<h4>Chapter 26: Chapter 26, Besties’ Secret Talk</h4>


    Lin Yiren was taken aback: "What? He has my perfume scent on him? Howe I didn’t know?"


    Huang Ruirui sneered repeatedly, "Pretend!"


    "Keep pretending!"


    "We’ve known each other for so many years, I know you better than your parents do, don’t you think I can tell when you’re lying?"


    Lin Yiren suddenly felt deted, like a punctured balloon, and awkwardly bowed her head. Although she didn’t say much, she tacitly admitted to being with Xu Wendong.


    Huang Ruirui gave a mischievous smile, "Last night, did I ruin a good thing for you two?"


    Lin Yiren shook her head, "You can’t really say you ruined my good thing. He... he... he’s not willing to do that kind of thing with me at all."


    "If he’s not willing to do that kind of thing, then howe he has your perfume scent on him? How did you two get into physical contact?" Huang Ruirui was full of confusion.


    Lin Yiren blushed with shame and said, "Yesterday, when he gave me a massage, he reacted. I used it as leverage to threaten him; if he didn’t listen to my orders, I would tell Wenjian about his inappropriate thoughts towards me."


    Huang Ruirui asked, "And then?"


    Lin Yiren said softly, "Then I ordered him to lie on the bed and not move."


    "Hiss!" Huang Ruirui drew a sharp breath, her eyes shing with a yful light, "You wild woman, you’re even wilder than I am. Did you take him as your white knight?"


    Lin Yiren nodded with a red face.


    Huang Ruirui said earnestly, "I understand your difficulties, but forcing things won’t be sweet. Even if you use this method to get him, it’s just a one-sided wish on your part; you won’t get his true passion."


    Lin Yiren replied, "A forced melon may not be sweet, but it quenches my thirst."


    "..." Huang Ruirui shook her head helplessly, "Yiren, some things require a natural progression. You should take things step by step; rushing it might leave a bad impression."


    Lin Yiren nodded, half understanding, half not.


    Huang Ruirui revealed a devilish smile, "I really look forward to the day when we sisters handle him together!"


    ------


    On the other side.


    Xu Wendong ate breakfast at a snack stand near themunity entrance, then unlocked a shared bike. After half an hour’s ride, he finally arrived at the entrance of the South City Shantytown Jing’an District.


    Under the French parasol tree were two tables and chairs, and a banner on top with the words "Volunteer Medical Clinic."


    Just as Xu Wendong arrived, a familiar Volkswagen Beetle drove up. After the car stopped, out came Ding Yao, wearing a white V-neck T-shirt paired with sky-blue jeans and t shoes.


    Though dressed inly, she was tall and strikingly beautiful, leaving an impression of stunning elegance.


    "Sister Ding, have some breakfast first!"


    Xu Wendong handed her the soy milk and pancake he had prepared. He had texted her earlier, asking if she hadn’t eaten and offering to bring her food.


    This was the first time in Xu Wendong’s life he had bought breakfast for a woman.


    Ding Yao happily took the breakfast Xu Wendong offered and walked towards the two tables under the parasol tree, saying as she went, "Wendong, this volunteer medical work is rtively easy. Mainly, we’re helping elderly people check their health, and if they feel unwell, we prescribe some medicines or do some massage therapy."


    "Though the workload for these outside clinics is heavy, it’s very fulfilling."


    Xu Wendong nodded.


    By nine o’clock, many elderly folks had alreadye to queue up. Compared to young people, the elderly were more epting of traditional Chinese medicine. After all, in the deeply rooted mindset of the locals, Chinese medicine was vast and profound, with thousands of years of tradition that Western medicine couldn’tpare to.


    Right after the clock struck, the volunteer clinic officially began. Ding Yao and Xu Wendong each busied themselves, taking pulses and checking patients. Initially, some elderly individuals underestimated Xu Wendong, doubting his medical expertise because of his young age, but Xu Wendong soon won everyone over with his skills.


    He didn’t even need to take pulses; just by looking at theplexion on their faces, he could determine if they were healthy. This earned him the respect of many.


    Fortunately, they were mostly minor illnesses, making the treatment manageable. Xu Wendong handled them with ease.


    As time went by, the street temperature rose, and the 30-degree heat made people reluctant to be outside.


    Ding Yao bought two bottles of chilled drinks from a nearby small shop. After handing one to Xu Wendong, she said, "From now until three in the afternoon, there might not be any patientsing for treatment."


    Just as she finished saying this, a business vehicle pulled over.


    Out came a group of muscr, burly men. The leading figure looked to be in his thirties, with a tiger-backed build, a shaved head, covered in dragon and tiger tattoos.


    Wearing a thick gold chain around his neck, he was instantly recognizable as a person not to be trifled with.


    "I heard you guys have good medical skills; I came to see if you have the real deal." Zhao Dahua’s voice was coarse, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth, and he directly sat in front of Ding Yao, extending his hand to have his pulse taken.


    Ding Yao politely asked, "Sir, are you feeling unwell somewhere?"


    Before Zhao Dahua could speak, one of hisckeys behind him red and angrily retorted, "Aren’t you traditional Chinese medicine people supposed to rely on observation, listening, questioning, and taking pulses? Can’t you see where my big brother feels unwell?"


    A sh of disdain passed through Ding Yao’s eyes, but she refrained from saying anything more, cing her hand on his wrist to seriously feel his pulse.


    Zhao Dahua smiled with squinted eyes and blew a puff of thick smoke towards Ding Yao, "Prettydy, do you have a boyfriend?"


    "Cough, cough, cough!" Ding Yao began coughing violently, her face full of displeasure, "Sir, please show some respect."


    "Sorry, I was rude!" Although saying so, Zhao Dahua’s face still had a dismissive smile, then he said seriously, "Prettydy, my heart feels a bit ufortable, especially in the deep night, it feels empty in my chest and sometimes even inexplicably hurts, like being pierced by needles."


    Ding Yao slightly furrowed her brows, "Your heart is quite healthy; there shouldn’t be such a situation. Could it be due to overworking yourself?"


    Zhao Dahua hesitated for a moment, then burst intoughter, "Overworking? We’re gangsters, we don’t work!"


    Hisckeys behind him also burst intoughter.


    Ding Yao grew increasingly disgusted but kept calm, finished taking his pulse, and politely said, "Sir, ording to my diagnosis, your heart is very healthy."


    Bang!


    Zhao Dahua mmed his fist onto the table, his face full of rage, "I clearly have an illness, but you say I don’t. Are you a quack? If something happens because I believed you, can you bear the consequences?"


    Seeing Ding Yao turn pale with fear, Xu Wendong immediately stood up, "Sir, if you’re ill or not, you should be aware inside, right?"