The next morning, Calix woke up at a quarter before six.
Following his routine, he changed into a set of sportswear before heading out to the lake in the backyard. He usually went for a quick run before going to the office.
Because Calix ate egg fried rice for supper last night, he felt a bit bloated. He rarely ate anything heavy near his bedtime, but, he felt sorry for Leslie who was hungry.
After a couple of laps by the lake, a slightly gasping Calix stopped. With both hands on his waist, he threw a look at the mansion, specifically at the second floor.
Leslie's room was not visible in this direction. Calix also remembered that he hadn't told her that this place had a beautiful lake.
Well, he only showed her the places along the way to the kitchen. She hadn't explored the entire mansion.
"Haa... I thought I had a long dream," Calix let out a sigh. He casually wiped the dripping sweat from his face, "I really got married ah. And my wife now is a ghost."
When Calix woke up, his mind was still not in a good state. He blankly stared at the empty ceiling, contemplating his whole life before he was reminded of his new status.
Yesterday, he registered his marriage. His wife was the eldest daughter of Rowan Li. She was currently in a coma.
And...
It turned out, he was able to see her soul.
Shaking his head, Calix randomly ran a palm over his right cheek. When he checked his appearance earlier, the swelling had decreased significantly. The stinging was also reduced.
Leslie's words before they parted ways last night echoed in Calix's mind.
"I'm glad you only fainted once."
Calix grimaced, recalling how embarrassing his action yesterday afternoon was. Fortunately, only Leslie witnessed his dark moment.
Trying not to pass out, he slapped himself on the cheek yet, he only got pain. He did faint in the end.
"Urgh... So humiliating."
Calix glanced at his wristwatch. In a few minutes, the hour would change to six-thirty. He usually went to work at half past seven, unless he was preoccupied with an urgent schedule.
"Hurm, time to get ready for work."
The sun had already risen over the horizon, slowly dispelling the darkness in the sky. As Calix slowly jogged to the mansion, the warm golden rays fell on his broad back.
Calix took a quick shower to wash off the sweat. His pick for today was a deep burgundy-color three-piece suit instead of one in dark colors.
The tie was also in the same shade. Only the dress shirt was in another color, a black one.
It was certainly a bold choice but, Calix didn't care. After all, he had just gotten married yesterday. He needed to be a walking billboard to advertise his new status.
CEO Xu finished styling himself before seven. He still had time to eat. Usually, Calix requested Aunt Wendy to make three half-boiled eggs and some sandwiches.
As Calix walked down the hallway, his eyes landed on the closed door of Leslie's room. Humming softly, he slowed his pace before finally he stopped there.
"Should I ask her?"
Frowning slightly, Calix lifted a hand.
Knock! Knock!
Calix waited for a few minutes yet, there was no sign of the door being opened from the inside. Its occupant might still be sleeping.
Pursing his lips, Calix tried again. He knocked louder this time.
Knock! Knock!
"Mr. Calix, what are you doing there?"
A familiar older woman's voice interrupted Calix. Slightly stunned, he turned to look in the direction of the staircase.
"Aunt Wendy?"
The middle-aged woman looked at him strangely. She had a laundry basket in her arms.
"Why are you knocking on the door? Mrs. Charlene can't hear you, right?"
Aunt Wendy's simple question almost suffocated Calix for a moment.
"...right, haha. She can't hear me."
Calix coughed. The tips of his ears slowly reddened.
Urgh... He only tried to be considerate and respect Leslie's privacy but, his action certainly looked so abnormal in other people's eyes.
What a dilemma ah.
Aunt Wendy thought nothing of Calix's weird behavior. Bringing the laundry basket with her, she told him, "Breakfast's ready. You should have it now, Mr. Calix."
"O-okay! See you downstairs, Aunt Wendy. I'll check... on my wife first."
Calix looked at Aunt Wendy's disappearing figure before he rushed inside Leslie's bedroom. To avoid unexpected disturbance, he locked the door.
"I need to be careful too ah," Calix shook his head in disbelief, "Not only her."
While adjusting his necktie, Calix slowly approached the bed. He quietly looked at two figures with the same face lying on the mattress side by side.
"..."
The human body lay flat, unmoving while the soul one curled under the blanket, seemingly enjoying her sleep.
With the blanket covering most of her body, only the top of her head was visible. It didn't seem like she would wake up soon.
Calix blinked, still unable to get used to the idea of her eating, much less sleeping.
"I can't believe this. How could she still feel hungry and sleepy?"
Yet, nothing could be done about it. Calix was not a heartless man. How could he deprive someone, even a soul, of having meals and resting if it really needed them?
Exhaling a sigh, Calix reached out a hand. It hovered in the air as hesitation took over him.
He should wake her up, right?
Instead of directly going to the office without saying anything.
Hurm...
Following his conscience, Calix finally tapped Leslie's shoulder a few times.
"Hey, Leslie, wake up. It's morning already."
"...huh?"
Under the blanket, Leslie was slowly stirred awake. Calix breathed out a sigh of relief while retracting his hand.
"Wake up, wake up ah. I'm going to work now."
"Wait..."
Leslie's slightly hoarse voice muffled through the blanket. She fumbled with the fabric before slowly lowering it down. Her sleepy face was revealed to the one standing by the bedside.
"What?"
Leslie rubbed her eyes. When she looked at Calix, the man suddenly snorted.
"...pfft!"