288 A Fool for Life 9 (2/2)

As Song Qingchun pulled on her seatbelt, she asked, ”How did you manage to come so fast? Were you around the area when I called?”

”Yes,” Su Zhinian answered as he started the engine.

Su Zhinian's company and home were on the western side of town, and Song Qingchun's house was on the southern side. Most of Su Zhinian's area of activity limited itself to the western side of town. She was about to ask why he was around her house when she saw the stack of documents and laptop lying on the backseat through the rear-view mirror. Therefore, her question changed. ”Did you have a business meeting somewhere nearby?”

Who would schedule a business meeting during Chinese New Year? The only reason I'm here is for you. Su Zhinian answered with a half-hearted ”hmm” after a pause.

”But isn't it the New Year holiday? Why do you keep yourself so busy?” Song Qingchun stopped because she realized Su Zhinian wasn't looking particularly hale.

It had only been five days since they had parted during the afternoon of Lunar New Year's Eve, but he looked thinner and so much more tired than before. His face was pale in a sickly kind of way.

Song Qingchun frowned and asked, ”…You're sick?”

Su Zhinian was rattled because he didn't expect her to see through him so easily. He was unresponsive for a long time before nodding slightly. ”Hmm.”

After a while, he added, ”Just a minor fever.”

”It's bad to get fever during the winter. Did you go to the hospital? Get a shot? Have you taken your medicine?”

Song Qingchun's series of concern-filled questions surprised Su Zhinian. After a delayed moment, he glanced at her through the rear-view mirror.