Especially Fond of You

Chapter 13(A, Gu Lin’s Perspective)

Gu Lin’s good mood was evident on his face all day.

From the morning rounds, the head nurse teased him, “Are you in love?” When he left after Wang Miao’s call, his colleague Lao Zhang enviously remarked, “Dr. Gu is off to see his girlfriend.”

He didn’t realize he was so transparent.

Sighing sweetly, he thought about how Wang Miao was experiencing her first romance and might be more clingy. He needed to discuss their relationship dynamics with her, given his busy work schedule might not always allow for frequent dates.

He found Wang Miao at the drink shop she mentioned. The place was small, and the air conditioning wasn’t great. She looked listless, but her face lit up when she saw him.

Gu Lin smiled back, taking her bag, “You’re running around too much; your foot won't heal quickly.”

“I didn’t run; I took a taxi.” Wang Miao stood up to leave with him. “I have a private doctor, so I’m not worried about slow healing!”

“Was the traffic bad?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been here a while. It wasn’t bad when I came.”

Gu Lin opened the passenger door for her, “How long have you been here?”

Wang Miao thought for a moment, “More than two hours.”

Gu Lin was silent as he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s seat. He decided not to mention his concerns; if she was willing to wait over two hours for a date, he shouldn’t dampen her spirits with negativity.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Ah,” Gu Lin snapped back to reality, buckling his seatbelt and starting the car. “I’m thinking about where to eat dinner. Any ideas?”

“I don’t have any,” Wang Miao rested her chin in her hands, looking at him. “I just want to eat with you.”

Gu Lin smiled, glancing at her, “Stop acting cute; it’s distracting.”

“What did I do to distract you?” Wang Miao placed her hands on her lap. “Which traffic rule mentions that?”

“You’re affecting the driver’s emotions.” Gu Lin pointed to himself, “The driver can’t focus on the road.”

Wang Miao, embarrassed, played with her seatbelt and turned to look out the window.

She gets embarrassed so easily. Maybe I should tease her less, so she doesn’t think I’m not serious...

But I can’t help it.

Gu Lin drove away, changing the subject to distract himself, “Has your brother left? You’re not going home for dinner tonight?”

“I told my mom I’m eating with you. She’s very happy.”

Gu Lin found it amusing that Wang Miao casually outed her mother, “How happy is she?”

“You’re annoying!”

Gu Lin pretended to be wronged, “How am I annoying?”

“I’m not talking to you anymore.” Wang Miao huffed, folding her arms and looking out the window again. She suddenly turned back to him, “My mom said you should come over whenever you’re free.”

“What counts as free? It feels like every time I want to come over, you stop me.”

Wang Miao seemed to think for a moment, then explained, “Our family situation is complicated. My brother is divorced, focusing on his career, and left the child with my mom. Whenever he comes home, my mom gets emotionally unstable and dislikes everyone. I’m afraid if you come over, you’ll get caught up in it. I don’t even go home; I’ve been out all day.”

Gu Lin listened to her ramble, responding when she finished, “I thought you weren’t going home because you were waiting for me.”

“I was waiting for you.” Wang Miao admitted openly. “After lunch with a friend, I came to wait for you.”

She also shared the story of the little girl buying flowers at Tao Tao’s shop, “Tao Tao’s had a tough time, moving here alone. Unlike me, who sees my parents every day. Oh, remind me to buy flowers for my mom before I go home; my ex-sister-in-law and brother probably upset her again.”

Gu Lin imagined Wang Miao wearing a light-colored apron, arranging flowers. What a wonderful girl, cute and filial. Even her friends, like the gentle florist Tao Tao, reflected her goodness.

If like attracts like, and he has a friend like Fan Sizhe, who’s a rare good man, does that mean he’s also decent?

If so, he and Wang Miao are well-matched.

Wang Miao said she wanted casserole porridge. Gu Lin knew a good place, but it was peak dinner time, and the waitlist was long. Gu Lin took a number and told Wang Miao they had to wait for 20 tables, over an hour.

If her foot wasn’t hurt, they could wander the mall. Now their options were to wait at the restaurant or go somewhere else.

Gu Lin asked her opinion. Wang Miao said anything was fine, but he sensed she preferred this porridge place.

Gu Lin looked eastward from the restaurant, seeing a row of eateries and shops selling clothes on the floor below. He pointed to one, “How about getting your nails done?”

Wang Miao agreed, “Okay.”

They took the elevator down. At the door, Wang Miao murmured about the high prices, but Gu Lin gently pushed her inside, “Drink two fewer bowls of porridge later.”

While Wang Miao got her nails done, Gu Lin sat on the sofa by the wall, looking at his phone. Wang Miao kept glancing back at him until he showed her the document he was reading, surprising her, “You’re really reading a paper? Can you focus?”

She was the only customer, and the soft music created a nice ambiance.

Gu Lin sighed theatrically, “If you stop turning around, I might be able to.”

Wang Miao immediately faced forward and didn’t turn around again.

Gu Lin finished his paper, occasionally glancing at Wang Miao chatting softly with the staff, feeling a wave of tenderness.

When they returned to the restaurant, their number was almost up. Wang Miao remained quiet, standing beside him.

Gu Lin, trying to make conversation, lifted her hand to inspect her nails, “They look nice.”

Wang Miao flexed her fingers, “You need to work on your compliments.”

Gu Lin looked closer, “They’re pink and very pretty.”

Despite his clumsy praise, Wang Miao was pleased, frequently admiring her nails.

Wang Miao ordered the food, intentionally less than they had at the hotpot place. After ordering, she told Gu Lin, “Let’s eat light tonight and lose some weight.”

Gu Lin teased, “You got your nails done, so I should eat less porridge? Why should I diet?”

Wang Miao pushed the menu towards him, “Then order more dishes.”

“You won’t eat?”

“I will…”

Gu Lin chuckled, “Oh, you’ll eat too.”

“You can’t finish by yourself.” Wang Miao looked sincere, “We can’t waste food.”

“Who says I can’t finish?” Gu Lin ordered two more dishes.

Throughout the meal, he focused on those two dishes, finishing them himself, not giving Wang Miao a bite.

Wang Miao calmly sipped her porridge, refilling his bowl after hers, “Did your ex break up with you because you fought over food?”

Gu Lin almost spat out his porridge.

Wang Miao continued, “No wonder she got so skinny, starved.”

So that’s where she was going.

Gu Lin found Wang Miao’s playful jabs endearing. He wanted to kiss her, but in the busy restaurant, he knew she wasn’t one for public displays of affection, so he held back.

Gu Lin didn’t respond, and Wang Miao didn’t press, as if no jealousy was stirred tonight.

Leaving the mall, Wang Miao suddenly said she wanted to see Gu Er, so Gu Lin drove to his place.

Wang Miao brought the steamed ribs from the restaurant, tossing them to Gu Er upon entering.

Gu Er didn’t immediately rush for the food but watched Wang Miao from a distance. After a moment, he barked twice and took the ribs to his bowl.

Wang Miao turned to Gu Lin, “If I come over every day with treats, will he stop barking at me?”

They were still at the entrance.

Gu Lin leaned against the door, looking at Wang Miao, “You plan on coming over every day?”

“Ah… when you’re off work, and I’m free, if there’s nothing else…” Wang Miao’s words trailed off, and she glared at him, “I was just saying. Let’s go; I need to get home.”

Gu Lin unlocked the door, stepped out, and turned off the light, leaving the door ajar. In the dim light, he leaned in and kissed Wang Miao on the cheek.

Watching her step out, seemingly flustered, Gu Lin nearly whistled in satisfaction as he closed the door and took her to the elevator.

Wang Miao stayed silent most of the way. Nearing her home, she held his arm, making him pull over to a parking spot.

Not far from home, she planned to walk the rest.

Gu Lin, of course, wouldn’t let her walk alone, so he accompanied her along the sidewalk.

The night was quiet, with few cars and people. The thick darkness and dim streetlights made the summer night seem even more serene.

Wang Miao suddenly pointed at the streetlight, “So many moths.”

Gu Lin didn’t look, instead, he leaned closer, smiling, “Do you want to kiss me?”

“I didn’t…” Wang Miao turned and continued walking.

Gu Lin fell a step behind, watching her pale neck,

the indistinct edge of her dress in the night, and her slightly drooped shoulders.

They walked one behind the other, their shadows elongating and shortening under the streetlights.

Gu Lin didn’t know why, but seeing their shadows occasionally overlap made him smile.