Fangyi brought the phone over to Yu Keqing so she could video call Xiaobao.
The weather was still a bit chilly, and Yu Keqing was not yet used to the dryness of A City. Having recently suffered two consecutive fevers, her physical condition was in a fragile state from sheer exhaustion.
She had been coughing ever since waking up today. Fangyi brewed some honey water for her and simmered a rock sugar pear tea. After drinking it, she felt a little better, and the dry itch in her throat subsided slightly.
There were no longer any bodyguards stationed at the door, meaning she was free to walk around the garden.
However, Fangyi disapproved of her going outside right now and advised, “The wind is cold out there, and you are still coughing. If you catch a draft, it will only make it worse.”
Yu Keqing gathered her shawl tighter around herself. Not wishing to push the matter, she merely stood at the doorway to look out for a moment before returning inside.
Even during that brief moment, she coughed a few times, leaving her already pale face entirely devoid of color.
“Oh dear,” Fangyi fretted. “When that person comes back, she is going to be heartbroken.”
Yu Keqing picked up Tuantuan, curled up on the living room sofa, and closed her eyes wearily. Lin Sheng heartbroken over her? How could that be? The person who tortured her the most was Lin Sheng.
When she was on the video call with Xiaobao earlier, Wen Man was right next to her and must have noticed something. It made sense, while she could use a shawl to cover other areas, how could she hide her lips? Her right wrist was also still patched with medicated plaster, so sore and weak that she could barely lift her chopsticks.
Her breathing gradually grew heavier, and she drifted off to sleep against the sofa. Tuantuan nestled quietly and warmly in her arms, chasing away some of the chill and allowing her to sleep a bit more peacefully.
Fangyi fetched a blanket, but just as she draped it over Yu Keqing, there was movement at the door. Lin Sheng had returned. Fangyi hurried over to greet her, reporting in a low voice what Yu Keqing had done and eaten that day.
“The Madam has been coughing all day and just fell asleep.”
Lin Sheng raised her hand slightly and said, “I understand.”
She then motioned for Fangyi to take the dog out of Yu Keqing’s arms. Tuantuan was highly reluctant to leave its owner’s embrace and let out a soft whimper, but it instantly behaved after receiving a cold glare from Lin Sheng.
On the sofa, Yu Keqing stirred slightly.
Lin Sheng eased her steps forward, bent down, slipped her arms under Yu Keqing’s knees, and effortlessly lifted her up.
Yu Keqing was so utterly exhausted that she didn’t even wake up.
Lin Sheng only felt that the person in her arms was as light as a feather, so thin it felt as though she were nothing but a bundle of bones.
Carrying Yu Keqing up to the master bedroom on the second floor, the bedding had already been replaced with a fresh set. Lin Sheng placed her under the covers, then sat on the edge of the bed herself, propping one hand beside Yu Keqing as she silently stared at the sleeping face for a long time.
Gastric cancer.
Those two words pierced Lin Sheng’s heart like steel needles, causing a suffocating ache.
She took Yu Keqing’s slender hand into her own, staring at her empty ring finger for a long while. They had wedding rings, but they only wore them in public. When Yu Keqing left behind a letter and vanished, Lin Sheng had thrown that wedding ring away in a fit of rage, never to be recovered.
But it didn’t matter. That pair of rings had been chosen casually by her secretary just to get the marriage over with anyway. It didn’t matter if they were gone, as long as she brought Yu Keqing back. She would personally choose a better, more meaningful pair of wedding rings and put one on Yu Keqing herself.
“Keke.”
She pressed Yu Keqing’s hand against her own cheek, deeply attached to this gentle warmth, loath to let go.
At 4:30 PM, Lin Sheng drove over to pick up Xiaobao.
Wen Man complained that she had refused to bring Yu Keqing along, noting that if she had, both families could have sat down together for dinner.
Lin Sheng took Xiaobao’s backpack in her hand and explained, “Keke really needs to rest today. Tomorrow, then. Tomorrow you can bring Ningning over to my house for dinner.”
Her sudden shift in attitude caught Wen Man completely off guard.
Before Wen Man could even answer, Wen Ning jumped up happily, grabbing Xiaobao’s hands and spinning in circles at the doorway.
“Yay! I’m going to your house tomorrow!”
Xiaobao was thrilled too. She could accompany her mother and have a friend over to play, meaning she finally wouldn’t have to feel so lonely and scared inside that massive house.
“Xiaobao, we’re going home now.” Lin Sheng gently wrapped an arm around her daughter’s shoulder with a soft smile. “Say goodbye to Auntie Wen and Ningning.”
Xiaobao was very obedient and polite. “Goodbye Auntie Wen, goodbye Ningning.”
When they returned home, Xiaobao didn’t see her mother.
Faced with her daughter’s frowning, unhappy expression, Lin Sheng had no choice but to explain, “Mommy is sleeping in the bedroom. You can go up to see her, but you must be very quiet. You can’t disturb her.”
Xiaobao’s eyes lit up. She nodded and ran up to the second floor.
Yu Keqing had slept very deeply this time, untroubled by any chaotic dreams. When she woke up, she saw her daughter sitting quietly by the bed, reading the book of essays she hadn’t finished.
“Xiaobao?” She propped herself up. “Weren’t you playing with Ningning at Auntie Wen’s house? Weren’t you supposed to come back in the evening?”
Xiaobao set the book down. “She went to pick me up. She even invited Auntie Wen and Ningning to come here for dinner tomorrow.”
Yu Keqing couldn’t quite process things yet. Hadn’t she fallen asleep on the sofa? How did she end up in bed? And Lin Sheng invited Wen Man over for dinner? Does that mean she and Xiaobao need to stay out of the way?
“Mommy, let’s go downstairs to eat.” Xiaobao took her arm.
Yu Keqing pulled back the quilt and noticed the sun was already setting outside. She had actually slept the entire afternoon away.
The bedroom door was pushed open, and Lin Sheng walked in against the fading glow of the twilight. The long dress she had worn out had been changed for a more comfortable set of loungewear, and her bare face carried a youthful, softened look, lacking her usual sultry and mesmerizing allure.
“Awake?” She carefully inspected Yu Keqing’s complexion. Her exhaustion had faded significantly; it seemed this nap had done her wonders.
Downstairs, Fangyi had already prepared dinner. She told Xiaobao to head down first, adding, “There’s lemongrass grilled ribs, your favorite.”
Fangyi was from the Dai ethnic group and excelled at making authentic Dai cuisine. Xiaobao had grown up in Mangshi, so her palate leaned toward local flavors, whereas the dishes in A City were predominantly sweet, which Xiaobao wasn’t used to.
Not only could Xiaobao not get used to it, but Yu Keqing couldn’t either. Upon discovering this issue, Lin Sheng had specifically requested someone who could cook Yunnan cuisine when hiring a new housekeeper.
Xiaobao moved out of the room, looking back with every step.
Yu Keqing pulled her clothes tighter around herself, unable to guess what Lin Sheng was plotting now, though she was certain it wouldn’t be anything good.
To her surprise, Lin Sheng did nothing out of line. She merely slid a hair tie off her own wrist to tie up Yu Keqing’s hair, which had become loose and messy from sleep. Her hair texture was fine and soft, with a slight yellowish tint, a clear sign of malnutrition.
She sat frozen on the edge of the bed, feeling Lin Sheng’s hands gently gathering her hair together and tying it securely, tucking the stray strands that couldn’t reach behind her ears.
Seeing her eyes wide and her small mouth slightly open in an expression of sheer disbelief, Lin Sheng suddenly let out a soft laugh while pinching her soft earlobe. Her fingertips glided down from her earlobe, slowly tracing her cheek.
This face was so small, small enough for a single palm to completely cover it. It also reminded Lin Sheng of the times she had slapped Yu Keqing in the past. Right now, the face beneath her palm was trembling slightly, trying to pull away.
Is it coming now? After pretending for so many days, Lin Sheng finally can’t keep up the act anymore and is about to hit her.
This terrifying thought crept out from Yu Keqing’s mind. She had spent this entire period living in constant dread, never knowing which day Lin Sheng’s palm would strike her face.
She had waited and waited, tormented by nightmares every night. If this slap landed today, she wouldn’t have to have those nightmares anymore, she would finally be snapped awake.
“Scared of me?” Lin Sheng lowered her eyes.
Looking at the cute, pretty swirl of hair at the crown of Yu Keqing’s head, she couldn’t resist leaning down to plant a soft kiss on it. Her hair carried a rose fragrance, every part of Yu Keqing carried this scent. It was something she used to detest the most, but now, she desperately wished this fragrance would remain forever.
Yu Keqing trembled violently, not daring to utter a sound. She bit her lip until it turned white; if she bit any harder, the newly formed scabs would tear open again.
Her lips hadn’t had a chance to heal over the past two days. Her lower lip, the corners of her mouth, and her philtrum were all swollen. When Lin Sheng had left these marks, she had been fueled by anger, resentment, and madness. Now, filled with heartache, tenderness, and an overwhelming desire to cherish her, she used her fingers to pry open her tightly bitten lips, preventing her from drawing blood again and making it harder to heal.
Yu Keqing retreated backward, trying her best to avoid any physical contact, only to hear Lin Sheng say, “Don’t bite so hard, the scabs will split.”
She was guided from the bed into the bathroom by Lin Sheng. In front of the mirror, Lin Sheng held her from behind in a tight embrace. She tilted her head, exposing a neck covered in love bites.
Lin Sheng leaned down to suck gently against it, sending a wave of numbness and itching through her that made her curl up into a ball, her waist bending forward. Lin Sheng straightened her up, then parted the clothing at her chest, revealing the scar right beneath her breastbone.
Lin Sheng pulled her entirely into her embrace, resting her chin on her shoulder. One arm wrapped securely across her slender waist while her other hand traced over the scar, lifting her eyes to look at her through the mirror.
Those captivating fox like eyes held emotions Yu Keqing couldn’t decipher. She didn’t dare look too closely either, lowering her head after a fleeting glance. She had never dared to look Lin Sheng in the eye, even if Lin Sheng looked over, she would instinctively avert her gaze.
“Did the Yu family deprive you of food and drink?” Lin Sheng asked suddenly, her warm, fragrant breath brushing against the side of her neck.
Her face looked as though it were flushed with a thin layer of rouge, pale yet rosy, incredibly beautiful. She was beautiful, she just hadn’t realized it herself.
“Wh-what?” She didn’t understand the meaning behind Lin Sheng’s words.
Lin Sheng’s palm shifted upward, cupping her less than full little fleshy buns. Her smile carried a hint of playful mischief as she teased, “This area seems a bit underdeveloped, like a minor’s. It’s not even a third of mine.”
Yu Keqing’s face flushed a violent crimson. She was so humiliated that her toes curled. Forgetting her fear, she struggled desperately to break free from Lin Sheng’s embrace.
“Let go, let me go.” She clawed at Lin Sheng’s hand, the blush spreading from her face across her entire body.
Lin Sheng was too wicked, actually mocking her for being underdeveloped and looking like a minor. Bust size wasn’t something she could decide, nor could everyone be blessed by Nuwa like Lin Sheng, who possessed D-cup breasts and an incredibly narrow waist, with every ounce of weight settling exactly where it should. Lin Sheng’s figure was flawless, her superior traits as a top-tier Omega had once made Yu Keqing feel so insecure she felt buried in the dust. Looking down at her own small chest, Yu Keqing’s tears began to flow uncontrollably.
Her joke finished, Lin Sheng turned serious again. “You are too thin. I will hire a nutritionist to design a special menu for you and have Fangyi cook accordingly. Your body needs to be properly nurtured. I’ve scheduled a doctor to check your body, do you prefer tomorrow or the day after?”
Yu Keqing slowly released her grip, her tense body going limp. Does Lin Sheng already know about her surgery?
“No… no need.” She rejected Lin Sheng’s ulterior motive driven care.
Lin Sheng didn’t get angry, merely whispering in her ear, “Keke, look up at me.”
She glanced up at Lin Sheng through the mirror, but quickly lowered her head again, remaining silent.
Lin Sheng pulled her clothes back into place and said, “This matter is non-negotiable. Tomorrow or the day after, you must choose one.”
Yu Keqing resigned herself to her fate. “Tomorrow then. Tomorrow… Xiaobao said Man’er and Ningning are coming over for dinner, and that you invited them.”
A perfect crossover to avoid each other, this must be the result Lin Sheng wants.
Lin Sheng hadn’t thought that far ahead. Tomorrow was the weekend, and she needed to make arrangements in advance. She was deeply worried about Yu Keqing’s health, she wished the checkup could be done today.
“Yes, I invited her and Ningning for dinner. It won’t interfere with anything. In the future, if you want to see Wen Man, just invite her over as a guest. I won’t object anymore. But there is one catch, before your checkup results are out, you are only allowed to rest at home or walk in the garden. You cannot go too far. I will have Fangyi keep an eye on you. If you don’t listen, I will get angry and you know what I’m like when I’m angry.”
Even though these were words of concern, coming from Lin Sheng’s mouth, they carried an undeniable, forceful dominance that made Yu Keqing instinctively afraid.
Lin Sheng kissed and sucked at her neck again, leaving a fresh mark. “Alright, wash up. We’ll head downstairs to eat in a bit.”
During the meal, no one spoke, save for the faint clinking of utensils.
The dishes placed before Yu Keqing were primarily light and nutritious. Her main course was a bowl of soft-steamed rice with Chinese yam and pumpkin. Anything spicy, stimulating, or raw was strictly forbidden from appearing in her meals.
The soup in the stew pot had also been meticulously skimmed of oil. Lin Sheng tested the temperature first, only letting her drink it once she was sure it was suitable. Someone who had undergone surgery for gastric cancer had to be exceptionally careful with their diet.
This sudden display of care made Yu Keqing feel deeply uneasy.