But when she touched her forehead, the fever seemed to have broken.
Jiang Min didn’t drive; she took a cab, and at the park gate ran into Jiang Xuezi.
“What’s wrong? You look off. Didn’t sleep well last night?”
“Couldn’t really sleep. A bit drowsy.”
Jiang Xuezi looked at her with some worry. “Stop thinking only of taking care of everyone else—look after yourself a little.”
“I’m fine. I know.”
“You know nothing of the sort,” Jiang Xuezi said, angry for once. “All day long, working overtime like your life depends on it.”
“Really, I’m fine,” Jiang Min said, linking arms with her, drawing out her words. “Come on, Sister Xuezi, don’t be mad.”
Jiang Xuezi could do nothing with her. “Then go home early today and rest.”
“There’s still dinner tonight. I’ll just eat a little and leave.”
Jiang Min and Jiang Xuezi had been friends since university—fifteen, sixteen years now—close enough that people often joked one of their surnames must be a typo; surely they should share the same Jiang.
Jiang Xuezi had a gentle temperament, thoughtful and considerate, her conduct beyond reproach. With her education and ability, she could have coasted as an executive at some corporation. Only to keep Jiang Min company had she stayed at Lingyin all these years, serving as the Head Housekeeper of endless work and meager pay.
Jiang Min didn’t mention the morning’s low fever.
She didn’t want to worry her again.
And there was still work to handle today.
After her last talk with Jian Yanping, Jiang Min had revised the work summary and the new year’s plan; she was due to report to President Jian within a day or two. She had no time to waste.
She opened her laptop and forced herself to focus. Besides the report documents, Yu Sisi had finished the video’s first cut—she had to watch it through before offering revision notes.
At the lunch break, Mi Wei ordered Northeastern cuisine for delivery and called Jiang Min to eat together.
Jiang Min looked at the food before her, pushed it around with her chopsticks a couple of times, and had little appetite, eating just a few bites.
The culprit who’d kept her awake half the night sat across from her, the gauze off her hand, the picture of nonchalance—as if yesterday had never happened.
Jiang Min couldn’t eat any more. She closed the lid and pushed it aside. “I’m done. Take your time.”
But her portion was still nearly full.
Lin Xuqing set down her chopsticks, watching her back.
“Little Lin, go check on her,” Jiang Xuezi said gently. “When I ran into A-Min this morning, her complexion was terrible.”
Lin Xuqing hesitated. “Is it appropriate for me to go?”
“What wouldn’t be appropriate about it?”
“I…”
Jiang Xuezi’s gaze was mild and warm, as if it could see through everything; now it rested on her with a smile, making refusal impossible.
“All right. I’ll go.”
Lin Xuqing went upstairs and knocked.
The door wasn’t shut; it swung open at a push.
Jiang Min was holding a mercury thermometer, apparently having just taken her temperature, caught somewhat off guard. “What are you doing here?”
Lin Xuqing entirely forgot her earlier hesitation, hurrying two steps inside. “What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
“It’s nothing,” Jiang Min said, putting the thermometer back in the drawer. “What did you need?”
But Lin Xuqing seemed not to have heard the question, asking stubbornly, “Low fever? High fever?”
“A slight fever this morning,” Jiang Min said, not wanting anyone to know. “It broke long ago. It’s nothing.”
“Let me see the thermometer.”
“I told you, it’s nothing. Hurry back for your lunch break—there’s a meeting this afternoon.”
“You still have a meeting this afternoon? Why not go home and rest?”
“I’m not going. Lin Xuqing, this is the workplace,” Jiang Min warned, pointed about her tone. “Go out. I have work to do.”
Lin Xuqing stood her ground, refusing to leave. “But you…”
Jiang Min was displeased. “Are you going to make decisions for me now?”
When the body is unwell, one’s grip on emotion loosens. Jiang Min knew Lin Xuqing was worried about her, but with that unfinished report in mind, she couldn’t help her impatience.
She paused for a few seconds, steadied herself, and softened her voice. “Don’t worry. I’m fine. I still have things to do here—go on out.”
Lin Xuqing was silent, then finally nodded.
Seeing her head out, Jiang Min turned away and answered a call.
“Sister A-Min, when did you leave this morning? I had no idea at all.”
“I woke early, went home to change, then came in to work.”
Listening to her talk, Lin Xuqing’s steps halted.
“All right. I woke and you weren’t there.”
“Rest well at home. If I finish up in time later, I’ll come see you.”
Jiang Min exchanged a few more words with Ning Rou, then turned—and saw Lin Xuqing had only just reached the door.
Why was she walking so slowly?
She was just about to tell Ning Rou she’d talk later when the door slammed shut with a bang.
Jiang Min: “…”
This Lin woman—angry again, out of nowhere?
The office building’s soundproofing was poor; everyone heard the door slam.
Xu Chun recalled how stubbornly Lin Xuqing had refused to yield at the last plan discussion. Was this about the video revisions—had she fought with Jiang Min again?
Too young still. All impulse and no restraint.
Xu Chun asked Yu Sisi, “Did President Jiang give a lot of notes on the video revisions?”
Yu Sisi pulled a face. “Yeah. Sister Little Lin and I are in for a few more all-nighters.”
“Maybe you should talk to her later. President Jiang responds to softness, not hardness—she shouldn’t dig in.”
“I don’t think she’d listen…”
Jiang Xuezi listened to their speculation without a word; the moment Lin Xuqing came downstairs, she asked, “What happened?”
Lin Xuqing shook her head, saying nothing.
Seeing her cold face, Jiang Xuezi wanted to offer a word or two, but held back, sighing softly.
There were things Jiang Min had told her not to say, so she never had.
“Everyone’s given their revision notes on the video’s first cut. Mi Wei, organize and compile them, and get them to Sisi and Little Lin tomorrow. The second draft needs to be done by next Wednesday.”
“The final version is due right after the New Year—no slacking off, everyone.”
The afternoon meeting ran nearly two hours; going through everyone’s revision notes took considerable time.
Jiang Min pushed herself through the meeting; thinking of the dinner that evening, her head ached a little.
The meeting broke up, everyone filing out.
She stayed seated in the meeting room, watching Lin Xuqing rise and leave, face cold, as if sulking.
Jiang Min felt an unaccountable flare of anger herself.
She wasn’t even angry, and this precious ancestor was sulking. She’d lost count of how many times she and Lin Xuqing had clashed recently.
Last time she’d asked why Lin Xuqing came back, the woman wouldn’t say—only spun some nonsense or other. It had been the same with that fight eight years ago: she’d refused to say anything. Who knew how much she kept bottled up inside.
“A-Min, why are you still sitting here?” Jiang Xuezi called from the meeting room door. “Everyone’s already in the cars.”
“Coming,” Jiang Min answered, slower and duller than usual. “Give me a moment.”
“Still feeling unwell?”
“No. Let’s go.”
This dinner, too, was at a restaurant Jiang Xuezi had chosen—grilled fish, a favorite of the young crowd. She’d skipped the traditional round tables and booked two long ones instead; seats sat closer together, and the atmosphere felt warmer.
Jian Ming and his few cronies couldn’t be bothered to come, making excuses to beg off—which suited everyone just fine.
Jiang Xuezi sat at Jiang Min’s left and called to Lin Xuqing, “Little Lin, sit next to me.”
Lin Xuqing didn’t move, seeming reluctant, as if she’d rather take a seat near the door.
You Hui pushed her down into the seat with one hand, beaming. “Sit, sit. Don’t be shy.”
Ever since she’d caught those two whispering together, her gossip-loving soul had blazed like a wildfire. She simply had to see whether there was something between them.
Jiang Min could see Lin Xuqing’s reluctance and gave a light laugh. “If she doesn’t want to, why force her?”
The words were blunt. Plenty of people had heard the commotion at lunch and were privately guessing whether Lin Xuqing had offended her again.
Lin Xuqing said nothing.
As if she hadn’t heard a word.
The atmosphere turned a little awkward.
Jiang Xuezi hurriedly smoothed things over. “Everyone pick your flavors—spicy fragrant on this side, garlic over there, and the sour-spicy and numbing-spicy at the far end.”
“Ooh, I want the fragrant spicy!”
“Sour-spicy! My love!”
People chose their seats, and the sudden bustle washed away the earlier awkwardness.
Jiang Min turned her head slightly and gave a soft cough.
Lin Xuqing instinctively looked over, then forced herself to look away.
Forget it. What standing did she have to ask?
Once seats were settled, Mi Wei poured drinks for everyone—she poured Jiang Min a glass of red wine.
Jiang Min stopped her. “Add a glass of orange juice for me.”
“Oh, okay.”
The grill pot simmered slowly, steam rising, its fresh, fragrant, spicy aroma gradually spreading.
Jiang Min barely touched her chopsticks, eating only a token amount of greens.
Who knew whether it was the steam from the hot pot—heat climbed her cheeks degree by degree, her thoughts half a beat slower than usual.
Jiang Xuezi noticed something off and asked quietly, “Should you head back first? You didn’t drive today, right? Later I can…”
“It’s nothing, no need. I’m not that delicate,” Jiang Min said, shaking her head, a faint nasality creeping into her voice.
Jiang Xuezi knew how stubbornly strong-willed she was—there was no persuading her, and nothing to be done.
Jiang Min rose. “Let me toast everyone first—thank you all for your hard work and dedication this year.”
“Thank you, Sister Min!”
“It’s what we’re here for.”
“Come, come—cheers!”
Only after finishing the toast and a few polite words did Jiang Min sit down.
That much of tonight’s duty was done.
“Wow! This numbing-spicy one smells amazing!”
“Right? Sister Little Lin, try some.”
“Sure, thank—cough, cough.”
Lin Xuqing had just taken a bite when she went red and coughed twice, as if the numbing-spicy pot had burned and choked her at once, mumbling apologies twice over.
Jiang Xuezi poured her some warm water. “Little Lin, swap seats with Mi Wei—this side is garlic.”
Mi Wei sat at Jiang Min’s right; she stood at once. “Sure. Come over, Sister Little Lin.”
Seeing Lin Xuqing’s cough-flushed face, Jiang Min thought, Fine. I won’t hold it against her.
“Sit over here.”
“No need.”
Lin Xuqing glanced at her and didn’t move an inch.
“Little Lin’s had too much to drink, I see,” You Hui said, swooping in and dragging her over. “Come—sit next to Sister Min!”
