What? Lu Jingming said he was in the room right next to hers?
Xu Yanxia thought she had misread the message. She tried texting him back, "Didn't you go home?"
He replied almost instantly, "I went home to grab a few things and came back."
He then added, "Since your foot is injured and it is hard for you to move around, I won't come over for now. Is it a good time for a call?"
She replied, "Yes."
Sure enough, a voice call from him came through.
Xu Yanxia picked up, and his voice, warm with a smile, immediately reached her. "Xiao Xia?"
Xu Yanxia was still in shock. "You really came back? Why?"
She heard Lu Jingming chuckle. "I was afraid you would be scared being here all alone."
Xu Yanxia let out a soft "oh." "I am not scared."
He laughed again. "I am just joking. The truth is, I wanted to come back and be with you."
It was late at night, and there was a slight huskiness in his voice, as if he were reclining lazily against the headboard while talking to her. It was gentle, feeling as though he were whispering right into her ear.
Xu Yanxia's face suddenly flushed, and her voice softened instinctively. "But it will be much further for you to get to work tomorrow."
It would be at least an extra twenty kilometers.
Lu Jingming just laughed. "If it is far, I will just wake up a little earlier."
Compared to being able to see her, what did an extra twenty kilometers matter?
He then asked, "How is your foot? Does it still hurt?"
"It is much better now," Xu Yanxia said. "It does not look too serious. The swelling should go down by tomorrow."
"That is good."
Lu Jingming paused for a moment before asking, "Actually, back on the terrace... you knew what I was going to say, so you purposefully tried to avoid me, didn't you?"
Xu Yanxia was stunned.
He continued, "I am sorry. I was only thinking about expressing my own feelings and forgot to consider how you felt. It is my fault you got hurt tonight."
Xu Yanxia paused before speaking. "It was not your fault. It is just that I... I did not know how to face it."
Silence fell on Lu Jingming's end of the line.
Indeed, how was she supposed to face it?
If she accepted his feelings and became his girlfriend, would she still have to treat him as the boss who paid her salary? Would she still have to serve him and his family at the Lu residence?
Or if she rejected him, she would still have to face him every day and continue to serve him...
It was truly too complicated.
Lu Jingming thought about it and asked tentatively, "Then, do you hate me?"
"How could I?" The girl on the other end gave an immediate denial.
Xu Yanxia wanted to say that he was the most gentlemanly man she had ever met; how could she possibly hate him?
"I do not hate you," she said.
"That is good." Lu Jingming laughed softly. "Do not feel any pressure. Just think of me as one of your many fans and admirers—but certainly the most loyal one."
"When you are ready, we can talk about the future. Alright?"
After a brief silence, a soft "Mm-hmm" came through the phone.
Lu Jingming smiled and said, "Get some sleep. Call me anytime if you need anything. I brought some medicinal oil and spray; I will give them to you tomorrow morning."
"Okay," Xu Yanxia smiled as well. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
They both hung up at the same time.
The room returned to a peaceful silence.
Xu Yanxia turned off the light and fell asleep on the soft, comfortable bed.
The next day, she woke up to the sound of birds chirping in the courtyard.
It must be said that the clubhouse environment was truly exceptional. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, the air was fresh, the scenery was beyond words, and it was remarkably quiet—simply an ideal sanctuary for a vacation and rest.
She stretched and picked up her phone to check the time, only to find that Lu Jingming had sent her a message half an hour ago: [Let me know when you wake up.]
It was only 7:30 in the morning; she hadn't expected him to be up so early.
Xu Yanxia replied: [Just woke up. Give me ten minutes.]
She put down her phone and got out of bed to wash up.
Ten minutes later, after she had finished getting ready and changed her clothes, she opened the door only to see Lu Jingming standing in the hallway.
He was wearing a business shirt and suit, looking down at his phone with a focused expression that suggested he was dealing with work, his brow slightly furrowed. In his other hand, he held a spray bottle and some medicinal liniment.
Hearing her open the door, he immediately looked up, and their eyes met.
Xu Yanxia was momentarily stunned, but she saw him smile and greet her. "Morning."
She smiled back. "Morning."
After the phone call they’d had before bed last night, she did feel much more at ease.
Then she heard Lu Jingming ask, "How is your foot?"
Xu Yanxia nodded. "The swelling has gone down. It's just a bit bruised."
"Let me see."
Lu Jingming put his phone away.
Xu Yanxia had no choice but to lead him back into the room.
When he saw the spot she had twisted the night before, the swelling had indeed subsided, but the skin was circled by a deep purple—a sign that the subcutaneous bruising was gradually being absorbed.
Lu Jingming nodded. "Then we can use the spray."
He moved to apply it for her.
Xu Yanxia tried to stop him. "I can do it myself."
To her surprise, he insisted. "No need to be polite. The angle is awkward for you."
...Well, the injury was on the outside of her right foot; it really was less convenient for her to handle it than for him.
She could only say thank you.
Lu Jingming shook the spray bottle and began to apply it.
The spray was quite cold, and the initial contact with the injured skin was a bit of a shock.
Xu Yanxia couldn't help but hiss through her teeth.
Lu Jingming immediately apologized. "Sorry, I'll be gentler."
Just as he finished speaking, Manager Wei arrived at the door to call her. "Miss Xu—"
He had only just managed to say her name when he caught sight of the scene in the room.
Xu Yanxia was sitting on the sofa by the window, while Lu Jingming was kneeling on one knee before her, apologizing...
Manager Wei averted his gaze as if he’d been electrocuted, backing away and apologizing repeatedly. "I'm so sorry, President Lu, Miss Xu. I'm sorry for disturbing you; I didn't see anything."
He even looked like he was about to make a quick escape.
However, he heard President Lu say to him, sounding quite exasperated, "You certainly didn't see anything. I'm helping Miss Xu with some medicinal spray."
"Uh... my apologies, President Lu."
Manager Wei had no choice but to poke his head back in to apologize again.
Just then, the spray was finished. Lu Jingming stood up and asked him, "Is there something you need?"
Manager Wei said with a smile, "First, I wanted to see how Miss Xu's injury is healing. Second, breakfast is ready, and I wanted to ask if you'd like it delivered here."
Xu Yanxia hurriedly said, "My injury is mostly better. I'll go out to eat; there's no need to deliver it."
She wasn't in the habit of eating in her room.
Lu Jingming said, "Let's eat in the courtyard then. The air is fresh outside."
"Alright."
Manager Wei nodded and turned back, pushing a wheelchair toward her. "I'll wheel you over," he said to Xu Yanxia.
"???" Xu Yanxia looked at him. "I don't think I need a wheelchair."
"But you shouldn't be walking yet." Manager Wei thought for a moment before suggesting, "Or... should I ask President Lu to carry you?"
—It would, of course, be quite inappropriate for him to be the one carrying her.
