Chapter 256 - Making a Phone Call

Zhao Lina received Ye Fan’s call and was delighted inside, but she acted nonchalant on the surface, even a bit impatient.

Ye Fan chuckled to himself and said, “Hehe, actually there’s nothing important, just that it’s been too long since I heard your voice, so I called to check in.”

“Oh.” Zhao Lina responded indifferently, “Really?

I hadn’t noticed.”

“Are you free at noon?

I’d like to take you out for lunch,” Ye Fan said.

Zhao Lina’s heart skipped a beat, and she thought proudly: Hmm, I’ve kept this handsome guy on his toes for a few days, and now he’s finally anxious.

After dating for so long, it’s always been me treating you to meals.

It’s about time you treated me for once!

“Lunch?” she feigned reserve, “Why on earth would you ask me out for lunch?”

Ye Fan felt embarrassed; could Zhao Lina not play the proud card just once?

Alright then, since you love to play so much, I’ll play along with you.

“Hehe, seems like it.

You’re so busy, I guess we can schedule another day when you’re free for lunch,” Ye Fan said, taking a step back to advance.

“Wait!” Zhao Lina hurriedly called out, inwardly so frustrated she wished she could fly over and stomp on Ye Fan twice.

“Hehe, what’s up?” Ye Fan asked, unfazed.

Zhao Lina adjusted her tone and said, “I was busy with work just now and wasn’t paying attention.

What did you say before?

Something about lunch?”

“Seems like it,” Ye Fan said.

“I see,” Zhao Lina said in a haughty tone, “Are you pursuing me?

Even with your qualities, it would take ‘Ten Years’ of cultivation before I’d even consider it.

However, I don’t feel like eating in the cafeteria today, so I’ll kindly give you this chance.”

“Hehe, then I’m truly grateful and teary-eyed,” Ye Fan said, with obvious insincerity in his laughter.

Zhao Lina pretended not to notice and continued with her lofty attitude, “Just so you know, I agreed to have lunch with you only because I felt like changing things up.

So if the place you’re taking me to eat is not up to par, hmm…”

“Hehe, don’t worry.

It’s the first time I’m treating you to lunch, so it has to be at a five-star hotel.

If it weren’t broad daylight, I’d even take you out for a candlelit dinner,” Ye Fan said, laughing.

“That’s…” Zhao Lina said, “Uh, I seem to have something at noon that I can’t get out of, so let’s have dinner instead.”

Ye Fan felt a bout of frustration, blaming himself for mentioning a candlelit dinner.

He had other important things to do at night, and if he ended up treating Zhao Lina to a candlelit dinner, he’d surely have to accompany her shopping afterwards, which would delay his plans.

“Hehe, I’m busy tonight,” he said with a forc* smile, trying to recover the situation, “How about in two or three days when I’m free at night, I’ll treat you to that candlelit dinner?”

Zhao Lina immediately snorted, “Two or three days from now?

Who knows if I’ll still want to go out with you then.

You’d better understand, I’m only giving you this chance because I don’t feel like eating cafeteria food today.”

In two or three days, he might forget this entire conversation.

Zhao Lina thought to herself, wouldn’t that be a big loss for me?

“Hehe, sure,” Ye Fan said apologetically, “But I’m really unavailable tonight.

Let’s stick to lunch then, I assure you it will be great.

Chinese feast or Western feast, your pick.”

“Fine.

Then it’s lunch,” Zhao Lina said.

Then she stressed, “Remember, my acceptance of your lunch invitation does not mean I’m starting to accept you.

It would take at least ‘Seventy or Eighty Years’ or even ‘One Hundred Years’ of cultivation for you to have a chance with me!”

Ye Fan mumbled sheepishly, “Didn’t we agree it was ‘Ten Years’?

How did it suddenly turn into ‘One Hundred Years’?”

“That’s right!

Because I’ve realized you’re ten times worse than I expected!” Zhao Lina snorted arrogantly, “Okay, that’s enough; I’m busy and don’t have time for this nonsense!”

With that, she hung up the phone.

After hanging up, Zhao Lina couldn’t help but giggle with joy, “This annoying guy has finally caught on.

He’s asking me out for a meal; all my opportunities weren’t wasted!”

She paced back and forth in her office, checking the time and realizing there were still about three hours to wait.

“Mm, around eleven-thirty, I’ll go change clothes and wait for his call,” she pondered.

Suddenly, she realized something urgent, “Oh no!

It seems I forgot to leave casual clothes in the locker room.

What do I do?

Go on a date with him wearing my police uniform?

Would I even be able to eat?”

“This annoying guy, I must owe him something from a past life; to even have a meal with him, I need to scurry home for clothes.”

So, she left the office and drove home to get her clothes.

Luckily, as the chief of the criminal police, she had the freedom to move around during work hours, as long as there were no special assignments.

Meanwhile, Ye Fan chuckled softly after Zhao Lina hung up on him, then pulled out Tantai Wanrong’s number from his phone and dialed it.

The phone rang twice before the call connected.

“Xiao Fan,” Tantai Wanrong’s soft, elegant voice came through, laced with a hint of indulgence and a subtle charm.

Ye Fan smiled, “Hehe, Aunt Wanrong, am I disturbing your work?”

“Not at all,” Tantai Wanrong responded with a gentle chuckle, “What made you think of calling me?”

“Hehe, I was just missing you, Aunt Wanrong,” Ye Fan replied with a smile.

“Giggle, is that so?” Tantai Wanrong laughed joyfully, “It’s not just because you need something from me, is it?”

Ye Fan laughed, “Aunt Wanrong, you really are the female Bao Qingtian, clear-sighted and all-knowing.”

Tantai Wanrong giggled playfully, a bit reproachfully, “You sly boy, since you lied, why didn’t you keep it up a bit longer to make your aunt happy?

Tell me, what’s the matter?”

“It’s a bit serious.

Not good to talk over the phone.

Aunt Wanrong, how about I take you to dinner after work?” Ye Fan said earnestly.

Tantai Wanrong replied, “Dinner together tonight?

Sure.

But you don’t have to treat me.

Since it’s Friday, just come over to my place for dinner after work.”

“Okay,” Ye Fan agreed.

Then Tantai Wanrong said, “I’ve got some things to deal with right now, so let’s not talk for now; we’ll chat more tonight.”

“Alright, goodbye,” Ye Fan replied.

After hanging up the phone, Tantai Wanrong busied herself with some official business until she managed to approve a document.

Finding a moment’s reprieve, she remembered that Ye Fan would come over for dinner that evening.

She picked up her cell phone, found Zhao Tianya’s number, and called.

Soon, the phone call was connected.

“Tian Ya, did you buy the Rolex watch you promised Xiao Fan last time?” Tantai Wanrong asked.

“Not yet,” Zhao Tianya replied, “I was planning to take him to the mall and let him choose himself.”

“Let him choose himself?

Aren’t you making it difficult for him?” Tantai Wanrong’s elegant brows furrowed slightly, “A hundred thousand or so might not be much to you, but it’s a lot for Xiao Fan.

How could he possibly feel comfortable picking a nice one?

Hurry and buy a Rolex watch that can impress me.”

“One that can impress you?

That could be two or three hundred thousand, you know.

Alright, no problem,” Zhao Tianya agreed.

“That’s more like it.

You should come over for dinner at my place after work too,” Tantai Wanrong suggested.

“Giggle, I get it, is my dear nephew also coming to your place for dinner?” Zhao Tianya giggled.

“Mm, yes,” Tantai Wanrong confirmed, “But I warn you, don’t tease him like you did last time.”

“Giggle, I know, I know,” Zhao Tianya chuckled, “You are so protective of him, even more than your own nephew!”