(sixty)
Lin Tingfeng stood not far from her, gazing at her with a smile. His joy was evident on his face, and his eyes shone like obsidian, a stark contrast to his former composure and calm.
Ye Wenyu was somewhat surprised. This was the first time she had seen an expression on his face. Before this, Lin Tingfeng's face was like a mask, hiding his inner thoughts very well.
Is he changing because of her?
She dared not meet his gaze again, her face flushed slightly as she turned away. She couldn't help but recall how he had taken such good care of her during her illness, and how she, like a spoiled child, had clung to him so much, her emotions overflowing like water. Countless times she had greedily leaned against his back, in his arms, and on his neck, like a koala, refusing to get off him, sometimes crying and sometimes laughing. During her illness, she hadn't thought about all that, but now that she was recovered, Ye Wenyu's face flushed red again.
I hope those tender and beautiful scenes aren't real, but just a sweet dream.
The air seemed to freeze, and the surroundings were extremely quiet, as if the world consisted only of her and him. She could clearly hear her own heartbeat quickening.
Because of nervousness and embarrassment, Ye Wenyu was speechless for a moment. She had also exhausted herself by changing clothes and walking around. Now, seeing Lin Tingfeng, she was overstimulated and felt dizzy again. Her body was weak and she swayed unsteadily.
Worried that she might fall, Lin Tingfeng rushed to her side and helped her sit up on the bed. He then sat down on a chair nearby. Only after sitting down did he realize that he had been so flustered that he had been unsteady on his feet. Thinking of this, he felt a mixture of shock and emotion.
In middle age, emotions are like a lion unleashed from its cage—a feeling I haven't experienced for many years.
After five or six minutes, Ye Wenyu felt a little better and asked anxiously, "My school?"
Lin Tingfeng seemed to understand her meaning and slowly replied, "I called your school and your mother a month ago to tell them that you were sick and had taken leave."
What? No wonder she didn't receive a single caring or curious phone call during her more than a month of recuperation. It turns out Lin Tingfeng was so thoughtful, he had already asked for leave for her. He's so meticulous.
But wait, he can call her school to ask for leave, but how did he get her phone number?
"You know my mother?"
Ye Wenyu was completely baffled. She stared at Lin Tingfeng with wide eyes, her confusion vanishing and reborn like fleeting clouds.
Lin Tingfeng smiled slightly and said slowly to her, "On the third day of your illness, when you were at your worst, your mother called. At that time, you had a high fever and were unconscious, so I took the liberty of answering the phone for you."
Ye Wenyu listened in a daze.
Lin Tingfeng said slowly, "I said you were sick and staying at your female classmate's house to recuperate. I am your female classmate's father—" He paused here, glanced at Ye Wenyu, and saw a mischievous smile in Ye Wenyu's eyes. Lin Tingfeng looked away, and for some reason, his face felt a little hot.
After a few minutes of silence, he composed himself before continuing slowly, "I asked your mother if she wanted to come see you, but she said she would trouble your classmate to take care of you because she really couldn't leave. She also asked if your condition was serious, but I could only tell her that it wasn't serious because she seemed very busy."
"So that's how it is!" A bitter smile appeared on Ye Wenyu's lips. Her mother still cared about her, but she understood. Her mother's relaxation and trust in strangers stemmed from immense life pressure. Lin Tingfeng had done a good job, which was the effect she hoped for. If it were her, she would have done the same. It's all about reporting good news and not bad. Her mother was already under a lot of pressure, and she really didn't have the capacity to care about her anymore. She knew this, so she gratefully said to Lin Tingfeng, "Mr. Lin, thank you. What illness did I have?" She had been sick for so long, and now that she was recovered, it felt like a rebirth.
I was in a daze for more than a month, as if I had been in a blessed land for a thousand years.
Lin Tingfeng gazed at her and said softly, "It started as just a cold, but you seem to have no idea how to take care of yourself. You work outside every day, often get caught in the rain, and wear thin clothes, so it developed into a very serious case of pneumonia."
I see.
She had severe pneumonia; the illness almost cost her her life.
Having understood the whole story, Ye Wenyu stood up, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and stood in front of Lin Tingfeng. She was already grateful that he had taken her in and cared for her for over a month; how could she possibly consider this place her home? She was like a weed growing in a crack in a rock—she had no such fortune or luck.
Therefore, she tactfully bowed deeply and said to Lin Tingfeng, "Mr. Lin, I've been sick for over a month, and I need to go back to school." Now that she's recovered, she's going to start working and studying again. As long as you're alive, life goes on, and pressure is everywhere, isn't it?
She had no choice but to endure it.
"Wait, I have something to tell you." Lin Tingfeng called out to her from behind, a hint of panic and tension flashing in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.
Ye Wenyu's body stiffened. She seemed to have realized all along that he would try to keep her. His change of heart made her feel as if he had made a major decision and now thought the time was right to act.
She slowly turned around, her large, crystal-like eyes staring straight at him, sparkling like jewels. Her heart pounded wildly with nervousness, as if a mad rabbit was living in her chest. She pursed her lips tightly, mustered her courage, and met his gaze. She wanted to know what he was going to say.
The air seemed to freeze, the world became silent, the surrounding scenery receded, everything became blank, leaving only her and him.
Her blood was rushing and roaring through her body, a flush rising to her face and spreading outwards to her neck, earlobes, and shoulders. Her hands, hanging at her sides, trembled slightly.
Lin Tingfeng seemed a little nervous, his throat was dry, and he had a slight smile on his face. After a few minutes of silence, he tried to appear relaxed and said to her, "Anyway, I've already taken a month's leave, so what's a few more days? I'll take you out for a stroll, and I'll let you decide."
Should I take her out for a walk? Where? Should I wait for her to make a decision? What decision? A fog rose again in Ye Wenyu's heart, leaving her completely confused.
Ye Wenyu's face was taut, her lips pressed tightly together as she stared at Lin Tingfeng. What did he mean by that? Didn't he just say he had something to say to her? Could it be, "Since you've already taken a month's leave, what's a few more days? I'll take you out for a while, and you can decide what to do next." That was what he meant. No, no, these weren't his true feelings. They were like a paper boat floating on water, unable to withstand scrutiny. Did he really just want her to stay a few more days so he could take her out for a while?
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