This chapter is dedicated to Q_elleson for being the top 7 fan of my book for the month of June! Thank you so much for the support!

***

The moment they arrived in the mall to have hotpot, both of them immediately started eating as they were famished.

Since it is Wang Lei's hotel, the manager of the restaurant prioritized their order, giving them the best seat with the best view even so as for them to enjoy their dinner privately.

Since Pan An has already told him what's worrying him back in the car, now it was his turn to ask what's bothering his best friend.

"So… with you suddenly calling me out for dinner, you want to tell me more of this person who introduced you to hotpot?

"

Wang Lei couldn't help but smile at Pan An. With him getting meat inside his mouth, he chewed for a while then swallowed, now answering his question.

"You guessed it right,

" he started,

"It's about Yu Yan.

"

"And what about Yu Yan?

" Pan An asked, getting more meat in his bowl along with the savory broth.

"I mean… she's a good woman. You settled her issue for her, right?

"

"Well, yes,

" Wang Lei confirmed, putting more meat in the hotpot for it to be cooked.

"It's just that since I settled her problems and since I've been communicating with her more frequently other than business, I can't seem to get her out of my mind.

"

"Oho…

"

Pan An grinned ear to ear, wanting to tease Wang Lei since he has never heard him talk this way about a woman.

"Can I safely say that you are falling in love for the first time?

"

Wang Lei couldn't help but scoff. With him shaking his head as he didn't like the idea, he commented about it, making Pan An laugh.

"Are you saying that I'm starting to fall for my secretary?

"

The professor shrugged, further asking him questions to help him understand what he's feeling.

"Do you find her attractive?

"

"Yes.

"

"Do you worry about her more than you should?

"

"Uh… yes.

"

"Do you find yourself acting so kind towards her compared to when you treat other girls?

"

"Oddly, yeah.

"

Pan An nodded slowly, narrowing his eyes at him.

"And you couldn't get her out of your thoughts, correct?

"

"Yes.

"

Pan An put his chopsticks down and reached Wang Lei's shoulder, patting it a few times and told him something that Wang Lei just couldn't accept.

"You're starting to have deeper interests towards her. Not that you'd call love, but you're developing and getting there.

"

Clearing his throat, Wang Lei brushed his hand off, making Pan An laugh as he shook his head to eat more of the food from the hotpot, adding some vegetables, too.

"You know… I think I could guess that you're no longer finding the interest in the things you usually do like looking for women to fool in bed with?

"

Hearing this, Wang Lei stopped chewing. With a smirk appearing on Pan An's face, it's as if he had hit bull's eye, making him shake his head as he put more pieces of meat on Wang Lei's bowl.

"Haiya… yes, yes, you're now maturing into a man who's no longer into fooling around with random women. I'm proud of you.

"

Pan An was intentionally teasing him. However, even though he knew that Wang Lei would be pissed off and would retort, oddly, he didn't do it, his lips turning into a tight line as he stared seriously into his best friend's eyes.

"Do you think,

" he started, Pan An, listening to him.

"that I'm developing feelings for my secretary?

"

Pan An nodded, telling him what he thinks.

"Like how you think I'm developing feelings for the girl I saved, yes. Like what you told me, all I could say is to confirm while you interact with her. Both of you are always together at work, too. The difference is you guys were not this close three years ago until today.

"

With that pointed out, Wang Lei nodded slowly, putting his chopsticks down. He then sighed, foreign to the feeling of falling in love since he always played around.

"Falling in love… what does it really feel?

"

Pan An blinked his eyes a few times. He didn't know how to answer Wang Lei without sounding so cringey, since this is something that men usually don't talk about.

It's awkward to talk about it even!

"Well… for starters, you feel your heart race for no reason even though you're just looking at her… and you can't help getting her out of your mind. Somehow, you also start to get possessive—the idea of her being with another man bothering you from time to time.

"

Wang Lei scrunched his nose up in disgust. With his shoulders shuddering, Pan An laughed at his reaction, Wang Lei further commenting about it.

"And you felt this—sorry to include her—with Ruo Xi?

"

Pan An didn't answer for a while. With him nodding once, he confirmed his question, further telling about it with him.

"Yeah… and from there, it branches off. From wanting to give everything that you have, from imagining a future with her together… from wanting to have her for the rest of your life.

"

With him already having a melancholic expression on his face, Wang Lei felt bad asking about her to him, making him sigh as he already changed the topic.

"Anyway, thanks for telling me.

"

He changed the topic, the two of them continuing to eat.

"I'll just have to prove it to you that I'm not actually in love,

" he added, making Pan An scoff as he shook his head, not believing what he said.

"If you didn't fall in love, I'll bet my prized car to you.

"

"Woah!

"

Wang Lei exclaimed, both of them laughing out loud.

"I'll hold on to that!

"

As they were already having a nice dinner, suddenly, Pan An felt his phone buzzing, making him get his phone from his pocket. The moment he looked at the unknown number sending him a text, he cocked his head to the side, curious.

He opened the message. When he saw the content, he widened his eyes, making Wang Lei get his phone to read what he just read.

The moment he also read it, he swallowed the meat he was chewing, commenting about the surprise message.

"Your sister's home? When?

"

"I don't know,

" Pan An replied, knowing that he has to visit her soon before she bothers him incessantly.

"But I do know that I have to visit her at mother's place—ASAP.

"