Chapter 191: Back to Reality

*Runze’s POV*

An hour later, I’m curled up on the sofa in the living room with a cup of warm milk in one hand and an open book across my lap.

The front door opens.

I look up automatically.

"...Assistant Shen?"

The last time I saw Shen Rui, he looked like the picture of efficiency—every hair in place, every line of his suit flat, his sharp eyes taking in every detail.

Today...

His tie sits slightly crooked, his collar is wrinkled, the shadows under his eyes are so dark they almost look painted on, and despite standing straight, a heavy tiredness hangs on his shoulders.

He looks like someone surviving on coffee, willpower, and bad decisions.

The moment his eyes land on me, habit takes over.

He stops a few steps away, fixes his posture, and bows.

"Young Master."

Even his voice sounds thin, drained of its usual sharp edge.

I set my cup down on the glass table, watching him stand back up with clear effort.

"...Assistant Shen." I look at him for another second, taking in his tired face before asking, "Are you alright?"

"I am well."

He says it with such strong professionalism that, if he didn’t look like a ghost in a suit, I might have actually believed him.

Instead, he steps forward and holds out a small paper bag.

"Mr. Bael told me to give this to you right away."

I take it, feeling how light it is in my hands.

"Thank you."

I look back up at him. I turn my head slightly to catch the eye of the maid standing near the hall before Shen Rui can speak again.

"Tell Mrs. Wen to pack Bael’s breakfast," I whisper to her. "And ask her to make a second box for Assistant Shen, too."

The maid nods and slips away toward the kitchen. I look back at the tired man in front of me, leaning back against the sofa cushions.

"...Have you slept?"

For the first time, Shen Rui goes completely still.

He blinks once, then again, his bloodshot eyes focusing on me with effort.

"...Sleep," he says after a long silence, "is a luxury for workers whose bosses are in love."

"..."

My ears burn instantly.

Since I left the hospital, Bael has barely gone into the office. Every meeting, every contract, every sudden problem... Bael left it all on Shen Rui’s shoulders so he could stay home with me.

"I know he doubled your pay..." I say softly, feeling genuinely sorry for him. "But... how are you handling all the work?"

Shen Rui’s shoulders drop slightly. It isn’t dramatic, just a tiny dip in his straight back.

"...Mr. Bael told me," he says in the same flat tone, "that if I collapse from overwork, he will make sure my family gets paid."

I stare at him. "...He actually said that?"

"He had Legal write up the paper on Tuesday."

"..."

"I would prefer," Shen Rui adds after another quiet pause, "not to test it."

A laugh slips out before I can stop it.

I cover my mouth with my hand, trying to hide my smile, but my laugh leaks out anyway.

"I’m sorry."

"It’s alright."

His blank face never changes. Somehow, that makes it ten times funnier.

Then his eyes drift lower, resting on my round stomach with a quiet, tired nod. Understanding settles on his pale face.

"...Though," he admits, "seeing Young Master’s state... I can see why Mr. Bael stayed home."

A touch of guilt hits me.

I reach out and pat his shoulder gently, feeling the tight tension in his jacket.

"Don’t worry, Shen Rui. When Bael comes home tonight... I’ll tell him to hire you an assistant."

Shen Rui looks at me.

"...Maybe two."

This time, something flickers across his tired face.

Hope. Real, desperate hope.

He stands up straight, puts his feet together, and bows deep.

"...Thank you, Young Master."

Before I can answer, quiet steps come from the kitchen hall.

Mrs. Wen walks into the room carrying two packed lunch boxes. One is wrapped in dark navy cloth, while the other sits in a plain wooden box.

"I finished packing them, Young Master," she says with a warm smile.

I stand up and walk over, taking both boxes before stepping up to Shen Rui.

I hold out the navy box first, putting it into his hands. "This is Bael’s."

Shen Rui nods and takes it. "I will make sure it gets to his desk."

Then I put the wooden box directly into his other hand.

He freezes slightly.

His eyes drop down to the box, staring at the clean wood, then look back up at my face. "...Young Master?"

"That one is yours."

He blinks slowly, completely caught off guard. "I... I don’t need—"

"I noticed you look exhausted," I cut in gently, giving him a firm look. "You still need to eat, even if Bael forgets to give you time for it."

A long, quiet silence fills the room.

Shen Rui stares down at the wooden box in his hands like it’s made of gold. Then, he lets out the softest sigh I’ve ever heard.

"...Thank you."

It isn’t loud or dramatic, but coming from him, it feels completely real.

He holds both lunch boxes carefully in his arms, pressing them close to his jacket as if afraid one might drop.

"I’ll make sure Mr. Bael eats."

"Good."

"And..." He stops for a second, standing straight again. "...I’ll eat too."

"Please do."

He bows one last time before turning to head toward the front door.

Watching him leave with two lunch boxes tucked under his arm, I can’t help the warm smile on my face.

Hopefully... both of them will actually remember to take a break and eat today.

***

Once the front doors click shut, the living room goes quiet again.

I look down at the small paper bag in my lap.

Curious, I reach inside and pull out a small glass jar. It has a white label with clean medical print on it. I unscrew the lid—inside is a smooth, cool cream that smells faintly of aloe and chamomile.

*A soothing cream?*

Before I can process what it’s for, a maid steps forward and gently sets my phone down on the side table next to me. "Your phone just vibrated, Young Master."

"Thank you," I say, picking it up.

A message sits on the lock screen.

Bael: Got it yet?

My eyebrows pull together. I type back quickly.

Me: Yes. What is this for?

A reply comes back almost instantly.

Bael: Apply it on both sides.

A sudden, sharp heat shoots straight up my neck, flooding into my ears.

My hand tightens on the phone. *Both sides?* My chest...

My face burns hot as I realize what he means. He wants me to put soothing cream on my nipples.

Before I can even form a text to tell him how shameless he is, my screen lights up again.

Bael: Don’t pretend you don’t know where.

My heart slams against my ribs.

"..."

My cheeks feel like they are going to melt right off my face. I slam the phone face-down onto the sofa cushion, staring at the small glass jar in my lap like it’s a live bomb.

Mrs. Wen walks past the doorway, carrying a feather duster. She glances over at me and stops.

"Young Master? Your face is very red. Are you feeling unwell?"

I quickly cover my cheeks with both hands, my eyes wide.

"...Nothing!" I squeak out, my voice way too high. "I’m... I’m fine, Mrs. Wen!"

She looks at me dubiously for a second before nodding gently. "Alright. Let me know if you need anything."

Once she walks away, I slowly pick up the phone, peek at the dark screen, and bite my bottom lip.

"...Shameless man," I mutter to the empty room.

My fingers still tighten around the little glass jar. I have absolutely no intention of using it.

...At least not while anyone can see me.