Chapter 65 Massage Chair You've known him for so long, you know him better than I do...

Lin Yulan's health is gradually improving.

Her paleness gradually faded, replaced by a faint rosy hue. She was even able to sit up with the help of a caregiver and take a walk in the garden downstairs. Her appetite also improved significantly, and she was able to eat more. As her mind cleared, she saw more clearly how thin her daughter had become from caring for her day and night.

One afternoon, the warm sunshine felt comforting. Lin Yulan, no longer tormented by illness, regained her usual strength. She gently took Lin Yuwei's hand, her voice soft yet resolute: "Weiwei, go back to work. Look, Mom is much better now, eating and sleeping well. There are the best doctors and nurses here, and professional caregivers. Don't worry anymore." She paused, her eyes slightly reddening, her voice filled with heartache: "There's so much work waiting for you at the company. Look at yourself, how thin you've become..."

Lin Yuwei carefully examined her mother and saw that she was indeed much more energetic and her vital signs were stabilizing. Her long-held anxiety finally eased. After confirming several times that her mother was not forcing herself to stay, and after consulting with the attending physician and the head nurse, she finally nodded in agreement.

She no longer insisted on staying in the ward every night and gradually returned to her normal work and life rhythm, but she still maintained the habit of visiting the hospital every two or three days, carefully inquiring about her mother's diet, daily life and test reports. However, she was no longer as inseparable from her mother as before and always on edge.

Meanwhile, the Huanyu project, which Zhou Xubai was in charge of, had also weathered the initial chaos and gradually gotten back on track. The most difficult period of tackling the challenges had passed, and although the follow-up work remained tedious, everything was progressing smoothly according to plan, significantly reducing the pressure. Zhou Xubai also had more time to spend in the studio, working with Lin Yuwei. The two gradually regained some of the peace and harmony they once shared.

Life, as if after a breathtaking sharp turn, has finally returned to a calm course. Everything is moving in a positive direction, exuding a long-lost, reassuring atmosphere.

When Lin Yuwei stood up from the meeting that day, she unconsciously rubbed her stiff shoulders and neck. Xiaoyu, the designer beside her, noticed and asked softly, "Sister Weiwei, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing," she smiled. "I slept on a small cot in the hospital for two months, and now my shoulders and back can't take it if I sit for too long."

Zhou Xubai turned his head, his brows furrowed slightly: "Should we go to the hospital to get it checked out?"

"No need, just get some rest." She shook her head.

As it was nearing the end of the workday, Xiao Li said that Lin Yuwei had a package delivered. She was puzzled because she hadn't ordered anything online, but still had it brought in.

A short while later, the deliveryman brought in a huge cardboard box. Lin Yuwei was startled—why was it so big? Upon opening it, she found it was a high-end ergonomic massage chair with a heating function. She sat down and tried it out; her back was firmly supported, and the warm massage mode slowly dispelled the tension.

She glanced instinctively at Zhou Xubai's empty desk next to her. He had received a phone call an hour ago and left in a hurry. Was he preparing this on purpose? Thinking about how they had barely spoken since her mother's illness and their own busy schedules, and how the distance between them had actually grown since their engagement, she felt a pang of guilt.

It was time to get off work, and she planned to wait for Zhou Xubai to come back so they could have dinner together. She simply sat down in the massage chair, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the massage. Perhaps because it was so comfortable, she unknowingly fell asleep. In her hazy state, she heard footsteps, and when she opened her eyes, she saw Zhou Xubai, who had just returned.

"Thank you for the chair." She stood up and smiled. "Shall we have dinner together tonight?"

Zhou Xubai was taken aback: "This chair?... I didn't give it to you."

Lin Yuwei was taken aback. It wasn't him? Such an expensive gift could only be from Gu Qingyan. But when she had shoulder and back pain that afternoon, only the studio staff were there. How could he have just happened to send her a massage chair?

The atmosphere in the office was subtly tense. Zhou Xubai quickly put on a gentle smile and said in a relaxed tone, "It seems that our Weiwei is too popular. Someone has already tried to curry favor with her before I have."

These words gently touched on Lin Yuwei's thoughts. She frowned slightly, somewhat displeased with his joke: "Xu Bai... I don't know who he is either."

"Since we don't know, let's not think about it for now." Zhou Xubai naturally changed the subject: "Let's go eat, or we'll starve."

Zhou Xubai was driving, and Lin Yuwei was preoccupied. Neither of them spoke much. While waiting at a red light, Lin Yuwei couldn't help but pick up her phone and quietly sent a message to Gu Qingyan: "Did you send that chair?"

It wasn't until they sat down at the restaurant that her phone lit up. Gu Qingyan replied, "Yeah, I saw you weren't sleeping well at the hospital, I must be feeling uncomfortable. I went to visit you today and found out you'd already returned to your studio. I can bring you a chair now, is it alright?"

It really was a gift from Gu Qingyan… Lin Yuwei was about to reply, “It’s too precious, I must transfer the money to you,” when Zhou Xubai across from her suddenly spoke up: “Weiwei, I think we should treat President Gu to a meal.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuwei paused, then looked up.

Zhou Xubai continued calmly, "He introduced the Huanyu project, and he also helped a lot during my aunt's illness. We should formally thank him." His gaze was gentle yet focused. "What do you think?"

Because of the sensitivity of her position, Lin Yuwei didn't know how to answer, so she could only say, "...Okay, you can arrange it, I'll listen to you."

The two finished their meal in silence. After leaving the restaurant, Zhou Xubai said, "Let's take a look around. There are luxury stores on the fourth floor. Let's pick out a gift for President Gu as a thank you." He paused, then added, "You can choose the specific gift. You've known him for so long; you know his preferences better than I do."

Hearing her fiancé Zhou Xubai say that he had known another man for a long time, Lin Yuwei slowed down involuntarily. She glanced at Zhou Xubai, but his expression remained calm and composed, revealing no unusual emotions. However, her heart sank heavily. His words seemed fine at first glance, but they inexplicably irritated her, leaving her unable to respond.

“Let’s choose together,” she finally said softly. “I’m not sure what men like either.”

Zhou Xubai gave a noncommittal "hmm," and the two walked side by side in the brightly lit luxury area. Their distant figures were reflected on the gleaming marble floor, and the air was filled with expensive fragrances.

Zhou Xubai walked into a flagship store famous for its leather goods and men's accessories. The well-trained staff immediately came up to him with polite but enthusiastic smiles and asked what kind of products they wanted to see. Lin Yuwei's eyes swept over the ties, cufflinks, and wallets in the display case. Each item was exquisite, but they also carried overly intimate implications. She quickly looked away, not wanting to linger on any items that might cause misunderstandings.

"Weiwei, which one do you think is more suitable?" Zhou Xubai turned to look at her.

“I think we should look at fountain pens.” Lin Yuwei turned and walked straight across the street to the Montblanc flagship store, which boasted understated yet luxurious decor. She said this to Zhou Xubai, but it seemed more like she was emphasizing to herself: “Practical, appropriate, and perfect for business occasions.”

She needed a gift that wouldn't go wrong, a gift that clearly defined their relationship and wouldn't cause any misunderstandings. An expensive fountain pen was the perfect choice. It symbolized cooperation and respect, yet carried no hint of intimacy, leaving Zhou Xubai with no room for complaint. More importantly, in her mind, those pens with their sharp lines and exquisite craftsmanship mirrored the impression Gu Qingyan gave off—steady and reliable.

Zhou Xubai followed behind her without making a sound, simply watching her stand in front of the bright glass counter. Inside the counter, rows of fountain pens lay quietly on black velvet, the metal and lacquer reflecting a cold yet luxurious light.

Lin Yuwei leaned down, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the cool glass surface, her gaze lingering intently among the rows of pens. Her expression was focused, as if she were truly considering which one would be most suitable as a business gift. However, only she knew that what was on her mind at that moment was Gu Qingyan's steady hands and his focused profile as he signed documents. A pen worthy of his hands should, like him, possess both strength and beauty.

She finally pointed to one of them: "How about this Montblanc Starwalker? The design is simple and modern, not old-fashioned, and the brand has the prestige." She spoke as if she were completing a task, her tone objective and devoid of any personal bias.

Zhou Xubai approached, picked up the pen, and examined it. His fingertips traced the iconic six-pointed white star logo on the cap. His gaze was somewhat unfocused, as if he were scrutinizing something else through the pen, but ultimately found nothing. After a while, he put the pen down, looked up at Lin Yuwei, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "Weiwei has good taste. Let's take this one. The price is reasonable, showing sincerity without causing any misunderstandings."

He spoke the word "misunderstanding" so casually, yet it made Lin Yuwei's heart sink slightly. She didn't reply, but simply nodded to the shop assistant: "Please wrap it up for us, thank you."

The shop assistant packed the fountain pen quietly and quickly, placing the exquisite gift box into a shopping bag printed with the brand logo and handing it to Zhou Xubai.

It was nearly ten o'clock when they left the mall. The evening breeze was slightly cool. The two walked side by side to the parking lot. Zhou Xubai carried the gift he had just bought. The exquisite packaging was particularly eye-catching in the night. Lin Yuwei noticed the paper bag swaying gently with each step. Thinking about the dinner party that was coming up, she felt inexplicably heavy-hearted.

As Zhou Xubai fastened his seatbelt, he casually asked, "I'll arrange to have dinner with President Gu tomorrow night."

The engine started quietly, and the dim light from the dashboard illuminated his calm profile. Lin Yuwei glanced at the thinning traffic outside the window and said softly, "Isn't it too late? It's not really appropriate to bother them at this time."

Zhou Xubai gripped the steering wheel, his gaze fixed ahead, a gentle smile still playing on his lips, but his tone carried an uncompromising edge: "President Gu and his team work in the internet industry; they might have just finished a meeting. It's better to finalize the thank-you gift as soon as possible to show our sincerity."

Lin Yuwei didn't want to argue about this, so she turned her head to look out the window and replied indifferently, "Okay." She thought that the matter was settled and Zhou Xubai would contact her at another time.

Unexpectedly, Zhou Xubai directly told the car's system, "Dial Gu Qingyan's number." Lin Yuwei's body stiffened slightly. The car was already cramped, and this action made the air instantly feel stagnant. She felt a strange sense of oppression.