Chapter 5 The Delicate Condition

Chapter 5: The Delicate Illness

Zhou Yu spotted Lin Yunshu emerging from the hospital in the distance.

Secretary Lin, usually so meticulous and composed, now seemed somewhat disoriented, a faint furrow etched between his brows. He nearly stumbled over a small stone by the roadside.

He didn’t even notice Zhou Yu’s car had already pulled up beside him.

“Secretary Lin,” Zhou Yu said, “get in.”

Secretary Lin stood motionless, gazing blankly at him.

Zhou Yu then exited the car and helped him inside.

Secretary Lin buckled his seatbelt slowly, his beautiful eyes occasionally darting towards Zhou Yu.

As Zhou Yu drove towards Lin Yunshu’s residential complex, he asked, “What’s on your mind?”

“How did you know I was here?”

“This hospital is closest to your home. If you’re out late at night, it must be here.”

Zhou Yu said, casting him a peculiar glance, as if surprised Lin Yunshu would ask such an obvious question.

Lin Yunshu came to his senses, lowered his head, and chuckled, “That was silly of me.”

“What’s the matter? Is it serious?” Zhou Yu continued, “Don’t hesitate to tell me if something’s wrong. At the very least, I can connect you with the best hospitals.”

Lin Yunshu hadn’t yet decided how to explain.

Most people might believe life outweighs a livelihood, but for Lin Yunshu, they held equal importance—even a symbiotic relationship.

He couldn't make an immediate decision.

“It’s nothing,” he said distractedly. “Just a bit of a cold.”

The traffic light ahead turned red. Zhou Yu stopped the car and observed him for a moment. “You’ve lost a lot of weight.”

“It’s hot, and my appetite hasn’t been good,” Lin Yunshu replied with a smile.

This was not entirely untrue.

Having worked with Lin Yunshu for three years, Zhou Yu knew he struggled every summer, losing several pounds annually.

Though it was already September, the temperatures remained high, and Lin Yunshu looked as wilted as a sun-scorched sapling, utterly drained.

It left Zhou Yu feeling quite uneasy.

Just around the bend was Lin Yunshu’s neighborhood. Zhou Yu’s license plate was already registered with the property management, so he drove directly into the underground parking garage with Lin Yunshu.

Even a few minutes less in the sun was a blessing.

Zhou Yu pulled into a temporary parking spot but didn’t immediately let Lin Yunshu out. Lin Yunshu remained obediently in the passenger seat.

The atmosphere grew silent for a moment.

Zhou Yu turned on the car stereo, and soothing music began to play, gradually easing the tension.

If Zhou Yu remained silent, Lin Yunshu would never initiate conversation, as if patiently awaiting instructions.

Zhou Yu felt an inexplicable surge of irritation again.

Lin Yunshu had dark circles under his eyes and looked gaunt. Zhou Yu recalled how healthy and vibrant Lin Yunshu had been in university. How had a few years of working for him reduced him to this state?

Had he been the one to wear Lin Yunshu down like this?

Zhou Yu felt increasingly unsettled, his fingers unconsciously tapping the steering wheel.

“Yesterday,” he began hesitantly, “I didn’t express myself well. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Lin Yunshu hadn’t expected Zhou Yu to apologize. “Not at all. I overstepped.”

Such a polite tone.

Zhou Yu took a deep breath, reining in his impatience. “The arranged marriage was the old man’s idea. Having you attend the meeting in my stead was my decision. You were simply doing your job. There was no overstepping.”

He added, “Besides, given our relationship, there’s no need for such formalities.”

His boss’s understanding eased Lin Yunshu’s mind.

But his superior’s leniency was one thing; if he actually took advantage of it, that would be inappropriate.

Lin Yunshu acquiesced, “Yes, thank you, Boss.”

His voice was always pleasant, his tone consistently gentle, and everyone in the company enjoyed speaking with him.

Zhou Yu did too.

But did it have to be so… polite?

Zhou Yu clenched his fingers.

Lin Yunshu tried to gauge Zhou Yu’s mood, sensing he wasn’t pleased but unable to pinpoint what he had said wrong this time.

In this situation, he found it even harder to bring up his request to Zhou Yu.

Asking for pheromones out of the blue would sound utterly bizarre.

After a long pause, Lin Yunshu heard a faint sigh beside him, followed by the click of the car door unlocking.

“Alright, you can go back. Don’t come to the company tomorrow.”

Lin Yunshu’s hand paused on the door handle, startled. “Boss?”

“Take a rest,” Zhou Yu said helplessly. “Recover fully. If you still have energy, focus on the upcoming merger case.”

Zhou Yu found the thought unbearable, believing it better to let Lin Yunshu rest at home for a day rather than suffer alongside him.

“Yes, thank you.” Lin Yunshu breathed an imperceptible sigh of relief. “I appreciate your concern.”

Zhou Yu disliked such pleasantries and, without looking at him, waved his hand dismissively.

Understanding, Lin Yunshu opened the car door and stepped out. After closing it, he bent down and peered through the half-open window:

“Drive safely. Take care on the road.”

Zhou Yu was involuntarily drawn in by the gentle voice. He turned his head and met Lin Yunshu’s glistening eyes.

Lin Yunshu offered him a smile.

His grip on the steering wheel instantly relaxed.

Unfortunately, this smile was fleeting. Lin Yunshu quickly straightened up, took a few steps back, and stood aside, a professional habit, intending to watch him leave.

Zhou Yu could only see his slender, elegant hands clasped together in front of him beneath the pristine white shirt.

On any other day, Zhou Yu might have simply indulged him, starting the car and driving away reluctantly.

But today, Zhou Yu suddenly didn’t feel like doing that.

“You go inside first,” he said. “I’ll watch you get on the elevator before I leave.”

“What?” Lin Yunshu’s face registered surprise.

“Go in,” Zhou Yu commanded.

At that, Lin Yunshu nodded at him, then hesitantly turned and walked away.

The elevator lobby was much brighter than the parking garage. Zhou Yu watched as Lin Yunshu swiped his card to enter, his white shirt reflecting the strong light, enveloping his face in a soft halo.

Perhaps it was his first time being seen off by his boss. Lin Yunshu glanced back every few steps, and even the way he pressed the elevator button held an unfamiliar charm.

Before stepping into the elevator, he even bowed towards the dark car window.

Zhou Yu couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t until the elevator doors closed that the smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by a profound sense of resignation.

He pressed his fingers firmly against his temples. “Such a clam.”

·

Lin Yunshu took two days off consecutively.

On the second day, he still woke up promptly at six in the morning out of habit. He instinctively got up and went through his morning routine, only remembering after brushing his teeth that he didn’t have to go to work today.

A sudden emptiness settled within him.

“You’ve been driven mad by capitalism, haven’t you?” he sternly admonished himself.

He then went to the balcony to water the plants, attempting to embrace the beauty of the morning. Yet, not working on a weekday still left him feeling deeply insecure.

So he began to clean, scrubbing until his already spotless home gleamed, with nothing left to polish. Then he went to the kitchen and prepared himself a meticulously crafted breakfast.

After all that effort, it was still barely past eight o’clock.

Lin Yunshu placed the plate on the coffee table, settled cross-legged onto the carpet, and ate breakfast while watching TV.

It had been years since he had experienced such a relaxed day.

He tried his best to unwind and not think about work, but the morning news soon featured Zhou Yu’s face.

It was footage from the forum Zhou Yu had attended in a neighboring city a few days prior.

On screen, Zhou Yu was impeccably dressed in a suit, the epitome of a rising elite. He spoke confidently and calmly about the group’s recent plans and future prospects.

It sent Lin Yunshu into a stress response.

He nearly gathered his materials and rushed to the office but managed to restrain himself through sheer willpower.

He quickly changed the channel, banishing his boss’s compelling image from view, and settled on a random early-morning melodramatic rural series.

The eggs he had fried today turned out quite well. Lin Yunshu ate two in one sitting.

As the sun climbed higher, Lin Yunshu’s eating pace unconsciously slowed.

At one point, he frowned, as if a spring had been triggered. His entire body tensed up, and he covered his mouth, rushing to the bathroom.

He brought up everything he had just eaten.

Perhaps his stomach was no longer accustomed to eating in the morning, or it was a side effect of overuse of inhibitors. Or perhaps his life was truly nearing its end.

Lin Yunshu curled up on the floor, tears streaming from the stomach pain.

He didn’t know how much time had passed before the pain eased a little. Lin Yunshu pushed himself up using the wall, washed his face, and returned to the living room.

The leftovers were still on the coffee table. Too exhausted to clean up, he left them there and slowly sank into the sofa.

At least his sofa was comfortable—he had splurged on it.

It had pained him to pay for it at the time, but every time he collapsed onto it, utterly exhausted, he would genuinely feel: “Worth it!”

He pulled a blanket over himself, intending to catch some sleep. Before falling asleep, he habitually checked his phone and noticed four or five missed calls, all from his aunt.

Seeing that he hadn’t answered, she had also sent him WeChat messages.

[Aunt: Yun Shu, not awake yet? I called but you didn’t answer.]

[Aunt: It’s normal for you young people to like to sleep late, but don’t be too lazy. Look at your younger cousin—he’s so sensible, already up and eating breakfast.]

Lin Yunshu closed his eyes and didn’t reply.

Sure enough, two seconds later, his phone vibrated.

[Aunt: Coming over for dinner tonight? Your uncle went out of his way to buy your favorite dishes.]

Lin Yunshu drew a weary breath.

[Got it.]

·

He slept until five in the afternoon.

When he got up from the sofa, he felt extremely dizzy, almost convinced he had slept himself to death.

At work, Lin Yunshu always made sure to dress neatly and present himself well, but in his private time, he prioritized comfort above all else.

He slipped on a sweatshirt, washed his face, popped a milk candy into his mouth, and went out to flag down a taxi.

Not long after getting in the car, Lin Yunshu began to feel sleepy again. Thinking back, he had been sleeping practically non-stop since yesterday.

But no matter how much he slept, it never seemed sufficient. He wasn’t having nightmares, yet he grew more tired with each nap, his arms feeling leaden and hard to raise.

He massaged his temples, furrowed his brow, leaned back against the seat, and closed his eyes.

Perhaps seeing that he was asleep, the driver slowed down and drove more steadily. By the time they reached his aunt’s place, it was already 6:30 p.m.

Lin Yunshu thanked the driver, took a deep breath as he looked at the residential building ahead, and got out of the car.

The door to Unit 302 was wide open, and Lin Yunshu smelled food as soon as he stepped out of the elevator.

He entered, changed his shoes, and the sound of the door closing caught the attention of someone on the sofa. His uncle looked up and said, slightly reproaching him, "Why are you so late? The dishes are already cold."

"Sorry," Lin Yunshu replied, "the traffic was bad on the way."

"Oh, it's not late at all," his aunt said, carrying a dish out from the kitchen. "It's just the right time. Yun Shu works at a big company and is very busy. He can't just drop everything when you say so. Who do you think you are?"

Lin Yunshu smiled, pretending not to catch her sarcastic tone. "I’m glad Auntie understands."

He went to the kitchen to wash his hands and helped his aunt bring the remaining dishes to the table. His cousin was finally yelled at until he came out of his bedroom by his uncle, still holding his phone, a game just started.

His cousin was an Alpha, just graduated from university.

He was very tall, almost reaching the doorframe, similar to Zhou Yu but slimmer. His hair was unkempt, he wore a single earring, and he looked like a total shut-in.

"Put your phone away during dinner," his aunt said, setting chopsticks by his plate. "It’s bad for your stomach."

"Okay, okay," his cousin replied impatiently, waving her off.

Lin Yunshu sat down next to his cousin and glanced at the table: spicy diced chicken, stir-fried beef with chili, spicy poached fish, along with a plate of greens and a soup.

They were indeed good dishes, but unfortunately, he couldn’t stomach them.

Lin Yunshu had always had a weak stomach since childhood—spicy food would make his stomach burn. After starting work, he neglected his health, and his stomach worsened. Now, even a little spice could land him in the hospital.

Among this lavish spread, the only things he could eat were the plate of greens and the seaweed egg drop soup.

"Eat," his aunt urged, noticing he hadn’t started eating. "Xiao Shu, have some fish. I cooked it really tender today."

She moved to serve him some.

"My brother can’t handle spicy food," his cousin said irritably. "Have you forgotten how he ended up in the hospital when he was little?"

His aunt paused. "Oh, my memory is failing me again. I forgot. Wait here, Xiao Shu, I’ll whip up another dish for you."

His cousin rolled his eyes.

"No need," Lin Yunshu said with a smile. "Don’t trouble yourself. I’m not really hungry anyway. I’ll just have some vegetables."

His aunt sat back down. "Sorry about this. Next time, I’ll remember to make it without spice—come on, you must eat more vegetables."

"Thank you, Auntie."

"Yun Shu," his uncle said, after a few drinks, "you’re twenty-five this year, right?"

"Yes," Lin Yunshu replied, nibbling on the greens. "My birthday is at the end of the year."

"You’re not getting any younger. Haven’t thought about finding a partner?"

"Exactly," his aunt chimed in. "Other Omegas your age already have two children. Why haven’t you found someone?"

Lin Yunshu replied casually, "I’ve been busy with work. No time."

Besides, he wasn’t even sure if he would make it to the end of the year.

"Busy or not, you should settle down," his uncle said sternly. "And how much can that job of yours even pay? Secretaries are just a job for young people!"

Lin Yunshu hadn’t told them about his income, and they certainly didn’t know he had already bought an apartment. Their perception of secretaries was still stuck at "just a pretty face."

Lin Yunshu didn’t argue. "It’s alright. Twenty-five isn’t old."

"What do you mean by that?" his uncle said, displeased. "You're not hoping to marry your boss, are you?!"

Lin Yunshu put down his chopsticks, his appetite gone. "I have no such intention."

Just working alongside Zhou Yu was nerve-wracking enough—he couldn’t even imagine how terrifying it would be if Zhou Yu were his partner.

Seeing the tension, his aunt stepped in to smooth things over. "Let’s all calm down. No need to get worked up."

"Xiao Shu," she said earnestly, looking at Lin Yunshu, "Omegas should get married. Sooner is better than later."

"You’re already twenty-five. If your pheromone level were high, that would be different, but you also have that illness."

"In my opinion, that illness of yours is just fragility. You should find an Alpha to take care of you. Why insist on working? After three years, you’re still just a secretary—there’s no future in it—"

She paused mid-sentence and laughed. "Alright, alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Let’s eat."

·

"I still think Xiao Yu should settle down as soon as possible!"

In the high-level conference room, filled with relatives, it felt less like a corporate meeting and more like an "Intervention about Zhou Yu Nearing Thirty and Still Unmarried."

A group of uncles and elders argued fiercely over Zhou Yu’s future.

No need to overthink it—this was undoubtedly Zhou Xingde’s doing.

Most of these uncles and elders held some shares in the group and believed that by banding together, they could influence Zhou Yu’s choices. They were all taking it seriously.

"I think the son of Xiangyu Real Estate is a great match! He’d be perfect for our Xiao Yu!"

"Oh, that one is far too spoiled! You’re trying to ruin Xiao Yu!"

"In my opinion, the son of Zhenxing Jewelry is better. He’s also a high-level Omega and very dignified!"

…

Zhou Yu sat at the head of the table, resting his chin in his hand while scrolling through his phone under the table. The words went in one ear and out the other.

Only one thought crossed his mind: Thank goodness he had the foresight to give Lin Yunshu the day off. Otherwise, after a whole day of this torture, Secretary Lin’s poor health would have collapsed.

He flipped through old photos on his phone.

They were pictures of Lin Yunshu from his freshman year of college.

They had met in the same club, and this was from their first picnic together.

Back then, Secretary Lin was only eighteen, with a bit of baby fat on his face. His smile was especially adorable, and his eyes were youthful and captivating.

Zhou Yu couldn’t help but get lost in the images.

People often said that Zhou Yu was indifferent about marriage—his heart belonged only to the company. As long as a marriage alliance benefited the group, he wouldn’t refuse.

But that wasn’t true at all.

He zoomed in on the photo with one hand and lightly brushed Lin Yunshu’s cheek on the screen.

Many years ago, Zhou Yu had already met the person he wanted to spend his life with.

Author's Note: