Chapter 53: Demonstration

Antong opened her eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling, feeling heavy-headed and light-footed, unable to distinguish dream from reality.

She had dreamed she was ill, her mother making her favorite steamed egg custard and instructing Xiaoqi not to disturb her. The dream had felt so real—so real that her heart clenched, her eyes reddened, and she called out, “Mom…”

But the empty room offered no reply.

Antong pressed her lips together, forcibly blinking back the tears threatening to well up.

After a while, she propped herself up, attempting to sit. As she moved, something fell from her head onto the floor.

The bedroom light was off, and she couldn’t make out what it was. At that moment, someone outside in the corridor heard the noise—the door was pushed open abruptly. “Madam?”

A bright light spilled in through the crack as the figure entered, silhouetted against the glow. From the voice, it was Ling Qi.

Antong paused mid-motion, her voice weak, hoarse with a nasal undertone. “What time is it?”

“Quarter to eleven.” Ling Qi entered and flicked on the light. “Are you feeling better?”

She picked up the ice pack from the floor and then the thermometer from the nightstand. “Here, let’s check your temperature.”

Antong didn’t move, allowing Ling Qi to take her temperature.

Thirty-seven point two degrees. At least it was normal.

Touching her cool forehead, Antong realized belatedly that the object which had fallen was the ice pack.

The fever had come on so suddenly that morning. Her last clear memory was of being in the living room before she drifted into a heavy sleep. Everything after that was a blur—voices seemed to murmur endlessly by her ear, but she could never quite wake.

Turning to Ling Qi, Antong asked in confusion, “How did I end up in the bedroom?”

Ling Qi handed her a glass of water, casually fabricating, “I carried you back.”

She hadn’t wanted to lie, but the boss had forbidden her from telling the truth.

“Really?” Antong was silent for a few seconds.

She didn’t believe it.

Ling Qi was shorter than her, just about one-sixty in height. Even with her experience in manual work, carrying her would be a stretch.

Seeing the doubt on Antong’s face, Ling Qi made a half-hearted gesture as if to demonstrate. “Well, not exactly carried—more like half-dragged, half-carried.”

It was a flimsy explanation.

Antong wasn’t a fool. Even if she pretended not to notice, Ling Qi’s words were unconvincing, and her gaze flickered in a telltale way. Though fleeting, Antong caught it.

A sure sign of a guilty lie.

Antong had always found Ling Qi pleasant and hoped they could become friends. But now…

“Thank you, you’ve really gone to a lot of trouble,” Antong said, licking her dry lips and innocently raising her arms. “Could you show me how you half-dragged, half-carried me? I was sleeping so deeply, I don’t remember.”

Ling Qi’s smile froze on her lips.

How was she supposed to demonstrate that?

The room fell silent as the two of them stared at each other, Ling Qi swallowing nervously as she searched for a solution.

At last, she made a decision, closed the door behind her, and walked up to Antong, ready to speak her mind.

Better to throw someone else under the bus than herself.

Ling Qi had a new strategy—one that would help and bring them closer.

…

Five minutes later, Antong and Ling Qi descended the stairs side by side.

Jiang Yun was still there, sitting alone on the sofa, staring contemplatively at the mop and bucket in the corner.

Hearing footsteps, he turned swiftly. At the sight of Antong’s face, he was momentarily struck—so this was the woman who so occupied Rong Jiu’s thoughts.

Melancholy beauties were rare these days.

Jiang Yun narrowed his eyes and stood up to ask, “Has your fever gone down?”

“It has, thank you, Dr. Jiang,” Ling Qi answered for her.

Jiang Yun gave a cold laugh. He knew how it went—when they needed him, it was “Little Jiang”; otherwise, just “Dr. Jiang.” The classic case of using someone and casting them aside.

Antong, who’d never met Jiang Yun, heard the title and nodded at him with a polite smile. “Dr. Jiang, thank you for your trouble today.”

Appeased by the gentle words of this melancholy beauty, Jiang Yun waved it off good-naturedly. “No need, it’s my job.”

Then Antong took out her phone, asking how much she owed him for the house call.

Ling Qi: “…”

Jiang Yun: “…”

Fortunately, Cheng Feng returned from his meeting and entered the living room, breaking the awkward moment. “Hey, where’s Master Jiu?”

Ling Qi replied that he was at the main house next door.

Shortly after, Jiang Yun left two boxes of cold medicine for Antong, glanced at her several times, and, urged on by Ling Qi, left Yundian still puzzled.

…

At the same time, Cheng Feng entered the main house’s living room and reported the general details of the shareholders’ meeting to Rong Shen.

At the end, he added, “Master Jiu, I just stopped by the western villa—Miss An is awake.”

“Call her Madam,” Butler Li corrected, patting him on the shoulder before looking toward the man. “Shall I bring some rice porridge and egg custard over to Madam?”

At that moment, the man was toying with a black chess piece. His voice was deep as he replied in the affirmative.

Cheng Feng watched Old Li leave and, after he’d gone out, turned back to ask, “Master Jiu, Yuankai said we’re… moving to Zhan Zhou ahead of schedule?”

“Yes, next week.”

Cheng Feng hesitated, concern evident in his voice. “It’s no problem otherwise, but Yuankai told me that even if the villa’s materials are all eco-friendly, it’s best to let it air out for a while. If you move in so soon, in case…”

Rong Shen casually tossed the chess piece into the box, smoothed the creases from his suit trousers, and said quietly, “Tell Yuankai to stick to the ventilation plan as scheduled. Xiao An and I have somewhere else to stay.”

Cheng Feng was momentarily taken aback.

Just a few hours earlier, Yuankai had told him Master Jiu planned to move into the Camphor Apartment with Xiao An ahead of time. Why the sudden change?

As for other places in Zhan Zhou… Cheng Feng couldn’t guess for now, as Master Jiu had no shortage of options.

…

Meanwhile, Antong’s illness had brought her one good thing—the chance to befriend the lovely Ling Qi.

After finishing the rice porridge and egg custard Butler Li had brought her, Antong sniffed and asked, “Is Dr. Rong still at home?”

“He should be,” Ling Qi replied, resting her chin in her hands and tilting her head cutely, oblivious to her own charm. “Would you like to thank him in person?”

She joked, making Antong tug awkwardly at her lips. “Just call me by name.”

Ling Qi shook her head earnestly. “I can’t do that. If I call you by name, the boss will dock my pay.”

Antong pressed her lips together, silent as her thoughts drifted.

She now knew it was Dr. Rong who had carried her back to her room that morning when she’d fainted with a fever in the living room.

Though she had no recollection of it, Antong felt a bit embarrassed and uneasy.

Ling Qi had said Dr. Rong had already left for the day but had turned back upon learning she was ill.

Antong was not one to trouble others, yet it seemed she kept causing Dr. Rong trouble.

A sigh escaped her lips as she pulled the small blanket closer around her. “I’m going next door for a bit.”

Ling Qi stifled a laugh, about to offer to go with her, when the sound of the outer door opening came from the foyer.

Both women turned to look, just as Rong Shen entered the living room, tall and upright.

Antong managed to keep her expression calm, curving her lips into a slight smile and greeting him with a thick, nasal voice, “Dr. Rong.”

“How are you feeling?” His deep, magnetic gaze rested on her face, his tone unhurried and pleasing to the ear.

Good morning.

Lately, there will only be two updates a day; by the end of the month, there will be three.

Thank you for your support.

(The chapter ends.)