The Moonlight

r to leave or stay.

He opened another bottle of beer and once again offered it to Xu Qingyan.
Though she felt a sense of disapproval, she recognized the relentless course of destiny and quietly took the bottle, with no intention of actually drinking from it.

While eating, he asked, “Dr.
Xu, here for vacation?”

“For a meeting.”

“What a coincidence, so am I.
Come to think of it, this is the third time we’ve crossed paths, isn’t it?”

Xu Qingyan suddenly became nervous, knowing that what was meant to happen would eventually come to pass.

He turned his face towards her and asked, “What do you think?”

In truth, he wasn’t repulsive in appearance, nor purely handsome.
The scar around his eye socket prevented him from being considered handsome, yet he possessed an indescribable charm.
Even in the vast sea of people, under the cover of darkness, he stood at the center.

Dangerous yet captivating, one couldn’t look away.

Xu Qingyan deliberately focused her attention on the trash bin in front and tried to see through it as if trying to find a hole in it.
“Sir, it is merely a coincidence, and it was not my intention to be here.”

What he actually meant was for her to not appear before him again, but now it was his unexpected appearance that she couldn’t evade.

“You certainly have a way with words,” he sneered.

From his tone, it seemed like he had no intention of pursuing the matter.
She couldn’t help but discreetly raise her eyes and caught him gazing at her.
Immediately, she averted her gaze.

He noticed her tendency to avoid his gaze.
Every time she spoke to him, it was with concise questions and brief answers.
If he remained silent, she would fall into silence as well, her face reflecting a sense of resignation.

He touched his face.
Was he really that terrifying?

When Ah Bao arrived, he happened to see Lord Liang leisurely enjoying his grilled skewers.
Seeing him unharmed, Ah Bao finally felt relieved.
He was sent to follow up on something, and suddenly received a report that his boss had gone missing. 

Normally, he wouldn’t be so anxious, but Lord Liang’s injuries hadn’t fully healed yet, and with various forces stirring up trouble, there was a possibility that someone like Cheng might disregard everything and launch another attack, potentially reshuffling the cards.

Then, he noticed Xu Qingyan beside Lord Liang and came to a halt, nearly colliding with the person behind him.
He silently stood behind him, not approaching.

Lord Liang tossed the empty beer bottle towards the nearby trash bin, perfectly hitting its target, and then picked up another bottle of beer.
Seeing Xu Qingyan still holding the bag, he asked, “Why aren’t you eating?”

Xu Qingyan was speechless but managed to endure it.
“It’s fine, you bought it.”

He teased her, “Doesn’t your hand get tired holding it like that?”

He finally took the bag and looked into the distance.
From the side, his peach blossom-shaped eyes with long, slightly curled eyelashes formed an elegant curve, while his deep black pupils exuded a subtle sense of aloofness.

“Hiss…” He suddenly took a sharp breath.

“Sir, what’s wrong?” Ah Bao immediately approached, concerned.

Only then did Xu Qingyan notice that Ah Bao was nearby, always by his side.

Seeming to have known Ah Bao’s presence, he said, “It’s nothing.
I have a slight stomachache these days.
When we get back, contact a doctor for me.
My stomach hasn’t been feeling well lately.”

Leopard immediately responded, “Understood.” But right after answering, he felt something was amiss.
The fact that Boss never easily called for a doctor, and there was a doctor right here, why didn’t he take the opportunity to inquire? Was he still on guard against Xu Qingyan?

On the other side, Xu Qingyan remained silent, playing dead.

“Dr.
Xu, any suggestions?” Ah Bao spoke on behalf of his boss.

Interrupting her, he said, “Liang Jiankong.”

Xu Qingyan was taken aback.

“Liang Jiankong,” he repeated once again.

Liang Jiankong, it sounded pleasant when pronounced.
But shouldn’t his surname be Li? The thought quickly passed through her mind.

“Mr.
Liang, is it stomachache?” she asked.

Liang Jiankong immediately clapped his hands together.
“Dr.
Xu happens to be an expert in this field.
How could I forget?”

Ah Bao: “…”

Sir, you’re not putting much effort into this act.

Xu Qingyan nodded earnestly.
“Could you provide more detailed description?”

Liang Jiankong placed his right hand on his stomach and recalled, “I always feel a burning sensation at night, but it’s fine during the day.”

“For how long? Any feelings of nausea? How is your appetite?” As soon as she assumed the role of a doctor, Xu Qingyan became focused, and her words became more numerous.

“It’s just recently.”

“Do you have any medical history?”

“None.”

Xu Qingyan rummaged through her bag and took out a small notebook.
She liked to carry a pen and notebook with her, and it wasn’t just filled with medical notes but also things she found interesting in her daily life.

She lowered her head and earnestly wrote something on the paper.
Her soft bangs gently swayed in front of her forehead, and strands of hair occasionally slipped down near her ears.
She casually tucked them back behind her ears.
Her petite and delicate earlobes were unpierced.
She continued writing with her head down.

Liang Jiankong glanced at her for a while and discreetly averted his gaze.

Xu Qingyan lifted her head and put down her pen.
“Stick out your tongue, let me have a look.”

Liang Jiankong obediently complied, sticking out his tongue and even asking, “Can you see anything?”

Xu Qingyan carefully observed, her dark pupils appearing particularly bright due to her focus.
In that moment, their bodies involuntarily drew closer due to this action.
Liang Jiankong could clearly see the beauty mark on her nose tip just by lowering his gaze.
Xu Qingyan was deeply engrossed in her examination, and after a moment, her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“Have you had any previous issues with your stomach?”

Liang Jiankong retracted his tongue and replied, “I’ve always felt fine.”

Xu Qingyan tilted her head, seemingly puzzled.
After a while, she said, “But from what I can see, your stomach has been poorly maintained for a long time.
You should pay more attention to it.
If it’s convenient, it would be best to go to the hospital for a check-up…” She suddenly paused.

What was Liang Jiankong’s identity? Could he easily go to the hospital? 

Xu Qingyan tore the page from her notebook and handed it to Liang Jiankong.
“These are Western medicine prescriptions for symptomatic relief.
If there are any pathological issues, it would be best to undergo a gastroscopy or seek traditional Chinese medicine for treatment.”

Liang Jiankong took the paper.
Xu Qingyan preferred using a fountain pen, and the handwriting on the paper was not as graceful as one might imagine.
Instead, it appeared strong and precise, with sharp strokes.
If one were to judge a person by their handwriting, then Xu Qingyan’s inner thoughts were not as plain and calm as her outward appearance.

The paper contained the diagnosis and prescribed medications, with detailed instructions on dosage and usage for each.
It was meticulously written.

As Liang Jiankong stared at the paper for an extended moment, a sense of unease washed over Xu Qingyan, causing her hairs to prickle on her neck.
She couldn’t help but wonder if she had made a mistake in her writing. 

“Thank you for the reminder, Dr.
Xu.” Liang Jiankong folded the paper neatly and put it in his pocket.

Suddenly, Ah Bao leaned in and whispered a few words in Liang Jiankong’s ear.
Liang Jiankong listened without any visible expression but immediately turned to Xu Qingyan and said, “You may leave now.”

Xu Qingyan was taken aback for a moment, then, like a prisoner released from captivity, she swiftly turned and walked away.
She didn’t bid farewell, secretly feeling that not saying goodbye was akin to never meeting this person again.

Ah Bao waited for a while until Xu Qingyan’s figure was completely out of sight before speaking, “Lord Liang.”

“Is Cheng nearby?”

“Yes.
Just as you suspected, they have joined forces.
In Nepal, the mercenary leader has already been apprehended.
Shall we…”

“No rush.
The big fish hasn’t shown up yet, and the small fry are not enough to be a nuisance.” Liang Jiankong interrupted confidently, always having a plan in mind.

Before Ah Bao could continue speaking, a voice called out cheerfully Liang Jiankong from afar, “Good old Liang!”

Ah Bao instantly switched into a state of high alert, positioning himself protectively to Liang Jiankong’s left front, while discreetly observing their surroundings.

Liang Jiankong turned to the source of the voice, his brow remaining untroubled, and responded with an equally warm smile, “Well, well, if it isn’t the Young Master Cheng.”