Chapter 27: Don't Misunderstand

Chen Feng was on the verge of death, so naturally, he had no romantic intentions toward the beautiful editor, Wu Mengting.

The only reason he had agreed to be her guide was out of a sense of mutual acquaintance; they could be considered friends. Additionally, he was getting a bit bored being alone at home and wanted to get some fresh air.

Of course, going out for fresh air wasn't as comfortable or pleasant as having a beautiful woman for company, but that was the simple truth of it.

Clearly, however, his brother and mother didn't see it that way.

As for Wu Mengting, Chen Feng believed it was impossible for her to be interested in a middle-aged man like him. She had likely asked him to be her guide simply by chance, as he happened to be a local she knew.

After setting an alarm, he took a half-hour nap, then got up to wash his face and searched the internet for interesting places to visit in Linnan County.

Although Chen Feng was a local, he was only familiar with the county seat, his hometown of Qingpu Town, and a few surrounding townships. He had never even visited the other townships in the county in his entire life. The furthest township from Qingpu Town was over half an hour away by highway.

By the time Chen Feng had finished his research, he received a call from Wu Mengting.

They met at the hotel and got into the car together. Wu Mengting asked with great interest, "Where are we going next?"

Chen Feng countered, "How many days do you have for sightseeing?"

"Two days," Wu Mengting replied. "I have to head back by the day after tomorrow at the latest."

Only then did Chen Feng say, "Then I can only take you to a few classic scenic spots, since time is limited."

"Alright, you decide."

Wu Mengting seemed to trust Chen Feng completely.

Following the travel guides he had found online, Chen Feng first took her to a nearby seaside area. Although the weather was getting a bit chilly in the golden autumn season, the sun was bright and the "autumn tiger" heat was still quite strong. Consequently, even with the sea breeze blowing, it didn't feel all that cold.

Chen Feng took her cycling on the beach, taking photos and building sandcastles; the two of them had a wonderful time.

In the evening, Chen Feng found a seafood restaurant to treat her. As usual, Wu Mengting did not refuse to let him pay. Since Chen Feng had money now, he didn't mind the few hundred yuan.

Technically, he was acting as her guide, but in his heart, Chen Feng knew that she was actually accompanying him on a final tour before his death. At least, that was how he felt.

The next day, Chen Feng took her to another town with mountains and scenic views. It was a bit further from Qingpu Town—about twenty kilometers away. They had a great time hiking and watching waterfalls.

They didn't descend from the mountain until after three in the afternoon. On the drive back to Qingpu, they passed through the county seat, and at her suggestion, they spent over an hour playing at an arcade.

It seemed Chen Feng's "luck buff" was still active; whenever he played the claw machine, he could catch a doll with basically two coins. He caught three in a row for her, leaving Wu Mengting clapping and cheering in surprise. Seeing the crowd growing, the two of them decided to call it a day and left.

On the way back to Qingpu, Chen Feng drove while Wu Mengting sat in the passenger seat, smiling broadly and clutching the three plush dolls tightly.

"I had so much fun today! I haven't been this happy in a long time. Thank you, Brother Feng," Wu Mengting said, turning her face toward him with a smile still playing on her lips.

"Me too," Chen Feng replied with a smile.

Suddenly, a silence fell between them, making the atmosphere somewhat awkward.

As the car reached Qingpu Town, Chen Feng suddenly said, "How about we part ways here? We can meet again if you ever come back to Xiuzhou."

Qingpu Town was located between the county seat and the city district, so taking the national highway from here to the city was right on the way.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, Wu Mengting said in a lingering tone, "I'm really tired from the hike today. I don't want to drive."

"Alright then. I'll drop you off at a hotel in town for the night. You can leave on your own tomorrow; I won't come to see you off," Chen Feng said casually.

After a moment of silence, Wu Mengting suddenly said, "I want to go to your house for dinner. Is that okay?"

Chen Feng was momentarily speechless.

Previously, he thought he might have been misinterpreting things, because while hiking today, he had noticed several times that the way she looked at him seemed off—it was clearly the look of someone in love. As someone who had been through relationships before, Chen Feng was no stranger to that look in a woman's eyes.

After he had successfully caught several dolls at the arcade, the way she looked at him became even more unmistakable, filled with admiration and a different kind of spark.

Chen Feng had told himself it was an illusion, and he had subconsciously begun to distance himself from her. That was why he had just said something so cold and impersonal.

But now, Wu Mengting had directly asked to go to his house. It was almost a certainty: she was interested in him.

Chen Feng couldn't help but sigh inwardly. If he weren't dying, any fool would jump at the chance to be with a pure beauty like Wu Mengting. But how could he pursue anything further with her now? That would be cruel. The more a girl likes you and develops feelings for you, the more you must avoid ruining her life.

"That's a very unexpected request. I haven't prepared anything at home. How about next time?" Chen Feng said, clearly being dismissive.

Undeterred, Wu Mengting pressed, "When is next time? When you're home for the New Year?"

Chen Feng felt a sudden headache and gave a bitter smile. "If I take you home, my family will definitely misunderstand our relationship. My mother is already nagging me every day to find someone else."

"Let them misunderstand," Wu Mengting said nonchalantly.

Hearing this, Chen Feng found himself unable to continue the argument. He blamed himself for not thinking more clearly earlier; when Wu Mengting had asked yesterday if he was married, he had casually mentioned he was recently divorced. He had assumed a woman like her wouldn't be interested in a divorced man, especially with their age gap.

But it seemed that wasn't the case at all.

Chen Feng didn't want to get entangled with her; he wanted to cut the knot quickly. So, bracing himself, he made a joke: "Don't tell me you've taken a liking to an old man like me? I just got divorced, you know."

Wu Mengting's delicate, heart-shaped face instantly flushed red. She stammered, "Of course... no, don't misunderstand. I just... I just think you're quite nice. Just as a friend..."

Seeing her stuttering, Chen Feng was speechless. He wondered what a greasy middle-aged man like himself could possibly have that would attract a fresh, young girl like her. It made no sense. Did she have a father complex?

"Alright, I get it. I won't misunderstand. Tell you what, this is too rushed. Come visit me again at the end of the year when you're on holiday. I'll take you home for dinner then."

His only option now was to use the "delay tactic." By then, he should be dead anyway. Once he was dead, all problems would be resolved.

"Then... alright then."

After a moment of awkwardness, Wu Mengting finally agreed.