Su Xianyu was lazily curled up on the chaise longue. The floor lamp beside her was adjusted to the softest brightness, and the warm yellow light just fell on the book.
Just as she was about to turn the page, the maid came over with a fruit platter.
On the platter were sliced cherries. Each one had been pitted and arranged in a delicate floral pattern.
"Sir said that you took a second look at the cherry mousse yesterday, so he asked the pastry chef to make it specially this afternoon."
Su Xianyu gave a soft "hmm" without taking her eyes off the page, but she sighed inwardly.
Feng Lin's ability to take care of people was getting better and better. He was probably more meticulous than those professional butlers.
She secretly stroked the cashmere cushion on the armrest of the sofa. It was so soft that it made one drowsy.
As a veteran homebody, these days were just what she had always dreamed of. But she had to maintain her composure, as the tests in the small world would surely appear again soon...
Just as she was thinking, there was a slight commotion outside the window.
Su Xianyu looked up and saw a man standing outside, gesturing to her.
She frowned. Noticing that the maid had already left, she put down the book and walked to the window.
"Who are you..."
"Madam, I'm Old Zhou, the butler here!"
"I know you, Uncle Zhou. What's the matter?"
The man lowered his voice, his face full of urgency. "I'm here to rescue you!"
Seeing the surprise on Su Xianyu's face, Uncle Zhou forced a regretful and guilty smile.
"The Feng family has had this crazy gene for generations. I don't know how many girls they've harmed. I just can't stand it anymore..."
"Thank you, Uncle Zhou," she declined politely. "I'd like to think it over."
"Okay, I'll wait for your reply."
Su Xianyu brushed him off, and soon forgot about it.
After all, she wasn't sure if his intentions were sincere, and she wasn't ready to leave this comfortable life yet!
But unexpectedly, Uncle Zhou came again the next evening.
"I've thought about what you said last time."
Uncle Zhou's eyes lit up. "Madam, then shall we..."
"I can't leave." When Su Xianyu looked up, she met the old man's stunned eyes. "Thank you for your kindness, but I can't leave."
Uncle Zhou stamped his foot anxiously. "Why are you doing this! Mr. Feng has locked you up here. Isn't this just like being in prison?"
"All the Feng family members are crazy! Do you know how his aunt died? It was his uncle..."
"Feng Lin won't do that." Su Xianyu said firmly. "He loves me."
Uncle Zhou looked at her as if she were a hopeless love - struck fool.
"Maybe he's keeping you here because he's afraid of losing you." After thinking for a while, Uncle Zhou continued to persuade her along her line of thought.
"But this kind of love is too scary, Madam. Look at the bars on the windows and the bodyguards at the door. This is not love. It's clearly a cage!"
"So what if it's a cage?" Su Xianyu's voice was soft but firm. "Someone has to help him get over the hurdle in his heart."
"If even I abandon him, he'll really be all alone."
"But what if he's always like this?" Uncle Zhou's voice trembled. "Are you going to waste your whole life here?"
"I'm an orphan. For me now, wherever Lin is, that's home."
"If his heart is always with me, then I'll just have to accept it."
In the shadow at the end of the corridor, Feng Lin was leaning against the cold wall, his knuckles turning white from clenching.
He had come to see if Xiaoyu was still angry, but he heard this conversation at the corner.
Uncle Zhou's words were harsh but true, but he didn't expect Xiaoyu's reply to warm his frozen heart.
Xiaoyu was always like this.
She seemed weak, but in fact, she was very determined.
When he was at his worst, she stood firm.
Feng Lin quietly backed away. His leather shoes made no sound on the carpet.
Back in his study, he immediately informed the bodyguards in a cold voice. "Send Uncle Zhou away. He doesn't need to come back."
After hanging up the phone, Feng Lin reached out and stroked Xiaoyu's cheek in the photo on the desk, whispering softly.
"Xiaoyu, give me a little more time. After I deal with that strange person..."
But unexpectedly, the accident came so suddenly.
In a daze, Su Xianyu felt that her whole body was burning hot. Her consciousness seemed to be soaking in water, hazy and heavy.
She struggled to press the call bell on the bedside. Soon, there were footsteps and exclamations from the servants.
"My goodness!"
"Sir, come and take a look quickly. Madam is sick..."
In a trance, she felt someone lift the quilt, and cold fingers touch her forehead.
"Xiaoyu?"
There was a rare panic in Feng Lin's voice.
She forced her eyes open and saw that the man, who usually always looked so well - groomed in front of her, was now in a mess.
"Don't be afraid. Let me check." Feng Lin's fingertips felt for her pulse. His hands, which had smoothly performed countless high - end surgeries, were now trembling slightly.
He also lifted Xiaoyu's eyelids and listened to her heart and lungs. Fine cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "Something's wrong... Her pulse is a bit strange."
Su Xianyu wanted to say "I just caught a cold", but only a faint groan came out of her throat.
Feng Lin quickly walked to the desk and rummaged around in a hurry.
A medicine bottle was knocked to the ground, making a clear cracking sound.
"Damn it!" He cursed under his breath and grabbed the phone. "Call Vincent over immediately!"
Vincent was Feng Lin's private doctor in Country K and also his classmate from medical school.
Vincent arrived soon. "What's going on?"
He examined Su Xianyu and looked through the various data recorded by Feng Lin. His brows gradually knitted together, and he motioned for Feng Lin to talk outside.
The two of them stood in the corridor, and the atmosphere was a bit solemn.
"What's wrong with Xiaoyu?"
"All the indicators are normal. It's just a common viral cold."
"Then why hasn't she regained consciousness and still has a high fever..."
Vincent pushed his glasses. "It may be due to her mental state. It's normal for the immune system to decline when a person is in a long - term depressed environment."
Feng Lin's face darkened. "What do you mean?"
"Lin, you're a doctor. You should know better than me how the mental state affects the body."
Hearing his words, Feng Lin suddenly clenched his fists. "Impossible. Xiaoyu is living well here. I've prepared..."
"That's just what you think is good." Vincent patted his shoulder. "You think you're protecting her, but she may not think so."
In the bedroom, Su Xianyu opened her eyes groggily.
The temperature on her forehead seemed to have dropped a bit. She moved her fingers and touched the person sitting beside the bed.
"Awake?" Feng Lin's voice was extremely hoarse. He helped her sit up and placed a cushion behind her.
"How do you feel? Do you want some water?"
Su Xianyu shook her head. The high fever had left her mind in a daze.
She fished out something from under the pillow. It was the bell necklace with the locator.
Feng Lin had given it to her when she first came to the manor, but she had refused it.
But now, she was holding the bell and carefully putting it on her own neck.
Feng Lin's pupils suddenly constricted. "Xiaoyu, don't scare me..."