At 7:30 in the morning, Shen Nuan woke up right on time.
The moment she opened her eyes, she felt dizzy and weak. Her nose was blocked, and her entire body felt limp.
Even though she was feeling unwell, Shen Nuan didn’t dare slack off in the slightest and started her work punctually as usual.
Before eight o’clock, she arrived at the master bedroom.
Normally, Fu Shijing had already finished getting ready by this hour, but today he was still in bed.
Seeing the man lying there, Shen Nuan was startled and hurriedly stepped back.
“Sorry, sir, I’ll leave right away.”
Fu Shijing leisurely picked up a book from the bedside table, showing no intention of getting up.
“Do what you need to do. Don’t mind me.”
“Yes.”
With him still in bed, Shen Nuan couldn’t possibly change the bedding, nor could she use the robotic vacuum in front of him. That would be smashing her own rice bowl.
Fu Shijing absentmindedly read his book while secretly observing her from the corner of his eye.
The reason he had decided to go to the company later today was because he had been unable to sleep last night.
And the culprit behind his insomnia was her kiss.
He had never imagined that one day, a simple accidental kiss from a woman would leave him unable to let go, his mind filled with nothing but her alluring, rosy lips.
Feeling his scrutinizing gaze, Shen Nuan became nervous, afraid he had discovered what had happened last night.
【Little Nine, what’s wrong with Fu Shijing? Isn’t he going to work?】
999 pondered seriously before finally arriving at three words.
【I don’t know.】
【You looked so serious that I thought you had made some major discovery.】
【I only discovered that the male lead is looking at you, Boss.】
Shen Nuan became even more uneasy.
【It’s because he’s staring at me that I’m panicking. Fu Shijing is so perceptive. If he notices something, I’m done for.】
Before, he had never looked at her so openly. The more she thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed.
999 agreed.
【Then Boss, should you avoid his gaze for now?】
【Mm, I’ll go clean the washroom first.】
As soon as Shen Nuan finished organizing the toiletries in the washroom, Fu Shijing walked in.
Thinking he was there to freshen up, she immediately stepped aside.
“Sir, please.”
As he approached, he noticed her poor complexion and instinctively asked, “Do you have a cold?”
Originally, Shen Nuan had not intended to use her illness to gain sympathy, but since he had noticed, she followed along.
“It’s alright. I can endure it.”
She had a cold and still got up so early. She really didn’t know how to take care of herself.
Fu Shijing frowned slightly.
“Go back to your room and rest.”
【Ding! Twenty hundred thousand yuan have been credited to the system account.】
999 said happily, 【Boss, not only is the male lead not blaming you, he’s concerned about you.】
【Though I deliberately played up the sympathy part, as long as it works, that’s enough.】
Shen Nuan shook her head.
“Thank you for your concern, sir, but I’ve already rested for a whole day. It wouldn’t be right to rest more.”
“I don’t want to repeat myself. If I see you working today again, I’ll deduct your salary.”
Shen Nuan fell silent.
Though domineering, it was still a kind of benefit.
【Ding! Twenty hundred thousand yuan have been credited to the system account.】
Seeing her spacing out, Fu Shijing realized his tone had been too harsh and softened a little.
“Do you have objections?”
“No, I’ll go back right away.”
If he was letting her rest, she’d be crazy to object.
After she left, 999 was overjoyed.
【Boss, the male lead is really worried about you.】
【I hope this kind of concern increases.】
Though she knew that was impossible.
By her calculations, Bai Xin would be returning to the country soon. Fu Shijing would fall in love with her at first sight, so before that happened, Shen Nuan needed to earn as much money as possible.
Watching her hurriedly leave, Fu Shijing smiled faintly.
Then he made a phone call.
As soon as Butler Zhou saw the caller ID, he answered immediately.
“Sir.”
Fu Shijing spoke calmly.
“Don’t assign any work to Shen Nuan.”
Those simple words shocked Butler Zhou once again.
“Yes, sir.”
This wasn’t the first time Fu Shijing had ordered him not to make Shen Nuan work. He had no idea why and didn’t dare ask.
No servant had ever enjoyed such privilege, yet Shen Nuan repeatedly received special treatment. Butler Zhou couldn’t help but regard her differently.
After returning to her room, Shen Nuan lay down since it wasn’t yet meal time.
Her body was already uncomfortable, and she quickly fell asleep.
Half asleep, she heard someone calling her. She struggled to open her eyes and saw Aunt Wang looking at her anxiously.
“Aunt Wang, what’s wrong?”
Her voice was hoarse, and her throat hurt terribly.
“I didn’t see you come for lunch and wanted to check on you.”
Aunt Wang touched her forehead, and her expression immediately changed.
“Nuan Nuan, you have a fever.”
“No wonder I feel worse than this morning.”
Even her voice had changed.
“Stop talking. There’s still some porridge in the kitchen. I’ll bring it over. Fill your stomach first.”
“No need, Aunt Wang. I can go myself.”
Shen Nuan had already received so much help from her and didn’t want to trouble her further.
“You have a fever. Why are you being polite? I’ll get the porridge and inform the butler. He’ll arrange for a doctor to examine you.”
“Aunt…”
Before she could finish, Aunt Wang had already left.
【Boss, Aunt Wang really treats you well.】
【She does.】
Aunt Wang was the kindest person Shen Nuan had met since coming here. Thanks to her care, she adapted quickly.
…
After finishing his important work, Fu Shijing got off work early.
As soon as he entered the living room, he instinctively searched for her figure.
“Where is she?”
She?
Butler Zhou immediately understood.
“Shen Nuan has a fever this afternoon, so I let her rest in her room.”
She even had a fever?
Fu Shijing frowned deeper.
“In the future, report everything concerning her to me.”
“Yes, sir.”
Inside her room, Shen Nuan struggled to get up.
Fu Shijing should be back soon. Even if she could only earn a little, it was still money.
【Boss, just rest. You can see the male lead tomorrow. No need to rush.】
Although 999 was a system, he spoiled his host.
【It’s fine. My fever has gone down. I feel much better now.】
Knock knock knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
【It’s probably Aunt Wang.】
Knowing she had a fever, Aunt Wang had visited several times.
“It’s unlocked, Aunt Wang.”
Moments later, the door opened.
The person standing there was someone Shen Nuan hadn’t expected.
Fu Shijing.
“Sir, you’re back.”
Seeing the unusual flush on her fair face, he strode over.
Placing his hand on her forehead and confirming that she wasn’t burning up anymore, he relaxed.
“Lie down. Why are you getting up?”
“I wanted to wait for you in the master bedroom.”
Looking into her smiling, watery eyes, something inside him softened.
“Didn’t I tell you not to wait for me?”
Placing his hand on her shoulder, he gently but firmly pushed her back onto the bed.
【Ding! One hundred thousand yuan have been credited to the system account.】
Seeing that his sympathy was working, Shen Nuan continued acting pitifully.
“I know.”
She lowered her eyes sadly.
“But I still wanted to wait. Have you had dinner, sir?”
【Ding! One hundred thousand yuan have been credited to the system account.】
Even now, she was worried about him?
“If you haven’t eaten, go eat quickly. It’s not good to eat too late.”
“And you?”
“Me?”
She looked at him in confusion.
He awkwardly asked, “Have you eaten?”
“I had lunch.”
Fu Shijing glanced at his watch.
“You’re not allowed to get out of bed.”
Leaving those words behind, he went out.
Shen Nuan was baffled.
【I thought he’d sympathize with me more. Turns out I was overthinking.】
999 had also thought he had come specifically to see her.
【The male lead really has a heart of stone.】
Shen Nuan wondered whether she should go out or not.
In the end, she decided to listen to her boss.
Half an hour later, the door was knocked on again.
Fu Shijing entered once more, this time dressed in casual clothes and carrying a tray containing porridge and several light dishes.
He set the tray on the table.
“Eat dinner and take your medicine afterward.”
【That’s more like it. Keep it up.】
【Boss, the male lead personally brought you dinner. We misunderstood him earlier.】
【He’s suddenly being so nice that I barely recognize him. What kind of employer personally delivers meals to his servant? Especially when that employer is Fu Shijing.】
999 didn’t understand her contradiction.
【Isn’t this exactly what you wanted? Do you really want no progress until you fail the mission?】
【No.】
Survival was her driving force.
“Thank you, sir.”
As Shen Nuan struggled to get up, Fu Shijing simply picked her up and carried her to the table before putting her down.
“Eat.”
【Ding! Twenty hundred thousand yuan have been credited to the system account.】
Instead of eating immediately, Shen Nuan asked first, “Have you eaten?”
He gave a soft hum.
“Hurry and eat.”
Under his watchful gaze, Shen Nuan forced herself to eat.
Seeing her eat so little, he frowned.
“Not tasty?”
She shook her head.
“It’s good. I just don’t have much appetite.”
“What do you want to eat? I’ll have the kitchen make it.”
“No need. I’m not hungry.”
She truly couldn’t eat anymore, and she had no right to request dishes.
Fu Shijing didn’t pursue the topic and had someone take away the tray.
“When did you take your medicine this afternoon?”
“Around two o’clock.”
“Take your medicine.”
He poured her a glass of warm water.
【Ding! One hundred thousand yuan have been credited to the system account.】
Shen Nuan obediently took the medicine and said sweetly, “Thank you, sir.”
Her smile was like a summer afternoon breeze, brushing past him lightly, leaving his heart itchy and numb.
His heart rippled, and an impulse arose within him.
He wanted to make her his alone.
…
Perhaps because of the medicine, Shen Nuan went to sleep early and slept soundly.
She even had a dream. In the dream, she had earned one hundred million, paid off the debt, and traveled the world with the original owner’s parents.
The next day, because of that beautiful dream, she overslept.
She felt much better. Her body was no longer weak, and her head wasn’t as heavy.
After hurriedly getting ready, she rushed to the master bedroom.
Seeing her wearing a mask, still weak and insisting on working, Fu Shijing felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
“Sorry, sir. I overslept.”
He had been unable to sleep last night and had even secretly gone to check on her.
“Why are you wearing a mask? What’s wrong with your face?”
“I’m afraid I’ll pass my cold to you, sir. Better to be cautious.”
Seeing the flushed skin exposed above the mask, he accidentally touched her hand and found it alarmingly hot.
“You have a forty-degree fever and still want to work? Don’t you know how to take care of yourself?”
【Ding! Twenty hundred thousand yuan have been credited to the system account.】
Though there was anger in his voice, she knew it was a concern and secretly rejoiced.
“I have been taking care of myself.”
His irritation deepened.
“You still have a fever.”
“It’s only a low fever. I’m fine.”
Only a low fever?
Angrily, he poked her forehead.
“If I see you wandering around again, I’ll deduct your salary.”
“I understand.”
【Ding! Twenty hundred thousand yuan have been credited to the system account.】
Shen Nuan obediently returned to her room.
Although she was a short-lived supporting character, heaven had treated her kindly. Not only had Fu Shijing not tormented her, but he had repeatedly given her time off.
【Boss, the male lead is treating you better and better.】 999 said happily.
【I can’t even imagine how good he’ll be to the female lead once they fall in love.】
That only existed in novels. Reality wasn’t like that.
999 comforted her.
【No need to envy them. I believe you’ll meet your own male lead one day.】
【Love is fine, but I won’t become someone who loses herself in it. For me, having family and money is enough.】
【Maybe you’ll change your mind someday.】
【We’ll talk about the future when it comes. Right now, earning my life is more important.】
After chatting with the system for a while, Shen Nuan fell asleep again.
When she woke up, it was already ten o’clock.
She had been lying in bed too long and wanted to get up and move around a bit before having lunch.
Just as she was about to get up, her phone rang.
Seeing an unfamiliar number, she ignored it.
During this period, she had received plenty of harassing and mocking calls. At first, she answered them, but later she stopped bothering.
Soon after hanging up, she received another call.
This time, it was Fu Shijing.
As soon as she answered, he asked, “Why didn’t you answer my call just now?”
“Just now?”
That call had been from him?
“Sir, I didn’t know that number belonged to you.”
Hearing that she simply hadn’t recognized the number, he relaxed.
“That’s my private number. If anything happens, call this one.”
“Okay.”
No wonder her previous messages and calls hadn’t worked. He rarely used that number, Shen Nuan realized.
“Then, sir, why did you call me?”
“Nothing.”
Shen Nuan was speechless.
If there was nothing, why call?
After a moment of silence, Fu Shijing nervously tugged at his tie before speaking slowly.
“Have you been taking your medicine on time?”
【Ding! One hundred thousand yuan have been credited to the system account.】
【The male lead is checking whether Boss took her medicine.】 999 giggled.
“Yes, I took it.”
Wanting to talk with him longer, Shen Nuan took the initiative.
“Are you busy today, sir?”
Looking at the stack of files on his desk, Fu Shijing answered calmly, “Not too bad.”
“Oh.”
Silence spread again.
His low, sexy voice came from the other end.
“Don’t you have anything to say?”
Come on, stupid brain, think of something that will make him happy and earn money.
“Then if there’s nothing, I’ll hang…”
Realizing he was about to hang up, Shen Nuan blurted out: “I… I missed you, sir.”