“I’ll proceed with caution,” they playfully bantered.
Xia Hou Zun slowly awakened, hearing male and female laughter. He gradually recognized the man as Cheng Yuanjun. Hearing their casual conversation and seeing how close Cheng Yuanjun and Xia Bing were, a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.
Xia Bing heard the noise and turned, “You’re awake.” She helped Xia Hou Zun sit up against the headboard.
Seeing Xia Hou Zun looking at Cheng Yuanjun, she introduced, “Cheng Yuanjun, my neighbor. He helped when you had a cold.”
“No need for introductions. We met that night when you came home drunk,” Cheng Yuanjun remembered Xia Hou Zun’s wary look that night, also curious about his true relationship with Xia Bing.
“Xia Hou Zun.” Though sick, his presence remained imposing. They exchanged greetings.
Xia Bing heated some porridge and served it to Xia Hou Zun.
Xia Hou Zun frowned slightly but accepted it without comment.
“Cheng Yuanjun, don’t you have something to do? I won’t trouble you anymore.” Xia Bing actively pushed Cheng Yuanjun out, feeling Xia Hou Zun was quite proud and wanting to remove her troublesome neighbor.
Cheng Yuanjun sighed secretly, thinking she was ruthless in using and then dismissing him.
“Take this medicine,” she said after he drank the porridge, offering pills and water.
“Are you close to him?” Xia Hou Zun asked.
“Him? Cheng Yuanjun?” Xia Bing put away the dishes.
Xia Hou Zun hummed in affirmation.
“Him? Who knows what he’s thinking, always coming around. Can’t stand him,” Xia Bing recalled. The more she ignored Cheng Yuanjun, the more he approached. She suddenly felt he was quite shameless.
“Cheng Yuanjun, the man women most want to embrace and kiss.”
“You know him too? Like a rutting stallion,” Xia Bing’s only description of Cheng Yuanjun. Yuanjun might be disappointed, thinking their relationship had improved.
Hearing her words, Xia Hou Zun noted she didn’t like him. “You don’t like him?” Men like Cheng Yuanjun should attract many women and be the object of men’s envy.
