He gripped the document tightly, his eyes glinting with an unprecedented coldness. Every word on the page unsettled him deeply.
Back in the bedroom, Sophia lay in bed, her brows furrowed. Something was clearly on his mind, something he refused to discuss. And it had to be related to her.
—
After drinking and standing in the cold night air, Livinus woke up the next morning with a fever. Sophia, surprised to see him wake later than her, checked his temperature. His breathing was labored, and the thermometer confirmed a high fever of 39°C.
“Livinus…”
In all the time she’d known him, this was the first time he’d fallen ill. She couldn’t help but worry. “Are you okay?”
He opened his eyes slightly, frowning. “I have a fever?”
“Yes. You don’t have to go to the office today, right? Rest up, and I’ll take care of you.”
Since the company was already on holiday, most of his work had been wrapped up. He nodded in agreement.
Sophia went to the clinic to fetch medicine. When her younger colleague, Halliton Waylon, saw her, he asked curiously, “Sis, who’s the medicine for?”
“My boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?!” Everyone gasped.
The old man looked puzzled. “Dr. Sophia, where did this boyfriend come from? We’ve never seen any man visit you at home.”
“Exactly! Dr. Sophia, weren’t you a lifelong solo? I even joked that if you’re single, it proves that only the best of us are left!”
“Dr. Sophia, what does your boyfriend look like? Is he handsome? Rich?”
Their gossiping amused Sophia. “It’s just dating. Don’t overthink it.”
One patient sighed, “Even Dr. Sophia has a boyfriend now. The world is changing!”
After gathering some herbs, Halliton Waylon asked, “He has a fever?”
“Yes. Keep an eye on the clinic for me. If you’re unsure about anything, consult me.”
Sophia prepared the medicine herself and cooked porridge for Livinus, considering his stomach would likely be upset from drinking. She even dug up some yam from the cellar to add to the meal.
When Livinus woke up, the aroma of the porridge filled the air. He took a few bites and patted her head. “You’ve grown up. You even know how to make porridge now.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“Just stating the truth.”
She rolled her eyes, handing him the bowl of herbal medicine. The sight of the dark concoction made him frown.
Though he maintained his fitness and rarely got sick, the strong smell of medicine reminded him of his childhood. The Scott family had built their wealth on herbal medicine, and whenever someone in the household fell ill, they always started with traditional remedies before considering the hospital. Back then, he frequently drank bitter concoctions, a taste he still couldn’t fully tolerate.
“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’re afraid of bitterness?” Sophia teased with a chuckle, taking out a piece of candy and handing it to him. “Drink this, then have a candy.”
Her radiant smile lit up her face, her eyes shimmering as if sprinkled with starlight. Livinus rarely saw her smile like this.
He let out a low hum, a faint laugh escaping. “Are you coaxing a child, Dr. Sophia?”
Without further comment, he downed the entire bowl of herbal medicine in one go. Sophia reached for the bowl, intending to take it away, but before she could, her face was cupped gently, and Livinus captured her lips in a passionate kiss. His tongue delved into her mouth, relentless and demanding, leaving behind his bitter taste.
The flavor of the herbal medicine was indeed unpleasant.
Sophia frowned. “Livinus, that’s really unfair!”
Learning back against his chair, his dark eyes fixated on her with a playful smirk. “This is called sharing the hardship.”
Sophia burst into laughter, shaking her head.
Later, she performed acupuncture and moxibustion on him. Being sick for the first time in years, Livinus was treated to a VIP experience. Having a traditional medicine practitioner as a girlfriend? He felt like he could write a post about it on X.
By the end of the day, Livinus had sweated out his fever. By nighttime, it was completely gone. After checking his pulse, Sophia confidently assured him it wouldn’t return. True to her word, the next morning, he was back to normal. He even went for a jog, looking as though he hadn’t been sick at all.
Sophia was in the vegetable garden, picking greens. Seeing her harvest a whole basketful, Livinus asked, “Why are you picking so much?”
“It’s going to snow soon. I’m picking enough to last through the New Year.”
If not for her reminder, Livinus wouldn’t have realized how close it was to the New Year.
In previous years, holidays meant nothing to him. But this year, with her around, it felt a little different.
“What’s your plan for the New Year?” he asked.
“I’ll spend it alone. It’s rare to have no work, so I plan to binge-watch some dramas, catch up on variety shows, and reconnect with the world,” Sophia replied with a smile.
Her cheerful demeanor did little to smooth the furrow in Livinus’s brow.
—
That evening, Livinus had a social engagement. Around five o’clock, he began changing and preparing to leave. As he adjusted his cufflinks in the mirror, Sophia noticed and asked curiously, “Heading out for dinner?”
