It was very comfortable to sip coffee while scrolling through your phone.

Jian Hang’s Weibo was only used to read news. She never posted updates. The only real friend on her follow list was Tan Feng—all the rest were people from the financial circle.

Tan Feng, like her, liked posts occasionally but never posted himself. A few days ago, he forwarded a post for the first time. It was an upcoming movie by actor Tan Moxing, a healing romance film.

Both of them were named Tan, and so Jian Hang thought that perhaps Tan Feng and Tan Moxing were relatives.

She chatted privately: [What’s your family relation to the actor Tan Mo Xing?]

Tan Feng was abroad. He had just woken up and asked, [“Why do you ask that?”]

Jian Hang: [I saw you forwarded his Weibo.]

Tan Jie said with a laugh: [“I don’t know him, why not just treat him as one of my family and promote the movie for him.”]

Jian Hang has watched some of Tan Moxing’s movie. She was not a star-chaser and could be considered a casual fan. That said, Tan Moxing was also the spokesperson of Lemeng. 

She, too, forwarded the trailer of the new movie.

Tan Feng asked by the way: [How’s the project of Wanyue Group going?]

Jian Hang: [Working hard to get it.]

If it were a project from another company, he could still provide Jianhang with connections and help her win the project. But with Wanyue Group, he was a bit out in the cold.

Tan Feng: [I will make an appointment to meet you for dinner when I return home.]

Jian Hang: [You are busy, I’m always free.]

… …

Just after finishing the chat, Qin Moling came out of the cafe, done with his meal.

He opened the car door but didn’t get it. He looked at the coffee cup in Jian Hang’s hand and asked, “Have you not finished it yet?”

“A few more sips.”

“Give me the cup when you’re done.”

Jian Hang raised her head slightly. There wasn’t much coffee left, so she drank it all in one go.

Qin Moling has a mysophobia and never puts a trash can in his car, nor does he allow anyone to eat or drink in his car. For Jian Hang today, he made an exception, and he was the one who took the initiative to break this exception.

Jian Hang was embarrassed to ask him to throw the cup, “I will throw it myself.”

Qin Moling’s hand was already stretched out, “Give it to me.”

There was a trash can on the roadside a few meters away, and Qin Moling walked over with the empty coffee cup.

This was seen by the manager and clerk of the cafe.

They became more and more curious about who was the person in the car who could actually control Qin Moling enough to throw trash.

… … translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

The car left the cafe and drove to the bar.

Jian Hang rarely went to bars, mainly because she didn’t have time. She liked them because it was a place where she could completely relax, just like in a game where no one knew who anyone was.

“Do you often go to bars?” Qin Moling asked her, just to talk.

Jian Hang shook her head, “I haven’t been in one for several years. I used to go with friends before.”

Qin Moling didn’t know what was going on with him. She said she used to go with her friends, but what he thought about was whether she had gone with her boyfriend—or rather, her ex-boyfriend.

He didn’t know anything about how many relationships she’d had before, who she’d liked, who her ex-boyfriends were, and he didn’t care.

He didn’t know what type of man she liked and why she broke up with him.

Jian Hang thought Qin Moling would talk to her about something else, but he looked down at his phone and the conversation ended.

It was only eight o’clock when they arrived at the bar. There were already many people in the bar, but it was not a busy time yet.

Jian Hang headed straight to the bar and found a stool to sit down on.

“You can order drinks later.” Qin Moling stood next to her without sitting down, looking for a number first and dialing it.

The person on the other end answered in seconds, “Brother Qin, how can I help you?”

“I’m at your bar, bring me two bottles of good wine.”

The wine of this bar had a good aroma.

“You… are in the bar?” The bar owner couldn’t believe it. With Qin Moling’s status, it was impossible to go to the bar to discuss business. The most important part was that Qin Moling didn’t like noisy places.

“Yeah. I just came from your cafe.”

“……” What’s this situation? 

“Brother Qin, why didn’t you tell me earlier? I have something going on here. I’ll rush over as soon as I’ve dealt with it.”

“You’re busy, so no need to come over,” Qin Moling said. “Just have someone bring me two bottles of good liquor¹.”

“Okay, I’ll make arrangements right away.”

After hanging up the phone, Qin Moling sat down on the stool next to Jian Her.

There was more than a meter between him and Jian Hang, and they didn’t speak. They didn’t look like they had arranged to come to the bar together. No one was like them who came to have a drink together and were still eight feet apart.

Before their drinks were brought over, a young man dragged a stool between Qin Moling and Jian Hang, and greeted her with a smile.

The young man thought Jian Hang was alone, so he rushed forward to strike up a conversation.

“Sorry, please give way.” Jian Hang pointed behind him, “I’m with him.”

The young man heard Jian Hang say that she was with someone. He turned around to see what the other person looked like. After all, he was quite confident in his appearance and had never failed to strike up a conversation.

As soon as he turned around, Qin Moling’s stern eyes on him made him shudder.

Qin Moling’s long legs stretched out to the floor and said nothing. Even when he was sitting, and without saying a single word, his aura was overwhelming.

The young man smiled ingratiatingly, “I didn’t know you were together. Excuse me, I’m waiting for someone too.” He pointed to the side and said, “I’ll wait over there.”

He carried the stool and slipped away.

The liquor was brought over and the bartender poured a drink for each of them.

Jian Hang had suffered from acute gastroenteritis before and didn’t dare to drink more strong alcohol. Just try it a little. “I can’t drink so much, just half a cup.”

“This alcohol is fine,” Qin Moling told her. The wine was indeed a good one privately kept by a friend, not a shoddy one. And with him here, it didn’t matter if she drank too much.

When Jian Hang heard that it was fine liquor, she thought it didn’t have much of a punch, so she drank with peace of mind.

Qin Moling drank absently. Thinking of the young man who had just inserted himself between him and Jian Hang, he stood up and moved the high stool he was sitting on nearer Jian Hang.

Jian Hang looked sideways and saw that the two stools were now almost right next to each other. They were far apart before, so the young man had the opportunity to squeeze in and sit between them.

Now there was no room for another person between the two of them. Qin Moling sat down and leaned very close to her.

Marriage First, Love Later translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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Chapter 12.1 — Sick
Chapter 12.2 — Sick

1. He asked for jiu, which is different from the red or white wine made from grapes. It’s a type of clear alcohol similar to Japanese sochu or Korean soju ↩︎