Chapter 40

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" Elisa raised her hand and then looked at Brenda with dissatisfaction, "Brenda, you've already made three mistakes!"

"Sorry!" Brenda apologized absentmindedly to Elisa.

"If you're not in a good mood, why don't we take a break first!" Zhen Fan suggested.

"Alright, I'll go get some drinks!" Molly walked towards the door.

Zhen Fan sat down and noticed that Brenda was still distracted. He walked over, sat next to her, and handed her a towel.

"What are you thinking about?"

"It's only four days until the selection competition..." Brenda glanced at Jennifer, who was practicing on the other side, "I don't want to fail, Zhen. Am I being too sensitive?"

"You're the best!" Zhen Fan reached out and patted her head, "You're a brave and smart girl. Why don't you have confidence in yourself? Of course, if we combine your bravery and intelligence with mine, why can't we win?"

"Ha, you really are..." Brenda couldn't help but laugh, her mood lightening a bit.

"Here are the drinks!" Molly handed a can to Zhen Fan and Brenda.

The four of them drank their drinks. Molly chatted with Elisa, while Zhen Fan continued to sit with Brenda. He noticed that the atmosphere was a bit strange today, and Molly and Elisa weren't joking around with him as usual.

"Do you think Jennifer is beautiful?"

After being silent for a long time, Brenda suddenly smiled and asked this question, looking at Zhen Fan expectantly.

"She is a very beautiful girl!" Zhen Fan didn't hesitate to praise Jennifer, "She's as smart and capable as you. I think that's why you two are in competition."

"Yes, you're right!" Brenda smiled, "If it weren't for her sabotaging my dance partner, I would still admire her. But I still find her methods despicable!"

Zhen Fan stood up and looked down at Brenda. The tight top she was wearing revealed a patch of snow-white skin and a hint of a deep cleavage. "No matter what she does, we have to defeat her, fairly and squarely! Do you have the confidence?"

Brenda noticed Zhen Fan's brief glance at her chest and felt a bit proud. Her mood improved significantly.

"Yes, we will defeat her fairly and squarely!"

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's start with the third section!" Zhen Fan clapped his hands and smiled at Elisa and Molly, "Ladies, let's start. The third section, Brenda and I will begin—"

As the atmosphere improved, Zhen Fan and Brenda's cooperation became more harmonious. It was as if they were naturally one, able to understand each other's intentions.

This also demonstrated Zhen Fan's insight and talent for dance. Although he had only played some street dance in his youth, under Brenda's guidance, he had a deep understanding of the movements and essence of street dance and modern dance. His strength, flexibility, and coordination were so good that even the professional Brenda felt a bit jealous.

With his strength, flexibility, and coordination, Zhen Fan could perform more challenging dance moves with Brenda, which was a strong guarantee for defeating their opponents.

This made Jennifer, who was secretly observing their training, envious and resentful!

After the training, Zhen Fan and Brenda said goodbye to Molly and Elisa and got into Raymond's car to go home. This time, both of them sat in the back seat and smiled at each other.

Raymond chattered on about his fishing experiences, but it was clear that his audience wasn't very interested. However, he continued to speak with enthusiasm, as if he were the victor.

"Goodbye!"

Brenda watched Zhen Fan get out of the car and waved lightly.

"Goodbye, Brenda! Goodbye, Raymond!" Zhen Fan waved and then opened the door and went into the house.

After dinner, Zhen Fan called Kelly, hoping to discuss the house matters with her the next morning. Kelly was very happy when she received Zhen Fan's call and agreed without hesitation.

The next day, Zhen Fan and Kelly went to see the house. It was not far from Zhen Fan's residence, about three miles away. It was a bit far for walking to work, but considering that he would get a driver's license and a car in the future, this distance was reasonable. The house was in a quiet location, which suited Zhen Fan's preference for a peaceful environment, especially for traditional Chinese medicine treatment. There was also a small parking lot in front with about ten parking spaces.

The owner had entrusted a real estate agent, and the house had previously been used as a private clinic, so many of the arrangements were already to Zhen Fan's liking. The entrance was a large hall that could accommodate about thirty people waiting. This was sufficient, as Zhen Fan planned to see no more than ten patients a day.

There was a service desk with a computer, and he could hire a front desk staff member to start working. There were two examination rooms, both spacious. One could be used for acupuncture treatment, and the other for in-depth treatment. Of course, there was no inpatient treatment area, and Zhen Fan didn't plan to have one.

"How do you feel, Mr. Zhen?" The real estate agent, a young woman named Alma, about 26 or 27 years old, could tell from Zhen Fan's expression that he was satisfied and didn't want to miss this deal.

Kelly also looked at Zhen Fan, hoping he would be satisfied since she had introduced him to the house.

"Not bad!" Zhen Fan nodded at Alma, "I'll have my lawyer contact you. He will handle all the contracts, and I hope we can agree on a reasonable price!"

"That's not a problem. I'll give you the best price, Mr. Zhen!" Alma quickly followed up, showing a bit of eagerness, unlike a mature real estate agent.

"Are you new to this?"

Zhen Fan couldn't help but smile at her behavior.

"Yes... yes, I'm sorry, sir!" Alma blushed.

"It's nothing. Everyone starts as a beginner, right?" Zhen Fan nodded and then left with Kelly, saying goodbye to Alma at the intersection.

"We'll go to Billy's Mountain. I know there's a nice restaurant there. Their veal steak is really good!" Zhen Fan got into Kelly's small car, which was becoming increasingly popular among young people for its fuel efficiency and affordability. Kelly had bought it on loan, not the one she had used with Zhen Fan to buy a tent.

"Did you change your car?"

"No, this is my own car. The one last time... was my dad's. He wasn't using it that day, so..." Kelly shrugged, "Why don't you get a driver's license?"

"I want to. Can you tell me the procedure?" Zhen Fan felt a bit embarrassed under Kelly's surprised gaze, "You know, I haven't been in the U.S. for long."

Kelly understood and began to explain enthusiastically, "First, you need to get a copy of the 'Driver's Handbook' from the DMV, then take a written test. If you pass, you can get a learner's permit valid for one year. During this year, you usually have three chances to take the road test. With a learner's permit, you can practice driving with a friend or pay to learn at a driving school, but the instructors at driving schools are usually not very friendly!"

Kelly was right; whether in China or the U.S., driving instructors were known for their bad tempers.

"Can you teach me?"

Zhen Fan didn't want to go to a driving school and didn't want to deal with the instructors' bad attitudes.

"Sure, why not?" Kelly smiled, feeling a bit proud.

"Thanks. What else do I need to do?"

"Of course, the road test!" Kelly continued, "You need to schedule the test with the DMV. We can do it by phone. The fastest you can take the test is in two weeks, and it will be on the streets near the DMV. I believe you'll do fine!"

"The key is that I have a good instructor!" Zhen Fan flattered her, which made Kelly very happy.

As they talked, the car entered the streets of Billy's Mountain. Following Zhen Fan's directions, they turned into a parking lot and then walked to the restaurant where Zhen Fan and Ray had been before.

"Pan-seared filet mignon, Italian vegetable soup, and one more..." Zhen Fan wanted to order a well-done steak, but he knew it would draw strange looks. The medium-rare steak he had last time wasn't very good, so he ordered a medium steak.

"Pepper filet mignon, medium! A vegetable salad, and a cup of black tea!" Kelly handed the menu back to the waiter. The two of them sat across from each other, and Kelly smiled at Zhen Fan.

"What's wrong?" Zhen Fan subconsciously touched his chin, "Tell me if there's something wrong. I'll go to the restroom and clean up."

"No, nothing!" Kelly quickly smiled, "I just find it strange, this feeling."

"Huh?" Zhen Fan was a bit confused.

"Think about it, we... before, I was just a cashier, and you were a customer. I never thought we would be sitting in a restaurant, enjoying a meal together. Life is so wonderful!" Honestly, sitting quietly with Zhen Fan and enjoying the delicious food made Kelly feel very content.

"If we look to the future, you'll still be my instructor. You'll be my patient, and I'll be your doctor!" Zhen Fan carefully examined Kelly's face, "Don't worry, Kelly. I promise your face will be one of the most beautiful. It's just covered with dust now."

"Thank you, I believe you!" Kelly nodded. The outcome didn't matter much to her; what truly moved her was Zhen Fan's sincerity, which was why she increasingly liked him.

After finishing their meal, Zhen Fan raised his hand, and the waiter quickly came over. They paid and left. Zhen Fan elegantly held two twenty-dollar bills in front of the waiter, who beamed with joy.

"You're really generous! Ha!" Kelly was impressed by Zhen Fan's generosity.

"If I were with Ray, I would be generous with more than two dollars!" Zhen Fan chuckled, "Ray, the CBI agent who took your statement during the robbery."

"Do you know him well?" Kelly asked in surprise.

Zhen Fan smiled, "I helped them solve a few cases and worked as a consultant for a while. But now I have my own business, so I resigned."

"I see!" Kelly understood but became interested in the cases Zhen Fan mentioned and insisted he tell her about them. Zhen Fan had no choice but to give a brief account, avoiding the details about the cross.

As they were leaving the restaurant, they suddenly heard someone excitedly calling out.

"Zhen, is that you?"

A tall young woman broke away from her companion and hurried over. Her fashionable attire and angelic face made Kelly feel a bit inferior, and she involuntarily took a step back.

"Christine?"

Zhen Fan called out, finding the coincidence quite amusing.

"I didn't expect to run into you here!" Christine smiled and affectionately took Zhen Fan's hand, "What? Are you leaving? I haven't eaten yet. Oh, I really miss the Chinese food you make!"

"Hello, Mr. Zhen!" The young man who came with Christine approached uninvited. He was tall and handsome, with a charming smile.

"Do you know me?" Zhen Fan looked at him.

"I heard Christine call you just now!" The young man extended his hand to Zhen Fan, "I'm Johnny Baker, a good friend of Christine's!"