Wen Ya listened attentively with her ears perked up, writing down Lin Xuehe’s detailed instructions in her notebook. During the process she was scolded several times for being careless and not supervising the work closely enough. Finally, an hour later, she happily followed him to enjoy a big meal.
French cuisine, and naturally Lin Xuehe paid the bill.
Although Chinese cuisine held an unshakable top position in her heart, Wen Ya felt that eating a meal like this once in a while was also a supreme treat.
The portions looked small, yet somehow they were still filling.
Thinking of the food left on the plate across from her, Wen Ya casually glanced at Lin Xuehe’s lean waistline.
“Mr. Lin is so tall, but your appetite seems rather small.”
Lin Xuehe paused with his hand on the car door, leaving it half open as his gaze fell on the person who had asked the question.
“You are so short…”
He did not need to continue. Wen Ya immediately made a gesture as if sealing her lips shut, shrinking her shoulders as she opened the car door on the other side.
With such a small appetite, he probably could not help a girlfriend finish food she bought but could not finish herself. That would make him an unqualified boyfriend.
She muttered to herself inwardly. The man beside her, who was fastening his seatbelt, suddenly gave a delicate cough, as if he had sensed something.
Yes, a delicate cough.
The kind of cough where someone politely raises a hand to cover the lower half of their face and keeps the sound restrained. Combined with the fact that it came from someone so handsome, Wen Ya called it delicate.
Lin Xuehe frowned, as if trying hard to endure something. In the end he shook his head lightly and lowered his gaze again, fastening his seatbelt.
Only then did Wen Ya notice that the corners of Lin Xuehe’s eyes were slightly red, and his breathing was heavier than usual. It looked like he was sick.
Looking more closely, he seemed noticeably thinner than when she first met him. Could it be that after returning to the country after so many years, he was having trouble adjusting to the environment?
“Mr. Lin…”
“I am a little tired. Fasten your seatbelt.”
“Oh.”
She obediently fastened her seatbelt. Since he did not want to continue the topic, Wen Ya had no position to keep asking out of concern. However, although her gaze was directed out the car window, she could not help glancing at the faint reflection of Lin Xuehe’s half blurred profile in the glass.
So embarrassing. He had lost his appetite because he was sick, yet she had foolishly described it as having a small appetite.
The road home felt both long and short.
By the time she came back to her senses, she realized she had already unfastened her seatbelt and one foot was on the ground.
Wen Ya, who had just returned to reality, turned her head in a daze. Lin Xuehe glanced at her, puzzled.
“What is it?”
“Mr. Lin, you were right. I really am quite careless.”
“… That is the conclusion of your reflection?”
Wen Ya nodded. Then she looked at the redness at the corner of his eyes and spoke seriously.
“So I will add what I failed to notice earlier.”
“You are sick. Have you taken any medicine?”
This time she did not follow the usual pattern, and caught off guard, Lin Xuehe answered instinctively.
“I have.”
“Do you have a fever?”
“A mild fever.”
“Is there anyone taking care of you tonight?”
“… That is enough, no need to add anything more.” Lin Xuehe coughed lightly. “This kind of addition is inefficient. Going through the motions wastes time.”
Wen Ya patted her chest and frowned. “This comes from the heart.”
“Because of the French food?”
Wen Ya choked on her words. Was she really that materialistic? She clearly cared because… well, that was partly a reason, but more than that it was basic human concern. It was not deliberate, it was a natural reaction.
“Anyway, no matter what, I hope you recover soon.”
Lin Xuehe nodded. The next second, however, he said something like this.
“If you truly think that, then go inside immediately and stop taking up the time I need to go home and rest.”
“…”
Within three seconds, Wen Ya got out of the car and shut the door in one smooth motion, fast as lightning.
Watching Lin Xuehe’s car drive away, she pressed hard on her stomach.
She was so angry her stomach hurt.
Dragging her exhausted body and mind back home, she noticed it was still early, only nine o’clock.
The dirty clothes she had changed out of earlier had already been washed by her diligent mother and hung on the balcony. She tossed aside her backpack, grabbed clean clothes, slipped into her slippers, and went into the bathroom to turn on the shower.
The hot shower felt wonderful. After blow drying her hair, she felt much more relaxed.
She lazily collapsed onto the bed, grabbing the blanket and rolling around.
Lin Xuehe getting sick this time must be heaven’s justice.
Knock knock.
“Come in!”
The door opened. Wen Ya struggled upright and lifted her head. It was her mother.
She looked surprised. “Mom, you even learned to knock now?”
“Oh, stop it.” Mother Wen approached with a smile that reminded Wen Ya of a matchmaking madam. “Ya Ya~”
Hearing that long forgotten nickname made Wen Ya break out in goosebumps. She scrambled to the corner of the bed and looked at her mother warily.
“Stop beating around the bush. Just say it. Acting like this is terrifying.”
“Hehehe, then I will just say it.”
Mother Wen leaned closer with a loving expression and grabbed her arm.
“Guess what Teacher Han next door told me?”
Wen Ya struggled backward, but was still grabbed and dragged toward the edge of the bed. She looked terrified.
“I am not guessing. What exactly are you trying to do?”
Mother Wen chuckled.
“What are you talking about? What could your mother possibly do? I just want to ask when you got a boyfriend.”
“A boyfriend my foot. Where would I even get a boyfriend?” Wen Ya pulled her hand back forcefully and held the blanket between herself and her mother, who was smiling brightly. “Teacher Han is supposed to be a role model. How could she say something so irresponsible?”
“How is that irresponsible? She said she saw it once at first but was not sure, so she did not tell me. Only after seeing it several times and confirming it did she finally tell me.”
Her mother looked completely certain, as if saying you cannot hide this from me. Wen Ya rolled her eyes.
“I work overtime every day. Where exactly did she see this several times?”
“Hmm.” Mother Wen patted the blanket. “That is exactly the issue. You say you are working overtime, yet there is always a young man about your age driving you home. Are you working overtime with him? Are you even going out to eat together?”
Wen Ya suddenly understood and snorted.
“You think that is my boyfriend?”
“Is he not?”
“You wish. That is the cousin of our company’s big boss.”
Mother Wen slapped her thigh. “Is that not even more obvious? Think about it. You already helped him find a house, so why does he still contact you and invite you out to eat? It is obvious he is interested in you.”
“… The house was bought, but it still needs renovation.”
“Renovation?” Mother Wen paused, then immediately found another argument. “Then why does he insist on you helping with the renovation? Renovation companies are so convenient nowadays. He is not short of money. Clearly he is interested in you.”
“… Impressive, truly impressive.” Wen Ya surrendered completely to her mother’s imagination. “Mom, remember that overseas returnee you once tried to match me with?”
Mother Wen nodded. “Of course I remember. That family had no taste.”
Wen Ya nodded too and held her hands apart to indicate about ten centimeters.
“If the difference between me and that overseas returnee was about this much, then the gap between me and Lin Xuehe is the distance from the floor to the ceiling. You can feel the difference yourself.”
Mother Wen was stunned. “That exaggerated?”
“Anyway, just give up.” Wen Ya started pushing her toward the door. “Also explain it clearly to Teacher Han. Otherwise if any rumors reach his ears, things will become awkward and it will make my work difficult. Go on, go on. I am exhausted and going to sleep.”
Mother Wen stared at her with a frown for a while before finally leaving, still half convinced.
Letting out a breath, Wen Ya muttered, “A toad dreaming of eating swan meat.” Then she turned over, pulled her phone from under the blanket, and opened WeChat.
Lin Xuehe’s Minion smiling avatar was glaringly eye catching. Even though it was lower down on the page, it was still the most noticeable one.
That avatar really fit the situation.
She scratched her chin where a small pimple had appeared, wondering what Lin Xuehe’s other WeChat friends thought when they saw that avatar.
After staring at the smiling face for a full minute, Wen Ya finally made up her mind and tapped on a different WeChat profile picture.
Her concern was genuine.
Ten o’clock sharp.
Lin Xuehe sat at his desk, coughing violently.
Over the past few days he had only felt faint headaches and occasional coughing, but tonight it suddenly flared up. The germs that had been lying dormant in his body seemed to awaken all at once, attacking fiercely.
His phone vibrated only once before he picked it up.
“Hello…”
The person on the other end of the phone was startled by his hoarse voice.
“Your voice is already this hoarse?”
Lin Xuehe responded weakly.
“Good thing I came over. Come open the door.”
Lin Xuehe immediately straightened up. “You came?”
The big boss, already standing outside the door, laughed. “Yes. You are sick, so as your cousin I should at least come check on you.”
As Lin Xuehe walked toward the door he asked, “How did you know I was sick?”
“Hahahaha.” Along with the laughter both from the phone and outside the door, a name popped out. “Wen Ya told me.”
Lin Xuehe’s mouth twitched slightly.
Calling her boss so late at night just to mention such a small matter, impressive.
More likely she was just a bit simple minded.