After Qiu Yang opened her eyes, the first thing she did was touch Shen Ningruo’s forehead. Compared to last night, her temperature was completely normal now. She breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Morning.”
Shen Ningruo could speak a little more fluently than last night and immediately responded, “Morning.”
“Are you in a state to go to work like this?” Qiu Yang was still a little worried.
Shen Ningruo nodded. “Yes.”
“Just talk less.”
There was still a lot of work waiting for her at the company. Missing a day yesterday had piled up quite a bit. Shen Ningruo had always been like an iron woman; she wouldn’t have taken the whole day off yesterday if she hadn’t been feeling particularly unwell.
Her head didn’t hurt today, so she definitely had to go.
It was precisely because Qiu Yang knew this about her that she proactively asked, and the answer was exactly as she expected.
She blinked, then lifted the covers first. “Then I’ll go wash up.”
The spot beside her became empty. Shen Ningruo lay flat, looking at the white ceiling, feeling much more relaxed.
She had figured it out. What she needed to do now wasn’t to rush to confirm her feelings, but to just let things happen naturally.
If she wanted to stay with Qiu Yang, then she should try her best to stay with Qiu Yang.
If she wanted to look at Qiu Yang’s bright eyes, then she should look whenever she could.
Qiu Yang was worried about Shen Ningruo’s physical condition. After washing up, she suggested Shen Ningruo not drive and take a taxi to the company instead.
Shen Ningruo’s lips maintained a slight curve. “Okay.”
She paused for two seconds before adding, “I’ll listen to you.”
Qiu Yang gave Shen Ningruo a strange look. She felt something was off but couldn’t pinpoint it, finally attributing it all to Shen Ningruo being sick.
When a person is sick, they become vulnerable, and some behaviors will be different from usual.
For example, the seemingly strong Shen Ningruo crying last night.
Qiu Yang didn’t change clothes; she was still wearing her clothes from yesterday. Shen Ningruo also didn’t change, wearing the set Qiu Yang had given her yesterday.
“You…” Qiu Yang wanted to say something but didn’t.
Shen Ningruo knew what she was thinking, cleared her throat, and calmly explained, “It would be a waste to wash them after only wearing them for two hours.”
Here we go again.
Even for a piece of clothing, she felt it was a loss if she didn’t wear it enough.
Qiu Yang had been used to this for a while, but hearing Shen Ningruo say it now, she still found it a bit ridiculous. However, the only comforting thing was that Shen Ningruo’s spirits were much better.
At least she was back to her old ways of being cheeky.
The two left the complex one after the other. Qiu Yang first hailed a taxi for Shen Ningruo. Afraid that Shen Ningruo’s throat would hurt from talking, she proactively told the driver the address. After the car drove away, she then hailed another one.
Shen Ningruo sat in the back seat. She hadn’t even said “goodbye” to Qiu Yang before the driver started the car.
She kept looking back and saw Qiu Yang standing by the roadside, quickly hailing a taxi as well. Only then did she feel relieved.
But only a few seconds had passed before she started missing Qiu Yang.
Shen Ningruo pursed her lips and pulled out the photo she had taken of Qiu Yang earlier.
The line “I want to put yours” that she showed Qiu Yang last night wasn’t false. Ever since Qiu Yang had printed the photos for her, she had wanted to print this one she took herself and put it on the small table beside her bed.
That way, she could see Qiu Yang whether before sleeping or after waking up.
It was a beautiful thought, both then and now.
But last night, it was stifled by Qiu Yang. Undeniably, Qiu Yang’s answer was very sincere, and Shen Ningruo could clearly feel it, but that didn’t stop her heart from sinking gradually.
Amidst the frustration, Shen Ningruo set a small goal for herself: one day in the future, she would make Qiu Yang personally place her own photo by her bed.
Having not seen Shen Ningruo all day yesterday, her subordinates had work to report. They didn’t expect their iron-willed Director to be seriously ill, unable to speak more than a few sentences. But even so, her authority remained. During a one-hour morning meeting, it was mostly the subordinates talking, while Shen Ningruo listened quietly, occasionally picking up her cup to drink some hot water.
Before leaving, Qiu Yang had reminded her several times to drink plenty of water and to remember to take her medicine after meals.
If it were anyone else, Shen Ningruo would definitely find it nagging, but because it was Qiu Yang, she only found it adorable and said she would be obedient.
Shen Ningruo’s self-perception had changed. She used to think of herself as a big bad wolf, but after catching a cold, she had turned into a little dog.
All of this was thanks to Qiu Yang; it was Qiu Yang who had “domesticated” her.
As soon as the morning meeting ended, Shen Ningruo returned to her office. Ke Yezi still had matters to report privately. After receiving confirmation from Shen Ningruo, she pushed the door open and entered.
Shen Ningruo’s cup was filled with another large cup of hot water, steaming. Ke Yezi was momentarily stunned again. Moreover, she felt that the clothes Director Shen was wearing today were both unfamiliar and familiar, at least she had never seen them before.
In fact, from the fabric, it was clear this wasn’t something Shen Ningruo would like. Ke Yezi had worked with Shen Ningruo for so long, she naturally knew what kind of clothes their Director usually wore.
But where did that tiny bit of familiarity come from? Ke Yezi couldn’t remember. However, she shouldn’t be thinking about these things right now. She quickly collected her thoughts, placed the report she brought on Shen Ningruo’s desk, and began to state the purpose of her visit: “Director, this is Xingyu Company’s last year’s…”
Shen Ningruo also composed herself and began to read seriously.
Qiu Yang was worried about Shen Ningruo, but she was busy all morning and only had time to check her phone at noon.
Shen Ningruo had sent her several messages, which didn’t contain much content.
【One cup of water.】
【Two cups of water.】
【Three cups of water.】
【Four cups of water.】
The latest message was from two minutes ago: 【Drank half a cup of water again, I’m going to eat now, will remember to take medicine.】
She was reporting her progress. Qiu Yang’s lips curved up slightly, as if she could already imagine Shen Ningruo’s expression when saying these things.
She replied: 【Okay.】
Regarding taking care of Shen Ningruo herself this time when she was sick, Qiu Yang felt it was very normal. After all, Shen Ningruo got so cold because of her.
Moreover, Shen Ningruo had said last night that she was the first person, besides a doctor, to take care of her like this.
Qiu Yang’s sympathy immediately surged, just like when the little girl in Xicheng acted pitifully in front of her and she agreed to that matter.
Yue Chu had talked to Qiu Yang about related things before, saying she was too soft-hearted and easily taken advantage of.
Qiu Yang didn’t argue at the time, but in reality, she didn’t think it was being taken advantage of. Because she had received very little kindness, she wanted others to receive it from her, as if this could prevent the scales in her heart from tilting so severely.
After lunch, she continued to work. It wasn’t long before it was five o’clock.
Work was over again.
She glanced at the calendar on her desk. Today was April 1st, April Fool’s Day, and also the Thursday she had agreed upon with Shen Ningruo.
But she had already bought the photo frame for Shen Ningruo, so there was no need to go shopping today, right?
Frankly, Qiu Yang hadn’t slept well these past two days. She didn’t expect so many things to happen in just two days, and looking back, only two days had passed.
She rubbed her temples, feeling a bit dazed.
Shen Ningruo, however, guessed her thoughts and sent her a message punctually: 【Today is Thursday.】
Qiu Yang: …
Shen Ningruo didn’t wait for a reply but continued to send messages: 【I still want to buy a few photo frames, I still have photos I can print.】
This reason was very real and hard to refuse, especially since she had indeed agreed to Shen Ningruo before. So Qiu Yang replied: 【I’ll go home and feed the cat first.】
She couldn’t feed the cat when she was in Xicheng, but now that she was back in Yuncheng, Qiu Yang would naturally feed it whenever she could. It was her cat, and she felt bad always asking Miao Yi for help.
However, Shen Ningruo was working overtime and wasn’t expected to finish until 8 pm. Qiu Yang had already eaten dinner and taken a shower and was bored enough to take out her DSLR and photograph Pingzi.
With ten minutes left until 8 pm, Shen Ningruo finally called. Her voice sounded much better. “Sorry, have you been waiting long?”
“I’m a little sleepy,” Qiu Yang yawned, stating her inner thoughts. “Can we reschedule for tomorrow, Friday?”
Shen Ningruo heard her tired voice and agreed. “Okay.”
Overtime was unavoidable, and Shen Ningruo had OCD, which was why she was delayed until now.
“Goodnight.”
“…Goodnight.”
After the brief call ended, Shen Ningruo hadn’t even fully processed it, but in the end, she only let out a sigh.
She hadn’t driven to work today, so she still took a taxi back.
Having worked for so long, it was false to say she wasn’t tired. Fortunately, she had drunk a lot of water and taken her medicine seriously, so her condition hadn’t worsened.
But as soon as she relaxed, Shen Ningruo felt enveloped by fatigue. She was truly tired, and deciding not to buy photo frames tonight was the correct decision.
The streetlights would operate for a long time. In the flickering light, her weary face was visible. It was only when the driver reminded her they had arrived that she opened her eyes, paid, and got out of the car.
Entering the complex, entering the building.
Entering the elevator, entering the password.
Shen Ningruo did all this mechanically. She was expressionless as she pushed the door open.
She turned on the living room light and looked at the lifeless place, unable to describe her current mood. She just missed Qiu Yang very much.
Only when Qiu Yang was here did she feel it wasn’t so desolate.
Shen Ningruo couldn’t help but cough twice. She took out her shoes to change and walked towards the bedroom.
The bedroom door was slightly ajar, and she saw a faint light.
Shen Ningruo’s gaze sharpened. As the gap in the door widened, she could clearly see the person lying on the bed.
It was Qiu Yang.
A smile bloomed on Shen Ningruo’s lips.
Qiu Yang was still sleeping in the same spot as last night, her face serene and peaceful. The room was so quiet that everything could be heard. Shen Ningruo lightened her footsteps, afraid of waking Qiu Yang.
It was false to say she wasn’t surprised.
The person she was just thinking about appeared before her eyes the next second. This was more joyful than anything in the world.
Shen Ningruo walked to the bedside and tucked the quilt around Qiu Yang.
She didn’t know what expression she had right now, but perhaps it was a few degrees warmer than the light from the bedside lamp?
Qiu Yang’s phone was still on the pillow, constantly lit up. Shen Ningruo thought there was a message and didn’t pay attention. She didn’t have the habit of peeking, but when she looked closely, she realized it was a video playing on repeat.
It was clearly made by Qiu Yang herself.
There were only three lines of text, white text on a black background, scrolling to the left.
【Came over a while ago.】
【I’m really sleepy.】
【Happy April Fool’s Day.】
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