Last night, Ke Yaru had wanted to stay by Lu Zhengting's bedside, but before she could even voice the thought, Lu Zhengting suddenly woke up and told her to go back to her own room.
Xia Yan stood properly by the edge of the bed when she heard Lu Zhengting suddenly hiss. Frowning, she glanced at him, confused, and was about to speak when the door was pushed open. Ke Yaru stood at the entrance, stunned, staring at her. Xia Yan felt awkward.
As for Ke Yaru, the moment she saw Xia Yan, she was completely dazed. After a pause, she asked, "Why are you here?"
Xia Yan also wanted to know why she was here. And why had she been chosen for this business trip?
Seeing Xia Yan silent, Ke Yaru's expression turned extremely sour. However, when she caught a glimpse of Lu Zhengting's displeased look in her peripheral vision, her hands, resting at her sides, suddenly clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms. Taking a breath, she forced a smile at Lu Zhengting. "Zhengting, I bought your favorite pastries. Do you want some now?"
Hearing this, Xia Yan, keeping her eyes downcast, sneaked a few glances and said calmly, "President Lu, since Manager Ke is here, I'll step out first."
The moment Xia Yan finished speaking, before she could take a step, Lu Zhengting's cold voice rang out abruptly. "You don't need to leave."
"Huh? I do, I do." Xia Yan kept her head low, insisting. She didn't want to be a third wheel, and she could see from Ke Yaru's look that she practically wanted to devour her. If she was clueless enough to stay, she was sure Ke Yaru would find ways to trip her up once they returned to Jiangcheng.
But no matter what Xia Yan thought, Lu Zhengting's words directly decided the outcome.
Lu Zhengting glanced expressionlessly at Ke Yaru, who stood beside him holding the pastries, and said flatly, "You go back to Jiangcheng first."
Ke Yaru frowned tightly, as if she couldn't figure out why Lu Zhengting was sending her back. Without thinking, she blurted out, "Zhengting, you need someone to take care of you right now. I want to stay..."
Xia Yan stood frozen like a statue, sneaking a look at Lu Zhengting, who had been sitting on the bed since she arrived. He needed care? In her eyes, he didn't seem like someone who needed looking after at all.
"No need. Xia Yan stays."
"Xia Yan stays? She has no idea how to take care of you."
Hearing this, Xia Yan, who had been trying to make herself invisible, felt like she was being caught in the crossfire. Wasn't this an unexpected disaster?
After a pause, Lu Zhengting pressed his lips together and commanded directly, "It's decided. I've already arranged for your ticket."
At that, Ke Yaru knew that once Lu Zhengting made a decision, no one could change it or refuse. She forced a strained smile, looking worse than if she were crying. "I understand. I'll go pack now. What about these pastries?"
"Leave them here."
Ke Yaru placed the pastries on the bedside table. Glancing down at the silent Xia Yan, she seemed to think of something and suddenly said, "Xia Yan, come out with me for a moment. I have something to discuss with you."
Xia Yan had no right to refuse. She smiled and nodded, already guessing what her task in Beicheng would be. Seeing Ke Yaru walk ahead, she silently turned and followed.
Ke Yaru led Xia Yan straight to her own room. The anger she had been holding back exploded instantly. In front of Xia Yan, she grabbed whatever was nearby and smashed it on the floor. Seeing this, Xia Yan, mindful of self-preservation, dodged each time Ke Yaru threw something, until Ke Yaru ran out of steam.
Xia Yan picked a safe spot to stand and waited for Ke Yaru to speak.
The sound of smashing stopped, and the room fell into silence. Ke Yaru sat on the sofa, fuming, ignoring the mess on the floor. Her gaze, burning with undisguised fury, fixed on Xia Yan for a long time. "Who sent you here?"
"The company arranged an impromptu business trip."
"The company arranged it?" Ke Yaru let out a cold laugh. "Xia Yan, I don't care what tricks you used to catch Zhengting's eye. If you still don't know your place, I'll make you regret it."
Ke Yaru's threat seemed flimsy to Xia Yan. Instead of getting angry, she smiled. "Do you want to know what tricks I used?"
"Just some low-down tactics."
"Too bad. Lu Zhengting falls for low-down tactics." Xia Yan shot back.
"You're just something new to him. What do you think you have?"
"Isn't that perfect? At least he still finds me interesting. But what about you, Manager Ke? Judging by President Lu's attitude just now, I'm afraid..." Xia Yan was someone who responded to kindness but not threats, and she hated being intimidated. Yet, when she caught a flicker of hurt on Ke Yaru's face, she felt a pang of sympathy.
After a pause, Xia Yan added, "Why make things hard for each other? Is it really worth it to cling to someone who doesn't understand love?"
This was meant as a heartfelt remark, but Ke Yaru took it as a boast, stirring up trouble for Xia Yan.
"Xia Yan, there's plenty of time ahead. Let's see how long you last by his side."
Hearing this, Xia Yan didn't argue. She had never planned to stay by Lu Zhengting's side, so the point was moot.
"Manager Ke, if you're done, can I go now?"
Ke Yaru didn't stop her, nor could she. She couldn't let Xia Yan and Lu Zhengting's relationship develop any further. She packed up and returned to Jiangcheng, realizing she couldn't use the same tactics on Xia Yan as she had on other women. Only now did she understand that Xia Yan held a special place in Lu Zhengting's heart.
When Xia Yan returned to Lu Zhengting's room, she had barely stepped inside when he waved her over. "Come here."
Hearing this, Xia Yan shuffled over. "What's up?"
"I'm hungry."
"Isn't there food over there? Manager Ke said those are your favorites."
"Don't want it."
"Then what do you want to eat?"
"Meat."
The word "meat" popped out of Lu Zhengting's mouth, and Xia Yan instinctively stepped back, remembering the last time he said that. Pausing, as if sensing his displeasure, she cautiously moved closer. "Should I order some now?"
"You cook it."
A line of sweat trickled down Xia Yan's forehead. "This is a hotel. Where am I supposed to cook? You're kidding me."
Lu Zhengting insisted he wanted Xia Yan to cook for him but refused to deal with the logistics. Xia Yan felt like cursing. Under this guy's thumb, she didn't even need exercise to lose weight—he was exhausting enough. She turned and left, racking her brain for a way. After pleading with the manager, using every argument she could think of until her mouth went dry, and the manager still wouldn't budge, Xia Yan gritted her teeth, pulled the manager aside, and said with tearful eyes, "Manager Chen, everything I said is true. He's given up on treatment, and before he goes, he just wants a meal I cook. Can't you make an exception out of humanitarian kindness?"
Manager Chen looked troubled. "Is he your partner?"
Xia Yan started to say no, then quickly changed her answer. "Yes, he's my partner."
As soon as she said it, Xia Yan cursed inwardly. She had meant to say "boss," but seeing Manager Chen's scrutinizing gaze, she swallowed the words. She touched her face, feeling drained.
Manager Chen took a call midway and, after hesitating for a while, nodded. "Just this once."
Xia Yan quickly thanked him and followed the staff to the kitchen.
All the ingredients she needed were available. Remembering that Lu Zhengting liked beef, she chose that. After the server delivered the meal to the room, she sat in the living room for a while before Lu Zhengting emerged from his room in a black shirt.
"Why do you look so pale?"
Lu Zhengting glanced at her, walked slowly over, and eyed the braised beef. Seeing him still standing, Xia Yan instinctively grabbed his hand and pulled him onto the sofa. "Aren't you hungry—"
"Hiss..."
"What's wrong?" Hearing him gasp, she quickly put down her chopsticks and stared at him intently. Everything seemed normal.
"Nothing."
After he spoke, Xia Yan paused and asked, "What's my task for this Beicheng trip?"
"Take care of me."
Xia Yan raised an eyebrow at him. "Take care of you? What do you need me for?"
"I'm injured."
"Huh?" Xia Yan laughed in disbelief, then suddenly remembered his pale face and fell silent.
Seeing her stunned expression, Lu Zhengting's lips curved slightly as he began to eat, savoring both the food and the sight of Xia Yan processing his words. After the meal, he had to deal with the ambush incident and didn't bother with what Xia Yan did. As for Xia Yan, she finally accepted that she was there to take care of him. She half-lay on the sofa. The suite felt like a private residence, with a study full of diverse books. Bored, she picked one out, which now served as a perfect cover.
Ke Yaru came to see Lu Zhengting before leaving, but he was busy with work, so she didn't stay long. In the afternoon, when the doctor came to change his bandages, Xia Yan stood by the bed, watching intently as the doctor removed the gauze.
Xia Yan knew Lu Zhengting was injured, but since he acted normally, she thought it wasn't serious. Seeing it firsthand was different, though. The wound on his back was deep, with the edges slightly turned outward, though luckily it hadn't reached the bone. Instinctively, Xia Yan covered her eyes. The man, who hadn't even flinched, glanced at her and said calmly, "Xia Yan, go outside."
Hearing this, Xia Yan quickly lowered her hands and fixed her gaze on the doctor applying the medicine.