“I just felt like switching styles.” Duanmu Xue felt sheepish and she didn’t have the courage to meet Duanmu Zhe’s eyes.
After observing her for a while, he couldn’t pinpoint anything out of the ordinary and he smiled at her. “My friend just returned from abroad. He heard that I have an outstanding younger sister, and he would like to meet you.”
Duanmu Xue rejected him straight away without a second thought when she heard that. “I’m not interested.” However, she realized that she rejected Duanmu Zhe too quickly and tried to explain herself, “Zhe, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that I’m not free today, which is why…”
Duanmu Zhe stood still without saying anything. Instead, he stared at her in silence. Duanmu Xue felt her skin crawl under his unwavering scrutiny. My older brother always appears to be smiling, and he might look approachable and easy-going, but I know that in reality, he isn’t as easy to get along with as how he presents himself. He merely presents himself as an approachable, lively and unruly person. In reality, Duanmu Zhe has his cunning ways too. However, he would never present that to outsiders. Right now, for instance, his face is devoid of emotions as if he isn’t furious at all, but deep down, I know that it is the calm before the storm. Zhe is furious… If my memory serves me right, he has only lost his temper once.
Even his younger sister, Duanmu Xue, couldn’t help but shiver involuntarily when she recalled the time he lost his temper. Thus, she smiled while approaching him. “Zhe, is your friend handsome? If he is, I should… go with you, Zhe.”
Duanmu Zhe was intrigued since she revealed a trace of vulnerability. After a few moments, he smiled again. “He is handsome, of course. Would I even bring him up if he isn’t good looking?”
Duanmu Xue flashed him a sweet smile in response while letting out a sigh of relief.
“Change into some beautiful clothes. I’ll take you out.”
Duanmu Xue bit her lower lip reluctantly, but she finally nodded in agreement. Forget it, it’s just to meet him after all. So what if he’s Zhe’s friend? I can ignore him even after meeting him anyway. Besides, if I don’t pursue Ye Moxuan today, I can do it tomorrow. Zhe can’t very well spy on me on a daily basis, can he?
After making up her mind, Duanmu Xue returned to her room before changing into her usual clothes. Duanmu Zhe’s gaze darkened when he saw his younger sister back in her usual brilliant colors. I wouldn’t want this if my sister can stay like this forever. He didn’t have the heart to go on, but his rationality won, and so he smiled at her. “Xue, let’s go.”
She followed her brother into the car while feeling nervous. The car stopped in front of a café and she relaxed after getting out of the car to scan the surroundings.
“What is it?” Duanmu Zhe asked her.
She shook her head in a panic. “It’s nothing, Zhe.”
After that, he led her into a café and after he spoke with the server, they were led to the second floor. Duanmu Xue asked in confusion while she made her way upstairs, “Zhe, why don’t we stay on the first floor?”
Duanmu Zhe answered promptly, “There’s a good view from the second floor, and it’s quieter upstairs too.”
As such, she nodded without any suspicion while following him head upstairs. There weren’t many customers in the café at this hour. She immediately saw the handsome man sitting by the window when they arrived on the second floor.
The man wore a casual, grey, long-sleeved shirt that was paired with a pair of black trousers and down jacket. He was blowing against the steam of the cup of coffee in his hands and he looked especially energetic. That was the first impression he gave Duanmu Xue. “Zhe, is that your friend?”
“Mm-hmm.” Duanmu Zhe nodded in response.
However, she started feeling suspicious. Aren’t Zhe’s friends all businessmen? Judging from his clothes, he doesn’t seem like one. Could he be…
Duanmu Xue paused for a while and she stopped dead in her tracks. Duanmu Zhe sensed the abrupt change of pace and he turned around to gaze at her coldly. “What is it?”
Duanmu Xue was scared of his icy gaze and she wanted to flinch away. However, she couldn’t help herself when she asked, “Zhe, what type of friend is he?”
“He is my friend from university,” Duanmu Zhe calmly answered.
A friend from university? She glanced at the man again. If he is truly Zhe’s friend from university… it wouldn’t be odd for him to dress in this way. However, I can’t help but feel uneasy.
When they got closer, the man stood up straight away and he greeted them with a wave. “Zhe.”
She finally relaxed when she heard that. It must be Zhe’s friend from university for sure—since they are on a first name basis. Besides, he greeted Zhe so naturally.
Duanmu Zhe went forward and the man gave him a bear hug while thumping him on his back. “We haven’t met for ages.”
“That’s right. I think we haven’t had the chance to meet after our university graduation.”
The two of them exchanged pleasantries for a while before the handsome man finally glanced at Duanmu Xue. “You must be Xue, the younger sister that Zhe talks about all the time.” The man’s gaze was bold and open. In fact, he had a bright smile across his face as well. He looked like a very warm and friendly person.
It might be due to his infectious smile, but somehow, Duanmu Xue had a very good impression of him, and so she nodded blankly.
The handsome man reached out to her for a handshake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Tang Mingxi.”
His hands were warm and clean. It took a second before Duanmu Xue reacted and she shook his hand. Her voice quivered slightly when she greeted him, “My name is Duanmu Xue.”
After their initial greeting, the two of them sat across each other. Duanmu Zhe and Tang Mingxi exchanged glances when she flipped through the menu. The two of them had planned this beforehand. The meeting was actually a set up.
Tang Mingxi was a psychologist, but he was also a friend of Duanmu Zhe’s from university. After he graduated from university, he had been working in this field of expertise and he was now an exceptional psychologist. It so happened that he connected with Duanmu Zhe during his trip back home this time.
After he listened to Duanmu Zhe’s description of his younger sister’s condition, the two of them discussed how to revert the patient’s condition to its healthy state. After all, a patient with mental instability might resist or go against the notion of seeing a psychologist.
They couldn’t be sure of Duanmu Xue’s reaction and so, they resorted to such means to meet with her before slowly guiding her to the right path. After they were there for a while, the customers on the second floor increased gradually. A man saw Tang Mingxi from afar and he looked excited as he walked over to their table.
However, Tang Mingxi didn’t notice the man because he chatted happily away with Duanmu Zhe and Duanmu Xue. He didn’t notice the man until he stopped right in front of him. “Dr. Tang, what a coincidence! I didn’t expect to bump into you here!”
Duanmu Xue stirred her cup of coffee with a spoon and so, she looked up abruptly at the mention of ‘Dr. Tang’. She stared unblinkingly at Tang Mingxi, who was sitting right across the table from her. “Are you a doctor? What type of doctor are you?”
