Her expression seemed to suggest that what he had said before was like bullshit, making Chen Ming’s heart jolt fiercely. Although he had somewhat given up on her, he didn’t want to be misunderstood like that, so he got up and walked straight towards her...

This scene left Mother Chen and Mother Jiang puzzled.

What was going on with Chen Ming?

They saw Chen Ming stride over, his tall figure blocking Song Jia’s path. Song Jia frowned: "What are you doing, move aside."

Chen Ming, at over six feet tall, stood much higher than her. He lowered his head and spoke softly: "It’s not what you think."

"Not what?" Song Jia asked with a laugh: "Chen Ming, your matters are unrelated to me. Your blind date with Miss Jiang has even less to do with me. Don’t be self-indulgent, alright? Just focus on the date. After all, two over-aged youths finding common interests isn’t easy."

Veins popped out on Chen Ming’s forehead, his hand clenched into a fist, then released it, speaking almost helplessly: "I’m not trying to explain, I just don’t want you to think I’m two-timing. I don’t have such thoughts towards Chaoge."

He spoke, while Song Jia listened, yet still appeared indifferent.

Shen Congwen beside them smiled and said: "Chen Ming, regardless of whether you’re sincere or whether you like Miss Jiang, it has nothing to do with our Beauty. Besides, you and Miss Jiang agreed to start dating, clinging to Beauty like this doesn’t seem fair to Miss Jiang."

She added another sentence: "Your families are still here."

Chen Ming’s gaze was fixed directly on Song Jia’s face. He was a straightforward person, and indeed had been sincere to her. She didn’t want him, but what needed to be said still had to be said.

Whether she believed it or not, he couldn’t control.

Chen Ming sat back down, Mother Chen unhappily asked: "Chen Ming, what’s the matter with you, how can you leave Chaoge?"

Her gaze fell to somewhere not far away: "That girl looks familiar, quite pretty, but isn’t her attire a bit too revealing?"

Before Chen Ming could say anything, Jiang Chaoge took a sip of tea, smiling lightly: "That’s Miss Song Jia, a famous star abroad."

Mother Jiang glanced at her, while Mother Chen mumbled to herself: "A star abroad huh, Chen Ming, how do you know her, hopefully there’s no involvement. Mom tells you, never provoke such girls, if marrying, better find someone like Chaoge who’s career-oriented."

Inwardly, Chen Ming felt a bit bitter, yet outwardly smiled indifferently: "Mom, she doesn’t fancy me."

"My son wouldn’t ever be unfancied by anyone." Mother Chen spoke with some confidence: "All in all, it’s best you have nothing with her, Chaoge is excellent, you shouldn’t wrong her."

Chen Ming felt a bit helpless, his mind wasn’t there anymore and he found it difficult to stay seated.

Jiang Chaoge knew his thoughts, and simply smiled lightly, while Mother Jiang remained skeptical, fearing for her daughter’s loss. Now that she saw her daughter knew that girl and wasn’t worried, she felt at ease, glancing towards Mother Chen.

Mother Chen understood, and smiled: "Chaoge, your mom and I aren’t used to the food here. Why don’t you two eat, and we go out to have some hotpot, much more comfortable."

"It’s so hot, why hotpot." Chen Ming thought for a moment: "There’s a vegetarian restaurant nearby, why not eat there, I’ll take you shopping later."

His demeanor suggested he was obedient to elders and looked like he would make a couple with Jiang Chaoge. Mother Chen was overjoyed yet pretended to glare at him: "With such time, why not accompany Chaoge. We’ll eat ours, don’t worry about us."

After speaking, she greeted Jiang Chaoge, appearing quite satisfied.

Once the elders left, Chen Ming finally exhaled, unbuttoning two shirt buttons, flipping through the menu casually and asking: "Chaoge, what would you like?"

"Whatever, I have an experiment later."

Chen Ming nodded: "Alright, two set meals then, I just have a case too."

He quickly ordered the meal, and it was served promptly. Chen Ming didn’t hesitate, quickly finishing his portion, then went to pay the bill: "I have to go first, the team is waiting for me."

Jiang Chaoge looked up, smiled lightly: "The driver went for lunch, I’ll leave earlier, the hospital isn’t far, can you drop me off?"

Chen Ming checked the time, "Sure, there’s time."

He sat down good-temperedly, scrolling on his phone while waiting for Jiang Chaoge.

Jiang Chaoge ate elegantly, stopping midway to ask him: "You and her... no hope?"

Chen Ming instinctively reached for a cigarette but then remembered it was a restaurant and gave up, smiled at her words, "No chance, it never began."

Jiang Chaoge gracefully ate her steak, looked up: "Then something special must have happened, otherwise you wouldn’t pursue a girl so intensely, I know you."

Chen Ming smiled faintly and denied: ’Told you, she doesn’t fancy me.’

Though he denied it, he still recalled the drunken incidents from that day. Though his memory was blurry, saying there was no trace of it would be false.

Just recalling it felt as if his insides were burning, somewhat unbearable.

Jiang Chaoge had studied some psychology, upon seeing Chen Ming’s expression, she understood mostly and spoke slowly: "Your mother is rather conservative, she likely won’t agree with things about Miss Song."

Chen Ming shook his head with a bitter smile: "Told you, there’s no sign of it happening."

Jiang Chaoge looked at him with a somewhat profound gaze but didn’t say more. After finishing the meal, Chen Ming took her to the hospital, upon leaving, he didn’t look at Song Jia again.

Of course, Song Jia didn’t look at him either. Instead, Shen Congwen looked at the entrance, laughed: "Really not considering anymore? Chen Ming seems fine, and clearly, these two have no future, might be the elders pushing hard."

Song Jia lowered her head, eating salad slowly, voice soft: "Not considering, he’s not my type."

Shen Congwen laughed: "Then what don’t you like about him?"

"Rude, low emotional intelligence, just a big guy." Song Jia listed a few points, adding especially: "And why should I like him?! Just because of that night?"

Shen Congwen laughed softly, not saying more.

Actually, her thoughts were similar to Zhou Yunchen’s; Beauty’s personality through the years had grown a bit demanding, plus that situation with the Bo Family, fearing that a proud man would hurt one another; Chen Ming’s personality is quite suitable for her, yet she seemingly wasn’t willing, so she couldn’t force it.

The two ate slowly, meanwhile, Chen Ming sent Jiang Chaoge to the hospital. As she got off, he lowered the car window and said softly: "Let’s find some time for a meal, we should explain to the elders."

Jiang Chaoge chuckled: "Seems you don’t want the blind date anymore."

Chen Ming said nothing, just took out a cigarette, then Jiang Chaoge spoke again: "Chen Ming, I can’t agree, you know I have someone in my heart."

Chen Ming instinctively replied: "But Professor Bo is married."

Jiang Chaoge seemed annoyed, "I’m not talking about him."

Chen Ming thought for a while and understood, but wasn’t annoyed, after some pondering, he reminded her: "Mr. Wang isn’t an easy person to deal with, Chaoge, don’t waste your youth on him, it’s time to find someone to marry."

He’d grown up with Jiang Chaoge together, was like a brother, and somewhat cared about her.

But such care was something Jiang Chaoge couldn’t accept, she just wanted her project to elevate her, so she spoke lightly: "Chen Ming, maybe you can settle, but I can’t."

Chen Ming flicked off the cigarette ash, looked at her, said no more.

Jiang Chaoge stood there alone, staying silent for a long time. She understood Chen Ming’s good intentions, but she couldn’t accept them.

She slowly walked into the hospital building, sitting at her desk. Her secretary came over saying: "Dr. Jiang, a Mr. William called, saying he arranged to discuss something with you."