CHAPTER 296: CHAPTER 291: PHOENIX MAN

"Hey, third son, do you think Li Xin has a thing for you?" Huang Lou whispered in Dan Bei’s ear.

"She doesn’t eat tripe, I’ll eat it." Dan Bei didn’t change his expression at all and grabbed a big chopstick full.

"Damn, you beast!" Seeing his favorite food being snatched away, Huang Lou instantly lost interest in gossiping.

Li Xin, nibbling on some greens with small bites, bit her teeth secretly. She deliberately sat in front of this man, yet he didn’t give her an extra glance. What’s so good about this cheap hot pot!

"Here, I’ll toast to everyone. Thank you for your blessings for me and Mengmeng," Ye Qiu said, smiling tenderly at Zhang Meng.

"Fourth, congratulations, congratulations. Didn’t expect the youngest among us to be the first to break free from singleton status," Huang Lou laughed loudly, while eldest brother Zhong Sheng and third son Dan Bei also raised their glasses, sincerely wishing him well.

Zhang Meng’s classmates from the nursing class also congratulated them with amiable faces, the only exception being Li Xin, who looked threatening and jokingly said, "Ye Qiu, Mengmeng has been my sister from childhood, you better not let her down!"

"Dare not." Ye Qiu clinked glasses with everyone, downed his drink in one gulp, and Zhang Meng, sitting beside him with a flushed face, smiled openly at everyone. After Ye Qiu finished his drink, she considerately picked up some greens for him, prompting a round of good-natured laughter from everyone.

Except for Li Xin, who was a bit distracted, everyone enjoyed the meal with delight.

As they walked, Li Xin was somewhat absent-minded. Ahead of her were two nursing classmates, and behind were Ye Qiu and Zhang Meng. In between were herself and Ye Qiu’s three roommates; she had intentionally walked in the middle to create more opportunities to interact with Dan Bei, but he seemed to be avoiding her on purpose, not saying a word all the way. Meanwhile, the tall and robust Huang Lou kept chattering nonstop, which almost drove Li Xin crazy.

"Hey, Li Xin, you just said you and Zhang Meng grew up together from childhood; how come you two delicate girls chose clinical medicine, such a tough subject?" Huang Lou asked.

Li Xin replied with a polite smile: "Because both our fathers are doctors." After saying that, she casually glanced at Dan Bei and asked, "What about you guys? Even though we’ve been classmates for three years, this is really the first time we’re having a chat like this."

Although Li Xin’s appearance was not as good as Zhang Meng’s, she was still pretty. Being looked at with a smile by such a beautiful girl made Huang Lou’s heart flutter, and he foolishly scratched his head: "I was forced by my family, saying that being a doctor is a dignified profession. As for our eldest, he and you guys are the same, his family are doctors so he also chose to be a doctor. As for the third son, well, this guy is learning medicine for a person."

Upon hearing this, Li Xin’s breath hitched, her face still maintaining a just-right smile, even a bit cunning: "Oh? Is it for his girlfriend?"

Before Dan Bei could speak, Huang Lou interjected: "What girlfriend for this guy? He’s been living with us for three years and I’ve never seen him call any girl."

Hearing Huang Lou’s words, Li Xin quietly breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, she felt a bit annoyed at his blabbing. Why answer so quickly about someone else’s matters?

"Really?" Li Xin ignored Huang Lou and looked directly at Dan Bei.

Behind his glasses, Dan Bei’s somewhat dazzling fox-like eyes slightly lifted, but he showed no expression, his tone indifferent: "Not a girlfriend, just a girl I have a crush on."

That direct admission from Dan Bei hurt Li Xin more than Huang Lou’s loud claims; her smiling lips stiffened slightly: "Really? Does she have some serious illness?" Although somewhat unethical, in that moment, she found herself hoping that the girl was already on her last legs.

"No," Dan Bei denied, "I study medicine because she likes wearing white coats."

After saying that, he calmly made eye contact with Li Xin. At that moment, Li Xin inexplicably felt a chill and completely dismissed any thoughts about Dan Bei. He was someone she could not afford to provoke. Moreover, he chose to study medicine for such a nonsensical reason of an unrequited love, and she did not have the confidence to persuade him otherwise.

Having a well-off family was indeed a primary criterion for Li Xin when considering marriage in the future, but she would never settle for less. Thinking about it, she glanced back at Ye Qiu and Zhang Meng and shook her head secretly. Ye Qiu was great in every way, it’s just too bad his family’s financial condition wasn’t.

Having witnessed Ye Qiu’s meticulous care for Zhang Meng throughout the day, although she envied it, Li Xin didn’t care much for it. Life isn’t just about tenderness and small affections. When others are traveling abroad, enjoying seafood feasts, and buying high-end cosmetics, you are pinching pennies for your child’s milk and diapers. Such a life, Li Xin would never live!

However, this was also one of the reasons she was jealous of Zhang Meng. Ye Qiu didn’t have the capability to provide a good life for Zhang Meng, but her dad did! Truly, a girl favored by heaven in her ignorance!

So, in order to live better than Zhang Meng in the future and to avoid having to please her, Li Xin was determined to marry a rich man.

"Damn, third son, you said you came to study medicine for someone, never expected it to be for this reason," Fourth, Huang Lou looked at Dan Bei incredulously, "Just because she likes wearing white coats, you started studying medicine? Then why haven’t you won her over even in your third year?"

Normally indifferent to gossip, elder brother Zhong Sheng also showed interest, looking curiously at Dan Bei.

With two jerks and a scheming girl from the dormitory gazing at him, Dan Bei’s face darkened, and he squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "She now likes wearing military uniforms."

"Pfft!"

"I can’t handle it, I’m dying of laughter, hahaha..." Huang Lou laughed so hard his stomach hurt, never expecting the usually aloof and sharp-tongued third son to have such pitiful moments.

"No way, then don’t you have to join the military just to catch up with her?"

"Yeah, I’m planning to apply for a graduate program at the Military Medical University," Dan Bei spoke calmly, revealing a long-hidden thought.

Huang Lou gave him the thumbs up: "Bro, you’re awesome. No, I really can’t help it, hehe... What if she likes lawyers in suits next after you’ve entered Military Medical University?"

Upon hearing this, Dan Bei’s face turned even darker.

Huang Lou laughed heartily, patting Dan Bei on the shoulder: "Bro, listen to me, pursuing openly is better; this kind of secret love has no results. Just say what you need help with, I’ll support you even if I have to sell everything."

Usually no fan of fooling around with Huang Lou, but upon hearing his words, Zhong Sheng nodded in agreement: "Third son, second son is right, with your looks and abilities, pursuing a girl shouldn’t be a problem at all. Show your courage, this secret love isn’t going to work."

"You don’t understand." Not sure what he thought of, a hint of helplessness flashed in Dan Bei’s eyes, "I have a clear idea."

Listening from the side, Li Xin was left speechless. This made her desire to stay away from Dan Bei even stronger. Such a fool, raising hope would be a loss. She’d better stay out of it.