Chapter Thirty-Seven: Three Seconds of Initiative Earned Two Days of Introversion
For two days in a row, Fei Yang's assistant, Xiao Huang, handled all the work for him. Jiang Sui did not show up and did not give a reason for his absence.
On the third day, Luo Yan sensed something was wrong. This was completely unlike Jiang Sui's usual workaholic style; he was always the type to push himself to the limit. The more she thought about it, the more impatient she became, so she casually asked, "Brother Huang, why haven't we seen President Jiang these past few days? Was he on a business trip? Or is he busy with another project?"
Xiao Huang shook his head and said, "General Manager Jiang is sick. He was supposed to come today, but General Manager Luo insisted that he rest at home before starting work."
He was full of energy in the parking lot that night, how did he get sick? And so sick that he couldn't go to work?
She remembered his empty, cold, and lifeless home, and the refrigerator that contained only beer and eggs.
What will happen to his meals? Has he taken his medication? What if he... faints and no one even notices?
Luo Yan's heart clenched, and she couldn't sit still.
After agonizing over it all morning, I gritted my teeth and asked for the afternoon off.
I dug out my little saucepan, which was almost covered in dust, and started frantically cooking porridge, following the tutorial on my phone app. I added a handful of rice, half a handful of millet, some minced meat, and since Jiang Sui doesn't eat fatty meat, I separated the lean and fatty meat and only added minced lean meat. I also chopped a small handful of greens, and while controlling the heat, the kitchen was filled with smoke. Finally, I cooked a pot of porridge that looked barely edible and put it in a thermos.
An hour later, Luo Yan stood at Jiang Sui's door, staring at the 1701 address and mentally preparing herself for a long time. She wanted to back out several times, but in the end, she mustered up the courage to press the doorbell, adhering to the principle that since she was already there.
The door slowly opened.
Jiang Sui was wearing loose-fitting loungewear, his face was pale, his lips were chapped, and he exuded an unusual weakness and dejection. When he saw Luo Yan, he was clearly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
What brings you here?
Luo Yan was startled by his appearance, and her opening remarks, which she had practiced many times, immediately fell apart. She hurriedly raised the thermos in her hand, trying to make her tone sound natural: "I heard from Brother Huang that you are sick, so... I just happened to cook some porridge, and I brought it to you on my way." After saying that, she wanted to bite her tongue. What kind of way was it to go in the completely opposite direction?
Jiang Sui looked at her silently for a few seconds, then stepped aside to let her in.
The apartment was filled with a faint smell of medicine, and medicine boxes and water glasses were scattered on the coffee table, adding a touch of messy human warmth.
Luo Yan placed the thermos on the coffee table, feeling so awkward that she didn't know where to put her hands and feet.
"Are you alright? Did you take your medicine?"
"Um."
Jiang Sui walked to the sofa and sat down, rubbing her aching temples. She still looked listless.
"You haven't eaten yet, have you?"
"I have no appetite."
"You can't skip eating. I cooked this porridge for two hours and added some vegetables and minced meat. There's absolutely no fatty meat in it! You... have some while it's hot."
Luo Yan opened the thermos, ladled out a bowl, and handed it to him.
As for the presentation... well, I can only say the thought behind it is there.
Jiang Sui glanced at her, then at the bowl of porridge in front of her, reached out and took it, saying, "Thank you."
Luo Yan's fingers accidentally touched his palm, and she flinched in surprise at the scalding heat.
"Are you running a fever?"
"It has already receded a lot."
Luo Yan watched him quietly drink his porridge, feeling a mix of emotions—a bittersweet feeling, and a little lost.
She stood up, carrying two large bags of things she had brought with her, and walked to the kitchen island. Opening the refrigerator, she put things in as she spoke, "Since you can't go out these few days, I bought things that can be heated up and eaten. You still need fresh vegetables... just boil them. You also need to drink milk; you're always working late, it'll help boost your immunity... Oh, and if you have a fever, make sure to drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest. Since Lao Luo told you to wait until you're better before working, don't push yourself..."
When she turned around again, Jiang Sui was standing in front of her. He reached out and closed the refrigerator door, his clear eyes bloodshot and misty with tears as he looked at her with unusual focus.
Luo Yan froze, her heart stopping abruptly.
"You get some rest, I won't bother you any longer, I'll be going now..."
She turned to run away, but he suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Luo Yan..." Jiang Sui said in a low voice, "Why did you come?"
"I...I just heard you were sick..." Luo Yan avoided his gaze, the imposing presence of his height looming over her, making her heart pound like a cat scratching at her. "I was afraid...afraid that if you didn't get better, it would affect the project's progress..."
"Why are you so concerned about me?" He interrupted her, tightening his grip on her wrist slightly. "You talked badly about me behind my back, went into debt to buy me cufflinks, and were clearly furious with me, yet now you've skipped work and come all this way just to bring me a bowl of porridge? What are you thinking? Why can't you look at me? Why do you hide whenever you see me? Hmm?"
He asked one question after another, forcing Luo Yan to retreat step by step, leaving her mind blank.
"I...I didn't..."
Jiang Sui suddenly pulled her closer, the distance between them instantly shrinking. His eyes, made even deeper by the fever, seemed to draw her in, his burning gaze carrying a hint of mocking amusement. "Nothing? Then why are you doing all this? It's not because you like me, is it?"
"..."
Luo Yan shuddered, and the milk carton she was holding fell to the ground with a thud.
Good heavens, are you testing our cadres with this? I simply can't withstand the test!
After a long standoff, Jiang Sui still showed no intention of letting go of her, but instead observed her reaction with great interest, seemingly patiently waiting for her answer.
Luo Yan bit her lip and lowered her head.
She pursed her lips, mustered her courage, looked up at him, covered his still slightly flushed face with her cool palm, stood on tiptoe, and kissed his chapped lips.
Time seemed to stand still.
Jiang Sui was stunned and subconsciously let go of his hand.
Are you satisfied now?
Luo Yan pushed him away and rushed out of the apartment without looking back, even forgetting to take the thermos.
The door slammed shut.
Jiang Sui remained motionless for a long time, her fingers unconsciously touching her lips that had just been kissed, where a soft and fleeting sensation still lingered.
He picked up the milk from the floor, turned around and looked at the bowl of steaming white porridge on the coffee table, and chuckled very softly.
Luo Yan fled home, collapsed onto the sofa, buried her burning face in a cushion, and kept pounding it while letting out a silent scream.
What did she do?! She actually kissed Jiang Sui?! And while he was sick and weak! Taking advantage of him?! Luo Yan, are you crazy?! Oh no, will he think she's a pervert?!
How could you be so easily tempted? What happened to our agreement to just be colleagues? Where's your revolutionary will? You succumbed to beauty so easily?!
For the rest of the day, Luo Yan lived in extreme anxiety and regret.
She picked up her phone and put it down again, afraid of receiving a message from Jiang Sui, whether it was to interrogate her or something else.
However, there was nothing there.
WeChat remained silent, as if that kiss was nothing more than a ridiculous dream in her imagination.
This eerie calm was more unsettling than a direct scolding. Did he simply not care? Did he find it insignificant? Or even laughable?
What on earth is going on?!
Luo Yan was so frustrated that she almost pulled her hair out.
When Lu Xingyao arrived that evening, Jiang Sui's high fever had subsided.
"You actually cooked porridge yourself?"
Lu Xingyao picked up the insulated container and examined it closely. It was pink and had cartoon stickers on it. "Haven't seen you in a year. Your taste has changed quite a bit!"
"A friend gave it to me."
Jiang Sui sat on the sofa with her laptop on her lap.
"If you're sick, just rest. What job is so important that it can't do without you?"
Without a word, Lu Xingyao snatched the laptop, closed it, and put it aside. "Even fish can be grilled after leaving the water. Don't ruin your life by doing this too soon."
Jiang Sui sighed helplessly, "I'll go get you some water." With that, she got up and headed to the kitchen.
Just then, my phone beeped with a WeChat notification.
Lu Xingyao's gaze inadvertently swept over the lit screen, where a preview showed information from a contact named "Comrade Luo Yan".
Are you feeling better? Porridge...
The following content has been collapsed.
Lu Xingyao was slightly taken aback. Luo Yan? Then she remembered the somewhat impulsive but brave girl she met at the milk tea shop that day. Could it be her? What a coincidence!
She glanced at Jiang Sui's back in the kitchen, then at her phone screen, and immediately understood. A meaningful smile curved her lips.
"Alright, now that you're alright, I'll be going. Get some sleep."
Lu Xingyao got up to say goodbye. After leaving Jiang Sui's house, she sent Luo Yan a WeChat message:
-I've saved you a ticket for my final performance this weekend night. [smiley face]
Luo Yan was holding her phone, wondering why Jiang Sui wasn't replying, when she suddenly received this message and almost threw her phone away.
But they were complete strangers, so why would Lu Xingyao invite her to her performance? Could it be... that Jiang Sui told her something? Did she already know?!
Oh my god, just give me a quick death!
After much thought, I couldn't find a reason to refuse, so I could only bite the bullet and reply casually:
Okay, thank you. [Cute]
Another day passed in a daze, and Jiang Sui finally appeared at the project meeting.
He looked much the same as usual, dressed in a suit and tie, meticulous in every detail, though his face was still a little pale, and he coughed softly from time to time.
During the meeting, his performance remained impeccable. When his gaze occasionally swept over Luo Yan, there was no pause or abnormality, just as when he looked at any ordinary client staff member.
Luo Yan sat not far away from him, her last remaining hope and expectation crushed by his utterly "normal" appearance.
He really didn't care at all.
That kiss was probably just a trivial little incident during his illness, or even a troublesome one.
The meeting ended, and everyone left one after another.
Luo Yan slowly packed her things, feeling extremely depressed.
She kept her head down the whole time, not noticing Jiang Sui standing at the door watching her from afar. Then she raised her hand to her lips, coughed softly twice, and turned to leave.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
