Chapter 32 (Revised)
The three of us just need to live our lives well.
After some time, Lu Qin recovered from her miscarriage and immediately went back to overseeing the renovation of the clothing shop. Her younger brothers would also come out to help out when they had free time.
With the clothing shop nearing completion, Lu Qin instructed Ling'er to take people to inquire about Lu Pan'an's recent movements.
She learned that Lu Pan'an was from Xicheng, that his parents had died, and that he had a paralyzed younger sister. In order to seek medical treatment for his sister, he traveled around and unintentionally gained fame, becoming the most handsome man in the city.
Using this reputation, Lu Pan'an told stories on the street and played the flute in restaurants, using all his talents to raise money for his sister's medical expenses.
Because his whereabouts were not fixed, it took Ling'er several days to lead people to find out the places he frequented most.
In order to create a chance encounter and finalize a collaboration, Lu Qin decided to personally stake out several places Lu Pan'an frequented.
Fearing that Hao Jingshi would mind, she used the excuse of buying new clothes to come out, and fortunately Hao Jingshi did not ask any questions.
Lu Qin waited outside for most of the day, but for some reason, her wait was always in vain. She didn't even get to see Lu Pan'an's face properly and could only return to the mansion when it got dark, planning to come back another time.
Seeing that Lu Qin had been absent-minded lately, Hao Jingshi found it strange, so he secretly followed her one day.
Lu Qin was completely unaware and, as usual, dashed off to the vicinity of the restaurant to keep watch.
The restaurant was packed with guests, and the streets were bustling with carriages and palanquins. Lu Qin leaned against the corner of the wall, keeping a close eye on the flow of people, afraid of missing any clue about Lu Pan'an.
As the saying goes, perseverance pays off. After she had been squatting for an hour, a group of people finally walked towards her, shouting "Pan An, Pan An!"
As they approached, Lu Qin seized the opportunity and prepared to plunge into the crowd.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he leaned forward, his wrist was suddenly grabbed tightly.
Lu Qin was pulled back in the blink of an eye. She turned around unconsciously, and while she was still confused, she suddenly met Hao Jingshi's eyes.
"Husband?" Lu Qin was surprised and struggled a bit. "What are you doing here?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you?"
Hao Jingshi took a step closer, pressed her against the wall, his face darkening, and gripped her wrist tightly.
"Didn't you say you were going out to buy clothes? How come you ended up at a restaurant?"
Lu Qin glanced guiltily at the person next to her and said, "I was just passing by."
"Just passing by?" Hao Jingshi chuckled. "So you didn't even notice me standing behind you for an hour?"
"Well……"
So, Hao Jingshi came with her?
Lu Qin gave a hesitant "hehe" and leaned forward, resting her head in his arms: "My husband is so good. He was afraid I would be in danger, so he came to protect me personally."
"..." Hao Jingshi fell silent.
Lu Qin whispered again, "But husband, could you please let go of me first? I have something very urgent to do..."
"Young Master Pan An! Pan An!" Before she could finish speaking, a group of people surrounded Lu Pan An and walked towards them.
Lu Qin swallowed nervously.
Hao Jingshi glanced at it and sneered, "This is the urgent matter you're talking about?"
Lu Qin raised her eyes, looked at him, and nodded: "Yes, husband, I came to see Young Master Lu, but I didn't mean to hide it from you, I was just afraid you would overthink it..."
Seeing that she admitted it so quickly, Hao Jingshi was quite angry.
The thought that she had been sneaking around and secretly running around to find a handsome man made him incredibly jealous.
Not only was he jealous, but he also felt wronged and angry, and a surge of anger welled up inside him.
He repeatedly questioned, "What do you want with him?"
"Do you even respect me?"
"You don't want to live like this anymore?"
"No, no!" Lu Qin quickly explained, "I just thought he was good-looking..."
"Is he as good-looking as me?"
"No, my husband, please let me finish..."
"I've caught you red-handed, what are you still trying to deny?" Hao Jingshi became more and more agitated, his eyes starting to redden. "Lu Qin, I've done so much for you, and this is how you treat me... um..."
Hearing him gradually choke up, Lu Qin simply raised her head and gave him a quick kiss.
"..." Hao Jingshi was stunned.
Before Hao Jingshi could react, Lu Qin quickly said, "Jingshi, don't think nonsense. I meant that Lu Pan'an is good-looking and popular, which can attract customers to the clothing store."
“You are certainly dashing and debonair, a hundred times more handsome than him, but he can’t bear to let you perform your talents. With so many people watching you, he’ll get jealous.”
After saying that, she kissed him without hesitation.
These two remarks left Hao Jingshi's mind blank, and he looked at her blankly: "You... you want to cooperate with Lu Pan'an?"
Lu Qin nodded.
"It was wrong of me to keep it from my husband, but now that he knows, he can't misunderstand anymore."
"...Never mind." Hao Jingshi paused, released her, and muttered, "Young master, young master isn't that petty."
Seeing this, Lu Qin quickly stepped forward and said, "Then I'll go first..."
"No." Hao Jingshi stopped her, pulled her back, and hoisted her onto his shoulder. "Come back with me."
Lu Qin's footing gave way, and she cried out in fright, quickly grabbing his neck.
The two passed by the crowd surrounding Pan An.
After hearing Lu Qin sigh softly, Hao Jingshi put her down, carried her in his arms, and made her face him.
"Don't come looking for him again."
"I'll talk to him about the collaboration."
...
Soon after, the clothing shop was renovated and looked brand new.
After reopening, Lu Hua and his men banged drums and gongs, hoping to attract the attention of passersby, but when the passersby saw that these people looked fierce and menacing, they dared not take another step forward.
The clothing store wasn't as busy as before, and Lu Hua felt very guilty. Seeing this, Lu Qin made a panda-shaped mascot costume for Lu Hua to wear and stand at the door as a mascot.
Passersby were indeed attracted and came forward to see, which confirmed Lu Qin's idea.
If Lu Pan'an were here, the effect would definitely be even more significant.
Moreover, he was already handsome, so he didn't need to wear a heavy mascot costume to disguise himself, unlike Lu Hua who went through so much trouble, which saved him a lot of trouble.
In order to fulfill his promise to Lu Qin, Hao Jingshi went directly to the Lu family, but was turned away for several days in a row.
Hao Jingshi learned that Lu Pan'an had taken his sister to seek medical treatment, so he told Xuan Lan to stay there and wait, and to come back and inform him as soon as there was any news.
Back at the clinic, Hao Jingshi sat down with a thud, leaning back in his chair, and couldn't help but say to Lu Qin, "That Lu Pan'an is a fool too. He's been seeking medical help everywhere, yet he doesn't even know my name."
After listening, Lu Qin paused for a moment, then suddenly understood.
Yes, why didn't she think of that before? Lu Pan'an needs a good doctor, and there's one right here.
Rather than struggling to guard the street and squeeze in with a huge crowd, it's better to let him come to us on his own.
"My husband, you are so clever!"
Lu Qin happily shook Hao Jingshi's shoulder, leaving Hao Jingshi completely bewildered.
Although he didn't know why, he felt proud when his wife praised him, and he also smiled.
Having come up with an idea, Lu Qin immediately summoned Lu Hua and her underlings, instructing them to guard the western part of the city and spread the word about Hao Jingshi's superb medical skills, waiting for Lu Pan'an to come knocking on their door.
A few days later, Lu Pan'an, having heard of his reputation, came to visit, wearing a veil to cover his face and avoid the crowd.
When he arrived, Hao Jingshi had just gone to the clothing shop, leaving Xuan Lan to guard the counter. After a while, Xuan Lan saw no one, so he leaned back in the chair and dozed off.
Seeing that he was asleep, Lu Pan'an called out, "Doctor?"
Xuan Lan was suddenly jolted awake. Upon seeing the person arrive, she said "Please wait a moment" and then turned and ran to the clothing shop to find Hao Jingshi.
Lu Pan'an didn't hear those words clearly. Seeing him run away, he thought he was a thief, so he chased after him to the door to see what was going on.
This chase had a significant impact; for a moment he forgot he wasn't wearing a veil, and thus he was suddenly exposed to everyone, causing a sensation.
"It's Young Master Lu!"
"Young Master Lu! What are you doing here, Young Master Lu!"
Xuan Lan, unaware that Lu Pan'an was following him, slipped into the clothing shop in a flash. Lu Pan'an, on the other hand, was surrounded by a group of people at the entrance of the clothing shop after only a few steps, and gradually had no way to retreat.
"Is Young Master Lu here to surprise everyone?!"
"Has Young Master Lu eaten?"
"Young Master Lu, Young Master Lu..."
Hearing the commotion outside, Lu Qin curiously looked out and, after realizing that everyone was calling for Lu Pan'an, hurriedly hung the clothes she was holding on the rack.
Xuan Lan ran in at this moment and said to Hao Jingshi, "Young Master, someone from the clinic has arrived."
Upon hearing this, Lu Qin guessed that Lu Hua and her team's publicity efforts had been effective, and she was overjoyed.
Seeing this as a rare opportunity, she wanted to run out and take a look, but Hao Jingshi blocked her way.
"I'm going to see him, but you're not allowed to go."
Hao Jingshi gestured to Xuan Lan to keep an eye on Lu Qin, while he walked towards the crowd. Unexpectedly, a group of people crowded around Lu Pan'an and squeezed into the clothing shop in a lively manner.
The shop was packed with people, and Hao Jingshi was forced to take a few steps back before returning to Lu Qin's side.
"Pan An, Pan An..."
The maids in the clothing shop looked up when they heard the sound, and when they saw Lu Pan'an, they were all stunned by his handsome face.
"Pan An, Pan An..."
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm really sorry to bother you." Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, Lu Pan'an apologized to Hao Jingshi repeatedly. "Gentlemen, please calm down and don't delay their business."
He clasped his hands in a fist and pleaded with the crowd, his voice as soft and sweet as a freshly baked peach shortbread. The crowd couldn't resist and screamed.
"Pan An, Pan An, we love you..."
Hao Jingshi couldn't help but cross his arms. Seeing this, Lu Qin turned around and immediately saw a close-up, ultra-high-definition version of Lu Pan'an.
She gasped.
My goodness, this man is truly as handsome as Pan An, with long, jet-black hair, narrow eyes, and an exquisite face; every bone in his body seems to have been meticulously sculpted by Nuwa.
Is this the legendary handsome man in ancient style?
Dressed in white, with an elegant demeanor, well-defined fingers, and a tall, slender figure... he's so pleasing to the eye, practically a celestial being descended to earth!
Hao Jingshi already disliked the screaming crowd, and when he turned around and saw Lu Qin staring at him with wide eyes, an inexplicable anger rose in his heart.
He simply strode forward, blocking her view, and said to the crowd, "What's all the fuss about? Shut up, all of you!"
"..."
Everyone knew Hao Jingshi's temper, and this shout successfully silenced the surrounding area. However, their expressions remained agitated.
Seeing this, Xuan Lan summoned his servants and led them away, finally bringing peace and quiet.
Lu Pan'an stood there, his eyes scanning the room, and said apologetically, "Gentlemen, I'm so sorry, I was going to the clinic next door, but I got pushed into this place..."
"I found your clothes to be very beautiful. I happen to have a younger sister at home, so I picked out a few outfits for her to take back as an apology to you both. I wonder if you have any clothes suitable for children?"
"Excuse me, we..."
Hao Jingshi was about to say no with a cold face when Lu Qin behind him covered his mouth and pushed him aside.
"Yes, Young Master Lu, yes."
Hao Jingshi staggered a step, looked at Lu Qin in surprise, and his teeth chattered with anger.
How dare you be so bold in front of me?
But in reality, Lu Qin was afraid that he would scare Lu Pan'an away, so she quickly rushed over to speak.
Yes, children's clothing. Lu Pan'an enlightened her—children need clothes too, and the store could be expanded to broaden the customer base.
Most importantly, she must keep Lu Pan'an, this walking clothes hanger who can capture the hearts of many women.
“I’m planning to open a children’s clothing section in the store,” Lu Qin said. “However, the clothes haven’t arrived yet. I wonder if you could wait a few days? We’ll let you know when everything is ready.”
"That's wonderful," Lu Pan'an said with a smile. "Then I'll trouble you to send someone to the Lu family to inform them."
“No problem.” Lu Qin quickly pressed her advantage. “Young Master Lu, there’s something else I’d like to discuss with you. May we speak in private?”
Hao Jingshi glanced at her with a quiet look, but because there were many people around, he couldn't say anything directly. Instead, he kept it to himself.
I need to speak to you privately. Do you think I'm dead?
Lu Qin was waiting for Lu Pan'an's reply and didn't notice his jealous gaze. However, Lu Pan'an was facing the two of them and saw Hao Jingshi's expression clearly.
Although the man remained silent, his expression was slightly unusual, as if he was about to explode with anger, and his whole body reeked of sourness.
He glanced at Lu Qin and roughly understood what was going on. He coughed awkwardly and said, "Well, miss, I have important business to attend to today and cannot stay long. If you have something to say, let's talk about it another day."
"Young master, are you going to the clinic next door?"
Lu Qin blurted out, casually putting her hand on Hao Jingshi's shoulder, "That clinic is also my family's. This is my husband. He has superb medical skills and can bring the dead back to life. If you need anything, just tell him."
After she finished speaking, she gave Hao Jingshi a light push. Seeing that Hao Jingshi had a stern face, she poked him on the back with a finger and whispered, "Husband, why don't you smile?"
Lu Pan'an said politely, "I recognized you as the young master of the Hao family just now, but I didn't expect you to be the divine doctor that others have been talking about. I have long heard that the young master is handsome and dashing, and indeed, seeing is believing."
Hao Jingshi said with a forced smile, "Young Master Lu is as handsome as his name suggests, even more so than Pan An. I am ashamed to admit my inferiority. The clothing shop is crowded and chaotic, so why don't you move to the clinic instead?"
Lu Pan'an nodded amiably.
Hao Jingshi gestured for him to enter.
After exchanging compliments, the two left amicably. Before leaving, Hao Jingshi turned back and gave Lu Qin a meaningful glance.
You stay right here and don't even think about saying a single word to Lu Pan'an.
Lu Qin naturally knew his little secret, so she blew him a kiss and blinked expectantly.
I'll be waiting here. My husband, you must succeed in winning him over!
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