Convenient to take care of
Over the next few days, the mandatory reminders appeared several more times, with a wide variety of content, ranging from "listening to a niche piece of music together" to "discussing the viewpoints of a recent bestseller."
They never kept their appointments.
Those reminders, once they appear, leave an impression and subtly influence you.
During Friday's lunch break, Lin Jingshang actually went and bought that matcha mille-feuille. It tasted really good, sweet but not cloying.
He took a picture and sent it to Xie Dang.
[Lin Jingshang]: The matcha mille crepe is indeed delicious. (Attached image: Matcha Mille Crepe)
[BUG Partner]: Received, added to the edible list.
One night after working overtime, Lin Jingshang sat in Xie Dang's car, and the car stereo was playing the niche music that had been recommended by the system a few days earlier.
During a lunch break on the terrace, Xie Dang brought up a point from a bestselling book that had been added to his schedule by the system, and delivered a sharp critique that lasted for three minutes.
Lin Jingshang couldn't help but laugh as he listened.
The system aims to tie them together by synchronizing their schedules, creating shared experiences, and in the process of resistance, they begin to truly share and integrate into each other's lives.
The time, place, and things marked by the system became coordinates.
They didn't follow the coordinates, but their paths inadvertently intersected.
This has nothing to do with the mission; it only concerns themselves.
As autumn deepens, the temperature difference between day and night increases.
Lin Jingshang unfortunately caught a cold. During the day, he only had a sore throat and runny nose, but at night, he suddenly developed a high fever, and his whole body, even the bones, felt uncomfortable.
He struggled to get out of bed, trying to find some fever reducer, but his vision went black and he almost collapsed. He leaned against the wall for a while to catch his breath, then realized he probably couldn't manage on his own.
In his hazy state of consciousness, the first person he thought of was Xie Dang.
Lin Jingshang touched his phone, his fingers trembling slightly, and dialed the pinned number.
The phone was answered after ringing twice.
"Hello?" Xie Dang's voice was slightly hoarse, probably because he had just been woken up.
"President Xie..." Lin Jingshang began, only to find his throat terribly hoarse and his voice weak and feeble. "I think I have a fever... I feel a bit unwell..."
There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, followed by the sound of footsteps.
"Send me the address, and stay still."
Xie Dang hung up the phone after he finished speaking.
Lin Jingshang sent his location, feeling drowsy and sprawled on the sofa, his body alternating between hot and cold, as if floating in the clouds.
After some time, the doorbell rang.
He forced himself to open the door, and Xie Dang stood outside, dressed casually, his hair still a little messy.
When Xie Dang saw Lin Jingshang's flushed face, he frowned and reached out to touch his forehead, which was burning hot.
"Go to the hospital."
He acted decisively, supporting Lin Jingshang's body, which was almost unable to stand.
"No need... I'll take some medicine..." Lin Jingshang still tried to struggle.
Xie Dang ignored his refusal, half-supporting and half-carrying him out the door, and directly pressed the elevator button to go downstairs.
The emergency room was brightly lit late at night, but there weren't many people there.
Xie Dang let Lin Jingshang sit on a chair in the waiting area while he went to register, pay the fees, and explain the situation to the nurse. He walked quickly but methodically, with no expression on his face.
Lin Jingshang leaned back in his chair, watching Xie Dang bustling around. He felt dizzy from the fever and a sense of unreality washed over him.
The nurse came over to take Lin Jingshang's temperature, which was 39.6℃. He needed an antipyretic injection and then an IV drip.
When he received the injection, Lin Jingshang flinched in pain.
Xie Dang stood beside him, one hand firmly supporting his arm, the other hand seemingly wanting to raise to do something, but ultimately clenched into a fist and hung at his side.
"Bear with it." His voice was low, falling into my ear.
Lin Jingshang nodded and bit his lower lip.
The infusion room was quiet. Lin Jingshang leaned back in his chair, his eyelids heavy.
Xie Dang sat in the chair next to him, neither looking at his phone nor speaking.
As the medication took effect, Lin Jingshang drifted off to sleep.
In his sleep, he felt someone gently adjust the position of the arm receiving the IV drip, and it seemed as if something was covering him.
When he woke up again, the sky was already turning a pale white.
The fever had mostly subsided, and my mind was much clearer, although I was still feeling weak all over.
He found himself covered with Xie Dang's dark trench coat, and Xie Dang was sitting next to him, eyes closed, head slightly tilted back, leaning against the wall, with faint blue shadows under his eyes, clearly having kept watch over him all night.
The morning light streamed through the window and fell on his face.
Lin Jingshang's heart felt like it had been gently bumped, a bittersweet sensation.
Xie Dang always seems to appear when he needs him most, whether it's fighting against the system or dealing with this sudden illness.
Xie Dang seemed to realize he was awake, and opened his eyes, his clear, cold eyes slightly bloodshot.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Much better, thank you, Mr. Xie," Lin Jingshang replied softly, intending to return the trench coat to him.
Xie Dang took the trench coat, but didn't wear it; he simply draped it over his arm.
"Can you walk? Go get the medicine, then go back."
"Yes." Lin Jingshang nodded.
Xie Dang went to get the medicine, listened carefully to the doctor's instructions, and then helped Lin Jingshang leave the hospital.
The morning air was slightly cool, and Xie Dang draped his trench coat over Lin Jingshang's shoulders. Once inside the car, Xie Dang handed him a bottle of water and some pills.
"Take your medicine first."
Lin Jingshang obediently did as instructed.
The car started and drove smoothly toward Lin Jingshang's apartment.
As they approached the residential area, Xie Dang suddenly spoke up: "Stay at my place for the next few days."
Lin Jingshang was taken aback: "Huh? No need for that..."
“There are guest rooms.” Xie Dang interrupted him, looking straight ahead.
"It's easier to take care of things; you can't manage alone."
Lin Jingshang looked at him, the words of refusal circling on his lips, but he ultimately swallowed them back.
He lowered his head and softly hummed in agreement.
Xie Dang's apartment was pretty much what Lin Jingshang had imagined: simple, spacious, with a color scheme dominated by black, white, and gray, so clean it looked uninhabited. The only sign of life was probably the professional-looking coffee machine in the open kitchen.
“The guest rooms are over there.” Xie Dang pointed to a door at the end of the corridor. “The bathroom is next door, and there are new towels and toiletries in the cabinet.”
Lin Jingshang carried a few changes of clothes and a laptop that Xie Dang had brought from his home, and walked into the guest room, looking somewhat reserved.
The room was also simple, with a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk, without any unnecessary decorations.
He put his things down, still feeling a bit dizzy, so he decided to lie down and rest for a while.
"Don't go to sleep yet," Xie Dang's voice rang out from the doorway.
He came in carrying a glass of warm water and a few pills: "Take your medicine. There's some porridge in the kitchen. Drink some before you go to sleep."
Lin Jingshang took the water glass, his fingertips touching Xie Dang's slightly cool fingers, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Thanks."
After taking the medicine, he was taken to the restaurant by Xie Dang.
A bowl of plain congee, several light side dishes, and a small steamed egg were already laid out on the table. The congee had a perfect consistency and smelled wonderfully of rice.
"You did this?" Lin Jingshang asked, somewhat surprised.
He thought that people like Xie Dang would stay away from the kitchen.
"Takeout." Xie Dang sat down opposite him, his expression unchanged, with a bowl of porridge in front of him. "This restaurant has a hygiene rating of A."
Lin Jingshang: "...Oh."
really.
He lowered his head and took a sip of the porridge. The temperature was just right, soft and warming to the stomach. He usually didn't have a good appetite when he was sick, but this simple white porridge and side dishes actually made him feel a little bit of flavor.
Xie Dang ate quickly, but his movements remained elegant.
After he finished eating, he didn't leave, but watched Lin Jingshang sip his porridge.
"Don't even think about working today. I've put your computer away for you," Xie Dang suddenly said.
Lin Jingshang nodded: "Okay."
After finishing the porridge, Lin Jingshang felt warmer, and drowsiness returned. He went back to his room and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
I slept soundly for a long time, and when I woke up again, it was already dark outside the window.
Lin Jingshang took out his phone and checked the time; it was already past 7 p.m.
He was still a little groggy from sleep and subconsciously got up, wanting to go out and get some water. Pushing open the door to the guest room, he found the apartment quiet, with Xie Dang sitting on the sofa, working on his laptop.
Hearing the door open, Xie Dang looked up at him: "Awake? How are you feeling?"
"Much better." Lin Jingshang rubbed his eyes. "Just a little thirsty."
Xie Dang got up, went to the kitchen, poured him a glass of water from the kettle, and handed it to him.
"The temperature is just right."
Lin Jingshang took it, drank a few sips, and found it warm and comforting. He noticed that Xie Dang's computer screen displayed a complex data analysis chart.
Are you still busy?
"Okay, just wrapping things up a bit." Xie Dang looked at him. "Are you hungry? There's still some porridge."
Lin Jingshang shook his head: "Not hungry yet."
He hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Am I... disturbing your work?"
Xie Dang's gaze lingered on his face for a moment, then he said in a flat tone, "No, the soundproofing here is very good."
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