Chapter 49. With you by my side.

"I'm just afraid you'll get angry," he replied casually, his tone tinged with laziness.

But she persisted, "Why are you afraid I'll get angry?"

Xu Jialan's smile faded, and she reached out to touch her head. "What's wrong with you today? Did Shen Moke say something to you?"

For a moment, Chen Yao'an felt a little disappointed. She lowered her eyelids and said, "No, I'm going back now."

She turned around, swiped her card to open the door, and went into the room without looking back.

The door clicked shut, and Chen Yao'an leaned against it for a moment, lost in thought. Soon after, footsteps could be heard outside.

Xu Jialan left.

It was already late, but Chen Yaoan was not sleepy at all. In the end, she could only sit up and turn on the bedside lamp.

She thought about Xu Jialan's reaction earlier and recalled Shen Moke's words.

Thinking about all the women who came and went around him.

Xu Jialan's feelings always come and go quickly. Could she be the exception for him?

The next morning, the three of them set off back to Beijing, still on the same plane they had come by.

Chen Yaoan didn't sleep well last night and fell asleep shortly after boarding the plane. When she woke up, the plane had already landed in Beijing.

Seeing her sit up, Xu Yan teased, "You woke up at just the right time; the plane just landed."

"Oh, are you leaving already?" She pulled back the blanket covering her.

Perhaps because she had been sleeping in one position for too long, Chen Yao'an didn't realize that her legs were numb, and she almost fell when she stood up.

Xu Jialan helped her up, "What's wrong?"

My legs are numb.

He crouched down, and as usual, said, "Come on up."

Chen Yaoan stood still.

Xu Jialan urged her, "Hurry up, come up!"

She leaned down and climbed onto his back.

Xu Yan walked ahead and saw the two of them coming down in this way. His expression became somewhat subtle. "You two are showing off your love without even considering my feelings."

Chen Yao'an was shy and immediately blushed.

"My leg is better now, put me down."

Xu Jialan then put her on the ground.

Back at the apartment, Xu Jialan handed her a bag before she entered.

"What's this?"

"This is your wedding favor from my dad's wedding."

She reached out and took it, saying, "Then I'll go in first."

"Um."

Upon entering, Chen Yaoan casually placed the bag on the table, showing little interest in opening it.

After returning to Beijing, life was no different from before. Xu Jialan still occasionally picked her up and dropped her off from get off work, and then they would have dinner together in the evening.

Zhou Yao has been in the hospital for more than half a month. Chen Yaoan used to visit her once a week, but this weekend she will also go to see Zhou Yao and ask Dr. Zhao about Zhou Yao's condition.

Xu Jialan knew that she was going to see Zhou Yao and said that he would go too, and Chen Yaoan agreed.

Zhou Yao's condition has improved a lot; at least she can eat on her own now.

After seeing Zhou Yao, they went to see Dr. Zhao to learn more about Zhou Yao's condition.

Dr. Zhao said that Zhou Yao's treatment was effective, and her condition had improved in all aspects. She had not hurt anyone again. After a period of observation, she could be discharged if there were no further problems.

"That's wonderful!" Chen Yao'an almost burst into tears of joy.

After leaving the hospital, she was in a good mood and suggested, "Xu Jialan, I'm especially happy today, let's go get a drink."

"Instead of going to the kind of bars you usually frequent, go to a quiet bar instead."

Xu Jialan raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure you want to go drinking?"

In his memory, Chen Yao'an rarely drank alcohol; he had only seen her drunk once. He never expected her to take the initiative to invite him for drinks.

"Just this once." She held up one finger and waved it in front of him.

"Okay, but don't complain about feeling unwell when you're drunk."

Chen Yao'an made up her mind that she must not get drunk before him tonight.

The two wandered around the area for a long time before finally finding a quiet bar with a great atmosphere, which was chosen by Chen Yao'an.

The two walked in one after the other. Chen Yaoan found a secluded corner to sit down, and Xu Jialan followed suit.

The waiter quickly noticed them and came over with the drinks menu.

What would you two like to order?

"I'll order," Chen Yao'an said first. "Can I order for you?"

Xu Jialan raised her eyebrows and looked at her, feeling that she was being overly enthusiastic tonight, but she let her have her way, "You choose."

Unfortunately, Chen Yao'an really had no experience in this area. Looking at the long list of drinks, she was a little worried. She wanted to order Xu Jialan a glass with a higher alcohol content, but she didn't want to ask him directly.

Seeing her struggling, the waiter offered her advice, "It's okay, you can take your time choosing. We also accept QR code orders."

He pointed to the QR code on the table.

Since that's the case, Chen Yao'an decided not to rush. "Then I'll choose first and then order."

"good."

The waiter went about his own business.

Chen Yaoan scanned the QR code on the table, then excused himself to go to the restroom and ran to ask the bartender, "I'd like to ask what your strongest drink is?"

Xu Jialan drinks often, and she thought he should have a good tolerance for alcohol, so it shouldn't be that easy to get him drunk.

The bartender recommended a few drinks to her, saying, "These drinks all have a relatively high alcohol content."

Chen Yaoan looked at them and chose one called Negroni.

She ordered herself a non-alcoholic drink.

The waiter quickly served them drinks.

Xu Jialan looked at the wine in front of her and asked curiously, "Why did you order this wine for me?"

Chen Yaoan lowered her eyes, concealing the guilt in them. "I think you drink often, so you probably like to drink stronger alcohol."

Xu Jialan nodded and silently picked up her cup and took a sip.

Chen Yao'an drank slowly and deliberately, taking only a small sip each time.

The two chatted back and forth, and Chen Yaoan didn't drink much of the wine in her glass, while Xu Jialan's glass was emptied.

"Let me order you another drink."

"No."

"But I haven't finished drinking yet, aren't you going to keep me company?" she asked him, blinking her eyes.

Hearing her slightly low and coquettish words, Xu Jialan chose to compromise, "Okay, I'll go with you."

Chen Yaoan ordered all the strong drinks the bartender had mentioned. After what seemed like the umpteenth drink, Xu Jialan rested her head on her arm on the table, looking somewhat tipsy.

She called out to him, "Xu Jialan, are you drunk?"

Xu Jialan half-closed her eyes, "A little."

"But I haven't finished drinking yet," she added, a little worried. She hoped he would drink to the point where he wouldn't remember what she had said the next day.

He chuckled softly, a hint of indulgence in his voice, and clinked his glass against hers. "I'll keep you company."

After another drink, Xu Jialan was indeed quite drunk.

Chen Yaoan let out a breath and asked him, "Xu Jialan, it seems like you haven't had a girlfriend in a long time."

Xu Jialan rested her forehead on her hand and looked at her. "Really?"

"You..." Chen Yaoan rubbed the cup beside him, feeling a little uneasy. "Why haven't you had a girlfriend for so long?"

"Who are you talking about?" he asked her teasingly, raising one corner of his mouth.

"You can date whoever you like." Chen Yao'an looked straight at him, her heart pounding with anxiety.

Xu Jialan suddenly fell silent for a long time, "I think it's fine as it is now, with you by my side."

"I'll stay with you?"

"Yes, just stay with me like this." In the dim light, she couldn't see his features or expression.

Chen Yaoan didn't understand what he meant by "that's it" for a moment, and wanted to ask again, but found that he had already slumped over the table.

Back at the apartment, Chen Yaoan settled Xu Jialan into bed and then left.

After returning home and taking a shower, she sat in front of the dressing table and stretched her arms, which were sore from being pressed down by Xu Jialan.

Her gaze swept over the wedding favors placed to the side, and she casually opened them. There were quite a few items inside, and she took them out one by one to look at them.

Inside, there was a complete set of top-tier cosmetics, a brooch inlaid with several diamonds, and a box of imported chocolates.

Xu Qingbang's wedding had many guests, and the wedding favors alone probably cost a lot, not to mention the rest.

Suddenly, Chen Yaoan couldn't help but laugh at himself.

Tonight, she even tried to test Xu Jialan, to see if he had feelings for her.

She found herself somewhat ridiculous, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

How could she forget that she and Xu Jialan were from two completely different worlds?

He could return to Dai County, but he couldn't stay there forever, and she could never stay here either.

The year she graduated, she missed the opportunity to travel along the Beijing-North Railway, which meant she was destined to have no connection with this place.

—

The next day, Chen Yaoan went to work as usual, without waiting for Xu Jialan to see her off.

The work continued until the end of the workday, and everyone in the office had left, but Chen Yao'an remained sitting at her workstation, refusing to leave.

I'm afraid she won't be able to stay in this position for much longer.

A rumble of thunder sounded outside; it must be raining.

Her phone rang.

She opened WeChat and saw a message from Xu Jialan asking if she had brought an umbrella.

She didn't reply immediately; she tossed her phone onto the corner of the table.

After a long while, the phone rang again.

Xu Jialan asked her why she was replying to messages so slowly.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Chen Yaoan replied with only a few words: "Brought it, working overtime."

They didn't seem to notice anything unusual about her and assumed she was busy with work.

"You're busy. I'm going home for a bit. Call me when you get off work and I'll come pick you up."

Going home? Chen Yao'an guessed it meant going back to the Xu family.

Chen Yao'an did not reply to him again.

After sitting in the office for another half hour, Chen Yaoan packed up and left without calling Xu Jialan.

—

Xu Qingbang called and ordered Xu Jialan to come home for dinner, saying that he wanted him to meet Wang Yifei.

He naturally disdained it, but Xu Qingbang said he wanted to vacate the room that Lan Wangshu used to use, and if he didn't go back, he could do whatever he wanted with the things in the room.

Xu Jialan would certainly not allow Wang Yifei to touch anything belonging to Lan Wangshu.

Upon entering the Xu family's gate, the three of them sat neatly in the living room, like a real family, while he seemed somewhat superfluous.

When he returned, Wang Yifei greeted him warmly, "Alan is back! The food is all ready, let's eat."

The group took their seats, with Xu Jialan sitting at the back.

During the meal, Xu Qingbang asked Xu Qing about his situation at school.

Xu Qing said his classmates didn't seem to like him very much.

When Xu Qingbang asked for details, he said after listening, "If you don't like it, you can change schools again."

"No need, it's too much trouble."

"What's the trouble? I'll find someone to take care of it."

Xu Jialan lost her appetite as she listened.

When he was in school, Xu Qingbang never cared about these things.

The meal was never finished.

He stood up and looked at the group.

"I'm full. I'll have someone come and move my mom's things out of her room, but no one is allowed to touch that room until then."

He gave Wang Yifei a warning look.

Wang Yifei didn't like his look, but she still said, "Don't worry, no one will touch you."

"I'm leaving now."

He strode out of the villa.

It was raining outside, and he didn't use an umbrella. He walked in the rain for a long time before taking shelter in a roadside pavilion. He was soaked to the bone, and water was dripping from the hem of his clothes.

He took the water dispenser out of his pocket, wiped the water off it, and dialed the phone.

When Chen Yao got home, she was already half-soaked. After taking a shower, she threw her wet clothes into the washing machine.

Her phone, which was in the living room, rang. She went over to look at it but didn't answer.

The ringing stopped, but only for a few seconds.

The person on the other end of the phone seemed particularly persistent, calling again after the first attempt failed.