NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 18
Qing Qing asked: "I wonder who Bao Zhu's matchmaking partner is? Did anyone from our hospital introduce them?"
Cheng Peng smiled and pinched Hu Li's puffed up cheeks, saying: "I feel like no matter who introduced them, it's not going to work out."
Hu Li playfully pushed his hand away: "How would you know? Is this your playboy's intuition?"
Cheng Peng pleaded: "Who's a playboy? Song Qi, I'm not saying you, but you should learn from me and be steadfastly devoted."
Song Qi: "Yes, we should erect a monument to your chastity to glorify your ancestors."
Everyone laughed.
Qing Qing said: "But I also think what Cheng Peng said makes sense, the matchmaking won't work out, no matter who from the hospital introduced them."
She used her charming little chin to point at Hu Li, "Bao Zhu likes older men, not just a couple years older, but ideally over ten or twenty years older, right?"
Hu Li retorted: "Nonsense!"
Qing Qing shrugged noncommittally: "Believe it or not."
Song Qi felt a little dizzy. Over ten years older, could it be possible?
Wasn't the man who approached them at the bar over ten years older, looking to be in his forties?
Although Bao Zhu didn't seem to chat with him for very long. For people Bao Zhu doesn't want to talk to, even a few words would be too much.
Hu Li glared at Qing Qing: "How would you know? Stop spouting nonsense."
Qing Qing was exasperated: "Who's spouting nonsense? When we were in university, didn't Bao Zhu have a scandal with the anatomy professor? The professor was over twenty years older than us at the time, right?" The two men were stunned.
Hu Li was also frustrated: "Baseless rumors, and you're helping spread them. She's your cousin, what will people think of Bao Zhu when they hear this?"
Song Qi forgot to eat the steak in front of her mouth, Cheng Peng almost spat out the water in his mouth.
"Bao Zhu had a scandal with a professor?"
"You're Bao Zhu's cousin?"
The two spoke in unison: "That can't be possible!"
One bombshell after another, they were both dumbfounded.
Hu Li angrily kept silent.
Qing Qing answered Cheng Peng: "It's true, I'm her blood-related cousin. Our mothers are sisters."
Song Qi said: "How come we never heard you mention this before?"
Qing Qing shrugged: "We're not some big shots, just because we're related should we hold a press conference or something? That would be overdoing it." She chided: "That would make a mountain out of a molehill."
Song Qi had no argument against that. If the two were actually prominent figures, they probably wouldn't still be working at the hospital.
"Bao Zhu really likes much older men? An Oedipus complex?" Cheng Peng asked Qing Qing.
Hu Li fiercely grabbed his ear: "Stop spouting nonsense, it would reflect badly on her if others heard."
She glared at Qing Qing: "Don't spread unverified rumors!"
The two couples parted unhappily.
Hu Li was still puffed up angrily in the car without saying a word. Even Cheng Peng's teasing didn't elicit any smiles.
"If you're worried about Bao Zhu, why not give her a call and ask directly?" Cheng Peng consoled her.
The phone rang for a long time. Just as Hu Li was losing patience and about to hang up, it connected. "Hu Li," Bao Zhu asked over the phone, "What's the matter?"
"Bao Zhu, are you matchmaking? I ran into Qing Qing at dinner today, she said she heard from Director Liu that you were matchmaking. How could you not even tell me about it?" Hu Li felt very wronged. "Do I have to hear your personal affairs from other people now?"
"It was an unimportant person, so I didn't mention it."
Bao Zhu's voice was very gentle, speaking at an unhurried pace, with a power to quiet one down.
"Who introduced you? How old is he? Is he reliable? How do you feel about it?" Hu Li fired off questions rapidly.
"To tell the truth," Bao Zhu slowly said, "I've already forgotten what he looks like."