174: Chapter 174 His hands are so warm

Actually, she was very beautiful today.

The knit sweater outlined her slender waist, and the midi skirt revealed her calves just perfectly.

Her long hair was draped over her shoulders, she wore light makeup, and her lips were painted a soft dusty rose color.

Because of the rest she'd had over the past few days, the dark circles under her eyes had faded significantly, leaving them bright and sparkling.

But a woman looking at herself always feels she isn't good enough.

Her phone rang; it was a message from her Best Friend: "How's it going? Did you get the date?"

Tian Ningning replied: "I did. We're having dinner tonight, but I don't know what to wear..."

Tian Ningning had told her Best Friend everything about how Cao Kun had helped her.

Including her inviting Cao Kun to dinner.

That was why her Best Friend was messaging her now.

"Send a photo! I'll help you consult."

Tian Ningning took a selfie and sent it over.

Her Best Friend quickly replied: "Holy crap, this isn't good enough? You'll charm him to death!"

Tian Ningning's face turned red: "Don't talk nonsense, I'm just thanking him."

"Sure, sure, sure, 'thanking' him." Her Best Friend sent a smirking emoji.

"Then make sure to thank him well. It's best to thank him 'deeply'."

"Get lost!"

Tian Ningning put down her phone, her face still burning.

She didn't know what was wrong with her either.

She clearly just wanted to thank Cao Kun, but at the thought of seeing him, her heart couldn't help but speed up.

Was it because he had helped them?

Tian Ningning couldn't say for sure.

But she knew that for the past few days, her mind had been entirely filled with this man.

Taking a deep breath, she took one last look in the mirror.

"This will do."

She picked up her bag and headed out.

...

6:30 PM.

An exquisite private kitchen restaurant in the city center.

When Cao Kun followed the address and arrived, Tian Ningning was already waiting at the entrance.

At the first sight of her, he was slightly stunned.

Today's Tian Ningning was dressed completely differently from a few days ago.

The white knit sweater made her skin look very fair, and the light-colored midi skirt made her legs look very long.

With her long hair draped down and her delicate features, she stood in the twilight like a quietly blooming gardenia.

"Mr. Cao!" Tian Ningning's eyes lit up when she saw him, and she quickly stepped forward to greet him.

"Have you been waiting long?"

"No, no, I just arrived too." She smiled. "Please come in, I've booked a private room."

The private room wasn't large, but it was very elegant.

Warm yellow lighting, wooden tables and chairs, and a small bamboo forest could be seen outside the window.

The two sat down, and the waiter handed over the menu.

Tian Ningning pushed the menu toward Cao Kun: "You order, don't be polite."

Cao Kun looked it over, ordered a few signature dishes, and also ordered a bottle of red wine.

"Drinking?" Tian Ningning was a little surprised.

"Can you not drink?"

"I can!" she said immediately. "I can drink a little."

The dishes were served quickly, with exquisite plating and inviting aromas.

Tian Ningning poured wine for both of them and raised her glass: "Mr. Cao, I toast this glass to you. Thank you for helping us."

Cao Kun raised his glass and clinked it against hers: "There's no need to be so polite."

"It's necessary." Tian Ningning looked at him earnestly.

"You know, that day in the elevator, when you said those things, my first reaction was that you were talking nonsense."

"But later... later I checked with Lotus and Tina, and only then did I realize you were entirely right."

"If it weren't for you, we might still be getting scammed by Zhang Genshuo, still taking out online loans, and still doing those stupid things."

As she spoke, the rims of her eyes turned a bit red.

"So, truly, thank you."

Cao Kun smiled. "We're eating! Why are your eyes getting red? Are you going to cry?"

Tian Ningning sniffed and also smiled: "Mhm, I won't cry. Let's eat."

She picked up a morsel of food with her chopsticks, put it in her mouth, and stole another glance at Cao Kun.

The way this man looked when he smiled was really handsome.

Without realizing it, more than half the bottle of red wine was gone.

Tian Ningning didn't usually drink much, but she was happy today and had a bit too much.

Two patches of blush rose to her cheeks, her eyes became watery, and her speech began to drift.

"Mr. Cao, do you know..." She rested her chin on her hand, looking at Cao Kun, "You are the most special person I've ever met."

"How am I special?"

"It's just..." She thought for a moment, "You have money, but you don't use it to crush people."

"You have talent, but you're very low-profile."

"You help people, but you don't ask for anything in return."

She swirled her glass: "Tell me, are people like that very rare?"

Cao Kun smiled slightly: "Maybe you've just seen too few people."

"No." Tian Ningning shook her head.

"I've seen plenty. There are all kinds of people in the hospital—rich, poor, good, bad—but I've never seen anyone like you."

She looked into his eyes: "You help us without seeking anything, and you go after those dangerous people without seeking anything either. Aren't... aren't you afraid?"

"Afraid of what?"

"Afraid of retaliation, afraid of something happening, afraid..."

"Should I stop doing it just because I'm afraid?" Cao Kun interrupted her. "Some things simply need to be done by someone."

Tian Ningning looked at him, her gaze growing softer and softer.

This man was truly different.

She suddenly remembered her Best Friend's joke.

"Thank him deeply."

Her face turned even redder.

"Are you hot?" Cao Kun asked, seeing her face was flushed.

"Mhm, a little." She fanned herself with her hand. "I drank too much wine."

Cao Kun poured her a glass of water: "Drink some water and take it easy."

Tian Ningning took the glass, her fingertips brushing against his hand, causing her heart to tremble slightly.

His hands were so warm.

...

By the time they finished dinner, it was nearly nine o'clock.

When Tian Ningning stood up, she wobbled and almost fell.

Cao Kun steadied her: "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I'm fine..." She steadied herself, but her steps were still a bit floaty. "The alcohol is just hitting me now."

"I'll take you back."

"There's no need to trouble you..."

"Let's go." Cao Kun had already picked up her bag.

Tian Ningning looked at him, her heart warming, and she no longer refused.

The two walked out of the restaurant. As the night breeze blew, Tian Ningning's drunkenness grew stronger.

Cao Kun hailed a taxi and gave the address of her Residential Complex.

In the car, Tian Ningning leaned against the seat, her head tilting slightly toward Cao Kun.

The lights outside the window flashed by, casting shifting shadows of light and dark across her face.

"Mr. Cao..." she said softly.

"Mhm?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Ask."

"Do you... have a girlfriend?"

Cao Kun was silent for a second: "I do."

In fact, Cao Kun didn't have a girlfriend in the true sense of the word, but he had many women.

That was why he said he had a girlfriend.

Tian Ningning's body stiffened slightly, but she quickly relaxed again.

"Oh..." she said softly, "Then she must be very happy."

Cao Kun didn't answer.

Tian Ningning didn't speak anymore either, just watching the night scenery passing by outside the window.

She felt a bit lost, but even more so, she felt a certain inexplicable fluttering in her heart.

He had a girlfriend.

But she would still think of him.

That was strange, wasn't it?

...

The car stopped at the entrance of the Residential Complex.

Cao Kun helped Tian Ningning out of the car.

Her walking was still a bit unsteady, but her mind was conscious.

"Which floor? I'll take you up."

"Okay." Tian Ningning didn't refuse.

In the elevator, there were only the two of them.

Tian Ningning leaned against the elevator wall, looking at the reflections of herself and Cao Kun in the mirror.

He stood by her side, a head taller than her, with broad shoulders and a handsome profile.

She suddenly wondered what it would feel like to lean on his shoulder.

The elevator doors opened.

Tian Ningning took out her keys, opened the door, and turned on the lights.

"Come in and sit for a while?" She turned around and looked at Cao Kun. "Have a glass of water to sober up."

Cao Kun checked the time; it was 9:30.

"Alright."

...