Playboy: Medical and Martial Master-Chapter 149: Still Pretending!

Zhu Yan, who was concentrating on her driving, was baffled by Sun Zhe’s sudden words.

"Ah Zhe, what are you talking about?"

Sun Zhe asked again, his face devoid of expression, "I’m asking you... Who is that man? And what is your relationship with him?"

At this moment, Sun Zhe really couldn’t hold it in any longer. He didn’t want to argue with Zhu Yan, nor did he want to give her the silent treatment. It would be pointless and only make them both miserable. It was better to just get everything out in the open. No more hiding things, no more pretending. That way, they could both stop suffering, and neither would have to lie or act anymore. This gentle, well-intentioned hypocrisy was a deadlier blade than any heartbreaking, explosive fight.

However, to Sun Zhe’s dismay, Zhu Yan only seemed more confused when she heard him. She retorted, "What man? What are you talking about?"

She paused abruptly and then added, "Ah Zhe, you don’t actually think I went to the KTV last night to meet a man, do you?"

Sun Zhe remained expressionless. "Then why else would you dress up so beautifully?"

Zhu Yan chuckled. "You silly goose. Why would I go looking for a man? Am I that kind of person?"

"I already explained this. I was there for work last night, to entertain a client. I wasn’t there for fun, and I certainly wasn’t there to meet a man."

"As for dressing up... I was meeting a client, so of course, I had to dress up a bit."

Sun Zhe asked, "Was your client a man or a woman?"

Zhu Yan laughed. "She was a woman, of course. Ah Zhe, are you jealous?"

Seeing the innocent, matter-of-fact look on Zhu Yan’s face, Sun Zhe suddenly let out a laugh of pure disappointment.

If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he might have actually believed her. Seeing is believing, after all. If someone had merely told him that Zhu Yan was seeing another man, he would have never believed it. But he had seen it with his own eyes last night, and that was undeniable proof.

"Forget it. It doesn’t matter. Just leave it."

"Ah Zhe, you..."

Sun Zhe cut her off. "I’m going to get some sleep. You just focus on driving."

"Oh..."

Sun Zhe said no more, slowly closing his eyes.

He had decided to be completely open with her, to get everything out, but she was still pretending, still putting on an act... It was so frustrating, there was no way to continue the conversation! What hurt him wasn’t just the betrayal, but the deceit that came with it.

They drove the rest of the way in silence.

When they arrived at the hospital entrance, Zhu Yan parked the car.

"Ah Zhe, I’ll pick you up after work..."

Before she could finish, Sun Zhe opened the door, got out, and slammed it shut behind him.

The sheer force of it made the entire car shudder.

Zhu Yan sat in the car, watching Sun Zhe’s lonely figure walk away. Her eyes reddened, feeling deeply wronged.

Why are young men these days so hard to please? I explained everything and even apologized... and he still gives me the cold shoulder. Sigh. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have hit him last night.

As she was feeling dejected, her phone suddenly rang.

After seeing the caller ID, she quickly answered the call, wiped her eyes, and her face broke into a happy smile.

"Hello, Manager Liu?"

"Did you have a good time drinking last night? You almost threw up in my car when I was driving you home."

"What... You want to go out again tonight?"

"Manager Liu, what fun place are you planning to take me to this time?"

"..."

「Yangcheng People’s Hospital—Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Director’s Office」

Sun Zhe was slumped over his desk, looking listless. He would glance at his phone, then at his computer, unable to focus on anything. To make matters worse, Meng Shiyang had taken the day off, so he had no one to talk to. He was stewing in his bad mood and felt like he was about to go crazy.

With no other choice, he locked the office door and went into the small adjoining room, planning to pass the time by cultivating.

However, his mind was filled with distracting thoughts, and he couldn’t quiet his heart enough to cultivate.

Time slowly passed.

Around noon, there was a sudden knock on the office door.

Sun Zhe reluctantly left the adjoining room to open the door.

He had barely opened it when a graceful, fragrant, and soft body suddenly leaped into his arms.

"Brother, I missed you so much! Are you all healed up?"

Sun Zhe spun around a few times holding Ye Qiao before setting her down. "Qiaoqiao, why did you come to the hospital?"

Ye Qiao held up a pink lunchbox. "As your official keeper, I’m here for feeding time, of course."

"Brother, Mom made this braised pork belly especially for you. She said it’s your favorite."

Sun Zhe took the lunchbox from her, glanced at it, and casually set it aside.

Ye Qiao noticed his bad mood. Tilting her head adorably, she stared at him and asked, "Brother, what’s wrong? Why do you look so unhappy?"

Sun Zhe shook his head and forced a smile. "It’s nothing."

"Don’t give me that! The word ’unhappy’ is practically written across your forehead."

Ye Qiao playfully reached out and used her index fingers to pull the corners of his mouth into a smile. "Don’t be so sad. Come on, give me a smile!"

With a helpless expression, Sun Zhe removed her hands. "Alright, Qiaoqiao, stop messing around. You should head home."

"No way! I’m staying to keep you company. I’ll wait for you to get off work!"

Sun Zhe walked over and sat on the sofa. "Suit yourself."

Ye Qiao followed him, sat down, and linked her arm through his. "Come on, Brother, what’s really wrong? I rushed over to keep you company as soon as I got home, and you’re still this gloomy?"

"If you keep this up, I’ll get mad!"

Ye Qiao brandished a tiny fist at him. "And I’m super scary when I’m mad!"

Looking at his adorable little sister trying so hard to cheer him up, Sun Zhe suddenly felt his spirits lift. He reached out, ruffled her hair, and smiled. "Alright, I’m really okay. I’m not unhappy."

"Then eat your lunch first."

"Eating! I’m definitely eating!"

Sun Zhe immediately got up and carried the lunchbox to his desk.

"That’s more like it."

Ye Qiao let out a triumphant little "Hmph!" and began to wander around the office with her hands clasped behind her back.

She peered at things here and prodded at things there, just like a curious little kitten.

As Sun Zhe ate, he admired her swaying miniskirt and long, slender, snow-white legs, feeling his appetite steadily growing.

"Oh, right! Brother, didn’t you tell me you had a pretty apprentice?" she asked. "Where is she? You should introduce us!"

Sun Zhe stuffed a piece of braised pork belly into his mouth and mumbled, "She’s on her period and wasn’t feeling well, so she took the day off."

Hearing this, Ye Qiao’s brow furrowed. She walked over to the desk and stared at him suspiciously. "You even know when she’s on her period? Sounds like your relationship isn’t so simple."

Sun Zhe froze. He suddenly had the urge to slap himself across the mouth.

"Sigh, alright. I won’t hide it from you anymore. She’s my cultivation partner."

"Hmph. All you do all day is flirt around."

Ye Qiao rolled her eyes, then suddenly circled around the desk to his side. With a mysterious expression, she said, "Brother, I have a way to make you feel better."

"What way?"

Without a word, Ye Qiao ducked down and slid under the desk, then rested her head on his lap.

As a seasoned veteran in these matters, Sun Zhe instantly guessed her intentions. "Are you that desperate?" he said, exasperated. "I’m still eating."

Ye Qiao shot him a glare. "You eat yours, and I’ll eat mine."

"..."