The Art of Teasing - Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Her body had always been strong. She could go years without catching a cold. An occasional stuffy nose or sneeze would resolve itself in a couple of days without attention, so she never paid any mind to minor nasal congestion.
After arriving at the studio, she first processed the backlog of documents that had piled up on her desk over the past week, then convened a meeting with all departments.
It had been a year since the studio opened, and all aspects were running smoothly. The meetings were primarily to hear updates on departmental progress, performance metrics, and to adjudicate any interdepartmental communication breakdowns requiring her decision.
During the meeting, Wen Zhengyu felt her symptoms worsening. Sweat beaded on her forehead, yet her body shivered with chills.
Realizing she likely had a cold and fearing she might infect others, she sent a text to Wen Jing, asking her to purchase cold medicine and face masks. After taking the medication, she donned a mask and continued the meeting.
Her head felt exceptionally heavy, requiring her to prop it up with her hand. Her eyes burned as if on fire, and her forehead remained clammy.
She forced herself to stay alert and concluded the meeting. Upon exiting, she encountered Ye Ling directly.
Ye Ling was ascending the stairs with her retinue. Upon seeing Wen Zhengyu, her eyes settled on her face, scrutinizing her up and down.
That gaze gave Wen Zhengyu the distinct, unsettling impression of having been caught red-handed. Seeing Ye Ling frozen at the stairway landing, staring at her, she simply exchanged a greeting before retreating to her own office.
She sat down in her office chair, removed her mask, and immediately felt liquid dripping from her nose. It had been ages since her last cold; she had not expected the illness to strike so suddenly and so severely.
A knock sounded at the door.
She responded: "Come in."
The door swung open, and Ye Ling entered, casually closing it behind her.
Wen Zhengyu raised her head to look at Ye Ling.
Today, Ye Ling wore a light grey, form-fitting linen blazer with its sleeves casually rolled up to her mid-forearms. On her wrist was the bracelet Wen Zhengyu had given her. Her proportions were excellent—she possessed the long, slender legs characteristic of her body type—and she wore high heels. Perfectly pressed suit trousers clung to her legs, making her entire figure appear elongated and impeccably straight.
She had to admit, even judged solely on physical appearance, Ye Ling was strikingly outstanding.
This excellence, as it registered in her eyes, was purely aesthetic appreciation.
She withdrew her gaze from Ye Ling and asked with feigned surprise: "CEO Ye, is there something you need?"
Ye Ling admitted openly: "I saw you had a cold. I was concerned."
Wen Zhengyu felt moisture sliding from her nasal passage, hastily grabbed a tissue to cover her nose, and said: "It's nothing. Just caught a chill last night. I've already taken cold— Ha-choo!" She clamped the tissue tightly over her mouth and said to Ye Ling: "Sorry, I'm afraid of infecting you." A clear dismissal.
Ye Ling showed not the slightest fear of being infected. She pulled out the chair opposite Wen Zhengyu, sat down, and said: "Your face is flushed. Are you running a fever?"
Wen Zhengyu pressed the tissue firmly against her mouth and nose, replying: "Maybe a little. I should clock out and head to the hospital."
Ye Ling nodded, rose, and said: "I'll accompany you."
Wen Zhengyu shook her head, fabricating an excuse to refuse.
A minor cold was hardly sufficient reason for Wen Zhengyu to actually go to the hospital.
Once in the car, she slumped listlessly in the back seat and said to Wen Jing: "Go home."
Wen Jing studied Wen Zhengyu's complexion through the rearview mirror and asked: "Not going to the hospital?"
Wen Zhengyu replied: "No need. Take some cold medicine, sleep it off, sweat a bit, and I'll be fine."
It was the Old Master's birthday, and many relatives had gathered at the family home. Quite a few had traveled back from out of town and usually stayed for several days. Previously, they had all stayed at her house. Now that her own residence was small, they were all lodged at a hotel owned by her Fourth Uncle on her paternal side.
By the time she arrived home, it was already lunchtime. The Old Master and Madam Wen Shishu had long since departed for the hotel. The house was empty. She returned to her room to pack several changes of clothes, sleepwear, and toiletries, then had Wen Jing drive her to the hotel.
Afraid of infecting the Old Master, she decided to stay at the hotel for a few days until her cold had run its course.
Dr. Shen had specifically cautioned her that the elderly could not be compared to the young; they were highly susceptible to all manner of illnesses and required constant vigilance against such triggers.
Wen Zhengyu had barely entered the hotel lobby when she saw the children of her male and female cousins, along with her Second Aunt's granddaughter, playing there. A large group of kids sat on the lobby sofas, chattering noisily in a lively scene.
Even wearing a mask, the children recognized her instantly, shouting "Aunt Zhengyu" and "Auntie" as they rushed over.
A little one, about three or four years old, with a milky voice and a solemn face, declared to her: "Aunt Zhengyu, Wenwen wants uppies." The child stretched out both arms toward her.
Wen Zhengyu pointed at her own mask and said gently: "I have a cold. I'm sick and contagious. You'll have to wait until I'm better for me to play with you."
An older child immediately stated with grave seriousness: "When you have a cold, you must take medicine. Medicine is very bitter."
Someone added: "And you need shots."
"In the butt. It hurts a lot."
"Last time I had a cold, Grandma even took me to the hospital to stay overnight."
The gaggle of children launched into a full-fledged discussion on colds, fevers, and injections, displaying a studious earnestness that almost resembled an academic symposium.
Some kids even ran off to inform the adults.
Wen Zhengyu had no idea how the children conveyed the message to the grown-ups. In any event, a minor cold was sufficient for this group of kids to summon a veritable horde of relatives.
Both Old Master Lian and Madam Wen Shishu rushed over in frantic haste.
Having taken cold medicine, Wen Zhengyu was already drowsy, weary, and utterly exhausted. Her limbs felt weak and hollow, and amid their fervent concern, she could barely remain standing. She mustered her strength to thank the relatives for their solicitude, urged them to go eat, and separately informed Wen Shishu that, to avoid infecting the Old Master, she would be staying at the hotel for the time being.
Old Master Wen said: "Afraid of what? A cold? Come home and stay."
Wen Zhengyu replied: "You may not be afraid, but I am. The last time your blood pressure spiked, you nearly scared me—" She stopped mid-sentence, suddenly recalling Wen Shishu's presence. She hastily swallowed the rest of her words and glanced guiltily at Wen Shishu. From Madam Wen Shishu's sinister, insincerely smiling, ghostlier-than-any-ghost expression, she surmised her Second Aunt had probably known all along and simply hadn't settled accounts with her yet. She pressed a hand to her forehead and lamented: "Second Aunt, my head hurts."
Madam Wen Shishu resolved the matter decisively: "Fine. Stay at the hotel." She then chided Wen Zhengyu: "You didn't even bother to cover yourself properly with the blanket when you slept. I only kept you company for one night, and now you're sick. Anyone who didn't know better would think I caused this." As she spoke, she supported Wen Zhengyu toward the elevator.
Wen Zhengyu cast a silent glance at Wen Shishu and said nothing.
Wen Shishu addressed Old Master Wen, who stood at the elevator entrance watching Wen Zhengyu with anxious eyes: "Dad, go have your meal. Judging by her state, she has no appetite. Let her rest first. I'll send some congee up to her room later." She added a reassurance: "She's young with a strong constitution. It's nothing serious."
After escorting Wen Zhengyu to her room, Wen Shishu helped her settle on the sofa. She placed a hand on Wen Zhengyu's forehead, felt the startling heat radiating from it, and asked: "Have you seen a doctor?"
Wen Zhengyu said: "I've taken medicine."
Wen Shishu asked: "The family doctor hasn't been replaced, has he?"
Wen Zhengyu replied: "No." She perceived Madam Wen Shishu's real question was whether she had dismissed Dr. Shen. Although finances were currently strained, given the Old Master's age, no matter how much she economized elsewhere, she dared not cut corners on medical expenses.
Wen Shishu called Dr. Shen and asked him to come by after lunch.
Wen Zhengyu went to the bathroom to remove her makeup, then stumbled groggily to the bed, collapsed onto it, and fell straight asleep.
In the afternoon, Wen Zhengyu was awakened by disturbances.
Madam Wen Shishu, Old Master Wen, and Dr. Shen had all congregated in her room.
Dr. Shen took her temperature, dispensed some cold medicine and antibiotics, explained the dosage, and offered a few words of advice to Old Master Wen before departing.
Later, drifting in and out of a dazed sleep, Wen Zhengyu was jarred awake by the ringing of her cellphone on the nightstand. She answered the call with a "Hello," only to hear how drastically her voice had changed.
"Zhengyu," came a soft call from the receiver. It was Ye Ling's voice.
Ye Ling had gone to her home to visit the invalid, only to find no one there. So she called to ask which hospital she was at. Was it serious? What did the doctor say?
Wen Zhengyu replied weakly a few times before drifting back to sleep. What she needed most right now was a good, undisturbed rest. No one should disturb her.
She slept hazily, dimly aware at some point of someone approaching her bedside, of a cool, soft hand pressing against her forehead. Her entire body radiated heat, and when that hand made contact, it brought immediate, soothing coolness. She heard someone murmur softly: "Still burning up."
She opened her eyes to find it was Ye Ling. Her Second Aunt was also present.
Ye Ling was turning her head to say to Wen Shishu: "I ran into Zhengyu at the studio earlier. She seemed to have a bit of a fever, so I picked up a few ice packs on the way over." She gestured toward the outer room, stepped out to the living area, and returned carrying a plastic tote bag.
Wen Zhengyu observed that the bag Ye Ling carried contained considerably more than just ice packs. A thermometer, cold medicine, cough syrup, fever reducers—medical supplies filled over half the bag. There was also a food container. She wondered if Ye Ling intended to steal Dr. Shen's job.
Wen Zhengyu sat up, propping herself against the headboard, and watched silently as Ye Ling proceeded to play doctor, taking her temperature. She said: "It was taken just a while ago. Thirty-eight degrees."
Ye Ling placed an ice pack on Wen Zhengyu's forehead and instructed: "Hold it yourself."
Observing this display of competence, Wen Zhengyu found herself asking: "What did CEO Ye study as her major?"
Ye Ling replied: "Finance. Why?"
Wen Zhengyu offered a faint retort: "I thought you had studied medicine."
Ye Ling responded: "If Zhengyu needs it, I'd be quite happy to abandon business for medicine."
Wen Shishu interjected: "You two chat." And left the room.
Watching Wen Shishu's retreating figure, Wen Zhengyu cried out internally: Second Aunt, don't go.
Ye Ling lowered her voice and said: "Second Aunt is truly kind."
Wen Zhengyu threw Ye Ling a look that said you're imagining things. She understood exactly what Ye Ling meant by "Second Aunt is truly kind." In truth, she suspected her Second Aunt simply wished to remove herself from an irksome situation—out of sight, out of mind. Her throat tickled. She pressed her lips together, stifled two coughs, then whispered: "She's my Second Aunt." Not yours.
Ye Ling whispered back: "Since Second Aunt is so wonderful, how about sharing half with me?"
Wen Zhengyu felt this was less a sickbed visit and more an exercise in provocation. She glanced toward the bedroom door and saw her Second Aunt had pulled out a magazine and was seated on the sofa, seemingly reading. But the position was strategically chosen, offering a perfect view of the bedroom interior.
She leaned her head back listlessly against the pillow, balancing the ice pack on her forehead. She had to admit, Ye Ling's ice pack purchase had been an excellent idea. Cooling.
Ye Ling pulled a chair beside the bed. When the appropriate interval had passed, she removed the thermometer, studied it carefully, then glanced at Wen Zhengyu and stated: "It's nearly thirty-nine degrees now."
Wen Zhengyu leaned over to look and said: "Thirty-eight point five."
Ye Ling asked: "Are you really not going to the hospital?"
Wen Zhengyu tilted her head toward the medications arranged on the nightstand and re-emphasized: "I've already seen a doctor." She was realizing this CEO Ye, who aspired to moonlight as a physician, seemed to lack some experience in handling patients.
Ye Ling asked again: "Would you like something to eat?"
Wen Zhengyu shook her head, saying: "I have no appetite."
Ye Ling said: "I had someone prepare a sweet soup." She opened the food container and removed a lidded bowl from inside.
Wen Zhengyu's mouth was dry, bitter, and astringent. She didn't want greasy meat congee, yet plain rice congee seemed too bland. Seeing it was Southern Almond and Snow Pear Sweet Soup, she felt a slight stirring of interest. She hummed softly, saying: "Alright."
Ye Ling couldn't help but smile at this. Wen Zhengyu favored sweet foods; she had known preparing a sweet soup was the correct approach. She thought of having Wen Zhengyu continue holding the ice pack while she fed her the soup. But just as she lifted the bowl, Wen Zhengyu had already set the ice pack aside and risen from the bed. She watched, utterly compliant, as Wen Zhengyu obediently walked over to the small round table by the window and sat down properly.
Ye Ling sighed inwardly with regret and placed the sweet soup before Wen Zhengyu.
Wen Zhengyu thanked Ye Ling, swept her long hair behind her ear, picked up the spoon, and lowered her head to drink the soup.
Today, Wen Zhengyu wore a slip dress. The small blazer she had worn over it earlier was now hanging on the coat rack, leaving only the slip dress. As she bowed her head, her long hair, which had been draped behind her, cascaded down either side of her body, revealing the back of her neck. The pronounced vertebrae stood out distinctly due to her excessive thinness.
Ye Ling's gaze halted on the nape of Wen Zhengyu's neck. She knew Wen Zhengyu was slender, but she hadn't realized the extent of it. She strongly suspected that, at present, the only part of Wen Zhengyu's body that still carried any flesh was her face. She sat down opposite Wen Zhengyu and asked, as if casually: "Has Zhengyu been very busy lately?"
Wen Zhengyu replied: "It's been manageable."
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