Chapter 35: Cherishing the Wife, Abandoning Friends

Chapter 35: Favoring the Beloved Over Friends

When Zhao Gang rushed to Huatai Hospital and found Wang Guocheng, he happened to overhear the emergency doctor’s words. Panting, he grabbed Wang Guocheng and complained, “Hey, Guocheng. You’re really not much of a friend. I was waiting for you, but you ditched me for your sweetheart. She’s not even your wife yet, and you’re already spoiling her like this. Aren’t you afraid she’ll walk all over you in the future?”

Wang Guocheng noticed the dark look on Fan Xiaoyao’s face and quickly nudged Zhao Gang. “A-Gang, watch your words. Xiaoyao twisted her ankle just now. I was worried, that’s why I rushed her to the hospital.”

Zhao Gang shot Wang Guocheng a look full of disdain. “Wang Guocheng, how have you managed to keep that pushover personality all these years? You’re not deaf or blind—you heard the doctor say your girlfriend’s foot is fine, didn’t you? Just look at how nervous you got. Aren’t you overdoing it a bit?”

Fan Xiaoyao suddenly stood up from the wheelchair, pointing a slender finger at Zhao Gang. “Hey, which eye of yours saw me being delicate? Favoring your wife over your friends? Who’s the wife here? I’ve no idea.”

She twisted her ankle a few times to loosen it, then looked at Wang Guocheng, clearly aggrieved. “Wang Guocheng, this is your friend? Hmph!”

Seeing Fan Xiaoyao angry and about to leave, Wang Guocheng glared at Zhao Gang and hurried after her, grabbing her hand. “Xiaoyao, don’t go! Listen, Zhao Gang just has that kind of temper…”

Fan Xiaoyao ignored his explanation and flicked her long hair over her shoulder. “Wang Guocheng, I have no interest in your explanations. Whether you think I was pretending or acting pathetic, the fact is I twisted my ankle. That’s all. I’m done here—I’m not keeping you company today.”

Wang Guocheng stamped his foot anxiously, rolling his eyes at Zhao Gang. “A-Gang, aren’t you going to apologize to my girlfriend?”

Zhao Gang, having just been put in his place by his own wife, decided to play the experienced senior with Wang Guocheng. “Apologize for what, Guocheng? You’ll regret this someday. This lady isn’t even married to you, and she’s already so dramatic—making a fuss over a little twist. I heard the doctor perfectly well.”

“Don’t tell me how wronged she is. Today, I’m going to take her down a peg or two… What, is she made of tofu? If she falls, will she shatter to pieces?”

As Zhao Gang’s words grew increasingly absurd, Wang Guocheng wanted to cry. He deeply regretted bringing Fan Xiaoyao to meet Zhao Gang at all.

Wang Guocheng narrowed his eyes at Zhao Gang. “Please, could you just say a little less? You’re not making this any easier for me.”

Zhao Gang glanced at Wang Guocheng and gave him a friendly shove. “You’re hopeless—treating her like she’s made of tofu.”

Seeing Zhao Gang push Wang Guocheng and compare her to tofu, Fan Xiaoyao’s eyes reddened with anger. She strode forward, shoved Zhao Gang aside, and grabbed him by the collar.

“Hey, what’s your problem? Why are you pushing my Guocheng? Did you just say I’m made of tofu? Today, I’m not letting you off the hook. I’ll show you whether I’m made of tofu or not!”

She turned to Wang Guocheng, raising an eyebrow. “Guocheng, I want a one-on-one with him. You pick the contest.”

Wang Guocheng, hearing Fan Xiaoyao challenge Zhao Gang, couldn’t help but worry for his friend. “Xiaoyao, A-Gang’s all bark and no bite, you…”

Fan Xiaoyao shot Wang Guocheng a glare. “From now on, don’t say the word ‘tofu’ in my presence!”

Zhao Gang, feeling awkward with Fan Xiaoyao gripping his collar, considered flipping her over his shoulder—but before he could, her mantis-like leg swept him to the ground.

“You call yourself a woman? No one’s ever knocked me down before… You…”

Looking down at him, Fan Xiaoyao threatened, “Admit defeat, loser! If you weren’t Guocheng’s classmate, I could break your ribs and send you off for a year’s rest.”

After that little scuffle, if Zhao Gang couldn’t recognize his place, he was as clueless as a big dumb fish. He climbed up, dusted himself off, and retreated behind Wang Guocheng, whispering, “Guocheng, you really found yourself a one-of-a-kind girlfriend!”

Fan Xiaoyao looked at Zhao Gang with disdain. “Stop muttering back there. So, do you concede or not?”

Afraid she’d come at him again, Zhao Gang quickly clasped his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Heroine, goddess… I apologize for offending you just now. I admit I was wrong, okay?”

Fan Xiaoyao clapped her hands, brushing the dust from her clothes with satisfaction. “Very good! This heroine is hungry. You’re treating us today, and you’re paying the bill. Whatever I say goes—no arguments.”

Zhao Gang was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, cursing himself inwardly. If he’d known Wang Guocheng’s girlfriend was such a force of nature, he would’ve stayed home and avoided disaster altogether.

The entire way, Zhao Gang clutched his wallet tightly, trailing behind Wang Guocheng and Fan Xiaoyao like a shadow. To a stranger, he might have appeared to be their bodyguard—though what kind of bodyguard was as scrawny as Zhao Gang?

Wang Guocheng watched the queenly Fan Xiaoyao leading the way and the servant-like Zhao Gang following behind, torn between amusement and concern. When he tried to help Zhao Gang carry his things, Fan Xiaoyao shot him a look. “Winner takes all—don’t pity the loser.”

When she picked up a brand-new limited edition Dior scarf without blinking, Zhao Gang’s face turned ashen. His heart bled, and so did his wallet.

At the checkout, Wang Guocheng hurriedly offered his own card to pay, but Fan Xiaoyao stopped him. “Guocheng, Zhao Gang’s the host today. As guests, we shouldn’t offend our host.”

One after another, transaction notifications flooded in, draining the color from Zhao Gang’s face with each one.

Seeing Zhao Gang truly frightened for once, Fan Xiaoyao felt secretly delighted. She slipped her arm through Wang Guocheng’s. “Guocheng, after all that shopping, I’m really hungry. Why don’t we go to the Shangri-La Hotel in Tongcheng for dinner? I hear their foie gras is the best in town…”

At the mention of Shangri-La, Zhao Gang’s eyelid twitched painfully. He grumbled to himself that Fan Xiaoyao must have been a demon in a past life.

Wang Guocheng, though unsure how the foie gras at Shangri-La tasted, could certainly sense Zhao Gang’s mortal dread behind him. For a salaried worker like Zhao Gang, the dishes there were truly a luxury.

Wang Guocheng knew he couldn’t let Fan Xiaoyao go on tormenting him. “Xiaoyao, look, Zhao Gang’s apologized and paid for everything. I’ll handle the bill at Shangri-La.”