Chapter 528: Extra: Yi Nuo - Little Wolf Ears (1)

It was late autumn.

While on a business trip in the Sixth District, Jiang Qingli came down with a cold for the first time in a long while.

The cold snap in the Sixth District had been brutal, and many people had fallen ill.

Inside the suite, the doctor handed the medicine to Jiang Qingli. After watching her take it, he added, “The drop in temperature was a factor, but the main cause is overexertion. You need to get more rest and sleep over the next couple of days. Try to avoid going out.”

“Okay, thank you.”

After taking the medicine, Jiang Qingli burrowed under the covers, revealing only her pale face. She gave a listless nod.

Assistant He noticed the corners of her mouth twitch downward.

Having worked for Jiang Qingli for so long, Assistant He could guess what she was thinking.

‘She’s probably a little bummed out.’

Earlier that day, Jiang Qingli had told her that since the next day was a day off, they could go see the maple leaves.

The red maples of the Sixth District were famously vibrant and beautiful.

Now, forget about seeing them; she couldn’t even leave her room.

After seeing the doctor out, Assistant He walked to the bedside.

The medicine contained a sedative, and Jiang Qingli was already growing drowsy. Seeing her assistant approach, she blinked slowly. “You can head back for now. Don’t come here for the next few days. I don’t want to get you sick.”

Assistant He acknowledged her, placing the medical report and the remaining medicine on the nightstand.

Just as she was about to reach the door, she suddenly turned back.

Before Jiang Qingli could react, Assistant He had taken the work terminal from her bedside.

“You were already working at high intensity for several days before we came to the Sixth District,” Assistant He said. “I believe that during your three days of sick leave, you shouldn’t be handling any more work.”

Jiang Qingli weakly protested, “I… wasn’t planning on working.”

“An email just came in, and I saw you staring at the terminal for more than three seconds,” Assistant He said. “Nothing important will come up in the next few days, and I’ll reply to any non-urgent emails on your behalf.”

Her attitude was firm.

Jiang Qingli blinked and then smiled. “Xiao He, you’re so domineering. No wonder cute guys are always asking for your number when we go out.”

Assistant He froze for a second, then looked away.

A few seconds later, she fiddled with her ear, her tone a bit unnatural. “…I’ll be leaving now.”

Jiang Qingli laughed. “Okay, thanks.”

Assistant He’s voice softened slightly. “It’s part of my job.”

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Qingli said, “If my family asks, don’t tell them yet.”

Jiang Qingli’s reasoning was that everyone was busy lately. It was just a cold that would be gone in a couple of days, so there was no need to make a big fuss.

Assistant He had her own interpretation. “Yes, I won’t let them disturb you.”

‘She had always found Jiang Qingli’s Beast Husbands to be quite noisy, especially Gu Nian and Qin Muye.’

‘The quietest one… is probably that butler.’

‘But he’s not here now.’

Assistant He glanced around the room, left on tiptoe, and turned off the light on her way out.

Jiang Qingli was indeed exhausted. Tucked into the warm blankets, she fell asleep in no time.

She slept straight through until the middle of the night.

When Jiang Qingli woke again, her throat felt very dry.

Her vision was filled with darkness. The room was silent—even the climate control system wasn’t making a sound. It felt a little strange to Jiang Qingli, and she subconsciously glanced toward the foot of the bed.

‘It feels… like something’s missing.’

Her mind was groggy.

Jiang Qingli fumbled on the nightstand for a moment before switching on the table lamp.

On the table was the glass of water Assistant He had poured for her when she took her medicine.

Jiang Qingli picked it up and took a sip, her brow furrowing.

‘It’s ice-cold.’

‘Why isn’t the water on the nightstand warm?’

‘I’m so not used to this.’

Jiang Qingli slowly got up, took the glass to the automatic water dispenser, and poured a cup of warm water, forty-five degrees Celsius.

She felt a little better after drinking it.

But it still felt like something was missing.

Jiang Qingli rubbed her arms. She was still in her spaghetti-strap nightgown.

‘No wonder I feel cold.’

Jiang Qingli walked to the walk-in closet and opened it. Inside was a neat row of nothing but light nightgowns.

It was only then that Jiang Qingli belatedly realized what was so strange.

She had packed her own luggage for this trip.

The temperature in the Upper City District was higher than in the Lower District, and it had still been warm there. She hadn’t checked the weather forecast at all, had no idea a cold front was coming, and was completely unprepared.

Usually, it was Yi Nuo who packed her luggage and handled all the trivial matters in her life.

The water, too.

Ever since autumn began, Yi Nuo would always fill a thermos with warm water and place it on her nightstand, so all Jiang Qingli had to do was reach out if she woke up in the night.

Yi Nuo himself was like a glass of warm water—you didn’t think much of it day to day, but when it was gone, you felt its absence keenly.

Jiang Qingli found a long-sleeved jacket in the closet. She planned to put it on for now and then order a few long-sleeved shirts online, her thoughts drifting to Yi Nuo’s whereabouts.

‘He should be home by now…’

At the beginning of the year, Yuan Liang had called, saying the military academy was short-staffed. Yi Nuo’s Superpower was perfect for training new students, so he wanted to specially hire him as an instructor.

Yi Nuo hadn’t agreed at first. It was only when Jiang Qingli told him she wanted him to see more of the world that he accepted, teaching three daytime classes a week.

Yi Nuo considered this job, like his stock trading, to be part-time work. The only primary profession he acknowledged for himself was being Jiang Qingli’s butler (even though he refused to accept a salary).

This business trip was to a rather remote location, and Jiang Qingli felt it would be too much trouble for him to travel back and forth, so she had only brought Assistant He.

Yi Nuo had a class this morning. He should be asleep by now.

She suddenly missed him a little.

Jiang Qingli slipped on the jacket, slowly climbed back into bed, and sighed.

‘Next time, I really have to check the weather forecast…’

Snuggling back under the covers, Jiang Qingli didn’t feel sleepy anymore. She opened her terminal to check her unread messages.

At this hour, besides the night owl Lin Xiyue, no one else had messaged her.

Jiang Qingli chatted with her for a bit, then rolled over. Suddenly, a new message popped up.

Yi Nuo had sent a sticker of a little wolf peeking its head out.

Jiang Qingli: [? Why are you still awake?]

Yi Nuo kept a very healthy schedule. Barring any surprises, he was in bed by eleven at night and up at six in the morning.

It was the middle of the night. Why was he still up?

Jiang Qingli: [Did something happen today?]

On Yi Nuo’s end, the indicator showed he was still typing.

Jiang Qingli felt a tickle in her throat and coughed a few times.

She glanced at the nightstand. It was empty.

Then she remembered that she’d gone to the walk-in closet and left her water glass there.

‘How did this cold weaken my memory too…’

She hadn’t been sick in so long; this sudden state of frailty felt really strange.

But there was nothing for it. She had to slowly get out of bed to go get it.

After retrieving it and taking a sip, Jiang Qingli found the water had already gone a bit cool.

‘Damn it!’

Jiang Qingli was starting to get annoyed.

Too lazy to bother with it anymore, she suppressed her frustration and took another sip.

Just then, her terminal vibrated.

Yi Nuo had replied.

Jiang Qingli opened it and saw his message.

Yi Nuo: [Miss, I’m at your door.]

[Is it a good time for me to come in? [behaving.jpg]]