The Beauty CEO's Personal Expert
Chapter 159 - 156 Betting

Chapter 159: Chapter 156 Betting

So that’s how it is!

Ling Chen nodded, "Old Tang, have you greeted the Nanrong Family about the situation?"

"Don’t worry, I’ve told them that you’ve been feeling unwell recently. I’ve requested a few days off for you. You can return to work once you’ve recovered."

"The medicine is ready."

At that moment, Zhu Xiaozhu, accompanied by Little Hua, came in with a bowl of traditional Chinese medicine.

"Ling Chen, you rest up, we won’t disturb you further."

"Big Brother." Little Hua climbed up to the bed with a giggle, "You’re finally awake. These past few days, Xiaozhu has been taking care of you day and night. She’s exhausted."

Zhu Xiaozhu’s face turned red, and she scolded gently, "Stop pouting."

Meanwhile, He Ziyun who was walking to the door turned back and said, "Little Hua, come with me, I have something to tell you."

Little Hua glanced at Ling Chen, then at Zhu Xiaozhu, and unwillingly glared at He Ziyun with pursed lips, following him and Tang Yuan out of the room reluctantly.

"Drink it while it’s hot."

Zhu Xiaozhu helped him sit up, leaning against the headboard, then handed over the traditional Chinese medicine.

Enduring the bitterness that assaulted his taste buds, Ling Chen gulped it down, took a long breath, and smiled, "Thank you for taking care of me."

"We’re friends, no need for formalities." As she spoke, Zhu Xiaozhu pulled out a white handkerchief and gently wiped the remnants of the medicine from the corner of his mouth.

This intimate gesture suddenly made Ling Chen somewhat uncomfortable, experiencing an indescribable feeling.

"Xiaozhu, you..."

"You’ve just woken up, you should rest more." After she spoke, Zhu Xiaozhu put away the bowl and turned to leave.

Ling Chen felt puzzled, sensing an inexplicable coldness in Zhu Xiaozhu’s words. Strange, he didn’t think he had offended her. Besides, she had just helped him wipe his mouth a moment ago, so why this sudden change?

As he was contemplating, Zhu Xiaozhu suddenly turned back and handed him a cell phone, "You’ve been unconscious these last few days, and your phone has been with me. Several people have called you. I was afraid it might cause misunderstandings, so I didn’t answer for you."

"It’s fine."

Ling Chen gave a slight smile, watching Zhu Xiaozhu leave, then picked up his phone to see several missed calls. Two from Nanrong Wanqing, one from Su Lin, four from Nanrong Hao, two from Leng Feifei, and one from Liu Xiyao.

Nanrong Wanqing, Su Lin, and Nanrong Hao—he could guess, they must have learned he was ill and called to check on him. Leng Feifei was not surprising, since he had saved her that day, and she was probably calling to thank him. But Liu Xiyao, he had treated her less than a month ago, made him wonder what she wanted.

Just as he was pondering, he saw Little Hua sneak back into the room from the door.

"Big Brother."

Ling Chen chuckled, "Why did you come back?"

Little Hua pouted her lips, looking aggrieved, and on the verge of tears said, "Don’t you want to see Little Hua?"

"Who said that, of course I do." Ling Chen quickly corrected himself, fearing the little girl would cry.

At those words, Little Hua immediately cheered up and with a beaming smile asked, "Big Brother, what did Xiaozhu say to you?"

"Say what? She didn’t say much. What’s wrong? Eh! Little Hua, don’t you stay with Xiaozhu all the time? When Xiaozhu came just now, she seemed a bit off. I don’t think I’ve offended her."

"How have you not offended her, it’s because you don’t realize it." Little Hua leaned in close to his ear and whispered, "Let me tell you, Xiaozhu is very unhappy right now, you had better go comfort her."

Ling Chen was full of confusion, "I’ve only just woken up and hardly spoken a couple of words to her, how could I have made her unhappy?"

Little Hua hummed, "It’s because you’re entangled with so many women."

Er... Ling Chen suddenly realized, could it be because of those missed calls? That couldn’t be, just a few calls, is it necessary to be unhappy?

Could it be...

He had a sudden shock, an idea involuntarily sprang to mind, stuttering, "That... Little Hua, you’re not trying to tell me that Xiaozhu is... jealous, are you?"

Little Hua looked at him with an expression that screamed ’teachable child’ and said with a giggle, "Seems like there’s still hope for you."

"This..."

Ling Chen found it somewhat unbelievable, feeling like his brain was about to crash.

Zhu Xiaozhu likes him?

This news had come too suddenly, and he wasn’t mentally prepared at all.

"Little Hua, are you sure? You can’t joke about this kind of thing."

"Big brother, trust me, as a woman, my sixth sense is very accurate, it never fails."

Ling Chen gave her a once-over and curled his lips, this little girl hadn’t even fully developed yet, and she dared to call herself a woman. Little Hua, sensing the doubt in his eyes, immediately felt disgruntled and put her hands on her hips, "If you don’t believe it, how about we make a bet?"

"What’s the bet?"

Little Hua’s big, shiny eyes began to turn slightly, and a devilishly clever smile appeared on her chubby cheeks.

"If you lose, you have to kiss Xiaozhu in front of all of us."

"Kiss her by force? No way, I’m not doing that."

If it were just the two of them, he might have accepted, but to do it in front of others, let’s not talk about his embarrassment, Zhu Xiaozhu probably wouldn’t be able to accept it either.

"Little girl, if I lose... how about I buy you two lollipops, how’s that?"

Little Hua’s eyes widened, "Big brother, you’re so shameless, thinking you can get rid of me with just two lollipops. Final offer, two boxes of lollipops, not one less."

"OK!" Ling Chen smiled broadly, "Tell me, how are you going to prove it?"

"Don’t rush, I will make the arrangements, just you wait and see," Little Hua said with full confidence.

...

After resting for three days at Qingyun Martial Arts Hall, Ling Chen’s body finally started to recover.

"Mr. He, Xiaozhu, Little Hua, thank you for taking care of me these days."

"Why the courtesy." He Ziyun said with a casual smile, "If you’re free in the future, come to the Martial Arts Academy, and I’ll teach you Qi Cultivation."

"Sure, I’ll definitely come."

With that, he glanced at Zhu Xiaozhu, who was looking down, seemingly intentionally avoiding his gaze. He then turned his attention to Little Hua.

This little girl kept saying she would help prove that Zhu Xiaozhu liked him, yet there had been no movement these past few days, leaving him to wonder what she was scheming.

Seeming to understand what he was thinking, Little Hua winked at him and said with a chuckle, "Big brother, remember to keep in touch."

"I’ll be going back now."

Waving his hand, Ling Chen turned and walked out of the Martial Arts Hall with Tang Yuan’s company.

He had just got into the car when Little Hua came hopping over and leaned on the car window, looking at Ling Chen inside the car.

"Little girl, is there something else?"

"Big brother, are you free tomorrow evening?"

"I should be."

"Fine, I’ll contact you tomorrow evening, and when things work out, don’t forget my lollipops."

"Don’t worry, I won’t forget. Bye!"

The car started, and Tang Yuan drove onto the road, curious, "What’s happening tomorrow evening?"

"Why ask so much, just drive your car."

Ling Chen turned to look out of the car window, feeling inexplicably a mix of anticipation and nervousness. To say he had no feelings for Zhu Xiaozhu would be a lie. However, as a gloriously inexperienced virgin who had never been in a relationship, he felt somewhat at a loss on how to proceed with such matters.