"Don't worry," Pande made a gesture, "they were not published publicly, they were just transferred to me through a jewelry merchant. The other party asked me if I was interested in buying, and I noticed something unusual, so I came to you to confirm."

Xu Qiao breathed a sigh of relief and was even more puzzled: "Who is this jewelry merchant and where did he get these scans?"

"The scanned copy may be transferred several times. Before I find out the situation, I cannot disclose the identity of this jewelry merchant to you for the time being, so as not to cause unnecessary misunderstandings. But since you have obtained your correct words, I will start investigating the matter and give you a reply at that time."

Xu Qiao nodded: "Please trouble you."

"Get back to the point," Pan De smiled, "I like the series of works you created early on. Although the painting skills are a bit insufficient, its creativity is very consistent with the theme of my fashion show. Of course, because the source of these scans is unknown, considering the potential risks of disputes, I don't plan to use them directly. I think it's not wrong to identify you, the designer."

Xu Qiao also smiled: "I think I will create works that are more mature than this series and more in line with the theme of your fashion show."

——

It was already lunch time to finish the conversation with Pan De, and it was at least an hour and a half to drive back to the studio, so Lin Bai arranged for Xu Qiao to have a meal nearby.

Xu Qiao was a little confused because of the leak of the design drawings. He had been thinking about the possibility of it all the way. He walked into a nearby tea restaurant and passed the seat next to the window, suddenly heard a familiar male voice: "Xu Qiao?"

The other party's voice and tone were very warm, but Xu Qiao was wandering around the sky. He was startled and turned his eyes and found that it was Song Mian.

"I'm sorry, I scared you." Song Mian stood up apologetically.

"No, I'm thinking about it." Xu Qiao waved his hand and looked at him wearing casual clothes. "Are you not in the community hospital today?"

"I'm on vacation today, I just gave it to you..." Considering that there were idle people in the restaurant, Song Mian did not directly name it, "My employer will come to have a meal after the inspection."

Xu Qiao immediately understood his employer's identity, and his expression on his face was slightly unnatural.

These days, Cheng Lang kept his promise of giving her time to organize and consider it, and never disturbed her. Of course, the "good morning" and "good night" on WeChat are still the same every day, and the meals are urged to remember to eat on time.

She was not sure whether Song Mian knew her current relationship with Cheng Lang.

"Are you?" Song Mian asked.

"I just finished my work and came here for a meal."

"Would you like to go together?" Song Mian smiled and made a gesture of "please".

Xu Qiao glanced at Lin Bai behind him.

Lin Bai was busy and said that he would go to the next door to have some simple meal.

Xu Qiao sat down opposite Song Mian, took the menu he handed over, and after ordering the dishes, he looked at him with a silence.

"If you want to ask about 'him', don't be shy," Song Mian took the initiative to lift her siege, "There should be nothing to say now."

After hearing what he said, Xu Qiao was sure. Song Mian knew her current situation with Cheng Lang very well.

After all, the last time she called him in London, his answer was "I can't reveal any privacy information about my patients, sorry".

"It's not important," Xu Qiao smiled awkwardly, "Just say you just finished the examination for him..."

"It's just a routine test of heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar, and there's no problem. He hasn't been exposed to allergens recently, and his condition has been temporarily stable."

Allergen... refers to women?

What's going on? Is the private doctor still responsible for explaining this to the employer and his ex-girlfriend?

"Oh." Xu Qiao nodded, picked up the warm water in front of him and took a sip.

"I'm sorry, I didn't tell you the truth on the phone last time." Song Mian said apologetically.

"Oh, don't say that. You are the first doctor in this matter, and then my friend. It is appropriate to abide by professional ethics and conduct rules and regulations. This is what I and him do."

"Then how do you think about this now?"

Xu Qiao looked at him vigilantly: "It was him who sent you to spy on military affairs, right?"

Song Mian smiled and shook her head: "As far as I understand, he is not such a person."

Oh, right, too.

How could Cheng Lang ask her male friend for help?

"I just think that there is part of my responsibility for this matter," Song Mian looked at her. "If you need to talk to someone, I'm very happy to be an audience."

Xu Qiao was really a little nervous.

Considering Cheng Lang's hidden illness, she could not really talk about this with any of her friends. It was true that only Song Mian, who knew everything, could be her listener.

"I'm a little annoyed lately..." She lowered her head and sighed.

"The root of your troubles is that you don't know what you think of him?"

Xu Qiao vaguely understood. Song Mian was asking her implicitly whether she liked Cheng Lang.

"No," Xu Qiao shook her head muffled and answered implicitly - she felt that she still liked Cheng Lang, "I just don't know if I should forgive him."

Song Mian pondered for a moment and said, "I have no love experience and am not suitable to give you advice on this issue, but I think your choice is not or shouldn't."

"Hmm?" Xu Qiao raised her head.

"Whether to forgive a person's mistakes, not because he should or should not, but because he believed or did not believe." Song Mian picked up the seasoning bottle at hand and poured a drop of soy sauce into a glass cup filled with water.

The thick black ink traces slowly dizzy in the water.

"The error occurs as a certain fact. Just like the ink mark in this cup of water, you can no longer peel it off and remove it completely. Even if you give it time to fade and dissolve, the water may not be transparent. But what if you add more clear water to the cup? Until the water in the container is flooded and the fresh water is constantly replaced, how many traces will be left of the ink mark?"

"If you believe that the new water in the future will be clarified, give this cup a chance. Otherwise, throw it away. The past cannot be changed. I think the key to the question is whether you believe in the future." Song Mian concluded.

Xu Qiao nodded in vain. After a while, he seemed to come back to his senses and nodded again.

The waiter who served the food interrupted the conversation between the two.

The two of them turned their eyes and were stunned at the birthday cakes on the waiter's cart.

"We didn't want cakes," said Song Mian.

"The cake is provided, Mr. Song, I wish you a happy birthday."

Xu Qiao was stunned: "Today is your birthday?"

Song Mian nodded, then turned to ask the waiter: "Who told you that today is my birthday?"

“You used to register for your birthday information at the restaurant.”

Song Mian frowned, as if she didn't remember this, but she still said "Thank you" to the waiter.

Xu Qiao immediately apologized: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I don't know that today is your birthday. I didn't prepare a gift, so I will make it up later."

"It's okay, don't talk about you, I forgot it myself." Song Mian smiled and looked at the cake style on the table. He seemed to think something was wrong. He looked out the window with some awareness. He saw a little girl hiding behind the street tree across the road, and only half of his head was exposed to this side.

When he noticed that he looked over, the person opposite him ran away quickly, suddenly tripping by the steps.

Song Mian stood up and saw the little girl standing firmly with the tree, and quickly turned around and left.

Xu Qiao looked in the direction he was looking around: "What's wrong?"

Song Mian slowly withdrew his gaze and shook his head: "It's nothing." But this meal was a little absent-minded.

——

Both of them were busy with work, so they separated in the restaurant after lunch.

Back at the studio, Xu Qiao was thinking about the leak of the design drawings, and was a little hesitant to contact Cheng Lang to inquire about the situation.

But when I opened WeChat, I found that he did not remind her to have dinner at noon today, and the news became a little unstoppable. After thinking about it, I decided to wait until he reminded her to have dinner before asking.

As a result, he waited until dark and he didn't remind her to have supper.

This was the first time that Cheng Lang had her two meals in a row after returning from London.

Xu Qiao was angry and felt that the glass of water between her and Cheng Lang might not be good. She took a few bites of work meals in a daze, turned her grief and anger into inspiration, and worked overtime in the studio until ten o'clock in the evening before she got into the car back to the apartment while yawning.

Walking into the apartment building elevator, she took out her cell phone again to confirm WeChat.

There is no owed fees, no internet disconnection, but there is no news about Cheng Lang.

It's time for him to say good night to her normally.

Did this dog man find that he could not retreat or advance, and he played the trick of being in a close relationship?

The elevator rose to the 16th floor, and Xu Qiao sighed and threw his cell phone into his bag and walked out.

The voice-controlled light lit up the moment the elevator door opened. She walked around the corner and staggered to hold the wall: "Oh mom!"

Xu Qiao gasped because she saw a man standing straight at her doorstep.

The man heard the sound and turned around.

Of course, without him turning back, Xu Qiao also recognized his back after trembling his heart.

"What are you doing? I'm scared to death without a sound!" She patted her chest in a panic, and at the same time, she smelled a strong smell of alcohol.

Cheng Lang looked at her from afar and didn't say anything. I wonder if it was because of the alcohol, so he looked a little slow to react and didn't look very smart.

Xu Qiao walked up and approached him and sniffed: "Wow, how much wine did you drink?"

He seemed to finally realize that it was her who was back, and raised his hand and took her into his arms.

Before Xu Qiao could react, he heard a very hurt tone coming from the top of his head: "Are you going to celebrate Song Mian's birthday today?" Even after asking, his chin was rubbing pitifully on her shoulders, making her heart tremble again.

This time I was not scared, but I was given a crispy one.
Chapter completed!