Chapter 293

Seeing Xia Xi on the verge of blowing up, Xu Yanfeng magnanimously yielded: "Not saying nice words is fine."

Xia Xi felt he wasn't that easy to compromise.

Sure enough, he paused a few seconds, then made an even more shameless request: "Give me a kiss."

After saying that, Xu Yanfeng turned his face toward her.

Xia Xi: "......"

Shameless, how can he be so shameless!

Xia Xi subconsciously turned her head to look at the other person in the ward, only to realize that Aunt Zhang had left at some point; at this moment, the entire space contained only her and Xu Yanfeng.

The phone was taken by Xu Yanfeng; to get it back, she had to do as he said.

But she was unwilling.

He not only became overbearing, but also got much worse.

After thinking for a while, Xi Xi decided to take another approach; she bit her lip and added a condition: "Close your eyes."

Xu Yanfeng did as she said.

Xia Xi then said: "Come a little closer."

Xu Yanfeng leaned forward, bringing himself very close to her.

Xia Xi spotted the phone in his hand and planned to snatch it when he wasn't looking.

However, before she could turn her thought into action, Xu Yanfeng, as if hearing her thoughts, moved the hand holding the phone behind his back; unless her arms were two meters long, it was impossible to get around his body to grab the phone.

Xia Xi: "......"

Her gaze moved up to land on Xu Yanfeng's face; he still obediently kept his eyes closed, one side of his face turned toward her, like a well-behaved child. His eyelashes were so long, like crow feathers—thick, dark, and dense, drooping; his eyes were slightly narrow, and even closed they were captivating.

Xia Xi raised her hand, pinched her index finger and thumb together, and lightly touched his cheek with her fingertip, mimicking a kiss.

Xu Yanfeng's eyelids twitched slightly, then slowly opened, meeting her feigned calm gaze.

Xia Xi didn't show her nervousness on her face; she looked as if she had really kissed him, so composed.

Xu Yanfeng tilted his head slightly, the corners of his brows lifting just a bit, as if he were smiling, yet on closer look not quite: "Was that a kiss?"

Xia Xi, feeling unjustified but stubborn, retorted: "How isn't it?"

Xu Yanfeng pointed at his own face, smiled speechlessly: "Do I look that easy to fool?"

Xia Xi: "......"

As he spoke, Xia Xi carefully examined his face—from his brows and eyes to his nose, then his mouth—everywhere revealing sharp intelligence; indeed, he was not easy to fool.

Not teasing her anymore, Xu Yanfeng let out a hum, pulled her hand over, and slapped the phone into her palm: "I'll time you; if you go over fifteen minutes I'll take it back. Since you're hospitalized, make good use of this time to rest properly—don't keep thinking about work. Without you, the company won't collapse. You should know in your heart what comes first. Zi Heng was terrified yesterday." He paused a second, then added three words: "And me."

He was also frightened.

Listening to Xu Yanfeng's admonitions, which were as relentless as a monk chanting sutras, Xia Xi couldn't get angry; she wasn't a fool—could she not tell he was concerned for her health?

She didn't argue with him; upon getting the phone, she immediately called Huang Shiyu.

Huang Shiyu answered quickly: "I just got a call from my brother-in-law this morning; he said you're hospitalized and won't be able to come to the company these days. Sis Xi, how are you? Are you okay?"

"......"

She called him brother-in-law quite naturally.

"Already fine, I had a minor surgery." Xia Xi said, "There's a folder on my office computer desktop labeled 'Li Tai Private Manor' containing the data I organized and a list of precautions; send it to Yu Xiaoxiao or Gao Ge's email. If they can use it, use it; if not, forget it."

Every designer has different ideas and styles, with different emphases; since this project has already been handed to Gao Ge, she can't possibly instruct Gao Ge—doing so would be a bit presumptuous—so all she can do is offer a little convenience.

Of course, perhaps Gao Ge has prepared her own materials and doesn't need what Xia Xi would give.

Huang Shiyu replied: "Okay, I'll take care of it shortly. Rest well, don't worry about work; if anything comes up, just tell me to handle it."

"Also, the batch of tiles and wooden flooring I ordered for Jingyu Yuan will arrive today; go over there to supervise, make sure to check carefully that the goods match the boards, with no discrepancy whatsoever." Xia Xi repeatedly emphasized, "You must strictly verify according to the specifications I previously set."

Huang Shiyu: "Okay, I know."

After ending the call, Xia Xi sent Lu Mingji a brief message explaining her situation.

Lu Mingji happened to be looking at his phone, so he called her directly.

Xia Xi subconsciously glanced at Xu Yanfeng; his gaze shifted toward her, lingered for a few seconds, and he lightly tapped his wristwatch twice, meaning, "Watch the time."

Xia Xi pressed the answer key, and Lu Mingji's concerned, tense voice came through: "Which hospital are you at? Where do you feel unwell? Is it serious? How are you now?"

Xia Xi fell silent for a moment.

Since Lu Mingji confessed his feelings, their contact has decreased somewhat; it seems he deliberately kept his distance to give them both a buffer.

Xia Xi didn't mention the hospital's name; after pondering for two seconds, she gently said: "You don't need to come see me—it's just a minor stomach issue, not serious, I'll be discharged soon."

"I'll go ask the doctor if you can eat something now." Xu Yanfeng suddenly spoke, then left the ward.

Lu Mingji almost said, "I'll still go see you," but swallowed the words; if he heard correctly, that voice was Xu Yanfeng's. With him looking after Xia Xi, there should be nothing to worry about.

Unlike when she was abroad, Xia Xi has no one around to support her.

After a long silence, Lu Mingji's voice slowed: "Alright, I won't go then. Rest a few more days; you don't need to worry about company matters."

During these days of Xia Xi's hospitalization, Xu Yanfeng hasn't gone anywhere; he's stayed in the hospital to watch over her.

During that time, Guan He came twice, bringing important contracts that couldn't be delayed for Xu Yanfeng to sign, and also delivered his computer.

Xu Yanfeng held a video conference in the ward; the attending executives recognized he was in the hospital and asked if he was unwell. He lightly replied that a family member was hospitalized.

Xia Xi repeatedly urged him to return to work; she didn't need anyone to look after her, she could move freely and even be discharged, but Xu Yanfeng wouldn't relax, insisting she stay two more days.

He was like a prison guard watching over her, this inmate.

He limited her phone time, served meals three times a day on schedule according to nutritional ratios, didn't allow her to be picky, and adjusted her routine to be as strict as an elderly person's.

Not even her own mother had managed her this strictly.

Finally able to be discharged, Xia Xi's mood was like that of a prisoner released; breathing fresh air, she almost cried from joy.

Xia Xi didn't tell Su Jinru about her illness, fearing she would worry so much she couldn't sleep.

This Saturday, Xia Xi made an excuse not to go to Su Jinru's house; Youyou was picked up by Xia Yue for the weekend, while Zi Heng stayed with her at Xu Yanfeng's home.

Xu Yanfeng had talked with Aunt Zhang, hoping she would live at home from now on; previously, because he didn't like outsiders living at home, Aunt Zhang was responsible for regular cleaning and cooking.

After Xi fell ill, Xu Yanfeng considered that, in case of any future sudden situation, if he happened to be away, having an adult at home would be helpful.

Since Aunt Zhang could earn double the pay, she naturally had no reason to refuse, and happily packed her things and moved in.

In the morning, Xu Yanfeng worked a while in the study, came out with his phone, and found two people, one big and one small, in the living room's sunken lounge: "That chestnut pastry you mentioned this morning—I'll go buy it. Anything else?"

Xi looked up from her book and slowly said: "That place is quite far."

Xu Yanfeng lowered his eyes to glance at his phone: "I checked the navigation; it's fine."

Forget it.

Zi Heng wants to eat, it's not up to you.

……

Zi Heng was lying on the desk doing homework; hearing Xu Yanfeng mention his name, he looked up blankly and interjected: "I didn't say I wanted to eat, it was Mom who……" Noticing Xu Yanfeng's narrowed eyes, Zi Heng pressed his lips and changed his answer: "Well, I do want to eat."

Xi no longer held back: "Since you're going to buy something, why not also bring some date-flower pastry and mung bean cake? I want to eat."

Xu Yanfeng nodded, took the car keys, changed his shoes, and went out.

After a few minutes, the doorbell rang; perhaps Xu Yanfeng had dropped something. Xi didn't understand why he didn't just let himself in.

Xi slipped the bookmark into her book, casually put it on the table, got up, and went to open the door.

Outside the door stood a woman in splendid attire and lovely features; upon seeing Xi, the woman's expression froze for a moment, suspecting she had come to the wrong door, and her instinctive reaction was to check the door number.

Hearing the doorbell, Aunt Zhang walked from the kitchen to the entrance, saw the woman's face clearly, and exclaimed delightedly: "Madam, how did you come here?"

Xi: "???"

This lady probably isn't…… Xu Yanfeng's mother, right?