Chapter 29 "You're in trouble~ You've fallen in love~"
After returning from the hospital, Aunt Qu was at home almost every day. Lin Che was happy to spend his free time at home planting flowers and reading books.
Song Wanzhi often called to ask how Lin Che was recovering, and Lu Yu'an would come over from time to time after school in the afternoon to spend two hours with Lin Che to relieve his boredom.
This was probably the most relaxing half month that Lin Che had experienced in the past twenty years.
"Xiao Che, how about I make squirrel fish for you at noon today?" Aunt Qu, wearing an apron, poked her head out of the kitchen and smiled at Lin Che, who was sitting cross-legged on the sofa writing a paper.
"It's all right, Aunt Qu. Just do whatever's convenient for you. No need to go all out." Lin Che stared at the screen intently, his fingers typing away on the keyboard.
After returning from the hospital, Lu Yu was so busy that he couldn't stop. When he left in the morning, Lin Che was still asleep, and when he returned in the evening, Lin Che was also asleep. They slept in the same bed, but it felt like they hadn't seen each other for several days.
Lin Che occasionally felt the slight sinking of the mattress and the warmth beside him in the middle of the night, but his consciousness was confused and he soon fell asleep again.
A very light "click" sound came from the entrance. Lu Yu pushed open the door and walked into the master bedroom. As usual, Lin Che was already asleep. Aunt Qu had also returned to the old house, and the house was quiet.
He raised his hand to loosen his tie and walked in. Lin Che left a floor lamp on for him as usual. The warm light was particularly eye-catching in the early winter night.
Lu Yu took off his suit jacket and placed it on the sofa. There were several of Lin Che's professional books on the coffee table. The page that was opened also had Lin Che's handwritten notes, which were colorful and densely packed.
Next to the book was a bag of opened original potato chips, with only half of the bag left and the bag open.
Lu Yu's eyebrows twitched imperceptibly. He walked over and picked up a piece of potato chip crumbs that had fallen on the magazine with his slender fingers.
There was a slight greasy feeling on the fingertips, with a hint of the salty aroma of the potato chips themselves.
My eyes swept across the sofa, and I saw a soft pillow casually stuffed in the corner, showing a concave shape as if someone had leaned on it for a long time.
The air was filled with the faint sweet aroma of Aunt Qu's afternoon baking, and the faint, refreshing minty scent of Lin Che. Each wisp of it slipped unnoticed into Lu Yu's nostrils.
Lu Yu stood there for a moment, his fatigue seemingly washed away by the chaotic scene before him, full of life. He didn't bother to pick up the magazines and chips, but turned around and walked lightly into the bedroom.
A faint ray of streetlight shone through the gap in the curtains. Lin Che lay on his side on the large bed, breathing evenly and deeply, clearly sound asleep. He had rolled up most of the quilt, leaving only a small edge on the other side.
Lu Yu walked silently to the bedside, and in the dim light, he looked at Lin Che's sleeping profile. Shedding the gentleness he wore when awake, and the occasional tension, he now seemed defenseless, even a little childish.
Lu Yu gently lifted a corner of the quilt and lay down, trying not to disturb the people around him. His body sank into the soft mattress, and a familiar yet unfamiliar breath instantly surrounded him.
The scent of cedar and Lin Che's unique scent, mixed with clean clothes and a little bit of the sweet mint from the shower gel, was like a quilt that had been dried in the sun in early winter, warm and comforting.
The smell lingered on the quilt, the pillow, and even the sheets he lay on, closely intertwined with his own breath, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other.
Lu Yu lay quietly in the darkness, his nose lingering with the mixed smell of "home" that belonged only to the two of them.
He turned his head and stared at Lin Che's blurry silhouette in the darkness.
He could imagine Lin Che sitting cross-legged on the sofa during the day, writing his paper while secretly munching on potato chips. He could also imagine him hugging a pillow, daydreaming or reading in the sun. He could imagine him turning over in this bed, rolling away the quilt...
Every corner of this house seemed to be silently permeated with Lin Che's scent and traces.
An indescribable, almost satisfying sense of calmness enveloped Lu Yu.
He closed his eyes and allowed himself to be completely overwhelmed by the warmth mixed with Lin Che's scent.
The fatigue of the body weighed heavily on him, and his consciousness quickly sank into darkness, but the corners of his mouth seemed to unconsciously bend upwards slightly in a relaxed manner.
——————
When Lin Che woke up the next day, the seat beside him was already cold. He had fallen asleep last night and didn't know what time Lu Yu returned.
The call from the Medical Department came at nine in the morning. The tone was more polite than ever before, even with a hint of caution.
"Doctor Lin, are you recovering well? Sorry to disturb your rest. The hospital leaders attach great importance to your reinstatement and some previous situations. We would like to ask you to come to the hospital to discuss it in detail when you are convenient. The time is completely based on your convenience!" The voice on the other end of the phone was full of smiles, and the other party's respect could be felt through the receiver.
Aunt Qu put another steamed bun in Lin Che's bowl. Seeing Lin Che's cheeks stuffed like a little squirrel, she was very happy and smiled with her eyes curved.
Lin Che held his phone in one hand and used his chopsticks in the other to block the fourth steamed dumpling Aunt Qu brought in. He looked at Aunt Qu innocently and shook his head, indicating that he couldn't eat any more.
Lin Che seriously suspected that the people in the Lu family had a habit of feeding him. Whether it was Song Wanzhi, Lu Yu, or Aunt Qu, they would coolly stuff food into his bowl whenever they got the chance.
"Is this afternoon convenient?" Lin Che's mouth was full of dumplings, and his words were a little unclear.
"Sure, Dr. Lin. Let's meet in the afternoon. I wish you a speedy recovery." The other party politely hung up the phone.
"Xiao Che, are you going back to work?" Aunt Qu put away her chopsticks with a reluctant look on her face. After Lin Che hung up the phone, she poured him another half cup of soy milk to help him smooth things over.
"I'm not sure yet. I'll go check on the situation this afternoon." Lin Che took a sip of soy milk and finally swallowed the steamed bun in his mouth. He leaned back in his chair with a sigh of relief.
"You just need to eat more. Look how thin you are. Being a doctor is already very energy-consuming, so you need to eat more." Aunt Qu put the plates on the table together one by one and couldn't help muttering.
Lin Che smiled when she heard the muttering. Aunt Qu was like a mother, constantly advising her child.
Aunt Qu carried the dishes into the kitchen. The sound of running water filled the air, accompanied by her gentle nagging: "It's always good to eat more. Health is the capital of revolution. Going to the hospital this afternoon? Do you want the driver to take you? Or should I go with you?"
Lin Che quickly waved his hands. "No, no, Aunt Qu, I can go by myself. I'll just go for a chat. It should be quick." He stood up and helped put away the remaining dishes. "Besides, aren't you going to the old house this afternoon? Don't delay me."
"Hey, kid, you're always so polite to me." Aunt Qu wiped her hands and looked at him helplessly and dotingly. "Then be careful. There are a lot of people in the hospital. Don't get squeezed. If anything happens, feel free to call Mr. Lu or me, okay?"
"I know, Aunt Qu, don't worry." Lin Che agreed with a smile, feeling warm in her heart.
This feeling of being treated as a fragile object and carefully cared for was both unfamiliar and made him extremely greedy.
The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, casting warm patches of light on the clean floor. Lin Che changed into clean, neat clothes and stood before the full-length mirror in the entrance hall. The person in the mirror had a rosier complexion than when he was hospitalized, and his eyes had regained their former clarity, though his figure still bore the frailty of someone who had just recovered from a serious illness.
【Fish that loves cats】: Are you busy? (Attached is a kitten greeting emoticon)
【Cat Lover】: I have to go to the hospital this afternoon and might need to use your car. (*^▽^*)
[LY]: The car keys are all in the cabinet in the study, go pick one yourself.
【Fish that loves cats】: (Kitten holding a sign - Thank you boss emoji)
Lu Yu's slender fingers just slid across the screen, exiting the chat interface with Lin Che. The gentle smile on the corner of his mouth, which had not yet completely faded and which he himself had not even noticed, was caught by Zhou Xubai who pushed the door open.
Zhou Xubai was holding two cups of freshly brewed coffee, leaning against the heavy mahogany door frame of President Lu's office. His suit jacket was casually draped over his arm, with the collar slightly open, giving him a lazy and noble air.
He raised his eyebrows, his eyes accurately capturing the rare smile on Lu Yu's face.
"Hey," Zhou Xubai drawled as he slowly walked in. He placed one of the steaming cups of coffee on Lu Yu's large desk, the bottom of the cup making a crisp sound as it hit the surface. "President Lu, you're smiling at your phone so... amorously? Is the sun rising from the west, or is our Lu Group going bankrupt? Have you finally learned to find joy in adversity?"
The gentleness on Lu Yu's face instantly faded, returning to his usual stern expression. He calmly placed his phone face down on the table, making a slight "click" sound. He looked up at Zhou Xubai and said calmly, "If you have something to say, just say it."
"Tsk, are you angry out of shame?" Zhou Xubai was not afraid of his coldness at all. Instead, he pulled out the chair opposite and sat down with interest, crossed his long legs, and leisurely admired the "flaw" that Lu Yu tried hard to cover up.
"Let me guess... who else could make our CEO Lu look like that at his phone during work hours, besides that 'Doctor Lin'?"
He deliberately emphasized the three words "Doctor Lin" and said with a mischievous smile: "Why, what did Doctor Xiao Che send you again?" Zhou Xubai became more and more excited as he talked, imitating Lin Che's possible tone, "Brother Lu Yu, can you come back early to have dinner with me today?"
The vein on Lu Yu's forehead seemed to twitch slightly. He picked up the coffee and took a sip, the rich bitterness spreading across his tongue. He tried to suppress the strange feeling of having his thoughts exposed. "Zhou Xubai, are you free?"
"No, no, no," Zhou Xubai wiggled his index finger, his smile growing even brighter. "I'm just concerned about our CEO Lu's love life. Look, before, your phone was just a work tool, but now it's almost become 'Lin Che's exclusive contact.' That expression just now, wow, it's exactly like..." He dragged out his words, pausing deliberately, admiring Lu Yu's increasingly cold expression. "You're in trouble~ You've fallen in love~"
"Shut up." Lu Yu's voice was flat, but the warning in his eyes was a bit stronger. He put down his coffee cup, and the bottom of the cup hit the tray with a clear sound, which was particularly abrupt in the quiet office.
Zhou Xubai stopped when he saw that he was ahead, but the smile in his eyes was still bright: "Okay, okay, I'll shut up. But seriously, Lu Yu..."
Zhou Xubai toned down his joking a bit and teased with some sincerity, "Seeing you like this, it's good. Someone at home is thinking about you. When you go home at night, there's a light on and the bed is warm."
He glanced at Lu Yu's phone on the table with a hint of meaning, "No wonder I see you've been so busy lately, but your aggressive attitude of keeping strangers away has faded a lot."
Lu Yu didn't refute immediately. He lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the upside-down phone. He remained silent, neither admitting nor denying.
Zhou Xubai took in his silence, smiled knowingly, and took a sip of his coffee leisurely.
It seems that Mr. Lu has really swam into the "River of Love" this time, and... he is enjoying it quite a lot.
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