Chapter 20 What if he falls in love?

 Before he could finish speaking, Huaixu couldn't hold back any longer. 
Covering his mouth, he yawned, his eyes glazed over with sleepiness. 
Just as he was about to respond to Xie Kaiyan, the next second—
he slumped into the seat, mouth slightly open, fast asleep.
Xie Kaiyan witnessed it all through the rearview mirror. 
His fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel as he smiled silently, 
turning down the air conditioning before pulling over gently. 
He then draped a blanket over Huaixu.
He watched Huaixu for a few seconds before suddenly realizing how impolite that was.
Collecting himself, he resumed driving.
About ten minutes later, they arrived at the venue. 
Xie Kaiyan parked the car in a VIP spot near the hotel's main entrance.
His family had long-term reservations for several presidential suites here,
always enjoying VIP treatment.
Once parked, he turned back, hesitating.
Should he wake Huaixu?
The forum was rare, but it wasn’t as if it would never be held again.
Coming from a family of doctors—
several generations of medical professionals with significant achievements in the field—
he was well-versed in the importance of such events.
Just as he was deliberating, Huaixu woke up.
The human body is an incredibly precise system. 
Even in sleep, Huaixu could sense the car’s movement. 
Likewise, he could also perceive when the engine stopped.
So, the person who dozed off as soon as he got in the car 
naturally woke up when the car came to a halt.
Huaixu opened his eyes, his dark pupils still slightly unfocused. 
After a moment, he blinked, his vision sharpening as he took in his surroundings—
and locked eyes with Xie Kaiyan.
Huaixu offered an apologetic smile, rubbing the back of his head. 
"Sorry, senior. I always get sleepy in cars. Should’ve warned you in advance."
Xie Kaiyan smiled indifferently. 
"It’s fine. Shall we get out?"
"Sure." 
Huaixu reached for the door.
Xie Kaiyan was quicker, 
holding the door open for him while shielding the top of his head with his hand.
Huaixu found it entirely unnecessary. 
With a nimble twist, he effortlessly dodged Xie Kaiyan’s hand. 
"Thanks, senior, but no need. We’re both guys—no need for formalities."
Xie Kaiyan withdrew his hand, smiling gently. 
"Does your childhood friend not do this for you?"
Huaixu answered without thinking, 
"He’s different. He’s my childhood friend."
"Ah, right." 
Xie Kaiyan nodded, falling silent.
After a few quiet steps, Huaixu suddenly remembered something. 
"Oh, senior, I think you asked me a question before I fell asleep. What was it again?"
Xie Kaiyan adjusted his glasses, lips curving slightly. 
"Nothing important."
"Phew, that’s a relief. I really was rude just now." 
Huaixu exhaled. 
Xie Kaiyan looked at him earnestly. 
"Don’t worry about it. With me, you don’t need to stand on ceremony. Eat when you’re hungry, sleep when you’re tired. There’s no such thing as rudeness."
"Haha, senior, you’re really easygoing. Your girlfriend must be super lucky." 
Huaixu grinned teasingly.
Xie Kaiyan chuckled. 
"I don’t have a girlfriend."
Huaixu immediately said, 
"You’ll definitely find one."
Xie Kaiyan glanced at him but didn’t respond.
This medical forum focused on the integration of human medicine and artificial intelligence.
In recent years, AI’s role in medicine had grown increasingly significant, driving advancements in medical technology and greatly improving cure rates for many diseases. 
Particularly in surgical techniques, breakthroughs had benefited both patients and medical professionals alike.
Huaixu listened with rapt attention, still engrossed in discussion with Xie Kaiyan even after the event ended.
Chatting all the while, they left the venue and drove straight to dinner.
Huaixu had chosen a Western restaurant he and Jing Zhengxuan frequented, even securing their usual table.
Behind him was a waist-high decorative wall adorned with a row of fresh lilies, vibrant and full of life.
Being regulars, the manager and staff were well-acquainted with Huaixu’s preferences. 
They handed the menu directly to Xie Kaiyan while confirming with Huaixu if he wanted his usual order.
Huaixu smiled and said yes.
The perk of a familiar restaurant was that they remembered your needs—
no lengthy explanations, no fear of being kicked out for being too demanding.
Not that Huaixu had ever been kicked out, 
but he was self-aware enough to know his quirks were numerous. 
Finding a restaurant that accommodated them was rare.
He and Jing Zhengxuan had discovered this place during their freshman year, 
and it had since become one of their go-to spots.
Hearing the waiter’s question, Xie Kaiyan looked up from the menu. 
He knew Huaixu had some peculiarities, but not to this extent.
He asked with concern, 
"It must’ve been hard all these years, hasn’t it?"
Huaixu froze. 
No one had ever asked him that before.
Had it been hard?
Of course it had. 
He was like a semi-finished product with an absurdly thick manual—
one he struggled to memorize himself, let alone expect others to tolerate.
But upon reflection, his mother and Jing Zhengxuan were the ones who’d truly suffered. 
They knew his "manual" better than he did, adhering to every precaution tirelessly, year after year.
They had it much harder than him.
Huaixu’s eyes reddened slightly. 
His fair skin made even the slightest flush painfully obvious, alarming Xie Kaiyan, who hastily offered a tissue.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Huaixu took the tissue but didn’t use it. 
His eyes had only reddened briefly—no tears actually fell.
He sniffled, rubbed his face, then smiled. 
"Senior, you’re really a kind person."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the clatter of cutlery rang out behind him. 
A waiter hurried over, but Huaixu only heard the server’s voice.
He didn’t dwell on it, continuing to Xie Kaiyan, 
"But the ones who had it hard weren’t me—it was my mom and Jing Zhengxuan. They’re the ones who really suffered."
Reading his expression, Xie Kaiyan changed the subject. 
"Which advisor are you planning to work under for grad school?"
Successfully distracted, Huaixu pondered. 
"Haven’t decided yet. They say choosing the right advisor is crucial."
Xie Kaiyan nodded. 
"It really is. I can help you weigh the options..."
Over dinner, the two engaged in lively discussions about the professors and specialties at Jincheng University’s medical school, their conversation resembling an academic symposium.
Somehow, the topic eventually shifted to Jing Zhengxuan.
Xie Kaiyan studied Huaixu’s expression before asking lightly, 
"Your childhood friend… doesn’t like me, does he?"
"What? No!" 
Huaixu denied immediately. 
"Senior, don’t misunderstand. He’s just not very talkative—it’s the same with everyone."
Xie Kaiyan adjusted his glasses. 
"Is that so? He seems plenty talkative with you."
Huaixu tilted his chin up playfully. 
"Well, of course. I’m his childhood friend. If he’s not special with me, who would he be special with?"
"Fair point." 
Xie Kaiyan nodded, then added, 
"But have you thought about what’ll happen when he gets into a relationship?"
Huaixu shrugged. 
"What can I do? Wish him well, obviously. It’s not like I’d compete with his girlfriend for attention."
The moment he finished speaking, 
the guest behind him seemed to drop their cutlery again—metal screeching against marble.
Puzzled, Huaixu glanced back but could only see the waiter’s head above the lilies. 
Once again, only the server’s voice reached him.
Maybe it’s someone like Jing Zhengxuan—not much of a talker, 
Huaixu mused.
Turning back, the idea of Jing Zhengxuan in a relationship felt foreign. 
After all, Jing Zhengxuan had never even had a teenage romance.
Take high school, for example.
Back then, Jing Zhengxuan was already 193 cm tall. 
His striking height, combined with a lean yet muscular build, made him impossible to ignore.
Add to that his ridiculously handsome face, and even in a simple school uniform, he outshone professional models.
Huaixu had assumed Jing Zhengxuan would receive love letters by the dozen. 
Yet the opposite was true—aside from the few Huaixu passed along, 
he’d never found a single pink envelope in Jing Zhengxuan’s bag.
He’d thought it was Jing Zhengxuan’s unapproachable aura that kept people at bay, unaware of the real reason.
Once, Jing Zhengxuan had publicly humiliated a girl who’d confessed to him.
The love letter had barely touched his hands before he tossed it into the trash without a glance. 
The pink stationery hadn’t even lasted a second in his grip.
The girl had fled in tears.
With guys, Jing Zhengxuan was even harsher—
he’d once broken a boy’s nose with a single punch.
After two such incidents, no one dared approach him with love letters again. 
Even casual conversations dwindled.
Huaixu chewed his steak absentmindedly.
If Jing Zhengxuan were in a relationship… 
what would that look like?
Would we have to grow apart?
Frowning, Huaixu found the usually perfect steak oddly bland tonight. 
He drizzled some extra sauce over it.
Watching him, Xie Kaiyan asked,
"Have you ever thought about dating yourself?"
Another jarring clatter came from behind—metal scraping violently against porcelain, 
grating on the ears.
The waiter rushed over again as Huaixu answered.
"Me? Dating?" 
He pointed at himself and shook his head. 
"No. Impossible."
Xie Kaiyan looked puzzled.
Huaixu counted off on his fingers. 
"First, my body’s too fragile. Weak constitutions can be hereditary—I wouldn’t want my kid to go through what I have."
"Second, with my health this bad, my partner would worry themselves sick. No need to burden someone else like that."
"..." 
Xie Kaiyan paused, his gaze tinged with pity. 
"You don’t have to be so pessimistic."
"It’s not pessimism—it’s acknowledging reality. My health is terrible. Surviving 19 years is already a miracle," 
Huaixu waved a hand, then grinned. 
"But I think I can make it another 19."
Xie Kaiyan removed his glasses, rubbing his eyes.
Behind Huaixu, the guest who’d been making noise all evening slumped forward, 
shoulders trembling faintly...

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