Mr. Fang turned to his date to reply to her question, "I don't have a sister like that."
The lady wanted to probe more, but saw the reluctance on his face to talk about private matters, and refrained from questioning him.
Going back to talk about business and investments, Mr. Fang sighed and picked up his wine glass. He swirled the substance in it before bringing the rim to his lips.
He just wished that the woman before him would talk about something else instead of boring him with how she took over to run her father's business.
This was not a business date.
Now back to their seats, Chuanli tried to placate Zhang Liling on seeing that big frown sitting on her face.
"Miss Zhang, you should calm down and not pay any attention on Mr. Fang."
"How can I not pay any attention to the man I like?" Zhang Liling retorted and slapped her palm on the table, but ended up hurting herself.
The sound produced was not even loud enough to make any impact.
Glancing at her palms which had quickly turned red, an annoyed look hung on her face.
Chuanli sighed and decided to say something else. He had an interesting look on his face as he probed, "Did Mr. Fang promise to date you?"
Zhang Liling shifted her gaze from her palm to his face and just stared at him like that without saying anything.
"Don't you need my help anymore?" He asked in a tempting tone.
"Mr. Fang said he would give me a chance if I come out with a first-class," She revealed as her entire face changed for the worse.
What if she didn't get a first-class honours even after being so confident with her grades? Does that mean she wouldn't have any other chance to date Mr. Fang?
Chuanli didn't look happy to hear his friend's condition. Here he was again putting up a difficult request.
"Wouldn't it be better if he rejected you outrightly since he doesn't want to date you instead of putting you through all this stress?"
"No!" Zhang Liling looked alarmed when she heard that. "It's fine with this condition instead of being mean to me and rejecting me so outrightly."
Chuanli shool his head in pity. "Suit yourself Miss Zhang. If you are able to make first-class, then you would really hit the jackpot! Or do you want me to pull some strings so you can get a first-class without a hitch?"
His tone sounded very excited at the second half...
Zhang Liling refused his plans and method immediately. She would never do something like that just to be with Mr. Fang.
"Dr. Li, I appreciate your help which showed that you are rooting for me, but I can't deceive Mr. Fang. The foundation of a relationship based on a lie, is fake, and it will not last."
There was a look of astonishment on Chuanli's face when he heard her make that statement. He just recognized Zhang Liling as a genuine person.
She was really true to herself, her emotions and her methods of dealing with things. She really was a genuine person and was trustworthy.
"Miss Zhang, even if you don't get a first-class, I will help you get Mr. Fang's acceptance. He doesn't have a choice now."
Just then, two waiters arrived with their food order and placed it in front of them before leaving.
Zhang Liling glanced at the table and only saw two glasses of fruit juice and two bottles of water. There was no wine.
Chuanli picked up his cutlery to start eating when he felt the questioning gaze from the young woman sitting directly opposite him.
Smiling, he looked up to ask, "Miss Zhang, did they miss anything in your order?"
"Where is the wine? How can we be eating in this kind of place with no wine on our table?" Zhang Liling asked, going straight to the point.
Chuanli's lips curled up in a smile. 'She is still thinking about drinking wine?'
"Miss Zhang, see where you are. Also, Mr. Fang is here, do you really want to drink with him watching you?"
Zhang Liling tilted her head to look at Mr. Fang's direction with a frown. She saw him listening to the woman sharing a table with him and scoffed.
Turning her head swiftly towards Chuanli's side, she said, "I don't care, and besides, you are here to send me home."
"Miss Zhang, I feel that if you take wine tonight, forget about dating Mr. Fang even if you come out with a first-class." He said and used his knife to cut his steak.
Zhang Liling frowned while pondering over his words. In less than 30 seconds, she picked up her spoon and began to eat, never mentioning anything about wine again.
Fifteen minutes later, Mr. Fang had to stop the talkative woman.
Well, the woman had to keep him engaged in a conversation since he wasn't saying anything. Now, it was either Mr. Fang was too annoyed by Zhang Liling's presence, or he truly didn't like the woman before him who mostly kept talking about business and money.
"Oh! Did I bore you with my talks?" The woman asked with a smile after being interrupted.
"No. I think it's late and you need to go home on time," Mr. Fang said to her.
His gentle voice made the woman before him to feel better at heart.
"Mr. Fang, do you mind exchanging contacts?" She asked with a sweet smile.
Mr. Fang was quiet for a moment before calling out some strings of number for her, and she quickly stored it in her phone.
Chuanli who saw this happening, said to Zhang Liling, "That lady just requested for Mr. Fang's contact and surprisingly, he gave it to her."
Zhang Liling's fair slender fingers tightened around her spoon as she turned around to see the woman smiling at Mr. Fang.
"I feel so annoyed!" She declared as she turned her attention back to her food and stabbed her spoon into her plate.
Chuanli chuckled at her jealousy. "Why are you annoyed? It's just a phone number, not his heart."
"I know, but I don't even have Mr. Fang's office or private number!" Zhang Liling felt like crying when the man she liked easily gave his contact out to another woman when she was around.
Chuanli found her funny. 'Is she going to cry because of his contact number?'
"Miss Zhang, don't cry. I can give you Mr. Fang's contact numbers if you don't mind getting them from me instead."
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