Chapter 164: Let's properly treat his hidden illness

Xu Yanfeng only wanted to drag out time, increase Xia Xi's anticipation of this matter, so she would constantly think of him; he didn't expect that his plan would backfire, causing her to develop unnecessary suspicion.

Hidden… hidden illness? What is she thinking?

Xu Yanfeng narrowed his dark eyes slightly, furrowed his brows, his expression looking a bit dangerous. Xia Xi's heart gave a jolt; she wondered if she had guessed correctly.

Could it be that his earlier reluctance to accept her pursuit was due to some bodily matter he found hard to mention?

Xia Xi's gaze toward him gradually gained a hint of sympathy; she didn't know how to comfort him about this, after pondering for a while she patted his arm and stammered, "You… have you seen a specialist about this?"

She felt she had asked a pointless question; the Xu family is wealthy and influential, there's no illness they can't afford to treat—perhaps he had already sought out famous doctors to no avail, or maybe he cares too much about face to see a doctor.

You also don't…

Before she could even utter the two words "feeling bad," Xu Yanfeng cut her off with a dark face: "Xia Xi."

Although they hadn't been together long, Xia Xi understood him; normally when he used this warning tone to call her name, it meant she had provoked him.

She closed her mouth, but after just two seconds she couldn't hold back; risking being hit, she burst out: "I don't know whether you've seen many doctors without success or haven't seen a doctor at all. If it's the latter, I advise you not to avoid treatment out of shame. Medicine is so advanced now there will always be a way; even if it can't be cured, alleviating it is good, worst case I'll accompany you to see a doctor. Rest assured, I won't despise you."

The more she spoke, the more absurd it became; Xu Yanfeng's brows knotted tight, he gritted his teeth and said: "I'm not sick."

Not sick? Really…?

Xia Xi's half-believing, half-doubting expression was the most hurtful; veins bulged on Xu Yanfeng's forehead as he suppressed the rising anger, and he said word by word: "Stop your wild thoughts; my body is very healthy, I have no hidden illness."

The last four words were squeezed out between his teeth; even he felt like laughing angrily, never imagining he'd one day have to seriously explain this to someone. It's all because Xia Xi forced him.

I thought this topic was over, but in a blink she raised a new question: "If you're not sick, why did you say we have to wait three months before kissing? Is that normal? A healthy, vigorous man faced with his gorgeous, soft-bodied girlfriend—could he hold back three months? I've never dated before, don't lie to me."

Now it was Xu Yanfeng who saw black before his eyes.

He had once thought to himself that he envied Xia Xi's expressive ability, but actually she could restrain herself a little, not pour out everything she thinks without reservation.

Xia Xi belatedly realized she had spoken without filter, covered her mouth, and mumbled: "I, I was just making a reasonable assumption; though the wording was rough, the meaning was expressed precisely."

Xu Yanfeng was left speechless, his face remaining dark.

Forget it, forget it, let's not talk about this. Go play your ball; the sun's out, I'll bask awhile." Xia Xi decisively changed the subject, lay down right there, closed her eyes and avoided looking at him.

Xu Yanfeng felt conflicted, also unsure whether she still misunderstood his physical condition—this concerned male dignity, so he couldn't be careless. He was about to ask when Tang Yizhou called him over.

Xu Yanfeng had no choice but to give up; he swung his club irritably, his shot far below his usual level. Tang Yizhou's expression was grim: "I thought you could save the situation; who would have thought you'd make it worse—I'm impressed."

While speaking, he glanced at Xia Xi lying motionless on the lawn, not understanding what trick she was up to now, and asked Xu Yanfeng: "What is your girlfriend doing?"

Xu Yanfeng found it hard to explain the circumstances, couldn't bring himself to say it, and blurted: "She's throwing a tantrum."

Tang Yizhou: "?"

Xia Xi's ears were sharp; she heard Xu Yanfeng's words, her eyes flew open, she sprang up from the ground in one motion, rushed over and shoved him: "I'm clearly sunbathing—stop spreading rumors about me. I was about to say your body…"

Xu Yanfeng was caught off guard, pushed back a step by her force, then heard her about to say he had a hidden illness; in a panic he didn't think of anything else, raised his hand to cover her nonsense-spewing mouth, his face drawn long.

He knew she hadn't completely dispelled her suspicion—this little troublemaker.

Others didn't know what game this young couple was playing; they only felt that Xu Yanfeng's personality had changed since he started dating, becoming more lively and animated compared to his previous aloof indifference.

One couldn't tell whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.

Fu Li heard Xia Xi's half‑sentence, couldn't guess the rest, and asked Xu Yanfeng: "What's wrong with your body?"

Xu Yanfeng reflexively replied: "My body is very healthy, I'm not sick."

Fu Li: "?"

Xia Xi calmed down, also settled, slowly realizing her mistake—hidden illness is called hidden precisely because it cannot be told to outsiders; she had almost exposed Xu Yanfeng's secret, no wonder he was so eager to cover her mouth.

She pulled down Xu Yanfeng's hand, nodded, and repeated his words: "Yes, his body is very healthy, he's not sick."

Xu Yanfeng: "……"

The more he explained, the more confused it became.

He clearly understood that Xia Xi saying that definitely wasn't because she truly thought so; she might still believe he had a physical problem, but in front of outsiders she had to save his face.

He truly thanked her.

The sun rose to its zenith; the group boarded a golf cart to return from the course to the service area, planning to have lunch here before heading back to the city center.

Ling Yan had personally observed Xia Xi and Xu Yanfeng's interaction all morning; her mouth felt bitter, she had no appetite, wanted to leave but felt unwilling, so she sat uncomfortably in the private room, drinking chrysanthemum tea to reduce internal heat.

The menu was handed to Xu Yanfeng; he first asked Xia Xi: "Do you want Chinese or Western food?"

Although Xia Xi had exercised, she wasn't very hungry; the double‑combo noodles Xu Yanfeng had brought her that morning were hearty, and though it was a small portion she had already eaten her fill. She leaned slightly toward him, flipped the menu, and said: "I'll just have a vegetable salad."

Xu Yanfeng worried she might not be full, so he added a serving of seafood pasta, then leaned in and whispered: "The pasta here is handmade, the texture is good—you should try it."

Xia Xi listened to him.

Xu Yanfeng ordered some Chinese dishes for himself, closed the menu, and handed it back to the server.

Ling Yan really didn't want to look at them, but she couldn't control her gaze; each glance made her feel awful for half an hour, and the heat‑clearing chrysanthemum tea couldn't suppress the bitterness welling up inside her.

No one understood her feelings; even her close friend standing by her side couldn't fully empathize.

If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, just from her imagination she couldn't picture Xu Yanfeng having this side—someone born lofty and aloof, yet attentively serving a girl, his face lacking the cold detachment she knew, showing only concern and care, so genuine and moving.

Too bad it doesn't belong to her.

She envied Xia Xi and also admired her.

Not long after, the server brought up the dishes everyone had ordered. Xia Xi had a salad and seafood pasta in front of her. The pasta Xu Yanfeng recommended was indeed delicious—rich sauce, the noodles not the thin kind found elsewhere but finger‑wide, smooth and chewy, with fresh white shrimp, squid, and clams inside.

Xu Yanfeng occasionally slipped her some Chinese dishes—glass‑filled pigeon, bamboo‑peng and matsutake stewed chicken, lily‑asparagus stir‑fried grouper, glutinous‑rice duck… He had originally intended just a few bites to get by, but seeing he was about to overfeed her, Xia Xi quickly tapped his leg under the table: "I really can't eat any more."

You're very thin, you should eat more," Xu Yanfeng said.

Xia Xi bit her fork, glanced at him with a blink: "What did you say I am?"

Very thin," Xu Yanfeng repeated.

She is visibly slim—her waist can't be encircled by one hand, her limbs are slender, her figure tall and slender; even gaining a few pounds wouldn't show.

Xia Xi covered her mouth and spoke in a volume only he could hear: "Actually, I just look thin; I have flesh where it should be, you'll find out later."

Xu Yanfeng: "……?"

Xia Xi buried her head and laughed, took a sip of matsutake chicken soup, and finished the meal.

She had already secretly decided to help Xu Yanfeng properly treat his hidden ailment; perhaps with repeated stimulation he would improve a bit—not necessarily cured, but at least it would have some effect.