Why would President Duan go?
He has no connection with Lin Xuehe, right?
Their two companies don’t have any overlapping business, right?
And the big boss probably didn’t ask him to visit either, right?
Wen Ya gripped her cup tightly. Could it be that in the short few minutes after she left yesterday, these two big shots had already developed… a relationship beyond friendship?
“Why are you so absent-minded? It’s already time to get off work.”
As soon as Duan Ming’an came over, he saw the faraway look on her face and could not help laughing. “Is it because I said we’d have dinner together, and the pressure is too much?”
“…Of course not.” In front of food, everyone is equal. She was not even afraid when facing Lin Xuehe.
Wen Ya tidied up the ridiculous guesses in her head, put down her cup, and slung on the backpack she had already packed. “I was just distracted for a moment. Let’s go.”
Duan Ming’an was a gentleman. He opened the car door for her, pulled out her chair, asked about dietary restrictions and preferences when ordering, and occasionally told a few dry jokes to liven the atmosphere. He was thoughtful in every way, so Wen Ya did not have to worry about anything.
The atmosphere was very relaxed. Wen Ya genuinely felt happy, but she ended up eating less.
There were two reasons. First, Duan Ming’an had many topics and they were interesting. She listened with amusement, so naturally she used her chopsticks less. Second, after being treated with such considerate care as a woman, she… felt embarrassed to eat too much.
Once a girl’s “reserve” started acting up, Wen Ya could only watch helplessly as a large amount of meat sat in front of her, tasting just a little.
After eating until she was about thirty percent full, she put down her chopsticks.
Sigh. It was happy, but the meal was no longer satisfying.
“Girls really do eat so little.” Duan Ming’an smiled and shook his head, raising his hand toward a waiter not far away. “The bill, please.”
Half the food on the table was still left. Wen Ya turned her face aside, pretending to be calm and indifferent. “Actually it’s not that little, I just ate too much fruit this afternoon, it took up space.”
Such a waste, sob.
When they passed a congee shop near the hospital, Wen Ya asked him to stop.
“I’m sorry, President Duan. I need to buy dinner for Mr. Lin…” She unfastened her seatbelt. “You can just wait in the car. I’ll be back as quickly as possible.”
Because it was hard to find parking nearby, Duan Ming’an, who had originally wanted to go in with her, had no choice but to give up and watch as she ran off and blended into the crowd.
Ten minutes later, Wen Ya quickly came out of the flow of people again, carrying a tightly packed takeaway bag, and got into the car.
“Did you wait long?”
Duan Ming’an shook his head. “Did you get everything?”
Wen Ya made a victory sign with her hand. “Let’s set off like this!”
Duan Ming’an laughed and stepped on the accelerator without hesitation. “As you command.”
Wen Ya was inexplicably charmed, and the ears hidden under her long hair quietly turned red.
The feeling of being in love~
When Wen Ya knocked and entered, Lin Xuehe was on the phone. He glanced at her and said into the phone, “She’s here, don’t worry.”
“Alright then, I’m hanging up.”
After putting down his phone, he raised his head again, his gaze passing over Wen Ya and landing on Duan Ming’an, who had followed in right behind her.
They had only met yesterday, so there was no need to strain his memory. However, seeing these two appear together again made their relationship rather subtle.
Wen Ya moved quickly, arranging things so that Lin Xuehe could eat. Duan Ming’an stepped forward to greet him. “I heard from Wen Ya that you’re sick, so I came by to visit. Are you feeling better?”
Lin Xuehe nodded slightly. “Thank you, much better.”
It sounded like he had a close relationship with someone a bit scatterbrained, but these two clearly were not a couple. In that case… this man must have come treating him as a hypothetical rival while pursuing her.
Having analyzed Duan Ming’an’s true intention, Lin Xuehe glanced calmly at the busy Wen Ya. Her prospects were not bad.
Wen Ya had no idea what the two men were thinking. She was simply focused on arranging the dining setup for Lin Xuehe, opening all the packages that needed to be opened.
“I’m sorry I didn’t bring any proper get-well gift, only this…” Duan Ming’an handed over a paper bag he had prepared earlier. “I bought two magazines at the last minute. I hope they can help pass the time.”
Lin Xuehe took it and glanced at the magazine titles. One was a relatively authoritative domestic financial magazine, and the other was a casual magazine filled with folk anecdotes. The gesture was thoughtful.
“Thank you.”
Duan Ming’an smiled. This person was truly so taciturn that it made it impossible to continue the conversation.
The familiar silence appeared again, yet Wen Ya felt quite comforted. See, Lin Xuehe was exactly the kind of person who could leave even someone as socially skilled as President Duan with nothing to say.
“Ring, ring, ring…”
The suddenly ringing phone rescued the atmosphere that was sliding toward awkwardness. Duan Ming’an said a quick apology before answering the call. His relaxed brows gradually knitted together as he listened to the hurried voice on the other end.
“I understand. Keep contacting them. I’ll return right away.”
He hung up, but first looked at Wen Ya. “Sorry, Wen Ya. I have to go back to the company. I can’t send you home.”
“Ah?” They had never agreed that he would send her home anyway, so why was he apologizing?
Although confused, Wen Ya still replied nervously, “It’s alright. Please go ahead and handle your work. Don’t worry about me.”
Duan Ming’an smiled. Only then did he turn to Lin Xuehe and say, “Mr. Lin, I’ll take my leave first. Please have a good rest.”
Seeing the deliberate way he arranged his priorities, Lin Xuehe lifted the corner of his lips into a smile, looking particularly amiable. “Alright. President Duan, please drive safely.”
That smile was almost like the reappearance of Miss Wen’s nightmare. Wen Ya felt a chill down her back and goosebumps rose all over her skin.
Why did it feel like he did that on purpose…
After Duan Ming’an left, Wen Ya sat on a small stool waiting for Lin Xuehe to finish eating so she could clean up the trash before leaving.
Lin Xuehe slowly stirred the brown sugar millet porridge with the spoon in his hand. The porridge was only mildly sweet and not cloying. Paired with delicate crystal steamed dumplings and spinach buns, it made one’s appetite open wide.
As Wen Ya watched, she secretly swallowed.
Her gaze was too intense. Being stared at like that made Lin Xuehe unable to eat in peace, so he finally looked up and glanced at her. “Didn’t you eat?”
Wen Ya pressed a hand to her stomach, twisting slightly in embarrassment. “I ate… but I didn’t get full.”
Lin Xuehe was momentarily speechless. “…Just how much do you eat?”
“I just ate very little tonight.” Wen Ya quickly defended herself. “I only ate a tiny bit!”
“Why… oh.” Lin Xuehe understood. In front of the man she liked, her girlish restraint had kicked in, so she ended up going hungry. “You brought it upon yourself.”
Wen Ya pouted. Yes, she had indeed brought it upon herself.
His chopsticks hovered over the steamed dumplings, then withdrew the next second. Lin Xuehe frowned. “So these dumplings were bought for yourself?”
Wen Ya’s eyes widened, feeling wronged. “I bought them according to the menu you gave me…”
“Oh? What a coincidence. Just when you didn’t eat enough, there happens to be a greasy plate of steamed dumplings that I can’t finish?” His pale fingers moved the lunchbox from the left to the right. “Alright, eat.”
He slightly raised his chin, looking arrogant.
Wen Ya also lifted her face to look at him. After ten seconds of eye contact, Lin Xuehe lowered his eyes and chuckled, pushing the lunchbox to the right one last time.
“Eat it or don’t.”
Even though what he pushed over were savory dumplings, Wen Ya felt as if she tasted the flavor of brown sugar millet porridge.
There was a faint sweetness.
She immediately went to wash her hands, picked up a dumpling that was clearly not greasy at all, and stuffed it into her mouth, feeling extremely satisfied. When she looked at Lin Xuehe again, his expression had already returned to his usual calm, neither happy nor angry. The deliberate arrogance had completely disappeared.
After swallowing the delicious dumpling, Wen Ya grinned foolishly. “Thank you, Mr. Lin.”
“Mhm. Next time remember to eat your fill.”
Wen Ya thought to herself that if she ever had another chance to eat with President Duan, she would probably still end up going hungry.
In that brief moment of hesitation, Lin Xuehe had already seen through her. “If you two get together, sooner or later he’ll discover your true nature.”
Wen Ya’s face flushed bright red. “How can you talk about this kind of topic too!”
“Because I’m bored.”
“….” That sounded so reasonable that she truly could not refute it.
Lin Xuehe stirred the porridge with his spoon again as it gradually cooled. “However, personally I think the two of you aren’t very suitable. He has a desire for control, and you don’t want to be dominated.”
Wen Ya felt awkward. “Mr. Lin, you suddenly caring about me like this makes me feel a little nervous…”
Lin Xuehe gave her a meaningful look, smiling. “Sorry. It’s all because I’m too bored.”
Great. Wonderful. Very cool.
Wen Ya took a deep breath and lowered her head.
Half a minute later.
“Mr. Lin, I’ve finished eating.”
Lin Xuehe held the bowl of millet porridge and slightly lifted his eyelids.
The next second, Wen Ya reached out with lightning speed and stretched her sinful claws toward the spinach bun, speaking with complete justification. “But I’m still not full!”
Although the bun was small, stuffing the whole thing into her mouth filled her cheeks so much that Lin Xuehe almost thought the creature in front of him had suddenly changed species.
He had not expected this and was a little stunned.
Wen Ya covered her mouth with her hand and chewed vigorously.
Her voice came out muffled.
“I ate this one, but I’m still not full…”
Lin Xuehe stared at her foolish appearance for three seconds, then laughed softly.
When she got embarrassed and angry, she was actually quite cute.