chapter 17 Homely Talk (Revised)

Robert Li glanced at Lily Lin, then gave Alex Ye a knowing smile and said, "Second Brother, you guys talk. I'll go in first."
Naturally, Alex Ye understood the meaning behind Robert Li's smile. He must have misunderstood something between him and Lily Lin. However, Alex Ye had no intention of explaining. Sometimes, trying to explain would only make things more complicated. Alex Ye was surprised at how concerned Lily Lin seemed to be about him. It left him feeling a bit perplexed. Could this girl really had fallen for him? Alex Ye wondered silently.
After Robert Li entered the hospital room, Alex Ye smiled faintly and said, "I'm perfectly fine here. Thanks for your concern."
Last night, when Lily Lin came on duty, she specifically went to their father's room, only to find Alex Ye absent. She subtly inquired and learned that Alex Ye had been taken away by the police. She couldn't help but worry all night long. Now that she finally saw Alex Ye, a weight was lifted off her heart. Upon hearing Alex Ye's words, Lily Lin also realized that she had been too emotional. Her cheeks slightly turned red, and she felt shy. "As long as you're alright, I'll take my leave now," Lily Lin said. She found that she couldn't meet Alex Ye's eyes directly at the moment. When she caught a glimpse of his gaze from the corner of her eye, her heart pounded like a deer. With that, Lily Lin hurriedly left.
Alex Ye was momentarily stunned by Lily Lin's actions. He watched her retreating figure and called out, "Ah, can you spare some time tonight? I'd like to treat you to dinner!"
Lily Lin paused but didn't dare to turn back. After a moment of silence, she replied, "Tonight at six, I'll wait for you at the hospital entrance." With that, she hurried away. Back in the nurses' room, Lily Lin closed the door with a "bang," patting her flushed cheeks. She took a deep breath and murmured to herself, "What's gotten into me?" Thinking back about Alex Ye's invitation, Lily Lin couldn't help but burst into laughter, her heart feeling light and joyful.
After visiting their father, Robert Li and Alex Ye went to a restaurant and sat down. They had planned to invite their eldest brother Gary Zhao to join them, but it seemed like he wasn't picking up his phone. Robert Li understood. Gary Zhao was stationed at the Beijing Military Region and wouldn't be able to easily make time to come back.
After ordering a few dishes at random, Robert Li began, "Second Brother, where have you been all these years? You never contacted us."
"I've been abroad the whole time," Alex Ye replied simply.
Robert Li knew that Alex Ye didn't want to talk about it, so he didn't press further. He continued, "Second Brother, I've heard about Dad's situation. I think we should let it go. The entire city bureau is cracking down on public order. If this escalates, it won't be good for you. Besides, the other party has some influence."
Alex Ye snorted and said, "I can let my own matters go, but I absolutely won't let the incident with Dad slide. Little Third, have you forgotten Dad's kindness now that you're in office? If it weren't for Dad, would you and I have the chance to enjoy a leisurely meal together like this? Would you even have the opportunity to be the director of the district public security bureau?"
"Second Brother, your words are hurtful. Am I really the kind of person who forgets kindness and repays it with ingratitude?" Robert Li said.
Seeing Robert Li's expression, Alex Ye realized he had been too harsh with his words just now. His tone softened and he said, "I'm sorry, I was too harsh. But Little Third, I won't easily let this matter go. Unless he comes in person to apologize to Dad."
Robert Li sighed lightly upon seeing Alex Ye's determined expression, choosing not to persuade him further. He knew Alex Ye's temperament very well. If it weren't for his strong sense of loyalty and gratitude, he wouldn't have wounded a big boss of the underworld for his sake, leading to his escape. "Second Brother, if you need anything, just give me a call," Robert Li said.
Nodding slightly, Alex Ye said, "I will. Let's not talk about this anymore. By the way, I heard you got married, but I haven't congratulated you yet."
Thinking of his wife, Mei He, Robert Li couldn't help but reveal a happy smile. Mei He had been the campus belle in their school. Many pursued her, but in the end, it was this poor guy, Robert Li, who won her heart and brought her home. Now, she was also a doctor at the ShiLi Hospital. Earlier this year, they had a baby boy, and the three of them were leading a very sweet life together. More importantly, Mei He was kind-hearted. When Robert Li proposed bringing their father to live with them, Mei He didn't show any reluctance. She even personally went with Robert Li to invite their father to come live with them. In the end, their father didn't agree, but the gesture touched Robert Li deeply. "Second Brother, you're not young anymore. Should I have Mei He introduce someone to you? She has a lot of classmates who aren't married yet, and they're all exceptionally beautiful," Robert Li suggested.
Alex Ye shook his head and said, "Forget it. They're all graduates from prestigious universities. How could they be interested in a poor guy like me?"
"Second Brother, I believe you're not inferior to anyone," Robert Li sincerely said.
Alex Ye smiled faintly and said, "Don't flatter me like that. I'll get conceited."
Seeing Alex Ye's relaxed demeanour, Robert Li also smiled happily. He had always felt guilty towards Alex Ye, and even when facing him, there was a sense of suppression in his heart. Now, seeing Alex Ye so at ease, he felt much better.
In fact, when it came to matters of the heart, Alex Ye had always been quite easy-going. He had been with many women, but now that he thought about it, he realized he had never actually been in love before. It seemed like a bit of a regret.
Lunch ended in a very pleasant atmosphere. During their meal, Robert Li hinted that he could help Alex Ye find a job, but he was rejected. It wasn't that Alex Ye didn't appreciate Robert Li's offer, but he felt it wasn't necessary to trouble him. He didn't lack money, and getting a job was just to put their father's mind at ease, so he wouldn't worry about Alex Ye running around like he used to.
Robert Li had initially planned to drive Alex Ye back to the hospital, but he received a call from the bureau and had to rush back. On the way back to the hospital, Alex Ye made a call to Little Dragon Girl. She had already found the person he was looking for, but he still owed half of the payment. In life, trustworthiness was important, and there was no need to invite unnecessary trouble over such a small amount of money.
Little Dragon Girl was very happy to receive Alex Ye's call, but he simply said he would deliver the money to her tonight and then hung up. Little Dragon Girl couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. No man had ever treated her like this before. But then, she thought about it. This kind of man seemed more interesting and more challenging.
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