Plunder-Chapter 36 - Two Clears

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Two Clears

Chapter 36 -36: Two Clears

“Clap~clap~clap~”

The applause was loud and messy.

Qiao En was extremely embarrassed and suddenly pushed Zhou Jin’an away fiercely.

Dressed in his white lab coat, Doctor Ding leaned against the stairwell entrance with his long legs crossed. He had watched the commotion unfold and, seeking further entertainment, actually started applauding.

“The haughty Zhou Jin’an, actually slapped by a woman? What a delightful welcome gift. Please, carry on,” he said with a smirk.

As he spoke, he made a “please” gesture at the two of them.

“Get lost—”

Zhou Jin’an snapped coldly.

Doctor Ding looked at Qiao En and chuckled, “He’s just asking for it. Slap him a few more times, and I guarantee I’ll cure your brother’s illness.”

Qiao En’s face turned crimson with increased embarrassment.

For three years with Zhou Jin’an, no one had ever stumbled upon their relationship.

In public, he was the authoritative and aloof Director Zhou, and she played the role of a dutiful and responsible secretary, never overstepping any boundaries.

Privately, she carefully managed the distance between them. Unless the lights were off and they were in bed, there had never been any intimate behavior between them.

She had protected him and herself.

Now, in front of Ding Hao, her little affair with Zhou Jin’an was completely exposed.

She was somewhat panicked.

“Get lost—”

Zhou Jin’an yelled again, swiftly stepping forward, grabbed Ding Hao’s collar, and pushed him away.

“Fine, I’ll get lost. I’m heading back to America now. Don’t regret this!”

Saying this, Ding Hao really did leave.

With his departure, the remaining two felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Qiao En’s brows drooped, and her hand that had slapped Zhou Jin’an trembled uncontrollably.

Though the force behind the slap was not strong, since it landed on the face, it was not without hurt.

“Consider my words carefully,” Zhou Jin’an murmured after a pause, his deep gaze landing on Qiao En again.

She didn’t respond and couldn’t get away fast enough, fleeing the scene.

Inside Qiao De’s hospital room.

Doctor Ding was conducting a routine examination with his stethoscope.

Qiao En entered, looking quite unnatural.

“Your brother is doing quite well. If nothing unexpected happens, he should recover quickly,” Doctor Ding said without even looking up.

That white lab coat on him seemed magical, completely concealing his roguish charm.

Zhou Jin’an had an extensive network, knowing many people inside and outside his circle.

His acquaintance with Ding Hao was unknown to Qiao En, but she now realized that it was thanks to Zhou Jin’an that Ding Hao was treating Qiao De.

No matter what, she owed him gratitude.

“Thank you, Doctor Ding.”

Qiao En’s face still held a lingering flush. The light overhead cast a glow on her, making even the fine hairs on her face visible.

Doctor Ding took off his stethoscope, and just as his eyes fell on Qiao En, he witnessed this scene.

His gaze sharpened slightly.

“How will you thank me?”

Qiao En was startled by his direct question, finding herself at a loss for words.

“How about this,” Doctor Ding suggested as he glanced at his watch. “Treat me to breakfast. I’ve been up all night and I’m starving.”

This request wasn’t too much.

“Sure, I’ll treat you,” Qiao En promptly replied.

“Meet me at the front gate.”

After Doctor Ding said this, he left.

Qiao En waited at the front gate for about five minutes before Ding Hao appeared.

He had shed his white lab coat and was now wearing a crisp white T-shirt, jeans, and white sneakers.

His attire gave off a fresh and clean vibe.

His frame was tall, yet slim, not as muscular as Zhou Jin’an’s.

But his skin was fair and his personality lively, the youthful charm inherent in him bursting forth.

“Doctor Ding, what would you like to eat?”

Qiao En asked earnestly.

When she had been Zhou Jin’an’s secretary, she had often asked him the same question. Zhou Jin’an was very particular about his diet, insisting on fresh, organic ingredients, and he always maintained a balanced nutritional intake.

She was very attentive, gathering the dishes he frequently ordered into a simple menu. When it was time to help him order, she would take the menu over to him, and he just had to use a pen to check off a few items.

After leaving Zhou Jin’an, Qiao En never asked that question again.

At this moment, her memory revived, and suddenly, her mind was filled with shadows of Zhou Jin’an.

She shook her head and dispersed the shadows once more.

“Whatever.”

“There’s no ‘whatever’ for breakfast in Rong City!”

Qiao En cracked a semi-joke.

“I’ll leave it to you to decide.”

Ding Hao shrugged his shoulders, with both hands stuffed in his pockets, looking nonchalant.

At five in the morning, the dawn of Rong City had just begun, and the whole city slowly woke up after a night’s rest.

The breakfast stalls had already started bustling, gathering a scattering of early risers.

Qiao En, with Ding Hao, crossed two alleys right in front of the hospital, taking him to eat the most authentic and characteristic community canteen breakfast in Rong City.

Such places were generally hidden in some old, rundown neighborhoods. The storefronts were small, and the dining environment was dismal, but the taste was unmatched elsewhere.

Soon, they arrived at the place.

The community canteen was extremely shabby, with the name on the sign at the entrance so blurred it was hardly recognizable. Inside were just a few greasy tables, and outside, a row of plastic stools was lined up.

There was no air conditioning, with only an old fan working tirelessly inside the room.

The neighbors, who dreaded the heat, would buy their breakfast and sit around the plastic stools outside, taking alternating bites of small noodles, soy milk, and old-fashioned fritters. It didn’t look particularly healthy, but they relished every bite.

“You’re taking me to eat this?”

Ding Hao was somewhat incredulous.

Qiao En didn’t respond; instead, she shouted to the busy worker in the shop, “Two bowls of small noodles, less spicy, two bowls of soy milk, no sugar, and two of each, fritters and bread fritters.”

She shouted with practiced ease, clearly a frequent visitor.

Ding Hao’s eyebrows twisted into two earthworms. His usual breakfast consisted of a cup of coffee accompanied by two slices of icy cold bread at a spotlessly clean restaurant.

“Hey, I don’t eat this stuff,” he protested.

Qiao En noticed but ignored his protest. A plastic stool by the entrance freed up, and she hurriedly grabbed a small bench to sit on.

The small noodles were soon brought over.

Chili oil floated on top, with green onions sprinkled in between, the aromatic scent teasing the taste buds.

Qiao En picked up her chopsticks and started shoving food into her mouth generously.

The familiar flavor, the taste of childhood.

Then, the soy milk arrived.

It was served in two slightly old enamel bowls. Qiao En picked up one and drank a big gulp.

Next, the deliciously golden, crispy, and fragrant fritters and bread fritters were served.

Ding Hao looked at the treats with a face full of distaste.

“Really not eating?”

Qiao En asked as she grabbed a fritter.

Ding Hao’s head shook like a rattle-drum.

“I certainly won’t eat this junk food.”

Qiao En rolled her eyes, took a big bite of the fritter, and the oil seeped down the corner of her mouth, which she wiped away with her hand.

After finishing a bite of fritter, she took a sip of soy milk, swallowed, and then picked up a mouthful of noodles.

Qiao En’s way of eating was quite contagious. Ding Hao, arms crossed, watched from a distance, and somehow, as he watched, his hand reached for the bread fritter.

He tore off a small piece, tentatively chewing a few times.

The delicious flavors assaulted his taste buds, and it was as if he had discovered a new world; he grabbed the entire bread fritter and stuffed it into his mouth.

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“Have some soy milk, don’t choke,” Qiao En suggested, pointing at the soy milk.

Ding Hao, who had been quite repulsed just moments ago, picked up the enamel bowl and guzzled it down.

Next, his eyes moved to the bowl of noodles, and he picked up a disposable pair of chopsticks to grab a big mouthful.

“If you eat noodles without garlic, you miss half the flavor. Want some?”

Qiao En stood up, grabbed a few cloves of garlic from the food counter, and handed them to Ding Hao.

He didn’t hesitate and picked up a clove to toss it into his mouth.

After finishing their breakfast, Ding Hao revealed a satisfied smile.

“Thank you for letting me have such a delicious breakfast,” he said, letting out a satisfied belch.

Qiao En, emboldened, asked for her share, “How does Doctor Ding plan to thank me?”

Ding Hao was surprised that Qiao En would mimic him.

He pointed a trembling finger at Qiao En, about to speak, but Qiao En cut him off.

“How about this? Doctor Ding, you forget everything you saw and heard today, and we call it even.”