Yet his finger hesitated on the phone screen, unable to press down.
He was aware of his feelings; he had grown much closer to Chuxia during this time, but he also felt that there was always a barrier between them, invisible and intangible. He dared not probe what it might be.
For he feared that he might once again open Pandora’s box, which is why sometimes, even when he saw things clearly, he’d rather choose to remain oblivious.
Shi Che closed his eyes briefly, steadied the strength in his body, then opened his eyes and touched the screen—not to redial Ling Chuxia’s number, but to call Sister Hua.
Ling Chuxia, in the end, fell asleep, but her sleep was restless, as if her heart was burdened with many concerns, unable to find peace.
The door was gently knocked, and the moment the sound echoed, Ling Chuxia awoke.
Having slept for a while, she felt somewhat better, but per the doctor’s orders, she should stay in bed for five days after surgery. Lying there, she said in a weak voice, "Come in."
The door opened, and Sister Hua walked in with a tray. Ling Chuxia slightly opened her eyes to see Sister Hua, who swiftly approached and set the tray aside, looking at Ling Chuxia’s complexion with concern in her eyes, "Young Madam, how are you feeling? Shall I call the doctor to come and check on you again?"
Ling Chuxia gently shook her head, "I’m fine, the doctor said that with good rest, I will be well in a few days."
With that, Sister Hua had nothing more to say, only offering, "Then you must rest well, and remember to call me if you feel uncomfortable."
Sister Hua added, "Must be hungry, right? I’ve made some porridge for you, have something to eat before you go back to sleep."
Ling Chuxia had no appetite and didn’t want to eat anything. She looked at Sister Hua and shook her head again, "I don’t want to eat right now."
But Sister Hua frowned, "Young Madam, you’ve slept all afternoon and skipped dinner, you should eat something. Being hungry isn’t good for your condition, and furthermore, the Young Master has instructed me to take good care of you. If something were to happen to you, how would I explain to him when he returns?"
The Young Master has instructed?
Ling Chuxia’s attention was instantly captured by those words; she looked up in surprise and said incredulously, "You mean, the Young Master instructed you?"
Hadn’t she just angered Shi Che? Why would he ask Sister Hua to take good care of her?
Sister Hua, unaware of her thoughts, simply answered, "Yes, he called me just a while ago."
Ling Chuxia’s eyes narrowed slightly, her heart giving a faint jolt. Based on the timing, this meant that Shi Che hadn’t been angry with her when he hung up her call; otherwise, why would he have immediately called Sister Hua to make sure she was well taken care of?
He... he still cares about her, doesn’t he?
A wave of disbelief flickered in Ling Chuxia’s eyes, mixed with a touch of bewilderment, and eventually, it slowly transformed into strands of joy.
Observing Ling Chuxia’s expression, Sister Hua, who had lived many more years, certainly didn’t miss that flash of joy. She softly said, "Young Madam, although the Young Master was indeed quite indifferent to you at first, these days I can see that he really does care about and value you. So, if you try a little harder, perhaps you can fully capture the Young Master’s heart."