Zhou Ling continued talking to her mother for another hour before the door was opened from outside and Zhao Caijing came in with two lunch boxes and another bag.
" Good morning Zhou Ling how are you doing?" He asked as he dropped the boxes on the bedside table and then put the other bag he had on the ground.
" I'm fine. At least I think I am... " Zhou Ling replied trying to wipe away the tears on her cheeks.
Looking at her, Zhao Caijing didn't know what to do to console her. He wanted badly to hold her in his arms and just tell her that everything will be okay but he knew he couldn't; she was his boss after all.
" Oh. Auntie Ming said to bring you a lunch box. She said it will help you feel better since it's home cooked and it was prepared with love. And here's the clothes you needed, she helped me pack them as well. "
" Oh, that sweet lady. But I don't have an appetite for food though. " She said with a sigh which seemed to be saying many things.
Hearing her reply, Zhao Caijing dragged a chair from a corner of the room and placed it directly in front of Zhou Ling. He sat down and then tried his luck by taking her hands in his. He looked her in the eye and when she didn't protest, he began to speak with her.
" Xiao Ling you have to eat even though you are not hungry... " She attempted to interrupt him but he held up his index finger to silence her. " Right now, I'm not taking to you as your employee but as someone who cares for you. If you continue to starve yourself, sooner or later you'll end up in a hospital bed and I'm sure that's not what you want at this point in time. No matter how little, you must eat. " He said in a tone that left no room for negotiation.
" Alright fine. I'll eat, before you go about sounding like my brother. " She went to the bathroom, watched her hands and then opened the lunch box before picking up her chopsticks.
After two mouthfuls, she dropped the chopsticks and closed the lunch box.
" Xiao Ling you have to eat more, unless you don't mind me feeding you. "
" But I already ate and don't forget you said no matter how little. "
" But you know I was just trying to coax you."
" No I don't know. I just know you can't go back on your words. " She said while folding her arms and turning her face away and her cheeks puffed.
" Are you going to eat or not? " He asked exasperated.
" No can do. "
" Alright then, you leave me no choice..."Zhao Caijing said and the took the lunch box from her.
"You wouldn't dare. " She said giving him a glare. Even though she said that, she couldn't deny that she was anticipating it. For some unknown reasons, she felt butterflies in her stomach all of a sudden.
" I dare. Now ah... " He said opening his mouth in demonstration.