Lin Feng paid no attention to Zhong Jiaheng, that insignificant ant. All he cared about was the hundred cases of special supply wine Zhang Jianye had promised him.
"Right, Xiaoxue, you lost the bet we made earlier. You have to play poker with me, don't forget!" Lin Feng reminded her with a smile.
"It's just playing poker, sure. Where should we play?" Xiaoxue seemed indifferent. Although she disliked card games, she had to accompany Lin Feng if she lost.
"We definitely can't go back to your place. How about a hotel?" Lin Feng thought for a moment. Playing poker wasn't something to be done too casually; the environment needed to be suitable.
"Hey, it's just poker, why go to a hotel?" Xiaoxue rolled her eyes at Lin Feng, wondering if he had ulterior motives.
"Then where do you suggest?"
"How about in the car or in a roadside flower bed? Let's get it over with quickly," Xiaoxue proposed.
Lin Feng was stunned for a moment, a look of surprise on his face. "Xiaoxue, are you that open-minded now? You're okay with playing in the car or by the roadside?"
"It's just poker! What's the problem with playing in the car or by the roadside?" Xiaoxue chuckled, completely unaware that Lin Feng's definition of "poker" was entirely different from hers.
"No problem, then let's do it in the car! The sky has turned cloudy, and it might rain. It'll be more comfortable in the car." Lin Feng rubbed his hands together, a hint of excitement in his eyes.
Xiaoxue, oblivious to Lin Feng's hidden intentions behind "playing poker," didn't think much of it and led him to her SUV.
By then, the sky had completely darkened, a strong wind was blowing, and a light drizzle began to fall.
Once inside the car, Lin Feng folded down all the rear seats to create more space for activities.
"Hey, it's just poker, don't mess around!"
"Forget it, I don't feel like playing today. My stomach isn't feeling well, I might have caught a chill!" Xiaoxue clutched her stomach, looking at the gray sky outside, and lost all mood to play poker with Lin Feng.
"Xiaoxue, if your stomach isn't feeling well, I can drive you to a hotel to book a room so you can rest properly."
Xiaoxue: "..." Lin Feng, this guy really has bad intentions! Always thinking about taking her to a hotel!
"Alright, let's go to the hotel then. Once my stomach feels better, I'll play some poker with you!" Xiaoxue knew the rain wouldn't stop anytime soon. Rather than waste time in the car, she figured it was better to go to a hotel and rest.
Lin Feng smiled, finally managing to get Xiaoxue to agree to go to a hotel. Without a word, he started the car and headed for the nearest five-star hotel.
Upon reaching the hotel reception, Xiaoxue produced her ID. "Book a room, two rooms!"
"Xiaoxue, why two rooms? One room is enough for us. Two is too much of a waste!" Lin Feng was dumbfounded, half-amused. They were supposed to play poker, how could they do that with two rooms? Play poker through the wall?
"Two rooms. Hurry and take out your ID!" Xiaoxue was shivering from the cold; she had gotten rained on when she got out of the car.
"But I didn't bring my ID! How about I go back and get it?" Lin Feng felt his pockets, which were empty.
"This..." Xiaoxue was conflicted. She was really too cold. By the time Lin Feng retrieved his ID, she feared she would catch a cold.
"Alright, then book one room for now." Xiaoxue conceded.
"Oh, and please get me a deck of poker cards!" Xiaoxue reminded the hotel staff before heading to the room.
"Why do you need poker cards?" Lin Feng was bewildered.
"Didn't you want me to play poker with you? Once my stomach feels better, I'll play with you!"
Lin Feng: "..."
"Xiaoxue, you might have a misunderstanding about playing poker. Never mind, I'll explain it to you in detail when your stomach feels better." Lin Feng realized Xiaoxue had misunderstood his intentions and said with a wry smile, then led her to a luxurious suite at the hotel.
Once in the room, Xiaoxue eagerly lay down on the soft, large bed, clutching her stomach. Sweat beaded on her forehead from the pain.
"Xiaoxue, could it be your period?" Lin Feng noticed Xiaoxue was genuinely in pain.
Xiaoxue shook her head. "No, it's not. I'm due at the end of the month, still over ten days away. I must have caught a chill."
"Let me take a look!" Lin Feng moved to Xiaoxue's side and took her fair wrist, feeling her pulse.
"How is it? Am I sick?" Xiaoxue felt a flicker of unease seeing Lin Feng's grave expression.
"Mmm, judging by your complexion, this is a 'joyful pulse.' You might be pregnant." Lin Feng replied with a serious face.
"What?" Xiaoxue thought she was hallucinating.
"You heard correctly. I said you're pregnant." Lin Feng chuckled.
"You're pregnant! Your whole family is pregnant! If you don't know how to take a pulse, don't do it! You're so annoying!" Xiaoxue glared fiercely at Lin Feng.
"Xiaoxue, my medical skills are quite impressive. Don't you even trust me?" Lin Feng chuckled, feigning a wronged expression.
Xiaoxue was exasperated. "Lin Feng, I'm still a maiden. Do you really think I could be pregnant? Am I giving birth to a ghost?"
"Xiaoxue, when did your thoughts become so vulgar? When I say 'joyful pulse,' I mean your period is coming. Red signifies joy, hence 'joyful pulse.'" Lin Feng flashed a wide, toothy grin, unable to contain his laughter.
"You, you did that on purpose!"
"I can't be on my period!"
"I'm always punctual every month. Even if it's early, it wouldn't be more than ten days!" Xiaoxue utterly disbelieved Lin Feng's nonsense, feeling he was deliberately teasing her.
Lin Feng smiled and wagged his finger, taking out his phone and opening the stopwatch. "Xiaoxue, your pulse tells me your period will arrive precisely in 58 seconds. You'll have an outflow of 508 milliliters, and it will end exactly 68 hours later."
"Are you kidding me? You can tell down to the second and even the milliliter just by feeling a pulse?" Xiaoxue was amused by Lin Feng.
Lin Feng remained unfazed, showing the stopwatch to Xiaoxue. "Countdown, three, two, one! Period, come to me!"
As he finished speaking, Xiaoxue felt as if she had been electrocuted. Her facial expression froze, as if she had zoned out for a moment. Then, Xiaoxue was stunned, her face flushing crimson. Shyly and with difficulty, she said, "Can you go buy me some sanitary pads!"