Chapter 7

Chapter 7

After what happened yesterday, I thought Xie Cheng wouldn’t come again.

As it turned out, not only did he come, he’d also realized that roses were inappropriate. This time, he chose a bouquet of pale purple hyacinths.

Watching those fresh, dewy stems go into the vase, flaunting themselves and unfurling in the thin morning mist, I couldn’t help murmuring to myself.

“But I still like roses.”

As if he’d heard my tiny whisper, he looked a little puzzled. “Ms. Yu?”

Those clear eyes looked at me, as clean and damp as pine and fir trees beaded with morning dew.

“Don’t call me Ms. Yu anymore.”

For the first time ever, I took the initiative to lower my guard around a stranger. “We’ve known each other this long. We should count as friends by now, right?”

He was still holding the flowers. Behind the cluster of petals, the corners of his lips slowly lifted.

“If Ms. Yu thinks that’s all right, then of course I’d be happy to.”

“I told you not to call me Ms. Yu… My name is Yu Yijun.”

Seeing that he didn’t object, I gradually gathered my courage. “You can call me Xiao Jun too. I don’t mind.”

“Okay. Then… Xiao Jun.”

As if he wasn’t quite used to this intimacy that had crossed the line of an employer-employee relationship, his words came out a little stiff, a little subtle, and a little hesitant.

“In any case, Ms. Yu-no, Xiao Jun, you’d better listen to the doctor.”

“What?”

He glanced at my expression, careful and cautious. “Since the doctor told you to get a thorough checkup, then you should do it. It’s your own body. You need to take care of it…”

“Okay.”

He clearly hadn’t expected me to agree so readily, and looked a little surprised.

“You mean…”

“Mm. I’ll listen to you.”

The next second,

a bright smile flashed across the corner of his mouth like a shooting star.

Ever since I was little, my stomach had never been good.

Whenever I had stomach pain, I would simply boil a pot of steaming rice soup and drink that for a day, and it would naturally get better.

I just hadn’t expected this illness to come on so suddenly, or so fiercely.

Only after the gastroscopy and colonoscopy did I learn that there really was something wrong with my body. My gastric mucosa had sustained a certain degree of damage, accompanied by two small bleeding spots. The doctor warned me that I had to eat regularly and absolutely could not stay up late anymore, or it would very likely develop into a pathological condition.

After that, I took a photo of my medical records and sent it to my supervisor.

Her conscience finally woke up, and she approved a full two months of paid leave for me.

On the day I was discharged, I stuffed those no-longer-fresh, already scorched and withered roses into a black plastic bag and quietly brought them home.

Of course, I kept it from Xie Cheng.

I had to admit, at the time I needed it most, he had shown me the greatest possible kindness. From the moment I had the endoscopy to the end of my observation period and my discharge from the hospital, he had silently stayed by my side and taken care of me.

Maybe seeing that I had no one to rely on, his conscience had simply overflowed for a moment.

Or maybe he was trying to retain a customer at any cost, no matter how much money and effort it took.

In any case, none of that mattered anymore.

He had done for me what even my parents hadn’t.

After I got home, I simply placed an order on the app and bought a full year of service.

Impulse shopping late at night-it would be a lie to say I didn’t regret it.

But right after I confirmed the payment, I received a formulaic text message filled with every possible word of praise, congratulating me on becoming Yishi Housekeeping’s first VIP customer.

Before I could even finish processing all that excessive flattery, a consultation window suddenly popped up on the screen.

Sunny Handsome High School Boy: ???

Sunny Handsome High School Boy: How could you spend so much money on me?

I typed, deleted, deleted, and typed again. For the first time in my life, I endured the sting in my face and forced myself to play the rich woman.

“It’s only thirty-five thousand… It’s not that much money.”

Him: “But I can’t keep working for you anymore.”

Me: “?”

“We’re already friends. How can I still take your money?”

I stared at that message for a long time, unable to describe what I felt. “It’s fine. Then just add some value-added services.”

After a while, he replied, “What kind of services do you want?”

“Xiao Jun?”

At that moment, I really wanted to ask him for another bouquet of roses. But I was afraid of causing a misunderstanding, so I only made a light joke of it.

“I’m not telling you.”

“A customer’s core needs are something you have to discover on your own.”