Chapter 27: The Dinner

Li Xiaoran looked flustered and looked at Qiao An for help. He even secretly tugged Qiao An’s sleeve, hinting at her to put in a good word for him.

Qiao An ignored him.

Seeing that Qiao An could not be counted on, Li Xiaoran cleared his throat and decided to use his glib tongue to salvage Father Qiao’s impression of him.

“Uncle, it’s rare for you to come to the capital. Coincidentally, I’m free tonight. Let me be the host tonight and treat you to a meal? Take it as an apology for my rashness.”

Father Qiao said stiffly, “That won’t be necessary. I won’t be here for long. I just want to spend time with my daughter.”

Li Xiaoran became braver. “Qiao An, you’ve been in the hospital for so long. You must want to have something different. Why don’t I take you out to eat something delicious tonight?”

Father Qiao felt that Li Xiaoran was very unreliable. He reprimanded Li Xiaoran and said, “My daughter is still hospitalized. Can she be discharged? What if her wound is infected?”

Li Xiaoran explained patiently, “Uncle, don’t worry. Qiao An’s injuries have already healed. In principle, she’s a patient who can be discharged. However, in order to facilitate her rehabilitation, we let her continue staying in the hospital.”

Seeing that Li Xiaoran was young, Father Qiao was skeptical of his words. He shook his head and waved his hand. “Don’t bring my daughter into the gutter. Whether she can be discharged or not will have to be determined by her doctor.”

Li Xiaoran said, “Uncle, I’m Qiao An’s attending physician.”

Father Qiao was dumbfounded.

He looked at Li Xiaoran in disbelief and asked Qiao An with uncertainty, “Was he the one who saved your life?”

QIao An nodded.

Li Xiaoran had thought that she would praise him heavily, but she did not continue. This disappointed him.

However, Father Qiao’s attitude changed completely. He shook Li Xiaoran’s hand excitedly and said to him in an extremely friendly manner, “I heard from Loco that if my An’an hadn’t met a good doctor like you, she wouldn’t have had a chance to survive. I didn’t expect the doctor who saved her to be so young. I’m sorry, my attitude was bad just now. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Li Xiaoran said, “Uncle, you’re welcome. This is my duty.”

Qiao An stared at the two men across from her; their hands were tightly clasped, never breaking contact.

In the end, Mr. Qiao slapped his thigh and said, “Alright, I’ve decided. It’s my treat tonight. I hope Doctor Li will attend.”

“Definitely,” Li Xiaoran said.

Qiao An was completely dumbfounded.

Was it that simple for men to bond?

Why were Li Zecheng and her father so distant?

Dinner was a place Li Xiaoran chose. It was a five star hotel.

When Father Qiao beheld such a luxurious place, his expression was very solemn.

Auntie Qiao was sick, and the Qiao family was in a critical period of using money. Although he wanted to treat Li Xiaoran to a meal, he did not expect him to bring him to such a luxurious place.

When they were ordering, Li Xiaoran was almost solicitous. He carefully asked Father Qiao for his taste and then ordered many delicious dishes for him.

Qiao An was also a veritable foodie. After lying in the hospital for so long and eating so many bland and tasteless meals, her mouth watered when she heard the names of those delicacies.

However, Li Xiaoran handed over the menu to the waiter and did not give Qiao An a chance to order at all. Qiao An thought that she was lucky that he had ordered a lot.

Unexpectedly, after the dishes were served, Li Xiaoran poured wine for Father Qiao and peeled prawns for him. When it was Qiao An’s turn, he only brought her a bowl of mixed grain porridge.

Stunned, Qiao An stared at the table full of delicacies. The mixed grain porridge looked terribly out of place.

She picked up her chopsticks and was about to secretly pick up a prawn when Li Xiaoran interrupted her.

‘Qiao An, you can’t have shrimp.’

“Why?”

“You have allergies,” Li Xiaoran said.

Mr. Qiao immediately nodded. “Yes, yes, yes. An’an, you’re allergic to prawns.”

Qiao An picked up another dish, but Li Xiaoran stopped him. “You can’t eat this. You’ll get constipated.”

“Not even this. This is bad for your wounds.”

“Li Xiaoran, didn’t you want to bring me out to eat delicious food? Don’t tell me you’re going to appease me with this bowl of porridge?” Qiao An put down his chopsticks in frustration.

Li Xiaoran said, “Qiao An, you don’t know this, right? The signature dish of this restaurant is mixed grain porridge.”

Qiao An sized up the guests around her suspiciously. Seeing that no one was eating the mixed grain porridge at the next table, she immediately understood that Li Xiaoran was fooling her again.

Qiao An was so angry that he reached out to pinch Li Xiaoran’s thigh. Li Xiaoran gritted her teeth in pain, but he did not dare to make a sound.

Qiao An threatened in a low voice, “Li Xiaoran, I want to eat good food. Otherwise, I’ll file a complaint against you that you accepted a bribe from the patient’s family.”

Li Xiaoran was dumbfounded.

“What did you bribe me with?”

Qiao An said, “This is a good meal. It must’ve cost a fortune. You ate, so you accepted a bribe from my dad.”

Li Xiaoran’s face was very gray as he snapped his fingers at the waiter. The waiter quickly brought Qiao An a cage of cute animal-shaped steamed buns.

Qiao An stared at the steamed buns and porridge in front of her, looking disappointed.

Li Xiaoran coaxed, “After you’re discharged, I’ll treat you to delicious food.”

Father Qiao stared at Li Xiaoran. Even though he hated the Li family, Li Xiaoran’s love for Qiao An touched him.

He was a doctor and completely different from those merchants in the Li family.

What warmed Father Qiao’s heart was that Li Xiaoran was fighting for the bill and did not want him to spend money.

Mr. Qiao said, “Dr. Li, you’re my An’an’s benefactor. I have to treat you to this meal no matter what.”

Li Xiaoran easily resolved the conflict. “Uncle, let me pay. Otherwise, your daughter will complain about me.”

Father Qiao glared at Qiao An and said fiercely, “Is that something a human should do? Qiao An, be more polite to Dr. Li in the future.”

Qiao An was dumbfounded.

Li Xiaoran looked at Qiao An smugly.

“Despicable,” QIao An said angrily.

Li Xiaoran still wanted Father Qiao to stay for a few more days, but Father Qiao was also worried about his sick wife at home. He bought a ticket and prepared to rush back overnight.

Before they left, Father Qiao and Qiao An had a private conversation. Father Qiao said to Qiao An, “An’an, I know everything about you. I didn’t expect you to have such a difficult time during this period. I originally wanted to go to the Li family to fight for justice for you, but Loco persuaded me not to.”

“I’ve thought about it. You’ve always been my pride. You’ve been independent and strong since you were a child. I’ll leave this to you. But Dad wants you to understand that you have Dad as your backing, so you don’t have to compromise in your marriage. If you really can’t live with it, divorce him. Dad can support you for the rest of your life.”

“As for your mum’s medical bills, don’t beg that ingrate. Your mother would rather die than use his money if she knew he’d done this to you.”

Tears streamed down Qiao An’s face. “I know, Dad,” she cried.

Father Qiao finally got into the cab and walked away.

After sending Father Qiao off, Li Xiaoran sent Qiao An back to the hospital.

By the time they arrived at the hospital, it was already one in the morning.

The inpatient department was very quiet and the lights in the corridor were dim. Li Xiaoran sent Qiao An back to the ward and said softly to her, “Good night.”

But as he turned, Qiao An suddenly took his hand.

“Dr. Li…”