Chapter 13: Awkwardness 2.0

Yan Xi ignored Big Monkey's cursing and turned around to find the shoe she had thrown earlier and put it back on her foot.

She looked around—where was the other shoe?

Big Monkey, seeing that this woman wasn't paying attention to him, became even angrier. He wanted to curse some more but was warned by the police. Not daring to provoke them, he forced a smile. Seeing his expression, the officers recalled the severely malnourished child still in the hospital, and their anger flared.

"Get in the car." The police pushed Big Monkey into the police car and began reporting to their superiors that the suspect had been caught.

Once Big Monkey was taken away, Yan Xi, who had looked so heroic just moments ago, leaned against a tree for support, catching her breath. She hadn't had this much physical exertion in a while, and her body was struggling to keep up. As she ran barefoot on the ground, she hadn't felt much, but now her soles burned with pain, unsure whether it was from the hot ground or from something sharp that had cut her.

The sacrifice for doing what was right in the moment was great, but at least the scum had been caught.

Limping over to a shaded area, the pain in her feet only seemed to intensify.

"Hey." A pair of flat shoes appeared in front of her, held by a hand with clearly defined knuckles and neatly trimmed nails, without any adornments. Yan Xi blinked in surprise, looking at Yuan Er Shao standing in front of her. She hadn't expected him to show up.

"Put the shoes on first." Yuan Er Shao saw her in a dazed state and tossed the shoes in front of her. With his arms crossed, he added, "There were so many men and police around, and you, a woman, were trying to act tough. Now you realize your feet hurt?"

Was he here to help or to scold her?

Men were so capable, able to do everything. Why didn't they just take over childbirth, too, and leave the women to avoid the suffering? But since he had at least brought her shoes, Yan Xi wisely refrained from arguing with Yuan Yi.

She bent down to put the shoes on, picking up her high heels as well. The size seemed a bit off, but they were wearable.

Seeing her obediently change into the shoes, Yuan Er Shao thought that when she wasn't speaking, this woman was quite likable. "What are you keeping those high heels for?"

"They're very expensive," Yan Xi said, taking a few steps. The soles of the shoes were soft, and her feet felt much better, but it still hurt when her feet hit the ground. "Thank you."

Yuan Er Shao noticed her slow and unnatural movements as she walked back to retrieve her shoes and guessed her feet must have been injured.

"Xiao Yan," Zhao Peng, leaning against the wall, gasped for breath, pointing to a corner where Yan Xi's other shoe had landed. "What did you eat growing up? You ran like a horse. I feel ashamed as a man."

"I grew up eating spinach." Yan Xi struck a "Popeye" pose and tilted her chin.

Zhao Peng: ...

He just couldn't understand the sense of humor of today's youth.

Behind Yan Xi, Yuan Er Shao slightly curved his lips upward, but when she turned to look at him, he quickly suppressed the smile. He stepped forward, hands in his pockets, "There's a good traditional Chinese doctor ahead who treats external injuries. I'll take you to see your feet."

After taking a few steps, he noticed Yan Xi was still standing in place. "Hurry up and catch up."

"Xiao Yan," Zhao Peng, looking at Yan Xi with concern, asked, "This is..."

"My friend," Yan Xi explained to Zhao Peng, "Zhao Ge, you and the driver should take the footage back to the station first. I'll head home directly later." Turning to Yuan Er Shao, she added, "Please help me ask for leave from the station."

"Got it," Zhao Peng replied. As a colleague, he didn't want to interfere in her personal matters. Though Yuan Er Shao didn't seem easy to get along with, since he had proactively brought shoes for Yan Xi, they must have some relationship. "I'll let Director Chen know."

"Thanks, I'll treat you to dinner next time. If the microphone is damaged, have them deduct it from my salary." Yan Xi walked over to Yuan Er Shao, limping slightly. "Let's go."

Seeing her struggle to walk, Yuan Er Shao felt conflicted—should he help her by carrying her shoes or even carry her to the doctor, or should he let her walk slowly behind him?

With a serious expression, he walked ahead, his demeanor intimidating. After a few steps, he saw Yan Xi still lagging behind, her lips pale and her face covered in sweat. In no time, she was several steps behind him, looking pitiful.

"Give me your hand." Yuan Er Shao caught up to Yan Xi, and without waiting for her response, he held her arm.

His arm was dry and cool, an unapproachable aura emanating from him.

"Thank you." With someone supporting her, Yan Xi felt much better as she walked. She smiled brightly at Yuan Er Shao.

"If you hadn't acted tough, you wouldn't be suffering like this," Yuan Er Shao observed her flushed face. "Other people who are hosts have either an intellectual or graceful beauty, but when it comes to you, it's just a mess."

"I'm a bottom-tier host," Yan Xi smiled playfully. "By the way, how do you know I'm a host?"

"Weren't you holding a microphone interviewing someone last time?" Yuan Er Shao paused, then pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket, looking disgusted as he handed it to her. "Wipe the sweat off your face."

"Just because I'm interviewing doesn't mean I'm a host. I could also be a reporter," Yan Xi didn't expect Yuan Er Shao, such a man, to still carry around a handkerchief, such an old-fashioned habit.

"Stop talking so much," Yuan Er Shao turned his head. "What's the difference between a host and a reporter?"

Well, there's a big difference.

Seeing his face of "Stop talking or I'll get angry," Yan Xi looked down at her shoes. Given that these shoes were his gesture, she didn't argue with him.

At the doctor's office, Yan Xi learned that her feet weren't burned by the hot ground, but had been pierced by shards of glass. As the doctor removed the glass, the pain almost brought tears to her eyes.

"The wound is small, just make sure it doesn't get infected," the doctor disinfected and bandaged the wound. "You're good to go."

"That's it?" Yuan Er Shao glanced at the shards of glass in the tray. "Shouldn't we check it again?"

"Don't worry, it's a small wound," the doctor stood up and packed the medicine into a bag. "That'll be 87 yuan, thank you."

Yuan Er Shao patted his pockets, only to realize he hadn't brought his wallet. "Can I pay with my phone?"

The elderly doctor pushed up his reading glasses. "Sorry, I'm old and don't understand these advanced payment methods. I only accept cash."

How awkward.

As the second young master of the Yuan family, Yuan Yi had never worried about money, but today, he finally experienced what it meant by "a single penny can defeat a hero."

"I have it here," Yan Xi took out her wallet from her small bag and handed a hundred yuan note to the old doctor. "Thank you."

After Yuan Yi helped Yan Xi out of the clinic, his face remained stern as he explained, "I left my wallet in the car."

Yan Xi pretended not to notice the embarrassment on Yuan Yi's face. "It's fine. I'm really grateful that you helped me today, but..."

Yuan Yi turned to look at her.

"But you shouldn't leave valuables in the car. Not only is the car not safe, but the valuables aren't either." Yan Xi shared a story about how someone had smashed a car window and stolen everything inside.

Yuan Yi listened silently. The two walked for over ten minutes and stopped in front of a car. "Get in. I'll take you back."

"Wouldn't this be too much trouble for you?" Yan Xi felt a little awkward.

"It will be," Yuan Yi opened the car door and helped Yan Xi into the passenger seat, "But it's trouble now or leave you stranded in the heat, which is worse?"

Yan Xi: ...

If he didn't look good, and wasn't from a powerful and wealthy family, he'd probably stay single forever with how bad his manners were.

Yuan Yi sat in the driver's seat, glanced at Yan Xi once more, and then said, "Put your seatbelt on. I'm driving."

"Oh," Yan Xi finally remembered she hadn't fastened her seatbelt.

Once Yan Xi had secured it, Yuan Yi stopped glancing at her, started the car, and drove off.

The car was quiet. Yuan Yi didn't turn on the music or speak to Yan Xi. After half an hour, Yan Xi spoke up, "Mr. Yuan, thank you so much for your help today. If you'd like, you can give me your contact info, and I'll treat you to a meal next time."

"Don't talk to the driver while the car is moving." Yuan Yi responded without turning his head.

Yan Xi turned to look out the window. If he didn't want to give it, fine—she didn't need to spend money on a meal.

The awkward silence lasted until they arrived at Yan Xi's neighborhood, when Yuan Yi finally stopped the car. He recited a string of numbers.

"What?" Yan Xi was stunned.

"My phone number and WeChat ID," Yuan Yi replied, a little unhappy. "Didn't you ask for it earlier?"

Did she just say it casually?

Ungrateful and insincere woman. He helped her, and she didn't even want to treat him to a meal.

"I thought you didn't want to give it to me." Yan Xi took out her phone, saved Yuan Yi's number, and under his number, she properly wrote "Mr. Yuan" as the contact name.

She had never met a rich young master who followed traffic rules so strictly, even adhering to no talking to the driver. She almost wanted to write him a praise article.

"Call me, and add me on WeChat," Yuan Yi thought for a moment and added, "I don't use WeChat much, so don't bother me unless it's important."

"It's fine, I don't use it much either," Yan Xi smiled and replied, "So I won't message you."

There was nothing offensive in what she said, but Yuan Yi still felt a little displeased. He pursed his lips and didn't speak. When Yan Xi called him, he didn't even look at the phone. He nodded slightly, "Alright, get out of the car."

Yan Xi got out, holding her high heels, and was sprayed with exhaust fumes from Yuan Yi's car when she turned around.

After the car turned the corner, Yuan Yi parked by the side of the road. He took out his phone and found there were five missed calls: four from friends and one from an unknown number. He saved the number and labeled it "Yan Single Dog."

On the WeChat friend request list, there was a request from a user named "Da He, I am Xiao Xi." The profile picture was a pot of bright red spicy hot pot.

This woman...

Her profile picture and name had no trace of femininity.

Yuan Yi disdainfully curled his lips and casually accepted the request.

In a few days, he'd collect that meal she promised him!