Chapter 37: The One Who Has Always Lingered in My Heart

Cheng Si couldn’t sit still any longer. He mouthed words and gestured to direct Engineer Chen to ask Lin Xi what was going on over there.

“That’s it for now. I’ll have to trouble you these two days. I’ll be back at the company the day after tomorrow,” Lin Xi said, about to hang up.

Engineer Chen, deciphering Cheng Si’s signals, stammered, “Ah, w-wait, Engineer Lin!”

“Alright, go ahead,” Lin Xi replied calmly, warm as ever. “Is there a problem with work?”

“No, it’s not that,” Engineer Chen hurried to explain, “What happened on your end? Did you run into some trouble, or is there a new issue with Huasheng?”

“No, it’s unrelated to work. I twisted my ankle last night, and it’s a bit swollen today, so I thought I’d return tomorrow instead.”

She had only managed to get a high-speed train ticket for tomorrow afternoon, which meant she’d be arriving in the capital quite late, so she could only return to work the day after tomorrow.

Hearing this, Engineer Chen looked over at Cheng Si again.

He seemed like a robot, only functioning when given explicit instructions, having forgotten entirely that he could speak for himself.

Cheng Si, exasperated, signaled him to offer a few words of comfort and then hang up.

Engineer Chen nodded vigorously and followed the instructions.

When the call ended, Cheng Si put his hands on his hips and finally couldn’t help but remark, “I’ve realized something—when you academic elites step out of your field, your minds really don’t seem to work so well.”

Was this the universal flaw of geniuses?

Engineer Chen: “...”

The meeting ended early, cut off halfway.

Cheng Si, phone in hand, left the R&D Department.

“Hey, Third Brother, I heard Xi Bao twisted her ankle? What happened last night?”

The reason he called Qin Yu was mainly that he wasn’t sure whether Qin Yu was aware of the situation. If not, this was the perfect chance to tip him off.

Meanwhile, Qin Yu stepped out of the elevator, his assistant following close behind with a female doctor carrying a medical kit.

“I’ll take someone over to check on her first.”

Lin Xi had asked the hotel for ice and spray, and the staff mentioned it seemed to be her right ankle. She’d refused to go to the hospital, saying it wasn’t serious. Still, Qin Yu wasn’t at ease.

Hearing Qin Yu say so, Cheng Si relaxed, exchanged a few more words, and hastily hung up.

A knock sounded at the door. Lin Xi, sitting on the sofa, turned her head in annoyance toward the entrance.

She had told the hotel early in the morning that she didn’t want to be disturbed, so why was someone knocking now?

She had no intention of getting up in her current state.

The person outside seemed to sense she wouldn’t come to the door. A soft “beep” was heard, and the door was pushed open from the outside.

Lin Xi instantly sat up straight, already composing a mental complaint.

But then Qin Yu strode in, long-legged and purposeful.

Her lips twitched, her expression even more speechless than before.

No need to guess why he was here. She gave up struggling entirely, slumped back into the sofa, and feigned indifference, ignoring him entirely as she continued to watch TV.

The man stopped a meter away, neither speaking to her nor approaching, just giving his assistant a meaningful glance.

The assistant nodded and led the doctor forward, then retreated behind Qin Yu, head lowered in silent discretion.

The doctor knelt by Lin Xi’s ankle and asked gently about her condition.

Facing the doctor, Lin Xi’s attitude was still perfectly polite.

While the doctor tended to her, Lin Xi stole a glance at the man nearby.

He stood quietly, right hand in his trouser pocket, his wrist exposed. Before she could avert her eyes, she was caught in the act.

Since she’d been discovered, Lin Xi didn’t bother to hide it, openly observing him.

He gazed down at her, concern plain in his eyes—dark as night, penetrating, yet with a certain lazy detachment as if he stood apart from it all.

A sharp pain shot through her ankle, making Lin Xi suck in a breath.

Qin Yu’s brow furrowed; he instinctively wanted to approach, but reason prevailed and he remained where he stood.

“It’s alright, the injury isn’t serious, no bone damage. Apply the medicine on schedule, and within two weeks you’ll be fine. In the meantime, try to keep weight off your right foot, though walking is allowed.”

Lin Xi exhaled slowly. “Alright, thank you.”

The assistant led the doctor out, leaving only Lin Xi and Qin Yu in the living room.

She glanced sideways at him, meeting his ink-black gaze.

At this point, to ignore him any longer would be unreasonable.

“Didn’t you seem fine when you came back last night?” Qin Yu broke the silence, sensing she had something to say.

At this, Lin Xi shot him a reproachful look. “It’s your fault, actually.”

“Mine?” Qin Yu was taken aback.

She had left first the night before, returning to the hotel an hour before him. They hadn’t seen each other since. When he asked the hotel to send her some hangover soup, he was told she was fine and that she hadn’t gone out afterward.

How could it be his fault?

She muttered in complaint, “It was because you had someone bring something up last night. I was half asleep when I got up to answer the door and twisted my ankle.”

Qin Yu hadn’t known about this episode.

After a moment, he nodded and said to himself, “Alright, that’s my fault. To make it up to you, I’ll take care of you myself for the next two weeks.”

“What?” Lin Xi’s eyes widened. “What did you say?”

“Since it was my doing, it’s only right that I take responsibility.”

“No, that’s not what I meant...” Lin Xi struggled to rise—she didn’t need anyone to take responsibility. What did he mean by personally looking after her? This wasn’t compensation, it was more like punishment.

Unfortunately, he gave her no chance to refuse. “Just stay put. I’ll accompany you on the train back tomorrow morning.”

He said he had a video conference to attend and left soon after, leaving Lin Xi alone on the sofa, stunned for a long time.

The next day, Lin Xi got up especially early, packed her luggage, and hobbled downstairs.

At checkout, the staff helped her with her bags and supported her to the door.

The hotel said they’d already called a car for her, and she spotted it as soon as she exited. The driver stowed her luggage, and the attendant helped her to the vehicle.

As the car door opened automatically and Lin Xi hesitated about how to get in, a hand reached out from inside, grasping her wrist. “Lean on me, take it slow.”

Lin Xi: “...”

Ten minutes later, sitting in the car, Lin Xi finally couldn’t help but ask, “Third Brother, have you been waiting downstairs for me all morning?”

She’d half-expected Qin Yu to intercept her upstairs, but instead, he’d simply waited at the entrance.

He actually knew she’d try to leave early!

The man’s gaze swept her face up and down, a soft laugh escaping him. “More or less. I knew you wouldn’t behave.”

Lin Xi found herself at a loss for words and could only reply dryly, “Ha, Third Brother, you really do know me well.”

Qin Yu said, “You’ve always been someone I keep close to my heart. Isn’t it only natural that I know you?”

[Author’s Note: There’s been some family business these last couple of days, so update times are a bit irregular, probably in the afternoon and evening. Double updates resume tomorrow.]