"I'm fine," Ethan Yu said blandly, barely lifting his eyes from the screen as Lin Xin'er stepped into the room. "What is it?"
Lin Xin'er approached, her tone warm and gentle. "President Yu, I heard you weren't feeling well and hadn't eaten anything all day. I made some porridge in the kitchen for you. Please eat something before you continue working."
Ethan glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "No need. Take it away."
"But you need to eat something," Lin Xin'er insisted, casting a subtle glance at Ji Chuan for backup.
Ji Chuan picked up on her signal immediately. "President Yu, your health is important. If you wear yourself out now, how will you handle everything that's coming next?"
Ethan sighed, clearly reconsidering. "Fine. Leave it here. I'll eat it later."
"Great!" Lin Xin'er beamed, placing the bowl of porridge carefully on the side table. After a pause, she added lightly, "Oh, by the way, I ran into Mrs. Tang earlier. She went out."
Ethan's gaze flickered. "Went out?"
"Yes. I think she went shopping."
He said nothing, but there was a shift in his eyes, as though something had clicked. Then he asked, "Did she know you came to see me?"
Lin Xin'er hesitated, then nodded innocently. "Yes… I told her you weren't feeling well, so I made you some porridge…"
As her words trailed off, she seemed to realize she'd said too much. Her expression tensed, lips tightening.
Sure enough, Ethan's face darkened.
"Get out. Both of you. I need rest," he said coldly.
"Yes, sir," they both responded and left quickly.
As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, Ji Chuan couldn't hold back his frustration. "Why would you tell him that? Now the misunderstanding with Mrs. Tang is even worse. Can't you see the president is furious?"
Lin Xin'er winced. "I didn't mean anything by it. But seriously, if his wife knew he was unwell and still chose to go shopping, what does that say about their relationship? Aren't they supposed to be—"
"Shhh!" Ji Chuan made a silencing gesture. "It's not our place to get involved in their personal matters."
Lin Xin'er nodded, a hint of mischief flickering in her eyes. "Of course. I'm just curious. They don't seem like a couple at all. Are they… actually getting a divorce?"
Ji Chuan gave her a sharp look. "Enough. Just focus on your own job."
"I will, don't worry. I won't gossip," she said sweetly. "Anyway, I'll go back to work. But if the president's condition gets worse, try to convince him to see a doctor, okay?"
"I don't need you to tell me that." Ji Chuan's tone was clipped. "And since you just got here, take the chance to rest. It's going to be a tough few days."
"Got it!" Lin Xin'er flashed a smile and turned to leave.
But as she walked away, her smile never faded.
Because in her eyes, she saw a glimmer of hope.
—
Meanwhile, Hailey Tang was thoroughly enjoying her solo day out.
It wasn't her first time in New York, and with her solid English skills, she wasn't the least bit intimidated. She strolled confidently through Times Square, weaving through the crowd like a local, and soon found herself in a high-end shopping center.
She bought some essentials—intimates, mostly. The ones that Housekeeper Zhang had packed for her were absolutely unwearable. In fact, she'd cut them to shreds and tossed them in the trash the moment she unpacked.
This time, everything she bought was conservative. Without Ethan in her life, she no longer felt the need to impress anyone. It was like returning to an earlier version of herself—the careful, low-key Hailey who kept her armor on and her feelings tucked away.
Not in the mood to head back yet, she wandered aimlessly, window-shopping and people-watching.
New York was a city of extremes. A paradise for the rich, a nightmare for the poor.
Hailey had money. So, for her, this place was pure heaven.
She indulged herself, hopping from boutique to boutique, trying on jewelry, sampling luxury perfumes, and picking up little trinkets just because they were cute. She snacked on street food, then splurged on gourmet desserts. It wasn't just shopping—it was therapy, rebellion, and escape all rolled into one.
By the time the sky dimmed and the lights of the city turned into a glittering sea, she was finally tired enough to think about going back.
Her hands were full of shopping bags, her phone was filled with photos of things she didn't need but loved anyway, and her heart—well, it felt just a little lighter.
At least out here, away from him, she could pretend her world was her own again.