Seeing Lu Huaicheng’s composed face outside the window, completely indifferent to her smile, Xia Liyang sheepishly turned away and took a sip of tea to cover up her embarrassment.

She stayed inside the villa, using her dizziness as an excuse to lean on the sofa and rest for a bit.

Until she vaguely felt the sofa dip slightly beside her and smelled the familiar, cool scent.

A bit drowsy, she opened her eyes, her gaze hazy, and looked at the man who had come to sit beside her. Her voice was slightly hoarse as she said, “Mr. Lu, you’re back.”

“Yes,” Lu Huaicheng responded in a low voice. Noticing her slightly messy hair, he added with a hint of reproach in his tone, “Sleeping like that, aren’t you afraid of catching a cold from the air conditioning?”

“Well, I figured you’d take care of me,” Xia Liyang’s eyes curved like little crescents as she playfully teased him.

“Wishful thinking,” Lu Huaicheng scoffed with a slight laugh.

“…,” Xia Liyang was momentarily taken aback but didn’t give up, blinking as she coyly said, “Would you really just let me suffer on my own?”

“If you’re that unwell, go to the hospital.” Lu Huaicheng’s tone was calm as he looked at his watch. “Are you feeling any better?”

After being brushed off by him once again, Xia Liyang paused for a couple of seconds before managing a smile. “Much better.”

“Then let’s head back. It’s about time for you to start cleaning,” Lu Huaicheng said calmly as he stood up, his face still radiating warmth and gentleness. 

But his gaze toward her held a subtle coldness and detachment. 

Xia Liyang felt a pang of worry. Was he still holding a grudge because of the matter with Xu Songnian? 

So, as she stood up, she tentatively leaned closer, her slender hand reaching out to hold his arm. 

However, he subtly avoided her touch. 

… 

Unbelievable. 

Xia Liyang’s movements hesitated as she pulled her hand back, her soft voice laced with grievance. “Mr. Lu, I really am just friends with Mr. Xu.”

“Mm.” Lu Huaicheng kept his hands in his pockets, his deep-set features indifferent as he looked at the path ahead. 

He didn’t even spare her a glance. 

Xia Liyang pursed her lips slightly and continued, “And after that one dinner, I haven’t seen him since. The necklace you gave me—I’ve been wearing it all along.” 

“Mm,” Lu Huaicheng replied with the same single word. 

“So could you stop being mad at me?” Xia Liyang’s fingers lightly tugged at the sleeve of his suit again, her voice soft. “You’re the only person I’ve ever been involved with; I’ve never even been in a relationship before…”

Lu Huaicheng’s steps paused, and he finally cast her a brief glance. 

Her long lashes trembled slightly, her clear eyes full of a pitiful, pleading gaze as she looked up at him. 

But his dark eyes lingered on her face for just a second before he withdrew his gaze, his tone as light as a passing cloud. “I’m not angry with you. There’s no need to explain further.”

“…” Xia Liyang stared at him, utterly baffled by the sudden coldness in his attitude. 

On the drive back, Lu Huaicheng kept his head down, his slender fingers idly scrolling on his phone. 

Whether he was genuinely busy with work or purposely avoiding conversation with her was unclear. 

Upon reaching his villa, he immediately went into his study and didn’t come out, even after she finished cleaning and left. 

What on earth was going on?! 

Feeling defeated and confused, Xia Liyang called Song Jinhe as soon as she got home, hoping for some insight. 

After listening to Xia Liyang’s recounting of the situation, Song Jinhe was equally perplexed. “Honestly, I’m a bit at a loss too.”

“Really? If even you don’t know, what am I supposed to do?” Xia Liyang flopped onto her bed with a groan. 

After some thought, Song Jingle suggested, “Maybe just lay low for now.”

“You mean play hard to get?” Xia Liyang asked, uncertain.

“Not quite.” Song Jingle paused. “I mean, just act like usual. Don’t be overly attentive or distant. If he seeks you out, be warm; if he doesn’t, don’t go after him.”

“Oh.” Xia Liyang nodded thoughtfully, a hint of worry in her voice. “Do you think he’ll come back to find me?”

“He’s let you stay in his house, given you clothes and jewelry. He’ll definitely find his way back.” Song Jinhe thought for a moment, adding slowly, “Besides, his sudden coldness this time may have nothing to do with you.”

“What do you mean, it has nothing to do with me?” Xia Liyang asked, puzzled.

“I mean, it doesn’t seem like he’s distancing himself because of something you did; it could be something going on with him personally.” Song Jinhe explained.

“Could it be something from the event that bothered him?” Xia Liyang frowned.

“Maybe. Hard to say. That’s why I think staying put is your best bet.” Song Jinhe concluded.

“I see.” Xia Liyang nodded, sighing. “I was planning on finding a chance to kiss him these next few days, gather all my research material, and then make my exit. Guess that’s not happening.”

“Patience. This is a great time to experience the tension of a relationship,” Song Jinhe teased. “Like now, you can really feel the frustration and confusion of being on the receiving end of coldness.”

“Oh my god, you’re a genius!” Xia Liyang, who had been feeling a bit deflated, suddenly brightened, springing up from her bed. “I’m going to start writing right now.”

“Your recovery speed is the real genius move here,” Song Jinhe said with a laugh.

“Thanks! Love you!” Xia Liyang said, sitting at her desk and opening her laptop.

That night, she wrote until the early hours before dragging herself to bed. 

Perhaps the late nights had weakened her immune system. 

When she woke up the next day, she felt a scratch in her throat and a bit lightheaded. 

Could Lu Huaicheng’s prediction have actually come true? Did the AC really give her a cold yesterday?

To be safe, Xia Liyang quickly made herself some herbal tea. 

She then headed to the school to retrieve her Porsche, which was parked behind the dorm building. 

Though she knew Lu Huaicheng probably wouldn’t be coming by soon, she still felt a bit uneasy as she pulled into the underground parking. 

After glancing around for a while and confirming she didn’t see his distinctive Rolls-Royce with the consecutive license plates, she finally put on her big black sunglasses and stepped out of her car. 

Just to be safe, she thought it might be best not to drive it herself until she quit her job with him. 

With that in mind, she quickly entered the elevator. 

Just as she pressed the button for her floor, she received a call from Lin Shen, who asked if she was home since he was coming by to deliver a bag. 

“A bag?” Xia Liyang blinked, a bit confused.

“Mr. Lu mentioned yesterday that you needed a new bag, so he asked me to buy a few.” Lin Shen explained.

“Oh… I should be home. When will you be here?” Xia Liyang bit her lip slightly.

“Is half an hour okay?” Lin Shen confirmed.

“Yes, thank you, Mr. Lin.” Xia Liyang replied, a bit embarrassed.

“No problem.” Lin Shen smiled, “I’ll hang up now.”

“Wait…” Xia Liyang clutched her phone, hesitating. “Did Mr. Lu ask you to buy the bags in the morning or the afternoon yesterday?”

“In the morning,” Lin Shen paused slightly, “Is there something you wanted to ask, Miss Xia?”

“No, just curious. Thank you.” Xia Liyang forced a smile and quickly hung up.

It seemed that there was no change in Lu Huaicheng’s attitude toward her.

Xia Liyang sighed quietly and redirected the elevator to the top floor.

Half an hour later, Lin Shen arrived, carrying shopping bags from various luxury brands. While thanking him, Xia Liyang casually inquired about Lu Huaicheng’s schedule. She learned he was at home resting, so after Lin Shen left, she cautiously sent him a WeChat message: “Received the bags you sent, thank you.”

Surprisingly, Lu Huaicheng replied rather quickly.

But it was only a simple “Mm.”

Seeing this, Xia Liyang didn’t message him further.

Meanwhile, her throat felt no better, and her nose was getting stuffier.

Darn it, all thanks to Lu Huaicheng’s jinxed words!

Fuming, Xia Liyang tossed the bags he’d sent into a corner and went to her own apartment.

Before bed, she drank another herbal tea and took a hot bath to ward off the cold.

But by Monday morning, she hadn’t escaped the fate of catching a cold, and she even had a fever.

With no choice, she called Lin Shen to cancel her part-time shift at the hospital for that evening.

Not only did Lin Shen thoughtfully arrange for medicine delivery, but he also ordered lunch and dinner for her from Lu Huaicheng’s favorite private kitchen.

After taking her medicine, Xia Liyang, feeling too weak to move around, decided to stay on the top floor.

Wrapped in a blanket, shivering, she held her phone and scrolled for a while.

She debated messaging Lu Huaicheng to tell him she was really sick and feeling terrible.

But remembering how he had coldly told her on Saturday to go to the hospital if she felt unwell, she decided against it.

Putting her phone aside, she resolved to try and sleep a bit more.

After all, if she slept, she wouldn’t feel the discomfort.

Nor would she have to dwell on thoughts of Lu Huaicheng.

….

Rush hour.

The taillights on the street formed a red sea.

Lu Huaicheng sat in the back seat of his slowly moving Rolls-Royce, focused on handling work emails on his phone, his striking features set in concentration.

It wasn’t until they reached the elevated outer highway that traffic became smoother, and they finally arrived at Qingjiang Hospital.

Looking somewhat tired, he exited the car and headed straight to the VIP ward on the fifth floor.

He opened the door but didn’t see the person he had expected, frowning slightly as he called Lin Shen.

“Did Xia Liyang not come in for her part-time shift today?”

“Oh, she had a fever this morning and took a sick day.” Lin Shen paused briefly, adding, “But I did arrange for her medicine and meals, so there’s no need to worry.”

“…I wasn’t worried.” Lu Huaicheng’s deep voice held a hint of displeasure.

“Apologies, I misunderstood your intentions,” Lin Shen immediately replied.

After a moment of silence, Lu Huaicheng said, “If she took a sick day, why didn’t anyone tell me this morning?”

“Well, you did tell me yesterday that I didn’t need to report anything unrelated to work when I informed you about the bags…” Lin Shen sounded both innocent and a little helpless.

Lu Huaicheng was momentarily at a loss, but he finally said, “If she’s taken a sick day, that’s something I need to know.” Then he hung up.

He walked over to Chen Wanzhen’s hospital bed, took a copy of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd from the nearby bookshelf, opened it to the bookmarked chapter, and began reading aloud in a warm tone.

However, already knowing the novel’s culprit, he found it hard to focus on the story. His mind wandered.

Every so often, he’d recall Xia Liyang’s long lashes, how she looked up at him, aggrieved, and asked, “Would you really just let me suffer on my own?”

The memory left him slightly uneasy.

After reluctantly finishing a chapter, he lowered his gaze, deep in thought for a moment.

He closed the book with a soft “clap,” and said apologetically to Chen Wanzhen, “Mom, I think there’s someone else who needs me to look after them. I’ll come see you another day.”

With that, he hurried out of the hospital.

Xia Liyang had been dozing in and out all day, barely eating the meals Lin Shen had delivered, which were now sitting scattered across the table.

Around 9 p.m., she managed to get up, planning to check her temperature to see if she needed another fever-reducing pill.

Faintly, she heard the sound of the doorbell.

Thinking it might be Lin Shen delivering more food, she didn’t bother getting up.

If no one answered, the food would just be left at the door.

With a thermometer under her arm, she lay back in bed, closed her eyes, and pulled the blanket over herself.

Vaguely, she seemed to hear the electronic sound of the door’s password lock.

What was going on?

Could it be that Lin Shen had come in to check on her?

With her fever-clouded mind working sluggishly, Xia Liyang slowly turned over.

Then, she saw Lu Huaicheng standing in the bedroom doorway, looking as refined and poised as ever in his suit, with a slight frown on his brow.