Chapter 41: “Because I Haven’t Met…”

Sure enough, this statement didn’t make Xia Mi La happy at all.

She thought Zhao Taihe was insane.

But she didn’t verbally insult him, merely withdrawing her gaze to ignore him.

She regripped her golf club preparing to swing. Yet Zhao Taihe remained standing directly behind her without any intention of moving aside.

Xia Mi La showed no courtesy either, abruptly swinging her wrist backward, sending the club whipping through the air straight into Zhao Taihe’s shin.

“Ouch…” Zhao Taihe hunched over, grimacing in pain.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Xia Mi La offered a fake apology, “I forgot you were still standing behind me.”

Given the force of Xia Mi La’s strike, while a bone fracture was unlikely, a nasty bruise was certainly unavoidable.

Zhao Taihe wasn’t angry at all.

Remaining hunched over, he leaned his upper body closer toward her.

“No problem,” he said magnanimously, his breath lightly brushing past her ear, “But if you really want to express your apology… how about seeing me home after this?”

“What unfortunate timing,” Xia Mi La loosened her grip, letting the club rest diagonally against the ground, “I didn’t drive here today… alternatively, I could have my sister take you.”

“Bai You Na?” Disdain surfaced in Zhao Taihe’s eyes. Having teased her enough, he straightened up and stepped back, “I could drive you instead.”

“I already have plans with someone else.”

Zhao Taihe clicked his tongue: “Has Jin Can not been weaned yet? Does he need you following him everywhere?”

Xia Mi La laughed: “Are you that bored? Do you have to compete with every person named Jin?”

Watching her smiling face, Zhao Taihe seemed infected by her mood and smiled too: “How about I pick you up tomorrow morning?”

At worst, he’d just make plans with her in advance too.

“I don’t want that,” Xia Mi La refused.

“Why not?” Zhao Taihe complained.

“Just don’t want to,” Xia Mi La replied.

As the young lady of the Xia Hong family, she certainly had the privilege of being willful.

She even sounded somewhat impatient: “Could you move aside? I’m still playing.”

Zhao Taihe stared at her for a moment, ultimately having no choice but to clear the space.

Because he couldn’t immediately think of any way to make Xia Mi La definitely accept his invitation.

This presented a rather rare dilemma for him.

Before… nobody would refuse him.

Usually he rarely even initiated invitations with other girls. Those women were typically much more enthusiastic and proactive than him.

But he wasn’t completely unaware of their motivations.

Whether for his looks, his money, or his social status.

Yet these advantages held no value whatsoever when facing Xia Mi La.

She didn’t care about his appearance, much less his wealth or status handsome men surrounded her everywhere, and she herself possessed status and money.

Zhao Taihe used to find Xia Mi La utterly boring, believing they’d never have any connection.

But now, the moment he began caring even slightly, he immediately discovered that Xia Mi La was the most challenging problem he’d ever encountered.

The halos that attracted others were completely useless with her. If she liked him, it would be for himself, for who he was as a person.

Was there anything about him worth liking? Zhao Taihe fell into contemplation.

Then he thought again this didn’t seem so difficult after all. If Xia Mi La could like Jin He, then she could certainly like him too.

At this thought, he felt somewhat gloomy again.

He used to scoff at Xia Mi La’s persistent crush on Jin He, but now he found it extremely and particularly uncomfortable.

Xia Mi La didn’t notice when Zhao Taihe left either.

When she came to her senses and thought about it, she felt Zhao Taihe had seemed a bit strange earlier.

But she didn’t ponder it further.

After handing the golf club to the caddie, she headed over to where Jin Can was.

Jin Can was just starting out today but learned quickly, showing visible progress.

Xia Mi La stood by and applauded for him.

Jin Can turned his head: “Heading home?”

“Not in a hurry,” Xia Mi La said. “You play a bit longer. I’ll go rest in the back first.”

Jin Can nodded but didn’t continue playing. Instead, he followed her to the rest area.

“Let’s rest a bit and then head back,” he said to Xia Mi La. “Do you need to let them know?”

He could tell she was somewhat tired.

Xia Mi La didn’t refuse. Leaning back on the soft sofa, she took out her phone while drinking her beverage: “I’ll let them know.”

Xu Lian Yi and Song Ya-yun had gone to play on the green.

Actually, Xu Lian Yi was just accompanying her, while Song Ya-yun was quite skilled.

Since they came together, they could leave together later just informing them would suffice.

As she lowered her head to send the message, the golf course manager approached, holding an envelope with an elegant logo.

He brought the envelope to Jin Can and presented it with both hands.

Jin Can didn’t accept it, merely raising a hand to gesture toward Sun Yongmin sitting nearby. The manager immediately understood, turned, and offered the envelope to Sun Yongmin.

Sun Yongmin reached out to take it, looking puzzled as he glanced at Jin Can: “What’s this?”

“This is our golf course’s VIP card,” the manager said with a respectful and warm smile. “You can come play anytime in the future.”

This gift truly hit the mark for Sun Yongmin.

As an avid golf enthusiast, how could he not want a VIP card for Han Lin’s golf course? His own qualifications fell just short, and with Jin He previously blocking the way, he hadn’t even dared to hope.

He never expected Jin Can, who spoke little, to be so straightforward and generous.

Sun Yongmin’s eyes nearly gleamed. He stared at the envelope in his hand for a while before remembering to hurriedly thank Jin Can.

“You’re too kind,” Jin Can replied as calmly as ever. “This thing won’t go to waste in your hands.”

Coming from someone who spoke so little, even the compliment sounded especially pleasing.

Sun Yongmin was so delighted he hardly knew what to do. He took out the card, turning it over and over, unable to put it down.

Xia Mi La still held her energy drink, her head tilted against the sofa back, watching Jin Can with great interest.

She thought this guy really was something quiet and unassuming, yet everyone around noticed him.

Jin Can met her gaze: “What?”

Xia Mi La curved her lips, offering praise without reserve: “Our Acan, you’re really doing great.”

But Jin Can felt her smile held a hint of teasing.

A trace of helplessness flickered in his eyes as he asked her, “Shall we go?”

To shower and change out of their golf clothes.

Xia Mi La hummed in agreement: “Let’s go.”

Resting here was no better than relaxing comfortably at home.

Jin Can stood right in front of her and, upon hearing this, extended a hand toward her.

Xia Mi La also reached out, gently placing her hand in his palm.

Jin Can held her hand, pulled her up from the sofa, and then politely released it.

Sun Yongmin, standing nearby, cheerfully followed them to the changing room.

For him, today had been a perfect day.

For Jin He, however, the day had been utterly frustrating.

Before leaving, he had heard about Jin Can giving out the VIP Card and was so enraged that he smashed a cup on the spot.

What kind of person was Sun Yongmin? Someone he despised, someone he had lost to today and yet Jin Can was elevating him so highly.

Moreover, the way Jin Can wielded his authority with such ease infuriated him even more.

How could an uncultured guy who had returned from an orphanage act like this?!

Beside him, both Cui Zhe and Pei Duo Xing remained silent.

From their perspective, the situation was all too understandable.

Sun Yongmin had won the match for the Vermilion Bird Hall today a great achievement that certainly deserved a proper reward.

However, even Cui Zhe hadn’t expected Jin Can to be the one to deliver it.

As for Jin Can utilizing Han Lin’s resources, that was even more natural.

This was precisely why he had previously advised Jin He and Pei Duo Xing to keep their distance.

Was it jealousy that made him not want them to be together? Admittedly, that was part of it, but more than that, he didn’t believe they could last.

If they couldn’t even handle things at this level, the future competition between brothers would only grow more brutal. And when he thought of Xia Mi La, smiling so charmingly by Jin Can’s side… Jin He was bound to lose.

By the time Jin He had composed himself and the three of them were ready to leave, the Rolls-Royce carrying Xia Mi La and Jin Can was already speeding down the main road.

On the way back, after exchanging a few words, Xia Mi La began to yawn.

She truly felt tired and curled up in her seat, dozing off before long.

When she woke groggily, the car had covered most of the journey. The window frame resembled a picture frame, with the scenery outside swiftly shifting. Tilting her head, she realized she had been leaning on Jin Can’s shoulder and stared at the window for a moment before fully grasping the situation.

Slowly, she sat up straight and smoothed her hair.

“Awake?” Jin Can asked.

“Mm.” She lowered her hand to wipe the corner of her mouth.

“Don’t worry,” Jin Can said. “You didn’t drool.”

Xia Mi La: “…”

After a few seconds of silence, she spoke again, “Sorry.”

“It’s fine,” Jin Can replied. “You’re not heavy.”

Her voice was husky from sleep, and Jin Can recalled the faint, delicate fragrance that had lingered around her while she leaned against him.

Even though they had used the same shampoo and shower gel in the changing room, he felt there was something different about her scent richer and more graceful.

“Did you sleep well?” he continued.

“Mm… alright,” Xia Mi La paused. “But are you always this calm when a girl falls asleep beside you?”

She felt a bit frustrated. It felt somewhat impolite, yet he kept bringing it up.

“No other girl has fallen asleep beside me,” Jin Can answered.

That reply sparked further curiosity in Xia Mi La.

She looked at him. “You’ve never been in a relationship?”

Jin Can met her clear, dark eyes. “No.”

“Why not?” she pressed.

Immediately, she regretted the question, worried it might have been hurtful.

Why not eat meat porridge.

He used to live in poverty, barely managing to secure basic sustenance how could he even think about romance?

But… but as she gazed at his refined brows and eyes, she felt that perhaps it wasn’t that simple.

Sure enough, Jin Can continued, “Because I never met someone I liked.”