The droning beeping resonated in Ling Chuxia’s ears, her heart pounding as wildly as ever, her hand clutching the phone, unwittingly breaking out in a thin sweat.
The prolonged beeping continued for so long that Ling Chuxia thought Shi Che wouldn’t answer the call, but suddenly, the call connected, and a low, indifferent voice came through, "What is it?"
Ling Chuxia’s heart skipped a beat, and suddenly her tongue seemed to tie up, unable to utter a word. The other end sounded increasingly impatient, and the tone grew colder, "Speak up!"
Sister Hua, watching Ling Chuxia’s dazed look, couldn’t stand it and, disregarding respect, reached out and pushed her shoulder, silently mouthing, "Young Madam, speak up!"
That’s when Ling Chuxia snapped back to reality, gripping her hands tightly, and began in a low voice, "Young, Young Master... are... are you... coming home today?"
It was such a simple sentence, but Ling Chuxia stuttered it out, lifelessly.
Shi Che, having already lost his patience and about to hang up the phone, paused abruptly when he heard Ling Chuxia’s words. The light in the depths of his eyes also stiffened momentarily.
Ling Chuxia calling to ask him if he was coming home? Such a phone call hadn’t happened in three years...
Shi Che’s black pupils darkened, light shimmering within them as a wave of unnamed joy tried to surge up, but quickly, as if he remembered something, he tilted his head slightly, looking at the calendar on his desk. After glancing at the date, the light in his eyes dimmed in an instant, and the flicker of joy turned into deep derision.
Today was the day of Ling Chuxia’s annual health check-up.
Shi Che’s lips curled slightly, his eyes brimming with endless coldness, and the voice that came out was unconsciously chilling, "What task has my mother given you this time?"
Shi Che’s voice was icy, his words razor-sharp, showing no mercy, piercing straight into Ling Chuxia’s heart. Her face turned pale in an instant, the prepared words clogging in her throat.
Shi Che snorted coldly but didn’t hang up on her hurriedly this time. Instead, he waited patiently for her response.
Ling Chuxia’s hand gripping the phone tightened gradually, her fingertips slowly turning white. Several times she opened her mouth, but not a sound came out.
Sister Hua, watching by her side, was frantic, wishing she could snatch the phone and speak for her, but she could only flail about, directing her to talk properly.
Ling Chuxia took several deep breaths before she managed to suppress the discomfort in her heart, struggling to enunciate word by word, "It’s not that, I... I... I just wanted to ask if you’re coming home. If... if you’re not too busy, then... please come home, I... I..."
Trying hard to think of some excuse, Ling Chuxia was at her wit’s end when Sister Hua, driven to desperation, grabbed a pen from the table and scrawled a line of words on the palm of her hand, presenting it to Ling Chuxia.