Chapter 66: Lu Jinchuan Comes to Her Room

As soon as Wen Ying left, Cheng Mu noticed it. "Why did she leave?"

Lu Jinchuan glanced sideways in that direction and saw that the plate of food was completely untouched.

"Hah, she really doesn't know what's good for her." Cheng Mu shook his head, finding it extremely dull. "She's putting on airs even when given a way out."

Su Nian didn't say anything.

How could she not understand what Wen Ying was thinking?

It was simply driven by wounded pride—feeling that Lu Jinchuan favored one over the other, causing an imbalance in her heart, and she no longer had the face to stay.

She looked at Lu Jinchuan.

He had already withdrawn his gaze, clearly not taking it to heart.

She curved her lips. "After dinner later, can you accompany me for a stroll?"

Lu Jinchuan had no objections. "Alright."

_

It was Wen Ying's first time in Haicheng, but her mother had actually attended university here, so she decided to visit her mother's alma mater.

The school required a reservation, and after entering the campus, Wen Ying walked around for a while.

Hai University was one of the top art academies in the country. Her mother had studied oil painting back then and had been the top scorer in the art joint entrance examination; her works were still hanging in the exhibition hall.

When Wen Ying found her mother's painting, she gazed at it for a long time.

Her mother had once said that there were actually two parts to this painting—one hung at Hai University, while the other was lost and had never been found.

Wen Ying stared at her mother's artwork, looking at the signature "Wen Ni" at the bottom for a long time.

Her heart felt hollow, and all her longing surged forth like a tide.

Along with the grievances that had accumulated over this period, it made her nose sting unbearably.

Yet, she no longer had a mother.

There was nowhere to pour out all these emotions.

Wen Ying brushed the corner of her eye with her fingertips, then slowly turned and walked outward.

Winters in Haicheng were damp and rainy, and the sky was overcast at the moment. Figuring it was about to rain, she quickened her pace toward the entrance.

As she walked, she used an app to hail a taxi.

Just as she reached the entrance, a light drizzle began to fall.

Wen Ying was hit by a few drops and hurriedly raised her hand to shield her head as she ran for shelter.

As soon as she stood steady, she saw Lu Jinchuan holding an umbrella and strolling over with Su Nian in the direction of the entrance. Lu Jinchuan's umbrella was clearly tilted toward Su Nian, keeping her safely within its coverage.

They saw her, too.

When Lu Jinchuan looked at her, his brows seemed to knit together slightly.

Perhaps he felt that running into her spoiled the good mood of his date with Su Nian.

He Su was also a graduate of Hai University, so it was normal for Su Nian to bring Lu Jinchuan to visit her mother's alma mater.

Wen Ying's taxi arrived.

She calmly withdrew her gaze, held her bag over her head to shield herself from the rain, and got into the car.

Back at the hotel, Wen Ying noticed she was coughing slightly.

Her current physical condition could not withstand the slightest wind or rain; the slightest carelessness would cause trouble.

She first took her targeted medication, then wrapped herself in the quilt and went to sleep.

She did not know how long she had slept, but feeling covered in sweat, Wen Ying groggily felt around for her mobile phone. She didn't know when He Xicheng would be back, but she wanted him to help her buy some cough medicine.

She dialed a call out.

It took a long time for the other end to pick up, and she frowned. "Are you back? Can you help me bring some medicine? I'm coughing a bit, it might be bronchitis, you—"

"It's me."

Listening to that cold voice, Wen Ying suddenly sobered up.

She glanced at the screen.

... Wrong number.

"Sorry." She quickly muttered and moved to hang up.

"Which room?" Lu Jinchuan asked indifferently instead.

Wen Ying hesitated. "1603."

"Got it."

No joy or anger could be heard in Lu Jinchuan's tone as he hung up first.

Yet Wen Ying remained in a daze for a long while.

Was he really going to bring it for her?

On second thought, however, she figured it out. Although Lu Jinchuan was cold toward her, as long as it was something she explicitly stated to him, and as long as it wasn't too outrageous, he would mostly do it out of basic etiquette, completely unrelated to affection.

Presidential Suite Card Room.

When Lu Jinchuan answered the phone, Su Nian, Cheng Mu, and the others were all there.

They had also heard the tone of Wen Ying's voice when she made the call.

Su Nian frowned slightly and said nothing.

Cheng Mu let out a snort of laughter. "No, she really knows how to stir up trouble, doesn't she? Suddenly starting to act weak to fish for attention?"

"Perhaps she really is sick," Su Nian put down the cards in her hand and said indifferently.

"Then she should still have some sense of boundaries, especially since you're still here." Cheng Mu shrugged. It was within his expectations—Wen Ying could never stay quiet.

Lu Jinchuan checked his wristwatch; it was just past eight in the evening.

"I'll go take a look."

Cheng Mu understood instantly. "True. If you ignore her, she might go back and complain to the old lady, and then this matter won't be easy to resolve."

Su Nian pursed her lips without expressing an opinion.

Lu Jinchuan's thin, cold brows showed no emotional fluctuation as he said indifferently, "You guys keep playing, I'll be back in a moment."

Only then did Su Nian relax slightly. "Alright."

Cheng Mu smiled. "Fine, I get what you mean. You just won't let her cling to you."

When Lu Jinchuan arrived, Wen Ying opened the door to see the man standing in the doorway with one hand in his pocket, looking down at her from above. After giving her an up-and-down inspection, he lifted his foot and walked inside. "Where does it hurt?"

Wen Ying had no choice but to make way for him.

As he brushed past her, a faint scent of women's perfume drifted from him.

He must have been in the same space as Su Nian all along.

Without leaving a trace, Wen Ying covered her nose and replied calmly, "My throat."

Lu Jinchuan glanced at her and saw that her mental state was indeed withered.

She wasn't faking it.

He narrowed his eyes and went to boil a kettle of water for her, his attitude neither hot nor cold. "I got three kinds of medicine: for bronchitis, for fever, and throat lozenges."

Wen Ying frowned as she looked at him.

She was somewhat surprised that Lu Jinchuan would care whether she lived or died.

"... Thank you."

Lu Jinchuan turned to look at her, his dark eyes deep and cold, before speaking after a brief moment. "Going to keep sleeping later?"

Wen Ying got back into bed; her head felt groggy, top-heavy and light, and she only wanted to lie down. "Mm."

The kettle was still boiling water.

She planned to wait until the water boiled before taking the medicine.

With that thought, she opened her eyes and looked over.

She found that Lu Jinchuan was still standing there, eyeing her thoughtfully.

Wen Ying hesitated. "You haven't left yet?"

Lu Jinchuan gave her an indifferent glance and let out a light, mocking scoff, probably finding it ironic. "You're pretty good at burning the bridge after crossing."

Even so, he didn't intend to stay long. He placed the medicine on the table and turned to leave.

Wen Ying didn't mind.

As she lay there groggily for a while, the doorbell rang.

It turned out to be dinner sent by the hotel.

A serving of congee and side dishes.

Very light and simple.

"I didn't order food. Was it sent to the wrong room?" she asked.

The attendant said, "Mr. Lu asked us to send it up."

Wen Ying suddenly understood and wheeled it in.

Lu Jinchuan was quite a complex man—both cold and considerate. If not for this, she wouldn't have struggled so confusingly in their marriage for so many years.

However, her stomach was indeed empty, and having lain down ever since she got back, she now felt as though her front and back were touching.

She opened the lid and took a look.

It was a portion of vegetable congee.

Emerald-green small vegetables dotted the crystal-clear white congee, sprinkled with a bit of chopped scallion, making it look very pretty.

However.

She was allergic to scallions.

Whenever she cooked for Lu Jinchuan, she would add some according to his taste. She mostly avoided touching dishes with scallions, and when forced to, she could only pick them out.

She had shared so many meals with him; if Lu Jinchuan had cared, he probably would have noticed this, but he had almost never paid attention.

Or perhaps he had noticed—after all, he was very smart and had a good memory; he could remember Su Nian's tastes and preferences in his heart—it was just that he didn't think she was important enough.

Take right now, for instance.

This bowl of food still required her to pick and choose before she could swallow it.

Yet she didn't want to waste any more energy or effort.

With calm eyes, Wen Ying put the lid back on.

And ordered another portion of dinner.