The Devil Doctor's Spicy Love
Chapter 319: Caught you this time

Chapter 319: Caught you this time

"Come here to try some of our delicious dumplings!"

A vendor’s enthusiastic callout broke Jia’s daze and she quickly looked away. She cleared her throat. "That’s just what I wanted to say."

She met his gaze, her lips curving into the most beautiful smile. "Thank you for apologizing, Mingshen. I honestly hadn’t expected it, but I am glad we could talk."

Mingshen kept his gaze fixed at her.

"I would like to apologize too. I didn’t mean to question your integrity and professionalism as a doctor. I know you do your job well. I also don’t know what happened between you and Zhuo Syaoran so maybe I was a little out of my place to judge you. I am sorry."

Jia saw his unblinking stare at her and waved her hand in front of his eyes. "Are you here?"

She smiled. "Anyway, let’s keep walking. We are blocking the path for everyone."

She hardly took half a step forward when Mingshen grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

"I don’t pity you, Jia."

Her gaze remained fixed on his chest and within moments, it filled her entire view as Mingshen closed the distance between them. His fingers ever so faintly gripped her wrist firmer.

"Look at me, Jia."

Jia couldn’t. For some reason, she felt a strange force restricting her from meeting his eyes. But eventually she did - slowly and steadily.

"You were never a pitiful woman for me. Right from the moment I pulled the bullet out of your chest, I have thought of you as a very resilient woman. Even in the face of death, you were holding your ground like an immovable mountain. A woman like that is not pitiful."

He slightly tipped his head to the side. "People were saying the right things but with the wrong mindset. You shouldered everything on your own. Yes, your life was harsh and full of sacrifices. But just like you say for that man, your way of life is admirable. Never once did I think that the woman who pointed that glass shard on my neck in my own den was pitiful."

He sneered. "As for assuming you would latch onto them like a leech - that’s utter bullshit. People who think that way only do so because deep down, they know that if they were in your place, they would act like leeches themselves. It’s just a pathetic projection of their ugly self on you."

Mingshen countenance turned somber. "So don’t cry over some meaningless gibberish from a bunch of clowns who only enjoy your misery with a tub of popcorn."

Jia stared at him, slightly wide-eyed. Her heart thudded faster and a lump formed in her throat. Those cruel words and glances had bruised Jia over the years. Even though she always strived to be strong and unwavering, one look of sympathy was enough to drag her strength down.

"...You really think so?"

Mingshen knitted his brows in displeasure.

"At times like these, I wish you were more like little chili. Just look at her permanent goofy face. Do you think she ever considered her childhood life and circumstances pitiful?"

"..."

"You two are sisters but so vastly different. I admire that you don’t share her same braincells but I would definitely like you to share her positive outlook."

Jia thought about her sister and found merit in his argument. Lihua was always very aware of their difficulties and situation. But neither did she pity herself nor took Jia’s sacrifices for granted. She lived in a space where she absorbed everything as it came by without downgrading her sense of self.

Mingshen released his grip from her wrist and raised it to pinch her nose.

"You should only consider what little chili thinks of you. She is the one you have shared your tears and pain with. The other clowns have nothing to do with you. They can drop dead in a volcano for all I care."

"..."

She couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

"You...Isn’t lava a bit too harsh?"

He shrugged. "You prefer them getting struck by lightning? I am all up for it."

"Your mind works so fast with torture methods," she raised her brow.

He sheepishly grinned. "Thank you."

"It wasn’t a compliment..."

A passerby suddenly collided into Jia, pushing her into Mingshen’s embrace. He quickly caught her before she stumbled.

"Ah so sorry!" The group apologized.

"It’s okay, it’s okay. It was our fault for blocking the way."

Jia looked up at Mingshen. "We should really walk away-"

The rest of her words faltered, unable to escape as she felt his piercing gaze on her. His dark eyes were locked onto her face, unwavering.

"Wh...What?"

"This time I caught you."

Jia blinked once, perplexed for a moment. But she soon got the context.

She chuckled. "You mean when I caught you in the bus today?"

"Hm," his lips curled up in a goofy smile just a bit. "I redeemed myself."

"I will see that by how tomorrow’s bus ride goes for you."

He leaned in, closing the distance to a breath and murmured in a low voice, "I won’t disappoint you."

"Y-You," she parted and shut her lips, confused and disoriented, "didn’t have to whisper like that..."

"So romantic~" the group that bumped into them giggled with mischief.

"..."

Jia cleared her throat and quickly withdrew. The group laughed some more and hastily left. She quickly chomped down and swallowed her takoyaki.

"Are you done?"

Mingshen felt as if something dark and dreary just dissipated akin to a fog clearing from a forest.

"I am yet to learn the art of eating this monster," his lips widened with a grin.

"Learn it faster. We have more food to stuff in our stomachs."

He stared at her. "Those barbeque skewers and this monster of a takoyaki is not enough for you?"

Jia frowned. "This is just warming up my stomach. The street market is a never-ending maze of food stalls. How can it just end here? Are you crazy?"

"..."

This brings back my memories with Mom...

"We have a mission to accomplish here. So let’s go."

Mingshen’s eyes glistened as he followed her, laughing his heart out. "Whatever mission it is, I will follow you even into the depths of hell~"