On the sky-blue sticky note, he wrote: Xinlan, I have an important business deal to discuss today and need to go on a trip for two days. I saw you were sleeping soundly this morning, so I didn’t disturb you. If you miss me, you can call me, but you’re only allowed to call once per day, not more—got it? I’ve gone now, remember to eat well and sleep well. If I come back and find you’ve lost weight, I’ll definitely fatten you up into a little piggy.
The signature was a single character: ’Ze’.
Lin Xinlan smiled as she read the note.
He must be worried that she’d expose herself to radiation if she made too many calls.
This man’s considerations were really very thoughtful.
As Rong Shaoze had instructed, Lin Xinlan took good care of herself and spoke to him on the phone only once a day.
However, it wasn’t her who made the calls.
It was him who called...
Two days later, when Lin Xinlan thought Rong Shaoze would be back, she instead received a call from him.
"Xinlan, I’m sorry, I can’t come back today."
"Did something happen?" Lin Xinlan asked with concern.
"There’s been a deadlock in the negotiations. It looks like I’ll have to stay here three more days before I can return. But I promise you, I will return after three days, even if it means giving up this deal."
Lin Xinlan joked, "So it’s ’I would rather have my beauty than the kingdom’? Be careful your employees might rebel."
Rong Shaoze laughed, "What can I do? I’m destined to be a foolish ruler, with eyes only for beauty and no interest in the kingdom. My Xinlan is too beautiful, she has enchanted my eyes. You are the only one in my sight and my heart, I can’t see anything else."
Lin Xinlan blushed slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed.
She wasn’t praising herself as a beauty.
She was just using a cliché.
"You should still resolve the business first before returning. After all, these few days don’t make much difference. Moreover, you’ve already spent several days there; it would be too much of a loss to leave without securing the contract."
"Alright, I’ll do my best to land it," Rong Shaoze said with forced difficulty.
The two chatted for a while longer, and Rong Shaoze insisted on asking Lin Xinlan whether she missed him. She softly admitted she did, satisfying him enough to confess his own longing for her before hanging up the phone.
Lin Xinlan also hung up the phone.
Leaning against the sofa, her lips still curled in a sweet smile.
Rong Shaoze couldn’t return today, and indeed, she was very disappointed, but business was important and their reunion could wait for a little longer.
Yet in these two days without him,
she realized how lonely and desolate the house felt without his presence.
To her, he was like water to a fish.
If he left her, she would definitely suffocate and die of asphyxiation...
Ever since Xiaocong disappeared, it was because of his presence that she had been able to carry on.
Thankfully, he had been with her all along and was still by her side.
Three days later, Rong Shaoze returned.
When Lin Xinlan saw his somewhat thin figure, she realized how deeply she had missed him, right down to the marrow of her bones.
His dark eyes gazed at her affectionately. He smiled and opened his arms wide. She threw caution to the wind and ran into his embrace, hugging him tightly.
"Hiss—" Rong Shaoze suddenly gasped.
Lin Xinlan quickly released him, asking with concern, "What’s wrong?"
"It’s nothing," Rong Shaoze immediately recovered and teased with a smile, "Xinlan, I didn’t expect you to be so enthusiastic. The force of your charge just now was really strong."
"Not at all!" Lin Xinlan blushed.