Chapter 175 - Lu Xiaoman's Frustration

Ye Fan was driving and following Tantai Wanrong’s car into the parking lot of a large hotel’s catering department, and he followed suit.

After parking the car, Ye Fan first took out three tickets for Luo Xinling.

Luo Xinling, with a ticket in hand, had a happy and blissful expression on her face.

Ye Fan silently shook his head, unable to understand why some people could be so crazy about celebrities.

In the elegantly decorated restaurant, Ye Fan and the others were sitting at a rectangular dining table, having their late-night snack.

Ye Fan and Tantai Wanrong were sitting opposite each other, with Luo Xinling sitting beside Tantai Wanrong, not on the same side as Ye Fan.

Tantai Wanrong was slightly surprised by Luo Xinling’s reaction; Luo Xinling had been very clingy to Ye Fan just before getting into the car, so how could she have changed so much in just a few minutes?

However, she immediately guessed that Ye Fan must have communicated well with Luo Xinling in the car.

About seven or eight minutes later, Luo Xinling got up to go to the restroom.

Taking advantage of this moment, Tantai Wanrong asked Ye Fan, “Did you talk things over with her?

You didn’t hurt the young girl’s feelings, did you?”

“Hehe, how could I?” Ye Fan boasted with self-praise, “The one thing I excel at is being gentle with women.”

“Giggle, is that so?” Tantai Wanrong laughed charmingly, her gaze filled with teasing.

She had already removed her large sunglasses, and Ye Fan, looking directly at her smiling face, felt the world was filled with splendid colors.

Ye Fan chuckled.

“Thank you for the roses.” Tantai Wanrong glanced at the bunch of roses on the table and then looked into Ye Fan’s eyes, her narrow eyes inadvertently revealing charm as she smiled lightly, “I really like them.”

Ye Fan’s heart skipped a beat, and he tried to keep his smile as he said, “Hehe, I’m glad you liked it.”

The next moment, Tantai Wanrong abruptly changed the subject, “By the way, how do you know Shen Yan?”

“Hehe, speaking of which, it’s thanks to Auntie,” laughed Ye Fan, “Didn’t I have a friend who went to acknowledge Yan Yusong as his teacher?

When I visited on Saturday morning, Shen Yan was there too, and we ended up becoming friends.”

“Just like that?” Tantai Wanrong asked incredulously.

Ye Fan spread his hands, “What else could it be?”

“But Auntie saw you make a phone call, and she immediately had someone send you front row tickets worth nearly a hundred thousand,” Tantai Wanrong said, “Though your friend and she became sworn sisters, she wouldn’t look at you differently like that.

You’ve only met once.”

“Hehe, that’s my personal charm winning her over.

Oh, correction, it was my handsome looks that conquered her,” Ye Fan bragged cheekily.

“Giggle,” Tantai Wanrong laughed coquettishly, shaking her head, “You have personal charm and good looks?

Why hasn’t Auntie noticed?

Shen Yan is the hottest star right now, with considerable self-esteem; how could she be won over by your charm or good looks?”

“Why is the truth always so hard to believe?” Ye Fan sighed deliberately.

He intentionally did not disclose the specific reason, wanting to maintain a sense of mystery in front of Tantai Wanrong.

At that moment, Luo Xinling returned, and the topic came to a stop.

After finishing their late-night snack, it was already eleven o’clock at night, and it was not feasible to let Luo Xinling go home by taxi alone.

Therefore, Ye Fan had to drive her home.

The next day, Monday morning, Ye Fan went to the office just to show his face before taking the elevator to the sixth floor to find Lu Xiaoman.

As he knocked and entered Lu Xiaoman’s office, although Lu Xiaoman greeted him with a smile, Ye Fan clearly saw that she was not in a good mood.

“What’s wrong, Sister Xiaoman?” Ye Fan asked with concern.

Lu Xiaoman smiled somewhat forcefully and shook her head, saying, “It’s nothing.

What did you need me for?”

Ye Fan would not allow Lu Xiaoman to easily divert his attention; he looked at her squarely and asked, “Xiaoman, I clearly saw you feeling down, what exactly happened that made you unhappy?”

“I’m fine.

Really, I’m fine,” Lu Xiaoman shook her head.

“No, something unhappy must have happened!” Ye Fan, hands on Lu Xiaoman’s delicately-shaped shoulders as if to assert control, said, “Tell me, I’m sure I can help you.”

Lu Xiaoman, head slightly bowed, shook her head, “I really am fine.”

“I don’t believe it,” Ye Fan said, “Xiaoman, it hurts me to see you like this without telling me what’s wrong.”

Lu Xiaoman’s heart warmed, and lifting her pretty face, her expression melancholic and frustrated, she said, “Actually, there really is nothing wrong; I’m just being needlessly sensitive and sentimental.”

“There must be a reason for it.

You’re not usually like this.

Normally, you’re cheerful and kind,” Ye Fan said.

“Maybe in the past, but now I find myself very pessimistic,” Lu Xiaoman said somberly.

The two sat down face to face.

“Why?” Ye Fan pressed on.

Lu Xiaoman sighed, “I feel like I am a jinx, merely going to a KTV can bring trouble to you and everyone else.”

Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was covertly coerced by her boss He Jiaqiang to be his mistress, and both times she went to KTV, hoodlums caused trouble and fights, leading to police involvement.

Though her mother’s breast cancer was almost cured, He Jiaqiang was dismissed by Ye Fan, and both instances of hooligan harassment were handled by Ye Fan.

But without Ye Fan, she dared not imagine the consequences of these incidents.

She considered herself dignified and self-respecting, despite her impoverished background, and she never relied easily on others.

Though she had feelings for Ye Fan, she did not want to depend on him for everything, be subordinate to him, or bring trouble to him.

Hearing this, Ye Fan felt a stab of pain and hurriedly consoled and encouraged Lu Xiaoman in a gentle voice.

Several minutes later, Lu Xiaoman’s mood improved a bit.

“Xiaoman, don’t worry, no matter what difficulties you encounter, just tell me, and I can handle even the biggest problems!” Ye Fan finally promised.

His words were not an empty promise.

Given Lu Xiaoman’s humble background and her current social status, Lu Xiaoman believed that any disaster could easily be resolved by Ye Fan.

Although Lu Xiaoman did not know the full extent of Ye Fan’s capabilities, she was very confident in his abilities and managed a grateful smile, “Thank you.”

Her heart felt both blessed warmth and sadness.

She longed for a relationship with Ye Fan where they could love each other equally, not just him giving and her depending.

“Right, what did you want to see me about?” she changed the subject, “Be careful, it’s still working hours, the boss might catch you.”

Ye Fan immediately smiled, pulled out a concert ticket for Shen Yan and handed it to Lu Xiaoman, adding, “I don’t know if you’d be interested in going?”

Lu Xiaoman closely examined the ticket, her face lighting up with surprise, “Is this a ticket for Yanyan’s concert?

Yanyan’s songs are so nice to listen to.”

“Yes, they’re front row tickets.

For you,” Ye Fan said with a smile.

Unexpectedly, the next moment, Lu Xiaoman pushed the ticket back into Ye Fan’s hands.

“Why don’t you want it?

There are two more here,” Ye Fan asked, confused.

“Thank you, but I don’t have the time,” Lu Xiaoman said, “I still need to take care of my mother.”

She wanted to go, but she feared that the concert crowd might be rowdy, possibly causing trouble for Ye Fan again, so she decided against it.

“Hasn’t your mother been discharged?” Ye Fan said, “The concert is still over a dozen days away.

By then, your mother should have recovered somewhat, and you leaving for one night shouldn’t be a problem.”

Lu Xiaoman still shook her head, “My mom is still very weak, I really can’t leave her.

Ye Fan, thank you, but please take your other friends and have a good time.”

Seeing Lu Xiaoman’s insistence, Ye Fan had no choice but to let it go, feeling a little disappointed; he had really wanted to make Lu Xiaoman happy.