Lin Shu's picture was sent to Mr. Fang, who replied with a long message, delighted.
"This child sure has a good appetite. Just watching her eat whets my own."
"You should remember Lin Shu's preferences and prepare her favourite dishes in the future."
Fang Zhi replied perfunctorily, "Understood."
He looked up, seeing Lin Shu with a piece of fish in her mouth, eyes shining bright, with a smile on her face.
The joy on her face was sincere, and it didn't seem like an act.
Lin Shu nodded with her chopsticks, "It's delicious, I like it."
This woman wasn't as greedy as he had imagined.
She was satisfied just by having a meal.
Fang Zhi frowned, but quickly reminded himself that Lin Shu was acting.
She could act for a while, but not forever.
He responded indifferently, "I have to make a call with an overseas client soon, for about 10 minutes, please stay quiet."
He looked down at the watch on his hand, the cheapest one in his wardrobe.
It was a thirty-thousand-dollar watch bought specifically by He Mo so as not to be found out by Lin Shu.
In the wardrobe of Fang Zhi's house, any given watch could easily cost tens of millions.
"I won't disturb you."
"Hmm."
Fang Zhi sat down on the sofa, his laptop on the coffee table which was a bit low. He had to bend over, wearing a Bluetooth headset while making the call.
He spoke in English.
Lin Shu wasn't eavesdropping intentionally, but her proficiency in English allowed her to discern that he was discussing business matters.
It didn't seem to have anything to do with the law either.
Lin Shu quickly cast these thoughts aside. It wasn't her place to meddle.
After finishing the meal, Lin Shu cleaned up the dining table.
She went to the table and chairs on the balcony, took out her tablet and notebook, and started preparing for the lesson.
She was so dedicated that she didn't notice Fang Zhi standing next to her for a few minutes after hanging up the phone.
After preparing the lesson in advance, Lin Shu put down her pen and stretched her neck.
"Aren't the courses suspended? Why are you preparing lessons?" Fang Zhi noticed that her notebook was full of legible, beautiful handwriting.
Lin Shu showed a dutiful smile, "I'm afraid I'll be rusty if I don't prepare lessons for too long. Even if I'm on vacation currently, I need to keep up the feeling. It is a matter of commitment to the students and myself."
Fang Zhi raised his eyebrows.
Lin Shu closed her notebook, putting her stuff back into the bag she carried with her.
Watching her retreating figure, Fang Zhi's lip curled up in a cold, unamused smile.
She is good at putting on a show.
Even Fang Zhi, who was experienced in reading people from his business interactions, was almost fooled by her.
She has quite the skill.
"Grandfather asked me to stay with you at the hospital overnight. Sleep peacefully tonight, don't make a noise, I have a morning meeting tomorrow." Fang Zhi planned to make do sleeping on the nearby sofa for the night.
"I'm very quiet when I sleep." Lin Shu handed him the bed sheets and blankets.
"I hope so." Fang Zhi quickly made the bed and laid down on it.
His back towards Lin Shu, he kept his senses alert, his hearing sensitive, constantly aware of any sounds from Lin Shu's side.
Would this woman reveal her true colors tonight?
Like blatantly seducing Fang Zhi?
Once Lin Shu finished tidying up the bed, she said to Fang Zhi, "I will turn off the lights."
He didn't respond, and Lin Shu thought that he had fallen asleep already.
After turning off the lights, the room plunged into darkness, with only the calm sounds of their breaths filling the space.
Although Lin Shu had experienced a lot of unfair treatment, she had adjusted herself mentally, and fell asleep quickly.
However, Fang Zhi stayed alert, waiting until late into the night, without any further actions from Lin Shu.
Deep into the night, he got up from the bed and walked to the edge of it. In the dim moonlight, he observed the woman lying on the bed.
She was indeed very quiet when she slept.
It was a quietness that surprised Fang Zhi.
He initially thought that Lin Shu would take this opportunity to strip naked and seduce him.
But it didn't happened.
Fang Zhi frowned in annoyance, tossing his hair and was about to turn around when a small hand clasped his wrist.
Lin Shu murmured.
It was a soft voice calling out, barely heard, she said, "Mom."
The short sentence was enough to reveal her inner sorrow.
The annoyance on Fang Zhi's face vanished instantly, he raised his eyebrows.
Is she starting now?
Fang Zhi let out a cold laugh. He had been waiting for Lin Shu to reveal her true intentions for a long time.
He was curious about what Lin Shu would do next?
He waited until he himself drifted into a sleepy state. Lin Shu didn't do anything. It was just that she grabbed his hand in her sleep.
Fang Zhi did not shake her hand off. In the end, he fell asleep beside the bed.
When she woke up in the morning, Lin Shu opened her eyes and saw Fang Zhi lying beside her bed and her own hand on his wrist, waking up instantly.
Shouldn't Fang Zhi be sleeping on the sofa?
Why did he end up sleeping beside her bed?
And why was her hand holding his?
Lin Shu was very confused, but she didn't wake Fang Zhi.
It was still early, thinking about his morning meeting, Lin Shu went out to buy breakfast.
She was gone for ten minutes when she returned and was immediately interrogated by Fang Zhi.
"Where did you go this early?"
When Fang Zhi woke up in the morning and didn't see Lin Shu, he immediately checked his belongings and his mobile devices to confirm nothing had been tampered with. Only then did he feel somewhat at ease.
"I've gone to buy breakfast. I wasn't sure what you'd prefer, so I got a bit of everything." Lin Shu put the breakfast on the coffee table.
She had bought simple buns and soy milk.
Fang Zhi, preferring a western-style breakfast, responded coldly, "Now that your health has recovered, you should be discharged."
Lin Shu had a sip of hot soy milk. Even though she was staying in a public hospital, she was in a high-end ward. The stay must've been expensive.
"I'm fine, I'll be discharged today."
Lin Shu divided the portion of breakfast she had bought for Fang Zhi, "This is yours."
Fang Zhi sat down, had a sip of soy milk. It tasted pretty nice.
"You don't have to do these things for me in the future, like buying breakfast. Leave these trivial matters behind." Those were usually He Mo's duties.
After Lin Shu finished her soy milk, she said calmly, "Consider it as a thank you for your company in the hospital yesterday."
Every time she got sick after her mother passed away, she had to stay alone in the hospital.
It was pitiful.
For all these years, yesterday was the only time she didn't have to go through the long night alone in the hospital.
She kept these words to herself and didn't say them aloud.
Fang Zhi had a few bites and said, "Once you finish eating, gather your things. I'll go through the discharge formalities."
"Thank you." Lin Shu thanked him with a nod of her head.
Once the discharge procedure was finished and they got to the entrance, Fang Zhi had initially planned to let Lin Shu return home herself.
However, hearing the news, Grandfather Fang rushed over.
His arrival was neither too early nor too late, he arrived just in time to stop Fang Zhi and Lin Shu at the entrance.