Chapter 2457: Looking at Her Nervously
It was rare to see An Rui’s pupils constricting and her expression changing. Liu Keke smiled proudly. “After I moved in, I dug out all the roses in the back garden and demolished the swing to replace it with a green lawn.”
The rose garden was planted by An Rui’s mother and the swing was installed by her father.
Those were the memories of their family!
An Rui knew that Liu Keke had bought the villa and she had the right to handle everything inside.
But her heart was still heavy and sad.
“Although Shen Mingxiu was unwilling to be with me, I relied on the money he gave me to start a family. Speaking of which, this villa was given to me by Shen Mingxiu!”
Liu Keke mentioned Shen Mingxiu on purpose to provoke An Rui and make her suffer even more.
However, An Rui did not show the breakdown she wanted to see. Her expression did not change at the mention of Shen Mingxiu.
An Rui glanced at the villa and turned to get into the car without saying anything more to Liu Keke.
Liu Keke’s lips curled up in disdain.
….
Mr and Mrs An lived in an old two-storey building in the suburbs. The house was left behind by An Rui’s grandmother.
An Rui had rented an apartment in the city for her parents, but they were not used to it.
There were courtyards in front and behind the old house. When they were free, they could raise flowers and grow vegetables.
Father An found a job as an engineer while Mother An stayed at home to take care of the housework. Her life was peaceful and relaxing.
An Rui was most worried about Mrs An’s depression. Fortunately, the psychiatrist said that she had recovered well and would not commit suicide as long as she did not encounter any exciting things.
After An Rui arrived home, she accompanied Mrs An to buy groceries.
The market was twenty minutes away from home and the mother and daughter walked there.
After buying the groceries, An Rui saw a familiar car on the way back.
An Rui glanced into the orphanage.
Indeed, she saw Zhou Li.
He was wearing a white coat and was checking on the elders with several colleagues.
Seeing An Rui stop, Mrs An followed her gaze.
She froze for a few seconds when she saw the tall and handsome Zhou Li wearing gold-rimmed glasses.
“That doctor looks a little familiar!”
Hearing Mrs An’s words, An Rui asked in confusion, “Mom, do you know him?”
Mrs An thought for a few seconds and finally remembered where she had seen Zhou Li.
“One year, you drank too much and he was the one who sent you back. When you got out of the car, you vomited all over him.” At this point, Mother An could not help but despise An Rui when she thought of that scene. “I asked the young man to change before leaving. He said that there was no need and left without even going in to drink any water.”
Mother An looked at the man who was patiently checking the old man’s body with a warm smile on his lips and sighed. “I used to think that the young man was elegant and would be promising when he grew up. Now it seems like it’s true!”
It was rare for An Rui to hear her mother praising a boy. She could not help but laugh. “He’s a genius in high school. Ordinary people like us can’t compare to him!”
Mrs An stared at Zhou Li for a few seconds. “Does he have a girlfriend?”
“Mom, why are you suddenly so gossipy?”
“What do you know? If you don’t have a girlfriend, you can woo such an outstanding young man!” Mrs An glared at An Rui. “You’re not a young girl anymore. I haven’t seen you have a boyfriend in so many years. I’m not anxious.”
An Rui touched her head. “I’m only in my early twenties, there’s no rush!”
She glanced at Zhou Li from the corner of her eye, her pink lips pursed slightly. Zhou Li probably would not like a girl like her. After all, they had known each other since high school and he had not shown any feelings for her. Besides, he knew that she had been in a relationship with Shen Mingxiu. If anything happened between them again, it would be very awkward in the future!
She did not know if it was because her mother and her gaze were too obvious, but the elegant man who was checking the bodies of the elders suddenly looked up at the door.
Her gaze happened to meet An Rui’s eyes.
Embarrassment appeared on An Rui’s face.
After Zhou Li finished the checkup for the old man and informed his colleagues, he strode toward the door.
Zhou Li had met Mrs An once and knew about her relationship with An Rui.
“Auntie, An Rui, why are you here?”
Faced with Zhou Li’s gentle gaze, An Rui felt a little uncomfortable. She pointed at the building not far away. “My parents are staying there now. I’m free for the next two days and came back to accompany them.”
Zhou Li nodded with a warm smile.
“Doctor Zhou, come over for dinner after you’re done. I still remember when you sent Ruirui home, she threw up all over you. To be honest, even I, her biological mother, despised you, but you didn’t blame her…”
An Rui covered her slightly red face. “Mom, how long has it been? Why did you still mention it?”
Zhou Li glanced at An Rui, his smile widening. “I won’t trouble Auntie anymore…”
Before she could finish, An Rui interrupted her. “You have a date tonight?”
“No.”
“Then why didn’t you come to my house for dinner? Or do you despise normal food?”
“Of course not. I’m just afraid of troubling Auntie.”
Mrs An smiled and said, “It’s no trouble.”
Zhou Li nodded. “Okay, go over after you’re done.”
After Zhou Li reentered the orphanage, Mrs An knocked An Rui’s head.
“How can you talk to your classmate like that? You’re so fierce. She has a good temper and won’t argue with you.”
An Rui touched her nose. Was she very fierce to Zhou Li just now?
In front of him, she had always said whatever she wanted to say without any scruples. He never seemed to be angry at her!
….
After the volunteer diagnosis for the old people in the orphanage, Zhou Li bid his colleagues farewell.
He drove to the An family’s house.
It was a few minutes away.
The car had just stopped at the gate of the yard when An Rui was urged by her mother to come out to welcome the guests.
The An family’s house now was completely different from before, but after Zhou Li came in, he did not show any surprise or disdain.
His expression was calm and elegant. When he saw the well-kept courtyard, he even praised it.
Mrs An had already made a table full of dishes. Mr An had returned from work and when he saw Zhou Li, he welcomed him warmly.
During dinner, Mrs An asked about Zhou Li and found out that he worked at the Royal Hospital and did not have a girlfriend. She gave An Rui a look.
Throughout the meal, An Rui was on tenterhooks.
She was afraid that her mother would make things up and pair her with Zhou Li.
After dinner, Zhou Li did not stay for long. He had to work early tomorrow and drove back to the city.
When she lay in bed at night, an image appeared in An Rui’s mind from time to time.
When her mother asked Zhou Li if he had a girlfriend, he seemed to look at her nervously before answering no.
If he didn’t, then he didn’t. Why was he looking at her?