you, you’re busy.”

After parting with Sister Cai, they left the building, with Lu Han being open about it while Tang Su kept fidgeting, trying intermittently to shake off Lu Han’s hand.

Once or twice she let it slide, but thrice was too much to bear.

What exactly is going on with his girlfriend?

Can’t their relationship be out in the open, under the daylight?

As her boyfriend, can’t he hold his girlfriend’s hand openly, in broad daylight?

“What’s the matter? Are you embarrassed that the neighbors know you’re dating me?” Lu Han asked, his voice slightly cold.

“No, it’s just that…”

Tang Su couldn’t quite articulate her reasons. So, resigning herself to fate, she thought, if Lu Han wants to hold hands, then let him.

Holding his hand didn’t embarrass her, but she felt that it might embarrass Lu Han.

Just like Sister Cai had said, Lu Han was an outstanding doctor with an excellent reputation, whereas her own, Tang Su’s, reputation in the neighborhood wasn’t that good.

So what if they were both shop owners, or made a decent amount of money? In terms of social status, they certainly couldn’t compare to Doctor Lu, the physician.

In the past, she would have been known as a self-employed individual, and Lu Han had a stable job with a guaranteed pension.

In this neighborhood, there lived more elderly people and fewer young ones, so she wanted to save Lu Han some face.

But if Doctor Lu didn’t care, then there was nothing she could do.

The unspoken words Tang Su held, Lu Han thought he could guess, so he didn’t press further.

When Lu Han began running, he told Tang Su to walk at her own pace.

“Yeah, you go ahead.”

Then, along the way, many of the elderly who were up early to exercise smiled and congratulated Tang Su, something she had mentally prepared for.

Sister Cai already knew about her dating Lu Han, and soon the neighborhood’s aunties and uncles would know as well.

Even so, Tang Su could imagine that, initially, many of them would feel sorry for Lu Han upon learning the news.

Sure enough, an elderly lady who was slowly walking by approached, “Tang, I heard that the Doctor Lu from across your door got snatched up by you? You’re quite something. My niece is coming back from abroad for the New Year, and I was thinking of introducing them then.”

“Really? I’m sorry, Auntie Wang,” Tang Su said.

“No worries, no worries. Doctor Lu is such an excellent person. If it hadn’t been for your mismatched schedules, you two would certainly have met earlier.”

“…”

Tang Su pursed her lips, saying nothing.

Her acquaintance with Lu Han dated back far earlier than these people could ever imagine. Of course, she’d never proactively tell anyone about the romantic thoughts she had for Lu Han when she was sixteen years old.

The older generation held traditional and conservative views. If, in a moment of impulsiveness, she were to reveal her teenage crush on Lu Han, who knows how these aunties and uncles would gossip about her behind her back.

In fact, she found it quite odd. Initially, Tingzhu Building had a fair number of young people, but somehow, over time, the neighborhood became filled with retired elderly folks.

Living in the same neighborhood as the elderly wasn’t a bad thing; it’s just that they were too concerned with others’ affairs, overly enthusiastic and talkative.

Tang Su occasionally felt like she didn’t quite fit in, thankfully, her routine for a long period didn’t align with theirs.

If she had been like Lu Han, getting up at this hour to exercise daily, these early-rising retirees would have annoyed her to death.

They had too many questions.

Lu Han soon finished his run, and being a doctor who often interacted with strangers and patients’ families, he had no trouble dealing with these people.

After all, he was an ENT doctor, and most patients with these issues were aged, although there were young people like Tang Su, usually affected by external injuries or other accidents.

There were also some children among his patients.

Lu Han had no pressure handling these elderly men and women.

After rescuing Tang Su from Auntie Wang, they went outside the community to buy breakfast.

Auntie Wang was quite straightforward and ended up repeating what she had said to Tang Su to Lu Han.

Lu Han, smiling, replied, “I’m sorry, Auntie Wang. I’ve never been abroad, so I guess I, a local bumpkin, shouldn’t be reaching for a turtle returning from overseas.”

Auntie Wang was smart too. Even though Lu Han’s sarcasm wasn’t very obvious, she caught on.

Even though he didn’t directly mock her, Auntie Wang didn’t feel she could react angrily.

After all, she had been the one to speak impolitely first, knowing the two were dating and yet trying to stake a claim for her niece, not thinking before she spoke.

No wonder the young couple found her annoying.

Tang Su was actually quite happy that Lu Han put down Auntie Wang like that. Being a shop owner, she didn’t readily offend customers, which meant she also didn’t easily offend neighbors.

So, she worried for Lu Han, “Doctor Lu, aren’t you afraid that Auntie Wang will be upset with how you just retorted?”

“She wasn’t afraid of angering us with what she said, so why should I be afraid of her being upset?” Lu Han countered.

Tang Su: “…”

Right, that makes sense.

Suddenly, Tang Su felt that being so polite to Auntie Wang just now was rather foolish.

She should have asserted herself like she did in front of Jiang Shanshan last night, declaring that Lu Han was her boyfriend and putting Auntie Wang in her place.

Humph, she’d let it slide this time, but if there was a next time, no, if anyone acted like Auntie Wang, she wouldn’t hold back.