Chapter 51 Completely devoured

The next day, Yan Shuang opened her eyes groggily.

She tilted her head slightly to examine him closely. His thick eyebrows and high nose bridge made him appear more languid and sexy than usual as he slept.

Yan Shuang carefully moved his arm away, tiptoed out of bed, grabbed the silk nightgown draped over the back of the chair and put it on, then walked barefoot across the soft carpet and gently closed the door.

Downstairs in the kitchen, the maid had already started preparing breakfast, and the table was set with a Western-style breakfast as usual.

Yan Shuang frowned.

The doorbell rang suddenly.

"Miss Yan, your package has arrived." The butler's respectful voice came through the walkie-talkie.

Yan Shuang looked puzzled; she couldn't recall ordering anything online recently. Reaching the door, she saw a large cardboard box neatly arranged on the porch, labeled with an international forwarding tag, and the sender's address indicated it originated from China.

"This is..."

She bent down to examine it, guessing that it was probably another luxury item customized by the merchant.

Yan Shuang laboriously dragged the box to the center of the living room and picked up scissors to cut the tape.

Just as the tape broke, she caught a glimpse of the label on the box out of the corner of her eye, and the recipient's name was clearly written in Chinese characters: "Yan Shuang".

She blinked, carefully peeled off the label, and found various items neatly stacked in the box: on top were several exquisite wooden boxes, which, when opened, contained neatly arranged bird's nest and ginseng; next to them was an insulated bag containing pre-packaged Chinese medicine packets, each carefully labeled with instructions for use and the date; further down were a dozen or so jars of sesame paste, walnut powder, and dried scallops from established brands.

Yan Shuang knelt on the floor.

"This is..." She suddenly stopped, as if her memory had been put on replay.

The phone call in the elevator the night before I left the country.

Lin Chengyu said he would send her some health supplements, and she agreed perfunctorily, but didn't take it to heart at all.

She left in a hurry and naturally didn't expect him to remember such a small thing.

Yan Shuang picked up the top box of bird's nest and found a card underneath.

On the blank white paper was only a single line of text: "It's inconvenient to buy in the US, so I'll use this for now. — Cheng Yu"

He actually went to great lengths to send it over.

She picked up her phone, her finger hovering over Lin Chengyu's name in her contacts, before realizing it was late at night back home.

Yan Shuang had no choice but to put down her phone and return to the kitchen.

She rolled up her sleeves, tied on an apron, and took out fresh ingredients from the refrigerator, including dried scallops that had just been mailed to her.

She planned to cook a pot of congee with preserved egg and lean pork, and then fry a few scallion and egg pancakes.

The rice in the clay pot gradually boiled, bubbling and releasing its aroma.

Yan Shuang gently stirred it with a spoon and then sprinkled in some shredded ginger to remove the fishy smell.

She was focused on controlling the heat and didn't notice someone approaching from behind.

"What are you doing?" A deep voice suddenly sounded in my ear.

Yan Shuang turned around and saw that Shang Qiuzhu was already standing behind her, wearing only a black bathrobe.

He had just washed his face, his hair was still damp, and he exuded a lazy morning vibe.

"Century egg and lean pork congee." Yan Shuang looked away somewhat awkwardly. "I don't like Western-style breakfasts, so I made some myself."

Shangqiu Zhu stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly reached out and brushed his fingertips against her cheek.

Yan Shuang was stunned. Before she could react, he had already withdrawn his hand, with a little flour on his fingertips.

"I got some on my face," he said casually.

Yan Shuang's ears burned, and she quickly wiped her face with the back of her hand.

Shangqiu Zhu didn't say anything more, turned around and walked towards the restaurant, leaving behind the words: "Give me one."

Yan Shuang paused for a moment, then said, "Okay."

She stirred the porridge and added a spoonful of batter to the pan, making the omelet sizzle.

On the dining table, next to the mercury-plated cutlery, lay the breakfast carefully prepared by the servants.

The croissant is golden and crispy, the Spanish ham is fried to a slightly charred perfection, and the fresh blueberries and cherries are neatly arranged and beautifully presented, accompanied by freshly ground coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice.

What Shuang served was only a bowl of steaming congee with preserved egg and lean pork, and two scallion pancakes with slightly charred edges.

She pursed her lips and stood somewhat awkwardly to the side, saying, "It might just taste so-so."

Shangqiu Zhu didn't say anything, picked up the porcelain spoon, scooped up a spoonful of porridge and put it in her mouth.

Yan Shuang stared at his expression, trying to find a trace of disdain.

But Shangqiu Zhu just calmly ate one bite after another, even picking up the egg pancake and taking a bite.

Yan Shuang sat opposite him, drinking her porridge while watching him until he finished the last mouthful and stood up to walk towards the stairs.

On the dining table, the exquisite pastries remained untouched.

The simple breakfast she made was eaten completely.

In the afternoon, Yan Shuang walked out of the teaching building and habitually looked towards the spot where Lao Zhan usually parked his car.

However, before she could find the familiar black sedan, a black Maybach silently pulled up and stopped in front of her.

The car window rolled down, but instead of the driver Lao Zhan's kind face, it revealed Shang Qiuzhu's sharply defined, expressionless profile.

Yan Shuang was stunned for a moment, somewhat surprised.

She opened the car door and sat in the back seat, turning her head to look at the man beside her, who was closing a document.

"What brings you here? Is LeBron busy today?"

Shangqiu Zhu turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow. "What, disappointed that it's not Lao Zhan?"

Yan Shuang was taken aback by his words and quickly shook her head: "No, no... it's just a little unexpected."

She paused, then guessed, "Is there some social engagement tonight that you need me to attend?"

Shangqiu Zhu did not answer, but simply instructed the driver in the front seat: "Go to 'Xinglin Garden'."

Yan Shuang was a little puzzled when she heard this unfamiliar name, but seeing that he didn't seem to want to say anything more, she quieted down.

The car eventually stopped in front of a quiet courtyard with a distinctly Chinese Zen feel.

An elderly man dressed in a Chinese robe, with a refined demeanor, came forward and respectfully bowed to Shang Qiuzhu: "Mr. Shang, everything is ready."

Shangqiu Zhu nodded slightly, put his arm around Yan Shuang's shoulder, and gently led her to the old man. "Take a look at her and help her recover."

Yan Shuang was completely stunned until Doctor Li led her to sit down and placed his fingers on her wrist to check her pulse, at which point she came to her senses.

This is a traditional Chinese medicine clinic, and he brought her here for treatment?

"President Shang, I..." She instinctively wanted to say that she was fine.

Shangqiu Zhu merely glanced at her before heading straight to the balcony connecting to the courtyard. He took out a cigarette case from his pocket, bent down, and lit a cigarette.

The grayish-white smoke rose in wisps, blurring the profile of his cold and handsome face. He gazed at the distant courtyard scenery, leaving the space entirely to the doctor and her.

Yan Shuang looked at his tall, straight back outside the balcony, and heard the old doctor's gentle inquiry: "Does Miss experience abdominal pain, chills, and cold hands and feet during her period..."

Yan Shuang was a little confused.

He came here in person today, bringing her to this traditional Chinese medicine clinic that looks like it's not something an ordinary Chinese person could easily book, just to... treat her body and cure her menstrual cramps?

The old Chinese medicine doctor, Dr. Li, carefully wrote out the prescription and also gave some instructions on dietary restrictions.

The glass door to the balcony was opened, and Shangqiu Zhu walked in.

He glanced at the prescription in Doctor Li's hand, but didn't ask any questions, only nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

Yan Shuang raised her head and looked at the tall, aloof man in front of her.

She pursed her lips, her voice much softer than usual, filled with genuine gratitude: "Thank you...Mr. Shang."

Shangqiu Zhu looked down at her. The girl's eyes were bright and clear, reflecting his image clearly, along with lingering surprise and sincere gratitude.

His gaze lingered on her face for a very brief moment, then he gave a soft "hmm".

Shangqiu Zhu turned to Doctor Li and said, "Deliver the medicine directly to the villa after it's prepared." His tone was that of a typical order.

"Yes, Mr. Shang, please rest assured," Dr. Li replied respectfully.