The afternoon tea Yu Wen had ordered was incredibly lavish—tea cakes, fruits, milk teas, ice creams, all spread out across a full table. The Model Group members crowded around it like they were holding some kind of banquet.
This was way more than just a couple extra portions. With a table this loaded, finishing it all might be a challenge.
But more than that, Shen An was curious where Yu Wen had scrounged up this table. Surely takeout didn’t deliver an actual “dining table,” right?
As he got closer, he realized it was several small tables pushed together.
“Pick whatever you like and grab it yourself.”
Yu Wen waved her hand grandly, and Shen An chuckled in amusement. “You ordered so much—think we can finish it?”
“Should be fine.”
Yu Wen shrugged. “Worst case, it can be dinner. You haven’t had lunch yet, have you?”
“Nope.” Shen An kept rubbing his neck. “I’m starting to realize now that playing teacher isn’t as easy as it looks.”
Yu Wen let out a light laugh. “What? Giving you a headache?”
“Not really a headache, just a bit anxious.”
Shen An waved it off. “Lianyao really has no talent for computers, it seems.”
“Everything’s tough at the start. Anyway, you’ve got the whole break free. It’s not like it’s wasting your time.”
Yu Wen teased as she sat down.
The Model Group members nearby very considerately stood up, making space for Shen An.
Shen An was a little stunned, but that member smiled and said, “Secretary Shen, take this seat. Don’t stand on ceremony.”
Yu Wen grumbled inwardly but couldn’t say anything. She could only yank him down to sit.
Ever since yesterday’s events, the atmosphere in the Model Group had slipped out of Yu Wen’s control, filled with all sorts of pink-tinted teasing.
Most of the members were convinced that Yu Wen and Shen An had something going on. Even if it hadn’t happened yet, they were at least in the flirting stage!
Shen An sat down and unceremoniously grabbed a nearby tea cake, popping it into his mouth.
Whenever food was involved, he was always so enthusiastic—and so “heroic” about it.
Yu Wen had been a bit worried at first, fretting over how the rumors might escalate. She hesitated, wondering if she should remind him to tone it down.
But when she glanced over and saw him blissfully chowing down without a care, she suddenly felt like the fool.
What was she overthinking here? He didn’t seem to care at all.
Tsk~
Unknowingly, Yu Wen’s gaze lingered on him. His wolfing-down eating style made her smile despite herself.
“Are you that hungry? Slow down—no one’s fighting you for it.”
Without thinking, she chided him in a soft, coquettish tone that sounded for all the world like she was acting spoiled.
The members exchanged glances, silently reaching a new consensus through eye contact: Yep, definitely something there!
“You not eating?”
Shen An held a tea cake in one hand and speared a piece of watermelon with the other, still chewing.
“Eat a sock—I ate ages ago.”
Yu Wen laughed and cursed. “But seeing how much you can pack away actually puts my mind at ease.”
“Huh?”
“No waste to worry about.” Yu Wen gave him a meaningful look.
“Heh, so that’s your angle. I thought you were just being nice.” Shen An pouted. “Turns out I’m just your battlefield cleaning robot.”
“Watch your mouth.”
Yu Wen rolled her eyes.
“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I’ll let it slide for now.”
Shen An kept his head down, furiously stuffing his face to fill the void in his stomach.
Yu Wen propped her chin on her hand, quietly studying his profile as her thoughts drifted away.
Zi Qing sat on the other side. She couldn’t resist pulling out her phone, tempted to snap another pic of Yu Wen.
But remembering Yu Wen’s “fiery wrath” from yesterday, she restrained the urge and reluctantly put her phone away.
No matter what, Yu Wen’s absentmindedness would always be interpreted as “smitten.”
Secretary Shen was handsome, sure, but his eating manners weren’t exactly refined—and yet Senior Sister was staring so intently.
Guess it’s true what they say: love is blind.
The Model Group members whispered among themselves, tactfully shifting further back to give Shen An and Yu Wen the front half of the table.
Some couldn’t handle the lovey-dovey vibe and grabbed their afternoon tea, making a quick exit.
Of course, others were just afraid their senior sister might snap out of it and call another rage-fueled meeting in embarrassment.
Gradually, as Shen An kept eating and Yu Wen zoned out, the members dispersed—some left, some scattered. Before long, only the two of them were still sitting at the table.
That said, plenty of the food had been cleared away. They had probably relocated to keep feasting.
Stuffed to the brim, Shen An let out a long sigh of satisfaction. He grabbed a napkin and wiped his mouth.
He looked up and instinctively glanced around. Whoa—the spots around the table had emptied out.
Then he turned to Yu Wen. Good lord…
That look, that gaze.
Even Shen An, battle-hardened as he was, felt a twinge of uncertainty.
Sure, he was pretty handsome, but he didn’t think a casual flirt would actually hook Yu Wen that easily.
She didn’t seem like the type to fall that fast.
He cleared his throat lightly, snapping her out of her daze.
Her eyes refocused, and Yu Wen came back to herself. “Why the cough? Spit it out if you have something to say.”
Shen An kept his mouth shut and gestured with his hand.
Yu Wen followed his motion, scanning left and right.
Huh?
Where’d everyone go?
Yu Wen frowned and whipped her head toward the changing room.
Sure enough, heads were bobbing over there—a stark contrast to the emptiness here.
Yu Wen’s glare was like a beast’s. The Model Group members scattered at the sight, quickly breaking up and no longer lurking near the changing room to spy.
Shen An teased with a half-smile, “Senior Sister, your assistants are the most dedicated I’ve ever seen.”
Yu Wen shot back irritably, “Thanks to you, that’s why. You know how awkward this makes me?”
In the heat of the moment, with words spilling out, Yu Wen dropped the pretense. She stared at him. “Making me this embarrassed—feeling pretty smug about it?”
Shen An shook his head quickly, his voice gentle. “I never thought that.”
“Then be good and behave yourself.”
Senior Sister Yu Wen huffed delicately. “Put away those weird thoughts of yours. If there’s a next time, I’ll snip it right off!”
She mimed with her fingers, a pair of scissors flickering faintly into view.
Shen An blinked, tilting his head. “What do you mean by ‘weird thoughts’?”
“You…”
Senior Sister Yu Wen was speechless, rolling her eyes.
“Tsk, gossip is always so hard to suppress.” Shen An chuckled lightly. “Senior Sister, the more you deliberately avoid it, the more misunderstandings you create, right?”
Right my foot…
For a moment, Senior Sister Yu Wen didn’t know what to say.
Or rather, she knew she was somewhat in the wrong.
After all, she had been the one to start teasing Shen An with that sly glint in her eye. Now, with him turning the tables and controlling the mood, she—the loser in this exchange—couldn’t exactly speak up with any righteous indignation.
And besides…
What do you mean I’m deliberately avoiding it? You’re the one deliberately teasing!
At a loss for words, Senior Sister Yu Wen resorted to playing dirty. She stood up and issued an eviction notice. “You’re full now, aren’t you? If you’re full, head on up. We still have training to do.”
“Can I get it to go?”
Shen An asked weakly.
Senior Sister Yu Wen rubbed her forehead. “If you’ve got the guts, take it all.”
“Thanks!”
The corner of Shen An’s mouth quirked up.
Of course, he wasn’t going to take everything. When he left, he only took one cup of milk tea.
As for the rest, it was all for Shen Lianyao.
There were some tea snacks and cakes, plus an ice cream bar.
The takeout that Senior Sister Yu Wen had ordered must have been pretty upscale, since it came with a little cooler.
That kept the ice cream from melting too quickly.
He hurried back to the office on the second floor, pushed open the door, and found Shen Lianyao still focused on practicing her keyboard typing.
When she saw him come in, she glanced over and said softly, “All done eating?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Shen An handed her the takeout items, and Shen Lianyao looked a bit surprised.
“Isn’t it quite the spread?”
Shen An blinked.
“Senior Sister Yu Wen is really generous,” Shen Lianyao remarked with a sigh.
Just this one afternoon tea delivery alone must have cost a pretty penny.
Shen An narrowed his eyes. “The Art Troupe really has hidden rich ladies everywhere.”
“Right, and you live in the North District too, don’t you?”
He picked up his milk tea and sidled up next to Shen Lianyao. “Are you a hidden rich lady as well?”
Shen Lianyao paused her work for the moment and leisurely picked up a piece of cake.
“Do you care about that so much?”
She said flatly.
“Uh~ I have a stomach condition. The doctor recommended I eat more soft rice.” Shen An grinned, his tone utterly shameless.
Shen Lianyao’s mouth twitched; she was utterly helpless against his thick skin.
“So, are you?” Shen An pressed.
“Please be quiet.”
Shen Lianyao sighed.
“So that’s a yes?”
“Ah, give me a break. I don’t want to answer such a vulgar question.”
“Vulgar? I think it’s quite noble.”
Shen An looked at Shen Lianyao with dead seriousness. “It’s my dream.”
“Fine, your vulgar dream.” Shen Lianyao chuckled helplessly. “I hope you achieve it.”
“For my dream—to cheers!”
Shen An had naturally brought Shen Lianyao a milk tea as well.
Shen Lianyao raised hers perfunctorily and clinked it against his.
The office grew lively and noisy, while the crisp click-clack of high heels echoed from the T-stage in the main hall.
It was just past noon—relaxing, with a special kind of comfort to it.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away.
Wang Yuqiong pushed open the car door and slowly stepped out.
She wore sunglasses and tilted her head slightly, gazing up at the blazing sun in the sky before furrowing her brow.
“What unpleasant weather…”
She murmured.
She hated summer.
It was too hot.
There weren’t many people on the street, but the wide road was thick with a wave of heat that mingled in the air and rushed straight at Wang Yuqiong.
No sooner had she stepped out of the car, losing the protection of the air conditioning, than a wave of stuffiness began to spread through her.
But the heat in her heart burned even fiercer than the physical discomfort.
No.
It was more like irritation.
“Miss, should I accompany you up?”
The driver’s window rolled down.
“No need. Just wait for me at the parking lot.” Wang Yuqiong removed her sunglasses and spoke softly.
“Understood.”
The car slowly drove off.
Hu~
The oppressively hot weather made Wang Yuqiong unconsciously adjust her breathing.
With every step she took, her breaths grew more hurried and disordered.
Her steps seemed steady, but they carried a faint, imperceptible tremble.
Halfway there, she stopped in a shady spot.
She took out her sunglasses again and slipped them on. With her little face set in a tight line, enhanced by the shades, she looked a touch cold and aloof.
She slowly raised her head, her eyes narrowing behind the lenses.
She scrutinized the glaring red cross that stood out so prominently, struggling to suppress her anxiety—and the “smugness” buried deepest within her.
Only when clouds blocked the sun, casting shade across the road, did she start walking again, heading toward the building’s entrance.
Wang Yuqiong hated summer.
She also hated hospitals.
But right now, she was walking straight toward the one in front of her, facing the blazing sun.
Once inside the doors, the sweltering heat was somewhat dispelled by the faint cool breeze, easing her somewhat stifled mood.
At the front desk, the medical staff didn’t speak, but their gaze held a hint of respect as they looked at her.
Wang Yuqiong said hoarsely, “Visiting a patient.”
“Certainly.”
Following the hospital staff, Wang Yuqiong boarded the elevator.
The heat had completely faded, but the air conditioning blowing everywhere didn’t make her feel any more comfortable.
Floors flashed by as the elevator rose. She felt cold and couldn’t help shrinking her shoulders, lowering her head to hide her hunching.
The elevator kept going up until it reached the top floor.
This wasn’t a public hospital—it was a private one.
Its top floor housed only patients of extraordinary status, the “VIP guests.”
Describing patients as VIP guests in a hospital felt a bit like a dark joke.
Ding-dong.
The elevator doors slid open slowly. Wang Yuqiong raised her head, her eyes peering through her sunglasses at the long corridor ahead.
She had arrived.
