“It’s called jisha,” Song Xu explained. He had specifically looked it up online today to confirm the term; Lin Xi hadn’t been messing with him on purpose. “I had a headache yesterday, so I had someone do it for me.”

Song Qingshi finally recalled his son’s fever from the day before. “Your fever is gone?”

Song Xu nodded. “It broke last night after I took some medicine.”

“You actually know how to take medicine?” Song Qingshi sounded genuinely surprised. His son usually preferred to tough it out whenever he was sick—no pills, no injections, and a flat-out refusal to step foot in a hospital.

Song Xu shifted uncomfortably. “It’s just a few pills, Dad. What did you call me up here for?”

Can we please just get to the point?

Song Qingshi leaned back, his gaze sharpening as he fixed it on his son. “I heard you’re keeping a woman in your apartment?”

Song Xu’s expression flickered. “What do you mean, ‘keeping a woman’? Who told you that?”

“Your mother,” Song Qingshi said, resting against the back of his chair. “My point is, you should keep her there—whether the relationship is real or fake.”

Song Xu stared at him, certain he had misheard. “Dad, are you joking?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Song Qingshi shot him a sidelong glance. “Lu Yunqi is returning to the country soon. The President of Jiang University mentioned that you’re helping her with her enrollment paperwork.”

“Yunzhou asked me for the favor,” Song Xu said, failing to see the connection. “What does that have to do with me having a woman at my place?”

“You know the Lu family has always wanted a marriage alliance with the Songs. When Lu Yunqi was still in the country, she was always hanging around you and Chenchen,” Song Qingshi said, his tone turning serious. “She was young then, so your mother and I didn’t interfere.”

“I only see her as a younger sister,” Song Xu explained. “As for Big Brother, there’s a seven-year age gap between him and Qiqi. He just treats her like a child.”

“That’s what you think.” Song Qingshi frowned. “Lu Yunqi is an adult now. You and Chenchen need to keep your distance. Your mother doesn’t like her—you should know that by now.”

“I know.” Song Xu had noticed it a long time ago. When they were kids, his mother had been quite fond of Qiqi, but as they grew older, that affection had curdled into a distinct dislike. “Did Mom ever say why?”

Song Qingshi shook his head. “You know how your mother is. She lives entirely by her whims. If she likes you, she likes you; if she decides she doesn’t, she’ll turn her back on you in an instant.”

“And if it’s a girl your mother doesn’t like, don’t even dream of bringing her into this family.”

Song Xu felt a surge of irritation. “But what does any of this have to do with the woman in my apartment?”

He still didn’t quite follow his father’s logic. What kind of father encouraged his son to keep a woman on the side?

“This is what your mother asked me to pass along,” Song Qingshi said with a light cough. “She says Lu Yunqi is calculating. Once she’s back, she’ll find every way possible to get close to you and Chenchen—she might even use some underhanded tactics.”

“So, you need a woman by your side to act as a shield. Your mother thinks the girl in your apartment is a good fit.”

Song Xu was speechless. He doubted any other parents would come up with such a bizarre method to ward off a girl, but it was exactly the kind of thing his mother would dream up.

Still, he caught the most important detail. “Dad, are you saying Mom likes Lin Xi?”

Lin Xi? That sounded like the right name. Song Qingshi nodded. “Your mother seems to appreciate her. So, keep her for now. Just maintain some boundaries—don’t end up with any ‘little ones’ yet.”

Song Xu rubbed his chin thoughtfully. This actually worked in his favor. If there were “little ones,” then the “big one” wouldn’t be able to run away, right?

“I know what I’m doing,” Song Xu said, picking up his cap to put it back on. “I’ll head back down then.”

“Wait.” Song Qingshi pulled out his phone. “Keep the hat off for a second.”

Song Xu looked at him, confused, only to find his own father pointing a phone camera right at his face. Click.

“I’m sending this to your mother to give her a laugh.”

Unbelievable. Song Xu yanked his baseball cap on. He was nothing more than a prop in his parents’ little games.

He stormed out of the office in a huff.

Song Qingshi didn’t even look up as he sent the photo to his beloved wife. His caption read: [Honey, look how ridiculous Xiao Xu looks!]

—

Back in his office, Song Xu tapped his fingers rhythmically against the desk. Since his parents were practically demanding he have a woman by his side, he didn’t need to hold back anymore.

With that thought, he opened his phone and pulled up Lin Xi’s chat window: [Bring me lunch at the office.]

Remembering how stingy Lin Xi could be with her own money, he quickly added another message: [Be quick. Take a taxi; I’ll reimburse the fare.]

Lin Xi blinked at the message, momentarily stunned. Since when did her job involve field assignments? Wasn’t she just supposed to stay at the apartment?

Then again, considering the twenty thousand yuan salary, her current workload was still incredibly light. Fine, she thought. It’s only for a few more days anyway. School starts soon.

[Anything specific you want to eat?] Lin Xi asked.

Song Xu replied almost instantly: [I’ll eat anything you make.]

That sounds… a bit strange. Lin Xi tucked her phone away, deciding it was better not to overthink it.

She prepared one meat dish and two vegetable sides. Since Song Xu had just recovered from a fever, she figured it was best to keep his meal light and healthy.

An hour later, Lin Xi arrived at the Huayue Group headquarters carrying a tiered lunchbox.

She stepped into the lobby and, following Song Xu’s instructions, headed straight for the elevators to the seventeenth floor.

Before she could reach them, a receptionist intercepted her. “Miss, which department are you visiting?”

Lin Xi stopped and replied politely, “Hello, I’m going to the seventeenth floor. I’m just dropping off some food.”

“Please wait a moment while I check.” The receptionist called the secretary’s office on the seventeenth floor.

The call was answered by Shu Xi, a recently hired intern. Hearing that someone was delivering food, Shu Xi assumed it was the takeout she had ordered for herself. “That’s my order. Let her up.”

The receptionist hung up and smiled at Lin Xi. “You may go up now.”

“Thank you.” Lin Xi entered the elevator and pressed the button for seventeen.

Shu Xi hadn’t gone to the cafeteria today because President Song hadn’t gone either. She’d heard he had a fever yesterday and likely wouldn’t have much of an appetite, so she had specifically ordered two servings of vegetable congee and some side dishes.

She stood by the elevator, waiting to catch the delivery.

When the doors opened, Lin Xi saw someone standing there. Thinking the person was waiting to get on, she stepped out quickly to clear the way.

Shu Xi reached out, expecting to take the bag so the delivery person could leave immediately. Instead, she saw a girl walking out with a bag in her hand.

“Just give the food to me,” Shu Xi said. Seeing no one else in the elevator, she assumed this girl was the courier—likely a direct delivery from the restaurant. “You can go now.”

Lin Xi paused, looking at Shu Xi in confusion. “Are you talking to me?”

“Who else?” Shu Xi said, her patience thinning. “Aren’t you here to deliver food?”

Lin Xi nodded. “I am here to deliver food, but it isn’t for you.”